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LNG firm to build power plants

Historic Old Castillo Hotel reopens in St. Martinville

Venture Global terminals could draw data centers

BY STEPHANIE RIEGEL Staff writer

Venture Global, the Virginia-based company that exports liquefied natural gas from massive terminals on the Louisiana coast, is planning to dramatically expand its ability to generate electricity at its facilities in Cameron and Plaquemines parishes — a move that could help bring new AI data centers to the state. The company recently announced a $17.2 billion deal with GE Vernova and Baker Hughes Energy Services — companies that manufacture and service power equipment — to procure new turbines and transformers with enough capacity to generate up to 10 gigawatts of electricity. That’s enough electricity to power every household in the state of New York and roughly 25% STAFF PHOTOS BY BRAD BOWIE

ä See PLANTS, page 5A

Rachel Rudasill shows guests around the property during the unveiling of the rebuilt Old Castillo Hotel on Wednesday in downtown St. Martinville.

Restoration preserves site’s history near Evangeline Oak

La. utilities now required to explore nuclear energy

BY JOEL THOMPSON Staff writer

Built in the 1820s along the banks of Bayou Teche, the Old Castillo Hotel has witnessed nearly two centuries of change in St. Martinville, from the days when the waterway served as a vital route for transportation and commerce to its later years as a school run by the Sisters of Mercy. The two-story Greek Revival-style building overlooks Evangeline Park and sits just steps from the Evangeline Oak, a landmark associated with the love story immortalized in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s 1847 poem “Evangeline.” According to local legend, the tree marks the spot where the poem’s Acadian lovers were reunited after years of separation. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. Now, following a monthslong restoration project, the historic property has reopened after a fouryear hiatus, with the goal of keeping it operating for future generations. “I am so proud to see this historic

Electricity demand rising from data centers, development

BY MARGARET KATES Staff Writer

Visitors tour the grounds of the rebuilt Old Castillo Hotel in St. Martinville. building bring new life into our community,” St. Martinville Mayor Jason Willis said during a ceremonial ribbon-cutting Wednesday marking the hotel’s reopening. The hotel struggled during the COVID-19 pandemic as tourism declined, prompting longtime operator

Peggy Hulin to seek new management. She found it in Experience Louisiana, a hospitality and property management company that specializes in lodging accommodations. Reed and Rachel Rudasill, the

ä See HOTEL, page 5A

Louisiana’s investor-owned power utilities — Entergy, Cleco Power and Southwestern Electric Power Company — will now have to participate in research to advance nuclear energy in the state, though they will need further approval if they want to increase customer rates to pay for it. On Thursday, the state’s Public Service Commission approved rules for its “Louisiana Advanced Nuclear Exploration” program, designed to spur more investment in nuclear energy in Louisiana.

ä See NUCLEAR, page 5A

Interpretation of Endangered Species Act changing Advocates say shift puts wildlife at risk BY MARGARET KATES Staff writer

When it came time to release 14 captivity-bred yellow and brown Louisiana pinesnakes into the Kistachie National Forest, it was important to ﬁnd just the right spot. The threatened constrictors needed an expanse of some 7,000 acres of longleaf pine forest with plenty of pocket gopher holes to

WEATHER HIGH 84 LOW 50 PAGE 6A

thrive. Researchers carried the pinesnakes to an ideal place under the tree canopy, recalled Lindsay Reeves, who attended several such releases in her role as a senior attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity, an environmental law group. They put them down near a gopher hole or hollow stump. In a ﬂash, every snake disappeared underground. “It’s like they know this is where they’re supposed to be,” Reeves said.

Destruction of the snake’s longleaf pine forest habitat without mitigation would have historically been considered a violation of the federal Endangered Species Act, as the Louisiana pinesnake is threatened and one of the rarest snakes in the U.S. But a new interpretation of the landmark law is easing that rule. Proponents argue the law has been applied too broadly, and the changes are needed to pave the way for economic and energy development. Environmental advocates argue that changing the

rule could have far-reaching consequences for some of the country’s rarest animals, including the pinesnake, whooping crane and gopher tortoise in Louisiana. The new federal stance coincides with an industrial boom in the state; more than $259 billion in economic development projects have been announced since 2024, raising questions about the habitat-rich land and swamps surrounding many of them. The federal government’s new

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO

Louisiana pinesnakes were released into the Kisatchie National Forest after destruction of the snake’s longleaf pine forest ä See SPECIES, page 6A habitat.

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2 ex-FBI officials charged with lying in laptop probe

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First tanker of Russian diesel sets sail for U.S.

A first tanker carrying Russian diesel to the United States under a new import agreement has set sail, the Kremlin said Friday, two weeks after U.S. President Donald Trump said he struck a deal with President Vladimir Putin despite Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. “The first oil tanker has sailed off to customers, and regular supplies will continue,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said without elaborating. The diesel deal was seen as an attempt by Trump to address high fuel prices ahead of the midterm elections. It caused alarm and dismay in Ukraine, which has pleaded with foreign countries to tighten sanctions on Moscow and deny it revenue for the invasion launched in February 2022. In the U.S., the agreement was also criticized by both Republicans and Democrats for violating American laws and drawing the country closer to Russia. The deal joins a growing list of actions in which the Republican president has sided with Putin, often at Ukraine’s expense. Marine intelligence firm Kpler said the vessel signaled that it was headed to New York to arrive Nov. 7 and would be the first Russian diesel delivery to the United States since July 2023. The import agreement, which Trump says foresees millions more tons of Russian diesel reaching the U.S. in the coming months, is unlikely to make a dent in painfully high prices at the pump or elsewhere, energy policy experts say. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said earlier this week that the first shipment would amount to 40,000 tons of diesel, according to Russia’s Interfax news agency. That’s around 300,000 barrels, or about 7% of the roughly 4 million barrels of diesel the U.S. economy consumes in a single day.

Defense: Kirk killing trial prep will take years

Defense attorneys for the man accused of assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk are suggesting a 2029 trial date because they say it could take them that long to prepare their case. Attorneys for Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, said Thursday that the defense’s proposed schedule was “absurd” and defendant Tyler Robinson was simply trying to delay. Utah District Court Judge Tony Graf has scheduled a Friday hearing to set a trial date. Robinson pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder in last year’s killing of Kirk while the ally of President Donald Trump spoke to a crowd of several thousand people at Utah Valley University. The 23-year-old defendant turned himself in a day after the shooting, and his lawyers have not offered alternative theories for Kirk’s death. He could be eligible for the death penalty if convicted. Utah County prosecutors allege Robinson targeted Kirk for his political beliefs.

Ramaswamy defends ad with opponent’s mom Republican Vivek Ramaswamy on Friday defended his campaign’s ad featuring the estranged mother of Democratic rival Dr. Amy Acton in the closely watched race for Ohio governor. Speaking at a campaign stop in northeast Ohio, he said the advertisement, which features Acton’s mother calling her “a liar,” had nothing to do with childhood abuse. “The irony is they’re lying about an ad that is about lying,” Ramaswamy said. “They’re changing the subject because they don’t want to answer for their own failures.” The advertisement features Acton’s birth mother, Donna Arthur, criticizing her and insinuating she has mental health issues. Arthur lost custody of her children after her husband, the children’s stepfather, was indicted for raping Acton. Acton is Ohio’s former public health director and has made no secret of facing homelessness and abuse as a child. She has condemned Ramaswamy for the ad.

the government is ﬁlPair accused of dence ing these nonsense charges lying to Congress now, years later, on the eve of an election.” in Hunter Biden Attorneys for Benavides accused the government of case bringing “baseless criminal

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO BY CHRIS O’MEARA

President Donald Trump speaks Friday during a campaign rally at Alico Arena on the campus of Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, Fla.

Trump revives idea of intervention in Cuba President speaks at South Florida rally

BY MEG KINNARD and JOSH BOAK

Associated Press

FORT MYERS, Fla. — President Donald Trump on Friday told a rally for candidates in South Florida that U.S. warships returning from the Middle East could stop over in Cuba on their way back from the Iran war, his latest suggestion of taking an interventionist approach to the nearby country. Trump first floated this idea earlier this year, but has not mentioned it in recent months. But he revived it in response to a shouted question from the crowd about the island nation. He was campaigning just days ahead of midterm elections in which voters have expressed concern about the impact the U.S. war on Iran has had on prices of goods from gas to groceries. “We’ll do a little stopover,” Trump said. “Actually, what we’re going to do with Cuba is, we’re going to come back from Iran. Those beautiful ships will pass Cuba. We’ll have one of them stop about 50 yards off the coast. They’ll raise up their hands. And then we’re going to send (Secretary of State) Marco Rubio in to finish up the deal.” Both Rubio and Trump have been bullish on action in Cuba, with Trump previously suggesting the country would “be next” in terms of intervention abroad, following the winding down of the Iran war he has long forecast but which has not yet happened. In May, he and Rubio raised the specter of U.S. military intervention in Cuba, a renewed threat that took on greater weight after the administration announced criminal charges against the island’s former leader, Raúl Castro. Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that previous U.S. presidents had considered intervening in Cuba for decades but that “it looks like I’ll be the one that does it.” Rubio told reporters separately that Cuba has been a national security threat

for years because of its ties to U.S. adversaries and that Trump is intent on addressing it. While saying the Trump administration wants to resolve differences with Cuba peacefully, Rubio voiced doubts that the U.S. could reach a diplomatic resolution with the island’s current government. Moments after Trump spoke at the rally, Rubio posted on social media that “now is the time” for action on Cuba, addressing his post “to those who seek to create positive change” and urging them “to seize this opportunity to create the change you desire through a discrete partnership with the CIA.” Rubio has not addressed Cuba in depth in public for several weeks, with his last comments coming in a Sept. 29 interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity. “The truth is Cuba has already fallen. It doesn’t have a functional economy and it’s governed by people who continue to preach about some revolution that has been dead for 20 years that’s never worked,” Rubio said, without alluding to any CIA operation. “We are hopeful that Cuba will choose a different path. We are hopeful … that there will be some people in there that open their eyes to the reality of what they’re facing,” he said. “We’re never going to allow Cuba to become a base of operation against American interests or pose a threat to our national security. On that we are abundantly clear.” Rubio and other top Trump aides have met with Cuban ofﬁcials in recent months to explore possible improvements in relations. But the U.S. side has come away unimpressed from those talks, leading to even more sanctions imposed on the Cuban government. During his address to the United Nations General Assembly last month, Trump said Rubio — son of Cuban immigrants, who has long taken a hard line against Cuba’s socialist leadership — was “deep into negotiations with Cuba,” saying he would “not allow a haven for foreign adversaries to threaten America on our own doorstep.”

Israeli military says 2 soldiers killed in West Bank attack Authorities say 2 gunmen dead

Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Two former FBI officials were charged Friday with lying to Congress about their involvement in investigating Hunter Biden’s laptop in the run-up to the 2020 presidential election, the latest in a series of splashy and politically charged actions the Justice Department has undertaken ahead of next month’s midterm contests. Floris Nikki Floris and Bradley Benavides, former leaders of a since-disbanded task force set up to counter foreign election interference, appeared in federal court in Washington, where their lawyers pressed for a speedy hearing to contest allegations their clients lied to lawmakers by saying that they did not participate in FBI investigations of Biden. The prosecution, a rare Department of Justice criminal case against a former employee, revisits a tangled and peculiar saga that roiled the ﬁnal weeks of the 2020 race. It also comes amid a broader, backward-looking effort by FBI Director Kash Patel, who before taking over the nation’s premier law enforcement agency was a harsh critic of it, to scrutinize high-profile episodes from the bureau’s recent past that for years have animated President Donald Trump’s conservative base. Floris’ attorneys called her “a patriot” and said she has “served our nation as a dedicated FBI intelligence ofﬁcer for nearly 20 years.” “Yet today, the DOJ has accused her falsely of a crime on the say-so of politicians, not on the facts,” her attorneys said in a statement. “It’s no coinci-

charges against him in a transparently political complaint.” “This is another sad day for the Department of Justice,” his lawyers said in an emailed statement. “But now we are in court, and the truth will come out: Brad Benavides is a true patriot who devoted his career to protecting this country and its people. These charges are a disgrace.” The case was filed less than two weeks before the Nov. 3 elections via criminal complaint, which means prosecutors have not yet presented the allegations to a grand jury for an indictment. The Justice Department has repeatedly struggled in high-proﬁle cases to convince grand juries in the nation’s capital to return indictments. During the former FBI employees’ court appearance, both defense attorneys and the judge noted the unusual move to charge the case through a complaint, which is more often used by prosecutors when they have an urgent need to take people into custody because, for example, they present a danger or a risk of ﬂight. U.S. Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui remarked that it is “rare that we have charges this old coming in this nature,” and over the objections of prosecutors who pushed for more time, set a preliminary hearing for next Tuesday, citing what he said was the “sword of Damocles” hanging over the defendants’ heads. The revelation of the laptop’s existence in October 2020 injected a thorny storyline in the race between Trump, the Republican incumbent, and Biden’s father, Joe Biden, Trump’s Democratic challenger who went on to win the race.

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BY SHLOMO MOR and SAM MEDNICK Associated Press

JERUSALEM — Two Israeli soldiers were killed in an attack in the occupied West Bank that also left two suspected gunmen dead Friday morning, the military said. The violence is likely to heighten political tensions and security concerns ahead of next week’s parliamentary election. Staff Sgt. Ron Yonatan Roytman, 23, and Sgt. Yuval Shai Svilem, 20, were killed and three others were lightly wounded during the attack near the Yehuda Junction outside the West Bank city of Hebron, the army said. The army said its soldiers had prevented a “terror attack against Israeli civilians” and that the two suspects, both Palestinians from Hebron, used an M16 rifle and a handgun. It said the men arrived at an Israeli military position in the morning, triggering an exchange of fire lasting approximately 20 minutes, after which the gunmen were killed by Israeli troops. The army said its forces prevented the men from advancing toward civilians. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later visited the attack site as his office instructed security forces to immediately cordon off Hebron and prepare for a full closure of the West Bank, starting Friday. Israel will retaliate with a sweeping anti-terror operation in the Hebron neighborhood where the gunmen lived, Netanyahu said. “We will evacuate the residents, we will go house-by-house, we will also remove

BY ERIC TUCKER and ALANNA DURKIN RICHER

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO

Israeli soldiers gather Friday at the scene of a shooting attack carried out by Palestinian gunmen at a junction near Hebron in the occupied West Bank.

the weapons there, and all the terror infrastructure will be dealt with and destroyed,” Netanyahu said. Israeli voters are deciding Tuesday whether to grant Netanyahu yet another term in ofﬁce — or usher in a new era of Israeli politics three years after Hamasled attacks triggered the war in Gaza. Israel’s government has warned of potential attacks by the country’s “enemies” in the lead-up to the election. Netanyahu later met with his Security Cabinet and top military and security ofﬁcials, and blamed Hamas for Friday’s attack. “Our brave soldiers thwarted this attack with courage and determination,” he said. “I commend them for their actions and wish our wounded a speedy recovery.” Israel’s national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, known for extremist views, said the attack shows Israel needs to restrict the Palestinians’ freedom of movement in the West Bank.

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Trump says he ordered DOJ suit in Alaska race The second Sullivan, who President is Daniel J. Sullivan from the tiny fishing community of wants to block Petersburg, has said he deto run on his own, but certification if cided Republicans have contended GOP senator loses he is a Democratic plant to si-

BY NICHOLAS RICCARDI Associated Press

President Donald Trump on Friday said he told his administration to file its lawsuit to block certification of the U.S. Senate race in Alaska if Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan loses, kicking off what many fear could become a lengthy battle between the government and states over certifying an election where the president’s party is struggling. “I’m the one that said do it,” Trump told reporters as he landed for a campaign rally in Florida. The lawsuit, filed late Thursday, centers on one of the president’s longstanding complaints in the Senate race — the presence of a second candidate named Dan Sullivan, who Republicans fear could siphon away votes from the incumbent in what’s likely to be a photofinish contest with Democrat Mary Peltola, the state’s former congresswoman.

phon votes away from their candidate. The lawsuit by the Republican president’s Department of Justice in federal court in Alaska demands that the state be blocked from certifying a Peltola win if Daniel J. Sullivan remains on the ballot. “The United States accordingly brings this lawsuit to protect the integrity of the 2026 Senate election in Alaska,” the lawsuit says. The legal challenge came 11 days before the Nov. 3 election and months after the ﬁnal ballot was set. It is the latest example of the Department of Justice bolstering the Republican president’s political operation, targeting his enemies and suing Democratic-controlled states before the election. Democrats and many voting rights advocates have long feared that the administration will try to block certiﬁcation of elections that Trump’s party loses, much as he unsuccessfully tried to do when he lost the 2020 White House race to Demo-

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOS

Running for U.S. Senate in Alaska are incumbent Republican Dan Sullivan, left, and independent challenger Dan Sullivan, right. crat Joe Biden. The Alaska Supreme Court rejected a previous Republican effort to remove Daniel J. Sullivan from the ballot, and the state’s Republican ofﬁcials made the decisions about how to list him on the ballot. He will appear without a party designation next to his name, while the senator will be listed as the Republican incumbent. Alaska’s ranked choice voting system also will allow voters to select both of the

men if confused. The senator received more than 68,000 votes in the August primary, while the challenging Sullivan got 4,107, about 2% of the total vote. Peltola, who had previously served one term in the House, was the top vote-getter in the nonpartisan primary. Both parties expect that whoever wins in November will do so by a tight margin in a state of 738,000 people. The campaign for Sen. Dan Sullivan did not ad-

dress whether the senator supports the Department of Justice’s intervention. “We’ll let the DOJ complaint run its course,” campaign spokesman Nate Adams said in a text message. “Alaskans can tell the difference between a Democrat sideshow and Senator Sullivan’s strong record of delivering for Alaska.” Daniel J. Sullivan, whose presence on the ballot is at issue in the lawsuit, did not respond to a request for comment.

“Donald Trump knows that Dan Sullivan is going to lose the election, so now his Department of Justice is ﬁling a sham lawsuit to overturn the will of Alaska voters and steal an election when he loses,” said Devan Barber, executive director of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. Peltola, on her Substack, wrote, “This is a blatant, despicable political threat — all because a historically unpopular 12-year incumbent is scared that he’s going to lose the Senate seat that belongs to Alaskans.” In a statement Friday, the Department of Justice noted that Alaska’s election officials, who are Republicans, determined the other Sullivan’s campaign was an attempt to “mislead” voters and wanted him removed from the ballot. Both a state court and Alaska’s Supreme Court disagreed and kept the second Sullivan on the ballot. “The Justice Department, consistent with the National Voter Registration Act enacted by Congress, is taking the necessary steps to ensure that this frivolous candidacy does not undermine the integrity of Alaska’s election or the will of its voters,” the department’s statement said.

MISSISSIPPI Trump exempts Mayor: Officer who killed boy resigned some Canadian imports from tariffs BY JACK BROOK

President seeks to help Collins in Senate race

BY PAUL WISEMAN

AP economics writer

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump, seeking to help Republican Sen. Susan Collins in a tough reelection battle in Maine, is exempting some imports — including plywood sheets, packing crates and some machinery — from the 50% tariffs he slapped on $20 billion worth of Canadian products over the summer. The changes will take effect Oct. 30. The White House said the president was seeking to offset “the burden to U.S. commerce while better serving the public interest.’’ Collins, locked in a tight race with Democratic challenger Troy Jackson, issued a statement saying she’d spoken with Trump’s top trade negotiator, Jamieson Greer, and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick “about the toll tariffs are taking on Maine families, businesses, farmers, and growers.’’ “Many of our farmers and growers rely on specialized equipment, packaging materials, and other products from Canada that are either unavailable from American suppliers or cannot be replaced without incurring

significant expense,” Collins said. She said she asked for tariff relief for such products “and stressed the burdens additional costs impose on Maine businesses and families.” Collins said she’d seek “additional relief from tariffs and encourage a broader trade agreement with Canada, our neighbor, ally, and largest trading partner.” Trump started a trade war with America’s longstanding ally and northern neighbor, reaching back to a Depression-era trade law to impose tariffs on Canadian imports. He charged that Canada discriminates against U.S. dairy, auto and alcoholic beverage producers. Canada promptly lashed back with tariffs of 15% to 50% on American products, matching Trump’s import taxes dollar for dollar. Trump ratcheted the dispute up from there last month by imposing a ﬂatout ban on $1 billion worth of Canadian imports, including alcoholic beverages, dairy products and motorcycles. The U.S. president has claimed that foreign countries pay his tariffs. In fact, U.S. importers do. And they often face the tough choice of having to pass along the higher costs to their customers or absorb them.

An independent autopsy commissioned by the family concluded the same. An image of the vehicle shows The police officer who its shattered right front passhot and killed a 1-year-old senger window. The family’s boy in Mississippi when he legal team called for the fedfired into a moving vehicle eral government to investiwhile responding to a shop- gate the shooting. “Officer Foster’s resignalifting call has resigned, the Senatobia mayor told The tion is hardly a step toward Associated Press Friday. accountability, and it is cerSgt. Hunter Foster, 33, tainly not justice,” Crump had been cleared of crimi- said in a statement. “Turnnal wrongdoing by the Mississippi Attorney General’s office earlier this week after its monthslong probe concluded his use of force had been justified. On Thursday, the state released videos of the fatal shooting of Kohen Wiley, including Foster’s body-worn camera footage of the June 14 encounter in a Walmart parking lot in Senatobia, about 40 miles south of Memphis, Tennessee. Senatobia Mayor Greg Graves confirmed Foster’s resignation Friday. Foster’s attorney Martin Zummach declined to comment when reached Friday. Zummach has said Foster had “no choice” but to fire his weapon at the vehicle because it was moving at him. Kohen’s mother, Vellesiya Wiley, has disputed that her friend, who was driving, headed toward the officers. Ben Crump, an attorney for Kohen’s family, said the footage shows the fatal shot came from the side of the car, disputing that Foster was in imminent danger. Associated Press/ Report for America

ing in a badge does not erase responsibility for taking a life, and it will not end our ﬁght for justice for Kohen and his family.” The family’s legal team has called for Foster to be decertified as a police officer so that he cannot be hired by another law enforcement agency. Mississippi Department of Public Safety spokesperson Alex Gibert said Friday that

Foster remained certiﬁed as a police ofﬁcer. Kohen would have celebrated his second birthday in early November. The group of officers were at the Walmart store in response to an unrelated incident, according to a Mississippi Bureau of Investigation report. A Walmart employee then alerted them of two women running from the store.

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Gunmen open fire during funeral at church in Jordan Authorities say 7 killed, 40 hurt

By The Associated Press JERUSALEM — Gunmen opened fire during a funeral at a church in Jordan on Friday, killing seven people and wounding 40 others, authorities said. The shooting took place at a Greek Orthodox church in Karak, about 110 miles south of the capital, Amman. Footage broadcast on Jordanian state television showed two gunmen who appear to be holding pistols approaching the church and firing shots. A third man who appears to be holding a semiautomatic rifle then approaches and opens fire, and all three then run toward the church. Video footage taken by witnesses shows broken glass and pools of blood on the floor of the church. Dorgham Halasa, who was among the mourners inside the church, said intense gunfire erupted 15 minutes after the funeral had started, and

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO

Residents gather Friday as soldiers and security officers block the entrance to Prince Ali Military Hospital during King Abdullah II’s visit to people wounded in a shooting at a Greek Orthodox church during a funeral in Karak, Jordan. then people started running. “It was a weird situation, and heavy gunﬁre,” Halasa said. He did not see the gunmen, but said other people report-

ed seeing four of them. The Associated Press could not independently verify the number of assailants, and Jordan’s security services did not immediately release

details. A government statement said that the attack was “carried out by unknown assailants,” but didn’t say whether any gunmen were

captured or killed. It said that “investigations are underway at full speed.” Jordan declared three days of national mourning, according to the kingdom’s Petra News Agency. Karak is home to a minority Christian population. In 2016, gunmen ambushed police in a series of attacks in Karak, including at a Crusader castle popular with tourists, killing 10 people, including seven ofﬁcers, and wounding dozens. Jordanian security forces killed those gunmen after a long standoff. Jordan’s Health Minister Ibrahim al-Budour said two of those wounded are in critical condition. King Abdullah II said on X that Jordan “will confront the terrorist act that targeted Karak with the harshest penalties” and offered his “deepest condolences to the families of the martyrs, and our wishes for recovery to the wounded.” Jordan’s Prime Minister Jafar Hassan said during a security meeting in Karak on Friday evening that the

attack was a result of terrorist ideology and blind extremism. He said the assailants will be punished and legal measures taken against those who seek to introduce extremism. Condemnation of the slayings came from around the region, including from Lebanon, Syria, Egypt and Oman. Ahmed al-Tayeb in Cairo, the grand imam of Al-Azhar, the Sunni Muslim world’s foremost religious institution, offered his condolences to the families of victims in Friday’s shooting, calling it a “heinous terrorist attack.” Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein called his Jordanian counterpart and “afﬁrmed Iraq’s solidarity with Jordan in the face of terrorism,” Hussein’s ofﬁce said in a statement. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the attack during a funeral as “especially heinous,” spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. “The secretary-general also calls for all those responsible to be found and to be held to account.”

