The Times-Picayune 10-28-2025

‘A fightingchance’

Whilemoreinnovationisonthe horizon, doctors sayAIisalready enhancingpatient care

Dr.Michael Bernard, section head of electrophysiologyatOchsner Health, monitors computers to help with surgeryon Friday. Artificial intelligence is helping withthisprocedure.

BY EMILYWOODRUFF Staff writer

On ablack screen facing an operating room, Dr.Michael Bernard watched astormof squiggly lines flashing across the monitor: theelectric chaos of apatient’sirregular heartbeat.

The patient had atrial fibrillation, adisordered heartrhythm that can causefatigue, shortnessofbreath andmore serious problems over time. Years ago, treating it required openchest surgery.Now,through avein in the leg, athin catheter about the size of aspaghetti noodle snakes toward theheart, its tip burning tiny scars at adoctor’scommand into tissue to block misfiring electrical signals and restore asteady beat.

This time, Bernardwasn’t relying on instinct alone. He was usinganartificial intelligence-powered mapping system designedtoread theheart’s electrical patterns and highlight the preciseareasdriving thearrhythmia —aprocess that once depended largely on educated guesswork.

“Before, I’d havetolook at thatand say ‘maybe’ and ‘I think,’”said Bernard, an electrophysiologistatOchsner Health in New Orleans, gestur-

Dr.SammyKhatib,left, listens to Dr.Michael Bernard as he uses artificial intelligence to help with surgeryonFridayatOchsner Health

ingtoward amap of the heart. “Now this givesmemybest chance to say, ‘Allright,thishas been proventohelp affect long-term outcomes.’

Thesystem, called Volta, uses AI trained on nearlyhalfa millionelectrical tracings from heart patients

acrossthe country to spotthe specific zones most likely causing rhythm disturbances.

The difference, Bernard said, is like “a smart bombvs. acarpet bomb.”In

ä See CHANCE, page 5A

Lawsuit filedover

BY PATRICK WALL Staff writer

TwoChristianschoolshavefiledafederal lawsuit challenging Louisiana’s newlaw that imposes sweeping regulations on private pre-kindergarten programs, arguing thatthe lawunconstitutionally disadvantages religious schools.

Act409 sets newminimum safety standards for all preschools and requires pre-K programs at private schools to obtain aday care center license, subjecting theschools to dozens of additional regulations, site inspections andstaff background checks. While the safety standards apply to allschoolswith pre-K programs, public schools and Montessori schools are exempt from the licensing requirement.

Proponents of the law,which took effect in August, have celebrated it as awin forchild safety and school accountability.But critics call the regulations excessive, warning that some private schoolsmight raise tuitionordiscontinue their pre-K programs due to the costs of compliance, such as hiring extra staffers, conducting background checks and making facility upgrades. Act 409 “unlawfully discriminates against religious schools and the families they serve by subjecting them to unfunded mandatesinthe form of burdensome licensure and regulatory

N.O. officialslooking forways to addressbudgetshortfall

BY SOPHIEKASAKOVE Staff writer

New Orleans’ director of codeenforcement raised alarms on Monday aboutthe city’s ability to tackle its blight problem as officials stare down amultimillion-dollar budget deficit, saying funding cuts would lead to a“significant reduction” in services.

In apresentationbeforethe NewOrleans City Council, city Code EnforcementDirector

ä See BLIGHT, page 5A

Emersontochallenge Cassidyfor Senate seat

Committee, which oversees legislation concerning taxes and major state construction projects.

State Rep. Julie Emerson, RCarencro, announced Monday that she is running for the U.S. Senate, giving Sen. Bill Cassidy,R-Baton Rouge, another prominent challenger Emerson,37, is chairof the influential House Ways and Means

“It’sclear that Louisiana Republicans have grown frustrated with our incumbentsenator,and they’re looking for afresh newvoice, and we want to make sure that we have someone in there who can get the job done,” Emerson said Monday Emersonsponsored several prominent bills in recent sessions, includingflattening the corporate income tax rate, ending the corporate franchise tax and creating LA GATOR,aprogram backed by

Gov.Jeff Landry that givesparents money to help pay for private school. She alsosponsored the legislation that moved Louisiana to a closed party primary system, in which the Republican and Democratic candidates compete for their party’snomination before the generalelection.Previously, all candidates, regardless of party, competed in an open primaryelection Emerson emphasized her legislative record in herannouncement saying “our country doesn’tneed

more ineffective legislative outrage.”

“Voters want astrongconservativesenator who can get things done —someone focused on results, not rhetoric,” she saidin anews release. “I’m running to bring home realoutcomes for Louisiana: infrastructure investment, newjobs, and aseat at the table where decisions get made.”

Emerson joins acrowded field of Republicans in the race. Many political observers believe Cassidy

Carencro Republican joinscrowded field ä See EMERSON, page 7A

BRIEFS FROM WIRE REPORTS

World’soldest president reelected in Cameroon

YAOUNDE, Cameroon

The world’s oldest president, Cameroon‘s 92-year-oldPaul Biya, has won election again,the country’stop court said Monday,after days of protesters’ clashes with security forces left at least four people dead as opposition supporters demanded credibleresults.

Biya has led the centralAfrican nation since 1982, ruling longer than most citizens have beenalive. Over 70%ofthe population of almost 30 million is below 35. The Oct. 12 election has displayed growing tensions between Africa’syouth and its many aging leaders.

The Constitutional Council said Biya received 53.66%of votes while former ally Issa TchiromaBakary got 35.19%.

The turnout was 57.7%.

In asocial media post after the announcement, Tchiroma asserted that security forces had shot at civilians, killing two in his hometown of Garoua.

“Shooting point-blank at your own brothers —Ican’thelpbut wonder if you’re mercenaries,” he posted. “Kill me if you want, but Iwill liberate this country by any means necessary.What blatant impunity.”

Tchiroma hadclaimed victory days ago, citing results he said were collated by hisparty.Biya’sparty members dismissed the claim.

Biya in astatement on Monday said his “first thoughts are with all those who have unnecessarily lost their lives, as well with their families,asa result of the postelection violence.”

Biden warns of ‘dark days,’urges optimism

Former PresidentJoe Biden called these “dark days” as he urged Americans to stayoptimistic and not to check out in response to what he says are attacks on free speech and tests on the limits of executive power by President Donald Trump.

“Since its founding, America served as abeacon for the most powerful idea ever in government in thehistory of theworld,” Biden said. “The idea is stronger than any army.We’re more powerful than any dictator.”

Biden, 82, speaking publicly for the first time since completing around of radiation therapy for an aggressive form of prostate cancer,addressed an audienceinBoston on Sunday night after receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Edward M. Kennedy Institute He said America depends on a presidency with limited power, afunctioning Congress and an autonomous judiciary.Withthe federal government facing its second-longest shutdown on record, Trump has used the lapse in funding to exercise new command over the government.

“Friends, Ican’tsugar coat any of this. These are dark days” Biden said. He then predicted the country would “find ourtrue compass again” and“emergeas we always have —stronger, wiser and moreresilient, more just, so long as we keep the faith.”

U.K. king dedicates LGBTQ+ troop memorial

LONDON King Charles IIIon Monday dedicated Britain’sfirst national memorial to lesbian, gay,bisexual and transgender troops, 25 years after the U.K. ended aban on homosexuality in the armed forces.

The king, who is the ceremonial head of the armed forces, laid flowers at the monument in the National Memorial Arboretumincentral England at aservice attended by scores of serving troops and veterans. The sculpture takes the form of acrumpled bronze letter bearing words from personnel who were affected by the ban.

Between 1967 and 2000, soldiers, sailorsand airforce personnel who were —orwere thought to be —gay or transgender were labeled unfit to serve and dismissed or discharged from the forces. Some were stripped of medals or lost their pension rights, and many struggledwiththe stigma for decades

The government lifted the ban after a1999 ruling from the European Court of Human Rights.

In 2023 then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak formallyapologized for what he called “an appalling failure of the Britishstate.”

Melissa bearsdownonJamaica

Category 5

hurricane could be strongeston record forisland

BY JOHNMYERS JR. and DÁNICA COTO Associated Press

KINGSTON, Jamaica Hurricane Melissa intensifiedinto aCategory5storm Monday as it drew closer to Jamaica, where forecasters expected it to unleash catastrophic flooding, landslides and widespread damage. At that strength, it wouldbethe strongest hurricane to hit the island since record-keeping began in 1851

Blamed for seven deaths in thenorthern Caribbean as it headed toward the island,Melissa was on track to makelandfall TuesdayinJamaica beforecoming ashore inCuba later in the dayand then heading toward the Bahamas. It was not expected to affect the United States. Anticipating the hardship in store for his country Jamaican PrimeMinister AndrewHolnesssaid, “I have been on my kneesin prayer.”

HannaMcleod,a23-yearold hotel receptionistin the Jamaican capital of Kingston,saidshe boarded up thewindows at her home, where her husband andbrother are staying. She stocked up on canned corned beef andmackerel and left candles and flashlights throughout the house

“I just told them to keep thedoorclosed,”she said.“I am definitely worried. This is actuallythe first time I’ll be experiencing this type of hurricane.”

Category 5isthe top of the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale, with sustained winds exceeding 157 mph. Melissa would be thestrongest hurricane in recorded history tohit thesmall Caribbeannationdirectly,said Jonathan Porter,chiefmeteorologist at AccuWeather Astorm surge of up to 13 feet was expected along coastalKingston, which Portersaid is home to critical infrastructuresuch as Jamaica’smain international airportand power plants. “This can become atrue humanitarian crisis very quickly,and thereislikely going to be the need for alot of international support,”

Portersaid in aphone interview On Mondaynight, Melissa was centered about155 miles southwest of Kingston and about 335 miles southwest of Guantánamo, Cuba.The systemhad maximum sustainedwinds of 175 mphand was moving northwest at 2mph, according to theU.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami.

Parts of easternJamaica could see up to 30 inches of rain while western Haiti could get 16 inches, the hurricane center said, citing the likelihood of “catastrophic flash floodingand numerous landslides.”

Mandatoryevacuations were orderedinflood-prone communities in Jamaica, withbuses ferrying people to safe shelter But some insisted on staying.

“I hear what they say, but Iamnot leaving,” said Noel Francis, a64-year-old fisherman wholives on the beach in the southern town of OldHarborBay,where he wasborn and grew up. “I can manage myself.”

His neighbor, Bruce Dawkins,saidhealsohad no plans to leave his home.

“I am not going anywhere,” Dawkins said, wearing araincoat and holding abeer.The fisherman said he had already secured his vessel and planned to ride out the storm with his friend.

Several towns along Jamaica’ssouthern coast alreadyreported power outages as winds picked up throughout the night.

“I have no choice but to be here,” she said as she sorted potatoes, green bananas, tomatoes and scallion stalks in her stall.

Walker, asingle mother of two, is still struggling to recover after Hurricane Beryl destroyedher business and homelast year.She livesbythe ocean but does notplantogotoashelter because she had a“terrible” shelterexperienceduring HurricaneIvan, whenthe facilityoffered only ahandful of tins of corned beef to share.

Jamaican government officials said they were worried that fewer than 1,000 people were in the more than 130 shelters open across the island.

“It’sway,way below what is required for aCategory 5 hurricane,” said Daryl Vaz, Jamaica’stransport minister,who urged people “to be smart If youare not, unfortunately,you will pay the consequences.”

The slow-moving storm has killed at least three people in Haiti and afourth person in the Dominican Republic,where another person remainsmissing Twopeople died in Jamaica over the weekendas they cut trees ahead of the storm, anda third onedied after being electrocuted.

“Myonly concern is flooding,becausewelivenear the sea,” said Hyacinth White, 49, who said she had no plans to evacuatetoa shelter Officials said the biggest storm surge wasexpected in theBlack Rivercommunity in western Jamaica, where Sandra Walker was the sole street vendor workingjust hours ahead of the hurricane.

Israel:Turkish troops won’thaveroleinGazaforce

BY JUSTIN SPIKE and RENATA BRITO Associated Press

BUDAPEST,Hungary Israel willnot allowTurkishtroopstotakepart in an international force the UnitedStates has proposed tooversee the ceasefire agreement in the Israel-Hamaswar in Gaza, Israel’stop diplomat said Monday

The 20-point deal brokeredbyPresident Donald Trump earlier this month calls fora force to monitor theceasefirebut does not mention which countries would provide troops.

It says the U.S. would “work with Arab and international partnersto developa temporary International Stabilization Force” to deploy in Gaza. The force would train and providesupport to “vetted Palestinian police forces” and will “consult with Jordanand Egypt, who have extensive experience in this field.”

The first phase of the ceasefire agreement is still being carried out, and focuses on the release of

that,” King Abdullah II of Jordan saidinaninterview with the BBC.

Speaking to journalists during avisit to Hungary,Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Israel opposes the participation of Turkish troops in Gaza because of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’slong-standing hostility to Israel. Saar said Israel has communicated its stance to U.S. officials.

“Countries that want or areready to send armed forces should be at least fair to Israel,” Saar said. He did

not elaborate. U.S. officials have said there would be no American boots on the ground in Gaza. Around 200 U.S. troops are now in Israel working alongside its military and other countries’ delegations at a coordination center,planning Gaza’sstabilization and reconstruction.

During visits to Israel last week, Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State MarcoRubio said multiple countries would be interested in joining the international force for Gaza.

the remaining dead hostages in Gaza, in exchange for Palestinian bodies held by Israel.

Late Monday,Israel’s military said Hamas has handedoverthe remains of another hostage to the RedCross in Gaza.

Sincethe ceasefire began on Oct. 10, the remains of 15 hostages have been returnedtoIsrael. Afterthe latest body is returned to Israel, another 12 bodies still need to be recovered in Gaza and handed over

Countriesthat are considering taking part in the international force in Gaza also want more clarity on its mandate. Officials from some Araband Muslim nations have said the focus mustbeonpeacekeeping in Gaza, not acting as an enforcer of peace between Israel and Hamas

“Whatisthe mandate of security forces inside of Gaza? And we hope thatit is peacekeeping, because if it’speace enforcing, nobody will want to touch

Judgesayssuspect in Kirk killing canwearstreetclothes in court

BY HANNAH SCHOENBAUM Associated Press

SALTLAKE CITY The 22-year-oldUtah man charged with killing CharlieKirkcan appearincourt wearing street clothes but must be physicallyrestrained due to security concerns, ajudgeruled

Monday

Attorneys for Tyler Robinson argued images of him shackled and in jail clothing would spread widelyina casewithextensive press coverage and public interest,which they saidcouldprejudice future jurors.

Judge Tony Grafagreed to make some allowances to protect Robinson’spresumptionofinnocence beforea trial, agreeing that

the case has drawn “extraordinary” public and media attention.

“Mr. Robinson shall be dressed as onewho is presumed innocent,” Graf said during avirtualcourt hearing.

Utah prosecutors have chargedRobinsonwith aggravated murder in the Sept.10shootingoftheconservative activist on aUtah college campus and plan to seek the death penalty While Robinson has no prior criminal history, Graf saidthe chargeshe faces are extremely serious and present safety concerns in the courtroom. It’sthe court’shighest priority to protect the attorneys, court staff and Robinson himselfduring what could be emotional

hearings, Graf said before denying Robinson’srequest to appear without restraints. He did, however, prohibit membersofthe mediafrom photographing or filming Robinson’s restraints.

Robinsonisaccused of firing afatal gunshot at Kirk, aclose ally of President DonaldTrump who worked to steer young voters toward conservatism, from arooftop overlooking acrowded courtyard at Utah Valley University in Orem. He was arrested the followingnight when he showed up with his parents at his hometown sheriff’s office in southwest Utah, more than a three-hour drive from the site of the shooting, to turn himself in.

Venezuela movestocancelenergydeals with Trinidad

More responseto U.S. warshipdocked at island nation

BY JORGE RUEDA Associated Press

CARACAS,Venezuela Venezuela’s vice president said Monday that energy agreements with Trinidad and Tobago should be canceledover what she described as “hostile” actions by the island nation.

Trinidad is now hostingone of the U.S. warships involved in a controversial campaign to destroy Venezuelan speedboatsallegedly carryingdrugs to the United States.

On Sunday,the USS Gravely,adestroyer fitted with guidedmissiles, arrived in Trinidad to conductjoint exercises with Trinidad’snavy Venezuelan authorities described Trinidad’sdecision to host the ship as aprovocation, while Trinidad’s

government has said that joint exerciseswiththe U.S. happen regularly

“The prime minister of Trinidad hasdecided to join the warmongering agenda of the United States,” Venezuela’sVice President Delcy Rodríguezsaid Mondayonnational television.

In an emailtoThe Associated Press, Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister KamlaPersad-Bissessar saidshe was not concerned over the potentialcancellation of the energy agreement, adding that the military training exercises were exclusivelyfor “internal security” purposes.

“Our future does not depend on Venezuelaand never has,” PersadBissessar wrote. “Wehaveour plans and projects to growour economy bothwithin the energy and non-energysectors.”

Rodríguez, who is also Venezuela’sminister of hydrocarbons,said she would ask President Nicolás Madurotowithdraw from a2015

agreement that enablesneighboring countries to carry out joint natural gas exploration projectsin the waters between both nations.

Trinidad and Venezuela are separated by asmallbay that is just 7 miles wide at its narrowest point. Unlikeother leaders in Latin

America and the Caribbean who have compared strikes on alleged drug vessels to extrajudicial killings, Persad-Bissessarhas supported the campaign. She has said that she’d rather see drug traffickers “blown to pieces” than have them kill the citizens of her nation.

“I am tired of seeing our citizens murdered and terrorized because of gang violence driven by illegal drugs andarms trafficking,”she said.

Trinidad, which has apopulationofabout 1.4million people, is sometimes usedbysmugglers to store and sort drugs before shippingthemtoEurope and North America.

Venezuela’s government has described the U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean as athreat,with government officials there claimingthat thedeployment of U.S. warships to the region is part of an effort to overthrowMaduro, who has been widely accused of stealing last year’selection.

Trumpmeets Japan’sPM, will addressU.S.troopsduringtrip

BY ISABELLA VOLMERT Associated Press

The Republican governor of Indiana said Monday he’s scheduling aspecial session to redraw congressional boundaries after weeks of pressure to back President Donald Trump’sbid to add more winnable seats with midcycle redistricting.

Trump has pressed Republicans to draw new maps that give the party an easier path to maintain control of the House in the midterms. But Democratshavepushedback in some states, including Virginia, where aspecial session Monday marked afirststep toward redistricting.

er statesthat seek todiminish their voiceinWashington and ensure their representation in Congress is fair,” Braun said in astatement

Monday

Typically, states redraw boundariesofcongressional districts every 10 years after the census has concluded.

Opponents are expected to challenge anynew maps in court.

When Indiana Republicans adopted the existing boundariesfour years ago, Bray saidthey would “serveHoosiers well for thenext decade.”

third-term Democratic U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan, who holds the seat, said in astatement Monday Republicans could also zero in on Indiana’s 7th Congressional District, comprised of Marion County and the Democratic stronghold of Indianapolis.But that option wouldbemorecontroversial, potentially slicing up thestate’slargest city and diluting Black voters’ influence.

Changing Virginia’scongressional districts requires more stepsthan in Indiana

While Republicans in Texas, Missouri and North Carolina already have enacted new congressional districts, Indiana lawmakers have beenhesitant. Indiana Gov Mike Braun called forthe GeneralAssemblytoconvene Nov.3for the special session. It’sunclear whether enoughofthe GOP-majority Senate will back new maps. Democrats only need to gain three seats to flip control of the U.S. House.Trump hopes redistricting can help avert historical trends,in which the president’sparty typically loses seats in midterm elections.

Vice PresidentJDVance and Trump have met separately with Indiana Republicans, including Senate President Pro TemRodric Bray, in recent months. Braunis astaunchTrump ally in a state the president won by 19 percentage points in 2024, butsaidpreviouslyhedid not want to call aspecial session until he was certainlawmakers would back anew map. Indiana Republicans hold a supermajority in both chambers.

“I am calling aspecial legislative session to protect Hoosiers from efforts in oth-

ABray spokesperson said lastweekthatthe Indiana Senatelacked the votes to pass anew congressional map, and on Monday said votesare still lacking,casting doubt on whethera special sessioncan achieve Braun’sgoals.

With just 10 Democrats in the50-member Senate,that means morethan adozen of the 40 Republicans oppose theidea. Some Republican statelawmakershave warned that midcycle redistricting can be costly and could backfirepolitically

Republicans who vote against redistricting could be forcedout of officeiftheir colleagues back primary opponents as punishment.

Republicans outnumber Democrats in Indiana’s congressionaldelegation 7-2, limitingpossibilitiesof squeezing out another seat. However, many in theGOP see redistrictingasachance for the party to representall nine seats

The

GOP would likely target Indiana’s1st Congressional District,a longtime Democratic strongholdencompassing Gary and other citiesnear Chicago inthe state’s northwest corner

“I believe that representation should be earned through ideas and service, notpolitical manipulation,”

The state is currently representedbysix Democratsand five Republicans whoran in districts established by a court in 2021 after abipartisan commission failed to agree on amap.

Because Virginia’s redistricting commission was created by avoter-approved constitutional amendment, voters must sign off on any changestothe redistricting process. Aproposed constitutional amendment would have to pass theGeneral Assembly in twoseparatesessions andthenbeplaced on the statewide ballot.Democrats are scrambling to hold thatfirst legislative votethis year,sothat theycan take a second vote aftera newlegislative session begins Jan. 14. Democrats also are hoping for gains in California. Voters there are deciding Nov. 4whether to scrap districts drawn by an independent citizens commission in favor of ones drafted by theDemocratic-led Legislature that could help Democrats winup to five additional seatsinnext year’selection.Democratsalreadyhold 43 of the 52 seats.

U.S. HouseMinorityLeader Hakeem Jeffries was in Illinois Monday to meet with Democraticstate lawmakersabout the possibilityof redrawing the state’s congressional districts to favor Democrats even more heavily.Democrats already hold 14 of the 17 seats

BY JOSH BOAK and CHRIS MEGERIAN Associated Press

TOKYO— President Donald Trump began oneofhis busiest days of his Asia trip on Tuesday by meeting with thenew Japanese prime minister,withplans to later speaktoU.S.troops aboard an aircraftcarrier andmingle with business leaders.

Although Trumpisvisiting one of America’smost steadfastallies in Asia, there’snoshortage of uncertainty while he’sthere.

SanaeTakaichi, whobecame the country’sfirst female prime ministeronly days ago, mustsolidify herrelationship with Trumpwhile defending her country’seconomic interests.

Trumpistrying to nail

down $550 billioninJapanese investment as part of atrade deal that would reduce U.S. tariffs As Trump andTakaichi met on Tuesday,they shook hands and he paid her a compliment: “That’savery strong handshake.”

Takaichi is primedfor a charmoffensive, including apotential purchase of Ford F-150 trucks. Reporters arriving for the event were hustled past agoldhued Ford F-150 as well as whatappeared to be white American-made Toyota vehiclesparkedoutside the Akasaka Palace, which is Tokyo’sguesthouse for visiting foreign leaders.

Trumphas often complained that Japan doesn’t buy American vehicles, which areoften too wide to be practical on narrow Japanese streets.

Although Trump has focused his foreign policy toward Asia around tariffs and trade, he’splans to speak aboard theUSS George Washington,which is docked at an American naval base near Tokyo. Trumparrived in Tokyo on Monday, when he met withthe emperor in aceremonialvisit.Hewas previously in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where he participated in the annual summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The gathering was an opportunity forTrump to celebrateanexpandedceasefire agreement between Thailand andCambodia, which skirmished alongtheir disputed border earlier this year.Trumphad pressured them to stop fighting by threatening to withhold trade agreements.

Kremlinsaysmissile test reflects security concerns

By The Associated Press

Russia’stest of anuclear-poweredmissile that it claims can’tbestopped by air defenses reflects Moscow’sdetermination to look out for its security interests,aKremlin officialsaid Monday,after the United States and European countries increased pressureon President Vladimir Putin to negotiateanend to the invasion of Ukraine.

President Donald Trump saidPutin should focuson making apeace deal, not testing missiles.

Little is known about Russia’sBurevestnik missile, which the NATO military alliance has code-named Skyfall.PutinappearedSunday in an official video, wearing camouflage fatigues, to hear Russia’schief of general staff report that the missile had covered 8,700 miles in a test.

Thenewscameafter a week that sawtough new U.S. sanctions preparedfor Russia’skey oil and gas sector and new European commitments of military aid to Ukraine.

“Russia is consistently working to ensure its own security,” Kremlinspokes-

ASSOCIATED

Aman

Lancetdrone hit theirvehicle in Ukraine’sKramatorsk, about 12 miles from the front line.

person DmitryPeskov said when asked whether the missile announcementwas aresponse to thesanctions andasignal to the West

“Ensuring security is a vitalissue forRussia,especially against thebackdrop of the militaristicsenti-

ASSOCIATED

Pope Leo XIV delivers his blessing as he recites the Angelus noon prayer on Sundayfromthe windowofhis studio overlooking St. Peter’sSquare at theVatican.

Pope to pray at site of Beirut port blast

BY NICOLE WINFIELD and ABBY SEWELL Associated Press

ROME Pope Leo XIV will pray at the site of the 2020 port blast in Beirut that killed over 200people and compounded Lebanon’s economicand politicalcrisis during his first foreign trip as pope next month that will also take him to Turkey to mark an importantanniversary with Orthodox Christians.

