The Acadiana Advocate 10-01-2025

Government shutdown looming

Officials unclear on impact for Louisiana

BY MARK BALLARD and ALYSE PFEIL Staff writers

WASHINGTON Republicans and Democrats were no closer to compromise Tuesday night, setting the stage for the federal government to run out of money at midnight and cause the first shutdown of most federal operations since 2018.

What services are deemed essential and must continue even without funding? And which services could be curtailed?

In the past, the White House’s

Office of Management and Budget gathered all the contingency plans and published them on its website.

This time, the administration of

The agencies were still working out just who should come to work Wednesday and who should stay home Officials were figuring out:

President Donald Trump has ordered each and every agency to post its own contingency plan on its website.

Senate President Cameron Henry, R-Metairie, said he hadn’t received a formal notification regarding a federal government shutdown.

Henry said based on prior shutdowns like the one in 2018, “We know that Social Security, military

and veterans affairs will not be affected.” And most critical services like flights and air traffic control won’t be disrupted, he said.

The military will still be on duty

Armed forces retirees will still get their checks, but any changes to individual accounts will have to wait, according to the Defense Department contingency plan.

Veterans Affairs medical facilities continue operations, and veteran benefits will be processed.

Commercial flights will continue, though lines may start getting even

A PLACE TO CALL HOME

Fueled by his mother’s dream, ex-NFL star helps Lafayette mom achieve hers

BY JOEL THOMPSON

Contributing writer

Sometimes dancing speaks louder than words.

For Kayla Moton, it was the best way she could express her emotions after finding out the new house she had just purchased had been fully furnished, free of charge.

It came as a complete surprise to Moton, a single mother from Lafayette raising an 11-year-old daughter and an 8-year-old son.

“I just can’t believe this all belongs to me,” she said. The house on Pierce Street, which had been nothing more than an empty lot earlier this year, represents months of hard work for Moton, who put more than 200 hours of sweat equity into building the home alongside Lafayette Habitat for Humanity’s construction team. It’s an opportunity afforded to Moton through Habitat’s Affordable Homeownership Program.

The program gives struggling families an opportunity to purchase a home through sweat equity and a mortgage financed by Habitat for Humanity, with down payment assistance also available The mortgage payments are then used to help build new homes.

“Every time our homeowners like Kayla pay it forward every month, with their monthly mortgage payment, they’re helping somebody else get the

ä See HOME, page 5A

SafeSource Direct to lay off another 150

BY ADAM DAIGLE

Acadiana business editor

SafeSource Direct made another sig-

nificant round of layoffs Friday, notifying 150 more employees they will be out of work. The Broussard-based manufacturer of personal protective equipment no-

tified employees that day, a company spokesperson confirmed late Monday, about a month after announcing a layoff of 541 workers as it moves to suspend operations. Affected employees will remain on staff until Nov 25. That puts the total layoffs at just un-

der 700 after at one point reporting as many as 838 employees. There will be workers remaining after Nov. 25, the spokesperson said. In a letter to employees, company President Justin Hollingsworth complimented the staff for its accomplishments since starting operations in January 2022.

“We should all be proud of what we have accomplished together,” he wrote “Our team boldly responded to the nation’s call to protect frontline workers and help strengthen America’s PPE supply chain in an unprecedented time. It is extremely unfortunate that market conditions, which have been

unsupportive for several years, do not permit sustained domestic production.

“On behalf of the management team and board of directors, we are deeply thankful to all of the employees who have made such an important contribution through their extraordinary skill, dedication and commitment to a mission that matters.”

A handful of employees rallied at the corner of Kaliste Saloom Road and Ambassador Caffery Parkway on Monday to raise awareness of the plant and its upcoming layoffs, KADN reported. SafeSource Direct employed several

ä See SAFESOURCE, page 6A

longer if the shutdown wears on. With two hurricanes off the U.S. coast, the staff of National Weather Service will be working even though the agency has roughly 20% fewer employees as result of Trump’s government downsizing, according to NOAA’s contingency plan.

Similarly, the Federal Emergency Management Agency workers will be on duty during the shutdown.

Request for troops in La. draws mixed reactions

Local leaders weigh in on Landry’s National Guard deployment proposal

BY MEGHAN FRIEDMANN Staff writer

Gov Jeff Landry’s request to deploy 1,000 Louisiana National Guard troops in the state’s cities drew mixed reactions across the state as local leaders waited to learn more details. Landry announced on Fox News host Sean Hannity’s show Monday night he was sending Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth a letter asking the federal government to pay for the deployment. Under his administration, Landry told Hannity, “We started to see violence start to trickle down, and lately we’ve seen an uptick, so I’m calling the president today.”

In his letter to Hegseth, Landry cited crime in cities like Baton Rouge, Shreveport and New Orleans as justification for the deployment. A spokesperson for Landry said she could not answer questions about where the troops would go, what they would do, or when they might be deployed, because Trump had not approved a plan yet. A White House spokesperson did not comment, and the Pentagon did not answer questions on whether Landry’s proposal will be approved.

In a statement, the Louisiana National Guard said it will “start coordination with law enforcement partners in select major urban areas for preliminary development” as it awaits orders.

“The LANG is the home team, made up of Louisiana sons and daughters. We will carry out our duties with honor and treat all with dignity and respect,” said Maj. Gen. Thomas C. Friloux, the Guard’s leader “Protect what

Prosecutorsseek

11 yearsfor Diddy

NEW YORK Keywitnesses against Sean “Diddy” Combs, includinglongtimeex-girlfriend Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, are urging afederal judge to reject leniencyfor the hip-hop mogul at his sentencing Friday,saying they fear for their safety if he is freed.

Prosecutors included letters from R&B singer Cassie, her parents and four others in a written submission Tuesday as theyseek to have Combs sentenced to at least 11 years and 3 months in prison for his convictionontwo prostitution-related charges.

Notably absent was the voice of an ex-girlfriend whotestifiedunder the pseudonym Jane. Like Cassie, she said Combs subjected her overseveral years to dayslong, drug-fueled sexual performances with male sex workers that Combs watched and often filmed.

Mexican manshot at Dallas ICE facility dies

DALLAS AMexican man who was among three people shot at aDallas immigration field office last week has died, becoming the second person killed in the attack, his familysaid Tuesday

The family of Miguel Ángel García-Hernández, 32, said he died after being removedfrom life support, according to a statement provided throughthe League of United Latin American Citizens,acivil rights organization.

Authorities have said the gunman in the Sept. 24 attack, Joshua Jahn, 29, fired indiscriminately from anearby roof onto the U.S. Immigrationand Customs Enforcement facility and avan holding detainees in agated area.Authorities have said Jahn hatedthe U.S. governmentand wanted to incite terror by killing federal agents No ICE personnel were hurt in the shooting, and Jahn fatally shot himself following the assault.

Fla. officials gift real estate for Trumplibrary

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. Florida of-

ficials decided Tuesday to set aside nearly 3acres of prime downtownMiami real estate next to thehistoric Freedom Tower as apotential site of the future presidential library of President Donald Trump.

Republican Gov.Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet voted to give the parcel appraised at more than $66 million to the foundation that’splanning the president’spost-administration archives, arguing that theproperty owned by the state-run MiamiDadeCollege wouldprovide a“greater benefit to the public” and “increase economic development activities” as Trump’s library Nicole Kidman files for divorce from Keith Urban NASHVILLE, Tenn.— Nicole Kidmanhas filed fordivorce from Keith Urban after 19 years of marriage, bringing asurprising end to along and seemingly successful union thatbrought together two superstars from the worlds of movies and music.

The58-year-old Oscar-winning actor petitioned on Tuesday to end her marriage to the 57-year-oldGrammywinning country singer in aNashville court. The documents statethe couple has undergone “marital difficulties and irreconcilable differences.”

Trump: U.S. can be ‘trainingground’

Presidentproposes using American cities to trainmilitary

BY BEN FINLEY,KONSTANTIN TOROPIN and EVAN VUCCI Associated Press

QUANTICO,Va. President Donald Trump on Tuesday proposed using American cities as training grounds for the armed forces and spoke of needing U.S. military might to combat what he called the “invasion from within.”

Addressing an audience of military brassabruptlysummonedtoVirginia, Trump outlined amuscular and at times norm-shattering view of themilitary’s role in domesticaffairs. He was joined by DefenseSecretary Pete Hegseth,who declared an end to “woke” culture and announced new directives fortroops that include “gender-neutral” or “male-level” standards for physical fitness.

The dual messagesunderscored the Trump administration’seffortsnot only to reshape contemporary Pentagon culture but to enlistmilitary resources forthe president’spriorities and decidedlydomestic purposes, including quellingunrest and violent crime.

“Weshould use some of these dangerous

cities as traininggroundsfor our military,” Trump said. He noted at another point: “We’re under invasion from within. No different thanaforeign enemy but more difficult in manyways because they don’t wear uniforms.”

Hegseth called hundreds of military leaders and their top advisers from around the world to the Marine Corps base in Quanticowithout publicly revealing the reason. Hisaddress largely focused on long-used talking points thatpainted apicture of amilitary thathas been hamstrung by “woke” policies, andhesaid military leadersshould “do the honorable thing and resign” if they don’tlike his newapproach.

Though meetings between military brassand civilianleadersare nothingnew, this gathering had fueled intense speculationabout its purpose given the hastewith which it was called and the mysterysurrounding it.

The fact that admirals and generals from conflict zones weresummoned fora lecture on race and gender in the military showed theextent to which the country’s culturewarshave become afront-and-center agenda item for Hegseth’sPentagon, even at atimeofbroadnationalsecurity concerns across the globe Trump is accustomedtoboisterous crowds of supporters who laugh at his jokes and applaud his boasting. But he wasn’tgetting thatkind of soundtrack from themilitary leaders in attendance.

Humberto lashes Bermuda with Imelda close behind

BY DÁNICA COTO Associated Press

SAN JUAN, PuertoRico The outer bands of Hurricane Humbertolashed Bermuda on Tuesday as it approached the tiny British territory,with newly formed Hurricane Imelda followingclosely behind.

Ahurricanewarningwas in effect for the island in the north Atlanticas forecastersadvisedofdangerous seas, strong winds and heavy rain.

Humberto was located about 295 miles west-northwest of Bermuda. The Category1storm hadmaximum sustained winds of 80 mph andwas moving north at 17 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

Humbertowas aCategory 4stormon Monday,but was quickly losing strength and was forecasttodissipate by Wednesday

Humberto was expectedtopass well west and north of Bermuda on Tuesday andWednesday morning, while Imelda was expected to pass near or over the island late Wednesday as aCategory 2

hurricane,according to the Bermuda Weather Service.

“I cannotoverstatethe seriousness of this threat,” Michael Weeks, Bermuda’s ministerofnational security,saidof Imelda. “This is not, Imust stress, apassing squall.”

He saidBermuda would enduresustainedhurricane-force windsfor up to six hours starting lateWednesday Weeks announced at anews conference thatthe island’sinternational airport would close on Wednesday,aswould schools and government offices.

He saidresidents should have all storm preparationscompleted by noon Wednesday “Imelda hasthe potential to damage and disrupt our island significantly,” he said.

Imeldawas located about665 miles west-southwest of Bermuda. It had maximumsustained winds of 85 mph and was moving east-northeast at 12 mph.

“The system is likely to be rather potent whileitpassesnearBermuda,” the National Hurricane Center said.

Israelitroopskill31 Palestinians in Gaza

Qatarpushesfor discussion on Trumppeace plan

BY SAMY MAGDY and MELANIE LIDMAN Associated Press

CAIRO— Qatar said Tuesday that further talks were needed over details of U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace plan aimed at ending thenearlytwo-year warin Gaza, as Hamas weighed its reply.InGaza, Israeli forces killedatleast 36 Palestinians, local hospitals said. The comments by Qatar, akey mediator,appeared to reflect Arab countries’discontent over the text of the 20-pointplanthatthe White House put out after Trump andIsraeliPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced they had agreed on it Monday Three Arab officials told

The Associated Pressthat changes had been made in theoriginalproposal that Arab andMuslim countries had worked out with Trump —changesinfavor of Israel. The officials, who camefrom regionalpowers involved in the talks, spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the behind-thescenes diplomacy The depth of the Arab countries’ discontent was not clear,and they have continued to express broad support forthe plan. But Qatar’scomments indicated they could seek further negotiationoversome of its terms—even as Trump toldreporters Tuesday that Hamas has “three or four days” to respond. Arab mediators and Turkish officials are to meet withHamasrepresentatives Tuesday in Doha to discuss the plan, said Qatari ForeignMinistry spokesman Majed Al Ansari.

TurningPoint makes firstreturntoUtah

BY HANNAH SCHOENBAUM, JILL COLVIN andJONATHAN J. COOPER Associated Press

LOGAN, Utah TurningPoint

USA’s college tour will return to Utah on Tuesday for its first event in the state since its founder,Charlie Kirk, was assassinated on a collegecampus earlier this month. The stop, at Utah State University in Logan, is about two hours north of Utah Valley University, where Kirk was killed Sept. 10 by agunman who fired asingle shot through the crowd while Kirk was speaking.

The assassination of atop allyofPresident Donald Trump and one of the most significant figures in his Make America Great Again movement has galvanized conservatives, who have vowed to carry on Kirk’smission of encouraging young voters to embrace conservatism and moving American politics further right. Kirk himself has been celebrated as a“martyr” by many on the right, and Turning Point USA, the youth organization he founded, has seen asurge of interest across the nation, with tens of thousands of requeststolaunch newchapters in high schools and on college campuses. Tuesday’sevent, which was scheduled before Kirk’s death, will showcase how Turning Point is finding its path forward withoutits influential leader,who headlined many of its events and was instrumental in drawing crowds and attention. The college tour is now be-

Judgefinds agencies targeted immigrants forprotests

BY MICHAEL CASEY Associated Press

BOSTON The Trump administrationviolated the Constitution when it targeted non-U.S. citizens for deportation solely for supporting Palestinians and criticizing Israel, afederal judge said Tuesday in ascathing ruling directly and sharply criticizingPresident Donald Trump and his policies as serious threats to free speech.

U.S. District Judge William Young in Boston agreed with several university associations that the policy they described as ideologicaldeportation violates the First Amendmentaswell as the Administrative Procedure Act, alaw governing how federal agencies develop and issue regulations. Young also found thepolicy was“arbitrary or capriciousbecause it reversesprior policy without reasoned explanation.”

“Thiscase perhapsthe most important ever to fall within the jurisdiction of this district court squarely presents the issue whether non-citizens lawfully present here in United States actually have the same free speech rights as the rest of us. The Court answers this Constitutionalquestion unequivocally ‘yes,theydo, Young, anomineeofRepublican President Ronald Reagan, wrote.

The DepartmentofHomeland Security did not immediately respond to arequest for comment.

Plaintiffs in the case welcomed the ruling.

“The Trumpadministration’sattempt to deport studentsfor their political viewsisanassault on the Constitution and abetrayal of American values,” said Todd Wolfson, president of theAmericanAssociationof University Professors union. “This trial exposed their true aim: to intimidate and silence anyonewho dares oppose them. If we fail to fightback, Trump’sthought policewon’t stop at pro-Palestinianvoices —they will come for anyone who speaks out.”

ing headlined by some of the biggest conservative names, including Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly and Glenn Beck. Tuesday’sevent will feature conservative podcast host AlexClark and a panel with Rep. Andy Biggs, former Rep. Jason Chaffetz and Gov.Spencer Cox. Sen MikeLee had to cancel a planned appearance due to budget votes in Washington and will appear by video instead, his spokesperson said.

And itwill further apledge hiswidow,Erika Kirk,made to continue the campustour andthe work of the organizationhefounded. She now oversees Turning Point alongwitha stableofher late husband’sformer aides andfriends.

‘Marchingorders’

Erika Kirk hassought to assure her husband’sfollowers that sheintends to continuetorun theoperationas her latehusband intended, closely following plans he laid outtoher and to staff.

“We’re not going anywhere.Wehavethe blueprints. We have our marchingorders,”she said during an appearance on his podcast last week

Thatwill include, she said, continuingtotapethe daily podcast.

“My husband’svoice will

live on. The show will go on, shesaid, announcingplans for arotatingcast of hosts. She said theyintended to lean heavily on old clipsofher husband, including answering callers’ questions.

“Wehave decades’worth of my husband’svoice. We haveunused materialfrom speeches thathe’shad thatno one has heard yet,” she said.

Erika Kirk, however,made clear thatshe does not intend to appear on thepodcast often, andsofar seems to be assuming amorebehind-thescenesrole than her husband.

Mikey McCoy,Kirk’sformerchief of staff, said Erika Kirk is in daily contact with members of the Trump administration, and hasdescribedher as “very strategic”and differentfrom her husband.