Louvre and other museums closing for Saturday protests French authorities deploy 70,000 officers

BY ELITSA GADEVA and SYLVIE CORBET PARIS — Some 70,000 law enforcement officers will be deployed across France on Saturday while the Louvre and several other major Paris museums will be closed as authorities seek to prevent renewed violence during planned protests. Protests last week devolved into mayhem, with people setting ﬁres, storming

public buildings, smashing shop windows, looting and clashing with police. It was France’s most violent unrest in years. Demonstrators plan to take to the streets again Saturday to denounce the high cost of living. Students, members of the CGT labor union and activists from the “yellow vest” movement, whose demonstrations against social injustice shook France in 2018 and 2019, are all set to join. While some protests have been banned for security reasons in several cities, including Lyon, Nice and Montpellier, marches are expected in many other places including in Paris and Marseille. French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said some

70,000 police officers and gendarmes would be deployed, along with helicopters, armored vehicles and water cannons. In addition, elite police units will help secure public buildings like city halls in a “highly mobile” security operation, he said. “There have been numerous calls from radical farleft groups on social media to commit acts of violence and vandalism. There have also been renewed calls for looting, with those messages clearly being spread by rioters,” Nuñez said at a news conference. “We will be absolutely uncompromising” with those involved in violence, he added, warning that police will

Rooftop rescues and evacuations as flooding soaks Four Corners region BY MEAD GRUVER and KATHY MCCORMACK Associated Press

FORT COLLINS, Colo. — Severe flooding in the Four Corners region Friday led to water rescues — some from rooftops — and impassable roads, with some residents urged to evacuate low-lying areas of Colorado and New Mexico and others to stay where they are until levels go down. The flooding was caused by heavy rain in the desert where Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah meet, with more rain in the forecast through at least Saturday. Hundreds of people along the San Juan River in the biggest city in the area, Farmington, New Mexico, were told to evacuate. Downstream, residents of the vast Navajo Nation braced for ﬂoodwaters not expected to peak until late Friday or early Saturday. “Do not wait to make your evacuations. Make your preparations for yourselves, your families, as well as your animals,” Navajo Nation Deputy Police Chief Donnie Kee urged during a news conference. The crisis capped a week of severe weather in which rain swamped doz-

ens of homes in Utah and tornadoes blew off roofs, knocked trees onto houses and downed power lines in Arizona. Rescuers used New Mexico National Guard boats, helicopters and amphibious vehicles Thursday night and into Friday to try to reach stranded residents, San Juan County spokesman Devin Neeley said. “We’re picking people off of roofs and pulling people out of houses that have 3 or 4 feet of water in them, and there’s more water coming,” Neeley said. Rains stopped — at least temporarily — but rivers were still rising. “This is serious. We’re still sending deputies as I speak to get people out of their homes right now. In fact, our sheriff is damn near going to lose his home today,” Neeley said. Some 600 Farmington households were told to evacuate, city spokesperson Gina Intoppa said. Still higher water was on the way via the Animas River, a San Juan tributary that also flows south from rain-soaked Colorado, Farmington Police Chief Steve Hebbe said in the news conference. “People are not believing

that it’s going to be as bad as it is. But you can see the water flow coming, you can see the surge coming,” Hebbe said, calling it a “once in a generation” event. In southern Colorado, flooding was even worse than forecast and a full 3 feet higher than a 100-year flood on the San Juan River only a year ago. Before midday, rescuers in a state helicopter were trying to reach two people stranded in a motor home after trying to escape floodwaters, Archuleta County Sheriff Mike Le Roux said. “We have two adult people and we’ve got three dogs that are as well as they can be, being perched in the middle of a river in a vehicle that’s somewhat submerged,” Le Roux said. Authorities were assessing who else needed help, including many whose homes weren’t flooded but were cut off by floodwaters. Le Roux was not aware of any deaths or serious injuries. In nearby Rio Grande County, trailers at a campground were surrounded by water. Trucks were partially submerged in other areas. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis had declared a disaster emergency in 11 counties.

Tall building collapses in Kenya By The Associated Press

NAIROBI, Kenya — Many people were feared trapped as a tall building collapsed Friday in Kenya’s capital, leaving a huge mound of concrete and more than a dozen floors stacked like pancakes, with little space between them. The building was under construction when it collapsed at about 1 p.m. along

a busy commercial street in Nairobi’s Eastleigh area, which is often crowded with thousands of traders and residents. Nairobi police chief Issa Mohamud said the building had more than 10 upper floors under construction. Rescue operations were complicated, with police ﬁring tear gas at people who had begun looting neighboring shops, as ofﬁcers sought

to clear the area and provide access to emergency response teams. Joseph Kaula made it out just in time. A plasterer working on the fifth floor, he said he heard screams and spotted other workers rushing outside, shouting that the building was collapsing. “I was the last person to walk out before it collapsed and the whole area was filled with dust,” Kaula said.

have a “very ﬁrm approach to making arrests, and there will be legal consequences.” In a statement to The Associated Press, the Culture Ministry said the Louvre, the Orsay and Picasso museums as well as the Grand Palais would be closed. The ministry called on all institutions under its authority to adopt any necessary measures to ensure “visitor safety, staff protection and the preservation of artworks,” according to the statement. After two days when admission was by invitation only, Art Basel Paris opened to the public Friday — but only for the day, with the threat of unrest prompting organizers to cancel the

weekend program. One of the world’s most prestigious contemporary art fairs, Art Basel includes exhibitions by 211 international galleries at Paris’ Grand Palais. “This decision has not been taken lightly, and the safety of everyone involved in the fair remains our utmost priority,” organizers said in a statement Thursday. Saloni Doshi, an art collector who traveled to Paris from India for the fair, grew worried last Saturday as she saw the fires and panicked people, and she received phone calls from friends asking whether Paris was safe. She agreed with the organizers’ rationale to close. Antoine Donzeaud and

Elisa Rigoulet, the owners of the gallery exo exo, felt the same. “We understand this decision, which we consider reasonable and consistent with the urgency of the social demands currently unfolding in France,” they said in a text message. But some visitors were disappointed. “It’s very sad, because we just came here to the fair, and we could not get in because they canceled it for the weekend,” said Fabián Hernández, 32, from Mexico City. “So it’s very busy today, and it’s disappointing to me because I love the art fair, you know? But it is what it is.”

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HOTEL

Continued from page 1A

brother-and-sister duo who founded Experience Louisiana, said their involvement with the Old Castillo Hotel began about five years ago. Their interest was driven in part by their local roots and Cajun heritage. “Being born and raised right down the road we both saw the potential and importance of bringing back the Old Castillo as a bed-andbreakfast,” Reed Rudasill said. “When I saw the operations had ceased during COVID, I reached out to the management to see if there’s any way we could help keep it open. About a year ago we got an opportunity to lease the building and that’s what led us to being able to renovate.” The restoration preserves features that connect the hotel to the community’s history. Each of its seven guest rooms contains original mural work by local artist Sarah Melancon, ranging from impressionistic depictions of Loui-

PLANTS

Continued from page 1A more power than Meta will need to power its Hyperion data center in Richland Parish once it’s fully built out. Venture Global, which generates all of its own electricity and water on-site at private power plants that are not connected to the public grid — an arrangement known as “island mode” — would use some of the additional electricity to power its LNG facilities. It is aiming to provide the excess to another large industrial user, like an AI hyperscaler in need of “compute,” Venture Global CEO Mike Sabel said in a statement. “These new agreements (with GE Vernova and Baker Hughes) outline a phased, disciplined expansion to make reliable, largescale power capacity available for new compute as and when we elect,” Sabel’s statement said. The announcement comes as the global explosion of new AI data centers, which consume massive amounts of electricity, is creating unprecedented demand for new

NUCLEAR

Continued from page 1A “This provides value to the consumer in zero-emission power,” said Commission Chair Eric Skrmetta, R-Metairie. “I anticipate there’s going to be a lot of nuclear technology implemented because of its reliability and no carbon dioxide emissions.” The commission passed the framework 4-1. Commissioner Davante Lewis, D-Lake Charles, was the lone “no” vote. Under the program, investor-owned utilities will partner with nuclear energy ﬁrms to conduct feasibility studies, economic analyses and other studies on integrating nuclear energy into their systems. While the three investor-owned utilities under the PSC’s jurisdiction are required to participate, electric cooperatives can opt in to the program. The utilities can spend up to $2 million over the entirety of the program, which is intended to last three years. “Entergy believes in the promise of new nuclear opportunities, and we are glad to see innovative efforts that ensure our region is in a good position to take advantage of them,” said Brandon Scardigli, a spokesperson for Entergy Louisiana. “Most importantly, the framework adopted by the LPSC allows exploration of advanced nuclear technologies, but ensures that customer rates will not increase as a result of those efforts.” Southwestern Electric, or SWEPCO, also said it supports “evaluating a range of technologies to serve customers’ future energy needs, and we appreciate the Louisiana Public Service Commission’s interest in exploring emerging generation options.” “(Southwestern Electric) looks forward to continuing these efforts with the commission’s support and will evaluate additional oppor-

siana wildlife to detailed scenes of New Orleans architecture. The restored building also displays class photographs from Mercy High School, which operated in St. Martinville as an all-girls school under the leadership of the Sisters of Mercy until 1986. The hotel welcomed its first guests — a group of students from Washington state — just minutes after the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser attended the event and praised the restoration as an example of how communities across Louisiana can revitalize historic buildings. “Nothing great is ever achieved without passion,” Nungesser said. “I am excited for the future of small towns across Louisiana like St. Martinville. We have so much to offer in this great state.” The Rudasills operate several other ventures and said they see further opportunities in St. Martinville. Their Duke Woodﬁre Pizza Company is expected to open its ﬁrst brick-and-mortar location in the city in early 2027. For booking information, visit Experience Louisiana.

sources of power generation. Sabel said Venture Global’s plans for Louisiana could help address the need. “By providing Island-Mode power generation, gas supply, closedloop water systems, thousands of acres of land, data centers, and other necessary infrastructure, Venture Global is creating a vertically integrated AI utility that could solve for the many chokepoints associated with the AI buildout,” his statement said. Because Venture Global’s LNG export facilities operate completely off the public grid, the company would not need approval from the Louisiana Public Service Commission to build the new power plants or sell excess electricity to other users. It would, however, need to secure permits from other federal, state and parish regulators. AI data centers have sparked organized pushback over the past year in much of the country, though not in Louisiana, because of the massive amounts of power they consume, their adverse impacts on the quality of life in nearby communities and general concerns over the rapid spread of artiﬁcial intelligence.

tunities to support research and development under the approved framework,” said Amanda Keeney, a spokesperson for the utility. Representatives for Cleco could not immediately be reached for comment. (Entergy New Orleans is regulated by the New Orleans City Council, not the commission, and therefore not included in this program.) Initially, the PSC explored a rule where the utilities could recoup these costs by charging all customers $0.20 per meter every month. But in a change at Thursday’s meeting, the commission axed that provision and allowed the utilities to recoup the costs as part of their base rate that is applied to customers’ bills, so long as it does not increase the rate. If utilities want to increase their rates as a result, they will need to apply to the commission for a rate increase, Skrmetta said. The commission has been working on the program since February, when Skrmetta directed staff to construct a rule framework, pursuant to the state’s strategy to bring more nuclear energy to Louisiana. The framework is the next step, he said, in getting energy companies to start incorporating nuclear energy into their resource planning. Skrmetta said he’s confident that by the end of the three-year period, the utilities will have identified the right technology for their system and have a way to move forward. “We want Louisiana to be a leader on this,” Skrmetta said. “The utilities recognize that there is going to be nuclear in the future.” In March, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry presented the state’s nuclear strategy at a conference in Texas, where he courted nuclear energy companies and Trump administration officials to invest in Louisiana. President Donald Trump has made nuclear energy development a priority, speeding up the permitting process for new plants, while also halting

The Acadiana Advocate l theadvocate.com l Saturday, October 24, 2026 l 5A

STAFF PHOTO BY BRAD BOWIE

Guests tour the property during the unveiling of the rebuilt Old Castillo Hotel on Wednesday in St. Martinville.

“These new agreements (with GE Vernova and Baker Hughes) outline a phased, disciplined expansion to make reliable, large-scale power capacity available for new compute as and when we elect.” MIKE SABEL, Venture Global CEO It’s not clear if Venture Global is in talks with a speciﬁc hyperscaler like Google or Amazon Web Services or if a deal is imminent. In a statement Friday, a Venture Global spokesperson said local communities would have an opportunity to weigh in on any proposed data center deal. “The agreement with GE Vernova and Baker Hughes simply reserves the right for Venture Global to purchase future power equipment to support our LNG business and potential future data center development,” the statement said. “Any potential future expansion, stemming from the power agreement, would of course be coordinated with state and local ofﬁcials and — like our current projects — would have no reliance on the

offshore wind projects. Nuclear is currently the most expensive form of power generation apart from intermittently used gas “peaking” plants, and comes with complications, including where to store nuclear waste. But technology is advancing in the sector, including for smaller-scale nuclear power plants. The push coincides with skyrocketing demand for energy in the state from data centers, including Meta’s mammoth project in Richland Parish, as well as other industrial development, such as Hyundai’s plans for a steel plant in Ascension. Cleco and Entergy both submitted comments to the PSC in support of the program. Southwestern Electric had no objection to the framework. “(Southwestern Electric) appreciates the commission’s proactive approach and consideration to allow utilities the ability to further investigate the potential applications of nuclear technologies,” its letter to the PSC reads, “and identify any related benefits from the suitable application of nuclear technologies in the state.” Lewis, who represents District 3 on the commission, said he wouldn’t support the program because it would give ratepayer funds to private companies for research. In a time of rising bills, Lewis argued he couldn’t support something that may increase consumer costs. There is no guarantee that the nuclear development and research activities provided for in the framework will lead to development of nuclear energy infrastructure, Lewis said. Ratepayers may not see the benefit of this research, he argued. There has not been much public input on the nuclear exploration framework. Darryl Malek-Wiley, a senior field representative for the Sierra Club, sent a letter to the commission Wednesday criticizing the rule framework, arguing that ratepayers should be protected from footing the bill.

public grid or water utilities and, therefore, no added costs to Louisiana consumers.” Plaquemines Parish President Kevin Hinkley did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday afternoon. Venture Global has become an emerging player in the global LNG market, which is largely centered in Louisiana. More than 60% of the nation’s 5.5 trillion cubic feet of LNG exports last year traveled through the state The company currently operates Plaquemines LNG in Port Sulphur and Calcasieu Pass LNG in Cameron Parish. It is building a third terminal, Calcasieu Pass 2, or CP2, and recently received ﬁnal regulatory approval for an $18 billion expansion of its Plaquemines Parish facility, which cost more than $23 billion to construct. The expansion would bring the total maximum production capacity of the facility to 45 million tons per year from the current 27 million. Venture Global also owns or controls thousands of acres of land immediately adjacent to its facilities in both parishes where it would build the new power plants and data centers.

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If the deals come to fruition, they would be executed by 2034, the company said. Gregory Upton, executive director of the LSU Center for Energy Studies, said the potential arrangement makes sense for Venture Global, particularly as large industrial users increasingly power their facilities “behind the meter.” “Louisiana already has a signiﬁcant amount of existing on-site generation at LNG export terminals, refineries, chemical plants pulp and paper mills,” Upton said. “On-site generation may reduce the need for utility-ﬁnanced infrastructure and could facilitate economic development.” Such arrangements are not without potential pitfalls, however. Regulators need to address whether the deals can support new demand while “maintaining reliability and appropriately assigning costs to the customers responsible for them — and the potential implications for the lost opportunity to share infrastructure and other costs more broadly,” Upton said. Email Stephanie Riegel at stephanie.riegel@theadvocate. com.

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6A l Saturday, October 24, 2026 l theadvocate.com l The Acadiana Advocate

lll

TODAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

Plenty of sun

Partly sunny

Some sun

Partly sunny

Sunny to partly cloudy

HIGH

LOW

84° 50°

LOW

HIGH

81° 55°

LOW

80° 56°

82° 58°

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

Beaumont 84/61 Port Arthur 81/65

Baton Rouge 85/48

Lake Charles 85/53

10s

20s

30s

Houma 81/52

40s

50s

60s

70s

80s

Sunrise today Sunset tonight Moonrise today Moonset today

90s 100s 110s

FULL

OCT 25

City

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

YESTERDAY

Austin Boston Dallas Fairbanks Honolulu Las Vegas Louisville Miami Nashville

PRECIPITATION

84°/52° 79°/57° 81°/50° 91° in 1934 33° in 1923

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

New Orleans 80/61

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

Hattiesburg 81/48

Alexandria 85/47

Lafayette 84/50

LOW

84° 58°

TEMPERATURE Jackson 82/49

Many 87/47

LOW

Lafayette through 5 p.m. Friday

Longview 86/52

-0s

81° 59°

Monroe 86/46

Shreveport 87/53

-10s

LOW

Saturday is looking like a day very much like yesterday. Expect a mostly sunny, warm and breezy day. Temperatures this afternoon will be about average, rising to the mid-80s. Our winds will be easterly at 5 to 10 mph, so hold onto your Saints hats. There is no rain in the forecast today or tomorrow, which is especially significant because all of Southwest Louisiana is experiencing either a severe or extreme drought. Be aware that there are burn bans in effect for all of Southwest Louisiana.

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

HIGH

7:47a 2:36a 2:41a 4:02a 8:59p 8:36p 10:07p

FT.

NEW

NOV 1

88 59 85 33 86 76 74 84 78

TODAY Lo

60 41 62 25 72 58 47 71 47

FIRST

NOV 9

pc s pc c pc s s t s

NOV 17

83 64 82 34 84 75 77 84 77

SUN. Lo

52 44 59 28 71 58 49 74 47

FT.

HIGH

0.6 2:39a 0.5 1.6 10:10a 0.9 2.0 7:26a 0.8 1.4 11:21a 0.4 1.2 5:57a 0.5 1.6 4:07a 0.8 1.5 6:59a 0.7

7:16 a.m. 6:28 p.m. 5:22 p.m. 5:35 a.m.

LAST

LOW

0.00” 0.89” 3.53” 47.05” 52.23”

pc s pc sn pc s s t s

FT.

MODERATE

READING 87 MAIN POLLUTANT Ozone

MAIN POLLUTANT Particulates

SOURCE: LOUISIANA DEQ AND AIRNOW.GOV

LOW

FT.

--- --- 4:41p 0.3 --- ----- --4:13p 2.3 8:06p 1.6 6:45p 1.5 11:52p 1.1 --- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ---

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 10:07a Sunday 10:52a Monday 11:44a Tuesday 12:13a Wednesday 1:17a Thursday 2:27a Friday 3:37a

City

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

80 82 64 80 63 67 76 76 82

3:55a 10:30p 4:18p 4:39a 11:17p 5:04p 5:30a ---- 5:57p 6:28a 12:43p 6:58p 7:33a 1:49p 8:05p 8:43a 2:59p 9:15p 9:53a 4:09p 10:25p

TODAY Lo

61 69 41 60 37 48 51 60 68

s sh s s s s s s pc

78 81 67 83 66 70 80 78 84

SUN. Lo

63 70 42 60 41 44 55 61 69

s sh s s s s pc s s

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

SPECIES

Continued from page 1A interpretation of the Endangered Species Act hinges on two words: “harm” and “take.” For decades, federal agencies considered destroying an endangered or threatened species’ habitat to be harm. But as of September, President Donald Trump’s administration said it would no longer consider that to be true under their interpretation of the act’s original intent. The act’s core protections remain in place, administrators for the Interior Department assured in a news release over the summer: It still will protect listed wildlife from acts that “directly injure or kill.” But it will remove federal overreach with regulations that interfered with people’s private property rights. “This administration is committed to protecting wildlife using Gold Standard Science, the law and the tools Congress actually gave us,” U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Brian Nesvik said in the news release. “We can protect species and respect communities at the same time.” A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service internal memo went a step further in September and stated that the definition of “take” of an endangered or threatened species would only apply to intentional acts. Environmental advocates, including the Louisiana Wildlife Federation, sued the government, aiming to get the changes reversed. In the meantime, endangered species are at risk, said Steven Whitfield, director of terrestrial and wetlands conservation at the Audubon Nature Institute in New Orleans. “If we don’t go back to the old definition of harm, we could lose more species,” Whitfield said. “Destruction happens much quicker than recovery.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO BY GERALD HERBERT

Biologists from the Memphis Zoo hold several Louisiana pinesnakes to demonstrate their color variations, during the release of several of about 100 of the snakes, in Kisatchie National Forest in 2023.

tors live in longleaf pine forests, a fire-dependent ecosystem that once dominated the Southeast but has been dramatically reduced. When the pinesnakes are released into the wild, researchers look for longleaf pine habitat that has been burned recently, to clear out underbrush and debris from the forest ﬂoor. Only about 5.2 million acres of longleaf pine forest remain in the U.S., a fraction of the 90 million acres the forest historically occupied, according to The Nature Conservancy. “When you talk about protecting a species, you need to be able to think about the habitat itself,” said Mitch Reid, a regional executive director at the conservancy. “If the purpose of the (Endangered SpePinesnakes cies Act) is to prevent extinction, For a species like the Louisi- then we need to have a conversaana pinesnake, habitat protection about what all species need to tion is critical, Whitfield said. survive and thrive.” Dozens of other endangered and The Audubon Zoo has released 58 pinesnakes into the wild over the threatened species rely on longleaf course of about 30 years, accord- pine forest habitat, too. “They’re so interconnected,” he ing to its website. The four-foot-long constric- said.

Development accountability The new interpretation of endangered species regulations could make it harder to hold companies accountable for injuring species or destroying habitat, Whitfield said. Under the Endangered Species Act, the federal government prohibits “taking” endangered and threatened species. “Take” refers to 10 actions: harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, collect, or attempting any of those actions. For many years, “take” applied to both intentional and unintentional acts. But federal agencies now only consider “take” when it’s intentional, according to an internal memo obtained by the Center for Biological Diversity. The U.S. Department of the Interior, which houses the fish and wildlife service, confirmed to news outlets that the memo reflects its new policy. “The Service remains committed to faithfully carrying out the ESA, providing regulatory clarity and certainty while conserving and

TODAY

MODERATE

recovering threatened and endangered species in accordance with the law,” the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service told The Times-Picayune in an email. Local environmentalists will be watching to ensure compliance with the two dozen economic project planned or underway in the state, including the $100 billion SpaceX development in southwest Louisiana and $50 billion Meta data center in Richland Parish. A precarious population of whooping cranes lives just across from the forthcoming SpaceX development in Vermilion Parish. One of the most iconic endangered species in the country, the crane was almost driven to extinction because its feathers were so desirable. The cranes are still exceedingly rare today: the Audubon institute estimates there are just 834 in existence. The Audubon Zoo was the ﬁrst place in the U.S. where whooping cranes were tended to by humans in the 1940s, Whitﬁeld said. Today, the white birds are bred at the Audubon’s species survival cen-

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

FLOOD STAGE

34 48 48 35 27 22 17

FRI. 24-HOUR STAGE CHANGE

2.10 22.40 24.90 10.60 6.00 4.62 3.50

-0.60 -0.32 -0.10 -0.10 -0.10 -0.09 -0.13

16.40

-1.02

-1.79

+0.07

18 29 8

-1.35 9.66 2.37

none none -0.26

13 15

1.36 0.55

none -0.01

47 34 29 20 12 6

9.50 6.41 4.94 4.62 3.40 2.47

-0.31 -0.24 -0.12 -0.12 +0.20 +0.10

data as of 7 a.m. Friday

ter in Lower Coast Algiers and released in southwestern Louisiana. The zoo says the goal is to create a self-sustaining whooping crane population in the White Lake Wetlands Conservation Area in Vermilion Parish. The conservation area lies near Pecan Island, where SpaceX’s 10 launchpads are planned. Extending “take” to include actions that aren’t intended to impact endangered species, such as clearing habitat, is a provision that “makes the act really effective,” Whitﬁeld said. He said he’s worried the impact to the cranes, though unintentional, could be expansive. The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry did not advocate or participate in discussions about the federal rule changes, said Patrick Robinson, the association’s vice president of government relations. But its members support “common sense deregulation and permitting predictability, balancing responsible economic growth with stewardship for Louisiana’s unique environment,” Robinson said in an email. In August, Gov. Jeff Landry told CBS News he wasn’t concerned about the environmental impact, arguing instead the spaceport will provide the necessary funds for coastal restoration in the area. A road and wharf to be built as part of the spaceport likely will have no effect on whooping cranes, according to a study commissioned by SpaceX earlier this year. The company has not yet submitted permits for the vast majority of the development, however.

Better approval ratings Conservation is already challenging, Whitfield argues. When breeding new whooping cranes, for example, biologists dress up as cranes to prevent the chicks from having any “human” contact, as the chicks can imprint on humans. But Whitfield and other environmental advocates aren’t giving up. In fact, these changes only “strengthen our resolve,” he said. Most people want to protect plants and animals, Whitﬁeld said. He said he’s optimistic that future administrations will revert to the old interpretation of the Endangered Species Act. “People really do care about wildlife,” Whitﬁeld said. “Whooping cranes have better approval ratings than any politician.”

