The Acadiana Advocate 10-25-2026 by The Advocate

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LSU BEATS AUBURN, SNAPS SEC ROAD LOSING STREAK 1C

ACADIANA

ADVOCATE T H E A C A D I A N A A D V O C AT E.C O M

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ELECTION

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S U N D AY, O C T O B E R 25, 2026

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Lafayette’s early voting numbers reach 11,500

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State readies for workforce growth

Projects like SpaceX, Meta will bring thousands of jobs BY JOANNA BROWN Staff writer

STAFF PHOTO BY LESLIE WESTBROOK

A voter arrives for early voting at the Martin Luther King Recreation Center in Lafayette on Friday. More than 11,500 Lafayette Parish residents have cast early ballots ahead of the Nov. 3 election. Early voting continues through Oct. 27 at three parish locations.

Democrats turning out at higher rate, data shows BY JOEL THOMPSON

Staff writer

More than 11,500 Lafayette Parish residents have cast early ballots ahead of the Nov. 3 election, with Democrats participating at a slightly higher rate than Republicans during the ﬁrst four days of early voting. About 7% of the parish’s registered voters — approximately 11,503 people — had voted at one of three early voting locations, according to Lafayette Parish early voting statistics. The ballot includes a U.S. Senate race, open primaries for Louisiana’s six U.S. House seats, 10 proposed

after Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy lost his party’s primary reelection bid. Republican Julia Letlow and Democrat Jamie Davis are competing for the seat. Louisiana voters also will decide whether to approve 10 changes to the state constitution. The proposals cover a range of issues, including property tax exemptions, government spending and criminal justice. In Lafayette Parish, about Brian Hebert casts his ballot at the Martin Luther King 9% of registered Democrats had voted by the end Recreation Center in Lafayette on Friday. of the ﬁrst four days, comstate constitutional amend- taxes, government spend- pared with just under 8% of registered Republicans. ments and local contests. ing and criminal justice. The amendments address The Senate race is drawä See VOTING, page 5A issues including property ing statewide attention

La. colleges work to address nursing shortage The students considered Flexible programs, that, trying to narrow down simulated patient’s early exposure their symptoms. plays bigger role “Have you had chest pain

BY HALEY MILLER Staff writer

The nursing students huddled around a medical dummy in a hospital bed as a panel of faculty and staff watched them through a oneway mirror. On the observation side of the mirror, a technician leaned into a microphone. “I’m just in a lot of pain,” he said in an affected, gruff voice.

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like this before?” one of them asked. “No, this is new for me,” the technician answered. The students inquired about possible allergies, then injected their fake patient. “This is going to help the pain we were talking about, OK?” one student said. The group was participating in a simulation run at the Tulane University School of Medicine, where the re-

PROVIDED PHOTO

A Delgado Community College nursing student practices patient ä See NUSING, page 6A assessment using a patient simulator.

Louisiana is overhauling its workforce development system as the state prepares for a wave of industrial investments expected to create tens of thousands of jobs, including thousands tied to SpaceX’s planned spaceport in Vermilion Parish. The 18-month transition, led by Louisiana Works Secretary Susie Schowen through the “One Door to Work” initiative, is intended to streamline workforce governance, reduce administrative costs and quickly connect employers with workers. The transition will consolidate the functions of 15 distinct workforce systems across the state to one State Workforce Development Board, aiming Schowen to make programs easier to navigate while improving access to training and support services — including childcare, transportation assistance and disability accommodations. “These are the things that could really importantly change somebody’s ability to access the American dream,” said Schowen, speaking at an Oct. 15 meeting with Acadiana employers and workforce partners in Lafayette. Under the current structure, the majority of federal workforce funding is disbursed to each of the 15 regional boards. 73% of that funding goes to salaries and operating costs for each region, said Schowen — underscoring the need to reduce overhead and make the system more responsive to employers and job seekers.

ä See SPACEX, page 5A

Meta data center sparks land frenzy Shielded sale prices, lawsuits, more as tension swirls around cost of land

BY SAM KARLIN Staff writer

Meta’s decision to build one of the world’s largest data centers in a northeast Louisiana rural farming community has made a group of shrewd landowners millions of dollars, but it’s also creating tension around who is benefiting from the sales as the cost of land there soars. Land previously worth a few thousand dollars per acre is now priced at $40,000 an acre or more. The dramatic swings in price have caused some in Richland Parish to question who was “in the know” about the project and benefited from land deals made shortly before Gov. Jeff Landry officially announced it in December 2024. Those complaints are now being litigated in court. A handful of landowners who sold their acreage near the site at lower rates in the months leading up to the project’s announcement are suing to unwind the deals. They al-

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

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2A l Sunday, October 25, 2026 l theadvocate.com l The Acadiana Advocate

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FROM WIRE REPORTS

Israelis rally against Netanyahu before vote

Israelis held a ﬁnal large rally against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of what has been described as the most consequential election in the country’s history. The vote set for Tuesday. The crowd heard calls for a commission of inquiry into the security failures that led to the Hamas-led attack on Oct. 7, 2023, that sparked the war in Gaza. Netanyahu has refused such an inquiry. Netanyahu’s chief rival, Gadi Eisenkot, attended the rally that was an echo of the weekly ones once held to call for the release of hostages taken into Gaza. All hostages or their remains were eventually released, but Netanyahu has been accused of delaying deals to free them sooner. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump bristled when asked how far he was from a possible attack on Iran. He recently said on social media he would not hit Iran again before the Nov. 3 midterm elections. “Do you really think I’m going to tell you if I’m going to do it?” Trump responded. “And there’s a possibility I will. There’s also a possibility we’ll have a nice, big, beautiful agreement.” Trump repeated his assertion that Iran wants to make a deal, “but the problem is, will they hold the deal?”

Fire destroys Eagle’s Nest retreat in Germany

BERLIN — A fire swept through the mountaintop retreat built for Adolf Hitler and known as the Eagle’s Nest as emergency services struggled to tackle the blaze in snow and wind, and a man was arrested on suspicion of arson, authorities said Saturday. Emergency services in the Berchtesgaden district, in the Bavarian Alps in Germany’s southeastern corner, were alerted to the fire by an alarm at about 9:15 p.m. Friday. Firefighters and police rushed to the scene — located at the end of a narrow road that winds up the mountain, in part through a series of tunnels — and could see the flames as they approached. They stopped and arrested a man on a motorcycle driving the other way down the road. Prosecutors said the 33-yearold suspect, a German citizen who has ties to the Berchtesgaden area but doesn’t currently live there, was questioned. They said he showed signs of mental illness and he was being sent to a psychiatric facility, but they also would look into the possibility of a political motive in view of the building’s history. Police said there were no current indications that anyone else was involved. Rain that turned into the season’s first significant snow, accompanied by strong wind, complicated the already difficult task of tackling the blaze and firefighters had to pull out overnight after several hours, officials said. No one was injured in the fire, and firefighters hoped to finish their work on Saturday though they weren’t able to enter the building because of a danger of falling material.

1 rescued after building collapses in Kenya

NAIROBI, Kenya — One person was rescued from the rubble of a building that collapsed in the capital, Nairobi, more than 24 hours after its ﬂoors pancaked, police said Saturday. The building was under construction on a busy commercial street in the Eastleigh area, which is often crowded with thousands of traders and residents. Police said more than 10 stories were under construction. Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen said Friday that seven people had been reported missing and rescue teams had made contact with some of those trapped in the rubble. The man was rescued Saturday and taken to a hospital. Government spokesman Charles Owino said the registered owner of the building was deceased, and his family and another party were in charge. Vincent Ochieng, a disaster ofﬁcer with the Kenya Red Cross, said the organization had recorded 31 missing persons but was still verifying the reports.

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Over 400K protest across France Demonstrators challenge Macron as Paris clashes erupt

BY THOMAS ADAMSON, JOHN LEICESTER and TOM NOUVIAN Associated Press

PARIS — Clashes erupted in Paris as a mass march drew to a close Saturday, with more than 400,000 people rallying across France over school funding and soaring living costs in a fresh challenge to President Emmanuel Macron. Police made nearly 1,000 arrests, the government said. The Paris march began peacefully, a week after widespread rioting and looting during protests across the country. But near the demonstration’s endpoint in eastern Paris, masked protesters hurled objects and ﬁreworks at police, who answered with clouds of tear gas, deafening sound grenades and jets of water cannons. Ofﬁcers with megaphones urged protesters to disperse. Some demonstrators panicked as tear-gas canisters landed in their midst, scattering with screams. Veteran protesters shouted after them: “Don’t run!” The Interior Ministry put nationwide turnout at 410,000 — fewer than the 550,000 it said protested last weekend — while the CGT union that helped organize some of Saturday’s protests estimated nearly 800,000. The ministry’s estimate included 110,000 in

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO BY JEAN-FRANCOIS BADIAS

A protester holds a French flag on Saturday in Strasbourg, France, during a demonstration against rising prices. Paris, where authorities conﬁned the march to the city’s southeastern edge, away from the center. The CGT put the number of protesters in Paris at 250,000. More than a month of unrest that started with protests in high schools for more funding and teachers is testing Macron’s authority in the ﬁnal months of his presidency before voters choose his successor in May. The stakes are high: The far-right National Rally party has accused his government of failing to protect the public and urged people to channel their anger into votes for its candidate Marine Le Pen. On the far left, presidential candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon has backed demonstrators and criticized policing that has left some teenage protesters with life-changing

injuries. As dusk fell Saturday, violence erupted at the end of some of the 289 protests counted by the Interior Ministry nationwide. Street fires burned in the cities of Marseille and Lyon. Police used tear gas in Lyon, Clermont-Ferrand, Strasbourg and Bordeaux and water cannons in Nice and Nantes, French media reported. In Nice, far-right extremists fought with demonstrators downtown and 11 people were arrested, regional authorities said. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said police made nearly 1,000 arrests but added that the number is expected to increase significantly as more are counted. Nuñez said beefed-up policing, with 70,000 officers backed by helicopters, armored vehicles and other

support, helped prevent a repeat of widespread looting and damage to shops the previous weekend. What began last month as a protest over staff shortages at one high school southeast of Paris spread nationwide, drawing students demanding more funding for education and workers seeking help with soaring costs for fuel and other necessities. In Paris, Bénédicte Pittion, a 46-year-old teacher, marched with her 16-yearold daughter, Garance, a high school student — in their ﬁrst protest together. “The young people who have been demonstrating have not been heard, and as a parent and as a teacher, I stand with them,” Pittion said. Garance said she’d been “really scared” after see-

ing the previous weekend’s violence, but felt that staying away would hand the government a victory. Macron met high school representatives Friday. They said he had promised to overhaul university admissions, but they called for protests to continue until concrete measures are announced. Soumaya Abed, a 58-yearold nurse wearing a red CGT union vest, complained that authorities in Paris wanted to stiﬂe protesters by making them march on the capital’s outskirts, keeping them away from the center where the Louvre and other major museums closed exceptionally. “But it won’t stop the movement. It won’t stop students from demanding better conditions in schools,” she said. Other protesters expressed anger about record poverty and wealth inequality under Macron. Camille Chesnier, 27, said she hasn’t found work despite having an engineering degree and a master’s degree. “There are enormous numbers of people in the same situation as me but who aren’t privileged and who ﬁnd themselves living on the streets and in squats and, frankly, it’s very tough,” she said. In Marseille, police put attendance at 17,000, while the CGT union estimated 100,000. In the southwestern city of Toulouse, 26,500 people joined the protests, according to authorities. Authorities had banned rallies in cities including Lyon, Nice and Montpellier.

Musk says he was behind Starlink speed restriction Ukrainian leader says service restored

BY SUSIE BLANN and ELISE MORTON Associated Press

KYIV, Ukraine — Elon Musk said on Saturday that his company SpaceX had throttled the Starlink satellite internet service in Ukraine, disrupting operations that the country relies on to defend itself against Russia. Musk’s admission on social media came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine’s access to Starlink and Starshield satellite links has been restored to the speeds it had before restrictions that disrupted front-line

operations for more than a week. Questions have persisted since last week about who ordered the interruptions to the Musk-made satellite internet system that Kyiv has relied on for years to counter Moscow’s attacks. “The speeds are now where they need to be,” Zelenskyy wrote on X, adding that restoration began overnight and were sufficient by Saturday morning, improving frontline logistics and defense against Russian jet-powered Shahed drones. After Ukraine said the services had been restored, Elon Musk spoke out on the speed restrictions that began last week. In a post Saturday on X, Musk acknowledged that his company SpaceX throttled the Starlink sat-

ellite internet service. “Using Starlink, a civilian commercial service, for offensive drone strikes to kill people has never been allowed, nor should it be,” Musk wrote. “Ukraine military violated Starlink terms of service and used it for offensive drone strikes to kill people. That loophole was closed last week.” But he maintained that the U.S. government controlled whatever changes happened with Starshield, the military-grade version of Starlink that is the backbone of Ukraine’s drone operations and communication. He also defended the role of SpaceX in bolstering Ukraine’s defenses since Russia’s fullscale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Restrictions imposed last week on Starshield

Trump casts his midterm ballot early in Florida BY JOSH BOAK and JILL COLVIN Associated Press

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — President Donald Trump cast his ballot in the midterm elections Saturday, saying he voted for all Republicans in Florida before speaking at a Georgia rally. Trump and ﬁrst lady Melania Trump arrived at their West Palm Beach polling location at the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections ofﬁce together after the president spent the morning at his nearby golf course. Trump Trump has been criticized in the past for voting by mail despite his long history of railing against that method of submitting ballots. Asked if he voted the party line, Trump, who was wearing an “I Voted” sticker, said, “Very much so.” Speaking to reporters at the poll site, Trump again defended an ad from Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. The ad has faced intense blowback for featuring the estranged mother of Democratic rival Dr. Amy Acton, who lost custody of her chil-

dren after her husband, the children’s stepfather, was indicted for raping Acton when she was 12. Trump also defended his decision to instruct his administration to ﬁle its lawsuit to block certiﬁcation of the U.S. Senate race in Alaska if Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan loses over the inclusion of a second candidate named Dan Sullivan on the ballot. As for the war in Iran, he said, “I may have to finish it off. Or maybe they’ll make a deal, but I’m not sure. Either way, we win.” Melania Trump, who this week brokered a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine in the ravaged, Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Oleshky so that humanitarian aid could be delivered and civilians evacuated, was asked whether she might travel to Ukraine. “We will see,” she told reporters. In Florida, Trump has endorsed Republican Rep. Byron Donalds, who is running against David Jolly, a Republicanturned-independent-turned-Democrat, to succeed term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis.

alarmed the country’s military and government officials, with commanders reporting lost drones and disrupted missions. The restoration follows a new U.S. diplomatic push to end the war. Russia agreed Wednesday to resume threeway negotiations with Washington and Kyiv next month. On Friday, Kyiv and Moscow also agreed to a localized ceaseﬁre brokered by ﬁrst

lady Melania Trump around Oleshky, a war-ravaged, Russian-occupied town in Ukraine’s southern Kherson region. The episode added to tensions between Kyiv and Washington, a relationship already strained by President Donald Trump’s reported deal with Moscow on Russian diesel imports, which Ukraine viewed as a betrayal.

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Preston

Tour bus operator

“The future’s happening here in Richland Parish.” Kaycie

Coﬀee shop owner

Lindsay

Food truck owner

$1.6 billion for Louisiana businesses. Catering for 40 people used to be a good week. Now they hit 400. And that’s just the tacos. From coﬀee shops to bus tours, Meta’s Richland Parish investment is already paying oﬀ for businesses across Louisiana.

The future is for everyone. meta.com/BuildingLouisiana

4A l Sunday, October 25, 2026 l theadvocate.com l The Acadiana Advocate

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META

Continued from page 1A lege that they were shorted on profits by buyers who had inside information about Meta’s plans. The company, state officials and some landowners kept the existence of the project secret through nondisclosure agreements, including one signed by the family that sold much of the land for the data center. Internal Louisiana Economic Development emails also show negotiations dating back to early 2024, and Meta told the state that a property tax break for the project was a “requirement.” The buyers — including owners of one of the biggest real estate firms in the region — deny having inside information about Meta’s deal and said the sales prices were fair at the time. One defendant, a real estate agent, said he discussed the rumors of a potential Meta project with the seller before buying his property that sits next door to the site a few months before the announcement. Attorneys for both the plaintiffs and defendants in the three cases either didn’t respond to messages seeking comment or declined to comment, citing pending litigation. John Lovett, an LSU Law Center professor who studies property law, said real estate values are seeing “sudden and dramatic” changes in places where data centers and other industrial projects are popping up. He expected these lawsuits would be filed after Meta announced the project. “The data centers, if they were suddenly announced but there were insiders who knew about it and were taking advantage of that earlier, there’s a potential these claims could proliferate around the state,” Lovett said. The lawsuits come as Richland Parish, long a quiet agricultural community with high poverty rates and declining population, experiences rapid changes from Meta’s decision to build one of the world’s largest data centers on a sprawling campus in Holly Ridge. And the legal fights, filed last year and still ongoing, are shedding more light on who is benefiting from the deal, at a time when Landry’s administration is welcoming a host of large-scale industrial projects in areas that traditionally have not seen them, including data centers, SpaceX and liquefied natural gas terminals. Another smaller data center is in the works for Richland Parish as well, records show. Prices for unimproved land have long been a few thousand dollars an acre in Holly Ridge, according to local real estate professionals and land records. While Meta and Entergy have shielded the sales price for most of their purchases, records filed in court and data from the local assessor suggest they paid tens of millions of dollars to acquire the huge swaths of land to build. Some land near the site is now going for tens of thousands of dollars per acre. “It has caused a little frenzy up here,” said Lannie Philley, an appraiser in Mer Rouge, referencing Richland Parish. “But they’ve got to need it. It’s got to be close. ... And preferably close to a large transmission line.” Philley said some hopeful property owners miles from the Meta site are listing their

STAFF FILE PHOTOS BY SOPHIA GERMER

Workers build a structure at the Meta Hyperion data center site in Richland Parish. property for inflated prices in the hopes that someone associated with the data center buildout will pay top dollar. But the high-priced deals are mostly happening directly on and around the Meta site. Farther away, he said companies are mostly renting out land. Meta, through two LLCs, has bought up thousands of acres of property from landowners in Holly Ridge since October 2024, hiding the sales price by listing it as $100. The practice is a common way for businesses and wealthy homeowners to cloak the true price, listing it as “$100 and other goods and valuable considerations.” Typically, buyers and sellers will enter into a separate contract not entered into the record that spells out the true sales price. Entergy made similar moves, including for a piece of property owned partly by state Sen. Jay Morris, R-Monroe. Morris, who supported tax breaks for data centers in the Legislature, didn’t return messages seeking comment. He previously told the news outlet Floodlight that there was no conflict in his decision to sell the land and that he had no prior knowledge of the economic development to come there. The hidden sales prices and secrecy associated with the deal have fueled rumors in Richland Parish about the gold rush for land. And they’ve made it difficult on Lee Brown, the parish assessor, who said he’s “grabbing at air” to try to accurately assess property values amid the boom. One of the lawsuits from disgruntled sellers used Brown’s assessment data to peg the price of one of the Meta parcels at $26 million,

or more than $40,000 an acre. A person involved in the deal who declined to speak publicly, citing the controversial nature of data centers, conﬁrmed the ﬁgure is roughly accurate. The seller was George B. Franklin and Son Inc., a large landowner in the area run in part by Scott Franklin. The Franklin family also partnered with Morris, the state senator, in two sales of land to Entergy spanning about 300 acres, which the Franklins and Morris owned together. Brown said property tax millage rates are declining because of Meta’s data center. Despite the company’s massive tax exemption, it’s still causing a windfall for the parish coffers. But he said he’s struggling to find good data on land sales ahead of the next reassessment year, in 2028. “I feel like a mushroom,” Brown said. “Kind of in the dark.”

the suit. “Had he received the price that defendants value the land at, it would have changed Stewart and his family’s life,” Stewart’s attorneys wrote in court filings. ”Stewart was not an informed seller. He had no access to the information that defendants had access to. Defendants had access to information that led them to believe the property was more valuable than the purchase price and used this information to beneﬁt themselves at the expense of Stewart in violation of their duty to him.” The defendants, including the president and treasurer of Brown Realty, wrote in filings that they have routinely purchased land in the region, “as is their core business,” and that the plaintiffs have no evidence that anyone broke a nondisclosure agreement to inform them about the impending Meta announcement. “The property at issue sold in September 2024, months prior to the public disclosure of the proposed Meta data center,” the defendants’ lawyer wrote in court ﬁlings. “The price for the property at the time of the sale was fair, reasonable and consistent with comparable land values in the area.”

news that Meta was considering a project, according to Stewart’s lawsuit. Stewart declined to comment, citing pending litigation. Days later, the agent had a purchase agreement ready, according to documents filed in court. The buyer was a group of executives at Brown Realty — her employer — and their family members, documents show. The group bought the land for $2,850 an acre. Shortly after the Meta deal was announced, in December of that year, Brown Realty began advertising ‘Vulnerable sellers’ tracts near the site for “more Lovett, the LSU law prothan 10 times what they fessor, said sellers may have paid Stewart,” according to a difﬁcult time proving their

land was worth more if it sold many months before Meta announced the deal. However, the sellers have one potentially compelling piece of evidence: A large landowner in Richland Parish sold a 665-acre plot of land for around $26 million in October 2024. If plaintiffs can prove that the transaction set the market for land in the area, they could succeed in arguing that their land was worth far more than what they sold it for, Lovett said. “It’s always possible that you have more sophisticated buyers who realize that real estate is actually going up in value or has an alternative use that the current owners don’t appreciate,” Lovett said. The law was designed to protect what he called “vulnerable sellers.” Lovett said he expected these cases would start to pop up around Meta’s site, and he even crafted an exam question about it for his LSU law students. And given the projects by SpaceX and other data centers around the state, he said more sellers could try to rescind their property sales if they missed out on the real estate boom. “Were people exploiting NDAs?” Lovett said about the Richland Parish sales. “I bet.” Louisiana has become one of the few states where political leaders are vocally welcoming data centers, and another developer appears to be planning another one in Richland Parish near the Meta site, albeit much smaller than “Hyperion.” In April, EDC Monroe LLC, a company tied to a data center developer based in Atlanta, bought a 28-acre tract of land less than a mile from Meta’s data center. The sales price: $1.6 million, or $57,000 an acre. Jeff Churchwell, executive director of the electric utility in the region, Northeast Louisiana Electric Power Cooperative, confirmed the developer has plans for a data center on the property, but declined further comment. EDC didn’t respond to messages. The seller of the land, Floyd Swain, declined to comment on the sale price. He said he doesn’t even know “what a data center is” and was not aware of the buyer’s plans for the property. “If you find out about it, you let us know,” Swain said. “We don’t know nothing about it.”

‘True market value’ debate The disgruntled sellers are using a law called “lesion beyond moiety” that is unique to Louisiana and allows sellers to rescind the sale of a property if they sold it for less than half the true market value. The key question playing out in court: What was the true market value of the properties at the time of the sales, which occurred months before Meta announced the project? In one case, a 73-year-old Rayville resident named Dennis Stewart asked his real estate agent to ﬁnd a buyer for a plot of land he owned in Holly Ridge. That was in August 2024, three months before the Times-Picayune | The Advocate broke the

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SPACEX

Continued from page 1A The overhaul comes as Louisiana prepares for about $250 billion in announced industrial investments, expected to add 55,000 jobs to the state’s economy through 2028. Projects span aerospace, advanced manufacturing, data centers and liquefied natural gas production, including Meta’s expanded data center in Richland Parish, Hyundai’s planned $5.8 billion steel mill in Ascension Parish, LNG facilities in southwest Louisiana and a major ammonia plant along the Mississippi River industrial corridor. “We needed a more flexible, more responsive system that will connect more people to the world of work and deliver the right services to people,” said Schowen on Oct. 15. “We need to meet the demand for skilled workers, or we are not going to meet the moment that $250 billion is putting in front of us.” Turning those investments into opportunities for Louisiana residents will require more than attracting companies. It will mean preparing students for new career paths, connecting employers with qualiﬁed workers and training people for specialized jobs — while helping communities accommodate rapid growth.

Parish excitement The challenge is particularly significant in Acadiana, where SpaceX is hiring for its planned Pecan Island spaceport in Vermilion Parish. The company is recruiting for eight positions, with direct employment projected to grow to more than 3,000 jobs over the next decade. Louisiana Economic Development estimates the project could generate more than 8,100 additional jobs through contractors and other businesses, bringing the total to more than 11,000 jobs in the region. Vermilion Parish School Superintendent Tommy Byler said local schools are already considering how to expand career and techni-

cal education to prepare students for jobs associated with the facility. “There’s excitement, but there’s still so many unknowns, and it’s hard to truly wrap your head around what could happen,” Byler said. “Where do we need to grow? Where do we need to get better? Where do we need to add? We have a welding program — how do we make it a better welding program? For us, it’s going to be how we enhance our career and technical opportunities for kids based on what we learn,” Byler said. The projected average annual salary for direct SpaceX jobs is $92,600, about 192% higher than the average wage in the parish. Jobs are expected to include high-skill work in construction, aerospace, advanced manufacturing and design. Vermilion Parish typically generates more modest numbers. The median household income is $55,707, and the parish is home to around 57,000 residents. Fewer than 1,000 people have been added to the population since 2020, underscoring the scale of potential change for the rural parish.

Lessons from Texas Brownsville, Texas, offers a preview of how SpaceX could reshape a local economy — and the challenges of preparing workers to beneﬁt. At Starbase, SpaceX’s launch and manufacturing complex near Brownsville, the company has expanded its operations and workforce. A report from the city of Brownsville said SpaceX operations supported more than 24,000 direct and indirect jobs across the region in 2023 and 2024. SpaceX has also reported that about 70% of its workforce comes from the local area. SpaceX has promised a similar ratio of local hires in Louisiana, and its paymentin-lieu-of-taxes agreement with the Vermilion Parish Industrial Development Board includes financial penalties if the company falls short of projected employment levels. Cameron County, where

VOTING

Republicans, who make up the largest share of registered voters in the parish, accounted for about 47% of early ballots, or 5,368 votes. Democrats accounted for about 34%, or 3,959 votes. No Party voters made up about 19% of early voters, or roughly 2,176 ballots, despite representing about 29% of registered voters. About 4.5% of registered No Party voters had cast ballots. The early turnout comes as voters across Louisiana head to the polls. During the 2022 midterm election, about 377,400 Louisiana voters — roughly 13% of registered voters — cast ballots during the full early voting period, according to published state election figures. That fullperiod total offers a historical benchmark, though it is not directly comparable with Lafayette Parish’s turnout partway through the current early voting period. Charlene Menard, Lafayette Parish’s registrar of voters, said the East Regional Library in Youngsville has been the busiest of the par-

employment. “There are targeted outreach campaigns to try and convince people to move back home, and other talented people to move to Louisiana to begin filling these jobs and become part of our state’s growth strategy,” Mitchell said. “We’re growing our talent pipeline, getting those young talented people through high school and STAFF PHOTO BY SOPHIA GERMER college, and doing other People gather near the Starship the day before the launch creative things like training and providing skills to in Starbase, Texas, on Sept. 27. justice system-involved Brownsville is located, and us that for many years, peo- citizens,” she said. “We also Vermilion Parish share ple left Brownsville to go to have to bring in new talent.” Meeting that demand will some economic similari- Corpus to work seven days ties. Both have economies on a tugboat,” he said. “Now, require coordination among shaped by agricultural pro- they can work right here on schools, colleges, workforce duction, and both have had boats in their region with- agencies and employers, as workers leave the region to out having to leave their well as enough workers to fill positions across mulﬁnd employment elsewhere. families.” Preparing local worktiple industries competing for talent. ers to get hired at SpaceX Building a talent pipeline required Texas workforce Mandi Mitchell, CEO of ofﬁcials to cast a wide net, the Lafayette Economic De- Growth brings challenges including recruiting beyond velopment Authority and a In Vermilion Parish, the their own county and help- member of the Louisiana arrival of SpaceX will mean ing workers retrain as the Works transition team, said more than expanded workcompany’s needs became meeting employers’ needs force opportunities. Thouwill require expanding the sands of additional jobs will clearer. Rafael Velas, CEO of pool of available workers as increase demand for housWorkforce Solutions Cam- well as preparing students ing, schools, roads, utilities and public services. eron, said officials recog- for emerging careers. That means pursuing Even before the spaceport nized that SpaceX would bring some of its own em- several strategies at once: is operational, Vermilion ployees. They nevertheless encouraging former resi- Parish is preparing for the made local hiring a priority. dents to return to Louisi- effects of rapid growth — “I don’t think anybody ana, recruiting workers such as debates over how had any illusions that they from other states, prepar- to regulate developments weren’t going to bring their ing young people for jobs in like RV parks built for conown workers, which they growing industries and cre- struction crews. The scale have done, but 70% of the ating training pathways for and timing of those effects workforce since day one people who face barriers to remain uncertain, leaving has come from our region,” Velas said. “Our strategy had to go beyond our county alone, because we weren’t going to be able to provide that 70%.” Job growth in the region has extended beyond SpaceX itself. Two major LNG export projects are being developed in the Brownsville area, and Velas said the growth has created additional demand for workers and opportunities for people who previously left the region to return home. He described how one LNG facility’s need for tugboat services created a local employment opportunity. “The plant contracted with a company out of Corpus for tugboat services, and the owner shared with

De’Ondra King and her mother Danielle King pose for a selfie after voting at the Martin Luther King Recreation Center in Lafayette on Friday.

Continued from page 1A

STAFF PHOTO BY LESLIE WESTBROOK

ish’s three early voting locations, averaging about 1,200 voters a day. “I suspect that has something to do with the Youngsville Chief of Police race being so high-proﬁle,” Menard said. The Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center and the Registrar of Voters office downtown have each seen about 800 to 900 voters a day, she said. Menard said election workers have been able to move voters through the lo-

The Acadiana Advocate l theadvocate.com l Sunday, October 25, 2026 l 5A

cations efﬁciently and that staff members have been working 12-hour shifts to facilitate early voting. Early voting continues through Tuesday , excluding Sunday. Polling locations are open from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Voters can cast early ballots at the Lafayette Parish Registrar of Voters office, 1010 Lafayette St.; the East Regional Library, 215 La Neuville Road in Youngsville; and the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center, 309 Cora St.

local officials to consider how the community might respond. “One thing that hit us in the face very quickly: housing,” Velas said of the initial growing pains in Brownsville. “One of the consequences of a company like this coming is the jolt to the housing industry. There are thousands of employees and it made a very real impact on the cost of living here.” Local ofﬁcials are trying to understand the potential effects while preparing residents for the opportunities, Byler said. With a project of this scale, much remains unknown. “We know we’ll have construction jobs, but what’s the timeline for the rocket launches? What’s the timeline for the propellant? We’re going to play all the ‘what-if’ scenarios,” Byler said. “This is a $100 billion project — I don’t think anybody truly knows what effects this could have.” Louisiana has successfully attracted billions of dollars in megaproject investment. The impact on the local workforce will depend on whether residents have the skills to beneﬁt from the coming jobs — and whether local communities can grow to meet the demand created by thousands of new workers. Email Joanna Brown at joanna.brown@theadvocate. com.

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NURSING

Continued from page 1A cently launched accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing operates. The program is fast and ﬂexible, with students completing it in four consecutive semesters across 16 months, and offers scholarship incentives to stay in the state after graduation — characteristics becoming more common in nursing education as Louisiana’s colleges and universities attempt to address a worsening workforce shortage. Despite those efforts, Louisiana will have a strained nursing workforce on its hands in the coming years, according to the most recent ﬁgures. A dearth of nurses is a concern nationwide as the babyboom generation ages and healthcare needs become greater, as well as more expensive. A 2025 report from the Health Resources and Services Administration projects a gap between demand and supply of over 267,000 full-time registered nurses by 2028. The shortage is even more acute in rural areas. Among the top 10 states with the largest projected shortages in 2038, Louisiana is ranked number nine, with an expected shortage of 11%, or 5,680 fewer full-time RNs than the state is anticipated to need. “In general, the healthcare outcomes are not what we need them to be in Louisiana,” said Brenda Douglas, dean of Tulane’s nursing program. “A big part of that is because we don’t have enough nurses that we need to pay attention to individual people’s needs.” Louisiana nursing educators and administrators say the shortage is not caused by young people lacking interest in a nursing career. Instead, many say they are having to reject suitable applicants at the door. “I would love to admit every qualified student who applies to our nursing program,” Sandra Brown, dean of the College of Nursing and Allied Health at Southern University, said. “Every semester we have over 300 students apply — that’s 600 students a year — and I have to turn away half of those students, because we simply do not have the space, the capacity or the faculty to accommodate them.” National data backs up that experience. According to an American Association of Colleges of Nursing report on enrollment and graduations in baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs, U.S. nursing schools denied over 92,000 applications in 2025 due to inadequate resources, including faculty, clinical sites and classroom square footage. “The more faculty we have, the more students we can educate,” Brown said. “The more students we can educate, the more nurses we can put out into the workforce. It’s a domino effect.”

STAFF PHOTOS BY SOPHIA GERMER

Nursing students gather with med students to talk at the new Tulane University nursing facility in New Orleans.

Nursing students Olivia Shih and Amanda McVay practice on a dummy at the new Tulane University nursing facility in New Orleans.

graduating from Tulane’s program with her BSN next semester, was born and raised in Oklahoma with family members who frequently got sick. When she was 12, her mom was hit by a car and temporarily lost her eyesight. Vantassel said she never forgot the compassion of the nurse who tended to her family that day. “The nurse that was in there made sure I was the first thing that my mom saw — not my dad, not my brother, but her only daughter,” she said. “That really meant a lot to me. Then my mom had really bad complications from the surgery, and that same nurse was in the ICU unit. Regardless of my mom’s history, regardless of how grown I got, she still provided the same level of care, still asked me how I was doing and if I needed anything. That is the moment I was like, ’OK, I’m going to be like you when I grow up.’” Other students had their own reasons for going into the ﬁeld, but what they had in common was a formative moment with a nurse in their past. “I grew up doing competitive gymnastics, so I was always breaking bones,” TuEager to enter nursing lane nursing student Olivia Sarah Vantassel, who is Shih said. “I felt like I was

exposed to a lot of nurses from a young age, and I always liked what they did and my interactions with them more than I did with the actual doctors.” Nursing educators said the meaningfulness of the work is what continues to bring new nurses into the profession. None of the universities mentioned recruiting students as a major challenge contributing to the shortage. “You can do a lot of important things,” said Jennifer Fernandez, dean of the Charity School of Nursing at Delgado Community College. “But you’re not standing at the bedside on the precipice of life and death.”

Partnering up For their part in combating the nursing shortage, Louisiana colleges and universities say they are launching accessible education options to remove time and financial barriers to pursuing a nursing degree, training students with hyper-realistic equipment and settings to prepare them for the ﬁrst year on the job and partnering with hospitals to secure job placements. Last year, Delgado received $1.4 million from the Louisiana Department of Health and Ochsner Health to establish an evening and

weekend program for licensed practical nurses to become registered nurses. Shifting more into evening and weekend hours allows the college to utilize its current faculty and staff and maximize its clinical capac-

roof.” In the state’s ﬂagship university system, LSU Health New Orleans has opened off-campus instructional sites in Baton Rouge and Shreveport to expand access to nursing programs for students across the state, according to School of Nursing Dean Demetrius Porche. “Addressing Louisiana’s nursing shortage requires more than just increasing enrollment,” Porche said in a statement. “It requires creating accessible pathways into the profession, supporting students throughout their academic careers and ensuring graduates are prepared to meet the evolving healthcare needs of our state and communities.” Tulane is also striving to innovate nursing education, Douglas said. While the accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing is not unique, a nursing program housed in the medical school is a less common structure, she said. The university designed it that way, in part, to allow nursing students to learn how to collaborate on an interprofessional team and utilize the state-of-the-art — yet costly — resources that are typically only available to medical students, such as cadaver labs. She said higher education plays the primary role in tackling the workforce shortage in the state. In addition to training the next generation of nurses, the university eyes students who would be a good ﬁt to join nursing faculty one day, she said. “We’ve made a concerted effort in every single semester to really make students understand that they can make a difference here,” Douglas said. “It’s up to us to inculcate students with this real sense of purpose to stay here in Louisiana.”

ity, Fernandez said. Delgado is also working to introduce more K-12 students to the nursing field, starting as early as middle school. The college has around 1,000 nursing students between its various nursing programs and over 3,000 pre-nursing students in the pipeline, Fernandez said. “The earlier the exposure to it, maybe we can get them to fall in love with science and healthcare and continue to pursue that,” she said. “They pursue what they’re exposed to.” Southern University, which graduates the largest number of Black nurses in the state, is planning to double its capacity by opening a new 69,000-square-foot classroom, lab and clinical training building adjacent to the existing nursing building in Baton Rouge. “The new building is going to elevate into a health science center,” Brown said. “It’ll be more than just a nursing school because we’ll be able to bring all Email Haley Miller at of our nursing and allied haley.miller@theadvocate. health programs under one com.

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The Acadiana Advocate l theadvocate.com l Sunday, October 25, 2026 l 7A

Thousands of protesters march in cities across Europe BY COLLEEN BARRY, DEMETRIS NELLAS and SYLVIA HUI

others marched peacefully in Spain’s capital Saturday to demand public pensions aren’t meddled with. “They are threatening us with privatizing pensions. It’s just another thing they want to profit from,” said

Associated Press

MILAN — Thousands of young people marched Saturday through the streets of several Italian cities, including Milan, Rome and Turin as authorities deployed large numbers of police and soldiers in a largely successful bid to stave off a repeat of the violent clashes and looting that marred similar protests last week. The demonstration in Milan remained peaceful, but there were brief clashes with police in both Rome and Turin. In Milan, thousands of young people marched the streets as soldiers were deployed and luxury boutiques were boarded up, but by late afternoon, most shops had opened, Italian media reported. Premier Giorgia Meloni announced a raft of measures, including sending an additional 500 soldiers to Milan and tougher penalties for minors, who police said made up a large part of the violent protesters last week. In Milan, police detained several minors as a preventive measure, media reported. While protests in France have claimed most international attention, large demonstrations also rocked many European cities Saturday from Milan to Rome to Madrid, Lisbon and Tirana. The protests encompass a broad range of issues from education and corruption to anti-war movements, pensions and housing.

Milan In Milan, huge crowds of mostly young people gathered as night fell, chanting insults to Meloni and holding aloft banners such as “No to lies of the state.” A group of protesters dumped manure outside Italy’s energy regulator and burned a symbolic, oversized electricity bill, images broadcast on local television showed. The 500 soldiers deployed to Milan came in addition to hundreds already stationed there, supporting about 5,000 police and other security personnel. Authorities used drone surveillance, checks at railway stations, rapidresponse units and online monitoring for potential calls to violence. A mayoral hopeful, Pierfrancesco Majorino, who announced his candidacy Thursday, joined the marchers and remarked how peaceful the day was, according to Italian media. He will contest a center-left primary in early 2027. Milan’s center-left Mayor Giuseppe Sala, who has held the role since 2016, is not running again. Many stores, particularly luxury boutiques within Milan’s fashion district including Omega, Tiffany and Gucci, boarded up their front windows. The Apple store also shut down and remained shut even as others reopened. Rioters last weekend smashed their way into stores, targeting sneakers, athletic wear and sporting goods on streets that run off the city’s central Duomo square. Security measures extended beyond the city center over concerns protesters could move into other neighborhoods. The protesters ended their march peacefully Saturday evening outside the Milan Polytechnic, more than 2

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO BY GREGORIO BORGIA

Members of right-wing student groups march Saturday through the streets of Rome during a demonstration called ‘Unlock Everything,’ organized in opposition to recent leftwing student protests. miles from the city center. Ofﬁcials said Saturday they were investigating a 30-yearold freelance journalist said to be the “mastermind” of the newly formed Oct. 17 movement, which has been the main driver of the recent protests in Italy. Milan police say last week’s violence and looting involved about 2,000 very young protesters, many of them “naturalized, second-generation Italians,” alongside foreign nationals. Over two days, police arrested 45 people, including 34 minors. A group of about 30 farright activists, described as hooligans linked to Inter Milan soccer club, made a brief appearance chanting antiimmigrant and anti-Muslim slogans but were isolated by police. Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said the soldiers deployed Saturday were only recently allowed to use plastic restraint ties and only in areas around train stations, not throughout the city. They are not authorized to carry pepper spray or Tasers, he said.

Rome Security was also heightened in Rome, where authorities locked down luxury shopping streets and stepped up controls around the Circus Maximus and Piazza del Popolo. A small number of protesters tried to force their way into the Colosseum, but were ushered out by guards. Elsewhere, several hundred students demonstrated peacefully to stress they were not rioters. “I think the images from last week were truly something terrible, especially for the young people, for the stu-

dents, for the vast majority of the younger generations who want to study ... and do not accept being represented by those who use issues and needs to devastate entire cities,” said Riccardo Ponzio, national president of an Italian far-right student association. A separate anti-war march took place in central Rome. Organizers sought to distance themselves from potential unrest, urging participants to keep their faces uncovered and hands visible. But it was these marchers who brieﬂy clashed with police near the Piazza della Repubblica, even as organizers were trying to hold the crowd back using batons and tear gas. In the end, the protesters pulled back when a water cannon was turned on. They retreated to a location about half a mile away.

Albania In Albania’s capital Tirana, riot police used water cannons on large groups of protesters, some of whom set government buildings on fire and threw projectiles at police. Authorities said 2,500 officers patrolled the streets Saturday. For over a week, protesters have hurled rocks, flares, firebombs and fireworks at police who have used batons and tear gas in clashes in the city center. High school and university students are demanding lower tuition fees, greater state investment in education and protesting corruption in the education system. Some have joined a broader anti-government movement calling for the resignation of Socialist Prime Minister Edi Rama.

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Maria José Benito, 68. The protests came ahead of next month’s snap election as Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s Socialist Party criticized the conservative opposition Popular Party for making overtures

about privatizing public pensions. Spain also has been roiled by protests this fall around the issue of housing, as rental and home costs have risen in recent years beyond what many Spaniards can afford.

Trusting her instincts leads Lafayette woman to lifesaving lung cancer treatment

Terry Brazell poses for a picture after ringing the bell in the FMOL Health | Our Lady of Lourdes JD Moncus Cancer & Infusion Center, signifying the end of her last chemotherapy treatment.

By Amanda McElfresh | amcelfresh@theadvocate.com This article is brought to you by FMOL Health | Our Lady of Lourdes.

Foryears,TerryBrazelllivedwithapersistent reclassified as Stage 3. In March, Dr. Haq cough that she initially thought was caused performed surgery on Brazell using the Intuitive by allergies. She saw an ear, nose and throat da Vinci V robotic surgical platform to remove specialist and tried to manage the symptoms, a portion of her right lung and cancerous tissue but the coughing continued. Eventually, her from several lymph nodes. voice became raspy, and she grew increasingly “The da Vinci allows us to use small cuts, long instruments and special cameras to work convinced something more was wrong. Despite having no family history of cancer, in tight spaces with more magnification,” Dr. Brazell, asked to see a gastroenterologist to Haq explained. She also received an infusion investigate whether her symptoms could be a port for subsequent chemotherapy treatments. sign of esophageal cancer. When that evaluation Soon after her diagnosis, Brazell said, found nothing, she asked to see a pulmonologist. providers explained that her case was reviewed That decision led to life-changing diagnoses by a multidisciplinary team of physicians with and access to advanced lung cancer treatment Our Lady of Lourdes, including representatives at FMOL Health | Our Lady of Lourdes in from radiology, oncology, pulmonology and Lafayette. other disciplines. The team “The care I have received gathers regularly to review throughLourdeshasbeenamazimages initially flagged by Eon ing. I don’t think I could have for revealing items in the lungs that might be a cancer concern. gotten this level of treatment Following surgery, Brazell anywhere else,” said Brazell, now 69. “I’m so thankful it’s completed four rounds of all right here in my backyard.” chemotherapy. Today, she has completed treatment and Brazell was initially diagnosedwithpulmonaryfibrosis,a : Lung cancer treatment for Terry is cancer-free, although she Brazell included multiple rounds of continues to use supplemental conditionthatcausesscarringin chemotherapy in the FMOL Health | Our Lady of Lourdes JD Moncus the lungs. Although the damage Cancer oxygen because of her separate & Infusion Center and surgery to remove a portion of her lung disease. cannot be reversed, treatment right lung. can help slow its progression. “It is a little scary to think During a subsequent evaluation after some of about what might have happened, because the inflammation had subsided, another CT the cancer was progressing very fast between scan revealed Brazell had an irregular lung January and March,” she said. “I’m not sure nodule. how things would have turned out had they ThenodulewasidentifiedthroughEonPatient not done the surgery when they did.” Management, artificial intelligence-based Dr. Haq said those kinds of life-saving software that detects potentially concerning outcomes are what makes Eon and Ion so nodules on chest imaging. The technology helps impactful. physicians identify abnormalities that might “This technology helps us identify earlier stage lung cancer more frequently. We want to otherwise go undetected. “Finding a nodule as early as possible is find lung cancer in stage 1 and stage 2 to give significant when it comes to treatment. All of patients better treatment options and a better the specialists become aware of the finding,” chance at survival,” he said. “Our patients are said Dr. Safi Haq, a cardiovascular and thoracic fortunate because they experience this cuttingsurgeon at Our Lady of Lourdes. “We all look edge technology from the beginning of their at things differently. When we look at a finding journey with us. Our whole team is proud to together, it gives us important perspectives so see this process come to fruition. Everyone we can guide the patient care in the best way is on the same page and everything is very possible.” patient-centric.” Brazell then underwent a biopsy using FMOL Health | Our Lady of Lourdes specialIntuitive Ion Robotic Bronchoscopy, a mini- ists AI-assisted software and robotic surgery mally invasive platform that allows doctors to to detect and safely remove the smallest, hardexamine nodules in every part of the lung with to-reach lung nodules, giving patients quicker precision and stability. The biopsy confirmed results and reduced recovery time, all close to home. Discover how we’re turning early detecshe had Stage 2 lung cancer. Just two months after her biopsy, the cancer tion into lasting hope. Visit LourdesRMC.com/ had progressed to more lymph nodes and was lungnodule.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in Louisiana, but finding it before symptoms appear can make all the difference. At FMOL Health | Our Lady of Lourdes, more than 70% of lung cancers detected through screening are found at the earliest stage, when treatment is most effective. Know your risk. Talk to your provider about lung cancer screening. LourdesRMC.com/lungnodule

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EDUCATION A S K T H E E X P E RT S

Principal works to boost student reading scores Community-centered Q&A WITH LISA PERRIN approach creates PRINCIPAL OF ALLEMANDS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL positive environment

Lisa Perrin always knew she wanted to be an educator. Growing up in Raceland, Perrin loved school and her parents impressed upon her the importance of education. In her mind, there was never any question about what she wanted to do when she grew up. “I wanted to impact students and help others have a positive experience the way I did,” said Perrin, now the principal of Allemands Elementary School in Perrin St. Charles Parish. Perrin, who was named her district’s 2025 Principal of the Year, is one of 39 school leaders across the country this year to be chosen as a 2026 “Distinguished Principal” by the National Association of Elementary School Principals. The organization, which advocates for and provides training to K-8 principals and assistant principals, highlighted Perrin’s work creating a “thriving school community” while raising student reading scores. Perrin began her career as a social studies teacher in Lafourche Parish before moving to St. Charles in 2003, where she went from working as a technology facilitator, to assistant principal to principal, eventually becoming the top administrator at St. Rose Elementary. In 2017, she became principal of Allemands, a small school in Des Allemands with about 235 students. Over the past decade, the

How would you describe your school culture? It’s very positive, and it’s very traditional. Our children and community members are invested in our school. A lot of our former students have kids who attend this school, and I also have teachers who attended as students and now they’re back. Teachers and employees make an effort to get to know the children and put them ﬁrst, and we involve our parents. We’re a Title 1 school (a federal grant for schools that serve students from low-income families), so we do a lot to include our parents and our community in our daily happenings and special events. When you walk in the building, you feel that positive family atmosphere. What do you think a thriving school community looks like? I think a thriving school community is an engaged school community. It’s also a community that’s transparent about its struggles and works to solve problems

together. It’s always about putting children ﬁrst, because it’s an investment in our community. We want students to stay when they become adults and give back to the people here. Student performance is important too, and we’re doing well with that. That’s where we’ve had so much gain in the last ﬁve years. Our school continues to encourage teacher collaboration and professional development as we perfect how we teach different subjects, and we’re seeing gains in our DIBELS scores. Ours were some of the highest in our district over the last few years in K-1 and K-2. What have you done to build a supportive culture? I’m accessible, and I’m out in the school community. I’m at PTA meetings, school events, teacher professional development days. I want people to feel like they can come to me to problem-solve. I implemented an advisory group where parents and community leaders meet monthly to brainstorm and talk about our goals for our children and action steps to achieve those goals. Allemands offers a lot of different workshops through our family center. We have workshops to help parents understand our curriculum and give them a chance to visit the school and work with their students. We also work with the library to promote different events like Literacy Night, where parents come in and they spend time with their kids doing different activities that promote reading and writing. How did you work through challenges that have come up during your tenure? Enrollment has been a big challenge. We’re seeing a decline in student enrollment because of ris-

STAFF FILE PHOTO BY LESLIE WESTBROOK

At Allemands Elementery School in St. Charles Parish, school leaders work with the library to promote different events like Literacy Night, where parents come in and they spend time with their kids doing different activities that promote reading and writing. ing insurance costs and the cost of living in our area. Fewer young families are moving in. However, we had a big boost this year after our district implemented universal pre-K, which helped get more students into our building. Before that, more families were watching their children up until kindergarten, which also made the transition to kindergarten more difﬁcult. The other big challenge has been the state’s new numeracy screener and coming up with a system to administer it. It’s something we’re constantly learning about and using to help us grow as professionals to make sure we’re preparing our students to be successful. What are some of the highlights from your time at Allemands? Being able to really make a difference, helping a child become the person they can be, and help-

ing them see that the future is limitless. Being named our district’s Principal of the Year and receiving recognition from NAESP has also been amazing for being able to collaborate with other educators and showing people how much we do. What advice would you give to new principals? Invest in your students ﬁrst, and don’t get distracted by the managerial part of things. Stay focused on work that helps students learn and grow. If you keep that as the point of your compass, everything else falls into place. Build leaders below you and let them take the lead on different things while offering feedback and support. When you do that, it’s unbelievable how people evolve and blossom. Email Elyse Carmosino at ecarmosino@theadvocate.com.

