The Acadiana Advocate 08-20-2026 by The Advocate

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Landry sets date to unveil SpaceX deal Event scheduled for Tuesday in Abbeville

BY STEPHANIE RIEGEL Staff writer

Gov. Jeff Landry is inviting hundreds of Louisiana elected ofﬁcials and business leaders to Abbeville next week to announce that Elon Musk’s company SpaceX is planning to build a multibillion-dollar spaceport on a roughly 18-mile stretch of the coast about 45 miles southwest of Lafayette.

An invitation, sent via email by the Governor’s Office and Louisiana Economic Development on Wednesday, said Landry and LED Secretary Susan Bourgeois “cordially invite you to join them in announcing a deﬁning moment for Louisiana’s future.” The event is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Tuesday in Abbeville, the Vermilion Parish seat and the closest city to the site of the

The announcement has been anticipated for weeks and is expected to lay out the aerospace ä Judge dismisses lawsuit company’s plans to build a launch facility along the coast that will against Exxon, clearing way for blast SpaceX’s reusable Starship SpaceX project. PAGE 3A rockets — among the most powerful ever built — out over the Gulf planned spaceport. and into orbit. The invitation didn’t mention The project could bring potenSpaceX by name and Landry’s tially thousands of jobs and a masoffice declined to comment, but sive inﬂux of aerospace and other sources familiar with the deal said commercial activity to the coastal the subject of the announcement is areas sandwiched between two the SpaceX project. wildlife refuges and known as a

UL president praises school’s ﬁnancial recovery

popular spot for recreational hunting and ﬁshing. The facility will be located on land — some 130,000 acres in all — that was owned for decades by ExxonMobil. The land was turned over to the state as part of a settlement of dozens of lawsuits blaming the oil giant for pollution and coastal land loss. Court records show that a judge in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana on

ä See SPACEX, page 3A

Corps to clear Vermilion River Agency won’t dredge entire waterway

BY CLAIRE TAYLOR Staff writer

July 1 with a $3.6 million surplus, according to Kolluru. He emphasized over the summer that there was still a lot of work to do to help the university reach sustainable ﬁnancial footing, and at Wednesday’s address, he thanked faculty and staff for stepping up during the initial period of “transition and transformation.” “You kept teaching, you kept conducting research, you kept serving our

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is supposed to begin removing trees and other debris from the Vermilion River this fall to ease flooding, a Corps official told the Lafayette City and Parish councils. The federal agency then will consider dredging spots on the river, but will not dredge the entirety of the Vermilion River. Col. Scotty Autin, commander and district engineer of the New Orleans District of the Corps, who is a native of Houma, briefed the councils at a special meeting Tuesday, where the colonel faced pushback from some council members and residents. The Corps, not contractors, will begin as early as October and into 2027, clearing 919 obstacles identified in the river, starting in the northern part of the river and working to the south, Autin said. The river will be analyzed afterward to identify places for spot dredging, he said, because clearing debris could affect existing low spots. Ten years ago, in August 2016, 20 inches of rain fell on the city, parish and region, flooding thousands of homes. Nothing has been done by the Corps since then, despite $50 million in federal funds being allocated for river dredging by Rep. Clay Higgins, R-Lafayette, who represents the 3rd Congressional District.

ä See RECOVERY, page 5A

ä See RIVER, page 5A

STAFF PHOTO By LESLIE WESTBROOK

University of Louisiana at Lafayette President Ramesh Kolluru gives the annual State of the University address on Wednesday.

Kolluru promises investment in faculty compensation, student success BY JOANNA BROWN

as the surrounding campus sprang to life with 3,400 students moving in before the start of classes on Monday. Kolluru’s appointment in February In his first State of the University address since being named president of followed months of budget cuts and job the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, eliminations at UL, which had a $50 milRamesh Kolluru extolled the institution’s lion deficit at the start of the 2025 fiscal financial recovery over the past year. year. “Because of our work, your work and Thanks to significant cost cutting meathe mutual choices we make together, sures across the university, including we begin this fiscal year with a balanced spending freezes, position and departbudget for the first time in more than a ment cuts, property sales and contract decade,” Kolluru shared in Angelle Hall, cancellations, this fiscal year started on

Staff writer

Trump picks top White House aide Overton to lead the FDA BY ALI SWENSON and MATTHEW PERRONE Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Dr. Heidi Overton, a top White House aide, has been picked to lead the Food and Drug Administration, President Donald Trump announced Wednesday. Overton is a medical doctor and deputy director of the White House Domestic Policy Council who has worked on several of Trump’s second-term health initiatives. She has become a trusted administration figure and a

WEATHER HIGH 96 LOW 78 PAGE 6A

champion of the Republican president’s goals. If conﬁrmed by the Senate, she would have to balance a raft of competing priorities, including Trump’s ﬁxations, the anti-regulatory interests of traditional Republicans and the anti-corporate posture of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Those challenges dogged the tenure of the previous FDA head, Dr. Marty Makary. He resigned in May, leaving behind unfinished projects such as work on ultraprocessed foods, antidepressants and COVID-19 shots.

Referring to her as “Dr. Heidi” in a Truth Social post, Trump said Overton was a smart and respected “rockstar” who would deliver on his priorities of faster cures, innovation, lower drug prices and more wins for Kennedy’s “Make America Healthy Again” movement. Kennedy posted on X that Overton has “exceptional judgment, professionalism, discipline and an unwavering commitment to the American people.” Overton attended medical school at

ä See FDA, page 5A

Business ...................10C Commentary ................3B Nation-World ................2A Classified .....................4A Deaths .........................4B Opinion ........................2B Comics-Puzzles .....7C-9C Living............................5C Sports ..........................1C

Dr. Heidi Overton, deputy director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, has been picked to lead the FDA. ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO

102ND yEAR, NO. 51

2A ● Thursday, August 20, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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Safari helicopter crash in northern Kenya kills 7

NAIROBI, Kenya — A safari helicopter crashed Wednesday morning in a remote part of northern Kenya, killing seven people, including ﬁve Americans, according to local police and the U.S. State Department. Among those killed were an executive with Telemundo, the U.S.-based Spanish-language network owned by NBCUniversal, and the director of Ecuador’s national intelligence service. The helicopter crashed at 9:13 a.m. while ﬂying from the Loisaba Conservancy to the Ewaso Nyiro area in Samburu County, according to the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, which said in a statement that an investigation was underway. It said there were seven people on board — six passengers and the pilot. Late on Wednesday, David Nkoroi, the police commander for Samburu, told reporters that all seven people on board had died. The U.S. State Department said five of those killed were U.S. citizens. The identities of the victims were not revealed but a local television station in Miami, Florida, said that José Suárez, 55, president and general manager of several Telemundo stations in Florida, was among those killed.

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Gaza ceasefire progress in doubt

Israel’s deadly strikes raise concerns BY WAFAA SHURAFA Associated Press

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Deadly airstrikes in Gaza on Wednesday cast more doubt on whether new U.S. efforts can advance a tenuous ceasefire in the Palestinian territory. Just two days after U.S. negotiators reportedly asked Israel to draw down attacks in the Gaza Strip, at least 10 people were killed Wednesday in two strikes, according to local hospitals and the Palestinian Red Crescent. Israeli troops also crossed the ceasefire line in southern Gaza and detained a Hamas police colonel at dawn Wednesday, two witnesses and a Hamas official said. Israel’s military said one of the strikes on Wednesday, in the area of Nuseirat refugee camp, struck a Hamas commander who had participated in the Hamas-led attack in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, in which 1,200 people, mostly civil-

ians, were killed and 251 abducted. A second strike in the Tuffah area of Gaza City struck four Hamas militants gathering in a police station, the military said, claiming they were planning to carry out attacks against Israeli troops. Israel’s military said a strike the day before targeted a meeting of four Hamas commanders and additional militants. The commanders killed included Muhammad Hamdi Ahmad AlMasri, Muhammad Attar and Muhammad Fathi Hussein Nasser, all accused of carrying out terrorist attacks against Israeli troops, and Samed Samir Harb Abu Habal, who infiltrated Israeli territory during the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack, according to a statement from Israel’s military. The Hamas-run Interior Ministry said the Wednesday Gaza City strike on the police station killed eight police ofﬁcers and a 13-year-

old girl. Two ofﬁcers were women, it said. One person was killed in Nuseirat. On Tuesday evening, an Israeli strike on a busy seaside cafe killed seven Palestinians, including a child, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Jared Kushner, a U.S. negotiator and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, held a marathon meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, in which he asked Israel’s leader to draw down attacks on Gaza, a person familiar with the meeting said. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to brief journalists. Also on Wednesday, Israel’s military said it had completed reviews of 150 incidents of troop conduct during the war in Gaza and would launch criminal investigations into the 2024 killings of a 5-year-old girl and her family, as well as of 15 Palestinian paramedics in 2025. The deadly strikes in Gaza on Tuesday and Wednesday exacted more casualties even as a ceaseﬁre

U.S. national debt now stands at $40T BY FATIMA HUSSEIN Associated Press

Death toll in gold mine collapse rises to over 100 BANGUI, Central African Republic — The death toll from a gold mine collapse in a western part of Central African Republic has risen to more than 100, a Red Cross volunteer involved in relief efforts and a local ofﬁcial said Wednesday. The low-tech, artisanal gold mine collapsed Tuesday morning in the village of Zamboye, in the Nana-Mambere prefecture, near the border with Cameroon. In addition to the dead, several survivors were critically injured, said Gervais Ganagoroh, a local Red Cross volunteer involved in relief efforts. The death toll is likely to rise since several people were still missing and others were trapped under the rubble, said Bertrand Be Yangué, a member of the Zamboye youth council. “Finding them alive would be a miracle,” Yangué said. “We are saddened and heartbroken to see young men and women perish after coming to the mines to save their families from despair.” An investigation has been opened to determine the cause of the collapse, identify the victims and those responsible for operating the site, and establish any potential criminal liability, the prosecutor at the Baboua sub-prefecture court said in a statement.

Indonesia foils drug smuggling attempt BATAM, Indonesia — Indonesian authorities seized about 2.6 tons of liquid methamphetamine from a ship intercepted off Sumatra and detained 10 Myanmar nationals suspected of involvement in an international trafficking network, officials said Wednesday, in one of the country’s largest drug busts. The operation was carried out Monday by a joint task force of Indonesia’s National Narcotics Agency, customs officials and Riau Islands police after authorities received intelligence about a vessel allegedly transporting narcotics from Malaysia’s Sarawak state toward Indonesian waters, said Roy Hardi Siahaan, the National Narcotics Agency’s director of enforcement. Indonesia is a major hub for drug trafficking in Southeast Asia despite having strict drug laws, with convicted smugglers sometimes executed by firing squad. Siahaan said authorities intercepted the Tanzania-flagged MV Ocean Porter in waters off Tanjung Parit in Bengkalis regency, Riau province, and towed it to a customs operations base on Batam island, next to Singapore, for inspection. Investigators believe the vessel previously operated as the MV Rain Maker, altering its identity to evade detection. He said investigators found approximately 2.6 tons of liquid methamphetamine hidden inside eight drums and the vessel’s water tanks, describing the seizure as “one of the largest drug busts in Indonesia this year.”

that’s been in place since October has significantly diminished the ﬁghting in the tiny enclave where more than 2 million Palestinians live. Since the ceasefire, Israeli strikes have killed at least 1,273 people, according to health officials in Gaza. On the diplomatic front, the ceasefire also appears stalled. Trump’s initial ceasefire plan laid out a broad vision for ending Hamas’ rule in Gaza and rebuilding the territory, much of which was reduced to rubble during the war. But since last fall, major sticking points have emerged on the conditions of Hamas’ disarmament and Israel’s withdrawal — and which should come ﬁrst. Earlier this month, Trump announced that Hamas had agreed to disarm. But Hamas said it would begin to disarm if Israel halts strikes and withdraws, adding that laying down its heavy weapons would come later and be contingent on the creation of a Palestinian state.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By AHN yOUNG-JOON

The U.S. Army’s armored vehicles gather to cross a river at a training field in yeoncheon, South Korea, near the border with North Korea on Tuesday.

North Korea shrugs off scaled-back exercises Officials say Trump’s move to cut back U.S.-S. Korea drills changes nothing

BY HYUNG-JIN KIM Associated Press

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea said Wednesday that a U.S. decision to scale back military exercises with South Korea does not change what it sees as the provocative nature of the drills, dampening hopes for an early resumption of diplomacy between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump. The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un made the comments Wednesday night in her country’s ﬁrst reaction to Trump’s moves to drastically cut back the annual U.S.-South Korean military drills. “We think it’s not worth making comments on that and we have no interest in it at all,” Kim Yo Jong said in a statement carried by state media. “The provocative, aggressive nature of the drills won’t change even though their duration and size were reduced.” She also cited a series of other military drills carried out by the U.S. and South Korea earlier this year and South Korea’s push to introduce nuclear-powered submarines. Kim Yo Jong denied that there are any communications between Trump and Kim. Earlier this week, pressed by reporters on whether he had a conversation with Kim Jong Un, Trump said that Kim had re-

sponded to his request for a conversation. Kim Yo Jong’s statement did not contain North Korea’s typically harsh rhetoric. She briefly said relations between her brother and Trump are “still excellent,” mentioning her brother’s past comments that he still has “good memories” of Trump. This suggests North Korea may be trying to manage relations with Trump, while seeking bigger concessions to restart talks. When asked by reporters Wednesday if he will meet with Kim Jong Un this year, Trump said that “Yeah, I will be.” He wouldn’t answer a question about whether he is exchanging letters with Kim but said he gets along with him. Kim Yo Jong’s statement came hours after the South Korean and U.S. militaries confirmed they were scaling back their 11-day Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises. Trump earlier ordered the Pentagon to “substantially reduce” the exercises, citing what he said was a good relationship with Kim and South Korea’s refusal to support him over Iran. South Korean officials said Trump’s announcement came without prior notice, baffling many people in the Asian country and raising concerns about joint defense readiness. South Korea’s military said the allies agreed to adjust the duration and scale of the exercises at the request of the U.S. It said the ongoing drills would end Friday, not Aug. 27 as initially planned. It added that the allies also agreed to downsize some joint field training exercises. The drills are a central pillar of the U.S.-South Korea alliance, which dates to the 1950-53 Korean War.

Telescope spies the fastest star in Milky Way around a black hole BY ADITHI RAMAKRISHNAN

AP science writer

NEW YORK — A telescope has spied the fastest known star in our galaxy, racing around the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way. The star is zipping around the black hole, reaching speeds of about 15,534 miles per second. That’s 100,000 times faster than a commercial plane. “That star is really, extremely fast,” said as-

tronomer Stefan Gillessen with the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics. The newly discovered star also orbits the black hole at closer range than scientists have ever seen before, taking just 8.7 years to complete a revolution. It harnesses the black hole’s gravity to ﬂy faster without falling in. Gillessen and colleagues uncovered the star in data collected by the European Southern Observatory’s

Very Large Telescope in Chile’s Atacama Desert. Their ﬁndings were published Wednesday in the journal Nature. There are several hundred stars that closely orbit this giant black hole and are sensitive to its gravity. Scientists have mapped the orbits of around 50 of them. The new star is 10 times closer than the previous record holder, meaning that it also feels the effects of the black hole’s rotation.

WASHINGTON — The national debt surpassed a record $40 trillion on Wednesday, a staggering milestone as defense costs, social programs like Social Security and Medicare and interest on the burgeoning deficit to make up an enormous share of federal spending. The milestone figure was recorded just five months after the U.S. hit a record $39 trillion debt in March. It reached $38 trillion in October. The unprecedented $40 trillion figure highlights competing administration priorities, from boosting the defense spending that the U.S. relies on to carry out President Donald Trump’s almost-6-monthold Iran war to lowering the cost of gas and groceries. Kush Desai, a White House spokesman, said the Trump administration “has been focused on slashing waste, fraud, and abuse in federal spending while accelerating economic growth to get America’s

debt-to-GDP ratio trending in the right direction.” However, experts say the exploding debt and the latest record milestone is already affecting Americans’ pocketbooks by raising borrowing costs for things like mortgages and cars, lowering wages from businesses that have less money available to invest and creating more expensive goods and services. Advocates for a balanced budget also warn that the long-term trend of borrowing more and paying more in interest will force Americans to face tougher ﬁscal tradeoffs ahead. “The federal debt is already raising the cost of living and choking out other spending and investment, threatening our economy and Americans’ long-term prosperity,” said Margaret Spellings, president and CEO of the Bipartisan Policy Center. The U.S. is subject to a statutory debt limit, or a limit to federal borrowing, which Congress has the authority to set, adjust or abolish.

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Exxon suit dismissed, clearing path for SpaceX Settlement could open 130,000 acres for launch site

BY ALEX LUBBEN

Staff writer

A federal judge has formally dismissed a coastal damages lawsuit brought by Vermilion Parish and the state of Louisiana against ExxonMobil following a settlement, ending a legal battle that has stretched over a decade and potentially clearing the way for the construction of Louisiana’s ﬁrst spaceport. The case is one of 42 similar lawsuits led by Baton Rouge attorney John Carmouche, alleging that oil and gas companies polluted coastal marshes and contributed to the state’s land-loss crisis. As with the settlements in other coastal cases, the details have not been made public, and it is not clear how much money the state will receive from the company for coastal restoration efforts. But the settlement with Exxon in the Vermilion case is expected to allow SpaceX, billionaire Elon Musk’s commercial spaceflight company, to acquire the use of

SPACEX

Continued from page 1A Tuesday signed an order dismissing the coastal suit that had been brought by Vermilion Parish against Exxon, a signal that the long-running case is over and that the settlement is ﬁnalized. The land is key to the state’s deal with SpaceX, which is expected to take control of the site through a sale, donation or long-term lease. Coastal protection measures are expected to be announced as part of the deal. SpaceX has declined to comment. But company executives, including Musk, have said in recent weeks that they need more launch sites to meet Musk’s ambitious goals of

about 130,000 acres of land owned by the oil company in the parish. There, the company plans to build a rocket launch site similar to the one it has constructed near Brownsville, Texas, according to sources close to the negotiations not authorized to speak publicly. An official announcement on SpaceX’s plans appears imminent. On Wednesday, Gov. Jeff Landry’s office sent invitations to hundreds of Louisiana public officials to an event in Abbeville next week at which he will announce the deal with SpaceX, according to sources with knowledge of the event. The Governor’s Office declined to comment on the invitations to the event, scheduled for Tuesday, but Landry celebrated the Exxon settlement in a statement. He provided no details on how it might help coastal restoration efforts, which are facing a severe funding shortfall in the years ahead, though he did signal that the settlement will help address abandoned oil wells along the coast. “From the very beginning, I have dedicated myself to opening Louisiana to business. Over the past three years, we have achieved remarkable progress in improving the legal environment for our oil and gas companies!” he said.

launching up to 100,000 Starlink mobile and broadband satellites and, eventually, up to 1 million orbital data center satellites. The Louisiana site is attractive to the company for several reasons. It is remote and sparsely populated with easy access to natural gas lines and proximity to the Gulf, which is ideal for launching satellites along a north-south orbit, and the Intracoastal Waterway, which can accommodate heavy barges carrying rockets. Also, the state Legislature this spring passed a sweeping package of incentives that shield aerospace companies from liability related to launch activity and prevents local governments or individuals from being able to sue to block them.

“The resolution with Exxon is a significant victory for the state and the environment. Their commitment will facilitate the removal of hundreds of wells from the orphan well program along the coast, thereby saving our taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars.” The governor had previously announced a settlement in the state’s coastal lawsuits against Exxon in June. Both Exxon and Carmouche, who spearheaded the coastal cases, declined to comment on the lawsuit’s dismissal. But Carmouche previously applauded the oil companies for resolving the cases. “Some of the oil companies are realizing that this is a type of case that needs resolution, not fighting in the courtroom for 12 years,” he said in May. The coastal cases, which have been winding their way through the courts since the first of them was filed in 2013, aimed to provide a remedy for land loss, providing funding from oil and gas companies for coastal restoration efforts. Vermilion Parish lost 95 square miles of land between 1932 and 2015, according to a Times-Picayune | The Advocate analysis of state data. Through 2070, the parish could lose up to 360 additional

square miles. But the cases have been long stalled, and only one of them has gone to trial so far. The companies and the state have repeatedly sparred over whether they should be heard in federal or state court, delaying the cases’ resolution. Finally, last year, the first of the coastal cases went to trial in Plaquemines Parish, where a jury ordered Chevron to pay $745 million in damages. But the U.S. Supreme Court later weighed in, sending the Plaquemines case to federal court, where a federal judge will decide whether to toss the jury verdict and order the case retried. The Supreme Court’s ruling may have increased the state’s willingness to settle rather than continue a lengthy legal battle. Both Landry and Carmouche have said that their interest in the cases is to clear the oil companies’ liability in order to allow new business to come in. That may be exactly what happens. Sources familiar with the discussions say the site is appealing to SpaceX, which is looking for new areas from which to launch its newest, largest rocket, called Starship. It intends to use that rocket to launch data centers into orbit around the Earth.

But the secrecy of the settlements in the coastal cases in a state losing a football ﬁeld of land every 100 minutes has led to questions over whether Louisiana is abandoning the lawsuits’ original intent. They also come as Landry’s administration faces scrutiny over its aggressive use of nondisclosure agreements in connection with economic development projects, including those related to data center construction, keeping key details out of the public’s view. “The settlement is shrouded in confidentiality and secrecy. We don’t even know what the terms of the settlement are,” said Blaine LeCesne, a law professor at Loyola University New Orleans. “Only time is going to tell whether the citizens of Louisiana have once again been given the short and soiled end of a very dirty stick. We just don’t know. But we deserve to know.” Keith Hall, the director of the Energy Law Center at Louisiana State University, noted that the agreement was conﬁdential but said that it appeared that “the state government and Exxon have come to something they think is in their mutual interest. “It could be great for both sides,” Hall said. Staff writer Stephanie Riegel contributed to this report.

Last week, Musk’s personal jet was spotted at the Lafayette airport for several hours. Among those to receive invitations to next week’s announcement were members of the Louisiana Legislature, Abbeville City Council and Vermilion Parish Police Jury. Rep. Jack McFarland, a Republican from Farmerville who steered the incentive package through the Legislature earlier this year at the request of the Landry administration, said he plans to make the four-hour drive for the announcement. “I’m excited for another economic investment opportunity for Louisiana,” McFarland said. Email Stephanie Riegel at stephanie.riegel@ theadvocate.com.

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By DAVID J. PHILLIP

SpaceX is expected to build a launch facility along the coast in Vermilion Parish.

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EXPLORE LOUISIANA “There’s an adventure waiting in every parish.” LT. Governor Billy Nungesser

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PUBLIC NOTICE --REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS Notice is hereby given that sealed submissions will be received in the of‐ fice of the Purchasing Di‐ vision at the Lafayette Consolidated Govern‐ ment Building, located at 705 West University Av‐ enue, Lafayette, Louisiana, until 4:00 p.m. Central Time on the 22nd day of September, 2026 for the following: 2026 ENVIRONMENTAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND REMEDIATION SERVICES and will, shortly there‐ after, be opened and the NAMES ONLY read aloud in the Office of Purchas‐ ing located at 705 West University Avenue, Lafayette, LA. Submis‐ sions received after the above specified time for opening shall not be con‐ sidered and shall be re‐ turned unopened to the sender. Sealed submis‐ sions may be hand car‐ ried or mailed to the ad‐ dress listed above. Submissions shall be ei‐ ther hand delivered or mailed in a sealed enve‐ lope to the address listed below. Submissions re‐ ceived after the ap‐ pointed time will be de‐ termined non-responsive and will not be opened. Respondents must sub‐ mit one original, five identical marked copies, one disc of the entire proposal, and one redacted copy if neces‐ sary. Submissions should be sent to 705 West Univer‐ sity Avenue, Lafayette, LA 70506 attention Heather Kestler. Copies of the RFP specifi‐ cations are available at the Purchasing Office lo‐ cated at 705 West Univer‐ sity Avenue, Lafayette, LA 70506. Telephone number (337) 291-8071 (Attn: Heather Kestler) and online at https://laf ayettecsdgovla.tylerpo rtico.com/va/vendoraccess/registration. RFP specifications shall be available until twentyfour (24) hours before the submission dead‐ line. No Vendor may withdraw his submission for at least ninety (90) days after the time scheduled for the opening of pro‐ posals. Each proposal shall follow the instruc‐ tions listed in the RFP re‐ garding submittal of their proposal. Proposals will be evalu‐ ated by the Purchaser based on the evaluation criteria outlined in the Request for Proposals. The Lafayette Consoli‐ dated Government re‐ serves the right to reject any and all proposals or any portions thereof, to waive informalities and to select the material that best suits its needs. The Lafayette Consoli‐ dated Government strongly encourages the participation of DBEs (Disadvantaged Business Enterprise) in all con‐ tracts or procurements let by the Lafayette Con‐ solidated Government for goods and services and labor and material. To that end, all contrac‐ tors and suppliers are encouraged to utilize DBEs business enter‐ prises in the purchase or sub-contracting of mate‐ rials, supplies, services and labor and material in which disadvantaged business are available. Assistance in identifying said businesses may be obtained by calling 2918410. Contractors or contract‐ ing firms submitting qualifications to perform work in the amount of $50,000.00 or more shall certify that they are li‐ censed contractors under Chapter 24 of Title 37 of the Louisiana Re‐ vised Statutes of 1950 and show their license number on the front of the sealed envelope in which their bid is en‐ closed. Contractors shall be licensed for the clas‐ sification of Hazardous Waste Treatment or Re‐ moval or (Specialty) Haz‐ ardous Materials Cleanup and Removal. Additional information relative to licensing may be obtained from the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. PURCHASING DIVISION Lafayette Consolidated Government PUBLISH DATES: 8/20, 8/23, 8/30 DPR # 993650 197717 Aug. 20, 23, 30, 3t $125.07

Legal Notices

PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE OF INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the following enti‐ tled ordinance was intro‐ duced at a meeting of the City Council of the City of Youngsville, Louisiana, held on Au‐ gust 13, 2026, and laid over for publication of i

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Legal Notices

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Ordinance No. 517-2026 – An Ordinance of the City of Youngsville, Louisiana, amending the Code of Ordinances Chapter 130 “Land Use Regulations” as it relates to regula‐ tions of gas stations. ******* NOTICE IS HEREBY FUR‐ THER GIVEN that the Gov‐ erning Authority will meet on Thursday, Sep‐ tember 10, 2026, at 6:00 o’clock p.m., at 201 Iberia Street, Youngsville, Louisiana, at which time there will be a public hearing on the adoption of the aforesaid ordi‐ nance. /s/ Nicole Guidry, City Clerk 197873 Aug. 20 1t $37.04 PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE OF SUBSTANTIAL COMPLETION TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, and especially to all subcontractors, workmen, laborers, me‐ chanics, and furnishers of materials: Public Notice is hereby given according to law that the undersigned Owner has accepted, as substantially complete, the work done on the Langlinais Road Exten‐ sion (South East-West Connector / Chemin Agreable Roadway Im‐ provements), City of by Glenn Youngsville Lege Construction, LLC, as Contractor, under its contract with said ﬁrm date of December 11, 2025, and recorded as Act No. 2025-00042755 in the Mortgage Records of the Parish of Lafayette, Louisiana. All subcon‐ tractors, workmen, la‐ borers, mechanics, and furnishers of materials must assert whatever claim they may have against the said Contrac‐ tor, growing out of the execution of said Con‐ tract, according to law, within 45 days from reg‐ istration hereof. CITY OF YOUNGSVILLE, LOUISIANA BY: /s/ Ken Ritter, Mayor Date: 17 day of August, 2026 198028 Aug. 20 1t $37.80

Public Notices RFQ

PUBLIC NOTICE --REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS SOUTH AVERY ISLAND MARSH RESTORATION PROJECT McIlhenny Resources, Inc. invites qualified firms to submit State‐ ments of Qualifications for professional engi‐ neering and related ser‐ vices for the “Designing Marsh Restoration on South Avery Island (LA)” project, NFWF Grant No. 0318.25.084254. Anticipated services in‐ clude site investigation and surveying, geotech‐ nical services, evaluation of restoration alterna‐ tives, development of de‐ sign plans and specifica‐ tions, regulatory and permitting coordination, and stakeholder out‐ reach. The complete RFQ, in‐ cluding the detailed scope, submittal require‐ ments, evaluation crite‐ ria, and schedule, may be obtained from: Clark Fitz-Hugh McIlhenny Resources, Inc. cfitz@internationalsureti es.com (504) 581-4231 Statements of Qualifica‐ tions must be received by 5:00 P.M. Central Time on September 1, 2026 and submitted electronically to the email address listed: cfitz@internation alsureties.com This project is funded in whole or in part through a National Fish and Wildlife Foundation award supported by the National Oceanic and At‐ Administra‐ mospheric tion. McIlhenny Re‐ sources, Inc. reserves the right to reject any or all responses and to waive informalities as permit‐ ted by applicable requirements. 197267-aug 14-20-2t $358.16

