The Acadiana Advocate 10-07-2026 by The Advocate

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Tensions escalate among Sulphur officials

Council plans no-confidence vote on mayor BY MEGAN WYATT Staff writer

Construction continues at the Meta Hyperion Data Center site in Richland Parish in September.

STAFF PHOTOS BY SOPHIA GERMER

Louisiana expected to see job boom

Data centers, LNG, SpaceX expected to add 55,000 jobs statewide BY TIMOTHY BOONE Staff writer

Louisiana is expected to add 55,000 jobs over the next two years, driven by a boom in industrial construction projects across the state, including data centers, liqueﬁed natural gas plants and SpaceX’s massive launch facility, according to an economic forecast released Tuesday. The state is projected to see a 2.7% increase in the number of new jobs between 2027 and 2028, according to the Louisiana Economic Forecast, which economist Loren Scott presented during the Baton Rouge Business Report’s Louisiana Business Symposium. Baton Rouge is expected to add 16,500 jobs over the next two years, making it the fastest-growing metro area in the state in terms of the number of new jobs. The Capital Region is home to a number of major industrial contractors who

Earth moving equipment lines up in front of electrical infrastructure at the Meta

ä See JOBS, page 7A Hyperion Data Center construction site in Richland Parish in September.

BY THE NUMBERS

16,500

Baton Rouge

According to the Louisiana Economic Forecast, Louisiana is projected to see a 2.7% increase 6,200 New Orleans in jobs statewide 2027-2028.

1,100

5,600

St. Tammany

Acadiana

6,000

95,300

Lake Charles

Monroe

4,800

Shreveport/ Bossier City

2,700

800

Hammond

1,800

Houma-Thibodaux Alexandria

Less than a week after a digital billboard in Sulphur depicted City Council members as clowns and referred to them as “five little mayor wannabes,” the council announced plans to hold a no-confidence vote about Mayor Jacob Stutes and to consider an investigation into how he’s conducted business. The developments Tuesday marked a new escalation in ongoing tensions between Stutes, council members and city government officials. It’s been three months since the mayor and five council members took office. All six are new to the their elected positions. Sulphur’s fire chief retired late last month citing turmoil at City Hall, while Stutes’ wife recently filed for divorce and asked for a protective order, saying he choked her, strangled her and more. The allegations rankled council members, who have pressed Stutes for answers. In court filings, Teresa Stutes alleged that she asked her husband to stop seeing his chief of staff, Alexis Nabours, who also recently resigned from the city. A judge last week dismissed the emergency protective order against Stutes. Nabours said in an interview Tuesday with The Advocate | The Times-Picayune that she had no romantic relationship with the mayor. “No,” she said. “None at all. But I can tell you that working on the campaign, I looked at his wife as a friend. She’s even babysat my son before.” Stutes did not respond to phone and text messages for this story. Nabours, who served as Stutes’ campaign manager beginning in September 2025, said the chief of staff position was created for her in July because of her qualifications as a human-resources professional. She said similar-sized cities across Louisiana have comparable administrative positions with pay close to what she received: a salary of $97,500, plus a $28,000 benefit package. She described her work environment as a hostile one, alleging that other city employees, council members and their families attacked her personally, made sexual comments toward her, commented about

ä See SULPHUR, page 7A

LSU researchers recognized Lafayette entrepreneur, education advocate 2026 for predictive AI wildfire tech Civic Cup recipient force. With the threat XPRIZE Wildfire competition for DeepFire draws data firefighting of severe wildfires on the rise, in- the technology it developed. The in Louisiana, the research- recognition comes with a $100,000 from satellites, smoke cluding ers say the need for advanced de- prize. sensors, other tools tection is paramount. The XPRIZE is an initiative to

BY MARGARET KATES Staff writer

Can wildﬁres be detected sooner, before they cause catastrophic damage? And can they be predicted well before they ignite? Baton Rouge researchers say it’s possible — and they are being recognized for technology they developed that uses AI to act as a virtual

WEATHER HIGH 90 LOW 68 PAGE 8A

“We need this technology now,” said Supratik Mukhopadhyay, a professor at LSU and lead scientist developing the technology. “If you have AI, what should you use it for? You should use it for the most urgent problems we have today.” DeepFire, a collaboration between researchers from LSU and consulting ﬁrm Ailectric, among others, received a special recognition two weeks ago from the

spur technological innovation using competitions. In addition to DeepFire, dozens of other groups submitted their inventions in wildﬁre detection and mitigation to XPRIZE Wildﬁre. Around $11 million was awarded in the competition. Mukhopadhyay said the DeepFire technology is meant to be

ä See WILDFIRE, page 4A

Nick Pugh honored for lasting impact on community BY KRISTIN ASKELSON Staff writer

Nick Pugh III, a Lafayette entrepreneur, telecommunications pioneer and education advocate, has been named the recipient of the 2026 Lafayette Civic Cup. The award recognizes individuals whose leadership, vision and

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

commitment have made a lasting impact on the Lafayette community. Pugh, a Lafayette native, has built a career focused on entreprePugh neurship, telecommunications, education and community service. “My efforts have been inspired by many generous local visionaries who encouraged and

ä See AWARD, page 4A

101ST YEAR, NO. 286

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Attorneys: Woman conscious after failed execution

BRIEFS

FROM WIRE REPORTS

Colombia’s president offers veterans support BOGOTA, Colombia — Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella offered legal assistance Tuesday to a group of Colombian military veterans who were arrested over the 2021 killing of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse and recently extradited from the Caribbean country to Florida after their case languished for years. In a message on X, the Colombian leader said his government will provide economic support to the families of the 17 Colombian suspects, who are expected to face trial in Florida. He also said he had ordered Colombia’s ministries of justice and defense to provide them with legal support. “The innocent cannot pay for crimes committed by sinners,” de la Espriella wrote. “I want to know exactly what happened and for the responsibility of each individual to be cleared up.” At least 22 Colombian veterans, working for a Florida security contractor, are believed to have been involved in a July 2021 raid on the home of Moïse that resulted in his assassination.

Ex-CIA official admits stealing $40M in gold WASHINGTON — A former senior CIA official pleaded guilty on Tuesday in Virginia to a charge that he abused his position and government funds to enrich himself by acquiring Florida real estate and hundreds of gold bars worth over $40 million, according to court records. David J. Rush fabricated a “highly classified” government program to justify the acquisition of luxury property in south Florida that he intended to resell for personal profit, according to a court filing. Rush separately concocted a bogus “sensitive government activity” to obtain the gold bars, the filing says. Rush’s fraudulent conduct cost the federal government approximately $194 million in total losses, according to the Justice Department. Prosecutors also accuse Rush of lying to colleagues and government contractors about his military and academic credentials and the fake program that he invented, falsely claiming it was authorized by high-ranking U.S. officials. “Rush used his legitimate government authority and manufactured personal bona fides to create confidence in his directions,” the court filing says. Rush, 49, of Ashburn, Virginia, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years, court records show. District Judge Michael Nachmanoff is scheduled to sentence Rush on Jan. 28 in Alexandria, Virginia.

Axe from ‘The Shining,’ other props for auction LONDON — The axe wielded by Jack Nicholson in the horror film “The Shining” and a prop infant that appeared in the final scene of “2001: A Space Odyssey” are among items for sale in an auction of director Stanley Kubrick’s personal archive, auction house Bonhams said Tuesday. Other highlights include Kubrick’s director’s chair, the matching blue dresses worn by the twin girls in “The Shining,” costumes used in “Eyes Wide Shut” and Kubrick’s annotated scripts for several of his films, Bonhams said. “We are proud to be able to share with you some of the items from this unique collection, which we hope will find new homes and be cherished until it is time to pass them on to the next generation of film lovers,” the director’s stepdaughter, Katherina Kubrick, said in a statement. The star item is the original “Star Child” prop, which appears as a glowing fetus in the final scene of “2001: A Space Odyssey.” Bonhams said that it’s expected to fetch up to $1.06 million. The axe in “The Shining” — used by Jack Nicholson as he delivered his famous line “Here’s Johnny!” — is estimated to sell for $39,851 to $66,410.

Pike’s prognosis remains unclear

BY KIM CHANDLER Associated Press

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO BY ADRIAN KRAUS

Demonstrators attend a protest Monday against Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y.

Cornell brings in ex-Justice official to review case University under fire for handling of sex assault claims

BY LEAH WILLINGHAM and JENNIFER PELTZ Associated Press

ITHACA, N.Y. — A former high-ranking Department of Justice ofﬁcial will look at how Cornell handles sexual misconduct complaints, university trustees announced Tuesday as they tried to address an outpouring of anger over allegations of a 2024 gang rape at a fraternity house. Sally Yates, who was a deputy attorney general in the Obama administration, will spearhead the review, the trustees said. The assessment is to include how the Ivy League university investigates reports of sexual assault and sexual harassment, how the disciplinary process works, campus police responses and more. “It is imperative that Cornell be willing to examine itself with the same rigor we expect of others,” trustee Chair Anne Meinig Smalling said in a statement. The announcement comes after days of outrage and a large protest over Cornell’s response to a complaint from a woman known publicly only as Jane Doe. She told campus police in November 2024 that, a few weeks earlier, she had been sexually

assaulted by multiple Chi Phi fraternity brothers after being pressured into drinking and taking drugs. No criminal charges have been ﬁled. The Chi Phi chapter at Cornell was shut down, and the Ivy League university has said it expelled some students and suspended others. Yates will look at how the woman’s complaint was addressed and at the oversight of fraternities, sororities and other campus groups, Cornell said. The woman sued the university, seven former students, the fraternity and others last month. Lawyers for two of the former students denied they participated in a sexual assault. Attempts by The Associated Press to reach the other men or their representatives have been unsuccessful. Court records show that during an investigation that Cornell conducted under the federal Title IX law, some of the accused students contended that the sexual activity was consensual. The lawsuit put a new, nationwide spotlight on the allegations and how the campus police, university and local prosecutor had reacted. New York Attorney General Letitia James is now conducting a criminal investigation and may soon name outside lawyers to assist. Meanwhile, her deputies have spoken with Jane Doe’s attorney and the local prosecutor, Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten. James also talked to

him herself, her ofﬁce said Tuesday. Van Houten looked into the allegations in 2024 and brought no charges — then reopened his ofﬁce’s investigation after seeing Jane Doe’s lawsuit. After Gov. Kathy Hochul put James on the case last week, Van Houten said he supported the appointment. Hochul, James and Van Houten are all Democrats. The governor also called for an independent review of Cornell’s handling of the matter — the review that Yates now will lead. Yates had a decades-long career at the Justice Department, serving for years as the top federal prosecutor in Atlanta and later as a deputy attorney general. She achieved particular prominence in January 2017 when, as acting attorney general in the early days of the Trump administration, she directed Justice Department attorneys not to defend the constitutionality of President Donald Trump’s refugee and immigration ban. She was swiftly fired, with Trump accusing her of betrayal and insubordination. Yates also generated headlines when it emerged that, in a conversation days before her departure, she had expressed alarm to the Trump White House about contacts that Trump’s new national security adviser, Michael Flynn, had had with the Russian ambassador during the presidential transition period.

French riot police fire tear gas as more than 250K rally Protesters demanding more education funding

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BY NICOLAS GARRIGA and OLEG CETINIC Associated Press

PARIS — Police fired tear gas to control crowds in Paris and elsewhere in France on Tuesday as more than a quarter of a million people rallied nationwide to support high school students demanding more education funding, according to government figures. The protests increased pressure on the administration of outgoing President Emmanuel Macron. As pupils blockaded high schools, large crowds waving flags and placards gathered in Marseille, Strasbourg and other cities. The demonstrations showed how protests that began at a high school in the Paris region in mid-September have grown into a nationwide movement — the latest of many that have marked Macron’s nearly decade-long tenure. “We need to listen to them,” said Léa Monimart, an adult demonstrator in the northern city of Lille. “They are 17 years old; they are not completely clueless, and they know what they are talking about. It’s important to show that there are adults who support them.” The Interior Ministry estimated that 266,000 people took part in demonstrations across the country on Tuesday, including 56,000 in Paris, where small groups of protesters clashed with riot officers at a city square at the end of a largely peaceful march. Nearly 500 people were detained Tuesday, the ministry said. The widespread use of arrests, tear gas and riot-control weapons against teenagers is fueling

Christa Pike, a Tennessee inmate who survived Tennessee’s attempt to execute her, is awake and speaking as she receives treatment at a hospital, her attorneys said Tuesday. “Against all odds, Christa Pike is conPike scious, speaking, and continues to receive critical medical care. Despite the severe damage she endured to her arms, she is still handcuffed and shackled to the bed. Her recovery is medically unprecedented. Her prognosis remains unclear but, at a minimum, we expect a long recovery,” attorneys for Pike said in a statement. Her attorneys said they are grateful for the ﬁrst responders and the medical team at the hospital “who treated Christa like a human and have provided exceptional care to her.” The statement was the ﬁrst indication that Pike has improved since an ambulance carried her away from a Nashville prison last Wednesday. A spokesperson for the Tennessee Department of Correction said she could provide no information other than that Pike remained hospitalized Tuesday. Pike survived two doses of pentobarbital as they attempted to put her to death for the 1995 beating and stabbing death of classmate Colleen Slemmer. The lethal injection drug didn’t kill her, but her lawyers said her arms were left burned and blistered. Dr. Joel Zivot, a professor of anesthesiology and surgery in Atlanta who consulted as an expert for Pike’s legal team, said the development “bodes well for a good recovery.” But, he added, it could be weeks or months before anyone knows exactly what her recovery might look like.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO BY TERESA SUAREZ

A student holds a board Tuesday reading, ‘GenZ will win’ during a protest against under-resourced schools in Paris.

defiance and angering some parents and teachers. Some student groups called for new protests Thursday. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said the police response had been proportionate in “almost all cases” and that the protests had at times turned into riots, requiring police intervention. French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said the government and school leaders must listen to students’ concerns and find solutions. Questioned in parliament on Tuesday about the protest movement, Lecornu denounced “ultra violence” threatening schools. Responding to criticism of police tactics, he pledged that any “accidents” would be investigated and described allegations that the police are racist as a “lie.” Class boycotts with police making thousands of arrests More than two weeks of class boycotts and school blockades, and policing that has led to more than 6,500 arrests, mostly of minors, have become a flashpoint in the early days of the presidential election campaign.

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Officials: Man conspired with shooter Wash. resident arrested in Canada school attack

BY MARTHA BELLISLE Associated Press

SEATTLE — Federal authorities said Tuesday that they have arrested and charged a 30-year-old from Washington state with encouraging an 18-year-old to commit one of the worst school shootings in Canada’s history by offering to livestream the February attack,

providing money and sharing advice on how to delete online messages to keep the plot a secret. The U.S. attorney’s office in Seattle said James Cody Bryant of Bellingham, Washington, communicated with Jesse Van Rootselaar in British Columbia for at least six months ahead of the shooting. Bryant, who identifies as female, did not report Van Rootselaar’s plans to authorities, authorities allege. W. Mike Herrington, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Seattle office, said without Bryant’s “misplaced loyalty” and willingness to livestream the killings, officials

didn’t know if Van Rootselaar would have gone through with the attack. “We certainly know the shooter was concerned that not enough people would see the livestream without Bryant broadcasting it and was depending on Bryant to amplify the livestream because the shooter did not have many followers on social media,” Herrington added. Authorities say Van Rootselaar ﬁrst killed her mother and stepbrother at home before attacking a nearby school in the mountain community of Tumbler Ridge, killing ﬁve children ages 12 and 13 at

the school as well as an educational assistant. Twenty-five others were wounded. Van Rootselaar was later found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Investigators accessed Van Rootselaar’s Twitch account and found that she had initiated a video livestream while sitting in her vehicle with a rifle and long gun in her lap. The livestream lasted about 20 seconds before it was disconnected, and was only viewed by one other account. Bryant was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit mur-

der in a foreign country — a “novel” charge for a case like this, said Acting U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd during a news conference. Bryant made a ﬁrst appearance in court on Tuesday afternoon and is being detained ahead of a preliminary hearing set for Oct. 20. The federal public defender’s office, which represents Bryant, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Communicating over Discord with Van Rootselaar, Bryant gave tactical advice on how to carry out the killings to have the strongest impact, according to the complaint.

California couple arrested in mass surrogacy probe BY JAIMIE DING and PHILIP MARCELO Associated Press

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO BY LUCA BRUNO

Physicist Francis Halzen flashes a victory sign Tuesday in his hotel in Turin, Italy, after he was awarded the Nobel Prize in physics for his contributions to the IceCube Neutrino Observatory and the discovery of high-energy neutrinos of astrophysical origin.

Scientist who hunts ghost particles wins Nobel Prize BY ADITHI RAMAKRISHNAN, STEFANIE DAZIO and KOSTYA MANENKOV Associated Press

STOCKHOLM — Belgian-born scientist Francis Halzen won the Nobel Prize in physics Tuesday for his efforts to demystify a rare group of neutrinos, tiny cosmic particles that researchers believe offer clues to how the universe evolved. Halzen said he had been told he was among the favorites for the prize since he ﬁrst published about cosmic neutrinos in 2013. In any given year, he thought he had a 1 in 20 chance to win a Nobel. “And I just had to live long enough, so here I am,” the 82-year-old told The Associated Press in an interview in Turin, Italy. Halzen, a physicist at the University of WisconsinMadison in the U.S., said the research was a huge collaborative effort. He was working on a new research proposal when the Nobel Physics Committee called. “I hope that this prize will help getting it approved,” he told the committee by phone from Italy, in a call broadcast at the news conference announcing the winner. The comment elicited chuckles from the audience. Neutrinos are tiny cosmic

particles with no electric charge and extraordinarily small mass, making them difficult to detect. Yet they are everywhere: They spew from stars like the sun, and trillions zip through our bodies every second. Scientists cannot glimpse the mysterious ghost particles zooming around on their own, so they measure what happens when the particles collide with other bits of matter. Neutrinos bump into other particles only rarely, so scientists build large detectors to improve their odds of catching collisions. Halzen had the idea to turn the vast Antarctic ice into such a detector. The Nobel committee said his work was instrumental to the construction of the IceCube Neutrino Observatory in Antarctica, which glimpsed the first high-energy neutrinos from faraway galaxies. “This experiment in the Antarctic is a revolutionary way of understanding the universe that we didn’t have before,” said Michael Moloney, chief executive officer for the American Institute of Physics. When a neutrino interacts with ice in the detector, it produces a flash of light that’s picked up by sensors. The transparent ice makes

it easier for scientists to ﬁnd faint signals from the particles, and the sensors are buried about 8,200 feet deep to protect against interference from cosmic rays and radiation. “People always thought this was a cute idea, right, but it would never work,” Halzen said at a news conference hosted by his university. “The greatest surprise is that we did make it work.” Halzen helped pull back the curtain on an elusive crew of neutrinos that scientists say carry clues about the development of other galaxies and the universe as a whole. He said the work was painstakingly slow because the team had to differentiate between neutrinos from the cosmos and neutrinos that are emitted in Earth’s atmosphere. “We actually detect 3,000 charged particles every second, and in these 3,000 a second, we have to ﬁnd one every day, then like one a month we are totally sure of. That is the mathematics of the problem.” The research showed “that neutrino astronomy is possible — that it exists and it can be done,” Halzen told AP. “Where it leads, we will see. But no window on the universe has ever been a disappointment.”

LOS ANGELES — A wealthy couple in suburban Los Angeles recruited women across the country to serve as surrogates, promising them that they were just looking for another child to grow their family. Instead, prosecutors say, the couple used several surrogates at the same time, amassed a brood of 21 children — some as young as 2 months — and raised them in a “house of horrors” where they suffered daily beatings at the hands of cruel nannies as the couple watched and laughed from a network of surveillance cameras. Guojun Xuan, 66, and Silvia Zhang, 39, were arrested Tuesday at their home in Arcadia, a city about 13 miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles. The couple face several counts of child abuse as well as conspiracy to commit child abuse, accessory after the fact and dissuading a witness, according

to Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman. “This case is unprecedented. It is horrific,” he said during a morning news conference. “The physical abuse, beating and punishment that these very young children received is despicable.” Prosecutors were seeking $100 million bail for the couple because of the serious nature of the charges and because they are ﬂight risks, Hochman said. They were scheduled to be arraigned at the Pasadena courthouse later in the day. Fifteen children were removed from the opulent home last year after an allegation of abuse, and another six living elsewhere were also located. They ranged in age from 2 months to 13 years, with most between 1 and 3. Police believe Zhang gave birth to one or two of the children, while the rest were carried and delivered by surrogates. Hochman said the couple

set up an agency, Mark Surrogacy, that they operated from home and used to hire surrogates throughout the U.S. But prosecutors said the couple misled the women, telling some that they could not conceive and others that they only had one child and wanted one more to complete their family. “The house could only be described as a house of horrors for these incredible young children,” Hochman said. Zhang and Xuan were ﬁrst arrested in May 2025 after a hospital reported that their 2-month-old infant had a traumatic head injury, the result of being violently shaken by a nanny, according to Arcadia police. Police did not ﬁle charges at the time, saying they needed to complete the investigation. Hochman said the couple set up three rooms they called learning centers, where the children spent several hours a day sitting at desks under the supervision of nannies.

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WILDFIRE

Continued from page 1A comprehensive: It can predict where a wildfire is likely to start, look for early signs of a fire, and model how the fire will spread, he said. Richard Barbalace, CEO of Ailectric, said the DeepFire tools draw on data from satellites, smoke sensors, monitoring cameras and other tools to inform its predictions, which are then turned over to local fire departments to inform their response. The tool accounts for several factors, including lightning and ground cover, to determine where a wildfire is likely to start, Mukhopadhyay said. It can predict wildfires up to 35 days in advance, but it is 90% accurate in predicting wildfires four to seven days in advance, he said. From there, the model knows where to monitor for signs of a wildfire. The fires start small, so the technology tries to use temperature, air quality and other indicators that a fire may have ignited or will ignite. Then, once a fire has started, the model uses data to predict how it will spread and help firefighters determine a course of action, Mukhopadhyay said. “One hour can be the difference between destruction and no destruction,” he said.