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school’s share of students reading at or above grade level has grown 22 percentage points, reaching 82% last school year. Perrin credits the improvements in part to the school’s community-centered approach, which often involves partnering with the local library to promote literacy events and hosting workshops for parents. Perrin spoke with The TimesPicayune | The Advocate about how she helped create a ﬂourishing school community and raised student reading scores while offering advice to new principals who want to do the same. This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.

AP P

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LOUISIANA POLITICS La. is outlier in midterm congressional elections WASHINGTON – Baton Rouge pollster John Couvillon turned on his TV after Labor Day expecting — and like most political junkies, even looking forward to — a deluge of campaign commercials. He saw only two. This past week, however, airwaves began filling with candidate ads going into the final days before the Nov. 3 congressional midterm elections. “Until this week, I haven’t really been seeing the same level of activity relative to previous election cycles,” Couvillon said. The slowerthan-usual rollout suggests that Louisiana isn’t really part of the national Mark wave that will deBallard termine which party controls the U.S. House and U.S. Senate for the final two years of Donald Trump’s presidency. Partly, that’s because of the chaos surrounding recent changes in Louisiana’s election laws, and partly it’s the result of the U.S. Supreme Court’s June 29 decision in Callais vs Louisiana. Trump’s popularity is at historic lows, and Republicans in traditionally red states — like Texas, Mississippi and Iowa — are suddenly fighting for their political lives. But Louisiana’s competitive congressional races — two open House races and one Senate seat — are likely to go Republican. The U.S. Senate race to replace incumbent Sen. Bill Cassidy is between U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow, R-Baton Rouge, and Democrat Jamie Davis, a farmer and former Tensas Parish Police juror, will be decided when votes are counted, since a primary election already took place.

House races, Gov. Jeff Landry ordered candidates to run in an open primary on Nov. 3. Beyond confusion about which congressional district they landed, many African American voters were angry, said Ashley Shelton, head of the Power Coalition, a New Orleans-based grassroots organization. “Early voting, so far, has been off the charts,” Shelton said. “Callais absolutely played a factor in the turnout we’re seeing.” As of Thursday night, 232,695 ballots were cast early, of which 74,275 were cast by African Americans — that’s more in three days than the 66,824 cast in the full week of early voting in November 2023 runoff for statewide offices, according to results compiled by the Louisiana Secretary of State. Early voting in Louisiana began Oct. 20 and ends Tuesday. “What we’re seeing is voters standing up and saying they want their voices heard,” said Shelton, whose organization has been holdSTAFF PHOTO BY SOPHIA GERMER ing meetings across the state to educate voters. A poster of the ‘I Voted’ sticker by Terrance Osborne was on display during early voting for the Nov. 3 ballot. “People have had enough time to kind of figure out what district “The drama was all front-loaded R-Lafayette, do not face any well- cause of Callais.” they’re in,” said Professor Albert in the Senate race,” said Uniknown challengers. Changing elections Samuels, who teaches political However, the races to replace versity of Louisiana at Monroe science at Southern University. Letlow in the 5th Congressional Professor G. Pearson Cross, who Court rulings and redistricting “People are just now beginning teaches congressional politics and District, and Rep. Cleo Fields, the have put this year’s election forto focus, which is later than usual. Baton Rouge Democrat who opthas published a book on changes mat in turmoil. So, if I’m right, what you have in Louisiana politics. A 6-3 majority on the U.S. Sued not to run for reelection in the is a very fluid electorate,” said All the initial attention was on 6th Congressional District, likely preme Court on June 29 found veteran political operative Roy efforts by the Louisiana Repubwon’t be decided until a runoff in Louisiana’s Baton Rouge-based Fletcher, of Baton Rouge, who December. 6th Congressional District was lican Party to punish Cassidy, Rwas part of the Senate campaign The GOP super-majority unconstitutionally gerrymanBaton Rouge, for voting to convict for State Treasurer John Fleming, Legislature changed the state’s Trump on impeachment charges dered for racial reasons. primary system to one where stemming from the Jan. 6, 2021 Several Deep South Republican- which ended in the May runoff that Letlow won. only fellow partisans chose their storming of the U.S. Capitol. run states, including Louisiana, “You got two sides, clearly, but candidates in a May closed party The races featuring House inused the decision to quickly rearon each of those sides you have cumbents are likely to be decided primary. Cassidy came in third. range Black majority seats, held people deciding which candi“It’s like the air was let out without a runoff. Speaker Mike mostly by Democrats, into disof the balloon,” Cross added. Johnson, R-Benton, Majority tricts that favored Republicans date.” “Then you add the strangeness Leader Steve Scalise, R-Jefferinstead. of starting voting, then stopping Though some primary balEmail Mark Ballard at mbalson, Rep. Troy Carter, D-New it, throwing those votes away beOrleans, and Rep. Clay Higgins, lots had already been cast in the lard@theadvocate.com.

Federal court to hear redistricting arguments

Supreme Court’s ruling. But the Callais plaintiffs say the new map still relies too heavily on race, since it has a majority-Black A federal court will hear argudistrict that stretches from New ments Tuesday on whether CalOrleans up to Baton Rouge. State lais v. Louisiana, the court case that led to seismic changes to the leaders dispute that accusation, saying they drew the map to proVoting Rights Act and a wave of congressional redistricting across tect GOP incumbents like House the country, should Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Benton, be closed. and House Majority Leader Steve A group of White Scalise, R-Jefferson. voters filed the The case is being decided by lawsuit, arguing a three-judge panel sitting in Louisiana’s former Shreveport. The panelists are congressional map former 5th U.S. Circuit Court Capitol — which had two Chief Judge Carl E. Stewart, Buzz majority-Black of Shreveport, who was nomiSTAFF districts — was nated by President Bill Clinton; REPORTS unconstitutional be- and U.S. District Judge David cause it too heavily C. Joseph and District Judge factored in race. The case made it Robert R. Summerhays, both of to the U.S. Supreme Court, which whom sit in Lafayette and were nominated by President Donald issued a ruling that undermined Trump. the section of the Voting Rights Act that courts had long used to require some states to draw majority-Black districts. The Louisiana Legislature responded by drawing a map that Louisiana is getting $5.81 milturned one of the two majoritylion to replace five aging railroad Black districts, currently reprebridges between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, which U.S. Sen. sented by U.S. Rep. Cleo Fields, Bill Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge, says D-Baton Rouge, into a majorityis a step toward potential train White, Republican-leaning district. Louisiana Attorney General service between the two cities. The money comes from the U.S. Liz Murrill’s office is seeking to end proceedings in the case, argu- Department of Transportation through the Consolidated Rail Ining the new map addressed the

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accepted medical use, and a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision. The emergency classification took effect Sept. 18 and was formally published Tuesday; it can remain in effect for up to six months or until officials make the rule permanent. The Health Department did not immediately respond to questions about what prompted the change. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency in August designated the three substances as Schedule I drugs under federal law. At the time, the DEA said that the prevalence of kratom has “led to the proliferation of commerSTAFF PHOTO BY SOPHIA GERMER cial products containing opioids chemically synthesized” from Travelers walk to the Amtrak train to take the Mardi Gras line bound for that substance. Mobile, Ala., in New Orleans. Mitragynine pseudoindoxyl and MGM-15 are being sold in confrastructure and Safety Improvesumer markets and MGM-16 is a “highly potent opioid and shares a ments Program. similar pharmacological profile,” It will pay for the design and construction of the bridges in St. Three synthetic opioids derived according to information released James and St. Charles Parish, from kratom have been classified by the DEA in August. Kratom is an herbal substance making rail service in the southas illegal Schedule I drugs on an eastern part of the state safer and emergency basis by the Louisiana derived from tree leaves native to Southeast Asia that acts as a Department of Health, health ofmore reliable, Cassidy said in a stimulant at low doses and a denews release. ficials announced this week. It also helps lay the foundation Mitragynine pseudoindoxyl, pressant at high doses. for a proposed passenger rail MGM-15 and MGM-16 now carry Last year the Legislature route that would connect Baton felony penalties for illegal posses- passed a ban on kratom, which is Rouge, Gonzales and LaPlace to sion or distribution. The Schedule often sold over the counter at gas New Orleans and the New Orstations, convenience stores and I designation indicates a high smoke shops. potential for abuse, no current leans airport, Cassidy said.

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The Acadiana Advocate l theadvocate.com l Sunday, October 25, 2026 l 11A

N.C. House seat was once a political battleground But redrawn districts change voter preferences

BY NICHOLAS RICCARDI Associated Press

RALEIGH, N.C. — In 2022, Democrat Wiley Nickel ran as a moderate and narrowly won North Carolina’s 13th Congressional District by about 9,000 votes. Two years later, the current congressman, Republican Brad Knott, ran as a conservative and coasted into the U.S. House by more than 70,000 votes. Voters didn’t change their minds. Politicians changed their voters. North Carolina’s Republican-controlled legislature redrew its congressional map to transform what was one of the last remaining swing districts in the South to a safe GOP seat. Lawmakers split the rectangular district into an hourglass shape that carved out Democratic voters in Raleigh and replaced them with a swath of rural counties reaching to the Virginia border. Swing seats, meaning districts a presidential candidate won by 5 percentage points or fewer in the previous election, are disappearing from the national map. For decades after World War II, the number of competitive seats in the House slowly eroded as the nation grew more polarized, voters were less likely to split their ticket and people moved closer to like-minded neighbors, creating Democratic strongholds in urban areas and Republican ones across rural America. That decline accelerated the past year since President Donald Trump sparked a partisan redistricting battle. The number of swing districts fell from 45 to 37. There were 96 House seats that fit the modern definition of a swing seat in 1964, according to one count from the 1970s, when the shrinking number of such districts was first noted. That means the overwhelming majority of House seats are effectively

party. been,” said Linda Long, 62, who will find ways to work Only 15% of North Caro- a Republican in the town of together.” National Democrats added lina’s voting precincts could Roxboro who works at the the seat to a list that could be classified as politically local Walmart. This is what Paul Barrin- flip in such a favorable envicompetitive, according to Michael Bitzer, a political ger is up against. ronment. But many doubt it. scientist at Catawba ColThe Democratic nominee “They’re blowing smoke,” against Knott hopes for an Linwood Parker, the 78-yearlege. “For the average North upset in a year when even old mayor of Four Oaks, Carolinian, depending on GOP members in safe seats said of Democrats’ hopes where they live, if they like the 13th District are they could win the district. Parker is a lifelong Repubdrive an hour in any direc- running scared. Neither tion they will be in a very Knott’s office nor his cam- lican who knows that gerrydifferent North Carolina,” paign responded to a re- mandering is a decades-old he said. tradition in North Carolina. quest for an interview. That certainly is the case Barringer, a former Democrats used to do it traversing from the old 13th healthcare lawyer who re- until they lost power in the District to the new one, an- turned to the tree farm in 2010 wave. Now Republichored in subdivisions and the district where he grew cans do it. soybean and tobacco farms up, said he was previously “Redistricting is just one ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO BYMATT RAMEY that stretch away from Ra- a Republican but switched of the levers that when Reparties to run, hoping he publicans, when they are A lone sign for Brad Knott, the Republican nominee running leigh. for North Carolina’s 13th Congressional District, is seen on a Here, few are talking could attract voters of all in control, have to touch,” about the congressional stripes. Parker said. “Otherwise it’s street corner in Clayton, N.C. “I think people are dis- like saying, when we play race. They see no reason to vote for anyone other than a gruntled about things that this baseball game, we’re are happening,” Barringer going to have three outs, won in primaries, with the The alley may be widen- Republican. “It’s just what I’ve always said. “They want people we’ll give you two.” support of only a fraction ing this year, but it still is of highly ideological voters. an alley. Democrats have Nickel saw the impact dur- expanded their political targets, with the unpopular ing his term. “The biggest divide I Iran war and voters angry found in Congress wasn’t about high prices. There is a long-standing Democrat versus Republican, it was safe seats versus debate among academics as competitive seats,” Nickel to how much of the decline said. “When your focus is on can be blamed on partisanrunning a campaign where motivated redistricting, you talk to every single known as gerrymandering, voter, you look at things dif- and how much on Ameriferently and your focus is on cans’ increasing proclivity solving problems.” to live among like-minded Unite America, an organi- people who vote the same zation pushing alternatives way. Multiple studieshave to party primaries, calculated that 87% of represen- found that without partisan tatives elected to the House gerrymandering, the House in 2024 were chosen by 7% would have about double the number of competitive of the country’s voters. “Voters don’t have any seats it has now. Nickel decided not to run way of holding Congress responsible, except for a for reelection after studynarrow window of swing ing election returns dating districts,” Nick Troiano, the to 2016 and finding that no group’s executive director, Democratic incumbent said in an interview. “The had held on in a seat where least competitive election of Trump took 55% or more of our lifetimes will lead to the the vote. least accountable and least Trump received 58% of representative Congress of the vote in the new district. our lifetimes.” Nickel eventually ran for Republicans are hoping district attorney of Wake the narrow range of com- County, the deeply Demopetitive seats limits what cratic county that was Democrats can win on Nov. largely cut out of the 13th 3. District. By Amanda McElfresh | amcelfresh@theadvocate.com “Both sides are fighting He won his primary and This article is brought to you by The Vincent Senior Living. over a narrow House battle- will take office in January. field,” said Mike Marinella, No Republican ran. October is National Long-Term Care Plan- want to do a certain activity, we will never That highlights how North ning Month, an opportunity for individuals force them. We accommodate each person to a spokesman for the National Republican Congressio- Carolina, and the country, to consider how their needs may change with the best of our ability while still prioritizing nal Campaign. “It’s a knife have effectively become age and what steps they can take to maintain their safety.” segregated by political their independence, dignity and quality of life fight in a dark alley.” The Vincent also offers a dedicated Memory

Plan for tomorrow, live fully today: The Vincent Senior Living encourages families to explore residential options

Ga. man targeted ICE building, officials say By The Associated Press ATLANTA — A 31-year-old Georgia man was charged Friday after he allegedly threw a Molotov cocktail at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in downtown Atlanta. Inique Hinton, of Douglasville, Georgia, was charged with attempted arson of a federal building and depredation of government property, according to U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. Security cameras allegedly caught Hinton igniting an item and then throwing it toward the multistory brick building Tuesday night, according to a statement from

the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia. It hit the fence and caused flames to spread, the statement said. Investigators later found burned cloth, lighter fluid, a glass bottle and a lighter at the scene, the office said. Court records don’t list an attorney for Hinton. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and a public defender’s office did not immediately respond to emails asking if he had an attorney. Hertzberg described law enforcement’s quick work to find the suspect as “exemplary.” “We are going to respond with extreme severity when it comes to prosecuting this

conduct because we need to send a message that this is not OK,” he said during a news conference. Hinton was arrested at a home in a suburb of Atlanta and was taken into custody peacefully, according to ofﬁcials. Hertzberg said he was not aware of Hinton having a history of criminal convictions. If convicted, Hinton faces up to 20 years in federal prison for the arson charge and up to 10 years for the depredation charge, according to Hertzberg. The building is surrounded by a metal fence and contains ofﬁces for ICE as well as an immigration court.

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in the years ahead. While conversations about long-term care often focus on medical needs, planning can also mean finding a lifestyle that offers greater convenience, meaningful social connections and peace of mind. At The Vincent Senior Living, residents have several options designed to accommodate different preferences and needs while preserving the comforts of home. “We provide a large scope of care, but at the same time, our community is a lively, upbeat, positive environment,” said Community Relations Director Lorenzo Viator. “We provide care to residents, but we also encourage them to do things that they can still do on their own. We are here to assist and help, but we don’t want to do residents a disservice.” Some older adults are still comfortable living on their own and physically capable of handling daily tasks, but are looking for fewer household responsibilities and more opportunities to socialize. The Vincent’s Independent Living and Cottage Living spaces are the ideal solution. Independent Living and Cottage Living residents maintain their routines. Many continue to drive, work, visit family, host guests and participate in community activities. They can prepare meals in their own kitchens, or dine with fellow Vincent residents. Optional housekeeping and transportation services are available. The goal is to eliminate some of life’s burdens without sacrificing personal freedom. For residents who need additional support, The Vincent’s Assisted Living community offers personalized care in an environment designed to encourage socialization and engagement. On-site amenities include a movie theater, library, bistro and beauty salon, while scheduled activities give residents opportunities to explore hobbies and develop friendships. “We encourage residents to get out of their apartments, socialize and engage with others,” Viator said. “At the same time, we respect the fact that this is their home. If someone doesn’t

Care area for people living with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. Its approach combines safety and personalized assistance with therapeutic activities, sensory exercises and individual meal plans to nurture residents’ physical health and emotional well-being, all in a setting that is comfortable and supportive. Across all of its living options, The Vincent emphasizes the Southern hospitality that defines life in Acadiana. Whether residents are enjoying an afternoon walk, sharing coffee with neighbors or receiving assistance from staff, the focus is on making each person feel valued and at home. Regardless of their living situation, many residents at The Vincent have said their only regret is not moving into the community sooner. In fact, several have encouraged others to explore senior community living when they are still able to enjoy the amenities and socialization that The Vincent provides. For families considering the future, National Long-Term Care Planning Month is an ideal chance to begin those conversations before an immediate need arises. Exploring living arrangements, discussing personal preferences and understanding different levels of support can help older adults make decisions that reflect their lifestyle and priorities. The Vincent Senior Living is located at 2201 Verot School Road in Lafayette. Visit www. vincentseniorliving.com for more information or to schedule a tour.

12A l Sunday, October 25, 2026 l theadvocate.com l The Acadiana Advocate

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THE GULF COAST Restaurants plan for ‘slow season’ New burger joint

to feature beach volleyball, concerts

Solutions for more traffic include specials, family nights

said of the downtown Ed’s on the John revitalization. “It makes sense to us.” Beach planned perfect Plans for the restaurant, for Gulfport spot which will lease city land,

BY MARTHA SANCHEZ Staff writer

The biggest challenge William Rester is facing this fall at his Long Beach, Mississippi, restaurant is LSU football. Many of the local fans and Louisianans who own second homes on the Mississippi Gulf Coast spend game days glued to their televisions — not dining out. “Saturdays in September are the worst,” Rester, who owns the elevated Southern restaurant Radish, said with a laugh. “There’s no worse weekend vibe killer.” His dilemma is one example of a problem that restaurants are facing across the Gulf Coast region. School is back in session. The height of the tourist season is over. The holiday festivities that drive diners into restaurants have not yet begun. So many chefs and owners are scrambling to brainstorm ideas that will generate enough revenue to carry their businesses through the slump. It is a tough time of year for even some of the most acclaimed restaurants on the Gulf Coast, where the culinary scene is growing and chefs are earning more accolades every year. The slow season, which generally runs from late August until the holidays, is also compounded this year by national economic pressures that are raising food costs and leading fewer families to spend money on dining. At least one Mississippi Coast restaurant — Barracuda Taco Stand location in Bay St. Louis — has already closed. Pat Fontaine, executive director of the Mississippi Hospitality and Restaurant Association, said many other restaurants on the coast are turning to specials and value offers.“Sales are very soft,” Fontaine said.

BY MARTHA SANCHEZ Staff writer

PROVIDED PHOTO

White Pillars recently began hosting a Sunday pizza night to attract more families.

in Biloxi, has ﬁlled the days of the week with varying specials — half-price oysters, discounted small plates, a burger night and more. The restaurant recently began hosting a Sunday pizza night in effort to attract more families. “I don’t know that it’s working, but we’re trying,” Sumrall said this week. “You can’t just sit back and hope you make it.” The Sycamore House, a family-run restaurant in Bay St. Louis, has adopted a similar mindset. The restaurant relies on locals and regulars in the off-season and tries to treat them well. Stella LeGardeur, a chef and owner, said she encourages locals who dine at the restaurant to make another reservation before they leave. Sometimes, she even calls regulars who she hasn’t heard from in a while. “We just try to make sure we communicate,” LeGardeur said. Jourdan Nicaud, a restaurateur and developer behind the group that includes Bacchus and Field’s restaurants across the Mississippi Coast, said he is trying to offset losses from fewer fall visitors by booking parties and events over the holidays. But he is noticing some positive signs Pizza nights, discounts, outreach even amid the slowdown. At Nicaud’s Chefs across the Gulf Coast are try- restaurants, the fall slump isn’t as bad ing to ﬁnd solutions to the post-summer as it’s been in the past because many newcomers are moving full-time to the slowdown. Austin Sumrall, the owner and chef at Mississippi Coast and growing the local White Pillars, a farm-to-table restaurant customer base. Nicaud also said recent

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Well-known restaurateur Robert St. John is planning to build a beach burger joint on the Mississippi Coast that follows a wave of new development in downtown Gulfport. The concept, called Ed’s on the Beach, will be situated along the water in the Gulfport Harbor on land that has been empty since Hurricane Katrina. The menu will resemble another of St. John’s restaurants — Ed’s Burger Joint in Hattiesburg, Miss. — with some seafood additions. St. John is also planning an open-air bar, concerts and beach volleyball. Opening is slated for March 2028. Ed’s on the Beach is the latest new development planned in downtown Gulfport, which is undergoing a transformation. A $105 million mixed-use town center with a hotel, shops and luxury apartments is under construction at U.S. 90 and Highway 49 on the beach. A few blocks away, St. John also opened a breakfast and lunch diner called The Downtowner earlier this year, and lines to eat there are regularly out the door. “We feel excited just to be a small part of that,” St.

summers have been stronger than ever.

Eager for holidays The Gulf Coast’s slow season is distinct from the rest of Mississippi, where visiting football crowds carry restaurants in many college towns through the fall, and from New Orleans, where restaurants are challenged in the heat of summer. But the region’s culinary acclaim keeps growing. White Pillars and Siren Social Club in Gulfport — which Sumrall also runs with his wife, Tresse — both earned a spot on the prestigious Michelin Guide last year alongside the contemporary Asian restaurant Vestige in Ocean Springs. The Sumralls and Vestige have also earned nods from the James Beard awards. Siren Social Club, a tropical speakeasy-style spot, was also named restaurant of the year by a state tourism conference held earlier this month. Still, Sumrall said the restaurant had just nine reservations one recent night. In Long Beach, Rester is focused on booking private events and catering gigs. Radish has opened a small private dining space behind the restaurant, which Rester has so far ﬁlled with several trivia and bingo events. And he’s already booking Christmas parties. “I’m just dying for the holidays to get here,” he said, “so I can ﬁll this up.”

moved forward after the Gulfport City Council approved the agreement last week. Ed’s is also planning to offer beach chairs and cabanas and host a weekend music festival called Ed’s Fest, which city leaders hope will lure more visitors to the Coast. A menu included in the lease agreement includes frozen drinks, burgers, shrimp and fish sandwiches, and milkshakes. It will be the first beach concept for St. John’s New South Restaurant Group, which is also behind Crescent City Grill, Loblolly Bakery and several other Hattiesburg establishments. The restaurant will pay the Gulfport Redevelopment Commission more than $33,000 a year to lease the land, according to city records. The location at the harbor has been empty since Katrina destroyed a restaurant called the White Cap that once stood there. Building on the beach holds deep meaning to St. John, who grew up in Hattiesburg and visited the coast to crab, fish and dine out each summer as a boy. “My love of restaurants came from the Mississippi Gulf Coast,” he said. “To come back to the Coast,” he added, “is very special to me.”

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The Acadiana Advocate l theadvocate.com l Sunday, October 25, 2026 l 13A

Envoy: Iran says its still open to talks Discussions with U.S. would be under interim deal from June

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO BY KATE BRUMBACK

The chief executive of Six Flags says the company will install seat belts on the Georgia roller coaster from which a rider fell to his death earlier this month.

Six Flags says it will install seat belts on coaster

Reilly didn’t specify Announcement which other Six Flags coastcomes after ers will get seat belts. But it has temporarily closed eight death at Ga. park additional roller coasters at

BY RUSS BYNUM

Associated Press

The chief executive of Six Flags says the company will install seat belts on the Georgia roller coaster from which a rider fell to his death earlier this month. The company’s rides with similar restraints will also get the safety upgrade. The theme park operator announced the extra safeguard less than two weeks after 42-year-old Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem of Atlanta died after being ejected from his seat on the Goliath coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia. “We are reinforcing safety precautions at our parks and taking additional measures, including adding seat belts on Goliath and other coasters with a similar restraint,” John Reilly, president and CEO of Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, said in a statement Friday. Goliath remains shut down while state and local ofﬁcials investigate the Oct. 12 death.

five other parks in the U.S. and Canada. Those rides all share the same manufacturer and a similar restraint system. Six Flags hasn’t said when those coasters are expected to reopen. Reilly’s statement said Six Flags has enlisted independent engineers and inspectors to review safety procedures for all rides at its theme parks. Investigators haven’t said what went wrong on the Georgia coaster. Witnesses said they saw Kariem rise up out of his seat and fall headfirst back into the cart before being ejected. Some people who rode Goliath before him that day said they had concerns about its restraints. All nine of the Six Flags coasters taken offline were manufactured by the Swiss company Bolliger & Mabillard. They also feature similar clamshell restraints that sit at the top of a vertical bar between each rider’s knees. The bar locks a padded restraint into place over the rider’s lap and upper legs.

Pakistan asks Afghanistan to act against militants BY MUNIR AHMED Associated Press

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan urged Afghanistan’s Taliban government on Saturday to take verifiable action against militants it says operate from Afghan territory, dismissing Kabul’s assertion that Islamabad was shifting blame for its own security failures. In a separate statement on X, Pakistan’s Information Ministry rejected allegations that it was arming Afghans to fight the Taliban or recruiting them to fight anti-Pakistan insurgents. Former U.S. envoy to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad had cited reports of

both activities a day earlier. The exchanges come amid heightened tensions between the two sides over militant activity, repeated border clashes and Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan, deepening a long-standing dispute over responsibility for crossborder violence. Khalilzad on Friday wrote on X that there had been reports of Pakistan arming Afghans to fight the Taliban inside Afghanistan and of the Pakistani military recruiting Afghans to ﬁght anti-Pakistan insurgents. He offered no evidence, and did not identify the sources of those reports.

continue. Pakistan and Qatar helped broker the June agreement, which sought to restore shipping through the strait, lift the U.S. naval blockade and begin negotiations toward a broader deal adBY MUNIR AHMED dressing Iran’s nuclear proAssociated Press gram. Moghadam, speaking at a ISLAMABAD — Iran remains seminar in Islamabad, said open to talks with the U.S. that Iranian ofﬁcials had conunder a Pakistan-brokered veyed their willingness to reinterim deal reached in June open the strait during visits to end the conﬂict, Tehran’s ambassador to Islamabad said Saturday, accusing Washington of undermining diplomacy and prolonging the standoff over the Strait of Hormuz. Ambassador Reza Amiri Moghadam said that Iran recently conveyed through Pakistan that it was prepared to reopen the Strait of Hormuz if Washington lifted its naval blockade, but accused President Donald Trump of rejecting the proposal by insisting the blockade of Iranian ports would

More rain forecasted for Four Corners region

The agreement was signed following renewed attacks by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen on Saudi Arabia. The three countries who signed it said it would strengthen collective deterrence and expand defense cooperation. Turkey has submitted the agreement to parliament for ratiﬁcation. Turkish and Pakistani ofﬁcials say it is defensive and does not target Iran or any other country.

p U g n i k a We’re B pooky. Something S

BY JOHN HANNA Associated Press

Hundreds of people lost power and were told to evacuate in the Four Corners area, emergency crews staged overnight rescues, and roads and bridges remained closed Saturday because of severe flooding in Colorado and New Mexico. Authorities expected more rain Saturday in the region where the borders of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah meet. Two months of heavy rains in the area ended a summer drought, and from Wednesday through Friday, a total of 4 inches fell on saturated ground, with another 1 inch possible Saturday. “We may see some ﬂoodwaters receding, but there will be more rain, and the rivers are expected to rise again,” San Juan County, New Mexico, Emergency Management warned in a Facebook post Saturday. The department said it staged 20 rescues in the Farmington and Shiprock, New Mexico, area, where 600 homes had been urged to evacuate and about 1,500 people were without power, local utilities reported. A 2-mile stretch of U.S. Highway 64 west of Shiprock into the town was closed because of standing water on the roadway, the New Mexico Department of Transportation said. Standing water and ﬂooding over a bridge over the San Juan River also closed a four-mile stretch of New Mexico 371 south of Farmington, the area’s largest city, with about 46,000 residents.

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to Tehran by Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Muni r, provided Washington ended its blockade. Moghadam also said that Tehran would study the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement that includes Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey before deciding whether to support it, describing it as a potential instrument for unity. “We will study the Mecca Agreement, and if it is good, we will support it,” he said.

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Navigating open enrollment: Louisiana Blue offers tips on making informed health insurance decisions for 2027 By Amanda McElfresh | amcelfresh@theadvocate.com This article is brought to you by Louisiana Blue. With health insurance enrollment periods and deadlines nearing, now is an ideal time for people to evaluate their coverage and make decisions for 2027. Mike Bertaut, a healthcare economist with Louisiana Blue, said choosing the right plan involves more than comparing monthly premiums. From provider networks and prescription coverage to changes in federal financial assistance, understanding the details of each plan choice/ option can help people avoid unexpected expenses. Here, Bertaut shares more advice on navigating open enrollment and finding coverage that meets individual medical needs and household budgets. What are the main health insurance options? There are four ways to get covered: Medicare, Medicaid,employercoverage oraplanonHealthCare.gov. If you are employed, your first stop should be with your company’s HR department. Most employers subsidize health insurance plans for their employees at a better rate than HealthCare. gov. If you are not working or are a dependent on someone else’s plan, you may be eligible for Medicaid. In Louisiana, many parents have their own health insurance through their jobs, but their children are eligible for Medicaid. If you are 65 or older, or you have certain health conditions or disabilities, you may qualify for Medicare. Why is now the time to think about health insurance? Many employers have open enrollment for next year’s insurance coverage during the last couple months of the year. In addition, individuals can start enrolling on HealthCare.govonNov.1.IfyouwanttobecoveredonJan. 1, you need to choose a HealthCare.gov plan by Dec. 15. The annual enrollment period for Medicare is Oct. 15 to Dec. 7. That is the no-harm, no-foul period to change Medicare plans. When people are older, their needs tend to change a little faster, so there is this flexible period each year to move from one plan to another if needed. Aside from monthly premiums, what factors should people consider when choosing health insurance? People at different ages and different states of health require different levels of coverage. It’s important to considerhowmuchfinancialriskyouwanttotakeon.That includes looking at premiums, co-pays and deductibles. People should also see whether a doctor, hospital or clinic they use is in each plan’s network. When you ask your doctor, make sure you ask if they are specifically “in network” for your health plan. Many doctors and medical facilities will say they accept a certain insurance, but they may be out of your network, which can raise your costs dramatically. If you’re considering a Louisiana Blue plan, you can visit lablue.com to see which providers are in the plan’s network. If you already have a Louisiana Blue plan, you can check the MyLaBlue app [available at lablue.com, as a mobile app or linked through an existing MyChart account] to see which providers are in the network for your plan. How can an agent help people navigate their options? Buying a health insurance product can be confusing. Sometimes there are lots of choices. Agents can be most helpful in this process. They may ask your age, health

considerations, medications and which doctors you want to use to help you zero in on the plan that is best for you. They will use your ZIP code and income level to see what plans are available to you and estimate your out-ofpocket costs. They are the experts at taking all of those considerations into account, walking you through your options and discussing the pros and cons of each one. HealthCare.gov in particular can be daunting. Our recentStraightTalkblogexplainsthedangersofsearching onlineforplans.Manyonlinesearchresultsunfortunately leadpeopletomisinformation, high-pressure tactics and even fraud. Agents know what is legitimate and what is not. What should people know about HealthCare.gov plans with federal subsidies? When you apply for a policy that includes federal assistance,youareresponsible for providing your income estimatefornextyear.Ifyou misjudge that estimate and receive too much assistance, the IRS will want most or even all of it back when you ﬁle your taxes. In the past there were limits on how much of that money the government would claw back. That has changed this year. The limits are gone. There’s much more risk in making that estimate because the penalties could be much more substantial now. This is another situation where using an agent is helpful. They are integral in making sure your income estimates areconservativeandsensible.It’sneverbeenmoreimportant to have an agent involved who understands what the government will expect and what the consequences of an error could be. And,ifyouenteryourincomeinformationandqualify for the state Medicaid program, HealthCare.gov will let you know that. How often should people change or review their health insurance plans? If you have a plan that is working for you and nothing major has changed in your life, including your health, dependents or employment, it may be ﬁne to stick with it. Still, it doesn’t hurt to look at your options each year. Plans come and go, and what you had before through your employerorHealthCare.govmaybedifferentinthecoming year. What are the main things people should do now, before choosing a health plan? Look at your current coverage, the dependents you are covering and who you will be covering in 2027. For everyone on your plan, look at the medications they take, the doctors they see and the hospitals they use. If you have health insurance through your employer, make sure to know their policies around covering spouses. At many companies, if an employee is married, employers will ask if the spouse has access to health insurance at their own job. If they do, the spouse may either not be offered insurance at all, or there will be a substantial fee to cover them on your employer’s plan. Lastly, remember that you can’t predict everything. Unexpected events can and do happen. The best you can do is make sure you are covering the health needs you know about now. Call 1-800-821-2758 or visit lablue.com to connect with a licensed, experienced agent who can help you review your 2027 health plan options. There’s no obligation to buy, and you do not pay anything to work with an agent.

14A ● Sunday, October 25, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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

Three books for the La. music and history fan to enjoy Jim Soileau. Pete Bergeron. Jerry Dugas. Luke Collins. Those may not be household names. But for many who grew up in south Louisiana and east Texas, these French-speaking radio announcers Herman were like famFuselier ily whose voices could be heard before breakfast or during a weekend barbecue. Their impact is chronicled in “French in the Morning,” a new book by Noah Arceneaux, a media studies professor at San Diego State University and Cajun show host on KEUN in Eunice. The work is among other biographies on New Orleans soul great Irma Thomas and swamp pop pioneer Johnnie Allan of Lafayette that I’m looking forward to reading. With Christmas knocking on the door, these titles make good gifts for the music lover and Louisiana history fan in your life. Here are a few previews.

ä See FUSELIER, page 2B

S U N D AY, O C T O B E R 25, 2026

1BN

Travelodge owner fined over $5,000

ﬁve years ago. The motel is paired. We’ve asked the city to re- exterior, not maintaining the buildUpgrade deadline nearly not in a condition that LCG could inspect so the record reﬂects that.” ing’s exterior and overhangs, failrecommend being condemned but Several residents who live nearing to maintain the pool and not inmissed; LCG issues can be “if the owner does not begin by attended the hearing in sup- stalling a fence around it, records the rehabilitation of this property port of LCG’s actions. Alan Bre- show. The pool has since been rewarning soon,” a LCG spokesperson said. aud spoke and noted that Daggula moved.

BY ADAM DAIGLE

Acadiana business editor The owner of the old Travelodge Motel in Lafayette was fined over $5,000 for not meeting a 45-day deadline for upgrades and warned the building could be condemned if improvements don’t happen soon. Travelodge Lafayette LLC, led by local property owner Ravi Daggula, was fined $5,550 during a Wednesday hearing and could face a fine of $300 per day if work is not completed in another 180 days, according to Lafayette Consolidated Government. LCG’s compliance division will also closely monitor progress at the building at 1101 W. Pinhook Road, which Daggula bought

‘French in the Morning: A History of Cajun and Creole Radio in Louisiana and Texas, 1928-2025,’ by Noah Arceneaux University of Louisiana at Lafayette Press Since the late 1920s, French radio announcers were not only DJs who played Cajun music or zydeco. They broadcast news, weather, obituaries, meat market ads, live music from bars and even the Rosary — all in French. Their voices are not as plentiful today, but Arceneaux deeply researched their history and captured some who are still hosting radio shows in French.

‘Irma Thomas Soul Queen of New Orleans,’ by Johnette Downing and Scott Billington University Press of Mississippi At the age of 85, Irma Thomas still sounds as wonderful as she did in 1964, when “Wish Someone Would Care” when up to No. 2 on the Billboard R&B chart and No. 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart. But her challenges have been many, including four children by the age of 20. Just a few months after Thomas recorded “Time Is on My Side” in 1964, the Rolling Stones stole her spotlight with a cover that won international fame. Yet Thomas endured to survive cancer and win a Grammy after 50 years of performing. The long-awaited biography,

An inspector noted the rooms at the hotel had been cleared out as instructed, but the asbestos had not been removed by the deadline set in September. Toilets were visible outside each room for several days. In a statement provided to The Acadiana Advocate, Daggula said he does not dispute the ruling and will pay the ﬁne. The demolition process took longer than anticipated to meet historic preservation requirements. The violations LCG cited will be completed within the 180-day period, he said. An itemized list of violations was not available. “That is an explanation — not an excuse,” he said. “One cited item was cleared before the hearing, and many others have been re-

promised during the last hearing that the demo work would be completed. “He’s making a mockery of this whole process,” Breaud said Friday. “All the people in The Oaks (neighborhood) are just screaming because we have to go by it every day. This is something out of Detroit 10 years ago. This is urban blight at its worst.” The fines are the latest in Daggula’s attempt to renovate the old motel, which he bought in late 2021 for $1.35 million. He had earlier faced a notice of seizure and thousands of dollars in fines from LCG for lack of activity at the site, but the notice was lifted and over $26,000 in fines were waived. LCG cited Daggula for not removing graffiti on the building’s

Daggula said his group bought the property to house resident doctors for Lafayette General Hospital before Ochsner changed plans. The group switched to a boutique hotel plan using historical tax credits, which includes every step requiring a review and approval process. The group has also hired a general contractor, got LCG approval to combine the lots and completed a sidewalk review. Daggula said a phone number and email will be made available for any neighbors who have questions. “The honest lesson for us is that none of that work was visible from Pinhook and we did not get a chance to explain it well,” Daggula

ä See FINE, page 2B

CIVIC DUTY

ABOVE: Voters arrive to cast their ballots on Friday at the Martin Luther King Recreation Center in Lafayette. LEFT: Odessa Dennis casts her ballot Friday. BELOW: ‘I voted’ stickers are on hand for voters Friday at the Martin Luther King Recreation Center.

Our Lady of Lourdes closes Lafayette Surgicare Outpatient surgery cases to be consolidated

BY ADAM DAIGLE

Acadiana business editor Lafayette Surgicare, an outpatient surgery center on Ambassador Caffery Parkway, closed its doors on Friday.

The center, which opened in 2003 and became afﬁliated with Our Lady of Lourdes Women’s & Children’s Hospital in 2019, was closed to drive efﬁciency and optimize surgical capacity across the market, a Lourdes spokesperson said. Cases will be consolidated to other surgical locations across the Lourdes system, and Lourdes will be appointed custodian of the center’s medical records. Patients who

need medical records can send requests to surgicare@fmolhs.org. Surgicare occupied an 18,277-square-foot space on the ﬁrst ﬂoor of the 81,000-square-foot medical office building at 4630 Ambassador Caffery Parkway, Suite 101 on the FMOL Health/Our Lady of Lourdes campus. It had four operating rooms and two procedure rooms. Lourdes has not decided on what will happen to the space, the

spokesperson said. Lourdes acquired Lafayette Surgicare when it bought Women’s and Children’s Hospital from HCA Health Care. The deal also included Elaine M. Junca Woman’s Imaging Centre, The Cancer and Infusion Center, Kids Specialty Center and other physician practices and clinics. Email Adam Daigle at adaigle@ theadvocate.com.

2B l Sunday, October 25, 2026 l theadvocate.com l The Acadiana Advocate

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Baton Rouge addresses pedestrian safety Staff writer

The deaths of three pedestrians within 21 hours last weekend have prompted calls for improving safety in East Baton Rouge Parish — and underscored statistics that have long placed it near the top for such fatalities both statewide and nationally. Early in the morning of Oct. 18, LSU student Leah Fonte, 21, and her fiancé Shane Hirstius, 20, were both fatally struck by a car while walking on the shoulder of Nicholson Drive. That night, 44-year-old Brandon Dewaunn Square was killed while carrying his 3-year-old son — who was badly injured — while walking on Blount Road. Despite efforts in recent years to make the parish’s roads safer — sidewalk and lighting projects are currently underway in several trouble spots — such deaths have kept Baton Rouge high in various pedestrian death rankings. The LSU Center for Analytics and Research in Transportation Safety reports that 23 pedestrians and four bicyclists died in 2025 in East Baton Rouge Parish, the second-highest parish in the state. Orleans Parish had 24 pedestrian and four bicyclist deaths. Additionally, 55 pedestrians were seriously injured in crashes in East Baton Rouge, compared to 80 in Orleans. East Baton Rouge Parish has the largest population, while Orleans is the third-highest. “Usually, it’s East Baton Rouge and Orleans that have higher rates of pedestrians being killed,” said Gregory Fischer, public information ofﬁcer for the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission. “LSU naturally creates a huge walking environment out there, and

that East Baton Rouge Parish is the fifth most deadly metro area in the country for pedestrians, behind Memphis, Albuquerque, Bakersfield and Tucson. New Orleans tied with Riverside, California, for ninth. The study said Baton Rouge has an average pedestrian fatality rate of 4.18 per 100,000, and there were 183 such deaths from 2020-24. Officials said some of the reasons for the high rate include drunk driving and an infrastructure that’s not built around pedestrian safety. “There are people in the parish who say putting sidewalks down is a waste of taxpayers’ money, but not everybody can afford a car,” said Fred Raiford, director of transportation and drainage for East Baton Rouge Parish. “I want to have infrastructure that can help protect (them).” Rodney Mallett, public information officer for DOTD, said on average, 25% of pedestrian fatalities involve alcohol by the driver, pedestrian or both parties. The 20-year-old driver who fatally struck Fonte and Hirstius had a blood alcohol level of .048, and she was arrested for operating a vehicle while intoxicated. No arrests were made in the death of Square. Fischer said Louisiana has averaged 166 pedestrian fatalities annually over the past five years. “It’s not good because we’re working hard to do our part and we’re not seeing it go in the direction that we want it to,” he said.

Walkways, lighting The city-parish’s major road building and expansion program, MovEBR, also focuses on safety, as do some federal grants. Perkins Road from Siegen Lane to Pecue Lane is widening from a two-lane roadway into a four-lane corridor with

cials were awarded $19.2 million for project SAFE Siegen, which will improve pedestrian crossings and bus stops on a 1.35-mile segment of Siegen Lane from Interstate 10 to Airline Highway. MovEBR leaders broke ground on improvements for Nicholson Drive in August. The project will widen the roadway and add bicycle lanes and a side path for pedestrian trafﬁc. Raiford said that along with sidewalks, crosswalks are key. The department installs push buttons for pedestrians to cross the street on busy roads. In subdivisions, they’ll install a well-lit sign and stripe the road. Raiford said in construction zones, the city-parish tries to build infrastructure in the zone for pedestrians, but it’s not always possible. “There are times we have sewer problems, or we’re doing road work, and we have to close the infrastructure,” Raiford said. “I don’t want people to be around contractors who are working and accidentally create an issue.” Raiford said they try to provide alternate routes when construction is in progress, but it’s not always possible. Speed limits are also a consideration. After the deaths of Fonte and Hirstius, the state on Wednesday lowered the speed limit on Nicholson Drive from Bob Pettit Boulevard to Brightside Drive from 45 to 35 mph, Mallett said. Mallett said state transportation officials, local law enforcement and the city-parish are reviewing additional safety measures there. Construction currently lines the 5000 block of Nicholson — where the couple was hit — due to an in-progress project. “When we ﬁnish construction, … that might be one

Lemoine, Richard Lewis 'Dick'

Continued from page 1B

many people are walking a median to reduce trafﬁc. of the best roadways we Deadly weekend around at night in those two Pedestrians on that stretch have,” Raiford said. “This of the state.” were walking in the shoulder is because it will be safe for adds to unsettling parts A study from Smart of the road or in a dry ditch. drivers from a motor standstatistics Growth America showed In July, St. George offi- point, but we will also have

BY BLAKE LESCHBER

Obituaries

FUSELIER

done by her longtime producer Scott Billington and his wife/ researcher Johnette Downing, is out Nov. 16.

the proper turning movements that need to be done that will minimize conﬂict with pedestrians.” Florida Boulevard — a state highway — is the “worst” roadway in the state of Louisiana for pedestrian fatalities, according to Raiford. He said the city-parish is continuing to work with the state on increasing safety, including adding more sidewalks and improving trafﬁc signals. “Florida Boulevard has a lot of businesses on it,” Raiford said. “Building this infrastructure gives more opportunity to people within the subdivisions that tie into Florida Boulevard to walk down the sidewalk and back home without having to drive a vehicle.” The department is also working on a bus rapid transit project that runs from Plank Road to Nicholson. Raiford said the project is providing more bus stop locations, improving the roadway and putting sidewalks on Plank Road.

Richard Lewis "Dick" Lemoine, 87, a native of Cottonport, La., and resident of Bunkie, La., passed away peacefully at his home on October 17, 2026 in the company of his family and friends. A funeral Mass celebrating Dick's life will be held on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, at noon at St. Mary's Assumption Catholic Church 808 Front Street, Cottonport, LA. Visitation will be observed from 10 a.m. until time of services. If you would like to view or sign the guestbook, please visit www.melanco nfunerals.com.

‘From the Cotton Fields to the Promised Land: The Life and Times of Swamp Pop Pioneer Johnnie Allan,’ as told to Donna Guillot Amazon Johnnie Allan went from a childhood sharecropper to life as a school principal and a founding father of swamp pop. His cover of Chuck Berry’s “Promised Land,” featuring an accordion ride from Cajun ace Belton Richard, became a gold record and won loyal fans across Europe. Now 88, Allan is a celebrated singer, Cajun French songwriter, author and legendary dancehall icon with many tales to tell. His daughter Donna Guillot puts those stories, with more than 200 photos, in his ﬁrst memoir, due out at an undetermined date in November. Herman Fuselier is executive director of the St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission. A longtime journalist covering Louisiana music and culture, he lives in Opelousas. His “Zydeco Stomp” show airs at noon Saturdays on KRVS 88.7 FM.

