The Advocate 10-07-2025

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LSU considers creating energy extension service

BY DAVID J MITCHELL Staff writer

Pumping and permanently storing carbon dioxide under vast stretches of Louisiana forest and farmland has triggered grassroots opposition, as the reality of more than 30 such proposed projects has taken hold over the past two years.

Companies proposing to convert hundreds to thousands of acres of farmland into solar farms have faced similar opposition from pockets of rural Louisiana, including in the state’s sugar cane growing regions.

The “energy transition” that some officials and business leaders say has arrived in Louisiana is bringing uncomfortable change and conflict to a state with nearly 125 years of history with oil and gas.

During a recent energy symposium, a top LSU executive floated the concept of having the state’s flagship university create a new cooperative extension service that could serve as an unbiased mediator and science-based information source on energy The concept, however, may step into a potentially sensitive area for LSU, with some having previously raised concerns over whether

Proposed carbon-capture projects that would store carbon dioxide underground have triggered grassroots opposition

the university has too close a relationship with the carbon capture and energy industries.

The model, according to the LSU executive, Robert Twilley, could be the LSU AgCenter’s and LSU Sea Grant’s decades-old cooperative extension services. The AgCenter includes the popular Louisiana Master

Gardener Program. Twilley, LSU vice president for research and economic development who formerly led the Sea Grant program, said creating a cooperative extension for energy would match a trend happening in some other

residents’ health care costs could increase significantly

BY EMILY WOODRUFF Staff writer

The federal government shut down last week, and at the heart of the standoff is a fight over the health insurance subsidies that keep coverage affordable for hundreds of thousands of Louisianans.

no real other option at that point. If you can’t afford the premium on the exchange, you probably then just become uninsured.”

KEVIN CALLISON, Tulane University health care economist

These enhanced premium tax credits lower the monthly cost of health insurance for people who buy coverage through the Affordable Care Act marketplace. The enhanced subsidies were first introduced during the pandemic under the American Rescue Plan Act and later extended through 2025. They allow some low-income enrollees to pay no monthly premiums and cap costs for middle-income households at 8.5% of their income. If the subsidies expire at the end of the year, Louisiana would be hit harder than any other state, according to a new analysis from the Urban Institute. The state is projected to see the steepest decline in subsidized marketplace enrollment nationwide — a 61% drop,

New judge could oversee trial in 2023 rape case

BY MATT BRUCE Staff writer

Casey John Carver is set to become the first of three men tried for rape in the high-profile Madison Brooks case later this year, and a new judge could be assigned to determine his guilt or innocence.

District Judge Gail Horne Ray has presided over Carver’s case since he was indicted on first- and third-degree rape charges in May 2023. She’s made several pivotal pretrial decisions over the past two years.

State prosecutors sought to have Ray recused from the case last month. Because their motion

ä See JUDGE, page 7A

5th Circuit will reconsider state’s 10 Commandments law

Partial court had struck it down

BY PATRICK WALL Staff writer

A federal appeals court on Monday vacated an earlier ruling that struck down Louisiana’s controversial law requiring public schools and colleges to post the Ten Commandments in classrooms, setting the stage for a new round of arguments in the high-stakes case.

In June, a three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the law is “plainly unconstitutional” and cannot be enforced. But in a Monday evening order, the court agreed to a request by Louisiana for the full 5th Circuit to rehear the case, nullifying the earlier ruling. The decision by a majority of judges on the court to reconsider the case could lead to a very different outcome than the panel’s ruling. Two of the three judges on the panel were appointed by Democrats, while 12 of 17 active judges

on the full court were appointed by Republicans, with six selected by President Donald Trump. The full 5th Circuit is widely considered the country’s most conservative federal court of appeals.

In the meantime, a U.S. District Court’s preliminary injunction will stand, barring the state from enforcing the law

The Ten Commandments case has been closely watched as a test of the traditional divide between church and state, and legal observers say

ä See LAW, page 7A

Snowstorm traps hundreds on Everest

BEIJING — Rescuers were helping hundreds of hikers trapped by heavy snow at tourist campsites on a slope of Mount Everest in Tibet, Chinese state media said

About 350 hikers had reached a meeting point in Tingri country and rescuers were in contact with another 200, state broadcaster CCTV said late Sunday

There was no immediate update on rescue efforts on Monday

The hikers were trapped at an elevation of more than 16,000 feet, according to an earlier report from Jimu News, a Chinese online site. Mount Everest is about 29,000 feet tall.

A hiker who rushed to descend before snow blocked the way told Jimu News that others still on the mountain told him the snow was 3 feet deep and had crushed tents.

Hundreds of rescuers headed up the mountain Sunday to clear paths so that trapped people could come down, the Jimu report said. A video shot by a villager showed a long line of people with horses and oxen moving up a winding path in the snow

The snowstorm struck during a weeklong national holiday in China, when many travel at home and abroad.

In another mountainous region in western China, one hiker died of hypothermia and altitude sickness and 137 others were evacuated in the north part of Qinghai province, CCTV said Monday

The search in an area in Menyuan county with an average altitude of more than 13,100 feet was complicated by the terrain, unpredictable weather and continuous snowfall, a CCTV online report said.

Immune system

discoveries net Nobel STOCKHOLM Three scientists won the Nobel Prize in medicine Monday for discoveries about how the immune system knows to attack germs and not our own bodies.

The work by Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell and Dr Shimon Sakaguchi uncovered a key pathway the body uses to keep the immune system in check, called peripheral immune tolerance Experts called the findings critical to understanding autoimmune diseases such as Type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.

In separate projects over several years, the trio of scientists — two in the U.S. and one in Japan identified the importance of what are now called regulatory T cells. Scientists are using those findings in a variety of ways: to discover better treatments for autoimmune diseases, to improve organ transplant success and to enhance the body’s own fight against cancer among others

“Their discoveries have been decisive for our understanding of how the immune system functions and why we do not all develop serious autoimmune diseases,” said Olle Kämpe, chair of the Nobel Committee. UNESCO nominates Egyptian as director

PARIS UNESCO is slated to have its first director from the Arab world after an Egyptian former tourism and antiquities minister, Khaled el-Anani, was nominated by the agency’s executive board Monday

If confirmed by UNESCO’s general assembly next month, el-Anani will inherit an agency reeling from the Trump administration’s recent decision to pull the United States out, portending a budget shortfall at the agency best known for its World Heritage sites around the globe.

El-Anani was seen as the front-runner for the position of director-general and won a vote Monday against his only challenger, Firmin Edouard Matoko, an economist from Republic of Congo who promoted schooling in refugee camps

Israel, Hamas launch talks

Emissaries in Egypt as anniversary passes for war in Gaza

BY SAMY MAGDY, MELANIE LIDMAN and WAFAA SHURAFA Associated Press

CAIRO Israeli and Hamas officials launched indirect talks Monday at an Egyptian resort on a U.S.-drafted peace plan to end the ruinous war in Gaza on the eve of its second anniversary

The talks, which went on for several hours, unfolded amid many questions about the plan presented by President Donald Trump last week, including the disarmamentofthemilitantgroup a key Israeli demand — and the future governance of Gaza. Trump has indicated that an agreement on Gaza could pave the way for a Middle East peace process that could reshape the region.

Despite Trump ordering Israel to stop the bombing, Israeli forces continued to pound Gaza with airstrikes, killing at least 19 people in the last 24 hours, the territory’s Health Ministry said.

An Egyptian official with knowledge of the talks said the parties wrapped up Monday’s round of negotiations at the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, andthediscussionsweresettoresume Tuesday afternoon. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the talks, said the parties have agreed on most of the first-phase terms, which include the release of hostages and establishing a ceasefire.

TheIsraelisareledbytopnegotiator Ron Dermer, while Khalil al-Hayyah leads the Hamas delegation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said foreign policy adviser Ophir Falk would be present for Israel.

Egypt’s state-owned Al-Qahera News television station reported that the talks began with a meeting between Arab mediators and the Hamas delegation. Mediators were to meet later with the Israeli delegation, the station said.

U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner were also expected to join the talks,

local Egyptian media said.

Hamas said negotiations will focus on the first stage of a ceasefire, including the partial withdrawal of Israeli forces as well as the release of hostages held by the militants in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli detention.

This latest push for peace comes after Hamas accepted some elements of the U.S. plan that Israel also said it supported. Under the plan, Hamas would release the remaining 48 hostages — about 20 of whom are believed to be alive — within three days. It would give up power and disarm

The talks in Egypt are expected to move quickly Netanyahu said they would be “confined to a few days maximum,” though some Hamas officials have warned that more time may be needed to locate bodies of hostages buried under rubble.

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi hailed Trump’s efforts, underscoring the importance of preserving the U.S.-crafted “peace system” in the Middle East since the 1970s, which he said “served as a strategic framework for regional stability.”

El-Sisi spoke in a televised address commemorating the anniversary of the start of the 1973 war with Israel that led to Egypt reclaiming the Sinai Peninsula, where Sharm el-Sheikh is located.

‘Living in fear, war, displacement’ In Gaza, families of Palestinian ba-

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By EFREM LUKATSKy

Netherland’s Prime Minister Dick Schoof, right, shakes hands with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a meeting Monday in Kyiv, Ukraine.

Ukraine says it struck Russian ammunition plant, oil terminal and weapons depot

BY ILLIA NOVIKOV Associated Press

KYIV,Ukraine Long-range Ukrainian drones and missiles hit a major Russian ammunition plant, a key oil terminal and an important weapons depot behind the front line, Ukraine’s president and military said Monday, as Kyiv cranked up pressure on Moscow’s military logistics.

The Sverdlov ammunition plant in the Nizhny Novgorod region of western Russia was struck overnight, causing multiple explosions and a fire, the Ukrainian General Staff said. The plant supplies Russian forces with aviation and artillery ordnance, aviation bombs and anti-aircraft and anti-tank munitions, it said Ukraine also hit an oil terminal on the Russia-annexed Crimean Peninsula, starting a blaze, and an ammunition depot of Russia’s 18th Combined Arms Army, the General Staff said.

Russian authorities acknowledged a major Ukrainian drone attack over 14 regions, as well as Crimea and around the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov But they gave few details beyond saying that air defenses shot down 251 Ukrainian drones — making it one of the biggest Ukrainian barrages of Russian territory since the war began on Feb. 24, 2022.

Gleb Nikitin, the governor of the Nizhny Novgorod region, said that air defenses fended off an attack by 20 Ukrainian drones on a local industrial zone that includes the ammo plant and that no facilities were damaged. Ukraine’s long-range attacks on refineries and other oil facilities contributed to Russian fuel shortages at the pump in August.

bies born on the day the war began hoped to celebrate their second birthday with the sound of laughter and cheers instead of the cacophony of bombs and bullets.

The babies’ mothers have been repeatedly displaced and live in constant fear for their safety They also lack access to health care.

Amal al-Taweel and her husband, Mostafa, had their son, Ali, after three years of trying for a child. They now live in a tent without proper sanitation, food, vaccinations or toys.

“I was envisioning a different life for him. He couldn’t experience what a safe family life feels like,” alTaweel said The Vatican marked the second anniversary of the Oct. 7 attacks by condemning the “inhuman massacre” of innocent people in Israel and calling for the return of hostages. But it also said Israel’s razing of Gaza is itself a disproportionate massacre, and called on countries to stop supplying Israel weapons to wage the war

“Those who are attacked have a right to defend themselves, but even legitimate defense must respect the principle of proportionality,” Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, said on the eve of the anniversary “The perverse chain of hatred can only generate a spiral that leads nowhere good.”

Associated Press writer Nicole Winfield in Rome contributed to this report.

France’s premier quits

BY SAMUEL PETREQUIN and JOHN LEICESTER Associated Press

PARIS French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu resigned after less than a month in of fic e on Monday and less than 24 hours after naming a new government that prompted a key coalition ally to withdraw support.

The move deepened the country’s political crisis and left President Emmanuel Macron with few options.

The presidency said that Macron, who has been hitting record lows in opinion polls, accepted the resignation.

Lecornu had replaced his predecessor François Bayrou, on Sept. 9 to become France’s fourth prime minister in barely a year during a prolonged period of political instability Lecornu is now the shortest-serving prime minister in the history of the Fifth Republic, which started in 1958.

French politics have been in disarray since Macron called an early legislative election last year that produced a deeply fragmented National Assembly. Farright and left-wing lawmakers hold more than 320 seats in the lower house, while the centrists and allied conservatives hold 210, with no party having an overall majority

Despite more than three weeks of efforts to secure enough support to avoid a no-confidence vote, Lecornu was forced out just hours after forming his Cabinet on Sunday, having lost the support of conservatives who hold 50 seats and who objected to his choice for

Court rejects appeal in Epstein case

BY MARK SHERMAN Associated Press

WASHINGTON The Supreme Court on Monday rejected an appeal from Ghislaine Maxwell, the imprisoned former girlfriend of Jeffrey Epstein. On the first day of their new term, the justices declined to take up a case that would have drawn renewed attention to the sordid sexual-abuse saga after President Donald Trump’s administration sought to tamp down criticism over its refusal to publicly release more investigative files from Epstein’s case.

defense minister Lecornu’s government will manage day-to-day affairs until a new prime minister and Cabinet are appointed.

Lawyers for Maxwell, a British socialite, argued that she never should have been tried or convicted for her role in luring teenage girls to be sexually abused by Epstein, a New York financier She is serving a 20-year prison term, though she was moved from a low-security federal prison in Florida to a minimum-security prison camp in Texas after she was interviewed in July by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. As is their custom, the justices did not explain why they turned away the appeal. Trump’s Republican administration had urged the high court to stay out of the case. Maxwell’s lawyers contended that a non-prosecution agreement reached in 2007 by federal prosecutors in Miami and Epstein’s lawyers also protected his “potential co-conspirators” from federal charges anywhere in the country Maxwell was prosecuted in Manhattan, and the federal appeals court there ruled that the prosecution was proper A jury found her guilty of sex trafficking a teenage girl, among other charges. Maxwell’s trial featured accounts of the sexual exploitation of girls as young as 14 told by four women who described being abused as teens in the 1990s and early 2000s at Epstein’s homes.

Voting underway on California maps

BY MICHAEL R. BLOOD AP political writer

LOS ANGELES Themidterm elections might be ayear away,but thefight forcontrol of the U.S. House is underway in California.

Voting opened statewide Mondayonwhether to dramatically reshape California’scongressional districts to add as many as five Democrat-held seats in Congress —apossible offset to President Donald Trump’smoves inTexas andelsewhere to help Republicans in the 2026 election.

The outcome of the 70-word, “yes” or “no” question could determine which party wins control of the closely divided House, and whether Democrats willbeableto blunt Trump’spowerinthe second half of his term on issues from immigration to reproductive rights.

Theproposal is “a starting point for the 2026 race,” said Democratic consultant Roger Salazar “2026 is the whole ball game,”

La.Political Hall of Fame to induct 8

BY TYLER BRIDGES Staff writer

Aformer New Orleansmayor, twonoted journalists,a former staterepresentative and four political consultants and behind-the-scenes party leaders are the next inductees into the Louisiana Political Hall of Fame.

Thebest-known member of the incomingclass is Sidney Barthelemy,who served as New Orleans’ mayor from 1986-94 Before that, he spent 12 years serving as amember of the City Council and in the state Senate. Barthelemy is joined by:

n Sherman Copelin, who represented New Orleans in the state House from 1986-2000.

n Clancy DuBos, whospent 51 years as apolitical columnist, reporter,editor,political analyst and owner of Gambit, the weekly newspaper now owned by The TimesPicayune |The Advocate

n John Hill, who covered Louisiana politics for more than 30 years for northern Louisiana newspapers

n Ron Nabonne, aveteran political consultant who worked for Barthelemy and dozens of otherpoliticians over the years.

n Norma Jane Sabiston, who served as achief of staff to thenU.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu and who managed political campaignsfor her,former Mayor Mitch Landrieu and former Sen. John Breaux. She died in 2023.

n Haywood Hillyer,alawyer in New Orleans who spent more than threedecades as aRepublican Party stalwart, helping to build the GOP into the dominant force in state politics. He died in 2010

n Ben Jeffers, aveteranpolitical consultant in Baton Rougewho servedaschair of theLouisiana Democratic Party With the latest group, the Louisiana Political Hall of Fame, which is based in Winnfield, will have 257 inductees.

Acommittee of seven selected the newest members, including John Georges, who co-owns The Times-Picayune |The Advocate The inductionceremonywill take place in New Orleans on March28. Email Tyler Bridges at tbridges@theadvocate.com.

he said.

Thenational implications of California’sballot measure are clearinboththe money it has attracted and the figuresgetting involved. Tens of millions of dollars are flowing into the race including a$5million donation to opponents from theCongressional Leadership Fund,the superPAC tiedtoHouse Speaker Mike Johnson. Former action-movie star and Republican Gov.ArnoldSchwarzenegger has spoken out to oppose it,while former President Barack Obama is in favor,calling it a“smart” approach to counter Republican maneuverings aimed at safeguarding House control.

Theelection that concludes Nov. 4will also color the emerging 2028 presidential contest in which Democratic Gov.Gavin Newsom —the face of thecampaign for thenew,jiggered districts —is widely seen as alikely contender “Heaven help us if we lose,” Newsomwrote in arecent fund-

raisingpitch to supporters. “This is an all-hands-on-deckmoment for Democrats.”

The unusual special election amounts to aDemocratic gambit to blunt Trump’sattemptinTexas to gainfive Republicandistricts ahead of the midterms, amove intended to padthe GOP’s tenuous grip on the House. The duel between thenation’s two most populous states has spread nationally,with Missouri redrawing House mapsthat are crafted state by state.Other statescould soon follow,while the dispute also has become entangled in thecourts.

Amajor questionmarkhas emerged in Texas, where apanel of federal judges is considering whether the state can use aredrawncongressionalmap that boosts Republicans If the Texasmap is blocked even temporarily, it’s notclear howthat decision would influence California —ifatall —where voting is

underway.Newsomhas previously indicated that Californiacould keep itscurrent map if other states pullback efforts to remake districts for partisan advantage, butthatlanguage was notincluded in the finalversionofwhat’s officially known as Proposition 50. If approved in California,it’s possible the new political map could slash five Republican-held House seats while bolstering Democratic incumbents in other battleground districts. That could boost the Democratic margin to 48 of California’s52congressional seats, up fromthe 43 seats the party now holds.

Liberal-tilting California has long been aquirk in House elections— the state is heavily Democratic but also is home to astring of some of the most hotly contested congressional districts in the country,a rarity at atime when truly competitive House elections have been dwindlinginnumber across the U.S.

The contours of the race have taken shape, with Newsom framing the contestasa battle to save democracy against all things Trump, while Republicans and theirsupportersdecry theproposal as ablatant power grab intended to make the state’s dominant Democrats even more powerful while discarding House maps developed by an independent commission. Democrats craftedthe proposed lines behind closed doors.

Republicans hold a219-213 majority in the U.S. House, with threevacancies.

New maps aretypically drawn once adecade after the census is conducted. Many states, including Texas, give legislators the power to draw maps. California is among statesthatrelyonanindependent commission that is supposed to be nonpartisan— the Democratic ballotproposal would shelve that group’sworkand postpone its operationuntil the next census.

Immigrationagents’ tacticsinChicago questioned

BY SOPHIA TAREEN Associated Press

CHICAGO Storming an apartment complex by helicopter as families slept.Deployingchemicalagents near apublic school. Handcuffing aChicago City Council memberat ahospital.

Activists,residents andleaders say increasingly combativetactics used by federal immigration agents are sparking violenceand fueling neighborhood tensions in the nation’sthird-largest city “They are the ones that are makingitawar zone,” Illinois Gov.JB Pritzker said Sunday on CNN. “They fire tear gasand smoke grenades, and they make it look like it’sawar zone.”

More than 1,000 immigrants have been arrested sinceanimmigration crackdown started last month in the Chicago area. The Trump administration has also vowed to deploy National Guard troops in itsagendatoboost deportations

ButU.S. citizens, immigrants with legal status andchildren have been among those detained in increasingly brazen and aggressive encounters that pop up daily across neighborhoods in the city of 2.7 million and its many suburbs.

Activists and residentswere taking stock Sunday at an apartment building on Chicago’sSouth Sidewhere theDepartment of HomelandSecurity said 37 immigrants werearrestedrecently in an operationthat’s raisedcalls for investigation by Pritzker

While federal agents have mostly focused on immigrant-heavy and Latinoenclaves,the operation earlyTuesday unfolded in the largelyBlack South Shore neighborhood that’s had asmallinflux of migrants resettled in Chicago while seeking asylum Agents used unmarked trucks and ahelicopter to surround the five-story apartment building. NewsNation, which was invited to observe theoperation,reported agents “rappelled from Black Hawk helicopters.”Agentsthen wentdoor to door,wokeupresidents and used zip tiestorestrain them.

Residents and theIllinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights,which canvassed the area, said those who were ziptied included children and U.S. citizens.

Rodrick Johnson, aU.S.citizen briefly detained, saidagents broke through hisdoor andplaced him in zip ties.

“I asked if theyhad awarrant, and Iasked for alawyer,” the 67-year-old told the Chicago SunTimes. “They never brought one.

Dixon Romeo with Southside Together, an organization that’salso been helping residents, said doors

Federal officers hold down aprotester

learned that U.S. Border Patrol shot awoman Saturday morning on Chicago’sSouthwest Side.

wereknocked off the hinges.

“Everyone we talked to didn’t feel safe,” he said. “This is not normal. It’snot OK. It’snot right.”

Pritzker, atwo-term Democrat, directed state agencies to investigate claims thatchildren were zip tiedand detained separately from theirparents, saying “militarystyle tactics”shouldn’tbeused on children. Several Democratic membersofthe Illinois congressionaldelegation metnear the site Sunday,calling for an endtoimmigration raids.

DHS officialssaidtheywere targeting connectionstothe Tren de Aragua gang. Without offering details on arrestsoraddressing how children weretreated, DHS said “some of thetargetedsubjects arebelieved to be involved in drug trafficking anddistribution, weapons crimes,and immigration violators.”

Department of HomelandSecurity Secretary Kristi Noem on Saturday posted heavily edited video clips of the operation to Xshowing agents blasting through doors, helicoptersand adults in zipties, but music playedover mostofthe roughly 1minute video.

Agencyofficials did not return a message left Sunday Brandon Lee, with ICIRR,said while some residents wereplaced on ankle monitors, others remained unaccounted for Meanwhile,the useofchemical agentshas become more frequent and visible in the past week. Used initially to manageprotesters, agents used it this week on city streets and during immigration operations, according to ICIRR.

An emergency hotline to report immigrantagent sightings topped 800 calls on Friday, thesame day activists said agents threwacannister of achemical near aschool in the city’sLogan Square neighborhood. The activityinthe northwest side neighborhood prompted nearby Funston Elementary School to hold recess indoors.

Thesameday Chicago Alderperson Jessie Fuentes was placed in handcuffs at ahospital. She said she asked agents to show awarrant for aperson who’dbroken hisleg while chased by ICE agents whothentransported himtothe emergency room “ICE actedlikeaninvading army in ourneighborhoods,” said state Rep. LilianJiménez, aDemocrat. “Helicoptershovered above our homes, terrifying families anddisturbing thepeace of our community.These shameful and lawless actions are not only aviolation of constitutional rightsbut of our most basicliberty:the right to live free from persecution and fear.”

Immigration agents shota woman they allege was armed and tried to run them over after agents were “boxed in by 10 cars.” She and another person werecharged Sundaywith forcibly assaulting, impeding and interfering with a federallaw enforcementofficer

However,activists said immigrationagents caused the multi-vehicle crash and detained thewoman, who is aU.S. citizen Noem hasdefendedthe aggressive tactics, calling the mission treacheroustoagents andalleging threatsonofficers’ lives.

“It’sanextremely dangerous situation,” shesaidSunday on the “Fox &Friends” weekendshow Leaders of aChicagosuburb that’shometoanimmigration processing center have taken their fight against federal agents to court.

Thevillage of Broadview has become afront line in the immigration operation. The center in the community of 8,000 people is whereimmigrants are processed for detention or deportation Protests outside have become tense with near daily arrests. Civil rights organizations have blasted aggressivetactics by agents, while village officials have launched three separate criminalinvestigations against federal agents.

City officials have demanded the federal government remove an 8-foot fence they say was “illegally” put up outside the facility Theyfileda federallawsuit Friday seek atemporary restraining orderand theimmediateremoval of thefence they say blocksfire access.

“The fence also constitutes an immediate public safety hazard,” the lawsuit said.

Also pending is an expected ruling on allegedviolations of a 2022 consent decree on how federalimmigration agents can make arrests in six states including Illinois. While theorderexpired in May,attorneys have sought an extension andfileddozensof moreallegedviolations in the past month.

Associated Press writer Ali Swenson contributed to this story from New York

Chicago and Illinois sue to stop deployment

Move comes after court blocks Guard from Portland

BY CHRISTINE FERNANDO Associated Press

CHICAGO Illinois leaders went to court Monday to stop President Donald Trump from sending National Guard troops to Chicago, escalating a clash between Democratic-led states and the Republican administration during an aggressive immigration enforcement operation in the nation’s third-largest city

The legal challenge came hours after a judge blocked the Guard’s deployment in Portland, Oregon.

The lawsuit in Chicago also raised the stakes after a violent weekend: Authorities said a woman was shot by a federal agent when Border Patrol vehicles were boxed in and struck by other vehicles. The city’s police superintendent rejected suggestions that his officers were on the government’s side in volatile situations like that one.

The Trump administration has portrayed the cities as war-ravaged and lawless amid its crackdown on illegal immigration. Officials in Illinois and Oregon say military intervention isn’t needed and that federal involvement is inflaming the situation

The lawsuit alleges that “these advances in President Trump’s long-declared ‘War’ on Chicago and Illinois are unlawful and dangerous.” Illinois Gov JB Pritzker said a court hearing was

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land-grant universities to expand extension services beyond agriculture.

The cooperative extension services, which have the mission of bringing new research to the public, so the public can apply it, have a physical presence in all 64 parishes that could serve as the home for a new energy cooperative extension, Twilley suggested.

Combined with the recently formed LSU Energy Institute, the effort could tap into the university’s expertise to address the multidisciplinary questions energy raises and, Twilley argued, fulfill an obligation that a public research university has to serve as a trusted source of information.

Twilley told the forum audience that early discussions have occurred, including an idea, as a first step, to give agents an “Energy 101” class so they can field some questions and direct people to more expert LSU sources.

“The key part of the extension service is that people live in these communities,” Twilley said during the LSU

scheduled for Thursday “Donald Trump is using our service members as political props and as pawns in his illegal effort to militarize our nation’s cities,” said Pritzker, a Democrat Pritzker said some 300 of the state’s Guard troops were to be federalized and deployed to Chicago, along with 400 others from Texas. Pritzker said the potential deployment amounted to “Trump’s invasion,” and he called on Republican Texas Gov Greg Abbott to block it. Abbott pushed back and said the crackdown was needed to protect federal workers who are in the city as part of the president’s increased immigration enforcement. White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson confirmed in a weekend state-

Energy Research Symposium on Friday “That’s really critical because they’re trusted individuals, and they are trained in how to actually deal with being the informed, trusted agent.”

On Monday, Tara Smith, LSU executive associate vice president and director of the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service at the LSU AgCenter, said she wasn’t aware of a formal plan to implement the idea.

Smith, who sat on the forum panel moderated by Twilley, said there would have to be “a lot of future discussions” at the “highest levels to make something like that happen.”

Among those challenges, according to Twilley, is finding the people and money At the forum, he floated the idea of the U.S. Department of Energy providing the dollars to avoid the inevitable credibility questions industry funding might generate.

Other concerns existed for some. State Sen. Bob Hensgens, R-Abbeville, who attended the forum and grew up in a family of rice farmers, remarked on the credibility the agricultural extension service had with

ment that Trump authorized using Illinois National Guard members, citing what she called “ongoing violent riots and lawlessness” that local leaders have not quelled.

The sight of armed Border Patrol agents making arrests near famous landmarks amplified concerns from Chicagoans already uneasy after an immigration crackdown that began last month. Agents have targeted immigrant-heavy and largely Latino areas.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said Monday that he signed an executive order barring federal immigration agents and others from using city-owned property, such as parking lots, garages and vacant lots, as staging areas for enforcement operations.

his grandfather Hensgens asked if having the extension services step into the current “messy” energy debate would harm the trust people have put in the services.

Greg Upton, executive director of the LSU Center for Energy Studies who has spoken at some community forums to provide information on carbon capture, has already faced criticism. Upton is also interim director of the new Energy Institute.

