LSU wide receiver Zavion Thomas is tackled by Vanderbilt cornerback Mark Davis, defensive endMiles Capers and linebacker Langston Patterson duringthe secondhalf of Saturday’s game in Nashville, Tenn. The LSU defensecouldn’tget astop Saturday.The Commodores didn’t have to punt untilthe fourth quarter,accumulating 399 yards and averaging 5.6 yards perrush. The offensive onslaught raises more questions about LSU as the Tigers’ next two opponents, TexasA&M andAlabama, sit in thetop 10 of the AP poll. Trailing by seven,LSU had achancetotie thescore withless than five minutes to play,but senior wide receiver Barion Brown dropped apotential first-down throw from fifth-year senior quarterback Garrett Nussmeier on third and 8, forcingthe Tigerstopunt with two timeouts andless than four minutes to play.Theydidn’tget the ball back.
Whetherdistricts will be redrawnfor midtermelections is
BY MARK BALLARD |Staff writer
WASHINGTON Thinking about how the U.S. Supreme Courtwill handlethe Louisianacasethat could reshape the Voting Rights Act, the crowning legislative achievement of the civil rights era, Southern University political
science professor Albert Samuels says he can’thelp but think back. Out of Louisiana, he noted, came thelitigation thathelped endReconstruction laws protecting the formerlyenslaved, the “grandfatherclause” that kept Blacksfrom registering to vote and thelandmarkPlessy case,
which enshrined Jim Crow laws limiting African American opportunities.
“Ironically,it’sLouisiana at the center of this again,” Samuelssaidafter listening to the 21/2-hour SupremeCourt hearing
ä See CASE, page 5A
Confusion persists over $100K feefor H-1B visas
In La., universities and hospitalsare among biggestprogram sponsors
BY ALYSE PFEIL |Staff writer
President Donald Trump last month began charging companies a$100,000 fee for each new application to sponsor askilled employee from another country to temporarily workinthe U.S. on an H-1B visa.
The move is aimed at American tech companies who hire foreign workers, which theTrumpadministration argues have “prominently manipulated theH-1B system, significantly harming American workers in computer-related fields.”
Butitcould also impact Louisiana universities and hospitalsthat usethe H-1B visa program to fill jobs.
Trump saidthe feewill incentivize companies to hire Americans.
Andhis commerce secretary,Howard Lutnick, said businessesmust weigh whether the $100,000 feeisworth it.
“Either the person is very valuable to the company and America, or they’re going to depart,” Lutnick said.
But the newpolicyhas causedconfusion since it wasrolled out Sept. 19. H-1B visa applicants around the globe, employers and immigration lawyers “wereina stateofpanic”immediately following Trump’sannouncement, said Mary Kate Fernandez, abusiness immigration attorney at Adams &Reese who represents employers across the South. “Itwas pandemonium.”
Amonth later,it’snot clear whichemployers will have to pay the fee.
“It’sstill extremelycloudyonwho it’s
ä See VISAS, page 4A
Rep.TroyCarter,D-New Orleans, and other members of the Congressional Black Caucus speak outside the U.S. Capitol after arguments were heard on the Voting Rights Act at the Supreme Courtin Washington on Wednesday. ASSOCIATEDPRESS
PHOTO By MATT BROWN
Trump
BRIEFS FROM WIRE REPORTS
Embassy issues warning in Trinidad and Tobago
PORT-OF-SPAIN Trinidad The U.S. Embassy in Trinidad and Tobago cautioned Americans on Saturday to stay away from American government facilities on the twin-island nation.
It was an unusual warning that came as tensions grow between the United States and Venezuela over deadly U.S. strikes in Caribbean waters targeting suspected drug traffickers.
The embassy didn’t specify why it issued the warning, saying only that, “due to a heightened state of alert, please avoid and refrain from visiting all U.S. government facilities through the holiday weekend,” as it urged people to “be aware of your surroundings.” Monday is a holiday to celebrate Dilawi, a Hindu festival of lights widely celebrated in Trinidad and Tobago, where 35% of its 1.4 million people identify as East Indian. Venezuela is located just miles away from Trinidad, where people in one coastal community are mourning the disappearance of two local fishermen believed killed in a U.S. strike on Tuesday The alert is based on threats directed at American citizens in the Caribbean nation, with U.S. authorities saying “it could be linked” to ongoing tensions in the region, Trinidad and Tobago’s minister of homeland security, Roger Alexander told The Associated Press. However, local authorities declined to share specific details about the reported threats.
Bus crash in Brazil leaves at least 17 dead
SAO PAULO A passenger bus in northeastern Brazil crashed into a sand embankment and flipped on its side, killing at least 17 people, authorities said Saturday The bus was carrying about 30 passengers, police said. The number of injured, who were taken to nearby hospitals, was not immediately clear The vehicle crashed in Saloá, a city in the state of Pernambuco, and was bound for the city of Brumado, in the neighboring state of Bahia.
Police said the driver lost control of the bus, crossed into the opposite lane and hit rocks on the roadside. He then returned to the correct lane but crashed into a sand embankment, causing the vehicle to overturn.
The cause of the crash is under investigation. The driver suffered minor injuries and tested negative for alcohol, police said Bahia Gov Jerônimo Teixeira said on X that his administration was supporting rescue efforts and the identification of victims. “I am following the situation with my team and deeply mourn the loss of lives, the injuries and the suffering of all the families,” he wrote.
Taylor Swift’s Easter egg sparks windfall for otters
San Francisco An Easter egg dropped by Taylor Swift in the film for her new album is proving to be a boon for sea otters in Northern California.
The pop star wore a vintage Monterey Bay Aquarium otter conservation T-shirt in a release party movie for her new “The Life of a Showgirl” album, sending her ardent fans on a quest to buy the shirt last produced in the 1990s. After the aquarium was flooded with calls about buying the T-shirt showing two otters floating on their back, it decided to rerelease the garment Thursday as part of a special campaign to raise $1.3 million, a nod to Swift’s favorite number, said Liz MacDonald, the aquarium’s director of content strategy
The aquarium met and surpassed its goal to raise the funds for its sea otter conservation program in less than eight hours, averaging about $100,000 in sales every 15 minutes, MacDonald said.
“We definitely had a little Taylor Swift dance party in the office yesterday afternoon when we hit the goal,” she said The aquarium began accepting back-orders and by Friday afternoon it had raised $2.2 million, according to its website.
How Swift acquired the T-shirt that was last produced more than 32 years ago — when she was just 3 years old remains a mystery
‘No Kings’ protests bring party vibe
Large crowds demonstrate nationwide against Trump
BY MIKE PESOLI and GARY FIELDS Associated Press
WASHINGTON Large crowds of protesters marched and rallied in cities across the U.S. Saturday for “No Kings” demonstrations decrying what participants see as the government’s swift drift into authoritarianism under President Donald Trump. People carrying signs with slogans such as “Nothing is more patriotic than protesting” or “Resist Fascism” packed into New York City’s Times Square and rallied by the thousands in parks in Boston, Atlanta and Chicago. Demonstrators marched through Washington and downtown Los Angeles and picketed outside capitols in several Republican-led states, a courthouse in Billings, Montana, and at hundreds of smaller public spaces.
Trump’s Republican Party disparaged the demonstrations as “Hate America” rallies, but in many places the events looked more like a street party There were marching bands, huge banners with the U.S. Constitution’s “We The People” preamble that people could sign, and demonstrators wearing inflatable costumes, particularly frogs, which have emerged as a sign of resistance in Portland, Oregon. It was the third mass mobilization since Trump’s return to the White House and came against the backdrop of a government
shutdown that not only has closed federal programs and services but is testing the core balance of power as an aggressive executive confronts Congress and the courts in ways that protest organizers warn are a slide toward authoritarianism
In Washington, Iraq War Marine veteran Shawn Howard said he had never participated in a protest before but was motivated to show up because of what he sees as the Trump administration’s “disregard for the law.” He said immigration detentions without due process and deployments of troops in U.S. cities are “unAmerican” and alarming signs of eroding democracy “I fought for freedom and against this kind of extremism abroad,” said Howard, who added that he also worked at the CIA for 20 years on counter-extremism operations. “And now I see a moment in America where we have extremists everywhere who are, in my opinion, pushing us to some kind of civil conflict.”
Trump, meanwhile, was spending the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida.
“They say they’re referring to me as a king. I’m not a king,” the president said in a Fox News interview that aired early Friday, before he departed for a $1 million-per-plate MAGA Inc. fundraiser at his club.
A Trump campaign social media account mocked the protests by posting a computer-generated video of the president clothed like a monarch, wearing a crown and waving from a balcony
In San Francisco hundreds of people spelled out “No King!” and other phrases with their bodies on Ocean Beach Hayley Wingard, who was dressed as the Statue of Liberty, said she too had never been to a protest before Only recently she began to view Trump as a “dictator.”
“I was actually OK with everything until I found that the military invasion in Los Angeles and Chicago and Portland Portland
bothered me the most, because I’m from Portland, and I don’t want the military in my cities. That’s scary,” Wingard said.
About 3,500 people gathered in Salt Lake City outside the Utah State Capitol to share messages of hope and healing after a protester was fatally shot during the city’s first “No Kings” march in June.
And more than 1,500 people gathered in Birmingham, Alabama, evoking and the city’s history of protests and the critical role it played in the Civil Rights Movement two generations ago.
“It just feels like we’re living in an America that I don’t recognize,” said Jessica Yother, a mother of four She and other protesters said they felt camaraderie by gathering in a state where Trump won nearly 65% of the vote last November
“It was so encouraging,” Yother said. “I walked in and thought, ‘Here are my people.’”
While protests earlier this
year — against Elon Musk’s cuts and Trump’s military parade drew crowds, organizers say this one is uniting the opposition. Top Democrats such as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders are joining what organizers view as an antidote to Trump’s actions, from the administration’s clampdown on free speech to its military-style immigration raids.
More than 2,600 rallies were planned Saturday, organizers said The national march against Trump and Musk this spring had 1,300 registered locations, while the first “No Kings” day in June registered 2,100.
“We’re here because we love America,” Sanders said, addressing the crowd from a stage in Washington. He said the American experiment is “in danger” under Trump but insisted, “We the people will rule.” Republicans sought to portray protesters as far outside the mainstream and a prime reason for the government shutdown, now in its 18th day From the White House to Capitol Hill, GOP leaders called them “communists” and “Marxists.” They said Democratic leaders including Schumer are beholden to the far-left flank and willing to keep the government shut to appease those liberal forces.
“I encourage you to watch we call it the Hate America rally — that will happen Saturday,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson, RBenton.
“Let’s see who shows up for that,” Johnson said, listing groups including “antifa types,” people who “hate capitalism” and “Marxists in full display.”
Trump: U.S. to send survivors of strike on vessel home
Pair were aboard suspected drug ship sunk by U.S
BY KONSTANTIN TOROPIN and CHRIS MEGERIAN Associated Press
WASHINGTON The two survivors of an American military strike on a suspected drug-carrying vessel in the Caribbean will be sent to Ecuador and Colombia, their home countries, President Donald Trump said Saturday.
The military rescued the pair after striking a submersible vessel Thursday, in what was at least the sixth such attack since early September.
“It was my great honor to destroy a very large DRUG-CARRYING SUBMARINE that was navigating towards the United States on a well known narcotrafficking transit
route,” Trump said in a social media post “U.S. Intelligence confirmed this vessel was loaded up with mostly Fentanyl, and other illegal narcotics.”
After Trump’s announcement, the Pentagon posted on X a brief black-and-white video of the strike.
In the clip, a vessel can be seen moving through the waves, its front portion submerged inches below the water’s surface. Then, several explosions are seen with at least one over the back of the vessel.
fice for Ecuador’s govern-
ment said Saturday it was not aware of the plans for repatriation.
The Republican president said two people onboard were killed one more than was previously reported — and the two who survived are being sent to their home countries “for detention and prosecution.”
However, the press of-
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the presidential press office in Colombia did not immediately return messages seeking comment. With Trump’s statement on his Truth Social platform of the death toll, that would mean U.S. military action against vessels in the region has killed at least 29 people.
The president has justified the strikes by asserting that the United States is engaged in an “armed conflict” with drug cartels. He is relying on the same legal authority used by the George W. Bush administration when it declared a war on terrorism after the Sept. 11 attacks, and that includes the ability to
Burning ship loaded with gas abandoned in Gulf of Aden
1 mariner missing near yemen
BY JON GAMBRELL Associated Press
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates
A Cameroonian-flagged ship caught fire Saturday in the Gulf of Aden off Yemen after possibly being struck by a projectile, officials said, with at least one mariner missing and another still likely aboard the burning tanker after the rest of the crew abandoned the vessel.
U.K. and European Union officials offered differing opinions about what sparked the blaze on the Falcon, with the
British suggesting a projectile hit it, while the EU said that it appeared to be “an accident.” They warned ships in the area that the vessel could explode, because it was “fully loaded” with liquefied petroleum gas.
The incident comes as Yemen’s Houthi rebels have been attacking ships through the Red Sea corridor However, the rebels didn’t immediately claim to have been involved, though it can take them hours or even days to do so.
The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, or UKMTO, center issued an alert about the Falcon, describing the incident
as taking place about 130 miles east of Aden.
“A vessel has been hit by an unknown projectile, resulting with a fire,” the UKMTO said. “Authorities are investigating.”
The EU’s Operation Aspides, which has been patrolling the area, said that the Falcon’s crew of 26 was all Indian except for one Ukrainian. The Greek frigate HS Spetsai was nearby the Falcon, while the French also sent an aircraft overhead, the EU operation said.
“Initial indications suggest that 15% of the ship is on fire and the fire was caused by an accident,” the EU naval force said, without elaborating.
capture and detain combatants and to use lethal force to take out their leadership. Trump is also treating the suspected traffickers as if they were enemy soldiers in a traditional war
The repatriation would avoid questions for the Trump administration about
what the legal status of the two would have been in the U.S. justice system. It may also sidestep some of the legal issues that arose out of the detention of enemy combatants in the global war on terrorism as well as challenges to the constitutionality of the current operation.
Thousands of protesters fill Times Square on Saturday during a ‘No Kings’ protest in New york.
going to apply to,” Fernandez said.
Nationally, tech giants like Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, Apple and Google are among the top sponsors of employees on H-1B visas, according to public data available from U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services. So are Indian IT companies like Infosys and Tata Consultancy Services.
In Louisiana, however, universities and hospitals are among the biggest sponsors of H-1B visas. And sparse guidance from the Trump administration has left those institutions with questions on what it means for them.
Among those navigating that uncertainty is Ochsner, Louisiana’s largest private employer and largest nonprofit academic health system.
“Ochsner, like many organizations who employ H-1B visa holders, is closely monitoring news of program changes and working to understand potential impacts to our organization,” the health system said in a statement in response to questions about the impact of the new fee.
“This situation continues to evolve, as discussions are underway for potential exemptions for critical industries like health care. As we await clarification and guidance, supporting our team members remains our priority,” the statement said
The White House proclamation says the fee will not apply if the secretary of the Department Homeland Security determines hiring foreign workers is “in the national interest and does not pose a threat to the security or welfare of the United States.” No such announcement has been made public.
H-1B 101
The H-1B visa program allows U.S. companies to hire foreign-born professionals and skilled workers who have a college degree on a
temporary basis for up to six years. For the private sector, there is a cap of 85,000 new visas every year and applicants are selected through a lottery system. Some organizations are exempt from that cap and have no limits on the number of H-1B visas they can sponsor or when they can apply for those visas. Among them are universities and nonprofits affiliated with universities, including health care systems.
Ochsner Tulane and LSU have been top sponsors of H-1B visas in Louisiana in recent years.
This year, at least 92 applications have been approved for Ochsner, 82 for Tulane and 62 for LSU, according to federal data last updated in June. Approved applications included both new visas and extensions for existing ones.
LSU Health Shreveport and LSU Health New Orleans also use the program. They’ve gotten 45 and 19 applications approved this year, respectively Those figures are dwarfed by the number of H-1B visas approved for major tech companies during the same time period: Roughly 10,000 for Amazon, 5,200 for Microsoft and 5,100 for Meta. Apple and Google have each gotten roughly 4,200 applications approved What happens now?
The White House’s proclamation “basically says that newly filed petitions will be subject to a fee of $100,000 upon entry to the United States,” said Fernandez.
The Trump administration first issued the rule Sept. 19 and the next day put out brief clarifications through federal agency memos and a social media post by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. It took effect Sept. 21.
“The government has basically been silent other than that initial guidance that was issued the day after the proclamation,” Fernandez said. In the meantime, there are questions about which
ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By EVAN VUCCI
President Donald Trump speaks with reporters in the Oval Office of the the White House in Washington on June 10. The White House said tech companies have ‘manipulated the H-1B system’ and the new visa fee will incentivize hiring American workers. Louisiana hospitals and universities don’t know what it means for them.
employers have to pay the fee, how exactly to remit payment, and at what point in the application process to pay
“We still don’t know who it’s going to apply to,” Fernandez said. “I haven’t had in my own practice and I haven’t heard of any other practitioner having paid this fee, because it’s just still so up in the air.”
She said some U.S. consulates abroad are putting visas on hold because they’re unsure if they need to charge $100,000.
Louisiana employers
LSU currently has just over 140 workers on H-1B visas, university spokesperson Todd Woodward said. Those include 75 tenuretrack faculty, 35 researchers, and 6 clinical faculty along with a handful of instructors and other staff such as IT specialists.
Woodward noted it’s less than 3% of the university’s workforce, and most of the jobs require a PhD. Each year LSU files about 65 petitions for H-1B visas, and only about half of those are for new jobs, as opposed to renewing or changing an existing visa, he said.
“It’s a little early to know exactly the impact at this time,” Woodward said regarding the $100,000 fee.
Other institutions echoed
that message.
“We are aware of recent changes to federal H-1B program fees and are continuing to evaluate their potential impact here at LSU Health New Orleans,” said Chancellor Dr Steve Nelson.
“At this stage, it would be premature to speculate on specific implications to our budget and hiring practices,” he said.
“LSU Health New Orleans remains committed to attracting and retaining top talent to serve Louisiana and beyond. As such, we will evolve our processes to adhere to changing federal regulations,” Nelson said.
‘A lot of uncertainty’
Universities and hospitals are still trying to figure out what the new rules mean, said Jeremy Neufeld, director of immigration policy at Institute for Progress,
a nonpartisan Washington think tank that favors recruiting high-skilled immigrants to the U.S. from around the world.
“Right now there’s still a lot of uncertainty in some of the guidance that’s been issued and how it relates to the text of the proclamation,” Neufeld said.
For example, the proclamation says the fee applies for those who are entering the United States
Neufeld said most H-1B visas are sought for someone who is already in the country, for example on a student visa, and therefore the fee might not be assessed in those cases.
Neufeld acknowledged the H-1B program “has a lot of problems,” and he said the Trump administration is right to look into making changes.
It makes sense to come up with a better way to prioritize who gets an H-1B visa, he said, especially given that over 300,000 workers sign up for a lottery that has just 85,000 slots.
“But the policy details matter a lot,” Neufeld said.
“Those implementation details will really affect whether these changes end up just creating legal uncertainty and not accomplishing any of the goals that they actually have, or whether they can make real, concrete improvements to this system.”
Tulane in a statement shared similar reservations.
• Food courtwithcajun,creole, andethnicfoods
“But a $100,000 fee per applicant is a costly and unnecessary expense for universities and businesses alike and threatens to hamper our nation’s economic advancement, much of which has been based on our ability to attract the world’s greatest talent,” he said.
Foreign labor, the economy Fernandez, the business immigration attorney, said many people don’t realize how much of the American economy is buttressed by foreign labor
“There’s just a misunderstanding of what foreign labor means to the economy and all sectors,” said Fernandez. “It’s not just tech jobs.”
Agriculture, health care, and education all benefit from foreign workers, she said.
That idea comes up in a lawsuit challenging the $100,000 fee as unlawful and beyond the scope of the president’s authority It was filed earlier this month in federal court in California. The plaintiffs include major labor unions, the American Association of University Professors, a nurse staffing company, religious groups and others.
“The government failed to consider harms to hospitals, churches, schools and universities, and small businesses and nonprofits, or how the fee will harm communities across the nation,” the complaint says.
Email Alyse Pfeil at alyse. pfeil@theadvocate.com.
“There is wide agreement that the H-1B program could be improved to allow it to better target visa applicants with the skills that the American economy needs the most,” said Tulane spokesperson Michael Strecker
FranUbroadensits academic reachasmissiondriven students pursue diversefields of study
By Amanda McElfresh | amcelfresh@theadvocate.com
Anewacademicyearisbringingfreshenergyand purposetoFranciscanMissionariesofOur Lady University in BatonRouge,where arecordnumber of first-yearstudents arediscovering that FranU offersfar more than degreesinhealthcare. Long recognizedforitsprogramsinnursing,alliedhealth andrelated fields, FranUhas steadily expanded its offerings into areasthatblend intellectual inquiry, ethicalformation andprofessionalpreparation –from business andpsychology to theology andthe humanities “WhenyoulookatFranU,ourCatholicandFranciscanidentityareattheforefront.Oneunifyingtheme we hear from students is that they aremotivated by adeepercalling to serve,”saidMartinAucoin, FranUvicepresidentfor enrollment management “Acrossall of ourprograms, thefocus is on forming faith-filledcitizenswho arecriticalthinkers and highly-skilled professionals.
This fall,FranU welcomed oneofthe largest incoming classesinuniversityhistory,continuinga strong trendofgrowthamong first-timefreshmen. Whilehealthcareremains avital cornerstoneof FranU’sidentity, thesenew students arejustas likely to be studying theology,business, psychology orliteratureastheyarebiology,nursingorradiology. Increasingly,community partners aretaking note of thequality of theseacademicprogramsat FranU. TheBachelorofArtsinTheologyprogram haslongpreparedstudentsfor serviceinministry, educationand layleadership.Thisyear, FranUhas anew seminary formationpartnership with the DioceseofBaton Rouge, in whichFranU provides theacademic foundationfor seminariansand hastaken on theacademicinstruction fordeacon candidates “Thatisimpactful forthe broader communityfor yearstocome,”Aucoinsaid. “We’re alreadyseeing thosestudentsbecomeleaders here on campus Thepresident of studentgovernmentisone of our theology students.The students in that program willcontinuetobeservant leadersinBaton Rouge. That commitment to servicestartshereatFranU Theenthusiasmforbuildingcommunityandfellowship acrossall academic programs is really great.”
OtherFranUprogramschannelthatsamemission in ways that meet modern-dayneeds.The Bachelor of Arts in Psychology,for example, develops skills such as scientific reasoning, ethicaljudgment andclear communicationthatare increasingly valuable in workplaces in everyfield. In addition, AucoinnotedthattheBachelorofScienceinBiology
includes traininginbiochemical analysis,which hasreal-worldapplicationsbeyondhealthcare, such as thepetrochemical industry
AnotherFranUoffering,theBachelorofBusiness Administrationdegree,hasachievedrecognitionfor bothqualityandmissionalignment.Offeredentirely online,the programwas ranked No.2 in Louisiana earlierthisyearbyBBADegree.org,whichtakesinto accountcurriculum, facultyexpertise,flexibility andoutcomes. Designed with workingadultsand career changers in mind,the programcombines practicalbusinessknowledge with theFranciscan commitment to ethicalleadership. Students can specializeingeneral business,managementor health administration,and complete ahands-on internship before graduation
FranUwasalsonamedaCollegeofDistinctionfor the2025-2026 academic year.Through extensive research andinterviews, Colleges of Distinction identifies institutions that make ameaningful impact on students’lives throughengagement, greatteaching,avibrantcommunityandsuccessful outcomes “FranU hascrafted acampusculture where students areempowered to take ownership of their learning,”saidTysonSchritter,chiefoperatingofficer at Colleges of Distinction. “Its programs reflect the kind of innovationand intentionality that prepare students forlifeafter graduation.FranU stands outfor creating an environmentwhere students thrive notjust academically,but as wholepeople. Aucoinsaidthatinordertomaintainandgrowthat environment, FranUhas made more investments in studentsuccess,suchasexpandedcounseling andwellnessservices andmoreopportunities for students to connectwithmentors,whether they arepeers or faculty. Thereisalsoarenewed focus on tutoring andvocationalcoaching.
“Whenweapproachstudent success, it is about more than academic success. It’s also aboutthe spiritualand emotionalwell-beingofour students,” he said.“We want them to feel that they areapart of theFranU communityand have theresources they need to discerntheir calling. We want them to feel empoweredtonot just getthe job, buttobe leadersinthe communitiesinwhich they serve. Learnmoreabout FranUduringanOpenHouse eventonSaturday, Oct. 25 from 9a.m.to12p.m.The Open Housewillfeature campus tours, discussions with currentFranU students,faculty andstaff;and visits classrooms andlabs. Sign up todayatfranu edu/openhouse25.
This articleisbrought to youbyFranU
Wednesday over whether the state Legislature — relying on Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 violated the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution when drawing the second majority-Black congressional district now held by Cleo Fields, D-Baton Rouge.
“The court’s six conservative justices seemed inclined to effectively strike down a Black-majority congressional district in Louisiana because it relied too heavily on race,” Samuels said. “If they gut or weaken the VRA, the impact will go far further than whether Cleo Fields can keep his seat.”
From their questions and comments, Samuels said, the court’s six conservative justices appear open to the arguments by the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office and the dozen White Louisiana voters, called the Callais litigants, who claimed the Constitution forbids configuring election districts based on race. Louisiana contends lower courts essentially forced the Legislature to draw a second majority-Black district.
At issue is Section 2, which allows race to play a role in redistricting when minority voter strength is diluted by packing single districts and spreading the rest of the minority population across majority-White districts.
Samuels’ observations echoed national legal commentators.
“It will be an earthquake in the American political system,” UCLA law professor Rick Hasen wrote on the Election Law Blog. He surmised that the conservative justices will interpret previous laws and opinions “to sap Section 2 of its power without formally overturning it.”
A number of Black members of Congress 19 according to Fair Fight, a voting rights group based in Atlanta — could quickly find their districts endangered because Section 2 was relied upon to draw them.
Those include Louisiana’s 2nd Congressional District held by Rep. Troy Carter, DNew Orleans.
Carter says the creation of a second majority-minority district “was not about race.”
“It’s about fairness, compliance with federal law and ensuring that Black voices in Louisiana are not silenced,” he said. “The current map is the product of bipartisan compromise, legislative action and judicial review The Voting Rights Act is not a relic — it is a living promise that our democracy belongs to everyone. For nearly 200 years, Black Americans had virtually no representation in government.”
The case was heard as President Donald Trump presses Republican-majority states to redraw their congressional maps now instead of waiting for the decennial Census count. The acknowledged goal is to create enough GOP seats that the Democrats can’t retake the majority in the U.S House come the November 2026 midterm elections.
justices two years ago in upholding Section 2 in a case that ended with Alabama configuring a second majority-Black district.
Roberts didn’t have much to say in court Wednesday but did point out that while the facts were similar, Louisiana couldn’t necessarily rely on the outcome in Alabama case because that challenge “turned out to be an improper evidentiary showing.”
Kavanaugh, meanwhile, focused on a timeline to end the 60-year-old law
During Wednesday’s arguments before the high court, the three liberal justices Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor, and Ketanji Brown Jackson — pointed out Section 2 has successfully identified instances in which minority influence at the polls was weakened. They added that remedying those problems doesn’t necessarily mandate redistricting based on race.
Three conservative justices — Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch repeatedly suggested that race-conscious district lines were unconstitutional.
Whichever side can persuade two of the remaining three justices will win
Several legal observers focused on three other conservative justices — Chief Justice John Roberts and justices Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett as the keys for how the decision will go. They were harder to read.
As a young lawyer who joined government during the Reagan administration, Roberts forwarded conservative efforts to dismantle the Voting Rights Act
As chief justice, Roberts led the majority to invalidate the Voting Rights Act’s Section 5, which required states with a history of discrimination to obtain federal approval before making any changes to election practices.
“Our country has changed,” Roberts wrote in that ruling “Congress must ensure that the legislation it passes to remedy that problem speaks to current condi-
tions.”
That decision left Section 2 lawsuits as the only way to enforce the Voting Rights Act.
Roberts and Kavanaugh joined the three liberal
“This court’s cases in a variety of contexts have said that race-based remedies are permissible for a period of time, sometimes for a long period of time, decades in some cases, but that they should not be indefinite and should have an end point,” he said.
Barrett agreed with Kavanaugh that there should be an “end point” but suggested
Voting rights activists gather outside the Supreme Court in Washington early Wednesday, as the justices prepare to take up a major Republicanled challenge to the Voting Rights Act, the centerpiece legislation of the Civil Rights Movement.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOS By
the solution should be “narrowly tailored.” It’s a “big ask to change it,” she said.
Historically, the justices wait until June to release their decisions argued in the fall Unless justices rule during the next few weeks, it will be hard for states to apply the court’s decision to newly drawn congressional election configurations before the 2026 midterm elections.
Several Republican-run states, including Louisiana, have begun the process of moving procedural and filing deadlines just in case there’s enough time. Gov Jeff Landry included adjusting next year’s election schedule when he issued a call Thursday for a special legislative session to begin Oct. 23.
Some Louisiana Republicans are privately saying the Legislature should draw new districts to favor GOP candidates for all six seats
in the state’s congressional delegation. But that depends on what the Supreme Court says in its ruling. Louisiana Solicitor General J. Benjamin Aguiñaga said in court during arguments that he would be wary of a map that elects six White Republicans. Nearly half the state’s registered Democrats — 526,507 of 1,087,755 — are clustered in Carter’s and Fields’ congressional districts. When assigned new congressional districts, those Democrats could turn safe “red” districts, such as Majority Leader Steve Scalise’s in the New Orleans area and House Speaker Mike Johnson’s in northwestern Louisiana, into more competitive contests. Louisiana’s four Republican congressional districts as they exist today were drawn to include an overwhelming percentage of registered White voters, ranging from 68% in Rep. Julia Letlow’s 5th District to 78% in Scalise’s 1st Congressional District to 75% in Johnson’s district. The majority-Black districts created under Section 2 have narrow African American majorities. Only 52% of Carter’s 2nd District are registered Black voters, while 38% are White voters. In Fields’ 6th Congressional District, White voters make up 40% of the electorate while 55% are Black voters. G. Pearson Cross, who teaches political science at the University of LouisianaMonroe, said the Supreme Court’s hearing left him thinking Section 2 might be coming to an end.
“The patience of the court for considering race in an issue like this has kind of run out,” he said.
Email Mark Ballard at mballard@theadvocate. com.
Israel says Hamashandedoverremains of 2hostages
BY TOQA EZZIDIN, SAM MEDNICK and SAMY MAGDY Associated Press
CAIRO— Israel said Hamas handed over “two coffinsofdeceased hostages” from Gaza late Saturday, while Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu increased pressure on themilitant group to share the restmore quickly under their ceasefire.
No names were immediately released. The bodies were in Israel and were being taken to the country’sNational Institute of Forensic Medicine.
Israel announced earlier Saturday that Gaza’ssole crossing with the outside world, Rafah, would stay closed “until further notice,” tying it to Hamas’ release of remains. On Thursdayit had said the crossing likely would reopen Sunday Hamas has now handed over the remains of 12 of the 28 dead hostages in Gaza, a key step in the week-old ceasefire process meant to end two years of war.The militant group says devastation and Israeli military control of certain areas of Gaza have slowed the handover
The statement by Netanyahu’soffice on theRafah crossing came shortly after the Palestinianembassy in Egypt said it would reopen Monday for people returning to Gaza. Hamas called
Palestinians
of the Hamas militantgroup
hostages on SaturdayinHamad City,Khan younis, in the southernGazaStrip.
Netanyahu’sdecision aviolation of the ceasefire deal.
The Rafah crossinghas beenclosed since May 2024, when Israel tookcontrol of theGaza side. Afullyreopened crossingwould make it easier for Gazans to seek medical treatment, travel or visit family in Egypt, hometo tens of thousands of Palestinians.
Israel has beenreturning thebodies of Palestinians with no names, only numbers. Gaza’sHealth Ministry posts photos of themonline, hopingfamilies will come forward.
”Just likethey took their captives, we wantour cap-
tives.Bring me my son bring all our kids back,” said atearful Iman Sakani, whose son went missingduring the war. Shewas amongdozens of anxious families waiting at Nasserhospital.
One woman knelt, crying over abodyafter identifying it.
As part of the ceasefire agreement,Israel on Saturday returned 15 bodies of Palestinians to Gaza, bringing the total ithas returned to 135.
Meanwhile, Gaza’s ruins werebeing scoured for the dead. Newly recovered bodiesbrought the Palestinian toll above68,000, according
to Gaza’sHealth Ministry
Thousands of people are still missing, according to the RedCross.
The ministry,part of the Hamas-rungovernment, doesn’tdistinguishbetween civilians andcombatants in its count. But the ministry maintainsdetailedcasualty records that areseenas generally reliablebyU.N. agencies and independent experts. Israel has disputed them without providing its own toll.
Hamas-led militants killed around 1,200 people, mostly
civilians, and abducted 251 people in the attack on southernIsrael thatsparked the war on Oct. 7, 2023.
Israel also said the remains of a10th hostage that Hamas handedoverFridaywere identifiedasEliyahu Margalit. The 76-year-old was abductedfromkibbutz Nir Oz during theOct.7attack His remains were found afterbulldozers plowedareas in the southern city of Khan Younis.
U.S. President Donald Trumphas warned that he would greenlight aresumption of the warbyIsrael if Hamas doesn’treturn the remains of all dead hostages.
Hamas has said it is committed to the ceasefire deal, butthat the retrieval of remains is also hampered by the presence of unexploded ordnance in the territory’s vast ruins.
The U.S. State DepartmentonSaturday said it had credible reports of an imminent planned attack by Hamas againstresidentsof Gaza
By The Associated Press
KYIV,Ukraine Ukrainians
sharedtheir disappointment
Saturday that the U.S. may not provide Kyiv with longrange Tomahawk missiles, while work to repair the damaged power supply to thecountry’sZaporizhzhia power plant soothed other concerns surrounding Europe’slargest nuclear plant.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with President Donald Trump at the White Houseon Friday,after the U.S. leader signaled that Washington couldprovide Ukraine with the long-range missiles Kyiv believes will help bring Russian President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table.
YetZelenskyy ultimately left empty-handed—an outcome that dismayed, but did not surprise, many in the streets of Kyiv,who maintained their determination to endRussia’s3½-yearinvasion of their country
One Ukrainian military serviceman, Roman Vynnychenko, said that he believed the prospect of Tomahawk missiles for Ukraine was a political“game.”
“Ukraine won’tget those missiles,” he said.
Vynnyc henko sa id Ukraine still needed to procure new weapons with or without American help, particularly as Russian drones and missiles continued to hit civilian infrastructure.
“Every day civilians and soldiers die, buildings collapse,our streetsand cities are being destroyed,” Vynnychenko said. Russia invaded itssmaller neighbor in February 2022.
Trump’sfrustration with the conflict has surfaced repeatedly in the nine months since he returned to office. In recent weeks, he had shown growing impatience
with Putin and expressed greater openness to helping Ukrainewin the war,including with the saleofTomahawks.
But Trump’stone shifted again after heheld alengthy phone call with Putin on Thursdayand announced that he planned to meet with theRussian leader in Budapest, Hungary,inthe coming weeks.
Thetalks raise new hopes that diplomatic progress could be made to end the war.But after multiple failed starts, Ukrainians are reluctant to believe that asignificant breakthrough will take place soon
“Totell you the truth, Ilook at the news, butnowadays I read only the headlines. And
even those makemesad,” Victoria Khramtsova, apsychologist, told theAP. “We have been at warfor more thanthree years. We just want peace.”
In themeantime, Russia continued itsaerial bombardment of Ukraine, launching threemissiles and 164 drones overnight, Ukraine’sAir Force said Saturday.Itsaid that Ukrainian forces shot down 136 of the drones.
Twopeople were injured after Russian drones targeted agas station in the Zarichny district of Sumy in northeast Ukraine, local officials said Saturday.They were two women aged 51 and 53, according to regional Gov.Oleh Hryhorov
“Should Hamas proceed with this attack, measures will be taken to protect the people of Gaza and preserve the integrity of the ceasefire” forged by Trump to end the two-year warbetween Israel andHamas,itadded. There were no additional details.
The Israeli organization supporting families of those abducted said it will continue holding weekly rallies in Tel Aviv until all are returned.
“Wedon’twant to go back to fighting, Godforbid, but this whole ordeal must end, andall the hostagesmust be returned,” said Ifat Calderon, aunt of freedhostage Ofer Calderon.
Hamas has urged mediators to increase the flow of aid into Gaza as closures of crossings and Israeli restrictions on aid groups continue.
“Vast parts of thecity are just awasteland,”U.N humanitarian chief Tom Fletchersaid Saturday while visiting Gaza City,where international food security experts declared famine earlier this year U.N. data on Friday showed 339 trucks have been offloaded for distribution in Gazasince the ceasefire began. Under the agreement, about 600 aid trucks perday should be allowed to enter
“This planned attack against Palestinian civilians would constitute adirect and graveviolationofthe ceasefire agreement and undermine the significant progress achieved through mediation efforts,” it said in astatement. “The guarantorsdemand Hamas uphold its obligations under the ceasefire terms.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JEHAD ALSHRAFI
watchmembers
search for bodies of Israeli
ELIMINATE
If youare over35and suffer from thefollowing •Sciatica•NeckPain• Disc Herniations •Lower Back Pain •Radiating HipPain •Numbnessinthe Legs andFeet
Theremay be hope! Nowlocal doctorshavewhatmay be the most importanttreatment in helpingthese conditions!
We areDr. ScottLeBlanc andDr. Dana LeBlanc, ahusband andwifeteam, that ownLeBlanc Spine Center.Wehave helped thousandsofpatientsget outofpainwithSpinalDecompressiontherapy treatments, andwelove what we do.Discissuesare common,and patients sufferingare usuallygiven limitedoptions of treatment. We runthese big newspaper advertisements to letpeopleinthe community know thereisanotheroptionoftreatment forpain- withoutmedication, injections,orsurgery!
NON-SURGICAL SPINAL DECOMPRESSION is a breakthrough,non-invasivetreatment that hasbeen proventoreverse disc herniationsand relievenerve pain in theneckand lowback. During theprocedure,aspinaldiscisisolatedand aseriesofdistraction andrelaxationphasesoccur at averyspecific angle,targeting thesourceofpain. Avacuumcan be createdinsidethe disc andthe negative pressure deliversnutrients,oxygen, and fluidfromsurroundingtissues,toassistwithrepairof thedamaged disc Thetreatment is notpainful at all, andmost patients read or even take anap whileontreatment!
PROOFTHIS TREATMENTWORKS There’splenty of researchtobackupthe claims of Spinal Decompression Therapyand itseffectiveness.Hereare just afew of thepublished scientificstudies
•“Patients reported amean88.9% improvementin backpainand betterfunction. No patientrequired any invasive therapies(e.g. epidural injections,surgery).” -AmericanAcademy of Pain Management
• “Wethussubmitthatdecompressiontherapy should be considered first, before thepatient undergoes asurgicalprocedure whichpermanently alters theanatomy andfunctionofthe affected lumbarspine segment.”-Journal Of Neuroscience Research
•“Vertebralaxial (spinal) decompressionwas successful in 71%of the778 cases”-Journal of Neurological Research
•“Good to excellentreliefin86% of patients with Herniateddiscs”- TheAmericanJournal of Pain Management
•“Decompression Therapyreported a76.5% with complete remissionand 19.6%withpartial remission of pain anddisability” -Rio Grande Hospital, DepartmentofNeurosurgery
At LeBlancSpine Center, we utilizeadvanced, FDA-clearedtechnologythatisproventoeffectively alleviatepain.
It’s importanttonotethatnot everypatient is a candidate forSpinalDecompression, whichiswhy weprioritizeathorough individual assessment foreachpersonwho walks throughour doors. Ourhighsuccess rate in pain relief stemsfromour commitment to only taking on patients whom we confidentlybelieve we canhelp.
IcametoDr. LeBlancbecause I hadbeensuffering with sciatica forover20years.After starting Spinal Decompression treatments at LeBlancSpine Center, Iamnow 70%better! Oneofmypassionsinlife now that Iamretiredistraveling all overthe world. Iamnow able to continue travelingwithouthaving back pain on long-haul flights! This hasbeenagamechanger for me! Thestaff at here hasalwaysbeen so kind,friendly andefficient. I wouldrecommend treatment at LeBlancSpine Centerbecause making thecommitmentto receiveSpinal Decompression treatmentshas changedmylifefor thebetterbyallowingmetotake part in active andhealthy lifestyle. PatrickForet Hometown -Slidell,LA
Dr.Scott LeBlanc, D.C. Dr.DanaLeBlanc,D.C
Forthe next 7days, we areofferingaspecial “Decompression Evaluation”offer,atnocostto you! What does this offerinclude?Everythingwe normally do in ournew patientevaluations:
•Anin-depthconsultationabout your health andwellbeing wherewewill listen .really listen .tothe detailsofyourcase.
•Acompleteneuromuscular examination
•Afullset of specialized X-rays (ifclinically necessary)
•Athorough analysis of your exam and X-rayfindings
Youwill sitwiththe doctor oneonone to go overyourx-rays, andyou’llget to see everythingfirst hand
At LeBlancSpine Center,weare honest with ourpatientsand we give personalized attention andanalysistoeachcase. We trulyenjoy meetingwithpatientstoanswertheir questionsand to help find outifSpinalDecompressiontreatmentscould be theanswertotheir pain Thereisnochargeatall andyou don’tneed to buyanything. Youhave nothing to lose by taking us up on this specialoffer andyou will getanswers to what is causingyourpain. If youhaveseenour adsinthe past andhave thoughtabout calling, don’thesitate. You don’t have to go on living in pain,missing out on activities andother part of life that you enjoy. Call us today! .
Ihavesuffered with numbness in my legs for5monthsbefore goingtoLeBlanc SpineCenter. Afterthe first initial consultation, Istarted Spinal Decompression treatmentsand within 3months, Ihad ahuge differencein mobility,reduced pain,and the numbness wassubsiding. Ihave improvedabout 80%fromthe treatments. Isleep better,walk withoutpain, anddue to cervical decompression,mymigraines arealmostnon-existent. Dr.Scott listened to my symptoms and begantotreat therootofmy problems. Thedoctors andstaff are compassionateand very caring It feelslikeafamily andtheir patient’swellbeing really matters to them.I100%recommend LeBlancSpine Center!
JoyLewis Hometown -Baton Rouge, LA
IcametoLeBlancSpine Center
becauseIhad been sufferingwith extreme back pain andleg pain forseveral weeks. Ihad triedother treatments, massage, NSAIDs and Tylenol, butIwas stillinpain. Ibegan Spinal Decompression treatmentsand nowI feel 100% improved! What Ilikemostabout my treatment is that it is noninvasive anditeliminatedmypain My treatmentappointmentsare not long,and thetreatment is painfree.Since beginningtreatment at LeBlancSpine Center, Iamnow able to do allofmypreviousactivities andworkwithoutpain.I also have more range of motion.I would highlyrecommend LeBlancSpine Center!
Dr.JohnBarksdale (Dentist) hometown -Baton Rouge, LA
No chargeatall andyou don’tneedto buyanything. Butyou will find outif youqualify forthisrevolutionarynew therapy. Youwon’t leaveour office wonderingifit’ssomething that could have helped youget ridofyour pain
During your assessment, we’llcheck outyour:ligamentstability,muscle function,hips, pain levels,reflex response, disc condition,tendons, spinalalignment,pelvicleveling, x-rays,MRI analysis,range of motion, balance&nerve function
OfferExpires 10/27/25
Immigration crackdownweighsonlabor market
BY PAUL WISEMAN and GISELA SALOMON Associated Press
Mariaworked cleaning schools in Florida for $13 an hour.Every two weeks, she’d get a$900 paycheck from her employer,acontractor Not much —but enoughto cover rent in the house that she and her 11-year-old son share with five families, plus electricity,acellphoneand groceries.
In August, it all ended. When sheshowed up at the job one morning, her boss told her that she couldn’t work there anymore. The Trump administrationhad terminated President Joe Biden’s humanitarian parole program,which provided legal work permits for Cubans, Haitians, Venezuelans as well as Nicaraguans like Maria.
“I feel desperate,” said Maria, 48, who requested anonymity to talk about her ordeal because she fears being detained and deported. “I don’thave anymoneyto buy anything. Ihave $5 in my account. I’m left with nothing.”
President Donald Trump’s sweeping crackdown on immigration is throwing foreigners like Maria outof work and shaking the American economy and job market. And it’shappening at a time when hiring is already deteriorating amid uncertainty over Trump’serratic trade policies.
Immigrantsdojobs cleaning houses, picking tomatoes, painting fences —that most native-born Americans won’t, and for less money.But they also bring the technical skills and entrepreneurial energy that have helped make the United States the world’s economic superpower Trump is attacking immigrationatboth ends of spectrum, deportinglow-wage laborers anddiscouraging skilled foreigners from bringing their talents to the United States. And he is targeting an influx of foreign workers that eased labor shortages and upward pressure on wages and prices at atime when most economists thought that taming inflation would require sky-high interest rates and arecession —a fate the United States escaped in 2023 and 2024.
“Immigrants are good for the economy,” said Lee Branstetter,aneconomist at Carnegie-MellonUniversity “Because we had alot of immigration overthe past five years,aninflationary surge was not as bad as many people expected.”
More workers filling more jobs and spending more money has also helped drive economic growth and create still-more job openings.Economistsfear that Trump’sdeportations and limits on even legal immigrationwill do the reverse.
In aJuly report, researchers Wendy Edelberg and Tara Watson of the centrist Brookings Institution and Stan Veuger of the rightleaning American Enter-
prise Institute calculated that the lossofforeignworkers will mean that monthly U.S. job growth “couldbe near zero or negative in the next few years.”
Hiring has already slowed significantly,averaging ameager29,000a month from June throughAugust.
(The September jobs report hasbeendelayed by the ongoing shutdown of the federal government.) During thepost-pandemichiring boom of 2021-2023, by contrast, employers added astunning 400,000 jobs a month.
ThenonpartisanCongressional Budget Office, citing fallout Trump’simmigration andtradepolicies,downgraded its forecast for U.S. economic growth this year to 1.4% from the1.9% it had previouslyexpected and from 2.5% in 2024.
‘Weneedthese people
GoodwinLiving,anAlexandria, Virginianonprofit that provides senior housing, health care andhospice services, hadtolay offfour employees fromHaiti after theTrumpadministration terminatedtheir work permits.The Haitians had been allowed to work under ahumanitarian parole program and had earned promotions at Goodwin
“That was avery,very difficult day for us,” CEO Rob Liebreich said. “It was really unfortunate to have to say goodbye to them, and we’re still struggling to fillthose roles.”
Liebreich is worried that another 60 immigrantworkerscouldlosetheir temporary legalright to live and work in the United States.
“Weneed all those hands,” he said. “Weneed allthese people.”
Goodwin Living has 1,500 employees, 60%of them from foreigncountries. It hasstruggled to find enough nurses,therapists and maintenance staff. Trump’simmigration crackdown, Liebreich said,
is “making it harder.”
TheICE crackdown
Trump’simmigration ambitions, intended to turn back what he calls an “invasion” at America’ssouthern borderand secure jobs for U.S.-born workers, were once viewed with skepticismbecause of the money and economic disruption required to reach hisgoal of deporting 1million people ayear.But legislation that Trump signedinto law July 4—and which Republicans call the OneBig Beautiful Bill Act —suddenlymade his plans plausible. The law pours$150 billion intoimmigration enforcement, setting aside $46.5 billion to hire 10,000 Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and $45 billion to increase the capacity of immigrant detention centers. And his empowered ICE agents haveshown awillingness to move fastand break things —evenwhen theiraggression conflicts with other administration goals
Last month, immigration authorities raided aHyundaibatteryplant in Georgia, detained 300 South Korean workers andshowed video of some of them shackled in chains. They’dbeen workingtoget theplantupand running, bringing expertise in battery technology and Hyundaiprocedures that local American workers didn’thave.
Theincidentenraged the South Koreansand ran counter to Trump’s pushto lureforeign manufacturers to invest in America. South Korean President LeeJae Myung warned thatthe country’sother companies might be reluctant about bettingonAmerica if their workerscouldn’tget visas promptlyand riskedgetting detained.
Workingthe fields
America’sfarmersare among the president’smost
dependable supporters.
But John Boyd Jr., who farms 1,300 acres of soybeans, wheat and corn in southernVirginia, said that theimmigration raids —and thethreat of them —are hurting farmers already contending with low crop prices, high costs and falloutfrom Trump’s trade war withChina, which has stopped buying U.S.soybeans and sorghum.
“You got ICE out here,
herding these people up,” said Boyd, founder of the National Black Farmers Association. “(Trump) says they’re murderers and thieves and drug dealers, all this stuff. But these are people who areinthis country doing hard workthat many Americans don’twant to do.”
Boyd scoffed at U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins’ suggestioninJuly thatU.S.-born Medicaid recipients could head to the fields to meet work requirements imposed this summer by the Republican Congress. “People in thecity aren’t coming back to the farm to do this kind of work,” he said. “Ittakes acertain type of person to bend over in 100-degree heat.”
The Trump administration itself admitsthatthe immigration crackdown is causing laborshortages on the farm thatcould translate into higher prices at the supermarket.
“The near total cessation of the inflow of illegal aliens combinedwiththe lack of an available legal workforce,” the Labor Department said in an Oct. 2filing the Federal Register,“results in significant disruptions to production costs and (threatens) the stability of domestic food production and prices forU.S. consumers.”
‘You’renot welcomehere’
Jed Kolko of the Peterson Institute forInternational Economics said that job growth is slowing in busi-
nesses that relyonimmigrants.Construction companies, forinstance, have shed 10,000 jobs since May
“Those arethe short-term effects,” said Kolko, aCommerce Department official in the Biden administration.
“The longer-term effects are more serious because immigrants traditionally have contributed morethan their share of patents, innovation, productivity.”
Especially worrisome to many economists was Trump’ssuddenannouncement last monththathe wasraising thefee on H-1B visas, meanttolure hard-tofind skilled foreign workers to the United States, from as little as $215 to $100,000. “A $100,000 visa fee is not just abureaucratic cost— it’sasignal,” DanyBahar seniorfellowatthe Center forGlobalDevelopment, said. “It tells global talent: ‘You are not welcome here.’” Some are already packing up. In Washington D.C.,one H-1B visa holder,aHarvard graduate from India who works for anonprofit helping Africa’spoor,said Trump’ssignal to employers is clear: Think twice about hiring H-1B visa holders. The man, who requested anonymity, is alreadypreparing paperwork to move to the UnitedKingdom.“The damage is already done, unfortunately,” he said. AP writersFuTing and Christopher Rugaber in Washington contributed to this report.