‘Before it starts’ DeepFire entered the XPRIZE Wildfire competition in 2023. But Barbalace said the group had been working on the technology for several years prior. While the wildfire detection technology may have originated at LSU, he said, much of the development has happened outside of the university. LSU and Ailectric have licensed the technology to a company called Firemark AI. In the future, the researchers hope to commercialize the DeepFire technology and sell it to governments and fire departments for use, Barbalace said.

AWARD

Continued from page 1A collaborated with me along the way,” Pugh said. “I greatly appreciate this honor, and I intend to use this recognition as an opportunity to encourage others to get involved and make a positive difference in our community. Quality education is one of the greatest levers we have for community improvement, and I want to thank my many mentors and partners over the years.” Born on New Year’s Day in 1945, Pugh grew up in Lafayette and graduated from Cathedral High School. He earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Southwestern Louisiana, now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, in 1968. He later graduated from Harvard University’s Owner/President Management program. In 1970, Pugh established the ﬁrst microwave telecommunications loop in the Gulf. Over the next 25 years, he and his wife, JoAnn, grew their companies to about 200 employees across 11 time zones. The Pughs founded the Pugh Family Foundation in

PHOTO PROVIDED BY ST. TAMMANY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT. NO. 3

Firefighters from St. Tammany Fire Protection District No. 3 were among many local departments that battled a wildfire in the Lacombe area on Feb. 22. LSU researchers, collaborating with consulting firm Ailectric, developed a program to predict wildfires. Zubin Kothawala, CEO of Firemark, has worked with Mukhopadhyay and Ailectric on AI projects before. He says the DeepFire platform can be deployed at all levels: individual property owners can use it, up to statewide ﬁre response systems. And Kowathala said the team worked to try and make the technology affordable even for small towns. The DeepFire system can also help fire departments take preventative measures, such as controlled burns, in areas vulnerable to wildﬁres, he said. “We’re really there to stop the fire before it starts,”

2000. Through the foundation, they have committed up to $9.1 million to support the Accelerating Campus Excellence school turnaround model at J.W. Faulk Elementary, Dr. Raphael Baranco Elementary and Alice Boucher Elementary. The commitment is believed to be the largest private gift to a public school district in Louisiana in more than 170 years. The foundation was also the ﬁrst funder of UL Lafayette’s Learning Lab School. Pugh’s commitment to education extends to STEM and higher education. Since 2005, he has served as a volunteer leader of UL Lafayette’s Cajun Advanced Picosatellite Experiment, helping establish the university as the ﬁrst and only Louisiana university to build and launch satellites. In 2018, he founded the Nick Pugh Aerospace Electronics Research Lab at UL Lafayette. He has also advised students at David Thibodaux STEM Magnet Academy and served as chairman of the external advisory board for UL Lafayette’s electrical engineering department. Beyond education, Pugh has served as chair of Habitat for Humanity Lafayette, is a founding member of

Kowathala said. As part of the competition, in April, the DeepFire team traveled to New South Wales in Australia to put their technology to the test, along with other competitors. In most cases, DeepFire’s technology was able to detect wildﬁres before the New South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, Barbalace said. The risk of extreme wildfire worldwide doubled over a twodecade period beginning in 2003, NASA says, while fire seasons across the globe have gotten longer. Louisiana, despite its damp, swampy climate, is not immune. It,

Acadiana Open Channel and is a graduate of Leadership Lafayette Class XXVII. A licensed ham radio operator since age 13, Pugh has also helped teach amateur radio classes in Lafayette. The Pugh Family Foundation co-founded Love Our Schools, which rallies community support for Lafayette’s public schools. The Pughs also received the 2018 Leaders in Philanthropy Award for Lafayette Parish from the Community Foundation of Acadiana and were named Distinguished Donors by the UL Lafayette Foundation. “Nick Pugh’s impact on Lafayette radiates from the organizations, schools, students, and community initiatives that have beneﬁted from his vision and generous investment of his time, expertise, and resources,” said Hank Perret, chairman of the Lafayette Civic Cup Committee. “The Lafayette Civic Cup recognizes individuals who demonstrate an exceptional commitment to our community, and Nick’s decades of leadership and service exemplify the spirit of this award.” Pugh is the son of the late Nick Pugh Jr. and the late Marie Donlon Pugh. He and his wife, JoAnn, have three children and two

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too, has become more vulnerable to wildfires in recent years, due to increasing temperatures and low rainfall. In August 2023, the state experienced 600 fires in that month alone, while the state normally experienced an average of 770 per year in the prior decade. Wildfire risk in the state is expected to increase by 25% in the next two decades, according to a 2023 LSU estimate. But the estimated property damage as a result is expected to grow by 101% during that time. Nationwide, there are a little more than 72,000 wildfires a year,

grandchildren. The Lafayette Civic Cup, now in its 94th year, is the longest-standing civic award in Lafayette Parish. A committee of previous Civic Cup recipients selects

on average, according to insurance provider LendingTree. And fires can have immense impact: the Lahaina fire in Hawaii in 2023, for instance, or the Palisades fires in California in 2025 devastated entire towns and killed dozens of people. While the XPRIZE started as a competition, in the end, most of the competing teams had “complementary” technologies, Barbalace said. He said he hopes that each project can work in tandem to prevent severe damage from wildfires. “There’s not going to be just one solution,” he said.

the recipient based on contributions to the Lafayette community. The 2026 Lafayette Civic Cup will be presented at the annual Civic Cup celebration Tuesday, Nov. 10, at

City Club at River Ranch. A cocktail reception will begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by the program at 6:30 p.m. Tickets for the event will go on sale Monday, at lafayetteciviccup.org.

9/28/2026

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The Acadiana Advocate l theadvocate.com l Wednesday, October 7, 2026 l 7A

JOBS

Continued from page 1B are working on projects around the state. Some significant developments under construction in the area are set to open in the next couple of years, including the $12.5 billion Hut 8 data center near St. Francisville, the $5.8 billion Hyundai-POSCO steel plant in Ascension Parish and the $3.7 billion CF Industries facility, also in Ascension. A continued decline in convention business post-COVID and the completion of Venture Global’s Plaquemines Parish LNG terminal will cause job growth to slow down in metro New Orleans. The Crescent City is forecast to add 6,200 jobs over the next two years, a 1.3% growth rate. That would rank New Orleans ninth in terms of growth among the state’s 10 metro areas. One bright spot in New Orleans is the Louisiana International Terminal in St. Bernard Parish. Work could begin on the $2.6 billion container shipping facility at the end of the year. Backers of the controversial project said it could help the Port of New Orleans regain some of the container shipping business it has lost in recent years to other Gulf Coast ports, such as Mobile and Houston. St. Tammany, the newest metro area in the state, is forecast to add 1,100 jobs over the next two years, making it the slowest-growing area in Louisiana. Slow growth in New Orleans is affecting the bedroom community, along with uncertainty around a pair of major employers. Globalstar, the satellite company headquartered in Covington, was recently purchased by Amazon for $11.6 billion, while a British energy producer bought LLOG Exploration for $3.2 billion. The forecast notes that it isn’t known whether the two deals will lead to job losses at local operations. Lake Charles is expected to show the highest percentage of job growth over the next two years, increasing by 5.6% or 6,000 jobs. The growth is caused by the $64.4 billion in projects currently being built, including the $20.7 billion CP2 terminal in Cameron Parish, the $17.5 billion LNG export terminal Woodside Energy is building just south of Sulphur and the $13 billion Commonwealth LNG facil-

STAFF PHOTO BY JAVIER GALLEGOS

Construction continues on the new four-story residence hall at Southern University. The $50 million student housing development will have 500 beds during the first phase. Baton Rouge expects to add 16,500 jobs over the next two years. In addition to the construction at Southern University, the $12.4 billion Hut 8 data center near St. Francisville is set to open in the next couple of years.

STAFF PHOTO BY LESLIE WESTBROOK

Tipper Esponge, left, and his father Chris Esponge, right, both with E & L Construction Group, look over improvement construction plans for Picard Park with project coordinator Nathan Leleux, top left, and Tim Sensley, director of Parks, Arts, Recreation and Culture for Lafayette Consolidated Government, in March 2025 in Milton. Planned improvements include a new bathroom and concession stand building and pickleball courts. The Acadiana area could see 5,600 jobs added over the next to years. ity in Cameron Parish. The $100 billion SpaceX launch facility in Vermilion Parish and the drone industry in Lafayette will help the Acadiana area add 5,600 jobs over the next two years,

a 2.9% growth rate. The forecast could be off if hiring ramps up faster than expected at SpaceX, or drone companies such as DMR Technologies, which plans to create 521 jobs at its Lafayette manu-

facturing facility, or the Drone Institute, which said it will add 610 jobs at its training and software development headquarters. Thanks to the $50 billion Meta data center under construction in Richland Parish, Monroe is projected to be the second-fastestgrowing region in the state, with a 4.5% increase in the number of new jobs. The area is projected to hit a record level of employment in 2027 with 95,300 jobs. Shreveport-Bossier City is projected to add 4,800 jobs by the end of 2028, thanks to three Amazon data centers that will be built in the area. The centers will create 750 new jobs at wage rates more than double the state average. Activity in the Haynesville Shale is expected to pick up as LNG facilities operating or under construction in south Louisiana and Texas look to tap the area’s abundant natural gas supply. Natural gas from the Haynesville Shale is also expected to fuel new power plants that will be built to service data centers. Morgan Stanley projects output from Haynesville will be 41% higher in 2027. Houma-Thibodaux is projected to hire for 2,700 jobs over the next two years. The area has been hurt by a slowdown in offshore drilling in the Gulf, which has hurt oilﬁeld

service ﬁrms. Houma-Thibodaux has been helped by some new federal shipbuilding contracts for Arctic icebreakers. The ongoing war with Iran is making the forecast for the oil market difficult. The report is based on the war ending in the fall and oil prices dropping to $68 a barrel in 2027. Crude oil prices are hovering around $89 a barrel, and there is no end in sight to the war. Hammond is projected to add 800 jobs over the next two years as the area recovers from the explosion that destroyed the Smitty’s Supply oil and lubricant plant in Tangipahoa Parish. That eliminated 450 jobs in the area. The area will be boosted by continued hiring at the North Oaks Health System and record enrollment at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond. Alexandria is expected to add 1,800 jobs, thanks to Applied Digital’s $3.6 billion data center in Rapides Parish and increased ICE deportations at England Airpark. The LaSalle Family Foundation plans to build a unit to help families that are self-deporting from the U.S., which will create 240 jobs, while the GEO Group, which is the major contractor for deportation ﬂights out of the airpark, will hire another 50 workers.

SULPHUR

Continued from page 1A her children and more. The work environment became so bad, Nabours said, that she had a mental breakdown and tried to resign on two occasions. She said she plans to pursue legal action against the city. Council member Josh Baden said the community is frustrated over the personal problems the mayor has brought into the ofﬁce. Those include “the alleged affairs scandal,” he said, adding that he believes Stutes intentionally created a position for “somebody … that he was intimately involved with.” He said Stutes has violated the city’s charter. “I’m just over all of the family issues being brought into City Hall,” Baden said. “The only thing I’m really concerned about is where it affects our city and our community.”

Who bought billboard ad? So far, nobody has taken credit for the clown billboard, which quickly went viral online after it debuted Sept. 30 on South Cities Service Highway near Good Day Farms. Keith Portie, who owns the billboard, did not respond to phone and text messages for this story. Portie’s businesses, KAP Electric and KAP Holdings, contributed to Stutes’ campaign for the office, according to state business and campaign finance records. The day after the billboard went live, Baden purchased a clown mask and posted a video of himself wearing it on social media. Baden said he knew he would have critics and decided to embrace the billboard. “The sign says ‘mayor wannabes,’” Baden said in an interview. “I don’t know what that actually was implying. We all ran for City Council. None of us ran for mayor, although I think any one of us probably could have done a better job than

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A digital billboard on South Cities Service Highway depicts the Sulphur City Council as clowns and describes them as ‘five little mayor wannabes.’ what he’s doing at this time.” Like Baden, council member James LeDoux decided to embrace the clown persona after the billboard debuted, choosing to wear a clown neck gaiter to a bar over the weekend. “How can somebody just stoop so low to do something like that when we’re trying to make the city better?” LeDoux said. “We’re all adults here, and then you go and act like a child like that. That’s some childish stuff, like back in middle and high school.” Council member Danielle Monceaux said she was initially upset over the billboard because she worried it would embarrass her children. Upon further reflection, Monceaux said her children understand the concept of bullying, and she saw it as a grown-up of version of bullying. Instead, she began worrying whether business owners considering locating in Sulphur would think less of the city. The billboard, she said, reflects the three months of tension at City Hall since she and the rest of the council took ofﬁce. “I would conﬁdently say that this is connected to everything,” Monceaux said. “I don’t think that was random by any means.” Council member Troy Darby did not respond to

phone and text messages for this story. Nabours, for one, said she had nothing to do with the billboard. “Now, I can elaborate on why the public might think they’re a circus, but I didn’t have anything to do with it, unfortunately,” she said.

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Vote on deck Council member Danny DiPetta plans to introduce a formal statement of no confidence in Stutes’ administration during the Oct. 13 meeting, according to the meeting agenda. DiPetta also plans to introduce a resolution expressing the “formal lack of confidence” in Stutes and his administration and reaffirming the council’s commitment to “transparent, accountable, and lawful government.” DiPetta plans to introduce another resolution during the meeting requesting that the Louisiana attorney general and other authorities review and investigate Stutes’ possible local, state and federal violations of law. When asked about the billboard, DiPetta said he would just “let it run its course” and declined further comment. The next meeting of the Sulphur City Council is at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday. It has been relocated to a larger venue at 401 Arena Road.

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6A ● Wednesday, October 7, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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Eva Marie Saint, of ‘North by Northwest,’ dies BY BOB THOMAS and JAKE COYLE AP film writers

LOS ANGELES — Eva Marie Saint, the pale, willowy actor who won an Academy Award for her ﬁrst movie, “On the Waterfront,” and starred opposite Cary Grant in the Alfred Hitchcock thriller “North by Northwest,” has died. She was 102.

Saint, whose acting work lasted well into her 90s, died at her home in Los Angeles on Saint Tu e s d a y , conﬁrmed family representative Jeff Sanderson. Saint had one of the most spectacular debuts in Hol-

lywood history, as the love interest of Marlon Brando’s tormented Terry Malloy in “On the Waterfront,” and her ﬁrst trip to the Academy Awards was memorable too. Pregnant with her ﬁrst child, Saint accepted her Oscar from Frank Sinatra and smilingly murmured a unique winner’s speech: “I think I may have the baby right here.” (Her son, Darrell, was

born two days later.) The award for the 1954 classic made her an instant star, but she soon astonished Hollywood with a ﬁrm independence that would mark her career. She refused offers of studio contracts and declined chances to follow up on her great success, explaining that she was taking time off to become acquainted with her new son.

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO BY LOU KRASKY

Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker talk to their television audience, Aug. 20, 1986, at their PTL Ministry in Fort Mill, S.C.

TV evangelist Jim Bakker dies

.theacadianaadvocate.com Employment

BY JIM SALTER and HALLIE GOLDEN

about their lives, “ The Eyes of Tammy Faye,” was reAssociated Press leased in September 2021. Bakker rose to promiJim Bakker, who built a nence alongside other telhuge TV following and evan- evangelist titans of the gelical empire with his first 1980s. His death and that wife, Tammy Faye, which of Jimmy Swaggart last later collapsed in a sex scan- year mark the end of an dal and financial crimes, has era. Their legacy lives on in prosperity gospel preachers died. He was 86. Bakker died Monday, his that still fill the airwaves. second wife, Lori Bakker, said in a statement. The Traveling preacher cause of death was not proBakker was born in Musvided. kegon, Michigan, and at“He was a pioneer of tended North Central Bible Christian television, but to College in Minneapolis, me, he was my husband, my where he met Tammy Faye. best friend, and the man I They married in 1961 and was honored to walk beside dropped out of college to through so many seasons of start their own traveling life and ministry,” she said. ministry. He preached and The pair lived near Bran- she sang and played the acson, an entertainment des- cordion in churches and tent tination in Missouri, where revivals across the country. They caught the attention they had filmed their TV show “The Jim Bakker of televangelist Pat RobertShow” since its launch in son, and in 1965 launched a 2003. Bakker suffered a children’s show on Robertstroke in 2020. son’s Christian Broadcasting But it was the “The PTL Network. By 1966, Bakker Club,” which at its peak in was hosting “The 700 Club,” the mid-1980s drew 13 mil- a Christian talk show. Bakker left CBN in 1972 lion nightly TV viewers, that made Jim and Tammy Faye and two years later formed Bakker cultural icons — so the PTL Satellite Network. much so that they were of- “The PTL Club” — PTL ten skewered in the 1980s stands for “Praise the Lord” and ’90s by late-night come- — became its signature dians and parodied on “Sat- show. In its heyday in the 1980s, urday Night Live.” The couple also built Heri- “The PTL Club” attracted tage USA, a Christian theme millions of viewers and park and hotel in Fort Mill, brought in millions of dolSouth Carolina, and a movie lars annually.

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Public Notices

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE TO BIDDERS Notice is hereby given that sealed bids will be received until 10:00 AM, Monday, October 19, 2026, at the Scott City Hall Building, 125 Lions Club Road, Scott, Louisiana and shall thereafter be opened and publicly read aloud for: HARVEST POINTE OVERLAY The project will consist of patching and overlay‐ ing a section of Harvest Pointe Circle within the City of Scott. Bids re‐ ceived after the time specified above will not be considered. Digital copies may be ob‐ tained only from Bonnie Anderson at banderson@ cityofscott.org. The Specifications and Documents shall be available until twentyfour (24) hours before the time scheduled for the opening of bids. Bids shall be submitted inside a sealed envelope addressed to City of Scott showing the name of the project as above and the name of the Bid‐ der. Any Bidder submit‐ ting a bid in the amount of $50,000.00 or more shall be a licensed con‐ tractor in accordance with Louisiana R.S. 37:2150-2164 and shall show the license number on the front of the sealed envelope in which the bid is enclosed. The Bid‐ der shall hold a license with the classification ‘Highway, street and bridge construction’ or its subclassification ‘Highway, street and bridge construction – Permanent or paved highways and streets (asphalt hot and cold plant mix)’ as issued by the State of Louisiana Li‐ censing Board for Con‐ tractors. Bids submitted not in accordance with these requirements shall be rejected and returned unopened to the Bidder. Bids must be submitted on the Bid Form included in the Specifications and the Documents.

INVISION FILE PHOTO BY EVAN AGOSTINI

Freddie Jackson attends a special screening in 2016.

Freddie Jackson, ’80s R&B singer, dies at 70 BY MARIA SHERMAN AP music writer

Grammy-nominated R&B singer Freddie Jackson, known for his smooth ’80s hits “Rock Me Tonight (For Old Times Sake)” and “You Are My Lady,” has died. He was 70. A statement shared by his family on his official Instagram account confirmed Jackson died Monday, three days after his 70th birthday. No cause of death was provided. “Freddie was more than a legendary voice. He was a kind, generous soul who loved his fans, his family, his friends, and his music with everything he had. For decades he gave us the songs that became the soundtrack to our love stories, our celebrations, and our most treasured memories. That gift will live on forever,” the statement read. “To everyone who ever sang along, danced, or felt something when Freddie took the stage: thank you. You were family to him, and he carried your love with him always,” it continued.

Details regarding arrangements will be announced in the coming days. Jackson was born and raised in Harlem, where he learned all about soul music and sang gospel at White Rock Baptist Church. He started his career in the New York club scene, eventually making his way out West with the band Mystic Merlin in the late ’70s. He soon returned to New York and released his debut album, “Rock Me Tonight,” in 1985. His distinctive voice proved to be his superpower: The album, which was quickly certiﬁed platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, also led to his two career Grammy nominations. Those were for best new artist and best male R&B vocal performance for the single “You Are My Lady.” “Rock Me Tonight” also created a new R&B superstar: Jackson became a mainstay of those Billboard charts and a ﬁxture of contemporary urban radio play throughout the ’80s and early ’90s.