METRO

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

S AT U R D AY, O C T O B E R 24, 2026

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‘No’ urged on nightclub request

Downtown officials ask council to vote against permit BY ADAM DAIGLE

Acadiana business editor Downtown Lafayette officials requested City Council members vote no on the upcoming permit for a large nightclub proposed for Cypress Street. The Downtown Development Authority unanimously approved

a resolution Wednesday to vote no on the request from Plush Syndicate and participate in a broader discussion about downtown nightlife. That discussion should include closing the open container cutoff from midnight to 9 p.m. and revising the BYOB rules so that barlike uses get the proper review,

the resolution indicates. The matter is expected to be on the council’s Nov. 10 agenda. Quintin Borel wants to open Plush Syndicate, a 325-person nightclub at 201 Jefferson St., and got initial support from Lafayette Consolidated Government’s city zoning commission. That came despite DDA CEO Kevin

Blanchard’s request to defer the request. The board noted that while bars and entertainment venues are among the businesses that contribute to a successful downtown, adding another bar would go against its goal of maintaining a balance among all business uses. It cites Plan Lafayette policy 5.8, which calls for a mix of “retail, service, civic, ofﬁce and residential uses” downtown and how

the Downtown Action Plan sets a vision of downtown as “one of Lafayette’s safest and friendliest neighborhoods.” The planning staff’s report did not address the Downtown Action Plan or how the bar advances that balance in its report, the resolution indicates. Other points the DDA made include:

ä See REQUEST, page 2B

BACH

FOR MORE

ABOVE: Attendees enjoy the fall weather and live music by Amelie Cecile during Bach Lunch at Parc Sans Souci in Lafayette on Friday. RIGHT: Amelie Cecile performs during Bach Lunch. LEFT: Students from Broadmoor Elementary monkey around on a rope jungle gym during Bach Lunch on Friday. STAFF PHOTOS BY LESLIE WESTBROOK

Work to begin soon on apartment complex N.O.-based Key Real Estate also built Silo Creek next to TopGolf BY ADAM DAIGLE

Acadiana business editor The New Orleans company that built 252 upscale apartments next to TopGolf will start construction soon on a similar project along Verot School Road. Key Real Estate will start this month on the 208-unit, $35.5 million project at 2832 Verot School Road at the site of the old Dax on Verot restaurant, said Michael Lang, Key’s managing principal for

development. The project was approved for a building permit by Lafayette Consolidated Government last week. Construction is expected to start this month and take about 22 months. The Lafayette market has more room for upscale apartments, Lang said. The move is also another step for Key, which built the Ansley Walk and Robley Place apartments near the Acadiana Mall that it later sold for a combined $93 million. Silo Creek, next to Topgolf, opened last year. “We believe in the different industries there,” Lang said. “We believe in the education there with UL Lafayette, the

ä See COMPLEX, page 2B

Court: Detained immigrants have no right to bond hearings Decision upholds Trump administration policy BY JAMES FINN Staff writer

Federal officials can detain immigrants without allowing them to challenge their detention before judges, the New Orleans-based U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on Friday, handing a major victory to the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. The decision delivered by the split federal appellate court upholds the administration’s policy of mandatory detention for noncitizens, including those who have lived in the

country for years. In the past, such detainees would receive bond hearings where they could argue to judges that they wouldn’t flee or commit crimes if they were allowed to remain free pending their immigration proceedings. Starting last year, the new policy eliminated the hearings, triggering thousands of habeas corpus petitions ﬁled by immigrants in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody. Many were submitted in Louisiana federal courts by people held in the state’s 10 ICE detention facilities. Plaintiffs accused the government of violating the U.S. Constitution by detaining them without due process. Friday’s ruling stemmed from one of those cases, Sosnava Rodri-

guez v. Ortega, a plea by three undocumented men without criminal records who lived in Texas before their arrests by ICE in late 2025 and early 2026. Ten judges concurred with the administration’s detention policy in Friday’s narrowly split decision. Seven judges dissented. The ruling represents a massive victory for one of the administration’s most contentious immigration policies — and it highlights the 5th Circuit’s expanding role as a bastion of support for conservative legal policy. The appellate court, which oversees appeals filed in federal district courts in Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi, has issued major rulings in recent years upholding

ä See COURT, page 2B

2B l Saturday, October 24, 2026 l theadvocate.com l The Acadiana Advocate

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Families get help visiting incarcerated relatives More than 100 participate in NOLA to Angola Bike Ride fundraiser

NOLA to Angola bike ride organizers gather at their start location in Mid-City on Friday. The bike ride is meant to help families seeking to visit their incarcerated loved ones.

BY JONI HESS Staff writer

Daniel Garcia can remember how tough it was to visit his father in a Texas detention center, after he was detained by immigration authorities when Garcia was 5 years old. His dad was later deported. He didn’t return home until Garcia was in middle school. That’s why the NOLA to Angola Bike Ride, a 172-mile trek to raise funds to pay for transportation for families to see their loved ones behind bars, is a cause he had to support, he said. “I felt that this ride was super important to really help alleviate families of that logistical, ﬁnancial and emotional burden. It’s a really personal project for me,” he said. At the steps of the former New Orleans Police Department head-

STAFF PHOTO BY JONI HESS quarters in Mid-City, more than 100 cyclists readied themselves Friday morning to ride to the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola. Their mission, to help families who struggle to afford to visit loved ones incarcerated in Louisiana prisons, is one some riders especially take to heart this year, given a swell in detainees held at the new Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center opened at the prison last year thanks to the federal government’s hard-lined policies. State data show that 194 detainees are being held at that center. In its 16th year, the bike ride culminates months of fundraising

efforts to support a full year of monthly bus rides for families to see their loved ones at no cost, visits that criminal justice advocates say are critical for mental wellbeing and reduced reentry rates. “It’s the thing that keeps you remembering that you’re human, that you’re alive, that you have a heart, and that you’re still a person despite the borders of jails and prisons,” said Wan Qi Kong, a Nola to Angola organizer. The funds the project raises helps to cover operating costs for the Cornerstone Builders Bus Project, a program by the Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans that organizes transportation

for families from New Orleans to four state prisons. Riders raised $54,000 this year largely through individual online donation campaigns. The average cost to rent a 55-passenger motorcoach for each trip is $2,400, according to Cornerstone. As riders secured their helmets Friday, speakers performed a “blessing of the bikes” prayer to send them off. It called for guidance and reﬂection to navigate a throng of systemic injustices beyond mass incarceration that draw riders to the effort each year. Camp 57, named after Gov. Jeff Landry — the 57th Louisiana governor, opened on the grounds of Angola last September — armed with an inﬂux of federal funding that pays a private contractor more than four times the cost of housing state prisoners in parish jails. Ride organizers say the know little of the intimate details about the center, but they’ve made strides in raising awareness around the larger context of hostility toward immigrants they say exists in throughout the state. The Alexandria International Airport in central Louisiana now leads the nation

in the number of deportations to “third countries” where immigrants often have few ties. The ride offers multiple options for cyclists of all abilities. A oneday option allows some riders to go a shorter route. Support vehicles are in tow the whole way in case a medic or a mechanic is needed. If a rider needs a break, they can take one. A U-Haul truck is loaded with camping gear for them to set up overnight Friday and Saturday. They’ll finish the ride at the Angola Craft Fair where incarcerated artists sell handmade woodwork, trinkets, paintings, and other items from booths. A Cornerstone bus will return them home. Cornerstone Director Leo Jackson organized the first bus ride in 2007, a year after the late former state Gov. Kathleen Blanco pardoned him from a decades-long stint at Angola on drug distribution charges. Jackson wanted to help the men he left behind, he said. “I thought about, what can I start that would benefit the men back in prison? And those family members on the outside and the bus trip came to mind,” Jackson said.

St. John the Baptist judge suspended for second time He's being investigated for alleged misconduct BY JOHN SIMERMAN Staff writer

The Louisiana Supreme Court has benched a state judge in St. John the Baptist Parish while he’s being investigated for alleged misconduct, marking the second time in two years that the court has removed him. The court found probable cause that Judge Vercell Fiffie “poses a substantial threat of serious harm to the public or the administration of justice.” Its order Thursday disqualified Fiffie with pay pending proceedings before the state Judiciary Commission. The order does not describe Fiffie’s alleged misconduct. Court records, however, show the commission was concerned over a recent allegation that Fiffie failed to sign a bench warrant in time to arrest a convicted child rapist who remains at large. Fiffie, who is running for reelection, denied wrongdoing in a response to the court. He said Friday in a brief phone interview that he was reluctant to

COURT

discuss the allegations for fear of violating judicial canons. “I do find it unfortunate, the timing,” he said of his disqualification during election season. “Yes, I am still running. I’m still on the ballot,” Fiffie added. “I’m still campaigning and I still intend on winning and returning to the bench. No. 72. Vote for me.” Fiffie faces Atoundra Pierre Lawson in the election. Both are Democrats. Early voting started this week and Election Day is Nov. 3. The Louisiana Supreme Court suspended Fiffie for six months without pay in October 2024 and ordered him to pay $9,000 in costs. The commission in that case found that Fiffie had repeatedly refused to sign search warrants, delaying investigations into child abuse, domestic violence and other acts. One of three judges elected to the 40th Judicial District Court in Edgard, Fiffie had rejected warrants at a 27% clip, a vastly higher rate than his colleagues. The high court also found that Fiffie had failed to comply with appeals court orders, misapplied the law and wouldn’t cooperate in court administrative matters. District Judge Nghana Lewis, also of St. John, and Sheriff Mike Tregre both filed complaints against Fiffie in that case, in which the Supreme

Court took the rare step of imposing about 50 bench warrants or ating a harsher punishment than the tachments. In one, Fiffie never orcommission recommended. dered a bench warrant as requested on June 10 for a defendant named Actions in rape case questioned Zion Pierce. He was later indicted Records obtained Friday from the for a murder and armed robbery Supreme Court show the commis- that took place five days later, the sion received several more com- commission wrote. Fiffie didn’t respond initially to plaints about Fiffie “that troublingly echo the conduct for which this the commission’s allegations. But he defended his decisions on the court previously suspended him.” More recently, the commission warrants as “supported by law” in received “a disturbing new com- a response to the court. In the case of Linton, the convictplaint indicating that Judge Fiffie is arbitrarily delaying issuance of ed child rapist, Fiffie blamed a court or refusing to issue bench warrants clerk for failing to alert him that a for criminal defendants, in one in- paper copy of the warrant was on stance for a convicted child rapist his desk. He also blamed the defenwho remains at large.” dant’s attorney. A state prosecutor complained “The question of when did Mr. to the commission that Fiffie had Linton flee is unknown and speculafailed to sign a warrant for the ar- tive,” Fiffie wrote. “A warrant could have been isrest of a defendant named Dominique Linton. sued, without delay, had counsel Convicted by a jury, Linton faces for the defendant appeared and ada mandatory life prison sentence vised the court that his client was for first-degree rape and up to 99 not going to appear,” he added. “The years for sexual battery of a child, record before the court shows that but he failed to show up to court on Mr. Linton made every appearance Aug. 3 for his sentencing, the com- when ordered.” The 14-member commission mission said. Fiffie said he would sign the war- felt otherwise. It found the new rant by 4:30 p.m. that day but ended complaint against Fiffie “demonup waiting until the afternoon of strates the grave and alarming Aug. 5 to do it. consequences of his continued obThe same prosecutor created a stinance.” chart alleging Fiffie delayed signLinton remains on the lam, said

in the number of detainees held in ICE detention. The mandatory detention policy has emerged as a key plank of the Trump administration’s sweeping immigration enforcement campaign. The raging legal battle over the policy hinged on a shift in how the administration regarded legal rights afforded to undocumented people who had long lived in the U.S. After President Donald Trump retook office, the administration began designating noncitizen U.S. residents, even those who had been in the country for years, as “seeking arrival” — a classiﬁcation that the government previously applied to people caught while crossing the U.S. border. The change stripped them of access to bond hearings,

leaving them with no recourse if they had been unlawfully detained, according to the plaintiffs’ arguments across some 18,000 habeas petitions ﬁled since Trump retook ofﬁce, a massive surge. Lower courts had ruled in favor of the Texas-based plaintiffs leading up to Friday’s ruling. A smaller panel of 5th Circuit judges also sided with the plaintiffs in February. But the full 5th Circuit stayed those decisions and took up the case as a full court on Sept. 24. In the September hearing, attorneys for the three men argued that the Constitution’s protections against imprisoning people without allowing them to challenge the terms of their detention apply to noncitizen immigrants as well as U.S. citizens.

The development will have a French design them and feature one-, two- and Continued from page 1B three-bedroom units with rents starting at around healthcare industry and the $1,300, he said. It will also ancillary oil and gas. We just feature a pool, clubhouse think that market hasn’t had with working spaces, ﬁtness a lot of the type of product room, outdoor grilling areas and other amenities similar we’ve brought to it.”

to Silo Creek. Key bought the 13-acre property back in 2022 from the Bouillon Family Properties and later bought a small adjoining property in 2025, according to records.

Continued from page 1B conservative positions on abortion and the Voting Rights Act, among other causes. “We now conclude that Petitioners were not entitled to individual hearings on their dangerousness or ﬂight risk before they could be lawfully detained by immigration authorities pending their removal proceedings,” wrote the majority opinion’s Trump-appointed author, Judge Cory Wilson. “Moreover, the duration of Petitioners’ detention presented no constitutional issues warranting habeas relief.” Two states in the 5th Circuit’s purview, Texas and Louisiana, lead the nation

COMPLEX

REQUEST

Jim Deggy’s Brick Oven Pizza & Brewery, could lead Continued from page 1B to the bar taking over that 13,400-square-foot space without a public hearing. Planning staff noted that The capacity was set at 325 with an option to be in- police, ﬁre, and Alcohol and creased without a public Noise Control indicated ophearing. erational issues that should The closure of an adja- be addressed but the permit cent business, the former did not identify them.

Email Adam Daigle at adaigle@theadvocate.com.

The permit requires the operator to obtain private security only when he anticipates attendance exceeding 200. The staff analysis does not address the previous nightclub’s history, which had 144 calls for service and 39 police incidents between March 2021 and February 2026.

Attorneys for the men called Friday’s ruling an “affront to the U.S. Constitution.” “The principle at stake here is simple: if the government wants to detain someone, it has to explain why depriving them of their liberty is necessary. And anyone who is detained has the right to ask a judge for review of that detention,” said Rebecca Cassler, an attorney for the American Immigration Council who argued the case for the plaintiffs before the 5th Circuit. “Instead, this ruling allows the government to lock people up when detention plainly serves no purpose, and without any way to challenge it,” Cassler said. Several dissenting judges delivered similarly blister-

Tregre, who said he couldn’t talk about the misconduct case against Fifﬁe. “Not until this matter has been fully investigated,” Tregre said.

Pay also under scrutiny The Supreme Court’s order Thursday says the suspension was based on a ﬁnding of probable cause that Fifﬁe violated judicial ethics rules. The commission’s request included an allegation that Fiffie sent Tregre and District Attorney Bridget Dinvaut, as well as the parish human resources director, an unusual order about an assistant’s pay. In it, he wrote that the assistant’s salary “should always and in perpetuity shall exceed that of any other secretary or judicial assistant” by $1,000, according to the commission. Fiffie’s “pattern of noncooperation continues to this day,” the commission alleges. Fiffie was elected for the first time to the bench in 2021. The Supreme Court’s order states the commission must wrap up its review within six months. Only the Supreme Court can recommend discipline for judges in Louisiana, up to removal from the bench.

ing assessments of the majority’s ruling. Judge Dana Douglas, an appointee of former President Joe Biden, castigated the ruling as resting on “sham history,” an assertion that drew barbs from several of her colleagues in the majority. “A country where a roaming police force must seek out millions of noncitizens for mandatory detention without meaningful process or recourse to even a rudimentary hearing is a less decent place for people like Petitioners who have led law-abiding lives, committed no crimes, and raised United States citizens,” Douglas wrote. Trump administration ofﬁcials celebrated the ruling. “Big win in the Fifth Circuit on mandatory detention

for illegal aliens, a principle codiﬁed in 1996 legislation but ignored by the deep state for decades,” James Percival, a U.S. Department of Homeland Security attorney, wrote on social media. Email James Finn at jﬁnn@ theadvocate.com.

LOTTERY

THURSDAY, OCT. 22, 2026 PICK 3: 4-0-2 PICK 4: 2-0-9-0 PICK 5: 2-9-2-3-7

Unofficial notification, keep your tickets.

Funerals Today Fabre, Frances

Holy Family Catholic Church in Luling at 11am.

.theacadianaadvocate.com Announcements LOST PROMISSORY NOTE: Anyone knowing the whereabouts or having possession of one (1) certain Promissory Note originally in favor of BancorpSouth Bank, a State Chartered Bank executed by Song Liu and Jing Liu., dated 10/05/2020, in the original loan amount of $216,480.00, please contact Elizabeth Crowell Price by mail at 1505 N 19th Street, Monroe, LA 71201 or by phone at 801-355-2886. 204620-October 22-24, 3t $221.74

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Treasury proposes rule on China investments

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Treasury Department proposed a rule Thursday to crack down on American high-tech investments such as supercomputing and artificial intelligence in China, Russia, North Korea and other “countries of concern.” The U.S. government has been working for years to deny China and other adversaries investments that could help them boost their military power. That program began in 2023 when then-President Joe Biden signed an executive order putting restrictions on outbound U.S. investments in sectors such as semiconductors, quantum computing and artiﬁcial intelligence going into China. Treasury later established the Outbound Investment Security Program. In December 2025, Congress passed a law that codified and expanded the program to target more technologies and more foreign countries, including Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Russia. The inclusion of Russia in the proposed rule has come days after President Donald Trump waived sanctions on Russia following a diesel deal with President Vladimir Putin. The rule announced Thursday would expand the restrictions to cover investments in hypersonic systems capable of traveling at five times the speed of sound, supercomputing, biotechnology and artiﬁcial intelligence, though Treasury used Trump’s favored term for AI, “superintelligence.”

American Express profits rise; job cuts planned

NEW YORK — American Express profits rose sharply in the third quarter as it transitioned the vast majority of its members to a new, higher-fee Platinum Card while its well-to-do customers continued to spend aggressively. The company also announced its first major job cuts in roughly a decade, telling investors it plans to cut its workforce by 5%, or about 3,500 employees. The New York company reported a profit of $3.71 billion, up 28% from a year ago, or $5.42 a share. Excluding a onetime gain from AmEx’s sale of its stake in Global Business Travel Group, the company earned a quarterly per—share profit of $4.68. That figure beat Wall Street estimates. AmEx’s revenue and profits rose as customers both charged more on their cards and paid more to hold an AmEx card. Last year, AmEx updated its Platinum Card, adding several new perks for cardmembers while raising the annual fee from $695 to $895. Reviews of the update were generally positive at the time.

Citi gets nod from Beijing to set up company

WASHINGTON — Citi said on Friday it has received approval from Chinese regulators to set up a wholly owned securities company in the world’s second largest economy, just about one month after Chinese leader Xi Jinping met President Donald Trump in Washington to keep U.S.-China ties stable. The approval, which was also announced on the same day by the China Securities Regulatory Commission, followed a recent approval by Beijing for the U.S. payments giant Visa to prepare to set up a bank card clearing business in China. The moves by Beijing to open its ﬁnancial market to U.S. companies have come as the two leaders are expected to meet two more times by the year’s end to maintain the fragile ties battered by a tariff and trade war. In a statement, Citi, a major U.S. ﬁnancial services provider, said the onshore securities license will allow Citi — through the new entity — to offer equities brokerage, securities underwriting, securities research and principal trading services to domestic and foreign clients. Citi says it has a “sizable corporate and institutional client base looking to access the Chinese capital markets.”

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Rising oil prices pressure markets BY DAMIAN J. TROISE and ALEX VEIGA AP business writers

Stocks on Wall Street closed broadly lower Friday as oil prices climbed to their highest level in more than four years, ratcheting up pressure on the market. Rising oil prices weighed heavily on the market, where nearly three out of every four stocks within the benchmark S&P 500 index fell. The price for a barrel of Brent crude oil rose 3.1% to settle at $116.72. It has surged from less than $97 at the start of October and is now at

its highest level since June 2022. Several AI-related companies rallied, helping ease some of the impact from the broader market slide. Micron Technology rose 2.5%, Intel gained 1.7%, Microsoft added 0.7%, and Advanced Micro Devices closed 1.7% higher. The tech sector’s influence is also capable of quickly switching over to a heavy weight. Stocks that have benefited from the frenzy over AI have been swinging over rising worries about their path ahead. Investors are worried about whether their high prices are justified. Many of those companies

have been borrowing to fund investments in AI technology and high interest rates are making those loans more expensive. “Investors appear increasingly focused on the economics of AI, particularly the substantial upfront costs required to build AI infrastructure and the uncertainty around the timing of returns on those investments,” said Angelo Kourkafas, senior global strategist at Edward Jones, in a research note. The latest round of corporate earnings are being closely watched to help get a better sense of whether those investments are

paying off, or might pay off. Several inﬂuential AI-related companies report their latest ﬁnancial results next week, including Google’s parent, Alphabet, along with Microsoft and Amazon. Industrial companies had some of the biggest losses. Caterpillar fell 2.4%. JPMorgan Chase fell 1.5%, Citigroup dropped 1.5% and Capital One Financial slid 1%. While higher oil prices weighed down much of the market, they helped boost energy companies. Chevron rose 2.9% and ConocoPhillips gained 3.6%.

Facing pushback on data centers, tech giants are issuing new promises Host cities offered more money, fewer secrets BY MARC LEVY and KAITLYN HUAMANI

Associated Press

With host communities across the U.S. turning against their gargantuan data centers, America’s technology giants are promising to take fewer taxpayer handouts, keep fewer secrets or shower more money onto the communities willing to allow the server warehouses. The new raft of promises from the world’s richest companies comes as anti-data center sentiment has become a potent issue in the midterm elections, with control of Congress and 36 governors’ offices on the line. Despite backing from President Donald Trump, the data centers powering the artificial intelligence boom have become politically toxic. Community opposition that blocks municipal permits has become a bottleneck, and tech giants could face even more challenges if voters next month elect more public officials who are skeptical of data centers. The tech industry says it has gotten the message. In addition to ramping up financial incentives, officials with Google and Meta said in interviews with The Associated Press they are trying to address mistrust by being more transparent with communities where they would like to build. Companies are also making pledges to reduce their impact on the environment and offering assurances that data centers will boost local property values — all while maintaining AI is a positive force for the American economy, despite its skeptics.

Tech giants pledge more transparency Devi Thomas, Google’s global head of community development and engagement, told AP that she wouldn’t call resistance to data centers a “backlash,” but that “there are often community questions to be addressed.” “Early public consultation is increasingly a very important part of the process. We have done as much as we can to make sure communities are involved early on,” Thomas said. Earlier this month, Amazon rolled out its “Amazon Data Center Commitment,” including pledges to improve the environmental rating of its backup diesel generators and disclose more about its data centers’ energy and water use. It also said — as have Microsoft and Google — that it had stopped requiring government ofﬁcials to sign nondisclosure agreements. The use of nondisclosure agreements has meant people in host communities may know little or nothing about a project until it shows up on a municipal board’s voting agenda. Besides that, tech companies often have hidden their involvement in a project behind a code name and developers who do the legwork with local governments, critics and other developers say. That practice “raises people’s suspicion

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO BY MARC LEVY

Anti-data center demonstrators protest at the Pennsylvania Capitol on Oct. 6 in Harrisburg, Pa. as to what’s truly happening,” said Anita Verma-Lallian, a developer with data center projects in Arizona. Meta is always evaluating how well it shares information with communities, said Lindsay Elin, Meta’s vice president of public policy and external affairs. “As part of that work, we are reviewing our use of nondisclosure agreements,” she said in a statement to the AP. In a report this month that sharply criticized data center giants including Amazon, Google, Meta and Microsoft, several Senate Democrats said companies have used nondisclosure agreements to freeze out the public. The report also said the companies aggressively seek state and local tax breaks and do not cover the entire cost of the electric-grid buildout needed for energy-hungry data centers.

Spending ramps up in host communities The dominant players in the industry — Amazon, Google, Meta, and Microsoft — project they’ll spend more than $600 billion this year combined on capital projects, primarily data center construction in the U.S. Even as the companies prepare to spend more to entice communities — payments that some critics call “bribes” — Trump urged them in a social media post Wednesday to pay people and communities a “dividend” if they “want to make their Data Centers popular.” “MAKE DEALS, and get them built!!! GREAT FOR THE U.S.A.,” Trump wrote. Meta and Amazon said recently they will each spend $1 billion on ﬁnancial incentives to host communities in the coming years, on top of millions they already spend to support

schools, charities and job training. Google says its investments in local programs in data center communities will reach $1 billion by the end of 2027. Microsoft has pointed to a couple of local tax breaks that it will forego. And Google recently said for all of its new data center campuses, the company will pay full real property taxes on the buildings and land. The companies have known since last fall that community opposition was becoming a serious problem. Data center demand began driving up electric bills last year across a 13-state electricity grid stretching from Illinois to New Jersey and Maryland, angering ratepayers. The outcry led to promises from the tech giants to pay the cost of the power infrastructure to feed their data centers, while Microsoft rolled out its five-point “Community-First AI Infrastructure” plan. Data centers’ critics aren’t persuaded. Sam Burleigh, who helped start Concerned Citizens of Montour County in rural northern Pennsylvania to fight a potential Amazon-backed data center project, said the company’s commitments are “propaganda.” “What I see is them realizing they have more resistance than they ever dreamt of. And so now they have to find some way, some method to break through that resistance,” Burleigh said. Kathryn Hoffman, executive director of the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, which has sued over two prospective Google data centers, said she sees Google doing more public relations outreach, but she doesn’t see it doing more to disclose critical details about its plans.

Airbnb releases new rules limiting checkout requests BY RIO YAMAT

AP airlines and travel writer Airbnb guests can say goodbye to checkout chores like washing dishes, stripping beds and taking out the trash under a new policy announced this week. The short-term rental platform’s new rules limit hosts to “reasonable” checkout requests beginning on Nov. 20. Guests can still be asked to leave dishes in the sink, gather used towels and sort trash and recycling, but hosts generally cannot require chores typically

handled by professional cleaners. “Remember to think like a guest and keep in mind what you’d ﬁnd unreasonable,” Airbnb tells hosts in a video announcing the new policy. Checkout chores have been a recurring point of contention for Airbnb guests, particularly when they’re also paying cleaning fees. The company has previously acknowledged that those fees can create different expectations between hosts and travelers. Airbnb said exceptions may apply in certain circumstances, such as requiring guests to put trash in

animal-proof containers in areas with bears. Hosts must now also disclose all house rules and requests in a designated section of their listing before guests book, according to Airbnb. They can no longer add extra requirements through messages, signs inside the property or other sections of a listing. As part of the changes, Airbnb said it is standardizing house rules into seven categories, covering topics including overnight guests, quiet hours, pets, smoking and whether guests must lock up at checkout.

The changes build on Airbnb’s broader efforts to make booking a rental more predictable for travelers. In 2023, CEO Brian Chesky acknowledged that the variety of properties on Airbnb creates uncertainty among guests. “A lot of guests have described booking Airbnb, once they check in, it’s a moment of truth. Is the house exactly what they expected?” he told The Associated Press. “We don’t want this to be a moment of truth. We want you to know exactly what you’re going to get before you book.”