Public Notices Sheriff Sales

SHERIFF'S SALE ASHWOOD INVESTMENTS WITH UNION BANK AS SE‐ CURED PARTY D/B/A ASH‐ WOOD INVESTMENTS Versus No. 20244629 ROBERT JAMES SIMON, JR., ET AL 15TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT ---- PARISH OF LAFAYETTE STATE OF LOUISIANA Notice is hereby given that by virtue of a writ of COMMISSION TO SELL is‐ sued in the hereinabove entitled and numbered cause I have seized and taken into my possession and will offer for sale and sell for cash, ***WITHOUT*** ap‐ praisement, to the last and highest bidder, at public auction, at the LAFAYETTE PARISH GOV‐ ERNMENT BUILDING, 1010 LAFAYETTE STREET, 2ND FLOOR in Lafayette, Louisiana, between the legal sale hours com‐ i

Public Notices Sheriff Sales g mencing at 10:00 A.M. on WEDNESDAY, ***AUGUST 26, 2026*** ,the following described property, to wit: ASSESSMENT NUMBER 6049449: LOT 26 SOUTH‐ FIELD SQUARE SUB (17X103), BEING MORE FULLY DESCRIBED AS: THAT CERTAIN LOT OR PARCEL OF GROUND, TO‐ GETHER WITH ALL IM‐ PROVEMENTS THEREON AND ALL THE RIGHTS, WAYS, PRIVILEGES AND SERVITUDES THERETO PERTAINING, BEING KNOWN AND DESIG‐ NATED AS LOT TWENTY SIX (26) OF SOUTHFIELD SQUARE, AS SHOWN ON THAT CERTAIN PLAT OF SURVEY DATED JULY 27, 1981, PREPARED BY RAN‐ DALL J. HEBERT & ASSO‐ CIATES, INC., ATTACHED TO ACT FILED UNDER ENTRY NO. 82-6624 OF THE RECORDS OF LAFAYETTE PARISH, LOUISIANA, AND MADE A PART HEREOF BY REFER‐ ENCE THERETO AND HAV‐ ING SUCH DIMENSIONS, MEASUREMENTS, AND BOUNDARIES AS ARE MORE FULLY DESCRIBED ON SAID PLAT OF SURVEY. MUNICIPAL ADDRESS: 151 SOUTHFIELD PARKWAY, LAFAYETTE, LA 70506 ANYONE PURCHASING PROPERTY AT SHERIFF'S SALE IS GIVEN UNTIL 2:00 P.M. ON SALE DAY TO PAY THE FULL PURCHASE AMOUNT BY CERTIFIED FUNDS PUBLISH ON: JULY 23, 2026 & AUGUST 20, 2026 LAFAYETTE PARISH SHER‐ IFF'S OFFICE MARK T. GARBER, SHER‐ IFF $34.97 SHERIFF'S SALE ASSURANCE FINANCIAL GROUP LLC Versus No. 20261065 CHRISTOPHER ALLEN GRAY AND NAOMI DAWN GRAY 15TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT ---- PARISH OF LAFAYETTE STATE OF LOUISIANA Notice is hereby given that by virtue of a writ of SEIZURE AND SALE is‐ sued in the hereinabove entitled and numbered cause I have seized and taken into my possession and will offer for sale and sell for cash, ***WITHOUT*** ap‐ praisement, to the last and highest bidder, at public auction, at the LAFAYETTE PARISH GOV‐ ERNMENT BUILDING, 1010 LAFAYETTE STREET, 2ND FLOOR in Lafayette, Louisiana, between the legal sale hours com‐ mencing at 10:00 A.M. on WEDNESDAY, ***SEPTEM‐ BER 23, 2026***, the fol‐ lowing described prop‐ erty, to wit: ONE (1) CERTAIN LOT OR PARCEL OF GROUND, TO‐ GETHER WITH ALL THE BUILDINGS AND IM‐ PROVEMENTS THEREON, SITUATED IN THE PARISH OF LAFAYETTE, STATE OF LOUISIANA, IN THAT SUB‐ DIVISION KNOWN AS MEADOW BEND SUBDIVI‐ SION, AND BEING DESIG‐ NATED ON THE OFFICIAL PLAN OF SAID SUBDIVI‐ SION, ON FILE AND OF RECORD IN THE OFFICE OF THE CLERK AND RECORDER OF SAID PARISH AND STATE, AS LOT NUMBER EIGHTYEIGHT (88), SAID SUBDIVI‐ SION, SAID LOT HAVING SUCH SIZE, SHAPE AND DIMENSIONS AND BEING SUBJECT TO SUCH SERVI‐ TUDES AS ARE SHOWN ON SAID MAP (“PROP‐ ERTY”). MUNICIPAL AD‐ DRESS: 210 WOODHAVEN RD., YOUNGSVILLE, LA 70592 ANYONE PURCHASING PROPERTY AT SHERIFF'S SALE IS GIVEN UNTIL 2:00 P.M. ON SALE DAY TO PAY THE FULL PURCHASE AMOUNT BY CERTIFIED FUNDS PUBLISH ON: AUGUST 20, 2026 & SEPTEMBER 17, 2026 LAFAYETTE PARISH SHER‐ IFF'S OFFICE MARK T. GARBER, SHER‐ IFF $33.26 SHERIFF'S SALE ASSURANCE FINANCIAL GROUP LLC Versus No. 20264000 ROBERT A. DOMINGUE A/K/A ROBERT DOMINGUE 15TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT ---- PARISH OF LAFAYETTE STATE OF LOUISIANA Notice is hereby given that by virtue of a writ of SEIZURE AND SALE is‐ sued in the hereinabove entitled and numbered cause I have seized and taken into my possession and will offer for sale and sell for cash, ***WITH*** appraise‐ ment, to the last and highest bidder, at public auction, at the LAFAYETTE PARISH GOV‐ ERNMENT BUILDING, 1010 LAFAYETTE STREET, 2ND FLOOR in Lafayette, Louisiana, between the legal sale hours com‐ mencing at 10:00 A.M. on WEDNESDAY, ***SEPTEM‐ BER 23, 2026***, the fol‐ lowing described prop‐ erty, to wit: THAT CERTAIN LOT OR PARCEL OF GROUND, TO‐ GETHER WITH ALL BUILD‐ INGS AND IMPROVE‐ MENTS THEREON, AND ALL RIGHTS, WAYS, PRIVI‐ LEGES, SERVITUDES, AP‐ PURTENANCES AND AD‐ VANTAGES THEREUNTO BELONGING AND ALL AP‐ PURTENANCES THEREOF, BEING KNOWN AND DES‐ IGNATED AS LOT ONE HUNDRED FOURTEEN (114) OF THE PLANTA‐ TION, A SUBDIVISION OF THE PARISH OF LAFAYETTE, LOUISIANA, SAID LOT HAVING SUCH

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Pets

LAFAYETTE PARISH SHER‐ IFF'S OFFICE MARK T. GARBER, SHER‐ IFF $36.90

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Public Notices Sheriff Sales

SHAPE, FORM, DIMEN‐ SIONS, BOUNDARIES AND MEASUREMENTS AS ARE MORE FULLY SHOWN ON THAT CERTAIN PLAT OF SURVEY PREPARED BY R. DOUGLAS MCGEE & AS‐ SOCIATES, ATTACHED TO THAT CERTAIN ACT RECORDED UNDER FILE NUMBER 1981-27026, AS ARE MORE FULLY SHOWN ON THAT CERTAIN PLAT OF SURVEY PREPARED BY R. DOUGLAS MCGEE & AS‐ SOCIATES, ATTACHED TO THAT ACT RECORDED UNDER FILE NUMBER 1981-31997 BOTH OF THE RECORDS OF LAFAYETTE PARISH CLERK OF COURT, WHICH PLAT OF SURVEY IS MADE PART HEREOF BY REFERENCE THERETO. MUNICIPAL ADDRESS: 201 B LONG PLANTATION BOULEVARD, LAFAYETTE, LA 70508 ANYONE PURCHASING PROPERTY AT SHERIFF'S SALE IS GIVEN UNTIL 2:00 P.M. ON SALE DAY TO PAY THE FULL PURCHASE AMOUNT BY CERTIFIED FUNDS PUBLISH ON: AUGUST 20, 2026 & SEPTEMBER 17, 2026 LAFAYETTE PARISH SHER‐ IFF'S OFFICE MARK T. GARBER, SHER‐ IFF $36.90 SHERIFF'S SALE CARRINGTON MORTGAGE SERVICES, LLC Versus No. 20257323 JORDAN GREEN 15TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT ---- PARISH OF LAFAYETTE STATE OF LOUISIANA Notice is hereby given that by virtue of a writ of SEIZURE AND SALE is‐ sued in the hereinabove entitled and numbered cause I have seized and taken into my possession and will offer for sale and sell for cash, ***WITH*** appraise‐ ment, to the last and highest bidder, at public auction, at the LAFAYETTE PARISH GOV‐ ERNMENT BUILDING, 1010 LAFAYETTE STREET, 2ND FLOOR in Lafayette, Louisiana, between the legal sale hours com‐ mencing at 10:00 A.M. on WEDNESDAY, ***AUGUST 26, 2026*** ,the following described property, to wit: THAT CERTAIN LOT OR PARCEL OF LAND, TO‐ GETHER WITH ALL BUILD‐ INGS AND IMPROVE‐ MENTS THEREON AND ALL RIGHTS, WAYS, PRIVI‐ LEGES, SERVITUDES, EASEMENTS AND APPUR‐ TENANCES THERETO BE‐ LONGING OR IN ANYWISE APPERTAINING, SITUATED IN THE PARISH OF LAFAYETTE, STATE OF LOUISIANA, BEING KNOWN AND DESIG‐ NATED AS LOT ONE HUN‐ DRED FORTY NINE-B (149B) OF AURORA PARK SUB‐ DIVISION, SAID PROP‐ ERTY HAVING A FRONTAGE OF 60.0 FEET ON CASSANDRA LANE, WITH THE FURTHER DI‐ MENSIONS, BOUNDARIES, SHAPE, FORM, LOCATION, AND CONFIGURATION AS SHOWN ON THAT CER‐ TAIN PLAT OF SURVEY OF SAID SUBDIVISION DATED MAY 12, 2005, PREPARED BY RODNEY A. NAYLOR, C.E. ATTACHED TO THAT ACT RECORDED UNDER ENTRY NO. 2005-31065, OF THE RECORDS OF LAFAYETTE PARISH CLERK OF COURT, AND MADE A PART HEREOF BY REFERENCE THERETO. MUNICIPAL ADDRESS: 305 CASSANDRA LANE, LAFAYETTE, LA 70508 ANYONE PURCHASING PROPERTY AT SHERIFF'S SALE IS GIVEN UNTIL 2:00 P.M. ON SALE DAY TO PAY THE FULL PURCHASE AMOUNT BY CERTIFIED FUNDS PUBLISH ON: JULY 23, 2026 & AUGUST 20, 2026 LAFAYETTE PARISH SHER‐ IFF'S OFFICE MARK T. GARBER, SHER‐ IFF $35.19 SHERIFF'S SALE CARRINGTON MORTGAGE SERVICES, LLC Versus No. 20257814 CALEB MALVEAUX 15TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT ---- PARISH OF LAFAYETTE STATE OF LOUISIANA Notice is hereby given that by virtue of a writ of SEIZURE AND SALE is‐ sued in the hereinabove entitled and numbered cause I have seized and taken into my possession and will offer for sale and sell for cash, ***WITH*** appraise‐ ment, to the last and highest bidder, at public auction, at the LAFAYETTE PARISH GOV‐ ERNMENT BUILDING, 1010 LAFAYETTE STREET, 2ND FLOOR in Lafayette, Louisiana, between the legal sale hours com‐ mencing at 10:00 A.M. on WEDNESDAY, ***SEPTEM‐ BER 23, 2026***, the fol‐ lowing described prop‐ erty, to wit: THAT CERTAIN LOT OR PARCEL OF GROUND, TO‐ GETHER WITH ALL BUILD‐ INGS AND IMPROVE‐ MENTS THEREON, AND ALL RIGHTS, WAYS, PRIVI‐ LEGES, SERVITUDES, AP‐ PURTENANCES AND AD‐ VANTAGES THEREUNTO BELONGING AND ALL AP‐ PURTENANCES THEREOF, SITUATED IN SECTION 39, TOWNSHIP 10 SOUTH, RANGE 5 EAST, LAFAYETTE PARISH, LOUISIANA, BEING KNOWN AND DESIG‐ NATED AS LOT 70 OF FAIRVIEW VILLAGE, SAID LOT HAVING SUCH MEA‐ SUREMENTS, BOUND‐ ARIES, CONFIGURATIONS AND DIMENSIONS AS ARE MORE FULLY SHOWN ON THAT CERTAIN PLAT OF

ANYONE PURCHASING PROPERTY AT SHERIFF'S SALE IS GIVEN UNTIL 2:00 P.M. ON SALE DAY TO PAY THE FULL PURCHASE AMOUNT BY CERTIFIED FUNDS PUBLISH ON: AUGUST 20, 2026 & SEPTEMBER 17, 2026

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OF SURVEY BEING AT‐ TACHED TO AND MADE A PART OF THE ABOVE DE‐ SCRIBED CONDOMINIUM DECLARATION, SAID CON‐ DOMINIUM DECLARATION REVISED BY THAT CER‐ TAIN AMENDMENT TO CONDOMINIUM DECLA‐ RATION DATED JULY 13, 1983 AND FILED UNDER ENTRY NO. 85-14417 OF THE RECORDS OF LAFAYETTE PARISH, LOUISIANA. MUNICIPAL ADDRESS: 100 TEAL LANE #24, LAFAYETTE, LA 70507

SHERIFF'S SALE LAKEVIEW LOAN SERVIC‐ ING, LLC Versus No. 20262199 JOHN CONWELL ALFRED

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Public Notices Sheriff Sales

SURVEY PREPARED BY R. DOUGLAS MCGEE & AS‐ SOCIATES, LTD., DATED SEPTEMBER 13, 1993, RE‐ VISED SEPTEMBER 27, 1993, A COPY OF WHICH IS ATTACHED TO THAT CERTAIN ACT RECORDED UNDER FILE NUMBER 1993-35487, RECORDS OF LAFAYETTE PARISH, LOUISIANA, WHICH PLAT OF SURVEY IS MADE PART HEREOF BY REFERENCE THERETO. MUNICIPAL AD‐ DRESS: 130 SEA PINES DRIVE, YOUNGSVILLE, LA 70592 ANYONE PURCHASING PROPERTY AT SHERIFF'S SALE IS GIVEN UNTIL 2:00 P.M. ON SALE DAY TO PAY THE FULL PURCHASE AMOUNT BY CERTIFIED FUNDS PUBLISH ON: AUGUST 20, 2026 & SEPTEMBER 17, 2026 LAFAYETTE PARISH SHER‐ IFF'S OFFICE MARK T. GARBER, SHER‐ IFF $35.83 SHERIFF'S SALE FIRST HORIZON BANK Versus No. 20253697 BRANDON L HARGRAVE 15TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT ---- PARISH OF LAFAYETTE STATE OF LOUISIANA Notice is hereby given that by virtue of a writ of FI FA issued in the here‐ inabove entitled and numbered cause I have seized and taken into my possession and will offer for sale and sell for cash, ***WITH*** appraise‐ ment, to the last and highest bidder, at public auction, at the LAFAYETTE PARISH GOV‐ ERNMENT BUILDING, 1010 LAFAYETTE STREET, 2ND FLOOR in Lafayette, Louisiana, between the legal sale hours com‐ mencing at 10:00 A.M. on WEDNESDAY, ***AUGUST 26, 2026*** ,the following described property, to wit: A CERTAIN CONDO‐ MINIUM UNIT SITUATED IN LAFAYETTE PARISH, LOUISIANA, BEING KNOWN AND DESIG‐ NATED AS UNIT 501 IN BUILDING 5, CONGRESS GATE CONDOMINIUM, PHASE II, AS SHOWN ON A PLAT OF SURVEY PRE‐ PARED BY RANDALL J. HEBERT & ASSOCIATES, INC., DATED JUNE 23, 1983, REVISED AUGUST 3, 1983, WHICH PLAT IS RECORDED UNDER ENTRY NO. 1984-42184 OF THE RECORDS OF LAFAYETTE PARISH, LOUISIANA, IN‐ CLUDING AN UNDIVIDED INTEREST IN THE COM‐ MON AREAS AND LIMITED COMMON AREAS, AS DE‐ FINED IN THE CONDO‐ MINIUM DECLARATION AS AMENDED, RECORDED UNDER ENTRY NO. 198303224 AND 1984-42184, RESPECTIVELY, IN THE OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT FOR LAFAYETTE PARISH, LOUISIANA. TO‐ GETHER WITH ANY AND ALL PRESENT AND FU‐ TURE BUILDINGS, CON‐ STRUCTIONS, COMPO‐ NENT PARTS, IMPROVE‐ MENTS, ATTACHMENTS, APPURTENANCES, FIX‐ TURES, RIGHTS, WAYS, PRIVILEGES, ADVAN‐ TAGES, BATTURE, AND BATTURE RIGHTS, SERVI‐ TUDES AND EASEMENTS OF EVERY TYPE AND DE‐ SCRIPTION, NOW AND/OR IN THE FUTURE RELATING TO THE PROPERTY, AND ANY AND ALL ITEMS AND FIXTURES ATTACHED TO AND/OR FORMING INTE‐ GRAL OR COMPONENT PARTS OF THE PROPERTY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LOUISIANA CIVIL CODE. THE PROPERTY OR ITS ADDRESS IS COMMONLY KNOWN AS 100 WINCHES‐ TER DR, #501, LAFAYETTE, LA 70508. ANYONE PURCHASING PROPERTY AT SHERIFF'S SALE IS GIVEN UNTIL 2:00 P.M. ON SALE DAY TO PAY THE FULL PURCHASE AMOUNT BY CERTIFIED FUNDS PUBLISH ON: JULY 23, 2026 & AUGUST 20, 2026 LAFAYETTE PARISH SHER‐ IFF'S OFFICE MARK T. GARBER, SHER‐ IFF $39.05 SHERIFF'S SALE FREEDOM MORTGAGE CORPORATION Versus No. 20252199 BOOKER TERRIO AMOS A/K/A BOOKER AMOS AND BETTY PARISH AMOS A/K/A BETTY AMOS 15TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT ---- PARISH OF LAFAYETTE STATE OF LOUISIANA Notice is hereby given that by virtue of a writ of AMENDED SEIZURE AND SALE issued in the here‐ inabove entitled and numbered cause I have seized and taken into my possession and will offer for sale and sell for cash, ***WITHOUT*** ap‐ praisement, to the last and highest bidder, at public auction, at the LAFAYETTE PARISH GOV‐ ERNMENT BUILDING, 1010 LAFAYETTE STREET, 2ND FLOOR in Lafayette, Louisiana, between the legal sale hours com‐ mencing at 10:00 A.M. on WEDNESDAY, ***SEPTEM‐ BER 23, 2026***, the fol‐ lowing described prop‐ erty, to wit: THAT CERTAIN PARCEL OF GROUND, TOGETHER WITH ALL IMPROVE‐ MENTS THEREON, AND ALL RIGHTS, WAYS, PRIVI‐ LEGES, SERVITUDES, AP‐ PURTENANCES AND AD‐ VANTAGES THEREUNTO BELONGING AND ALL AP‐ PURTENANCES THEREOF, BEING KNOWN AND DES‐ IGNATED AS LOT FORTYTHREE (43) OF TRACT E OF LE TRIOMPHE, PHASE

Public Notices Sheriff Sales

I, A SUBDIVISION OF THE PARISH OF LAFAYETTE, LOUISIANA, ON THAT CERTAIN PLAT OF SURVEY PREPARED BY SELLERS, DUBROC & ASSOCIATES, INC., ATTACHED TO THAT ACT RECORDED UNDER ENTRY NO. 85-22508 OF THE RECORDS OF LAFAYETTE PARISH, LOUISIANA, AND MADE PART HEREOF BY REFER‐ ENCE, AND BEING DE‐ SCRIBED WITH REFER‐ ENCE THERETO AS HAV‐ ING A FRONTAGE ON SPY‐ GLASS LANE AND HAVING SUCH DIMENSIONS, BOUNDARIES, BOUND‐ ARIES AND MEASURE‐ MENTS AS ARE MORE FULLY SHOWN ON SAID PLAT OF SURVEY. MUNICI‐ PAL ADDRESS: 301 SPY‐ GLASS LN., BROUSSARD, LA 70518 ANYONE PURCHASING PROPERTY AT SHERIFF'S SALE IS GIVEN UNTIL 2:00 P.M. ON SALE DAY TO PAY THE FULL PURCHASE AMOUNT BY CERTIFIED FUNDS PUBLISH ON: AUGUST 20, 2026 & SEPTEMBER 17, 2026 LAFAYETTE PARISH SHER‐ IFF'S OFFICE MARK T. GARBER, SHER‐ IFF $36.04 SHERIFF'S SALE FREEDOM MORTGAGE CORPORATION Versus No. 20256644 THANH VAN NGUYEN AND MY ANH LIEU AKA MY ANH LIEU NGUYEN 15TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT ---- PARISH OF LAFAYETTE STATE OF LOUISIANA Notice is hereby given that by virtue of a writ of SEIZURE AND SALE is‐ sued in the hereinabove entitled and numbered cause I have seized and taken into my possession and will offer for sale and sell for cash, ap‐ ***WITHOUT*** praisement, to the last and highest bidder, at public auction, at the LAFAYETTE PARISH GOV‐ ERNMENT BUILDING, 1010 LAFAYETTE STREET, 2ND FLOOR in Lafayette, Louisiana, between the legal sale hours com‐ mencing at 10:00 A.M. on WEDNESDAY, ***SEPTEM‐ BER 23, 2026***, the fol‐ lowing described prop‐ erty, to wit: ONE (1) CERTAIN LOT OR PARCEL OF GROUND, TO‐ GETHER WITH ALL THE BUILDINGS AND IM‐ PROVEMENTS THEREON, SITUATED IN THE PARISH OF LAFAYETTE, STATE OF LOUISIANA, IN THAT SUB‐ DIVISION KNOWN AS AM‐ BASSADOR GARDENS, AND BEING DESIGNATED ON THE OFFICIAL PLAT OF SAID SUBDIVISION, ON FILE AND OF RECORD IN THE OFFICE OF THE CLERK AND RECORDER OF SAID PARISH AND STATE, AS LOT 62, SAID SUBDIVI‐ SION, SAID LOT HAVING SUCH SIZE, SHAPE AND DIMENSIONS AND BEING SUBJECT TO SUCH SERVI‐ TUDES AS ARE SHOWN ON SAID MAP; SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS, SERVI‐ TUDES, RIGHTS-OF-WAY AND OUTSTANDING MIN‐ ERAL RIGHTS OF RECORD AFFECTING THE PROP‐ ERTY. MUNICIPAL AD‐ DRESS: 106 GRANDMARK STREET, LAFAYETTE, LA 70506 ANYONE PURCHASING PROPERTY AT SHERIFF'S SALE IS GIVEN UNTIL 2:00 P.M. ON SALE DAY TO PAY THE FULL PURCHASE AMOUNT BY CERTIFIED FUNDS PUBLISH ON: AUGUST 20, 2026 & SEPTEMBER 17, 2026 LAFAYETTE PARISH SHER‐ IFF'S OFFICE MARK T. GARBER, SHER‐ IFF $34.11 SHERIFF'S SALE HUNTERS FOREST CON‐ DOMINIUM OWNERS AS‐ SOCIATION INC Versus No. 20258186 FIRST STONE INVESTMENTS LLC 15TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT ---- PARISH OF LAFAYETTE STATE OF LOUISIANA Notice is hereby given that by virtue of a writ of FI FA issued in the here‐ inabove entitled and numbered cause I have seized and taken into my possession and will offer for sale and sell for cash, ***WITHOUT*** ap‐ praisement, to the last and highest bidder, at public auction, at the LAFAYETTE PARISH GOV‐ ERNMENT BUILDING, 1010 LAFAYETTE STREET, 2ND FLOOR in Lafayette, Louisiana, between the legal sale hours com‐ mencing at 10:00 A.M. on WEDNESDAY, ***SEPTEM‐ BER 23, 2026***, the fol‐ lowing described prop‐ erty, to wit: THAT CERTAIN LOT OR PARCEL OF GROUND, TO‐ GETHER WITH ALL IM‐ PROVEMENTS THEREON AND ALL THE RIGHTS, WAYS, PRIVILEGES AND SERVITUDES THERETO PERTAINING, BEING KNOWN AND DESIG‐ NATED AS UNIT NO. 24 OF HUNTER’S FOREST CON‐ DOMINIUMS, BEING A CONDOMINIUM PARCEL, INCLUDING AN UNDI‐ VIDED INTEREST IN THE COMMON ELEMENTS, AS DEFINED BY THE CONDO‐ MINIUM DECLARATION OF HUNTER’S FOREST CONDOMINIUMS, FILED OF RECORD UNDER ENTRY NO. 83-18614, RECORDS OF LAFAYETTE PARISH, LOUISIANA, BEING FURTHER DE‐ SCRIBED ON THAT CER‐ TAIN PLAT OF SURVEY PREPARED BY EDMOND R. DUPRE, JR., DATED NO‐ VEMBER 3, 1982, REVISED APRIL 21, 1983, SAID PLAT

15TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT ---- PARISH OF LAFAYETTE STATE OF LOUISIANA Notice is hereby given that by virtue of a writ of SEIZURE AND SALE is‐ sued in the hereinabove entitled and numbered cause I have seized and taken into my possession and will offer for sale and sell for cash, ***WITHOUT*** ap‐ praisement, to the last and highest bidder, at public auction, at the LAFAYETTE PARISH GOV‐ ERNMENT BUILDING, 1010 LAFAYETTE STREET, 2ND FLOOR in Lafayette, Louisiana, between the legal sale hours com‐ mencing at 10:00 A.M. on WEDNESDAY, ***AUGUST 26, 2026*** ,the following described property, to wit: A CERTAIN PIECE OR POR‐ TION OF GROUND, TO‐ GETHER WITH ALL THE BUILDINGS AND IM‐ PROVEMENTS THEREON, AND ALL OF THE RIGHTS, WAYS, PRIVILEGES, SERVITUDES, ADVAN‐ TAGES AND APPURTE‐ NANCES THEREUNTO BE‐ LONGING OR IN ANYWISE APPERTAINING, SITUATED IN LAFAYETTE PARISH, LOUISIANA, BEING KNOWN AND DESIG‐ NATED AS LOT SIXTYSEVEN (67), BAYBERRY POINT SUBDIVISION, LO‐ CATED IN THE CITY AND PARISH OF LAFAYETTE, LOUISIANA, SAID PARCEL HAVING SUCH SHAPE, FORM, METES, BOUNDS, DIMENSIONS, CONFIGU‐ RATIONS, AND BOUND‐ ARIES AS ARE SHOWN ON THAT CERTAIN PLAT OF SURVEY OF SAID SUBDIVI‐ SION PREPARED BY ED‐ MOND E. DUPRE, JR., RLS, DATED APRIL 15, 1985, A COPY OF WHICH IS AT‐ TACHED TO AND MADE A PART OF ACT NO. 8514672, RECORDS OF LAFAYETTE PARISH, LOUISIANA (THE “PROPERTY”). MU‐ NICIPAL ADDRESS: 621 JESSICA STREET, LAFAYETTE, LA 70501 ANYONE PURCHASING PROPERTY AT SHERIFF'S SALE IS GIVEN UNTIL 2:00 P.M. ON SALE DAY TO PAY THE FULL PURCHASE AMOUNT BY CERTIFIED FUNDS PUBLISH ON: JULY 23, 2026 & AUGUST 20, 2026 LAFAYETTE PARISH SHER‐ IFF'S OFFICE MARK T. GARBER, SHER‐ IFF $35.19 SHERIFF'S SALE LAKEVIEW LOAN SERVIC‐ ING, LLC Versus No. 20264008 RICKY JOHN FAUST 15TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT ---- PARISH OF LAFAYETTE STATE OF LOUISIANA Notice is hereby given that by virtue of a writ of SEIZURE AND SALE is‐ sued in the hereinabove entitled and numbered cause I have seized and taken into my possession and will offer for sale and sell for cash, ***WITHOUT*** ap‐ praisement, to the last and highest bidder, at public auction, at the LAFAYETTE PARISH GOV‐ ERNMENT BUILDING, 1010 LAFAYETTE STREET, 2ND FLOOR in Lafayette, Louisiana, between the legal sale hours com‐ mencing at 10:00 A.M. on WEDNESDAY, ***SEPTEM‐ BER 23, 2026***, the fol‐ lowing described prop‐ erty, to wit: BEING THE REMAINDER OF THAT CERTAIN LOT OR PARCEL OF GROUND, TO‐ GETHER WITH ALL IM‐ PROVEMENTS THEREON AND THEREUNTO BE‐ LONGING, SITUATED IN SECTION 81, TOWNSHIP 8 SOUTH, RANGE 4 EAST, LAFAYETTE PARISH, LOUISIANA, CONTAINING 2.218 ACRES, MORE OR LESS, AND IDENTIFIED AS LOT C, WITH THE FUR‐ THER DIMENSIONS, BOUNDARIES, SHAPE, FORM, LOCATION AND CONFIGURATION AS SHOWN ON THAT CER‐ TAIN PLAT OF SURVEY DATED AUGUST 6, 2008, PREPARED BY MICHAEL J. BREAUX, PROFESSIONAL LAND SURVEYOR, AT‐ TACHED TO THAT ACT RECORDED UNDER ENTRY NO. 2008-00043118 OF THE RECORDS OF LAFAYETTE PARISH CLERK OF COURT. LESS AND EXCEPT: THAT CERTAIN LOT OF GROUND, TOGETHER WITH ALL IM‐ PROVEMENTS THEREON AND THEREUNTO BE‐ LONGING, SITUATED IN SECTION 81, TOWNSHIP 8 SOUTH, RANGE 4 EAST, LAFAYETTE PARISH, LOUISIANA, CONTAINING 1.50 ACRES, MORE OR LESS, BEING KNOWN AND DESIGNATED AS “PROP‐ ERTY TO BE ACQUIRED BY STEWART EV ANS HUVAL & BENJAMIN J. STELLY”, WITH THE FURTHER DI‐ MENSIONS, BOUNDARIES, SHAPE, FORM, LOCATION AND CONFIGURATION AS SHOWN ON THAT CER‐ TAIN PLAT OF SURVEY DATED AUGUST 25, 2021, PREPARED BY JOSEPH BRAD GIBSON, P .L.S., AT‐ TACHED TO THAT ACT RECORDED UNDER ENTRY NO. 2021-00039498 OF THE RECORDS OF LAFAYETTE PARISH CLERK OF COURT. (THE “PROPERTY”). MU‐ NICIPAL ADDRESS: 207 LE MEDICIN ROAD, CAREN‐ CRO, LA 70520 ANYONE PURCHASING PROPERTY AT SHERIFF'S SALE IS GIVEN UNTIL 2:00 P.M. ON SALE DAY TO PAY THE FULL PURCHASE AMOUNT BY CERTIFIED FUNDS PUBLISH ON: AUGUST 20, 2026 & SEPTEMBER 17, 2026 LAFAYETTE PARISH SHER‐ IFF'S OFFICE MARK T. GARBER, SHER‐ IFF $40.12 SHERIFF'S SALE LAKEVIEW LOAN SERVIC‐ ING, LLC Versus No. 20264359 GREGORY MOU‐ TON A/K/A GREGORY CARMICHAEL MOUTON AND NAKESHA R. MOU‐ TON A/K/A NAKESHA TRAHAN MOUTON 15TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT ---- PARISH OF LAFAYETTE STATE OF