The Vatican on Monday released the itinerary of Leo’sNov.27-Dec. 2trip. It includes several moments for history’sfirst American pope to speak about interfaith and ecumenical relations, as well as the plight of Christians in the Middle East and regionaltensions overall.

Pope Francis had planned to visit both countries but died earlier this yearbefore he could. He had particularly long wanted to go to Lebanon,but thecountry’s economic and politicalcrisis prevented avisitduring his lifetime.

The main impetusfor travelling to Turkey this year is to mark the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, Christianity’s first ecumenical council. Leo made clear from the start of his pontificate that he would keep Francis’ commitment, andhas sev-

eral moments of prayer planned with the spiritual leaderofthe world’s Orthodox Christians, Patriarch Bartholomew I. Nicaea, today located in znik on alake southeast of Istanbul,isone of seven ecumenicalcouncilsthat are recognized by the Eastern Orthodox. Leowill travel there by helicopter on Nov 28 for abrief prayer near thearchaeological excavations of the ancient Basilica of Saint Neophytos.

Another significant moment in Turkey is Leo’s Nov.30 prayer at theArmenianapostolic cathedral in Istanbul.Francis didn’tgo thereduring his 2014 trip, but ayear laterheangered Turkey when he declared the slaughterofArmenians by OttomanTurks “thefirst genocide of the20th century.”

Historians estimatethat up to 1.5 millionArmenians were killedbyOttoman Turksaroundthe timeof World WarI,an event widely viewed by scholars as the first genocide of the 20th century.Turkey,however, hasinsistedthat the toll hasbeeninflated, and that those killed were victims of civil war and unrest, not genocide.Ithas fiercely lobbied to prevent countries, including theHolySee, from officially recognizing theArmenian massacre as genocide.

ment that we are currently hearing, primarily from the Europeans,” Peskov told reporters.

Trump, speaking to reportersonanofficial trip from Kuala LumpurtoTokyo, said Putin’stalk about missiles was not “appropriate.”

“You’vegot to getthe war ended. Awar that should have taken oneweek is now in its soon fourth year,” Trump said.“That’swhat youought to do,insteadof testingmissiles.”

RussianForeign Minister SergeyLavrov on Monday

Argentina’sleader gets bigwin in midtermelection

on its close ideological ally in SouthAmerica.

criticized the Trump administration forchanging its approach. After talks with Putin in Alaska in August, Trump said he wanted an agreement on long-term peace anddidn’tinsistona prior ceasefire, but now he’s changed his mind, Lavrov told Hungary’sUltrahang YouTube channel.

“Nowall they’re talking about is an immediate ceasefire …this is aradical change,” Lavrov said.

Trump’ssanctions decision,withthe punitive measures possibly coming into effect by Nov. 21, has raised the stakes in efforts to stop the fighting. As Russia and Ukraine assessed next steps, they also sought out allies.

Lavrov washosting his North Korean counterpart, Choe Son Hui, for talks in Moscow.Pyongyang has sent thousands of troops, as well as artillery andmissiles, to support Russia’sinvasion of Ukraine.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said late Sunday that France is providing additionalMirage fighterjets andair defense missiles, while the United Kingdom will supply more missiles andhelpproduce interceptor drones.

Ukraine’sshort-handed forces arestraining to hold back the bigger Russian army on thefront line in eastern andsouthern parts of the country

Heavy fighting is taking place in Pokrovsk, where Russian units have pushed into several neighborhoods but have failedtotakecontrol of the eastern Ukrainian city,Ukraine’s7th Rapid Reaction Corps wrote on social media Monday Over thepast two days, troopsfrom the corps repelled 42 enemy attacks, the statement said, after reinforcing Ukraine’sdefensive positionswithassault troops, artillery and drone units.

Meanwhile,the Russian Defense Ministry said Mondayits airdefensesintercepted and destroyed 193 Ukrainiandrones over Russian regions, including 34 drones it said were heading toward Moscow.Nodamage or casualties were reported in the Russian capital.

TwoMoscow airports, Domodedovo andZhukovsky,briefly closed overnight because of the attack Airports in other Russian regions also faced restrictions.

BY ISABEL DEBRE Associated Press

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina

MarketsinArgentina rallied, the peso surged and the country’ssovereign bonds jumped on Monday as libertarianPresident Javier Milei hailed his party’sresounding victory in midterm congressionalelections as amandate to press forwardwith radical free-market reforms.

Investors recovered confidence in the chronically depreciating Argentine peso that they were dumping in drovesjust last week to hedge against aMilei defeat. The currency surged more than 10% to tradeatover 1,300 perdollar on Monday Argentine stocks soared 20% and the country’sdollardenominated bonds set to expire in 2035 climbedover10 centsafter markets opened.

The price movements over Milei’sparty doubling its representation in Congress appeared to validatethe Trumpadministration’sbet

“Hehad alot of help from us,”President DonaldTrump told reportersonAir Force

One Monday,referringto $40 billion in promised U.S. support to help Milei avert a currency crisis. “He’s working against 100 years of bad policies, and he’sgoing to break them, thanks to support from the United States.”

After decades of populist governments in Argentina printing money to finance unbridledspending and running up massive budget deficits, Milei has shrunk the government’s bureaucracy, slashedthe public payroll and deregulated the economy.His brutal cost-cutting measures have inflicted painful joblosses and eroded purchasing power but also tamed runaway inflation.

Trump raised the stakes of the vote earlier this month when he threatenedtorescind the financiallifeline if Milei’sparty lost to the leftleaning opposition.

Perhaps never in history hasa limitedArgentine legislative election generated so much interest abroad

in Washington andonWall Street.

As farawayasIsrael, the government congratulated Milei, comparing the Argentine’svictory in Congress to its own on the battlefield.

“Wehave asaying in our brave military: Who dares wins,”IsraeliPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.

“You dared, you won.”

Overthe past fewweeks Argentina marketshave floundered as the country faced asevere cash crunch. Alandslide local election winfor the left-leaning populist opposition last month raised fears that Argentines were losing patience with Milei’sharsh austerity measures.

Alarmed that Argentina could return to the budgetbusting populism of its long-

dominant Peronist opposition, investors rushed to pull their moneyout of the countryasanalysts predicteda tough slog forMilei in the midterms. The Argentine peso plunged to arecord low of over 1,500 against the dollar last week.

But in the end, Milei’sLa Libertad Avanza party on Sundayscored nearly41% of thenationalvotefor the lower house, triumphing over the Peronist coalition that won32%.

On Monday,Trumpimplied that the market rally over Milei’svictory had offered a windfall to American investors and fund managers.

“The bonds have gone up, theirwhole debt rating has gone up,” Trump said. “That election made alot of money for the UnitedStates.”

Airtraffic controller shortage brings moredisruptions

BY RIO YAMAT AP airlines andtravelwriter

Ashortage of air traffic controllers caused more flight disruptions Monday at airports around the country, includingbriefly at Los Angeles International Airport, where staffing problems a day earlier had led to flights being halted for ashorttime. The Federal Aviation Administration reported staffing-related delays on Monday afternoonaveragingabout 20 minutes at the airport in Dallas, while the airport in Austin, Texas,

was seeing delays averaging about 40 minutes after theFAA issued atemporary ground stopfor about an hour there beforeitwas lifted at about 4:15 p.m.

Earlier Monday,flights were also briefly delayed on averagefor about25minutes at LAX. On Sunday,the FAA hadissued aground stop at LAXfor about two hours, meaning planes headed for LosAngeleswereheldat their originating airportsuntil it was lifted. Aviation analytics firm Cirium said about 72% of theflights scheduled Sunday at LAX took off with-

in 15 minutes of their scheduled departure times.

The disruptions comeas thefederal government shutdown thatbegan Oct. 1 nears the one-month mark.

Just last week, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy had predicted that travelers would start to see more flightsdelayed and canceled as the nation’s airtraffic controllers work without pay during the shutdown.

During aweekend appearance on the Fox News program “Sunday Morning Futures,” Duffy saidmore con-

trollers were calling in sick as money worries compound thestressofanalreadychallenging job.

“And that’sa sign that the controllers are wearing thin,” Duffy said. Most controllers are continuing to work mandatory overtimesix days aweek during the shutdownwithout pay,the National Air Traffic Controllers Association said Mondayastheir members braced fortheirfirst full missing paycheck on Tuesday.That leaves little time foraside job unless controllers call in sick to the FAA.

Wisconsin Planned Parenthood resumes offering abortions

BY SCOTT BAUER Associated Press

MADISON, Wis. — Planned Parent-

hood of Wisconsin resumed scheduling abortions on Monday after a nearly monthlong pause due to federal Medicaid funding cuts in President Donald Trump’s tax and spending bill that took effect at the beginning of October Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin said it was able to resume scheduling abortions as of noon on Monday because it no longer fits the definition of a “prohibited entity” under the new federal law that took effect this month and can receive Medicaid funds.

The organization said it dropped its designation as an “essential community provider” as defined

CHANCE

Continued from page 1A

clinical trials, patients had an 80% to 90% chance of being free from irregular rhythms a year after surgery His work reflects a broader shift in Louisiana hospitals, where AI tools are beginning to assist with everything from reading scans to reducing paperwork.

Nationally, investment in health care AI has surged. Venture-capital funding in the health sector climbed to about $23 billion in 2024, up from $20 billion the year before, with nearly 30% of that total going to AI-enabled companies, according to data from Silicon Valley Bank. In digital health, startups using AI drew about 62% of all venture funding in the first half of 2025, according to Rock Health, a digital advisory firm.

At LCMC Health, Chief Administrative Officer Ryan Hildebrand said the system is rolling out ambient listening AI, a program that records doctor-patient conversations and turns them into clinical notes The goal: fewer hours spent typing and more face-to-face interaction.

“Patients love it,” Hildebrand said. “They feel like their doctor is finally looking at them again instead of a screen.”

By the end of the year, LCMC expects up to 1,000 providers to use the software. The hospital system is also testing AI that highlights suspicious scans for radiologists and alerts stroke teams if a blockage is detected be-

BLIGHT

Continued from page 1A

Anthony Davis said a proposal to cut his department’s budget by 14% from $12.3 million in 2025 to $10.6 million in 2026 — would stymie efforts to clean up blighted buildings, clear overgrown lots and paint over graffiti The presentation came as part of several weeks of budget hearings, when department heads across City Hall and outside agencies present details to the council about how cuts proposed by Mayor LaToya Cantrell may impact city services The council and the mayor must agree on a budget by Dec. 1. The code enforcement department is just one of many departments and agencies facing cuts as the city confronts a $160 million deficit. The cash crisis comes after the city tore through nearly $200 million in reserve funds this year, thanks in part to the city’s failure to budget for police overtime pay, overblown revenue projections and other spending

Davis said that the proposed cut would impede his office’s ability to meet its basic obligations.

“I have a grave concern that we will be (unable) to meet the demands of what the charter lays out based off of what is currently planned to be given to the department,” Davis said, adding that he had requested a $16 million allocation for 2026.

Davis said that the department had already cut servic-

under the Affordable Care Act.

Dropping the designation will not result in changes to the cost for abortions or other services or affect the organization’s funding, Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin president and CEO Tanya Atkinson said.

“At this point, in all of our research and analysis, we really shouldn’t see much of an impact on patient access,” she said. “If relinquishing this does ultimately impact our bottom line, then we will have to understand what that path forward is.”

Abortion funding has been under attack across the U.S., particularly for affiliates of Planned Parenthood, the biggest provider The abortion landscape has shifting frequently since the U.S Su-

preme Court ruling in 2022 that allowed states to ban abortion. Currently, 12 states do not allow it at any stage of pregnancy, with limited exceptions, and four more ban it after about six weeks’ gestation.

Planned Parenthood has warned that about half its clinics that provide abortion could be closed nationwide due to the ban in the new federal law on Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood for services other than abortion. Wisconsin, where abortion is legal but the Republican-controlled Legislature has passed numerous laws limiting access, was the only state where Planned Parenthood paused all abortions because of the new federal law, Atkinson said. Because of the complexities and

fore a doctor views the scan. Other tools draft responses in patient portals, freeing staff to focus on more complex cases. “We look at AI as an assistant, not a replacement,” Hildebrand said. “People who know how to use AI will replace people who don’t.”

In Baton Rouge, hospitals are taking similar steps. At Our Lady of the Lake Health, about 500 doctors are using note-taking AI, and the system is piloting discharge summaries — which patients notoriously don’t read — that are easier for patients to understand, even testing short video summaries. Employees receiving medical procedures are serving as early test subjects In the future, said Chief Information Officer Will Landry, it wouldn’t be out of the question for a patient to receive medication or care instructions after leaving the hospital from a humanoid robot on a personalized screen.

The hospital is also using

es, though it was unclear on Monday what services had been cut.

“Even as of today, the Department of Code Enforcement has suspended all of its services because there is no money,” said Davis. But council members Eugene Green and Joe Giarrusso said that inspections and demolitions were ongoing A spokesperson for Cantrell’s administration did not respond to a request for comment about what services and programs had been suspended.

The dire outlook comes as the Cantrell administration has repeatedly highlighted tackling blight as one of its signature issues. The effort was boosted in 2022 by a $10 million allocation to demolish hundreds of buildings over three years, along with one-time windfall of $6.5 million in 2023 from city surplus funds, largely leftover from federal American Rescue Plan funds.

But in an interview earlier this month, Davis said that funding had dried up, leaving the city struggling to accomplish its demolition goals, including of the highprofile blighted buildings officials identified in 2023 as part of a “Dirty Dozen” list.

“We have gotten the cost of some of the demolitions, but right now those are just expenses that the city just does not have,” said Davis. Demolitions are paid for with city funds, which are then recouped from property owners.

The department has already struggled in recent years to complete its blight-

AI to help read scans from the emergency room, prioritizing those that look like they might be something time-sensitive, such as a stroke.

“We can have 20, 30, 40 reads in a queue,” Landry said. “If it sees something significant, it is flagging it for a radiologist.”

Our Lady of the Lake is also piloting a communication system that keeps patients updated in the emergency department, where long waits often cause frustration The system sends real-time updates predicting when lab results will be ready and alerting patients when a doctor has opened their chart.

An ethics committee of 10 clinicians, technologists and compliance officers reviews every proposed use of AI. That same approach is used at Baton Rouge General, where Chief Information Officer Bennett Cheramie leads an interdisciplinary committee that assigns risk scores to every AI proposal

reduction agenda.

The promised demolition of the abandoned DeGaulle Manor apartment complex in Algiers resumed earlier this month after nearly a year and a half of delays due to contract issues. Progress on other problem properties have been stymied by litigation from property owners. Just two out of the “Dirty Dozen” properties have been demolished or cleared, though Davis said that the city was working to bring others on the list into compliance without seeking demolition.

Davis also celebrated the department’s work on Monday. The department has levied $8.5 million in fines in the last two years, Davis said, “more than ever recorded in the city’s history.” The department has completed more than 10,000 property maintenance inspections and demolished 115 properties in 2025, Davis said.

A spokesperson for Mayor-elect Helena Moreno did not respond to a request for comment on how her administration would work to address potential budget shortfalls in the code enforcement department.

“We know that that office has a very valuable component to it that we can’t let be cut too much,” District D council member Eugene Green said during Davis’ presentation. “Despite all the work they’ve done in terms of demolitions, there still remains much to be done.”

Email Sophie Kasakove at sophie.kasakove@ theadvocate.com.

varieties of state abortion laws, Planned Parenthood affiliates are responding to the new federal law in a variety of ways, Atkinson said.

In Arizona, for example, Planned Parenthood stopped accepting Medicaid but continued to provide abortions.

The move in Wisconsin is “clearly aimed at sidestepping” the federal law, Wisconsin Right to Life said.

“Planned Parenthood’s abortionfirst business model underscores why taxpayer funding should never support organizations that make abortion a priority,” said Heather Weininger, executive director of Wisconsin Right to Life. “Women in difficult circumstances deserve compassionate, life-affirming care — the kind of support the pro-life

and there are many

“Everything seems to be adding some AI feature to their package. The ice cream vendor has an AI component,” he said jokingly

Health systems move slowly when adopting new technology

“We still use fax machines,” Cheramie pointed out.

So part of the rollout involves training staff to understand both the power and the limits of the software.

While hospitals are integrating AI into daily routines to make life a little easier for doctors and patients, Louisiana researchers are looking at the bigger picture of how the technology could help address Louisiana’s deep health disparities.

At the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Dr Raju Gottumukkala directs the Center for Applied Artificial Intelligence and leads a new National Science Foundation-funded collaboration known as the Accessible Healthcare through AI-Augmented Decisions Center The multi-university project, which includes Tulane University, Georgia Tech and the University

movement is committed to offering.”

In Wisconsin, pausing abortions for the past 26 days meant that women who would normally go to clinics in the southeastern corner of the state instead had to look for other options, including traveling to Chicago, which is within a threehour drive of the Planned Parenthood facilities.

Affiliated Medical Services and Care for All also provide abortions at clinics in Milwaukee. Atkinson said she did it was “really, really difficult to say” how many women were affected by the pause in services. She did not have numbers on how many women who wanted to have an abortion since the pause went into effect had to seek services elsewhere.

of Florida aims to develop safe, evidence-based AI tools to improve care delivery, especially in rural and underserved regions.

In practice, that might look like a chatbot that coaches someone with diabetes or heart disease on how to better address their condition.

“As a state, we’ve had very poor health literacy,” Gottumukkala said. “That’s why our chronic disease rates are so bad — way below the national average. There are not enough resources to help patients manage.”

He sees AI as a way to bridge that gap.

“If you want to go and educate a Spanish-speaking person about how best to manage their diabetes, language is no longer a barrier,” he said.

But Gottumukkala cautioned that AI must be applied carefully AI can easily develop bias if it’s trained on one demographic with certain characteristics. That could lead to misdiagnosis, he said.

In 2022, for example, a model developed by Google to predict acute kidney injury performed worse in women than in men because it had been trained mostly

on data from male veterans. AI chatbots have also drawn concern. In February 2024, a 14-year-old Florida boy died by suicide after allegedly becoming deeply involved with a Character AI chatbot, according to a wrongful-death lawsuit filed by his mother The case reignited warnings about chatbots that can “hallucinate” or offer harmful advice.

“By design, they can hallucinate, which means they can go off the rails,” Gottumukkala said. That’s why they’re looking at “where things could fail” as well as where it could help, he said. Still, physicians like Bernard see the benefits firsthand. He’s gone from feeling like he’s offering patients a coin toss to, more often than not, eliminating a condition that stole their breath, their energy and their health. About 10 patients have used the new system so far, and several more are scheduled.

“Before, we didn’t have a good guide of where to go,” Bernard said. “This gives me a fighting chance.”

Email Emily Woodruff at ewoodruff@theadvocate. com.

BRIEFS

FROM WIRE REPORTS

List of potential Federal Reserve chairs at 5

WASHINGTON Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Monday confirmed the names of five candidates to replace Jerome Powell as chair of the powerful Federal Reserve next year.

On an Air Force One flight to Asia with President Donald Trump, Bessent said he would engage in a second round of interviews in the coming weeks and present a “good slate” of candidates to Trump “right after Thanksgiving.” Trump said he expected to decide on Powell’s replacement by the end of this year

The five people under consideration are: Federal Reserve governors Christopher Waller and Michelle Bowman; former Fed governor Kevin Warsh; White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett; and Rick Rieder, senior managing director at asset manager BlackRock

The names suggest that no matter who is picked, there will likely be big changes coming to the Federal Reserve next year Bessent, who is leading the search for Powell’s replacement, last month published extensive criticisms of the Fed and some of the policies it has pursued from the Great Financial Crisis of 2008-2009 to the pandemic.

Trump on Monday, meanwhile, repeated his long-standing attacks on Powell, charging that he has been too slow to cut interest rates.

4.9M pounds of Hormel frozen chicken recalled

WASHINGTON Hormel Foods is recalling nearly

4.9 million pounds of frozen boneless chicken products it sold to restaurants, cafeterias and other outlets, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced Saturday Customers reported finding metal in the chicken breast and thigh products. Hormel concluded that the metal came from a conveyor belt used in production, the food safety service said. There have been no reports of illnesses or injuries.

The recalled Hormel Fire Braised chicken items were distributed to HRI Commercial Food Service, a restaurant supply company, at locations nationwide from Feb. 10 through Sept 19 Consumers can reach out to Hormel Foods through the company website or by calling (800) 523-4635.

Soybeans surge amid talks by U.S.-China

Soybeans and other crops soared as progress in negotiations between the U.S. and China lifted hopes that the world’s two largest economies were edging toward a deal in their protracted trade war Soy futures rose as much as 2.8% in Chicago, reaching the highest amount since July 2024 That came after U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said China would make “substantial” purchases of the oilseed under a pact the two countries are close to finalizing. Wheat jumped by the most since Aug. 12. Agricultural trade was among a range of issues that American and Chinese negotiators said they came to terms on over the weekend, setting the table for leaders Donald Trump and Xi Jinping to finalize a deal and ease tensions that have rattled global markets. The two are expected to meet later this week in South Korea on the sidelines of the APEC summit.

Soybeans have been a central point of tension between the two agricultural giants. China, the world’s top importer of the crop, has deployed it as a bargaining chip in its trade war with the U.S., shunning shipments from its second-largest supplier, and turning instead to South America for record imports. U.S. farmers, suffering from financial strain as their top consumer walked away, have urged Washington to reach an agreement with Beijing.

BUSINESS

NOLA.COM/BIZ

Cadence Bank

Huntington Bancshares negotiates all-stock deal

BY MICHELLE CHAPMAN AP business writer

Huntington Bancshares is buying regional bank Cadence Bank in an all-stock deal valued at $7.4 billion that will strengthen its position across the Southern U.S. Cadence, which has headquarters in Houston and Tupelo, Mississippi, has more than 390 locations across Texas and the South. Cadence has 24 branches in Louisiana. The company entered the Louisiana market in 2022, when it merged with BancorpSouth.

Huntington runs more than 1,000 branches in 14 states. It is typically referred to as a super regional

bank, a group of large national banks that are significant in size, often hundreds of billions in assets and hundreds of branches, but are dwarfed in size by the banking giants Wells Fargo, Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase, who have size and scale that the super regionals cannot replicate.

The super regionals have been growing considerably in recent years in order to better compete with the Wall Street titans in various businesses. For example, Capital One bought Discover Financial, which jointly created the nation’s largest credit card company Huntington Bancshares bought Detroit’s TCF back in 2021. And last

month, PNC Financial announced that it plans to buy Colorado-based FirstBank for $4.1 billion.

Huntington said Monday that once the deal closes, it will become the No. 1 bank in Mississippi and a top 10 bank in both Alabama and Arkansas by deposits. The transaction will also give it a foothold in high-growth markets such as Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, Atlanta, Nashville, Orlando and Tampa.

Bank transactions are on the upswing of late. Merger and acquisition activity among U.S. banks jumped to a four-year high in the third quarter, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence data through Sept. 30. There were 52 U.S. bank deals announced in 2025’s third quarter That’s the

highest quarterly number of deals since the third quarter of 2021, when the industry disclosed 59 transactions. Columbus, Ohio-based Huntington will issue 2.475 shares of common stock for each outstanding share of Cadence common stock. Huntington does not plan to close any of Cadence’s branches. Cadence Bank teams and branches will operate under the Huntington Bank name and brand.

Cadence Bank Chairman and CEO James D Rollins III will become nonexecutive vice chairman of the board of Huntington Bancshares Inc. once the deal is complete.

He will also serve as a director of Huntington Bancshares and The Huntington National Bank.

China’s C919 jet faces turbulent skies as trade tensions add delays

Passenger planes meant to rival Boeing, Airbus

BY CHAN HO-HIM Associated Press

HONG KONG China’s ambition to challenge Boeing and Airbus with its own homegrown passenger jet is running into turbulence, with deliveries of finished aircraft likely to fall far short of its target announced for this year

The C919 jet — a single-aisle passenger plane aiming to rival Boeing’s 737 and Airbus’ A320 — is made by state-owned aircraft manufacturer COMAC Beijing is showcasing it as evidence of China’s technological advancement and progress in self-reliance, though it uses many Western sourced components.

Trade friction with Washington threatens to prevent COMAC from securing core parts for the program that has been supported by huge Chinese government subsidies.

“COMAC faces significant risk from the volatile policy environment, with its supply chains vulnerable to export restrictions and tit-for-tat measures between the U.S and China,” said Max J. Zenglein, Asia-Pacific senior economist at The Conference Board

think tank

The C919 has 48 major suppliers from the U.S. including GE, Honeywell and Collins — 26 from Europe and 14 from China, according to analysts at the Bank of America. Trump threatened to impose new export controls on “critical” software to China after Beijing imposed stricter export controls on rare earths.

“Existing choke points are being exploited in the deal making process between governments,” Zenglein said “This is likely to continue as critical dependencies have become political bargaining chips.”

Beijing has high hopes for the C919, which made its maiden commercial flight in 2023.

The mid-sized jet is meant to help fill vast domestic demand for new aircraft over the next few decades. China hopes to expand sales beyond its borders and fly globally, including in Southeast Asia, Africa and Europe.

