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S U N D AY, O C T O B E R 25, 2026

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‘ONE AT A TIME ADDS UP’

Inside a New Orleans ICE operation as immigration arrests surge

STAFF PHOTO BY CHRIS GRANGER

Thibs Thibault Giraud, right, and Bassqlfoot, left, toss footballs in front of the Eiffel Tower at the NFL Experience in Paris on Friday.

Paris presents a contrast for NFL debut Amid the fun and festivities, protest fears seem far away

STAFF PHOTOS BY SOPHIA GERMER

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers arrest Jose Portillo-Gifaro on Frenchmen Street in New Orleans on Thursday. BY JAMES FINN Staff writer

From SUVs with blackedout windows, the federal agents watched a gaggle of men outside the Mardi Gras Truck Stop, waiting to make their move. As the man they were tracking walked toward his silver Honda, the parking lot exploded into sudden action. Tires screeched. Agents in tactical gear descended. “Can you take him?” an agent asked on his staticriddled radio. Still on foot, the man took off — darting through honking trafﬁc on Elysian Fields Avenue, hopping a fence and disappearing into a grassy maze of 7th Ward backyards. The chase ended minutes later with the sweatstreaked man, a 57-year-old undocumented immigrant

The operation, which relied on days of surveillance and culminated in a confrontation over in moments, was a snapshot of how the Trump administration’s strategy to ramp up immigration arrests across the country has changed. It’s quieter, more targeted — and resulting in even more apprehensions. Nearly a year ago, U.S. Border Patrol-led enforcement sweeps entered cities nationwide in highly visible shows of force that drew Brian Acuna, acting field office director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in New Orleans, drives down Elysian furious protests. Agents rounded people up en masse Fields Avenue as law enforcement get ready to arrest Jose in home improvement store Portillo-Gifaro, of Honduras. parking lots, construction sites and other public from Honduras, handcuffed Parish, he said he’d found spaces. U.S. citizens and and shackled in an aban- the agents’ tactics puzzling. green card holders, includdoned lot, surrounded by a “They were only focused on ing in New Orleans, were half-dozen U.S. Immigration me,” the man, Jose Portillo- detained. and Customs Enforcement Gifaro, said in Spanish in an But those tactics wound interview with The Times- down after federal agents agents. Later, at an ICE process- Picayune | The Advocate. ä See OPERATION, page 6A ing center in St. Charles “I’m not sure why.”

La. colleges work to address nursing shortage Flexible programs, early exposure play bigger roles BY HALEY MILLER Staff writer

The nursing students huddled around a medical dummy in a hospital bed as a panel of faculty and staff watched them through a one-way mirror. On the observation side of the mirror, a technician leaned into a microphone. “I’m just in a lot of pain,” he said in an affected, gruff voice.

WEATHER HIGH 78 LOW 63 PAGE 8B

The students considered that, trying to narrow down their simulated patient’s symptoms. “Have you had chest pain like this before?” one of them asked. “No, this is new for me,” the technician answered. The students inquired about possible allergies, then injected their fake patient. “This is going to help the pain we were talking about, OK?” one student said. The group was participating in a simulation run at the Tulane University School of Medicine, where the recently launched

PARIS — The Hôtel Salomon de Rothschild was a portrait of incongruity Friday afternoon as Parisians wound down from a busy work week and started preparations for their weekend. Inside the gilded halls of this 19th-century landmark mansion in the upscale 8th Arrondissement, visiting dignitaries networked and talked shop at Jeff the “Louisiana Now” business Duncan summit, a daylong conference sponsored by the Louisiana Department of Economic Development and the New Orleans ä Saints vs. Steelers Saints. Meanwhile, storekeepers in Paris. busily installed heavy plywood 8:30 A.M. boards and reinforced metal NFLN shutters over their storefront display windows on the neighPAGE 1C boring streets, a stark reminder of the simmering unrest outside, as the city braced for another volatile weekend of protests and roving vandals. One Louisiana state ofﬁcial said the scene

ä See DUNCAN, page 10A

Meta data center sparks land frenzy Shielded sale prices, lawsuits, more as tension swirls around cost of land BY SAM KARLIN Staff writer

STAFF PHOTO BY SOPHIA GERMER

Nursing students practice on dummies at the Tulane University School of Medicine facility in New Orleans on ä See NUSING, page 8A Thursday.

Business ......................1E Deaths .........................2B Nation-World................2A Classified ..................... 2F Living............................1D Opinion ........................6B Commentary ................7B Metro ...........................1B Sports ..........................1C

ä See META, page 4A

14TH YEAR, NO. 74

2A F Sunday, October 25, 2026 F nola.com F The Times-Picayune

BRIEFS

FROM WIRE REPORTS

Israelis rally against Netanyahu before vote

Israelis held a ﬁnal large rally against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of what has been described as the most consequential election in the country’s history. The vote is set for Tuesday. The crowd heard calls for a commission of inquiry into the security failures that led to the Hamas-led attack on Oct. 7, 2023, that sparked the war in Gaza. Netanyahu has refused such an inquiry. Netanyahu’s chief rival, Gadi Eisenkot, attended the rally that was an echo of the weekly ones once held to call for the release of hostages taken into Gaza. All hostages or their remains were eventually released, but Netanyahu has been accused of delaying deals to free them sooner. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump bristled when asked how far he was from a possible attack on Iran. He recently said on social media he would not hit Iran again before the Nov. 3 midterm elections. “Do you really think I’m going to tell you if I’m going to do it?” Trump responded. “And there’s a possibility I will. There’s also a possibility we’ll have a nice, big, beautiful agreement.” Trump repeated his assertion that Iran wants to make a deal, “but the problem is, will they hold the deal?”

Fire destroys Eagle’s Nest retreat in Germany

BERLIN — A fire swept through the mountaintop retreat built for Adolf Hitler and known as the Eagle’s Nest as emergency services struggled to tackle the blaze in snow and wind, and a man was arrested on suspicion of arson, authorities said Saturday. Emergency services in the Berchtesgaden district, in the Bavarian Alps in Germany’s southeastern corner, were alerted to the fire by an alarm at about 9:15 p.m. Friday. Firefighters and police rushed to the scene — located at the end of a narrow road that winds up the mountain, in part through a series of tunnels — and could see the flames as they approached. They stopped and arrested a man on a motorcycle driving the other way down the road. Prosecutors said the 33-yearold suspect, a German citizen who has ties to the Berchtesgaden area but doesn’t currently live there, was questioned. They said he showed signs of mental illness and he was being sent to a psychiatric facility, but they also would look into the possibility of a political motive in view of the building’s history. Police said there were no current indications that anyone else was involved. Rain that turned into the season’s first significant snow, accompanied by strong wind, complicated the already difficult task of tackling the blaze and firefighters had to pull out overnight after several hours, officials said. No one was injured in the fire, and firefighters hoped to finish their work on Saturday though they weren’t able to enter the building because of a danger of falling material.

1 rescued after building collapses in Kenya

NAIROBI, Kenya — One person was rescued from the rubble of a building that collapsed in the capital, Nairobi, more than 24 hours after its ﬂoors pancaked, police said Saturday. The building was under construction on a busy commercial street in the Eastleigh area, which is often crowded with thousands of traders and residents. Police said more than 10 stories were under construction. Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen said Friday that seven people had been reported missing and rescue teams had made contact with some of those trapped in the rubble. The man was rescued Saturday and taken to a hospital. Government spokesman Charles Owino said the registered owner of the building was deceased, and his family and another party were in charge. Vincent Ochieng, a disaster ofﬁcer with the Kenya Red Cross, said the organization had recorded 31 missing persons but was still verifying the reports.

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Over 400K protest across France Demonstrators challenge Macron as Paris clashes erupt

BY THOMAS ADAMSON, JOHN LEICESTER and TOM NOUVIAN Associated Press

PARIS — Clashes erupted in Paris as a mass march drew to a close Saturday, with more than 400,000 people rallying across France over school funding and soaring living costs in a fresh challenge to President Emmanuel Macron. Police made nearly 1,000 arrests, the government said. The Paris march began peacefully, a week after widespread rioting and looting during protests across the country. But near the demonstration’s endpoint in eastern Paris, masked protesters hurled objects and ﬁreworks at police, who answered with clouds of tear gas, deafening sound grenades and jets of water cannons. Ofﬁcers with megaphones urged protesters to disperse. Some demonstrators panicked as tear-gas canisters landed in their midst, scattering with screams. Veteran protesters shouted after them: “Don’t run!” The Interior Ministry put nationwide turnout at 410,000 — fewer than the 550,000 it said protested last weekend — while the CGT union that helped organize some of Saturday’s protests estimated nearly 800,000. The ministry’s estimate included 110,000 in

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO BY JEAN-FRANCOIS BADIAS

A protester holds a French flag on Saturday in Strasbourg, France, during a demonstration against rising prices. Paris, where authorities conﬁned the march to the city’s southeastern edge, away from the center. The CGT put the number of protesters in Paris at 250,000. More than a month of unrest that started with protests in high schools for more funding and teachers is testing Macron’s authority in the ﬁnal months of his presidency before voters choose his successor in May. The stakes are high: The far-right National Rally party has accused his government of failing to protect the public and urged people to channel their anger into votes for its candidate Marine Le Pen. On the far left, presidential candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon has backed demonstrators and criticized policing that has left some teenage protesters with life-changing

injuries. As dusk fell Saturday, violence erupted at the end of some of the 289 protests counted by the Interior Ministry nationwide. Street fires burned in the cities of Marseille and Lyon. Police used tear gas in Lyon, Clermont-Ferrand, Strasbourg and Bordeaux and water cannons in Nice and Nantes, French media reported. In Nice, far-right extremists fought with demonstrators downtown and 11 people were arrested, regional authorities said. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said police made nearly 1,000 arrests but added that the number is expected to increase significantly as more are counted. Nuñez said beefed-up policing, with 70,000 officers backed by helicopters, armored vehicles and other

support, helped prevent a repeat of widespread looting and damage to shops the previous weekend. What began last month as a protest over staff shortages at one high school southeast of Paris spread nationwide, drawing students demanding more funding for education and workers seeking help with soaring costs for fuel and other necessities. In Paris, Bénédicte Pittion, a 46-year-old teacher, marched with her 16-yearold daughter, Garance, a high school student — in their ﬁrst protest together. “The young people who have been demonstrating have not been heard, and as a parent and as a teacher, I stand with them,” Pittion said. Garance said she’d been “really scared” after see-

ing the previous weekend’s violence, but felt that staying away would hand the government a victory. Macron met high school representatives Friday. They said he had promised to overhaul university admissions, but they called for protests to continue until concrete measures are announced. Soumaya Abed, a 58-yearold nurse wearing a red CGT union vest, complained that authorities in Paris wanted to stiﬂe protesters by making them march on the capital’s outskirts, keeping them away from the center where the Louvre and other major museums closed exceptionally early. “But it won’t stop the movement. It won’t stop students from demanding better conditions in schools,” she said. Other protesters expressed anger about record poverty and wealth inequality under Macron. Camille Chesnier, 27, said she hasn’t found work despite having an engineering degree and a master’s degree. “There are enormous numbers of people in the same situation as me but who aren’t privileged and who ﬁnd themselves living on the streets and in squats and, frankly, it’s very tough,” she said. In Marseille, police put attendance at 17,000, while the CGT union estimated 100,000. In the southwestern city of Toulouse, 26,500 people joined the protests, according to authorities. Authorities had banned rallies in cities including Lyon, Nice and Montpellier.

Musk says he was behind Starlink speed restriction Ukrainian leader says service restored

BY SUSIE BLANN and ELISE MORTON Associated Press

KYIV, Ukraine — Elon Musk said on Saturday that his company SpaceX had throttled the Starlink satellite internet service in Ukraine, disrupting operations that the country relies on to defend itself against Russia. Musk’s admission on social media came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine’s access to Starlink and Starshield satellite links has been restored to the speeds it had before restrictions that disrupted front-line

operations for more than a week. Questions have persisted since last week about who ordered the interruptions to the Musk-made satellite internet system that Kyiv has relied on for years to counter Moscow’s attacks. “The speeds are now where they need to be,” Zelenskyy wrote on X, adding that restoration began overnight and were sufficient by Saturday morning, improving frontline logistics and defense against Russian jet-powered Shahed drones. After Ukraine said the services had been restored, Elon Musk spoke out on the speed restrictions that began last week. In a post Saturday on X, Musk acknowledged that his company SpaceX throttled the Starlink sat-

ellite internet service. “Using Starlink, a civilian commercial service, for offensive drone strikes to kill people has never been allowed, nor should it be,” Musk wrote. “Ukraine military violated Starlink terms of service and used it for offensive drone strikes to kill people. That loophole was closed last week.” But he maintained that the U.S. government controlled whatever changes happened with Starshield, the military-grade version of Starlink that is the backbone of Ukraine’s drone operations and communication. He also defended the role of SpaceX in bolstering Ukraine’s defenses since Russia’s fullscale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Restrictions imposed last week on Starshield

Trump casts his midterm ballot early in Florida BY JOSH BOAK and JILL COLVIN Associated Press

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — President Donald Trump cast his ballot in the midterm elections Saturday, saying he voted for all Republicans in Florida before speaking at a Georgia rally. Trump and ﬁrst lady Melania Trump arrived at their West Palm Beach polling location at the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections ofﬁce together after the president spent the morning at his nearby golf course. Trump Trump has been criticized in the past for voting by mail despite his long history of railing against that method of submitting ballots. Asked if he voted the party line, Trump, who was wearing an “I Voted” sticker, said, “Very much so.” Speaking to reporters at the poll site, Trump again defended an ad from Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. The ad has faced intense blowback for featuring the estranged mother of Democratic rival Dr. Amy Acton, who lost custody of her chil-

dren after her husband, the children’s stepfather, was indicted for raping Acton when she was 12. Trump also defended his decision to instruct his administration to ﬁle its lawsuit to block certiﬁcation of the U.S. Senate race in Alaska if Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan loses over the inclusion of a second candidate named Dan Sullivan on the ballot. As for the war in Iran, he said, “I may have to finish it off. Or maybe they’ll make a deal, but I’m not sure. Either way, we win.” Melania Trump, who this week brokered a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine in the ravaged, Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Oleshky so that humanitarian aid could be delivered and civilians evacuated, was asked whether she might travel to Ukraine. “We will see,” she told reporters. In Florida, Trump has endorsed Republican Rep. Byron Donalds, who is running against David Jolly, a Republicanturned-independent-turned-Democrat, to succeed term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis.

alarmed the country’s military and government officials, with commanders reporting lost drones and disrupted missions. The restoration follows a new U.S. diplomatic push to end the war. Russia agreed Wednesday to resume threeway negotiations with Washington and Kyiv next month. On Friday, Kyiv and Moscow also agreed to a localized ceaseﬁre brokered by ﬁrst

lady Melania Trump around Oleshky, a war-ravaged, Russian-occupied town in Ukraine’s southern Kherson region. The episode added to tensions between Kyiv and Washington, a relationship already strained by President Donald Trump’s reported deal with Moscow on Russian diesel imports, which Ukraine viewed as a betrayal.

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The Times-Picayune F nola.com F Sunday, October 25, 2026 F 3A

La. utilities now required to explore nuclear energy Electricity demand up from data centers, development

“We want Louisiana to be a leader on this,” Skrmetta said. “The utilities recognize that there is going to be nuclear in the future.”

Trump prioritizes nuclear

BY MARGARET KATES Staff Writer

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. “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, DLake 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

STAFF FILE PHOTO BY BRETT DUKE

Electrical infrastructure is seen recently near Entergy’s Waterford 3 nuclear power plant in Killona. 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 opportunities 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 threeyear period, the utilities will have identiﬁed the right technology for their system and have a way to move forward.

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 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,

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.

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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.”

nature Join us every month as Damon gives you a closer look at the comings and goings at Audubon Nature Institute

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to watch the latest episode

4A F Sunday, October 25, 2026 F nola.com F The Times-Picayune

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META

Continued from page 1A Those complaints are now being litigated in court. A handful of landowners who sold their acreage near the site at lower rates in the months leading up to the project’s announcement are suing to unwind the deals. They allege that they were shorted on profits by buyers who had inside information about Meta’s plans. The company, state officials and some landowners kept the existence of the project secret through nondisclosure agreements, including one signed by the family that sold much of the land for the data center. Internal Louisiana Economic Development emails also show negotiations dating back to early 2024, and Meta told the state that a property tax break for the project was a “requirement.” The buyers — including owners of one of the biggest real estate firms in the region — deny having inside information about Meta’s deal and said the sales prices were fair at the time. One defendant, a real estate agent, said he discussed the rumors of a potential Meta project with the seller before buying his property that sits next door to the site a few months before the announcement. Attorneys for both the plaintiffs and defendants in the three cases either didn’t respond to messages seeking comment or declined to comment, citing pending litigation. John Lovett, an LSU Law Center professor who studies property law, said real estate values are seeing “sudden and dramatic” changes in places where data centers and other industrial projects are popping up. He expected these lawsuits would be filed after Meta announced the project. “The data centers, if they were suddenly announced but there were insiders who knew about it and were taking advantage of that earlier, there’s a potential these claims could proliferate around the state,” Lovett said. The lawsuits come as Richland Parish, long a quiet agricultural community with high poverty rates and declining population, experiences rapid changes from Meta’s decision to build one of the world’s largest data centers on a sprawling campus in Holly Ridge. And the legal fights, filed last year and still ongoing, are shedding more light on who is benefiting from the deal, at a time when Landry’s administration is welcoming a host of largescale industrial projects in areas that traditionally have not seen them, including data centers, SpaceX and liquefied natural gas terminals. Another smaller data center is in the works for Richland Parish as well, records show. Prices for unimproved land have long been a few thousand dollars an acre in Holly Ridge, according to local real estate professionals and land records. While Meta and Entergy have shielded the sales price for most of their purchases, records filed in court and data from the local assessor suggest they paid tens of millions of dollars to acquire the huge swaths of land to build. Some land near the site is now going for tens of thousands of dollars per acre. “It has caused a little frenzy up here,” said Lannie Philley, an appraiser in Mer Rouge, referencing Richland Parish. “But they’ve got to need it. It’s got to be close. ... And preferably close to a large transmission line.” Philley said some hopeful

STAFF FILE PHOTO BY SOPHIA GERMER

Meta’s decision to build one of the world’s largest data centers in a northeast Louisiana rural farming community has made a group of shrewd landowners millions of dollars, but it’s also creating tension around who is benefitting from the sales as the cost of land there soars. property owners miles from the Meta site are listing their property for inflated prices in the hopes that someone associated with the data center buildout will pay top dollar. But the high-priced deals are mostly happening directly on and around the Meta site. Farther away, he said companies are mostly renting out land. Meta, through two LLCs, has bought up thousands of acres of property from landowners in Holly Ridge since October 2024, hiding the sales price by listing it as $100. The practice is a common way for businesses and wealthy homeowners to cloak the true price, listing it as “$100 and other goods and valuable considerations.” Typically, buyers and sellers will enter into a separate contract not entered into the record that spells out the true sales price. Entergy made similar moves, including for a piece of property owned partly by state Sen. Jay Morris, R-Monroe. Morris, who supported tax breaks for data centers in the Legislature, didn’t return messages seeking comment. He previously told the news outlet Floodlight that there was no conflict in his decision to sell the land and that he had no prior knowledge of the economic development to come there. The hidden sales prices and secrecy associated with the deal have fueled rumors in Richland Parish about the gold rush for land. And they’ve made it difficult on Lee Brown, the parish assessor, who said he’s “grabbing at air” to try to accurately assess property values amid the boom. One of the lawsuits from disgruntled sellers used Brown’s assessment data to peg the price of one of the Meta parcels at $26 million, or more than $40,000 an acre. A person involved in the deal who declined to speak publicly, citing the controversial nature of data centers, confirmed the figure is roughly accurate. The seller was George B. Franklin and Son Inc., a large landowner in the area run in part by Scott Franklin. The Franklin family also partnered with Morris, the state senator, in two sales of land to Entergy spanning about 300 acres, which the Franklins and Morris owned together. Brown said property tax millage rates are declining because of Meta’s data center. Despite the company’s massive tax exemption, it’s still causing a windfall for the parish coffers. But he said he’s struggling to find good data on land sales ahead of the next reassessment year, in 2028. “I feel like a mushroom,” Brown said. “Kind of in the dark.”

unique to Louisiana and allows sellers to rescind the sale of a property if they sold it for less than half the true market value. The key question playing out in court: What was the true market value of the properties at the time of the sales, which occurred months before Meta announced the project? In one case, a 73-year-old Rayville resident named Dennis Stewart asked his real estate agent to find a buyer for a plot of land he owned in Holly Ridge. That was in August 2024, three months before the TimesPicayune | The Advocate broke the news that Meta was considering a project, according to Stewart’s lawsuit. Stewart declined to comment, citing pending litigation. Days later, the agent had a purchase agreement ready, according to documents filed in court. The buyer was a group of executives at Brown Realty — her employer — and their family members, documents show. The group bought the land for $2,850 an acre. Shortly after the Meta deal was announced, in December of that year, Brown Realty began advertising tracts near the site for “more than 10 times what they paid Stewart,” according to the suit. “Had he received the price that defendants value the land at, it would have changed Stewart and his family’s life,” Stewart’s attorneys wrote in court filings. “Stewart was not an informed seller. He had no access to the information that defendants had access to. Defendants had access to information that led them to believe the property was more valuable than the purchase price and used this information to beneﬁt themselves at the expense of Stewart in violation of their duty to him.” The defendants, including the president and treasurer of Brown Realty, wrote in filings that they have routinely purchased land in the region, “as is their core business,” and that the plaintiffs have no evidence that anyone broke a nondisclosure agreement to inform them about the impending Meta announcement. “The property at issue sold in September 2024, months prior to the public disclosure of the proposed Meta data center,” the defendants’ lawyer wrote in court ﬁlings. “The price for the property at the time of the sale was fair, reasonable and consistent with comparable land values in the area.”

However, the sellers have one potentially compelling piece of evidence: A large landowner in Richland Parish sold a 665-acre plot of land for around $26 million in October 2024. If plaintiffs can prove that the transaction set the

‘Vulnerable sellers’

market for land in the area, they could succeed in arguing that their land was worth far more than what they sold it for, Lovett said. “It’s always possible that you have more sophisticated buyers who realize that real estate is actually going up in value or has an alternative use that the current owners don’t appreciate,” Lovett said. The law was designed to protect what he called “vulnerable sellers.” Lovett said he expected these cases would start to pop up around Meta’s site, and he even crafted an exam question about it for his LSU law students. And given the projects by SpaceX and other data centers around the state, he said more sellers could try to rescind their property sales if they missed out on the real estate boom. “Were people exploiting NDAs?” Lovett said about the Richland Parish sales. “I bet.” Louisiana has become one of the few states where political leaders are vocally

Investing in New Orleans’ future: Son of a Saint’s Annual Gala highlights need for lasting support

By Amanda McElfresh | amcelfresh@theadvocate.com This article is brought to you by Son of a Saint. For 15 years, Son of a Saint has changed the lives

always focused on the root causes and made long

of thousands of boys in New Orleans through ongo-

term commitments to transforming lives,” Goss

ing mentorship, guidance, academic assistance,

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mental health counseling and a commitment that

resonates with people.”

extends well beyond a single program or moment

The Annual Gala is Son of a Saint’s largest annual fundraiser, with 100 percent of net proceeds going to

in their childhood. As the organization prepares to celebrate that

the organization and its mission. Individual tickets

milestone at its Annual Gala on Nov. 21, longtime

and sponsorships remain available online at www.

supporter and 2026 Gala Co-Chair Alex Goss said the

sonofasaint.org/gala. In addition to food, drinks and

occasion represents an opportunity to both reﬂect

entertainment, the gala will feature live and silent

on past accomplishments and position the organi-

auctions, with each winning bid directly supporting

zation to provide long-term support for more boys

Son of a Saint mentees.

in the future.

“This is a turning point for the organization. We

“I think the challenge is that because we have had

know this method works. I think our message now

so much success, people don’t quite understand the

is that it works because of the long-term commit-

need for ongoing resources. For every new boy we

ment Son of a Saint has to these boys,” Goss said.

want to add, it takes multiple donors to support that

“That commitment does not end, and that means

boy for 10 or 15 years,” said Goss, co-founder and

the commitment from the community and donors

CEO of NewEdge Advisors. “I think people also don’t

can’t end, either. This organization is changing the

always understand the depth to which we support

city and changing lives. The ripple effect is almost

these boys. It’s so much more than an after-school

immeasurable. The job is not done. There is more

program and so far beyond the traditional mentor/

need than ever.” While the Gala is a crucial part of Son of a Saint’s

mentee element.” Founded in 2011 by

annual fundraising, Goss said the organization is

Bivian “Sonny” Lee III,

focusing on long-term ﬁnancial sustainability more

Son of a Saint provides

than ever before. That would mean more resources

comprehensive long-term

for the boys Son of a Saint currently serves, as well as

support to fatherless boys

the ability to expand its reach to more youth in need.

throughout New Orleans.

“We have to have reliable ﬁnancial commitments

Programs include mental

so our focus can be on the boys,” he said. “One thing

health services, academic

we have talked about a lot as a board is that we won’t

tutoring and enrichment,

break our commitment to these kids.”

recreational activities,

That long-term approach is central to Son of a

leadership development, life skills training and

Saint’s mission. Over its 15 years, the organization’s

more. Son of a Saint also introduces young men to

leaders have learned that meaningful change takes

new experiences, including travel, cultural activities,

time, consistency and a willingness to invest in

job shadowing and more.

future outcomes. As it moves into its next chapter,

Lovett, the LSU law profesSon of a Saint works with boys beginning at ages sor, said sellers may have a ‘True market value’ debate difficult time proving their 10-12 and until they turn 21, a truly transformative The disgruntled sellers land was worth more if it sold period in a young man’s life. are using a law called “le- many months before Meta an“Most other organizations have one-time events sion beyond moiety” that is nounced the deal.

Locally owned. Locally trusted.

welcoming data centers, and another developer appears to be planning another one in Richland Parish near the Meta site, albeit much smaller than “Hyperion.” In April, EDC Monroe LLC, a company tied to a data center developer based in Atlanta, bought a 28-acre tract of land less than a mile from Meta’s data center. The sales price: $1.6 million, or $57,000 an acre. Jeff Churchwell, executive director of the electric utility in the region, Northeast Louisiana Electric Power Cooperative, conﬁrmed the developer has plans for a data center on the property, but declined further comment. EDC didn’t respond to messages. The seller of the land, Floyd Swain, declined to comment on the sale price. He said he doesn’t even know “what a data center is” and was not aware of the buyer’s plans for the property. “If you ﬁnd out about it, you let us know,” Swain said. “We don’t know nothing about it.”

or singular mentorship moments. Son of a Saint has

sustaining that commitment will be just as important as growing its reach. Visit www.sonofasaint.org to learn more about the organization’s work and how you can become a supporter.

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Preston

Tour bus operator

“The future’s happening here in Richland Parish.” Kaycie

Coﬀee shop owner

Lindsay

Food truck owner

$1.6 billion for Louisiana businesses. Catering for 40 people used to be a good week. Now they hit 400. And that’s just the tacos. From coﬀee shops to bus tours, Meta’s Richland Parish investment is already paying oﬀ for businesses across Louisiana.

The future is for everyone. meta.com/BuildingLouisiana

6A F Sunday, October 25, 2026 F nola.com F The Times-Picayune

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OPERATION

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers arrest Jose PortilloGifaro on Frenchmen Street in New Orleans.

Continued from page 1A killed two protesters in Minnesota, and Trump’s new Homeland Security Secretary, Markwayne Mullin, promised a quieter strategy with bigger results. Now, without as much public attention, agents are arresting more people one by one in traffic stops — occasionally with deadly outcomes — and often before dawn. Hundreds have also been arrested at airports. Immigration judges have issued scores of deportation orders after calling last-minute hearings. “There is more time and more resources, and a lot of officers involved in (these operations),” said Brian Acuna, a senior official in ICE’s New Orleans Field Office who leads arrest operations across five Southern states. “One at a time adds up.” Stoked by a hiring surge, an influx of federal tax dollars and hundreds of local officers newly deputized as immigration agents, ICE has channeled the tactics into record-breaking arrest figures. Nationwide, federal agents netted a record 49,000 immigrant arrests in July alone, the last month for which complete data was available, according to ICE records obtained by the Deportation Data Project and reviewed by The Times-Picayune | The Advocate. That’s by far the highest figure of Trump’s second term; monthly arrests under former President Joe Biden typically numbered around 10,000, according to the Deportation Data Project. In Louisiana, agents made a record-high 690 arrests in June and another 800 the next month. (Last December, when Border Patrol agents flooded the state, there were 643 statewide arrests.) Increasingly, immigration attorneys say, ICE is using a growing web of license plate readers installed by local police to track targets. “Arrest numbers are going up because cities and states are getting bullied into cooperating with ICE,” said Jeremy Jong, a New Orleansbased immigration lawyer. “If ICE has access to license plate readers, they can figure out where undocumented people are and go and arrest them easier. If they have access to cameras, they can go find those people.” The recent operation was one in a flurry across the state in recent weeks. Agents detained several dozen people last week in a Border Patrolled raid outside Baton Rouge, several officials familiar with the operation said. Portillo-Gifaro’s arrest stood apart due to his criminal record, which includes arrests in connection with assault in California and Louisiana, though records do not show he was ever convicted. A few months ago, sheriff’s deputies in New Orleans arrested and jailed him on a count of aggravated battery with a weapon. Records from the incident are sparse, but a court filing shows prosecutors declined to charge him after they could not find the victim. Portillo-Gifaro was

STAFF PHOTO BY SOPHIA GERMER

for air as they cuffed him and led him to a waiting SUV. One agent fist-bumped a man on a porch and thanked him for his patience with the swarm of feds who had flooded his yard. Portillo-Gifaro had spent the better part of three decades in the United States, punctuated by an earlier deportation. An hour after his arrest at the ICE processing center in St. Rose, he reflected in a white-walled room on how it had come to an end.

’They’re doing their job’ released in July. Records suggest a majority of those arrested by ICE during the summer and fall surge had no criminal backgrounds. After the agents cornered him on Frenchmen Street, Portillo-Gifaro’s arrest briefly turned public as unmarked ICE vehicles screeched down the residential block and agents swarmed the backyard through which he had tried to escape. Neighbors watched from porches as agents bundled him into an SUV. “Let’s move,” a supervisor said. “We’ve been out here too long.”

Early-morning stakeout The operation began at 5 a.m. in the parking lot of a downtown New Orleans highrise where the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, has offices. Agents had spent days surveilling Portillo-Gifaro and knew his movements. Now they sipped coffee from portable, metal mugs as a team leader explained the plan. Two cars loaded with agents would set up a block from Portillo-Gifaro’s workplace in an industrial patch of the St. Claude neighborhood, while another watched his Mid-City house. Agents posted at the house planned to follow from a distance as he left for work sometime between 5:50 and 6:15 a.m. They would move to arrest PortilloGifaro when he stepped out of his car at work. “He’s quick,” the team leader said. “He’ll step out and run off fast.” It was still dark when the agents fanned out across the city. Acuna, who joined the agents staking out PortilloGifaro’s workplace, had reason to spotlight this operation. ICE has long been critical of the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office, which runs the jail, for refusing to honor immigration detainers — requests from federal law enforcement for local agencies to hold people wanted for immigration violations until federal agents can detain them. Acuna said the Sheriff’s Office had declined to honor a detainer ICE issued in their bid to arrest PortilloGifaro. Asked about Portillo-Gifaro’s case, the Sheriff’s Office referred to court documents from its litigation with Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill’s office. Murrill has sued the Sheriff’s Office over its detainer practice, which stems from a years-old federal consent decree, saying

it’s violating a ban on “sanctuary cities” adopted by the state Legislature two years ago. The litigation hinges on whether the consent decree demands override the state law. As the sun inched upward, a few residents peered into the bulky SUVs’ windows as they walked their dogs. A cat slunk under the fence around a nearby linens business as white trucks rolled out of the parking lot to start the day’s deliveries. The clock kept ticking: 7 a.m. came and went, then 8. Still no sign of Portillo-Gifaro. Agents discussed their backup plan over portable radios. If he didn’t leave the house, they would knock on his front door and try arresting him on his stoop. If that failed, they would ask a federal judge for a warrant to arrest him for illegally reentering the U.S., a felony charge. Such a warrant would allow them to enter the house to arrest him. The sun was high in the sky by the time Portillo-Gifaro emerged. He lit a cigarette on the porch. At 9:03 a.m., he placed a cooler in his Civic and started driving. Agents tailing him from the house watched him stop into a sandwich shop on Bienville Street. He hopped back into his car and headed east on I-10. “He’s still headed this way,” Acuna, parked at the worksite, said into his radio.