But Smith and another forum panel member, Rex Caffey, an LSU natural resource economics professor and director of the Sea Grant marine extension, said they believe the cooperative model could stay above the fray

“Our stock and trade is to get involved in controversial issues and the way we protect ourselves is to bring science-based information and to not take sides. Our motto is ‘be descriptive, not prescriptive,’ ” Caffey said.

The cooperative services bring the data, Caffey added, and allow both sides to provide their point of view

“When you lose that objectivity, you’ve lost the whole

Protesters have frequently rallied near an immigration facility outside the city, and federal officials reported the arrests of 13 protesters Friday near the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in Broadview

Mayor Katrina Thompson, citing safety and other factors, said she was limiting protests to 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Elsewhere, the Department of Homeland Security acknowledged that agents shot a woman Saturday on Chicago’s southwest side

The department said it happened after Border Patrol agents patrolling the area were “rammed by vehicles and boxed in by 10 cars.”

Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling said it’s reasonable for agents to use

game and that’s what we have to offer,” he added.

Smith added that there is an “interesting dynamic” happening between agriculture and industry as farmers

force if they believe they’re being ambushed. He noted officers were redeployed from other parts of the city to assist the agents and that 27 were affected by tear gas.

“We cannot become a society where we just decide to take everything in our own hands and start to commit crimes against law enforcement,” Snelling said. He said it’s difficult to “toe the line” between not helping federal immigration agents and maintaining public safety In Portland, U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut on Sunday granted a temporary restraining order sought by Oregon and California barring the deployment of Guard troops to Oregon from any state and the District of Columbia.

are being approached about energy deals and have questions. The AgCenter extension can serve as an information source, but not make recom-

before the

Immergut, who was appointed by Trump during his first term, seemed incredulous that the president moved to send National Guard troops to Oregon from neighboring California and then from Texas on Sunday, just hours after she had ruled against it the first time.

“Aren’t defendants simply circumventing my order?” she asked. “Why is this appropriate?”

White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt criticized the decision and said the president was using his authority as commander in chief.

Portland’s ICE facility has been the site of nightly protests for months, peaking in June when Portland police declared a riot, with smaller clashes occurring since then.

In recent weeks, the nightly protests typically drew a couple dozen people — until Trump ordered the National Guard. Over the weekend, larger crowds gathered outside the facility and federal agents fired tear gas. Portland police made multiple arrests.

Most violent crime around the U.S. has declined in recent years, including in Portland, where homicides from January through June decreased by 51% to 17 this year compared with the same period in 2024, data shows.

Since starting his second term, Trump has sent or talked about sending troops to 10 cities, including Baltimore; Memphis, Tennessee; the District of Columbia; New Orleans; and the California cities of Oakland, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

mendations, for decisions that could affect farms for generations, she said.

“So I see it as just another discipline, if that makes sense,” Smith said.

BRIEFS

FROM WIRE REPORTS

Bari Weiss named editor of CBS News

NEW YORK — Paramount said Monday that it has bought the news and commentary website

The Free Press and installed its founder, Bari Weiss, as the editor-in-chief of CBS News, saying it believes the country longs for news that is balanced and factbased.

It’s a bold step for the television network of Walter Cronkite, Dan Rather and “60 Minutes,” long viewed by many conservatives as the personification of a liberal media establishment. The network is placing someone in a leadership role who has developed a reputation for resisting orthodoxy and fighting “woke” culture.

“I am confident her entrepreneurial drive and editorial vision will invigorate CBS News,” said David Ellison, who took over this summer as the corporate leader overseeing the network when his company, Skydance, purchased Paramount. “This move is part of Paramount’s bigger vision to modernize content and the way it connects — directly and passionately — to audiences around the world.” No purchase price was announced for The Free Press, which has grown to reach 1.5 million subscribers since Weiss started it in 2021 after leaving The New York Times as an opinion editor When she left the Times, she wrote a letter of resignation that spoke of a culture of intolerance at the newspaper and said she was bullied by colleagues who disagreed with her. Stock market keeps setting records

NEW YORK Wall Street keeps setting more records, and excitement about the artificial-intelligence industry keeps leading the way

The S&P 500 climbed 0.4% to set an all-time high following mixed trading on Monday The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 63 points, or 0.1%, while the Nasdaq composite rose 0.7% to its own record Advanced Micro Devices helped lead the way and soared 23.7% after announcing a deal where OpenAI will use its chips to power AI infrastructure. As part of the deal, OpenAI could own up to 160 million shares of AMD if it hits certain milestones. Another chip company, Nvidia, announced a deal last month where it would invest $100 billion in OpenAI as part of a partnership, creating criticism that the AI investment pipeline was beginning to appear like a circle. Nvidia slipped 1.1% following the AMD announcement Because it’s the most valuable stock on Wall Street, Nvidia was the heaviest weight on the S&P 500. Outside of tech, Comerica jumped 13.7% after Fifth Third Bancorp agreed to buy it in an all-stock deal valued at $10.9 billion. The combination would create the country’s ninth-largest bank Fifth Third’s stock fell 1.4%.

Taylor Swift’s ‘Showgirl’ sells 2.7M copies

It’s the life of a saleswoman Taylor Swift’s 12th studio album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” sold 2.7 million copies in traditional album sales — which include physical and digital formats — in its first day in the U.S. That’s according to Luminate, an industry data and analytics company The album was released Friday The sales are impressive for a number of reasons. Swift has broken her record for most first week sales in one day Her last album, 2024’s “The Tortured Poets Department,” amassed 2.61 million equivalent album units in the U.S. in its first week.

“The Life of a Showgirl” has also become the second-largest sales week for any album in the modern era, since Luminate began tracking sales in 1991. That was also accomplished in just one day Currently, Adele’s “25,” which sold 3.378 million copies in its first week in 2015 in the U.S holds the top spot.

OpenAI, AMD team up on AI infrastructure

Chips will be supplied in resource deal

By The Associated Press

Semiconductor maker AMD will supply its chips to artificial intelligence company OpenAI as part of an agreement to team up on building AI infrastructure, the companies said Monday OpenAI will also get the option to buy as much as a 10% stake in AMD, according to a joint statement announcing the deal. It’s the latest deal for the ChatGPT maker as it races to beef up its AI computing resources. Under the terms of the deal, Ope-

nAI will buy the latest version of the company’s high performance graphics chips, the Instinct MI450, which is expected to debut next year

The agreement calls for supplying 6 gigawatts of computing power for OpenAI’s “next generation” AI infrastructure, with the first batch of chips worth 1 gigawatt to be deployed in the second half of 2026. AMD also issued OpenAI with a warrant allowing the AI company to buy up to 160 million shares of AMD’s common stock That amounts to about 10% of the chipmaker based on AMD’s 1.6 billion outstanding shares. The warrant will vest based on two milestones

tied to the amount of computing power deployed, as well as unspecified “share-price targets.”

Shares of AMD spiked 25% before the opening bell Monday

Shares of Nvidia, which have repeatedly set new record-highs this year, fell slightly

“This partnership is a major step in building the compute capacity needed to realize AI’s full potential,” OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said in a news release. “AMD’s leadership in high-performance chips will enable us to accelerate progress and bring the benefits of advanced AI to everyone faster.”

The deal is a boost for Santa Clara, California-based AMD, which has been left behind by

rival Nvidia. But it also hints at OpenAI’s desire to diversify its supply chain away from Nvidia’s dominance. The AI boom has fueled demand for Nvidia’s graphics processing chips, sending its shares soaring and making it the world’s most valuable company

Last month, OpenAI and Nvidia announced a $100 billion partnership that will add at least 10 gigawatts of data center computing power OpenAI and its partners have already installed hundreds of Nvidia’s GB200, a tall computing rack that contains dozens of specialized AI chips within it, at the flagship Stargate data center campus under construction in Abilene, Texas.

Cold shoulder from Canada is costly for American distillers

Businesses struggling with global trade tensions

BY BRUCE SCHREINER Associated Press

American distillers have gotten a costly cold shoulder from Canada, where their exports plunged 85% earlier this year — topping broad declines in key international markets amid global trade tensions, a spirits industry group said Monday Even a thaw in trade relations may not shake this hangover right away “Even though things have eased up, we still are not back on the shelf in Canada,” said Kentucky craft distiller Tom Bard. “Probably won’t be for a good long while.”

The majority of Canadian provinces continue to ban American spirits from shelves, though Canada removed its retaliatory tariff on the products weeks ago, the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States said. There’s another nagging concern — that consumer reaction to the trade conflicts could curb the international thirst for American spirits in key markets.

Overall exports of American spirits fell 9% in the second quarter of 2025 compared to a year ago, the council said in its new report Sharp declines occurred in other crucial markets — the European Union, United Kingdom and Japan, it said. That comes on the heels of a banner year for U.S. spirits exports in 2024, the council said Total firstquarter exports in 2025 edged up by 1% from a year ago.

In the ultracompetitive spirits world, the sudden drop-off is a dispiriting development for U.S distillers.

“There’s a growing concern that our international consumers are increasingly opting for domestically produced spirits or imports from countries other than the U.S., signaling a shift away from our great American spirits brands,” Chris Swonger, the council’s CEO said Monday in a release.

Canada remains the only key trading partner that retaliated against U.S spirits in the latest rounds of trade conflicts spurred by President Donald Trump’s tariff policies. The president maintains that open trade cost the U.S. millions of factory jobs and that tariffs are the path to American-made prosperity

But American distilled spirits have been a high-profile target for retaliation.

Trump’s first-term tariffs on European steel and aluminum spurred the EU to retaliate with a tariff that caused American whiskey exports to the EU to plunge, costing distillers more than $100 million in revenue from 2018 to 2021, the council has said. Once the tariff was suspended, EU sales rebounded for American distillers until the latest tensions resurfaced in the first year of

Trump’s second term.

The Distilled Spirits Council is pressing for free-flowing trade for distilled spirits with zero-for-zero tariffs with key markets, saying it would give American distillers the certainty they need.

Global markets are increasingly vital for producers of American whiskey which includes bourbon, Tennessee whiskey and rye whiskey The sector faces a supply-anddemand crunch in the U.S., where a sales slowdown is coinciding with massive stockpiles of whiskey, the council said.

“With the slowdown in the U.S. market, it’s more important than ever for American distillers to have reliable access to international markets,” Swonger said. “Until these trade issues are fully resolved, many distillers are remaining on the sidelines, fearful that without a permanent return to zero-for-zero tariffs, they could once again face retaliatory tariffs. They simply don’t want to risk jeopardizing the investments they’d need to make to reestablish their presence abroad.”

The most dramatic quarterly drop off in exports occurred in Canada, where U.S. spirits exports fell below $10 million amid the 85% plunge in the April-through-June quarter the report showed.

Elsewhere, exports of American spirits to the European Union — the U.S. industry’s largest export market — fell 12% in the second quarter, the council said. Exports to the United Kingdom dropped 29% and exports to Japan decreased 23%, it said.

Social Security leader

BY FATIMA HUSSEIN Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Social Security Administration Commissioner Frank Bisignano was named to the newly created position of CEO of the IRS on Monday, making him the latest member of the Trump administration to be put in charge of multiple federal agencies.

As IRS CEO, Bisignano will report to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who currently serves as

The pain was felt across a range of spirits categories, with quarterly declines of 13% for American whiskey 14% for vodka, 15% for cordials and 12% for brandy, it said.

The declines were softened somewhat by surging sales to other countries including Mexico, Australia, Brazil, Singapore and South Korea, the council said.

Distilled spirits were exported from 43 states last year, with Tennessee and Kentucky ranking first and second, respectively the report said. Texas was third, followed by Florida and Indiana.

Large and small producers alike are feeling the pinch from trade conflicts.

In August, Brown-Forman Corp. reported a 3% drop in first-quarter net sales, but company CEO Lawson Whiting said it is positioned for “resilient results in the face of persistent headwinds.” It posted double-digit net sales drops in Germany and the United Kingdom and a nearly 60% decline in Canada. Brown-Forman produces such brands as Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey and Woodford Reserve bourbon.

But large distillers possess the capital and market reach to ride out disruptions caused by trade disputes — built-in luxuries that most small producers don’t have.

For Bard, the trade tensions abruptly halted his momentum in securing and expanding his foothold in Canada. He and his wife, Kim, own The Bard Distillery in western Kentucky Their brands include Muhlenberg and Cinder & Smoke bourbons.

named to new IRS CEO position

acting commissioner of the IRS, the Treasury Department says. It is unclear whether Bisignano’s newly created role at the IRS will require Senate confirmation.

The Treasury Department said in a statement that Bisignano will be responsible for overseeing all day-to-day IRS operations while also continuing to serve in his role as commissioner of the Social Security Administration.

Bessent said in a statement that the IRS and SSA “share many of the same technological and customer service goals. This makes Mr Bisignano a natural choice for this role.” The move to install Bisignano

at the IRS adds another layer to the leadership shuffling that has occurred at the agency since the beginning of Trump’s term.

Bessent was named acting commissioner in August after Trump removed former U.S Rep Billy Long from the role less than two months after his confirmation, and made him ambassador to Iceland.

The four acting commissioners who preceded Long in the job included one who resigned over a deal between the IRS and the Department of Homeland Security to share immigrants’ tax data with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and another whose ap-

pointment led to a fight between former Trump adviser Elon Musk and Bessent. With two day jobs, Bisignano joins a number of other Trump administration officials to wear multiple hats, including Bessent, Marco Rubio, Sean Duffy, Jamieson Greer and Russell Vought. IRS and Social Security advocates expressed concern about the new appointment. Kathleen Romig, director of Social Security and Disability Policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, pointed to Bisignano being named to a position that appears to avoid Congressional approval.

Deadly EF5 tornado was nation’s first in 12 years

BY SARAH RAZA Associated Press

A deadly tornado that tore across southeastern North Dakota this summer has been upgraded to an EF5 with winds topping 200 mph, the strongest classification of tornado and the first confirmed on American soil in a dozen years, meteorologists said Monday

The June 20 twister near the town of Enderlin killed three people and at its largest was 1.05 miles wide, carving a path across the prairie for just over 12 miles. Meteorologists from the National Weather Service office in Grand Forks estimated the tornado’s winds reached 210 mph, according to the newly released analysis. The 1999 Bridge Creek-Moore tornado in Oklahoma holds the record of the strongest winds ever recorded in the U.S. at 321 mph

Since the National Weather Service began using Enhanced Fujita scale in 2007, there have been 10 tornadoes categorized as EF5. The 12-year gap between top-of-the-

JUDGE

Continued from page 1A

was filed under seal, their reasoning is not publicly available at this time. Now, another 19th Judicial District Court judge will determine whether or not Ray should remain on the case. She signed an order on Friday putting the state’s motion for her recusal up for a different judge to hear. Court records show the matter was allocated to District Judge Brad Myers, who will hear the prosecution’s arguments for Ray’s removal. By Monday afternoon, no date had been set for the recusal hearing. It’s a key decision for Carver, a 21-year-old Denham Springs man who faces a mandatory life sentence if he’s convicted of ag-

SHUTDOWN

Continued from page 1A

representing roughly 85,000 people losing coverage.

Many people who lost Medicaid coverage during the recent unwinding qualified for marketplace subsidies, making it an easy transition, said Kevin Callison, a health care economist at Tulane University Louisiana’s marketplace enrollment has grown from about 120,000 residents in 2023 to nearly 300,000 today

Already, people who have access to health insurance through their employers generally aren’t eligible for the marketplace subsidies. That leaves many with few alternatives.

“There’s no real other option at that point,” Callison said. “If you can’t afford the premium on the exchange, you probably then just become uninsured.”

The potential cost difference is significant.

Two 60-year-olds in Louisiana with a household income of $85,000, for example, would see insurance costs rise from around $600 to $2,000 per month, according to a cost calculator from the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation.

A family of four with two adults in their 50s earning $90,000 would see costs increase from about $390 to $700 a month. If the credits expire, the Affordable Care Act’s original, pre-pandemic subsidy structure would remain in

scale ratings is the longest since the agency started keeping records in 1950.

“In the last kind of 12 years, there’s been several strong tornadoes that have come close, but there haven’t been known damage indicators at that time to sup-

gravated rape. He was indicted on several charges of sexual assault along with Desmond Carter 20, and Kaivon Deondre Washington, 21.

All three are being tried separately, and Ray is presiding over Carver and Carter’s cases. Chief Judge Donald Johnson is handling Washington’s case.

Court records indicate that prosecutors have not sought to have either judge recused from Carter or Washington’s cases.

Carver is poised to become the first of the three defendants to proceed, with a trial date set for Dec. 1. Last month, Ray granted his attorney’s motion for a bench trial, which means the judge will render guilty verdicts or acquittals on Carver’s charges after listening to evidence and testimony

“The widespread publicity and misinformation that has perme-

place, but it offers much less help.

In Louisiana, people earning between about 138% and 400% of the federal poverty level roughly $21,600 to $62,600 for an individual — are technically eligible for marketplace tax credits if the enhanced subsidies expire, but that is dependent on the cost of premiums in their area.

With the average benchmark silver plan premium for a 40-year-old enrollee about $540 per month, according to KFF, that would mean a single person earning around $50,000 could pay roughly $415 a month in premiums instead of about $270 under the current enhanced subsidies.

Those earning above 400% of the poverty level would no longer qualify for any federal assistance, leaving them responsible for the full premium cost.

Extending the subsidies would cost the federal government around $23 billion next year and about $350 billion over the next decade, according to estimates from the Congressional Budget Office.

With the shutdown dragging on with no end in sight, frustration spilled onto the Senate floor on Friday

“This shutdown is bonedeep, down-to-the-marrow, stupid,” said U.S. Sen. John Kennedy, R-Madisonville.

“The pandemic is over, and that’s why the Democrats, when they passed the bill, put in a provision that says, at the end of this year, those extra subsidies are going to end.”

Continued from page 1A

it’s likely that the U.S. Supreme Court ultimately will hear the case. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said Monday that she looks forward to arguing the case before the full appeals court, known as an “en banc” hearing.

“Glad to see the 5th Circuit is taking this en banc,” she said in a statement. The case, Roake v. Brumley, stems from a lawsuit by a group of public school parents from different

religious backgrounds who said that posting the Ten Commandments in every classroom violates students’ First Amendment right to practice their faith free of government interference. The legal groups representing the families who sued the state said Monday that they believe the earlier ruling was well reasoned, followed binding Supreme Court precedent and did not need to be revisited.

“Nevertheless, we look forward to presenting our clients’ case to the entire court of appeals, and we remain confident that the

port the EF5 rating,” said Melinda Beerends, meteorologist in charge at the National Weather Service in Grand Forks.

“It’s hard sometimes to get tornadoes to hit something,” she said.

The morning after the EF5 tornado, meteorologists from the Grand

ated this case has made a fair jury trial impossible for the accused,” Joe Long, Carver’s attorney, said in his Sept. 16 filing. “Racial animosity and hatred towards all accused is so common regarding this case that the accused must waive his right to a jury to ensure this case be heard without passion or prejudice.”

Ray granted the defendant’s motion during a Sept. 25 hearing inside her courtroom. It was during that hearing that prosecutors introduced their intentions to have Ray recused as judge in the case.

Brooks was a 19-year-old LSU sophomore who died early the morning of Jan. 15, 2023, after a night of heavy drinking in Tigerland.

Authorities said Brooks left Reggie’s bar with Carter, Carver, Washington and another man who was not indicted. She got in the

But at the same time, the cost of health insurance has climbed steadily over the past several years, up roughly 35% in Louisiana since 2018, according to federal marketplace data, from about $560 per month in 2018 to roughly $755 in 2023.

Supporters of extending the subsidies point out that they’ve significantly reduced the number of uninsured people in Louisiana and enticed young, healthy people to the insurance pool, which is needed to keep the marketplace sustainable.

“These premium tax credits are what finally put the affordable into the Affordable Care Act,” said Jan Moller, director of Invest Louisiana. “We should not think about this as just a COVID thing that expired.”

If premiums rise, Moller said, some may feel they can’t afford insurance.

“Their first obligation is to pay the rent, pay the light bill, put food on the table, put gas in the car, and health care is very important, but it comes after that, especially if you’re a healthy person,” Moller said. People who have chronic health conditions will have little choice but to absorb the higher costs.

Open enrollment for ACA plans begins Nov 1, and insurers will be finalizing their plans assuming the credits will not continue, said Callison. Louisiana residents enrolled through the marketplace — many of them small-business owners, self-

constitutional values and principles at the heart of the First Amendment, which guarantee religious freedom for all students and families, will prevail in the end,” said a statement from Americans United for Separation of Church and State, the American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of Louisiana and the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP is serving as pro bono counsel.

Email Patrick Wall at patrick.wall@theadvocate. com.

Forks office headed into the field to assess the damage. They studied how the twister had uprooted trees, tipped over fully loaded rail cars, toppled transmission towers and destroyed farmsteads, including one that had its foundation swept clean with just the basement remaining.

“The city of Enderlin, other than losing power, pretty much went unscathed,” said Mayor Deon Maasjo. Two men and a woman were killed at two locations east of the town, which is about 40 miles southwest of Fargo.

Determining a tornado’s strength usually takes days or weeks, as meteorologists study the damage to buildings and trees. This case took much longer because of the unusual damage to rail cars, including one that was picked up and hurled far from the rest. The meteorologists worked with engineers and wind damage experts to conduct additional surveys and forensic analysis to determine the EF5 rating, up from the initial estimate of EF3.

car with the four men, and sheriff’s deputies said Carver pulled his car into a residential driveway in the 900 block of Jennifer Jean Drive and parked there for 20 minutes.

That is where prosecutors allege Carter and Washington sexually assaulted Brooks in the back seat of the car, while Carver cheered them on from the front seat and recorded portions of the encounter with his cellphone.

Afterward, the men dropped off Brooks in the Pelican Lakes development, deputies said. Minutes after she got out of the car, she was struck and killed on Burbank Drive by a passing Lyft driver

Attorneys for the men have argued the sex was consensual, while prosecutors maintain Brooks was too intoxicated to give consent. She registered a blood alcohol content of 0.282, well over three times the

employed workers or people without employer-sponsored coverage — will be most affected.

The tornado was caused by warm, moist air in a place that’s ripe for a thunderstorm, Beerends said But there was also a high amount of wind shear which is a variation of wind speed and direction that created the conditions for the tornado.

In recent years, tornadoes have been occurring with greater frequency east of the Mississippi River, said Victor Gensini, professor of atmospheric sciences at Northern Illinois University

“If you look 40 to 50 years ago, the tornadoes that were happening in places like Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas are kind of happening there with less frequency, and we’re seeing more tornadoes in places like Birmingham, Little Rock and Memphis,” he said. Though meteorologists aren’t sure what’s causing the trend, the higher frequency of tornadoes in the Mid-South and Midwest is notable because it’s closer to population centers, Gensini said, so there’s a greater chance a tornado may hit something.

legal driving limit, according to a wrongful-death lawsuit filed by her parents.

Ray has made key rulings regarding evidence disclosures and issued a gag order two years ago, which barred attorneys from publicly disclosing certain documents in the case file.

She sided with Carver’s attorney last year in a fight over Brooks’ past sexual history Long sought to have an LSU student testify about an alleged sexual encounter he had with Brooks the day before she died, saying it could refute prosecutors’ allegations that Washington and Carter caused the sexrelated injuries listed in Brooks’ autopsy report.

Ray ruled it admissible, but the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals overturned her decision in March, excluding evidence of Brooks’ past sexual history

“A lot of people won’t know about it until they get their renewal letter in the mail from their exchange plan that says their premium’s going from $300 a month to $900 a month or whatever it is,” Callison said.

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LOUISIANA AT LARGE

Adventures andawalk forlove

Ayear ago, Istarted writing this column documenting a weekly adventure. Sincethen, I’ve done things like:

n helping the grounds crew at Tiger Stadium;

n being amermaid at the Audubon Aquarium (the scariest thing I’ve done in along time);

n becoming ablacksmith (I have the twisted iron to prove it);

n walking to the largest bald cypress tree in the world;

n helping abeekeeper save a hive in midair;

n going behind the scenes with themascot, Mike the Tiger,at LSU;

n meeting the Gold Man in the French Quarter;

n “strutting” with the Dancing Dolls, at least in theory (these kind young women were ahighlightofthe year).

It’sbeen quite ayear For the first “Louisiana at Large” column, Iwent for awalk in Audubon Park in New Orleans where, by chance, Imet Ciera Ellis. Our time together was a reminder of the joy that comes with meeting new people. On Friday,Iwent back to Audubon Park, with plans to meet and walk with Ellis. However,atthe last minute, she was called away Iwas already there, so Idid what Idid last year —started walking, hoping to meet someone. First, Icrossed paths with Robyn Ledet. She was finishing up, but said we could walk together for a few minutes. Ledet is aneonatal intensive care unit nurse at Manning Family Children’sHospital in New Orleans.

We talked about how more newborns are ending up in the NICU. She added adetail Ihadn’tpreviously considered —that health advanceshave made it possible to save preemies earlier than ever before. So, childrenwho wouldn’thave survived years ago now find their places in the NICU. Ilove details that makestatistics more understandable. With that quick conversation, Ledet was off, and Iwas left wondering, “Now what?” Ichanged directions, thinking about why Iapproachsome people and not others. Striking up aconversation with astranger takes acertain level of courage. Over the years, I’ve developed a sixth sense about it. Speed matters. If someone’s moving too fast, Ican’twalk and talk at the same time. Headphones or earbuds also rule people out: they carry the unspoken message: “Do not disturb me.” When acouple walked by with dogs, Ithought, “Hereare my people.”

Iwas right.

Shyra Latiolais and Gus Pelias walk in Audubon Park with their much-loved pooches, Barracks and Rampart (like the streets), five days aweek. Pelias grew up in New Orleans but went to college in Lafayette, where he ended up staying for another decade andchange. Originally from Crowley,Latiolais also moved to Lafayette, where the couple met. They’ve been in New Orleans for 20-plus years. Minutes after we met, we came upon aman named Ned. Both Pelias and Latiolais inquired about his dog, Rosie, who had recently had surgery.They were so friendly that Iasked how they knew each other

They explained that if you walk in the parkmost days, you see the same people and eventually get to know them and their dogs.

ä See RISHER, page 2B

Deputy killed in shooting

Authorities: 2nddeputyinjured,suspect dead following fight

BY AIDAN McCAHILL Staff writer

Twolaw enforcementofficers were shot, one fatally,outside the Iberville Parish Courthouse on Monday night. Asuspect was also killed, authorities said.

IBERVILLE PARISH

According to Iberville Parish DistrictAttorney Tony Clayton, two Iberville Parish sheriff’s deputies were attempting to arrest someone when afight ensued and they were shot.

Clayton said one of the deputies was SheriffBrett Stassi’sson, Brett Stassi Jr He identified theother deputy as Charles Riley. Riley died fromhis injuriesat thehospitalwhere both of the deputies werebeing treated, Clayton said.

Stassi Jr.’scondition “appears to be optimistic,” Clayton said. Attorney General LizMurrill said in astatementthatshe had spoken to the sheriff, who confirmedhis son wasstablebut “not outofthe woods.” She askedpeople to pray for them.

Sweet, sweetmusic

ABOVE: The CapitalCity Cajuns perform on theArbroth Store stageduring theWestBaton Rouge Museum’s 30th annual SugarFest on SundayinPort Allen.

LEFT: John Larkin, left, dances with Ruthie Theroit as theCapital City Cajuns perform

ACLU sues Trumpadministration

Lawsuitclaims

‘Louisiana Lockup’ ICEfacilityatAngola is unconstitutional

BY MEGHAN FRIEDMANN Staff writer

The federal government is usingthe “Louisiana Lockup” at Angolatoillegally punish immigrants twice forthe same offense, theAmerican Civil LibertiesUnion claimed Monday in a lawsuit against President DonaldJ.Trump’sadministration.

The federal lawsuit, filed Mondayinthe Middle District of Louisiana, arguesthata detainee is being held at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola even though hisdeportation orderismore than 6months old, which the ACLU says is unconstitutional. And by holding immigrants at afacility located on the grounds of the country’slargest maximum-securityprison, the Trump administration is using theimmigration system, whose proceedings arecivil, to dole out criminal punishment, the lawsuit says Spokespeople forthe Depart-

ment of Homeland Security and Gov.JeffLandry’soffice did not respond to requestsfor comment on thelawsuit.

In astatement, Department of Public Safetyand Corrections spokesperson TiffanyDickerson said the agency was“unable to provide aresponse” to amedia inquiry and directed questions to Immigrationand Customs Enforcement.