COMAC delivered 13 C919s to Chinese carriers last year and only seven as of October this year, despite plans to ramp up production and deliver 30 jets in 2025, according to the aviation consultancy Cirium.

China’s biggest state-owned airlines — Air

China, China Eastern and China Southern are the only commercial airlines currently flying a total of around 20 C919s. Trade tensions between the U.S. and China have “directly affected” delivery schedules for the C919, said Dan Taylor, head of consulting at aviation consultancy IBA. For one, output plans were disrupted when the U.S. suspended export licenses for the jet’s LEAP-1C engines around May, resuming them in July he said.

U.S.-controlled technology that needs export licensing for the LEAP-1C engines — jointly built by the U.S.’s GE Aerospace and France’s Safran -— means the C919’s engines require U.S. export clearance, Taylor said, making it “inherently sensitive to political shifts.”

“Engine and avionics dependence on Western suppliers continues to expose the program to policy decisions beyond COMAC’s control,” Taylor explained.

Geopolitical tensions alone are not the only cause for slower than expected production of the C919s The program has been “marked by caution and prioritizing quality and safe-

ty, so there also may be some operational reasons for the slower production ramp up,” said Zenglein from The Conference Board. While “it has always been the aim to reduce the reliance on foreign components as quickly as possible” for the C919, Zenglein said, many analysts say it is a challenging process. China’s own engine alternative — the CJ-1000A under development by stateowned Aero Engine Corporation of China (AECC) is still under testing, according to IBA.

Several airlines outside of China, including AirAsia, have expressed interest in flying the C919, but a lack of international certification has so far prevented the C919 from flying beyond China. Certifications from the U.S. and the European Union’s aviation regulators could take years.

For the C919 to succeed, it “needs to have each one of three things: good economics, a prompt global product support network, and certification from safety agencies”, said Richard Aboulafia, managing director of AeroDynamic Advisory “Any one of these three alone doesn’t mean much,” he said.

Wall Street rallies to more records as gold’s price slumps again

BY STAN CHOE AP business writer

NEW YORK Stocks climbed to more records on Monday ahead of a week packed with potentially market-moving events for Wall Street.

The S&P 500 rose 1.2%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 337 points, or 0.7%, and the Nasdaq composite jumped 1.9%. Each of the trio set an all-time high for a second straight day Stocks also rallied in Asia ahead of a meeting on Thursday between the heads of the United States and China. The hope is that the talks could clear rising tensions between the world’s two largest economies and allow the global economy to keep motoring.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said there’s “a framework” for U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping to discuss at their meeting, while Trump said, “We feel good” about working things out with China. That’s just one of many things that will need to go right this week in order for the U.S. stock market’s tremendous, record-breaking rally to continue. The S&P 500 has shot up a stunning 38% since hitting a low in April, when worries about Trump’s tariffs on China and other countries were at their peak. Besides hopes for easing trade tensions, the rally has also been built on expectations for several more things to happen. One is that the Federal Reserve

will keep cutting interest rates in order to give the slowing job market a boost. The Fed’s next announcement on interest rates is due on Wednesday, and the nearly unanimous expectation among traders is that it will cut the federal funds rate by a quarter of a percentage point at a second straight meeting. It’s not a certainty though, because the Fed has also warned it may have to change course if inflation accelerates beyond its still-high level. That’s because low interest rates can make inflation worse. The latest monthly report on inflation came in slightly better than economists expected, raising hopes, but it may be the final update for a while if the U.S. govern-

ment’s shutdown continues. That could cloud the forecast for cuts to rates to continue. Besides lower interest rates, another expectation that’s propped up stock prices is the forecast that U.S. companies will continue to deliver solid growth in profits. Keurig Dr Pepper climbed 7.6% Monday after reporting profit for the latest quarter that matched analysts’ expectations. The company behind Canada Dry and Green Mountain coffee said it benefited from higher prices for K-Cup products, among other things

Some of Wall Street’s most influential stocks are set to report their results this week, including Alphabet, Meta Platforms and Microsoft on Wednesday and Amazon and Apple on Thursday

requirements,” says the complaint, which asks the court to strike down the law’slicensing requirement. It was filed last week in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana.

About 80% of the state’s private schools with pre-Kprograms are faith-based, including Christian, Islamic and Jewish schools, according to the lawsuit, which alleges that the law violates the schools’ religious libertyand equal protection rights.

The federal lawsuit was brought by two Christian schools thatoffer pre-K —Providence Classical Academy in Bossier City and The Dunham School in Baton Rouge —and acouple, Claire and Joshua Cox, whose child attendsProvidence’spre-K program. Representing the plaintiffs are two conservative advocacy groups: the Louisiana-based Pelican Institute for Public Policy and the Center for American Rights, anational nonprofit basedinChicago.

State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley is responsible for enforcing the legislation, also known as Charlie’sLaw,which gives private schools that offer pre-K until Jan. 1toapply for“early learning center” licenses. While Brumley is one of the defendants named in the lawsuit, he suggested that private schools have legitimate grievances with the law

“While many in Louisianaunderstand the purpose behind Charlie’s Law,there areconcerns around the final legislation representing government overreach into private institutions,” he said in astatement.

“Louisiana nonpublic schools have every right to challenge someof theunintended consequences of this new law.”

State Sen. Regina Barrow,D-Baton Rouge, who authoredthe bill, called Brumley’sstatement“very disappointing.” She said herstaff worked closely with the state Department of Education when crafting the legislation and had tried to address issues the agency flagged. Barrow said she could not comment on the lawsuit,but explained that her bill focused on private schools partly because public and Montessori schools werealready held to higher standards in certain areas, such as staff-to-student ratios. Still, she added, she is working on anew bill that should address

EMERSON

Continued from page1A

is vulnerablebecause of his vote to convict President Donald Trump during his second impeachment trial overthe Jan. 6, 2021, riotsat the U.S. Capitol. State Treasurer John Fleming;state Sen.Blake Miguez, R-Lafayette; Public Service CommissionerEric Skrmetta; and St. Tammany Parish Council member Kathy Seiden have all announcedcampaigns

In avideo launching her campaign, Emerson,like other candidates, expressed her support for President Donald Trump; she also shared her optimism about the country’sfuture.

“UnderRepublicanleadership in Louisiana and a second Trump administration, I’ve watched with hope, even awe, as mainstream America has begun

someofthe regulatory concerns that privateschools have raised.

“We’re not trying to make this onerous on any nonpublic entity we’re not trying to infringe on anybody’srights,” shesaid. “What I’m trying to do is ensure that we are safeguarding children. Period.”

The newregulationsfollow allegations by aMetairiecouplethat theirdaughter wasassaultedby another student at aprivate preschool, which, at thetime, didnot need astate license. The school denies the allegations and says it complies with all state laws.

Inspired bythe couple’stestimony,Barrowdrafted abill to further regulatepreschoolsthat the Legislaturepassed unanimously this yearand Gov.JeffLandrysigned into law

The32-page law includessome rules that apply to allpreschool programs, such as minimum staffing levels. But thelicensing

to embrace the conservative ideas many of us have been fightingfor for years,” she said.

“Theeraaheadwilldemand vision and conviction. The light is returning, the future is calling, and I’m uniquely preparedtohelplead Americatoward it,” she added.

Pearson Cross, whoteaches political science at the University ofLouisianaMonroe, saidEmerson “brings aspirit to therace that maybe wehaven’tseen in the other candidates.”

“She’sdefinitelykind of the youth candidate, so to speak,” he added.

With so many candidates in therace, the percentage of votesneeded toenter aprimary election runoff grows slimmer,Cross said.

“This has certainly got really interesting,” he said. “The wild cardherehas to really be President Trump’s endorsement.”

The field of candidates has long been vyingfor that en-

requirementonly applies topreKprograms at private schools. Schools that fail to obtain licenses can be fined $1,000 per day

Thelawsuit asks the court to invalidate the licensing requirement and block thestate from enforcing it.

Aspokesperson forstate AttorneyGeneralLiz Murrill,who is responsible fordefending the state in court, said heroffice needs moretime to review thecomplaint beforecommenting.The lawsuit lists dozens of child care regulationsthat will apply to the state’s roughly 250 privateschools with pre-K programs once theybecome licensed.Theywillhavetoundergo state Fire Marshal and Health Department inspections, assign employees to monitor all school visitors, keep pre-K students separatefrom older children at recess, accompany 3-year-olds to the restroom and more, the lawsuit says.

dorsement, but Cross said he suspectsTrumpmight not give one until after the Republican primary Unlike in previous Louisiana elections, Republican candidateswill compete against each other to decide whowillrepresent the partyinNovember2026. If neithercandidate gets over 50% of the vote, the top two vote-getters will advanceto arunoff for that spot.

Emerson said in August she was considering running but was waiting to see whether U.S.Rep.JuliaLetlowwould enterthe race. Letlow,whose district stretches from Baton Rouge up to Monroe, has long been rumored as apotential candidate but hassofar not announced she is running.

Aspokespersonfor Letlow did not return arequestfor comment Monday

Email Matthew Albright at malbright@theadvocate. com.

Many private schools, including Providence Classical Academy and the Dunham School, will need to hire additional teachers and administrators to comply with the regulations, thelawsuit said.

“Act 409, if implemented, could forceschools like Providence Classical Academy to raise tuition or shut down,” Pelican Institute General Counsel Sarah Harbison said in astatement. “Thiswould severelylimit options forfamilies in North Louisiana like the Coxes, whochose aChristian, classical curriculum for theirnine children, including their prekindergartner.”

While no Catholic schoolsare named in thelawsuit, their leaders have spoken out against Act 409, arguing that the schools already follow extensive safety protocols and that the daycare regulations arenot suited for school-based pre-K programs. They also have

said it’sunfair to only impose the licensing requirement on private schools, most of which arereligious.

“If this were about the safety of all children, this would apply to public schoolsand Montessori pre-K programsaswell,” RaeNell Houston, schools superintendent forthe Archdiocese of NewOrleans, said during aprivate school advisory group meeting in July Barrow said she has spoken with some private school leadersand advocates abouttheir problems with the law.But, she added, some of the law’scritics have not responded to her outreach.

“That makes me wonder if they aretruly looking andseeking to address those concerns,” she said, “or if they’re just trying to be obstructionist.”

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

PRAYING FORMONITION, DocketNo. 2025-03553, Div.E,CIVIL DISTRICT COURT,ParishofOR‐LEANS,State of Louisiana,dated April10, 2025, it wasordered as follows:WHEREAS,IPF22 LLC,byact executed by NormanFoster, ChiefFi‐nancial Officerand ExOfficioTax Collectorfor the Parish of Orleans, for unpaid2020-21 ad val‐oremtaxes,asmemorial‐izedinthe TaxSaleCer‐tificate recorded in the ConveyanceOffice of Or‐leans Parish,bearing NA #2022-48492 andCIN 721551; WHEREAS, IPF22 LLC hasappliedtothis Honorable Courtfor a Monitionoradvertise‐ment, in conformity with LA. REV. STAT.§ 47:2271 et. seq.;THEREFORE,in the name of theState of Louisiana andthe Civil DistrictCourt forthe ParishofOrleans,all in‐terestedpersons are cited andadmonishedto showcause within six months from thedateon

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LOUISIANA AT LARGE

Chiefjustice showstrue colors in art

Rarely have Ifelt as fancy as Idid last week when Idrove up to the guards’ boothat the Louisiana SupremeCourt and the guards greetedmebyname and ushered me to basement parking.

First of all, basement parking less than three blocks from the Mississippi River in New Orleans, acity largely below sea level, took me by surprise. Driving down the ramp beneath the beaux arts-style, neoclassical building, Icouldn’thelp but think, as Ieased my car underground, “Well, Ihope it doesn’t raintoday.”

Iwas on my way to meet Chief Justice John Weimer in his chambers —Ihad never met anyone in their “chambers” before.

The chief justice’schambers were, according to all sources, not in their typical state.Dozens of framed and unframed pieces were leaning against thewalls and furniture.

“These are the rejects,” Weimer explained. He had just met with acurator who also visited his chambers to decide which pieces of the chief justice’sartwork would be included in an upcomingart show,set to open Nov.14, at the Rodrigue Gallery,730 Royal St., in the French Quarter In judicial fashion, he couldn’t resist explaining the term and chuckled as he said, in legal terms, that a“curator” is a court-appointed guardian with thelegal duty and power to managethe property and affairs of an individual deemed incapable of doing so for themselves.

Shemsi Frezel wasn’tthatkind of curator for Weimer.She was there to see his art and select pieces for the show

“I was curated yesterday,and I’ll be hung next week,”hesaid with asmile. “She said shewas surprised at the quantity of paintings —and Iguess the, I don’twant to say quality,but the acceptance. She said they met her standards.”

Weimer readily admits that his title is what is probably attracting people to look at his work —“as opposed to thequality” of the art. He’swilling to let others give the final verdict and poke some fun in the process by titling the show,“Yoube the Judge.” Wayne Fernandez, “strategy consultant” for Rodrigue Gallery,and Weimer go back all the waytotheir collegedays at Nicholls State University

“John and Iwere in student government together atNicholls,” Fernandez said. “Hewas thepresident of the student body,and Iwas asenator for the College of Life Sciences. I wasn’tsurprised thathebecame thechief justice, but what did surprise me is that he is atalented visual artist.”

After some persuasion, Fernandez said Weimer agreed to do ashowing of his works. Frezel describesthe pieces she selected as asamplingof Weimer’swork that lookathis interpretations of the Louisiana landscape. He also paints an array of duck decoy paintings. “It was interesting to hear his stories. He feels very connected to the places he paints,” Frezel said. “I’ve not curated a show like this before.There are an abundance of options, alot of ground to cover —work he’s created recently and work he created years ago. The show is about finding the through line.” For Weimer,connection to place is at his core. Behind the

page 2B

Teen sentencedinarmed robbery

District attorney’s carjacking case reachesresolution

BY KASEYBUBNASH and JOHN SIMERMAN Staff writers

The last of four teens charged in the 2023carjacking of Orleans Parish District AttorneyJason Williams and his then-78-year-old mother pleaded guiltytoarmed robbery charges on Monday AhmadSeals, 20, pleaded guilty to three counts of armed robbery andCriminal District Judge Camille Buras sentenced him to 25

years in prison withnopossibility of parole.

Seals had been scheduled to go to trial on Monday.Hewas 18 when he and threeotherteens Santana “Tink” Gilmoreand cousins Amajha “Cheewee” Curtis and Dijohn Curtis —heldWilliams andhis mother,Janice Rogers, at gunpoint on Oct. 16, 2023, outside Williams’ Lower Garden District home, according to law enforcementauthorities. Moments after the teens sped

off in Williams’ Lincoln Navigator,the district attorney told a911 call taker that they wouldn’tget far withoutthe electronic keyfob, which he’d kept. His vehicle was soon found in the Garden District.

Less than ahalfhourafter that crime and abouta mile away in Central City,the sameteenagers robbed awoman of her Honda Civic, whichalsowas recovered quickly,police said. No onewas injured in either carjacking.

Gilmore and the Curtiscousins

pleaded guilty as charged in June to three counts each of armedrobbery,just days before they were set to standtrial. Buras sentenced each of thethreeonMondayto 16 years in prison, also with no chance of parole, according to court records. Raymond Rochon, the first to be arrested in connection with the crimes, was18and notcharged with the robberies. Instead, he was charged with unauthorized use of amotor vehicle andpossession of astolen vehicle, among

Asignfor gumboweather

N.O.

Report details threats, sets frameworkto addresschallenges

BY JAMES FINN Staff writer

Threemonths before she leaves office,MayorLaToya Cantrell has announced a“strategic plan” to support the city’s nightlife as heradministration seeks to cementone of the more-publicized community initiativesofher embattled second term

Thereportlists threats facing the city’svibrant nightlifethat will likely comeaslittle surprise to NewOrleanians. They include “seasonal instability,” inconsistent code enforcement, competitionfrom national entertainment conglomerates and “overcommercialization” that risks “eroding theauthenticity of NewOrleans nightlife,” the report states To combat those challenges, the framework issued Monday by Cantrell’s press office covers fiveareas: Nightlife Business Support and Visibility; Summer Sustainability; Access, Mobility andSpace; Public Safety and Quality of Life; and Music Industry Development. The plan “outlines aclear set ofdirectives to strengthen

MayorLaToyaCantrell’soffice is proposinga yearslong initiativeto support the city’snightlife, which, according to an administration report, is combating ‘seasonal instability,’ inconsistent code enforcement, competition from national entertainment conglomerates and ‘overcommercialization.’

nightlifegovernance, support the nighttime workforce, and enhancethe qualityoflife across New Orleans,” Michael Ince,the OfficeofNighttime Economydirector,saidina statement. Theframework details nearand long-term goals thatitsuggestsshouldbeimplemented between nowand 2029. But it’s unclearifincomingMayor Helena Moreno —who won the race to replace Cantrell in October andisset to assume the Mayor’s OfficeinJanuary —willimplement it. Spokespeople forMoreno’s transition team did notimmediately respond Mondaytoan inquiryabout the proposals

Launched in 2022 as New Orleans andthe nation were emerging fromthe economic crisisofthe COVID-19 pandemic, thegoal of the Mayor’sOfficeofNighttime Economy was to breathe fresh life into New Orleans’ nightlife industryata precariousmoment for the city’s tourism, musicand food scenes The effort received publicity as Cantrell enlisted Howie Kaplan, the Howlin’ Wolf club owner andRebirth Brass Band manager,asthe office’sfirst head. Theoffice launchedwitha slim annual budget of around

Councilmember representing area criticizes decision

BY BLAKEPATERSON Staff writer

Amid acitybudgetcrisis, MayorLaToyaCantrellhas put thebrakesona long-awaited economicdevelopment study for New Orleans East, amove that on Monday drew apassionate rebuke from the council memberwho represents that area.

Known as the New Orleans East Renaissance Plan, the study would have cataloged land parcels, evaluated city infrastructure and gathered input from the East’scollection of neighborhoodstocome up with astrategic vision for that area and help bring vacant properties back into commerce.

After the council agreed last year to setaside $1 million in

La. Democrats blast potential redistricting at Capitol protest

BY MEGHAN FRIEDMANN Staff writer

As Democrats continue to oppose Republican legislation that could set the stage for the elimination of one or both of the state’s two majority-Black congressional districts, they led several hundred people in a protest on the steps of the Louisiana State Capitol on Monday “What is at stake? Everything is at stake,” state Rep Edmond Jordan, D-Baton Rouge, who chairs the Legislative Black Caucus, told the crowd.

Jordan stood with a group of Black politicians, including U.S. Rep. Cleo Fields, D-Baton Rouge, and U.S. Rep. Troy Carter, D-New Orleans. Officials took turns addressing the protesters during the hourlong event.

Inside the Capitol, Republican lawmakers have spent recent days pushing through legislation that would delay next year’s primaries, giving them time to potentially redraw the state’s congressional map which is being challenged in a closely-watched Supreme Court case, Louisiana v. Callais. Democratic lawmakers,

PLAN

Continued from page 1B

$500,000, according to news reports at the time. It shrank to about $460,000 this year, according to city budget documents.

The office also has a staff of only three: a director a policy and outreach manager and a community liaison and projects manager The biggest challenges that emerged over the past three years, the report

CANTRELL

Continued from page 1B

the 2025 budget to fund the study, the city selected a consultant, Manning Architects, for the job and was in the process of inking its contract. But the administration has yet to pay out the $1 million. And with the city facing a $160 million budget deficit this year — and needing to make an estimated $200 million in cuts in next year’s budget Cantrell’s office has decided to put the study on hold, according to City Planning Commission Executive Director Robert Rivers, who appeared before the council at its round of budget hearings on Monday Asked for comment, Cantrell’s administration did not dispute Rivers’ statement and said city officials would continue to “work with the City Coun-

RISHER

Continued from page 1B

robe and the paintings lies a story of resilience. He was the oldest of five kids, and his mother passed away when he was 9.

“That left my dad with five kids to raise on his own,” he said. “Work was mandatory.” Working hard became the guiding principle of his life offshore, boats and more. His father ran a service station in Thibodaux.

“He sold motorcycles out of his service station. So we pretty much opted not to go to school,” Weimer said. “And now I’m engaged in this major truancy issue.” When he was 16, his father got sick. Ultimately, the service station closed Weimer ended up working and eking out a way to go to college and, eventually, to law school.

“I’ve always told people that working for my fa-

most of whom are Black, are trying to stop the legislation but stand little chance of doing so while Republicans hold supermajorities in both the House and Senate. About one-third of Louisiana’s population is Black, but until last year, just one of the state’s six congressional districts were represented by Black politicians. Lawmakers redrew the state’s congressional map to add a second majorityBlack district after a judge ruled that the old maps violated the Voting Rights Act. With the new map, voters elected Fields, a Black Democrat, to Congress. That gave Democrats two seats in the six-member delegation; previously, Carter, who also is Black, held the delegation’s only Democratic seat But a group of non-Black voters challenged that map in a case known as Louisiana v. Callais, which has made its way to the Supreme Court. The case gives the court the opportunity to overturn Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which has for decades allowed civil rights groups to challenge maps they say disenfranchise Black voters.

states, are “limited nighttime parking enforcement, recurring sound complaints, gaps in hospitality worker transportation options, and the ongoing need for balanced quality-of-life management in mixed-use neighborhoods.” When he resigned last year, Kaplan said the office had mostly lived up to its goal of being a liaison rather than regulatory force on the city’s nightlife scene. He touted efforts to coordinate discussion between nightlife businesses,

cil Budget chairman and council members regarding future allocations, areas of savings and the need to develop revenue generating opportunities for the city of New Orleans.”

The news frustrated District E council member Oliver Thomas, who represents the East and who has touted the study as a catalyst for reviving an area whose retail options have long been limited.

“How do we pass a budget, repeatedly pass budgets, and then have this administration say the money isn’t there? Well, we passed the damn budget,” Thomas said.

Cantrell’s budget proposal is only a draft. A majority of council members could decide to jump-start the study by providing funding for it in the 2026 budget, which must be approved by Dec. 1. The council has been holding budget hearings all month to hear from various city agencies and depart-

ther in that service station taught me invaluable life lessons,” Weimer said “The virtue of honesty the value of hard work — and how very important it is to treat everyone regardless of their station in life with dignity.” Somewhere along the way, he realized he could draw and paint He primarily does so late at night. As a practice, he doesn’t sell his work Though he did sell one piece while he was in law school and nearly “destitute,” he said. These days, he donates pieces to auctions to help organizations raise money I asked him what commonalities he sees between capturing beauty and his work as the chief justice.

Both, he said, require his full attention

“It requires preparation and being your own worst critic,” he said “As a painter, I am very slow and methodical — as I am as a judge.” We walked from his

“If this fails for us, if the Supreme Court comes back and rules against us as it relates to Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, everything is at stake every congressional district, every legislative district,

neighbors and government and said he was proud of an initiative to put Narcan, a life-saving overdose medication, in nightlife venues. The office has also distributed a “library” of nightlife resources including a hurricane checklist, safety guidelines and sound management best practices, according to the strategic plan. The 27-page plan outlines short-term goals including implementing a training series for nightlife operators by next summer; mediumterm objectives, such as a

ments on how Cantrell’s proposed cuts would affect operations. They’re expected to wrap up those hearings next week.

Dawn Hebert, president of the East New Orleans Neighborhood Advisory Commission, which represents dozens of neighborhood groups in the East, said she’s hopeful that Mayorelect Helena Moreno, who will take office on Jan. 12 will find a way to fund the study Moreno, the current City Council vice president, attended Monday’s hearing but left before the Planning Commission presented.

A spokesperson for Moreno’s transition team did not return a request for comment Monday night.

The study was intended to be an update to the 2004 New Orleans East Renaissance Plan, created under former Mayor Ray Nagin’s administration to guide the area’s economic development.

After the council ap-

every metro council and town city district, every school board district, every elected position that you can think of in which you have a majority-minority district is at stake,” said Jordan.

shuttle to limit drunk driving and circumvent traffic challenges by 2028; and long-term goals, like nighttime child care for hospitality workers, it suggests should be implemented by 2029.

As she prepares to assume the Mayor’s Office, Moreno and a new slate of City Council members set to take office in January are facing down a gaping budget deficit they will be tasked with filling.

In an email, Ince said the office’s staff “have not got-

proved funding for it last year, Thomas celebrated the win on social media, writing that it would pave “the way for transformative growth and opportunity in our community.” Later, during his unsuccessful mayoral campaign, he said he hoped the review would spark the sort of revitalization the Lower Garden District saw when he worked on a similar proposal there when he was a District B council member

The decision to put the study on hold was made by Cantrell’s administration and not the nine mayoral appointees who serve on the Planning Commission, Rivers said during Monday’s hearing.

“We would love to see the funding made available, so we could just pick that up and run with it,” he added in an interview after the hearing.

Though Thomas in a recent interview dinged Cantrell for not working

It remains unclear when the Supreme Court will make a decision in the case, or what that decision will be. But if the court rules before the end of the year, Landry and lawmakers have said they could draw

ten the chance to meet with the transition team yet but very much looking forward to meeting and working with them.”

The council, of which Moreno is a leader, voted unanimously last week to take what amounts to a $125 million payday loan measure in a bid to secure cash quickly as the city risks being unable to pay its employees’ payroll in the coming weeks, officials have said.