PelicanCredit Unionexpands school partnershipprogram to includeSoutheastern LouisianaUniversity
haspartnered with Southeastern LouisianaUniversityAlumni Association to launch thenew Southeastern SchoolPrideDebitCard,designedtocelebrateand amplifythe public university’s role in theregion. With everyswipe of theseuniquedebit cards, Pelicandonates apercentageofthe transaction totheSLUAlumniAssociation.Thispartnership empowers students,alumni, andfanstoturn theireverydayspendingintoeffortless, monetary contributionstotheir favorite university “Weloveworking with this organization becausetheyare an engagedpartner, andthey want to show theirLionPride everytimethey opentheirwallet,”saidLeighPorta,ChiefGrowth OfficerofPelican Credit Union. Asanot-for-profitfinancialinstitutionoperatingthroughoutthe majormarkets in Louisiana, PelicanCreditUnionis driven by thegrowthand successoftheirmanyschoolpartnershipsthroughoutthe state. Southeastern is Pelican’ssecond university partnership, followingasuccessful collaborationwithSouthernUniversity. Since launchingdebit cardswithSouthernlastyear, Pelicanhas donatedmorethan$32,000 in funds to theSouthernUniversityAlumniFederation. “WeareexcitedtoteamupwithPelicanCredit Uniontolaunchthe official Southeastern School PrideDebit Card,” said MalayneSharp,Director of Alumni Relationsfor Southeastern.“We’re grateful forthe partnershipwithPelican andthe opportunitytocreatemeaningfulbenefits for theSoutheasternLouisiana Alumni Association andour Lion family.” Theseacademicpartnershipsimpacttheregion’s financial literacy for thebetterbydevelopingan awareness of theresources offered by thecredit unionandLouisiana’spublicuniversities.Pelican regularlycollaborateswithacademicleaders to hostfreeclassroomworkshopsandpresentations to advancestudents’financialeducation “Ascommunitypartners,weattendoncampus events like tailgates, homecomingcelebrations, andconferences.But more importantly, we offer freeclassroomeducation,”Portasaid.“Professors
recognizethe valueofthe educationprovidedby Pelicanand itsimpactonyoung adultstudents preparingfor professional careers. Financial educationhasalwaysbeenahugepartofwhatwe do at Pelican, andwelookforward to continuing to trailblazeinthisarea. Giving back is at thecoreofPelican’s values Thecreditunion embraces a“PelicanPays” mindset—aphilosophythatbegan with several giveaway initiativesatlocalrestaurants and grocerystores. Theinitiativewas designed to inspirecommunity memberstopay it forward, andthe sentimenttookona life of itsown.The catchphrasenow reflectsthe generous spirit of Pelicanand itsidentity as an impactfulcommunity partner.
“Weare very passionate aboutwhatwedo here,”saidPorta.“It’sagoodfeelingknowingyou work fora business that is socially responsible andhas good intentions at heart.”
Thenew Southeastern School PrideDebit Card is availabletoanyonewithorwho opens aPelican Credit Unioncheckingaccount. The debitcardfeaturesthe Southeastern University logo andcolorsand canberequested online or in-personatany Pelicanbranch. Formore informationonthe Lion PrideDebit Card visit: https://www.pelicancu.com/universal/southeastern-university-debit-card.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ERICLEE
Jackie Conteh, an advanced care partner originally from Sierra Leone, helpsDonald Goodness, 92,
apartment at Goodwin House Alexandria in
By Stevie Cavalier Licciardi | stevie.licciardi@theadvocate.com
This articleisbrought to youbyPelican Credit Union.
2025 SouthernUniversity Football Game DayTraffic, Parking, andStadium Rules
Southern UniversityAthletics urgesfansto arrive earlybeforekick-offfor all Southern Universityhomefootball gamesatA.W MumfordStadium to help with theeaseof traffic flow.
Driverswho parkinthe paid/reserve lots must have theirhangtagsvisible on thevehiclesorriskbeing towedand/or ticketed.Contraflowmay beginearlier than designated if need be.Additional reserve parking will be availableatthe MLKCatholic Center.Call theSUticketoffice at 225-7713171 fordetails
Also,the areasonIsabelHersonDrive,near theSouthernUniversityLaboratorySchool, will be available forparking.General parking,which is $20, will only be made available on Saturday
Designated limited mobility parking areas will be available on afirstcomebasis
Shuttles will be availableincertain areas to bringfanstothe stadium. Please seethe Limited Mobility/ReservedLot manifest foracomplete list of lots andavailable shuttlelocations
SouthernUniversityFootball Game Traffic Plan ALLHANG TAGS MUST BE HUNGFROM REARVIEWMIRRORBEFOREENTERING CAMPUS ANDREMAIN VISIBLYDISPLAYED AT ALLTIMES.VEHICLESPARKEDIN RESERVED PARKINGLOTSWITHOUT DISPLAYING RESERVED HANG TAGS FORTHATLOT WILL BE TOWED. There arealimitednumberofgameday RV and tailgating spotsavailable,call225-7713171 formoreinfo. Individualvehicleswill notbeallowedtoparkinRVlots. Allmotor homesand fifth wheelers must parkinthe areasdesignated formotor homes. If you will be towing avehicle,you mustpurchasea parking permit forthe vehicleand park it in thedesignated lotthatcorresponds to thepermit.
Traffic on Campus during Normal Traffic Flow
Traffic onto campus by wayof HardingBoulevard
•The rightlaneofHarding Boulevardis forDecal Reserved ParkingLotsA,B,C, D, G(Mini Dome andStadium Parking), Tailgate Dome
•The left lane of HardingBoulevard is forDecal Reserved ParkingLots, E, V, U andMLK
•General parking should enter through HardingBoulevard,Mills Avenue or Swan Avenue.Parking is $20per car.
Anydecal entering theMiniDomemay be allowedtopassthrough theMiniDome parking area if it is notLot Dtoget their designated decalparking area.Trafficonto campus by wayofSwanAvenuewillbeable
to get to Lots A, B, C, D, F, G, H, andI
Traffic ontocampusbyway of B. A. LittleDr. from MillsAvenuewillbeable to gettoLots
A, B, C, D, F, G, H, andI
Alltrafficthatisnot goingtoareservedlot must parkinageneral parking area
Traffic onto HardingBoulevard
•BradfordHallParking Lot
•Human ResourcesParking Lot
•Parking lotonthe Scott’sBluff
•ArchivesParking Lot
•Museum ParkingLot
•Law Center ParkingLot
•Mayberry Dining Hall ParkingLot
•Army/NavyROTC ParkingLot
Traffic onto Swan Avenue
•The grassareaeastofIsabelHersonStreet.
•The grassareanorth of theSouthern Laboratorypracticefield.
•NoRe-entry-AnyoneLeaving the Stadium Must Have aNew,UnusedTicket to Re-enter
•Tickets MayNot be Re-sold on Stadium Premises &SurroundingGrounds (IncludingParking Lots)
SOUTHERN UNIVERSITYATHLETICSCLEAR BAGPOLICY
SU’sclear bag policy will be in effect for all
•All PersonsMustHaveaTicketfor Admission-RegardlessofAge (children under 2years old do notneeda ticket)
•Smoking &Use of AllTobacco Products (Cigarettes, E-Cigarettes,Cigars, Pipes, SmokelessTobacco,Snuff,Chewing Tobacco,Vapes,etc.) is Prohibited Everywhere on Southern University’s Campus •Inall sports, access to thecompetition area shallbelimited to
is reserved for participating student-athletes, coaches officials,supportpersonneland properly credentialed individuals OVERTIME COACHES SHOW DATES: WEDNESDAYS 11/5,11/19,12/3
EDUCATION
Layoffsdeplete officesatEducation Department
Firingsaffectparts of agency that oversee special education, civil rights enforcement
BY COLLIN BINKLEY AP education writer
WASHINGTON— Anew roundoflayoffs at the Education Department
is depleting an agency that was hit hard in the Trump administration’s previous mass firings,threatening new disruption to the nation’sstudents and schools in areas from special education to civil rights enforcement to after-school programs
The Trump administration startedlayingoff 466 Education Department staffers on Oct. 10 amid mass firings acrossthe government meant to pressure Democratic lawmakers over the federal shutdown. The layoffs would cut the agency’sworkforce by nearly afifthand leaveitreduced to less than half its size when President Donald Trump took office on Jan. 20.
The cuts playinto Trump’s broader plan to shut down the Education Department and parcel itsoperationstoother agencies
Over the summer,the department started handing off its adult education and workforce programs to the Labor Department, and it previously said it was negotiating an agreement to pass its $1.6 trillion studentloan portfolio to the Treasury Department. Department officials have not releaseddetailsonthe layoffs and did not immediately respond to a request for comment. American Federation of Government Employees Local 252, aunion that represents more than 2,700 department workers, said information from employees indicates cuts will decimate many offices within the agency All but ahandful of topofficials are being fired at the office that implements the Individualswith
DisabilitiesEducation Act, afederal law that ensures millions of students with disabilities get support from theirschools, the unionsaid. Unknown numbers arebeingfired at theOffice for Civil Rights, which investigates complaintsofdiscrimination at thenation’sschoolsand universities.
The layoffswould eliminate teams thatoversee theflow of grant money to schools across thenation, theunion said. It hitsthe office that oversees Title Ifunding for the country’slow-income schools alongwith the team that manages 21st Century Community Learning Centers, the primary federal funding source for after-school and summer learningprograms.
Without staff overseeing funding forhigh-poverty schools or special education, schoolsmay face delays
in receiving reimbursementfrom the federal government,said Sasha Pudelski, director of advocacy for the American Association of School Administrators.
“We’re talking aboutthe people who worked on the beating heart of ourfederal public school programs,” Pudelski said.
The layoffs will also eliminate teams that oversee TRIO,aset of programs that help low-incomestudentspursuecollege, and another that oversees federal funding for historically Black colleges and universities.
In astatement, union president Rachel Gittlemansaidthe new reductions, on top of previous layoffs, will “double down on the harmtoK-12 students, students with disabilities,first generation college students, low-income stu-
dents, teachers and local education boards.”
The Education Department had about 4,100 employees when Trump took office. Afterthe newlayoffs, it would be down to fewer than 2,000. Earlierlayoffs in March had roughly halved the department, but some employees were hired back after officials decided they had cut toodeep.
The new layoffs drew condemnation from arange of education organizations. Although states design their own competitions to distribute federal funding for after-school programs, asmall team of federal officials providedguidanceand support “that is absolutelyessential,” said Jodi Grant, executive director of the Afterschool Alliance.
“Firing that team is shocking, devastating, utterlywithout any
basis, anditthreatenstocause lasting harm,” Grantsaidina statement. If upheld, the cuts will make it impossible forthe government to fulfill itsduties carrying outspecial education laws,according to astatement from the National Association of State Directors of Special Education.
Thelayoffs will reduce the department’s specialeducationofficefromroughly 200 workers to about five, said Katy Neas, CEO of The Arc of the United States, which advocates forpeople with disabilities. Neas, whohelped lead the office underformer President Joe Biden, said families rely on those teams to makesure states and schools are following complex disability laws.
One prominent example dates to Trump’sfirst term,when the special education office determined that Texas had illegally placed a cap on the number of students who could receive special education services in each district. Under pressure from the U.S. Education Department, Texas lawmakers lifted the cap in 2017.
“As aresult, tens of thousands of children in Texas now can accessthe educationsupport that they need, whereasbefore they couldn’t,” Neassaid.
Thegovernment’slatest layoffs are being challenged in court by theAmericanFederationofGovernment Employees andother national labor unions. Their suit, filed in SanFrancisco, said the government’s budgeting andpersonneloffices oversteppedtheir authority by ordering agencies to carry outlayoffs in responsetothe shutdown.
In acourt filing, the Trump administration saidthe executive branchhas wide discretionto reduce the federalworkforce. It said the unions could not prove they were harmedbythe layoffs because employees would not actually be separated foranother 30 to 60 days after receiving notice. AP education writer Annie Ma contributed to this report.
ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By JOSE LUIS MAGANA
CALIFORNIA
Plan to fire over highwayduringVPvisit irks governor
Vancevisiting for
250thanniversary of Marine Corps
BY SARAH RAZA Associated Press
Aplan to fire live artillery shells over amajorSouthern California highway as part of amilitary showcase attended SaturdaybyVice President JD Vance drew strong objections from Gov.Gavin Newsom, who said safety concerns forced him to close aportion of the busy interstate.
“The Presidentisputting his ego over responsibility withthis disregardfor public safety,”the Democratic governor said in astatement. “Firing live rounds over abusy highway isn’t just wrong —it’sdangerous.” But U.S. Marine officials said there was nothing unsafe about the exercise at Camp Pendleton,where firing off artillery is aroutine occurrence, and that it was unnecessary to disrupt traf-
Vice PresidentJDVance, second from left, and second ladyUsha
watch ademonstration SaturdaybyMarines during
Corps’ 250th anniversaryonMarine Corps Base Camp
fic on Interstate 5, whichis themainhighway along the Pacific coast between San Diegoand LosAngeles. Republicans castigated the highway shutdown.
U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa, who represents adistrict east of the base, called it “a spiteful publicity stunt” by Newsom
Vance, aRepublican, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited the base in north SanDiegoCounty to celebrate the Marine Corps’ 250th anniversary,and watch troops put on ashow of amphibious vehicles and Marines demonstratinga beach assault. Vance, aMa-
rine Corps veteran,and his wife, Usha,watched as aircraft shot across the sky and columns of smoke rose from munitions strikes.
The state hadconsidered closing the freeway earlier in the week, but the U.S. MarinessaidThursdaythat the event would occur on ap-
Afghan,Pakistani delegationsinDohafor talks
Countriesmeeting over cross-border violence
BY RIAZATBUTT Associated Press
ISLAMABAD Afghanand Pakistani delegations were in the Qatari capital, Doha, on Saturday,for talks on defusing the deadliest crisis between them in several years, after more than aweek of fighting killed dozens of people and injured hundreds on both sides. Both governments sent
lead the talks, which, Pakistan said,would focus on “immediate measures to end cross-border terrorism emanating from Afghanistan and restore peace and stability alongthe border.”
Each country says it is responding to aggression from theother.Afghanistandenies harboring militants who carry outattacks in border areas. Regionalpowers,including Saudi Arabia and Qatar,have called for calm,asthe violence threatenedtofurther destabilize aregion where groups including the Islamic State group and al-Qaidaare
A48-hour ceasefireintended to pause hostilities expired Friday evening. Hours later,Pakistan struck across the border Pakistanisecurity officials confirmed to The Associated Pressthat therewerestrikes on two districts in Afghanistan’seastern Paktika province. The targets were hideouts of the militant HafizGul Bahadur group, according to the officials who spoke on condition of anonymity becausethey werenot authorizedtotalk to the media. One said theoperation was a direct response to thesuicide
compound in Mir Ali, in Pakistan’sKhyberPakhtunkhwa province aday earlier
The PakistaniAir Force raids killed dozens of armed fighters andthere were no civilian deaths, they said.
But Afghan officials said theaerial assaults killed at least10civilians, including women, children and local cricketers. The attacks prompted the national cricketboard to boycottan upcoming series in Pakistan. On Saturday,several thousand people attendedfuneral prayers in Paktika. They sat in the open air as loudspeakers broadcast sermonsand
provedtraining ranges and comportwithestablished safety protocols.
State transportation officials ultimately made the decision to close the freewayafter practice firings Friday evening and arequest from event organizers for signage along the road stating “Overhead fire in progress.”
TheCaliforniaHighway Patrol closed a17-mile stretch of the highway for periods before andduringthe Saturday exercise. Severe traffic delays were reportedSaturday morning and earlyafternoon.Nomishaps were reported related to the artillery fire.
“Thisisall because of the White House-directed military event, that forthe safety of the public,weneedto shutdown thefreewaysince
they’re sending live ordinances over the freeway,” CaliforniaDepartment of Transportation spokesperson Matt Rocco said.
U.S. Marines Capt. Gregory Dreibelbis said in astatement that there is artillery fire at the base nearly every week and that the exercises didn’tendanger motorists.
“Weeks of deliberate planning and rehearsals ensured successatevery phase of execution,” he said.
In astatement to The New York Times,aspokesperson for Vance, William Martin, said Newsom misledthe public about the safety risk.
“If Gavin Newsom wants to oppose the training exercises that ensure our Armed Forces are the deadliest and mostlethal fighting force in theworld, then he can go right ahead,” Martin said.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By GREGORy BULL
Vance, fourth from left,
activities to mark the upcoming Marine
Pendleton in Camp Pendleton, Calif
BY KEVIN FREKING Associated Press
WASHINGTON The federal government shutdown is quickly approaching the second longest on record with no end in sight. Some lawmakers are predicting it could become the longest, surpassing the 35 days from President Donald Trump’s first term.
The Trump administration is usingthe current shutdown to buttress priorities it favors while seekingto dismantle those it doesn’t. Nevertheless, Democrats are insisting that any funding bill include help for millions of Americanswho will lose health insurance coverage or facedramatically higher monthly premiums if Congress does nothing The shutdown began Oct. 1. It is havinganimpact on federal workers, theeconomy and the services the government provides.
Furloughsand firings
The federal government employed nearly 2.3 million civilian employees as of March 31. The Congressional Budget Office estimated that about 750,000 of those employees would be furloughed each day during ashutdown. That means they don’treport to work until the shutdown ends.Others are considered “excepted” and do go to work, helping to protect life and property and perform other essential services. Both groups of workers will get paid, but on aretroactive basis. That means they are facing the prospect of missing afull paycheck later this month afterreceiving apartialone earlier for work performed in late September
The nation’s1.3 million active-duty service members got atemporary reprieve.
They were looking at missing apaycheck on Wednesday. But Trump directed the Pentagonto redirect money Asecondreprievelooksunlikely Of note for taxpayers, the government tab for paying furloughed workers while they are at homecomes to roughly$400 million aday, accordingtoaCBO estimate providedatthe request of Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa.
Theadministration is also trying to firethousands of federal workers in agencies that don’talignwith its priorities. Republican leaders in Congresshave said that’s part of the fallout from a shutdown.Past presidents, however,did not use shutdownstoengage in mass firings.
The Republicanadministration has announced one reduction in force affecting 4,100 workers, with the biggest cuts happening at the departments of Treasury, Healthand HumanServices, Educationand Housing and UrbanDevelopment
White House budgetchief Russ Vought said in an interview on “The Charlie Kirk Show”that many more are planned.
“I thinkwe’ll probably end up being northof10,000,” Vought said.
“Wewant to be very aggressive where we can be in shuttering the bureaucracy,” Vought said. “Not just the funding, butthe bureaucracy,thatwenow haveanopportunity to do that.”
Afederal judgehas temporarily blocked the firings, saying the cutsappeared to be politically motivated and were being carried out without much thought. White Housepress secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday that theadministrationwas “100%” confident that it will prevail onthe merits in subsequent legalaction
Lawmakers acknowledge that many federal workers live paychecktopaycheck and will face some financial stress during the shutdown.
Food banks in somecommunities have boosted effortsto help them. The Capital Area Food Bank, for example, said it would hold additional food distributions in theWashingtonregion beginning Monday to support federal workersand contractors.
Economic impact
Past shutdownshavehad slight impactsonthe economy,reducing growthinthe quarter during which the shutdown occurs, but growth increases slightly in the following threemonths to help make up for it.
Oneestimate from Oxford Economics saida shutdown reduces economicgrowth by 0.1 to 0.2 percentage points per week. Ashutdown thatlasts the entirequarter, which has never occurred, would reduce growth for those three months by 1.2 to 2.4 percentage points
Some industries are hurt worse thanothers.
TheU.S. Travel Association saidthe travel economy is expectedtolose$1billion aweek as travelers change plans to visit national parks, historic sites and the nation’s capital, wheremanyfacilitiessuch as Smithsonian Institutionmuseums and the National Zoo are nowclosed to visitors.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce noted thatthe Small Business Administration
supports loans totaling about $860 million aweek for 1,600 small businesses.Those programs close to newloans during theshutdown. The shutdown alsohas halted the issuance and renewal of flood insurance policies, delaying mortgage closings and real estate transactions.
The Federal Aviation Administrationhas reported air controllershortages in cities across the United States, from airportsinBostonand Philadelphia, to controlcenters in Atlanta andHouston. Flight delays have spread to airports in Nashville,Tennessee, Dallas, Newark, New Jerseyand more.
Politicalfallout
The party that insists on conditions as part of agovernment funding bill generally doesn’tget its way.That was the case in 2013 and 2018 for Republicans. It remains to be seen howthings
will shake out this time, but neithersideappearstobe budging.
So far, thepublicisrather split on who is to blame for the impasse. Roughly 6in10 U.S.adults say Trumpand Republicans in Congress have “a great deal” or “quite abit” of responsibility for the shutdown, while 54% say the same about Democrats in Congress, according to the poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Pub-
lic Affairs Research. Perceptions could change depending upon how much the White House usesthe shutdown to eliminate Democratic priorities and Democratic-leaning states and cities.
The administrationhas put on hold roughly $18 billion to fund anew rail tunnel beneaththe HudsonRiver between New York City and New Jerseyand an extension of the city’s SecondAvenue subway.Itcanceled $7.6 billion in grants that supported hundreds of clean energy projects in 16 states, all of which voted for Democrat Kamala Harris in last year’s presidentialelection. The administration cited reasons apart from the shutdown for the funding changes. In theend, there does not appear to be an easy wayout of the shutdown. Republicans insists any negotiations on health care occur after the government is fully open for business.
“We’re not conducting negotiationsina hostagesituation,” said Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D.
BobHelbig •Energage
This article is brought toyouviaapartnership between Energage andTheAdvocate
Great workplaces don’t happenbyaccident. They arenurtured and built to bring outthe best in people.Ifyou knowofone,nominate it as a BatonRouge TopWorkplace.
Forthe first time, The Advocate will honoroutstanding workplace cultureinthe region with the TopWorkplaces awards.Any organizationwith 35 or more employees in the region is eligible to compete. Standout companieswill be honoredin early 2026
Anyone can nominate an outstanding companyfor a TopWorkplaces award. The nominationdeadline is Oct. 24. Public, private, non-profit, a school,orevenagovernment agency.Tonominate an employer or formoreinformationonthe awards,justgoto theadvocate com/nominate There is no cost to participate. To qualify as aBaton RougeTop
Workplace, employees evaluate their workplaceusing ashort 25-questionsurvey thattakes justa fewminutes to complete Companieswill be surveyed through January
Energage, the Pennsylvaniabasedresearchpartnerfor the project, conducts Top Workplaces surveys formedia in 65 marketsnationwideand surveyed morethan 2million employees at morethan 8,000 organizations in thepastyear.
“Earning aTop Workplaces awardisa celebrationof excellence,”said Eric Rubino, CEOofEnergage. “Itserves as areminder of the vital role apeople-firstworkplace experienceplays in achieving success.
BobHelbig is mediapartnerships director at Energage, aPhiladelphiabasedemployeesurvey firm Energageisthe surveypartner for TopWorkplaces
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOByJOSE LUIS MAGANA
LOUISIANAPOLITICS
Johnsonattractspublicity during government shutdown
WASHINGTON —U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson got an earful when he fielded calls on C-SPAN last weekend.
Samantha, amilitary wifefrom Virginia, complained about Johnson’sdecision in mid-September not to convene the House until Senate Democrats agreedwith Republicans to reopen government.
Mark Ballard
“I am very disappointed in my party and I’m very disappointed in youbecause you do have the power to call the House back,” Samantha told Johnson. “You refused to do that just for ashow.”
Johnson, R-Benton, repeated what he’soften said lately: the House did its job by passing a resolution continuing government operations when spending authority expired Oct. 1. It’sDemocratic senators who have refused 10 times, as of Thursday,toapprove the resolution that has kept government closed for the pasttwo weeks and probably forthe next couple.
The shutdown has thrustJohnson into his highest profile in the public’seye during atwo-year leadership tenure as the behindclosed-doors Republican whisperer on Capitol Hillwho gets bills passed.
Usually calm, even taciturn, Johnson now calls himself “Mad Mike.”
He holds daily news conferences and goes on televisionoften to hammer the GOP theme that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer,D-N.Y., is beingbullied by socialists bentonpicking afight with President Donald Trump. Schumer’s“got to get permission from Bernie and AOC, Ithink, before he can ever vote to open the government again,” Johnson said Thursday on Fox News, referring to Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and New York City Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez —two
Legislator —orWorld Gumbo Champ?
State Rep. Beau Beaullieuhas
won two elections to the state House from New Iberia and now chairs one of the most important legislativecommittees.
But nowadays he’d rather talk gumbo. Beaullieu’steam won its category in the World Gumbo Championship last Sunday in New Iberia.
It was Beaullieu’sfourth victory in six years. The 35th annual cook-off
leaders of the Democratic progressive wing.
“Wehave alot of things to do, butthey’ve turnedthe lightsoff andrealpeopleare hurting,”Johnsonadded.
Little negotiation progress has beenmade with theHousegone and the Senate stalled.
Noting congressional Republicans have allowed Trumpto rescind congressionally approved appropriations, Democrats say they don’ttrust theGOP and arguethe shutdown is their only
debonedeightsmoked turkeyand cutup30pounds of andouille, 15 of onions, 10 of celeryand 10 of bell pepper. Eachofthe teams had to cook thegumbo on-site Sunday Beaullieu, who said he begantomake gumbo with his mom while in high school, said his jobisto make sure the roux has the propercolor, texture and seasoning.
Capitol Buzz STAFF REPORTS
filled Bouligny Plaza in downtown New Iberia in an event sponsored by the Greater Iberia Chamberof Commerce.
About 100 teams competedin
fivedifferent categories:amateur seafood, amateur chicken and sausage, amateur Melange (meaning they cook other combinations), professional seafood and professional non-seafood. Beaullieu’s team —all are members of the local Kiwanis Club —competed in the Melange category.Theymade turkey and andouille gumbo.
To prepare, he and his team
“I’mincharge of making sure it tastes right,” he said. “I make the final call on it.”
What’sthe secret?
“Camaraderie and patience,” Beaullieu replied. Yes, but what areyour secrets?
“Wehave acouple,” he said. “Butitwouldn’t be asecret if I shared it.”
Are youthe best gumbo cook in the Legislature?
“If we’re going by world championships, it’spretty clear,” Beaullieu said.“Ihaven’t been challenged.”
Whatabout the statesenator fromNew Iberia,Blake Miguez?
leverage to delay theexpiration of tax credits that will cause the price of insurance policies to double for manylower income Americanswho buy their health care coverage on the Affordable Care Act marketplace.
Trumpand SenateMajority Leader JohnThune, R-S.D., have hinted they’re open to an extension for the ACA subsidies. Thune went on the liberal MSNBC Thursday to say he’d consider avote on the tax credits, which if passed, would need House ap-
I’m really good at BBQ. I’m smoking Cassidy as we speak.” (Miguez is one of the Republicans challenging U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy in next year’selection. Cassidy of course would take issue with Miguez’s BBQ abilities.) Back to gumbo: “I have not found alegislator who is brave enough to meet the challenge,” Beaullieu said. “If youwrite this, (Rep.) Chad Boyer,(Rep.)Ryan Bourriaque and (Sen.) Robert Allain will be the first ones to stepup to the challenge. They know their way around apot.”
So what do you say,guys? Are you up to thechallenge?
Groups call for early education funding
Louisianagovernment should spend an additional $95 million over the next 10 years on early childhood education programs, theLouisiana Association of Business and Industry and the Louisiana Policy Insitute for Children said in anews release this week. The groups released astudy by theEarly Childhood Care and Education Commission. It argues Louisiana’seconomy is projected
proval, alongwith avote to reopen government. The empty halls of the U.S. Capitol are now the stage forpopup political theater,such as when Democratic Arizona Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego confronted Johnson outside his office, with atroop of reporters, to complain that Adelita Grijalva had not received theoath of office.
Arizona elected Grijalva, aDemocrat,onSept. 23 while the House was out of session. She filled the seat of her fatherRep. Raúl Gri-
to expand over the next few years, but, “without access to affordable, high-quality child care, manyparents are unable to fully participate in the workforce.”
Parents’ inability to find good early childhood education costs thestate’semployers $762 million ayear and shrinks the state’s economy by $1.3 billion ayear, thereport found.
The report praised recent work by legislators to add moremoney to theChildCare Assistance Program,dedicate funding sources for theEarly Childhood Education Fund, which matches local spending, andpass tax credits for business that support child care costs.
But, “withmore than 100,000 economically disadvantaged children still unserved, the Commissionurgesa continued effort to ensure greater access to high-quality ECE so that Louisiana can thrive,” the groups’ news release says.
In addition to the $95 million annual investment, the groups call for an additional $30 million in the Early Childhood Dducation fund and further programstoincentivize employers. LABI represents Louisiana
jalva, D-Arizona, who diedearlier this year
Grijalva would be the last signature necessary on the bipartisan petition requiring Johnson to hold avote on forcing the Trumpadministration to release the files on Jeffrey Epstein, the late financier accused of trafficking underaged girls and friend to the elite.
Johnson called “absurd” the Arizona senators’ complaints that he wasdelaying Grijalva’soath to keep the Epstein vote from happening. Once the House reconvenes, Johnson said, he would swear in Grijalva.
He pointed out on CNNThursday that Rep. Julia Letlow,RBaton Rouge, had to wait25days forher oath.
“Wedidn’thave news conferences to go banging on doors and make abig thing of it, because we understood that is the regular process and tradition,” Johnson said.
It’sstill too early to tell if Democratic and Republican gambits to place the blame on the other for the shutdown is working.
Apoll released Thursday spread the blame for the shutdown about equally,with 58% of the 1,289 Americans surveyed saying congressional Republicans were at fault and 54% pointing to the Democrats. The Associated PressNORC Centeratthe University of Chicago results are pretty muchin line with other recent surveys.
But that’sinWashington.
Back home in Louisiana, the political drama is largely unnoticed, said G. Pearson Cross, aJohnson constituent and apolitical science professor at University of Louisiana Monroe.
The effects of the federal shutdown haven’treally been felt yet in Louisiana, so Johnson’sactions haven’tbeen noticed, Cross said. “Johnson generally gets apass from his constituents.” But that maybetested if the government closure starts impacting Louisiana.
EmailMark Ballard at mballard@theadvocate.com.
businesses and manufacturers, and is an influential lobbying group. The Policy Institute for Children is anonprofit think tank that researches policy proposals to benefit children from birth to age four Barksdale couldsee upgradesindefensebill Louisiana’sBarksdale Air Force Base could get morethan $20 million in upgrades if Congress passes the version of the National Defense Authorization Act, the huge bill that authorizes spending on the military The version of the bill passed by the Senate includes $18 million forconstruction and modernization of infrastructure forthe base’snuclear mission and housing improvements, according to a newsrelease from Sen. Bill Cassidy.Italso includes $2.2 million for anew on-base Child Development Center,which will allow capacity formore families; there is currently awaitlist. The bill has not been madelaw yet. It now heads to the House to work out aconsensus bill between the twochanges.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOByJ.SCOTT APPLEWHITE
Speaker of the House MikeJohnson, R-Benton, answers questions Thursday during anewsconferenceonday 16 of the government shutdown, at the Capitol in Washington.
Mexico floods signal need forbetterweather warnings
BY MARÍA VERZA Associated Press
MEXICO CITY
The most recent torrential rains in east-central Mexico, which have left at least 76 dead and dozens more missing, have raisedquestions again about the government’sability to alert people to severe weather in time. Authorities continue to describe the days of torrential rain last week that set off landslides and river flooding as unpredictable.Residents talk about never having seen anything like it. But researchers say what was considered normal before no longer exists, because climate change has accelerated these events and made them more frequent. And that requires preparation
“We’re being more and more affected by these phenomena and we can’tgoon like this, failing by not knowing what to do and not hav
“The language being used has to be considered” in how to communicate the dangers in an event, Carlos Valdés, former head of Mexico’s National DisasterPrevention Center.“The first thing we have to do is recognize that there is achange …the atypical is now the most typical.” Tech gaps andprevention
Thereare technological gaps. For example, Domínguez recognized that Mexico doesn’thave allofthe instrumentation forthings like measuring river levels in real time that could provide detailed hydrological forecasts or enough weather radars to allow meteorologists to make better forecasts.
Butshe emphasized that even with the existing forecasts there couldbemuch betterprevention strategies, if officials thinknot only of preparingfor hurricanes, but also the possibility that the confluenceof
can develop anywhere when the ingredients come together,” he said.
Training andeducation
Mexico has risk maps, and civil defense officials are in chargeofalertingpeople, “but beyond alerting, the people have to also understandwhatisbeingsaid,” Domínguez said.
In late 2023, shortly after HurricaneOtisdevastated Acapulco, having strengthened incredibly in amatter of hours, awoman in a wrecked neighborhood said that she had heard aCategory 5hurricane was coming, but didn’tknowthatmeant that allofthe houses were going to blow away Expertssay thatnot only do civil defense officials require training, but people need to be educated too.
Over decades, Mexico has developed new ways toalert of seismic activityincentral and southern Mexico. With
BY DAVID CRARY, PETER SMITH and TIFFANY STANLEY Associated Press
Every week hundredsof millions of people around the world gathertoworship in peace. But for some, there comes aday when deadly violence invades their sacred spaces and shatters thatsense of sanctuary and safety
It happened recently at a synagogue in England and two churchesinthe U.S. Before that, there were highprofile attacks at mosques in New Zealand,asynagogue in Pennsylvania and aSikh temple in Wisconsin. This violence canintensify anxiety and outright fear among clergyand worshippers worldwide.
Securitymeasures have been bolstered,congregants have beenplaced on alert, and yet the key question lingers:Can believers feel safe —and at peace —continuing to worship together?
TheOct. 2attack on a synagogue in Manchester, England, left two congregants dead and, according to police, was carried outby aman who had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group. Twodays later, a mosque in an English coastal town was targeted with a suspected arson attack.
Following those two attacks, “there is real fear, said aChurch of England bishop, the Right Rev.Toby Howarth. “People must feel safe in going to places of worship.”
How to instill thatfeeling is aconstantchallenge.
In Germany,inresponse to several attacks, many synagogues have been surrounded by barriers and guarded by heavily armed police. In the United States, most synagogues —and manynon-Jewish housesof worship —employlayered security strategies. These can involve guards, cameras, and various systems for controlling access to events through ticketing, registration or other forms of vetting.
The deadliest attack on Jews in the United States occurred in October 2018, when agunmankilled11 worshippers from three congregations at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life synagogue.
Eric Kroll, deputy director of community security at the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, said synagogues there hadbegun systemic security trainings before the attack.
Some of the training recommendations —such as keeping aphone on hand for emergencies even on the Sabbath, when observant Jews normallywouldn’tuse aphone —helped save lives during that attack,hesaid. The federation continues to evaluate attacks such as the one in Manchester to prepare for assailants’ evolving tactics.
“The wounds still run deep here in Pittsburgh for alot of people,” said Kroll, adding that preparations help them to worship together confidently.
twomosques during Friday prayers in 2019. It prompted newlaws banning an array of semi-automaticfirearms and high-capacity magazines. Theyalso prompted global changes tosocial media protocols after the gunman livestreamed his attack on Facebook.
During awaveofantisemitic incidents in Australia, asynagogue in Melbourne was firebombed in December 2024. Australian authorities have accused Iran of directing that attack.
“Weact morelike Interpol than we’dlike to,” Masters told The Associated Press. “Somanyofthese bad actors and their ideologies cross borders. So allofus have recognized that we are strongerwhenwework together.”
In the United States, religious leadersare urging Congress to expand the Nonprofit Security Grant Program. It helps nonprofits and houses of worship pay for security system upgrades and emergency planning.
nitySecurity Trust, acharity providing security to the Jewish community,told the BBC, “There is an inability to recognize antisemitism or areluctance to deal with incitement in ways thathave just allowed it to grow.”
“I think alot of Jewish people will be saying OK, the sympathy is great, but where’sthe action?”Rich added.
“It’ssoeasy to talk about all these things andbe frightened,”hesaid. “But if you teach waystorespond to those things, it empowers people to go and livetheir lives.”
Asimilar tonewas sounded by Bishop Bonnie Perry, leader of theEpiscopal Diocese of Michigan, in a letter to hercongregations twodays aftera gunman killed four people inside The Church of Jesus Christof Latter-day Saints in Michigan’sGrand Blanc Township on Sept. 29.
“Manyofusfeelgrief fear,and deep unease,” Perry wrote. “It is natural to wonder whether the places whereweprayand gather are safe.”
She proceeded to detail a balanced approach to security,rejectingsuggestions to lock church doorsduring worshipbut encouraginggreater vigilance and preparedness, including formation of emergency response teams at thediocese’schurches.
“Wedonot want our churches to feel likefortresses; they are housesof prayer for every person,” she wrote. “At the same time,love of neighborincludes readinesstoact swiftly should dangerappear.…Our goal is not to shut peopleout but to keep everyone safe while maintaining the radical hospitality of the Gospel.”
While some Christian pastors in the U.S. encourage congregants to bring firearmstochurchasanextra securitymeasure, numerousdenominations andindividualhouses of worship forbid this. Afterthe Grand Blancattack, TheChurch of JesusChristofLatter-day Saints affirmed that it prohibits carrying firearms and other lethal weapons inside its meetinghouses and temples, except for current law enforcementofficers.
Black churches in theU.S. have withstood alonghistory of violent attacks, from decades of church burnings andbombingstothe murder of nine Bible study participants in 2015 at Mother Emanuel AME in Charleston, South Carolina. The perpetrator of that attack, now on death row,posted selfies with aConfederate flag to flaunt his racist rationale for
shooting Black churchgoers.
AmemberofMetropolitan AMEinWashington, D.C., Khaleelah Harris, 29, said the threat of violence is often on her mind.
“It can be difficult to be a part of aworshipservice, and you look around and five police officers are in theservice because somebody just walkedin, andtheylook a little suspicious. It shiftsthe atmosphere,” said Harris, whoisinthe AME ordination process.
Her church wona lawsuit earlier this year against the Proud Boys, after the farright group vandalizedthe church’sproperty in 2020. Thecongregation hasincreasedsecurity,atone point paying $20,000 per month.
It’s astruggletobalance being awelcoming congregation with tightened securityprotocols, Harris said. “How does welcoming all and not being quoteunquote judgmental prevent someone from usingtheir discernment or engaging securitymeasures?”
In various forms, attacks on houses of worship have occurredthrough history
At present, attacksonindividual houses of worship in places like theUnited States and Western Europe tendto drawthe international spotlight more than attacksthat are part of broader ongoing conflicts —suchasChristian churches burned by Islamic militants in parts of Africa or the destruction of many mosques in Gaza through Israeli strikes mounted in its war against Hamas.
Attacksonmosques usually blamed on Islamic militants with rival ideologies —have takenplace in other Middle Easterncountries
Egypt reeled in 2017 from the killing of more than300 people in amilitant attack on amosque in Sinai frequented by Sufis, followers of amystic movement within Islam
On March 4, 2022, an Afghan suicide bomber struck inside aShiite mosquein Pakistan’snorthwestern city of Peshawar,killing at more than 60 worshippers. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility. Between those attacks was aday of horrorinChristchurch, New Zealand, when awhitesupremacistgunman killed 51 worshippersat
Australiaisamong several countries, including South Africa andBritain, that have engaged with the U.S.-based SecureCommunity Network to share information regardingpossible antisemitic threats, according to SCN’s national director,Michael Masters. The network provides security adviceand training to Jewish institutionsacross North America
In Britain, after the recent Manchester attack, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said morepolice resources would be deployed at synagogues.
From both the Jewish and Muslim communities in Britain, there arecalls for authorities and civic leaders to curtail antisemitic or antiMuslim vitriol that might incite future attacks.
Dave Rich of the Commu-
WajidAkhter,secretarygeneral of the Muslim Council of Britain, said expanded police deployment is only a partial answer
“There must be areckoningwith the hate being stoked in our public discourse,” he said. “The safety of British Muslims, and of all faith communities, depends on it.” AP journalists Sylvia Hui and Lydia DoyeinLondon; Geir Moulson in Berlin; and Mariam Fam in Cairocontributed.
Dogs dress up for Michigan Howloween event
BY MIKE HOUSEHOLDER
Associated Press
LANSING, Mich. — Dogs dressed up as everything from Elvis Presley to Scooby Doo’s Mystery Machine went trick-or-treating in Michigan’s capital Friday as part of the annual Howloween event organized by a local pet store.
The costumed canines made a loop through Lansing’s Old Town arts district, stopping outside restaurants, gift shops and jewelry stores, where owners were waiting to provide treats and a scratch behind the ears. Wendy Beck’s pooch, Bella “got filled up on biscuits” and had to stop along the route for a power nap It was the 9-year-old St. Bernard’s first Howloween, but Alicia Town’s dog, Mojo, is a veteran in more ways than one. The 13-year-old Pomeranian was a tank driver, rolling around in a little green tank an ode to Town’s husband serving in the Army
“There are so many dogs and
so many people. You see the cutest things,” Town said. “People go above and beyond on their costumes, and you get everything. It’s amazing.”
Makenzie Smith-Emrich accompanied her pit bull, Sadie, who was dressed up as a kissing booth
pumpkin
“This is something we wait for all year, because it’s something that we can do with our dogs that they absolutely adore ” the Lansing resident said. “And they get to dress up, and people give them attention.”
The event is organized each year by Preuss Pets, an Old Town fixture. The number of dogs is capped at 200, and their owners have to preregister It is all part of an effort to keep the numbers down for safety’s sake.
General manager Kirbay Preuss said Howloween is “joyous” and “a very good thing.”
“I think right now with everything going on in the world we need more joyous events, and that’s what this is,” she said.
Endangered baby black rhino makes its debut at Cleveland zoo
BY SUE OGROCKI Associated Press
CLEVELAND A critically endangered rhino made its public debut on Oct. 10 at a Cleveland zoo, dashing about its enclosure and giving a boost to the endangered species
The 120-pound eastern black rhino was born earlier this month to 22-year-old mother Kibibbi and 25-year-old father Forrest at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo The zoo has a long history of caring for the species, which has fewer than 583 adults in the wild, alongside global partners.
“He is very playful, runs around, gets the zoomies, so it’s very fun to take care of him, especially when they’re this age,” animal keeper Stefanie Titterington said as the calf explored the Daniel Maltz Rhino Reserve Alex Budinger, a zoo visitor, was thrilled to catch a glimpse of the rhino that has not yet been named. The zoo is holding a contest for guests to choose from one of three names — Makena, Kenza or Kamari.
“We’re zoo members. We come here all the time, so we’re very excited that there’s a new baby to come and check out and we thought it was a great day to come out and see the rhino,” Budinger said. “It’s adorable and we enjoy coming and seeing it do some enrichment and chew up some pumpkins.” South Africa has more than 2,000 of the 6,700 black rhinos left in the wild or in reserves and 12,000 to 13,000 of the world’s 15,000 remaining southern white rhinos, which are now listed as near threatened after a turnaround.
who is dressed as singer Elvis Presley, on Friday during an event for dog trickor-treating in
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By RyAN SUN
Michelle Dixon, of Laingsburg holds her dog Abu,
Lansing, Mich.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By SUE OGROCKI
A male eastern black rhino calf makes his public debut on Oct. 10 at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo in Cleveland, Ohio.
GULF COAST
Mississippiresearchers launch boatsintohurricane
Small, unmanned craftcollect data from inside storms
BY KASEY BUBNASH Staff writer
As Hurricane Humberto was rapidly gathering strength just eastofthe Caribbean late last month, researchers with the University of Southern Mississippi were busy preparing an experiment.
Leila Hamdan, aprofessor of ocean sciences, and her team loaded two fiberglass sailboats intoa truck and headed for North Carolina’scoast. From there, the boatsset sail forthe eyeof theCategory 5storm, where they encountered 150 mph winds and waves that rose several stories high. But though the boats were outatsea,noone wason board.
Measuring just 4feet long, the vessels,known as C-Stars, are completely remote-controlled andunmanned. They’re part of a larger effort, Hamdan said, to collect weather and climate data from the kinds of places people can’talways reach.
mightforminthe Gulfof Mexico as the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season comes to a close.
“So really exciting stuff happening righthere in Mississippi,” Hamdan said. Greg Foltz, aMiami-based oceanographerwithNOAA, saidthe C-Stars arestill experimental, and past efforts to getthe boatsinto hurricanes weren’tassuccessful. TheymissedHurricane Gabrielle by about 40 miles. But Foltz saidthe boats could soon becomeavital resourcefor hurricaneresearchers and scientists, who have long grappled with theproblemofhow to gather data in the strongest part of astorm,particularly close to the water’ssurface. That’sthe portion of astorm that people feel whenithits land, and havingabetter understanding of the forces at play inside astorm’s core could improve hurricane modeling, intensity and track forecasting and could improve help better predict rapid intensification.
“For example,” she said, “in the eyewall of ahurricane.” Propelled by wind and outfitted with solar-powered sensors, C-Stars operate individually or in fleets to gather data from within and around storms,including wind speedand direction, sea-surfaceand air temperature, air pressure and relative humidity— allelements that help scientists understand how and why hurricanes form, and where they might go. That dataisthen transmitted back to scientistsinreal time via satellite. Oncea CStar is recovered, scientists can also access wave condition data and high-resolution images andvideos collected while at sea.
TheNationalOceanic and AtmosphericAdministration has expanded its use of unmannedvessels and aircraft in recent years as away to collect datafrom dangerous or extreme environments ata lower cost and lesser risk. But Hamdansaid the latest fleet of C-Stars, several of which were launched this summer in partnership with NOAA
StreamSondes are tinyweather stations that are dropped into tropical storms and hurricanes to gather data.
and robotics company Oshen, are among the smallest in the game.
“These boatsare durable, they’resmall, they’relight enough that one person can
pickthemupand put them in the water,” Hamdan said. C-Stars have beenused in the U.S.and Europe on missions to monitor marine mammalsand collect ocean
data.But theirexpedition into Hurricane Humberto was afirst, as farasHamdan knows, making them the smallest unmanned vessels ever to travel into aCategory 5storm and live to tell the tale.
The C-Stars were recovered shortlyafter passing through the storm,and, while some of them are in need of alittle repair,Hamdansaidher team didnot record any total losses.
While several C-Stars will remainnear theCaribbean Sea, Hamdan said two will return to their usual resting place off the coast of Gulfport, Mississippi, ready to launch into any storms that
Hurricane Hunters, drones and data-collecting probes that researchers drop into stormsare allon the frontlines of the same battle, but Foltz said C-Stars are able to collect continuousdataina waythatother tools can’t.
Foltz said C-Stars are roughly afifth of the size of unmanned vesselsNOAA has used in the past, someof which were roughly 20 feet long. Their small size makes them easy and inexpensive to launch, recover,repair and replace.
“It’svery difficult,” he said, “and this is oneofthe best waystodoit.”
Email KaseyBubnash at kasey.bubnash@ theadvocate.com.
PROVIDED PHOTOS
Measuring 4feet long,C-Stars are small, unmanned vessels that National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and researchersatthe University of SouthernMississippi are using to collect data inside hurricanes.
‘Gen Z’ protesters lead wave of generational discontent
BY SHEIKH SAALIQ Associated Press
NEW DELHI From the An-
des to the Himalayas, a new wave of protests is unfolding across the world, driven by generational discontent against governments and anger among young people.
This week, Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina was forced out of power and out of the country after a military mutiny, the culmination of weeks of demonstrations led by young protesters referring to themselves as “Gen Z Madagascar.”
The rage against the political establishment in the Indian Ocean island country mirrors other recent protests across the world, in countries like Nepal, the Philippines, Indonesia, Kenya, Peru and Morocco. These protests have been sparked by specific grievances but are driven by longsimmering issues like widening inequality, economic uncertainty, corruption, and nepotism of leaders.
But they have one thing in common: Mostly leaderless, they are made up primarily of young people who brand themselves as “Gen Z,” defined as those born roughly between 1996 and 2010 the first generation to grow up entirely in the internet age.
“What connects these youth-led protests is a shared sense that traditional political systems aren’t responsive to their generation’s concerns, whether that’s corruption, climate change, or economic inequality Protest then becomes the logical outlet when institutional channels feel blocked,” said Sam Nadel, director of Social Change Lab, a U.K.-based nonprofit that researches protests and social movements. Though their specific demands differ, most of these protests have been sparked
by government overreach or neglect. Some have also confronted harsh treatment by security forces and brutal repression.
In Morocco, a leaderless collective called Gen Z 212 — named after Morocco’s dialing code — has taken to the streets to demand better public services and increased spending on health and education. In Peru, protests over a pension law exploded into broader demands, including action to tackle rising insecurity and widespread corruption in the government. In Indonesia, deadly protests have erupted over lawmakers’ perks and the cost of living, forcing the president to replace key economic and security ministers.
The most widely recognized movement to be dubbed as a “Gen Z” protest was a deadly uprising in Nepal that culminated with the
resignation of the prime minister in September Protesters drew inspiration from successful anti-government movements elsewhere in South Asia — Sri Lanka in 2022 and Bangladesh in 2024 — which led to the ouster of incumbent regimes.
In Madagascar in turn, protesters say they were particularly inspired by the movements in Nepal and Sri Lanka.
The protests began against regular water and electricity cuts but quickly morphed into wider discontent, as demonstrators called for the president and other ministers to step down. On Wednesday, Madagascar’s military coup leader said he is “taking the position of president.”
Across multiple countries, a singular pop culture symbol has emerged: a black flag showing a grinning skull and crossbones wearing a straw
hat. The flag comes from a cult Japanese manga and anime series called “One Piece,” which follows a crew of pirates as they take on corrupt governments.
In Nepal, protesters hung the same flag on the gates of the Singha Durbar, the seat of the Nepalese government, and on ministries, many of which were torched in protests. It was also hoisted by crowds in Indonesia, the Philippines, Morocco and Madagascar
Earlier this month in the Peruvian capital, Lima, 27-year-old electrician David Tafur stood with the same flag in San Martín Square, now the stage for weekly protests.
“We’re fighting the same battle — against corrupt officials who, in our case, are also killers,” he said, recalling that President Dina Boluarte’s government held on to power since December
2022 despite more than 500 protests and the deaths of 50 civilians.
“In my case, it’s outrage over abuse of power, corruption, the deaths,” Tafur said, referring to the sharp rise in murders and extortion plaguing the South American country since 2017, amid new laws that have weakened efforts to fight crime.
Boluarte had been under investigation for months over various allegations including bribery and involvement in a deadly crackdown on protesters in 2022. She was replaced last week by interim President José Jerí. Tafur said that wasn’t enough.
“The president is an ally of Congress and has to go,” he said.
Many significant protests in the past, like Occupy Wall Street in 2011, the Arab Spring between 2010 and 2012, and the 2014 Umbrella
Revolution in Hong Kong, have been led by younger people. While they also used the internet and social media for mass mobilization, the “Gen Z” protesters are taking it to another level.
“Digital platforms are powerful tools for information sharing and building connections, but the most effective movements often combine digital mobilization with traditional in-person organizing, as we’ve seen in these recent protests,” said Nadel from Social Change Lab.
Days before the deadly protests began in Nepal, the government announced a ban on most social media platforms for not complying with a registration deadline. Many young Nepalese viewed it as an attempt to silence them and began accessing social media sites through virtual private networks to evade detection. Over the next few days, they used TikTok, Instagram and X to spotlight the lavish lifestyles of politicians’ children, highlighting disparities between Nepal’s rich and poor and announce planned rallies and venues. Later, some of them also used the gaming chat platform Discord to suggest who to nominate as an interim leader for the country
“Whatever movement happens, whether against corruption or injustice, it spreads through digital media. The same happened in Nepal. The changes that took place after the Gen Z protests in Nepal spread globally through digital platforms, influencing other countries as well,” said protester Yujan Rajbhandari. He said the protests in Nepal awakened not only the youth but also other generations.
“We realized that we are global citizens and the digital space connects us all and plays a powerful role across the world,” Rajbhandari said.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MAMyRAEL
Soldiers are greeted on Oct. 12 by people gathering for a ceremony honoring demonstrators killed during recent antigovernment protests in Antananarivo, Madagascar
Mayor places high-ranking EBR staffer on leave
Assistant CAO accused of creating toxic workplace
BY PATRICK SLOAN-TURNER
Staff writer
East Baton Rouge Parish Mayor-
President Sid Edwards has placed a high-ranking staffer on leave while his office investigates complaints of misconduct.