“I haven’tbeen to the facility —it’srun by the federal government. Ihavenoreason to believe thatthey aren’tfollowing federal guidelines for ICE detainees,” state Attorney General Liz Murrill saidinastatement.

The state is not anamed defendant in the lawsuit. On Sept. 3, Landry,U.S.Attorney General PamBondi and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem unveiled the Louisiana Lockup, located at Angola. Noem touted Angola’s“notorious” history, describing it as a place fit to hold the “worst of the worst.”

“If you commita violent crime in this country—ifyou rape a child, if you commitamurder,if you commit ahorrible, heinous crime,weare goingtoprosecute you hereand we aregoing

from page1B

MASS GATHERING

ABOVE: Members of the legal community gather and line up in Jackson Square before the processional into St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans for aRed Mass on Monday

RIGHT: Gov.Jeff Landry,back left,and his wife, Sharon, chat with former Gov.John Bel Edwards and state Attorney General Liz Murrill following the Red Mass.

Continued from page1B

“This will be news to Ned, but yesterday Shyra and Iwere talking and wondering if we could get Ned and Helene to go have dinner or lunch or something —when Rosie’sbetter,ofcourse,” Pelias said. Iloved seeing these walking friends take friendship to the next level. Here’s hoping Rosie makes afull recovery soon and the two couples are able to enjoy a meal together

“For years, I’ve kind of lived by that if you’re walking down the street and somebody’swalkingby, you make eye contact and smile,” Pelias said. “Sometimes people think that’s weird, but sometimes it is an icebreaker to help, you know,move the relationship forward.”

It’saphilosophy Isupport wholeheartedly He added that dogs are great at introducing their humans.

“Gus got ajob teaching at Loyola because of dogs,” Latiolais said. “Because our dog Jackson made friends with adog named Sadie.” Pelias went on to explain that he wasn’tthe only one in his family who tried to spreadthe good stuff. His brother,Drew Pelias, who passed away in June, tried to start a“revolution

Park in NewOrleans.

It is one of aseries of high-profile detention centersopened since the Trump administration began its campaign to detain and deportimmigrants in recordnumbers. Othersinclude Alligator Alcatraz in Florida andthe Cornhusker Clink in Nebraska.

“Opening Angola to immigrants whohave already served their time for crimes previously committed is unprecedented and must be rectified,” the lawsuit says The ACLU filed its lawsuit on behalf of Oscar Hernandez Amaya, whocame to the United States from Honduras in 2005, according to the courtrecord.

In 2018, Amaya was convicted of attempted aggravated assault and illegalpossession of a weapon, the lawsuit says He served approximately two yearsout of a41/2year sentence and was released on good time credits,itsays ICE took him into custody in 2023, but he fought againsthis removal, the lawsuit says. In March, ajudge blocked his deportation to Honduras under the Convention Against Torture, which prevents the U.S.fromreturning people to countries if they may be tortured there, it says Six months have passed, and because the government has tried and failed to deport Amaya to adifferent country,heshould be released immediately, according to the lawsuit. It also asks the courtto declarethe useofCamp 57 to detain immigrants unconstitutional. In acourtfiling, Amaya says the facility was not in fit condition to house immigrants, as the shower waterwas black when he arrived. He also claimed thatdetainees are receiving yellowish and foul-tasting drinking waterand that Camp 57 is full of mold. ICE officials previously denied claimsthat conditions areinhumane at the facility When ICE first opened Camp 57,the agency releasedalistof51immigrants it said were detained there. They had been convicted of either murder,rape or sexoffenses againstchildren, according to the agency Butsince then, officials have released no information about whoisbeinghousedthere.The facility has about 200 detainees, according to the lawsuit.

Camp 57 is named after Landry,the 57th governor of Louisiana.

Email Meghan Friedmann at meghan.friedmann@ theadvocate.com.

LOTTERY SUNDAY,OCT.5,2025

PICK 3: 4-9-5

PICK 4: 1-3-2-5

PICK 5: 9-5-9-3-3

Unofficial notification, keep your tickets to keep you herefor the rest of your life,” Bondi said. AlsoknownasCamp 57, the facility is inside awing of Angola that has been out of usesince 2016 and waspreviously used to punish inmates whobroke the rules by placing them in solitary confinement.

Barbara Firmin 'Bobbie'

Barbara“Bobbie”Firmin

Bourgeois, October11, 1945 –October 5, 2025,passed peacefully at herhomein Slaughtersurrounded by familyand friendsthatshe treasureddearly. Shewas abeauticianof50+ years, acareer throughwhich most of her“customers” became long lastingand valued friends. Twelve yearsofthattimeshe also served hercommunity of Slaughterastheir first womanMayor during which time sheaccom‐plishedmanythingsthat made herfamily, friends, andcommunity extremely proud. Shewas theepit‐omeofstrengthand inde‐pendence andpossessed artistic andcreativetalent much tooplentiful to list Shewas alovingand loyal wife,a generous andde‐pendable friend,the ab‐solute best Mama to her children andaneverpre‐sent andloved “Nana”to hergrandand even greatgrandchildrenwho were theapplesofher eye. Al‐though we areshattered by ourloss, we arealsore‐joicingthatshe is now back in thearmsofour dadwhere shebelongs both healthyand whole again. Sheissurvivedby hersons, ShaneBourgeois (wifeSheilla)and TJ Booth (Not by Blood butbyLove), daughter,DawnB Gulledge (husband Trey), Grandchildren: PJ,Trace (Katlyn), Logan(Hunter), Caleb, Cheyenne,Jesse andgreat grandchildren: Wyatt, Liam,Everly, and Wylder.One sister,Joann F. Ilgenfritz,manybroth‐ers/Sistersinlaw,aswell as numerous nieces and nephews. Proceeded in deathbyher parentsJim‐mieJosephand Dorothy Charrier Firmin of Slaugh‐ter. Herson Philip L. Bour‐geoisJr.,brothers, Roy Firmin,Ronald“Ronnie” Firmin andJimmieFirmin. SisterDorothy Firmin Doucet,nephewJim Firmin andgreat nephew Ronnie Firmin.Visitationwillbeat FirstBaptist Church in SlaughteronWednesday October8,from9 am until services at 11, conducted by Rev. BasilWicker. Burial at EasternStarCemetery in Wilson.The pallbearers will be PJ Bourgeois, Trace Bourgeois, CalebBour‐geois, Jesse Gulledge,Roy Firmin andWyatt Lawton Honorary pallbearer TJ Boothe.The familyasks that in lieu of flowers, do‐nationstoSt. Jude’s Re‐search Hospital.Share sympathies,memories, andcondolences at www CharletFuneralHome.com.

Pamela Franks Bowers, abeloved mother and grandmother, passed away peacefullyon September 30, 2025, at the age of 79 in Central Louisiana. Born on August 15, 1946, in Winnfield, Louisiana, to Lonnie and Jessie Mae Franks, she dedicated her life to the East Baton Rouge Parish School System. She was known for her warmth, resilience, and sharp wit. Pam is survived by her four children: Michele Gulotta,Jeff, Jay Smith, Vernon, Tre' Bowers, and Chris Bowers. Shehad six grandchildren: Seth Gulotta, Stevie, Andrew Gulotta, Kyle Bowers, Zane Bowers, and Zoe Bowers. She also had two great-grandchildren: Waylon and Wade Gulotta Additionally, she leaves behind aniece, Wendy Renfrow, and anephew, Wesley Warren. She was preceded in death by her husband Charles Bowers, sister Martha Ann Warren, parents Lonnie and Jessie Mae Franks, and grandson Jeffrey Joseph Gulotta. Amemorial service will

Cooper, Marvin D.

Marvin D. Cooper, aresident of Saint Amant, passed awayonThursday, October2,2025, at the age of 82. He was born on March 4, 1943, in SanFrancisco,CA, to A. W. and Ruth IolaTurner Cooper. Marvin was aretired projectmanager and loved hismusic, snow skiing,motorcycle riding and sailing. He was amemberofAscension Baptist Church. Marvin is survived by his wife of 40 years, Brenda N. Cooper; three children, Candi Cooper,Shannon Frierson (Michael),and Shay Cooper(Julie); stepson, Randy D.Richard; brothers, A.W. Cooper (Toni) andRena Floyd (Stacey); sister, Sherri Wilson; fourteen grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. Heispreceded in death by his parents, A.W. and Ruth Cooper;stepfather, WilliamFloyd; and grandparents, Floyand Myrtle Cooper.Relatives and friendsare invitedtoattend the Funeral Service at ResthavenFuneral Home, 11817 Jefferson Hwy in Baton Rouge,onThursday, October9,2025, at 11:00 a.m. Avisitation will be held at the funeral home beginningat9:00 a m. Burial willfollow at Resthaven Gardens of Memory. Acelebration of life willbeheld at Ascension Baptist Church, locatedat13432 Airline Hwy, Gonzales,LA 70737, following the burial. The family wouldliketo thankPinnacle Hospice, the staffatThe Crossing, and HomeInstead for their support during this difficult time.Family and friends may signthe online guestbook or leave apersonalnote to the family at www.resthavenbatonroug e.com.

Jerome "Jerry" Philip Leggio, Jr., passed awayin his home at the age of 90 on Wednesday,October 1, 2025.Hewas borninBaton Rouge,Louisiana on September23, 1935, at the Old Lady of the Lake Hospital to Jerry,Sr., and Audrey Cotton Leggio. Jerry and his loving wife, Gloria, weremarried for 67 years. He graduated from Baton Rouge High School in 1953, and from Louisiana State University in 1957. After college,Jerry discovered hislove for theater. He could oftenbefound on stageatthe Baton Rouge Little Theater and the CabaretTheater.Someof his favorite plays he starredinwere"AStreetcar Named Desire,""Inherit the Wind," "The King and I," "Carousel," "Kismet," "Camelot," and many others. Givingupthe spotlight in New York and HollyBowers,PamelaFranks

he chose to

bring the film industry to Louisiana. Agrant from GulfSouth Research Institute, where he was personnel director, and support fromJohn Wayne, ledto his impact in thecreation of Hollywood South in Louisianain1969. He went on to lead amulti-state committee to form the National Cineposium. In 2014, he earnedthe Anne Price Lifetime Achievement Award as recognitionfor his lifelong efforts to grow thefilmindustry in Louisiana. Jerrywas aregular on the WBRZ show, "HITORMISS."In1965, Jerry established themotion picture casting system for Louisiana. He lovedwriting storiesaboutlifeevents, films, and accomplishmentsonhis blog,"Mustard Sandwiches." After Jerry's retirement from GSRI, he lovedworking at theCatholicCharitiesDiocese of BatonRouge and theEast Baton Rouge Parish Library.Jerry loved walking, biking,reading, birdwatching,going to the beach, playing piano, telling stories, and laughing withhis family and friends.Healso lovedgoing out to eat with friends and family.Jerry is survivedbyhis wife, Gloria Gartman Leggio;brother Dr. Louis Wayne Leggio (Lynn); children Felicia Leggio Braud (John), Charles Michael "Mike" Leggio,DarrellAnthony Leggio (Kathy), and Charles Thomas Gartman, IV; 12 grandchildren, Lucas Leggio,Daniella Leggio Shane Leggio,Eva Braud, Micah Braud, Jolie Braud, KatherinLeggio,John MichaelLeggio,Scott Bearden, AllissaLeggio, Tyler Leggio,and Brandon Leggio(Caroline); 4greatgrandchildren, Jace Leggio, EthanGill, Presley Brenner, and Elaine Leggio;and numerous nieces and nephews. Jerrywas preceded in deathbyhis parentsJerome and Audrey Leggio,his son Jerome "Jerry"PhilipLeggio,III (Claudia), and daughter-inlawJohnnie MichelleBeardenLeggio. Visitation will be at Rabenhorst Funeral Home, 825 Government StreetinBaton Rouge, on Tuesday, October 7, from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM.A funeral mass will take place at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, 2250 Main Street in Baton Rouge, on Wednesday,October 8, at 11:00 AM. Burial willfollow at Roselawn Cemetery.In lieu of flowers,the family requests donations be sent to SacredHeart of Jesus Catholic Church at 2250 MainStreet,Baton Rouge, LA 70802. Jerrylived along and wonderful life and will truly be missed by allwho knew and lovedhim. Break aleg,Jerry! ExitStage Right

Robertson, Tommy

Tommy Robertson passed away peacefully at hishome on Monday, October6,2025, at theage of 73. He was aretired operator withShell Chemical Geismar; resident and nativeof Plaquemine, LA.Visitation willbeheldatWilbert Funeral Home, Plaquemine on Wednesday,October8, 2025, from 5to9pm and will resume on Thursday October9,2025, from 9am until religious services at 11am, celebrated by Pastor AndyArdoin. Interment willfollow at Grace Memorial Park,Plaquemine. Tommy is survived by his wife of 23 years, Janice BourgeoisRobertson; chil-

dren, Chad Robertson and wife Anna, Jamie Bickham and husband Clint; grandchildren, Bailey,Cadence and Chance Robertson and Hunter and RuthBickham; stepchildren, Glenn Landry and wife Sheryl, Jessica Sabatier and husband Paul,and Justin Jarreauand wife Charlie;and step-grandchildren. Preceded in death by his granddaughter,Abigail Robertson;and parents, Archie and RuthRobertson. Tommy was a1970 Plaquemine High School graduateand a1976 Nicholas State University graduatewhere he receiveda bachelor's degree.Atthe beginning of his career, he worked for Shell OilinWhiteCastle. Tommy enjoyed hunting andwas afounding memberofIndianVillage Hunting Club.Healso enjoyed fishing at hisGrand Isle camp "Daddy'sDream." Tommy had apassion for helpinganyone and everyone, especiallyhis family and friends.Hewas a faithful member of First Baptist Church of White Castle.Special thanksto hissitters;SharonBosley Constance Snell,and AngelaWilliams for their loving care and devotion. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be madeto St.JudeChildren's Hospital or First Baptist Church of WhiteCastle.Pleaseshare memories online at www.wilbertservices.com.

Russell, GuyLouis

Guy LouisRussell III

Guy LouisRussellIII,age 72 passed away peacefully on September 17, 2025 at hisresidence in Worthington, MN

Guy was born on May 23, 1953 to Jean Harkins and Guy LouisRussellJr. in BatonRouge,LA. He was predeceased by hisparents and grandparents. He is survived by his siblings Gail Hawkes, Anita Kocke, Jo Ellen Walton, Christie Russell,Blake Russelland numerous nieces and nephews. Guy was exceptionallykindand enjoyed music, reading,football,and hearing agood story. He lovedanimals. The family would like to thank his former wife, Virginia Fee,formersister-inlaws Rebecca and Sarah,

andformer mother-in-law

Evelyn Fee for their steadfast devotion andlove for Guy. Acelebrationoflife washeld on September 23, 2025 at Golden Horizons of Worthington.

Waddell,Leo Wayne

LeoWayne Waddell was born October14, 1948, in Shreveport, Louisiana, and passed away Friday, October3,2025, in Baton Rouge, LA after aprolonged illness. Visitation will be held at ResthavenFuneral Home, 11817 Jefferson Hwy. Baton Rouge,LA 70816, on Thursday, October9,2025, from 1:00 p.m. untilFuneral Service at 2:30 p.m. Pallbearers will be Greg Waddell, Riley Waddell, StevenMayo, KevinMayo,ZackMayo, Rodney Clements, and Gary Hunter.Entombment will follow at Resthaven GardensofMemory. Aself -employedbusinessman, Waynewas the proudowner of Waddell's Galleryof Distinctionand Louisiana Moldingand Supply, Inc. for 53 years. Over that time,his businesses became thego-to destinationsfor fine art andframinginthe region.Known for hisexceptional eye for colorand design,hegreatly valuedthe long-termrelationshipshebuilt with hisemployees, business associates andhis customers. Alongside hisprofessional career,Wayne lovedgiving backtohis communityand dedicated much of his life to public service.Heservedhis communitythrougha distinguished career in Louisiana politics, first beingelectedtothe Caddo Parish Commission and goingontobeelectedto threeterms in the Louisiana HouseofRepresentatives and serving as Dean of theHouse. Towards theend of his career,Wayne served as the Executive Director of the Louisiana State Exhibit Museum, apursuit that combinedhis passion for people, history and thearts. Throughout hispublicser-

vice,hebroughtthe same servant's heartthat defined hisbusiness success, tirelessly advocatingfor causesthatimprovedthe lives of others. Waynewas also deeply involved in civic and religiouslife. He wasa member of the Cedar Grove Masonic Lodge,ElKarubah Shrine Downtown Shreveport RotaryClub, andthe Louisiana State Fair Board, andhewas an ordained deacon in thePresbyterian Church.Hecherished the many friendshipsformed throughthese organizations, many of whichbecame lifelong. Wayne's greatest joywas hisfamily. He wasmarriedtothe love of hislife, Susan Simpson Waddell, for 54 years. Together, they shared an inseparable bond anda zest for life, making the most of everymoment together.Their greatest pride andjoy were their twosons, Greg and Riley. Waynetaughthis sons the meaningofunconditional love andinstilledinthem thebeliefthatanything is possible throughhard work andhumility. His warmth, humor, and kindness left an indelible mark on everyonewho knew him. He wasprecededin death by hisparents, Oliver LeoWaddell andwife MarthaLeiendecker,and hissister,Lola JaneMayo Wayneissurvivedbyhis belovedwife,Susan Simpson Waddell; sons, Greg Waddell and wife Lindsay, and RileyWaddell andwife Amanda; grandchildren Harperand Oliver; nephews, StevenMayo and partner KharlaBarrios, and Kevinand CatrinaMayo; andgreat-nephew, Zach Mayo.Familyand friends may sign the online guestbook or leave apersonal note to thefamilyat www.resthavenbatonroug e.com.

Economist LorenScott released his2026-2027 Louisiana Economic Outlook recently andhas beentraveling around the statespreading the mostly good news. By the end of the year,the stateisprojected to break thethreshold of 2 million nonfarm jobs, and thegrowthwill be spread across the state’s10MetropolitanStatistical Areas in the coming years.

Of course, the big headlines are the Meta project in northeast Louisianaand thetwo major LNGterminals underconstruction alongthe Calcasieu Ship Channel. They willmakeMonroeand Lake Charles the twofastest-growing regions in the state, with an 8% increaseinjobs over the next two years. Scott projects that the state will add jobs at afaster clip thanithas in 2025, with a3.7% increase in jobs statewide on average over the same time period Baton Rouge, where anew Hyundai Steel plant is in the works,will also be astandout

The Capitol region can expect to see 4.9% job growth over the next twoyears. Many of those jobs will come from the $20 million in projects slated for the 17,000-acre RiverPlexMegaPark, amixed-use developmentonthe west bank of the Mississippi River in Ascension Parish.

The 3.3%job growthprojected forShreveport-Bossier could likely be exceeded, Scott said,ifrumored projects, such as adatacenter, come to fruition. The Lafayette region,which is weathering alull in drilling in the Gulf, can expect2.8% job growth. ScottalsonotedthatIberia Parish is abright spot.Nolonger includedin the Lafayette MSA, Iberia, where First Solar is hiring apace for its solar panel manufacturing plant, shows that there is growing economic activity in some of the state’sruralparishes

The New Orleans region canexpect to seea 2.4% increase in jobs, even as it grapples with a lag in tourism and convention business. St. Tammany and Hammond, however,are projected to see a3.4% gain.

We can’tlook upon this forecast with anything but optimism. Scott notes some potential threats on the horizon from tariffs to AI butalso notes that the Trump administration’s policiesregarding energy exploration andreduced regulation will benefit Louisiana greatly

We have praised Gov.Jeff Landry and his administration for changing the game regarding economic development in Louisiana. This jobs forecast marks areal opportunityfor ourstate. We hope our leaders will seize it to makeinvestments in our future, in the health andsafety of our citizens and in the education of ourchildren. After all, attracting jobsare only onepart of the equation. Turning thisstate around and reversing outmigration will require addressing the quality-of-life issues thatloom large when residents decide to leave. It will requireleadersfromall across the statetoput the needs of citizens first. As the job picture looksrosier though, we are finally in aplace tobuild astrong foundation for the future.

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

David Mitchell’sarticle about “urging public outreach” for support of carbon sequestration has me wondering why the industry thinks that the public needs to know more. He even quotes Greg Upton, executive director of theLSU Center for Energy Studies, saying, “carbon sequestration is akey strategythat could be used to reduce emissions intensity of products. He makes afirst valid point:CCS (carbon sequestration and capture) is not being used by our industriestoreduce the amount of carbon their fossil-fuel endeavorscreate, but to slightly (if successful), reducetheir intensity.I’m wondering exactly how that translates into reducing the amount of carbon that we’redumping into the atmosphere. And there’sthat big “if” —there are no guarantees thatthe CCS process will capturemorecarbon thanitcreates Americanshave learned that the “benefits” of this supposed process aren’tbenefiting them, unless they’re amulti-national oil operator.Shipping American fossil fuels overseas is a

multi-billion-dollar business.

Addtothat thedeadly aspects of collecting high pressure carbon into pipelines and containment vesselsbefore attempting to force it underground, and you have theprospect of leaks (as has already occurred in the U.S. 76 times since 2010. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration shows Denbury is responsible for more CO2 leakage than any other CO2 pipeline company.This is worrisome: Denburyisamajor actor in Louisiana.

Then there’sthe acidification of aquifers that accidentally get carbon leaked into them.Carbonic acid is easily formed when water and carbon mix it up. Variations in acidity result in changes to water chemistry and alkalinity, which is not good foraquifers or the people who depend on them for their personal use, crops and industry So, what more does theCCS industry want to tell us?

MARGIE VICKNAIR-PRAY Lacombe

On the last Sunday in September,we honored theGold Star families who absorbthe grief of past war causalities, just as Blue Star families maintain a vigil of support for those serving.Nothing comparestothe loss afamily feels Anytimeone of our servicemembers aretaken, we losealittle piece of ourselves.

Unfortunately,the heroes remained on the battlefields, and the lucky ones returnedtoremind our formerenemies thattheir efforts to do battle withAmerica in the past werefruitless. Now theyare fully aware of that.

New Orleans,I’d like to think you’re better thanthis. As aBourbon Street bartender,Ihave seen that the bucket drumming culture is all that’sbad about New Orleans First of all, it’snoisepollution —especially when you have competing drummersnot even ablock apart.You can’t even hear themusic in abar playing music But truly,that’s not the worst of it.It is at least breaking so many child labor laws. There’sa family on theblock whereIwork, and the young girland

And to the present-day terrorists who we arecutting off at each pass, their days are numbered. And to the few misguided who are contemplating any future attacks on this great nation, I would like to be veryserious with these people: For your health’ssake, change your plans. Find another livelihood. Youwill live longer

Becauseour heroes gave their all, true Americans assembled across this free nation to remember and give thanks.

LINK SAVOIE Sunset

young boy are bothnoolder than 10. The mother or grandmother sits in a folding chair in theshade while the kids aggressively chasetourists down for tips. They block sidewalks. They molest tourists. And they don’trepresent the true music cultureofthis great city

To perform on Bourbon or in the Quarteringeneral, do you need apermit or license? Are theypaying taxes? New Orleans and Louisiana, getthis fixed.

DEAN ARNETT

NewOrleans

IamaRepublican, and honestly, Ihave no idea whatprompted that decision, but Iwould like to think it was intellectual, knowing that I have always felt like neither party had long-term positive goals with everyday Americans in mind. We are acomplicated country made up of remarkably diverse groups. Iam very proud to be an American. Idothink Iampractical, fair-minded and smart. America has serious problems, not the least of whichisa staggering national debt nearing $37 trillion (which neither party seems to be paying muchmore than word games to resolve), growing ideological differences that are more often resolved by violence than discussion and an unwavering focus in getting involved in international matters we are convinced we are the only ones capable of solving. Iwould like to see our current national leadership focus on constructively working on bringing our national debt down so our children and grandchildren can live without the overwhelming debt burden. We need to pay more attention to working with our differing ideological partners practically (I know this is very difficult) where compromise maybethe only answer and focus on key structural problems at home rather than abroad. Idon’tbelieve tariffs, reduced tax burden or continuing international confrontations are the answer.Yes, that means Iamnot asupporter of the Big Beautiful Bill, no matter whatyou call it. We have serious problems right here at home, and we need to start working on solutions rather than continually pointing the finger at the other guy.Weare all Americans and need to start acting like it.

CHARLESHARGON Baton Rouge

Inote that Robert F. Kennedy Jr proposes to study the harm done by vaccines of various types. That kind of study is flawed because it doesn’t study the benefits of vaccines as well. Let’shave aproper study which would include both the benefits and the harm

EILEEN BAGNETTO Metairie

CouldCentral La.becomean economic powerhouse again?

Chris Masingill has been in Alexandria just afew weeks, and he’salready abeliever

It’sagood thing, too, because that’s hisjob. As the new head of Louisiana Central, the economic development agency that covers a 10-parish area across the state’smiddle, Masingill is now the region’s foremost business evangelist, preaching the gospel of opportunityto companies that are considering relocating to the area that stretches from theMississippi River in the east to the Sabine River in thewest.

Drive through the region, and you’ll seesome industry,some farmingand a whole lot of pine trees.

Masingill sees nothing but potential. “I am sold, Iamcommitted,”hetold me recently from his car outsidehis officeindowntown Alexandria. “I am so glad Itook the time to dive in.”

That optimism is sorely needed.

For decades, central Louisiana, CenLa to locals, has been an economic laggard, alargely rural region caught in the grip of timber industry decline Earlier this year,International Paper shuttered its mill in Campti, in Natchitoches Parish, laying off morethan400 peopleand closing the parish’slargest individualtaxpayer.The move caught many off guard and sent local officials scrambling, but it wasn’tunprecedented.Itwas just the latest in adecadeslong series of economicgut punches that have left the local economybattered That’s why some of Louisiana’smost intractable problems —decrepit infrastructure, diminishing opportunityand declining population —are all endemic to the CenLa region.

Into that steps Masingill, theformer economic development chief in St. Tammany,where he was known as a fervent and committed proponentof new projects. But the northshorehas things that helped Masingill spread theword:a growing and relatively wealthy population, goodschools andproximityto New Orleans and Baton Rouge. CenLa doesn’thave those.

shuttered paper mill siteintoafacility that uses wood fiber to produce green methanol for ship fuel.

These are good projects, but they’re not enough. Masingill must figure a waytolure other industries, too.

Of course, like every economic development person in thestate, he would love adata center

Andhethinks central Louisiana should be “at thetop of the list” for such aproject, given theavailable sites and welcoming approach. He’s also targeting manufacturing and, controversially in central Louisiana, carbon capture projects.

Time will tell if Masingill’sfaith in theregion’spotential will lead to new projects. For it to, CenLawill have to overcome —oratleast improve someofthose long-standing challenges mentioned above.

On infrastructure, Masingill touts the region’saccess to theMississippi and Red rivers, two railroads and anorthsouthinterstate. Butitisstill not as accessible as the state’sother big regions, and local sewer and water systems are frequently in poor condition.

On Aug. 5, 1997, President Bill Clinton and the Republican-controlled Congress, led by Speaker Newt Gingrich, enacted the Balanced Budget Act. This bipartisan agreement aimed to balance the federal budget by 2002. Most of the credit goes to Gingrich because Clinton had vetoed previous Republican proposals for reducing the debt. The deal resulted in four consecutive years of budget surpluses, ararity.But the big spending addicts returned and so has the debt, now morethan $37 trillion.

He is unfazed.Heswears thestate’s middleregion can punch above its weight. “There’snoreason we shouldn’tbe leading the stateineconomic impact,” especially when itssize is taken into account, hetold me. That’sambitious, but Masingill is correct to see potential in central Louisiana. Timber,for decades thearea’s economic engine and lately the sign of itsdecline, is undergoing something of arenaissance. Wood, as it turns out, canbeusedtoproduce avariety of new“clean”fuels that have impressive versatility

Central Louisiana has already seen some of that activity, and more is on the way Forexample, Drax Biomass’ LaSalle Parishplant has been open since 2017, producingwood pelletsthat are sold to European customers for electricity generation. And in Pineville, acompany called SunGas Renewables is in the midst of a$2billion project to turn a

More worryingly,CenLa is losing population. According to Louisiana Central’swebsite, the region lost 30,000 residents, about 8%, between 2015 and 2024. Andthe number of people working has dropped from morethan 130,000 in 2020 to about 113,000 now, thewebsite shows.