Tributes to CharlieKirk

The events so far have served as tributes to the late Kirk, with afocus on prayer as well as the question-andanswer sessions that he was known for

At Virginia Tech last week, the state’s Republican governor,Glenn Youngkin, urged the crowd to carry Kirk’slegacy forward.

“The question that has beenasked over and over againis: Who will be the next Charlie? And as Ilook

out in this room and Isee thousands of you, Iwantto repeat the best answer that Ihave heard: Youwill be the next Charlie,” he said.“All of you. He alsopraised Erika

Kirk as an “extraordinary” leader

“Overthe course of the last two weeks, Erika Kirk hasdemonstratedthatshe not only has the courage of alion, but she has theheart

of asaint. We have grieved with herand herfamily.We have prayed forher and her family,” he said. “Is there anyone better to lead Turning Point going forward than Erika Kirk?”

honor and the opportunity to become a homeowner,” said Melinda Taylor, Lafayette Habitat for Humanity’s executive director

Moton’s new home is one of several being built by Lafayette Habitat for Humanity through funding provided by Lafayette Consolidated Government as part of a revitalization effort, which Taylor says played an essential role in helping get more affordable housing built.

“This house simply would not have gotten built without the gargantuan efforts of Lafayette Consolidated Government who provided major funding, as well as our own construction team,” she said. “It’s amazing what we’ve been able to accomplish so far.”

The furnishings inside the house came courtesy of Warrick Dunn Charities, an organization based in Atlanta that is dedicated to reducing the burden of homeownership on single parents It’s a personal mission for its founder, Warrick Dunn, a former NFL running back whose single mother worked as a Baton Rouge police officer and died in the line of duty shortly after his 18th birthday Beginning in 1997, his first season in the NFL, Dunn founded what was then known as Home for the Holidays as a way of honoring his mother’s dream of someday owning a home.

“This all started because of mom’s dream of homeownership,” Dunn said. “It’s an opportunity to create stability, having that peace and that place that you can call home as a family.” Moton’s home marks the 244th time Dunn’s charity has surprised

SHUTDOWN

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“That doesn’t mean the employees working at those agencies would get a timely paycheck,” Henry said, adding those employees are required to work but may not receive compensation until after the funding dispute is resolved.

The Congressional Budget Office estimated Tuesday about 750,000 of the federal government’s 2.3 million civilian employees will be furloughed, and their compensation runs roughly $400 million a day Louisiana has 19,486 civilian employees in Louisiana, mostly working for agencies in and around New Orleans and Baton Rouge.

The 1.26 million Louisiana seniors who receive Medicare and 1.6 million people on Medicaid state will be unaffected provided the shutdown is over in about three months, according to contingency plans.

Pell Grants and Federal Direct Student Loans and other education grants already have been disseminated and should not be impacted. But, if the shutdown lasts a long time, the money available for college students may lapse.

“Data or research may not be accessible via government sites,” said Louisiana Board of Regents spokesperson Chris Yandle.

“There would be disruptions admini iv vi

a new homeowner with fully decked out living arrangements

They provide the essentials, such as sofas and beds, and small touches like a Rubik’s cube for Moton’s 8-year-old son and a freshly-baked apple pie, a favorite of Dunn’s mother

“I really don’t have the word to express my gratitude I don’t know what my family would do without this opportunity I never dreamed that my homeownership would look like this”, Moton said. “I’m more of a dancer than a talker though,” she con-

tinued, before spontaneously dancing on the front porch of her new home.

“If you know anything about Kayla, it’s that her spirit is infectious,” said Tiffany Williams, who serves Lafayette Habitat for Humanity’s homeowner services director “She is the most positive, beautiful person that I’ve probably known in a long time” For information on how to apply for the Affordable Homeownership Program, please visit https:// habitatlafayette.org/homeowner-

federal agencies like the Department of Education.”

“The effects to public higher education could become more pronounced the longer the shutdown lasts,” he added.

The Small Business Administration will still process disaster loans, but new business loans will have to wait.

Some essential services like Medicaid will continue even with the federal government shutdown, said state Rep. Jack McFarland, R-Jonesboro, who chairs the Louisiana Legislature’s House budget committee.

McFarland said the availability of funding for other federal programs administered by Louisiana, such as food stamps, will depend on how much money had previously been allocated and remains in agency reserves.

The roughly 95,000 Louisiana residents who rely Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, better known as WIC, and 850,000 Louisiana residents who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as food stamps, also won’t see any disruptions unless the shutdown continues for a few months.

Some services have sources of revenue independent of the discretionary funding that is at issue in Congress. Mail will be delivered because the Postal Service gets its money from stamps and fees. Social Security benefits ill be id be

the money comes directly from workers.

Passports, which applicants must pay for, will continue to be processed. Because appropriations included in the recently passed in the One Big Beautiful Bill are exempted, immigration courts and border patrols will continue, as will efforts to deport immigrants.

But planned visits by foreign dignitaries generally won’t be allowed.

Perhaps the biggest impact on Louisiana residents is the end of the National Flood Insurance Program, at least for the time being.

The insurance program isn’t really a part of the budget fracas between Democrats and Republicans. A few years ago, the periodic renewal of flood insurance coincided with the funding deadline and got attached to the continuing resolution that kept government open. Now, the expiration of flood insurance is caught up with the shutdown.

Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple said Tuesday that his staff already has lined up media appearances for the next few days, and he expects flood insurance to be the top topic. Flood insurance is federal program — not administered by the state.

Temple said Louisiana has about 418,000 NFIP policies worth about $275 million in force now Private insurers write about $29 million in flood policies and they will not be affected. understands the

iousness.

“We have high frequency, and we have high severity on flood claims compared to the national averages,” Temple said. “This isn’t their vacation homes in South Louisiana. These are working men and women that need to be able to live where they are living.”

Temple is in Washington to meet with the FEMA Review Council, ironically about flood insurance — but more

on financial stability of the National Flood Insurance Program than the expiration of flood insurance.

Temple said he will be telling Louisiana policyholders that, as long as their personal flood insurance policies are in effect, then damage claims will be honored. And those claims already filed will be paid. But no new NFIP policies will be sold or renewed until Congress extends the pro-

gram. Because many banks require homeowners to purchase flood insurance as a condition of the mortgage, Temple said he’s trying to determine what the shutdown would mean to people closing on their houses, inasmuch as the policies can’t be sold during this time.

Email Mark Ballard at mballard@theadvocate. com.

matters is our motto, and protecting our citizens from crime fits withinour primary mission.” Having National Guard members already deployed throughoutLouisianacould enhancetheir ability to respond to hurricanes and state emergencies, according to the statement.

Landry can mobilize the Louisiana National Guard himself, but he needs asignofffromthe Trumpadministration to get federalfunding. Under the Title 32 deployment he requested, the troops would remain under the state’scontrol.

Landry’s letter asked for troops to be deployed through the end of the 2026 fiscal year,but it was not clear whether that meant the state fiscal year,which ends June 30,orthe federal fiscal year,which ends Sept. 30 He said the troops will support law enforcement and assist duringlarge events such as the Bayou Classic and Mardi Gras.

For some Louisiana residents, aNationalGuard deployment would be asignof tough action against crime that hasharmed theircommunities.

“Now is the time. Imean how many more families are going to suffer duetoall of these killings?”saidIeesha James, after her 19-year-old cousin, D’Anthony Brown, was shot and killed on Bellehaven Drive in Baton Rouge earlier this month.“Imean, it’sgetting out of hand.”

But others were skeptical the deployment would make adifference.

Sean Coleman worked during Mardi Gras in New Orleans as aLyft driver and observed the National Guard “mostly chilling.”

“What’stheir purpose? Ain’t no attackgoing on,” Coleman said. “They should be protecting us from Trump.”

Jashua Scalf is asaxophonist and bandleader in New Orleans whose mother was killed by adrunken driver in August and whose friend Eliot Brown, 47 waskilled last week.

“I am feeling like, on apersonal level, crime is pretty high,” he said. “The gun violence is just out of hand. It is too much.”

But, while he didn’thave aproblem with the Guard’s deployment during Mardi Gras, he doubts asoldier could have prevented the kind of crime that claimed his friend’slife.

“There’sa lot of mental illness goingon. As far as Eliot’sdeath is involved, I don’tknowifpolicingcan always get that kind of stuff,” he said.

SAFESOURCE

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participants in the adult drug court program through the15th Judicial District Court and Judge Valerie Gotch Garrett. About50 of the 225 drug court participants are employed at SafeSource, and many of those are women, said JenniferTouchet, the program’s treatment coordinator

SafeSource’s payscale has been higher than other employers in the program, and it enabled women to pay theirfines whilealsosupporting theirchildrenand findingadequatehousing, Garrett said Some moved into supervisorypositions, she said.

“It’sgoing to be ahuge loss to our population,” Garrett said. “Our population of women —we’ve had some that this was the first paycheck they receivedin years

“For the women, it’sthe most impactful. People will hire the men and work with men,but the women, it’s hard to get them gainful employment.They’re already going intopanic.”

Lokedria Broussard, who has been with SafeSource for about eight months after going through drug court, works at the company’s glove plant facility on Lake Talon Road. She saidshe has begun her job search and will pursue acommercial

Attorney GeneralLiz Murrill supports aGuard deployment

“While wehave made tremendous progressin fighting crimethroughout Louisiana sinceItook office —there is still more work to be done. That’swhy Ifully support (Landry’s)request for federal assistance,” she said in astatement.

Meanwhile, in apost on X, Public Service Commissioner DavanteLewisslammed theproposal as a“ridiculous useofpower,” and suggested Landry should focus on “funding needed programs for our state.”

“Lil Jeff is outhere trying to suckuptoDaddy Trump,”

Lewis continued Leaders of the cities that couldsee troops deployed also gaveamixed reaction.

“Wehavenot requested the National Guard, but it’s foolish to think that they’re notcoming basedonall the publicity beinggiven about it,” said Hans Ganthier,assistant superintendent of theNew Orleans Police Department. “But withthat said, we collaboratewell with anyone, whetherit’sthe State Police, the federal government or federalagents …and the National Guard shouldn’tbeany different.”

Ganthier acknowledged a staffing shortage: NOPDhas about 888 commissioned officers, and fullstaffingis considered closer to 1,200.

But he disputedLandry’s description of high crime rates. New Orleans is seeingits lowest overall crime in 50 years, according to theNOPD,which Ganthier credits to effective policing and prosecution,plus asolid partnership with Louisiana StatePolice’sTroop NOLA, a specializedunit Gov. Landry assigned full-time to New Orleans in 2024.

East Baton Rouge Parish Mayor-PresidentSid Edwardsnoted in astatement that his city faces ashortage of about 150 law enforcement officers, and said, “Additionalresourcescan provide much-needed boots on theground andextraeyes in our community to help keep our residents safe.”

Buthealsomade clear he wantsmoreinformation on the specificplan

“Weare continuing to evaluatethe details,logistics and timeline ofa possible National Guard deployment,” the mayor said.“Should troops be stationed in Baton Rouge, Iwill work toensure they act in asupportive role ratherthanareplacement for our local police officers.”

Edwards’ measured statement cameafter allsix Democrats on the East BatonRougeMetro Council released statements criticizingthe proposal

“Weare calling on Mayor Sid Edwardstoreject this

driver’slicense forher employmentrequirement.

Herlast day with SafeSource will be Oct.21.

“Itwas abunchofus workinghere, anditmakes yoube accountable,” said Broussard,39. “It’salot to learn, but it’sbeen agreat experience for me. They’ve actually worked with my drug court,sothat’sa plus.”

SafeSource Direct was announced in early 2021 out of apartnership between OchsnerHealthand Alabamabased Trax Development as away to offer domestic productionofPPE items andend American reliance on productsmadeinChina.

YetSafeSource, likeothers in the United States, struggledto compete withprices against Chinese competitors, which also offer alarger variety of products, according to theWashington-based American Medical ManufacturingAssociation. Accordingtothe association’sdirector,Eric Axel, Chinese companies can makeand ship nitrile gloves at apennyper glove. In the U.S ,aquality glovecosts at least anickel, “and that’s scraping everyefficiency possible,” he said. Affected employees will receivetheir payand benefits through the60-day period. SafeSource willalso provide outplacement support and assistance to the affected employees through theLouisiana Department of Laboralongwithlocal publicand private resources.

request,”council member Cleve Dunn Jr.said in a statement. “Unlike trained policeofficers, National Guard members are not equipped for community policing, de-escalation or upholdingcivil liberties in everyday interactions.”

Other Baton Rouge Republicanssaid aGuard deployment could make apositive difference.

“Weallknowthatrealsafety starts with fixing the underlying issues,”saidMetro Councilmember DwightHudson “I’d like to see the National Guardhelp us clean up blight and improve our neighborhoods, rather thanjust patrols. When people takepride in wherethey live,itchanges the whole atmosphere. Hopefully we aren’t shortsighted with this opportunity.”

There had been 43 homicidesinBaton Rouge midwaythroughthe year, adecline of 19% from the year prior. Homicideshave declined in thecity over the past few years, but remain higher than they werebefore COVID-19.

Shreveport MayorTom Arcenaux was traveling Tuesday andwas notavailable forcomment.Hehas previouslysaid he would be happy to discuss aGuard deployment,but favored less drastic action.

“Weare proud of the progress madeinrecent years in reducing crime across thecity, but we recognize thereisalwaysmorework to be done,” PoliceChief Wayne SmithsaidTuesday. “Wewill continue striving for improvement and will neverturndown additional resources offered by our stateorfederal partners.”

Through Monday,there have been 33 homicidesin Shreveport. At that pace, 2025 would finish with 44, a drop of eight from last year, or a15.1% decrease.

Through the end of June, there wasa29% reduction in shots-firedcalls for the year,which Shreveport police spokesperson Cpl. Chris Bordelon saidwas “directly proportioned to theamount of violent crime in our city.”

If the deployment is ap-

proved, it would be farfrom the first time Louisiana has used the National Guard for assistance. But previous deployments have generally been tied to specific emergencies, such as Hurricane Ida and the Jan. 1terrorist attack on Bourbon Street in NewOrleans. During HurricaneIda in 2021, 8,800National Guard members were deployed to Louisiana, with about 3,000 of themcoming fromother states, according to Lt. Col. Noel Collins, aLouisiana National Guard spokesperson. On NewYear’sDay,after Shamsud-DinJabbardrove his pickup into revelers on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, killing14people, Landry sent 100 Guardsmen to the city forthree days. And, as the city and state sought to tightensecurity in preparationfor the Super Bowl in February,350 National Guardmembers weresent to New Orleans for 10 days, Collins said. Theyserved alongside thousands of other lawenforcement officers.

Louisiana has roughly

11,000NationalGuardmembers.

A1,000-troop deployment would come amid astring of similar high-profile deployments thatare playing out across the country In Oregon, officials say the Trumpadministration is sending in 200 Guardsmen despitestate leaders’ opposition to the plan. Meanwhile, Trump is also expected to sendGuard members to Memphis, Tennessee. Republican Gov. Bill Lee has publicly said he does not expect their numbers to exceed150,though that number is in flux. In June, Trump deployed roughly 4,000 National Guard members to Los Angeles over the objections of Gov. Gavin Newsom. In August, he sent National Guard members to Washington, D.C.,aspart of acrackdown on crimeand immigration. There arestill more than 2,000 troops in the city Critics have described such deployments as reminiscentofauthoritarianism and called them unjustified.

Stateenergyregulator hasnew name

Agency to take on expanded mission

BY DAVID J. MITCHELL

Staff writer

Louisiana’senergy and natural resources agency will be fully reorganized and have its second new name in less than two years starting Wednesday aftera suite of internal and legislative changesover the past 21 months.

Officials with the new

Louisiana Department of Conservation and Energy, formerlythe stateDepartment ofEnergy andNatural Resources,say the changes will placeitonamore modern and transparent footing to balance “economic growth and environmental stewardship.”

The changes are also expected,the department’s secretary hassaid, to en-

Foundation names resource initiative leader

Begnaudthe former CEOofDowntown DevelopmentAuthority

BY ADAM DAIGLE

Acadiana business editor

Anita Begnaud, the former CEO of the Downtown DevelopmentAuthority has been named leaderofanew initiative with the Community Foundationof Acadiana.

Begnaud will lead the Lafayette Resource Development Initiative, which will fill acurrent gap of an organization dedicated to securing external funding for the community’sbroader needs, the agency announced Tuesday morning She will be charged with identifying and securing external federal, state, philanthropicand corporateresources to address community priorities and drive sustainable development in Lafayette.

“This initiative is very exciting,” said Rob Eddy,chair of the Lafayette Resource DevelopmentInitiative advisory committee.

“It’saboutgiving back to the community in anew way.We have established LRDI to be astrategic catalystthat advancesdevelopment andthe quality of life in Lafayette.

“Anita’sproven success on both the local and national stage makes her the perfectperson to lead us forward and ensure this investment provides asignificant impact on our home.”