Each bid shall be accom‐ panied by a Certified Check, Cashier’s Check, or Bid Bond payable to the City of Scott, the amount of which is not to be less than five (5) percent of the total bid. This surety shall be given as a guarantee that the bidder will execute the contract should it be awarded to him in con‐ formity with the Docu‐ ments. A Performance Bond and a Payment Bond each in the full amount of the contract must be completed upon award of the contract by the successful bidder. No Bidder may withdraw the submitted bid for at least forty-five (45) days after the time scheduled for the opening of bids, except to withdraw bids in accordance with Title 38 of the Louisiana Re‐ vised Statutes. CITY OF LOUISIANA

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natural gas pipeline be‐ tween an interconnect station near Melville, Louisiana in St. Landry Parish, and Venture Global Plaquemines LNG, LLC and Plaquemines Ex‐ pansion, LLC Terminals in Plaquemines Parish. The U.S. Army Corps of Engi‐ neers (CEMVN) will be accepting public com‐ ments on the project until October 8, 2026. To further review and/or provide comments, addi‐ tional information and plans related to the pro‐ posal may be obtained at the following website: www.mvn.usace.army. mil/missions/regulatory/ public-notices (see Ref#: MVN-2026-00308-BV). If you have any questions or would like additional information, please con‐ tact Courtland Vice with CEMVN, Regulatory Divi‐ sion at (504) 862-1349 or at courtland.l.vice@ usace.army.mil. A certiﬁ‐ cation that the proposed activity will not violate applicable water quality standards will be re‐ quired from the LDEQ be‐ fore a Department of the Army permit could be is‐ sued. 201953 Sept. 28-Oct. 8, 11t $1,405.06

PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE On September 30, 2026 Bonnett Bour‐ Susan Secretary of geois, Louisiana Economic De‐ velopment, determined that records pertaining to an active negotiation for the purpose of retain‐ ing, expanding, or at‐ tracting economic or business development in the state, referred to as Project Conclave, shall be conﬁdential until con‐ clusion of the negotia‐ tion, in accordance with La.R.S.44:22. 203031 Oct. 7, 8, 9, 3t $44.86

CLASSIFIEDS WORK

Legal Notices

PUBLIC NOTICE --Notification is given that First National Bank of 128 North Louisiana, Parkerson Ave., Crowley, LA 70526, has filed an ap‐ plication with the Comp‐ troller of the Currency on September 30, 2026, as specified in 12 CFR 5 for permission to establish a branch office at 229 Hey‐ mann Blvd., Lafayette, LA 70503. Any person wish‐ ing to comment on this application may file com‐ ments in writing with the Director for District Li‐ censing at 1700 Pacific Ave., Suite 3600, Dallas, TX 75201, or at Licens‐ ing@occ.treas.gov within 30 days of the date of this publication. 203023 Oct. 7 1t $96.88

Public Notices Meet/Hear/Min

PUBLIC NOTICE --LAFAYETTE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD - CON‐ STRUCTION MANAGER AT RIST (CMAR) SELECTION REVIEW COMMITTEE - PUBLIC INTERVIEW RANKING & COMMITTEE RECOMMEN‐ DATION MEETING Ovey Comeaux Workforce Innovation Academy CMAR RFQ No. 08-27 Minutes September 25, 2026 at 11:00 AM 202 Rue Iberville, Board‐ room, Lafayette, LA 70508 1. ROLL CALL 1.1 Roll Call Joshua Fontenot, Execu‐ tive Director of Facility Planning & Maintenance, called the meeting to order at 11:00 a.m. fol‐ lowed by roll call of com‐ mittee members. Committee Members Present: Max Fontenot (Lafayette Parish School

200468 Sept. 17, 28, Oct. 7, 3t $118.54 PUBLIC NOTICE --Upcoming Construction St. Nicholas Center for Children is accepting bids for construction by licensed contractors only for services related to: A New Facility for St. Nicholas Center for Children Complete Bid Documents are available in elec‐ tronic format from: Central Bidding (from Central Auction House) https://www.centralauct ionhouse.com/ Bids will be accepted until 2:00PM on Thurs‐ day, November 05, 2026. For inquiries contact: Architect Lisa Hargrave, lisa@hoffpauirstudio. com (225) 926-7406 Ext.1005 203241 Oct. 7, 14, 21, 2026 3t $294.19

Public Notices Meet/Hear/Min

System-Owner Represen‐ tative); Chad Abell (AQ Studios-Architect); Sam Viator (Castle Row Con‐ struction-Mechanical En‐ Jimmy Ricks gineer); Engineers (Southeast and Land Surveyors-Prin‐ Engineer); and cipal Kevin Gossen (Gossen Architects-Architect) LPSS Staff Present: Joshua Fontenot, Darren Hughes, Jamie Barnett, Kristie Sam, Dr. Mark Ra‐ balais, Tracy Wirtz and Christi Guidry 2. AGENDA 2.1 Recap of CMAR process to this point Joshua Fontenot stated the selected committee met for the first time September 9, 2026 for a required public briefing and training before re‐ ceiving and evaluating the statements of qualifi‐ cations. The committee then reviewed and sub‐ mitted qualifications and the initial completed ranking process, which identified the top three proposers to advance to the interviews. The com‐ mittee has recently com‐ pleted the interviews of the top three proposers. The committee will move to executive session to discuss the interviews and compose the rank‐ ings and complete the post ranking process, compile the final scores and identify the commit‐ tee's top ranked pro‐ poser for the recommen‐ dation to the full Board at the Regular Board Meeting October 8, 2026. 2.2 Executive Session for CMAR Committee discus‐ sion on CMAR Proposer Interviews A motion was offered by Max Fontenot, seconded by Kevin Gossen to move to executive session and the committee went into executive session to dis‐ cuss qualifications of the top three proposers. A motion was offered by Max Fontenot, seconded by Chad Abel and voted unanimously upon to conclude executive ses‐ sion and return to open i

Burns & McDonnell on behalf of Cloud Connec‐ tor, LLC is requesting au‐ thorization to construct a

Public Notices Meet/Hear/Min p session. A motion was offered by Max Fontenot, seconded by Chad Abel and voted unanimously to ratify the committee going into ex‐ ecutive session. 2.3 Submission of score sheets and announce‐ ment of rankings for each committee member Each committee member submitted their score‐ sheet to Joshua Fontenot, Executive Di‐ rector of Facility Plan‐ ning & Maintenance. Mr. Fontenot read each com‐ mittee member's score and asked the committee member to conﬁrm their score. Copy of Ranking_Tally_‐ Workbook - Interview Tally.pdf 2.4 Compilation of scores to determine top pro‐ poser Kristie Sam, Purchasing and Procurement Coordi‐ nator, and Jamie Barnett, Financial Support Spe‐ cialist for Planning and Facilities, compared each of their scores to deter‐ mine top proposer. 2.5 Announcement of top proposer, subject to con‐ ﬁrmation at the school board meeting on Octo‐ ber 8, 2026 Joshua Fontenot an‐ nounced the top ranking proposer is JB Mouton. 3. ADJOURN 3.1 Adjourn Meeting A motion was offered by Max Fontenot, seconded by Kevin Gossen and voted unanimously upon the committee to adjourn the meeting. The meeting adjourned at 11:50 AM.

Public Notices Meet/Hear/Min

Facility Planning & Maintenance ccg 203123 Oct. 7 1t $53.84

Public Notices Successions

PUBLIC NOTICE --Administrator for the Succession of Mary Fern Cobb Briggs gives notice of his intent to sell via private sale, the follow‐ ing: 1. The immovable estate home and property lo‐ cated at 311 Sunny Lane, Louisiana Lafayette, 70506, Being the same property acquired by Mary C. Briggs by Cash Sale from Jeanie Slay Mellinger dated April 29, 1994, recorded on May 2, 1994, under instrument no. 1994-00016195 of the records of public Lafayette, Louisiana; and 2. 2009 Mercedes Benz 350. Any objections to the sale of the above prop‐ erty can be ﬁled within 7 days with the 15th Judi‐ cial District Court – Parish of Lafayette under probate docket number 20250640, pursuant to LA C.C.P. Art 3282. 202566 Oct. 2-31, 30t $416.10

/s/Francis Touchet, Jr. Francis Touchet, Jr. Secretary-Treasurer /s/Joshua Fontenot Joshua Fontenot Executive Director of

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A series of Public Hearings will be held in accordance with LA R.S. 48:231 and conducted by the Joint Transportation, Highways and Public Works Committee. Below is a list of the times and places where the hearings will be held. The purpose of the hearings is to review highway construction priorities for the state fiscal year 2027-2028. A copy of the Preliminary Program for Fiscal Year 2027-2028 will be available for review on October 1, 2026, by interested persons at the LADOTD Headquarters Building, 1201 Capitol Access Road, Room 200M, Baton Rouge, LA 70802 or online at https://www.dotd. la.gov/. All interested persons are invited for the purpose of becoming fully acquainted with the proposed program and will be afforded an opportunity to express their views in person. Oral testimony may be supplemented by presenting important facts and documentation in writing. Comments may also be provided at the link above. All interested parties will be able to listen to the meeting virtually. The information to participate virtually will be posted at the link above. Written statements and comments can be handed to the committee conducting the hearing or mailed to the following address, postmarked within 45 calendar days following the final hearing: JOINT TRANSPORTATION, HIGHWAYS AND PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE C/O LA DOTD (SECTION 85) P.O. BOX 94245 BATON ROUGE, LA 70804-9245 Should anyone requiring special assistance due to a disability wish to participate in this public hearing, please contact LADOTD (Attn: Ms. Mary Elliott) by mail at the address above or by telephone at (225) 379-1218 at least five days prior to the date of the public hearing. LEGISLATIVE PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR THE HIGHWAY PRIORITY CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM (2027-2028) Date & Time

DOTD District

Parishes

Location

Tuesday, October 20, 2026 10:00 am

Jefferson (Grand Isle only), Lafourche, Terrebonne

Terrebonne Parish Council Chambers Government Tower 705 W University Ave, Lafayette

Tuesday, October 20, 2026 2:30 pm

Jefferson (except Grand Isle), Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles

Jefferson Parish Council Chambers Yenni Building 1221 Elmwood Park Blvd, New Orleans

Wednesday, October 21, 2026 9:00 am

Livingston, St. Helena, St. John the Baptist, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Washington

Tangipahoa Parish Council Chambers 206 E Mulberry St Amite City

Wednesday, October 21, 2026 1:30 pm

Ascension, Assumption, E. Baton Rouge, E. Feliciana, Iberville, Pointe Coupee, St. James, W. Baton Rouge, W. Feliciana

State Capitol Basement, House Committee Room 6, Baton Rouge

Tuesday, October 27, 2026 10:00 am

Caldwell, Catahoula, Concordia, Franklin, LaSalle, Tensas

Franklin Parish School Board Franklin Media Center 7293 Prairie Rd, Winnsboro

Tuesday, October 27, 2026 2:00 pm

E. Carroll, Jackson, Lincoln, Monroe Civic Center Miro-Madison Madison, Morehouse, Ouachita, Room Richland, Union, W. Carroll 401 Lea Joyner Expressway, Monroe

Wednesday, October 28, 2026 8:30 am

Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Claiborne, Desoto, Red River, Webster

Bossier City Council Chambers 620 Benton Rd Bossier City

Wednesday, October 28, 2026 2:30 pm

Avoyelles, Grant, Natchitoches, Rapides, Sabine, Vernon, Winn

Pineville City Hall Council Meeting Room 910 Main Street, Pineville

Thursday, October 29, 2026 9:00 am

Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Jeff Davis

Calcasieu Parish Police Jury Council Chambers 1015 Pithon St, Lake Charles

Thursday, October 29, 2026 1:30 pm

Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, Vermilion

Lafayette Consolidated Government City Hall Council Chambers Auditorium 705 W University Ave, Lafayette

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House candidate faces defamation suit

Two activists allege false claims after disqualification effort BY CLAIRE TAYLOR

Staff writer

Two Lafayette activists have ﬁled a lawsuit against 3rd Congressional District candidate Priscilla Gonzalez alleging she defamed them after they led an effort to disqualify her from a 2023 race for Lafayette mayor-president.

Matthew Humphrey and Aimee Boyd Robinson, who are active on state Democratic Party committees, on Sept. 25 sued Gonzalez, a registered Democrat, seeking general and special damages and a permanent injunction narrowly tailored to prevent her from repeated false claims. Gonzalez, contacted Tuesday af-

Officials offer tips for fire safety week

ternoon, denied the allegations. A Lafayette judge ruled in August 2023 that Gonzalez was not qualiﬁed to run for mayor-president because she didn’t register to vote until she learned while trying to qualify that it was a necessity. The judge also ruled she couldn’t prove she lived in the parish for at least a year.

The judge’s ruling was in response to a lawsuit ﬁled by Robinson. In the lawsuit ﬁled in September, Humphrey and Robinson said that following the 2023 ruling Gonzalez held a news conference outside the parish courthouse accusing Humphrey and Robinson of stalking and harassing her, saying she re-

ceived phone calls and that people were parked outside her home. Around the same time, Gonzalez wrote on her campaign Facebook page that Humphrey had a history of punching people, accusing him of battery, according to the current lawsuit. She also wrote that she intended to pursue legal action against Robinson. Humphrey, on Aug. 19, 2023, sent Gonzalez a cease and desist letter

ä See SUED, page 4B

MUSICAL CELEBRATION

Caution urged in charging lithium batteries

BY DEAN BOUDREAUX

Staff writer

The Lafayette Fire Department has responded to several lithiumion battery fires this year, including at least two involving e-bikes, a department official said as the agency promotes charging safety during Fire Prevention Week. “We’ve had at least three or four this year,” Alton Trahan, the department’s chief of fire prevention, said in an interview Friday. The most recent fire started in a backyard shed where a man had been charging his e-bike, Trahan said. The man noticed the battery was hot after charging but left it in the shed. Smoke appeared not long afterward, and the shed was completely damaged, Trahan said. Fire Prevention Week is through Oct. 10. This year’s theme, “Charge into Fire Safety: Safe Charging is a Superpower,” focuses on lithiumion battery safety. Phones, tablets, laptops, tools, toys, e-bikes and scooters use rechargeable lithium-ion batteries

ä See SAFETY, page 4B

PHOTOS BY ROBIN MAY

Members of Grupo Folklore Vive Mi Tierra perform for the crowd Saturday at the Latin Music Festival at Parc International in Lafayette. This year’s festival, with the theme ‘Sharing Traditions, Blending Cultures,’ brought two days of live music, international cuisine, local art, cultural performances and family-friendly activities to the region.

DOJ seeks to strip man’s status

ABOVE: Samples of food are seen at the El Mexicano food booth during the festival. LEFT: Members of Grupo Folklore Vive Mi Tierra perform for the crowd.

Immigration move involves rare process, first local case of its kind

BY GIGI LIMAN Staff writer

Federal prosecutors are seeking to revoke a Livingston Parish man’s U.S. citizenship after they say he lied to authorities about his immigration history when he applied to be a citizen nearly two decades ago. The case, ﬁled against Nachhatar Singh, 68, of Denham Springs, is the ﬁrst denaturalization attempt in the Middle District of Louisiana — the federal district that oversees Baton Rouge and its surrounding parishes — since federal courts started tracking cases online in the 1980s. The move highlights a

ä See STATUS, page 4B

Lafayette school volunteer coach accused of forgery Officials say he used fake records to access data BY DEAN BOUDREAUX Staff writer

A 19-year-old Lafayette man who served as a volunteer coach at a Lafayette Parish public school is accused of stealing school property and giving administrators falsiﬁed documents to try to get conﬁdential school

records, according to the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Ofﬁce. Pernell Johnson was arrested Oct. 1 and booked into the Lafayette Parish Correctional Center, according to a news release. Johnson faces three counts of theft and one count each of criminal trespass, use of forged academic records, trespass against state computers and filing or maintaining false public records, according to the release. The Lafayette Parish School System conﬁrmed Johnson “had been serving as a volunteer coach

at one of our schools” and “completed the district’s required onboarding process, including a background check and fingerprinting,” according to a statement from Tracy Wirtz, the district’s communications director. The statement said allegations “involve conduct outside his volunteer role, including presenting falsified documents.” Wirtz said the case appears to be the first known incident of its kind in the school system. District leaders are reviewing what happened and considering additional veri-

fication safeguards, she said. Johnson had permission to be on campus as a volunteer for official activities at specified times, according to the release. He was also on school grounds during unapproved times, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Asked what was stolen, Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Chris Cormier said, “A couple of physical items and he was accessing information on school computers.”

ä See COACH, page 4B

2B ● Wednesday, October 7, 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

What La. loses with indiscriminate immigration crackdown There has been loud outcry around the country about the broad and often brutal arrests by Immigration and Customs Enforcement of noncitizens who have lived peacefully in the United States for decades. In Louisiana, the outrage over detentions of several community members was so strong that they were released. There was Jose Francisco Garcia Rodriguez, the Lafayette grandfather stopped as he was going to his job. New Orleans mother and volunteer Mandonna “Donna” Kashanian was picked up as she was gardening in her yard. Paola Clouatre of Baton Rouge, the wife of a Marine veteran and mother of two young children, was taken into custody at an immigration hearing. We understand the need for this nation to protect its borders and ensure an orderly immigration process. And we, like a large majority of voters, want violent criminals who are not here legally immediately removed from our country. But the excesses of the immigration crackdown under President Donald Trump are not aimed only at catching real threats to our country. They are aimed at making life difficult for the many immigrants who are seeking to obtain legal status and to encourage them to selfdeport. Clearly, we have lost our way as a country when we no longer welcome immigrants who contribute to our society. But we also should realize this comes with an even broader cost. Nowhere is that more evident than in the case of Vilma Palacios, a 22-year-old LSU nursing grad, who spent months in an immigration detention facility in Basile after being arrested in June while she was trying to get a vehicle inspection sticker. When this newspaper’s Haley Miller first spoke with the young woman in December, Palacios was hopeless. After receiving her degree from LSU Health New Orleans School of Nursing, she accepted a job with Touro Infirmary. She was looking forward to using her skills to care for patients and make a better life for herself and her family. As her detention dragged on, though, she agreed to return to her native Honduras, a country where she hadn’t lived since she was 6 years old. But that wasn’t the end of her journey. Miller recently caught up with Palacios, and she revealed that her dreams hadn’t died. They just changed location. Her network here led her to an employment agency seeking to bring healthcare workers to Canada. She received a job offer in Vancouver and made the move in July to start her new life. That’s right. As the state faces a nursing shortage, a young nurse who was trained in Louisiana and had a job offer in Louisiana and wanted to remain in Louisiana wasn’t allowed to do so. Our loss is Canada’s gain. And that should make us all think again about what our government is doing. When the American Dream isn’t open to all, ambitious young strivers from around the world will dream of somewhere else.

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.

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YOUR VIEWS

Courts should uphold president’s right to ban rogue news corporations

Midterm elections will send message to future presidents disagreement with strong personal attacks, by investigation and indictment by compliant U.S. attorneys, and by verbally and ﬁnancially supporting a disagreeing member’s opponent at reelection, among other things. If the majority party in Congress is maintained in power at midterms, we will be telling them that their subservience to the president is OK with us. The president will be given the same message. By that vote we will have created a template for further unrestrained action by the current president and further inaction by Congress, as well as for subsequent presidents. Our next presidents will have been shown our approved method of rendering Congress irrelevant. As a practical matter, we will have changed our form of government. Consequently, our coming midterm vote is not about our personal situations or political persuasions, but the future governance of our country.

The U.S. Constitution created three separate and co-equal branches of government in which the legislative branch serves as our voice and as a check and balance against actions within the executive branch. Our legislative branch, however, is now in jeopardy of not surviving as an independent branch. If it does not survive, our government will be headed by a largely unrestrained president now and into the future. Our Constitution gives Congress the sole authority to declare war against another nation and sole authority to ﬁx tariffs on imported goods. Without either a discussion or a request for authority from Congress, however, our current president has started both an expensive shooting war against another nation and an expensive trade war with several nations far beyond his limited statutory authority. Congress has done nothing to take back or to check and balance the exercise of this stolen authority. The reasons for this inaction are likely that our current president reacts to

ROBERT BOLAND Baton Rouge

Detainees won’t linger if they simply self-deport Re: “Human rights groups ask UN panel for help,” Oct. 1. The AP and human rights groups routinely display bias against the United States on immigration issues, engaging in falsehoods and lack of candor. While the AP reports only the side of an issue it supports, the human rights groups just ﬂat-out lie. This article claims ICE is hiding detainees, keeping them from their lawyers and preventing due process. Due process is provided to detainees in their deportation hearings in front of a judge. If they do not have a lawyer, they can request a continuation, providing time for them to obtain one. They can also ﬁle a claim of asylum. Prior to the deportation hearing, they could have simply agreed to remove themselves from the U.S., receiving a free ticket and $2,600. However, they chose to tell the U.S. to stuff it. They do not care about

U.S. laws. They are not leaving and instead are daring the U.S. to catch and arrest them. The lawyers’ claim that they are being denied access to clients is false. In most cases, the detainee never hired them in the ﬁrst place or the lawyer would have been with them during the deportation hearing. Human rights groups’ claims that ICE is hiding detainees or denying them access to a lawyer are outright falsehoods. Each detainee has access to telephones inside detention facilities under ICE National Detention Standards, at least one phone per 25 detainees. Detainees who agree to leave have an average time in a facility of four days. The median time in ICE detention is 10 days. They chose this route, turning down DHS’s offer of a free ticket home and $2,600.

JOSEPH MOLYNEUX Metairie

President Donald Trump has once again decided to take action that some view as extreme: banning certain news corporations’ personnel from White House news conferences. The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution precludes Congress from “abridging the freedom of the press.” There should be no unnecessary hindrance to news gathering nor censoring the communication thereof. Some see this action by the president as dictatorial. Others believe it is his prerogative as chief ofﬁcer of the executive branch of government. The Constitution offers no explicit or implicit guidance as to the presidential right to determine which journalists need be granted the privilege of presence at his news conferences. If all journalists were angels, every news conference should rightly be an open house. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Journalists may have predilections contrary to the public’s best interest. Since news can be gathered in many ways other than personal visitation by journalists, the president is free and right to exercise his power to decide who should be admitted into the White House. A journalist can be a watchdog for the public or, unfortunately, a lapdog for their employer. I believe the U.S. Supreme Court will do the right thing and uphold the Constitution to allow the president to do his job unhindered by rogue news corporations.

WILLIAM J. WOESSNER, M.D. New Orleans

‘Trump haters’ are fixed on the wrong target My representatives in Congress are quick to label our president’s critics as “Trump haters.” I resent this. Though I hate nearly everything the man does, I understand that he was not taught morals and literally does not know right from wrong. His whole life he has always been rewarded for lying, cheating, stealing and taking advantage of people. If there is hate to be doled out, it should be for those who continue to enable him.