Staying safe Fischer, the state highway commission safety spokesman, said pedestrians should always cross the street at crosswalks if available and be aware of their surroundings. “If you don’t happen to have a sidewalk, you always want to walk in a lane facing traffic,” Fischer said. “You want to be as close to the edge of the street as possible, but you want to be facing traffic to see what’s coming in case you have to jump out of the way.” Fischer recommended pedestrians wear bright or reflective clothing so drivers can see them more easily. There’s a higher level of danger for pedestrians in construction zones, and getting out of the area safely and efficiently is key to staying safe, he said.

How to place an Obituary Notice EMAIL:

obits@theadvocate.com

FINE

ments on the multiple condos it owns there. Another LLC registered to Daggula, First Stone Investments, in March was ordered to pay the Hunter’s Forest Condominium Owners Association nearly $55,000 for unpaid assessments and late fees for a unit it owns there, records show.

Continued from page 1B

225-388-0289

How to place a Memorial Ad

Email Adam Daigle at adaigle@theadvocate. com.

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.

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STAFF FILE PHOTO BY LESLIE WESTBROOK

The owner of the old Travelodge motel on Pinhook Road was fined $5,500 for not meeting a deadline for upgrades. Ravi Daggula was warned by Lafayette Consolidated Government the building could be condemned if improvements aren’t made soon. late fees for a suite it owns in the building. In August, Greenbriar Investments was ordered to pay $12,097.86 plus fees

to the Greenbriar Condominium Association after last year being ordered to pay the same group over $100,000 for unpaid assess-

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The Acadiana Advocate l theadvocate.com l Sunday, October 25, 2026 l 3B

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STAFF PHOTOS BY ENAN CHEDIAK

Mark Schexnayder rides a boat through the newly acquired land at Bayou Sauvage Urban National Wildlife Refuge in New Orleans on Oct. 12.

Projects aim to boost visits to New Orleans’ Bayou Sauvage BY MARGARET KATES

Staff writer

Irby Butler remembers fishing in Lake Michoud before he lost access to the nearby swamps several years ago, when the land became privately owned. “If you haven’t been back there, you don’t know what you’re missing,” said Butler, a New Orleans East resident. “Hands down, it’s the best freshwater fishing in the region.” Now the lake and those swamps are all part of Bayou Sauvage Urban National Wildlife Refuge, a 30,000acre complex of swamps, bottomland forest and bayous. Butler is hoping that, at long last, he can ﬁsh out there again. “The fish are dying of old age,” he said. “They’re bored.” He’s not the only one anxious for the lake to open to the public. Bayou Sauvage in eastern New Orleans is the nation’s second-largest urban wildlife refuge, but it has been sparsely used. Refuge ofﬁcials are hoping to change that, and they are pursuing a range of projects with that goal in mind. Those projects include an “interpretive center” to greet visitors arriving from the highway, a newly renovated Ridge Trail for hiking and a refresh of the Joe Madere Marsh Outlook. John Cummings, a real estate developer and former trial attorney, is in the process of donating around 13 acres to the refuge for the interpretive center, a welcome center with exhibits and activities related to the refuge. An initial, temporary interpretive center will be located off Michoud Boulevard around the Interstaet 10 interchange. The larger, permanent center will be built a little further from the highway exit once money is in place, Cummings said. Cummings, who helped redevelop the Whitney Plantation in Edgard into a museum focusing on the true struggles of enslaved people, has fond memories of bringing his eight children to Bayou Sauvage when they were younger. “It’s a great place for kids,” Cummings said. “If you go on the lake, it’s like going to Wisconsin. It takes all the stress off you.” There’s very little infrastructure to support families like his visiting the refuge, he said. An interpretive center will also pave the way for more recreational opportunities, like swamp tours,

Cummings said. Making the wildlife refuge more accessible to residents of New Orleans is a big goal for refuge officials. Some city residents live literally next door: Oak Island subdivision, a community of about 425 homes, directly backs up to the swamp in the wildlife refuge. But there’s no easy access from the subdivision, illustrating the problem officials want to fix. The entire wildlife refuge is within the Workers with the Louisiana Conservation Corps trim back city limits of New Orleans, but there are very few easy invasive tallow trees along a newly renovated boardwalk opportunities for residents at Bayou Sauvage Urban National Wildlife Refuge in New to go boating, birdwatching Orleans on Oct. 14. or fishing. “I dare you to find the en- hydrology. been obtained yet. There’s still a way to go trance,” Cummings said. before the interpretive cen- ‘Get money out there’ ‘Used to be a swamp tour’ ter can become reality. Even Beyond giving residents A few years ago, Cum- with the donated land, the more opportunities to acmings sold around 2,500 refuge still needs to raise cess Bayou Sauvage, Cumacres in New Orleans East the funds to build the center. mings and Schexnayder Schexnayder said he has see updating the refuge as to the refuge, adjacent to the land for the interpretive worked with Friends of a way to generate more revcenter. These acres were the Louisiana Wildlife Refuges enue for New Orleans East. puzzle piece needed to im- to submit a request for $38 Adjacent to the refuge is prove connectivity through- million in earmarked funds the old Six Flags site, which out the refuge. Officials en- to U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R- New Orleans city officials vision trails, boat launches Baton Rouge, for the proj- hope to revive after being and other recreational op- ect. Those funds have not abandoned for more than portunities. “It’s not unprecedented,” said Mark Schexnayder, an environmental consultant who works with the refuge. “There used to be a swamp tour. ... Ecotourism has really taken off in the last few years.” In addition to the new interpretive center, officials at the wildlife refuge recently renovated the Ridge Trail, one of the few hikes Employment Pets available to the public at the refuge. The refreshed Joe Madere Marsh Outlook al- MAINTENANCE Sugarcane Machinery Mechanic - Per‐ full-time position at M. A. lows visitors to view alliga- manent Patout & Son Limited, L.L.C. in tors lurking below the bayou Jeanerette, LA. Maintain, repair, and overhaul sugarcane farm/mill machin‐ surface and ibises swooping ery and vehicles, such as tractors, har‐ vesters, combines, boilers, and irriga‐ in for a meal. tion systems. Dismantle defective Sug‐ Being fully contained arcane machinery for repair. Record of repairs made and parts used. within a city comes with details Reassemble sugarcane machinery and CATS equipment repair, testing op‐ RAGAMUFFIN & RAGDOLL KITTENS challenges. Most of the ref- eration andfollowing making adjustments or cal‐ www.CatsByFrancy.com/kittens uge sits within New Orleans’ ibration as necessary. Tune or overhaul $1500up! Reg. Shots & Guaranty sugarcane farm equipment and ma‐ 337-230-3150 levee system, so natural wa- chinery engines. Operate Sugarcane farm equipment to haul tools and CKC YORKIE puppies vet checked ter flow is blocked. Through- equipment for on-site repair of large shot worming meet halfway $750.00 out the wildlife refuge is a state-of-the-art Sugarcane machinery 334-467-3416 for the sugar mill. Fabricate and modify filtration and control system parts to make or repair machine tools or maintain industrial sugarcane ma‐ to distribute water through- chines. Requires two (2) years’ verifi‐ out the refuge’s many wet- able experience in Sugarcane Equip‐ ment and Machinery Repair/Opera‐ lands and bayous. tions. No minimum education level is required. No training is required, and no Officials at the wildlife training is offered for the position. refuge have a difficult job There is no requirement that the em‐ ployee must live on the employer's balancing the flow of wa- premises, and this is not an option for the permanent role. 40hrs/wk. OT ter to certain areas of the hours will vary and are not guaranteed. SIGN UP refuge to create the most Please send applications/resumes to Lance Weber at M. A. Patout & Son Lim‐ hospitable environment for ited, L.L.C. 3512 J. Patout Burns Rd., TODAY LA 70544; Tel: 337-276-4592; wildlife, particularly migra- Jeanerette, Email: lweber@mapatout.com tory birds. Around 340 bird species stop in the refuge Legal Notices Legal Notices Public Notices over the course of a year, according to the U.S. Fish and p Wildlife Service website. sions of LSA-R.S.33:172, PUBLIC NOTICE et seq., seeking to have --Schexnayder says building the corporate limits of the City of Lafayette, NOTICE more trails and roadways, Louisiana, extended so as to include therein the A petition has been filed connecting the network of described following the City-Parish with NEWS 24/7 ON property, to-wit: Council of the Parish of channels throughout the Lafayette and the Cityrefuge, would also help in Beginning at a point on Parish President of the the existing City of City of Lafayette in ac‐ managing Bayou Sauvage’s Lafayette corporate lim‐ cordance with the provi‐

20 years. The NASA Michoud Assembly Facility is nearby, which Schexnayder predicts will become more important with the arrival of SpaceX in Louisiana. More visitors to Bayou Sauvage, and by extension New Orleans East, will bring more money to the area, much of which has struggled to recover following Hurricane Katrina, Cummings said. “It’ll bring people from Metairie, Jefferson Parish to Bayou Sauvage,” Cummings said. “The main thing we need to do is get money out there.” Bayou Sauvage was first established as a wildlife refuge in 1990, according to its website. At one time, there were plans for an interpretive center, ﬁshing piers, canoe trails and several other recreational amenities, Schexnayder said. But those plans never materialized, and today there is very little infrastructure on-site. But the refuge is a big piece of the city’s history. At one time, Bayou Sauvage

was the primary east-west corridor connecting New Orleans to Mobile, Alabama, and the rest of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. There are Native American shell mounds in the refuge, and many of the cypress trees are hundreds of years old, Schexnayder said. Some residents, like Butler, have memories of using the refuge’s resources before the land was privatized or bundled into the refuge. He has taken to bothering wildlife refuge workers about getting access to the fishing again, now that he knows there are plans to make the refuge more open. “We can’t use it, as taxpayers who pay for it,” Butler said. “It should be open to the public, to every sportsman.” Email Margaret Kates at margaret.kates@ theadvocate.com. Her work is supported with a grant from the Walton Family Foundation, administered by the Baton Rouge Area Foundation.

.theacadianaadvocate.com

Legal Notices

y p its, said point is the northerly property line of KENNETH RAY FONTENOT, and the southerly rightof-way of E Butcher Switch Rd,

GUIDRY, and the westerly property line of GREGORY C RIGGS & CHRISTIAN L RIGGS to a corner point,

thence N02º22’57”W, a of approxi‐ distance mately ±64.72’ north thru the right-of-way’s and road of E Butcher Switch Rd to a point, thence N02º22’57”W, a of approxi‐ distance mately 191.85’, along the westerly property line of CHIASSON DEBORAH GUIDRY, and the easterly property line of CYNTHIA GARY, CHIASSON CHIASSON FRANCINE WELTY, RANDALL JAMES CHIASSON, CHERYL CHI‐ ASSON SHERWOOD & CHIASSON DEBORAH GUIDRY to a point, thence N01º02’26”W, a of approxi‐ distance mately 299.80’, along the westerly property line of CHIASSON DEBORAH GUIDRY, and the easterly property line of CYNTHIA GARY, CHIASSON CHIASSON FRANCINE WELTY, RANDALL JAMES CHIASSON, CHERYL CHI‐ ASSON SHERWOOD & CHIASSON DEBORAH GUIDRY to a corner point, thence S89º10’46”E, a of approxi‐ distance mately 167.61’, along the northerly property line of CHIASSON DEBORAH and the GUIDRY, southerly property line of CHIASSON CYNTHIA GARY, FRANCINE CHIAS‐ SON WELTY, RANDALL CHIASSON, JAMES CHERYL CHIASSON SHER‐ WOOD & DEBORAH CHI‐ ASSON GUIDRY to a cor‐ ner point, thence S02º22’26”E, a of approxi‐ distance mately 305.52’, along the easterly property line of DEBORAH CHIASSON

thence N86º40’49”W, a of approxi‐ distance mately 150.06’, along the southerly property line of CHIASSON DEBORAH and the GUIDRY, northerly property line of CHIASSON DEBORAH GUIDRY to a corner point, thence S02º22’08”E, a of approxi‐ distance mately 194.03’, along the easterly property line of CHIASSON DEBORAH GUIDRY, and the westerly property line of DEBO‐ RAH CHIASSON GUIDRY to a point, thence S02º22’08”E, a of approxi‐ distance mately ±64.81’ south thru the right-of-way’s and road of E Butcher Switch Rd to a point,

Legal Notices

y g heard with reference to the proposed ordinance annexing said area shall notify the Lafayette CityCouncil Clerk. Parish Anyone requesting such a hearing shall do so on the date at the time the ordinance is considered for ﬁnal adoption in ac‐ cordance with the regu‐ lar agenda published by the Lafayette City-Parish Council or in accordance with the notice of emer‐ gency meeting to con‐ sider such passage. LAFAYETTE CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT By /s/ Tim Patro Tim Patro Planner II 204831 Oct. 25 1t $38.84

thence N86º47’57”W, a of approxi‐ distance mately 25.07’ along the southerly right-of-way of E Butcher Switch Rd, and the northerly property line of KENNETH RAY FONTENOT, which is also the existing City of Lafayette corporate lim‐ its to a point,

Reporting you can trust

which is also the existing City of Lafayette corpo‐ rate limits and the point of beginning, all as shown on the attached incorporation map pre‐ pared by Lafayette City Parish Consolidated Gov‐ ernment - Lafayette Utili‐ ties System, dated June 18, 2026 entitled, MAP OF PROPOSED EXTENSION FOR CITY OF LAFAYETTE, LOUISIANA, CORPORATE LIMITS, LOCATED IN SEC‐ TIONS 47, T9S-R5E, 1409 E BUTCHER SWITCH RD #C (LOT 1) ANNEXATION APPROX. 1.33 ACRES.

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

OUR VIEWS

New med school offers dose of positivity When we first heard that Xavier University of New Orleans and Ochsner Medical Center had joined forces to open a new medical school in Louisiana, we were ecstatic about the possibilities but knew it would take a lot of hard work to make it a reality. Now, four years later, we are beginning to see that hard work pay off. Xavier Ochsner College of Medicine is set to welcome its first class of around 50 students in 2027. Based in Benson Tower in the evolving Bio District in downtown New Orleans, XOCOM recently received preliminary accreditation from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, which allows it to recruit students. It can apply for full accreditation once it graduates its first class. The partnership between Ochsner and Xavier University, the only one of the historically Black colleges and universities in the nation that is also a Catholic institution, makes sense, as Xavier has long been known for graduating students in STEM fields. In fact, for several years running, it has been the number one college sending Black graduates to medical school. XOCOM is only the fifth historically Black medical institution. For Ochsner, a leading healthcare provider in the state, the medical school also offers benefits. While Ochsner trains more than 450 residents and fellows annually through its graduate medical education programs, XOCOM can be another draw for top-tier clinicians who also want to teach. With 60 of 64 parishes designated Health Professional Shortage Areas, there’s no doubt that Louisiana needs more physicians — especially ones who want to practice in underserved areas. And medical school graduates of color are more likely to return to their communities to make a difference. We’ve been impressed by how everyone involved in this project is looking to the future and trying to anticipate what XOCOM students will need to succeed and what they can offer the state. Dr. Leonardo Seoane, XOCOM’s founding dean, pointed out to this newspaper’s Marie Fazio that the classrooms have been designed to encourage collaboration and group discussion. Xavier President Reynold Verret shared that students will be trained to treat the whole person, combining technical knowledge with humanity. And Ochsner President and CEO Pete November expressed hope that the new medical school will “transform lives.” This vision of what a medical school can be is inspiring. We know it has taken much to make it to this point and are eager to see XOCOM progress to the next stage. To all those who have helped move this project along, you deserve a round of applause. While we can readily imagine XOCOM playing a positive role in our state long-term, the short-term prognosis has already given us much to cheer about.

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

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Troubles within Justice of the Peace system is evictions. State law allows JOPs, In most Louisiana communities, juswho are not required to have a law tices of the peace provide a low-cost license, to charge a filing fee to the legal avenue for small claims, marriages and other minor legal matters. plaintiffs, usually the landlords. When those JOPs then rule in favor But in some places, these part-time of the landlords — as several of them elected officials have found a way to do in an overwhelming majormake these cases extraordinarily profitable. ity of cases, sometimes after That’s the conclusion of an hearings that last a minute or in-depth investigation from less — that incentivizes the the American newsroom of landlords to file more evictions an English newspaper, The with those same justices of the Guardian. Reporters there dug peace. Because many leases Faimon allow these costs to be passed deep into data on Louisiana’s Roberts onto renters, that falls on the 390 justices of the peace, and uncovered some alarming renters, too. facts that should prompt seriThis system means that justices of the peace can benefit fious review, and reform, from the Legislature. nancially from ruling in favor of the Chief among the investigation’s find- landlords in eviction cases. That’s a classic conflict of interest. ings is that there are five justices of In some courts, this isn’t even really the peace around the state who, for at least one year from 2023-2025, earned a secret. The clerk of one Jefferson Parish JOP reportedly told an attormore than $220,000 in salary just from their justice of the peace work. ney that the court was “a for-profit One, Harahan-based Chuck Cusimano court,” according to The Guardian, II, earned more than $400,000 — a though the justice denied any knowlhigher yearly salary than Chief Jusedge or endorsement of that comtice John Roberts of the United States ment. Supreme Court. In fact, that justice Other states have reformed their has earned more than Roberts in six justice courts to avoid similar issues. of the last 10 years, The Guardian Mississippi, for instance, changed reported. its system after a 1981 federal court For the high-earners, the cash cow found its similar fee system was a

“malignancy weakening the administration of justice.” Only a handful of states allow justices of the peace to hear eviction cases, according to a Guardian review of state law, and only in Louisiana are the justices allowed to collect income from court fees they charge. On the ﬂip side, The Guardian’s analysis shows that a vast majority of JOPs are not abusing the system. But the ones that are abusing it give the rest a bad name. More than that, their actions expose some critical structural weaknesses. Somehow I suspect that most legislators are not big readers of The Guardian. But in this case, they should be. And they should act. Removing the link between ﬁling fees and income is a common-sense move. And there should be greater oversight and a low-cost appeal option for those who believe they’ve been wronged in one of these courts. Tackling this issue is not glamorous work. But it’s important. After all, what does the legal system exist for other than to ensure that one citizen is not taking advantage of another? Email Faimon A. Roberts III at froberts@theadvocate.com.

Learning from leaders who made a difference It’s not every day you get to hear issues closer to home. from people who have changed the When I meet with community course of history. But there are many groups, I am struck by how much people in Louisiana who have contribwe have in common. All of us want safe communities, clean air uted to the betterment of our and water and better lives for state and nation who still walk future generations. The disamong us. In the Opinions section, we agreements come in how we hope to bring you their stories get there. And those disagreeand their wisdom when we can. ments are valid, but they don’t They have much to teach us, Arnessa mean we should lose sight of and many are still working to Garrett our goals. make a difference. When I talk to activists who Often we focus on national have been successful in changpolitics where the problems can seem ing laws or righting wrongs, it’s beso big. cause they’ve never lost sight of what But when I hear from activists who they are working toward. have made a real difference, they freIf future generations hope to make similar change, there’s much to learn quently say they began their careers from those who came before. Citizens by trying to change things in their coming together around a cause have neighborhoods or communities. It’s a good reminder that sometimes we can a tremendous power — more than any have the greatest effect by focusing on individual working alone. And lead-

ers with vision can inspire us to do more than we ever thought possible. So when we have a chance to share the thoughts and words of true changemakers in the Opinions section, we will. Turning to our letters inbox, for the week of Oct. 15-22, we received 44 letters. The midterm elections and the war in Ukraine were the topics that received the most interest, with four letters each. Then three of you wrote with concerns about the Saints season (it’s still early, fans). Lastly, a range of topics prompted two letters, including the constitutional amendments on the Nov. 3 ballot, immigration, Planned Parenthood and voter fraud. Arnessa Garrett is Deputy Editor | Opinion Page Editor. Email her at arnessa.garrett@theadvocate.com.

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The Acadiana Advocate l theadvocate.com l Sunday, October 25, 2026 l 5B

COMMENTARY Once upon a time, La. had funny political ads

leave Louisiana for the Lone Star National media has been broilState. ing with outrage about a par“Hot damn!” he said, in gleeticularly nasty ad by Republican Vivek Ramaswamy in the race for ful anticipation of more loot for governor of Ohio. In Louisiana, Texas. once upon a time, we did much Many analysts believe it was better with political TV. the economic argument, Without dignifying Rathe possibility of massive job losses, that was the maswamy’s odiousness by biggest factor turning a describing it, please walk tight race into an Edwards down memory lane, back landslide. when politics here in the Another anti-Duke ad, Bayou State, even when Quin this time during his 1990 harsh, also had an admiHillyer race for U.S. Senate, was rable cleverness. a classic. Sponsored by One need not necessarthe Louisiana Coalition Against ily subscribe to the messages, or Racism and Nazism, it featured even the fairness, in all the ads. Regardless, though, they had real contestants in a Jeopardy (game show) knock off called “Jabstyle. The best political ad I’ve ever berwocky.” Each “answer” was seen came during the horrid 1991 something outrageous or scary runoff for Louisiana governor be- — neo-Nazi connections, shady tween the reputed “crook” Edwin ﬁnances, or whatever — and each Edwards and the former Ku Klux “question” was “Who is David Duke?” Klan leader David Duke. CourteMoving away from Nazis and sy of an out-of-state conservative scofﬂaws, there was the “Mr. Softteam, the commercial featured a Texas cowboy with one booted ee” ad Jefferson Parish Sheriff foot on a bar stool, talking about Harry Lee ran against challenger how good it was going to be for Art Lentini, a former prosecuTexas if Duke won, because all tor. The ad consisted entirely of the Louisiana businesses would a single visual subject: a melting

ice cream cone with Lentini’s face superimposed on the dairy scoop. The ad said Lentini “talks tough, but has a soft heart, especially when prosecuting criminals. In his last two years as an assistant DA, Mr. Softee tried only eight jury trials while plea bargaining a hundred and thirty-five … including three murders and four aggravated rapes.” And, as the ice cream scoop all but disappeared in a puddle under the cone, the tag line said: “As a crime fighter, Art Lentini, Mr. Softee, has made a mess.” The ad was hilariously brutal. Lee won. Back to Edwards: In his 1983 race to return to the governor’s mansion he had left four years earlier due to term limits, he was running rings around the honorable but snakebit Republican David Treen. With video of a seaborne ocean liner, the ad spoke of “the Louisiana ship of state: With Captain Dave Treen at the helm, Louisiana suffered the largest deficit in the state’s history.” As the attacks on Treen’s record rolled on, the ship’s bow began sinking beneath the waves as a

foghorn blared a distress signal. Edwards won. Sometimes the best Louisiana commercials weren’t attack ads. Two of the best were either largely or entirely positive. In 1976, Republican Bob Livingston had lost a close race for Congress to Democrat Rick Tonry, but Tonry ended up resigning amid corruption charges. Faced with another chance in 1977 to be the ﬁrst Republican to win the First Congressional District in a full century, Livingston did a spot highlighting his somewhat hardscrabble background, including six summers working at Avondale Shipyards. Saying something like, “I don’t do this for a living, but I used to. I know what it takes to put food on the table to raise your kids and family,” Livingston wore a welder’s helmet while giving his message. He ended the ad by closing the helmet and expertly ﬁring up his welder’s torch. In a largely blue-collar district that had not elected a Republican in a full century, the ad was golden. Livingston won.

Then there was the 1987 ad, perfect in tone for that year’s race for governor, by then-Congressman Buddy Roemer. Looking straight into the camera, Roemer said: “Some insiders say I’m not a good politician, because I say things that make some people angry. They’re right: I do. I made some people in Washington angry when I refused to take a congressional pay raise.” What followed were more examples of all the supposedly disreputable groups he made angry: “the bureaucrats and deadheads in Baton Rouge,” “polluters,” the education establishment. He closed like this: “I don’t like Louisiana politics. I love Louisiana. I love Louisiana enough to make some people angry.” Roemer vaulted from ﬁfth to ﬁrst, and he became governor. Sure, Louisiana political ads sometimes could be tough, but they tended to avoid the gutter, while showing attractive humor or verve. Those were the days. Email Quin Hillyer at quin. hillyer@theadvocate.com

Jamie Davis making this a race to watch As the days tick down toward the midTensas Parish, Jamie Davis, whose camterm elections, something fascinating is paign slogan is: “A Louisiana we can all happening: The map of competitive U.S. afford.” Senate seats is growing. Not only that, A better one for this late stage of the it’s tilting south, pulled not just by campaign might be: “What if?” swing states like North Carolina There isn’t a North Carolina-size and Georgia but South Carolina and target on Louisiana at this point, — who would have predicted this or even a Mississippi-size one. But one — Mississippi. there’s a sense that things are stirThat’s right, Mississippi, a state ring enough to make things at least that hasn’t sent a Democrat to interesting. Stephanie Davis’ events are drawing boisterthe Senate since 1982, but where Grace both parties are starting to pour ous crowds. Famed strategist James resources into the contest between Carville is touting his chances. Last incumbent Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith week, a Davis fundraiser in New Orleans and Democrat Scott Colom, a district attor- drew a slew of big-name Democrats who surely figured a few months ago that there ney for several counties. was no point: former Gov. John Bel EdA state so close to Louisiana, and yet, in terms of perceived competitiveness, so far. wards, U.S. Rep. Troy Carter and his preOr, maybe not. decessor Cedric Richmond, New Orleans Just like Mississippi was supposed to Mayor Helena Moreno and Orleans Parish help shore up Republicans against a blue District Attorney Jason Williams. wave, Louisiana is a red bulwark. PresiJoining them was just the second madent Donald Trump is deeply unpopular jor out-of-state emissary to campaign around the country and dragging plenty for Davis, Delaware U.S. Sen. Lisa Blunt of followers down with him, but he got Rochester, who stopped in Louisiana on a more than 60% of the 2024 vote here, and swing through the states everyone else is was commanding enough earlier this year actually watching. to convince GOP voters to throw out a Rochester said that she’d heard encourpowerful but occasionally independent aging things from her Senate colleague incumbent of his own party in favor of an Cory Booker of New Jersey, and that the unquestioning loyalist. race is starting to cross people’s radar. U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow’s one job was to She said she hoped her visit would help defeat incumbent Bill Cassidy in the new spotlight what she called Davis’ “incredGOP primary, which she handily did. The ible connection to the people.” rest was supposed to be smooth sailing, so That’s a big part of his pitch, and that much so that most prominent Democrats of the seasoned pols now lining up behind stayed on the sidelines. him. The bet is that Davis’ nontraditional, That left the task of carrying the Demodown-to-earth, everyman profile is appealcratic flag to a little-known farmer from ing in this age of cynicism. Davis largely

points, insisting the underlying assumptions are real. Good vibes aside, though, the state’s overall partisan split is daunting. Davis remains, by any conventional measure, a long shot. Maybe that’s why he admitted when we spoke recently that even a strongerthan-expected losing showing, a very real possibility in this environment, would still matter. “The way we turn out in this election will STAFF PHOTO BY SOPHIA GERMER determine what happens in ’27,” he said. “When they know there is a candidate that Jamie Davis, the US Senate Democratic can turn people out, they treat you differcandidate, greets Janice Manuel during an ently.” early voting rally in New Orleans last week. Not that he isn’t aiming for the win. In fact, as Edwards has joined him to camavoids the big ideological fault lines of the paign in recent weeks, the two have talked often about facing naysayers who don’t day, focusing instead on daily struggles believe a Democrat can win in Louisiana. I due to things like the high cost of diesel ﬁgured it only fair to confess to Davis that, fuel and other issues that cut across party when Edwards ran for governor in 2015, I lines. was one of those naysayers. He also surely beneﬁts from an enthusi“You were a naysayer with me,” he asm gap. Democrats around the country are pumped up to vote against anyone con- noted. Point taken — my previous columns have nected to Trump, and recent Republican moves to minimize Black representation in cast the race as Letlow’s to lose — although Louisiana have provided extra motivation. I’m not sure the enthusiasm I’m seeing is And plenty of people who voted for Trump enough to make me believe history will repeat itself. two years ago have soured, which makes Still, stranger things have happened. Letlow’s play-it-safe strategy actually kind They’re happening right now, in states of risky. where Trump did just as well as he did Anecdotally, both Edwards and Carter here two years ago. said they’d had surprising conversations And nobody ever said that Louisiana poliwith people who they never expected to break from Republicans who said they’re tics aren’t strange. with Davis. The campaign is also talking up a single Email Stephanie Grace at sgrace@theadpoll that found Davis trailing by just four vocate.com.

Why it’s worth it to study up on the amendments concerns to the ﬁnish line with If you live in the Baton Rouge proposed constitutional amendarea, you’ve likely heard of state Sen. Franklin Foil. If you live in ments. Jefferson Parish, you know about Each wants voters to push them self-described “Jefferson girl” over the goal line and score. state Rep. Debbie Villio. If you Foil wants you to provide live in St. Bernard Parish, you surviving spouses of disabled should know state Rep. Michael veterans with the opportunity to Robert “Mike” Bayham, keep their enhanced homeJr. of Chalmette. Those stead exemption from one who live in Crowley and property to another. Villio across Acadiana know wants you to change how state Rep. Chance Keith post-conviction bail for agHenry. Those in New Orgravated offenses against minor children work. Bayleans certainly know the Will name of state Sen. Royce ham wants you to consider Sutton changing the amount of Duplessis. These Louisiana legislatime a governor can serve tors represent different districts. our state from no lifetime limit to two total terms. Henry thinks Duplessis is a Democrat. The people who rehabilitate blighted others are Republicans. They have something in common: Each properties should have a propwants you to vote for something erty tax exemption. they think should be enshrined in Louisiana has one of the youngthe Louisiana Constitution. est state constitution of any state. The names of 10 legislators I was in high school in the late aren’t on the ballot, but these 10 1960s and early 1970s as momenworked hard to get the two-thirds tum grew to support a constituvotes required in the House tional convention. In 1974, the and the Senate to bring their state ratiﬁed an updated constitu-

tion. In 1975, it took effect. For some, the 1975 constitution was a big relief. We wouldn’t have to worry about another constitution for a long time, maybe even 100 years. For others, it was a flawed document that needed fixing. Boy, has it been “fixed.” Many people have worked to fix the Constitution. Since the latest Constitution was adopted, 330 amendments have been proposed. Voters approved 221, and 109 have failed. We’re being asked to approve 10 more. That’s 340 proposed amendments in more than 50 years. We’ve had success voting no on all amendment proposals recently. But this is not a time to vote no on all. I’ve heard no one oppose No. 7, what’s called the water amendment. Among advocacy groups, there are a bunch of yeses, with some maybes or neutrals. Some are opposing all property tax proposals. People seem divided about the deceased dis-

abled veteran spouse homestead exemption and the bail proposal. You can vote yes on all 10 this election cycle. You can vote no on all 10. You can vote yes on some and no on others. Or you can skip voting on the proposed constitutional amendments. That is a bad idea. It’s difficult to change the U.S. Constitution. It’s easier to change state constitutions — and states do. I think most smart people believe it’s better to make significant policy, property and tax changes by law through the legislative process rather than adding to or changing a constitution. However, it’s difficult to pull off a constitutional convention when those in power want to keep things as they are — or control the process. With no constitutional convention, we continue making changes by proposing constitutional amendments. There’s good information avail-

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

able about each of the 10 proposed amendments. Invest in Louisiana, the Pelican Institute for Public Policy, the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice and the Public Affairs Research Council have different goals and purposes, and often different legislative philosophies. Each provides perspective. And you should know who’s behind each proposal. If you wish, you can look up each on the state Legislature’s bill search site. Whatever you do, I suggest you identify the proposals you support before marking your absentee, mail or poll ballot. Start at the bottom of the ballot and move up. Vote yes on the proposed amendments you favor. Vote no on those you oppose. Move up the ballot from there. This can be messy, especially if you’re confused. But it gives you a chance to tell state lawmakers how you really feel. Email Will Sutton at wsutton@ theadvocate.com.

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

TO SEND US A LETTER, SCAN HERE

6B l Sunday, October 25, 2026 l theadvocate.com l The Acadiana Advocate

lll

TODAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

Partly sunny

Periods of clouds and sun

Mostly sunny

Mostly cloudy

HIGH

LOW

81° 56°

LOW

80° 56°

LOW

81° 59°

Beaumont 81/60 Port Arthur 78/64

Baton Rouge 82/54

Lake Charles 82/58

New Orleans 78/63 Houma 80/57

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

Hattiesburg 81/48

Alexandria 81/53

Lafayette 81/56

10s

20s

30s

40s

50s

84° 59°

LOW

81° 64°

TEMPERATURE Jackson 81/50

Many 81/50

LOW

YESTERDAY

Lafayette through 5 p.m. Saturday

Longview 81/51

-0s

82° 58°

Monroe 81/51

Shreveport 81/54

-10s

LOW

While the Saints are dealing with clouds, scattered rain, and low temperatures, here in southwest Louisiana, it’s a much different story. Expect another mostly sunny and warm day with a light breeze. Temperatures this afternoon will be just about where they should be, rising to the upper 70s to low 80s, and will likely stay that high all week. There is no rain in the forecast, and winds are northeast at 5 to 10 mph. Keep in mind the fire weather conditions due to low humidity and dry fuels.

60s

70s

80s

90s 100s 110s

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

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

OCT 25

NEW

NOV 1

Austin Boston Dallas Fairbanks Honolulu Las Vegas Louisville Miami Nashville

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

7:37a 2:06a 2:40a 3:48a 9:19p 8:52p 10:27p

7:17 a.m. 6:27 p.m. 5:57 p.m. 6:39 a.m.

LAST

City

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

HIGH

Sunrise today Sunset tonight Moonrise today Moonset today FULL

PRECIPITATION

81°/52° 79°/57° 82°/57° 93° in 1919 31° in 1917

TODAY

84 64 82 35 85 75 76 84 77

53 45 60 26 69 58 48 73 47

FIRST

NOV 9

pc s pc sn pc s s t s

NOV 17

83 70 81 39 84 78 76 83 76

MON. Lo

62 47 62 33 72 57 52 74 49

pc s pc sn pc s pc sh pc

FT.

LOW

0.00” 0.89” 3.69” 47.05” 52.39”

FT.

HIGH

0.7 5:48p 0.2 1.8 10:53a 0.6 2.0 7:55a 0.4 1.4 11:46a 0.2 1.4 6:57a 0.3 1.8 5:14a 0.5 1.7 7:59a 0.4

FT.

--- ----- --5:15p 2.5 7:54p 1.7 --- ----- ----- ---

MAIN POLLUTANT Particulates

LOW

FT.

--- ----- --8:55p 1.9 --- ----- ----- ----- ---

Today 10:52a 4:39a 11:17p 5:04p Monday 11:44a 5:30a ---- 5:57p Tuesday 12:13a 6:28a 12:43p 6:58p Wednesday 1:17a 7:33a 1:49p 8:05p Thursday 2:27a 8:43a 2:59p 9:15p Friday 3:37a 9:53a 4:09p 10:25p Saturday 4:45a 11:00a 5:15p 11:30p

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

78 83 68 82 65 70 78 78 85

TODAY Lo

63 70 44 60 38 43 54 60 68

s sh s s s s pc s s

79 83 72 84 68 73 77 80 85

MON. Lo

63 68 53 62 44 42 55 61 68

pc sh s s s s pc s s

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

FLOOD STAGE

34 48 48 35 27 22 17

SAT. 24-HOUR STAGE CHANGE

1.76 22.20 24.68 10.72 6.19 4.83 3.76

-0.30 -0.24 -0.22 +0.12 +0.19 +0.21 +0.25

14.17

-2.23

-1.73

+0.06

18 29 8

-1.35 9.65 2.40

none -0.01 +0.03

13 15

1.36 0.55

none none

47 34 29 20 12 6

9.42 6.40 4.95 4.68 3.40 2.94

-0.08 -0.01 +0.01 +0.06 none +0.47

data as of 7 a.m. Saturday

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READING 89 MAIN POLLUTANT Ozone

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

N O R T H A M ER I CA’S

MODERATE

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

City

TODAY

MODERATE

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SPORTS

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

S U N D AY, O C T O B E R 25, 2026

1CN

Ragin’ Cajuns fall victim in ‘The Rock’ Late field goal drops UL to 2-25 in Hattiesburg, Miss.

BY KEVIN FOOTE Staff writer

STAFF PHOTO BY BRAD KEMP

UL running back JJ Garner breaks through the Southern Miss defensive line for a touchdown during their game Saturday at Renasant Stadium in Hattiesburg, Miss.

Could Saints establish second home?

HATTIESBURG, Miss. — Ofﬁcially, it’s called Renasant Stadium in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. The many victims of it over the years know it as “The Rock.” The UL Ragin’ Cajuns entered Saturday’s Sun Belt game 2-24 all-time there, so it wasn’t supposed to be easy. Make that 2-25. Despite UL putting together a 17-play, 74yard drive in 7:08 to take a 31-28 lead with 2:51 left to play, Southern Miss responded with a 75-yard touchdown drive of its own to beat the Ragin’ Cajuns 35-31. After Lunch Winﬁeld threw a pick-six to allow the Golden Eagles to tie the game at

LSU

AUBURN

28-28 with 10:05 left, it appeared the Cajuns would pull out the win after a 22-yard Tony Sterner field goal gave UL a 31-28 lead. But Southern Miss marched 75 yards on eight plays in 1:53 to get a 16-yard touchdown run from Jamarice Wilder with 58 seconds left. He finished with 154 yards and a score on 13 carries, while Steven Robinson added 145 yards and three touchdowns. Winfield threw for a career-high 293 yards on 21-of-37 passing and two touchdowns. His top targets were Shelton Sampson with five catches for 58 yards and tight end Caden Jensen with three catches for 55 yards. JJ Garner was UL’s leading rusher with 52 yards and a score on seven carries. The Cajuns were limited to 118 yards rushing with 37 coming on the final drive. The Golden Eagles entered the game 10th

ä See CAJUNS, page 2C

RECORD: 6-2 UP NEXT: VS. ALABAMA, NOV. 7, TBD

SMOOTH ROAD

Benson keen on making France a frequent destination for team BY MATTHEW PARAS Staff writer

VERSAILLES, France — Chase Young was given 20 seconds. A reporter asked the New Orleans Saints defensive end what he would say to the French about why they should become fans of the black and gold. The reporter also jokingly issued a time ä Saints limit so he could keep his vs: Steelers answer brief. Young started to stam8:30 A.M. mer. SUNDAY, NFLN “17…” Alvin Kamara said, counting down the seconds. “10…” Cam Jordan added. Next to him, Tyler Shough whispered some advice. Young threw his hands up and shrugged. “We have fun,” Young said. “And we have a great culture.” The sales pitch may not have been the most convincing, but when the franchise plays in the country’s ﬁrst-ever NFL game Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the people of France will have a chance to decide whether they’ll become Saints diehards — just like the rest of New Orleans. The true answer could depend on how many more times they see the Saints after Sunday. Saints owner Gayle Benson led efforts to have her franchise and the NFL play in Paris. The looming question is whether

ä See SAINTS, page 6C

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO BY BUTCH DILL

LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt runs to get around Auburn linebacker Demarcus Riddick during the first half on Saturday in Auburn, Ala. Leavitt completed 32 of 45 passes for 387 yards and three touchdowns in the win.

LSU snaps eight-game losing streak in SEC away games BY JON BLAU Staff writer

AP PHOTO BY GREG PAYAN

Marketing outside the Stade de France promotes Sunday’s NFL game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints on Thursday in Saint-Denis, north of Paris.

AUBURN, Ala. — No doubt had been left after No. 18 LSU’s 38-17 win at Auburn, but quarterback Sam Leavitt doubted whether it was the most dominant win of the season. “I probably would have said last week maybe was a little bit more dominant, in my opinion,” Leavitt said, referring to a 31-0 shutout of Mississippi State. A couple of weeks ago, discussions about LSU tended to revolve around which road loss, Ole Miss or Kentucky, was more crushing to its College Football Playoff hopes. There was a different conversation to be had Saturday. LSU (6-2, 3-2 SEC) is rolling as promised under ﬁrst-year coach Lane Kifﬁn, running away from teams with an explosive offense and by suppressing opponents’ point totals with a disruptive defensive line. Leavitt completed 32 of 45 passes for 387 yards and three touchdowns at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Leavitt, who also rushed for 54 yards and a score, found his emerging No. 1 receiver Jackson Harris nine times for 178 yards

and two touchdowns. He also dished to newly healthy tight end Trey’Dez Green five times for 50 yards and a score in his return. For the first time in two years and five days, LSU notched a Southeastern Conference victory away from Tiger Stadium. Saturday’s win snapped an eight-game losing streak in SEC road games, going back to an Oct. 19, 2024, win at Arkansas. “This is what the whole thing was supposed to look like when we put it together, and the pieces come together, where you can be explosive on offense, where you get ahead, and pay really good rushers at the edge that end games,” Kiffin said. “They showed up today.” LSU finished with a 552-271 edge in yards. Auburn quarterback Byrum Brown was held to 21 yards rushing on 19 carries after logging consecutive 100-yard outings, including 115 in last week’s win over then-No. 1 Georgia. Kiffin, always seeking an edge, said he was rooting for unranked Auburn’s upset because “relief syndrome,” a

ä See LSU, page 2C

2C l Sunday, October 25, 2026 l theadvocate.com l The Acadiana Advocate

lll

BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS On TV AUTO RACING 1 p.m. NASCAR: YellaWood 500 NBC 3 p.m. F1: United States Grand Prix APPLETV MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL noo nDuke at Kansas ESPN COLLEGE FIELD HOCKEY 11 a.m. California at Syracuse ACCN MEN’S COLLEGE SOCCER 1 p.m. Clemson at Virginia Tech ESPNU WOMEN’S COLLEGE SOCCER 11 a.m. Dartmouth at Princeton ESPNU 2 p.m. Mississippi St. at LSU SECN 5 p.m. Purdue at Northwestern BTN WOMEN’S COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL 11 a.m. Michigan St. at Maryland BTN noon Texas A&M at Kentucky ABC noon Michigan at Wisconsin FS1 noon Vanderbilt at Tennessee SECN 12:30 p.m. SMU at Georgia Tech ACCN

1 p.m. Washington at Minnesota BTN 2 p.m. Kansas at Baylor ESPN 2 p.m. Penn St. at Indiana FS1 2:30 p.m. Louisville at Miami ACCN 3 p.m. Northwestern at Purdue BTN 7:30 p.m. Stanford at North Carolina ESPN FIGURE SKATING 7 a.m. Grand Prix of Figure Skating NBCSN GOLF noon PGA: Bermuda Championship GOLF 3 p.m. Stifel Charity Classic GOLF GYMNASTICS 11 a.m. World Artistic Championships NBC HORSE RACING noon America’s Day at the Races FS2 4 p.m. America’s Day at the Races FS1 NBA 6 p.m. Toronto at Minnesota NBATV NFL 8:30 a.m. Pittsburgh vs. New Orleans NFLN noon Cincinnati at Baltimore CBS

IN BRIEF

FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

noon San Francisco at Atlanta FOX 3:25 p.m. Green Bay at Detroit FOX 7:20 p.m. Kansas City at Seattle NBC NHL 6 p.m. Montreal vs. Winnipeg TNT SKIING 4:30 p.m. FIS: Alpine Ski World Cup NBCSN MEN’S SOCCER 9 a.m. Bournemouth at Man United NBCSN 9 a.m. Newcastle at Crystal Palace USA 11:30 a.m. Leeds United at Sunderland USA 2:55 p.m. Real Madrid at Barcelona ABC WOMEN’S SOCCER 8:55 a.m. London City at Liverpool CBSSN 9:45 a.m. Mexico vs. Australia FS2 12:45 p.m. China vs. U.S. FS2 2 p.m. Gotham FC at Orlando CBSSN 4 p.m. Washington at Kansas City ESPN TENNIS 8:30 a.m. Brussels-ATP TENNIS

Kiffin’s early gamble hits jackpot BY REED DARCEY

Staff writer

After his decision to go for it on fourth down paid off, coach Lane Kiffin smiled and did a quick Sign of the Cross. The first-year LSU coach looked relieved. Sam Leavitt’s errant first-down throw hadn’t been intercepted after all, and the trick play that offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. dialed up on fourth down had fooled the Auburn defense, which allowed the visiting Tigers to stay on the field and score a pivotal touchdown on Saturday in their 38-17 win. The early second-quarter drive had to rise from the dead before it entered the end zone. Had Auburn safety Eric Winters secured Leavitt’s errant throw and not let the ball hit the ground on the second play of the eventual 14-play, 95-yard drive, he would have given the Auburn offense a short field and a chance to tie the game 10-10. Instead, LSU ran two more plays, dialed up some deception on fourth-and-2 from its own 31yard line and marched 58 more yards for a touchdown that gave it a 17-3 lead. Leavitt found tight end Trey’Dez Green for both the fourth-down conversion and the score. “If it didn’t work,” Kiffin said,

LSU

Continued from page 1C letdown after a big win, is a real challenge. Whatever the reason, LSU had the upper hand in a traditionally unpredictable stadium, and it sets up Kifﬁn and Co. well for what comes next. LSU heads into its bye week with Green, one of its No. 7s, already back. Alabama and Texas await, with LSU’s other No. 7, linebacker Whit Weeks, hoping to return at some point after the open date. A pair of home wins substantially would improve LSU’s CFP chances. Everything is progressing as LSU would have hoped, and one trend — losing on the road to SEC foes — was emphatically squashed. “It’s always so good to get a win, especially just being able to get that done on the road, which we haven’t done,” said LSU running back Dilin Jones, who had 92 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries. “Emphasized on it, big time.” LSU moved the ball all day, even

CAJUNS

Continued from page 1C in the Sun Belt at 133.7 rushing yards a game and the UL defense led the league in run defense at 104 yards a game. But Southern Miss ran the ball all over the Cajuns, collecting 286 yards rushing. After a wild ﬁrst half, the defenses did a better job in the third quarter until the Cajuns ﬁnally got their passing game going again with an eight-play, 76yard drive in 3:23 for a 28-21 lead with 2:16 left in the third. The drive was kept alive by a tough 13-yard catch from Russell Babineaux. After a 15-yarder to Sampson, Winfield hit running back Anthony Batiste on a 31yard wheel route for the touchdown. The Cajuns defense then followed that much-needed score with a huge turnover on downs at the UL 23. Linebacker Harrison Kidder stuffed Robinson for no gain on fourth-and-1.

but that pass was his only mistake of the day. The redshirt junior carved up Auburn, completing a career-high 32 passes for a career-high 387 yards and three touchdowns. For the second straight week, Leavitt did not turn the ball over ... after replay reversed the initial ruling on his errant throw. On the crucial fourth down, running back Dilin Jones took a direct snap in the shotgun and handed the ball off to Leavitt, who faked a toss to receiver Winston Watkins and floated a pass to Green in the flat for an 11-yard gain. Earlier in the season in LSU’s loss to Kentucky, Kiffin controversially passed on a chance to convert a fourth-and-1 near midASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO BY BUTCH DILL field with a chance to secure the win. And earlier against Auburn, LSU coach Lane Kiffin reacts to a play during the first half against he had punted on fourth-and-2 Auburn on Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Kiffin gambled early in the from the LSU 36. The one Kiffin actually tried to second quarter on fourth-and-2 from the LSU 31, and it paid off in an pick up was 5 yards closer to his eventual touchdown. own end zone, and the numbers “everybody would be saying, ’The “I don’t know,” Kiffin said, “I told him not to do it. defense is playing really well. just really felt good about our That is likely part of the reason Why did you do that?’ That was matchups in this game, how our why the LSU coach acknowledged actually against the book.” offense was coming into the game a higher power after his offense Kiffin said that punting would’ve and just felt like there were gon- picked up the crucial first down. been the analytically sound deci- na be some situations where I told sion to make at that moment. His myself we’re gonna err on the Email Reed Darcey at reed. numbers told him he should leave side of being aggressive and put darcey@theadvocate.com. his offense on the field in that situ- it on our players.” For more LSU sports updates, One of those players, Leavitt, sign up for our newsletter at ation only if it needed to pick up 1 nearly threw away the drive, theadvocate.com/lsunewsletter yard — not 2.

if its first drive — which started near midfield — stalled for a 30-yard field goal. The next possession, with the game tied 3-3, moved 65 yards on 6-of-6 passing from Leavitt, including four completions to Harris. Leavitt, under pressure and falling backward as he threw it, found Harris streaking across the middle for a 10-yard touchdown to pull ahead 10-3. The quarterback would record at least a 70% completion rate for a fifth game in a row. “I would say Kentucky was kind of the first game I felt like I played a lot better and more complete, getting to the check-down and all that,” Leavitt said, “and that stretches them laterally and opens up a lot of our crosser windows and things like that. “It’s a constant progression, and I thought today was another step forward.” LSU went three-and-out on its next possession, but that was a momentary delay. The next series went 95 yards on 14 plays, including a fourth-and-2 on the LSU 32 converted on a di-

rect snap to Jones, who handed off to Leavitt, who then hit Green for 11 yards. The drive ended with Leavitt finding Green over the middle for a 15-yard catch and run across the goal line to make it 17-3. Auburn (4-3, 2-3) answered with its only touchdown drive of the day, but LSU would have two more before the half ended. One lasted just three plays, thanks to a 70-yard touchdown for Harris on a pass threaded over the middle by Leavitt on third-and-5. The next drive, 74 yards on 10 plays, was more methodical, draining most of what remained of the ﬁrst-half clock. The possession was powered by rushes of 9, 16, 10 and 12 yards by Jones. Leavitt finished the first half with an exclamation point, diving across the line on a 4-yard touchdown run that gave LSU a 31-10 lead going into the locker room. “We came in here and kind of shut out the crowd pretty early,” Leavitt said. Jordan-Hare steadily emptied in the second half, because there was little to keep Auburn fans’ at-

tention offensively. LSU kept Brown bottled up, notching 12 tackles for loss and seven sacks (six of them on Brown). Auburn’s first three possessions of the second half traveled just 29 combined yards on 15 plays, and Jones helped put the game away, spinning out of a tackle on his way to a 12-yard touchdown run that made it 38-10 LSU just over a minute into the fourth quarter. Auburn scored a garbage-time touchdown with 24 seconds left to cut the deficit back to 21 points, which was tighter than what LSU achieved a week ago against Mississippi State. Leavitt just shrugged it off. “How much did they finish with? 17?” Leavitt asked reporters. “Last play of the game, whatever.” LSU left no doubt. November awaits, which will provide the Tigers with many meaningful opportunities to notch their best performance yet.