Monique Appeaning, Edwards’ assistant chief administrative officer, was placed on administrative leave Friday a week after East Baton Rouge Parish
Metro Council members called for an investigation after another staffer accused Appeaning of creating a toxic work environment and using a slur against another appointee.
“This step is being taken to ensure a thorough and fair process,” a spokesperson for Edwards said in a statement Friday “As this is a personnel matter, no additional details will be provided at this time.”
Prior to the announcement, council members placed further scrutiny on Appeaning earlier in the day Friday Jen Racca, Mayor Pro Tempore
Brandon Noel, Carolyn Coleman and Aaron Moak questioned Appeaning’s use of Edwards’ autopen — a device used to replicate the mayor’s signature to authorize city-parish contracts with vendors.
The mayor’s chief service officer, Yolanda Burnette-Lankford, filed a formal complaint against Appeaning on Oct. 8.
Burnette-Lankford accused Appeaning of “verbally attacking” her and other City Hall staffers, humiliating employees in front of the mayor and purposefully impeding staffers’ duties. She wrote that Appeaning’s conduct
had caused her “severe emotional distress,” and her “unchecked authority” is wielded “more like a mafia boss than a professional government worker.”
The complaint accuses Appeaning of using the term “Sambo Retard” about another employee.
Following news of the complaint, council members called for an investigation into Appeaning’s behavior In her role, Appeaning’s responsibilities include overseeing Human Resources, Finance, Information Services, Purchasing, Human Services and the Office of Community Development departments, and also oversaw the Raising Cane’s River Center
Capital city’s No Kings rally draws hundreds
protesters
BY QUINN COFFMAN Staff writer
Incessant honks rang out along Perkins Road for two hours Saturday morning, as motorists showed their support for Baton Rouge’s No Kings rally protesting the Trump administration. The protest, organized by Indivisible Baton Rouge, drew hundreds of participants who lined the edge of BREC’s Perkins Road Community Park armed with drums, signs, slogans, jokes and costumes.
Cities across the country, and even foreign capitals like London and Madrid, held their own No Kings events Saturday to rail against what organizers see as oversteps from President Donald
Leaders mull AI in Louisiana classrooms
Committee formed to guide students at every grade level
BY ELYSE CARMOSINO
Ensuring students, teachers and
intelligence-fi
complex challenge,’ said Louisiana Tech University President Jim Henderson, who will lead a new team studying the process to implement AI in schools.
of the effort to expedite AI use in Louisiana
Before Friday’s announcement that she had been placed on leave, multiple government sources have told The Advocate that Appeaning’s department oversight was reduced to just the Office of Community Development, Human Services and the River Center following Burnette-Lankford’s complaint.
“The Office of the Mayor-President remains committed to maintaining the integrity of the review process and ensuring fairness to all parties involved,” Edwards’ spokesperson said.
Email Patrick Sloan-Turner at patrick.sloan-turner@ theadvocate.com.
Mom rejects plea deal in toddler’s death
State prosecutors now say boyfriend caused fatal injuries
BY MATT BRUCE Staff writer
A woman charged in the murder of her 2-year-old daughter will put her fate in the hands of a jury and chance a mandatory life sentence, according to proceedings that played out Thursday in a Baton Rouge court.
Lanaya Brittany Cardwell, 28, rejected a plea offer from state prosecutors that would have reduced her second-degree murder charge to cruelty to a juvenile in the September 2021 death of Nevaeh Liyla Allen. Her decision came as prosecutors publicly disclosed for the first time that they no longer believe Cardwell inflicted the brutal beating that caused the 2-year-old girl’s death. They now attribute it to her live-in boyfriend, Phillip Kegan Gardner Gardner 34, was convicted as an accomplice earlier this year for stuffing Nevaeh’s lifeless body into a suitcase after he said he found her unresponsive in the family’s apartment. He drove Nevaeh to Mississippi, where he buried her remains in a shallow grave deep in the woods along the Pearl River
When he returned to Baton Rouge, Gardner reported Nevaeh missing and told authorities she had possibly been kidnapped from the family’s West La Belle Avenue apartment. The false report set off a frantic four-day search in two states involving 200 first responders and dozens of law enforcement agencies, including the FBI. It wasn’t until after investigators confronted Gardner with license plate readers that tracked his car to southern Mississippi at the time of Nevaeh’s supposed disappearance that he finally admitted the reports of her kidnapping were a hoax. Gardner confessed to disposing of the child’s remains and told investigators he did it to cover up for Cardwell, who had beaten Nevaeh hours before she died.
Cardwell was charged with murder under the auspices that her attack on the child the morning of Sept. 24, 2021, ultimately led to her death. But testimony during Gardner’s trial unraveled that theory, according to Assistant District Attorney Kathleen Barrios. A jury found him guilty of obstruction of justice and second-degree murder at the end of a two-week trial in May and District Judge Fred Crifasi sentenced him to life in prison on Oct. 8.
STAFF FILE PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD
staff are prepared for an artificial
lled future is a ‘stunningly
Protesters line Perkins Road at the Kenilworth Parkway on Saturday waving at cars with signs during a No Kings rally in Baton Rouge. STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON
Nevaeh
Appeaning
Endangered okapi at south La. preserve expected to give birth
Audubon to host survival plan meeting
BY CHAD CALDER Staff writer
An 8-year-old okapi at the Freeport-McMoRan Audubon Species Survival Center on the West Bank is pregnant and will give birth to a calf later this year an encouraging development for the shy and endangered species known as the “forest giraffe.”
The Audubon Nature Institute made the announcement Saturday to coincide with World Okapi Day, which aims to raise awareness for the threatened species native to the Democratic
NO KINGS
Continued from page 1B
Trump in his role as the United States’ highest executive. Several rallies were held around Louisiana, including in Lafayette, Hammond and New Orleans Jerel Giarrusso, an organizer with Indivisible Baton Rouge, said Saturday’s events were to call attention to protesters’ beliefs that Trump is increasingly ruling the U.S. by fiat, with more frequent and broader-reaching executive orders and less respect for other government branches’ checks and balances
“The whole point of the Revolutionary War was to get away from a mad despot who thought that they could rule everybody’s life,” Giarrusso said. “So we fought a war over that. We became an independent country until now.”
While the “No Kings” title for the protests refers to that executive overreach, protesters gathered along Perkins on Saturday had a cornucopia of reasons they oppose the current administration, from increased deportations and domestic National Guard deployments to a rising cost of living and perceived concealment by the Trump administration of files showing the president’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
Protesters also identified themselves as anti-fascists, socialists or critics of Israel’s war in Gaza.
Colorful and varied signs showed this broad array of messages among protesters, from the simple and supportive (“Honk and celebrate diversity” or “Democracy needs your Courage”), to the specific and personal (“I’m proud of my immigrant daughters”).
Rebel Ellerbee, 58, said she had “a million and one reasons” to come out to Saturday’s protests.
Ellerbee worked for the East Baton Rouge Parish school district for 35 years as an educator and later principal of Broadmoor Middle School.
He said he had been expecting a quiet retirement for himself. Instead, on Saturday Ellerbee walked with a sign as tall as his body and led chants using a megaphone.
“What I am is an old history teacher that understands the danger that we’re facing in this country while we watch history repeat itself right in front of our eyes,” Ellerby said. “But, I try to keep it fun. As fun as fascism can be.” For Mary Crombie, 78, from the Southdowns neighborhood, Saturday was her first protest “No Kings means that we don’t want an authoritarian government with one person in charge,” Crombie said. “This is America. Checks and balances (Trump) is acting like an authoritarian.”
Jessica Eberhard, 57, brought her friend Crombie out for the protest Saturday She attended the first No Kings protest, held on June 14 in downtown Baton
Protesters at the Baton Rouge No Kings rally not only held signs but also dressed in costumes in what some described as a way to keep the event community-centric and highlight the nonviolent nature of the protest.
While some costumes were silly, others were obvious pillories of Trump or were otherwise obviously political, like the red cloak and white hood of Margaret Atwood’s book ‘The Handmaid’s Tale.’
Republic of Congo The survival center, located on 1,200 acres of land owned by the city and the U.S. Coast Guard along the Mississippi River, has five okapis that roam on 26 acres.
Asili is now 14 months pregnant, and the father of her calf is 10-year-old Miraq, Audubon said. This will be his first calf. Asili gave birth to a female calf in 2022, though she was born with a untreatable congenital defect and survived only a few months.
“As with all newer mothers, the animal care team is monitoring this pregnancy closely and will be watching via a camera system, during the birth process to ensure the safety and health of both mother and calf. Now that Asili is an experienced mother, the team expects the new calf to
thrive,” Audubon said in a news release. Okapi are listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species, Audubon said. They are the only living relative of the giraffe and are considered one of the world’s oldest mammals. But because of their solitary nature and ability to avoid detection, scientists did not describe these animals until 1901, and even a hundred years later, very little is known about them, Audubon said. In the wild, okapi are threatened due to illegal hunting, mining, deforestation and other human encroachment on their habitat. Audubon said there is no accurate accounting of okapi in the wild, but their number
is believed to have dropped by roughly 50% in the past 20 years, “making this pregnancy at Audubon extremely important for the survival of the species.”
Audubon has been participating in the Species Survival Plan for okapi, overseen by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, since 2017. The program uses the parentage and genetic information of animals at accredited institutions within the system to provide breeding matches that will keep genetic variation among the captive animals at healthy and sustainable levels.
This week, Audubon is hosting the International Okapi Meeting. Conservation leaders from eight countries and 31 zoos will gather to discuss efforts to protect these endangered animals.
Protesters
Rouge, and meant to coincide with a Washington D.C., military parade Trump organized.
Eberhard said Saturday’s turnout looked bigger, a fact she was grateful for because she believes there are more people who agree with No Kings who couldn’t come out in public over fears of detainment and deportation or backlash from their employer
The two neighbors said it was their job to speak louder for those who couldn’t attend.
“The best way to distill it to singular points is to say we feel like there’s a gross misuse of power and a lack of respect in checks and balances,” said Christopher Gibson, 28, who works in law enforcement. “In the White House,
currently our government is working for causes that actually harm the people of Baton Rouge.” Gibson talked about the rising cost of living and his mother’s own fight to get him and the rest of his family into a safer neighborhood and out of food insecurity To him, Trump’s crackdown on undocumented immigrants living in the U.S. is punishing people who are only looking to provide a better life to their families in the same way
“I’m naive enough to still believe in the American Dream,” Gibson said, “but I’m realistic enough to see that there are people who are actively trying to take it away from not only myself, but
from my future children.”
Gibson delivered these thoughts to The Advocate while dressed as Spider-Man from the neck down. In contrast to similar anti-Trump protests from a decade ago, recent events have included more costumes, especially inflatable animal costumes like the ones seen in protests outside of Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities in Portland, Oregon.
Viktor Gard, 21, of Walker, said the costumes bring a fun, community-centric air to the protests and highlight their nonviolent nature.
“It’s more about controlling the optics,” Gard said. “They come in as military dudes and they expect military dudes to come out (in response), and then they can turn around and say, ‘They’re being violent.’”
While some costumes were silly, others were obvious pillories of Trump or were otherwise obviously political, like the red cloak and white hood of Margaret Atwood’s book “The Handmaid’s Tale.”
Superheroes, specifically, act both as images of massively popular franchises and as symbols of hope in the fight against injustice, said Kate Villemarette, 20, of Zachary who was also dressed in a Spider-Man costume.
“I love Spider-Man, and I love the message that has always been behind Spider-Man,” she said “It’s like the little people, anyone could be behind the mask. And it’s about fighting for everybody and protecting everybody, and especially the people in your community.”
Throughout the protest, organizers with Indivisible Baton Rouge registered residents to vote in the 2026 midterm elections and for the highly anticipated 2028 presidential election.
“In Trump’s first term, he was outrageous, right?” said Indivisible Baton Rouge’s Giarrusso. “We voted him out. You know, a majority of Americans said, ‘Nope, this is not the America that we want.’
He’s gone.”
According to organizers, over 2,500 individual No Kings events were held across the country Saturday, and in at least 18 other countries.
The Baton Rouge protest was held at the park due to cleaning and construction taking place on the Capitol grounds and other events taking place downtown on Saturday
Email Quinn Coffman at quinn. coffman@theadvocate.com.
Continued from page 1B
schools cite the technology’s growing importance in the global economy
But ensuring students, teachers and staff are prepared for an AI-filled future is a “stunningly complex challenge,” said Louisiana Tech University President Jim Henderson on Tuesday Henderson was appointed to lead the new team.
Henderson pointed to AI’s rapid advancement, which he said makes it difficult to develop education policy around the technology that can withstand the test of time. He also acknowledged concerns over protecting student data — an issue state education leaders and experts have warned could put student privacy at risk.
Still, he said, it’s crucial that Louisiana get ahead of the game if the state wants to establish itself as a nationwide leader in AI education.
“AI is here,” he said. “It’s something that’s going to continue to develop, and having a framework for the state allows us to empower our people to take advantage of it.”
Some education experts, however, warn there has not been enough research on the technology’s long-term impact, and that there’s no evidence so far to suggest it improves student learning. Critics also point out that AI can sometimes give users incorrect information.
At least 85% of teachers and 86% of students across the country said they used AI last school year, according to a report released this month by the nonprofit Center for Democracy and Technology But students also reported that using AI in class made them feel less connected to their teachers, while educators voiced concerns that AI weakened their students’ critical thinking and research skills.
Louisiana introduced its first set of AI standards for K-12 schools last fall. They included suggestions on how to incorporate AI into class instruction, how to train teachers to use and teach AI and ways to protect student data and privacy
The standards also noted challenges with AI in classrooms, such as an increased potential for plagiarism, and gave guidance on how to combat those problems.
Board member Preston Castille also asked Henderson’s team to look into developing school programs that teach students how to create AI platforms, saying that Louisiana “shouldn’t just be consumers of the technology, but we should be designers, innovators.”
Louisiana’s Education Department has already rolled out the use of certain AI-powered learning tools, including Khanmigo and Amira, in some schools to see how they work for students and educators, state Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley said. He added that the state wants to develop a system to vet new AI programs for districts.
The work group will present its suggestions, which are also expected to include new policy recommendations for lawmakers, at the state board of education’s March 10 meeting next year
State education leaders didn’t “have the internal horsepower to move this initiative very far, very quickly,” state school board president Ronnie Morris said. With external help from the new committee, however, the state can ensure its students “are even more competitive and better prepared for careers and college.”
Email Elyse Carmosino at ecarmosino@theadvocate.com.
PROVIDED PHOTO
Asili, an 8-year-old okapi at the FreeportMcMoRan Audubon Species Survival Center on the West Bank, is 14 months pregnant.
STAFF PHOTOS By MICHAEL JOHNSON
Protesters in Baton Rouge took part in a No Kings rally along with cities across the country, and even foreign capitals like London and Madrid, on Saturday to rail against what organizers say are oversteps from President Donald Trump. Several rallies were held around Louisiana, including in Lafayette, Hammond and New Orleans.
STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON
wave signs at cars from along Perkins Road at the Kenilworth Parkway in Baton Rouge on Saturday during a day of nationwide No Kings rallies.
N.O. asking fortax renewalfor addedQuarter patrol
BY SOPHIE KASAKOVE
Staff writer
As the clockticked toward 8p.m one recent Friday,the entertainers of BourbonStreet began to scatter Drummer kids hoistedstacks of buckets andsticks; brass players slungtrumpets and trombones over theirshoulders;and singers, dancers and stunt performers towed speakers,props and tip jars.
All weaved around tourists to make it off of the famous party strip as anightly curfew approached. Though the 8p.m. endpoint has been enshrinedincity ordinance for decades,it’sonly within the past year that acrewof New Orleans police officers andOrleans Parish sheriff’s deputieshas worked daily to enforce it, telling performers, vendors and homeless residents to disperseoften just as the festivities hit full swing.
Now,the future of thatenforcement push and other French Quarterpublic safety initiativeswillbe left to neighborhood voters, who must decide in November whether to renew asales taxthat funds the efforts. Early voting begins Nov.1 and runs through Nov. 8; theelection is Nov.15.
Law enforcement and French Quarter leaderssay the patrols, which coverBourbonStreet and other French Quarter areas, have beeneffective in makingthe neighborhood safer.Business owners who called on police to step up say thepreviousswarmoflate-evening activity made theirarea lesssecure and cut into their profits.
“The street has felt better than it’s felt in alongtime,”said Alex Fein, president of thenonprofit French QuarterBusiness League and acommissioner with the French Quarter Management District, the state-created agency that
oversees the spending of the tax. Fein’sfamily owns the Court of TwoSisters on Royal Street. “Better,cleaner,safer.”
Butthe crackdown on Bourbon Street has also frustrated performers and vendorswho saythe sweeps have made it challenging to eke outaliving in thecity’stourist hub and have sanitized the freewheelingchaos thatthe street is world famous for.With aNational Guard deployment likely on the way, they worry aboutevenmore enforcement.
“There shoulddefinitely be a police presence …but Ithink too muchofitdoes really messupthe atmosphere,” saidRick Wellington, ajuggler who regularly preforms on Bourbon Street. “It makes it look unsafewhere it’sreally not unsafe.”
The New Orleans Police Department haslong stationed officers on Bourbon Street and throughout the FrenchQuarter. But withthe force chronically understaffed, it wasn’t until voters approved asales tax for the French Quarter in 2021 that neighborhood leaders had the cash to increase their ranks. The 0.245% tax, dubbed the “Quarter for the Quarter,” plusfederalgrants and cash from New Orleans &Co. have funded multiple patrols, apublic safety mobile app andother services.
Voters will considerinafew short weeks whether to renew the tax, which islevied on sales of goods in the FrenchQuarterand is designated for “enhanced and supplementalpublic safety services and homeless assistance services to facilitate economic development projects.”
The tax would generate $4 million in 2026 if it is renewed, according to aSeptember draft budget from the French Quarter Management
District, astate-created agency tasked withmanaging the area.
The district also has about $1.3 million in unused cash from past years, fora totalofabout $5.3 millionfrom the taxin2026. All told, most of that money,$4million, would go toward shoring up police patrolsinthe area, with a significantshare goingtoward officer overtime andincentives. The district would spend $250,000 of its cash on homeless services, and another $650,000 on pedestrian and vehicle safety measuresand streetlight maintenance. Offering overtime andincentives to officers has allowed the district to go from having less thanhalf of itsofficershifts filledin2022to nearly100% of shifts filled in September,said Glade Bilby,a French Quarter Management District commissioner
That comes out to an additional 10,500 police patrol hours per year, which has helped bring response
PLEA DEAL
Continuedfrom page 1B
time by law enforcement to under 2minutes in the French Quarter, according to the district.
The latest police patrol effort on Bourbon Street kickedoff in the fall of 2024 amid amultiagency campaigntoclean up thecity ahead of theSuper Bowl. It is typically staffed by fourorfive officers on weekdays, and by more than a dozen officers on weekend nights.
Still being hashed out is just how the district will use the money to address homelessness in the area going forward. The funds have recently helped to move people into housing, butthe district is now consideringredirectingsome of those funds towardmental health and addiction treatment services.
As 14 officers and deputies made their way from CanalStreet down theraucous stripona recentFriday evening, the regulars who remainedonthe street knew thedrill.
Barry Sexton,who washanging outinthe Quarter late Friday,be-
who conducted Nevaeh’sautopsy,told jurors the toddler sufferedatleast12distinct blows to thehead and concluded the effects of those wounds would have been apparent immediately
Video surveillance showed Nevaeh leaving home with the family after Cardwellallegedly struckher in the stomach. She was walking upright, unassisted and showing no apparent signs of head trauma. The toddler alsoappeared fine when she returnedhome after Gardner dropped Cardwell off at Hancock Whitney Bank, where she worked as afull-timeteller. Prosecutors met with Cardwell’sattorney,Jarvis Claiborne,inCrifasi’s chambers Oct. 9todiscuss thenegotiations for apossible plea deal
“The reason we were discussing thatwas thestate believes thatthe evidence proved in the Phillip Gardner trialthatMr. Gardner is the one who inflicted the 12 blows to Nevaeh’shead,” East Baton Rouge Assistant DistrictAttorneyKathleen Heap said during Thursday’shearing. “Andthat he obstructed justice not only to cover up Ms. Cardwell’sactions, but his own actions.” Heap said after Gardner’s trial, prosecutors learned of unofficial reports of domestic violenceprior to Nevaeh’s death thatindicated Gardner abused Cardwell. She said thestate has also uncovered evidence thatGardner led Cardwell to believe Nevaeh wasactually missing, in the same way Gardner duped authorities, andthe mother wasn’tawarethe report of her daughter’sdisappearance was ahoax.
“She did nothave knowledge of him putting her in asuitcase
gan packing up his folding chair fromthe back doorway of astore as agroup of officers began directing him to leave. It was unclear whether he hadany placeelsetogo.
“It is what it is,” Sexton said, shoving his takeout container into aplastic bag.
Just past Bienville Street, the curfew is another element forWellington to juggle in his final routine of the night. As onlookers gather around him, Wellingtonbalances on aplastic tube andjugglesthree knives the length of his forearms, racing againstthe clockaspolice start their patrols.
In the threedecades he’sspent performing in theQuarter,police have never been stricter than they are now,hesaid.
“It really hurts us alot,” said Wellington.
After years of laxenforcement, officers facedsome pushback when theygot to work initially,saidBilby But as policehanded out citations to performers andvendors, especially those selling alcohol, more people began to comply,Bilby said.
It is unclear how many people have receivedcitations forperforming or vending on Bourbon Street in recent months, but the enforcementhas transformed the strip, withmany sights common just ayear ago —women knownas “shot girls” hawking neon plastic test tubes of mysterious alcohol, vendors wheeling wagons full of CBD candy and snacks —all but gone. As he packed up just after curfew, magicianTommEEPickles questioned the use of so much policing manpower toward performers and vendors.
“They’re bringing out …cops to kick everyone offthe street, and it’slike, wow.You’re taking them off from doing crime?” said Pickles. The majority of officer shifts on the Bourbon Street patrol are overtime, district leaders have said.
and taking her to Mississippi,” Heap said. “That being said, the state also saidthey could not ignore evidence that Ms. Cardwell punched Nevaeh in the stomach.”
Pleading guilty to juvenile cruelty would cap Cardwell’s possible prison sentence at 10 years. If she goes to trial and a juryfindsher guiltyofmurder, she is almost certain to receive an automaticlife sentence, mandated by state law Crifasi is set to preside over Cardwell’smurder trial, which had been set to begin Nov.3 Prosecutorsasked thejudge Thursday to push back the trial datebecause FBIagent David Borgetti,one of theinvestigators whoquestionedCardwell, is outonfamily medicalleave and won’tbeable to testify until next year.Crifasi agreed to postpone the trial to Feb. 2.
AtheoryofNevaeh’smurder
According to court records, Cardwell was in thebathroom preparing to go to work the morning of thehomicide,when Nevaeh picked up her mom’s contact lensesand rippedone Alivid Cardwell thenstruck her daughter in thetorso with aclosed fist. Nevaeh fell backward and hit her head on acabinet before her mother “forcefullygrabbed”her andtook hertoanother room. Gardner later told police that from the next room,itsounded like “two adults fighting.”
Nevaeh was crying and had alarge bruise on her forehead when she came out of the room
TwoofGardner’schildren corroborated the incident during histrial and Cardwell admittedtoinvestigators thatshe “popped her (Nevaeh)” for messing with hercontacts.
The family then loaded up into their car,and Gardner drove Cardwell to work as the two older children headed off to school.
He returned to the Belaire
apartment with Nevaeh, her 3-year-old sister and 11-monthold brother.Hetold Baton Rouge police Nevaeh complainedofastomachacheand refused to eat when he tried to feedthe young children later thatmorning. He told hertolay down on the couch, and she fell asleep. When he tried to wake her up hours later,Nevaeh was unresponsive even when he gently slappedher face. He said she had bubbles in her mouth, herface hadbegun to turn blue,and she hadnopulse He lifted herarm,and thelittle girl wassolimpthat her limb fell back onto the couch. Gardner said he performed CPR in an attempt to resuscitate Nevaeh, but she remained unconscious. He told officers he “freaked out” and packed the child in the suitcase to cover up what his girlfriend had done.
Butindenying Gardner’s motion for anew trial last month, Crifasi noted Gardner was the only adult with Nevaeh when she died. He accepted the state’stheory,based on circumstantial evidence, that Gardner inflicted Nevaeh’s headwounds, and ruleditas one of the possible foundations for his murder conviction. Cardwell has been in jail more than four yearsawaiting trial,according to court records. On Thursday,her attorney fileda motion to reduce her $375,000 bond to $25,000. The motion argued evidence in Gardner’strial showedCardwell “did not murderNevaeh Allen.” Claiborne, Cardwell’sdefense attorney, also filed anotice of alibi Thursday, indicating several of the woman’sformer co-workers cantestify that she was on dutyatHancock Whitney branch at the time of Nevaeh’smurder
Email Matt Bruceatmatt. bruce@theadvocate.com.
ABOVE: Katie Love performs for visitors to the
RIGHT: Luca Broome, right, asks his mom, Kelsey Broome, her opinion on a variety of
Bonnecaze, Eugene Elden 'Gene'
Abeautiful life that ended too fast, your worries are over, your troubles have passed. With the winds to lift you, your shackles off-cast, fly on proud bird, you're free at last. Eugene Elden "Gene Bonnecaze passed away peacefully on October 10, 2025. He was 85. Born January 24, 1940, he was the second child of Emile Joseph Bonnecaze, Sr., and Leah Lucas Bonnecaze. A lifelong outdoorsman, taking after his father, he enjoyed duck, deer, and rabbit hunting, as well as fresh and saltwater fishing. He is preceded in death by his parents and elder brother, EmileJoseph Bonnecaze, Jr. He is survived by his two younger sisters,Evelyn BonnecazeBoudreaux and husband, Phil;niece, Allison Boudreaux Newman and husband, Daniel; great-nieces, Ainsley and MadisonNewman; nephew, Jason Boudreaux and wife, Bonnie; greatnieces, Riley and Reagan Boudreaux; sister, Denise BonnecazePlauche and husband, Michael Plauche, Sr.; nephew, Michael PlaucheJr. andwife, Catherine Plauche, and their son, Gus; nephew, Trent Plauche and wife, Donna; great-nieces Blair and Bailey; great-nephews Brayden and Bryce Plauche; nephew, Cary Rene Bonnecaze; niece, Holly Jo Bonnecaze Rorick and husband, Randy; great -niece, Rachel Rorick Cabbiness and husband, Randy; and great-nephew, Reid Scott Rorick. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the funeral service at Resthaven Funeral Home 11817 Jefferson Hwy in Baton Rouge, on Saturday October 25, 2025, at 2:30 p.m. Avisitation will be held at the funeral home beginning at 1:00 p.m. Burial will follow at Resthaven Gardens of Memory.
Judy Perrine
Aletter from Judy, Goodbye dear friends and acquaintances. Icame to lifeonOctober 28,1939 and left on October 14, 2025. Mary and Major Perrine made my home in Tulsa, OK., Charlotte, NC., Raliegh, NC. and in 1952 we came to Baton Rouge. Ienjoyed school at Baton Rouge Junior High and then at UniversityHigh, graduating in 1957. My degree in Education was earned at LSU, with my sophomore year studying at SMU. Iwant to thank all those that helped me make it through this adventure. Your smiles, conversations, advice, and Helping hands made the journey of this life apleasure.
Your friend, Judy Perrine Calhoun This letter was composed by our mom several years ago. She wanted to leave us like she lived,on her terms. She peacefully passed at her home, surrounded by her children Suzi, Dollie, and Beau. She amazed us all with her love and grace for all that she encountered. In lieu of flowers we ask that you do as Judy would do, be kind to those that you do not know and love those that you do. As per Judy's request, a Celebration of life will be held at alaterdate
Mary Ann"Annie Boo Fremin Albarado passed awaysurrounded by her family and friends at Our Lady of the Lake on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at the age of 61. Though her battle was shortshe fought until the end. Her lifelong careerincluded accounting management in the chemicalindustry for 40 years. AnnieBoo was a resident of Plaquemine and anative of White Castle, LA. Visitationwill be held at Wilbert Funeral Home,Plaquemine on Monday, October 20, 2025, from 4pm until 8pm with a Rite of ChirstianBurial at 6:30pm, conducted by FatherMartinLawrence. Annie Boo is survived by her husband of 34 years, Dale Albarado; son, Bailey Albarado and Saylor Young; grand dog, Willie James Albarado;brother,Rusty Jude Fremin andKitz Bolotte; sister-in-law, Debra Berbaum and husband Richard; brother-in-law, Donnie Albaradoand wife Trudy;nieces and nephews, godchild,Chet Fremin and wife Jessica, Becky Crocker and husband Randy, LoriAcosta and husband Jason, Jake Albaradoand wife Carlin, and Donnie Albarado, Jr. and wifeKim; godchildren, Harrison Albarado, Grant Albaradoand AllenHymel; numerous greatnieces and great nephews;and lifelongfriends, Bryan and Lori Leonard, Kassi Leonard, Lenny andLovee Rodriguez, Kamryn and Logan Rodriguez, and Stacey Decuir. Preceded in death by her parents, Russel and Jackie Dugas Fremin; godchild, KirschKember; and father and mother-in-law, Fellan and EveAnn Albarado. Honorarypallbearers willbeBailey Albarado, LoganRodriguez, Chet Fremin, Donnie Albarado, Jr.,JakeAlbarado, and Brayden Albarado. Annie Boo loved being around her family and friends, especiallythrowing get-togethersand cookingfor them. Hersmileand laughter wouldlight up any room. Annieboo enjoyed traveling particularly beachvacations, casinos and shopping. Please share memoriesonline at www.wilbertservices.com.
Alzheimer'sfoundationin his memory.
Hebert,RickeyJoseph
Rickey JosephHebert passed away peacefully on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, at theage of 62. He was aretired pawn broker, resident and native of Plaquemine, LA.Visitation willbeheldatSt. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Plaquemine on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, from9am until Mass of ChristianBurial at 11am, celebrated by Father Martin Lawrence. Interment willfollow at Grace Memorial Park, Plaquemine.Rickey is survivedbyhis twin brother, Mickey N. Hebert; sister, Gloria Hebert Scruggins; nieces, Tonya Scruggins Quebedeaux and husband Carey, and Dana Scruggins Callegan; great nieces and nephews, Jarrid Rachal, godchild Amber Rachal Shipp,Ayden, Alayna and Ainsley Callegan; great-great nieces and nephews, Andrewand Lillian Rachal, and Adalynn Hebert,Everest and RiverLeighShipp;and numerous cousins.Preceded in death by hisparents, Mitcheland LucilleJohnson Hebert; brother, Mitchel Hebert, Jr.; sisters, Faye Hebert Collettie, MaryNolaHebert Lanclos and Elaine Hebert; and nephew, Joey Collettie Pallbearers willbeMickey Hebert,JarridRachal, Carey Quebedeaux, Ayden Callegan, Stephen and Craig Hebert,Dougand BradyGeorge. Rickey was an avid hunter, fisherman and sports fan. He was a ballroom dancer forover 20 years. Rickey also enjoyed his casino trips with his momma. Special thankstoBridgeway Hospice, Ochsner Home Health, and The Crossing fortheir loving care and devotion.Pleaseshare memories online at www.wilbertservices.com.
alaterdate. Share your thoughtsand memories of Shirleyinher guestbookbyvisiting Lnhughes.com. Arrangementshave been entrusted to LN Hughes Funeral Services.
Robert "John" Lanclos, 62, of BatonRouge, Louisiana, passed away peacefully on September 25thatDuke University HospitalinDurham, North Carolina, after acourageousbattlewithstage 4 melanoma brainmetastasis, surrounded by hisloving family He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Lena Lanclos, and hisbrother, Philip.He is survivedbyhis devoted wife of 35 years, Cori;his sisters Clotilde Taylor and Catherine Salario; sister-in -law Ginny Lanclos; his childrenEdgar Baronne III (Carly), Carleigh (Tina) Lanclos-Hayes, Daniel Lanclos, ClaireLanclos(Mason), and Tim Buiting who was like ason to John; and his grandchildrenEdgar IV, ScarlettBaronne, and Elizabeth Corder.
John was married to the love of his life,Cori,for 35 beautiful years, and togethertheybuilt thelife andfamily he was most proud of. Hisgreatest joys were hisfamily and his faith. Whether working on projectswith his kids,having long talksabout life,or cheering them on in every endeavor,heshowed up for them wholeheartedly. Becoming "Pops" was one of his greatest honors—he was theproudest dadand grandfather thereever was.
Alifelong Catholic, John was aproud parishioner of Our LadyofMercy and an alumnus of Catholic High School. He cherished his time at Mercy's adoration chapel, spendingtime with his OLOM ACTS brothers and treasured hisannual retreats at hisfavorite place on earth—Manresa—where he returned year after year fornearly threedecades.
in beingwith his grandkids andnieces. Louis is survivedbyhis wife of 65 years, Mary Ann Tate LeBlanc; sons, Charles "Chuck" LeBlanc (Rachel Trahan LeBlanc) andEricLeBlanc (Sonia Vinet); grandchildren, Taryn Broussard (Joshua), Braedan LeBlanc, Lauren AnnLeBlanc,Hunter John LeBlanc, HaleyLee LeBlanc, Lacey Cecile LeBlanc; andgreat grandchildren, Logan Broussard, GavinBroussardand Aiden Broussard. He is preceded in death by his parents, Wiltonand Bertha LeBlanc; siblings, Carlton "Blackie LeBlancand Yula LeBlanc; andgrandchild,Logan Michael LeBlanc. Serviceswill be held on Tuesday, October 21, 2025 at OursoFuneral Home in Gonzales, LA, with aVisitation beginningat9:30 until theCelebrationofLife Service at 12:00 PM.A committal service is to immediately follow at Hope Haven Garden of Memory on Hwy 30.
MaxineD.McCall, affectionately known as Mickey, passedaway at the age of 100 on October5,2025, in Baton Rouge,LA. Born MaxineWellesinPonchatoula, La. on September 22, 1925, Mickey lived acentury filledwith love,adventure,and dedication to her family.
Hardee,John 'Skip'
John "Skip"Hardee was bornApril 4, 1943 in DeBerry,TexastoJohnnieand Alice Hardee and passed awayonOctober 13, 2025 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. John was dedicated to his work as asalesman withStandard Alloys. He also enjoyed spending time with his family, golfing,fishing and dancing at Ric Seeling DanceStudio He was adie hard fanof the NewOrleansSaints and LSUTigers Johnwas precededin death by his fatherJohnnie Hardee, his motherAlice Hardee, his wifeDiane Hardee,his sister Beverly Monroe, his stepson John McCurley and his beloved cat Chace John is survived by his brotherChris Hardee,sisterPeggy Bradshaw, daughters Elizabeth Hardee,Susie Hardee and Jennifer Hardee, daughterin lawShannon Seay and grandchildren Heather Hardee, ChanceMcCurley, Brandon McCurley and Lily Seay John's kindness and charismatic personality will begreatly missed. He always offered asmileand ahandshaketoall. He never knew astranger Cremation arrangements are under thedirection of Ascension Funeral Home. In lieuofflowers, please consider making a donation to any
ShirleyHarding Hipps,a cherished member of her community and adevoted family woman, passed away peacefullyonThursday, October 9, 2025, at the ageof75. BornonSaturday, September23, 1950, in Grenada, Mississippi, Shirleylived alifefilled with love and laughter. She willalways be remembered forher boundless love and thejoyful momentsshe shared with her family and friends. May her memory live on in the heartsofall who had the privilege to knowher.
Shirleyhad afulfilling career, retiring from CapitalOne Bank, where her dedication and service were well known among her colleagues. Beyond her professional life,she was a devotedfan of sports, proudly supporting theLSU Tigers.Her love forsports was matched onlybyher commitment to maintaining an activelifestyle; she relishedthe pleasuresof exercising and spending time nurturingher garden.
Shirley is survived by her beloved husband of 22 years, Leonard"Lenny" A. Hipps.She is also survived by her children, Todd Barlowand Brandy Barlow, her stepdaughter, Jamie Lynn Hipps,and her cherishedgrandchildren, Chance Barlowand Jordyn BarlowMancaluso.Additionally, Shirley leavesbehind additional family members and friends who willremember her warmth and generosity. Her kindness and spirit willbeprofoundlymissedbythose who knew her. She wasprecededin death by her parents, Oliver and ElsieHarding,who undoubtedly shaped the wonderfulpersonshe became.
ACelebrationof Shirley's Life will be held at
John livedwith humility, generosity,and unwavering devotion—valueshe carried into his 30 years running thefamily business, Professional Printer. He will be forever missed by his beautiful community of friendsand family,all of whom he lovedbeyond measure.
The family extendsspecial gratitude to his dear friend LarrySimsand the entireSimsfamily fortheir steadfast friendship and for giving John some of his happiest days on Mobile Bay.
ACatholic Mass willbe celebrated by Fr. Cleo J. MilanoatOur LadyofMercy on October 21, 2025. Visitationwilltakeplace from 8:30 to 10:00 a.m.,witha Rosaryat9:30 a.m. and the servicebeginning at 10:00 a.m.,followedbya walk to Mercy's Memorial Columbarium, The Garden of Peace. In lieu of flowers, donations may be madein his memory to Our Ladyof Mercy Men'sACTS group or Manresa Retreat CenterGroup 5.
Louis John LeBlanc, a lifelong resident of Sorrento,LA, passed away on Wednesday, October15, 2025, at theage of 86. Louis was born to parents, Wilton and Bertha LeBlanc, on May 15, 1939 in Sorrento, LA.Hewas a60 year member of Local Union198, working as a welder and also serving 12 years as Business Manager of Local 198. Louisalso served in theLouisiana National Guard CO A769 Engr. Bn from 1962-1968, being Honorably Discharged as StaffSergeant. Louis was also an avid hunter, but aboveall else he was a family manwho found joy
Mickey was knownfor herloving andgenerous spirit.She hada zest for life that wasevident in her love forsportsand heradventurousnature.Her career working forthe school boardreflected hercommitment to education and hercommunity. Mickey grew up at Ponchatoula Beach on the Tangipahoa River. She graduated from Ponchatoula High School andattended LSU. Shewas a lifelongLSU sportsfan and ShaquilleO'Neal andJoe Burrow were herall-time favorite athletes. Mickey was an accomplished bridge player andachieved Life Master status. She wasalso active in the Senior Olympics playing pickle balland badminton. Sheissurvived by her sons, AllenJackson, Ricky Jackson,her daughterGay Meyers andGay's husband Archie King.She is also survived by many grandchildren, great-grandchildren anda great-great grandchild.She is also survived by herstepson Mickey andwife Claudia McCall. Mickey was preceded in death by herhusband, H.C. McCallin2005 and her daughter, JulieNall in 2023.
Plans for afuture memorial service to celebrate Mickey'sremarkable life will be announcedata later date.
Mark Robert Millsom, Sr 87, of RanchoBernardo, CA, peacefully passed away on May11, 2025, surroundedbyhis loving family. Born July 1937, to Carl Sr.and Mildred Millsom,in NewYork, he was raisedin Jackson,MI, withhis youngerbrother.Heattended Carleton College andgraduatedfromKalamazoo College, wherehe excelledinacademics and athletics, specifically track andfield andcrosscountry running. Whilegrowing up in Jackson,MI, he lived across thestreetfrom Sharon Morrey whom he wouldlater marryinMarch 1956, and spend thenext 60 years happily together raising theirfour sons, Mark Jr., Andrew, Carland Bruce. Thefamilymoved from Michigan to SaltLake City, UT,and finallysettled in RanchoBernardo, CA, in 1969. After graduating from Kalamazoo College, Mark built asuccessful career in pharmaceuticaland opticalindustry management After retiringfromthe opticalindustry, he worked well into hislate70's as owner/operator of DAT Management Beyond hisprofessional achievements, Mark was an avidgolfer, playing well into his80's. He loved nothingmorethan to coachand watch hissons andgranddaughters play in numeroussports. Mark andhis latewife,Sharon, enjoyed playing bridge cribbage, andtravelingthe world. Mark willberememberedfor hislove of family, strongworkethic, sense of humor, andannualHoliday Bowltailgating. Mark waspreceded in death by hiswife Sharon, son Andrewand daughterin-law Susan Millsom. Mark is survivedbyhis brotherWilliams Millsom (Gillian)ofConnecticut, his sister-in-law JoyceMorrey of Michigan,his son Mark Jr.(Lisa Yuhasz), son Carl (KimEvetts) andson Bruce. He is also survived by hisgranddaughter Stephanie Alarcon (Joey) andtheir threechildren, Isaac,Gracie andMiles; granddaughter Drew Muscatell(Drew)and theirtwo children, Micahand Lucas; and granddaughterAshly Johnson(Brenden) and theirdaughter, Athiyna Acelebration of life will be held Monday, October27, 2025, at 2:00pm, at St.Bartholomew's Episcopal Church (Columbarium), acommunitywhere Mark once shared his faithand friendship, with alight receptiontofollow.16275 Pomerado Road,Poway, CA. In lieu of flowers, donations in Mark'smemory canbemade to American CancerSociety (Prostate research),orMama's Kitchen (food relief) mamaskitchen.org/donate
MillsomSr., MarkRobert
Lanclos, Robert John
McCall, Maxine 'Mickey'
Hipps, ShirleyHarding
Calhoun,
LeBlanc, Louis John
Lonnie Gene Randall, a resident of Youngsville Louisiana, passed away quickly and peacefully at approximately 6:50 AM, Saturday morning, September 27, 2025. He was born in Jena, Louisiana on March 12, 1934, to the unionofLouise Price Randall and Lamar Edgar Randall. He was preceded in death by his wife, Hilda Manchester Randall, father, mother, and brothers, Otis Earl Randalland Charles Lamar Randall.
He is survived by his sister, Helen RandallBowman, sons Lonnie Gene Randall Jr and John Manchester Randall, daughters-in-law, Blythe Ann Lyons and Kathleen Lilly Randall,and grandsons, Tyler Cole Randall Jacob Hunter Randall, Mark Evan Randall,and Brett Manchester Randall.
Gene received his Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture from Southwest Louisiana Institute He received his high school diploma from Harrisonburg High School. After along and distinguished career he retired from the Louisiana Department of Agriculture. His passions were fishing, hunting, sports (especially LSU) gardening, agriculture, and politics.
The family wishes to thank the doctors, nurses, hospice, caretakers, and staff who treated and cared for him. The doctors, Michael S. Cain, PernellJ Simon, Henry J. Kaufman IV, Patricia Cran, and DeeDee Luke. Dr Cain's nurse, Lori Leger, Dr. Simon's nurse, Shanna Langlinais, and Dr. Kaufman's nurse, Joan Broussard. The Hospice of Acadiana nurses, Kim Monteaux, Seth Porche, caretaker, Melissa Vital, and pastor, Darrel Jacksonand staff. The Amazing Grace caretakers, Michelle Clay, Shelley Senegal, RonshellaClay, and Shay Clay. Aspecial thanks to Keith and Shirley Mason for their frequent visits and gifts of food in his final weeks of life.
Amemorial celebration of his life will be held at Asbury United Methodist church at 101 Live Oak Dr. in Lafayette, LA. on Saturday, October 25th. The visitation will be from 11:00 AM until 12:00 PM. The service will begin at 12:00 PM In lieu of flowers, please make monetary donations to St. Jude Children's Hospital, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Please note your donation is in memory of Gene Randall to the St. Jude staff.Thank you
Anative of St. Amant, La and aresident of Lake, LA, she died Thursday, October 16th, 2025, surrounded by her loving familyafter a courageous battlewith breast cancer. She was 54, born September 27, 1971. She was retired from the Ascension Parish Assessors office after proudly servingour parish. She was alifelong memberof Holy Rosary Catholic Church. Survived by her husband, Ned Sheets; son, Tanner Sheets; two daughters, Emily Ard (Shane), and Grace Sheets; three grandchildren, Charlie and Molly Sheets, Evelyn Ard; her parents, Darryl and Gayle Guitrau; father in law, Harold Sheets; her siblings, Brice Guitrau (Deedee), Ross Guitrau, and Anna Templet (Coye). Holly was adevoted wife of 35 years and aloving mother and Nana to her children and grandchildren. Holly was preceeded in death by her motherin law, June Sheets; grandparents, Alvin "Sunny Boy and Isabell "Coon" Laiche, and Donald and Doris Guitrau. Pallbearers will be Brice and Ross Guitrau, Coye, Collin and Cooper Templet, Jeffrey Lambert, and Jeffrey Dinino. Visitation will be at Our Ladyof the Holy Rosary, St. Amant, La on Wednesday, October 22, 2025 from 9amuntil mass of Christian burial at 11 am with Rev. Matthew
Lorrain,celebrant.The family wouldliketoextend theirsincerest gratitudeto Dr.Derrick Spell, Carrie Perry,NP, Nurse Angela, Michele Lerkes,all the nursesand entire staff at Woman's HospitalCancer Pavilion, CrossroadsPalliativeCareand Clarity Hospice of Baton Rouge.Also, Special thanks to allthose that provided meals, support, and prayer throughout her journey. Services providedbyChurch Funeral Services, St. Amant. Vail,Jacqueline Faye Jacqueline FayeVail passedtoher rest October 2,2025. Amemorialfor Mrs. Jackie Vail willbeheld at the ZacharySeventh-day Adventist Church on December 7, 2025at3 pm. For more information go to http://www.sealefuneral.c om/obituaries/jacquelinevail Werling, Barbara JaneLadensack
Barbara Jane (Ladensack) Werlingentered her heavenly home on Tuesday, October 14, 2025,at the ageof97. She was a blue-eyed beauty who livedasdaughter,wife mother,grandmother and morealwayswithher lipstick on and her purse at the ready. Born in Detroit as the youngest offour childrenofJohn and Anna Ladensack, Barbara was a devoted Catholic and family woman.Aftermarrying thelove of her life, Ralph, they began marriedlifein St. Louis, before moving to Detroit, New York, and finally Baton Rouge. Barbaraprovidedthe strength that held her family of Ralph and sixchildren firmly together.Her loveof God beganata young age and remainedstrong until her final day.Barbara loved time spentadmiring gardens and holding the babiesofthe familyfor endlesshours. She was a humble,accomplished stenographer and pianist; wrote the kindest, most genuine thankyou notes; always put others' needs before her own; enjoyed a goodmeal, such as Sunday lunch at Frank's;and critiqued the dancing and fashion of Dancing With The Starsinrecentyears. Inaddition to her parents and siblings, Barbara is predeceased byRalph, her husband of 71 years, and their youngest son,Paul Survivors include five children, Ruth May (Gus), Michael (Stephanie),Geri Sutton (Chuck), Ralph (Anne), Suzanne Morrison (Michael); 10 grandchildrenand 19 great grandchildren. Afuneral Mass to celebrate Barbara's life willbeheldatOur Lady of Mercy Catholic Church on Monday, October 20, 2025, at 10 am with visitation beginning at 9amatthe church. The familyrespectfully requests memorials be made to Children's Developmental Center at McMains c/o OLOL Foundation (fmolhs.org) in thanksgivingfor aiding Paul with his life challenge of cerebral palsy. Special thankstoBarbara's caregivers (Keisha, Shirley, Lassandra, Denise, Virginia and Darlene)whosecare allowedBarbaratoremain at home these last years as she requested and showered herwith TLC. Thanks also to St. Joseph Hospice during theselast fewweeks.Shalom(as you oftenwrote), Mom! Rest in our lovingFather
Randall Sr., Lonnie Gene
Sheets, Holly
OPINION
OUR VIEWS
Don’t letcoastal progress slip away, bitby bit
Erosion is defined as the gradualdestruction or diminution of something.It’saword we know all too well in coastal Louisiana, where damage from storms and climatechange is slowly claiming the land beneath our feet.
But there is another kind of erosion that we fear is occurring.It’sthe erosion of aconsensus thatled to big gains in coastalprotectionand made Louisiana alaboratoryfor research that was widely heralded. In recent months, it is worryinghow fast this consensus —thatour state must recognize coastalland loss as anurgent threat and take bold and unprecedentedactionto address it —isbeing chipped awayatbyall sorts of interests. Some are legitimate,others less so But if unchallenged, before long all our hard-won progress could be washedaway.
With the cancellation of the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion in July,weurged the statenot to retreatinits commitment to find ways to restore wetlands andprotect the coast. We recalled the decades of Louisiana leaders across thepolitical spectrum who fought to bring attention— and federal dollars —tocombating the existential threat weface.
Now another wetlands restorationproject has been canceled. The Mid-BretonSediment Diversion, which aimed to restore land east bank of the Mississippi River near Wills Pointbychanneling river sediment into the BretonBasin, faced criticismover its cost and its potentialeffects on local fisheries.
Like the Mid-Barataria diversion, it was to be paid for primarily with moneyfromthe BP oil spill settlement. About $5 billionofthose funds wereset aside to restore the coast. Itwas a windfall that the state wasn’texpecting. Andit changed what was possible in coastal protection Gordon Dove, chairman of the state’sCoastal Protection and Restoration Authority,pointed to other projects under way,suchasland-bridge building and other smallerdiversions that could use the money from the canceledprojects
But that is no consolation. Indeed, it points to how far off track we’ve gone.The updated 50-year Coastal Master Plan, approvedunanimously by the Legislaturein 2023,includesthese projects. It’s worth it to rememberin2007, when CPRA first issued areportcalled “Louisiana’s Comprehensive Master Planfor aSustainable Coast,” part of the goal was to draw federal dollars by showing there wasablueprint on how they would be used.
Yetnow it seems we are abandoning that blueprint and canceling projects basedonunclear criteria and with no path forward.
That isn’tthe way to build trust that money is being spent wisely.Itisn’tthe way toaccomplish bold change. It is the way,though, to erode, dollarbydollar, project by project,the visionand legacy of those who havefought so passionately to save our coast.
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 and phone number for verification purposes, but that information is not published. Letters are not to exceed 300 words. Letters to the Editor,The Advocate, P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0588, or email letters@ theadvocate.com.
TO SEND US A LETTER SCANHERE
Historically speaking, Sextus Congenius Verus was nobody special. He died nearly 2,000 years ago in what is now Italy.Hewas asailor in theRoman navy,serving on an oarpowered warship called atrireme. He didn’tlead alegion, seize athrone or start anew worldwide religion. Verus’ story,such as it is, is only known to us because his heirs, AtiliusCarus and VettiusLonginus, commemorated his life in several lines of Latin textonastonewhen he died. That stone, in aremarkable series of events, was uncovered earlier this year in aNew Orleansbackyard. Butfor this text, we might never know anything about Verus, who died when he was 42. It would be easy to dismiss thestory of Verus’ tombstone as aquirky tale of an artifact’srediscovery.But it illustrates something important about history
lives of the masses. Those like Verus. Andthat brings me to the present. There are those now whoseek to erase history of some of the masses in American history,especially those victimized through our national sins, like slavery and racism andother related violence.
are also filled with violence, prejudice, cruelty and malevolence.
To tell one without other is morethan adisservice; it’sanintense form of hubris. It’s intellectually and morally cowardly
They would rather we focus on the few (mostly) men at the top whodid say,think and write someincredible things. That’s theonly story they like to hear
The TrumpAdministration has issued edicts to the Smithsonian museums, promising to “restore truthand sanity to American History.” The goal, according to aWhiteHouse news release, is to counteract the “distorted narrative driven by ideology rather than truth.”
In Louisiana, there are worries that signs recounting racist events and enslaved people’slives—such as those at Cane River Creole National Historical Park —will be altered or taken down.
An honest confronting of our past is what enables and equips us to do better.Togoback to the football analogy, if we only look at our good plays, we will never address our shortcomings. Verus is not in any Roman historical highlight. No great poemswere written about him,noepics are dedicated to his exploits. He is not remembered as ahero. His picture is not required to be posted in classrooms.