Change in plans A few unexpected turns later, Portillo-Gifaro pulled into the Mardi Gras Truck Stop, a popular hangout for day laborers. He parked against a wrought-iron fence separating the truck stop from a Lowe’s parking lot that had been a locus of arrests when Border Patrol agents swept the city last year. Portillo-Gifaro walked toward the truck stop store, a battered blue-and-green building that sells fried chicken, drinks and snacks. ICE agents surveilling him had watched him visit here in days prior. Now, they wondered whether he’d made a pit stop on the way to a laterthan-usual shift. “He may either be waiting for somebody, or looking for work here,” an agent radioed. By 9:36 a.m., Portillo-Gifaro hadn’t left the truck stop, and the agents staking out the St. Claude workplace began driving that way. Their plan had been upended. More agents were called to the truck stop to prepare to confront the “large number of individuals” in the lot. “This whole place is hot,” one agent said over the radio.

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The agents’ cars spread out to avoid detection as they arrived in the truck stop’s vicinity. Some parked behind an adjoining casino while others took positions in the Lowe’s lot. A trucker came out of the casino, hands on hips, peering into one of the cars. Glimpsing Acuna’s tactical gear, he saluted and walked back inside. Later, Portillo-Gifaro said the men outside the truck stop realized what was afoot. They were no strangers to dark-windowed vehicles lurking near day-laborer gathering spots. Another 15 minutes passed. Then one by one, the men began walking to their cars. The agents sprang out of their SUVs. Portillo-Gifaro turned a shoulder and started running. He sprinted west through moving cars on a stretch of Elysian Fields that approaches a highway onramp. Sirens blared as the ICE ﬂeet surged perpendicular to trafﬁc. Portillo-Gifaro hoisted himself over a fence bearing a campaign sign for a local judge and ran into an overgrown lot. One agent followed him over the chain link. Federal agents engulfed the block. Several chased on foot while others pulled the cars around. In the grassy lot, the agents and Portillo-Gifaro heaved

Portillo-Gifaro first entered the U.S. illegally at age 17 after his mother died in Honduras, he recalled. He lived in San Antonio until 1995, when he was deported a first time. After the COVID pandemic, he returned to the U.S. looking for work to support his four children and wife, who were trying to build a house in the Honduran city of Villanueva. He found jobs blasting and painting boats. The work paid better than anything at home, he said. Still, the past few years were turbulent. He was arrested in connection with assault. Immigration agents seemed to be everywhere. “You have to hide from ICE anytime you leave your house,” Portillo-Gifaro said. That was a contrast to when he first entered the U.S., when “you could just walk across the border, no one bothering you,” he said. That morning, Portillo-Gi-

faro said he had been waiting for painting work at the truck stop when the agents arrived. He said he had planned to return to Honduras in January, when he expected to have saved enough money to ﬁnish the family house. He added that he bore the ICE agents no ill will. “They’re doing their job,” he said. ICE records showed Portillo-Gifaro was held over the weekend in the Adams County Correctional Center in Natchez, Mississippi, an ICE-contracted facility. By Thursday, he no longer appeared in the agency’s detention database, suggesting he had been deported. Portillo-Gifaro’s battered silver Civic remained in the Mardi Gras Truck Stop parking lot last week. Someone appeared to be sleeping in it. A shattered window had been covered with cardboard, and the Louisiana license plate was gone. Staff writer Justin O’Connor contributed to this report. Email James Finn at jﬁnn@ theadvocate.com. How we reported this story: A photographer and reporter for The Times-Picayune | The Advocate joined federal agents on an October immigration enforcement operation to gain a deeper understanding of tactics driving the recent surge in immigration arrests.

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The Times-Picayune F nola.com F Sunday, October 25, 2026 F 7A

Six Flags says it Envoy: Iran says its still open to talks Iranian official U.S. will install seat ofaccuses undermining belts on coaster diplomacy for all rides at Announcement procedures its theme parks. Investigators haven’t said comes after what went wrong on the death at Ga. park Georgia coaster. Witnesses

BY RUSS BYNUM

Associated Press

The chief executive of Six Flags says the company will install seat belts on the Georgia roller coaster from which a rider fell to his death earlier this month. The company’s rides with similar restraints will also get the safety upgrade. The theme park operator announced the extra safeguard less than two weeks after 42-year-old Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem of Atlanta died after being ejected from his seat on the Goliath coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia. “We are reinforcing safety precautions at our parks and taking additional measures, including adding seat belts on Goliath and other coasters with a similar restraint,” John Reilly, president and CEO of Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, said in a statement Friday. Goliath remains shut down while state and local ofﬁcials investigate the Oct. 12 death. Reilly didn’t specify which other Six Flags coasters will get seat belts. But it has temporarily closed eight additional roller coasters at ﬁve other parks in the U.S. and Canada. Those rides all share the same manufacturer and a similar restraint system. Six Flags hasn’t said when those coasters are expected to reopen. Reilly’s statement said Six Flags has enlisted independent engineers and inspectors to review safety

said they saw Kariem rise up out of his seat and fall headfirst back into the cart before being ejected. Some people who rode Goliath before him that day said they had concerns about its restraints. All nine of the Six Flags coasters taken offline were manufactured by the Swiss company Bolliger & Mabillard. They also feature similar clamshell restraints that sit at the top of a vertical bar between each rider’s knees. The bar locks a padded restraint into place over the rider’s lap and upper legs. The U.S. patent granted to Bolliger & Mabillard for the restraint system in 2001 says it’s designed to make each rider feel “that he is seated on a flying carpet or that he is at the controls of a kind of flying scooter, while still guaranteeing optimum security.” Following the death in Georgia, non-Six Flags theme parks SeaWorld Orlando in Florida and La Ronde in Montreal, Canada, also temporarily closed one roller coaster apiece that use clamshell restraints.

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ISLAMABAD — Iran remains open to talks with the U.S. under a Pakistan-brokered interim deal reached in June to end the conﬂict, Tehran’s ambassador to Islamabad said Saturday, accusing Washington of undermining diplomacy and prolonging the standoff over the Strait of Hormuz. Ambassador Reza Amiri Moghadam said that Iran recently conveyed through Pakistan that it was prepared to reopen the Strait of Hormuz if Washington lifted its naval blockade, but accused President Donald Trump of rejecting the proposal by insisting the blockade of Iranian ports would continue. Pakistan and Qatar helped broker the June agreement, which sought to restore shipping through the strait, lift the U.S. naval blockade and begin negotiations toward a broader deal addressing Iran’s nuclear program. Moghadam, speaking at a seminar in Islamabad, said that Iranian officials had conveyed their willingness to reopen the strait during visits to Tehran by Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Muni r, pro-

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Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey before deciding whether to support it, describing it as a potential instrument for unity. “We will study the Mecca Agreement, and if it is good, we will support it,” he said. The agreement was signed following renewed attacks by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen on Saudi Arabia. The three countries who signed it said it would strengthen collective deterrence and expand defense cooperation. Turkey has submitted the agreement to parliament for ratiﬁcation. Turkish and ISNA PHOTO BY AMIRHOSEIN KHORGOOI Pakistani ofﬁcials say it is defensive and does not tarA man looks out over the water as a small boat passes get Iran or any other councargo ships anchored Satruday in the Strait of Hormuz off try. Bandar Abbas, Iran. Turkey has ruled out sending troops into Yemen to vided Washington ended its that Tehran would study attack the Houthis, while blockade. the Mecca Joint Defense Pakistan says its role would Moghadam also said Agreement that includes be strictly defensive.

8A F Sunday, October 25, 2026 F nola.com F The Times-Picayune

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NURSING

“You can do a lot of important things,” said Jennifer Fernandez, dean of the Charity School of Nursing at Delgado Community College. “But you’re not standing at the bedside on the precipice of life and death.”

Continued from page 1A accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing operates. The program is fast and ﬂexible, with students completing it in four consecutive semesters across 16 months, and offers scholarship incentives to stay in the state after graduation — characteristics becoming more common in nursing education as Louisiana’s colleges and universities attempt to address a worsening workforce shortage. Despite those efforts, Louisiana will have a strained nursing workforce on its hands in the coming years, according to the most recent ﬁgures. A dearth of nurses is a concern nationwide as the baby-boom generation ages and healthcare needs become greater, as well as more expensive. A 2025 report from the Health Resources and Services Administration projects a gap between demand and supply of over 267,000 full-time registered nurses by 2028. The shortage is even more acute in rural areas. Among the top 10 states with the largest projected shortages in 2038, Louisiana is ranked number nine, with an expected shortage of 11%, or 5,680 fewer full-time RNs than the state is anticipated to need. “In general, the healthcare outcomes are not what we need them to be in Louisiana,” said Brenda Douglas, dean of Tulane’s nursing program. “A big part of that is because we don’t have enough nurses that we need to pay attention to individual people’s needs.” Louisiana nursing educators and administrators say the shortage is not caused by young people lacking interest in a nursing career. Instead, many say they are having to reject suitable applicants at the door. “I would love to admit every qualified student who applies to our nursing program,” Sandra Brown, dean

Partnering up

STAFF PHOTOS BY SOPHIA GERMER

Nursing students gather with med students to talk at the Tulane University nursing facility in New Orleans.

Nursing students Olivia Shih and Amanda McVay practice on a dummy at the Tulane University nursing facility in New Orleans. of the College of Nursing and Allied Health at Southern University, said. “Every semester we have over 300 students apply — that’s 600 students a year — and I have to turn away half of those students, because we simply do not have the space, the capacity or the faculty to accommodate them.” National data backs up that experience. According to an American Association of Colleges of Nursing report on enrollment and graduations in baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs, U.S. nursing schools denied over 92,000 applications in 2025 due to inadequate resources, including faculty, clinical sites and classroom square

footage. “The more faculty we have, the more students we can educate,” Brown said. “The more students we can educate, the more nurses we can put out into the workforce. It’s a domino effect.”

Eager to enter nursing Sarah Vantassel, who is graduating from Tulane’s program with her BSN next semester, was born and raised in Oklahoma with family members who frequently got sick. When she was 12, her mom was hit by a car and temporarily lost her eyesight. Vantassel said she never forgot the compassion of the nurse who tended to her family that day.

“The nurse that was in there made sure I was the first thing that my mom saw — not my dad, not my brother, but her only daughter,” she said. “That really meant a lot to me. Then my mom had really bad complications from the surgery, and that same nurse was in the ICU unit. Regardless of my mom’s history, regardless of how grown I got, she still provided the same level of care, still asked me how I was doing and if I needed anything. That is the moment I was like, ‘OK, I’m going to be like you when I grow up.’” Other students had their own reasons for going into the ﬁeld, but what they had in common was a formative moment with a nurse in their past. “I grew up doing competitive gymnastics, so I was always breaking bones,” Tulane nursing student Olivia Shih said. “I felt like I was exposed to a lot of nurses from a young age, and I always liked what they did and my interactions with them more than I did with the actual doctors.” Nursing educators said the meaningfulness of the work is what continues to bring new nurses into the profession. None of the universities mentioned recruiting students as a major challenge contributing to the shortage.

a nursing school because we’ll be able to bring all of our nursing and allied health programs under one roof.” In the state’s ﬂagship university system, LSU Health New Orleans has opened off-campus instructional sites in Baton Rouge and Shreveport to expand access to nursing programs for students across the state, according to School of Nursing Dean Demetrius Porche. “Addressing Louisiana’s nursing shortage requires more than just increasing enrollment,” Porche said in a statement. “It requires creating accessible pathways into the profession, supporting students throughout their academic careers and ensuring graduates are prepared to meet the evolving healthcare needs of our state and communities.” Tulane is also striving to innovate nursing education, Douglas said. While the accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing is not unique, a nursing program housed in the medical school is a less common structure, she said. The university designed it that way, in part, to allow nursing students to learn how to collaborate on an interprofessional team and utilize the state-of-theart — yet costly — resources that are typically only available to medical students, such as cadaver labs. She said higher education plays the primary role in tackling the workforce shortage in the state. In addition to training the next generation of nurses, the university eyes students who would be a good ﬁt to join nursing faculty one day, she said. “We’ve made a concerted effort in every single semester to really make students understand that they can make a difference here,” Douglas said. “It’s up to us to inculcate students with this real sense of purpose to stay here in Louisiana.”

For their part in combating the nursing shortage, Louisiana colleges and universities say they are launching accessible education options to remove time and financial barriers to pursuing a nursing degree, training students with hyper-realistic equipment and settings to prepare them for the ﬁrst year on the job and partnering with hospitals to secure job placements. Last year, Delgado received $1.4 million from the Louisiana Department of Health and Ochsner Health to establish an evening and weekend program for licensed practical nurses to become registered nurses. Shifting more into evening and weekend hours allows the college to utilize its current faculty and staff and maximize its clinical capacity, Fernandez said. Delgado is also working to introduce more K-12 students to the nursing field, starting as early as middle school. The college has around 1,000 nursing students between its various nursing programs and over 3,000 pre-nursing students in the pipeline, Fernandez said. “The earlier the exposure to it, maybe we can get them to fall in love with science and healthcare and continue to pursue that,” she said. “They pursue what they’re exposed to.” Southern University, which graduates the largest number of Black nurses in the state, is planning to double its capacity by opening a new 69,000-square-foot classroom, lab and clinical training building adjacent to the existing nursing building in Baton Rouge. “The new building is going to elevate into a health Email Haley Miller at science center,” Brown haley.miller@theadvocate. said. “It’ll be more than just com.

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DUNCAN

New Orleans Saints fans gather outside New Orleans Cafe in Paris the day before the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday.

Continued from page 1A reminded him of the traditional hurricane preparation back home. “They know a storm is approaching,” he said. Moments later, Gov. Jeff Landry addressed the crowd of civic and business leaders at the conference. “For all of the Louisianans and Americans here, do not worry about these protests,” he said during his 11-minute speech to conclude the daylong LED summit. “The full French experience is when there is a protest going on. This has been going on since the 1700s. It’s not a big deal. They do it consistently around here. I told the French officials, as long as they keep the guillotine in the closet, we’ll be fine.” Landry’s levity sparked a round of chuckles from the packed crowd in the ornate second-floor ballroom. But downstairs, just outside the mansion’s wrought-iron gates, heavily armed gendarmes stood guard at the hotel entrances. The contrasting scene was a familiar one for the thousands of fans, business and civic leaders who made the trip here for the week of activities leading up to the historic game between the New Orleans Saints and Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. For the most part, the city teemed with life, a picture postcard of the renowned joie de vivre that has made Paris one of the world’s great tourist destinations: businessmen sipping espresso and reading L’Équipe at corner sidewalk cafés before work; small clusters of well-appointed 30-something women carrying shopping bags from Hermès, Chanel and Dior; and kids joyously chasing a pickup soccer game across nearby park lawns. Between dispatches, our four-man coverage crew — reporters Luke Johnson and Matt Paras, photographer Chris Granger, and myself — tried to meet for lunches and dinners when possible, tucking into hearty meals of pasta, steak frites and carafes of house red at the seemingly endless number of sidewalk bistros in the busy Marais and Latin Quarter neighborhoods. The tables were crowded, the bread was warm, and best of all, the meals were entirely incident-free. During these get-togethers over raviolis, chorizo croquettes and roasted camembert, it was possible to momentarily forget the potential danger and ignore the constant text messages of concern from friends and family back home. Yet, scars of the violent demonstrations from last weekend were still evident after our group arrived on Monday, especially near the main demonstration sites in the working-class eastern part of the city: Place de Republique, Place de la Bastille and Place de la Nation. Nearly every authorized mass union or student demonstration moves along an eastern

STAFF PHOTOS BY CHRIS GRANGER

on Saturday night. After multiple briefings with local law enforcement officials and NFL security, team officials elected to continue with their monthslong plan — one which had taken untold amounts of money and time — to host the exclusive event, which is located only a few blocks from the Champs-Élysées, where hundreds of demonstrators and riot police staged a violent standoff just a week earlier. Saints officials sent an email to guests on Saturday ahead of the party, asking for contact information and assuring them that “the safety and security of our guests remain our highest priority.” “We continue to coordinate closely with the U.S. Embassy in Paris, the NFL, and relevant French authorities at both the local and national levels,” the email said. “We are aware of demonstrations anticipated in Paris today. Based on current informa-

New Orleans Saints fans roam the streets of Paris as a large protest looms in France on Saturday. corridor connecting these three massive plazas. More violence was expected Saturday, with a demonstration planned for 2 p.m. at the Place de la Bastille and Place de la National. The planned protest created valid security concerns for the thousands of traveling Saints fans and their counterparts from Pittsburgh, who had planned a day on the town in Paris before Sunday’s kickoff at Stade de France. The U.S. State Department issued a security alert, advising “Americans in Paris for the NFL game” to “exercise caution and be aware of their surroundings.” The NFL, Saints and Steelers shut down their fan houses at various times earlier in the week. The Saints delayed their primary Saturday gathering until Sunday ahead of the game to avoid Saturday’s demonstration window. The

NFL closed its ﬂagship NFL House fan venue in central Paris on Saturday morning, a day after shutting down its city-center pop-up merchandise shop. Meanwhile, some of the main tourist attractions — the Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay, the Musée Picasso and sections of the Centre Pompidou — also closed their doors for the day. Organizers of Art Basel Paris at the Grand Palais abruptly canceled their weekend public programming. The Saints had internal discussions earlier in the week about whether to cancel their party for guests, sponsors and VIPs at the Hotel Salomon de Rothschild

tion, these activities are expected to take place in eastern Paris, away from the Hôtel Salomon de Rothschild and the areas where we anticipate most guests are staying. We do not anticipate any impact on this evening’s celebration, and all arrangements remain unchanged.”

To appreciate the situation, it helps to understand the logistics of the Paris metro area. The Saints players, coaches and support staff have been ensconced since Monday in a luxury hotel on

ä See DUNCAN, page 11A

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STAFF PHOTOS BY CHRIS GRANGER

The location where participants took turns throwing a football across the River Seine at the NFL’s Hail Mary event in Paris on Friday. Throwers tested their skills by attempting to launch the ball across the river.

DUNCAN

Continued from page 10A the grounds of Versailles. The team landed in Paris on Monday, just days after riots and protests led to more than 1,000 arrests and widespread damage in the city. Their practice site is a mile east of their hotel at Stade de Montbauron, a local municipal stadium similar to Tad Gormley Stadium along Allée Pierre de Coubertin. The Versailles area, replete with high-end shops and leafy neighborhoods, is one of the most afﬂuent in suburban Paris, closely resembling Old Metairie, albeit much older and much grander. Sunday’s game will be played at Stade de France, which is located north of central Paris, just outside the Boulevard Périphérique ring road in the suburb of Saint-Denis. NFL security and local law enforcement ofﬁcials have said throughout the week that they do not anticipate any impact on the game. That was also the case at the local fan hot spots, which became more crowded as the week progressed and more Saints and Steelers fans started to arrive from

various locations in the States Rosie’s Smokehouse BBQ, the American-style sports bar designated as the Saints’ official fan headquarters in the heart of the historic Latin Quarter, had only a handful of Who Dats on hand when we visited Tuesday afternoon. By Thursday, the small storefront had effectively transformed into a corner of Poydras Street in the 5th Arrondissement, overflowing with traveling Louisianans in black and gold trading “Who Dat” chants with French fans just across the river from Notre Dame. Saints fans appeared to outnumber Steelers fans 2- or 3-to-1, an observation confirmed by a group of Who Dats from Gulfport, Mississippi, whom I met in a Versailles coffee shop Saturday morning. While it was not hard to find Saints fans if you visited the NFL-designated outposts, they were few and far between on the streets of this busy, bustling metropolis of 12.5 million people. Much like when Super Bowls are held in Los Angeles or New York, the sheer enormity of the urban area overwhelms the event and dilutes its impact on

daily life. As my cab driver said on Thursday night, “The protesters do not care about American football. Believe me, that’s not on their minds.” Brett Gosper, the NFL executive overseeing operations here this week, tried to put the situation into perspective for us during our visit to the league’s temporary ofﬁce in downtown Paris. “I think you’ve got to be aware of what’s being announced, because these demonstrations are announced when they’re going to happen,” said Gosper, a former professional rugby player in Australia. “And then at that point, you can manage where you are and what you’re doing. These (incidents) have happened in

The Times-Picayune F nola.com F Sunday, October 25, 2026 F 11A

Shops and businesses board windows Friday in advance of planned protests on Saturday in Paris. pockets of Paris, and they’ve not been near the stadium where we’re operating and so on. But it’s just a matter of being vigilant if things are announced as to where you might be at that time. But nothing’s announced for the coming week.” Only a few blocks away from the NFL ofﬁce, though, on the boulevards between the Bastille and République, the scene carried distinct echoes of Victor Hugo: barricades erected in the

intersections, a burned-out car on the side of the street, scattered broken glass on the sidewalks, and the unmistakable sense that in Paris, the line between daily life and revolution is always thin. A friend from New Orleans, who has lived in France for the last several years, perhaps put it best. While the passion and intent behind the protests are real, he said they are largely a byproduct of the legendary

French “jamais content,” a French expression which translates loosely to “never happy” and captures the essential grumpiness of the French. To some degree, though, they are a bit of an act, he said: “The French understand the value of living a good life.” That was evident for our crew this week, despite the underlying tension and very real hauntings of civic unrest.

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Thousands of protesters march in cities across Europe Tasers, he said.

Rome

MILAN — Thousands of young people marched Saturday through the streets of several Italian cities, including Milan, Rome and Turin as authorities deployed large numbers of police and soldiers in a largely successful bid to stave off a repeat of the violent clashes and looting that marred similar protests last week. The demonstration in Milan remained peaceful, but there were brief clashes with police in both Rome and Turin. In Milan, thousands of young people marched the streets as soldiers were deployed and luxury boutiques were boarded up, but by late afternoon, most shops had opened, Italian media reported. Premier Giorgia Meloni announced a raft of measures, including sending an additional 500 soldiers to Milan and tougher penalties for minors, who police said made up a large part of the violent protesters last week. In Milan, police detained several minors as a preventive measure, media reported. While protests in France have claimed most international attention, large demonstrations also rocked many European cities Saturday from Milan to Rome to Madrid, Lisbon and Tirana. The protests encompass a broad range of issues from education and corruption to anti-war movements, pensions and housing.

Milan

broadcast on local television showed. The 500 soldiers deployed to Milan came in addition to hundreds already stationed there, supporting about 5,000 police and other security personnel. Authorities used drone surveillance, checks at railway stations, rapidresponse units and online monitoring for potential calls to violence. A mayoral hopeful, Pierfrancesco Majorino, who announced his candidacy Thursday, joined the marchers and remarked how peaceful the day was, according to Italian media. He will contest a center-left primary in early 2027. Milan’s center-left Mayor Giuseppe Sala, who has held the role since 2016, is not running again. Many stores, particularly luxury boutiques within Milan’s fashion district including Omega, Tiffany and Gucci, boarded up their front windows. The Apple store also shut down and remained shut even as others reopened. Rioters last weekend smashed their way into stores, targeting sneakers, athletic wear and sporting goods on streets that run off the city’s central Duomo square. Security measures ex-

tended beyond the city center over concerns protesters could move into other neighborhoods. The protesters ended their march peacefully Saturday evening outside the Milan Polytechnic, more than 2 miles from the city center. Officials said Saturday they were investigating a 30-year-old freelance journalist said to be the “mastermind” of the newly formed Oct. 17 movement, which has been the main driver of the recent protests in Italy. Milan police say last week’s violence and looting involved about 2,000 very young protesters, many of them “naturalized, secondgeneration Italians,” alongside foreign nationals. Over two days, police arrested 45 people, including 34 minors. A group of about 30 farright activists, described as hooligans linked to Inter Milan soccer club, made a brief appearance chanting antiimmigrant and anti-Muslim slogans but were isolated by police. Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said the soldiers deployed Saturday were only recently allowed to use plastic restraint ties and only in areas around train stations, not throughout the city. They are not authorized to carry pepper spray or

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In Milan, huge crowds of mostly young people gathered as night fell, chanting insults to Meloni and holding aloft banners such as “No to lies of the state.” A group of protesters dumped manure outside Italy’s energy regulator and burned a symbolic, oversized electricity bill, images

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO BY GREGORIO BORGIA

Members of right-wing student groups march Saturday through the streets of Rome during a demonstration called ‘Unlock Everything,’ organized in opposition to recent leftwing student protests.

Security was also heightened in Rome, where authorities locked down luxury shopping streets and stepped up controls around the Circus Maximus and Piazza del Popolo. A small number of protesters tried to force their way into the Colosseum, but were ushered out by guards. Elsewhere, several hundred students demonstrated peacefully to stress they were not rioters. “I think the images from last week were truly something terrible, especially for the young people, for the students, for the vast majority of the younger generations who want to study ... and do not accept being represented by those who use issues and needs to devastate entire cities,” said Riccardo Ponzio, national president of an Ital-

Associated Press

Saturday. For over a week, protesters have hurled rocks, flares, firebombs and fireworks at police who have used batons and tear gas in clashes in the city center. High school and university students are demanding lower tuition fees, greater state investment in education and protesting corruption in the education system. Some have joined a broader anti-government movement calling for the resignation of Socialist Prime Minister Edi Rama. A separate protest organized by the opposition outside the prime minister’s office turned violent earlier, Albania with some activists lighting In Albania’s capital Ti- fires on the street. Rama said Saturday his rana, riot police used water cannons on large groups of government was preparing protesters, some of whom a response to the students’ set government buildings on demands and called them to fire and threw projectiles at a dialogue. He warned that police. Authorities said 2,500 violent protesters will face officers patrolled the streets penalties. ian far-right student association. A separate anti-war march took place in central Rome. Organizers sought to distance themselves from potential unrest, urging participants to keep their faces uncovered and hands visible. But it was these marchers who briefly clashed with police near the Piazza della Repubblica, even as organizers were trying to hold the crowd back using batons and tear gas. In the end, the protesters pulled back when a water cannon was turned on. They retreated to a location about half a mile away.

AP P

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Sexual harassment rules for Congress under review In a Congress that has generally Lawmakers see flurry struggled this year to do more than keep the federal government runof ethics cases ning, the House Ethics Committee

BY KEVIN FREKING Associated Press

WASHINGTON — When Rep. Kat Cammack began work on a task force this spring to combat sexual misconduct on Capitol Hill, the Florida Republican soon heard from former staffers who wanted to share their stories. They “came out of the woodwork” she said, and had stayed silent because it was well established that coming forward would be the end of a career they had worked so hard to achieve. “Those were some of the hardest conversations to have,” Cammack said. “And the stories were gutwrenching.” This year’s spike in House Ethics Committee investigations related to sexual misconduct prompted congressional leaders to set up a working group led by Cammack and Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, D-N.M. What they have found is disturbing, Cammack said. Victims are unclear about where they can go for help. They do not trust there will be repercussions for the perpetrator. And the current requirements for reporting harassment can work against them, such as a 180-day “shot clock” for ﬁling a claim after an alleged violation. “It’s a disaster,” Cammack said. “The entire system on Capitol Hill is really designed to create a chilling effect for victims.” The task force is expected to release recommended changes after the Nov. 3 elections with a goal of taking action before the end of the year.

has been caught in the middle of the some of the biggest stories coming out of Washington. Three lawmakers resigned this year rather than face the prospect of an expulsion vote. Two of those cases involved alleged sexual misconduct. Another member was censured for his interactions with two female aides on his staff. Other investigations are ongoing. Those stories emerged at a time when Congress was confronted by public outrage over the government’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case. In the previous months, members of the Democratic Women’s Caucus had multiple meetings with survivors who were pushing for the release of Epstein-related files at the Department of Justice. In April, the Ethics Committee began an investigation into whether then-Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., engaged in sexual misconduct toward an employee working under his supervision. Swalwell would soon resign as colleagues called for his expulsion. Similarly, Rep. Tony Gonzales, RTexas, resigned as the committee investigated whether he had engaged in sexual misconduct toward an employee in his office. Gonzales had acknowledged an affair with a staff member who later died by suicide. Most recently, the committee recommended the censure of Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-N.C., following an investigation that concluded he engaged in persistent unprofessional and inappropriate conduct toward two young female staffers in his office. The House went along

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO BY PATRICK SEMANSKY

This year’s spike in House Ethics Committee investigations related to sexual misconduct prompted congressional leaders to set up a working group. with the recommendation by a vote of 413-2. Rep. Jimmy Gomez, D-Calif., is also the subject of a committee investigation that he may have engaged in sexual misconduct with a House staffer. Gomez said he would cooperate with the investigation but also stressed that his actions were consensual in nature and did not violate the law or House Ethics rules. He also apologized to his family and constituents. The committee is also investigating whether Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla., engaged in sexual misconduct or dating violence, among other allegations. Mills has denied the allegations and recently lost a Republican primary. Cammack said that as stories began to surface about some of the cases before the committee, she and colleagues began talking about what they could do to “clean up the House.” She approached Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Benton, about getting on board.

Johnson’s response, she said, was: “Well, good timing, because I was going to come to you and ask you to take this effort up.” Leger Fernandez was also talking with Democratic leadership about reforms when Cammack reached out to her about working together. “What was neat is on both sides of the aisle, the Democratic Women’s Caucus and the Republican Women’s Caucus were both saying there needs to be structural changes. We need to work together,” Leger Fernandez said. The working group started with listening sessions that included lawmakers and staff. They also reached out to people in the military, corporate America and victims advocacy groups for advice on best practices. Cammack and Leger Fernandez held a packedroom meeting with staff in July. Congress has tried to address the issue of sexual harassment before. It passed legislation in 2018 that among other things required law-

makers to reimburse the Treasury Department for awards and settlements related to sexual harassment cases. It also required that staff have access to a dedicated advocate who can guide them through the process of filing a claim with the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights. Some recommendations from the task force will involve changing House rules. Lawmakers are already banned from having sexual relationships with members of their own staff or their committees’ staff. But the task force wants to expand the ban to include all congressional staff. “If you are looking to advance your love life on Capitol Hill, you’re there for the wrong reason, in my opinion,” said Cammack, who served as a congressional aide for several years before winning election to the House. The working group is also seeking to streamline the reporting system for staff to report harassment. Many simply do not know where to go with a complaint. Another change could be to give alleged victims more time to file a complaint. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which enforces anti-discrimination laws, also enforces a 180-day window for filing a complaint, but that can be extended to 300 days in cases covered by a state or local anti-discrimination law. Increasing the time for filing a complaint would be an update to the Congressional Accountability Act, which requires Congress to follow many of the same employment laws that apply to the private sector. Updating current law would also require Senate buy-in, complicating prospects.

In Midwest, Obama accuses Trump and allies of cruelty, indecency BY JACQUELINE GANUN and STEVE PEOPLES

Associated Press/Report for America DETROIT — Former President Barack Obama on Saturday seized on what he described as cruelty and indecency coming from President Donald Trump and his Republican allies, stepping into one of the nation’s ugliest midterm ﬁghts as

he worked to rally Democratic voters in two Midwestern battlegrounds. First in Ohio, Obama took aim at Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, who has doubled down on an advertising campaign featuring the estranged mother of Democratic rival Dr. Amy Acton. Trump and Vice President JD Vance have also defended

the ad, even as Republican leaders across Ohio, including Gov. Mike DeWine, have called for its removal. “In recent days, we’ve seen there is no line he will not cross, no low he will not sink to,” Obama said of Ramaswamy, noting that Acton has “spoken movingly about her painful childhood and all she’s experienced: abuse, neglect and

homelessness.” Later in Michigan, Obama condemned critics of Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, suggesting that they’re using his name or his faith to tear him down. “We have seen this movie before. I starred in it,” Obama told a packed high school gym in Detroit. “I’ve got a long-form birth certiﬁcate to prove it.”