The Cajuns couldn’t maintain the momentum once they captured it. UL went three-and-out on its next drive and then Winfield was intercepted by Kolby Peavy, who returned it 25 yards for a game-tying touchdown to make it 28-28 with 10:05 left to play. The first half couldn’t have started much better for the Cajuns. UL lost the toss and promptly marched 75 yards on 13 plays in 7:23 to take a 7-0 lead. Winfield hit on all five of his passes, including two completions of 19 and 11 to Jensen, to set up the quarterback’s 7-yard touchdown run with 7:37 left in the first quarter. The UL defense then forced a punt on the Eagles’ first drive to continue a season-long streak. No opponent has scored on its first possession against UL. The UL offense could manage only a 2-yard run and three straight incomplete passes to turn it over on downs at the 33. That fueled the Southern Miss offense, which covered 67 yards

on seven plays in 3:04 to tie the game at 7-all with 2:52 left in the first quarter. Three UL flags for 34 yards helped the drive that ended with a 9-yard touchdown run from Robinson. The Eagles stifled UL again with a three-and-out, and Southern Miss took its first lead at 14-7 with 12:46 left until halftime. It was a 10-play, 50-yard drive that Robinson capped with a 3-yard TD run. Robinson had 55 yards and three touchdowns on 13 carries in the first half. Southern Miss sacked Winfield twice on the next possession to force another three-and-out, and the Eagles suddenly owned all the momentum. But they quickly gave the ball back. Garner broke loose for a 42-yard touchdown run around the left side to tie the game at 14-14 with 9:52 left in the second quarter. It was the fifth consecutive game with a touchdown for the redshirt freshman. Avery Demery gave UL another short field to work with when he

forced a fumble at the USM 37 recovered by teammate Kody Jackson. But for the second time in the first half, the UL offense squandered the great field position by missing a 51-yard field goal on third-and-7. It was Sterner’s first miss of the season out of 11 attempts. Two drives later, the Eagles marched 66 yards on 10 plays in 3:02 to take their second lead of the game. A 28-yard connection to Mario Sanders ignited the drive that Robinson finished with a 10yard TD run with 1:41 left for a 21-14 lead. That allowed the UL offense to execute its two-minute offense, and the Cajuns drove 83 yards on six plays in 1:04 to knot the game at 21-all at the half. Winfield connected with Trenton Chaney three times for 35 yards on the drive, including a 4-yard touchdown toss with 31 seconds left.

Email Jon Blau at jon.blau@theadvocate.com

Email Kevin Foote at kfoote@theadvocate.com.

Golden State ties WNBA Finals series with Atlanta ATLANTA — Gabby Williams scored 17 points and Golden State played stellar defense to beat the Atlanta Dream 67-62 on Saturday and even the WNBA Finals at 2-2. The best-of-seven series moves back to California on Monday for Game 5. The Valkyries stymied Atlanta star Angel Reese, holding her to just eight points. She had dominated the previous two games, averaging 25.5 points and 14 rebounds in the Dream victories. Reese struggled in Game 4, missing 10 of her 12 shots, including a few layups in the fourth quarter, after having double-doubles in each of the ﬁrst three games. Tiffany Hayes was moved into the starting lineup Saturday and scored all of her 13 points in the second half as the Valkyries got their ﬁrst victory since Game 1.

Magic forward Banchero will miss weeks with sprain

The Orlando Magic are bracing to be without standout forward Paolo Banchero for what will almost certainly be multiple weeks, after imaging conﬁrmed that he suffered a low-grade high right ankle sprain in a loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Magic made the announcement Saturday, a day after Banchero got hurt in the ﬁrst half of a 115-93 loss to Minnesota to fall to 0-2 on the season. There is no formal timetable for a return, but a low-grade high ankle sprain typically takes several weeks or even months to heal. If Banchero misses four weeks, that means he’d be sidelined for about 13 games. The Magic went 7-3 in 10 games without Banchero last season.

Top-ranked Rybakina to play Fernandez in Ningbo final

NINGBO, China — Top-ranked Elena Rybakina beat Diana Shnaider 6-3, 7-5 on Saturday to return to the Ningbo Open final. Defending champion Rybakina hit six aces but needed 11 set points to take the first set in a match that featured erratic serving and a total of 11 double-faults between her and Shnaider. The Kazakhstan star will face Leylah Fernandez for the title after the Canadian beat Marie Bouzkova 6-3, 7-5 in the other semifinal. Rybakina, 27, has won 14 career singles titles, including both the Australian Open and U.S. Open this year. It will be a 28th career final for Rybakina. She has a 3-2 record over Fernandez.

LIV Golf paid $15M to retain executives before bankruptcy

LIV Golf paid $15.6 million to retain seven of its executives, including $6.375 million to CEO Scott O’Neil, in the months between Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund saying it was ending financial support and LIV filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The payments are part of a trove of documents filed late Thursday in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New Jersey. That included 129 payments to creditors in the 90 days before LIV’s bankruptcy filing and $26 million to Jon Rahm in the year before the Sept. 8 filing. LIV Golf is trying to emerge from bankruptcy without the financial muscle of the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, which spent upward of $5 billion since the rival league launched in June 2022.

Choi moves into tie for second in South Korea HAENAM, South Korea — Hye-Jin Choi had an eagle and seven birdies on her first 11 holes Saturday on a rain-soaked Pine Beach Golf Links to shoot a 6-under 66 and move into a tie for second place after three rounds of the LPGA South Korea tournament. Second-round leader Haeran Ryu, who birdied her last three holes, still led the tournament by four strokes after a 4-under 68 and a three-round total of 17-under 199. Choi shot 28 on her front nine and was 9-under before she bogeyed the par-5 12th after hitting into a fairway bunker. She made a double-bogey seven on the 17th after missing an eight-foot par putt after hitting into hazard off the green with her fairway wood.

The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Sunday, October 25, 2026 ● 3C

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LSU avoids scare from legend of Jordan-Hare AUBURN, Ga. — Auburn once brought Lane Kiffin here for a “recruiting trip” trying to get him to be its football coach, with thenbasketball coach Bruce Pearl touring him around Jordan-Hare Stadium. “You’ll get a win here every year that you really don’t deserve,” Pearl told Kiffin, “because magical things just happen here.” Saturday was not one of those days to beware at Jordan-Hare. No magic for the home Tigers, who may have used up their sorcerer’s wand worth in the prior week’s upset at then No. 1-ranked Georgia. No magic needed for the visiting Tigers, either. Not when you can throttle your opponent until its eyes pop out like champagne corks. “When games are dominated,” Kiffin said, “the score, yardage, almost all areas, it means a lot of people are doing things right.” After so many things went wrong for LSU in its first two road games, lost by a combined nine frustrating points at Ole Miss and Kentucky, the Tigers exercised not just two games but two years

of road demons in this one. On this bright, blue Saturday on the plains, LSU didn’t take long to put Auburn’s lights out. For the second straight week LSU just went out and squeezed the life out of a Southeastern Conference foe — 31-0 the previous week against Mississippi State, up 31-10 at halftime in this one en route to a 38-17 decision over Auburn. A sheet-sized sign held up by an LSU fan in the rapidly emptying Jordan-Hare stands during the closing minutes said it all: “Kifﬁn says: ‘Save your toilet paper!’ ” The local supporters had no cause to roll the live oaks at Toomer’s Corner after this one, trees that still held tattered remnants of the post-Georgia victory celebration. It was practically a 180-degree reversal of that, as No. 18 LSU (6-2, 3-2 SEC) recorded its biggest road margin of victory ever over Auburn, topping a 14-point win here in 1973. LSU’s previous four wins at Auburn dating back to 2008 were by a combined 12 points. LSU buried a lot of bad SEC road voodoo in this one, snapping an eight-game

Scott Rabalais conference road losing streak that stretched all the way back to October 2024. “When we don’t screw games up,” Kiffin said, rather ruefully, “we’re really hard to beat.” LSU really had only one big chance to make a mess of things. Up 10-3, Sam Leavitt rolled right and threw deep and wild and into the arms of Auburn safety Eric Winters. But wait. After further review, the point of the ball touched the turf. Incomplete. A do-over. The kind of second chance LSU didn’t get in its 35-34 overtime loss two weeks earlier at Kentucky. The Tigers pounced on the opportunity. And At Auburn Kiffin, unlike At Kentucky Kiffin, was the aggressor. On fourth-and-2 from LSU’s 31, he made the fourth-down

gamble he was unwilling to make on fourth-and-1 from the LSU 43 in Lexington. Not only did LSU go for it, the Tigers did so with panache: a direct snap to Dilin Jones, who tossed to Leavitt, who threw in the right flat to Trey’Dez Green for 11 yards. Nine plays later, Leavitt threw again to Green, who 18-wheelered his way into the end zone on a 15-yard scoring play that put LSU up 17-3, capping a 14-play, 95-yard drive. Green, who missed the last fourplus games with a knee injury, was worth his 242 pounds in gold to the LSU offense. He had five catches for 50 yards, not matching wide receiver Jackson Harris’ stellar day (nine catches, 178 yards, two scores) but adding a dimension to the offense that the Tigers definitely missed. “As much as the play of him, it’s the feel of him,” Kiffin said. “You just feel different. Just to have him back in uniform just felt good.” Leavitt went off after his near mistake, finishing with more than 400 yards of total offense (387 passing, 54 rushing) and four touchdowns. He got a mulligan,

SCOREBOARD Odds NFL FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG Pittsburgh 1½ 3 (44½) vs. N.O. at NY JETS 2½ 4½ (39½) Miami at MINNESOTA 3 6½ (41½) Indianapolis at HOUSTON 5½ 10½ (42½) NY Giants San Francisco 4½ 2½ (49½) at ATLANTA at CAROLINA 1½ 3 (44½) Tampa Bay Cleveland 3 2½ (37½) at TENNESSEE Cincinnati 3½ 1½ (48½) at BALTIMORE Denver 7½ 4½ (43½) at ARIZONA at DETROIT 1½ 3½ (54½) Green Bay LA Rams 8½ 3½ (48½) at LAS VEGAS at SEATTLE 3 2½ (42½) Kansas City

Monday FAVORITE Dallas

OPEN TODAY O/U 3 4½ (44½)

UNDERDOG at PHILA.

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 Chicago Green Bay Detroit West San Francisco Seattle Arizona L.A. Rams

W 5 4 2 0

L 1 3 4 5

T 0 0 0 0

Pct .833 .571 .333 .000

PF 197 160 112 70

PA 171 143 122 132

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 5 4 3

L 0 2 2 2

T Pct 0 1.000 0 .714 0 .667 0 .600

PF PA 109 64 180 143 127 125 164 148

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

PA 110 122 178 138

Chicago 30, New England 24

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

Dallas at Philadelphia, 7:15 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 29

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

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

College football Friday’s scores NC Central 31, Delaware St. 12 Penn 24, Yale 21 UConn 35, UMass 16 Duke 19, Virginia 16 Army 38, Tulsa 35 Stanford 31, NC State 28 Wyoming 28, Air Force 14

Saturday’s scores

EAST Albany (NY) 38, Rhode Island 21 Brown 38, Cornell 31 Buffalo 31, Bowling Green 24 CCSU 42, New Haven 20 Campbell 35, Maine 6 Dartmouth 38, Columbia 18 Duquesne 52, Wagner 21 Harvard 35, Princeton 7 Holy Cross 34, Bucknell 3 Howard 26, Morgan St. 20, OT Lafayette 31, Fordham 17 Merrimack 24, New Hampshire 17 North Texas 49, Navy 39 Robert Morris 28, Mercyhurst 14 St. Thomas (Minn.) 35, Marist 13 Stonehill 18, LIU Brooklyn 14 Stony Brook 27, Bryant 17 Villanova 24, Lehigh 18

SOUTH Alabama 31, Texas A&M 20 Ark.-Pine Bluff 31, Florida A&M 28 Bethune-Cookman 24, Jackson St. 21 Boston College 49, Georgia Tech 27 Charleston Southern 20, Tennessee St. 7 Chattanooga 41, W. Carolina 18 E. Kentucky 16, West Florida 13 ETSU 38, VMI 0 FAU 51, Rice 49 LSU 38, Auburn 17 Louisiana-Monroe 21, Troy 14 Miami 52, Pittsburgh 23 Monmouth (NJ) 49, Hampton 13 Morehead St. 38, Stetson 31 Nicholls 31, Northwestern St. 27 Oklahoma 23, Mississippi St. 15 Richmond 13, Colgate 6 SC State 22, Norfolk St. 7 Samford 13, Furman 6 South Carolina 27, Tennessee 24 Tarleton St. 49, West Georgia 6 Tennessee Tech 28, The Citadel 13 MIDWEST Ball St. 34, Sacramento St. 17 Butler 33, Drake 21 Cincinnati 37, Texas Tech 24 Dayton 37, San Diego 32 Hawaii 56, N. Illinois 21 Illinois 21, Oregon 10 Illinois St. 17, Indiana St. 10 Indiana 13, Michigan 6, OT Kansas 25, Baylor 24 Kent St. 35, Akron 20 Miami (Ohio) 28, Cent. Michigan 27 Minnesota 13, Iowa 10 Northwestern 42, Rutgers 14 Ohio 24, E. Michigan 20 S. Dakota St. 42, Murray St. 9 S. Illinois 20, N. Iowa 17 SE Missouri 20, E. Illinois 10 South Dakota 26, North Dakota 23, OT Toledo 45, W. Michigan 38 Valparaiso 24, Presbyterian 7 SOUTHWEST Lamar 35, Houston Christian 10 SMU 59, California 20 Texas Southern 24, Southern 21 West Virginia 24, TCU 20 FAR WEST Arizona St. 28, Kansas St. 17 Montana St. 38, Weber St. 33 UCLA 28, Michigan St. 10

No. 18 LSU 38, Auburn 17

LSU 10 21 0 7 — 38 Auburn 3 7 0 7 — 17 First quarter LSU — FG Starzyk 30, 10:54. AUB — FG McPherson 23, 6:50. LSU — J.Harris 10 pass from Leavitt (Starzyk kick), 3:48. Second quarter LSU — T.Green 15 pass from Leavitt (Starzyk kick), 9:48. AUB — By.Brown 1 run (McPherson kick), 5:42. LSU — J.Harris 70 pass from Leavitt (Starzyk kick), 4:29. LSU — Leavitt 4 run (Starzyk kick), :17. Fourth quarter LSU — D.Jones 12 run (Starzyk kick), 13:56. AUB — Ti’a 7 run (McPherson kick), :24. A — 88,043. LSU AUB First downs 29 16 Total Net Yards 552 271 Rushes-yards 34-165 35-67 Passing 387 204 Punt Returns 0-0 1--1 Kickoff Returns 0-0 0-0 Interceptions Ret. 0-0 0-0 Comp-Att-Int 32-46-0 20-30-0 Sacked-Yards Lost 1-2 7-48 Punts 3-33.33 7-48.57 Fumbles-Lost 0-0 1-0 Penalties-Yards 7-50 6-48 Time of Possession 33:41 26:19 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING — LSU, D.Jones 21-92, Leavitt 8-54, Durham 3-22, Berry 1-(minus 1), Clark 1-(minus 2). Auburn, Brown 19-21, Ti’a 4-18, Cobb 5-14, Mabson 3-13, Washington 3-5, (Team) 1-(minus 4). PASSING — LSU, Leavitt 32-45-0-387, Clark 0-10-0. Auburn, Brown 15-24-0-160, Ti’a 5-6-0-44. RECEIVING — LSU, Harris 9-178, T.Green 5-50, Watkins 4-40, Wilson 4-37, D.Jones 4-27, Z.Grace 3-33, Elzy 1-11, Mothershed 1-6, Barber 1-5. Auburn, Singleton 4-64, Spencer 4-41, Neptune 3-13, Koger 2-30, Nimrod 2-7, J.Johnson 1-19, Mabson 1-13, Cobb 1-8, Boardingham 1-6, Echols 1-3. MISSED FIELD GOALS — None.

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: Milwaukee 3, Tampa Bay 2 Saturday: Game 2: Tampa Bay (Rasmussen 16-5) at Milwaukee (Henderson 11-3) Monday: Game 3: Milwaukee (Peralta 10-11) at Tampa Bay (Gasser 5-5) 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

Milwaukee 3, Tampa Bay 2 Late Friday

Tampa Bay

Milwaukee ab r h bi Chourio lf 4 1 2 1 Bauers 1b 4 0 1 0 Yelich dh 4 1 1 1 Contreras c 3 0 2 1 Turang 2b 2 0 0 0 Mitchell cf 4 0 0 0 Pratt ss 3 1 0 0 Frelick rf 3 0 1 0 Sánchez ph 1 0 0 0 Lara rf 0 0 0 0 Hamilton 3b 2 0 1 0 Ortiz 3b 0 0 0 0 Totals 31 2 7 2 Totals 30 3 8 3 Tampa Bay 000 100 001 — 2 Milwaukee 200 000 10x — 3 DP — Tampa Bay 0, Milwaukee 2. LOB — Tampa Bay 4, Milwaukee 8. 2B — Caminero (1), Hamilton (1). 3B — Yelich (1). SB — Frelick (1), Simpson (1), Mateo (1). S — Hamilton (1). Díaz dh Aranda 1b Mateo pr Simpson lf Caminero 3b Hicks c DeLuca cf Mesa rf Williamsn ss Walls ss Vilade ph-2b

ab r h bi 4 0 0 0 3 1 3 0 0 1 0 0 4 0 2 0 3 0 1 0 4 0 0 2 4 0 0 0 3 0 1 0 3 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0

TOP 25 ROUNDUP

IP H R ER BB SO Tampa Bay Martinez L,0-1 5 5 2 2 0 5 Matz 1 ⁄3 0 1 1 3 0 1 Kelly ⁄3 3 0 0 0 0 2 Cleavinger ⁄3 0 0 0 1 0 1 Sulser ⁄3 0 0 0 0 0 Milwaukee Misiorowski W,1-0 5 4 1 1 1 3 Uribe H,1 11⁄3 1 0 0 0 2 Ashby H,1 12⁄3 0 0 0 0 3 Megill S,1-1 1 2 1 1 1 1 ABS Challenge — Mesa (Strike-Overturned to Ball); Simpson (Strike-Overturned to Ball); Kelly (Ball-Conﬁrmed). Pitch timer violations — Misiorowski (pitcher). Umpires — Home, Gabe Morales; First, Nic Lentz; Second, James Hoye; Third, Vic Carapazza; Right, Tripp Gibson; Left, Dan Bellino. T — 3:09. A — 43,250 (41,700).

Pro basketball NBA glance EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division

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

W 2 2 1 0 0

L 0 0 1 1 2

Pct 1.000 1.000 .500 .000 .000

GB — — 1 1½ 2

W 2 1 1 0 0

L 0 1 1 2 2

Pct 1.000 .500 .500 .000 .000

GB — 1 1 2 2

W 2 1 1 0 0

L 0 1 1 1 2

Pct 1.000 .500 .500 .000 .000

GB — 1 1 1½ 2

W 2 2 1 0 0

L 0 0 1 2 2

Pct 1.000 1.000 .500 .000 .000

GB — — 1 2 2

W 2 2 2 1 0

L 0 0 0 1 1

Pct 1.000 1.000 1.000 .500 .000

GB — — — 1 1½

W 2 1 0 0 0

L 0 1 1 2 2

Pct 1.000 .500 .000 .000 .000

GB — 1 1½ 2 2

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

Friday’s scores

Chicago 132, Milwaukee 125 Atlanta 128, Charlotte 81 Minnesota 115, Orlando 93 Toronto 112, Washington 102 Boston 107, New York 103 Dallas 121, Indiana 105 Detroit 128, Miami 111 Utah 120, New Orleans 119 Houston 114, San Antonio 110 Portland 128, Sacramento 120 L.A. Lakers 125, L.A. Clippers 117 Memphis 111, Golden State 108

Saturday’s games

Miami at Charlotte, n Brooklyn at Cleveland, n Milwaukee at Philadelphia, n San Antonio at Dallas, n Washington at Chicago, n Houston at Atlanta, n New Orleans at Denver, n Golden State at Phoenix, n

Sunday’s games

L.A. Lakers at Utah, 4 p.m. Indiana at Brooklyn, 5 p.m. L.A. Clippers at Oklahoma City, 6 p.m. Orlando at New York, 6 p.m. Toronto at Minnesota, 6 p.m. Detroit at Philadelphia, 6:30 p.m. Memphis at Sacramento, 8 p.m.

Utah 120, New Orleans 119 Late Friday

FG FT Reb N.O. Min M-A M-A O-T A PFPTS Murphy III 31:27 4-9 0-0 1-6 3 4 9 Williamsn 33:01 8-12 7-8 1-5 2 5 23 Missi 9:17 3-3 0-0 1-1 0 0 6 Fears 23:44 3-9 0-0 0-0 1 2 7 Murray 30:13 7-15 2-2 1-6 6 2 16 Queen 29:00 4-9 3-4 1-7 2 3 12 Bey 22:08 8-12 1-1 1-3 1 1 20 Poole 19:10 1-8 9-10 0-2 2 5 12 Jones 17:46 1-2 0-0 0-1 0 3 3 Mathurin 15:06 2-5 0-0 1-2 0 3 4 Matkovic 9:07 3-3 1-2 2-4 1 1 7 Totals 240 44-87 23-27 9-37 18 29 119 Percentages: FG .506, FT .852. 3-Point Goals: 8-26, .308 (Bey 3-5, Jones 1-2, Queen 1-2, Fears 1-4, Murphy III 1-4, Poole 1-5, Mathurin 0-1, Williamson 0-1, Murray 0-2). Team Rebounds: 11. Team Turnovers: None. Blocked Shots: 5 (Queen 2, Bey, Missi, Poole). Turnovers: 15 (Murray 3, Bey 2, Fears 2, Mathurin 2, Murphy III 2, Queen 2, Williamson 2). Steals: 15 (Murray 3, Poole 3, Williamson 3, Matkovic 2, Queen 2, Fears, Murphy III). Technical Fouls: coach Jamahl Mosley, 6:24 second; Poole, 5:49 third. UTAH Min Bailey 21:42 Markknen 34:08 Jackson 33:14 32:25 George Peterson 29:58 Hayes 25:57 Mykhailiuk 21:24 Collier 18:02 Sensabgh 15:35 Filipowski 7:35

M-A 2-8 6-13 7-15 6-12 6-12 7-8 1-4 3-5 3-6 0-1

Reb

but that’s now two straight games without an interception for the transfer quarterback who seems to be truly grasping the Kifﬁn/ Charlie Weis Jr. offense. “It’s a constant progression,” said Leavitt, who did nothing to hurt his standing as the SEC’s top passer. “Today was another step forward.” LSU now heads home for the season’s only open date before opening up the well-publicized November gauntlet: Alabama and Texas at home, another road trip to Tennessee before closing things out at Arkansas. Maybe this is the year a 9-3 team makes the 12-team College Football Playoff, but neither LSU nor anyone else can count on that. The Tigers have to play like there is no margin for error. Could be that loss at Kentucky will haunt the Tigers in the end, but there is nothing LSU can do about that now. But here is a history lesson that can beneﬁt the Tigers in the big games to come: If they play as they have the past two weeks in the next four, there is no game LSU can’t win. No magic required.

M-A O-T A F PTS 1-2 1-7 2 2 6 0-0 2-6 3 0 16 8-10 4-10 3 4 24 4-6 0-1 10 2 19 2-2 3-3 1 3 15 3-3 2-5 2 3 17 1-2 1-4 1 2 3 4-6 0-2 7 3 10 2-2 1-3 2 2 10 0-0 0-1 0 0 0

Totals 240 41-84 25-33 14-42 31 21 120 Percentages: FG .488, FT .758. 3-Point Goals: 13-35, .371 (Markkanen 4-9, George 3-7, Jackson Jr. 2-4, Sensabaugh 2-4, Peterson 1-2, Bailey 1-6, Collier 0-1, Mykhailiuk 0-2). Team Rebounds: 9. Team Turnovers: None. Blocked Shots: 5 (Jackson Jr. 3, Hayes, Sensabaugh). Turnovers: 18 (George 6, Filipowski 3, Jackson Jr. 3, Collier 2, Bailey, Markkanen, Mykhailiuk, Sensabaugh). Steals: 4 (Filipowski, George, Markkanen, Mykhailiuk). Technical Fouls: None. New Orleans 28 24 38 29 — 119 Utah 31 31 24 34 — 120 A — 17,867 (18,206). T — 2:21.

WNBA Finals

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

Oct. 17: Game 1: Golden State 68, Atlanta 64 Oct. 19: Game 2: Atlanta 79, Golden State 65 Oct. 21: Game 3: Atlanta 97, Golden State 71 Saturday: Game 4: Golden State 67, Atlanta 62 Monday: Game 5: Atlanta at Golden State, 7 p.m. (USA) Thursday: Game 6: Golden State at Atlanta, 7 p.m. (USA) x-Saturday, Oct. 31: Game 7: Atlanta at Golden State, 7 p.m. (USA)

Golden State 67, Atlanta 62

GOLDEN STATE (67) Charles 2-6 1-2 5, Hayes 5-10 3-3 13, Stokes 2-5 0-0 4, Burton 4-17 3-4 13, Williams 7-21 3-3 17, Salaun 1-1 0-0 2, Thornton 1-2 0-0 3, Zandalasini 4-8 1-1 10, Chen 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 26-72 11-13 67. ATLANTA (62) Hillmon 2-2 2-2 6, Howard 6-14 5-7 19, Reese 2-12 4-6 8, Canada 3-8 4-6 10, Gray 1-7 3-4 5, Bonner 1-5 1-2 4, Okot 0-0 0-0 0, Borlase 3-6 3-4 10, Walker-Kimbrough 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 18-54 22-31 62. Golden State 16 26 12 13 — 67 Atlanta 11 15 19 17 — 62 3-Point Goals — Golden State 4-25 (Burton 2-7, Thornton 1-2, Zandalasini 1-3, Hayes 0-2, Stokes 0-2, Charles 0-3, Williams 0-6), Atlanta 4-23 (Howard 2-8, Borlase 1-3, Bonner 1-4, Reese 0-1, Canada 0-3, Gray 0-4). Fouled Out — None. Rebounds — Golden State 38 (Stokes 16), Atlanta 37 (Hillmon, Reese 9). Assists — Golden State 10 (Burton 5), Atlanta 9 (Canada 4). Total Fouls — Golden State 26, Atlanta 19. A — 17,099 (18,118)

Auto racing NASCAR Cup lineup YellaWood 500

After Saturday qualifying; race Sunday At Talladega Superspeedway Talladega, Ala. Lap length: 2.66 miles (Car number in parentheses) 1. (19) Chase Briscoe, Toyota, 186.065 mph. 2. (33) Austin Hill, Chevrolet, 185.949. 3. (88) Connor Zilisch, Chevrolet, 185.877. 4. (97) Shane Van Gisbergen, Chevrolet, 185.707. 5. (17) Chris Buescher, Ford, 185.607. 6. (20) Christopher Bell, Toyota, 185.549. 7. (48) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, 185.506. 8. (54) Ty Gibbs, Toyota, 185.301. 9. (11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 185.101. 10. (5) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 184.822. 11. (51) Cody Ware, Chevrolet, 184.858. 12. (3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 184.847. 13. (7) Daniel Suárez, Chevrolet, 184.790. 14. (35) Riley Herbst, Toyota, 184.776. 15. (1) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet, 184.719. 16. (22) Joey Logano, Ford, 184.694. 17. (24) William Byron, Chevrolet, 184.683. 18. (9) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, 184.644. 19. (60) Ryan Preece, Ford, 184.644. 20. (41) Cole Custer, Chevrolet, 184.630. 21. (21) Josh Berry, Ford, 184.516. 22. (6) Brad Keselowski, Ford, 184.356. 23. (71) Michael McDowell, Chevrolet, 184.310. 24. (47) Ricky Stenhouse Jr, Chevrolet, 184.264. 25. (23) Bubba Wallace, Toyota, 184.225. 26. (77) Carson Hocevar, Chevrolet, 184.211. 27. (12) Ryan Blaney, Ford, 184.026. 28. (2) Austin Cindric, Ford, 184.026. 29. (43) Erik Jones, Toyota, 183.889. 30. (10) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, 183.850. 31. (38) Zane Smith, Ford, 183.758. 32. (42) John H. Nemechek, Toyota, 183.691. 33. (45) Tyler Reddick, Toyota, 183.638. 34. (62) Casey Mears, Chevrolet, 183.227. 35. (34) Todd Gilliland, Ford, 183.224. 36. (78) Daniel Dye, Chevrolet, 183.010. 37. (16) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 182.553. 38. (44) Joey Gase, Chevrolet, 182.157. 39. (4) Noah Gragson, Ford, 181.797. 40. (66) Gray Gaulding, Ford, 181.106.

Transactions FOOTBALL National Football League ATLANTA FALCONS — Activated CB A.J. Terrell from injured reserve. Signed DE Drake Jackson to the active roster. Placed OT Michael Jerrell on injured reserve. ARIZONA CARDINALS — Signed RB Evan Hull to the active roster from the practice squad. Waived DB Wydett Williams from the active roster. BALTIMORE RAVENS — Placed LB Tavius Robinson on injured reserve. Signed G Kyle Hergel from the practice squad. CAROLINA PANTHERS — Placed LB Thomas Incoom on injured reserve. Activated LB Bam Martin-Scott from injured reserve. Signed DB Malcolm DeWalt to the practice squad. CLEVELAND BROWNS — Activated RB Dylan Sampson from injured reserve. Placed OL Teven Jenkins in injured reserve. DENVER BRONCOS — Activated RB Jonah Coleman and OLB Jonathon Cooper. Placed RB Tyler Badie and OLB Jonah Elliss on injured reserve. DETROIT LIONS — Activated DB Brian Branch from the PUP list. Activated C Cade Mays from injured reserve. GREEN BAY PACKERS — Activated RB Josh Jacobs from exempt status. Activated DT Jordan Riley off reserve/physically unable to perform list. Signed WR Coleman Owen from the practice squad to the active roster.

Indiana slips past Michigan in overtime

By The Associated Press

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan quarterback Tommy Carr made his first start in part because coaches had confidence in his ability to take care of the football. In a 13-6 overtime loss to No. 6 Indiana, he lost a fumble on an ill-advised pitch and tossed an interception on a deflected pass that was thrown in traffic to hurt the Wolverines’ chances of pulling off an upset. The grandson of College Football Hall of Famers and the brother of Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr took the first snap while Bryce Underwood stood on the sideline. Last week, Tommy Carr came off the bench in the second half in a win over Penn State. Carr completed 20 of 32 passes for 167 yards. No. 1 MIAMI 52, PITTSBURGH 23: In Miami Gardens, Florida, Malachi Toney had a school-record 16 catches, Dariah Mensah threw for 387 yards and four touchdowns and Miami rolled past Pitt in the Hurricanes’ first game as the nation’s top-ranked team in nearly 24 years. CINCINNATI 37, No. 8 TEXAS TECH 24: In Cincinnati, Cole Tabb had a career-high 173 yards rushing and a touchdown and JC French IV threw for a career-high four TD passes as Cincinnati stunned Texas Tech. No. 9 UCLA 28, MICHIGAN STATE 10: In Pasadena, California, Ty Dieffenbach threw a 63-yard touchdown pass and handed off for three others as UCLA beat Michigan State for the Bruins’ first 7-0 start since 2005. SOUTH CAROLINA 27, No. 11 TENNESSEE 24: In Columbia, South Carolina, LaNorris Sellers accounted for three touchdowns and Malik Orsan nailed a 48-yard field goal as time expired to lift South Carolina past Tennessee. No. 13 ALABAMA 31, TEXAS A&M 20: In Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Keelon Russell threw for 311 yards and three touchdowns, including a pair of fourth-quarter scores that helped Alabama pull away, and the Crimson Tide beat Texas A&M to end a two-game skid. MINNESOTA 13, No. 15 IOWA 10: In Minneapolis, Luke Drzewiecki kicked a 46-yard field goal as time expired, and Minnesota beat No. 15 Iowa to claim the Floyd of Rosedale trophy for the first time since 2023 and second time in 12 years. No. 23 SMU 59, CALIFORNIA 20: In Dallas, Kevin Jennings threw three touchdowns to break SMU’s career record, Kendrick Raphael ran for 104 yards while accounting for three scores, two on fourth-down plays, and the Mustangs beat California. No. 24 NORTHWESTERN 42, RUTGERS 14: In Evanston, Illinois, Aidan Chiles threw for three touchdowns for the third time this season and rushed for two others to lead Northwestern past Rutgers for a fourth straight victory.

4C l Sunday, October 25, 2026 l theadvocate.com l The Acadiana Advocate

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PREP REWIND FIVE STARS OF THE NIGHT Joseph Clues, Opelousas

The workhorse running back for the Tigers turned in his best performance of the season to help Opelousas beat Cecilia 50-48 by rushing for 241 yards and four touchdowns on 28 carries.

Kennan Brown, Lafayette Renaissance

The Tigers’ veteran QB played a big role in a blowout win. First, Brown was 11-of-14 passing for 154 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran it four times for 55 yards and a fourth score.

Kyan Batiste, Catholic-NI

Catholic’s versatile performer did it all in Friday’s win over West St. Mary. Batiste caught six passes for 87 yards and two touchdowns. He ran a kickoff back 72 yards for a touchdown and also ran it twice for 12 yards and a fourth score.

Joseph Adams, Lafayette Christian

The fantastic senior season for the Knights defensive end continued with 11 tackles — six for losses — and two sacks. Adams also broke Jayden Arceneaux’s school record of 55.5 tackles for losses.

Parker Menard, Notre Dame

The Pioneers junior quarterback is known more as a runner in a runfirst offense. But during Friday’s 41-21 win over undefeated Lake Arthur, Menard was 10-of-12 passing for 199 yards and two touchdowns.

GAME OF THE WEEK

Southside’s ground game too much for STM BY NICK FONTENOT

Contributing writer

When the Southside defense forced a 3-and-out to begin the third quarter, no one could have predicted what happened on the next drive. Well, maybe Southside coach Jess Curtis could have. After all, the Sharks are known for controlling the clock, running the football and imposing physicality on opposing defenses. Up 10-7 at the time, Southside embarked on a 23-play, 80-yard drive that burned 11:43 off the clock. Quarterback Parker Dies capped off the drive with a touchdown to put the Sharks up 17-7. STM scored a touchdown with 4:08 to play, but Southside relied on running backs Justin Williams and Coby Broussard to run out the clock with a nine-play drive to seal the 17-14 win on Friday in Youngsville. “That’s Southside football,” Curtis said. “It’s really who we are. We like to control the tempo of the game. We like to be physical. We like to move the chains, and we kind of got away from it early in the season. We forgot about ’dirty yards.’ You gotta be good at dirty yards, and tonight we were good at that.” Williams, who led Southside in rushing with 121 yards on 29 car- Southside running back Coby Broussard carries the ball during the Sharks’ 17-14 win over St. Thomas More on Friday. ries, said the physical 12-minute drive in the second half is exactly what the Sharks work on every “We have a lot of really talented STM isn’t lost on Curtis. He said day. players, but when Justin sets the he knows the Cougars have one “We work on stamina and we table, we are hard to beat,” Cur- of the best programs in the state. prepare for this kind tis said. “I can’t Curtis said the Sharks were at a of Friday night,” Wilbelieve a player point in the season where they “That’s Southside like Justin Wil- needed to decide what the stanliams said. “We got a football. It’s really ‘Southside drive’ toliams doesn’t have dard of Southside football is. He who we are. We like a college offer. It said Friday’s win goes a long way night. “When the O-line is to control the tempo is almost criminal. to deﬁning that. “We had to really dig in and blocking like that, it’s of the game. We like He’s led the whole damn city in rush- play our football and play up to physical football and to be physical. ” we went out there and ing, and defenses the standards here at Southside,” executed and scored focus on him every Curtis said. “I’m just really proud JESS CURTIS, of them because that’s what we the ball. It’s like that’s week. Southside coach what we’re supposed “They had the did tonight. We played Southto do.” whole school of side football tonight, and we got Curtis called WilSTM in the box another one next week (against liams the “bell cow” of the trying to stop him and he still ran Acadiana). “I hope we’re mature enough Southside offense and said the right through them. He’s done it program has owed a lot to him to the best in this state, and he did to celebrate this win but get it behind us quickly and go win anfor what he’s done over the past it again tonight.” The significance of beating other big game next week.” three seasons.

STAFF PHOTOS BY BRAD BOWIE

Southside running back Justin Williams scores a touchdown against St. Thomas More on Friday in Youngsville. Williams led Southside in rushing with 121 yards on 29 carries on the night as the team improved to 5-3.

Notre Dame leans on passing game to stay unbeaten BY KEVIN FOOTE Staff writer

Notre Dame junior quarterback Parker Menard wasn’t sure if he’d even be able to play in Friday’s 41-21 victory over Lake Arthur at Gardiner Memorial Stadium in Crowley. Just when it appeared the Pioneers would be as healthy as they’ve been all season, Menard endured flu-like symptoms over the weekend and called coach Lewis Cook with a fever of 103. “I was afraid if I didn’t go to practice Tuesday, then I wasn’t going to be able to play,” Menard said. “So I was actually late to practice because I was throwing up and showed up to practice 10 minutes late because I didn’t go to school that day and practiced.” Menard certainly didn’t look slowed down at all come Friday night, completing 10 of 12 passes for 199 yards and two touchdowns to help Notre Dame separate in the battle of 7-0 clubs. “I just needed my coach to have a little bit more confidence in me and throw the ball,” Menard said. “We completed like four or five in a row and then I guess he (coach Lewis Cook) kept on going with it because it was working.” As the game rolled on, there were several instances when the Pioneers’ offense had the exact number of yards passing as yards

STAFF PHOTO BY BRAD KEMP

Notre Dame quarterback Parker Menard connected on 10 of 12 passes for 199 yards and two scores during the Pioneers’ 41-21 win over Lake Arthur on Friday.

rushing. Notre Dame finished with 217 rushing and 199 passing yards. “Yeah, that makes you feel good,” Cook said. “If you can get balance like that, it definitely helps. It makes it hard to defend.” The football game looked more like a track meet early on. Lake Arthur showed it wasn’t intimidated by the Pioneers by

marching 69 yards on nine plays in 3:23 to take the quick 7-0 lead. The Tigers went for it on fourthand-1 from their own 40 to keep the drive alive, before quarterback Gabe Turner’s 28-yard touchdown run. The Pioneers didn’t wait long to utilize the passing game. On the ﬁrst offensive play, running back William Lavergne took the snap and rolled left to pitch it to Menard, who had lined up as a wide receiver. Menard was pressured but got off a 71-yard touchdown pass to Luke Frank to tie it at 7-all. “It’s always fun to run plays like that, to kind of give the defenses a different look,” Lavergne said. “We ran that play against Teurlings, but it didn’t work,” Menard said. “So he (Cook) wanted to try it again. At first, I couldn’t see him whenever I got pitched the ball. As soon as he pitched it, he got hit. Then I stepped to my right a little bit and I saw him (Frank) wide open. So I just threw it.” On the next possession, a fumbled snap on a pooch punt attempt by Turner helped Notre Dame set up shop at the Lake Arthur 37, and Lavergne’s 35-yard run set up Menard’s 1-yard scoring plunge for the 13-7 lead with 6:06 left in the ﬁrst quarter. “Our O-line executed higher than their normal standards tonight,” said Lavergne, who fin-

ished with 59 yards and three touchdowns. “I mean, they really played well. I can’t ask for more than the giant holes I was running through. All I had to do was run through them. The O-line was fantastic.” Unfortunately for the visiting Tigers, they turned the ball over again with a fumble for a 6-yard loss at their own 27. Lavergne followed Braxton Meche’s 14-yard run with a 5-yard scoring run for a 20-7 lead with 3:46 left in the first. Meche finished the night with 90 yards on 12 carries. Lake Arthur’s speedy running back Jaydon Prudhomme reminded everyone how talented he is by breaking loose on a 69-yard touchdown run for the Tigers’ own one-play touchdown drive. That cut the Pios’ lead to 20-14 with 3:27 left in the first. “I thought defensively did a good job because those guys, 20 (Prudhomme) and 7 (Gabe Turner), they can go,” Cook said. “They can play. He (Prudhomme) broke that long one, but I thought we did a pretty good job after that.” Finally, Cook wanted out of the track meet and the Pioneers’ offense responded with a 15-play, 83-yard drive in 7:19 to slow the game down. Completions of 13 yards to Meche and 15 yards to Thomas

Andrus preceded Lavergne’s 3-yard touchdown run for a 27-14 lead with 7:08 left until halftime. “Parker did a good job of finding a little space and putting in on the money,” Cook said of Menard’s passing. The Pios got one more touchdown in with Menard’s 26-yard completion to Luke Swacker, which set up Lavergne’s third touchdown run of the first half for a 34-14 halftime cushion. Throughout the game, Cook kept throwing curveballs at Lake Arthur’s defense, lining up wide receivers and running backs at quarterback to begin the play. “Yeah, it’s probably as much as we’ve done it in the past,” Cook said of the strategy. “We were trying to spread their defense out a little bit. They want to play a 3-3 stack, where they’ve got three linemen, three linebackers stack behind them. So I figured if we can, we might keep them moving a little bit.” The other big part of the Pios’ win was tight end Gabe Smith doubling as a running back. Smith ran three times for 40 yards and caught three passes for 42 yards and a touchdown. “Gabe did a great job for us,” Cook said. “It was great to get those guys back.” Email Kevin Foote at kfoote@ theadvocate.com.

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The Acadiana Advocate l theadvocate.com l Sunday, October 25, 2026 l 5C

PREP REWIND

Westgate’s big plays hold off Teurlings scare BY MIKE COPPAGE Contributing writer

Westgate coach Ryan Antoine waited to address his team following the Tigers’ 44-32 District 4-4A home win over Teurlings Catholic on Friday. He was waiting on statistician Aaron Comeaux to arrive with the penalty yardage, which totaled 133 yards assessed against the 7-0 Tigers. “To be honest with you, it doesn’t feel like a win,” said Antoine, who instructed his players to be at the school at 7:45 a.m. Saturday “to clean some things up.” “I think we overlooked that team,” he said of the 1-7 Rebels, who were tied 14-14 with WHS at the half. “That team had nothing to lose. They were battle tested.” The win set up a meeting for the district title this week at home against Lafayette Renaissance, which polished off Acadiana Renaissance 54-6 in a game that went ﬁnal as the Tigers and Rebels were just getting started in the second half. “It’s going to be a battle,” Antoine said. “I’m frustrated, I’m aggravated and I’m tired. We’re a veteran ball club. We have to play better.” Teurlings Catholic evened the margin at halftime on a short run by Spencer Meche that followed Carter Macha’s blocked punt, and a scoop and score from sophomore linebacker Kiptyn Mouton. The Tigers’ first-half touchdowns came on a 1-yard run by Laiken Hypolite and a 68yard pass from Noah Antoine to Cayden Lancelin. “We moved the hell out of the ball,” said Antoine, who got 300

Contributing writer

The Lafayette Christian Knights took a big step toward winning the District 8-2A crown with a 23-6 victory over the Loreauville Tigers on Friday night at Knight Field. “Tonight is a prime example of what championship-level teams do,” LCA coach Matthew Standiford said. The defense led the way with another suffocating performance, holding the Loreauville offense to only 20 yards. The Tigers offense featured senior running back Thomas Carter, who had already surpassed 1,000 yards rushing coming into Friday’s game. “The game plan was to stop (Carter),” said senior linebacker Kaleb Simon, who said he’s been playing football with Carter “since Little League.” Simon finished with 15 tackles. “Our defense was really suffocating all night,” Standiford said. “We forced them into some situations where they had to throw, and that played in our favor.” The Knights scored on their first possession of the game. Sophomore running back Landon Prudhomme ran it in from 8 yards out, and LCA went up 7-0 midway through the first quarter. The Loreauville defense, however, kept the Knights out of the end zone for the rest of the first

Westgate 44, Teurlings 32 Team TC WG First Downs 10 17 Yards Rushing 100 155 Yards Passing 150 291 Passes (C-A-HI) 10-21-0 21-18-0 Punts-avg. 5-31.8 4-24.5 Fumbles-lost 2-2 2-2 Penalties-yards 10-82 16-148 SCORING SUMMARY Teurlings 0 26 0 6 —32 Westgate 8 36 0 0 —44 WGATE - Laiken Hypolite 1 run (Brock Mitchell run) TEUR - Spencer Meche 5 run Alex LeBoeuf kick) TEUR - 35 fumble punt return (LeBoeuf kick) WGATE - Cayden Lancelin 65 pass from Noah Antoine (kick blocked) WGATE - Joshua John 45 kick return (Mitchell run) WGATE - Jsean January 46 fumble return (John run) TEUR - Nathan Box 10 pass from DJ Kelly (pass failed) WGATE - Mitchell 36 pass from Antoine (run failed) TEUR - La’Cobe Willis 67 run (pass failed) WGATE - John 5 run (Lancelin pass from Antoine) TEUR - Box 73 pass from Kelly (run failed)

Southside 17, St. Thomas More 14

PHOTO BY LEE BALL

Laiken Hypolite, center, and the Westgate Tigers held off a scare from Teurlings Catholic to remain unbeaten on the season. yards passing from his quarterback. “We did what we wanted to do offensively, but we shot ourselves in the foot with penalties. That’s the frustrating part. We didn’t do our job.” WHS went up 30-14 in the third quarter on a 54-yard punt return by Joshua John and linebacker JSean January’s 40-yard scoop and score, but the Rebels kept fighting back, led by quarterback DJ Kelly and running back La’Cobe Willis (4-94, 1 TD). “You can’t do that this time of the year,” Antoine said of his team’s mistakes. “This is not the ﬁrst or second week of the season, and we’re not a young football team.” John, whose status for next week is uncertain after he left the game with an injury, was brilliant for the Tigers, scoring on a 2-yard run and a two-point conversion

while hauling in eight catches for 115 yards. “He’s just a resilient kid who has been playing his butt off,” Antoine said. “To take a punt back, get all kinds of yards doing different stuff ... he’s just a senior who has been doing a great job.” Caemon Crockem rushed for 75 yards on 12 carries. Lancelin and Brock Mitchell were each just under the 100-yard receiving mark with 175 combined yards on 11 receptions. Kelly, who finished with 52 yards on the ground after being held to negative yardage into the second half, collected nearly half of his passing yardage on a 73yard bomb to Nathan Box. A 67yard burst from Willis brought the Rebels to within 36-26 with just over two minutes left in the third quarter.