“Wecan’tafford to loseone person,” Masingill told me. Reversing those downward trends will take all of the persuasion and team-building that he can muster Masingill may see morepotential in central Louisiana than most and sometimes,his enthusiasm seems over the top ButIhope it’sgenuine. Even more, I hope it works.

Masingill doesn’thave to turn CenLa into some sort of Silicon Valley South; he just has to get it moving in the right direction. That alone would be asignificant achievement, one that would see his evangelistic zeal profit theentire state.

Email Faimon A. Roberts III at froberts@theadvocate.com.

PresidentTrump faceshis generals

When President Donald Trump dropped the bizarre suggestion that the military should use American cities as “training grounds” to fight what he called “an enemy within,” it sounded almost like old news.

After all, Trump has talked like this for years. “Don’ttake him literally,” some would say.Or, that’s just Trump being Trump.

Yetfor the past couple of months, Trump has been foreshadowing the deployment of National Guard troops to Chicago and Portland, and as Iwrite this, citizens of those cities are watching and waiting for it to happen, just as he sent troops to Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and Memphis, purportedly to crack down on crime and support immigration enforcement.

But there was adistinct difference in gravity to Trump’srambling at Quantico. He was making his suggestion to a highly unusual gathering of hundreds of the nation’stop military leaders —admirals, generals, top sergeants —who were summonedfrom around the world, on short notice, to Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, for apurpose most could onlyguessatbefore the meeting.

Trump, alate addition to the program, apparentlycould not pass up an opportunity to address military commanders on national television —and appeared to be visibly thrown off guard by the absence of applause.

This was, after all,not apolitical rally —or, rather,not supposed to be. The military,especially agathering of seniorrank officers, refrain from showing politically tinged approval or disapproval. (Alas, after speaking to countless political gatherings, the president still seems to be learning his regular job.)

Hegseth’sspeech was notable forits scolding tone. Strutting back and forth in front of agiant American flag, no doubt

“We’ve promoted toomany uniformed leaders for the wrong reasons: based on their race, based on gender quotas, based on historic so-called ‘firsts,’ “ Hegseth said.

He snarled about wokeness, DEI, “dudes in dresses” and “climate change worship,”and concluded by saying “we’re done with that s***.”

Hegseth heralded the return of swashbuckling, manly warriors who “kill people and break things for aliving,” and who will henceforthbeliberated from “stupid rules of engagement.”

set up to recreate the iconic scene from the movie “Patton,” Hegseth declared it was “completely unacceptable to see fat generals and admirals” in the military. Thatreminded me of my own final weeks in the Army back in the Vietnam era, when our company commander threw abalefullook at my expanding tummy and noted, “You could lose afew pounds there, eh, Page?”

Sir,yes, sir!

Iwas ashort-time draftee by then, silently counting the days until Icould go home. Hegseth’saudience, by contrast, was made up of the men andwomen who lead the premierfighting force on Earth. Andthe popinjay berating themfrom the stage was performing for apolitical audience, not for them.Hegsethand Trump wouldspend theday castigating liberals, andthreateningtobrutalize their cities, andthe assembled generals and admirals were there as props. One can only imaginewhatwas going through their minds.

Hegseth commanded troops at GuantanamoBay and in Iraq and Afghanistan, reaching the rank of captain, but his main qualification for Trump’sCabinet seems to have been his timeworking for Fox News. Andinhis performance at Quantico, his culture warrior chops were clearly in evidence.

The non-military audience listened and wondered, is thata green light for war crimes? We don’tknow what the generals and admirals thought. To eschew politics is their ethos and their training. Their vow is to defend the Constitution

YetHegsethleft little doubt thathis gung-ho ideological bent is integral to how he runs the Pentagon —and thatno duty requires him to check apresident who talks routinely about violating the Constitution and possibly turning our troops against American citizens.

“I told Pete,” Trump told his Quantico audience, “we should use someofthese dangerous cities as training grounds for our military.Because we’re going into Chicago very soon. That’s abig city with an incompetent governor.Stupid governor.Stupid.”

Not stupid enough to take Trump’sbait, Ihope. Indeed, it’s hard to imagine any observer stupid enough not to seethat Trump is playing apotentially deadly game with our constitutional order.And yet we don’tseem to know how to protect it from him

Iamreminded of the immortal wisdom of afigure from my childhood, the comic strip character Pogo: “Wehave met the enemyand he is us!’ It’s an old line, but unfortunately still powerfully relevant.

Email Clarence Page at clarence47page@gmail.com

Democrats are hoping the current government “shutdown” will be blamed on Republicans as in the past. Perhaps it’stimeto bring back Clinton and Gingrich to worktheir previous magic. As with President Trump’sDOGE, Gingrich exposed large amounts of wasteful and unnecessary spending.

In an email, Gingrich tells me he visited Capitol Hill last month and gave budget committee staffofthe House and Senate a“workbook” detailing how to balance the budget and pay down the national debt.

As fornecessary public support, which he says is crucial, Gingrich believes voters must be convinced debt reduction is anecessity He references a2014 Gallup poll which found respondents believed the government wastes 51 cents of every dollar it spends. A2025 YouGov-Cato found that number had increased to 59 cents per dollar.America’sNew Majority Project reported last month that 69% of voters support aconstitutional amendment requiring Congress to balance the budget.

“A major part of any serious balanced budget-debt repayment program,” writes Gingrich, “must include hearings and reports highlighting waste, fraud, inefficiency,and ineffectiveness. The thememust be that amodernized, effective government would deliver better results forthe American people at amuch lower cost. This themeisespecially important in health and health care, which must be improved dramatically if the budget is ever to be balanced. Health care is 18% of the GDP and the largest expense of the federal government. It costs $1.7 trillion versus $910 billion fordefense. More than 27% of all federal spending is focused on health care.”

Messaging is key,hesays, and manymessages should be tried until the right one is found. Among them might be Ronald Reagan’sline: “Wedon’thave deficits because people are taxed too little. We have deficits because big government spends too much.” Gingrich says, “Government spending went up 58% from FY 2019 to FY 2025 while the population only went up 3%.”

The former Speaker proposes three steps: “First, there must be aconcerted communications effort to, in (Margaret) Thatcher’s language, ‘win the argument and then winthe vote.’ One possible future meanseconomic decay,fiscal bankruptcy and massive tax transfers from working Americans to foreign bondholders.

“The effect of that decaying future on the economy,American society and our national security must be driven deeply into the collective mindset. It is simply irresponsible and destructive to allow the current wasteful, selfindulgent and selfish system to continue.

“Second, there must be abroad coalition that sustains this vision foryears.

“The American system,and especially the American newsmedia, has apowerful commitmenttohaving the urgent drive out the important. Elected officials alone do not have the time or communications weight to sustain such abig strategic goal over time. Many people and institutions must be committed to saving America by reestablishing fiscal stability.They must return to this commitment daily,without regard to headlines that seek to distract from the vital long-term goal.

“Third, elected officials, congressional staff and the Executive Branch must commit to be the team that saves America from bankruptcy and economic collapse. If one-third of the Republicans in Congress and the Executive are seriously,constantly focused on balancing the budget and paying off debt, their party and institutions will follow.They must be prideful and militant about doing something historic. The dramatically better future will be worth the time, conflict and frustrations.”

There’smuch moreinthe Gingrich “workbook.” Reducing debt and balancing the budget can again be achieved. All that is necessary is the will.

Email Cal Thomas at tcaeditors@tribpub.com

Tuesday will be partlysunnyand very warm. Humid conditions will accompanythe high near 90, creatingasummerlikefeel.Isolated pop-up storms will likelyformduring the heat of the day.Although summerlikeheat and steam will hang around on Wednesday, it will be close to checking out.Acoldfront is set to move through on Wednesdaynight and will changethe narrative for the second half of the week.Only aminor dent in temperaturesisexpected with daytimehighs reaching the mid- to upper80s close to

Southern rightwhales return from near extinction

Animal seen swimming offthe coastofArgentina

BY VÍCTOR CAIVANO and RAMIROBARREIRO

Associated Press

PENÍNSULA VALDÉS,Argentina

After coming backfrom the brink of extinction, Southern right whales are swimmingin greater numbers off the coast of Argentina’sPatagonia this year,delighting tourists seeking to catch aglimpse of their acrobatics.

Peninsula Valdés, located in the Patagonian provinceof Chubut, is globally important for the conservation of marine mammals and is hometo akey breeding population of Southern right whales—once an endangeredspecies —as well as elephant seals and sea lions.

“I’ve seen whales in Canada andCalifornia, but this was the best and probably the largest number of whales I’veeverseen in my life,” said Tino Ventz, aGerman tourist who recently visited the peninsula with his girlfriend The Southern right whale wasnearly exterminatedby hunting expeditions up until the last century.Before large-scale whalingbegan, the population in Southern waterswas estimated at around 100,000, before it was decimated to about 600. Since then, it has slowly recovered to roughly 4,700 whales aroundPeninsula Valdés today Whale-watching seasonin the South American country peaks between August and September.Thisyear, more than 2,000 whales have been spotted, though the actual number is likely higher,scientists say Ventz, 24,and his partner joined Argentine Andrea Delfino and her childrenon aboat trip. Southern winds stirredthe whales into more

ASouthernright whale breaches off the coast of Puerto Piramides,Argentina, onSaturday.

acrobatic breaching, aspectacle that leaves an indelible impression on thosewho witnessit.

Other tourists preferred to watch the whales from the shore, as is commoninneighboring Brazilor Uruguay Watching from the beach, AgustinaGuidolín, fulfilled her dream of witnessing“the immensity thatborderson themagical and the wild.” Thetourists wereatElDoradillo Park, aprotected natural area in PuertoMadryn, where whales spend time close to shore with theiryoung after giving birth.

In addition to Peninsula Valdés and other points in Patagonia, the whales’ migration route extends along Uruguay’seasterncoastand southern Brazil. Santiago Fernández, abiologist with Argentina’sNational Scientific andTechnical Research Council, is part of a project that since 1999 has carried outtwo to threeaerial surveys each year along 400 miles of Patagoniancoastline. This year’s count recorded 2,100 whales —863 of them mothers with calves, and the rest solitary individuals “We’re underestimating the numberofwhales in the area,” Fernández said of the census, noting that it represents only asnapshot, since whales move in and out of the

same region as they migrate.

He explained that in 1999, “about 500 whales were counted along that same route,”adding that “we’re currently seeing a3%annual growth rate.”

Fernández added that another project, “Following Whales,” conducted by severalnationaland international organizations, tracks individual whales viasatellite telemetry within the San Matias Gulftothe north, the San Jorge Gulf to thesouth and beyond to betterunderstand their routes.

From that project, which began in 2014, scientists learned that once the calves grow,the mothers lead them deeper into the gulfs whales that are therefore not included in the aerial census. The growing population is leading to adispersal —especially of juveniles and mothersthathave alreadycalved —toward the San Matiasand San Jorge gulfs, and even as far north as the coast of Buenos Airesprovince. Thisexpansion also brings the whales closer to risks posed by human activity, such as fishing nets and boat propellers, researchers have found, based on injuries suffered by whales unabletoreturn to Antarctica at the end and beginning of their natural cycle.

SPORTS

YOUTHSERVES

Quincy Riley’sname was thefirst one that Caesars Superdome public address announcer Mark Romig called when the NewOrleans Saintsdefensive starters were introduced Sunday.

Maybe someday,Riley’sname will be the last one,aspot reserved forfan favorites and face-of-the-franchise guys such as Demario Davis, Cam Jordan, AlvinKamara and TaysomHill.

But for now,Rileyisjust fine with having his name called,period He’syoung, but he’sready.That also holdstruefor several of his teammates whoare making an early impact. The

as fast as Rashid Shaheed was on his 87-

yard touchdown reception.

BY REED DARCEY Staff writer

Coach BrianKelly said Monday that quarterback Garrett Nussmeier’sinjured abdominal musclesresponded well to LSU’s open date.

ä South Carolina at LSU, 6:45 P.M. SATURDAy,SECN

Nussmeier,Kelly said, did not throw any footballs last week. Instead, he watched film, rehearsed in-game scenarios on virtual-reality headsets and mimicked his throwing motion witha towel in practice, just so he could work on his mechanics without putting unnecessary strain on his torso.

“He’sfeeling better and better,” Kelly said. “Wedidn’tdoalot withhim last week. We wanted to use that as arecovery week forhim.”

Kelly revealed Wednesday the “torso injury” Nussmeier has been battling since before the season started Aug. 30 wasanabdominal strain. The injury,he said, has healed slowly,but the secondyear starting quarterback is still “onthe backside” of its recovery timeframe. During LSU’sidle week, Kelly also saidNussmeier did notaggravate the injury at anypoint before or during a Sept. 27 loss to Ole Miss. LSU still limited Nussmeier’son-field work during the open date so he can be as healthyaspossiblefor aWeek7 home matchup with South Carolina (6:45 p.m., SEC Network).

Saints are rebuilding, and they are relying on their younger players to contributeright away.IfSunday’s26-14 victory over the New York Giantsisany indication,the youthmovement is about

“They brought us here to play football,” said Riley,afourth-round draft pick in April. “So at the end of the day, it’sjust playing football and getting adjusted to the different level of this game. Just takingroles and being a sponge around the vets, and they are just helping us be better every day.”

The Saints started four other rookies Sunday: left tackle Kelvin Banks, safety Jonas Sanker,undrafted rightguard

SouthernQB Woodsreturns to practice

BY TOYLOYBROWN III Staff writer

Southern quarterbackJalen

Woods returned to practice last week,coach TerrenceGraves said Monday during the SouthwesternAthletic Conference coaches virtual media availability Woods, aredshirt sophomore, hasn’tplayed since Aug. 30 after

ä Southern at Bethune-Cookman, 2PM. SATURDAy

suffering aneck and head injury duringthe MississippiValley Stategame. The hit required him to be placed in concussion protocol.

“He stayed involved in everything that we were doing,”Kelly said. “Run game checks. Blitz checks. Things of that nature. We just cut him downfrom the throwing.”

The LSU offense has struggled while Nussmeier has worked through his injury.The Tigers enter their gameagainst the Gamecocks ranked 81st among FBS teams in scoring offense, 83rd in total offense and 45th in passing offense.

The rushing attack is producing only 105 yards pergame, oneofthe 20 lowest rates in the country

Nussmeieristhrowing forjust232 yardsper contest—about 100yards fewer than he averaged through the first five games of last season. He’salso thrownseven touchdown passes and three interceptions. Across LSU’sfirst five games last year,hetossed 15 touchdowns and four interceptions.

“Our expectation after talking to him,”Kelly said, “ishefeelsgoodand he’sready to go.”

Graves said that Woods’ participation in practice during the bye week does not makehim automatically available to play against Bethune-Cookman at 2p.m. Saturday at Daytona Stadium in Daytona Beach,Florida.

season, has looked recently

“We’ll seehow it goes this week, and then thedoctors will let me know where we are with that,” Graves said. The second-year coach said he likes how Woods, the lone returningquarterback from last

“It was good to see him get out andget around andthrow and thingsofthatnature,” Graves said. “He’sgetting better and better each and every day,so we’llsee howitgoesthe rest of theweek.”

Woods’ injuryoccurred when he was hitonthe front of his

BY JIMVERTUNO AP sports writer

AUSTIN, Texas— Texas has troubles The preseason No. 1team is now unranked. Preseason Heisman Trophy favorite quarterback Arch Manning has struggledand is taking abeating behind an offensive line that can’t protect him.

AndnextupisresurgentNo. 6Oklahoma in theCotton Bowl in oneofthe greatrivalries in college football. And the Soonerswill be eager for payback after taking abeating in Dallas lastseason. After two consecutive appearances in the College Football Playoff, theLonghorns’ season is on thebrink at themidway point. TheLonghorns(3-2, 0-1 Southeastern Conference) were beaten by Florida on Saturday and now must trytoavoid con-

secutive losses for the first time since 2021.

“There’snosuch thing as a championship team without going through some adversity,” said Texassafety Michael Taaffe, who also predicted the Longhorns were about to go on a“crazy run” to put the season back on track. “The only ranking that matters is at the endof theyear.”

Whatails Texasstartswith Manning, who has struggled to live up to thehype His 16 total touchdowns and 1,151 yards passing stand up as respectable, buttheybelie a 60% completion rate, indecisive throws and misfires to open receivers.

Manning has had his moments, and put up agritty performance against Florida,but he andthe entireoffense have

KellyonLacydevelopments

Kelly respondedMonday to areport that Kyren Lacy’s attorneybelieves he has evidence that shows the former

On TV

COLLEGE GOLF

2:45

NATIONAL LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES

5:45

2p.m.OLLyonnesatArsenal FC CBSSN TENNIS

5a.m.Shanghai-ATP; Wuhan-WTA Tennis

10 p.m.Shanghai-ATP; Wuhan-WTA Tennis

5a.m.Wed.Shanghai-ATP; Wuhan-WTA Tennis

Dodgerswin Game 2overPhillies

BY DANGELSTON Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA Blake Snell al-

lowed one hit in sixshutout innings, striking out nine,and the Los Angeles Dodgers barely turned back Philadelphia’s late rally Monday night for a4-3 victory over the Phillies in Game2of their NL Division Series.

Freddie Freeman made agamesaving defensive play at first base, and Shohei Ohtani delivered an RBIsinglethathelpedthe Dodgers take a2-0 lead in the best-offive playoff. The defendingWorld Series champs can reach their 17th National League Championship Series with aGame 3win Wednesday in Los Angeles. Will Smith had atwo-run single in afour-run seventh, and the Dodgers took a4-1 leadinto the bottom of the ninth.

That’swhen the Phillies finally mounted amajor threat.

NickCastellanos slid headfirst into second base, narrowly eluding atag, for atwo-run double off Blake Treinen that at last sentthe Philadelphia crowd into afrenzy and made it a4-3 game.

Alex Vesia came in to face Bryson Stott, who tried to advance Castellanoswith abunt. But third

baseman Max Muncy wheeled and threw to shortstop Mookie Betts sprinting over to cover the bag in time to get Castellanos.

Pinch-hitter Harrison Bader singled, and Max Kepler grounded into afielder’s choice that left runners at the corners with two outs.

Roki Sasaki entered and retired NL battingchampion Trea Turner on agroundouttosecondfor the rookie’ssecond career save

ASSOCIATED

Yankeeslooking to staveoff elimination

BY IAN HARRISON Associated Press

TORONTO— Afterback-to-back beatdowns in Toronto, the New York Yankees don’thave anymargin for error as they head home forGame 3ofthe ALDS on Tuesday night.

Yankees manager AaronBoone put on abrave face after a13-7 loss Sunday in Game 2lefthis team facing elimination.

“Obviously,itfeels like the world’scaving in around you, you lose two games like that in their building whereitdoesn’t go right,” Boone said. “But all of a sudden you go out there and win aballgame on Tuesday,the needle canchange. There’s been alot of weird things that have happened in baseball this year. This would not be the weirdest, us rallying.”

NewYorkwas held hitless through 52/3 innings on Sunday,unable to get anything goingagainst Blue Jays rookie Trey Yesavage. The Blue Jays thumped the Yankees 10-1 on Saturday in Game 1 Toronto’s23runs in theALDSso farare the most by any team in theopening two games ofa postseason series. The Yankees scored 22 runs in the first two games of the2020 wild-card round against Cleveland.

New York has lost eightofnine in Toronto thisseason butis4-2 at home against the Blue Jays.

“Wehaven’tlost anyconfi-

ä Blue Jays at Yankees 7:08P.M.TUESDAy,FS1

dence,” Boone said. “Obviously, they’ve hadour number andgottenthe betterofussofar this year,but Idon’tthink anyone in our room doesn’tfeel like we can’t go outand beat them. We’ve got to play better.We’vegot to pitch and swingitbetter.But we’recertainly capable of it, andwe’ll expect to do that on Tuesday night.”

New York was pushedtothe limit by Boston in the wild-card round and hasseen its bullpen tested in thefirst two games of theALDS, with seven relievers combining for 101/3 innings.

“Weknowwhere they’re at in terms of their bullpen and everything,” Toronto infielder Ernie Clement said about theYankees

“Theyjust came off areally tough series.It’sreally importantfor us to work them, just make it as toughaspossibleonthem.”

Yankees left-hander Max Fried, who was chasedafter three-plus innings Sunday, credited the Blue Jays for making it tough on New York’spitchers.

“They’veput up good at-bats against us allyear,”Friedsaid “That’sa goodballclub. They don’tstrike out and they put the ball in playand they play good defense. They’replaying their game, and they’ve hadagood series so far.”

bothinthis series. Freeman went to hisknees to pick Tommy Edman’s poor throw on his backhand, keeping his right toe on thebag before rolling over ontohis back with the ball.

Kepler tripled in the eighth and scored on Turner’ssingle to trim it to 4-1.

Atwo-time Cy Young Award winner,Snell was sensational in holding the Phillies to another mostly punchlesseffortinthe

playoffs. Turner,NLhomerun champion Kyle Schwarberand two-time NL MVP Bryce Harper went acombined 1for 10 with five strikeouts.

On the15-year anniversary of Phillies ace Roy Halladay’splayoff no-hitter against the Reds, Snell had one going until Edmundo Sosa’stwo-out single in the fifth.

Snell, who walkedfour and threw 99 pitches, was tangled in a duelwith Jesús Luzardo until the seventh. Luzardo threw24pitches in the first before the left-hander settleddown andretired 17 straight Dodgers until Game 1star Teoscar Hernández singledleading off theinning. Freeman doubled, and that was all for Luzardo. The slumping Phillies were 1for 18 with nine strikeouts through six.

Up next

TheDodgers send right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamototothe mound in Game 3. Yamamoto struck out apostseason-high nine whilepitching into theseventh inning in theWild Card Series clincher against Cincinnati. BatonRouge native Aaron Nolawill start for the Phillies.

Tigers home forfirst time in 2-plus weeks

BY LARRYLAGE Associated Press

DETROIT— When the Detroit Tigers walked off thefieldfollowing theirlast home game two-plus weeks ago, no one knew if they would playanother game at Comerica Parkthis year

“Wehad to earn it,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch saidMonday.“It took alot to get back home.”

The Tigers dropped aseventh straight homegame against Atlanta on Sept. 21, when theywere clinging to aone-game lead in the AL Central. They bouncedback well enough to have another game in the Motor City on Tuesday afternoon againstSeattle in Game 3 of their AL Division Series.

Detroit eliminated the AL Central-champion Cleveland Guardians on theirhomefieldinanAL Wild Card Series last week, then stayed on the road to play in Seattle over the weekend.

Detroit opened with a3-2, 11-inning win and the Mariners beat Tarik Skubal 3-2 on Sunday night to even the best-of-five series.

When both teams arrived in Detroit,they went in different directions.

The Mariners made their way to Comerica Park while the Tigers took advantage of their first opportunity to sleep in their beds since September

“It’sbeen alongtimesince we’ve been home,” said righthander Jack Flaherty, who is Detroit’sprobable starter for Game 3. “But at the same time, it’sbeen afun kind of bonding experience with theseguys. We’ve spent alot of time witheach other,a lot of time on the road.”

Seattle spent some time throwing afootballaround in the out-

ä Mariners at Tigers.

3:08 P.M.TUESDAy,FS1

field, running, throwing, catching andhitting uponarrivalonMonday afternoon

“Everybody did enjoy their rest and achance to kind of keep the body on alow simmer,” Seattle manager Dan Wilsonsaid. “It was achancefor us to getout here and work out. Ithought it wasimportant toget somejuice flowing here alittle bit andget usedtothe ballpark again.”

Mariners first baseman Josh Naylor is dealing with apersonal matter and Wilson declined to say if he traveledwith the team to Detroit.

“We’ll know moretomorrow,” Wilson said Monday

Seattle seems to be preparing to potentially play without Naylor

“We’ve got aplan in place,” Wilson said.

The Tigers may notmakeanother road trip if they don’tstart hitting better,starting with their opportunities at the plate against Logan Gilbert in his first start since Sept. 27.

Detroit has struck out amajor league-high59times in the postseason, fanning nearly12times agame. Its .186 batting average —including .192 with runners in scoring position —and .545 OPS as ateam rank among the worst in baseball during the playoffs

“Welcome to Major League Baseball,” Hinch said.

The Tigershad afour-runinning in a6-3 winoverCleveland last week to advance andscored atotal of 10 runsinthe other46 innings of the playoffs

“We’ve got to pick better pitches to hit,” Hinch said.

Tigers outfielder Kerry Carpenter grimaces after striking out against the Mariners in Game 2 on Sunday in Seattle.

Pelicans

cuttwo players after trip to Australia

The NewOrleansPelicanshave waived centerGarrison Brooks and forward Jalen McDaniels. Both were signed in early September McDaniels played seven minutes in each of thePelicans’ games in Australia over the weekend. He went scoreless but grabbed two rebounds in the winover Melbourne United. In the winover South East Melbourne Phoenix, he scored three pointsand recorded two rebounds, twosteals and an assist. Brooks played in the second game,grabbingthree rebounds with one assist in seven minutes.

The 6-foot-10 Brooks played at North Carolina before transferring to MississippiState forhis final season. The Pelicans now have 19 players, including three two-way players.

Ex-NFLQBSanchezfaces felony in weekend fight

INDIANAPOLIS Former NFLquarterbackMark Sanchezisfacing afelony battery charge for what authorities saidMonday wasa fight over parking, in addition to the misdemeanor charges the Fox Sports analyst was already facing fromthe incident earlySaturday in Indianapolis.

MarionCountyprosecutor Ryan Mears announceda newcharge of battery involving serious bodily injury,which carries apotential sentence of one to six years in prison.

Apolice affidavit alleges the 38-year-old Sanchez, smelling of alcohol,accosted a69-year-old truckdriverwho backed into a hotel’sloading docks in downtown Indianapolis, leading to aconfrontation outside the vehicle that promptedthe drivertopull out a knifetodefend himself

Trialunderway over 2019 death of Angelspitcher

SANTAANA, Calif. Awrongfuldeath lawsuit that accuses the Los Angeles Angels of being responsible forthe 2019 drug overdose death of one of its pitchers began Monday

Jury selection was underway in thelong-awaitedcivil trialover whether the team is responsible after one of its employees wasconvicted of providing drugs that led to the fatal overdose of pitcher Tyler Skaggs on ateam trip to Texas. The wrongful death lawsuit filed by Skaggs’ widow,Carli, and his parents alleges the Southern California team knew or should have known that itscommunications director,Eric Kay,was supplying drugs to Skaggs and at least six other Angels players.

McDavid signs$25M extension with Edmonton ConnorMcDavid did notwanta raise. He wants to winthe Stanley Cup.

McDavidsigned his long-awaited contract extension with the Edmonton Oilers on Monday, taking farless money than projected forthe best hockey playerinthe world in the aim of pursuing his first championship.

Atwo-year,$25 million contract wasfinalizedonthe eveofthe start of the season. McDavid will count $12.5 million against the cap from 2026-28, the sameaverage salary he has had since 2019. McDavid will not even be the highest-paid player on his own team,settling for morethan $1 million ayear less thanlongtime running mateLeon Draisaitl.

Thunderrookie Topicto miss at leastfour weeks

OKLAHOMA CITY OklahomaCity ThunderrookieNikolaTopic will miss at least four weeks after having atesticular procedure on Monday.The team said the 20-year-old Serbian guard will be re-evaluated in amaximum of six weeks.

Topic was the12th overallpick in the 2024 NBAdraftand missed theentireseason while recovering from atorn ACL. He played summer-league ballthisyearand started the preseason opener Sunday against Charlotte,finishing with 10 points and seven assists in 31 minutesinOklahoma City’s 135-114 win. The preseason was expected to be acritical part of working Topic into theteam. He’sthe only new piece on aroster that largelyremained the same after winning the NBAtitle.

CLASS5A-4A

1. Zachary(4-0): The Broncos are the lone unbeaten team in Class 4-5A after defeating Opelousas, 516, last week.

2. Dutchtown (4-1): The Griffins completed a21-point comeback to defeat St.Amant 35-28 to win their fourth straight game.

3. Central (4-1): The Wildcats lost their first game of the seasonto Lafayette Christian at home,55-48.

4. Plaquemine (4-1): The Green Devils dominated West Feliciana, 397, for afourth straight win.

5. Catholic-BR(3-2): The Bears fell 27-26 at home to MadisonRidgeland Academy,the top-ranked team inMississippi, per MaxPreps.