WILL DARLINGTON Lafayette

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The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Wednesday, October 7, 2026 ● 3B

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COMMENTARY You might be surprised who is The book of having the most enjoyable sex the year is higher odds of being sexually satisfied I love marriage — and I love sex. than husbands and wives who are not Apparently I’m not alone. religiously active,” the survey reports. According to a recent study by the Ah-hah, I thought. They say “churchInstitute of Family Studies, regular, churchgoing married couples more goers,” so I guess that doesn’t really frequently take Marvin Gaye’s suginclude everybody. Wrong. The survey included Catholic, Protestant, Muslim gestion: “Let’s Get It On.” and Jewish respondents. ApIFS is a conservative, faithfocused nonprofit research parently, churchgoers includes organization based in Virginia. mosques and synagogues. IFS has gotten a lot of news The survey includes backheadlines, been mentioned in ground and context, reminding columns and commentaries, readers what once was commade morning-drive terrespared to today. Will Of particular interest to Louitrial and digital shows, and, Sutton siana of course, memes. That didn’t Catholics, self-identified happen based on the study’s Catholics who attended Mass official title: “The Devout Differweekly fell from 44% in the 1970s to 18% these days. Even worse, their reence: Religion, Marital Quality, and Sex Among Americans.” It happened search shows that the number of Cathbecause of one of the study’s concluolic weddings has fallen 74% in that time. There might be fewer Catholics sions: Married, church-going couples going to church and fewer Catholics have more sex than others. getting married, but the survey indiBiased though they might be, they have data to back up what they preach cates that those committed to the faith — marriage is a spiritual union creatand more regularly attending Mass ed by God with the special gift of deep are more likely to have regular, joyful and fulfilling physical intimacy. physical, mutually satisfying, sexual Some people who haven’t seen a intimacy. house of worship outside of attendIn other words, God blesses the union — and the whoopie. ing funerals and weddings might see The IFS survey shows that married this as some kind of Stepford Wives couples who are faithful have sex far thing. According to the IFS research, more regularly than those who are churchgoing wives are more aligned not. The data shows that about 64% with their husbands, and vice versa, of married people ages 20-54 were so they’re more in sync in more ways. having sex at least once a week in the That must be why 49% of churchgo1990s, whether they were churchgoing wives say they are highly satisers or not. These days, however, only fied with the sex they have with their 48% of secular couples are hitting it husbands, compared to 38% of wives weekly, while 62% of faithful couples who don’t attend church with their have hearts pumping more with move- husbands. I have single and married friends. ments that should not be filmed. Some are miserable. Some are happy. So, churchgoers do that thing more And some continue to pray that God regularly, but are they enjoying it? will bless them with the perfect soul“Churchgoers also have 1.42 times

mate. This survey indicates that 66% of nonreligious couples achieve marital bliss while 74% of Protestant churchgoers and 79% of Catholic churchgoers are “very happily married.” I’m concerned about the study. It capped the age of respondents at 54. Do they think that sexual pleasure stops before 60? In another study, IFS found married adults find life more exciting than their unmarried peers. Really? I recently attended a church marriage retreat with about 300 couples. It was amazing. Married men and women of many ages. Some with a few months or a few years of marriage. Others with several decades of marriage. In this faith-focused weekend, we dug into dating, faith, finances — and sex. We talked about foreplay. We talked about asking for what you want. Someone comfortably shared how things had changed from the days of bouncing everywhere in hotel rooms to more tame encounters these days. I don’t expect you or IFS researchers to know this, but the street word is that Marvin Gaye’s silky, smooth, steamy “Let’s Get It On” was originally written as a religious song. Perhaps churchgoing, married couples knew it, even if they didn’t know. Marriage isn’t for everyone, but those who are interested should consider carefully consider who they choose as a spouse. They also should carefully choose a house of worship. If you hit both jackpots, you, too, can find marital compatibility — bliss between the sheets. Email Will Sutton at wsutton@ theadvocate.com.

Trump’s ‘truth’ betrayed by chatbot Since President Donald Trump displays a ferocious disdain for any suggestion that he could be wrong about anything, I hope he will not try to consult the AI fact-checker he has unleashed against himself. Last week, the White House unveiled America.gov, a search tool it declared to be no less than “the unified digital front door to the Federal Government.” Clarence This gizmo, a White Page House press release said, will usher in a “fundamentally different relationship between the people and the Federal Government, defined by simplicity, speed, accuracy, security, and respect for the individual.” Type “America.gov” in a web browser and you’re ushered to a simply designed chatbot that offers to help you find government information and interact with government agencies. Speaking to the press, Trump adjudged it to be “damn good.” After test-driving the chatbot, reporters were inclined to agree, finding it did a pretty good job at debunking Trump’s oft-repeated falsehoods on topics such as election fraud, tariffs, inflation, illegal immigration, climate change and, perhaps most painfully for Trump’s ego, who won the 2020 election. A New York Times reporter, for example, found the chatbot contradicted Trump’s contention that foreign companies bear the cost of import tariffs. It is, in fact, America.gov confirmed, American consumers who do so. The chatbot also contradicted Trump’s claims about U.S. election fraud. Our elections are generally safe, it said, and fraud prosecutions are exceedingly rare. It also punctured Trump’s exaggerations of illegal border crossings during President Joe Biden’s administration and his doubletalk on the current rate of consumer inflation. American who regularly buy groceries or fill their gas tanks don’t need a chatbot to debunk many of Trump’s claims. But other issues are more complicated, requiring reference to nonpartisan and unbiased authorities, such as the Congressional Budget Office. It’s nice to know that America.gov cited

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO BY MARK SCHIEFELBEIN

President Donald Trump speaks Saturday during an event at Butler High School in Vandalia, Ohio. the CBO when the Times reporter asked about Trump’s signature One Big Beautiful Bill Act, confirming that the law will add trillions to the deficit and “cause more than 10 million people to lose their health insurance.” It even agreed that the law “on average made the poorest people in America even poorer and the richest people in America even richer.” Considering how pointedly the chatbot underscores talking points the Democrats have been trying to make all along, searchers have been bemused to find the chatbot says it avoids answering questions it deems political. But it supports some of Trump’s proclamations when it can cite an official government source to do so. For example, the chatbot calls what most of us have known as the Gulf of Mexico the “Gulf of America (formerly the Gulf of Mexico).” The website’s answers are based on published government sources, the site says, and its FAQ page invites users to “review those sources yourself.” One wonders how long such candor will last on the America.gov page, although Trump’s ability to enchant his followers has depended more on the bright lights of television cameras and the algorithms of social media than on

the well-sourced reports in the print media. Still, the Democrats cannot hide their relief at seeing Trump’s new chatbot as a providential generator of talking points. “Finally, a straight answer from someone in the Trump administration,” wrote Sen. Adam Schiff, a California Democrat, along with a screenshot of America.gov saying that Trump lost the 2020 election. You may recall how Schiff has routinely asked Trump’s judicial nominees at confirmation hearings to affirm the 2020 election results. Some of the nominees meekly declined to give a straight answer, apparently out of fear of incurring Trump’s wrath over any admission that Biden’s election was legitimate. If you’re a Republican who wants to remain employed in Trump’s Washington, you need to show absolute loyalty to the president, even if that means denying the plain truth. Can facts compete with such a MAGA wall of denialism? We’ll find out in the coming midterm elections and the presidential contest that follows.

‘The Golden Thread’

If “The Golden Thread,” the new two-volume history of the Western tradition, landed with a thud, it’s a matter of sheer weight. Altogether, about 12 pounds of book and 1,968 pages of text, “The Golden Thread” is a prodigious product — and an even more prodigious achievement. At a time when Western civilization has been successfully “decentered” in academia, and Rich Western civ classes relegated to Lowry the dustbin of history, the book is a countercultural act. It is devoted to the idea that learning about our own civilization should take priority over learning about others, and that we won’t realize why it’s so vital to defend our tradition without first understanding it. “It should come as no surprise,” the co-authors Allen Guelzo and James Hankins write in the introduction, “that the recent generations of Westerners who believe that the West is uniquely evil have been taught nothing at all about it.” “The Golden Thread” is a textbook, but accessible to the general reader. Usually, such large surveys are too general to include compelling details and too conventional to make arresting conclusions — in other words, they fall down as books. In contrast, every page of “The Golden Thread” is highly readable and brims with insight. On top of this, the work is lavishly illustrated with gorgeous maps and reproductions of art, and layered with timelines, excerpts from primary sources and mini-essays on key figures and trends. The book’s beauty as a physical object matches its emphasis on Western achievement, not least in the arts. Hankins, a longtime Harvard professor who left the school over its abandonment of instruction in Western civilization, wrote the first volume, covering the ancient world and Christendom. The Lincoln scholar Allen Guelzo picks up the baton in the second volume about the modern and contemporary West. One theme of “The Golden Thread” is how deep our roots go. The Greeks provided us the ideal of self-government, the love of beauty, a belief in the importance of eloquence and a commitment to reason as a means to uncover truth. The Romans gave us the example of the republic and of a relatively well-realized system based on the rule of law. The barbarians destroyed the Western Empire, but were converted to Roman Catholicism, and Europe came to share a robust cultural and educational tradition. Whatever the failings of the ensuing so-called confessional states, Christendom created the predicate for the modern understanding of human dignity and rights. “It was the fourteen centuries dominated by the Christian confessional state,” Hankins writes, “that impressed these noble human values on the conscience of the modern West.” Accident and contingency are part of the tale. It was the failure of attempts to reconstitute versions of the Western Roman empire that made possible the system of competing European states that drove so much innovation and allowed the space for renewed experiments in Republican government in Italian city-states and in Northern European free cities. It was the medieval papacy’s overreach that discredited theocracy and holy war in the West. It was the isolation of the European states bordering the Atlantic Ocean that prompted the exploration that utterly transformed the world, and created the predicate for the eventual ascendancy of Britain and the United States. “The Golden Thread” isn’t just a book. Hankins and Guelzo have a Substack devoted to further exploring its themes, and the publisher, Encounter Books, has partnered with Hillsdale College to create a curriculum for teachers around the book. The goal is nothing less than a revival of instruction in Western Civ, a project perhaps worthy of the great 14th-century Italian poet Petrarch, who did so much to renew interest in classical culture. Whether there is a rekindling of interest in Western history in our educational institutions depends on much that is out of the control of Hankins and Guelzo (or anyone else with good sense), but, with this splendid book, they have done more than their part. Rich Lowry is on X, @RichLowry.

Email Clarence Page at clarence47page@gmail.com.

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4B ● Wednesday, October 7, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

SUED

Continued from page 1B that identiﬁed the harm he and Robinson allege they suffered, setting out the elements of defamation, demanding a retraction and formal apology by Aug. 23, 2023. Gonzalez, according to the lawsuit, did not apologize. Around May 15, 2026, Gonzalez allegedly published a social media comment in response to a post by Humphrey, “‘Oh hey it’s you the violent one’” and referred to alleged continued harassment. Around Sept. 1, the lawsuit says, Gonzalez published a lengthy post on her public campaign Facebook page saying Robinson was harassing her and saying Robinson and Humphrey are among “‘the most disgusting human beings’” she ever encountered. Gonzalez, around Sept. 3, wrote that Humphrey had slapped her in the courthouse during the August 2023 hearings on her mayoral candidacy and called Humphrey and Robinson “‘extremely dangerous,” the lawsuit states. After the 2023 hearing, the lawsuit states, Gonzalez walked past at least three law enforcement ofﬁcers and never reported the allegation that Humphrey slapped her and she hasn’t mentioned it for three years. Gonzalez on Tuesday said Humphrey hit her hard with his shoulder as they exited the courthouse elevator in 2023. She said she apologized and he threatened her. She alleged the two said she was a Republican, not a Democrat, they she should run a taco stand and return to Mexico. Later in the interview, Gonzalez said the Democratic Party posted those statements online, not necessarily Humphrey and Robinson. Gonzalez also accused the two of taking photos of her vehicle parked at her home and license plate, and harassing her children.

STATUS

Continued from page 1B little-known process that has become part of President Donald Trump administration’s immigration enforcement efforts. Prosecutors allege that Singh entered the U.S. from India in 1993 under the name Sawaran Singh and was ordered to be deported in 1996 after he failed to show up to his immigration hearings. Months later, according to the complaint, he ﬁled immigration paperwork under a different date of birth and the name Nachhatar. That second identity was the one he used when he applied for citizenship, which was granted in 2009. In the application process, he claimed he had never used another name or misrepresented or concealed material facts to obtain citizenship. The government used ﬁngerprints the Department of Homeland Security collected from the two different identities to link them both to Singh, according to the complaint. Singh declined to answer questions about the allega-

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Green card holders charged with illegal voting The indictments returned to an Oct. 1 grand by U.S. Homeland Security at the scale Trump has deThree allegedly according last week in New Orleans jury indictment. Zianya Yl- Investigations agents, whom scribed. “After redirecting count- come after the arrests last Zamorano, born in Mex- Trump has tasked with incast votes in New laly ico, and Pedro Pablo Ruiz of vestigating allegations of less staff and resources month of two people in Webeach face single-count voting by noncitizens. away from investigating ster Parish who face counts Orleans in 2024 Cuba indictments for allegedly There are more than 211 terrorism and violent crime, of illegal voting.

BY JAMES FINN Staff writer

Federal prosecutors in New Orleans have charged three people with voting illegally in the 2024 federal election, part of President Donald Trump’s push to stamp out what he has described as rampant voting by noncitizens. All three defendants were living in the country legally as green card holders when they allegedly cast the votes, the Justice Department said in a news release. Dudley Francisco Zeledon, born in Nicaragua, faces two counts of illegal voting by a noncitizen for ballots he allegedly cast in the 2024 primary and general elections,

voting in the general election. Court records do not list attorneys for each of the defendants. The indictments do not identify for whom the immigrants allegedly voted. The documents simply say they “did knowingly vote in an election held in part for the purpose of electing a candidate for the ofﬁce of President, Vice President, and Member of the United States Congress.” The indictments in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana represent a sliver of some 180 total arrests stemming from the Republican administration’s initiative. The cases were investigated

million American citizens on voting rolls. In ordering the Department of Homeland Security to crack down on noncitizen voting ahead of the November midterms, in which national polls currently show Republicans struggling, Trump described the problem as rampant. The president has long alleged, without evidence, that Democrats stole the 2020 election and that he was the rightful winner of the presidential race against former President Joseph Biden. Voting researchers say noncitizen voting is exceedingly rare. And federal law enforcement agents have struggled to uncover evidence of the phenomenon

SAFETY

Continued from page 1B

DOJ and the Department of Homeland Security cannot manufacture evidence of a significant noncitizen voting problem,” David Becker, a former Justice Department attorney who leads the nonprofit Center for Election Innovation and Research, said last month after officials announced the crackdown. “After nearly two years in complete control of the federal government, this administration has been unable to produce evidence of election theft or widespread fraud,” Becker added. “And we should be particularly skeptical of claims made by this administration now, less than five weeks before Americans complete voting in this year’s midterm election.”

State elections officials said the arrests stemmed from a review of the state’s voter rolls, the findings of which Secretary of State Nancy Landry said she had referred to federal law enforcement. “This is exactly why we work every day to keep Louisiana’s voter rolls accurate and investigate potential violations of our election laws,” Landry said at the time.

a ﬁre truck to schools that have signed up, Trahan said. Slots remain open. The department also is holding a poster coloring contest. To schedule a class or safety house visit, call the Fire Prevention office at (337) 291-8704. For questions about the department’s other ﬁre-safety programs, call

Trahan at (337) 852-8192. More information about lithium-ion battery safety is at fpw.org.

that can overheat, start a fire or explode if damaged or charged incorrectly, the department said. “The way you charge your lithium-ion battery devices can make a difference in helping prevent home fires,” Fire Chief Earl Borden said Funerals Today in a news release. Trahan said residents Ancona, Charles should unplug devices once Frioux Funeral Home, 316 they reach full charge, inHwy., Lafayette at Youngsville 10:00am. cluding scooters in dorms. “You definitely don’t want to leave the battery chargObituaries ing longer than it has to, beAncona, Charles Wayne cause that can cause some internal damage,” he said. A device that overheats or smokes should not be touched, Trahan said. ResiSTAFF FILE PHOTO BY BRAD KEMP dents should call 911 right away. Sparky the fire prevention dog enters while Pre-K and “Those batteries can react kindergarten students from Ascension Episcopal School kick very violently in the sense of off Fire Prevention Week in October 2018 at the downtown a fire,” he said. “The sooner fire station in Lafayette. we get notified, the better.” The department also recommends charging devices such as e-bikes, scooters fire safety classes throughon hard, flat surfaces rather and power tools outside and out the week. After that, Charles Wayne Ancona than beds or couches. It ad- away from exits. firefighters will take the de- died peacefully on October vises charging larger items The department is hosting partment’s safety house and 5, 2026, surrounded by his

tions but described himself as a proud, law-abiding American and community member. He owns a gas station in Livingston Parish, which he has run for the past 26 years, and lives nearby with his family. “So many times I catch somebody who has stolen something from my store, a drink or candy; I never complained, I only told him next time be careful, and if you’re hungry, tell me, I can give you a drink,” he said. “I try to help people because I know how it is to be a poor man living in this world.” The Department of Justice did not reply to an interview request. Once a popular tool used against communists and anarchists during the Red Scare, denaturalization attempts have seldom been used since 1967. The practice has largely been reserved for former war criminals and perpetrators of human rights abuses who concealed their past activity on immigration and citizenship forms. Federal law allows the government to denaturalize foreign-born U.S. citizens if their citizenship was illegally acquired, including through fraud or the misrepresentation or concealment

of a material fact during the naturalization process, as is alleged in Singh’s case. The government must prove that the misrepresented or concealed facts would have affected the likelihood of the defendant obtaining citizenship had they been disclosed at the time. The government can pursue denaturalization through criminal proceedings, which require a high standard of proof and provide defendants with the right to an attorney, even if they cannot afford one. Much more popular are civil denaturalization cases, which come with a lower burden of proof, do not entitle defendants to a lawyer and have no statute of limitations, meaning they can be brought at any time. Denaturalizations are part of a growing set of tools the Trump administration is using in its immigration enforcement efforts. In 2025, the Justice Department sent a memo to its civil division urging attorneys to prioritize denaturalizations and expanding the categories of naturalized citizens who should be considered the subject of such actions. In August, the department announced it had ﬁled 25 civil cases in a

two-week period, the largest denaturalization effort in American history, according to its ofﬁce of public affairs. Singh’s lawyer, Paul “Woody” Scott, said his client was stopped by authorities in an airport in 2014 and questioned about his identity. The evidence authorities had at the time, he said, is no different from the evidence they have now and have presented in the complaint. “I know there’s nothing that’s changed from then till now, well, except an administration,” Scott said. Scott said he is still developing the legal strategy for this case but may focus on challenging the allegation of “material” misrepresentation, arguing that his client’s actions did not meet the debated legal standard the government must prove to succeed.

loving family. Known for his easy smile and gift for making everyone feel welcomed, Charles carried his warmth and jovial spirit with him throughout his life.

A native of Baton Rouge, he graduated from Istrouma High School in 1958. Drawn by both adventure and a sense of duty, Charles enlisted in the U.S. Navy and rose to the rank of Electronics Technician (Radio) Petty Officer Third Class. At the U.S. Naval Air Station on Whidbey Island, Washington, he earned a Commendation for Outstanding Service and, later, the Good Conduct Medal. Charles enrolled at LSU under the G.I. Bill at the ripe age of 27. A chance meeting at Don's Seafood in 1968 changed the course of his life when he met Susan Ducote from Port Allen, who would become his beloved wife. They married two years later

James Finn covers federal law enforcement and courts for The TimesPicayune | The Advocate. Email him at jﬁnn@ theadvocate.com or contact him on Signal at jamesﬁnn.82.

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and soon welcomed their daughter and son. With his easygoing charm, Charles found his calling in a career in sales. For 12 years, he thrived as General Sales Manager of Woodfin-Smith Pontiac in Baton Rouge. In 1984, Charles and Susan turned his lifelong dream of business ownership into reality when they purchased Acadian Pontiac Buick in New Iberia. Charles eventually transitioned to a career as a health insurance broker, spending more than 25 years working at The Insurance Center in New Iberia. A lifelong outdoorsman, Charles was seldom seen during hunting season without a rifle or duck call in hand and his son, Jason, by his side. His appreciation for nature was also captured by his camera, and he became an accomplished amateur wildlife photographer. In retirement, "Paw Charles" spent his time golfing and photographing his four wiggling grandchildren. He is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Susan Ducote Ancona; his children, Jennifer Ancona Semko of Great Falls, Virginia, and her husband William, Jason Wayne Ancona; his four grandchildren, Cade Broussard, Sarah, Grace and Caroline Semko; his sister, Patricia Gerald and her husband Ronnie. He is preceded in death by his parents, Charlie Ancona and Ada Lejueune; his siblings, Beverly Horn, Joyce Lasseigne, Debbie Ancona. A visitation will be held from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM and a funeral service at 10:00 AM on 2026-10-07 at Frioux Funeral Home, 316 Youngsville Hwy. in Lafayette, LA.

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Continued from page 1B Asked about the falsiﬁed documents charged, Cormier said, “We believe he was misrepresenting himself as being associated with a college or university.” “Nothing has led us to believe there was any ill will against the students,” Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Valerie Ponseti said. Neither the release nor the district’s statement named the school, said what documents Johnson presented

or said whether student information was accessed or parents were notiﬁed. A Sept. 5 Facebook post on an account under the name Pernell Johnson announced he was joining David Thibodaux STEM Magnet Academy boys basketball staff as an assistant coach. The Sheriff’s Office listed the arrest location as the 800 block of Teurlings Drive. David Thibodaux, a Lafayette Parish public school, is at 805 Teurlings Drive. The release stated the investigation is ongoing and no further details are being released.

Jail booking records show Johnson was released Friday.

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UL FOOTBALL

V IK INGS AT SAIN T S • NOON SUNDAY • FOX

DB Wilson ready for bigger role on defense

FLAT-LINE PARADE

BY KEVIN FOOTE Staff writer

STAFF PHOTO BY BRETT DUKE

Atlanta Falcons running back Brian Robinson scores a touchdown as Saints safety Julian Blackmon tries to make the tackle on Monday night at the Caesars Superdome. The Falcons rushed for 205 yards in their 45-24 victory.