Public Notices Sheriff Sales

LOUISIANA Notice is hereby given that by virtue of a writ of SEIZURE AND SALE is‐ sued in the hereinabove entitled and numbered cause I have seized and taken into my possession and will offer for sale and sell for cash, ***WITHOUT*** ap‐ praisement, to the last and highest bidder, at public auction, at the LAFAYETTE PARISH GOV‐ ERNMENT BUILDING, 1010 LAFAYETTE STREET, 2ND FLOOR in Lafayette, Louisiana, between the legal sale hours com‐ mencing at 10:00 A.M. on WEDNESDAY, ***SEPTEM‐ BER 23, 2026***, the fol‐ lowing described prop‐ erty, to wit: ONE (1) CERTAIN LOT OR PARCEL OF GROUND, TO‐ GETHER WITH ALL THE BUILDINGS AND IM‐ PROVEMENTS THEREON, SITUATED IN THE PARISH OF LAFAYETTE, STATE OF LOUISIANA, IN THAT SUB‐ DIVISION KNOWN AS MOSS BLUFF, PHASE I, AND BEING DESIGNATED ON THE OFFICIAL PLAN OF SAID SUBDIVISION, ON FILE AND OF RECORD IN THE OFFICE OF THE CLERK AND RECORDER OF SAID PARISH AND STATE, AS LOT NUMBER EIGHTYTHREE (83), SAID SUBDI‐ VISION, SAID LOT HAVING SUCH SIZE, SHAPE AND DIMENSIONS AND BEING SUBJECT TO SUCH SERVI‐ TUDES AS ARE SHOWN ON SAID MAP. MORE CORRECTLY DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: ONE. (1) CERTAIN LOT OR PARCEL OF GROUND, TOGETHER WITH ALL THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON, SITUATED IN THE PARISH OF LAFAYETTE, STATE OF LOUISIANA, IN THAT SUB‐ DIVISION KNOWN AS MOSS BLUFF, PHASE 1, AND BEING DESIGNATED ON THE OFFICIAL PLAN OF SAID SUBDIVISION, ON FILE AND OF RECORD IN THE OFFICE OF THE CLERK AND RECORDER OF SAID PARISH AND STATE, AS LOT NUMBER EIGHTYTHREE (83), SAID SUBDI‐ VISION, SAID LOT HAVING SUCH SIZE, SHAPE AND DIMENSIONS AND BEING SUBJECT TO SUCH SERVI‐ TUDES AS ARE SHOWN ON SAID MAP (“PROP‐ ERTY”). MUNICIPAL AD‐ DRESS: 214 ELWICK DRIVE, LAFAYETTE, LA 70507 ANYONE PURCHASING PROPERTY AT SHERIFF'S SALE IS GIVEN UNTIL 2:00 P.M. ON SALE DAY TO PAY THE FULL PURCHASE AMOUNT BY CERTIFIED FUNDS PUBLISH ON: AUGUST 20, 2026 & SEPTEMBER 17, 2026 LAFAYETTE PARISH SHER‐ IFF'S OFFICE MARK T. GARBER, SHER‐ IFF $39.47 SHERIFF'S SALE NEWREZ LLC D/B/A SHELLPOINT MORTGAGE SERVICING Versus No. 20258619 CASEY HAR‐ RINGTON HUTCHENS 15TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT ---- PARISH OF LAFAYETTE STATE OF LOUISIANA Notice is hereby given that by virtue of a writ of SEIZURE AND SALE is‐ sued in the hereinabove entitled and numbered cause I have seized and taken into my possession and will offer for sale and sell for cash, ***WITHOUT*** ap‐ praisement, to the last and highest bidder, at public auction, at the LAFAYETTE PARISH GOV‐ ERNMENT BUILDING, 1010 LAFAYETTE STREET, 2ND FLOOR in Lafayette, Louisiana, between the legal sale hours com‐ mencing at 10:00 A.M. on WEDNESDAY, ***AUGUST 26, 2026*** ,the following described property, to wit: THAT CERTAIN LOT OR PARCEL OF GROUND TO‐ GETHER WITH ALL BUILD‐ INGS AND IMPROVE‐ MENTS THEREON SITU‐ ATED IN SECTION 50, TOWNSHIP 11 SOUTH, RANGE 4 EAST, LAFAYETTE PARISH, LOUISIANA, BEING KNOWN AND DESIG‐ NATED AS LOT THIRTYFIVE (35) OF MILTON RIDGE ESTATES, AS MORE FULLY SHOWN ON THAT CERTAIN PLAT OF SURVEY PREPARED BY TRAVIS P. LAURENT, PLS, DATED NO‐ VEMBER 26, 2012, A COPY OF WHICH IS RECORDED UNDER ENTRY NO. 201248715, RECORDS OF LAFAYETTE PARISH, LOUISIANA. SAID LOT HAVING SUCH DIMEN‐ SIONS AND BOUNDARIES AS ARE MORE FULLY SHOWN ON THE AFORE‐ MENTIONED PLAT OF SURVEY. (THE “PROPERTY”) MU‐ NICIPAL ADDRESS: 425 MILTON ESTATES LANE, YOUNGSVILLE, LA 70592 ANYONE PURCHASING PROPERTY AT SHERIFF'S SALE IS GIVEN UNTIL 2:00 P.M. ON SALE DAY TO PAY THE FULL PURCHASE AMOUNT BY CERTIFIED FUNDS PUBLISH ON: JULY 23, 2026 & AUGUST 20, 2026 LAFAYETTE PARISH SHER‐ IFF'S OFFICE MARK T. GARBER, SHER‐ IFF $34.11 SHERIFF'S SALE NEWREZ LLC Versus No. 20261711 ROCKY LEBLANC (A/K/A ROCKY WAYNE LEBLANC) AND JESSICA LEBLANC (A/K/A JESSICA DELATTE LEBLANC) 15TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT ---- PARISH OF LAFAYETTE STATE OF LOUISIANA Notice is hereby given that by virtue of a writ of SEIZURE AND SALE is‐ sued in the hereinabove entitled and numbered cause I have seized and taken into my possession and will offer for sale cash, and sell for ***WITHOUT*** ap‐ praisement, to the last and highest bidder, at public auction, at the LAFAYETTE PARISH GOV‐ ERNMENT BUILDING, 1010 LAFAYETTE STREET, 2ND FLOOR in Lafayette, Louisiana, between the legal sale hours com‐ mencing at 10:00 A.M. on WEDNESDAY, ***SEPTEM‐ BER 23, 2026***, the fol‐ lowing described prop‐ erty, to wit: THOSE CERTAIN TRACTS OR PARCELS OF LAND, TOGETHER WITH ALL PARTS, COMPONENT LYING AND BEING SITU‐ ATED IN THE CITY OF YOUNGSVILLE, LAFAYETTE PARISH, LOUISIANA, IN SECTION 17, TOWNSHIP 11 SOUTH, RANGE 5 EAST AND BEING KNOWN AND DESIG‐ NATED AS LOT 132 OF SUGARLAND ESTATES, AS SHOWN ON A PLAT OF SURVEY PREPARED BY PAUL L. MIERS ENGINEER‐ ING, L.L.C., DATED NO‐ VEMBER 6, 2007, RECORDED IN LAFAYETTE PARISH FILE NO. 20084772, AND MADE A PART HEREOF BY REFERENCE THERETO. WHICH HAS THE ADDRESS OF 101 FOX HILL ROAD, YOUNGSVILLE, LA 70592 ANYONE PURCHASING PROPERTY AT SHERIFF'S SALE IS GIVEN UNTIL 2:00 P.M. ON SALE DAY TO PAY

Public Notices Sheriff Sales

THE FULL PURCHASE AMOUNT BY CERTIFIED FUNDS PUBLISH ON: AUGUST 20, 2026 & SEPTEMBER 17, 2026 LAFAYETTE PARISH SHER‐ IFF'S OFFICE MARK T. GARBER, SHER‐ IFF $33.04 SHERIFF'S SALE ONITY MORTGAGE COR‐ PORATION F/K/A PHH MORTGAGE CORPORA‐ TION Versus No. 20264364 MARK BOURQUE AND AL‐ BERTA BERGERONBOURQUE A/K/A ALBERTA B. BOURQUE A/K/A AL‐ BERTA BOURQUE 15TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT ---- PARISH OF LAFAYETTE STATE OF LOUISIANA Notice is hereby given that by virtue of a writ of SEIZURE AND SALE is‐ sued in the hereinabove entitled and numbered cause I have seized and taken into my possession and will offer for sale and sell for cash, ***WITH*** appraise‐ ment, to the last and highest bidder, at public auction, at the LAFAYETTE PARISH GOV‐ ERNMENT BUILDING, 1010 LAFAYETTE STREET, 2ND FLOOR in Lafayette, Louisiana, between the legal sale hours com‐ mencing at 10:00 A.M. on WEDNESDAY, ***SEPTEM‐ BER 23, 2026***, the fol‐ lowing described prop‐ erty, to wit: THAT CERTAIN PARCEL OF GROUND, TOGETHER WITH ALL IMPROVE‐ MENTS THEREON, AND ALL THE RIGHTS, WAYS, PRIVILEGES, SERVITUDES, APPURTENANCES AND ADVANTAGES THERE‐ UNTO BELONGING AND ALL APPURTENANCES THEREOF, BEING KNOWN AND DESIGNATED AS LOT FIFTY-FIVE (55) OF AUSTIN VILLAGE SUBDIVI‐ SION A SUBDIVISION OF THE PARISH OF LAFAYETTE, LOUISIANA, ON THAT CERTAIN PLAT OF SURVEY PREPARED BY COMEAUX ENGINEERING & CONSULTING, AT‐ TACHED TO THAT ACT RECORDED UNDER ENTRY NO. 00-44030 OF THE RECORDS OF LAFAYETTE PARISH, LOUISIANA, AND MADE PART HEREOF BY REFERENCE, AND BEING DESCRIBED WITH REFER‐ ENCE THERETO AS HAV‐ ING A FRONTAGE ON SANDHURST DRIVE AND HAVING SUCH DIMEN‐ SIONS, BOUNDARIES AND MEASUREMENTS AS ARE MORE FULLY SHOWN ON SAID PLAT OF SURVEY. MUNICIPAL ADDRESS: 105 SANDHURST DRIVE, LAFAYETTE, LA 70508 ANYONE PURCHASING PROPERTY AT SHERIFF'S SALE IS GIVEN UNTIL 2:00 P.M. ON SALE DAY TO PAY THE FULL PURCHASE AMOUNT BY CERTIFIED FUNDS PUBLISH ON: AUGUST 20, 2026 & SEPTEMBER 17, 2026 LAFAYETTE PARISH SHER‐ IFF'S OFFICE MARK T. GARBER, SHER‐ IFF $36.26 SHERIFF'S SALE PENNYMAC LOAN SER‐ VICES, LLC Versus No. 20262882 JOHN M. COL‐ LIER A/K/A JOHN COLLIER AND CLAUDIA A. COLLIER A/K/A CLAUDIA COLLIER 15TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT ---- PARISH OF LAFAYETTE STATE OF LOUISIANA Notice is hereby given that by virtue of a writ of SEIZURE AND SALE is‐ sued in the hereinabove entitled and numbered cause I have seized and taken into my possession and will offer for sale sell for cash, and ***WITHOUT*** ap‐ praisement, to the last and highest bidder, at public auction, at the LAFAYETTE PARISH GOV‐ ERNMENT BUILDING, 1010 LAFAYETTE STREET, 2ND FLOOR in Lafayette, Louisiana, between the legal sale hours com‐ mencing at 10:00 A.M. on WEDNESDAY, ***AUGUST 26, 2026*** ,the following described property, to wit: THAT CERTAIN LOT OF GROUND, TOGETHER WITH ALL BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS AND THE COMPONENT PARTS THEREOF, SITU‐ ATED IN SECTIONS 77 AND/OR 78, T10S, R4E, LAFAYETTE PARISH, LOUISIANA, AND BEING KNOWN AND DESIG‐ NATED AS LOT D-104 OF E’LAN SUBDIVISION, PHASE IV, SAID LOT HAV‐ ING SUCH MEASURE‐ MENTS, BOUNDARIES, CONFIGURATIONS AND DIMENSIONS AS ARE MORE FULLY SHOWN AND DESCRIBED ON THAT CER‐ TAIN PLAT OF SURVEY PREPARED BY MONTAG‐ NET AND DOMINGUE, INC. DATED OCTOBER 25, 2004, LAST REVISED APRIL 28, 2006, A COPY OF WHICH IS ATTACHED TO THAT CERTAIN ACT FILED UNDER ENTRY NO. 200618602, RECORDS OF LAFAYETTE PARISH, LOUISIANA, WHICH PLAT OF SURVEY IS MADE A PART HEREOF BY REFER‐ ENCE THERETO. MUNICI‐ PAL ADDRESS: 311 TOR‐ RENOVA CIRCLE, LAFAYETTE, LA 70508 ANYONE PURCHASING PROPERTY AT SHERIFF'S SALE IS GIVEN UNTIL 2:00 P.M. ON SALE DAY TO PAY THE FULL PURCHASE AMOUNT BY CERTIFIED FUNDS PUBLISH ON: JULY 23, 2026 & AUGUST 20, 2026 LAFAYETTE PARISH SHER‐ IFF'S OFFICE MARK T. GARBER, SHER‐ IFF $34.97

Public Notices Sheriff Sales

SHERIFF'S SALE ROCKET MORTGAGE, LLC Versus No. 20263727 AKEEM DEMOUCHET (A/K/A AKEEM P. DE‐ MOUCHET, AKEEM PHILLIP DEMOUCHET) 15TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT ---- PARISH OF LAFAYETTE STATE OF LOUISIANA Notice is hereby given that by virtue of a writ of SEIZURE AND SALE is‐ sued in the hereinabove entitled and numbered cause I have seized and taken into my possession and will offer for sale and sell for cash, ap‐ ***WITHOUT*** praisement, to the last and highest bidder, at public auction, at the LAFAYETTE PARISH GOV‐ ERNMENT BUILDING, 1010 LAFAYETTE STREET, 2ND FLOOR in Lafayette, Louisiana, between the legal sale hours com‐ mencing at 10:00 A.M. on WEDNESDAY, ***SEPTEM‐ BER 23, 2026***, the fol‐ lowing described prop‐ erty, to wit: ONE (1) CERTAIN LOT OR PARCEL OF GROUND, TO‐ GETHER WITH ALL THE BUILDINGS AND IM‐ PROVEMENTS THEREON, SITUATED IN THE PARISH OF LAFAYETTE, STATE OF LOUISIANA, IN THAT SUB‐ DIVISION KNOWN AS

The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Thursday,August 20, 2026 ● 5A

lll

RECOVERY

Continued from page 1A students. You stepped into gaps, and believe me, there were a lot of gaps, and kept this university going and moving, even when the path forward was not always clear — because we had a storm that we were fixing,” Kolluru said. “Now, we must live within our budget, prioritize student success and student retention, and generate the revenue necessary to advance our mission. That’s what it takes.” As part of that mission, Kolluru identified several areas of investment, including a key budget priority for fiscal year 2027 that includes a $500,000 cost of living adjustment for classified workers, and $500,000 in salary adjustments for faculty at the lower end of the pay scale. These goals are helped by a one-

RIVER

Continued from page 1A The Corps and Higgins, in February 2020, presented the ﬁndings of a study concluding that the $150 million it would cost to dredge the Vermilion River is too high a price to prevent a few hundred homes in Lafayette Parish from ﬂooding. Autin, who has been in his current post about a year, said his team is working with leaders from Lafayette and Vermilion parishes, which is to Lafayette’s south. In addition to the estimated $150 million cost of dredging the entire river in Vermilion and Lafayette parishes, Vermilion Parish lead-

FDA

Continued from page 1A the University of New Mexico and has a doctoral degree in clinical investigation from Johns Hopkins University, according to her LinkedIn profile. Before joining Trump’s second administration, she was the chief policy officer at the America First Policy Institute, a conservative think tank. In recent months, she has appeared with the president to announce major projects, including some of his “most favored nation” deals with drug companies to lower prices to those of other developed countries and his recent vaccine order that sought to split the combined measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine into three separate immunizations — against the advice of medical groups. At an Oval Office event to promote that order, she stood by Trump as he falsely suggested the number or timing of vaccines could play a role in rising rates of autism spectrum disorder. Scientific consensus and decades of studies have firmly concluded there is no link. Overton has been critical of abortion pills and, if confirmed, would be positioned to roll back FDA rules that made them more accessible. U.S. abortion oppo-

ANYONE PURCHASING PROPERTY AT SHERIFF'S SALE IS GIVEN UNTIL 2:00 P.M. ON SALE DAY TO PAY FULL PURCHASE THE AMOUNT BY CERTIFIED FUNDS PUBLISH ON: AUGUST 20, 2026 & SEPTEMBER 17, 2026 LAFAYETTE PARISH SHER‐ IFF'S OFFICE MARK T. GARBER, SHER‐ IFF $32.83 SHERIFF'S SALE STONE BANK Versus No. 20261626 SPARKLES CAR WASH LLC 15TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT ---- PARISH OF STATE OF LAFAYETTE LOUISIANA Notice is hereby given that by virtue of a writ of SEIZURE AND SALE is‐ sued in the hereinabove entitled and numbered cause I have seized and taken into my possession and will offer for sale sell for cash, and appraise‐ ***WITH*** ment, to the last and highest bidder, at public at the auction, LAFAYETTE PARISH GOV‐ ERNMENT BUILDING, 1010 LAFAYETTE STREET, 2ND in Lafayette, FLOOR Louisiana, between the legal sale hours com‐ mencing at 10:00 A.M. on WEDNESDAY, ***SEPTEM‐ BER 23, 2026***, the fol‐ lowing described prop‐ erty, to wit: THAT CERTAIN LOT OF

Email Joanna Brown at joanna. brown@theadvocate.com.

ers do not want the river fully dredged, Lafayette Mayor-President Monique Boulet said. “The Vermilion River must be dredged,” Higgins wrote on his Facebook page Tuesday. “For over nine years, I have patiently and professionally fought to overcome the bureaucracy of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and deliver long-promised flood mitigation and navigation projects to South Louisiana. We’ve done our part. These projects are studied, analyzed, modeled, engineered, supported by federal law, partnered with local government, authorized by Congress, funded by Congress and shovel ready.” The Corps is mandated by statute to maintain the Vermilion

River as a navigable waterway to a depth of 9 feet and a width of 100 feet, said Lafayette Parish Council member John Guilbeau, who displayed a Dredge the Vermilion bumper sticker on his council auditorium desk. Residents and boaters say some spots in the river in Lafayette Parish are as shallow as one to four feet. Gordon Schoefﬂer, legal adviser to Dredge the Vermilion group, said three businesses left Lafayette because the river is no longer navigable in Lafayette Parish. Raney Redmond, who owns Redmond’s Marine on General Mouton Avenue in Lafayette, said he bought the property on the river years ago but is unable to get boats

to his business now because of the debris. “We need help,” he said. Several members of the Dredge the Vermilion group presented the councils and Corps with information on why the river should be dredged, including the economic benefits. The Federal Emergency Management Agency rated Lafayette at a 99.8% flood risk, said Jeremiah Supple, Dredge the Vermilion board member. The 2016 flood in this region resulted in 5,000 flood claims at a cost of $500 million in losses, Supple said. Some 59% of the loss was in Lafayette Parish. Jeff Lemon, who lives on Coulee Mine in Lafayette Parish, has

been researching and studying the Vermilion River since he had more than a foot of water in his house in August 2016. The Corps, he said, conducted a comprehensive dredging operation on the Vermilion River in the 1950s. “It made a huge difference until 2016,” Lemon said. “I don’t understand why dredging is not part of the solution.” The councils on Tuesday adopted resolutions urging the Corps to execute spot dredging and maintenance of the Vermilion River, including accumulated silt and overgrowth to return the river to its legally required navigational depth of 9 feet and width of 100 feet.

nents have expressed frustration that the administration has not acted to stem the ﬂow of such pills prescribed online, a situation they view as undermining state abortion bans. Mifepristone is typically used with misoprostol in medication abortions that make up close to two-thirds of abortions in the U.S. Medical professionals call it “among the safest medications” ever approved by the FDA. To be conﬁrmed, Overton must seek approval from a narrowly Republican-led Senate and face questions from the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. Its chair, Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy, a physician from Baton Rouge, has been a vocal critic of some of Trump’s actions to sow doubt in vaccinations, including the MMR order. Cassidy posted Wednesday that while he respects Overton’s medical background, he has “strong concerns” about the nomination, mentioning her lack of managerial experience and her participation in the recent vaccine order, which he called “almost disqualifying.” Democratic senators slammed the nomination. “Heidi Overton is a far-right, anti-abortion extremist who has no business leading the FDA,” posted Washington Sen. Patty Murray, a committee member.

Challenges left behind

also exited the agency. Dr. Vinay Prasad, the vaccine and biotech chief, stepped down in April following intense criticism from drugmakers, patients and investors. Dr. Tracy Beth Hoeg, who was involved in scrutinizing the safety of antidepressants, COVID-19 vaccines and other widely used therapies, was replaced as FDA’s acting drug center director.

The agency recently proposed a rule change that would require food manufacturers to notify regulators before introducing new ingredients or additives into processed or packaged foods. But it is still working with the White House to finalize a first-of-its-kind definition of ultraprocessed foods, which Kennedy blames for elevated rates of diabetes, obesity and other chronic conditions. Under Kennedy, the FDA has set up extra hurdles for vaccine testing and blocked the publication of research into the effectiveness of COVID-19 shots. Kennedy stood by Trump recently as the president signed the executive order aimed at upending childhood vaccinations in the U.S. despite unprecedented financial and logistical challenges. The FDA also has an ongoing review of widely used antidepressants, including whether they may increase the risk of autism and other disorders when used during pregnancy. The medicines have long been a target of Kennedy, who was a leader in the anti-vaccine movement before joining the government. In recent weeks, the agency has been investigating two summertime foodborne illness outbreaks: a cyclospora outbreak linked to tainted iceberg lettuce that has sickened thousands of people and a multistate salmonella outbreak linked to jalapeño peppers.