6. St. Michael (5-0): TheWarriors dominated Broadmoor 46-8 to stay unbeatenmidwaythrough the season.

7. St.Amant (4-1): The Gatorssaw their undefeated startend aftera3528 loss to Dutchtown at home.

8. Brusly (4-1): The Panthers bounced back from aloss to Plaquemine with a 51-12 win over Belaire.

9. East Ascension (4-1): After a3821 winoverLiveOak, the Spartans have nowwon four straight and have alreadysurpassed their win total (3) from 2024 and 2023.

10. Denham Springs (3-2): The yellowJackets re-enter the rankings after taking down SouthernLab,4114, to getback above .500.

CLASS3AAND BELOW

1. Dunham (4-1): The Tigers shut out Baker49-0 to retain the topspot.

2. St.James (4-1): The Wildcats won apivotal game against St. Charleson awalk-off touchdown.

3. Madison Prep (4-1): The Chargers dominated Parkview Baptist 55-3 to makeittwo straight weeks of the team scoring at least 50 points.

4. North Iberville (5-0): The Bears

escapedVintonwith anarrow4640 wintostayundefeatedatthe season’smidwaypoint.

5. University High (3-2): Aftertwo early lossesinthe year,the Cubs have wonthe past two gamesafter defeating St. Paul’s36-25.

7. Donaldsonville (5-0): The Tigers shut out White Castle 36-0 to stay undefeated and makeitconsecutive weeks without allowing apoint.

8. East Feliciana (4-1): The Tigers took down Capitol 50-6 to push their winning streak to three.

6. Slaughter Charter (5-0): The KnightsdefeatedNortheast 24-0 to makeit five straight shutouts to open the season.

Zachary,6 p.m. Wednesday Tara at Baker, 5p.m Capitol at Catholic High Pointe Coupee, 5p.m. White Castle at Louisiana School for the Deaf, 5p.m Northeast at North Iberville, 5p.m. Slaughter Community Charter at Central Private, 6p.m. Parkview Baptist at Glen Oaks, 6p.m Port Allen at Collegiate Baton Rouge, 6p.m.

Woodlawn at Denham Springs, 6p.m. Ascension Catholic at East Iberville, 6p.m. Scotlandville at Madison Prep, 6p.m. GEONext Generation at McKinley 6p.m. FalseRiver at Southern Lab, 6p.m. St. John at ThriveAcademy, 6p.m. Thursday Broadmoor at Baker, 5p.m. Brusly at Belaire,5 p.m.

Broadmoor at Baker, 5p.m.

Family Christian at Ascension Christian, 6p.m. East Ascension at Baton Rouge High, 6p.m. Madison PrepatCentral, 6p.m.

GEONext Generation at Collegiate Baton Rouge, 6p.m. Livonia at FalseRiver, 6p.m.

Southern Lab at Liberty,6 p.m.

St. Michael at Istrouma, 6p.m.

E.D.White at Parkview Baptist, 6p.m. Scotlandville at Plaquemine, 6p.m.

Destrehan at Prairieville, 6p.m.

Woodlawn at St. Amant, 6p.m.

McKinley at Tara,6 p.m.

LiveOak at West Feliciana, 6p.m.

Port Allen at White Castle, 6p.m.

East IbervilleatZachary,6 p.m.

Friday FalseRiver at Liberty,6 p.m.

Dodgersleadindayslosttoinjuries

By The Associated Press

YORK

NEW

The Los AngelesDodgers led the major leaguesfor the third straight year in days on the injured list, including stints for eight of their 11 pitchers in theNLDivisionSeries, while the Detroit Tigers had the biggest increase and the San Francisco Giants the biggest drop.

The defending World Series champion Dodgers used the IL 37 times for 2,585days,according to Major League Baseball. They led last yearwith 2,219days and in 2023 with 2,465 after finishing with thesixthhighest total in 2022.

“It certainly speaks to the way the front office can kind of add depth and navigate the waiver wire on the development side,” manager Dave Roberts said. “We’ve had some young guys cut their teeth that probably weren’tready but had to rise to opportunities.”

Dodgers with lengthy IL staysthisyearincluded pitchersBrusdar Graterol, MichaelGrove, Kyle Hurt,

River Ryan and GavinStone (195 days each), Evan Phillips(178), Tony Gonsolin (159),Michael Kopech (156), RokiSasaki (137), Blake Snell(121), EdgardoHenriquez and Blake Treinen (102 apiece), Emmet Sheehan(92), Tyler Glasnow (72) and Clayton Kershaw (60). Los Angeles pitcherson the Division Series roster who had IL stints included Glasnow (rightshoulder inflammation), Kershaw (foot andkneesurgery), Sasaki (right shoulderimpingement), Sheehan (right elbow surgery), Snell (left shoulder inflammation) and Treinen (right forearm tightness).They were joinedbyTanner Scott (31 days for leftelbow inflammation) and Alex Vesia (17 daysfor right oblique strain).

“Early on, thestarting pitching was very patchworky. And then later on the’pen and fortunatelythe positional player group, for the most part, hasbeenintact,” Robertssaid. “Guys have stepped up. And for us to keep going says alot

aboutthe organization.”

In earlyJuly,the Dodgers had12pitchers on theIL. Houston was secondwith 2,310 IL days, followedby theNew York Mets (2,279), Baltimore(2,123) andBoston (2,064).

Detroithad thebiggest increaseinILdays from 2024, rising by 1,087 to 1,811. The Metsincreased by 921 to 2,279, theOrioles by 887 to 2,123 and Torontoby855 to 1,508. Just four teams had fewer than 1,000 IL days:Philadelphia (442),St. Louis (513), San Francisco (749) and Minnesota (898). The biggest drops were by San Francisco(falling 908 to 749), the Twins (by 721) Cardinals (by 678), Phillies(by 581) and Texas (by 513). Philadelphia hadthe fewest IL placements with 16, andSt. Louis andSeattle had18apiece. Overall, MLBtotaled 826 placements and44,372 days, up from 784 placements and 43,253 days in 2024 but down from 848 placements and44,661 days in 2023.

9. SouthernLab (3-2): The Kittens sawtheirthree-gamewinning streak snapped after a41-14 loss to Denham Springs.

10. Catholic-PC (4-1): The Hornets defeated Livonia 44-37 to bounce back from their Week 4loss. Jackson Reyes

You knowhim well.Scotthas been covering LSU since 1992. He is theauthor of three highly acclaimed booksonLSU and was chosen as an LSU Expertfor ESPN’s SEC 150 Documentary

Each Monday,Scottwill puthis thoughts on the last week’sgameand thenextweek’sgame into avideo essayplacing the game in its context anddrawing historical parallels

SAINTS NOTEBOOK

Moore clarifies why he ruled Young out

BY LUKE JOHNSON Staff writer

Last week, New Orleans Saints coach Kellen Moore took the unusual step of ruling out pass rusher Chase Young on Wednesday

The decision raised eyebrows, but Moore revealed the process behind his thinking. There are tactical advantages to keeping injury progress close to the vest, but Moore was hoping to accomplish something on a personal level.

“I just wanted to simplify it for him, let him focus on the recovery process,” Moore said Monday afternoon. “It had nothing to do with a (setback) or an issue in his recovery process. He’s doing everything he can.

“I just know as a player those guys get tired of that stuff. He’s been phenomenal throughout this whole process, and I just wanted him to have that feeling of ‘I don’t have to play this game’ all through the week.”

Young, who signed a three-year extension in the offseason, has missed the first five games with a calf injury he suffered in practice shortly before the season opener New Orleans chose not to put him on injured reserve, and Young also said the injury would not sideline him for a long period of time.

Carl Granderson (4.5 sacks) and Cam Jordan (2.5 sacks) have produced at a solid clip, but the Saints were banking on Young as their major disruptor on the defensive front this season.

While Moore acknowledged a longer recovery has been challenging for Young, he said the organization has seen no problem with Young’s rehabilitation, stating multiple times that he has “done everything he possibly can” to return to the field.

“People who matter aren’t questioning him one bit,” Moore said “He’s been awesome through this whole process. When he’s ready he’ll be ready to rock and roll.

After record season, Eagles RB Barkley getting bottled up

BY DAN GELSTON AP sports writer

PHILADELPHIA Maybe Saquon

Barkley should fire off a cryptic social media post in the next day or two if he wants to carry the ball more than six times. What else would it take for the Philadelphia Eagles to remember they have a 2,000-yard rusher and the 2024 AP Offensive Player of the Year in the backfield?

Forget chasing history as the first running back to get consecutive 2,000-yard rushing seasons. Barkley might not even crack 1,000 yards at his paltry rate through five games for the Eagles (4-1). Barkley rushed for only 30 yards — he got 17 of them on one carry in his longest run of the season in Sunday’s 21-17 loss to Denver and has only 267 yards total on the season. For a quick refresher on just how dominant Barkley was last season, he ran for a franchise-record 255 yards and 205 yards in two games against the Rams.

Barkley returns to his first NFL home to play the New York Giants on Thursday night looking for any kind of spark to get his season going. Of course, he’s not the one calling the plays; that falls on firstyear offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo (with game-planning input from coach Nick Sirianni), and he’s the one who decided to give Barkley a season-low six carries.

One possible reason for the decline in carries against Denver: The Eagles listed Barkley on their Monday injury report with a knee issue. The Eagles did not practice Monday but estimated Barkley would have sat out. The Eagles tried to placate their

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Torricelli Simpkins and undrafted punter Kai Kroeger.

If you need a better indication of the impact the young players had Sunday, look no further than the guys the public-relations staff of the Saints brought to the podium to speak to the media after the team’s first win since December Cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry 23 years old.

Safety Jordan Howden. 25 years old. Quarterback Spencer Rattler who turned 25 last week

And Shaheed, who at 27 was the old head among the guys standing in front of the microphones.

“They are understanding their role and doing their very best to make plays,” Shaheed said about the younger players. “You couldn’t ask them to do any more. I’m proud of the young guys. Their preparation is showing up on Sunday.”

It’s not quite a total changing of the guard. Players in their 30s such as Kamara, Davis and Jordan are still doing their share of the heavy lifting. But the shift is starting to happen right before out eyes

“These are some of the most impressive human beings from a physical standpoint that you could possibly imagine, and they go through a lot to get their bodies ready.”

‘Phenomenal’ O-line

Saints quarterbacks dropped back to pass 32 times against the New York Giants in Week 5

And 32 times, those Saints quarterbacks got their passes off.

“The offensive line played elite today,” Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler said after the 26-14 win.

While New York generated pressure on Rattler throughout Sunday, the Saints did not yield a single sack against a Giants team that has devoted considerable resources to its talented defensive line.

The Giants pressured Rattler on 17 of 31 dropbacks, according to Next Gen Stats (Taysom Hill had the 32nd dropback). The 53.1% pressure rate was the highest of

any NFL quarterback going into Monday night’s games, according to Next Gen, yet Rattler and the Saints avoided negative plays.

“Zero sacks against that group is phenomenal,” Moore said.

Young tackles Kelvin Banks and Taliese Fuaga enjoyed strong individual performances in pass protection. According to Pro Football Focus, they allowed one combined pressure in 32 pass-blocking snaps.

“We’ve got two really good firstround pick tackles. They’ve got some of the best edge rush firstround picks the last few years, and for our guys to play that well was a credit to those guys,” Moore said.

“They played arguably as good a game as they’ve played this year.”

Center Erik McCoy has been outstanding in protection all season, as Pro Football Focus has charged him with just two pressures in 197 pass-blocking snaps this season. He did not allow a single pressure against New York.

The majority of the Giants’ pressure came against guards Trevor Penning and Torricelli Simpkins Through five weeks, the Saints have allowed nine sacks, which rank roughly middle of the pack in the NFL. But their 4.9% sack rate — or the percentage of their dropbacks that have resulted in sacks is tied for the 10th-best mark in the NFL. It’s a far cry from Rattler’s 2024 rookie season, when he was sacked on 8.8% of his dropbacks, the ninth-highest rate among 39 qualified passers.

Injury update

Moore said the Saints got through Sunday’s game against the Giants with a relatively clean bill of health, though safety Justin Reid is in the concussion protocol. Reid left the game in the first quarter with a concussion and did not return.

“That’s the only one we’ll have to navigate as the week goes,” Moore said.

Buffalo laments mistakes in loss to Patriots

BY JOHN WAWROW AP sportswriter

receivers after A.J. Brown caused a minor stir last week with a post that seemed to indicate he was unhappy with his role. Brown later clarified his post was much ado about nothing, though it’s clear the Eagles listened. DeVonta Smith had his first 100-yard receiving game of the season, and Brown was targeted eight times (with five catches).

Barkley actually topped Brown in receiving yards 58-43 thanks to a 47-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter that stretched the Eagles’ lead to 17-3 Denver scored a pair of fourthquarter touchdowns as part of a comeback that saw the Eagles get shut out in the final frame.

“You always want to come out of that game with Saquon getting enough touches for the type of player he is,” Sirianni said. “We’ll look for solutions. We’re on a short week trying to get better to put ourselves in position to go play against another NFC opponent.”

Barkley — who in March signed a two-year contract extension with $36 million guaranteed — took the high road when pressed on his light workload.

“I’m not really going to get too caught up in that,” Barkley said.

“At the end of the day, whether we ran the ball enough or not, we had an opportunity to win a football game. We didn’t.”

Barkley ran for 176 yards in his only game against the Giants last season and sat out the finale with nothing at stake for the Eagles except his shot at topping Eric Dickerson for the NFL season rushing record. Barkley’s postseason run did help him set the NFL total season rushing record with 2,504 yards.

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — It was difficult enough for Josh Allen to watch helplessly on the sideline as New England quarterback Drake Maye marched the Patriots 37 yards to set up Andy Borregales’ decisive 52-yard field goal with 15 seconds left.

What was worse for the Bills quarterback is knowing how much of a hand he and his teammates played in the 23-20 loss on Sunday night.

As if three turnovers, two by Allen, were not enough: The offense came up short on a final drive that stalled at the New England 27, leaving Buffalo settling for Matt Prater’s game-tying 45-yard field goal with 2:17 left.

“We just played sloppy,” Allen said. “Not gonna win a football game turning the ball over three times. That’s just bad football, and we just did not play good tonight.”

In dropping to 4-1, Buffalo joined the Philadelphia Eagles, who lost to Denver in being the NFL’s final two unbeaten teams to lose Sunday The outcome also ended Buffalo’s regular-season home winning streak at 14, one short of matching the team record.

And suddenly the five-time reigning AFC East champions find themselves in a divisional race that has the upstart Patriots (3-2) on their heels.

“Respect to them. They came in, they knew what they had to do. They took care of the football. We didn’t,” Allen said.

The first sign of trouble came on Buffalo’s opening drive, which ended with Allen losing a fumble on a botched handoff to Dawson Knox at midfield. Two series later, wide receiver Keon Coleman lost a fumble, which the Patriots recovered at the Buffalo 11.

Credit the Bills defense for limiting the Patriots to a field goal off the first two turnovers.

Take third-year running back Kendre Miller whose snap count has increased in every game this season. “I feel like the coaches are starting to trust the younger guys,” Miller said “We can’t lean on the older guys forever We are going to have to step up at some point. I feel like they are slowly putting us out there, and we are progressing. We are just stepping up We are just going to have to keep producing.” They sure did their thing Sunday

Miller’s 41 yards rushing (4.1 yards per carry) led the team. McKinstry got his first career interception in the fourth quarter Then he picked off another pass five minutes later Sanker, maybe the most promising of all the rookies, recovered a fumble to go with his seven tackles. Banks held his own against the edge rushers to make sure Rattler never got sacked. Riley held his own in pass coverage. Isaiah Stalbird, an undrafted

The turning point came with Allen’s interception in the third quarter Trailing 13-10 and facing second and 13 at the New England 19, Allen forced a throw over the middle intended for Khalil Shakir only to have defensive back Marcus Jones jump in front and pick it off. Maye responded with an 11play 90-yard drive capped by Rhamondre Stevenson’s second touchdown run to build a 20-10 lead.

“I really don’t think that was a force. It was just a bad ball,” Allen said of the interception. “I saw Khalil and I just left it a little inside and the kid made a good play.”

Adding salt to the wound was having former Bills star receiver Stefon Diggs finish with 10 catches for 146 yards in his first trip back to Buffalo since being traded to Houston in April 2024. It was the type of outing the Bills were accustomed to seeing Diggs perform in a Buffalo uniform during his four-year stint with the team.

The sloppiness was uncharacteristic of a Bills team that had

rookie in 2024, almost blocked a punt.

Stalbird pointed to the fingers on his right hand to show how much of the ball he tipped on the play He was oh so close. He also feels these young Saints are oh so close to breaking through.

“It goes into the coaching staff and the preparation,” Stalbird said. “We’re in the NFL, so we’ve got to always be on our P’s and Q’s. If you ain’t, and you go out there and you’re looking stupid, you’re going to be out of a job.

That’s the reality

“So you can see that whoever we plug in, it’s not going to be a drop-off. Even when we took those losses, you could see our progress. When we had to make big plays today, we made them. That’s taking that next step. We’ve got a ton of potential.”

Stalbird was referring to the young players. But those words should also apply to his young coach. Kellen Moore, who turned 37 in July, is the youngest coach in the NFL He got his first career victory Sunday Moore, in his typical laid-back fashion, didn’t do a whole lot of celebrating afterward. The only difference in Moore was that the smile he usually wears was a little bit bigger

turned the ball over once this season — Allen throwing an interception in a 31-19 win over New Orleans the previous week. Before being picked off last week, Allen had committed just one turnover in his previous 12 starts, including the playoffs.

The opening-drive turnover came after Buffalo scored touchdowns on the first possession in each of its first four outings this season — and 12 total, dating to the start of 2024.

The offense struggled overall with New England bottling up the running attack James Cook was limited to 49 yards rushing and no catches, the first time he’s failed to crack 100 yards from scrimmage this season. Cook also had his franchise-record streak of scoring a touchdown rushing end at eight games. Penalties didn’t help, with Buffalo flagged 11 times for 90 yards. “Woulda, shoulda, coulda, right?” coach Sean McDermott said. “It wasn’t anything they did. But, again, all learning opportunities for us as a team, and that’s what we need to do.”

“He didn’t dance or anything, but hopefully we can get him to that level,” Stalbird said. “But he and his family are going to remember that game forever.” There is still plenty of work to do. This was just one win over a struggling Giants team trying to find its way just like the Saints are. It was a much-needed one, though, especially for some of the younger players. Miller, for example, played on a college team that reached the national championship game during his final season at TCU. He hasn’t won many games since then.

“I feel like we won the Super Bowl in here,” Miller said. “I’m glad everybody is happy We have that 1-0 mentality Now we have to get another one next week.”

For Simpkins, who started in place of the injured Cesar Ruiz, this was a new experience. He had no idea what it’s like to win an NFL game.

“It was very lit,” Simpkins said.

“That’s how I want to keep it.”

The bright lights in the locker room weren’t the only thing flashing Sunday

The potential of the young stars flashed brightly, too.

Email Rod Walker at rwalker@ theadvocate.com.

GALLEGOS

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JAVIER

Jackson State running back Travis Terrell runs with theballagainst SouthernonSept. 27 at A.W.Mumford Stadium. Jackson State takesonAlabama State on Saturday

Toptwo ranked HBCU teamsset to square off

Thetop HBCU football teams continued to impress duringWeek 6ofthe college season. Here’show Ivoted in the BOXTOROW HBCU football media poll this week:

leads the MEAC with 1,514 yards passing and10touchdowns.

UCLA plansonmaking more hits this season

BY BETH HARRIS AP Sportswriter

LOS ANGELES There’sjoy in the UCLA footballprogramfor the first timethis season. An improbable upset of then-No. 7Penn State gave the Bruins their first win and enthusiasm for the rest of the season. “The best thing about it is just seeing our players and coaches smile again,” interim coach TimSkipper said Monday.“We haven’thad alot to smile about.”

Losing their first four games, thefiring of head coach DeShaun Foster,the departuresoftwo coordinators and weak attendance at the Rose Bowl made foran ugly situation

The Bruins were 251/2-point underdogsagainst the Nittany Lions on Saturday,but they led all the wayinearning a42-37 win andbecoming the first 0-4 team to beat atop-10 opponent in 40 years. Quarterback NicoIamaleava hadfive touchdowns in his best game since transferring from Tennessee.

UCLA running backAnthony Woods runs past Penn State safety ZakeeWheatley during the second halfofagame on Saturday in Pasadena, Calif

“Then allofa suddenI’m pushing the wrong part of the button trying to talk to him.Itwas amess.”

Iamaleava, for his part, heard silence at times,leading himto call hisown plays.The firstone worked, with the quarterback getting abig scramble. The last one didn’t, when the Bruins got stuffed on fourth and 1.

“He just has to remember to push that button,” Iamaleavasaid with asmile.

“Nico brought those guys together,” said Jerry Neuheisel, the tight ends coach who called theoffensiveplays.“Hisunderstanding, his willingness to do theextra work, to learn the game plan andthen go coach the guys when he wasnot in practice the other day,heisspecial.”

1. Jackson State (4-1): TheTigers continue to prove they’re the best HBCU team in the nation after a57-24 victoryatAlabama A&M. They scored aseason-high in points thanks to an outstandingshowing from quarterback JaCobian Morgan. He completed 21 of 30 passes for 314yards and four touchdowns, and also rushed for 120 yards anda touchdown on 12 runs.

2.Alabama State (4-1): The only team in the sametier as Jackson State is the Hornets, who beat BethuneCookman 52-35. Alabama State has won every game since its seasonopening loss at UAB. It will have achance to usurp JacksonState when the teams face off in Mississippi at 2:30 p.m. Saturday

3. North Carolina Central (4-2): The Eagles had their firstbye ofthe season. They stillhave thebest overallrecord in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. The offense is strong, leadingthe conferencein pointsper game (34.7). It also has quarterback Walker Harris, who

TEXAS

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been inconsistent at best.

Arebuilt offensive line has had him constantly on therun and is committingpenaltiesat an alarming rate. The Gators sacked Manning sixtimesand held the Longhorns to 52 yards rushing.

Still, Manning earned praise from coach Steve Sarkisian and hisLonghorns teammates for playing hard while taking so many hits last week.

“I found out he’satough dude,” Sarkisian said. “He stood in there and showed a lot of contact courage. Does he need to play better? Sure. We need to play better around him.”

The defense has yetto deliver on its potential as well. Aunit led by preseason AllAmericans Colin Simmons, Anthony Hill and Taaffe dominated San Jose State, UTEP and Sam Houston. Butithas no sacksintwo games against Power Four opponents and got pushed around by the Gators, who also ripped the secondary for big plays.

Rivalry week could be ascary prospect for astruggling team, and yet it may be justwhat Texas needs.

SOUTHERN

Continued from page1C

helmet while sliding after an 8-yard run

4. Howard (3-2): The Bisonalso didn’t play last week. Theyremain atop-five team because they allowed less than14points in all but one game this season. Howard is 15th in the FCSin scoringdefense, allowing 18.8 pointsper game.Thatis10fewer points than the next-best team in the MEAC.

5. South Carolina State (3-3): After losing two straight,South CarolinaState dominatedDivisionII Savannah State 49-6 at home. The Bulldogs allowed only 2.8yards per play and had twointerceptions,including one returned91 yards to theend zone by defensive backArnoldCharles.

6. Delaware State(3-2): Delaware State fell 49-38 on theroad against Monmouth (4-1) ofthe Coastal Athletic Conference.DelawareState trailed 14-0but battled back to tie thegame at 28 in the thirdquarter Thefailed comeback was still impressiveagainst astrong foe.

7. Prairie View (4-2): For the fourth time this season, Prairie View played acontest decided by six points or fewer.Thistimeitwon 13-12 at Alcorn State. The Panthers took thelead on a44-yard field goal by Diego Alfaro with 14:54 remaininginthe fourthquarter

8. Bethune-Cookman (2-4): Bethune-

Beat Oklahoma (5-0, 1-0) and theLonghorns are back in the thickof the SECtitle chase. And that’s thefirststep to get the Longhornsback into the march toward the 12-team playoff. Texasmadeittothe conference title game with one loss last season

“We’vegot atalented group We’regoing to getbetter each week.We’re going to be tough to beat,” Manning said. “We’re going to playbetterthan (againstFlorida). Ifeel confident about that.”

But lose to Oklahoma and the panic in Austin hits new levels in aseason that could threaten to mirror 2010.

That year,Texas was coming off an appearance in the 2009 national championship game. The Longhorns started the season No.5 behindquarterback GarrettGilbert,a five-star recruit expected to be the next big thing afterHeisman Trophy finalist ColtMcCoy

Texasstarted 3-0 but was showing early cracks in the armorbefore crateringtoa 5-7 finish.

“You’re never going to feel greatafter aloss, butit’satime to cometogether,” said defensive lineman Hero Kanu, who transferred from last season’s nationalchampion OhioState. “I need to lean onmybrothers right now.”

hisfullrangeofmotion and was in goodcondition Woods also was placed in concussion protocol after an injury he suffered in the Bayou Classic last season on Nov.30. While Woodshas beenout this season, Southern has played junior transfer quarterbacks Cam’Ron McCoyand AshtonStrother Strother most recentlystarted in Southern’s38-13 loss to Jackson State.The Coahoma Community College transfer completed 10 of

Cookman remainsinthe top 10 despitethe 17-pointloss to Alabama State. Startingquarterback Cam’RonRansomgot hurtaftera sack early in the second quarter while his team trailed 17-7. The offense still hummed enough with backup Timmy McClain, who helped the Wildcats score at least 35 points for the fourth straight game.

9. Texas Southern(2-3): TheTigers make my ballot for the first time after having oneofthe more surprisingresultsofthe week,beating Arkansas Pine-Bluff 51-7 at home. Their ground gamehad 48 carries averaging 7.3 yards perattempt.Texas Southern lookspoised to be atough outafterwinning back-to-back SWAC games.

10. Benedict (5-0): ADivision II program,Benedict remains unbeaten after beating Allen University 3828. CoachRon Dickerson’steam showed grit afterbattling back from down 28-21 with 1:22 left in thethird quarter

LSU

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LSU receiver is nottobeblamed forafatal wreck that killeda 78-year-oldman

Lacy was accused of negligent homicide in the Dec. 17 crash in LafourcheParish, butMatthew Ory,Lacy’sattorney, told HTV 10 news station in Houma last week thatthe former LSU wide receiver was nearlya football field’slengthbehind the head-on collision that killed Herman Hall of Thibodaux.

Lacy, aThibodauxnative,took his own life at the age of 24 in April in Houston withaself-inflicted gunshotwound. Agrand jury was scheduledtobegin hearing evidenceinLacy’scasethe next week.

On Monday, Kellywas asked about his reaction to the report

“I thought that this is aprocess that takes time,” Kelly said. “I think Isaidbackwhenthis occurred that let’swait until allthe information comes out.For us to make these universal statementsearly on, it just doesn’t serve anybody well.”

Kelly added that he doesn’t“have anyfacts” related to the investigation.

“I’mfollowing it justlikeyou guys are,”hesaid. “Let’s just be patient, be sure all information gets out. He’sloved by us, was

20 passesfor 120 yards andaninterception. Coaches said during the preseason that the starting quarterback position was Woods’ jobto lose. He played the final 6:12 of the season opener and started the second game. The Atlanta native has completed 13 of 18 passes for 79 yards this season.

Email Toyloy Brown III at toyloy.brown@theadvocate.com.

Now the Bruins (1-4,1-1 Big Ten) are tasked with backing up their play at Michigan State (3-2, 0-2) on Saturday

“Wedon’twant to be one-hit wonders,” Skipper said. “Our mentality,our mindset is to have agood week of practice, stay in thenow.What’simportant now is how we’re going to win.”

Neuheisel will calloffensive plays again this weekend. Only this time, he’ll have more than three days to prepare. He found outlastTuesday that he’d be tasked with thejob against Penn State. He slept about three hours between then and gameday.Afterthe win, the players carried Neuheisel off the field.

“Everybody talks about the play-calling part of it,” Skipper said, “but thenumberone thing you have to do, you have to get the players to believe in you. He didthat really,really quickly.”

Whatdidn’twork so smoothly wasNeuheisel’scommunication with Iamaleava via his headset.

“There’slikemultipletimes during thegame I’mcalling the play but the headset is flipped up because I’m usedtobeing a position coach,” Neuheiselsaid.

loved before and is loved after. There’snot really aneed to talk to ourteam. They follow it and love Kyren. He was agreat teammate andisgoing to be missed.” Louisiana State Police statements indicateLacy’sDodge Chargerillegally passed multiplevehicles, causing aKia Cadenza to swerve to avoidhis vehicle prior to the Cadenza’shead-on collisionwitha KiaSorrento movinginthe opposite direction. Hall, who wasinthe Sorrento, diedfromhis injuriesafter being taken to ahospital.