Email James Finn at jfinn@theadvocate.com.

collaboratively with the council, he has sided with Cantrell on various city issues more frequently than his colleagues. On Monday, he laid into Cantrell’s administration while referencing that history

“I have tried to give the benefit of the doubt I’ve tried to be the one to stay out of the soap operas and stuff, be fair, not get involved in innuendo and all the other foolishness because the grown-up in me just kind of doesn’t allow that and it’s unproductive,” he said.

“But it’s times like this where I can see, as fair as I’ve tried to be people in this administration are most unfair to the people that we represent, especially I represent,” he added.

Staff writer Desiree Stennett contributed to this report.

Email Blake Paterson at bpaterson@theadvocate. com.

a map with fewer majorityBlack districts. At the protest, Press Robinson, a plaintiff in the court case that got Louisiana a second majorityBlack district, worried Republicans could get rid of both Black seats.

“This playbook is as old as Reconstruction itself,” said Carter “After the Civil War, Black Americans helped build multiracial democracies, and when those who had always held power couldn’t win fairly, they imposed poll taxes, literacy tests, violence and gerrymandering.”

Louisianans from as far away as Shreveport came out to rally in support of the existing maps. Sona Anderson, of Opelousas, said she came to Baton Rouge to “defend our right to fair voting in Louisiana as African American citizens.”

The fight comes as Democrats and Republicans across the country look for any advantages they can get ahead of next year’s midterms, when control of Congress will be at stake.

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

TEEN

Continued from page 1B

several other counts stemming from a string of car thefts. Rochon pleaded guilty as charged last March.

Criminal District Judge Marcus DeLarge handed Rochon a suspended 10year sentence and ordered him into intensive probation through his reentry program, according to records.

Attorney General Liz Murrill’s office prosecuted the case against the three men who were sentenced on Monday In a news release, Murrill thanked the many investigators who worked the case and the victims involved, including Williams.

“When someone is subjected to having a gun held to their face during a carjacking, it is extremely traumatizing,” Murrill said. “I appreciate their commitment to holding all the individuals responsible accountable.”

A spokesperson for the District Attorney’s Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment after Monday’s sentencings. The late-night carjacking of the district attorney on Race Street rattled a city that was just coming off a three-year surge in violence, including major increases in armed robberies and carjackings.

The violence had occupied Williams since he first took office as district attorney in early 2021 after a successful campaign as a progressive reformer A former criminal defense attorney Williams spoke out in an op-ed soon after the crime.

“I want the right people held accountable — through a fair trial with no hand on the scale,” he wrote. “I have no desire to subject them to any harsher punishment; neither my security nor my mother’s sense of security will be restored simply because three people enter the legal system. That we hope to address with therapy and prayer.”

Email Kasey Bubnash at kasey.bubnash@ theadvocate.com.

Acadiana musician Laperousediesat59

Bands, family honor keyboardist

BY JA’KORI MADISON Staff writer

Keyboardist and vocalist

Jeffery Laperouse, of St. Martinville, died Sunday at the age of 59.

According to his daughter Courtney Simar,Laperouse had been battling chronic lung disease along with other healthcomplications for several years.

“Our hearts are shattered, but we are at peace knowing he is no longer suffering andisresting in the arms of ourSavior,”Simar wrote in aFacebook post.

Another daughter,Danielle LaperouseDelahoussaye, wrote on Facebook, remembering her father “he was the most wonderful man Iknow.” Laperouse was wellknown in Acadiana’smusic

NewOrleans Area Deaths

Alexander, Violet Brauner, Nancy Burke, Sandra Hymel, Gene Incaprera,Frank

2:00 PM.Visitationwillbe at St.Matthew theApostle Church beginningatNoon In Lieu of flowers, please consider donationstoOur Lady of PerpetualHelp Church

Brauner,Nancy R.

scene,admiredforhistalent on the keyboard. Over the years, he performed with several local bands, most recently as keyboardist for theStone Cold Cajuns, aCajun and zydeco group knownfor performing at festivals, dance halls and community events. He also served as manager and musical director forhis daughter Courtney Blaire, supporting her singing career and performing alongside heronstage. In atributepostedonsocial media, the Stone Cold Cajuns wrote:

“Our hearts are broken, but wetake comfort knowing our brother JeffLaperouse, our belovedkeyboardplayer,isnow playing someheavenly melodies. Heaven’s choirjustgained anew member.”

Trialdatefor case tied to Gaza attack up in theair

Lafayetteman notfacing deathpenalty

BY CLAIRE TAYLOR Staff writer

Recent Lafayette resident Mahmoudal-Muhtadi, accused of conspiring with the terrorist group Hamas in the Oct. 7, 2023,attack on Israel, could be on trial next fall.

An FBI affidavit presented in federal court Oct. 17 accuses al-Muhtadi of gathering armedmen in Gaza shortly after the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel began, then crossing the border to participate in the attack where children, men and women were killed, some torturedand some taken hostage. The FBI based its report on interviews, cellphone tower pings and emails, and was aided by Israel.

Afederal grand jury on Oct. 17 indicted al-Muhtadi on charges of conspiringto provide material supportto adesignated foreignterrorist organization resulting in death and visa fraud for providing false information June 26, 2024, on his visa applicationtoenter the United States and obtain legal permanent resident status. Al-Muhtadi pleaded not guilty

Assistant U.S. Attorney JohnNickel said prosecutorsare not seeking the death penalty U.S.DistrictJudge David Joseph, of the Western District of Louisiana, met Monday morning in Lafayette with federal prosecutors and al-Muhtadi’sdefense counsel tobegin hammeringout adeadline schedule for motions, discovery and atrialdate. Nickel presented aproposed deadline schedule tentatively agreed uponby the defensewith asuggested trial date in ayear “A year’sa long time for a criminal case,” Joseph said. Al-Muhtadi is being held in Calcasieu Parish. One of al-Muhtadi’s attorneys, Dustin Talbot, agreed with atrial in about ayear based onseveral significant issues such as al-Muhtadi speaks only Arabic and it is difficulttoarrange for interpreters to meet with him and his attorneys in Lake Charles. Because of the federal government shutdown, interpreterscannot be paid at this time, he said Defense attorneys have onlybeen abletomeet with al-Muhtaditwice. They are scheduled foranother meeting next week, Talbot said, to discussthrough an interpreter thescheduling order and al-Muhtadi’s right to aspeedy trial.

Murphy,Paul Phillips, Ivy Tio, Valerie Williams,Patricia

EJefferson Garden of Memories

Alexander, Violet

LA Muhleisen

Phillips, Ivy

NewOrleans Charbonnet

Tio, Valerie

DW Rhodes

Williams,Patricia

JacobSchoen

Incaprera,Frank

St Tammany

EJ Fielding

Brauner, Nancy Burke, Sandra

Obituaries

Alexander, Violet George

Nancy R. Brauner, age 75, of Mandeville, Louisiana, passed away on October18, 2025. She was born on April 24, 1950, in NewOrleans, Louisiana.

She is survivedbyher loving husband of 54 years, Raymond "Rusty" Brauner; sons and spouses, Kurt Brauner (Cristina), and Kris Brauner (Tiffany); and grandchildren, Kate, Thomas, and Claire. She is also survivedbyher sister, PeggyWilt, and many extendedfamily members and friends

She was preceded in death by her parents, Armand"Pete" Richterand Mary UsnerRichter.

Earlyinher career, Nancy worked nine years with theVeterans AdministrationinNew Orleans. Later, she served as theDirector of Tiffany Child Care in Mandeville and when that business was acquired by theYMCA, she was asked to continue as their directorwitha combined servicefor over 20 years. Afterstepping down, she became asales rep forAvon. She loved traveling with her husband, spending time with her family,and being the best Nana to her grandkids.

any award winners. In her later years you couldusuallyfindher diningout for lunchindowntown Covington.She hada generousheart andlots of belovedfriendshipsthat stood thetest of time Havinggrown up in the Baptist church as young girl, Sandy made herfaith herown when she was baptized at theage of 30 at Calvary Baptist Church in Kenner,La. This milestone marker carried herthrough theyearsknowingher Hope was secure in the salvation and freedom offered by herSavior and LordJesus Christ.She was amember for thelast 25 years at Northshore Bible Church in Covington,La.

Relativesand friends are invited to attendthe visitation andfuneral servicesonFriday, October 31, 2025, visitation from 11:00-1:00PM andservice at 1:00PM at E. J. Fielding Funeral Home, 2260 West 21st Avenue, Covington Louisiana with agraveside service to follow at Pinecrest Mausoleum.

E.J. Fielding Funeral Home hasbeen entrusted with funeral arrangements. TheBurke familyinvites you to share thoughts,fondest memories,and condolencesonline at E. J. Fielding Funeral Home Guest Book at www.ejfieldingfh.com.

bets and celebrate the excitement of awell-picked trifecta. An avidphotographer andfilmdeveloper,Gene received numerousawards in recognition of hiswork. He enjoyed fishingwith his sons, grandsons, nieces, andnephews, especially at hisfish camp on Bay St Louis.

Genewill be laidtorest in thefamilytomb at St Louis Cemetery No. 2. A CelebrationofLife will be held in NewOrleans next year. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to theOur Lady of Prompt Succor Shrine,2635 State St,New Orleans.

Incaprera, Dr.Frank

BY TIMOTHY BOONE Staff writer

The Belle of Baton Rouge will be known as Bally’sBaton Rouge Casino and Hotel when the downtown casino opens its land-based expansion in December

Bally’sofficials announcedthe changeMonday morning. The move comes after the casino’shotel was rebranded Bally’s when it opened earlier this year

The casino will feature a “dining depot” —anupscale food hall that pays homage to the building’shistory as atrain depot. There will be four restaurants: Hearth Pizzeria, which will offer pizza, calzones and other Italian dishes; Shuck’s Oyster Bar,which will serve fresh Gulf oysters;Vintage 1806, which will offer wine and smallplates; and Maritime Coffee, which will sell coffee, pastriesand sandwiches. Aprivate dining area will also be available.

Shuck’spays tribute to Shuck’sonthe Levee, an oyster bar that was in theBelle atriumabout10 years ago.Plans are totake some of the dishes from theShuck’smenu, give them aspin and put them on the new menu, said Lauren Westerfield,aBally’s spokesperson. Plans are to open the land-based casino on Dec. 6, pending approval from the LouisianaGamingControl Board and the Louisiana State Police,Gaming Enforcement Division. The casino’s aging riverboat sailed away in January, and gamblingoperations are happening in atemporary space on land. When the land-based casino opens in December,itwill take up 25,000 square feet of the Belle’s atriumand include 800 slot machines, 20 to 25 table games, asports book, a center bar,a two-lane bowling alleyand adedicated smoking area.

Violet George Alexander passedawayonOctober 23, 2025 at theage of 100 yearsold.Itwas hergreat desire to be acentenarian andshe didcelebrate with greathappiness.She was born in Smithville,Ten‐nessee to thelateHugh andNettieGeorge. She movedtoKenner, Louisianaafter meeting andmarryingher late hus‐band,Richard (Dick) AlexanderinNashville while he wasstationed thereinthe navy.She lived 80 wonderfulyears in Ken‐ner. Sheissurvivedbyher daughtersKathy (Jerry) Clark, Dawn Alexander (Michael Lizarraga) and sonKevin G. Alexanderand daughter-in-lawPamelaS Alexander. Violet,Honey to hergrandchildren,leaves behind hergrandchildren J. Bryant (Janine) ClarkJr. Alexandra(DerekJohn‐ston)Lizarraga,Timothy W. (Caroline) Alexander andEmily Alexanderas well as hergreat grandchil‐dren Parker Johnston,Eliz‐abethAlexander,and Char‐lotte Alexander. Shewillbe greatlymissedbyher sis‐terLoisSloan of Nashville, Tennesseeand her nephews. Shewas pre‐cededindeath by herlov‐inghusband RichardJ (Dick) Alexander, sons RichardJ.(Ricky) Alexan‐der, Jr.and TimothyG Alexander, herbrother Hugh George Jr.and sister MyrnaMillerbothof Nashville, Tennessee. Vio‐letenjoyed workingatKen‐nerJr. High School,East JeffersonHighSchool and BonnabelHighSchool as secretaryand substitute teacher. However, Family Faithand funwereimpor‐tant to her. Family gather‐ings andtraveling with her children broughtgreat joy. Later, hergrandchildren andgreat grandchildren filledher with happiness Shewas very devotedto OurLadyofPerpetual Help Catholic Church where she volunteered with food pantry andprayedde‐voutly.Later WALE filled herspiritual needs. Fun wasnever far.She be‐longed to Kenner's chapter of Beta SigmaPhi anden‐joyedmanyfun times. She traveled with AARPacross theUnitedStatesand fam‐ilynearand far.The Dis‐neyworld tripswithgrand‐kids were exciting. The familywould like to thank BarbaraW.for herwonder‐fulcare, St.Francis Villa andPassagesHospice.Rel‐atives andfriends arein‐vitedtoattend theFuneral Mass at St.Matthewsthe ApostleCatholicChurch 10021 JeffersonHwy,River Ridge, La.70123 on Thurs‐day, October30, 2025at

Relatives and friends are invited to attend the memorial service on Wednesday,October 29, 2025, at 11:00 AM at E. J. FieldingFuneral Home, 2260 West21st Avenue, Covington, Louisiana, with visitationbeginning at 9:30 AM. Interment willfollow in Pinecrest Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers,contributions in memory of Mrs. Brauner may be madeto St.Tammany Health System Hospice

E. J. FieldingFuneral Home of Covington, Louisiana, is honored to be entrusted with Mrs. Brauner's funeralarrangements. Her family invites youtoshare thoughts, memories,and condolences by signing an online guestbookat www.ejfieldingfh.com.

Sandra Lynn Tompkins

Burke, bornSeptember 17, 1949, in Port Sulphur, LouisianatoLinn& Lois (Freeman) Tompkins, passed on peacefully heavenward into glory with Christ on 10/24/2025 in Covington, La. Preceded by her loving and steadfast parents Linn &Lois Tompkins, and her brother Robert David Tompkins. She is survivedbyher loving &devoted husband of over 29 years, Dennis James Burke, daughter LaylaHakim Varvoutis (Andrew), grandchildren NikolaosVarvoutis and Sophia Varvoutis, her sisterCarolAnn Tompkins Rahe, as well as many nephews, nieces and cousins.

Sandy, as she was known,grewupin Plaquemines Parish Louisianaand graduated fromBuras High School in 1967. Afterworking briefly forFreeport/Sulphur, her adventurous spirit ledher to Alaska, Connecticut and Bahraininthe early days of hercareer. She settled in Covingtonwhere she soldAvonfor over 40 years. She lovedmeeting new people and had the gift of hospitality that wouldwelcome anyone. Her cooking was like a warm hug, and she had a gumbothatwouldrival

Gene J. Hymel, age 93, passedawayonOctober 23, 2025. He wasthe belovedson of thelate AndrewJ.Hymel and Elizabeth Carriere Hymel, andthe devotedhusband of thelateCarol Sanders Hymel. Geneissurvivedby hischildren: Mary Louise HymelCohen (Brad), Henry (Hank) Carriere Hymel (Linda), Joseph (Joe) Boillin Hymel(Stephanie), andMargaret (Margy) ClaudiaHymel Stivers. He leaves behindninegrandchildren, twogreat-grandchildren, hisbrother Gary G. Hymel, and hissister Claire Hymel.

Wherever GeneHymel went,the stories followed him—whetherhewas strollingthrough the French Quarter, enjoying hisfavorite roast beef poboy from Johnny's, or spending time with friends. Hiswarmth and humor filledeveryspace he entered, leaving alastingimpression on all who knew him.

Born in Alexandria, Louisiana, Gene spent most of his life in New Orleans—a city he truly cherished.Hewas agraduate of Loyola University and Tulane University. Genededicated 23 years of service to theNaval Reserve, retiringasa Lieutenant Commander Hisprofessional journey includedleadership roles at theNew OrleansBoard of Trade (Executive Director), Ingram Corporation (Controller), andPeat Marwick (Controller). Genealso maintaineda Louisiana Real EstateBroker License, furtherdemonstrating his diverse professional skills.

Genewas renowned for hisdeep love of family, food, andfaith. Hisred beans andriceand homemade pralines were legendary, always served alongside stories of family history and ancestors he tracedbacktoFrance. As thekeeperofthe Hymel familymausoleum in St Louis Cemetery No. 2, Gene took pride in preserving hisfamily'slegacy for future generations.

Gene and Carol shared an unbreakable bond,further strengthenedbysurvivingHurricane Katrina, whichswept away their home. Genecredited their rescue from the Superdome to OurLady of Prompt Succor,towhom he remained devotedfor therest of hislife.

Genewas actively involved in several professional organizations, including theNational Association of Accountants, NewOrleans Board of Trade, Propeller Club, International Trade Center,Plimsoll Club, and theSociety of War of 1812.

As aloving grandfather, Genedelightedintaking hissons& grandsonsto theracetrack, teaching themhow to place small b d l b h

Dr.Frank Incaprera, are‐tiredphysician,diedonOc‐tober26, 2025. He was97. He wasborninNew Or‐leansand practicedhis en‐tire professional career here.Hewas agraduateof St.Louis CathedralElemen‐tary School,JesuitHigh School,and received a bachelor’s degree from Loyola University andhis medicaldegreefrom LouisianaState University in NewOrleans.Hecom‐pletedhis internship at CharityHospitalinNew Or‐leans, followed by residen‐cies in internal medicine at CharityHospitaland the VA Hospital in NewOr‐leans. He served as acap‐tain in theU.S.Air Forceat Biloxi,Mississippi.Upon hisdischarge,hebegan thepracticeofinternal medicine in theGentilly area.Helater wasa cofounder of theInternal Medicine Group, which evolvedintoIMG Health‐care,a primary-care group of over 50 physicians in 11 locations. He retiredin 1999 after almost 50 years as aphysician andwas chairman of theboard and chiefmedical officeratthe time of hisretirement. Dr Incaprerawas aclinical professorofmedicineat both LouisianaState Uni‐versitySchool of Medicine andTulaneUniversity School of Medicine,aswell as aconsultantinthe De‐partment of Medicine at CharityHospitalinNew Or‐leans. Dr.Incaprera was therecipient of many hon‐ors: electedtoBlueKey National HonorSociety, DeltaEpsilonSigma Na‐tional Scholastic HonorSo‐ciety, wasnamed by the ArchdioceseofNew Or‐leanstothe OrderofSaint Louis, he wasthe Laureate Awardeeofthe American CollegeofPhysiciansserv‐ingasits governor from 1995 to 1999, andwas Alumnus of theYearfor the LSUSchool of Medicine in 1997. He received theOut‐standing PhysicianAward from theOrleans Parish MedicalSociety in 2000, thePresident’s Awardfrom theNew OrleansEastBusi‐ness Associationin2000, theContinuingMedical Ed‐ucationAward forOut‐standing Contributionsto theAdvancement of Con‐tinuingMedical Education in Louisianain2001, the Andrew JacksonHiggins Awardinrecognition of ex‐ceptionalleadershipfrom theMayor’s Military Advi‐sory Committee of NewOr‐leansin2002, theAlpha OmegaAlpha HonorMed‐ical SocietyVolunteer Clini‐calFaculty Awardin2003, theFoundersAward from theAmerican-ItalianFeder‐ationofthe Southeastin 2003, and theSpiritof CharityAward from the MedicalCenterFoundation of Louisianain2005. Dr.In‐caprerawas electedtothe Beta ChapterofAlpha OmegaAlpha National MedicalHonor Societyin 1998. He waslistedin Who’sWho in NewOr‐leans, Who’sWho in Fi‐nanceand Industry,Who’s Whointhe Southand Southwest, Who’sWho in Scienceand Engineering, Who’sWho in America, and Who’sWho in theWorld He wasalsolistedinthe Best DoctorsinNew Or‐leansin1998. Dr.Incaprera served as the firstchief of themedical staff of MethodistHospitaland wasthe firstphysician electedtoits boardofdi‐rectors, where he served forover25years.Hewas actively involved in civic andcommunity affairs over theyears,including theOptimistClubofNew OrleansEast, theNew Or‐leansBoard of Health New OrleansHuman Relations Committee, theSoutheast LouisianaEmergency Med‐ical Services Council, East NewOrleans Chamberof Commerce,New Orleans East Business Association, BoardofDirectors of Lutheran Towers and

OUR VIEWS

AfterBrian Kelly’souster, what comes next is crucial forLSU fans

As the final seconds ticked down inside Tiger Stadium Saturday night, the unthinkable happened.

Visiting fans from TexasA&M grewlouder and more boisterous, drowning out the home support. LSU fans headed for the exitsin droves. There were evenafew “Gig Ems” from Aggies in the LSU student section.

Less than 24 hours later,LSU brass parted ways with head coach Brian Kelly,reportedly after aheated meeting withAthleticsDirector Scott Woodward.

Now as Woodward and other universityleaders turn to findinga replacement,weurge them to keep the fans at the forefront of their minds. The next LSU coach will not only occupy one of the best jobs in college football, he willalso be the state’shighest-paidand most visible public employee.He will carry the hopes of many LSU fans onto that field every Saturday night.

The search comes at akey time for LSU, which is also in the midst of asearch for anew president.

Kelly’souster wasn’tsurprising after Saturday night. He will leave withtens of millions of dollars in abuyout, even more than former LSU Coach Ed Orgeron got just afew years ago.

Kelly departs LSU witha34-14 overall record in his three-plus seasons, winning nearly 71% of his games. However,his teams nevermade the College Football Playoff and struggled in key SEC matchups.

In previouseras, Kelly’srecord would have been more than enough to ensure along tenure in purple and gold. But not anymore. Thestate of college sports right now,college football in particular,issuch that it demands sterling results or else.

To add insult to injury,atthe same time the team was struggling, LSU was announcing football ticket priceincreases for next year That reflects increasing focus on revenue in college athletics, where competition has moved beyond the gridiron to the new arenas of name, image and likeness and revenue share payouts directly from schools to athletes.

While it would be easy to decry recent changes in college sports as the source of LSU’sproblems, that is too simplistic. The new situationmeans the players —the young men andwomen who put in thework and put their bodies on the line bringing millions in revenue forthe school —are now being compensated forthat.

LSU’snext coach will need toconfront all of these evolvingdynamics. It’sabig joband LSU’sdecisions now will have aprofound effect on the fans.

It was those fans whodeserted the stadium Saturday night, many of them disgusted by what they considered asubpar performance that comes at an ever-increasing premium. The right hire can bring back the magic to Death Valley on Saturday nights. And in today’senvironment,the choice is more crucial than ever

LETTERSTOTHE EDITOR ARE WELCOME. HERE AREOUR GUIDELINES: Letters are published identifying name, occupation and/or title and the writer’scity of residence

TheAdvocate |The Times-Picayune require astreet address andphone number for verification purposes, but that information is not published. Letters are not to exceed 300 words. Letters to the Editor,The Advocate, P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0588, or email letters@ theadvocate.com.

TO SEND US A LETTER, SCANHERE

YOUR VIEWS

This Republican federal government has ignored thebedrock principle of free speech and entered into an area utilizing criminal threats and investigation to silence its opponents.

Extortion is thewrongful use of actual or threatened force, violence or intimidation to gain money or propertyfrom an individual or entity.Extortion generally involves athreat being made to the victim’sperson or property,ortotheir family or friends. While the threat of violence or property damage is commonplace in extortion, it can also involve reputational harm or unfavorable government action. Accomplice is defined as one associated withanother,especially in wrongdoing. Intimidation is defined as “tocompel or deter by or as if by threats.”

We areata crossroads in the United States. Actsofindividuals are being attributedto“theotherside” to incitefear, intimidate others intosilence and threaten fellow citizens with criminal and civil

With theLouisiana governor requesting the National Guard, residents must prepare for the impact of expanded policing. Louisianaalready has one of thehighest incarceration rates in the nation, and New Orleanshas operated under afederal consent decree for over adecade because of unconstitutional police practices.

We have seen theresults elsewhere. In Washington, D.C.,federal influence has led to spikes in arrests, manyfor minor charges. There, grand juries have slowed abusive prosecutions by rejectingweak cases. That lesson mattershere: Juror action is one of the strongest checks communities have when aggressive arrest tactics take hold. If arrests rise in New Orleans, communitymembers can resist by responding to jury summonses. Jurors have the

Iamsickened and angry watching innocents be punished by being furloughed and unpaid (and now possibly fired through no fault of their own) duringpolitical dogfights and yet another government shutdown.

Iagree withthe legislation suggested by Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson and Rep.Bryan Steil, the“Eliminate Shutdowns Act,” that keeps prior funding on

penalties unless theother side bows to the people in power Donald Trump’svitriolic and caustic statements,his totaldisregard of the Constitution and law,gounchallengedby Congress and theSupreme Court. These unjust actions also affect the health and safetyofthe citizens by ignoring scientific,economic and education experts, and the stripping awayofhumanitarian treatment of its own citizens. We are experiencing actions taken by despots, dictators, autocrats and tyrants. Despitethe difficult times in which we live, there will be accountability at the ballotbox,the hallmark of atrue democracy.Although thepresent government seeks to limit voting by the other side the tide will turnand then the other side will be in charge. The question is whether the other side will stoop to the level of the Republicans or will they live up to the principles of atrue democracy DANIEL NODURFT Harahan

power to ask hard questions, require evidence and decline indictments that do not meet thestandard. Empty jury seatsonly reduce oversight. We should also monitor policy signals: Guard deployments, new federal partnerships or sudden surges in low-level charges.These are indicators that aggressive arrest tactics are moving into place. Documenting court outcomes and sharing records can expose patterns early Jury service may not be flashy,but it is apractical act of resistance. In this moment, it is one of the clearest ways to protect our communities from unnecessary harm.That is whyweneed to support organizationslike The Juror Project andour court watch systems now morethan ever

MARYAMFOYE NewOrleans

two-week continuing resolutions if an agreement cannot be reached.