LCA takes down Loreauville with complete team effort BY BRANDON COMEAUX

WEEK 8 SUMMARIES

half, forcing punts and causing turnovers. The Tigers found themselves down 7-6 at halftime when Carter scored their only points of the game on a 1-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter. In the second half, the Knights took the opening kick and drove deep into Tigers territory as Simon came in at running back and ran it in from 5 yards out to help extend the LCA lead to 14-6. “We came out in the second half on ﬁre with a great offensive drive,” Standiford said. That turned out to be the last time the offense would score for LCA, but the defense and special teams had its back. Following yet another defensive stop, the Knights scored a safety when the ball went over the head of Loreauville’s punter, who kicked it out of the back of the end zone. That made the score 16-6 near the end of the third quarter. Then, as Loreauville was driving once again, senior Skye RyanAlexander picked off senior quarterback Wyatt Hazelwood and took it 77 yards for a touchdown, helping give the Knights a commanding 23-6 lead in the fourth quarter. “We never turned our backs on each other,” said Ryan-Alexander. It was only fitting that two Knight defenders etched their names in the LCA record books during the performance.

Junior defensive end Joseph Adams became the all-time leader in career tackles for loss, passing Jayden Arceneaux’s record of 55.5, as well as Arceneaux’s single-season record of 36 TFLs set in 2025. “It means a lot,” Adams said of the achievements. “That was my goal coming into school, to try to do the best of my ability every time I step out onto the field. The coaches and the scout team did a great job of preparing us for tonight’s game.” Adams finished with 11 total tackles, six of them for loss. Included in that number were two sacks. Simon, meanwhile, became the all-time leader in tackles at LCA, breaking Sam Taylor’s 280 career total tackles from 2020-2023. And Simon did it on a night when he received an honor that is bestowed on a special Knight each year: the honor to wear No. 31 for one night to remember alumnus and Airman First Class Eugene Sonnier, who died in 2013. Each year, a senior is chosen by the coaches, faculty and others to wear the No. 31 on senior night as a tribute to Sonnier and his lasting legacy at LCA. “Kaleb is a special individual,” Standiford said. “There was no one more fitting to wear that number tonight. Not only with the way that he plays, but with the way he carries himself off the field.”

Team STM SS First Downs 17 8 Yards Rushing 231 6 Yards Passing 12 140 Passes (C-A-HI) 1-3-0 11-20-0 Punts-avg. 2-27.5 3-30.3 Fumbles-lost 0-0 1-0 Penalties-yards 5-25 8-64 SCORING SUMMARY St. Thomas More 0 7 0 7 —14 Southside 3 7 0 7 —17 SSIDE - Jackson Fontenot 29 FG SSIDE - Justin Williams 1 run (Fontenot kick) STM - Hudson Derge 36 pass from Grayson Hemard (Jack Fontenot kick) SSIDE - Parker Dies 4 run (Jack Jones kick) STM - Bennett Stelly 16 pass from Hemard (Fontenot kick)

Lafayette Renaissance 54, Acadiana Renaissance 6

Team ARCA LRCA First Downs 8 18 Yards Rushing 20-5 20-208 Yards Passing 146 154 Passes (C-A-HI) 10-19-2 11-13-0 Punts-avg. 3-34.1 0-0 Fumbles-lost 1-1 0-0 Penalties-yards 3-38 9-75 SCORING SUMMARY ARCA 0 0 6 0 —6 LRCA 35 13 6 0 —54 LRCA - Keith Guillory 3 run (Jayden Zeno kick) LRCA - Kennan Brown 40 run (Zeno kick) LRCA - Brenden Miles 22 pass from Brown (Zeno kick) LRCA - Landon Anderson 6 run (Zeno kick) LRCA - Chance Valentine 11 pass from Brown (Zeno kick) LRCA - Ashton Joseph 26 pass from Brown (Zeno kick) LRCA - Ma’Kye Andrus 72 run (Kick failed) ARCA - Kristian Aubrey 74 pass from Vance Laborde (Run failed) LRCA - Jaymien Zenon 90 INT return (Kick failed)

Lafayette Christian 23, Loreauville 6

Team LOR LCA First Downs 7 13 Yards Rushing 46 137 Yards Passing 43 106 Passes (C-A-HI) 3-7-1 12-20-1 Punts-avg. 4-24 2-38 Fumbles-lost 0-0 2-2 Penalties-yards 4-45 7-34 SCORING SUMMARY Loreauville 0 6 0 0 —6 LCA 7 0 9 7 —23 LCA - Landon Prudhomme 8 run (Kenner Thibeaux kick) LOR - Thomas Carter 1 run (kick failed) LCA - Kaleb Simon 5 run (Jude Fairchild kick) LCA - Safety LCA - Sky Ryan 74 INT return (Fairchild kick)

Notre Dame 41, Lake Arthur 21

Team LA ND First Downs 11 18 Yards Rushing 164 216 Yards Passing 14 199 Passes (C-A-HI) 3-7-0 10-12-0 Punts-avg. 2-29 1-25 Fumbles-lost 3-2 3-0 Penalties-yards 10-67 14-153 SCORING SUMMARY Lake Arthur 14 0 0 7 —21 Notre Dame 20 14 7 0 —41 LA - Gabe Turner 28 run (Tucker Bertrand kick) ND - Luke Frank 71 pass from Parker Menard (Ty Savant kick) ND - Parker Menard 1 run (kick failed) ND - Lavergne 5 run (Savant kick) LA - Jaydon Prudhomme 69 run (Bertrand kick) ND - Lavergne 3 run (Savant kick) ND - Lavergne 1 run (Savant kick) ND - Gabe Smith 5 pass from Menard (Savant kick) LA - Prudhomme 9 run (Bertrand kick)

Kaplan 57, St. Martinville 7

Team SM KAP First Downs 10 14 Yards Rushing 64 344 Yards Passing 261 95 Passes (C-A-HI) 13-37-2 2-4-0 Punts-avg. 3-25 0-0 Fumbles-lost 3-1 1-1 Penalties-yards 8-70 11-115 SCORING SUMMARY St. Martinville 0 7 0 0 —7 Kaplan 34 17 0 6 —57 KAP - Kane Hebert 65 INT return (Owen Marceaux pass from Jayden Hargrave) KAP - Jeremy Roy 50 pass from Hargrave

(run failed) KAP - Roy 46 run (Matthew Breaux kick) KAP - De’Maurion Cormier 40 run (Breaux kick) KAP - Cormier 32 run (kick blocked) KAP - Cormier 19 run (Breaux kick) SMSH - Landon Guye 32 pass from Christian Gedward (Logan Bienvenue kick) KAP - Roy 60 kickoff return (Breaux Kick) KAP - Breaux 34 FG KAP - Gunner Bell 1 run (run failed)

St. Edmund 42, Opelousas Catholic 21

Team STE OC First Downs 18 14 Yards Rushing 290 166 Yards Passing 82 90 Passes (C-A-HI) 5-8-0 4-6-0 Punts-avg. 0-0 3-32 Fumbles-lost 1-0 3-1 Penalties-yards 2-25 5-73 SCORING SUMMARY St. Edmund 20 8 0 14 —42 OC 0 7 0 14 —21 STE - Cooper Berzas 64 run (Ben Miller run) STE - Jackson Landry 42 pass from Camdyn Loewer (run failed) STE - Bryer Guillory 25 pass from Loewer (run failed) STE - Nathan Driggs 25 run (Miller run) OC - Evan Duplechin 35 run (Aiden Lafleur kick) STE - Driggs 12 run (run failed) OC Kaleb Tezeno 18 pass from Duplechin (Lafleur kick) STE - Fox Crosby 8 run (Loewer run) OC - Carter Savant 29 pass from Duplechin (Lafleur kick)

Opelousas 50, Cecilia 48

Team CEC OHS First Downs 18 32 Yards Rushing 27-107 49-329 Yards Passing 220 210 Passes (C-A-HI) 18-25-0 19-31-0 Punts-avg. 0-0 2-10.5 Fumbles-lost 2-2 1-1 Penalties-yards 10-92 17-130 SCORING SUMMARY CEC 14 14 7 13 —48 OHS 0 30 8 12 —50 CEC - Deondre Briscoe 7 run (Aiden Landry kick) CEC - Briscoe 18-run (Landry kick) OHS - Collin Rideau 11-run (Pass failed) OHS - Jaylon Owens 44 pass from Rideau (Rideau run) CEC - Braylon Calais 49 pass from Layne Champagne (Landry kick) OHS - Joseph Clues 6 run (Owens pass from Rideau) CEC - Ashton Rufﬁn 22 pass from Champagne (Landry kick) OHS - Caden Arvie 21 pass from Rideau (Rideau run) CEC - Briscoe 8 run (Landry kick) OHS - Clues 40 run (Aaron Hall pass from Rideau) CEC - Briscoe 4 run (Pass failed) OHS - Clues 4 run (Pass failed) OHS - Clues 26 run (Pass failed) CEC - Calais 81 kick return (Landry kick)

Northwest 35, Rayne 14

Team NW RAY First Downs 17 13 Yards Rushing 158 117 Yards Passing 186 143 Passes (C-A-HI) 12-17-1 9-19-1 Punts-avg. 3-25 3-31 Fumbles-lost 0-0 1-1 Penalties-yards 16-109 6-49 SCORING SUMMARY Northwest 7 14 0 14 —35 Rayne 0 0 0 14 —14 NWEST - Markez Davis 28 pass from Chaise Dupre (Gavin Fontenot kick) NWEST - Mhy’kael Richard 25 pass from Dupre (Fontenot kick) NWEST - Fredrick Nimer 12 run (Fontenot kick) NWEST - Nimer 10 run (Fontenot kick) RAY - Tyreke Gordon 54 pass from Austin Goins (conversion failed) RAY - Syncere Smith 6 run (Smith run) NWEST - Richard 35 pass from Dupre (Fontenot kick)

Carencro 44, Livonia 0

Team LIV CAR First Downs 8 27 Yards Rushing 22 156 Yards Passing 57 244 Passes (C-A-HI) 9-24-1 21-30-0 Punts-avg. 6-24 1-44 Fumbles-lost 1-1 0-0 Penalties-yards 8-59 6-64 SCORING SUMMARY Livonia 0 0 0 0 —0 Carencro 16 14 14 0 —44 CAR - Safety CAR - Caden Robinson 34 from Carson Gurzi (Derace James pass from Gurzi) CAR - Kameron Bernard 14 pass from Gurzi (run failed) CAR - Roland Bruno 1 run (Holden Links kick) CAR - Bruno 2 run (Matthew Latham kick) CAR - Cardaye Batiste 1 run (Latham kick) CAR - Gurzi 1 run (Latham kick)

Church Point 26, Crowley 21

Team CRO CP First Downs 10 11 Yards Rushing 142 160 Yards Passing 72 120 Passes (C-A-HI) 4-13-3 5-11-0 Punts-avg. n/a n/a Fumbles-lost 0-0 1-1 Penalties-yards 1-5 2-20 SCORING SUMMARY Crowey 7 7 0 7 —21 Church Point 7 13 0 6 —26 CP - Noah Wiltz 27 pass from Grant Bertrand (Seth Alleman kick) CROW - 1 run (kick good) CP - Wesley Kirkpatrick 31 pass from Bernard (Alleman kick) CROW - fumble return (kick good) CP - Wiltz 25 pass from Bertrand (kick failed) CP - Martin Logan 14 run (run failed) CROW - 9 run (kick good)

WEEK 9 SCHEDULE Thursday’s games Beau Chene (7-1) at Carencro (4-4) Kaplan (6-2) at Abbeville (2-6) Catholic-NI (5-3) at Franklin (4-3) W. St. Mary (4-4) at Loreauville (5-3) Elton (5-3) at Gueydan (1-6)

Friday’s games Southside (5-3) at Acadiana (5-3) Lafayette (5-3) at Sulphur (5-3) Barbe (7-1) at New Iberia (1-7) St. Thomas More (6-2) at Sam Houston (3-5) Lafayette Christian (6-2) at Delcambre (5-3) Westminster-Laf. (8-0) at Jeanerette (5-2) Notre Dame (8-0) at Kinder (1-7)

Ascension Episcopal (4-3) at Vermilion Catholic (2-6) Opelousas (6-2) at Breaux Bridge (0-8) Livonia (1-6) at Cecilia (5-3) Laf. Renaissance (6-2) at Westgate (7-0) North Vermilion (5-3) at LaGrange (0-7) Northside (2-6) at Acadiana Renaissance (3-5) Lake Charles Prep (7-1) at Rayne (3-5) Church Point (5-2) at Northwest (5-3) Eunice (8-0) at Crowley (3-5) Erath (4-4) at St. Martinville (2-6) Mamou (2-6) at Iota (4-4) JS Clark (4-4) at Berchmans (3-5) Hanson (3-5) at Highland Baptist (0-8) Opelousas Catholic (1-7) at North Central (4-4) Westminster (4-4) at St. Edmund (5-3)

Lafayette Renaissance dominates ARCA after fast start BY ERIC NARCISSE

Staff writer

Lafayette Renaissance’s coaches and players are always talking about wanting to start fast. In Friday’s 54-6 win over Acadiana Renaissance, the Tigers couldn’t have started any faster. “I thought we came out and executed what we worked on all week,” Tigers coach Hunter Landry said. “We wanted to start out fast, and we did a pretty good job of starting off fast.” Behind an offense that moved the football at will and a stiﬂing defense, the Tigers jumped out to

a 35-0 first quarter lead. Thirty seconds into the second quarter, the Tigers extended their lead to 42-0, and the rest of the game was played with running time. “We challenged them. Last week, we kind of got out to a lead and we went flat,” Landry said. “We’ve seen this before where we don’t play a full game. I thought we did a good job of trying to stay focused on the task at hand and finishing.” Tigers quarterback Kennan Brown torched ARCA’s secondary with his arm and showed off his ability to influence the game with his legs.

“It starts with Kennan. Kennan does a great job, and he has a lot of weapons around him,” Landry said. “The receivers did a great job on the perimeter blocking, and upfront I thought we gave Kennan a lot of time back there and guys made some plays.” Brown completed 11 of 13 passes for 154 yards and three TDs while rushing four times for 55 yards, which included a 40-yard TD run. Brown’s touchdown passes went to Ashton Joseph, Brenden Miles and Chance Valentine. Joseph ﬁnished with a game-high 89 yards on ﬁve catches, while Miles (2-27) and Valentine (1-11) combined for

three receptions for 38 yards. Running backs Keith Guillory (975, 1 TD) and Ma’kye Andrus (2-73, 1 TD) led the way on the ground as they combined for 148 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries. “I thought the receivers had a really good week of practice,” Landry said. “It starts with Kennan, and he does a really good job of ﬁnding the open guy. It was a ‘take what they give us’ type night. Keith might not have had a lot of rushing yards, but he did a great job in pass protection, and the receivers did a great job of ﬁnding open lanes.” The Tigers defense held ARCA to 151 yards of total offense (5

rushing, 146 passing), recorded three sacks, intercepted two passes — one of which Jaymien Zenon returned 90 yards for a touchdown — and recovered a muffed punt. “Coach (Jacarde) Carter challenged those guys this week to come out with a little more energy,” Landry said of the defense. “We played fast, and we played physical. We wanted to stop the run, and I think we did a good job of that.” Running back Kristian Aubrey was a bright spot for ARCA as he caught six passes for 108 yards and a TD, while quarterback Vance Laborde completed 10 of 18 passes for 146 yards and a touchdown.

6C l Sunday, October 25, 2026 l theadvocate.com l The Acadiana Advocate

lll

SAINTS GAMEDAY

ROSTERS SAINTS No. Player Pos Ht Wt Exp College 1 Kool-Aid McKinstry CB 5-11 199 3 Alabama 2 Spencer Rattler QB 6-0 211 3 South Carolina 4 Oscar Delp TE 6-4 245 0 Georgia 5 Kendre Miller RB 6-0 220 4 TCU 6 Tyler Shough QB 6-5 219 2 Louisville 7 Jonas Sanker SAF 6-1 211 2 Virginia 10 Daniel Carlson K 6-5 222 9 Auburn 11 Zach Wilson QB 6-2 214 6 BYU 12 Chris Olave WR 6-0 187 5 Ohio State 14 Devaughn Vele WR 6-5 210 3 Utah 17 Ryan Wright P 6-3 245 5 Tulane 18 Bryce Lance WR 6-3 204 0 North Dakota St. 19 Barion Brown WR 5-11 177 0 LSU 20 Pete Werner LB 6-3 242 6 Ohio State 21 Justin Reid SAF 6-1 207 9 Stanford 22 Martin Emerson Jr. CB 6-2 201 5 Mississippi St. 23 Julian Blackmon SAF 6-0 202 7 Utah 25 D. Richardson CB 6-2 192 4 Mississippi St. 28 Danny Stutsman LB 6-3 233 2 Oklahoma 29 Quincy Riley CB 5-11 195 2 Louisville 31 Jordan Howden DB 6-0 209 4 Minnesota 33 Anfernee Jennings DE 6-2 255 7 Alabama 36 Lorenzo Styles SAF 5-11 194 0 Ohio State 41 Alvin Kamara RB 5-10 215 10 Tennessee 42 Mike Reid SAF 6-2 200 1 South Dakota 43 CJ Donaldson RB 6-1 230 0 Ohio State 44 Isaiah Stalbird LB 6-1 215 2 South Dakota St. 49 Zach Wood LS 6-3 255 10 SMU 50 Colby Wooden DL 6-4 273 4 Auburn 51 Cesar Ruiz OG 6-4 316 7 Michigan 52 Christen Miller DT 6-3 321 0 Georgia 53 Jaylan Ford LB 6-2 240 3 Texas 55 Kaden Elliss LB 6-2 238 8 Idaho 58 Chris Rumph II LB 6-2 244 6 Duke 65 Jeremiah Wright G 6-5 331 0 Auburn 66 William Sherman G 6-4 300 2 Colorado 72 Asim Richards OL 6-4 307 4 North Carolina 74 Mason Murphy T 6-5 315 0 Auburn 75 Taliese Fuaga T 6-6 324 3 Oregon State 76 David Edwards G 6-6 308 8 Wisconsin 78 Erik McCoy C 6-4 303 8 Texas A&M 82 Treyton Welch TE 6-4 240 1 Wyoming 83 Juwan Johnson TE 6-4 245 7 Oregon 87 Noah Fant TE 6-4 249 8 Iowa 91 Vernon Broughton DL 6-5 311 2 Texas 92 Davon Godchaux DL 6-3 330 10 LSU 93 Nathan Shepherd DL 6-4 315 9 Fort Hays State 94 Cameron Jordan DE 6-4 287 16 California 95 John Ridgeway III DL 6-5 321 5 Arkansas 96 Carl Granderson DE 6-5 261 8 Wyoming 97 Khristian Boyd DL 6-2 320 3 Northern Iowa 98 Tyree Wilson DE 6-5 263 4 Texas Tech 99 Chase Young DE 6-5 265 7 Ohio State

FOUR THINGS TO WATCH

Sponsored by

KEEP RUNNING

PROTECT SHOUGH

SLOW DOWN RODGERS

FOUR GOOD QUARTERS

It took the Saints six games to get their running game going. They rushed for a season-high 175 yards in Sunday’s victory over the New York Giants. It allowed the Saints to vault from 29th in the NFL in rushing yards per game to 21st. They are still rushing for just 97.3 yards per game, but at least they took a step in the right direction. The trio of Alvin Kamara, Kendre Miller and C.J. Donaldson need to keep the Saints out of second- and thirdand-long situations.

The Saints have to give quarterback Tyler Shough time to throw and not allow him to take too many hits. The Steelers sacked Buccaneers quarterback Jalon Daniels five times last week. You never know from where Pittsburgh defensive coordinator Patrick Graham is going to bring the pressure. For example, Steelers cornerback Jalen Ramsey had two of the five sacks last week. Linebacker Nick Herbig also had two sacks. That’s not even including the pressure that will come from T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith.

Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, 42, is the oldest player in the NFL. He doesn’t move around in the pocket the way he used to, so the Saints need to try to get in his face. Defensive ends Chase Young (5½ sacks) and Carl Granderson (4 sacks) have done a good job of getting to the quarterbacks. Rodgers has thrown for more than 250 yards in three of his last four games. The Saints are 29th in yards allowed, so they can’t let Rodgers have a big game in Paris.

Still waiting for this one. The Saints have yet to play a complete game. It’s usually a slow start. Against the Giants, it was a slow start and a sluggish finish. The Steelers are resilient, as they showed last week by erasing a 16-3 deficit to win in OT. Things looked bleak for the Saints before the Giants game. They won that one and now have a chance to go into their bye week with back-to-back wins. Being 3-4 would sound so much better than 2-5, so they should play desperate. Rod Walker

STEELERS No. Player Pos Ht Wt Exp College 2 Mason Rudolph QB 6-5 235 9 Oklahoma State 3 Jaquan Brisker SAF 6-1 204 5 Penn State 4 DK Metcalf WR 6-4 235 8 Ole Miss 5 Jalen Ramsey CB 6-1 208 11 Florida State 6 Patrick Queen LB 6-0 230 7 LSU 8 Aaron Rodgers QB 6-2 223 22 California 9 Chris Boswell K 6-2 185 12 Rice 10 Kaden Wetjen WR 5-9 196 0 Iowa 13 Rico Dowdle RB 5-11 218 7 South Carolina 15 Ben Skowronek WR 6-3 224 6 Notre Dame 16 Drew Allar QB 6-5 228 0 Penn State 17 Germie Bernard WR 6-1 206 0 Alabama 18 Will Howard QB 6-4 235 2 Ohio State 19 Cameron Johnston P 5-11 194 9 Ohio State 21 Travis Homer RB 5-10 211 8 Miami (FL) 22 Asante Samuel Jr. CB 5-10 180 6 Florida State 23 Daylen Everette CB 6-1 196 0 Georgia 25 DeShon Elliott SAF 6-1 210 9 Texas 26 Brandin Echols CB 5-10 179 6 Kentucky 27 Sean Murphy-BuntingCB 6-0 195 7 Central Michigan 28 R.Spears-Jennings SAF 6-2 205 0 Oklahoma 29 Eli Heidenreich RB 6-0 198 0 Navy 30 Jaylen Warren RB 5-8 215 5 Oklahoma State 31 Lew Nichols RB 5-10 220 1 Central Michigan 33 Jack Sawyer LB 6-5 260 2 Ohio State 35 Jamel Dean CB 6-1 206 8 Auburn 37 Riley Nowakowski FB 6-2 250 0 Indiana 39 Terell Smith CB 6-0 207 5 Minnesota 40 Doneiko Slaughter DB 6-0 190 1 Arkansas 41 Payton Wilson LB 6-4 242 3 NC State 44 Carson Bruener LB 6-2 226 2 Washington 46 Christian Kuntz LS 6-1 228 6 Duquesne 51 Nick Herbig LB 6-2 240 4 Wisconsin 54 Zach Frazier C 6-3 310 3 West Virginia 55 Cole Holcomb LB 6-1 240 8 North Carolina 56 Alex Highsmith LB 6-4 242 7 Charlotte 60 Dylan Cook OT 6-5 305 3 Montana 62 Ryan McCollum C 6-5 300 4 Texas A&M 66 Mason McCormick G 6-5 315 3 South Dakota St. 67 Brock Hoffman G 6-4 318 5 Virginia Tech 71 Max Iheanachor OT 6-6 321 0 Arizona State 74 Spencer Anderson OL 6-5 305 4 Maryland 76 Troy Fautanu OT 6-4 317 3 Washington 80 Darnell Washington TE 6-7 264 4 Georgia 85 Robert Tonyan TE 6-5 240 8 Indiana State 87 Brandon Smith WR 6-2 215 1 Iowa 88 Pat Freiermuth TE 6-5 258 6 Penn State 89 Brandon Johnson WR 6-2 208 3 UCF 90 T.J.Watt LB 6-4 252 10 Wisconsin 92 Kevin Jobity Jr. DL 6-4 300 0 Syracuse 94 Yahya Black DL 6-5 330 2 Iowa 95 Keeanu Benton DT 6-4 309 4 Wisconsin 96 Gabriel Rubio DE 6-5 321 0 Notre Dame 97 Cameron Heyward DT 6-5 295 16 Ohio State

INJURY REPORT SAINTS QUESTIONABLE: G Cesar Ruiz (knee), DL Nathan Shepherd (NIR/rest/illness). LIMITED: RB Alvin Kamara (back).

STEELERS OUT: CB Brandin Echols (hamstring),WR Ben Skowronek (calf). QUESTIONABLE: RB Rico Dowdle (knee), S DeShon Elliott (knee).

STAFF PHOTOS BY CHRIS GRANGER

Saints quarterback Tyler Shough, left, throws a pass as team staff watch during practice on Wednesday in Versailles, France.

SAINTS

Continued from page 1C Sunday’s spectacle becomes a oneoff, a yearly occurrence or somewhere in between. Do they want to become the Jacksonville Jaguars — a team that plays yearly in London — of Paris? “I don’t know about every year, but they know I want to come back,” Benson said. “It’s up to the NFL, but I made it very clear to (NFL commissioner) Roger (Goodell).” The NFL sees France as an untapped market. Brett Gosper, the head of Europe and Asia-Pacific for the NFL, said the country is Europe’s third-biggest sports market after the U.K. and Germany — both places the league already has expanded into with annual international games. The league’s internal research, Gosper said, shows that there are 12 million existing NFL fans in France, with 1.5 million of those described as “avid.” Yet Gosper and other league officials have been far from definitive about France’s NFL future. The league would like the game to become a regular occurrence, but officials haven’t specified whether that means every year. “We’re here to stay, and we’re here for the long term,” Gosper said. “And obviously the Saints have an important role to play in that.” The Saints have exclusive international marketing rights in France as part of the league’s global markets program. Those terms notably do not grant exclusivity for playing overseas, NFL global head of major events and international games Jon Barker said. The executive pointed to Spain as a similar example. The Miami Dolphins are one of three teams to hold the country’s international rights and played IN Madrid’s first-ever game in 2025, but the league scheduled a Falcons-Bengals game in the city this year (Nov. 8). “There’s a natural fit for the Saints here,” Barker said. “Obviously the history of Louisiana and their connection to France … I certainly think they’re going to draw and attract a lot of fanbase here. But I imagine all of our teams will draw and build fanbases here as well.”

People walk through a Parisian metro station on Friday past a sign announcing the New Orleans Saints vs. Pittsburgh Steelers game.

I don’t know about every year, but they know I want to come back. It’s up to the NFL, but I made it very clear to (NFL commissioner) Roger (Goodell). ... I would love to come here as often as possible.” GAYLE BENSON, Saints owner, on team returning to Paris Added Gosper: “I don’t think they’ll be alone here for long, but it’s nice for them to have that window where they can really become France’s team.” For now, the Saints will be treated as such. Gosper and Barker said a goal for Sunday’s game is to feel like a Saints home game — they are technically the home team — while also incorporating the Paris setting. That means longtime Superdome publicaddress announcer Mark Romig will retain his duties this weekend.

With 20% of attendees traveling from the United States, according to the NFL, the league expects many to be rooting for New Orleans. Barker said international games no longer feel like a hodgepodge of fans in random jerseys, which was often the only merchandise they could find. Saints players have felt the country’s embrace. Running back Kendre Miller said “the people out here seem to love us.” Likewise, the players seem to love them back. Shough and a handful of other Saints warmly recalled attending Tuesday’s star-studded soccer game between Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona. Players also have had time to explore, with Kamara joking that Chris Olave spent $100,000 while shopping on this trip. The reception has been warm enough that several players said they gladly would play in France every year. “That’d be special,” backup quarterback Spencer Rattler said. “Dope,” tackle Taliese Fuaga said. “We’ve got the fleur-de-lis on,” linebacker Kaden Elliss said. “It’s only fitting.” Hurdles remain before that happens. For one, the Saints have to be willing to sacrifice one game at the Dome — an idea that general manager Mickey Loomis isn’t keen on. “I’d rather be the visitor than the home team,” he said. The league also would have to check stadium availability and possibly find venues other than Stade de France, which needed to undergo changes to account for the logistics of an NFL game. Sunday’s game also will have to be successful enough to show there’s a French fanbase to tap into. But it also takes a franchise — an owner — steadfast enough to lead the push to become a fixture in France. The Jaguars play in London as much as they do because owner Shad Khan, who also owns a London-based soccer team, saw an opportunity to create an entirely new value for his franchise. “I would love to come here as often as possible,” Benson said. Columnist Jeff Duncan contributed to this report Email Matthew Paras at matt. paras@theadvocate.com

The Acadiana Advocate l theadvocate.com l Sunday, October 25, 2026 l 7C

lll

STEELERS vs. SAINTS

8:30 a.m. Sunday, Paris Line: Steelers by 3½ (Over/Under: 44½) TV: NFLN | Radio: WWL-AM, 870; WWL-FM, 105.3

six-day-a-week newsletter

OFFENSIVE LEADERS Saints

Steelers

PASSING

Player

Cmp-Att-Pct Yds TD Int

Tyler Shough

153-235-65.1

1443

RUSHING

Player

Att

Kendre Miller Alvin Kamara Travis Etienne Tyler Shough

Net

49 35 30 21

Avg TD

153 120 128 104

3.1 3.4 4.3 5.0

2 2 0 2

RECEIVING Player

Rec Yards Avg TD

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

43 28 25 15 11 9

580 294 248 76 51 73

13.5 10.5 9.9 5.1 4.6 8.1

2 2 3 1 0 3

KICKING Player

XPM XPA FGM FGA

Daniel Carlson

PASSING

Player

Cmp-Att-Pct Yds TD Int

Aaron Rodgers

143-233-61.4

1487

RUSHING

Player

Att

Net

Avg TD

84 22 9

460 77 17

5.5 3.5 1.9

Jaylen Warren Rico Dowdle Aaron Rodgers

1 0 0

RECEIVING Player

Rec Yards Avg TD

D.K. Metcalf Germie Bernard Jaylen Warren Pat Freiermuth Darnell Washington Roman Wilson

30 24 21 21 15 14

318 227 258 180 156 188

10.6 9.5 12.3 8.6 10.4 13.4

1 1 1 4 2 2

KICKING Player

XPM XPA FGM FGA

Chris Boswell

DEFENSIVE LEADERS TACKLES

TACKLES Player

PHOTO BY CHRIS GRANGER

Fleurty Girl owner Lauren Haydel, back right, is mobbed by Saints fans at her pop-up shop in Paris at the New Orleans Saints Cafe on Friday ahead of the Saints and Steelers game on Sunday.

Paris bar gives Saints fans taste of home

BY LUKE JOHNSON

Tot Solo Ast TFL Sk 46 35 35 33 30 24 22 21 20 15 13 13 13 12 12 10 10 10 9

23 23 14 22 16 11 4 8 15 7 4 5 11 6 3 2 4 6 5

23 12 21 11 14 13 8 13 5 8 9 8 2 6 9 8 6 4 4

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

2 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 1 0 1 0 5.5 0.5 0 0 0 1

INTERCEPTIONS Player

Staff writer

PARIS — Nearly 5,000 miles stand between New Orleans and Paris as the crow flies, but for at least one night, it felt difficult to sense a physical gap between the two places in a one-block stretch of the Latin Quarter. A Parisian who walked along the Seine and turned on Rue de Petit Pont in the 5th Arrondissement would have almost certainly felt transported to a different place. A huge crowd was congregated there, spilling out into the street like it was Mardi Gras. Their chants carried for several blocks, announcing their presence. Who dat? Who dat? Who dat say they gonna beat dem Saints? Hundreds of Saints fans from across the world gathered Friday night at the New Orléans Saints Cafe, two days before their team plays the Pittsburgh Steelers in Paris. They came to be together, and to see this slice of home on another continent. They crammed into the dimly lit bar where they saw Saints flags and banners hanging. They overflowed into the street, taking over the bike lanes, which led to police arriving to erect barricades. When they could not cram themselves inside to snag a drink, they took over the neighboring bars, too. The New Orléans Saints Cafe isn’t some product of coincidence. The bar’s owners, Teto Seghilani and Keli Coleman, split their time between Paris and New Orleans. Seghilani originally hails from Algeria, and Coleman grew up in Kenner. Seghilani previously owned a restaurant nearby but in 2018 decided “to bring New Orleans here,” Coleman said. Depending on kickoff time, Saints games are aired in the New Orléans Saints Cafe, but they don’t typically draw a large crowd. When Seghilani and Coleman opened the bar, they had no idea that the Saints would eventually follow them to Paris. And the experience this week has been truly different. Coleman said Saints fans figuratively “busted the door in early,” with a big group congregated outside the bar before it opened at 5 p.m. Friday. Coleman had to squeeze through a mass of people inside the bar to find 5 feet of clear space to conduct an interview. “It’s great,” she said. “I love it.” Part of the atmosphere was a product of coincidence, however. When Lauren Haydel, who owns the New Orleans boutique Fleurty Girl, was

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

Julian Blackmon Martin Emerson

Tot Yds Avg TD PD 2 2

23 19

11.5 9.5

0 0

2 4

Player

Tot Solo Ast TFL Sk

Payton Wilson 55 Jaquan Brisker 41 Patrick Queen 38 Jalen Ramsey 37 Cameron Heyward 20 Asante Samuel 20 Jamel Dean 18 Nick Herbig 18 Robert Spears-Jennings 18 Rayshawn Jenkins 16 Keeanu Benton 15 T.J. Watt 15 Yahya Black 15 Jack Sawyer 15 Daylen Everette 14 Derrick Harmon 12 Alex Highsmith 11

30 20 10 23 8 12 10 13 11 10 8 10 6 5 12 3 6

25 21 28 14 12 8 8 5 7 6 7 5 9 10 2 9 5

6 0 1 5 1 0 0 6 0 0 2 6 2 1 0 1 5

1 0 0 2 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 4.5 1 0 0 1.5 3

INTERCEPTIONS Player

Tot Yds Avg TD PD

Jaquan Brisker Patrick Queen Jamel Dean

1 1 1

10 3 40

0 0 0

3 2 8

TEAM STATS OFFENSE PER GAME Yards gained: 321.5

OFFENSE PER GAME Yards gained: 320.5

Plays: 64.9

Plays: 60.9

PASS 224.2

RUSH 97.3

PASS 39.2

RUSH 25.7

Turnovers: 2.00 INTERCEPTIONS 0.83

FUMBLES 1.17

seeking a place to set up a small shop in Paris, she reached out to the owners at New Orléans Saints Cafe to gauge their interest. “I reached out to (Seghilani), and he was like, ‘We love Fleurty Girl! My wife shops there,’ ” Haydel said. “So of course I was like, ‘How do you know about Fleurty Girl?’ ” Haydel was shocked to learn that both she and Coleman grew up in the same Driftwood Park section of Kenner. They worked together to set up a pop-up shop at the bar, with the idea of selling shirts printed in Paris for a couple of hours on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The shirts were made for this game specifically, black shirts featuring the text “Laissez les Who Dats rouler” wrapped around a stylized print of the Eiffel Tower in gold. She wasn’t sure what to expect at the event. Haydel had to take a leap of faith ordering the shirts from a Parisian company that she had never worked with before — to ship the shirts from the U.S., she would have had to pay import fees and mark up the price on her shirts — and then she arrived early to inspect the product and make sure it met Fleurty Girl’s standards. The gold had to be just right. She ordered 300 of them, a number that was bigger than what she was personally comfortable with. She packed an extra large suitcase thinking that she would have to return home with unsold merchandise. When the Haydels arrived

at the bar, they saw the crowd and assumed it was one of the guided walking tours of the city. When people started to cheer their arrival, they realized it was something different entirely. Many in the crowd were there because they’d seen Haydel’s posts on social media previewing the pop-up merchandise stand. Several others had seen posts from fan groups on Facebook, pointing out the bar as a good meeting place for Saints fans. Haydel and her husband, Ryan, crammed themselves into a tiny corner between the bar and the front door, and they barely had time to think as the shirts began to disappear. “We sold out of our entire weekend supply in three hours,” Haydel said. “At the end of the night, people were buying sizes that were way too big just so they could get one.” Haydel was searching for the proper words to describe the scene. She landed on “happy chaos.” Even without any more shirts to sell, Haydel planned to return to the bar for the regular pop-up hours Saturday and Sunday. The place felt like home 5,000 miles away from home. “It’s so awesome to just walk down the street and see somebody wearing a Saints shirt and yell, ‘Who dat?’ ” Haydel said. “You know, it’s like this is what’s making Paris so different right now. All of us are here.” Email Luke Johnson at ljohnson@theadvocate.com.

PASS 39.2

RUSH 21.7

Turnovers: 1.16 INTERCEPTIONS 0.83

FUMBLES 0.33

DEFENSE PER GAME Yards allowed: 307.5

Turnovers forced: 1.50

Turnovers forced: 1.67

RUSH 138.0

INTERCEPTIONS 0.67

PHOTO BY CHRIS GRANGER

RUSH 99.2

DEFENSE PER GAME Yards allowed: 377.7 PASS 239.7

New Orleans Saints fans gather outside New Orleans Saints Cafe in Paris. The spot became a meet-up location for Saints fans.

PASS 221.3

FUMBLES 0.83

SCORING PER GAME

SCORED ALLOWED

29.7

25.3

RUSH 103.2

INTERCEPTIONS 1.00

FUMBLES 0.67

SCORING PER GAME

SCORED ALLOWED

22.8

22.5

18.0 2026

PASS 204.3

SCORED ALLOWED

21.3

23.4

2026

2025

22.8

2025

CONVERSION SUCCESS

Third down

42.5%

Fourth down 23.1%

57.5%

Fail

Convert

Fail

Fourth down

32.9% 76.9%

67.1%

Convert

Fail

50%

Convert

Fail

50%

Convert

STAFF PREDICTIONS ROD WALKER

STEELERS 26, SAINTS 20: Although the Saints got back on track last week, they didn’t play a clean enough game to pick them again. Aaron Rodgers won’t make the same mistakes as Jameis Winston. The good news is the Saints leave Paris and head into their bye week, giving them a chance to get healthy while hitting the reset button.

LUKE JOHNSON

STEELERS 20, SAINTS 17: The Saints have a decided advantage having been in France for a full week — anyone trying to say a team can just operate on its normal schedule by staying only a few days abroad is, and I say this with a kind heart, dead wrong. But the Steelers can run the ball and rush the passer, two things that give the Saints problems.

JEFF DUNCAN STEELERS 23, SAINTS 21: The teams’ preparations have contrasted drastically for the game. The Saints have been here all week and should have their body clocks adjusted better than the Steelers. But I think it won’t matter. Pittsburgh is the better team. The Saints enter the bye week at 2-5 with a lot of work to do.

MATTHEW PARAS SAINTS 21, STEELERS 18: I’ve gone back and forth on this game almost as many times as I’ve used this translation app in France. Je pense que l’arrivée des Steelers à Paris aussi tard pourrait leur causer des problèmes. Aaron Rodgers has to look old again at some point, right? The Saints will have to make him look so to prevail.

8C ● Sunday, October 25, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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LOUISIANA INSPIRED: Lafayette veteran finds new purpose after losing her sight 5D

LIVING

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

S u n d ay, O c t O b e r 25, 2026

1dn

Jan Risher

Grief, faith and why people love being scared When J. Gerald Kennedy was about 13 years old, his school let students order paperback books. He picked “Ten Tales by Edgar Allan Poe.” He thought it might be fun. The stories were powerful and frightening. Many were about death. That same year, his grandfather was dyKennedy ing of cancer. “I thought somehow maybe my grandfather would enjoy reading the book,” Kennedy said. “So I loaned it to him.” Sixty-six years later, he still doesn’t know whether his grandfather read it. “I’ve spent my whole life hoping he didn’t,” he said. That boy grew up to become chair of LSU’s English Department and Boyd Professor of English. He taught American literature at LSU from 1973 to 2015 and began publishing on Poe in the 1970s. He’s written a long list of books, articles and essays — many about Poe. He’s appeared in a number of Poe documentaries. Now, he’s writing a biography of Poe for W.W. Norton, due out in a couple of years. He’s writing it to be accessible to general readers. Most mornings, Kennedy gets in four good hours of work on the project. In full disclosure, Kennedy and I go to church together. After my column about the wooden raven that arrived at my home from Spain, he told me he appreciated my restraint in not mentioning Poe. The bird, now named Carl after a reader’s suggestion, remains a mystery. Talking with Kennedy for 30 minutes about Poe turned out to be a master class in looking beyond the gloomy man in the black coat. Kennedy has Poe scholar friends in Japan, Spain, Italy, France and India. He said Poe is probably the American writer read by more people around the world than any other. When I was growing up, nearly every Disney hero had lost at least one parent. From

GETTY IMAGES ILLUSTRATION

With panels, book signings and more, the Louisiana Book Festival includes all treats, no tricks for Halloween

BY JOY HOLDEN | Staff writer

he 22nd Louisiana Book Festival may fall on Halloween this year, but the authors and panels will be full of treats — not tricks. With over 70 panels and 202 authors participating in book signings, the festival is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in downtown Baton Rouge. Each author’s schedule is available online at louisianabookfestival.org, and there will be a printed book signing schedule at the event. “We’ve got something for everyone,” said Robert Wilson, executive director for Louisiana Center for the Book and the Louisiana Book Festival. “The fact that we are on Halloween this year, we have a little more of the horror elements: some ghosts, some monsters and just a little bit of everything to tickle that fancy.” Due to restoration work being done at the State Capitol, the festival will be held near the State Library on Fourth Street around the Capitol Park Museum, Iberville and Bienville buildings. ä See BOOK FESTIVAL, page 6D

ä See SCARE, page 6D

Nominate someone extraordinary for our 2026

INSPIRIT AWARDS

Know someone in Louisiana who is making a positive difference? We’re looking nominees for our 2026 Inspirit Awards — people of any age who do their best to make their local community a better place, whether in their work, at schools, in organizations or in neighborhoods. Nominate someone at nola.com/site/forms/the_ inspirit_award by Sunday, Nov. 1. Recipients will be announced in December. Be sure to include details and examples of how you think their efforts can inspire others. We’re eager to share their stories.

George Rodrigue Foundation unveils contest theme Paintings in George Rodrigue’s ‘The Bayou Collection’ were featured in the LSU Museum of Art’s ‘A Bayou State of Mind’ exhibition. STAFF PHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER

Staff report The George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts, in partnership with the Trombone Shorty Foundation, announced the theme of its 2027 Scholarship Art and Songwriting Contest: “Rising Waters, Enduring Roots: 100 Years After the 1927 Flood.” This year’s theme invites Louisiana students to explore the relationship between water, memory and resilience, marking the 100-year anniversary

of the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927. The theme is inspired by George Rodrigue’s Cajun heritage, his mother Marie’s firsthand experience of the ﬂood and his artworks depicting Louisiana’s high waters. Students are challenged to express the dual nature of water as both destructive and life-giving. Through art and songwriting, they can reflect on personal

ä See CONTEST, page 6D

2D l Sunday, October 25, 2026 l theadvocate.com l The Acadiana Advocate

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Home is where the Second Harvest Dinner Series is

WEDDINGS, ENGAGEMENTS & ANNIVERSARIES

Engagement, Wedding and Anniversary announcements are paid notices in The Advocate. They appear in Sunday’s Advocate. To submit an announcement, go to The Advocate’s website at www.theadvocate.com, scroll down to the bottom of the page, look under ‘’Our Sites’’ and click on ‘’Celebrations’’. The deadline is noon Monday. For more information call (225) 388-0738 or e-mail nuptials@theadvocate.com.

Blessings seem

to come in all sizes when organizations work to improve life for Acadiana’s less fortunate. That certainly

Anna and Bryan Stringer

was the case for

Victoria Alleman, Nancy Surosky Dana Topham, Kyle Waters, Shelly Melton

the annual Second Harvest Food Bank’s Harvest at Home fundraiser.

PHOTOS BY KRIS WARTELLE

Katherine Bourg, Myra Zeringue, Bill Hoffman

The outdoor event

Landry-Poole

was held on Oct. 19 at the

Daniel and Mindy Fortier, Elizabeth Mayers, Andi Montgomery

home of Matt and Mindy

Kris Wartelle

Bernard. Attendance

was high as folks gathered for an

Ben Baronne, Hai Bui, Charise Fashho, Mike Fashho, Paden Alleman

unforgettable meal to support a very important cause. If you have not heard about Harvest at Home, it is a dinner series held

Sean Hettich, Mignon Baronne, Tala Bui

in private homes across

Rebecca and Todd Fountain, Melissa Williams

Nancy Broadhurst, Kansas and Aileen Hernandez

south Louisiana. The evening raises support for Second Harvest Food Bank. It features local chefs who do the cooking. For this event, Kyle Waters of Social Southern Kitchen did the honors. The proceeds support Second Harvest Food Bank’s work to end hunger in south Louisiana, where 1 in 5 people experience hunger. We have to say, it was touching to see many of Acadiana’s community members working to support the organization. Fall fundraising season is in high gear now and demands on people’s time and resources can be stretched. Nevertheless, these folks turned out in force. We say thank you to them and all the staff at Second Harvest for what you do to combat food insecurity.

Anna Louise Landry and William Matthew Poole were united in marriage on Saturday, October 10, 2026, at six o’clock in the evening in the historic chapel of LARC’s Acadian Village in Lafayette, Louisiana. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Smith Landry, Jr., of Lafayette. Her mother is the former Laura Christman. The groom is the son of the late Raiford Poole and the late Lina Mastronardi Poole of Lucedale, Mississippi. Pastor Will Fairburn of The Bayou Church officiated the ceremony. The bride was escorted down the aisle by her father, and her sister, Claire Landry, presented a scripture reading. For her wedding, the bride chose a romantic ivory gown featuring an intricately beaded lace bodice, a V-shaped neckline, and a full A-line skirt extending into a sweeping, lace-trimmed train. A flowing, sheer veil with delicate embroidered edging completed her bridal ensemble. She carried a classic bouquet of white roses. Kristen O’Neal served as matron of honor, and Kevin Fakier served as best man. Maggie Hebbeler and Magnolia Fakier served as flower girls. The groom’s son, Mason (Jack) Poole, served as ring bearer. A reception followed at the historic Stutes House at Acadian Village, where guests enjoyed an evening of dinner, live music, and dancing. The couple first met as neighbors, and their friendship blossomed into romance. The groom proposed on New Year’s Eve 2025 in Vail, Colorado. The bride is a 2017 graduate of the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at Louisiana State University and is employed as an attorney with the Louisiana Department of Health. The groom is employed in the oil and gas industry with Woodside Energy. The couple will honeymoon in Costa Rica, visiting the Arenal Volcano region and the Pacific coast. Mr. and Mrs. William Matthew Poole reside in Lafayette, Louisiana.

There is so much more to learn about this organization and its impact on families. If you are interested, you can check out their website at no-hunger.org/hunger-in-south-louisiana.