Begnaud returns to Lafayetteafter atwo-year stay as vice president of marketing and communications at the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, which is led by Jason El Koubi, aformer president andCEO of One Acadiana. She took thatjob after five years leading the Downtown Development Authority

Begnaud will be tasked with implementing the LafayetteResource Development Initiative’sstrategic plan, cultivating relationships with national funders and overseeingthe development of funding proposals andgrant applications, CFAofficials said

ä See FOUNDATION, page 4B

hanceenforcementofthe state’s oil and gas sector.It will also streamline permitting, achange welcomed by theindustry

“In many ways, this agency hasstill been doing things the wayitdid when first created as DNRnearly 50 years ago. Technology, industry and environmental best practiceshave changed agreat deal over thosede-

cades, and it’stime this agency caught up,” Dustin Davidson, secretary of the renameddepartment,said in astatementearlier this month

Oftenatthe center of complex disputes in astate rich with energy resources,the department has alarge and expanding footprint. It has ahand in regulating oil and gas,pipelines,wind and solar energy,underground injection, carbon capture and sequestration, groundwater

use, and development in the coastal zone.

Department officials warned that, though the reorganization would be in effect Wednesday,the full integration from operating under the old structure to the new one could take time.

Among thechangesinstituted this spring and summer by the Legislature, the reorganization hasalsodone away witha district dating from the mid-1970s that oversaw groundwater use to

prevent saltwater intrusion into the Baton Rouge-area’s aquifer.Groundwater regulation in Baton Rouge is now fully under thecontrol of the newly reorganized state agency Oil and gas groupswelcomed the broader reorganization,while oneenvironmental group said it expected to see little difference from what they claimed is an agency that hasbeen an

Husband and wifeKaren Demette, the school

as they are suprised with the news that theywere

respectively,onFridayatW.D.and MaryBaker

CAREER COUPLE

Demettes celebrate recognition fortheir work

Staff report

Randy and Karen Demette have been married 30 years and have worked togetheratthe W.D. and Mary Baker Career Center for the past year

They carpool to work, where Randy Demette has been an auto tech instructor for nearly 10 years and Karen Demette has worked as an administrativeclerk forthe last year

In asurprise celebration Friday,the school announced Randy Demette was named the Career Center’sTeacher of the Year and KarenDemette was namedthe Support Staffer of the Year

Receiving recognition for himself and seeing his wife’shardworkacknowledged was agreat momentfor Randy Demette, he told KATC. “Itwas abreath of fresh air coming to teach because all of the stuff that be-

came staleand boring forme, it wasexcitement for (students), and that made me excited,” he said. “Toknow thatthe

rest of the staffsees my

way that Idoand how wonderful she is, it’s really good to theheart.”

AScott man was charged with attempted murder after allegedly stabbing someone during an altercation in Lafayette earlier this month MichaelSelf, 46,ofScott,was charged with one count of attempted first-degree murder.His bail was set at $300,000. The altercation happened at 8:18 p.m. Sept. 6onthe 100 block of East Kaliste Saloom Roadnear the Discover Inn motel. Lafayette police found the victim with an apparent stab wound in the neck. Self and the victim were in a fight, and Self allegedly stabbed the person, police said. Thevictim wastakento alocal hospital.Up-

dates on the victim have not been released This caseremains underinvestigation Woman, 76, dies in house fire, authorities say State FireMarshal deputies are investigatingahouse firethat killed a76-year-oldwoman in St Martinville. The St. Martinville Fire Department responded to the fire at approximately 8p.m. Saturday.The incident occurred in the 100 block of West Hamilton Street. Fire Marshalinvestigators areuncertainwhether theresidence was equipped withaworking smoke alarm.

ChiefBryan Adamsurged all Louisiana residents to protect

their homes with functioning smoke alarms. “Smokealarms save lives,” Adams said. “If you don’thave one or need assistance with installation, our Operation Save-A-Life programoffersfree smokealarms and installation services.”

The investigation remains ongoing as deputies work to determine theorigin and cause of the fire. Opelousas man arrested after alleged beating

An Opelousas man was arrested after allegedlybeating awoman whohas Huntington’sdisease, police said.

Blake W. Courville,36, of Opelousas, was charged with crueltytothe infirm andillegal carrying of weapons

(while committing acrimeof violence).

On Sunday,St. Landry Parish sheriff’sdeputies responded to acomplaint of adisturbance in thearea of Emonet Drive, just eastofOpelousas. Deputieswere told Courville allegedly beat a disabledadult female whohas late-stage Huntington’sdisease. Huntington’sdisease causes nerve cells in the brain to decay and affects aperson’smovements, thinking ability and mentalhealth. Courville allegedly used afrying pan andabench againstthe victim, deputies said. Another adult in the home used pepper spray to stop the alleged attack, which causedCourville to retreat to ashed in the backyard Courville was found walking

along aroadway and was taken into custodywithout incident, according to the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’sOffice. Thevictimwas treatedata localhospitaland allowed to return home.

“While this is amost unfortunate event, we are glad that a caring person intervened andthe allegedsuspect was arrested,” SheriffBobbyJ.Guidroz saidin astatement.

Anyone with additional information about this crime is encouraged to callthe St. LandryParish Sheriff’s Office at (337) 948-6516. Man charged with harming child, teen AChurchPoint manhas been

Repatriate Native American remains to honor history, culture

There are probably few of uswho,at one time or another,have not wandered through amuseum, gazing through glass at objects unearthed from Native American burial sites acrossLouisiana and the nation.

Chances are that those displays included bones or other human remains of people unearthed during the 19th and20thcenturies

For manyNative Americans, thosedisplays aren’teducational tools. They are their ancestors, unceremoniously disinterred andcarried off to museums, universities or privatecollectionsinwhat many feel is agrotesque anddisrespectful manner.For them, regardless of how educational the displays are, they areevidence of little more than grave-robbing That’swhy we are glad to see themovement to repatriate many of the objects, especially the human remains. We are disheartened,however, by the slowness of the process, whichwas kickstarted in 1990 when Congress passedthe Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, or NAGPRA

At the time, federal officials estimatedit would take about 10 years to return most of the humanremains.But more thanthreedecades later,hundredsofthe more than 1,700 individuals unearthed around the stateremain unreturned. Part of the slowness can betraced to funding; identifying the remains andlocatinglineal descendants can be atime-consumingand expensive process, one that manysmaller institutions may not be able to properly manage. Another problem is the lackofclarity in federal databases meant to aid in repatriation.For instance, federal records show that Louisiana’s Department of Culture, Recreation andTourism has the remains of 20 people. But an officialwith the department told this newspaper’sHaley Miller that the total is actually more than 120. On the other side, those same databases show the Yale Peabody Museum has remains from more than 100 people uncovered in Native burial sites in Louisiana.But aspokesman for the Museum told Miller that theactualtotal was less than one-third that number This is acomplicated issue. Many of those remains were uncovered using archaeological processes and principles that were considered correct for the time. Knowledgegainedfrom them has been invaluable in ourunderstanding andappreciation of many of these cultures. But some others were uncovered by treasure seekers with little regard for the remains or their value to the communities that buried them We urge Louisiana organizations, including CRTaswell as higher ed andcultural institutions,tomake complying withNAGPRA apriority.Collections should be carefully examined and inventories and relevantdatabases brought up to date.This should not be apolitical issue. It’samoral and ethical one.

It may be that some Native groupsopt to allow some institutions to keep certain objects or remains. But it should be their choice. No one should be forced to go to amuseum to pay respectto theirancestors.

LETTERSTOTHE EDITOR ARE WELCOME. HERE AREOUR

GUIDELINES: Letters are published identifying name, occupation and/or title and the writer’scity of residence TheAdvocate |The Times-Picayune require astreet address andphone 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, SCANHERE

Louisianautilities and regulators stuckinthe past

Regarding Entergy CEO Philip May’sstatementinarecent article that “Louisiana customers will continue to get low-cost power from the plants,”even if Meta were to pull out after 15 years.

The levelized cost of renewable electricity (with storage) is now at or approaching parity with gas combined cycle in levelized costs.

Given that gas turbine electricity generation is avery mature technology vs. onshore wind and photovoltaic and storage, which are all relatively young, we might expect the latter’s costs to continue downward. If Meta does bail out of the area, it seemsob-

vious that the only way forEntergy customers to get low-cost electricity would be if they buy the old-fashioned gas turbine generating facilities and takethem withthem.

This is entirely ignoring the fact that afundamental problem with electricity is relatively high transmission cost, meaning that on-site production (likeroof-top photovoltaic) has large benefits.

Ourpublic utilities regulators are not doing us any favors by continuing to stonewall future-facing generation methods.

PETERKULAKOSKY Jefferson

Meetingofmilitaryofficialsasecurityrisk

Ifind it hard to understand the secretaryofwar’sdecision to order all 800 one-star and above generals and Navy admirals, essentially all of our highestranking militarypersonnel, to fly in from all around theglobe to attend an in-person meeting with him. Even Hamas has better sense than to have all of its military leaders congregatein one place.

What he did was themilitary equivalent of putting all of our eggs in one basket.Can you imagine abetter target for an enemy?

To makematters worse, the date and place of the meeting was posted all over the internet —just in case our enemies didn’tget the word.

Irealize that the meeting was scheduled to be held on aMarine Corps base, and I’msure that the security was tight, but it would have only taken asingle drone, plane or bomb to wipe

out our entire military hierarchy.That would have dealt adevastating blow to our national security.Since mostif not all of them no doubt have access to secure communications equipment at their usual locations, the whole idea of the mass in-personmeeting seemed reckless and poorly thought out. What was so important that the entire U.S. militaryhad to be disrupted just so the secretary could look his generals in theeye and assert hisauthority?

Ithought that nothing could possiblybemore reckless than discussing apending attack in agroup text, on insecure communications equipment, that included people whodidn’thave a“need to know.” That is, until we announced to theentire world exactly where all of our highest-ranking militarymemberswould be on Tuesday SAL RAGUSA Old Jefferson

Landry should defertoCassidy on vaccines

Last time Ichecked, Gov.Jeff Landry is not adoctor,but he is a political official who endorsed Donald Trump, who expedited Operation Warp Speed to get us all avery effective and life-saving vaccine against COVID. Now,the governor is complaining that Dr./Sen.Bill Cassidy is attempting to bypass his mandate to dissuade people from getting thenew COVID shot when,infact, Cassidy is simply trying to set thestagefor anyone to easily get thevaccine if they so

choose. Iwould think that unhindered freedom to makehealth care choices is somethingthe governor would have endorsed. Apparently,when it comes to healthcare and personal freedom regarding those choices, the governor thinksheknows more than adoctor Iguess Iknow who to callthe next time Isprain my ankle or need acolonoscopy.I’m calling Dr.Landry ADOLPH LOPEZ NewOrleans

Taxdollars go to pregnancy centers that don’t help women

Thank you forEmily Woodruff’s timely article on the boondoggles that are the 12 Pregnancy and Baby Care Initiative centers. Louisiana has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the U.S. Yetnearly $5 million of our tax dollars support unlicensed, unregulated pregnancy centers throughout the state offering no medical advice or care. Louisiana’spregnant womenneed doctors, nurses and midwives to provide actual medical care, not simply advice and diapers. There are increasingly fewerOBGYN’sinLouisiana as our lawmakers have madeitincreasingly more difficult to provide medical care forwomen at their mostvulnerable —during their first trimester.This is when medical conditions can be identified, diagnosed and treated. It is also when mostmiscarriages occur If medical care is administered during amiscarriage, doctors can be charged under our abortion ban with losing their medical license, jail time and/or fines of thousands of dollars. This includes womenenduring an ectopic pregnancy or medical conditions such as sickle cell anemia or cancer.All because our legislators would rather pander to pro-lifeadvocates, than promote medical care forwomen at their mostvulnerable —either already losing their pregnancy or enduring one that could end their lives.

These Baby Care Initiative centers do nothing to help women survive their pregnancy

MARYANNE MUSHATT NewOrleans

Criminals belong behind bars

Acivilization that accepts an excuse (any type of excuse) for any heinous act and allows the perpetrator(s) of such an act to walk freely in society is not acivilization at all. That is pure jungle law

KERRYP.REDMANN Mandeville

AmyConey Barrett’sbrand of originalismirritates some.Good.

When Amy Coney Barrettwas growing up in NewOrleans, her grandmother relied not on awritten recipe but on years of practice making shrimp rémoulade. Now the grandmother’sgranddaughter is aSupreme Court justice who must implement the nation’srecipe for ordered liberty, the written Constitution,which “puts people on notice of their rights” and “government officials on notice of their obligations.”

Keep an eye on Maine

OGUNQUIT,Maine The Old Dirigo State. The Lumber State. Down East. The Switzerland of America. The Polar Star State. The Pine Tree State. Vacationland.

But in recent weeks, an even moreappropriate nicknamehas emerged for Maine: Ground Zero.

George Will

“Unwritten constitutions, like unwritten recipes,” she writes in her new book, “Listening to the Law,” “can be hard to pin down.”So, however,can written ones. Unless pinned downasmuch as possible by adherence to the discoverable original public meanings of the words the Constitution’sframers used, the Constitution will not constitute. It will not give adurable structure to a polity,ordue notice to the government and governed.

For Barrett, as much pinning down as is possible is best done by originalism and textualism. These are principlesthat limit judges’ discretion, lest they encroach on the Republic’sinstitutions of representation. Judges need their discretion constrained by fidelity to the normal public meanings of the words used by those who wrotethe texts of the Constitutionand statutes.

Although Barrett is preternaturally nice, she irritates some people. The reason she does makes her an exemplary justice. It is her fastidious acknowledgmentthat certainty andprecision are oftenelusive when construing, as an originalist, the Constitution’stext (“due”process, “unreasonable” searches, “cruel and unusual” punishments, etc.) in modern contexts. Awareness of uncertainties justifies judicious restraint: The duty to construe texts does not empower judges to try to discover— or guess —the purposes or intentions of those who wrote the words.

To put the point less gently than Barrett might: Some people with mindclosing jurisprudential orthodoxies are exasperated by the tentativeness inherent in originalism and textualism. Critics misperceive thisasalack of principled rigor.Injudicial reasoning, however,the importance of living with the limited utility of principles is aprinciple.

Barrett’soriginalism is not so tightly tetheredtothe past that it cannot create rules impliedbythe Constitution’stext, history and structure. For example:

In 2023, the court blocked theBiden administration’senormously consequential action (about $430 billion in student loan forgiveness) based on 2003 legislation authorizing, in an emergency,the executive to “modify” terms of student financial assistance.

Thecourt cited the “major questions doctrine:” An agency claiming an enormous power must demonstrate thatCongress clearly granted it. Criticsonand off the court complained that this doctrine is “judgemade.” Textualism, Barrett writes in her book, took the court to the conclusion that“modify”means “makemodest adjustments,” which the forgiveness was not.

Much of constitutional law is atapestry of judge-made doctrines made to apply original constitutional precepts in contemporary contexts. In this case, the major questions doctrine was applied originalism, conforming to the Constitution’sarchitecture, the separation of powers. Rather than augmenting its own power,the court was requiring Congress to clearly exercise its.

TheNinth Amendment saysthe Constitution’senumeration of certain rights neither denies nor disparages others “retained by thepeople.” How, then, should we identify fundamental rights —those meriting robustjudicial protection —without inciting courts topromiscuously proclaim such rights?

Thecourt has devised arule harmonious with the originalist frame of mind: Afundamental right is “deeply rooted” in U.S. history andtradition

and “implicit in theconcept of ordered liberty.” That concept, and the measurement of something “deeply” rooted,requires originalism’sfoundational self-restraint: One must always start, and often must end, with adeep dive intothe nation’smemory Often,originalists resurface with differing conclusions. So, arguments continue. Get over it.

In his just-published book, “Born Equal: Remaking America’sConstitution,1840-1920,” Yale law professor Akhil Reed Amar emphasizes that America has an originalist political culture. This is becauseAmerica, unique among nations, had aclear,emphatic origin. It was framed by two documents, the 1787 Constitution properly construed in the light cast by the1776 Declaration of Independence.

In 1863, apolitician with an originalistmentality summoned the nation to honor what its Founding Fathers originally saidtheyhad “brought forth” some “fourscore and seven yearsago.” Although he loathed slavery,before the war,this originalist scrupulously respected the Constitution’s provisions that in several ways protected slavery Lincoln exemplified thepainful patience sometimes demanded by what Barrett calls “ourconstitutional culture.” Courts are secondaryin maintaining this legacy of originalism. The public, inattentive and impatient, is primary.

Email George Will at georgewill@ washpost.com.

Whowillbuy Elon Musk’s cars?

The Tesla board has offered to make Elon Musk the planet’sfirst trillionaire if he meets certain milestones in rocketing the automakertonew glory

Did Musk show true brilliance the first time around? Yes, he did. Tesla’sstock price rose 700% in 2020, making it more valuable than Toyota, Volkswagen, General Motors and Ford combined.

things like,“Ibought this before we knew Elon was crazy.”