4B l Saturday, October 24, 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

ANOTHER VIEW

For La. governors, two terms and you’re out? In this election, Louisiana voters will decide whether to change the state’s constitutional term limits for governors. It’s an important decision. Currently, Louisiana governors can serve two consecutive terms, then run again after sitting out a term. This is called a “consecutive term limit.” Proposed constitutional Amendment No. 4 would replace it with a “lifetime term limit.” The ballot language reads: “Do you support an amendment to prohibit a person who has served more than one and one-half terms as governor from being elected as governor for any future term?” In other words, once a governor serves two full terms — or one full term plus more than half of a predecessor’s unexpired term — that person could never be elected governor again. Amendment No. 4 would apply to former governors still alive, future governors and the incumbent. Since 1951, the U.S. Constitution has imposed a similar lifetime two-term limit on presidents. Ron States take different approaches to guFaucheux bernatorial term limits. Nine have lifetime limits, while 13 have none. Others, including Louisiana, restrict consecutive terms or impose limits over specified periods. Virginia has a one-term limit, but allows governors to return after sitting out four years. The immediate effect of Amendment No. 4 would be to prevent two former Louisiana governors — Democrat John Bel Edwards and Republican Bobby Jindal — from seeking a third term. It would also impose the two-term lifetime limit on incumbent Republican Gov. Jeff Landry. Because Edwards remains fairly popular, he could be a viable gubernatorial contender in a future election. That political calculation may help explain why most Democrats in the Legislature opposed the amendment and most Republicans supported it. Supporters say the goal of the amendment is to bring new blood into state government. They dispute the suggestion that it targets Edwards or anybody else. But this is an important point. Citizens should beware of any changes to the election system that are motivated by temporary partisan politics. Louisiana recently junked its open primary in federal and other elections for a temporary partisan reason — defeating U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy for reelection. The move worked, Cassidy lost and now the state is stuck with a closed primary system that advantages partisan rigidity and extremism. Throughout Louisiana’s 214 years of statehood, it’s had one- or two-term consecutive term limits, and brief periods without any limits. But it has never imposed a lifetime prohibition, as Amendment No. 4 would do. Over the years, a number of Louisiana governors have attempted comebacks after leaving office. The legendary Earl K. Long — what other governor has been portrayed by Paul Newman in a movie? –– served three separate stints without ever winning consecutive elections. He completed an unexpired term in 1939-40, won a full term in 1948 and returned for another four-year term in 1956. Sam Jones, governor from 1940 to 1944, attempted a comeback in 1948 but lost. James Noe, who served less than a year as governor in 1936, tried to win a full term in 1940, but fell short. Twenty years later, Noe ran and lost again. Robert Kennon, governor from 1952 to 1956, failed in his 1963-64 return bid. Jimmie Davis, now better known for writing and singing “You Are My Sunshine” than for his governorship, served a single term from 1944 to 1948 and another from 1960 to 1964, with a 12-year break in between. Davis attempted yet another comeback in 1971, but was defeated. California’s Gov. Jerry Brown took the comeback impulse even further. After serving two terms from 1975 to 1983, he sat out an astonishing 28 years before returning for two more terms, from 2011 to 2019. This made Brown both California’s youngest governor at the time, and later, its oldest. In 1966, Louisiana voters scrapped the 68-year-old oneterm limit, approving a constitutional amendment allowing governors to serve two consecutive terms. Popular incumbent Gov. John McKeithen helped its chances. He won his second term with 81% of the primary vote and faced no general election opposition. Then there’s Edwin Edwards. Elected in 1971 and reelected in 1975, Edwards couldn’t run for a third consecutive term in 1979. So, he sat out four years, returned in 1983 and defeated incumbent Dave Treen. Edwards sought reelection in 1987 but withdrew after finishing second in the primary to Buddy Roemer. He came back again in 1991 and defeated David Duke. Edwards was elected governor four times, serving 16 years — more than anyone else in Louisiana history. Under a lifetime two-term limit, he couldn’t have run in 1983, 1987 or 1991. Amendment No. 4 comes down to this: Should voters be allowed to bring back a former two-term governor after a break from office? Or should the constitution permanently take that choice off the table? That’s the question Louisiana voters must answer. Ron Faucheux is a nonpartisan political analyst, pollster and writer based in Louisiana.

YOUR VIEWS

What aids Russia and China harms us

Closed primaries serve the politicians, not the people In a recent column published in the newspaper titled “Closed primaries are a curse on our democracy,” the syndicated columnist Froma Harrop stated that she hadn’t left her political party; her party left her — both of them! In like fashion, a lot of American voters are frustrated by the fact that Democratic or Republican candidates in our country’s elections are often chosen in low-turnout primaries where organized ideologies or special interest groups select their nominee. In her column, Harrop said that currently 47% of all American voters are not afﬁliated with a party. Harrop also cites the comments by Jeremy Gruber, the senior vice president for Open Primaries, a non-

partisan group which advocates for allowing all voters to participate in primary elections. Gruber states that “to do otherwise makes general elections meaningless, especially in a oneparty state.” In summary, closed primaries are bad for our democracy because, as the data and the history of our nation clearly show, we are all ﬁrst and foremost Americans. Note: In a related, recent article titled “U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy sponsors open-primary bill,” Cassidy said he ﬁrmly believed that “the political system should serve the people. And it shouldn’t be designed so that people serve the politician.”

WILLIAM NUNEZ Covington

Shared religious tradition forbids dehumanizing other humans Jews and Christians of all denominations clearly know that our present U.S. immigration policies contravene our shared moral values and basic human decency. This knowledge must lead us to action. Our shared religious traditions demand that our love for God is demonstrated by love of our neighbor (Deuteronomy 6:4-9, Leviticus 19:1718, Matthew 22:34-40, 1 John 4:20-21, among other Scriptures). This means respectful, compassionate and humane treatment of our sisters and brothers, irrespective of gender, creed, color, ethnicity or nationality. Some, like the rich young man in the Gospel of Matthew, may choose to turn their backs on Jesus’ call to heroic generosity and welcome to the other. Matthew teaches that abusing the other is abusing God: “I was hungry and you gave me no food,

I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, a stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, and in prison and you did not visit me” (Matthew 25:35-36). Our moral values, not our political loyalties, must inform how we vote and hold our elected ofﬁcials to accountability. We cannot with credibility support candidates of any political party who will enact laws and formulate policies that dehumanize other human beings, each of whom we believe, in our Judeo-Christian tradition, is made in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1). Pope Leo’s recent encyclical teaches of the “humanizing power of the Gospel.” Who among us, with God’s grace, has the courage to work to make this happen?

SISTER MAURA O’DONOVAN, New Orleans

Pink the color of unsportsmanlike conduct On Oct. 17, the newspaper reported that LSU head football coach Lane Kifﬁn has the entire visiting teams’ locker room painted pink in an effort to score a psychological advantage. So much for fair play and sportsmanship.

What’s next? Constant loud noise? Overﬂowing toilets? A surreptitious ﬂea infestation? It’s getting harder to support this coach.

WENDELL LINDSAY Baton Rouge

Throughout his presidency, Donald Trump has acted contrary to American interests, especially regarding foreign affairs. Presently, despite our obligations as expressed in the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979, Trump has delayed the shipment of $14 billion in arms sales to Taiwan. Chinese President Xi Jinping, meanwhile, is energetically bolstering China’s military forces so that they can successfully attack Taiwan. The United States and Taiwan have for years maintained a close relationship. Moreover, Taiwan produces between 6070% of global computer chip output and 90% of the most advanced chips. Thus, it would be very bad, if not catastrophic, if Taiwan were taken over by the Chinese or if Taiwan destroyed its chip production capacity if it feared defeat by the Chinese. Trump has also acted completely contrary to U.S. interests in his decision to buy from Russia 800,000 tons of diesel oil supplies in October and November and millions of tons more thereafter. (See the Associated Press report of Oct. 9). This decision undermines the law passed by Congress in September and signed by Trump, which was aimed at limiting Russia’s ability to derive revenue from the sale of energy supplies. Trump’s deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin hurts Ukraine and helps Putin. It gives him money for rockets to ﬁre at Ukraine. It also gives relief to a beleaguered Russian economy, without doing much to bring down diesel prices in the United States or elsewhere. Because of these decisions and others that are greatly detrimental to U.S. interests, Trump is a clear and present danger to U.S. security. He deserves to be impeached and removed from ofﬁce.

JACK QUARLES New Orleans

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2026

GAMEDAY

L SU AT AUBURN • 11 A .M. S AT URDAY • A BC

BROTHERLY SHOVE LSU QB Leavitt is improving thanks to mindset his older sibling helped push upon him

allin Leavitt never let his little brother win. A lack of mercy equipped Dallin as a bulldozing BYU and Utah State safety who scratched out a half-dozen seasons in the NFL. Sam Leavitt, who was 10 years Dallin’s younger, had to develop a cleverness and competitiveness to achieve what his brother wouldn’t allow. Case in point: Twelve-year-old Sam’s propensity for shooting, and swishing, jumpers from just inside the midcourt line when they matched up 1-on-1 on the hardwood. “I had to, I wouldn’t say cheat,” Dallin said, “but, back in the day, I would say, ‘I’m not gonna just back you down and big-body you.’ We got to a game, I think he was up, like, 7-2, and I’m like, ‘Bro, forget all these rules.’ ” There have been times in Sam’s athletic career where he absorbed punishment to pursue victory, including what his older brother forced upon him to squeak out a basketball win. When he quarterbacked Arizona State in 2024, Leavitt fractured ribs and punctured a lung in a Week 4 game against Utah. The next year, a lisfranc bone gave out in Week 4 against Baylor. This year, the LSU signal-caller pulled a hamstring Week 4 versus Texas A&M. He led the Sun Devils to a Big 12 title and the College Football Playoff after the punctured lung. He transferred after the broken foot, but Leavitt is ﬁguring out how to play true “point guard” of the LSU offense after he was literally hamstrung as a scrambler. ä See LSU, page 2C

2C l Saturday, October 24, 2026 l theadvocate.com l The Acadiana Advocate

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LSU GAMEDAY

BROADCAST INFORMATION LSU at Auburn 11 a.m. Saturday, Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn, Ala. TV: ABC | Line: LSU by 7½ Radio: WDGL-FM, 98.1; WWL-AM, 870; WWL-FM, 105.3; KLWB-FM, 103.7

TEAM SCHEDULES Auburn

LSU Date Opponent 9.5 Clemson 9.12 La. Tech 9.19 at Ole Miss 9.26 Texas A&M 10.3 McNeese 10.10 at Kentucky 10.17 Mississippi State 10.24 at Auburn 11.7 Alabama 11.14 Texas 11.21 at Tennessee 11.28 at Arkansas

Time/TV W, 51-10 W, 45-14 L, 32-24 W, 35-6 W, 63-14 L, 35-34 (OT) W, 31-0 11 a.m./ABC TBD TBD TBD TBD

Date 9.5 9.12 9.19 9.26 10.3 10.17 10.24 10.31 11.7 11.14 11.21 11.28

Opponent Time/TV Baylor W, 17-16 Southern Miss W, 43-8 Florida L, 44-39 Vanderbilt W, 21-15 at Tennessee L, 24-14 at Georgia W, 27-24 LSU 11 a.m./ABC at Ole Miss 11:45 a.m./SECN Arkansas TBD at Mississippi State TBD Samford 2:30 p.m./SECN+ at Alabama TBD

DEPTH CHARTS Auburn

OFFENSE

6 WINSTON WATKINS 83 Corey Barber

WIDE RECEIVER

3 EUGENE WILSON 2 Tre Brown

WIDE RECEIVER

4 JACKSON HARRIS 88 Malik Elzy

LEFT TACKLE

77 JORDAN SEATON 65 Sean Thompkins

LEFT GUARD

50 WILLIAM SATTERWHITE 67 Bo Bordelon

CENTER

61 BRAELIN MOORE 50 William Satterwhite

RIGHT GUARD

55 ALIOU BAH 70 Devin Harper

RIGHT TACKLE

75 WESTON DAVIS 69 Darrin Strey

TIGHT END

7 TRE’DEZ GREEN 44 Zach Grace -or- 14 Roman Mothershed

QUARTERBACK

10 SAM LEAVITT 11 Landen Clark

RUNNING BACK

13 DILIN JONES 22 Harlem Berry -or- 23 Stacy Gage

OFFENSE

5-10 5-11

182 183

So. Fr.

5-11 6-2

190 191

Jr. Sr.

6-2 6-2

202 217

Jr. Jr.

6-5 6-5

307 308

Jr. Jr.

6-3 6-6

293 305

So. Sr.

6-2 6-3

301 293

Sr. So.

6-5 6-4

327 312

Sr. So.

6-6 6-7

315 314

So. Fr.

6-7 6-2 6-5

242 236 212

Jr. Jr. Jr.

6-2 6-0

216 195

Jr. So.

5-11 5-10 5-10

211 193 204

So. Sr. So.

WIDE RECEIVER 11 KESHAUN SINGLETON 15 Brian Williams 5 CHAS NIMROD 8 Christian Neptune

6-4 6-5

244 285

Sr. Fr.

6-3 6-3 6-6

296 339 297

Jr. Fr. Jr.

6-1 6-3

279 286

Fr. Jr.

6-5 6-3

246 252

Jr. Jr.

DEFENSIVE TACKLE 90 STEPHIYLAN GREEN 88 Richard Anderson 96 Dominick McKinley

DEFENSIVE TACKLE 99 DEUCE GERALDS 47 Malik Blocton

DEFENSIVE END 29 JORDAN ROSS 97 Dylan Carpenter

LINEBACKER 42 DAVHON KEYS 35 Zach Weeks

6-0 6-3

227 228

Jr. Fr.

6-2 6-1

225 227

Sr. So.

LINEBACKER 6 TJ DOTTERY 24 Tylen Singleton

STAR 2 TY BENEFIELD 31 CJ Jimcoily

6-3 6-3

208 218

Sr. So.

6-4 6-1

189 162

So. So.

5-11 6-0

164 188

Jr. Jr.

6-1 6-2

175 213

Fr. Sr.

6-0 6-1

206 175

Jr. Fr.

CORNERBACK 5 DJ PICKETT 21 Michael Turner

CORNERBACK 11 PJ WOODLAND 8 Ja’Keem Jackson

SAFETY 28 JHASE THOMAS 13 Faheem Delane

SAFETY 0 TAMARCUS COOLEY 28 Jhase Thomas

4 JEREMIAH KOGER 9 DeShawn Spencer

80 SCOTT STARZYK

PUNTER

90 GRANT CHADWICK 99 Hayden Craig

LONG SNAPPER

43 SILAS HALL 39 Mack Mulhern

KICK RETURNER

22 Harlem Berry

PUNT RETURNER

3 EUGENE WILSON 1 Jayce Brown

5-9

175

Sr. Fr.

6-2 5-11

200 190

Sr. So.

6-3 5-11

213 175

So. Fr.

6-5 6-5

330 310

Sr. Sr.

6-6 6-5

315 310

Fr. Sr.

6-4 6-2

322 315

Sr. So.

6-2 6-5

315 322

So. Sr.

6-7 6-6

313 315

Sr. Fr.

6-6 6-3

245 250

Sr. Sr.

6-3 6-2

235 217

Sr. So.

5-11 5-9

205 215

Sr. So.

6-6 6-5

260 265

So. Sr.

6-2 6-0 6-2

308 330 290

Sr. So. So.

6-3 6-5

345 320

Sr. So.

6-3 6-2

256 263

Sr. So.

6-0 5-11

240 241

So. Jr.

6-1 6-3

225 235

So. Jr.

6-0 5-11

195 195

Sr. Sr.

5-11 6-2

200 190

Sr. So.

6-1 5-11

185 195

Sr. Sr.

6-0 5-10

215 202

So. Jr.

6-1 6-0

204 200

Jr. So.

LEFT TACKLE 79 JO SIMMONS 69 Jacob Strand

LEFT GUARD 77 WILSON ZIERER 69 Jacob Strand

CENTER 72 COLE BEST 55 Kenneth McManus

RIGHT GUARD 55 KENNETH MCMANUS 56 Cole Skinner

RIGHT TACKLE 65 STANTON RAMIL 77 Wilson Zierer

TIGHT END 19 JAKE JOHNSON 82 Arlis Boardingham

QUARTERBACK 17 BYRUM BROWN 10 Tristan Ti’a

RUNNING BACK

DEFENSE DEFENSIVE END 44 JARED SMITH 15 Da’Shawn Womack

DEFENSIVE TACKLE 94 CODY SIGLER 95 Jourdin Crawford 10 Walter Mathis

DEFENSIVE TACKLE 35 DALLAS WALKER 96 Malik Autry

DEFENSIVE END 13 CHRIS MURRAY 11 Darrion Smith

LINEBACKER 9 ELIJAH MELENDEZ 45 Antonio Melendez

LINEBACKER 16 BRYCE DEAS 51 Michael Matthews-Canty

NICKEL 0 SYLVESTER SMITH-REED 1 Champ Anthony

CORNERBACK 4 RAYSHAWN PLEASANT 21 Gavin Jenkins

CORNERBACK 22 ANDRE JORDAN 1 Champ Anthony

SAFETY 5 ERIC WINTERS 23 Fred Gaskin

SAFETY 8 KALEB HARRIS 3 AnQuon Fegans

SPECIAL TEAMS KICKER

220 210

WIDE RECEIVER

23 JEREMIAH COBB 29 Omar Mabson

DEFENSE

6-3 6-4

WIDE RECEIVER

DEFENSIVE END 1 PRINCEWILL UMANMIELEN 55 Lamar Brown

SPECIAL TEAMS

So.

KICKER

6-5 6-1

208 211

Jr. Fr.

6-3 6-1

213 224

So. Fr.

5-10

193

Sr.

KICK RETURNER

5-11 5-11

190 175

Jr. Sr.

PUNT RETURNER

38 ALEX MCPHERSON

5-9

165

Sr.

6-1

222

Sr.

6-3

225

Sr.

5-11

200

Sr.

5-10

165

Jr.

PUNTER 14 HUDSON KAAK

LONG SNAPPER 59 HUDSON POWELL 4 RAYSHAWN PLEASANT 6 BRYCE CAIN

COACHES Lane Kiffin was 2-2 against Auburn while at Ole Miss, but they didn’t play the past two seasons.

LSU

Continued from page 1C

LSU WIDE RECEIVER

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO BY JULIO CORTEZ

Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt celebrates with his brother Dallin, right, after the team’s Big 12 championship win over Iowa State on Dec. 7, 2024, in Arlington, Texas.

Alex Golesh is 4-2 in his first season at Auburn after a 23-15 coaching stint at South Florida.

He’s clever. He’s competitive. He’s the annoyingly successful little brother who found ways to adapt and win, even if there were some tumbles along the way. Leavitt, who threw eight interceptions in his ﬁrst six games at LSU, just notched his ﬁrst turnover-free game against Mississippi State, dissecting the Bulldogs with quick throws on his way to 31-of-38 passing, 289 yards and four touchdowns. He’s now the SEC passing yardage leader through seven games with 1,785. “Every single week we’ve just gotten better,” Leavitt said. “We keep playing cleaner ball, understanding just how this offense works.” The aspirations of a two-loss LSU squad, needing a rally to make the CFP, rest upon the shoulders of a little brother who lost a lot while growing up.

Finding his edge Dallin isn’t sure he has lost to his little brother in 1-on-1 more than a couple of times, but they stopped playing once Dallin was a pro and Sam was a budding recruit. They were both so intense, if they went against each other, they’d risk a full-blown ﬁght. When 22-year-old Dallin refused to play again after his rally from 7-2 down because he was exhausted, 12-year-old Sam egged him on: “You’re soft. Play again.” “I would beat him by 40 (in Madden) and he’d cry and he’d throw the controller and storm off and I’d be like, ‘Oh, you’re going to quit? OK, I’m going to turn off the game,’ ” Dallin said. “He’d be like, ‘No, I’m running it back.’ “It’s just his nature. He loves to play, and he wants to compete.” This was inevitable because of the family Leavitt was born into. His dad, Jared, was a linebacker at BYU. His mother, Tania, was a trainer at gyms who had her kids running through agility ladders and over hurdles. Because he was many years younger than his siblings, Sam started at an earlier age. “He would hang out with them,” Tania said, “and think he could compete with them.” Competing wasn’t always fun, because Tania was unbeatable in Boggle. There was a game called “Cover Your Assets” that drove Sam into a tizzy if family members started stealing his cards. If he lost in Bananagrams, Sam would scramble the tiles, throw them off the table and storm upstairs. He was smart, though, and very determined. He decided he’d be an NFL quarterback and placed a whiteboard in his bedroom, asking “How great do you want to be?” He’d set an alarm for 7 p.m. each night and perform his shoulder-mobility exercises. Sam also followed Dallin to train at Ryan

Paul’s gym in Washington, more than an hour from their home in Oregon. “Dallin was more just, I’m brute, I’m gonna run through you,” Paul said. “Sam, because of how fluid he is, how efficient he is as a mover, I can run through you, but why would I do that? I’d rather make you look like a fool by running around you and juking you.” He since has collected a long list of advantageseeking measures, which were displayed during an ESPN broadcast this season. Sam sleeps 9½-10 hours a day. He throws on blue-light glasses one hour before bed. He eats organic food and uses an EQ Flux, a bioelectric therapy device, for a “full body flush.” “I always preach about the parasympathetic state,” Leavitt told attendees at the LSU women’s clinic this summer. “You can’t recover if you’re in ‘fight or flight.’ So all my machines are doing that. And then you kind of have to learn how these different machines work, the way that energy works — alpha, beta, delta, all those different things.” He’s part quarterback, part mad scientist while trying to crack a competitive code. As a kid, Sam would ask his defensive-minded brother questions, wanting to understand his opponents’ weak points. Dallin wouldn’t say his brother’s natural gift was X’s and O’s as much as his innate ability to recognize open space. If the two brothers played 1-on-1 in basketball, Dallin was winning every time because of his physical advantages. If they split off in a 5-on-5 pickup game, it didn’t matter if Sam had the worst teammates and Dallin had the best. Sam, the sharpshooter who could thread passes through undefended space, won every time. “Like, his awareness is insane,” Dallin said. Big brother, while a practice squad player for the Raiders, once asked franchise quarterback Derek Carr to swing by a park to watch his little brother throw a football around. Carr spent an hour with 14-year-old Sam, who asked mature questions about how to attack one coverage or another. “He had a really good understanding of what Derek was saying, and he could really have a conversation about it,” Dallin said. “Obviously he was impressed with his arm, but that’s not always the most important thing. It’s really like the cerebral side of playing quarterback that Derek, No. 1, really values.”

In the danger zone Sam spans the competitive spectrum. He can be risky, but he’s even had Dallin concerned at times. He was in Arizona State’s locker room at halftime after Sam punctured his lung versus Utah. “He was cramping, and we thought that it was just a spasm, like where he got hit in the ribs or whatever,” Dallin said. In reality, his body wasn’t getting enough oxygen. He returned for the second half and would “thug it,” Dallin said, to win the game.

STAFF PREDICTIONS JON BLAU

SCOTT RABALAIS

REED DARCEY

KOKI RILEY

LSU 28, AUBURN 20 This is an Auburn squad that can move the ball thanks to quarterback Byrum Brown, who has averaged around 150 yards passing in his last three games but has eclipsed 100 yards rushing in two straight. Auburn ranks near the bottom of the FBS in red-zone success both offensively and defensively. If Sam Leavitt and the offense continue to progress, this is a very winnable game. LSU 28, AUBURN 22 LSU should win as long as it doesn’t turn the ball over as many times as it did against Kentucky — or as many times as Georgia did against Auburn last week. Weird things tend to happen in this series, but you’d think the visiting Tigers have enough disruptive pass rushers and offensive weapons to get a win over this plucky Auburn team. It just won’t come easily.

LSU 27, AUBURN 19 LSU needs to snap the program’s eight-game SEC road losing streak to keep its CFP hopes alive going into November. Auburn’s win at No. 1 Georgia was one of the season’s biggest shockers, but will those Tigers face a letdown like so many SEC teams this season after emotional wins? Auburn is confident and Jordan-Hare is hostile, but it comes down to win the turnover battle, win the game.

LSU 28, AUBURN 14 It looks like Trey’Dez Green will be back this week, which means the LSU passing attack gets a big boost after improving a bunch since he’s been out of the lineup. As long as LSU can contain Byrum Brown, it’s hard not to like its chances. LSU is bound to win on the road at some point, and it’s a letdown spot for Auburn after last week’s massive win over Georgia.

The Acadiana Advocate l theadvocate.com l Saturday, October 24, 2026 l 3C

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Everybody saw the Leavitt brothers celThe progression ebrating with physicality after a Big 12 title was won months later, red in the face as they It was going to take Leavitt time to learn the pushed, shoved and slapped each other’s LSU system — there are countless adjustments hands. There was an appreciation for what and route combinations to counter a defense — had been on the line. but he’s completed 77% of his passes in his last “You puncture a lung, you can die, right?” four games after hitting 61% in his first three. Dallin said, referencing that Utah game. “I According to Pro Football Focus, Leavitt don’t think people really give him the credit was releasing his throws in an average of 3.06 for how tough he is physically, and then also seconds in those first three games; his time to mentally, to say like, I’m in that place.” target is 2.55 seconds in the four games since, “So it was just a long season that led up to which is a stark difference in processing time. that point, where for me, it was just like ‘Holy Leavitt also is connecting with his receivers crap, bro, I can’t believe you did what you on and off the field. Jackson Harris will come just did this year’ coming off of a team that over to Leavitt’s house to use his recovery was 3-9.” equipment, which Harris barely understands. Knowing just how much Sam has sacrificed, “I just trust him and I want to get better, and he Dallin was frustrated when Arizona State does everything he can to get better,” Harris said. fans questioned his brother’s toughness and “I can’t go into the details. I really don’t know, to commitment after he was shut be honest. But it’s good stuff.” down in favor of foot surgery That’s what LSU wants to see. and transferred to LSU. Sam Leavitt has gotten better, week hadn’t been healthy all season. by week. His foot was injured in Week Dallin has watched his little 4 versus Baylor, but he played brother grow over 21 years in three more games. Dallin from a kid who couldn’t stand begged Sam to sideline himself losing at Bananagrams to playduring a loss to Houston that uling the second half of a football game with an injured lung. timately was his last game with Sam still has his whiteboard. the Sun Devils. It’s transformed from merely “He’s like, ‘No, we gotta win listing big-picture goals about this game. What are you talk“How great do you want to be?” ing about? Get out of my face,’ to also including process-driven ” Dallin recalled. “Like, he was reminders on how much film mad at me for asking him to not he needs to watch or how many go back in.” hours to train in LSU’s virtual LSU coach Lane Kiffin knew reality system. there was no way Leavitt was He hasn’t erased the big-piccoming out of Texas A&M conture goals completely. test this year, merely because he “Go win a national championpulled a hamstring and couldn’t DALLIN LEAVITT, scramble. ship, go win the Heisman,” Dallin LSU quarterback It was maybe the best thing said. “If you’re a great player in Sam Leavitt’s brother that could happen, in Kiffin’s college football, those are your view, because Leavitt couldn’t goals, right? But I think on ‘How freelance with his legs. The indo you get there’ is really what’s changed. He’s really looking at jury forced his quarterback to the intricacies of how to be the best player.” stay in the pocket, get the ball out quickly and It’s process over outcome. It’s still taking fulfill his mission. shots when they come open — like the 12-yearBoth the competitive and cerebral sides old who would pull up from just past the midof Leavitt brought him to LSU. There was “synergy,” Dallin said, between the families court line — but closer to the basket, per se, hitof Leavitt and former Ole Miss quarterback ting running back Dilin Jones on a swing pass Jaxson Dart, who endorsed Kiffin, offensive or Harris cutting across the middle. coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. and quarterbacks “I felt like I played a pretty easy game, just coach Dane Stevens. getting the ball out to my guys and having them They have proven themselves expert at go make plays,” Leavitt said after a 31-0 win scheming space for quarterbacks to exploit. over Mississippi State. “I’m continuing to deGoing into the season, Dallin heard positive revelop and learn from coach Weis, Dane and Kiffin … what’s four-down territory, when do you views from his brother, who isn’t so little anygotta take shots versus control the tempo, push more at 6-foot-2, 207 pounds. He stands taller the pace, all those things. than Dallin, who is 5-10, 195. “It’s just a constant progression. They do “Sam feels like they’ve done a great job of a great job getting me ready every single hearing him and implementing pieces that he week.” likes and he feels comfortable with,” Dallin said.