“Abdul is as Michigan as it gets,” he added. Obama, 65, remains the Democratic Party’s best motivator nearly a decade after leaving the White House. And he’s taking his star power on the road in the ﬁnal days of the midterm elections, which will help determine the balance of power in American politics on Nov. 3.

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The Times-Picayune F nola.com F Sunday, October 25, 2026 F 15A

More rain expected in Four Corners region Area hit by bad flooding

BY JOHN HANNA Associated Press

Hundreds of people lost power and were told to evacuate in the Four Corners area, emergency crews staged overnight rescues, and roads and bridges remained closed Saturday because of severe ﬂooding in Colorado and New Mexico. Authorities expected more rain Saturday in the region PHOTO PROVIDED BY SOUTH FORK FIRE RESCUE where the borders of Arizona, Pickup trucks are submerged Friday along a road in South Colorado, New Mexico and Fork, Colo. Utah meet. Two months of

heavy rains in the area ended a summer drought, and from Wednesday through Friday, a total of 4 inches fell on saturated ground, with another 1 inch possible Saturday. “We may see some ﬂoodwaters receding, but there will be more rain, and the rivers are expected to rise again,” San Juan County, New Mexico, Emergency Management warned in a Facebook post Saturday. The department said it staged 20 rescues in the Farmington and Shiprock, New Mexico, area, where 600 homes had been urged to evacuate and about 1,500 people were without power,

local utilities reported. A 2-mile stretch of U.S. 64 west of Shiprock into the town was closed because of standing water on the roadway, the New Mexico Department of Transportation said. Standing water and flooding over a bridge over the San Juan River also closed a four-mile stretch of N.M. 371 south of Farmington, the area’s largest city, with about 46,000 residents. The area has seen a week of severe weather in which rain swamped dozens of homes in Utah and tornadoes blew off roofs, knocked trees onto houses and downed power lines in Arizona. Farmington

Police Chief Steve Hebbe called the flooding a “once in a generation” event during a Friday news conference. 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. While parts of the Southwest are rocky with little vegetation and are naturally prone to flash flooding, the recent rains had saturated the ground and made widespread flooding more likely. The moisture was from the remnants of Pacific tropical systems that had come ashore, forecasters said.

North Korean leader visits China to inaugurate new cross-border bridge BY KIM TONG-HYUNG and HUIZHONG WU Associated Press

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited China on Saturday, inaugurating a new bridge that connects the two countries and vowing to expand cooperation with his powerful neighbor. Kim’s visit to China is his latest move in an increasingly assertive foreign policy as he seeks to align Pyongyang with Beijing and Moscow in a united front against the United States under what he portrays as a “new Cold War.” It’s his first visit in a year. Kim arrived in the Chinese border city of Dandong Saturday after crossing the newly opened bridge, according to South Korea’s Unification Ministry and China’s official Xinhua News Agency. In Dandong, Kim visited a memorial marking China’s support of North Korea during the 1950-53 Korean War and met with Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of China’s Communist Party. At the memorial, Kim said that North Korea will “firmly carry forward the invincible

DPRK-China friendship forged at the cost of blood all the time,” according to the North’s official Korean Central News Agency. DPRK stands for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the North’s official name. During their meeting, Kim reaffirmed a resolve to develop bilateral cooperation, while Wang conveyed Chinese President Xi Jinping’s greetings and said Kim’s visit to the memorial was “of great significance” in carrying forward the friendship between the two countries, KCNA said. The two toured a car factory as well, before Wang accompanied Kim to the bridge to send him off, according to KCNA and Xinhua. Experts said the opening of the New Yalu River Bridge this month was a key symbol of strengthening ties between North Korea and China and reflected their intent to expand trade, as it is expected to accommodate two-way traffic around the clock, including container shipments and heavy cargo trucks. The bridge was opened after more than a decade of delay. While returning home via the bridge, Kim said “the

bridge would undoubtedly anniversary of China’s first War, which was days after Yalu River into North Korea and correctly fulfill its histor- major victory in the Korean Chinese troops crossed the in October 1950. ic mission of linking the two countries and firmly joining the minds of the peoples of the two countries,” KCNA reported. 54th Annual Kim has recently taken steps to bolster ties with China, the North’s traditional main ally and economic lifeline, after years of prioritizing ties with Russia. China, for its part, has sought to restore its unique influence over North Korea. North Korea has sent thousands of troops and conventional weapons to support Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine, possibly in exchange for military and economic assistance. Kim’s latest visit to China is his sixth since taking power in late 2011 following the death of his father, Kim Jong Il. The visit appears 150+ Arts & Crafts Booths Antiques Food Court to be timed to underscore the strength of his ties with Children’s Activities Live Music House Tour Beijing ahead of the Oct. 25

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LOUISIANA POLITICS La. is outlier in midterm congressional elections WASHINGTON – Baton Rouge pollster John Couvillon turned on his TV after Labor Day expecting — and like most political junkies, even looking forward to — a deluge of campaign commercials. He saw only two. This past week, however, airwaves began filling with candidate ads going into the final days before the Nov. 3 congressional midterm elections. “Until this week, I haven’t really been seeing the same level of activity relative to previous election cycles,” Couvillon said. The slowerthan-usual rollout suggests that Louisiana isn’t really part of the national Mark wave that will deBallard termine which party controls the U.S. House and U.S. Senate for the final two years of Donald Trump’s presidency. Partly, that’s because of the chaos surrounding recent changes in Louisiana’s election laws, and partly it’s the result of the U.S. Supreme Court’s June 29 decision in Callais vs Louisiana. Trump’s popularity is at historic lows, and Republicans in traditionally red states — like Texas, Mississippi and Iowa — are suddenly fighting for their political lives. But Louisiana’s competitive congressional races — two open House races and one Senate seat — are likely to go Republican. The U.S. Senate race to replace incumbent Sen. Bill Cassidy is between U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow, R-Baton Rouge, and Democrat Jamie Davis, a farmer and former Tensas Parish Police juror, will be decided when votes are counted, since a primary election already took place.

House races, Gov. Jeff Landry ordered candidates to run in an open primary on Nov. 3. Beyond confusion about which congressional district they landed, many African American voters were angry, said Ashley Shelton, head of the Power Coalition, a New Orleans-based grassroots organization. “Early voting, so far, has been off the charts,” Shelton said. “Callais absolutely played a factor in the turnout we’re seeing.” As of Thursday night, 232,695 ballots were cast early, of which 74,275 were cast by African Americans — that’s more in three days than the 66,824 cast in the full week of early voting in November 2023 runoff for statewide offices, according to results compiled by the Louisiana Secretary of State. Early voting in Louisiana began Oct. 20 and ends Tuesday. “What we’re seeing is voters standing up and saying they want their voices heard,” said Shelton, whose organization has been holdSTAFF PHOTO BY SOPHIA GERMER ing meetings across the state to educate voters. A poster of the ‘I Voted’ sticker by Terrance Osborne was on display during early voting for the Nov. 3 ballot. “People have had enough time to kind of figure out what district “The drama was all front-loaded R-Lafayette, do not face any well- cause of Callais.” they’re in,” said Professor Albert in the Senate race,” said Uniknown challengers. Changing elections Samuels, who teaches political However, the races to replace versity of Louisiana at Monroe science at Southern University. Letlow in the 5th Congressional Professor G. Pearson Cross, who Court rulings and redistricting “People are just now beginning teaches congressional politics and District, and Rep. Cleo Fields, the have put this year’s election forto focus, which is later than usual. Baton Rouge Democrat who opthas published a book on changes mat in turmoil. So, if I’m right, what you have in Louisiana politics. A 6-3 majority on the U.S. Sued not to run for reelection in the is a very fluid electorate,” said All the initial attention was on 6th Congressional District, likely preme Court on June 29 found veteran political operative Roy efforts by the Louisiana Repubwon’t be decided until a runoff in Louisiana’s Baton Rouge-based Fletcher, of Baton Rouge, who December. 6th Congressional District was lican Party to punish Cassidy, Rwas part of the Senate campaign The GOP super-majority unconstitutionally gerrymanBaton Rouge, for voting to convict for State Treasurer John Fleming, Legislature changed the state’s Trump on impeachment charges dered for racial reasons. primary system to one where stemming from the Jan. 6, 2021 Several Deep South Republican- which ended in the May runoff that Letlow won. only fellow partisans chose their storming of the U.S. Capitol. run states, including Louisiana, “You got two sides, clearly, but candidates in a May closed party The races featuring House inused the decision to quickly rearon each of those sides you have cumbents are likely to be decided primary. Cassidy came in third. range Black majority seats, held people deciding which candi“It’s like the air was let out without a runoff. Speaker Mike mostly by Democrats, into disof the balloon,” Cross added. Johnson, R-Benton, Majority tricts that favored Republicans date.” “Then you add the strangeness Leader Steve Scalise, R-Jefferinstead. of starting voting, then stopping Though some primary balEmail Mark Ballard at mbalson, Rep. Troy Carter, D-New it, throwing those votes away beOrleans, and Rep. Clay Higgins, lots had already been cast in the lard@theadvocate.com.

Federal court to hear redistricting arguments

Supreme Court’s ruling. But the Callais plaintiffs say the new map still relies too heavily on race, since it has a majority-Black A federal court will hear argudistrict that stretches from New ments Tuesday on whether CalOrleans up to Baton Rouge. State lais v. Louisiana, the court case that led to seismic changes to the leaders dispute that accusation, saying they drew the map to proVoting Rights Act and a wave of congressional redistricting across tect GOP incumbents like House the country, should Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Benton, be closed. and House Majority Leader Steve A group of White Scalise, R-Jefferson. voters filed the The case is being decided by lawsuit, arguing a three-judge panel sitting in Louisiana’s former Shreveport. The panelists are congressional map former 5th U.S. Circuit Court Capitol — which had two Chief Judge Carl E. Stewart, Buzz majority-Black of Shreveport, who was nomiSTAFF districts — was nated by President Bill Clinton; REPORTS unconstitutional be- and U.S. District Judge David cause it too heavily C. Joseph and District Judge factored in race. The case made it Robert R. Summerhays, both of to the U.S. Supreme Court, which whom sit in Lafayette and were nominated by President Donald issued a ruling that undermined Trump. the section of the Voting Rights Act that courts had long used to require some states to draw majority-Black districts. The Louisiana Legislature responded by drawing a map that Louisiana is getting $5.81 milturned one of the two majoritylion to replace five aging railroad Black districts, currently reprebridges between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, which U.S. Sen. sented by U.S. Rep. Cleo Fields, Bill Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge, says D-Baton Rouge, into a majorityis a step toward potential train White, Republican-leaning district. Louisiana Attorney General service between the two cities. The money comes from the U.S. Liz Murrill’s office is seeking to end proceedings in the case, argu- Department of Transportation through the Consolidated Rail Ining the new map addressed the

BR-N.O. train system gets $5.8 million

accepted medical use, and a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision. The emergency classification took effect Sept. 18 and was formally published Tuesday; it can remain in effect for up to six months or until officials make the rule permanent. The Health Department did not immediately respond to questions about what prompted the change. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency in August designated the three substances as Schedule I drugs under federal law. At the time, the DEA said that the prevalence of kratom has “led to the proliferation of commerSTAFF PHOTO BY SOPHIA GERMER cial products containing opioids chemically synthesized” from Travelers walk to the Amtrak train to take the Mardi Gras line bound for that substance. Mobile, Ala., in New Orleans. Mitragynine pseudoindoxyl and MGM-15 are being sold in confrastructure and Safety Improvesumer markets and MGM-16 is a “highly potent opioid and shares a ments Program. similar pharmacological profile,” It will pay for the design and construction of the bridges in St. Three synthetic opioids derived according to information released James and St. Charles Parish, from kratom have been classified by the DEA in August. Kratom is an herbal substance making rail service in the southas illegal Schedule I drugs on an eastern part of the state safer and emergency basis by the Louisiana derived from tree leaves native to Southeast Asia that acts as a Department of Health, health ofmore reliable, Cassidy said in a stimulant at low doses and a denews release. ficials announced this week. It also helps lay the foundation Mitragynine pseudoindoxyl, pressant at high doses. for a proposed passenger rail MGM-15 and MGM-16 now carry Last year the Legislature route that would connect Baton felony penalties for illegal posses- passed a ban on kratom, which is Rouge, Gonzales and LaPlace to sion or distribution. The Schedule often sold over the counter at gas New Orleans and the New Orstations, convenience stores and I designation indicates a high smoke shops. potential for abuse, no current leans airport, Cassidy said.

Louisiana adds to kratom crackdown

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18A F Sunday, October 25, 2026 F nola.com F The Times-Picayune

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EDUCATION A S K T H E E X P E RT S

Principal works to boost student reading scores Community-centered Q&A WITH LISA PERRIN approach creates PRINCIPAL OF ALLEMANDS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL positive environment

BY ELYSE CARMOSINO Staff writer

Lisa Perrin always knew she wanted to be an educator. Growing up in Raceland, Perrin loved school and her parents impressed upon her the importance of education. In her mind, there was never any question about what she wanted to do when she grew up. “I wanted to impact students and help others have a positive experience the way I did,” said Perrin, now the principal of Allemands Elementary School in Perrin St. Charles Parish. Perrin, who was named her district’s 2025 Principal of the Year, is one of 39 school leaders across the country this year to be chosen as a 2026 “Distinguished Principal” by the National Association of Elementary School Principals. The organization, which advocates for and provides training to K-8 principals and assistant principals, highlighted Perrin’s work creating a “thriving school community” while raising student reading scores. Perrin began her career as a social studies teacher in Lafourche Parish before moving to St. Charles in 2003, where she went from working as a technology facilitator, to assistant principal to principal, eventually becoming the top administrator at St. Rose Elementary. In 2017, she became principal of Allemands, a small school in Des Allemands with about 235 students. Over the past decade, the

school’s share of students reading at or above grade level has grown 22 percentage points, reaching 82% last school year. Perrin credits the improvements in part to the school’s community-centered approach, which often involves partnering with the local library to promote literacy events and hosting workshops for parents. Perrin spoke with The TimesPicayune | The Advocate about how she helped create a ﬂourishing school community and raised student reading scores while offering advice to new principals who want to do the same. This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.

How would you describe your school culture? It’s very positive, and it’s very traditional. Our children and community members are invested in our school. A lot of our former students have kids who attend this school, and I also have teachers who attended as students and now they’re back. Teachers and employees make an effort to get to know the children and put them ﬁrst, and we involve our parents. We’re a Title 1 school (a federal grant for schools that serve students from low-income families), so we do a lot to include our parents and our community in our daily happenings and special events. When you walk in the building, you feel that positive family atmosphere. What do you think a thriving school community looks like? I think a thriving school community is an engaged school community. It’s also a community that’s transparent about its struggles and works to solve problems

together. It’s always about putting children ﬁrst, because it’s an investment in our community. We want students to stay when they become adults and give back to the people here. Student performance is important too, and we’re doing well with that. That’s where we’ve had so much gain in the last ﬁve years. Our school continues to encourage teacher collaboration and professional development as we perfect how we teach different subjects, and we’re seeing gains in our DIBELS scores. Ours were some of the highest in our district over the last few years in K-1 and K-2. What have you done to build a supportive culture? I’m accessible, and I’m out in the school community. I’m at PTA meetings, school events, teacher professional development days. I want people to feel like they can come to me to problem-solve. I implemented an advisory group where parents and community leaders meet monthly to brainstorm and talk about our goals for our children and action steps to achieve those goals. Allemands offers a lot of different workshops through our family center. We have workshops to help parents understand our curriculum and give them a chance to visit the school and work with their students. We also work with the library to promote different events like Literacy Night, where parents come in and they spend time with their kids doing different activities that promote reading and writing. How did you work through challenges that have come up during your tenure? Enrollment has been a big challenge. We’re seeing a decline in student enrollment because of ris-

STAFF FILE PHOTO BY LESLIE WESTBROOK

At Allemands Elementery School in St. Charles Parish, school leaders work with the library to promote different events like Literacy Night, where parents come in and they spend time with their kids doing different activities that promote reading and writing. ing insurance costs and the cost of living in our area. Fewer young families are moving in. However, we had a big boost this year after our district implemented universal pre-K, which helped get more students into our building. Before that, more families were watching their children up until kindergarten, which also made the transition to kindergarten more difﬁcult. The other big challenge has been the state’s new numeracy screener and coming up with a system to administer it. It’s something we’re constantly learning about and using to help us grow as professionals to make sure we’re preparing our students to be successful. What are some of the highlights from your time at Allemands? Being able to really make a difference, helping a child become the person they can be, and help-

ing them see that the future is limitless. Being named our district’s Principal of the Year and receiving recognition from NAESP has also been amazing for being able to collaborate with other educators and showing people how much we do. What advice would you give to new principals? Invest in your students ﬁrst, and don’t get distracted by the managerial part of things. Stay focused on work that helps students learn and grow. If you keep that as the point of your compass, everything else falls into place. Build leaders below you and let them take the lead on different things while offering feedback and support. When you do that, it’s unbelievable how people evolve and blossom. Email Elyse Carmosino at ecarmosino@theadvocate.com.

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The Times-Picayune F nola.com F Sunday, October 25, 2026 F 19A

N.C. House seat was once a political battleground But redrawn districts change voter preferences

the 13th District are running scared. Neither Knott’s ofﬁce nor his campaign responded to a request for an interview. Barringer, a former healthcare lawyer who returned to the tree farm in the district where he grew up, said he was previously a Republican but switched parties to run, hoping he could attract voters of all stripes. “I think people are disgruntled about things that are

BY NICHOLAS RICCARDI Associated Press

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO BYMATT RAMEY

A lone sign for Brad Knott, the Republican nominee running for North Carolina’s 13th Congressional District, is seen on a street corner in Clayton, N.C.

Associated Press

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan urged Afghanistan’s Taliban government on Saturday to take veriﬁable action against militants it says operate from Afghan territory, dismissing Kabul’s assertion that Islamabad was shifting blame for its own security failures. In a separate statement on X, Pakistan’s Informa-

tion Ministry rejected allegations that it was arming Afghans to ﬁght the Taliban or recruiting them to ﬁght anti-Pakistan insurgents. Former U.S. envoy to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad had cited reports of both activities a day earlier. The exchanges come amid heightened tensions between the two sides over militant activity, repeated border clashes and Pakistani airstrikes in Af-

ghanistan, deepening a long-standing dispute over responsibility for crossborder violence. Khalilzad on Friday wrote on X that there had been reports of Pakistan arming Afghans to ﬁght the Taliban inside Afghanistan and of the Pakistani military recruiting Afghans to fight anti-Pakistan insurgents. He offered no evidence, and did not identify the sources of those reports.

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have about double the number of competitive seats it has now. Nickel decided not to run for reelection after studying election returns dating to 2016 and finding that no Democratic incumbent had held on in a seat where Trump took 55% or more of the vote. Trump received 58% of the vote in the new district. Nickel eventually ran for district attorney of Wake County, the deeply Democratic county that was largely cut out of the 13th District. He won his primary and will take office in January. No Republican ran. That highlights how North Carolina, and the country, have effectively become segregated by political party. Only 15% of North Carolina’s voting precincts could be classified as politically competitive, according to Michael Bitzer, a political scientist at Catawba College. “For the average North Carolinian, depending on where they live, if they drive an hour in any direction they will be in a very different North Carolina,” he said. That certainly is the case traversing from the old 13th District to the new one, anchored in subdivisions and soybean and tobacco farms that stretch away from Raleigh. Here, few are talking about the congressional race. They see no reason to vote for anyone other than a Republican. “It’s just what I’ve always been,” said Linda Long, 62, a Republican in the town of Roxboro who works at the local Walmart. This is what Paul Barringer is up against. The Democratic nominee against Knott hopes for an upset in a year when even GOP members in safe seats like

in Congress wasn’t Democrat versus Republican, it was safe seats versus competitive seats,” Nickel said. “When your focus is on running a campaign where you talk to every single voter, you look at things differently and your focus is on solving problems.” Unite America, an organization pushing alternatives to party primaries, calculated that 87% of representatives elected to the House in 2024 were chosen by 7% of the country’s voters. “Voters don’t have any way of holding Congress responsible, except for a narrow window of swing districts,” Nick Troiano, the group’s executive director, said in an interview. “The least competitive election of our lifetimes will lead to the least accountable and least representative Congress of our lifetimes.” Republicans are hoping the narrow range of competitive seats limits what Democrats can win on Nov. 3. “Both sides are fighting over a narrow House battleﬁeld,” said Mike Marinella, a spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Campaign. “It’s a knife ﬁght in a dark alley.” The alley may be widening this year, but it still is an alley. Democrats have expanded their political targets, with the unpopular Iran war and voters angry about high prices. There is a long-standing debate among academics as to how much of the decline can be blamed on partisan-motivated redistricting, known as gerrymandering, and how much on Americans’ increasing proclivity to live among like-minded people who vote the same way. Multiple studieshave found that without partisan gerrymandering, the House would

Pakistan urges Afghanistan to act against militants, denies recruiting Afghan fighters BY MUNIR AHMED

mandering is a decades-old tradition in North Carolina. Democrats used to do it until they lost power in the 2010 wave. Now Republicans do it. “Redistricting is just one of the levers that when Republicans, when they are in control, have to touch,” Parker said. “Otherwise it’s like saying, when we play this baseball game, we’re going to have three outs, we’ll give you two.”

RALEIGH, N.C. — In 2022, Democrat Wiley Nickel ran as a moderate and narrowly won North Carolina’s 13th Congressional District by about 9,000 votes. Two years later, the current congressman, Republican Brad Knott, ran as a conservative and coasted into the U.S. House by more than 70,000 votes. Voters didn’t change their minds. Politicians changed their voters. North Carolina’s Republican-controlled legislature redrew its congressional map to transform what was one of the last remaining swing districts in the South to a safe GOP seat. Lawmakers split the rectangular district into an hourglass shape that carved out Democratic voters in Raleigh and replaced them with a swath of rural counties reaching to the Virginia border. Swing seats, meaning districts a presidential candidate won by 5 percentage points or fewer in the previous election, are disappearing from the national map. For decades after World War II, the number of competitive seats in the House slowly eroded as the nation grew more polarized, voters were less likely to split their ticket and people moved closer to like-minded neighbors, creating Democratic strongholds in urban areas and Republican ones across rural America. That decline accelerated the past year since President Donald Trump sparked a partisan redistricting battle. The number of swing districts fell from 45 to 37. There were 96 House seats that fit the modern definition of a swing seat in 1964, according to one count from the 1970s, when the shrinking number of such districts was ﬁrst noted. That means the overwhelming majority of House seats are effectively won in primaries, with the support of only a fraction of highly ideological voters. Nickel saw the impact during his term. “The biggest divide I found

happening,” Barringer said. “They want people who will ﬁnd ways to work together.” National Democrats added the seat to a list that could ﬂip in such a favorable environment. But many doubt it. “They’re blowing smoke,” Linwood Parker, the 78-yearold mayor of Four Oaks, said of Democrats’ hopes they could win the district. Parker is a lifelong Republican who knows that gerry-

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Navigating open enrollment: Louisiana Blue offers tips on making informed health insurance decisions for 2027 By Amanda McElfresh | amcelfresh@theadvocate.com This article is brought to you by Louisiana Blue. With health insurance enrollment periods and deadlines nearing, now is an ideal time for people to evaluate their coverage and make decisions for 2027. Mike Bertaut, a healthcare economist with Louisiana Blue, said choosing the right plan involves more than comparing monthly premiums. From provider networks and prescription coverage to changes in federal financial assistance, understanding the details of each plan choice/ option can help people avoid unexpected expenses. Here, Bertaut shares more advice on navigating open enrollment and finding coverage that meets individual medical needs and household budgets. What are the main health insurance options? There are four ways to get covered: Medicare, Medicaid,employercoverage oraplanonHealthCare.gov. If you are employed, your first stop should be with your company’s HR department. Most employers subsidize health insurance plans for their employees at a better rate than HealthCare. gov. If you are not working or are a dependent on someone else’s plan, you may be eligible for Medicaid. In Louisiana, many parents have their own health insurance through their jobs, but their children are eligible for Medicaid. If you are 65 or older, or you have certain health conditions or disabilities, you may qualify for Medicare. Why is now the time to think about health insurance? Many employers have open enrollment for next year’s insurance coverage during the last couple months of the year. In addition, individuals can start enrolling on HealthCare.govonNov.1.IfyouwanttobecoveredonJan. 1, you need to choose a HealthCare.gov plan by Dec. 15. The annual enrollment period for Medicare is Oct. 15 to Dec. 7. That is the no-harm, no-foul period to change Medicare plans. When people are older, their needs tend to change a little faster, so there is this flexible period each year to move from one plan to another if needed. Aside from monthly premiums, what factors should people consider when choosing health insurance? People at different ages and different states of health require different levels of coverage. It’s important to considerhowmuchfinancialriskyouwanttotakeon.That includes looking at premiums, co-pays and deductibles. People should also see whether a doctor, hospital or clinic they use is in each plan’s network. When you ask your doctor, make sure you ask if they are specifically “in network” for your health plan. Many doctors and medical facilities will say they accept a certain insurance, but they may be out of your network, which can raise your costs dramatically. If you’re considering a Louisiana Blue plan, you can visit lablue.com to see which providers are in the plan’s network. If you already have a Louisiana Blue plan, you can check the MyLaBlue app [available at lablue.com, as a mobile app or linked through an existing MyChart account] to see which providers are in the network for your plan. How can an agent help people navigate their options? Buying a health insurance product can be confusing. Sometimes there are lots of choices. Agents can be most helpful in this process. They may ask your age, health

considerations, medications and which doctors you want to use to help you zero in on the plan that is best for you. They will use your ZIP code and income level to see what plans are available to you and estimate your out-ofpocket costs. They are the experts at taking all of those considerations into account, walking you through your options and discussing the pros and cons of each one. HealthCare.gov in particular can be daunting. Our recentStraightTalkblogexplainsthedangersofsearching onlineforplans.Manyonlinesearchresultsunfortunately leadpeopletomisinformation, high-pressure tactics and even fraud. Agents know what is legitimate and what is not. What should people know about HealthCare.gov plans with federal subsidies? When you apply for a policy that includes federal assistance,youareresponsible for providing your income estimatefornextyear.Ifyou misjudge that estimate and receive too much assistance, the IRS will want most or even all of it back when you ﬁle your taxes. In the past there were limits on how much of that money the government would claw back. That has changed this year. The limits are gone. There’s much more risk in making that estimate because the penalties could be much more substantial now. This is another situation where using an agent is helpful. They are integral in making sure your income estimates areconservativeandsensible.It’sneverbeenmoreimportant to have an agent involved who understands what the government will expect and what the consequences of an error could be. And,ifyouenteryourincomeinformationandqualify for the state Medicaid program, HealthCare.gov will let you know that. How often should people change or review their health insurance plans? If you have a plan that is working for you and nothing major has changed in your life, including your health, dependents or employment, it may be ﬁne to stick with it. Still, it doesn’t hurt to look at your options each year. Plans come and go, and what you had before through your employerorHealthCare.govmaybedifferentinthecoming year. What are the main things people should do now, before choosing a health plan? Look at your current coverage, the dependents you are covering and who you will be covering in 2027. For everyone on your plan, look at the medications they take, the doctors they see and the hospitals they use. If you have health insurance through your employer, make sure to know their policies around covering spouses. At many companies, if an employee is married, employers will ask if the spouse has access to health insurance at their own job. If they do, the spouse may either not be offered insurance at all, or there will be a substantial fee to cover them on your employer’s plan. Lastly, remember that you can’t predict everything. Unexpected events can and do happen. The best you can do is make sure you are covering the health needs you know about now. Call 1-800-821-2758 or visit lablue.com to connect with a licensed, experienced agent who can help you review your 2027 health plan options. There’s no obligation to buy, and you do not pay anything to work with an agent.

20A F Sunday, October 25, 2026 F nola.com F The Times-Picayune

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Ukraine, Russia eye peace talks, but obstacles remain Both sides backing Melania Trump’s mission BY DEREK GATOPOULOS and SUSIE BLANN Associated Press

KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine and Russia have signaled their willingness to resume U.S.brokered peace talks and are backing a humanitarian mission led by U.S. ﬁrst lady Melania Trump. But deep disagreements over territory and security guarantees that re-emerged this week underscore obstacles to ending the war. The new diplomatic push comes after more than 4½ years of fighting, bringing with it a surprise announcement on Friday: Kyiv and Moscow have agreed to a local ceaseﬁre to allow aid next week into a stranded town in Ukraine’s southern war-divided region of Kherson, following secret consultations between Melania Trump and civilian negotiators from Russia and Ukraine. While the initiative raised hopes of similar humanitarian missions in the future, there were few indications that any of the key positions have shifted. Russia continues to demand Ukrainian territory it does not fully control, while Kyiv insists any agreement must include ironclad guarantees against another invasion. Within hours of Russian President Vladimir Putin

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO BY EFREM LUKATSKY

A woman looks at a house destroyed in a Russian missile strike on Thursday in Kyiv, Ukraine. saying he agreed “in principle” to restart talks, Russia launched a deadly barrage of ballistic missiles and drones on Kyiv. Moscow on the same day said it had destroyed more than 800 Ukrainian drones heading toward its cities.

Talks likely in November U.S. presidential envoy Steve Witkoff secured the latest commitment to talks after shuttling between Oslo, Norway, and St. Petersburg, Russia, this week to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Putin. A new round of negotiations would be the fourth brokered by the Trump administration, following the most recent round in Geneva in February. A Kremlin spokesman said that the next round of talks is likely to be held in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, around mid-

November. Western governments backing the peace initiative are seeking a new formula to break the impasse while acknowledging that territorial and security questions remain unresolved. President Donald Trump’s ties with Zelenskyy, meanwhile, have sunk to a new low. Moscow has been bolstered by Trump’s deal for Russia to supply the U.S. with diesel and his recent rejection of new Russia sanctions. Kyiv has been undermined by disruptions in satellite support for its drones after rejecting a call by the U.S. president to halt strikes on Russian oil infrastructure. Ukrainian leaders fear the moves will embolden Putin, giving him little incentive to compromise at the negotiating table. As Trump increased pressure on Zelenskyy, accusing him of being an obstacle to peace, Witkoff secured the

release of an American who had been jailed for more than four years on charges of fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine. The envoy described the Russian leader as a “humanitarian” at their meeting in St. Petersburg — a remark met with consternation in Ukraine.

Both sides far apart

about 20% of Ukraine but has failed to capture all the territory in the regions over which it claims sovereignty. In a long list of demands, Moscow also wants Ukraine to withdraw forces from all four annexed regions, renounce its bid to join NATO, reduce the size of its military and drop restrictions against the Russian language and a Moscow-affiliated branch of the Orthodox Church. Speaking on state television late Thursday, Putin said Moscow remains “ready to negotiate and seek solutions to this difficult, complex situation,” before adding: “But if some prefer a different path, so be it. In any case, all the objectives of the special military operation will be achieved.” Zelenskyy — who for months has publicly advocated for peace talks — argues that giving up land would leave Ukraine more vulnerable to future attacks. Kyiv views security guarantees as essential to prevent Russia from restarting the war in the future. The Ukrainian president has reaffirmed support for a ceasefire that would freeze front-line positions, followed by talks on conditions for ending the war. Moscow has rejected a break in hostilities until a comprehensive agreement on its terms is reached.

While both sides back calls for new talks, Russia and Ukraine are still far apart on their terms for a settlement, while their armies remain locked on the battleﬁeld and they pummel each other with daily long-range strikes. Central to Russia’s demands is full control of four Ukrainian regions it illegally annexed months after the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022: Donetsk, Luhansk, Security guarantees Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, While Kyiv and Moscow in addition to Crimea, which have maintained limited Moscow seized in 2014. contact to organize prisoner Russia currently occupies exchanges and the return

of fallen soldiers, previous talks have made no progress on the security arrangements needed to sustain a peace deal. Ukraine believes security guarantees backed by Western allies are essential to any future settlement, ideally in the form of NATO membership — an option Vladimir Putin has rejected. Ukraine expects to heavily rely on its own army as the main security guarantee with ﬁnancial backing from its allies. Other elements of security guarantees being discussed range from NATO membership, which the U.S. administration has currently ruled out, direct guarantees from the United States in what Zelenskyy has described as an “Article 5-like format” and backing by the European-led 30-country alliance known as the Coalition of the Willing. Article 5 of the NATO charter contains the alliance’s mutual-defense guarantee, which establishes that an attack on one is an attack on all. “All of these guarantees are possible on the basis of a strong Ukrainian army — in terms of both numbers and quality — with clear funding, and not a small amount. Our colleagues in Europe and America know this,” Zelenskyy told reporters Thursday at a brieﬁng. Following the massive attacks on Kyiv and other cities this week, he argued that only increased Western pressure on Moscow would change its calculations about future peace talks.

