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LSU FOOTBALL Assessing the up-and-down start by defense 1C THE

ACADIANA

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

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ELECTION

F R I D AY, O C T O B E R 16, 2026

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DA, court candidates face off at forum

$2.00X

Vermilion Parish real estate booming Home sales blast off with SpaceX news BY ADAM DAIGLE

Acadiana business editor

ofﬁce, citing its juvenile and drug divisions. Earles said he served 23 years on the bench and resigned last November to run. Earles said he resigned from the bench to “restore community trust in the District Attorney’s Ofﬁce.” He pledged to prosecute violent and sex offenders to the fullest extent of the law. Jail backlog: The candidates disagreed most sharply over delays that leave people accused of crimes in Lafayette Parish jailed longer before trial than defendants nationally, Dunn noted. Landry blamed the public defender system, saying public defenders are un-

The real estate market in Vermilion Parish so far this year is the hottest in years. Nearly two months removed from the news of SpaceX’s $100 billion spaceport, the parish has reported 384 homes sold through September, which is up 80 from last year and the most in that span since at least 2018. Sales are outpacing the totals in 2024 and 2023, when yearly sales reached 423 and 430, and 2022 and 2021 when interest rates fell to historic lows, according to data from Bill Bacque, of Market Scope Consulting. A large portion of the sales are believed to be in the Maurice area. The typical sale price of a home in the parish has also risen with the average up $224,760 and the median at $220,306, data shows. The average is up 4% from a year ago, but the median price is down 2.5%, which indicates a large number of higher-priced homes are being sold. In Lafayette Parish, total sales are up 3% with existing home sales outpacing new construction. The average sale price through September is $309,218, up 4% from a year ago, while the median sale price is $255,710, up less than 1% from 2025. There have been 47 homes reported sold that topped the $1 million price tag after 40 were sold in all of 2025. The surge is not a surprise. Data from the Texas Real Estate Research Center reveals that after the expansion of SpaceX Starbase there, median property values in the Brownsville region more than doubled. They jumped about 127%, outpacing the broader state average of 65% over the same period. As real estate professionals from Brownsville noted during recent community forums in Pecan Island, the initial years of SpaceX development are deﬁned by infrastructure setup, but the sustained boom develops over

ä See FORUM, page 5A

ä See VERMILION, page 5A

PHOTO BY ROBIN MAY

The League of Women Voters and Move the Mindset sponsor a candidates’ forum for Lafayette City Court judge and 15th Judicial District Attorney on Wednesday.

Jail backlog, diversion program, trust in the office covered in debate BY DEAN BOUDREAUX

seat on Lafayette City Court. About 50 people attended the forum, hosted by the League of Women Voters Candidates for 15th Judicial District of Lafayette and Move the Mindset. Sally Attorney and Lafayette City Court judge Dunn, chair of the league’s forum planin Division B discussed jail delays, ju- ning committee, moderated. Acadiana venile justice, diversion programs and Open Channel livestreamed the event. All five candidates participated and court fines Wednesday night during a public forum at the Acadiana Center for had one minute to answer each question, which they did not receive in advance. the Arts. Incumbent Donald “Don” Landry and Klock arrived late from a court hearing former District Judge Kristian Earles and missed his opening statement and are competing for district attorney of the first two questions. the 15th Judicial District, which includes Lafayette, Acadia and Vermilion District attorney parishes. Landry said he has been in the District Ryan Harris, Emilia Pardo and James Attorney’s Office for 34 years. He asked Klock are competing for the Division B voters to let him continue the work of his Staff writer

Trump says execution of Fort Hood shooter won’t be livestreamed BY SEUNG MIN KIM Associated Press

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Thursday that the Pentagon will no longer livestream the ﬁring squad execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Malik Hasan, after the announcement faced bipartisan criticism and Vice President JD Vance said he wouldn’t watch it. Trump said on social media that pub-

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licly airing the execution “might have been a strong deterrent for the World to witness how America deals with Terrorists and SCUM like Hasan.” But, he continued, “many very good and well meaning people would rather not watch him die, through streaming, or through any other visual device.” The Pentagon has said Hasan’s execution is scheduled for Dec. 3. Trump said the execution can be viewed in person by immediate families of the

victims, “if they so choose.” The announcement earlier this month from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that Hasan’s execution would be public — and subsequent conﬁrmation from the Pentagon that it would be livestreamed — prompted signiﬁcant blowback from both Republicans and Democrats, with many pointing out that the images could be used to fuel

ä See EXECUTION, page 5A

Business ......................6A Commentary ................3B Nation-World................2A Classified .....................4A Living............................7C Opinion ........................2B Comics-Puzzles .. 9C-11C Metro ...........................1B Sports ..........................1C

President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in Kalispell, Montana, on Wednesday. ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO BY ALEX BRANDON

102ND YEAR, NO. 108

2A l Friday, October 16, 2026 l theadvocate.com l The Acadiana Advocate

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BRIEFS

Police: Car belonging to shooting planner was at Hindu temple

FROM WIRE REPORTS

Authorities: At least 5 dead in school shooting

Authorities believe at least five people are dead following a shooting at an elementary school in Bend, Oregon, according to two law enforcement officials with knowledge of the case. The officials spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss it publicly. Both said the death toll was preliminary and could change. Bend police spokesperson Sheila Miller earlier confirmed the suspect is dead. It wasn’t clear if the suspect was included among the five. She also said multiple victims were children. “We don’t have a number at this point. We know children are among the victims,” Miller said during a media briefing. Authorities received a call about a shot fired into a car outside Silver Rail Elementary at 12:59 p.m. and arrived on scene within minutes. Further 911 calls came from inside the school, she said. The attacker was shot and went down inside the school soon after police arrived, Miller said. It was not immediately clear if it was by police, a bystander or self-inflicted.

BBC wants Trump to sit for deposition in lawsuit

NEWYORK — Lawyers for the BBC say President Donald Trump is trying to delay sitting for a deposition in the defamation case he brought against the British broadcaster until January 2027. In a filing this week, they asked a Florida court to compel the president to appear in the $10 billion case after they say he canceled an agreed-upon date this week, citing “matters of national importance.” “Two months of discovery remaining, the BBC still has not been able to depose, and does not even have a schedule to depose, the most central figure in this case: Plaintiff himself,” attorney Charles D. Tobin wrote in the filing. “Those delays have flouted the cooperative spirit of discovery and precluded the BBC from obtaining the evidence necessary to robustly litigate its defense.” Trump, who has a history of avoiding depositions, filed the lawsuit against the BBC last December, seeking $10 billion in damages as he accused the British broadcaster of defamation as well as deceptive and unfair trade practices related to a documentary, “Trump: A Second Chance.” Britain’s publicly funded national broadcaster admitted filmmakers spliced together quotes from different sections of the speech Trump delivered to his supporters on Jan. 6, 2021, before the storming of the U.S. Capitol, to make it seem like he was directly urging violence.

Giant inflatable pumpkin takes flight CARY, N.C. — Call it the Great Pumpkin escape. A two-story-high inflatable jack-o’-lantern took a tumble through Cary, North Carolina, Sunday, just as the remnants of Hurricane Isaias passed through. And social media loved it. “It’s the best advertising we could ask for,” Michael Phillips, owner of Phillips Farm, said of his bright orange fugitive. With a tornado warning in effect Sunday afternoon, workers had decided to forgo blowing up the oversized lawn ornament. Sure enough, a twister reportedly touched down about a quarter mile away. But when the sun peeked out, Michael’s dad Lee Phillips decided to pump up the pumpkin, complete with its classic black triangular eyes and a lopsided grin. “All of a sudden, we started getting like 35-, 40-mile-an-hour wind gusts out of nowhere,” Michael Phillips said. “And then, ‘Bam.’ It just started going.” The giant pumpkin took ﬂight, rolling along a post-and-rail fence, past a church and on down the road. “It just went crazy,” Michael Phillips said of the online reaction. “I still wake up every morning ... and have 80 to 150 notiﬁcations of people commenting on the videos.”

Man charged with plotting attack at site

BY CYBELE MAYESOSTERMAN Associated Press/ Report for America

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO BY MARIAM ZUHAIB

Federal authorities are investigating letters with ‘suspicious substances’ that have been mailed to congressional and election offices nationwide.

Letters with ‘suspicious substances’ probed Authorities say mailings sent to sent to congressional, election offices

BY LISA MASCARO and JOEY CAPPELLETTI Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Federal authorities are investigating letters with “suspicious substances” that have been mailed to congressional and election offices nationwide and are urging recipients to treat the mailings as “potentially hazardous.” The investigation by the FBI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and U.S. Capitol Police was first disclosed in a message from the Senate Sergeant at Arms obtained Thursday by The Associated Press. The notice, sent to Senate offices, said that law enforcement officials were working to intercept any additional letters, but “it is possible that some letters may reach their destinations.” In Congress, the threat appeared limited to the Senate, though the House was monitoring the situation, according to a person familiar with the matter who was not authorized to discuss the investigation publicly. The office of Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester, a Delaware Democrat, said in a statement that it was sent a letter with a “suspicious substance” that was intercepted by Capitol Police. An FBI statement said the bureau and the Postal Inspection Service were “investigating a series of suspicious mailings sent to various addresses nationwide, including Secretary of State offices and their related election offices.” “Some of the letters contained an unknown substance and we are working closely with our law enforcement partners to respond to each incident,” the statement read. “We are also working with our partners to identify the individual or individuals responsible for the letters.” Mailed packages containing a pow-

dery substance led to the evacuation this week of election offices in at least two states, Louisiana and Oklahoma. The Ohio secretary of state said the Postal Service intercepted a package containing a white powder intended for its office and noted that similar mailings had been sent to election officials in multiple states. Numerous states, from Idaho to Florida, said their election offices either received letters or had them intercepted by the Postal Service. The Wisconsin Elections Commission said in a statement that it received a letter and the white powder enclosed in it was not hazardous, according to tests. “Let this be very clear: this incident will not shake us,” Wisconsin elections administrator Meagan Wolfe said. News of the letters comes just three weeks before Election Day and is reminiscent of a similar threat in 2023, when election offices in six states received mailings that contained a white powder. In some cases, the incidents disrupted work around local elections. Some of those letters contained threats and traces of the powerful opioid fentanyl, leading some election offices to stock up on the overdose reversal medication naloxone. The National Association of Secretaries of State and the National Association of State Election Directors issued a joint statement condemning what they said were threats against election staff. “Those who administer our elections should never fear for their safety while carrying out their essential duties,” they said in their statement. Deputy Postal Inspector Brendan Donahue told reporters Thursday that “any threat or attack on election officials is unacceptable” and that “we are also working with our partners on identifying the individual or individuals responsible for the letters.” Associated Press writers Scott Bauer in Madison, Wisconsin; Sarah Rankin in Richmond, Virginia; and Nicholas Riccardi in Denver contributed to this report.

Pope resumes working, sees top aide in hospital Doctors say Leo XIV’s lung recovered from surgery

had resumed working from the hospital. Rudelli handles much of the day-to-day administrative work of the Holy See. For a second day Leo celebrated Mass with other priests in a special chapel set up near his room on the 10th floor of the hospital, spokesman Matteo Bruni said. BY NICOLE WINFIELD The 71-year-old Leo had the lower right and COLLEEN BARRY lobe of his right lung removed on TuesAssociated Press day after doctors identified a suspected ROME — Pope Leo XIV met with a top cancerous nodule. The surgery conaide on Thursday and resumed work- firmed he had adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer. ing from the hospital, as doctors Doctors are still awaiting the reported his lung had recovered results of tests to understand well from surgery to remove a the precise molecular makeup of cancerous nodule. the cancer, whether it has spread Leo’s postoperative tests rebeyond the lobe and whether any mained within normal levels and further treatment is necessary. his physiotherapy session ThursAsked if any changes to Leo’s day involved full mobility exerplanned trip to South America cises, with the pope going about from Nov. 6-17 were expected, his daily activities independently, Leo XIV Bruni pointed to Leo’s words on said the update from Leo’s personal doctor, Dr. Luigi Carbone, and the Sunday when he announced the discovhead of thoracic surgery at Gemelli hos- ery of the nodule and impending surgery. “Thank you for your prayers for the pital, Dr. Stefano Margaritora. “The chest X-ray revealed good recov- pastoral visit I will make to Peru,” Leo ery of the operated lung,” they reported. said Sunday in Spanish, in a greeting de“Overall, his postoperative recovery is livered to a Peruvian group. The trip is proceeding as expected.” also scheduled to include stops in UruSeparately, the Vatican said Leo had re- guay and Argentina. Leo is expected to remain hospitalized ceived the Vatican chief of staff, or “substitute,” Archbishop Paolo Rudelli, and until at least Oct. 20.

CHICAGO — Illinois authorities believe a 19-year-old man charged with planning a mass shooting at a Hindu temple in suburban Chicago entered the building’s parking lot on Sunday, hours before police arrested him near his home after receiving a tip about the alleged attack plan. Authorities announced Wednesday that they had arrested Alexandros Paporakis and provided the additional detail about his suspected movement during a news conference Thursday. The leaders of Sri Venkateswara Swami (Balaji) Temple in a statement said a security threat had “targeted our Temple” and announced an increased security presence. Palatine Police Chief William Nord said a red Acura RDX registered to Paporakis entered a temple parking lot on Sunday around 12:25 p.m. and left less than 15 minutes later. He was seen alone inside the car around 2 p.m. near his home in another suburb. Paporakis faces felony charges of making a terrorist threat and unlawfully possessing a riﬂe. Prosecutors have said his co-workers at a Taco Bell location called 911 after Paporakis told them he “couldn’t wait to kill Indian people” and said Sunday would be the “special day.” Sri Venkateswara Swami (Balaji) Temple in Aurora, around 40 miles west of downtown Chicago, said leaders were in contact with police. “Please know that the safety of our devotees, employees and volunteers is our highest priority, and we have implemented additional security measures effective immediately, including increased armed

security presence at the Temple,” a statement said. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, who represents Illinois’ 8th congressional district, said he was at the Hindu temple on Sunday. “I visited not knowing that there was an attacker lying in wait with a sinister motive to commit a mass shooting, and only because his AR-15 weapon jammed was he not able to commit a massacre that day,” Krishnamoorthi told The Associated Press on Thursday. Krishnamoorthi said he had increased his security in response to the alleged planned attack. He called on the FBI to “investigate and prosecute this particular matter as a hate crime,” and the Trump administration to release federal nonprofit security grants to bolster security at religious institutions. “People are really shaken up,” he added. Aurora Mayor John Laesch said at a Thursday news conference at the Council on American Islamic Relations’ Chicago office that police were “made aware” of other scheduled celebrations and are reaching out to other temples in the area “to make sure that they know they have a number to call.” Paporakis told a co-worker on Sunday afternoon that his gun jammed and he left quickly, but promised to “retry,” according to prosecutors. He sent the coworker a video showing an AR-style rifle and a photo of himself wearing a tactical vest, they added. Paporakis also sent the co-worker an eight-page document in which he used racial slurs to describe nonWhite people and outlined a plot to kill as many of them as possible, according to prosecutors. He also described himself as a White supremacist and a neo Nazi who fantasized about mass murder. Police arrested Paporakis later that day near his home in Palatine, which is located about 40 miles northeast of the temple.

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More roller coasters shut down amid probe Authorities investigate fatal fall at Georgia amusement park

BY RUSS BYNUM and SUDHIN THANAWALA Associated Press

ATLANTA — A growing number of amusement parks have shut down roller coasters as police and state regulators investigate what caused a man to fall out of his seat and plummet to his death at a Georgia park. Sea World Orlando in Florida and La Ronde theme park in Montreal, Canada, conﬁrmed on Thursday they had temporarily closed rides, bringing the total number of roller coasters halted to 12. Police and a state regulatory agency are investigating what caused Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, a 42-year-old school employee from Atlanta, to fall from the Goliath coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia on Monday. Witnesses described seeing him ejected from the coaster; some people who rode the Goliath before him raised

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO BY MIKE STEWART

A growing number of amusement parks have shut down roller coasters as police and state regulators investigate what caused a man to fall out of his seat and plummet to his death at Six Flags Over Georgia. concerns about its restraints. Ten of the roller coasters taken out of service have the same manufacturer and a similar restraint system as the Goliath at Six Flags. Erica Billups said her son and daughter rode Goliath about an hour before Kariem’s death and encountered a problem with the restraint on one seat. Her son initially sat in that seat and tried to lock it, but then

moved when it repeatedly became unlocked. The roller coaster embarked with the seat empty and the harness up, she said in a post on X. She conﬁrmed the post in a text message to The Associated Press on Thursday. She said staff did not tell her kids there was a problem. Summer Bates, who was at the Georgia park with her husband and three children

and saw Kariem fall, told the AP previously that her older two children kept trying to push their restraints down tighter while on the ride. She understood why they were doing that later when she was on the coaster, she said, because the restraints didn’t feel secure. Six Flags did not immediately respond to an email for comment on any issues with restraints.

La Ronde in Montreal said one of its coasters — also named Goliath — is ofﬂine “while we conduct a thorough safety review in collaboration with the ride’s manufacturer.” Neither La Ronde nor Sea World Orlando said why those specific rides were closed. Both were manufactured by the Swiss company Bolliger & Mabillard, which also built the Goliath ride in Georgia and eight of the other coasters that Six Flags closed. Bolliger & Mabillard declined Thursday to answer questions about the shutdowns. Online photos and videos of 10 of the closed coasters show each equipped with so-called “clamshell” restraints, mounted in front of each seat on a vertical bar that sits between the rider’s knees. The bar locks the padded restraint into place over the rider’s lap and upper legs. It’s unclear from the images whether any of those coasters also have seat belts or other secondary restraints. Goliath in Georgia has no such backup restraints. Dennis Speigel, a theme

park consultant and past president of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, a trade group, said the similar restraint systems are almost certainly why most of the coasters were closed. Speigel said they’re likely to remain shut down until investigators have determined what went wrong on the Georgia coaster, but he said that “obviously it was something with the restraint.” Roller coaster manufacturers decide what type of restraints to use after considering speed, force and the track’s transitions, said Brian D. Avery, a University of Florida professor and amusement ride safety expert. He advocates the use of a backup restraint for riders, but there is a long-running debate in the industry over whether that would increase wait times, Avery said. The company said in an email it would have no further comment until it had a “better understanding of what transpired” on Monday. Kariem was thrown from his seat and struck other patrons before landing below the ride.

FBI agents, analysts Suit challenges DHS effort to collect voter data sue to get jobs back BY ALI SWENSON Associated Press

how he improperly stored They were fired dozens of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago esfor roles in Trump tate in Palm Beach, Florida, he took with him after documents probe that leaving the White House,

BY ERIC TUCKER Associated Press

WASHINGTON — FBI employees fired for their roles in the investigation of President Donald Trump’s retention of classified documents at his Florida estate sued Thursday to get their jobs back, calling their terminations unlawful acts of “political retribution.” The complaint adds to the growing list of legal challenges to the mass terminations under FBI Director Kash Patel of agents who participated in investigations of the Republican president or are seen as opposed to Trump administration interests. The suit was filed in federal court in Washington on behalf of nine agents, intelligence analysts and staff operations specialists who were fired in February following earlier dismissals of agents who had worked on the probe into Trump’s efforts to overturn his 2020 presidential election loss to Democrat Joe Biden. Patel has said in congressional testimony that the fired employees had “weaponized” the FBI and that terminations at the bureau follow internal investigations that turn up inappropriate conduct. But the agents deny that claim in the lawsuit, noting that that they were fired without any investigation, notice or hearing. They said that between them they had more than a century of distinguished and apolitical FBI service that involved responding to the Boston Marathon bombing, hostage recoveries and the investigation into the 2024 assassination attempt of Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania. Their firings, the lawsuit says, create an “immeasurable loss” to “America’s national security.” “In return for their service, they were fired because they did their jobs, as they always did, to follow the facts and law without bias or favor. To this administration, this is an offense. To the rest of us, it is heroic,” said a statement from their attorneys, Margaret Donovan, Abbe Lowell and Rebecca Tinio. “This lawsuit will prove their unlawful dismissal and hold the administration accountable for this blatant attack on the rule of law,” the statement added. The suit include a detailed recitation of the allegations against Trump, describing

showed them to people not authorized to see them and obstructed FBI efforts to get them back. The investigation resulted in a 2022 FBI search of Mar-a-Lago that recovered classified records, and a federal indictment in Florida charged Trump with dozens of felony counts. Trump denied wrongdoing, and the case was dismissed in 2024 by a Trumpappointed judge, Aileen Cannon, who ruled that the special counsel who filed the charges, Jack Smith, had been illegally appointed by the Biden administration Justice Department. The nine fired FBI employees did not volunteer for the investigation but were rather assigned to it as part of their work on counterintelligence and counterespionage squads, according to the lawsuit, which says they were terminated because of baseless perceptions that the performance of their law enforcement duties had run “afoul of the political and personal loyalty to Trump that Defendants demanded.” “By casting Plaintiffs’ work on the Plasmic Echo investigation as ‘politically weaponized,’ Defendants incorrectly presumed to know the personal political convictions of Plaintiffs and took unlawful action based on that presumption,” the lawsuit says, using the FBI code name for the classified documents investigation. “Worse still, Defendants incorrectly concluded that those personal political convictions affected or drove their work.” Several of the fired employees participated in the search, and one signed the affidavit that was presented to a magistrate judge for approval, the lawsuit says. But beyond that particular case, the suit says, the agents and analysts had a diversity of career experience, including expertise in the counterintelligence threat from Iran and instances of helping recover American hostages held abroad. At least one participated in the investigation into pipe bombs placed in January 2021 near the headquarters of the Republican and Democratic national committees. The investigative team was praised at a news conference by Patel, who shook the hand of one of the employees who would later be fired, Harrison Kaufman, and thanked him for his work, the complaint says.

NEW YORK — A lawsuit filed Thursday challenges the Trump administration’s sprawling effort to collect and analyze Americans’ voter data, alleging the government has obtained voter files from at least 47 states and handled the data in a way that violates federal law. The 42-page complaint filed in federal court in Washington, D.C., claims the Department of Homeland Security’s secretive probe of the voter data, including a policy to combine it with commercial datasets, disregards federal safeguards and flouts the privacy rights of millions of Americans. The case, brought by the League of Women Voters, the

Electronic Privacy Information Center and the League of United Latin American Citizens, is the latest in a torrent of legal challenges that have emerged in response to President Donald Trump’s crusade against noncitizen voting, a concern he views as a serious problem but which research shows is exceedingly rare. The Trump administration has consistently sought to exert more power over elections, even as the Constitution grants that authority to states and, in some cases, Congress. Judges have consistently up-

held states’ rights to decline to hand over their lists to the federal government. DHS didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. Thursday’s lawsuit alleges the Trump administration has obtained voter lists from 47 states, even as 30 states refused to turn them over to the administration. It calls for the court to declare the administration’s collection of voter data illegal, block the policy and order DHS to delete and stop using the voter information it already has collected.

The lawsuit comes less than three weeks before Election Day, as the administration has continued to escalate threats to states alleging they are not doing enough to remove noncitizens from their voter rolls. On Thursday, the administration sued California election officials, alleging they didn’t act quickly enough to review names the federal government identified as “likely” noncitizens, and asking a judge to bar the state from counting those people’s mail ballots for next month’s midterm elections.