Public Notices Sheriff Sales

PAIGE PLACE, PHASE 1, AND BEING DESIGNATED ON THE OFFICIAL PLAT OF SAID SUBDIVISION, ON FILE AND OF RECORD IN THE OFFICE OF THE CLERK AND RECORDER OF SAID PARISH AND STATE, AS LOT 59, SAID SUBDIVI‐ SION, SAID LOT HAVING SUCH SIZE, SHAPE AND DIMENSIONS AND BEING SUBJECT TO SUCH SERVI‐ TUDES AS ARE SHOWN ON SAID MAP. WHICH HAS THE ADDRESS OF 103 PAIGE PLACE, BROUS‐ SARD, LA 70518.

cant number of our faculty that are earning salaries well below our peer university average. So, I told you that the first dollars we create, we will make an investment in that direction. And here we are — we haven’t started generating revenue, but it was important to invest in our people to support them and get us the way we want to go. “I’m proud to say that those adjustment will go into effect Oct. 1.” Kolluru also named student success and retention as an area of focus, stating that undergraduate applications exceeded 15,000 for fall 2026 enrollment, and they expect to welcome 3,000 first-time freshmen to campus this month. But “enrollment is only half the story,” STAFF PHOTO By LESLIE WESTBROOK according to Kolluru, who said that Attendees listen as University of Louisiana at Lafayette President Ramesh retention was an area where the university “must do better.” Kolluru gives the annual State of the University address on Wednesday. Currently, the four-year graduation rate at UL is 26%, the fivetime investment from the Louisi- funds for fiscal year 2027. year rate is 46%, and the six-year ana Legislature, which granted the Said Kolluru: “Our faculty com- graduation rate is 52%. “If you go to an airplane and the university $9 million in operating pensation study revealed a signifi-

GROUND TOGETHER WILL ALL BUILDINGS AND IM‐ PROVEMENTS AND THE PARTS COMPONENT THEREOF, SITUATED IN SECTION 48 AND/OR 49, 9 SOUTH, TOWNSHIP 4 EAST, RANGE PARISH, LAFAYETTE AND AC‐ LOUISIANA, CORDING TO A PLAT OF SURVEY BY A.R. YANDLE DATED OCTOBER 31, 1950, A COPY OF WHICH IS AT‐ TACHED TO THAT CER‐ TAIN ACT FILED UNDER NO. 253673, ENTRY RECORDS OF LAFAYETTE PARISH, LOUISIANA, IS AND DESIG‐ KNOWN NATED AS LOT 1 OF DAN DEBAILLON SUBDIVISION, SAID LOT HAVING A FRONTAGE OF 102.6 FEET, MORE OR LESS, ON MOSS STREET, BY A DEPTH BE‐ TWEEN PARALLEL LINES OF 253 FEET, MORE OR AND BEING LESS, BOUNDED, NOW OR FOR‐ MERLY, NORTH BY LOT 2 OF SAID SUBDIVISION, WEST BY PART OF LOT 31 OF SAID SUBDIVISION, EAST BY MOSS STREET, AND SOUTH BY DAN (NOW JUDGE STREET DRIVE). LESS AND EX‐ CEPT: PARCEL #8-1 CON‐ TAINING 1,208.3 SQUARE FEET, MORE OR LESS, CONVEYED TO THE STATE OF LOUISIANA AND THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANS‐ PORTATION AND DEVEL‐ OPMENT OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA BY SALE DATED FEBRUARY 14, 1979 AND FILED UNDER ENTRY NO. 79-4615, RECORDS OF PARISH, LAFAYETTE LOUISIANA. AND THAT CERTAIN LOT OF TOGETHER GROUND, ALL BUILDINGS WITH IMPROVEMENTS AND AND THE COMPONENT PARTS THEREOF, SITU‐ ATED IN SECTION 48 AND/OR 49, TOWNSHIP 9 SOUTH, RANGE 4 EAST, PARISH, LAFAYETTE AND AC‐ LOUISIANA, CORDING TO A PLAT OF SURVEY BY A.R. YANDLE DATED OCTOBER 31, 1950, A COPY OF WHICH IS AT‐ TACHED TO THAT CER‐ TAIN ACT FILED UNDER NO. 253673, ENTRY RECORDS OF LAFAYETTE PARISH, LOUISIANA, IS

Public Notices Sheriff Sales

KNOWN AND DESIG‐ NATED AS LOT 2 OF DAN DEBAILLON SUBDIVISION, SAID LOT HAVING A FRONTAGE OF 102.6 FEET, MORE OR LESS, ON MOSS STREET, BY A DEPTH BE‐ TWEEN PARALLEL LINES OF 253 FEET, MORE OR AND BEING LESS, BOUNDED, NOW OR FOR‐ MERLY, NORTH BY LOT 3, SOUTH BY LOT 1, EAST BY MOSS STREET, AND WEST BY LOT 31. LESS AND EX‐ CEPT: PARCEL #8-2 CON‐ TAINING 1,026.9 SQUARE FEET, MORE OR LESS, CONVEYED TO THE STATE OF LOUISIANA AND THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANS‐ PORTATION AND DEVEL‐ OPMENT OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA BY SALE DATED FEBRUARY 14, 1979 AND FILED UNDER ENTRY NO. 79-4614, RECORDS OF PARISH, LAFAYETTE LOUISIANA. SAID LOTS ARE CONTIGU‐ AND TOGETHER OUS CONTAIN 1.133 ACRES, MORE OR LESS, AND ARE SHOWN AND DEPICTED AS THE NEW LOT 1 OF DAN DEBAILLON SUBDIVI‐ SION, ON THAT CERTAIN PLAT DATED AUGUST 31, PREPARED BY 2022 RICHARD C. SPIKES, INC. ATTACHED HERETO BY THEREOF, REFERENCE FORMERLY KNOWN AS LOT 1-A ON THAT CER‐ TAIN PLAT OF SURVEY PREPARED BY MONTAG‐ NET AND DOMINIGUE, INC. DATED APRIL 29, 2011, REVISED JUNE 1, 2011, A COPY OF WHICH IS ATTACHED TO THAT ACT FILED CERTAIN UNDER 2011-27734, AN‐ OTHER REVISION WAS DONE SEPTEMBER 8, 2016 DEPICTING LOTS AS 1-A-1 AND 1-A-2, A COPY OF WHICH IS ATTACHED TO THAT CERTAIN ACT FILED UNDER 2016-36527 OF THE RECORDS OF LAFAYETTE LOUISIANA, PARISH, WHICH PLAT OF SURVEY IS MADE A PART HEREOF BY REFERENCE THERETO, AND HAVE SUCH FUR‐ MEASUREMENTS, THER BOUNDARIES, CONFIGU‐ RATIONS AND DIMEN‐ SIONS AS MORE FULLY SHOWN AND DESCRIBED ON SAID PLAT OF SURVEY AND BEING MORE PAR‐ TICULARLY DESCRIBED AS

Before he left the FDA, Makary had drawn complaints from health industry executives and anti-abortion activists. The frustration with him came to a head over the agency’s lack of movement on ﬂavored e-cigarettes. Companies such as R.J. Reynolds are seeking to market to adult smokers, but sweetflavored vapes have long been blamed for the trend of teenage vaping. FDA scientists have hesitated to endorse those products to curb adult smoking. Days before Makary’s departure, the agency opened the door to allowing more unauthorized electronic cigarettes and nicotine pouches onto the U.S. market, in a policy change that essentially bypassed FDA experts. Pharmaceutical companies will be looking for changes at the agency, too, after rejections or reversals of biotech drugs intended for rare diseases. Complaints from biotech companies, investors and patient groups have grown and been taken up by conservative lawmakers. Makary tried to assuage industry grievances, in part by announcing new programs designed to streamline or accelerate drug approvals. Some of those initiatives, however, have meant new headaches for the agency. Several of Makary’s deputies

Public Notices Sheriff Sales

FOLLOWS: BEGINNING AT A POINT ON THE WESTERLY RIGHT OF WAY OF MOSS STREET, SAID POINT BEING THE COR‐ NORTHEASTERLY NER OF LOT 2 OF DAN DE‐ SUBDIVISION: BAILLON WITH SAID THENCE RIGHT OF WAY OF MOSS STREET S 00° 09’ 00” W – 176.59’ FEET TO A POINT FOR CORNER: THENCE ALONG A CURVE TO THE RIGHT FOR A DISTANCE OF 44.15 FEET (RADIUS = 27.00’, CH = S 46° 59’ 22” W – 39.39’) TO A POINT FOR CORNER. SAID POINT ON THE BEING NORTHERLY RIGHT OF WAY OF JUDGE DRIVE; WITH SAID THENCE RIGHT OF WAY OF JUDGE DRIVE N 86° 10’ 16” W – 214.50 FEET TO A POINT FOR CORNER: THENCE N 01° 03’ 42” E – 205.20 FEET TO A POINT FOR CORNER: THENCE S 86° 10’ 16” E – 240.02’ TO THE POINT OF MUNICIPAL BEGINNING. ADDRESS: 3701 MOSS STREET, LAFAYETTE, LA 70501 THIS PROPERTY WAS OFFERED PREVIOUSLY APPRAISEMENT, WITH BUT NO BIDS WERE RE‐ CEIVED, SO THE SALE WILL BE OFFERED AT COST AND ACCORDING TO LAW. ANYONE PURCHASING PROPERTY AT SHERIFF'S SALE IS GIVEN UNTIL 2:00 P.M. ON SALE DAY TO PAY FULL PURCHASE THE AMOUNT BY CERTIFIED FUNDS PUBLISH ON: AUGUST 20, 2026 & SEPTEMBER 17, 2026 LAFAYETTE PARISH SHER‐ IFF'S OFFICE MARK T. GARBER, SHER‐ IFF $68.42 SHERIFF'S SALE U.S. BANK TRUST NA‐ ASSOCIATION, TIONAL NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE OF THE TRU‐ MAN 2021 SC9 TITLE Versus No. TRUST 20246571 WES MITCHELL

Public Notices Sheriff Sales

CONROY 15TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT ---- PARISH OF STATE OF LAFAYETTE LOUISIANA Notice is hereby given that by virtue of a writ of SEIZURE AND SALE is‐ sued in the hereinabove entitled and numbered cause I have seized and taken into my possession and will offer for sale sell for cash, and appraise‐ ***WITH*** ment, to the last and highest bidder, at public at the auction, LAFAYETTE PARISH GOV‐ ERNMENT BUILDING, 1010 LAFAYETTE STREET, 2ND in Lafayette, FLOOR Louisiana, between the legal sale hours com‐ mencing at 10:00 A.M. on WEDNESDAY, ***SEPTEM‐ BER 23, 2026***, the fol‐ lowing described prop‐ erty, to wit: THAT CERTAIN PARCEL OF TOGETHER GROUND, ALL IMPROVE‐ WITH MENTS THEREON, AND ALL RIGHTS, WAYS, PRIVI‐ LEGES, SERVITUDES, AP‐ PURTENANCES AND AD‐ THEREUNTO VANTAGES BELONGING AND ALL AP‐ PURTENANCES THEREOF, BEING KNOWN AND DES‐ IGNATED AS LOT THREE (3) AND EASTERLY 1’ OF LOT FOUR (4) OF WINDY HEIGHTS, A SUBDIVISION THE PARISH OF OF LOUISIANA LAFAYETTE, ON THAT CERTAIN PLAT OF SURVEY PREPARED BY R.C. SPIKES, ATTACHED TO THAT ACT RECORDED UNDER ENTRY NOS. 7725875 AND 79-31113 AND MADE A PART HEREOF BY REFERENCE, AND BEING DESCRIBED WITH REFER‐ ENCE THERETO AS HAV‐ ING A FRONTAGE OF 100 FEET ON HERITAGE DRIVE, HAVING SUCH AND DIMENSIONS, OTHER BOUNDARIES AND MEA‐ AS ARE SUREMENTS MORE FULLY SHOWN ON SAID PLAT OF SURVEY. AND THAT CERTAIN PARCEL OF TOGETHER GROUND, ALL IMPROVE‐ WITH MENTS THEREON, AND ALL RIGHTS, WAYS, PRIVI‐ LEGES, SERVITUDES, AP‐

MAHA has high expectations Overton would also need to tend to the priorities of Kennedy’s health movement, some members of which are already skeptical of her. Kelly Ryerson, an activist critical of pesticides who is known to her supporters as “Glyphosate Girl,” told The Associated Press that Overton parroted pesticide manufacturer Bayer’s talking points in a MAHA roundtable at the White House in April. “I was stunned by the blatant, undisguised corruption,” Ryerson said. One major decision for the next commissioner is what to do about peptide regulation. A panel of federal health advisers selected by Kennedy recently recommended easing access to several peptides that are popular with wellness inﬂuencers and celebrities, despite warnings from FDA scientists that the chemicals have not been shown to be safe or effective.

Public Notices Sheriff Sales

PURTENANCES AND AD‐ THEREUNTO VANTAGES BELONGING, AND ALL AP‐ PURTENANCES THEREOF, BEING KNOWN AND DES‐ IGNATED AS LOT FOUR (4), LESS AND EXCEPT THE WESTERLY MOST SIXTY-EIGHT FEET (68’) OF LOT FOUR (4), AND LESS AND EXCEPT THE EASTERLY MOST ONE FOOT (1) OF LOT FOUR (4) OF WINDY HEIGHTS, A OF THE SUBDIVISION PARISH OF LAFAYETTE, LOUISIANA ON THAT CER‐ TAIN PLAT OF SURVEY BY R.C. PREPARED SPIKES, ATTACHED TO THAT ACT RECORDED UNDER ENTRY NOS. 7725875 AND 79-31113 AND MADE A PART HEREOF BY REFERENCE, AN BEING DESCRIBED WITH REFER‐ ENCE THERETO AS HAV‐ ING A THIRTY-ONE FOOT (31’) FRONTAGE ON HER‐ ITAGE DRIVE, AND HAV‐ ING SUCH OTHER DIMEN‐ SIONS, BOUNDARIES AND MEASUREMENTS AS ARE MORE FULLY SHOWN ON SAID PLAT OF SURVEY; SUBJECT TO RESTRIC‐ SERVITUDES, TIONS, AND RIGHTS-OF-WAY OUTSTANDING MINERAL RIGHTS OF RECORD AF‐ FECTING THE PROPERTY. MUNICIPAL ADDRESS: 105 DRIVE, HERITAGE YOUNGSVILLE, LA 70592 ANYONE PURCHASING PROPERTY AT SHERIFF'S SALE IS GIVEN UNTIL 2:00 P.M. ON SALE DAY TO PAY FULL PURCHASE THE AMOUNT BY CERTIFIED FUNDS PUBLISH ON: AUGUST 20, 2026 & SEPTEMBER 17, 2026 LAFAYETTE PARISH SHER‐ IFF'S OFFICE MARK T. GARBER, SHER‐ IFF $46.12 SHERIFF'S SALE VILLAGE CAPITAL & IN‐ VESTMENT LLC Versus No. 20264078 KRISTIN SONNIER 15TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT ---- PARISH OF LAFAYETTE STATE OF

Public Notices Sheriff Sales

pilot told you there was a roughly 50-50 chance of reaching your destination, you’d think twice about taking that job,” he said. “Yet we are asking students and families to invest their time, trust and treasure when after six years, nearly half our students leave here without reaching their destinations.” He announced that the balanced budget will include $1 million for academic counseling and advising, and $200 million in ﬁnancial aid and scholarships. “Let me say it again: We are at a research university. Failure is an option, but not trying is not. Student success, student retention is paramount. It is human potential that is otherwise lost. It is ﬁnancial resources for the university that are otherwise lost. To me, student success is ensuring our students leave here with a degree, with a purpose, and a path forward.”

Public Notices Sheriff Sales

2026 LAFAYETTE PARISH SHER‐ IFF'S OFFICE MARK T. GARBER, SHER‐ IFF $34.33 SHERIFF'S SALE SAVINGS WILMINGTON FUND SOCIETY, FSB, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CA‐ PACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE OF OBX 2025-NQM14 TRUST Versus No. 20263135 LEON NATHANIEL CLAY‐ TON, JR. (A/K/A LEON CLAYTON) 15TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT ---- PARISH OF STATE OF LAFAYETTE LOUISIANA Notice is hereby given that by virtue of a writ of SEIZURE AND SALE is‐ sued in the hereinabove entitled and numbered cause I have seized and taken into my possession and will offer for sale sell for cash, and appraise‐ ***WITH*** ment, to the last and highest bidder, at public at the auction, LAFAYETTE PARISH GOV‐ ERNMENT BUILDING, 1010 LAFAYETTE STREET, 2ND in Lafayette, FLOOR Louisiana, between the legal sale hours com‐ mencing at 10:00 A.M. on WEDNESDAY, ***AUGUST 26, 2026*** ,the following described property, to wit: THAT CERTAIN PARCEL OF TOGETHER GROUND, ALL BUILDINGS WITH IMPROVEMENTS AND AND ALL THEREON, RIGHTS, WAYS, PRIVI‐ LEGES, SERVITUDES, AP‐ PURTENANCES AND AD‐ THEREUNTO VANTAGES BELONGING AND ALL AP‐ PURTENANCES THEREOF, BEING KNOWN AND DES‐ IGNATED AS LOT TWELVE (12) OF HAMLET SUBDIVI‐ SION, PHASE II, A SUBDI‐ VISION OF THE PARISH OF LOUISIANA LAFAYETTE, ON THAT CERTAIN PLAT OF SURVEY PREPARED BY & MONTAGNET INC., AT‐ DOMINGUE, TACHED TO THAT ACT RECORDED UNDER ENTRY

Public Notices Sheriff Sales

NO. 2017-37677, AND MADE PART HEREOF BY REFERENCE, AND BEING DESCRIBED WITH REFER‐ ENCE THERETO AS HAV‐ ING A FRONTAGE ON ARAGO COURT, AND AS HAVING SUCH DIMEN‐ SIONS, BOUNDARIES AND MEASUREMENTS AS ARE MORE FULLY SHOWN ON SAID PLAT OF SURVEY. WHICH HAS THE AD‐ DRESS OF 103 ARAGO COURT, LAFAYETTE, LA 70508 ANYONE PURCHASING PROPERTY AT SHERIFF'S SALE IS GIVEN UNTIL 2:00 P.M. ON SALE DAY TO PAY FULL PURCHASE THE AMOUNT BY CERTIFIED FUNDS PUBLISH ON: JULY 23, 2026 & AUGUST 20, 2026 LAFAYETTE PARISH SHER‐ IFF'S OFFICE MARK T. GARBER, SHER‐ IFF $36.04

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6A ● Thursday,August 20, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

lll

TODAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

Mostly sunny

A t-storm around in the p.m.

A stray afternoon t-storm; hot

Humid; a stray p.m. t-storm

HIGH

LOW

96° 78°

LOW

95° 77°

LOW

97° 78°

Beaumont 96/77 Port Arthur 95/78

Baton Rouge 97/76

Lake Charles 96/79

New Orleans 96/79 Houma 94/76

Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

Hattiesburg 99/75

Alexandria 100/77

Lafayette 96/78

10s

20s

30s

40s

50s

98° 77°

LOW

94° 76°

TEMPERATURE Jackson 100/76

Many 99/75

LOW

YESTERDAY

Lafayette through 5 p.m. Wednesday

Longview 106/78

-0s

98° 80°

Monroe 104/79

Shreveport 105/78

-10s

LOW

Well, probably not a big surprise that the heat is still our biggest issue in the weather once again today. Most of us are under either a major or an extreme heat risk for today. Temperatures will be rising into the mid- to upper 90s. The humidity remains high, so “feelslike” temperatures or heat index values could rise to 107 or higher in parts of our area. The UV index is very high level, so take breaks, stay hydrated and wear sunscreen. There’s a slight chance of an isolated shower or storm today.

60s

70s

80s

90s 100s 110s

High/low Normal high/low Last year’s high/low Record high Record low

Sunrise today Sunset tonight Moonrise today Moonset today

AUG 27

City

Austin Boston Dallas Fairbanks Honolulu Las Vegas Louisville Miami Nashville

Shown are areas of precipitation and high temperatures for the day.

98°/79° 92°/75° 95°/73° 105° in 2023 65° in 1943

TODAY’S TIDES Lake Pontchartrain (Tchefuncte River) Shell Beach South Point, Marsh Island Cypremort Point Grand Isle (Barataria Pass) Mississippi River (Southwest Pass) Wine Island

FULL

PRECIPITATION

24-hour total Month to date Normal month to date year to date Normal year to date

HIGH

2:03p 7:41a 3:02a 5:09a 3:49a 3:02a 4:57a

6:38 a.m. 7:44 p.m. 2:29 p.m. none

LAST

NEW

SEP 4

104 83 106 66 89 108 85 93 92

TODAY Lo

78 66 83 51 75 88 70 80 72

FIRST

SEP 10

s sh pc c pc pc t t t

SEP 18

105 77 105 64 89 105 86 94 91

FRI. Lo

77 65 82 49 77 86 66 80 69

s pc s sh sh t t t t

FT.

LOW

0.7 1.6 1.9 1.8 1.3 1.6 1.6

2:12a 8:47p 3:41p 7:33p 4:06p 2:28p 5:08p

0.00” 1.18” 3.72” 41.97” 41.14”

FT.

HIGH

0.1 0.1 0.0 0.3 0.1 0.1 0.2

FT.

---------------

MODERATE

READING 39 MAIN POLLUTANT Particulates

MAIN POLLUTANT Particulates

SOURCE: LOUISIANA DEQ AND AIRNOW.GOV

LOW

---------------

FT.

---------------

The solunar period schedule allows planning days so you will be fishing in good territory or hunting in good cover during those times. Major periods begin at the times shown and last for 1.5 to 2 hours. The minor periods are shorter. MAJOR MINOR MAJOR MINOR

Today 6:05a 12:17p 6:29p Friday 6:53a 12:40a 7:18p Saturday 7:39a 1:27a 8:05p Sunday 8:25a 2:13a 8:51p Monday 9:11a 2:58a 9:35p Tuesday 9:55a 3:43a 10:19p Wednesday 10:38a 4:26a 11:01p

City

New Orleans Orlando Philadelphia Phoenix Pittsburgh Raleigh St. Louis San Diego Tampa

TODAY

96 93 82 108 76 97 84 80 92

79 77 68 90 62 73 68 69 79

t t t t r t pc s t

TODAY

GOOD

96 94 82 112 79 86 88 79 90

---1:05p 1:52p 2:38p 3:23p 4:07p 4:50p

FRI. Lo

77 77 70 90 63 70 70 70 81

t t pc pc pc t pc s t

Weather (W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy, c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms, r-rain, sf-snow flurries, sn-snow, i-ice.

MISSISSIPPI Memphis Vidalia-Natchez Red River Landing Baton Rouge Donaldsonville Reserve New Orleans OHIO Cairo COMITE Near Olive AMITE Near Darlington Denham Springs Port Vincent TICKFAW Montpelier Holden ATCHAFALAYA Simmesport Melville Krotz Springs Butte La Rose Bayou Sorrel Morgan City

FLOOD STAGE

34 48 48 35 27 22 17

WED. 24-HOUR STAGE CHANGE

8.80 19.40 21.80 8.10 4.70 3.21 3.20

+2.03 +0.21 -0.10 -0.10 none -0.16 +0.16

27.01

+0.89

-1.60

-0.12

18 29 8

-1.19 10.23 1.10

-0.06 -0.04 -0.41

13 15

1.40 0.78

-0.02 -0.03

47 34 29 20 12 6

7.96 4.98 3.61 3.64 2.90 1.63

+0.07 -0.03 -0.06 +0.04 none -0.26

data as of 7 a.m. Wednesday

Trump plays tour guide to show Psychologist testiﬁes off work on helipad, ballroom Clancy not criminally President gushes responsible in killing about granite President Donald Trump signs a stone on Wednesday at the construction site of the new helicopter landing zone on the South Lawn of the White House.

BY WILL WEISSERT and COLLIN BINKLEY Associated Press

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump played White House tour guide on Wednesday, showing off the helipad he is building on the lawn before leaning over to autograph a piece of it and bragging about the ballroom he’s rushing to complete despite legal challenges. Trump gushed for several uninterrupted minutes about granite being laid and said the chopper landing area would leave visiting foreign leaders “very impressed” — including Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is coming next month. At times, he sounded almost like a construction manager, singing the praises of granite over asphalt in painstaking detail and noting for reporters he brought out for the show that the stone could withstand 35,000 pounds per square inch of pressure. “That’s stone that, if you took a hammer and you started hammering right now — all day long — you wouldn’t see a mark on it, literally, that’s the kind of power it is,” Trump said, at times straining to be heard over the thrum of ongoing work behind him. The president also revealed for the ﬁrst time that he has replaced the walkway from the White House’s diplomatic entrance along with a portion of the asphalt driveway around the South Lawn with white granite. “One thing I know how to do is build,” he said, asserting that asphalt is “not appropriate for a great house, or a great place like the White House.” He said that, had he instead merely used “really powerful concrete,” it would have supported ”just a tiny fraction of that in terms of strength.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MANUEL BALCE CENETA projects to mold the White House and large swatches of Washington in his own image, seeming happiest recalling his days as a real estate developer. Trump also likes to show off his handiwork and having the White House press pool on hand at all times gives him a ready-made audience. Last year, he made an appearance on the roof of the briefing room to survey a future work site, and earlier this summer, he took reporters for a closer look at the ballroom construction site. It suggests Trump remains focused on such projects, even as his war in Iran nears the six-month mark, his approval ratings sink with just 21/2 months to go before critical midterm elections, and as voters are increasingly worried about a weakening economy. Trump drove home just how important the construction projects are to him, calling the work “very exciting.” “This will be here long after we’re gone,” Trump said of the projects. “No matter what happens with the world.” But whether it will endure after he leaves ofﬁce remains to be seen. Trump once suggested that his refurbishing of the Lincoln Memorial’s Reﬂecting Pool would last a century, only for the paint to fade and its liner to peel away in chunks just days after it was laid.

White House and include things like anti-drone technology. His administration even unsuccessfully sought $1 billion in congressional funding to make military improvements to the structure. “This will be the greatest military complex slash ballroom anywhere in the world,” he said. Trump also scoffed at court orders seeking to block its construction without congressional approval, saying work is continuing regardless and predicting that the Supreme Court will eventually side with him and allow the project to be completed. The president found time to talk again about one of his favorite subjects of late — grass — and praised at length Scotts-Miracle Gro. The company’s former CEO is a Trump supporter, and it donated $1 million to repair the grass on the White House lawn after it was damaged by Trump’s UFC ﬁght marking his 80th birthday in June and by the helipad construction. At one point on Wednesday, Trump signed the back of one of the granite stones that was marked “Donald Trump 45-47 president” for the occasion. Its front is shaped like an eagle and will be laid into the helipad’s presidential seal once work is completed. “I thought this would be a little different kind of a news conferThe builder-in-chief ence,” the president said. “We The president is called upon to Ballroom will have security value were going to sign this privately ﬁll many roles as president, but The president has increasingly and just put it in. I said, ‘This is embraces none with as much zeal insisted that the $400 million something I think the press should as managing various building ballroom will add security to the see,’ and I hope you liked it.”

Mental health left her her medical records, said she to a perinatal clinic in Deunable to appreciate went cember 2022 because she felt “brain was damaged,” “she ‘wrongfulness’ of murder her should kill herself” and that she

BY MICHAEL CASEY Associated Press

PLYMOUTH, Mass. — Lindsay Clancy didn’t appreciate the “wrongfulness” of killing her three children because of her mental health issues, a psychologist testifying for the defense said at her murder trial Wednesday. The testimony of Paul Zeizel is the strongest evidence yet to support the defense contentions that Clancy should not be held legally responsible for murder because she has bipolar disorder and was in the grip of a rare mental illness called postpartum psychosis when she killed her three children before trying to kill herself. Zeizel began seeing Clancy as a patient at a hospital after the deaths. “She was unable to conform her behavior to the rule of law. She had no appreciation for the wrongfulness of her act,” Zeizel said, adding that she had “a mental disease or a defect.” Clancy, 36, has pleaded not guilty to murder charges in the deaths of Callan, Dawson and Cora Clancy, who ranged from 8 months to 5 years old. Postpartum psychosis is linked to the stress, sleep deprivation and hormonal changes that follow childbirth. Researchers estimate that the condition — which is more serious and less common than postpartum depression — afﬂicts 1 to 2 per 1,000 women after delivery. Prosecutors say the former labor and delivery nurse planned the January 2023 killings and contrived to get her husband out of the house by sending him to pick up medicine for one of their children and dinner for the family. Zeizel, who said he spent more than 35 hours with Clancy over dozens of visits and reviewed

“is never going to get any better.” She also showed signs of psychosis, was paranoid and feared that people could hear her thoughts and that she would lose her children. “She was worried that her children would be removed from her and that she would never see them again,” he said. But just because she was in a psychotic state, Zeizel said, that didn’t mean she couldn’t do “everyday tasks of living” like driving and searching the internet, a reference to the fact that the day of the killings she took her daughter to the doctor, played with the children in the snow and searched online for a pharmacy and a restaurant. “So the fact she is not talking about the unicorns in the corner, she is not slurring her words and she is not unable to walk, to your opinion to a degree of medical certainty, does that mean she is not in a psychotic state?” Clancy’s attorney Kevin Reddington asked. Zeizel responded: “It does not.” On cross-examination, prosecutors pointed out mistakes Zeizel made in his report about Clancy and questioned whether he could be objective about her diagnosis when he was seeing her as a patient and working with the defense including appearing with Reddington at a news conference. Zeizel acknowledged that there was nothing in Clancy’s medical records in which she reports hearing voices telling her to kill herself, only that she told her caregivers that “she wanted to die.” Prosecutors have questioned the seriousness of Clancy’s suicide attempt. After strangling her children, Clancy jumped from a second-story window and remains paralyzed from the waist down.

METRO

T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M

T h u r s d ay, au g u s T 20, 2026

1BN

Festivals Acadiens announces 2026 lineup New stage and new partnership lined up

BY KRISTIN ASKELSON Staff writer

STAFF PHOTOS By LESLIE WESTBROOK

Members of the Bostick family and other attendees applaud the unveiling of a plaque dedicated to Deanna Bostick, a supporter, coordinator and coach of Lafayette youth soccer since 1978, at the Moore Park Soccer Complex in Lafayette on Wednesday.

A sign of dedication

Lafayette honors ‘Ma D,’ who helped build youth soccer in the city BY JOEL THOMPSON

Staff writer

The Lafayette parks and recreation department unveiled a plaque Wednesday honoring Deanna Bostick, a pioneer in bringing youth soccer to Lafayette. Bostick spent more than 40 years organizing youth soccer at Moore Park, off of North University Avenue just north of Interstate 10, working with local government and youth sports organizations to make the sport accessible to Lafayette families. Known to many as “Ma D,” Bostick died in 2023, leaving behind a legacy now permanently recognized at the very ﬁelds where she spent much of her time. At Wednesday’s unveiling, community members reﬂected on Bostick’s impact on youth soccer and the Lafayette community. “We would not be here, talking about soccer in Lafayette without her time and sacrifice,” said state Sen. Gerald Boudreaux, D-Lafayette. Boudreaux, who worked alongside his brother, City

ä See DEDICATION, page 4B

ä See LINEUP, page 4B

Pam Bostick Foreman, center, is joined by family as she speaks during a ceremony to unveil a plaque dedicated to her mother.

UL move-in week brings road closures Traffic changes as thousands of students arrive

About 3,400 University of Louisiana at Lafayette students are moving into campus housing this week to get ready for fall 2026. Freshmen began arriving Wednesday and other students will arrive over the weekend.

BY KRISTIN ASKELSON Staff writer

About 3,400 University of Louisiana at Lafayette students will move into campus residence halls and apartments this week ahead of the start of the fall 2026 semester. Move-In Week began Wednesday with the arrival of freshmen participating in SOUL Camp B. Freshmen will continue moving in Thursday and Friday, while other students living in campus residence halls and apartments will arrive Saturday and Sunday. The inﬂux of students and their families will bring temporary traffic changes and road closures near campus, particularly Thursday and Friday. East St. Mary Boulevard will be closed between Girard Park Drive and Johnston Street on Thursday and Friday. During the closure, the roadway will operate one way beginning at Johnston Street and will be reserved for move-in traffic. Motorists should use East University Avenue as a detour.