U.S. government designates U.N. projections say world losing helium as a critical material ground in climate change fight U.S. faulted for increased emissions

Importance for semiconductors cited

BY JENNIFER MCDERMOTT and ALEXA ST. JOHN

Associated Press

BY SETH BORENSTEIN

The U.S. designated helium as a critical material on Friday because it’s indispensable for making semiconductors that are essential to energy generation, and the global supply is at risk of disruption, according to the Energy Department. The designation by the Energy Department means that more federal ﬁnancing will be available for helium producers and that the government will monitor it more closely. Helium is primarily produced as a byproduct of natural gas processing. The United States is the world’s largest producer of natural gas and of helium. Qatar and Russia are the other top helium producers. Exports of Qatar’s helium supply have been severely curtailed by Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz as a result of its war with Israel and the U.S. Iranian strikes on Qatar’s infrastructure have also impacted supply. Russia imposed temporary export controls on helium in April to protect its domestic supply. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the Trump administration is freeing America from reliance on foreign sources of critical materials, strengthening domestic manufacturing, supporting American jobs and securing the materials essential to U.S. economic and national security. “President Trump is bringing back America’s manufacturing industry, and that means making sure we have the materials

WASHINGTON — Losing more ground in the ﬁght against climate change, humanity is heading for a hotter world than experts projected last year — and the United States is a big reason for that, a new United Nations report says. If all the countries do what they promise to reduce heattrapping emissions, Earth will likely still warm another 2.2 degrees Fahrenheit above current temperatures, according to last week’s update of climate calculations by the United Nations Environment Programme. That’s about two-tenths of a degree Fahrenheit more than last year’s projections by the same science team. “This is a worse outcome than expected last year, as a result of the formal withdrawal of the United States of America from the Paris Agreement and revised estimates of historical emissions,” the report said. The report also blames the United States for increased emis-

AP science writer

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO

President Donald Trump shakes hands with Energy Secretary Chris Wright in May.

needed to build things in America again,” Wright said in a statement. Metallurgical coal used for steelmaking was the last one to be added, in 2025. The only other gas on the list is ﬂuorine. To make the critical materials list, a nonfuel mineral element or substance must serve an essential function in one or more energy technologies and there must be a high risk of disruption to the supply chain. Helium makes balloons rise, but that’s not why the DOE is interested in it. Helium plays an important role in wind, solar and nuclear energy production, space exploration, medical imaging and research. Assistant Secretary of Energy Audrey Robertson said helium’s unique properties make it irreplaceable, such as the fact that it’s non-combustible and has the lowest boiling point of any gas. The nation needs an ample supply for semiconductors, quantum and supercomputing, and superconducting magnets, added Robertson, who oversees the Ofﬁce of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation.

sions last year, saying all the other top 20 major economies reduced their carbon pollution or at least slowed the growth in how much carbon dioxide was spewed from the burning of coal, oil and gas. “In terms of magnitude, the increase in the United States of America (133 megatons of CO2 equivalent) far exceeded that of all other countries and was driven by increased electricity demand and a rebound of coal power generation,” the report said. The 124 countries that increased emissions — not counting the 63 that decreased like most European nations — added 189 million tons of carbon dioxide in 2025, and 70% of that increase came from the U.S., according to the report. The United States is going “hell-for-leather trying to block renewables while actively promoting and subsidizing dirty coal — and its diplomacy is trying to make other countries also pull back on action. It is looking at the ﬁre, denying there is a ﬁre, and then pouring more petrol on it,” said Australian climate scientist Bill Hare, CEO of Climate Analytics, which measures countries’ climate fighting plans. He

wasn’t part of the U.N. report but, like several other outside scientists, said it was scientifically sound. The new calculations say that if countries do all they promise in the climate fighting plans they submitted to the United Nations, by 2100 the globe will be 4.7 degrees Fahrenheit hotter than preindustrial times. If the world continues on its current path — without national promises — it will be 5 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than the last half of the 19th century, the same as last year’s projection. Both of those temperatures blow far past the goal of less than 3.6 degrees and preferably 2.7 degrees adopted by the 2015 Paris climate pact. The world is now at about 2.5 degrees above pre-industrial times and earlier this year — and again in this report — United Nations officials conceded that there is no way of limiting warming to the 1.5-degree goal that they had embraced. Instead, officials are pinning their hopes of limiting warming to about 3.2 degrees and then somehow pulling enough carbon dioxide out of the air to lower temperatures back down to 1.5 degrees.

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The Times-Picayune F nola.com F Sunday, October 25, 2026 F 21A

THE GULF COAST Restaurants plan for ‘slow season’ New burger joint

to feature beach volleyball, concerts

Solutions for more traffic include specials, family nights

said of the downtown Ed’s on the John revitalization. “It makes sense to us.” Beach planned perfect Plans for the restaurant, for Gulfport spot which will lease city land,

BY MARTHA SANCHEZ Staff writer

The biggest challenge William Rester is facing this fall at his Long Beach, Mississippi, restaurant is LSU football. Many of the local fans and Louisianans who own second homes on the Mississippi Gulf Coast spend game days glued to their televisions — not dining out. “Saturdays in September are the worst,” Rester, who owns the elevated Southern restaurant Radish, said with a laugh. “There’s no worse weekend vibe killer.” His dilemma is one example of a problem that restaurants are facing across the Gulf Coast region. School is back in session. The height of the tourist season is over. The holiday festivities that drive diners into restaurants have not yet begun. So many chefs and owners are scrambling to brainstorm ideas that will generate enough revenue to carry their businesses through the slump. It is a tough time of year for even some of the most acclaimed restaurants on the Gulf Coast, where the culinary scene is growing and chefs are earning more accolades every year. The slow season, which generally runs from late August until the holidays, is also compounded this year by national economic pressures that are raising food costs and leading fewer families to spend money on dining. At least one Mississippi Coast restaurant — Barracuda Taco Stand location in Bay St. Louis — has already closed. Pat Fontaine, executive director of the Mississippi Hospitality and Restaurant Association, said many other restaurants on the coast are turning to specials and value offers.“Sales are very soft,” Fontaine said.

BY MARTHA SANCHEZ Staff writer

PROVIDED PHOTO

White Pillars recently began hosting a Sunday pizza night to attract more families.

in Biloxi, has ﬁlled the days of the week with varying specials — half-price oysters, discounted small plates, a burger night and more. The restaurant recently began hosting a Sunday pizza night in effort to attract more families. “I don’t know that it’s working, but we’re trying,” Sumrall said this week. “You can’t just sit back and hope you make it.” The Sycamore House, a family-run restaurant in Bay St. Louis, has adopted a similar mindset. The restaurant relies on locals and regulars in the off-season and tries to treat them well. Stella LeGardeur, a chef and owner, said she encourages locals who dine at the restaurant to make another reservation before they leave. Sometimes, she even calls regulars who she hasn’t heard from in a while. “We just try to make sure we communicate,” LeGardeur said. Jourdan Nicaud, a restaurateur and developer behind the group that includes Bacchus and Field’s restaurants across the Mississippi Coast, said he is trying to offset losses from fewer fall visitors by booking parties and events over the holidays. But he is noticing some positive signs Pizza nights, discounts, outreach even amid the slowdown. At Nicaud’s Chefs across the Gulf Coast are try- restaurants, the fall slump isn’t as bad ing to ﬁnd solutions to the post-summer as it’s been in the past because many newcomers are moving full-time to the slowdown. Austin Sumrall, the owner and chef at Mississippi Coast and growing the local White Pillars, a farm-to-table restaurant customer base. Nicaud also said recent

summers have been stronger than ever.

Eager for holidays The Gulf Coast’s slow season is distinct from the rest of Mississippi, where visiting football crowds carry restaurants in many college towns through the fall, and from New Orleans, where restaurants are challenged in the heat of summer. But the region’s culinary acclaim keeps growing. White Pillars and Siren Social Club in Gulfport — which Sumrall also runs with his wife, Tresse — both earned a spot on the prestigious Michelin Guide last year alongside the contemporary Asian restaurant Vestige in Ocean Springs. The Sumralls and Vestige have also earned nods from the James Beard awards. Siren Social Club, a tropical speakeasy-style spot, was also named restaurant of the year by a state tourism conference held earlier this month. Still, Sumrall said the restaurant had just nine reservations one recent night. In Long Beach, Rester is focused on booking private events and catering gigs. Radish has opened a small private dining space behind the restaurant, which Rester has so far ﬁlled with several trivia and bingo events. And he’s already booking Christmas parties. “I’m just dying for the holidays to get here,” he said, “so I can ﬁll this up.”

Well-known restaurateur Robert St. John is planning to build a beach burger joint on the Mississippi Coast that follows a wave of new development in downtown Gulfport. The concept, called Ed’s on the Beach, will be situated along the water in the Gulfport Harbor on land that has been empty since Hurricane Katrina. The menu will resemble another of St. John’s restaurants — Ed’s Burger Joint in Hattiesburg, Miss. — with some seafood additions. St. John is also planning an open-air bar, concerts and beach volleyball. Opening is slated for March 2028. Ed’s on the Beach is the latest new development planned in downtown Gulfport, which is undergoing a transformation. A $105 million mixed-use town center with a hotel, shops and luxury apartments is under construction at U.S. 90 and Highway 49 on the beach. A few blocks away, St. John also opened a breakfast and lunch diner called The Downtowner earlier this year, and lines to eat there are regularly out the door. “We feel excited just to be a small part of that,” St.

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moved forward after the Gulfport City Council approved the agreement last week. Ed’s is also planning to offer beach chairs and cabanas and host a weekend music festival called Ed’s Fest, which city leaders hope will lure more visitors to the Coast. A menu included in the lease agreement includes frozen drinks, burgers, shrimp and fish sandwiches, and milkshakes. It will be the first beach concept for St. John’s New South Restaurant Group, which is also behind Crescent City Grill, Loblolly Bakery and several other Hattiesburg establishments. The restaurant will pay the Gulfport Redevelopment Commission more than $33,000 a year to lease the land, according to city records. The location at the harbor has been empty since Katrina destroyed a restaurant called the White Cap that once stood there. Building on the beach holds deep meaning to St. John, who grew up in Hattiesburg and visited the coast to crab, fish and dine out each summer as a boy. “My love of restaurants came from the Mississippi Gulf Coast,” he said. “To come back to the Coast,” he added, “is very special to me.”

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JEFFERSON PARISH

Groups announce School Board support

CITY REFUGE

Mark Schexnayder rides a boat through the newly acquired land at Bayou Sauvage Urban National Wildlife Refuge in New Orleans on Oct. 12.

Projects aim to boost visits to New Orleans’ Bayou Sauvage BY MARGARET KATES Staff writer

Irby Butler remembers fishing in Lake Michoud before he lost access to the nearby swamps several years ago, when the land became privately owned. “If you haven’t been back there, you don’t know what you’re missing,” said Butler, a New Orleans East resident. “Hands down, it’s the best freshwater fishing in the region.” Now the lake and those swamps are all part of Bayou Sauvage Urban National Wildlife Refuge, a 30,000-acre complex of swamps, bottomland forest and bayous. Butler is hoping that, at long last, he can fish out there again. “The fish are dying of old age,” he said. “They’re bored.” He’s not the only one anxious for the lake to open to the public. Bayou Sauvage in eastern New Orleans is the nation’s second-largest urban wildlife refuge, but it has been sparsely used. Refuge officials are hoping to change that, and they are pursuing a range of projects with that goal in mind. Those projects include an “interpretive center” to greet visitors arriving from the highway, a newly renovated Ridge Trail for hiking and a refresh of the Joe Madere Marsh Outlook. John Cummings, a real estate developer and former trial attorney, is in the process of donating around 13 acres to the refuge for the interpretive center, a welcome center with exhibits and activities related to the refuge. An initial, temporary interpretive center will be located off Michoud Boulevard around the Interstate 10 interchange. The larger, permanent center will be built a little further from the highway exit once money is in place, Cummings said. Cummings, who helped redevelop the Whitney Plantation in Edgard into a museum focusing on the true struggles of enslaved people, has fond memories of

ABOVE: Workers with the Louisiana Conservation Corps trim back invasive tallow trees along a newly renovated boardwalk at Bayou Sauvage Urban National Wildlife Refuge in New Orleans. LEFT: An alligator basks in the sun at Bayou Sauvage Urban National Wildlife Refuge in New Orleans. STAFF PHOTOS BY ENAN CHEDIAK

bringing his eight children to Bayou Sauvage when they were younger. “It’s a great place for kids,” Cummings said. “If you go on the lake, it’s like going to Wisconsin. It takes all the stress off you.” There’s very little infrastructure to support families like his visiting the refuge, he

said. An interpretive center will also pave the way for more recreational opportunities, like swamp tours, Cummings said. Making the wildlife refuge more accessible to residents of New Orleans is a big

ä See BAYOU, page 2B

Business organizations have outspent teachers union BY ELYSE CARMOSINO Staff writer

Michael Pedalino has spent almost every afternoon this month knocking on doors around Metairie, tucking flyers into door frames, urging residents to reelect him to the Jefferson Parish School Board. The District 6 incumbent, who joined the board in 2023, is feeling the pressure this election cycle. His opponent, Al Galindo, a retired regional customer service manager for Entergy, has received heavy backing from the parish’s business community and has raised more than $36,000 in corporate and private donations, in addition to an $8,000 campaign loan. “I feel like there’s a community pulling together to make sure I have the best opportunity to win this election,” Galindo said. Pedalino, a business consultant who wants to boost teacher pay and is endorsed by the local teachers union, has raised $32,000 — less than his opponent, but still more than most other board candidates. His main campaign strategy is to pound the pavement: He estimates that he’s knocked on about 6,000 doors, and lost 10 pounds, over the past few months. “The best way you can win against funded candidates,” he said, “is get out there and meet as many people as you can.” As 11 candidates vie for five open board seats, business and education leaders are working to influence the outcome of the Nov. 3 election. Both groups, which are supporting both Democratic and Republican candidates, are basing their endorsements on what they believe the district’s priorities should be. On one side, the business community is backing candidates who will rein in district spending and who support policies that they argue will usher in economic growth and draw more families to the parish. They’re also backing those closely aligned with the district’s superintendent, saying he’s best positioned to make decisions for the school system, which they note has risen in state rankings under his tenure. On the other side, the teachers union is prioritizing contenders who support raising teacher pay and

ä See ENDORSE, page 2B

Artists, businesses bet on historic downtown Westwego Bigger, cheaper spaces available as landmark street gets revamped

BY LARA NICHOLSON Staff writer

On any given weekend, Westwego visitors and residents can grab a coffee and meander through art galleries, or take a walking history tour. They may stroll along the levee, sit down for a barbecue dinner, then catch a play at the theater. They might find a festival at the Westwego Fisheries & Farmers market, or they could work on a Mardi Gras throw at a craft shop. It’s all in one five-block stretch of the former ﬁshing

village’s historic downtown, an area that ofﬁcials and artists say is gaining momentum after decades of quiet. Sala Avenue, the oncesleepy main street of Westwego, is emerging as a haven for artists setting up studio galleries in long-vacant buildings that they say are cheaper, larger and cozier than the spaces available in New Orleans. As artists move into the area and bring foot trafﬁc with them, other businesses, including a coffee shop and a restaurant, have opened as well. It’s a payoff for Westwego

STAFF PHOTO BY BRETT DUKE

Hendrix Wingerter, 11, makes a throw while playing catch along Sala Avenue as artists paint in Westwego on Friday. ofﬁcials — and well-known grafﬁti artist Joshua Wingerter — who invested in the area six years ago to make it an arts and culture hub. They’ve designated the area

as a cultural district and renovated vacant city buildings to lease out for less than $1,000 per month, according to Westwego City Council member Lisa Valence.

The city also plans to build a walkway over River Road to the Lazy River Landing and a bike path from the levee to Bayou Segnette on the city’s south end, according to Westwego City Council member Johnny Shaddinger. Wingerter, a Westwego native who gained prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic for painting on the plywood of boarded-up Frenchman Street businesses, opened his studio gallery on Sala Avenue in 2020, inside a two-story, 4,000-square-foot former bank owned by the city. “You’re not fighting to have a 10-by-15 storefront that you’re going to pay an obscene overhead just for traffic,” Wingerter said of

Sala Avenue. Wingerter saw it not only as a homecoming — his sister owns Historic Grounds, a coffee shop on Sala Avenue, and his mother owns a restaurant around the corner called Little Kitchen — but also an opportunity to beautify the West Bank and make art accessible for residents, he said. Roughly a fifth of Westwego lives below the poverty line, according to U.S. Census data. In the years since moving, he’s painted murals on schools, utility boxes and the levee. He hosts block parties and school ﬁeld trips at his gallery, and keeps a community fridge with free food in

ä See HISTORIC, page 2B

2B F Sunday, October 25, 2026 F nola.com F The Times-Picayune

BAYOU

Continued from page 1B

Lake Pont.

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BAYOU SAUVAGE URBAN NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

Michoud

Blind goal for refuge officials. Lagoon Some city residents live lit10 erally next door: Oak Island Proposed subdivision, a community Lake Interpretive of about 425 homes, directMichoud Center ly backs up to the swamp in 510 the wildlife refuge. But there’s no easy acNEW cess from the subdivision, ORLEANS S illustrating the problem of90 ficials want to fix. The entire Joe Madere wildlife refuge is within the Marsh city limits of New Orleans, Overlook . y Bayou Sauvage f Hw but there are very few easy C he NWR Ridge Trail opportunities for residents to go boating, birdwatching Staff map or fishing. “I dare you to find the entrance,” Cummings said. out the refuge’s many wetyears.” In addition to the new in- lands and bayous. ‘Used to be a swamp tour’ terpretive center, officials Officials at the wildlife A few years ago, Cum- at the wildlife refuge re- refuge have a difficult job mings sold around 2,500 cently renovated the Ridge balancing the flow of waacres in New Orleans East Trail, one of the few hikes ter to certain areas of the to the refuge, adjacent to available to the public at refuge to create the most the land for the interpre- the refuge. The refreshed hospitable environment tive center. These acres Joe Madere Marsh Outlook for wildlife, particularly were the puzzle piece need- allows visitors to view al- migratory birds. Around ed to improve connectivity ligators lurking below the 340 bird species stop in the throughout the refuge. Of- bayou surface and ibises refuge over the course of a year, according to the U.S. ficials envision trails, boat swooping in for a meal. Being fully contained Fish and Wildlife Service launches and other recrewithin a city comes with website. ational opportunities. Schexnayder says build“It’s not unprecedented,” challenges. Most of the refsaid Mark Schexnayder, an uge sits within New Orleans’ ing more trails and roadenvironmental consultant levee system, so natural wa- ways, connecting the netwho works with the refuge. ter flow is blocked. Through- work of channels through“There used to be a swamp out the wildlife refuge is a out the refuge, would also tour. ... Ecotourism has re- filtration and control system help in managing Bayou ally taken off in the last few to distribute water through- Sauvage’s hydrology.

Business groups back Gray Business leaders have long argued that a stronger school system will attract families, businesses and jobs to Jefferson Parish. The Committee for a Better Jefferson, or CBJ, and the Jefferson Chamber of

Westwego Fisheries & Farmers Market

cracking down on student misbehavior. In addition to endorsing candidates, both sides are holding campaign events and getting the word out about their picks. The two sides have long battled for sway over the board that oversees Louisiana’s largest school system, with local business groups and the state teachers union historically pouring thousands of dollars into candidates. But the business community’s inﬂuence seems to have eclipsed the union’s as it has far outspent the union in recent elections and more of its favored candidates have been elected to the board. When their terms begin in January, the new board members will face major decisions on school closures, declining enrollment, teacher pay and busing issues. Those decisions will shape teachers’ working conditions and the school system’s future, with potential ripple effects on the local economy, giving both business leaders and the teachers union a stake in who gets elected.

SALA AVENUE J h Wi Josh Wingerter g t Art Gallery

Continued from page 1B

Jefferson Performing Arts Society

ENDORSE

Mississippi River

Over time, other businesses sprouted on Sala Avenue, including the Carnival Sculpture Gallery, featuring works like Mardi Gras costumes and Carnival ﬂowers, and Throw Dat, a Mardi Gras supply store that also hosts crafting events. Historic Grounds, located in the Westwego Cultural Center, opened nearly a year ago and Ribmaster Soulfood and BBQ launched their second location in a former food bank building last month. Nearby, the Westwego Performing Arts Theatre, operated by the Jefferson Parish Performing Arts Society, has also grown this year with eight shows scheduled for the season, said creative director and manager Gary Rucker. Since joining the theater in January, Rucker said there’s been some challenge getting New Orleanians to drive to

Westwego River Landing

Carlos Zervigón Sculpture Studio (opening in 2027)

St .

Betting on Westwego’

Throw Dat craft store

the back of the building. He also acquired four additional properties in the area and hosted 10 other local artists in his spaces, he said.

New art galleries and craft shops are emerging on the historic Sala Avenue in Westwego.

i sia

Continued from page 1B

Westwego’s Sala Avenue

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‘Get money out there’ Beyond giving residents more opportunities to access Bayou Sauvage, Cummings and Schexnayder see updating the refuge as a way to generate more revenue for New Orleans East. Adjacent to the refuge is the old Six Flags site, which New Orleans city ofﬁcials hope to revive after being abandoned for more than 20 years. The NASA Michoud Assembly Facility is nearby, which Schexnayder predicts will become more important with the arrival of SpaceX in Louisiana. More visitors to Bayou Sauvage, and by extension New Orleans East, will bring more money to the area, much of which has struggled to recover following Hurricane Katrina, Cummings said. “It’ll bring people from Metairie, Jefferson Parish to Bayou Sauvage,” Cum-

other artists and industrial supplies for his metalwork. It only takes a 15-minute drive for him to get to his studio from his home in Riverbend. “I’m putting my bet on Westwego, and I think it’s a good bet,” Zervigón said. A clothing boutique is also opening soon in a building that Valence owns on Sala Avenue. One block over on Louisiana Avenue, another New Orleans artist is constructing a space for art studios and ofﬁces, according to Valence.

Carnival Sculpture Gallery

A return to history

St .

City ofﬁcials say their longterm goal is to revive the ferry line between Westwego and Audubon Park, which has been in discussions for over a decade, so that New Orleans residents can ferry to Westwego to peruse the local shops. The previous ferry line shut down after the Huey P. Long Bridge opened in 1935. To build the walkway over River Road, city officials have secured roughly $1.45 million in parish and federal funds. They said the path will be a major milestone in restoring the shuttle boat route. Westwego Mayor Robert Billiott estimated the

L ou

HISTORIC

There’s still a way to go before the interpretive center can become reality. Even with the donated land, the refuge still needs to raise the funds to build the center. Schexnayder said he has worked with Friends of Louisiana Wildlife Refuges to submit a request for $38 million in earmarked funds to U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, RBaton Rouge, for the project. Those funds have not been obtained yet.

WESTWEGO Staff map

see their shows, but the audiences have slowly grown with every new production. “We’ve had people who have taken the chance and come over and loved it,” Rucker said. “I tell everybody, ‘Give us one chance. Come see one show and you’re going to love it and then you’re going to come back.’” This year, the theater launched a new VIP Lounge out of a former light and sound booth, and bought

the former Temento’s ﬁshing shop down the street to house their costumes and set designs. In the audience, the walls are lined with rotating art by Wingerter. Carlos Luis Zervigón, a sculptor and New Orleans School Board member, is building a new studio gallery that’s expected to open next year. He said he decided to move into Westwego for its cheaper real estate and inviting community, as well as the proximity to

Commerce are backing school board candidates who support improving test scores, expanding career and technical education and deferring to the vision of Superintendent James Gray, whom the Jefferson Chamber of Commerce publicly supported when he was chosen to lead Jefferson Parish Schools in 2020. That last priority comes after years of tension between Gray and board members like former District 9 representative Steven Guitterrez, a vocal advocate for raising teacher pay who frequently clashed with Gray and fellow board members. He resigned in May after publishing a letter accusing his colleagues of putting politics ahead of students. His departure underscored disagreements over whether board members should push for policies such as higher teacher pay or leave those decisions to Gray and district administrators. “The school board should not get involved in any staff issues or the day-to-day running of schools,” said Lynda Nugent, a real estate broker who is a member CBJ. “That’s (Gray’s) job.” She said the group prioritized candidates who are strong allies of Gray, citing the school system’s academic growth during his six years as superintendent, including moving from a C to a B rating from the state. This year, CBJ and the Jefferson Chamber Political Action Committee, an afﬁliate

of the chamber, endorsed Al Galindo, District 9’s Kevin Delahoussaye and District 7’s Ralph Brandt. According to campaign ﬁnance reports ﬁled Oct. 15, CBJ contributed $3,500 to both Galindo and Delahoussaye and $1,000 to Brandt, while the chamber PAC donated $2,500 each to Galindo and Delahoussaye.

Union wants higher pay The Jefferson Federation of Teachers represents more than 2,500 teachers, classroom aides, and other school employees. It has regularly endorsed candidates in school board elections as part of its effort to promote policies that the union says will beneﬁt educators and students. This election cycle, JFT President Sandra Hauer said the union is backing candidates who prioritize raising teacher pay, strengthening discipline policies and expanding mental health support for students and employees. The union has historically tended to favor candidates with education backgrounds. This year, it endorsed Rachel Spears for District 2, John Cunningham for District 9 and Michael Pedalino for District 5. The union also endorsed two of three District 5 candidates, Simeon Dickerson and Roxanne Modica, as well as both District 7 incumbent Ralph Brandt and challenger Jimmy Kytle. Kytle and Cunningham are both former educators, while Modica, a healthcare executive, has

supported legislation to expand access to mental healthcare. Beyond endorsements, the union has sought to mobilize its members. It held two meet-and-greets earlier this month where members could hear endorsed candidates speak and ask questions. The union has also used social media to encourage members to vote early, volunteer for weekend canvassing and participate in election day sign-waving for endorsed candidates and other campaign activities. The local union chapter does not contribute money directly to candidates, which is instead handled by the statewide Louisiana Federation of Teachers. The state union contributed $3,000 to only Pedalino’s campaign this election, records show. Hauer said that while the

mings said. “The main thing we need to do is get money out there.” Bayou Sauvage was ﬁrst established as a wildlife refuge in 1990, according to its website. At one time, there were plans for an interpretive center, ﬁshing piers, canoe trails and several other recreational amenities, Schexnayder said. But those plans never materialized, and today there is very little infrastructure on-site. But the refuge is a big piece of the city’s history. At one time, Bayou Sauvage was the primary eastwest corridor connecting New Orleans to Mobile, Alabama, and the rest of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. There are Native American shell mounds in the refuge, and many of the cypress trees are hundreds of years old, Schexnayder said. Some residents, like Butler, have memories of using the refuge’s resources before the land was privatized or bundled into the refuge. He has taken to bothering wildlife refuge workers about getting access to the fishing again, now that he knows there are plans to make the refuge more open. “We can’t use it, as taxpayers who pay for it,” Butler said. “It should be open to the public, to every sportsman.”

project will need $2 million to $3 million total. “I always had this vision, just to get people on top of the levee, to open up the front doors of Westwego,” Billiott said. Sala Avenue is named after Pablo Sala, a Spanish entrepreneur who bought the land in 1892 and named it “Salaville.” At that time, the area was known as the starting point for a new westward railroad line, as well as a hub for maritime workers. In the 1900s, Sala Avenue became a bona fide downtown, with clothing stores, seafood processing facilities, doctors’ offices and barrooms. But after the Westbank Expressway opened in the 1960s, the area slowed down, businesses left and more residences cropped up. In recent decades, the city designated Sala Avenue as an ofﬁcial historic district, founded a Westwego Historical Society and launched a Westwego Historical Museum. Signs with QR codes are posted along the street with information about local landmarks such as True Vine Baptist Church, the second-oldest Black church on the West Bank.

union does its best to help out candidates it supports, it can’t match the ﬁnancial might of the business sector. “Big business has the money for billboards, signs, push cards,” she said. “But when you have somebody coming from education, they’re not rich, and they’re having to use their own funds to do these things, so their name isn’t as recognized.”

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New Orleans Area Deaths Clipper, Rayburn Collie, Linda Dildy, Gary Fletchinger, Alecia Fonte, Leah Gehman, Mary Griner, Florine Guirovich, Edward Haydel, Gerald Hirstius, Shane Hotard, Noelie Illg, Carolyn Koch, Margot Lemoine, Richard Leonard, Bessie Murphy, Michael Seruntine, John Sheehan, Frank Theriot, Richard Wagner Jr., William Williams, Mary Williams, W.

E Jefferson Garden of Memories Fonte, Leah Hirstius, Shane Illg, Carolyn

New Orleans Lake Lawn Metairie Clipper, Rayburn Dildy, Gary Fletchinger, Alecia Guirovich, Edward Haydel, Gerald Murphy, Michael Wagner Jr., William

St Tammany EJ Fielding Collie, Linda Koch, Margot Grace Funeral Theriot, Richard Williams, W.

Obituaries Clipper, Rayburn M.

Rayburn M. Clipper died on October 21, 2026, at the age of 87. He was born on January 13, 1939, at home in Bogata, Texas, to Murl Clipper and Edith Ward. He was a longtime resident of Buras, Louisiana, until Hurricane Katrina. In the early 1940s, the family left Bogata for Plaquemines Parish, and Buras became home. Drafted into the Army in 1960, he served in Urlau, Germany, and rose to the rank of sergeant. In 1963 he married Lorraine Ordoyne. They were married 57 years, until her death. After the Army, Rayburn went to work for Standard Oil of California at the Venice shore base and retired from Chevron after 30 years. Rayburn was easy going, fun loving, and devoted to his family. He was a member of Deutsches Haus and a Saints fan. He liked woodworking and tinkering. Rayburn was preceded in death by his wife, Lorraine Ordoyne Clipper; his father, Murl Clipper; his mother, Edith Ward; his brother, Gene Clipper; and his sister, Sharla Clipper. He is survived by his sons, Scott Clipper and Rayburn Clipper; and by his grandchildren, Beau, Reese, and Sophie Clipper. Relatives and friends are invited to the visitation on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, from 4:00 pm until 6:00 pm at Lake Lawn

pm Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd. New Orleans, LA 70124. lll

Collie, Linda Catherine Fortner

Linda Catherine Fortner Collie went to her eternal home on October 14, 2026. She was 72 years old. She was born on January 11, 1954, in New Orleans, Louisiana, to the late Alice H. Fortner and Edward W. Fortner. Linda is survived by her son, Michael E. Collie and his wife, Shawntelle; grandson, Jesse Robinson (Erin); and sister, Carol A. Fortner. She was predeceased by her beloved daughter, Erin M. Collie. Linda was a resident of Covington, Louisiana. She was employed for many years by Utilities Inc. of Louisiana and retired in 2025. She graduated from Abramson High School and attended UNO. Linda's love for people was always reflected in her sense of humor, teasing, and laughter. She loved family gatherings, the mountains, and her dogs. She cherished her lifelong friendships. She enjoyed the company of her coworkers. Linda will be remembered for her loving, generous, Christian heart. Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Celebration of Life at 10:00 AM on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at Waldheim Church, 77067 Highway 21, Covington, Louisiana. Reception in the fellowship hall directly after, all are welcome. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in her memory to a local animal rescue. Your kindness will help provide care and shelter to animals in need, a meaningful way to honor her memory. E.J. Fielding Funeral Home of Covington, Louisiana, is honored to be entrusted with Ms. Collie's funeral arrangements. Her family invites you to share thoughts, memories, and condolences by signing an online guestbook at www.ejfieldingfh.com.