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Feds push ahead with plan for peptide

BY MATTHEW PERRONE AP health writer

WASHINGTON — U.S. health officials are moving ahead with a plan to allow specialty pharmacies to produce certain peptides, a class of largely unregulated injections that have become popular among followers of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and other wellness influencers. Kennedy’s Department of Health and Human Services submitted a peptides “interim access policy” to the White House for review, according to a posting Thursday on a government website. The plan was sent to the Office of Management and Budget, which reviews federal rules and regulations with the potential for significant economic impact. HHS officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment Thursday afternoon. Peptides are the building blocks of more complex proteins, triggering hormones inside the body needed for growth, metabolism and healing. Drug companies have brought several to market as medications, including mainstay treatments for diabetes and weight loss. But the ones at issue here haven’t gone through that rigorous vetting process. Nevertheless, they have gained a foothold among Americans interested in bulking up, looking younger or boosting energy. Those uses are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration and most of the data on peptides comes from animal studies.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS 3. EXECUTIVE/MAYORPRESIDENT’S REPORT ORDINANCES FOR FINAL ADOPTION

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Public Notices Bids/Proposals

PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE TO BIDDERS Notice is hereby given that sealed bids will be received either electroni‐ cally at www.centralbidd ing.com or in the office of the Purchasing Divi‐ sion at the Lafayette Govern‐ Consolidated ment Building, located at 705 West University Av‐ Lafayette, enue, Louisiana, until 3:00 pm Central Time on the 23rd day of November, 2026 for the following: LFT Fiber MDU Installation Stock Material Bid and will, shortly there‐ after, be opened and read aloud in the Office of Purchasing located at 705 West University Av‐ enue, Lafayette, LA. Bids received after the above specified time for open‐ ing shall not be consid‐ ered and shall be re‐ turned unopened to the sender. Bidders may at‐ tend the bid opening in person, but are highly encouraged to virtually join the bid openings via Zoom using the following link: https://us02web.zoom. us/j/81273018361? pwd=a2KxztZcj3adh4x 2uHyQrR39dOUk8U.1. In accordance with RS 38:2212 Louisiana electronic Bids may be submitted on Central (www.central Bidding bidding.com). It is the sole responsibility of the bidder to ensure their bid is delivered (whether electronically in Central Bidding, in person, or via mail) to the Purchasing Division prior to the scheduled date and time of the bid opening. Ven‐ dors may request the bid electronically from Lay‐ cia Batiste at lbatiste@ lafayettela.gov. Official Bid Documents are avail‐ able on Central Bidding (www.centralbidding. com). For questions re‐ lated to the electronic bidding process, please call Laycia Batiste at 337291-7173. Vendors submitting bids are re‐ electronically quired to provide the same documents as bid‐ ders submitting through the mail as soon as avail‐ able. Only a bid bond, check or certified cashier’s check shall be submitted as the bid se‐ curity. Electronic copies of both the front and back of the check or bid bond shall be included with the electronic bid. Bids must be signed in accordance with LRS Title 38:2212(B)5. A Cor‐ porate Resolution or Cer‐ tificate of Authority au‐ thorizing the person signing the bid is re‐ quired to be submitted with bid. Failure to sub‐ mit a Corporate Resolu‐ tion or Certificate of Au‐ thority with the bid shall be cause for rejection of bid. Copies of the bidding documents are available at the Purchasing Office located at 705 West Uni‐ Avenue, versity Lafayette, LA 70506. Tele‐ phone number (337) 291(Attn: Laycia 7173 Batiste). Bidding docu‐ ments shall be available until twenty-four (24) hours before the bid opening date. Each bid shall be accom‐ panied by a certified check, cashier’s check or bid bond payable to the Lafayette Consolidated Government, the amount of which shall be five percent (5%) of the base bid plus additive alter‐ nates. If a bid bond is used, it shall be written by a surety or insurance company currently on the U.S. Department of the Treasury Financial Management Service list approved bonding of companies which is pub‐ lished annually in the Federal Register, or by a Louisiana domiciled in‐ surance company with at least an A-Rating in the latest printing of the A.M. Best’s Key Rating Guide to write individual bonds up to ten percent (10%) of policyholders’ surplus as shown in the A.M. Best’s Key Rating Guide, or by an insurance com‐ pany in good standing li‐ censed to write bid bonds which is either

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

domiciled in Louisiana or owned by Louisiana resi‐ dents. The bid bond shall be issued by a company licensed to do business in Louisiana and counter‐ signed by a person who is under contract with re‐ siding in this state. The certified check, cashier’s check, or bid bond shall be given as a guarantee that the bidder shall exe‐ cute the contract, should it be awarded to him, in conformity with the con‐ tract documents within ten (10) days. No bidder may withdraw his bid for at least fortyfive (45) days after the time scheduled for the opening of bids. Each bid shall be submitted only on the quotation form provided with the speci‐ fications. Bids will be evaluated by the Purchaser based on the lowest responsible and responsive bid sub‐ mitted which is also in compliance with the bid The documents. Lafayette Consolidated Government reserves the right to reject any and all bids for just cause in ac‐ cordance with LA R.S. 38§2214.B. The Lafayette Consoli‐ Government dated strongly encourages the participation of DBEs (Disadvantaged Business Enterprise) in all con‐ tracts or procurements let by the Lafayette Con‐ Government solidated for goods and services and labor and material. To that end, all contrac‐ tors and suppliers are encouraged to utilize DBEs business enter‐ prises in the purchase or sub-contracting of mate‐ rials, supplies, services and labor and material in disadvantaged which business are available. Assistance in identifying said businesses may be obtained by calling (337) 291-8410. PURCHASING DIVISION Lafayette Consolidated Government PUBLISH DATES: 10-16-26, 10-18-26 DPR 1005461 203858 Oct. 16, 18, 2t $99.96

Legal Notices

PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE OF SPECIAL ELECTION Pursuant to the provi‐ sions of a resolution adopted by the Lafayette City Council (the "Gov‐ erning Authority"), act‐ ing as the governing au‐ thority of the City of Lafayette, State of Louisiana (the "City"), on August 4, 2026, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a special election will be held within the City on SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2026, and that at the said election there will be submitted to all regis‐ tered voters in the City qualiﬁed and entitled to vote at the said election under the Constitution and Laws of the State of Louisiana and the Consti‐ tution of the United States, the following propositions, to-wit: PROPOSITION NO. 1 OF 4 (RECREATION) (MILLAGE CONTINUA‐ TION) Shall the City of Lafayette, State of Louisiana (the "City"), continue to levy a 2.01 mills tax on all property subject to taxation in the City (an estimated $3,810,000 reasonably ex‐ pected at this time to be collected from the levy of the tax for an entire year), for a period of 10 years, beginning with the year 2029 and ending with the year 2038, for the purpose of maintain‐ ing and operating the playgrounds, recreation centers and other recre‐ ation activities within the City, said millage to represent a 0.09 mills in‐ crease (due to reap‐ praisal) over the 1.92 mills tax authorized to be levied through the year 2028 pursuant to an elec‐ tion held on April 28, 2018? PROPOSITION NO. 2 OF 4 (PUBLIC BUILDINGS) (MILLAGE CONTINUA‐ TION) Shall f

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Pets

LOST PROMISSORY NOTE: Anyone knowing the whereabouts or having possession of one (1) certain Promissory Note originally in favor of Hibernia National Bank executed by Debora Lin Washington, dated 05/18/1998, in the original loan amount of $50,900.00, please contact Elizabeth Crowell Price by mail at 1505 N 19th Street, Monroe, LA 71201 or by phone at 801-355-2886. 203744-Oct 14-16, 3t $205.54

Public Notices

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the

City

of f

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y Lafayette, State of Louisiana (the "City"), continue to levy a 1.18 mills tax on all property subject to taxation in the City (an estimated $2,230,000 reasonably ex‐ pected at this time to be collected from the levy of the tax for an entire year), for a period of 10 years, beginning with the year 2028 and ending with the year 2037, for the purpose of maintain‐ ing and operating public buildings of the City, said millage to represent a 0.05 mills increase (due to reappraisal) over the 1.13 mills tax authorized to be levied through the year 2027 pursuant to an election held on April 29, 2017? PROPOSITION NO. 3 OF 4 (STREETS, ROADS AND ALLEYS) (MILLAGE CONTINUA‐ TION) Shall the City of Lafayette, State of Louisiana (the "City"), continue to levy a 1.35 mills tax on all property subject to taxation in the City (an estimated $2,560,000 reasonably ex‐ pected at this time to be collected from the levy of the tax for an entire year), for a period of 10 years, beginning with the year 2029 and ending with the year 2038, for the purpose of the main‐ tenance of the public streets, roads and alleys within the City, said mill‐ age to represent a 0.06 mills increase (due to reappraisal) over the 1.29 mills tax authorized to be levied through the year 2028 pursuant to an elec‐ tion held on April 28, 2018? PROPOSITION NO. 4 OF 4 (PUBLIC SAFETY MAINTE‐ NANCE) (MILLAGE CONTINUA‐ TION) Shall the City of Lafayette, State of Louisiana (the "City"), continue to levy a 3.33 mills tax on all property subject to taxation in the City (an estimated $6,310,000 reasonably ex‐ pected at this time to be collected from the levy of the tax for an entire year), for a period of 30 years, beginning with the year 2028 and ending with the year 2057, for the purpose of operating, maintaining and support‐ ing the Police and Fire Departments of the City, including pension and re‐ tirement liabilities, said millage to represent a 0.05 mills increase (due to reappraisal) over the 3.28 mills tax authorized to be levied through the year 2027 pursuant to an election held on Novem‐ ber 15, 1997? The said special election shall be held at the polling places for the fol‐ lowing precincts, which polls will open at seven o'clock (7:00) a.m. and close at eight o'clock (8:00) p.m., in accor‐ dance with the provi‐ sions of La. R.S. 18:541, to wit: PRECINCTS 07(PART) 09(PART) 10(PART) 11(PART) 12(PART) 13(PART) 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24(PART) 25(PART) 30(PART) 31(PART) 32(PART) 33(PART) 34(PART) 35(PART) 38(PART) 39(PART) 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50(PART) 51 52 53 54(PART) 55(PART) 56 57 58 59(PART) 60 63 64(PART) 65 66 67(PART) 68 69

70 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86(PART) 87 88 89 90 91(PART) 92(PART) 93(PART) 94 95(PART) 96(PART) 97(PART) 104(PART) 105(PART) 109(PART) 112(PART) 113(PART) 115(PART) 117(PART) 120(PART) 121(PART) 125(PART) 126(PART) 127(PART) 128(PART) 130(PART) The polling places for the precincts in the City are hereby designated as the polling places at which to hold the said election, and the Commissionersin-Charge and Commis‐ sioners, respectively, shall be those persons designated according to law. The estimated cost of this election as deter‐ mined by the Secretary of State based upon the provisions of Chapter 8-A of Title 18 and actual costs of similar elections is $88,000. Notice is further given that a portion of the monies collected from the taxes described in the Propositions shall be remitted to certain state and statewide retirement systems in the manner required by law. The said special election will be held in accor‐ dance with the applica‐ ble provisions of Chapter 5, Chapter 6-A and Chap‐ ter 6-B of Title 18 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, as amended, and other con‐ stitutional and statutory authority, and the ofﬁ‐ cers appointed to hold the said election, as pro‐ vided in this Notice of Special Election, or such substitutes therefor as may be selected and designated in accor‐ dance with La. R.S. 18:1287, will make due re‐ turns thereof to said Governing Authority, and NOTICE IS HEREBY FUR‐ THER GIVEN that the Gov‐ will erning Authority meet at its regular meet‐ ing place, the Council Au‐ ditorium, 705 West Uni‐ versity Avenue, Lafayette, Louisiana, on TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2027, at 5:30 P.M., and shall then and there in open and public session proceed to examine and canvass the returns and declare the result of the said special election. All registered voters of the City are entitled to vote at said special election and voting machines will be used. /s/ Joseph Gordon-Wiltz JOSEPH GORDON-WILTZ, LAFAYETTE CLERK OF THE COUNCIL 202926-oct 2-9-16-23-4t $323.84

PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE OF SPECIAL ELECTION Pursuant to the provi‐ sions of a resolution adopted by the Lafayette Parish Council (the "Gov‐ erning Authority"), act‐ ing as the governing au‐ thority of the Parish of Lafayette, State of Louisiana (the "Parish"), on August 4, 2026, NO‐ TICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a special election will be held within the Parish on SATURDAY, DE‐ CEMBER 12, 2026, and that at the said election there will be submitted to all registered voters in the Parish qualiﬁed and entitled to vote at the said election under the Constitution and Laws of the State of Louisiana and the Constitution of the United States, the fol‐ lowing propositions, towit: PROPOSITION NO. 1 OF 5 (BOND) Shall the Parish of Lafayette, State of Louisiana (the "Parish"), incur debt and issue not exceeding $77,000,000 of general obligation bonds, in one or more series, to run not exceeding 30 years from the date thereof, to bear interest at rates not exceeding 7% per annum, and to be payable from ad valorem taxes to be levied and collected in the manner provided by Article VI, Section 33 of the Louisiana Constitution of 1974, as amended, and other constitutional and statutory authority, for the purposes of con‐ structing, acquiring and improving public infra‐ structure, including pub‐ lic roads, highways and bridges, and related drainage to address commuter congestion in the Parish, title to which shall be in the public, with no estimated in‐ crease in the millage rate to be levied in the ﬁrst year above the 1.85 mills currently being levied to pay the general obliga‐ tion bonds of the Parish? PROPOSITION NO. 2 OF 5 (LIBRARY) (MILLAGE CONTINUA‐

TION) Shall the Parish of Lafayette, State of Louisiana (the "Parish"), continue to levy a special tax of 3.12 mills on all property subject to taxa‐ tion in the Parish (an es‐ timated $9,050,000 rea‐ sonably expected at this time to be collected from the levy of the tax for an entire year), for a period of 10 years, beginning with the year 2027 and ending with the year 2036, for the purpose of the maintenance and support of the public li‐ brary of Lafayette Parish and its branches, said millage to represent a 0.21 mills increase (due to reappraisal) over the 2.91 mills tax authorized to be levied through the year 2026 pursuant to an election held on Novem‐ ber 8, 2016? PROPOSITION NO. 3 OF 5 (MINIMUM SECURITY DE‐ TENTION & CORREC‐ TIONAL FACILITY) (MILLAGE CONTINUA‐ TION) Shall the Parish of Lafayette, State of Louisiana (the "Parish"), continue to levy a 2.21 mills tax on all property subject to taxation in the Parish (an estimated $6,410,000 reasonably ex‐ pected at this time to be collected from the levy of the tax for an entire year), for a period of 10 years, beginning with the year 2028 and ending with the year 2037, for the purpose of the main‐ taining, operating and improving the minimum security detention and correctional facility, said millage to represent a 0.15 mills increase (due to reappraisal) over the 2.06 mills tax authorized to be levied through the year 2027 pursuant to an election held on Novem‐ ber 18, 2017? PROPOSITION NO. 4 OF 5 (JUVENILE DETENTION) (MILLAGE CONTINUA‐ TION) Shall the Parish of Lafayette, State of Louisiana (the "Parish"), continue to levy a 1.25 mills tax on all property subject to taxation in the Parish (an estimated $3,620,000 reasonably ex‐ pected at this time to be collected from the levy of the tax for an entire year), for a period of 10 years, beginning with the year 2029 and ending with the year 2038, for the purpose of acquiring, improving, operating and maintaining the juvenile detention and juvenile rehabilitation facilities in the Parish, said millage to represent a 0.08 mills increase (due to reap‐ praisal) over the 1.17 mills tax authorized to be levied through the year 2028 pursuant to an elec‐ tion held on April 28, 2018? PROPOSITION NO. 5 OF 5 (COURTHOUSE & JAIL COMPLEX) (MILLAGE CONTINUA‐ TION) Parish of Shall the Lafayette, State of Louisiana (the "Parish"), continue to levy a 2.51 mills tax on all property subject to taxation in the Parish (an estimated $7,280,000 reasonably ex‐ pected at this time to be collected from the levy of the tax for an entire year), for a period of 10 years, beginning with the year 2028 and ending with the year 2037, for the purpose of the main‐ taining, operating and improving the Lafayette Parish Courthouse Com‐ plex, said millage to rep‐ resent a 0.17 mills in‐ crease (due to reap‐ praisal) over the 2.34 mills tax authorized to be levied through the year 2027 pursuant to an elec‐ tion held on November 18, 2017? The said special election shall be held at each and every polling place in the Parish, which polls will open at seven o'clock (7:00) a.m. and close at eight o'clock (8:00) p.m., in accordance with the provisions of La. R.S. 18:541. The polling places for the precincts in the Parish are hereby designated as the polling places at which to hold the said election, and the Com‐ missioners-in-Charge and Commissioners, re‐ spectively, shall be those persons designated ac‐ cording to law. The estimated cost of this election as deter‐ mined by the Secretary of State based upon the provisions of Chapter 8-A of Title 18 and actual costs of similar elections is $111,500. Notice is further given that a portion of the monies collected from the taxes described in the Propositions shall be remitted to certain state and statewide retirement systems in the manner required by law. The said special election will be held in accor‐ dance with the applica‐ ble provisions of Chapter 5, Chapter 6-A and Chap‐ ter 6-B of Title 18 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, as amended, and other con‐ stitutional and statutory authority, and the ofﬁ‐ cers appointed to hold the said election, as pro‐ vided in this Notice of Special Election, or such substitutes therefor as may be selected and designated in accor‐ dance with La. R.S. 18:1287, will make due re‐ turns thereof to said Governing Authority, and NOTICE IS HEREBY FUR‐ THER GIVEN that the Gov‐ erning Authority will meet at its regular meet‐ i l h il

g ing place, the Council Au‐ ditorium, 705 West Uni‐ versity Avenue, Lafayette, Louisiana, on TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2027, at 4:30 P.M., and shall then and there in open and public session proceed to examine and canvass the returns and declare the result of the said special election. All registered voters of the Parish are entitled to vote at said special elec‐ tion and voting machines will be used. /s/ Joseph Gordon-Wiltz JOSEPH GORDON-WILTZ, LAFAYETTE CLERK OF THE COUNCIL 202949-OCT 2-9-16-23-4T $279.24 PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE On October 12, 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 Golf, shall be con‐ ﬁdential until conclusion of the negotiation, in ac‐ with cordance La.R.S.44:22. 203795-OCT 16-19-20-3t $19.86 PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE On October 12, 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 Astrology, shall be conﬁdential until con‐ clusion of the negotia‐ tion, in accordance with La.R.S.44:22. 203796-OCT -16-19-20-3T $44.86

Public Notices Meet/Hear/Min

PUBLIC NOTICE --HEARING EXAMINER AGENDA OCTOBER 23, 2026 COMMUNITY DEVELOP‐ MENT AND PLANNING AU‐ DITORIUM 220 WEST WILLOW STREET, BUILDING B 8:30 A.M. I. Call to Order & Intro‐ duction / Morgan Hart II. Development Review 1. Hearing Review No. 2026-91-HE Proposed Plat Name: Zachary & Jennifer David, Lot 4-A-1 Plat Location: 1609 Guil‐ liot Road Jurisdiction: Parish of Lafayette Proposed Use: Residen‐ tial Surveyor: Kappy Cullum 2. Hearing Review No. 2026-92-HE Proposed Plat Name: Es‐ tate Of Mr. & Mrs. Ursin Chiasson, Tract 2D-2 Plat Location: 1300 Blk Louisiana Ave Jurisdiction: Parish of Lafayette Proposed Use: Commer‐ cial Surveyor: Andre Montag‐ net 3. Hearing Review No. 2026-93-HE Proposed Plat Name: Brett Candella, Lot 2A Plat Location: 1400 Blk Beau Bassin Rd Jurisdiction: Parish of Lafayette Proposed Use: Residen‐ tial Surveyor: Adam Meche 4. Hearing Review No. 2026-94-HE Proposed Plat Name: Sylvia Pellerin, Tract 3-A Plat Location: 310 Sacalait Rd Jurisdiction: Parish of Lafayette Proposed Use: Residen‐ tial Surveyor: Shawn MacMe‐ namin 5. Hearing Review No. 2026-95-HE Proposed Plat Name: Lid‐ ley Dugas Estate, Tract D Plat Location: 100 Blk Credeur Rd Jurisdiction: Parish of Lafayette Proposed Use: Residen‐ tial Surveyor: Trevor Evans 6. Hearing Review No. 2026-96-HE Proposed Plat Name: Benson Broussard & Jer‐ mal Landry, Tracts 1-A & 1-B Plat Location: 200 Blk Batiste Rd Jurisdiction: Parish of Lafayette Proposed Use: Residen‐ tial Surveyor: Adam Meche III. Adjourn 203812 Oct. 16 1t $19.33 PUBLIC NOTICE --See agenda documents at: http://www.lafayettela. gov/obcouncil/default. aspx REGULAR MEETING LAFAYETTE PARISH COUNCIL 705 W. University Avenue, Ted A. Ardoin City-Parish Council Auditorium TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2026 4:30 p.m. AGENDA CALL TO ORDER 1. Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance 2. COUNCIL

4. PO-046-2026 An ordi‐ nance of the Lafayette Parish Council amending Ordinance No. PO-0332026 to authorize the reallocated funding therein to also be used for the purchase of a res‐ cue vehicle rather than for the purchase of a washer and dryer. (Don‐ ald Richard) 5. PO-047-2026 An ordi‐ nance of the Lafayette Parish Council amending the FY 25/26 operating and capital budget of the City-Parish Lafayette Govern‐ Consolidated by transferring ment $15,950 from the Parish Council District 5 capital to the appropriation Parks, Arts, Recreation & Culture Department for interior miscellaneous designs and improve‐ ments. (AB Rubin) 6. PO-048-2026 An ordi‐ nance of the Lafayette Parish Council amending the FY 25/26 operating & capital budget of the City-Parish Lafayette Govern‐ Consolidated ment to provide for ad‐ justments of revenue and appropriation estimates. (Finance) 7. PO-049-2026 An ordi‐ nance of the Lafayette Parish Council authoriz‐ ing the Lafayette MayorPresident to enter into a Endeavor Cooperative Agreement between the City-Parish Lafayette Govern‐ Consolidated ment, the Louisiana De‐ partment of the Treasury the State of and Louisiana concerning Act 3 of the 2026 Regular Leg‐ islative Session of the Legislature Louisiana and amending the FY 25/26 capital budget of the Lafayette City-Parish Govern‐ Consolidated ment by increasing rev‐ enues in the amount of $40,000 received from the State of Louisiana De‐ partment of the Treasury and appropriating within the Community Develop‐ ment and Planning De‐ partment (8166) as an ex‐ ternal appropriation for Lafayette Parish the Sheriff’s Ofﬁce for Milton Community Center crime cameras located within community park the named Picard Park Funds will be used to purchase and install the surveil‐ lance camera equipment throughout the park and connect to the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Ofﬁce Real Time Crime Center. (Mayor-President) JOINT ORDINANCES FOR FINAL ADOPTION 8. JO-048-2026 A joint or‐ dinance of the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council amending the FY 25/26 operating budget of the City-Parish Lafayette Govern‐ Consolidated ment to provide for ad‐ justments of revenue and appropriation estimates. (Finance) 9. JO-049-2026 A joint or‐ dinance of the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council amending the FY 25/26 operating budget of the City-Parish Lafayette Govern‐ Consolidated ment by authorizing the transfer of $200,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds within the Community Development and Plan‐ ning Department to the Housing Loans Program. (CD&P) INTRODUCTORY ORDINANCE 10. PO-050-2026 An ordi‐ nance of the Lafayette Parish Council amending the FY 26/27 operating budget of the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government by adjusting manning tables the within the Library De‐ partment by adjusting the status of one (1) Li‐ brary Technical Assistant I less-than full time posi‐ tion to a regular full-time position. (Library) JOINT INTRODUCTORY ORDINANCE 11. JO-050-2026 A joint or‐ dinance of the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council amending the FY 26/27 capital budget of the City-Parish Lafayette Govern‐ Consolidated by transferring ment $5,000 from the Environ‐ mental Quality Reserve to the Dean Domingue Compost Facility within Capital Improve‐ the ments Department, Envi‐ ronmental Quality Divi‐ sion for additional fund‐ ing needed. (CID) ADJOURN IN ACCORDANCE WITH LA. R.S. 42:14(E) AS EN‐ ACTED BY ACT NO. 393 OF 2023 AND THE AMERI‐ CANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, PLEASE CONTACT JOSEPH GORDON-WILTZ, COUNCIL CLERK, AT (337) 291-8810 DESCRIBING THE ASSISTANCE THAT IS NECESSARY, IF SPECIAL ASSISTANCE AND/OR AC‐ COMMODATIONS ARE NEEDED. 204122 Oct. 16 1t $46.12 PUBLIC NOTICE --See agenda documents at: http://www.lafayettela. gov/obcouncil/default. aspx REGULAR MEETING LAFAYETTE CITY COUNCIL 705 W. University Avenue, Ted A. Ardoin City-Parish Council Auditorium TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2026 5:30 p.m. AGENDA CALL TO ORDER 1. Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance 2. COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS 3. EXECUTIVE/MAYORPRESIDENT’S REPORT RESOLUTION

Public Notices Meet/Hear/Min

4. CR-017-2026 A resolu‐ tion of the Lafayette City Council to approve a mid-year amendment to the FY 2026 budget of the Downtown Development Authority (“DDA”), the governing authority of the Lafayette Centre De‐ District velopment (“LCDD”), as adopted by the DDA Board of Direc‐ tors on August 19, 2026. (Kenneth Boudreaux) 5. CR-018-2026 A resolu‐ tion of the Lafayette City Council affirming the se‐ lection of funding recipi‐ ents for the 2026-2027 ex‐ ternal agencies funding program. (CD&P) ORDINANCES FOR FINAL ADOPTION 6. CO-084-2026 An ordi‐ nance of the Lafayette City Council amending the FY 25/26 operating and capital budget of the City-Parish Lafayette Govern‐ Consolidated ment by adjusting vari‐ ous capital projects in Fund 6500 American Res‐ Plan/21-City and cue Fund 1010 General FundCity Fund to expedite spending of the ARPA grant funds. (Finance) 7. CO-085-2026 An ordi‐ nance of the Lafayette City Council amending the FY 25/26 operating & capital budget of the City-Parish Lafayette Govern‐ Consolidated ment to provide for ad‐ justments of revenue and appropriation estimates. (Finance) 8. CO-086-2026 An ordi‐ nance of the Lafayette City Council authorizing the Lafayette MayorPresident to enter into a Endeavor Cooperative Agreement between the City-Parish Lafayette Govern‐ Consolidated ment, the Louisiana De‐ partment of the Treasury the State of and Louisiana concerning Act 961 of the 2026 Regular Legislative Session of the Legislature Louisiana and amending the FY 25/26 capital budget of the Lafayette City-Parish Govern‐ Consolidated ment by increasing rev‐ enues in the amount of $10,000 received from the State of Louisiana De‐ partment of the Treasury and appropriating within the Lafayette Police De‐ partment to acquire spe‐ cial response gear up‐ grades that includes hel‐ mets, gloves, shields, ba‐ tons, protective padding riot gear, body armor. (Mayor-President) 9. CO-087-2026 An ordi‐ nance of the Lafayette City Council authorizing the Lafayette MayorPresident to enter into a Endeavor Cooperative Agreement between the City-Parish Lafayette Govern‐ Consolidated ment, the Louisiana De‐ partment of the Treasury the State of and Louisiana concerning Act 961 of the 2026 Regular Legislative Session of the Legislature Louisiana and amending the FY 25/26 capital budget of the Lafayette City-Parish Govern‐ Consolidated ment by increasing rev‐ enues in the amount of $220,000 received from the State of Louisiana Department of the Trea‐ sury and appropriating within the Lafayette Po‐ lice Department in sup‐ port of the initial devel‐ opment phase of a new canine training facility for the Lafayette Police supported Department by the Lafayette Consoli‐ dated Government, the funds will requested cover land acquisition, land surveys, site fenc‐ ing, and preliminary pro‐ ject costs; the primary outcome will be a fully prepared site ready for facility construction and obstacle course installa‐ tion. (Mayor-President) 10. CO-088-2026 An ordi‐ nance of the Lafayette City Council authorizing the Lafayette MayorPresident to enter into a Endeavor Cooperative Agreement between the City-Parish Lafayette Govern‐ Consolidated ment, the Louisiana De‐ partment of the Treasury the State of and Louisiana concerning Act 3 of the 2026 Regular Leg‐ islative Session of the Legislature Louisiana and amending the FY 25/26 capital budget of the Lafayette City-Parish Govern‐ Consolidated ment by increasing rev‐ enues in the amount of $100,000 received from the State of Louisiana Department of the Trea‐ sury and appropriating within the Lafayette Po‐ lice Department to ac‐ patrol ballistic quire shields, increase onsite equipment storage such as hats, duty belts, ba‐ tons, baton holders, OC spray, OC spray holder, handcuff handcuffs, cases, and rain gear and (Mayor-Presi‐ holsters. dent) 11. CO-089-2026 An ordi‐ nance of the Lafayette City Council authorizing the Lafayette MayorPresident to enter into a Endeavor Cooperative Agreement between the City-Parish Lafayette Govern‐ Consolidated ment, the Louisiana De‐ partment of the Treasury the State of and Louisiana concerning Act 3 of the 2026 Regular Leg‐ islative Session of the Legislature Louisiana and amending the FY 25/26 capital budget of the Lafayette City-Parish Govern‐ Consolidated ment by increasing rev‐ enues in the amount of $100,000 received from the State of Louisiana Department of the Trea‐ sury and appropriating within the Lafayette City Marshal’s Office to ac‐ quire a mobile metal de‐ tector system for the safety of school and spe‐ cialized events, a trailer for the purpose of trans‐ porting the agency’s 4x4 all-terrain vehicle, and automated external de‐ (AEDS). fibrillators (Mayor-President) 12. CO-090-2026 An ordi‐ nance of the Lafayette City Council authorizing and accepting the dona‐ tion to the City of Lafayette from Link & Learn, LLC of certain in‐ ternet access equipment contributed previously by Link & Learn, LLC to h f i

y the former cooperative endeavor agreement by and among the Lafayette School Board, Parish City-Parish Lafayette Govern‐ Consolidated ment, and Link & Learn, LLC. (Fiber) 13. CO-091-2026 An ordi‐ nance of the Lafayette City Council authorizing the Lafayette MayorPresident to enter into a Endeavor Cooperative Agreement by and be‐ tween the Department of Public Safety and Correc‐ tions, Public Safety Ser‐ vices, Office of State Fire Marshal, Fire and Emer‐ gency Training Academy and the City of Lafayette fire and concerning training. emergency (Fire) 14. CO-092-2026 An ordi‐ nance of the Lafayette City Council amending the FY 25/26 operating and capital budget of the City-Parish Lafayette Govern‐ Consolidated ment by increasing rev‐ enues in the amount of $177,954.54 in FEMA As‐ sistance to Firefighters Grant Program funds re‐ ceived from the U.S. De‐ partment of Homeland Security, as well as transferring $17,795.46 in capital outlay funds from the Lafayette Fire De‐ partment to serve as a local match, and appro‐ priating within the Com‐ munity Development and Planning Department for Lafayette Fire Depart‐ ment firefighter cancer screenings. (CD&P) JOINT ORDINANCES FOR FINAL ADOPTION 15. JO-048-2026 A joint or‐ dinance of the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council amending the FY 25/26 operating budget of the City-Parish Lafayette Govern‐ Consolidated ment to provide for ad‐ justments of revenue and appropriation estimates. (Finance) 16. JO-049-2026 A joint or‐ dinance of the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council amending the FY 25/26 operating budget of the City-Parish Lafayette Govern‐ Consolidated ment by authorizing the transfer of $200,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds within the Community Development and Plan‐ ning Department to the Housing Loans Program. (CD&P) INTRODUCTORY ORDINANCES 17. CO-093-2026 An ordi‐ nance of the Lafayette City Council amending the Lafayette Develop‐ ment Code so as to re‐ classify the property of Case No. 2026-16-REZ Lots 4-12, Block 6, Gen‐ eral Mouton Avenue Re‐ zoning, located generally north of Rose Street, west of General Mouton Avenue, and south of Vi‐ olet Street; being re‐ zoned from CH (Commer‐ to MN-1 cial-Heavy) Neighbor‐ (Mixed-Use hood). (CD&P) 18. CO-094-2026 An ordi‐ nance of the Lafayette City Council approving a Conditional Use Permit to allow a bar/lounge in a D (Downtown) Zoning Dis‐ trict, Case No. 2026-17REZ 201 Jefferson Street, Suite B CUP (Conditional Use Permit), located gen‐ erally north of Lee Av‐ enue, west of East Cy‐ press Street, and south Jefferson Street. of (CD&P) 19. CO-095-2026 An ordi‐ nance of the Lafayette City Council amending the Lafayette Develop‐ ment Code and the offi‐ cial map of the City of Lafayette, providing for the annexation of addi‐ tional land into the Cor‐ porate Limits of the City of Lafayette, Louisiana, Case No. 2026-19-REZ 1409 East Butcher Switch Road #C (Lot 1) Annexa‐ tion, located generally north of East Butcher Switch Road, east of Louisiana Avenue, and south of Gloria Switch Road; and assigning a zoning classification of RS-1 (Residential Single(District 1). Family) (CD&P) 20. CO-096-2026 An ordi‐ nance of the Lafayette City Council amending the FY 26/27 operating and capital budget of the City-Parish Lafayette Govern‐ Consolidated by transferring ment $225,509.80 from various capital budget line items and appropriating to pur‐ chase three (3) replace‐ ment 1-ton dual crew trucks with 3-yard bed within the Drainage De‐ partment. (Drainage) JOINT INTRODUCTORY ORDINANCE 21. JO-050-2026 A joint or‐ dinance of the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council amending the FY 26/27 capital budget of the City-Parish Lafayette Govern‐ Consolidated by transferring ment $5,000 from the Environ‐ mental Quality Reserve to the Dean Domingue Compost Facility within Capital Improve‐ the ments Department, Envi‐ ronmental Quality Divi‐ sion for additional fund‐ ing needed. (CID) COMMENT(S) FROM THE PUBLIC 22. Comments from the public on any other mat‐ ter(s) not on an agenda and are within the leg‐ islative power of the Lafayette City Council. ADJOURN IN ACCORDANCE WITH LA. R.S. 42:14(E) AS EN‐ ACTED BY ACT NO. 393 OF 2023 AND THE AMERI‐ CANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, PLEASE CONTACT JOSEPH GORDON-WILTZ, COUNCIL CLERK, AT (337) 291-8810 DESCRIBING THE ASSISTANCE THAT IS NECESSARY, IF SPECIAL ASSISTANCE AND/OR AC‐ COMMODATIONS ARE NEEDED. 204129 Oct. 16 1t $101.86