OLOL Foundation hosts Sip Sip Soiree as fall fundraiser Josh and Betsy Richard, Angela and Curtis Morrison

Our Lady of Lourdes Foundation put a different twist on its fall fundraiser this year. The Sip Sip Soiree event took place on Oct. 18 at the UL Alumni Center in Lafayette. Guests were invited to stroll the lovely outdoor areas to enjoy special bites and cocktails on a picture-perfect day. The event also included outdoor music, PHOTOS BY KRIS WARTELLE

Michelle and Brandon Moore, Gerald and Carlos Boudreaux, Sister Uyen Vu

food, and drink tents, as well as an auction area. Our Lady of Lourdes was

Jeff and Laura Jones

blessed with absolutely gorgeous weather, and that was especially

Marc Mouton, Donna Landry, Cecile Mouton, Judy Mahtook

fortunate as this fundraiser beneﬁts so many worthy causes. Funds raised go to support the community outreach programs of FMOL Health and the

Lisa and Chris Broussard

Amanda Derise, Jana Doughty

Foundation. They include St. Bernadette Community Clinic, the Northside High School Clinic, The Ronald McDonald Family room at Our Lady of Lourdes Women’s & Children’s Hospital,

Anita Petitjean, Babette Werner, Monsignor Keith Joseph DeRouen

the Child Life Program, and the Palliative Care program. This event was a departure

Bryant Deloach, Craig Campbell

from the usual nighttime galas.

Melissa and Andrew Billeaud

While we love those galas too,

Scott and Lacie Chappuis

this was a refreshing way to spend a beautiful Sunday afternoon. Organizers tell us the fundraiser was a success with great attendance. Since this

Jason and Marsha Thibodeaux

event beneﬁts some truly worthy causes, we are delighted to hear that. We say happy fall, y’all, and thank you for a lovely afternoon.

lll

The Acadiana Advocate l theadvocate.com l Sunday, October 25, 2026 l 3D

TRAVEL Seven upcoming concerts worth a road trip BY JUDY BERGERON Staff writer

Ah, the adventure of the open highway, watching towns and cities go by out the window. Road trips are Americana at its best, whether it’s families heading to see “the Big Mouse” or adventure-seekers behind the wheel of an RV on the hunt for their next starry night stay-over stop. When a music concert is the destination, it adds another layer of fun to the journey. Here are seven concerts scheduled in the next six months that require no more than a day of travel time:

PROVIDED PHOTO FROM QPRIME

Hit the road to see country artist Ashley McBryde in Jackson, Miss., on Nov. 15.

ASHLEY McBRYDE When: 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 15 Where: Thalia Mara Hall, 255 E. Pascagoula St., Jackson, Mississippi Nearby places to stay: Embassy Suites by Hilton, Hyatt Place, Hampton Inn & Suites and The Westin The Arkansas-born country music singer-songwriter released her ﬁfth studio album, “Wild,” on May 8. Tickets start at $40.75 at ticketmaster.com. With a musical style blending country with rock, bluegrass and pop, McBryde’s hits include “One Night Standard,” “Light on in the Kitchen,” “Girl Goin’ Nowhere” and her Grammywinning duet with Carly Pearce, “Never Wanted To Be That Girl.”

PAM TILLIS/LORRIE MORGAN

FILE PHOTO BY MAX BECHERER

When: 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 15 Where: Hard Rock Live, 777 Beach Blvd., Biloxi, Mississippi Nearby places to stay: White House Hotel, Hyatt Place, Hampton Inn, Courtyard by Marriott and Holiday Inn Express Tillis and Morgan were literally born into country music — Tillis the daughter of Mel Tillis and Morgan’s father being George Morgan, legends in the genre. The women, with accomplished careers of their own, have collaborated on projects including albums “Dos Divas” in 2013 and “Come See Me and Come Lonely” in 2017. Their successful “Grits and Glamour” tour ﬁrst kicked off in 2009. Tickets are $74 and up at https:// www.eventticketscenter.com/.

Lyle Lovett will take the stage at The Ellis Theater in Philadelphia, Miss., on Jan. 29.

FILE PHOTO BY JEFF STROUT

Catch Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli on the road in Houston on Feb. 7.

LYLE LOVETT When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29 Where: The Ellis Theater, 311 Byrd Ave. N., Philadelphia, Mississippi Nearby places to stay: Holiday Inn Express and Suites (Winona), Best Western Plus and Chilpley’s Squareview Inn (Carthage) Not one to be pigeon-holed, Lovett’s singing and songwriting directions have spanned alternative country, Americana, rockabilly, blues, jazz and swing. His discography spans 14 albums and 25 singles, among them

the No. 10 hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, “Cowboy Man.” The four-time Grammy winner’s most recent album was 2022’s “12th of June.” Tickets start at $65.50 at ticketmaster.com.

ANDREA BOCELLI When: 8 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 7 Where: Toyota Center, 1510 Polk St., Houston Nearby places to stay: Three Hilton properties — Hilton Americas,

Home2 Suites and Tru by Hilton; Best Western, Embassy Suites. Italian tenor Bocelli’s discography spans both classical and pop, with his most famous song thought to be “Con te partirò,” known throughout the world as “Time to Say Goodbye.” Tickets are $191 and up at gotickets.com. Bocelli’s other hits include “The Prayer” (duet with Céline Dion), INVISION/AP PHOTO BY SCOTT A GARFITT “Vivo per Lei” (duet with Giorgia and other international artists), Harry Styles will perform several “Perfect Symphony” (collabora- shows at AT&T Stadium in tion with Ed Sheeran), “Fall on Me” Arlington, Texas, in April. (duet with his son, Matteo Bocelli). The Grammy-nominated Bocelli, 68, also holds World Music From the British music competiAwards, Classical BRIT Awards tion series “The X Factor” and the and Billboard Latin Music Awards, boy band One Direction, Styles among other honors. went solo with his debut album in 2017, featuring the hit “Sign of ROD STEWART the Times.” The British pop-rock When: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, phenom is a three-time Grammy winner with four studio albums, March 10 Where: Mississippi Coast Colise- and had the world’s biggest single in 2022, “As It Was.” um, 2350 Beach Blvd., Biloxi Styles’ other hits include “AperNearby places to stay: White House Hotel, Hyatt Place, Hampton Inn, ture,” “American Girls” and “WaCourtyard by Marriott and Holi- termelon Sugar.” Tickets are $68 and up at ticketsmarter.com. day Inn Express. At 81, the British rock-pop singing and songwriting giant, whose EARTH, WIND & FIRE career began in 1962 with a harWhen: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 17 Where: Brandon Ampitheater, monica in his hand, continues to thrill concert audiences, dancing 8190 Rock Way, Brandon, Missisacross the stage as if it were still sippi the ’80s. Nearby places to stay: Spark by HilHis signature raspy voice has ton, Courtyard by Marriott (Pearl), belted out hits like “Maggie May,” Holiday Inn Express & Suites “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy,” “Sailing,” (Brookhaven), Hampton Inn (Flo“Tonight’s the Night (Gonna Be Al- wood) and Wingate by Wyndham right),” “Hot Legs” and “Forever (Ridgeland) These guys have been around Young.” Rock and Roll Hall of Famer since 1969 with soul, R&B, disco, Stewart, who’s sold more than funk, rock, and jazz sounds that 120 million records worldwide, is have sent generations to the dance among the best-selling music art- ﬂoor. “September,” “Let’s Groove,” ists of all time. And that’s Sir Rod “Boogie Wonderland” and “ShinStewart, as he was knighted by ing Star” are among the band’s Prince William in 2016. Tickets greatest hits. start at $96.40 at ticketmaster.com. EWF has sold 90 million-plus albums and has received 20 GramHARRY STYLES my nominations. Over the years, When: 7:45 p.m. Friday and Sat- the band has had over 50 members, urday, April 9 and 10; Wednesday, although not at the same time. The April 14; and Friday and Saturday, band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. April 16 and 17 Where: AT&T Stadium, 900 E. Ran- Tickets are $53 and up at ticketdol Mill Road, Arlington, Texas master.com. Nearby places to stay: Holiday Inn, Courtyard by Marriott (Dallas), Email Judy Bergeron at Live by Loews, Comfort Suites. jbergeron@theadvocate.com.

TRAVEL TROUBLESHOOTER By Christopher Elliott

Priceline left customer with bill after canceling hotel reservation Priceline agent actually confirmed that my original reservation was canceled by an agent without my consent. Despite admitting to the error, the company refused to refund the $360 price difference. I have been very diligent and honest. I provided a full log of my calls and the original receipts. I even filed complaints with the California and New York attorneys general to try to get some movement. I even had an attorney send a demand letter for the refund. Priceline kept telling me that the matter had been escalated to a management team and asked for my patience, but nothing has happened for months. I did not cancel this trip, and I should not have to pay for a mistake the company admitted it made. Can you help me get my money back? — Charles Marcus, San

I booked two rooms at the Hampton Inn in Islandia, New York, through Priceline.com for a stay over the holidays.The total cost was $502.A few days later, Priceline canceled the rooms without my knowledge or consent and issued a refund. I immediately called Priceline to ask for a Christopher rebooking at my original Elliott rate.An agent told me no and said Priceline would not offer anything. I then rebooked the same rooms on the same website for the same dates, but this time I was charged $862. I’ve spent weeks calling and emailing Priceline. During these conversations, a

Francisco Priceline should have honored your original rate. If its own agent canceled your reservation by mistake, the company is responsible for making it right — either by restoring the original booking or covering the cost of the new one. You did the right thing by trying to resolve this through the ofﬁcial channels, but when a company admits it made an error and still holds on to your cash, it’s time to escalate. You can avoid a lot of this frustration by keeping a meticulous paper trail, which you did. If the front-line agents are stuck in a loop of “we’re looking

into it,” you should send a brief, polite email to an executive. I publish the names and email addresses of the Priceline executives on my advocacy site, Elliott. org. In hindsight, though, I think it might have been better to wait for a resolution instead of booking a replacement room. Generally speaking, online agencies are reluctant to refund customers who book on their own and then bill the company. But getting something in writing — not a confession by phone — that promises to ﬁx the problem, that’s usually a sure thing. I contacted Priceline on your

behalf. Priceline asked you for more evidence, including phone logs and the previous email where Priceline admitted its error. Priceline ﬁnally did the right thing. You received an email authorizing a full refund of the $360 difference. It’s a reminder that persistence pays off, especially when you have the receipts to prove the company is wrong. Christopher Elliott is the founder of Elliott Advocacy, a nonproﬁt organization that helps consumers solve their problems. Email him at chris@elliott.org or get help by contacting him on his site.

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4D l Sunday, October 25, 2026 l theadvocate.com l The Acadiana Advocate

lll

FAITH

From father to son Chip Luter takes the helm at Franklin Avenue Baptist Church

BY BOB WARREN

Staff writer

The seeds of the Rev. Fred “Chip” Luter III’s journey to the leadership of one of the largest Baptist churches in Louisiana were planted at a Catholic high school. Luter was 16 and a student at Brother Martin High School in New Orleans. Though his father, the Rev. Fred Luter Jr., was the lead pastor at Franklin Avenue Baptist Church, the younger Luter wasn’t sure about making church work a family business. Architecture had grabbed his interest, spurred by a career day chat with an architect who fascinated him with tales of drawing designs and watching them come to fruition. But fate would intervene in 2001. “I was asked to do a ‘student reﬂection’” for the school’s Grandparents Day Mass, Luter recalled. Inside the packed Brother Martin gym, Luter, who was going into his senior year, spoke about his relationship with his grandparents. Afterward, a woman caught up with him and his mother outside and spoke glowingly of Luter’s poise and polish. “She really praised me,” he said. Luter began to feel a pull he couldn’t totally describe at that point in his young life. The presentation, and the compliments the woman had lavished on his mother, made Luter wonder if perhaps public speaking was a gift that he had received. So perhaps he was interested in following in his father’s footsteps, after all? “I was already wrestling with it,” he said. “But I said, ‘Lord, evidently you want me to do this, even if I’m not sure I want to.’” And, being a teenager, the notion came with no small measure of hubris. “I thought, ‘If it doesn’t work out, it’s your fault, God,’” he laughed. “The arrogance of a teenager!”

Big shoes Chip Luter will become the leader of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church and its roughly 7,000 members in November, as the church marks the retirement of his father. A formal ceremony will follow in February. Fred Luter Jr.’s ﬁngerprints are on just about everything at Franklin Avenue Baptist Church, the megachurch he nurtured and has led for nearly 40 years. In 1986, Luter, at the time a selfdescribed “street preacher from the Lower 9th Ward,” was elected by the 65 members of the then Franklin Avenue Baptist Mission Church as their new pastor. The decades that followed saw the church blossom under his leadership — and an initiative he called “FRANgelism,” in which members invited friends to join them at services. The congregation grew into the thousands. Franklin Avenue twice moved into larger buildings. The congregation moved into its current site on I-10 Service Road in New Orleans East in December 2018. Nearly 130,000 square feet of space includes a 3,500-seat sanctuary and represents a $35 million

STAFF PHOTO BY CHRIS GRANGER

The Rev. Fred ‘Chip’ Luter III will soon take over as lead pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church.

enue Baptist and, many figured, the natural heir apparent. It didn’t hurt, of course, that Fred recommended Chip for the job. “I’ll be 40 years this coming October (2026),” Fred Luter Jr. said. “This is my only church. Me and Chip started talking ﬁve years ago. He was preaching in Florida. “If I didn’t have him as my retirement plan, I don’t think I’d be retiring.” As in many Baptist churches, the choice of a new pastor was put to a vote and the congregation overwhelmingly voted last November for Chip Luter. Since then, Luter and his wife, Jasmine Luter, and their three children have been preparing for the transition. Chip Luter, who turned 42 this month, is eager to pay homage to his father’s legacy, but also understands that to be successful he must also establish his own style. Is he nervous? “This may be a weird way to answer it, but it may be more so the pressure of letting down, rather than living up to an expectation,” he said. “My dad, he would say stuff publicly all the time. ‘Chip’s my retirement plan.’ Even though we didn’t have an active plan at that moment, he just always knew I’d be there.” Chip wants to step outside his father’s shadow, but it’s clear as he shows off the mementos and photos on the walls of his father’s ofﬁce that Fred Luter Jr. is one of his heroes. “How could he not be?” Chip asked.

of Lake Forest Charter School, said both Luters have great personalities. Both are approachable and adapt well to any situation. And both are great at remembering names — an important talent in the church leadership role, she said. “Pastor (Fred) Luter allows all the young pastors, including Chip, to come up with new things. They embrace change,” she added. Father and son are different, however. “I’m old school!” Fred said, laughing. “He has an iPad, man, and he’s walking back and forth. He has props.” Chip Luter has a degree in psychology from Dallas Baptist University and a master’s degree in pastoral ministry from the New Orleans Baptist Seminary. He served stints as pastor at churches in Dallas and Tampa before settling in at Franklin Avenue, where, since 2021, he has been senior associate pastor. Fred wanted to clear out the old photos from the walls of the big ofﬁce Chip will soon occupy. “He said ‘Chippy, I’ll take those out,’” Chip Luter said. “ I said, ‘No, Pop, we’re keeping them.’”

’Mission stays the same’

As he started the transition, Chip asked his father for a list of things to know, a blueprint of sorts. “My dad had a document of, like, 40 items,” Chip Luter said. The points on the list covered a range of ground. “Even things as personal as, ’Hey, make sure you’re getting your annual physical, make sure your health is important, make sure you have your day off for your family,’” he said. Chip also began preaching more. “Last year, I preached on one Sunday a month,” he said. “This year, it was two Sundays a month.” After he formally becomes the lead pastor, he’ll preach weekly for the most part. “Every Sunday, The Rev. Fred Luter, Jr., left, and his son, Fred ‘Chip’ Luter III, take the yeah.” pulpit during services at Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans. Asked about noticeable differences between him and his father, Chip joked, “Well, one. I don’t wear suits as much.” Then, more seriously, Chip said his father hasn’t pushed him to adopt a certain style. “It’s a blessing that my dad allowed me (to be different),” he added. One thing that will remain, Chip says, is Franklin Avenue Baptist’s role in the community. Over the years, the church has often served as much as a social and community hub as a place for weekly services. Those programs, such as a community baby shower the church recently organized, will continue. “The church has to really be flexible and adaptable in ways,” he said. “But the mission stays the Like father, like son same: Exalt the Savior, equip the Franklin Avenue Baptist Church is located in New Orleans East along Mardele Early, who has attended saints, and evangelize the sinner. Interstate 10. “That’s always been the mission. Franklin Avenue Baptist for nearly 30 years, watched Chip grow The language is not changing with investment — a far cry from the must-make stops of the city’s po- up. She sees so much of Fred Jr. me.” days of 1986 when Fred Luter Jr., litical class. in him, and, she says, that’s a good Reporter Bob Warren covers all of 30 years old, took the helm. When the elder Luter announced thing. Over the decades, the church’s his retirement in October 2025, “I always prayed that (Chip) Louisiana faith and spirituality. proﬁle grew along with its surging many eyes naturally turned to his would be our next pastor. I think Email him at bwarren@theadvomembership numbers. Franklin son, Chip, who at the time was an it’s a perfect ﬁt,” she said. cate.com Avenue Baptist is often among the assistant pastor at Franklin AvEarly, who was the founding CEO

Some of America’s witty church signs aim to inspire They also attract drivers and passersby BY GIOVANNA DELL'ORTO

The Associated Press

WOODBURY, Minn. — “Forecast: God reigns and the Son shines.” In midSeptember, the large electronic sign of a Lutheran church ﬂashed this message by a throughfare between growing subdivisions and cornﬁelds in a Twin Cities suburb. The messages on Resurrection Lutheran Church's sign range from witty to practical to profound. It’s an effort to inspire and attract drivers and passersby that’s uniquely popular in churches across America, the quintessential land of open roads and advertisements. “This is about people saying, ‘this makes a difference to me,’ and … sensing they’re loved by God,” says Heather Hultgren, who's in charge of Resurrection's daily sign changes. There’s nothing unusual about

posting writings to church doors — that’s how tradition says the Protestant Reformation got started in 16th-century Germany. But for the last few decades, U.S. pastors have gotten creative, aiming to brighten a commuter’s day, spur a reﬂection while chauffeuring to football practice, and maybe persuade a lapsed Christian or two that it’s not all ﬁre and brimstone inside. “It’s a way to bring something lighter in the world,” says the Rev. Karna Moskalik of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, in the historic river town of Stillwater, Minnesota. Moskalik likes “invitational” signs, like the classic — “CH - - CH What’s missing? U R!” Some humorous messages that get social-media shoutouts across the U.S. originated with “the sign guy,” Our Savior’s pastor in the early 2000s. He published a collection entitled, “If there were no Lutherans, would there still be green Jell-O?” At Madison Avenue Baptist Church in New York City, a weather pun during the latest brutal heat-

wave caught many eyes — “Lord, whatever you’re baking, it’s done.” Elizabeth Pustinger says people stop to ask about the historic church’s sign as she’s manually changing it weekly, and sometimes later attend services. “It’s a very powerful ministry,” adds the Rev. Susan Sparks, whose favorite sign is the dark warning to drivers, “Honk if you love Jesus, text if you want to meet him.” Laughter can help process tragedy or serve as a wedge to probe big questions — that’s why Jewish and Christian scriptures have humorous passages, says Rolf Jacobson, professor of Old Testament at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. “God’s business is turning mourning into gladness, Good Friday into Easter Sunday,” he says. So chuckle away next time you speed past a church sign. But spare a thought for the sweaty person of God who invented this perennial favorite: “Too hot to keep changing sign. Sin bad. Jesus good. Details inside.”

A positive message is displayed on the sign for Locust Grove Free Will Baptist Church in Locust Grove, Okla. ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO

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The Acadiana Advocate l theadvocate.com l Sunday, October 25, 2026 l 5D

LOUISIANA INSPIRED

Veteran finds new purpose after losing her sight She’s inspiring fellow veterans with resilience and determination

BY JA'KORI MADISON Staff writer

Lafayette veteran Shawtina Gibson never expected to lose her sight while serving in the military. She also never expected that, years later, she would be rock climbing, skydiving and running 10-mile races. Those adventures were far from what she imagined when an eye disease began damaging her vision while she was serving in the military. At the time, Gibson was a single mother worried about how she would care for her daughter. “When I first lost my sight, the hardest part was not being able to help my child,” said Gibson. “Helping her with simple tasks like homework just weighed on me.” A U.S. Navy and Army National Guard veteran, Gibson began seeking medical care for her eye problems in 2013. What she initially thought was pink eye was later connected to an immune system disorder that progressively damaged her vision, she said. By the time doctors discovered the extent of the damage, much of it was irreversible. Gibson eventually lost sight in her left eye and was left with only limited light perception in her right. “For the first four or five years, I just tried to manage, but it was the hardest time of my life,” Gibson said. She eventually moved to Lafayette to access rehabilitation services and develop the independent living skills she needed while raising her daughter. There, she found support among fellow blind veterans and learned about adaptive sports through the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Challenged Athletes Foundation’s Operational Rebound program.

PROVIDED PHOTO

Lafayette resident and blind veteran Shawntina Gibson’s fearless approach earned her the nickname ‘Daredevil Superwoman’ among fellow blind veterans. At ﬁrst, Gibson wasn’t looking to become an athlete. After treatments that included steroids and chemotherapy, she wanted to improve her health and reduce her reliance on medication. “I honestly just wanted a gym membership to my local gym, just to see if I could at least be healthy and work on getting off a lot of the meds,” Gibson said. That modest goal led to her ﬁrst adaptive sports trip in Colorado, where she spent a week trying rock climbing, mountain biking,

kayaking and hiking. The experience opened the door to new challenges including running a half-marathon, participating in triathlons and pursuing other endurance activities. Her fellow veterans were impressed by how far she was willing to push herself. Her fearless approach earned her the nickname “Daredevil Superwoman” among fellow blind veterans. “They were amazed and said, ‘Oh, well, we draw the line, but you are a daredevil, and that’s

Mars platform

where the name came from,’” Gibson said. For Gibson, sports became more than a way to stay active. Each new challenge gave her a reason to work on other parts of her life. She found herself returning home motivated to learn braille, improve her computer skills, and become more independent. “I would come back home and work on something that I couldn’t do. So what I did poured over into my personal time,” she said. Technology eventually gave Gibson another way to navigate the world more independently. For about two years, she has used Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses equipped with artificial intelligence to help interpret her surroundings, read signs and prices, and access information that would otherwise be difficult to obtain independently. The glasses became part of a milestone she had spent years working toward: traveling alone. “It took me 12 years. I took my first trip to Savannah, Georgia, by myself in September,” Gibson said. Rather than relying on an organization to coordinate her travel, Gibson booked her own flight, took an Uber to her resort and met up with a blind friend. The two women went shopping and visited restaurants, using their glasses to help interpret their surroundings. “We were literally like two girls having a girl’s trip, having a good time,” Gibson said. While shopping, the glasses could describe items and read prices. At restaurants, the women could use the technology to explore menus without asking someone else to read the options aloud. For Gibson, those features offered greater control over experiences many people take for granted. The glasses did not simply provide information; they helped her make decisions and enjoy a trip on her own terms. That same sense of indepen-

dence carried into the Army TenMiler in Washington, D.C., where Gibson recently completed the 10-mile race using Oakley Meta smart glasses designed for athletes. As she ran, the glasses’ live AI features helped her identify mile markers, locate upcoming water stations and learn about landmarks along the course. “It helped me follow the race and better understand what was happening around me. I felt very connected to the experience,” she said. Gibson’s experience comes as Meta has pledged to donate AI glasses to blinded veterans nationwide in recognition of their service. According to Meta, more than 130,000 American veterans are legally blind and will be eligible for the initiative. Each pair includes access to training resources designed to help veterans use voice commands to identify objects, read text and manage everyday tasks. For Gibson, expanding access to technology matters because veterans may not receive all the benefits or financial assistance others assume are available through the Department of Veterans Affairs. Her experience has also shaped how she supports other veterans in Lafayette. Gibson organizes an annual golf day in Lafayette that pairs blind veterans with sighted veterans, helping those who have lost their vision return to a sport they once enjoyed. With adaptive equipment, including specialized golf balls and tees, and guidance from their partners, participants can find new ways to play. She hopes others facing vision loss or a major life change will give themselves time to adjust and seek support. “Just focus on one thing at a time because you’re going to gradually get there, and there are people that can help you get there. Don’t give up,” Gibson said. Email Ja’kori Madison at jakori. madison@theadvocate.com.

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

reaches historic 1-billion barrel milestone

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

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

shell.us/louisiana | #PoweringProgress

6D ● Sunday, October 25, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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BOOK FESTIVAL Continued from page 1D

First time for these authors

For the first time, the Louisiana Writer Award is going to a romance novelist, Edgard native Farrah Rochon. She is the 27th recipient of the award that recognizes “outstanding contributions to Louisiana’s literary and intellectual life exemplified by a contemporary Louisiana writer’s body of work.” Rochon, a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author, went to Xavier University of Louisiana for her undergraduate degree and started writing seriously in college. While attending graduate school for a master’s degree in psychology at Southeastern Louisiana University, Rochon was also writing her first novel, “Deliver Me,” published in 2007. She was a twotime finalist for Rochon the Romance Writers of America’s RITA Award and was a Romantic Times Book Reviews Reviewer’s Choice Award nominee. Rochon served on the national board of directors of Romance Writers of America for five years Outside of the romance genre, Rochon is perhaps known best for her Disney’s Young Adult Twisted Tales novel, “Almost There,” which is her take on “Princess and the Frog.” She has gone on to publish other novels and short stories with Disney Publishing, with more to come in 2027 and 2028. Her latest novels, “Pardon My Frenchie” and “Pugs and Kisses” of her Forever series, focus on dogs and their owners in New Orleans. Another first is happening for Marianne Rabalais Sulser, who is attending the festival as an author for the first time for her debut novel “Like Snow Before Sun.” Sulser, an Alexandria native who now lives in Colorado, Sulser says she is looking forward to returning to Baton Rouge. She is a graduate of LSU’s Manship School of Mass Communication and the Paul M. Hebert Law Center, with a son who attends LSU now. “I’m super excited and honored to be included as a featured author, particularly as a debut author, and I’m really excited about what the Louisiana Book Festival is doing,” Sulser said. “Not only about promoting reading and literacy but also promoting Louisiana’s rich culture and our own literary heritage.”

Customers browse books for sale at the 2025 Louisiana Book Festival in Baton Rouge.

ing at the schedule of events. The go-with-the-ﬂow attendees can shop for books in the Cavalier House tent, mingle among the family activities and attend the panels of their choosing. One area of speciﬁc attention this year is American History to celebrate the United States semiquincentennial. “We wanted to have our toe in the America250 celebration, so they asked me to put together a stronger-than-normal history selection,” Wilson said. “It’s a very loose chronological history.” Below are a few panels across various genres. AMERICAN HISTORY n Moderator Jared Wells will lead “The Wider Story: Untold Histories of the American Revolution and Expansion” 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Capitol Park Museum in the auditorium. Authors participating include Richard Bell, of “The American Revolution and the Fate of the World,” Denise Kiernan, of “Obstinate Daughters: The Rebels, Writers and Renegade Women Who Ignited the American Revolution” and Alexander Mikaberidze of “The Louisiana Purchase: The Grand Bargain and the Making of America.” n Moderator Gaines Foster will lead “Lincoln’s Republic: Election, War, and the Struggle for the Union” 10:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. at the Capitol Park Museum in the Make a schedule auditorium. Authors participatFor those festival attendees ing include A.J. Cade, of “Death who want to prioritize certain or Victory: The Louisiana Native authors and panels, it’s best to Guards & the Black Military’s make a plan beforehand by look- Significance in the Civil War,”

SCARE

Continued from page 1D “Bedknobs and Broomsticks” to “Snow White,” a little grimness came with the happy ending. I asked Kennedy whether Poe offers grown-ups something similar: a way to face frightening things from a safe distance. “Poe had a genius for making frightening situations and feelings understandable and illuminating,” he said. Poe was an orphan himself. His mother died when he was 3. The foster parents who took him in never adopted him, and his foster father eventually disowned him. The mother of a school friend, a woman he adored as a teenager, died suddenly. His foster mother died when he was 20. He married his cousin Virginia, who caught tuberculosis young. “The Raven” came out in January 1845. Kennedy calls it a poem about grief and how a person comes to terms with losing someone who means everything. “He knew his wife was dying when he writes a poem about a man who has already lost the woman he loves,” Kennedy said. “It’s really a kind of rehearsal for his own loss.” Virginia died two years later. She was 24. Poe died

Jonathan Earle, of “He Has the People: Abraham Lincoln and the Election of 1860” and Scott Ellsworth of “Midnight on the Potomac: The Last Year of the Civil War, the Lincoln Assassination, and the Rebirth of America.” SATIRE n The National Book Foundation will present “Southern Satire” 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. at the State Library in the Seminar Center with Ben Fountain, author of “Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk” and “Rasputin Swims the Potomac,” and T. Geronimo Johnson, author of “The Occidental Book of the Dead.” POETRY n Poetry programs will run throughout the day under the West Tent outside the Capitol Park Museum. n Featured sessions begin at 9 a.m. with “Diving Into Nature: An Eco-Poetry Anthology of Louisiana,” an ensemble reading that gathers more than a dozen poets. Among them are Jack B. Bedell, Julie Kane, Biljana D. Obradovic and Andy Young, to read work rooted in the state’s landscape and waters. John P. Travis will host. n Louisiana Poet Laureate Gina Ferrara will anchor a twopart showcase of poets working across the state. “The Louisiana Poet Laureate Presents Louisiana Poets, Vol. I” is at 10:45 a.m. and brings together Taylor Clement, Rodney Jones, Justin Lacour, Jonathan Penton and Jennifer Polson Peterson, each reading from a recent collection. n “The Louisiana Poet Laure-

surance, blessed assurance.” So why do so many of us read him anyway? “We all have moments of doubt,” Kennedy said. “We all have bad dreams from time to time.” The fear Poe returns to again and again is death, STAFF PHOTO BY JAN RISHER something everyone lives This carved wooden raven with and tries to come to appeared in a package at terms with. Kennedy, 79, columnist Jan Risher’s door called that “an ongoing process as we age.” on the autumnal equinox. “There is a lot in this She’s not sure who sent it world that scares the dayor why. lights out of us,” he said. A scary movie or story at 40. can neutralize fear, he exKennedy sees Poe’s life plained. A person watching as a long struggle between can always think, “I’m not believing in a loving God in this. This is not happenand an everlasting life, and ing to me.” fearing that this world was I’ve always wondered all there is, “that you died why we make room for so and everything went dark.” much darkness this time of As a boy in Richmond, year. Years ago, someone Poe attended Monumentold me the veil between this world and the next tal Church, where Bishop grows thinner in late OctoRichard Channing Moore preached. Kennedy has ber. Kennedy said the idea read the bishop’s sermons is ancient. and calls him “years ahead In the Celtic calendar, of televangelists.” After his Oct. 31 marked the end of foster father disinherited the old year. On that threshhim, Poe mostly stopped go- old, “the spirits of the dead are able to rise and roam,” ing to church. Kennedy said. “It was a struggle,” KenI couldn’t help but think nedy said. “A struggle to about the Celtic knots hang on to something that carved into Carl the raven. could hold him up.” On Sunday morning, KenI thought again about the book he’d handed his grand- nedy is teaching a Sunday School class on Poe, grief, father. God and “The Raven.” “You don’t read Poe for I’ll be out of town, so I’m comfort,” Kennedy said. “You don’t read Poe for reas- sending Carl in my place.

STAFF FILE PHOTO BY MICHAEL JOHNSON

ate Presents Louisiana Poets, Vol. II” is at 12:45 p.m. featuring Emily Cosper, Bill Lavender, Obradovic, Ann Plicque and Ed Ruzicka. CHILDREN n Books & Music will feature the Louisiana classic “Mama Don’t Allow” by Thacher Hurd. Participants will engage in multiple musical activities as they listen to the story. The event is designed for ages 3-11, but all are welcome from 3:15 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Children’s Author Tent Three. n An all-ages panel discussion “Little Books, Big Lives: Picture Book Biographies” is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the Iberville Building, Le Francois Room B. The panel will feature Frank Murphy, Charnaie Gordon, Anastasia Magloire Williams, Carlotta Wells Lanier, Lisa Frazier Page, Jason Peterson and Artie Bennett. n Activities for tween and teen readers include games and arts and crafts. The papermaking tent, balloon artists and face painting return this year. n A children’s Halloween costume is scheduled for 1 p.m., while the teen contest starts at 3 p.m. THRILLERS AND HORROR n Moderator Karen E.B. Elliott will lead “Demons of Our Own Making: Southern Gothic Hauntings and Family Secrets” 9:30 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. at the State Library in the Capitol View Room with David Armand, author of “Walk the Night,” and Emily Carpenter, author of “A

CONTEST

Continued from page 1D and family stories, cultural heritage, environmental change and the strength it takes to rebuild, celebrating the spirit and deep roots of Louisiana communities. Louisiana high school juniors and seniors are invited to submit original artwork or songs exploring the power of water, the lasting effects of natural disasters and the connections among family, culture and place. The foundation will choose 13 ﬁnalists who will share $25,000 in college scholarships. The submission deadline is Jan. 22, 2027. To date, the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts has received over 7,800 applications to its annual art and songwriting contest and has awarded over $680,000 in college scholarships to over 280 students across Louisiana. This year’s contest is being presented and sponsored by Louisiana Sea Grant, a research, outreach and education program based at Louisiana State University that is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s network. “Art is one of the few ways to integrate a community’s experiences and memories in a medium that transcends traditional re-

Spell for Saints and Sinners.” n Moderator Megan Holt will lead “Unholy Hell: Horror Novels of Cult Indoctrination, Fanatical Devotion and Twisted Faith” 12:15 p.m. to 1 p.m. at the State Library in Serials room with Kevin Johnson, author of “Twas the Night,” and Bethany C. Morrow, author of “The Body.” n Moderator June Pulliam will lead “Into the Woods: Horror Novels of Monsters, Secrets and Survival” 1:15 p.m. to 2 p.m. at the State Library in the Serials room with Luke Larkin, author of “The Unheld,” and Carrie Lee South, author of “In the Woods They Wait.” n This year’s One Book, One Festival pick is Anne Rice’s “Interview with the Vampire.” Gary Richards, a professor of English at the University of Mary Washington, will lead a book discussion 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the State Library.

Parking and other details In addition to parking along the street, there will also be parking lots near the State Capitol and the Galvez Parking Garage. Information centers are located near the corner of North 4th Street and North Street, near the intersection of Spanish Town Road and North 4th Street and in the ground ﬂoor breezeway of the State Capitol. Free wheelchair accessible parking is available in the south parking lot of the State Library (enter from North 3rd Street) and in designated spaces at the southeast corner of the Capitol.

porting. It is a way for us to remember, reﬂect, honor and grow,” said Dani DiIullo, director of education and engagement at Louisiana Sea Grant, in a news release.

Visual arts competition All high school juniors and seniors in the state of Louisiana are eligible to apply. Contest judges will select 10 finalists — five juniors and ﬁve seniors — to share $19,000 in college scholarships. Following the scholarship awards luncheon in the spring, the winning entries will tour on exhibition across Louisiana. Individual artwork will be judged on the following criteria: n Concept/Design: Does the artwork address the theme in a clear and inventive way? n Technical Skill: Does the artwork show an understanding of visual art principles such as use of color, shading, light, and form? n Creativity: Does the artwork showcase an original point of view? Does it provide a fresh perspective on the theme?

Songwriting competition n All high school juniors and seniors in the state of Louisiana are eligible to apply. A selection of three finalists will share $6,000 in college scholarships.

Following the scholarship awards luncheon in the spring, the first-place winner will have the opportunity to perform during the Trombone Shorty Foundation’s annual fundraiser, Shorty Fest, in May 2027, as well as additional opportunities in partnership with the Loyola University New Orleans’ College of Music and Media. Song submissions will be judged on the following criteria: n Structure and Composition: Does the song have clearly identifiable sections (verse, chorus, etc.)? Is the song between 2-5 minutes? Does the song have a clear theme and cohesive structure? Does the music have an identifiable rhyme scheme or pattern? n Melody: Does the song have continuity and coherence in melody, as well as tone and style? Does the song offer something unique, different, and totally original? Does the music keep the listener interested and engaged? n Lyrics: Are the lyrics creative and original? Do they inspire an emotional or visceral reaction from the listener? Do the music and lyrics fit together in a cohesive way? For more information on GRFA’s 2027 Scholarship Art & Songwriting contest, visit georgerodriguefoundation. org.

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The Acadiana Advocate l theadvocate.com l Sunday, October 25, 2026 l 7D

AT THE TABLE

Oven-roasted teals recipe is hearty for fall Oven Roasted Teals

BY DEBRA TAGHEHCHIAN

Contributing writer

“When you get off the bus today, we will be driving down to Pecan Island for the weekend. Daddy will be teal hunting with your brothers,” said Momma as I was walking out the door to walk down our long gravel driveway to catch the bus. This was typical for our weekends. My mom and I would drive together in her car, and my dad would take his truck with all his supplies. He was an avid hunter and fisherman, and he was always having to tote equipment for the various activities. Sometimes it was large ice chests, fishing poles and nets; other times it was guns, ammunition and camouflage gear. I truly loved the hour drive from our farm to the camp. My grandmother’s house was on the way and sometimes we stopped to visit. Her refrigerator was always stocked with cold, small glass bottles of Dr Pepper or CocaCola. But what I truly enjoyed most was watching the clouds along the way. As we traveled further and further south to the Gulf, the cloud formations became more and more interesting. I would imagine various animal shapes. Even now, I marvel at the beautiful blue Louisiana skies with white cotton clouds. Pecan Island truly embodies the motto found on Louisiana license plates, “Sportsman’s Paradise.” My father’s mud boat was parked right behind our camp for easy access to the coastal marshes where he would hunt teals, mallards and other waterfowl. He also caught redfish and crabs. Mother Nature’s bounty was right in our backyard. When my dad came in from the marsh, the work continued. If he was lucky enough to have gotten ducks, they were then brought to

Serves 6; Recipe by Debra Broussard Taghehchian 6 teals, well cleaned and patted dry 1-2 tablespoons Steen’s Cane Syrup or other cane syrup 1 teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon red cayenne pepper ½ teaspoon granulated garlic 1 link of beef and pork smoked sausage 3 tablespoons vegetable oil 1 large onion, chopped medium dice 1 stalk celery, chopped medium dice ½ green bell pepper, chopped medium dice 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 cups chicken broth or water

Oven-roasted teal with rice, blackeye peas and baked sweet potatoes. local duck cleaners. These were usually local women who took on this seasonal work of plucking and cleaning the ducks. If not, my dad would melt down parafﬁn wax, dip each duck into the wax, then immediately plunge it into ice-cold water. The wax would solidify, and the feathers were peeled off in one large piece. Any feathers left on the ducks were then singed off using an open ﬂame. I know that many people might not have access to teals because they are not available for sale in markets. My best advice is to befriend a hunter, or as in my case, my brother was able to get teals for me from a friend who is a hunter. Fresh teals can be frozen and keep well frozen, but I suggest that you cook them fresh and treat this meal as a seasonal treat. I recently visited with my high

TODAY IN HISTORY Today is Sunday, Oct. 25, the 298th day of 2026. There are 67 days left in the year. Today in history: On Oct. 25, 1929, former Secretary of the Interior Albert B. Fall was convicted of accepting bribes in exchange for oil field leases at Teapot Dome in Wyoming and the Elk Hills and Buena Vista oil fields in California. As a result of the “Teapot Dome scandal” Fall would become the first U.S. Cabinet member to be imprisoned for crimes committed while in office. Also on this date: In 1415, England’s King Henry V’s forces defeated a much larger French army at the Battle of Agincourt during the Hundred Years’ War. In 1760, Britain’s King George III succeeded his late grandfather, George II. In 1859, radical abolitionist John Brown went on trial in Charles Town, Virginia, for his failed raid at Harpers Ferry. (He was convicted and later hanged.) In 1962, during an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council, U.S. Ambassador Adlai E. Stevenson II demanded that Soviet Ambassador Valerian Zorin confirm or deny the existence of Soviet-built missile bases in Cuba. Stevenson then presented the council with photographic evidence of the bases, a key moment in the Cuban missile crisis. In 1971, the U.N. General Assembly passed a resolution recognizing the People’s Republic of China as that country’s sole legitimate representative to the United Nations, expelling representatives of Chiang Kai-shek from the world body and effectively casting out Taiwan. In 1983, a U.S.-led force invaded Grenada at the order of President Ronald Reagan, who said the action was needed to protect U.S. citizens there. In 1986, in Game 6 of the World Series, the New York Mets rallied for three runs with two outs in the 10th inning, defeating the Boston

Red Sox 6-5 and forcing a seventh game; the tie-breaking run scored on Boston first baseman Bill Buckner’s error on Mookie Wilson’s slow grounder. (The Mets went on to win Game 7 and the Series.) In 1999, golfer Payne Stewart and five others were killed when their Learjet lost cabin pressure, flew hundreds of miles off course on autopilot, and crashed in a field in South Dakota. Stewart was 42. In 2002, Democratic U.S. Sen. Paul Wellstone of Minnesota was killed in a plane crash in northern Minnesota along with his wife, daughter and five others, a week-and-a-half before the election. In 2022, Rishi Sunak became Britain’s first prime minister of color after being chosen to lead the governing Conservative Party. He resigned the post in 2024 after his party’s general election defeat. In 2024, U.S. President Joe Biden formally apologized to Native Americans for the “sin” of a government-run boarding school system that for decades forcibly separated children from their parents, calling it a “blot on American history” during a visit to Indian Country in Arizona. Today’s Birthdays: Actor Marion Ross is 98. Former Apollo 9 astronaut Rusty Schweickart is 91. Author Anne Tyler is 85. Rock singer Jon Anderson (Yes) is 82. Guitarist Glen Tipton (Judas Priest) is 79. Basketball Hall of Famer Dave Cowens is 78. Olympic gold medal wrestler Dan Gable is 78. Olympic gold medal hockey player Mike Eruzione is 72. Actor Nancy Cartwright (TV: “The Simpsons”) is 69. Rock drummer Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers) is 65. Violinist Midori is 55. Baseball Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez is 55. Author Zadie Smith is 51. Pop singer Katy Perry is 42. Singer Ciara is 41. Golfer Xander Schauffele is 33. MLB All-Star Juan Soto is 28. Actor Dallas Young is 20.

school friend, Mark Briley, and we talked about Pecan Island, hunting and the best way to cook teals. He is a hunting guide and camp cook who has hunted the Pecan Island and Forked Island areas for many years. We compared notes, and he had one suggestion that stuck with me — rub Steen’s Cane Syrup over the teals before browning them. This will help to brown the teals and create a deep brown gravy, and the slight sweetness helps to tame the gamey ﬂavor from wild fowl. The sweetness is not apparent, but it does the trick. A few things to note for cooking teals: Clean teals very well inside and out. Pat the outside skin. Use a heavy cast-iron pot or a heavy aluminum pot with a cover.

PROVIDED PHOTO BY DEBRA TAGHEHCHIAN Allow three hours for cooking time. Teals are usually served with rice and black-eyed peas, and baked sweet potatoes in their jackets are typical side dishes. The rice soaks up the gravy, the black-eyed peas add a savory note, and the sweet potatoes add sweetness to offset the robust ﬂavor of the game birds. Even the smokiness of the pork and beef sausage plays a part in marrying the ﬂavors. Although my father is no longer with us, and the camp was washed away during one of the many hurricanes that affected the area, I still like to travel down to Pecan Island to remember and enjoy the serenity that untouched nature provides. Soon, that region of Louisiana will have major changes. I am grateful to have had the experience of enjoying it.

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. 2. Rub the outside of each teal in cane syrup. Season each teal with salt, red cayenne pepper and granulated garlic. 3. Cut sausage into 6 pieces and insert 1 piece into each teal cavity. 4. Heat 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a heavy cast iron or heavy aluminum pot such as a Magnalite roaster. 5. Brown each teal, turning and browning until all sides of the teals are browned. 6. Remove teals from the pot and add chopped onions, bell peppers and celery. Sauté until vegetables are lightly browned. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute. 7. Return teals to the pot, breast side up. Add 1 cup of chicken broth or water. 8. Cover the pot and bake for 1 hour. 9. Remove pot from oven. Turn teals to breast side down. Add 1 cup chicken broth or water. 10. Cover and continue baking for 1 hour. 11. Remove pot from the oven and check for the tenderness of the teals by using a fork inserted into the breast meat. If it is tender, the teals are cooked. If there is still resistance, add ½ cup chicken broth or water, cover and cook for 30 minutes longer. 12. Remove teals from the pot and add water if needed to make gravy, or cook gravy longer if needed to concentrate the liquid.

When ‘thanks’ doesn’t seem like enough Dear Miss Manders: How do you thank who have expressed their support physically, emotionally and people for their support after financially after this tragedy. a devastating fire destroys One final PSA, if I may, your home? please: If you have a fire in We just had a grease fire in your gas grill, don’t wait for it our propane grill. I did what I to go out. Go get the fire extinalways do: I turned the burners off and shut the propane guisher as quickly as you can Judith tank valve, then closed the and put it out ASAP. Martin lid and waited for it to go out. Gentle reader: Noted. MISS Well, this time it didn’t Write back to as many of MANNERS go out. Instead, it burned these kind people as possible, through to the area where the expressing your thanks and propane tank is stored. adding a small present (flowers, etc.) We evacuated immediately — no to anyone who took you in for an shoes on our feet, no ID, nothing but extended stay. Speak of it widely, in the clothes on our bodies. Somehow hopes that this gets back to everyone I grabbed my cellphone, or we’d be who showed support. even more lost. And then resolve, as Miss Manners We picked up the dogs and cat and has no doubt you already have, to ran outside. Thank God we were all show the same kindness to anyone safe and uninjured. who endures a similar calamity. The outpouring of support from Sadly, it seems that lately there are our neighbors and local community ample opportunities. is overwhelming. In these times, it Dear Miss Manners: I am writing reis a comfort to know that people are garding our mahjong’s group’s polistill good, and there for you when cy on health and attendance. Lately, you least expect it. there have been several instances My wife and I are trying to figure where players have asked if they out how we can possibly thank the should attend while experiencing hundreds, if not thousands, of people symptoms of illness.

While I appreciate the offer to wear a mask, I want to be clear about my personal boundary: I do not feel comfortable playing in person with anyone who is unwell, regardless of the precautions taken. Since this situation comes up frequently, I would like to establish a standard that if someone is feeling under the weather, they should stay home until they are healthy. This helps ensure that the game remains a comfortable environment for everyone. I value our time together and want to make sure we can all enjoy our games without any added concern. How do I articulate this? Gentle reader: Say it when everyone is healthy. “Flu/cold/allergy season is coming up, and I want to make sure that we all stay as healthy as possible. Let us agree that if we are not feeling well, we will stay home and take care of ourselves.” Miss Manners recommends you disinfect those tiles anyway, just in case. Send questions to Miss Manners at dearmissmanners@gmail.com.

Be cautious of drained batteries Dear Heloise: I wanted to write in rebox, as opposed to the ones that need sponse to the suggestion from Mary to be cut from the package. — Jay, in Nebraska M., about hearing-aid batteries and Jay, thank you so much for this her keeping them in an empty medihelpful tip! Finding easier ways to cine bottle. One of the reasons why handle packaging makes such a big hearing-aid batteries are separated difference. I appreciate you takonto a cardboard sheet is to keep the ends of the bating the time to share this with me and my readers. — Heloise teries from touching each other. A persistent runny nose Batteries are polarized. If you get opposite Dear Heloise: I read the letter poles touching each other, Hints from from Louise W., who suffers they’ll drain the battery. Heloise from a constant runny nose. InYou could easily wind up stead of living with the problem, with a medicine bottle full she should consult her doctor of dead batteries. — Roy R., in Fullerton, and determine if she’s suffering California from rhinitis. There are two types: Roy, thanks for the tip! This makes allergic and nonallergic rhinitis. a lot of sense. I’ll make sure to keep There are treatments for both that’ll batteries in their cardboard. — Heloise make life easier for her. I’d suffered with nonallergic rhinitis for years Packaging makes a big difference until I brought it up to my physician, and he prescribed a nasal spray that Dear Heloise: In regard to the childstopped my nose from running all proof packaging of hearing-aid batteries, I buy my 312 batteries online. day. This is an embarrassing condiIf you look carefully, you can ﬁnd tion that she may not have to live batteries that are in an easy-to-open with. — Dennis C., via email

Dennis, it could be caused by any number of different reasons, but she’ll need to see a doctor to determine what the root cause happens to be. I’m sure that a physician could help her, but she needs to make an appointment to see her doctor. — Heloise

Light bulb safety Dear Heloise: A number of people like to use petroleum jelly on the end of a light bulb to keep it from sticking. However, there are a couple of things that they need to remember. n Heat sensitivity: Petroleumbased products are highly ﬂammable. High heat from a running bulb can cause the jelly to melt, become tacky, smoke or potentially ignite. Electrical issues: Petroleum jelly is an insulator. If it gets on the contact points at the base or socket, it can cause the bulb to ﬂicker or fail to work at all. — Sandra, via email Send a hint to heloise@heloise.com.