Dildy, Gary Andrew

Gary Andrew Dildy, Jr., M.D., age 92, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his family on Thursday, October 8, 2026. Dr. Dildy was born on November 26, 1933, in Bogalusa, Louisiana, the only son of the late (Coach) Gary A. Dildy and Arline Jones Dildy - both professional educators. Predeceased by his beloved wife of 68 years, Barbara Barbier Dildy. Father of Gary Andrew Dildy, III, M.D., David Joseph Dildy (Rita), John Robert Dildy (Marigny), and Michael James Dildy (Nina). Also survived by grandchildren Andrew Dildy (fiancée Tyne McHugh), Sophie Dildy, Anna Dildy, James Dildy, and Caroline Dildy, as well as many Barbier and Dildy cousins. Also predeceased by his uncles, Joe and Jim Dildy, and, most recently, cousin, Margaret Ellen Dildy Beasley, M.D. During his senior year at Bogalusa High School, he was class President and football team Captain and was recruited by the major college football programs as well as professional baseball teams. He chose to stay close to home Louisiana State University, where he was a four-year letterman in football, also known as "the Chief", having started all four years and was a team captain. As a freshman, he also played on the Tigers baseball team. Dr. Dildy was President of the LSU "L" (Lettermen's) Club and a brother of the Kappa Alpha Order fraternity. He graduated from LSU with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1955. During that year's National Football League draft, he was drafted as a center by the New York

by Giants. Dr. Dildy forwent professional football and continued on to LSU Medical School, where he received his M.D. in 1960 serving as Senior Class President and VicePresident of Phi Chi Medical fraternity. He thereafter completed his internship and residency in Obstetrics & Gynecology at Charity Hospital, New Orleans under the mentorship of Dr. Abe Mickal. In 1964, Dr. Dildy entered the private practice of Obstetrics & Gynecology with the New Orleans Medical & Surgical Clinic and began a long-time affiliation with Southern Baptist Hospital, as well as a life-long friendship with Dr. Charles Farris (the practice eventually became Obstetrical Associates of Louisiana). In 2000, Dr. Dildy joined the teaching faculty of the LSU Health Sciences Center as Director of the Colposcopy Clinic, with similar appointments to the Earl K. Long and Lallie Kemp hospitals. He was also appointed to the clinical faculty of the Tulane University School of Medicine. Dr. Dildy was repeatedly recognized by the LSU OB/GYN residents for his excellence in training and education. Dr. Dildy was active in the Louisiana State Medical Society, the Orleans Parish Medical Society, the LSU Medical Alumni Association, and the LSU "L" Club. He was a member of the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists and was board-certified by the American Board of Obstetrics & Gynecology. Other leadership positions included President of the New Orleans Gynecological & Obstetrical Society and an appointment to the Baptist Hospital Executive Committee. Dr. Dildy served as a Captain, Medical Corps assigned to the 332nd General Hospital (USAR) and was an Assistant Coroner, Orleans Parish. During the course of his career, Dr. Dildy delivered thousands of babies and saved many lives. He thoroughly enjoyed the practice of medicine and was a humanitarian man who treated everyone he met from every station and walk with the upmost dignity and respect. Though serious in demeanor, he had very quick and witty sense of humor. As a longtime member of the Suburban Gun & Rod Club and Beau Chene Country Club, he greatly enjoyed fishing and golf along with a passion for gardening, skiing, biking, and running. His foremost devotion was to his family and faith. Dr. Dildy was raised as a devout Christian - Southern Baptist. Then, during preparations for marriage to Barbara, he became a committed Roman Catholic. Throughout his life, he took his Christian faith seriously and was a devoted husband, father, and the consummate southern gentleman. He instilled in his sons and grandchildren confidence in the Christian faith, and the virtues of hard work, education, excellence, leadership, patience, patriotism, and public service. The family expresses special gratitude to caregivers Sharon Porter and Ruthie Cambre, as well as the staff of The Blake at Colonial Club and Compassus Hospice. Visitation will be at Holy Name of Jesus Church, 6367 Saint Charles Avenue in New Orleans on Monday, November 2, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass at noon, which will also be accessible via livestream at https://www .youtube.com/c/HNJChurc hNewOrleans. A private interment will follow at Saint Joseph Abbey Cemetery, Saint Benedict, Louisiana. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Holy Name of Jesus Parish and School Capital Campaign or Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans.

Fletchinger, Alecia Ann

Alecia Ann Fletchinger departed this life on angel's wings on October 18, 2026, at the age of 73, after a courageous 19 year battle with Parkinson's dis-

ease which she fought with style and grace. Her constant and immeasurable faith sustained her. Alecia will be remembered for her love, care, and devotion to her family and friends. She was a devoted and loving mother to her son, Kingsley. Alecia graduated from Holy Name of Jesus School and Mercy Academy where she developed friendships that lasted her lifetime. She attended Louisiana State University New Orleans where she majored in business management. While at LSUNO, she worked at YOU Boutique where her love of style and fashion led her to a 45 year career in retail fashion management. She managed the Limited and Talbots at Uptown Square and then managed Talbots at Lakeside Shopping Center. Alecia found great joy and fulfillment in helping people look and feel their best. Her many customers described her as their friend and personal fashion consultant. They often said that Alecia dressed them from head to toe for all occasions. Alecia was the beloved daughter of the late Rose Marie McCaffrey Fletchinger and Milton Lawrence Fletchinger and the loving sister of Don Lawrence Fletchinger (Sally) and Daryl Caffrey Fletchinger. Alecia is survived by her beloved son, Kingsley Austen Hansen, his loving partner, Donna Grego, and their son, her cherished grandson, Quinten. Alecia's devotion to her family was especially evident in the tender love, care, and companionship that she provided her mother for 23 years. Her patience and dedication were a beautiful expression of a daughter's love, and her family will always remember the comfort and companionship that she gave so generously. Relatives and friends are invited to attend a memorial service on Thursday, October 29, 2026, at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd. New Orleans, LA. Visitation will be held from 10 AM - 12 PM with a memorial Mass to begin at 12 PM. Reception to follow. Inurnment will be private. In lieu of flowers, tax deductible donations may be made to WLAE-TV The Daily Mass from St. Louis Cathedral OR The St. Louis Cathedral Maintenance Fund in the name of Alecia Ann Fletchinger. To view and sign the family guest book, please visit www.lak elawnmetairie.com

Council, member of HOSA, Mu Alpha Theta, and the National Honor Society, and was the co-captain for the Owlettes Dance Team. She also graduated as a Certified Medical Assistant with an internship with Dr. Michael Wiedemann, proving that she was already building a future centered on service, skill, and compassion. Leah carried that same spirit into Louisiana State University, where she continued to rise with purpose and grace. She was a straight A senior and was graduating as a member of Mu Alpha Theta once again, a testament to her consistency and her love of learning. She was a member of the Pre-Dental Society and the Global Dental Brigades Club, where she was elected Fundraiser Chairman for the LSU Dental Brigade. Her leadership was not loud for the sake of attention. It was powerful because it was rooted in action. She went to Panama last year to help bring free dental care and supplies to underserved communities, and in doing so, she showed the world exactly who she was. Leah's life was a message to everyone who had the privilege of knowing her. She reminded others that greatness is not measured only by grades, titles, or accomplishments, but by the way a person loves, serves, and uplifts those around them. Her family and friends will remember her beautiful smile, her steady determination, and the light she brought into every room. They will remember a daughter who made them proud, a sister who brought joy and connection, a granddaughter who was treasured, and a fiancée whose love was genuine and enduring. They will remember a young woman who had already accomplished so much and who still had so much more to give. Though her time here was far too short, the impact of her life will continue to echo through the people she loved and the lives she touched. A memorial service to honor Leah and Shane will be held on Tuesday, October 27, 2026 at the Jefferson Performing Arts Center, 6400 Airline Drive Metairie, LA 70003. Visitation will begin at 10:00 am with a Memorial Service starting at 1:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, please honor Leah's passion with donations to the LSU Global Dental Brigades at https://my.globalbrigades. org/university/louisianastate-university/dental/ donate. Online condolences may be offered at www.garden ofmemoriesmetairie.com.

Fonte, Leah Victoria

Gehman, Mary Elizabeth

Leah Victoria Fonte was born March 1, 2005, in Metairie, LA and passed away on October 18, 2026, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Leah lived a life that shined with love, intelligence, and selflessness. She is the beloved daughter of Jennifer Kraus Fonte and Robert Paul Fonte, the cherished sister of Anthony Fonte, Harry Fonte, and Carter Goerges, and the devoted fiancée and high school sweetheart of the late Shane Hirstius. She was deeply loved by her grandparents, Donna Mariano Pettus, the late Anthony Kraus, Kathryne Fonte, and Richard Fonte; her step grandfather, Joseph Pettus; aunts and uncles: Joseph Pettus, Jr. (Holly), James Pettus (Kristen), Stephanie Castillo (Desiree), and James Fonte; and many cousins: Bryson Newman, Hailynne Pettus, Brody and Aubrey Pettus, Elijah, Ezra, and Emily Castillo, and Alexis, Alyssa, and Joe Fonte. Leah was the kind of person who made excellence look effortless, but those who knew her understood that her success came from discipline, heart, and an unwavering commitment to doing her very best. She graduated from Kenner Discovery Health Sciences Academy in 2023 as a straight A student, and she did so while taking on leadership roles that reflected her character and her drive. She served as a Freshman Academy Mentor and on Student Council, was a

Mary Elizabeth Gehman, mother and grandmother, scholar, historian, and writer passed away peacefully at Ochsner Hospital on October 16, 2026, after a brief but sudden illness.

The Times-Picayune 16, 2026,✦ nola.com ✦ Sunday, October 25, 2026 ✦ 3B marygehman.net. Now in brief but sudden illness. the archives of Tulane Born in 1943 in Berks University, it will remain an County, Pennsylvania, invaluable resource for Mary's parents, the late scholars seeking to underLeRoy Gehman and Francis stand the impact of the Lerch Gehman, were storm as told through the Mennonites. While Mary eyes of a middle-aged eventually left the church woman who stayed behind of her childhood, the val- to save her dogs, help her ues she learned at home elderly neighbors, and very while growing up on a nearly lost her own life in farm — hard work, integri- the process. ty, and charity — shaped her adult life._ At the time of her death, Mary was working on her After graduation from next book about the migraPalisades High School in tion of Creole Free People Bucks County, of Color from New Orleans Pennsylvania, Mary at- to Mexico. Her fearless natended Eastern Mennonite ture and charming, inquisiUniversity in Harrisonburg, tive personality helped Virginia. She spent her ju- people open up to her as nior year studying abroad she rode buses alone in Germany at Marburg throughout Mexico to find University, then explored Creole migrants and to Europe the next year be- document and record their fore returning to the U.S. stories over the course of and graduating from 20 years of researching the Millersville University in book, which will be pub1967. Mary then moved to lished posthumously._ New York City in the late 1960's, lived in Greenwich Mary is survived by her Village, joined the Feminist sister, Lois Staack, her movement, and protested brother, Harvey Gehman, the 1968 and 1969 Miss and her two sons and their America pageants. families: Mark David Hoskisson, his wife, During the summer of Michelle, and their three 1970, Mary decided to trav- children, Hannah, Chelsea, el to California and and David, of Lakeside, CA; stopped in New Orleans to and Ney Jan Gehman, his explore the city. She never wife, Lauren, and their two left. In New Orleans, Mary children, Clayton and found both her home and Olivia, of New Orleans._ her calling. Feminism Services to commemorate would continue to be im- Mary's extraordinary life portant to her there, find- and contributions to ing its best expression in Louisiana and New Orleans founding the feminist mag- will be held on Saturday, azine, Distaff. She put her- November 21, 2026, at 12:00 self through Loyola p.m. with a memorial serUniversity in New Orleans vice to begin at 1:00 p.m. at in the early 1970's by wait- Community Church ressing at the Sazerac Bar. Unitarian Universalist of Later, she worked at the New Orleans, 6690 Fleur De Times-Picayune and as a Lis Drive, New Orleans, LA. Spanish interpreter to helping Hispanic immiGriner, Florine grants in New Orleans who Clabert 'Flo' were fleeing oppression in Central America and Cuba during the 1970's. In the mid-1980's, she earned an MA in English at the University of New Orleans and then taught English courses at Delgado Community College for many years. Mary never had just one job. Her love of writing and passion for New Orleans history led to articles published in various local magazines. Her great literary accomplishments included founding two publishing companies, both of which dealt exclusively with Louisiana authors and topics:_ Margaret Media, Inc., which published 21 titles and was sold in 2014; and DVille Press, which opened in 2017 and published 12 more titles until Mary semi-retired in 2022. Mary spent a lifetime championing other writers and wrote several books about New Orleans history. In 1988, she published Women and New Orleans, A History. Subsequently, in 1994, she published her recognized masterwork, The Free People of Color in New Orleans: An Introduction. She eventually became recognized as one of the foremost authorities of Creole history. Two years after Hurricane Katrina destroyed Mary's New Orleans home in Mid-City, she moved roughly 50 miles up the Mississippi River to Donaldsonville, LA, where she continued to serve as a member of the Historical Society and wrote a children's book about a cardinal named Cardy. While in Donaldsonville, she also wrote a stunning and heartbreaking account of her frightening experience during Katrina she posted on her website

Florine "Flo" Lillian Clabert Griner passed away October 9, 2026 at the age of 103. She was born on January 5, 1923 and was proceeded in death by her beloved husband of 49 years, Wesley John Griner (Jack,) her mother, Lillian Clabert O'Brien, her fathers, Joseph Clabert, and E.M. O'Brien, her brother, Chester J Clabert (Pauline.) She is survived by her three daughters, Sharon Kingsmill (Cal Sr), JoAnn Schackai (Rene), and Mary Radovich (Gilbert, Deceased). Grandmother to 7, Cal Kingsmill, Jr (Jessie), Brian Sabel, Robin S. Williams (Josh), Joseph Radovich (deceased), Shaun Radovich (Naomi), Jessica R. Sanchez (Luis), and Joshua Radovich (Lacie). Great-Grandmother to 5, Raylan and Marina Kingsmill, Benjamin Sanchez, and Jensen and Kinsley Radovich. She enjoyed Casino Trips and loved her fur babies. We would like to express our appreciation for the love and care from some very special caregivers at Trinity Trace in Covington. You know who

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you are. Mama had a long life, sometimes hard, growing up during the depression but she overcame all of that and she and Daddy gave us a good life. Mama, we will love and miss you until we are united again. Services will be held on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, at Divine Mercy Catholic Church in Kenner. Visitation will begin at 10:00 AM and end at 11:30 AM. Mass will follow at 11:30 AM. Private Burial to follow. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to a charity of your choice. A visitation will be held from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM on 2026-10-27 at Divine Mercy Catholic Church, 4337 Sal Lentini Pkwy.

A mass of christian burial will be held from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM on 2026-1027 at Divine Mercy Catholic Church, 4337 Sal Lentini Pkwy.

Guirovich, Edward Joseph

Edward Joseph Guirovich, age 92, passed away on Saturday, October 17, 2026. Ed was born on May 22, 1934 to Bernadette Robicheaux Guirovich and Nicholas Guirovich. He grew up in the Irish Channel with his two older sisters, Iris Wayman and Dorothy O'Dwyer. After graduating from Redemptorist, he served in the Air Force for four years. He is survived by his beloved wife of 60 years. Catherine Knesel Guirovich; his loving children, Dan Guirovich, Lisa St. Romain (Bobby), and Paul Guirovich (Elly); six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Ed's career involved working on the river with import/export and bulk storage. He loved to travel, especially bus tours and cruises. Ed loved everything New Orleans: Mardi Gras (Irish Channel Corner Club, Alla, Sparta), Jazz Fest ("Money Man" with Moisant Kiwanis), Saints, LSU, and seafood. Ed was an Honorary Life Member of Father Seelos KC Council (2878). Relatives and friends are invited to attend the services at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd. New Orleans, LA 70124, on Tuesday, October 27, 2026. The visitation will begin at 10:00 am until the funeral mass at 12:00 pm. The interment will follow at All Saints Mausoleum, which is on the same grounds as the funeral home.

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graduating from Tulane, he held various engineering and management positions in private industry and with consulting firms. In 1959, he co-founded Walk, Haydel & Associates, Inc. in partnership with Frank H Walk. The company grew to become one of the largest independent consulting engineering organizations in the southern United States and designed many of the petrochemical and industrial plants in operation today. The company was instrumental in designing the Louisiana Offshore Oil Port (LOOP) and several US Strategic Petroleum Reserve sites. Walk, Haydel received numerous Engineering Excellence Awards from the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE), the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), and Jerry personally received numerous honors and awards, including the Louisiana Engineering Society (LES) A.B. Patterson Award and the ASCE New Orleans Lifetime Award. In 2002, he was named Tulane University Alumnus of the Year for the Class of 1952. The Gerald M. Haydel BioProcess Laboratory at Tulane is named in his honor. Jerry served on the Tulane School of Engineering Board of Advisors, the Tulane Emeritus Club Board of Governors, and the St. Martin's Episcopal School Board of Trustees. He was a member of LES, ASCE, Metairie Country Club, the Plimsoll Club, the Mercedes-Benz Club of New Orleans, and was a charter member of the Pendennis Club of New Orleans. Jerry was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and friend. He was a serious man, with a light heart and a wonderful sense of humor. He loved music and telling jokes and was known to have a song and a joke for every occasion. He enjoyed fishing, antique cars, traveling, cooking, playing the harmonica, and singing, and he spent much time entertaining family and friends with his music. An avid supporter of Tulane athletics, his first Tulane game was a 46-0 win over LSU in 1948. He was a New Orleans Saints charter season ticket holder. An enthusiastic fisherman, he spent many pleasant days in his boat with his wife, children, grandchildren, and friends. Relatives and friends are invited to visitation at Lake Lawn Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd. New Orleans, LA from 9:00 to 11:00 am on Thursday, October 29, 2026. Funeral Mass will begin at 11:00 am. Interment will follow in Metairie Cemetery.

Haydel, Gerald Mark 'Jerry'

Hirstius, Shane David

Gerald Mark "Jerry" Haydel passed away on September 24, 2026 at his home in Metairie, LA. He was a Professional Engineer, business owner and a US Navy veteran. He is survived by his wife of 73 years, Agatha Mayronne Haydel; their four children, Craig Gerald Haydel (Karen), Brian George Haydel (Nancy), Sharon Haydel Buchert, and Carrie Haydel Berger (Eric); his sister Connie Haydel Nelson (Leo); eight grandchildren; and nine greatgrandchildren. He was predeceased by his father Joseph Clement Haydel, Sr. and mother Anna Faucheux Haydel, both of Taft, LA, his brother Joseph Clement Haydel, Jr., and sisters Carole Haydel Falgout, and Ouida Haydel Callegan. Jerry was born in Kenner, LA on April 26,1928 and grew up in Kenner and Lutcher, LA. He was a 1945 graduate of Lutcher High School, where he played alto saxophone in the school band. His interest in engineering was sparked when he worked for the US Army Corps of Engineers after high school. He then joined the US Navy and was stationed in Guam for most of his service. After serving his country, he returned to Louisiana and enrolled in Tulane University in New Orleans, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering in 1952. After

Shane David Hirstius, who lived with the spirit of service, laughter, and love, was born on June 22, 2005, in Metairie, Louisiana, and passed away on October 18, 2026, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He is remembered with deep love by his parents, Steven Hirstius and Marjorie Marino Hirstius, and his siblings, Brittany Hirstius (Rashaud Joseph), Steven Hirstius Jr., and Sean Hirstius. He was the devoted fiancé and high school sweetheart of the late Leah Fonte, and their bond remains a cherished part of his story. He was also lovingly connected to his grandparents, the late Nicholas & Virginia Marino and Kirk & Leslie Hirstius, his great-grandparents, Darrell & Jeanne Long, as well as his aunts and uncle: the late Andrea Flowers (godmother), Mary Marino, and Nicholas V. Marino Jr.(godfather). He will be dearly missed by his cousins, Analeece and Leah Flowers, and Tyler, Ellie, and Nate Marino, and his nieces, Aubree and Aria, all of whom will carry his memory forward with pride and affection. Shane grew up in a community that helped shape his character, and he gave that community his very best in return. He graduated from Archbishop

Rummel High School in 2023, where he made his mark not only in the classroom but also on the field. He played numerous sports through JPRD athletics, especially at Miley Playground, where his energy and determination stood out. As a pitcher for the Rummel baseball team, he showed discipline, focus, and heart. He later attended Delgado Community College and was a member of the Delgado baseball team, continuing to pursue excellence until he discovered an even greater calling in life. Shane was a dedicated public servant who answered the call for both Herbert Wallace Fire Company #1 and the Third District Volunteer Fire Department. He served proudly as a Firefighter/ Operator at both stations, and he carried out that responsibility with courage, humility, and commitment. He did not simply wear the title of firefighter. He lived the meaning of it. He showed up when others needed help, and he stood ready when duty called. Those who knew Shane will remember that he was funny, kind, and selfless. He had a way of bringing light into a room and strength into a difficult moment. He understood that life is not measured only by years, but by the impact we make, the people we lift up, and the love we leave behind. Shane lived with purpose and heart. He lived in a way that reminded others to be brave, to be generous, and to be fully present for the people and responsibilities placed in their path. A memorial service to honor Leah and Shane will be held on Tuesday, October 27, 2026 at the Jefferson Performing Arts Center, 6400 Airline Drive Metairie, LA 70003. Visitation will begin at 10:00 am with a Memorial Service starting at 1:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation at https://www.firehero.org/ in honor of Shane and his passion for fire service. Online condolences may be offered at www.garden ofmemoriesmetairie.com.

Hotard, Noelie Morvant

Noelie Morvant Hotard, 96, a native and resident of Norco, passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2026. Relatives and friends are invited to Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 401 Spruce St. Norco, LA, on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, visitation will begin at 9AM, with Mass to follow at 11AM. Burial will be held at St. Charles Borromeo Cemetery in Destrehan, LA. Noelie is survived by her children, Richard Hotard, Jr. (Lilly), Lee McNeill (Dan), Ellen Matherne (Vic d), Joan Begley, John Hotard (Mary Clair), Meryl Schexnaydre (Russell), Thomas Hotard (Mary), and May Hotard (Paige Feigenbaum). She is also survived by 18 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, 6 great-great-grandchildren, and by a host of nieces and nephews. Noelie was preceded in death by her father Edgar Morvant, Jr., her mother May Morvant (Bethancourt), her brother Robert Morvant, and her sisters Delora Hotard and Lorraine Guedry. She enjoyed her hobbies of gardening, reading, and crocheting. She was active on Facebook, keeping up with family and friends. She especially enjoyed being with all the children in the family, and they all loved their Maw-Maw. She was a member of Sacred Heart Church of Norco all of her life. Noelie also worked at Norco Co-op until retirement. The family would like to thank Southern Grace Hospice for their services and especially Alexis and Pam for their love and care.

Illg, Carolyn Fischer

Carolyn F. Illg, loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away on Sunday, October 18, 2026, following a brief illness. She was 82 years old. Born in New Orleans, Carolyn resided in Harahan, Louisiana, for the past 50 years. She was the beloved wife of the late John R. "Bob" Illg, Sr., with whom she shared 59 wonderful years of marriage. She was the daughter of the late Christian P. Fischer and Mary Ryan Fischer. Carolyn was a proud graduate of St. Mary's Dominican High School and Charity Hospital School of Radiologic Technology. In 1976, Carolyn and Bob founded Summit Design Services, a naval architecture and marine engineering firm in Harahan. Together, they built and operated the company for more than 40 years. Carolyn's two greatest priorities in life were her faith and her family. Both were at the heart of everything she did and guided the way she lived her life. She adored her family and loved them unconditionally. Carolyn found joy in life's simple pleasures and in making memories with the people she loved most. She was a devoted New Orleans Saints fan and proudly embraced her Who Dat spirit, inviting her family over most Sundays to cheer on the Saints. She also loved tending to her garden, finding peace and happiness in caring for her plants. One of her greatest joys was cooking her children's favorite meals and bringing everyone together around the table. She especially cherished celebrating birthdays, making a point to recognize and embrace each of her children's and grandchildren's special days. For Carolyn, these moments were more than traditions; they were expressions of her love and the ways she made her family feel cherished. She is survived by her loving and devoted children: "BIG" John R. Illg, Jr. (Jeanne), Brian C. Illg, Sr. (Michelle), Mary Deborah Boudreaux, and Erin Illg Graham (Christopher); her loving sister, Christine F. Balfantz (Gottfried); and her brother-in-law, Richard Illg. Carolyn's legacy lives on through her beloved grandchildren, who brought her immeasurable pride and joy: Courtney Illg Harrington (Doug), Christian Illg (Lauren), Sean and Jason Boudreaux, Robert Illg, Jack, Olivia, Hayes, and Beau Graham; and her precious greatgranddaughter, Reese Eileen Harrington. She was also a loving aunt and Nanny to Lisa Beth (Taj), Joseph (Ali), Rachel (Brad), and Drew (Paige) Balfantz; Jodi Illg McCoy; Leslie Illg Forestier (Chad); and Julie Illg Childress (Gary). Carolyn will be remembered for her deep faith, unwavering devotion to her family, and the unconditional love she shared with everyone fortunate enough to know her. Her family was her greatest

blessing, and the love she gave them will remain her lasting legacy. Family and friends are invited to attend the memorial service on Friday, October 30, 2026, at St. Mary Magdalen Church, 6425 West Metairie Avenue, Metairie, LA 70003. Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. until 10:45 a.m., followed by a eulogy. Mass will begin at 11:00 am. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Carolyn's memory to St. Mary Magdalen Church or St. Mary's Dominican High School. To leave condolences, please visit www.gardenof memoriesmetairie.com.

Koch, Margot DeLaHoussaye

Margot was preceded in death by her beloved husband, General (Brigadier) Robert Joshua Koch, her two sons, Robert Joshua Koch, Jr. and Dr. Fernin Charles Koch, her parents, her four brothers, Roy, Felix, Larue, Jean Paul de la Houssaye, and her greatgranddaughter, Margot Vietor. She is survived and dearly missed by her children, Christopher Anthony Koch (Sara), Roy de la Houssaye Koch (Laura), Marguerite Koch-Rose, PhD (Michael), and Leonie Koch Brown (Ricky), and daughter-in-law Claire Noe Koch. She is also missed by her grandchildren, Jennifer (John), Matthew (Danielle), Rachel (Taylor), Hanna (Tommy), Melanie (Raphaël), Margot, Carolyn, Thomas, and Alexandra, 10 great-grandchildren, 2 great- greatgrandchildren, and many relatives from her large and loving family. In Lieu of Flowers, please donate to "Grant's Gift Foundation" 807 N. Columbia Street, Covington, LA 70433, or "Heart Gift Foundation" 5500 Prytania St. #306, New Orleans, LA 70118.

Marguerite "Margot" de la Houssaye Koch, age 97, passed away peacefully at her home in Covington, Louisiana on October 16, 2026. Margot was born on June 13th, 1929, to Dr. Roy E. and Marguerite (Larue) de la Houssaye. She was raised in Uptown New Orleans, attending Holy Name of Jesus, Academy of the Sacred Heart, and Loyola University. She embodied the elegance, traditions, and distinctive charm of the city she loved. She was anchored spiritually by her deep Catholic faith, living a life of grace, devotion, and prayer. Margot left New Orleans after her marriage to Captain Robert (Bob) Koch (US Army), the love of her life, and embraced a life of dedication to her country and her family as an army wife. She moved frequently to new duty stations alongside her husband, and at times, single-handedly managed the household, taking care of all six children while Bob did tours in Korean and Vietnam. Throughout their many moves, Margot and Bob filled their family's life with joy and adventure, sharing with their children a love for sailing, snow skiing, tennis, golf, and horses. After Bob retired, they moved to Covington on the North Shore, enjoying many wonderful years with their family and friends. Margot and Bob spent their remaining days at their apartment in Covington at Christwood. Here Margot spent over a decade surrounded by family and friends and kept active in the retirement community into her 90s. Margot loved line dancing, socializing with friends, and being a eucharistic minister to residents unable to attend mass. Margot will be remembered for her genuine kindness, warm smile, gentle spirit, and her devotion to her husband and six children. She was the matriarch of the family, the heart of her home, and a steady source of love and strength to all generations who knew and loved her.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend the funeral services on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at 11:00 AM at E. J. Fielding Funeral Home, 2260 West 21st Avenue, Covington, Louisiana, with visitation beginning at 10:00 AM. Interment will follow in Theodore Dendinger Memorial Gardens in Madisonville, Louisiana. E. J. Fielding Funeral Home of Covington, Louisiana, is honored to be entrusted with Mrs. Koch's funeral arrangements. Her family invites you to share thoughts, memories, and condolences by signing an online guestbook at www.ejfieldingfh.com.

Lemoine, Richard Lewis 'Dick'

Richard Lewis "Dick" Lemoine, 87, a native of Cottonport, La., and resident of Bunkie, La., passed away peacefully at his home on October 17, 2026 in the company of his family and friends. A funeral Mass celebrating Dick's life will be held on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, at noon at St. Mary's Assumption Catholic Church 808 Front Street, Cottonport, LA. Visitation will be observed from 10 a.m. until time of services. If you would like to view or sign the guestbook, please visit www.melanco nfunerals.com.

Leonard, Bessie Landry Sanchez

Bessie Landry Sanchez Leonard, a native of Pierre Part and a resident for 56 years of Marrero, born on July 6, 1931, passed away on October 23, 2026, at the

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age of 95. She was the 5th of 10 children. A loving and wife, mother, devoted grandmother, sister, aunt, neighbor and friend. Al‐ ways willing to help her family and others, we never had to ask twice if we needed her. Having an memory, she excellent could tell stories about growing up in the 30's and 40's. She was the person to go to if you needed family information or events from the past. Her hobby was buying at thrift stores find‐ ing bargains to be given to others. Her cell phone was her way of keeping in touch with everyone, she called family and friends everyday sometimes twice a day! She never met a stranger, somehow during conversation she the would connect someone they both knew. Due to her kind and gentle personality you were a friend for life. The camp in Pierre Part many Sunday hosted lunches, crawfish boils, fish fries and family gath‐ erings. She will be deeply missed and remembered by all who knew her. She is survived by her daughter, Marlene (Danny) Cedotal of White Castle; son, Benny (Dana) Sanchez of Willow Springs, MO and David Sanchez of Marrero, LA; grandchildren, Danny Ce‐ dotal, Jr., Jayson, Gavin, Jared and Devin Sanchez; eighteen great-grandchil‐ two great-great dren; grandchildren; sister, Effie Landry; sister-in-law, Inez Leonard; stepson, Ronald (Odette) Leonard of Slidell, stepdaughter-in-law, LA; Leonard of Charlotte Chelsea, AL; step grand‐ children, Patrick Leonard, Alison Williams, Robert Leonard, Krissy Roberts, Teresa Winslow; along with a host of nieces and nephews. She was pre‐ ceded in death by her par‐ ents, Willie and Pauline Landry; her first husband, Riley Sanchez in 1959 and her second husband of 48 years, Elie Leonard; son, Charles Sanchez; grand‐ daughter, Jamie Cedotal Landry; sisters, Therese Theriot, Celine Vaughn, Lucy Mae Pipsair and Lou Anna Simoneaux; brothers, Ines, Willie, Aubrey and Hayward Landry. The pall‐ bearers will be Danny Ce‐ dotal, Jr., Jason Sanchez, Sanchez, Gavin Jared Sanchez, Max Williams, Jace Cedotal, Gage Landry and D.J. Roberts. A special thanks to her caregivers, Debra, Donna, Heather, Penny, Sheila and Yolanda for giving love and com‐ passionate care to our mother allowing her to stay in her home the past 5 years. Also, a special thanks to Dr. Scott Acosta, Dr. Robert Cummiskey III, Hospice of Compassus Metairie and her neighbors always there to help, Ken and Sandy Meynard. Also, a very special thanks to David for your devotion, dedication and care for our mom for the past 10 years. It was appreciated by her and us all. A visitation will be held on Tuesday, Octo‐ ber 27, 2026 from 9:00 am at Ourso Funeral Home until the Mass of Christian Burial at noon at St. Joseph Worker Catholic the Church in Pierre Part. Bur‐ ial to follow in the church cemetery. Father Al David‐ son will officiate.

