LAFAYETTE NATIVE’S RISE TO SECOND CITY PUTS HER ON THE LAUGH TRACK 1D THE
ACADIANA
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T H E A C A D I A N A A D V O C AT E.C O M
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S u n d ay, J u ly 27, 2025
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After 10 years, the healing continues Deadly shooting at Lafayette theater killed two, injured nine and changed the city
BY KRISTIN ASKELSON | Staff writer
CALM, SCHOOL AND
COLLECTED
July 23, 2015, was a pretty typical summer day in south Louisiana. Sunny and hot, with a high temperature in the mid-90s, summer camps were in full swing and there was a Lafayette Canecutters game at Fabacher Field. Streaming services were growing in popularity, but in Lafayette, folks were still going to movie theaters, where the airconditioning was always on full blast. “Minions,” “Ant-Man,” and “Jurassic World” were playing. “Trainwreck,” a romantic comedy directed by Judd Apatow and starring Amy Schumer and Bill Hader, had several showings at the Grand 16 on Johnston Street, including one at 7:10 p.m. Lafayette had recently been recognized as the No. 1 mid-sized city in the United States. Another site dubbed Lafayette the “Happiest City in America.” The first 911 call came in at 7:28 p.m. Someone heard gunshots coming from the Grand Theater. Police arrived within four minutes. Acadian Ambulance had nine ambulances and one sprint vehicle on scene within 15 minutes. Before long, social media was buzzing with news, some true, some unfounded, of the shooting in which a lone gunman opened fire from the back of theater 14 just after the opening credits of “Trainwreck.” John Houser had purchased his ticket moments before the 7:10 start time, but police would learn
ABOVE: Lafayette City Marshal Reggie Thomas, from left, with Deputies Nolan Davis, Jacob Thacker, Sgt. Tyrell Fenroy and Ontario Calais sort and organize donated school supplies at the Stuff The Bus event sponsored by the United Way of Acadiana on Saturday. LEFT: University of Louisiana at Lafayette student Tammy Mitchell, center, a member of the UL Alumni Volunteer Krewe, helps stuff bags to be given to teachers throughout Acadiana on Saturday. PHOTOS By ROBIN MAy
ä See HEALING, page 5A
Landry says LA DOGE can help with government efficiency
gas companies, as the state’s “Fiscal Led by governor’s ally, initiative stresses business-minded approach Responsibility Czar.”
BY ALYSE PFEIL |Staff writer
rier,” he said. “It’s about shifting the culture.” One of his strategies to do that is LA Gov. Jeff Landry says Louisiana government has a lot to learn from private DOGE, an initiative that Landry began a decade ago as attorney general and business. “We’re trying to turn the aircraft car- revived late last year. He rebranded
WEATHER HIGH 92 LOW 76 PAGE 6B
the program to echo President Donald Trump’s effort, originally led by Elon Musk, to slash spending. Landry tapped Steve Orlando, a friend and close political ally who built a major business providing services to oil and
Orlando, who is running LA DOGE as a volunteer, understands how to effectively run a business, Landry said. “That’s the value that this man has brought to the state of Louisiana,”
ä See LA DOGE, page 4A Landry
Business ......................1E Deaths .........................2B Nation-World ................2A Classified .....................3B Living............................1D Opinion ........................4B Commentary ................5B Metro ...........................1B Sports ..........................1C
101ST yEAR, NO. 27