Sam feels like they’ve done a great job of hearing him and implementing pieces that he likes and he feels comfortable with.”

OFFENSIVE LEADERS LSU

Auburn

PASSING

Player

Cmp-Att-Pct Yards TD Int

Sam Leavitt

148-211-70.1

1785

RUSHING

Player

Att

Dilin Jones Sam Leavitt Harlem Berry Stacy Gage Landen Clark Husan Longstreet

Net

128 64 31 21 23 5

Avg TD

566 270 203 166 89 35

4.4 4.2 6.5 7.9 3.9 7.0

5 7 1 2 4 0

RECEIVING Player

Rec Yards Avg TD

PASSING

Player

Cmp-Att-Pct Yards TD Int

Byrum Brown

119-185-64.3

RUSHING

Player

Byrum Brown Jeremiah Cobb Omar Mabson II Bryson Washington Bryce Cain Tae Meadows

Att

Net

Avg TD

107 58 37 18 2 3

459 306 227 71 32 18

4.3 5.3 6.1 3.9 16.0 6.0

5 2 1 0 0 0

RECEIVING Player

Rec Yards Avg TD

Keshaun Singleton Chas Nimrod Jeremiah Koger Jake Johnson Arlis Boardingham DeShawn Spencer Jeremiah Cobb

32 31 12 9 5 6 9

XPM XPA FGM FGA

Player

27 33 23 14 26 11 8 5 3

456 447 247 222 190 122 89 77 70

16.9 13.5 10.7 15.9 7.3 11.1 11.1 15.4 23.3

367 333 200 67 57 49 47

11.5 10.7 16.7 7.4 11.4 8.2 5.2

2 3 0 0 1 2 0

KICKING

KICKING Scott Starzyk

5 2 1 1 0 2 0 2 1

Jackson Harris Winston Watkins Eugene Wilson Trey’Dez Green Dilin Jones Corey Barber Jayce Brown Roman Mothershed Phillip Wright

Player

1205

XPM XPA FGM FGA

Alex McPherson

DEFENSIVE LEADERS TACKLES

Player

TJ Dottery Davhon Keys Ty Beneﬁeld Princewill Umanmielen PJ Woodland Whit Weeks Jhase Thomas DJ Pickett Tamarcus Cooley Deuce Geralds Jordan Ross Stephiylan Green Malik Blocton Dylan Carpenter Dominick McKinley Zach Weeks

Tot Solo Ast Loss Sk 54 34 30 27 23 23 22 22 21 21 20 14 12 11 10 10

24 18 12 15 12 10 13 19 14 10 9 5 6 6 4 2

30 16 18 12 11 13 9 3 7 11 11 9 6 5 6 8

2 2.5 1 11 0 2.5 1 0 1 5 7 3.5 2 2 3 0

0 0.5 1 8 0 0 0 0 1 5 3 1.5 1.5 1.5 2 0

INTERCEPTIONS

Player

Tamarcus Cooley DJ Pickett Jordan Ross

Tot Yards Avg TD BU 2 1 1

21 32 30

10.5 32.0 30.0

0 0 1

2 4 1

TACKLES

Player

Tot Solo Ast Loss Sk

Elijah Mendez 52 Xavier Atkins 37 Eric Winters 35 Kaleb Harris 32 Bryce Deas 23 Cody Sigler 20 Dallas Walker 18 Rayshawn Pleasant 17 Jourdin Crawford 16 Sylvester Smith-Reed 15 Champ Anthony 13 Andre Jordan Jr. 13 Jared Smith 12 Darrion Smith 11 Chris Murray 11 Da’Shawn Womack 11

Player

35 26 28 22 16 17 9 13 12 13 8 11 7 6 8 9

17 11 7 10 7 3 9 4 4 2 5 2 5 5 3 2

9 7.5 2 0 0 4 1 1 0.5 0 0 0 2 1.5 1 4

4 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 0.5 0 0 0 1.5 0.5 0 2

INTERCEPTIONS

Andre Jordan Elijah Mendez Da’Shawn Womack

Tot Yards Avg TD BU 2 1 1

29 13 8

14.5 13.0 8.0

1 0 0

TEAM STATS OFFENSE PER GAME Yards gained: 504.0

OFFENSE PER GAME Yards gained: 394.2

Plays: 79.2

Plays: 70.7

PASS 308.0

RUSH 196.0

PASS 36.1

RUSH 43.1

Turnovers: 1.57

PASS 212.2

RUSH 182.0

PASS 32.0

RUSH 38.7

Turnovers: 1.46

INTERCEPTIONS 1.14

FUMBLES 0.43

INTERCEPTIONS 1.17

FUMBLES 0.29

DEFENSE PER GAME Yards allowed: 256.4

DEFENSE PER GAME Yards allowed: 371.0

PASS 168.3

PASS 228.0

RUSH 88.1

Turnovers forced: 1.29 FUMBLES 0.29

INTERCEPTIONS 1.33

SCORING PER GAME SCORED ALLOWED

RUSH 143.0

Turnovers forced: 1.83

INTERCEPTIONS 1.00

FUMBLES 0.50

SCORING PER GAME

SCORED ALLOWED

40.4 22.8

26.8

19.8

15.9

2026

2025

21.8

26.8

2026

20.7

2025

CONVERSION SUCCESS

Third down

Fourth down

16.7% 46.7%

45.6%

53.3%

Fail

Convert

Fail

36.4%

54.4%

83.3%

STAFF PHOTO BY MICHAEL JOHNSON

LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt directs his receivers while looking to make a pass against Mississippi State in the first quarter on Saturday at Tiger Stadium.

Convert

Fail

63.6% Convert

Fail

Convert

COLLEGE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE State

SOUTH

Saturday’s games

Wednesday’s games SOUTHWEST

LSU (5-2) at Auburn (4-2), 11 a.m. Southern (3-4) at Texas Southern (1-5), 2 p.m. Nicholls (2-5) at Northwestern St. (0-7), 2 p.m. Louisiana-Monroe (0-6) at Troy (3-3), 3 p.m. Old Dominion (2-5) at Louisiana Tech (4-2), 4 p.m. UL (5-2) at Southern Miss (1-5), 4 p.m. Southeastern (4-3) at Stephen F. Austin (7-0), 5 p.m. UTSA (6-1) at Tulane (3-3), 7 p.m.

Top 25 Saturday’s games

No. 1 Miami (6-0) vs. Pittsburgh (5-2), 11 a.m. No. 2 BYU (6-0) at UCF (3-3), 2:30 p.m. No. 6 Indiana (6-1) at Michigan (4-2), 11 a.m. No. 7 Ole Miss (5-1) at No. 19 Texas (4-2), 6:30 p.m. No. 8 Texas Tech (6-0) at Cincinnati (4-2), 11 a.m. No. 9 UCLA (6-0) vs. Michigan St. (2-5), 2:30 p.m. No. 10 Utah (6-0) vs. No. 14 Houston (6-1), 9:15 p.m. No. 11 Tennessee (6-1) at South Carolina (3-3), 2:30 p.m. No. 12 Kentucky (6-1) vs. Vanderbilt (3-4), 6:30 p.m. No. 13 Alabama (5-2) vs. Texas A&M (4-3), 2:30 p.m. No. 15 Iowa (5-1) at Minnesota (4-2), 2:30 p.m. No. 16 Southern Cal (6-1) at Wisconsin (4-2), 6:30 p.m. No. 18 LSU (5-2) at Auburn (4-2), 11 a.m. No. 21 Boise St. (5-1) at Washington St. (1-6), 5 p.m. No. 23 SMU (5-1) vs. California (3-4), 11 a.m. No. 24 Northwestern (5-1) vs. Rutgers (2-4), 11 a.m. No. 25 Arizona (5-1) vs. Iowa St. (3-3), 6:30 p.m.

Nation Tuesday’s games EAST

Delaware 61, Missouri St. 38 Marshall 20, South Alabama 13

Middle Tennessee 26, FIU 23

New Mexico St. 30, Sam Houston St. 24

Thursday’s games SOUTH

Liberty 34, Kennesaw St. 6 Appalachian St. 34, James Madison 31 Memphis 41, East Carolina 34

Friday’s games EAST

NC Central (2-5) at Delaware St. (4-3), n Yale (3-2) at Penn (2-3), n UMass (4-3) at UConn (3-3), n

SOUTH

Duke (4-2) at Virginia (4-3), n SOUTHWEST Army (4-2) at Tulsa (4-3), n

FAR WEST

Air Force (5-1) at Wyoming (4-3), n NC State (3-3) at Stanford (3-4), n

Saturday’s games EAST

New Hampshire (2-6) at Merrimack (2-5), 11 a.m. Stonehill (2-5) at LIU Brooklyn (3-5), 11 a.m. New Haven (2-5) at CCSU (3-3), 11 a.m. St. Thomas (Minn.) (5-2) at Marist (4-3), 11 a.m. Albany (NY) (4-3) at Rhode Island (4-3), 11 a.m. Wagner (1-6) at Duquesne (2-4), 11 a.m. Cornell (3-2) at Brown (2-3), 11 a.m. Bucknell (1-6) at Holy Cross (2-5), noon Campbell (6-1) at Maine (1-6), noon Lafayette (2-4) at Fordham (2-6), noon Dartmouth (2-3) at Columbia (4-1), 12:30 p.m. Mercyhurst (1-6) at Robert Morris (3-4), 1 p.m.

Stony Brook (4-3) at Bryant (5-2), 1 p.m. Princeton (4-1) at Harvard (5-0), 2 p.m. Howard (3-4) at Morgan St. (5-2), 2 p.m. North Texas (4-2) at Navy (2-4), 2:30 p.m. Bowling Green (2-5) at Buffalo (4-3), 2:30 p.m. Lehigh (6-1) at Villanova (3-4), 2:30 p.m.

SOUTH

Rice (1-6) at FAU (4-2), 11 a.m. Jackson St. (6-1) at Bethune-Cookman (4-3), noon ETSU (5-2) at VMI (0-7), 12:30 p.m. Norfolk St. (4-3) at SC State (5-2), 12:30 p.m. Tarleton St. (7-0) at West Georgia (1-6), 1 p.m. Tennessee Tech (6-1) at The Citadel (2-5), 1 p.m. Samford (1-6) at Furman (2-5), 1 p.m. Monmouth (NJ) (5-2) at Hampton (1-6), 1 p.m. Stetson (1-6) at Morehead St. (1-6), 1 p.m. Colgate (4-3) at Richmond (5-2), 1 p.m. Chattanooga (4-3) at W. Carolina (3-4), 1:30 p.m. Nicholls (2-5) at Northwestern St. (0-7), 2 p.m. Ark.-Pine Bluff (3-3) at Florida A&M (2-5), 2 p.m. West Florida (4-2) at E. Kentucky (2-5), 2 p.m. Boston College (3-3) at Georgia Tech (2-4), 2:30 p.m. Oklahoma (3-3) at Mississippi St. (4-2), 2:30 p.m. Charleston Southern (3-4) at Tennessee St. (2-5), 2:30 p.m. Georgetown (2-4) at William & Mary (3-4), 2:30 p.m. Louisiana-Monroe (0-6) at Troy (3-3), 3 p.m. Old Dominion (2-5) at Louisiana Tech (4-2), 4 p.m. Virginia Tech (5-2) at Clemson (4-2), 6 p.m. Austin Peay (6-2) at North Alabama (4-3), 6 p.m. Syracuse (2-4) at North Carolina (4-2), 6:30 p.m.

MIDWEST

2 5 0

San Diego (3-4) at Dayton (5-1), 11 a.m. W. Michigan (5-2) at Toledo (5-2), 11 a.m. Akron (1-6) at Kent St. (2-5), noon Presbyterian (4-3) at Valparaiso (3-4), noon Baylor (4-2) at Kansas (2-4), noon Butler (5-2) at Drake (2-5), noon

Miami (Ohio) (4-3) at Cent. Michigan (3-4), noon North Dakota (6-2) at South Dakota (6-2), 1 p.m. N. Iowa (3-3) at S. Illinois (3-5), 1 p.m. Murray St. (1-6) at S. Dakota St. (5-2), 2 p.m. Oregon (4-2) at Illinois (3-3), 2 p.m. Chicago State (1-6) at Lindenwood (Mo.) (2-4), 2 p.m. Indiana St. (2-5) at Illinois St. (5-2), 2 p.m. SE Missouri (4-3) at E. Illinois (2-5), 2 p.m. Sacramento St. (1-6) at Ball St. (2-5), 2:30 p.m. Hawaii (1-6) at N. Illinois (0-6), 2:30 p.m. UT Martin (3-4) at W. Illinois (3-4), 3 p.m. E. Michigan (4-4) at Ohio (5-2), 3 p.m.

SOUTHWEST

West Virginia (4-3) at TCU (3-3), 11 a.m. Southern U. (3-4) at Texas Southern (1-5), 2 p.m. Houston Christian (4-3) at Lamar (5-2), 3 p.m. McNeese St. (3-4) at Incarnate Word (3-4), 4 p.m. UT Rio Grande Valley (3-4) at Central Arkansas (2-5), 4 p.m. SE Louisiana (4-3) at Stephen F. Austin (7-0), 5 p.m. Colorado (2-4) at Oklahoma St. (4-2), 6 p.m. Prairie View (3-5) at East Texas A&M (2-5), 6 p.m. Georgia St. (4-2) at Arkansas St. (3-4), 6 p.m. Utah St. (2-4) at Texas State (3-3), 6:30 p.m.

FAR WEST

Weber St. (5-3) at Montana St. (6-1), 2 p.m. Kansas St. (4-2) at Arizona St. (3-3), 2:45 p.m. San Jose St. (4-3) at Nevada (2-4), 4 p.m. S. Utah (3-4) at Idaho (2-5), 4 p.m. Utah Tech (0-7) at Cal Poly (4-4), 4 p.m. Portland St. (2-5) at Idaho St. (4-3), 5 p.m. San Diego St. (3-4) at Colorado St. (2-4), 5:30 p.m. N. Colorado (3-5) at UC Davis (4-3), 6 p.m. N. Dakota St. (6-1) at New Mexico (5-1), 9 p.m.

4C l Saturday, Octobber 24, 2026 l theadvocate.com l The Acadiana Advocate

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THE NATION

THINGS TO WATCH IN WEEK 8 Who, what and where to keep an eye on in this week’s games around the nation

UTAH, HOUSTON SEEK STATEMENT WIN

No. 10 Utah (6-0, 3-0 Big 12), one of three undefeated teams in the Big 12, has the nation’s longest active FBS winning streak at 12 games, and that includes their last eight conference games.The Utes are 6-0 for the first time since 2015. Morgan Scalley is the school’s first head coach in his first full season to win the first six games. No. 14 Houston (6-1, 3-1) has a four-game winning streak since a 28-26 loss at undefeated Texas Tech after QB Conner Weigman came up just inches short of a late 2-point conversion.

RED RAIDERS HOPE TO STAY PERFECT

No. 8 Texas Tech (6-0, 3-0 Big 12) and Cincinnati (4-2, 1-2) are meeting Saturday for the first time since quarterback Brendan Sorsby’s transfer from the Bearcats to the Red Raiders fell through amid gambling allegations. Red Raiders QB Will Hammond has passed for 1,334 yards and six touchdowns with five interceptions. Bearcats QB JC French set career highs with 389 yards and three touchdowns in last week’s 45-42 loss at West Virginia.

STRUGGLING HORNS HOST OLE MISS

No. 7 Ole Miss (5-1, 3-1 SEC) is one of four SEC teams with one loss and seems to have shaken off a rout by Florida a month ago. No. 19 Texas (4-2, 1-2) is on a two-game skid, and there were questions whether Arch Manning would give way to KJ Lacey or remain the Longhorns’ starting QB. Still,Texas with its 11thranked defense is a 3.5-point home favorite against an Ole Miss team whose offensive trio of quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, running back Kewan Lacy and receiver Deuce Alexander have accounted for 2,725 yards this season. — Associated Press

SEC RATINGS BY KOKI RILEY 1. GEORGIA Record: 6-1, 4-1 Previous ranking: 1 Last week: lost to Auburn 27-24 This week: off 2. OLE MISS Record: 5-1, 3-1 Previous ranking: 3 Last week: beat Missouri 31-3 This week: at Texas, 6:30 p.m. Saturday (ABC) 3. TENNESSEE Record: 6-1, 3-1 Previous ranking: 9 Last week: beat Alabama 26-10 This week: at South Carolina, 2:30 p.m. Saturday (ESPN) 4. ALABAMA Record: 5-2, 3-2 Previous ranking: 2 Last week: lost to Tennessee 26-10 This week: vs.Texas A&M, 2:30 p.m. Saturday (ABC) 5. LSU Record: 5-2, 2-2 Previous ranking: 7 Last week: beat Mississippi State 31-0 This week: at Auburn, 11 a.m. Saturday (ABC) 6. KENTUCKY Record: 6-1, 4-1 Previous ranking: 8 Last week: beat Oklahoma 21-13 This week: vs.Vanderbilt, 6:30 p.m. Saturday (SEC Network)

STAFF PHOTO BY MICHAEL JOHNSON

LSU safety Ty Benefield, right, celebrates an interception in the first quarter against Mississippi State on Oct. 17 at Tiger Stadium. The Tigers will likely need to win the turnover battle at Auburn on Saturday.

Critical factors face LSU at Auburn When LSU and Auburn meet on Saturday, what can we expect? Will barns burn, or victory cigars? Will the earth shake, or just coaches’ reputations? Will Auburn fans roll Toomer’s Corner in another toilet paper celebration, or will LSU make tears roll instead? There are a million ways to look at this one, set for an 11 a.m. kickoff on ABC from Auburn’s Jordan-Hare Stadium. Let’s dive into some key factors:

History and momentum Even though LSU (5-2, 2-2 Southeastern Conference) goes into this one as slightly better than a touchdown favorite over Auburn (4-2, 2-2 SEC), the visiting Tigers aren’t inspiring a great deal of conﬁdence. That’s because LSU has lost Scott its past eight straight SEC Rabalais road games dating back to October 2024, including road losses under Lane Kifﬁn at Ole Miss and Kentucky. Conversely, Auburn is coming off one of the season’s biggest shockers, a 27-24 win at previously top-ranked Georgia as nearly a three-touchdown underdog.

Pressure versus ‘relief syndrome’ LSU’s long SEC road losing streak has little to do with Kiffin and most of his players since two-thirds of them are in their first year with the program. Still, if the Tigers drop their ninth straight SEC road game and fall to 0-3 under Kiffin away from Tiger Stadium — all losses to first-year coaches at their schools — then the optics for LSU’s $91 million man and his $45 million to 50 million roster won’t be good. Especially since it could well mean the end of the Tigers’ College Football Playoff hopes. Auburn is Must Win City for LSU. Meanwhile, Auburn must try to avoid something that has tripped up other SEC

schools in 2026 after a big win: a “Hangover Saturday,” or what Kiffin called “relief syndrome.” We submit these results into evidence: n Ole Miss beat LSU 32-24, then was routed 52-28 at Florida. n After stomping Ole Miss, Florida was stomped 45-17 at Missouri. n Oklahoma beat Texas 27-24, then fell as a favorite at home 21-13 to Kentucky. n Georgia won 20-17 at Alabama, then lost to Auburn. “Relief syndrome,” Kiffin said, “is a real thing. Doesn’t mean we’re going to win this week and they’re going to lose, but that is a real thing. A real challenge.” Kiffin said he hoped Auburn would beat Georgia for that very reason. Little was expected of Auburn going into its first season under Alex Golesh. Now all eyes are on the Plainsmen (old Auburn nickname) for the first time in years. How will they respond?

Numbers game Statistically the game is a mismatch, heavily favoring LSU in most key areas: Total offense: LSU is seventh nationally averaging 504.0 yards per game. Auburn is 66th at 394.2. Total defense: LSU is third nationally allowing 256.4 ypg. Auburn is 87th (371.0). Points per game: LSU is again seventh at 40.4 per game. Auburn is 85th (26.8). Points allowed: LSU is tied for 16th (15.9 per game). Auburn is tied for 54th (21.8). Sacks/sacks allowed: LSU has 27 sacks, tied for second in the FBS. Auburn has allowed 23, ranking 135th of 138 teams. There is one other stat that could decide the game, however, that LSU likely must win.

ESPN/ABC analyst Greg McElroy, who is calling Saturday’s game, Kiffin teams are 3-19 when minus-2 or worse in the turnover ratio. LSU was minus-1 at Ole Miss and minus-2 at Kentucky. Conversely, McElroy said Golesh’s teams at Auburn and USF are a sparkling 20-1 when winning the turnover ratio. That included a 3-0 edge against Georgia. Both LSU turnovers against Kentucky were on quarterback Sam Leavitt (one interception, one fumble). Neither led to points for the Wildcats but did cost LSU two potential scoring drives that may have allowed the Tigers to avoid overtime. In the duel between Leavitt and Auburn’s Byrum Brown, the quarterback who has a cleaner stat sheet will likely prevail. Overall, Leavitt appears to be improving despite still dealing with a sore hamstring. Per Pro Football Focus, his average time to target on pass plays has dropped from 3.06 seconds his first three games to 2.55 the past four. That’s a quarterback growing in confidence in a new offense. Conversely, Brown averages more than three seconds per pass attempt. Against LSU’s formidable pass rush, that could be significant. Brown basically holds the ball too long, but if he decides to take off and run (he had 115 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries at Georgia), LSU must contain him. Defensive coordinator Blake Baker could choose to crowd the line of scrimmage while trusting a talented secondary against an Auburn attack that only ranks 99th in passing efficiency.

Tempo and total plays

The Tigers have only won the turnover battle twice (Texas A&M, McNeese State) and are minus-2 overall. According to

Both teams like to speed opponents up. LSU ranks third nationally with over 79 snaps a game, while Auburn’s defense is on the ﬁeld for 73 plays a game, ranking 133rd in the FBS. That makes it important for LSU to keep up the pace and possess the ball, a potentially difﬁcult combination in a hostile road environment.

2:30 p.m. 2:30 p.m. 2:30 p.m. 2:30 p.m. 2:30 p.m. 2:30 p.m. 2:30 p.m. 2:45 p.m. 3 p.m. 5 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 6 p.m.

6 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 7 p.m. 9 p.m. 9:15 p.m.

Turnovers

TV HIGHLIGHTS 11 a.m. 11 a.m. 11 a.m. 11 a.m. 11 a.m. 11 a.m. 11 a.m. 11 a.m. 11 a.m. Noon 2 p.m. 2:30 p.m.