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VERMILION

Continued from page 1A time as operations scale up. Brownsville initially suffered severe rental inventory shortages, according to reports, prompting landlords to aggressively ﬂip long-term rentals into high-priced shortterm worker housing. Acadiana real estate experts have pointed out that Vermilion Parish faces a massive bottleneck here, as there are only three signiﬁcant hotels in the entire parish.

Vermilion Parish officials recently began discussions on RV park regulations to prepare for construction workers, Vermilion Police Jury President Chad Vallo said in August. Construction on Starbase, Louisiana, will start next year. Residents in Texas also experienced a 57% increase in median property tax bills due to rapidly rising appraisal values, a major talking point in recent Acadiana town halls as locals weigh economic beneﬁts against cost-of-living adjustments. Recent calls to Acadiana

FORUM

Continued from page 1A derpaid, lack benefits and leave before cases reach trial. He said his office objects to continuances but that judges cannot force a defendant to trial without adequate legal representation. Earles said the district attorney controls the order of cases on the trial docket. “The jail is not supposed to be a warehouse for people,” he said. “But in a lot of cases, it’s a DA that’s not prepared.” Earles proposed a trial team that would travel between parishes to help clear cases awaiting trial. Priorities: Landry said his top priority is continuing progress on drug cases, including through the drug court. “We concentrate on the dealers,” he said. He also cited violent crime and juvenile programs. Earles said violent crime would be his first priority, followed by sex offenses and juvenile justice. Diversion: Earles said he would establish a written process and a team to verify that applicants qualify for pretrial diversion. He supports diversion for first-time offenders but said drug dealers and people accused of more serious violence should not qualify. The office’s pretrial diversion program has been at the center of a federal bribery scandal in recent years. Former Assistant District Attorney Gary Haynes, who oversaw the program, was convicted in September 2025 of bribery, money laundering conspiracy and obstruction of justice. Federal prosecutors said Haynes steered defendants to private companies for paid classes in exchange for kickbacks. He was sentenced to seven years in federal prison in December. Landry described the office’s current process as involving a packet about an inch and a half thick, reviewed by a team of six women. He said only nonviolent

EXECUTION

Continued from page 1A radicalization. Pentagon chief spokesperson Sean Parnell said Trump and Hegseth discussed the decision to drop the livestream plans before the president’s announcement on social media. “The Secretary supports the President’s decision, and they are completely aligned,” Parnell said.

Bishop called the plan ‘barbaric’ When asked how the public execution comported with his Chris-

The Acadiana Advocate l theadvocate.com l Friday, October 16, 2026 l 5A

real estate agents have come mostly from speculative buyers, which has started to push up prices, Brennan Billeaud, of Compass Real Estate, said recently. But if 3,000 buyers enter the market, the current supply can absorb it. “The Lafayette market seems to be sort of soft,” Billeaud said. “I’m curious to see how it all shakes out and where (the workers) live. If you’re making six figures with a family, where are you going to live?” Email Adam Daigle at adaigle@theadvocate.com.

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO

Vermilion Parish has reported 384 homes sold through September, which is up 80 from last year and the most in that span since at least 2018.

offenders apply. “We have saved many lives,” he said. Bail: Landry said judges set bail, not prosecutors, and that prosecutors will listen when defense attorneys argue that bail is too high. “It is not our job to set the bond,” he said. Earles said that as a judge, he worked to ensure people held on minor charges because they could not afford bail could be released. He said he also was willing to keep people he considered a threat to society in jail. Juveniles: Landry said state law allows prosecutors to charge juveniles 16 and older as adults for certain serious offenses, including murder, rape and armed robbery. He said about 10 offenses are listed in the statute. “We do not hesitate if the case merits it,” he said. Earles said minor juvenile cases should remain in the juvenile system, warning that labeling children can become a “self-fulfilling prophecy.” He said he would use the adult-charging statute for violent offenders. Earles also called for a local juvenile detention facility. He said Acadia Parish spends about $4,000 a month to house juveniles at a cost of about $270 a day. Racial disparities: Landry said prosecutors look at the file, the evidence and the facts, not a defendant’s race. “We’ve had no complaints about the way we handle those kinds of issues and those kinds of problems,” he said. Earles said each community should be represented in the office and that everyone should be treated alike. Transparency: Earles said he would hold weekly staff meetings where employees could ask questions. He also pledged to explain charging decisions to the public. “I plan to be as transparent as possible to let people know why I am charging someone, or why I’m not charging someone,” he said. Landry said thousands of people

have his cellphone number and that he takes calls from victims, witnesses and police. “Our office does not investigate; we prosecute,” he said. Wrongful convictions: Both said prosecutors must turn over evidence favorable to a defendant. Landry said his office would notify the defense and the court immediately. Homelessness: Earles said many homeless people are mentally ill or struggle with alcohol or drugs, and that the system should address those problems directly. Landry said his office recently went to certain hotels in Lafayette with community partners to make sure residents were not made homeless. He did not identify the hotels. Harris said he has been a public defender for about seven years and is currently the public defender in City Court Division A. Pardo said she spent 17 years as a domestic violence prosecutor and has spent the past year and a half as a magistrate in Scott City Court. Klock said he is a felony supervisor and prosecutor in the District Attorney’s Office. He began his career as a public defender in Lafayette City Court. Priorities: Harris said his first priority is changing how traffic tickets work. “If you get a traffic ticket in Lafayette City, you do not get a real court date on that ticket,” he said. He also wants to bring a workforce-training program offered through South Louisiana Community College in Division A to Division B. Pardo said her approach is to “learn, listen, and then take action.” She named mental health and early intervention as priorities. Judicial philosophy: Harris said a judge should enforce the law, not change it. “That’s the job of the Legislature through the democratic process,”

he said. Pardo said the key quality is listening, and she cited her time on the bench. Klock said temperament, patience and breadth of experience matter most. He cited his work as a prosecutor, defense attorney and civil attorney, and his teaching at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Sentencing and repeat offenders: Harris said Code of Criminal Procedure Article 894.1 lists about 35 factors judges must weigh. He said court services can then connect defendants to treatment and community service. “There is no silver bullet,” he said. Pardo said one mistake should not define a person’s life. In theft cases, she said, judges should consider the circumstances, asking, “Were you feeding your family?” She said domestic violence requires accountability. Klock said he favors community service credit for completing treatment, education or job training. “I’m a huge fan of giving back to the community that they take from,” he said. Harris cited a workforce-training program at South Louisiana Community College that offers forklift and rigging certification. He said seven people were participating the previous week and 12 were enrolled that week. Fines and fees: All three said judges must follow the law but have some room to convert fines to community service or grant extensions. Harris said City Court uses standard fines and gives extensions to those who cannot pay. “There is a constitutional right not to be placed in jail because you cannot afford a fine,” he said. He said he wants a system that determines indigence up front and converts fines to community service right away. Klock said judges can also give credit toward fines for treatment. Pardo said she would grant extensions when the law allows.

tian faith earlier this month, Vance said, “I don’t know that that’s actually going to happen.” “So whatever the controversy is about the method of the execution, I hope that people don’t forget that this is a guy who brutally murdered a lot of innocent people,” Vance said, adding, “Now, that said, I mean, look, if it’s ultimately livestreamed, I’m not going to be watching it.” Vance is Catholic, and the church has long opposed capital punishment. The head of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops had condemned the Trump administration’s decision to livestream Hasan’s execution, with Arch-

bishop Paul S. Coakley saying the move was a “barbaric promotion of a culture of death and must be reconsidered.” Other top Republicans, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, RBenton, voiced similar sentiments. For his part, the president has defended his decision to approve the use of a ﬁring squad, but had for days distanced himself from Hegseth’s announcement that it would be public. “Well, they’re making a determination about that,” Trump said Friday when asked about the livestream. As for Hasan and the method of execution, Trump said then: “He will be killed. He will

be, through firing squad. I really don’t care how he goes, as long as he goes. And I think the death penalty is a very worthy way of going for him.” Hasan, an Army psychiatrist who held the rank of major, walked into a medical building on Nov. 5, 2009, where soldiers were waiting in long lines to receive immunizations and medical clearance for deployment. He shouted “Allahu akbar” — Arabic for “God is great!” — and opened fire with a laser-sighted handgun. He also shot at the backs of soldiers fleeing toward the parking lot. Hasan said it was an effort to

City Court judge, Division B

Juveniles: “Our juveniles are our future,” Pardo said. She said she would support mentorship programs such as Big Brothers Big Sisters and build on programs run by the Marshal’s Ofﬁce. Harris said juvenile court must weigh the child’s best interest. Klock said “more often the problem is back home.” He said he would work with groups such as the Boys and Girls Club and 100 Black Men to reach families. Evictions: Harris called Thursday eviction court “one of the more difﬁcult courts to watch.” He said the court should tell tenants they have a right to an attorney and point them to legal aid. Klock said City Court already provides pamphlets and information. “Nobody wants to see somebody out on the street,” he said. He said he would grant a continuance so veterans and others can connect with resources. Pardo said judges must apply the law once a case is before them. “Of course, we don’t want to see those unhoused in our community,” she said. Access to court: Klock proposed an optional night court. He also proposed a citywide bus pass, so “anybody could use their subpoena as their bus pass.” Pardo said interpreters, including sign language interpreters, should always be available, and she would grant continuances to arrange them. Harris said the court already supplies Spanish, Vietnamese and sign language interpreters.

Voting Early voting runs Tuesday through Oct. 27 from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., except Sunday, Oct. 25. Sites are the downtown Lafayette Parish Government Building, the East Regional Library and the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreational Center. Election day is Nov. 3. More information is at govote. com and vote411.org.

stop them from going to Afghanistan and killing his fellow Muslims. A military judge barred him from presenting that as a defense during his 2013 trial. Hasan was left paralyzed from the waist down after being shot in the back by law enforcement and now uses a wheelchair. Hasan could seek a lengthy delay of his execution, though given his behavior at trial, he may not want to. The U.S. military hasn’t executed a service member by ﬁring squad since World War II. The last military execution took place on April 13, 1961, when Army Pvt. John Bennett was executed by hanging.

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6A l Friday, October 16, 2026 l theadvocate.com l The Acadiana Advocate

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More swings for AI stocks on Wall Street

NEW YORK — U.S. stock indexes muscled higher Thursday, led by companies delivering bigger profits. They pulled closer to their records even as stocks in the artificial-intelligence industry kept swinging on worries about how much longer their boom will last. Marsh & McLennan helped lead the way and rallied 4.6% after the insurance and professional services firm that updated its brand name to Marsh reported a stronger profit for the summer than analysts expected. Expectations are high for growth in profits from all kinds of companies this reporting season, which began in earnest this week. Kimberly-Clark climbed 4.7% after the company behind Huggies, Kleenex and Kotex said it expects to report revenue and profit for the latest quarter above what analysts had been expecting. Bank of New York Mellon rose 3.2% after reporting a stronger profit than analysts expected, and CEO Robin Vince said BNY saw strength across its regions. Nvidia, the chip company that’s ridden the AI boom to become Wall Street’s most valuable company, fell 1.8% and was the heaviest weight on the S&P 500. It came into the day with a nearly 1,415% gain since the end of 2022. But the losses for AI stocks moderated as the day progressed, which helped broad U.S. indexes to steady. Nvidia more than halved an earlymorning loss that had reached 3.8%. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.’s stock that trades in the United States dropped as much as 5.3% in the morning before finishing with a more modest loss of 1.8%. The bellwether for the AI industry reported a profit for the latest quarter that topped analysts’ high expectations, and Chief Financial Officer Wendell Huang said it expects strong demand to continue in the final three months of 2026. CoreWeave, which offers AI computing power to customers over the cloud, fell as much as 9.5% in the morning after tumbling 15.5% a day earlier. It later flipped to a gain and finished 5.9% higher.

Average long-term U.S. mortgage rate at 7.4% Mortgage rates held steady this week, keeping the average long-term U.S. home loan rate at its highest level in nearly three years. The benchmark 30-year fixedrate mortgage was unchanged from last week at 7.40%, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. One year ago, the average rate was 6.27%. The latest reading ends a seven-week climb for the average rate, which is at the highest level since Nov. 16, 2023, when it was at 7.44%. The recent string of mortgage rate increases snapped as the 10-year Treasury yield pulled back from its highest level since 2002. The yield was at 5.10% at midday Thursday on the bond market, well above its 3.97% level from before the war with Iran began. The U.S. housing market has been in a slump since 2022, when mortgage rates began to climb from pandemic-era lows. Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes were essentially flat last year, stuck at a 30-year low. This week, the National Association of Realtors said that existing U.S. home sales rose in September from the previous month, but slowed compared to a year earlier amid rising mortgage rates and home prices. Faced with higher borrowing costs, more homebuyers are opting for adjustable-rate mortgages, or ARMs. Such loans, which typically offer lower initial interest rates than traditional 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages, accounted for 10.5% of all mortgage applications last week — the highest level in a year, the Mortgage Bankers Association said.

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Retail sales up 0.8% in September But a big chunk of spending went to gas

BY ANNE D’INNOCENZIO AP business writer

NEW YORK — Shoppers showed their willingness to spend in September even after a better-than-expected splurge in August. But a big chunk of their purchases last month went toward paying the bills at the gas pump, according to the Commerce Department’s latest snapshot on retail sales released Thursday. Retail sales increased 0.8% last month, after a revised 1.3% gain in August, the Commerce Department said. Economists were anticipating a 0.3% increase for the month, according to FactSet. Excluding business at gas stations, retail sales rose 0.2% in September. The government ﬁgures aren’t adjusted for inﬂation, which accelerated last month as gasoline and many other goods and services became more expensive. In fact, business at gas stations rose 6.4%, according to the Commerce Department’s report.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO BY NAM Y. HUH

A shopper shops at a retail store in Northbrook, Ill., on Wednesday. Elsewhere, business at furniture and home furnishings stores rose 1.3%, while electronics and appliance stores saw a 0.6% increase. Business at online retailers rose 0.3%, according to the report. Clothing and accessories stores saw business unchanged from the previous month. The data offers only a snapshot of consumer spending and doesn’t

include activities like travel and hotel stays. But the lone services category — restaurants — registered a solid 1.1% increase. “The large jump in headline retail sales in September was almost entirely due to rising gasoline prices,” Michael Pearce, chief U.S. economist at Oxford Economics, wrote in a note. Pearce noted that consumer

spending is still on track for a 3.3% annualized gain during the third quarter, but he expects spending to lose momentum as the drag from higher prices weighs more heavily on consumers. Many Americans have continued to spend despite skyrocketing gas prices that have accompanied renewed fighting in the Middle East. The average price for regular gasoline rose overnight to $4.33 per gallon Thursday, according to motor club AAA. Before the war began, the cost of gas per gallon was less than $3. On a monthly basis, costs jumped 0.6% from August to September, the biggest gain in five months, up from a 0.4% increase the previous month. The cost of toys, new and used cars, sporting goods, and shoes all rose at a rapid clip last month, the government said. Natalie Kotlyar, national leader of BDO’s retail and consumer products practice, noted that strong sales alongside paychecks that aren’t keeping pace with prices can’t last forever, so retailers need to protect their profit margins and keep inventory flexible as they head into November and December.

Consumers are muscling through higher prices, but for how long? People ‘aren’t happy, but they’re still spending’

BY CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP economics writer

WASHINGTON — High gas prices are intensifying inflation and vacuuming up more of Americans’ dollars, yet consumers are still digging deep to spend, powering the economy, at least for now. A slew of economic data Thursday showed that inflation accelerated last month as more expensive oil and gas began to lift prices in other parts of the economy, including shipping and warehousing, before the increases reach most Americans. Wholesale food prices jumped, which could make groceries more expensive in the months ahead. At the same time, consumers also ramped up their spending, according to data released Thursday. Though much of the increase reflected higher prices, consumer resilience is powering solid U.S. economic growth. Workers are enjoying an unusual degree of job security despite scattered layoffs, which likely encourages spending despite surveys showing that many Americans have a gloomy economic outlook. It all adds up to an economy in which people are spending money but don’t feel good about it. “Consumers may have gritted their teeth and looked through higher gas prices,” said Jim Baird, chief investment officer at Plante Moran Financial Advisors. “They’re not happy, but they’re still spending.” Consumer price figures released Wednesday showed inflation rising to 3.7% in September, far above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target. “The jolt to transportation prices affects every good in the economy, since inputs to manufacturing move to factories and goods at all stages of production move from producer to wholesaler to retailer by truck, train or rail,” wrote Carl Weinberg, chief economist at High Frequency Economics. “This is how increases in energy prices ‘bleed through’ to prices of core goods.” Economists say that as long as unemploy-

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO BY LM OTERO

A shopper looks at the meat section of a grocery store in Fort Worth, Texas, on Oct. 7.

And September hiring slowed to a disapment stays low and Americans continue working, spending will likely stay resilient. pointing 29,000 jobs from a revised 133,000 Hiring has been sluggish, but layoffs are in August, according to the Labor Departalso unusually low. ment early this month. The unemployment rate ticked higher to 4.2% from the previJob market remains relatively strong ous month, which is still low. Yet economists Another report Thursday showed that the had expected September payrolls to come in number of people seeking unemployment around 90,000. benefits stayed below 200,000 last week, a historically low figure. Applications for un- Inflation may soon boost other costs employment aid are a proxy for layoffs. Stubbornly elevated inflation also means “If the unemployment rate remains low, the Federal Reserve will likely raise its key meaning consumers have a job, they will interest rate in the coming months in an efcontinue to spend, even if more cautiously fort to slow spending and bring down inflaand leaning increasingly on savings and tion. When the Fed raises its rate, that can credit,” Kathy Bostjancic, chief economist raise borrowing costs for mortgages, car at Nationwide, said in an email. loans, and credit cards over time. Many economists worry, however, that According to minutes released from the as inflation stays high, it will steadily erode most recent meeting, most Fed officials exAmericans’ spending power and start to pect that another interest rate increase will weigh on the economy. Weekly paychecks, likely be needed this year to combat inflation. adjusted for inflation, actually declined in The Fed increased its key interest rate by September compared with a year ago for the a quarter-point to about 3.9% in September, first time since May. its first increase in three years.

Wholesale inflation reaches levels last seen in 2022 BY CHRISTOPHER RUGABER

prices rose 1.3% from August to September, marking the largest increase since March 2022, after a WASHINGTON — Wholesale infla- 0.5% gain the previous month. The data indicated that ristion rose more than expected last month on a big jump in fuel costs ing fuel prices, particularly for as rising prices become a bigger the diesel fuel used by long-haul economic challenge for millions of trucks and freight trains, is pushAmericans, and a growing political ing up the cost of shipping and problem for Republicans in the up- warehousing goods. That is starting to lift the cost of coming midterm elections. The Labor Department’s produc- food, one place where prices aper price index — which captures peared to have cooled this year. inﬂation before it reaches consum- Wholesale food prices jumped ers — soared 6.3% in September 1.2% just from August to Sepfrom a year ago, up from 5.6% in tember, though they are still unAugust and the biggest increase changed from a year ago. since December 2022, the governTransportation and warehousing prices climbed 3.4% last month ment said Thursday. On a monthly basis, wholesale and are 16% higher than a year

AP economics writer

ago, the report showed. “The jolt to transportation prices affects every good in the economy, since inputs to manufacturing move to factories and goods at all stages of production move from producer to wholesaler to retailer by truck, train or rail,” Carl Weinberg, chief economist at High Frequency Economics, wrote in a client note. “This is how increases in energy prices ‘bleed through’ to prices of core goods.” Farmers also rely on diesel to power most of their equipment, which could also push up food prices. Diesel prices averaged $6.32 a gallon nationwide Thursday, according to AAA, up from just $3.66 a year ago.

Thursday’s report amplifies the consumer price index released Wednesday, which also accelerated in September as gas prices jumped. But a broad range of goods and services became more expensive. Both inflation reports raise pressure on the inflation-fighters at the Federal Reserve to hike their key interest rate. Inflation has remained above the central bank’s 2% target for five and a half years. Excluding the volatile food and energy categories, core prices rose 0.7% from August to September, up sharply from 0.2% in the previous month. Compared with a year ago, core prices rose 5%, up from 4.6% in August.

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The Acadiana Advocate l theadvocate.com l Friday, October 16, 2026 l 7A

Ukraine abandons truce, attacks Russian refinery Zelenskyy says he feels betrayed by Trump

BY SUSIE BLANN

Associated Press

KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine attacked a Russian oil refinery Thursday, abandoning a brief truce involving energy-related targets that it said Moscow did not heed, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he felt betrayed by U.S. President Donald Trump. The drone strike started a fire at the refinery about 180 miles southeast of Moscow in Russia’s Ryazan region, according to the Russian Defense Ministry and Ryazan Gov. Pavel Malkov. Russia’s Astra online news outlet posted what it said was a photograph of the blaze. The strike could further complicate Kyiv’s relations with Trump, which have soured again in recent days amid deepening tensions between Ukraine and Washington. Zelenskyy said he was outraged by Russia’s continuing aerial bombardment of energy infrastructure in apparent defiance of Trump’s demand on Sunday for both sides to halt those attacks. Despite going along with

PHOTO PROVIDED BY UKRAINIAN EMERGENCY SERVICE

Emergency services personnel work Thursday in a residential neighborhood after a Russian air attack in Kyiv, Ukraine. Trump’s demand for a truce, Zelenskyy complained, Ukraine in recent days was denied the usual Western intelligence on Russian ballistic missile strikes, and limits were placed on its use of U.S.-made Starlink communication terminals. Both are vital for the Ukrainian military. He said his patience had run out, telling the Financial Times in an interview published Thursday that Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil

refineries would resume. “We’re done,” Zelenskyy was quoted as saying. A senior Ukrainian official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to speak publicly, confirmed that Ukraine had hit the refinery. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Thursday that Ukraine never stopped its strikes on refineries. It wasn’t possible to independently verify each side’s claims.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov labeled Ukraine’s strikes on oil facilities as a “direct and crude challenge to President Trump.” Another point of tension with Ukraine is a deal Trump made with Russian President Vladimir Putin to import Russian diesel, despite international efforts to sanction Russia for its invasion and diplomatically isolate Putin. Zelenskyy slammed the agreement, saying it would

allow Russia to press on with its full-scale invasion of Ukraine that began more than 4½ years ago. U.S. efforts under Trump to end the war have made no progress. In an interview late Wednesday with Piers Morgan on the British journalist’s YouTube show, Zelenskyy said he felt betrayed by Trump’s deal with Putin, the energy ceaseﬁre announcement and the Starlink limits that restricted the use of Ukrainian drones. Asked if he felt betrayed by the American president, he said, “Really, yes, between us.” “Our country has to survive, and we count on our real partners, strategic partners, the United States and President Trump,” Zelenskyy told Morgan. He said the behavior of the U.S., including restricting the Starlink system, “was really strange.” In the same interview, Zelenskyy said Ukraine was “losing a strong partner” in the United States. “It’s painful when President Trump chooses one side, not our side. But we are OK that he’s in the middle,” he said. Zelenskyy said someone is pushing Trump into a stance that is “not the right side of history.” Elon Musk noted on X that

the military version of Starlink, called Starshield, is controlled by the U.S. military and Trump. A Ukrainian official said the country has not received an explanation from SpaceX, the company that maintains the Starlink satellites, or the Pentagon, on the slowdown. The ofﬁcial spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive situation. The Pentagon has not answered questions about the slowdown from The Associated Press either. The absence of Western intelligence leaves Ukraine more vulnerable to Russian ballistic missiles. Trump has said the U.S. hasn’t stopped sharing intelligence with Ukraine. Amid fears that the Trump administration may be withdrawing support for Ukraine, Zelenskyy went to Brussels on Thursday for talks with European Union leaders attending a two-day summit. Zelenskyy said he would meet with NATO SecretaryGeneral Mark Rutte, French President Emmanuel Macron, and the prime ministers of Poland, Denmark and Belgium. The previous day, he visited London, where he won pledges of more help from U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham.