Froma Harrop

But there’sanother question. Who is going to buy his Teslas now?

Musk has burned many abridge since he built up the company to a world force. Tesla was once the great green energy hope, offering an elegant way to replace planet-warming fossil fuels with cleaner electric power. Recall that the Obama administration extended the company a$465 million federal loan because Teslas had made electric vehicles cool. But then Musk spent over aquarterbillion dollars getting Donald Trump elected in 2024, angeringhis environmentalist consumers.Ashead of the Department of Government Efficiency,Musk gleefully went after environmental funding, including grants to universities and services tied tothe National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Overnight, Teslas became uncool. Some Teslas were torched, showrooms attacked and even charging stations set on fire. Embarrassed Tesla owners put stickers on their vehicles reading

(Noexcusefor the vandalism. Many Teslaowners had bought the EVs as abadge of environmental activism. In any case, harming privateproperty to make apolitical point is criminal, whatever the motive.) Tesla is on track to mark its second consecutive year of falling revenues hereand elsewhere. European sales have fallen by 40% and more, reflecting Musk’sties to the much-disliked Trump. In one of Tesla’sbiggestforeign markets, Germany,sales in the first seven months of this year crashed by more than 55%. Musk tried to insert himself into that country’selection by endorsing the far-far right Alternative for Germany party as “thebest hope for Germany.” (Chancellor Olaf Scholz condemned his remarksas“disgusting.”) Musk alsoprovided an ugly visual by raising his arminwhat looked like aNazi salute. In this country,Teslaswere painted with swastikas and the words “Nazi cars.” Meanwhile, Teslanolonger dominates the EV show in this country Chevrolet’sEquinox EV now competes with Tesla’sModel Y. Cadillac’sOptiq crossover has entered the EV market big time. And Ford is converting a Kentucky assembly plant to build affordable midsize electricpickups

TheChinese EV maker,BYD Co., has just passed TeslainEuropean

sales. BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen are also showcasing their new models.

Teslaishard at work trying to launch arobotaxi service. Butsoare other companies. Because Muskhas done so much for MAGA, it’spossible that members of that EV-bashing movement might buy Teslas in ashow of solidarity. But Muskisnolonger one with the Great Leader He’shad run-ins withTrump,most notably his bashing of the “OneBig BeautifulBill.”

Twoobvious reasonsfor Musk’s discontent:Itended subsidies to buy electric vehicles and slowed the expansion of charging stations. Consumers have until theend of this month to makeuse of the$7,500 new clean vehicle tax credit

Andso, who is going to buy Musk’s cars now? Probably not thedefenders of all that Trump does and says. Not theenvironmentalistswho despise Musk. Not the280,000 federal workers his DOGE fired. Or their families. Andnot many of the EV shoppers who today have morechoices

Muskmay have drawn warm applausefrom investors when he promised to devote“maniacal” attention to Teslagoing forward. It’sagood guess, however,that theaudience of actual buyerswas sitting on its hands

Froma Harrop is on X, @FromaHarrop. Email her at fharrop@gmail.com.

This sprawling land massof 35,385 square miles, hometoamere 1.4 million people, is emerging as perhaps the mostvital battleground in the struggle for the future of American politics.

Its citizens —about as manyas in San Antonio alone —are weeks from amajor test of the future of mailvoting. A year from now,one of the mostcontroversial and endangered lawmakers on Capitol Hill will likely face her sternest challenge yet. The state is averitable litmus test of the future of American politics.

That’sbecause Maine, with arobust maverick streak, nonetheless is possessed of manyofthe elements of the politics that themselves are being tested in the Donald Trumpera.

One of its congressional districts is safely Democratic; the other teeters on the edge of being a swing state itself. In the past three-quarters of a century,Maine has had six Democratic governors and five Republican governors. It has an independent tradition, having twice elected an Independent to the governor’smansion in Augusta and sent one Independent to the Senate in Washington. And because of Maine’sunusual electoral system,the state’ssecond congressional district, itself bigger than West Virginia, three times has delivered asingle electoral vote to Donald Trump while the state sent three electoral votes to the Democratic presidential nominee. In the state’svital Senate race —perhaps the contest attracting the mostnational attention, one that will be amagnet for out-of-state financial contributions —the incumbent, Republican Susan Collins, is pilloried both for being too much a stooge of Trumpand too little loyal to Trump. Collins sometimes plays the role of swing vote in the Senate —she didn’tvote for Trumpin2016 and this spring joined Lisa Murkowski of Alaska in opposing the Trump tariffs on Canada —but often sides with other Republicans on Trumppriorities. She supported Robert F. Kennedy Jr.for secretary of Health and Human Services but opposed Pete Hegseth to lead the Pentagon. She voted once to acquit Trumpafter he was impeached and once to convict him

The question of whether Collins is awaning moon is not something new under the sun, which each morning touches the UnitedStates first in Maine —sometimes, depending on the season, in West Quoddy Head, sometimes on Acadia National Park’sMount Cadillac.

Already,challengers to Collins, who has been in office for three decades, have come forward. The last Collins challenger,state House Speaker Sara Gideon, wasaninsider with impeccable political credentials. Twoofthe latest are outsiders with the progressive profiles that thrust Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez into the House over an established congressional figure and delivered the New York Democratic mayoral nomination to state Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani over former Gov. Andrew Cuomothis summer

“Even without alot of namerecognition, either of those two could do well,” said James Melcher,a University of Maine, Farmington, political scientist.

The brewmaster,Dan Kleban, co-founder of the Maine Beer Co., is running on his business’smotto, “Do What’sRight.” Sen. Bernie Sanders, himself on the left edge of American officeholders, appeared in Portland the other day when the oyster farmer,Graham Platner,told 6,500 people, “Wedo not live in asystem that is broken, we live in asystem that is functioning exactly as it is intended,” which is to say that it is in thrall to established power and the rich.

The state’sDemocratic establishment is waiting on whether Maine’s popular governor,Janet Mills, will take up the challenge of sending Collins into retirement. She’sinnohurry to decide. Her age (she’s77years old) may be adisadvantage, but Collins turns 73 herself this winter.

The other day,agroup of Democrats gathered in this seaside town to organize an offensive to defeat aNovember ballot question that would satisfy akey Trumppriority,the curtailment if not the elimination of mailballots, which Trumpsays is a major cause of “massive fraud all over the place.” Some40% of votes in this largely rural state are by mail.

The referendum would eliminate two days of absentee voting, ban absentee-ballot requests by telephone or by family members and end the state’sprovision permitting seniors and the disabled to remain on the absentee-ballot rolls indefinitely Trumpiscontemplating an executive order banning postal voting. “Weare now the only Country in the World that uses Mail-In Voting,” he said last month, falsely,onhis Truth Social platform. For decades after 1840, there was sometruth to the maxim “As Maine goes, so goes the nation.” The echoes of that phrase may yet ring true again. Email David Shribman at dshribman@postgazette.com.

Officialssay

BY COURTNEY PEDERSEN Staff writer

While Chris Hebert typically sees all kinds of creatures —porpoises, bobcats and raccoons to name afew —inand around BigLake while out fishing, he didn’t expect to see amanatee.

About 6p.m. Friday,Hebert,ofLakeCharles,was fishing in Big Lake, also known as Calcasieu Lake, by Cameron, when he saw amanatee come up near his boat.

“I didn’teven think we had them here,” Hebert said. “You see asign somewhere, and you think it’s kind of ajoke,but Inever thought I’d ever see one, not in Louisiana, that’sfor sure. Iwas just standing on my boat and looked down, and there’samanatee.”

Afterspotting themanatee, Hebert took to Facebook and posted pictures of the animal in severaldifferent groups.

Hebert said alot of the people who commented also didn’tknow manatees came to Louisiana, but a few commentedthat they had seen one in the area before.

Manatees being spotted in Louisiana brackish waters is not “uncommon,” according to Audubon Nature Institute Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Stranding and Rehabilitation Coordinator Gabriella Harlament, who saw the post in aFacebook group.

“Wedoexpect them in

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industry “rubber stamp.”

Anne Rolfes, director of the Louisiana Bucket Brigade, pointed out that the former department secretary who led the reorganization, Tyler Gray, previously led an industry trade group, the Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association.

“Thisagencyisdesigned by the oil industry for its own benefit, and that should scare everyone in this state,” Rolfes said.

Tommy Faucheux,the current president of LMOGA, countered that his trade group is optimistic the changes will clear up red tape and uncertainty, ashift that is “essential for thestate to prosper.”

“It’simportant that our state’sregulatory structure can challenge industry to improve whileworking productivelytofoster the economic opportunities in oil and gas that will keep our kids here in Louisiana,” he said.

Sixnew offices

Faucheux and Mike Moncla, president of the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association, also welcomed the arrival of Davidson as the new secretary.Faucheux highlighted his experience with energy policy,while Monclacited his past work with Davidson, who was previouslyDENRdeputy secretary and aformer congressional staffer in Washington. Gray,Landry’sfirst appointment to thedepartment, led the reorganization until he stepped down last month.The effort followed an executive order from Gov.Jeff Landry early in his term. The new department will go by the acronym “C&E,” which had been the Depart-

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expected to head back to thenatural springs in Florida as winter hits because they needtobeinwaters above 68 degrees since they don’thave blubber to keep them warm, according to Harlament

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arrested after allegedly punching ateen and biting a child, authorities said.

the summer to make their way,kind of all the way over here; they’ll go as far as Texas,” Harlament said.

“So, in the warmer months, when the water temperature is feeling good, they leave Florida, they go searchingout for vegetation to eat.”

While there have been some sightings of manatees in Lake Pontchartrain this summer,Harlament saidthis is the firstone reported inthe western side of thestate this year

However,Harlament said there currently isn’t alot of information on the movement of manatees in Louisiana.

“That’swhy we’re encouraging peopletocall andreport sightingstous,” Harlamentsaid.“It doesn’t mean that there’sanything wrong with theanimal or that we’re going to do anything with that animal.Unless, let’ssay that animal was hit by aboat or is actingodd, thenwe’ll go out and we’ll investigate.”

By the middle to end of November,manateesare

ment of Natural Resources fordecadesbeforeanearlier name change in January2024tothe Department of Energy and Natural Resources. Implemented through two regular sessions and one special legislative session, the changes didaway with the historicalOffice of Conservation and shuffled offices within the new department while boosting their number from fourto six. The Office of Conservation was Louisiana’schief oiland gas regulator since theearlydays of the state’s petroleum industry. The office’sgubernatorially appointed commissioners retained independent regulatory powers throughthe years even after the office was folded inside DNR. The Legislature, at department officials’ urging first removed theadministrative division between the department and the office. It then didaway with theconservation commissioner and vested the commissioner’spowers inthe secretaryofthe new department In the most recent session, Act 458, sponsored by state Sen. Bob Hensgens, R-Abbeville,was the primary vehicle for the reorganization. Many of its more than 225 pages removed responsibilities from thestate commissioner of conservation and handed them to the new C&E secretary

Amongthe six new offices, thereorganizationconsolidated oil, gasand coastal management permitting and compliance, the latter of which affects wetlands development, under one Office of Permitting and Compliance.

Aseparate division, the Office of Enforcement, will handle inspection andenforcement of permitted oil and gas wells and other activities for which thestate

This work will be aligned withLafayette’sinvestment pipeline, ensuring resources are directed to projects that will create the greatest social, economic andenvironmental impact.

“Wereally need reports of these guys (during the winter) becauseifthey’re still in thearea, that’snot normal, andchances are we will have to go and make a rescue for them,”Harlamentsaid. “For prolonged exposure, they start having skin issues. Theywill become anorexic. It impairs their immune system, and eventually it will kill them.”

Thereporting throughout the year allows thescientists to begin tracking the manatees throughsightings basedonthe differentscars they have.

“Let’s sayweget areport at theend of November in Louisiana, we communicate thatout withour partners in the northern Gulf (and) maybe that animal spotted in Alabama threeweeks later,”Harlament said “Thenweknow that animalismoving in the right direction or likewise, if the animal goes the opposite way to Texas, that becomes abigger problem.” If amanateeisseen in Louisiana or Texas in the winter,organizationswork together to rehabilitate and relocate the animals, according to Harlament.

Those who spot amanatee or anyother marinemammal or sea turtle, alive or dead, areasked to report it to the AudubonAquarium Rescue by calling their 24hour hotline at (877) 9425343.

has regulatory primacy, such as underground injection andcarbon capture.

‘Win over thepublictrust’

In arecent speech to carbon capture executives at LSU, Davidson emphasized the significanceof separating permitting from enforcement.

“Wesaw that as somethingthatneededto change significantlybecausea lotoftimesyou had folks that were having those relationships with the applicantsthat then had to turn around and enforce actions against those applicants. Sometimes that can be difficult,” Davidson saidinthe Sept.5speech.

He added that the department has a“robust enforcement systemthat, Iwould say,inthe pasthas notbeen usedtoour advantagethe way it should have been.”

Davidsonsaidenforcement is the department’s “biggest tool to win over thepublic trust.”

Other new offices include the offices of the secretary, administration,state resources and energy

Otherchanges took effect last year,including abill that created the NaturalResources Trust Authority to handle the financial security of state oil and gas wells.

Theauthority is designed to ensure enough money hasbeen set aside to plug awell if an operator goes out of business, so thewell isn’torphaned and becomes the state’sresponsibility.Louisiana hasmore than 4,900 orphan wells Act 458 also created the Natural Resources Commissiontocoordinate statewide flood protection and water management planning,including of groundwater

David J. Mitchell can be reached at dmitchell@ theadvocate.com.

“It’sgreat to be home, andI’m readytorollup my sleeves and work alongside so many people Ideeply respect,” Begnaudsaid. “The LRDI is a singular opportunity to connect Lafayette’scompelling local momentum with anational ecosystem of partners and capital. I’ll be focused on building alliances and executing adata-drivenstrategy to bring catalytic investment home.”

Email Adam Daigleat adaigle@theadvocate. com.

Sidney Berard,48, of ChurchPoint, was charged with two counts of cruelty to ajuvenile andone count of criminal damage to property.Hewas transported to theAcadia Parish jailand is

Allyce TrappAlexander 31, of BatonRouge passed awaypeacefully themorn‐ing of Sept. 27, 2025, sur‐rounded by thefamilyshe loved so much.She had spent thelastmonth of her lifehosting friendswhen‐evershe could. As she smiledand talked to them, she gave them comfort eventhoughtheyhad cometodothatfor her. If she hada little bitmore time, Allyce wouldhave written this herself. She wanteditsaidthatshe loved herhusband,Wilson Alexander;her brother, JohnTrapp; andher par‐ents, Heinke andSusan Trapp, more than anything inthe world. Allyce was borninHouma,Louisiana, onJanuary 6, 1994. She camefroma supportive and loving family. Allyce graduated from Vandebilt Catholic High,where she participatedinstudent council, tennis andvolley‐balland shewas voted bestdressedinher class because sheknewhow to accessorizea uniform bet‐ter than anyone.One of her great honors as ateenager was beinga Maid of Mardi Grasinthe Kreweof Houmas. In 2012, Allyce moved to BatonRouge to gotoLSU andnever left She joined theChi Omega sorority,and oneyear, she

being held on $6,000 bail. Officerswith the Church Point Police Department responded to adisturbance about 7:50 p.m.Monday on North Beaugh Street.Officers found that awindow hadbeen broken at aneighbor’sresidence. An investigation found a 15-year-old boy had been punched in the face because of amissingcellphone.A 10-year-old relative of Berard had been bitten on the arm, drawingblood,officials said.