Saints’ chance to show nation they’re back fails miserably

ospel artist Kirk Franklin hit the stage for the halftime show Monday night sandwiched between two of the worst two halves of football the New Orleans Saints have played in recent memory. Fittingly, Franklin’s opening number was his hit “Brighter Day,” a ﬁtting song title for what Saints fans are hoping for after the gloom and doom of walking out of the Caesars Superdome after a 45-24 beatdown handed out by the rival Atlanta Falcons. The song choice by New Orleans rapper Juvenile at halftime was just as suitable. Juvie sang “Slow Motion,” which is the speed that it appeared the Saints were moving at as Falcons running back Bijan Robinson blew past them three plays into the game to set the tone. Cam Jordan called the loss a gut punch,

Nothing has come easy for UL junior safety and special teams stalwart Kerry Wilson. The Destrehan High School graduate came to Lafayette as a walk-on and has earned playing time for three straight seasons. As a freshman, he played in nine games. Injuries limited him to four ä UL at games two sea- Louisiana Tech. sons ago, but the 6:30 P.M. SATURDAY, 6-foot, 200-pound- ESPN+ er played in 12 games last season. “He’s one of those special teams captains type guys,” coach Michael Desormeaux said. “He’s one of those guys on this team that has just grinded his way into importance.” The trust Wilson has built with the coaching staff coupled with an injury to senior safety Collin Jacob has created a situation for more playing time on defense. Wilson plans on sticking with his tried-and-true approach. “Having to wait so long, you’re able to look at it from two different ways,” Wilson said. “You can look at it like, it took this long, or you could look at it like, I had this much time to prepare. So being that I was able to get on the field later on in my career on defense, I feel like I’ve had more time than others to develop and prepare myself for this moment. “So I’m confident. I’ve had years of work, years of development under these coaches. Being on the field has

ä See CAJUNS, page 3C

ä Saints notebook. PAGE 3C

Rod Walker but this felt much worse than just a gut punch. This was more like a Mike Tyson uppercut that the Saints didn’t see coming, knocking them back into reality and showing them just how far they have to go to get to where they want to be. Losses like the Nola No-Call, Minnesota Miracle and Beast Quake may have hurt more because of what was at stake. But as far as the regular season goes,

you won’t ﬁnd many losses in Saints history worse than what happened in this one. Losses by 21 points to your biggest rival on a star-studded night on the NFL’s biggest regular-season stage tend to linger. Playing in primetime for the ﬁrst time since 2024, the Saints had a chance to make an emphatic statement to the entire football world: “We’re back.” Instead, they said “we’re going backward.” The NFL’s grandest stage looked too big for them. This one will be etched in your memory

ä See WALKER, page 3C

STAFF PHOTO BY BRAD KEMP

UL safety Kerry Wilson tries to block a punt by Arkansas State’s Daniel Vuckovic on Saturday at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium.

In just ﬁve games, LSU offense has corrected biggest ’25 ﬂaws BY REED DARCEY Staff writer

STAFF FILE PHOTO BY MICHAEL JOHNSON

LSU running back Dilin Jones breaks away from Clemson linebacker Kobe McCloud for a touchdown on Sept. 5 at Tiger Stadium. LSU ranks 15th nationally in rushing offense with an average of 238 yards per game.

LSU fielded one of the worst offenses in college football last season. More than 100 FBS teams averaged more yards and points per game than the ä Leavitt Tigers. says he’ll be That’s one of the reasons why 100% for the school hired Kentucky Lane Kiffin game. PAGE 3C coach to rebuild a unit that had fallen into disrepair across the previous two seasons. LSU needed a new quarterback, an influx of talent on the offensive line and a bevy of new skill position players. More than anything, the Tigers needed a new vision. Someone who could get LSU back on the cutting edge — and do it quickly. “I feel really good about our team,” Kiffin said Monday. “We’ve had a lot of times where we’ve played as well as anybody in the country.” The numbers support that belief.

ä LSU at Kentucky. 6 P.M. SATURDAY, ESPN

LSU has played one of the SEC’s three lightest schedules so far this season, according to ESPN’s strength of schedule metrics, but it’s operating on offense as well as any team in the country. Let’s take a look at some of the most eye-popping numbers that Kiffin’s new-look unit has produced through ﬁve games.

Rushing offense The rushing attack is both efﬁcient and explosive. It’s allowing the Tigers to stay ahead of the chains, engage their tempo and convert short-yardage situations. Entering Week 6, LSU ranks 15th nationally in rushing offense. If the Tigers pick up 164 more yards on the ground Saturday against Kentucky (6 p.m., ESPN), they’ll eclipse the total number of yards their rushing attack produced all of last season when they ﬁnished with one of the 12 least productive

ground games in the country. This year, LSU is averaging 238 yards rushing and 3.8 rushing touchdowns per game. The Tigers scored only 10 rushing touchdowns in 2025. Through five games in 2026, they have 19 such scores — enough to lead the FBS. LSU had just two 300-yard rushing games across the four years of coach Brian Kelly’s tenure. Its offense has two such outings in the first five games of Kiffin’s tenure. They came against Clemson and McNeese State. This season, only 11 FBS teams have broken off more runs of at least 10 yards than LSU. The Tigers recorded seven such carries against the Cowboys, and if they tally just five more against the Wildcats, they will match the number of 10-yard runs LSU produced last season. LSU is also one of only seven FBS teams that can claim four players with at least 150 yards

ä See LSU, page 3C

2C ● Wednesday, October 7, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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Reed earning his way back to PGA LIV Golf defector having monster year on European tour

Eagles All-Pro O-lineman Johnson retires from NFL

Philadelphia Eagles All-Pro offensive lineman Lane Johnson has announced his retirement from the NFL after 14 seasons. “I have given it my all for 14 years,” Johnson said Tuesday in a statement, “season after season pushing my body to the max and tirelessly working my craft to not only live up to the legacy of the guys that came before me, but to set a new standard of success ... .” Johnson had been a late scratch for last week’s game against the Los Angeles Rams for personal reasons. He said Tuesday that despite wanting to ﬁnish the season, his “personal and family priorities ... have changed.” Johnson, 36, said in training camp this season probably would be his last.

BY TALES AZZONI Associated Press

MADRID — There were many unknowns when Patrick Reed decided not to renew his contract with LIV Golf and start the long road back to the PGA Tour. One thing he was sure of, though, was that he wanted to let his “clubs do the talking” and earn his way back instead of having a spot given to him. And in a “huge year” on the European tour, Reed is closer to completing his comeback and achieving his goal. “The biggest thing for me at the start of the year when I decided not to re-sign with LIV was to try to make my way back to the PGA Tour,” he said Tuesday ahead of this week’s Spanish Open in Madrid. “The way to do that I felt was to try to play our way on. “To be able to have the start of the season I did and to basically earn my way back to the PGA Tour meant a lot to me.” The 36-year-old American, who played at University High in 2006-07, split victories in Dubai and Qatar with a runner-up ﬁnish in Bahrain in February. He enters the ﬁnal stretch of the year leading Rory McIlroy in the seasonlong Race to Dubai. The leading 10 players from the European tour not already exempt earn PGA Tour cards for 2027. “This was a huge year to me,” Reed said. “Not just for my career, but also for my family, because I had to go earn my spot back, and to be able to go out there and earn it back and play the way I’ve been playing means a lot. And to hopefully play well these last couple of events, and hopefully hold everyone off and win the Race to Dubai would mean a lot.”

Source: Broncos get good news on pair of injuries

Cornerback Patrick Surtain II and Pat Bryant’s injuries are less serious than first feared when the players each sprained an ankle during Denver’s 24-14 loss at San Francisco, a person with knowledge of the medical results told The Associated Press on Tuesday. Both could end up on short-term injured reserve, but the Broncos haven’t made any moves. Coach Sean Payton has declined to discuss the severity of the injuries, saying he’ll give more information Wednesday when the team releases its first practice report ahead of Sunday’s trip to Los Angeles to face the Chargers (0-4). Both Surtain and Bryant, a rising second-year receiver who shined throughout training camp and over the first month of the season, appeared to suffer serious injuries against the 49ers. ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO BY PETER MORRISON

Former University High golfer Patrick Reed, left, smiles during the Irish Open on Sept. 13 at Trump International Golf Links in Doonbeg, Ireland.

“I’m a firm believer that if able to get back is by going out you earn your right to play there and letting the clubs do the talking.” somewhere, you Reed is part should be able “To have the opportunity to to play, but you come over here, not only of a strong field in Spain, returnhave to earn it,” just play on this tour, but ing he said. “You to action afalso to have a chance to ter withdrawing have to go out win the Race to Dubai, it from the BMW there and do the work, you know, PGA Championwould mean a lot.” go out there and ship with a hand not only just PATRICK REED, on playing on the injury and pullEuropean tour work hard but ing out of the also play well. French Open. “I’ve always He is trying to wanted to earn my spot rather become the second American to than having a spot given. Those win the Race to Dubai, after ColExcited by Race to Dubai guys on LIV, there are pathways lin Morikawa in 2021. “It’s one of those things that The 2018 Masters champion to whether it’s to here on the DP said the “only way” back for LIV (European tour), whether it’s to I’ve always prided myself as beplayers to the PGA Tour should the PGA Tour. ... I feel like that’s ing that American that likes to the only way that you should be play around the world,” he said. be on merit through results.

“To have the opportunity to come over here, not only just play on this tour, but also to have a chance to win the Race to Dubai, it would mean a lot.” Reed said it was Gary Player who advised him, in one of the ﬁrst times that they met, to play more abroad. “He told me, ‘Well, if you want to be a worldwide player, you’ve got to go out and play outside of not just the PGA Tour, you’ve got to play elsewhere,’ ” Reed said. “And once I got the opportunity to come over and play, I really enjoyed it and hopefully, hopefully, I can bring more Americans over and more of the top players to come out and play around the world, help grow the game.”

Furyk: It will be ‘great’ if Reed is on Ryder Cup team Reed criticized U.S. Ryder Cup captain after 2018 loss BY DOUG FERGUSON Associated Press

U.S. captain Jim Furyk said Tuesday it would be “great” if Patrick Reed were among the 12 best Americans for the Ryder Cup next year in Ireland, even though Reed criticized Furyk’s first captaincy after the 2018 loss in Paris. Reed hasn’t been on a Ryder Cup team since those 2018 matches, another debacle for the U.S. team that ended with Reed telling The New York Times he should have been partners with Jordan Spieth and Furyk should not have benched him twice that week. Reed, among the first to defect to LIV Golf in 2022, chose not to renew his LIV contract this year and leads the European tour points list, assuring him a return to the PGA Tour next year. “We are going to put the best 12 guys, the best team of 12, on this team,” Furyk said from Adare Manor during a news conference with European captain Luke Donald to mark the matches being one year away. “If Patrick Reed is one of those, that’s great. It’s been a long time since he’s been in our team room.” Steve Stricker left Reed off the team for the 2021 Ryder Cup the Americans won at Whistling Straits. He was not seriously considered for the Rome matches in 2023 or the Bethpage Black matches in 2025, even though he had top-5 finishes at the Masters

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO BY MATT SLOCUM

USA team captain Brandt Snedeker, left, celebrates with assistant Jim Furyk after their Presidents Cup win against the International team at Medinah Country Club on Sept. 27 in Medinah, Ill. both those years. Furyk already has changed U.S. qualifying for Adare Manor so that no one begins earning points until the 2027 season. Reed, who is No. 29 in the world ranking as he closes out his European tour schedule, could be eligible for signature events if he’s in the top 30 at the time of those events. His last time in the U.S. team room was at Royal Melbourne in 2019 for the Presidents Cup, where he was heckled by the Australian gallery a week after he was penalized in the Bahamas for improving his lie in a sandy waste area. Six players qualify and Furyk will have six captain’s picks for the Sept. 17-19 matches. “Patrick and I will have that conversation,” Furyk said. “And

I’m looking forward to welcoming our best team of 12.” Furyk’s more immediate concern was finding a solution for the recent trend of abysmal U.S. play in foursomes. The Americans have been outgained 26-8 in foursomes in the past two Ryder Cups and Presidents Cups. The deﬁcit is 13-3 to Europe in the Ryder Cup. They have been blanked in three sessions — the opening session at Marco Simone in 2023, and each of the last two times in the Presidents Cup. “I know those numbers very, very well. I’ve lived them the last four,” Furyk said. “It’s not an anomaly. There’s some issues — we understand that. I plan on making some changes. As captains, we need to do a better job, not only put the folks into good

pairings in good positions, but I don’t think we are preparing for those matches in a proper way. “And I promise you, we will be prepared,” he said. “I’m going to ask this team to do more than any other United States team has in the past. We’ll be prepared. We’ll be ready to go in that format, and hopefully we can showcase our talent. We have too much depth to have that poor record in alternate shot.” Furyk said he will ask prospective players to go to Adare Manor next summer around the twoweek stretch of the Scottish Open and British Open. He was in a tough spot as 2018 captain for the Ryder Cup at Le Golf National. The course was set up tight with deep rough. Some players suited for the course were not in great form. Tiger Woods had just won the Tour Championship and Bryson DeChambeau won two playoff events. They combined to go 0-7-0 for the week. Donald returns as captain for the third time, bidding to become the first captain in Ryder Cup history to lead three teams to victory. “I have zero complacency about how strong the U.S. are going to be. They always are. On paper, they tend to be stronger than us through the world rankings,” Donald said. “Obviously we have a great record at home, but again, zero complacency. I’ve seen what Jim has been doing behind the scenes, changing the stats, changing the qualification system. He is very, very motivated to come here and put up a good fight. “Certainly I’m just as motivated to sort of keep finding those edges for my team.”

Djokovic takes China Open after opponent retires

BEIJING — Novak Djokovic was handed the China Open trophy after Alex de Minaur retired injured in the ﬁnal on Tuesday. Both players asked for medical timeouts after the opening set. De Minaur had a groin issue and quit after winning the opening game of the second set. The 39-year-old Djokovic won 7-6 (3), 0-1 to extend his perfect record at the China Open to 340. He returned to Beijing for the ﬁrst time since his previous title in 2015. His seventh China Open title was also his 102nd on the ATP tour. He’s one behind Roger Federer. Jimmy Connors leads with 109 in the Open era.

Sixers lose C Hukporti for season to Achilles tear

Philadelphia 76ers center Ariel Hukporti suffered a season-ending right Achilles tendon tear in Monday night’s preseason game against the New York Knicks, the team said Tuesday. Hukporti, who signed a free agent deal with Philadelphia in July, suffered the injury in the ﬁrst quarter. He went down grabbing at his right leg after the noncontact injury before leaving the game. The 76ers signed Hukporti to a $3.4 million, one-year deal to add front-court depth behind two-time NBA scoring champion Joel Embiid and Adem Bona. Hukporti averaged 2.2 points in 54 games with the reigning NBA champion Knicks last season. Hukporti, 24, was the ﬁnal pick of the 2024 draft by Dallas and had his rights traded to the Knicks.

Cleveland strikeout artist McDowell dies at age 84

Sam McDowell, a six-time AllStar who led the American League in strikeouts four times before becoming a counselor for athletes suffering from addiction issues and depression, died Monday at his home in The Villages, Florida. He was 84. McDowell’s baseball career and post-career sobriety served as the inspiration for the Sam Malone character from the iconic television sitcom “Cheers.” McDowell had a 15-year career in the major leagues from 196174, including 11 in Cleveland. The left-hander had a 141-134 record in 425 games, including 346 starts. He had 2,453 strikeouts, 103 complete games and 23 shutouts. McDowell also pitched for San Francisco, the New York Yankees and Pittsburgh.

The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Wednesday, October 7, 2026 ● 3C

Saints not using injuries as excuse in loss lll

BY MATTHEW PARAS and JASON WILLIS Staff writers

The Saints could have used linebacker Kaden Elliss in Monday’s 45-24 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. And they deﬁnitely would have liked a healthier version of Pete Werner, who played through a stinger after missing all of last week’s practices. But the Saints (1-3) have refused to use injuries as an excuse after a one-sided the team’s loss was to its NFC South rival. “Those are talented players,” Saints coach Kellen Moore said. “Collectively, I don’t think this game, just like the offense, similar to the defense, it’s not one group, it’s not one position. “It’s a consistent effort in all phases of the defense, just playing better football. So everyone had their piece of it. Everyone had their share of mistakes. And so we really got to dig into those mistakes and come out better.” According to Rotowire’s injury tracker, the Saints have had the third-most injuries this season, behind the San Francisco 49ers and

Houston Texans. The Saints ruled out three players against Atlanta — Elliss, and edge rushers Carl Granderson (ankle) and Anfernee Jennings (knee) — but also have several notable players on injured reserve, including running back Travis Etienne (hamstring) and ﬁrst-round wide receiver Jordyn Tyson (hamstring). Running back Alvin Kamara (knee) and defensive lineman Davon Godchaux (groin) also exited Monday with injuries, but Moore said the Saints had several players “day-to-day” that would require maintenance. Moore said the Saints avoided any further long-term, multiweek injuries. Moore said he will see whether Elliss can practice this week ahead of Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings before a decision is made on his availability.

Online beef Saints safety Justin Reid on Tuesday walked back comments in which he criticized fans on social media, a day after he went back and forth with several commenters shortly after the team’s loss to the Falcons. Less than a half-hour after the 45-24 blowout ended, Reid clapped

SAINTS NOTEBOOK back at fans taunting one of his previous posts for calling for the Superdome to have an “exceptionally spirited atmosphere” ahead of the 20th anniversary of the “Domecoming” game. Fans criticized Reid, a Louisiana native from Dutchtown High, for his performance on a night when the defense allowed 45 points and 420 yards, including 205 yards rushing. “And don’t say s*** like this when you don’t make any plays,” one fan said in reference to Reid’s original post. “I made plays. Not that it matters, that s*** was unacceptable,” Reid said in a reply to the fan’s post. Reid went on to reply to two other fans who responded to his tweet. In one exchange, a fan called Reid a “scrub,” to which Reid answered, “Yo mama.” The next morning, Reid addressed the exchanges and defended himself against fans who he said were twisting his words. “I probably should not of got on

Twitter so quickly after the game but I’m upset, too,” Reid posted Tuesday morning. “I got pride and I ain’t just gonna be punching bag for negativity and be silent about it. If I ever did that, then I wouldnt care!” While Reid acknowledged he didn’t play “a perfect game,” he pushed back against Saints fans who’d said he was giving “low effort,” saying “I probably care the most.” “I desperately want to play well for the city and for us to win games,” Reid wrote. “I hold myself and everyone else to a high standard and I got no problem with accountability.”

Healthy scratch? When the Saints selected Christen Miller in the second round, the team made the selection in part because of how effective the defensive lineman was against the run. But facing Bijan Robinson and a potent rushing attack, Miller was inactive for Monday’s 45-24 loss to the Falcons despite being cleared to play after a toe injury that kept him out of the last two games. What gives?

“He was just coming back from an injury,” Moore said. “I thought he had a good week of practice, but you know, with the time on task with those other guys, I felt like (it was) the right decision for us.” Miller was a limited participant for the ﬁrst two days of practice last week, but he was upgraded to full on Friday. Still, the approach is the latest way the Saints carefully have handled the defensive lineman. In the spring, New Orleans carefully managed Miller’s workload after he suffered a hamstring injury. Then in training camp, Miller rarely saw work with the starters. With Miller a scratch, the Saints relied on Colby Wooden, Khristian Boyd and John Ridgeway to bolster their interior defensive line depth. But no matter who was in for New Orleans, the Saints couldn’t stop Robinson — or his backup, Brian Robinson. The Falcons rushed for 205 yards and ﬁve touchdowns on 35 carries. Miller has played in just one game this season, logging 25 snaps in the season-opening loss to Detroit.

Leavitt says he will be at 100% for Kentucky BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer

only before Lane Kiffin turned the offense over to backup quarterback Landen Clark. Many fans and pundits weren’t sure Leavitt would even suit up, especially given the Tigers’ talent advantage over McNeese. But Leavitt still started, and Kifﬁn built a game plan around him that tried to ensure that he didn’t take any big hits. Leavitt has worn extra tape on his left leg since suffering the injury. “I thought what we were calling was pretty safe,” Kifﬁn said after Saturday’s win. “We were just calling certain plays with him and certain protections (against coverages) we feel really good about, and if they were not in those, we would get out, so it’s a lot more complicated than just throw him in there, and he gets hit. “He’s not running around real great, so I don’t think he was going to scramble.”

LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt believes his hamstring will be 100% healthy Saturday when the Tigers travel to Lexington to face Kentucky (6 p.m., ESPN), he told reporters Tuesday. Leavitt injured his hamstring during LSU’s win over Texas A&M two weeks ago, an ailment that didn’t force him to miss any time but has hampered his ability to scramble out of the pocket and execute quarterback-designed runs and read-option plays. “It was just a super light hamstring thing,” Leavitt said. “I got it back really good for the (McNeese State) game and didn’t really have to run around.” For the ﬁrst time in his career, Leavitt had no rushing attempts during Saturday’s win over McNeese. He carved up the Cowboys defense as a passer instead, completing 18 of 23 attempts for 177 yards and three touchdowns. Email Koki Riley at koki.riley@ Leavitt played in the first half theadvocate.com.

STAFF PHOTO BY DAVID GRUNFELD

Juvenile performs during halftime of Monday night’s game between the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons at the Caesars Superdome.

WALKER

Continued from page 1C for a long time. And even when you try to forget about what happened on Oct. 5, 2026, your “friends” in Atlanta will make sure to remind you about it every chance they get. That’s what rivals do. All the momentum from that surprise win against Baltimore two weeks ago vanished, much like the Saints fans disappeared in the fourth quarter when this one got completely out of hand. The boos in the Dome for a Saints-Falcons game are usually reserved for the team wearing the black and red. But the guys in black and gold got their share from the home crowd this time, too. Truth be told, they earned every one of them with their play. “When you’re playing the Falcons and you lose like that, I’d boo, too,” quarterback Tyler Shough said. If you’re trying to ﬁnd a silver lining in what was a very dark

CAJUNS

Continued from page 1C just, you know, the game’s kind of slowing down.” Wilson also said he believes in this team’s bond. “It’s everybody playing for each other,” he said. “Then I feel like there’s no drop off. Whenever this person needs to come in or this person needs to step up, they do. It’s just everybody being in one accord. I think that makes us really, really dangerous.” Wilson’s never been afraid of a challenge. He decided to walk on at UL because he had heard of

cloud, this was just the fourth of 17 games. The Saints are 1-3. Most people expected them to be 2-2, at best, through the first four games. But the problem with this loss is how they lost. You can talk yourself into saying the Saints were just too banged up to stop Robinson and friends and just chalk this up as one of those nights. How the Saints respond to this loss will go a long way in determining that. The concern is the uncertainty about the Saints’ issues being fixed any time soon. Kellen Moore, in his second season as head coach, has yet to figure out how to get his team to start fast. The Saints have trailed at halftime in 18 of the 21 games since he took over. They have yet to play consistently for four quarters. Playing from behind and forcing Shough to have to play hero ball in the second half isn’t going to work. The Saints can’t run the ball and they can’t stop the run. They haven’t been good in the trenches on either side. Special teams

play, other than the one game against the Ravens, has been mediocre. Penalties come at the most inopportune time. Those are all the things you expect from a bad team. Moore blamed the struggles on not being prepared and not executing. The preparation falls on him. The execution falls on him and the players. “I don’t want to feel like that ever again,” Shough said. Saints fans feel the same way. The Saints have a quick turnaround, hosting the undefeated Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. Saints legend Drew Brees will be inducted into the team’s Ring of Honor at that game. Maybe the celebration of the greatest player in Saints history will turn out much better than the celebration of one of the greatest plays in team history. Perhaps, as Franklin sang, it’ll be a brighter day. It certainly can’t be any worse.