Houthis strike near site used by Yemen’s government At least 2 killed in explosions

BY AHMED AL-HAJ Associated Press

ADEN, Yemen — At least six explosions struck Thursday near the palace used by Yemen’s internationally recognized government in the port city of Aden, witnesses said. An ofﬁcial said at least two people were killed, and Iranbacked Houthi rebels based in northern Yemen quickly claimed responsibility. It was a rare attack on the palace area, as ﬁghting has

escalated between the rebels and a Saudi-led coalition in the latest front in the Iran war. The explosions caused panic among residents, who fled the area. At least two people were killed and six wounded, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the press. The government said the Houthis attacked with missiles and drones, the Adenbased SABA news agency reported. A security official said at least two explosions were on top of the hill near the Maas-

hiq palace, and two others were near the security gate. Many of Yemen’s government leaders are living in exile, and those in Aden were safe, a government official said. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media. A video circulating on social media and analyzed by The Associated Press shows smoke rising from the area where the palace is located. The Houthis said they attacked a military operations headquarters with the “Saudi enemy,” part of their

Canadian PM: Alberta separation vote comes at the ‘worst time’ BY ROB GILLIES Associated Press

CALGARY, Alberta — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Thursday there “couldn’t be a worse time” for oil-rich Alberta to start down a path toward a future referendum on separation from Canada, as he campaigned for national unity in Calgary during advance voting. Monday’s vote is not a direct referendum on independence. Alberta, which has the world’s fourthlargest proven oil reserves, will decide whether to remain a province or

instruct the government to begin the legal process toward a future referendum on separation. “There couldn’t be a worse time for this referendum,” Carney told proCanada volunteers working to turn out voters. “It’s a dangerous and divided world. And it’s time for us to come together and stand up for ourselves and take care of each other.” Carney did not mention U.S. President Donald Trump, but his warning came amid Trump’s trade war with Canada, economic uncertainty from tariffs and repeated threats to

make Canada the 51st state. Carney has repeatedly argued that Canada needs to become more economically resilient and less dependent on the United States. “We are stronger together and Canada is worth fighting for,” Carney told the volunteers. Carney opened Thursday with three stops before heading to the day’s main event, a Forever Canadian rally at the BMO Centre, where he was expected to make the case for keeping Alberta in Canada. Organizers were also holding a second rally with Carney in Edmonton on Friday.

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strategy of attacking Saudi targets that has included a series of attacks on airports and oil infrastructure inside the kingdom. The escalation has complicated efforts to end the wider Iran war and further rattled global markets as Saudi Arabia, one of the world’s top oil exporters, faces repeated attacks. Regional aviation is affected, too, as the rebels have warned airlines about their use of Saudi airspace

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UL launches mental health initiative Four-year program to focus on student well-being, suicide prevention

BY KRISTIN ASKELSON Staff writer

STAFF PHOTOS BY BRAD KEMP

UL head coach Alyson Habetz talks about her medical team before Wednesday’s fall softball game against Mississippi Gulf Coast at Lamson Park in Lafayette.

‘THEY GET ME OUT OF BED EVERY DAY’

Ragin’ Cajuns softball coach celebrates medical team’s support BY KEVIN FOOTE Staff writer

University of Louisiana at Lafayette softball coach Alyson Habetz honored the medical team helping her through breast cancer treatment before Wednesday night’s fall ballgame at Lamson Park, recognizing the doctors and nurses who have become an important part of her ﬁght. The recognition came days after Habetz reached another milestone, ringing the bell at her infusion center after completing a six-round stretch of chemotherapy. “I wanted to make it big for them, because they deserve it,” Habetz said. “I mean, they really do. They’re special people. I know they don’t normally get recognized, and I know they don’t want the recognition, but they need to be recognized for what they do.” Habetz was diagnosed with triple-positive invasive ductal carcinoma shortly after UL’s 2026 season ended in May. She

Dr. Gene Brierre, from left, Dr. Henry Kaufman and nurse Courtney Roberts, all members of the medical team for UL softball head coach Alyson Habetz, throw out the first pitch before the fall softball game at Lamson Park on Wednesday in Lafayette. completed a six-round stretch of chemotherapy last Tuesday, marking the milestone by ringing the bell at the infusion center. She expected to celebrate the

moment with her medical team. basketball) coach Q (Quannas Instead, she got a surprise visit White) and his whole staff were there,” Habetz said. “I walked from her own team. “They all showed up with ä See HEALTH, page 4B some administration, (men’s

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette has received a $489,000 federal grant, along with matching university funds, to launch a four-year initiative focused on student mental health and suicide prevention. The Bridging Awareness and Service Linkages Mental Health and Suicide Project will raise awareness of mental health resources, connect students with services and develop a coordinated network for crisis response and referrals, according to a Thursday news release. David Khey, a professor in the university’s Department of Criminal Justice, and Jada Hector, a visiting assistant professor and licensed professional counselor, will lead the initiative. The grant comes from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The project will bring together experts in counseling, education, law enforcement and nursing. Planned efforts include assessing campus needs, conducting behavioral health screenings, providing outreach and education, and coordinating crisis and referral services. The initiative also will work with the university’s Mental Health Task Force, established in late 2025, to identify needs and promote mental health resources. Organizers plan to build partnerships with community organizations, crisis response teams, law enforcement and local and state agencies. The effort will help students and faculty learn about available mental health and behavioral health resources, including services for addiction, and how to access them, Hector said. The initiative comes after the university faced criticism from students and faculty over its handling of the 2024 death of student Basil Brown, who died by suicide on campus. Some questioned the university’s response to concerns about Brown’s well-being and its communication with the campus community after his death. The university said at the time that ofﬁcers could not take Brown for a mental health evaluation without the documentation required by state law. For more information about mental health services and initiatives at UL, visit the university’s website.

November ballot features key New data shows daily races, constitutional amendments school attendance up Early voting begins Tuesday

John Day, Democrat ther King Recreational Center, Priscilla Gonzalez, Democrat 309 Cora St., Lafayette; East Re“Clay” Higgins, Republican gional Library, 215 La Neuville Tia LeBrun, no party Road, Youngsville. Caleb “With a C” Walker, DemoVoters who plan to vote by mail BY KRISTIN ASKELSON must request an absentee ballot crat Staff writer by Oct. 30 at 4:30 p.m. The deadDistrict judge, 15th Judicial District Lafayette Parish voters will line does not apply to military Court, ES 3, Division I “Will” Keaty II, Republican decide several local races and overseas voters. Absentee David Way, Republican on Nov. 3, including contests ballots can be requested online District judge, 15th Judicial District for district judge, district attor- through the state’s Voter Portal ney, Lafayette City Court and or in writing through the Regis- Court, ES 3, Division M Dyan Schnaars, Republican the Lafayette Parish School trar of Voters Ofﬁce. Susan Theall, Republican Board. District attorney, 15th Judicial District Early voting runs Tuesday Races on the ballot through Oct. 27, excluding SunAll Louisiana voters will decide Court Kristian Earles, Republican day, Oct. 25, from 8:30 a.m. the state’s U.S. Senate race beDonald “Don” Landry, Repubto 6 p.m. tween Democrat “Jamie” Davis Any races requiring a runoff and Republican Julia Letlow. lican will be decided Dec. 12. Lafayette Parish voters also will Lafayette City Court judge, Division B Lafayette Parish voters can see the following races on their Ryan Harris, Republican cast early ballots at the follow- ballots: James Klock, Republican U.S. representative, 3rd Congressional Emilia Pardo, Republican ing locations: Registrar of Voters Office, 1010 Lafayette St., District ä See BALLOT, page 4B “Kate” Cotten, Republican Suite 313, Lafayette; Martin Lu-

in Lafayette Parish

Lafayette, Vermilion, St. Landry, Parish also has area’s Iberia, St. Martin, Evangeline and lowest rate of chronic Acadia. Lafayette Parish also had the lowest rate of chronic absenteeabsenteeism ism in Region IV at 22.7%, and

BY JOANNA BROWN Staff writer

According to data from the Louisiana Department of Education, Lafayette Parish led Acadiana school systems last year in student attendance. Lafayette Parish school system had a daily attendance rate of 92.9% for the 2025-26 school year. That was the top rate for Region IV, which covers parishes in the Acadiana region including

the second lowest truancy rate at 38.12%. Students are considered chronically absent when they miss 10% or more of days enrolled, and have been enrolled for at least 10 days. The U.S. Department of Education cites data that says students who are chronically absent in their ﬁrst years of school are less likely to be able to read proﬁciently by third grade.

ä See ATTENDANCE, page 4B

2B l Friday, October 16, 2026 l theadvocate.com l The Acadiana Advocate

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

Nuclear power offers opportunity for ports

When nearly 1,000 maritime Ports must also operate through leaders gathered recently in New extreme weather, grid disruptions Orleans for the American Assoand other emergencies. So how do ciation of Port Authorities’ annual we power these 370 ports spread convention, discussion focused on across 41 states, especially with how small modular reacgrowing demands? SMRs for ports are a tors, or SMRs, can help new type of nuclear reacpower U.S. ports and the maritime industry. This tor that can be manufacconversation featured top tured faster, are far safer, federal ofﬁcials, port leadare easier to transport than typical large-scale ers from around the counSang nuclear power plants and try and leading industry H. Yi would reduce competition executives. GUEST for electricity with other Currently, nearly 22 COLUMNIST critical sectors. Given million workers help the nexus of energy and move more than 2 billion ports, there was no better place to metric tons of cargo every year have this conversation than New through U.S. ports. Everything Orleans. in the average American home, Fortunately, there is an undenifrom laptops to couches to medicine, moves through ports. It’s able momentum for nuclear enno surprise that American ports ergy at ports. For example, under contribute $2.9 trillion to the U.S. the leadership of U.S. Transportagross domestic product. To move tion Secretary Sean Duffy and the goods for a growing economy Maritime Administrator Stephen and population, ports need more Carmel, the ports of Long Beach cranes, more terminals and and Corpus Christi recently bemore workers. Ports are adding came the ﬁrst U.S. ports to sign electric cargo-handling equipagreements with the Maritime Administration, or MARAD, to ment, power for docked vessels explore SMR technology for both and cold storage for perishables.

commercial vessels and port operations. These partnerships will examine port microgrids, shoreside power and emerging vessel propulsion technology applications. While nuclear energy may propel cargo ships across oceans, these partnerships envision broader potential for SMRs. A barge-mounted reactor at a port could power cranes during the day and an entire neighborhood at night. A reactor based at a port could also power communities impacted by a hurricane. SMRs will undoubtedly create new jobs for American workers. One of my proudest accomplishments during my tenure as deputy maritime administrator was helping to lay the groundwork for the Port of Long Beach’s historic memorandum of cooperation with MARAD. While visiting ports across the country, I saw ﬁrsthand what can happen when federal ofﬁcials, port leaders and private-sector innovators come together with an open mind. A room with the right people, the right ideas and enthusiasm is a recipe for creative solutions.

Sale of unregulated weight-loss drugs online must be stopped Throughout my career in nursing actively directing teens to unverified, and medical malpractice, I have witforeign-manufactured reta sold by anonymous online sellers. nessed how the safety of any medical We spend enormous amounts of entreatment depends entirely on the integrity of the system that delivers it. ergy in Louisiana keeping cigarettes, The Food and Drug Administration alcohol and even cold medicine out has established a gold standard system of the hands of minors. Meanwhile, a to ensure that patients receive safe, ef- 16-year-old anywhere in our state can watch a video, click a link and have fective, properly labeled medications from a legitimate, trusted source. That an unregulated, unverified injectable GLP drug delivered to their front door system pipeline depends on a chain by the end of the week. No ID, of accountability — from the questions or idea what’s in the manufacturer to the clinician, syringe. That’s not a black-marthe pharmacist and then to a patient. ket kind of thing kids must hunt This pharmaceutical pipefor in some back alley. That’s a silver platter, polished and line involves years of clinical handed to them by an app they trials, strict manufacturing Kerr protocols and the expertise Vidrine check dozens of times a day. U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy has of prescribing clinicians and GUEST spent real time pressing TikTok pharmacists in order to proCOLUMNIST and other platforms on how vide the utmost protection. their algorithms physically and These safeguards ensure that mentally affect kids, and he’s pushed when the medication finally reaches you, it is prepared under sterile condi- legislation to rein in how social media tions and there is complete knowledge targets young users. He’s asked the right questions. But now there’s a new of exactly what the dose or syringe question: Why is TikTok’s algorithm contains and how it will interact. promoting unverified, unregulated GLP1 medications, the “magical shots” that everyone talks about, have injectable drugs to minors, and what is the FDA, as well as the social media emerged as a game-changer in the platform, doing to stop it? realm of weight loss, providing new Dr. Heidi Overton is currently awaithope for people with obesity. Now, Eli Lilly is in the final clinical ing Senate confirmation to lead the trials with retatrutide, inaccurately FDA, and that confirmation process dubbed “GLP-3.” Retatrutide is deruns through the very committee Casscribed as a next-generation weightsidy chairs. Before she’s confirmed, loss drug that beats everything before Cassidy and Overton should discuss it. In fact, publications go as far as how the FDA can successfully protect stating it achieves body weight rechildren from ordering unregulated drugs online based on an algorithm ductions that rival bariatric surgery. that places such videos in front of As of this date, it is anticipated that retatrutide will be available sometime them. In the meantime, we can’t wait for in 2027 after obtaining FDA approval. Washington to take action. It is imporCurrently, it is not legally available, except for those clinical trial particitant for us to get educated: Look at what our kids are watching. Ask them pants. directly, especially if the household Yet there is a thriving and alarmuses dietary supplements to control ing growing trend of “black market” diabetes or weight issues, if they’ve reta and other GLP-1 drugs being specifically marketed to teens through seen these videos or know classmates who’ve ordered anything like this fake TikTok, Instagram, X and other social “reta” or “GLP-3.” media platforms. I’ve seen firsthand the damage that In fact, there are more than 300,000 videos on TikTok showing step-by-step can happen when anyone uses mislatutorials, detailing dosing schedules beled drugs that came from a foreign and even showing people injecting lab or unauthorized seller. Let’s hope themselves with so-called “reta” to there is still time to prevent our famiupbeat music. lies from ending up in a hospital or These “fake” GLP-1/reta copies — lawyer’s office seeking relief from a produced without any clinical testing, problem that started with a simple manufacturing oversight or safety video on the internet about how to lose monitoring, at times using unregulated weight. chemicals from unknown sources — bypass every safety check. UnforKerr Vidrine is a licensed Louisiana attorney and registered nurse. tunately, social media algorithms are

That spirit of collaboration, as demonstrated in New Orleans, is exactly what America needs as our ports continue to consider the next generation of maritime infrastructure. The Port of New Orleans highlighted the critical importance of investment in our ports. In 2024, marine cargo activity through the port supported 342,150 U.S. jobs and generated $101.5 billion in economic value nationwide. Looking to the future, the port’s CEO, Beth Ann Branch, and her team sought and secured federal permitting from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to construct the $1.8 billion Louisiana International Terminal, or LIT, in St. Bernard Parish, which will signiﬁcantly expand Gulf Coast container capacity. Projects like LIT raise the important question of how additional energy requirements will be met. This question confronts ports across the country. A diverse energy portfolio, including expanded grid connections, energy storage, microgrids and other emerging technologies like

SMRs, will be the answer. Undoubtedly, nuclear technology must meet rigorous safety, security, environmental and regulatory standards. AAPA has called for clear federal permitting responsibilities and strong emergency-response protocols developed with the U.S. Coast Guard through meaningful public and stakeholder engagement. America’s ports are gateways to the global economy. They support jobs, manufacturing, agriculture, energy and national security. Our ports, however, require reliable, resilient and sufﬁcient power to keep American commerce moving. New Orleans demonstrates the regional and national beneﬁts of investment in port infrastructure. With nearly 1,000 maritime leaders together in New Orleans, it was clear that we have an opportunity to think through revolutionary energy systems to power America’s ports for the future. Sang H. Yi is president and CEO of the American Association of Port Authorities.

A data center deal without NDAs will lead to success I have spent most of my adult life viewing part of our community. government and economic development from Successful economic development is not different sides of the table. simply about what a company builds. It is I spent more than 25 years in private indusabout how that company works with the peotry. I served in the Louisiana Legisple who live there. When the priorities of the developer, lature. Today, I have the privilege of the state and the local community align, serving as parish president of West that is a win-win-win. Their interests do Feliciana. not have to conflict. Those experiences have taught me One example is water infrastructure. something simple: Government works Hut 8 has committed approximately best when decisions are made as close Kenny to the people as possible, and economic Havard $16 million toward expanding our wadevelopment works best when local ter system. When completed, that inGUEST residents benefit from it. That philosofrastructure will become a parish asset COLUMNIST without placing that construction cost phy guided us throughout the Hut 8 on local taxpayers. River Bend data center project. Hut 8 has also committed to water-conservaWhen an investment of this magnitude comes along, it is easy to focus on the headline tion measures, including a closed-loop cooling numbers — billions of dollars in investment, system designed to recirculate water rather construction activity, permanent jobs and new than continually consume it. Economic optechnology. portunity and responsible stewardship of our But as parish president, my responsibility natural resources should go hand in hand. was about more than landing a project. It was These are tangible community benefits and making sure the project was good for West examples of what a strong local partnership Feliciana and St. Francisville. can produce. That required understanding the difference I have said many times that economic develbetween legitimate confidentiality and the opment is not just about cutting ribbons. It is public’s right to know. about what remains after the ribbon is cut. Nondisclosure agreements have a legitimate Did we improve our infrastructure? Did we place in economic development. Companies create opportunities? Did we protect taxpayconsidering major investments have propriers? Did we preserve the quality of life our citizens expect and deserve? etary information, business plans, technology River Bend also demonstrates why local and competitive information that deserve government must have a meaningful seat at protection. the table. But an NDA should protect proprietary inThe state can recruit projects. Companies formation. It should never become a blanket used to hide decisions involving public money can invest billions. But eventually, those projor public assets. ects land somewhere. When tax incentives are involved, the public They land in somebody’s hometown. deserves to know what is being offered and This one landed in ours. what the community will receive in return. When public money, public property or When publicly owned land is involved, citithe long-term interests of our citizens are zens deserve to know the terms and why their involved, people deserve to know what their elected officials believe the transaction serves government agreed to on their behalf. Those decisions should remain accountable to the the community’s best interest. people through their elected representatives Ultimately, it is their money and their prop— not a board, committee or any unelected erty. That is not anti-business. That is good individual. government. What looks good on a spreadsheet in Baton There is a time when confidentiality is necesRouge can look very different from the courtsary and a point when transparency becomes necessary. Good leadership requires knowing house, the school board office or someone’s the difference. front porch. Throughout River Bend, our relationship Protect proprietary information. Respect with Hut 8 demonstrated something else: Relegitimate business confidentiality. But when public dollars and public assets are on the lationships matter. table, transparency is not an obstacle to ecoThe relationship between Hut 8 and West Feliciana was stronger than any NDA, which nomic development. is why one was never required between us. It is part of responsible economic developWe protected legitimate business information ment. Ultimately, the size of an investment is while maintaining the trust necessary to repnot the measure of success. The difference it makes in the lives of the resent our citizens. people who live here is. We were not interested in simply landing a large project. We wanted a partnership — one Kenny Havard is the president of West Felicibased on communication, accountability and an understanding that Hut 8 would become ana Parish.

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The Acadiana Advocate l theadvocate.com l Friday, October 16, 2026 l 3B

COMMENTARY

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO BY GEORGE WALKER IV

Alonzo Hughes participates in a March 4 Mercy protest against the death penalty at the Tennessee State Capitol on Sept. 27 in Nashville, Tenn., ahead of the Sept. 30 scheduled execution of Christa Pike.

ISSUE OF THE WEEK THE DEATH PENALTY Two stories recently in the news have revived debate over the death penalty in America. Christa Pike, a Tennessee inmate convicted in the brutal murder of a classmate in 1995, survived a botched execution attempt last month that landed her in the hospital. She regained consciousness and was returned to prison, but the Tennessee Department of Corrections’ lethal injection protocols have come under scrutiny. Meanwhile, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced that the execution of a man involved in a 2009 terrorist attack at Fort Hood would be streamed live online. Nidal Hasan, a former U.S.Army major who was convicted of killing 13 unarmed soldiers in the attack, is scheduled to face a firing squad on Dec. 13. Some have questioned how such events will shape the opinion of country toward the death penalty. Here are two perspectives.

Think ﬁring squad is barbaric? Remember Christa Pike saga.

A botched execution shakes our attitudes toward the death penalty

Americans like to keep their deaths ing on death row for the appointed tucked away and medicalized so we hour, we like to imagine them quietly can fool ourselves that the Grim drifting off to sleep at the last moment. Reaper is rather kind. As long as we do Yet it’s hardly peaceful to be strapped not confront certain brutal realities, to a gurney in front of witnesses who we can keep imagining that death are there to watch you die. looks like the peaceful portrayals As Pike’s case shows, in television and movies, where we’re still botching them. patients apparently suffering from Her attorneys say the exExtreme Paleness murmur loving ecutioners struggled to get final words and quietly close their the needle seated in a vein, eyes. and the New York Times Megan ega Anyone who has spent time in McArdle reported that as the drugs hospitals and nursing homes knows went in, “she described a that this is a lie. Death is frequently burning spot in her arm painful, undignified and pitiful. But we that felt like it was going to burst.” Acare comfortable ignoring this truth, cording to her attorneys, when Pike provided that it happens behind closed arrived at the hospital, her arms were doors, in a sanitary fashion. “swollen, burned and blistered” from Consider the saga of Christa Pike. the drug. On Sept. 30, she was set to become the This is not obviously less barbaric first woman executed by Tennessee than a firing squad, as Judge Alex in more than 200 years, but the state Kozinski pointed out in a blistering botched the execution and sent her 2014 dissent in a death penalty appeal. to an intensive care unit instead. It is You could argue that the guillotine bizarre to think of doctors laboring to is the most humane method, with a revive her, knowing that they might be firing squad a close second. Both are simply giving the executioner another comparatively difficult to botch and chance to finish her off. But this is the mercifully fast, resulting in rapid insane logic of the death penalty as it unconsciousness. We have had those is practiced in 21st-century America: methods available for centuries. Why, fine to kill her, but only in the officially then, did we stumble from the electric appointed manner, with all the procechair, through the gas chamber and into lethal injection? dures followed and the correct forms Because those methods seemed more filled out. gentle. They left the bodies looking The reaction to the news that Fort Hood shooter Nidal Malik Hasan would intact; they felt less like an act of war. be executed by firing squad — with the But as Kozinski eloquently argues, judicial killings are inherently “brutal, execution livestreamed — took on an savage events.” We destroy the body equally surreal tone. The U.N. human rights office proclaimed that this would and extinguish the unique universe that exists inside a person’s head. What be “tantamount to a public execution and would breach the absolute prohibi- we are doing is a desecration, even if tion of torture.” It seems disgusting to you think it is merited. Torn between our desire for venme for the state to cold-bloodedly kill a person who poses no imminent threat. geance and the uncomfortable reality But once the authorities have decided of what that entails, we have sought to to do this, I’m not clear on why it’s so ease our discomfort more than theirs. much worse to let people watch. The prisoner will still, at a minimum, Yes, one could argue that making be forced to wait years for an official death a spectator sport degrades both to declare the hour of their death. our society and the condemned. But Then they have to choose their final one could also argue that our refusal meal, march to the execution chamber to confront the reality of executions is and face their last breath before an what allows them to continue. audience. For decades, Gallup polling on the But the illusion of a peaceful lethal death penalty has shown that more injection minimizes our own mental Americans support capital punishment distress about the end that we have than oppose it. Yet we have always collectively willed but are unwilling to been uncomfortable with the actual face in its full, irreducible brutality. process. We want to believe that the act itself can be something other than Megan McArdle is on X, @asymbrutal. metricinfo. Email her at Megan. Whatever inmates suffer while wait- McArdle@washpost.com.

Almost a week after receiving a double into the woods and proceeded to torture shot of a lethal execution drug, Christa and kill her, allegedly in the heavily disPike woke up in a Nashville, Tennessee, puted belief that she had tried to steal hospital, handcuffed to a bed and, acPike’s boyfriend. Pike crushed her skull with a chunk of cording to one of her lawyers, “angry and blacktop. confused.” Of the three involved in the murder, Indeed, anger and confusion are pretty only Pike was sentenced to death. much where this horrifying episode Apart from the cruelty of the leaves most of the rest of us, redeath penalty, my main objection gardless of where we stand on the to it is the possibility of human ervolatile issue of capital punishment. The details of the execution atror in the justice system. Humans make mistakes. tempt and its aftermath are appallThere is no question that Pike ing, compounded by the fact that Clarence murdered Slemmer. The human Pike’s lawyers had warned that she Page error in her case may be that she suffered from a blood-clotting conwas not given adequate considdition that makes any intravenous injection, including a lethal one, more eration during her trial and sentencing prone to failure. for the trauma and abuse she suffered as Failure is what happened in the execua child, nor is it clear that undiagnosed tion chamber at the Riverbend Maximum mental issues were duly considered. That was an argument her lawyers made in a Security Institution in Nashville on Occourt filing to quash her death sentence. tober 30, as Pike, after the first injection, The “immature, traumatized brain” of raised her head and asked a question to an 18-year-old, they argued, “made her the officials conducting the execution. exceptionally vulnerable to impulses and That first, insufficient injection of penextremely poor decisions.” tobarbital was followed by a second one, This appeal failed to spare Pike from and members of the press were horrified her fate, yet the lingering question reto observe that Pike remained “alive and loudly snoring,” according to the Associmains: How well can we help our young ated Press, before the microphone was cut people break the cycles of poverty, abuse, addiction and neglect for which capital off in the execution chamber. Then she punishment remains such a seemingly was taken by ambulance to a hospital. necessary but persistently unsatisfying Believed to be brain dead last Monday and scheduled to be taken off life support, remedy? Less then two months from now, the on Tuesday Pike astonishingly regained public’s attention will be drawn to another consciousness. scheduled execution, that of Nidal Hasan, As an opponent of capital punishment, I by firing squad. find the unintended gruesomeness of this A firing squad? I haven’t heard much episode deeply disturbing, to say nothing about that alternative since Gary Gilmore, of the cruelty that capital punishment brings when the execution method works. by his own request, was executed by a firLethal injection, a procedure intended ing squad at the Utah State Prison in 1977. to offer a less objectionable alternative to, Since then, I have learned that four say, the electric chair, appears to have led more states — Idaho, Mississippi, Oklahoto an outcome even more gruesome for ma and South Carolina — have authorized having failed to accomplish its purpose. firing squads for executions. Pike’s botched execution has also afHasan, an American soldier who killed 13 people, including fellow soldiers, at forded another opportunity to consider Fort Hood, Texas, in 2009, will be the first whether her punishment fit the crime service member executed by firing squad she committed, which was gruesome and since 1945. Secretary of Defense Pete cruel in its own right. Hegseth announced that Hasan’s execuHer story, the subject of an impressive list of televised true-crime shows over tion will be livestreamed, but President recent years, offers a tragic profile of a Donald Trump later reversed that deciyoung woman whose impoverished childsion. Considering what Pike’s plight shows us hood in a small rural West Virginia town about the hazards of lethal injection, quick put her on a path to ruin. and simple death by firing squad may Now 50, Pike was 18 years old when sound more effective. But I don’t expect it she murdered her classmate, 19-year-old will edify or satisfy the American public. Colleen Slemmer, with the help of her boyfriend, Tadaryl Shipp, and their friend Email Clarence Page at clarence47page@ Shadolla Peterson. gmail.com. The three reportedly lured Slemmer

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Mignon Faget moving from longtime space

of relocating our production facil- Store and Visual Comfort. Oroszi said. The retailer closed its Lafayette New landlord turns to avail,” Schmitt said Magazine Street location a decade ago and its locaEugene Schmitt, managing di- ity, a decision we made to support rector at global commercial real our overall growth strategy,” Dev- thrives on a combination of local, tion at the Mall of Louisiana in Ba‘regional’ brand estate ﬁrm Newmark, who repre- ille said. “Adam relayed to us that regional and national brands, cit- ton Rouge earlier this year.