oversawthe election process forthe student government. Allyce wasa proud two-time graduate ofthe ManshipSchool of MassCommunication.She particularlyenjoyed asum‐mer studying abroad in Germany.AtLSU,Allyce found hercallingwhenshe gavea speechatthe Louisiana StateCapitol to raise awarenessfor dyslexia. Shehad learned how to manage thelearn‐ing disabilityherself,be‐cominganavidreaderand student of history. She usually worked herway through twobooksatonce. Allyce found herway into governmentaffairs,and she became agovernment affairs coordinatorat Adams &Reese. Shecried whenshe got theoffer. It was herdream job, and she lovedevery minute of it. Sheendearedherself to everyoneinthe legislature withher smile andkind‐ness. Aproud Louisiana native, shewas always ex‐cited to go to work in the Capitol.Whenshe wasn't working,Allyceloved spendingtimewithher family, friendsand col‐leagues.She washappy fishinginthe Gulf,wander‐ing throughmuseums, playing with cats and going to estate sales. Al‐lyceenjoyed learning about Britishhistory,espe‐cially theWar of theRoses and theroyal family. She savored acrisp glassof champagne anda small raw oyster,and whenshe ordered in,she usually asked forsushi.A natural conversationalist,Allyce could talk to anybody about anything.She was loyal andsweet,with trademark blonde bangs and an infectious energy thatdrewpeopletoher When shesenthand-writ‐ten letters, shesealedthe envelopes with wax stamps. Shealwaysgave herfriends -and later,

theirkids- agiftontheir birthdays.She wassmart, beautiful,elegant and bright. She filledher beloved husband'sdays withjoy.InJune 2024, Al‐lycewas diagnosedwith angiosarcoma, arareand aggressive form of cancer The outlook wasfrighten‐ing,but shetrusted her faith in Godand fought nonstop for16months, de‐terminedtobeatthe dis‐easeevenwhenthe odds appeared insurmountable She dideverythingshe could untilthe very end. Her strength inspired everyonearound her. Al‐lyceissurvivedbyher hus‐band, Wilson Alexander; parents Heinke andSusan Trapp; brother, John Trapp; maternalgrandmother Ann Lirette;and several aunts, uncles andcousins She is preceded in death byher grandparents Nolan Lirette Sr., Heinke TrappSr. and Audrey Trapp. Ade‐voutCatholic, shelooked forward to seeing herfam‐ily in Heaven,aswellas her fluffy orange cat, Qua‐simodo, andher family's ShihTzu,Sophie. Hertime withuswas far tooshort But in aconversationwith one of herbestfriends,she said, "I'velived alot of life in31years.I have no com‐plaints." As much as Allyce loved flowers, especially peonies,pleaseconsidera donationtothe Sarcoma FoundationofAmerica,the Discalced CarmeliteNuns ofLafayette or St.Pere‐grine Cancer Shrine.These organizations didgreat workinsupportingAllyce through herstruggles with cancer. Afuneral mass will beheldat10:00 a.m. Friday October 3, 2025, at St.Fran‐cis de SalesCathedral,500 Goode St Houma, LA 70360. Visitation will be from8:30a.m.until the timeofservice at the church.Burialwillfollow servicesinSt. Francisde SalesCemetery #2

As soon as UL pulled off itsdramatic 54-51 double-overtime win over Marshall on Saturday,many who have been around these parts for decades starting lookingback Immediately,the Cajuns’ 40-26 win over then-Northeast LouisianaonNov.6,1982, cametomind for some. Others not quite as old remembered the 31-28 road win over Houston on Oct. 7, 2006, instead. But where does the most recent unexpected comeback fit in program history? For me, it mightbe No. 1onthe most unlikely meter Look folks, all five of these games had losses written all over them at one point in the game. But as we dive into the detailsof each, the comparisons will show why Saturday’smemorable comeback may topthem all The biggest reason is the uncertainty at quarterback. It’shard to directabig comeback without throwing the ball well. On Saturday,the toptwo UL quarterbacks had acombined one touchdown passintheir collegiate careers. When game hero Lunch Winfield connected with Charles Robertson for a16-yarder on third and 13 with 6:00 left in regulation to set up UL’s first game-tying touchdown, it was Winfield’sfirst completion for positive yards in his career With that said, for the last 43 years,the greatestcomeback was considered by most to be that 1982 homecoming win over what is now UL-Monroe. The Cajuns trailed 26-0 at the half.

“A lot of people left,” said Dwight Prudhomme, whowas the quarterback in the game. “I don’t blame them. Iwould have left, too, if Icould have.” But coach Sam Robertson challenged his team at the half.

“He told us thatnomatter what happened, our mommas were still going to love us and ourgirlfriends were still going to loveus, but are yougoing to love yourselves?”Prudhomme said.“He kind of put it on us.”

In the third quarter,Prudhomme got the comeback goingwith a60-yard keeper up the middle. The Cajuns outscored NLU40-0 in the second half, and “we took aknee on the 5atthe end of the game. We could have scored again.” In those days, information didn’ttravelquickly, so when the players met their girlfriends at alocal establishment after the game,those who departed at halftime were shocked.

“Wewalked in all happy and they’re like,‘Y’all got beat,’ and we’re like, ‘No, we won.’ Nobody believedus,” Prudhomme said That was ateam that finished 7-3-1 with asenior quarterback who had prior success Prudhomme attended last Saturday’scomeback win.

“It was areally excitingwin for the Cajuns,” he said. “Against Northeast, we were totally dominant in the second half. Once we caught them, we knew it was over.This one was nip andtuck the whole way

“I think the coaches did agreat job keeping the players focused.”

Here are some other great comebacks by the Cajuns: UL 31,Houston 28 (2006)

Ironically,this game —like the one Saturday —took place after playing Eastern Michigan. The season had gotten off to arough start with losses of 45-3 to LSU and 51-7 to Texas A&M.

BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer

TheLSU offensewasn’tperfect last season, butfew teams in thenationwereas goodonthird down TheTigers converted on 49.2% of their third-down attempts in 2024, which wasthe best rate in the Southeastern Conference andthe sixth-best in the country.Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier consistentlymade tight-window throws,and his receivers got open despite facing muddied coverages on third and long.

Butthis season, LSUhas struggled turning thirddowns into first downs. In three gamesagainst PowerFour opponents Florida, Clemson and Ole Miss, LSU has converted on 10 of 36 third-down attempts, a27.8% conversion rate.

“We’vebeen areallygoodthird-down team. We have to be better on third down,” coach Brian Kelly saidafter the Tigers’ loss to Ole Miss. “And that’snot just Garrett, we’vegot to get open. Our coaches

BY LUKE JOHNSON Staff writer

Four gamesinto theseason, Saintsquarterback Spencer Rattler hasplayed well enoughto holdoff questions about aswitch to rookie Tyler Shough, but not well enough to stake aclaim as theteam’sanswer at the position Rattler’sperformance Sunday against theBuffalo Bills followed what hasbeen amostly repeatable script for him:He was fine.

Forthe mostpart, Rattler avoided costly turnovers and sacks —though he was, for the second time this season, sacked on theSaints’ final offensive

play to end acomeback threat. He operated the offense and had theSaints in position to be competitive late.

ButRattler also missed some throws that NFL starters are expected to hit, themostnotable being athird and 13 from the Buffalo 17-yard line. Brandin Cooks fooled safety Cole Bishop with an outside fake, coming wide open in the end zone when

have gottoget ourguysina position where they can makesome plays.” Numerous factors have gone intoLSU’s third-down struggles, but Nussmeier’s health might be the biggest of all. The fifthyear senior has dealt with atorso injury since the preseason and hasn’tlooked fluid as athrower through mostofthe season. Kelly,who revealed the existence of the injury after LSU’swin against Florida, said afterthe Ole Miss game that Nussmeier was healthy. Nussmeierdeclinedto

Keyplayers dropping like

ROBMAADDI

Even the best quarterbacks look average or worse when they don’thavetimetothrow

Justsee Patrick Mahomes in his two Super Bowllosses. The Kansas City Chiefs couldn’tprotect him and were routed by the Philadelphia Eagles last season andthe Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl 55. With so manyoffensive linemen getting hurt at an alarming rate, morequarterbacks are facing immense pressure across the league. Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers were off to a3-0 start before running into the winless New York Giants on Sunday The Chargers already were missing left tackle Rashawn Slater because of atorn patella suffered in training camp andright guard Mekhi Becton because of aconcussion. Tackle JoeAlt was carted off the field with an ankle injury in the21-18 loss to the Giants. Herbert was sacked twice, got hit 11 times and was pressured on 45.5% of his drop backs, according to ProFootballFocus.He threw two picks and had aseasonlow 57.3 passer rating. TheMinnesota Vikings and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are amongseveral teams thathaven’t had theirprojected starting offensive line together for any of their four games. The Vikings missed left tackle

Christian Darrisaw in thefirst twogames and lost center Ryan Kelly (concussion) and right tackle Brian O’Neill (knee) duringa 24-21losstoPittsburgh in Dublin on Sunday.They were also playingwithout left guard DonovanJacksonafterhehad wrist surgery CarsonWentz gotsacked six times and wasunder pressure on 38.9% of 54 drop backs,though some of those were because of him holding onto the ball too long. Wentz and J.J. McCarthy have been sacked on 14% of their passing plays, whichleads the league.

The Buccaneers gotAll-Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfsback Sunday butthey lost rightguard Cody Mauchfor the season in Week 2 andare missing right tackle Luke Goedeke.Baker Mayfield was sacked twiceand threw his first interception while scrambling outoftroubleina31-25 loss to Philadelphia.

The Tennessee Titans haven’t had right tackle JC Latham in the past three games. Right guard Kevin Zeitler sat outWeek 3. Rookie quarterback CamWardhas been sacked a league-high 17 times. Jetsguard AlijahVera-Tucker suffereda season-ending triceps injury during camp. Falcons right tackle Kaleb McGary also wentdown before the season. Panthers guard Robert Hunt is expectedtomissthe rest of the

On TV

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6p.m. Dukeat North CarolinaACCN

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6:30p.m. Minnesota at Michigan BTN GOLF

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noon DetroitatCleveland ESPN

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8p.m. Colorado at VegasNHLN MEN’SSOCCER

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2:45 p.m.Spain vs.Mexico FS2

5:45 p.m.Argentina vs.Australia FS2

5:55 p.m.Brazil vs.Morocco FS1

7p.m.Nashville at Austin CBSSN

9p.m.Vancouver FC at V.Whitecaps FS2

9:30 p.m.OrangeCou. at SacramentoCBSSN

TENNIS

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Suzuki,Kelly hitback-to-backHRs

Cubs topthe Padres

3-1inplayoff opener

BY JAYCOHEN AP baseball writer

CHICAGO Seiya Suzuki and Carson Kelly hit back-to-back homers, helping the Chicago Cubs beat the San Diego Padres 3-1 on Tuesday in Game 1oftheir NL Wild Card Series. Chicago also got aperfect performance from its bullpen in the franchise’sfirst playoff win since the 2017 NationalLeagueChampionship Series. The Cubs were swept by Miami in the wild-card round in 2020 during their last postseasonappearance.

Game 2ofthe best-of-three series is back at Wrigley Field on Wednesday afternoon.

“All in all, areallygoodday for us,”Kelly said. “Having achance to clinch tomorrow and move to the next round is all you can ask for.”

Suzuki opened the fifth inning with a424-foot drive to left-center off Nick Pivetta, tying it at 1and sending acharge through atowelwaving crowd of 39,114 on apicturesque day. Pivetta hadretired 11 in arow before Suzuki extended his homer streak to fivegames going back to the regular season. Kellyfollowed with atowering shotthat drifted just over the wall in left-center.The catcher and Chicago native held his rightarm in the air as he rounded first base.

It was the MLB postseason debutfor bothSuzukiand Kelly, who combined for the franchise’sfirst set of back-to-back homers in the playoffs since MiguelMontero and Dexter Fowler went deep on Oct.15, 2016, against the Dodgers.

“Simply put, it was fantastic,”

Suzuki said through atranslator.

“You just felt the passion of the fans, them cheering us on. Roundingthe bases, Ifeltsomenerves,

obviously,but great feeling overall.”

Pivetta struck out nine in five solidinnings,but SanDiego’s lineup was shut down by Matthew Boydand four relievers.

Jackson Merrill and Xander Bogaerts produced an early lead for thePadres with back-to-back doubles in thesecond. Bogaerts advanced to third on center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong’sthrowing

AMERICAN LEAGUE WILD CARD

error,but he was strandedthere when Boydretired Ryan O’Hearn (grounder to shortstop), Gavin Sheets (popup to third) and Jake Cronenworth (grounder to shortstop)

SanDiego put runners on the corners with one out in the fourth, but Chicago shortstop Dansby Swanson madea nicerunning catch to help Boyd escape again.

“Everybody knows how big those situations are,” Padres sluggerFernandoTatis Jr.said.

“We’vejust got to do better in those situations.”

San Diego manager Mike Shildt said Swanson’sover-the-shoulder grab on O’Hearn’ssoft liner was a big moment.

“Right offthe bat, Ithought it was going to fall in there, but Dansby got anice drop step, went out and made whatended up being probably the play of the game,” Shildt said.

Boydexited after Freddy Fermin’sone-out single in the fifth. As shadows started to creep across home plate,DanielPalencia retired each of his five batters forthe win, including strikeouts of Manny Machado and Jackson Merrill.

Drew Pomeranz andAndrew Kittredge each got three outs before Brad Keller handled the ninthfor the save.

“Just abrilliant job,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said of his bullpen. “Everybody just made— executed pitches, madepitches. Can’tsay enough about what they did today.”

Skubal’s 14 Ks propel Tigers past Guardians

BY JOEREEDY AP sportswriter

CLEVELAND Tarik Skubal tied Detroit’spostseasonrecordwith 14 strikeouts and the Tigers beat the Cleveland Guardians 2-1 on Tuesday in Game 1oftheir AL Wild Card Series. Will Vest got the final four outs for Detroit, surviving atense ninth inning after Cleveland starJose Ramírez got hung up between third base and home for the second out. The Tigers can advance to the AL Division Series for the second straight year with awin Wednesday

“Anyone new to the Tigers/ Guardians, this is what they look like. Like every game,” Detroit managerA.J.Hinch said. “Tarik’s been incredible for us all season, but what aperformance at the biggest moments in the biggest stage to getusina greatpositionto win the game.” Detroit scoredthe go-ahead run in the seventh inning when Zach McKinstry’ssafety squeeze scored Riley Greene from third.

Ramírez led off the ninth with an infield singleand advanced to

thirdwhen shortstop JavierBáez threw wide of first base. Vest struck out pinch-hitter George Valera then Kyle Manzardo hit agrounder to Vest.

Ramírez broke for homebut was cut off by Vest, who chased him down and tagged him out.

“That ball’s 2feeteitherway,he scores,” Cleveland managerStephenVogt said. “It just happened to go right back to Vest. So we play aggressive. We always do.Werun the bases aggressive. Iwouldn’t play thatany other way.”

C.J. Kayfusthenhit aflyoutto Báez in shallowlefttoend it.

Skubal, who is favored to win his secondstraight AL Cy Young Award, set acareer high for strikeouts.Hewas dominant and unfazed as he pitched on the same mound where one week ago, he threw a99 mph fastball that struck Cleveland designated hitter David Fry in the nose and face during the sixth inning.

The right-hander went72/3 innings

and threw 107 pitches, one off his career high, including 73 strikes. He allowed onerun on only three hits, with two beinginfield singles, andwalkedthree. His fastball averaged 99.1 mph, 1.6 mph above his season average.

“I was just kind of worried about executing each pitch and trying to do my besttolive pitch by pitch and just do what makes me agood pitcher,and that’sgetting ahead andgetting guys intoleverage,” Skubal said.

SkubaloutdueledCleveland starter Gavin Williams,who was just as effectivebut hurt by apair of Guardians errors. Williams allowed twounearned runs in sixplus innings on five hits with eight strikeouts and one walk.

He is the first pitcher to go sixplus innings and notallowan earned run in apostseason loss sinceWashington’sStephen Strasburg in Game 1ofthe 2017 NL Division Series against the Chicago Cubs.

“Gavinwas outstanding. Filled up thestrike zone, landing breakingstuff, getting swing and miss. That was awell-pitched game by both sides,” Vogt said.

Detroit took a1-0 lead in the first inning whenKerry Carpenter scored on Spencer Torkelson’s twoout bloop singletoleftfield. Carpenter gotaboard on abase hit to right butadvanced to second on afielding error by Johnathan Rodríguez. TheGuardians finally got to Skubalinthe fourthbynot having aball leave theinfield. Angel Martínez hit aslow grounder between Skubal and second basemanGleyber Torres to lead off the inning. He advanced to second on Ramírez’swalk. With two outs and runners on first and second,Gabriel Arias hit a high chopper over Skubal.The ball landed on the infieldgrass between the mound andsecond base.

Skubal fielded the ball as Martinez rounded third. Martinez’sleft hand touched the plate before Detroit catcher Dillon Dinglerapplied the tag. Martinezwas originally ruled out on thehead-first slide,but it was overturned by instantreplay to tie the game at 1-1.

“It’snot surprising, right? Imean, we’veseen it.That’sjust who they are,” Skubal said. “Theyput aton of pressure on you and that’show they scratched one across there.”

Dolphins confirm WR Hill’s season-ending knee injury

Tyreek Hill’sseason is done afterthe star Miami receiver suffered asignificant knee injury during agame against the New York Jets, and the Dolphins are nowpreparing for what their offensewill look like without one of themost dynamic players in the NFL.

Hill was undergoing what Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel called “major” surgery Tuesday afternoon to repair significant ligament damage in his left knee, including atornanterior cruciate ligament.

Hill washurtwhenhemade acatch and got tackled near the Jets’sideline with 13:21 left in the thirdquarter Monday night.He was running toward thesideline and planted his leftfoot,and his knee appeared to twistseverely as he was getting pulled down.