Festivals Acadiens et Créoles will return to Girard Park on Oct. 8-11 with a lineup featuring some of the biggest names in Cajun and Creole music, a revived stage and a new partnership with the Smithsonian Institution. Now in its 52nd year, the festival’s 2026 lineup includes Jeffery Broussard and the Creole Cowboys, Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys and Wayne Toups, who will close the festival Sunday evening. Other performers include Rusty Metoyer & the Zydeco Crush and The Holiday Playgirls. This year’s festival will also relaunch its original stage, Scène ’76, near the pond at Girard Park, according to a news release. The stage is a nod to the festival’s early years after it moved from Blackham Coliseum to Girard Park in 1976. The return of Scène ’76 is tied to the festival’s partnership with the Smithsonian Institution. The stage will highlight South Louisiana’s musical traditions and their connections with other American musical styles through collaborations between regional musicians and guest performers, including Haitian American cellist Leyla McCalla and Indigenous ﬁddler Nokosee Fields. Festivals Acadiens et Créoles was selected by the Smithsonian as one of 34 folklife events nationwide to participate in its Festival of Festivals initiative, which highlights festivals that serve as spaces for cultural

STAFF FILE PHOTO By BRAD BOWIE

Trafﬁc on Rex Street will also be reversed Thursday and Friday to accommodate move-in. Hebrard Boulevard will be used for students moving into the Rose Garden residence halls Wednesday through Friday, with access to the roadway limited during move-in operations. The trafﬁc changes will also af-

fect access to several businesses and healthcare facilities along East St. Mary Boulevard. Visitors to Bustle Up Fitness and Our Lady of Lourdes Rehab Center should park in the 501 Parking Garage, 501 E. St. Mary Blvd., and enter from Dunreath Street. Those visiting Our Lady of Lourdes Imaging Center-St.

Mary may park in the small lot in front of the facility, 601 E. St. Mary Blvd., or use the 501 Parking Garage. Several university parking areas will also be reserved for move-in activities. Email Kristin Askelson at kaskelson@theadvocate.com.

Trial underway in suit by justice

The Advocate named as defendant BY DAVID J. MITCHELL Staff writer

The trial of a defamation lawsuit by a Louisiana Supreme Court justice against The Advocate is underway in an Iberville Parish courthouse, with attorneys for both sides clashing over a 2019 editorial and the jurist taking the witness stand to press his case. Justice Jefferson Hughes III claims an editorial by the newspaper falsely said he acted improperly when, as a district judge nearly 30 years ago, he presided over a child custody case in which his then-girlfriend was for a time a lawyer before him. Attorneys for the newspaper countered in opening statements Tuesday that the case was “about one thing and one thing only” — whether The Advocate can publish something that holds accountable an official in one of the highest offices in the state. Hughes is seeking $10 million in damages. Hughes testified for hours Wednesday and was still on the stand as the evening wore on. He said he did become romantically involved with the lawyer, but only after she removed herself from the case. Asked by Suzy Montero, one of The Advocate’s attorneys in the case, why he filed suit in Iberville Parish even though he lives in Livingston Parish,

ä See SUIT, page 4B

2B ● Thursday,August 20, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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OPINION T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M/opinions

OUR VIEWS

Put the public back in the PSC

The public has a right to expect public agencies will look out for the public’s interest. But the Public Service Commission has recently failed on that account when considering whether to require greater transparency about Meta’s plans for a data center in Richland Parish. While we have welcomed the project as a boon to a part of Louisiana where economic development is greatly needed, that doesn’t mean we believe that it should proceed without transparency and public involvement in the process. Both should be a priority for all such projects that come before the PSC, not just this one. That’s why we were chagrined last week when the PSC voted to overrule a judge’s decision to require Meta to provide details on two categories: the “level of investment and permanent job creation” the data center would provide and the amount of electricity it would use. This came after local advocacy groups sued for the information. The PSC, which is the regulator for the state’s utilities, ultimately voted along party lines to say that the public didn’t need to know. The three Republicans on the panel agreed with Meta that providing the information would somehow put the company at a competitive disadvantage. We are struck that Louisiana’s leaders appear to lament that some in the public seem skeptical that this latest burst of economic development will benefit real Louisiana citizens. We commend the executive order Gov. Jeff Landry often touts to protect Louisiana ratepayers as the data center is being built. And we have lauded the governor and the team at Louisiana Economic Development for finally seeming to put the pieces together to bring in big deals that will create the sort of good jobs that can keep our young people here. But there’s one more piece to the puzzle if Louisiana is to enjoy real prosperity. And that piece is trust. Citizens have to trust that government is working on their behalf, that strong regulatory systems will be in place to minimize any issues that arise, that the state isn’t just grabbing the latest shiny object with little regard for the long-term health of our communities. The only way to win that trust is through transparency. We want more of our people to believe that this is a turning point for our state and latch on to the opportunities it presents. But so often, as in this case, what holds us back is a lack of confidence that our institutions are truly acting in the public’s best interest. And only governmental agencies can solve this problem. As the Meta project and other data center projects move forward in the state, we urge members of the PSC to keep that in mind. Their constituents are clearly watching. Their votes — and more importantly, their attitude toward questions by the public — will shape perceptions of this project for years to come. If they truly want to galvanize public support and the big economic gains being promised, regulators need to demand answers on behalf of the people they serve.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ARE WELCOME. HERE ARE OUR GUIDELINES: Letters are published

identifying name, occupation and/or title and the writer’s city of residence. The Advocate | The Times-Picayune require a street address and phone 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, SCAN HERE

YOUR VIEWS

16- and 17-yearolds can preregister to vote

Blame taxes and more, but La.’s image is holding us back In his recent guest column, the CEO of the Pelican Institute argues that Louisiana is on its way to growing the population because of economic development, but that it’s held back by a lack of education freedom and legal reforms, plus taxes and onerous permitting requirements. The facts don’t support that assertion. Census data show that since 2020 the state has lost nearly 40,000 residents. The state’s response to the fact that people like to visit Louisiana but no one wants to move here is to focus on a lack of job opportunities and to promote economic development. But the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that in December 2025 there were 95,000 job openings in the state. No, the problem is how people in other parts of the country perceive us — our brand. Louisiana is seen as unwelcoming, religiously extreme, unwilling to invest in quality of life and racially intolerant. Louisiana’s leaders are actively try-

ing to insert religious practices into our politics and schools. They stand between doctors and patients over what kind of healthcare women can receive, promote so-called educational freedom over support for public schools and oppose policies to help migrants willing to work at jobs our citizens don’t want. They disparage higher taxes rather than persuading voters to make sacriﬁces to invest in infrastructure, education and a better quality of life. And nothing says come to Louisiana like pursuing a nuclear waste dump, building detention centers and actively trying to hide information about development proposals. The brand is the problem, and unless we change it you can build all the data centers and space ports you want, but no one will want to make Louisiana their permanent home.

As the school year begins and nonpartisan voter education organizations like the League of Women Voters prepare to conduct high school voter registration and education events at schools around the state, one issue that we think deserves more focus is that fact that 16- and 17-year-olds can pre-register to vote under Louisiana law. A 16-year-old must register in person at the ofﬁce of their parish Registrar of Voters or the Louisiana Ofﬁce of Motor Vehicles. In fact, under the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (also known as the “Motor Voter Act”), OMVs are required to offer all U.S. citizens seeking to obtain or renew a driver’s license the opportunity to register. A 17-year-old can register online, and they can also register to serve as poll workers. Preregistered 16- and 17-year-olds will receive a very special 18th birthday card from their Registrar of Voters — their Voter Information Card indicating that they are eligible to vote! Even so, it is our experience that many 16- and 17-year-olds do not know that they may preregister to vote. We have asked them directly about whether they have preregistered at our youth voting and civics events and mostly received blank stares. In response to a social media post, one older Louisianan opined that young people should not register to vote until age 18 — and then vote only under the careful tutelage of their parents. We wonder if Louisiana’s young prospective voters agree! This election season, we hope that all 16- and 17-year-olds in Louisiana take the opportunity to pre-register to vote. The data show that the younger voters register, the more likely they are to build the civic habit of becoming regular voters and participants in our democracy.

ROBERT W. BECKER New Orleans

It is laughable to compare the U.S. to Norway I read Michael O’Rourke’s recent letter in which he postulates U.S. corruption as being the reason socialism would fail here. The letter seems to have left out a few critical facts about the differences between the United States and Norway. The writer described Norway as being a social democratic capitalist country, which is a contradiction in terms if ever there was one. The Norwegian government will tell anyone in a heartbeat that Norway is capitalist and not socialist. The Norwegian government does not dictate how the Norwegian economy operates, which is the primary difference between a capitalist and socialist country and the primary reason socialist countries fail. Norway, like Sweden, Denmark and Finland, is a capitalist country with many social programs and very high taxes to support those programs. The United States is also a capitalist country with many social programs, except

we don’t provide free college tuition, which is one of the primary reasons for Norway’s high taxes. The letter-writer apparently has never read letters from people in those countries complaining about their high taxes. But wait, there’s more: Norway’s population is 5.6 million, and it is slightly larger than New Mexico as a country. It is laughable to compare Norway to the United States. I would refer O’Rourke to the many YouTube videos from Europeans here during the World Cup extolling the virtues of the United States compared to European countries — yes, even Norway. Finally, as a last laugh, if Norway is that great, why was the TSA conﬁscating hundreds of bottles of ranch dressing being smuggled back to European, especially Scandinavian, countries?

DUDLEY GARIDEL Baton Rouge

Amid investigations into deal, Meta sponsorship is distasteful I was so excited to have a different news source when The Advocate came into the city, but your recent sponsorship with Meta is quite distasteful. I understand that funding for news is tanking, but where is the integrity? The timing of the sponsorship is quite

devious, as The New York Times published its investigative piece on the ugly truths of the Richland Parish data center deal. Anyway, I have canceled my subscription.

M. CHRISTIAN GREEN president, League of Women Voters of Louisiana Lafayette

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COMMENTARY New survey reveals that Louisianans do politics better

A new statewide survey indicates when Republican Rep. Steve Scalise Louisianans have more constructive was shot in 2017, Democratic Rep. Cedpolitical outlooks than most people naric Richmond, a good friend from their state legislative days, was the first coltionwide. This is good news. It’s also unsurpris- league to rush to the hospital. Louisiana’s congressional staffs of ing. And it provides some worthwhile both parties also befriended lessons. each other. And not once but Before considering the surtwice, longtime Democratic vey, though, please allow a few staffers reached out to me, a stories. They show why, at least notably conservative Republiuntil recently, Louisiana politicians themselves have been can, to advise me of job openknown for their relatively corings they thought (correctly) Quin would be good for me. dial relations across party lines. Hillyer Then there’s the state LegislaThe first story comes from the late John Von Kannon, the longture, where until recently nonpartisan coalitions were as important time chief fundraiser for the conseras party affiliation. vative Heritage Foundation. In 2015, I’ll never forget the morning of just days before his death, Von Kannon then-Democrat Roemer’s inauguration was reminiscing with his Capitol Hill as governor in early 1988. Sen. John neighbor Rich Masters, a Democratic insider and former communications di- Hainkel, a Republican but a close Rorector for U.S. senator, Mary Landrieu. emer ally, had let me sleep in one of his “You know what one of my favorite two rooms in the so-called Pentagon memories was?” Von Kannon said to Apartments used almost entirely by Masters. “There we were at the taillawmakers. When morning light came, legislators of both parties, Black and gate party before the Saints-Redskins White, started wandering up and down game [it was 2009, the Saints’ Super the breezeway, into each other’s apartBowl year], and we looked over to the vat of gumbo steaming in the cold ments, waking each other up, teasing weather, and there were [two-time and laughing and basically goofing Democratic National Committee chair] around as friends. Donna Brazile and [ Republican former In all these examples, Democrats U.S. Rep.] Bob Livingston, standing and Republicans, liberals and conserover the gumbo and laughing like old vatives, could fight, fight, fight over friends.” policy differences, but without making Von Kannon said that’s how politics the differences personal. In Louisiana, should be, and he envied the unique that’s how we rolled. ability of Louisianans to do it that way. Which leads us to the survey, reHe was right: It was a Louisiana poleased last week jointly by the Public Affairs Research Council and LSU’s litical tradition. The late Democratic Reilly Center for Media & Public AfRep. Lindy Boggs was famously gracious to Republican Reps. Livingston fairs. It measured various indices of and Dave Treen. When Livingston and political polarization in the state comthen-Democratic Rep. Billy Tauzin pared to similar results nationally. Sure both lost a hotly contested 1987 goverenough, while the differences weren’t as pronounced as I would have expectnor’s race to Buddy Roemer, Livingston put aside hard feelings and helped ed, and probably not as pronounced as Tauzin retire his campaign debt. And they would have been a decade or three

ago, Louisiana citizens still are less likely than other Americans to think the worst of the “other” political side and more willing to engage in real political dialogue. Granted, one raw measure of political polarization — how approvingly respondents rated their own party compared to how negatively they viewed the other party – showed only a tiny, 1.7-point Louisiana edge (meaning less polarized) over national attitudes. But when asked to rate someone of the other party who they know personally, the Louisiana polarization index dropped an encouraging 10 points. Meanwhile, 70% of Louisianans, compared to just 64% nationally, reported having real conversations with people with very different political views. Also, 81% of Louisianans said they would like politicians to work harder to ﬁnd common ground across the aisle (rather than just beating up on the other side as if it were irredeemable). Moreover, despite living in this age of “cancel culture” 91% of Louisianans said unfettered speech rights should apply equally to all sides, not just their own. And this is interesting: While the usual assumption is that the more people are engaged with politics, the more tribal they are and the more “dug in” to their positions, this isn’t the case in Louisiana. Louisianans posted those slightly-more-tolerant-thannational scores even though they are a whopping 20% more likely than other Americans to feel very or extremely interested in politics. Nobody is saying politics here ever was a game of pattycake. Still, the rest of the nation would do well to see how we in Louisiana keep politics somewhat less of a blood sport. And learn from it.

Email Quin Hillyer at quin.hillyer@ theadvocate.com

Who can take AOC seriously? Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has begun the process of freezing her eggs for future childbearing. Not only does AOC talk about it, she shares Instagram videos of her getting hormone shots in her belly. AOC is 36, approaching her later baby-making years. Frozen eggs can Froma later be fertilized with Harrop sperm in a lab to create an embryo that could be transferred to the uterus, the result being a child. Surely, I’m not alone in feeling squeamish at references to AOC’s reproductive organs. Many women have eggs removed from their ovaries for later use but generally do so in private. “Can I afford it?” AOC asks in a Vanity Fair interview, implying she’s a working stiff of modest means. For the record, egg cryopreservation typically costs from $10,000 to $20,000, and AOC makes $174,000 a year as a member of the House. This is just the latest offering from AOC’s assembly line of attention-grabbing show pieces, and grab attention they do. But are they helpful to a woman said to be contemplating a challenge to Sen. Chuck Schumer in 2028 or even a run for president? Perhaps this public egg harvesting is intended to resonate with female voters. AOC has noted that women must make decisions about careers and children that men do not. That said, women in power do give birth, but they don’t televise the process. AOC has provided other social media fodder that won’t appeal to normal Democrats, much less everyone else. She became a big supporter of the Democratic Socialist Darializa Avila Chevalier despite the candidate’s call to open the borders, defund the police and empty prisons. And oh, yes, she also accused Joe Biden of being a rapist. With the Democratic Socialists’ roundup of young lefties who had recently moved into this majority Latino district, she unseated longtime Democratic Rep. Adriano Espaillat, who headed the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. The New York Post headline

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO

U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.y., speaks at a rally in New york. after the primary was “Wack to the Future.” AOC recently tried to laugh off the ludicrous positions of such left-fringe candidates as post-pandemic insanity. She agreed with a colleague’s remark that “Woke 1 was crazy” and not representative of today’s Democratic Socialists. Thing is, less than two months had elapsed between AOC’s reference to Woke 1 and her defending kooky Avila Chevalier from attacks by normies. “I went through the same thing,” AOC told an interviewer. “I was met with so much hostility & cruelty by the Democratic caucus.” Also not universally admired is the picture of AOC swanning on the red carpet at the Met Gala’s fashion blowout. AOC is seen showing off her lovely ﬁgure in a custom-made gown with “Tax the Rich” painted on her back and rear end. That was inﬂuencer gold. People talk about it today. But do such spotlighthungry antics look presidential, or senatorial? Love for AOC has been slip-

ping in her own House district covering parts of Queens and the Bronx, witness her margin of the vote narrowing from 2022 to 2024. If left-winger Abdul El-Sayed loses the Michigan senatorial race in November and that costs Democrats a Senate majority, AOC will have much to answer for. El-Sayed barely beat the very plausible Democrat contender, Rep Haley Stevens, for the nomination. AOC had pushed El-Sayed as “the strongest candidate to keep this seat in November” — a view not necessarily reﬂected in the latest polls that favor Republican Mike Rogers. As for her eggs, AOC should do with them as she will. She can always ﬁnd a sperm donor and put them to reproductive use. Of course, a U.S. House member’s decision in this matter should be none of my business, but AOC has made it everybody’s business. And we can’t unsee it. Froma Harrop is on X, @FromaHarrop. Email her at fharrop@gmail.com.

Change without chaos When left-wing insurgent Abdul El-Sayed won the Democratic nomination for an open Senate seat in Michigan, Donald Trump cheered that it was “great news for the Republican Party.” In an important way, he’s right. Many of ElSayed’s policy views are far outside the mainstream. Even many Democrats agree with Trump that he will be a weaker candidate in November than the more pragmatic rival he narrowly defeated, Rep. Haley Stevens. And if Democrats lose Michigan, they have virtually no Steve hope of reclaiming the Senate Roberts majority. “It is deeply troubling to see radical, far-left candidates winning in places that are potentially presidential swing states,” Jonathan Cowan, the president of Third Way, a leading centrist Democratic group, warned in the New York Times. But there is another way to look at this year’s primary results, where a number of liberal outsiders have ousted entrenched favorites. Voters often see these newcomers as “fighters” — as change agents who reflect a profound discontent that goes beyond ideology, injecting a jolt of energy into a party that’s been flailing since the Biden-Harris debacle two years ago. “What voters have been screaming from the rooftops is they’re sick of the status quo. They’re sick of the establishment. They want something different,” Lis Smith, a Democratic consultant who worked in Michigan, told Karen Tumulty of the Washington Post. So, here’s the crucial problem facing Democrats this fall: How do they harness this yearning for something different, represented by candidates like El-Sayed, while downplaying their more outlandish ideas, like opening borders, abolishing prisons and ending private health insurance? That won’t be easy, because insurgents have long expounded far-fetched ideas that are already being exploited by Republican strategists. The National Republican Senatorial Committee has released an ad branding El-Sayed “the most radical Senate candidate in America,” calling him “too dangerous” to trust in office. These sorts of attacks have worked before, when Democrats have given their rivals an opening by veering too far to the left on issues like crime, immigration and gender identity. Remember that in 2024, Trump’s campaign ran a simple, stunning ad that stated, “Kamala is for they/them; President Trump is for you.” This playbook exploits the longstanding and deeply held liberal fantasy that this is a left-leaning country, ready to elect radical leaders, when that is just not true. In 2024 exit polls, only 23% of voters identified as liberal, with 42% calling themselves moderates and 35% conservatives. “The left has the passion, but the middle still has the votes Democrats need to win in general elections,” writes Fareed Zakaria in the Post. All true, but passion is also an enormously valuable commodity in politics. It moves people to recruit, donate, organize and above all, vote. And outsiders like El-Sayed give Democrats a chance to tap into a deeply despondent American mood that long preceded Trump but now weighs heavily against him and his Republican acolytes. Four of the last five presidential elections have been won by the “out” party (Obama in 2012 being the exception). In the latest Gallup poll, only 1 in 4 Americans said they were “satisfied with the way things are going in the United States,” while 72% expressed dissatisfaction. “On the Country’s 250th Anniversary, the American People Are in a Sour Mood,” reports the Pew Research Center, with 3 out of 5 saying the nation’s best days are in the past, not the future. That general sourness — much more than any ideological shift — explains why El-Sayed and other outsiders have been able to win. Take Colorado, where insurgents won the nomination for governor and defeated a long-time House member. Kyle Clark, a veteran political analyst in Denver, told Puck’s Peter Hamby that Colorado voters “want proven fighters they know will go hard without being prodded to do it. It’s not about ideology for many voters I talk to. It’s about demanding action and results.” Democratic pollster Fred Yang discerned similar emotions in races he handled in New York and Maryland. “The focus wasn’t on left or right — it was about going forward. It was about bread-and-butter issues: affordability and costs,” he told Puck. El-Sayed and his comrades pose a big risk for the Democrats, but also present a great opportunity. Can they recognize, and reflect, what really angers people? Can they focus bread and butter, not pie in the sky? Can they generate excitement while avoiding excess? Can they stand for change — and not chaos? Email Roberts at stevecokie@gmail.com.

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4B ● Thursday,August 20, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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DEDICATION

Members of the Bostick family pose for photos on Wednesday during a ceremony to unveil a plaque dedicated to Deanna Bostick, a supporter, coordinator and coach of Lafayette youth soccer, at the Moore Park Soccer Complex in Lafayette.

Continued from page 1B Council member Kenneth Boudreaux, to officially recognize Bostick’s service. “She was the coordinator, manager, organizer, grass cutter, fundraiser and whatever else it took.” Gerald Boudreaux, a former basketball coach and referee for 28 years, said Bostick’s inﬂuence extended beyond soccer and helped shape Lafayette’s broader youth sports community. “Deanna spent so much time prioritizing this and because of that Lafayette Parish has thriving sports facilities across all our communities,” Gerald Boudreaux said. In 1987, Bostick founded the Lafayette Youth Soccer Association, which she ran out of her home until 2020, rarely receiving pay. Bostick frequently worked with city ofﬁcials and was eventually considered a parttime employee, according to former Lafayette Parks Director Greg Gautreaux,

SUIT

Continued from page 1B Hughes said he didn’t want to seem like he was seeking an advantage in his home parish. He added he didn’t sue in East Baton Rouge Parish because he felt that could benefit The Advocate, which is based there. He said chose Iberville because it’s the next largest parish within his Supreme Court district and he had high school friends there who might see him clear his name. Along with testifying, Hughes has sometimes acted as his own attorney in the trial, getting up with his other lawyers for sidebars at the bench to make arguments before 18th Judicial District Judge Kevin Kimball. Retired Editor Peter Kovacs and retired editorial board member Danny Heitman are named as defendants in the case along with The Advocate. They are among the witnesses expected to testify. The editorial followed a story by the paper that Hughes had sent secret apology letters to some families who had cases before him in the late ’90s. Federal prosecutors and

LINEUP

Continued from page 1B exchange, civic engagement and dialogue. The collaboration is reﬂected in this year’s theme: “Revolution and Evolution: Celebrating 250 Years of Cultural Fusion on the Bayou.” Louis Michot of the Lost Bayou Ramblers, a longtime festival performer, said he was honored to be part of the celebration at Scène ’76. He will be among the musicians performing on the stage and exploring the ways South Louisiana’s Cajun and Creole traditions have inﬂuenced — and been influenced by — other forms of music. “As musicians and students of tradition, we don’t necessarily thrive in isolation,” Michot said. “It’s because we’re part of this larger conversation with other traditions and forms of music that we’re able to understand our own traditions more deeply.”

2026 Festivals Acadiens et Créoles lineup: Thursday n Dry Bones Premier at Acadiana Center for the Arts, Presented by the UL Center for Louisiana Studies Friday n Jourdan Thibodeaux et Les Rôdailleurs n Ruben Moreno’s Zydeco Re-Evolution. Saturday n Jimmy Breaux and Friends n TMonde n Bonsoir, Catin with special guest Eric

STAFF PHOTO By LESLIE WESTBROOK who worked alongside her for 30 years. “The parks department didn’t have a soccer program at that time. So we decided, why not partner with someone who’s already made it happen?” said Gautreaux. “I never met someone more passionate. Every time she asked for some-

thing, we felt compelled to give what we could because she cared so much and put in so much time. Soccer is what it is today because of Deanna.” Michael Ritch succeeded Bostick in leading LYSA, and spoke on the legacy she left behind. “She was the engineer of all of this,” Ritch

said, gesturing behind him to the Moore Park soccer ﬁelds where the memorial was placed. “I’m extremely proud that her name is now going to be on this park. It was always about helping the kids for Deanna.” Bostick’s children and extended family attended the unveiling and reﬂected on

the many hours they spent at Moore Park, participating in youth tournaments or helping with Bostick’s soccer organization. “Doing this made her so happy. She loved every minute of it,” said Bostick’s daughter Pam Foreman, speaking on behalf of the family.

the state’s Judiciary Commission had investigated Hughes over one of the cases featured in the stories and the editorial in dispute. That case involved the welfare and custody of a 5-year-old boy whose stepfather allegedly abused him. Hughes, at the time a state district judge in Livingston Parish, ruled in March 1999 that the boy should stay with his mother — who had been represented for a time by Hughes’ girlfriend — though his stepfather still faced criminal charges over the abuse allegations. The initial news story about Hughes by The Advocate emerged from numerous interviews, a federal grand jury records subpoena and hundreds of court records. The editorial said Hughes refused to recuse himself over his romantic involvement and ruled in favor of the mother in the case. Attorney Caleb Didriksen told jurors in his opening statement Tuesday that the lapse the newspaper claimed in the editorial was false because the then-girlfriend, attorney Berkley Durbin, had stopped representing the child’s mother seven months before a ﬁnal ruling by Hughes. The editorial ruined the reputation of Hughes, Didriksen said.

Didriksen said the newspaper’s leadership later refused to fix the error for more than three years until a clarification was issued, even though the judge had pointed it out in a meeting with Kovacs and others. “The Advocate really hates this guy,” Didriksen said. Calling him a “terrific guy” and a family man, Didriksen listed words the paper’s news and opinion columns used to describe Hughes and his actions: “scoundrel,” “gross ethical behavior,” a “horror story,” “biased” and “prejudiced.” “He lost the respect of so many people,” Didriksen said. Scott Sternberg, an attorney for the newspaper, rejected the idea that the author of the editorial hated the judge. Heitman was expressing a view about Hughes’ actions allowed under the First Amendment, Sternberg told jurors. Sternberg said Hughes has a high bar to meet in proving libel under longstanding U.S. Supreme Court precedent, which places a tougher standard for claims of defamation made by public officials. Sternberg told the jury an elected official like Hughes faces that high standard because he holds one of the “most exulted public offices

in the state.” He told jurors that they would see newspaper employees at trial “who care a lot about the truth.” Sternberg noted that Hughes never asked for a correction of the original news story, published June 23, 2019. In a meeting over the subsequent editorial published on June 25, Hughes raised his concerns over the editorial in an “off the record” setting, Sternberg said. For a time, the paper could not find Hughes or anyone else to go on the record about what the judge had claimed in his defense, Sternberg added. Hughes’ first witness, ethics expert Keith Fisher, a law professor at St. Thomas University in Miami, Fla., testiﬁed Tuesday under questioning by the

justice’s attorneys that he saw no ethical problem with Hughes’ ruling in the custody case because Durbin had removed herself seven months before the ﬁnal ruling. But on cross-examination, Fisher acknowledged he had never been provided the apology letters by Hughes’ attorneys nor court minutes showing that Hughes had made an interim custody decision in favor of the child’s mother about three days after Durbin ceased representing her. Fisher then said Hughes should have recused himself or disclosed the relationship and let the parties decide how to proceed.

Adcock n Cedric Watson et Bijou Créole n The Holiday Playgirls n Leon Chavis & the Zydeco Flames n Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys n Mike Dopsie & Zydeco Entourage n C-4 n Savoy Family/Magnolia Sisters n Les Amis du Teche • Geno Delafose & French Rockin’ Boogie n Roddie Romero n Travis Matte n Johnnie Allan n Chris Ardoin & NuStep Zydeko n Robert Jardell & Pure Cajun n Wayne Singleton ft. The Urban Kreyol Band n Corey Ledet Zydeco n Four Horses n Lafayette Rhythm Devils n Balfa Toujours n Dustin Dale Gaspard n Bogue Chitto n Thor Ahlgren n Nokosee Fields n Nathan Williams Sr. and Nathan Williams Jr. n Naylan Williams n The Revelers n Luke Huval n Chas Justus n Trey Boudreaux n Megan Constantin n Ann Savoy n Joel Savoy n Jourdan Thibodeaux • Kelli Jones n Kyle Huval n Corey Ledet n Kristi Guillory n Paul Daigle n Cameron Fontenot n Josh Elkins n Jamie Lynn Fontenot n Angelle Aces n Randall Jackson n Jane & John Vidrine. Sunday Blake Miller & the OldFashioned Aces n Luke Huval Band ft. Terry Huval & Jambalaya n Williams Family Zydeco Tradition n Chere Elise n Horace Trahan & the Ossun Express n Carrier Family Celebration n Wayne Toups & Friends n Rusty Metoyer & the Zydeco Krush n Cameron Dupuy & the Cajun Troubadours n Pine

Leaf Bays n Alphonse Ardoin & the Zydeco Kingz n Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hellraisers n BeauSoleil n Lost Bayou Ramblers n Cuval n Jesse Lege & the Bayou Aces n Has Beans n Mason Trail & Zydeco Rhythm n Creole String Beans n Jeffery Broussard & the Creole Cowboys n Celjun n Cedric Watson & Corey Harris n Louis Michot • Corey Ledet n Layla, McCalla Roddie Romero n Sonny Landreth n Michael Doucet n Grant Dermody n Michael Juan Nunez n Jairus Daigle n Dewayne Simmons n Desi Richard n Zydeco Izreal n Lauren Richard n John DePriest n Dirk Powell n The Louisiana n Decima Project n Tony Davoren n Justin Leger n Jacques Boudreaux n Jeffery Broussard n Renee Reed n Megan Constantin n Kelli Jones n Emmanuel LeBlanc n Kristi Guillory n Sheryl Cormier Trio n Gina Forsyth. Email Kristin Askelson at kaskelson@theadvocate. com.