BY RICH COLLINS Staff writer

Mignon Faget is leaving the Magazine Street retail space it’s occupied for the past 27 years, a move that the iconic jewelry brand’s CEO said was prompted by a new landlord who is bringing a bigger retailer into the property. Maghan Oroszi, who has run the jeweler since 2024, said this week it will move out of its ﬂagship retail space at 3801 Magazine at the end of October. The store will set up a temporary location across the street as company executives search for a permanent home elsewhere on the six-mile commercial strip. In a prepared statement, Oroszi said the shop was “pushed out” of its current location to make way for “a national brand in place of Mignon Faget” after local investor Logan Levy purchased the building for approximately $2.5 million in September. “We believed we would be offered a lease and accepted everything that was asked of us, to no

sented Levy in the sale, disputed that Mignon Faget was pushed out, and said efforts were made to keep the store on the property. “Mignon is an important part of Magazine Street,” Schmitt said. “We presented creative ideas to keep them on the site, but at the end of the day it didn’t work out, so we decided to go in another direction. They are a great brand and can’t wait to see what they have in store.” Schmitt said the new tenant at 3801 Magazine, which will be announced soon, is a regional brand. Levy, a local investor who owns other real estate on Magazine, was able to buy the property after Mignon Faget waived its right of ﬁrst refusal to make the purchase from longtime owner Adam Marcus. Sami Deville, Mignon Faget’s chief information ofﬁcer, said that was because of bad timing — the jeweler recently sold its nearby production facility and headquarters — and a belief that the new property owners wanted them to stay. “We were already in the process

the new purchasers wanted us to remain as tenants, and that the Mignon Faget brand was part of the value of the investment.” “Had we known our location was at risk, we would have made an offer,” said Deville.

Changes along Magazine Magazine Street’s history as a commercial corridor dates back to the late 19th century. For decades, it has attracted visitors and residents to a stretch of shops, galleries and restaurants — mostly small, locally owned boutiques and antique stores. But more national retailers have moved in over the past decade, particularly near Mignon Faget’s current location. Warby Parker, Marine Layer, Indochino, Free People and UnTuckit are all operating in Magazine’s 3900 block, which is part of a dense cluster of businesses between Louisiana and Napoleon avenues. Since the pandemic, they’ve been joined by Reformation, Gorjana, Greyson Clothiers, The Shade

Faget, now in her early 90s, ing the way Esom art gallery in the 3900 block benefits from being handed over the reins of the combetween two well-known brands. pany in 2024 to Orozsi, an architect, sculptor and designer who Half-century of design had been working for the business New Orleans jewelry designer since 2010. Mignon Faget’s Magazine Street Mignon Faget founded her namesake company in 1969 and grew it gallery will close temporarily Oct. into a successful jewelry design 26-29 for moving and reopen with house known for creations in- an event on Oct. 30 at the new lospired by local plants, architecture cation. The gallery will be inside the and cultural touchstones. She opened her first location on Magazine Court building at 3806 Dublin Street in the Riverbend, Magazine St., home to several lowhere she had retail space on the cal businesses. It will take a space ground floor and a studio above. previously occupied by local fashIn the late 1990s, Faget expanded ion designer Sue Sartor. by moving her headquarters to a Marcus, the seller of the former former Hibernia Bank building retail building, said he made the she purchased in the 4300 block move because it was time for him of Magazine and establishing the to retire, but he wishes the Mignon flagship retail store at the corner Faget team well. of Magazine and Peniston. There is “I had a wonderful 30-year realso a Mignon Faget store in Lake- lationship with Mignon Faget,” Marcus said. “It was a pleasure to side Shopping Center. Faget sold the company’s head- work with her, and she was a great quarters building at 4300 Maga- tenant.” zine Street two months ago to the French immersion school École Email Rich Collins at rich. Bilingue. collins@theadvocate.com.

Banana Ball to make Tiger Stadium debut in March

series of events in Tiger Stadium visitors from states such as Utah, the ﬁrst being a Zach Bryan con- in Washington, D.C. The Bananas 2027 tour brings meant to boost entertainment op- Texas, Mississippi, New York and cert in March that generated about battled the Texas Tailgaters in $25.1 million in visitor spending. A this year’s championship game, entertainment baseball portunities in Baton Rouge and put as far as Canada, she said. With the increased popularity of second concert with Post Malone ultimately losing to the Lone Star on by LSU, Visit Baton Rouge, the back to Baton Rouge Baton Rouge Area Foundation and the team — more than 3.2 million and Jelly Roll had been scheduled State team.

BY IANNE SALVOSA Staff writer

The Bananas are coming back. This time, on a much bigger stage. The Savannah Bananas entertainment baseball team will return to Baton Rouge next year after visits in 2024 and 2025. They will play the Fireﬁghters at Alex Box Stadium on March 4 before taking on the same team at Tiger Stadium on March 6. Visit Baton Rouge announced the team’s return Thursday evening, alongside the 2027 Banana Ball tour schedule drop. The March games are next in the lineup for Death Valley Live, a

HEALTH

Continued from page 1B out and was like, ‘What are y’all doing here?’ “It was an outpouring of support. There were about 50 people there. I was just overwhelmed with gratitude in a big way. The other people in the infusion room were wondering who all these people were, but it was exciting. It changed the vibe in the room.” The support has meant even more because Habetz initially wanted to keep her diagnosis to herself. She had faith God would get her through the fight and waited three months before telling her players. Since opening up to them, she has seen ﬁrsthand how much their support helps. “Honestly, they get me out of bed every day,” she said. Chemotherapy takes a toll, making even ordinary activities more difﬁcult. “I don’t feel like getting up,” Habetz said. “I mean,

ATTENDANCE

Continued from page 1A

“These numbers reﬂect the commitment of people across our district who understand that attendance is about much more than taking roll,” according to schools Superintendent Francis Touchet Jr. “It’s about working with our families and offering consistent support to our school staff to move the needle in a positive direction where attendance is concerned.”

BALLOT

the Greater Baton Rouge Economic Partnership. The Bananas’ 2024 run in Baton Rouge generated the team’s thirdhighest demand for tickets that season, according to owner Jesse Cole. In March of this year, the team made its New Orleans debut in the Caesars Superdome; Saints quarterback Tyler Shough threw out the ﬁrst pitch, and Saints legend Drew Brees had an at-bat in the game. The ﬁrst two Banana Ball series in Baton Rouge each generated $1.5 million in estimated direct and indirect economic impact, said Laura Cating, senior vice president of marketing and communications for Visit Baton Rouge. The event drew

people watched its games this past season — and growing awareness of the concept of entertainment baseball, the Bananas were ready to bring the game to Tiger Stadium’s more than 100,000 seats. The added capacity brings the estimated economic impact for the 2027 games to $24 million, Cating said. “It is such a family-friendly experience and something that is attractive to all kinds of audiences,” Cating said. The Metro Council approved sales and tax rebates for tickets, concessions and parking sales at its meeting Wednesday evening. The return of Banana Ball will be the second Death Valley Live event,

things hurt and I’m tired. As the chemo progresses, it accumulates, so yeah, your body wears down.” But when she gets to the ballpark and sees her players, something changes. “I just can’t imagine going through this without my team,” she said. Habetz said she remains as demanding as ever on her players. On particularly hot days, she sometimes goes upstairs and uses a microphone to communicate with the team. “But really, things have been normal other than that,” she said. “To be honest, when I’m out there, I forget that I have cancer, I really do. I’m just into it, and believe me, the players haven’t cut me any slack either, and I love it. It’s just great being in the grind with them.” Habetz also wanted to recognize the medical professionals who have guided her through treatment. Before Wednesday’s fall ballgame at Lamson Park, her doctors and nurses were honored with the ceremo-

nial ﬁrst pitch. She praised her oncologist, Dr. Gene Brierre; surgeon, Dr. Henry Kaufman; and infusion nurse, Courtney Roberts. Habetz singled out infusion nurses for the care they provide to patients day after day. “The infusion nurses are just a godsend,” she said. “They’re just beautiful people. They’re treating cancer patients all day and they just smile. … They’re bright lights without a doubt.” Habetz said she has dealt with nausea and sickness during treatment but has avoided more severe complications. “Nothing that’s really debilitating,” she said. “I’ve never gotten knocked on my butt to where I had to go to the hospital, and I haven’t run a fever, which is rough on a lot of cancer patients because you don’t have an immune system. “I’ve just been blessed.”

Across the state, homeless students and students in foster care have the highest rates of chronic absence from school. That holds true in Lafayette Parish, where unhoused students were chronically absent at a rate of 52.6% last year, followed by students in foster care at 44.7%. Improving attendance and absenteeism is a priority of the Louisiana Department of Education, which provides a “Power of Presence” guide to schools with resources and strategies to

strengthen attendance. In the Lafayette Parish school system, the Child Welfare and Attendance Office is responsible for tracking attendance and identifying patterns of absenteeism. Last year students across all Lafayette Parish school sites missed an average of 11.3 days of school.

Democrat In addition to the U.S. Continued from page 1B Senate race, voters statewide will decide on 10 proposed amendments to the Lafayette Parish School Board, Louisiana Constitution. District 2 Robert “Ted” Davidson, Email Kristin Askelson at Republican kaskelson@theadvocate. Stasia Herbert-McZeal, com.

for May but was canceled. The Banana Ball Championship League, a crew of six entertainment baseball teams including the Bananas, intertwine traditional baseball with choreographed dances and eye-catching costumes. The game comes with a unique set of rules, including no mound visits, no bunting and a two-hour time limit on matches, turning America’s favorite pastime on its head. Though they play an unconventional game, the Banana Ball teams still play to win, second baseman Jackson Olson explained on a podcast, with the season culminating in a Banana Bowl championship that was played at Nationals Park

The Bananas were the inaugural entertainment baseball team founded in 2016, stemming from a college summer team in Savannah, Georgia, that wanted to boost game attendance and “make baseball fun.” Since its launch, the team has garnered national attention and taken social media by storm, with 11.8 million followers on TikTok. Banana Ball sells tickets exclusively through a lottery system, which means fans can sign up for a drawing to grab a seat at a game rather than ﬁrst-come, ﬁrst-served ticket sales. The lottery opened Thursday night and closes in two weeks.

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Turnovers a major reason for Saints’ slow starts

BY LUKE JOHNSON Staff writer

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO BY TANNER PEARSON

Kentucky wide receiver Kenny Darby is tackled by LSU safety Tamarcus Cooley after a reception during the second half of their game on Saturday in Lexington, Ky.

Highs and lows

Here is how to lose football games: In their last nine quarters of football, the New Orleans Saints have turned the ball over on eight of their 23 possessions. Starting with the fourth quarter against the Las Vegas Raiders and ending with their final possession ä Saints at against the Vikings, the Giants NOON Saints have thrown three interceptions and fumbled SUNDAY, FOX the ball away five times while forcing only two of their own turnovers in that same span. Their opponents have made those takeaways count. Four of them have turned into touchdowns, and two others — Juwan Johnson’s fumble against Las Vegas and quarterback Tyler Shough’s second interception against Minnesota — allowed the opponent to kneel out the remainder of the game clock. Last week against Minnesota, New Orleans took a lead into the halftime break only to give the ball away on three of their ﬁve second-half possessions — a fumble on the opening kickoff, and a pair of interceptions thrown by Shough.

ä See SAINTS, page 4C

Assessing LSU defense’s uneven start under third-year DC Baker BY REED DARCEY Staff writer LSU will begin the second half of its season on Saturday ranked top 10 nationally in total defense.

That’s an impressive number. But while it signals that Blake Baker’s unit is on track to improve its overall statistics for the third year in a row, it doesn’t quite tell the full story. The Tigers are 4-2, and they need to win a home game against Mississippi State at 11 a.m. Saturday (ESPN) to make sure they don’t slip outside College Football Playoff contention for good. LSU has found itself in that position at this point in the season, in part because it gave up 32 points to Ole Miss in Week 3 and 28 to Kentucky last week in overtime. Baker’s defense has been dominant otherwise, albeit against lesser competition: two overmatched

STAFF PHOTO BY BRETT DUKE

Saints quarterback Tyler Shough throws the ball while under pressure from Minnesota Vikings linebacker Blake Cashman on Sunday at the Caesars Superdome.

nonconference opponents (Louisiana Tech and McNeese) and two high-level programs with struggling offenses (Clemson and Texas A&M). So, how good is the LSU defense, really? It’s a tricky question to answer, but let’s dive in ahead of what could be a tough test against the Bulldogs. ä See LSU, page 4C

In pass/fail world of college football, confidence in Kiffin is questioned Halfway through Lane Kiffin’s first sea- forth from a place like Kentucky. But the hate exists. The doubts exist. And the son at LSU seems to be a nice, tidy time only cure for either is winning. for a crisis of confidence. John F. Kennedy made popular the Not necessarily Kiffin’s confidence, phrase “success has many fathers, though Mr. Aggressive Play Caller cerbut failure is an orphan.” tainly tapped the brakes when Well, the Tigers’ loss to faced with that fourth-and-1 late in the Wildcats definitely had LSU’s 35-34 overtime loss at Kenmany fathers. LSU failed tucky this past Saturday. to execute well enough No, we’re talking about confiin enough key plays to dence in Kiffin to finally, emphatikeep Kentucky in it. That cally deliver on all that experiScott ultimately doomed the ence, intelligence and offensive Rabalais Tigers (4-2, 1-2 Southwizardry with a bona fide championship team. eastern Conference). Right now, there are questions It’s a loss that appears about where this season is going, and to have crystallized as a turnhow far LSU can go under Kiffin overall. ing point in the early perception There are also prayer vigils throughout of the Kiffin regime. From the the church of college football that Kiffin coup that was LSU’s hiring him and LSU will fail, presided over by those away from Ole Miss to the season’s classless little Kentucky twerps who first loss at Ole Miss, wild expectations were following him across the field Satur- were replaced with sobering disappointment. Still, that was a defeat that could day night, flipping him off while recording him on their cell phones. ä See RABALAIS, page 4C I don’t get all the Kiffin venom spewing

Lane Kiffin STAFF PHOTO BY MICHAEL JOHNSON

Edwards is a force on UL’s defensive line WR Strother lands on injury report, out indefinitely

BY KEVIN FOOTE Staff writer

Before UL even reported for August camp, the expectations for redshirt junior defensive tackle Chase Edwards were very high. Meeting such high hopes isn’t always easy, but the Houston native has been up to the challenge. ä Troy at UL “Chase has played really 4 P.M. SATURDAY, well,” UL coach Michael Desormeaux said. “He’s ESPN+ been one of those guys that, where he’s come from to where he is, has been phenomenal. The physical part (at 6-7, 295 pounds) is nothing compared to the mental maturity ... the way he’s grown up.” Ofﬁcially, Edwards has been credited with 11 tackles this season, but his impact is much greater than that sounds. He’s been the driving force behind UL’s defense, leading the Sun Belt in run defense at only 100.7 yards per game. “Coach (Dennis) Thomas sets the bar for us — play physical,” Edwards said. “That’s our mindset.”

ä See UL, page 4C

2C l Friday, October 16, 2026 l theadvocate.com l The Acadiana Advocate

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BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS On TV

AUTO RACING 2:30 p.m. NASCAR Truck: Practice FS2 3:35 p.m. NASCAR Truck: Qualifying FS2 6:30 p.m. NASCAR Truck Chase Race FS1 COLLEGE FIELD HOCKEY 4 p.m. Ohio St. at Penn St. BTN 5 p.m. Virginia at Wake Forest ACCN COLLEGE FOOTBALL 6 p.m. Columbia at Penn ESPNU 6:30 p.m. Memphis at Tulane ESPN 7 p.m. App. St. at Coastal Carolina ESPN2 7 p.m. Washington at Purdue FOX

MEN’S COLLEGE SOCCER 6 p.m. Maryland at Michigan BTN 6:30 p.m. Louisville at Clemson ACCN WOMEN’S COLLEGE SOCCER 8 p.m. Michigan at Oregon BTN 10 p.m. Washington at UCLA BTN WOMEN’S COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL 6 p.m. Florida at Texas A&M SECN GOLF 1 p.m. SAS Championship GOLF 10 p.m. LPGA Tour: Shanghai GOLF HORSE RACING noon America’s Day at the Races FS2

IN BRIEF

FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

MLB Tampa Bay at Cleveland TBS Milwaukee at L.A. Dodgers* FS1 NBA PRESEASON 6 p.m. Boston at Philadelphia NBATV 9:30 p.m. Denver at L.A. Lakers ESPN MEN’S SOCCER 9:45 a.m. Al Hilal at Al Riyadh FS2 1:45 p.m. Sassuolo at Frosinone CBSSN TENNIS 10 p.m. Shanghai Quarterfinals TENNIS * if necessary 5 p.m. 8 p.m.

UL ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2026

Moore was true student-athlete for UL

Editor’s Note: This is the fourth in a ﬁve-part series on the UL Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2026, which will be honored Friday.

PROVIDED PHOTO

Staff writer

Will Wade showcased his basketball team in a second exhibition with an 85-81 victory over Central Florida on Wednesday night at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. The back-and-forth contest against the Big 12 team Late required Wednesday clutch plays. The Tigers came through when Donovan Dent made the go-ahead layup with eight seconds remaining. Mo Dioubate then stole the inbounds pass and scored under the hoop to give the team a fourpoint advantage with four seconds left. Here are five biggest takeaways from Wednesday’s matchup:

No new players LSU didn’t unveil any new players Wednesday. Wade played only six players, including freshman Jordan Bender, who was unranked in high school. Wade told reporters on Tuesday during Southeastern Conference media days that he expected to have more players available for this exhibition. When he was asked for an update on the eligibility of some of those who didn’t play, he said he won’t comment on the topic, citing the SEC’s latest ﬁling in federal court, which quoted him last

Jon Rahm will be able to leave LIV Golf and pursue other opportunities under a separation agreement ﬁled in a New Jersey bankruptcy court. A week after Rahm’s attorney told the court his client would not play on the beleaguered tour in 2027, the agreement was ﬁled Wednesday and is scheduled for a judge’s approval Nov. 5. The agreement says Rahm owes no further service or performance obligations under any contract, is not bound by league regulations or team rules and policies and may join or contract with any tour, league, or sponsor without notice to or consent from LIV. The Spaniard also was granted his name, image and likeness rights under the agreement.

UL’s all-time saves leader Dylan Moore will be inducted into the UL Athletic Hall of Fame on Friday. dard setter Tenna Cooper, threetime All-American triple jumper Lawrence Willis and football standout Fred Stamps at the Friday night ceremony. For Moore, the numbers truly tell the story. His three doubledigit save seasons are the ﬁrst, second and fourth-best in UL history, and he pitched in more games (106) than any other Cajun. He made 32 appearances in his freshman season alone in 2015 when he led the team with a 1.60 ERA. One year later, he set UL’s ERA record for relievers with a minuscule 0.91 mark. “There were a couple of things that made him who he was,” Babineaux said. “He obviously had ability. His throwing mechanics were a little unorthodox, but he was able to recreate that delivery pitch after pitch so he was consistent in the strike zone. “He was a little herky-jerky, so it was tough on hitters, but he could hit his spots, and as his velocity improved, he was able to

mix that with the breaking stuff. “And he was very, very smart, probably one of the smartest players ever to come through our program. And the work he put in with Coach Robe made him even better.” Moore was the National Collegiate Baseball Writers of America second-team All-America as a relief pitcher in 2016, after making the NCBWA, Louisville Slugger and Perfect Game AllFreshman teams one year earlier. He also was an ABCA All-Region pick and All-Sun Belt Conference pick in both of those years. With his academic performance, it also came as no surprise that he earned three CoSIDA Academic All-America honors — ﬁrst-team in 2015 and second-team in 2016 and 2017 — along with three District VI All-Academic and Sun Belt AllAcademic awards. He helped UL win the NCAA Houston Regional and advance to the Baton Rouge Super Regional as a freshman, and to the Sun

Belt regular-season and tournament titles in 2016 that allowed UL to host the NCAA Lafayette Regional. Not bad for a guy who became a Cajun via an e-mail, one that caught the attention of Babineaux and current UL head coach Matt Deggs. “He sent us an e-mail with a video,” Babineaux said. “I was watching the video sitting on my couch one Sunday night and thinking that it looked pretty good. Matt was an assistant at the time and I sent it to him, and he liked it and said we should get in touch with him. I went and watched him pitch a perfect game in the Texas high school playoffs.” Fittingly, Moore attended UL on a full academic scholarship for all four years. “He just epitomized what a perfect student-athlete is,” Walker said. “He was a guy who was great on the ﬁeld, was a role model off the ﬁeld, and became an outstanding citizen.”

No new Tigers see court as LSU prevails BY TOYLOY BROWN III

PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Eagles have ruled out quarterback Jalen Hurts for Sunday’s game against Carolina because of a superficial blood clot in his calf. The Eagles said in a statement Thursday that Hurts was injured in an Oct. 4 game against the Los Angeles Rams when he took a cleat to his calf area. “Out of an abundance of caution, an ultrasound was performed on Saturday following the team’s flight to London and walkthrough,” the Eagles said in a statement. “The ultrasound revealed a superficial blood clot.” Hurts completed 21 of 40 passes for 220 yards and one touchdown in a 19-17 loss to the Jaguars. The Eagles will likely turn to backup Tanner McKee against the Panthers.

Rahm free to leave LIV Golf, pursue other opportunities

BY DAN McDONALD Contributing writer There is no question Dylan Moore was the greatest relief pitcher in the storied history of Ragin’ Cajun baseball, beginning not long after he set foot on the UL campus in the fall of 2014. “It was obvious from the start, as soon as he got here, he was our closer even as a freshman,” said Anthony Babineaux, who was an assistant on head coach Tony Robichaux’s staff during Moore’s career. “That first fall going through intrasquad games, it was apparent he was who we needed to throw at the back end of a game.” Those predictions became records. The right-hander from Hughes Springs, Texas, recorded 38 saves in his career — 22 more than any Cajun in history and seven more than any player in the long history of the Sun Belt Conference. He led UL in saves three straight years with 13 in 2015, a school record 14 in 2016 and 11 in 2017 in helping lead UL to a string of team successes. But there’s more to the man teammates called “D-Mo”. “I thought he was the quintessential student-athlete,” said long-time UL radio broadcaster Jay Walker. “Not only did he excel on the ﬁeld and become the best relief pitcher in Cajun and Sun Belt history, but he also went through his entire schooling with nothing but straight As. “And he was president of the student-athlete advisory committee that recommended Bryan Maggard to be athletic director. That worked out pretty well.” Because of those abilities, Moore will be inducted into the UL Athletic Hall of Fame on Friday, as part of a weekend of Hall of Fame activities that includes the Cajuns’ home game of the season against Troy on Saturday. He will be inducted along with long-time football coach Nelson Stokley, women’s basketball stan-

Eagles QB Hurts out against Carolina with blood clot

month. “I would love to update you, but because all my words are being used against us, I’m not going to,” Wade said. “I’m not trying to be a jerk. I’m not. I’m not going to talk anything about eligibility right now just because of the situation that we’ve got. I’m not trying to play coy or anything like that.” The scholarship players who didn’t play after warming up were fifth-year UCLA transfer guard Skyy Clark, 22-year-old Italian-Senegalese wing Saliou Niang, 23-year-old French center Brice Dessert and 24-year-old Israeli center Gilad Levy.

International talent Michael Ruzic showcased why he has been on NBA radars for the last couple of years. The 7-foot center was excellent offensively early, scoring nine of the team’s first 12 points. In the half court, Ruzic set solid screens, rolled to open space in the paint and scored around the basket. He also had two alley-oop scores in the first half. Ruzic was also comfortable above the 3-point line. He was a frequent handoff option for his guards and flashed his 3-point shooting talent. “Ruzic, he’s been awesome,” Wade said. “Stretched the floor early, hit the transition 3, can drive. He sets great screens. He’s just a really, really good player. He’s going to be a great player.” The 20-year-old Croatian finished with 15 points on 6-of-12

shooting, 12 rebounds and four blocks.

Dent shines Dent delivered the Tigers’ most impressive performance. The 6-2 floor general wasn’t just spoonfeeding teammates for open shots but also making himself a pest on defense. Dent had three steals and three blocks. The fifth-year UCLA transfer was instinctual as a disruptor, blocking shots from behind on unsuspecting shooters and leaping for steals on passes he expected from the ballhandler. Dent finished with 21 points on 7-of-13 shooting, nine rebounds and 11 assists. “He’s the leader, he’s the point guard, and so the team follows him, and he’s done a great job,” Wade said. He did just that against UCF, who couldn’t speed him up with occasional pressure. Dent also flashed his outside shooting, making a 3-pointer when a defender went under a screen. Dent’s only blemish was his 6 of 14 free-throw shooting.

Sharp shooting Abdi Bashir went 1 of 10 from beyond the arc in LSU’s ﬁrst exhibition, where it beat McNeese State 63-60 on the road. The 6-5 senior, known for his elite 3-point jumper at the college level, bounced back Wednesday. The Kansas State transfer had a game-high 26 points and made 6

of 12 from the 3-point line. “I just got back in my routine,” Bashir said. “The McNeese game was my first game back, probably since like January. My teammates instilled a lot of confidence in me and kept telling me next shot is gonna fall.” Wade used Bashir as a frequent off-ball piece who flew around screens. He also shot from well beyond the arc and with defenders in his face. He also showed a couple of flashes of being a willing dribbler when he couldn’t instantly shoot it. Bashir scored once when he was guarded tightly beyond the arc and managed to wiggle his way to the hoop for a layup.

