ON TIME: CAJUNS’ NEW STADIUM REMAINS ON SCHEDULE FOR SEASON OPENER 1C THE
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T u e s d ay, au g u s T 5, 2025
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Lafayette man dies in Utah glider crash
FESTIVALS ACADIENS ET CRÉOLES
Arthur Hartie Spence Jr., president of ASH Industries, was licensed pilot
BY KRISTIN ASKELSON Staff writer
STAFF FILE PHOTOS By BRAD BOWIE
Lynne Kemp, left, and Bill Kemp dance to the music at the 2024 Festivals Acadiens et Créoles on Oct. 12 in Girard Park in Lafayette. The festival released its lineup for the 2025 edition on Monday.
50 YEARS OF RÉVEILLE Festival Acadiens celebrates anniversary, releases its October lineup
BY JOANNA BROWN Staff writer
Lafayette, it’s time to start getting ready for fall festival season. Festivals Acadiens et Créoles released its 2025 lineup Monday, with musicians ranging from legends like Zachary Richard and Wayne Toups, to rising stars such as Beau Cheval and Les Amis du Teche. Local artists like Richard helped build the area’s first large-scale Cajun and zydeco music festival into the cultural behemoth it is today. Founded in 1974 by Barry Jean Ancelet to promote the traditions of Louisiana French music, both Richard and “King of Zydeco” Clifton Chenier gave bold performances at the 1975 event, which was then called the “Tribute to Cajun Music Concert.” “This year marks half a century since Zachary Richard’s flag-waving performance at the 1975 concert, which eventually evolved into our event,” said Ancelet. “That same night, Clifton Chenier appeared wearing a crown, proclaiming his role as ‘King of Zydeco.’ Those bold and provocative moments became a call to action for generations of Cajun and Creole musicians — artists who continue to honor the past while shaping the future of this vibrant, living
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Zachary Richard is among the many legends and rising stars set to play at the 2025 Festivals Acadiens et Créoles. Richard performed in 1975 at the event that ä See FESTIVAL, page 4A would evolve into the festival.
Texas Democrats prevent state map vote Gov. Abbott orders troopers to arrest lawmakers
BY BILL BARROW and NADIA LATHAN Associated Press
AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Democrats on Monday prevented their state’s House of Representatives from moving forward, at least for now, with a redrawn congressional map sought by President Donald Trump to shore up Republicans’ 2026 midterm
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prospects as his political standing falters. After dozens of Democrats left the state, the Republicandominated House was unable to establish the quorum of lawmakers required to do business. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has made threats about removing members who are abAbbott sent from their seats. Democrats counter that Abbott is using “smoke and mirrors” to assert legal authority he
Arthur Hartie Spence Jr., president of a Lafayette company that makes customized injection molds, was killed Friday when his glider crashed into the side of a mountain in northern Utah. He was 60 years old. Officials with the Morgan County Fire Department said the glider crashed into Mahogany Mountain Spence on private land above Bohmann Ranch around 2 p.m. Friday. Spence, president of ASH Industries in Lafayette, was piloting the glider and was found dead at the crash scene, officials said. His identity was confirmed Monday on social media. “Hartie first and foremost, was a resolute family man, accomplished businessman, and a servant of God,” commented a colleague from a private firearms training facility. “If you were lucky enough to receive his annual holiday letter, his dedication to his family and God were evident. His family was the center of his life as well as his faith.” The crash, which occurred at
does not have. The Republican-dominated House quickly issued civil arrest warrants for absent Democrats and Abbott ordered state troopers to help find and arrest them, but lawmakers physically outside Texas are beyond the jurisdiction of state authorities. “If you continue to go down this road, there will be consequences,” House Speaker Rep. Dustin Burrows said from the chamber floor, later telling reporters that includes fines. The Democratic revolt and Abbott’s threats ratcheted up a fight over congressional maps
Planned Parenthood to close in Louisiana Nonprofit faces lack of access to federal money
BY BLAKE PATERSON
that began in Texas but now includes Democratic governors who have floated the possibility of redrawing their own state maps in retaliation, even if their options are limited. The dispute also reflects Trump’s aggressive view of presidential power and his grip on the Republican Party nationally, while testing the longstanding balance of powers between the federal government and individual states. At the center of the impasse is Trump’s hope of adding five GOP-leaning congressional seats
Planned Parenthood is ceasing operations in Louisiana and shutting down its reproductive health clinics in Baton Rouge and New Orleans, part of a wave of closures of the organization’s clinics across the U.S. due to funding issues and moves by the Trump administration to cut off access to federal money. The nonprofit, which has operated in Louisiana for more than 40 years, said in a statement that it informed its staff on Friday of the
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ä See CLOSE, page 4A
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