8D l Sunday, October 25, 2026 l theadvocate.com l The Acadiana Advocate

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BOOKS

‘Great Black Hope’

Danny Heitman

‘Fire in the Mind’ recaps poet’s long career

Five judges — Grooms, Edward P. Jones, Opal Moore, Francine Prose and Patricia Towers — read submitted manuscripts throughout the year to choose the recipient of the Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence Grooms said the entire panel was impressed that “Great Black Hope” is Franklin’s ﬁrst publication. “We were surprised that a young writer had written something in such a mature voice,” Grooms said. “Not only was there strong writing but also very good storytelling. It very successfully blends genres — part murder mystery, part introspective novel about generational relations and responsibilities.” Franklin’s setting in New York City is not unique, Grooms said, but for the novel to focus on more of a bohemian and artistic community instead of a professional one was new for the panel. For Franklin, he says winning the award named for such a giant of African American literature is a huge honor. “I think there are some interesting parallels because I’m writing about, in part, the American South, and trying to depict a milieu with this Southern Black bourgeoisie that I feel like I haven’t seen a ton of in popular culture,” Franklin said. “I feel very honored to be working in a tradition that he helped to deﬁne.”

Since the publication of her debut collection, “Watering,” in 1972, Catharine Savage Brosman has been writing poetry at a steady clip, even as she taught French at Tulane University. Now retired, she’s divided her time in recent years between Houston and New Orleans. Brosman will be back in Louisiana on Oct. 31 for the Louisiana Book Festival in and around the State Capitol in Baton Rouge, with a reading scheduled for noon in the West Tent near Capitol Park Museum. The Brosman program will draw from “Fire in the Mind,” a new book that collects her best work from more than half a century. The book opens on a valedictory note, dedicating its poems to “family members and cherished friends, and in memory of those deceased who were dear to me.” That backward glance is understandable for a poet who’s now 92, her long life an instruction in what time gives and what it takes away. There’s also a sense of summing up in Brosman’s introduction to these poems, which offers a capsule summary of her career. It includes a funny anecdote about an early professor who noted that Brosman was “awfully intellectual,” cautioning her that it’s “only half of what’s necessary.” Presumably, he was nudging her to embrace feeling on the page, too, and there’s plenty of that in “Fire in the Mind.” The mere titles of these poems, scanned casually in the table of contents, are a feast of sensations. From “Eating Pears at Midnight” to “The Effects of Clouds: New Orleans” to “Gumbo” to “Melons,” they suggest experience as something that registers on the fingertips, the nose and the tongue. When these poems unfold within a New Orleans setting, their sensibility chimes naturally with a city where life announces itself so palpably on the skin. In “Report from New Orleans: Saturday Night,” Brosman points to the pageant of wonders a weekend evening in the Garden District can bring, including “clusters of people in fancy clothes,” “a rosy priest with his entourage” and a restaurant window that reveals “the phosphorescent fauna of the night.” Amidst the splendor, a “poor man carrying a lumpy sack” appears, much like other street dwellers “wearing cracked shoes and faces of bewilderment.” In the spirit of “Pink Dog,” Elizabeth Bishop’s famous poem about suffering within the celebration of Brazil’s Carnival, Brosman deftly explores how plenitude can be touched by loss. In “Crab Cakes,” another New Orleans poem, two old flames reminisce at Galatoire’s: “We cheated carpe diem in our youth; embracing, we acknowledge now its truth.” Advancing age understandably figures as a theme in Brosman’s later poems, as in “Deep Maturity,” where she suggests that imagination can somehow make a whole of past, present and future “as I stand here beneath a waning moon. / Its luster silvers me. Old I am not.” It’s vintage Brosman, expressing the voice of a poet resolved to be luminous until the end.

Email Joy Holden at joy.holden@theadvocate.com.

Email Danny Heitman at danny@dannyheitman. com.

Ernest Gaines award honors Rob Franklin and his novel BY JOY HOLDEN

in his 20s who is in the throes of grief and alienation while he reconciles with his identity. Smith is partying with the New York elite in the Hamptons when he is arrested for a small amount of cocaine. As the son of a prestigious historically Black college president and a successful attorney, Smith knows his mistake will derail his parents’ hopes for him as well as his own blurry idea of his future. As a part of his attorney’s advice, Smith starts on a sobriety journey that is sharpened by the intense grief of losing his best friend and roommate, Elle, to a mysterious overdose. Smith navigates this year of his life while monitoring his other best friend’s erratic behavior. Throughout the novel, Smith gains conﬁdence, composure and a new group of friends who are creators instead of destroyers. Franklin’s poetry foundation is evident in his vivid prose. “Great Black Hope” is full of precise imagery and detail that evokes the singular experience that Smith is having.

Staff writer

Each October, the Baton Rouge Area Foundation presents one of the most prestigious literary prizes given to Black American writers, the Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence. To honor celebrated Louisiana writer Gaines, the award serves to inspire and recognize rising African American ﬁction writers at a national level. The Baton Rouge Area Foundation will give the 19th annual honor to Rob Franklin for his novel “Great Black Hope” at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 29 at the Manship Theatre at the Shaw Center, 100 Lafayette St., Baton Rouge. Community members can attend the event by registering at ernestjgainesaward. org/rsvp. “All the judges feel that we are doing something important by honoring one of the great writers in the American canon, Ernest Gaines,” said Anthony Grooms, one of the judges for the award. “It’s a big responsibility to bring some attention to emerging African American writers, particularly for a writer like Rob Franklin, who we think is a real talent.” The book award, initiated by donors of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, comes with a monetary award of $15,000 to support and enable the writer to focus on their craft. The foundation also sponsors the winner’s travel to Baton Rouge to receive the prize at the ceremony, where Franklin will read an excerpt from “Great Black Hope,” which was published in June 2025. While in town, Franklin will speak to students at Baton Rouge Community College, visit the Gaines family in New Roads and visit the church and cemetery that Gaines restored.

Forging his own voice Franklin, 33, has been traveling through Louisiana since he was a child. An Atlanta native who now lives in New York, Franklin frequently visited his grandmother in Texas, and along the way, his family would stop overnight in New Orleans. Franklin holds a Bachelor of Arts from Stanford University and a Masters of Fine Arts from New York University’s Creative Writing program. He teaches writing at School of Visual Arts, a private art school in New York City. Since high school, Franklin has had an interest in writing, but he started out with poetry. He became serious about the craft after reading Richard Siken’s poetry collection, “Crush.”

Rob Franklin

PROVIDED PHOTO

“It’s really the book that made me want to write because I think it really reinvigorated what I understood poetry could do,” Franklin said. “It was very different from the poetry we’d read in English class. It was experimental, urgent and queer.” He said that he “forged” his own poetic voice in college, although he dabbled in short stories. After college, Franklin wrote while working as a consultant in the corporate world. He was four years into the development of a novel set in Berlin when the inspiration for “Great Black Hope” changed his path. While home with his parents in Atlanta, he had free written a few pages that turned into a character sketch of who would become Smith, the main character of “Great Black Hope.” “It was this character who was very shaped by familial expectations, history and the lessons of Black respectability politics,” Franklin said. “I was so interested in this question of how those particular lessons for some people can be the motivational force that they are intended to be, and other people crack under the pressure because there can be a psychological toll that they’re not totally prepared to bear.”

Upward mobility, downward spiral “Great Black Hope” features Smith, a young, upwardly mobile Black man

‘A mature voice’

THIS WEEK’S BESTSELLERS FROM PUBLISHERS WEEKLY HARDCOVER FICTION

1. “The Witch (deluxe ed.)” by Freida McFadden 2. “Threshing Day (Wing and Claw ed.)” by Rebecca Yarros 3. “Other Worlds Than These” by King/Straub 4. “The French Illusion” by John Grisham 5. “Partita” by Barbara Kingsolver 6. “The Calamity Club” by Kathryn Stockett 7. “Hollywood, Ending” by John Green 8. “Return to the Shack” by Wm. Paul Young 9. “Hollow Bones” by Jodi Picoult 10. “American Hagwon” by Min Jin Lee

HARDCOVER NONFICTION

1. “One Helluva Ride” by Michael Douglas 2. “Blockers” by Michael Lewis 3. “Devil on My Shoulder” by Alice Cooper 4. “The Battle for Your Soul” by David Jeremiah 5. “Protocols” by Andrew D. Huberman 6. “How to Be Good at Life” by Ben Meer 7. “Into the Quiet” by John Mark Comer 8. “The Steps” by Sylvester Stallone 9. “The Secret Sauce” by Decker/Bass/ Parker 10. “How to Win at Chess, Next Level” by Levy Rozman

TRADE PAPERBACK

1. “Verity” by Colleen Hoover 2. “Murdoku” by Manuel Garand. Puzzlewright 3. “Dungeon Crawler Carl” by Matt Dinniman 4. “Bound and Unbound” by Ali Hazelwood 5. “Dungeon Crawler Carl, Vol. 2” by Matt Dinniman et al 6. “Brain Damage” by Freida McFadden 7. “The Killer Isn’t Alice” by Iris Starling 8. “Back in Time (Murdoku #2)” by Manuel Garand 9. “The Divorce” by Freida McFadden 10. “Carl’s Doomsday Scenario” by Matt Dinniman

Q&A: Historic rehabs fuel contractor’s growth 3E

Broussard company ﬁnds niche in 3D printing 7E

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

S U N D AY, O C T O B E R 25, 2026

1EN

Pan-American Life CEO targets ambitious new goal

STAFF PHOTO BY BRETT DUKE

José S. Suquet, board chair and CEO of Pan-American Life Insurance Group, has led the New Orleans-based company’s global operations over the last two decades, driving profits to record-breaking highs.

115-year-old south Louisiana-based firm with a global footprint is on track to surpass $2B in revenue BY RICH COLLINS Staff writer

IDEAS &

INNOVATION

Insurance industry veteran José Suquet’s bags were nearly packed for a job in Miami in 2004 when recruiters looking to ﬁll the top job at Pan-American Life Insurance Group in New Orleans came calling. After studying the now-115-year-old company’s history, challenges and opportunities, he decided the role was too good to pass up, so he ﬂew back to New York to pitch his family on a new game plan. It turned out to be a good decision for all

involved — especially for the legacy New Orleans-based insurer that was losing market share and seeing proﬁts erode at the beginning of the millennium. Since reporting for work in November 2004, Suquet has led Pan-American through a two-decade turnaround, helping boost its annual revenue from $284 million in 2004 to an expected $2 billion this year, an all-time high. Today, the company’s 2,200 employees worldwide help sell life, health and accident insurance to groups and individuals throughout the United States and in 21 Latin

American and Caribbean countries. Suquet said he and his team reversed PanAmerican’s fortunes by shedding unproﬁtable lines of business, selling the two New Orleans skyscrapers it owned, maintaining a conservative investment strategy and, most important, focusing on the markets that gave it its start — even though that means underwriting risk in some countries marked by political and economic volatility. As a result, a business that at one point was in danger of getting downgraded by

ä See PAN-AMERICAN, page 2E

Major projects step up pressure on La. road, bridge work BY IANNE SALVOSSA, JONAH MEADOWS and ADAM DAIGLE

Staff writers

For more than a decade, planners have been talking about a new bridge across the Mississippi River in Baton Rouge, though there’s still no timeline for a groundbreaking, much less completion. In St. Bernard Parish, a major transit corridor considered key to the Louisiana International Terminal deep-water port is still in the early planning stages and years from reality. And in Lafayette, an extension of Interstate 49 that has been publicly debated since the 1990s is ﬁnally inching forward, though design and construction won’t start before next year at the earliest. Major infrastructure projects

“These infrastructure projects go hand in hand with economic development. We need to invest in roads and bridges across our state to bring projects like SpaceX, Meta and Hyundai Steel to our state.”

worth of projects planned for the next 20 years, long-delayed road and bridge improvements are taking on a new sense of urgency and showing signs of moving forward, according to Glenn Ledet, Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development secretary. “These infrastructure projects go hand in hand with economic development,” Ledet said last week. “We need to invest in roads and bridges across our state to bring GLENN LEDET, Louisiana projects like SpaceX, Meta and Department of Transportation Hyundai Steel to our state.” and Development secretary Still, major questions remain about funding, environmental impacts and even the speciﬁc lotake a long time. In Louisiana, cation of some of these projects it would seem, they drag on for — issues that need to be resolved years or even decades, if they before the ﬁrst pile is driven. happen at all. Here is a rundown on where Now that the state is in the things stand. throes of a new explosion of indusä See ROAD, page 2E trial expansion, with $250 billion

STAFF FILE PHOTO BY MICHAEL JOHNSON

A long-awaited third bridge across the Mississippi River in the capital region is slowly making its way through the final planning stage, promising at least some relief to the gridlock that has plagued the Interstate 10 corridor for decades.

2E l Sunday, October 25, 2026 l theadvocate.com l The Acadiana Advocate

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PAN-AMERICAN Continued from page 1E

insurance industry ratings agencies instead began an era of unprecedented growth. It’s a remarkable comeback for an enterprise that Tulane University business professor Peter Ricchiuti describes as the “biggest New Orleans business that few people have ever heard about” — and it’s a win for a city that has lost many corporate headquarters in recent decades. It’s the kind of success that leaves Pan-American’s board wanting more — and Suquet said he plans to take the company to the next level. The longtime CEO and chair of the board, who turned 70 in May, said a succession plan is in place but that he’s not retiring anytime soon. “We’ve been able to bring this ‘grand old lady’ that had lost its luster to where we are now,” he said. “And we have very ambitious plans over the next ﬁve years.”

‘Lost their focus’ Pan-American Life was founded in 1911, when New Orleans was the largest city in the South and one of the United States’ most important gateways to Latin America. Co-founder Crawford H. Ellis recognized an opportunity to sell life insurance to individuals and businesses throughout the Americas during his time as an executive at the United Fruit Co., the storied enterprise that a century ago was responsible for importing millions of bananas a year from Central America and the Caribbean. One of the company’s first markets was Panama. Over the decades, it entered new countries and added new products, along the way weathering several wars, the Great Depression and all manner of political upheaval. By the early 1950s, Pan-American was in business in nine Central and South American nations as well as half the U.S. states. And, by 1980, its New Orleans employee count had reached roughly 900, causing the company to move from its midcentury modern headquarters on Canal Street into a new 28-story granite skyscraper on Poydras Street in the Central Business District. Crawford led the venture he cofounded for more than a half century before his death in 1966. Several leadership groups followed, including executives in the 1990s who prioritized expansion in the United States. But that strategy didn’t pay off, Suquet said, which is why, by the time a recruiting firm was searching for new leadership in 2004, the firm’s board of directors wanted a course correction. “Management at the time tried to be this company that they’re not, which is a large American insurance company, competing with the giants like Northwestern Mutual,

ROAD

Continued from page 1E

STAFF PHOTO BY BRETT DUKE

José S. Suquet, center, board chair and CEO of Pan-American Life Insurance Group, speaks during a meeting in New Orleans.

STAFF FILE PHOTO BY DAVID GRUNFELD

By the 1980s, the Pan-American Life Insurance Group, founded in 1911, had grown to 900 employees in New Orleans, prompting a move into a 28-story building on Poydras Street in the Central Business District.

Prudential and MetLife,” Suquet “We had just under $300 million said. “But they had lost their focus of premium then for the total comon their core market, which was pany, and no profits,” he said. “We Latin America.” were not making any money.” One of the first things Suquet ‘All the opportunities’ did was to ask ratings agencies, Suquet, who began his career in which were “knocking on the door the 1970s as a life insurance agent to downgrade us,” for time to make after graduating from Fordham changes. Then he began selling University, had already notched underperforming U.S. assets that nearly three decades in the in- were expensive to operate and redustry when the opportunity to quired massive scale to be profitlead Pan-American came along. able. He wanted the job so badly that These included a compliancehe hired his own consulting firm heavy broker dealership, a disand spent time analyzing the com- ability insurance business, and a pany’s financials and strategy to product designed to cover funeral create a business plan before he costs. The insurer also got out of the started. His early days on the job were real estate business, selling its “rough,” he said, with unpaid headquarters building in 2006 and claims piling up in one storeroom, the InterContinental next door in and enough empty space on an- 2013. The company now leases other floor to set up a volleyball only two floors of the office tower that bears its name. tournament.

PALIG today

The elevated highway could charge tolls and connect the planned Louisiana International Terminal with Interstate 510 510

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POYDRAS Source: New Orleans Regional Planning Commission

commitment to ﬁgure out the has the backing of state and ways to move forward.” federal officials who say Louisiana needs a new conSt. Bernard corridor tainer terminal to handle In August, the Port of New larger modern ships that Orleans got the go-ahead can’t ﬁt under the Crescent from the U.S. Army Corps of City Connection. But the massive termiEngineers to begin work on the $2.6 billion Louisiana In- nal planned near the Violet ternational Terminal, which Canal will need a new road

“As long as you manage the risk parameters on your investments, you’re going to do OK,” he said. “Ninety-seven percent of ours are in investment-grade corporate bonds. It’s not very exciting, but you don’t want to be exciting in insurance.” These days, as three company presidents manage day-to-day operations, Suquet takes the long view, planning for the risks and opportunities created by the rise of artificial intelligence, everchanging political landscapes and other factors. “In our footprint, we have hurricanes, volcanoes, changing weather patterns, government turmoil, coups and everything imaginable,” Suquet said. “We’re always going to have the macro issues, whether they’re government inflicted, technology or catastrophes.” He’s also setting ambitious goals. It took Pan-American a little over a century to reach its first billion-dollar year — a milestone met in 2016 — and an additional decade to double that number. Suquet said he’s challenged his senior leadership team to hit the $3 billion mark within five years. And at a time when a company like Pan-American could be headquartered anywhere, Suquet said he and his fellow leaders are resolute about keeping the business in the city where it all began. “There’s just absolutely no reason to explore any other options,” he said. ”We have a rich history here, and our costs would go up dramatically if we moved.”

Pan-American is much bigger and more decentralized today than it was when Suquet arrived. The company sells employee beneﬁts and group insurance to a “who’s who” of American and international companies, including Walmart, Amazon, Dell and Microsoft — many of whom use Panama or Costa Rica as a hub for their operations in Latin America. In 2004, the company had 500 employees in New Orleans and an additional 300 worldwide. Now it has over 300 in Louisiana plus another 300 across the U.S. The rest of its workforce is located in Panama, Costa Rica, Colombia and other countries. Suquet said the company’s goal is to bring in more in premiums than it pays for claims and administration costs, while investing the money it collects in safe assets to Email Rich Collins at rich.colgenerate additional income. lins@theadvocate.com.

St. Bernard Transportation Corridor route proposals

New bridge for BR A long-awaited third bridge across the Mississippi River in the capital region is slowly making its way through the final planning stage after years of study, promising at least some relief to the gridlock that has plagued the Interstate 10 corridor for decades. DOTD is waiting on the completion of an environmental assessment, which is required for a permit from the Federal Highway Administration, according to Ledet. Once the permit is obtained, which could happen by the end of this year, planners can finalize selection of the route — connecting La. 1 on the west bank to La. 30 on the east bank. Design and construction come next. Ledet said DOTD will hold a public hearing for the plans in the first quarter of 2027 before giving final approval. Still uncertain is funding for the roughly $2 billion project. State officials have set aside $400 million over the past several years, and planners are looking into the feasibility of tolls and bonds to provide additional funds. The combination of local, state and federal officials working on project planning and capital investment in the state shows progress, he said. “I know folks have waited for these projects for a long time and talked about it for a long time,” he said. “But I think we’ve just made that

“We didn’t want to have 60% of our capital tied up in two buildings in the path of hurricanes,” Suquet said. While Pan-American was making these changes, it also was reinvesting in Latin America — a largely untapped market that has been growing rapidly in recent years and shows no signs of slowing down. It expanded in the region through a 2012 acquisition of MetLife assets in multiple countries, and it focused its efforts on existing in business in Colombia, where premiums grew from $1 million annually two decades ago to $200 million this year. “We modernized it, invested in it and got a professional CEO down there,” Suquet said. “It’s been like that with every country we’re in.”

Staff map

— the St. Bernard Transportation Corridor — to make room for the hundreds of trucks that are anticipated to come and go every day. A feasibility study identified three potential routes for the corridor, and state officials hired Stantec to assess the relative traffic benefits and

wetland impacts of each. Depending on how significantly the new road is projected to affect the surrounding wetlands, the firm’s study will result in either an environmental assessment, which could be complete within a year, or a much more rigorous environmental impact statement, which could take as long as two years. “From there, we will have formal public meetings as well as public hearings that will relay all of the alternative routes, as well as the final selection of the preferred alternative,” Ledet said. Consultants are weighing tolls, container fees or both as potential revenue sources. At the same time, Port NOLA’s staff is sounding out investment banks, equity funds and financial advisers for feedback on how to foot the roughly $1 billion bill through a public-private partnership. State and federal appropriations are covering $75 million of the cost of preliminary work. Officials will seek hundreds of millions of dollars of infrastructure grants for construction costs once federally required environmental reviews are complete, which is anticipated in 2028. Matt Gresham, Port Nola’s vice president of governmental relations, hopes to move quickly into the final design and construction phase once Stantec’s work is complete.

significant jolt earlier this month in the form of a $50 million federal grant. The funding will go toward overhauling the intersection of U.S. 90 and Kaliste Saloom Road, a significant part of the I-49 Connector, Lafayette Consolidated Government officials announced earlier this month. The connector is a $2 billion, 5.5-mile project that will connect I-49 at its terminus at I-10 in Lafayette to the current U.S. 90 that stretches to New Orleans. The intersection with Kaliste Saloom, which is adjacent to a railroad crossing and has been identified as being among the 100 worst freight bottlenecks in the U.S., will be redesigned to include onramps and flyover bridges to avoid train conflicts. The connector is still awaiting a final decision from federal officials, anticipated in the first quarter of 2027. That will clear the way for further design and construction.

New Calcasieu bridge

After years of planning and delays, work got underway earlier this year on a replacement for the nearly 75-year-old span over the Calcasieu River in Lake Charles, which is known as much for its steep grade and intimidating height — 135 feet — as for its dueling pistol guardrails. In April, Gov. Jeff Landry celebrated the groundbreaking on the new $2.3 billion bridge. It’s scheduled to be I-49 Connector completed by 2031. Staff writers Courtney A major highway project Pedersen and Claire Taylor that’s been publicly debated contributed to this story. since the early 1990s got a

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The Acadiana Advocate l theadvocate.com l Sunday, October 25, 2026 l 3E

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

Contractor grows from historic, passion projects BY GRACE MAYER

happen to the economy. Now, with the 2028 College Football Playoff National Championship coming up and the new Convention Center For Ryan Gootee, CEO and business coming in two years, the founder of Ryan Gootee General time is now to get those renovaContractors, worktions done. We’ve seen a lot of that, ing on historic including work we’re completing projects in New on the Omni Royal Orleans hotel. Orleans is always There is a lot of demand for industrial a passion project. projects in the state. Are you guys chasing To date, Gootee, any opportunities there? Do you feel any a self-described pressure to go after that work? history nerd and a A lot of contractors have chased fourth generation Gootee and followed the data center work, builder, and his and we have made contact with firm have worked on 146 historic some of these companies develrenovations, totaling $330 million. Historic projects make up about a oping these projects. If the right third of the company’s portfolio. opportunity came along, we’d go The Metairie-based contractor and follow it. We’re not afraid has restored and renovated the of it. We know we can do it. Like New Orleans Jazz Museum, The with SpaceX, we may have some Historic New Orleans Collection opportunity in that arena, and we and the Omni Royal Orleans hotel. may be looking to go over there in Currently, the firm is working on Vermillion Parish but it’s got to be STAFF FILE PHOTO BY CHRIS GRANGER restorations to the St. Louis Cathethe right opportunity. A temporary enclosure is in place at the historic St. Louis Cathedral in the French Quarter as it undergoes You’re the fourth generation in your family dral. Winning work as the general major renovation for the major renovation. to work in construction. How are you thinking contractor on the project is affirabout succession planning? Do you want it mation of his team’s expertise in to continue as a family business? restorative work, Gootee said. thedral, we’ve been working on My kids are still in school or just “If you had to pick the most iconrenovations to the Historic New FOUNDER OF RYAN GOOTEE GENERAL CONTRACTORS Orleans Collection, and a lot of the starting their careers. But last ic building in the city, that would week, I told them next year, we’re things we learned from that projbe it,” Gootee said. “It’s like renogoing to sit down and decide who ect, like doing historic masonry vating the Lincoln Memorial. It’s wants to be in the business and and stucco, were relevant to the just something that’s been around toric fabric of a building — which his business. who doesn’t, because I need to cathedral. forever.” can jeopardize funding. So can Responses have been edited for plan. If my kids don’t want to be It’s also a logistical nightmare Before RGGC became a go-to falling behind on meeting a projlength and clarity. trying to work in the French Quar- involved, I’ll eventually sell all my contractor for such projects, How did RGGC become a go-to contractor ect deadline, because you have to shares out to nonfamily members. Gootee spent 10 years working at for historic projects? complete a project within the fiscal ter. It’s a lot of moving parts, a lot I currently share ownership his family’s business, Gootee ConWe landed a lot of construction, year for the tax credit to apply that of people, there’s not a lot of space, of the company with Michael and I think we had a really good struction, a mechanical contractor renovation and cleanup work after year. A developer might not be DeGruy, our company president. Katrina. When all that work dried able to hold the carrying costs of plan on how to approach it. also in Metairie. After Katina in Over the last few years, I’ve been up, I educated myself on the hisnot getting that chunk of money. Where are you seeing new opportunities 2005, he decided to go out on his selling some of my shares to MiWe just got good at these projfor growth? own, though he still works closely toric tax credit program, because Work in the hospitality industry with Gootee Construction and ofI knew it would present a lot of ects over time. Now, we’re doing chael, who now owns 30% of the is a bright spot right now. We’re company. I’ll probably sell my ten hires them as a sub on projects. opportunities and funding for con- no-bid, no-selection process projshares to some other key people RGGC is on-track to grow revects where people come to us say- seeing a lot of hotels asking for struction projects. So many buildrenovations. I think everybody in the coming years. I want to give ing, “we want you to do the job.” ings in New Orleans are historic, enue by 12%, hitting about $65 just didn’t know what to do until some people who have earned it You did have to compete for work on the million this year. The company em- and when you get 45 cents on the after the city was done hosting the a seat at the owner’s table. I want St. Louis Cathedral. How did you guys win ploys a 50-person team at its office dollar back on qualifying restora2025 Super Bowl and, of course, to let them sit where I’ve sat, and in Metairie. tion expenses, that’s a lot of money. that project? Mardi Gras. Hotels didn’t want to handle the risks and rewards of We have a pretty large portfolio In this week’s Talking BusiThere is a lot of pressure to get put their properties in the middle being an owner. these projects done in a timely and of projects in the French Quarter, ness, Gootee discusses the chalof renovations or out of commisand I think that helped us stand correct manner. I’ve heard about lenges of navigating historic projEmail Grace Mayer at grace. out from other contractors. Down instances where a contractor took sion during those events. They ects, the opportunities he sees for the street from the St. Louis Caout a beam or messed up the hisalso didn’t know what was going to mayer@theadvocate.com. growth, and long-term plans for Staff writer

Q&A WITH RYAN GOOTEE

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We’re From Louisiana and For Louisiana.

4E ● Sunday, October 25, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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ACROSS THE REGION

North La. hospitals to be sold Home Bank CEO

Bordelon to retire

Minden Medical board members resign

BY LIZ SWAINE

Staff writer

After six members of Minden Medical Center’s Board of Governors resigned, that hospital and three others owned by Allegiance Health Management are being put up for sale. The Allegiance hospitals that are pending sale are Minden Medical Center, Northern Louisiana Medical Center in Ruston, Acadian Medical Center in Eunice and Mercy Regional Medical Center in Ville Platte. All four of the Allegiance hospitals pending sale were warned in July by the federal government to either be more transparent about their basic pricing information or risk millions in federal penalties. They were on a list of 27 around the state singled out for not disclosing actual prices for common tests and procedures. Allegiance, which is based in Bossier City, also owns medical facilities in Arcadia, Oakdale, Many, Marksville, Winnfield, Monroe, Eunice, and DeQuincy, and in Greenville, Mississippi. Scott Prouty, chief operating officer and executive vice president, said in a statement, “Our highest priority is protecting the delivery of quality healthcare service and ensuring that patients, employees, physicians and the communities these hospitals serve experience as little disruption as possible. “The planned transactions remain subject to customary processes and approvals. Additional information regarding the potential new ownership and timing of the transitions will be shared as appropriate.” The move comes after Minden Medical board members

resigned in protest of what they said in a statement are concerns about the hospital’s financial conditions and direction under its Bossier City-based ownership, according to a statement from former members. Members of the board, including Dr. Melissa Madden, who submitted the statement, said their decision to resign “was based on serious and continuing concerns about the financial condition” of the hospital. In the statement, Madden said the situation there deserves transparency. “We believe that the financial challenges facing the hospital deserve transparency, accountability and careful scrutiny,” the statement said. “Ultimately, we reached the point where we could no longer remain in our positions without feeling that our continued service might be viewed as a stamp of approval for the financial circumstances and decisions surrounding Minden Medical Center and its relationship with Allegiance Corporation. We were not willing to have our names or our positions interpreted as an endorsement of a situation about which we have significant concerns.” These financial issues are not new. In 2018, Allegiance paid $1.7 million to settle a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice alleging it violated the False Claims Act by improperly billing Medicare for services that were not medically reasonable or necessary, according to a Justice Department release. More recently, the IRS has filed liens totaling more than $30 million against Allegiance hospitals and clinics for unpaid taxes. In October 2025, Allegiance

BUSINESS BRIEFS

STAFF FILE PHOTO BY JILL PICKETT

Minden Medical Center in Minden is among four Allegiance Health Management-owned hospitals being put up for sale.

Health Management President and CEO Rock Bordelon said he was working to resolve the situation. Bordelon said rural hospitals have been “grossly underfunded for years, particularly since Medicaid expansion was enacted in Louisiana.” At the time, Bordelon said that changes proposed by Louisiana and approved by the federal government have started to address funding issues and “the future for these hospitals now looks bright.” In recent years, rural facilities have been hit hard by rising healthcare costs and dwindling reimbursements from insurers and the federal government. The largest of the structural cuts from President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the federally mandated Medicaid work requirements, take effect in early 2027. The National Rural Health Association estimates those cuts may cost small-town hospitals $155 billion over 10 years and push hundreds of rural hospitals to make severe cuts or close completely. Email Liz Swaine at liz. swaine@theadvocate.com.

Longtime Home Bank executive John Bordelon will retire from his position as CEO in January. Bordelon, who moved into a position of CEO and board chairman in June while Darren Guidry was named president, will retire Jan. 8 but remain as board chair and Guidry will assume the role of CEO, bank officials announced. Bordelon has been with the bank for over 45 years. He will also continue as a member of the boards of directors of the company and the bank. Guidry has been with Home Bank since 1993. He has contributed to a balanced approach to growth and risk management, advanced the company’s strategic priorities and reinforced its commitment to long-term shareholder value, bank officials said. “John has helped guide the Company and the Bank through significant growth

and change, and we are grateful that he will continue to provide leadership and continuity as Chairman,” Chris Rader, chair of the nominating and governance committee, said in a statement. “We are also confident that Darren’s experience, institutional knowledge, and strategic focus position him well to lead the organization into its next chapter.”

Old Pizza Hut site has a new tenant A Zeus location will move into the old Pizza Hut location on Pinhook Road in Lafayette. Zeus Mediterranean Kitchen, which closed its Pinhook Road location last year, will open at 1821 W. Pinhook Road, said Ryan Pecot, of Stirling Properties, who negotiated the deal. Pizza Hut closed the location in February as part of a round of 250 closures nationwide. BPG Holdings of Lafayette bought the building

from Pizza Hut franchisee ADT Pizza months after it acquired 26 Acadiana locations in late 2018, records show.

Old Drago’s building to house sushi spot The former Drago’s restaurant site that recently changed hands will house a sushi restaurant. Umiya Sushi, which has locations in Texas, will move into the building at 3151 Johnston St. likely next summer, said Sophie Zhoa, whose firm Beyond Realty represented the buyer in the deal. The restaurant, which is owned by an LLC registered to Jin Zhu, of Lafayette, has applied for a building permit with Lafayette Consolidated Government. The restaurant will undergo renovations and is expected to open next summer, Zhao said. The restaurant will be the latest to occupy the space, which has been empty since Drago’s closed in early 2024 following a six-year run.

BUILDING PERMITS Issued Oct. 14-20

Commercial alterations

OFFICE: 124 Heymann Blvd., description, renovations; applicant, Chase Marshall Architects; contractor, Castle Row Construction; $400,000.

New commercial

MEDICAL: 101 W. Martial Ave., description, new dental ofﬁce; applicant, Dental Artistry; contractor, Benchmark Builders; $1,857,431. RESIDENTIAL: 2832 Verot School Road, description, apart-

ments; applicant, Paul L Miers Engineering; contractor, Block Construction; $35,461,133.

New residential

200 LANDING BLVD.: Level Construction & Development, $496,875. 213 PORCH VIEW DRIVE: Kreative Kontractors, $416,750. 129 GRENADINE DRIVE: Manuel Builders, $277,375. 204 GREYFORD DRIVE: CJS Custom Builders, $800,000. 722 LAFITTES LANDING PASS: Manuel Builders, $315,250. 117 ELMWOOD MEAD-

OWS DRIVE: DSLD, $305,125. 309 BRATTLE COURT: DSLD, $299,750. 311 BRATTLE COURT: DSLD, $253,000. 229 BELLEAU ST.: Forward Thinking Construction, $131,125. 104 BETRILLO COURT: DSLD, $299,750. 102 BETRILLO COURT: DSLD, $326,750. 116 BEXLEY COURT: DSLD, $299,750. 207 CLIFFSIDE DRIVE, YOUNGSVILLE: Van Alan Homes, $425,000. 309 BENSON GROVE DRIVE, YOUNGSVILLE: Level Construction & Development, $184,704. 100 FOXGLOVE LANE,

YOUNGSVILLE: DSLD, $114,139. 104 FOXGLOVE LANE, YOUNGSVILLE: DSLD, $112,721. 217 FERN GROVE, YOUNGSVILLE: Jeanlouis Homes, $450,000. 103 ST. JOHN BOSCO ROAD, BROUSSARD: DSLD, $125,820. 101 ST. JOHN BOSCO ROAD, BROUSSARD: DSLD, $94,680. 103 SUMMER ST., BROUSSARD: DSLD, $127,200. 102 ST. CASIMIR COURT, BROUSSARD: DSLD, $106,560. 104 ST. ANASTASIA ST., BROUSSARD: DSLD, $128,460.

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THE H COMMUNITY C IS THRIVING. Thanks to META, our economy is like never before. on. We’re able to really invest into educatio

Reagan Monnin, Teacher, Start Elementary

IN THE NATION IN ANNOUNCED

CAPITAL INVESTMENT means a stronger economy, stronger schools, and a future built closer to home. Louisiana Economic Development analysis of publicly available announcement data, 2026

See what major investment makes possible OPPORTUNITYLOUISIANA.COM

6E l Sunday, October 25, 2026 l theadvocate.com l The Acadiana Advocate

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TECHNOLOGY

Consumer apprehension grows amid use of AI pricing tools BY DEE-ANN DURBIN and ANNE D'INNOCENZIO AP business writers

U.S. consumers aren’t just frustrated with high prices. They’re angry and confused about the increasingly high-tech ways that restaurant chains and major retailers are setting those prices. Digital price tags are rapidly replacing paper ones in grocery aisles. Artificial intelligence tools help businesses decide what to charge by predicting how customers might respond. Terms like “dynamic pricing” and “surveillance pricing” are stirring anxiety on social media, where users wonder if different people are getting different prices for the same product. Americans have grown accustomed to changing prices when booking flights, hotel rooms and rides, but the prospect of everyday spending shaped by algorithms they don’t understand and personal data they may not realize they’re sharing has touched a nerve. “There are major tensions happening right now between who’s really going to have the power with some of these algorithms and usage of bots and AI: the companies or the shopper,” said Katie Thomas, who leads an internal consumer behavior think tank at the management consulting firm Kearney. Companies using the technology say some concerns stem from misconceptions about how their pricing tools work. Walmart CEO John Furner said in a blog post last month that digital price tags save workers’ time and keep prices up to date. He said the labels aren’t used to raise prices based on the weather, time of day or individual shopper. “We price the product, not the person,” Furner wrote. But companies aren’t always transparent about the customer data they collect and how it’s used, which has made consumers suspicious and led to speculation. For

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO BY JEFF DEAN

Digital price tags are rapidly replacing paper ones in grocery aisles. Artificial intelligence tools help businesses decide what to charge by predicting how customers might respond. Terms like ‘dynamic pricing’ and ‘surveillance pricing’ are stirring anxiety on social media, where users wonder if different people are getting different prices for the same product.

“There are major tensions happening right now between who’s really going to have the power with some of these algorithms and usage of bots and AI: the companies or the shopper.” KATIE THOMAS, of management consulting firm Kearney

example, social media posts falsely imply that electronic shelf labels Walmart plans to put in all its U.S. stores scan shoppers’ faces or cellphones to set individualized prices, Thomas said. Lawmakers and regulators are taking action. Legislators in at least 30 states have considered pricing bills this year, including measures addressing algorithmic and personalized pricing, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. The Federal Trade Commission has proposed an enforcement policy warning businesses that failing to disclose their use of personal data to set individualized prices could violate consumer protection law. One of the latest trends is algorithmic pricing, which uses soft-

ware to recommend or automatically set prices. Companies have used such systems for decades. AI can help the software identify patterns in sales, competitors’ prices and other information to predict demand and estimate how different prices would affect sales and proﬁts. These tools can support both dynamic and personalized pricing. It’s unclear how widely retailers use AI to help set prices, but research suggests businesses across industries are adopting it. Simon-Kucher, a global consulting company, surveyed more than 2,200 business leaders in 28 countries and 39 industries last year, and 41% said they used AI software to gather market intelligence, including competitors’ prices. Another 28% said they

used it for “real-time price optimization.” Price optimization means choosing prices that advance business goals, such as increasing profits, attracting shoppers or clearing unsold goods. The National Retail Federation, which represents big and small stores, said algorithmic pricing is a new method of doing what retailers have always done: monitor and adjust prices depending on supply, demand, seasonality, competitors’ prices and other factors. Some lawsuits have alleged companies used pricing algorithms to undermine competition. A 2023 anti-monopoly lawsuit the FTC brought against Amazon challenged, among other practices, an algorithmic tool codenamed Project Nessie. The agency alleged Amazon used the tool to identify products whose prices it could raise with competitors likely to follow, generating more than $1 billion in excess profits. A trial is scheduled for next year. Amazon said the FTC allegations “grossly mischaracterize” the pricing tool. Project Nessie was intended to stop retail price-matching practices from creating unsustainably low prices, the e-commerce giant said. Amazon said it tested the tool for a few years but it didn’t work as intended and was scrapped before the federal agency’s lawsuit. A recent consumer lawsuit against McDonald’s alleged that its pricing system uses nonpublic sales data from competing locations to coordinate prices. The Chicago-based burger giant said the lawsuit was “filled with inaccuracies” and that the company makes the tool available to U.S. franchisees to help them set prices at their individual restaurants.

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The Acadiana Advocate l theadvocate.com l Sunday, October 25, 2026 l 7E

SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

3D printer preps workforce for next gen manufacturing BY JONAH MEADOWS Staff writer

Jace Dugas was ready for a change. He had worked in traditional manufacturing, mostly for the oil and gas industry, for the whole of his two-decade career. During his time as operations manager at a machine and tool shop in New Iberia, he’d helped the company cut down on its error rate and improve its productivity. Yet the business remained vulnerable to volatility in the energy market. “It was just constantly riding an up-and-down roller coaster,” Dugas said. “They weren’t diversified enough to maintain through slowdowns in the oil and gas industry.” So Dugas decided to pivot from “subtractive,” or traditional manufacturing, to “additive” manufacturing, which includes 3D printing. Today, his company, Additive Innovators, generates more than $1 million in annual revenue, sells nearly 100 3D printers a year and counts Exxon, Chevron, the LSU AgCenter and the U.S. military among its clients. He’s founded a nonprofit, the Louisiana Advanced Manufacturing Association, aimed at building an advanced manufacturing hub in the state by promoting 3D printing as a solution for industry and training a workforce to use it. Five years in, Dugas has nine employees between the two ventures. And he finds life as a small-business owner both less risky and more lucrative than working for someone else. “How hard I work dictates how much money I make,” he said. “I go work for somebody, and work as hard as I want, and the money don’t change.”

STAFF PHOTO BY JAVIER GALLEGOS

Jace Dugas, founder of Additive Innovators, holds a microfluidic device.

Adding it up Unlike subtractive manufacturing, which involves taking some piece of raw material — whether metal, resin, wood or something else — and cutting it down to the desired size, additive manufacturing tools, such as 3D printers, form new products out of a wide variety of forms of feedstock. “With subtractive, you have to whittle away. You waste the material,” Dugas said. “Additive, you don’t waste no material.” Prior to the pandemic, Dugas had been in talks to purchase his own 3D printing machine and fulﬁll a contract to produce specialized parts for fire suppression systems for a New Orleans company — parts that otherwise would have taken up to 18 months to acquire via the existing supply chain. But the coronavirus put the kibosh on that plan. So Dugas pivoted to producing

Plexiglas shields and providing COVID cleaning services, winning contracts from more than 50 clients, including Southern University and Travel Centers of America stores across the state. By 2021, Dugas was ready to return to his pursuit of additive manufacturing. He met with equipment manufacturers and potential customers to figure out what they needed. Then, he acquired equipment and began a partnership with the LSU AgCenter, which now uses more than 130 3D printers to develop custom research tools and equipment for studying organisms, among other things. Additive Innovators today operates out of a 20,000-square-foot warehouse in Broussard, while also keeping some consignment equipment in Houston and other parts of the country. The company sells more than just 3D printers, which

retail for about $5,000 to $10,000 a piece. Among Additive Innovators’ other product offerings are 3D blue-light scanners, which sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars and can capture precise physical geometry and generate dimensional reports in minutes, and laser projection systems that can beam 3D blueprints directly onto physical parts to eliminate the need for tape measures, stencils and paper drawings. Dugas said he has been able to expand his business without needing to borrow money from banks, crediting the Geaux Engage networking referral group with aiding its growth. “We outsourced a lot of stuff, so that just kept us lean and operating, building up cash ﬂow,” he said.

Shaping the future Though the public may lack much familiarity with additive manufacturing

beyond using 3D printers to produce plastic trinkets, it is nevertheless ramping up. The industry as a whole grew 11% last year to more than $24 billion, according to consulting firm Wohlers Associates. “It’s here, it’s now,” Dugas said. “These companies that are using it, they don’t just print out one or two parts — they print out like 30 tons of material in a year.” Business intelligence firm IDTechEx projects that metal printing, one of the most technically demanding parts of the market, will nearly triple over the coming decade. “There’s a lot more that goes into metal printing,” Dugas said. “They have a whole metallurgy science behind it, down to machines that X-ray the parts to make sure it’s built correctly.” The oil industry is especially interested. The ability to print new parts on demand, especially for old equipment for which spare parts are no longer produced, can be invaluable, not to mention a much quicker timeline for delivery. Dugas said Exxon has been among the largest contributors to his nonprofit industry association and now has inhouse additive manufacturing technology, which has cut the turnaround time to produce equipment from nine months down to three days and reduced the cost by 85%. “I promise you, a company like them, they’re not going to be spending money on anything that they don’t see a tremendous value,” he said. Currently, Houston-based Baker Hughes is the only U.S.-based company certified by the American Petroleum Institute to make tools up to the standards needed

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for the oil and gas extraction. Dugas said Additive Innovators and the Louisiana Additive Manufacturing Association have partnered with Baker Hughes to develop a joint training curriculum for students to develop skills. And, starting in 2023, the association began hosting an annual conference, convening major industry players like Halliburton to explore the latest tools and see how they can be used by industries in the region. The third LAMA Advanced Manufacturing Expo is set for Dec. 10 at L’Auberge in Baton Rouge and will feature companies from across the country and Europe across military, aerospace, petrochemical and other ﬁelds. Among those expected to be in attendance, are the vendors who provide the equipment used by SpaceX to make their rocket engines. SpaceX has been a leader in the space industry’s adoption of additive manufacturing, using 3D printers to produce rocket engines, exhausts and other components. Dugas said he’s already seen some of his Acadiana customers getting new welding, fabrication and manufacturing work in the wake of the announcement of SpaceX’s proposed $100 billion investment in Vermilion Parish. Going forward, he’s hoping his small business can get a piece of that spending. “If you don’t make an opportunity of this, man, you’ll let everything go by,” he said. “You’ve got to have at least something you can sell them.” Email Jonah Meadows at jonah.meadows@theadvocate.com.

8E ● Sunday, October 25, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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A dietitian’s (and mom’s) approach to Halloween PAGE 3

DISCOVERY | INNOVATION | LIVING WELL

HEALTH

LOUISIANA

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

S U N D AY, O c t O b e r 25, 2026

Molly Kimball 1N

’Tis the season for RSV wheezin’

GETTY IMAGES PHOTO

HIP FINDINGS

Two Tulane students discover new muscle attachment in the hip BY MARGARET DeLANEY Staff writer

Dominic Roy and Cooper Bruce were two 19-year-old sophomores working for the summer at Tulane University’s cadaver lab a couple of years ago, studying a biometric tool that could create 3D digital scans of cadavers. They and lab director R. Shane Tubbs, a professor of neurosurgery, had never expected to make a possible discovery. Tubbs “It was my ﬁrst time working with a human body, so it was deﬁnitely a really impactful experience,” said Bruce, a Pennsylvania native who was exploring his options between medicine and research, working both there and in another New Orleans lab. Roy, originally from Madisonville, spent five days a week at the Tulane lab, interested in the clinical application of Tubbs’ research. Tubbs had asked the two to dissect about 20 cadavers to

PHOTO PROVIDED BY DOMINIC ROY

Tulane University undergraduate students Dominic Roy, left, and Cooper Bruce discovered a new muscle attachment in the pelvis during their summer at Shane Tubb’s cadaver lab on campus. look at the fusion points of the two large muscles in the hip, the psoas major and the iliacus. Those muscles become one at some point between the hip and the top of the femur. “It’s different in everyone,” Roy said. “It’s really cool. It

varies in every single specimen.” They were instructed to also look for a “controversial muscle” — a muscle not conﬁrmed by all scientists — under the iliacus connecting the larger muscle to the hip bone, Roy

said. They found this muscle in some of the cadavers, but about a quarter of the way through their dissections, Roy noticed something else that was interesting. In one cadaver, when Roy peeled back muscle, he saw another tether in the renal region, “the crotch area” toward the midline of the body, Roy said. “I looked at that. I was like, ‘Oh, we didn’t talk about this in the morning meeting,’ ” he recalled. Bruce didn’t know what it was either. Neither did the senior fellows in the lab. When they asked Tubbs what they were looking at, they learned he had never seen it. “There was just something off about it,” Bruce said. “It was kind of surprising to hear (Tubbs) say that it was odd. That’s when the interest really piqued.” The pair, under the instruction of Tubbs, went to anatomical research — books and studies and history — to look for previous evidence of the muscle attachment. Roy

ä See HIP, page 2X

This is a column in a series from Dr. Scott Hamilton, director of the pediatric emergency department at Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Center, offering practical guidance on preventing and treating illnesses and injuries so kids can stay healthy and out of the emergency department. RSV is back again. If babies could talk, they would recount the miseries of the winter virus and how it’s similar to influenza. Humorist Dave Barry described how, when he and his wife got the Dr. Scott flu, they spent Hamilton days in bed achy, congested and DOCTOR feverish. “There SAYS has been a mound of blankets on my wife’s side of the bed,” he wrote long ago. “I think it might be my wife ... the only way to tell for sure would be to prod it, which I wouldn’t do” for fear that poking her could be fatal. Dave, espousing a more active lifestyle, attempted to crawl to the bathroom. In addition to cough and congestion, babies with RSV get fevers and aches like the flu. Adults can get RSV, too, but infants are more often severely affected. Sometimes congestion happens deep in their lungs and they struggle to breathe and get enough oxygen. Also, with noses clogged with mucus, they can’t breathe and feed at the same time, which can lead to dehydration. Dehydration dries out the mucus, which becomes stickier and harder to hack out of their throats and lungs. The other bugaboo about RSV is that, again like flu, it’s highly contagious. Maybe your child’s daycare is great about handwashing, but RSV flies around the room with every cough, to be inhaled by other nearby infants and picked up from contaminated surfaces. Parents and grandparents may carry it home from work or shopping, while older siblings bring it home from school. If babies aren’t the only child at home with obsessive hand-washing parents who stop every visitor at the door to inspect for sniffles and grubby paws, they’re at risk. RSV is difficult to treat. Babies’ lungs wheeze like kids with asthma, but breathing

ä See RSV, page 2X

STAFF FILE PHOTO BY SOPHIA GERMER

RSV season has returned to Louisiana.