Rebounding worries When Will Wade spoke to reporters last month, he expressed his biggest concern: defensive rebounding. As LSU remained shorthanded with only five true rotation players against UCF, the team’s weakness was even more glaring. The Tigers gave up eight offensive rebounds in the first half and only had three of their own. While UCF has comparable length to the Tigers, it was simply more active too many times during the first half. Early in the second half, the Tigers were more inspired on the glass. Dent reeled in six defensive boards in the half himself. The Tigers couldn’t sustain that effort, giving up 17 total offensive boards.

World Gymnastics regrets ‘confusion’ over Russian visas

ROTTERDAM, Netherlands — World Gymnastics says it regrets “confusion” ahead of the world championships starting on Saturday after three top Russians were denied visas to enter the Netherlands for the event. Former Olympic champions Angelina Melnikova and Viktoria Listunova, along with teammate Anna Kalmykova, were not allowed to travel to Rotterdam for the weeklong worlds that are a team qualifying event for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, the Russian team has said. Other members of the Russian team have been given visas. The cases illustrate how efforts in the sports world to lift many restrictions on Russian athletes and teams don’t always mean host governments allow travel for events.

Indiana Fever star Boston had surgery to repair meniscus

INDIANAPOLIS — Aliyah Boston underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair the lateral meniscus in her right knee, the Indiana Fever announced Thursday. The team said their star forward will begin rehabilitation and updates will be provided as they become available. Boston played in 40 of the Fever’s 44 games during the regular season and averaged 16.1 points, 8.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists. She raised her scoring in the playoffs, averaging 19.7 points during a ﬁrst-round series loss to the Las Vegas Aces. Boston helped the U.S. win its fifth consecutive women’s FIBA World Cup title in September. The No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft and the 2023 WNBA Rookie of the Year.

Cabrera agrees to $1M, 1-year contract with Reds

CINCINNATI — Infielder/outfielder Oswaldo Cabrera and the Cincinnati Reds agreed Thursday to a $1 million, one-year contract. The 27-year-old Cabrera can earn $200,000 in performance bonuses for plate appearances: $50,000 each for 200, 300, 400 and 500. He was eligible for arbitration. Cabrera was claimed by the Reds off waivers from the Yankees on Sept. 18. He was 0 for 9 with the Yankees and was 4 for 13 for Cincinnati, playing under a $1.2 million, one-year contract. He spent most of the season at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and batted .288 with 19 homers, 69 RBIs and 12 stolen bases in 122 games. Cabrera has a .233 average with 20 homers, 95 RBIs and 16 stolen bases in parts of ﬁve major league seasons.

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The Acadiana Advocate l theadvocate.com l Friday, October 16, 2026 l 3C

SAINTS NOTEBOOK

Saints sticking by kicker Carlson amid struggles BY MATTHEW PARAS AND LUKE JOHNSON Staff writer

STAFF PHOTO BY DAVID GRUNFELD New Orleans Pelicans guard Jeremiah Fears talks with the media during media day at the Smoothie King Center on Sept. 28. Fears scored 12 points off the bench as the Pelicans reserves shined in the preseason opener on Tuesday.

Fears lifts Pels past

Mavs in birthday win BY ROD WALKER Staff writer

Jeremiah Fears celebrated his birthday in style Wednesday night. Fears, who turned 20, led the way in the New Orleans Pelicans’ best showing of the preseason. Fears ﬁnished with 16 points and 5 assists in the Pelicans’ 101-97 victory over the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center. Fears also had 3 steals and 3 rebounds. It was the second straight year Fears had a big game on his birthday. He ﬁnished with 20 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals last season in a loss to the Houston Rockets. This year he stuffed the stat sheet and got the win to go with it. “It’s just a great feeling being able to step on the court and play the game I love on a special day to me,” Fears said during a post-

game television interview. The Pelicans improved to 2-1 in the preseason. Mosley used his third different starting lineup. The goal is to get his players accustomed to different roles. “There were 31 different starting lineups last year,” Mosley said. “So these guys need to understand and we all have to keep seeing how these combinations work together. I think that’s so important.” Wednesday’s starters were Fears, Bennedict Mathurin, Saddiq Bey, Karlo Matkovic, and Yves Missi. It was the first preseason start for Bey and Matkovic. Missi, the only Pelicans player to start all three games, finished with 6 points, 9 rebounds and 4 blocks. Matkovic made 3 of his 4 3-pointers and finished with 11 points. In the first preseason

game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Pelicans started Dejounte Murray, Herb Jones, Trey Murphy, Zion Williamson and Missi. When they played the Miami Heat, the starters were Murphy, Missi, Williamson, Fears and Mathurin. “Guys that originally started need to know what it’s like to come off the bench,” Mosley said. “And guys that come off the bench need to know what it’s like when you have to start a game. The intensity you have to have. The focus that you have to have. Those are great ways to do that now in the preseason.” Fears understood the assignment, scoring his team’s ﬁrst seven points. Murray missed his second straight game dealing with a toe injury. But he was able to practice Thursday and do some

light shooting. Even with the seasoned point guard out, the Pelicans put forth their best defensive effort. They forced 25 turnovers and limited the Mavs to 35.3% shooting from the ﬂoor. “I thought our guys were very connected,” Mosley said. “They were communicating with one another. Flying around, covering for one another. Doing it without fouling. We had two or three shot clock violations. That’s just their ability to sit down and take on the challenge of being the most physical team early to set the tone of the game. The Pelicans wrap up preseason play Friday when they host the Washington Wizards at the Smoothie King Center. The regular season begins Wednesday at home against the Indiana Pacers.

NBA season to begin with 6 coaches in new places, 3 ﬁrst-time sideline bosses BY TIM REYNOLDS

AP basketball writer

Dusty May is new to the NBA. He’s not new to the NBA stage. Thanks in large part to a Final Four run at Florida Atlantic in 2023 and leading Michigan to the NCAA title last season, May has coached plenty of big games in plenty of NBA arenas and knows what it’s like when those buildings are ﬁlled to the rafters. And that means, when he officially starts as coach of the Dallas Mavericks in a few days, May will have a real sense of what’s coming — at least from an surroundings standpoint. “I’ve been in that environment,” May said. “Not at the level, obviously, but I’m someone who’s big on visualization. I see myself there. ... But I have a real unique ability to, once the game starts, for 48 minutes to have 100% of my focus on the court and our bench.” In other words, the coach of last season’s NCAA champion truly believes he’s ready for the NBA challenge. And he’s not alone, with six teams under new coaching management this season. May is one of three first-time NBA coaches this season, along with Orlando’s Sean Sweeney (the former San Antonio assistant) and Portland’s Micah Nori (the former Minnesota assistant). Another trio of coaches got new jobs in the league — former Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins has taken over in Milwaukee, former

Orlando coach Jamahl Mosley has taken over in New Orleans, and former interim Portland coach Tiago Splitter (who coached for basically the entirety of last season) is the new coach in Chicago. “I think just in general, the way we’re approaching things is, ‘What do we need to do today? Where are we at? How did we do with it? What do we need to improve on?’” Sweeney said. “We’ve done a good job of trying to set high standards for ourselves and lay down expectations for each other and live up to that.” It is possible to win somewhere in Year 1 as a coach — just ask New York’s Mike Brown, who led the Knicks to last season’s NBA championship in his inaugural season on that team’s sideline. The coach of the reigning Western Conference champions, San Antonio’s Mitch Johnson, got to the ﬁnals in his second season as coach of the Spurs (which, technically, was his ﬁrst full season as head coach). Sweeney and Nori were widely considered as being ready to become head coaches for a few years before getting their current chances. May had taken two schools, one of them a mid-major, to the Final Four in a four-season span, more than proving his ability to win. Splitter did such a good job under awkward circumstances in Portland last season that he was a coach of the year candidate, and both Jenkins and Mosley have had success at their previous stops. Nori essentially accepted a one-

year contract with the Trail Blazers, an extremely rare move, especially for a first-time head coach. He’s betting on himself, saying that if he does the job the options for future seasons on the existing contract will take care of itself. “I’ve been around a lot of — I think it’s 13 — head coaches, so you start to see what you would do and what you’d like to do,” Nori said. “I guess the biggest difference, and they always talk about sliding over that one seat, is that it ends with you. ... It’s your program now. That’s been the biggest adjustment.” Mosley was living in Florida a few months ago, never thinking he’d be in Louisiana now. But when the Magic decided to change coaches, the Pelicans didn’t wait long before pouncing — knowing that Mosley would be a hot commodity. And Mosley says a change of scenery gave him an opportunity for what essentially is a reawakening. “You get to do a lot of reflecting quick, right? You get to see exactly what worked, what didn’t work, how you can balance out what you do, the roster you have, you get to reflect on a lot of things that were successful and things that you need to work on,” Mosley said. “That’s what it gave me. And now look at the group of guys that we have here — young, energetic, wanting to learn, wanting to figure it out, hungry to get better. There’s so much of it here that it’s easy to pour into an organization like this.”

After Sunday’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings, coach Kellen Moore said the New Orleans Saints would consider moving on from Daniel Carlson after the kicker missed a pivotal extra point. But Moore and the Saints ultimately decided it was worth giving Carlson another chance. Why? Special teams coordinator Phil Galiano said Thursday that Carlson’s accuracy hasn’t been an issue in practice and the team’s pre-game warmups, giving the team confidence he can translate that to the field. “Knowing the work ethic, seeing the practice part of it is what gives you the confidence and patience with it,” Galiano said. “I think you can go back and say, ‘OK, well, anytime a player doesn’t do something well, should we just cut him and go get someone else in a short period of time?’ There’s not going to be many players left. That’s just not the way that it works. “He knows that he needs to make the kick and we believe in him that he’s going to make the next one. … Sometimes, overreactionary (moves) may not be the best.” Galiano added there are “so many guys out there that you feel confident in.” And though the Saints still have Charlie Smyth, last year’s kicker, on the practice squad, Carlson won the job after being a late addition in training camp. The 31-year-old has also demonstrated plenty of consistency throughout his nine-year career, making two All-Pro teams with the Las Vegas Raiders. That said, Carlson has struggled to begin the season. He ranks fourth-to-last in field goal percentage at 71.4% (5 of 7) — with his two misses coming from 62 and 52 yards. He also ranks in the bottom five in extra point percentage, making just 11 of 13. Outside of the Vikings game, he missed another extra point in a Week 3 loss to the Raiders.

Olave misses practice again

An illness kept All-Pro wide receiver Chris Olave off the practice ﬁeld for the second straight day. The Saints have not offered any speciﬁcs about what Olave is going through, but he’s one of multiple players who have been battling an illness in the past week. Defensive tackle Nathan Shepherd, who missed last week’s game with an illness, also missed both Wednesday and Thursday’s practice sessions with the issue. Olave has been one of the few

bright spots for the Saints as they’ve gotten off to a 1-4 start. Through ﬁve weeks, he ranks second among NFL pass catchers in both receptions (39) and receiving yards (537). Olave also ranks among the NFL leaders in explosive catches, with nine of his 39 catches going for 20 or more yards. New Orleans is also currently thin at receiver while rookie Jordyn Tyson remains on injured reserve. At Thursday’s practice, the Saints only had three available receivers on their 53-man roster, with three more on the practice squad. Linebacker Kaden Elliss (calf) continued to miss practice, casting doubt on his availability for the third consecutive game. The Giants are dealing with their own injury issues: Top pass rusher Abdul Carter (groin) missed his second consecutive practice Thursday. Both of New York’s starting tackles — left tackle Andrew Thomas (groin) and right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor (calf) have also been held out all week.

Here we go again

After struggling with Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ blitz-heavy approach last week, the Saints aren’t likely going to get a breather this week against the New York Giants. Since New York lost edge rusher Brian Burns for the season with a torn ACL back in Week 3, it has blitzed opposing passers at a 57 % rate — second only to Flores’ Vikings, according to Next Gen Stats. That includes their highest blitz rate of the season last week against the Washington Commanders, at 62.2 % — the most any non-Vikings team has blitzed this season. “They’re bringing pressure to get pressure,” Saints offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier said. Carter, the No. 3 overall pick in last year’s draft, has been the main figure in the Giants’ pass rush. He’s recorded two sacks and 20 pressures through five games, and he gets to the passer in a hurry: Carter’s average time to pressure is 2.34 seconds — the fastest of any player with at least 10 pressures. The Giants rank near the bottom of the NFL in both sacks (8) and pressure rate (30.9 %), but those numbers have spiked in the last two weeks as they’ve started to blitz more. New York sacked Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels ﬁve times last week while pressuring him on nearly 40% of his dropbacks. After having some issues against additional pressure in recent weeks, the Saints expect teams to keep sending the heat after quarterback Tyler Shough.

Halpin’s go-ahead homer ﬂips Game 3 BY JOE REEDY AP sportswriter

CLEVELAND — In a season where Cleveland rookies helped propel to the Guardians to their third straight AL Central title, it was the team’s emotional spark plug that powered the Guardians to a pivotal victory in Game 3 of the AL Championship Series. Petey Halpin hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the ﬁfth inning and followed with a majestic bat flip as the Guardians beat the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2 Thursday for a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. “It’s the second time he’s kind of picked us up in a big spot this year. And a really fun moment for him, great swing,” Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt said. Halpin watched the ball clear the wall in right-center and then launched his bat over his head and into the sky before rounding the bases. The bat might have gone higher than the 25-degree launch angle on his homer. “I definitely threw it high. I think just the moment and that being for sure the biggest moment of my career, just the ener-

gy and the excitement, just kind of let it go,” Halpin said. The home run and the bat flip energized Cleveland’s dugout and the 30,101 fans in attendance at Progressive Field. Even though the game wasn’t sold out, it was a strong crowd after the start time was moved up five hours on Wednesday due to the threat of rain. “That was a nasty one. Didn’t even move either. I feel like he knew that the wind was blowing in and it still got out,” outfielder Steven Kwan said. “So the bat flip that he did was just ignorant, but in a good way. That was awesome.” Gavin Williams struck out nine over five innings. José Ramírez had two hits and Nathaniel Lowe added an RBI double in the second inning for the Guardians, who have won five of their last six playoff games since trailing the Chicago White Sox 2-0 in their AL Division Series. “When anyone does their job and gets the job done and puts on us in a position to win, everyone on the team’s juiced. It’s not about me or that home run, but it’s just the fact that we’re winning and we keep rolling,” Halpin said.

4C l Friday, October 16, 2026 l theadvocate.com l The Acadiana Advocate

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LSU

ceding only 75 yards per game on the ground. Kiffin has also signaled hope that linebacker Whit Weeks could return at some point this season from the leg injury he suffered in Week 4 against Texas A&M. His presence would give the defense a boost: across the last two seasons, LSU’s opponents have scored an average of 13 points in the 12 games Weeks has played and 30 in the seven contests he’s missed. “I don’t like that I looked that up and then he got hurt,” Kifﬁn said with a chuckle on Monday. “That’s probably why I felt so much that day (after Texas A&M) about it.”

Continued from page 1C

The bad LSU ranks sixth among FBS teams in total defense (251 yards per game) but 32nd in scoring defense (19 points per game). Those numbers signal to coach Lane Kiffin that the Tigers aren’t defending the red zone well enough. They’ve allowed only eight red-zone touchdowns all year, but seven of them came in their losses to Ole Miss and Kentucky. The Rebels reached the end zone on four of the five red-zone drives they built against LSU, while the Wildcats did it on three of their eight. “We do really good things,” Kiffin said, “and then we don’t finish drives on both sides of the ball well enough. “A lot of times we’re just missing plays ... so, it’s a problem.” And LSU isn’t making very many plays either. Its defense forced one turnover against Ole Miss and zero against Kentucky. The Tigers have forced only eight giveaways all season — two fewer than the first six games played last season. LSU is also struggling to bring quarterbacks to the ground. The Tigers sacked Ole Miss’ Trinidad Chambliss twice and Kentucky’s Kenny Minchey just once, even though Pro Football Focus data says they pressured the two passers a combined 41 times. Because LSU didn’t create many negative plays in the two losses,

Looking ahead

STAFF PHOTO BY MICHAEL JOHNSON

LSU defensive coordinator Blake Baker, left, paces the sideline in the third quarter of the game against McNeese State on Oct. 3 at Tiger Stadium. Ole Miss and Kentucky could stay ahead of the chains and march into the red zone, where they usually found ways to score touchdowns. “We have to play more consistent,” Kiffin said. “Too high and low, too up and down in all phases of the game.”

The good Kiffin doesn’t think that LSU tackled well in its loss to Kentucky,

but he can take solace in the fact that the Tigers are actually the SEC’s top tackling team. They’ve missed only 41 tackles this season, according to PFF, which is the fewest in the league. Ole Miss broke nine tackles against LSU, and Kentucky slipped through ﬁve. LSU is also one missed assignment away from having some truly eye-popping run defense numbers.

RABALAIS

Continued from page 1C

STAFF FILE PHOTO BY BRAD KEMP

UL defensive lineman Chase Edwards runs drills during August camp. Edwards has been the driving force behind the Cajuns’ defense, which leads the Sun Belt in run defense at 100.7 yards per game.

Continued from page 1C Individually, Edwards credits his program to preparation and maturity. “Mostly just knowing the defense and knowing the scheme,” he said. “That helps you be able to play fast. I feel like that’s helped me and my teammates make plays.” Listening to the staff’s advice about taking care of non-football issues off the field has paid off in a big way. “Last year didn’t go as well as I wanted it to,” Edwards said. “I had to look at myself in the mirror and realize I had to do better off the field, if I wanted to do better on the field. “Coach Thomas is always preaching to us about things like schoolwork and sleep and all the things like that that translate to the football field.”

Injury report

of shuffling the deck in case a bomb goes off and you don’t get stuck out there with only one guy who can play a position.” Fortunately, there was also some good news with right guard Matt Broussard returning from a concussion. Wide receiver Ja’Corian Norris, however, remains in the ﬁnal stages of concussion protocol and won’t be available this week.

Don’t forget Jones If the Cajuns had been able to hold on for a road win over Louisiana Tech last weekend, one of the hero plays would have been turned in by redshirt junior edge Lester Jones. It was his forced fumble of Bulldogs’ quarterback Blake Barker early in the second quarter - recovered by Priest Ashe - that set up a go-ahead ﬁeld goal for a 10-7 lead with 6:57 left until halftime. “They put me in, and I just said, ’Let’s do it,’” Jones said. “When I saw the guy they had at tackle - he didn’t normally play tackle — I said, ’I’ve got to do that right here.’ I can’t lie. It was a great feeling; sacks are always good to get.” On a night where UL’s defense couldn’t slow down Tech’s passing game, turnovers were needed. It was his second sack of the season. “It didn’t really surprise me,” Jones said. “I was conﬁdent. I’ve been doing that in practices. Anybody will tell you that.” The former walk-on from Liberty Magnet in Baton Rouge, Jones has established a role on the defense, thanks largely to coach Mike Giuliani. “That’s my dog,” Jones said of Giuliani. “He’s built me through everything. I will say he got the most belief in me — probably more than I have in myself sometimes.” Jones thinks that big play can lead to more contributions moving forward. “I just want to be great, so I feel like my ceiling is whatever and however hard I work,” Jones said. “That’s how high my ceiling is going to be.”

The injury bug continues for UL’s offense, especially at wide receiver. Just as starter Shelton Sampson is beginning to get back on course, now fellow starter Landon Strother is back on the injury list. “Landon Strother is going to be out for a while,” Desormeaux said. “He had a core injury. We’re not exactly sure about the timeline. “That’s certainly a little bit of a gut punch, because he was a spark for us and made some big plays. We’ve got some guys that are playing well that were playing behind him that’ll have to pick it up.” Technically, KeDarius Wade and Rahji Dennis are the backups on the depth chart at Strother’s speciﬁc receiver spot. Wade has nine catches for 213 yards and a touchdown, including a 46-yard score last week. But Desormeaux said the staff has been preparing receivers in different spots just in case. “Rahji has practiced really well,” Desormeaux said. “He’s put together a really good body of work. It’s still a little bit thin, though, so we’ve been kind of Email Kevin Foote at cross-training some guys — kind kfoote@theadvocate.com.

be explained away because of the missionary zeal with which the Rebels wanted to lick their former savior turned enemy. That was Ole Miss’ season. Kentucky was different. Enough bad plays coupled with, yes, what looked like some bad calls — remember class, if you put yourself in position to get shafted by the referees you might get shafted by the referees — were enough for LSU to lose by one. But whether it’s by one or 100, it has the lasting impact of an outsized defeat because of the investment LSU made in Kifﬁnball. LSU didn’t have to pay one enormous bill due all at once and all of it may never quite come due. But when you think about what it cost to buy out Brian Kelly ($54 million), Kifﬁn’s seven-year contract ($91 million) and what it reportedly cost to build this roster (The Athletic estimated that total at between $47-50 million), plus assistant coaches and assorted buyouts for Kelly’s former staff, you’re talking about a commitment of close to $200 million. Will that all prove to be worth

The Wildcats broke off a 77-yard rush on their ﬁrst play from scrimmage, then managed to pick up only 78 more yards on their next 31 carries (2.5 yards per carry). Ole Miss ran into some similar problems on the ground in Week 3: its offense scrounged together just 63 yards on 25 carries (2.5 ypc). Even with Kentucky’s long run factored in, LSU ranks fifth nationally in rushing defense. It’s

it? Folks from Tiger Stadium to the LSU Systems building to the governor’s office should well be thinking of Ben Bradlee’s understated line from “All the President’s Men” when the Washington Post is about to publish a crucial story at the height of Watergate: “It would be nice if we were right.” It is an enormous amount of money, especially the paying players part. But LSU decided to give Kiffin the tools (gigantic piles of cash) to build this thing for a shot at the national championship — this year. That shot is now looking quite shaky, with one more loss likely to blow LSU’s house of College Football Playoff hopes down to the ground. This is a much different college football world from the one in which LSU won its last national championship seven years ago. With the advent of the 12-team CFP two years ago, it has become a pass/fail sport. Make the playoff, pass. Don’t make the playoff, if you’re a high-roller program like LSU, fail. Is that fair, especially in Kiffin’s first season? He had very little time once he landed at LSU on Dec. 1 to build a roster, which is two-thirds transfers and highschool prospects. The hit rate required was staggeringly high.

SAINTS

Continued from page 1C “Obviously that’s going to steer the outcome of the game very quickly,” coach Kellen Moore said. “We’ve got to do a better job in those situations, learn from them, and understand sometimes that it’s not bad to punt in certain situations.” Only the Los Angeles Chargers (13) have turned the ball over more than the Saints (11) this season, and only the Indianapolis Colts can match New Orleans’ minus-6 turnover margin through five weeks. Unsurprisingly, the Saints, Colts and Chargers have a combined 3-12 record this season. Unsurprising because few statistics are better predictors of win/loss outcome than turnover margin. Eighteen NFL teams are currently on the positive side of the turnover ledger, and of those, 14 have a winning record. The NFL’s three remaining undefeated teams — the Vikings, 49ers and Chiefs — are a combined plus-13 on turnovers this season. What has made the turnovers hurt even more is the situations in which they occurred. All but two of the Saints’ 11 turnovers have come in the second half this season, and even more strikingly, eight of them have come with the Saints trailing by one score. Shough has been one of the few consistent bright spots for the Saints offense this season. Through ﬁve weeks, he ranks among the NFL’s top 10 passers in yards (1,299), completion percentage (66.8%) and touchdown passes (nine). But ball security has been a problem for the second-year sig-

STAFF PHOTO BY BRETT DUKE

Saints quarterback Tyler Shough walks off the field after throwing an interception during a game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday at the Caesars Superdome.

Both Kentucky and Ole Miss are entering Week 7 ranked top 50 nationally in scoring offense. LSU has three such teams left on its schedule: Mississippi State (20th), Alabama (3rd) and Tennessee (44th). The Bulldogs have scored at least 30 points in four of the ﬁve games they’ve played, but they could face the Tigers on the road Saturday without star quarterback Kamario Taylor or lead running back Fluff Bothwell. Both were listed as questionable to play in the first availability reports the SEC released this week. Still, the LSU defense is in for another challenge. This one will double as a chance to start proving that its top-10 national rank is more than just a mirage. Email Reed Darcey at reed. darcey@theadvocate.com. For more LSU sports updates, sign up for our newsletter at theadvocate.com/lsunewsletter

And yes, it sounds like an excuse, but it is also true that injuries have hit the Tigers in some of their most vulnerable spots. Top tight end/receiver Trey’Dez Green: Out. Defensive field general Whit Weeks: Out. Star safety Dashawn Spears: Out for the season. Do you think Kenny Minchey sashays into the end zone on that two-point conversion if Weeks and Spears are healthy? Maybe he throws a pass for the win, but he definitely doesn’t stroll in untouched. Can LSU run the table on the second half of the season, starting with Saturday’s matinee in Tiger Stadium against Mississippi State (11 a.m., ESPN)? Theoretically, yes. None of LSU’s remaining opponents are invincible, including Alabama and Texas. Long term, I do think Kiffin wins big at LSU. But this year, these Tigers have a lot of potholes of their own making to fill on the road to the CFP. Getting there means the difference between a season viewed as a success or a failure. Harsh judgement. But it’s a harsh game. Especially at these prices. For more LSU sports updates, sign up for our newsletter at theadvocate.com/lsunewsletter

There have been lessons within those turnovers. Some of them, Shough said, were simply a product of the situation. His last interception against Minnesota, when he chucked a prayer deep downfield for Chris Olave, came on a third-and-12 from the Saints’ own 18-yard line with about three minutes to go in a game the Saints trailed by 10. It was desperation time. In fact, half of the Saints’ 10 offensive turnovers this season have occurred on third or fourth down. But even on some of those, there are teaching moments. Take Shough’s first interception against Minnesota, when a once-promising Saints drive had been torpedoed by multiple penalties. On the second-and-26 play, Shough bailed to his right with linebacker Eric Wilson in hot pursuit and attempted to fit a ball to Bryce Lance between high and low defenders. It was an extremely low-percentage throw with high potential for disaster, and the pass was easily intercepted by Byron Murphy and returned into Saints territory. The score at the time was 13-7. “Whenever you get in these situations, don’t try to get it all back,” Shough said. “I don’t need to be Superman and try to make up for a previous play. I think I can be a little more detailed when it comes to that. “I’m never going to shy away from ripping it; in all those situations you’ve got to be able to be confident, be firm. But there are a couple times where I can go find a running lane or just take a sack. That’s part of it, part of the growth process for me as well.”

nal caller. He has nearly matched his interception total from last season’s 11-game debut already, having thrown ﬁve interceptions through ﬁve weeks. Shough has also lost three fumbles. His eight total turnovers are only one shy of the league high so far this season; only New England quarterback Drake Maye and Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert have more, with nine. “It’s a growing experience for Tyler,” Moore said. “He’s done a lot of good things. Unfortunately, we’ve had a couple turnovers we get to learn from. … We talk about every turnover, how it happened and why it happened and how we Email Luke Johnson at can move forward.” ljohnson@theadvocate.com.