LSU at Auburn ABC W. Michigan at Toledo CBSSN California at SMU CW Pittsburgh at Miami ESPN West Virginia at TCU ESPN2 Rice at FAU ESPNU Indiana at Michigan FOX Texas Tech at Cincinnati FS1 Rutgers at Northwestern Peacock Baylor at Kansas TNT Oregon at Illinois BTN Texas A&M at Alabama ABC

Boston College at Ga.Tech ACCN Michigan St. at UCLA CBS North Texas at Navy CBSSN Tennessee at South Carolina ESPN BYU at UCF FOX Iowa at Minnesota FS1 Oklahoma at Mississippi St. SECN Kansas St. at Arizona St. ESPN2 E. Michigan at Ohio ESPNU Boise St. at Washington St. USA San Diego St. at Colorado St. CW Virginia Tech at Clemson ESPN

Colorado at Oklahoma St. FS1 Ole Miss at Texas ABC Syracuse at North Carolina ACCN CBSSN Utah St. at Texas St. Iowa St. at Arizona ESPN2 Southern Cal at Wisconsin NBC Vanderbilt at Kentucky SECN UTSA at Tulane ESPNU N. Dakota St. at New Mexico CW Houston at Utah ESPN

7. MISSISSIPPI STATE Record: 4-2, 2-2 Previous ranking: 4 Last week: lost to LSU 31-0 This week: vs. Oklahoma, 2:30 p.m. Saturday (SEC Network) 8. FLORIDA Record: 5-2, 3-2 Previous ranking: 10 Last week: beat Texas 27-24 This week: off 9. TEXAS Record: 4-2, 1-2 Previous ranking: 6 Last week: lost to Florida 27-24 This week: vs. Ole Miss, 6:30 p.m. Saturday (ABC) 10. MISSOURI Record: 5-2, 2-2 Previous ranking: 5 Last week: lost to Ole Miss 31-3 This week: off 11. AUBURN Record: 4-2, 2-2 Previous ranking: 13 Last week: beat Georgia 27-24 This week: vs. LSU, 11 a.m. Saturday (ABC) 12. SOUTH CAROLINA Record: 3-3, 1-3 Previous ranking: 12 Last week: off This week: vs.Tennessee, 2:30 p.m. Saturday (ESPN) 13. OKLAHOMA Record: 3-3, 1-2 Previous ranking: 11 Last week: lost to Kentucky 21-13 This week: at Mississippi State, 2:30 p.m. Saturday (SEC Network) 14. TEXAS A&M Record: 4-3, 1-3 Previous ranking: 14 Last week: beat The Citadel 41-0 This week: at Alabama, 2:30 p.m. Saturday (ABC) 15. ARKANSAS Record: 3-4, 1-3 Previous ranking: 16 Last week: beat Vanderbilt 31-21 This week: off 16. VANDERBILT Record: 3-4, 0-4 Previous ranking: 15 Last week: lost to Arkansas 31-21 This week: at Kentucky, 6:30 p.m. Saturday (SEC Network)

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SPORTS

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

S AT U R D AY, O C T O B E R 24, 2026

5CN

U L A T S O U T H E R N M I S S • 4 P. M . S A T U R D A Y • E S P N +

MOTIVATION MATTERS

UL not taking Southern Miss lightly despite its 1-5 record BY KEVIN FOOTE Staff writer

In the mind of UL coach Michael Desormeaux, the proper focus for his Ragin’ Cajuns ahead of the 4 p.m. Saturday game at Southern Miss in Hattiesburg revolves around motivation. The Golden Eagles are just 1-5 overall and 0-2 in Sun Belt play, but this is MORE ON their homeand PAGE 7C coming they would like nothing n Sun Belt more than to Conference derail UL’s power rankings league title n Cajuns hopes. “This is statistics, a rivalry schedule g a m e , ” n Kevin Foote’s Desormeaux prediction said. “It doesn’t matter what your record is when you play these games. You better show up and you better be ready. “Coach (Blake) Anderson’s a really good football coach. He’s going to have his team ready. They’re still playing really hard.” On the other hand, UL (5-2, 2-1) can achieve so much with a win. A sixth win makes the Cajuns bowl eligible before November, and it will keep them in the hunt for the Sun Belt West crown. “We’ve got to want it more than they do,” said Desormeaux, who knows UL is 2-24 in Hattiesburg. “I told the team in practice, collectively, how many hours have

STAFF PHOTO BY BRAD KEMP

UL defensive lineman Chase Edwards chases Troy quarterback Goose Crowder last Saturday at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium. Coming off an impressive 33-6 win over Troy, the Cajuns travel to face struggling Southern Miss on Saturday.

gone into the work this year with As a 10-point favorite, the best in the Sun Belt in run defense and the ball in those situations,” everyone in our group? All of that thing the Cajuns can do to avoid UL is coming off a 243-yard rush- Desormeaux said. “We’re at our work is for this. We owe it to our- an upset is run the football effec- ing performance against Troy. ä See UL, page 7C “We’ve got to be able to run selves to try to capitalize on it.” tively. Southern Miss is dead last

Legendary LSU coach Brown dies Seminal figure led Tigers to NCAA tourney 13 times in career Staff report

STAFF PHOTO BY CHRIS GRANGER

French journalist Lionel Buton, left, takes a selfie with fellow French journalist Axel Toudic during a Saints practice in Versailles, France, on Wednesday.

French broadcasters don’t want NFL game to be lost in translation BY MATTHEW PARAS Staff writer

PARIS — French residents tuning in Sunday for the country’s ﬁrstever NFL game may know next to nothing about the sport, its rules or its teams when the New Orleans Saints take on the Pittsburgh Steelers at Stade de France. But odds are they’ll at least recognize the voice calling the game. Matthieu Lartot will be the playby-play man for France Télévisions, a familiar face after years of calling rugby and tennis, two of the country’s biggest sports. “They’ll see him and say, ‘Oh, this is serious,’ ” said Samyr Hamoudi, the color commentator for Sun-

ä Saints vs. Steelers.

8:30 A.M. SUNDAY, NFL NETWORK day’s game alongside Lartot. As the NFL expands its international series into Paris, the league is betting that France’s love of sports will lead the country to connect with American football. But to fall in love with the game, French fans ﬁrst will have to understand it. That barrier to entry can be steep. How do you explain a sport as complex as football in a way that’s simple enough to compel ﬁrst-time viewers? France is the NFL’s latest try. Sunday’s game will have three primary French-language broadcasts.

There’s France Télévisions, the state-owned network. There’s beIN Sports, a subscription channel comparable to ESPN. And there’s L’Equipe, which airs its broadcast on delay in primetime. Three different networks. Three different ways of trying to explain the game. The NFL hopes the broad reach will bring in a new wave of fans. “It’s a balance,” said Jeff Lombardi, who leads the NFL’s international media operations for broadcasters. “We don’t want to dumb down the game for the avid fan, but we want to provide enough context so that a new fan can turn it on and

ä See FRENCH, page 6C

Dale Brown, who built the LSU men’s basketball team into a consistent title contender and became the second-winningest coach in the history of the Southeastern Conference, died at the age of 90 on Friday. Brown was a seminal figure at LSU, in the SEC and nationwide. He directed the Tigers for 25 years, won four league championships, was runner-up four times, made 13 appearances in the NCAA Tournament and reached the Final Four twice. “We have lost the most loving and most loved man any of us have ever known,” his family said in a statement released Friday. “Dale Brown always put others first. He was always a great humanitarian before anything else. “Dale long ago fell in love with Louisiana. And the people of Louisiana loved him right back. “We are forever grateful for that.” On Tuesday, Brown was named the 2027 recipient of the John R. Wooden Legends of Coaching Award by the Los Angeles Athletic Club. When you consider his success on the court and his impact on the game as a whole, Brown certainly ﬁt the description of a

FILE PHOTO BY PATRICK DENNIS

Longtime LSU basketball coach Dale Brown speaks during dedication of the Pete Maravich Assembly Center’s basketball court as Dale Brown Court on Jan. 4, 2022. Brown died at the age of 90 on Friday. legend. Brown’s total of 448 SEC wins is second only to Kentucky’s Adolph Rupp, who coached the Wildcats to 876. But Brown’s 301 losses also give him the most by a coach in SEC history — mostly the result of his last four seasons, when the Tigers were a cumulative 45-68. Brown coached Shaquille O’Neal, Chris Jackson (now Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf) and

ä See BROWN, page 6C

6C l Saturday, October 24, 2026 l theadvocate.com l The Acadiana Advocate

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BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS On TV

AUTO RACING noon NASCAR Cup Series: QualifyingTRUTV 12:30 p.m. Formula 1: Practice APPLETV 2:30 p.m. NASCAR: Progress Group 250 CW 4 p.m. Formula 1: Qualifying APPLETV 9:30 p.m. Grand Prix of Australia FS2 MEN’S COLLEGE HOCKEY 4 p.m. Merrimack at Notre Dame NBCSN WOMEN’S COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL 6 p.m. UCLA at Iowa BTN 8 p.m. Southern Cal at Nebraska BTN FIGURE SKATING 3 p.m. Grand Prix of Figure Skating NBC 8:30 p.m. Grand Prix of Figure Skating NBCSN GOLF 7 a.m. Genesis Championship GOLF

BROWN

Continued from page 5C Rudy Macklin, each an AllAmerican — although some of his best teams were filled more with overachievers than superstars. A Washington State assistant, Brown, a native of North Dakota where he was a noted athlete at Minot State Teacher’s College, was hired in 1972 on the recommendation of former LSU basketball player and future athletic director Joe Dean to then-AD Carl Maddox. Brown ultimately lifted the program higher — and for longer — than it had ever been before. The achievements of Brown were overshadowed somewhat by his quixotic quest for universal justice and his striving for a near-perfect world. Brown, a compulsive defender of the underdog and the man whom Norman Vincent Peale once said motivated him, used his job as a bully pulpit against social ills for 25 years — a trademark that defined Brown every bit as much as his coaching acumen. Sports were part of Brown’s life, but not his entire life. “I know the Louvre isn’t an outof-bounds play,” Brown reflected before his last home game in 1997, making the point that basketball didn’t consume him as it does so many others. “I can talk about the planets, Michelangelo and that ‘Blue Boy’ is not a cadaver.” Still, Brown left an indelible imprint on Louisiana basketball. He was a complex man who seldom received praise for his basketball achievements by LSU fans, even though he was SEC Coach of the Year or runner-up nine times and National Coach of Year twice. LSU had four winning seasons in the previous 18 before

FRENCH

Continued from page 5C not feel like they’re lost.”

Striking a balance In his 25 years as an NFL analyst, Hamoudi has found that some football phrases don’t work in French. Sure, he could translate it directly. But the viewers would have no idea what he’s talking about, he said. “Drop-backs, that’s something people don’t know, so you say ‘il recule,’ and ‘il recule’ is more like he’s going backward,” Hamoudi said. “You have a pass in the ﬂat, make sure you say it’s in the short zone.” The networks involved in Sunday’s game are accounting for plenty of first-time viewers. At beIN Sports, play-by-play man Lionel Buton said the network is fully leaning into the spectacle of Sunday’s game with a one-hour pregame show. Buton said they’re treating the game as France’s “Super Bowl,” going all out with their coverage. Because beIN Sports already hosts NFL games, Buton said he doesn’t necessarily expect to call the game differently in terms of play-by-play. But that’s not the case for France Télévisions, where Hamoudi said he plans to remind viewers every quarter of the basics: Four downs to get 10 yards, 10 yards to keep the drive moving, etc. The NFL also helps its international broadcasts. Lombardi said the league provides short vignettes — football “101s” — that can air between breaks to help educate new viewers. The league also gives producers a live feed of the American call, so that if Kurt Warner makes a smart observation on NFL Network about what’s happening on the ﬁeld, the producer can relay that information to their own

ä College football TV. PAGE 4C

noon 3 p.m. 9 p.m.

Bermuda Championship GOLF Stifel Charity Classic GOLF BMW Ladies Championship GOLF GYMNASTICS 11:30 a.m. World Artistic Championships NBCSN HORSE RACING noon America’s Day at the Races FS2 6 p.m. 2026 Breeders Crown FS2 MLB WORLD SERIES 7 p.m. Tampa Bay at Milwaukee FOX NBA 6:30 p.m. Milwaukee at Philadelphia NBATV 8 p.m. New Orleans at Denver GCSEN 9 p.m. Golden State at Phoenix NBATV

IN BRIEF

FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

NHL Anaheim at Philadelphia NHLN N.Y. Rangers at Ottawa NHLN MEN’S SOCCER 8:55 a.m. Watford at Wolverhampton CBSSN 9 a.m. Fulham at Coventry City NBCSN 9 a.m. Everton at Arsenal USA 11:30 a.m. Tottenham at Chelsea NBCSN 11:30 a.m. Frankfurt at Borussia Dortmund USA 10 p.m. UANL Tigres at Pumas UNAM CBSSN WOMEN’S SOCCER 9:45 a.m. Brazil vs. Norway FS2 5:30 p.m. Louisville at Denver ION 7:45 p.m. Bay at Angel City ION WNBA noon Golden State at Atlanta NBC noon 6 p.m.

“I know the Louvre isn’t an out-of-bounds play. I can talk about the planets, Michelangelo and that ‘Blue Boy’ is not a cadaver.”

be considered “off-campus entertainment.” Brown gave the three players $300 apiece to attend. That brought on the enmity of the NCAA, which hounded Brown’s program for years with only minor success, none of it involving the coach. The NCAA finally nabbed Brown when he recruited Baton Rouge’s Lester Earl in 1996. Earl only lasted 11 games before being suspended. He transferred to Kansas, where he said an LSU assistant gave him money. The NCAA could find no evidence of such a transaction, but it did find a booster had given the player $5,000, and LSU was placed on probation. Years later, Earl recanted his statements and said he was intimidated and manipulated by the NCAA to give them anything they could use against Brown — or else he would lose years of eligibility. He publicly apologized to Brown and LSU. Brown parlayed his basketball pulpit into access to some of the world’s luminaries, such as Mother Teresa and President George H.W. Bush, who sent Brown a personal note upon learning of the coach’s retirement. His often unorthodox behavior — which endeared him to some and baffled others — made Brown a compelling figure. He traveled the length of the Mississippi River in a 19-foot speedboat; knocked heads with the KGB in an unsuccessful effort to sneak a player out of the Soviet Union; brought his players to the Carville leper colony and to An-

gola State Prison to show them the realities of life; and successfully fought for the freedom of a prisoner whom he met during a team scrimmage at the prison. “I never considered myself white,” Brown once said. “I never considered myself a North Dakotan. I never considered myself a basketball coach. “I never considered myself a Yankee. I always think of myself as a human being. I look at people that way.’’ At LSU, where football was always the bell cow and other sports simply tolerated, what Brown did as much as anything was change the attitude toward basketball, making it a major force in the athletic department. Brown recalled Dean telling him: “If you take the job, you will raise the flag, you will sing the national anthem, you will keep your own stats and you will sweep the floor. (LSU is) totally uninterested in basketball.” That was not entirely true. LSU basketball was still in the afterglow of the Pistol Pete Maravich era, and the seeds had been sown in Louisiana for a basketball harvest. But there is also no question that basketball was a secondclass citizen in the LSU athletic department. Brown accepted the job, then forced the sport down the doubters’ throats. He refused to accept anything less than equal treatment for his team. “It was exhausting just dealing with your own school — much less Kentucky, Tennessee and the other people we were trying to compete with,” Brown said. Brown caught the attention of Tigers fans in his very first game, when LSU defeated No. 3 Memphis State, a team that finished the season in the NCAA Tournament title game against UCLA. That was the first of 28 top-10 teams LSU beat under Brown.

moment he quit playing soccer. He was 14, and his coach subbed him out for not flopping to draw a penalty. Buton, now 56, found American football soon after that. “I get to watch the NFL, and it was quite the opposite of that,” said Buton, who went on to play quarterback for the Canonniers de Toulon, a French club that plays American football. “You don’t want to stay down. You don’t want to show pain. Those were things that I loved about the sport then.” Die-hard NFL fans in France have their own story of how they’ve come to love the game. Soumah said he was drawn to the 1986 New York Giants, causing him to scour newspapers for any additional info and wake up in the wee hours of the morning to consume any footage he could get. Soumah has been a pioneer for American football in France. After playing in NFL Europe and having an offseason stint with the 2003 Cleveland Browns, Soumah became the president of the Fédération Française de Football Américain, which oversees all levels of American football in France. He also co-founded the Paris Musketeers, a team in the European Football Alliance. Hamoudi and Mahoungou have extensive playing experience as well. Hamoudi, a former cornerback, played in NFL Europe from 1999-2003. Mahoungou played college football at Purdue, spent the 2018 offseason with the Philadelphia Eagles and has bounced between Canadian and European leagues since. The 32-year-old wide receiver is also focused on flag football, hoping to represent France in the 2028 Olympics. So for the NFL to finally have a game in France, there’s no wonder they’re excited. Long time coming “We were expecting to have it Growing up in the south of sooner,” Soumah said. “We were France, Buton remembers the pissed off to have Madrid before

Paris, because we consider ourselves a bigger market, a bigger audience and a bigger lover of American football. For me as a passionate guy, it’s like, ‘Finally! Finally, this happened.’ ” Ideally, the NFL would have liked to be in France sooner. Brett Gosper, the NFL’s head of Europe and Asia-Pacific, said the league waited out the 2024 Paris Olympics because Stade de France needed to undergo renovations to accommodate the needs of an NFL game. He believes there’s still genuine interest: 70% of tickets to this weekend’s outing have been purchased by the French, he said. The league closely will monitor how the game performs on local television. Gosper touted that a France Télévisions program about the New Orleans Saints peaked at 3 million viewers — though the executive fairly noted the show was aired after President Emmanuel Macron’s address about civil unrest and protests across the country. “It’s an incredible number,” Gosper said, noting the broadcast still averaged 2 million viewers. The expectations for Sunday’s game are much more modest. Lombardi said the NFL expects France Télévisions broadcast to average around 500,000 viewers, which would be lower than the 900,000 that Germany’s first NFL game drew locally. “It is just making sure that we’re growing,” Lombardi said about the league’s plans for France. “And that next year it’s 5%, 10% more, 25% more.” Speaking over the phone, Buton thought back to the days when he first fell in love with the NFL. He had trouble finding a football in France, so he used to fold 50 socks into a tube shape so he could teach himself how to throw a spiral. Now he’s ready to teach anyone tuning in for the first time. “Being able to watch a game in France now,” Buton said, “I just think it’s amazing. It’s like going full circle, you know?”

DALE BROWN, reflecting before his last home game in 1997 Brown’s arrival. He ended his career with four consecutive losing seasons, but before that he forged 17 consecutive nonlosing seasons. In 1980-81, Brown’s Tigers were 31-5, the most victories in the nation and still the best season ever at LSU, which lost to Indiana in the Final Four. Five years later, the Tigers became the ﬁrst No. 11 seed to reach the Final Four, beating their region’s top three seeds to get there. He also coached two more teams to the Elite Eight. In the midst of his basketball success, Brown reveled in championing the underdogs of society. He used his position to point out the inequities of life, from the underprivileged to the undereducated, from the hypocrisy of government to the hypocrisy of the NCAA, which he once famously characterized as “Gestapo bastards” for the uneven way he believed it governed. Once, he even dared the organization to give him a lie-detector test to prove him wrong. In the process of openly challenging the NCAA, to hear Brown tell it, he brought on the wrath — and a personal vendetta — of the organization against him. In 1981, the LSU program was shaken when guard Mark Alcorn was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Alcorn was from St. Louis, and he hoped three of his teammates and closest friends could attend a dinner for him. Brown informed the NCAA that he wanted to ﬂy the three there, but he was told that was a violation of NCAA rules — that it would

broadcasters in real time. BeIn Sports color commentator Marc-Angelo Soumah said that most people in France are aware of American football, particularly because of the Super Bowl. But they’re more likely to know who played the halftime show than who won the game. “You first expose them to the event,” Soumah said. “And then you expose them to the sports.” The plan is to be authentic. As a play-by-play man for 30 years, Buton said he wants the broadcast to feel fun. He takes pride in his dynamic with Soumah, as they both love the game and hope their passion comes through. “I know we have a good chemistry with my partner, which is not the case with Troy Aikman and Joe Buck right now,” Buton said, joking about the ESPN duo’s contract drama. L’Equipe faces its own set of challenges. Because the network is airing the game, which kicks off at 3:30 p.m. local time, in primetime (9 p.m.), L’Equipe color commentator Anthony Mahoungou said he’ll call Sunday’s result on delay from a studio — hours after he already witnessed the game in person. “I will have to make sure we keep everything a surprise and be surprised to live the moment with everybody who’s watching on TV,” Mahoungou said. Hamoudi hopes to capture people’s attention by explaining the stakes and comparing the teams in ways they can relate. The analyst plans to reiterate the Saints’ French connections and also intends to explain how the Steelers are like Saint-Étienne, a historic soccer team from a blue-collar town. “The result is important,” Hamoudi said, “but we’re going to sell a show.”

UL women score 100 in exhibition victory

The UL women’s basketball team recorded a 100-62 exhibition victory over LSU-Alexandria on Thursday in the Cajundome. The Ragin’ Cajuns scored 100 points despite missing 11 free throws and nearly 20 layups. UL pulled down 60 rebounds, including 35 offensive boards. Leading the rebounding effort was newcomer Ndioba Lo with 15 points and 14 rebounds in 13 minutes. Aminata Sowe had 10 points and eight rebounds in 16 minutes, while Kayllis Walker added 11 points and eight rebounds in 16 minutes. Malaya Jones ran the show efﬁciently and scored 10 points with four assists and three steals in 21 minutes. The Cajuns were just 12-of-23 shooting at the free-throw line. Also reaching double ﬁgures was true freshman Bailey Timmons, who had 11 points on 5-of-9 shooting.

Bills DB Franklin wins appeal, suspension reduced to fine

NEW YORK — Buffalo Bills defensive back Sam Franklin has successfully appealed his one-game suspension for what the NFL said was an act of spitting at an opponent on Sunday. The league announced Friday that hearing ofﬁcer James Thrash reduced the punishment to a ﬁne of $14,926 for unsportsmanlike conduct. That makes Franklin eligible to play in Buffalo’s next game on Nov. 1 against Baltimore, following the Bills’ bye week. Agent Harold Lewis adamantly denied that Franklin spit on anyone. Teammate C.J. Gardner-Johnson had his one-game spitting suspension upheld Thursday after appealing it.

Atlanta Falcons throwback logo causes stir online

ATLANTA — A social media post by the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons of their throwback logo on a red, white, gold and black striped background has caused a stir online, with replies noting its resemblance to symbols from Nazi Germany. The logo release provoked thousands of responses on social media, many of them memes that mocked the design. The logo coincides with the Falcons wearing throwback uniforms Sunday at home against unbeaten San Francisco. That includes the team’s primary logo from 19892002 of a right-facing black and white falcon. The widely panned background is not part of the throwback helmets or uniforms. A message sent to the Falcons seeking comment Friday was not immediately returned.

Poulter, Hatton among LIV players to join exodus

Louis Oosthuizen one day, and then Ian Poulter and Tyrrell Hatton. The players departing from LIV Golf seem to be increasing by the day with a Sunday deadline potentially looming for other players to decide if they are staying for the new version that no longer includes Saudi money. Former world No. 1 Jon Rahm and Sergio Garcia already have separated from LIV Golf, which is emerging from Chapter 11 bankruptcy with BC Partners Credit and its $300 million pledge. Poulter and Hatton both posted Friday on Instagram they will not be part of LIV 2.0. “I am excited for what the next chapter of my career holds,” Hatton wrote in a brief note to conﬁrm the Englishman is leaving.

Krauskopf steps down as Indiana Fever president

Kelly Krauskopf stepped down as president of the Indiana Fever, the team announced Friday. She took over that role in 2024 after spending six seasons as the assistant general manager of the Indiana Pacers. Krauskopf told the franchise during the recently completed season that she would step down at the end of it. She started with the Fever ahead of the team’s inaugural season in 2000. The Fever have made the playoffs in each of the last two seasons, reaching the semiﬁnals in 2025. Before joining the Fever, she served as the WNBA’s ﬁrst director of basketball operations, helping establish the league’s foundational rules, scheduling and officiating policies ahead of its launch in 1997.

