UL LOSES STEAM IN UPSET BID VS. JAMES MADISON 1C
Oscar-winning star Diane Keaton dies at 79 9A THE
ACADIANA
ADVOCATE
T H E A C A D I A N A A D V O C AT E.C O M
|
S u n d ay, O c t O b e r 12, 2025
THE TIES OF
CULTURE
French, Belgian dignitaries celebrate start of Festivals Acadiens et Créoles in Lafayette
$2.50X
Supreme Court to hear voting rights case Ruling could dramatically change ‘tests’ used in redistricting
BY MARK BALLARD | Staff writer WASHINGTON — On Wednesday, the nation’s attention will be on arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court in a case that, on the surface, is about whether Louisiana should have two majority-Black congressional districts, one or maybe none. But many legal observers say the court, with its 6-3 conservative majority, could use Louisiana v. Callais to find the Voting Rights Act of 1965 unconstitutional or to dramatically change its “tests” that judges have for decades used to require states to draw congressional districts in which minority voters make up a majority. Such a change could affect elections all over the country. Louisiana is arguing that Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act and its tests for when majorityminority districts could be used has allowed states to draw maps with race in mind, which contradicts the constitutional idea of equal treatment under the law. “Race-based redistricting under Section 2 is principally unconstitutional because it inherently rests on a racial stereotype: that all voters of a particular race must — by virtue of their membership in their racial class — think alike, share the same interests, and prefer the same political candidates,” the state attorney general argued in an Oct. 3 brief.
ä See CASE, page 4A STAFF PHOTO By BRAD KEMP
Rockin’ Dopsie Jr. gets the crowd ready for the 4 Generations of the Dopsie Family band on the Scène Ma Louisiane during Festivals Acadiens et Créoles at Girard Park in Lafayette on Saturday. BY JOANNA BROWN | Staff writer
ä See more
a number of free events focused on the region’s Louisiana French culture taking place photos from across the area. Festivals Acadiens et Créoles is all about Under Saturday’s sunny skies, the music the music, dancing and food that make south- Festivals schedule featured a mix of French-influwest Louisiana’s French culture come alive Acadiens et — and it’s also about the longstanding ties Créoles. enced acts, including Jourdan Thibodeaux that sustain the culture. et Les Rôdailleurs, Pine Leaf Boys, Chris ArPAGE 1B Friday night, the festival kicked off in Ladoin & Nu-Step Zydeco and Cedric Watson et Bijou Créole. fayette’s Girard Park with the ceremonial Ambassador Bili also planned to attend the opencutting of the boudin, from Johnson’s Boucanière. Dignitaries from Mayor-President Monique Boulet ing of Le Grand Réveil Acadien, or Great Acadian to Laurent Bili, the French ambassador to the United Awakening, Saturday in Abbeville. States, were present for a breezy Louisiana fall eveAs they welcomed an excited Friday night ning as Louisiana singer, writer and French language crowd to Festivals Acadiens, Boulet and Charlotte activist Zachary Richard prepared to step onstage. ä See CULTURE, page 5A It’s the start of a special week in Acadiana, with
Cajun singer shines on ‘The Voice’ Dustin Dale Gaspard blends his heritage into performances
sitioned into singing in Cajun French, the stars couldn’t turn their chairs around fast enough. All four celebrity coaches — Reba McEntire, Snoop Dogg, Michael Bublé and Niall Horan — wanted Gaspard on their teams this season. They were fascinated by his BY JOANNA BROWN | Staff writer unique sound and authenticity, straight Cajun singer Dustin Dale Gaspard en- from the bayous of Vermilion Parish. Horan called it “one of the best auditions thralled America on Monday night with his blind audition on “The Voice,” where the I’ve ever seen or heard on this show in three Cow Island native incorporated French into seasons.” Gaspard ended up selecting the his soulful (yet swampy) rendition of Sam Irish singer (and former One Direction star) as his coach for the season. Cooke’s “Bring It On Home To Me.” Gaspard is excited to see where the show He opened with the harmonica and a confident vocal performance that caught ä See SINGER, page 5A the coaches’ attention. But when he tran-
WEATHER HIGH 86 LOW 58 PAGE 6B
PHOTO PROVIDED By NBC
Cajun swamp pop singer Dustin Dale Gaspard, a native of Cow Island, will appear on coach Niall Horan’s team on ‘The Voice.’
LETHAL HEAT LOUISIANA’S QUIET DISASTER
La. summers are getting hotter, lasting longer High temperatures are stretching into fall BY SAM KARLIN | Staff writer Louisiana summers are not only getting hotter. They’re also getting longer. Temperatures of 90 F are lasting as much as three weeks longer in cities across Louisiana, according to data from the nonprofit Climate Central. It’s the latest example of how Louisiana summers are growing increasingly hot and dangerous, posing deadly health risks and raising electric bills to unaffordable levels for America’s poorest state. Baton Rouge is seeing the most additional days with summer temperatures in the state, as the city’s summers have gotten 21 days longer between 1970 and 2024, according to the report. Lafayette is seeing 17 extra summer days and New Orleans is experiencing 11 more days of hot temperatures each year. “Research shows and tells us if heat-trapping pollution keeps rising, summer temperatures will keep stretching later and later,” said Shel Winkley, a weather and climate engagement specialist at Climate Central and a former
Business ......................1E Living............................1D Nation-World................2A Classified .....................2B Lottery..........................2B Opinion ........................4B Commentary ................5B Metro ...........................1B Sports ..........................1C
ä See HOTTER, page 4A
101ST yEAR, NO. 104