RaidersLTMillerplaced on IR with ankle injury

Raidersleft tackle Kolton Miller is heading to injured reserve becauseofahigh ankle sprain, a personwith knowledge of the injury told The Associated Press on Tuesday,dealing LasVegas the lossofits bestoffensive lineman.

ACTscan also showed that Millersuffered ahairline fracture, according to NFL Network. By beingplacedoninjured reserve, Miller will have to miss at leastfour games Miller was injured with 43 seconds left in theRaiders’ 25-24 losstoChicago on Sunday

It’sasignificant loss foranoffensive line that struggledthe first threeweeks before playing its bestgameagainstthe Bears. Miller has been easily theRaiders’ bestlineman.

Alcaraz pays backFritz, takes Japan Open title

Top-rankedCarlos Alcaraz beat No. 5Taylor Fritz 6-4, 6-4 in the Japan Open final on Tuesday for his eighth singlestitle this year It also couldbeAlcaraz’slast match for afew weeks as he later announced he will skip the Shanghai Masters that opens on Wednesday He injured an ankle in thefirst roundbut overcame that and droppedonly oneset in Tokyo Alcaraz’s24thcareer singles titlewas clinched with adeft, sliced drop shot winner and reversed alossintwo setslastweek to Fritz at the Laver Cup team event.

The Spaniard also improved his season record to atour-best 67-7 as he stayed on coursefor the season-ending No. 1ranking.

Women’sFinal Four moved to Lucas Oil Stadium in ‘28

The NCAA has decided to hold the 2028 Women’sFinalFouratLucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis instead of the arena where the Pacers and Fever play their games.

The change announced Tuesday by the Division IWomen’sBasketball Committee means the event will gain approximately 13,000 seats.

The committee also voted to keep the preliminary round formatofschools hosting first and secondround gamesbeforetwo regional sites forthe Sweet 16 and Elite 8.

The NCAA said 85%ofathletic directors, coaches and conference officialssurveyed on the topicpreferred to keep that setup of 16 nonpredetermined campus sites for the opening rounds.

Red Sox’sGiolitounlikely to pitchinpostseason

BY RONALD BLUM AP baseball writer

NEW YORK Baseball’seconomic disparity is on display in the playoffs, where the Los Angeles Dodgers have committed morethan $500 million in salariesand luxury tax this season as they takeona Cincinnati Reds team with a$121 million payroll.

“Wedon’thave the ability to outspend mistakes,” Redsmanager Terry Francona said, “soyou try not to make very many of them.” Six of the 12 postseason teams have payrollsof$200million or more, with the Boston Red Sox about $500,000 short of themark

The World Series champion Dodgers overtookthe New York Mets for the most expensive roster with in-season moves that boosted their payroll to $341.5 mil-

lion, according to MajorLeague Baseball’slatest tabulation.

“I thinkitdoesn’tmatter.It’s just thechemistry of theteam,” Redsshortstop Elly De La Cruz said Tuesday.“We playtogether We staytogether andwesupport each other.”

Despitedeferringover $1 billion in payments for eight players, including Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles is projected topay nearly $168 millioninluxury tax.

That shatters thepriormark of $103 million it paid for the2024 season for arecord total spend of $509.5 million Thesecond-biggest spender the Mets, didn’teven makethe 12-team postseason field despite spending $428.8 million —which representsadecrease of about $1.5 million from 2024. The Mets’ payrollafter in-season moveswas

$339.7 million and theyproject to pay $89.1million in tax. Finalpayrolls andtax figures won’tbecalculated until award bonuses are determined following theWorld Series.

Baseball’scollective bargaining agreement expiresinDecember 2026 andsome ownersare advocatingthatmanagement push for asalary cap.

Baseball players have always resisted acap,and thesport’s 10th work stoppage since 1972 is possible.

The Yankees have thethirdhighest spend at $363.3 million with $301.5 million in payroll and $61.8 million in tax. Their Wild Card Series opponent is the rival RedSox, who committedjust under $199.6million with a$198 million payroll and alittle more than $1.5 million in tax.

Cleveland at $103.9millionhas the lowest payroll among playoff teams.The Guardians are playing Detroit, which is at $162.6 million. San Diego ($224.1 million in spending) is facing theChicago Cubs ($211.8 million) in theother National League first-round series.

The Padres have a$217.3 million payroll and are projected to pay a $6.9 million tax. Twoteams with first-round byes didn’treach this year’sluxury tax threshold, Milwaukeeat$124.8 million and Seattle at $167.2million. Philadelphia hasthe fourthhighest spend at $347.7 million with a$291.7 million payroll and $55.9 million in forecast tax. Toronto is at $266 millionwith a$252.7 millionpayrolland $13.4 million in projected tax.

Lucas Giolito doesn’tappear to have structural damage to his right elbow but is unlikely to pitch forthe Boston Red Sox during the postseason.

A31-year-old right-hander,Giolito wasleftoff Boston’s roster for the Wild Card Series against the NewYork Yankees because of elbow pain. Dugas repaired the ulnar collateral ligament in Giolito’s right elbow with internal brace surgery on March 12 last year Giolito returned to NewYork in time for pregameintroductions. An All-Star in 2019, Giolito was 10-4witha 3.41 ERAin26starts this season. He also hadTommyJohnsurgery with Dr.LewisYocum on Sept. 13, 2012. Giolito is 71-66 with a4.30 ERA in nine major league seasons.

QB’s play evoking memories of his father

Westminster’s George following dad’s footsteps

BY MIKE COPPAGE

Contributing writer

Stephen George is repeating his dad’s football feats

A few decades ago, Sam George made headlines as Opelousas High School’s quarterback, guiding the Tigers to a historic quarterfinal win over John Curtis.

Stephen George, a senior fourstar starter, has led Westminster Christian to a 4-0 record and No. 6 Division IV select power rating entering this week’s District 5-1A game against Sacred Heart (4-0, 1-0).

“Dad actually got the film of the John Curtis game,” Stephen said.

“It was cool and a good experience to see him play Hopefully I’ll be playing deep in the playoffs.”

So far the Crusaders look like a title contender WCA is coming off a 41-28 win at undefeated CatholicPointe Coupee. George has passed for 647 yards and 11 touchdowns with one interception good for 10th in the area.

“Stephen has been playing lights

out since the season started,”

coach Byron Porter said. “We knew he would need to do that for us to have success.”

George is also averaging more than 11 yards per carry, rushing for 199 yards on 17 attempts with three touchdowns. He averaged more than 40 yards per completion against Catholic PC with Damien Thomas (two catches for 113 yards, two TDs), Gavin Frith (2-96, two TDs) and Kyle Horde (1-48) serving as favorite targets.

“It was fun to see Stephen see the coverage and take advantage,” said Sam, who works as a volunteer assistant. “He’s really picking up on reads.”

Sam George said former WCA coach Travis Blaize deserves an assist for inserting Stephen as the Crusaders’ starting quarterback in 2022. The next year, Porter and his staff were greeted by a sophomore with a full year of experience under center “I think Stephen’s freshman year catapulted him,” Sam said.

“He was more comfortable when

Westminster Christian of Opelousas quarterback Stephen

up yardage against Westminster-Lafayette in a 49-7 victory on Friday. George has led the Crusaders to a 4-0 record.

coach Porter came. Fast forward until now and you see him mature and grow, not only into the position, but as a leader.”

The Crusaders host Sacred Heart at 7 p.m. Friday

The Trojans have posted three

shutouts and allowed 15 points in their other game. Coach Jacob Aguillard’s team shut out Opelousas Catholic, which featured one of the area’s top quarterbacks and two talented receivers.

“It doesn’t get any easier,” Por-

Ole Miss cornerback Ricky Fletcher plays tight defense against LSU wide receiver Zavion Thomas, denying a completion on Saturday afternoon in Oxford, Miss. LSU’s average third-down distance against Ole Miss was 8.1 yards, which contributed to its 2-for-11 performance

LSU

Continued from page 1C

comment on his health after the game. Much of LSU’s potential this year hinged on Nussmeier taking another step forward after an upand-down first season as a starter

“Garrett Nussmeier’s got to play better,” Kelly said. “Every player on offense has got to play better.” But the blame for the thirddown struggles goes beyond quarterback. Problems in the run game has turned potential thirdand-shorts into third-and-longs.

LSU’s average third-down distance against Ole Miss was 8.1 yards Against Florida it was 7.2 yards, and at Clemson it was 8.5.

“I mean, there’s not one guy that you will put up and go, ‘Well, that was the reason why we lost,’ “ Kelly said. “There’s many, many

RATTLER

Continued from page 1C

he bent his route inside and Bishop stumbled. A better ball would have been an easy touchdown by NFL standards

— one that would have given the Saints a fourth-quarter lead. But Rattler’s throw from a clean pocket was low and toward the sideline, forcing Cooks to attempt a difficult catch against his momentum

The pass was ruled incomplete after replay review, and the Saints settled for a field goal. Later in the fourth quarter, trailing by two scores near midfield and facing a third and 10, Rattler put another ball behind a receiver. This one went to Rashid Shaheed, who had room to run thanks to a well-designed mesh concept Pressured from his right side, Rattler

players that have to play their best when their best is needed.”

The rushing attack showed no signs of progress against the Rebels The Tigers averaged just 3.1 yards per carry when adjusted for lost sack yardage against one of the weakest run defenses in the SEC.

Ole Miss entered Saturday allowing 5.1 yards per rushing attempt.

Opposing defenses have caught on to the Tigers’ running struggles, making life more difficult for Nussmeier to push the ball downfield with his arm.

Kelly said on the “Paul Finebaum Show” on Monday that 85% to 90% of the coverages LSU faced on Saturday were eight-man looks, which means that Ole Miss dropped extra bodies into coverage because it didn’t respect LSU’s ability to run the ball.

“I look at our plan, and I didn’t like our plan,” Kelly said regarding LSU’s approach to the Ole Miss defense. “And that falls on

floated a ball behind Shaheed, allowing the defender to catch up and make the tackle 3 yards shy of the sticks. The Saints’ ensuing fourth-down play was stopped a yard shy of the marker.

One thing is becoming clear about Rattler as he develops as a passer: He has an underrated ability to affect the game with his legs.

Rattler gained 49 yards on six carries last week. Five of those runs moved the chains, and the one that didn’t was a positive play, gaining 8 yards on second and 10.

Rattler converted third downs of 7, 2 and 1 yards as a runner His impact as a runner can be measured by the advanced stat known as Expected Points Added (EPA), which attempts to quantify the difference in a team’s scoring potential after a given play

Rattler led the NFL in EPA as a runner in Week 4 contributing +6.5 EPA, according to Next Gen

us. That can’t happen, and we’ve got to be prepared for everything and put our players in a position to succeed.”

The run game also struggled a year ago But Nussmeier was healthier last season, and the Tigers leaned on his ability to make tightwindow throws on third-and-long.

That aspect of the offense has dried up this season, playing a large role in why LSU has sputtered through the first five games of the year, especially on third down.

“Some of the guys needed to have better performances

There’s no doubt,” Kelly said on Finebaum’s show “But I think it falls on all of us to take a good look in the mirror and find out why we came up short in this game. And we came up short because our preparation wasn’t exactly what it needed to be for this game.”

Email Koki Riley at Koki Riley@theadvocate.com.

Stats. Through four weeks, only Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts, Lamar Jackson and Baker Mayfield have a higher EPA as runners across the NFL. There is plenty to like about what Rattler has done through four starts this year, enough to merit continuing to take a look at him in the starting role. But he holds one of 32 starting jobs in the league, and the standard has to be high. At some point, he has to start making the big plays through the air when they are available to him.

Numbers to know

165 — Of the Saints’ 189 yards rushing against Buffalo, 165 came after contact, the third-most by a team in a single game since 2018, according to Next Gen Stats.

5.7 — Buffalo running back James Cook showed why he’s one of the NFL’s most complete backs

ter said. “Sacred Heart has a good team that plays hard, fast and physical. They make minimal mistakes and put pressure on offenses.”

Stephen, who said his dad doesn’t cut him any slack when reviewing game footage, said he would like to follow his parents’ footsteps and attend Southern — preferably as a member of the football team like Sam.

“I don’t have any offers,” Stephen said. “I like Southern since my dad went there. I’ve been going to their games since I was little.”

The more wins the Crusaders notch, the more attention Stephen can garner

WCA has upcoming games against St. Edmund (4-0), which is No. 1 in Division IV select, and Opelousas Catholic.

“The last two years, we’ve been on the lower end of the bracket and had to play the state champion in the second round,” Sam said. “We held our own pretty well and walked away feeling good after the Vermilion Catholic game last year I think this team understands what it takes.”

NFL

Continued from page 1C

season with a torn biceps, and center Austin Corbett is out 6-8 weeks because of a knee injury

Saints right guard Cesar Ruiz hurt his ankle on Sunday Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson injured his shoulder, and right guard Tyler Steen suffered a lower-body injury

The Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Chiefs are among the few teams that have stayed healthy on the offensive line.

When Bills right tackle Spencer Brown didn’t play against the Saints because of a calf injury, it marked just the second time since the start of 2024, including playoffs, that the Bills didn’t have their projected five starters.

Other injuries

Tyreek Hill was the latest star player to suffer a season-ending injury when the five-time All-Pro receiver dislocated his knee during Miami’s win over the Jets on Monday night. The New York Giants lost star wideout Malik Nabers for the season to a knee injury

Sunday

Quarterback Joe Burrow, edge rushers Nick Bosa and Khalil Mack, defensive linemen Nnamdi Madubuike and Calijah Kancey,

FOOTE

Continued from page 1C

Houston led 21-0 early in the second quarter when the comeback began. Tyrell Fenroy rushed for 110 yards and a score while quarterback Jerry Babb threw for 146 yards and a touchdown.

It was a matchup of contrasting styles with Houston throwing for 409 yards to 150 for UL, which outran the Cougars 269-38.

The Cajuns still trailed 28-13 in the third quarter but completed the comeback with an 18-play, 85yard drive in 6:46 with tight end Kevin Belton catching the gamewinning 4-yard touchdown pass with 1:02 left to play

UL 25, San Jose St. 21 (1983)

This was the finale of a strange season.

The Cajuns started 0-5 with three losses by three of fewer points, then won their final three

against the Saints. Of his 117 yards rushing against the Saints, 81 came between the tackles, where he averaged a whopping 5.7 yards after contact per attempt.

117.8 — Opposing quarterbacks have a 117.8 passer rating against the Saints this year Only the Miami Dolphins (125.1) and Dallas Cowboys (123.0) have allowed a higher rating.

Next up

All eyes are on Giants rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart and the people he is throwing the ball to.

The No. 25 overall pick out of Ole Miss made his debut as a starter last week and impressed, throwing for 111 yards, rushing for 54 and totaling two touchdowns while the previously winless Giants knocked off the previously unbeaten Los Angeles Chargers. The numbers aren’t particularly impressive, but Dart

and running back James Conner are among the top players out. Lamar Jackson has a hamstring injury for the Ravens, who’ve been decimated by injuries.

Linebacker Kyle Van Noy missed the past two games, and All-Pro fullback Patrick Ricard hasn’t played all season. All-Pro linebacker Roquan Smith, All-Pro cornerback Marlon Humphrey, Pro Bowl tackle Ronnie Stanley and starting cornerback Nate Wiggins all left Sunday’s loss at Kansas City along with Jackson.

Tight end George Kittle; running backs Joe Mixon and Aaron Jones; wide receivers Mike Evans, Brandon Aiyuk, Jayden Reed, Christian Watson, Jalen McMillan and Tank Dell; cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson and Maxwell Hairston; and linebackers Dre Greenlaw and Nolan Smith are also recovering from injuries.

Brock Purdy missed two games and is still dealing with a toe injury that could force him to sit out San Francisco’s game on Thursday night. Jayden Daniels didn’t play the past two games for Washington because of a knee injury Justin Fields missed one with a concussion for the Jets.

McCarthy hasn’t played the past two.

Injuries are part of the game, but teams that can avoid losing key players have the best chance to win in the end.

games to finish 4-6.

Trailing 21-0 against San Jose State, the Cajuns stormed back. Of the five comebacks, this one had the second-most unsettled quarterback situation.

It was a two-quarterback scenario with Donnie Wallace and Donnie Schexnider Schexnider threw for 1,016 yards and nine touchdowns with Wallace tossing for 510 yards and three scores during the season.

UL 49, New Mexico St. 35 ( 13)

The Cajuns were much better than the Aggies but trailed 28-7 with 9:23 left in the second quarter The Cajuns outscored the home team 35-0 in the second half to turn the big deficit into a blowout win. UL ran for 209 yards. Running back Alonzo Harris ran for 106 yards and five touchdowns. Terrance Broadway passed for 231 yards.

Email Kevin Foote at kfoote@ theadvocate.com.

put them up against a Chargers team that ranks third in total defense and fourth in scoring defense.