GAMEDAY PASS 177.6

RUSH 200.3

Plays: 66.2 PASS 23.6

RUSH 42.6

Turnovers: 1.42 INTERCEPTIONS 0.71

FUMBLES 0.71

DEFENSE PER GAME Yards allowed: 298.3 PASS 194.0

RUSH 104.3

Turnovers forced: 2.00 INTERCEPTIONS 0.86

FUMBLES 1.14

SCORING PER GAME 30.0

29.2

26.0

19.3

The Acadiana Advocate l theadvocate.com l Saturday, October 24, 2026 l 7C

UL at SOUTHERN MISS

4 p.m., Hattiesburg, Miss. TV: ESPN+ | Radio: KPEL-FM, 103.3 Line: Cajuns by 9½ (Over/Under: 52½)

James Madison loses its chokehold

TEAM STATS OFFENSE PER GAME Yards gained: 377.9

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SCORED ALLOWED

2026

2025

LEADERS PASSING Lunch Winfield 70.13%, 1,153 yards, 4 TDs, 4 INTs RUSHING Lunch Winfield 97 carries, 463 yards, 4.8 avg, 8 TDs Steven Blanco 54 carries, 210 yards, 3.9 avg, 4 TDs RECEIVING Russell Babineaux 15 catches, 121 yards, 8.1 avg, TD Trenton Chaney 14 catches, 169 yards, 12.1 avg Brock Chappell 12 catches, 126 yards, 10.5 avg DEFENSE Jake St. Andre 49 tackles, 3.5 for loss Brent Gordon 43 tackles, 5.5 for loss Maurion Eleam 37 tackles, 1.5 for loss, sack

SCHEDULE SEPTEMBER 5 Lamar W, 38-7 12 at USC L, 49-30 19 UAB W, 21-14 26 at Charlotte W, 34-7 OCTOBER 3 Arkansas State W, 23-20 10 at La. Tech L, 32-31 17 Troy W, 33-6 24 at Southern Miss 4 p.m./ESPN+ NOVEMBER 7 South Alabama TBD 12 at UL-Monroe 8 p.m./ESPN 21 Coastal Carolina TBD 28 at Georgia State TBD

PREDICTION UL 34, SOUTHERN MISS 20: When the Cajuns won in Hattiesburg by 10 points in 2024, it was only their second win ever there. This time around, UL is a 10-point favorite. Some foresee an easy win. History says it won’t be. UL is 12-43-1 vs. Southern Miss all time, including 2-24 on the road. The Cajuns are 5-21 since 1970 in the series. The Eagles are last in the Sun Belt in rushing defense and the Cajuns just ran for 243 yards against Troy. If the UL pass defense doesn’t falter, the Cajuns should win. But it’s Hattiesburg, so being paranoid isn’t only acceptable but also suggested. Kevin Foote

BY KEVIN FOOTE Staff writer

Things changed in the Sun Belt East race in a hurry. Not many thought much of it when James Madison defeated Georgia Southern just 27-24 two weeks ago. Even fewer cared after last week’s 49-22 demolition of upstart Georgia State. But after Appalachian State pulled off a 34-31 overtime upset win over the Dukes on Thursday, the perceived gulf between James Madison and the rest of the East mostly has disappeared. There’s certainly a ton of games left to be played, but the foregone conclusions no longer exist. But James Madison has only three league games left. Two of those are at home against Troy and Coastal Carolina, and the one road game is against Southern Miss (1-5, 0-2). So there’s a pretty good chance James Madison won’t lose another league game. The Dukes also won’t win a tiebreaker with Appalachian State, so we’ll see how ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO BY DANIEL LIN the Mountaineers handle success. Appalachian State wide receiver Jackson Grier, center, is wrapped up by James Madison cornerback Jamal The top contenders in the West Olford, left, and linebacker JT Hooten, right, during a game in Boone, N.C., on Thursday. race are hoping to avoid upset bids Saturday. UL hopes to gain SUN BELT bowl eligibility with a road win Extra points: Just imagine if the Last week: Lost to Appalachian over Southern Miss while Loui- Mountaineers were mudders. State 35-32 POWER RANKINGS This week: Open date. siana Tech returns to Ruston to That puzzling home loss to strugExtra points: Quarterback Deuce meet Old Dominion. gling Old Dominion in the rain is even more frustrating now. Since yards. Georgia Southern gets a Bailey wasn’t very efficient 1. James Madison then, App State has employed week off to tighten up some loose against Applachian State, going 16-of-31 passing for 298 yards a two-quarterback system with ends. Record: 7-1, 4-1 Sun Belt and three scores. Running back Last week: Defeated Georgia Malachi Singleton and Henry Dominic Lee-Knicely was solid Hasselbeck, and it’s worked like 8. Marshall State 49-22 with 90 yards on 18 carries, and This week: Lost at Appalachian a charm. Singleton was 26-of-40 Record: 4-3, 1-2 receiver Robby Washington addpassing for 271 yards and two State 34-31 (OT) on Thursday Last week: Open date Extra points: During his tenure touchdowns, while Hasselbeck This week: Defeated South Ala- ed five catches for 118 yards and at UL, Billy Napier didn’t have was 3-of-4 passing for 14 points bama 20-13 on Tuesday a score. But the defense wasn’t much success playing Appa- and a score. Extra points: It wasn’t pretty, but good enough to avoid a 1-2 start the Thundering Herd didn’t care. in league play. lachian State in Boone, North Marshall absolutely had to beat Carolina. That trend continues 5. Georgia State South Alabama at home to get 12. Old Dominion at James Madison. While James Record: 4-2, 1-1 Madison had 423 total yards to Last week: Lost at James Madison some momentum back after a disRecord: 2-5, 1-3 366 for App State, the Mountain- 49-22 Last week: Lost to Georgia Southappointing 0-2 league start. QuarThis week: at Arkansas State, 6 terback Zion Turner was 21-of-33 ern 23-15 eers led in first downs 22-19 and in third-down conversions by a p.m. ESPN+ passing for 181 yards and ran for This week: at Louisiana Tech, 4 Extra points: The Panthers aren’t 45 yards and a touchdown. Now p.m. ESPN+ big margin. The Dukes converted twice in 15 tries and the Moun- quite ready to mess with the if the Herd can beat a struggling Extra points: Things continue to cream of the crop in the Sun Belt Old Dominion team next week, go downhill for the Monarchs. taineers did so seven out of 18. after a humbling loss at James they can get back to .500 in league If not for the monsoon at App 2. Louisiana Tech Madison. Georgia State ran for play. State, Old Dominion might very 188 yards and passed for 185, but well be 0-4 in league play. Now Record: 4-2, 2-0 the Monarchs must make the Last week: Defeated UL-Monroe it had trouble protecting quarter- 9. South Alabama long trip to Ruston. In its loss to 24-0 back Cameran Brown and was Record: 4-3, 2-1 Georgia Southern, ODU rushed This week: vs. Old Dominion, 4 only 5 of 16 on third and fourth Last week: Open date p.m. ESPN+ downs combined. Brown settled This week: Lost at Marshall 20-13 for only 65 yards and had 12 flags for 96 yards. Running back Devin Extra points: The winless War- for 134 yards passing with an in- on Tuesday Extra points: On a rare Tuesday Roche had 25 yards rushing and hawks made the Bulldogs work, terception and 71 yards rushing. as the game was tied 0-0 at half- Now it’s rebound time after the night game, the Jaguars found now must face Tech’s aggressive themselves in an unexpected de- defensive front. time. Tech’s passing game didn’t first big loss of the season. look nearly as good as it did fensive struggle. Marshall limagainst UL. Blake Baker was 15- 6. Troy ited the Jags to 148 yards passing 13. Southern Miss of-21 passing for 178 yards and and 326 total. South Alabama was Record: 3-3, 1-1 Record: 1-5, 0-2 two touchdowns. Tight end Eli 4 of 18 on third down and had to Last week: Lost at UL 33-6 Last week: Lost to Arkansas State Finley was limited to two grabs This week: vs. UL-Monroe, 3 p.m. convert five times on fourth down 23-13 for 9 yards. But the defense was ESPN+ to stay alive. Jared Hollins was This week: vs. UL, 4 p.m. ESPN+ stingy, limiting UL-Monroe to 63 Extra points: The Trojans ran into 12-of-33 passing with an intercepExtra points: The Golden Eagles yards rushing and 228 total yards. an angry Cajuns defense, which tion. The Marshall quarterbacks rebounded from an embarrassing limited Troy to 12 first downs and rushed for a combined 144 yards defensive performance the week 3. UL 126 yards rushing. Troy was just and a touchdown against South before at Troy with a respectable 3 of 12 on third down. Veteran Alabama. effort in the 10-point road loss to Record: 5-2, 2-1 quarterback Goose Crowder was Arkansas State. Southern Miss Last week: Defeated Troy 33-6 held the Red Wolves to 304 toThis week: at Southern Miss, 4 limited to 65 yards passing and 25 10. Arkansas State yards rushing. The special teams p.m. ESPN+ Record: 3-4, 1-2 tal yards. On the offensive side, Extra points: How angry was UL had a poor night as well, and the Last week: Defeated Southern quarterback Landry Lyddy conafter the road loss to Louisi- Trojans lost two fumbles. Troy is Miss 23-13 tinued to look dangerous with 18This week: vs. Georgia State, 6 of-34 passing for 208 yards and a ana Tech? Well, it showed in the back home against last-place ULp.m. ESPN+ score. Running back Steven Rob27-point home win over Troy. The Monroe on Saturday. Extra points: The Red Wolves inson got 85 yards and a score on Cajuns won like coach Michael didn’t run roughshod over South- 21 carries. Desormeaux likes it — physi- 7. Georgia Southern cal running game and defensive Record: 3-4, 2-1 ern Miss but got a solid win. Ofplay. UL won the time of possesLast week: Defeated Old Domin- fensively, it was a pretty modest 14. UL-Monroe effort, settling for 304 total yards sion battle 36:39 to 23:21. The ion 23-15 Record: 0-6, 0-2 while limiting the Golden Eagles only thing that didn’t go particuThis week: Open date Last week: Lost to Louisiana Tech Extra points: The Eagles continue to 289 total yards. Dangerous 24-0 larly well for UL was the passing This week: at Troy, 3 p.m. ESPN+ game, which was only 11 of 21 for to perform well defensively, wide receiver Chauncy Cobb had holding Old Dominion to 272 total four catches for 50 yards. The Extra points: The Warhawks 108 yards on a very windy day. yards last week. Backup quarter- Red Wolves led only 13-7 midway played as hard as they could, 4. Appalachian State back Turner Helton was 23-of-30 through the third quarter. It’ll taking a 0-0 game into the half passing for 199 yards with a TD likely take a better effort than against heavily favored LouisiRecord: 5-2, 2-1 Last week: Defeated Coastal Caro- and an interception. Starter Max that to beat Georgia State. ana Tech. UL-Monroe was hurt Johnson left with an injury afby four sacks in the loss to Tech. lina 35-32 Aiden Armenta was limited to 14This week: Defeated James Madi- ter eight passes. The team was 11. Coastal Carolina of-24 passing for 119 yards. sloppy with 13 penalties for 120 son 34-31 (OT) on Thursday Record: 2-5, 1-2

SUN BELT STANDINGS Conf. W L JMU 4 0 Georgia So. 2 1 App. State 1 1 Georgia St. 1 1 Marshall 1 2 Coastal Ca. 1 2 ODU 1 3 Conf. W L La. Tech 2 0 UL 2 1 So. Ala. 2 1 Troy 1 1 Ark. State 1 2 So. Miss. 0 2 UL-Monroe 0 2

East

All Games PF PA W L PF PA 167 83 7 0 300 112 78 66 3 4 171 161 38 42 4 2 177 131 64 59 4 2 219 144 58 85 4 3 152 215 83 87 2 5 183 181 55 114 2 5 124 188

West PF 56 87 121 61 92 47 35

All Games PA W L PF PA 31 4 2 200 147 58 5 2 210 135 104 4 3 246 227 67 3 3 146 153 92 3 4 192 186 78 1 5 145 196 76 0 6 120 247

Tuesday’s Games

Marshall 20, South Alabama 13

Thursday’s Games

Appalachian State 34, JMU 31, OT

Saturday’s Games

ULM at Troy, 3 p.m. ODU at La. Tech, 4 p.m. UL at Southern Mississippi, 4 p.m. Georgia State at Arkansas State, 6 p.m.

Continued from page 5C best when we’re mixing in the run with the pass. Everything comes off the run for us, all of our play actions and our nakeds, all of that stuff.” JJ Garner (44-252, 4 TDs) led the charge last week with plenty of help from Anthony Reagan (53-224, 3 TDs) and Steven Blanco (54-210, 4 TDs). The other way to prevent an upset is to win the special teams battle. In last week’s 23-13 loss at Arkansas State, Southern Miss averaged 15 yards a punt return and 24 a kickoff return. “We’ve got to play fast and we’ve

got to play physical,” UL special teams coach Mike Giuliani said. “We’ve also got to play with our technique. They’re a little different on the return game for sure, and they found some success in the return game against Arkansas State. They’re feeling good about it and rightfully so.” For UL, Ja’Corian Norris will return after missing two weeks with a concussion and hopes to break his ﬁrst long kickoff return of the season. “We’re close, man,” Giuliani said. “I didn’t want it to take seven weeks for us to hit a big one. We’ve had some that are close.” The most dangerous matchup for the Cajuns is the Southern Miss passing game, if the Cajuns can’t get a pass rush. The Eagles utilize

a hurry-up offense more than most teams. Louisiana Tech gave UL problems with that strategy earlier this month. “I feel like we’ve adjusted well,” cornerback Brent Gordon said of defending the hurry-up offense. “We’ve watched the film and we know what we needed to work on and we’ve been improving off that.” Southern Miss quarterback Landry Lyddy has thrown for 1,032 yards with seven touchdowns and four interceptions at a 60.1% completion clip. His top target is Mario Sanders (34-492, 5 TDs), along with AJ Little (17-271, 1 TD). By comparison, UL doesn’t have a receiver with more than 226 yards. “I think he’s getting the ball

where it needs to go,” Giuliani said of Lyddy. “I think he anticipates well.” Said Desormeaux: “You’ve got to get your eyes on the right spot and you’ve got to play with discipline. It’s a challenge. We don’t tempo much, but they do a good job with it.” The UL defense has nine sacks on the season while the Eagles have allowed 11. “I think when you can affect the quarterback with your front in a four-man rush and you can get back there and you’re always in his face, he’s never comfortable,” Desormeaux said. “I think that leads to not just turnovers but it also can lead to erratic quarterback play, which is what you’re trying to do.”

8C ● Saturday, October 24, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

lll

Acadiana reserves shine against Sulphur BY NICK FONTENOT

Contributing writer

STAFF PHOTO BY BRAD BOWIE

Opelousas running back Joseph Clues, center, is wrapped up by Bulldogs defenders Broderick Patt, left, and Damarcus Babineaux, right, during his four-touchdown performance on Thursday.

Opelousas outlasts Cecilia to claim key district victory BY ERIC NARCISSE

Staff writer

If you love defense, Thursday’s District 5-4A matchup between the Cecilia Bulldogs and the Opelousas Tigers wasn’t for you. Sure, there was a stop here and a forced turnover there. But ultimately, the game was an offensive shootout in which the teams combined for nearly 100 points, with the Tigers outlasting the Bulldogs 50-48 for a pivotal district victory in Opelousas. “Well, both offensive coordinators did a great job,” Tigers coach Harry Coleman said. “They had a great game plan, and it was tug of war all night. It was a great atmosphere. A playoff atmosphere. It was crazy, but I am just happy — glory to God — that we came out on top.” The teams combined for more than 850 yards of offense, 200 yards in penalties and seven lead changes. “I didn’t expect this type of game,” Coleman said. “I didn’t expect for us to score 50, and I didn’t see them scoring 48 on us. I knew it was going to be close because they really have some athletes.”

For the Tigers (6-2), running back Joseph Clues, quarterback Collin Rideau and receiver Jaylon Owens headlined their offensive attack. “We had a lot of people step up for us (Thursday),” Coleman said. “It was a total team effort.” Clues finished with a game-high 241 yards and four touchdowns on 28 carries, while Rideau completed 19 of 31 passes for 210 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 86 yards and a score on 17 carries. The senior signal-caller also helped the Tigers convert four two-point conversions. “Clues ran the ball like the workhorse he is,” Coleman said. “It was senior night, and Collin had that ‘never say die’ attitude. He wants to be remembered as one of the better quarterbacks to come through the school.” Owens influenced the game in all three phases, catching nine passes for 104 yards and a touchdown on offense, recording five tackles, a sack and forced a fumble on defense and recovering an onside kick in the second quarter. “You can’t win games without guys like Jaylon,” Coleman said. “He’s the ultimate competitor.”

In addition to Clues, Rideau and Owens, the Tigers got a big game out of Caden Arvie. Arvie, who was on the receiving end of Rideau’s second touchdown, ﬁnished with 88 yards on seven receptions. Offensively, the Bulldogs (5-3) were led by Braylon Calais, quarterback Layne Champagne, running back Deondre Briscoe and receiver Ashton Rufﬁn. Calais had 92 yards and a touchdown on seven receptions, while returning a kickoff 81 yards for another score. Champagne completed 18 of 25 passes for 210 yards and two touchdowns, Ruffin caught six passes for 96 yards and a touchdown and Briscoe rushed for 78 yards and four touchdowns on 18 carries. “Obviously, no coach wants that type of a football game,” Bulldogs coach Cody Champagne said of the high-scoring affair. “We knew we were going to get their best effort because they’re a good team. It’s kind of a rivalry game. They were up for the task and at the end they did what they were supposed to do to win the game.”

More than anything, Acadiana needed a win. After a rough patch, the Wreckin’ Rams left no doubt Thursday against Sulphur and got that win, a dominant 58-25 performance. Acadiana coach Doug Dotson said any win in District 3-5A is a good win, but despite the dominance the Rams showed on the field, Dotson admitted he was never comfortable. “I never felt safe; I never felt like we were up enough,” Dotson said. “Sulphur is a good team, and they were onside kicking every time they had a chance. They tried to attack us, and they had a good offensive game plan. “Every one of our backs was out, but those young guys did a tremendous job of filling those spots and having a big night.” With the top four running backs — DaShun Lightfoot, Sy Joseph, Ashton Fontenot and Holden Sam — all sidelined, the Rams relied on little-known names who made a big impact. Acadiana ran for more than 300 yards and got a pair of touchdowns apiece from Ashton Barras, Brooklyn Lewis and James Brown. Dotson said the Rams want to throw the football when the opportunity presents itself, but the emphasis Thursday was on establishing the run. “There are things you have to take when you run this offense,” Dotson said. “We would like to be able to throw it. We had a touchdown down the ﬁeld and we missed it. When we get man-toman coverage, we get everybody ﬂying down on the pitch or on the dive. We got to hit the wide-open guys for touchdowns. “It’s something we got to work

Football Thursday’s scores Acadiana 58, Sulphur 25 Baker 62, Morris Jeff 0 Bonnabel 44, Ehret 29 De La Salle 49, Booker T. Washington 18 East Feliciana 50, Central Private 6 Ferriday 58, Madison 0 Franklin 35, Delcambre 0 Grand Lake 35, Elton 0 Higgins 20, East Jefferson 14 Huntington 28, Captain Shreve 21

Volleyball Thursday’s results Lafayette Christian def. Port Barre, 3-0 Lafayette def. Southside, 3-2 St. Thomas More def. Acadiana Renaissance, 3-0 Teurlings def. Lafayette Renaissance, 3-0 ESA def. Westminster-Lafayette, 3-0 Beau Chene def. David Thibodaux, 3-0 Ascension Episcopal def. Vermilion Catholic 3-2 Acadiana Renaissance def. Sacred HeartGC, 3-0 Ascension Episcopal def. Breaux Bridge, 3-2 Opelousas Catholic def. Opelousas, 3-0 St. Martinville def. Abbeville, 3-0 Cecilia def. Crowley, 3-0 Iota def Iowa, 3-0 Rayne def. Breaux Bridge, 3-0 Highland Baptist def. Glencoe Charter, 3-0 Acadiana def. New Iberia, 3-1 Catholic-NI def. Cecilia, 3-0 Carencro def. Loreauville, 3-0 Marksville def. Port Barre, 3-0 Church Point def. Eunice, 3-1 Iota def. Rayne, 3-1 North Vermilion def. LaGrange, 3-0 Delcambre def. Westgate, 3-0

Teurlings 25-25-25, Lafayette Renaissance 11-13-11

Email Eric Narcisse at enarcisse@theadvocate.com.

TEUR: Bailee Hebert 1 ace, 1 digs; Mya

on, and we’re close. If we can clean up some things, we’re there. I feel like our young backs are good, and Ashton Barras is a senior who has waited his time and he played well tonight. No matter how good your O-ine is, if the backs aren’t hitting the hole, you won’t see a good result. The two merged well tonight.” The Acadiana defense had a high-effort performance Thursday, no doubt impacted by the return of Beckham Guidry and Tristan Robert, who both missed last week’s game at Sam Houston. The Rams forced four turnovers, including two interceptions and a pick-six from Robert. Dotson said he was pleased with the effort of the defense despite giving up those big plays. “I thought we tackled well early, but we’ve been giving up those big ones,” Dotson said. “We’ve gotta get that cleaned up, but look, it’s not for lack of effort. We are finding guys to make plays and you saw what Tristan did tonight. Those are things that we need from him. We missed him the last couple of weeks, and we got Beckham back as well. Getting those guys back, I think, reinvigorated our defense.” Dotson said the goal the rest of the way is to restore the tenacity that has deﬁned the program. “We have to bring back the toughness to what we’re doing,” Dotson said. “Hopefully in these next couple of weeks, we can get it going in the right direction. I think our best football is still ahead of us. A win like this shows that we can bounce back. “We know we got two tough ones ahead of us in Southside and Lafayette. The challenge is there, and I think tonight showed that we can be up for it.”

Jennings 41, South Beauregard 14 Jonesboro-Hodge 36, Montgomery 6 Karr 48, Chalmette 14 Kennedy 61, McMain 0 Madison Prep 32, St. Michael 3 Mangham 55, Rayville 18 Neville 57, West Ouachita 6 Northwest 35, Rayne 14 Opelousas 50, Cecilia 48 Ouachita Christian 51, St. Frederick Catholic 7 Pine 20, Amite 14 Richwood 12, Beekman 6 Westminster Christian 57, Collegiate-BR 0

Leonard 2 kills, 4 digs; Hannah Bergeron 4 kills, 7 digs, 1 ace; Kate Trahan 1 kill, 1 ace, 18 digs; Blair Luneau 1 dig; Courtlin Moran 11 kills, 1 dig; Ali Foster 3 kills, 2 digs; Kallie Landry 7 digs, 4 aces, 22 assists; Aubrey Turner 17 assists, 2 digs, 1 ace; Maci Sheppard 4 kills, 3 digs, 1 ace; Ava Robin 6 kills; Kennedy Bergeron 8 kills, 7 digs, 3 aces.

Lafayette 19-25-25-22-15, Southside 25-16-20-25-7

LAF: Avery Larpenteur 15 kills, 30 assists, 4 aces, 5 blocks, 18 digs; Ella Larpenteur 15 kills, 27 assists, 3 blocks, 23 digs; Adeline Bobo 7 kiills, 10 digs; Alex Beairsto 8 kills, 3 aces, 3 blocks, 15 digs; Abby Menard 16 kills, 3 aces, 4 blocks, 11 digs; Brae’ona Smith 22 digs.

Iota 25-25-25, Iowa 15-15-23

Iota: Camrynn Lantier 8 kills, 4 blocks, 2 aces; Addison Toups 8 kills, 9 assists; Greta Brown 4 kills, 1 block; Elizabeth Miller 4 kill, 7 aces; Jaycie Willis 11 assists, 4 aces, 10 digs; Ella Lopez 3 blocks; Regan McGee 14 digs; Bryn Doucet 11 digs.

Monday’s schedule

Acadiana at Rayne, Southside at Lafayette Christian, St. Thomas More at St. Michael, Iota at North Vermilion, Acadiana Renaissance at Catholic-NI, David Thibodaux at Acadiana Christian, Highland Baptist at Northside Christian, Elton at North Central, Livonia at Opelousas Catholic, Barbe at Westminster.

SCOREBOARD Odds NFL Sunday

FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG Pittsburgh 1½ 3 (44½) at NO at HOUSTON 5½ 10½ (42½) NY Giants Cincinnati 3½ 1½ (48½) at BALTIMR Cleveland 3 1½ (37½) at TENN at CAROLINA 1½ 2½ (44½) Tampa Bay San Francisco 4½ 2½ (49½)at ATLANTA at NY JETS 2½ 4½ (39½) Miami at MINN 3 6½ (41½) Indianapls Denver 7½ 4½ (43½)at ARIZONA LA Rams 8½ 3½ (48½) at L. VEGAS at DETROIT 1½ 3½ (54½) Green Bay at SEATTLE 3 2½ (42½)Kansas City

Monday FAVORITE Dallas

OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG 3 4½ (44½) at PHILA

College football Saturday

FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG at MIAMI (FL) 23½ 20½ (48½) Pittsburgh at FLA ATLNC 10½ 8½ (53½) Rice Indiana 6½ 7½ (42½) at MICH at N’WESTERN16½ 16½ (58½) Rutgers at TOLEDO 2½ 2½ (47½) W.Michigan at TCU 6½ 10½ (57½) West Va. at SMU 17½ 19½ (55½) Cal Texas Tech 11½ 11½ (57½) at CINCIN. LSU 6½ 7½ (51½) at AUBURN Baylor 2½ 1½ (53½) at KANSAS Miami (OH) 1 3½ (40½) at C. MICH at KENT ST 3½ 3 (48½) Akron Oregon 13½ 9½ (49½) at ILLINOIS Hawaii 7 3½ (47½) at N. ILLINS at UCLA 13½ 14½ (43½)Michigan St North Texas 1½ 3 (62½) at NAVY at GA TECH 5½ 6 (50½) Boston Coll at S. CAROLN 2½ 2½ (50½) Tennessee Oklahoma 2½ 3 (47½) at MISS. ST at BUFFALO 4½ 3 (44½)Bowl. Green BYU 9½ 7½ (43½) at UCF at ALABAMA 2½ 13½ (50½) Texas A&M at BALL STATE 9½ 14½ (51½) Sacrmnt St Iowa 2½ 7½ (40½) at MINN Kansas State 2½ 2½ (55½) at ARIZ. ST 9½ 9½ (48½) E. Michigan at OHIO at TROY 17½ 12½ (50½) UL Monroe UL 10½ 9½ (52½)at SO. MISS at NEVADA 5½ 6½ (46½) S. Jose St at LA. TECH 8½ 13½ (45½) Old Domin

Boise State 16½ San Diego St 1½ at CLEMSON 1½ at OKLA. ST 14½ Georgia State 1½ at TEXAS 9½ at ARIZONA 10 at N. CAROLN 9½ at KENTUCKY 9½ USC 1½ at TEXAS ST 9½ UTSA 4 at N. MEXICO 3½ at UTAH 5½

14½ 1½ 2½ 13½ 2½ 3 10 9½ 10½ 2½ 13½ 2½ 4½ 6½

MLB

Saturday World Series

FAVORITE at MILWAUKEE

(53½)at WASH ST (61½) at COLO ST (49½) Va. Tech (56½) Colorado (58½) at ARK. ST (54½) Ole Miss (51½) Iowa State (47½) Syracuse (52½) Vanderbilt (50½) at WISC (61½) Utah State (51½) at TULANE (40½) N. Dak. St. (57½) Houston

LINE UNDERDOG OFF Tampa Bay

LINE OFF

Dallas Washington South Carolina Atlanta New Orleans Tampa Bay North Minnesota Chicago Green Bay Detroit West San Francisco Seattle Arizona L.A. Rams

2 1

4 4

0 1

.333 .250

151 159 132 172

W 3 2 2 1

L 2 4 4 5

T 0 0 0 0

Pct .600 .333 .333 .167

PF 146 142 152 119

W 5 5 4 3

L 0 2 2 2

T Pct 0 1.000 0 .714 0 .667 0 .600

PF PA 109 64 180 143 127 125 164 148

W 6 3 2 2

L 0 3 4 4

T Pct 0 1.000 0 .500 0 .333 0 .333

PF 177 148 126 135

Pro football

Thursday’s game

NFL glance

Sunday’s games

Buffalo New England N.Y. Jets Miami South Jacksonville Indianapolis Houston Tennessee North Cleveland Pittsburgh Baltimore Cincinnati West Kansas City Denver Las Vegas L.A. Chargers

NFC East

N.Y. Giants Philadelphia

PA 110 122 178 138

Chicago 30, New England 24

AFC East

PA 123 153 178 138

W 5 4 2 0

L 1 3 4 5

T 0 0 0 0

Pct .833 .571 .333 .000

PF 197 160 112 70

PA 171 143 122 132

W 4 2 2 1

L 2 4 4 5

T 0 0 0 0

Pct .667 .333 .333 .167

PF 154 144 144 84

PA 104 164 143 129

W 4 4 4 3

L 2 2 2 2

T 0 0 0 0

Pct .667 .667 .667 .600

PF 106 137 156 128

PA 122 128 132 109

W 5 4 3 0

L 0 2 3 6

T Pct 0 1.000 0 .667 0 .500 0 .000

PF PA 140 83 114 125 162 162 90 151

W 3 2

L 2 4

T 1 0

PF PA 136 140 106 137

Pct .583 .333

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

Monday’s game

Dallas at Philadelphia, 7:15 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 29

Carolina at Green Bay, 7:15 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 1

Arizona at Dallas, noon Atlanta at Tampa Bay, noon Baltimore at Buffalo, noon Cleveland at Pittsburgh, noon Indianapolis at Jacksonville, noon Las Vegas at N.Y. Jets, noon Minnesota at Detroit, noon Tennessee at Cincinnati, noon L.A. Chargers at L.A. Rams, 3:05 p.m. Kansas City at Denver, 3:25 p.m. New England at Miami, 3:25 p.m.