Desormeaux’s reputation of honoring hard work, even if it wasn’t by recruited prospects. “I like the school and then football,” Wilson said of his decision to walk on. “I also love football, so I was like, you know, I’m going to take a shot on it. And I knew coach Des was known for his giving walk-ons opportunities, so I took a shot and it’s been good ever since.” Wilson arrived expecting nothing but prepared to give his all. “I came in knowing that I had to work and nothing would be given to me and nothing would be expected of me,” Wilson said. “So obviously coming in as a walk-on, you’re viewed as a walk-on until you prove otherwise. I wouldn’t

say it was discouraging. I was thankful for everything, and I just came in ready to work.” Wilson said he never grew discouraged before the coaches began taking notice of his approach to the game. “It actually came pretty early,” he said. “I was able to get on the ﬁeld, special teams, in my regular freshman year. So, I saw the potential and I saw that they were giving me a role and they were starting to trust me. “That’s what it takes, that level of trust, and you just want to build from there.” While Desormeaux asserts that younger players typically don’t understand all the things they must

Email Rod Walker at rwalker@ theadvocate.com.

LSU

Continued from page 1C

even better on third down. It’s allowed opposing offenses to pick up only 26% of their third-down attempts, the ninth-lowest rate among FBS teams. But the LSU offense is making history. It’s already broken the program record for first downs in a game — not once but twice. Southern Cal and Miami are the only two FBS teams that have picked up more first downs than the Tigers have this season (141). They’re averaging 28.2 first downs per game. In 2025, LSU averaged 18.8 first downs per game. That ranked 102nd in the country.

rushing: Dilin Jones (426), Sam Leavitt (220), Harlem Berry (196) and Stacy Gage (166). Jones, a Wisconsin transfer, is enjoying a breakout year. He ranks fifth among SEC ball carriers in yards and third in attempts (94). He’s only 80 yards away from topping what the Tigers’ 2025 rushing leader, Caden Durham, produced across the 12 games he played last season. Berry and Gage have been two of the league’s 10 most efficient Pace backs. Both are averaging north It’s no secret Kiffin wants his of 7 yards per carry. offense to move quickly. You can measure its pace by Third down the number of plays it runs. The LSU was excellent on third faster the Tigers can get to the down in 2024, but it wasn’t very line and get set, the more plays good in 2025. Kelly was fired, in they’ll run. Last season, more than 90 FBS part, because his offense slipped from sixth nationally in third- teams ran more plays than LSU. down conversion rate (49%) to This year, that number is zero. No 96th (37%) between quarterback team that has played five games Garrett Nussmeier’s two years as has run more plays than LSU. The Tigers just ran a school-rea starter. Now the Tigers are back near cord 101 plays against McNeese, the top of the country in that im- pushing their season total to 415, portant facet of the game. LSU an average of 83 per game. That’s a lot of opportunities for has converted 52% of its thirddown tries, which is the 12th-best Kiffin to show off his new-look ofrate in the nation. fense, a cutting-edge attack off to The LSU defense has been a hot start.

master to get playing time, Wilson figured it out pretty quickly. “Coach talks about being process oriented,” Wilson said. “I think it just goes back to just kind of growing up. Coach says, ‘You’re a young guy as long as you let yourself be one.’ “I just think processes — so going to sleep on time, you know, getting extra film work, meeting with coaches outside of the designated meeting time — just things like that that’s starting to show up. And then it started showing up on the field. When that comes, that’s where the trust comes in.” On Monday, Desormeaux said players such as Wilson likely won’t play on special teams as

much when being relied upon on defense. Wilson has sympathy for his injured teammates because he’s been there. In his sophomore season, he was limited to four games with an injury. “With anything, there’s going to be highs and lows,” he said. “I just try to stay thankful. So those times being away from the game injured, it makes you realize like, ‘Man, I wish I could just practice or I wish I could just do conditioning or the things nobody wants to do.’ “I think the injuries earlier on in my career made me grateful.” Email Kevin Foote at kfoote@ theadvocate.com.

4C ● Wednesday, October 7, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

lll

JS Clark eyes winning record in 1st season BY ERIC NARCISSE

Staff writer

Sure, things could always be better. But for the JS Clark Bulldogs, things have gone better than they had expected this season — their first — in the Louisiana High School Athletic Association. At the midway point of the season, the Bulldogs are 3-2 overall and 1-0 in District 6-1A. “The season is going good,” Bulldogs coach Jestin Kelly said. “We’ve had our ups and downs so far this season, but it’s been a positive season. There’s been some progression, so we’re going in the right direction.” After a rough opener in which they were routed 70-28 by Iota, the Bulldogs put together a threegame winning streak that was snapped last week in heartbreaking fashion against Elton. “We were pretty optimistic coming into the season,” said Kelly, whose Bulldogs will host Opelousas Catholic at 7 p.m. Thursday. “I knew we had some experience returning. We have some really good athletes here, and I knew we were going to have some bumps. I thought we’d be

able to compete.” Kelly said the Bulldogs didn’t set lofty goals in the offseason and instead focused on going “1-0” every week. “We didn’t say anything like we were going to go win it all or anything like that,” Kelly said. “We knew it was our ﬁrst year playing for district and playoff (honors), but I knew we would have some success. We’ve had some hardship, but we have rolled with the punches.” Offensively, the Bulldogs are led by quarterback Paul Lee and receivers Jayden Sonnier and Jeremy Sonnier. “I always say Paul is a quarterback. I know that’s his position, but he’s everything you would want in a quarterback,” Kelly said. “He’s poised, makes good decisions, has great character and he’s a leader.” In five games this season, Lee has completed 52 of 77 passes for 851 yards, 11 touchdowns and two interceptions. “He’s having an awesome season,” Kelly said. “I really hope the recruiting ball starts rolling for him, because I do believe he’s a next-level quarterback.” The Sonnier brothers are among the top receivers in the area sta-

they’re showing it week in and week out,” Kelly said. “Jeremy also plays defense — starting cornerback — as well. He’s locking guys down on that side of the ball and then going back out there and making plays on offense. Those two brothers have been lighting it up and doing big things this season for us.” While X’s and O’s have contributed to their success, Kelly’s ability to get the players to buy in and trust him has been vital to the Bulldogs’ success. Kelly, who is the Bulldogs’ third head coach in four years, said earning the players’ trust required “action not words.” “It’s been about repetition and just showing up every day. Letting them see that I’m gonna be here and letting them hold me accountable,” Kelly said. “These kids want structure. They want a solid program. “When you come in as the third PROVIDED PHOTO head coach, there’s not too much JS Clark senior receiver/defensive back Jeremy Sonnier, left, has been talking that you can do,” Kelly among the bright spots for the Bulldogs this season. said. “It’s about action, and that’s what I’ve been trying to do — be active and here every day.” tistically, with Jayden leading the 315 yards and four touchdowns. Bulldogs with 24 receptions for “Jayden and Jeremy are awe429 yards and seven touchdowns, some. I believe they are two of Email Eric Narcisse at while Jeremy has 20 catches for the best wideouts in this area, and enarcisse@theadvocate.com.

SCOREBOARD High school

(Rodón 7-3), 7 p.m. (TBS/TruTV/HBO Max) x-Saturday: N.Y. Yankees at Tampa Bay, 7 p.m. (TBS/TruTV/HBO Max)

Volleyball Wednesday’s area matches

Catholic-NI at Teurlings, Beau Chene at Southside, David Thibodaux at Westgate, Delcambre at Acadiana Renaissance, St. Martinville at Lafayette Christian, North Vermilion at Church Point, Eunice at Port Barre, Rayne at Westlake, Episcopal of Acadiana at Notre Dame, Acadiana Christian at Sacred Heart.

Odds FAVORITE at DALLAS

Sunday

OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG 3½ 8½ (47½) Tampa Bay

FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG at JAX 1½ 7 (42½) Philadelphia Houston 3½ 7½ (38½) at TENN at NE 8½ 3½ (45½) Las Vegas at NY JETS 2½ 2½ (40½) Cleveland at WASHINGTON 2½ 3½ (43½) NY Giants Chicago 3 2½ (45½) at GRN BAY Minnesota 1½ 2 (42½) at NO at PITTSBURGH 2½ 2½ (44½) Indianapolis Cincinnati 5½ 7½ (42½) at MIAMI Denver 2½ 3½ (42½)at CHARGERS Detroit 8½ 4½ (54½) at ARIZONA at SEATTLE 3½ 3 (46½) San Fran at ATLANTA 4½ 3½ (43½) Baltimore

Monday

FAVORITE at LA RAMS

OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG 3 3 (54½) Buffalo

College Football Wednesday

FAVORITE Jax State at FLA INT’L

Thursday

Oct. 3: L.A. Dodgers 5, Atlanta 3 Oct. 4: Atlanta 3, L.A. Dodgers 2 Tuesday: L.A. Dodgers at Atlanta, n Wednesday: L.A. Dodgers at Atlanta, 5 p.m. (FOX/FS1) x-Friday: Atlanta at L.A. Dodgers, 7 p.m. (FOX/FS1)

Milwaukee 2, San Diego 0

NFL Thursday

National League L.A. Dodgers 1, Atlanta 1

OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG 2½ 3 (49½) at KNNSW ST 4½ 6½ (47½) N. Mexico St

FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG at WESTERN KY 2½ 2½ (56½) Missouri St at LIBERTY 13½ 13½ (52½)Sam Houston at UTSA 6½ 7½ (50½)South Florida at ARKANSAS ST 1½ 1½ (58½) S. Alabama

Friday

FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG at LOUISVILLE 7½ 3½ (59½) Florida State at SAN JOSE ST 6 6 (43½) Wyoming at WASHINGTON 1½ 3½ (41½) Iowa at UTAH STATE 1½ 5½ (44½) Wash St at BYU 14½ 10½ (46½) Iowa State

Saturday

FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG at ARMY 6½ 3½ (48½) Tulane Indiana 8½ 7½ (51½)at NEBRASKA at BOWL GREEN 6½ 7½ (44½) Sacramnt St at MISSOURI 1½ 3½ (48½) Texas A&M Arizona 3½ 3 (61½) at WEST VA at PITTSBURGH 4½ 3½ (47½) N. Carolina at OKLA ST 9½ 8½ (53½) UCF Wake Forest 2½ 3½ (59½) at NC STATE at N’WESTERN 34½ 36½ (52½) Ball State at FLORIDA 14½ 12½ (61½) S.Carolina at APP STATE 5½ 9½ (50½)Old Dominion Miami (OH) 2½ 2½ (47½) at UMASS at KANSAS ST 1½ 2½ (55½) Houston Illinois 2½ 2½ (48½) at MICH ST at W MICHIGAN 13½ 13½ (43½) Kent State Texas 6½ 8½ (39½) at OKLA at TOLEDO 17½ 20½ (54½) Buffalo Duke 5½ 7 (48½) at GA TECH at OHIO 3½ 3 (46½) C.Michigan Ole Miss 10½ 9½ (59½) at VANDRBLT at NAVY 3½ 2½ (48½) Tulsa at N. TEXAS 24½ 28½ (57½) Charlotte Virginia Tech 11½ 9½ (53½) at CAL at NOTRE DM 35½ 38½ (54½) Stanford E. Michigan 5½ 6½ (52½) at AKRON at OREGON 12½ 11½ (58½) UCLA at TEMPLE 3 3½ (55½) UConn at E. CAROLINA 9½ 10 (47½) Rice Tennessee 14½ 13½ (51½)at ARKANSAS at OHIO STATE 37½ 34½ (56½) Maryland at OREGON ST 14½ 14½ (53½) San Diego St LSU 10½ 8½ (52½)at KENTUCKY at MEMPHIS 16½ 14½ (57½) UAB Nevada 9½ 9½ (49½) at UTEP NDSU 1½ 3½ (48½) at UNLV at MARSHALL 2½ 3 (58½) Co. Carolina at ALABAMA 2½ 1½ (52½) Georgia James Madison 10 7½ (53½) at GA STHRN at PENN STATE PK 1½ (54½) USC at VIRGINIA 6½ 9½ (50½) Syracuse at LA TECH 1½ 3 (48½) UL Air Force 12½ 7½ (46½) at N.ILLINOIS Minnesota 5½ 2½ (50½) at PURDUE at UTAH 13½ 15½ (51½) Kansas at ARIZONA ST 17½ 20½ (50½) Hawaii Boise State 10½ 6½ (48½)at FRESNO ST

MLB

Wednesday

American League FAVORITE LINE UNDERDOG Cleveland -123 at CHI. WHITE SOX at N.Y YANKEES -164 Tampa Bay National League FAVORITE LINE UNDERDOG at ATLANTA OFF LA Dodgers

LINE +101 +135 LINE OFF

Oct. 3: Milwaukee 3, San Diego 2 Oct. 4: Milwaukee 4, San Diego 3 Tuesday: Milwaukee at San Diego, n x-Wednesday: Milwaukee at San Diego, 9 p.m. (FOX/FS1) x-Friday: San Diego at Milwaukee, 3:30 p.m. (FOX/FS1)

Late Monday Tampa Bay 5, N.Y. Yankees 2 New York

Tampa Bay ab r h bi ab r h bi Rice dh 3 2 2 2 Díaz dh 4 1 1 0 Bellinger lf 4 0 1 0 Mateo pr-dh 0 0 0 0 García 1b 4 0 0 0 Aranda 1b 5 1 2 0 Caballero 3b0 0 0 0 Caminero 3b 4 1 2 0 Jones rf 4 0 0 0 Hicks c 3 0 0 1 Lombard ss 4 0 0 0 Simpson lf 4 1 1 1 Chisholm 2b 4 0 0 0 Mesa rf 3 0 0 0 Grisham cf 3 0 0 0 DeLuca cf 4 1 1 0 A.Wells c 3 0 1 0 Palacios 2b 4 0 1 2 McMahon 3b1 0 0 0 Walls ss 4 0 0 0 Gldscht ph-1b 1 0 0 0 Totals 31 2 4 2 Totals 35 5 8 4 New York 000 100 010 — 2 Tampa Bay 100 040 00x — 5 E—McMahon (1), Chisholm (1), A.Wells (1), Lombard (1). LOB—New York 4, Tampa Bay 9. 2B—A.Wells (2), DeLuca (1), Caminero (1). HR—Rice 2 (2). SB—Simpson (1), DeLuca (1), Mesa (1). IP H R ER BB SO New York 6 4 2 1 2 Schlittler L,0-1 4 1⁄3 2 ⁄3 1 1 0 0 1 Headrick Schreiber 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 ⁄3 0 0 0 1 0 Weathers Blackburn 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 ⁄3 1 0 0 0 0 Bednar Tampa Bay 3 1 1 1 3 Peralta 4 2⁄3 1 ⁄3 0 0 0 1 0 Booser W,1-0 Seymour H,1 3 1 1 1 0 4 Baker S,2-2 1 0 0 0 0 0 Blackburn pitched to 2 batters in the 8th. ABS Challenge—Schlittler (Ball-Overturned to Strike); DeLuca (Strike-Conﬁrmed); Jones (Strike-Overturned to Ball); Baker (BallOverturned to Strike). Umpires—Home, Jeremie Rehak; First, Dan Bellino; Second, Ben May; Third, D.J. Reyburn; Right, Shane Livensparger; Left, Ryan Wills. T—3:02. A—40,226 (25,025).

Chicago White Sox 4, Cleveland 3

Chicago

Cleveland ab r h bi ab r h bi Antonacci lf 4 0 0 0 Kwan cf 4 1 1 0 Teel c 4 1 1 0 Ramírez 3b 3 1 0 0 Vargas 3b 2 1 1 0 DeLauter rf 4 1 2 0 Murkmi 1b 4 0 1 1 Adell dh 3 0 1 1 Bnintndi dh 2 0 0 0 Lowe 1b 4 0 0 1 Grichuk dh 1 1 0 0 Martínez lf 4 0 0 0 Peters cf 2 0 0 0 Bazzana 2b 3 0 0 0 Pham ph 1 0 0 0 Bailey c 4 0 0 0 Doyle cf 1 0 0 0 Rocchio ss 3 0 0 0 B.Mtgmry rf 4 1 1 2 Meidoth 2b 4 0 2 1 C.Mntgmry ss 3 0 0 0 Totals 32 4 6 4 Totals 32 3 4 2 Chicago 000 103 000 — 4 Cleveland 200 000 010 — 3 E—Newcomb (), Gaddis (). DP—Chicago 0, Cleveland 1. LOB—Chicago 5, Cleveland 5. 2B—B.Montgomery (1). 3B—Adell (1). IP H R ER BB SO Chicago 1 ⁄3 1 2 1 1 0 Kay Newcomb 2 1 0 0 1 3 6 Burke W,1-0 5 1⁄3 1 1 1 1 0 Taylor S,2-2 1 1⁄3 1 0 0 0 Cleveland Williams 5 4 2 2 3 11 2 ⁄3 1 2 2 1 0 Sabrowski L,0-1 BS,0-1 Gaddis 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 Armstrong 1 1⁄3 0 0 0 0 C.Smith 1 0 0 0 0 0 Newcomb pitched to 2 batters in the 3rd, Williams pitched to 1 batter in the 6th, Gaddis pitched to 2 batters in the 7th. WP—Sabrowski. ABS Challenge—Williams (Ball-Confirmed); Antonacci (Strike-Confirmed); Burke (BallConfirmed). Pitch timer violations—Newcomb (pitcher). Umpires—Home, Gabe Morales; First, Todd Tichenor; Second, Jansen Visconti; Third, Vic Carapazza; Right, Cory Blaser; Left, Tom Hanahan. T—3:06. A—32,050 (34,788).

Baseball

Pro basketball

MLB postseason glance

WNBA playoff glance

DIVISION SERIES

Semiﬁnals

American League Chicago White Sox 2, Cleveland 0

Golden State 1, Las Vegas 0

(Best-of-5; x-if necessary)

Oct. 3: Chicago White Sox 3, Cleveland 0 Monday: Chicago White Sox 4, Cleveland 3 Wednesday: Cleveland at Chicago White Sox, 3 p.m. (TBS/TruTV/HBO Max) x-Thursday: Cleveland at Chicago White Sox, 4 p.m. (TBS/TruTV/HBO Max) x-Saturday: Chicago White Sox at Cleveland, 4 p.m. (TBS/TruTV/HBO Max)

Tampa Bay 2, N.Y. Yankees 0

Oct. 3: Tampa Bay 1, N.Y. Yankees 0 Monday: Tampa Bay 5, N.Y. Yankees 2 Wednesday: Tampa Bay (N. Martinez 15-6) at N.Y. Yankees (Fried 5-5), 7 p.m. (TBS/ TruTV/HBO Max) x-Thursday: Tampa Bay at N.Y. Yankees

(Best-of-5; x-if necessary)

Oct. 4: Golden State 71, Las Vegas 60 Wednesday: Las Vegas at Golden State, 8:30 p.m. Friday: Golden State at Las Vegas, 8:30 p.m. x-Sunday: Golden State at Las Vegas, TBA x-Oct. 14: Las Vegas at Golden State, TBA

Atlanta 1, New York 0

Oct. 4: Atlanta 92, New York 82 Wednesday: New York at Atlanta, 6:30 p.m. Friday: Atlanta at New York, 6:30 p.m. x-Sunday: Atlanta at New York, TBA x-Oct. 14: New York at Atlanta, TBA

Finals

(Best-of-5) Atlanta/New York winner vs. Golden State/ Las Vegas winner

Pro football

Wednesday’s games

SOUTH Jacksonville St. (3-2) at Kennesaw St. (1-3), 6 p.m. New Mexico St. (2-3) at FIU (2-2), 6:30 p.m.

NFL glance AMERICAN CONFERENCE East

Thursday’s games

W Buffalo 3 New England 2 N.Y. Jets 1 Miami 0

L 1 2 3 4

T 0 0 0 0

Pct .750 .500 .250 .000

PF 127 65 76 46

PA 107 77 84 101

Jacksonville Indianapolis Tennessee Houston

W 3 2 0 0

L 1 2 4 4

T 0 0 0 0

Pct .750 .500 .000 .000

PF 104 102 55 84

PA 53 104 83 109

Cleveland Baltimore Pittsburgh Cincinnati

W 3 3 2 2

L 1 1 2 2

T 0 0 0 0

Pct .750 .750 .500 .500

PF 81 116 77 97

PA 95 96 87 85

Kansas City Las Vegas Denver L.A. Chargers

W 4 3 2 0

L 0 1 2 4

T Pct 0 1.000 0 .750 0 .500 0 .000

PF 118 115 74 67

PA 77 84 94 106

N.Y. Giants Philadelphia Dallas Washington

W 3 2 2 1

L 1 2 2 3

T 0 0 0 0

Pct .750 .500 .500 .250

PF 82 75 122 88

PA 79 93 112 122

Carolina Atlanta New Orleans Tampa Bay

W 2 2 1 0

L 2 2 3 4

T 0 0 0 0

Pct .500 .500 .250 .000

PF 121 96 105 76

PA 109 92 128 96

Minnesota Chicago Detroit Green Bay

W 4 3 2 2

L 0 1 2 2

T Pct 0 1.000 0 .750 0 .500 0 .500

PF 86 112 119 73

PA 51 65 127 105

San Francisco Seattle L.A. Rams Arizona

W 4 3 2 1

L 0 1 2 3

T Pct 0 1.000 0 .750 0 .500 0 .250

PF 122 105 85 87

PA 64 73 83 117

South

North

West

NATIONAL CONFERENCE East

South

North

West

Late Monday

Atlanta 45, New Orleans 24

Thursday’s game

Tampa Bay at Dallas, 7:15 p.m.