Ory claims Lacy’svehicle was too far behind the collision to be considered responsible forthe wreck.

AFriday statement from LouisianaStatePolice said the agency believesitconducted adetailed investigationafter thefatal wreck

“Investigative findings revealed that Mr.Lacy’sreckless driving while approaching oncomingtrafficled to the events of the crash,”the statement said. “The findingswere presented to the17th Judicial District Court, which approved an arrest warrant based on the evidence collected. As with all investigations leading to arrest, the subjects of the investigation are presumedinnocent until proven guiltyina court of law. No one disputes that he wasbehind the crash scene.His swerving, passingcars, and reckless operation

Neuheisel, aformer Bruins quarterback and the son of formerUCLA coach Rick Neuheisel, said “delusional optimism” set in last Friday when he saw the players’ enthusiastic buy-in to what he was telling them

“Hopefully,wegot moreof these days coming,” he said.

The rest of the season includes games at No. 7Indiana and No. 1 Ohio State.

While theBruins trytoturn things around, UCLA has formed asearchcommittee to find its next head coach.

“I haven’tthought about that one ounce,” Skipper said. “I’m not adwell-on-the-past or dreamabout-the-future kind of guy.”

At thesame time, the47-year-old hasspent nearly 25 years paying his dues as an assistant at eight different schools, including alma mater FresnoState, where he spent last season as interim head coach

“I always wanted to be ahead coach, Ireally did. That’s just me, Ilike to be at the highest of the highest no matter what I’m doing,” Skipper said. “Head coaching jobs are like the highest peak that you could be in thecoaching profession,so Ienjoy that and that’smygoal to always be that. But right now sitting here today Iamall about getting ready to go play Michigan State.”

caused the series of crash events.”

On Monday, theLouisiana Legislative Black Caucus called for an independent investigation into the Louisiana State Police’shandling of the crash.

Otherinjuryupdates

LSUwill gettwo offensive starters back from injuries on Saturday, Kelly said.

Right tackle Weston Davis (brokennose, concussion)and running back Caden Durham (ankle) areexpectedtoplayagainstthe Gamecocks, Kelly said. Receiver Aaron Anderson is probable to suit up, andleftguard Paul Mubenga (high-ankle sprain) is questionable.

Both Davis and Durham missed the Sept. 27 loss to Ole Miss. Durham injured his ankle the week priorinthe Tigers’ win over Southeastern Louisiana. Davis washurt in pregame warm-ups ahead of the road loss to the Rebels. Both Mubenga andAndersonleft the gameagainst Ole Miss with injuries.

Anderson, LSU’sleading receiver,appeared to hurt his elbow,but Kelly saidhe’salso battling toe and knee injuries.

Email Reed Darcey at reed darcey@theadvocate.com. For more LSUsports updates, signupfor ournewsletter at theadvocate.com/lsunewsletter

Southern quarterback Jalen Woods looksto makeathrowin the spring game on April12at A.W.Mumford Stadium.

Here’s ataste of midcentury modern living in BR

BY JOYHOLDEN| Staff writer

When Corey Porche walked into a1962 custom-designed midcenturymodern house in 2018, he knew it was home. He sat down on alow bench in theentrywayand felt certain that theunique Broadmoor houseon 9025 Meadowood Drivewas supposed to be for his family

The terrazzofloors,wood paneling, glass, brick and lightfeatures spoke to him.

“I remember sittingdownthere, and theterrazzo floors brought me back to my elementary school as alittlekid in NewOrleans.I just remember sitting there, being like, ‘Wehave to buy it,’” Porche said. “The house hadn’tbeen on themarketlong. Ididn’t have plans on selling my house. We weren’t really ready to buy,but Iwas like, ‘Whatever it takes, we need to put an offer on this house today.’”

He and his then wife,Danielle Honeycutt, did buy the house, andseven years later,Porche still marvels at the masterpiece. The housewas designed, owned and livedinbyone owner, Dr.Alfred FosterSanders Jr., alongtime and well-respected generalpractitioner in the city He wasa WorldWar II veteran in the Pacific who served Baton Rouge as adoctor for 50 years. Sanders andhis family lived in the midcentury modern house until his deathin2018. It was in pristine condition withsome of the original furniture, which was meticulously cared for. Artistry remains When Porche andHoneycutt looked at thehouse thefirst time, Sanders’ childrenled them to their father’soffice where they showed Porche several Frank Lloyd Wright books thatSandersmarked up when he wasdesigning thehouse. He chose certain featuresthat

ä See MIDCENTURY, page 2D

BYROBIN MILLER Staff writer

“I remember looking at them whiletaking them out of the packages. It wasjustsoexciting to see what wasgoing to come out. It really did feel like Christmas.”

GINGERGUTTNER, coordinator for LSU School of VeterinaryMedicine’s ‘International Exhibition on Animals in Art” the

Want to enjoya lush,green yard this fall and winter?Here’s what to do

GARDEN NEWS

As we settle into fall, you’ll begin to notice warm-season turfgrasses turning tan and brownasthey enter dormancy This phenomenon is totally natural, but admittedly not the prettiest. If you’d rather not see your yard meet this fate, you can take action now by overseeding with ryegrass, which thrives in cooler temperatures and allowsyou to enjoy alush, green lawnall fall and winter long. There are afew different kinds of ryegrass out there. Which should you buy?

“Werecommend aperennial ryegrass over annual ryegrass,” said Bert Hammett, ahorticulture agent with the LSU AgCenter in East Baton Rouge Parish. “It’sgoing to give you deeper,darker green foliage, and it tends to fill in a little bit better.” Also makesure you buy perennial ryegrass that’smeant forlawns —not forage production forlivestock.

When overseeding ryegrass, spread the seed from north to south, then from east to west. This crisscross patternhelps ensure even coverage.

Before spreading the ryegrass seed, mow your lawn so the grass blades are quite short. Don’t scalp it —just lower your mower blade abit morethan you usually would, Hammettsaid.

Next, add your seed to a broadcast (sometimes called rotary) spreader or,ifyour lawnissmall, ahandheld spreader.Hammett advises using 5to10pounds of seed per 1,000 square feet, with 8 pounds being asweet spot that works well formost people. “Fill the spreader with half the amount of total seed and spread in anorth-south direction, then refill with the other half and spread in an east-west direction,” Hammettsaid. Splitting the seed and walking in acrisscross pattern ensures even distribution, which

ä See LAWN, page 2D

Musicoverpowers

TV

show’s dialogue

Dear Heloise: My pet peeve is TV shows where the background music is so loud that you cannot hear the dialogue being spoken.I am not deaf, and it’svery irritating to lose what is going on in the show —Lissa B.,Sugar Hill, New Hampshire Lissa, Ilove music, but like you, Idon’tlike it when it drowns out all the dialogue. Ican understand how you feel. Maybe you should write to the producer of the program and tell them how you feel. I’m sure many others feel thesame way —Heloise Dispenserpump

Hints from Heloise

Iwas finally able to track her down by calling her car insurance agent(off her card) and having himcall her to then get ahold of me. Had Ibeen aless diligent person, Icould have easily given up, kept the cash, and tossed the rest. But I was determined to locate her.She was so grateful that Iwent to the effort to do so. So, Heloise readers, make it easy for someone to findyou if they come across your lost wallet! —K.Micallef,via email Grocerylists

MIDCENTURY

Continuedfrom page1D

he wanted to includeintohis midcenturymodernhome, and Wright was his guide.

Dear Heloise: With regardtothe question about anew bottleor jar dispenser not working,I always keep my old bottle until Iknow whether the new one works. If not, Iuse the oldpump on the new bottle or jar —Shirley, in Hamilton, Ohio

When draining hotwater

Dear Heloise: Pouring boiling water down asink drain can be dangerous due to possiblesplashes when it meets the cold sink and drain piping under the sink. Also, the hot boiling water might cause the thin, plasticdrain-piping connections under the sink to soften, pull apart and leak

To prevent this, when Ipour my hot spaghetti water down the sink drain, Irun the cold water at thesametime. —Jim G.,inMerrillville, Indiana

Phone number in wallet

Dear Heloise: My hint for your readers is to make surethat somewhere in your wallet,you have aphone number where you can be reached. Some timeago,I came across awallet withmoney and creditcards in it. Ilooked for aphone number to alert the owner,but there was nothing no phone number on her driver’s license or anything else.

Dear Heloise: I’veseen several suggestions for ways to keep grocery lists,including taking aphotoofapaper list with a phone. I’d like to suggest amore efficientway of using aphone for agrocery list: Iuse my phone’s Notes app to create abullet list forgroceries. As Ishop, Ican mark the bullets to indicate that I’vepicked up an item. Ican also add people as collaborators for the list so that they can add items. Andif they’reshopping with me, they can mark off theitems they’ve pickedupaswell

This really comes in handy when several of us go to the store at the beginning of abeach vacation and shop to stock the kitchen. —Sandy F.,inVirginia Inkaccident

Dear Heloise: Iliketowrite with afountain pen,but thelast time Iwrote with afountain pen, I spilled the ink on my sleeve. NowIneed to get it outofacotton blouse.How can Iremove this stain? —Melody A., in Provo, Utah Melody,afresh inkstain can usuallybeblotted several times, then soaked in milk for 30-40 minutes. Afterward,wash as usual —Heloise

Send ahint to heloise@heloise. com.

TODAYINHISTORY

By The Associated Press

Today is Tuesday,Oct. 7, the 280th day of 2025. There are 85 days left in the year

Todayinhistory:

On Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led militants launched air and ground attacks on Israel, killing nearly 1,200 andtaking more than 250 hostages. The attacks, followed hours later by Israelicounterattacks, marked the beginningof the current Israel-HamasWar Also on this date:

In 1765, the Stamp Act Congress convened in New York to draw up colonial grievances against England.

In 1913, the first moving assembly line began operation at the Ford Motor Companyfactory in Highland Park, Michigan

In 1916, in the most lopsided victory in college football history,Georgia Tech defeated Cumberland University 222-0 in Atlanta.

In 1985, Palestinian gunmen hijackedthe Italian cruise ship Achille Lauro in the MediterraneanSea. The hijackers shot and killed Leon Klinghoffer, aJewish American tourist in awheelchair,and pushed him overboard, before surrendering on Oct. 9.

In 1992, trade representatives of the United States, Canada and Mexico initialed the North American Free Trade Agreement during aceremony in San

LAWN

Continued from page1D

prevents striping and clumping. Finally,ifrain isn’tinthe forecast, wateryour lawnthoroughly.You must keep thesoil consistently moist for the seed to germinate. Hammett said to avoid applying pre-emergence herbicides to your lawn after overseeding it. Theryegrass seed will not germinate. But, if you’re worried about cool-season weeds,know this: Ryegrass’ densegrowth habit suppresses pesky weeds like annual bluegrass,henbit and chickweed. Once your ryegrassisestablished, which will take about one month, maintain it by mowing a little higher than you would cut your regular turfgrass. When spring rolls around next

Antonio, Texas, in the presence of PresidentGeorgeH.W.Bush, Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and Mexican President Carlos Salinas de Gortari.

In 1998, Matthew Shepard, agay collegestudent, was beatenand lefttied to awooden fence post outsideofLaramie, Wyoming;hedied five days later Russell Henderson andAaron McKinney areserving life sentences for Shepard’smurder

In 2001, war in Afghanistan started as the United States and Britain launched air attacks against military targets and Osama binLaden’s training camps in the wake of theSept. 11 attacks. TheU.S. military completed its withdrawal from Afghanistan to end the20-year war on Aug. 30, 2021.

In 2003, California voters recalled Gov.Gray Davis and elected Arnold Schwarzenegger their new governor

Today’sbirthdays: Author Thomas Keneally is 90. Singer John Mellencampis74. Rock musician Tico Torres (Bon Jovi) is 72. Cellist Yo-YoMais70. Recording executive and TV personalitySimon Cowell is 66. Singeractor Toni Braxton is58. Rock singer-musician Thom Yorke (Radiohead)is57. Actor Nicole AriParker is 55. Football Hall of FamerCharlesWoodson is 49. SingerTaylor Hicksis49. Actor Omar Miller is 47. MLB outfielder Mookie Betts is 33.

LSU AGCENTER PHOTO By

OLIVIA McCLURE

TheLSU AgCenter recommends perennial ryegrass for home lawns.

year, the ryegrass will still be going strong. At that time,you’ll wanttomow it lowsoyour warmseasonturfgrass can come back. Ryegrass is beautiful and adds awelcome splash of green to drabfalland winter landscapes. But overseeding isn’tsomething youshoulddoevery year,Hammett said. This can lead to damage andoutcompeteyour warmseason turfgrass.

Porche says thatJim Minton, awell-known master carpenter, helped Sanders withthe extensive woodwork in the home. Theartistry remains.

WhenPorche brushes his teeth in the bathroom, he often looks up to observe that thewood is book matched,meaning two pieces of wood arejoined so that thecut surfaces are facing each other to createasymmetrical, mirror-image pattern that lookslike asingle, wide piece of wood.

“You can tell thatthey just took so much time, so much care, and didn’trush, and it’s just gorgeous,” Porchesaid.

Porche still has some of the original furniture including asilk sofa, bambooset andorange-upholstered chairs.His goal is to keep the house as preservedaspossible.

He pays homagetoSanders every time he sees thedoctor’sname on awooden panel next to therefrigerator.Atsome point, someone took Sanders’ sign from his medicaloffice andplaceditthere Porcheleft it up to honor him

Porchesays he feels “extremely lucky” to have found amidcentury modern house in suchpristine condition.Hetries to keep it in allof its glory and only do what’snecessary to makeitlivable for him and his family

“Instudyingmore aboutmidcentury architecture,” he said, “it was designed to be at onewith itssurroundings withnaturalresources like wood, brick, stone and glass to really create an experiencefor thepeople in the home. Iget to experience that on adaily basis Preservation is important,instead of renovation.”

Midcentury modernisminBR

Darius Spieth, an art history professor at LSU,isanexpert in European modernism. He created an inventory of midcentury modernist architecture on FloridaBoulevard in Baton Rouge by studying thecommercial buildings built in the1950s and ’60s. To reallyunderstand the midcenturymodernaesthetic in the city, Spieth says its important toknow its beginnings.

FrankLloyd Wright guided American architecture toward a more European modernist aesthetic. Hisdesign influence rippled across thecountry allthe way to BatonRouge, in atime when the

EXHIBIT

Continuedfrom page1D

in the vet school’s library untilOct 31,giving visitors enough time to vote for and even buy theirfavorite works. All of thepieces are for sale with a20% commission from each sale benefitting the VetMed and its programs.

“The proceeds from this year’s showwill go toward theschool’s Artist-in-Residence program,” said Guttner,who also is theschool’sassistant director of communications.

“In the past, the funds have gone to purchase things fordifferent departments. In thepast, we’ve bought welding gloves for thewildlife hospital and furniture to makeour consultation room more comfortable.”

Even thelibrary, theshow’sexhibit space, hasbenefittedfrom past show sales.

Theexhibition beganin1987 with themissionofhighlighting the importance of animals in the lives of people and the planet.

In 2017, theexhibit was stalled, andthenin2018, thelibrary was remodeled. The show returnedin 2022 but was changedfrom what traditionally was aspring show to afall exhibit.

“So, though we didn’t havea show in thespringof2023, we technically didn’tskip that year because we were transitioning to afall show,”Guttner said. “So we were back in the fall of 2024.”

“Animals in Art”isopen annually to artists age 18 and older,and though all media are accepted, the work must be original. 60 worksselected This year,the showreceived

city was booming and growing.

Michael Desmond, architecture professor at LSU, credits Wright with showing other architects that the Bauhaus and International stylescould be inexpensive and usenaturalmaterials. TheInternational style— which focuses on aminimalistand functionalist architectural style with the use of glass, steel, concrete, flat roofs and rectilinear forms —formed after theBauhaus movement in Europe.

Once central heating became affordable,the large, open floor plans became popular Architect A. Hays Town known for his moreSpanish and French-influenced Louisiana houses —brought modern International style to Baton Rouge. From 1939 to the 1960s, Town’s architectural firm designed several commercial buildings duringthe economic boom of the time, including many banks on Florida Boulevard.

‘Itstirs my soul’

Spieth’sgoal is to bring awareness to the historic buildings in thecity

“What is it that we’re actually looking at?” he asks. “Because youdrive by andyou don’tpay attention to it, and most people don’tknow where it comes from.

“Why was it done at thetime it was done? What are thespecific global design trends that are prevalent at this point in time? I’m interested in recreating that kind of context.”

Spieth says the optimistic mentality after WWII shaped midcentury modernism design, while Desmondnotes that the appeal comes

302 entries from 150 artists representing 30 states, along with artists from Canada, Germany, Guatemala andTurkey.JurorCallie Smith, museum educator and public programs manager forthe LSUMuseumofArt, pared the entries down to 60.

“Weused to show 75 entries, but ourspace haschangedinthe library,” Guttnersaid. “Wedon’t have as much hanging spaceas we didinthe past, so we ask the juror to choose 50 entries and 10 alternates. So far, we’ve been able to hang all of the alternates in the show,aswell.” As for the breakdown of art-

fromthe nostalgia for the “casual openness of ouryouth.” Desmond grew up in one of his father’smidcentury modern homes, and he describes the lifestyle as comfortable with open floor plans and lots of glass and light.

Desmond’sfather,John Desmond, was awell-regardedand highly esteemed midcentury modern architect whodesignedmany houses and buildings in Hammond, and later in his career,community buildings in Baton Rouge.

Hismonumentalcontributions to Baton Rouge architecture include the LSU Student Union, built in 1964, Pennington Biomedical Building, Louisiana State Library, Raising Cane’s River Center, Louisiana State Archivesbuilding and USSKidd Veterans Museum, among others. John Desmond’sresidential work in Hammond was influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright and included expansive glass that allowedlight to stream in to rooms.

For Porche, the natural elements, use of light, open spaces and craftsmanship create an experience he enjoys every day “Every timethat Iwalk from my bedroom to my kitchen to make coffee in the morning, that little walk —I think it’sabout 38 steps brings me joy,” he said. “It is such agorgeoushome, and the design features like the light that comes to thehouse, theceiling height,the floors, it stirs my soul and brings me joy every day.”

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

ists, 26 are from Louisiana, 21 are from other states and one is from Canada.

“Weevenhaveaworkbyone of ourstudentsthatwas juried into this year’sshow,” Guttner said. One piece will receive aBest of Show award, and one entry will be chosen to appear on thecover of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. Other awards include the Judge’sAward, Honorable Mention,the People’s Choice Award and the School of Veterinary Medicine Awards.

“Noneofthe awards are monetary,” Guttner said.

In the past, Guttnercould expect to receive almost as many threedimensional pieces as two-dimensional.

“But this year,they’re all paintings,” she said. “Sometimesit turns out that way.Wehave one three-dimensional piece. It’s small andmade of paper, and it’s really interesting.”

Guttnercan’t help gettingat least alittle giddy when walking past each piece in the library

“I remember looking at them while taking them out of the packages,” she said. “Itwas just so exciting to seewhatwas going to come out. It really did feel like Christmas.”

Exhibit hoursare 8a.m. to 4p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1to 4p.m. Sunday at the LSU VetMed on SkipBertmanDrive, Baton Rouge. Visitorsare asked to check in with front desk personnel, who will direct them to the library.

Admission is free. For more information, visitlsu.edu/vetmed/ events/animals_in_art.php.

Email RobinMilleratromiller@ theadvocate.com.

LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) Check facts, err on the side of caution and choose to do, take and give less to avoid backlash. Channel your energy into healthy living, love and leisure time.

scoRPIo (oct. 24-nov. 22) Don't be afraid to do things differently. Being unique will attract positive attention. Participating in events that combine business with pleasure will provide a platform to showcase your skills.

sAGIttARIus (nov. 23-Dec. 21) Get out and about; participate in functions that relate to your professional goals. Leave nothing to chance when in a competitive situation. Play to win, and victory will follow.

cAPRIcoRn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Truth matters; verify information and question anything that sounds too good to be true. Speak up and show your leadership ability, and opportunities will sprout.

AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Pay attention to what's happening at home. Hard work and reliability will help you maintain good relationships with clients, employers and anyone else you deal with today.

PIscEs (Feb. 20-March 20) Stay on top of investments and health issues. Deal directly with institutions to ensure you receive accurate information. Hit the reset button and check the rules and regulations for any updates or changes.

ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Find innovative ways to simplify your life. Jumping to

conclusions will lead to emotional mayhem. Choose kindness over ego and peace over discord.

tAuRus (April 20-May 20) Review, adjust and carry on. How you devise your next move and the envision the progress you intend to make will determine the outcome. What you physically accomplish will matter most

GEMInI (May 21-June 20) Learn on the go. Attend networking events or reach out to key people at companies you want to work for or do business with, and you'll gain insight and access to valuable information.

cAncER (June 21-July 22) Think twice before you agree to do something. Get the lowdown and question the cost involved and the time you must designate to participate before you commit. Don't pay for someone else; offer suggestions, not cash. LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) Establish a look that boosts your confidence. Keep your emotions out of conversations that can influence your reputation or position. Don't argue; state the facts and walk away.

VIRGo (Aug 23-sept 22) Assess yourself and consider making personal changes that will give you the edge in competitive situations. A kind word or a show of concern will pay off.

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

By Andrews McMeel Syndication

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

toDAy's cLuE: u EQuALs F

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

nea CroSSwordS La TimeS CroSSword

Bridge

By PHILLIP ALDER

George Jean Nathan, adrama critic and an editor who died in 1958, said,“An optimistisafellowwhobelievesahousefly is looking foraway to get out.”

At the bridge table, players tend to be optimistsorpessimists. In this deal, for example, look at theEast and North hands. East is defending against four spades. West leadsthe club jack. What shouldEast do?

In Standard American, South’s threespade rebidshows extra values (usually 15-17 high-card points) and agood sixcardsuit.Itisgame-forcingafterNorth’s two-over-one response. If you areusing two-over-one game-force, then three spades promises asolid suit and setsit as trumps. The responder is asked to control-bid (cue-bid) if interested in a slam.Here,Northhasaborderlinehand. He couldjustify afour-diamond or fourheartcontrol-bid. But since South has no side first-round control,hewouldsign offinfour spades. The dummy is depressing. East knows that if declarer needs adiamond finesse, it is working. East can seetwo club winners. Maybe West has atrump trick (but not if Southhas shown asolid suit). What other chance is there?

None, apparently.

Well,thereisone—Westmightbevoid ofdiamonds.Afterwinningwithhisclub king, East should shift to adiamond.

Here, West ruffs,returns aclub to East’s ace, and receives another ruff for downone. Houseflies, be gone! Some playerswouldfindthisruff, but only at trick three. They cannot resist immediatelycashing availabletricks Take your time and think through the deal

Andrews McMeel

©2025 by NEA,Inc., dist. By

Syndication

Each Wuzzle is awordriddlewhich creates adisguised word, phrase, name, place, saying, etc. 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 HoMoPHonE: HOM-uh-fone: One of two or morewords pronounced alike but different in meaning.

Average mark13words Timelimit 25 minutes Can you find 18 or morewords in HOMOPHONE?

yEstERDAy’s WoRD —WAyWARDLy

Anyone knowingthe whereabouts of anyheirs,successors,and/or assignsofDeanna Nealyplease contactTammy Bowden at 225-2664873. 161622-Oct7-9,3t $97

Anyone knowingthe whereabouts of anyheirs,successors,and/or assignsofJohnelK.Felton, Jr please contactTammy Bowden at 225-266-4873. 161620-Oct7-9,3t $97

Anyone knowingthe whereabouts of anyheirs,successors,and/or assignsofHueyDufrene please contactTammy Bowden at 225-2664873.

161626-Oct7-9,3t $97

Anyone knowingthe whereabouts of anyheirs,successors,and/or assignsofWilliamP.Gaudetor Melinda E. Gaudet please contact TammyBowdenat225-266-4873.

161625-Oct7-9,3t $97

Anyone knowingthe whereabouts of anyheirs,successors,and/or assignsofVictorArdis please contactTammy Bowden at 225-2664873. 161623-Oct7-9,3t $97

Anyone knowingthe whereabouts of anyheirs,successors,and/or assignsofJason L. Hunt or Brandie T. Hunt please contactTammy Bowden at 225-266-4873.

161628-Oct7-9,3t $97

Anyone knowingthe whereabouts of anyheirs,successors,and/or assignsofRaymond Sparacino please contactTammy Bowden at 225-266-4873.

161616-Oct7-9,3t $97

ANYONE knowingthe whereabouts of Marlen Joseph BabinAKA Marlen Babinof73723 SoledadDrive,Baton

y g BennettJohnstonAv‐enue,LakeCharles,LA 70615 on October27, 2025 at 10:00A.M.Specifica‐tionsand bidform (#83471) maybeob‐tained by contacting SusanTucek at bids@ sowela.edu SOWELA TechnicalCommunity Collegedoesnot discrim‐inateonthe basisof race,color,nationalori‐gin, gender,disability, or ageinits programsor activities.The following person hasbeendesig‐natedtohandleinquiries regardingthe non-dis‐criminationpolicies: Title —ComplianceOffice,Ad‐dress—3820 SenJ Ben‐

environmental compliance.

3. Geospatial and Obstruction Mapping Services -includes aerial photography,ground control survey,analytical aero-triangulation, digital stereo compilation, and obstruction analysis, and FAAAGIS submittal requirements.

This work is anticipated to be accomplished in part with funds from the FAA, State, other grants, and local funds. Since it is anticipated that these projects will be partially funded by federal grants, professional consultant services rendered for theseprojects must conform to all applicable requirements of the FAAand those of the State of Louisiana

To be considered, an original and six (5) copies of aStatement of Qualifications and Experience (the Proposal) must be of the Standard Form (SF330) format and received at the office of the Town of Rayville, P.O. Box 878 Rayville, LA 71269 by 1p.m. local time on November 6, 2025.

Proposals must be sealed and clearly marked “Aviation Planning Services -AIP Funded Projects.”Tobeconsidered by the Selection Committee, proposals must include all information specified in the instructions of the RFQ.

Notes: a. Any modifications to this RFQ shall be issued by awritten,formal addendum.

b. Questions during the solicitation period may be directed to Charlie Adams, Airport Manager,via email at Charlie.mike7nine@email. com c. Oral presentations shall be conducted at the discretion of the

Floor,Suite 2-160, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at 10:00 A.M. forthe follow‐ing: RFxNo. 3000025478, Side by Side -LDH,10/23/25 RFxNo. 3000025503, Mo‐torizedRollerShade In‐stallation,10/23/25 Bidproposalforms,in‐formationand specifica‐tionsmay be obtained by accessingthe bidnum‐berinLaPac at www.doa Louisiana.gov/ospor from theprocurement sectionlistedabove.No bids will be received after thedateand hour specified.The right is re‐d j d p g served to rejectany and allbidsand to waiveany informalities. TomKetterer Director of State Procurement FAX(225) 342-8688 161364-oct7-1t $12.05

OpeningDate: Wednes‐day, November 5, 2025 On Wednesday, Novem‐ber5,2025,

Additional Services may range from conceptual airport planning for futureAIP-eligible project to airport planning support on non-AIP eligible operations and/or airport management issues.

Type of services required may include but not necessarily be limited to thefollowing:

•Airport Minimum Standards and Rules and Regulations Updates.

•General airspace planning, reviews and preparation of Form 7480 or 7460, and review of development proposals.

•General instrument approach planning support.

•Updates to various airport manuals, i.e. certifications, SWPPP DBE programs, airport signageand security plans, etc.

•Review and update of Capital Improvement Program (CIP).

•Act as atechnical representative in review of on-airport private development proposals, i.e. hangars.

•Technical review of documents prepared in association with other ongoing studies or efforts underway at the airport.

•Participation in publicinformation programs or meetings relating to airport development and planning projects. Other airport planning services, as may be required.

C. Compensation Compensationfor the services to be provided shall be negotiated with the successful firm on aproject-by-project basis. Upondetailing the scope of services to be performed, the Airport shall conduct an Independent Fee Estimate and compareittothe proposed fees from the successful firm. Negotiations shallcontinue based on an analysisofthe fees in accordance with AC 150/5100-14E.