More to thepoint, however,weshould pass legislation that stops paychecks to all members of Congress and their staffs during shutdowns. Ibet if they weren’tgetting paid, they could hammer outadeal pretty darn fast.

SUSIEALLEN NewOrleans

What is with the use of speaker phones? Lately,I’m always hearing someone’sspeaker phone. Whether it is on any street, in the library’scomputer room,the Whole Foods market or any other grocery store, or,infact, anywhere else.

Hearing one-half of someone else’stelephone conversation at a sound level several decibels higher than anormal speaking voice wasbad enough; now we have to hear someone else’smusic, sports event or the rant of someone’s podcast.

Why can’tpeople use earbuds? They are, after all, cheap enough. The prevalence of the use of speaker phones greatly hampers the ability to eavesdrop on other conversations as well. People should be considerate of others whomay be nearby

THOMAS SUYDAM NewOrleans

LSUfanslet down team with earlyexit

Iama Texas A&M fan, as anyone whoknowsmeknows. Iwas thrilled with the winand happy forour team.But Isaw something that wasjust gut-wrenching and had to say something. If you ever go to agame with me, you will know Idonot leave till it is over Watching those so-called LSU fans empty the stands while their guys wereplaying their hearts out wasjust wrong. So what if they were losing? They never stopped trying and having to look up and see all those empty seats that were full when the gamestarted, had to be crushing. Ilived mostofmylifeinNew Orleans, and sorry,LSU,I was never afan, but those young men should be praised forthe way they did not give up —unlike those fans wholeft the game.

MARYCARNES Clarendon, Texas

Everytownneeds aStanley Nelson

If the value of local news were incarnate, it would be in the person of Stanley Nelson.

Faimon Roberts

Nelson, who died earlier thisyear at the age of 69, was the longtime editor of the Concordia Sentinel, the local newspaper based in Ferriday,just across the Mississippi River from Natchez, Mississippi. A native of CatahoulaParish, Nelson spent most of his journalism career working for small papers in Louisiana. He became the editor of the Sentinel in 2006.

And that’swhere he found his calling. Thanks to arandom snippet on aTV news broadcast, Nelson learned about the case of Frank Morris, aBlack owner of aFerriday shoe-repair shop whowas burned alive inside his shop in 1964bya group of Klansmen.Morris was inside the shop when the men doused it in gasoline and set it on fire. When he tried to escape,they forced him back in at gunpoint.Hediedfour days later No one was ever prosecuted for the crime.

Four decades later,Nelson took to the story with the same qualities that he brought to police jury,school board and other local stories: patience, determination and an unflappable manner.Hetracked down former Ku Klux Klanmembers and informants, writing scoresofstories andeventually finding one of the men he believed was at the store that night. Then, like agood reporter, he went to the man’sfarm and asked him about it.

That man denied it, but his kids later told Nelson that they hadheard their father talk about the incident.Asaresult of Nelson’swork, agrand jurywas convened.Sentinel owner Sam Hanna told me he had few doubtsabout the man’sguilt and Nelson’sreporting.

Ididn’tknow Stanley Nelson, and it is aprofoundregret. To understandhim alittlebetter,Ialsoreached out to Joe Curtis, whowas hiredasareporter by Nelson in 2013 andtook over as editor of the Concordia Sentinel when Nelson retired in 2023.

“He just went about his business every day as acommunity journalist,” Curtisrecalled. In other words, Nelson didn’tchasestories with theidea of getting aNew York Times profile. He did it out of love and service to his community

Atruenewspaperman, Nelson once toldareporter he made every approach with his notebook in his back pocket and his pen in his shirtpocket and “just try to talktothem.”

“He was always even-keeled,” Curtis said. Andfocused on reporting.

“You got to just put thefacts out there andpeople will know,” Nelsonremembers Curtistelling him.

Hanna agreed.

“He didn’tbring any bias to the table,” he recalled. “Hejustgave everyone afair shake.”

We need billionaires whodothe rightthing

Idon’tget politicians whorail against billionaires. There are all kinds of billionaires. Many got rich inventing products we hold dear.Others got rich doing societally useless things like inventing crypto meme coins. And somemade their pile through corruption and crime.

This is about the good ones.

Nelson’scoverageofthe Morriscase ruffled some feathers, including at the FBI, where officials asked Nelson to hold aMorris story naming thesuspect because it might interfere with their investigation. He agreed to wait one month, then he ran it over theirobjections

Thestory was areflection of Nelson’s style, which was one of quiet resolve, Hanna told me.

“Stanley would just dig until he got the truth,”Hanna said.

For his work on the Morris case, Nelson was aPulitzer Prize finalistin 2011, a“big honor” for the smallpaper Hanna said.

The Morris story set Nelson on a journey.Hetook on anumber of the Civil Rights-eramurders of Black men in Louisiana andMississippi, including DeputyO’Neal Moore just outside Bogalusa and Wharlest Jackson in Natchez, whodiedwhen abomb exploded inside his truck.

Nelson wrote two books about Klan murders in Louisiana and Mississippi. Andthe LSU Cold CaseProject, in which studentssift through old cases, is an outgrowthofthe workthat Nelson began.

Since he passed,remembrances have focused on Nelson’sdogged pursuit of thetruth in those cases, andrightfully so. He’sdone more to give thefamilies of those racist murders closure than local or federal authorities ever did. But his legacy was alsomore than that. It was the reporters and editors he mentored andwho worked for him and the studentshetaught. It was his love for and commitment to serving his community

Curtisfeels it every day

“It’sanhonor,and Iwant to make him proud,” he said. “Hewas something else.”

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

ThetrendsinNew Jersey andVirginia

No two states voted more alike and closer to the national averageinlast year’s presidentialelection than thetwo states that have gubernatorial elections in this odd-numberedyear: New Jersey and Virginia.

New Jersey voted 51.8%for Kamala Harris and 45.9% for Donald Trump. Virginia voted 51.8% for Harrisand 46.1% for Trump. Aside from the seven target states and Democratic underperformance in New Hampshire and Minnesota, these were the two closest states in the country

Hamdi Ulukaya madebillions founding Chobani, a producer of high-quality yogurt. AKurd born in Turkey,Ulukaya created jobs in struggling parts of the U.S. His factory in Twin Falls, Idaho, is now the largest yogurt production plant in the world. Ulukaya also promotes paying workers well.

Doesanyone resent the estimated $11 billion that Steve Jobs had amassed when he died wayback in 2011? The genius behind Apple created the coolest tech products for the masses.

Other billionaires are admirable because they don’tgobegging fortax cuts. Warren Buffett, the legendary investor with anet worth of $150 billion, famously said: “There’sclass warfare, all right, but it’smy class, the rich class, that’smaking war,and we’re winning.”

Buffett once complained that he only paid 19% of his 2006 incomewhile his office workers paid 33%.

And he said it before Donald Trump further slashed his taxes through tax cuts forthe richest few. That tax policy leftordinary Americans to foot the bill through shrinking programsand supercharged deficits.

Michael Barone

They have other similarities. Large percentagesoftheir voters live in metropolitan areas centered on cities outside the state,such as New York City and Washington, D.C. Bothofthose metroareas have populations far above the national average in education credentials and income.

That has tilted them toward the Democratic Party in this era when upscale voters, in line with their liberal stands on cultural issues, trend that way.It’s atime when million-plus metro areas, evenly divided in the 1980s, havebecome heavily Democratic, while the half of Americans living outsidethose big metro areas have,often despitehistorical Democratic allegiances, been deliveringincreasingmarginsfor Trump’s Republicans. It comes as second nature to political writers to seek omensinthe results and trends of off-year elections. It helps that Democrats havemanaged to nominate candidates with attractive biographies and reputations, despitetheir generally party-line voting records, as centrists. Both arewomen with national security experience who were first electedtothe House of Representatives in the Democratic year of 2018.

U.S.Rep.Mikie Sherrill, D-N.J., was a Navy helicopter pilot andlater worked as alawyer After her military service, she wentto graduate school, earning alaw degree and an Arabic language certificate. She captured an exurban, traditionally Republican New Jersey district when the incumbent retired. Shewon her first primary easily and has won general elections with 53% to 59% of the vote.

FormerU.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., also earned agraduatedegree, taught at northernVirginia’sIslamic Saudi Academy, and was an intelligence officer in the CIA for six years. Shewon her suburban House seat, stretching from Richmond to Fairfax County,against an incumbent Republican by 2points, twice won reelection —first by 2 points, then by 5—and stepped down in 2024, with thegovernor’s race in mind.

Current RealClearPolitics pollingaverages have Sherrill ahead of 2021 nominee Jack Ciattarelli by a48% to 44% margin, and Spanberger leading Lt. Gov.Winsome Earle-Sears by 50% to 44% —margins not that far from the virtually identical margins by which Harris carried bothstates.Republicans hold out some hope in bothraces.

Ciattarelli lost by only 51% to 48% against incumbent Democrat Phil Murphy in 2021, campaigning against the high taxes that have helped Republicans win fourofeight New Jersey elections starting in 1993, despitethe state’sDemocratic lean in presidential politics.

And Sherrill, Republicans say,ison the defensive for having been required not to appear at her graduation from the Naval Academy,apparently for not having reported another cadet’sviolation of the honor code.

In Virginia, Spanberger was set back by the revelation on Oct. 3that Democratic attorney general candidate Jay Jones sentmessages in 2022 expressing adesire to shoot the then-Republican House speaker and see his children murdered in their mother’sarms.

Spanbergerexpressed abhorrence but refused to call on him to step aside and announced her early vote for him.

October polling shows Jones trailing incumbent Attorney General Jason Miyares47% to43%. Despite their identical responses in 2024, these two states have different traditions. In assessing thechances for an upset in either race, it may be useful to look at thedifferent surges of migration,immigrant and internal, that have populated these two states over the years. In New Jersey,one can find traces of

Dutch settlers from Nieuw Amsterdam and Quakers in the Delaware River Valley from colonial days. But thebig surge of migration camefromthe descendantsofthe Ellis Island migration of 1892 to 1924, Italians, Jews and Poles spilling over from the big cities across theHudson and Delaware rivers.

Their offspring responded favorably to theappeals of Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, as the anti-tax constituency was reduced by migrantstoFlorida.

Butinflation and illegal immigration in the Biden years have pushed them towardTrump, who raised Republicans’ presidential percentages from 41% in 2012 to 2020 to 46% in 2024.

That move was accentuated by Trumpwardmoves among Hispanics. The1940 to 1965 northwardmigration of Black people has ebbed in New Jersey,leaving only twomunicipalities (EastOrange and Lawnside) with Black majorities In contrast, thepost-1982 Hispanic migration has produced 29 municipalities with Hispanic majorities.

In those two-thirds or more Hispanic, Trumpmade major gains in 2024, reducing their average Democratic margins from 40% in 2020 to 12%. NBC analyst Steve Kornacki pointed out that if Ciattarelli in 2021 had won Trump2024 percentages in majoritynon-White municipalities, he would have lost by only 0.3%.

Virginia is adifferent story.The demographic surge has been an influx of affluent, highly educated Americans plus relatively high-skill immigrants, with significant numbers of Asians and Hispanics, over the past 30 years. Northern Virginia’sshare of the statewide vote has increased from 25% in 1980 to 36% in 2024.

In that setting, Spanberger’scoldblooded refusal to renounce Jones, and her stubborn refusal to oppose girls in boys’ sportslook like efforts to avoid disenchanting Democratic votersin one of the strongest anti-Trump constituencies in America.

Trends may be working for Trump’s party in New Jersey but lesssoinVirginia.

Michael Barone is on X, @MichaelBarone.

Rich people whopay their taxes are the major source forsafety net spending. I must repeat that Sweden has morebillionaires per capita than the U.S., and they pay high taxes forpublic benefits. And after taxes, they are still unimaginably rich. Which brings us to the subject of Mike Bloomberg, whose net worth is estimated at over $100 billion. Bloomberg madehis fortune in finance and media. But he then served his city,New York, as the best mayor in memory. (First as aRepublican, then as an independent, finally as aDemocrat.) Sen. Bernie Sanders is always hollering about “billionaires” this and “billionaires” that. It used to be millionaires until Sanders becameone.

There was amemorable momentduring a 2020 Democratic presidential debate, when Sanders asked candidate Bloomberg in his righteous gotcha voice, “Which tax haven do you have your home?” Bloomberg answered: “New York City, thank you very much, and Ipay all my taxes. And I’mhappy to do it because Iget something forit.”

The above multi-billionaires all established charitable foundations. They have vowed to give much or nearly all their wealth to worthy causes.

Charles and David Koch built the enormousKoch Inc., based in Wichita, Kansas. Charles went on to support conservative and libertarian causes. David favored cultural landmarks, from the Smithsonian in Washington to the Metropolitan Museum in New York. And he has financed medical facilities in various places. His widow,Julia, continues the good deeds.

Alice Walton, heir to the Walmart fortune, donates to the arts, education and health care.

There’snow an Alice L. Walton School of Medicine in Bentonville, Arkansas, where Walmart is based.

There’snoneed to worship or envy any billionaire’sassets. Many superrich people are depressed and lonely.(Thomas Lee, aprivate-equity mogul worth $2 billion, died by suicide in 2023.) Somebillionaires are pitiful in their unquenchable need for showymega-yachts, private islands and penthouses in the sky.And one can smirk at those whodisplay their half-dressed femalesex trophies, supposedly as amark of their virility

From apolitical standpoint, manyonthe farleft and farright often mechanically link enormous wealth with destructive tendencies. Billionaires ought not be lumped into adespised class but judged forthe deeds they do as individuals —like the rest of us.

Froma Harrop is on X, @FromaHarrop. Email her at fharrop@gmail.com

with meteorologist Damon Singleton

morning, bringing some scatteredrain, then clearskies and lowertemperatures

PeaceLakeTowers, as well asMedical Director of LutheranHomeofNew Or‐leans.Hewas also amem‐ber of Cristo Sana,a med‐icalmissionarygroup,and mademanytrips to Nicaragua.Dr. Incaprera had been secretaryofthe Orleans Parish MedicalSo‐ciety,vice-presidentofthe Louisiana StateMedical Society,president of the New OrleansAcademy of Internal Medicine,presi‐dentofthe LouisianaSoci‐ety of Internal Medicine president of theLouisiana Occupational MedicalAs‐sociation,and wasa mem‐ber of numerous otherpro‐fessional andcivic organi‐zations.In1998, he was honored with theLifetime Award forOutstanding Ser‐vicebythe Cefalutana So‐ciety of NewOrleans.Dr. Incaprerawas preceded in death by hisfatherCharles Incaprera, hismother Mamie Incaprera, hissister Sarah Provenza,and his wifeRuthDuhon Incaprera. Survivors includethree sons: CharlesIncaprera (Yazmin)ofMetairie, James Incaprera(Kim) of Slidell, andChristopher In‐caprera (Karen)of Metairie; twodaughters: Cynthia Strecker (Dennis) ofSlidell andCatherine Flynn (Mike) of Metairie; and hissisterCharlene Provenza. He is also sur‐vived by nine grandchil‐drenand sevengreatgrandchildren.A mass will besaidat12Noon Thurs‐day October30atSaint PiusCatholicChurch, 6600 Spanish Fort Boulevard, New Orleans. Visitation willbefrom9 a.m. to noon In Lieu of flowersplease considera donation to Je‐suitHighSchool,St. Pius X Catholic Church or St.Fran‐cis VillaAssistedlivingin DrIncaparera’sname. ArrangementsbyJacob Schoen& SonFuneral Home3827 CanalSt. Con‐dolencesmay be left at www.schoenfh.com

Paul Spencer Murphy passedawaypeacefully at his home in Fernandina Beach, FL on October 21, 2025.The worldisa lot less interesting with his passing.

If you spent any time around Paul Murphy, you might have been lucky enough to hear one of his amazing life stories. Maybe it was theone aboutnegotiatinga mineral rights deal in Iraq with Saddam Hussein's son-inlaw, who broughthis AK-47 into the meeting. Or maybe he told you about hosting MickJaggerand JerryHall in the remote junglesofIndonesia. Or maybe you heardabout the failed investment in a dive resort in Honduras, where2 co-investors turned out to be DEA agents who confiscated the resort to stageantidrug operations. Or maybe it was just hislatestvacation trip- trekking in Nepal, visiting remote templesinMyanmar,or cruising Australianwine country in aroadster You had tobelucky to hear one of these stories, because he never likedattentionand would usually only tell themifasked, or if the conversationhappenedtotouch on one of his numerous areas of expertise. It should be said the stories did come alittle quickerduring cocktail hour (Johnnie Walker Black on the rocks, splash of water), but he was the rare man who had every reason to brag but neverdid. He is survived by his wifeMaryAnn, who was his fellowadventurer, mischief-maker, and verbal sparring partner of over40 years. Their mutual love of traveland adventuretook them around theglobe and back several timesover. He is also survived by his son Spencer Murphy (Courtney),stepdaughter Allison Hicks McCandless (Dave) and stepson David Hicks(Pamela), and grand-

childrenJaneMurphy, Clayton Murphy, Ruby McCandless and Lily McCandless. He and Mary Ann adopted numerous dogs over theyears (with as many as 4atone time), all of whom outranked the human childrenofthe family.

RaisedinBirmingham, AL,Paul ventured out to Lexington, VA ("God's Country"), where he made lasting memories at Washington& Lee, mostly in theBetahouse and Red Square.(He was delighted that hisdaughter-in-law Courtney and granddaughterJanewere also proud Generals.) Aftergraduation in 1965, his ROTC commission took him to Thailand -itwas hisfirst time out of thecountry, and it igniteda lifelong passionfor travel and learning.

Upon his return, he earnedanMBA from Wharton, then atook consulting job that sent him to Australiafor ayear. He wouldthenbegin working for FreeportMinerals in 1974, which brought him to NewOrleans following the creationofFreeport McMoRan in 1979. He worked continuously for Freeportinsome capacity for 46 years. His favorite assignment, by far, was workinginIndonesia as thehead of External Affairsinsupport of the company's massive Grasberg mine operations beginning in 1992. His challenge was to manage thecompany'sexternal relationships with themedia NGOs, theIndonesian government,and theindigenous population, not to mentionthe company's famouslycombative CEO. He thrived on the challenge and earnedthe lasting respect of his peersand those withwhom he interacted. During their time overseas, Paul and Mary Ann cultivated lifelong friendshipsand collected a museum's worth of Indonesian art and furnishings. Stepping intotheir NewOrleans home immediatelytransported you fromSoutheast Louisiana to Southeast Asia. Paul was an avid reader of booksand newspapers, always well-versedincurrent events, and he quietly detested dullards,braggarts, and boring conversations. He'd simplystay silentratherthanengage in gossip or idle chatter, a trait which madehim

something of athrowback and kepthim safely off social media

Because of his global travels, work assignments in theMiddleEast and Southeast Asia, and incredible connections around theworld, his family often wonderedifhe was in fact acovert intelligence agent.Inreality, he was something simpler, butevenbetter- abrilliant mind who valued intelligence, openness, conversation, travel,and learning. He will be greatlymissed.

IvyMarie Phillips passedawayonFriday, Oc‐tober 24, 2025 at theage of 70. Shewas born in New Orleans,LAand aresident ofLaPlace,LA. Beloved wifeofBruce Michael Phillips. Loving mother of the late Brantand Brian Phillips. Grandmotherof Preston Kiefer.Daughterof the late Raymondand Eve‐lyn (Johnson)Perilloux SisterofCynthia Blouin and Lisa Perilloux. Also survivedbyher aunt, Geraldine BourgeoisMar‐tinez,and ahostofnieces and nephews. Shewas pre‐ceded in deathbyher par‐ents; herbeloved sons Brant andBrian Phillips; and herbrothers, Wade Perilloux andDavid Peril‐loux. Relativesand friends are invitedtoattend the visitationand funeralmass atDivineMercy Catholic Church,4337 SalLentini Pkwy.,Kenner, LA on Thursday,October 30, 2025

Visitationfrom10:00 a.m. to11:00 a.m. followed by a funeralmassat11:00 a.m. Intermentwilldirectlyfol‐low at JeffersonMemorial Gardens Cemetery,St. Rose, LA.Arrangementsby L.A.Muhleisen &Son Fu‐neral Home.Toshare mem‐ories or condolences, pleasevisit www muhleisen.com

ValerieGilyot Tiopassed awayonSunday, October 19, 2025. Belovedwifefor 50years of MarioG.Tio Devoted daughter of the lateMerlinJ.Sr. andJessie Price Gilyot.Daugher-inlaw of thelateHenry J. Tio, Jr. (Noyemon ShaikTio); Sister-in-law of thelate Tadeo H. Tioand late Maria MercedesTio.Sisterofthe lateGlenn DavidGilyot, Sr (SharmanWilsonGilyot) Cherished by brother, Mer‐lin J. Gilyot,Jr. (Velda Ben‐jamin Gilyot), Godchild and niece,Arian Gilyot; nephew, GlennD.Gilyot,Jr., MerlinTreyGilyot,III (Bre‐anne Kubacki) andniece, KeyanaMarie Manchester (Freddy Wallace),the late CoriRoussell; great nephews,R.J.Woolery and Marik Joseph Gilyot and great niece, ShakiraMan‐chester Wallace. Priceand Gilyot families;friends of

Saint Joseph Academyand othersare welcometoat‐tendthe funeral. AMassof Christian burial honoring the life andlegacyofthe lateValerie Gilyot Tiowill beheldatCorpusChristiEpiphanyCatholicChurch 2022 St.Bernard Avenue, New Orleans, LA on Thurs‐day,October 30, 2025 at 10 am. Privateinterment St Roch#2Cemetery, 1725 Music Street.Visitation9 aminthe church.Please signonlineguestbook at www.charbonnetfuneralho me.com. Charbonnet Labat Glapion,Directors (504)581 4411.

Williams,PatriciaAnn With sadnessweshare the passingofPatriciaAnn Williams,onOctober 23 2025. Please visitwww.rho desfuneral.comtoview service information, sign onlineguestbook,send flowersand sharecondo‐lences.

SPORTS

MARKED MAN?

Scott Woodward has built his reputation as an athletic director on making the big hires. The splashy hires. Landingthe fish no onethought he could land. The kind of hires thatdefine a career

At Washington, he lured Chris Peterson away from Boise Statewhen no onethoughthecouldtoleadthe Huskies to the national championship game. At Texas A&M, he lured Jimbo Fisher away from an increasingly unhappy relationshipwith Florida State. And at LSU, he got Hall of

Fame women’sbasketball coach Kim Mulkeytoleave Baylorand stunned thecollegefootball world when he got Brian Kelly to leaveNotre Dame, where he was the program’swinningest coach.

Butbig hires don’talways mean successful hires. Not everyone is aMulkey. That’scertainly been thecase with Woodward’s two biggest football hires —Fisherand Kelly Both turned outtobeswings and misses, their firings leaving their respective schools with huge buyouts to payoff. Woodward didn’tgive Fisher the contract extension that led to his record $77 millionbuyout there two years ago, but he did give him the keys

CelticsroutPelsasZionmissesgame

BY LES EAST Contributing writer

Zion Williamson missed agame for the first time this season,and the New Orleans Pelicans had the same result as their first two games —a loss. But for the first time this season, they weren’tcompetitive. Williamson was sidelined by a left foot bone contusion, and the Boston Celtics defeated thePelicans 122-90 on Monday night in the Smoothie KingCenter

Anfernee Simons scored 25 points to lead abarrage of 3-pointers by the Celtics (1-3), whobeat NewOrleansfor the ninth straight time.

Payton Pritchard scored 18, Luka Garza had 16, Jaylen Brown and Josh Minott had 15 each, and Derrick White scored 11. Simons made 6of133-pointers, and the Celtics made 18 of 53, compared to 9of36for the Pelicans Jordan Poole led the Pelicans with 22 points, rookie first-round draft choice Derik Queen had 12, and Herb Jones and Saddiq Bey 11 each for thePelicans.

RookieJeremiah Fears made his first start for the Pelicans, but he had just two points, two assists and one steal, making just 1of11shots, in 26 minutes.

ä See PELICANS, page 6C

Tigers also shuffleother coaching positions

BY WILSON ALEXANDER and REED DARCEY Staff writers

LSUfiredoffensivecoordinator

Joe Sloanthe dayafterBrian Kelly waslet go as head coach, the school announced Monday morning.

The movecomes after athletic director Scott Woodward decided to elevate associate head coach Frank Wilson to takeoverthe program on an interim basis.

Tight ends coach and run game coordinatorAlexAtkins will take over as the play-caller for LSU, The Advocate hasconfirmedthrough asource with knowledge of the decision. Atkins was the Florida State offensive coordinator forthree seasons before the Seminoles firedhim last season in the midst of a 2-10 campaign.