There are some things to consider, such as the Chargers sacked Dart five times, three of which came when Dart held the ball and waited for the play to develop. While New Orleans hasn’t generated consistent pressure this season, its 11 sacks are tied for the seventh-most in the NFL through four weeks.

Dart also will be without his top wideout, former LSU star Malik Nabers, who tore his ACL against the Chargers. Without Nabers, the Giants top receivers are Wan’Dale Robinson (18 catches, 237 yards) and Darius Slayton (nine catches, 135 yards).

Email Luke Johnson at ljohnson@theadvocate.com.

NCAA nears approval of single transfer window

decision.”

BY MAURA CAREY Associated Press

The NCAA is on the verge of approving a single transfer window in college football that would allow players on teams competing in the postseason to remain eligible for

playoff and bowl games before entering the portal

The window of Jan. 2-16 was approved by the Division I bowl subdivision oversight committee on Monday and needs only a final signoff from the D-I administrative panel next month to take effect.

Bowl subdivision coaches voted unanimously to support the January portal proposal during their American Football Coaches Association convention earlier this year The change would allow them to focus more on coaching during

bowl season, and it would prevent most teams from losing active players as they prepare for important games. Last winter, Penn State backup quarterback Beau Pribula entered the portal and missed his team’s run in the College Football Playoff.

“The current NCAA postseason model creates a challenge for student-athletes,” Pribula, now at Missouri, wrote on social media at the time. “The overlapping CFB playoff & transfer portal timeline has forced me into an impossible

Players on CFP teams will have a five-day window to enter the portal following their team’s final game.

All other players will have from Jan. 2 to Jan. 16 to enter, instead of the current Dec. 9-28 window Already gone is the spring portal period, which was April 16-25 this past offseason. That saw many players and coaches juggling transfers and spring practice.

Nico Iamaleava a quarterback who led Tennessee to the playoff last season, left the Volunteers for

UCLA in the spring, leaving Tennessee scrambling. The oversight committee had initially recommended a 10-day notification-of-transfer window from Jan 2-11 but expanded it after feedback from athletes. Other than the CFP exception, the only other way for football players to transfer outside the new window is if a coach is fired; in those cases, players may enter the portal within 30 days. The committee is considering changes to that exception as well.

Lazard 1-8. Miami, T.Hill 6-67, Waddle 3-48 Waller 3-27, M.Washington 2-13, J.Hill 1-19, Achane 1-2, Westbrook-Ikhine 1-1.

MISSED FIELD GOALS: None. Denver 28, Cincinnati 3 Cincinnati30003 Denver71407—28

First Quarter Cin: FG McPherson 26, 9:08

Den: Nix 6 run (Lutz kick), :17 Second Quarter Den: M.Mims 16 run (Lutz kick), 8:48 Den: Sutton 20 pass from Nix (Lutz kick), :08 Fourth Quarter Den: Harvey 12 pass from Nix (Lutz kick) 4:58. A: 75,673. CinDen First downs 9 29 Total Net Yards

Punt Returns

Interceptions Ret.

Comp-Att-Int

Sacked-Yards Lost

Punts

Fumbles-Lost

Penalties-Yards

Time of Possession 22:02 37:58

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING: Cincinnati, C.Brown 10-40, Iosivas 1-5, Perine 1-4, Browning 3-4. Denver, Dobbins 16-101, Harvey 14-58, Mims 1-16, Nix 6-7, Prentice 1-4. PASSING: Cincinnati, Browning 14-25-0-125. Denver, Nix 29-42-1-326. RECEIVING: Cincinnati, Chase 5-23, Higgins 3-32, C.Brown 3-31, Iosivas 1-22, Tinsley 1-9, Gesicki 1-8. Denver, Mims 6-69, Sutton 5-81, Franklin 4-55, Harvey 4-40, Engram 4-29, Trautman 2-32, Adkins 2-5, Badie 1-11 Dobbins 1-4 MISSED FIELD GOALS: None.

Major League Baseball Wild card series (Best-of-3) American League Cleveland vs. Detroit Tuesday: Tigers 2, Guardians 1 Wednesday: Detroit at Cleveland (Bibee 1211), 12:08 p.m. (ESPN)

x-Thursday: Detroit at Cleveland (Cecconi 7-7), 12:08 p.m. (ESPN) New York vs. Boston Tuesday: Boston at New York, n Wednesday: Boston (Bello 11-9) at New York (Rodón 18-9), 5:08 p.m. (ESPN)

x-Thursday: Boston at New York (Schlittler 4-3), 5:08 p.m. (ESPN) National League

Chicago vs. San Diego

Tuesday: Chicago 3, San Diego 1 Wednesday: San Diego (Cease 8-12) at Chicago, 2:08 p.m. (ABC)

x-Thursday: San Diego (Darvish 5-5) at Chicago, 2:08 p.m. (ABC) Los Angeles vs. Cincinnati Tuesday: Cincinnati at Los Angeles, n Wednesday: Cincinnati (Littell 10-8) at

(ESPN)

Angeles (Yamamoto 12-8), 8:08

x-Thursday: Cincinnati (Abbott

Patterson 47, 10:51

Second Quarter Mia: Waller 4 pass from Tagovailoa (Patterson kick), 9:20. NYJ: FG Folk 58, :00. Third Quarter Mia: Waller 9 pass from Tagovailoa (Patterson kick), 11:33.

NYJ: Fields 43 run (Folk kick), 9:23 Mia: Achane 9 run (Patterson kick), 5:20 Fourth Quarter

NYJ: FG Folk 50, 13:09. Mia: FG Patterson 36, 3:33. NYJ: G.Wilson 23 pass from Fields (Fields run), 1:49. A: 65,848. NYJMia

First downs 23 19

Total Net Yards 404 300

Rushes-yards 28-197 31-123 Passing 207 177

Punt Returns 1-18 0-0

Kickoff Returns 5-162 3-96

Interceptions Ret. 0-0 0-0

Comp-Att-Int 20-27-0 17-25-0

Sacked-Yards Lost 2-19 0-0 Punts 2-42.0 4-48.0

Fumbles-Lost 3-3 2-0

Penalties-Yards 13-101 6-40 Time of Possession 29:12 30:48

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING: N.Y. Jets, Fields 7-81, Hall 14-81 Allen 4-26, Davis 3-9. Miami, Achane 20-99 Gordon 6-10, M.Washington 2-8, Tagovailoa 3-6. PASSING: N.Y. Jets, Fields 20-27-0-226. Miami, Tagovailoa 17-25-0-177. RECEIVING: N.Y. Jets, Wilson 6-82, M.Taylor 5-65, Hall 5-30, Davis 2-18, Ruckert 1-23

FAMILY TRAVEL 5

Tips to use your vacation time wisely

BY LYNN O’ROURKE HAYES FamilyTravel.com (TNS)

According to travel industry research, more than half of American workers leave unused vacation days on their organization’s board room table. Meanwhile, the research shows that by planning ahead, more families will actually take much-need getaways and by doing so, reap a multitude of personal and professional benefits.

Here are five ideas to consider:

Make planning a priority

As children and grandchildren get older, their schedules become more complicated by their own commitments, making it more difficult than ever to plan time together With dates on the calendar, you’ll feel less stress at work, knowing you’ve provided the boss and co-workers with plenty of notice about your plans.

Longer vacations?

According to research, 75% of those who plan ahead are more likely to take a full week or more of vacation in a single stretch. By crafting a strategy in advance you’ll have your pick of departures, the best cabins on a cruise ship and more options in popular resort areas While you are at it, scan the year ahead and be the first to claim vacation days around existing holidays and school breaks, creating a longer stretch for relaxation and enjoyment.

Crafting a bucket list

Taking time to create a thoughtful bucket list can make it easier to plan for meaningful vacations, those that are a deliberate reflection of your values, hopes and dreams. So before you begin listing desired destinations, ask yourself what aspects of the world — geographically spiritually and culturally — you want to share with your children, grandchildren and perhaps other friends and family members.

And, when it comes time to involve the children in creating a meaningful list, remember that kids don’t know what they don’t know Certain theme parks and resorts will likely be on their radar screens But they may not be aware of the glories of Yellowstone or Yosemite or the historical significance of Gettysburg or Montpelier

Celebrate milestone events

Geographic spread, busy careers and school and sports schedules make it more difficult than ever to spend time together Therefore, planning ahead to celebrate birthdays, graduations and anniversaries can be an important touchstone and meaningful part of a family’s legacy With plenty of advance notice, you’ll increase the odds that more family members will be able to take part in the fun. Ask your clan to save a date and then get to work creating a gathering that will be a lasting memory for all. Reap the benefits

In-depth research indicates that Americans who take time to plan their vacation days in the year ahead are happier than their come-what-may counterparts. Planners are happier with their health and well-being, their

ä

LIVING

GUIDING SPIRIT

Café Sydnie Mae offers elevated Louisiana cooking while celebrating historic 100-year Breaux Bridge building

BY JOANNA BROWN Staff writer

Ahundred years ago, the Frank Pellerin building in downtown Breaux Bridge was a casketbuilding factory with a mechanical lift the first elevator in town, in fact — that moved the coffins between floors. That act was followed by a turn as a ladies’ dry goods store that sold fabrics, lace and other personal goods. The store was a gathering place for the women of the community Area foodies likely remember the Café Des Amis era best, which featured a popular weekend zydeco brunch that had people dancing in the aisles and enjoying Cajun hospitality and great food.

Today, those eras have all merged into the Pellerin building’s current life as Café Sydnie Mae, which opened in 2018. The casket lift is still prominently featured at the front of the restaurant, and the building’s patina laden brick walls are covered with holes from the bolts of fabric that used to hang there.

Executive chef Kimberley Nuzum reigns over a kitchen that has inspired a loyal following across

the region, creating a menu that features top-rated steaks, seafood and Louisiana dishes — like a simple, creamy bowl of red beans with unbelievable depth of flavor and a succulent pork chop that drips in cane butter

100 years of history

Nuzum is a Culinary Institute of America graduate who earned her chops working in restaurants in Breckenridge, Colorado, and her native Louisiana. She enjoyed meeting hundreds of guests who flowed through the restaurant during the building’s 100-year anniversary on Sept. 28, in a celebration that marked the historic site’s various community roles.

See PELLERIN, page 6C

Testing‘Heloise’readerhints

Dear Heloise: I’m aretired senior citizen who became awidower about five years ago. It didn’t take me long to realize that Iwas acomplete novice around the house, especially in the kitchen. Then Irecalled that my wife often mentioned hints from your column, and this led to my becoming an avid fan of yours.

Hints from Heloise

Ihave used many of the hints you’ve published, and most were agodsend, with very few being lessthan ex-

pected.Onrare occasions, there have beenhints you have published that, in my mind, seem slightly unusual. This leads me to ask if you oryour staff research, validate or test thehints that you publish. Please understand that this is not acomplaint but ratherjust aquestion outofcuriosity

Please keep your hints coming! —Tom F.,inLos Angeles Tom, we research agreat many answers, and we even cook some of therecipes

TODAYINHISTORY

By The Associated Press

Today is Wednesday, Oct. 1, the 274th day of 2025. There are 91 days left in the year

Todayinhistory: On Oct. 1, 2017, in the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history,a gunman opened fire from aroom at the high-rise Mandalay Bay casino hotel in Las Vegas on acrowd of 22,000 fans at acountry music concert below,causing 60 deaths and more than 850 injuries. Also on this date: In 1890, YosemiteNational Park was established by the U.S. Congress. In 1903, the first modern baseball World Series began, with the National League’sPittsburgh Pirates defeating the American League’sBoston Americans in Game1;Boston would ultimately win the series 5-3.

In 1908, Henry Ford introduced hismass-produced ModelTautomobile tothe market. Between 1908 and 1927, Ford would build more than 15 millionModel Tcars. In 1910, theoffices of the LosAngeles Timeswere destroyed byadynamite explosion andfire,killing 21 employees; union activist J.B. McNamara eventually pleadedguilty andwas sentenced to life in prison for thebombing In 1949, Mao Zedong, leader of the communist People’sLiberation Army, proclaimed thePeople’s Republic of China duringa ceremonyinBeijing In 1957, themotto “In God We Trust” began appearing on U.S.paper currency In 1962, federal marshals escorted James Meredith as heenrolled as thefirst Black student at theUniversity of Mississippi;Meredith’s presence sparked

that people havesentin. Thereare oftentimes a great number of answers to various questions, such as how to get rid of cockroaches or how to removecertain stains. Ihave published several books on household hints, cooking, and many other questions from readers, some of which go back as far as the 1950s. From all of us here at Heloise Central, thank you for being an avid reader Heloise Send ahinttoheloise@ heloise.com.

rioting that left two people dead.

In 1971, Walt Disney World opened near Orlando, Florida.

In 1975, Muhammad Ali defeated Joe Frazier in the “Thrilla in Manila,”the last of their three boxing bouts for theheavyweight championship.

In 2024, Claudia Sheinbaum,ascientist-turnedpolitician, was sworn in as thefirst female president of Mexico.

Today’sbirthdays: Actorsinger Julie Andrews is 90. Film director Jean-Jacques Annaud is 82. Baseball Hall of Famer Rod Carew is 80. Actor Randy Quaid is 75. Singer Youssou N’Dour is 66. Actor Esai Morales is 63. Retired MLB All-Star Mark McGwire is 62. Actor Zach Galifianakis is 56. Actor Sarah Drew is 45. Actorcomedian Beck Bennettis 41. Actor Jurnee Smollett is 39. Actor Brie Larson is 36.

PHOTOSByROBIN MAy

Owner Cheryl Puckett servessamples of food during Café SydnieMae’scelebration for the 100-year anniversaryofthe Pellerinbuilding it occupies.

PELLERIN

Continuedfrom page5C

“I lovethat Iget to be in thisbuilding,” Nuzum said. “I honestly can’t imagine being anywhere else. The guestswehave are just the best,and everything about this place is so, so special.”

Café Sydnie Mae’sowner, David Puckett, agrees. An enthusiastic characterwho treats each guest likea longtime friend, hispride in therestaurant and building (which is owned by former District 46 state representative Mike Huval, and his wife, Monica) is evident.

“The best compliment I’vereceivedabout this place is thatit’sacommunity center,” Puckettsaid.

“During COVID, thecommunity wrapped its arms around us,and without them, we wouldn’tbehere.”

Atirelessadvocate

The relationship between the Pellerin building and thecommunity goes beyond commerce and food. The name of therestaurant ties in to the area’spolitical history

Patrons gather at Café SydnieMae during the celebration of the Pellerin building.

Sydnie MaeDurand, who died in 2011,was thefirst female president of the St. Martin Parish Police Jury and the first woman elected to serve as state representative for District46from 1992 to 2008. Known as atireless advocatefor hercommunity, Mike and MonicaHuval love that Durand’slegacy is also front and center in this era of the building’s100-year history. After all, Huvaland Durand represented the same

office and share the same love for Breaux Bridge and St.MartinParish.

“Wejust loved the building andwantedtosave it,” Monica Huval said. The Pellerin building had gone up forsheriff’ssale in 2017, after Café DesAmis vacated.

“It has so muchunique history, anda lotofspirit to it, and it needed to continue,” she said.

Mike Huvalagreed, adding, “What Café Des Amis did, andwhatthis is also doing, is bringing the downtown area alive. It helps other businesses say,‘There are people here, and we can open abusiness like this.’ So it was Monica’s wishto buy the building, because it needed somebody.”

Café Sydnie Maeisinthe first floor of the historic F. Pellerin building in Breaux Bridge, at 140 E. Bridge St. The restaurant is open 5 to 9p.m. Thursday to Friday,11a.m. to 2p.m. and 5to9p.m. Saturday,and 9:45 a.m.to2p.m. Sunday Email Joanna Brown at joanna.brown@ theadvocate.com.

spreadingacross the focaccia, which was soft, salty and the perfect vessel for funneling cheese and red sauce. —Maddie Scott, features writer

Osso Buco n Nino’s, 7512 Bluebonnet Blvd., Baton Rouge

Whenever Iwant to go big or go home on ameal, I always get the osso buco if it’sonthe menu. The osso buco at Nino’s is aslow-braised wagyu that’s served over creamy mushroom risotto and topped with atruffled red wine demi-glaze and gremolata. The meal is served with carrots, asparagus and cauliflower

For the most part, osso buco is ahearty dish, but the parsley,lemon zestand garlic of the gremolata make it both rich and zesty. The meal has so many flavor components, but everything balances so wellon the plate. The spices in the gremolata cut through the richnessofthe meat, and the red wine sauce brings asort of wholeness to the

Rouge

dish that finisheswell If you’re in the mood to go big, Irecommendthe osso buco.