LOTTERY

TUESDAY,AUG. 18, 2026 PICK 3: 4-5-2 PICK 4: 9-4-3-6 PICK 5: 7-0-5-7-6 MEGA MILLIONS: 5-19-30-38-59 MEGA BALL: 12 Unofficial notification, keep your tickets.

Obituaries LeBlanc, Jeanette Mire

Jeanette Mire LeBlanc, 81. Visitation will be at Fountain Memorial Funeral Home on August 21, 2026, from 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm and resumes on August 22, 2026, from 8:00 am until Mass at 9:40 am at St. Edmond Roman Catholic Church. Guest book may be viewed at www.fountai nmemorialfuneralhome.co m. Fountain Memorial Funeral Home and Cemetery, 1010 Pandora St. 337-981-7098 is in charge of arrangements.

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How to place a Memorial Ad An “In Memory Of” ad, is a way to pay tribute to your loved one. This remembrance is often printed on the anniversary of a loved one’s death. The deadline is two days prior to the day you want your ad to appear. TO PLACE A MEMORIAL AD GO TO:

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click submit an obituary and select create a memoriam.

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T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M

‘Sky’s the limit’ for Saints OT Banks N.O. tackle taking steps to go from good to great

T h u r s d ay, au g u s T 20, 2026

1CN

‘TOUGHEST CAMP EVER’

BY LUKE JOHNSON Staff writer

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. — There was a moment early in training camp that got coach Kellen Moore ﬁred up during one of the New Orleans Saints‘ ﬁrst padded practices. He was watching the offensive and defensive lines go at each other in a one-onone pass rush drill. There was his star edge rusher, Chase Young, working against his promising young tackle, Kelvin Banks. And it was what transpired after their reps against each other that got the coach excited. “As soon as they were done, they were sitting there talking to each other and giving each other feedback,” Moore said. “That’s all you can dream of, to watch those guys try to help each other be better.” Young has already established he’s a budding star, though there’s an argument to be made that he’s just starting to show what he can be. But Banks, the No. 9 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, is still at the beginning of what the Saints hope to be a long and productive career. When Moore watched those two talk over their reps, he saw two of his best young players working together to perfect their

ä See SAINTS, page 3C

Saints tackle Kelvin Banks

AP FILE PHOTO By GERALD HERBERT

LSU safety Tamarcus Cooley, left, wraps up cornerback Treylan James while running through a drill during fall camp on Aug. 8 at the team’s practice facility. STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

Kiffin’s tempo, high temperatures turn up the heat at LSU practice BY JON BLAU Staff writer

LSU set to take on ‘tougher’ schedule

Only one Tiger at a time chased and snatched a donutshaped “pursue and tackle” wheel as it rolled across the grass of LSU’s practice ﬁeld. But they weren’t the only ones in pursuit. As each LSU safety backpedaled, stuck a foot in the ground, and charged those oversized O’s, a student manager ran after the tackling pad with the urgency of a parent watching their baby crawl toward a ﬁreplace. That manager wouldn’t allow an extra tenth of a second to pass as he returned the wheel to assistant safeties coach Noah Joseph, who rolled it again for the next defender in line. He was so gassed, the manager’s hands were on his hips after a couple of retrievals. “Y’all go out to practice, there’s nobody standing around,” LSU defensive coordinator Blake Baker said. “We practice with tempo.” The tempo is set by LSU’s offense, which is trying to

match the breakneck pace Lane Kifﬁn’s units established at Ole Miss. But the Tigers’ defense has had to equal that speed, not only during 11-on-11 periods but also in their individual drill work. Kiffin aims for efficiency in practice, even if that means moving fast in a Baton Rouge environment that feels like a convection oven. He doesn’t allow media members to see much, only 10-12 minutes of individual drills each day, but the intensity of preseason camp has been validated through the Tigers’ own words. A couple weeks in, redshirt junior safety Tamarcus Cooley posted to his X account that this was the “toughest camp ever.” “I ain’t gonna lie, it’s a lot,” sophomore cornerback DJ Pickett said. “You gotta be real in shape.” Kifﬁn’s practices have been an adjustment for everyone, from players to coaches to the student managers

UL veteran safety Jackson showing signs of big season

Mulkey confident Tigers ready for upgraded slate

BY KEVIN FOOTE

BY REED DARCEY

Staff writer

For as long as she’s coached the LSU’s women’s basketball program, Kim Mulkey has tried not to schedule too many marquee nonconference games. Mulkey said it takes time to build a program that can consistently handle those matchups. In the meantime, she’d rather play it safe in November and December, avoiding unnecessary challenges and risks, so that her Tigers could be ready for January, February and March. Those months are the ones that matter most, anyway, and the SEC is chock-full of opponents that can test her team’s mettle. “It wasn’t like I sat down,” Mulkey told The Advocate on Monday, “and just said, ‘OK, now’s the year.’” But LSU still wound up with what’s, by its standards, an unusually tough

ä See TIGERS, page 3C

ä See LSU, page 3C

STAFF PHOTO By BRAD KEMP

UL veteran safety Kody Jackson goes through a drill during a Cajuns’ fall practice session at the team’s practice facility.

Now in his fourth season at Lafayette, former Evangel Christian standout safety Kody Jackson has experienced quite the roller-coaster ride. In his first year at UL, the 6-foot-1, 200-pounder had a pretty typical season with three tackles in limited action over four games. But as a redshirt freshman, Jackson was pressed into some high-demand scenarios because of injury and shined in a big way. Jackson had three interceptions and six pass breakups, along with 22 tackles, in 14 games. With plenty of experience still ahead of him on the depth chart last season, though, Jackson didn’t build on that initial success, settling for 17 tackles, one interception and two breakups in 12 games. “There’s just a lot of the little details that maybe I didn’t understand when I was a little younger,” Jackson said. “Now going

through it in my third year, I took a big step in that.” Therefore, as the Ragin’ Cajuns prepare for the 2026 season, Jackson is primed and ready for his biggest season yet as a redshirt junior. “He actually spoke to our team (last week), and brought up a couple things that you just talked about,” UL defensive coordinator Jim Salgado said of Jackson’s career. “To see the growth and maturity of him, the way he talked to our team ... he talked about no excuses. He’s come a long way. He really has. He’s trying to do everything the right way.” Indeed, his new approach begins with embracing the leadership role. “As a leader, it’s pretty much leading from the front,” Jackson said. “I want to show the younger guys how it’s supposed to be done in the correct way. “So they watch me do it when they go there, and they do the same thing. That’s

ä See UL, page 3C

2C ● Thursday, August 20, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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Acadiana area filled with quality linebackers Here’s a look at 10 to watch this season

also plays basketball for Carencro while also starring in the classroom. He’s.a chip off the old block: father Derace James Sr. was a 6-2, 240-pound linebacker who signed with LSU out of Patterson High and went on to play at UL.

BY MIKE COPPAGE Contributing writer

High school football coaches often put their best athletes at linebacker. A strong defensive team requires sound play from its linebacking corps, where speed, size and smarts are key. Some of the state’s best at the position play in the Acadiana region. Take a look at 10 here:

Hayden Monroe, Carencro James has good company in Monroe, another versatile junior who is also projected to play both ways for the Bears. There are more similarities: Monroe is another standout on the hardwood. The 6-3, 225-pounder is physically gifted prospect ranked as the No. 24 in-state player by Prep Redzone Louisiana.

Kyle Horde, Westminster Christian Ranked by 247Sports as the state’s top linebacker, the 6-foot2, 225-pounder is rated as the No. 29 overall player in Louisiana for 2027. The three-star recruit packs a huge punch on the Class 1A level and led the Crusaders to an undefeated regular season as a junior while averaging more than 10 yards per carry and rushing for more than 1,000 yards. A repeat all-state selection, Horde led the Crusaders in tackles the past two years and is committed to Texas State.

Nelson Borel, Breaux Bridge A ﬁrst team all-district selection last year, Borel will play wherever coach Tyler Pierce needs the senior, whether it’s receiver, tight end, outside linebacker or safety. “His size and length give him advantages, but with his physical presence, putting the ball in his hands (on offense) is going to open up more explosive plays,” Pierce said of STAFF FILE PHOTO By BRAD KEMP the Tigers’ ﬂexbone offense.

Teurlings Catholic linebacker Carter Macha, left, forces a fumble by Notre Dame quarterback Drew Lejeune on Sept 19 at Gardiner It’s rare for a sophomore to Memorial Stadium. Macha returns as one of the Acadiana area’s top lead the Cougars in any statistical category, but Pugh is an excep- linebackers.

Walker Pugh, St. Thomas More

tional athlete. The 215-pounder, a state wrestling champion in the 285-pound division, paced STM in stops and registered 11 solo tackles with 19 assists last season against perennial power Neville. One of STM’s most explosive players, Pugh has an offer from UL among others.

Carter Macha, Teurlings Catholic

Class 2A first-team all-state selection helped LCA to the No. 1 seed and a semifinal appearance in the Division III select playoffs. He batted better than .600 this summer for the Lafayette Drillers American Legion team. “Watching, breaking down film and taking notes ... being a step ahead of the offense by knowing what’s coming next,” Simon said as the keys to his football success.

and Vermilion Catholic, Gable’s recruitment could ramp up. “Scoring touchdowns is really fun, but getting tackles and sacking the quarterback is fun too,” he said. “Whatever the team needs me to do, I’ll do it and have fun.”

Jack Vondenstein, Notre Dame

Kaycee Sellers, LRCA A powerfully built 5-8, 230-pound senior, Sellers has led the Tigers in tackles each of the past two seasons. Football purists should check out Lafayette Renaissance’s home game against John Curtis, which will put its vaunted Veer option ground game with a massive offensive line against the run-stufﬁng skills of Sellers, who notched 17 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and ﬁve sacks in 2025. “We’ve grown a lot as a team and program,” said Sellers, who has been at the school since eighth grade. “More structured and organized. If we keep going in that direction, we’re going to achieve a lot of great things.”

The Pioneers of legendary coach Lewis Cook are a haven for hard-hitting linebackers. Vondenstein (6-1, 200) collected 100 Pierce Gable, Westminster-Laf. tackles last season for a team that Only a sophomore, Gable is lost in overtime in the Division another baseball/football stand- III select semiﬁnals. The senior is out. The 6-foot, 215-pounder was among eight returning defensive Others to watch among the area’s leading rushers starters for a Pios team expected Richard Taylor (New Iberia), last year for the Chargers, who to contend again in what will be a Frederick Niner (Northwest), won their ﬁrst playoff game in loaded playoff bracket. Michael Haik (Catholic-New Ibeschool history. He also paced the ria), Tristan Klock (St. Thomas squad in tackles and racked up Derace James, Carencro More), Ky Sellers (Lafayette ReKaleb Simon, Lafayette Christian double-digit sacks. When the recruiting sites list naissance), Owen LeBlanc (AsWith a strong showing in the a player as an athlete, James cension Episcopal), Jack Hunt Also a baseball star, Simon led the Knights in tackles each of the opener against Class 4A teams comes to mind. He’s listed as a (Westminster Christian), Layne past two years by accumulating and additional opportunities to linebacker for the Bears but can Kupihea (Highland Baptist), Tymore than 200 total stops. The shine in district play against play safety, wideout and tight lan Nolan (Acadiana), Alex Satchdistrict’s defensive MVP and Jeanerette, Ascension Episcopal end. The 6-3, 195-pound junior ell (Lafayette).

Macha was a tackling machine as a junior, getting in on nearly 100 stops with an interception, seven tackles for loss and three forced fumbles last season. The 6-2, 205-pounder led for a Rebels defense that posted a perfect regular season and earned the No. 2 seed in Division I select. “I deﬁnitely wanted to hit that 100-tackle mark, but I was just shy of it with 95,” he said.

McIlroy questions value of Rahm, DeChambeau to LIV BY DOUG FERGUSON AP golf writer

Scottie Scheffler is not opposed to the return of LIV Golf players who chased after Saudi money, but with some form of a penalty. Rory McIlroy could see unification at some point, though he paused when asked Wednesday about the value they would bring to the PGA Tour. “I mean, I’d argue have they brought value to LIV?” McIlroy said at the BMW Championship. LIV Golf’s future is under scrutiny with the Indianapolis event this week being the last one of the year for a league that no longer will get funding from Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund. LIV CEO Scott O’Neil remained bullish about plans for 2027 and beyond, saying players would be equity owners and have their commercial rights restored. O’Neil said the plan was to have five team championships overseas and five individual tournaments in the United States scheduled close to the majors for those who qualify for them. He did not name the lead investor with whom LIV has reached an agreement. Several outlets have identified him as Ted Goldthorpe of BC Partners, who met with players on Tuesday. O’Neil said there was a deadline for players to commit to LIV 2.0 without saying when it is. He also has not mentioned the size of the proposed investment. LIV Golf spent more than $5 billion in

AP PHOTO By GEORGE WALKER IV

Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, waits to hit on the 10th tee during the third round of the St. Jude Championship on Saturday in Memphis, Tenn.

ﬁve years. “The entirety of our focus is to get to this transaction and get through it,” O’Neil said. “Without the players, that becomes very difﬁcult. I have a good level of confidence in my conversation that we’ll have a critical mass of the right players to move this league forward.” The critical players for LIV are Jon Rahm, whose contract end after 2027, and Bryson DeChambeau, whose contract is up this

year. Both are two-time major champions and the biggest two names left on LIV Golf. Brooks Koepka was the first player to return to the PGA Tour this year, with stipulations that he could not play $20 million signature events unless he earned his way, paid $5 million to charity and had no access to equity. The tour put the penalty value at $50 million and upward. The tour then offered the same deal — and two weeks to decide on it — to Rahm, DeChambeau and Cameron Smith, all major champions dating to the launch of LIV in 2022. “When we talk about the best players, LIV has a few players that are really good,” Scheffler said. “I think the depth that we have on our tour is unmatched, but I think when you look at the higher levels of LIV Golf there’s definitely some players that would provide a lot of value to the tour, and guys that I love competing against as well. “So I think going forward there obviously has to be, I think, some sort of penalties.” What those penalties are he said would be up to PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp. McIlroy has been the biggest critic of LIV from the start. He has toned down his rhetoric over the years, though he suggested in February 2025 that players “have to get over it” when it comes to finding a way to bring defectors back. He sounded more reluctant

Wednesday, noting that top players had their chances to return at the start of the year and whatever offer likely would not be as good as it was for Koepka. “I’m not part of these discussions, but I’m pretty sure they’re not going to be welcomed back straight away,” McIlroy said. “I think it was said at the time that the deal that they might get going forward — if they do decide to come back — isn’t going to be as good as the one that Brooks got. “So, yeah, I would say it’s going to be a tough, tough road back.” And it’s going to be tough on LIV, particularly with at least two lawsuits pending from vendors. Canadian-based Mobbi Systems Group field a lawsuit in Miami last month. The technology company that supplied LIV’s “Any Shot, Any Time” feature on broadcasts is asking more than $1 million for outstanding invoices and lost revenue. In another lawsuit filed last month in New York, Coloradobased Fresh Tape Media is asking for more than $1.2 million LIV owes for the company to produce its preseason media preview days. “What I would say to them is we’re doing everything we can to make sure we can do right by them and the work they committed, and I hope we can,” O’Neil said. “For the next generation, it will certainly be a different business with a different process.”

Texans WR Higgins out for season with torn ACL

Houston Texans receiver Jayden Higgins is expected to miss the season with a torn ACL, according to a person with knowledge of his injury The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Wednesday because the Texans haven’t announced the severity of his injury. Higgins fell awkwardly while running a route during a joint practice with the Las Vegas Raiders on Tuesday in Houston. Coach DeMeco Ryans said at the time that Higgins was being evaluated for a leg injury. The second-year receiver was expected to team up with No. 1 wideout Nico Collins in the Texans offense led by quarterback C.J. Stroud. A second-round pick in the 2025 draft, Higgins made 41 catches for 525 yards and six touchdowns in his rookie year.

Kyrgios suspended after testing positive for cocaine

GENEVA — Former Wimbledon ﬁnalist Nick Kyrgios revealed on Wednesday he tested positive for cocaine, and cited the doping case as a wake up call after feeling “helpless and alone” as injuries derailed his career. The 31-year-old Australian with a checkered disciplinary record was provisionally suspended after playing just 10 singles matches on the ATP tour, winning only two, since his peak season of 2022. Then, he reached the ﬁnal at the grass-court Grand Slam and lost to Novak Djokovic. Kyrgios is now ranked 919th. He tested positive in June for the party drug during a grass court event in Spain. Kyrgios faces a ban of up to four years, though a lighter sanction can be expected.

Pirates acquire catcher Bethancourt from Yankees

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired veteran catcher Christian Bethancourt from the New York Yankees on Wednesday in exchange for cash considerations. The 34-year-old Bethancourt had been playing for Wilkes-Barre/ Scranton, New York’s Triple-A afﬁliate. Pittsburgh assigned Bethancourt to Triple-A Indianapolis, but he is expected to join the Pirates’ taxi squad when the club begins a nine-game road trip in Los Angeles against the Dodgers on Friday. Bethancourt has appeared in 427 major league games across eight seasons, hitting .229 with 35 home runs and 135 RBIs for Atlanta, San Diego, Oakland, Tampa Bay, Miami and the Chicago Cubs.

WIngs guard Fudd set for season-ending knee surgery

ARLINGTON, Texas — Dallas Wings guard Azzi Fudd is set for seasonending surgery on a sore knee that has sidelined this year’s No. 1 overall pick for the past ﬁve games. The team said Wednesday that Fudd will have arthroscopic surgery on her right knee next week in Connecticut, where she starred for UConn before becoming the Huskies’ second consecutive top overall pick by Dallas. Reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year Paige Bueckers was the No. 1 choice last year. Fudd was eased into the lineup as a rookie, coming off the bench for the ﬁrst six games. She scored 24 points in that sixth game and immediately became a full-time starter. Fudd had a season-high 26 points in a win over Seattle in June.

Source: Seahawks, CB Diggs agree to one-year deal

SEATTLE — The Seahawks have agreed to sign cornerback Trevon Diggs to a one-year contract, a source confirmed to The Seattle Times. Diggs, 27, had a visit with the Seahawks on Tuesday. A second-round pick of Dallas out of Alabama in 2020 and the younger brother of receiver Stefon Diggs, Trevon Diggs led the NFL in interceptions with 11 in 2021 but has battled injuries since the 2022 season and has played just 23 games the last three years. Diggs, listed at 6-2, 195 pounds, was waived by the Cowboys on Dec. 30 after playing in eight games while dealing with what were reported knee and concussion issues. He signed with Green Bay and played in a regular-season game and postseason game before being released by the Packers in January.

The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Thursday, August 20, 2026 ● 3C

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LSU

Continued from page 1C fetching tackling wheels. But the Tigers are getting a lot in. They “two-spot” drills, which means two groups are repping things at the same time so fewer people are standing around at any given moment. One half of the offensive line, for example, practices pass protection with head offensive line coach Eric Wolford while “run game specialist” James Cregg works inside-zone blocks with the other half. “This is as close to the pros as it’s going to get,” said left tackle Jordan Seaton, who noted Cregg’s time with the 49ers and Raiders after his ﬁrst LSU stint from 2018-20. Seaton, who has dropped about 25 pounds since his transfer from Colorado, has positioned himself physically to transition from one play to the next in Kifﬁn’s tempo offense. But as fast as the Tigers move, they have to process information just

as quickly. Because the offensive line won’t necessarily have a good 15 seconds to scan the defense across from them and work out who is blocking whom. “Everybody needs to know their playbook,” Seaton said. “We’re not always going to get every call out and probably not always going to hear every call.” On the ﬂip side, LSU’s defense has been challenged to line up in time. It’s a worthwhile exercise because the Tigers will play some of the fastest offenses in the country in SEC play. Auburn coach Alex Golesh and Kentucky’s Will Stein are bringing tempo schemes from South Florida and Oregon, respectively, and Tennessee’s Josh Heupel has established the Volunteers as sprinters. If Ole Miss retains Kifﬁn’s offensive philosophies, then the Rebels will move like LSU too. “As fast as our offense goes, on defense, it weighs on you,” Baker said. “So it’s been really good for our mental toughness. I think

we’ve done a much better job handling that than we did in the spring.” Kiffin came into camp saying the Tigers had a “long way to go” in learning how to push through “intense” periods of practice. On Monday, it was 97 degrees in Baton Rouge — with a “feels like” temperature in the 110s — and Kiffin had LSU’s offense and defense staying on the field for long drives without affording them any substitutions. “We’ve got to go to another level,” Kiffin said. “We’ve got to play better than what we’ve played all around. Especially our backups got to play better so we can rotate.” Kiffin and his fellow coaches have pushed the pace. How well the Tigers have acclimated will be revealed Sept. 5 versus Clemson. “I mean, it’s a lot of football. It’s been a lot of fun,” Baker said, referring back to Cooley’s “toughest camp ever” post, “but I can see where he’s coming from.” Email Jon Blau at jon. blau@theadvocate.com

TIGERS

Continued from page 1C nonconference schedule for the 2026-27 season. The slate doesn’t just feature a Dec. 20 showdown with UConn in Nashville, Tennessee; it also has three other programs that made the NCAA Tournament last year: Villanova, North Carolina State and North Carolina. The Tigers faced only one such team in 202526 and two in 2024-25. LSU hasn’t had four reigning tournament teams on its nonconference schedule since 2021-22, when Mulkey had to play a slate of games she inherited from her predecessor, Nikki Fargas. You could make a compelling case that this upcoming schedule is tougher than that one. And Mulkey is confident her new-look group is ready for it. This year, she has an older, more experienced bunch — one that she thinks can take a loss or two before SEC play without losing its conﬁdence. “I don’t ever want to overschedule,” Mulkey said. “Losing is one thing. But if you’re losing with kids that can get over it, and they don’t just melt, then you can schedule nonconference a little bit tougher.” The headliner, of course, is the UConn matchup. ESPN agreed to give LSU $190,000 for its NIL fund and $10,000 for its travel expenses so it could stage a Tigers-Huskies showdown as part of the 2026 espnW Invitational, according to the contract for the game. The deal was finalized on Aug. 5. Mulkey has won four of her nine career matchups with coach Geno Auriemma’s UConn program, but she has not yet faced the Huskies as LSU’s head coach. She last coached a contest against UConn in the 2021 Elite Eight — a clash that doubled as the last game of her 21-year

Continued from page 1C how you create depth on the depth chart.” The next step for Jackson is his upgraded eyes on the practice ﬁeld. “Going through practice now, everything is slowing down for me,” he said. “I guess you could say when I was younger, everything was moving like really fast. Obviously, we had guys like Tyrone Lewis, Jalen Clark and then Tyree Skipper ... I’d watch those guys and they were doing it like clockwork. It wasn’t like that for me at ﬁrst.” Helping accelerate that process is Lewis returning to the team on the coaching staff. “I feel like it’s definitely big,” Jackson said. “He may see something that we don’t see as a player. The coaches

NOTEBOOK

Saints’ injury bug hitting Moore harder in Year 2 BY MATTHEW PARAS Staff writer

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. —Of all the aspects that were different about the New Orleans Saints in coach Kellen Moore‘s first year, the changes in sports science might have been the starkest. After hiring director of sports science Ted Rath, the Saints stayed remarkably healthy for the majority of the season. While injuries mounted late in the year, New Orleans was still far healthier than in 2024 — when it was the fourth-most injured team in football, according to FTN Fantasy’s adjusted games lost metric. The start of Year 2 hasn’t been as kind in the injury department. From losing Bryan Bresee for the year on the first day of practice to Alvin Kamara and Quincy Riley being sidelined for several weeks, the Saints’ injuries are adding up fast before the season has officially begun. This summer, the Saints have already lost Bresee and guard Dillon Radunz to season-ending ACL tears. Then, defensive end Cam Jordan (hamstring), rookie wide receiver Jordyn Tyson (hamstring), running back Audric Estime (foot), Kamara (sprained MCL) and Riley (groin) are all dealing with issues that could linger into Week 1 and beyond. That’s three starters and three key backups. “It’s the unfortunate part

of football,” Moore said. “There’s risk associated with football as far as injuries. You do your best to control that environment the best you can. We’re navigating it right now and our guys will be as well prepared as we can be for the season.” The Saints, of course, aren’t the only team that deals with injuries. And they may still be less impacted than teams like the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Chargers, who have been hit hard this summer. But the injuries have caused adjustments, nonetheless. Moore said the Saints would study whether there has been an uptick in, or an outlier of, soft-tissue injuries, which teams tend to believe are more preventable than the contact that led to Kamara’s MCL sprain, for instance. On the surface, though, the Saints have utilized the same approach that led to a healthy season last year. Under Rath, the Saints still closely monitor workloads and give players rest days when needed. There are cool-off periods in practice in which players are supposed to hydrate or step into the team’s outdoor freezers in Metairie to reduce their body temperature. Practices still seem to be efﬁcient and avoid contact when possible. But football, as Moore knows, is a dangerous game. Instead, the Saints are left to manage timelines

The Saints have taken a patient approach with Christen Miller. They sidelined the second-round rookie defensive lineman for most of the spring as they worked him back slowly through a hamstring injury. Then in training camp, Miller has remained with the 2s and 3s — even as others along the defensive line got hurt. The Saints and Miller have also had other nicks and bruises to manage, ﬁrst a toe injury and now a shoulder issue. But, as the cliché goes, good things happen to those who wait. And the two sides saw a glimpse of that in Miller’s preseason debut last weekend — when he was Pro Football Focus’ highest-graded rookie defensive tackle for the performance. PFF’s system is subjective, but the Saints also graded him out favorably. “There was some good film,” Moore said. “There was a good first exposure and he’ll keep getting better.”

about it so he can fix it. That mindset has roots in Banks’ earliest days playing organized football. “My dad always critiqued me and let me know, ‘Hey, if you’re gonna play this sport, you’re gonna get yelled at a couple times, you’re gonna get told you suck, you’re not doing good … you’re not executing the play well.’ “So I just take it with a grain of salt, man. I go to practice knowing there’s gonna be something that you gotta fix.” The key, he said, is understanding that nobody in the game is a finished product. Once armed with that, it’s easy to open yourself to criticism, because that is the tool he can use to get better. Banks started each of the Saints’ 17 games last season. He was the only player on the team to play more than 900 offensive snaps (his final tally: 1,066). That long exposure to the NFL game was beneficial for Banks, whose play continued to ascend as the season went on. The tape was overwhelmingly positive. But when Banks looked back on the large workload from last season, he wanted to isolate the small moments when his play lagged. Was it related to fatigue? A mental

error? Poor technique? He wanted to find the cracks this offseason so he could fill them before 2026. And that has continued during the lead-up to the regular season, even if finding the flaws has become a little more challenging. “That’s the thing with him,” Nugent said. “He does a lot of good on the field, so really, when we’re in the film room it’s nitpicking. And I tell him that. You’re winning the rep, but I’m going to nitpick here because eventually that’ll get you beat.” This trait is not necessarily something New Orleans identified before the draft. The Saints felt they had a good read on who Banks was — two Saints staffers were on the University of Texas coaching staff during Banks’ time there, and Nugent is close friends with Banks’ college position coach, Kyle Flood. They couldn’t get a real sense of Banks’ willingness to receive feedback until they got to work with him hands-on. And now that they’ve seen it, they’ve seen a player who can close that gap between very good and great. “The sky’s the limit,” Nugent said. “You can go as far as you push yourself.”

and determine the severity of each injury. There, Moore is also relying on a familiar method. Amid a report that Tyson could miss up to two months, the coach seemed to try to take whatever pressure off the ﬁrst-round receiver might be facing to get back sooner, just as the coach did with Chase Young last year.