Filling Sloan’s role as quarterbacks coach will be offensive analyst Tim Rattay,asource said. Rattay joined the program in February after spending the past five years as theOklahomaState quarterbackscoach.Hewas also the quarterbacks coach forthe Washington Commanders in 2019. Wide receivers coach Cortez Hankton will stay in his position as passing gamecoordinator,asource said. And

Caesars Superdome isn’tsupposedtolook like it did in the fourth quarter Sunday afternoon The Domewas almost completely empty,asifit was doing an impression of LSU’sTiger Stadium from the night before. The Saints were in the closing minutes of being throttled 23-3 by the division rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers,much like LSU had been hammered 49-25 by Texas A&M lessthan24 hours earlier

Only two groups of people stuck around until the end Saturday at Death Valley and Sunday at the Dome.

1. Fans of the Aggies andBuccaneers.

ä Saints at Rams, 3:05 P.M. SUNDAy,FOX

2. Thecrew waiting to clean up the mess in thestands. It’ll beuptosomeone else to clean upthe mess on the field.

Fans of the home teams couldn’t stomach stickingaround to see the clock strikezero this weekend,and who could blame them?

Whether your colorsofchoice are purple and gold, black and goldorboth,this isn’twhat you payyourmoney to see.

It was aroughweekend in both the225 andthe 504. Tulane had abye week,sothe Green Wave wasn’table to salvage the weekend

How bad of aweek has it been for football in southeast Louisiana?

LSU fired head coach Brian Kelly on Sunday.Six days earlier, Southern fired Terrence Graves, meaning both Baton Rouge schools are searching for ahead coach. The Saints, meanwhile, are 1-7. It’s their worst startsince 1999, when they lost to (you guessed it) theBuccaneers to fall to 1-7.

That team 26 years ago won its next gametoimprove to 2-7. The Saints travel to face the Los Angeles Rams next week, so history isn’tlikely to repeat itself. The Saints opened as 131/2-point underdogs and likely will be 1-8 this time next week.

It’sunclear who will start at quarterback for the Saintson Sunday at SoFiStadium. On aday when acollege head

5

Notable transfers can make big impact

Ex-New Mexico guard is among top transfers

BY STEVE MEGARGEE

Associated Press

UCLA guard Donovan Dent embraces the responsibility that comes with playing for one of college basketball’s most storied programs.

“It’s an honor just having the four letters in front of you,” the former New Mexico guard told reporters. “It’s a very historical program. The point guard position has been very elite here It’s a blessing for me.”

Once Dent entered the transfer portal, he didn’t need much persuading to pick UCLA. He already had a relationship with UCLA coach Mick Cronin from high school. He enjoyed watching former Bruins point guard Lonzo Ball while growing up in Riverside, California. UCLA’s campus is a relatively short drive from his family’s home.

Dent now wants to build on the success he enjoyed last season while leading New Mexico to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The 2025 Mountain West Conference player of the year enters this season as one of the most notable transfers.

He had 20.4 points and 6.4 assists per game last season. Dent averaged 17.5 points and 6 assists in two NCAA Tournament games as New Mexico defeated Marquette before losing to Michigan State.

Dent can team up with Louisville transfer Skyy Clark to give UCLA a speedy new backcourt. They combined for 31 points this month in the 12th-ranked Bruins’ 67-60 exhibition victory over San Diego State. Dent went 4 of 16 in that game, but he continually drew fouls and made all 10 of his free throws to end up with 18 points.

“To have a guy who knows that if he is struggling to score, let me just get fouled and go make a one-and-one, that is so big in a college game, for him and Skyy to do that,” Cronin said.

Cronin noted the 6-2 guard will need to be able to pressure the ball 94 feet and serve as a defensive sparkplug to have a successful NBA career

“When (Cronin) called me, he knew exactly what he wanted,” Dent said. “He wanted to play faster because that’s how his defense is. His defense creates faster offense. So he felt like I could fit right into that system He just needed someone he could trust with the ball in their hand I felt like that’s what I could bring to the table.”

all-Big East pick.

Tennessee G Ja’Kobi Gillespie (Maryland)

Gillespie had 14.7 points, 4.8 assists and 1.9 steals per game and shot 40.7% from 3-point range last season. He had 17 points in an NCAA regional semifinal loss to eventual national champion Florida. That followed a 2023-24 season in which the 6-foot-1 guard scored 17.2 points per game for Belmont. Gillespie was a preseason secondteam all-Southeastern Conference along with Florida’s Boogie Fland, another transfer (Arkansas).

Kansas State G P.J. Haggerty (Memphis)

a first-team all-American Conference player and the league’s defensive player of the year for two straight seasons.

Iowa G Bennett Stirtz (Drake)

Despite upheaval, LSU football lands WR pledge

LSU football picked up a verbal commitment from a three-star wide receiver recruit on Monday even though it has fired both coach Brian Kelly and co-offensive coordinator Joe Sloan.

Kervin Johnson, a senior from Tioga, flipped his pledge from Louisiana Tech to LSU after visiting the Tigers for their loss to Texas A&M. According to 247Sports composite rankings, he’s the 16thranked recruit from Louisiana. LSU’s 2026 class is ranked as the 11th-best group in the country As of Monday none of the 17 recruits now pledged to the class have backed off of their commitments.

The two headliners are Lamar Brown, five-star U-High defensive lineman, and Trenton Henderson, a Florida edge rusher who’s among the nation’s top 30 recruits.

Dodgers shortstop Betts wins humanitarian award LOS ANGELES Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts has won the Roberto Clemente Award for his humanitarian work.

The former AL MVP and eighttime All-Star founded the 5050 Foundation in 2021 to help underserved youth with their mental and emotional health, nutrition, financial literacy and physical fitness.

Betts donated over $30,000 in Nike apparel to victims of the deadly Los Angeles wildfires in January He also founded an AAU basketball program and an eponymous baseball tournament in his hometown of Nashville, Tennessee.

Betts also contributed $160,000 to hunger and homelessness initiatives. His efforts include founding sports programs and supporting pediatric patients at UCLA Children’s Hospital.

Some other potential impact transfers (former schools in parentheses): Creighton F Owen Freeman (Iowa)

Freeman, who is 6-10, was averaging 16.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.8 blocks through 19 games with Iowa before a broken finger ended his 2024-25 season early He scored in double figures in each of those 19 games. Freeman had 10.6 points and 6.6 rebounds per game in 2023-24 and became Iowa’s first Big Ten freshman of the year since Jess Settles in 1994. Freeman was a first-team preseason

Haggerty is the only active Division I player to average at least 21 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.5 steals each of the past two seasons. The 6-4 guard scored 21.7 points per game for Memphis last season to rank third in Division I. Haggerty also was an AP AllAmerica second-team selection that season. He scored 21.2 points per game for Tulsa in 2023-24. Kansas State is his fourth school.

Michigan F Yaxel Lendeborg (UAB)

Lendeborg was a first-team selection on the AP preseason AllAmerica team. The 6-9 graduate student averaged a double-double each of the past two seasons (17.7 points, 11.4 rebounds). A year earlier, Lendeborg had 13.8 points, 10.6 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game while helping UAB reach the NCAA Tournament. He was

Stirtz, a preseason all-Big Ten selection, began his college career playing for Ben McCollum at Division II program Northwest Missouri State. He followed McCollum to Drake and helped the Bulldogs reach the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Now he’s at Iowa, which hired McCollum in the offseason. Stirtz was the first player in Missouri Valley Conference history to compile at least 600 points, 200 assists and 70 steals in a season. He led the conference in scoring (19.2), steals (2.21) and assist-turnover ratio (2.86) and ranked second in assists (5.7). Stirtz scored 21 points in each of Drake’s two NCAA Tournament games — a 67-57 victory over Missouri and a 77-64 loss to Texas Tech.

NC State F Darrion Williams (Texas Tech)

Williams comes to NC State after collecting 15.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game last season to earn first-team allBig 12 honors at Texas Tech. He averaged 21 points in four NCAA Tournament games and scored at least 20 in each of Texas Tech’s past three March Madness contests, including a 23-point effort in a regional final against Florida. The 6-foot-6 forward is a preseason all-Atlantic Coast Conference selection.

Hendrick, JGR rekindle rivalry for championship

BY NATE RYAN Associated Press

Jeff Gordon was in the thick of dissecting Hendrick Motorsports’ prospects for the NASCAR championship when he was interrupted by a text message from his team’s chief rival This wasn’t any typical trash talk about the title. Joe Gibbs Racing president Dave Alpern instead was contacting the Hendrick vice chairman to convey how privileged JGR felt in facing a longtime adversary

“He just beat me to the punch; I would have done the same thing,” Gordon said Sunday night at Martinsville Speedway, where Hendrick locked up the final two berths in the title round of NASCAR’s premier series. “It just goes to show you the respect we have for one another We’re honored as well I’m really proud to have the relationship that we have with Gibbs. Off the track, we say we’re teammates, but on the track, we’re fierce competitors.”

For the second time in four years, the Championship 4 in the Cup Series is an even split be-

the

victory

winning a NASCAR Cup

Kyle

Hendrick

tween the two winningest playoff teams in NASCAR history The best finisher of four drivers in the Nov 2 season finale at Phoenix Raceway will claim the crown. Hendrick will be represented by 2021 champion Kyle Larson and William Byron, who beat Ryan Blaney at Martinsville for the team’s record-extending 62nd playoff victory Ranking second with 42 playoff victories (including wins in five of the first nine playoff races this season), Gibbs has Denny Hamlin and Chase Briscoe. It’s the third time Hendrick has owned half the title field

and the fourth time with at least two Championship 4 drivers for JGR, which had a record three in 2019 (winning the title with Kyle Busch). The powerhouses have combined for 547 Cup wins in a friendly rivalry dating back more than three decades, when Joe Gibbs consulted Rick Hendrick about starting a NASCAR team after winning three Super Bowls as a Hall of Fame football coach. With five Cup championships, Gibbs eventually became a NASCAR Hall of Fame team owner in 2020, three years after Hendrick was inducted into the stock-car racing shrine. This year’s title field is deep, featuring the regular-season champion (Byron) and the leaders in wins (Hamlin with six) and top-five finishes (Briscoe with 15). Toss in Larson, the only former champ in the bunch who ranked second in laps led and top fives, and it’s a wide-open championship without a clear favorite because there is no driver from Team Penske, which won the past three championships with Blaney and Joey Logano.

Peterson arrested in Texas on DWI and gun charges

SUGAR LAND, Texas — Former NFL running back Adrian Peterson remained jailed on Monday after being arrested a day earlier in a Houston suburb on charges of driving while intoxicated and unlawfully carrying a weapon, according to authorities.

Peterson was taken into custody Sunday morning by the Sugar Land Police Department, said agency spokeswoman Alicia Alaniz. It’s the second DWI arrest in seven months for the 2012 NFL MVP and three-time league rushing champion.

Peterson, 40, was a high school football star in East Texas and has lived in the Houston area. He played at Oklahoma before spending the first 10 years of his NFL career with Minnesota.

Manning in concussion protocol ahead of Vandy AUSTIN, Texas Texas quarterback Arch Manning was in concussion protocol and did not practice Monday ahead of the No. 20 Longhorns’ game against No. 9 Vanderbilt. Coach Steve Sarkisian said the team would get an update on Manning’s injury later in the week. Manning was injured on the first play of overtime in Texas’ 45-38 win over Mississippi State. If he can’t play against the Commodores (7-1 3-1 Southeastern Conference), Texas (6-2, 3-1) would hand the offense to graduate transfer Matthew Caldwell, who has seen only spot duty this season but came off the bench to throw the winning touchdown pass against the Bulldogs on his only pass attempt of the game.

Hard-hitting Raiders great Atkinson dies at age 78

George Atkinson, a hard-hitting former Raiders safety who struck fear in the opposition, has died. He was 78. The Raiders said Atkinson’s family informed the team of his death on Monday. The team said he died in Georgia without revealing a cause of death.

The Raiders called Atkinson the anchor of the team’s “Soul Patrol” secondary of the 1970s that helped lead the team to its first Super Bowl title.

Atkinson had disclosed he was suffering symptoms consistent with CTE.

Atkinson’s most famous hits came against Pittsburgh and Hall of Fame receiver Lynn Swann. He knocked him out in the 1975 AFC championship game and again in the 1976 opener on a

even

Moore details driving force behind QB choice

BY MATTHEW PARAS Staff writer

New Orleans Saints coach Kellen

Moore said Sunday he would take 48 hours to name his starting quarterback for next weekend’s game against the Los Angeles Rams.

So naturally, less than 24 hours after the team’s 23-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Moore wasn’t ready to announce whether he’s going with Tyler Shough or Spencer Rattler

Moore benched Rattler in favor of Shough in Sunday’s defeat, with the rookie taking over more than midway through the third quarter The coach said afterward he made the change in search of a spark. The Saints committed three turnovers — two by the quarterback with Rattler under center, while Shough threw an interception in his 30 passing attempts

Moore does plan on naming a starter before traveling to face the Rams. While New York Jets coach Aaron Glenn chose to keep his cards close to the vest this past weekend — with the Jets not naming Justin Fields the starter until Saturday, when Tyrod Taylor was ruled out with an injury — Moore has said he doesn’t believe in keeping the decision a closely guarded secret

“We just got done closing the book on this Tampa Bay game,” Moore said. “We’ll now begin really starting here soon our plan of action on LA, and we’ll make a decision shortly and just go down that path to maximize as many

reps and opportunities as we can moving forward.”

Rattler went 15 of 21 for 136 yards, fumbling once and throwing a pick-six against the Bucs. Shough went 17 of 30 for 128 yards with one interception.

Moore has said he’ll make his decision based on whoever gives the Saints the best chance to beat the Rams.

“We have a couple of really young quarterbacks,” Moore said. “They’re both young. These guys are going to keep developing and doing it the right way We’ve just got to find the right way to play a little bit better.” Standings win

The Saints didn’t beat the Buccaneers on Sunday, but they did get a win elsewhere.

If the season ended today the Saints would have the No. 1 overall pick, thanks to the New York Jets earning their first victory Sunday with a come-from-behind win over the Cincinnati Bengals. The Miami Dolphins, in the mix for the top selection, also did the Saints a favor by beating the Atlanta Falcons

According to Tankathon, the Saints have the No 1 pick thanks to several tiebreakers. While they have the same record as the 1-7 Jets and the 1-7 Tennessee Titans, and the same strength of schedule as the Jets at .496 the team with the easier strength of schedule normally breaks the record tie — the Saints separated themselves because of “strength of victory.”

At 3-5, the Bengals are considered a more formidable opponent

than the 2-6 New York Giants (the Saints’ lone win), thus giving the Saints the top spot.

The Titans have a tougher strength of schedule than both, putting them third.

The Saints haven’t held the first overall pick since 1981, when they picked running back George Rogers out of South Carolina. Rogers played four of his seven seasons with the franchise, rushing for 4,267 yards and 23 touchdowns in 51 games. He led the league in rushing as a rookie with 1,674 yards on 378 attempts.

This year’s draft has no consensus top pick. Though many draft

Struggling Steelers defense not making money plays

BY WILL GRAVES AP sportswriter

PITTSBURGH Mike Tomlin’s very public (and very calculated) shot at Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry for trading Joe Flacco to Cincinnati earlier this month was out of character for a coach who typically demurs when asked about things that happen outside of Pittsburgh.

In the moment, it provided a bit of viral theater In hindsight, maybe it was also Tomlin’s way of hinting at an underlying concern that his team’s well-compensated defense might not be up to the task when forced to face quarterbacks who don’t play for the Browns.

On a night where so much attention focused on Aaron Rodgers facing his former team for the first time, the takeaway from Pittsburgh’s 35-25 defeat at the hands of Green Bay isn’t that Rodgers “lost.” If anything, the 41-year-old Rodgers has proven through seven games that he remains a worthy investment nearing the midpoint of his 21st season.

Far more troubling for the suddenly skidding Steelers (4-3) is that the star-laden defense isn’t earning the considerable zeros on its collective paycheck. Nine days after Flacco picked them apart in an upset loss to the Bengals, Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love became the first quarterback in NFL history to complete 20 consecutive passes while throwing for at least 350 yards without taking a sack or committing a turnover In a quiet locker room afterward, T.J. Watt, Jalen Ramsey Cam Heyward and company offered clipped responses as to why a unit that Tomlin said over the summer might have the chance to be among the best ever for a fran-

WALKER

Continued from page 1C

coach in Louisiana lost his job, a starting NFL quarterback in Louisiana also may have lost his. Spencer Rattler was benched Sunday after being unable to get the Saints into the end zone. He committed two turnovers Sunday (a fumble and an interception), bringing his turnover total to six in the past two games. A season that started with him doing a splendid job of taking care of the ball (three turnovers in the first six weeks) all of a sudden went south. Tyler Shough, drafted by the Saints with the No. 40 pick in April, took over for Rattler Shough completed 17 of 30 passes

OGROCKI

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By SUE

Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs tries to get past Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Jalen Ramsey during the second half of a game on Sunday in Pittsburgh.

chise that has long been defined by its defense appears lost. “There’s not a lot of fight in us right now,” Heyward said. Pittsburgh was able to cover up its defensive issues during its 4-1 start by regularly creating turnovers, five alone in a win over New England that helped mask a massive yardage discrepancy between the losers (369) and the winners (203) Those takeaways have dried up. The Pittsburgh defense has gone three straight games without getting its hands on the ball, the first time that’s happened since 2022. That’s also the previous time the Steelers missed the playoffs. While it’s far too early to make that sort of proclamation, the reality is that Pittsburgh has squandered multiple opportunities to take firm control of the wildly underachieving AFC North. The issue hasn’t been Rodgers and the offense; instead, it has been the de-

for 128 yards but also couldn’t get the Saints into the end zone.

Coach Kellen Moore said he would use the next 48 hours to decide who will start in L.A. Truth be told, it may not matter Yes, the Saints need to figure out who their quarterback of the future is going to be. Rattler? Shough? Or someone who isn’t on the current roster

But as Sunday reminded us, the Saints’ issues are more than just at quarterback The receivers and tight ends drop way more passes than NFL players in those positions should. The offensive line play hasn’t been great, a big reason Rattler and Shough found themselves under so much duress. Penalties still plague the team. The defense, which has had its rough moments this season, played well enough to win Sun-

fensive unit that was supposed to be this team’s anchor It has indeed been that, just not in the way Tomlin or his players imagined.

The Steelers will enter November in the bottom five in the NFL in yards allowed. The franchise hasn’t finished a season in that kind of company since 1988 and has ranked in the bottom half of the league just three times in Tomlin’s first 18 years. All three of those seasons — 2014, 2015 and 2021 Pittsburgh managed to reach the playoffs anyway, thanks in large part to Ben Roethlisberger’s late-game brilliance. That might be a more fraught proposition this time around if the defense can’t figure things out quickly

“It’s a long season,” inside linebacker Patrick Queen said. “We’re just going to keep building, keep stacking, learn from these and get better.”

They don’t really have a choice.

day Unfortunately, it didn’t get any help from the offense.

“Defense is doing their thing,” Rattler said. “Offense has to wake up.”

The offense has pretty much been asleep all season. The Saints have scored 20 points just twice in eight games.

Moore, hired because of his offensive mind, will have to figure it all out.

“We have a lot of stuff to work through, improve and get better at,” Moore said. “That’s the journey we get to take.”

So far, the journey has been a rough one.

It’s been hard to watch at times.

On Sunday, most chose not to stick around to watch.

Email Rod Walker at rwalker@ theadvocate.com.

fired coach Brian Kelly on Sunday

“He’s a great guy but the standard at LSU is very high,” Godchaux said. “He didn’t have a bad record, but you lose two games at LSU — it’s time for you to get fired. That’s just the nature of the business. It was like that when I was there, before I was there and it’s still like that now.”

So who does Godchaux think will replace Kelly?

The defensive tackle said he could see Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin as a favorite for the job, but he threw out an unconventional choice as his preference.

“I’m actually (interested in) the guy, an LSU alumni, Kelvin Sheppard has been doing an excellent job at (defensive coordinator) with the Detroit Lions,” Godchaux said. “I don’t know if he has much experience to take the job as of right now, but he’s been doing a hell of a job with Detroit as a defensive coordinator

analysts expect the Saints to pick a quarterback in the first round, few college prospects have separated themselves — with Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, Oregon’s Dante Moore and South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers all seen as in the mix.

If the Saints don’t go with a signalcaller, Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain, Auburn defensive end Keldric Faulk and Ohio State safety Caleb Downs are highly regarded prospects from the 2026 class.

Godchaux’s choice

New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Davon Godchaux is an LSU alum, so he gets why the school

“So he’s one of the guys for sure to look out for a future head coaching job, whether that’s college or the NFL. Who knows. Whoever it is, he’s got to get us back to the promised land, which is a championship at LSU, for sure.”

Sheppard, 37, was at LSU from 2006-10 before playing eight years in the NFL. He got into coaching in 2021, but the year prior, he spent one season as the LSU director of player engagement.

Sheppard is in his first year as the Lions defensive coordinator, taking over from Glenn after the latter was hired to coach the Jets.

Falcons looking for answers after loss to lowly Dolphins

BY BILL TROCCHI Associated Press

ATLANTA When the Atlanta Falcons last left Mercedes-Benz Stadium, they had just finished off an impressive 24-14 “Monday Night Football” win over the Buffalo Bills on Oct. 13. Falcons running back Bijan Robinson was looking like an MVP candidate and at 3-2, there was legitimate hope Atlanta would end its seven-year playoff drought.

That hope was nowhere to be found Sunday after a 34-10 loss to the Miami Dolphins dropped Atlanta to 3-4. Only a late touchdown by Tyler Allgeier prevented the Falcons from a second 30-point loss this season, something that has not happened to the franchise since 2003.

The Falcons entered Sunday’s game with several key players injured, including quarterback Michael Penix (knee) and leading receiver Drake London (hip), and they struggled against the Dolphins, who had just one win prior to Sunday and a struggling quarterback in Tua Tagovailoa who had thrown six interceptions in the two previous weeks.

Falcons coach Raheem Morris wasn’t looking for silver linings after the loss.

“It was bad across the board and it starts with us,” he said. “It’s something that we’ve got to fix all together, and we’ve got to go get those things done this week.”

There was an expectation that Kirk Cousins could step in for Penix and produce for the of-

fense. The 37-year-old made 14 starts for the Falcons in 2024. The four-time Pro Bowler said he felt comfortable in terms of being back on the field for the first time since December of last season, but he acknowledged the results were not there. He was 21 for 31 for 173 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions, but 76 yards came in the fourth quarter with the game essentially decided.

Cousins led the team on a nineplay scoring drive that resulted in a field goal on the team’s second possession. The Falcons did not score again until late in the fourth quarter when they went 65 yards in 11 plays with Cousins completing 6 of 9 passes. Corrections are needed elsewhere too, but it was the run defense that really struggled against the Dolphins. Miami tried to take pressure off of Tagovailoa with a run game that gained 141 yards, allowing Tagovailoa to use play-action passes.

“They ran the ball with a lot of different variety,” said linebacker Kaden Elliss, who led the Falcons with 12 tackles. “They hit us with gap scheme, inside zone, all the different runs, and marrying some good play-action shots.” The Dolphins ran the ball on third or fourth down nine times and converted six of them into first downs, including a thirdand-9 in the second half that went for a 12-yard run by De’Von Achane.

“(This game) is a tough one to swallow, but we have to swallow it as a group,” Elliss said. “Once we watch the film, we’re going to see a lot of things we don’t like.”

NEWORLEANS AREA FOOTBALLTOP 10s THE VARSITYZONE

LARGESCHOOLS (5A-4A)

1. Edna Karr8-0 (1): The Cougars, at No. 1inthe Division Iselect power ratings, scored in the 60s against Warren Easton for the second year in arow.Upnext is John Curtis, the No. 2team in the powerratings.

2. John Curtis 7-0 (2): The Patriots, coming offalopsided win against Jesuit last week, are the only team to beat Karrindistrict playsince the Cougars joined 9-5A in 2022.

3. St.Augustine 7-1 (3): The Purple Knights have scored in the 40s or better in six of their sevenwins, including the homecoming victory against Brother Martin last week.Up next is Holy Cross.

4. Destrehan 6-2 (4): The Wildcats have topped 40 points in all six wins, including the last five in arow.A win at Hahnville this week would clinch at least ashare of the district title.

5. St.Charles 7-1 (5): The Comets at No. 1inthe Division II select powerratings, earned ahard-fought winagainst Belle Chasse.The Week 10 game against Shawshould decide the district.

6. Rummel 5-3 (6): The Raidersput star tailback Jaden Terrance behind center and sparked asecond-half surgetobeat Holy Cross. Up next are Jesuit this week and KarrinWeek10.

7. Shaw6-2 (7): The Eagles areNo. 3inthe D-II select powerratings —two spots behind St. Charles

so the Week 10 game against St. Charles coulddecide the top seed in theplayoffs.

8. BrotherMartin 4-4(8): The four-game losingstreak has come againstone of thetougherschedules in thestate,includingthe past three againstNo. 1state-ranked Karr, No. 2Curtis and No. 4St.Augustine.

9. Lakeshore 6-1(9): The Titans, on athree-game winning streak since they lost to Salmen, can win the outright 7-4A district title with awin againstHannan.