But Verus’ story is an essential part of Roman history.It’sawindow,a very small one, into the world of normal people in his time. At least some thought he wasworth remembering: In the engraving, his heirs referred to him as “most deserving.”
Most history that people learn in school is about wars, kings, battles and leaders. They memorize dates and administrations, movements anderas. Those are elements of history,but they don’ttell the whole story.Areal history tells not just of the few (usually) men at thetop of power structures, but also investigates and recountsthe
To borrow afootball analogy,those who would like to take them down want to pretend like the highlights are thewhole game.
An honest tellingacknowledges that our national and state histories are filled withstories of heroism,bravery, moxie and intellectual brilliance. They
There is alesson forusthere. We can and should remember the Veruses of our own history.Our heroes are worthy of study and commemoration, but so are the people whoserved, who struggled or whowere victims. They, too, are “most deserving.”
Faimon A. Roberts III canbe reached at froberts@theadvocate. com.
When letter writers call for thenewspaper to investigateacertain topic, we forward thoseletterstothe appropriate editor.But readers should know that if theyhave specific tips about storiesin their area, we also have an email inbox for suchitems at newstips@ theadvocate.com
Buthow to make sure your tipgets noticed? First of all, themore detail you can provide about your knowledge of the story,the better.Do you have documentsorother corroborating evidence? Do you know people who areconnected to the story who are willing to talktoareporter? Are you yourself willing to go on the record with what you know?
Secondly,realizethat reporters will put greater stock in atip from someone who has nothing to gain directly from sharing the information.Giving atip about abusiness rival or someone with
whom you have had an ongoing dispute will draw greater skepticism.And even though the information might be true, we do have to consider the source as always Lastly,isthe wrongdoing that you want to expose serious enough thatthe public would have an interest in knowing? Disputes of apersonalnature (a neighbor violating HOA rules, for instance) aren’tusually agood basis for anews story.Unless your personal situation illustrates apattern of wrongdoing by an individual or group, it’sunlikely to be something the newspaper would pursue. Youcan alsolook at whatvarious reporters cover and see if your tip fits in with something that they have shown an interestin. Often, the best tips come from people who’ve been affected by some problem we’ve written about whosestory can illustrate acomplex is-
sue. Also note that all reporters’ emails are linked to their stories online. So you can contact areporter directly if you have information relevant to astory you’ve seen. As governmental entities increasingly try to make it difficult for journalists to access information and official sources, our relationship with the public becomes more and more important. We are here to serve you, and the information you provide is often crucial to our work. We are committedtoprotecting our sources and handle all information we receive sensitively So send us your tips as well as your letters. Idon’thave acount of letters for you this week, but we will update you on our letters inbox next week. As always, I look forward to hearing from you. Want to see your opinion published in TheAdvocate |Times-Picayune? Submit aletter to the editor
Faimon Roberts
Arnessa Garrett
COMMENTARY
To my father,Iam, andwilleverbe, grateful
My father always said that Oct. 10 was the precise day when the Florida air shifted everso slightly with atease of fall. Every year on that day,he’dlay some wood in the fireplace and strike amatch. If it wasn’t quite cool enough, he’d turn down the thermostat Sometimes, he’d light a stick of incense called “CampfireMemories” to enhance the mood.
Atransplant from Illinois, he moved to Florida with his wife and 2-yearold son upon graduation from law school. In 1950, he told me, he couldn’tget hired in SouthCarolina, my mother’shome state, because he was adamn Yankee. Roughly defined, this prejudice applied to anyone from north of theMason-Dixon or west of the Ohio River Thanks to such post-Civil War resentments,I happenedtobe born in Winter Haven, Florida
—asmall town of orange groves and lakes that caught my father’s eye as he rode southward on the Silver Meteor train line in search of aplace tocall home. In those days, the new frontiers for young couples were Florida, Texas and California. Popsie, as Icalled him, was still many hours from Miami when the train stopped at the aptly named Winter Haven depot. Stepping down to stretch his legs, he was hit with thearoma of millions of orange blossoms and never got back on the train.
In amatter of days, he had found ajob practicing law with alocal firm and sent for my mother and brother. Ashorttime later, Iwas born. Three years after that,mymother died suddenly of afailed heart that had been damaged by rheumatic fever.She was 31, as was my father. Thedecades that followed
were eventful. Subsequent wives and children came and went. My father was alwayssteadyatthe helm, and during my teenage years, Iwas his only resident child. He took me on business trips so Icould see theworld. In New York City,wewere entertained by Ella Fitzgerald while dining at the Americana of New York hotel. He took my bestfriend and me to see the Supremes perform at Miami Beach’s Fontainebleau Hotel but first bought us both anew outfit —each agingham suit,one pink and one blue. He took me dancing so I’d know how,taught me how to tip, fold a napkin to cuethe waiter,look an adult in the eye and return afirm handshake. He also showed me how to fish and talk to trees. Every now and then,we’d share asunset over thelake without aword because none was needed.God was everywhere.
Mostimportant, he taught me to read and love books. We read together when Iwas little. It wasn’tlong before Iwas on fire.I would get so excitedreading that Icouldn’tsit still andwould run in circles through ourhouse with an open book in my hands. At the end of his work andmyschool day,we’d convene in the kitchen for aritual thatremains among my fondest memories. Assuming my perch on awooden stool, I’d peel potatoes while he cooked and taught me most of what I know
It’shard to believe he’s been gone for 29 years. Iwould have waited another year for the more poetic three-decade mark to write this column, but time is unpredictable. I’m nowolder than my father was whenhedied at 72. My brother,Jack, died at 75.
Both lived hard.
Mainly,Iwas inspired to share these memories because of acool morning breezethat felt like a
taponthe shoulderbysomething or someone unseen.Ihad risen tooearly thatThursday,well before sunrise,and wastaking a bagoftrash to the wheeledbin outbythe street.Traipsing barefoot acrossthe wetgrass, Inoted the dark stillness. Then suddenly, aleaf-rustling wind blew in from the west andseemed to surround andenvelop me for afew seconds. Or wasitminutes? Just as suddenly,the wind seemed to stop. Immediately,mymind went to Popsie Alas, this occurrence took place at 5a.m. on Oct. 9, aday early forthe slight shift in the airthathintedatfallinFlorida. But thenIam500 milesnorth in South Carolina. Iwouldn’tbe surprisedifWinter Haven woke up feeling the tug of autumnthat day, Oct. 10 —the same date,I’m reminded, thatPopsie died. Email Kathleen Parker at kathleenparker@washpost.com.
High courtputsracefront andcenter, as if it nevermatters
Race was at the core of Wednesday’sU.S. Supreme Court hearing of Louisiana v. Callais and Robinson v. Callais, apairofcomplicated cases that will likely change Section 2ofthe 1965 Voting Rights Act —orget rid of it. Depending on what the court decides, up to 30 members of the Congressional Black Caucus could lose their seats —including U.S. Rep. Troy Carter, D-New Orleans, and/or U.S. Rep. CleoFields, D-Baton Rouge. Both were at the court for the hearing, crossing their fingers figuratively and processing what they heard literally “It was packed,” Carter told me minutes after the 2.5-hour hearing ended. “I was standing.Couldn’t get aseat. It was an absolutely packed house.” Carter said there were people inside and outside from Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Alabama and other states, clearly “recognizing the importance of the Voting Rights Act.” He said there were hundreds of people outside ofthe court as popular songs played, including John Legend’s”Freedom” and ”Glory,” both sung by Common.
statement.“This case marks a pivotalmoment in not only Louisiana’s ongoingfight to protect fair representation,but states all across this nation as well.”
Alanah Odoms, executive director of theACLU Louisiana, was in thecourtroom. Public Service Commissioner Davante Lewis was on thescene. So was Damon Hewitt, aNew Orleansnative wholeads one of the nation’smost important civil rights organizations as president and executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law Hewitt, who hasread the various cases and briefs, had waited for this day as some of thenation’stop attorneysmade their cases in favor of continuing Section 2asisversus altering it or gettingrid of it. He had a reserved seat inside the court galley.Hewitt said thecourt seems positioned to make somechanges “Something’sgoing to change,” he told me.“It’s just amatter of how drastically.”
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOByCLIFFOWEN Voting rights activists gather Wednesdayoutside the Supreme Courtin Washington, as the justices prepare to takeupamajor Republican-led challengetothe Voting Rights Act.
praised Janai Nelson, president and director-counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, for making abrilliant factual argument about why the VRA and Section 2have been so critical to rectifying discriminatory voting practices —whether intentional or the as aresult of commonpractice.
Now that the hearing is over,we wait for one of the most critical Supreme Court decisions in our lifetimes.
“As Isat and listened to today’s oral arguments in Louisianav.Callais, Iwas reminded of just how much is at stake in our country’s democracy,” Fields wrotein a
Wednesday’sSupreme Court hearing on acongressionalredistricting dispute created an interesting and instructive juxtaposition with Helena Moreno’selection as mayor of New Orleans four days earlier In asort of double-reverse way,Moreno’selection is yet one more example of why the court should change its long-flawed interpretation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. But before we start Yes, I get it: Any time anyone talks about changing how the VRA is applied, Black people and other minorities fear the worst. This nation’s history of voting barriers against Black people was abominable until Congress passed the VRA. People of goodwill understandably are skeptical of altering the VRA’s application.
Those who have been watching these SupremeCourt cases, both those whodoand those who don’t wanttosee theVRA weakened, expect change. They include Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry. The dayafterthe hearing,the governorcalled for aspecial session of theLegislature on Oct. 23.He wants legislators to change the
election schedule for congressional campaigns, since qualifying is in mid-January and Democratic and Republican primary elections are scheduled for April, and no one can tell the high court to issue an opinion on our timetable. If thecourt makes changes, we can pray that they give us enough time to adjust to anew reality Odoms is optimistic. She doesn’t thinkthat the Callais plaintiffs, theU.S. Department of Justice and Louisiana’ssolicitor general had astrong argument under the strict Gingles testestablished in aprevious court ruling. “Gingles looks at current conditions like segregated housing and racial
polarization to determine if a remedyisneeded,” she said. “We have bothofthose conditions in this state. We have also never had aBlack candidate elected statewide in Louisiana.” IaskedCarter and Hewitt whether my sense that all justices wereinterested and involved was accurate. Iasked both whether Justices SamuelAlito, Ketanji Brown Jacksonand Clarence Thomas appeared to be the most engaged with questions. They said yes. WasJustice Amy Coney Barrett, Louisiana’sown, just as engaged? No, but she hadacouple of good questions.
Separately,Carter and Hewitt
Ican’tbelieve the Louisiana solicitor general argued (previously) in favor of acongressional map drawn to include two majorityBlack districts, making it more likely that 33% of the state’spopulation would be fully represented in the U.S. Congress, only to flip and argue that it’sonly right that we lookatthese maps with acolorblind approach. Nothing is colorblind whenyou look as Iand others do. Everyone sees our color.Voting isn’tcolorblind. Why erase asignature provision more likely to guarantee fair representation? Make it make sense.
Like Carter,I’m “hopeful that the winning side is the right side.” Like Fields, I’m hopeful that this won’tturn out badly.Like Hewitt, I pray this won’tend with us having “rights without remedies.” EmailWill Sutton at wsutton@ theadvocate.com.
Still, the fears are misplaced: Copious evidence indicates that the abilityofBlack people to win public office likely will not be diminished if the SupremeCourt reinterprets Article 2. The issue arises in the twin SupremeCourt cases of Louisiana v. Callais and Robinson v. Callais, in
whichthe current design of Louisiana’scongressional districtsis being challenged. To overly simplify ahorrendously complicated set of earlier rulings, the reigning interpretation of VRA’s Section 2isthat states shouldtry,when feasible, to create Black-majority districts in at least rough proportiontothe percentageofBlacks in the electorate. I(andmany others)have writtennumerous columns on whythat interpretation is wrong, not least because the last sentence of Section 2says“nothing in this section establishes aright to have members of aprotectedclass [i.e., usually Blackvoters]elected in numbers equal to their proportion in the population.” Despite this admonition, the courts have forced states to defy common sense in order to drawenough districts withBlack majorities,even ifitmeans ignoringcountylinesorgeographic features.
Alabama last year was forced to adopt aBlack majority district snaking from theMississippi state line all the way to Georgia, as if Blackvoters in urban Mobile in
the state’s westhave moreinterests in common withBlack voters in the ruralwiregrass areas in the eastthan they do withWhite neighbors two blocks away And the districtinquestion last week in Louisiana v. Callais is a monstrosity, shapedlike aweirdly unbalanced construction crane, stretching 400 miles from East BatonRouge to Caddo Parishway up northwest. The creation of thesedistricts, though, wrongly assumes that racial gerrymandering is necessary to protect minority rights.
The realityis, all acrossthe country,Black candidates get elected from majority-White areas,and majority-Black constituenciesoften elect White candidates.Touse akey phrase from Section 2, voters’ “candidate of choice” is far from certain to share the voters’ race. Moreno, who is Whiteand Hispanic, won in Black-majority New Orleans by earning as many Black votes as either of her two major Black opponents In Mobile, thelastsix mayor’s elections have been won by candidates of the city’sracial minority at the time: In 2005 and 2009, the main Black candidate won when
the citywas still majority White, and in the next four contests, a Whitecandidate wondespite the citybecoming majority (or this time, strong plurality) Black. Nationwide, about half of the Black members of Congress of both partiesrepresent constituencies withBlack voter registrations under 40%. This is true north, south, east and west. And there have been enough cross-racial successesincity elections that prominent Black scholar Ravi K. Perry published a364-page book called “Black Mayors, White Majorities.
To repeat: White voters will elect Black candidates.
Likewise,Black voters will elect White candidates, as New Orleanians did with Moreno, just as overwhelmingly Black Detroit has done three straight times with the popular MikeDuggan. Meanwhile, divvying up people by race is pernicious. It emphasizesimmutable externalities having nothing to do with character or qualifications. What should matter arecommonalities of culture or opinion.
Moreover,inpractice, the electoraleffects of putatively proBlack racial gerrymandering have
played asignificant role in the polarization of American politics. In athoughtful columnonthis subject (with whose ultimate conclusion Irespectfully disagree), my colleague Stephanie Grace acknowledged that the current interpretation of Section 2leads to districts skewed so heavily in one direction or another that “it relieves politicians of having to listen to constituents who don’tshare their views.”
Consider this: To whatever extent political interests still are related to race, wouldn’tHouse Speaker Mike Johnson,R-Benton,havefar more political incentive to listen to Black voters if they comprised,say,33% of his district, rather than ameasly 2%?And couldn’tRep.CleoFields still win in a44% Black district (rather than his current52%)by adding enough votes from White Democrats?
In sum, the right legal interpretation of Section 2also is the right practical answer: To encourage even better racial understanding and cooperation, stop treating race as our defining political characteristic.
EmailQuin Hillyer at quin. hillyer@theadvocate.com
Kathleen Parker
Will Sutton
Quin Hillyer
HOMECOMING LOSS
Southern fallsto PrairieView, remainswinless in SWAC, Page 3C
BY MATTHEW PARAS
Staff writer
LAKE FOREST,Ill. D’MarcoJackson has been in these meetings. The Chicago Bears linebacker knows what to expect. Thepop quizzes. Thepushtomakesure players are paying attention. You’d better be locked in, becausethe questions fly at any moment.
Jackson understandsthe way Dennis Allen operates.
“It just makes you like akid in class, like ‘Oh, is he about to call on you?’ ” Jackson said. “You ready? You’ve gotto answer the question.”
Jackson has avoided being the tar-
getofan Allen inquirythis season, but thesurprise tests have not caught him off-guard.The fourth-year linebacker watched theBearsdefensive coordinator use the sametricks in meetings when they were together in New Orleans, when Allen was the Saints head coach and Jackson was trying to find his spot in the league.
The same can’tbesaid for the restof Jackson’steammates, who are still picking up on the approach.
Allen’sintensityhad become astaple in New Orleans, perhaps to the point it had wornout its welcomebythe end.
At this mark aseason ago, Allen and the Saintssuffered aloss so bad that Amazon Prime analyst RichardShermanremarkedthatthe blackand gold played like it wanted itscoach fired DenverBroncos coach Sean Payton had humiliated his successor in prime time, andAllen’s tenure neverrecovered.He was dismissedtwo weekslater,once the Saints’losing streak hit seven.
Contrast that with this Sunday, when Allen prepares to face his former team
‘DORES CLOSE
Vanderbilt quarterbackDiegoPavia runs for a first down against the
NASHVILLE,Tenn. LSUrelied on its defense through its first sixgames.
Coach Brian Kelly said as much,as its offense struggled to scorepoints and thedefense continuedto clamp down on the likesofClemson,South Carolina and Florida.
But on Saturday at First Bank Stadium against Vanderbilt, the LSU defensecouldn’tget astop. The Commodores didn’thave topunt untilthe fourth quarter,accumulating 399 yards and averaging 5.6yards per rush when adjusted for lost sack yardage. The offensive onslaught resulted
in a31-24 win for theCommodores, raising more questions aboutKelly as the Tigers’ next twoopponents, Texas A&M and Alabama,sit in the top10of theAPpoll.
“When youplay ateamlikethat, that’s going to take care of the football, is going to eat clockand limit your possessions, you equally have to play to that level,” Kelly said. “And we just did not. They were thebetter team today.” Trailing by seven, LSUhad achance to tie the score with lessthanfive minutestoplay,but senior wide receiver Barion Brown dropped apotential first-down throwfromfifth-year
Tigers’onlypathtoCFP is to winout,but don’t countonit
NASHVILLE,Tenn. The LSU Tigers’ season ended earlyin thefourth quarter here Saturday against Vanderbilt No, not actually Not mathematically Butrealistically It ended when Caden Durham got caught from behind at the Vandy 2onthe end of a51-yard run. Not to criticize Durham, but you wondered whether the Tigers would fail topunch it in from there. They did. These were LSU’s next five plays: Durham run for1yard, false start (byTrey’Dez Green, erasing atouchdown catch), no gain on adirect snap to Ju’Juan Johnson,
incomplete pass, 23-yard Damian Ramos field goal. That cut Vanderbilt’slead to 31-24 with 11:39 left. That’s where the scoring would end, although only because the Commodores took aknee three straight times from the Tigers’ 1toburn the final two minutes off of the clock. Let that sink in foramoment. Vanderbilt —atraditional Southeastern Conference cellar dweller,a team that had beaten LSU once in 15 tries since 1976 —could have beaten the Tigers by twotouchdowns, if it wanted.
ä See RABALAIS, page 5C ä See LSU, page 4C
Scott Rabalais
ASSOCIATEDPHOTO By GEORGE WALKER IV
LSU defense during the firsthalf of theirgame on Saturday in Nashville, Tenn.
ChicagoBears defensive coordinator DennisAllen AP FILE PHOTO
ä See SAINTS, page 9C
ä Saints at Bears NOON SUNDAy,FOX
On TV
AUTO RACING
1p.m. NASCAR: yellaWood500 NBC
2p.m. F1: MSC Cruises U.S. GP ABC GOLF
2a.m. DP WT: DP WorldIndia Champ.Golf
1p.m. PGA: Charity Classic Golf HORSE RACING
noon America’sDay at the Races FS1 MLB BASEBALL
7p.m. ALCS: Seattle at Toronto,Gm. 6FS1
BROADCASTHIGHLIGHTS
NFL
8:30 a.m. L.A.Rams vs.Jackson.,London NFLN
noon NewOrleans at Chicago FOX
3:05 p.m. Indianapolis at L.A
4p.m.Oakland at NewMexico CBSSN
5:45 p.m.U-20: Argentina vs.Morocco FS2 WOMEN’S SOCCER
7:45 a.m. U-17 WC:Japan vs.N.Zealand FS2
4p.m.Portland at Angel City ESPN
6p.m.Juventus at Lazio CBSSN TENNIS
5a.m.Almaty-ATP Singles Final Tennis
8a.m.Stockholm and Brussels Tennis
8:30 p.m.Basel ATPand Vienna ATPTennis
Georgiarallies late to beat OleMiss
BY CHARLES ODUM AP sportswriter
ATHENS,Ga. Gunner Stockton passed for 289 yards and four touchdowns, including three to tightend Lawson Luckie,and No. 9Georgia overcame Trinidad Chamblissand No.5 OleMiss’ powerful offense to rally fora 43-35 win over the Rebels on Saturday Georgia (6-1, 4-1 Southeastern Conference) rallied aftertrailing 35-26 at the start of the fourth quarter.Stockton’s7-yard touchdown pass to Luckie with 7:29 remaining gave Georgia a40-35 lead. Ole Miss (6-1, 3-1) was deniedits first road win overatop 10 team under coach Lane Kiffin even though theRebelsscored touchdowns on their first five possessions.
Stockton completed 26 of 31 passes and added a22-yard scoring run in the crucial SEC showdown.
“It wasa great day,” Stockton said. “Wejust played for each other and that’sthe best part of our team.”
Stockton and theBulldogshad no turnovers.
In previewing the game, Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffinsaid winning at Georgia wouldmean theRebelshavetaken “another step” in their move up the SEC. That looked likely when they
scored touchdowns on each of their first five possessions, takinganine-point lead in the third quarter
Suddenly,the Ole Miss offense lost its magicasGeorgia did not give up another first down.
Following the first punt of the game by either team with12:44 remaining, Stocktonled anineplay, 67-yard drive cappedbythe 7-yard scoring pass to Luckie that gave theBulldogstheir first lead of thesecondhalf.
Following another stop by Georgia’sdefense, Stockton led a10-playdrive to set up Peyton Woodring’sthird field goal of the game, a42-yarder,tostretch the lead to eight pointswith2:06 remining.
ArizonaState handsTexas Tech itsfirstloss
By The Associated Press
TEMPE,Ariz. Raleek Brown bulled in for a1-yard touchdown with34 seconds left and Arizona State rallied after blowing a12-point, fourth-quarter lead to hand No. 7 Texas Tech its first loss of theseason, 26-22 on Saturday
The Red Raiders (6-1, 3-1 Big 12) labored most of the afternoon without startingquarterbackBehren Morton (knee), finishing with 276 total yards after averagingan FBS-best 558.8 throughthe first six games. Will Hammond showed his mettle after failing to move Texas Tech’soffense through three quarters, orchestrating two latescoring drives. The freshmanscored on a1-yardrun and,after Texas Tech’sdefenseheld, found Reggie Virgil on a12-yardtouchdown pass Hammond put the Red Raiders up 22-19 by running it in for the 2-point conversion —after aholding call on Arizona Stateonthe first attempt —but left too much time on the clock.
The reigning Big 12 champion SunDevils (5-2,3-1)started the final drive from their 25 with two minutes left and quickly moved down thefield. SamLeavitt completed 5of7 passes for 61 yards on thedrive andbenefited from apass interference call on Texas Tech’sBrice Pollack to setup Brown’sTD run
“Going into that 2-minute (drill), therewasn’ttoo muchworry there,” said Leavitt, who threw for 319 yards and atouchdown after missing last week’s game against Utah with afoot injury There was alittle at the end when the RedRaiders reached Arizona State’s28onits final drive, butHammond’sdesperation heave into the end zone was swatted down.
No. 12 GEORGIA TECH 27, DUKE 18: In Durham, North Carolina, safety Omar Daniels returned afumblea school-record 95 yards for atouchdown and Georgia Tech pieced together enough late-gameoffense to beatDuke and continueits best start to aseason in more than a half-century Haynes King threw for 205 yards and rushed for agame-high 120 yards, including a28-yard touchdown run with2:10 left. GeorgiaTech(7-0, 4-0Atlantic
Pels rookie Queen clear for basketballactivities
TheNew OrleansPelicans received some good news Saturday Rookie forward Derik Queen has been cleared to resume full basketball activities, theteam announced Queen was diagnosed with atorn scapholunate ligament in his left wrist after injuring it in aSummer League game in Las Vegas against the Portland Trail Blazers. He had surgery on July 18. Queen,who playedatMaryland, was selected withthe No.13pickin this year’sdraft after the Pelicans traded up 10 spots from the No. 23 position to select him.Pelicans coach Willie Green saidQueen was afull participant in Saturday’s practice.
He recorded adouble-double in the three Summer League games he played. The Pelicans open the season Wednesday at the Memphis Grizzlies.
ToprebounderinNBA
Sabonis to miss opener
Sacramento Kings big man
Domantas Saboniswill missthe startofthe season with ahamstring injury
The Kings said Saturday that an MRI determined Sabonis has a Grade 1strain. He will be re-evaluated in aweek. Sacramento opens the season Wednesday night at Phoenix and plays Utah in the home opener Friday night. Sabonisgot hurt Wednesdayin an exhibition game against the Clippers. He is thesecondstarter lost to an injury in the preseason. ForwardKeegan Murray hadsurgery on his left thumb and will be out foratleast the first fewweeks of the season.
Sabonis hasled the NBAinrebounding thepast three seasons, scoring at least 19 pointsper game in each of those years.
Big-toe injurysidelines Grizzliesguard Pippen
Memphis Grizzlies guard Scotty Pippen Jr.will have aprocedure to fix an issueinhis left bigtoe that will keep him out to start the season.
PRESS PHOTO By RICK SCUTERI
Arizona State widereceiver Jaren Hamilton, right, runs withthe ball away from TexasTech defensiveback Brenden Jordan, left, in the first half on SaturdayinTempe, Ariz.
Coast Conference) has won its first seven gamesfor the first time since 1966. The last time the Yellow Jacketswere 4-0 in ACCplay came 27 years ago.
NO.14OKLAHOMA 26, SOUTH CAROLINA 7: In Columbia, South Carolina, John Mateer threw for150 yards and atouchdown and Oklahoma’s defense sacked South Carolina’s LaNorrisSellers six times in the Sooners’ bounce-back victory Oklahoma (6-1, 2-1 Southeastern Conference) sawits perfect start endlastweekendwitha 23-6loss to Red River rival Texas.
No.3 INDIANA 38, MICHIGAN STATE 13: In Bloomington, Indiana, Fernando Mendoza completed 24 of 28 passes for 332 yards and four touchdownsand Indianacelebrated its highest ranking in program history with arout of Michigan State The Hoosiers (7-0, 4-0 BigTen), who have won all but onegame by double digits, kept pace withNo. 1OhioState atopthe conference standings with touchdownson their first five possessions.
No.1 OHIO STATE34, WISCONSIN0: In Madison, Wisconsin, Julian Sayin connected with Carnell Tate for two of his four touchdown passes, andOhioState rolled to avictory over Wisconsin.
Ohio State (7-0, 4-0 Big Ten) has an average margin of 25.8 points during an 11-game winstreak, which started with itsfour College Football Playoff victories during its run to the national title last season. The Buckeyes have won their first sevengamesthisseasonbyan averagemargin of 30.6 points.
UAB31, No.22MEMPHIS 24: In Birmingham, Alabama, UAB upset Memphis in the debut of interim coach Alex Mortensen, the son of lateESPN reporter Chris Mortensen, after theBlazersfired TrentDilfer aweek earlier Memphis (6-1, 2-1 American Athletic Conference) reached the 1twice in thefinal minute going foratying touchdown,but two false starts andone delay-of-game penalty stalled the drive. Memphis threw an incomplete pass into the end zoneonfourth-and-goal from the 11. No. 4TEXAS A&M 45, ARKANSAS 42: In Fayetteville, Arkansas, Marcel Reed threw for 280 yards and three touchdowns, andran for 55 yards and another score as No.4 TexasA&M held on to beat Arkansas andkeep its perfect season going. The Aggies (7-0, 4-0 Southeastern Conference) have opened with seven wins forthe first time
since1994, when theyfinished 10-0-1. With No. 9Georgia’s43-35 win over No. 5Mississippi earlier Saturday, Texas A&M is the only remaining unbeaten team in the SEC. No. 18 VIRGINIA 22, WASHINGTON STATE 20: In Charlottesville, Virginia, Virginia’s Kam Robinson and Hunter Osborne stuffed Kirby Vorhees in the end zone foragame-winning safety,sending the Cavaliers to awild victory over Washington State.
Virginia trailed 20-10 going into the fourth quarter.Harrison Waylee had a2-yard touchdown run with 9:45 left,and Will Bettridge made atying 34-yard field goal with 2:55 to go.
Jahmal Edrine had five catches for 102 yards, helping the Cavaliers(6-1) to their fifth consecutivewin. Cam Ross had a19-yard touchdown run in the first quarter No.8 OREGON 56, RUTGERS 10: In Piscataway,New Jersey, Dante Moore passed for 290 yards and four touchdowns and No.8 Oregon followed its first loss of the season witha romp over Rutgers in the first meetingbetween the schools.
Aweek after falling 30-20 to Indiana at home, Oregon (6-1, 3-1 Big Ten) extended thenation’s longest road winning streak to 10 games.
Noah Whittington ran for 125 yards andtwo TDs and the Ducks piled up 750 totalyards —415 rushing and 335passing —for the most yards against aPower 4 school this season.
No. 21 TEXAS 16, KENTUCKY 13: In Lexington, Kentucky,Mason Shipley kickeda 45-yard field goal in overtime andTexas beat Kentucky Shipley also kicked a39-yard field goal witha minuteremaining to give the Longhorns (5-2, 2-1 Southeastern Conference) a13-10 lead Kentucky (2-4, 0-4) tied the score at 13-allonJacob Kauwe’s45-yard field goal with 9seconds remaining to send thegameinto overtime.
No.6ALABAMA 37,No.11TENNESSEE 20: In Tuscaloosa,Alabama,Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson threw for 253 yardsand two touchdowns to lead theCrimson Tide over the Tennessee Volunteers. Tennessee quarterbackJoey Aguilarthrew for268 yards in the loss. Alabama movesto6-1 on the year and4-0 in the SEC.
The Grizzlies announced Saturday that atimeline forPippen’sreturn will be providedafterhehas a sesamoidectomy to deal with what they called “ongoing discomfort.” Pippen is expected to make afull recovery Memphis hosts the NewOrleans Pelicans on Wednesday night to open the season. Pippen startedhis NBA career withthe Los AngelesLakers. He spentthe past twoseasons with the Grizzlies. He has played 100 games with Memphis and is averaging 10 points with4.2 assists in his career
Warriors cutsharpshooter Curry,but not that one
The Golden State Warriors cut one of the NBA’s best marksmen, andsuperstar StephCurry’s younger brother,inawidely expected move.
Golden State,whichhad signed Seth Curry as the 15th man on the roster during training camp, announced it had let him go on Saturday morning. Per NBAfinanceexpert Keith Smith of Spotrac, Seth Curry’scontract was an exhibit 9deal, which did not count against the salary cap after training camp.Had the team kept him on the roster after 5p.m. on Saturday,the Warriors would have been required to cut or trade aplayer to makeroom for him
Kim’slate eagleups her lead to 4inLPGA event
HAENAM,South Korea Sei Young Kim’seagle on the17thhole helped increase her lead to four strokes going intothe finalround of the BMW Ladies Championship after shooting a3-under 69 on Saturday Kim finished with athree-round total of 19-under 197, despite abogey on the 18th.
Yealimi Noh (67) and Nasa Hataoka (69) weretied forsecond.
American Brooke Matthews, whohad trailedKim by astroke after the second round, triplebogeyedthe par-315thand fell six strokes behind Kiminatie for fourth place after a74.
This is the first of consecutive LPGAtournaments in South Korea, withthe International Crown team event scheduledfor next week.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By COLIN HUBBARD Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton throws apass against Ole Miss on SaturdayinAthens, Ga
ASSOCIATED
PRAIRIE VIEW 24, SOUTHERN 3
THREE AND OUT: TOyLOy BROWN’S TOP TAKEAWAyS FROM THE JAGUARS’ LOSS
REGRESSING OFFENSE
1
The Jaguars’ third home defeat of the season was arguably their worst, scoring a season-low three points against Prairie View Southern’s offense moved the ball occasionally However, it was nearly all for naught because it wasn’t able to find the end zone once.The anemic offense also didn’t have a field-goal attempt until the last few minutes of the third period. Southern running back Trey Holly had 21 carries for 99 yards, but he can’t carry the team alone.
2
NEW PLAY-CALLER HASN’T HELPED
Southern made quarterbacks coach Fred McNair the team’s co-offensive coordinator and play-caller on Sept. 13.The change hasn’t ignited the offense at all, as the team continues to show why it’s the worst offense in the SWAC While seeing Holly run the ball numerous times is nice, there isn’t any rhythm in the passing game. Play-action plays have looked ugly and that should be a staple with a pocket passer like Ashton Strother and a gifted No. 1 running back.
3
SOUTHERN LOOKS DEFEATED
Each week after losses, the Jaguars say they are still fighting and have faith that they can turn things around amid a nightmare season. However, the way it looked in Southern’s most recent defeat to Prairie View says otherwise. The Jaguars aren’t energized on the sideline and after plays. Players and coaches are surely trying hard, but it doesn’t seem like the confidence it had to start the season still exists within the team.
SOUTHERN SWAMPED
BY TOYLOY BROWN III Staff writer
Southern entered its homecoming game Saturday on a four-game losing streak.
To add to the win column for the first time since its only win Aug. 30 against Mississippi Valley State, the Jaguars needed to beat a Prairie View team that owned the top spot in the Southwestern Athletic Conference West standings But the Jaguars once again couldn’t muster enough big plays on either side of the ball They lost their homecoming game to Prairie View 24-3 on Saturday at A.W Mumford Stadium.
Southern (1-6, 0-3 SWAC) is on a five-game losing streak. Prairie View (5-2, 4-0) improved its win streak to four and gave up the fewest points it has this year
Southern coach Terrence Graves was asked whether the team had quit during the loss, but he said that didn’t happen.
“No, not at all,” he said. “Team never quit. Absolutely not. Guys played hard, man. They played hard. They fought. You know, it was one thing about these guys. They don’t lay down.”
Running back Trey Holly led Southern with 21 carries for 99 yards.
The offense continued to underperform as it has for the entire season. It entered the game last in both points per game (14.8) and time of possession (26:32) That time of possession is also 122nd out of 126 FCS programs.
The Jaguars scored for the first time with 3:23 left in the third quarter after a 36-yard field goal by freshman Nathan Zimmer Ashton Strother received his second start of the season after doing well relieving last week’s starter Cam’Ron McCoy
The Jaguars were moving the ball down the field well in their second drive of the game. Strother had a 19-yard delivery to Malachi Jackson in the middle of the field, but the Jaguars fumbled the ball away on a fake handoff to backup running back Jason Gabriel. It was
Southern quarterback Ashton Strother throws a pass Saturday Strother finished 12-of-21 passing for 81 yards with one interception.
Southern’s first turnover since the Jackson State loss on Sept. 27 when Strother threw a red-zone interception. Strother said he was at fault for the poor exchange.
“We got to limit our turnovers because we’re moving the ball,” Strother said. “Then we have some miscommunication and the ball’s on the ground, you know, that’s my fault as a quarterback. I have to be just more in touch with everybody and be more careful with the football.”
The Panthers didn’t waste the chance to capitalize on the error as Prairie View drove 72 yards down the field in seven plays The drive concluded with a 15-yard rushing touchdown by Connor Wisham on the first play of the second quarter
The Jaguars had a chance to keep the Panthers out of scoring position, but they allowed a short pass to tailback Chase Bingmon, who made a defensive back miss a tackle and ran 38 yards to the opposing 18-yard line.
mentum-building turnover, although it had a pair of chances in the second quarter Star defensive end Ckelby Givens had an opportunity for an interception as Prairie View quarterback Cameron Peters threw a predetermined lateral pass to the sideline. Givens leaped up but couldn’t keep the ball in his hands for what would have been a turnover returned for a touchdown.
Cornerback Zay Franks also had a near interception in the end zone that was too difficult to keep a hold of as he fell to the ground.
The Jaguars were without safety Horacio Johnson, who wore a boot on his right foot before the game. Graves said the graduate student injured his ankle during last week’s 45-14 loss to BethuneCookman.
Two other key starters were out on defense, linebackers Mike Jones and Vincent Paige. Both Jones, a redshirt senior, and Paige, a senior, played last week.
A.D. Banks talks about Graves’ job security
BY TOYLOY BROWN III Staff writer
Southern athletic director Roman Banks answered questions on the possibility of making an in-season coaching change after the team’s 24-3 homecoming loss to Prairie View on Saturday Coach Terrence Graves’ team is 1-6 overall and 0-3 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.
Banks was asked directly if there should be an expectation of changes by the start of the upcoming week. “I tell you what, it’s going to be some conversations on Monday,” Banks said.
Southern lost its fifth consecutive game, its third at home, and Banks made himself available to reporters unprompted. He was present for Graves’ postgame news conference.
Banks said this season has been “real disappointing” after the program was trying to build off of its SWAC championship game appearance last year In 2024, the Jaguars went 8-5 and 7-1 in league play
“I don’t think that we should be in the same position that we were in three years ago struggling with quarterbacks and all those types of things,” Banks said. “My expectation was to move the ball downfield, bringing new energy move the ball downfield, and be pretty good. To his credit, we was able to win (the West division) last year But we’re supposed to be taking it even a step further right now and that’s the coach’s responsibility.”
The Southern defense overall was better than last week, when it never forced Bethune-Cookman to punt and gave up 45 points. The Panthers punted twice in the first quarter But it wasn’t able to get a mo-
The Southern defense had linebackers Jamarlo Campbell and Greyson Lefleur replace them. Safety Ty Lee was in for Johnson.
The Jaguars kept Prairie View out of the end zone in the third quarter They also benefited from a missed 31-yard field goal.
Southern’s comeback hopes intensified in the final three minutes of the third quarter The Jaguars were blending the runs of Holly and Amariyon Asberry along with the passes of Strother
The junior signal-caller made his best pass of the game on fourth and 8 from the opposing 45-yard line. Strother slung the ball to wideout Cam Jefferson on the left side of the field to the opposing 33yard line.
The hopes of getting a touchdown were extinguished after Southern earned a pair of penalties, then found itself going for it on fourth and 26 from the opponent’s 31-yard line. On the desperation play, Strother threw an interception in the end zone that was picked off by Kamren Amao with 6:17 left in the game.
When Graves was asked whether co-offensive coordinators Mark Frederick and Fred McNair were getting the most out of the team, he said they are.
“Without a doubt,” Graves said. “They’re doing what they’re supposed to do. It’s two-fold. They call the plays and we got to execute them.
“It’s nothing different what we do offensively from a lot of teams who play college football. The difference is they’re executing and we’re not consistently.”
The Panthers tacked on an additional touchdown after Southern mishandled a punt return. They recovered the ball on the Southern 7-yard line and eventually scored a touchdown from Lamagea McDowell with 1:53 remaining.
Graves shared what he told his team after the loss.
“I told them I love them like I always do,” he said. “I said, again, ‘You got to go out a winner for these seniors,’ and so they got a lot to play for I know a lot of people don’t think that, but, you know, I’ve been there before.”
Southern will play a second straight home game against Florida A&M at 4 p.m. Saturday Email Toyloy Brown III at toyloy.brown@theadvocate.com. Prairie
When Graves was asked if he was coaching for his job, he said he always feels that way “I’m always coaching for my job every day,” he said. “I was coaching for it last year I’m coaching for it this year You know, I don’t make those decisions. I’m going to keep doing what I’ve been (hired) to do. They hired me to coach, and I’m going to still be the head coach until otherwise. And then if something else happens, then you know that just is it.
“God is good in all things so, you know, I am appreciative and blessed to have this opportunity to be the head football coach, so nothing’s changed for me.”
Banks said if a coaching change were to happen during the season, it has to be considered whether there is a viable interim coach on staff.
“Do you play it out for the rest of the year and, you know, a lot of people are emotional, but it’s my job to take your time as an athletic administrator and weigh out all situations, and then come back and make recommendations of what I think should happen next,” Banks said.
Southern’s athletic director acknowledged the injury issues the team has battled. The most prominent injury is to starting quarterback Jalen Woods, who has been out since the second game after being put in concussion protocol following a hit to the head against Mississippi Valley
The health concerns, however, aren’t an excuse.
“Obviously, I know we have some injuries but that’s the game of football, and we recruit for a reason,” Banks said.
“So personally, I know that student-athletes and the coaches in that room aren’t happy, but there’s also, you know, leadership and fans that all expect more.”
The team has already made adjustments to the assistant coaching staff, naming quarterbacks coach Fred McNair the team’s co-offensive coordinator and play-caller since its Sept. 13 game against Fresno State.
“I was hoping, you know, we can get some energy in the room, but it seemed to not be working,” Banks said.
STAFF PHOTOS By JAVIER GALLEGOS
Southern running back Trey Holly is tackled immediately after making a catch by Prairie View inebacker Matthew Moore on Saturday afternoon at A.W Mumford Stadium Holly’s 99 yards rushing was the highlight in an otherwise dismal perfomance by the Jaguars.
Graves
VANDERBILT 31,LSU 24
Vanderbilt pullsoff rare feats
BY REED DARCEY Staff writer
Vanderbilt scored ahistorical victory when it beatLSU on Saturday in Nashville, Tennessee.
Just how rare wasthe No. 17 Commodores’ 31-24win over the No. 10 Tigers?
LSUwas 14-1since 1976 in games it had played against Vanderbilt, the perennial SEC bottom dweller that, before Saturday,hadn’tbeaten theTigers in 35 years and sported a grisly6-125 all-time record against AP top-10 teams.
“Wedid notplaywellenoughon either sideofthe ball to be thebetter team today,” LSU coach Brian Kelly said, “and Vanderbilt was the better team today because they executed at ahigher level.”
Because they defeated LSUon Saturday,the Commodores (6-1) can claim seven victories over top10 teams in their history.Two of thosewins have comeinjust the last two seasons.
2-30,
2-16, Hoskins 1-16, Young 1-10 MISSED FIELD GOALS —LSU,Ramos 52.
Last year,quarterback Diego Pavialed Vanderbilt to astunning 40-35 upset at home over Alabama, which was then the nation’sNo. 1 team. Thatvictory made the Commodores players on thenational stage, bringing themtoheights they’ve never reached as aprogram LSU hadn’tfaced aranked Vanderbilt team since 1947 before Saturday.
TheCommodores also had entered their last77 matchups against top-10 teams as underdogs, and accordingtoCBS Sports, they hadn’t been favored to beat the Tigers (62) since 1948.
YetVanderbilt began its Week 8gameagainst LSU as a2.5-point favorite, then comfortably covered that spread in adecisive win.
LSUscoresonopening drive
When Damian Ramos’ 48-yard field goal flew through theuprights on Saturday,LSU did something it had failed to do in any of its firstsix games —itscored on theopening drive.
Before the Tigers took on Vanderbilt, all six of their season’s openingpossessionshad ended in either apunt or an interception. Five ofthosedrives werethreeand-outs.
LSUpicked up twokey third downs on its firstpossession against the Commodores. First, Garrett Nussmeier found redshirt sophomore receiver Kyle Parker on the sideline for an 11-yard gain on thirdand 6. Four playslater,
freshman running back Harlem Berry popped through ahole along the line of scrimmage to pick up 9 yards on third and 1. But LSU couldn’tend that drive in theend zone.
On afirst down from Vanderbilt’s28-yard line, Nussmeiertook a3-yardsack. Then he foundreceiver Zavion Thomas for achunk gain on second down,but the senior receiverlet thepassslipthrough his hands. TheTigerssettled for thefield goal after they failed to convert on thirdand 13.
Adamsinjured
Left tackle TyreeAdams left LSU’s loss to Vanderbilt withanankle injury,Kelly said. Adams was hurt lateinthe first quarter whena defenderrolled onto his lower leg. Trainers attended to him on thefieldbefore he limped to thesideline, ducked into theinjury tentand walked gingerly toward thelocker room. Later in thegame, he was spottedusing crutches on the sideline.
Redshirtsophomore DJ Chester enteredthe game in hisplace at left tackle.
Adams,a redshirt sophomore from New Orleans, startedall
sevenofLSU’s games this season
According to Pro Football Focus, he’s allowed 10 pressuresand four quarterback hits —the most among theoffensivelinemen. Only right tackle Weston Davis has given up more pressures (17) Anderson,Mubenga return Wide receiver AaronAnderson and offensive lineman Paul Mubenga were active vs. Vanderbilt after they both satout LSU’swin over South Carolina with injuries. Both starters had quiet days. Anderson caught onepass for 18 yards, and Mubenga did not return to his usual spot on the firstteam offense. Most of his snaps at left guard went to Coen Echols,the redshirtfreshman whomade his first career start last week against theGamecocks andhis secondon Saturday against the Commodores.
Threedefenders sit LSU faced Vanderbilt on Saturday without three key defenders.
Star linebacker Whit Weeks (ankle), first-team defensive tackle Bernard Gooden (collarbone) and rotational edge rusher Jimari Butler (ankle) all were ruled out prior to kickoff.
Weeks is battling abone bruise in hisright ankle.Hefirst suffered the
injury late in LSU’s Sept. 27 loss to OleMiss, accordingtothe game’s ABCbroadcast, then played through it in the Tigers’ win over South Carolina.
Sophomore Davhon Keys started in place of Weeks, and sophomore Dominick McKinley slid onto thefirstteam defensive line in placeof Gooden.
The LSU defense struggledto slowdown Vanderbilt without Weeksand Gooden.The Commodoresaveraged 6yards per play rushed for5.6 sack-adjusted yards per carry,converted 6of13thirddown tries and scored touchdowns on all three of their trips to the red zone, excluding their final drive. TwoDBs notspotted
Neithercornerback Ashton Stamps norsafety JardinGilbert were spotted in LSU’spregame warm-ups on Saturday.The Tigers did not list either on any of the availability reports they released ahead of kickoff. KokiRileycontributed to this report.
Email Reed Darcey at reed darcey@theadvocate.com. For more LSUsports updates, signupfor ournewsletter at theadvocate.com/lsunewsletter
Continued from page1C
senior quarterback GarrettNussmeier on third and 8, forcingthe Tigers to punt with two timeouts and less than four minutes to play.
Brown’smistake proved to be lethal as a43-yard carryfrom Makhilyn Young on Vanderbilt’s first play of the ensuing drive essentially clinched the victory.The Commodores gained one more first down to use up LSU’sremaining timeouts before kneeling out the rest of the clock.
“We’re just not on the same page, and it’sfrustrating,” Nussmeier said. “Wejust got to be better as a unit. Youknow,it’snot on any individual, it’saunit as awhole.”
LSUfinishedwith325 total yards, averaged 5.9 yards per rushattempt when adjustedfor lost sack yardage and earned 6.6 yards per play.Sophomoretight end Trey’Dez Green flashed again with fivecatches for 74 yards and atouchdown.
But when the unit needed to mount acomeback in the fourth quarter,the Tigers scored just three points.
“Offensively, when we hadan opportunity to score touchdowns, we had to take field goals,” Kelly said, “and that was the difference in the game.”
The story of the day for LSU was still its defense, at leastfor thefirst three quarters.LSU didn’tforce the Commodores to punt until the 8:55 mark in the fourth.
At that point, the Tigers trailed 31-24, scoringa field goal on their prior possession thanks to a51yard run by sophomorerunning back Caden Durham thatset them up at theVanderbilt2.A 1-yard run, afalse-start penalty,a 1-yard
loss on the ground and an incompletiononthirddown forced the short field goal.
“They didagood job with their cover zero package, and we had a plan ”Nussmeier said. “And, as I said, our detailsjustweren’t,they weren’tgood enough.”
AftertheVanderbiltpunt,LSUhad achancetocapitalize but couldn’t. A 10-yard sack on first down halted a potential game-tying drive, handing the ball back to Vanderbilt with6:28 left to play.
The Commodores punted on that ensuing drive as well after adroppedpass on third down would have set them up in thered zone with less than fiveminutes to play.LSU couldn’t take advan-
tageofthat stop either because of Brown’sdrop.
“Whenour defense made acouple of stops, we couldn’tturn those into positive possessions,” Kelly said. “And obviously,those two (latepossessions) in particular Butmore importantly,itwas (not) cashing in on first and goal from the1.Imean, you’ve got to score a touchdown there.”
LSU found itself playing catchup for mostofthe dayand was in trouble after Vanderbilt’s 10play,75-yard touchdown drive to open the second half. The score extendedthe Commodores’ lead to 24-13. That’swhenNussmeiermade a play.Facing immediatepressure
on second and 10 at the LSU 38, he magically escaped pressureand flipped the ball out to senior wide receiver Zavion Thomas, who broke three tackles and sprinted 62 yardsdownthe sideline fora touchdown.
The score, which was followed by atwo-point conversion catch by Green, cut the LSU deficit to 24-21 with 6:52 leftinthe third quarter
It marked the firsttime LSU had scored more than20points against aPower Four conference opponent this season. And Saturdaywasn’tabad dayfor Nussmeier,who threwfor 225 yards, completed 19 of 28 throwsand hadtwo touchdownpasses. “From an offensivestandpoint,
there were some good things there,” Kelly said. “But again, I think the thing that stands out is not scoring touchdowns when you have an opportunity to.”
Trailing14-10, LSUhad two chances to retake the lead before halftime.
Thefirst series resulted in a52yard field goalattempt from fifthyear senior Damian Ramos that landed wide right, handing the ball to Vanderbilt with 2:33 left in the first half
After fifth-year senior linebacker West Weeks’ sack forced aturnover on downs in Vanderbilt territory,LSU was held to just a field goal.The Tigers earned just one first downasRamos knocked througha 42-yard field goal to cut the Vanderbilt lead to 14-13. But Vanderbilt hadenough time after Ramos’ kick to march down the field, with 39 seconds left, fora 46-yard field goal that handed the Commodores a17-13 lead heading into halftime.
The first half was the best opening half of footballfor the LSU offense. TheTigers accumulated 160yards,Nussmeierwas 13 of 18 for 118 yards through the air,and the run gameaveraged 4.1 yards percarry when adjusted for lost sack yardage.
But LSU still trailed because its defense struggled to contain Pavia. The Vanderbilt star quarterback completed 8of13throws for124 yards while adding 37 yards on the ground in the first half. Pavia finished with agame-high 86 yards rushing. Play after play, he punished LSU with his legs. “Wefeel like we game-plan and knew whathis abilities are, in terms ofhisabilitytoscramble,”Kellysaid. “Wehad people that were assigned forthat, and we just didn’texecute at the highest level that we needed to against areally good quarterback.”
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By GEORGE WALKER IV
Garrett Nussmeier throws apass over Vanderbilt linebacker BryanLongwellduring the first
ASSOCIATEDPRESS PHOTOByGEORGE WALKER IV
Vanderbilt running back Sedrick Alexander,center,reaches across the goal line to score atouchdownagainst LSU on SaturdayinNashville, Tenn.
AP PHOTO By GEORGE WALKERIV
Vanderbilt tightend Cole
Spence catches apass in the end zone against LSU on SaturdayinNashville, Tenn
VANDERBILT
THREEAND OUT: SCOTTRABALAIS’ TOPTHREE TAKEAWAySFROMLSU’S LOSS IN MUSICCITy
THEWEEKSNONFACTOR
1
Linebacker Whit Weeksisthe heartofthe LSU defense. Being without him Saturdaybecause of an ankle injuryreally showedfor the Tigers. Vanderbilt hasawell-crafted offense led by theheartof its team, DiegoPavia. Against him, LSUfrequently lost containment andstruggledtoget offthe field on third (and fourth) down. Vanderbilt ended up with 399total yardsand was a combined 8of16onthird and fourth downs.
RABALAIS
Continued from page1C
It was the smart play.Itwas the better play.Itwas the play of ateam that deservedthe win and the champagne toast of a victory formation. It was something that never shouldhappen betweenLSU and Vanderbilt, no matterhow good the Commodoresare.