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2X ● Sunday, October 25, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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HEALTH MAKER

Layla Kiffin opens fitness studio near LSU campus She hopes visitors will embrace red light rooms at facility

BY MARGARET DeLANEY

Staff writer

Layla Kiffin knew she wanted to find a wellness community in Baton Rouge when she moved from Los Angeles in early summer. She didn’t anticipate opening her own fitness studio. Kiffin, the 52-year-old ex-wife of LSU football coach Lane Kiffin, moved to the bayou state with her daughter and son. She’s always been into her health, she said: marathons, supplements, yoga classes, weight training, red light therapies and more. She shopped around for yoga studios in the city. They were all great, she said, but none reminded her of the spaces she was accustomed to in California. So she started a studio herself, right across the street from LSU’s campus. LIVIN Studio, at 3636 Nicholson Drive, opened in July. “When I was looking all around, I didn’t want to pigeonhole myself in one area,” Kiffin said. “Nicholson is a thoroughfare to (so many) neighborhoods. It’s definitely student heavy and athlete heavy.” Kiffin, a former interior designer, went for a simple, modern design for her new studio with a sleek gray welcoming space and one workout room outfitted with infrared heaters and a dehumidifier. But the heart of Kiffin’s brainchild studio are the four curtainedoff red light therapy lounges in the back of the studio. Although popularized to treat wrinkles, acne, scars and redness, Kiffin believes red lights are also beneficial for athletic performance and recovery and for chronic pain. Sessions with pinned-up red light mats and red light masks are available for 30-minute increments. “It helps with your circulation, relaxation, all of your skin damage, muscle recovery, joint recovery,”

STAFF PHOTO BY PEARL SPURLOCK

Layla Kiffin sits in the red light area of LIVIN Studio in Baton Rouge. Kifﬁn added.

What the science says Science is not conclusive about the claims behind red light therapies. NASA initially experimented with red lights to grow plants and heal wounds for astronauts in space. The bright lights activate mitochondria, the powerhouse of cells, giving them more energy to work more efﬁciently, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Wavelengths of red light, typically between 630 and 850 nanometers, penetrate the surface of the skin and underlying tissues. Compared with visible red, an 850 nanometer wavelength scatters less and penetrates deeper, delivering light to muscles, tendons, joints and peripheral nerves, according to a 2021 study of a collection of research published in the National Library of Medicine. The gold standard of studies to determine if a product is effective

is a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. So far, none of the red light therapies have passed this scientiﬁc muster. But red light therapies have no indication of being unsafe. They aren’t associated with any side effects if used short-term and as directed, according to the American Academy of Dermatology Association. Still, wellness gurus and health enthusiasts such as Kiffin claim to reap the beneﬁts of regular red light therapy treatment. Bringing

the red lights to Baton Rouge was a risk for Kifﬁn, even when coupled with heated group exercises in her studio. “My concern was that I was going to create this and no one would come,” Kifﬁn said. “But, I have to say, every morning our classes are wait-listed. For being open a month, I’m really pleased.” Email Margaret DeLaney at margaret.delaney @theadvocate.com

HIP

Continued from page 1X and Bruce pored over the literature, some in other languages such as French and German, to verify their discovery was novel. “To our knowledge, this is the ﬁrst report of an iliac attachment of the psoas major in humans,” Tubbs said in a statement. “Most people think anatomy is pretty static and doesn’t change, but we contribute to it, change our understanding and broaden it.” Roy and Bruce finished their lab work that summer of 2024 looking for the new muscle attachment in the existing cadavers. They found a few that matched their original discovery. The two went back the following summer as well, and determined that the attachment is known as an anatomical variation. Some humans have it, and others don’t. The students studied 200 additional hips and found it was present in 28% of donated specimens. Some cadavers had it in both hips, others in just one. “Making a discovery like that is crazy because you would think that we, by now, would have everything under control and have (all the muscles) documented,” Roy said. The results of the research were published in the journal Clinical Anatomy this year. “The newly identified body part is a small muscu-

RSV

Continued from page 1X treatments and steroids we use for asthma don’t work for RSV. Infants and toddlers who become seriously ill need hospitalization for oxygen supplementation and IV ﬂuids to keep them hydrated. Sometimes they need more intensive care,

IMAGE PROVIDED BY TULANE UNIVERSITY WITH ELEMENTS BY ISTO

The newly identified muscle attachment is found deep in the pelvis, near the front of the hip, where it connects with the larger psoas muscle that helps move the hip and stabilize the body. lar head found deep in the pelvis, near the front of the hip, where it connects with the larger psoas muscle that helps move the hip and stabilize the body,” according to Tubbs in a statement from Tulane. “The new muscle attachment, dubbed the iliac attachment of the psoas major, may help steady the psoas muscle and could be important for surgeons operating in and around the hip.”

“Knowing there’s an extra attachment might tell the surgeon that there’s another attachment that needs to be dealt with,” Tubbs said in his statement. “Hopefully this study will help people.” The research could help people with diseases, injuries or tendon irritation in their hip region, according to the journal article. “Obviously it’s really fun to discover things in person, but the literature review

and some infants die. Of course, the best medicine is prevention: Don’t let your baby get it! Fortunately, there’s now a shot that’s effective at preventing RSV. Babies can receive it on their ﬁrst ofﬁce visit after birth, or pregnant moms can get it before delivery, passing immunity to baby through the placenta. We hope RSV will become like measles or polio: one

more deadly virus tossed to the scrap heap of history. Maybe ten years ago this would have been true. However, misinformation on social media and now in government have sowed doubt about preventive shots, and some parents are confused trying to decide what’s best for their children. Listen to your kid’s doctor: RSV shots are safe. Getting RSV is not.

took a lot of the time,” Bruce said. “There’s a lot of questions to answer.” Most of Bruce’s writing background consisted of what he learned in high school English courses, he said, and getting the experience to contribute, research and submit his own scientiﬁc literature “was deﬁnitely an experience.” Roy said he isn’t holding his breath when it comes to seeing the new muscle

to dissect the cadavers for research. Roy, however, is passionate about having cadavers in academic medicine, despite a steady move in universities toward synthetic or digital cadavers for student study. “We have medical students now graduating without ever even touching another human body in their anatomy labs,” Roy said. What he and Bruce found that summer “is a great example of variational anatomy and how complex the human body is in that it varies amongst everyone.” “The placement of everything is totally different in every single cadaver,” Roy continued. “Getting that hands-on experience before becoming a practicing physician, I feel is extremely important.” Both Roy, 22, and Bruce, 21 graduated with their undergraduate degrees from Tulane a year early. Roy is now in Tulane’s masters program in anatomy and Bruce is in the masters program for neuroscience. They both have their sights set on medical schools in the spring. “Dominic always knew what he wanted to do. He was really interested in anatomy. I remember he was helping me a lot when we were in the Tubbs lab together,” Bruce said. “Even though we were listening to the fellows, he was giving me advice too. It was kind of cool.”

attachment in textbooks or in clinical practice anytime soon. “I think (Tubbs) said it could take about 17 years to even reach clinical applications,” Roy said. The discovery came through the Willed Body Program, where medical students at Tulane can use cadavers in their studies. After their school year has Email Margaret DeLaney ended, the team in the anato- at margaret.delaney my department can continue @theadvocate.com

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU The Louisiana Health section is focused on providing in-depth, personal accounts of health in the state. This section looks at medical innovations, health discoveries, state and national health statistics and reexamining tried and true methods on ways to live well.

Health editions will also profile people who are advancing health for the state of Louisiana. Do you have a health story? We want to hear from you. Email margaret.delaney@ theadvocate.com to submit health questions, stories and more.

The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Sunday, October 25, 2026 ● 3X

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Eat Fit Live Fit B R O U G H T TO YO U BY

Molly Kimball RD, CSSD

A dietitian’s (and mom’s) approach to Halloween Guest column by Brittany Craft, a registered dietitian with Ochsner Eat Fit

love Halloween, and to some, that’s surprising! I have never watched a horror movie, I don’t particularly enjoy scary decorations and even more surprising — I’m a registered dietitian. The truth is, for me, Halloween has never been about the candy (or the spooky stuff). It’s about the memories of running around my neighborhood with my sister and parents, staying up past my bedtime and getting to feel like a storybook character or princess in my elaborate costumes. I remember giggling as we passed the tree where our neighbor would hide in the branches, shaking them and making spooky noises to scare trick-or-treaters. There was also the house with the best decorations, where we could walk through lights and smoke to pick out a small toy. The joy has always been in the experience and now it’s so fun to watch my kids enjoy Halloween as much as I did. But for some parents, the piles of candy that inevitably come after the holiday can be scarier than the decorations. Don’t fret! Here are some things that we implement in our home that make Halloween full of fun, not fright!

cheese puffs or 100% fruit strips or leathers. Again, my daughter gets just as excited about these as a snack and they’re the perfect ﬁller in between candy treats as we canvass the neighborhood.

Keep the Big Picture in Mind

crackers, cheeses, meat, veggies and fresh fruit. Pro tip: Cutie oranges make the best jack-o’-lanterns to accent your spread — just draw on a face with a Sharpie!

Use It as a Lesson in Respect

Halloween is an excellent opportunity to teach kids to grab just one piece of candy per house (unless the neighbor speciﬁes otherwise) and say “thank you” to every neighbor before leaving. Setting this expectation can help keep the amount of candy they collect in check.

Set the Example

We are HUGE fans of non-candy treats. Set the example with the bowl you leave by your own house. They are often the

same price (or cheaper) than candy and so much more fun to collect! When my daughter was two, her favorite Halloween treasure was a tiny rubber duck she received while trick-or-treating. She carried it all evening. Now in elementary school, she still loves the non-candy treats including fun tattoos, stickers, sticky hands, spider rings and glow sticks. They are more exciting than the run-of-the-mill candy she gets at every other house. Another beneﬁt is that non-food treats can help make Halloween more inclusive for children with food allergies or certain medical conditions. If you feel like you’re being a bummer by not giving out candy (I promise, you’re not), you could always opt for Halloweenthemed food snacks, such as pretzels,

Start With a Filling Meal

The last thing I want is to send my kids out trick-or-treating with empty bellies, waiting to be ﬁlled with just candy. Our house is usually the gathering spot and I make sure to have a spread of food for our family and friends to feast on before we hit the streets. We love to make a charcuterie board with whole-grain

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

And now, perhaps the biggest question: How do you navigate the piles of candy that your child promptly dumps on the living room ﬂoor to sort through as soon as trick-or-treating is over? Personally, I don’t make Halloween night about limiting how much candy my kids can eat. For one, I keep things in perspective: Halloween is one night and, for most healthy children, one evening of eating more sweets than usual is unlikely to make a meaningful difference in the grand scheme of things. I’m more interested in creating a positive association with food that is free from guilt or morality for my children and teaching them to listen to their bodies. In the days that follow, we incorporate the Halloween candy mindfully, offering candy after some (but not all) meals and snacks. The candy doesn’t disappear overnight, but it also doesn’t become the main event. Eventually, the excitement fades and we move on. At the end of the day, Halloween is about so much more than candy. It’s about dressing up, running around with friends and making the kind of memories your kids will carry for years to come. As a dietitian and a mom, that’s what I want my kids to remember the most.

BY THE NUMBERS

GETTING ENOUGH PROTEIN? CDC LISTS AVERAGES FOR ADULTS The protein craze was cemented by the federal government’s dietary guidelines released this year. Data released from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that protein consumption among American adults is down overall in the last decade. Prioritizing high-quality, nutrientdense protein foods, including eggs, poultry, seafood and meat is essential for health, according to the American Heart Association.

American guidelines target around 1.2 to 1.6 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight daily (roughly 80 to 100 grams for a 150-pound adult). Between August 2021 and August 2023, adults age 20 and older consumed 15.5% of calories from protein on a given day, according to CDC estimates. The recommendation is that 10% to 35% of daily calories come from protein. Among all adults, males

consumed more calories from How much protein are people eating? protein, at 15.7%, than females, at Mean percentage of calories from protein among American adults between 2021 and 2023. 15.3%. Also among adults, the Male Female All Age group percentage of calories consumed All ages 15.70% 15.30% 15.50% from protein decreased from 20-39 15.90% 15.30% 15.60% 16.1% in 2013-2014, according 40-59 15.90% 15.50% 15.70% to the CDC estimates. 15.40% 14.90% 15.10% As for type of proteins consumed, 60 and older the top five sources among adults Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Staff graphic over 20 were sandwiches (15.6%), poultry (9.4%), mixed meat dishes (6.4%), meat (6.0%) and mixed grain dishes (4.8%).

HEALTH NOTES

LSU Health N.O. establishes department of radiation oncology BY MARGARET DeLANEY Staff writer

LSU Health New Orleans recruited radiation oncologist and physician-scientist Dr. Puneeth Iyengar to establish and lead the medical school’s first academic Department of Radiation Oncology, a part of LCMC LSU Health Center’s push to become a National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center, a moniker awarded to institutions that Iyengar meet the federal standard for cancer research, prevention and clinical care. Iyengar will oversee the creation of a statewide, digital early-phase clinical trial network platform that will integrate and connect cancer physicians and patients in the state. In addition, he will create a group of researchers from the LSU LCMC Health Cancer Center, Pennington Biomedical Research Center and LSU Health Shreveport to better understand how

metabolic health and nutrition can affect cancer care and outcomes.

State health department congratulates pharmacist T.J. Woodard was named the 2026 National Community Pharmacists Association Willard B. Simmons Independent Pharmacist of the Year, according to the Louisiana Department of Health. Woodard, owner of Prescriptions to Geaux, a pharmacy with two Baton Rouge locations, received the award during the association’s annual convention in Kansas City, Missouri. The award recognizes a pharmacist who demonstrates “exemplary professional leadership, service to community, and commitment to independent pharmacy,” according to the association. He and his wife, Aimee, also a pharmacist, opened their first Prescriptions to Geaux location in downtown Baton Rouge in 2013.

Pennington researchers examine gut-brain link The purpose of a Gut-Brain Rate

study at Baton Rouge’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center is to better understand how nutrients are sensed by the brain. Participants of the study will need to report to Pennington for a screening visit, including blood draws, brain MRIs, height and weight measurements, energy expenditure measurements and body composition tests. After the screening, there will be two food pick-ups and two monitored overnight stays at the center’s inpatient unit over a period of two months. To qualify for this research study, participants should be between 18 and 45 and have either a BMI between 18.5 and 27.5 or a BMI above 30. Participants in the trial can receive up to $750 in compensation.

Ochsner LSU Health welcomes breast surgeon Shreveport native Dr. Christopher Sockrider joins Ochsner LSU Health after two decades in breast surgery, expanding access to specialized breast care for patients across north Louisiana, according

to a release from the hospital system. Sockrider specializes in the evaluation and surgical management of breast disease Sockrider and breast cancer, including services like needle biopsy, lumpectomy, mastectomy and lymph node surgery.

Hospital hosts ‘look good, feel better’ workshops Woman’s Hospital, at 100 Woman’s Way in Baton Rouge, will host in-person workshops to provide hands-on tips, tools and techniques to help manage appearance-related side effects of cancer treatment. The session from 1 to 3 p.m. Nov. 3, will cover skin and nail care, makeup application, wig selection and styling scarves, turbans and hats. The Look Good Feel Better program, a collaboration of the Look Good Feel Better Foundation and the Professional Beauty Association, is free and open to all women

with cancer who are undergoing treatment. Registration is recommended and can be done at the hospital’s website.

Baton Rouge General hosts life support course Baton Rouge General — Mid City, at 3600 Florida Boulevard in Baton Rouge, will host a one-day, instructor-led course for cardiac life support recertification on Wednesday, Oct. 28. The course is $175 and registration is required on the hospital’s website, brgeneral.org. The course highlights the importance of team dynamics and communication, systems of care and immediate post-cardiac-arrest care. It also covers airway management and related pharmacology, according to Baton Rouge General. Health Notes is an occasional listing of health happenings around Louisiana. Have something you’d like to share? Contact us at margaret. delaney@theadvocate.com.

4X ● Sunday, October 25, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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Adult acne is real, but there are ways to treat it BY ADITHI RAMAKRISHNAN AP science writer

NEW YORK — As a teenager, Gillian Maegan Montalbo’s pimples weren’t too bad — just a few bumps on her forehead and nose. But as an adult in the workforce, the breakouts returned and intensiﬁed. The acne on her cheeks and chin made her hesitant to look her bosses in the eye. “It really took a toll on my self-esteem and my selfconﬁdence,” said Montalbo, a marketer and content creator who lives in the Philippines. Pimples and acne are an uncomfortable hallmark of teenage years, but adults can have breakouts too. Acne can also happen on other parts of the body like the chest and shoulders. And then there’s bacne, the internet’s term for back breakouts. The best treatments vary from person to person depending on what’s causing the acne and how it looks. And breakouts can leave behind dark marks and scars that take even longer to heal. Pimples come and go, but if breakouts stick around and cause discoloration or changes in skin texture, it’s a good idea to see a dermatologist. “We know how to treat acne. We know the cause of it. So don’t suffer alone,” said Dr. Crystal Aguh, a dermatologist and director of the Ethnic Skin Program at Johns Hopkins School of

Medicine.

Causes of acne can vary Teenage acne tends to affect the forehead, nose and cheeks. Older adults and women in particular can experience hormonal acne that pops up along the jawline and chin, Aguh said. Taking steroids can also trigger acne for some people. Pimples happen when tiny pores in the skin get clogged by oil, bacteria and dead skin cells. They can fade over the course of weeks to months, but if patches persist and spread, it could be a sign of acne, which dermatologists consider a medical condition. “Essentially, you’re not getting a break from a breakout,” Aguh said. Acne is caused by many factors including genetics, hormones, environment and even diet — like eating excessive amounts of dairy. The causes of facial and body acne are similar, although skin bacteria sometimes plays a larger role in body acne. Breakouts can look like milder, painless white bumps or dark specks known as whiteheads and blackheads, or more painful red bumps and deeper cysts — a mark of cystic acne.

Treatments for acne Don’t pick or pop your pimples, no matter how strong the urge or how satisfying it might be. “Everyone wants to pick and squeeze. That will almost

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO BY ERIN HOOLEY

Pimples and acne are an uncomfortable hallmark of teenage years, but adults can have breakouts too. always make things worse,” said Dr. Lauren Fine, founder of Fine Dermatology in Chicago. Picking can drive inﬂammation deeper into the skin and cause acne to spread. It also increases the risk of marks and scarring. For darker-skinned people, those marks take longer to go away because their skin produces extra pigment when stressed, Aguh said. Treatments for acne range from over-the-counter creams and lotions to prescription-strength medications. Dermatologists say it’s somewhat easier to treat acne on the face compared to the rest of the body because the face has more sweat

glands and doesn’t dry out as easily. It’s also harder to apply some treatments like creams to hard-to-reach areas like the back, so doctors often prescribe oral medications. For milder forms of face acne, dermatologists may recommend face washes or creams containing benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid or retinoids like adapalene. For more frequent breakouts, they might prescribe higher-strength regimens like antibiotics or medicines with tretinoin. Isotretinoin may be an option if those medicines don’t work, or for cases of severe cystic acne. Treatments for adult hormonal acne, particularly

in women, can differ from what’s done for teens. Some dermatologists recommend birth control, which can help stabilize hormones, or treatments like spironolactone. Shots of cortisone can help treat active acne spots in a pinch, but they aren’t a longterm ﬁx, Fine said. Pimple patches containing a gel called hydrocolloid can absorb fluids from oozing pimples and stop you from picking at them. Aguh said they are suited only for mild forms of acne; Fine said the patches have given some of her patients discoloration and she doesn’t recommend them.

Exfoliants, face washes Experts say exfoliants

and face washes containing glycolic acid can help discoloration fade. Over-thecounter products containing adapalene and retinol creams can also help. For more serious scarring, dermatologists can recommend more aggressive treatments like lasers that probe deeper into the skin. It can take time to develop the right treatment plan, and longer still to see results. When starting a new treatment, some people can also experience skin purging: breakouts that happen when a product quickly brings clogged pores to the surface of the skin. Montalbo’s acne cleared up within a year after seeing a dermatologist, but she was still dealing with acne scars. After that, she had to rebuild her self-conﬁdence. She said a strong support system was essential to getting through some of the hardest moments. Her dad, who also struggled with acne, was the one who encouraged her to see a doctor and find the right products. She also had a close friend who traveled with her overseas for a vacation during the worst of the breakouts, and mentioned in passing that she’d never even noticed Montalbo’s acne. “When you are with the right people, they won’t mind how you look,” Montalbo said. “Because to them, what’s important is how you treat them.”

University of Pennsylvania helps test mRNA cancer vaccine BY KAYLA YUP

The Philadelphia Inquirer (TNS) PHILADELPHIA — Denise Fitzsimmons knew that removing the fastgrowing lump above her eyebrow in 2024 didn’t eliminate the possibility that her melanoma could return. But a clinical trial at Penn Medicine offered the 63-year-old grandmother from Birdsboro, Pennsylvania, hope of a more enduring remission. It tested a novel vaccine, based on Penn’s groundbreaking mRNA research, that trains the patient’s immune system to find and kill cancer cells. That technology has become the ﬁrst mRNA cancer vaccine to succeed in a late-stage clinical trial, according to preliminary ﬁndings released last month by Merck and Moderna, the pharmaceutical giants developing it. The vaccine extended the time a patient survived without their cancer returning or spreading, according to the companies, which announced recently that they would share the full trial results at the 2026 European Society for Medical Oncology meeting in Spain. The drugmakers merely said that the results were positive. Without knowing the exact numbers involved, or how long the benefit lasted, it’s still unknown if the results will prove clinically meaningful for patients. The companies also have not announced a commercial price tag for the therapy, called intismeran autogene, though similar immunotherapies can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. The trial could mark a turning point for mRNA technology, which has proven useful against infectious diseases but hadn’t had the same success in cancer. Melanomas typically contain thousands of genetic mutations due to sun damage, making them an ideal target for the approach, which teaches the immune system to respond to unique markers on cancer cells. “It’s a very big step forward after many negative studies in the

DREAMSTIME/TNS PHOTO BY ANUPONG THIPROT

The vaccine extended the time a patient survived without their cancer returning or spreading, according to the companies, which announced recently that they would share the full trial results at the 2026 European Society for Medical Oncology meeting in Spain. last few years,” said Ravi Amaravadi, the lead investigator of the Penn trial site, one of more than 100 around the globe. mRNA vaccines gained widespread attention in 2020 when used to develop the first immunizations for COVID-19. These shots used the mRNA platform developed by Nobel Prize winners Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman, a University of Pennsylvania professor. Since then, mRNA vaccines for RSV and the flu have gained approval. “This was kind of the wake-up call that RNA vaccines in cancer have an enormous future,” said Weissman, who was not involved in the trial and has no financial stake in Merck or Moderna.

How the vaccine works Melanoma is a serious type of skin cancer that develops when melanocytes — the cells that give skin its color — grow out of control. This trial tested the vaccine in patients whose melanomas had already been removed through surgery. The goal was to destroy any remaining cancer cells and prevent the disease from returning or spreading to other parts of the body.

“It’s the deadliest form of skin cancer because it can metastasize,” Amaravadi said. Penn’s site was one of the first trial locations to open in the United States. Scientists personalized the vaccine for each patient by analyzing their tumor samples for unique genetic mutations. That enabled them to design mRNA — a molecule that carries genetic instructions — that would encode bits of protein that look like the tumor. When the immune system encounters those proteins, it learns to recognize the cancer and attack it. It’s similar to vaccines for the flu or COVID-19, which train the body to identify and fight off specific viruses. If the immune system is trained in this way, it could produce a longlasting memory against the cancer, Amaravadi said. “We are now able to train the immune system to look for the tumor, arguably for the first time, in the most effective way,” Amaravadi said, referring to the mRNA platform. That mRNA was loaded into a nanoparticle (which acted like a delivery truck hauling cargo) and injected into the arm as a shot.

Two-thirds of the 1,137 partici- free for the last two years. “My fifth granddaughter is on pants were randomly chosen to receive the vaccine in combination her way,” she said. “So I have a lot with Keytruda, a standard-of-care to live for.” immunotherapy, while the remaining third received Keytruda alone. The future of mRNA RNA offers a few key advantagThe trial es as a treatment. Its effects are transient and conTrial participants who received the vaccine had fewer metastases trollable. The material lasts only a compared to patients who got the couple of days in the body before it immunotherapy alone, Amaravadi degrades and disappears. said. It’s also relatively easy to make. However, the company has only “We made billions of doses of the announced that the results were COVID vaccine within a year. No positive. Without knowing the other vaccine or therapeutic can data, it is hard to say whether the be expanded that quickly,” Weissresults are also clinically meaning- man said. He believes RNA vaccines could ful, Amaravadi said. “We are hopeful we’re going to beneﬁt people with genetic mutasee the same absolute beneﬁt when tions that put them at higher risk we see the data published,” he said. of cancer, such as BRCA carriers. Amaravadi also wants to see If people receive the vaccine whether there were any unex- before their tumors form, it could pected side effects that patients kill off any early cancer cells that should consider before taking the arise. “That way you prevent the cantherapy. Another data point of interest: cer from ever forming, instead of How many patients agreed to re- trying to treat it after it’s already ceive the treatment but ultimately there,” Weissman said. Conversely, he doesn’t think couldn’t receive it. In some cases, patients’ tumor samples were too RNA vaccines would work well in small, didn’t contain enough us- someone whose advanced cancer able genetic material, or were of cannot be removed. The immune too poor quality to actually make system has a hard time killing large tumors, he explained. the treatment. This trial tested the vaccine as If this were a consistent problem, the technology used to analyze tu- a follow-up to surgery, targeting mors’ genetic makeup would need leftover tumor cells. Other ongoing trials are testing to improve. “It’s still a little bit of a bottle- mRNA vaccines in pancreatic, neck for some patients to get ac- breast, colon, lung, prostate, and other cancer types. cess to the treatment,” he said. Outside of cancer, clinical trials Fitzsimmons, a grandmother living in the small Berks County are testing mRNA vaccines for town of Birdsboro, participated herpes viruses, malaria, tubercuthrough Penn’s site. She doesn’t losis, Zika, chikungunya, and noroknow whether she received the virus. Scientists are also exploring treatment or a placebo (that infor- whether mRNA technology could mation is kept secret from both be used to treat allergic and autopatients and researchers to avoid immune diseases. bias.) This work has continued to adBut she recalls feeling flulike vance, even as Health and Human symptoms the day after each Services Secretary Robert F. Kenshot — including body aches and nedy Jr. last year slashed $500 milsweats — making her speculate lion designated for mRNA vaccine that she may have received the development. vaccine. COVID-19 mRNA shots “The potential for RNA to treat often prompt similar reactions. many different diseases can’t be Fitzsimmons has been cancer- ignored,” Weissman said.

New nasal spray ﬂu vaccine to boost immunity of aging lungs BY KARL HILLE

The Baltimore Sun (TNS) BALTIMORE — A single dose of a new nasal spray inﬂuenza vaccine can breathe new life into older lungs while providing broad protection against multiple inﬂuenza strains, researchers reported. In trials with mice, the spray, which combines a boost of manganese ions and another immunestimulating molecule, gave older mice a powerful immune reaction

similar to younger mice, the researchers reported. Better yet, testing showed the immune system in the lungs of the mice was working more like younger mice in a control group. “Given the poor efficacy of current inﬂuenza vaccines in elderly adults, the study holds the potential for safeguarding aging populations, who are disproportionately vulnerable to seasonal outbreaks and pandemics,” Shilin Gao, of Harvard Medical School,

and her colleagues wrote. They published their ﬁndings in the September issue of Science Immunology. Older adults are recommended to get an annual flu vaccine to prevent flu-related complications. Vaccines with adjuvants, or additional ingredients designed to stimulate the immune system, are particularly recommended by National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. Those older than 65 who catch

the flu increase their risk of heart attack three to five times and double or triple their stroke risk in the ﬁrst two weeks of the infection. But the illness can contribute to 6-times higher risk of dying from complications for another few months. Getting an annual ﬂu vaccine lowers your risk of heart attack and stroke as well, the NFID reports. The researchers developed a nasal-spray vaccine boosted by the adjuvant combination called AM-

nESTI, which stands for AEC-targeting MN Encapsulated STING agonist. They analyzed RNA from the mice to evaluate how the vaccine affected their base-level immunity. Human trials will be needed before the drug can be found in your local pharmacist. The authors also hope to develop new trials to test the benefit of combining their AMnESTI booster with other respiratory vaccines with pandemic potential.

The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Sunday, October 25, 2026 ● 5X

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Personalized care, powered by innovation: How Ochsner is transforming breast cancer treatment

LEFT: Nicole D., breast cancer patient at Ochsner Cancer Center of Acadiana. TOP RIGHT: Claire C., breast cancer patient at Ochsner MD Anderson Cancer Center at The Gayle and Tom Benson Cancer Center. BOTTOM RIGHT: Michelle A., breast cancer patient at Ochsner MD Anderson Cancer Center at Ochsner Cancer Center - Baton Rouge.

Rouge, said there have been specific surgical options with breast cancer patients, she also talks about improvements in treating triple neghow each procedure will affect ative and hormone-positive forms of them in the future. the disease. This story is brought to you “A lumpectomy generally “The advances in treating triby Ochsner Health. has a shorter recovery time and ple-negative breast cancer have been less surgical intervention,” she For patients diagnosed with breast around a regimen with immunothersaid. “A mastectomy involves a cancer, treatment looks different from apy, not simply chemotherapy. In adlonger recovery and more risk one person to another. At Ochsner Health, dition, the targeted therapies Kimberly LeBlanc, MD Hematology Oncologist of complications. With reconphysicians combine specialized expertise, for hormone-positive breast Ochsner MD Anderson Cancer struction, there may be multiple coordinated care and advances in medi- cancers have shown great adCenter in Baton Rouge surgeries. We talk about whethcal technology to develop individualized vances in preventing cancer er the patient is inclined to have treatment plans and help patients navigate recurrence,” Dr. LeBlanc said. The individualized nature of modern less surgery and more follow-up after, or a their diagnoses. “I’ve had patients ask why their treatment breast cancer treatment means several spe- larger surgery that may not require those may be different from someone else with the cialists are often involved, including surgeons, other obligations.” Regardless of the procedure, Dr. Rivere same type of cancer. It’s because breast can- hematology oncologists, radiation oncologists, said improved surgical imaging and techcer treatment has gotten incredibly person- nurses and other support professionals. “For the patient, the goal is coordinated niques allow surgeons to often preserve alized with collaboration among multiple care. Instead of looking at one part of treat- more healthy breast tissue than ever before, specialists and pathology testing to ment in isolation, we are consid- place incisions where they are less visible tailor therapies to each individual ering how each piece fits into the and improve cosmetic outcomes. person,” said Molly Thomas, MD, he“Our goal is to treat the cancer approprioverall plan,” Dr. LeBlanc said. matology oncologist, Ochsner Cancer “When I speak with a patient, ately while also considering how the patient Center of Acadiana – Lafayette. I always tell them it is a fluid will recover and live with the results of surDr. Thomas said Ochsner physiprocess, and our conversation gery long after treatment is complete,” she cians evaluate numerous variables is based on the information we said. “I try to get to know their personal prefwhen developing a treatment plan. have that day. Things can change erences as well and take those into account.” Those include the cancer’s stage, Dr. Rivere said imbased on the results of another tumor size, location, whether it Molly Thomas, MD test or scan. I try to prepare proved breast imaging has spread to lymph nodes and Hematology Oncologist technology, including 3D them emotionally for the fluidcertain biological characterisOchsner Cancer Center mammography, contrast of Acadiana - Lafayette ity of the process.” tics like hormone involvement or enhanced mammograOchsner’s clinically integratgenetic markers. phy and breast MRI, has Those evaluations often begin with the ed partnership with MD Anderson Cancer changed how surgeons work of fellowship-trained breast radiolo- Center has also opened up more clinical triapproach their work. gists, Dr. Thomas said. These experts have al opportunities for breast cancer patients To d a y, surgeons extensive experience reviewing mammo- in Louisiana. Amy Rivere, MD begin a procedure with a “When someone is in Stage IV, grams, ultrasounds and breast MRIs, and Breast Surgical Oncologist much clearer picture of help guide discussions on the extent of the those trial treatments may save Ochsner MD Anderson Cancer cancer, the size of the tumor and its type. In their life or prolong their life unCenter in New Orleans how much cancer is present and where it is locatLafayette, their input is shared with a mul- til another treatment becomes tidisciplinary team of surgeons, medical available. I find that for my patients ed. That means less chance of subsequent oncologists and radiation oncologists, who with advanced disease, they are critical,” operations and a smoother process overall. “There are fewer times where the canthen meet with each patient in one coordi- Dr. LeBlanc said. “For early stage cancers, those trials can give us good information cer is underestimated prior to surgery,” she nated day of visits. said. “We use real-time images to make sure “The patient gets a good idea of the en- about potential side effects.” we remove all of the areas the radiologist intire treatment plan. I find that their anxiety dicated. It’s a gift to us and to patients to be lessens after we meet with them in the mul- Modern techniques bring able to use advanced imaging technology to tidisciplinary clinic and we take a proactive greater precision to surgery Surgery remains a core part of treatment make surgical decisions in real time. That’s approach in their care,” Dr. Thomas said. for most breast cancer patients, said Amy Ri- really what we mean when we talk about vere, MD, breast surgical oncologist, Ochs- coordinated multidisciplinary care.” Individualized treatments ner MD Anderson in New Orleans. Each offer new approaches to care Advances in targeted therapies and im- patient’s surgical plan is developed based Specialized expertise and munotherapies continue to expand treat- on their specific diagnosis, extent of the can- early detection strengthen ment possibilities for patients with different cer and personal preferences. Some patients treatment approaches O c h s n e r ’s i n t e g r a t i o n w i t h types of breast cancer. Kimberly LeBlanc, may undergo a lumpectomy, while a mastecMD Anderson provides another layer of MD, hematology oncologist, Ochsner tomy may be more appropriate for others. Dr. Rivere said that when she discusses specialized support. Ochsner physicians in MD Anderson Cancer Center in Baton By Amanda McElfresh amcelfresh@theadvocate.com

For the patient, the goal is coordinated care. Instead of looking at one part of treatment in isolation, we are considering how each piece ﬁts into the overall plan.

Kimberly LeBlanc, MD

Hematology Oncologist Ochsner MD Anderson Cancer Center in Baton Rouge

Baton Rouge and New Orleans can consult with MD Anderson clinicians and researchers on complex cases, and Ochsner MD Anderson’s eight locations, including those in New Orleans, Covington, Slidell and Baton Rouge, follow MD Anderson treatment protocols and practice standards. “ Wo r k i n g s o c l o s e l y w i t h MD Anderson has vastly expanded my network of colleagues in different areas of oncology. We consult them in particular for the rarest types of breast cancer, when the cancer doesn’t ﬁt into normal guidelines or is otherwise out of the ordinary. That is where it is extremely beneﬁcial,” Dr. LeBlanc said. “It also means all of our patients receive that advanced level of care close to home.” While breast cancer treatment continues to advance, early detection remains the most important way to improve outcomes. Recommendations call for women of average risk to begin annual mammograms at age 40. Women with higher risk factors should discuss screening with their doctor, as earlier tests may be recommended. Family history and genetic mutations can increase a woman’s risk of breast cancer, along with lifestyle choices. Maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, limiting alcohol consumption and eating a healthy diet can all help reduce risk. “As breast cancer treatment becomes increasingly personalized, Ochsner MD Anderson is bringing together advanced diagnostics, leading-edge therapies and a multidisciplinary team approach to ensure patients receive the right treatment at the right time close to home,” Dr. Rivere said.

Ochsner Health is the leading nonproﬁt healthcare provider in Louisiana, Mississippi and across the Gulf South, delivering expert care at its 47 hospitals and more than 370 health and urgent care centers. To learn more about how Ochsner empowers people to get well and stay well, visit ochsner.org.

6X ● Sunday, October 25, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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Your health is our primary care

Ochsner Lafayette General provides compassionate, personalized care for every stage of life. From your child’s well visits and teen sports physicals to managing chronic conditions, our experienced primary care team is here to support your family’s health journey. With same-day and next-day appointments and more than 70 physicians and advanced practice providers from Lafayette to Lake Arthur, we make it easy to get the care you need when you need it. Call 337-571-1111 to schedule your appointment today.

SUNDAY, OctOber 25, 2026

CURTIS / by Ray Billingsley

SLYLOCK FOX / by Bob Weber Jr.

GET FUZZY / by Darby Conley

HAGAR THE HORRIBLE / by Chris Browne

ROSEBUDS / by Supr Dee

MOTHER GOOSE AND GRIMM / by Mike Peters

ZIGGY / by Tom Wilson

SALLY FORTH / by Francesco Marciuliano & Jim Keefe

ZITS / by Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman

PEARLS BEFORE SWINE / by Stephan Pastis

wonderword

scrabble grams

word game

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

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

todAY's Word — MArMoset: MARmoh-set: A small monkey with claws instead of nails. Average mark 52 words Time limit 60 minutes Can you find 66 or more words in MARMOSET?

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

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

AnsWers to ALL PuZZLes Are on inside BAcK PAGe

Sudoku

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

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

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

AnsWers to ALL PuZZLes Are on inside BAcK PAGe

Los angeLes Times sunday Crossword puzzLe — Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis “Teasing does iT” By pam amiCK KLawiTTer aCross 1 Muted hue 7 “I’m off!” 12 Signs fraudulently 18 Queen of mystery 19 Like a major artery 20 “South Pacific” song 21 Light fare after a breakup? 23 Line judges? 24 Ramen mushroom 25 Caffeine-rich nut 27 Sleeveless tops 28 General vibe 32 Way out 36 Archaic possessive 37 __ penguin 40 Tree on the Lebanese flag 41 Curved paths 43 Haberdashery clip 44 Deal that generates interest 46 __ as a pin 48 Large med. facilities 51 Like the first little pig? 54 Save from ruin 56 Hit that clears the bases 57 Blokes 60 Enter traffic 61 Brazilian icon known as “The King of Football” 64 “Unstoppable” singer 65 Visual 67 Longtime language columnist William 68 Bird: Pref. 69 Best time of year to visit a pawn shop? 72 Afternoon

refresher 73 Pan coating 75 Fancy pitchers 76 Genetic letters 77 Some NCOs 78 Oscar winner Tatum 79 Play thing 80 Will, given a chance 82 Chemical variant 84 Golf club that’s almost too heavy to swing? 90 Like butter ready for whipping 91 Baby sheep 94 Dec. 25 95 Charcuterie slice 96 “Not That Fancy” writer McEntire 98 “Tiny Alice” playwright 100 Snippets of time 101 CBS forensic franchise 103 Over the moon 107 Part of a classroom lineup 108 76-Across strand shape 110 Unflappable 111 Drug cops 114 Put to work 116 One who makes relocating even harder than it already is? 123 Broadway honor 124 Paperless event notices 125 Over-the-top 126 Partake (in) 127 Barber’s tool 128 “You’ll love doing this!” down 1 Friskiness 2 Huntsville’s st. 3 Camera choice, initially 4 Vietnamese celebration 5 Source of some lake-effect snow 6 Swann who won four Super Bowls

with the Steelers 7 Sega hedgehog 8 Bullpen stat 9 Short “... need I go on?” 10 Went on and on and on 11 One who didn’t get a seat 12 Rage 13 “Last Week Tonight” host John 14 Formal ceremony 15 Task for a haunted house after Halloween? 16 Habitat for humanity 17 Actress Spacek 19 Satisfies one’s curiosity, in a way 20 Boyfriend 22 One on the move 26 Legends 28 Team whose mascot’s head is a baseball 29 Skip over 30 Abbr. on old phones 31 Primary event 33 Smoothie berry 34 Teller’s partner in magic 35 Bye line 38 Flirty growl 39 “Only the Lonely” singer 42 Staff symbol 44 Player coached by JJ Redick 45 Resource in Minecraft and Catan 47 Core muscles 49 Toddler, slangily 50 Brews 52 Like a large-scale tale or fail 53 Tumbler 55 Somali supermodel 58 Get old 59 Numbs, as pain 61 Local lingo 62 “Despite that ... “

63 Youngest sibling’s lot? 65 Likely to err 66 Ballpark fig. 67 Scoundrel 69 Graphic start 70 __ Jima 71 Hidden hiccup 74 Hot drink with foam art 77 Ready for the laundry 79 Shell game pellet 80 The Marlins, on scoreboards

goren Bridge

81 Zurich transport 83 Scheme 85 Chopped down 86 Jean Grey’s cohort 87 Wind indicator 88 911 responders: Abbr. 89 Board game played on a map 92 Bueno’s opposite 93 Late __ 97 Olympic sport since 1904 99 Luxury

wuzzLes

watchmaker bought by Citizen in 2008 100 “Jeopardy!” creator Griffin 101 Laundry slide 102 __ Hall University 104 Included, in a way 105 Baltimore’s __ Harbor 106 Bugs or badgers

109 “Heated Rivalry” role for Connor Storrie 112 Big Four bank name 113 Bank opening 115 “The Batman” actress Kravitz 117 To wit, for short 118 Skater Midori 119 Word in many California place names 120 DOJ division

121 “We’ll settle this later” letters 122 __ sequitur

super Quiz

Good choice

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

Today’s deal is from a match between a team from Turkey and a team from Spain. Most players with the North hand would insist on playing in spades after partner’s one no-trump opening. The Turkish North here was willing to settle for a no-trump contract. That was a good choice on this lie of the cards, as it is hard to see 10 tricks coming in a spade contract. South won the opening heart lead with his ace and led a spade to dummy’s jack, learning of the bad split. He ran the 10 of hearts to West’s jack and West exited with his last heart. South won and cashed his long heart, putting West under discarding pressure early in the deal. A diamond discard would allow South to lead a low diamond from his hand, coming to a second diamond trick whether West played the king or ducked. West chose to discard his low club. South led a low club from his hand to West’s now singleton ace. West reverted to spades, dummy’s 10 winning the trick. South might have discarded two diamonds on the ace-king of spades and led a club toward his queen for a ninth trick. Instead, he chose to play three rounds of spades, discard-

SUBJECT: PORTMANTEAU

7. Gidget

WORDS

Answer________

Identify the two words

8. Bananagrams

that are combined to make the given portmanteau word. (Exam-

Answer________ 9. Popsicle

ple: Yelp. Answer: Yel-

Answer________

low pages and help.)

10. Cockapoo Answer________

FRESHMAN LEVEL

ing all the clubs from his hand, and putting West back on lead with only diamonds in his hand. West led the king of diamonds, but South ducked, forcing another diamond lead and making his contract. Nicely done! Tannah Hirsch welcomes readers’ responses sent in care of this newspaper or to Tribune Content Agency inc., 2225 Kenmore Ave., Suite 114, Buffalo, Ny. 14207. E-mail responses may be sent to gorenbridge@ aol.com. © 2026 Tribune Content Agency

1. Amtrak

PH.D. LEVEL

Answer________

11. Pokémon

2. Stagflation

Answer________

12. Fluff

3. Microsoft

Answer________

13. Genome

4. Camcorder

Answer________

14. Prissy

5. Electrocute

Answer________

15. Infomercial Answer________

GRADUATE LEVEL 6. Dumbfound

ANSWERS TO ALL PUZZLES ARE ON NEXT PAGE

Answer________

zodiaC SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) Share your feelings and intentions. Don’t mince words or let anyone make decisions for you. Avoid poor behavior and people who are manipulative or misleading. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Fix up your space, learn something new, explore what’s available to you in your neighborhood or reach out to family and friends who can help you make your dreams come true. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Take a step back and rethink your next move. Reach out to someone you trust to point out the complications

your plans can unleash. Don’t limit what you can do for something that isn’t tangible. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Look before you initiate a change or commit to something that can sprout hidden costs. Elevate your position using caution and putting a plan in place that gives you more wiggle room to work with. PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) What you already have looks promising if you do your research and plan your actions carefully. Refuse to let someone with fewer scruples lead you to shortcuts that can end up costing you.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) Use your creativity to follow through with determination. Have a plan in place, and finish what you start. Engage in events that offer insight into career options. TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Put anger aside, and channel your energy into something you enjoy doing. Taking a break from life’s little aggravations will help you see obstacles differently. GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Study, plan and implement changes that encourage you to use the skills and talents you enjoy the most. Step outside your comfort zone,

and choose to use discipline and innovation to stand out. CANCER (June 21-July 22) If you stick to rules and regulations, it will be easier to bring about change. Protect your position, reputation and rights by making sure you finish what you start and keep everything up to date. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Set your sights on what you want to achieve. Research, then note what you can do to ensure you reach your goal. Learning is the key to opening doors that can help you advance. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Take a break to go over details, fact-check

and decide what’s feasible and what isn’t. The cost of something you want will have hidden costs. Don’t make premature decisions. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) Share your feelings, and direct your energy into relationships that you want to explore or take to the next level. A physical connection may lead you into a situation that lacks mental stimulation or compatibility. The horoscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact. © 2026 by NEA, inc., dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication

dustin / by Steve Kelley & Jeff Parker

Answers to puzzles super quiz 1. American and track. 2. Stagnation and inflation. 3. Microcomputer and software. 4. Camera and recorder. 5. Electric and execute. 6. Dumb and confound. 7. Girl and midget. 8. Bananas and anagrams. 9. Pop and icicle. 10. Cocker spaniel and poodle. 11. Pocket and monster. 12. Flue and puff. 13. Gene and chromosome. 14. Prim and fussy. 15. Information and commercial. SCORING: 24 to 30 points — congratulations, doctor; 18 to 23 points — honors graduate; 13 to 17 points — you’re plenty smart, but no grind; 5 to 12 points — you really should hit the books harder; 1 point to 4 points — enroll in remedial courses immediately; 0 points — who reads the questions to you?

Cryptoquote Answer Saturday's Cryptoquote: It looked like the world was covered in a cobbler crust of brown sugar and cinnamon. — Sarah Addison Allen

word GAme Answer maestro mare marmot mart maser mast master mate meat memo mesa meta metro moat more mores most

mote aero arms arose aster atom rate ream rest roam roast rose rote oast orate osar same

sate seam sear seat seta smart smear soar some sora sore sort stammer star stare steam stem

store storm stream east tame tamer tare taro team tear term tome tore tram tsar

sudoKu Answer jumble Answer

Crossword Answers

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

sCrAbble Answers

FoXtrot / by Bill Amend

wuzzles Answers

Ken Ken Answers

hidAto Answers