Miller progress

STAFF FILE PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK

LSU coach Kim Mulkey calls out to her players during a game against Charlotte on Nov. 12 at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

tenure at Baylor. Its 2026-27 roster has only ESPN approached the one freshman, a McDontwo programs about re- ald’s All-American wing newing that matchup last named Lola Lampley. The year, Mulkey said. Once the other 11 players each have three parties agreed to play at least one year of experithe game — and to do it at a ence either at the collegiate neutral site — the network level or in the professional asked the two coaches if ranks overseas — a fact they had any host cities in that makes Mulkey more mind. confident they can handle “ We l l , if the tougher you’re asking “I don’t ever want nonconference my opinion,” schedule she to over-schedule. Mulkey said, and her staff Losing is one thing. put together “I’m a country But if you’re losing for her sixth music person, so I like Nashwith kids that can year in Baton ville. That’s get over it, and they Rouge. what I said. lookdon’t just melt, then ing“You’re Now I don’t at kids who you can schedule know if that have played nonconference a was why they at the highchose Nashlittle bit tougher.” est level for ville, but I a period of KIM MULKEy, said my vote is time,” Mulkey LSU coach Nashville.” said, “and then The game you’re looking will take place at young ones in Bridgestone Arena, home who played a lot last year, of the NHL’s Nashville Pred- and then you add the interators, three weeks after LSU national kids to it. faces its ﬁrst major test of “So you’ve got a good the season and 11 days be- mixture. What do we really fore it begins SEC play. have? I don’t know. It’s gonWhen the Tigers hit that na be fun to watch.” part of their season, they’ll still be trying to find the Email Reed Darcey at right roles for each of their reed.darcey@theadvocate. six returners and six new- com. For more LSU sports comers. Last season, LSU updates, sign up for our had eight newcomers — and newsletter at theadvocate. ﬁve of them were freshmen. com/lsunewsletter

see what they see ... then TLew being a former player who actually played in Salgado’s defense, he may see something else that I might not recognize.” Jackson is now hoping to provide that kind of influence on redshirt freshman Steven Ranel. “Going back to last year when he had to go in the game, I met with him and he was a little bit nervous as everyone would be,” Jackson explained. “It was pretty much me and him going through the playbook, watching ﬁlm together. “We’ll go watch it and then I can explain it to him to where he’s like, ‘OK, now I see.’ So when he gets on the field, he does make those plays.” The goal is for Jackson to help the secondary limit the high number of big pass plays the defense allowed last season, especially on third down.

“I feel like maybe last year we didn’t have as good of communication,” he said. “Coach Salgado always says, ‘Black, white, no gray’, but I feel like last year we had some gray areas. Going into this year, I feel like we’ve deﬁnitely cleaned that up a lot. The communication is at a high level about everything — from the recognition of formations to the motions ... just everything; the communication is amped up.” Jackson plans to elevate his game alongside redshirt senior safety Collin Jacob, who is also primed for his best season. “I feel like he’s a partner in crime,” Jackson said of Jacob. “That’s my guy. I love him to death. I love the way he plays the game. He’s another guy that has high energy and he’s a very physical player.” Email Kevin Foote at kfoote@theadvocate.com.

SAINTS

Continued from page 1C craft. In Banks’ case, after a strong rookie season as the Saints’ starting left tackle, that is part of what the Saints love most about him. The 22-year-old was very good last year, and that is not enough. “The best players I’ve been around are the ones who not only want to be coached, they don’t want you to sweep it under the rug,” said offensive line coach Brendan Nugent. “They want you to tell them, even if they know it; they want to hear it and be held accountable just like everyone else. “That’s one of the best things about KB. His evolution from a rookie into this year, it’s like I don’t even have to say much anymore. If it’s not right, he knows what he did and he knows how to ﬁx it.” Banks is receptive to coaching, whether that is coming from a veteran like Young or from a member of the Saints staff. To Nugent’s point, the critique is often not very substantial at this stage of Banks’ career — but if there is something that is off, he wants to know

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4C ● Thursday, August 20, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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2026 SCHEDULE Date

Sept. 4 Sept. 11 Sept. 18 Sept. 25 Oct. 2 Oct. 8 Oct. 16 Oct. 23 Oct 30 Nov. 5

PREP FOOTBALL SEASON PREVIEW

Opponent

BREAUX BRIDGE Welsh Covenant Christian SACRED HEART Westminster JS Clark HANNAN ST. EDMUND North Central BERCHMANS ACADEMy

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Opelousas Catholic

HOME GAMES IN CAPS

PAST FIVE YEARS 2025: 7-5 2024: 8-4 2023: 7-4 2022: 9-4 2021: 9-2

PROJECTED STARTERS Offense WR Lane Dugas (6-2, 185, Sr.)* WR Colt Thomas (5-7, 165, Jr.) WR TySean Tolbert (5-7, 135, Jr.) TE Bennett Citron (6-2, 210, Soph.)* LT Jack Nugent (6-0, 200 Fr.) LG Owen Richard (6-0, 270, Fr.)* C John Parker Fontenot (6-1, 280, Sr.)* RG Kye Latiolais (6-0, 265, Sr.)* RT Cole Daigle (6-1, 220, Soph.) QB Kaleb Tezeno (5-10, 180, Jr.) RB Braxtin Harris (6-0, 180, Sr.) Defense DT John Parker Fontenot (6-1, 280, Sr.) DT Cole Daigle (6-1, 220, Soph.) NG Bennett Citron (6-2, 210, Soph.) LB Ethan Belleau (5-8, 185, Sr.)* LB Braxtin Harris (6-0, 180, Sr.)* LB Colt Thomas (5-7, 165, Jr.) LB Jacob Glynn (5-8, 175, Soph.) CB Carter Savant (5-9, 165, Jr.)* CB Ben Minyard (6-, 155, Sr.)* SS Evan Duplechain (5-8, 160, Jr.)* FS Kaleb Tezeno (5-10, 180, Jr.)* * RETURNING STARTER

COACHES Head coach: Kent Masson (0-0) Assistant coaches: Chris Schexnayder (DC), Steven Dye (OL/ DL), yves Prince (DL), Sammy Griffin (OL), and Jacob Tonglet (TE).

STAFF PHOTO By ERIC NARCISSE

Opelousas Catholic leaders include: top row from left, Ethan Belleau, Carter Savant, Braxtin Harris, Colt Thomas and Daylan Edward. Front row from left are Emmett Boyd, Jacob Glynn, Parker Theriot and Peyton Nguyen.

some big kids. It’s a group that is learning as we go.” Tezeno, who has the arm strength and accuracy to Opelousas Catholic’s first-year coach Kent Masson excel in the passing game, is a talented runner. But wasted little time responding when asked the strength considering Tezeno and Harris will start on both sides of his team. of the ball the Vikings will need other players step up to “It’s our defense,” Masson said. “We have a really, establish a rushing attack. really good linebacking corps,” “I think our offensive line is good enough for us to run said Masson, who replaced Cullen the football effectively, ” Masson said. “We have a solid Matherne. “On our defensive line, we running back corps; we just have to get these mistakes are going to be rotating people in and out, but I think we’re going to be pretty out of the way.” If the Vikings are going to prevent opposing defenses good up front. And our defensive from stacking the box to stop the run, Tezeno and the backfield is going to cover people Masson really well. Overall, we’re in really good receivers will have to be efficient when passing. “We have a couple of guys at receiver who can make shape on defense.” plays in the passing game,” Masson said. “They just Leading the way for the Vikings’ defense are haven’t been consistent enough. They know the route linebackers Ethan Belleau, Braxtin Harris and Colt tree, so once they are consistent, we will be pretty Thomas along with free safety/quarterback Kaleb good.” Tezeno. “Ethan is a menace on the field,” Masson said. “He How we see it does a great job of reading and reacting to where Masson said he likes how the Vikings match the ball is. He is quick to where he wants to go. Our up with their opponents on their schedule and linebackers make very few mistakes. They do a good said the sky is the limit as to what they can I job of understanding what is that we want to do. accomplish. “Kaleb is a student of the game. He understands “I have so much confidence in this team that I what everyone is supposed to be doing in defense. believe that there’s not a game on the schedule He’s a leader.” that we can’t win,” Masson said. “I truly believe The Vikings’ defense line has talent, but is young, that. But I also know that we have to make sure Masson said. that if we do get down in a game that we are “I like where we are up front,” he said. not dropping our heads and feeling sorry for What we don’t know ourselves. We have to find that perseverance.” While the defense is a definite strength, the offense Masson said the key is staying healthy and could be termed a “work in progress.” improving every week. “We gave a pretty good offensive line,” Masson said. Eric Narcisse “We have a couple of freshmen at tackle, but we have

What we know

Colt Thomas LB/WR, 5-7, 165, Jr. Thomas is set to start one year after being forced to sit out a season after transferring. He has a high football IQ, is an aggressive tackler and has proven to be a good route runner. Kaleb Tezeno QB/FS, 5-10, 180, Jr. Set to go both ways for the Vikings, Tezeno will be a vital part to Opelousas Catholic’s success. He tackles well and has good ball skills from his free safety position, while possessing a strong arm and the ability to run as a quarterback. Ethan Belleau RB/LB, 5-8, 185, Sr. Described as a “menace on the field,” Belleau is a physical tackler who diagnoses plays quickly and gets to the ball in a hurry. A student of the game, Belleau rarely makes assignment mistakes. Braxtin Harris RB/LB, 6-0, 180, Sr. Another two-way starter for the Vikings, Harris will be counted on to lead the rushing attack on one side of the ball and stop it on the other. He’s extremely quick, runs hard and doesn’t shy away from contact. Aiden Laﬂeur K/TE/LB, 6-1, 175, Sr. While Lafleur will see time in all three phases of the game, he will be counted on to solidify the Vikings’ kicking game. He has a strong leg capable of forcing touchbacks on kickoffs and making 50-yard field goals.

SCOREBOARD Odds

Kansas City at Tampa Bay, 6:30 p.m. Dallas at Arizona, 9 p.m.

Sunday’s game

NFL

Seattle at Tennessee, 7 p.m.

Thursday

FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG Las Vegas 1½ 1½ (37½) at HOUSTON San Fran. 1½ 1½ (38½) at LA CHAR.

MLB

Thursday

UNDERDOG Toronto Athletics at BALTIMORE LA Angels

LINE +143 OFF +101 +155

UNDERDOG at CINCINNATI

LINE -108

UNDERDOG San Francisco at CHI. W. SOX Seattle Washington

LINE +159 -105 +107 OFF

Pro basketball WNBA glance EASTERN CONFERENCE W 24 22 22 20 14 10 9

American League glance

Pct .667 .629 .595 .588 .389 .294 .265

GB — 1½ 2½ 3 10 13 14

L 7 9 13 16 20 23 23 30

Pct .806 .735 .649 .556 .429 .361 .343 .189

GB — 3 5½ 9 13½ 16 16½ 22½

WESTERN CONFERENCE

W x-Minnesota 29 x-Golden State 25 x-Las Vegas 24 Dallas 20 Portland 15 Phoenix 13 Los Angeles 12 Seattle 7 x-clinched playoff spot

Tuesday’s games

Indiana 101, Toronto 95 Connecticut 5, Los Angeles 77 Atlanta 97, Las Vegas 82 Chicago 93, New York 86

Wednesday’s games

Toronto at Washington, n Minnesota at Golden State, n

Thursday’s games

Indiana at Dallas, 7 p.m. Atlanta at Los Angeles, 9 p.m. Connecticut at Las Vegas, 9 p.m.

Pro football NFL preseason Thursday’s games

Las Vegas at Houston, 7 p.m. San Francisco at L.A. Chargers, 9 p.m.

Friday’s games

N.Y. Jets at Pittsburgh, 6 p.m. Carolina at Jacksonville, 6:30 p.m. Green Bay at Denver, 8 p.m.

Saturday’s games

W Tampa Bay 75 New York 70 Boston 68 Toronto 62 Baltimore 61 Central Division W Chicago 66 Minnesota 63 Cleveland 61 Detroit 61 Kansas City 53 West Division W Houston 63 Texas 62 Seattle 59 Los Angeles 50 Athletics 49

Tuesday’s games

L 12 13 15 14 22 24 25

Washington at Detroit, 11 a.m. Atlanta at Indianapolis, noon Baltimore at Minnesota, noon Buffalo at Cleveland, noon N.Y. Giants at Miami, 3 p.m. New Orleans at L.A. Rams, 3 p.m. Chicago at Cincinnati, 6 p.m. Philadelphia at New England, 6 p.m.

Los Angeles San Diego Arizona San Francisco Colorado

Major League Baseball East Division

American League FAVORITE LINE at TAMPA BAY -177 at KANSAS CITY OFF N.Y Yankees -124 at HOUSTON -193 National League FAVORITE LINE St. Louis -114 Interleague FAVORITE LINE at CLEVELAND -198 Atlanta -117 at MILWAUKEE -132 at TEXAS OFF

Indiana Atlanta New York Washington Chicago Toronto Connecticut

Pittsburgh Cincinnati West Division

L 50 55 59 65 65

Pct .600 .560 .535 .488 .484

GB — 5 8 14 14½

L 60 65 65 66 74

Pct .524 .492 .484 .480 .417

GB — 4 5 5½ 13½

L 63 64 67 76 77

Pct .500 .492 .468 .397 .389

GB — 1 4 13 14

Pittsburgh 4, Detroit 1 N.Y. Yankees 3, Baltimore 1 Cleveland 8, San Francisco 1 Toronto 10, Tampa Bay 5 Minnesota 4, Atlanta 1 Boston 9, Arizona 4 Kansas City 4, Athletics 3 Milwaukee 22, Seattle 0 Texas 5, Washington 0 L.A. Angels 3, Houston 1 Chicago Cubs 4, Chicago White Sox 3

16½ 18

W 76 68 67 51 50

L 51 60 61 74 76

Pct .598 .531 .523 .408 .397

GB — 8½ 9½ 24 25½

Tuesday’s games

Pittsburgh 4, Detroit 1 St. Louis 3, Cincinnati 0 Cleveland 8, San Francisco 1 Philadelphia 6, Miami 4 Minnesota 4, Atlanta 1 Boston 9, Arizona 4 San Diego 5, N.Y. Mets 2 Milwaukee 22, Seattle 0 Texas 5, Washington 0 Chicago Cubs 4, Chicago White Sox 3 L.A. Dodgers 7, Colorado 6

Wednesday’s games

Pittsburgh 4, Detroit 3 N.Y. Mets 4, San Diego 2 Minnesota 6, Atlanta 4 Chicago White Sox 3, Chicago Cubs 0 Arizona 7, Boston 6, 10 innings Miami at Philadelphia, n San Francisco at Cleveland, n St. Louis at Cincinnati, n Seattle at Milwaukee, n Washington at Texas, n L.A. Dodgers at Colorado, n

Pro golf PGA Tour statistics Through Monday FedExCup Season Points

Thursday’s games

San Francisco (Roupp 7-12) at Cleveland (Williams 11-7), 12:10 p.m. Toronto (Bieber 4-2) at Tampa Bay (Seymour 9-3), 12:10 p.m. Athletics (Ginn 8-7) at Kansas City (Dobnak 2-1), 1:10 p.m. Atlanta (Holmes 7-5) at Chicago White Sox (Kay 9-5), 1:10 p.m. Seattle (Kirby 8-9) at Milwaukee (Gasser 3-5), 1:10 p.m. N.Y. Yankees (Cole 6-6) at Baltimore (Bradish 7-11), 5:35 p.m. Washington (Alvarez 2-4) at Texas (deGrom 8-8), 7:05 p.m. L.A. Angels (Rodriguez 3-5) at Houston (Lambert 8-6), 7:10 p.m.

National League glance

Milwaukee Chicago St. Louis

.488 .476

St. Louis (McGreevy 5-9) at Cincinnati (Singer 5-11), 11:40 a.m. San Francisco (Roupp 7-12) at Cleveland (Williams 11-7), 12:10 p.m. Atlanta (Holmes 7-5) at Chicago White Sox (Kay 9-5), 1:10 p.m. Seattle (Kirby 8-9) at Milwaukee (Gasser 3-5), 1:10 p.m. Washington (Alvarez 2-4) at Texas (TBD), 7:05 p.m.

Pittsburgh 4, Detroit 3 Minnesota 6, Atlanta 4 Chicago White Sox 3, Chicago Cubs 0 Arizona 7, Boston 6, 10 innings N.Y. Yankees at Baltimore, n San Francisco at Cleveland, n Toronto at Tampa Bay, n Athletics at Kansas City, n Seattle at Milwaukee, n Washington at Texas, n L.A. Angels at Houston, n

Atlanta Philadelphia Miami Washington New York Central Division

66 66

Thursday’s games

Wednesday’s games

East Division

63 60

1, Scottie Schefﬂer, 4,873. 2, Matt Fitzpatrick, 3,426. 3, Cameron Young, 3,183. 4, Si Woo Kim, 2,701. 5, Wyndham Clark, 2,542. 6, Sam Burns, 2,416. 7, Chris Gotterup, 2,288. 8, Tommy Fleetwood, 2,247. 9, Collin Morikawa, 2,242. 10, Ludvig Åberg, 2,130.

Scoring Average

1, Scottie Schefﬂer, 68.612. 2, Matt Fitzpatrick, 69.474. 3, Rory McIlroy, 69.477. 4, Collin Morikawa, 69.565. 5, Tommy Fleetwood, 69.607. 6, Sam Burns, 69.646. 7, Cameron Young, 69.706. 8, Xander Schauffele, 69.714. 9, Jake Knapp, 69.716. 10, Si Woo Kim, 69.718.

Driving Distance

1, Aldrich Potgieter, 331.1. 2, Rory McIlroy, 328.9. 3, Michael Brennan, 326.4. 4, Marco Penge, 325. 5, Nicolai Hojgaard, 324.1. 6, Rasmus Hojgaard, 323. 7, Gary Woodland, 322.3. 8, Chris Gotterup, 322. 9, Min Woo Lee, 321.8. 10, Jesper Svensson, 320.2.

Driving Accuracy Percentage

W 74 69 64 60 58

L 53 58 63 67 70

Pct .583 .543 .504 .472 .453

GB — 5 10 14 16½

W 78 74 65

L 48 54 62

Pct .619 .578 .512

GB — 5 13½

1, Russell Henley, 72.73%. 2, Davis Chatﬁeld, 71.20%. 3, Joel Dahmen, 71.05%. 4, Aaron Rai, 70.92%. 5, Lucas Glover, 69.65%. 6, Si Woo Kim, 69.25%. 7, Emiliano Grillo, 69.18%. 8, Brandt Snedeker, 69.07%. 9, Tommy Fleetwood, 68.59%. 10, Collin Morikawa, 68.52%.

Greens in Regulation Percentage 1, 10 tied with .00%.

Total Driving

1, Jordan Smith, 56. 2, Alex Fitzpatrick, 58. 3, Kristoffer Ventura, 66. 4, Neal Shipley,

67. 5, Scottie Schefﬂer, 74. 6, Ludvig Aberg, 82. 7, Cameron Young, 86. 8, Sudarshan Yellamaraju, 88. 9, Michael Thorbjornsen, 92. 10, Xander Schauffele, 94.

SG-Putting

1, Jacob Bridgeman, .720. 2, Sam Burns, .697. 3, Scottie Schefﬂer, .680. 4, Vince Whaley, .639. 5, Alex Noren, .589. 6, Beau Hossler, .571. 7, Maverick McNealy, .540. 8, Akshay Bhatia, .524. 9, 2 tied with .520.

Birdie Average

1, Scottie Schefﬂer, 4.81. 2, Si Woo Kim, 4.51. 3 (tie), Wyndham Clark and Collin Morikawa, 4.41. 5, Kevin Yu, 4.34. 6, Ludvig Aberg, 4.32. 7, Jacob Bridgeman, 4.26. 8, Sam Burns, 4.24. 9, Keith Mitchell, 4.26. 10, Robert MacIntyre, 4.21.

Eagles (Holes per)

1, Jake Knapp, 57.2. 2, Kristoffer Ventura, 60.4. 3, Matt Wallace, 81.7. 4, Nicolai Hojgaard, 84. 5, Rasmus Hojgaard, 85.8. 6, Tommy Fleetwood, 91.4. 7, Billy Horschel, 92.6. 8, Aldrich Potgieter, 94.5. 9, Shane Lowry, 98.2. 10, Keegan Bradley, 99.7.

Sand Save Percentage 1, 10 tied with .00%.

Soccer MLS glance W Nashville 13 Inter Miami CF 11 Chicago 10 New England 9 Charlotte FC 8 Cincinnati 7 NYC FC 7 New York 7 D.C. United 5 Orlando City 6 Columbus 5 Toronto FC 4 Philadelphia 5 CF Montréal 4 Atlanta 4

L 2 3 6 7 7 6 7 8 5 10 9 7 10 10 12

Western Conference

T 4 5 2 3 4 6 5 4 9 3 5 8 4 5 3

Pts 43 38 32 30 28 27 26 25 24 21 20 20 19 17 15

GF GA 39 15 46 36 34 24 29 25 32 28 46 45 33 27 30 41 27 30 31 48 27 31 26 33 28 35 25 36 21 34

W L T Pts GF GA Vancouver 11 3 4 37 40 17 Houston 11 6 2 35 28 24 Los Angeles FC 10 6 4 34 35 20 San Jose 10 6 3 33 38 27 FC Dallas 8 5 6 30 34 26 St Louis City 8 6 5 29 27 25 Real Salt Lake 8 6 4 28 30 26 Colorado 8 10 1 25 29 25 Minn. United 6 6 7 25 21 26 Portland 7 9 3 24 34 35 Seattle 7 8 3 24 20 24 San Diego FC 6 7 6 24 33 29 LA Galaxy 5 8 7 22 24 30 Austin FC 4 10 5 17 23 38 Kansas City 4 13 2 14 18 48 NOTE: Three points for victory, one point for tie.

Wednesday’s games

Saturday’s games

D.C. United at Charlotte FC, 6:30 p.m. Seattle at Cincinnati, 6:30 p.m. Toronto FC at Miami, 6:30 p.m. LA Galaxy at CF Montréal, 6:30 p.m. Chicago at New York, 6:30 p.m. Real Salt Lake at Orlando City, 6:30 p.m. Philadelphia at Austin FC, 7:30 p.m. Columbus at Nashville, 7:30 p.m. Houston at St Louis City, 7:30 p.m. FC Dallas at Vancouver, 8:30 p.m. Portland at Los Angeles FC, 9:30 p.m. Colorado at San Diego FC, 9:30 p.m. Minnesota at San Jose, 9:30 p.m.

Sunday’s games

New York City FC at New England, 3:30 p.m. Sporting Kansas City at Atlanta, 6 p.m.

Transactions BASEBALL

All-Around Ranking

1, Scottie Schefﬂer, 183. 2, Ludvig Åberg, 252. 3, Sam Burns, 273. 4, Collin Morikawa, 282. 5, Jake Knapp, 286. 6, Doug Ghim, 315. 7, Chris Gotterup, 337. 8, Tommy Fleetwood, 343. 9, Si Woo Kim, 344. 10, Kevin Yu, 345.

Eastern Conference

Los Angeles FC at Colorado, n FC Dallas at Real Salt Lake, n Austin FC at Seattle, n San Jose at LA Galaxy, n San Diego FC at Portland, n Houston at Vancouver, n

New York City FC at Cincinnati, n CF Montréal at Columbus, n New England at D.C. United, n Nashville at New York, n Chicago at Orlando City, n Miami at Philadelphia, n Charlotte FC at Toronto FC, n St Louis City at Sporting Kansas City, n Atlanta at Minnesota, n

Major League Baseball American League ATHLETICS — Reinstated LHP Jeffrey Springs from the 15-day IL. Optioned RHP Seth Johnson to Las Vegas (PCL). BALTIMORE ORIOLES — Reinstated C Samuel Basallo from the 10-day IL. Optioned 2B Jeremiah Jackson to Norfolk (IL). BOSTON RED SOX — Sent 2B Isiah Kiner-Falefa on a rehab assignment to Worcester (IL). CLEVELAND GUARDIANS — Recalled RF David Fry from Columbus (IL). Placed 1B Rhys Hoskins on the 10-day IL. HOUSTON ASTROS — Selected the contract of RHP Ethan Pecko from Sugar Land (PCL). Optioned RHP Miguel Ullola to Sugar Land. Transferred CF Brice Matthews from the 10-day IL to the 60-day IL. NEW YORK YANKEES — Traded C Christian Bethancourt to Pittsburgh for cash. TAMPA BAY RAYS — Recalled C Kenny Piper and RHP Chris Roycroft from Durham (IL). Optioned RHP Jesse Scholtens to Durham. Placed RF Victor Mesa Jr. on the 10-day IL. TORONTO BLUE JAYS — Selected the contract of LHP Brendan Cellucci from Buffalo (IL). Sent LHP Joe Mantiply on a rehab assignment to Dunedin (FSL). Designated RHP Matt Waldron for assignment. National League CHICAGO CUBS — Agreed to terms with SS Jackson Cluff on a minor league contract. CINCINNATI REDS — Agreed to terms with RHP Darius Vines on a minor league contract. MILWAUKEE BREWERS — Reinstated SS Cooper Pratt from the 10-day IL. Optioned LF Brandon Lockridge to Nashville (IL). Sent CF Jihwan Bae outright to Nashville. NEW YORK METS — Recalled 1B Eric Wagaman and RHP Chayce McDermott from Syracuse (IL). Optioned RHP Jack Weisenburger to Syracuse. Placed DH Jorge Polanco on the 10-day IL. SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS — Claimed LHP Philip Abner off waivers from Arizona. Selected the contract of LHP Matt Wilkinson from Sacramento (PCL). Optioned LHPs Philip Abner and Reiver Sanmartin to Sacramento. Transferred CF Harrison Bader and C Daniel Susac from the 10-day IL to the 60-day IL. WASHINGTON NATIONALS — Selected the contract of LHP Erik Tolman from Rochester (IL). Optioned RHP Yovanny Cruz to Rochester.

LIVING

T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M

T h u r s d ay, au g u s T 20, 2026

5CN

Enhance salmon ﬁlets with pistachios, greens BY LINDA GASSENHEIMER Tribune News Service (TNS)

A friend recently returned from a trip to Sicily and raved about the region’s incredible pistachios. I decided to use them as a crunchy crust for salmon fillets. To make dinner even easier, I arranged the salmon and fresh asparagus on a baking sheet and roasted them together in a 400-F oven for just 10 minutes. It’s a simple, flavorful meal with almost no cleanup. To round out the dinner, I served the fish with one-minute microwaveable quinoa, making this a wholesome, weeknight meal that comes together in minutes. HELPFUL HINTS: n Regular quinoa can be used if microwaveable quinoa isn’t available. n Look for roasted, shelled pistachios at the market.

TNS PHOTO By LINDA GASSENHEIMER STAFF PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS

April Hamilton serves up Spicy Cajun Shrimp, left, and Café Reconcile’s White Beans and Shrimp, both recipes found in the ‘Cooking up a Storm: Recipes Lost and Found from The Times-Picayune of New Orleans’ cookbook.

Pistachio Crusted Salmon Yields 2 servings. Recipe is by Linda Gassenheimer. ¾ pound wild caught salmon fillet ½ cup roasted shelled pistachio nuts Zest from lemon 1 tablespoon lemon juice 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard 2 teaspoons honey ½ pound asparagus 4 teaspoons olive oil, divided use 1 cup microwaveable quinoa Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Stained recipes, such as Spicy Cajun Shrimp and Café Reconcile’s White Beans and Shrimp, tell tasty tales BY APRIL HAMILTON

Contributing writer

he best cookbooks on my shelf boast stained pages that tell a history of all the favorite recipes tucked inside. Even though my copy of “Cooking up a Storm: Recipes Lost and Found from The Times-Picayune of New Orleans” is new, it already Recipe, shows which Café Reconcile’s pages to stop on. White Beans Right there in the and Shrimp “Seafood” chap6C ter, a couple of keepers present themselves with the telltale stains of treasured recipes. Spicy Cajun Shrimp is the one I turn to when I need a showstopper with minimal time to labor in the kitchen. If you start with peeled Louisiana shrimp, perhaps the most time-consuming part is chopping

ä See RECIPES, page 6C

Spicy Cajun Shrimp Makes 3 to 4 servings. Recipe is from “Cooking up a Storm: Recipes Lost and Found from The Times-Picayune of New Orleans.” 1 pound medium fresh or frozen shrimp, thawed if frozen, peeled and deveined ¼ to 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper ½ teaspoon black pepper ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes ½ teaspoon dried thyme leaves, crushed 1 teaspoon dried basil leaves, crushed

½ teaspoon dried oregano leaves, crushed 1 ⁄3 cup butter (I used a half stick) 1½ teaspoons minced garlic 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce 1 cup diced tomatoes ¼ cup beer, at room temperature Hot cooked rice or crusty bread for serving

1. Rinse the cleaned shrimp under cold running water. Drain well, then set aside. 2. In a small bowl, combine the cayenne, black pepper, salt, red pepper ﬂakes, thyme, basil and oregano. 3. Combine the butter, garlic, Worcestershire and the pepper-herb mixture in a large skillet over high heat. When the butter is melted, add the tomatoes and then the shrimp. 4. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring well. 5. Add the beer, cover and cook for 1 minute longer. 6. Remove from the heat, serve over rice or with crusty bread, if desired.