“A disappointing day,” LSU coach Brian Kelly said, “obviously.” At least he has agraspofthe obvious.
This is also obvious:The Tigers (5-2, 2-2 SEC) have five games remaining in the regular season, three againstranked teams(Texas A&M, at Alabama, at Oklahoma), one against an Arkansas team armed with adangerous offense and one against presumed rent-a-win Western Kentucky
To aman after the game, the LSU players talked abouthow they have to be perfect therest of the way.How if they dothat they can stillachieve the program’smanifest goal of reaching the 12-team College Football Playoff.
“We’ve got to go 1-0 every single week,” linebacker West Weeks said, “and if we dothat, we’re going to be in the playoffs. We know what we have to do. We have to be perfect the rest of the season, and we still have allof our goals in front of us.”
Weeks has to say that.Heand his teammates have to believe that.
No one outside the LSU program should, though.
What has LSU, with its $18 million roster and its $20 million coaching staff, shown to indicate that it can go 5-0 the rest of the way to get to 10-2, the presumed threshold for getting into the CFP? Nothing.
The only time LSU impressed waswhen it opened the season with a17-10 win at then-No. 4 Clemson, avictory that through no fault of LSU’sown proved to be fool’sgold.
Saturday’sdefeat was amicrocosm of the season in all of its frustrating, high-definition glory.One thing gets betterfor LSU and another goes bad
The offense finally started a game with apulse, drivingfor afield goal that was the Tigers’ first opening-possession score
HUSTLE BUTNOFLOW
2
LSUproduced explosiveplays, notably a62-yard touchdownpass from Garrett NussmeiertoZavion Thomas, butitstill typified the waythe offense struggles. Nussmeier just gotthe ball away under pressure, and Thomas had to breaktackles before outracing everyone to the endzone.The LSUoffense has little flow to it, blame that lies with offensivecoordinator JoeSloan and an offensiveline that has neverfound chemistry.
this season. Vanderbilt countered with atouchdown, but LSU answered with a24-yard touchdown pass fromNussmeier to Green to start thesecond quarter
For the first time, the Tigers scored more than 20 points against aPower Fourteam. That’snot leapingover ahigh barwith Mondo Duplantis-like aplomb,but it’ssomething. It wasn’t enough.
Thedefense, thestrength of this team most of theseason, couldn’t get Diego Pavia and the Vanderbilt offense off the field in critical situations, alathe Tigers’ 24-19 loss at Ole Miss. Slipping through their grasp time andagain like hewas lightly buttered, Pavia helped Vandy convert 8of16combined thirdandfourth-down situations (LSU was 5of11). With Pavia’swheels churning,Vandy wound up with awhopping 239-100 edge on LSU in rushing.
In the final nineminutes, though, theTigers finally stopped Vandy,forcing two punts.Then, in trueLSU whack-a-mole style, the offense couldn’tmove the needle. When the Tigers punted backtothe Commodores with 3:12 left instead of going forit on fourth and 8from their 22, Vandy wasable to runout the clock.
Taking. A. Knee. Three. Times
Thestory of this LSU season still is unfinished, but this feels like awatershed defeat for the Kelly era. This was the season he and everyone at LSUpointed to. They have allthe players, the staff, the money,the facilities, the stadium andthe tradition in placetovault back into thenational championship hunt for the first timesince 2019.
Asidefrom being down afew key starters Saturdaysuch as linebacker Whit Weeks, defensive tackle Bernard Gooden andmost of thegame left tackle Tyree Adams, there were no excuses for theTigersonSaturday (to Kelly’scredit, he did not try to make any).LSU hadthe more talented roster Instead, the Tigers got outplayed and outcoached.
Now,it’sdown to this. Perfection therest of the way or else. CFP or bust
Thesmart money is on bust.
For more LSU sports updates, sign up for our newsletter at theadvocate.com/lsunewsletter
FINAL THOUGHTS
3
LSU’sinability to playcomplementaryfootball caught up withthe Tigers on Saturday, as it did in their loss at Ole Miss. The offense finally showed apulse, scoring more than 20 points against aPower Four team forthe first time, but the defense wasineffectivefor too muchofthis game.Now the Tigers face the likely prospect of having to runthe table in their final five games to make the CollegeFootball Playoff. Twowords: No way.
Tigersoffense failsto deliverinkey moments
yards in 36 minutes of possession, and when its offense failed to take advantage of the chances it had to tie the game or take the lead.
BY REED DARCEY Staff writer
Garrett Nussmeiersighed as he answeredthe question. Afew minutes earlier,hehad buried his head in atowel on the LSU bench, dismayedthathis offense had fallen short once again, this time in a rare loss to Vanderbilt
The details, Nussmeiersaid, were theproblem. Toooften,the Tigers weren’tonthe samepage. Therewere back-breaking drops, drive-killing penaltiesand headscratching timeouts —usually called after communication problems or substitution issues threatened to movethe offense behind thechains.
“It’sfrustrating,” Nussmeier said. “Wejust got to be better as aunit. It’snot on any individuals. It’sthe unit as awhole.”
LSU accomplished some things on offense in its31-24 loss to Vanderbilt.Itscored on its opening drive for the first time all season, and it finished withatleast 20 pointsfor the first time against an FBS opponent this year.Itdidn’t commit asingle turnover— not acrushing goal-line fumble or a drive-halting interception —and it even ranthe ball at an efficient clip, finishing with asack-adjusted rush average of 5.9yards.
Ordinarily,that’sall the Tigers would’ve needed to win this season.
Butitwasn’tenough on Saturday, when LSU’sdefense let the No. 17 Commodores(6-1) rush for239
The Tigers trailed31-21 early in the fourth quarter when Caden Durham’s 51-yard run set them up at Vanderbilt’s2-yard line.
They then lost anet of 15 yards across the next nine plays.
“The offense had mustered some things that we had been lacking,” coach Brian Kelly said, “but when ourdefense made a coupleofstops, we couldn’tturn those into positive possessions.”
The problems began after Durham’s long run. The Commodores stuffed LSU’snextplay—aninside hand-off to Durham. Thena comedy of errors ensued. Personnel confusion forced the Tigers to burn atimeout. Then tight end Donovan Green was whistled forafalse start. Then running back Ju’Juan Johnson wasstopped on awildcat runup themiddle. Then Nussmeier floated apass incomplete, forcing LSU to settle for itsfourth field-goal attemptofthe game.
“You’vegot to scorea touchdown there,” Kelly said.
Even though it didn’t, LSU’s offensefound itself with two chances to tie the game after its defense forced apair of punts in the fourth quarter
But afirst-down sack and thirddown holding penalty foiled the first opportunity.ThenZavion Thomas lost 3yardsona screen play, andBarionBrown dropped awould-be third-down conversion, thwartingthe second chance. After theTigers puntedon fourth and 8with two timeouts and3:22 left in the fourth, they
never got the ball back.
“Wecould pick acouple of plays,” Kelly said. “The bottom line is, we didn’tscore touchdowns when we kicked field goals, and we didn’tplay wellenough defensively to give us enough possessions to winthe game.”
Before Saturday,LSU’s defense had held five of its first six opponents to 10 points or fewer.The only team to score morewas No. 5Ole Miss —which has one of the nation’s20mostproductive offenses.
Vanderbilt operated withease. Its offense averaged 6yards per play,rushed for5.6 sack-adjusted yards per carry,converted 6of its 13 third-down tries and scored touchdowns on every one of its trips to the redzone, excluding the one it used to salt the game away late in the fourth quarter
“It’sdefinitely frustrating,” center Braelin Moore said. “Weknew what kind of gamethis was going to be. We know they’re ateam that runs the ball alot and has a lot of possession time. We knew ourpossessionswere limited and thatweneeded to scorewith whatever possessions we had. We just weren’table to do that toward the endofthe game.Wehavetobe better there. No excuses.”
The problem, for LSU, is that it now might be too late.
“I think it was aproductive day,” Nussmeier said, “but it wasn’t enough to win the football game, and so that’sthe frustrating part.”
Email Reed Darcey at reed. darcey@theadvocate.com.
For more LSUsports updates, signupfor ournewsletter at theadvocate.com/lsunewsletter
AP PHOTO By GEORGEWALKER IV
LSU coach Brian Kelly yells
ASSOCIATEDPRESS PHOTOByGEORGE WALKER IV
LSU wide receiver Barion Brown runs after acatchduring the first halfofa game against Vanderbilton SaturdayinNashville, Tenn.
Girls Team scores: 1. Hannan, 28. 2. Zachary,45. 3. Hahnville, 69. 4. Central, 108. 5. Prairieville, 120. 6. East Ascension, 161. Individuals: 1. Mary Friel, Hannan
Districtraces and the playoff hunt are heating up, and Week 7ofthe high school footballseason delivered several important results.
Here arefour takeaways from this past week’s action Rivalrylives up to billing
No matter therecords of either team, theannual game between the Gators and Spartans always delivers something new
Notebook
This year’s game, played at The Pit, was no differentafter St.Amant failed to convert a2-point conversion against East Ascension on the final play of the game to lose 4948.
The Spartans (5-2, 3-1) have already delivered severalimpressiveresults this season, but Friday was a declaration that this team is notthe same one that went 3-7 last season.
“Wehave acomplete 360 from last year,” senior tight end Brysten Martinez said. “We’re doing everything the right way.Wejust have a brand new team.”
East Ascension totaled 458 yards of offense and, whether through the air or on the ground, continued to make abig play when it needed it most.
“Going intopractice every day with afourth-and-goal mindset,”said Spartans junior receiver JeremyahMerriweather aboutthe team’s clutch plays.
The District 5-5A race is farfrom over,but the Spartans have proven they’re a real contender for the title.
Impressive district wins
So, about that District 5-5A title race? Denham Springs continued its high-
flying offense witha 42-24 win over Dutchtown.
Denham Springs (5-2, 2-1) has scored at least 40 points in theirpast three games.
The Hurricanes, who went 2-8last year,took down Live Oak 32-28 to win their third straight game andget to 4-3 overall.
The program’sturnaround has been one of the more impressive ones in the Baton Rouge area.
East Ascension andPrairieville are 3-1 in district play,while Dutchtown and Denham Springs are 2-1. Catholic in driver’s seat
In abattle of top teams in thedistrict, the Catholic Bears scored aseason high in points against Central in a57-28 win.
Catholic scored35ofits points in the second half. Quarterback Turner Goldsmith tallied four touchdown
passes. The Bears finished with 538 yards of offense.
Juniorrunning back Jayden Miles said last week that his team hadn’treached its full potential offensively after a 38-16 win over Liberty,and it showedithad anew level to find after its Week 7result over the Wildcats.
The Bears(5-2, 2-0) now possess the only unbeaten district record after Zachary was upset by Liberty, 52-31, to fall to 5-1, 1-1.
Anotherrecordfor Simon?
Bulldogs senior running back Trevin Simon ran for a school-record 519 yards andseven touchdowns on 34 carries. His performance helpedlead the Bulldogs (52, 2-0) to a57-35 win over St. John.
Simonisfocusedonbringing home adistrict title and adeep playoff run, but a chance at another school re-
cordbecame more possible afterThursday.
Can Simon break the school’s single-season rushing record of 2,911 yards set by Chad Elzy in 2023? Through sevengames, Simon hasrun for1,879 yards and25touchdowns.He’saveraging268.4 rushing yards pergame. Simon needs 1,032yards to tie Elzy’srecord. Simon needstoaverage 344yards per game if he tiesitusing the team’s three remaining regular-season games. If he’s able to getclose to the record, his offensive line will be abig reason why “The game is going to begin andit’sgoing to end with those guys in the trenches,” Bulldogs coach Taylor James said. “The rushing yards that our team puts up, that needstogonexttothose five guys up front.”
28, Slidell 7 D’ArbonneWoods56, N. Caddo 26 De La Salle 42, Landry/Walker 18 Discovery 20, Ben Franklin 17 East Beauregard60, Bolton 6 Erath 49, Berwick 0 Eunice 38, LaGrange 0 Evangel Christian 59, Benton0 Franklin Parish 55, Peabody 14 General Trass (LakeProvidence)46, Block 0 Hahnville 49, CentralLafourche 14 Hamilton Christian 28, Elton 21 Hammond 20, Mandeville 17 Haynesville 62, Cedar Creek 20 Homer 22, Green Oaks 14 Jeanerette 18, St. Martinville 13 Jena 60, Vidalia 28 Jennings 55, South Beauregard14 John Curtis 38, Brother Martin 24 Jonesboro-Hodge 21, DeQuincy7 Karr 41, Jesuit 0 Kennedy 41, S. B. Wright 0 Kentwood 24, Independence 0 LaSalle 24, Lena Northwood 22 Lafayette Christian 41, Notre Dame 7 Lafayette Renaissance 52, Welsh7 LakeCharlesPrep34, St. Louis 20 Lakeshore42, Pearl River 6 LeakeAcademy, Miss. 45, Riverfield 16 Leesville 39, DeRidder 14 Lincoln Preparatory 25, Glenbrook 7 Livingston 33, B.T. Washington 0
Logansport52, Lakeview 0 Loranger 28, Hannan 7 Loreauville 47, Houma Christian 9 Loyola Prep62, Woodlawn(SH) 14 M.L. King Charter 28,Abramson 10 Mangham 49,Oak Grove 28 Mansfield45, Rosepine14 Many66, Winnfield 40 Marksville 14, Caldwell Parish7 Minden 55, B.T. Washington 30 Natchitoches Central 35, C.E. Byrd31 New IberiaCatholic 49,Delcambre6 North DeSoto 56, Southwood 0 Oberlin51, Merryville 48 Opelousas 44, Livonia0 Opelousas Catholic 57,N.Central 6 Parkway 30, Huntington 19 Pointe Coupee Catholic 43, Academy of Sacred Heart-Grand Coteau 7 Rayville 32, DelhiCharter 6 RedRiver 49, Lakeside21 Richwood 28, LakeArthur 14 Riverside 51, West St. John 6 Ruston 41, Neville37 St. Paul’s 45, Ponchatoula10 Salmen 32, Fontainebleau 7 Shreveport Northwood 48, Bossier 14 South Lafourche 55, Assumption 28 South Terrebonne 48, Morgan City 14 Southside 63, Sulphur 17 St. Charles Catholic35, Legacy School,Texas 31 St. Edmund Catholic 58, Sacred Heart 36 St. Frederick Catholic 56,Delhi 12 St. Helena 50,St. Thomas Aquinas 7 St. James 40, McDonogh 35 8 St. Martin’s 49,CrescentCity0 St. Mary’s 42,Montgomery18 St. Thomas More63, Comeaux10 Sumner 57, Bogalusa0 Terrebonne 52, East St. John 14 Teurlings Catholic 49,N.Vermilion 0 Thibodaux 33,H.L.Bourgeois3 Tioga 49, West Ouachita 7 Vandebilt Catholic 41,Ellender 6 Ville Platte 28,Mamou 26,OT
STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON
East Ascension running back Jason Blackburnraces down the field in the second quarter against St. Amant on Friday.
STAFF PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK
Catholic Highrunning back Jayden Miles is tackled by Central defensivebackMason Moore on Friday at Central.
WTA Abierto Tampico Results Saturday At Centro Libanes Mexicano de Tampico Tampico, Mexico Purse: $115,000 Surface: Hardcourt outdoor Results Saturday from Abierto Tampico at Centro Libanes Mexicano de Tampico (seedings in parentheses): Women’s Doubles Championship Amelia Rajecki, Britain, and Kayla Cross (3), Canada, def. Weronika Falkowska, Poland, and Kristina Novak (4), Slovenia, 6-4,
Poole’s versatility an ideal fit for Pelicans
BY LES EAST Contributing writer
One of the primary reasons the New Orleans Pelicans traded for Jordan Poole was his versatility
His ability to direct an offense as the primary ballhandler and to be a consistent scoring threat when someone else is the primary ballhandler will come in especially handy as the Pelicans begin the season Wednesday at Memphis.
Dejounte Murray is the team’s starting point guard, but the timing of his return from Achilles surgery to repair an injury suffered in January is uncertain.
New Orleans used the No. 7 overall pick in the June draft to select Oklahoma guard Jeremiah Fears, who may be the starting point guard of the future. Coach Willie Green has said he will give Fears as much responsibility as he can handle but allow the 19-year-old to ease into a prominent role, if necessary
The Pelicans can afford patience on both fronts because of Poole, who showed during his four seasons with the Golden State Warriors and the last two with the Washington Wizards that he has a really good handle on all aspects of being a combo guard.
“I was acquired to play my game and be the player that I am and have a bigger role,” Poole said, “just to come over here and help us win games and make a big impact on our team over the course of our season.”
Poole possesses other significant attributes that will be helpful for a team featuring a half-dozen significant newcomers.
When that roster overhaul began under new executive vice president of basketball operations Joe Dumars, he had a brainstorming session with his top lieutenant, Troy Weaver, who had been a consultant with the Wizards during Poole’s tenure with them.
Weaver asked Dumars what he thought of Poole, and Dumars didn’t have a strong opinion.
“He’s your kind of guy,” Dumars recalled Weaver responding.
That meant Poole was “obsessed with basketball” and could be found in the gym “non-stop.”
A few weeks later Poole was on his way to New Orleans as the centerpiece of a three-team trade that sent CJ McCollum to Washington.
“I think Troy and Joe made an effort to get me over here as soon as they had the opportunity to just because they know how I play the game, the things that I’ve learned, my experience, just how good I am as a player and how good a fit I am with this team,” Poole said. “So I think the role is going to be big and important, regardless of the situation and regardless of who’s out there.”
The presence of Fears and dependable sparkplug Jose Alvarado will provide plenty of opportunities for Poole to play off the ball while Murray is sidelined.
“I think he has the unique ability offensively to play with the ball in his hands and off the ball,” Green said of Poole. “He comes off screens, comes off pin downs. He can get to the basket and finish He’s a really good free
throw shooter, challenging himself defensively, to be in the right positions, brings a level of physicality on the ball and off the ball as well.”
As Fears matures and his minutes increase accordingly and when Murray returns, Poole figures to become less point guard/shooting guard and more shooting guard/point guard, though Poole said “the line isn’t as clear” between a point guard and a shooting guard as it once was.
Green wants the Pelicans “to play with a point five mentality,” meaning all five players on the court are able and willing to initiate the offense.
But Poole’s versatility isn’t limited to his ability to play either guard position His tenure with the Warriors included him being a significant contributor to the team’s 2022 NBA title.
“He won a ring,” forward Zion Williamson said, “so he knows what it takes to get there and having that experience on this team with him is big for us.” Poole, who played in 35 playoff games while with Golden State, saw the other end of the spectrum in Washington as he was a leader on a downtrodden franchise that finished 1567 and 18-64 the last two seasons. Last season he had career-bests in scoring (20.5), 3-point shooting percentage (37.8),
QB classof2024has aspecial look
famed 1983 (JohnElway,Jim Kelly,Dan Marino), 2004 (Eli Manning, Philip Rivers, Ben Roethlisberger) or 2018 (Josh Allen, Sam Darnold, Lamar Jackson, Baker Mayfield) classes. Butit’soff to a strong start Here’show I’d rank theClass of 2024 today, takinginto account how each quarterback has played so far and projectinghis potential:
1. DrakeMaye, Patriots
If we re-drafted the2024 NFL Draft,I believe Maye would be theNo. 1overall pick.Hehas improved dramatically since last season and has outperformed all of his peers this year.His passer efficiency rating (108.0), completion percentage (73.2%), touchdown-to-intercep-
rating on third down, and his 40.5% conversion rateisthird behind only Maye (45.7%) andPenix (45.5%).
Still, his 61.6% completion percentage is well below the league average.
7. J.J. McCarthy,Vikings
The former Michigan standout has had arough start to his NFLcareer.He missed his rookie season because of a knee injury and has been sidelined since Week 2with ahigh-ankle sprain in 2025. His twostarts this season were a mixed bag. He led the Vikings to abig comeback winonthe road against
4. Bo Nix, Broncos Nix’sraw numbers don’tmatch up with thetop three of this group except in one key area: wins. He’s 14-9 as astarter and led the Broncos to aplayoffberth for the first time in nine years as arookie. He still throws too manyinterceptions forSean Payton’sliking, but otherwise, he runs theoffense like aveteran and keeps theBroncos out of negative situations with his mobility,pre-snap reads and play under pressure. He leads thegroup with a95.5 passer led tarter and losses do matter
STAFF PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD
quarterback Spencer Rattler,right, and NewEngland Patriots quarterback DrakeMayemeet after the game at
SAINTS
Continued from page1C
after the Bears recorded theirbiggest win of theseason. Allenmay nolongerbea head coach, but his unit came up biginthe Monday night victory over the Washington Commanders. The Bears forced three takeaways to extend their season total to 12, the second-most in the NFL.
If Allen holds any grudge towardthe Saints for his firing, he won’tsay so publicly.Sure,he did not even get afull three years at thehelm, going18-25,but Allen will notethat15ofhis 24 seasons as acoach in the NFL came in NewOrleans. He has too many memories nottothink fondly of the place.
Left unsaid is his current roleasacoordinator might be better suited forhim thanhis last job. Not that Allen has any interest in reflecting on his time leading the Saints.
“Yeah, look, Iappreciatethe question,” Allen said with asmile when asked what ultimately went wrong in New Orleans. “I don’tthink I’m going to go there. Let’sjustfocus on whatwe’ve got going on now.”
‘Hewas just DA’
Saints cornerback Rejzohn Wright calls his brother every day So when he found out that Nahshon wasjoining the Bears and the cornerback would be coached by Allen, Rejzohn wanted to share as much as hecould He told his brother to be ready to play physically,practice hard and “be up in people’sface.”
The details could go only so far.
“Hefound outquickly howDA is,” Rejzohn said.
“DA doesn’ttake no excuses, no apologies,” Nahshon said Standing in the Bears’ locker room, Nahshon gushed about many of Allen’ssame qualities that Rejzohn did days earlier in a buildingalmost 1,000 miles away
headcoach in New Orleans?
Asked this, Yiadom saidhedidn’tthink so,because everycoach has his own way of coaching. Some coaches don’thave much to say outside of thework itself, he said.
In anyevent,the Bearsare glad to have him
“He’sbeen agodsend to me,” said Bears head coach Ben Johnson, afirst-time head coach, “becausehe’sbeen incredible, not just from coordinating the defense, but he’shelpedme every step of the way as well.
“So, very grateful for him to be here and everything that he’sdonefor this team up to date.He’sbeen avery successful coach in this league for along time.”
Familiar challenges
When Sewell watches his brother play for the Bears, he recognizes what the defense’scall is based on whether thelinebacker raises his right or left hand.
Saintshead coach Kellen Mooresaid this week that Allen has added new wrinkles to his scheme, as you’d expect coaches todofrom year to year.But at itscore, the Bearsdefense is what New Orleansdeployed foralmost 10 years. Pressman coverage. Defensive ends crashing down hard. Exotic pre-snap disguises with plenty of different fronts.
For the Bears, Year 1ofAllen’ssystemisvery much a work in progress.
“My brother won’t buy in —he don’twanttobephysical,” Rejzohn Wright said with alaugh “That’s why we’regoing to beat theBears.”
OFFENSIVELEADERS
He’s been a godsend to me, because he’sbeen incredible,not just from coordinating the defense, but he’shelped me everystepofthe wayaswell.”
The brothers see Allen as an aggressive coach who instills confidence and holds players accountable to the standard he expects For Rejzohn, that meant believing in him as an undrafted free agent after stints with twoother teams. For Nahshon, that means appreciating how demanding Allen can be.
BEN JOHNSON, Bears coach, on defensivecoordinator Dennis Allen
The Wrights aren’tthe only pair of brothers Allen has coached between NewOrleansand Chicago. Saints linebacker Nephi Sewellgave hisbrother Noah Sewell plenty of pointers about playing linebacker under Allen
Asked about the connections, Allen said he hadn’tgiven the topic much thought.But in a way,that makes sense. Allen has spentthe last few months installing his schemeand finding ways to matchthat to his players’ skills.
That’show Allen coaches. Sometimes, figuring out the personnel takes precedence over the personal.
“Shockingly,Iain’thave much of arelationship with him,” Saints cornerback Isaac Yiadom said. “I’m not going tolie. We didn’tshare many words. Ijust played in thesystem. He was my head coach.”
As he finished his sentence,Yiadom turnedto teammate Jordan Howden
“You ever talk to DA, really?” he asked. “He wasn’tatalker,” Howden said “Yeah,” Yiadom said. “I don’tknowifanybody Idon’tknow.Hewas just DA.”
Playfultrash-talking aside, the Chicagodefense has struggled in ways that are familiar to anyone who watched the Saintsover the lastfew seasons. TheBears have struggledtostopthe run, allowing the second-mostrushingyards pergameat156.4
Chicago allows explosives at the seventh-highestrate. Opponents have scored thesixth-most points pergame andgained the seventh-most yards.
But remember,ittook time for Allen’sunitstocoalesce in NewOrleans —even whenhe was asuccessful coordinator And the Bears have started to makesteadyprogress. For one, they’vegottenhealthier, with veterans T.J. Edwards and KylerGordonreturning to the lineup. And against the Commanders, Chicago held Washington’swell-refined rushing attack to 4yards per carry and forced two fumbles.
“Even though we are getting takeaways every single week, Ifeel like we’re getting better at something new every single week,” Bears defensive end Montez Sweat said. “We’re addinga new play every week or anew scheme.
“It almost seems like the defense is neverending, almost.”
That’sAllen. Sweatsaidhe’stalked with Saints defensive end ChaseYoung,his former teammate in Washington, aboutthe complexities of Allen’sfronts for thedefensive line. As an edge rusher, Sweat has found he’s“definitely got to be moredisciplined”and createapassrush plan within the scheme.
“I like him,” SweatsaidofAllen. “Hebrings avery different style of defense to the game.
At Halas Hall on Thursday,there was abrief momentwhen Allen sounded like the Saints coach once again. He talked about the strength of the New Orleansoffensive line, as well as Spencer Rattler’smobility.Hepraisedwide receiver Chris Olave’s “exceptional routes” and raved about Rashid Shaheed’sprogress.
Buthesaid these things whilewearing a Bears shirtand aBears visor in frontofa Bears backdrop.
That’snot to say Allen failed to form aconnection with any of his players. Saints defensive end Cam Jordan said Allen is always “goingtobeone of my guys,” while linebacker Demario Davis said he “definitely enjoyed my time” with the coach. Those are two prominent leaders Andevenlesser-knownplayers such as Nephi Sewell and Rejzohn Wright said they’ve had an opportunity tocatch up with Allensince hisdeparture Rejzohn chatted with Allen briefly when he was in an elevatorwith Nahshon as the brothers were on the phone afew weeks ago.
Allenmadeclear that he watched theSaints offense. But outofcuriosity,did he turn on thetape of his old defense at all?
“No,” Allen said.
The former Saints coach smiledagain and then walked off the podium. Therewas another practice to get ready for,inanother citythat’snow his home.
But it does raise afascinating question: Did the approach have anything to do with Allen’s lack of success as a
Email Matthew Paras at matt.paras@theadvocate.com
TEAM STATS
Saints Bears
STAFF PREDICTIONS
JEFF DUNCAN
BEARS24, SAINTS 16: TheBears have wonthree gamesina rowand areplaying with confidence. The Saints arestill in search of their first road win. If theSaintscan seize an earlylead, they mightbeable to dictateterms andsteal thewin Butit’shardtoenvisionit, giventhe Saints’penchanttostart slow
LUKE JOHNSON
SAINTS 27,BEARS 23: This is agut feeling. NewOrleans hasbeenohso-close to knocking offseveral big favoritesthisseason, andthe Bears’ record hasbeeninflated by their hard-to-repeatturnoverluck. As long as theSaintscontinuetakingcareof theball, this feelslikeanopportunity to stealawin
MATTHEWPARAS
SAINTS 26,BEARS 20: Ignore the Dennis Allenangle fora second Hisdefense with theBears isn’tthe sole reason I’mpicking theSaints to prevail. It boilsdowntothis: As an Illinois native,I’vewatched the Bearsfor most of my life.And this is thetypeofgamethattheylosequite often. Simpleasthat.
RODWALKER
SAINTS 20,BEARS 17: If theSaints don’t winthisone,theymay have to wait awhile to getanother.The Buccaneers andRamsare up next youbestbelieve Dennis Allenwill have
the
STANDINGS, SCORES & SCHEDULE
Daniels seeks to beat Cowboys Quarterback Jayden Daniels wants a victory over Dallas he can call his own when Washington comes to Texas on Sunday. He’s also trying to keep the Commanders from dropping below 500 for the first time since being 0-1 when he was a rookie last season Daniels lost to the Cowboys at home and was watching when Marcus Mariota led a late drive to the winning score in a mostly meaningless regularseason finale last season Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott didn’t face Washington last season He’s 11-2 against the Commanders in his career and is off to a hot start in 2025.
Rams, Jags meet in London
Sliding Eagles challenge Vikings
2 1 3
The Los Angeles Rams and Jacksonville Jaguars took different paths to London The Rams spent the week practicing at Camden yards in Baltimore after beating the Ravens and planned to arrive a day before facing Jacksonville at iconic Wembley Stadium. The Jaguars flew in Monday and practiced all week in London One of those approaches will lead to a fifth win on the season. The Rams will try to win away from home but will be without leading receiver Puka Nacua The Jaguars aim to bounce back from a home loss to Seattle in which they were handled on both lines of scrimmage.
Broncos dominant ‘D’ faces Giants Giants arrive in Denver behind rookies Jaxson Dart and Cam Skattebo as they seek their third victory in four games. They’ll face a stiff challenge in Denver’s dominant defense. The Broncos lead the league with 30 sacks. No other team has more than 20 entering Week 7 Linebacker Nik Bonitto’s eight sacks lead the league, and linebacker Jonathon Cooper is coming off a twosack performance against the Jets that earned him AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors a week after Bonitto won the same award. The Broncos are seeking their fourth consecutive win of the season.
The Philadelphia Eagles take a twogame losing streak to Minnesota to face the Vikings The Eagles currently are 4-2. They never lost consecutive games last season on their way to winning the Super Bowl. The Eagles haven’t beaten the Vikings in Minnesota since the wild-card round of the 2008 playoffs They beat Minnesota at home in 2022 and 2023 The Vikings are 3-2 after their bye week Their run defense has slipped after ranking second in the NFL last season. Eagles running back Saquon Barkley also has been quiet after winning the 2024 AP Offensive Player of the year award
Falcons try to run over 49ers The Atlanta Falcons face the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night on NBC The Falcons have a strong rushing offense leading the NFL with 151.2 yards per game. They also rank first in total defense Wide receiver Drake London is a key player to watch after a standout performance against Buffalo. The 49ers are struggling with their rushing game, ranking 30th in yards per game despite Christian McCaffrey’s presence. Linebacker Tatum Bethune steps in for injured Fred Warner San Francisco could see the return of tight end George Kittle Both teams are dealing with several injuries, which could affect their performance 5 4
GAME OF THE WEEK
Colts coach cut teeth with Chargers
BY DAN GREENSPAN Associated Press
INGLEWOOD Calif. Shane Steichen’s journey to becoming head coach of the Indianapolis Colts began in 2011 as a defensive assistant with the Los Angeles Chargers, where he spent nine seasons in total.
The 40-year-old Steichen is still well-respected within the Chargers organization, and that esteem has been apparent ahead of the Colts’ visit on Sunday
“Coach Steichen has done a great job, a tremendous job with the team, with the offense. And great guy from everything I heard around here, all my favorite people just speak glowingly about him and his time here,” Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said. Before he was directing the best scoring offense in football for the upstart Colts (5-1), Steichen’s first
coordinator job came at the culmination of his second stint with the Chargers (4-2). He returned in 2014 and spent two seasons as offensive quality control coach. Steichen coached the quarterbacks from 2016-19, including during the move from San Diego to Los Angeles in 2017, then took over as interim coordinator during the 2019 season. He kept that job in 2020 before leaving for Philadelphia. Along the way, he built quite a few bonds.
“I spent nine years of my career there and I’ve got a ton of respect from the top down,” Steichen said.
“(Chargers owner and chairman) Dean Spanos, (president of football operations) John Spanos, (president of business operations) A.G. Spanos gave me an opportunity in this league. So I really appreciate them.”
The 2020 season was quarterback Justin Herbert’s rookie year after
being drafted sixth overall out of Oregon. It was a chaotic introduction, with the pandemic adding new levels of complexity to his adjustment to the professional ranks. Herbert appreciated his time with Steichen and wished it could have continued.
“It was really fun with him,” Herbert said. “He’s such a great coach, leader, friend, and there’s no surprise why they’re doing so well. I learned a lot from him. Wish I had more time to learn from him, just how smart he was but I wish him nothing but the best.”
The Chargers defense has dropped off considerably since linebacker Khalil Mack injured his elbow in a Week 2 win at Las Vegas, allowing at least 20 points and 118 yards rushing in each of the four games without him. Mack was activated off injured reserve this week, putting him in line to play Sunday
Niners activate TE Kittle vs. Falcons
San Francisco 49ers activated star tight end George Kittle from injured reserve on Saturday after he had missed the past five games with a hamstring injury Kittle went down in the first half of the season opener for San Francisco but returned to practice this week and is ready to return to game action Sunday night against the Atlanta Falcons. The Niners hope the return of Kittle will provide a needed boost to the offense.
Commanders rule out wide receiver Samuel Washington Commanders receiver Deebo Samuel was ruled out for Sunday because of an injured heel, leaving Jayden Daniels and the Commanders without any of their three top wide receivers for the team’s game against the NFC rival Dallas Cowboys. Samuel had missed practice time in recent weeks because of his heel but always had managed to be in uniform on game day until now He leads Washington with 34 catches and 315 yards receiving to go along with three receiving touchdowns.
Two receiving targets for Raiders are iffy
The Raiders could be significantly shorthanded in their passing game when Las Vegas visits Kansas City on Sunday Tight end Brock Bowers (knee) is doubtful and wide receiver Jakobi Meyers (knee and toe) is questionable for the AFC West matchup with the Chiefs. Raiders coach Pete Carroll has indicated he would rather sit Bowers because the bye week follows this weekend’s game. Bowers has missed the past two games. Meyers was injured in last Sunday’s 20-10 victory over Tennessee and did not practice Wednesday and Thursday
Titans will miss WR Ridley against Patriots Tennessee Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley will miss Sunday’s game against New England with the hamstring injury that knocked him out of last week’s loss in Las Vegas. Ridley did not practice all week after suffering the injury in the first half against the Raiders. He leads the Titans with 290 yards receiving, and Tennessee also will be without wide receiver Bryce Oliver for a fifth straight game with a knee injury Edge rusher Arden Key also will miss a second straight game with a quadricep injury
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By DANIEL KUCIN JR.
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, right, runs with the ball during a game against the Chicago Bears on Monday in Landover Md.
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle, left, and Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride chat prior to a game Sept. 21 in Santa Clara, Calif.
AP PHOTO By GODOFREDO VÁSQUE
OUTDOORS
Youth prevails
These four young menwere selected from among theentries in this year’sCCA
Louisiana S.T.A.R. summer-long fishing tournament to win a14-foot bateau riggedwith a15-horsepowerMercuryoutboard on atrailer.The four caught and registered either a 14-inch speckled trout or asheepshead. The four,fromleft, are GraysonEvans, Andrew Delcambre, AndrewWilliams and Andrew Levert
It’s topwater time!
Bass anglersrejoice at best action of year
BY JOE MACALUSO
Contributing writer
Oh, joy!
It’stopwater time. Seems like bass across our state are providing the best action of the year on the most exciting way to entice aheart-stopping strike from ol’ Mr.Largemouth.
Around here, False River and Old River are proving the point that topwater lures of all shapesand sizesare working their magic now that were gettingour third cool front of the fall.
Trywalking the dog with a stick bait,orlistening to the whirring blades of abuzzbait, or casting any number of poppers and you’ll findout why bassing folks can’twait for this time of year
Even the report from Jim Breaux about last weekend’s visit to Toledo Bend by the Junior Southwest Bassmasters noted the top producers were topwaters.
And, fromdownsouth off the Mississippi River —but only when thewind and tides are right —bass are taking topwaters in the ponds when they’re notinhaling soft plastics.
But, watch it if you’re using abuzzbait in waters around Venice,because a redfish is justaslikelyto pounce on this lure and turn it into atangle of wire and hook. As for speckled trout, it looks likethesefishlike hanging in deeperwater andhaven’tmovedupinto the flats or into the interior marshes. Guess we’ll have to wait for another couple of cold fronts to get them moving.
NOTEBOOK
Bigweek
Thestate team of D.J. Rebstock,Ben Nobile,SamAnthony and Jared Aucoin will bejoined by regional qualifier Travis Merritt as thefive Louisiana anglers competing for berths in next year’sBassmaster Classic.
Thefive are making their way to LaCrosse, Wisconsin,for the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship on the upper Mississippi River Anglers are coming from 48 states and seven other countries —250 in the boater division and 230 in nonboater.They’llfish for three placesinthe 2026 Classic, trying to stake aclaim for someofthe $223,000 purse andtohavepaidfees for 2026 in oneofthe three divisional B.A.S.S. circuits.
Thefield will fish Wednesday and Thursday before the top 40 anglers in boater and nonboater fish Friday, when the nonboater championwill takehome $10,000. Thatchampion and the top 10 in boater will compete in Saturday’sfinal Daily weigh-insare scheduled to beginat 3:30 p.m. with daily coverage on the B.A.S.S. website:bassmaster.com
Then,inearly November, south Louisiana’sown Michael Frenette andhis fishing partner Mark Robinson will beout to defend their title when teams meet in Aransas Bay, Texas, for the Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup championship
Teams can weigh two redfish per day —20-28 inches long —and the combined weight of the three-day
competition will determine which teams earns $75,000 first-place money
And, last week, twoLSUShreveport teamsearned berths in the2026 Collegiate BassFishing championship presented by Bass ProShops after finishing in thetop 10 in an AssociationofCollegiate Anglers tournament held on LakeDardanelle in Russellville, Arkansas.
ThoseLSUS teams consistedof William Tew and Miles Smith and Carsen Adcock and Will Powell Swampopened
Afterthe flood waters receded, state Wildlife and Fisheries staff has reopened theMaurepas SwampWildlifeManagementArea to deer hunters.
The staff uses the gauge on BlindRiver near theAirline Canaltodetermine when to close the deerseason becauseflood watersconcentratethe deer in small sections of the 112,615-acre WMA located southofSorrentoabout 25 miles west of New Orleans andalong the south shore of LakeMaurepas. The WMA includes propertyinAscension, Livingston, St. John the Baptist and St. James parishes Redsnapper
We’re nearingthe end of therecreational red snapper season after Wildlife and Fisheries managers, using the LA Creel system, determined this year’s take at 856,857 pounds through theweek ending Oct. 5. That total is 95.7% of this year 894,955-pounds allocation. Look for aseason closure sometime this week
STATECOLLEGE FOOTBALL ROUNDUP
Southeastern
By The Associated Press
HAMMOND Brandon Hayes returned akickoff 83 yards foratouchdown to open thesecond half,Deantre Jackson scoredthree times and Southeastern Louisiana
blanked Northwestern State 49-0 on Saturday
The Lions (5-2, 3-0 Southland) posted asecond consecutive shutout for the first time since 1960. SLU outgained the Demons 402-96 and held Northwestern State (1-6, 0-3) to 24 yards rushing.
SOUTHERN MISS 22, UL 10: In Lafayette, Micah Davis caught a98-yard touchdown pass from Braylon Braxton and Jabari Ishmael recovered afumble inside the 1-yard line to help Southern Miss win. On athird and14from
theGolden Eagles 2, Davis caught along ball down the right sideline for thelongest pass play in Southern Miss history.Itput the Golden Eagles (5-2, 3-0 Sun Belt)up 20-10 at the3:40 mark in the third quarter The Ragin’Cajuns(2-5, 1-2) nearly respondedwith atouchdown on theensuing possession,but Lunch Winfield reachedfor the goal line on aquarterback keeper andlostthe ball, whichIshmael recovered. TULANE 24, ARMY 17: In New Orleans, Jake Retzlaff threw two touchdown passes inthe final two minutes, thesecond to ShazzPreston from 26 yards out with27seconds left to give Tulane thewin. Tulane tied it at 17-all with 1:54 remaining after an 11-play,75-yard drive
MONDAY
GULF COUNCIL FEDERAL
SHRIMP PERMIT MORATORIUM MEETING: 5p.m.virtual viaWebinar to address actions on expiration of the federal shrimp permit moratorium. Website: gulfcouncil. org
TUESDAY
LA. OUTDOORS FOREVER TECHNICAL ADVISORY BOARD MEETING: 9a.m state Wildlife and Fisheries headquarters, 2000 Quail Dr., Baton Rouge. LAFAYETTE KAYAKFISHING CLUB MEETING: 6p.m Pack &Paddle, 601 E. Pinhook Lafayette. Call (337) 232-5854. Website: lafayettekayakfishing.com
6p.m., Carter Plantation, 23475 Carter Trace, Springfield.Call Marcell Parker (985) 507-6992 or Lori Parker (225) 229-5751. Website: friendsofnra.org
HUNTINGSEASONS
DEER/PRIMITIVE FIREARMS: Through Oct.24, State Deer Areas 2.
DEER/YOUTH &HONORABLY DISCHARGED VETERANS: Oct. 25-31, State Deer Areas 1, 4, 5, 6&9
DEER/MODERN FIREARMS: Oct. 25-Dec. 2, State Deer Area 2, still-hunt only
DOVES: NorthZone,through Nov. 16; South Zone,through Nov. 30.
DEER/MODERN FIREARMS: Through Nov. 30, State Deer Areas 3, 7, 8&10.
DEER/ARCHERY: Through Jan. 15, State Deer Areas 3, 7, 8& 10. Either-sex takeallowed.
DEER/ARCHERY: Through Jan. 31, State Deer Areas 1, 2&4 Either-sex takeallowed.
DEER/ARCHERY: Through Feb. 15, State Deer Areas 5, 6&9, either-sex takeallowed.
RABBITS &SQUIRRELS: Through Feb. 28, statewide, private landsonly
AROUND THECORNER
OCT.26—SOUTH LOUISIANA HIGHPOWER CLUB &GARAND STATECHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES: 8:30 a.m., Ascension ParishSheriff’s Range, St. Landry Road,Gonzales.
BASS FISHINGRESULTS
CMPGSSM, NRA match rifle or service rifle,200-yard/50roundsmatch course & Prone matches. Call (337) 380-8120. Email Mike Burke: SouthLaHighPower@hotmail. com
FISHING/SHRIMPING
SHRIMP:
endedinBryce Bohanon
12-yard touchdown catch on fourth and 8. After Army went three and out, Retzlaff threw fourcompletions and added a10-yardrun during thegame-winning drive. Retzlaff was22of29for 261 yards with two touchdowns and one interception forTulane (6-1,3-0 American). Preston finished with five catches for 86 yards.
GRAMBLING20, UAPB 16: In Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Tre Bradford ran for 123 yards and two touchdowns including thegame-winner with 1:42 remainingtogive Grambling awin.
TROY 37, UL-MONROE 14: In Monroe, Tray Taylor accounted for two touchdowns, andTroy scoredthe final 20 points forits third straight win.
Junior Southwest Bassmasters MANY Age-group resultsfrom the two-dayJunior Southwest Bassmasters-Denham Springs’October tournament heldfromBridge BayMarina on ToledoBend with anglers, theirhometowns,number of bass weighed in parentheses (5-basslimit; 14-inch minimum length), total weight in pounds and big-basswinners: First day 15-18 age group: 1, BlakeLeRay Brusly (5)9.07pounds.2,Branson Sheridan, Ponchatoula(4) 8.21. 3, Branson McMillan, Brusly (3)5.27. Bigbass: Sheridan, 3.21 pounds 11-14: 1, Hunter Carlson, Holden (2)7.22. 2, Khloe Morales, French Settlement(4) 7.15. 3, Cole Watkins, Hammond (3)5.54. Bigbass: Carlson, 3.95. 7-10: 1, Nathanial Watts,Livingston (4)6.63. 2, Jase Russell, Pride (4)6.36. 3, Wesley Ludlam, Baton Rouge (1)1.53. Bigbass: Russell, 1.96. Adultdivision: 1, Ricky Carlson, Holden (5)16.13. 2, Deric Morales, French Settlement (5)11.63. 3, JeremyPrejean, Brusly (5)10.68. Big bass: RonLeRay,Brusly,4.44. Second day 15-18 age group: 1, Wade Prejean, Brusly (5)11.47. 2, BlakeLeRay Brusly (5)11.33. 3, BransonSheridan,Ponchatoula (2)3.96. Bigbass: Prejean, 3.65. 11-14: 1, Rydge Herd, Springfield (4)11.19. 2, LandinSholty,Walker (2)4.87. 3, Jacob Martin, Baton Rouge (2)4.12. Bigbass: Herd, 5.93. 7-10: 1, CharlesLeonard, Lakeland (2)4.29. 2, Kanton Smith, Livingston (2)3.93. 3, Jase Russell,
STAFF PHOTO By JOHN BALLANCE
Trustisn’t given. It’s earned. Just like athletes on the field, our doctors earn it every day through commitment, precisionand passion.Whether you’repushinglimits or recovering from them,you can trustthe team that understandsboth.
From championship athletes to everyday champions, Our Lady of the LakeHealth is wheretrustedcarebegins
Harold Perki LSU,Lineb
J.Michael Robinso Sports Me ns ba n, edi ,Jr. cker MD cine
LIVING
On morning walks, I’ve been watching ayard down the streetwhere agraveyard is slowly blooming from the lawn. Each day,orsoitseems, anew novelty tombstone has sprouted from the grass, part of agrowing tableau thatalso includes plastic skeletonsthat offer me gruesome smiles. Halloween decorations this ambitious take time, and my neighbors have been adding to their display whentheyfind spare moments. Afew days ago, Ispotted an open box in their carport with more grisly supplies for their workinprogress. Abony white toe spilled from the edge of the cardboard container,and aslender skeletal finger beckonedfrom the far corner The dome of askull gleamed from within. For aman of acertain age, such morbid theater should be sobering, but Ichuckleeach time Istroll past the makeshift cemetery that appears each October astone’sthrow from my house. That’sthe sly paradox of Halloween, Isuppose. In winking at death, it sharpens our joy at the simple fact of beingalive.
Within my own yard, theseason has brought gentler tidings of mortality
Our trees, increasingly bare, tell me that legions of leaves are dying as the year does. The annual leaf drop used to frustrate my ambitions for a perfectly manicured lawn,but my late neighbor,Zelda Long, taught me to change my priorities.Zelda hadfaced afew challenges that deepenedher sense of what’sreallyimportant, and she urged me to stop fretting about fallen leaves. She’sbeen gone adozen yearsnow,but Ithink of her eachautumn when the leaves
ä See AT RANDOM, page 4D
Ahelping paw
BY MARGARETDELANEY
Staff writer
WhenDieselgets up in the morning —after eating his food, taking astroll in thebackyard and sniffing through thehouse —his day is justbeginning.
His daytruly begins when he puts on his vest Diesel is a10-year-old Labradorand golden retriever mixwho works at the 19th District Judicial Courthouse in Baton Rouge.
The pup lives with Judge Louise Hines when he’snot in the office providing emotional support for children, adults, jury members, lawyers andjudgesinthe courthouse building.
With the gentleness of agolden and the intelligence of alab, Diesel is spoiled rotten by all who see him in the courthouse.
An overflowingbasket of toys sits in the back room of the judicial offices,surrounded by desks andpapers. Bright green tennis balls, stuffedChristmaselves, a torn-up turquoise blue llama and frayed tug-of-war ropeslay piled
PROVIDED PHOTO By LOUISE HINES
Childrenfrom OMG, the Outstanding Mature Girlz conference, play with Diesel. The group wasformed to create fun, informativepublic awareness platforms for girls in the Baton Rougearea.
up in Diesel’sdesignated corner
Hines originally had Diesel working in theDistrict Attorney’sOffice withher starting in May 2017. When Hineswas an assistantdistrict attorney in BatonRouge, she
wasworking acase where achild was abused and needed to take the stand in order forthe case to move forward.
That day,Hines brought in her three-legged dog, Goose, who is now 16 years oldand retired —and Gooseworkedhis magic. Thechild in thecase felt more comfortable So Hines looked into official means of atrained facility dog to assist in morecases —that’swhen she met Diesel.
“I wanted the Eeyore of dogs,” Hines said, referencing the mellowed donkey character in “Winnie-the-Pooh.” “And Diesel was perfect.” Diesel is on loan fromCanine Companions, adog training agency that breeds Labrador-golden retriever mixes to becomefacility dogs. These facility dogs can work anywhere —atphysical or occupational therapy clinics, special educationcourses, child life specialties or criminal justice placements. Courthouse Dogs Foundation, a national organization that works
Do ghosts hauntthe stageofN.O.’sLePetit
Astagecrewman is silhouetted against a backdrop while building the set inside Le Petit Theatre for the opening of ‘The Lehman Trilogy.’
BY ANNETTE SISCO Staff writer
When thecurtain rises on atheater stage and a hush falls over the darkened seats, there’sa momentinwhich realityand fantasy seem to merge.
That’swhen theatergoers might sense a presence.Or, somemight say,aghost Recently areader queried Curious Louisianaabout thespirits
rumored to inhabit the oldest, most historic theater in NewOrleans: Le Petit Théâtre de Vieux Carre, a324-seat, 1922 venue in the French Quarter “Does Le PetitTheatre have ghosts?” the reader asked. The answer is yes. Yes, of course it does. “John Grimsley,our technical director,has worked at the theatre on and off foralong
while, and he is wellversed in the ghosts and ghost sightings,” Don-Scott Cooper,the producing executive director of Le Petit, wrote in amatter-of-fact email. On arecent morning, Grimsley
STAFFPHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON
Diesel poses with his handler,Mona Gills-Collins, left, and owner,JudgeLouise Hines, outside the courtrooms at the19thJudicial District CourtinBaton Rouge.
PHOTO By DANNyHEITMAN
Askeleton sports asnazzy bow tie as he greets visitors to ayard in south Louisiana in advanceof Halloween.
DannyHeitman AT RANDOM STAFF PHOTO
COMMUNITY
Two Ascension Parish clubs address childhood cancer awareness
Community service took center stage the week of Sept. 8-14 as the Kiwanis Club of Ascension and Gonzales Lions Club addressed Childhood Cancer Awareness Month during the service organizations’ fourth annual Celebrate Community initiative.
The two service organizations partnered with Dream Day Foundation to assist in starting their St. Jude Clinic Program.
Members donated items such as snacks, crafts and sensory toys for pediatric cancer patients and their families with St. Jude Clinic at Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital.
Seventeen volunteers assembled care packages for more than 100 families.
BREC awarded $10,000 grant by Keep Louisiana Beautiful
BREC has been awarded $10,000 as a recipient of the Keep Louisiana Beautiful Healthy Communities Grant.
This grant will benefit the East Baton Rouge Parish community by providing funding for BREC to remove illegally dumped tires and prevent future dumping at Monte Sano Park and its bayou.
In recent years, Monte Sano has been the site for the illegal dumping of thousands of tires, polluting and blighting the neighboring community and local ecosystem
The Healthy Communities Grant makes it possible for BREC’s natural resource management team to cover the cost of removing the tires through an authorized transporter, as well as installing barriers to prevent future dumping. By removing these tires, which contain toxic chemicals, BREC will be able to restore health to the waterways and natural spaces, benefiting the ecosystem and communities that surround Bayou Monte Sano.
BREC will hold a volunteer event on Jan. 24 at Monte Sano Park to stack tires in preparation for their removal.