10. Hahnville 6-1(10): The Tigers can clinch ashareofthe district title with ahome winagainst Destrehan. Doingsowould meansnapping a seven-gamelosing streak in games

against theirSt. Charles Parish rival. SMALLSCHOOLS (3AAND BELOW)

1. Kennedy 5-3 (1): The Cougars are ridinga four-game winning streak that includes three shutouts. Up next is De La Salle in agame that will decide the 10-3A district title.

2. Riverside 7-1 (2): The Rebels, at No. 1inthe DivisionIVselect powerratings, have several players remaining fromwhentheyreached the state finalsin2023.

3. Newman 4-2 (3): The Greenies have wonfour in arow since an 0-2 startagainst state-ranked St.Charles and Riverside. Up next are Country Dayand SouthPlaquemines in games that will decide the districttitle.

4. NorthlakeChristian 5-2(4): The Wolverines have athree-game shutout streak that will be tested against aSt. Helena team that scored 50 points in awin last week.

5. South Plaquemines 6-1(5): The Hurricanes, at No.1 in the Division IV nonselect powerratings, held a high-scoring CountryDay offense to 23 points.They’ll face Newmanin Week 10.

6. De La Salle 3-5(6): The Cavaliers have topped 40 points in all three district wins since an 0-5 nondistrict startagainst four teamswithsix or more wins.

7. CountryDay 4-3(7): The highscoring Cajuns seek their firstwin against Newman since 2018 after havingtheirfour-gamewinning streak snapped by South Plaquemines last week.

8. Pope John Paul II 5-3(8): The Jaguars scored 40 pointsormore forthe fourth timeina win against Independence but will be challenged against Class 4A PearlRiver 9.Young Audiences 6-0(9): The yaks continued their undefeated run with aback-and-forth win against Haynes.

10. Haynes Academy 4-4(10): The game againstPatrick Taylor will give the winner at least ashareofthe District 9-3A title

Christopher Dabe

St.Martin’sfindsspark with twonew offensive stars

BY CHRISTOPHER DABE Staff writer

The wait wasn’taneasy one, but they did it together

Running back Noah Dunn never became the main ballcarrier for St. Martin’suntilafter current LSU freshman running back Harlem Berry graduated after last season. And quarterback Donny Lawrence, aBrother Martin transfer, could not play quarterback forthe St. Martin’svarsity football team last season because of LHSAA transfer rules.

Now with Dunn at running back andLawrenceinhis firstvarsity seasonatquarterback, St. Martin’shas an offense that clicked at just the righttime in akey district win at West St. John last week when Dunn ran for two touchdowns in the fourth quarter and the versatile Lawrence accounted for more than 300 yards in total offense in a23-20 comeback victory.

To win, St. Martin’sovercame a 14-0 deficit as Lawrence threw a touchdownpasstofullback Gabe Savarese just before halftime, and the two touchdownsbyDunn came during afourth quarter that included three lead changes.

“That definitely was ahardearned victory for the team,” said Lawrence, who threw for 218 yards on 20-of-30passing,ran 16 times for 101yards and scored a pair of two-point conversionruns after the two touchdowns by Dunn.

PHOTO By WALLyPORTER

the people that you hang out with every day,encouraging you and fighting for you.”

Lawrence forthe season has completed 63% of his 161 pass attempts for 1,249 yards and nine touchdowns and has rushed 69 times for 394 yards and eight touchdowns. The hard-charging Dunn has run 91 timesfor 471 yards and seven touchdowns, plus 15 receptions for 205 yards and two scores.

Savarese,the fullback who caught atouchdown pass late in the first half against West St. John, alsoplays linebacker and leads the team in tackleswith 95.

Otherleading players include wideoutsCooper Wakefield, Kade Vinjuand Tyler Penny,along with two-way standouts Kain Oddo at receiver and defensive back and Aidan Molaison on the offensive and defensive lines.

St.Martin’srunning back Noah Dunnruns for atouchdownduring a game against West St. John in Edgard on Friday. HOME

The firsttwo-pointconversion runput St. Martin’s ahead 15-14. West St. John responded witha touchdown for a20-15 lead but failed to convert on atwo-point try.Dunnscoredhis second touchdown with just over aminuteremaining, and the St. Martin’sdefense forced aturnover on downs that sealed the win

Thepair became starters after waitingtheir turn Dunn,also the team’slong snapper,saidhelearned plenty from watching Berry over the past four

seasons but noted that he can be his own style of running back.

“I’m not the biggest guy,” the 5-foot-10, 185-pound Dunn said, “but I’m not theeasiest guy to take down either.”

Lawrence, like Dunn, also waited forhis chance to play. He previously attendedBrotherMartin, whereheplayed mostly at running back and receiver

The chance to playasasenior hasbeen “a blessing,” Lawrence said, adding that “it’s really awesome when you get to play with

At No. 17 in the latest LHSAA Division IV select power ratings, St. Martin’sisinthe running for atop 16 seed that could give the school ahome playoffgame in the first round.

“The thing that’s impressive is our kids have gotten better every week,” said St. Martin’scoach KevinDizer,whose team will play at 7p.m. Thursday at home againstGlenOaks. “I thoughtwe were ready forthis challenge.”

Contact ChristopherDabe at cdabe@theadvocate.com

SCOREBOARD

Sumrallnot giving credence to multiple coaching rumors

BY GUERRYSMITH

Contributing writer

The subject of speculation for just about every Power Four conference coaching vacancy, Tulane coach Jon Sumrall tried to shut downtalk of his future employment after practice Monday He used more than 300 words, but hispoint was clear His focus is solely on TexasSan Antonio (3-4, 1-2 American), which is 23-0 in home conference games under coach Jeff Traylor and will host the Green Wave (6-1, 3-0) on Thursday at the Alamodome (6:30p.m., ESPN).

“I’mintocoachingthisteam,” Sumrallsaid when asked to reflect on the coaching carousel. “I’ve dealt with it (coaching rumors) every year as ahead coach.I’msofocusedonwhere we are as ateam, maybe even more so thanever.(UTSA) is a hostile environment. They’ve done agreat job creating the environment there, and they have aformula for successat home. We have our work cut out for us.”

Sumrall said his heart breaks for the coaches who have been fired in recent weeks —LSU, Penn State, Florida, Arkansas and LSU are the schoolsthat top the list —noting all the people around them affected by the sudden in-season decisions. He added that he talked to his players in July about the rumors that might happen

“I told them let’slet this season be the season and let’s notallow B.S. distractions of somebody putting outa speculative article aboutwho could be acandidate or who could transferwhere,” he said. “Let’sjust play football games and have fun doing it together.I’ve got one job offer right now,tobethe head coach at Tulane,and I’mall in on that.”

Better late than never

Even though fifth-string

redshirt freshman Jamauri McClure hastouched theballonly sixtimes this season,the coaches have not filedhim away for therest of theyear. His breakaway abilityis tootantalizingconsidering the running back group’slongestgainisamodest28yards by Zuberi Mobley.McClure had a29-yardrun against UAB in limitedduty as atrue freshman ayear ago.

“Thenextfive-game stretch will be huge for him becausethere’s no secret,” offensivecoordinator JoeCraddock said. “When theball’sinhis hands,he’s electric. He’squick. He’s fast.Hehit arun last week (inpractice) andtouched like21.8milesper hour

He’scome along way.”

McClure, who did notplay in high school until hisjunior year,hurt himself with an unforced fumble in the red zone on Tulane’s opening seriesagainstTulsa. He had zero carries in thetwo games sincethen, when the Wave runningbacks gained only134 yardson35attempts(3.8 yardsper rush).

“Mentally,it’salearning curvefor him,” Craddock said. “Ifwecan get him apackage of plays to utilize his skill set, that’swhenhecancomealive.”

Prepping fornoise

AlargesegmentofTulane’s

Sunday and Monday practices featured piped-in loud music,simulating what Sumrall expects in theAlamodome. It is the first time theWave has worked out with noisesince it got ready for itstrip to Ole Miss last month.

“By all accounts, they (the Roadrunners) pump in the music,” Sumrall said. “I haven’tplayed there in areally long time (since2013, when he was the Wave’scodefensive coordinator under Curtis Johnson), but theguys I talk to in our league say they don’tturn thespeakers off ever,evenwhen they’re supposedto. We just have to be ready for that crowd noise.”

Lagniappe

Sunday’spracticewas at the Saints’ indoor facility —a product of inclement weather andgettingready for adome game. …Tulane’s only Thursday night road game sincethe startof2022 wasa34-3win at Charlotte on Halloween last year In Sumrall’s2013 visit to the Alamodome, TulanelimitedTexas-San Antonio to 53 snaps but lost 10-7 on alate field goal. …The Wave has not playedinatrue dome since theNew Orleans Bowl against UL in 2013, although the roof wasclosedatAT&T Stadium for the 2023 Cotton Bowl win against USC.

ThirdQuarter GB_S.Williams 8passfromLove(McManus kick), 9:01. Pit_FGBoswell 56, 5:34. Fourth Quarter GB_Jacobs 3run (Doubs pass from Love), 15:00. GB_Kraft 24 pass from Love (McManus kick) 11:05. GB_FGMcManus 28, 5:28. GB_FGMcManus 25, 3:59. Pit_R.Wilson 21 pass from Rodgers (pass failed), 2:07. A_67,386. GB Pit First downs 22 16

Total Net Yards454 295

Rushes-yards26-94 18-93 Passing 360 202 Punt Returns 4-17 2-21 Kickoff Returns5-119 6-123

Interceptions Ret. 0-00-0 Comp-Att-Int 29-37-024-36-0

Sacked-YardsLost0-0 3-17 Punts 3-50.667 4-48.5 Fumbles-Lost 2-01-1

Penalties-Yards 5-47 6-65 Time of Possession31:48 28:12

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING_Green Bay, Wilson11-61, Jacobs 13-33, S.Williams 1-1, Love 1-(minus 1).Pittsburgh, Warren 13-62, Gainwell 5-31. PASSING_Green Bay, Love 29-37-0-360. Pittsburgh, Rodgers 24-36-0-219. RECEIVING_GreenBay,Kraft 7-143, Watson 4-85, Doubs 3-44, Heath 3-29, Wilson3-26, Jacobs 3-12,Golden 3-4, S.Williams 1-8,

LSU could court these coaches to replace Kelly

BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer

LSU football is moving on from Brian Kelly

The program fired the Tigers head coach after less than four seasons in Baton Rouge The decision comes after LSU lost 49-25 to Texas A&M on Saturday, dropping to 5-3 and essentially ending the Tigers’ hopes of reaching the College Football Playoff.

Kelly’s firing means that LSU will need to find a new coach. Here’s a list of 15 potential candidates to replace Kelly

Coaching candidates

Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss coach

Kiffin is an intriguing candidate. Despite failed stints at Southern Cal and the Oakland Raiders, Kiffin has turned the Rebels into a consistent winner since taking the job in 2020. Ole Miss has won at least eight games in each season since his first and already has led the Rebels to two New Year’s Six bowl appearances The Rebels missed the College Football Playoff last season, but they are poised to make it this year thanks to a 7-1 start.

Jon Sumrall, Tulane coach

Sumrall has continued the success of his predecessor, Willie Fritz, at Tulane, guiding the Green Wave to a 15-6 record since his appointment at the start of last season. Before he arrived in New Orleans, Sumrall lost just four games in two seasons at Troy Sumrall doesn’t have experience as a Power Four conference head coach, but his track record is as strong as it gets as a Group of Five coach.

Dan Lanning, Oregon coach Lanning has been successful in his short time as the Ducks coach. Oregon has lost just seven games in four seasons under his leadership, and he guided the Ducks to the CFP and an undefeated regular season last year At 39 years old, Lanning’s youth and ability to connect with players in the era of NIL and the transfer portal would

RABALAIS

Continued from page 1C

to the Aggies’ football complex in the first place. And after LSU parted ways with Kelly on Sunday, the school is contractually obligated to pay him about $54 million. LSU’s people and Kelly’s people are in the process of negotiating that settlement, and if Kelly gets another coaching job or a TV gig, the buyout could be mitigated But LSU officials sent Kelly packing fully aware they may have to pay him all of that money. That’s money that counts on Woodward’s ledger As much as the money, it’s the lack of significant winning by Fisher and Kelly that counts most. Fisher was 45-25 and never led A&M to an SEC title or the College Football Playoff Kelly was 34-14 and never led LSU to an SEC title (his Tigers did play in the 2022 SEC championship game) or to the CFP

It’s great to hire a Jay Johnson to steer the LSU baseball team to two College World Series titles. It’s great to hire a Mulkey to lead the women’s basketball team to a national title. Same for Jay Clark, who Woodward gave the job to for gymnastics after D-D Breaux retired. Clark subsequently led the Tigers to their first NCAA crown. But athletic directors at football-mad schools like LSU are defined by their football hires. Even Skip Bertman, who led the Tigers to five CWS crowns, was reminded that the man he hired as athletic director to replace Nick Saban would define a large part of his legacy at LSU.

“All the championships you’ve won, all of the games, all of that goes down the drain if you don’t hire the right one,” assistant athletic director Verge Ausberry told Bertman in 2004 Bertman hired Les Miles. He was eventually fired in 2016, but not before leading LSU to the 2007 BCS title and a second trip to the national championship game in 2011

Right now, the Kelly and Fisher hires are anchors on Woodward’s resume. If you swing and you miss even a couple of times, the prospect of getting a third chance is extremely iffy

This is a tricky time for LSU

The school is expected soon to hire a president to replace William F. Tate IV (he left in May for Rutgers). Governor Jeff Landry will get the president he wants

make him a slam-dunk choice.

Eli Drinkwitz, Missouri coach

Drinkwitz, 42, has turned Missouri into a consistent winner After a 5-5 campaign and consecutive 6-7 seasons, he led Missouri to the Cotton Bowl in 2023 and a 10-win campaign last year Missouri still has an outside shot of reaching the CFP this year with a 6-2 record.

Clark Lea, Vanderbilt coach Lea has built a serious CFP contender at Vanderbilt, a statement that seemed unfathomable just a few weeks ago. The Commodores are 7-1 this season after taking down LSU and Missouri the past two weeks, and they won seven games last season. Vanderbilt is Lea’s alma mater

Brent Key, Georgia Tech coach The Yellow Jackets are undefeated this season under Key’s leadership after back-to-back sev-

the Baylor Bears on Dec. 31 at NRG Stadium in Houston.

to run LSU, one of the biggest appointments any Louisiana governor can make. It should be expected he will want to have influence on who LSU’s next football coach will be, and the future of the person who will be that coach’s boss.

Being athletic director at LSU is pretty much a thankless job. When Joe Dean took the job he was “Mr String Music” on SEC basketball telecasts, virtually a folk hero in these parts. He was vilified for hiring Curley Hallman, arguably LSU’s worst football coach ever Even Bertman’s considerable star lost some luster for decisions he made as athletic director

Hiring the next LSU football coach will be the most important hire in the history of the school’s athletic program. LSU won’t finish paying Ed Orgeron’s $17 million buyout until December after firing him during the 2021 season. It could be paying Kelly’s buyout through 2031, to the tune of about $740,000 per month.

The school can’t afford to miss on Kelly’s replacement. Another big buyout four years from now is too staggering to contemplate.

When LSU introduced Kelly in December 2021, Woodward was the man standing next to him, handing Kelly a replica of the “Win!” bar that hangs over the Tigers’ locker room door

The next coach needs to win big. With an exclamation point. That’s an easy assumption to make. Will Woodward be the man standing next to him is the bigger question.

For more LSU sports updates, sign up for our newsletter at theadvocate.com/lsunewsletter

en-win campaigns. Georgia Tech, despite its academic restrictions and shared recruiting footprint with Georgia, nearly took down the Bulldogs last season and has created an unmistakable identity structured around physicality under Key Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame coach Replacing one Notre Dame coach with another wouldn’t seem like a prudent strategy on the surface. But in just three-plus seasons since replacing Kelly, Freeman led Notre Dame to the national championship game last season, and the Fighting Irish may be poised to make the playoff again this year Freeman doesn’t turn 40 until January, making him another intriguing long-term candidate

Kelvin Sheppard, Detroit Lions DC Sheppard doesn’t have any head coaching experience, but he is leading a Lions defense that is

SLOAN

Continued from page 1C

with Wilson being promoted to interim head coach, a source also told The Advocate that offensive analyst Cordae Hankton will have a larger role in coaching the running backs Sloan — a former East Carolina quarterback and Louisiana Tech assistant — worked as LSU’s primary offensive playcaller for the past two seasons.

Kelly hired him to coach the LSU quarterbacks in 2022, then named him and Cortez Hankton as co-offensive coordinators after former play-caller Mike Denbrock left for the same job at Notre Dame after the 2023 season. In 2024, LSU signed Sloan and Hankton to three-year, $3.05 million contracts. Then the Tigers took a couple of steps backward on offense.

Last season, LSU finished 25th among FBS teams in total offense but 47th in scoring offense. It fin-

PELICANS

Continued from page 1C

The Pelicans begin a threegame road trip when they visit Denver on Wednesday

“It’s something that kind of popped up this morning,” Pelicans coach Willie Green said of Williamson’s injury “It didn’t seem like it was too serious, but I’m not sure.”

Jones went to the bench after committing his fourth foul barely a minute into the third quarter, and he was replaced by Bey who made two 3-pointers to help the Pelicans trim an 11-point halftime deficit to 75-71 midway through the period.

Sam Hauser and Baylor Scheierman each made a 3-pointer, and the Celtics extended the lead to 87-78 at the end of the third quarter

Poole’s 3-pointer got New Orleans within five points early in the fourth quarter, but Simons made two 3-pointers and Hauser added one to extend the lead to 102-86. The Celtics outscored the Pelicans 35-12 in the fourth quarter

The Celtics led by as many as 14 points during the first quarter before finishing the period with a 34-26 lead as Brown scored nine points. Veteran center DeAndre Jordan, signed as a free agent on Friday by the Pelicans, made his debut to

Houston, the Cougars are 7-1 and in the AP Top 25 after struggling in Year 1 under the 65-year-old Fritz.

Nick Saban, ex-Alabama, LSU coach For obvious reasons, whoever is tasked with leading the LSU coaching search should call Saban first. The legendary coach won a national championship with the Tigers in 2003 before winning six more titles at Alabama. But the odds of bringing back Saban are really long. Saban said on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Friday that he isn’t interested in returning to coaching.

James Franklin, ex-Penn State coach Franklin was fired by Penn State just a few weeks ago, but the former Nittany Lions coach has accomplished something Kelly couldn’t in three-plus seasons in Baton Rouge: make the CFP Penn State was a win away from playing for the national championship last season, and the Nittany Lions went 104-45 under his leadership.

eighth in the NFL in points allowed per contest in his first season as defensive coordinator He was a three-year starter at linebacker for LSU and was the director of player development at LSU in 2020 under Ed Orgeron. Kenny Dillingham,Arizona State coach

Dillingham is from Phoenix and is an Arizona State alum, meaning that a move to the Bayou — or anywhere else — may be unlikely But Dillingham’s credentials warrant him getting a look. He led the Sun Devils to the College Football Playoff in just his second season in Tempe last season.

Willie Fritz, Houston coach Fritz was the head coach at Tulane for eight seasons before leaving for Houston ahead of the 2024 season. He led the Green Wave to a victory in the Cotton Bowl in 2022 before guiding Tulane to an 11-win season the next year Now with

ished last in the SEC in both rushing attempts per game and rushing yards per game, while also struggling to convert in the red zone More than 90 FBS teams scored touchdowns on a higher percentage of their trips inside the 20 that year than the Tigers did.

LSU then lost four offensive linemen to the NFL, but it also brought back quarterback Garrett Nussmeier and added skill-position talent in the transfer portal. The results didn’t match the investment. Through the first seven games of the 2025 season, Nussmeier battled injuries, but the Tigers rushed for even fewer yards per game than they did in 2024. Their red-zone touchdown conversion rate plateaued, while their thirddown conversion rate fell from a league-leading 49% to a 10thranked 42%.

LSU entered Week 9 as one of only two power-conference teams that hadn’t scored at least 25 points in a game against an FBS opponent this season.

Rhett Lashlee, SMU coach Lashlee led SMU to the CFP last season, the program’s first in the ACC. The Mustangs hadn’t lost an ACC regular-season game under Lashlee until Saturday, and SMU went 11-3 under his command the season before joining the conference.

Alex Golesh, South Florida coach Golesh has turned the Bulls into a CFP contender after they took down Florida and Boise State to begin this season. He has SEC experience as the Tennessee offensive coordinator for two seasons before he was hired at South Florida. The Bulls won seven games in 2023 and 2024 before their hot start this fall Kalani Sitake, BYU coach BYU has become a consistent winner under Sitake’s leadership The Cougars nearly reached the playoff last season and have started this year at 8-0. In 10 seasons with BYU, he has an 80-43 record and only two losing campaigns.

Email Koki Riley at Koki.Riley@ theadvocate.com.

The Tigers hit that mark against Texas A&M, but only after their offense allowed 35 second-half points go unanswered. LSU punted on each of its first four drives of the second half, then turned the ball over on downs on its fifth. Nussmeier threw for only 168 yards before he was pulled late in the fourth quarter, and he was sacked six times. LSU also converted only 2 of 12 third-down tries and rushed for just 60 net yards.

Sloan has one year left on his contract, and LSU owes him 90% of its remaining value, which means his buyout could cost the school up to $990,000.

“When things are not going well from a football standpoint,” Kelly said after LSU’s loss to Texas A&M, “the head football coach has to be agile enough and able to make those changes and find out what we need to do to get our football team to play better.”

For more LSU sports updates, sign up for our newsletter at theadvocate.com/lsunewsletter

SHARING A GIFT

SLU dedicates new media center for Robin Roberts

BY JUDY BERGERON Staff writer

Talk about your full-circle moments.

Forty-two years after Robin Roberts graduated from Southeastern Louisiana University, she returned to the Hammond campus recently to cut the ribbon on a building named in her honor

The Robin Roberts Broadcast Media Center is now part of the newly renovated and expanded D Vickers Hall, known as the Humanities Building when ABC’s “Good Morning America” co-anchor walked its halls in the process of earning her degree in communication There was no such degree when Roberts started out at SLU in 1979 that didn’t come about until her senior year And the extent of television broadcasting resources at the university at that time? A Beta camera (Betacam) and an editing deck, Roberts recalls.

Those were the days, as they say Cutting the ribbon

As one of her favorite songs, “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” blared from the sound system, Roberts appeared from inside the center to cheers from the crowd gathered outside.

The university’s Spirit of the Southland Marching Band and the Southeastern Gospel Choir added to the festiveness of the morning celebration. Sunny and quite warm, Robin Roberts cardboard fans waved briskly throughout the audience.

“What a great day for our beloved Southeastern,” university President William S. Wainwright began.

Wainwright described Roberts, 64, as one of the most respected and accomplished broadcasters

in the industry, rising through the ranks to present spot at ABC News. She’s also been named to Forbes World’s 100 Most Powerful Women, and is one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people.

“And due to her generosity and her love of her alma mater we are thrilled to cut a ribbon today on the Robin Roberts Broadcast Media Center,” Wainwright con-

“Through Robin’s expression of love and support, future

BY WILL COVIELLO

Gambit

while lending an autumnal

to the

Your

garden center likely is awash with

selections that will fit the

Here’s what LSU AgCenter horticulturist Jason Stagg suggests planting this time of

All of these will last at least until first frost, which normally arrives in mid-November in most of Louisiana and as late as early December in the southernmost parishes.

Marigolds

These flowers thrive in the kind of warm, dry weather that Louisiana is experiencing so far this fall. Their yellow, orange and red blooms as well as their fine-textured foliage are stunning.

You’ll probably find both African and French marigolds at the garden center African marigolds typically grow to 1 to 2 feet tall, but some varieties can reach up to 4 feet tall and have large, ruffled blooms. Their French counterparts are more compact, usually staying under 1 foot tall, making them ideal for borders and fronts of beds.

Chrysanthemums

These classic fall plants are triggered to bloom when days get shorter With their signature mounded shape and flower colors ranging from white and yellow to red and purple,

See PLANTS, page 2D

Wish list takesfun outofchoosinggifts

Dear Miss Manners: Each year,Halloween heralds my own personal horror: the season during which my family harasses me to provide them with alist of items that Iwould like for Christmas.

Iabhor this annual ritual. To me, the value in receiving gifts is the knowledge that the giver tookthe time and effort to think about what Imight really like and select something they thought might please me. The beauty in gift-givingisin

By The Associated Press

Todayinhistory:

Judith Martin MISS MANNERS

the attention paid to thereceiver: looking carefully around their home to seeifthere is an item of comfort they might be missing; listening to their conversations for tidbits abouttheir interests and hobbies; noticing the slightlook of pleasure in their eyes when they see an artwork in agallery window and deciding to make that pleasure permanent

Ihave tried togentlyexplain this to my family,yet they are adamant that Ishould give

TODAYINHISTORY

theDetroit Tigers to complete a four-game sweep

Today is Tuesday,Oct. 28,the 301st dayof2025. There are 64 days left in the year

On Oct. 28, 1886, the Statue of Liberty,agift from the people of France, was dedicated in New York Harbor by PresidentGrover Cleveland.

Also on this date: In 1636, the General Court of Massachusetts passed alegislative act establishing Harvard College.