Murphy, Michael Charles

Michael Charles Murphy, age 73, passed away on October 17, 2026. Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, Michael was a proud New Orleanian who carried his love for his hometown throughout his life. Michael graduated from Rummel High School and the University of New Orleans before beginning a successful career in medical device sales, where he served as a regional sales manager. Michael had a special love for Mardi Gras and enjoyed being part of the Almost Mardi Gras Club and St. Mary Magdalen marching groups. Through these traditions, he formed lasting friendships and countless cherished memories. Above all, Michael loved his family. He was the beloved husband of Rose Marie Murphy, loving father of Shawn Murphy, and proud grandfather of Zachary, Kayla, and Kensley. He was also a loving stepfather to Carl and Rose Kuhnau and a cherished step-grandfather to

Gabrielle, Nova Rose, and Mason. Michael was the son of the late Adrian and Shirley Murphy and brother of Kathy Mailhes. One of Michael's greatest joys was bringing his family together every Sunday for a home-cooked meal. He loved cooking for those closest to him, filling the house with laughter, conversation, and memories that his family will treasure forever. Those Sunday gatherings were more than just meals; they were a reflection of the love he had for his family. Michael will be remembered for his kindness, humor, love of family, and the many lives he touched. Though he is no longer with us, his love and the memories he created will live on in the hearts of those who knew him. He will be deeply loved, forever missed, and never forgotten. May he rest in eternal peace.

family requests that you grace someone an act of kindness and a dance in Sid's name. Though he will be deeply missed, the love he gave and the memories he leaves behind will remain with us always.

Sheehan, Frank Edward

Frank Edward Sheehan, 85, passed away peacefully on September 16, 2026, in Kansas City, Missouri from Parkinson's disease. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he graduated Alcee Fortier in 1959 later serving in the Army National Guard, Ft. Sill, Oklahoma during the Berlin Crisis. Frank married Karen Hartel, his wife of 63 years and enjoyed a 40-year career in the bearing industry before retiring to Pelican Point, Louisiana. He is survived by Karen, children: Kevin E. (Melanie), Timothy F., and Kerry S. Knott (Dean), nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. A Funeral Mass was celebrated with a gathering after. Burial in Metairie Cemetery, New Orleans.

Theriot, Richard Paul Seruntine, John Sidney 'Sid'

With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of our vibrant Sid, age 78, of New Orleans, Louisiana who passed away peacefully on October 20th, 2026, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Sid was a beloved husband, devoted father and stepfather, animated grandfather, dynamic friend, and magnetic spirit whose life was marked by kindness, positivity, generosity, devotion to family, goodness, and other meaningful qualities. He will be remembered for his exuberant personality, the passions he loved, and all those he embraced that made him special. Born on September 10th,1948 in New Orleans, Louisiana, Sid spent his early life playing basketball, running track, and coming of age as an adventurous youth in Gentilly. He secured lifetime friends from middle school and his high school John McDonough. This group would eventually become known as the "Liuzza's Lunch Bunch." Sid became known for the decades he spent dedicated to multiple positions and eventually retiring as Operations Manager at Pat O'Brien's. Later he would open a photography business where he would capture wildlife, New Orleans culture, and family and friends. He'd spend time volunteering for the Swollfest Fishing Rodeo and working with the Benjamin Collection. He found his strength and resiliency representing the American Diabetes Association completing marathons around the world. In 2013, ADA awarded him with "Father of the Year." Above all, Sid treasured his family. He is survived by his beloved wife Sandy, his children Stacey, whom Sandy and Shirley Hardaman, Stacey's mother, lovingly raised together, and step-son Nicholas Rauber, daughter-in-law Samantha, his grandchildren, Holden and Wren, and surviving sister Bethany (Ronald) Cooper and brother Donald Seruntine, as well as a host of nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Alga Agatha Gross and William Lester Seruntine. His family and friends will forever cherish the memories of his dancing, immediate willingness to help or fix anything, and his sporting of the backwards hat while dancing with his camera going full blast. Sid fought a long, devastating fight with Type 1 Diabetes and Dementia as Sandy remained his loyal caregiver and companion throughout it all. The family is especially thankful to the love and care provided by his friends at Bon Jour Social and Leisure Club in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, St. Joseph's Hospice, The Carpenter House, and all the loving neighbors-turnedfamily of Pecan Drive. His love and influence will continue to live on in the hearts of all who knew him. A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, November 21st, 2026 at 12pm at Pat O'Brien's. In lieu of flowers, the

Richard Paul Theriot Sr. (known as "Alfred E" to some) passed away peacefully and surrounded by his loving family on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at the age of 80. Richard is survived by his doting wife of 56 years Carmen Hernandez Theriot, son Richard Paul Theriot Jr. (Karen), daughter Christine Theriot Russo (Rocky) and son David Michael Theriot (Lizzie). He is survived by six grandchildren: Christopher Theriot, Lily-Grace Theriot, Rocky Russo, Sophie Russo, David Theriot Jr., and Amelia Theriot, in addition to many family members and friends. Richard was the son of the late Adam William Theriot and Thelma Herbert Theriot and brother to the late Claudette Louise Theriot. Richard spent his childhood summers at Patti Ann Cottage on Lake Catherine and grew up in New Orleans. He was a longtime resident of Metairie, and he and his family enjoyed 30 years of crabbing and swimming at the camp in Grand Isle before moving to Covington for the last 15 years of his life. He was a parishioner of St. Ann Catholic Church for 33 years and served as an usher for 10 of those. He was a salesman for over 30 years, during which time he never met a stranger. While he enjoyed fishing, hunting, and watching football games, he rarely missed a Monday night poker game. He taught multiple friends and family how to boil seafood and how to drive. His mischievous personality will be missed by many, especially his grandchildren to whom he would secretly funnel popsicles, candy, and money. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the funeral service at Grace Funeral Home, 450 Holy Trinity Drive, Covington, LA 70433 on Tuesday, October 27th. Visitation will begin at 9 am followed by a Catholic Mass at 11 am. Interment will take place immediately after.

Wagner Jr., William A. 'Billy'

waters of Louisiana, Texas, Florida, and Panama. A licensed fishing captain, he was a founding member of the New Orleans Big Game Fishing Club and a lifetime member of the Southern Yacht Club. Billy dedicated more than four decades to public safety, serving as a firefighter, Fire Chief, and Emergency Management Director, including 25 years leading emergency management for Monroe County, Florida, encompassing the Florida Keys and mainland Monroe County. He earned national recognition as a pioneer in hurricane preparedness, emergency management, and disaster response. Among his many contributions, Billy helped develop one of the nation's earliest regional hurricane evacuation studies and plans, laying the groundwork for modern evacuation planning. As the first local emergency manager to serve on FEMA's Hurricane Liaison Team, he strengthened coordination between the National Hurricane Center and emergency management agencies nationwide. A tireless advocate for public safety, Billy testified before Congress and played a key role in preserving critical National Weather Service operations in Florida. His distinguished service earned numerous honors, including the prestigious Neil Frank Award, FEMA Director's Award, Emergency Management Director of the Year, and other state and national recognitions. Beyond his professional accomplishments, Billy's greatest legacy was his family, the friendships he cherished, and the countless lives he touched. A respected mentor, trusted colleague, and dedicated public servant, he will be remembered for his wisdom, determination, generosity, and enduring commitment to others. Billy was preceded in death by his parents, Dr. William A. Wagner, Sr. and Marie Alma Wagner; his sister, Marie Alice Goodfellow; and his stepdaughter, Teri Hensley. He is survived by his loving wife, Natalie "Ruthie" Wagner; his children and their spouses, William A. (Cindy) Wagner III, Catherine (LaVan) Bass, Karl (Rachel) Wagner, and Hans (Allison) Wagner; 12 cherished grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Above all, Billy will be remembered for his steadfast faith, unconditional love for his family, dedication to the fire service and emergency management profession, and unwavering desire to help others. His legacy will live on through the generations of family he helped shape, the communities he served, and the many lives made better because of him. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the Funeral Mass on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, at 12:00 p.m., in the Chapel of Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m., followed by interment in Metairie Cemetery. Additionally, a Florida Keys Memorial Service and Celebration of Life will be held in mid-January 2027, providing an opportunity for family, friends, and colleagues to gather and honor Billy's life and lasting legacy. The exact date, location, and arrangements will be announced once finalized by the family. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that memorial contributions be made in Billy's memory to either of the following organizations: San Pablo Catholic Church, Marathon, Florida Make a Memorial Contribution or Heyman Hospice Care, Rome, Georgia, Make a Memorial

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With profound sadness, we announce the passing of William A. "Billy" Wagner, Jr., on October 15, 2026. Billy was a devoted husband, loving father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and man of unwavering faith. His life was defined by determination, devotion to family, and a lifelong commitment to serving others. Whether at home, in his community, or throughout his distinguished career in public safety, Billy lived with purpose, conviction, and compassion. An avid outdoorsman, Billy had a lifelong passion for fishing, enjoying the

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

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Contribution. For hospice contributions, please select "I want to support Hospice fund" when completing your donation. To view and sign the family guestbook, please visit lakelawnmetairie.com

Williams, Mary Robin 'Priestess Miriam'

The family had seven children, and most of their activities revolved around sharecropping in Pocahontas, MS She often spoke of these early years as lessons in hardship, joy, and transcendence. From an early age, she began having a strong connection to the divine. Like many at the time, she traveled north to New York for work, leaving only 4 days after her High School graduation. She was always grateful for the lessons and support she received during that time. She eventually traveled to Chicago, and there began her nursing career. It was also there that she began her time with the Black Spiritual Church, serving as a bishop for over 7 years. She once told me that all "magic is medicine," and that no matter what the situation, the solutions should be thought of as healing. Chicago was also where she met her husband, Belizean Obeah Man and Priest Oswan Chamani (Richard Williams). Despite having only a few dollars in their pockets when they arrived, they traveled to New Orleans to found the Voodoo Spiritual Temple in 1990. This was the beginning of the sacred institution that still stands today. Over the years, they have provided services, weddings, funerals, ceremonies, and everything in between. However, it was not without challenges. Priest Oswan passed away unexpectedly in 1995, but Priestess Miriam continued. Priestess Miriam and the temple survived Hurricane Katrina, fully restored by Allen and his Canadian friend Jeffrey Gold within a year and also a small fire a decade ago at the Temple that required moving. The Temple has had several locations over the years. It began with gatherings in the couple's living room, then moved to multiple locations on Rampart Street before settling in its current Temple space at 1428 N Rampart St in New Orleans. But the Voodoo Spiritual Temple and Priestess Miriam's reach was too big to be contained in one location, and over the years she traveled to Russia 5 times establishing 7 temples, Haiti, Belize, Canada, and several other locales, bringing the shining strength of her faith with her. Priestess Miriam has appeared in dozens of documentaries on BBC, NBC, Discovery, CBS, ABC, Telemundo, SciFi, MTV, Colbert, EuropeanTV, Entertainment Tonight, and elsewhere. Miriam appeared with Nick Cage and then blessed his marriage with Lisa Marie Presley in Hawaii. She later met Frances Ford Coppola while with Allen on their 5week pre-marital honeyhi i

moon. One shining moment was when she presided over the Krewe du Vieux parade as Queen, with Jazz legend Dr. John as King, in 2010. Over the years, she touched hundreds of thousands of lives, and her loss on this plane is felt with a heavy heart and a deep gratitude for the time we did have with her. My blessings and love go out to her husband, Allen Villeneuve, who was by her side until the end; her son Leonard Sr, her daughter Gennel passed in 2024 leaving a daughterAshley. There are 3 greatgrandchildren; 6 grandchildren; her siblings, and family; and our spiritual family, Priest Louis Martinie, Utu, Jorge, Magdelyn, Chris, Norma, and the rest. May she continue to be a shining light and inspiration to us all. She has been interred on Monday, August 19 to rest in St. Louis Cemetery #1 next to Marie Laveau's resting place forevermore. I sit down to dedicate this obituary as her spiritual and husband partner for over 23 years, I realize that the ongoing existence of her legacy will be the hardest thing I will ever undertake. I'll miss you, my Sweetheart. Allen Villeneuve Papa Gran Bwa Bakavi President of the Voodoo Spiritual Temple

Williams, W. Raynald

W. "Raynald" Williams, of Covington, Louisiana, passed away on October 17, 2026 at the age of 86. Raynald was born on October 3, 1940 in New Orleans, Louisiana, the only child of the late Walter F. Williams and Nathalie Sahuc Williams. Raynald was the beloved husband of Linda O. Williams for 30 years. He was the proud fur-parent of Maggie. Raynald proudly served in the United States Army. He was a graduate of The University of Southern Mississippi. After his time in college, Raynald dedicated many years working as a Welding Contractor. He was an avid outdoorsman and hunter. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him. Visitation for Raynald will be held at Grace Funeral Home on Thursday, October 29, beginning at 10:00AM. A Catholic Service will follow Visitation at 12:00PM. Burial will be held at a later date.

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OPINION N O L A.C O M/opinions

OUR VIEWS

New med school offers dose of positivity When we first heard that Xavier University of New Orleans and Ochsner Medical Center had joined forces to open a new medical school in Louisiana, we were ecstatic about the possibilities but knew it would take a lot of hard work to make it a reality. Now, four years later, we are beginning to see that hard work pay off. Xavier Ochsner College of Medicine is set to welcome its first class of around 50 students in 2027. Based in Benson Tower in the evolving Bio District in downtown New Orleans, XOCOM recently received preliminary accreditation from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, which allows it to recruit students. It can apply for full accreditation once it graduates its first class. The partnership between Ochsner and Xavier University, the only one of the historically Black colleges and universities in the nation that is also a Catholic institution, makes sense, as Xavier has long been known for graduating students in STEM fields. In fact, for several years running, it has been the number one college sending Black graduates to medical school. XOCOM is only the fifth historically Black medical institution. For Ochsner, a leading healthcare provider in the state, the medical school also offers benefits. While Ochsner trains more than 450 residents and fellows annually through its graduate medical education programs, XOCOM can be another draw for top-tier clinicians who also want to teach. With 60 of 64 parishes designated Health Professional Shortage Areas, there’s no doubt that Louisiana needs more physicians — especially ones who want to practice in underserved areas. And medical school graduates of color are more likely to return to their communities to make a difference. We’ve been impressed by how everyone involved in this project is looking to the future and trying to anticipate what XOCOM students will need to succeed and what they can offer the state. Dr. Leonardo Seoane, XOCOM’s founding dean, pointed out to this newspaper’s Marie Fazio that the classrooms have been designed to encourage collaboration and group discussion. Xavier President Reynold Verret shared that students will be trained to treat the whole person, combining technical knowledge with humanity. And Ochsner President and CEO Pete November expressed hope that the new medical school will “transform lives.” This vision of what a medical school can be is inspiring. We know it has taken much to make it to this point and are eager to see XOCOM progress to the next stage. To all those who have helped move this project along, you deserve a round of applause. While we can readily imagine XOCOM playing a positive role in our state long-term, the short-term prognosis has already given us much to cheer about.

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identifying name, occupation and/or title and the writer’s city of residence. The Advocate | The Times-Picayune require a street address and phone number for verification purposes, but that information is not published. Letters are not to exceed 300 words. Letters to the Editor, The Advocate, P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0588, or email letters@ theadvocate.com.

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Troubles within Justice of the Peace system is evictions. State law allows JOPs, In most Louisiana communities, juswho are not required to have a law tices of the peace provide a low-cost license, to charge a filing fee to the legal avenue for small claims, marriages and other minor legal matters. plaintiffs, usually the landlords. When those JOPs then rule in favor But in some places, these part-time of the landlords — as several of them elected officials have found a way to do in an overwhelming majormake these cases extraordinarily profitable. ity of cases, sometimes after That’s the conclusion of an hearings that last a minute or in-depth investigation from less — that incentivizes the the American newsroom of landlords to file more evictions an English newspaper, The with those same justices of the Guardian. Reporters there dug peace. Because many leases Faimon allow these costs to be passed deep into data on Louisiana’s Roberts onto renters, that falls on the 390 justices of the peace, and uncovered some alarming renters, too. facts that should prompt seriThis system means that justices of the peace can benefit fious review, and reform, from the Legislature. nancially from ruling in favor of the Chief among the investigation’s find- landlords in eviction cases. That’s a classic conflict of interest. ings is that there are five justices of In some courts, this isn’t even really the peace around the state who, for at least one year from 2023-2025, earned a secret. The clerk of one Jefferson Parish JOP reportedly told an attormore than $220,000 in salary just from their justice of the peace work. ney that the court was “a for-profit One, Harahan-based Chuck Cusimano court,” according to The Guardian, II, earned more than $400,000 — a though the justice denied any knowlhigher yearly salary than Chief Jusedge or endorsement of that comtice John Roberts of the United States ment. Supreme Court. In fact, that justice Other states have reformed their has earned more than Roberts in six justice courts to avoid similar issues. of the last 10 years, The Guardian Mississippi, for instance, changed reported. its system after a 1981 federal court For the high-earners, the cash cow found its similar fee system was a

“malignancy weakening the administration of justice.” Only a handful of states allow justices of the peace to hear eviction cases, according to a Guardian review of state law, and only in Louisiana are the justices allowed to collect income from court fees they charge. On the ﬂip side, The Guardian’s analysis shows that a vast majority of JOPs are not abusing the system. But the ones that are abusing it give the rest a bad name. More than that, their actions expose some critical structural weaknesses. Somehow I suspect that most legislators are not big readers of The Guardian. But in this case, they should be. And they should act. Removing the link between ﬁling fees and income is a common-sense move. And there should be greater oversight and a low-cost appeal option for those who believe they’ve been wronged in one of these courts. Tackling this issue is not glamorous work. But it’s important. After all, what does the legal system exist for other than to ensure that one citizen is not taking advantage of another? Email Faimon A. Roberts III at froberts@theadvocate.com.

Learning from leaders who made a difference It’s not every day you get to hear issues closer to home. from people who have changed the When I meet with community course of history. But there are many groups, I am struck by how much people in Louisiana who have contribwe have in common. All of us want safe communities, clean air uted to the betterment of our and water and better lives for state and nation who still walk future generations. The disamong us. In the Opinions section, we agreements come in how we hope to bring you their stories get there. And those disagreeand their wisdom when we can. ments are valid, but they don’t They have much to teach us, Arnessa mean we should lose sight of and many are still working to Garrett our goals. make a difference. When I talk to activists who Often we focus on national have been successful in changpolitics where the problems can seem ing laws or righting wrongs, it’s beso big. cause they’ve never lost sight of what But when I hear from activists who they are working toward. have made a real difference, they freIf future generations hope to make similar change, there’s much to learn quently say they began their careers from those who came before. Citizens by trying to change things in their coming together around a cause have neighborhoods or communities. It’s a good reminder that sometimes we can a tremendous power — more than any have the greatest effect by focusing on individual working alone. And lead-

ers with vision can inspire us to do more than we ever thought possible. So when we have a chance to share the thoughts and words of true changemakers in the Opinions section, we will. Turning to our letters inbox, for the week of Oct. 15-22, we received 44 letters. The midterm elections and the war in Ukraine were the topics that received the most interest, with four letters each. Then three of you wrote with concerns about the Saints season (it’s still early, fans). Lastly, a range of topics prompted two letters, including the constitutional amendments on the Nov. 3 ballot, immigration, Planned Parenthood and voter fraud. Arnessa Garrett is Deputy Editor | Opinion Page Editor. Email her at arnessa.garrett@theadvocate.com.

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The Times-Picayune F nola.com F Sunday, October 25, 2026 F 7B

COMMENTARY Once upon a time, La. had funny political ads

leave Louisiana for the Lone Star National media has been broilState. ing with outrage about a par“Hot damn!” he said, in gleeticularly nasty ad by Republican Vivek Ramaswamy in the race for ful anticipation of more loot for governor of Ohio. In Louisiana, Texas. once upon a time, we did much Many analysts believe it was better with political TV. the economic argument, Without dignifying Rathe possibility of massive job losses, that was the maswamy’s odiousness by biggest factor turning a describing it, please walk tight race into an Edwards down memory lane, back landslide. when politics here in the Another anti-Duke ad, Bayou State, even when Quin this time during his 1990 harsh, also had an admiHillyer race for U.S. Senate, was rable cleverness. a classic. Sponsored by One need not necessarthe Louisiana Coalition Against ily subscribe to the messages, or Racism and Nazism, it featured even the fairness, in all the ads. Regardless, though, they had real contestants in a Jeopardy (game show) knock off called “Jabstyle. The best political ad I’ve ever berwocky.” Each “answer” was seen came during the horrid 1991 something outrageous or scary runoff for Louisiana governor be- — neo-Nazi connections, shady tween the reputed “crook” Edwin ﬁnances, or whatever — and each Edwards and the former Ku Klux “question” was “Who is David Duke?” Klan leader David Duke. CourteMoving away from Nazis and sy of an out-of-state conservative scofﬂaws, there was the “Mr. Softteam, the commercial featured a Texas cowboy with one booted ee” ad Jefferson Parish Sheriff foot on a bar stool, talking about Harry Lee ran against challenger how good it was going to be for Art Lentini, a former prosecuTexas if Duke won, because all tor. The ad consisted entirely of the Louisiana businesses would a single visual subject: a melting

ice cream cone with Lentini’s face superimposed on the dairy scoop. The ad said Lentini “talks tough, but has a soft heart, especially when prosecuting criminals. In his last two years as an assistant DA, Mr. Softee tried only eight jury trials while plea bargaining a hundred and thirty-five … including three murders and four aggravated rapes.” And, as the ice cream scoop all but disappeared in a puddle under the cone, the tag line said: “As a crime fighter, Art Lentini, Mr. Softee, has made a mess.” The ad was hilariously brutal. Lee won. Back to Edwards: In his 1983 race to return to the governor’s mansion he had left four years earlier due to term limits, he was running rings around the honorable but snakebit Republican David Treen. With video of a seaborne ocean liner, the ad spoke of “the Louisiana ship of state: With Captain Dave Treen at the helm, Louisiana suffered the largest deficit in the state’s history.” As the attacks on Treen’s record rolled on, the ship’s bow began sinking beneath the waves as a

foghorn blared a distress signal. Edwards won. Sometimes the best Louisiana commercials weren’t attack ads. Two of the best were either largely or entirely positive. In 1976, Republican Bob Livingston had lost a close race for Congress to Democrat Rick Tonry, but Tonry ended up resigning amid corruption charges. Faced with another chance in 1977 to be the ﬁrst Republican to win the First Congressional District in a full century, Livingston did a spot highlighting his somewhat hardscrabble background, including six summers working at Avondale Shipyards. Saying something like, “I don’t do this for a living, but I used to. I know what it takes to put food on the table to raise your kids and family,” Livingston wore a welder’s helmet while giving his message. He ended the ad by closing the helmet and expertly ﬁring up his welder’s torch. In a largely blue-collar district that had not elected a Republican in a full century, the ad was golden. Livingston won.

Then there was the 1987 ad, perfect in tone for that year’s race for governor, by then-Congressman Buddy Roemer. Looking straight into the camera, Roemer said: “Some insiders say I’m not a good politician, because I say things that make some people angry. They’re right: I do. I made some people in Washington angry when I refused to take a congressional pay raise.” What followed were more examples of all the supposedly disreputable groups he made angry: “the bureaucrats and deadheads in Baton Rouge,” “polluters,” the education establishment. He closed like this: “I don’t like Louisiana politics. I love Louisiana. I love Louisiana enough to make some people angry.” Roemer vaulted from ﬁfth to ﬁrst, and he became governor. Sure, Louisiana political ads sometimes could be tough, but they tended to avoid the gutter, while showing attractive humor or verve. Those were the days. Email Quin Hillyer at quin. hillyer@theadvocate.com

Jamie Davis making this a race to watch As the days tick down toward the midTensas Parish, Jamie Davis, whose camterm elections, something fascinating is paign slogan is: “A Louisiana we can all happening: The map of competitive U.S. afford.” Senate seats is growing. Not only that, A better one for this late stage of the it’s tilting south, pulled not just by campaign might be: “What if?” swing states like North Carolina There isn’t a North Carolina-size and Georgia but South Carolina and target on Louisiana at this point, — who would have predicted this or even a Mississippi-size one. But one — Mississippi. there’s a sense that things are stirThat’s right, Mississippi, a state ring enough to make things at least that hasn’t sent a Democrat to interesting. Stephanie Davis’ events are drawing boisterthe Senate since 1982, but where Grace both parties are starting to pour ous crowds. Famed strategist James resources into the contest between Carville is touting his chances. Last incumbent Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith week, a Davis fundraiser in New Orleans and Democrat Scott Colom, a district attor- drew a slew of big-name Democrats who surely figured a few months ago that there ney for several counties. was no point: former Gov. John Bel EdA state so close to Louisiana, and yet, in terms of perceived competitiveness, so far. wards, U.S. Rep. Troy Carter and his preOr, maybe not. decessor Cedric Richmond, New Orleans Just like Mississippi was supposed to Mayor Helena Moreno and Orleans Parish help shore up Republicans against a blue District Attorney Jason Williams. wave, Louisiana is a red bulwark. PresiJoining them was just the second madent Donald Trump is deeply unpopular jor out-of-state emissary to campaign around the country and dragging plenty for Davis, Delaware U.S. Sen. Lisa Blunt of followers down with him, but he got Rochester, who stopped in Louisiana on a more than 60% of the 2024 vote here, and swing through the states everyone else is was commanding enough earlier this year actually watching. to convince GOP voters to throw out a Rochester said that she’d heard encourpowerful but occasionally independent aging things from her Senate colleague incumbent of his own party in favor of an Cory Booker of New Jersey, and that the unquestioning loyalist. race is starting to cross people’s radar. U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow’s one job was to She said she hoped her visit would help defeat incumbent Bill Cassidy in the new spotlight what she called Davis’ “incredGOP primary, which she handily did. The ible connection to the people.” rest was supposed to be smooth sailing, so That’s a big part of his pitch, and that much so that most prominent Democrats of the seasoned pols now lining up behind stayed on the sidelines. him. The bet is that Davis’ nontraditional, That left the task of carrying the Demodown-to-earth, everyman profile is appealcratic flag to a little-known farmer from ing in this age of cynicism. Davis largely

points, insisting the underlying assumptions are real. Good vibes aside, though, the state’s overall partisan split is daunting. Davis remains, by any conventional measure, a long shot. Maybe that’s why he admitted when we spoke recently that even a strongerthan-expected losing showing, a very real possibility in this environment, would still matter. “The way we turn out in this election will STAFF PHOTO BY SOPHIA GERMER determine what happens in ’27,” he said. “When they know there is a candidate that Jamie Davis, the US Senate Democratic can turn people out, they treat you differcandidate, greets Janice Manuel during an ently.” early voting rally in New Orleans last week. Not that he isn’t aiming for the win. In fact, as Edwards has joined him to camavoids the big ideological fault lines of the paign in recent weeks, the two have talked often about facing naysayers who don’t day, focusing instead on daily struggles believe a Democrat can win in Louisiana. I due to things like the high cost of diesel ﬁgured it only fair to confess to Davis that, fuel and other issues that cut across party when Edwards ran for governor in 2015, I lines. was one of those naysayers. He also surely beneﬁts from an enthusi“You were a naysayer with me,” he asm gap. Democrats around the country are pumped up to vote against anyone con- noted. Point taken — my previous columns have nected to Trump, and recent Republican moves to minimize Black representation in cast the race as Letlow’s to lose — although Louisiana have provided extra motivation. I’m not sure the enthusiasm I’m seeing is And plenty of people who voted for Trump enough to make me believe history will repeat itself. two years ago have soured, which makes Still, stranger things have happened. Letlow’s play-it-safe strategy actually kind They’re happening right now, in states of risky. where Trump did just as well as he did Anecdotally, both Edwards and Carter here two years ago. said they’d had surprising conversations And nobody ever said that Louisiana poliwith people who they never expected to break from Republicans who said they’re tics aren’t strange. with Davis. The campaign is also talking up a single Email Stephanie Grace at sgrace@theadpoll that found Davis trailing by just four vocate.com.

Why it’s worth it to study up on the amendments concerns to the ﬁnish line with If you live in the Baton Rouge proposed constitutional amendarea, you’ve likely heard of state Sen. Franklin Foil. If you live in ments. Jefferson Parish, you know about Each wants voters to push them self-described “Jefferson girl” over the goal line and score. state Rep. Debbie Villio. If you Foil wants you to provide live in St. Bernard Parish, you surviving spouses of disabled should know state Rep. Michael veterans with the opportunity to Robert “Mike” Bayham, keep their enhanced homeJr. of Chalmette. Those stead exemption from one who live in Crowley and property to another. Villio across Acadiana know wants you to change how state Rep. Chance Keith post-conviction bail for agHenry. Those in New Orgravated offenses against minor children work. Bayleans certainly know the Will name of state Sen. Royce ham wants you to consider Sutton changing the amount of Duplessis. These Louisiana legislatime a governor can serve tors represent different districts. our state from no lifetime limit to two total terms. Henry thinks Duplessis is a Democrat. The people who rehabilitate blighted others are Republicans. They have something in common: Each properties should have a propwants you to vote for something erty tax exemption. they think should be enshrined in Louisiana has one of the youngthe Louisiana Constitution. est state constitution of any state. The names of 10 legislators I was in high school in the late aren’t on the ballot, but these 10 1960s and early 1970s as momenworked hard to get the two-thirds tum grew to support a constituvotes required in the House tional convention. In 1974, the and the Senate to bring their state ratiﬁed an updated constitu-

tion. In 1975, it took effect. For some, the 1975 constitution was a big relief. We wouldn’t have to worry about another constitution for a long time, maybe even 100 years. For others, it was a flawed document that needed fixing. Boy, has it been “fixed.” Many people have worked to fix the Constitution. Since the latest Constitution was adopted, 330 amendments have been proposed. Voters approved 221, and 109 have failed. We’re being asked to approve 10 more. That’s 340 proposed amendments in more than 50 years. We’ve had success voting no on all amendment proposals recently. But this is not a time to vote no on all. I’ve heard no one oppose No. 7, what’s called the water amendment. Among advocacy groups, there are a bunch of yeses, with some maybes or neutrals. Some are opposing all property tax proposals. People seem divided about the deceased dis-

abled veteran spouse homestead exemption and the bail proposal. You can vote yes on all 10 this election cycle. You can vote no on all 10. You can vote yes on some and no on others. Or you can skip voting on the proposed constitutional amendments. That is a bad idea. It’s difficult to change the U.S. Constitution. It’s easier to change state constitutions — and states do. I think most smart people believe it’s better to make significant policy, property and tax changes by law through the legislative process rather than adding to or changing a constitution. However, it’s difficult to pull off a constitutional convention when those in power want to keep things as they are — or control the process. With no constitutional convention, we continue making changes by proposing constitutional amendments. There’s good information avail-

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ARE WELCOME. HERE ARE OUR GUIDELINES: Letters are published identifying name, occupation and/or title and the

able about each of the 10 proposed amendments. Invest in Louisiana, the Pelican Institute for Public Policy, the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice and the Public Affairs Research Council have different goals and purposes, and often different legislative philosophies. Each provides perspective. And you should know who’s behind each proposal. If you wish, you can look up each on the state Legislature’s bill search site. Whatever you do, I suggest you identify the proposals you support before marking your absentee, mail or poll ballot. Start at the bottom of the ballot and move up. Vote yes on the proposed amendments you favor. Vote no on those you oppose. Move up the ballot from there. This can be messy, especially if you’re confused. But it gives you a chance to tell state lawmakers how you really feel. Email Will Sutton at wsutton@ theadvocate.com.

writer’s city of residence. The Advocate | The Times-Picayune require a street address and phone number for verification purposes, but that information is not published. Letters are not to exceed 300 words. Letters to the Editor, The Advocate, P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0588, or email letters@theadvocate.com.

TO SEND US A LETTER, SCAN HERE

8B F Sunday, October 25, 2026 F nola.com F The Times-Picayune

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SPORTS N O L A.C O M

S U N D AY, O C T O B E R 25, 2026

‘PURE AMERICAN ORIGINAL’ LSU basketball coach Brown was inspirational, controversial, Page 11C

1CN

Could Saints establish second home? Benson keen on making France a frequent destination BY MATTHEW PARAS

ä Saints vs: Steelers 8:30 A.M. SUNDAY, NFLN

VERSAILLES, France — Chase Young was given 20 seconds. A reporter asked the New Orleans Saints defensive end what he would say to the French about why they should become fans of the black and gold. The reporter also jokingly issued a time limit so he could keep his answer brief. Young started to stammer. “17…” Alvin Kamara said, counting down the seconds. “10…” Cam Jordan added.