COMMUNITY GUIDELINES
The Community column runs Sundays in the Living section and accepts submissions for news of events that have taken place with civic, philanthropic, social and religious auxiliary organizations, as well as academic honors.
Submissions should be sent by noon Monday to run in the upcoming Sunday column. Because of space limitations, organizations that meet monthly or more are limited to one photo per month. If submitting digitally, we prefer JPG files 300KB or larger If taking a photo of a group, have them stand or sit shoulderto-shoulder If more than six people are in the photo, arrange them on multiple, distinct rows.Avoid strong background light sources.
Identify those pictured by first and last names as viewed from left to right, row by row.We prefer emailed Community column submissions to features@ theadvocate.com.We also accept submissions by mail at P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge LA 70821.A phone number must be included.
Ascension Kiwanis and Gonzales Lions Club
The Kiwanis Club of Ascension and Gonzales Lions Club addressed Childhood Cancer Awareness Month during the service organizations’ fourth annual Celebrate Community initiative the week of Sept. 8-14. Gathered are, from left, Lori Berteau, family support program manager; Tiffany Graves, executive director Dream Day Foundation; Donna Leggett, Ascension Kiwanis community service chair; Tiffany LaPorte, district administrative assistant; Bridgette Hardy, Ascension Kiwanis president; and Kim Cox, Lions Club vice president.
Cangelosi Dance Project
of the
Hope Group
Members of the Hope Group from Broadmoor United Methodist Church
sharing prayer concerns and celebrating life with each other Shown
from
Linda Crane, Joyce Hazleton and Gerri Cornett; standing, Joy D’Armond, Judy Zollinger, Charlette Hill, Charlotte Fitzsimons and Bonnie Kemp.
Arts Council bringing Fest For All back after a decade
BY ROBIN MILLER Staff writer
The Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge is bringing back Fest For All after almost a decade, and it’s just in time for the 20th anniversary of the Shaw Center for the Arts.
The arts festival once spanned an entire weekend during the spring before it was replaced by the Ebb & Flow festival in 2017 A new iteration, Fall Fest For All, is scheduled for Oct. 26. LSU will be playing Texas A&M at home that weekend but that’s OK, because the festival will offer lots of activities in downtown Baton Rouge the day after the game. The last Live After Five will be that Friday, and LSU will be playing at home, and we wanted to capture those people who are staying in town,” said Jonathan Grimes, the Arts Council’s president and CEO.
“So, when they walk out of their hotels, they’re going to see these artists and see this big stage, and they’re naturally going to be drawn to that.”
Now, that’s not discounting local festivalgoers. Grimes is sending out the word to come downtown.
We’re hopeful that the weather will be nice,” Grimes said “In the past, the Arts Council always made a contribution to St. Jude’s just before Fest For All, and the weather was great every year Even when there was some question about the weather it would pass, and the weekend would be beautiful. So, will the Arts Council be making a donation in the name of its patron saint?
“We’re going to have to do that,” he said. Fall Fest For All will open at 11 a.m. and run through 7 p.m. in and around the Shaw Center at 100 Lafayette St. At the intersection of Convention and Lafayette streets, the music stage will host Big Sam’s Funky Nation, Chris Leblanc and Baton Rouge Music Studios. The festival will also feature 40 artist booths in the Shaw Center plaza, along with free performances in the Manship Theatre by such groups as the Baton Rouge Ballet Theatre.
“Everything will happen within the block the Shaw Center,” Grimes said. “The LSU Museum of Art will
we’ll have some food vendors out there as well.” Grimes says all of the
gathered for lunch at City Cafe on Oct. 9,
are,
left, seated, Jenola Duke, Judy Burch,
PROVIDED PHOTOS
Members
Cangelosi Dance Project conducted the Gulf Coast Dance Workshop on Oct. 5 in Baton Rouge. Shown are, from left, Kris Cangelosi, director of GCDW; Jerisse Grantham, Baton Rouge; Teddi Rayborn, Hammond; Jessica Touchet, New Orleans; Minori Therrein, D’Iberville/Biloxi; Daniel Therrien, Biloxi; and Lucia Kulmova Mandeville.
TRAVEL
Stateparknestled in Acadiana jungle
BY CATHERINE S. COMEAUX Contributing writer
Catherine S. Comeaux andher
family spent three summers exploring state, national and provincial parks—fromLouisiana to Alaska then Nova Scotia and along the Mississippi River in between. This year sheturns her attention to our Louisianastate parks to discover the natural beauty of the South less than a day’s drive from home.
Palmetto Island StateParkis nestled in the jungle like swamplands on the BayouVermilion, south of Abbeville. Both locals and travelers love the park with its well-shaded campsites and cozy cabins elevated between the tree canopy and the understory filled with huge palmettos.
In addition to typicaloutdoor activities like boating, hiking and lazing around the campsite, the park offers an excellentplace to listen and watch for wildlife.
Over 230 bird speciesare sustained by the wetlands,and the nearby crawfish ponds combine with rice fields. Black bear have been spotted (not to be confused with dark, furry wild hogs that can look bearish from adistance), and “Ursa Major,” alarger-thanlife metal bear sculpture created by Brennan Steele,can always be seen lurking near the splash pad.
Even before constructionbegan on the park in 2002, the landalong thebayou was afavorite wilderness camp site for Scout troops.
In the early 1990s, my Scoutmaster father had taken me to thearea on areconnaissancetrip for an upcoming campout. Iwas amazed that the same residential bayou running through our hometown became so wild and beautiful —nothing like the landscaped bayou-side lawns of Lafayette.
Just after thepark openedin 2010, lured by thememoriesof that trip with my father and the
TRAVEL TROUBLESHOOTER
By ChristopherElliott
promise of asplash pad, Itook
my children fora hike and an afternoon of running through the fountains.We’ve returned several times to explore,each time finding something newtolove.
Goingbyboat
Our latesttrip to theparkwas supposed to be by boat.After reserving acabin close to thewater, Iplannedour departure.
The idea was to experience the connectivity of the BayouVermilion by putting our vesselin thewater at Lafayette, passing through the smalltowns of Milton, Abbeville and Perry as we wended ourway tothe cypress-lined banks of Palmetto Island.
We would encounterthe bayou likethe waterhighway it used to be, like those who came beforeus in dugouts and pirogues —except our boat would have an outboard motor on it.
Thevision of arrivingbywater was clouded by the scheduling needs of afamily of five.
Practicality calledfor taking the minivan and trailering our 17-foot
aluminum flattothe park’s small boat landing. Beingable to “dock” on the slopebanknear our cabin gave us thefeelofarriving by water (without the hourslong boat ride)and allowed us to readily experience thebayou.
Forgiveusfor ourtrespassing
Palmetto Island State Park is an excellent jumping-off point for exploring the waterways.
The restaurant-rich town of Abbeville is abouta30-minute boat ride north. To thesouth, past the remnantsofanIshak shellmidden, is Vermilion Bay with opportunitiesfor fishing and dolphin spotting.
For theultimatewater-as-highway experience, adventurous boaterscan access the nearby Intracoastal Waterway and motor toward Brownsville, Texas,or Boston,Massachusetts.
We decided to stay close and head to Abbeville forafternoon massatSt. Mary Magdalen Church downtown. Trouble was, the only public river access in Abbeville is near theHighway 14
bypass —not easy walkingdistance to the church. Fortunately, we found aspotcloser to tie up and made it to mass with plenty of timefor afew prayers asking for forgiveness for ourtrespassing.
Questionably moored, we decidedtohead back to ourcabin forsupperinstead of walking to oneofthe delicious seafood restaurants in Abbeville
Only at Palmetto Island
This stretch of bayou is an interestingmix of industry interspersed with agriculture and wildness. Pogie processing plants extract omega-3s, shipyardsbuild crew boats, andcows graze in the distance whilekingfishers swoop through cypress.
Theearly fall bayou sides are lush green,full of cattails and elephant ears speckled with flowering plants.
We hope to make it back in the spring for the flowering of the dark,blood-colored, 6-foot-tall Abbeville red iris (Irisnelsonii).This extremely rare native Louisiana iris hasonly been foundgrowing in asmall private wetland in Vermilion Parish. In 2011, 100 Abbeville rediriseswereplantedinthe state park in hopes of expanding its range, while making Palmetto Island theonly place in the world to see theiris in its native habitat. When we return, we’ll rent acanoe or akayak at the park fora quieter experience along the canoe trails.
Ilook forward to exploring this system of man-made canals and ponds that have naturalized well over the years.
Formed by thedredgingtobuild theparkroads,theyconnect to thenaturalflow of thebayou.With the continuous influx of fresh water andmicroorganisms from the Vermilion, the system grows and attracts wildlife
The canoetrails, removed from theboat traffic of the bayou, would be agreat place to teach my kids how to paddle andoffer another new,fun way to experience the park.
Know before yougo
n Kayak and canoe rentals are available on-site.
n The main campground is RVcentric with 20 sites having wellmaintained tent pads.
n For amore secluded tent camping experience, visitors can paddleorhikeintoseveralprimitive (no bathrooms) “back pack campsites” around the largest of the ponds at the park.
n Tenters can rent the primitive group camparea near the boat launchand have bathroomaccess within about 200 yards.
n Cabins offer decent wheelchair accessibility (bathing is via tub with atransfer chair stowed in acloset nearby).
n Bring awagon forcarting heavy loads between parking and the cabin entrance.
n The Nature Center is open 9a.m. to noon Saturdays.
n The StoryWalk offers kids a chance to connect abook with hiking on the 500-foot-long Kid’sNature Trail. Ask about Cajun French translations of the featured book at the park entrance station.
n The splash pad is closed on Mondays.
n The Wi-Fi and cell service are spotty
n Groceries are availableinnearby Abbeville.
n Palmetto Country Store offers “beer &food”innearby Mouton Cove.
n The Friends of Palmetto Park help enhance the park experience with their gifts of timeand money Visit friendsofpalmetto.org.
Upcoming events
n Trick or treating: 4p.m. to 6p.m.Oct. 25
n Pork in the Park Dutch Oven Gathering: Nov.8
n Santa’sChristmas program: Nov.29
n Latanier Cookers and Friends of Palmetto Island Membership Christmas Social: Dec. 13
n The Abbeville red iris (Iris nelsonii) blooms for about three weeks in mid-April.
Ibooked an Alaska cruise through Holland America for my family.A Holland America agent urgedustobuy ourAlaska Airlines flightsthrough the cruise line.We did not purchase travel insurance. But when our flight wascanceled because of amechanical problem, the cruise line said we’d missthe ship and our only option wastocancel. We lost $3,952.HollandAmerica refunded only taxes after weeks of fighting.HollandAmerica’sagent promised us supportifthe flight was delayed or canceled.We would likearefund of the remaining balance since the mishap was adirect result of what waswithin their responsibility,not ours.Canyou help? —Michael Ramer,San Jose
Holland America should have honored its verbal commitment to assist when your flightdelay ended your cruise. It looks like your 7:15 a.m. flight was canceled because of amechanical problem The nextflightdidn’t leave until 10 a.m. Thatwouldn’thave given you enough time to reach your ship.
Youbooked your flights through Holland America’sFlight Ease program, which promises thatif your flight is delayed or canceled by the airline on the day you are on your way to or from your cruise “our staff is ready to assist you, 24/7. We’ll even take care of any flight changes if needed to join the voyage at the next available port of call.”
But Holland America doesn’t promise you will make your cruise or thatitwould refund your cruise under the Flight Ease program if you miss the boat.
Youmade several mistakes when you booked your cruise. First, you should always give yourself acushion between when you arrive and your ship leaves —preferably an entire day.You were cutting it too close. Second, always get travel insurance for your cruise. Insurance would have covered the full cost of your cruise. Flight Ease won’t. Finally,inreviewing your paper trail, it lookslike you spent alot of time on the phone with Holland America. Certainly,when your flight is canceled, you’ll want to call your cruise line right away
But after that, keep everything in writing so that youhavea reliable paper trail showing your efforts to resolve the case. Youmay need to forward it to theHolland America executives whosenames Ipublish on my consumer advocacy site, Elliott.org. It looks like youwere dealing withaHolland America cruise consultant whenyou booked your cruise and airfare. Idon’t see any evidence that theHolland America agent recommended travel insurance to you. He should have done that. More importantly,Holland America should have refunded your airline tickets. Under Department of Transportation rules, an airline mustautomatically refund
youwhen it cancelsaflight. It appears your airline haddone that but Holland America didn’tpass therefund alongtoyou Icontacted Holland America on your behalf. It agreed to refund $759 in airfare in addition to the $832 in taxes and port fees it had alreadyreturned. Unfortunately, you’re goingtolose the valueof your cruise. That’sanexpensive lesson that Iwishyou could have avoided.
Christopher Elliott is the founderofElliott Advocacy,a nonprofitorganizationthathelps consumers solvetheirproblems. Email himatchris@elliott.org or get help by contacting himon hissite.
PHOTO By CATHERINE S. COMEAUX Stephan Comeaux arrives by boat to Palmetto Island State Park.
with family dogsbound for the courthouse, says there are 361 such dogs workingin41states, including six in Louisiana.
The 3rd Judicial District Attorney’soffice in Ruston and the Calcasieu Parish District Attorney’soffice in Lake Charles have facility dogs, as does the Hammond Child Advocacy Services in Hammondand the OrleansParish District Attorney’s office in New Orleans. And,of course,the twopupsproviding service in Baton Rouge Dogs in the program are meanttobecalm, reliable and reduceanxieties in professional environments. Atask Diesel does well, accordingtoHines.
“He’ll find the most anxious person in the room, whichis sometimes even theattorneys, and sit down in frontofthem to provide some support,”Hines said. “He’svery intuitive.”
WhenHines was elected to her seat on the bench in 2022, she had to take astep back from Diesel’s care within thecourthouse.
“Toremain impartial incertaincases,” she said
When Diesel’sworkingbehind the witness stand on acase,he stays with Mona Gills-Collins, the jury coordinator and East Baton Rouge Parish clerk of court.
Gills-Collins and Diesel have formed quite the bond over his years of service, often staying at Gills-Collins’ home in the countrywhen casesare set to trial for weeks on end
“I think sometimes that Diesel prefers Mona tome,” Hines said. “But that’sfine with me, he’sgot alot of love to give When he retires, we’ve said we’ll have to split custody.”
CURIOUS
Continued from page1D
veteran. His face, astudy in character,isframed by dramatic, curly hair.Around his neck he wears arosary
Backstage, the space is filled with theboxes, costumesand set pieces one of atheaterthat openedmore than 100 years ago. In the gloom far above, over the pulleys and the catwalks,loom massive old cypress beams. But what else is up there in the shadows?
Welcometothe dark side
Audiences might know thetheater as abustling place, filled with light and cheer,but the technical crew sees adifferent side…the dark side.
Working lateinto the night,constructing sets on deadline ahead of opening, they sometimes notice movement and sounds. There are props and costumes that disappear,then materialize somewhere else.
Grimsley recalls the spectator he saw sitting alone in the balcony,watching the builders and wearing ajaunty captain’s hat Whenhelooked again, theman had vanished.
Other workers with longer tenure at Le Petit instantly recognized the description: He was a former patron of the theater,they said, someone who years earlier had gone to what was supposed to be his final resting place. An apparition they called “TheCaptain.” The ghosts seem to manifest
Somedays, Diesel sits behind thebench with Hines, much to thesurpriseofsome inmates that comethrough.
“They often say,‘What?!’
Then, they smile and give Diesel alittle wave,” Hines said.
Louisiana law allows theuse of specially trainedfacility dogs “to provide emotionalsupport to witnesses testifying in judicial proceedings without causing a distractionduring theproceedings.”The lawwas put to the test in a2020 trial whenan8-year-old requested the use of Dieselwhen she testified against her alleged rapist in ajury trial.
The judge allowed Diesel to lay at herfeet In 2024, Hinesworked with lawmakerstoensure that it was mandatory for afacility dogto be available to achild who is testifying in ajury trial. The judge
can’tdeny arequestfor Diesel.
Later that year,the Department of Public Worksbuilt a small gatearound the witness standsothatjurorswould not be able tosee Diesel beneath, comforting awitness.
“The jury isn’tsupposedto know he’seven there,” Hines said. “Wedon’twant any jurors to think sympathetic thoughts for thewitness by having Diesel visible.”
When Hines left the district attorney’soffice in Baton Rouge,she didn’tleavethem hanging. Diesel hasa partner in comfort with Clancy,a new facilitydog whotook up where Diesel left off, providingcomfort at theoffice.
Email Margaret DeLaney at margaret.delaney@ theadvocate.com.
that way —afigure noticed from the corner of theeye, rustling in the shadows or asudden, icy draft
Sincehestarted withNORD’s
Ty Tracy drama troupe in high school, Grimsley hasspent alifetime working all over thecountry in nearlyevery aspect of theater creatingfantasy realms through acting,set buildingand lighting. Acertain opennesstothe otherworldlyseemsto come with the territory
“I’ve worked at Le Petit many times late at night,” Grimsley reflected.“My feelingisthat when you’reonthisearth,you create a lot of energy.And when you die, it takes time for that to dissipate. Some peopledie, andthey don’t knowthey’redead.They stick around.”
Tragedyinthe courtyard
All theaters havetheir legends, their superstitions, their stories. There’sacertain “Scottish play” by William Shakespearethat cannot bementioned by name in anytheater,lest itsghostsand witches cause mayhem. In thecourtyard off Le Petit,
old windows overlook afountain, tables and tropical plants. But what else is looking on?
According to theater legend, abeautiful young woman in a long white gown can sometimes be seen behind theglass, gazing plaintively down at the flagstones.
Could it be the ghost of anew bride, who inexplicably threw herself from the sill during her own wedding reception many years ago?
The shadowy corridors and roomsinatheater may lend themselves to surprise encounters. Grimsley recalls opening a door backstageonce to be confronted by adark man in colonialera clothes whorushed straight at him —and through him.And then disappeared.
On another lonely night, ahuge mirror outside adressing room presented thetechnical director with aterrifying image. “Whatever Isaw scared the hell out of me,” he said. He started, shrank back,looked again. It was only his own reflection. Or was it?
Email Annette Siscoatasisco@ theadvocate.com. Do you have aquestion about something in Louisiana that’s got you curious? Email your question to curiouslouisiana@theadvocate. com. Include yourname, phone number andthe city where you live.
AT RANDOM
Continued from page1D
fall and Iembrace the change instead of fighting it.
I’mlooking now beyond our dining room window,where a fresh carpet of leaves dropped from our river birch and Drake elm overnight. I’malways surprised to discover each morning how much mysterious work has unfolded outside while I slept, the flight of leaves and owls as silent as snowfall in the darkness.
Over coffee on the patio after sunrise, my wife and Isometimes see the leaves drop in real time—alittle blizzard of brown, orange and red as squirrels scurry on the branches and shake things loose.
The squirrel mind, I’ve found, dwells on insurrection, always hatching schemes of theft and assault. Ijust heard one as I write this, its insistent scratch amplified by the roof gutter where it’strying to build anest. I’mback at my keyboard after I tapped the eaves with abroomstick.
My assailant just staged a clever retreat, though I’msure the little gremlin will return. Such is the newsfrom the front lines of fall in suburban Louisiana. Zelda would tell me not to sweat the small things and enjoy the turning of the year —something I’mtrying to do as the days shorten and the calendar drops its final leaves. Email DannyHeitman at danny@dannyheitman.com.
STAFF PHOTOSByCHRIS GRANGER
John Grimsleylightsupthe dressingroom at Le Petit Theatre in the French Quarter of NewOrleans.
John Grimsleychecks behindthe curtain insideLePetit Theatre.
The eyes of Shakespeare look out from the wall inside themain entrance to Le Petit Theatre.
STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON
Diesel, the courtroom therapydog,walks acrosshis office area after stoppingtovisit with severalemployees at the19thJudicialDistrict Courtin Baton Rouge.
PROVIDED PHOTO By LOUISE HINES Diesel peeks overthe desk of Mora Gills-Collins at the 19th Judicial District Courthouse.
PROVIDED PHOTOByLOUISE HINES Diesel relaxing with hisbeloved friend (and horse) Charlie at Mona Gills-Collins’ home after along week at the office.
LOUISIANABAKES
Olivia Regard
It is officially fall and while the cooler temperatures are abit delayed in their arrival, the pumpkin spice takeover is in full swing. From coffee to candles, pumpkin spice is everywhere. Though Iwill never be the kind of person whoruns out to get apumpkin spice latte on the first day of autumn, Idoenjoy the flavors and scents that arrive with the change of the season. Pumpkin spice is amain signifierofthis transition,even more so than the browning leaves falling from the trees, and its curious blend of spices just feels like fall.
When Ibake cozy fall treats, Iuse homemade pumpkin spice instead of buying apre-made spice mix. Making your own pumpkin spice blend is easy and allows you to control the ratio of spices. I love the balance in the recipe below,but if cinnamon or ginger are your favorite, increase the amounts; and if abit more kick from allspice and cloves is your aim, adjust accordingly to make it your own. Once you land on ablend that you love, have fun adding it to hot drinks, cookies, pancakes, muffins or bread this fall. Use the pumpkin spice blendasa1:1 replacement for the spices in the recipe you are making. For example, if arecipe calls for 2teaspoons cinnamon and 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, substitute 21/2 teaspoons pumpkin spice blend. One of my favorite recipesfor celebrating the
changing of the seasons and making my home smell like fall is this pumpkin spice coffee cake. The cake features pumpkin puree, abevy of warm ground spices, apecan and oatbased streusel and asubtle Steen’ssyrup-infused glaze. Thecake is moist courtesy of pure pumpkin puree and sour cream and, best of all —except for oat flour (which you can make at home)—you likely have everything on hand towhip up afall treat whenever thecraving hits.
PumpkinSpiceBlend
3tablespoons ground cinnamon 2teaspoons ground ginger 2teaspoons freshly ground nutmeg 11/2 teaspoons ground allspice 11/2 teaspoons ground cloves 1. Combine spices. 2. Store in asmall jar or container until ready to use. PumpkinSpice Coffee Cake
1cup chopped pecans, toasted 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar
1tablespoon heavy cream
1tablespoon Steen’ssyrup (or pure maple syrup) 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Note: If you do not have oat flour,make it. For this recipe, pulse2cups of whole oats in afood processor until theoats resemble acoarse flour.Use as instructed for cake and crumb topping.
1. Heat the oven to 350 F. Grease a9-inch-by-13-inch baking pan withbutter
2. Toast the pecans until fragrant,approximately 10 minutes. Let cool.
3. Make the crumb topping by whisking together 1cup oat flour,1cup light brown sugar,cinnamon and salt.Add cold, cubed butter and incorporate into the dry ingredientsusing your fingers or apastry blender Continue mixing until the butter resembles peas and thestreusel forms large clumps. Stir in toasted pecans and chill in the fridge until ready to use.
4. To makethe cake, whisk together the remaining oat flour,all-purpose flour,baking powder,baking soda, pumpkin spice blend and salt.
5. In aseparate bowl, whisk together brownsugar,oil, and pumpkin puree. Add sour cream and whisk to combine until no lumps remain. Add eggs one at a time, fully incorporating each egg before adding the next. Whisk in milk and vanilla.
6. Fold wetingredients
into dry ingredients until the batter is mostly smooth.
7. Pour the batter into the baking pan and cover with streusel topping.
8. Bake for55-60 minutes, until atoothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool.
9. Just prior to serving, makethe glaze by whisking together confectioners’ sugar,heavy cream, Steen’s (or maple) syrup and vanilla until smooth. Drizzle generously over thecrumb topping.
Duo explores ‘America’s most haunted city’
BY RACHEL MIPRO
Contributing writer
New Orleans natives Rosary O’Neill and Rory O’Neill Schmitt frequently collaborate on writing projects, often turning back to the Crescent City for inspiration The mother-daughter duo have just launched their latest book, “The Haunted Guide to New Orleans: Ghosts, Vampires, and Voodoo.”
Surrounded by ribbons and racks of fur coats in Yvonne LaFleur’s boutique ahead of a book signing, O’Neill and her daughter, Schmitt, talked about their experiences with New Orleans spirituality, veering off into stories of haunted restaurants, prayer methods to avoid ghosts and encounters they believe they’ve had with poltergeists.
The following interview has been edited for clarity and length How did your interest in ghosts start?
Rory Schmitt: My house was haunted. My brother, my dad and I had a poltergeist experience. I was 8. My brother was probably 15. My dad was in his 40s. All of a sudden, the door flew open, and this running blur of energy ran through the living room where we were watching “Star Wars,” and through the dining room, through the laundry room, into the kitchen, we had these like Chinese paper lanterns They started all spinning, and we had a rubber duck that started spinning the spirit or the supernatural, whatever it was, left this black like rectangular, almost like an imprint of a stamp. We would try to wash it off, and then it would come back the next day
BETWEEN THE PAGES WITH ROSARy O’NEILL AND RORy O’NEILL
Rosary O’Neill: My personal beginning, I was raised a lot by my grandmother who lived in a spooky mansion on Carrollton and Sycamore, and she would tell ghost stories from Ireland And I developed a terror She was so terrified of ghosts that she would have three religious objects on her bedroom door, a crucifix, and then we said prayer to Our Lady in the closet, where there was an altar, before we even climbed in bed So there was this whole sense of that, that afterlife was really going to come out if we weren’t careful. We all slept with crucifixes, she had a drawer she pulled out, and we could choose the one we wanted So I think that the belief in ghosts is kind of an extension of the spirituality
‘Gentilly’
BY RIEN FERTEL
Contributing writer
in New Orleans, where people do believe in God and these and where there is belief there are messengers. Does that belief coexist for you?
Rosary O’Neill: I wouldn’t do the ghost book if I didn’t feel it would bring people closer to God. It’s not worth the terror
What do you want readers to know about the book?
Rory Schmitt: We wanted to include
a chapter on voodoo, not because voodoo is ghosts, but voodoos are about recognizing the ancestors of the departed. You know, the spirits who come to visit us during the ceremonies, and who we respect through altars and through prayers too, if you can intercede and help us. We want to honor them and always remember them. But I think remembering to always have some sort
of spiritual protection. It could be carrying a rosary It could be some gris-gris. It could be a shaman, it could be a crucifix, whatever it might be, just to be able to rely and also have a community of support. The scariest experience that I had, I called the Voodoo priestess.
Was this at your house?
Rory Schmitt: A relative’s basement I had a visitation of a ghost when I was sleeping, and I just felt very unsafe. And so I called the priestess I know
She just came in, she did all these different rituals of hers. She yelled, she did the corn meal, the ancient symbols on the floor… the space felt so much better It felt lighter and brighter Still feels like there’s something there, but sometimes there’s a negotiation with ghosts over territory
What would you say are the most haunted places in New Orleans?
Rosary O’Neill: St. Louis Cathedral, because they buried so many people in the floor I wouldn’t go there alone.
details history of N.O. neighborhood as suburban plantation
“Gentilly:A New Orleans Plantation in the FrenchAtlanticWorld,1818-1851”by Na-
thalie Dessens andVirginia Meacham Gould, Louisiana State University Press,288 pages
I had long assumed that New Orleans’ Gentilly neighborhood earned its name from the area’s quiet, pastoral qualities. It sure is gentle up here, I’d say to myself, while driving past block after block of ample-lawned houses.
Nope. The name is actually a corruption of Chantilly that original appellation appears on old maps of the city — a northern suburb of Paris.
That story is told in a new book of the same name, the work of a pair of preeminent scholars of colonial Louisiana, Nathalie Dessens and Virginia Meacham Gould, who trace Gentilly’s early history as a suburban plantation through the letters of its longtime caretaker
The Dreux brothers
Gentilly’s colonial founding fathers were the Dreux brothers, Pierre and Mathurin, middle-class arrivistes from France’s Loire Valley region. Just a year after Bienville planted a flag in a bit of spongy soil that he would call New Orleans, the brothers purchased a long strip of mostly swamp-filled land stretching from the downriver town border up nearly a mile and a half to Bayou Sauvage, a former portage route now paved over by Gentilly Boulevard.
On the waterfront they built La Brasserie, a popular bakery-restaurant — in fact, then one of the only places in town to grab a bite and a beer that Marc-Antoine
Caillot, one of New Orleans’s first chroniclers, lovingly described as having “the feel of an open-air Café in Paris where countless numbers of people go to have fun.”
On their property’s backend, the Dreuxs planted corn, pastured cattle and horses, and, according to the early historian Grace King, built a “style of stately independence” while maintaining “an attitude of aristocratic supremacy” over their Gentilly plantation. Their mini empire, located four and a half miles from the French Quarter, was entirely built on the backs of enslaved laborers. The institution of slavery would define the fortunes of Gentilly and the Dreux family for generations.
Mathurin’s great-grandson Charles Didier Dreux would be the first Confederate field officer killed in the Civil War.
The plantation eventually passed to Louis Leufroy Dreux, whose widow, Marguerite Delmas, married Henri de Sainte-Gême, a French aristocrat who arrived in New Orleans in 1809, in time to serve as a major under Andrew Jackson in the Battle of New Orleans. Soon after marrying Marguerite, he inherited the title of baron and a chateau in southwestern France.
In the early spring of 1818, Henri and Marguerite handed off the keys to Gentilly to 25-year-old Jean Baptiste Auvignac Dorville, who
served as the plantation’s manager for the next four decades.
Over those years, Dorville wrote 218 letters to the Sainte-Gême family, 54 of which are translated from the French, ponderously footnoted, and collected by Dessens and Gould (the original letters reside in the Historic New Orleans Collection’s archives).
Microscopic detail
Dorville’s correspondence will be of uneven interest to the general reader of local history, though will be invaluable to researchers of a more scholarly bent (if they’re not already familiar with HNOC’s collection or Dessens’s 2015 monograph, “Creole City,” which covers much of the same ground).
Documenting, often in microscopic detail, the inner workings
of the plantation, Dorville pays special attention to the enslaved persons living and laboring there. Their names flit in and out of his letters, as readers get to know them through the overseer’s omnipotent and often cruel eyes. They turn the Sainte-Gême property into a viable truck farm growing corn, rice and citrus, including a whopping 40,000 oranges in 1821. They herd poultry and cattle and eventually transform the farm into a full-fledged sugar plantation. In 1824, they raze and rebuild the dilapidated plantation house into what Dorville deems an “elegant,” eight-roomed ”chateau.” They keep the plantation afloat during economic downturns and finance, with their blood, the earnings he sends abroad.
Dorville writes of their illnesses, pregnancies and deaths. He tells of his intimacy with the women’s reproductive cycles, of renting them out as wet nurses, of his own enslaved daughter, Irma.
He provides little news from the city for Sainte-Gême, beyond tidbits concerning other members of the plantation gentry He begs Henri to return, if only for a month Dorville’s pleas would go unheeded, as the letters back and forth grow more infrequent.
‘Gentilly lies heavy on me’
In 1850, he oversaw the selling of the plantation to John McDonough, who, dying shortly after, willed the property to the city of New Orleans. Dorville stayed on, perhaps unable to pull himself away leasing the plantation for another four
years. “Gentilly,” he would write to the Sainte-Gême family in 1855, “lies heavy on me.”
That year, he finally left, moving to a house he built on Esplanade in the Marigny He continued to handle the financial affairs of the Sainte-Gême family and tell them news from New Orleans.
“All the slave states are upside down and the question of disunion is already being discussed,” he wrote three days before the 1860 presidential election “How will this end? Only God knows.” After the war, Dorville moved to a St. Bernard Parish farm, where he died in 1876, three years after posting his final letter to the SainteGêmes. Over the next half-century, the city drained and parceled out the old plantation property, carving out the Gentilly Terrace and Gentilly Gardens neighborhoods.
Following the McDonough purchase, the fates of the enslaved persons that lived on the plantation remain unknown.
Today, the exact location of the Sainte-Gême house also remains unknown. But its footprint is likely buried under the intersection of Gentilly Boulevard and Interstate 610, somewhere in the vicinity of a pair of Black-owned businesses a vegan restaurant named Original Thought and Afro Mart, a pan-Atlantic grocery opened by a Ghanaian immigrant — fitting resolutions, perhaps, to a story of a New Orleans plantation.
Rien Fertel is the author of four books, including, most recently, “Brown Pelican.”
STAFF PHOTO By JOHN McCUSKER
Author Rosary O’Neill wrote ‘The Haunted Guide to New Orleans’ with daughter Rory O’Neill Schmitt.
PROVIDED PHOTO By MADDy THI DROUIN Rory O’Neill Schmitt
ago, Imet aman on asingles website and we began dating Things seemed to be progressing nicely between us until he blurted out that he was married. He explained that he hoped we would continue to see eachother anyway,because we got alongso well. He said he’d never lied to me by telling me he was single, and since I’d never asked if he was married, he saw no need to tell me. Iwas disgusted, and told him he had been deceptive by being on asingles site in thefirst place. Itold him he was abad person and walked out. The problem is that he lives in my neighborhood, and Ihave since seen him shopping inthe same stores Ido, usuallyalone. So far, he has been too far away or toopreoccupiedtohavenoticed me. If we run into each other in some aisle, however,doIsay something? Pretend Idon’t see
Gentle reader: Youcan cut him, of course, butMiss Manners suggests that you nodcoolly and move on. She hopes that you do not have fantasies of denouncing him in front of theother shoppers. It would only suggest to them that youare angrybecause he jilted you.
Dear Miss Manners: When and where should alady wear white gloves?
Gentle reader: Nowadays, probably when sheishandling valuable antiques,serving on the staffofavery fancy restaurant, or dressingupasMinnie Mouse.
ButMiss Mannersremembers atime when it was considered ladyliketowear short white cotton gloves in summertime. It was simply afinishing touch before going outinpublic. This was before people started going out in public in their pajamas workout clothes and unadorned underwear
It was also before those innocentlittle gloves became symbolic of all the disadvantages of being alady,and were spoken of as if they were handcuffs.
Perhaps you are referring to over-the-elbow kid gloves, worn with full formal dress. These are also rare nowadays, as “whitetie” is seldom worn. You can see them being mishandled in period costume dramas, where eating and drinking while wearing gloves would have tipped off real people of the period that those characters were clueless interlopers.
Dear Miss Manners: Ireceived a wedding invitation from agood friend that began, “Mrs. Sallie Doe and the Late Mr.John Doe request thepresence of your company at the marriage of their daughter.”
Iwas torn between amusementand pity. Assuming Icould not attend, how would one direct regretstothe Dear Departed?
Now I’m wondering if the Dear Departed will be on hand to give thebride away —which might be acompelling reason to attend. Apenny for your thoughts?
Gentlereader: That you should tryvery hard to suppressthe amusement and go with the pity
Email Miss Manners at dearmissmanners@gmail.com.
Navigating newfriendships as an adult
FYIBR staff reports
From 2p.m. to 4p.m. Sunday, theboard of directorsand “Meet the Saints and Sinners of St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery” will celebrate the cemetery’s 200th anniversary at 1523 Main St., Baton Rouge.
Take astroll through history with stops at the tombs of some of the city’s notable residents, find out more about their lives and learn about the ongoing preservation efforts.
Jeeping foracauseto benefitBlueStar chapter
Starting at 11 a.m.Sunday, asea of Jeeps will roll into Greenoaks Memorial Park at 9595 Florida Blvd., BatonRouge, for aone-of-a-kind car show dedicated to the most patriotic andhistorical American vehicles: the Jeep. The free family event will honorthe LA PatriotGuard Riders with a“Day of Gratitude” and raise funds to benefitthe Blue Star Mothers of Louisiana Chapter 1and its Wreaths Across America program
The eventwill bring together community leaders, Jeep enthusiasts and veteransorganizations for aday of live music, games, food and apumpkin patch.
Severallocal Jeep groups will be participating in this year’s event, with as many as 135 Jeeps on-hand.
This year’scontest will featurefour categories:classic, patriotic, show and shine, andbest in show Ghost Stories in the Galleries setOct.28
The LSU Museum of Art reserves theright to restrict costumes and accessoriesdeemedinappropriate or disruptive to other visitors. Retreat to explore deepening spiritual life
Aspiritualretreat ledbyDeacon CharlesdeGravelleswill be held between 10 a.m. and noon Nov.1atthe Episcopal Church of the Nativity in Rosedale,Louisiana.The retreat will explore effective techniques to deepen one’sspiritual life.The retreat is free, open to the public and will include lunch after the presentation.
Presentation topics will include:
n Community prayer vs. personal prayer, n Why interiorsilenceissoimportant in prayer and how to achieve it, n How to “practice the presence” of God, n How to pray with devotion, and n The basic principles of intercessory and healing prayer
The retreat will include timefor practice of the techniquesand discussion. Registration is required, available by contacting deGravelles at Charlie.degravelles@gmail.com.
Registration open for LSU LawVeterans 5K
Registration is nowopenfor the inaugural LSU Law Veterans Day 5K,which will take place 8:30 a.m on Nov.8atthe LSUGolfCourse, Nicholson at Gourrier,Baton Rouge. Public registration is $40, whilemembers of themilitaryand college students can participate for $25.
Dear Harriette: I’m trying to manage my social life as an adult and explore new ways to make friends. Ialways made friends at school, with kids in my grade or from my classes, but now navigatingthe real world on my own, without proximity and closed environmentsto steer the way,has been challenging. An acquaintance invited me to a gathering at his home over the weekend. We don’thave many friends in common, so Iinviteda friend who ended up canceling at
thelast minute. Iwanted to honor theinvite,soIdecided Ishould still go and thank him for including me.When Igot there, Ispoke to the hostbriefly,but he was busy,soIended up hanging solo. Iwanted to join conversations and feel included, but Ididn’t know how to hop in naturally.I ended up feeling so awkward and uncomfortable that Ileft after an hour.Doyou have any tips for navigating conversations with new faces? —SociallyAwkward Dear socially awkward: Youhad the right idea —bring afriend to help ease into new conversationswith people you don’tknow Sadly,that didn’twork out this time.What you can do to get com-
ADVERTISEMENT
fortable around new people is to put yourself in the mix andthen listen. Walk up and join agroup of people who maybetalking. Usually,they will make space for anew person. If theypause to look at you, say your name and thatyou are new to the area. Then listen to what theyhave to say.Notice if there are any intersections of interest or similarity when theyspeak. If so, offer how you relate to them. Be OK with mainly listening. Overtime, you will notice people who appeal to you. Don’tgive up next time. Stick around. Email askharriette@ harriettecole.com.
Many Americans arefortunate to have dentalcoverage fortheir entire working life, through employer-providedbenefits. Whenthose benefits end with retirement, payingdental billsout-of-pocketcan come as ashock, leading people to put off or even go without care. Simply put—without dental insurance, there maybe an importantgap in your healthcare coverage
When you’re comparingplans.
plans may limit thenumber of procedures —orpay forpreventive care only.
Look forcoverage with no deductibles.Some plans may require you to payhundredsout of pocket beforebenefits are paid.
Shop forcoverage with no annual maximum on cash benefits.Some plans have annual maximums of $1,000.
dental care.1 That’s right. As good as Medicare is, it was never meanttocover everything.That means if you wantprotection, you need to purchaseindividualinsurance.
Early detection canprevent small problems from becoming expensive ones. The best way to preventlarge dental bills is preventive care.
Stepintothe galleriesafter dark foranevening of spookystorytelling inspired by the artworks on view 6p.m. to 8p.m. Oct. 28 at LSU Museum of Art, 100 Lafayette St., Baton Rouge. Guests will receive aprompt sheet to build astory piece by piece, following your ghost as it moves through themuseum.Ages 16 and up are invited. Themuseum will provide writing and sketching supplies,along with prompts to spark creativity.Costumes are welcome, but must follow museum guidelines.
Not allowed: n Wings and tails/protruding accessories n Masks or headwear that limit visibility n Prop weapons
Participants can run or walk the 5K, andthe course will include a path foranyone whochooses to “ruck” therace, which is the military andcivilianexercise of walkinglongdistanceswitha weighted backpack to build strength and endurance. The LSU Law Veterans Advocacy Clubisone of roughly 30 student organizations at theLSU PaulM Hebert Law Center,and its mission is to provide military veterans with the resources, support and advocacy needed to succeed in higher education and law school. Register to participate at givecampus.com/schools/LouisianaStateUniversityFoundation/ events/2025-lsu-law-veterans-day5k.
Letgoofone-sided friendships
Dear Annie: Iamwriting about afriendshipthat has left me hurt and confused. My husband and Ihave known this couple for many years. He has been our friend for decades, and when he remarried, we welcomed his new wife with open arms. She and I became close quickly; we shopped together,met for coffee and had long phone conversations. But over time, she grew distant. Calls became shorter,texts turned into nothing but emojis and her
warmthseemed tofade. When we moved to Florida, instead ofbeing happy for us, she gave me thesilent treatment.Later,when we invitedthem to visit,things felt fine, but as soon as they left, she pulled away again. Thefinalstraw came when they offered to watch our house while we were away for amonth. They never came by once. Our plants died, the thermostat broke, and all Ireceived was abrief “sorry” and aheart emoji. It hurt, especially because we have always been generous with them, even giving away furniture when they needed it. Since then, she has admitted she is a“bad
texter,” but nothing has changed. Ihave tried to keep thefriendship alive, but Ifeel like Iamchasing someonewho no longer values me. She dismisses my feelings as if Iamholding agrudge over one incident,when in reality, this distance has been building for years. Am Iwrongtofeel so hurt? Should Iconfront her,write aletter or simply let this friendship go? I miss the person Ithought shewas, but Idonot recognize her anymore. —Confused Friend Dear Confused: Youhave given this friendship time, energy and generosity What you have received back is distance andhalf-
hearted replies.Ithurts, but it alsotells you all you need to know Friendship has to go both ways. Youcannot keep it alive alone, no matter how much history you share. She has shown you where shestands.The kindest thing you can do for yourselfnow is to stop chasing and focus on people who value your effort Sometimes closure comes not from aletter but from accepting what is.And as AnnLanders would say,itfeels wonderful when you stop banging your head against thewall. Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@ creators.com.
By The Associated Press TodayisSunday,Oct. 19, the 292ndday of 2025. There are 73 days left in the year
Todayinhistory: On Oct. 19, 1987, thestock marketcrashed as theDow Jones Industrial Average plunged 508 points, or 22.6% in value(itslargest daily percentage loss ever), to close at 1,738.74 on what came to be known as “Black Monday.”
Dear Heloise: Iread with interest the letter from Margaret aboutreading and our children. Iknow we all have busy lives, but children and their education are very important Teaching them to sound out words and read is only the beginning. The American educational system actually begins in the home, with parents who devote time each day to helping their children learn basic reading and math skills. Every child should be able to read simplesentences and do simple math before they start kindergarten. Parents need to back up teachers and start demanding more from their children. Don’taccept bad grades.Ifthere is aproblem at school, talk to the teachers and find out what it is. If
the problemisbullying, demand that the bulliesbeexpelledfrom school.Ifyour child is the bully,don’tmake excuses for them.Instead, make it clearthat bullying is not allowed and take steps to stop them. Remember this: Unless youhave the cure forcancer or the secrettoworld peace,you will never leave anything behind in this world moreimportant than your children. —A Retired Schoolteacher,inOhio
Dishwasher disaster
Dear Heloise: Isaw aletter where thereader mentioned dishwasherpods and that they were capableofcleaningfriedfoodsoff plates Iusedpods andfoundthat effluent wascoming out of the air gapvent on the sink, so Idismantled all the pipes underthe sink all the way to the outer drainpipe. Iwas shocked to find a glutinous material lining the pipes and restricting the effluent flow,causingitto
back up intothe dishwasher Iusedscraper tools,scoured out the material, and found thatitwas plastic. It became apparent that the plastic pods would melt in the hot water from the dishwasher,but when the effluent was pumped out through the pipes, thewater rapidly cooled. The plastic, which was in suspension, thenreformulated at alower temperatureand clogged the pipe, which blocked the outflow
Iwrote to thecompany to advisethem of the problem, and Ireceived avery lawyerly and intimidating letter,claiming that their product was excellent and thattheydenied liabilityor responsibility
These pods are areal problem. If the plastic doesn’treformulate inside the house pipes, then it will reformulateinside the city system. We switched to granular detergent after I scoured the pipes, and I’ve had no problems since. It
might help your readers to know of this plastic pod problem. —A Reader,via email Africanviolettea time
Dear Heloise: In arecent column of yours,Iread the letter regarding how best to make African violetsflourish. Youmentioned using nails.
As achild, Irecall my mother being the queen of blooming African violets, and she seemed to have a magic touch. She would brew standard black tea and allow it to cool to room temperature in awide, shallow bowl. After placing theplastic potted plant in the bowl of tea, she’d let the roots soak for about 30 minutes She said African violets like the acidityofthe tea. We had ahousefull of beautiful purple flowers, and she gifted many to friends and family —Robert M., in Dana Point, California Send ahinttoheloise@ heloise.com.
Also on thisdate: In 1781, British troops underGen. Lord Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown, Virginia,asthe American Revolutionneared itsend In 1960, theRev.Martin Luther King Jr.was arrested during asit-down protest at asegregated lunchcounter in Atlanta, oneofthe earlyeventsofthe nonviolent protest movement that King wasinstrumental in leading during thenascent Civil Rightsera. In 1977, thesupersonic airlinerConcorde made its first landing in NewYork City, flying from France, in three hoursand 44 minutes.
The flight marked thestart of regularcommercial Concorde servicebetween Parisand New York In 2003, Pope JohnPaul II beatified Mother Teresa during aceremonyinSt. Peter’sSquare. Mother Teresa, who founded the Missionaries of Charity global order that attends to society’s outcasts, was elevated to sainthood in 2016 by Pope Francis. She diedin1997. In 2005, former Iraqi President SaddamHusseinwas put on trial by the IraqiInterimGovernment, accused of crimes against humanity. Today’sbirthdays: Artist Peter Maxis88. Actor John Lithgowis80. Fox News host SteveDoocy is 69. Singer JenniferHollidayis 65. Boxing HallofFamer Evander Holyfieldis63. Filmmaker Jon Favreau is 59. Former first daughter AmyCarter is 58. “South Park” co-creator Trey Parker is 56. Comedian Chris Kattan is 55. Filmmaker Jason Reitman is 48. Actor Gillian Jacobs is 43.
Staff report
Afterayearhiatus,“LOVE in the Garden” returns to the NewOrleans Museum of Art, the fall outdoor fête at City Park. Planned for Nov.7,the popular event will be held in the Sydneyand Walda BesthoffSculpture Garden to raise funds for the museum The sculpture garden’s Visionaries Gala marking its20thanniversary was held insteadofthe LOVEfest in 2024. Organizers also opted for acooler date on the calendar forthe al fresco fun. It is usually heldinSeptember. Entertainment forthe evening will including Where
Y’acht, withfood provided by local restaurants.
Ahighlight of the evening includesthe Cocktail Challenge of love-inspired libationsfromlocal mixologists, with prizes awarded from judges andthe audience vote. The setting for the party features more than 100 pieces on 12 acres surrounding themuseum, including Robert Indiana’siconic“LOVE” sculpture, part of the garden since2003.
“LOVE in the Garden offers the opportunity to cometogethertocelebrate oneofthe city’smost important cultural destinations: NOMA’s BesthoffSculpture Garden,” saidSusan M. Taylor, NOMA’s director
Hints from Heloise
‘LOVE’ blooms again in N.O. sculpture garden
Actor Rebecca Ferguson is 42.
GAME DAYIS
BOOMING
BY IANNESALVOSA
Staff writer
Sincethe 1990s,Kristineand art rumney have been tailgating in their rV nearthe LSuagcenter, where theyset up camp with their family and spend the day cooking, visiting and soaking up the atmosphere ahead of the showdown in death Valley. In recent years,they’ve noticed some changes. their game day outpost, one of dozens of rVslined up in LSu’sdesignated lot for mobile
homes and rVs, costs $1,000 per season. It used to be free. the crowds arebigger,too. and, others have noted,morecorporate logosare visible among the tents sprinkled across the campus.
“thirty years ago, there wasnone of this,”Kristine rumneysaid on the morning of the recent LSuvs. Southcarolina game, thoughshe’s notcomplaining. thechangeshave helped the university better manage the tailgates and cut down on some of thegameday hassle, she said.
as longtimefootballfanshave observed, tailgating has evolved, as ever-larger crowds gather forevermore spectacular game day experiences.Inthe process, what was traditionally adownhomeway forfamily and friends to get together before thegamehas become big business on many levels. LSu —which sets the standard for tailgating in Louisiana and, many wouldargue,among division 1 schools in the ncaa—now licenses premium spots on campus to aturn-
keytailgate company that hasexclusive rights to setuplavish, pregame parties. the university also provides choice game dayreal estate to itscorporate partners, whoshell out six or seven figuresa year on licensing packages that allowthem to advertise as sponsors of LSuathletics. brandedtailgates, company executives say,are a waytoreach thousands of potential customers andentertaintop clients.
“Students of this generation seean opportunity while they are young to takerisks and trytobuild something on their own.”
SHAFIN KHAN, vice president at theUniversity of NewOrleans Research and TechnologyFoundation
BY RICH COLLINS Staff writer
In 2022, Kat Lee and herroommate at Tulane University thought the geckos sharing an enclosure in their dorm room were both females. They didn’tlearnotherwise until they discoveredahappy family —mom,dad and two babies —living in the habitat afew weeks later Afterthe initial shock, Lee, who grew up around allsortsofexotic pets, came up with a solution with an upside:she would offer to sell the two new lizardstoother students looking for low-maintenance
companions. By theend of the school year,she hadbred andsold10baby geckosfor$400 each, including a complete “starter kit” that included an enclosure andsupplies. Each transaction earned her atidy profit. After transferring from Tulane to thenursing program at Loyola University New Orleans at theend of herfreshmanyear, Lee has continued to grow her startupcompany, Katamaran ReptileRanch,now headquartered in her half of shotgun double near campus. Over the past 12
ä
competition last
for
KatLee wonLoyola University’s business pitch
month
the geckobreeding business she runs from her shotgun apartment in NewOrleans.
STAFF PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD
Guests relax and watch agame at the Huey P. Hooligan’s tailgate party before LSU’s game against South Carolina at TigerStadium.
STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON
Chef Jeremy Coco finishes boudin
balls at the P.G.A Tailgate before the LSU game against South Carolina at Tiger Stadium. Coco, an LSU alumnus, provides tailgate catering services, including on-site cooking dropping off meals at clients’ tents and delivering meals to fans’ homes
STAFF
JOHNSON
TAILGATING
Continued from page 1E
Then, there are the vendors and small businesses that have long supplied game day necessities. For them, the growth of tailgating means increased sales that have multiplied noticeably in just a few years.
“LSU has a reputation for having one of the best tailgates in the entire country,” said Ben Price, director of partnership and business strategy for LSU Sports Properties, an independent company that handles licensing deals for the university
“People come from all over to experience it. That presents tremendous business opportunities.”
‘Explosion in interest’
The changes in tailgating can be traced, in part, to the rise of social media, which has altered what fans expect from special events, whether football games, concerts or festivals. They want an Instagramworthy experience and an entire industry has sprung up to satisfy their demands.
At the same time, universities have become more sophisticated about monetizing college athletics and now have sports licensing divisions and companies that handle the business for them, like Playfly Sports, the Pennsylvania-based owner of LSU Sports Properties. The confluence of factors can be seen in the way that tailgates have become bigger, splashier and more corporate.
“In the past five to 10 years, there has been an explosion in interest on the brand side for inclusion with college athletics at the highest level,” Price said “It’s not just about coming here on Saturday night. It’s a way of life.”