Sunday’s games

Philadelphia vs. Jacksonville at London, 8:30 a.m. Chicago at Green Bay, noon Cincinnati at Miami, noon Cleveland at N.Y. Jets, noon Houston at Tennessee, noon Indianapolis at Pittsburgh, noon Las Vegas at New England, noon Minnesota at New Orleans, noon N.Y. Giants at Washington, noon Denver at L.A. Chargers, 3:05 p.m. Detroit at Arizona, 3:25 p.m. San Francisco at Seattle, 3:25 p.m. Baltimore at Atlanta, 7:20 p.m. Open: Kansas City, Carolina

Oct. 12

Buffalo at L.A. Rams, 7:15 p.m.

Late Monday

Atlanta 45, New Orleans 24

Atlanta 14 10 7 14 — 45 New Orleans 0 7 3 14 — 24 First Quarter Atl—Bi.Robinson 59 run (Folk kick), 13:34. Atl—Bi.Robinson 4 run (Folk kick), :48. Second Quarter NO—Kamara 3 run (Carlson kick), 14:57. Atl—Br.Robinson 4 run (Folk kick), 8:59. Atl—FG Folk 29, 3:07. Third Quarter NO—FG Carlson 27, 7:38. Atl—Br.Robinson 8 run (Folk kick), 2:11. Fourth Quarter NO—Kamara 5 run (Carlson kick), 13:00. Atl—Dotson 31 pass from Penix (Folk kick), 9:48. Atl—Br.Robinson 11 run (Folk kick), 6:52. NO—Vele 3 pass from Shough (Carlson kick), 1:13. A—70,007. Atl NO First downs 24 22 Total Net Yards 420 320 Rushes-yards 35-205 19-50 Passing 215 270 Punt Returns 1-25 1-2 Kickoff Returns 3-65 8-209 Interceptions Ret. 0-0 0-0 Comp-Att-Int 15-20-0 30-48-0 Sacked-Yards Lost 1-8 2-16 Punts 2-36.0 3-49.667 Fumbles-Lost 0-0 1-1 Penalties-Yards 8-70 8-49 Time of Possession 30:45 29:15 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING—Atlanta, Bi.Robinson 19-145, Br.Robinson 14-62, Penix 2-(minus 2). New Orleans, Kamara 7-23, Donaldson 3-18, K.Miller 6-9, Shough 2-5, Brown 1-(minus 5). PASSING—Atlanta, Penix 15-20-0-223. New Orleans, Shough 30-48-0-286. RECEIVING—Atlanta, D.London 5-96, Pitts 3-47, Dotson 2-54, Branch 2-10, Hooper 1-9, Br.Robinson 1-5, Bi.Robinson 1-2. New Orleans, Olave 8-116, Johnson 6-59, Vele 6-54, Kamara 5-35, K.Miller 2-10, Donaldson 2-5, Lance 1-7. MISSED FIELD GOALS—New Orleans, Carlson 52.

College football National schedule Tuesday’s game

SOUTH Southern Miss. at Troy, n

SOUTH Sam Houston St. (1-3) at Liberty (4-1), 6 p.m. Missouri St. (1-3) at W. Kentucky (1-4), 6 p.m. SOUTHWEST South Florida (4-1) at UTSA (4-1), 6:30 p.m. South Alabama (3-2) at Arkansas St. (2-3), 6:30 p.m.

Friday’s games

SOUTH Florida St. (3-2) at Louisville (2-3), 6 p.m. FAR WEST Iowa (4-1) at Washington (3-2), 8 p.m. Washington St. (1-4) at Utah St. (1-4), 8 p.m. Iowa St. (3-2) at BYU (4-0), 9:15 p.m.

Saturday

EAST North Carolina (2-2) at Pittsburgh (5-0), 11 a.m. Arizona (4-1) at West Virginia (3-2), 11 a.m. Miami (Ohio) (2-3) at UMass (4-1), 1 p.m. Tulsa (3-2) at Navy (1-3), 2:30 p.m. UConn (2-3) at Temple (2-3), 2:45 p.m. Coastal Carolina (1-4) at Marshall (3-2), 6 p.m. Southern Cal (5-1) at Penn St. (3-2), 6:30 p.m. SOUTH Wake Forest (4-1) at NC State (3-2), 11 a.m. South Carolina (2-3) at Florida (4-1), 11:45 a.m. Old Dominion (1-4) at Appalachian St. (3-1), noon Duke (4-0) at Georgia Tech (1-3), 2:30 p.m. Ole Miss (3-1) at Vanderbilt (3-2), 2:30 p.m. Rice (1-4) at East Carolina (2-2), 3 p.m. UAB (3-2) at Memphis (4-1), 6 p.m. James Madison (5-0) at Georgia Southern (2-3), 6:30 p.m. Syracuse (2-2) at Virginia (3-2), 6:30 p.m. Georgia (5-0) at Alabama (5-0), 6:30 p.m. MIDWEST Indiana (5-0) at Nebraska (5-0), 11 a.m. Sacramento St. (1-4) at Bowling Green (1-4), 11 a.m. Texas A&M (3-2) at Missouri (4-1), 11 a.m. Ball St. (1-4) at Northwestern (3-1), 11:30 a.m. E. Michigan (3-3) at Akron (1-4), 2:30 p.m. Stanford (2-3) at Notre Dame (5-0), 2:30 p.m. Houston (4-1) at Kansas St. (3-1), 2:30 p.m. Illinois (2-3) at Michigan St. (2-3), 2:30 p.m. Kent St. (2-3) at W. Michigan (3-2), 2:30 p.m. Buffalo (2-3) at Toledo (4-1), 2:30 p.m. Cent. Michigan (3-2) at Ohio (3-2), 2:30 p.m. Maryland (2-3) at Ohio St. (4-1), 3:15 p.m. Air Force (3-1) at N. Illinois (0-4), 6:30 p.m. Minnesota (4-1) at Purdue (2-3), 7 p.m. SOUTHWEST UCF (3-2) at Oklahoma St. (3-1), 11 a.m. MVSU (2-4) at Texas Southern (1-4), 2 p.m. Oklahoma (2-2) vs. Texas (4-0) at Dallas, 2:30 p.m. Charlotte (0-5) at North Texas (3-2), 2:30 p.m. Tennessee (4-1) at Arkansas (2-3), 3:15 p.m. Nevada (1-3) at UTEP (1-4), 6 p.m. FAR WEST Virginia Tech (4-1) at California (2-3), 2:30 p.m. UCLA (4-0) at Oregon (3-1), 2:30 p.m. San Diego St. (2-3) at Oregon St. (3-2), 5 p.m. N. Dakota St. (5-0) at UNLV (3-2), 6 p.m. Kansas (2-2) at Utah (4-0), 9:15 p.m. Hawaii (1-4) at Arizona St. (2-2), 9:30 p.m. Boise St. (4-1) at Fresno St. (4-1), 9:30 p.m.

State schedule

Saturday’s games

Tulane (2-2) at Army (2-2), 11 a.m. Southern (2-4) at Prairie View (2-4), 2 p.m. Jackson St. (5-0) at Grambling (3-2), 4 p.m. LSU (4-1) at Kentucky (4-1), 6 p.m. UL (4-1) at Louisiana Tech (2-2), 6:30 p.m. Southeastern (3-2) at UT Rio Grande Valley (2-3), 7 p.m.

Soccer MLS glance Eastern Conference Nashville New England Inter Miami CF Charlotte FC Chicago Philadelphia Orlando City New York New York City FC Cincinnati D.C. United Columbus Toronto FC Atlanta CF Montréal Western Conference

W L T Pts GF GA 18 3 6 60 55 21 14 9 4 46 45 36 12 5 10 46 64 50 12 8 7 43 47 38 12 8 6 42 46 38 11 10 6 39 54 44 10 13 4 34 48 64 9 12 6 33 34 51 8 10 9 33 41 36 8 9 9 33 55 64 6 8 12 30 34 42 8 14 5 29 39 43 6 10 11 29 39 51 7 14 6 27 32 45 6 15 6 24 34 54

W L T Pts GF GA Vancouver 15 6 5 50 59 26 St Louis City 13 6 8 47 48 36 FC Dallas 13 6 8 47 50 42 San Jose 13 8 6 45 49 39 Houston 13 9 5 44 34 32 Los Angeles FC 11 9 8 41 43 30 Seattle 10 9 8 38 35 35 Colorado 11 13 3 36 38 38 LA Galaxy 9 10 9 36 37 44 Portland 9 13 5 32 48 51 Real Salt Lake 9 13 5 32 40 44 San Diego FC 8 11 8 32 47 47 Austin FC 7 10 10 31 35 47 7 12 8 29 40 49 Minnesota United Sporting Kansas City 6 18 3 21 32 65 NOTE: Three points for victory, one point for tie.

Tuesday’s game

Vancouver at Chicago, n

Saturday’s games

CF Montréal at Toronto FC, noon New York City FC at Chicago, 1:30 p.m. Cincinnati at Atlanta, 6:30 p.m. FC Dallas at Charlotte FC, 6:30 p.m. D.C. United at Miami, 6:30 p.m. Seattle at New England, 6:30 p.m.

San Diego FC at New York, 6:30 p.m. Columbus at Orlando City, 6:30 p.m. Real Salt Lake at Philadelphia, 6:30 p.m. Nashville at Austin FC, 7:30 p.m. Portland at Sporting Kansas City, 7:30 p.m. Houston at Minnesota, 7:30 p.m. San Jose at Colorado, 8:30 p.m. Vancouver at Los Angeles FC, 9:30 p.m.

Sunday’s games

LA Galaxy at St. Louis City, 6 p.m.

Tennis ATP China Open Results Tuesday At National Tennis Center, Beijing Purse: $4,089,385 Surface: Hardcourt outdoor Men’s Singles Championship Novak Djokovic (6), Serbia, def. Alex de Minaur (5), Australia, 7-6 (3), 0-1, ret. Men’s Doubles Championship Lloyd Glasspool and Julian Cash (2), Britain, def. David Pel and Sander Arends, Netherlands, 6-3, 3-6, 10-6.

WTA China Open Results

Tuesday At National Tennis Center, Beijing Purse: $9,415,725 Surface: Hardcourt outdoor Women’s Singles Round of 16 Mirra Andreeva (4), Russia, def. Daria Snigur, Ukraine, 6-2, 6-2. Ekaterina Alexandrova (19), Russia, def. Linda Noskova (5), Czechia, 6-2, 6-2. Karolina Muchova (7), Czechia, def. Naomi Osaka (12), Japan, 7-5, 1-6, 7-6 (7). Nikola Bartunkova (26), Czechia, def. Sinja Kraus, Austria, 6-0, 4-6, 6-3.

Transactions NBA LA CLIPPERS — Waived G Fletcher Loyer. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER — Waived G Robert McCray V. ORLANDO MAGIC — Waived G Johnell Davis. UTAH JAZZ — Waived G Terrell Brown Jr.

NFL

ARIZONA CARDINALS — Signed TE Teagan Quitoriano from the practice squad to the active roster. Placed LT Paris Johnson Jr. and TE Hunter Long on injured reserve. Signed TE Kenny Yeboah, OL Austin Deculus and S Mark Perry to the practice squad. Released OL Vershon Lee and CB D’Shawn Jamison from the practice squad. BUFFALO BILLS — Signed CB A.J. Woods to the practice squad. CHICAGO BEARS — Signed DB Elijah Jones and WR Scotty Miller to the practice squad. Released DB Deantre Prince from the practice squad. CLEVELAND BROWNS — Designated QB Dillon Gabriel and DT Kalia Davis to return from injured reserve. Signed WR James Proche and DT Chris Williams to the practice squad. Released RB Eric Gray and P Wes Pahl from the practice squad. GREEN BAY PACKERS — Placed LB Edgerrin Cooper on injured reserve. Signed LB Kristian Welch to the active roster. Signed RB Damon Bankston to the practice squad. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS — Signed WR Quez Watkins to the practice squad. Released CB Elijah Culp from the practice squad. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS — Signed CB Jaylon Jones and CB Alijah Huzzie to the active roster. Placed S Caleb Ransaw on injured reserve. Waived CB Christian Braswell with an injury designation. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS — Signed OT Daniel Brunskill to the practice squad. Released DL Jordan Jefferson. Designated FB/DL Scott Matlock and OL Branson Taylor to return to practice. LOS ANGELES RAMS — Signed LB Eric Kendricks to the practice squad. MIAMI DOLPHINS — Signed DE Eric Watts to the practice squad. Released DE Amari Gainer from the practice squad. MINNESOTA VIKINGS — Placed G Donovan Jackson on injured reserve. Signed OT Tristan Leigh to the practice squad. Released CB Natrone Brooks, P Johnny Hekker and RB Devin Neal from the practice squad. Waived CB Tyreek Chappell from injured reserve. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS — Released OL Jose Ramirez. Signed CB Al’Zillion Hamilton to the practice squad. Released OL Da’Metrius Weatherspoon from the practice squad. NEW YORK GIANTS — Signed WR Dontae Fleming to the practice squad. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES — T Lane Johnson announced his retirement. PITTSBURGH STEELERS — Signed CB Terell Smith from Washington’s practice squad to the active roster. Signed LB K.J. Henry to the practice squad. Released LB Bradyn Swinson from the practice squad. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS — Signed DL Viliami Fehoko Jr. to the practice squad. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS — Signed RB Robert Henry Jr. from Washington’s practice squad to the active roster. Waived S AJ Finley. Placed RB Jacardia Wright on the practice squad/injured list. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS — Signed CB Brandon Johnson to the practice squad. TENNESSEE TITANS — Signed OL Chandler Zavala, LB Chase Wilson and DB Derrick Canteen to the practice squad.

NHL

COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS — Placed LW Mikael Pyyhtia on waivers. NASHVILLE PREDATORS — Recalled G Matt Murray from Milwaukee (AHL). Placed G Justus Annunen on injured reserve. NEW YORK RANGERS — Recalled C Gabriel Beaudoin from Hartford (AHL). Placed C Joe Veleno on injured reserve. Placed C Joe Veleno on injured reserve.

LIVING

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

W e d n e s d ay, O c t O b e r 7, 2026

5cn

TSAÔCAA 3637 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge l Currently open daily 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. but may change in the future.

A new journey

Korean and Taiwanese-inspired franchise opens in BR with boba, fried chicken, egg waffles BY MADDIE SCOTT Staff writer

Inside the former Jabby’s Pizza on Perkins Road, an Asianinspired franchise just opened its doors. Tsaôcaa soft-opened last week at 3627 Perkins Road with a grand opening Friday. Headquartered in New York City, the franchise was founded in 2018 and has grown to about 80 locations nationwide, two of which are in New Orleans and Chalmette. Manager Sally Li said the menu is mostly Korean and Taiwanese-inspired, featuring a wide range of bubble teas and a selection of savory dishes such as the chicken sandwich, Korean fried chicken and fries. “It’s much more lighter of a batter than the standard American batters,” Li said about the fried chicken. “It’s marinated overnight.” The chicken comes with a choice of 10 or 20 pieces and is available bone-in or boneless in six ﬂavors of dry rubs and dipping sauces, including golden crispy, classic soy garlic, cheesy crispy, secret sweet n’ spicy, secret hot n’ spicy and honey garlic. The chicken sandwich and fried chicken are available to order a la carte or as entrees with a choice of wafﬂe fries or thin-cut crispy fries.

STAFF FILE PHOTO BY LESLIE WESTBROOK

Pamplona Tapas Bar and Restaurant in Lafayette is taking over Jefferson Street with its annual Halloween pop-up, Nightmare on Jefferson Street.

Crafted concoctions

Toast to October with area Halloween and fall-themed cocktails, experiences BY JA’KORI MADISON Staff writer

Halloween is taking over two Lafayette restaurants this month, where elaborate decorations, themed cocktails and special events are turning dinner into an adult-focused spooky experience. At Mercy Kitchen, at 1312 Verot School Road, the Halloween festivities include specialty cocktails, outdoor decorations and themed events, including an emo-themed brunch. Mercy Kitchen’s Halloween atmosphere extends outdoors, where customers can take photos with the restaurant’s vintage truck, which will be decorated for the holiday. Outdoor seating also is available. Guests can pair the Halloween drinks with Mercy Kitchen’s full menu, which includes handhelds, burgers, salads, power bowls, shareable dishes and entrees. The Halloween cocktail menu includes Cousin It, made with mezcal, reposado tequila, spiced pear, ginger and lime; Corpse Bride, made with gin, blue curaçao, lemon and absinthe; Scary Monsters and Nice Spirits, made with vanilla

STAFF PHOTO BY JAVIER GALLEGOS

The topping is added to the Strawberry Matcha Mochi at Tsaôcaa.

Another bite is the takoyaki, served as a ball-shaped item filled with a variety of fare such as cabbage, vegetables or octopus. It’s then drizzled with a sweet brown sauce, Japanese mayonnaise and topped with fish flakes, Li said. “Takoyaki, I would say, is like an Asian version of a hush puppy,” Li said. The drink menu is extensive, with eventually 100 drinks to roll out over the next month or so. For the soft opening, the menu features options of milk tea, coconut water, fruit tea slush, classic fruit tea and coffee. The house specials currently highlight four drinks like the jasmine green milk tea made with brown sugar amber bubbles. Li enjoys a classic boba, so her personal favorite is the jasmine milk tea with tapioca bubbles. For a sweet bite, try the classic egg waffles, which can be filled with dessert red beans or boba. Tsaôcaa takes its name from two Chinese words, “pilgrimage” and “tea.” Inside, customers order at the counter and can sit at two- or four-top tables and a countertop bar. The outside patio area, decked with string lights, has several more tables with umbrellas.

STAFF PHOTO BY JA’KORI MADISON

At Mercy Kitchen, Halloween festivities include specialty cocktails, outdoor decorations and themed events. vodka, matcha and citrus; and Rum on the Brain, made with coconut rum, Licor 43 and lime. “Corpse Bride we had last year and it was a big seller, so we brought it back,” said Rene Dominique, a manager at Mercy Kitch-

en. “The Scary Monsters has a sweet taste to it and everyone loves matcha, so you can’t go wrong with that one.” For those skipping the alcohol,

ä See HALLOWEEN, page 6C

THE BEST THINGS WE ATE THIS WEEK

When cravings hit, consider classic restaurant fare Cheeseburgers from Riverside Patty

Staff report

Cheeseburger

n Riverside Patty, 10933 Cloverland

Ave., Baton Rouge

STAFF PHOTO BY IANNE SALVOSA

National Cheeseburger Day passed a couple of weeks ago, and some co-workers recommended Riverside Patty. I had never heard of it, quickly learning that it’s a quick drive from

the ofﬁce. Count me in. I got my cheeseburger fully dressed for around $7 after taxes. It came sliced in half with a couple of toothpicks speared on top. This burger was great and left me satiated. The affordable price didn’t downplay quality or taste. Inside, the old-school diner vibe was the perfect

ä See BEST, page 6C

6C ● Wednesday, October 7, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

lll

HALLOWEEN

BEST

Mercy Kitchen also offers holiday-themed mocktails, giving non-drinkers an option to take part in the Halloween festivities. Dominique said although the restaurant’s regular dinner crowd tends to include adults celebrating special occasions, families are also welcome. “Normally for dinner it’s dates and celebrations, so we do cater to an older crowd, but all families can come,” Dominique said. “I’ve seen families come for lunch and then come back later for dinner with friends.” The restaurant will host the emo-themed brunch on Oct. 11, featuring DJ RV, giving guests a chance to celebrate Halloween with a music-focused brunch experience. Mercy Kitchen also will have a DJ on Halloween night from 6 to 9 p.m. The Halloween festivities at Mercy Kitchen are scheduled to continue through Nov. 2. Pamplona Tapas Bar, at 631 Jefferson St., is taking over Jefferson Street with its annual Halloween popup. Nightmare on Jefferson St. is an indoor experience. Guests can take photos with employees dressed in costumes, including Michael Myers, Spider-Man and a bloody nurse. The Halloween pop-up features a lineup of themed cocktails, including Child’s Play, made with dark rum, blackberry, passion fruit, lime and orange cotton candy; Headless Horseman, made with rye whiskey, cinnamon and anise; Devil’s

backdrop for lunch with a friend. I’ll be back. — Maddie Scott, features reporter

Continued from page 5C

Chicken enchiladas

n El Paso Mexican Grill, 4808

S. Sherwood Forest Blvd., Baton Rouge

PROVIDED PHOTO

Halloween cocktails are available at Mercy Kitchen. Night, made with tequila, passion fruit, lime and Fresno chile pepper; and Norman Bates, made with gin, strawberry syrup and orange bitters, among others. “Another good one is our Red Rum and it’s served in a blood bag. It’s our sangria recipe with a twist to it,” owner Andrew Payne said. “I’d say that one is really popular.” Pamplona’s regular menu remains available, with the exception of two menu items, and includes tapas and full entrees. Options range from mussels, bacon-wrapped dates, salads, soups, fried calamari and charcuterie boards to lamb sliders, Wagyu and grilled tuna. For customers who want the Halloween atmosphere without alcohol, Pamplona also offers themed mock-

tails. “It’s a celebration of Halloween with all things that are spooky,” Payne said. “If they want to come in at a slower night, then Sundays at the bar are good. Also, the weeknights, TuesdayWednesday, are also a good day to come.” Nightmare on Jefferson St. runs through Nov. 1. Pamplona is open six days a week beginning at 4:30 p.m. and is closed Mondays. Reservations are encouraged as seats ﬁll quickly. Reservations also are encouraged at Mercy Kitchen, although walk-ins are available. Guests can call (337) 3451123 to reserve a table. Email Ja’kori Madison at jakori.madison@ theadvocate.com.