Next to him, Tyler Shough whispered some advice. Young threw his hands up and shrugged. “We have fun,” Young said. “And we have a great culture.” The sales pitch may not have been the most convincing, but when the franchise plays in the country’s first-ever NFL game Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the people of France will have a chance to decide whether

Staff writer

Marketing outside the Stade de France promotes Sunday’s NFL game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints on Thursday in Saint-Denis, north of Paris. AP PHOTO BY GREG PAYAN

ä See SAINTS, page 8C

LSU

AUBURN

SMOOTH ROAD RECORD: 6-2 UP NEXT: VS. ALABAMA, NOV. 7, TBD

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO BY BUTCH DILL

LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt runs to get around Auburn linebacker Demarcus Riddick during the first half on Saturday in Auburn, Ala. Leavitt completed 32 of 45 passes for 387 yards and three touchdowns in the win.

LSU snaps eight-game losing streak in SEC away games in dominant fashion

Kiffin, Tigers avoid scare from legend of Auburn’s Jordan-Hare Stadium

BY JON BLAU

who may have used up their AUBURN,Ala. — Auburn once sorcerer’s wand worth in the brought Lane Kiffin here for prior week’s upset at then a “recruiting trip” trying No. 1-ranked Georgia. to get him to be its football No magic needed for the coach, with then-basketball visiting Tigers, either. Not coach Bruce Pearl touring when you can throttle your him around Jordan-Hare Scott Stadium. Rabalais opponent until its eyes pop out like champagne corks. “You’ll get a win here “When games are dominatevery year that you really don’t deserve,” Pearl told Kiffin, ed,” Kiffin said, “the score, yardage, “because magical things just hapalmost all areas, it means a lot of people are doing things right.” pen here.” After so many things went Saturday was not one of those days to beware at Jordan-Hare. ä See RABALAIS, page 7C No magic for the home Tigers,

Staff writer

AUBURN,Ala.— No doubt had been left after No. 18 LSU’s 38-17 win at Auburn, but quarterback Sam Leavitt doubted whether it was the most dominant win of the season. “I probably would have said last week maybe was a little bit more dominant, in my opinion,” Leavitt said, referring to a 31-0 shutout of Mississippi State. A couple of weeks ago, discussions about LSU tended to revolve around which road loss, Ole Miss or Ken-

tucky, was more crushing to its College Football Playoff hopes. There was a different conversation to be had Saturday. LSU (6-2, 3-2 SEC) is rolling as promised under ﬁrst-year coach Lane Kifﬁn, running away from teams with an explosive offense and by suppressing opponents’ point totals with a disruptive defensive line. Leavitt completed 32 of 45 passes for 387 yards and three touchdowns at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Leavitt, who also rushed for 54 yards and

ä See LSU, page 6C

2C F Sunday, October 25, 2026 F nola.com F The Times-Picayune

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Pels/Hornets have had moments These 25 headlines encapsulate 25 years in N.O.

The New Orleans Pelicans tipped off their 25th season Wednesday night when they hosted the Indiana Pacers. To commemorate the franchise turning 25 years old in New Orleans, we take a Rod back at the 25 Walker look biggest headlines. I’ll admit, finding 25 was no easy task. In fact, it was so difficult that I almost included the team changing mascot Pierre the Pelican’s appearance because his old costume scared the kids. Here we go. 25. On the move: This list wouldn’t be possible if then-Charlotte Hornets owners George Shinn and Ray Woolridge didn’t decide to relocate to New Orleans. NBA owners approved the move with a 28-1 vote. Led by head coach Paul Silas, the New Orleans Hornets won the very first game they played, beating the Utah Jazz 100-75. 24. Heading West: The Hornets played their first two seasons in the Eastern Conference but were moved to the West to start the 2004-05 season. 23. Draft night 2025: The jury is still out on the trade Joe Dumars made on draft night to move up and select Derik Queen. The Pels gave up their 2026 pick, but Queen was named to the All-Rookie Team. Time will tell how big this one becomes. 22. Fast start: The Hornets started the 2010-11 season, their first year with head coach Monty Williams and general manager Dell Demps, with an 8-0 opening salvo. It’s the best start in franchise history. 21. Holiday season: In the summer of 2013, the Pelicans traded with the Philadelphia 76ers for Jrue Holiday. He went on to become one of the most beloved players in franchise history during his seven seasons. 20. League owned: The NBA took over ownership of the Hornets to bring stability to the franchise after minority owner Gary Chouest decided not to purchase Shinn’s majority interest. 19. Boogie’s missed free throw: Who knows how things would have played out if DeMarcus Cousins didn’t miss a free throw in a regular-season game against the

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO BY ALEX BRANDON

New Orleans Hornets guard Chris Paul waves as it is announced he broke the NBA record for consecutive games with a steal during a game against the San Antonio Spurs in New Orleans on Dec. 17, 2008. Paul is one of the greatest players in the franchise’s New Orleans history. Houston Rockets. He popped his Achilles while trying to get his rebound and never played for the Pels again. 18.Scoring binge: Perhaps the greatest performance in franchise history, Anthony Davis scored 59 points and grabbed 20 rebounds in a road win over the Detroit Pistons in February 2016. The 59 points are still the record, eclipsing Jamal Mashburn’s old record of 50. 17. Starstruck: New Orleans was awarded its first NBA All-Star Game in 2008. The city got two more over the next nine years (2014 and 2017). Davis scored a then-All-Star game record 52 points and was named the MVP in the 2017 game. 16. Mr. B’s team: Tom Benson, who also owned the Saints, announced in April 2012 that he would purchase the team for $338 million. 15. What’s in a name? The Hornets were the Hornets no more. Benson decided to rebrand the team as the Pelicans. With the change, the team changed its colors from teal, purple, gold and white to blue, gold and red. 14.Do it big: While most of the NBA was going small, the Pelicans went in the other direction. They traded for Cousins, pairing him up with Davis to form what looked like one

of the NBA’s most dynamic duos ... until the aforementioned injury at No. 18 changed everything. 13.That’s all, folks!: The divorce was ugly. Davis wanted out of New Orleans and demanded a trade. He ended up joining LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers. The Pelicans got Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball and Josh Hart in return. 12. The debut: Who will ever forget Zion Williamson’s first game in a Pelicans uniform? He finished with 22 points, seven rebounds and three assists, including one spurt when he scored 17 straight points (and four straight 3-pointers). 11. Instant success: The Hornets wasted no time getting to the playoffs, making it in their very first season. They lost to the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round. 10. Suns series: The Pelicans took the top-seeded Phoenix Suns to six games in the first round of the playoffs in 2022. The series made you think the Pelicans had turned the corner, especially after head coach Willie Green’s “You’ve got to fight” speech against the Clippers in the play-in tournament. The Pels have been back to the playoffs just once since then. 9.Access denied: Chris Paul was set to be traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in a move that would have

paired him with Kobe Bryant. NBA commissioner David Stern vetoed the trade, and Paul ended up getting traded to L.A.’s other team: the Clippers. 8. Clean sweep: The Pelicans swept the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2018 playoffs, giving the franchise its second playoff series win. They lost to Steph Curry and Kevin Durant in the next round. It’s the last time the Pels won a playoff series. 7. King of the hill. The Hornets won the Southwest Division in the 200708 season. It’s the only division title in franchise history. 6. Home away from home: Because of Hurricane Katrina, the Hornets relocated to Oklahoma City. They played two seasons there before returning to New Orleans. 5. Great Scott! During the 2007-08 season, Byron Scott was named the NBA Coach of the Year. He’s the only coach in team history to ever win it. The Hornets went 5626, the only 50-win season in franchise history. 4. Jackpot: One year after losing Paul, the Hornets landed their next superstar when they won the lottery and drafted Anthony Davis with the No. 1 overall pick. 3. Let’s dance. If you thought fans were thrilled about drafting Davis in 2012, that was nothing compared to the celebration that took place when the team won the lottery in 2019 and drafted Zion Williamson. There was an epic party in downtown New Orleans the night the NBA commissioner called his name. The games he’s missed because of injuries since then could almost be its own item on this list. 2. Game 7: The Hornets beat the Dallas Mavericks in five games in the ﬁrst round of the playoffs in the 2007-08 season. In the next round, they went seven games with the San Antonio Spurs. It almost sounds crazy to think that the Hornets were one win away from making it to the NBA Western Conference ﬁnals. It’s the closest they’ve ever been to a Larry O’Brien Trophy. 1. Face of the franchise: In 2005, the Hornets used the fourth overall pick to select a point guard out of Wake Forest who ended up being the best player in team history. Paul went on to win Rookie of the Year, the only player in franchise history to win that honor. His jersey retirement isn’t on this list, but hopefully someday soon the franchise will do the right thing and hang it in the Smoothie King Center rafters where it belongs.

Valkyries beat Dream to tie up WNBA Finals BY DOUG FEINBERG AP basketball writer

ATLANTA — Gabby Williams gave a passionate speech to her teammates after Golden State fell behind in the WNBA Finals, saying she had to show a “different type of ﬁre.” The Valkyries leader did just that as she scored 17 points and led a stellar defensive effort to beat the Atlanta Dream 67-62 on Saturday and even the WNBA Finals 2-2. “I didn’t like my last game. I didn’t like who I was in that last game,” Williams said. “So I think stepping up in that role made me step up also individually. If I want to lead my team, I have to be the one that sets the tone and I have to lead by example as well. So I think that motivated me to set the tempo today.” Tiffany Hayes was moved into the starting lineup and scored all of her 13 points in the second half, while Kiah Stokes anchored the defense effort that stymied Angel Reese, who had double-doubles in the ﬁrst

three games. Stokes, who won three WNBA championships while playing with Las Vegas, grabbed 16 rebounds, including eight on the offensive end. After Atlanta rolled to a 9771 victory in Game 3, she told the Valkyries they only needed to worry about winning the next game. Reese, like the rest of her teammates, struggled on offense. Reese had just eight points and nine rebounds after dominating the previous two games while averaging 25.5 points and 14 rebounds in the Dream victories. Reese missed 10 of her 12 shots, including a few layups in the fourth quarter. “I think it was me. I think I rushed a lot on my shots and I didn’t take my time and ﬁnish around the basket like I’ve been doing the last three games,” Reese said. “It happens and I’m just looking forward to the next game and just do it.” Atlanta shot 33.3% overall and only 4 for 23 from 3-point range.

Rhyne Howard finished with 19 points to lead the Dream. Even as poorly as they played at times, the Dream trimmed a 16-point halftime deficit to 61-55 midway through the fourth quarter, bringing fans in the sellout crowd of over 17,000 to their feet. Golden State answered with a 3-pointer by Veronica Burton to briefly silence them. The Dream then scored seven of the next nine points, including a three-point play by Howard with 28 seconds left to get within 66-62. Burton then made the first of two free throws a second later and Atlanta couldn’t convert on the other end as once again Golden State challenged shots led by Stokes. She finished with three blocks and now has a WNBA Finals record of 14 in the four games, surpassing the old record of 12 by Brittney Griner and Sylvia Fowles. “I just hang my head on defense. I like to block shots,” Stokes said. Coach Natalie Nakase also made a

change in the starting lineup, Hayes and Kaila Charles for Kayla Thornton and Cecilia Zandalasini. While the Valkyries got off to a slow start again in the early afternoon tipoff with the Atlanta Hawks playing their home opener at night, when Thornton and Zandalasini entered the game they paid immediate dividends. The two helped a key first-quarter run that gave Golden State its first lead since the third quarter of Game 2. Atlanta got within 24-20 on Reese’s basket — her lone one of the first half — but the Valkyries responded with an 18-6 run to close the half. The 42-26 deficit at the break was the largest that the Dream had faced all playoffs. Atlanta had dominated the third quarter in the WNBA Finals, outscoring Golden State 60-35 in the first three games. Atlanta managed just a 19-12 edge in Game 4. Golden State will host Game 5 of the best-of-seven series Monday.

Left knee bone bruise sidelines Pelicans C Missi The New Orleans Pelicans came into the season with a fully healthy roster for the first time since 2018. Two games into the season, that is no longer the case. But at least the first injury doesn’t appear to be as serious as it seemed Friday night. Center Yves Missi has been diagnosed with a left knee bone bruise, the team announced Saturday. An MRI confirmed the injury, which occurred as a result of a left knee hyperextension during Friday’s 120-119 loss against the Utah Jazz. The Pelicans didn’t say how many games Missi would be out. He was ruled out for Saturday night’s road game against the Denver Nuggets. The Pelicans play the Nuggets again Wednesday night at the Smoothie King Center.

Magic forward Banchero will miss weeks with sprain

The Orlando Magic are bracing to be without standout forward Paolo Banchero for what will almost certainly be multiple weeks, after imaging conﬁrmed that he suffered a low-grade high right ankle sprain in a loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Magic made the announcement Saturday, a day after Banchero got hurt in the ﬁrst half of a 115-93 loss to Minnesota to fall to 0-2 on the season. There is no formal timetable for a return, but a low-grade high ankle sprain typically takes several weeks or even months to heal. If Banchero misses four weeks, that means he’d be sidelined for about 13 games. The Magic went 7-3 in 10 games without Banchero last season.

Top-ranked Rybakina to play Fernandez in Ningbo final

NINGBO, China — Top-ranked Elena Rybakina beat Diana Shnaider 6-3, 7-5 on Saturday to return to the Ningbo Open final. Defending champion Rybakina hit six aces but needed 11 set points to take the first set in a match that featured erratic serving and a total of 11 double-faults between her and Shnaider. The Kazakhstan star will face Leylah Fernandez for the title after the Canadian beat Marie Bouzkova 6-3, 7-5 in the other semifinal. Rybakina, 27, has won 14 career singles titles, including both the Australian Open and U.S. Open this year. It will be a 28th career final for Rybakina. She has a 3-2 record over Fernandez.

LIV Golf paid $15M to retain executives before bankruptcy

LIV Golf paid $15.6 million to retain seven of its executives, including $6.375 million to CEO Scott O’Neil, in the months between Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund saying it was ending financial support and LIV filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The payments are part of a trove of documents filed late Thursday in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New Jersey. That included 129 payments to creditors in the 90 days before LIV’s bankruptcy filing and $26 million to Jon Rahm in the year before the Sept. 8 filing. LIV Golf is trying to emerge from bankruptcy without the financial muscle of the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, which spent upward of $5 billion since the rival league launched in June 2022.

Choi moves into tie for second in South Korea HAENAM, South Korea — Hye-Jin Choi had an eagle and seven birdies on her first 11 holes Saturday on a rain-soaked Pine Beach Golf Links to shoot a 6-under 66 and move into a tie for second place after three rounds of the LPGA South Korea tournament. Second-round leader Haeran Ryu, who birdied her last three holes, still led the tournament by four strokes after a 4-under 68 and a three-round total of 17-under 199. Choi shot 28 on her front nine and was 9-under before she bogeyed the par-5 12th after hitting into a fairway bunker. She made a double-bogey seven on the 17th after missing an eight-foot par putt after hitting into hazard off the green with her fairway wood.

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The Times-Picayune F nola.com F Sunday, October 25, 2026 F 3C

COLLEGE FOOTBALL GAME OF THE WEEK

SEC ROUNDUP

QB Sellers has 3 TDs as South Carolina rallies to beat No. 11 Tennessee The Associated Press

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO BY PHELAN M. EBENHACK

Central Florida tight end Grayson Brousseau, front, scores a touchdown on a 4-yard pass to give UCF the lead in the second overtime period as BYU safety Tommy Prassas defends during a game on Saturday in Orlando, Fla.

Unranked UCF upsets No. 2 BYU in double OT BY PHILIP ROSSMAN-REICH Associated Press

ORLANDO, Fla. — Keyone Jenkins threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to tight end Grayson Brousseau in the second overtime, and UCF survived a wild finish in regulation to knock off No. 2 BYU 39-31 on Saturday. Needing a touchdown and a 2-point conversion to force a third OT, the Cougars (6-1, 3-1 Big 12) drove to the UCF 4-yard line, but Bear Bachmeier’s fourth-down pass to Walker Lyons fell incomplete, giving the Knights (4-3, 2-2) their first win over a top-5 team in school history. “We set a standard,” Jenkins said. “That standard has got to be upheld week in and week out. We just beat the No. 2 team in the country.” A week after knocking off thenNo. 2 Notre Dame and moving into its highest spot in the AP Top 25 since its national title season of 1984, BYU became the latest unbeaten team to fall in a wild stretch of the college football season. A school ranked in the top 2 has lost to an unranked foe in each of the past three weeks. UCF was driving toward a potential game-winning field goal in regulation when Jenkins lost the ball on a play that was ruled a sack on the field. But after a replay review, the call was overturned to an incomplete pass, and BYU

was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct, moving the Knights into kicker Will Stone’s range. But BYU blocked Stone’s 47yard attempt. Stone recovered the loose ball, and since UCF tried the field goal on third down, the Knights would have had a chance at a second attempt had Stone’s helmet not been knocked off on the play. That necessitated a 10-second runoff, which sent the game to overtime. Jenkins finished 25 of 41 for 293 yards and three touchdowns and ran for a score in his fifth start since replacing Alonza Barnett, who is sidelined with a hamstring injury. “There’s a lot of teams in football with their quarterbacks hurt and their backups aren’t doing great,” UCF coach Scott Frost said. “Our backup is not a backup. He had an unbelievable game tonight.” Tyren Hornes had six catches for 137 yards for the Knights, and Duke Watson ran for 94 yards on 15 carries. “UCF put us on our heels and put us in some uncomfortable positions,” BYU coach Kalani Sitake said. “I want to give them credit for what they have done. They deserve the win.” Bachmeier threw for 257 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. Kyler Kasper had six catches for 129 yards. The Knights drove to the BYU

1-yard line with less than two minutes left in regulation, but Jenkins was stopped on a quarterback sneak on fourth-and-goal. UCF forced a three-and-out and got the ball back with 42 seconds left, setting up the wild finish to regulation. “That’s the weirdest end of a game I have ever seen,” Frost said. “I thought it would take 31 to win it. It should have if we would have got a sneak in.” In the first overtime, Bachmeier gave BYU the lead when he connected with Legend Glasker for a 28-yard touchdown, and UCF tied it on a single play when Jenkins hit Josh Derry for a 25-yard TD. There were five lead changes in regulation. Jenkins’ 1-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter put UCF ahead 24-21, and BYU’s Matthias Dunn connected on a 47-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter to tie it at 24-all. UCF beat a ranked team for the first time since blowing out thenNo. 15 Oklahoma State in 2023, the Knights’ first season in the Big 12. Fans celebrated with fitting enthusiasm by storming the field and tearing down a goalpost. “It was unreal. It felt like a movie,” UCF running back Landen Chambers said. “I just took it all in.” Sitake thanked security workers for ensuring his team could leave the field without incident.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — LaNorris Sellers accounted for three touchdowns and Malik Orsan nailed a 48-yard ﬁeld goal as time expired to lift South Carolina past No. 11 Tennessee 27-24 on Saturday night. Sellers rallied the Gamecocks (4-3, 2-3 Southeastern Conference) in the final minutes and the defense got a strip-sack and fumble of Tennessee quarterback George MacIntyre with 33 seconds to play to set up the winning kick. Sellers threw for a touchdown and ran for two others, including the tying scored with 1:17 left. Moments later, MacIntyre fumbled after a sack by Dylan Stewart and defensive tackle Tomiwa Durojaiye recovered at the Tennessee 34. South Carolina ran the clock down to three seconds and Orsan easily put the kick through the uprights for the walk-off win. Fans rushed the field to celebrate the second straight ranked victory for South Carolina, which defeated then-No. 16 Florida two weeks ago at The Swamp. NO. 13 ALABAMA 31, TEXAS A&M 20: In Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Keelon Russell threw for 311 yards and three touchdowns, including a pair of fourth-quarter scores that helped Alabama pull away, and the 13thranked Crimson Tide beat Texas A&M to end a two-game skid. The Tide (6-2, 4-2 Southeastern Conference) entered the teams’ ﬁrst meeting since 2023 coming off losses to Georgia and Tennessee. Alabama trailed 20-17 in the second half before taking control

with a fourth-down stop and two scoring drives. The Aggies (4-4, 1-4) were up 20-17 to start the fourth, but then Alabama took over. OKLAHOMA 23, MISSISSIPPI STATE 15: In Starkville, Mississippi, John Mateer threw touchdown passes on consecutive possessions on each side of halftime and Oklahoma handed Mississippi State its third-straight loss. Tate Sandell got the Sooners (43, 2-2 Southeastern Conference) on the board with a field goal on their first drive. Billy Puckett, who came in at quarterback for Kamario Taylor, got the Bulldogs (4-3, 2-3) all the way to OU’s 6-yard line late in the second quarter, but he coughed the ball up on the next play. The Sooners recovered and marched 96 yards on 14 plays, the last of which was a 36-yard pass from Mateer to Isaiah Sategna, for a 10-0 halftime lead. NO. 12 KENTUCKY 34, VANDERBILT 17: In Lexington, Kentucky, Kenny Minchey threw for 203 yards and a touchdown and rushed for another score in No. 12 Kentucky’s victory over Vanderbilt. The Wildcats (7-1, 5-1 Southeastern Conference) snapped a twogame losing streak to the Commodores (3-5, 0-5) and moved into sole possession of first place in the league standings by a half-game over No. 5 Georgia. The Bulldogs were idle Saturday. Kentucky, which lost to Vanderbilt 45-17 last year, had just 14 yards in the first quarter and fell behind 10-0 before scoring backto-back touchdowns on its last two possessions of the first half.

South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers, right, runs away from Tennessee linebacker Jeremiah Telander during a game on Saturday in Columbia, S.C. AP PHOTO BY ARTIE WALKER JR.

TOP 25 ROUNDUP

QB Carr struggles for Michigan in OT loss to No. 6 Indiana The Associated Press ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan quarterback Tommy Carr made his first start in part because coaches had confidence in his ability to take care of the football. In a 13-6 overtime loss to No. 6 Indiana, he lost a fumble on an illadvised pitch and tossed an interception on a deflected pass that was thrown in traffic to hurt the Wolverines’ chances of pulling off an upset. The grandson of College Football Hall of Famers and the brother of Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr took the first snap while Bryce Underwood stood on the sideline. Last week, Tommy Carr came off the bench in the second half in a win over Penn State. Carr was sacked four times, including on snaps from the Indiana 1 and 3 that led to a missed field goal and a game-tying field goal at the end of regulation. After the other two sacks, Michigan made a field goal and punted. Underwood threw two interceptions in the second quarter in that game, increasing his total to six to surpass his five touchdown passes. The sophomore was the nation’s No. 1 recruit last season and is making millions each year with NIL deals and revenue sharing. CINCINNATI 37, NO. 8 TEXAS TECH 24: In Cincinnati, Cole Tabb had a careerhigh 173 rushing yards and a touchdown and JC French IV threw for a career-high four TD passes as Cin-

cinnati stunned No. 8 Texas Tech. It was the Bearcats’ (5-2, 2-2) first win over a top-10 team at home since Nov. 18, 2006, when they defeated No. 7 Rutgers 30-11. Cincinnati won at ninth-ranked Notre Dame in 2021. The Red Raiders (6-1, 3-1 Big 12) failed go 7-0 for the first time since 2013 and were plagued by mistakes all afternoon. NO. 1 MIAMI 52, PITTSBURGH 23: In Miami Gardens, Florida, Malachi Toney had a school-record 16 catches, Dariah Mensah threw for 387 yards and four touchdowns and Miami rolled past Pitt in the Hurricanes’ first game as the nation’s top-ranked team in nearly 24 years. The win should keep Miami (7-0, 5-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) atop the poll when the AP Top 25 is updated Sunday — ending what has been a three-week run of the No. 1 team dropping in the poll after a loss. Texas was No. 1 before losing to Oklahoma, then Georgia was No. 1 before falling to Auburn. NO. 23 SMU 59, CALIFORNIA 20: In Dallas, Kevin Jennings threw three touchdowns to break SMU’s career record, Kendrick Raphael ran for 104 yards while accounting for three scores, two on fourth-down plays, and the Mustangs beat California. The Mustangs (6-1, 4-1 ACC) trailed at halftime before scoring touchdowns on their first six drives after the break. The second of those scores was Jennings’ record-breaking 73rd career TD pass, a 21-yarder to Derek McFall, and the third-year

starting quarterback added to that with a 17-yarder to Jalen Hale with 6:29 left. Freshman running back Christian Rhodes had TD runs of 5 and 3 yards in SMU’s scoring surge in the second half, which Cal (3-5, 2-3) opened with three consecutive three-and-outs. NO. 24 NORTHWESTERN 42, RUTGERS 14: In Evanston, Illinois, Aidan Chiles threw for three touchdowns for the third time this season and rushed for two others to lead Northwestern past Rutgers for a fourth straight victory. Caleb Komolafe rushed for 150 yards and a TD, including a 56-yard dash. Griffin Wilde, who finished with 133 receiving yards, Alex Honig and Drew Wagner caught passes for scores as Northwestern (6-1, 3-1 Big Ten) raced to a 28-3 lead late in the first half. MINNESOTA 13, NO. 15 IOWA 10: In Minneapolis, Luke Drzewiecki kicked a 46-yard field goal as time expired, and Minnesota beat No. 15 Iowa to claim the Floyd of Rosedale trophy for the first time since 2023 and second time in 12 years. Held to a season-low 209 yards of offense, Minnesota (5-2, 2-2 Big Ten) also got a third-quarter rushing touchdown from Darius Taylor after an offsides penalty on Iowa negated a fourth-down stop one play earlier. Iowa (5-2, 2-2) was held to 163 yards through three quarters against a Minnesota defense that allowed 464 yards in a 41-13 loss to Purdue in its last game two weeks ago.

NO. 9 UCLA 28, MICHIGAN STATE 10: In Pasadena, California, Ty Dieffenbach threw a 63-yard touchdown pass and handed off for three others as No. 9 UCLA beat Michigan State for the Bruins’ first 7-0 start since 2005. UCLA (5-0 Big Ten) briefly trailed early for the first time since a 17-15 win at then-No. 13 Oregon two weeks ago. The Bruins outgained the Spartans 443-156. The undermanned and underdog Spartans (2-6, 0-5) led 7-0 after Devin Vaught recovered Jalen Woods’ fumble and ran 56 yards to the UCLA 15yard line. That helped set up thirdstring quarterback Kayd Coffman’s 14-yard TD pass to Keshawn Williams in the first quarter. NO. 21 BOISE STATE 31, WASHINGTON STATE 10: In Pullman, Washington, Dylan Riley rushed for 128 yards and two touchdowns as No. 21 Boise State pulled away from Washington State in the fourth quarter for a victory. Riley scored on runs of 33 and 72 yards for the Broncos (6-1, 3-0 Pac12), who have won six straight after a season-opening loss on the road to Oregon. With the win, Boise State became bowl eligible and pulled even with Oregon State for first in the Pac-12. It was the fifth straight loss for the Cougars (1-7, 0-4), who were eliminated from possible bowl contention with the loss. For the second straight week Washington State started quarterback Owen Eshelman, who threw for 191 yards and

was intercepted once. WISCONSIN 24, NO. 16 USC 7: In Madison, Wisconsin, Southern California transfer Bryan Jackson scored a first-half touchdown against his former team to help Wisconsin surprise the No. 16 Trojans. Wisconsin (5-2, 3-1 Big Ten) had its second victory of the season over a ranked opponent. The Badgers won 24-20 at then-No. 13 Penn State on Sept. 26. Jayden Maiava threw two interceptions in the first half for the Trojans (5-2, 2-2). He came into the game with three interceptions on 224 throws this season. Maiava completed 21 of 37 passes for 190 yards and a TD. NO. 25 ARIZONA 39, IOWA STATE 3: In Tucson, Arizona, Noah Fifita threw for 308 yards and two touchdowns, Isaiah Mizell scored on a 71-yard catch on the game’s second play and No. 25 Arizona shut down Iowa State for a win. The Wildcats (6-1, 3-1 Big 12) played as a ranked team for the first time this season, having moved into the AP Top 25 despite not playing last week. Arizona was sharp following its bye, jumping to a quick 15-0 lead and dominating both sides of the ball to match its best start since the 2014 team opened 6-1. Arizona held the Cyclones (3-4, 1-3) to 221 total yards, including 52 yards on 31 carries to end their 23game streak of running for at least 100 yards.

4C ✦ Sunday, October 25, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

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Roadrunners drub mistake-prone Tulane Green Wave’s league title hopes nearly over after crushing defeat

UTSA 42, Tulane 19

UTSA 14 7 14 7 — 42 Tulane 7 6 0 6 — 19 First quarter TULN — A.Rogers 22 interception return (Helmke kick), 14:55. UTSA — Peterson 1 run (Petro kick), 8:00. UTSA — Peterson 16 run (Petro kick), :13. Second quarter UTSA — McCown 4 run (Petro kick), 4:23. TULN — FG Helmke 38, 1:38. TULN — FG Helmke 33, :00. Third quarter UTSA — W.Henderson 9 run (Petro kick), 9:34. UTSA — High 5 run (Petro kick), 2:41. Fourth Quarter TULN — J.Daniels 7 run (pass failed), 7:37. UTSA — Wiepert 1 run (Petro kick), 2:00. UTSA TUL First downs 21 18 Total Net Yards 396 332 Rushes-yards 47-223 22-67 Passing 173 265 Punt Returns 1-0 4--4 Kickoff Returns 0-0 1-0 Interceptions Ret. 2-18 2-28 Comp-Att-Int 16-23-2 24-44-2 Sacked-Yards Lost 1-1 3-26 Punts 4-39.75 3-41.667 Fumbles-Lost 1-1 4-4 Penalties-Yards 7-57 6-60 Time of Possession 35:20 24:40 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING — UTSA, Henderson 15-102, Peterson 12-51, High 12-50, McCown 4-20, Anderson 1-1, Wiepert 1-1, (Team) 2-(minus 2). Tulane, J.Daniels 8-104, Lucas 2-7, McClure 5-3, Z.Lewis 1-(minus 11), T.Johnson 6-(minus 36). PASSING — UTSA, McCown 16-23-2-173. Tulane, T.Johnson 24-44-2-265. RECEIVING — UTSA, Amador 5-47, Anderson 3-15, Young 2-22, Allen 1-22, Campbell 1-21, Wilson 1-16, West 1-14, Butler-Tanner 1-12, Henderson 1-4. Tulane, Hill 5-54, Mitchell 4-46, Richardson 3-30, Mmahat 2-62, C.Roberts 2-22, Brown-Stephens 2-17, Z.Lewis 2-12, Lucas 1-14, Bolyard 1-4, D.Johnson 1-3, J.Daniels 1-1. MISSED FIELD GOALS — None.