LSU, to be sure, isn’t the only university in the state where a cottage industry has sprung up around tailgate culture. Since Tulane University in New Orleans completed its Yulman Stadium on the Uptown campus in 2014, dozens of organizations pay a fee to set up tailgate tents on the main quad attracting hundreds of alumni and neighborhood fans every week during the season. Southern University has a robust
COLLEGES
Continued from page 1E
months, she has grossed roughly $30,000 by breeding and shipping the lizards nationwide.
As she’s worked to grow the business, Lee has received support from Loyola’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Community Development, an 11-year-old initiative that’s been cranking up programming to meet rising student interest in all things entrepreneurial. She is far from the only one getting similar help.
Across the state, colleges and universities are cultivating student entrepreneurs and helping them launch successful startups through new and expanded entrepreneurship classes, on-campus business incubators and pitch competitions The move comes as young people show a greater awareness of entrepreneurship than older generations and less interest in trying to climb the corporate ladder for the duration of their career
The internet and social media have fostered the growth of this trend by providing access to lowcost marketing, customer feedback, e-commerce and networking. Lee’s business, for instance, is powered the website MorphMarket, an “Etsy for reptiles” of sorts that connects buyers and sellers online.
“Students of this generation see an opportunity while they are young to take risks and try to build something on their own,” said Shafin Khan, a vice president at the University of New Orleans
and venerable tailgate tradition all its own at its north Baton Rouge campus, where food trucks and local vendors serve thousands of Jaguars fans. Tailgating is also a thing at the University of Louisiana in Lafayette, where a dozen or so RVs line up on Friday nights before the game to get the party started early But LSU has taken it to a new level.
Beer please, bellhop
One of most obvious examples of the changing nature of tailgating is LSU’s 5-year-old partnership with Revelry an Arizona company with New Orleans ties that offers turnkey tailgate services. For roughly $14,000 a season, Revelry staff will set up a 10-foot by 20-foot tent with couches, tables, a big-screen TV, ice chests, coffee and a bellhop. When the party’s over, they’ll break everything down.
The company’s licensing agreement with LSU gives it exclusive rights to two key spots: the area outside of Patrick F. Taylor Hall on South Stadium Drive dubbed “The Original Louisiana Hot Sauce Tailgate District” and the area in front of Matherne’s market on Nicholson Drive dubbed “The Huddle.” Matt Truax, a New Orleans native who founded the company in 2019 before selling it, said Revelry will do nearly 800 tailgates at LSU this season, which is nearly sold out.
“The Michigans and Penn States have big footprints, but in the SEC, the tailgating culture is just more electric,” said Truax, who now serves as Revelry’s vice president of events.
LSU’s contract with Revelry trickles down to other local business. The company partners exclusively with Acme Oyster House to provide food, if customers don’t want to bring their own. On game day the restaurant operates out of an external kitchen set up nearby to cook onsite and provide fresh food to their clients.
This season, Acme will fill more than 40 catering orders per game, which presents not only a revenue booster but a marketing opportunity, Acme interim CEO Monique Ricci said.
“This gets our boots on the ground with fans and shows them what we can do,” Ricci said.
Research and Technology Foundation, which runs some of the school’s entrepreneurship programming. “They want to leave their mark and that’s why there’s high demand at the competitions.”
From basketball to donuts
Lee’s fellow undergrad entrepreneurs at schools across Louisiana have set out to solve a wide range of problems.
During his freshman year at UNO in 2022, Andrew Bradford partnered with his friend Julien Bourgeois to take the top prize at the school’s inaugural StartupUNO pitch competition. Bradford and Bourgeois have since racked up about $70,000 in prize money for “Automatic,” their Apple Watch app that helps basketball players improve their performance by providing shot-by-shot analysis as they practice. The app, recently renamed Ball AI, has been downloaded 40,000 times.
“Pitch competitions teach you how to speak publicly and how business works,” Bradford said.
What better way to brand?
While the footprint of LSU’s official turnkey tailgates through Revelry continue to grow — it’s up 40% since 2019, Price estimates so does the number of corporate tailgate parties hosted by official LSU partners, of which there are roughly 150.
This season, about 20 of them are throwing branded tailgates at choice spots on campus they secured through larger partnership deals that may also include stadium signage, social media and digital promotions. Blue Plate Mayonnaise and Powerade are among the companies handing out promotional tchotchke.
Law firm Jones Walker also throws corporate tailgates on campus. Since 2003, it has hosted a large pre-game gathering for its staff, clientele and their families outside the Manship School of Mass Communication The firm selects the
founded Breeze Shuttles in 2023 to provide safe and affordable latenight rides for students. The service began with golf carts and is expanding to add electric vehicles to its fleet.
Other student-led ventures include an online game to help children develop emotional intelligence; 3D-printed, biodegradable Mardi Gras beads; a tool to improve the efficiency of solar panels; and an app to help farmers manage their crops more efficiently
Some of the companies have a higher potential for growth than others.
“Engineering and computer science majors aren’t going to learn to write financial models, create a pitch deck or strengthen networking skills, but starting the business has given that to us for the rest of our lives.”
Tulane senior Dylan Murray is one of four co-founders of Exactics, a biotech startup that has raised $1.5 million from investors so far to help launch its first product, an at-home test that can confirm if a tick is infected with the bacteria that can cause Lyme disease, enabling early detection and treatment.
In Lafayette, University of Louisiana at Lafayette student Ethan Ly launched a mochi donut business “Domochi,” which offers an assortment of colorful, Instagramworthy treats in flavors that include beignet, matcha and Nutella.
Social media marketing is a key to the venture’s growth. Loyola student Tristan Sariego
Last month, Tulane’s 2-year-old venture capital firm, Tulane Ventures, announced a $250,000 investment in the young company, which has contracted the Tulane National Biomedical Research Center to validate the effectiveness of its product.
“They have plans for developing future diagnostic tools,” said Kimberly Gramm, leader of the Tulane Innovation Institute. “Lyme disease is the first of many, and infectious diseases is one of Tulane’s areas of scientific focus.”
‘It’s how you take control’
The school leaders supporting these young entrepreneurs see the coursework and extracurricu-
biggest game each season this year it’s LSU vs. Texas A&M — to host festivities that allow them to connect with clients outside of the office.
“Many of our clients are LSU related and LSU fans, and so it provides them an opportunity to tailgate and to interface with them in a very informal and fun environment,” Brandon Black, head of the firm’s Baton Rouge office, said.
At the annual tailgates, which attract up to 800 attendees, the firm gives out branded merch like buttons and cup koozies with Jones Walker, LSU and opposing team branding. It also hosts tailgates at Ole Miss and Texas A&M for their Mississippi and Texas offices.
“It’s definitely a signature event that our clients look forward to every year,” Chief Marketing Officer Kim Perret said.
Local vendor buy-in
For local businesses, the oppor-
lar programming as a way to enhance learning in all departments.
“We’re giving students across all disciplines different tools to identify problems, analyze markets and pitch their solutions through new courses, mentorship programs and campus-wide competitions,” said Gramm.
The ultimate goal, she added, is to see more companies launched in New Orleans that create jobs and keep more talented graduates in the local community
Changes at Tulane and elsewhere reflect efforts to achieve that goal.
Tulane’s Albert Lepage Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation debuted in 2017, and the school’s minor in entrepreneurship became available five years later Separately, Tulane’s Innovation Institute launched in 2022 to help students, faculty and community members turn ideas into businesses.
The same year, UNO launched its StartupUNO pitch competition.
Xavier University of Louisiana established its Entrepreneurship Institute in 2023. LSU launched its major in entrepreneurship four years ago and hosts multiple pitch competitions and other similar programs across all disciplines.
The University of Louisiana at Monroe has a long-running event that attracts applicants from around the state. UL at Lafayette debuted its “Inneaux-vate” pitch competition six years ago and has seen growing interest.
“We had 83 students submit applications this year, which is crazy,” said Jonathan Shirley a program manager at UL’s entre-
tunities to capitalize on the tailgate craze are endless. Chef Jeremy Coco, an LSU alumnus, provides tailgate catering services, including on-site cooking, dropping off meals at clients’ tents and delivering meals to fans’ homes. His business focuses on year-round meal delivery, but tailgate catering rakes in high rewards. Each football season generates about $20,000 to $30,000 in revenue
The demand for nicer, more comfortable tailgates is also opening doors for companies that, initially didn’t have anything to do with tailgating. Sondra Richard founded Adventure Rent A Camper several years ago to provide furnished RVs for campers or those in need of temporary housing. Soon after launching, she received calls from clients interested in renting a camper for tailgating. Now, tailgates make up at least half of her rentals.
“It’s kind of like going to your nearest hotel,” she said. “You just check in, and everything is there.”
Smaller businesses are also benefitting from recent trends. Jamilla Barnes, who runs Carnival Concessions food truck with her siblings Deanna Branch and Eddie Bynog Jr., started selling funnel cakes and crawfish nachos at fairs and festivals in 2014. In 2022, the siblings, all Southern graduates, started vending at Southern tailgates to be a part of its “electric atmosphere.”
Tailgates now make up 25% of their sales, and Grambling State University has reached out to them to start serving at their tailgates. Barnes said Carnival is game for it. Football fans are always looking for convenient food at tailgates, she said. “And not everybody can pack up a grill or have an RV or a tent.”
Email Ianne Salvosa at ianne salvosa@theadvocate.com.
preneurship center. “That’s about double what we had last time.”
Earlier this year, Tulane hosted a training program for faculty to help them find ways to embed innovation and entrepreneurship into their classes. The school also has created the Startup Strategy Lab for undergraduates, and the Tulane Innovation Institute has partnered with the Young Entrepreneurship Academy to provide an after-school program for high schoolers.
Loyola hosts the annual Wolf Pack LaunchU pitch competition, which Lee won last month, along with the 4-year-old Side Hustle Expo, which is a combination of a pop-up market and science fair
“Our goal is to help students survive off of their passions,” said Sam McCabe, director of the school’s entrepreneurship center Taking the goal a step further, Loyola began hosting New Orleans Entrepreneur Week last year The multiday event originally created by the Idea Village now connects undergrads with founders, investors and entrepreneurial support organizations from around the region.
To Shirley, this type of programming is about more than developing business skills.
“It’s a philosophy for life,” he said. “It’s how you take control and do what you want to do. That mentality is something more universities are looking to weave into their curriculum because it’s a skillset that transcends whatever job you might go get.”
Email Rich Collins at rich. collins@theadvocate.com.
Murray Gramm
Shirley McCabe
PHOTO By MICHAEL
STAFF FILE PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS
Tailgaters step to a line dance outside of a BREC event stage set up outside of A.W Mumford Stadium before the Southern University vs. Jackson State University football game. Southern University has a robust and venerable tailgate tradition all its own at its north Baton Rouge campus, where food trucks and local vendors serve thousands of Jaguars fans.
STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON
Tailgaters go through the food line at the P.G.A. Tailgate before LSU’s game against South Carolina at Tiger Stadium.
ASK THE EXPERTS
Lafayette could be a major hub for the drone industry
BY ADAM DAIGLE Acadiana business editor
Lafayette, of all places, could be-
come a major player in the drone industry
Earlier this month, global drone manufacturer DMR Technologies announced it will house its manufacturing base in Lafayette, where it will employ more than 500 people and build its Field Ranger X50. The 10-foot by 10-foot device can weigh 220 pounds when its 13-gallon tank is full and fly for nine minutes on a fully charged battery
The announcement was the latest of several by drone companies that are setting up shop in the Acadiana area, spawning a new industry sector in the process. Others include logistics company Blueflite and services company FlyGuys.
Bruce Bosworth is among the local players in this emerging field, which has the potential to alter the way many businesses in operate in the decades to come. He spent 22 years in the U.S. Navy before founding SoLa Drones, based in Scott, in 2023 with his son Jack.
SoLA Drones is now partnering with DMR on its Louisiana venture. In this week’s Talking Business, the Bosworths discuss their relationship with DMR why the drone industry can do well in Lafayette and the company’s plans for the old Reptile Tannery of Louisiana building
This interview has been edited for clarity Tell me about the X50 and how it can be used. What makes this model unique?
Bruce: It’s designed for a number of things but primarily herbicides or pesticides for agricultural purposes. So if you have rice, sugar cane, soybeans — all those crops we have in Louisiana — it does a great job. We’ve got a couple of these right now that are being used for sugar cane. The first results are coming back from the sugar mills right
now, and they’re very positive, well above the mill average. And this replaces the traditional human pilot spraying acres of crops from the air?
Q&A WITH BRUCE BOSWORTH AND JACK BOSWORTH
Bruce: Obviously it doesn’t have the capacity of an airplane. However, for safety purposes, there’s no risk. It’s well-defined within a small area It doesn’t make any loud noise. It’s not flying over tree lines or near power lines. If we do get close, it’s got an obstacle avoidance radar so you can very safely navigate lines and power lines and get much, much closer than you can with an airplane. You can cover much more of that field precisely DMR has a global footprint but is expanding into the U.S. market.You all are a young company. How did the two of you get connected?
Jack: They originally reached out to us as they were entering the U.S. market. We came aboard originally as dealers and distributors for them, but as the market changed and drones — (global drone leader) DJI specifically — became more difficult to get, we explored different opportunities to partner with them We realized with onshoring, distribution, manufacturing and assembly, there was a huge potential there. We worked with some partners to kind of put that together here. What role is Lafayette going to play in the production? And why is this area key to its future?
Bruce: Lafayette is going to be their flagship facility for assembly and manufacturing, and the other locations Kentucky Alabama, Michigan — are going to remain as distribution and sale partners. Manufacturing will be here. It’s
just Louisiana and the pro-business climate that we have. And the Gulf South region and the climate yearround (works) for the ag spraying. We’re the nation’s leader in sugar cane and No. 2 in rice. It just made sense that it start somewhere that’s got a great city, great infrastructure and close proximity to agriculture.
You were in the Navy for 22 years. How did you transition into this industry and find a niche so quickly?
Bruce: I grew up in Fort Worth, did a full career and retired from the military and moved back to Lafayette. I always wanted to have my own business, and we were interested in drones. With the proximity to agriculture and what was going on, we recognized that spray drones were coming on board. So we taught ourselves how to do that and fly it. That led to Jack joining me, and he was like, let’s figure out
where we can take this. This rep-
resents a neat opportunity for us to grow as a business and a partnership with a more established and larger group. What’s next in this process? When will the first X50 roll out of the Lafayette facility?
Bruce: We’ll get the first
to
with the
and
piece, starting with the X50. Then we’ll add in more
and manufacturing
By the end of 2027, we should be fully up and running on some of those different product lines. But the next three months, we’re really focused on establishing and renovating this facility The first quarter next year is when we’ll start pushing products out the door Hopefully as early as January
Email Adam Daigle at adaigle@ theadvocate.com.
BY RICH COLLINS Staff writer
El Guapo, the New Orleans-based producer of nonalcoholic cocktail bitters and syrups, is a familiar sight in high-end restaurants, bars and shops. Now two of the company’s products will be available on the shelves of Walmart, the country’s biggest retailer
The move comes after El Guapo CEO Christa Cotton successfully competed against 500 entrepreneurs earlier this month in the 12th annual Open Call event at Walmart’s headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas, where she snagged one of the retail giant’s coveted “golden tickets.” The prize entitles her to sell El Guapo’s canned Bitters & Soda and other products on Walmart shelves and in online marketplaces.
Cotton is hopeful the new deal will allow her to expand operations at El Guapo’s Mid-City manufacturing facility
“Scaling at this level is no joke,” Cotton said. “This is an opportunity that can affect real change if we can execute and do it well.”
In 2017, Cotton began brewing the all-natural bitters and syrups that are used to build flavorful cocktails in the same way spices are used to season a meal Bitters are made by blending ground roots, berries, barks, peels and other ingredients into a liquid base. Syrups, made from sugar, water and added flavors, add a touch of sweetness to drinks.
El Guapo is known for getting creative with its bitters flavor combinations, which include chicory pecan, cucumber lavender and even “crawfish boil.”
During the pandemic, the company survived by growing its online business, supplying ingredients to customers who wanted to make high-end cocktails at home. Then, in 2022, after raising more than $1 million from the Gulf South Angels, the New Orleans Startup Fund and other investors, the company moved from a 3,000-square-foot manufacturing
AROUND THE REGION
“Scaling at this level is no joke. This is an opportunity that can affect real change if we can execute and do it well.”
facility on Tchoupitoulas Street in Uptown New Orleans to its current 36,000-square-foot space near Norman C. Francis Parkway and Tulane Avenue, where about 20 employees help manufacture, package and ship products. Before the Walmart deal, the company had about 5,000 commercial customers, including the wellknown retailers World Market and Crate & Barrel. Now the company’s growth potential is unlimited, though a golden ticket doesn’t guarantee success. On the contrary, the com-
CHRISTA COTTON, El Guapo CEO
pany will have to prove it can meet Walmart’s expectations for large, timely shipments. Cotton said the number of Walmart locations that will sell El Guapo is initially contingent on production capacity and how fast the brand can ramp up, though the goal “is to grow into nationwide shelf space.”
For now, Walmart will sell several variations of El Guapo’s canned bitters and soda products, which Cotton describes as an alternative to sparkling waters and sweetened carbonated drinks. The Love Potion flavor includes chamomile,
hibiscus and orange blossoms combined with rose, jasmine and lavender Cucumber Lavender is complemented with citrus and mint.
“People want a nonalcoholic beverage that doesn’t taste like juice,” Cotton said. “And research shows that women hate the term ‘mocktail,’ so we refuse to use that in our marketing. It’s an elevated adult beverage.”
Challenges and opportunities El Guapo will join dozens of other Louisiana products to grace
Walmart shelves. Other homegrown foods include Reily Foods Co.’s Luzianne Tea, French Market Coffee and Blue Plate Mayonnaise, among others; Baton Rouge-based Hanley’s Foods salad dressings; and Louisiana Fish Fry Products, also of Baton Rouge.
Food manufacturers have said landing big deals with national retailers like Walmart and Amazon can be game changers, exposing national shoppers to local brands and increasing demand for local products. Executing on such contracts, however, ups the pressure on small companies and requires adequate capital, manufacturing and distribution capabilities and lots of planning.
Cotton is aware of the challenges ahead and is excited about them. She said she will share more details about exactly how many stores El Guapo will initially appear and which specific products they will carry in the weeks to come.
In the meantime, she credits Greater New Orleans Inc the regional economic development nonprofit, for bringing the opportunity to her attention and encouraging her to apply GNO Inc. hosted a Road to Open Call event in June at The Shop at the Contemporary Arts Center in downtown New Orleans where she was one of dozens of businesses that pitched their products.
Overall, thousands of consumerpackaged goods companies applied to participate in the national competition this year Of the 500 or so who were invited to pitch in Arkansas, fewer than 200 earned the right to sell their products on Walmart shelves.
“It was an amazing experience,” Cotton said. “I left with a totally different impression of Walmart. The camaraderie and culture there is really strong. They are making an effort to support small brands and help then scale on a national level.”
Email Rich Collins at rich. collins@theadvocate.com.
NATION & WORLD
Buildings adopting ice batteries for cooling
Sustainable air conditioning technology gains traction
BY ISABELLA O’MALLEY Associated Press
Every night, some 74,000 gallons of water are frozen at Norton Audubon Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky The hospital used to get all of its air conditioning from a conventional system found in most U.S. buildings, but now, 27 tanks of ice sustain a network of cold-water pipes keeping operating rooms at safe temperatures and patients comfortable.
This type of thermal energy storage, also known as ice batteries, is being added to buildings in the U.S. for its ability to provide cool air without releasing planet-warming emissions. These systems cut electricity usage and lower the strain on the grid With rising temperatures and the growing demand for electricity in the U.S., ice thermal energy storage offers a sustainable option for cooling buildings.
Trane Technologies, a company that makes heating and cooling equipment, says it has seen a growing demand for this technology over the past few years. Its ice batteries are mostly used in schools as well as commercial and government buildings. Nostromo Energy, another company that makes ice batteries, is pursuing customers among energy-intensive data centers that have high cooling demands. Smaller systems are also made for homes by companies such as Ice Energy. Ice thermal energy storage tech-
nology varies between manufacturers, but each follows a similar concept: At night when electricity from the grid is at its cheapest, water is frozen into ice that thaws the next day to cool the building. The ice chills water that is circulating through pipes in the building, absorbing heat from the rooms and creating a cooling effect. Air cooled by the system is then pushed through vents.
Norton Audubon uses a Trane ice battery system. Trane said its ice batteries are often used alongside traditional air conditioning, and the ice-based cooling is used to lower energy
costs during peak demand times. The traditional AC components are typically left in place or downsized when ice batteries are added.
The stored ice doesn’t require energy to thaw which reduces the strain on the grid and minimizes the building’s electricity usage, ultimately lowering monthly bills.
“Storing energy for further uses is where we’re going with the future of the grid,” said Ted Tiffany, senior technical lead at the Building Decarbonization Coalition He said access to air conditioning is a major public health need that is being exacerbated by a warming planet, and ice batteries are a sustainable way to address health risks associated with extreme heat.
Energy costs at Norton Audubon were $278,000 lower for the first year the ice battery system was in operation after it was installed 2018. The hospital estimates that the system and other energy-saving measures have saved it nearly $4 million since 2016.
“The technology has been awesome for us,” said Anthony Mathis, a Norton Healthcare executive who oversees sustainability He said he receives inquiries from other building operators about the technology and thinks more facilities will adopt it as awareness grows.
Experts on sustainable energy say ice thermal energy storage is among the options commercial buildings can use to reduce electricity demand or store excess en-
ergy Some commercial buildings use lithium batteries, which can store excess solar or wind energy that are available intermittently
Dustin Mulvaney, environmental studies professor at San Jose State University, said ice batteries are a sensible option for health care settings and senior homes because lithium batteries can pose a fire risk.
Manufacturers also see opportunities in data centers, which are increasing in number to support artificial intelligence and have high energy and cooling needs. A December report from the Department of Energy found that data centers consumed more than 4% of the electricity in the country in 2023 and that number could grow up to 12% by 2028.
“Data centers are very energyhungry and about 30% to 40% of their energy use is for cooling.
That’s where a solution like ours could really help,” said Yoram Ashery, CEO of Nostromo Energy Nostromo Energy said it is discussing deals to install its systems with several large data center operators, but declined to provide further details. Its ice battery technology is also used at the Beverly Hilton hotel in California. California is the biggest market for this technology because the grid there uses a lot of solar power during the day but switches to polluting energy sources such as natural gas after the sun sets. Ice batteries can be used for air conditioning in the late afternoon and evening instead of drawing from the grid.
“A lot of utilities are really interested in this type of load-shifting technology,” said Joe Raasch, chief operating officer at Ice Energy, another ice thermal energy storage company He said summer is typically the most expensive time for utilities to operate because of the air conditioning demand.
“It’s really great technology that the grid really needs because so much of the future electric load is driven by cooling,” Raasch said.
With thoughtful strategy,AIcan be apowerfultool forinnovation andgrowthacrossthe state’sbusiness landscape—and we areproud to help lead theway forward.
The transformation of a 200-year-old cottage into a museum, aproject to put a performance pavilion in a public park and therenovation of aRomanesque university hall were all recognized recently by the Louisiana chapter of theAmerican Institute of Architects.
The 2025 AIA LA Design Awards were presented at the annual AIA Louisiana Conference of Architecture in Lake Charles. Judges selectedsix Merit Awards, twoHonor Awards and one Members’ Choice Award out of 62 entries reviewed by ajury of nationally recognized architects Winners included five firms based in New Orleans, one based in BatonRouge and from Lafayette. Apair of New Orleans-based architects also came away with individual awards.
n RHH Architecture, of Baton Rouge, won the Members’ Choice Award for The Retreat at Quarters Lake, a grief and bereavement care facility arranged in aprotective configuration. Anchored by abutterfly garden at its center,the inward-facing
Fool’sTake:
Paying dividends
design and pitched roofs help deflect sound and bring natural light into atranquil setting. The winnerofthe Members’ ChoiceAward is voted on by allofAIA Louisiana’s membership n Trapolin-Peer Architects, of NewOrleans,received an Honor Awardfor therenovation andexpansionof Richardson Memorial Hall at theTulane School of Architecture. Theproject reorganizeddisjointedprogram spaces by linkingthe original 1909 structure to amodern additionwith anew entry,re-
located offices and expanded labs. Jurors praised the “striking interplay between old and new” and suggested every space there “reflects thoughtful contrast and cohesion.”
n SO Studio, of Lafayette, was honored withaMerit Awardfor the CarencroWelcome Centerand Museum The project involved restoring a200-year-old Acadian cottage, adding afreestandingbathroom facility in the process. Judges noted the preservation of original architectural, describing the
contemporary addition “a perfect youngersibling to the historic building.”
n AQ Studios, of New Orleans, was awardeda Merit Award for its work on 34 Restaurant &Bar,which was transformed from adirt-floor warehouse into aEmeril Lagasse’s newest restaurant The Portugueserestaurant’s design features a“wooden cocoon” entrance tunnel leadingtoamoody,layered interior of quartzite,wood, brass and an open-fire grill.
n Bell Butler Design &Architecture, of New Orleans,earned
aMerit Award for Birkdale Concierge in Huntersville, NorthCarolina. The minimalist pavilion anchors an outdoor plaza and includes apronounced roof line and a stage for events.
n Holly &Smith Architects, of Hammond, was awarded a Merit Award for its work on the Nunez Community CollegeStudent Testingand Career Counseling Center in Chalmette. Judgesdescribed the new campus building as “very handsome,” featuring metal panels with restrained and elegant colors and aharmonious compositionofindoor and outdoor spaces.
n NANO, of NewOrleans, received aMerit Award for itsdesign of Octavia Books +Scrambled Café,which mergesapostmodernbuildingand ahistoriccorner store in the West Riverside neighborhood. The project features pivoting bookcases, preserved brick walls and a woodacoustic ceiling, with judges praising how “took advantage of ahistoric building with hidden character by exposing it and integrating a modern aesthetic.”
n Trahan Architects, of New Orleans, received aMerit Award forthe Performance
Pavilion at LutherGeorge ParkinSpringdale,Arkansas. Inspired by the rolling Ozarkhills,the sculptural structure frames views across the site while doubling as astage and shade canopy.Judges described it as “unique in its design and innovative in construction.” n Mark Heck,principalof Studio%5ERISE in NewOrleans, receivedthe Emerging Professional Award for his state-level leadership in the field of architecture. Heck was AIA Louisiana’s 2024 board president, aiding in the passage of legislation limiting theabilityfor civil engineers to practice architecture. Heck has previously served on the boards of AIA New Orleansand the LouisianaArchitectureFoundation.
n CarolineGarfield,anintern architect with EskewDumezRipple in New Orleans, received the Louisiana Associates Professional Achievement Award. The co-chair of theAIA NewOrleansCommittee on the Environment, Garfield has led education and advocacy efforts around sustainability,stormwater management, healthy materials and affordable housing.
With tariff and inflation concerns in the air,it’sreasonable to worry about apossible recession. Some companies hold up better duringeconomic slowdowns. One to consider is Waste Management (NYSE: WM), rebranded simply as “WM.” The largest North American waste services specialist, it “provides collection, recycling and disposal services to millions ofresidential, commercial, industrial, medical andmunicipal customers throughoutthe U.S. and Canada.
As the population and economy expand, the need for trash and
recycling collection, transportation and processing grows. WM is steadily growing itsoperating profit margin and free cash flow—boosted in part by its2024 acquisitionofmedical waste company Stericycle. With arecent forward-looking price-to-earnings ratioof25, WM’sshares are not cheap,but this stock often trades at apremium valuation. The company’s stable free cash flowisused to growits dividend, repurchase stock and reinvest in the business. The dividend recentlyyielded 1.5%, and it has beenincreased for 22 consecutive years (most recently by 10%)
WM stands out as an ultra-highquality dividend stock, best suited for investors looking to collect a dividend ona strong growth company.It’sliterally turning trash
In
(and recycling) into treasure. (The Motley Fool recommends WM.)
Fool’sSchool:
Bankruptcy basics
If youfollowcompanies in the news, you’ll occasionally hear of onethatmight or didfile for bankruptcy protection. In 2024 alone, BowFlex, Red Lobster,SpiritAirlines, TGIFridays, Tupperware Brands andTrue Value allfiled for Chapter 11. It’sgood to understand what that meansand howit works.
Abusiness filing for bankruptcy protectionisfacing serious problems, such as notenough money coming in to cover obligations. If it filesfor Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, it will be permitted to keep operating while reorganizing itself.Some such companies
—suchasGeneral Motors and American Airlines —successfully turn their businesses around. Others, though, fail to recover —and may end up in Chapter 7, where they’ll have to liquidate assets to paycreditors.
In Chapter 11, abusiness holds on to its assets, though it’srequiredtofile areorganization planwith the bankruptcy court. Any creditors in line to receive less than all they’re owed can vote on the matter.After the vote, the court can accept or reject the plan. So the company does have some flexibility,but if it offers creditors too little, its plan may notbeapproved.
Sinceadistressed business is often unable to pay all debts in full, those creditors sometimes accept partialrepayment —which may include stock in the new,reorga-
nized company Here’sanimportant point: A reorganized public company usually emerges from bankruptcy protection with new shares of stock, leaving former holders of its commonstock with shares that are now worthless. Holders of preferred stock mayreceive some payment, but preferred shareholders’ place in line is behind debt holders (like banks), trustees, employees, tax agencies and merchant creditors.
It’sbest to avoid investing in any companies that have filed for or are reportedly near bankruptcy —and to consider selling any shares you own, as they mayend up worthless. Even if acompany emerges and thrives, it will usually be as anew entity with different shares. It’ssafer to stick with healthy and growing businesses.
STAFF FILEPHOTO By IANMCNULTy
The architectural firm NANOwon a2025 Merit Award from the American Institute of Architects for its work onthe expansionofOctavia Books in NewOrleans.
Motley Fool
BY THE NUMBERS
Foreclosure rates on the rise in south Louisiana
BY JONAH MEADOWS Staff writer
Foreclosure filings surged across south Louisiana during the first half of the year with double-digit increases recorded in the New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Lafayette metro areas.
Across the state, 45 of 64 parishes had an increase in the number of residential foreclosure filings for the first six months of 2025 compared with the same period in 2024, according to Attom Data, a national research firm that aggregates foreclosure and property sale data from 3,000 counties and parishes around the U.S. Orleans Parish had the largest number of residential foreclosure filings in the first half of the year — 434, a 36% increase over last year In Jefferson Parish, which has a larger population than Orleans but fewer housing units, the number of filings rose 50% to 184 from 123 last year St. Tammany Parish had 230 filings, a 22% increase over 2024, while East Baton Rouge Parish logged 233, an increase of 24% The rate of increase was smaller in Lafayette and Livingston parishes, where the number of foreclosed properties rose by just 18% and 8.5%, respectively Attom Data’s foreclosure market report compiles the total number of housing units with notices of default, scheduled auctions and completed bank repossessions.
Real estate brokers say they’ve noticed the uptick in foreclosure activity and aren’t surprised by the data. They attribute the rise, in
part, to the fact that some homeowners overextended during the pandemic-era buying frenzy of 202021 and are now getting squeezed by escalating insurance premiums and declining property values.
“When there is a sharp escalation in the insurance rates, the amount homeowners (with a mortgage) have to put into escrow goes up and that can price people out of what they can afford,” said David Favret, regional vice president for Louisiana and Mississippi with Compass. “So, we’re definitely seeing an increase, though it’s a small increase.”
Compared with other
states, Louisiana, overall, had a slightly higher than average increase in foreclosure filings during the first half of this year, with the number of filings up 24% compared with the same period last year
The trend has continued through the third quarter In September, 1 out of every 4,700 homes in Louisiana was in foreclosure, which landed the state 21st out of the 50 states in terms of the number of filings, or, roughly, the middle of the pack. Florida, where the rate of foreclosure filings is roughly twice that of Louisiana, topped the list. South Dakota came in last.
“This isn’t unique to our
economy here in Louisiana,” said Jeffrey Furniss a Baton Rouge broker with Coldwell Banker One, who specializes in foreclosure sales. “It’s going on everywhere.”
Gary Wagner, an economist at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, said the uptick can be traced, more broadly, to a slowdown in the economy across the country He points to other economic indicators that also are inching up — higher default rates on credit cards and auto loans.
But he doesn’t think there is “any reason to sound the alarm bells.”
“This is consistent with an economy that has been
with other states, Louisiana, overall, had a slightly higher than average increase in foreclosure filings during the first half of this year Some real estate brokers attribute the rise to the fact that some homeowners overextended during the pandemic-era buying frenzy of 2020-21 and are now getting squeezed by escalating insurance premiums and declining property values.
slowing for the past 18 months or two years,” he said. “But I am not seeing a lot of other data that makes me concerned. Something to watch, yes. But not worried yet.”
For a bit of context, Wagner and others point out that while foreclosure filings are up and continuing to climb, they are nowhere near the highs of the mortgage banking crisis that triggered the Great Recession in 2008 and sent foreclosure rates skyrocketing in 2009-11. At the end of September, a little more than 100,000 homes across the U.S. were in foreclosure In 2009 more than 900,000 were.
“In terms of the rate of increase, what you are basi-
cally seeing is that we didn’t have any foreclosures for almost four years,” Furniss said. “Foreclosure activity just stopped after COVID. Now we’re kind of getting back to normal.”
While Louisiana’s foreclosure rate is more or less in line with national trends, the state leads the nation in one regard: the length of time it takes to complete a foreclosure. Statistics show it takes an average of about 3,600 days nearly a decade —to complete a foreclosure once it is filed. In Texas, by comparison, it takes less than six months. Email Jonah Meadows at jonah.meadows@ theadvocate.com.
The Louisiana MenhadenIndustry: An Economic Engine for Coastal Communities
Thisarticle is brought to youbythe Louisiana CommercialFishing Coalition LLC
Formorethan acentury,Louisiana’s commercial menhaden fishery has been apillar of the state’s coastal economy, providing stable jobs,sustaining businesses, and fuelingessential industriesworldwide. From the Gulf waters to global markets,menhaden fishing supports communities and industries thatrely on its valuable marine ingredients–fish mealand fish oil –for aquaculture, petfood, and human nutrition.
Leading the industry,OmegaProtein andits fishing partner Ocean Harvesters, along with Daybrook Fisheries and its fishing partner Westbank Fishing, operate one of the largest and most productive fisheries in America. Theirwork transforms Gulf menhaden into highvalue products thatdriveinnovation and sustainabilityacrossmultiple industries
AVital Industry for Louisiana
More than fishing, the menhaden industry drives the economyand supports communities:
•$419M annual economic output
•2,000+ direct &indirect jobs
•$25M in state &local taxes
•$50K+ annual wageswith benefits
Thesewell-paying jobs,particularly in rural areas,sustain Louisiana’sworking coast through multiple generations.Ina state wherecommercial fishing is deeply
Regional Economic Impact Together,OmegaProtein and Ocean Harvestersgenerate well over$100 million in economic activityannually, benefiting Vermilion Parish and surrounding areas.With aworkforce of morethan 260direct and skilled employees,thesecompanies provide stable,high-wage jobs,offering more than $21 million in annual payroll and benefits –making them among thelargest and highest-paying employers in theregion. Likewise, Westbank Fishing, aLouisianabased, U.S.-owned company, plays avital role inPlaquemines Parish, with all its catchprocessed locally at Daybrook Fisheries in Empire, LA. Together,these operations support over400 employees, making itthe largest employerinsouthern Plaquemines Parish.In 2023, total employee compensation, including wages, bonuses,and benefits, reached $36.5 million,
underscoring the industry’s critical economic role in theregion. Statewide, the Louisiana menhaden industry procures goods valued at over $62.4millionfrombusinessesin32 parishes.Beyond its coreoperations in Plaquemines ($11.4million) and Vermilion($7.4 million) parishes, significantindustry-relatedexpenditures
flowinto: JeffersonParish ($6.4 million), Terrebonne Parish ($6 million), Lafayette Parish ($5.9 million), Orleans Parish ($3.7 million), East BatonRouge Parish ($3.5 million) and Lafourche Parish ($3.2 million), among others
Additional parishes benefiting from over $1 millionin industry-driven spending include St.Mary,St. Martin, Calcasieu, Iberia,St. Tammanyand St.John the Baptist.Many othersreceive between $500,000 to $1 million, reinforcing howthe menhaden industry fuels localeconomies farbeyond coastal fishing communities This widespread economic footprintin Louisiana underscores the industry’s vital role in creating jobs supporting small businesses, and
sustaining Louisiana’sworking coast statewide.
CommitmenttoSustainability and Innovation
When the Louisiana menhaden industry thrives,sodoour coastal communities.Weare committedto both economic growth and responsible stewardship of our unique coastal environment. Our work supports:
•A science-driven approach to fisheries management, ensuring responsibleharvest levels and minimal environmental impact
•Long-term jobstabilityfor generations of fishing families
•Innovation in marine ingredient production to improve nutrition worldwide Louisiana’smenhaden industry has long-balanced economic prosperitywith responsiblestewardship of ourmarine resources.Through science-based managementand ongoing innovation, we remain committedtosustainable fishing practices thatprotect our waters support our communities,and drive economic growth. As we look to the future, this industry willcontinue to provide stablejobs, strengthen local businesses, and deliver essential products thatpowerglobal nutrition—ensuring thatLouisiana’sworking coast thrives for generations to come.
"At McKinley Middle, Ican focus on my goals without giving up the creativity and fun that come with theater and the arts. Ilike that Ican work hard in class and still do what Ilove. The arts let me express myselfand make school feel less stressful—more like aplace Iwant to be. That’s what makes McKinley special: you don’t have to fit into one box."
“I love being astudent at Mayfair Lab because the teachers alwayshaveafun way to teach, which makes us want to learn more. Ilikewhen we do projects to show what we learned. It makes me feel special that I’m at this school.”
A’ZYRIA A’ZYRIA SpelmanCollege Freshman Scotlandville High Graduate Governmental Affairs/Law Spelman College Freshman Affairs/Law
“I currently attend SpelmanCollege whereI will major in Criminal Law.Mytime in Scotlandville High’s Governmental Affairs and Law program inspired me to upholdjustice to createsanctuaries where every citizen feels protected andheard.Mygoalsare the blueprint for my aspirations, and upon those goals, Iwill build my future.”
Readytoapply?
Submit all required documents to the first-choiceprogram within seven (7)
Iuploaded allrequireddocuments and signed the signature page electronically.
Iopted to hand-deliver all required documents to the first-choice program shown on the signature page within seven (7) days.
Iscanned andemailed all requireddocumentsto thefirst-choice program shown on the signature page within seven (7) days.
Breast cancer warriors practice on Bayou St. John for rowing competition in Boston
BY EMILY WOODRUFF Staff writer
Shortly before sunset on a recent Wednesday, a group of women stepped into a long, narrow boat on Bayou St. John. At the coxswain’s command, they pushed off, eight blades cutting into the bayou at once.
It’s a far cry from their first practice about a year ago, when they could barely lift the boat into the water
The women belong to the Survivor Rowing Club, a team of breast cancer survivors who meet several times a week to row and workout. Of around 28 rowers, only one had ever rowed before. But they all know the lasting effects of
breast-cancer treatment the fatigue, scars and fear of recurrence. Out on the bayou they’re trying to reclaim strength, community and the parts of themselves that felt buried by the cancer Later this month, they’ll compete in their very first race, and it’s a big one: the Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston, the world’s largest rowing competition, often described as the Super Bowl of the sport.
“It’s like the mecca of rowing,” said coach Rob Phillips, watching from the banks of the bayou before starting the electric motor on his boat. “They’re starting with the mecca.”
ä See ROWING, page 2X
Researchers grow mini-hearts with blood vessels
BY MIRIAM FAUZIA
The Dallas Morning News (TNS)
DALLAS Scientists at the University of North Texas report a breakthrough in building tiny, lab-grown replicas of human organs. These replicas, called organoids, can mimic some functions and structures of real organs, but a key limitation has been the lack of blood vessels. The UNT team, working with Stanford Univer-
sity, managed to grow mini-hearts that have their own blood vessels. Using the same strategy, the researchers also created vascularized mini-livers. The study, published in Science in June, suggests a path toward more realistic organ models for studying disease and testing clinical therapies. This research could also one day help tackle barriers scientists face in generating full organs outside the body, said Gi-
useppe Pettinato, director of the stem cell and organoid research lab at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, who was not involved in the study
Organoids are grown from stem cells that mimic real tissue. Despite advances in growing organoids since the mid-2000s, there has remained the challenge of incorporating blood vessels, said Adam Yang who co-authored the study and is an assistant professor
of biomedical engineering at the University of North Texas.
Guiding stem cells into tissue demands a precise diet and timing of nutrients and growth chemicals. Typically, scientists mature each cell type under its ideal conditions and then mix them together, Yang said. But in true organs, multiple cell types develop side by side and influence each other’s growth. Yang and his colleagues focused on growing heart organoids, a
project he became involved with at Stanford in 2016 and brought with him when he joined UNT in 2020. The researchers arranged human stem cells into precise shapes using a technique that guides stem cell growth with geometric cues, Yang said.
To track the development of each cell, Yang and his colleagues added genetic tags that glowed
ä
See MINI-HEARTS, page 4X
STAFF PHOTOS By SOPHIA GERMER
The Survivor Rowing Club practices on Oct 1 on Bayou St. John in New Orleans as they prepare to take part in the Head of the Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston.
Catherine Koppel, left, rows in front of coxswain Kathleen Robert.
ROWING
Continued from page 1X
Fighting against recurrence
Dr Karen Blessey, the group’s founder was diagnosed with breast cancer 10 years ago. An internal medicine doctor, she was used to being the one giving diagnoses
“Facing your mortality at 45 with two small children was very humbling,” Blessey said She started the local chapter last August, recruiting other people she knew with breast cancer Rowing is historically an expensive and exclusive sport But not for Survivor Rowing Club. All breast cancer patients are welcome, and Ochsner Health, where Blessey works, has provided much of the funding to rent equipment so the club remains free to everyone.
The women range in age from their 30s to their 70s. Some finished treatment years ago; others are less than two years out from their last surgery But they’re all still navigating what comes after survival: regular checkups, side effects from hormonal treatments or surgeries, and the fear that the cancer might come back.
That’s one reason why Blessey focused on rowing, despite never having done it before. Research shows that 150 minutes of moderate to strenuous exercise — “real huffing and puffing” — weekly decreases the risk of recurrence. For those who can’t or don’t want to row because they haven’t regained their range of motion, the club offers an alternative: Walk on Water, which hosts weekly walks by bodies of water
“It’s one thing to just tell people you need to exercise,” Blessey said. “It’s another thing to give them a way to do it.”
Lauren Reech first heard about the club from a co-worker who was also a survivor She was a runner, but didn’t know the first thing about rowing. She loves the sport now But the support from people who understand that cancer doesn’t end after you ring the bell keeps her coming back.
“It’s not just like a time in my life that was 10 years ago,” said Reech, who was diagnosed at 35 after a family member’s diagnosis prodded her to get a mammogram herself. “The effects of it are felt for a lifetime, whether it be pain, menopausal symptoms, body-
image issues. You kind of all have that in common.”
Allison Durant 60, was treated for breast cancer nine years ago.
When she lost her hair, she had a hard time recognizing herself in the mirror Rowing makes her feel like herself.
“It makes me feel young, like part of some sort of baseball team,” Durant said. “It takes you back to this youthful place of everybody working together for a common good, and it takes the focus off of the breast-cancer part.”
‘This is rampant’
At Phillips’ first meeting with the group, there were nine women. In true New Orleans small-world fashion, he knew six of them but had known about a cancer diagnosis for just two of them.
“That’s when I was like, ‘OK, this is rampant,’” Phillips said, whose mother is also is a breast-cancer survivor
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in Louisiana, accounting for nearly 14% of all invasive cancers statewide. Over 3,700 new cases are found each year, according to statistics compiled by LSU Health. Louisiana ranks No. 4 in the nation for its breast-cancer death rate.
“When another friend ends up with cancer my first word is ‘F***.’
Another one,” said rower Erika Olinger
For Gwen Taylor, 50, October’s onslaught of pink ribbons and 10Ks used to be a painful reminder of loss. She lost her mother and aunt to breast cancer — both diagnosed in their 30s and gone in their 50s.
At 45, an MRI found hers, even though she tested negative for genetic links.
“When they would have those breast cancer walks, it didn’t save my mom,” Taylor said.
Now, she’s running in the Crescent City Classic and it’s “pink everything,” along with rowing several times per week.
“I know I’m doing something to keep me healthy, so it doesn’t stress me out like it used to,” Taylor said.
‘We’re warriors’
Still, a lot of the women have developed a distaste for some of the culture that creeps up around October
“We hate the term survivor,” said Olinger “We’re warriors. We’re gonna beat the s*** out of it.”
That camaraderie carries them
through. When they don’t feel like showing up for their three-day-aweek practices, they keep each other in line.
“Get your butt here,” one teammate told another “I am waiting for you. I got a playlist.”
At one point during a recent practice, as the women finished another long row, Suzette Doucet, just a year and a half out from her last surgery, had a request.
“This is going to sound crazy,” she said.
“You, crazy?” laughed her teammate.
“Could you make waves for us?” she asked the coach following them in a small boat.
The coach took the lead, weaving back and forth to simulate the conditions they might face in midOctober’s Head of the Charles.
While there will be no 10-foot alligator sightings in Boston, there will be more turns, more wake and far more boats to navigate around.
The team rowed through it, perfectly timed. After treatment, Doucet couldn’t lift her hands over her head. She couldn’t lift luggage into the overhead bin. Rowing helped her find herself again.
“We went from feeling strong, to losing your identity and feeling weak, to feeling strength again and the joy and the humor of all these smart-alecks running around,” she laughed.
Email Emily Woodruff at ewoodruff@theadvocate.com.
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU
The Louisiana Health section is focused on providing in-depth, personal accounts of health in the state.This section looks at medical innovations, health discoveries, state and national health statistics and re-examining tried and true methods on ways to live well. Health editions will also profile people
who are advancing health for the state of Louisiana.
Do you have a health story? We want to hear from you.
Email margaret.delaney@theadvocate. com to submit health questions, stories and more.
STAFF PHOTOS By SOPHIA GERMER
Members of the Survivor Rowing Club carry their boat to the water on Oct. 1 at Bayou St. John in New Orleans.
Members of the Survivor Rowing Club get ready to practice.
Coach Robert Phillips talks to the Survivor Rowing Club from an electricmotored boat
Gwen Taylor rows as the Survivor Rowing Club practices on Oct. 1.
The Survivor Rowing Club members row on Bayou St. John.
WYes, youcan have your Mondayred beans and EatFit,too
Ir fascinating my Mon if that up Bat Mon the least growing and Louisiana, passed of Monday and Sunday al hocks are co en we face lo hanging (which original co into ex —a su haveourredbeansandourMonday comfortfood,too.
Free bystanderCPR training eventinVermilion Parish
BY MARGARETDELANEY Staff writer
HEALTH NOTES
n SUN Bucks.
On Saturday,Oct. 25, Acadian Ambulance and Abbeville General Hospital will host two free community CPR training sessions. Both sessions will be at Kaplan High School, 200 E. Pirate Lane, Kaplan. One sessionwill be from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., and the second sessionwill be from 11 a.m. to noon.
Registration open for diabetessymposium
Thetraining will provide instruction on hands-only CPR trainingand highlight the benefitsofbystander CPR. It will also include demonstrations on what to do whensomeone is choking, theuse of an automated external defibrillator and stop-the-bleed techniques. Cancer center completes Gonzales renovation
In September,MaryBirdPerkins Cancer Center completed therenovation and expansionofits Gonzaleslocation at 1104 W. La. 30.
The 6,000-square-foot facility expansion features a2,500-square-foot infusion suite with 14 semiprivate infusion bays and one privateroom, astate-of-the-art lab, aretail pharmacy,new exam roomsand more
North Oaks Hospital System invites community members to its annual Diabetes Symposium from 11 a.m.to12:30 p.m. on Nov. 4. With athemeof“Every Step Matters,” the event is geared to help participants take control in their diabetes journeys. It will be hosted in the E. Brent Dufreche Conference Center within NorthOaksDiagnostic Center, at 15837 Paul Vega M.D. Drive, on the North Oaks Medical Center campus in Hammond. Admission is free, but preregistration is required and can be completed online at northoaks.org/diabetessymposium2025. SU Ag Center relaunchesfree teletherapyrural communities
Onaverage, there are 4child care centers per 1,000 children in Louisiana, slightly higher than the national averageofthree centers
Accessible, affordable child care can increase opportunities for parents or guardians to pursue further education or participate in paid work to earn income and in somecases, gain health care andretirement benefits to support their families.
Research has shown that, in addition to supporting economic securityfor families, access to high-quality child care contributes positively to achild’s health and development, according to the University of Wisconsin PopulationHealth Institute’s2025 County Health Rankings & Roadmaps. These parishes had the mostchild care
Southern University Ag Center’sfree virtual counseling program “Rural Connections for Rural Resilience,” hasreopened for enrollment.
centers per 1,000 children, in descending order: n Madison Parishwith 9 child care centers per 1,000 children.
n East Carrolland West Feliciana parishes with 8 child carecentersper 1,000 children.
n Avoyelles, Franklin, Iberville, Lincoln, St Helenaand Webster parishes with 7 child care centers per 1,000 children These parishes had thefewest child care centers per 1,000 children, in ascending order:
n LaSalle,Sabine and Vernon parishes with 1 child carecenter per 1,000 children.
n Assumption, Beauregard, Jackson, Red Riverand
Patients will also gain accesstoenhanced programs and resources, including apatient navigator,adietitian, palliative care specialists andclinical trials. This expansion will more than triple theGonzalesCancer Center’s capacity,allowing it to serve over 300 patients each month.
Louisiana Department of Health acquires SNAP
TheLouisiana DepartmentofHealthhas acquiredthe Supplemental NutritionAssistance Program fromthe Departmentof Children and Family Services. SNAP will continue to provide benefits to participants without interruption in service. There are no changes to eligibility as partofthis move. The shift simply brings SNAPunder thedepartment so that nutrition assistance can be better aligned with other servicesunderthe department, such as Medicaid, officials said.
The goal of thetransition is to consolidate benefit applications into one agency,reducing paperwork and wait times for residents and increase efficiency of staff.
In additiontoSNAP, LDHisalsoacquiring thefollowing services from DCFS: n Disability Determination Services, n Electronic Healthy Incentives Project, n Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program, n Kinship Care Subsidy Program,
The program, which is open to adults, aims to combat alarming mental health trends by providing free teletherapy services to rural communities where access to mental health services is often limited due to geographical barriers. The program will run until July 15, offering eight free counseling sessions with licensedmentalhealth professionals through acollaborationwith Soundminds Counseling. To sign up forthe Rural Connectionsfor RuralResilienceprogramvisit, bit.ly/4pvD37W ProjectLazarus WellnessCenter opens in NewOrleans
Project Lazarus Wellness Center celebrate the restoration of theprogram as ahub for residential programming, social offerings andcommunity collaboration in support of at-risk individuals living withHIV whoare facing housing insecurity
The NewOrleans-basednonprofit, at 2824 Dauphine St., was founded in 1985 to provide assistance in transitional and supportive housing, accesstomedical andwellness programs andopportunitiesfor community engagement.
Health Notes is an occasional listing of health happenings around Louisiana. Have something you’d like to share? Contact us at margaret.delaney@ theadvocate.com.
HEALTH MAKER
Tulane senior raises $1.5M for biotech startup
Firm developing test to check ticks for Lyme disease
BY MARGARET DELANEY Staff writer
Exactics, a biotech startup, is developing multiple at-home tests for infectious diseases, starting with a rapid test that will allow users to determine if a tick carries the pathogen that causes Lyme disease. It takes 15 minutes.
