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M o n d ay, n ov e M b e r 24, 2025
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Judges lining up for open Louisiana Supreme Court seat Trump nominates Crain to federal court
BY TYLER BRIDGES Staff writer
STAFF PHOTOS By BRAD BOWIE
Volunteer Raquel Zenon grabs frozen turkeys for waiting vehicles as part of the Lafayette Consolidated Government’s Parks, Arts, Recreation and Culture Department’s first PARCsGiving event at Girard Park in Lafayette on Saturday.
Time for giving Volunteers in Lafayette collect, assemble and distribute Thanksgiving meal baskets to those in need
Lafayette Consolidated Government’s Parks, Arts, Recreation and Culture Department coordinated the city’s first Thanksgiving food drive Saturday. For the event, named PARCsGiving, community members dropped off Thanksgiving-themed food items, which were then assembled by volunteers into meal kits and distributed Saturday at Girard Park Recreation Center.
The race to replace Justice Will Crain on the Louisiana Supreme Court has begun even before Crain has left the position to become a federal judge. Crain’s nomination by President Donald Trump was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday on a party-line vote, setting him up for final confirmation by the full Senate sometime soon. In the meantime, five judges in Crain’s Supreme Court district along Interstate 12 are expressing varying degrees of interest in running for his seat after it becomes vacant. Crain The potential candidates so far are Judges Brian Abels, William Burris, Blair Edwards, Vincent Lobello and Britain Sledge. Also expressing interest has been Christopher Walters, deputy executive counsel for Gov. Jeff Landry, who played a key role in the election of the last justice elected to the state Supreme Court. The judges and Walters are all Republicans. Two judges mentioned as potential candidates for Crain’s seat said they have ruled out running. They are Allison Penzato, a judge on the 1st Circuit Court of Appeal, and Alan Black, a judge on the 22nd Judicial District Court.
ä See JUDGES, page 5A
‘Go over there and win’
Childhood dream now a reality as Church Point cowboy heads to first National Finals Rodeo Volunteers Raquel Zenon, left, and Makhi Carnell load a frozen turkey and Thanksgiving meal basket into a waiting vehicle on Saturday.
BY JA’KORI MADISON
Staff writer
Waylon Bourgeois is headed toward a dream he has carried since childhood: 10 nights in Las Vegas under the brightest lights in rodeo history at the National Finals Rodeo. Growing up in Church Point, surrounded by horses, cattle and a family that lived by the saying “Live your life to the fullest,” Bourgeois learned early what it meant to ride hard, live fast and chase his dreams with everything he had. Guided by the do-what-you-love principle, he never felt pressured to follow a single path, he said. His childhood memories are a mix of racing dirt bikes, playing football and baseball, and, of course, rodeo.
SEASONED GREETINGS
From starters to sweets, put a south La. spin on holiday dishes
ä See RODEO, page 5A
BY JA’KORI MADISON
Staff writer
George Graham has spent most of his life in Louisiana kitchens. First in his family’s small-town restaurant in Bogalusa and later in two Cajun and Creole cookbooks and on his blog, Acadiana Table. With Thanksgiving approaching, Graham sees the holiday as a moment when family, culture and south Louisiana tradition meet on the table. “The holidays really tell the story of where we come from,” he said. Even though Graham avoids the Cajun-versusCreole debate, he said he shares one comparison that seems to stick with people:
ä See SEASONED, page 5A
WEATHER HIGH 80 LOW 56 PAGE 12C
PHOTO PROVIDED By PHOTO GEORGE GRAHAM
Slow-roasted fresh ham is unlike any ham you’ve ever tasted.
“This fresh ham roast is an unusual spin on ham that is a must-try recipe. I urge you to find a farmer or a butcher who can deliver a fresh ham roast for your dinner table.” GEORGE GRAHAM, author and blogger
PHOTO PROVIDED By ROSEANNA SALES
Waylon Bourgeois secured 12th place in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association world standings, officially punching his ticket to his first National Finals Rodeo.
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101ST yEAR, NO. 147