Fundraisers just want my money! that I was rather tired of Dear Miss Manners: My husonly being called when they band and I are professionwanted me to write a check, als who contribute generI was told, “Oh! But we ously to many charities. Of thought you WANTlate, however, we are noticing an unsavory ED to contribute to practice of certain our charity!” “society hosts” who Am I hopelessly head various chariincorrigible, unties: They invite us grateful and a bad to their galas and sport to expect Judith parties, charging for that such hostesses the honor of being Martin should occasioninvited in order to ally entertain me MISS raise money for the because they might MANNERS charity. actually enjoy my We have gladly atcompany, not just because I can add to their tended such affairs in the coffers for a good cause? past and written checks — And how would you suguntil we noticed that these grand dames occasionally gest I handle future rehad private parties to which quests to continue writing we were never included. them generous checks? Is it tacky for us to decide Gentle reader: Your desire that we do not wish to be not to sully genuine friendused in such a manner — ships with what is essentialthat is, only invited to a pay- ly a business transaction, if-you-come social occasion albeit one for a good cause, because of our checkbook? is entirely in line with Miss Once, when I actually had Manners’ own thinking on the temerity to complain the subject. Where she adto one of these socialites mits to confusion is in the

order of events. Had you been invited to what appeared to be a social event and then surprised with a request for money, her horror would have matched your own. But what exactly did you think you were getting into? You were asked to put down cash to spend time with these people, and then afterward, you expected to mean as much to them as they meant to you? The 19th century had a genre of literature based on this premise, but the reader was expected to know that it was fantasy, because the vendor did not have a heart of gold and the client was a bit naive.

I had been craving El Paso’s black bean dip, so I made plans with a friend to grab lunch there. Walking into El Paso feels like a warm hug because I’ve been walking into that building since it was an Applebee’s in high school. Not to mention, conversation over chips and salsa is one of my favorite things. I ordered lunch chicken enchiladas, and not only was the food brought out quickly, but it was also delicious. The tasty red sauce and shredded chicken were comforting. El Paso also always does rice and beans the way I like them, and so the entire lunch was a home run. — Joy Holden, features reporter

Po-boy

n Olde Tyme Grocery, 218 W.

Today is Wednesday, Oct. 7, the 280th day of 2026. There are 85 days left in the year. Today in history: On Oct. 7, 2023, Hamasled militants stormed into Israel from the Gaza Strip, killing nearly 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages. Israel’s retaliatory offensive and the ensuing Israel-Hamas war killed tens of thousands in Gaza, displaced about 90% of its population and destroyed vast areas until major combat subsided with an October 2025 ceaseﬁre agreement. Also on this date: In 1765, the Stamp Act Congress convened in New York to draw up colonial grievances against England. In 1913, the ﬁrst moving assembly line began operation at the Ford Motor Company factory in Highland Park, Michigan. In 1916, in the most lopsided victory in college football history, Georgia Tech defeated Cumberland University 222-0 in Atlanta. In 1985, Palestinian gunmen hijacked the Italian cruise ship Achille Lauro in the Mediterranean Sea. The

hijackers shot and killed Leon Klinghoffer, a Jewish American tourist in a wheelchair, and pushed him overboard, before surrendering on Oct. 9. In 1992, trade representatives of the United States, Canada and Mexico initialed the North American Free Trade Agreement during a ceremony in San Antonio, Texas, in the presence of President George H.W. Bush, Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and Mexican President Carlos Salinas de Gortari. In 1998, Matthew Shepard, a gay college student, was beaten and left tied to a wooden fence post outside of Laramie, Wyoming; he died ﬁve days later. Russell Henderson and Aaron McKinney are serving life sentences for Shepard’s murder. In 2001, war in Afghanistan started as the United States and Britain launched air attacks against military targets and Osama bin Laden’s training camps in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks. The U.S. military completed its withdrawal from Afghanistan to end the 20-year war on Aug. 30, 2021. In 2003, California voters recalled Gov. Gray

St. Mary Blvd., Lafayette

Whenever I’m in the mood for a good po-boy, there are a few places I always enjoy, but Olde Tyme Grocery has one that easily makes my top three — the Olde Tyme Special po-boy. Available in either a half or whole size, this po-boy comes with ham, turkey, roast beef and Swiss cheese, dressed in mayo,

mustard and brown gravy, topped with lettuce and tomato. The brown gravy adds an extra layer of ﬂavor that really sets this po-boy apart for me. It’s the kind of sandwich that’s a little messy, so it’s perfect for anyone who doesn’t mind getting their hands dirty. — Jakori Madison, reporter

When cleaning hardwood floors Dear Heloise: I can’t stress enough the use of a hardwood floor cleaner. Don’t listen to people who tell you to use vinegar or whatever their favorite cleaner is. Vinegar can dull or damage the finish of naturally stained and sealed hardwood floors. There are Hints from other remeHeloise dies that I’ve read about, and if you want to know what the flooring people say, just ask them. — Elaine, in Alabama

A sparkling carafe

Dear Heloise: I wanted to share a tip that may help your readers. I have a 10cup coffee maker with a teardrop-shaped, stainlesssteel carafe. Because it’s narrow at the top and wider at the bottom, it doesn’t clean well in the dishwasher like straight-sided carafes. To easily remove stains and stale odors, I use the following method: I ﬁll the carafe with water, pour the water into a pan, and bring it to a full boil on the stove. Then I carefully pour the boiling water back into the carafe. Next, I add a dish-

N O R T H A M ER I CA’S

washer pod, cover the carafe tightly, and gently jostle it into mix. Then I leave it to soak overnight or for the full day. The next day, I pour the soapy mixture out through the lid to clean the top mechanism as well. And I rinse it thoroughly until all bubbles and any soap smells are completely gone. This leaves the stainless-steel interior gleaming like new! Thank you for your column. You and your mother have helped me with great ideas for over 60 years. — Marianne P., in Dallas Send a hint to heloise@ heloise.com.

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Olde Tyme Grocery, located at 218 W. St. Mary Blvd. in Lafayette, has a po-boy sandwich known as the ‘Olde Tyme Special.’ The special is ham, turkey, roast beef and Swiss cheese, dressed in mayo, mustard and brown gravy, topped with lettuce and tomato.

✓ Fixed rainfall shower head is adjustable for your height and pivots

Davis and elected Arnold Schwarzenegger their new governor. In 2006, Russian investigative journalist Anna Politkovskaya, who wrote stories critical of Kremlin policies in the early years of Vladimir Putin’s presidency, was shot and killed in Moscow. The Kremlin denied any role in the death of Politkovskaya, who worked for an independent newspaper. In 2019, President Donald Trump ordered the withdrawal of U.S. troops from northeastern Syria. Syria’s Kurds accused the U.S. of turning its back on its allies and risking gains made in the ﬁght against the Islamic State group. Today’s Birthdays: Author Thomas Keneally is 91. Singer John Mellencamp is 75. Rock musician Tico Torres (Bon Jovi) is 73. Cellist Yo-Yo Ma is 71. TV personality Simon Cowell is 67. Singer-actor Toni Braxton is 59. Rock singer-musician Thom Yorke (Radiohead) is 58. Actor Nicole Ari Parker is 56. Football Hall of Famer Charles Woodson is 50. Singer Taylor Hicks is 50. Actor Omar Miller is 48. MLB player Mookie Betts is 34. Actor Kira Kosarin is 29. Actor Lulu Wilson is 21.

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The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Wednesday, October 7, 2026 ● 7C

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zodIAC LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) Taking a disciplined approach to learning and executing your skills to meet demands or to open doors will pay off. Don't waste your time or energy on negative people. scoRPIo (oct. 24-nov. 22) Keep busy, finish what you start, live up to your promises and take care of your responsibilities. Life is only as good as you make it. If you fall short, someone will take note. sAGIttARIus (nov. 23-Dec. 21) Take care of business, pay attention to details and refuse to let your emotions spin out of control. Be open to suggestions, but stick to the plan that feels comfortable. cAPRIcoRn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Don't waste time on trivial matters. Take care of your responsibilities regardless of what others decide to do. Avoid working with people who are incompetent. AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Take responsibility and do the work necessary to reach your goal, and you'll feel good about what you accomplish. Don't let what others do or say bother you. PIscEs (Feb. 20-March 20) Be aware of the latest scams, and don't share your plans or personal or financial information. Spend more time pampering yourself and updating your appearance. Romance and partnerships look promising. ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Added discipline will help you finish what you start.

Whether it's a long-overdue conversation or incorporating additional ways to lower your overhead, the results will be better than anticipated. tAuRus (April 20-May 20) Use your intuition and intelligence to find your way and your physical attributes to get things done. Rely on yourself, and distance yourself from those most likely to exaggerate. GEMInI (May 21-June 20) A change can be good, but only if it doesn't cost you. Check out what's doable and what isn't before you agree to participate in something questionable. cAncER (June 21-July 22) Indulge in events of interest. The connections you make will offer insight into new possibilities. Be sure to follow through with leads or information you receive. LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) Keep your thoughts and feelings to yourself. An unusual offer will develop if you volunteer your expertise to someone in need. Don't pay for someone else's mistake or let temptation cost you. VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept. 22) Making decisions while you're emotional will be your downfall. Back up, reevaluate your options and verify facts before you proceed. Put more effort into doing the best job possible. The horoscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact. © 2026 by NEA, Inc., dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication

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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

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The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Wednesday, October 7, 2026 ● 9C

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Bridge By PHILLIP ALDER James A. Froude, an English historian who died in 1894, said, “As we advance in life, we learn the limits of our abilities.” It is true that children think they know much more than they do. As we age, we realize that our parents and teachers weren’t as limited as we thought. And many feel that a day without learning something new is a day wasted. Bridge always seems to present new ideas. Take today’s deal as an example. South is in six diamonds. How should he handle the trump suit to maximize the chance of losing at most one trick? And suppose a wheel has come off and South is in seven diamonds. Then what should he do? In the auction, North might have rebid three spades, which would have shown only two-card support because with three spades he would have responded two spades, not one no-trump. But with length and strength in the rounded suits, rebidding three no-trump was sensible. The only problem revolves around the trump suit. If South must play it for no losers, he has two choices: Cash his ace (hoping East has the singleton king) or lead dummy’s queen (hoping West has the singleton jack). Mathematically, they are equal. In six diamonds, though, I

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thought the best play was to cash the ace first. But the free software package SuitPlay (suitplay.com) claims that starting with South’s nine is better. If West plays low, declarer ducks in the dummy. And if that loses to East’s jack, South cashes his ace next. The probability of success is 81.3 percent. One lives and learns. © 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

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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.

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today’s thought “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give to them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” John 10:27-28 Thank God for His wonderful eternal salvation. Are you following Jesus? — G.E. Dean

10C l Wednesday, October 7, 2026 l theadvocate.com l The Acadiana Advocate

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

DOW 51,521.28 253.38 0.49%

NASDAQ 27,599.79 122.48 0.45%

S&P 500 7,818.93 44.98 0.58%

EURO 1.1260 0.0040 0.36%

CRUDE OIL 89.44 0.01 0.01%

GOLD 4,159.20 30.80 0.75%

6-MO T-BILLS 4.3 -0.01 -0.23%

30-YR T-BONDS 5.65 -0.01 -0.21%

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FROM WIRE REPORTS

Stocks rise to a record on profit expectations NEW YORK — The U.S. stock market has never been higher, even though the list of challenges chipping away at it keeps growing. The S&P 500 climbed 0.6% Tuesday to a record after topping its prior all-time high set in August. Despite worries about everything from war to high inflation to pressure from the bond market, the index at the heart of many 401(k) accounts has soared 23% since hitting a bottom in late March. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 253 points, or 0.5%, while the Nasdaq composite tacked 0.4% onto its own all-time high set the day before. The record-high stock prices are helping investors feel better about their ﬁnances, or at least less bad, when Americans are generally feeling discouraged about keeping up with the fastrising cost of living. Many of the fears that sent the U.S. stock market to its bottom in March have indeed come true. Oil prices are high because of the war with Iran, which has made inflation worse. Yields have cranked higher in the bond market, which threatens to slow the economy by making it more expensive for everyone to borrow money. And Americans broadly say they’re feeling more pessimistic about the economy and where it’s heading.

LIV Golf tries to emerge from bankruptcy BC Partners Credit on Monday announced an initial investment in LIV Golf, part of a targeted $300 million in cumulative financing to help the beleaguered circuit emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy with a team-focused golf league with players as equity owners. The announcement comes two days before the first of several hearings related to the bankruptcy filing from Sept. 8. The financing by funds advised on the BC Partners Credit platform requires bankruptcy court approval. It would allow LIV to start planning on a 2027 season, which includes a 10-tournament schedule, half of them at international sites. “Our goal is to facilitate LIV Golf’s emergence from the restructuring process on sound financial footing and with renewed momentum heading into the 2027 season,” said Ted Goldthorpe, partner and head of BC Partners Credit, the credit arm of BC Partners. “Just as importantly, we want the players who make this league what it is to share in what they help build,” he said. “Giving players real and actionable ownership in the league and the teams is a unique opportunity in professional golf, and it aligns everyone around the long-term success of the product for the game and for the fans.”

Cargill’s earnings slump 52% with high costs Cargill Inc.’s fiscal first-quarter earnings fell by more than half as the largest private company in the U.S. was pressured by higher costs for cattle and cocoa despite also benefiting from stronger results in soybeans. For the quarter ended Aug. 31, Cargill had net income of $927 million, down from $1.94 billion a year ago, according to accounts seen Monday by Bloomberg. The company had a difficult comparison as the yearearlier quarter was significantly boosted by a tax provision tied to U.S. President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill. Beef packers such as Cargill, one of four that account for more than two-thirds of U.S. processing capacity, have been competing to buy cattle from the smallest American herd in five decades. Only recently has profitability in beef packing started to improve as cattle prices have eased, according to one measure on potential returns. Meanwhile, Cargill pointed to “mark-to-market losses on cocoa” in the quarter ended Aug. 31.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO BY YUKI IWAMURA

Skydance-owned Paramount closed its $81 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery on Tuesday, ushering in a new Hollywood giant.

Paramount completes its takeover of Warner Bros $81B takeover creates one Hollywood giant known as Skydance

meaningfully” with. It soon launched a hostile counterbid. The Hollywood giants spent much of early 2026 in a heated back-and-forth over who had a stronger offer, with Warner leadership repeatedly backing Netflix as its preferred suitor. But Netflix bowed out after Paramount evenBY WYATTE GRANTHAM-PHILIPS tually upped its offer to buy all of Warner for AP business writer $31 per share. Warner and Paramount inked a mutual mergCHICAGO — It’s official: Skydance-owned Paramount closed its $81 billion takeover of Warner er agreement in late February. Hollywood was closely watching the fight Bros. Discovery on Tuesday, ushering in a new over Warner’s future. From awards shows to Hollywood giant. The merger brings two of America’s oldest online petitions, A-list celebrities and other moviemaking studios together under a new creatives made their voices known. In April, thousands of movie stars, writers, name: Skydance. The deal, which followed a tumultuous, roughly yearlong fight, further directors and other professionals announced concentrates power in an industry already run their “unequivocal opposition” to the Paraby just a handful of major players. mount-Warner merger. An open letter — which HBO Max, titles ranging from “Harry Pot- was signed by long-outspoken critics of the ter” to “Sinners” and networks such as CNN deal like Jane Fonda and Mark Ruffalo, as well now find themselves under the same roof as as Hollywood heavyweights from Denis VilleParamount+, CBS and the likes of “Top Gun” neuve to J.J. Abrams — warned of fewer jobs and “The Godfather.” All are under the helm of and “less choice for audiences in the United billionaire David Ellison and his new co-CEO States and around the world.” Ynon Kreiz. Others lined up to back Paramount as Ellison “Today is a historic day, not just “Today is a historic reiterated his commitments to the for Skydance but for our entire inAt CinemaCon, the comday, not just for movies. pany debuted a glossy mini movie dustry,” Ellison said in a statement. “We couldn’t be more excited to get Skydance but for about the studio directed by Jon M. our entire industry. Chu and narrated by Tom Cruise — to work.” Including billions of dollars We couldn’t be who ended the spot atop the iconic Paramount water tower, with the in debt, the Warner acquisition more excited to words “the future is paramount and amounts to nearly $111 billion. get to work.” the future looks pretty great from Ellison’s Skydance bought Parahere.” Director James Cameron mount for $8 billion last year beDAVID ELLISON, also doubled down on his support of fore setting its sights on Warner. CO-CEO Ellison. What followed was one of the bigThe prospect of a new Warner gest tie-ups ever in the media and owner also loomed over awards season, from entertainment industry. Politics also loomed over much of the pro- #BlockTheMerger pins to more subtle nods in acceptance speeches. When accepting her cess. The Ellison family has held a long relation- Emmy last month, “Remarkably Bright Creaship with President Donald Trump, who ap- tures” actor Sally Field — who also signed the plauded the deal’s closing Tuesday and said open letter in opposition to the ParamountWarner deal — stressed that “unique storytellSkydance is “going to be a great company.” The early days of Paramount’s quest for War- ing matters” and “we can’t let those voices be silenced, or compromised or merged.” ner turned into a messy bidding war. Many industry critics were also outspoken Months after disclosing it was open to selling all or part of its business, Warner initially when Netflix’s studio and streaming deal was struck a studio and streaming deal with Netflix on the table, with a particular focus on the fuin December. ture of movies staying in theaters. But Paramount said it also had made offers Critics are also watching what happens with that Warner management “never engaged CNN under Skydance.

From HBO Max to ‘Harry Potter’

Here is a list of notable films, shows and franchises in the new Skydance portfolio, followed by its major studios, networks and other businesses. SUPERHEROES AND COMICS: DC’s “Batman,” “Superman,” “Wonder Woman” and “Aquaman” FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION: “Harry Potter” and “Fantastic Beasts”; “Star Trek”; “Game of Thrones” and “House of the Dragon” ACTION AND ADVENTURE: “Mission: Impossible”; “Top Gun”; “Transformers”; the “Matrix” films HORROR: “The Conjuring” universe; “A Nightmare on Elm Street”; “Final Destination”; “Scream” CHILDREN’S AND ANIMATION: “SpongeBob SquarePants”; “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles”; “Avatar: The Last Airbender”; “Looney Tunes”; “Scooby-Doo”; “Tom and Jerry” MAJOR TELEVISION PROPERTIES: “Yellowstone”; “Friends”; “The Big Bang Theory”; “The Sopranos”; “The White Lotus” PARAMOUNT FILM LIBRARY: Not limited to but including “The Godfather” trilogy, “Sunset Boulevard” and “Chinatown” WARNER BROS. AND NEW LINE LIBRARIES: Films including “Casablanca,” the “Dirty Harry” series and the “Lord of the Rings” film trilogy TURNER’S CLASSIC FILM HOLDINGS: Much of MGM’s pre-May 1986 library, including “The Wizard of Oz” and “Singin’ in the Rain,” plus substantial classic RKO holdings MIRAMAX LIBRARY — PARTIAL OWNERSHIP: Paramount’s 49% stake in Miramax, whose catalog includes “Pulp Fiction,” “Good Will Hunting” and “Chicago” FILM AND TELEVISION STUDIOS: Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures, New Line Cinema, DC Studios, CBS Studios, Warner Bros. Television and Skydance’s film and television operations STREAMING SERVICES: HBO Max, featuring HBO originals such as “The Sopranos,” “Game of Thrones,” “The Wire” and “Sex and the City”; Paramount+; discovery+; and Pluto TV NEWS: CNN, CNN International, CNN en Español and CBS News, including “60 Minutes” BROADCAST AND ENTERTAINMENT TELEVISION: CBS and its owned local stations; HBO, Showtime, Cinemax, TNT, TBS, Turner Classic Movies, Comedy Central, MTV and BET REALITY, LIFESTYLE AND DOCUMENTARY NETWORKS: Discovery Channel, HGTV, Food Network, TLC, Animal Planet, Investigation Discovery, Travel Channel, Smithsonian Channel, OWN and Magnolia Network CHILDREN’S PROGRAMMING AND ANIMATION: Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, Cartoonito, Adult Swim, Warner Bros. Animation, Warner Bros. Pictures Animation, Paramount Animation and Skydance Animation SPORTS: CBS Sports, TNT Sports, Eurosport, Bleacher Report and Skydance Sports VIDEO GAMES: Warner Bros. Games and Skydance’s game-development businesses PUBLISHING, CONSUMER PRODUCTS AND EXPERIENCES: DC Comics, one of the two dominant U.S. superhero-comics publishers; consumerproducts licensing; studio tours; and branded attractions.

McDonald’s sued over AI tool that recommends prices to franchisees BY DEE-ANN DURBIN AP business writer

McDonald’s is facing a federal lawsuit that alleges its AI-enhanced pricing tool violates antitrust laws because it shares nonpublic data with franchisees who might be competing in the same market. The lawsuit, which was ﬁled Friday in Illinois, said McDonald’s pricing tool uses artiﬁcial intelligence to collect data that competing franchises wouldn’t normally share, like store-level sales. The Chicago-based burger giant has said it makes the tool available to U.S. franchisees to help them set prices at their individual restaurants. The lawsuit also blames the pric-

ing system for raising McDonald’s U.S. prices. “McDonald’s has built and for years deployed its own information-sharing pricing platform, which draws on data from its millions of daily transactions to set menu prices across thousands of U.S. restaurants,” the lawsuit states. “The result is algorithmic price-fixing aimed at customers who are already stretched thin.” McDonald’s said Tuesday that the lawsuit is “ﬁlled with inaccuracies” and it would vigorously defend itself. “AI does not set menu prices at McDonald’s restaurants — McDonald’s franchisees do,” the company said in a statement. “Optional tools are available to franchisees to help

them make the best decisions for their businesses and customers, but these tools do not automate, coordinate or ﬁx pricing in any way.” The lawsuit was ﬁled on behalf of a consumer, Michael Thomas, of DeKalb, Illinois. According to the lawsuit, Thomas frequently visits McDonald’s and orders a Quarter Pounder with cheese, french fries and a Coke. The lawsuit said Thomas noticed price differences between McDonald’s stores near his home. McDonald’s said it has used an AI-enhanced pricing tool for more than a decade. The program determines the optimal price for menu items based on a store’s sales, location and other factors, including competitors’ prices.

McDonald’s said that long before adopting the AI-enhanced tool, it collected data and recommended prices to its franchisees, who own and operate 95% of McDonald’s 14,000 U.S. stores. “All we do is provide the context of what’s going on,” a McDonald’s spokesman told The Associated Press. “We don’t have any way to affect the menu pricing in a restaurant.” But the lawsuit said McDonald’s has “signiﬁcant leverage over its franchisees” and can pressure them to follow its pricing recommendations. The Associated Press left a message Tuesday with the National Owners Association, which represents McDonald’s franchisees.