Dylan Murray, a computer science, premed and psychology senior at Tulane University, is the co-founder and chief operating officer of Exactics and the pioneer for much of its funding.
The startup was founded by students from the University of Chicago and Tulane: Julian Kage, chief executive officer; Sean Greeby, chief scientific officer; Max Almeida, chief technology officer; and Zachary Sarmoen, chief financial officer
Murray tapped both Tulane University and the University of Chicago’s grant programs to raise $1.5 million for the Exactics company What did the early days of the biotech startup look like?
My co-founder Julian Kage, was my lab partner in freshman biology at the University of Chicago, before I transferred to Tulane He was tall. He was in a fraternity He was not at all what I was expecting. We became lab partners because we both wanted to get through our labs as fast as possible. We were great friends instantly
But back in 2018, when he was only 13 years old, he had this best friend who started getting incredible
Exactics cofounders in Chicago Lab HQ with a prototype of the
pains in his joints and his legs His friend had this fatigue, and he had to stop spending time with Julian and a lot of his other friends. Doctors spent months trying to figure out what was wrong. They found later that it was Lyme disease Julian, who had been looped into an invention convention circuit in middle school, was primed to ask himself, “What’s the solution?”
Julian recalls one day watching a school nurse pick ticks off of kids at the school’s nursing office He said, at 13, “That’s when we should be testing. That’s when you should be able to know if your is for Lyme disease.”
At 13, he created an alpha design for a lateral flow immunoassay — which is a fancy way of describing something like an at-home
rapid test like COVID tests or a pregnancy test.
He created a design for a test that would be able to take a tick as a sample and test it to determine whether or not the tick had recently transmitted Lyme disease. He won all these awards, including a grant from the Ford Foundation that would allow him to apply for patents.
At 18, when he finally arrived freshman year at the University of Chicago to be lab partners with me in biology, he received the patents for his tick-testing technology
What is the importance of this technology for Lyme disease?
Lyme disease is a really big problem in the North, and it’s spreading to all over America. Rates have been increasing, and states that have rarely seen cases are
seeing them higher than ever before.
Dogs and horses are also at risk. By feeding on your blood, if a tick is carrying the bacteria for Lyme disease, it will transmit the bacteria to you and give you Lyme disease.
The problem that Julian’s childhood friend, Brendan, faced, and that about half a million Americans face every year, is that we often don’t catch the symptoms in time.
The unfortunate thing about Lyme is that it can become untreatable over time. This can happen in a matter of months. It can happen a matter of years. You can develop muscle paralysis. You can develop brainstem swelling or joint pain arthritis if you don’t catch Lyme disease in time.
This test streamlines ev-
erything.
With this test, just take the tick, crush it into the test, and it tells you if the tick was carrying Lyme disease.
How did you become involved with Exactics?
I traveled to New Orleans with my ex-partner over Easter It was very last minute, but I fell in love with New Orleans. I applied to transfer to Tulane for my sophomore year of college on the plane ride back to Chicago.
I was just more of a Tulane-ian at heart.
The next year, the summer after my sophomore year at Tulane, Julian, my old lab partner, called me.
He said, “Remember those patents I was telling you about? I’m going to start a company, and we’re going to a pitch competition. I was wondering if you could help me convince people that this is a good idea.”
That’s where this starts for me.
The reason I was brought on was to talk to people.
That summer in New Orleans, I made the trip twice to Chicago to talk about Exactics. I would pitch to everyone. My Uber driver The waiter The flight attendant on my travels home.
In May 2024, I got to start as the chief operating officer of Exactics.
Tell me about the business plan and launch of the TiCK Test for 2026?
Our first test is called the TiCK Test. It will be launching in 2026 through our licensing partners.
Zach, Julian and I, as part of our business plan, wanted to go out and find a company that already has established brand to use their distribution path to sell the test. We found Tick Solutions Global, the inventors of
the TiCK MiTT, who have a vast international distribution network. They will support our 2026 launch for the TiCK Test in major pet health and outdoor retailers. We want to partner with companies like Tick Solutions Global to sell our tests so we can go to market and reach a wide swath of customers as soon as possible. We’re making another version of the TiCK Test — currently called TiCK Test Plus — to test ticks for up to 200 tick-borne diseases. What are the next steps for this startup?
I think sometimes we get pigeonholed as a tick-testing company That couldn’t be further from the truth. We’re currently working on solutions for broader infectious diseases. After tickborne diseases, it’s going to be STDs. The idea is to have the exact same business model where we’re going after companies that have that established brand and using their brand association to help sell our tests get to people as soon as possible. When we started this, Julian and I both wanted to be doctors. I remember us studying for our freshman chemistry exams, our bio exam, thinking about another four years of this work, and then another of medical school and another four years of residency We wanted to be doctors because we wanted to help people. What I think we both realized is that our new path in this company offers us an opportunity to help people on a ginormous scale — if we can pull it off. This is the next chapter of our lives — launching this company and getting it off the ground. This interview has been edited for length and clarity
Things that sting: How to handle bug bites in South Louisiana
BY SHANTELL GOMEZ
Contributing Writer
In Louisiana, pesky bug bites are far too common — even into fall and sometimes winter
There’s no escaping mosquitoes. Even a cold winter won’t keep the stinging, biting creatures away for long. Swatting, scratching and attempts to outsmart the bugs that thrive in our warm, humid climate is the norm. So what can be done to treat and prevent the things that sting from going from bad to worse?
From mosquitoes to caterpillars, here’s what to know: Mosquitoes
Sitting through a soccer game at dusk, many know that the mosquitoes are relentless. They thrive in Louisiana’s wetlands and abundant water They especially love hanging around at sunrise and sunset. They’re not just a nuisance — mosquitoes can also carry West Nile virus and other illnesses. According to the Louisiana Department of Health, West Nile virus is endemic to all parts of Louisiana.
“When an insect bites, it leaves behind its saliva, which our body’s immune system reacts to. Histamine is released, causing inflammation and itching,” said Lauren W. James, a nurse
MINI-HEARTS
Continued from page 1X
different colors for different cell types, then fed the cells a recipe of nutrients and growth chemicals designed to help blood vessels blossom alongside heart tissue. With that method, the researchers could watch a human heart unfold in real time. “You can see the heart beating as soon as day nine or 10,” Yang said. After about two weeks of nurturing, the research-
practitioner and Lafayette resident
That’s why bites swell and itch so quickly
Don’t forget the basics, James said, use insect with DEET or picaridin (a synthetic compound first made in the 1980s that is odorless).
“Controlling mosquito populations in your yard is key,” James said.
“Empty and clean anything that holds water at least once a week — buckets bird baths even kids’ toys. Mosquitoes are attracted to scent too, so skip perfumes or scented lotions if you know you’ll be outside.”
To treat bites, wash the skin with soap and water, then press on a cold pack.
A hydrocortisone cream with soothing ingredients like aloe or oat can calm the itch. If resisting a scratch isn’t possible, James recommends covering bites with a bandage
“It helps avoid a superficial infection,” James said.
Ants
PROVIDED PHOTO
Nurse practitioner Lauren W. James notes, ‘Controlling mosquito populations in your yard is key. Empty and clean anything that holds water at least once a week — buckets, bird baths, even kids’ toys. Mosquitoes are attracted to scent too, so skip perfumes or scented lotions if you know you’ll be outside.’
ness or trouble breathing, call 911 immediately
Caterpillars
Some of the fuzzy caterpillars in Louisiana carry the worst stings. The puss caterpillar for example, hides venomous spines that feel like a burning rash when touched.
“Kids are especially at risk because caterpillars look so harmless,” James said.
The LSU AgCenter advises that if stung, use tape to pull out the spines, wash with soap and water, then apply ice packs. Severe symptoms like nausea or headache require immediate medical care.
Remedies
These medications work by blocking histamine, a substance released during allergic reactions that causes itching and inflammation.
Keeping bugs out
While no method is perfect, a few simple steps can make a difference:
n Install screen doors on entrances that tend to be left open.
n Run a diffuser with essential oils like citronella or peppermint on the patio.
n Keep the yard trimmed and clear of debris, which attracts insects.
n Wear loosefitting long sleeves and pants to prevent skin exposure to insects and their bites.
Alcohol wipes create temporary relief, but the best bet is to wash with soap and water, apply ice and use hydrocortisone cream or an antihistamine like Benadryl.
If the bite is scratched open, dab on a little Neosporin or Mupirocin to avoid infection And as tempting as it is, don’t scratch — that only makes it worse. Bees and wasps
Bees usually sting only when provoked, while wasps are more aggressive and can sting multiple times. Both hurt immediately, and swell-
Fire ants are another Louisiana trademark. One ant may bite, and suddenly there are a whole bunch of welts. For prevention, wear shoes in grassy areas and gloves while working in the yard.
ers saw the mini-hearts had built their own branching blood vessels, complete with hollow tubes, although without circulating blood The mini-hearts also formed the three layers of their larger counterparts and even some nerve cells
The researchers ran tests that showed these organoids looked and behaved like human hearts about six-and-ahalf weeks into pregnancy, Yang said. To show their recipe works for other organoids, the scientists used the same approach to grow
mini-livers that developed hollow blood-vessel networks alongside various types of liver cells. Since what Yang and his colleagues grew are technically gastruloids, or embryolike organoids, it’s unclear whether their approach will yield a mature vascularized model, Pettinato said.
A gastruloid helps understand how the body assembles itself in the early stages of development, Pettinato explained. “But with an organoid, you have to have an actual, functional 3D struc-
ing can last a couple of days.
“The first thing to do is check for a stinger — bees leave them behind, wasps don’t,” James said.
Scrape it out with something like a credit card, not tweezers. From there, a cold pack, antihistamines, or even a simple baking soda paste can help with pain and swelling.
“Most people will have a mild localized reaction — redness, itching, and swelling,” said James. “But more severe allergic reactions, such as anaphylaxis, can be life-threatening.”
If swelling spreads beyond the bite or you notice dizzi-
ture that will mimic what is a real organ.”
Such organoids afford scientists a bird’s-eye view into how organs form. They can also help model diseases in human tissue and test how drugs interact with such tissue. This could accelerate drug discovery and open doors to more personalized medicine.
Organoids are already used in preclinical research. Intestinal organoids have helped reveal how COVID-19 invades the gut and brain organoids are shedding light on
While some remedies may take the edge off like tobacco on a bee sting or mud on mosquito bites — James said the best path is still straightforward.
“Clean with soap and water, use ice for inflammation, apply cortisone cream, and if needed, take an oral antihistamine. Most people already have everything they need at home,” James said.
According to the Louisiana Pharmacists Association, over-the-counter treatments such as topical antihistamines can be effective in managing itching and swelling associated with insect bites and stings.
early-onset Parkinson’s disease. Cancer organoids are being used to screen chemotherapies and match breast cancer patients to more effective treatments. Yang acknowledges there’s still work to be done to create organoids that have the same complex vasculature as inside the body He hopes to replicate larger blood vessels like arteries and veins and potentially have real blood circulating through an organoid.
Another innovative avenue of research is incorporating
Bug zappers may look satisfying, but research shows they kill more harmless insects than mosquitoes. You’re better off with repellents, fans on the patio, and screens on your windows. Living in south Louisiana means dealing with bug bites it’s just part of life. But being prepared can save a lot of discomfort Keep bug spray in the car, cortisone cream in the cabinet and ice packs ready to go in the freezer
Ultimately, the goal is to enjoy being outside while striking a balance with the creatures that come with it.
nanomaterials into organoids to harness their diagnostic and therapeutic potential, such as for gene therapy something that Yang is also looking into. In gene therapy, organoids could be used to test a variety of drugs that compensate for faulty genes, sussing out the risk before testing in humans, Yang said. If he and his team could create a system for testing any kind of therapy or treatment, he added, it could provide better guidance and confidence for clinical trials.
PHOTO PROVIDED By EXACTICS
TiCK test include, from left, Sean Greeby, Julian Kage and Dylan Murray.
James
OchsnerHealth, MD Anderson partnership expandsexpertcancer care from BatonRouge to Slidell
By Amanda McElfresh amcelfresh@theadvocate.com
This storyisbrought to youbyOchsner Health
The partnership between Ochsner Health and MD AndersonCancer Center continuestogain momentum. Now, morecancer patientsthroughout South Louisianahaveaccessto some of themost innovative treatments,selectclinical trials,advanced treatment protocolsand specialized, collaborativecare. Through this partnership,Ochsner MD Anderson Cancer Center locations arethe first andonlyprovidersinLouisianawith fully integratedcancerprograms based on thesame protocols and practice standards as MD Anderson in Houston. Now, Ochsner MD Anderson Cancer Center is expanding from BatonRouge to Slidell MemorialHospital(SMH).
Regardlessofthe individualdiagnosis Ochsner’s partnershipwith MD Anderson ensures adultpatientsreceiveinnovative care andaccess toadvancedtreatments andselect clinical trials Patients canalsobeassured that their physicians at Ochsner MD AndersonCancer Center meet thesame rigorous criteriaasrequired at MD Anderson and that physicians areboard-certified in their subspecialties
Ochsner’s collaboration withMDAndersonbegan in 2023with sevenfacilities across southeastern Louisiana,including twoBatonRouge locations in this initial phase: Ochsner Cancer Center –BatonRouge and Ochsner Medical Complex–The Grove.The new SMH partnership began this month,establishing the Ochsner MD AndersonCancer Center at Slidell Regional Cancer Center,ACampus of Ochsner MedicalCenter. Through this newaffiliation, SMHbecame one of eight Ochsner MD Andersonlocations in Louisiana.For SMH, the partnership provides earlier accesstoclinical therapies,advanced technologies and adds newtherapies to its existing chemotherapy, radiation and support services
“Our patients arepeople we go to church with and who we seeatthe grocery store,”said LisaReso, director of cancer services at Slidell Regional Cancer Center “Theyare truly our friends and neighbors. This partnership ensures thatthey will receivethe best of both worlds —advanced innovation and expertisecombined with the personal touch thatwe giveasacommunityhospital.”Resoalsosaid the center’s existing multidisciplinary approach, which bringstogether oncologists,surgeons,specialists and support staff around each patient, will deepen.
“Wehavehad acomprehensivecaremodel fora few years. Now, we will be able to add to thatwith morespecialists and services.That’sexciting forus,”she said. “We’re going to be able to move to the next levelofcarefaster than we could have ever done before.
Jennifer Perone, MD,surgical oncologist at Ochsner MD Anderson Cancer Center in BatonRouge, agrees.“The program bringstogether experts acrossoncology, radiology, surgery,nutrition, painmanagement and other specialties,” Dr.Perone said. “Weprovide anurse navigatorto helpkeep patients on schedule with differenttreatments and ensurepatients and their caregiversunderstand what’sgoing on so theycan makeinformed decisions.”
ditional services to meet MD Anderson’srigorous standards
“We’re really excited to getour clinicians and team aligned with everything thatisneeded to makethis partnership successful, she said.
MatthewMcElveen, MD,medical directorofSlidell Regional Cancer Center,said he and other physicians most often treatpatients with breast,lung, and upper and lowergastrointestinal cancers. Multidisciplinary teams have been built around thoseconditions,and Dr.McElveen said the complexityofmodern cancer therapies makes thosecollaborations moreessential than ever
“Often, the differences in treatment canbevery subtle butvery important We gettogether with Ochsner specialists to talk about casesalready.Our partnership with MD Andersonisgoing to bring thattoanew level,”Dr. McElveen said.
“We’ll be working with physicians who areextremely specialized andspend all daylooking at thosesubtle differences.Theycan help us understand whyone therapymightwork betterthananother.Having thatassistance in the decision-makingprocessisextremely important.
Theseexpectations mirror thereal-world experience of patients in the BatonRouge region, who have trusted Ochsner MD Andersonwith their cancer care formorethan twoyears.
Ochsner dietitians areavailable to help ensurepatients getthe rightnutrition for maintaining strength. The physical rehab team and pain managementteam offer evolving therapies before,during and after treatment. The cancer center alsoprovides acupuncture, atreatmentoption that has beenshown clinically to help withpain and nausea side effects of chemotherapyand other medications At every location, patients receivethe top-levelclinical care theyexpect from Ochsner and MD Andersonwithincreased accessfor newpatients,convenientonline scheduling forestablished patients and extended infusion hours.
Jaclyn Isabella,MD, acolon and rectal surgeon with the centerinBaton Rouge, says the multidisciplinary model is crucial, especially with rare or complicatedcancer cases.
“Wealsooffer specializedservices likechemotherapy infusioncenters,genetically based treatmentthat’sbased on each patient’s unique genome and advanced therapies likeCAR T-cell therapyfor certain blood cancers. That’sespeciallyimportantfor giving patients accesstoadvanced care in their owncommunity,”Perone said. In Slidell, ChiefExecutive Officer Sandy Badingersaidthe Slidell Regional Cancer Center is adding four newcomprehensive care rooms to preparefor the ad-
“Physicians on the care team typically takepartintumor boards in which theyreviewcomplex casesand collaborate on the best treatment approach. The treatmentteam canplay acrucialrole in identifying patients who arepotential matches forcancer clinical trials,which often provide access to the very latest innovations in treatment,”Dr. Isabella said.
By expanding the partnership,Ochsner MD Anderson
provides high-qualityclinical care and the largest clinical trials network in Louisiana and Mississippi to morepatients when and wheretheyneed it most.With the creation of Ochsner MD AndersonCancer Center at Slidell Regional Cancer Center,Ochsner MD AndersonCancer Center locations arenow open in Slidell, BatonRouge, NewOrleans Covington, Kenner andGretna.
founders. “There are few times in my life where he’sput his fingeronmeand told me this is whereheneeds me. If you can be clear aboutthat,you don’thave to worry about anything else. Youcan trust thatGod will take care of you.”
Meetinga need
BY MATT BRUCE Staff writer
Faith abounds in many different ways.
For some,ittakes shape in mentorship to the lost and broken, while othersare inspired to donate to the poor and misfortunate.
One of the ways faith shows its face at St. Vincent de Paul in Baton Rouge is through ateam of medical professionals that work to provide free dental care for people in desperate need.
Forthe pasteight years, alegion of oral surgeons, pharmacists, retired dentists, nurses and other practitioners have participated in avolunteer program that treats uninsured patients with dental emergencies whenthose patients can’t afford to payfor the much-needed treatment.
“It feels like that’s what Godwants us to do. And there’snothing that makes me feel better than to be certainthatthis is what Godwants me to do,” said Dr Steven Brooksher,one of theprogram’s
Dental care for indigent populations emerged as perhaps the biggest unmet need in the capital city’shealth care system years ago. Hospital staff workers at emergency rooms in the area were surveyed andpointedtoa growingcrisis: Howtohandle homeless and low-income patients that go to the ER in excruciating pain with adental emergency that requires immediate attention when they have no health care coverage?
There wasnowhere in BatonRouge to send uninsured patientsfor dental treatment in thosescenarios.Doctorsoften prescribed them medicine to relieve the pain. But once the meds ran out, patients inevitably showed back up in ERs or urgent careclinicsweekslaterwith the same untreated problem.
To address that challenge,Baton Rouge leaders established the Baton Rouge Area Volunteer Dentists,orBRAVO,program in 2018. By then, St. Vincent de Paulhad already been running aone-mandentist
office inside its community pharmacy for decades.The small clinic was at that time an internal operation —only used to treat transient guests from St. Vincent de Paul’shomeless shelter.The BRAVO program openedthe clinic’s services up for patients allacrossthe city. Anyone who proves they lackdental benefitsorhave unaffordable copays qualify for the program andcan get free treatment.
“I showed up,and IknewI wasinthe right place. I’vebeen hereeversince,” saidDr. Douglas Strickland. “I get much more outofitthanI give.You help people out thathave no clue of what to do.”
Fillings,rootcanalsand extractions
Strickland beganvolunteering to treat patients at St. VincentdePaul about 15 years ago. He’sone of thetwo retired dentists that screen,examine anddiagnose patients there on aweekly basis. The dentists do X-rays to determine each patient’smost acute needs and refer them to other volunteer dentists, who then treat thosecritical deficiencies at theirprivateclinics
The programislimited to themost pressing needs, notcomprehensive or preventive care. The dentists perform extractions, give fillings and do root canals for some teeth, butthey don’tdo molars.
Thereare currentlyabout 18 dentists throughout metro Baton Rouge participating in the BRAVO program.Last year, the team of volunteers did work on 318 patients, providing more than $100,000 worthofdental services, program officials said.
Organizers hope more local dentists —particularly oral surgeons —will volunteer to participate so BRAVO can treat morepeople in need and offermore services. They’re also putting acall out to thecommunity for more equipment or cash donations to buy necessarysupplies
Sweetness in surprising places
In the news industry,we’ve spent the past two decades talking aboutdisruption. The internet, of course,completely changedhow people consume news —creating anonstop, never-ending news cycle. Iremember early discussions prophesying whatthe World Wide Webwould do —listening to people who knewa lotmore thanIdid talk abouthow it would allpan out. In the yearssince, the details of those early discussions have made me skeptical when someone tells me whatlife is going to be like in 30 years. Thatsaid, Idorealize that disruption demands adifferent approach —new ways of doing things anda fresh look at why we do thematall. In my ownlife,nothing has causeddisruption like ourrecent house fire —whichhas led to newwaysofdoing things and some re-evaluations of how and what we do at all. The results have yieldedsome surprises. Not only areweliving in atemporary rentalhome, but for the most part —savethe kindness of friends who have shared extra pieces —we’resurrounded by rentedfurniture. Ididn’teven knowitwas possible to rent kitchensuppliesorget abathroom in abox —all the basics, down to spatulasand toothpaste. At first pass, the little rental hadthe basic necessities, but it did notreflect ourmoreeclectic approach to life.Inthe weeks sincewe’ve movedin, bit by bit, it feelshomier andmorecomfortable
It’sstrange, the small things thatremind me of what we lost. Forexample,when Iwas packing forour recentbreak to the beach,Iwas making my mental checklist of supplies. Ididn’t even considersunscreen and beach towels because we have a stash of those Exceptnow,wedon’t—and thatrealizationwas astrange one.
The fire also changedour pace —and ourplans. We had to cancel abig trip we had been planning formonths, which left ourcalendars empty,giving my husband andmetime we don’t usually have together.So, on Saturdaymorning, we went to the mall.
Ican’t remember the last time we went to the mall together, certainly notwhenwehad time to stroll andlook around and weren’tona mission to geta specific item. On Saturday, without aplan, we approached the mall the way we did when Iwas much younger. And youknowwhat? It wasa blast. We window-shopped. Isaw things Ididn’tknow Ineeded like abeautiful set of pajamas, things thathadn’tcrossed my mind in the post-fire swirl. Wandering the mall made me think aboutthe disruption shopping hasfaced,too.Ihad never thought aboutthe parallels be-
ä See RISHER, page 2Y
STAFF PHOTOSByMICHAEL JOHNSON
Dr.Thomas Nash, DDS,inspectsapatient’s teethwith assistance from pre-dental student Jennifer Mona recentlyatthe St. Vincent DePaul dentalclinicinBaton Rouge.
Dr.Douglas Strickland assists apatient for X-rays.
St.Vincent DePaul dental clinic’sDr. Thomas Nash,dental coordinator Maria Moore and Dr.Douglas Strickland
INSPIRED DISCUSSIONS
Attorney turns old gym into community center
B22Fit now sports recreation site of the parish, offering CrossFit and more
BY JOY HOLDEN Staff writer
Grant Parish native Bonita Armour has practiced law in Louisiana for nearly 30 years, but it was an investment in fitness that has turned her community around. A Louisiana Christian University and LSU Law School alumna, Armour found herself without a place to work out. She solved the problem by creating a home gym with her husband for her and her friends to do CrossFit.
They named their group B22, inspired by the Taylor Swift song “22.” Armour says she and her friends want to have fun, feel 22 and do this for the rest of their lives. When Armour’s fitness group outgrew their home gym, she knew she had to go bigger She never could have imagined how much bigger her fitness club, B22Fit, was going to be.
After buying the former Grant High gymnasium in Dry Prong, which was abandoned for seven years at the time of purchase, Armour poured sweat equity and more money into the large building. Once she finished cleaning and renovating, the community came calling. All Grant Parish needed was the facility and a slew of programs developed at the site.
Armour has said yes to many ideas and requests, and now B22Fit is the sports recreation center of the parish. For her vision tenacity and commitment, the Louisiana Blue Foundation has awarded Armour an Angel Award for 2025.
This interview was edited for length and clarity
What was the condition of the Grant High School gym when you bought it?
I had gone to high school there, but I hadn’t been in it for 30 years. When we went and looked at it, it was in horrible shape. The floors were rotten. The roof was leaking. It was yellow
My friends said, “No, do not do this. It is a money pit. It’s too big. We’ll never use it.”
But my God, the architecture of this place was amazing. This facility was the rec center at Camp Claiborne until the end of World War II. After the war, Dry Prong didn’t have a high school or any gym. So, men took apart the gym, numbered all of those boards and
CALLING
Continued from page 1y
“When you’re coming to work somewhere that you don’t have to necessarily — you’re doing it for altruistic motives or a desire to help — it’s a whole different atmosphere entirely,” Strickland said.
A full-service operation
BRAVO was a collaborative effort mapped out by the Greater Baton Rouge Dental Association, the Mayor’s Healthy City Initiative, Our Lady of the Lake hospital and the Baton Rouge Clinic. The Wilson Foundation, Blue Cross and other sponsors from area dental offices raised more than $50,000 in grants to refurbish the clinic in 2018. The equipment upgrades transformed it into BRAVO’s hub.
It’s a full-service operation.
Volunteers at the community pharmacist prescribe patients the antibiotics and other medications they need for their treatments, and no money ever exchanges hands throughout the process.
“One thing that’s unique about this program is we serve folks
hauled it back here and put it together It was the biggest gymnasium around at the time.
I thought, “We’ve got to restore this. We’ve got to save it.” I financed it. I made arrangements and signed the papers and bought it in March 2018, but I still had no support.
How did the Dry Prong community get involved?
I bought one of those paint sprayers, because it was all red, ugly brick. I got this really dark gray color that I thought was really cool, and I sprayed the entire outside of the building. I power-washed it and started painting. People started driving by, and they stopped and said, “Hey, I see you doing all this painting. Can I help?” They brought people, and then my girls, who had been working out with me, started helping.
We had the community come together
I bought it March 1, and July 1, we were ready to move in. I took all of my workout equipment that I had in my three-car garage, moved it all over, and we started. We opened it up to the public in October 2018.
What programs does B22Fit offer?
Our plan was to have a place to work out for CrossFit, but we were able to start a Rock Steady boxing affiliate here in Dry Prong to help Parkinson’s patients.
Four ladies in their 70s walked in, and they said they wanted to join That started the Coffee Club, which has about 50 members who are 60 and older It gets people out of the house and keeps them going.
Then I met this group called “Teen Challenge.” The girls who finish the program told me that, after they transition out of Teen Challenge, they don’t have anywhere to go. So we bought the auditorium and the property on the other side of the road that’s part of the campus (the old Grant High School) We started Chesed House, which is a nonprofit for girls coming out of Teen Challenge, to give them transitional housing and work on campus.
We got hit by Hurricane Laura in 2020, and a tornado hit the campus and tore off every roof on campus. We sort of had to start over In that process of rebuilding, we were able to build an indoor walking track for our people who have
that don’t have Medicaid,” said Sunnie Johnson-Lain, St. Vincent de Paul’s CEO. “Some of them are working poor, people who don’t qualify for Medicaid, or they are transient and don’t qualify So it’s really an underserved population.”
Dental problems like periodontal disease can cause tooth decay and abscesses in the mouth. Patients grappling with tooth pain often can’t chew properly, which leads to poor nutrition. When left untreated, serious oral health issues can even increase the risk of cancer if inflammation causes an infection that spreads through the bloodstream, studies suggest Gum disease has also been linked to an increased risk of heart disease, according to the Harvard Medical School.
Christ-like care
Many of BRAVO’s patients are people living in survival mode, preoccupied with daily necessities like where they’ll sleep at night and when they’ll get their next meal. Others suffer with mental illness, according to program leaders. So dental concerns take a back seat to more pressing needs in their lives.
“For the people that St. Vincent
Parkinson’s and for elderly people.
Then we had another building that was just educational classes and computer rooms, and we gutted that out to make indoor soccer
We usually have 100 to 150 kids who are playing each season.
When Grant Parish went to a four-day school week, kids were off on Mondays, so we started an out-of-school program. Finally, we started a nonprofit back in 2019 called B22 Sports Complex, which we are trying to renovate the ball fields and get grants for that. We have an old football field and an old softball/baseball field.
We got a grant to build a new walking trail around the whole campus. We just had our first race.
What does it mean to you to have watched this incredible center develop for your community? It was not planned. It was part of God’s plan and not mine. We’re just trying to help our community That’s what it’s all about. Every day is a miracle to keep the lights on. What changes have you noticed in the community in the last five years?
It has drawn people together in our community and even inspired other communities around us to grow We’ve helped another couple in the community open a gym in Montgomery out of an old school.
It’s gotten people out of their houses. The older people’s doctors’ reports are coming back so much better They have developed friendships, and it’s given so many people a reason just to keep on fighting against Parkinson’s.
It’s drawing families together It’s giving kids a place to come and play that’s fun and safe. You can come and bike, you can skate, you can get out, you can exercise
DePaul serves, most of them have a long list of problems that are pretty overwhelming,” Dr Brooksher said. “So dental care doesn’t come up until they have pain and it interferes with their life.”
Dr Thomas Nash began volunteering at St. Vincent de Paul’s clinic several years ago after he retired from his private practice near Bluebonnet Boulevard. His call to serve was three-fold. He wanted to continue honing his skills after retirement, and he enjoyed mentoring young students from dental schools that volunteered at the clinic But beyond those professional and social reasons, a spiritual catalyst propelled Nash to enlist.
“I see the people coming in as brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ,” he said. “Like it says in the Gospel, ‘If you’ve done it to the least of these, my brother then you’ve done it to me.’”
Johnson-Lain cited the scrip-
ture in the biblical book of Matthew as a core gospel for St Vincent de Paul’s communityoriented ministry She dabbed away tears while describing the underlying spiritual component of holistic care upon which the operation is founded.
“We literally believe that every person we’re serving is Christ. That is our mission — to see Christ in the face of the poor and to show a small glimpse of God’s love to them,” Johnson-Lain said.
“I always say that St. Vincent De Paul is actually a faith-formation program disguised as service The goal of everyone is to get to heaven and to get everyone we serve to heaven. So if we can share that compassion, that mercy and that service, then our work is done.”
Email Matt Bruce at matt. bruce@theadvocate.com.
at joy.holden@ theadvocate.com.
RISHER
Continued from page 1y
tween the struggles news organizations have experienced in the wake of the internet and the ones retail has seen. One of the challenges the internet brought aside from the bias and the flood of AI-generated fake news — is that our news feeds are now tailored to our interests and viewpoints. Therefore, often we don’t browse the news to seek the stories that we
Pre-internet,
Shopping at the mall felt so similar
I saw things I never would have seen online because I wouldn’t have sought them out. I bought things simply because I came across them, not because I’d gone searching. Maybe that’s what disruption does best it shakes us out of our routines just enough to help us notice what we’ve stopped seeing.
Disruption has me rethinking what makes a house feel like home. I know now that I don’t need all the stuff I had before, and I’m giving careful thought to what’s worth replacing. It’s made me appreciate the wonders of a Saturday at the mall and reminded me of the beauty of one headline beside another Sometimes, the surprise is where the sweetness lives.
Email Jan Risher at jan. risher@theadvocate.com.
PROVIDED PHOTO
Bonita Armour is founder and owner of B22Fit in Dry Prong
A group of B22Fit women pray before they start an exercise class.
View of B22 from the rafters.
STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON
Dr. Thomas Nash inspects X-ray results at the St Vincent DePaul dental clinic in Baton Rouge.
Musicveteran nowhelps NewOrleans venues
BY RICH COLLINS Staff writer
Chuck Keith knowsa thing or two about makinglive music sound good.
The three-decade veteran of the industry has toured the world with ahandful of household name performers, sliding faders on mixing boards to control audio levels in theaters, arenas and even acastle in France overlooking theMediterranean Sea.
“I’ve worked everywhere you can imagine, from giant festivals to crappy little bars,” Keithsaid.
Now,inhis current roleasan adjunct professor at Loyola University NewOrleans,Keithshares his knowledgewith anew generation of audio engineers —and he’s contributing to anew collaboration with the City of New Orleans that couldhelp improve the sound quality in New Orleans music venues while providing real-world training for his students.
The $60,000 Tune-Up Grant Program will provide $5,000 grants to eight to 10 New Orleans music venues and pay for consultingservices from Keith and his team of upper-level students participating in anew Loyola coursecreated for the initiative.
About two dozen venues —including breweries, nightclubsand outdoor spaces —submitted applications before the mid-September deadline. From that group, nine awardees were selected: d.b.a, Cafe Negril, Anna’s, Banks Street Bar,Chickie WahWah, Neutral Ground Coffeehouse, the Allways Lounge &Cabaret,Kermit’sTreme Mother-in-Law Lounge and the Original Nite Cap.
Keith has already visited several of the awardees in advanceofhis team of student sound engineers making recommendations and implementing changes
“We’re bringing alot to thetable for venues, whowillhavethe opportunity to upgrade their systems and learn how to manage sound levels inside and outside their businesses,” Keith said.
‘Bestinthe world’
The new Tune-Up Grant Program, created by the three-yearold Mayor’sOffice of Nighttime Economy,started as away to help venues address soundcomplaints from nearby homeowners and businesses, but the scope of the initiative eventually expandedto include the improvement of audio quality overall.
“When you see ashowinNew Orleans, you’re going to see some of best musiciansinthe world, and we thinkthe sound qualityinthe rooms should be the best as well, said Julia Heath, the department’s policy and outreach manager since 2023.
To get the project started, Keith said he plans to visiteach venue during theday to measure noise levels.He’lltalktoowners, staff and neighborstoget feedback. A second visitatnightwill allow his team to record sound levels during aperformance.
“We’ll be able to seethe difference,” Keith said. “People might think that it’smuch louderatnight,
but thatmay or maynot be true
We need abaseline to know for sure.”
To control noise, theLoyola student consultantswill likely recommendavarietyofsolutions, including building andinstalling “bass traps” to absorb low frequencies, and hanging foam panels or heavy curtains on walls to soak up more sound.
They mayrepositionsubwoofers, thespeakersthat generatethe problematic low frequencies,to minimizesound resonance and tilt PA speakers down afew degrees.
“There will be alot of tapestries in my future,because sound abatement is aboutsoft goods,” Keith said.“Each room will require different things.”
The Loyolateam will provide club owners withequipment and training —and will offer suggestionsboth for inexpensive quick fixes and morelong-term solutions. An existing partnership with ahigh-end audio company may lead to deals on new gear
“We’re trying to help guide them
themost efficient wayofusing the money to get mostbang forbuck,” he said.
The goal is forthe experience to benefit students as well as venue owners, Heath said.
“It’sa way to getthemout of theirbubble and into the real world,” she said. “We’re hoping this program teaches them how to be flexible with resources available, knowing thatthe venues won’t be able to spend $50,000 to get anew system.”
Nighttimeisthe righttime
The Tune-Up program is the latest initiative from afledgling city department withamandate to solve problems related to aportion of the hospitalityindustrythat brought 19 million tourists to the city in 2024and hadaneconomic impact of roughly $10 billion, according to New Orleans &Company,the city’sdestination marketing organization.
The department, which has three staffers and a$500,000 annual budget,has unveiled aseries of initia-
tives focused on making life easier forhospitality workers, musicians and others. In August, it unveiled aprogram in partnershipwiththe private sector to offer discounted parking for hospitality workers in downtownNew Orleans. Special parking zones specifically for musicians are in the works.
Anew harm reduction program in coordination with the city’s health department provides training to avoid opioid overdose and alcohol-related accidents, and a new “best practices” guide for nightlife businessescovers everything from security plans to health insurance, hurricanepreparedness andhealthdepartment compliance.
Last year,the nighttimeeconomy office completed its first New Orleans music industry census. It also collaborates withThe Ella Project, anonprofit that offers legal counseling to artists and musicians, to present free workshops covering musicbusiness skills. And it mediates disputes between businesses and their neighbors.
“It turns out most of the time people just need to talk to each other face to face,” Heath said Step in theright direction
Despite his road warrior lifestyle and his Texas roots, Keith has made his home in New Orleanssince2003 —and specifically at amarina on LakePontchartrain where he livesyear-round on his sailboat Since2007, he has been on the sound productionteam at Bayou Boogaloo, where he’s“gained experiencewith sound mitigation at alarge scale,” and he runs sound every Saturday nightatthe Blue Nile on Frenchmen Street. Keith said he’sbeen wanting to createalive sound degreeat Loyola, and this collaboration with thecityisa step in the right direction.
“It’sright up my alley,” he said. “Wedon’t have abig studio world in NewOrleans, so someofthe studio engineers Loyola trains end up going to California or Nashville, but we do have agood grassroots live music industry Now Iwant to raise the level of its sound quality.”
STAFF PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER
FAITH &VALUES
Should we emulate Jacobwhen he wrestles with God?
This Sunday’sOld Testament churchreading, accordingtothe Revised Common Lectionary used jointly by anumber of Christian denominations, contains arguably one of the oddest passages in the Bible.
Quin Hillyer
Amid alengthy Genesis story about Jacob and his large entourage traveling to see his brother Esau, we reach the famous, but strange, tale of Jacob spending all night wrestling an unnamed and mysterious “man” who couldn’t defeatJacob but who did knock Jacob’ship from its socket.Bythe end of the passage, though, it is said that Jacob actuallyhad “striven with God” and “seen God face to face, yet my life is preserved.
As pure narrative, this interlude seems like ablind alley.It interrupts, but seems to have absolutely no thematic continuity with what comes before and after As metaphor,though, the passage seems to abound with meaningand insight.
To be sure, some blessed people seem to have arelationship with God suffused with nearly pure peace and joy.Itseems to me, though, that far more of us, of widely varying degrees and styles of belief, feel that the bulk of the time we are wrestling with God rather than experiencing beatific harmony.
Part of this involves the age-old questionofhow God can beomniscient, omnipotent,and all-loving while allowing so much pain to exist in his creation. The pat answer about man’sown bad choices allowing evil into the world do not, cannot,explain sufferings from cancers and other dread diseases or from natural disasters, none of which involve human decisionsor human agency Heck, Iwant to put God on trial even for some far more quotidian annoyances, such as allergicrhinitis (bad “hay fever”)and mosquitoes. If sneezes and itchesare part of His design, those alone can seem like evidence of incipientcosmic sadism.
Again and again, then, we wrestle with God. We wrestle to understand Hisfull nature and His intentions. We wrestle with His silence and apparent abandonment of uswhen things go terribly while our prayers seem to disappear into the ether And, at one time or another,surely all of us have felt like GeneHackman’sdoomed priest character in “The Poseidon Adventure” who, before the ultimate self-sacrifice, yells at God: “Wedidn’task you to fight for us —but, dammit, don’tfight against us!”
Here, though, is the interesting thing: Aside from the disjointed hip (which is no fun: Idislocated my own hip in first grade!), God doesn’t actually punish Jacob for wrestling with Him. Instead, God rewards and blesses Jacob and gives him the new name of “Israel” that would also apply to Jacob’sdescendants forever The metaphoric message is evident: While wrestling with Godis never “safe” (again, the hip!),God seemstoactually want us to wrestle with Him. He wants us brave and resilient enough to grapple with who and what God is, ahumanbeing directly encountering divine being: striving, striving, striving God demands from us not mere obedience nor facilebromides of belief, but strenuous effort from the wholes of our bodies and souls. Frankly,this isn’tthe God Iwould choose if Iwere in charge. The God Iwant, the God many of ushumans want, would be easier. Butthat’s not the God we need —nor theone who really does give us unfathomable blessings.
Advocate/Times-Picayune columnist Quin Hillyer has adegree in theology from Georgetown University.Heis an Episcopalian who attended an Episcopal grade school and a historically Jewish high school, studied Martin Luther at aJesuit University, and taught at aBaptist college. His novel“The Accidental Prophet,” amelding of theology and satire, grapples with exactly the questions in this column.
According to the National Park Service, St.Gabriel RomanCatholic
Mississippi River.According to records and oral history, the parish
the Mississippi River
LOUISIANAPILGRIMAGE
7sites to visitduring theCatholic Church’s Jubilee year
BY LAUREN CHERAMIE Staff writer
For theCatholicChurch’s2025
Jubilee Year,the late Pope Francis selected thetheme “Pilgrims of Hope.” During this time, which began Dec. 24,Pope Francisencouraged people to encounter Christ through pilgrimagestosacred spaces Since PopeLeo XIV’selection, he hasalsoembracedpilgrimages In July,hesaid,“Apilgrimage has avital parttoplayinour life of faith for it removes us from our homes and our daily routinesand gives us time and space to encounter God more deeply,” as reported by the Catholic NewsAgency Louisiana archdioceses have designated pilgrimagesitesfor visitors to celebrate and observethe Jubilee, which ends Jan. 6.
“In most religions, the idea of a pilgrimage is sacred,” saidthe Rev. Msgr.KeithDerouen of Opelousas. “I suspect that, for us as Christians, it goes back to the Jewsmaking pilgrimage once ayear to Jerusalem for Passover.”
These sites sometimes offer indulgences, or specialgraces,while also allowing participants to focus on spiritual renewal and prayer:
OurLadyofPromptSuccor
2701 State St., New Orleans
In 1810, the statue of Our Lady of Prompt Succor,known for granting quick and favorable help, arrived in NewOrleans.The shrine is locatedon campus at Ursuline Academy of New Orleans,the oldestschool for girls in the country.For over two centuries, theUrsuline Sisters have gathered thewritten petitions in thesanctuary of theshrine and prayed for theintentions.
BlessedFrancis Xavier Seelos 919 Josephine St., New Orleans Francis Xavier Seelos cametothe United States from Germanyin1843.
He was assigned New Orleans in 1866. Located in St. Mary’sAssumption Church, the shrine features the remains of Seelos, his original lead coffin, artifacts and more.
St.Augustine Catholic Church 1210 Governor Nicholls St., New Orleans St. Augustine is oneofthe oldest Black Catholic churches in the country, established by free people of color in 1841 in Treme. The church is the site of theTombofthe Unknown Slave dedicated to the memory of enslaved people who were buried in unmarked graves.
Vietnamese Holy Martyrs 5069 Willowbrook Drive, New Orleans MaryQueen of Vietnam Church houses the Shrine of the Vietnamese Holy Martyrs, whichhonors117 VietnameseMartyrs killed for their faith in the19th century in Vietnam.Visitors can receive Plenary Indulgence —the complete remission of alltemporal punishment due to sin.
St.MartindeTours Catholic Church
133 S. Main St., St.Martinville In 1765, agroup of Acadian exiles
arrivedinSt. Martinville after the British deported themfromAcadie in Canada. St. Martin de Tours Catholic Church is the third oldest in Louisiana, recognizedasthe MotherChurchof the Acadians. The church was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 10, 1972.
St.Gabriel Catholic Church
3625 La. 75, St. Gabriel St. Gabriel Catholic Church, established in the late 18th century,is oneofthe oldest wooden churches in theMississippiRiver Valley, featuring the original bell of the parish in its tower that’sstill used. Before thechurchwas remodeled around 1870, it was an example of the earliestformofCreolearchitecture, using cypress from nearby swamps to build it.
Shreveport Martyrs
315 Marshall St., Shreveport Holy Trinity Catholic Churchishome to the Minor Shrine to the Shreveport Martyrs, whichhonors fivepriestswho served the sick during the 1873 yellow fever epidemic in the city.The priests were declared “Servants of God,” the first of four steps in the canonization process.
Christianauthor shares advice to deal with anxiety
BYJOY HOLDEN Staff writer
“Nervous Systems: Spiritual Practices to Calm Anxiety in Your Body,the Church, and Politics” By SaraBillups, Baker Books, 225 pages
Review
Sara Billups, aSeattle-based writer and cultural commentator, presents acandid look at anxiety of the individual anxietyofthe Christian church and anxietyofpolitics in her second book, “Nervous Systems: Spiritual Practices to Calm Anxiety in Your Body,the Church, and Politics,”which will be released Nov.4 Billups, who earned aDoctor of Ministry in the sacred art of writing at thePeterson Center
for the Christian Imagination at Western Theological Seminary,is honest about strugglingwithher own generalized anxiety disorder throughout the text.
Thefirst third of “Nervous Systems”includesmemoir-style writingasBillups describes heranxietywhile herparentsare experiencingmajor healthcrises. Billups recommends tangible practices to manage the anxiety,mostly from herexperiences with the spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius.She explains howembodiment andsacraments ground us in the present.
Billups then takesacritical yet compassionate eye to the American Christianchurch and its proclivitytofear and anxiety,which hasresultedinaresurgence of Christiannationalism. While doingso, sheraises herown
spiritual anxiety by examining scrupulosity,anobsessive compulsivedisorder that revolves around moral or religious guilt. She unpacks herown fears of belonging within her home church of 20 years and howstability and community are the roots of conqueringthatworry Her recommendation fordealingwithsystemic anxiety is expansiveness toward God and others.
Finally,Billups examines anxiety in politics and advises holy indifference and detachmentfor Christians who are dealing with fear and anxiety in the current political environment.
“Nervous Systems” is atimely read that is aresource of practices and recommendations in times of tension.
STAFFFILE PHOTOJOHN McCUSKER
The Rev. Byron Miller stands inside the National Shrine of Blessed Francis Xavier SeelosinNew Orleans. The bones of Seelos, whocame to the United States from Germanyin1843,are in the container at left,and apicture of him is on the wall behind Miller
STAFF PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD
Churchisone of the oldest wooden churches along the
wasformed in 1761. It sits across River Road closeto
SUNDAY, OctOber 19, 2025
CURTIS / by Ray Billingsley
SLYLOCK FOX / by Bob Weber Jr
GET FUZZY / by Darby Conley
HAGAR THE HORRIBLE / by Chris Browne
MOTHER GOOSE AND GRIMM / by Mike Peters
ZIGGY / by Tom Wilson
ZITS / by Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman
SALLY FORTH / by Francesco Marciuliano & Jim Keefe
PEARLS BEFORE SWINE /byStephan Pastis
directions: Make a 2- to 7-letter word from the letters in each row Add points of each word, using scoring directions at right. Finally, 7-letter words get 50-point bonus. “Blanks” used as any letter have no point value All the words are in the Official SCRABBLE® Players Dictionary, 5th Edition.
word game
instructions: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed. 3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.
todAY's Word — disseMBLed: dihSEM-beld: Hid under a false appearance.
Average mark 37 words Time limit 60 minutes
Can you find 57 or more words in DISSEMBLED?
ken ken
instructions: 1 -Each rowand each column must contain thenumbers 1through4 (easy) or 1through6 (challenging) without repeating 2 -The numbers within the heavily outlinedboxes, called cages, must combine using thegiven operation (inany order)toproduce the target numbersinthe top-left corners. 3 -Freebies: Fillinthe single-boxcages withthe numberinthe top-left corner
instructions: Sudoku is anumber-placing puzzle based on a 9x9 gridwith several given numbers. The object is to placethe numbers 1to 9in theempty squares so that each row,each column and each 3x3 boxcontains the same number only once. The difficultylevel of the Conceptis Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday
directions: Complete thegridso that numbers 1–132 connect horizontally, vertically or diagonally
Sudoku
Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis
zhouqin Burnikel
super Quiz
Great play, no reward
Today’s deal is from a recent matchbetweenateamfromItaly and a team from Norway All the players were top tier. Declarer won the opening diamond lead in dummy with the ace, led a heart to his ace, and cashed the king of hearts to draw the last trump. He cashed dummy’s ace and king of spades and ruffed a diamond back to his hand. He cashed the queen of spades, discarding a club from dummy, and exited with a low club. Had West played the jack, East would have been endplayed with the king and forced to give a ruffsluff, presenting declarer with his doubled contract. West was Italian Giovanni Donati, and he rose with his ace of clubs, swallowing East’s king, and cashed two more clubs for down one. Outstanding play! At the other table, they reached the same contract but not doubled. The timing was slightly different Declarer ruffed a diamond at trick two and then played the ace and king of hearts and then the ace and king of spades He crossed back to his hand with a trump and East, Norway’s Boye Brogeland, discarded the king of clubs! This
would have been crucial if partner’s clubs were ace-queen-10 instead of ace-queen-jack. It was a brilliant play that did not gain for his team, but we can still admire the excellent defense at both tables
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) Share your feelings and intentions and find out where you stand. Communication is the key to making informed choices and moving forward with your life.
SC ORPIO (O ct. 24 -Nov. 22 ) Social events will lead to new opportunities. Tap into the resources available in your community and embark on a new adventure A change will raise awareness.
SUBJECT: POTPOURRI
(e.g., Who was President Biden’s vice president?
Answer: Kamala Harris.)
FRESHMAN LEVEL
1. “Au” is the chemical symbol for what element?
Answer________
2. What was sparked by the shooting of Archduke Franz Ferdinand?
Answer________
3. What does the “T” stand for in the acronym LGBT?
What was the birth name of the boxer
What is venison?
By what name is the painting “La Gioconda” popularly known?
The first names of TV’s
help you recognize what’s possible and encourage more meaningful human connection. You don’t have to spend money to enjoy the company of others.
Take this Super Quiz to a Ph.D. Score 1 point for each correct answer on the Freshman Level, 2 points on the graduate Level and 3 points on the Ph.D. Level.
ship appears appealing and can become a lucrative prospect.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Update personal papers to ensure everything is ready to go if necessary Self-improvement, fitness and a healthy lifestyle will help you feel great.
PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) Finding common ground with others will
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Establish what you enjoy doing and revamp your resume to suit your needs It’s your responsibility to plan for your future based on what makes you happy CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Live and learn. Do your best to avoid opposition. Expect others to scrutinize your actions. Excess and overindulgence can lead to a negative response if you give in to temptation.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) A financial change is evident. Manage your money with care. Being too generous or paying for someone else’s mistake can’t buy you love or acceptance. Offer your time, not your cash. wuzzLes
ARIES (March 21-April 19) A change of heart will lead to better relationships and an understanding of what matters most to you. A cash infusion or a gift someone offers will encourage you to make positive lifestyle changes.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20) A change of pace will help you recognize what’s purposeful and rewarding. Use your voice, do what you can and make a difference. A partner-
GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Figure out what’s lacking in your life and make a change. Stop waiting for everything to come to you when a take-charge attitude will help you deal with negatives in your life.
CANCER (June 21-July 22) Do something that brings you joy A domestic adjustment that helps you make your surroundings more peaceful is a great place to start.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Let your actions speak for you. A kind gesture will go a long way to impress
those you encounter Be the one to brighten everyone’s day, and the rewards will be overwhelming.
The horoscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact.
1. Gold. 2. WWI. 3. Transgender.4.CassiusClay 5. The meat of adeer.6."Mona Lisa "7.Blanche. 8. Roosevelt. 9. Nevada.10. "The Shining." 11.In adeck of Tarot cards. 12. Amy.13. Hanukkah. 14.Marilyn Monroe. 15.The world's tallest structure.
SCORING: 24 to 30 points —congratulations, doctor; 18 to 23 points—honorsgraduate; 13 to 17 points —you’replenty smart, but no grind; 5to12points —you really shouldhit the booksharder;1point to 4points —enroll in remedial courses immediately; 0points who reads thequestions to you?
The heat of autumn is different from theheat of summer.One ripens apples, theotherturns them to cider. —JaneHirschfield
jeFF mACnelly’sshoe/ by Gary Brookins &Susie MacNelly
FoXtrot/ by BillAmend dustin /bySteve Kelley&JeffParker