II. Proposal Evaluation Process

A. Proposal Format Proposalsshall be of the SF330 format

of

and Controlreservesthe righttoacceptorreject, in whole or in part,all proposalssubmitted and/ or to cancel thean‐nouncement. Anycon‐tractawarded shallbe baseduponthe State’s assessment of thestate‐mentsofqualifications, theircompliancewith theminimum qualifica‐tions, content, andfor‐matrequirements, and theproposalthatpro‐videsthe best valueand highestquality of service to theState.All contracts aresubject to availability of funds.

TheSelection Review Committee forthe refer‐enced projectwillcon‐vene in apublicmeeting on Wednesday, Novem‐ber5,2025 at 1:00 PM localtimeinIowaRm1153 of theClaiborne Building,1201 North ThirdStreet,Baton Rouge, LA 70802, forthe review of procedures re‐gardingthe CMAR con‐tractorselection process.

TheSelection Review Committee forthe refer‐encedproject will con‐vene in apublicmeeting on Wednesday, Novem‐ber19, 2025 at 1:00 PM localtimeinNorth Dakota Rm 1-155 of the ClaiborneBuilding, 1201 NorthThird Street,Baton Rouge, LA 70802, forthe scoringand rankingof proposers.

TheSelection Review Committee will convene in apublicmeetingfor interviews,scoring and finalrecommendationon Tuesday, December 2, 2025 at 1:00 PM local time in Thomas Jefferson Rm 1-136 A/B of theClai‐borneBuilding, 1201 NorthThird Street,Baton Rouge, LA,70802. An in‐terviewschedulewillbe determined once alistof the3 most qualified Pro‐posers hasbeen selected by theCommittee. Inter‐viewswillbeconducted in executivesession and thepublicmeetingwill reconveneafter the final interview. The finalized agenda will be posted to theRFQ Documentspage of theFacilityPlanning andControl website, https://www.doa.la.gov/ doa/fpc/rfq-documents/ If youhavea disability andwould like to request an accommodation in ordertoparticipate in thesemeetings,please contactChristina Car‐dona at Christina. Cardona@la.gov or (225) 342-6060 as soon as pos‐siblebut no laterthan48 hoursbeforethe sched‐uled meeting. 161362 Oct. 7, 14, 2t $148.72

g referenced solicitation: PURPOSEOFADDENDUM: Duetothe nature of the inquiryand theresearch required to providean accurate response,the bidopening date will be extended by twoweeks. Thenew bidopening date is Thursday,Octo‐ber16, 2025.

************************ This addendum is hereby officially made apartof thereferencedsolicita‐tion andshouldbeat‐tached to thebidder’s proposal or otherwise acknowledged therein.

Failuretoacknowledge addendum mayresultin thenon-consideration of thebid submission If youhavealready sub‐mitted your proposal and this addendum causes youtoreviseyourorigi‐nalbid,pleaseindicate changesbelow andre‐turn to Business Af‐fairs/PurchasingSection priortobid openinginan envelope marked with thebid number, bid openingdate, andtime. If this addendum does notcause youtorevise your bid, please ac‐knowledgereceipt of the addendum by signing your name andcompany belowand returningitin accordance with thepro‐visionsabove CompanyName Authorized Signature Date

Submittedby: Ashlee Grayson Director of Purchasing 161099 Oct. 7, 9, 14, 3t $70.47

I, RONALD GIBSON,DOC #381420 have applied forclemencyfor my conviction of SCHEDULE II; SCHEDULEII; HALLUCINOGENIC SUB. If youhaveany comments, contactthe BoardofPardons (225)342-5421. 161276 -OCT 5-73T $310

PUBLIC NOTICE

In accordance with the laws of theState of Louisianaand thepartic‐ular referencetothe pro‐visionsofLAR.S.30:4, andthe provisions of StatewideOrder No.29-B as amendedand adopted by theOffice of Conser‐vation of theState of Louisiana HilcorpEnergyCompany P.O. Box61229 Houston, Texas 77208-1229 713-209-2400 Is applying to theInjec‐tion andMiningDivision of theOffice of Conser‐vation fora permit to disposeofproduced flu‐idsgenerated from oil andgas production by meansofaninjection well, whichisidentified as LL&ELafitte SWDWell No 204 Serial Number 248452 with theinjection interval at an approxi‐mateDepth of 6750 ft.to 8000 ft.The well location is Section 020 Township 17S Range 24E Lafitte ( ) i ld ff PUBLIC NOTICE September30, 2025 AD DE ND UMN O. 3 Your referenceisdi‐rected to SB#7666 NSU AthleticsWeightRoom Equipment whichis scheduledfor bidopen‐ings at 2:00 p.m. Thurs‐day, October2,2025, at Northwestern StateUni‐versity, Natchitoches Louisiana. ************************ Thefollowing addition is being made to theabove f d li i i

AND PARK COMMISSION FOR THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE Special Meeting –5:00 p.m. BREC Administration Building 6201 FloridaBoulevard Baton Rouge, Louisiana Commission Minutes August 14, 2025

Call to Order Aspecial meeting of the Recreation and Park Commission for the Parish of East Baton Rouge (BREC) was held at BREC’sAdministrative Offices on August 14, 2025. The meeting was called to order at 5:00 p.m. by Commissioner Kenneth Pointer. Commissioner Wade Evans offered the invocation and Commissioner Carl Stages led the Pledge of Allegiance. Roll was taken and aquorum of Commissioners waspresent, including; Kenneth Pointer,Treasurer; Mike Polito; Wade Evans; Carl Stages; and Dustin Yates. Commissioners Donna Collins Lewis, Clarice Gordon, Dwayne Rogers, Lon Vicknair,Collis Temple,III, and David McDavid wereabsent. Staffmembers present wereJanet Simmons, Interim Superintendent; Reed Richard, Assistant Superintendent of System Planning; Maurice Velasquez, Interim Chief Operating Officer; Johanna Landreneau, Interim Chief Human Resource Officer; Don Johnson, Chief Financial Officer; Jim Fleshman, Angela Harms, Steven Knight, RaHarold Lawson, Robyn Lott, Mike Raby,and Ebony Allen. Murphy Foster,legal counsel, was also in attendance. The rest of the audience consisted of other BREC staff, sign language interpreters, media, and the public. Public Comment Commissioner Pointer announced that public comment would be allowed prior to avote being taken on any agenda action item and explained the process to be observed Reports of Officers and Standing Committees Commissioner Pointer recognized Interim Superintendent Janet Simmons to present the Superintendent’sReport.

Interim Superintendent Simmons opened her report by stating that she has discovered that thereare priorities that need to be met: people first, animals second, and parks third. She informed the Commission that BREC is currently addressing asovereign citizen threat. She explained that aformer employee, whohad previously been arrested in 2018 under the terrorism act and incarcerated, recently approached both aBREC employee and her.Animage of the individual was presented. Following guidance from Risk Management, security measures have been heightened, including the addition of Baton Rouge Police Department (BRPD) detail at the administrative building, the distribution of the suspect’simage throughout the facility,and notification to District Attorney Hillar Moore.

Interim Superintendent Simmons continued by reporting that several bullet casings had been found at Highland Park, and that numerous complaints have been received from nearbyresidents regarding nightly gunfire.She introduced Mr.David Burtwell, Chief Executive OfficerofPSC Security Group, the firm contracted by BREC. Mr.Burtwell stated that the gunfire reported by residents includes automatic gunfire,which has been confirmed through video recordings. He further noted that live video monitoring is currently in place at Howell Park, Highland Park, and the Milton J. Womack Park Administration Building. He explained that PSC is conducting afull audit of the security camera systems and related technology

Commissioner Evans inquired about the possibility of installing security mechanisms at the controlled entryways of the Highland Park parking lots. Mr.Burtwell responded that BREC possesses asignificant amount of softwareand technology that is not being fully utilized. He explained that PSC is in the process of auditing these resources to ensure that they aredeployed to their fullest capacity in order to enhance security measures. Mr.Burtwell answered additional questions about camera locations, cost, and the data collected by the service provider Commissioner Pointer requested clarification regarding Mr.Burtwell’s role and affiliation. Mr.Burtwell confirmed that he is the Chief Executive Officer of PSC Security Group, which is headquartered in Baton Rouge. Interim Superintendent Simmons reaffirmed that BREC is actively assessing and addressing

and

Interim Superintendent Simmons continued with the second priority animals, by addressing concerns that had recently been brought to her

g (4989),Field Jefferson (26) Parish,Louisiana Allinterestedparties are hereby givenanopportu‐nity to submit written commentsnolater than fifteen (15) days from the date of this publication. Identify thewellwhen correspondingdirect commentsto: Office of Conservation Injection& Mining Division P.O. Box94275 BatonRouge,La 70804-9275 Re:Commentsfor SWD Applications 161562 Oct. 7, 1t $181.09

PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given that Ingram BargeCom‐pany hasappliedfor a 401 WaterQuality Certifi‐cation to installsixteen 48" diameter steel monopilesand 2anchor pilestocreatea new bargemooringlocation on theright descending bank of theMississippi offErnestWilsonDrive andSouth RiverRoadin Port Allen, West Baton RougeParish. Ingram BargeCompany is apply‐ingtothe Louisiana De‐partment of Environmen‐talQuality,Office of Envi‐ronmentalServicesfor a WaterQuality Certifica‐tion in accordance with statutoryauthority con‐tained in theLAC 33:JX.1507.A-Eand provi‐sionsofSection 401 of theClean WaterAct Comments concerning this applicationcan be filedwiththe WaterPer‐mits Division within ten days of this notice by ref‐erencing WQC 250910-01, AI 248512 to thefollowing address: LouisianaDepartment of EnvironmentalQuality WaterPermits Division P.O. Box4313 BatonRouge,LA 70821-4313 Attn:Water Quality Certifications Commentsmay be sub‐mitted by emailto DEOWaterOualityCertificatio ns@la.gov. Acopyofthe application is availablefor inspec‐tion andreviewatthe LDEQ Public Records Center at 602 NorthFifth Street,Baton Rouge, LA 70802, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Theavailable informationcan also be accessedelectronically on theElectronicDocu‐ment Management Sys‐tem(EDMS)onthe LDEQ public websiteat www deq.louisiana.gov. 161366-oct7-1t $204.08

LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF NATURALRESOURCES OFFICE OF COASTAL MANAGEMENT

USEPERMITSNOT REQUIRED OF ACTIVITIES EXEMPTFROM PERMITTING AND/OR CORPS AREAORGENERALPERMIT NAME

P20250121

TOUCHARD, BRUNO

BABIN,RICHARD JR. JEFFERSON P20250330

COMCAST CABLE, LLC ST.CHARLESP20250443

PRIVAT, JASON CAMERON P20250645

GEOENGINEERS, INC. VERMILION P20250648 MVN 2025-00789WB

PORTOFSOUTH LOUISIANA ST.JOHN THE BAPTISTP20250667

CHEVRON ENVIRONMENTALMANAGEMENTST. MARY P20250717

ANDCHEMICALS, INC.

PHILLIPS66PIPELINE LLC

P20250760

P20250766

LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF NATURALRESOURCES OFFICE OF COASTALMANAGEMENT PERMITSISSUED WITH CONDITIONS

attention regarding unsanitary conditions at BREC’S equestrian facility at Farr Park, whereBREC’s 45 horses arekept and an additional 20 horses areboarded. She reported that horses werelosing weight and that several had been admitted to the LSU Veterinary School. She noted the facility’slimited budget for veterinary services. To mitigate these issues, ten temporary workers have been hired to clean the stalls and she and Johanna Landreneau areworking closelywith Jim Fleshman, Director of the Baton Rouge Zoo, along with other equine professionals, to improve operations at Farr Park. Kleinpeter Veterinary Services has also been engaged to assess the horses, and at the nextregular meeting, an amendment to the current contract will be introduced to increase funding for veterinary care.

Commissioner Evans asked how the horses arebeing utilized. Interim Superintendent Simmons noted some of the various programs and groups that utilized both the facility and the horses.

The Interim Superintendent highlighted BREC’s rapid response to this issue by recognizingthe strong efforts of ParkOperations in restoring the Farr Park facility.She highlighted the recent painting work, as wellas repairs to potholes, as examples of progress already underway

InterimSuperintendent Simmons concluded her report by providing ahigh-level overview of the upcoming Commissioner retreat. She stated that the retreat will include discussions on the restructuring of the organizational chart, updates to the employee handbook, and a review of the capital improvement projects identified by the Planning and Engineering team forvarious actions. She noted that these projects arebeing led by Maurice Velasquez and overseen by the newly hired senior project manager.She further reported that acall center manager has been hired to oversee the RapidResponse Call Center,which has been soft-launched and will officially go live to the public on September 8. She confirmed that the 2023 financial audit has been completed and will be presented at the August 28 regular Commission meeting, and that the 2024 financial audit is scheduled to be completed by December 31, 2025. She ended her report by stating that thereare several outstanding invoices that date back to 2024. Adding that avendor has an outstanding invoice from April2024 that went to collections. Commissioner Evans asked for additional information about how the invoice wouldbehandled and Chief Financial Officer Don Johnson explained how the payment would be processed.

Under Standing Committees, Commissioner Pointer recognized Commissioner Polito to present the itemsunder SelectionofProfessionals. Commissioner Polito moved to defer Items1aand 1b to the next Commission meeting. Commissioner Evans seconded the motion.

Therebeing no discussion, Commissioner Pointer called for the vote with the following results:

Ayes: 5 Nays: 0

The motion to defer items1aand 1b was approved unanimously

The deferred itemswereasfollows:

Item 1a: Resolved, That the Commission approve Amendment No 8toContract No. 2020-112 with Sasaki Associates, the prime design professional for Phase 1ofthe Greenwood Park and Baton Rouge Zoo Design and Construction project, for anot-to-exceed (NTE) amount of $24,000 for reimbursable expenses and the reallocation of fees from Program Refinement &Concept Design to Schematic Design, Design Development, Construction Documentationand Administration. The current Zoo/Greenwood Park/Dumas Golf Course Contract is $7,060,903, and the new total with Amendment No.8is$7,084,903.

Item 1b: Resolved, That the Commission approve Amendment No

1toContract No. 2023000337 with Patch Landscape Architecture LLC for additional design work for anew Anna T. Jordan Community Park Playground and Site Improvements due to increased construction budget and added technical requirements, not to exceed $75,891 and additional services to provide stormwater management plan, $5,500; hydraulics study,$10,000; and preliminary USACE permitting for anew contract fee of $154,841. Authorize the superintendent to execute appropriate documents.

Commissioner Polito continued to Item1cunder Selection of Professionals, stating that the committee recommends approval

by Johanna Landreneau.Underthis agreement, Johanna Landreneau shall serve in the capacity of Interim ChiefHumanResources Officer The term of the agreementshall commenceonJune 16, 2025, andshall remain in effect through December 15, 2025, unless earlierterminated. The totalcompensation shall not exceed Ninety-Nine Thousand Dollars ($99,000.00).

The motion wassecondedbyMr. Polito.

Therebeing no discussion, CommissionerPointercalledfor the vote with the following results:

Ayes: 5

Nays: 0 The motion wasapproved unanimously

CommissionerPolito movedtodefer Item 1d reading the following resolution underSelection of Professionals. The motion to defer was seconded by CommissionerYates: Resolved, thatthe Commission approve the Cooperative Endeavor Agreement(CEA) between BREC,the Baton Rouge Soccer Club (BRSC), andSt. Joseph’sAcademy(SJA), where BREC will provide six acres of land at Independence Park for the construction of two turfedsoccer fields with concessionstands, bathrooms, locker rooms, andfencing. All lighting, locker rooms, andstands will be financed by SJA. Both fields will be available for use by the public 50% of the time

Therebeing no discussion, CommissionerPointercalledfor the vote with the following results:

Ayes: 5

Nays: 0 The motion to defer item1dunderSelection of Professionals was approvedunanimously

CommissionerPolito thenproceeded to Item 1e underSelection of Professionals andmovedtoapprove the following resolution, with a second by CommissionerEvans: Resolved, That the Commission approve an amendment to Contract No. 2025000148 with Austin Fire Systems, LLC, increasing the not-toexceed amount from $43,000.00 to $75,000.00 for calendar year 2025. This increase is necessary following acomprehensive review of aging fire alarm monitoring andcommunication equipment at designated sites, whichrevealed the need for upgrades andreplacements to ensure continuedpublic occupancy andsafeuse. ARequest for Proposals (RFP) hasbeen drafted andwill be issuedpending managementreview to ensure compliancewith the Louisiana Public BidLaw for anyadditional fire life safety services or materials required beyond this contract amendment.

Therebeing no discussion, CommissionerPointercalledfor the vote with the following results:

Ayes: 5

Nays: 0 The motion wasapproved unanimously

UnfinishedBusiness and General Orders

UnderUnfinishedBusiness andGeneral Orders, Commissioner Pointerread the following resolution: Resolved, That the Commission select the highest-scoringexecutive search firm to assistwith the recruitment andevaluation of candidates for the Superintendentposition.

CommissionerEvans made amotion to defer the itemuntil the next regularmeeting when morecommissioners would be present. The motion wassecondedbyCommissionerStages.

Therebeing no discussion, CommissionerPointercalledfor the vote with the following results:

Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 The motion to defer wasunanimously approved.

Adjournment CommissionerYatesmade amotion to adjournthe meeting. The motion wassecondedbyCommissionerStages. CommissionerPointer adjournedthe meeting at 5:33 p.m. without objection.

Janet C. Simmons, InterimSuperintendent

RECREATION AND PARK COMMISSION FOR THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE Special Meeting –5:00 p.m. BREC Administration Building 6201 Florida Boulevard Baton Rouge, Louisiana Commission Minutes September 11, 2025

Call to Order Aspecial meeting of the Recreation and Park Commission for the Parish of East Baton Rouge (BREC) was held at BREC’sAdministrative Officeson September 11, 2025. The meeting was called to order at 5:00 p.m. by Vice Chair Clarice Gordon. Commissioner Wade Evansoffered theinvocation and Commissioner Kenneth Pointer led the Pledge of Allegiance. Roll was taken and aquorum of Commissioners was present, including Clarice Gordon, Vice Chair; Kenneth Pointer,Treasurer; Mike Polito, Dwayne Rogers, Lon Vicknair David McDavid, Carl Stages and Dustin Yates. CommissionersDonna Collins Lewis and Collis Temple, III wereabsent. Staffmembers present wereJanet Simmons, Interim Superintendent; Reed Richard,Assistant Superintendent of System Planning; Aneatra Boykin, Chief Administrative Officer; Maurice Velasquez, Interim Chief Operating Officer; Reed Richard,Assistant Superintendent System Planning; Johanna Landreneau, Interim Chief Human Resource Officer; Corey Luttrell, Robyn Lott, Jim Fleshman, Angela Harms, RaHarold Lawson, Mike Raby,StevenKnight,Tia Edwards andEbony Allen. Murphy Foster,legal counsel, was also in attendance. The rest of the audience consisted of other BREC staff, sign language interpreters, media, and the public. Public Comment Commissioner Gordon announced that public comment would be allowed prior to avote being taken on any agenda action itemand explained the process to be observed.

Reports of Officers and Standing Committees Commissioner Gordon acknowledged,Interim Janet Simmons for the Superintendent’sReport.

Interim Superintendent Simmons informed the Commission that BREC received the Keep Louisiana Beautiful Healthy Communities Grant. She told theCommission that she would be attending the NRPA(National Recreation and Park Association) Conference and the AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums) Conference with Zoo Director Jim Fleshman.

Commissioner Polito inquired about the anticipated impact on the audit completion following the resignation of Don Johnson, former Chief Financial Officer

Interim Superintendent Simmons respondedthat she has been meeting with Finance Director Rhonda Williams, and does not anticipate any delays in theaudit’scompletion.

Commissioner Polito sought clarification regarding Interim Superintendent Simmons’ statement that ten percent of the Imagine Your Parks 3(IYP3) ten-year master plan task list has been completed.Interim Superintendent Simmons confirmed that was correct.

Commissioner Rogers requestedasummary of the tasks completed to date, and Interim Superintendent Simmons stated that she would provide that information

Commissioner Rogers also requestedacopy of the Capital Improvement Plan,noting he was unsureifhehad previously received t. Interim Superintendent Simmons conferredwith Reed Richard for clarification and responded that the plan was included in last year’sbudget. She added that, although Commissioner Rogersshould have already received it, shewould ensureitisprovidedtohim again.

Commissioner Rogers inquired about the futurelocation of the BREC Foundation office. Interim Superintendent Simmons explained thatthe plan is to possibly relocate the office to the former café space adjacent to the Goodwood Library

Commissioner Evans also asked for acopy of the capital improvement plan

Interim Superintendent Simmons then read thefollowing resolution: Resolved, That the Commission accept the 2025 Mid-Year Report. Motion by Mr.Stages Second by Mr.Pointer

Therebeing no discussion,Commissioner Gordon called for the vote with the following results: Yeas: 9 Nays: 0 The motion was unanimouslyapproved.

Commissioner Gordon introduced thefollowingdiscussion item, which included apublic comment:

DISCUSSION: The Commission will reviewand discuss theCooperative Endeavor Agreement between BREC and the Civic Collaboration Foundation, including BREC’sfunding commitment, the Foundation’sresponsibilities, and the anticipated benefits of the Master Plan for City-Brooks Park and the University Lakes system.

Commissioner Gordon recognized Mr.Peter Davis for atwo-minutepublic comment. Mr.Davis expressed concerns regarding the execution of the agreement between BREC and the Civic Collaboration Foundation (formerly Gulf Coast Restoration and Protection Foundation).

Commissioner Gordon acknowledged Interim Superintendent Simmons, whonoted that she had distributed hardcopies to them with her summary of the cooperative endeavor agreement (CEA), which included her concerns with the contract.

Commissioner Pointer moved to defer thediscussion until he could gain abetter understanding of the CEA and Commissioner Evans seconded. Commissioner Gordon agreed, stating thatshe also could not speak to discussing something she had just received thatday

Forclarification, Interim Superintendent Simmons explained that the CEAitself had been shared with the Commission the previous week, but her summary was provided at the current meeting.

Commissioner Rogers also seconded the motion to defer,adding that he too could not discuss the topic without time to reviewthe concerns outlined in the summary

Commissioner Evans commented that if therewereany “high points” requiring immediate attention, they should be discussed that evening to understand the urgency.Commissioner Evans rescindedhis second to the motion to defer Commissioner Pointer added that he would like to hear from Chris Meyer with the Baton Rouge Area Foundation regarding the CEA. Mr.Meyer spoke about the benefits of this opportunity.

Commissioner Rogers called for apoint of order.Itwas confirmed that Commissioner Pointer moved to defer the itemand Commissioner Rogers seconded.

Commissioner Evans askedCommissioner Rogers if he would be willing to rescind his second in ordertoallow discussion on the item.

Commissioner Polito noted that if thereisamotion to discuss theitemon the floor and it is seconded, then discussion should proceed. Commissioner Gordon agreed. Commissioner Polito asked for Mr.Meyer to continue.

Commissioner Rogers again called for apoint of order,clarifying that the current motion on the floor was to defer theitem. He statedthat discussion couldonly take place regarding the motion to defer,not on the agenda item itself.

Murphy Foster,legal counsel, supported CommissionerRogers’ point of order,adding that discussion should be limited to the motion to defer and that it was inappropriate for thirdparties, such as Mr.Meyer,toparticipate in the discussion.

Commissioner Polito continued that he would still like to discuss the original item.

Commissioner Evans suggested that we should have amotion anda second to discuss the item and then amotion and second to defer per Robert’s Rules.

Mr.Foster offeredguidance stating that the motion (item) was for discussion, but therewas amotion and asecond to defer the item. At this time, the only discussion to be had is adiscussion amongstthe boardwhether or not to defer the item.

Commissioner Pointer then withdrew his motion to defer

Mr.Foster explained that with the withdrawal of Commissioner Pointer’s motion, Commissioner Rogers’second becamethe motion.Without another second, the motion would die, allowingdiscussion on theitemtoproceed.

Commissioner Gordon seconded the motion to defer the item.

Commissioner Polito made comments that wereinaudible.

CommissionerGordon called for arollcall vote to defer theitem. The results areasfollows:

Yeas: 4Ms. Gordon, Mr.Rogers,Mr. Vicknair, Mr.Stages

Nays: 5Mr. Pointer,Mr. Polito, Mr.Evans, Mr.McDavid, Mr.Yates

Absent: 2Ms. Lewis, Mr.Temple

The motion to defer failed.

Commissioner Gordon then opened the floor for discussion.

Commissioner Polito asked Mr.Meyer to clarify the purpose of the CEA

specifically whether it would establisha governing body or create aworking

committee to formthe governing body

Mr.Meyer explained that the CEA would be an agreement for joint investment in aplan with BREC’spartners.The purpose is to establish recommendations on governance and sustainability moving forward.

CommissionerPolito asked what BREC’scontribution would be

Mr.Meyer respondedthat BREC’scontribution would be $300,000. He noted that this amount includes elements of master planning for City-Brooks Park. The contract includes both agovernance component and early stages of master planning, which areincorporated in BREC’sIYP3plan.

Commissioner Polito asked when the master planning would take place.

Mr.Meyer confirmed that aportion of the master planning would occur during the process. He further explained that the purpose of the CEA is to bring BREC, LSU, and the City-Parish together to understand long-term costs as well as potential early programmatic investments that have not yetbeen considered

Commissioner Polito asked what level of voteorinput BREC would have in creating the recommendation.

Mr.Meyer respondedthat BREC would first need to agreetoacceptthe plan outlined in the CEA. Commissioner Polito clarified by asking who from BREC would sit on the committee.

Mr.Meyer respondedthat it would be the decision of the Commission.

Commissioner Evans asked Mr.Meyer to provide the Commission with asummary of the project that would include details suchasthe total number of acres,what is owned by whom, whatland is available for future commercial activities,and whether over-the-water commercial activity should be considered.He noted that, on the surface, the project will requireongoing maintenance, but thereisuncertainty about ownership responsibilities. Commissioner Evans alsopointed out that the total project costis$531,000, with BREC covering over half of that amount. He then asked how many partners BREC has in this project and whether the cost-sharing arrangement is equitable. He concluded by stating that he thinks this is agreat idea but has additionalquestions of this naturethat need to be answeredbeforemoving forward.

Mr.Meyer respondedthat this would be part of the process and explained that the majority of the ownership belongs to BREC. He stated that aportion of the study would focus on determining what land is available and added that planning needs to begin now while dredging is still underway.

Commissioner Gordon asked about the fine details of the master plan. Mr.Meyer repliedthat the planwould outline responsibilities and clarifywho is accountable for what. Commissioner Gordon noted that BREC is already maintaining City-Brooks Park. Mr.Meyer respondedthat BREC is not reaching the potential of its assets,towhich Commissioner Gordon clarified that BREC alreadyhas governance over City-Brooks Park.

Commissioner Pointer then asked if there would be acommunity engagement component, and Mr.Meyer confirmed that there would be.

Commissioner Rogers stated that BREC has had several opportunities related to City-Brooks Park that the Commission has chosen not to pursue.He questioned who on the Commission was representing this effort, noting that the idea was new to him.

Mr.Meyer explained that the conversation was initially started on BREC’s behalf by former Superintendent Corey Wilson.

Commissioner Rogers addedthat he had no objection to the discussion but emphasized that the lake system’sowners had done apoor job of maintaining it. He stressedthe importance of keeping that issue separate from the park. He also requesteda copyofthe recommendations from the Trust for Public Land, stating that he had not seen or been provided with that information.

Mr.Meyer respondedthat the information had been presented during a workshop. Commissioner Rogers then asked BREC executivestaffifanyone had acopy of the recommendations that could be provided. Mr.Meyer reiterated that the material was coveredduring aworkshop organized with the Trust for Public Land.

Commissioner Evans asked when the workshop took place. Mr.Meyer repliedthat it occurred sometime lastyear.Commissioner Evans requested that the information be provided to the Commission to ensureclarity in decision-making. Mr.Meyer asked that the Commission or stafflet him know what they needed.

Commissioner Gordon acknowledged Commissioner Polito.

Commissioner Polito madecomments that wereinaudible.

Commissioner Gordon recognized Interim Superintendent Simmons Interim Superintendent Simmons stated that she has atwo-page document from the Trust for Public Land, which she will provide to the Commissioners. Shestated that they shouldhave also received acopy of the CEA and a document related to Sasaki. She alsonoted that she will instruct stafftofollow up with phone calls in the futuretoconfirm the successful delivery of the documents by email.

Commissioner Gordon announced that there weretwo morepublic comments beforeclosing the discussion.