Philadelphia at Washington, 7:20 p.m. Open: Houston, N.Y. Giants, New Orleans, San Francisco

Philadelphia 114, Cleveland 106 Oklahoma City 96, Denver 84

Friday’s games

Monday, Nov. 2

Chicago at Seattle, 7:15 p.m.

Pro basketball NBA glance EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division

Philadelphia Toronto New York Brooklyn Boston Southeast Division Atlanta Washington Charlotte Orlando Miami Central Division Detroit Indiana Cleveland Milwaukee Chicago

W 2 1 0 0 0

L 0 0 1 1 1

Pct 1.000 1.000 .000 .000 .000

GB — ½ 1½ 1½ 1½

W 1 1 1 0 0

L 0 0 0 1 1

Pct 1.000 1.000 1.000 .000 .000

GB — — — 1 1

W 1 1 0 1 1

L 0 0 1 1 1

Pct 1.000 1.000 .000 .500 .500

GB — — 1 ½ ½

W 1 1 0 0 0

L 0 0 1 1 1

Pct 1.000 1.000 .000 .000 .000

GB — — 1 1 1

W 1 1 1 0 0

L 0 0 0 1 0

Pct 1.000 1.000 1.000 .000 .000

GB — — — 1 ½

W 1 1 0 0 0

L 0 0 1 1 1

Pct 1.000 1.000 .000 .000 .000

GB — — 1 1 1

WESTERN CONFERENCE Southwest Division

Houston Memphis Dallas San Antonio New Orleans Northwest Division Portland Oklahoma City Minnesota Utah Denver Paciﬁc Division L.A. Clippers L.A. Lakers Golden State Sacramento Phoenix

Thursday’s games

Chicago 132, Milwaukee 125 Atlanta at Charlotte, n Dallas at Indiana, n Minnesota at Orlando, n New York at Boston, n Toronto at Washington, n Detroit at Miami, n Houston at San Antonio, n New Orleans at Utah, n L.A. Clippers at L.A. Lakers, n Memphis at Golden State, n Portland at Sacramento, n

Saturday’s Games

Miami at Charlotte, 5 p.m. Brooklyn at Cleveland, 6:30 p.m. Milwaukee at Philadelphia, 6:30 p.m. San Antonio at Dallas, 7 p.m. Washington at Chicago, 7 p.m. Houston at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m. New Orleans at Denver, 8 p.m. Golden State at Phoenix, 9 p.m.

WNBA Finals

(x-if necessary); (Best-of-7) Atlanta 2, Golden State 1 Saturday: Golden State 68, Atlanta 64 Monday: Atlanta 79, Golden State 65 Wednesday: Atlanta 97, Golden State 71 Saturday, Oct. 24: Golden State at Atlanta, noon Monday, Oct. 26: Atlanta at Golden State, 7 p.m. x-Thursday, Oct. 29: Golden St. at Atlanta, TBA x-Saturday, 31: Atlanta at Golden St., TBA

Major League Baseball World Series glance Best-of-7; x-if necessary; All games at 7 p.m.

Milwaukee vs. Tampa Bay

Friday: Game 1: Tampa Bay at Milwaukee, n Saturday: Game 2: Tampa Bay at Milwaukee Monday: Game 3: Milwaukee at Tampa Bay Tuesday: Game 4: Milwaukee at Tampa Bay x-Wednesday, Oct. 28: Game 5: Milwaukee at Tampa Bay x-Friday, Oct. 30: Game 6: Tampa Bay at Milwaukee x-Saturday, Oct. 31: Game 7: Tampa Bay at Milwaukee

LIVING

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

S at u r d ay, O c t O b e r 24, 2026

9cN

Terry Robinson FAITH MATTERS

Judge, veteran Gail Grover adds minister to titles There was no robe, no gavel, no verdicts, no courtroom. Baton Rouge Juvenile Court Judge Gail Grover recently stood before attentive congregants at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church to deliver her ﬁrst sermon, “Setting the Record Straight,” on truth and the power of encountering Jesus. “The word of God says that the truth sets you free. Conversely, alternative truth or lies create bondage,” Grover said. Grover Preaching from Luke 13:10-17, Grover told of a woman who had been “bent double” for 18 years until she encountered Jesus and was set free of her inﬁrmity. From the woman’s story, Grover offered three lessons. First, Jesus reveals truth. “In today’s world, she would represent the marginalized and disenfranchised and the oppressed,” Grover said. “She was overlooked.” But Jesus did not overlook her. “Jesus saw her,” Grover said. “No matter our station in life, God can and will use us to his glory.” Grover said many can identify with the woman’s condition. “You and I might not be bent double in our bodies, but emotionally, mentally and spiritually, some of us can’t stand up straight,” she said. “Because of my job, I see people who are one paycheck away from losing their minds and their homes.” The truth, Grover added, is that “our deliverance is connected to and comes from being in the presence of the Lord.” Second, when Jesus sets the record straight, our perspective should change. “Oftentimes, when Jesus is setting the record straight, he doesn’t go straight to the problem without starting with the work in us, so we can have the right perspective on who’s doing what,” she said. Grover likened it to her own military experience, where she learned to stand straight and align with others. She was honorably discharged from the Army 35 years ago. “Still today people tell me that I walk like a soldier,” she said. “But I’ve changed the branch in which I’ve served. I’m a soldier in the heavenly places, in the kingdom of God.” Finally, when truth is revealed and perspectives change, wonderful things happen.

STAFF PHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER

Baton Rouge historian Michael Helms stands behind the sign marking the Louisiana Veterans Memorial Park on the State Capitol grounds. The park occupies the former grounds of the Old American Cemetery, once the capital city’s oldest cemetery.

‘We all have to go somewhere’ Explore the history of BR’s oldest cemetery, located on the State Capitol grounds BY ROBIN MILLER

Staff writer

ichael Helms gazes at the flat field beyond the row of crape myrtles bordering the Louisiana Veterans Memorial Park near the State Capitol. To the naked eye, it holds nothing but grass and sunshine. But graves once occupied the location, known first as the Spanish Cemetery in the late 1700s, the American Cemetery in the 19th century and finally, the Protestant Cemetery in the early 20th century. It was the city’s oldest graveyard — located in the field behind the Old Arsenal Museum. Most remains were eventually relocated. “The remaining bodies were moved to an ossuary in a corner, but

PROVIDED IMAGE FROM MICHAEL HELMS/HISTORICBATONROUGE.COM

An 1839 map of Baton Rouge from the City of Baton Rouge’s public records, show the location of the Old American Cemetery marked ‘Public Ground.’ The exact location would have been between the ‘B’ and the ‘L’ of the two words.

Since moving to Baton Rouge, he’s done the same here, and it was a plaque at the Old State Capitol dedicated to gunsmith Daniel Pursuing Baton Rouge history Searles piqued his interest in the Helms doesn’t claim to be an ex- cemetery. Helms spotted it at Louipert on Baton Rouge history, but he siana’s Old State Capitol and immedoes have a history degree from diately began researching the life the University of North Carolina. of Searles, who lived in the capital He often pursues the backstories ä See CEMETERY, page 10C of the cities in which he lives.

I don’t know which corner,” Helms said. “And it’s possible that some of the graves were never moved.”

ä See GROVER, page 10C

Time to shine

BR-shot, micro-budget film gets festival screening

Bookshop hosts authors for murder mystery talk

BY JUDY BERGERON

Staff report

Staff writer

A tiny Baton Rouge production company’s micro-budget inaugural film finally gets its time in the spotlight next week. “Beware the Box Folk” will premiere at the New Orleans Film Festival 8 p.m. Tuesday at Broad Theater, 636 N. Broad St., with pay-what-youcan admission. It’s the first project for the four-man Unoriginal Films,

ä See FILM, page 10C

PROVIDED PHOTO

Producer Joe Carleton also has a role in the thought-provoking surrealistic crime thriller ‘Beware the Box Folk.’

The Conundrum Bookshop will host three best-selling thriller authors for the “Let’s Talk Murder” book discussion and signing at 3:30 p.m. on Oct. 29 at The Freyhan Center, 4727 Fidelity St., St. Francisville. The Conundrum Bookshop and The Freyhan Center will present authors Ashley Elston, Jennifer Moorhead and Emma C. Wells in conversation to discuss their thrillers set in the South at the

upcoming “Let’s Talk Murder” book talk and signing. Ashley Elston has written two thrillers: “First Lie Wins” and “Anatomy of an Alibi.” She worked for many years as a wedding photographer before writing. “First Lie Wins,” her adult debut and a Reese’s Book Club pick, was a No. 1 New York Times bestseller and has been translated into more than 30 languages.

ä See TALK, page 10C

10C ● Saturday, October 24, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

RELIGION BRIEFS FROM STAFF REPORTS

Fall revival at Greater Mount Carmel

pastor of Evergreen Baptist Church, Ethel. The Rev. Clee E. Lowe, Greater Mount Carmel pastor, and the Greater Baptist Church of Scot- Mount Carmel Baptist Church family invite the landville, public to attend. 1414 Sora St., Baton Rouge, will host its fall revival Tu e s d a y St. James Baptist Church, Thursday 1105 N. 44th St., Baton at 7 p.m. Hill Rouge, invites the communightly. nity to Family & Friends The theme is “Renewal & Day at 8 a.m. Sunday. Spiritual Awakening: WakA picnic featuring food, ing Up Spiritually,” based fun and fellowship will be held on the church campus on Romans 13:11. The guest speaker will following the worship serbe the Rev. Johnathan Hill, vice.

Family & Friends Day at St. James Baptist

TODAY IN HISTORY By The Associated Press Today is Saturday, Oct. 24, the 297th day of 2026. There are 68 days left in the year. Today in history: On Oct. 24, 1945, the United Nations formally came into existence as the Charter of the United Nations, ratified by 51 nations, took effect. The date is now observed as United Nations Day. Also on this date: In 1537, Jane Seymour, the third wife of England’s King Henry VIII, died 12 days after giving birth to Prince Edward, later King Edward VI. In 1861, the first transcontinental telegraph message was sent by Chief Justice Stephen J. Field of California from San Francisco to President Abraham Lincoln in Washington, D.C. In 1929, a massive selloff at the opening bell of the New York Stock Exchange led to chaos as stockbrokers couldn’t keep up with trade requests. Though the market recovered some losses by the end of the day, “Black Thursday” marked the beginning of the Wall Street Crash of 1929. In 1931, the George Washington Bridge, connecting New York City with New Jersey, was dedicated. It was the world’s longest suspension bridge at the time. In 1952, Republican presidential candidate Dwight D. Eisenhower vowed to go to Korea as he promised to end the ongoing conflict there. (Eisenhower would indeed visit Korea in December, after winning the election but before his inauguration.) In 2002, authorities arrested John Allen Muhammad and teenager

GROVER

Continued from page 9C “This woman’s situation is not the only thing he set straight that day. He had law but no grace,” Grover said of the synagogue leader who objected to Jesus healing on the Sabbath. Believers, she said, must follow Christ’s example of love and compassion. “Stand straight and do the work of the Lord,” Grover said. “Tell the truth that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. He is the only way and the

TALK

Continued from page 9C Jennifer Moorhead is the Amazon best-selling author of “Broken Bayou,” “Poison Wood” and the newly released “Watch Her Run.” Moorhead lives in Louisiana with her husband. Emma C. Wells is a USA Today and Publishers Weekly best-selling author known for dark, Southern Gothic thrillers. She loves anti-heroes, dark humor, witty banter and ride-

Lee Boyd Malvo near Myersville, Maryland, in the Washington-area sniper attacks that killed 10 people and wounded three that month. (Malvo was later sentenced to life in prison. Muhammad was sentenced to death and executed in 2009.) In 2003, the supersonic Concorde jet made its last commercial flight, flying from New York to London. In 2012, Hurricane Sandy roared across Jamaica and headed toward Cuba on its way to the eastern United States; what became known as Superstorm Sandy was a combination of the hurricane and other storms that struck New York and surrounding areas, killing 147 people, 72 in the eastern U.S. In 2024, the owner and manager of the cargo ship Dali agreed to pay more than $102 million in cleanup costs from the 2023 collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge near the port of Baltimore, Maryland. The Dali had crashed into the bridge, destroying the 1.6mile span and killing six members of a roadwork crew. Today’s Birthdays: Rock musician Bill Wyman is 90. Actor F. Murray Abraham is 87. Actor Kevin Kline is 79. Republican Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota is 72. Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon is 70. Actor B.D. Wong is 66. Actor Raul Esparza is 56. English soccer manager and former star midfielder Wayne Rooney is 41. Singer Monica Arnold is 46. Fashion designer Zac Posen is 46. Singerrapper Drake is 40. NBA player Nikola Vucevic is 36. Actor Ashton Sanders is 31. NBA All-Star Jaylen Brown is 30. Singer Daya is 28. Actor Hudson Yang is 23.

only truth. There aren’t any alternatives.” Her message ended with a rousing celebration. “I’m not the same as I used to be. God has done a work in me, and like this unnamed woman, I’ll stand straight,” she said. “I’ll rejoice at the good things he has done. Stand straight and rejoice at the wonderful things he has done.” Afterward, the Rev. Fred Jeff Smith presented Grover with her certiﬁcate of license. Contact Terry Robinson at terryrobinson622@ gmail.com.

or-die friendships. “This Girl’s A Killer” is her debut novel followed by the recently released “We Already Dug the Grave.” This is a ticketed event with the $10 ticket payment going to The Freyhan Center to help fund future programming. Tickets can be purchased at The Conundrum’s website at www.conundrumbooks. com/upcoming-events-1/ letstalkmurder. For more information about the event, contact Missy Couhig at (504) 427-0421 or missy@conundrumbooks.com.

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CEMETERY

purchased from the aforementioned former sheriff John Buhler. Burials in Sweet Olive Cemetery began in 1850, though it wasn’t ofﬁcially incorporated until 1898. The Dufrocqs were among the families that later moved their deceased family members’ remains to Magnolia Cemetery. “I’ve located their graves in one of the oldest parts of Magnolia Cemetery,” Helms said.

Continued from page 9C city in the 1800s. The gunsmith, maker of Bowie knives and fine pistols, particularly was known for his percussion pistol, a 19thcentury firearm that used a hammer to strike an external, shock-sensitive percussion cap to ignite the main gunpowder charge. Helms’ plan was to write a piece on Searles for his blog, Historic Baton Rouge: Exploring the Red Stick’s Stories Past at historicbatonrouge.com. The historian’s research eventually pointed him to the American Cemetery. “I learned that Searles had been buried in this cemetery, and I knew I needed to go visit it,” he said. But no cemetery was to be found behind the big sign marking it as Louisiana Veterans Memorial Park, and though Helms didn’t find the gunsmith’s grave that day, the cemetery intrigued him. So he began researching it. The record proved thin. The cemetery was founded in the 1700s, around the time the French established their military installation and trading post on the spot that would become Baton Rouge. “Like many other 18th century American cities, Baton Rouge was a planned city — a detail that is evident when one looks at the inorganic and deliberate street layout of the downtown core,” Helms wrote in the June 17, 2020, entry of his blog. “And as was the case in many early cities, there was a desire to bury the dead some distance from the densely populated areas for the obvious reasons of sanitation.” Baton Rouge was controlled by the British from 1763 to 1779, when it was captured by Spain, who buried their dead in the space, which was why it started out as the Spanish Cemetery.

Native Americans lived here Before that, Native Americans inhabited the area. In the Aug. 23, 2015, Advocate, historical archaeologist Thurston Hahn told the Baton Rouge Genealogical and Historical Society that

FILM

Continued from page 9C

STAFF PHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER

The Louisiana Veterans Memorial Park stretches behind the Old Arsenal Museum on the grounds of the Louisiana State Capitol. The grounds once were the location of the Old American Cemetery, the oldest cemetery in the capital city. Many graves were moved to the Magnolia Cemetery over time, and 13 graves were relocated to an ossuary on the grounds during the state capitol’s construction. a ceremonial mound next to the veterans park dates to about the year 1000. A Baton Rouge Historical Marker near the top of the mound, which also displays two cannons commemorating the 1779 Battle of Baton Rouge, credits Native Americans of the Coles Creek culture with building it. “Surrounded by a large village area, such mounds served as foundations for sacred buildings and as platforms for the chief to address the tribesmen,” the marker states. By the time the city grid was drawn in 1805, the community’s deceased were being buried next to the area where the Arsenal would eventually be built in 1838. Helms located two 19thcentury maps depicting the area. The cemetery is unmarked on the first, dated 1825 from East Baton Rouge Parish’s archival collection. The space is marked “Public Ground” on the second, dated 1839 from the City of Baton Rouge’s public records. “I think this essentially was public land, and it had all sorts of purposes,” Helms said. “I think the ﬁrst cemetery was out of need. You know, people die. That’s life, and we all have to go somewhere, so it sort of organically became a cemetery.” The number of graves is unknown, but past editions of The Advocate mention names of some prominent

early residents buried there. Many families relocated their loved ones’ remains to the newer Magnolia Cemetery from the mid-to-late 19th century.

Early grave vandalism The reasons? The American Cemetery was falling into disrepair, and vandalism was rampant. An article published in the March 9, 1885, edition discusses cases of grave vandalism, including that of Anna Converse Dufrocq, whose husband, John R. Dufrocq, served as Baton Rouge’s first mayor between 1850 and 1855. “A number of tombs in the Old American Cemetery were broken open, the cofﬁns pulled out and also broken open,” the article states. “One was the tomb of Mrs. John R. Dufrocq, nee Converse, and the other was the tomb of a child of the late John Buhler, formerly sheriff of this parish.” “But vandalism wasn’t the only problem,” Helms said. “The cemetery obviously created a public health problem. It wasn’t very well managed, and it was falling into disrepair. Grave desecration and robbing was a problem. I think the city realized this and needed to put more thought into a solution.” The solution, Helms said, was the creation of Magnolia Cemetery, established in 1952 from a 10-acre tract

Magnolia Cemetery The path to Magnolia Cemetery began with the 1852 legislative Resolution 220, authorizing legislators to seek out grounds for a new cemetery. A committee was announced for the new Magnolia Cemetery, headed by Mayor John R. Dufrocq. “With the establishment of Magnolia Cemetery, the Old American graveyard fell into even worse disrepair,” Helms said. The Daily Advocate, on April 29, 1867, reported that the old cemetery “is now an open common, the hogs and cows tread and root over the old tombs and graves.” And on June 11, 1898, the Weekly Advocate reported the cemetery “is again being invaded by a gang of hoodlums who commit the most violent depredations by opening the tombs and removing the bones of the people buried there.” “Graves were being moved by that time,” Helms said. “It would probably have been the families paying for the individual disinterments and reinterments. And it’s likely that thousands of burials remain.” The remains of at least 13 found within 23 excavated coffins were discovered and buried in an unmarked ossuary on the cemetery’s grounds during construction of the Louisiana State Capitol in 1931. “That was the death knell for the old cemetery,” Helms said. “I think (Louisiana Gov.) Huey Long had grand visions that this would become a park.” But Helms’ thoughts are now on Searles. “I believe he’s still buried here,” he said. “I just don’t know where.”

entire film, asked, ‘Where were you?’ ” Carleton sees “Box Folk” as an opportunity for viewers to take a break from reality and enjoy something that’s thought-provoking and interesting. “But it really has a commentary on our homeless friends and how we can help each other. I think we tend to assume the worst these days for some reason. I think it’s better to assume people are doing good,” Carleton said. “I think that’s something that you can kind of glean from this. It shows you what happens when you assume the worst.” For more info, visit unoriginalfilms.com or neworleansfilmsociety.org/ attend.

formed in 2022. “Box Folk” was more than three years in the making. “We made it as a scrappy project,” said producer Joe PROVIDED PHOTO Carleton. “We took advan‘Beware the Box Folk’ was shot almost entirely in downtown tage of the Louisiana film tax credits and everybody that Baton Rouge on an overnight shooting schedule. we possibly knew to good and cheap. It siana Veterans Memorial beg, borrow and steal took us a little extra Park, Third Street, Lafayto make it happen.” time, but we’re re- ette Street and the Robert Brendan Pyron, Nathan S. Hall and A. Bogan Fire Museum. ally proud of it.” Michael PrinceBesides producer duties, Cameras rolled Bouton are the rest overnight (about Carleton also was part of of Unoriginal Films’ 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.) the eight-person “Box Folk” principals. downtown for a ma- cast. He’s the guy behind the Carleton Acceptance in the jority of scenes for caveman beard and hair. prestigious NOFF was an “Box Folk,” adding to the “It was a very differachievement for Unoriginal film’s heavy, mysterious ent look,” the short-haired, Films, Carleton added. mood. clean-shaven Carleton “Beware the Box Folk” Locations included the shared. “I still have fam- Email Judy Bergeron at is a 1-hour, 18-minute sur- Manship Theatre, the levees ily, friends, some close col- jbergeron@theadvocate. realist crime thriller that near the USS Kidd, Loui- leagues, who, watching the com. follows renegade reporter Red Watts as he investigates the disappearance of a conYEARS gressman in the middle of a trash strike. Watts discovered that there are people living in the trash, named “box folk,” who might have something to do with the missing congressman. The film, shot entirely in Baton Rouge, used an alllocal cast and crew. They finished shooting at the end of December 2023. “We were fortunate enough to get the Panavision new filmmaker program grant, which afforded us all the bells and whistles, for a camera package from Panavision,” Carleton said. “It’s the same (type of) camera that they’ve shot some of the ‘Star Wars’ movies on. It’s a very big deal to get that grant.” Although only costing about $125,000, Carleton thinks the final product and also streaming at www.lpb.org/gamenotes feels like a project that costs three times the money. m “They always say in the rea est v i film industry you can’t have l rg/ something good, fast and b.o p l . www.lpb.org w cheap. You’ve got to pick two ww of them, right? So we went

11 teams. 6 conferences. 1 state.

TODAY•10AM & 10:30AM

KLPB 24

The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Saturday, October 24, 2026 ● 11C

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zodIAC sCoRPIo (oct. 24-nov. 22) Push harder but argue less. Protect yourself from those asking for too much or putting mental or physical demands on you. Take better care of yourself, and minimize your to-do list. sAGIttARIus (nov. 23-Dec. 21) Pay attention. Change is within reach if you focus on what counts. Set a budget, put a plan in place and refuse to let anyone talk you into something you cannot afford. CAPRICoRn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Finish what you start, and avoid complaints. Honesty and integrity will help alleviate backlash from outsiders. Pay attention to changes unfolding in areas of your expertise. AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Keep your life simple. Avoid conversations that can put you in a vulnerable position. Size down rather than up, and do whatever you can to become financially independent. PIsCEs (Feb. 20-March 20) Go over financial, medical or contractual matters carefully, and you'll find something that will ease stress and help you make progress. Don't overreact to someone's offer. ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Set high standards, and do your own thing. Pursue what motivates you most. Make changes to how you live, handle your money and pursue your likes and interests. tAuRus (April 20-May 20) Ask experts questions before you agree to offers. Choose to use your attributes to benefit yourself, not someone trying to exploit

you. Simplify your life by distancing yourself from demanding people. GEMInI (May 21-June 20) Learn before you leap. Do your due diligence before you put your money on the table or offer your time to benefit someone other than yourself. Focus on what's important to you. CAnCER (June 21-July 22) Don't allow compliments to go to your head. Someone will try to take advantage of you using charm and offering things that aren't realistic. Pay attention, consider what's important and focus on what makes you happy. LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) Protect against scammers. Home improvements will cost more than anticipated; get what's offered in writing before you begin. Pushy people or situations that draw out your ego will set you back. VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept. 22) Communication is your best choice when a difference of opinion or a decision arises that influences your earning potential or health. Go directly to the source. Trust your instincts. LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) Put a plan in place, and make a move that satisfies you. Stop letting others make decisions for you. Happiness happens when you do what's right and best for you. Overreacting won't solve problems. 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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beetLe bAILeY CeLebrItY CIpher Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present. Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

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Mother GooSe And GrIMM

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dooneSbUrY

12C ● Saturday, October 24, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

CurTiS

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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 ● Saturday, October 24, 2026 ● 13C

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B.C.

Bridge By PHILLIP ALDER AnitaRoddickwasanEnglishbusinesswoman best known for being the founder of The Body Shop, which was one of the first to ban testing on animals. She said, “If you do things well, do them better. Be daring, be first, be different, be just.” Inmostpursuits,ifyouropponentplays well, you must play better to succeed. That applies in this deal, where North and South bid well, but East could defeat their contract with excellent defense. What should East do when his partner leads the diamond king against four hearts? North’s four-diamond jump cue-bid was a splinter. It showed four-card heart support, the values for (at least) game and at most a singleton diamond. East took the opportunity to show his diamond support with a double. South, of course, had no thoughts of a slam and signed off in four hearts. (A pass by South here would have been mildly encouraging, expressing some slam interest, but a hand not strong enough to drive the auction above game.) West leads the diamond king. East sees that there is no defensive club trick available. If his side has a trump trick, it isn’t running away. But if there is no trump winner, the defenders will have to take three spade tricks immediately.

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This should make it clear to East that he should overtake the diamond king with his ace and shift to a spade — but to which one? From J-x-x(-x) or Q-x-x(-x), lead low if you need two tricks; but lead high if you need three. East must lead the spade jack at trick two. © 2026 by NEA, Inc., dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication

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

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word game InstRuCtIons: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed. 3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.

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mean means mesa mesic mica mice mien mince mine name nice

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loCKhorNs hidato Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

today’s thought “And this is life eternal, that they might know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” John 17:3

This is the way to Heaven. — G.E. Dean

14C ● Saturday, October 24, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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Y’all see Stephen Marcantel’s new story?

We did! On the new Acadiana Advocate app!

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