1. Preheat oven to 400 F. 2. Line a baking sheet with foil. Chop the pistachio nuts into small pieces in a food processor, or chop them on a cutting board with a sharp knife. Be careful not to turn them into ﬁne dust if using a food processor. 3. Mix the lemon zest, lemon juice, mustard and honey together in a small bowl. Add the pistachio pieces. Toss all together. 4. Place the salmon skin side down on the foil-lined sheet. Spread the pistachio mixture over the salmon and press into the salmon with a spoon or your hands. 5. Snap off the tough woody ends (about 2 inches) of the asparagus and discard. Place the asparagus next to the salmon on the sheet. Place it in the oven for 8 to 10 minutes. A meat thermometer should read 140 F. 6. Meanwhile, microwave the quinoa according to package instructions. Toss with 2 teaspoons olive oil and salt and pepper to taste. Divide in half and place on two dinner plates. 7. When the salmon is ready, divide into two portions and place on the quinoa on the dinner plates. Place the asparagus on the plates with the salmon and quinoa. Drizzle the two remaining teaspoons oil over the asparagus. NUTRITION INFO PER SERVING: 635 calories (51 percent from fat), 36.0 g fat (4.1 g saturated, 16.9 g monounsaturated), 96 mg cholesterol, 46.4 g protein, 34.9 g carbohydrates, 25.7 g ﬁber, 217 mg sodium.

Game day calls for spicy and tangy Buffalo pork salad BY LINDA GASSENHEIMER Tribune News Service (TNS)

With a summer full of exciting sports events on TV, I was inspired to create a buffalostyle sauce for pork. The spicy, tangy glaze gives the pork a bold kick, while a crisp, cool salad drizzled with blue cheese dressing provides the perfect contrast. Together, they make a ﬂavorful, all-American meal that’s ideal for game day or any summer dinner.

Buffalo Pork Salad Yields 2 servings. Recipe by Linda Gassenheimer. ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper (¾ teaspoon if you like it really hot) 2 tablespoons honey 2 tablespoons distilled white vinegar 2 tablespoons tomato paste 2 medium garlic cloves, crushed 4 cups washed, ready-to-eat salad 1 tomato, cut into 1-inch

pieces 1 cup sliced carrots 1 cup sliced celery ¾ pound boneless pork loin chops ½ tablespoon canola oil Salt and freshly ground black pepper 2 tablespoons lite blue cheese dressing 4 slices whole wheat baguette

1. Mix cayenne, honey, add the sauce to the skillet, vinegar, tomato paste and stirring to coat all sides of garlic together in a small the pork. Cook 2 to 3 minbowl to form a smooth utes. A meat thermometer sauce. Set aside. should read 145 F. 2. Divide the salad in half 5. Divide pork in half and and place on two dinner place over salad on the dinplates. Mix in the tomato, ner plates. Serve the bread carrots and celery. Drizzle on the side. with blue cheese dressing. NUTRITION INFO PER SERVING: TNS PHOTO By LINDA GASSENHEIMER 485 calories (22 percent 3. Cut the pork chops into 2-inch strips about 3 inches Buffalo Pork Salad from fat), 11.7 g fat (2.4 g long. Heat oil in a nonstick saturated, 4.3 g monounsatskillet over medium-high heat. brown 2 more minutes. Sprin- urated), 96 mg cholesterol, 47.5 Add the pork and brown for 3 kle with salt and pepper to taste. g protein, 50.2 g carbohydrates, minutes, turn pork over and 4. Reduce heat to low and 8.8 g ﬁber, 461 mg sodium.

6C ● Thursday,August 20, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

Let’s pretend this never happened lll

Dear Miss Manners: I was in a store from greeting your friend with a where an acquaintance of mine cheerful smile. But Miss Manners was making a scene, demanding a does feel that your solution is product that the store does both more tactful and less not supply. She stormed exhausting, as you were out after a barrage of loud, then spared the explanafoul language. As she left, tion that would no doubt she must have noticed me, have followed about why but I was looking purposeshe thought her rude befully away. havior was justiﬁed by the Judith This type of circumpart you did not see. Martin Dear Miss Manners: Many stance, while not the norm, MISS restaurants pack in as certainly does arise. Is it MANNERS many tables as possible. I correct to greet someone am wondering what one is when they have just made supposed to do when one has to a big, embarrassing scene? Or leave the table for a few minutes. perhaps it is more delicate to let It seems that the options are to them exit the situation anonyface the diners at the table next mously? to one as one squeezes through Gentle reader: As you were not the one who misbehaved, there is the gap, which intrudes on their meal and privacy, or to have one’s no etiquette rule preventing you

backside brushing by their food and drinks as one leaves, which also seems rude. Gentle reader: There is no single rule that Miss Manners can provide for such cases, though she can expand on what to watch out for. Maneuvering in tight spaces requires careful judgment of each individual case — and not just about which body part is least likely to cause offense when brought into close proximity to a fellow diner. You also want to give thought to what might happen if the person you are passing reacts in an unanticipated way. When there is no obvious solution, you will have to say “excuse me” and wait for them to make room — and do so in a way that

Crossword puzzles help kill time Dear Heloise: I had to chuckle keep the mind sharp and acwhen I read the letter in your tive, so keep it up! — Heloise column from the woman who Document disposal mentioned taking a crossword puzzle book to the docDear Heloise: You recently printed a hint from tor’s or other appointsomeone who recomments when there’s a wait. I’ve been doing mended getting rid this myself for years. of paper without a Everyone else is sitshredder by soaking it in bleach water to ting there playing fade the ink. I have with their smartHints from a more environmenphones and looking Heloise tally friendly way at me like I’m weird. But my cellphone is that people with a a “dumb” ﬂip phone, and I compost pile can try: I simenjoy the crosswords. I’m in ply tear documents up and my 80s and call them “menput them under a few items tal gymnastics.” — An Old Fuddy- in the compost. In no time, they’re completely gone and Duddy in the Buckeye State added into my precious comFuddy-Duddy, I’ve read that crossword puzzles help post for my plants.

If you’re more paranoid than I am about your sensitive documents, simply bury them even deeper in there. I can almost guarantee that no one will come into your yard and dig down into your compost for your personal information. And it’s a totally sustainable practice! Win-win! Thank you for your column. — Victoria R., in Kingston, New York Victoria, this is a novel approach to hiding documents, and it might be a useful method for some of my readers. Thank you! — Heloise Send a hint to heloise@ heloise.com.

does not lead a reasonable person to think you are implying that the tight spacing is their fault. Dear Miss Manners: A tenured colleague (I work in education) routinely solicits the faculty to contribute to group gifts. This colleague sends the requests not only to those of us with tenure, but also to subordinates who lack tenure and whose jobs are dependent on the approval of tenured faculty members (including the solicitor). My colleague’s email solicitation “suggests” the amount to be contributed ($50 for a gift, for example) and directs that contributions are not to be made anonymously, as he wants to be able to conﬁrm everyone’s contribution. Those of us with tenure can

safely ignore the requests or simply make anonymous contributions, but those without job protection do not share that luxury. Is there a way around this conundrum? Gentle reader: Yes: Gather together the other tenured faculty to tell your colleague that this has to stop, as it is wrong to dun junior colleagues in this way. Say that if he does not desist, you will be taking it up with HR.

Send questions to Miss Manners at her website, 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.

TODAY IN HISTORY ference was established by representatives of four professional football Today is Thursday, teams; two years later, Aug. 20, the 232nd day of with 18 teams, it would be 2026. There are 133 days renamed the National Footleft in the year. Today in history: ball League. On Aug. 20, 1968, the SoIn 1940, exiled Commuviet Union and other Warnist revolutionary Leon Trotsky was attacked in saw Pact nations invaded Coyoacan, Mexico, by asCzechoslovakia to crush the “Prague Spring” libersassin Ramon Mercader. (Trotsky died the next day.) alization movement. In 1964, President LynAlso on this date: In 1858, Charles Darwin’s don B. Johnson signed into theory of evolution was law the Economic Opportufirst published in the “Jour- nity Act, a nearly $1 billion anti-poverty measure. nal of the Proceedings of In 1986, postal employee the Linnean Society.” Patrick Henry Sherrill In 1862, the New York Tribune published an open went on a deadly rampage at a post office in Edmond, letter by editor Horace Oklahoma, shooting 14 Greeley calling on Presifellow workers to death dent Abraham Lincoln before killing himself. to take more aggressive In 1989, 51 people died measures to free enslaved people and end the South’s when the pleasure boat Marchioness sank in the rebellion. River Thames in London In 1866, President Andrew Johnson declared the after being struck by a official end of the Civil War. dredger. In 2012, after 80 years in In 1882, Tchaikovsky’s existence, Georgia’s Au“1812 Overture” had its premiere in Moscow. gusta National Golf Club In 1920, the American (home to the Masters TourProfessional Football Con- nament) invited former By The Associated Press

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and South Carolina financier Darla Moore to become its first female members; both accepted. In 2023, Tropical Storm Hilary struck Baja California, killing three and causing $15 million in damage. Today’s birthdays: Boxing promoter Don King is 95. Former U.S. Senator and diplomat George Mitchell is 93. Rock singer Robert Plant is 78. Country singer Rudy Gatlin is 74. Singersongwriter John Hiatt is 74. Actor-director Peter Horton is 73. Actor Joan Allen is 70. Movie director David O. Russell is 68. Rapper KRS-One (Boogie Down Productions) is 61. Actor Colin Cunningham is 59. Actor Billy Gardell is 57. Rock singer Fred Durst (Limp Bizkit) is 56. Baseball Hall of Famer Todd Helton is 53. Actor Amy Adams is 52. Actor Misha Collins (TV: “Supernatural”) is 52. Actor Ben Barnes is 45. Actor Andrew Garfield is 43. Actorsinger Demi Lovato is 34. Actor Fátima Ptacek is 26.

FIND OUT WHAT YOUR HOME FINF OUT WHAT

YOURIS WORTH HOME STAFF PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS

Café Reconcile’s White Beans and Shrimp* 1. Put the beans in a large bowl. Cover with water 3 inches above the beans and soak overnight. 2. Drain the beans. Combine them in a large pot with the onions, celery, bell peppers, parsley, 2 tablespoons garlic, the thyme, granulated garlic and onion, black pepper, cayenne, white pepper and salt to taste. 3. Add 2 cups of the stock. Bring to a boil and then lower the heat. Simmer with the lid ajar, stirring occasionally for 2 to 3 hours, until the beans are tender. 4. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat and saute the 3 tablespoons garlic just until it starts to brown. Add the shrimp and cook, stirring, until they turn pink. 5. Add the cream to the beans and then add the shrimp-garlic mixture. Bring to a simmer being careful not to boil. 6. Serve over rice with jalapeno cornbread. *Sidebar notes from Café

Reconcile’s chef, Martha Wiggins, about the legacy dish White Beans and Shrimp: “This is a signature dish for the restaurant. Guests talk about it and remember it as part of their dining experience whether they dine once a week or once a year. Every Thursday, we produce five pounds of beans and 10 pounds of shrimp; it’s our weekly Thursday special. We sell out quite often. Adding a side of fried chicken is a pro-move recommendation. Some guests swap in smoked sausage.” Fun fact from Cafe Reconcile’s chief development officer, Caitlin Scanlan: “When Chef Martha first arrived, the dish wasn’t selling, so she chose to remove it from the menu. Someone who knew the legacy of the dish reached out and it immediately went back. The outcry helped her understand how special the dish is to the cafe’s guests, and it’s been selling like gangbusters ever since.”

that rivals more complicated cooking techniques. Continued from page 5C Done. Swirl the sauce and taste. Kick up the heat as desired. The recipe suga tablespoon of garlic and gests ¼ to 1 teaspoon of a couple of ripe tomatoes. cayenne, leaving the spice I make the recipe pretty level in the chef’s hands. much to the letter, getting I use a heaping teaspoon my cast iron skillet nice and for a double batch and call hot and adding about a half it perfection. With some stick of butter along with crusty bread for dipping a good handful of spices, and a green salad, dinner is fresh garlic, a hefty splash served to wild applause. of Worcestershire and the Turn the page and land juicy tomatoes. Then in go on the beloved Café Recthe shrimp for a quick two- oncile’s White Beans with minute cook before adding Shrimp. Simmering a pot of some beer and another min- beans is a ritual in Louisiute in the hot skillet. ana, and one I have happily The result: tender spicy adopted. This recipe reshrimp in a luscious sauce quires a little more advance

planning, mostly hands off, yielding a beautiful bowl of beans with a mission. I follow this recipe as written with a subtle tweak when ﬁnishing the dish. My ﬁrst attempt, I hesitated to add a full pint of cream to the beans and tasted the broth after adding half that amount and my knees buckled. It’s another crowd pleaser and can easily be scaled up to feed a party. “Cooking up a Storm” stole my heart from the moment I thumbed through its delicious storied pages. It claimed a space right next to my stove, and I look forward to continuing to christen its pages with saucy spatters.

Makes 6 servings. Recipe is from “Cooking up a Storm,” from the archives of Café Reconcile. FOR THE BEANS: 1 pound dried great Northern beans 2 cups chopped onion 1 cup chopped celery 1 cup chopped green bell peppers ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley 2 heaping tablespoons chopped fresh garlic 1 tablespoon dried thyme leaves 1½ teaspoons granulated garlic 1½ teaspoons granulated onion ½ teaspoon black pepper Dash of cayenne pepper Dash of white pepper Salt 2 to 2½ quarts chicken stock (Café Reconcile uses shrimp stock) FOR THE SHRIMP: 1 tablespoon olive oil 3 tablespoons olive oil 1½ pounds medium shrimp, peeled and deveined 2 cups heavy cream (I used 1 cup) Hot cooked rice and jalapeno cornbread for serving

RECIPES

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The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Thursday,August 20, 2026 ● 7C

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FrAnK And erneSt

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zodIAC LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) Keep your eye on your budget, and don't surpass your financial comfort zone. It's up to you to inflict discipline and to monitor expenses if you want to be solvent. VIRGo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Relax, kick back and give yourself a chance to absorb, review and conjure up what you want to do next. Walk away from emotional situations that are causing you distress. LIBRA (Sept. 23-oct. 23) Think big, dare to be different and express your opinions passionately. If you step up and lead the way, unusual partnerships will complement your plans and help you give rise to something new and exciting. ScoRPIo (oct. 24-nov. 22) Stick to your plans, learn through experience and observation, and when you feel confident and ready to step into the spotlight, you will get your point across and gain the support you need. SAGIttARIuS (nov. 23-Dec. 21) Read the room. Target who you want to single out and what you want to achieve. The sky's the limit, and communication will fasttrack your acceleration. Present and promote what you've been working so hard to master. cAPRIcoRn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Refuse to let anger set in when accomplishments will satisfy your needs. Distance yourself from those who get in your way, and position yourself for success. AQuARIuS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Be receptive to those trying to help you. You have plenty to gain if you do your part. A change of

plans or lifestyle is favored. It's time to expand your circle of friends. PIScES (Feb. 20-March 20) Emotions will get the best of you if you leave yourself open for insult. Channel your energy into something productive. Social or competitive situations will give you a platform to present and promote what you do best. ARIES (March 21-April 19) Formulate a plan, and make it happen. Attending an event will encourage new connections and information that results in positive changes. A commitment will change your lifestyle. tAuRuS (April 20-May 20) Refuse to let anyone pressure you into something you aren't sure you want to do. Avoid social events or spending on something you don't need. You can enrich your life if you spend time working toward selfsufficiency. GEMInI (May 21-June 20) Look, see and do. Time is of the essence if you want to make the most of an opportunity. Recognize the possibilities, and let change be your energy booster. Don't labor over things you cannot control. cAncER (June 21-July 22) Find your way back to the basics. Simpler things will put your mind at ease and give you a chance to reflect. Step away from those putting pressure on you. Don't limit your options to please others. The horoscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact. © 2026 by NEA, Inc., dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication

For better or For WorSe WonderWord

peAnUtS

SALLY Forth

beetLe bAILeY CeLebrItY CIpher Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present. Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

toDAy'S cLuE: K EQuALS H

Mother GooSe And GrIMM

SherMAn’S LAGoon FAMILY CIrCUS

dooneSbUrY

8C ● Thursday,August 20, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

CurTiS

Hi and LoiS

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Sudoku InstructIons: Sudoku is a number-placing puzzle based on a 9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. The difficulty level of the Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday. Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

BaBY BLueS

BLondie

THe wiZard oF id

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La TimeS CroSSword

The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Thursday,August 20, 2026 ● 9C

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B.C.

Bridge By PHILLIP ALDER Dorothy Miller Richardson, an English novelist, said, “If there was a trick, there must be a trickster.” I suppose all bridge players could be called tricksters, even though some are more skillful at prestidigitation than others. In this deal, South is trying to bring home nine tricks in no-trump. After West leads the diamond queen, what should declarer do? And suppose dummy’s hearts were A-Q-10. Would that change South’s plan? After South opens two no-trump, showing a balanced hand with a good 20 to a so-so 22 points, North is right not to use Stayman with 4-3-3-3 distribution and such weak spades. Even if South has four spades, it is unlikely that four spades would make and three no-trump fail. The reverse would be more probable. South starts with six top tricks: one spade, three hearts and two diamonds. Obviously, declarer should try to collect three club winners — but how should he play the suit? This is a great example of “lead up to honors.” South should plan to cross to dummy three times with a heart and to play a club toward his hand. Whenever East has the club ace or the suit splits 3-3, the contract will come home. Note that leading a club honor from hand leads to defeat with this layout.

garfield

Pearls Before swiNe

hagar the horriBle

If dummy’s hearts are A-Q-10, it is a much tougher problem. If East has acefourth of clubs, South needs three heart entries, so should play a heart to the 10, hoping West has the jack. But that risks going down when clubs are 3-3. The odds of each line are almost equal — guess well. © 2026 by NEA, Inc., dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication

wuzzles Each Wuzzle is a word riddle which creates a disguised word, phrase, name, place, saying, etc. For example: NOON GOOD = GOOD AFTERNOON

PiCKles

Previous answers:

mallard fillmore

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 — ADoPtIon: uh-DOP-shun: The practice of taking someone or

Bizarro

marmaduKe

something by choice into a relationship. Average mark 16 words Time limit 35 minutes Can you find 27 or more words in ADOPTION? yEStERDAy’S WoRD — oFFSPRInG offing frog sign sing sniff snip song spiff spin sprig spring

ping poring posing prison prong riff ring roping rosin info inro

iron noir nori gorp grin grip groin

loCKhorNs hidato Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

today’s thought “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” Luke 11:13 Have you asked? Ask the Lord now. — G.E. Dean

10C ● Thursday,August 20, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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BUSINESS T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M/news/business

DOW 53,463.05 119.65 0.22%

NASDAQ 26,331.09 41.38 0.16%

BRIEFS

FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

FTC proposal would require transparency

Companies that secretly vary prices based on how much they think individual customers will pay could face federal charges under a proposed policy released Wednesday by the Federal Trade Commission. “When consumers see a listed price, they expect it to be same price that everyone else sees, not the retailer’s estimate of how much they are willing to pay based on their personal data,” FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson said in a statement. The FTC has had its eye on personalized pricing for a while. In a preliminary report filed in January 2025, the agency found that grocers, clothing companies and others were using third-party companies to help them individualize online prices based on shoppers’ locations, browsing histories and how long they left items in their virtual shopping carts. In one hypothetical example, the FTC said a consumer profiled as a new parent might be shown higher-priced baby thermometers on the first page of their search results. Ferguson said the FTC doesn’t have the legal authority to ban personalized pricing in all circumstances. But under the proposed policy, businesses would have to “clearly and conspicuously disclose” if they are engaging in personalized pricing and share the types of data they’re using to set those prices.

Moderna shares surge upon key test results Moderna shares more than doubled Wednesday after it announced initial results from a study of an experimental cancer treatment that would be the ﬁrst of its kind if approved by regulators. Moderna and Merck are developing a treatment using an mRNA-based cancer vaccine called intismeran that is designed to be tailored to individual patients based on unique mutations within their tumors. In current studies, they are pairing it with Keytruda, a immunotherapy drug made by Merck. The study compared using intismeran and Keytruda together on melanoma patients against using Keytruda alone. The companies said patients who received the combination lived longer without cancer returning or metastasizing than patients who got Keytruda alone. The companies did not say how long patients survived without cancer returning or whether patients lived longer overall.

China puts robotics ambitions on display BEIJING — Do you want to see whether a robot can fold a piece of cloth? Interested in getting a robot dog or even a humanoid robot that could offer some emotional support? Or perhaps you just want to watch robots boxing and dancing? Come to Beijing. China kicked off the 2026 World Robot Conference on Wednesday, with companies showcasing the country’s expanding robotics industry as it looks to move the technology beyond demonstrations and into factories and other realworld applications. Organizers say around 3,000 products will be showcased during the ﬁve-day event. Despite the conference’s name, there was no sign of other countries exhibiting. One of the main attractions on Wednesday was the booth of Unitree, one of China’s leading humanoid robot makers, where some of its models boxed and danced. One even played ping pong with a human opponent. The opening of the conference coincided with Unitree’s stock market debut in Shanghai. The conference comes weeks after the U.S. Federal Communications Commission announced a ban on imports of new foreign-made humanoid robots and power inverters, citing national security risks, in a move targeting China.

S&P 500 7,707.98 16.22 0.21%

EURO 1.1675 0.0100 0.87%

CRUDE OIL 85.83 0.89 1.05%

GOLD 4,489.40 123.40 2.83%

6-MO T-BILLS 3.91 0.0 0.0%

30-YR T-BONDS 5.19 -0.1 -1.87%

Fed warns about possible rate hikes Many officials worried that inflation won’t subside, minutes show

BY CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP economics writer

WASHINGTON — Many Federal Reserve officials think the central bank will have to lift its key shortterm interest rate in the coming months if inflation doesn’t subside, minutes of the Fed’s meeting last month showed. The minutes of the July 28-29 meeting, released Wednesday, don’t provide specifics on how many of the 19 officials supported higher rates. Only 12 of the 19 policymakers vote on the outcome. Officials voted 9-3 at the meeting to keep their key rate unchanged at about 3.6%.

Inflation has since showed some signs of cooling, though gas prices have rebounded this month on renewed hostilities in the Middle East. Wall Street investors now expect the Fed to remain on hold at its next meeting in September and potentially lift rates in December, though that outlook could change. At last month’s meeting, Fed officials were heavily focused on the threat of stubbornly elevated inflation. Fed officials worried that the Iran war, tariffs, and heavy investment in AI infrastructure were all boosting prices of a range of goods and services. “Participants judged that their inflation outlooks were highly uncertain and that inflation risks were skewed to the upside,” the minutes said. “Many participants assessed

that (higher rates) would likely be necessary if inflation did not decline.” Some Fed officials pointed out that “even after excluding prices of items most directly affected by tariffs and energy prices, underlying inflation appeared to be elevated,” the minutes said. Excluding the volatile food and energy categories, so-called “core” prices have cooled, with annual core inflation falling to 2.5% in July, the government said last week, according to the consumer price index. Yet the Fed pays more attention to a separate gauge, the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index, which is running hotter than the CPI. Core PCE prices are expected to have risen 3.3% in July from a year ago, a much higher reading than CPI. Those figures will be reported Aug. 26.

According to the minutes, “Most participants anticipated that inflation would step down over the rest of the year as the effects of tariffs and earlier energy price increases wane, but many participants noted the possibility that inflation might be more persistently elevated.” New Fed chair Kevin Warsh also unnerved Wall Street investors last month by providing little guidance at a July 29 news conference on what the Fed’s next steps might be, threatening the Fed’s inflationfighting credibility. Interest rates, or yields, on longer-term Treasury securities, which had already risen before the meeting, moved higher. Warsh has said he will provide less of what he calls “forward guidance” about the Fed’s plans, which he sees as limiting the central bank’s policy options even if economic circumstances change.

EXPANDING AIR DROPS Amazon set to bring drone deliveries in nearly 500 cities

BY JOSH FUNK Associated Press

Millions more people may be able to get smaller, lightweight Amazon packages delivered by drones by the end of the year under a plan the company announced Wednesday to expand airborne shipping to suburban areas in nearly 500 U.S. cities. Customers could receive the drone deliveries in as fast as 30 minutes, Amazon said in a news release. The drones can carry packages up to 5 pounds. The plan will intensify the battle between Amazon and Walmart to provide consumers with the fastest delivery times. Both giants rely on a mix of drones and drivers to deliver everything consumers have ordered. Amazon’s plan would expand its drone delivery operation more than sixfold nationwide into hundreds of new communities, including the Chicago, Atlanta, Cleveland and Boise metro areas. The drones will primarily fly in the suburbs well away from skyscrapers and major airports that could cause problems. Amazon launched drone delivery service in Baton Rouge early last month. The MK30 drone delivers products from Amazon’s facility at Cortana Place to anywhere within a 7.5-mile radius. That covers an area that includes Scotlandville, Central, parts of St. George, LSU, Southern University and downtown. Hundreds of thousands of packages have already been delivered by Amazon drones this year, but even after this expansion drones will still only handle a fraction of the hundreds of millions of package deliveries each year. In addition to only being able to carry 5 pounds, the drones Amazon builds face countless challenges from tree cover to landscaping and inflatable pools that can make it hard to find a good drop zone. There are also regulatory hurdles to overcome in every community where Amazon wants to set up operations. Noise concerns also pose a potential challenge. “It’s still an experiment. It’s still in testand-learn mode,” said Sucharita Kodali, who is a retail analyst with Forrester. Walmart also uses drones in some locations as part of its delivery service, but the core part of its network relies on drivers to bring

STAFF FILE PHOTO By JOHN BALLANCE

Jeff Cleland, principal of infrastructure and regulatory affairs, talks about the drone that Prime Air uses in the Amazon drone delivery. Amazon, which launched drone delivery service in Baton Rouge last month, said it wants to expand airborne shipping to suburban areas in nearly 500 U.S. cities. orders directly from its stores to customers. Walmart didn’t immediately respond Wednesday to Amazon’s announcement, but the retail giant said early this year that it planned to expand drone delivery service to 150 more stores in partnership with Wing, a division of Alphabet, to give it 270 drone delivery locations by 2027. Initially, consumers might order something delivered by drone because they are curious about it, but it’s not clear how often they will continue to use the service, and Amazon is still working out the economics, Kodali said. The service will be free for Amazon Prime members who are ordering more than $50 worth of goods, but smaller orders will cost members $2.99. Nonmembers will pay $4.99 for drone delivery. Prime members get free deliveries while nonmembers pay a ﬂat fee if the shipment is under $35 for standard delivery or up to $12.99 for same-day shipments when avail-

able. Kodali said drones could prove more useful for certain lightweight deliveries that are needed urgently like prescription medications. DoorDash and other delivery companies also are experimenting with using drones to deliver foods and other goods. Amazon’s CEO Andy Jassy told shareholders in his annual letter in April that the company has learned a great deal by ﬂying drones in 11 sites across Arizona, Florida, Kansas, Michigan, Nebraska and Texas. In each location, the drones launch from an Amazon warehouse and cover about 175 square miles, so it takes multiple drone launching locations to serve a large metro area. “Prime Air now has a design that’ll scale, plans to serve communities with 30 million customers by year-end, and expects to deliver half a billion packages by the end of this decade (with an aim to deliver inside 30 minutes),” Jassy wrote.

Ex-engineer says Instagram safety ‘was an afterthought’ Testimony heard on child safety at trial

BY BARBARA ORTUTAY AP technology writer

OAKLAND, California — A former engineering director at Meta who has testified before Congress about child safety on Instagram told jurors Wednesday at a landmark trial that the company took a “don’t ask, don’t tell” approach on kids under 13 on its platforms. During his second day of testimony, Arturo Béjar said Meta consistently prioritized profits over safety in designing its products, focusing on how often and for how long people used them, even if it was detrimental to their mental well-being. “If you step away from the prod-

uct, they are not going to make any money,” he said. The trial that began Tuesday in federal court in Oakland, California, pits Meta against the states of California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey and is expected to last about six weeks. The four states were among 29 that sued the tech giant in 2023 over child safety and privacy — the other 25 will go to trial later. The company also faces lawsuits in state courts, including one underway in Tennessee. The lawsuit accuses Meta of contributing to the youth mental health crisis by knowingly and deliberately designing features that addict children to its platforms and hide these harms from the public. It also argues that Meta routinely collects data on children under 13 without their parents’

consent, in violation of federal law. “The attitude in particular on Instagram was ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell,’ ” Béjar said in response to a question about his perception of the company’s attitude towards users under 13. The company has rejected the claims and said evidence at the trial will show its commitment to safety. “You will hear over the course of this case a lot of important issues, issues like teen mental health, issues like social media, issues like how teens use social media,” Meta lawyer Paul Schmidt said Tuesday. “Those are important issues, and they’re issues where Meta believes that it has a responsibility. It has a responsibility to act on its own. It has a responsibility to try to work with teens and parents in partnership to try to address those

questions.” Béjar worked at Facebook from 2009 to 2015, attracting wide attention for his work to combat cyberbullying. He returned from 2019 to 2021 as a contractor to work on safety issues. He testiﬁed before Congress in 2023 about social media and the teen mental health crisis, saying that Meta executives, including CEO Mark Zuckerberg, knew about harms Instagram was causing but chose not to make meaningful changes to address them. In his testimony Wednesday, Béjar said employee performance reviews and compensation for those who worked on user-facing products were mostly focused on user numbers and how long they spend with those products. “In that context, safety was an afterthought,” he said.