The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Friday, October 16, 2026 ● 5C

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St. Thomas More faces huge test in Barbe BY KEVIN FOOTE Staff writer

Some teams look good at first glance and then potential cracks seem to appear. St. Thomas More’s veteran defensive coordinator Terry Tidwell has looked at film of Barbe all week and he’s had trouble ﬁnding any heading into Friday’s 7 p.m. District 3-5A showdown against the high-ﬂying Buccaneers at Cougar Stadium. “They’re right up there at the top,” Tidwell said. “They just do so many things well. It’s not the kind of offense where you can focus on just one aspect and try to take that away.” Barbe (6-0, 3-0) averages 52.3 points a game. Last week, the Bucs

stomped Acadiana 66-17 in Lake Charles. Earlier this season, the Cougars (5-1, 3-0) beat the Rams 27-20. “Their attack is just so diversiﬁed,” Tidwell said. “You go into the game knowing they’re going to get theirs. We just have to work to get our offense an extra possession whenever we can. We just have to try to limit the damage.” Barbe’s attack starts with quarterback Jelandon Gray, who has thrown for 1,097 yards and 20 touchdowns this season. Gray’s top target is 6-foot-2 receiver Sawyer Kuypers (27 catches for 535 yards and nine TDs) and the top rushing threat is Jordin Grifﬁn (80 carries for 949 yards, 16 TDs). Gray is also an elite runner with

336 yards and three rushing TDs, and Grifﬁn is an excellent receiver. “The quarterback has a good arm and throws a really catchable ball,” Tidwell said. “He also scrambles well. (Kuypers) is really smooth. He took a loop screen against Acadiana and all the way down the sideline and I know how fast Acadiana is.” So what is the goal for STM’s defense? “Our defensive line is going to have to play their best game, as well as our inside linebackers,” Tidwell said. “(Cougars linebacker) Walker Pugh is going to have to have a ﬁne game too in order to at least contain them a little bit. “We’re just going to have to play really mechanically sound to put

ourselves in position to cut off some of the things they do.” Tidwell said changing things up is another key. “We’re not going to be able to play the same thing every down over and over,” he said. “They’re too well-coached and too athletic. We’re going to have to continue to modify our defense.” As far as pressure, Tidwell said blitzing is risky. “It can be real good or they can really burn you,” he said. “We’re going to have to pick our spots.” Tidwell’s group will get help from a balanced STM offense, which has averaged 35.5 points a game. “I’m real pleased with our development,” offensive coordinator Shane Savoie said. “Our offense

this year has been fun as a coordinator, because I think we’re a little more multiple than we’ve been in the past. Last year, we were a little more heavy with the pass. I feel a lot more comfortable with the running game.” Quarterback Grayson Hemard has passed for 886 yards and 14 scores and rushed for 231 yards. His targets are balanced with four receivers between 100 and 200 yards, led by Bennett Stelly with 12 grabs for 200 yards and one TD. The running duo is balanced too with Landyn Craft (52-313, four TDs) and Owen Bailey (48-312, three TDs). Savoie said he’s impressed with how Barbe’s defense runs to the ball. The Bucs have allowed 15.5 points per game.

ESA volleyball coach Lafayette High QB Saunier carrying on family legacy for Lions likes way Falcons team playing down stretch

BY ERIC NARCISSE Staff writer

For the second consecutive year, the Lafayette High’s football team is 4-2 through six weeks, and quarterback Richmond Saunier has been key to that success. The 6-foot-2, 195-pound Saunier has been a true dual threat as he wreaks havoc on defenses with his arm and legs. “He can make any throw. He’s got a big arm,” coach Stephen Hearen said. “There’s not any throw that he can’t make on the field as far as a long throw to the sideline or pushing the ball down the field. He moves well in the pocket and obviously he runs well.” What makes Saunier one of the best in the area goes beyond his physical attributes, Hearen said. “Richmond’s biggest or greatest intangible is the fact that he’s so smart. He sees things so well,” said Hearen, whose Lions host Southside at 7 p.m. Friday. “We put a lot on his plate because of the fact that he can handle it. For me as a coach, it’s a luxury to have someone like Richmond because he goes out on the field and is able to direct traffic. He does such a good job of just operating the offense.” The three years he’s had playing quarterback have been a big help, but so has having older brothers that played the position. Xan and Grayson Saunier, the starting at quarterback for Dartmouth, both started for the Lions. “Playing quarterback was kind

STAFF PHOTO BY BRAD KEMP

Lafayette High quarterback Richmond Saunier runs for yardage against St. Thomas More on Oct. 2.

of something that my dad pushed us toward,” Saunier said. “In youth ball, I played some fullback and some defensive end or whatever position they needed me to play. But the push toward quarterback was where we were going.” It was only natural that he ended up under center. “We’ve always been smart individuals, so (we felt comfortable) being able to command a team and command an offense,” Saunier said. “Knowing what we were doing and knowing what everybody else was doing on a play kind of came natural to us.” Saunier, who has a 4.0 GPA, scored a 32 on the ACT, had sev-

eral Ivy League offers before committing to Dartmouth. “I’ve always been a very attentive person in the classroom. So, (balancing football and academics) kind of came more naturally to me than others,” Saunier said. “For me, it’s just doing what has to be done. There’s an expectation. Do your work and listen in class. Then when it comes to the football field, do your job, listen to the coach and listen to the things that you have to do. That translates very well for me.” Saunier has completed 47 of 85 passes for 542 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions, while rushing for 336 yards and six touchdowns on 54 carries. “It seems that he is more relaxed while playing this year,” Hearen said. “I have to think that as a junior — which is such a huge year in recruiting — there was some pressure to go out and put some good film out there. This year, he seems a lot more relaxed and is kind of letting things come to him rather than pressing the issue to have to make things happen all the time.” When it comes to what the Lions have been able to accomplish on the field, Saunier isn’t surprised. “It’s been fun. We have a lot of guys on our team that are great players,” Saunier said. “Going into the summer, we knew we were going to be legit. The success we’ve had thus far is completely on par with what we thought we were going to have.”

BY ERIC NARCISSE Staff writer

Every coach wants their team playing their best near the end of the season with the hope of peaking in the playoffs. It’s easy to understand why Episcopal School of Acadiana volleyball coach Sara Robichaux is thrilled with how her Falcons are progressing as the postseason approaches. “We are getting better every single game and improving on the things we have to improve on,” Robichaux said. “We’re already a pretty good team, so it’s nice to see them really working every day to get where they have to get to so that hopefully we can make it to the finals this year.” The Falcons (16-6) continued their high-level play Wednesday, sweeping Rayne 25-16, 25-18, 2517. “It’s definitely a nice win for us. We came out and were firing on all cylinders,” Robichaux said. “We’re competing with some big dogs in Division V and we’re neck and neck with a couple of teams (in the power rankings). So beating such a good team like Rayne definitely helps us (with) power points.” Robichaux said beating Rayne was a confidence boost. “A win like this is good for the vibe of the team,” she said.

“Knowing that you can beat good teams like Rayne is big.” The Falcons, No. 2 in the Division V power rankings, extended their winning streak to seven and have won 10 of their past 11 matches. The Falcons were led by Lauren Conroy, Avery Monica, Camille Herrington and Kellen Giglio. Conroy finished with a game-high 21 kills, five digs and three aces, Monica had nine kills, 14 digs and two blocks, while Herrington chipped in with six kills, two digs and two aces. “(Conroy’s) killing it,” Robichaux said. “Really, between her and Avery, they’re taking turns between who’s having the better game every day. It’s fun to watch them. Lauren is an animal. She hits the ball hard and she blocks well. That kind of performance doesn’t happen by chance. She’s worked really hard to make that happen.” Giglio finished with 33 assists. “Kellen has done a great job of moving the ball around,” Robichaux said. “She was great at getting our middles involved as well.” Rayne was led by Bailey Smith (seven kills, six blocks, two aces, dig), Kailyn Richard (four kills, 12 digs, ace), Morgan Melancon (eight digs, eight assists, kill, block) and Shariah Louis (four blocks, two kills, dig).

SCOREBOARD Sports Betting Line NFL Sunday

Las Vegas L.A. Chargers

TODAY O/U UNDERDOG 2½ (42½) Houston 6½ (44½) Tennessee 3½ (38½) at PHIL 2½ (39½) at TAMPA 7½ (43½) NY Jets 1½ (45½) at GIANTS 4 (41½) at CLE 1½ (51½) at ATLANTA 12½ (51½) Arizona 7½ (41½) Chargers 4½ (53½) at VEGAS 1½ (53½) Dallas

FAVORITE OPEN at SAN FRAN 5½

TODAY O/U UNDERDOG 7½ (51½) Wash

College Football Friday

FAVORITE OPEN Memphis 6½ App St 2½ at PURDUE 2½

TODAY O/U UNDERDOG 6½ (55½) at TULANE 1½ (49½) at C, CAR 3½ (50½)Washington

East N.Y. Giants Philadelphia Dallas Washington

L 1 3 3 3

T 1 0 0 1

Pct PF PA .700 109 106 .400 92 112 .400 138 136 .300 115 149

Carolina Atlanta Tampa Bay New Orleans

W 2 2 1 1

L 2 3 4 4

T 0 0 0 0

Pct .500 .400 .200 .200

Minnesota Green Bay Detroit Chicago

W 5 3 3 3

L 0 2 2 2

T Pct 0 1.000 0 .600 0 .600 0 .600

PF PA 109 64 104 112 164 148 119 96

San Francisco Seattle L.A. Rams Arizona

W 5 3 2 1

L 0 2 3 4

T Pct 0 1.000 0 .600 0 .400 0 .200

PF PA 154 93 134 105 119 120 108 162

South

North

West

Thursday’s Games

WNBA Playoff Glance

Sunday’s Games

(Best-of-5)

No. 2 Golden State vs. No. 4 Atlanta

Saturday, October 17: Atlanta at Golden State, 2:30 p.m. Monday, October 19: Atlanta at Golden State, 7 p.m. Wednesday, October 21: Golden State at Atlanta, 7 p.m. Saturday, October 24: Golden State at Atlanta, noon x-Monday, October 26: Atlanta at Golden State, TBA x-Thursday, October 29: Golden State at Atlanta, TBA x-Saturday, October 31: Atlanta at Golden State, TBA

Pro football NFL Glance AMERICAN CONFERENCE Buffalo New England N.Y. Jets Miami

W 4 3 2 0

L 1 2 3 5

T 0 0 0 0

Pct PF PA .800 164 141 .600 110 94 .400 93 96 .000 70 132

Jacksonville Indianapolis Houston Tennessee

W 4 2 1 0

L 1 3 4 5

T 0 0 0 0

Pct PF PA .800 123 70 .400 124 138 .200 110 112 .000 58 109

Baltimore Cleveland Pittsburgh Cincinnati

W 4 3 3 3

L 1 2 2 2

T 0 0 0 0

Pct PF PA .800 146 119 .600 93 112 .600 111 109 .600 128 109

Kansas City Denver

W 4 3

L 0 2

T Pct PF PA 0 1.000 118 77 0 .600 97 111

North

West

PF 121 119 100 118

PA 109 122 112 151

Seattle at Denver, n

Finals

South

0 .600 132 129 0 .000 84 129

W 3 2 2 1

Pro basketball

East

2 5

NATIONAL CONFERENCE

FAVORITE OPEN at JAX 1½ at IND 3½ Carolina 6½ Pittsburgh 1½ at NE 9½ New Orleans 2½ Baltimore 7 Chicago 3 at LA RAMS 13½ at K.C. 2½ Buffalo 6½ at GREEN BAY 3

Monday

3 0

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

Monday’s Games

Washington at San Francisco, 7:15 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 22

New England at Chicago, 7:15 p.m.

Major League Baseball MLB Postseason Glance LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

(Best-of-7) American League (TBS, TruTV, HBO Max)

Tampa Bay 2, Cleveland 1

Monday, Oct. 12: Game 1: Cleveland 7, Tampa Bay 3 Tuesday, Oct. 13: Game 2: Tampa Bay 3, Cleveland 1 Thursday, Oct. 15: Game 3: Cleveland 3, Tampa Bay 2 Friday, Oct. 16: Game 4: Tampa Bay at Cleveland, 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17: Game 5: Tampa Bay at Cleveland, 8 p.m. x-Monday, Oct. 19: Game 6: Cleveland at Tampa Bay, 5 p.m. x-Tuesday, Oct. 20: Game 7: Cleveland at Tampa Bay, 8 p.m.

Angeles Dodgers 1 Monday, Oct. 12: Game 2: Milwaukee 7, Los Angeles Dodgers 4 Wednesday, Oct. 14: Game 3: Milwaukee 6, Los Angeles Dodgers 2 Thursday, Oct. 15: Game 4: Milwaukee (Drohan 7-5) at Los Angeles Dodgers (Glasnow 0-0), n x-Friday, Oct. 16: Game 5: Milwaukee at Los Angeles Dodgers, 9 p.m. x-Sunday, Oct. 18: Game 6: Los Angeles Dodgers at Milwaukee, 8 p.m. x-Monday, Oct. 19: Game 7: Los Angeles Dodgers at Milwaukee, 8 p.m.

Cleveland 3, Tampa Bay 2 Tampa Bay

Cleveland

ab r h bi ab r h bi Díaz dh 4 1 1 0 Kwan lf 4 0 0 0 Aranda 1b 4 0 0 0 Ramírez 3b 3 0 2 0 Caminero 3b4 0 0 0 DeLauter rf 4 0 0 0 Mesa rf 3 1 0 0 Adell dh 2 1 0 0 Simpson lf 3 0 1 2 Lowe 1b 3 0 1 1 Hicks c 3 0 0 0 Bazzana 2b 3 0 0 0 DeLuca cf 3 0 0 0 Genao 2b 0 0 0 0 Palacios 2b 3 0 1 0 Bailey c 3 1 1 0 Mateo pr-2b 0 0 0 0 Halpin cf 3 1 1 2 Walls ss 3 0 0 0 Rocchio ss 3 0 1 0 Totals 30 2 3 2 Totals 28 3 6 3 Tampa Bay 000 200 000 — 2 Cleveland 010 020 00x — 3 LOB_Tampa Bay 2, Cleveland 3. 2B_Díaz (2), Palacios (1), Lowe (1). 3B_Simpson (1). HR_Halpin (1). SB_Ramírez (2). IP H R ER BB SO Tampa Bay Jax L,0-1 4 5 3 3 2 2 Wells 2 1 0 0 0 4 Matz 2 0 0 0 0 2 Cleveland Williams W,1-0 5 2 2 2 1 9 Espino H,1 1 0 0 0 0 1 Sabrowski H,2 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 ⁄3 1 0 0 0 0 Gaddis H,1 0 0 0 0 2 Smith S,1-1 1 1⁄3 Jax pitched to 3 batters in the 5th. ABS Challenge_Adell (Strike-Overturned to Ball); Jax (Ball-Conﬁrmed); Lowe (StrikeOverturned to Ball); Matz (Ball-Overturned to Strike); Matz (Ball-Overturned to Strike). Umpires_Home, Bill Miller; First, Jordan Baker; Second, Chad Fairchild; Third, Adam Hamari; Right, Carlos Torres; Left, Nestor Ceja. T_2:28. A_30,101 (34,788).

College football All Times Central (Subject to change)

Tuesday, October 13 SOUTH

Middle Tennessee 33, Delaware 30 Jacksonville St. 27, FIU 24

Wednesday, October 14 MIDWEST

Missouri St. 24, Kennesaw St. 21

SOUTHWEST

W. Kentucky 16, Sam Houston St. 3

Thursday, October 15 SOUTH

National League

East Carolina (3-2) at UAB (3-3), n Georgia Southern (2-4) at Old Dominion (2-4), n

Milwaukee 3, Los Angeles Dodgers 0

Colorado St. (2-3) at Texas State (2-3), n

(FOX, FS1)

SOUTHWEST

Sunday, Oct. 11: Game 1: Milwaukee 2, Los

Friday, October 16

EAST

Columbia (3-1) at Penn (2-2), 6 p.m.

SOUTH

Memphis (5-1) at Tulane (2-3), 6:30 p.m. Appalachian St. (3-2) at Coastal Carolina (2-4), 7 p.m.

MIDWEST

Washington (3-3) at Purdue (3-3), 7 p.m.

Saturday, October 17 EAST

CCSU (2-3) at Mercyhurst (1-5), 11 a.m. Duquesne (1-4) at Stonehill (2-4), 11 a.m. Rhode Island (3-3) at Yale (3-1), 11 a.m. FAU (4-1) at Army (3-2), 11 a.m. Brown (2-2) at Princeton (3-1), 11 a.m. Cincinnati (4-1) at West Virginia (3-3), 11 a.m. New Haven (1-5) at Robert Morris (3-3), 11 a.m. Hampton (1-5) at Sacred Heart (2-4), 11 a.m. Pittsburgh (5-1) at Boston College (2-3), 11 a.m. Rutgers (1-4) at Maryland (2-4), 11:30 a.m. Bryant (4-2) at Maine (1-5), noon Merrimack (2-4) at Dartmouth (1-3), noon Holy Cross (2-4) at Harvard (4-0), noon Monmouth (NJ) (4-2) at New Hampshire (2-5), noon Charlotte (0-6) at Temple (2-4), noon Georgetown (1-4) at Colgate (4-2), noon UMass (4-2) at Buffalo (3-3), noon Lehigh (6-0) at Cornell (2-2), 1 p.m. Albany (NY) (3-3) at Stony Brook (4-2), 1:30 p.m. Lafayette (1-4) at Bucknell (1-5), 2 p.m. Villanova (2-4) at Fordham (2-5), 2:30 p.m. Morehouse (0-1) at Howard (2-4), 2:30 p.m. LIU Brooklyn (2-5) at Wagner (1-5), 4 p.m. Louisville (3-3) at Syracuse (2-3), 6:30 p.m.

SOUTH

Charleston Southern (3-3) at Clemson (3-2), 11 a.m. Mississippi St. (4-1) at LSU (4-2), 11 a.m. Georgia St. (4-1) at James Madison (6-0), 11 a.m. Chicago State (1-5) at NC A&T (2-5), 11 a.m. Morehead St. (1-5) at Davidson (2-5), noon McNeese St. (2-4) at Northwestern St. (0-6), noon VMI (0-6) at Wofford (4-3), 12:30 p.m. Presbyterian (3-3) at Stetson (1-5), 1 p.m. Austin Peay (5-2) at West Georgia (1-5), 1 p.m. E. Kentucky (2-4) at Tennessee Tech (5-1), 1:30 p.m. Bethune-Cookman (3-3) at MVSU (3-4), 2 p.m. Gardner-Webb (2-5) at UT Martin (2-4), 2 p.m. Florida A&M (2-4) at Jackson St. (5-1), 2 p.m. Grambling St. (4-2) at Alabama A&M (5-2), 2 p.m. Georgia Tech (2-3) at Virginia Tech (4-2), 2:30 p.m. Auburn (3-2) at Georgia (6-0), 2:30 p.m. Missouri (5-1) at Mississippi (4-1), 2:30 p.m. Alabama (5-1) at Tennessee (5-1), 2:30 p.m. North Carolina (3-2) at Duke (4-1), 2:30 p.m. Towson (0-7) at Campbell (5-1), 2:30 p.m. Stephen F. Austin (6-0) at Nicholls (2-4), 3 p.m. Troy (3-2) at Louisiana-Lafayette (4-2), 4 p.m. West Alabama (0-0) at West Florida (3-2), 4 p.m. South Dakota (5-2) at Murray St. (1-5), 4 p.m. Lamar (5-1) at SE Louisiana (3-3), 4 p.m. Morgan St. (5-1) at Tennessee St. (1-5), 5:30 p.m. Arkansas (2-4) at Vanderbilt (3-3), 6 p.m.

Florida St. (3-3) at Miami (5-0), 6 p.m. Arkansas St. (2-4) at Southern Miss. (1-4), 6 p.m. Kent St. (2-4) at South Florida (4-2), 6 p.m. Mercer (5-2) at Samford (1-5), 6 p.m. Abilene Christian (3-4) at North Alabama (4-2), 6 p.m. Louisiana Tech (3-2) at Louisiana-Monroe (0-5), 7 p.m.

MIDWEST

Kansas (2-3) at Kansas St. (3-2), 11 a.m. Ohio St. (5-1) at Indiana (6-0), 11 a.m. Ball St. (1-5) at Bowling Green (2-4), 11 a.m. Northwestern (4-1) at Michigan St. (2-4), 11 a.m. Dayton (4-1) at Butler (5-1), noon Marist (3-3) at Drake (2-4), noon W. Michigan (4-2) at Cent. Michigan (3-3), 12:30 p.m. S. Dakota St. (5-1) at North Dakota (5-2), 1 p.m. W. Illinois (3-3) at SE Missouri (3-3), 2 p.m. Lindenwood (Mo.) (1-4) at E. Illinois (2-4), 2 p.m. Toledo (4-2) at E. Michigan (4-3), 2:30 p.m. Penn St. (3-3) at Michigan (3-2), 2:30 p.m. Akron (1-5) at Miami (Ohio) (3-3), 2:30 p.m. Illinois St. (4-2) at S. Illinois (3-4), 3 p.m. N. Iowa (3-2) at Youngstown St. (5-2), 5 p.m. Nevada (2-3) at N. Dakota St. (5-1), 6 p.m.

SOUTHWEST

Florida (4-2) at Texas (4-1), 11 a.m. Virginia (4-2) at SMU (4-1), 11 a.m. The Citadel (2-4) at Texas A&M (3-3), noon Alabama St. (3-3) at Ark.-Pine Bluff (3-2), 2 p.m. Alcorn St. (4-3) at Prairie View (2-5), 2 p.m. Arizona St. (3-2) at Texas Tech (5-0), 2:30 p.m. Tulsa (3-3) at Rice (1-5), 3:30 p.m. Cent. Arkansas (2-4) at Tarleton St. (6-0), 6 p.m. TCU (2-3) at Baylor (4-1), 6 p.m. UT Rio Grande Valley (3-3) at Incarnate Word (2-4), 6 p.m. East Texas A&M (2-4) at Houston Christian (3-3), 6 p.m. Kentucky (5-1) at Oklahoma (3-2), 6:30 p.m. Oklahoma St. (4-1) at Houston (5-1), 6:30 p.m. Navy (2-3) at UTSA (5-1), 7 p.m. San Jose St. (3-3) at UTEP (1-5), 8 p.m.

FAR WEST

Idaho (1-5) at Montana (5-2), 2 p.m. Idaho St. (4-2) at Weber St. (4-3), 2 p.m. N. Illinois (0-5) at Wyoming (3-3), 2:30 p.m. UNLV (4-2) at Air Force (4-1), 2:30 p.m. Valparaiso (3-3) at San Diego (2-4), 3 p.m. Washington St. (1-5) at Oregon St. (4-2), 5 p.m. Portland St. (2-4) at N. Arizona (5-2), 6 p.m. Montana St. (5-1) at E. Washington (2-5), 6 p.m. Elon (4-3) at Stanford (2-4), 6:30 p.m. Wisconsin (4-1) at UCLA (5-0), 6:30 p.m. Notre Dame (6-0) at BYU (5-0), 6:30 p.m. Cal Poly (4-3) at N. Colorado (2-5), 7 p.m. UC Davis (4-2) at S. Utah (2-4), 7 p.m. Ohio (4-2) at Sacramento St. (1-5), 9 p.m. Utah (5-0) at Colorado (2-3), 9:15 p.m. Fresno St. (4-2) at San Diego St. (2-4), 9:30 p.m. New Mexico (4-1) at Hawaii (1-5), 9:30 p.m. Wake Forest (5-1) at California (3-3), 9:30 p.m. Nebraska (5-1) at Oregon (3-2), 10 p.m.

6C ● Friday, October 16, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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Saturday | October 17 | 4 p.m. Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium

Movie night Leading up t o H a lloween, c a tc h two s pooky f licks a t t he Ma n s h i p Theat r e on F r i d ay. At 7:30 p.m., it’s t he f a m i l y f a n t a s y “Co r ps e Brid e ,” feat ur ing t he voic es of Jo hnny Depp and Em ily Wat s on. $ 5 . S t ic k a r o u n d f o r t h e O s c a r- w i n n i n g h o r ror thriller “Get Out ” at 9:30 p .m. $9 .5 0. manshipt hea t r e .o r g .

LIVING

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

F r i d ay, O c t O b e r 16, 2026

7cN

‘OUR TOWN’ Sullivan Theater’s production of Thornton Wilder’s 1938 classic drama

7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday l Sullivan Theater, 8849 Sullivan Road, Central l $28-$34 l sullivantheater.com

‘Live while you can’

‘Our Town’ explores hopefulness of everyday life in small town, beyond

GREATER BATON ROUGE STATE FAIR Thursday, Oct. 22-Sunday, Nov. 1 l Airline Highway Park/Fairgrounds, 16072 Airline Highway l 5 p.m.-10 p.m. MondayThursday and noon-10 p.m. Saturday-Sunday l $15, general public on Friday, Saturday and Sunday; free, children under 48 inches tall (ride coupons and wristbands sold separately) l For a full list of activities and schedule, visit gbrsf.com

‘Human Cannonball’ Tina Miser says she probably made 300 shots out of the cannon before she felt confident enough to perform for an audience. | PROVIDED PHOTOS

HAVE A

BY ROBIN MILLER Staff writer

“Our Town” is a play often introduced to students in middle and high school English classes, and it’s proven to be a reading assignment that’s not easily forgotten after the class ends. Thornton Wilder’s play of everyday life in an early 20thcentury community stays with readers well into adulthood, especially those pursuing the stage. That’s the case with director Madalyn Mullins and her leading actors, DeJuan “DJ” James and Elise Gutierrez, as Sullivan Theater stages the drama for a one-weekend run.

PROVIDED PHOTO BY CAYDEN WALLS

Elise Gutierrez, left, plays Emily Webb alongside DeJuan ‘DJ’ James’ George Gibbs in Sullivan Theater’s production of Thornton Wilder’s classic drama, ‘Our Town.’

One weekend only The show opened Thursday and continues for three more performances from Friday to Sunday. It’s here where Grover’s Corners will come alive on the backdrop of a minimal set and no props, as Wilder intended. For Mullins, it’s a return to a story she not only read in the eighth grade but took part directing. “I was one of three students who directed ‘Our Town,’ ” she said. “I don’t know why we did it that way, but I directed the third act. I was in the eighth grade, and I was thinking, ‘Oh, this is heartbreaking,’ and ‘this is gutwrenching’ and ‘we’re going to make everybody cry.’” But after reaching adulthood,

ä See 'OUR TOWN', page 8C

She’s a ‘Human Cannonball’ and blames her daredevil husband. ‘I just knew I had to try it for myself.’ BY JUDY BERGERON

Staff writer

here are pickup lines, and then there are pickup lines, but this one may just top them all. “Hey, I’m building this cannon. Do you want to come shoot me out of it?” That’s what Brian Miser asked Tina Miser when the two ﬁrst met in Peru, Indiana. She was working for the Air Force Reserves, and he was, well, working on his second cannon. It must have been some smooth talking by “Human Cannonball” Brian Miser, who for a time also was known as “The Human Fuse.” The couple have been married for 24 years and have two daughters — one is a hairstylist and the other an aerialist and yes, a “Human Cannonball,” and so is her mother. The Misers will entertain the crowd daily with their daredevil After leaving the cannon, Tina Miser positions herself to land on her back on feats at this year’s Greater Baton the airbag 100 feet away. Rouge State Fair opening next week. Tina Miser was at home in Indiana a cannon thing? So he began to dream up ways to I blame my husband. He was per- get into the “Human Cannonball” when she talked about their upcoming engagement down South. forming as a ﬂying trapeze artist for business. It’s very secretive, usually many years and was getting a little generational, but my husband comes This interview has been edited for bit of wear and tear on his shoulders from a noncircus family. His mom clarity and length. and wanted to do something involvä See CANNON, page 8C How did you get into this whole flying out of ing less people with a trapeze group.