—Lauren Cheramie, features coordinator

Gobi Lasuni n BayLeaf Indian Cuisine, 5160 S. Sherwood Forest Blvd Baton Rouge

This dish came asfried cauliflower in amild sauce, garnished with cilantro. I’m not goingtolie, Iwas not expectingmuchfrom a vegetable-centric appetizer, andsince then, I’velearned nottojudgea book by its cover

Myself and two other friends at thetable were entranced. The cauliflower hijacked our conversation,and for agood couple minutes,weall kept commentingonhow dang tasty it was. The sauce was sweet and alittle spicywith ginger notes. Ifeel like frying anythingjust elevates adish, and that was the case here, but thebatter wasn’ttoo heavy.The cilantro on top added alittle air of freshness.

Cauliflower is capable of much morethan Ithought —Maddie Scott, features writer

to the research. Further,an overwhelmingmajority of American workers report that time off helps them relax andrecharge, andoffersthe opportunity to pursue personal interests.Nearly twothirds ofemployees say their concentration and productivity at work improveswith time off.Businessleadersechothis sentiment.Ofthose surveyed, 91% believe employees return from vacation recharged and renewed —and readyto work

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) Think before you agree to participate. Refrain from taking on too much or exaggerating what you can do. Honesty will help you maintain the status quo and buy you time to develop or fine-tune your skills.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) Distance yourself from anyone who wants to engage in a debate. Volatile situations can escalate rapidly, leaving you in a precarious position. When someone else goes low, you go high, and you'll win the battle.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Look for a unique outlet, and it will soothe your soul. Keep your distance from people who overreact, spend, indulge or tempt you with lavish behavior.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Learn, gain experience and explore your options. Participate in events that offer thoughtprovoking insights and exclusive information. Be direct, thoughtful and fair.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) You owe it to yourself and loved ones to chill and catch up. Attitude and gratitude will ground you and encourage realistic choices Choose peace over discord, and something good will come of it.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) Keep moving. Choose discipline over overreaction or letting things get to you. What you accomplish will ease your stress and encourage you to do something nice for yourself.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) Put your energy where it counts. Sign up for a cause you believe in, and the people you meet will

ignite your passion for your principles. Be the one to step up and make a difference.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Direct your energy wisely. An emotional outburst at the wrong time or place will jeopardize your position or reputation. Take care of domestic responsibilities.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Change your perspective. A conversation or chance meeting will lead to a personal or physical change you've been considering. Update your appearance or persona.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) A timeout will give you a chance to digest what's coming down the pipeline. Be cautious about sharing your thoughts prematurely. A secretive approach to home and work is in your best interest.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Redirect your attention to domestic issues before someone close to you complains. Taking care of your responsibilities early will prevent the need to make additional compensations later in the day.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Get organized, and you'll be able to deliver on your promises. An interesting change to how you earn or use your money will put you in a better position to negotiate and build the lifestyle you want to live.

The horoscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact. © 2025 by NEA, Inc., dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication

Sudoku

InstructIons: Sudoku is anumber-placing puzzle based on a9x9 grid with several given numbers. Theobject is to place the numbers 1to9 in the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. Thedifficulty level of theSudoku increases from Monday to Sunday.

Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

Bridge

BY PHILLIP ALDER

Walter Lippmann,who originated the terms“ColdWar”and“stereotype,”said, “It requires wisdom to understand wisdom: Themusic is nothing if theaudience is deaf.”

At the bridge table, the auction is nothing if theplayers are deaf to it.Thisdeal would be impossiblefor anyone whodid not remember thebidding; it would be testingfor someone whodid

HowshouldSouthplantheplayinthree no-trump? West leads his fourth-highest heart. East winswith his ace and returns the three, his original fourth-highest. (If he had started withonlythree hearts, he would have led back his higher remaining card in thesuit.)

Tobehonest,althoughitwasbesthere, IdisapproveofWest’sopeninglead.With no side-suit entry, he should have ledhis spade. (The last time Idid not lead partner’s suit, diamonds, they made three no-trump vulnerable instead of going down three.)

Southhaseighttoptricks:threespades, one heart and fourclubs. He does not have time to play on diamonds,somust get four spade tricks. Withsilent opponents, declarer would cash his ace and queen, but that does not rate to work here, needing West to have asingletonjack. Southshould hope that West has asingleton eight or nine. Declarer plays aclub to dummy’s10, then leads specifically the spade 10. If East plays low, Southrunsthe 10. If East covers withhis jack, declarer winswithhis ace (or queen) and happily notes the fall of theeight on his left. He returns to the dummy withaclub, plays aspade to his seven, and can claim.

©2025 by NEA,Inc., dist.

By Andrews McMeel Syndication

Each Wuzzle is awordriddlewhich creates adisguised word, phrase, name, place, saying,

For example: NOON GOOD =GOOD AFTERNOON

Previous answers:

word game

InsTRucTIons: 1. Words must be of fourormore letters. 2. Words that acquire fourletters 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 wordsare not allowed

ToDAY’s WoRD nosTRIL: NOSS-tril: Either fleshy wall of the nose.

Average mark21words

Time limit 40 minutes

Can you find 30 or morewords in NOSTRIL?

YEsTERDAY’s WoRD —cIVILIAns

BRIEFS FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

Pfizer agrees to lower Medicaid drug costs

WASHINGTON Pfizer has agreed to lower the cost of prescription drugs for Medicaid under a deal struck with the Trump administration, President Donald Trump said Tuesday as he promised similar deals with other drugmakers under the threat of tariffs.

Trump made the announcement at the White House alongside Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla just hours ahead of a possible government shutdown in a partisan standoff over health care and spending.

Pfizer Inc., one of the largest U.S. drugmakers, produces the COVID-19 vaccine Comirnaty and the treatment Paxlovid. Its products also include several cancer drugs, the blood thinner Eliquis and the pneumonia vaccine Prevnar Under the deal, New York-based Pfizer will charge most-favorednation pricing to Medicaid and guarantee that pricing on newly launched drugs, Trump said. That involves matching the lowest price offered in other developed nations.

The agreement by Pfizfer builds on an executive order Trump signed in May setting a deadline for drugmakers to electively lower prices or face new limits on what the government will pay Trump said deals with other drug companies would be coming over the next week

Consumers are not expected to start seeing lower prices under the Pfizer deal until 2026, according to senior administration officials who were not authorized to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity

California police pull over self-driving Waymo

SAN FRANCISCO Police in Northern California were understandably perplexed when they pulled over a Waymo taxi after it made an illegal U-turn, only to find no driver behind the wheel and therefore, no one to ticket.

The San Bruno Police Department wrote in now viral weekend social media posts that officers were conducting a DUI operation early Saturday morning when a self-driving Waymo made the illegal turn in front of them.

Officers stopped the vehicle, but declined to write a ticket as their “citation books don’t have a box for ‘robot.’”

“That’s right no driver no hands, no clue,” read the post, which was accompanied by photos of an officer peering into the car

Officers contacted Waymo to report what they called a “glitch,” and in the post, they said they hope reprogramming will deter more illegal moves. Waymo is owned by Google’s parent company, Alphabet. FCC moves to cut expanded Wi-Fi access

The Federal Communications Commission voted to end discounts for library Wi-Fi hotspot lending and school bus connectivity programs on Tuesday, drawing criticism from lawmakers and librarians who say the moves will make it more difficult for people who are low-income or live in rural areas to access the internet.

The 2-1 vote on hotspot lending reverses a Biden-era expansion of the discounts that allowed schools and libraries to use E-Rate funds for school bus Wi-Fi and hotspots so people could go online outside of schools and libraries.

The FCC said the agency “lacked legal authority for this expansion and that the agency failed to properly justify its decision” and said the program represented “unreasonable policy choices” and “invited waste, fraud, and abuse.” Another 2-1 vote overturned the FCC’s 2023 decision to provide WiFi on school buses FCC Chair Brendan Carr had said it amounted to “illegal” funding for “unsupervised screen time for young kids.”

The E-Rate program, established in the 1990s, has provided billions of dollars in discounts for eligible schools and libraries since 2022 to afford broadband products and services. According to a 2024 data analysis by the AP, it offered benefits to more than 12,500 libraries, nearly half of them in rural areas, and 106,000 schools As of 2024, 79% of Americans had access to broadband internet at home, according to the Pew Research Center

Amazon unveils a new generation

Updated gadgets are all AI-powered

BY ANNE D’INNOCENZIO AP retail writer

NEW YORK — Online juggernaut

Amazon Inc. unveiled its next generation of Kindle, Ring and Echo devices, among other gadgets, that are all powered by artificial intelligence and connected to Alexa+, its AI-infused personal assistant, which made its debut in February

The lineup, announced at a presentation and showcase in New York, includes new cameras for its Ring video monitoring device with a new AI facial recognition feature that allows users to register friends and family and notify them who is at the front door

Amazon unveiled four new Echo devices revamped with Alexa+ that serve up personalized insights like whether the user left the front door unlocked after midnight. The Seattle-based company also announced a series of Alexa+-infused Fire TVs that offer more personalized searches like finding a specific scene in a movie or getting commentary about last night’s football game

The presentation Tuesday was the first big product event for Panos Panay, who joined Amazon in 2023 to head up the company’s devices and services teams after a 19-year career at Microsoft where he served as chief product officer.

Panay told the audience of several hundred journalists and bloggers that Alexa+ and artificial intelligence are allowing technology to work “in the background when you don’t.”

“Products creating subtle shifts in all our behavior, driven by AI, integrated into the hardware,” Panay said. “And flowing natural through the products themselves Whether it’s a camera catching what you missed Or your Fire TV updating you on a game. Or your Kindle remembering exactly where you left off.”

Amazon’s effort to infuse more AI into its device line-up is part of technology’s latest craze as all the industry’s major players jockey to gain the upper hand.

The battle so far has focused on leveraging AI to make smartphones even smarter and turn digital assistants into more conversational and versatile companions better equipped to help people manage their lives.

So far Samsung and Google have been making more significant strides with the AI features on their devices than Apple has made with the iPhone, which still doesn’t have all the tools that the company promised more than a year ago. Meanwhile, OpenAI has joined forces with former Apple design guru Jony Ive to work on a wearable device built on AI technology PP Foresight analyst Paolo Pescatore wrote in a note Tues-

day that the Amazon offerings were “a much needed refresh to the lineup, as it was starting to look a bit dated.”

“Attention to detail may not grab headlines, but it should not be overlooked, especially how the products look and feel, ” he wrote.” The latest generation of devices is designed to blend into users’ lives without them realizing they exist Alexa+ is clearly the glue that holds the stack together...”

Here are some highlights: More powerful doorbell

Amazon has been expanding its home security features since the company bought Wi-Fi-connected cameras and doorbell maker Ring in 2018. Amazon said Tuesday that it’s infusing the device with more technology and upgraded cameras that will transform the device into a doorbell attendant and community tool for pet owners among other new uses.

Amazon said the ring cameras with retinal vision now come with 2K resolution for sharper detail and 4K resolution video.

Amazon’s new AI facial recognition feature called “Familiar Faces,” allows the user to register friends and family The smart doorbell, infused with Alexa+, will also be able to manage deliveries and provide instructions for delivery workers among other tasks.

For pet owners, Amazon has a new feature that helps owners reunite lost dogs with their families. It works like this: A neighbor reports a lost dog in the Ring app, which would notify people nearby with a Ring camera. The cameras would then use AI to look for a possible match with the lost dog.

Ring Wired Doorbell Pro, priced at $249.99 and Wired Doorbell Plus, priced at $179.99, among other Ring cameras, will

be available for pre-order on Tuesday, Amazon said. Ring’s “Search Party” for dogs will begin rolling out in November, followed by cats and other pets. And Alexa+ Greetings and Familiar Faces will be offered in December, the company said.

Updated Kindle Scribes lineup

Amazon unveiled new versions of the Kindle Scribe that the company touts as lighter and faster and features an AIpowered notebook search One of them includes a color screen.

The new Scribes feature larger 11-inch, glare-free E Ink screens up from 10.2 inches previously They now weigh 400 grams compared to 433 grams for last year’s version, the company said. Executives noted that at 5.4 millimeters thick, these new versions are thinner than the iPhone Air, which measures 5.6 millimeters.

The new versions of Scribes will allow users to access documents stored on Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive, the company said. Amazon said that later this year in the U.S., Kindle Scribe will be available starting at $499.99 and Kindle Scribe Colorsoft will be offered starting at $629.99.

Alexa+-Empowered Echo

Amazon unveiled four new Echo loud speaker devices the Echo Dot Max, Echo Studio, Echo Show 8 and Echo Show 11 — that are specifically for Alexa+ and allow for more personalized experiences.

The new offering, which starts at $99.99, comes as Amazon reports that those customers with early access to Alexa+ are engaging with the personal assistant twice as much and relying on it to do tasks like booking reservations and controlling smart home devices.

Wall Street yawns as shutdown looms

Dow

sets another record

BY STAN CHOE AP business writer

NEW YORK — U.S. stocks coasted to the finish of their latest winning month on Tuesday as Wall Street yawned at the potential shutdown of the U.S. federal government that’s looming.

The S&P 500 rose 0.4% to close out its fifth straight winning month after setting a record last week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 81 points, or 0.2%, to set its own alltime high, and the Nasdaq composite ticked 0.3% higher

The quiet trading came as a midnight deadline approached, when the U.S. government could shut down because of Washington’s latest political impasse. That’s because history has shown that past shutdowns have had limited impact on the economy and stock market, and many economists and professional investors expect something similar this time around.

The S&P 500 has climbed an average of 4.4% during past shutdowns and is positive over the past five, according to Monica Guerra, head of U.S. policy at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management.

What could make this shutdown different, though, is that the White House may push for large-scale firings of federal workers.

The broad stock market has been on a nearly relentless run since hitting a low in April on expectations that President Donald Trump’s tariffs won’t derail global trade and that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates several times to boost the slowing job market.

Treasury yields wavered in the bond market but ultimately held relatively steady following mixed reports on the U.S. economy One said consumers are feeling less confident than economists expected, with many respondents in the Conference Board’s survey pointing to the job market and to inflation that has remained higher than anyone would like.

A second report suggested the job market may be remaining in its “lowhire, low-fire” state. U.S. employers were advertising roughly the same number of job openings at the end of August as the month before. The hope on Wall Street had been for a number that’s neither too high nor too low, one balanced enough to keep the Fed on track to continue cutting interest rates.

The Fed just delivered its first cut of the year, and officials have penciled in more to give the job market a boost. But too-strong data on jobs could make the Fed less willing to cut rates, which would strengthen criticism that the U.S. stock market has become too expensive after prices ran so high. Too-weak numbers, meanwhile, could signal a coming recession, which would also hurt stock prices.

Oil-related companies weighed on the market as the price of crude fell again as traders see too much oil washing around the world. Baker Hughes sank 3.6%, and Schlumberger fell 2.1%.

Ga. farmers to get $531M in Hurricane Helene aid

But the deal’s not done yet

BY JEFF AMY Associated Press

ATLANTA — The wait continues for Georgia farmers who need more aid after Hurricane Helene, even as state and federal officials in other states announce agreements.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture and Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper on Tuesday announced Georgia farmers will receive $531 million, on the same day that federal and state officials announced $38 million in additional aid for South Carolina farmers. But unlike in South Carolina, as well as earlier announcements in

Florida, North Carolina and Virginia, Georgia’s aid amount wasn’t accompanied by a finalized agreement on how the state is going to hand out the block grant

Matthew Agvent, a spokesperson for Harper, said Georgia officials are “ironing out administrative details in the agreement with USDA while we also finalize the state’s work plan.” He didn’t estimate when a final agreement might be signed. Agvent said Tuesday’s announcement is significant, though, because it means state and federal officials have agreed on how much money should be spent to provide aid to farmers for different kinds of crops Agvent called that “the vast majority of the negotiation process.”

The delays are frustrating Georgia farmers, who have operated for a year without making up

losses not covered by insurance or other assistance programs. Some farmers have dipped into savings to pay for losses. Others have unpaid debts from last year and couldn’t borrow as much to plant 2025 crops. A few have sold equipment or land to generate cash. The financial stress comes as farmers face low prices for some crops even as the price of farming has risen. Vann Wooten, a farmer in south Georgia’s Jefferson Davis County, told WJCL-TV last week that he’s stopped raising chickens and refocused on cattle and produce after the storm demolished his chicken houses, causing $2 million in damage. Georgia officials have said destruction to the state-leading poultry industry is one of the biggest targets for additional aid. “We still haven’t gotten nothing.

We still haven’t even got a word,“ Wooten, also a county commissioner, told the television station. “We got a promise. But nothing on paper.”

Federal agriculture officials have said they are working with 14 different states to negotiate block grants following a $100 billion package passed by Congress in December In July, they announced completed agreements for $676 million in relief for Florida farmers covering losses from not only Helene but also Hurricanes Idalia, Debby and Milton. They also announced $61 million in relief for Virginia farmers that month. Earlier this month, they also announced a $221 million aid program for North Carolina. In all those cases, like with Tuesday’s South Carolina announcement, those included final deals on distribution.