Commissioner Gordon recognized Mr.Linton Naquin for atwo-minute public comment. Mr.Naquin believes that the lake project is too complicated to have the City Park involved

Commissioner Polito interjected to ask Mr.Naquin aquestion regarding the conservancy and if it would simplify the current situation.

Mr.Naquin indicated that it would make sense for the Lakes Project, but the park (City-Brooks Park) shouldn’tbeinvolved and that he believes that while thereisalways room for improvement, BREC has done agreat job maintaining the park.

Commissioner Gordon recognized Mr.Coleman Brown for atwo-minute public comment. Mr.Brown expressedthat there shouldbemoretime to reviewthis CEA becausethereisn’tenough information.

Commissioner Gordon closed the discussion and acknowledged Interim Superintendent Simmons to proceed with the next item on the agenda.

The Interim Superintendent read the following discussion topic:

DISCUSSION: The Commission will discuss current law regarding whether public agencies may fund the Interim Superintendent’smembership or dues into civic or nonprofitorganizations Motion to discuss by Mr.Evans Second by Mr.Polito

Murphy Foster,legal counsel, recalled that this topic was raised at the previous meeting, during which therewas amotion for BRECtofund certain memberships. It was noted at that time that BRECcould not directly fund the memberships. However,research indicated that the BREC Foundation could pay for the memberships, provided the funds used areprivate funds raised by the Foundation and not funds given to the Foundation by BREC.

CommissionerPolito asked Mr.Foster whether BREC could be amember of an organization, suchasRotary.Mr. Foster respondedthat he would need to look into it butindicated that the answer would likely be no.

Interim Superintendent Simmons explained to Commissioner Polito that the City Club and Rotary bylawsrequ re that memberships remain with individuals rather than organizations

Commissioner Evans stated that an organization could be amember if the organization allows it, using as an example the City of Central’sCEA with the Chamber of Commerce. He addedthat if the BREC Foundation is willing to pay,hehas no objection, and this would allow the Interim Superintendent to exercisenetworking on behalf of BREC.

Interim Superintendent Simmons stated that lastmonth the Zoo Foundation agreed to payher duesfor both organizations.

Commissioner Polito clarified that the Zoo Foundation is now part of BREC Foundation and he did not intend to discuss the Foundation’sactions.He suggested that it would be beneficial for members of the BREC Commission to meet with the City Club and Rotary boardstoexplorethe possibility of BREC becoming amember of their organizations.

Ms.Boykin offeredclarification regarding BRECobtaining memberships

Shestated that BREC, as an agency, can hold amembership as long as it remains with the agency rather than an individual. Sheaddedthat the issue arises with organizations such as the City Club and Rotary,which only issue memberships to individuals, and BREC cannot payfor individual memberships.

Standing Committee Reports

Commissioner Gordon moved to the next item on the agenda under Standing Committee Reports reading the following resolution:

Resolved, that the Commission declarethat an approximate 6-acreportion of Industriplex Park is obsolete and not needed for public purposes, and authorized the Superintendent to begin the process of selling the property at aminimum of its appraised value of $975,000, pendingall legal review. The proceeds will be used to reinvest in parks and recreation facility improvements in the same service area. Authorize the superintendent to execute the necessary documents. Motion to deferbyMr. Stages Second by Mr.Evans

Therebeing no discussion, Commissioner Gordon called for the votewith the following results: Yeas:9

Nays: 0 The motion to defer passed. Unfinished Business and General Orders Commissioner Gordon read thenext agenda item under Unfinished Business andGeneral Ordersasfollows:

DISCUSSION: Rulesand Regulations regardingthe procedurefor bringing newly created positionsand/orclassificationsbeforethe Commission Commissioner Gordon then read theresolution associated with the discussion as follows:

Resolved, That theCommission approve the addition of the Director of Athletic Program Development, the Director of Equestrian Operations, andthe Director of Learning andDevelopmenttothe organizational structure.

Aneatra Boykin, Chief Administrative Officer,explained that she, Murphy Foster,and Johanna Landreneau reviewed thelaw regardingnewly created positionsand classifications. She stated that thestatutes provide that the Interim Superintendenthas theauthority to make recommendationstothe Commission regardingpositions andpay,while theCommission hasthe authority to make decisionsonpositions andpay

She added that BREC’s policy,Chapter 4, provides that theInterim Superintendentcan make decisionsregardingpositions, pay,dismissal, and removal of employees, while theCommission hasauthority over classifications. She definedclassificationsasgroupsofpositions, using“Directors” as an example. Ms.Boykin clarified that in thecase of the Interim Superintendent, the proposal involves creatingthree newpositions, notnew classifications. She referenced theagreemententered into with theInterim Superintendent, which delegated this authority to her. Additionally,she cited R.S. 33:45:70.3 to explain that theCommission hasthe authority to establish rulesgoverning howthe agency operates.

Commissioner Stages asked whether theRoutine Transaction Report would remain thesame or include less information.

Ms.Boykin responded that thereportwould remain thesame, notingthat its purpose is to putthe Commission on notice.

Commissioner Stages then asked hownew positionsare created. Ms Boykin explained that newpositions would be typically vetted throughthe HR (Human Resources) Committee beforebeingbrought to theCommission as an information item.

Commissioner Stages asked whythe Commission would wanttoforgo maintaining the authority to make these decisions. Ms.Boykin stated that this is amatter for discussion by theCommission, butunder thecurrentpolicy which theCommission hasapproved, the Interim Superintendentholds that authority

Commissioner Stages added that theCommission hasa fiduciary responsibility to be informed aboutall matters affecting theagency

Mr.Foster noted that several policies requirereview andstated that this policy is amongthe morecomplicated. He recommended that newpositions be brought to the Commission for approval for thepurpose of transparency

Commissioner Stages asked howthiscould be addressed. Mr.Foster responded that currently personneldecisionsremain within theInterim Superintendent’sauthority,while classificationswould be presented to the Commission for approval.

Ms.Boykin added that Commissioner Stages could recommendthatthe policy be revised by theCommission.

Commissioner Stages asked when thepolicy was adopted. Ms.Boykin replied that it was adopted under thepreviousSuperintendent, Carolyn McKnight.

Commissioner Evans stated that theCommission hasthe ultimate check andbalance with thebudget.

Commissioner Polito added that when the finalboardisseated that they could do abylawsreview

Commissioner Gordon stated that shehad previously read theresolution. Motion by Mr.Evans Motion by Mr.McDavid

Commissioner Gordon recognized Commissioner Stages whoasked whether newdepartments arebeingcreated andifthere would be support stafffor these positions.

Interim SuperintendentSimmonsreplied that theAthletic Director would nothave supportstaffand would reportdirectly to theInterim Superintendent. She explained that theDirector of Equestrian already hasstaff, andthe Director of Learning andDevelopmentiscurrently apartofthe HR componentofthe IYP3 plan

Commissioner Stages requested thesalaryranges for thepositions. Interim SuperintendentSimmonsstated that theDirector of Equestrian may initially be a1099 employee until BREC determines thelong-term structure of the program.

Corey Luttrell, Human Resources Director,provided thesalaryranges, notingthatthe 14 Pay Grade currently rangesfrom$80,961.00 to $129,538.00, andthe 16 Pay Grade rangesfrom$99,753.16 to $159,604.00.

Commissioner Evans added that Farr Park is an importantasset and expressed interest in determininghow to utilize it to its fullestpotential.

Commissioner Rogers asked howthe Director of Athletics Program Development would function without anystafftooversee.

Interim SuperintendentSimmonsexplained that therole is primarily focused on developingrelationships with externalentities, such as Visit Baton Rouge,toattract moreparticipants for tournaments andsellingour parks to the public.

Commissioner Stages asked howthe role of theDirector of Athletics Program Development would differ from that of the Director of Partnerships andDevelopment.

Interim SuperintendentSimmonsexplained that theDirector of Partnershipsand Development is focused on managing CEAs, MOUs, and other partnerships. She notedthatthe currentDirector of Partnershipsand Development cannottake on additional responsibilities duetothe volume of partnerships BREC currently manages.

Commissioner Pointer asked whether these positionswould go through the normal hiring process or if candidates hadalready been identified. Interim SuperintendentSimmonsstated that thepositions will follow thenormal hiring process, although some potential candidates that have been identified who may have an interest in thepositions.

Commissioner McDavid asked if the Athletic Director will be responsible for recruitment. Interim SuperintendentSimmonsconfirmed that theAthletic Director will assist with recruitmentincollaboration with Visit Baton Rouge

Therebeingnofurtherdiscussion,Commissioner Gordon called for the vote with thefollowing results: Yeas: 9 Nays: 0 The motion was approved unanimously

New Business Commissioner Gordon called for amotion to go into Executive Session Motion by Mr.Evans Second by Mr.Pointer

Commissioner Gordon called for thevote with thefollowing results: Yeas: 9 Nays: 0 The motion passed.

Executive session started at 6:30 p.m. andconcluded at 6:42 p.m.

Ms.Boykin read thefollowing resolution following ExecutiveSession: Resolved, That theCommission, havingconcluded theExecutive Session held pursuant to LSA–R.S. 42:17(A)(2), andafter dueconsideration, hereby authorizes the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) andGeneral Counsel to negotiate and, if appropriate, execute settlementofWorker’sCompensation claims regardingMarcBowman andByron Cage, upon terms deemed advisable, with final approval thereof authorized without further public disclosure at this time Motion by Mr.Evans Second by Mr.Polito

Therebeingnodiscussion,Commissioner Gordon called for thevote with the following results: Yeas: 9 Nays: 0 The motion was approved unanimously

Adjournment Commissioner Polito made amotion to adjourn themeeting. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Rogers.Commissioner Gordon adjourned the meeting at 6:45 p.m. without objection.

JanetC.Simmons, Interim Superintendent

Clarice Gordon,Vice Chair andEx-Officio Secretary

Call to Order

RECREATION AND PARK COMMISSION FOR THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE Regular Meeting –5:00 p.m. BREC AdministrationBuilding 6201 Florida Boulevard Baton Rouge,Louisiana Commission Minutes August 28, 2025

Aregularmeeting of the Recreation and Park Commissionfor the Parish of East Baton Rouge (BREC) was held at BREC’sAdministrative Offices on August 28, 2025. The meeting was called to order at 5:02 p.m. by Chairwoman Donna Collins Lewis. Chairwoman Lewis offeredthe invocation and Commissioner Kenneth Pointer led the Pledge of Allegiance. Roll was taken and aquorum of Commissioners was present,including; Donna Collins Lewis, Chair; Clarice Gordon, Vice Chair; Kenneth Pointer Treasurer; Mike Polito; Collis TempleIII; Lon Vicknair; Wade Evans; Carl Stages; and David Dellucci.Commissioners Dwayne Rogersand David McDavid wereabsent. Staffmembers present wereJanet Simmons, Interim Superintendent; Reed Richard, Assistant Superintendent of System Planning; Maurice Velasquez, Interim Chief Officer; Don Johnson, Chief Financial Officer; Katrina Coots Ward,Tia Edwards, Jim Fleshman, Angela Harms, Steven Knight, RaHarold Lawson, Robyn Lott, and Mike Raby.Chris Marchiafava was in attendance to recordthe actions of the Commission. Murphy Foster,legal counsel, was also in attendance. The rest of the audience consisted of other BRECstaff, sign language interpreters, media, and the public.

Public Comment

Chairwoman Lewis announced that public comment would be allowed prior to avote being taken on any agenda action item and explained the process to be observed

Chairwoman Lewis recognized Commissioner Polito who made a motion to add the following two items to the agenda: to review and approve the Superintendent’srecommendations for adding new positions; to review and approve the new mission statement.

Chairwoman Lewis offered another item for consideration to add the agenda as follows: Resolved, That the Commission accept the 2023 audit.

After abrief discussion, Commissioner Polito revised his motion to include adding the three aforementioned items to the agenda. Commissioner Temple seconded. Therebeing no further discussion

Chairwoman Lewis called for the vote with the following results: Yeas: 9 Nays: 0 The motion was approved unanimously

Adoption of Minutes

Resolved, That the reading of the minutes of the Recreation and Park Regular Commission Meeting of July 24, 2025, and Special Commission Meeting of August 14, 2025, be dispensed with, and that they be approved as written.

Motion by Mr.Evans

Second by Ms. Gordon

Therebeing no discussion, Chairwoman Lewis called for the vote with the following results:

Yeas: 9

Nays: 0 The motion was approved unanimously

Consent Calendar Resolved, That the Commission approve the Routine Personnel Transactions from July 15, 2025, to August 19, 2025.

MotionbyMr. Pointer Second by Mr.Vicknair

Therebeing no discussion, Chairwoman Lewis called for the vote with the following results:

Yeas: 9

Nays: 0 The motion was approved unanimously

Presentations

Chairwoman Lewis recognized Interim Superintendent Janet Simmons. Interim Superintendent Simmons presented former Commissioners Nathan Rustand Rossie Washington, Jr.with awards in appreciation for their years of service on the Commission. Mr.Washington spoke brieflyand offered his continued support for BREC andits mission.

Commissioner Polito spoke brieflypraising the contributions of both Mr.Washington and Mr.Rust.

Commissioner Stages thanked Mr.Washington on behalf of the BREC Foundation for serving as the Commission liaison to the Foundation.

TheCommission viewed abrief video highlighting various upcoming events throughout the parish during the month of September Reports of Officers and Standing Committees

Chairwoman Lewis recognized Interim Superintendent Janet Simmons to present the Superintendent’sReport.

Under Communications, Interim Superintendent Simmons reviewed the July 2025 activity report. She invited the Commission to review the remainder of the overall attendance numbers and noted that the rapid response ticketing system will launch on September 8. Interim Superintendent Simmons continued reviewing attendance related to facilities and presented her recent meetings and engagements.

Interim Superintendent Simmons informed the Commission that they would be voting on anew mission statement later on the agenda. She mentioned that about 25% of staffresponded to arecent staffsurvey.She also noted the recent improvements in internal communications. Interim Superintendent Simmons stated that anew call center director had been hired. She continued with information about two ribbon cuttings at Hartley/Vey GarderePark and Erie Street Park. She mentioned the recent townhalls, media promotions, and summer camp success. She thanked theCommissioners for their attendance at the retreat held the previous day

The Chair recognized Commissioner Stages who recused himself from participationinthe next agendaitem regardinganagreementwith BRECFoundation.

Chairwoman Lewis read followingresolution under Administrative Matters: Resolved, That the Commission approves the Amended and Restated Cooperative Endeavor Agreement between BREC, Friends of the Baton Rouge Zoo, and the BREC Foundation. This Agreement establishes the BREC Foundation as the sole nonprofitfundraising organization providing support to BREC, including all fundraising and sponsorship efforts related to BREC and the Baton Rouge Zoo. This Agreement remainssubject to final legal review Motion by Mr.Polito

Second by Mr.Temple

Therebeing no discussion, Chairwoman Lewis called for the vote with the following results: Yeas: 8 Nays: 0 The motion was approved by majority vote.

ChairwomanLewis noted Commissioner Stages’ recusal on the item.

Chairwoman Lewis recognized Commissioner Polito who expressed his appreciation to Adam Parker and Craig Broome, with the BREC Foundation and Zoo Foundation respectively; Zach Corbin, Chair of the BRECFoundation; and Carl Stages (former Executive Director of BREC Foundation) for working together to form one foundation to be more efficient with fundraising efforts for BREC. Chairwoman Lewis thanked Commissioner Polito for spearheading that effort by bringing everyone togethertoaccomplish this task.

Under Standing Committees, Chairwoman Lewis recognized Commissioner Pointer for the Finance report. Commissioner Pointer asked Don Johnson, Chief Financial Officer,topresent the item under Budget Status Report. Mr.Johnson reviewed the item and read the following resolution: Resolved, That the Commission accept the unaudited monthly Budget Status Report for the month ending and the fiscal year-to-date period ending July 31, 2025, as presented.

Motion by Mr.Pointer

Second by Mr.Evans

Therebeing no discussion, Chairwoman Lewis called for the vote with the following results: Yeas: 9 Nays: 0 The motionwas approved unanimously

Mr.Johnson introduced RodneyCombs andSteven Bearry with EisnerAmper who provided audit services for BREC. Mr.Combs gave apresentation on the 2023 audit. He stated that though therewere

findings most of the findings wererelated to the audit being late. He stated that the 2024 audit had been started and will be completed by December 31, 2025. Mr.Combs stated that BREC received an unmodified opinion and noted that most of findings wererelated to the timeliness of the audit. Mr.Combs noted that documentation showing that BREC had complied with the requirement for the 2024 Budget Publicationand Public Hearing,which was one of the findings, was received late by the auditors. He enumerated the various findings and answered questions from the Commissioners. Commissioner Polito asked about findings of noncomplianceconnected to contracts and Mr.Combs indicated that most wererelated to internal controls. Commissioner Evans asked to be provided details regarding the noncompliant itemsrelated to contracts. Mr.Johnson indicated that the detailswill be provided. Mr.Combs stated that the Commission will be provided with follow-up information on the findings in the subsequent audit.

Commissioner Evans expressed his appreciation to Mr.Johnson for work required to get the audits to this point. Mr.Johnson thanked his staff for their hardwork. Commissioner Pointer also commended the Finance Department stafffor their work on the audits. Mr.Johnson introduced Rhonda Williams, Finance Director,and Lesha Woods, Comptroller,and expressed his appreciation for their work.

Under Selection of Professionals, Chairwoman Lewis read the following resolution: Resolved, That the Commission approve Amendment No.8to Contract No.2020-112 with Sasaki Associates, the primedesign professional for Phase 1ofthe Greenwood Parkand Baton Rouge Zoo Design and Construction project, for an increase in the not-to-exceed (NTE) amount of $24,000 for Reimbursable Expenses associated with design work for the Ambassador Animal Building.The current Zoo/ Greenwood Park/Dumas Golf Course Contract is $7,060,903 and the new total with Amendment No.8is$7,084,903.

MotionbyMr. Polito

Second by Mr.Pointer

Therebeing no discussion, Chairwoman Lewis called for the vote with the following results: Yeas: 9 Nays: 0

The motion was approved unanimously

Chairwoman Lewis then read the following resolution:

Resolved, That the Commission approve Amendment No.1to Contract No.2023000337 with Patch Landscape Architecture LLC for additional design work for anew Anna T. Jordan CommunityPark Playground and Site Improvements due to increased construction budget and added technical requirements, not to exceed $75,891 and additional services to provide stormwater management plan, $5,500; hydraulics study,$10,000; and preliminary USACEpermitting, $2,250. The current contract is $90,000. The revised total, including Amendment No.1,is $183,641.

MotionbyMr. Polito

Second by Mr.Temple

Therebeing no discussion, Chairwoman Lewis called for the vote with the following results: Yeas: 9 Nays: 0

The motion was approved unanimously

Chairwoman Lewis then read the following resolution: Resolved, That the Commission approve an amendment to Contract No.2023000142 with BenchmarkGroup L.L.C.for BREC’s Grove to Mall Trail Segment,increasing the contract amount by $44,555.00, inclusive of all amendments. This amendment includes: Incorporation of along retaining wall into the trail designtoaccommodate the grading requirements of the adjacent landowner.Revisions to the plan set are based on new information and coordination with the adjacent land developer.Divisionofthe project into two phases (multiple bid packages) to allow expeditedconstruction of Phase 1while servitude acquisition efforts continue. Adjustment of the estimated construction cost from $608,700 to $909,576. The original contract amount was $63,000 for a new total of $107,555, including all amendments added to the contract.

MotionbyMr. Temple Second by Mr.Stages

Therebeing no discussion, Chairwoman Lewis called for the vote with the following results: Yeas: 9

Nays: 0

The motion was approved unanimously

Chairwoman Lewis then read the following resolution:

Resolved, that the Commission approve the amendment to Contract #2025000199 with SELA Aquatics, LLC, to increase the contract amount from $38,700 to $58,700 for the completion of maintenance, including butnot limited to pump maintenance, backwashing, water treatment, and water balancing at Liberty Lagoon; the contract term remains through December 31, 2025.

MotionbyMr. Pointer

Second by Mr.Temple

Therebeing no discussion, Chairwoman Lewis called for the vote with the following results: Yeas: 9 Nays: 0 The motion was approved unanimously

Mr.Johnson asked that atechnical adjustment be noted in the record related to the item approved for Sasaki Associates. He stated that the amendment to the contract approved on January 25, 2025 was incorrectly noted as Amendment 8and shouldhave been listed as Amendment 7. He also stated that atechnical adjustment related to languagethat was omitted wheretherewas aredistribution of reimbursableexpenses that were moved over to the designfees which had anet zeroimpact on the contract. Chairwoman Lewis asked that the corrections be noted in the minutes.

Reports of Special Committees

Chairwoman Lewis appointed Commissioner Evans to the Golf Advisory Committee and Commissioner Stages to the Selection of Professionals Committee[1].

Special Orders

None

Unfinished Business and General Orders

Chairwoman Lewis read the following resolution: Resolved, that the Commission hereby approves the amended agreement with Junbi,LLC, represented by Janet Simmons, whereshe shall serve in the capacity of InterimSuperintendent for aterm not to exceed 18 months.

MotionbyMr. Evans

Second by Mr.Polito

Commissioner Evans stated that he wanted to propose an amendment to the contract on page one under the NowThereforesection to add item Fstating that BREC shall pay the monthlydues throughout the term of thecontract in connection with the consultant’smembership to the Baton Rouge City Club and Rotary Club fornetworking opportunities.

Legal Counsel Murphy Foster asked for apoint of order.Hestated that Louisiana ethics laws prohibit BREC from paying for memberships in such clubs. Commissioner Evans rescinded his amendment. Commissioner Polito asked if an allowance can be provided so that the Interim Superintendent can represent BREC in the community.Mr. Foster said he researched this forthe former Superintendent and would be prepared to address this at the next meeting. Commissioner Evans restated that he would rescind his motion to amend the contract and would lethis original motion to approve the contract stand.

Commissioner Stages stated that on page two of the contract the item Dwas repetitive and would need to be deleted. It was determined that the contract Commissioner Stages was referring to was aprevious version that has since been corrected. The Commission members were then provided with aprinted copy of the current version of the contract. Theprinted contract was recommended forapproval by the Selection of Professionals Committee.

Chairwoman Lewis clarified that the version being recommended was the printed contract that had been handed out and provided for the record. Therewas amotionand asecond to approve. Therebeing no further discussion, Chairwoman Lewis called for the vote with the following results:

Yeas: 8 Nays: 0 The motion was approved unanimously

Chairwoman Lewis read the following resolution: Resolved, That the Commission select the highest-scoring executive search firm to assist with the recruitment and evaluation of candidates for the Superintendent position.

Commissioner Evans made amotiontodefer the item forthree months. The motion died for lack of asecond.

Chairwoman Lewis recognized Commissioner Stages who stated that he believed if action was not taken at this meeting the RFP (Request for

Proposals) would expire. ChairwomanLewis asked if there wasamotion. CommissionerGordon made amotion to approve.ChairwomanLewis restated the resolution including the name of the highest scoring firm as follows: Resolved, That the Commission select the highest-scoringexecutive search firm,MGT,toassist with the recruitment andevaluation of candidates for the Superintendent position.

CommissionerPointersecondedthe motion.

Underdiscussion, CommissionerPolito statedthathedid not see the point in hiring asearch firm since the Commission hadjust extended the contract with the Interim Superintendent. He also stated thatonce the council receives an opinion from the AttorneyGeneral on their questions aboutnew law,hewould assumethattheywill appoint four newCommissioners andthata search underthatpremise would not yield good results.

CommissionerEvans expressed his concernabout the hiring asearch firm wasthatweneed to getthe house in orderand have the audits in compliancebeforesearching for anew Superintendent. He continuedthat he would not have voted to continue paying the formerSuperintendent once he indicated thathewas not going to renewhis contract.Hestated thatsinceall of the proposals were under$50,000 we could chose to move forward in the future.

CommissionerGordon requested andreceived clarification from Mr.Fosterregarding the RFP process moving forward.She stated that Commission hasthe ability to set the timeline andbegin with preliminary workwith the consultant until the 2024 audit is complete

ChairwomanLewis stated thatthe Commission would have the authority to terminatethe contract.She recapped the process usedto get to the point of choosing asearch firm.She stated thatshe thought we needed to put the search process in place at this time

CommissionerEvans stated thateach of the search firmsstatedthat theywould be able to have aslate of candidates in 60 days. Commissioner Gordon asked for apoint of orderand stated thatthe Commission had requested the timeline in the RFP.CommissionerPolito clarified thatthe timeline wasnot includedinthe RFP andthatBREC requested atimeline in the interview process.CommissionerPolito clarified with Mr.Fosterthat the contract could be writtenfor the search to start at the pleasureof BREC

Mr.Fosterclarified thatthe vote is on the originalmotion.

ChairwomanLewis calledfor aroll callvote with the following results: Yeas: 3Ms. Lewis,Ms. Gordon, Mr.Stages Nays: 5Mr. Pointer, Mr.Polito, Mr.Vicknair,Mr. Evans, Mr.Dellucci Absent: 3Mr. Rogers, Mr.Temple, Mr.McDavid The motion failed.

New Business

ChairwomanLewis notedthatthe Commission would take up the items added to the agenda with the exception of the itemrelated to newjob descriptions. She recognizedCommissionerGordon to offer an explanation.CommissionerGordon statedthatthe job descriptions referenced asalary grade no longerinuse andthata salary range needs to be includedwith the job description. CommissionerGordon statedthat the HumanResourcesCommitteewas planning to meet and she wanted to bring this itemtothe next Commission meeting.

CommissionerPolito asked Mr.Fosterwhy the Commission is worried about salary ranges. Mr.Fosterexplainedthatthe Commission hired a firm to do astudy to determine salary ranges for allthe positions employed by the Commission. CommissionerPolito asked thatsincethe Commission is not supposed to meddle in staffpositions, why should theyapprove salary ranges. CommissionerPolito indicated thathewould like the Commission to eliminate the salary schedule.

Aftersome furtherdiscussion, CommissionerEvans asked who prepared the job descriptions andasked arepresentative from Human Resources to come forward to answer some questions. Shanda Crosby Assistant Director of HumanResources,cameforward.Commissioner Evansasked aboutthe salary grade listedonthe job description andwho prepared the documents. Ms. Crosby stated thatthe salary grade listed hadnot been in use since June 24, 2024 andthatshe hadnot participated in the preparation of the job descriptions. Interim Superintendentstated thatJohanna (Landreneau,Interim ChiefHumanResource Officer) prepared the job descriptions.

Therewas additionaldiscussion aboutthe job descriptions and CommissionerStagesidentified anotherdiscrepancyinone of the job descriptions. Interim SuperintendentSimmons suggested moving forward with deferring the item. CommissionerGordon clarified thather motion wastodefer the item, CommissionerEvans seconded. Therebeing no furtherdiscussion, ChairwomanLewis calledfor the vote with the following results: Yeas: 8 Nays: 0 The motion wasapproved unanimously

The Chairwomanstatedthatthe next itemwas the acceptance of the 2023 audit.

Motion by Mr.Polito

Second by Ms. Gordon Therebeing no discussion, ChairwomanLewis calledfor the vote with the following results: Yeas: 8 Nays: 0 The motion wasapproved unanimously

ChairwomanLewis recognizedCommissionerStageswho asked if the special meetings needed to continue since the Commission wasno longermoving forward in the Superintendentsearch

CommissionerPolito explainedthatthe special meetings were put in place to also help in the transition process andthattheyare still needed for thatpurpose.

ChairwomanLewis read the following resolution: Resolved, That the Commission approve one of the following as the newmission statementfor BREC: Enriching livesthrough parks, recreation, andnature. Betterparks.Strongercommunity.Brighterfuture. Parks thatconnect,inspire, andgrowcommunity

ChairwomanLewis asked Interim SuperintendentSimmons to present the choices for the newmission statement.

CommissionerPointermadea motion to approve the following mission statement: Enriching livesthrough parks, recreation, andnature.

CommissionerEvans seconded.

Therebeing no furtherdiscussion, ChairwomanLewis calledfor the vote with the following results: Yeas: 8 Nays: 0 The motion wasapproved unanimously

Adjournment

ChairwomanLewis made amotion to adjournthe meeting. The motion wassecondedbyCommissionerPointerand the meeting wasadjourned at 6:46 p.m. without objection.

Janet C. Simmons,Interim Superintendent Donna Collins-Lewis, Chair andEx-OfficioSecretary

DRAFT

[1] Subsequent to the meeting, ChairwomanLewis clarified thatshe misspoke andthatCommissionerStagesisappointed to serve as the Chair of the Planning andEngineering Advisory Committee.