La. artist to help pay tribute to Dolly Parton on TV Lainey Wilson accepts the award for Female Artist of the Year at the Academy of Country Music Awards while Dolly Parton looks on at the Ford Center in Frisco, Texas. ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO BY CHRIS PIZZELLO

Staff report Louisiana’s Lainey Wilson will be part of the star-studded lineup for “CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton.” The two-hour TV special will air at 8 p.m. Wednesday on ABC and Disney+, and be available for streaming the next day on Hulu. Also scheduled to perform for the show airing live from

Belmont University’s Fisher Center for the Arts in Nashville are: Ashley McBryde, Béla Fleck, Brad Paisley, Carly Pearce, Carrie Underwood, Darius Rucker, Ella Langley, Kelsea Ballerini, Kristen Bell, Kristin Chenoweth, Lady A, Little Big Town, Lukas Nelson, Molly Tuttle, Reba McEntire, Ricky Skaggs, Sierra Hull, Vince Gill

ä See TRIBUTE, page 8C

8C ● Friday, October 16, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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TODAY IN HISTORY By The Associated Press Today is Friday, Oct. 16, the 289th day of 2026. There are 76 days left in the year. Today in history: On Oct. 16, 1962, the Cuban missile crisis began as President John F. Kennedy was informed that reconnaissance photographs had revealed the presence of Soviet nuclear missile sites in Cuba. Also on this date: In 1758, American lexicographer Noah Webster was born in Hartford, Connecticut. In 1793, Marie Antoinette, the queen of France, was beheaded during the French Revolution. In 1859, radical abolitionist John Brown and his small force raided the U.S. arsenal at Harpers Ferry in what was then western Virginia. The attack failed to spark Brown’s intended slave rebellion but deepened North-South animosities leading to the Civil War. (Ten of Brown’s men were killed, others ﬂed, and Brown and six followers were caught and later executed.) In 1923, Walt and Roy Disney found the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, signing their ﬁrst contract for an animated series and launching what would be-

CANNON

Continued from page 7C was a nurse and his dad was in the Air Force. And so that’s how he got his start is he devised a human cannonball in his brain and worked it out and built his cannon. And he happened to be building his second cannon when we met. I guess you have to stay in pretty good shape if you’re going to be shot out of a cannon. Absolutely. It takes a toll on your body, so you better take care of your body if you’re gonna rely on it for work. So how did you go from just helping your husband to being shot out of a cannon yourself? I had been working and traveling with him for several months and just saw the thrill and the excitement that he got to go through when he was being shot. And I just knew I had to try it for myself. So I took a little bit of time to convince him to let me try it because he was worried, you know, it is dangerous. And I eventually wore him down and I began practicing. How do you practice for that? Do you have a cannon in your backyard? So when you begin practicing the cannon act, you start off with a very, very short shot, basically almost falling out of the end of the barrel. And you just work on your body positioning and demonstrating that you’re able to control your body wherever it’s at in the air and land safely. And then you gradually increase your distance. How long does it take to get to the point where you’re proficient enough to perform? Depends on the person. We’ve trained quite a few different “Cannonballs” over the years. I was not that great; it took me a really long time to learn. I say I probably had 300 shots before I felt conﬁdent versus training our daughter (Skylar, now 22) three years ago where she took to it like a duck to water. She was ready to go and do her ﬁrst performance with just 100 shots under her belt.

TRIBUTE

Continued from page 7C and Zac Brown. Amy Grant and Kimberly Williams-Paisley will be special guests. In addition, “a Belmont University student ensemble will participate in a performance, reﬂecting the university’s ongoing ‘Dolly U’ programming that seeks to engage students in learning from Parton’s career, artistry and entrepreneurial legacy,” according to a CMA news release. Additional surprise trib-

come The Walt Disney Co. In 1964, China set off its ﬁrst atomic bomb, codenamed “596,” at the Lop Nur test site in Xinjiang. In 1968, American athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos sparked controversy at the Mexico City Olympics by giving “Black power” salutes during a victory ceremony after they had won gold and bronze medals in the 200-meter race. In 1978, the College of Cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church chose Cardinal Karol Wojtyla to be the new pope; he took the name John Paul II. In 1984, Anglican Bishop Desmond Tutu was named winner of the Nobel Peace Prize for his decades of nonviolent struggle for racial equality in South Africa. In 1987, 18-month-old Jessica McClure was pulled from an abandoned well in Midland, Texas, after being stuck there for more than two days. The efforts to rescue “Baby Jessica” captured the attention of the nation. In 1991, a gunman opened ﬁre at a Luby’s Cafeteria in Killeen, Texas, killing 23 people before taking his own life. In 1995, the Million Man March, a gathering of Black men meant to foster unity in the face of economic and

SHOWS TO WATCH — ACADIANA social issues affecting African Americans, was held in Washington, D.C. In 2017, Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, who had been captured and held by the Taliban for ﬁve years after walking away from his post in Afghanistan in 2009, pleaded guilty to desertion and misbehavior before the enemy. He was subsequently given no prison time after submitting evidence of torture at the hands of the Taliban. A federal judge vacated his military conviction in 2023. In 2024, more than 140 people were killed in Nigeria when an overturned gasoline tanker truck exploded as they tried to scoop up spilled fuel. Dozens more were injured in the inferno at the site in Jigawa state. Today’s birthdays: Actor Fernanda Montenegro is 97. Actor Barry Corbin is 86. Actor-director Tim Robbins is 68. Rock musician Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers) is 64. Filmmaker Kenneth Lonergan is 64. Actor Terri J. Vaughn is 57. Singer John Mayer is 49. Former WNBA point guard Sue Bird is 46. Actor Caterina Scorsone is 45. Philadelphia Phillies outﬁelder Bryce Harper is 34. Tennis player Naomi Osaka is 29. Race car driver Charles Leclerc is 29. Actor Ruby Rose Turner is 21.

Are you connected to any circus in particular? We are, I guess, what you would consider independent contractors. So we perform in various places: circuses, Shrine circuses, monster truck rallies, fairs, festivals. How many weeks do you spend out on the road? Oh, it varies. At the most, we’ve been gone from home 50 weeks out of the year. And then at the least, maybe about half the time, 25 weeks a year. It just kind of depends on how work rolls in. Is Skylar now performing with you all the time? She is finishing her tour with Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus. She has a couple more weeks to go with them before she’ll come home and work with her mom and dad again. For someone who’s never seen the show, walk us through it. So what we’re bringing to the Greater Baton Rouge State Fair is an entire daredevil show. We’ll have four different acts and the ﬁnale of the show is the “Human Cannonball” act. So you’ll see me travel from zero to 65 miles per hour in less than half a second. I’m gonna reach about 40 feet at the peak of my flight, and I’ll be traveling about 100 feet from the cannon to my landing airbag. We land on our backs. Have you had any close calls? Yes, of course. We’ve been doing the cannon act for quite a few years. So, the cannon is dangerous. You’re relying on equipment, of course, and you can have mechanical failures there. You’re also relying on your body to do the right thing. So we’ve had our bumps and bruises along the way, but the thrill keeps you coming back. How do you travel to performances? We put the cannon in an enclosed trailer and we travel that way. Over the 24 years, we’ve had about every RV conﬁguration you can possibly imagine. So currently, we have a truck camper that sits in the back of a truck. So that’s our 2026 mode of travel. You mentioned other daredevil acts before yours. What kind of

things are those? We’re going to have a high fall, which is, my husband will climb a tower a little above 35 feet in the air, and he does a high dive into a small airbag. We’ll have a friend of ours performing on aerial equipment, and then her husband will be performing a chair balancing act where he has quite a few chairs and he stacks them higher and higher. Now, your husband’s title was “The Human Fuse.” What did that entail? He has retired that act, but when he was doing it, he was launched from a crossbow-type device, and he was wearing a fire-protective suit, and he was lit on fire before he launched from the crossbow. When you’re at an event like the state fair, what do you do with your free time? This will be the third time that we’ve got to come to Baton Rouge, and so we’ll probably go and revisit all the places we saw before, because we really enjoyed doing all the tourist activities. And then visiting some of the local breweries. That’s another fun time-off thing we enjoy. We don’t get an opportunity to go as far south as Louisiana very often, but man, we’ve got a list of things we want to do again. Do you remember any of the attractions that you particularly liked? There was a driving tour where you could see different plantations. And I remember going to the Abita (Brewery, Abita Springs) tasting room. We also did one of those tours where they took you on a boat and you went on a bayou and got to see the alligators. It’s so fun. I mean, Indiana is wonderful. Obviously, we love it here. That’s why we have our house here, and Midwesterners are very friendly and accommodating, but we love Louisiana — the charm and the Southern hospitality. So, yeah, we’re looking forward to coming there.

utes from friends across the entertainment world also will be featured throughout the special. “Spanning multiple generations and genres — from some of Parton’s fellow Country Music Hall of Fame members to country’s biggest current stars to acclaimed voices from bluegrass, Broadway and beyond — the lineup reﬂects Parton’s incredible inﬂuence while tracing the full arc of her career,” the news release also said. The Country Music Association and Belmont University will make a donation

from proceeds to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, continuing a legacy that gives millions of children the gift of a free book each month and inspires a lifelong love of reading. Disney also is supporting Imagination Library to further its mission of inspiring children to imagine their possibilities. Fans can learn more or make their own donation at https://lnk.to/ImaginationLibraryPR. For more information about the CMA special and Imagination Library, visit CMAworld.com/dollyparton and imaginationlibrary.com.

Email Judy Bergeron at jbergeron@theadvocate. com.

FILE PHOTO

Louisiana-born and Billboard-charting rapper and singer-songwriter Kevin Gates headlines a Friday night concert at the Cajundome in Lafayette to celebrate Hot 107.9’s 23rd birthday. Also performing will be Bub B, Rob49, Slim Thug, Mouse & Level and Wochee. The show starts at 8 p.m.

FRIDAY

LIVE MUSIC: Cane River Pecan Company Pie Bar, New Iberia, 5 p.m. ALL HAPPENING DUO: Adopted Dog Brewing, Lafayette, 6 p.m. DUSTIN SONNIER: Cafe Sydnie Mae, Breaux Bridge, 6 p.m. LIVE MUSIC: Charley G’s Seafood Grill, Lafayette, 6 p.m. LIVE MUSIC: Prejean’s, Broussard, 6 p.m. LEXI AND CHYNNA: Buck & Johnny’s, Breaux Bridge, 6:30 p.m. RON & BUBBA: SHUCKS!, Abbeville, 6:30 p.m. RYNE BRASHEAR: International Rice Festival, Crowley, 6:30 p.m. PINK FRIDAY FEATURING MITCH REED/BLVKE/PASSENGER ELEVEN/MILO HEARRT/ NU CRUSH: Blue Moon Saloon, Lafayette, 7 p.m. THE HANDGRENADES/RANCH HAPPENIN’/BELLE GROVE: The Loose Caboose, Lafayette, 7 p.m. KALEB OLIVIER TRIO: Silver Slipper, Arnaudville, 7 p.m. RIVER SMOOTH: The Barrel of Broussard, Broussard, 8 p.m. KEVIN GATES/BUB B/ROB49/ SLIM THUG/MOUSE & LEVEL/ WOCHEE: Cajundome, Lafayette, 8 p.m. JBD LIVE: Toby’s Lounge, Opelousas, 8:30 p.m.

SATURDAY

STEP RIDEAU & THE ZYDECO OUTLAWS: Buck & Johnny’s, Breaux Bridge, 8:30 a.m. CAJUN JAM: Moncus Park, Lafayette, 9 a.m. SATURDAY MORNING JAM SESSIONS: The Savoy Music Center, Eunice, 9 a.m. CAJUN JAM: Tante Marie, Breaux Bridge, 11 a.m. MARY BROUSSARD: Cafe Sydnie Mae, Breaux Bridge, 11 a.m. CAJUN FRENCH MUSIC JAM: Vermilionville Living History Museum & Folklife Park, Lafayette, 1 p.m. JAMMIN’ ON THE BAYOU: St. Landry Visitor Center, Opelousas, 1 p.m. THE CAST: Cypress Cove Landing, Breaux Bridge, 3 p.m. CHYNNA & SAM: Cafe Sydnie Mae, Breaux Bridge, 6 p.m.

‘OUR TOWN’

Continued from page 7C Mullins began looking at the play differently. “So many people say, ‘Oh, it’s so sad,’ but now that I’m older, I understand the themes a lot more, and I ﬁnd it less a really sad story and more a really hopeful story,” she said. It’s true that “Our Town” has a heartbreaking contingent, as is the case in all communities, but that’s not the only thing that happens in Grover’s Corners.

Premiered in 1938 Wilder’s three-act play debuted in 1938 in the McCarter Theatre at Princeton, New Jersey. The setting is metatheatrical, meaning its characters are aware they are in a play. The story is told by a narrator, known as the Stage Manager, who not only addresses the audience but also steps in to play minor roles. “Our Town” takes place between 1901 and 1913 in the small New Hampshire town, and tells the stories

FERVENCE/ENTHRONEMENT/ NECROMIRE/WHITEMOTH: Epic Entertainment, Scott, 6 p.m. LIVE MUSIC: Charley G’s Seafood Grill, Lafayette, 6 p.m. LIVE MUSIC: Prejean’s, Broussard, 6 p.m. THE LAST MANGOS: Adopted Dog Brewing, Lafayette, 6 p.m. NICOLE MARIE: SHUCKS!, Abbeville, 6:30 p.m. NEXT GEN ZYDECO: Silver Slipper, Arnaudville, 7 p.m. SATIN SOUL/CHARLES AND WENDY TRICHE: Whiskey and Vine, Lafayette, 7 p.m. EVERSTATIC/SCREWDRIVER SAGA/MOSH JOSH ACOUSTIC: Artmosphere, Lafayette, 8 p.m. HIGH PERFORMANCE: La Poussiere Cajun Dancehall, Breaux Bridge, 8 p.m. JEFF DUGAN: The Barrel of Broussard, Broussard, 8 p.m. MATT ROCK AND THE POWERBOXX: Blue Moon Saloon, Lafayette, 8 p.m. RYAN FORET & FORET TRADITION: Lakeview Park, Eunice, 8 p.m. WAYNE SINGLETON & SAME OL’ 2-STEP: Hideaway on Lee, Lafayette, 8 p.m. BORN TO BOOGIE: Toby’s Lounge, Opelousas, 8:30 p.m. CYPRESS VALLEY BAND: Rock ’n’ Bowl de Lafayette, Lafayette, 9 p.m.

SUNDAY

LIVE MUSIC: Tante Marie, Breaux Bridge, 11 a.m. THE SUNDAY PEOPLE: Whiskey and Vine, Lafayette, 11 a.m. BAL DU DIMANCHE/T-MARIE AND BAYOU JUJU: Vermilionville Living History Museum & Folklife Park, Lafayette, 1 p.m. CHUBBY CARRIER: Cypress Cove Landing, Breaux Bridge, 3 p.m. SHADOW RPAD BAND FEATURING KYLE DUGAS: Pat’s Atchafalaya Club, Henderson, 4:30 p.m. NATHAN & THE ZYDECO CHA CHAS: Rock ’n’ Bowl de Lafayette, Lafayette, 5 p.m. LIVE MUSIC: Charley G’s Seafood Grill, Lafayette, 6 p.m. JC MELANCON: Silver Slipper, Arnaudville, 7 p.m.

of its residents, its central story following George Gibbs and Emily Webb and their families. The town isn’t extraordinary. Like other communities its size, people live their daily lives, make mistakes, celebrate and eventually die. They also fall in love, which is the storyline focus of George, played by James, and Emily, played by Gutierrez. “I was already a fan of the show and of the writing,” James said. “I first read it in high school, but I never had a chance to see it before getting the chance to be in it. But I’ve always been a fan of the script and how the story plays out and how it’s not just a story that ends up becoming heartbreaking, but one that ends up being very hopeful and tells us that it’s important to live while you can.”

A life well lived

MONDAY

PATRICIO LATINO SOLO: Cafe Habana City, Lafayette, 11 a.m. LIVE MUSIC: Charley G’s Seafood Grill, Lafayette, 6 p.m. BLUEGRASS JAM: Cité des Arts, Lafayette, 6:30 p.m.

TUESDAY

LIVE MUSIC: Charley G’s Seafood Grill, Lafayette, 6 p.m. ROB SAXY: Whiskey and Vine, Lafayette, 6 p.m. TERRY HUVAL & FRIENDS: Prejean’s Restaurant, Lafayette, 6 p.m. GREENLIGHT SESSIONS OPEN MIC: The Jefferson Street Greenroom, Lafayette, 7 p.m.

WEDNESDAY

DULCIMER JAM: St. Landry Visitor Center, Opelousas, 10 a.m. LIVE MUSIC: Charley G’s Seafood Grill, Lafayette, 6 p.m. TREY BOUDREAUX: Whiskey and Vine, Lafayette, 6 p.m. VIEILLE MANIERE: Park Bistro, Lafayette, 6 p.m. WANTED WEDNESDAY KARAOKE NIGHT: The Barrel of Broussard, Broussard, 6 p.m. CAJUN JAM: Blue Moon Saloon, Lafayette, 8 p.m.

THURSDAY

GARY CATHEY: Whiskey and Vine, Lafayette, 6 p.m. JOHNNY BLAINE: Cafe Sydnie Mae, Breaux Bridge, 6 p.m. LADIES NIGHT WITH DJ DONOVAN IN THE MIX: Cowboys Nightclub, Scott, 6 p.m. LIVE MUSIC: Charley G’s Seafood Grill, Lafayette, 6 p.m. KIP SONNIER: SHUCKS!, Abbeville, 6:30 p.m. WINDBORNE’S THE MUSIC OF THE ROLLING STONES: Heymann Center, Lafayette, 7:30 p.m. KARAOKE PARTY — PANDA ENTERTAINMENT: Black Bull, Youngsville, 8 p.m.

Compiled by Marchaund Jones. Want your venue’s music listed? Email info/ photos to showstowatch@ theadvocate.com. The deadline is noon FRIDAY for the following Friday’s paper.

play, but we watched scenes of it in high school,” Gutierrez said. “When we ﬁrst meet Emily, she’s 14, and she’s always described as a very bright girl. I think the love between her and George is pure, but it’s not until, at one point, she looks back at what would be a fairly unimportant day and realizing how we should appreciate every small part of our lives.” As people in the community pass away in the circle of life, they don’t disappear. They sit in the cemetery and wait for what comes next while everyday life in Grover’s Corners moves forward. “They grieve, but the grief falls away, and they move past it,” Mullins said. “And they wait. What are they waiting for? They don’t know, but they’re waiting for something, and I think that’s what makes ‘Our Town’ so hopeful. Thornton Wilder gives us a view of death that isn’t sad, and it gives me a different perspective from the one that I had when I was 12.”

Without spoiling it for audience members unfamiliar with “Our Town,” it’s sufﬁcient to say that it’s Emily, not George, who ultimately realizes the importance of a Email Robin Miller at life well lived. romiller@theadvocate. “I had never read the full com.

The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Friday, October 16, 2026 ● 9C

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zodIAC LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) Choose your path. A clear vision of what you want and need to achieve will help you excel. Piling on too much to impress others will help them more than you. scoRPIo (oct. 24-nov. 22) Take time to rejuvenate. Don't let anyone make you feel guilty for declining an invitation or wanting to be alone. Give yourself the space to mull over the past and let it go. sAGITTARIus (nov. 23-Dec. 21) Size up your financial situation before you start making plans. Broadening your attributes to suit professional needs will help you fine-tune what you can do to make your future inviting. cAPRIcoRn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Talk is cheap, and scammers are out in full force. Remind yourself what you must be grateful for, and don't get sideswiped by someone promising you something that lacks substance. AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Avoid situations that cause anxiety, frustration and anger. Choose to look forward, and engage in activities that give you a chance to explore new possibilities, friendships and creative opportunities. PIscEs (Feb. 20-March 20) Spontaneity can be exciting but also costly. Underestimating what's entailed and the price tag attached will catch you by surprise. Keep in mind when you're shopping that if you don't need it, put it back. ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Listen carefully, be precise and verify information you

receive before passing it along. Protect your reputation and your position from someone trying to misrepresent you or lead you astray. TAuRus (April 20-May 20) Take a seat in the back row and observe. Listen to what's shared, and consider how you can benefit from the information you receive. Take your time, watch how others respond and inch forward with interest. GEMInI (May 21-June 20) Concentrate on what you want, and make it happen. Reach out to experts, and use your charm to capture the support and help necessary to press forward. Hard work and ingenuity will pay off. cAncER (June 21-July 22) Stressing over something you can't change will be counterproductive. Focus on what helps you relax or get together with someone who offers positive reinforcement. LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) Choose to initiate change. Your determination, knowledge and connections can help you excel if you let go of the past and engage in something fresh. Look for networking opportunities. VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept. 22) Establish what it is you want, and start planning. Reach out to people who can offer insight into the pros and cons of projects you wish to pursue. When doubt sets in, back up. The horoscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact. © 2026 by NEA, Inc., dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication

For better or For WorSe WonderWord

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10C ● Friday, October 16, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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

BaBY BLueS

BLondie

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The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Friday, October 16, 2026 ● 11C

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Bridge By PHILLIP ALDER Kate Moss said, “I was definitely living fast. I was working, traveling a lot, playing. I didn’t stop. It all became unbalanced.” In yesterday’s column, we saw a deal in which a 4-4 fit was worse than a 6-3 because there was an inevitable trump loser in the 4-4 fit, but those losers could be discarded if it were a side suit. Today’s deal is another example of one in which the unbalanced fit works better than the balanced, but it is hard to recognize at the table. After South opens one spade and North raises to two spades, it is tempting for South to rebid three hearts. Perhaps North has raised with three spades and five (or six!) hearts. Here, North would surely raise to four hearts. Whether South is in four spades or four hearts, West does best to lead his fourthhighest club, guaranteeing at least one honor in the suit (or a most unlikely singleton). East takes the trick as cheaply as possible and continues with his original fourth-highest club, which South ruffs. What happens after that? In four spades, declarer continues with the diamond king. West wins and plays a third club. South ruffs, draws two rounds of trumps, cashes the diamond queen,

garfield

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ruffs the diamond three in the dummy, and plays on hearts. Declarer loses only one spade, one diamond and one club. In four hearts, though, the continued club leads force declarer to ruff twice in his hand, which promotes West’s heart jack to a winner. The defenders take one trick in each suit for down one. © 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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today’s thought “These things I have spoken to you, that in me you might have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 We can have peace in the midst of a world that has lost its way. Jesus will help us to overcome. — G.E. Dean

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TODAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

A couple of morning showers

Less humid; breezy in the a.m.

Partly sunny and nice

Mostly sunny and nice

Mostly sunny

Plenty of sunshine

LOW

HIGH

LOW

HIGH

72° 48°

LOW

75° 53°

Beaumont 82/54 Port Arthur 79/54

Baton Rouge 88/51

Lake Charles 86/52

New Orleans 87/59 Houma 86/56

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

Hattiesburg 91/50

Alexandria 79/49

Lafayette 87/51

10s

20s

30s

40s

50s

LOW

HIGH

LOW

84° 56°

Lafayette through 5 p.m. Thursday

Jackson 81/49 Many 74/48

HIGH

84° 57°

TEMPERATURE

Longview 70/46

-0s

LOW

Monroe 75/48

Shreveport 73/48

-10s

HIGH

78° 57°

60s

70s

80s

90s 100s 110s

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

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

Sunrise today Sunset tonight Moonrise today Moonset today FIRST

OCT 18

HIGH

11:13a 5:32a --2:27a 1:07a 12:12a 2:15a

LAST

OCT 25

Austin Boston Dallas Fairbanks Honolulu Las Vegas Louisville Miami Nashville

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

FT.

TODAY

70 69 65 43 88 83 68 90 70

49 48 48 29 75 62 44 77 48

NEW

NOV 1

pc t s c r s pc sh pc

NOV 9

SAT.

70 52 67 36 86 78 59 87 63

44 38 47 21 74 62 40 75 41

LOW

0.00” 0.89” 2.15” 47.05” 50.85”

FT.

HIGH

0.9 --- --2.0 6:16p 0.6 --- 12:31p 0.4 1.9 4:24p 0.3 1.5 1:15p 0.3 2.0 11:33a 0.3 1.9 2:17p 0.3

7:11 a.m. 6:36 p.m. 12:48 p.m. 10:48 p.m.

FULL

City

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

86°/66° 82°/61° 87°/59° 92° in 2017 39° in 1893

pc pc s sn r s s t s

TODAY

READING 55 MAIN POLLUTANT Ozone

MAIN POLLUTANT Ozone

FT.

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

LOW

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

FT.

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

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

Today Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday

City

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

4:14a 5:08a 5:58a 6:46a 7:29a 8:10a 8:48a

10:27a 11:20a 12:10p 12:34a 1:18a 1:59a 2:37a

TODAY

87 90 80 87 71 89 56 92 88

59 74 51 69 41 54 40 70 74

4:39p 10:52p 5:33p 11:45p 6:23p ---7:09p 12:57p 7:52p 1:40p 8:32p 2:21p 9:10p 2:59p

pc t t s t pc sh s t

GOOD

SOURCE: LOUISIANA DEQ AND AIRNOW.GOV

74 79 56 78 51 59 59 89 82

SAT. Lo

59 66 40 67 32 42 41 65 64

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

pc sh pc t s r s s sh

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

5.30 24.50 25.90 10.90 6.30 4.01 3.90

-1.08 +0.88 +0.70 +0.60 +0.20 +0.06 +0.12

21.35

+0.82

-1.58

+0.03

18 29 8

-1.33 9.70 2.46

none none -0.07

13 15

1.38 0.57

+0.01 none

47 34 29 20 12 6

10.09 6.72 5.42 4.74 3.90 2.48

+0.64 +0.43 +0.29 +0.24 none -0.41

FREE Back by Pop SHOW ular De ER P mand! AC K A GE !

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34 48 48 35 27 22 17

THU. 24-HOUR STAGE CHANGE

data as of 7 a.m. Thursday

1Selling Walk-In Tub

FLOOD STAGE

ULE ED

N O R T H A M ER I CA’S

YESTERDAY MODERATE

PRECIPITATION

HIGH

87° 51°

Our weather will begin to change dramatically today with the passage of a cold front. But first, expect a partly cloudy, warm and breezy Friday. Before the cold front, temperatures will rise to the mid-80s while winds will increase from 10 mph this morning to 15 mph this afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph today. We’re not expecting any significant rain, but there is a slight chance of a few passing showers. A Red Flag Warning, a Wind Advisory and a Gale Watch are in effect for parts of Southwest LA.

AP P

12C l Friday, October 16, 2026 l theadvocate.com l The Acadiana Advocate

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