In 1919, Congress passed the Volstead Act, which provided the means for enforcement of a Prohibition era ban on alcohol, over President Woodrow Wilson’sveto.

In 1936, President Franklin D. Roosevelt rededicated theStatue of Liberty on its 50th anniversary In 1962, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev informed the United States that he had ordered the dismantling of missile bases in Cuba; in return, the U.S. secretly agreed to remove nuclear missiles from U.S. installations in Turkey as the two superpowers defused tensions of the Cuban missile crisis.

In 1991, what became known as “The Perfect Storm” began forming hundreds of miles east of Nova Scotia; lost at sea during the storm were the six crew members of the Andrea Gail, a fishing boat from Gloucester, Massachusetts.

In 2001, the families of people killed in the Sept. 11 terrorist attack in New York gathered at ground zero in lower Manhattan for amemorial service filled with prayer and song.

In 2012, the San Francisco Giants won their second World Series title in three years, beating

In 2021,Facebook CEOMark Zuckerberg said hiscompany was rebranding itself as Meta, an effort to encompass its virtual-reality vision for thefuture, while keeping the Facebook name for the socialnetwork itself.

In 2022, Tesla CEO Elon Musk took control of Twitter for $44 billion after aprotracted legal battle andmonthsofuncertainty.Hesubsequently rebranded the social media platform as X in 2023.

In 2022, Paul Pelosi, the82-yearold husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, was severely beatenbya hammer-wielding assailantwho broke into their San Francisco home.Less than three weeks later, Nancy Pelosiannouncedshe would remain in the House but step downasspeaker in the next Congress.

Today’sBirthdays: Basketball Hall of Famer Lenny Wilkens is 88. ActorJane Alexander is 86. ActorDennis Franz is 81. Actorsinger Telma Hopkinsis77. TV personalityand Olympic gold medal decathlete Caitlyn Jenner is 76. Actor Annie Potts is 73. Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is 70. Actor Daphne Zuniga is 63. Actor Lauren Holly is 62. Talk show host-comedian Sheryl Underwood is 62. Football Hall of Famer Steve Atwater is 59. Actor-comedian Andy Richter is 59. Actor JuliaRoberts is 58. Singer Ben Harper is 56. Football Hall of Famer TerrellDavis is 53. Country singer Brad Paisleyis53. ActorJoaquin Phoenix is 51. Actor Gwendoline Christie is 47. Actor MattSmith is 43. Actor Troian Bellisario is 40. Singer-songwriter Frank Ocean is 38. Tennis player Taylor Fritz is 28. Actor Nolan Gould is 27.

LSU AGCENTER PHOTO By OLIVIA McCLURE Kale and cabbagecan add interesting foliagetofall gardens and,asa bonus, they’re edible.

PLANTS

Continued from page1D

mums work wonderfully in almost any seasonaldisplay.

When shopping for mums, avoid plants that are in full bloom (unless you’re buying them to decorate for aspecial occasion or have some other need for instant flower power) Instead, pick plants that have tightly closedbuds. This will extend the amount of timeyou can enjoy these pretty flowers. Mums can stay in bloom and look attractive for several weeks. Most people keep mums in containers, but they can be planted intothe ground, too, and sometimes will perennialize this way.Just be careful when handling mums; they tend to be quite fragile.

Crotons

With leaves featuring vivid streaks of red, orange, yellow and green, crotons are another quintessential plant for autumn. These tropical plants thrive in bright, indirect lightand will lose their colorful variegations

them alist. My sister has taken to calling me daily to demand such adocument, and sheisnow threatening to have my father, stepmother and other siblings do thesame until Ichange my phone number or crack under thestrain.

Iwould prefer receiving no gift at all toreceiving one Iselected myself. Idoubt my family membershave noticed, but each year they make lists and circulate them,and each year Igotoa great deal of effort to select gifts for them that are NOT on their lists, yet are areflection of their

ROBERTS

Continuedfrom page1D

generations of broadcast journalism graduates will thrive and therefore strengthen their families,strengthen their communities, strengthen their economies, but of most importance,strengthen humanity.”

Roberts made asizable donation to the project, which was also paid for through state capital outlay funds. The newcenter adds 33,000 squarefeet to the80,000-squarefoot academic building, featuring threebroadcast media studios anewsroom, afilm studio and a multimedia studio.

During her remarks,Roberts talked of her first broadcasting job as sports director/on-air personality at WFPR/WHMDinHammond while astudent and stand-out on theLady Lions basketball team.

“You haven’tlived until you scratch alittleMerle Haggardon a100-wattradio station in Hammond, America,” she said, laughing. “This building is stellar.Itis beautiful. It exceeds all my expectations,” Roberts said. “… I could neverhaveimaginedwhat is behind us right now. But what is most important, everyonewho’s gonna walk through those doors, the teachers thatare in there waiting for you(the students) to help youbecause you are rooted to rise.”

Shedescribedthe legacy wall located in the center’slobby.It’s adisplay outlining Roberts’ life, fromgrowing up in Pass Christian, Mississippi, to radio and TV jobsonher way to ESPN and eventually ABC

“And you willsee on thewall, there are three quotes.One is from Sally-Ann (Roberts,her sister andretired WWL-TV coanchor): ‘Don’t letfear keep you from your destiny. Don’tlet fear keep you from your destiny,’ she said. “Andmine saying,‘Dream big, but focussmall.’ And then the last quote on the wall from our dear mother —‘Everybody has a gift.Discoveryours andshareit with the world.’ And I’m so grateful that Ihavebeen allowed this opportunity to share agiftwith my Southeastern family.”

One-on-one with Roberts

As she stood in the newcenter’s state-of-the-art multimedia studio after the ribboncutting, Roberts

SCREAMFEST

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crimescenes.

if they receive too much shade. Crotonscan live many years and even dowell as houseplants.

Ornamental peppers

There’sawide variety of ornamental peppers to choose from these days.Traditional options with yellow,orange and red peppers and green foliage are alwaysawelcome addition to the fall garden. Butyou also can now find cultivars with unique features such as eye-catching variegated green,whiteand purpleleaves anddeep red and purple fruit set against purpleto-black foliage.

Ornamental peppersoften are waxy and very spicy,sothey’re not pleasant to eat —but they are aLouisianaSuper Plant. Kale andcabbage

While ornamental peppers generally aren’tedible,kale and cabbage are— and they also can addinteresting foliage and, depending onthe cultivars you grow,shadesofred to thegarden. Mix and matchtheseplants, andyou’ll create an aesthetically pleasing landscapethatwill tide you over until it’stime to plant thingslike petunias and violas later this fall.

personal tastes and interests. How can Ipolitely decline their repeated demands? Idonot wish to suppress their joy in the holiday,but Isimply cannot bring myself to accede to their wishes.

Gentlereader: Alas, it is timeto point out to them how much more efficient it would be to have all of you do your own shopping.

Miss Manners is sorry to see theend of an ancienttradition that was one of the hallmarks of civilization. As you have experienced, the giftregistry/wish list has killed it. Just look at what this has done

to what used to be referred to as the Christmas Spirit. If they won’t agree to dropping either the lists or the entire custom, you will have to tell them that you are opting out. And you may have to change your telephone number after all.

Send questions to Miss Manners at herwebsite,www missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City,MO 64106.

MARKETING &COMMUNICATIONS PHOTOByRANDyBERGERON

took therelatively unfamiliar spot on theother side of the mic fielding questions from ahandful of Hammond, BatonRouge and New Orleansmedia. The Times-Picayunewas given time for afew brief queries to the woman of the hour

Iknow you’revery, very proud of this media center in your name.How much input in the specifics of building itself did youhave?

It was areal team effort. And because Ihaveworked in this industry for anumber of years, they did want my input. Butatthe end of theday,this is forthe university They know what’s best for their students, what is best to get them prepared.

Ihave to tell you, at first Iwas like, don’tput my name on the building. And they’re like, what? I’m like, no, it’snot about me. And then my team was like, are you crazy? So Iwas appreciative, very appreciative of how much they allowed me. But the contractor,the architect, the university,they get all the praise, especially the teachers. They knew what they needed best

You’ve mentioned your challenges in the broadcast fieldwhen you were first starting out,but what are the challenges in TV news today?

The challenges today,which, it is verydisheartening. Ilove our profession. I’mvery proud to be a journalist, as I’msure you are.

It hurtsmysoulthatwehavelost thetrust of the American public and for various reasons. And of all theaccolades that Ihave received,

theone that means themost was whenReader’sDigest named me Most Trusted News Person. (She tears up.)Because without trust, you don’thave anything with the public.

And so the challenges are, and also with localstations, newspapers,we’re being replaced in many ways. And so it’sfinding away to embracethe newtechnology and the new waysofgetting across the information.

But at the end of the day,storytelling is storytelling. No matter if it’sprint, no matterifit’sontelevision, radio, what have you. And Ihopethatthe American public would know that afree press is so vital fortheir well-being.

Afew years agoyou told us that your dream interviewwould be with Oprah, which youhavesince done,ofcourse. Is there anyoneelse still on that dream list?

The one that Iwish, and he’sno longer with us, is Nelson Mandela. Thatwas theinterviewthat Ireally wanted. And primarily to talk to somebody who was wrongly jailed foraslong as he was.And to leave imprisonment, not wanting retaliation, but reconciliation. And Ireally wanted to speak to him, because Ithink so many times when we get angry,nomatter what has happenedtous, we want to lash out, and forthis man to go like, no, no, no, no, not retaliation, reconciliation.

There’sthat dreaming big.

Email Judy Bergeron at jbergeron@theadvocate.com.

Tristan Chandrashotthe 16 mm film, and he likes to combine dubiouscharactersand traditional genre settings. Also delving intoafamiliar local environment is Hayden Legg’s “Shotgun.” In the short psychological thriller,Gemma moves into one half of ashotgun double.She’s recentlywidowed andina nervous state. Everything about thenew space is strange. She finds what looks like abloodyfingernail, andshe hears noises from theother side of the shotgun. She knocks, but no oneanswers thedoor. Then,in the middle of the night, someone knocks on her door Screamfest screens 10 feature films,with entries from Brazil, Mexico and New Zealand, as well as more than 30 short films,most of them sorted into five showcases. They hit arange of horror niches, from psychological thrillers to supernatural and body horrors, gore fests and more. It maynot comeasasurprise that Spider One, aka Michael DavidCummings, is amusicianand filmmaker,likehis older brother, RobZombie. Spider One fronted the metal group Powerman 5000, andin2022 he started writing and directing horror films. The last couple have been produced by Cher and her son, Chaz Bono, who

has acted in somehorror projects. Spider One’slatest film is “Big Baby,” ameta horror film abouta screenwriter.Inthe story,Adam struggles to finisha horror story about aserial killerwho wears a mask that looks like an infant’s face. As he digs deeper into that story,the differencebetween his envisioned violence and real life blurs.

“Shed” is amuch morestrippeddown horror thriller,created in the spare manner of “The Blair Witch Project,” but echoing the scheme of “Home Alone.”

Director Steven J. Mihaljevich filmed the survival horror film in westernAustralia. There, an isolated family is attacked in their home by astranger.Hekills the parents and their son,but he is unaware that theboy hadearlier locked his 10-year-old sister in ashed. The girl has no idea what’sbecome of her family,and at first she just tries to escapeand survive her confinement. When she hears avehicle in the driveway,she hopesit’s someonewho can rescue her In Mexican director Emilio Portes’s“Don’tLeave the Kids Alone,” Catalina decides to let her two sonstakecareofthemselves after she can’tfind ababysitter for the night. Their sibling rivalry and curiosity about their new home ratchet up the tensions in the haunted house story In 2015,the NewZealandhorror comedy “Deathgasm” built its own following with agratuitously bloody spoofofgorefilms.Inthe film, Brodie and Zakk form the

metal band Deathgasm and find an ancientpiece of sheet music used to summon demons.In“Deathgasm 2: Goremageddon,” the band tries to get back together,which also takes someconjuring, in order to compete in abattle of the bands. The opening scenesof“Hate Thyself” feature pans of dark swamps and alligators emerging frommuddy waters. Butthe film involves amore vicious killer.The Louisiana-shotfeature follows detective Angelo Matteo as he tracks serialkillers and investigates other gruesomecrimes.He’salso got his ownproblems, including shaken faith, adeteriorating marriage and struggles with drinking. As he focuses on asuspect picking up victims at bus stops, he starts to see larger patterns. The fest also screens somehorror classics. There’sa40th anniversary screening of the4K restoration of “Re-Animator” and the low-budget 1982 cult favorite “Basket Case.” The lineup also includes the horror comedy “Frankenhooker.”

Screamfestisa 25-year-old event started in Los Angeles. The fest screened aslate of horror films thereinSeptember,and many of those filmsare part of the New Orleans version of the fest.

For more information, visit screamfestla.com/nola/events. Tickets $13.65 and up via eventbrite.com.

Email Will Coviello at wcoviello@gambitweekly.com.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) Refuse to let what others do aggravate you. Channel your time and energy into finishing what you start and doing the best job possible. Change what you don't like.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Explore possibilities. If you limit yourself, you'll do yourself an injustice. Consider how you can use your skills and knowledge to do something you enjoy.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Create opportunities, and you will advance. Be aware of your limits and any health restraints. Avoid situations that pose a risk to your physical well-being.

AQUARIUS (Jan 20-Feb. 19) High energy alongside good timing and the urge to make a move will pay off. Fine-tune your skills, invest in yourself and take measures to look and do your best.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) Refrain from taking a leap of faith. You have time to consider every angle and redefine what you want to pursue. Trust your knowledge, intelligence and insight, and you'll discover the road that leads to victory.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) A change in how you earn or handle money will intrigue you. Find out as much as you can and submit your resume. Be reserved when reacting to emotional situations.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Build with what you have already instead of overpaying for something you don't need. Put more energy and time into partnerships and your home environment. Distance yourself from divisive people.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Impulsive action will tempt you. Be cautious when dealing with associates or those trying to provoke a reaction or prompt a hasty decision. Refuse to let anyone coax you into buying something you don't need.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) Put your energy into work, discipline and doing your utmost to thrive and survive. A unique approach to developing or showcasing your skills will help you advance. Think big, but don't lose sight of the budget.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Avoid debates or making impulsive moves under emotional conditions. Refrain from making a big decision without conducting a thorough investigation. Someone will take advantage of you if you give them the chance.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Chat up someone who can offer something in return. Be careful not to oversell or undersell yourself; truth matters and will determine your future. Display what you can contribute, and you'll find your niche. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) Refrain from overdoing it today. The temptation to take on too much or make promises you cannot keep is looming. Channel your energy and pay attention to what's going on around you.

The horoscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact. © 2025 by nEa, inc., dist. By andrews mcmeel syndication

Sudoku

InstructIons: sudoku is anumber-placing puzzle based on a9x9 grid with several given numbers. Theobject is to place the numbers 1to9 in the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. Thedifficulty level of thesudoku increases from monday to sunday.

Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

BY PHILLIP ALDER

Alexandre Dumas, the father, not his son, said, “All human wisdom is summed up in two words wait and hope.”

At the bridge table, one wishes that all wisdom isn’t summed up in two words — play and hope. Yes, you will often be hoping for the best, but ideally you find a 100 percent line of play or defense.

In yesterday’s deal, declarer had two chances to make his contract. Today’s is similar. South is in six hearts. West leads the club queen. What are declarer’s two chances? How should he play to combine them?

North’s two-no-trump response was the Jacoby Forcing Raise, guaranteeing at least four-card heart support and game-going values. South’s three-spade rebid indicated a singleton (or void) in that suit Then, after two control-bids (cue-bids), North made a very aggressive jump to slam.

If you bid the spots off the cards, you had better play them off, too — and get lucky.

South can see two possible losers: one diamond and one club. He has only 11 top tricks: one spade, six hearts, one diamond, two clubs and a spade ruff in South, the shorter trump hand. Declarer’s first thought is probably that the diamond finesse needs to work. But he might also find clubs 3-3. And that should be tried first.

South takes the first trick, draws trumps, and plays two more rounds of clubs. Here, they divide evenly and declarer can claim, stating that he will discard one of dummy’s diamonds on his last club. But if the clubs were not 3-3, the diamond finesse would still be available. © 2025 by nEa, inc., dist. By andrews mcmeel syndication

Each Wuzzle is a word riddle which creates a disguised word, phrase, name, place, saying, etc.

Previous answers:

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 — AnALYZED: AN-uh-lyz’d: Examined in detail to understand.

Average mark 16 words

Time limit 35 minutes

Can you find 23 or more words in ANALYZED?

YEstERDAY’s WORD — cARAPAcE

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.

Puzzle Answer ken ken

InstructIons: 1 Each row and each column must contain the numbers 1 thorugh 4 (easy) or 1 through 6 (challenging) without repeating. 2 The numbers within the heavily outlined boxes, called cages, must combine using the given operation (in any order) to produce the target numbers in the top-left corners. 3 Freebies: Fill in the single-box cages with the number in the top-left corner. HErE is a

WiShinG Well

DBEOPPORTUNITY: WAIVED FEDERALFUNDED: YES RELEASED ON: October8th,2025 DEADLINETORESPOND: October31st,2025 PRE-BIDCONFERENCE: N/A

Datesare subjectto changesvia an adden‐dumpostedbythe Bu‐reau of Purchasing on theCity’ssupplierportal. If this solicitation is fed‐erally funded,prospec‐tive bidder/respondent must payparticularat‐tentiontoall applicable laws andregulations of theFederal government andthe Stateof Louisiana.

HUDFunded Solicitation: Attentiontoprospective bidder/respondentis called particularly to the requirements forcondi‐tionsofemploymentto be observed andmini‐mumwagerates to be paid underthe Contract (Davis-Bacon Act),Sec‐tion 3(LowIncomeResi‐dent Participation) of the Housingand UrbanDe‐velopmentAct of 1968, Section109 (Non-Dis‐crimination) of theHous‐ingand CommunityDe‐velopmentAct of 1974, Section503 (Non-Dis‐criminationAgainst Em‐ployeeswithDisabilities) andSection 504 (NonDiscrimination Against IndividualswithDisabili‐ties)ofthe Rehabilitation Actof1973, Segregated Facilities, Executive Order11246, andall ap‐plicable laws andregula‐tionsofthe Federalgov‐ernmentand Stateof Louisianaand bonding andinsurance require‐ments.

TheCityofNew Orleans strongly encourages mi‐nority-ownedand women-ownedbusi‐nesses, socially andeco‐nomicallydisadvantaged businessesand small businessestorespond to this solicitation,orto participateinsubcon‐tracting opportunities pursuant to this solicita‐tion TheBureauofPurchas‐ingusescommodity codestonotifysuppliers of therelease of asourc‐ingevent andsubse‐quentmodificationsvia addendum.Notethatyou wouldreceive thosenoti‐ficationsifyou selected thefollowing commodity code(s) before there‐leaseofthe sourcing event: COMMODITY CODE(s): 600-72

Formoreinformation aboutthisevent,goto www.nola.govand click on “BRASS SupplierPor‐tal” under “BIDS& CON‐TRACTS”. Once on the SupplierPortal, search “OpenEvents. Thankyou foryourinter‐estindoing business with theCityofNew Or‐leans. JamesSimmons,Jr. ChiefProcurement Officer AdvertisingDates: October14, 21 and28,

TIME AND PLACE THE PROPOSALSWILLBE PUBLICLY OPENED AND READ: BIDTITLE:PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENTFOR EARLY CHIDLHOOD EDUCATION CENTER BIDNUMBER: 002 BIDOPENING DATE:NO‐VEMBER 12,2025@ 2:00 PM ALLINQUIRIES ANDRE‐QUESTS FORSPECIFICA‐TIONSSHOULDBEAD‐DRESSEDVIA EMAILTO: NNELSON@ALEMBIC COMMUNITY.COM BIDS WILL BE PUBLICLY OPENED AT: 1229 ST.THOMASSTREET, SUITEA NEWORLEANS,LA70130 SPECIFICATIONS MAYBE OBTAINED FROM THE PURCHASING DEPART‐MENT.THE RIGHTISRE‐SERVED TO REJECT ANY ANDALL BIDS ANDTO WAIVEINFORMALITIES 164302-oct 27-28-2t $281.04

PUBLIC NOTICE

Invitation to Bid SEALED PROPOSALSAS LISTEDBELOW WILL BE RECEIVED BY THEPUR‐CHASINGDEPARTMENT AT: WILREACHONEFOUNDA‐TION,INC 1678 NORTHBROAD STREET NEWORLEANS,LA70119 (504)975-5668 UNTILTIMES ANDDATES INDICATED, AT WHICH TIME ANDPLACE THE PROPOSALSWILLBE PUBLICLY OPENED AND READ: BIDTITLE:FURNITURE FOREARLY CHIDLHOOD EDUCATIONCENTER BIDNUMBER: 003 BIDOPENING DATE:NO‐VEMBER 12,2025@ 2:00 PM ALLINQUIRIES ANDRE‐QUESTS FORSPECIFICA‐TIONSSHOULDBEAD‐DRESSEDVIA EMAILTO: NNELSON@ALEMBIC COMMUNITY.COM BIDS WILL BE PUBLICLY OPENED AT: 1229 ST.THOMASSTREET, SUITEA NEWORLEANS,LA70130 SPECIFICATIONS MAYBE OBTAINED FROM THE PURCHASING DEPART‐MENT.THE RIGHTISRE‐SERVED TO REJECT ANY ANDALL BIDS ANDTO WAIVEINFORMALITIES 164304-oct 27-28-2t $281.04

PUBLIC NOTICE -

NOTICE TO BIDDERS SP#1537

Sealed bids will be re‐ceived by theProcure‐ment Sectionofthe Divi‐sion of Administration 1201 N. 3rd. St 2nd. Floor, Suite2-160, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at 10:00A.M.for thefollow‐ing: RFxNo. 3000025531 *Rebid*- AirCondition‐ingFilters -SW, 11/06/25

Bidproposalforms,in‐formationand specifica‐tionsmay be obtained by accessingthe bidnum‐berinLaPac at www.doa. Louisiana.gov/ospor from theprocurement sectionlistedabove.No bids will be received after thedateand hour specified.The rightisre‐served to reject anyand allbidsand to waiveany informalities. TomKetterer Director of State Procurement FAX(225)342-8688 164316-oct 28-1t $11.48

PUBLIC NOTICENOTICE TO PROPOSERS SP#1541

Sealed proposalswillbe received by theOffice of StateProcurement,1201 NorthThird Street,2nd Floor, Suite2-160, Baton Rouge, LA until 10:00AM CT on 12/02/2025 forSo‐licitation Number Doc1729652446 -Request forProposal(RFP) for StatewideTemporary Staffing Services.The RFPmay be accessed at https://discovery.ariba. com/rfx/23520711. No proposalswillbecon‐sideredafter thedate andhourspecified.The rightisreservedtoreject anyand allproposals andtowaive anyinfor‐malities TomKetterer Director of StateProcure‐ment Phone(225)342-8010 164336-OCT 28-1T $10.34

PUBLIC NOTICEProposalswillbere‐ceived until 2:00 PM on October23, 2025 by the Purchasing Department of DelgadoCommunity Collegeand thereafter publicly opened forthe procurementtoReuphol‐ster Auditorium Seats. Additional information maybeobtained by con‐tactingthe Purchasing Department,Delgado CommunityCollege,501 City Park Ave.,New Or‐leans, LA 70119 (504)7623028 or email: aharri@ dcc.eduor purchas‐ingdept@dcc.edu BidDocuments andAd‐dendamay be down‐loaded from: https:// wwwcfprd.doa.louisiana gov/osp/lapac/dspBid cfm?search=departm ent&term=39Evidenceof authoritytosubmitbid shallberequiredinac‐cordance with R.S. 38:2212(A) (1)(c) and/or R.S. 39:1954(C) (2)(d) AA/EEO 164314-oct 28-1t $35.62

CI TO:Defendant ESTATE OF RUDOLPHDANIELKELLY: Notice is hereby given that an action hasbeen filedinthe Superior Courtofthe Stateof Alaska,First Judicial Dis‐trictatSitka,inthe abovecaptioned matter. Theactionhas been broughttorecover monies owed forthe de‐fendant’sdefault on a loan that is securedby a promissory note and a deed of trust. Plaintiffis entitled to judicially fore‐closehis deed of trust lien on theproperty knownasthe SitkaBusi‐ness Park,moreparticu‐larlydescribed as: U.S. Survey No.2729, SitkaRecording District, FirstJudicialDistrict, StateofAlaska, EXCEPT that portionconveyedto theState of Alaska by right-of-way deed recordingMarch 15,1954 in Book 10 at Page 562. Youare hereby sum‐monedand required to file an answer to the complaintwithinthirty (30) days of thelastdate of publicationofthisno‐tice or thecourt may enterthe relief requested by thePlaintiff.A copy of your answer must be filedwiththe courtat304 Lake St.Rm203,Sitka,AK 99835, with acopymailed to counselfor theplain‐tiff,Brandon C. Marx Esq.,P.O.Box 6171,Sitka Alaska 99835. ABA #0309039 Dated: 10/16/2025 Publish: (4 consecutive weeks) 163449 Oct. 21,28, Nov. 4, 11,4t $965.88

area,inthe amount of $4,900,000.00. The project i l d i t ll ti f