BY GUERRY SMITH Contributing writer

Tulane jumped out to a lead against Texas-San Antonio on the opening snap Saturday night. The fun times at Yulman Stadium ended soon afterward, as the Green Wave’s 10-game home winning streak came crashing down in a mistake-filled 42-19 loss that put its American Conference championship hopes on life support. A week after forcing six turnovers in a 31-17 win against Memphis, Tulane matched that total by coughing it up six times — three in each half. The total forced tied a school record for UTSA (7-1, 4-0 American), which remained one of two undefeated teams in league play along with North Texas. Tulane (3-4, 1-2) tied the six turnovers it committed on Nov. 4, 2012, against Houston. The Wave was its own worst enemy in a competitive first half before getting run over after the break. Ahead 21-13, the Roadrunners forced quick punts on Tulane’s first two series of the third quarter and scored touchdowns after both to go up 35-13. A 30-yard completion from Owen McCown to David Amador and a blitz-beating 22-yard pass to DJ Allen — both on third down — set up a 9-yard touchdown run by Will Henderson on the initial possession. UTSA’s first sack of Trace Johnson caused a Tulane three-and-out. The Roadrunners then converted a third-and-3, a third-and-6 and a third-and-goal from the 5 with runs, controlling the line of scrimmage thoroughly while pulling ahead 35-13 with 2:41 left in the quarter. Any hopes of a comeback died when Johnson’s fourth-down pass for Garrett Mmahat was tipped and intercepted at the UTSA 17, and Tulane’s Jaylin Lucas muffed a bouncing punt early in the fourth quarter for the fifth turnover. McCown, who destroyed Tulane by going 31-of-33 passing in an

PHOTO BY SOPHIA RENZI

Tulane quarterback Trace Johnson drops back to pass during the first half against UTSA on Saturday night at Yulman Stadium. Johnson threw two interceptions in the Green Wave’s 42-19 loss. Alamodome rout last year, settled for an efficient 16-of-23 passing performance for 173 yards as the Roadrunners relied heavily on their ground game. Henderson rushed for 102 yards on 15 carries as part of a 225-yard attack. Johnson threw for 196 yards in the first half, completing 15 of 24 passes, but Tulane’s repeated mistakes were killers. A complete inability to run also put too much pressure on the passing game. The Wave managed only 1 yard on the ground before the break, getting stuffed repeatedly on attempts up the middle. Late in the second quarter, offensive tackle Ryan Mickow was carted off the field with a left-leg injury, making the line play even more suspect. The Wave could not have had a better start. Cornerback Anthony Rogers jumped a quick out

pattern and raced 22 yards for a touchdown ﬁve seconds into the game, but the good times did not last. Three consecutive series ended in lost fumbles as UTSA went ahead 21-7 after tying the score at 7-7 on an eight-play, 56-yard touchdown drive. First, Johnson ﬂipped an option pitch behind running back Jamauri McClure, and the Roadrunners recovered 22 yards behind the line of scrimmage to kill a promising drive two plays after Bredell Richarson made a spectacular one-handed grab while getting a foot down just inside the sideline for a 21-yard gain. That blunder led to a 16-yard score by running back A’Marion Peterson on a direct snap. He went in untouched, running to his right while the defense sold out toward the middle on third-and-2.

Next, Tulane running back Johnnie Daniels fumbled at the UTSA 1 on first-and-goal, and the Roadrunners recovered in the end zone for a touchback. That costly error came four plays after Mmahat caught a deep post but stumbled to the ground at the Roadrunners 18 when he had a clear path to the end zone. UTSA went three-and-out, but the Roadrunners then blew up a reverse pitch from wideout Zycarl Lewis to Anthony BrownStephens after Tulane crossed midfield, recovering the loose ball at the Tulane 46. This time, McCown scrambled 4 yards for a touchdown on thirdand-goal to make it a two-score differential. The Wave calmed down from there, getting two field goals before halftime to pull within 21-13, but three dropped passes hurt

those drives. Cooper Helmke kicked a 38-yarder with 1:38 left after Richardson let a third-down throw go through his hands. UTSA crossed midfield with the intent to score again, but McCown threw an ill-advised flutter ball under pressure that Rogers picked off for his second interception. The Wave reached the Roadrunners 15 in a two-minute drill before Helmke’s 33-yarder as time ran out. Tulane’s chances to complete the comeback ran out pretty quickly after the break. The Wave appeared destined to finish with minus rushing yards before Daniels broke off an 81-yard run on fourth down to set up a fourthquarter touchdown that cut the deficit to 35-19. It should have been 35-21, but quarterback-turned-receiver Mmahat threw low for a wideopen Destyn Hill on a trick-play two-point conversion. It was one of numerous miscues on a frustrating night.

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SCOREBOARD Odds

2-7, Thornton 1-2, Zandalasini 1-3, Hayes 0-2, Stokes 0-2, Charles 0-3, Williams 0-6), Atlanta 4-23 (Howard 2-8, Borlase 1-3, Bonner 1-4, Reese 0-1, Canada 0-3, Gray 0-4). Fouled Out — None. Rebounds — Golden State 38 (Stokes 16), Atlanta 37 (Hillmon, Reese 9). Assists — Golden State 10 (Burton 5), Atlanta 9 (Canada 4). Total Fouls — Golden State 26, Atlanta 19. A — 17,099 (18,118)

NFL FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG Pittsburgh 1½ 3 (44½) vs. N.O. at NY JETS 2½ 4½ (39½) Miami at MINNESOTA 3 6½ (41½) Indianapolis at HOUSTON 5½ 10½ (42½) NY Giants San Francisco 4½ 2½ (49½) at ATLANTA at CAROLINA 1½ 3 (44½) Tampa Bay Cleveland 3 2½ (37½) at TENNESSEE Cincinnati 3½ 1½ (48½) at BALTIMORE Denver 7½ 4½ (43½) at ARIZONA at DETROIT 1½ 3½ (54½) Green Bay LA Rams 8½ 3½ (48½) at LAS VEGAS at SEATTLE 3 2½ (42½) Kansas City

Monday FAVORITE Dallas

OPEN TODAY O/U 3 4½ (44½)

Auto racing NASCAR Cup lineup YellaWood 500

UNDERDOG at PHILA.

College football Friday’s scores NC Central 31, Delaware St. 12 Penn 24, Yale 21 UConn 35, UMass 16 Duke 19, Virginia 16 Army 38, Tulsa 35 Stanford 31, NC State 28 Wyoming 28, Air Force 14

Saturday’s scores

EAST Albany (NY) 38, Rhode Island 21 Brown 38, Cornell 31, OT Buffalo 31, Bowling Green 24 CCSU 42, New Haven 20 Campbell 35, Maine 6 Dartmouth 38, Columbia 18 Duquesne 52, Wagner 21 Harvard 35, Princeton 7 Holy Cross 34, Bucknell 3 Howard 26, Morgan St. 20, OT Lafayette 31, Fordham 17 Merrimack 24, New Hampshire 17 North Texas 49, Navy 39 Robert Morris 28, Mercyhurst 14 St. Thomas (Minn.) 35, Marist 13 Stonehill 18, LIU Brooklyn 14 Stony Brook 27, Bryant 17 Villanova 24, Lehigh 18

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO BY ASHLEY LANDIS

SOUTH

Alabama 31, Texas A&M 20 Ark.-Pine Bluff 31, Florida A&M 28 Austin Peay 27, North Alabama 21 Bethune-Cookman 24, Jackson St. 21 Boston College 49, Georgia Tech 27 Charleston Southern 20, Tennessee St. 7 Chattanooga 41, W. Carolina 18 E. Kentucky 16, West Florida 13 ETSU 38, VMI 0 FAU 51, Rice 49 Georgetown 28, William & Mary 27 Kentucky 34, Vanderbilt 17 LSU 38, Auburn 17 Louisiana Tech 26, Old Dominion 0 Louisiana-Monroe 21, Troy 14 Miami 52, Pittsburgh 23 Monmouth (NJ) 49, Hampton 13 Morehead St. 38, Stetson 31 Nicholls 31, Northwestern St. 27 Oklahoma 23, Mississippi St. 15 Richmond 13, Colgate 6 SC State 22, Norfolk St. 7 Samford 13, Furman 6 South Carolina 27, Tennessee 24 Southern Miss 35, UL 31 Tarleton St. 49, West Georgia 6 UTSA 42, Tulane 19 Tennessee Tech 28, The Citadel 13 UCF 39, BYU 31, 2OT Virginia Tech 20, Clemson 16 MIDWEST Ball St. 34, Sacramento St. 17 Butler 33, Drake 21 Cincinnati 37, Texas Tech 24 Dayton 37, San Diego 32 Hawaii 56, N. Illinois 21 Illinois 21, Oregon 10 Illinois St. 17, Indiana St. 10 Indiana 13, Michigan 6, OT Kansas 25, Baylor 24 Kent St. 35, Akron 20 Lindenwood (Mo.) 44, Chicago State 9 Miami (Ohio) 28, Cent. Michigan 27 Minnesota 13, Iowa 10 Northwestern 42, Rutgers 14 Ohio 24, E. Michigan 20 S. Dakota St. 42, Murray St. 9 S. Illinois 20, N. Iowa 17 SE Missouri 20, E. Illinois 10 South Dakota 26, North Dakota 23, OT Toledo 45, W. Michigan 38 Valparaiso 24, Presbyterian 7 W. Illinois 55, UT Martin 24 Wisconsin 24, Southern Cal 7 SOUTHWEST Arkansas St. 38, Georgia St. 32 Incarnate Word 38, McNeese St. 6 Lamar 35, Houston Christian 10 Oklahoma St. 57, Colorado 24 Prairie View 30, East Texas A&M 19 SMU 59, California 20 Stephen F. Austin 45, Southeastern 24 Texas 34, Ole Miss 27 Texas Southern 24, Southern 21 UTRGV 30, Cent. Arkansas 27, OT West Virginia 24, TCU 20 FAR WEST Arizona St. 28, Kansas St. 17 Boise St. 31, Washington St. 10 Colorado St. 56, San Diego St. 49 Idaho 31, S. Utah 28 Idaho St. 38, Portland St. 8 Montana St. 38, Weber St. 33 Nevada 28, San Jose St. 13 UC Davis 33, N. Colorado 6 UCLA 28, Michigan St. 10 Utah Tech 43, Cal Poly 26

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

Milwaukee 2, Tampa Bay 0

Friday: Game 1: Milwaukee 3, Tampa Bay 2 Saturday: Game 2: Milwaukee 5, Tampa Bay 2

Smooth operator

Milwaukee Brewers third baseman David Hamilton throws out a Tampa Bay Rays runner during the fifth inning of Game 2 of the World Series on Saturday in Milwaukee. The Brewers won 5-4 to take a 2-0 lead in the series. Monday: Game 3: Milwaukee (Peralta 10-11) at Tampa Bay (Gasser 5-5) 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

Milwaukee 3, Tampa Bay 2 Late Friday

Tampa Bay

Milwaukee ab r h bi Chourio lf 4 1 2 1 Bauers 1b 4 0 1 0 Yelich dh 4 1 1 1 Contreras c 3 0 2 1 Turang 2b 2 0 0 0 Mitchell cf 4 0 0 0 Pratt ss 3 1 0 0 Frelick rf 3 0 1 0 Sánchez ph 1 0 0 0 Lara rf 0 0 0 0 Hamilton 3b 2 0 1 0 Ortiz 3b 0 0 0 0 Totals 31 2 7 2 Totals 30 3 8 3 Tampa Bay 000 100 001 — 2 Milwaukee 200 000 10x — 3 DP — Tampa Bay 0, Milwaukee 2. LOB — Tampa Bay 4, Milwaukee 8. 2B — Caminero (1), Hamilton (1). 3B — Yelich (1). SB — Frelick (1), Simpson (1), Mateo (1). S — Hamilton (1). IP H R ER BB SO Tampa Bay Martinez L,0-1 5 5 2 2 0 5 Matz 1 ⁄3 0 1 1 3 0 1 Kelly ⁄3 3 0 0 0 0 2 Cleavinger ⁄3 0 0 0 1 0 1 Sulser ⁄3 0 0 0 0 0 Milwaukee Misiorowski W,1-0 5 4 1 1 1 3 Uribe H,1 11⁄3 1 0 0 0 2 Ashby H,1 12⁄3 0 0 0 0 3 Megill S,1-1 1 2 1 1 1 1 ABS Challenge — Mesa (Strike-Overturned to Ball); Simpson (Strike-Overturned to Ball); Kelly (Ball-Conﬁrmed). Pitch timer violations — Misiorowski (pitcher). Umpires — Home, Gabe Morales; First, Nic Lentz; Second, James Hoye; Third, Vic Carapazza; Right, Tripp Gibson; Left, Dan Bellino. T — 3:09. A — 43,250 (41,700). ab r h bi Díaz dh 4 0 0 0 Aranda 1b 3 1 3 0 Mateo pr 0 1 0 0 Simpson lf 4 0 2 0 Caminero 3b 3 0 1 0 Hicks c 4 0 0 2 DeLuca cf 4 0 0 0 Mesa rf 3 0 1 0 Williamsn ss 3 0 0 0 Walls ss 2 0 0 0 Vilade ph-2b 1 0 0 0

Pro basketball NBA glance

Philadelphia Toronto Boston New York Brooklyn Southeast Division Atlanta Charlotte Washington Orlando Miami

Detroit Cleveland Indiana Chicago Milwaukee

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

Friday’s scores

NEW YORK — The New York Knicks sought to clear up what they said is “misinformation” regarding the awarding of their championship rings, saying Saturday that employees who were always supposed to get them will do so in about a month. Madison Square Garden again conceded that using an email regarding the selection of rings to train staffers about cybersecurity was a mistake, though “reminding our employees to protect our IP was not.” It was the second straight day the NBA champions responded to criticism of their distribution of the jewelry they earned after winning their ﬁrst title since 1973. Players were awarded

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Chicago 132, Milwaukee 125 Atlanta 128, Charlotte 81 Minnesota 115, Orlando 93 Toronto 112, Washington 102 Boston 107, New York 103 Dallas 121, Indiana 105 Detroit 128, Miami 111 Utah 120, New Orleans 119 Houston 114, San Antonio 110 Portland 128, Sacramento 120 L.A. Lakers 125, L.A. Clippers 117 Memphis 111, Golden State 108

Saturday’s games

Charlotte 115, Miami 110 Philadelphia 127, Milwaukee 116 Cleveland 125, Brooklyn 121 San Antonio 122, Dallas 106 Washington 124, Chicago 120 Houston 121, Atlanta 114 Denver 141, New Orleans 135 Golden State at Phoenix, n

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N.O. Murphy III Williamsn Missi Fears Murray Queen Bey Poole Jones Mathurin Matkovic

Min 31:27 33:01 9:17 23:44 30:13 29:00 22:08 19:10 17:46 15:06 9:07

FG FT Reb M-A M-A O-T 4-9 0-0 1-6 8-12 7-8 1-5 3-3 0-0 1-1 3-9 0-0 0-0 7-15 2-2 1-6 4-9 3-4 1-7 8-12 1-1 1-3 1-8 9-10 0-2 1-2 0-0 0-1 2-5 0-0 1-2 3-3 1-2 2-4

in the week that assistant coaches did not get theirs. Madison Square Garden responded to that Friday by saying more than 275 employees were already set to be gifted rings, worth more than $3.7 million. “There is a great deal of misinformation regarding the championship rings. The plan has always been to distribute more than 275 rings and jewelry to the people in the organization who were part of last season’s success,” an MSG spokesperson said Saturday. “As is common with many teams, the players were always supposed to get their rings as part of the opening night ceremony and then everyone else will receive theirs in about 4-6 weeks.” The Athletic report also said that in September, MSG employees received an email reading: “Con-

who clicked on the link at the bottom of the email were forced to attend a mandatory cybersecurity class. “Regarding the phishing email, the process of securing and reminding our employees to protect our IP was not a mistake but the choice to use the ring to do so was a mistake and we apologize to our employees and the fans,” MSG said. “Winning the championship was a great moment for all New Yorkers. Those who choose to focus on the negative are missing the joy that comes with the team’s accomplishment.”

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WORKS

Reb

UTAH Min M-A M-A O-T A F PTS Bailey 21:42 2-8 1-2 1-7 2 2 6 Markknen 34:08 6-13 0-0 2-6 3 0 16 Jackson 33:14 7-15 8-10 4-10 3 4 24 George 32:25 6-12 4-6 0-1 10 2 19 Peterson 29:58 6-12 2-2 3-3 1 3 15 Hayes 25:57 7-8 3-3 2-5 2 3 17 Mykhailiuk 21:24 1-4 1-2 1-4 1 2 3 Collier 18:02 3-5 4-6 0-2 7 3 10 Sensabgh 15:35 3-6 2-2 1-3 2 2 10 Filipowski 7:35 0-1 0-0 0-1 0 0 0 Totals 240 41-84 25-33 14-42 31 21 120 Percentages: FG .488, FT .758. 3-Point Goals: 13-35, .371 (Markkanen 4-9, George 3-7, Jackson Jr. 2-4, Sensabaugh 2-4, Peterson 1-2, Bailey 1-6, Collier 0-1, Mykhailiuk 0-2). Team Rebounds: 9. Team Turnovers: None. Blocked Shots: 5 (Jackson Jr. 3, Hayes, Sensabaugh). Turnovers: 18 (George 6, Filipowski 3, Jackson Jr. 3, Collier 2, Bailey, Markkanen, Mykhailiuk, Sensabaugh). Steals: 4 (Filipowski, George, Markkanen, Mykhailiuk). Technical Fouls: None. New Orleans 28 24 38 29 — 119 Utah 31 31 24 34 — 120 A — 17,867 (18,206). T — 2:21.

No. 4 Atlanta 2, No. 2 Golden State 2

Oct. 17: Game 1: Golden State 68, Atlanta 64 Oct. 19: Game 2: Atlanta 79, Golden State 65 Oct. 21: Game 3: Atlanta 97, Golden State 71 Saturday: Game 4: Golden State 67, Atlanta 62 Monday: Game 5: Atlanta at Golden State, 7 p.m. (USA) Thursday: Game 6: Golden State at Atlanta, 7 p.m. (USA) x-Saturday, Oct. 31: Game 7: Atlanta at Golden State, 7 p.m. (USA)

L.A. Lakers at Utah, 4 p.m. Indiana at Brooklyn, 5 p.m. L.A. Clippers at Oklahoma City, 6 p.m. Orlando at New York, 6 p.m. Toronto at Minnesota, 6 p.m. Detroit at Philadelphia, 6:30 p.m. Memphis at Sacramento, 8 p.m.

Late Friday

Totals 240 44-87 23-27 9-37 18 29 119 Percentages: FG .506, FT .852. 3-Point Goals: 8-26, .308 (Bey 3-5, Jones 1-2, Queen 1-2, Fears 1-4, Murphy III 1-4, Poole 1-5, Mathurin 0-1, Williamson 0-1, Murray 0-2). Team Rebounds: 11. Team Turnovers: None. Blocked Shots: 5 (Queen 2, Bey, Missi, Poole). Turnovers: 15 (Murray 3, Bey 2, Fears 2, Mathurin 2, Murphy III 2, Queen 2, Williamson 2). Steals: 15 (Murray 3, Poole 3, Williamson 3, Matkovic 2, Queen 2, Fears, Murphy III). Technical Fouls: coach Jamahl Mosley, 6:24 second; Poole, 5:49 third.

WNBA Finals

Sunday’s games

rings Tuesday night gratulations, your EmployN.Y. team says their before the Knicks opened ee Championship Ring is season against the here.” It showed a graphic employees will get the Philadelphia 76ers. But with two ring styles that them in 4-6 weeks The Athletic reported later could be selected, but those AP basketball writer

L 0 1 1 2 3

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Knicks trying to clear up ‘misinformation’ about rings BY BRIAN MAHONEY

W 2 1 1 1 0

Golden State 67, Atlanta 62

Utah 120, New Orleans 119

EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division

Central Division

A 3 2 0 1 6 2 1 2 0 0 1

PFPTS 4 9 5 23 0 6 2 7 2 16 3 12 1 20 5 12 3 3 3 4 1 7

GOLDEN STATE (67) Charles 2-6 1-2 5, Hayes 5-10 3-3 13, Stokes 2-5 0-0 4, Burton 4-17 3-4 13, Williams 7-21 3-3 17, Salaun 1-1 0-0 2, Thornton 1-2 0-0 3, Zandalasini 4-8 1-1 10, Chen 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 26-72 11-13 67. ATLANTA (62) Hillmon 2-2 2-2 6, Howard 6-14 5-7 19, Reese 2-12 4-6 8, Canada 3-8 4-6 10, Gray 1-7 3-4 5, Bonner 1-5 1-2 4, Okot 0-0 0-0 0, Borlase 3-6 3-4 10, Walker-Kimbrough 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 18-54 22-31 62. Golden State 16 26 12 13 — 67 Atlanta 11 15 19 17 — 62 3-Point Goals — Golden State 4-25 (Burton

SPORTS

24/7

After Saturday qualifying; race Sunday At Talladega Superspeedway Talladega, Ala. Lap length: 2.66 miles (Car number in parentheses) 1. (19) Chase Briscoe, Toyota, 186.065 mph. 2. (33) Austin Hill, Chevrolet, 185.949. 3. (88) Connor Zilisch, Chevrolet, 185.877. 4. (97) Shane Van Gisbergen, Chevrolet, 185.707. 5. (17) Chris Buescher, Ford, 185.607. 6. (20) Christopher Bell, Toyota, 185.549. 7. (48) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, 185.506. 8. (54) Ty Gibbs, Toyota, 185.301. 9. (11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 185.101. 10. (5) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 184.822. 11. (51) Cody Ware, Chevrolet, 184.858. 12. (3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 184.847. 13. (7) Daniel Suárez, Chevrolet, 184.790. 14. (35) Riley Herbst, Toyota, 184.776. 15. (1) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet, 184.719. 16. (22) Joey Logano, Ford, 184.694. 17. (24) William Byron, Chevrolet, 184.683. 18. (9) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, 184.644. 19. (60) Ryan Preece, Ford, 184.644. 20. (41) Cole Custer, Chevrolet, 184.630. 21. (21) Josh Berry, Ford, 184.516. 22. (6) Brad Keselowski, Ford, 184.356. 23. (71) Michael McDowell, Chevrolet, 184.310. 24. (47) Ricky Stenhouse Jr, Chevrolet, 184.264. 25. (23) Bubba Wallace, Toyota, 184.225. 26. (77) Carson Hocevar, Chevrolet, 184.211. 27. (12) Ryan Blaney, Ford, 184.026. 28. (2) Austin Cindric, Ford, 184.026. 29. (43) Erik Jones, Toyota, 183.889. 30. (10) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, 183.850. 31. (38) Zane Smith, Ford, 183.758. 32. (42) John H. Nemechek, Toyota, 183.691. 33. (45) Tyler Reddick, Toyota, 183.638. 34. (62) Casey Mears, Chevrolet, 183.227. 35. (34) Todd Gilliland, Ford, 183.224. 36. (78) Daniel Dye, Chevrolet, 183.010. 37. (16) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 182.553. 38. (44) Joey Gase, Chevrolet, 182.157. 39. (4) Noah Gragson, Ford, 181.797. 40. (66) Gray Gaulding, Ford, 181.106.

Transactions FOOTBALL National Football League ATLANTA FALCONS — Activated CB A.J. Terrell from injured reserve. Signed DE Drake Jackson to the active roster. Placed OT Michael Jerrell on injured reserve. ARIZONA CARDINALS — Signed RB Evan Hull to the active roster from the practice squad. Waived DB Wydett Williams from the active roster. BALTIMORE RAVENS — Placed LB Tavius Robinson on injured reserve. Signed G Kyle Hergel from the practice squad. CAROLINA PANTHERS — Placed LB Thomas Incoom on injured reserve. Activated LB Bam Martin-Scott from injured reserve. Signed DB Malcolm DeWalt to the practice squad. CLEVELAND BROWNS — Activated RB Dylan Sampson from injured reserve. Placed OL Teven Jenkins in injured reserve. DENVER BRONCOS — Activated RB Jonah Coleman and OLB Jonathon Cooper. Placed RB Tyler Badie and OLB Jonah Elliss on injured reserve. DETROIT LIONS — Activated DB Brian Branch from the PUP list. Activated C Cade Mays from injured reserve. GREEN BAY PACKERS — Activated RB Josh Jacobs from exempt status. Activated DT Jordan Riley off reserve/physically unable to perform list. Signed WR Coleman Owen from the practice squad to the active roster. HOUSTON TEXANS — Activated WR Tank Dell from injured reserve. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS — Released P Thomas Morstead from the practice squad. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS — Placed RB Brashard Smith on injured reserve. Activated LB Cooper McDonald from injured reserve. Signed RB Jaydn Ott to the active roster from the practice squad. MIAMI DOLPHINS — Activated LB Kyle Louis from injured reserve. MINNESOTA VIKINGS — Activated RB Jordan Mason from injured reserve. Released CB Natrone Brooks from the practice squad. Signed RB DeeJay Dallas to the practice squad. NEW YORK GIANTS — Activating CB Paulson Adebo off injured reserve. Placing LB Tremaine Edmunds on injured reserve. NEW YORK JETS — Placed LB Kiko Mauigoa on injured reserve. Signed LB Jaden Keller to the active roster. PITTSBURGH STEELERS — Activated S DeShon Elliott from the injured reserve list. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS — Signed DE Ogbonnia Okoronkwo to the practice squad. Released DT Kevin Givens from the practice squad. Activated WR Christian Kirk from injured reserve. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS — Activated G Anthony Bradford from injured reserve. Signed DB Trevon Diggs to the practice squad. Signed WR Irvin Charles from the practice squad. Waived WR Montorie Foster. TENNESSEE TITANS — Signed DT Timmy Horne to the active roster from the practice squad. HOCKEY National Hockey League CAROLINA HURRICANES — Reassigned RW Unger Sorum to Chicago (AHL).

6C F Sunday, October 25, 2026 F nola.com F The Times-Picayune

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LSU 38, AUBURN 17

BOX SCORE No. 18 LSU 38, Auburn 17 LSU 10 21 0 7 — 38 Auburn 3 7 0 7 — 17 First quarter LSU — FG Starzyk 30, 10:54. AUB — FG McPherson 23, 6:50. LSU — J.Harris 10 pass from Leavitt (Starzyk kick), 3:48. Second quarter LSU — T.Green 15 pass from Leavitt (Starzyk kick), 9:48. AUB — By.Brown 1 run (McPherson kick), 5:42. LSU — J.Harris 70 pass from Leavitt (Starzyk kick), 4:29. LSU — Leavitt 4 run (Starzyk kick), :17. Fourth quarter LSU — D.Jones 12 run (Starzyk kick), 13:56. AUB — Ti’a 7 run (McPherson kick), :24. A — 88,043. LSU AUB First downs 29 16 Total Net Yards 552 271 Rushes-yards 34-165 35-67 Passing 387 204 Punt Returns 0-0 1--1 Kickoff Returns 0-0 0-0 Interceptions Ret. 0-0 0-0 Comp-Att-Int 32-46-0 20-30-0 Sacked-Yards Lost 1-2 7-48 Punts 3-33.3 7-48.6 Fumbles-Lost 0-0 1-0 Penalties-Yards 7-50 6-48 Time of Possession 33:41 26:19 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING — LSU, D.Jones 21-92, Leavitt 8-54, Durham 3-22, Berry 1-(minus 1), Clark 1-(minus 2). Auburn, Brown 19-21, Ti’a 4-18, Cobb 5-14, Mabson 3-13, Washington 3-5, (Team) 1-(minus 4). PASSING — LSU, Leavitt 32-45-0387, Clark 0-1-0-0. Auburn, Brown 15-24-0-160, Ti’a 5-6-0-44. RECEIVING — LSU, Harris 9-178, T.Green 5-50, Watkins 4-40, Wilson 4-37, D.Jones 4-27, Z.Grace 3-33, Elzy 1-11, Mothershed 1-6, Barber 1-5. Auburn, Singleton 4-64, Spencer 4-41, Neptune 3-13, Koger 2-30, Nimrod 2-7, J.Johnson 1-19, Mabson 1-13, Cobb 1-8, Boardingham 1-6, Echols 1-3.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO

Auburn quarterback Byrum Brown is sacked by LSU cornerback DJ Pickett during the first half on Saturday in Auburn, Ala. LSU sacked Auburn quarterbacks seven times in the game.

LSU

Continued from page 1C a score, found his emerging No. 1 receiver Jackson Harris nine times for 178 yards and two touchdowns. He also dished to newly healthy tight end Trey’Dez Green five times for 50 yards and a score in his return. For the first time in two years and five days, LSU notched a Southeastern Conference victory away from Tiger Stadium. Saturday’s win snapped an eight-game losing streak in SEC road games, going back to an Oct. 19, 2024, win at Arkansas. “This is what the whole thing was supposed to look like when we put it together, and the pieces come together, where you can be explosive on offense, where you get ahead, and pay really good rushers at the edge that end games,” Kiffin said. “They showed up today.” LSU finished with a 552-271 edge in yards. Auburn quarterback Byrum Brown was held to 21 yards

NOTEBOOK

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO BY BUTCH DILL

LSU coach Lane Kiffin reacts to a play during the first half against Auburn on Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Kiffin gambled early in the second quarter on fourth-and-2 from the LSU 31, and it paid off in an eventual touchdown.

Gamble puts LSU in control Kiffin’s decision to defy the analytics paid off on pivotal drive

BY REED DARCEY

Staff writer

After his decision to go for it on fourth down paid off, coach Lane Kiffin smiled and did a quick Sign of the Cross. The first-year LSU coach looked relieved. Sam Leavitt’s errant firstdown throw hadn’t been intercepted after all, and the trick play that offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. dialed up on fourth down had fooled the Auburn defense, which allowed the visiting Tigers to stay on the field and score a pivotal touchdown on Saturday in their 38-17 win. The early second-quarter drive had to rise from the dead before it entered the end zone. Had Auburn safety Eric Winters secured Leavitt’s errant throw and not let the ball hit the ground on the second play of the eventual 14-play, 95-yard drive, he would have given the Auburn offense a short field and a chance to tie the game 10-10. Instead, LSU ran two more plays, dialed up some deception on fourth-and-2 from its own 31yard line and marched 58 more yards for a touchdown that gave it a 17-3 lead. Leavitt found tight end Trey’Dez Green for both the fourth-down conversion and the score. “If it didn’t work,” Kiffin said, “everybody would be saying, ‘The defense is playing really well. Why did you do that?’ That was actually against the book.”

rushing on 19 carries after logging consecutive 100-yard outings, including 115 in last week’s win over then-No. 1 Georgia. Kifﬁn, always seeking an edge, said he was rooting for unranked Auburn’s upset because “relief syndrome,” a letdown after a big win, is a real challenge. Whatever the reason, LSU had the upper hand in a traditionally unpredictable stadium, and it sets up Kifﬁn and Co. well for what comes next. LSU heads into its bye week with Green, one of its No. 7s, already back. Alabama and Texas await, with LSU’s other No. 7, linebacker Whit Weeks, hoping to return at some point after the open date. A pair of home wins substantially would improve LSU’s CFP chances. Everything is progressing as LSU would have hoped, and one trend — losing on the road to SEC foes — was emphatically squashed. “It’s always so good to get a win, especially just being able to get that done on the road, which we haven’t done,” said LSU running back Dilin Jones, who had 92 yards

Kiffin said that punting would’ve been the analytically sound decision to make at that moment. His numbers told him he should leave his offense on the field in that situation only if it needed to pick up 1 yard — not 2. “I don’t know,” Kiffin said, “I just really felt good about our matchups in this game, how our offense was coming into the game and just felt like there were going to be some situations where I told myself we’re going to err on the side of being aggressive and put it on our players.” One of those players, Leavitt, nearly threw away the drive, but that pass was his only mistake of the day. The redshirt junior carved up Auburn, completing a career-high 32 passes for a career-high 387 yards and three touchdowns. For the second straight week, Leavitt did not turn the ball over ... after replay reversed the initial ruling on his errant throw. On the crucial fourth down, running back Dilin Jones took a direct snap in the shotgun and handed the ball off to Leavitt, who faked a toss to receiver Winston Watkins and floated a pass to Green in the flat for an 11-yard gain. Earlier in the season in LSU’s loss to Kentucky, Kiffin controversially passed on a chance to convert a fourth-and-1 near midfield with a chance to secure the win. And earlier against Auburn, he had punted on fourth-and-2 from the LSU 36.

and a touchdown on 21 carries. “Emphasized on it, big time.” LSU moved the ball all day, even if its first drive — which started near midfield — stalled for a 30yard field goal. The next possession, with the game tied 3-3, moved 65 yards on 6-of-6 passing from Leavitt, including four completions to Harris. Leavitt, under pressure and falling backward as he threw it, found Harris streaking across the middle for a 10-yard touchdown to pull ahead 10-3. The quarterback would record at least a 70% completion rate for a fifth game in a row. “I would say Kentucky was kind of the first game I felt like I played a lot better and more complete, getting to the check-down and all that,” Leavitt said, “and that stretches them laterally and opens up a lot of our crosser windows and things like that. “It’s a constant progression, and I thought today was another step forward.” LSU went three-and-out on its next possession, but that was a momentary delay. The next series went 95 yards on

The one Kifﬁn actually tried to pick up was 5 yards closer to his own end zone, and the numbers told him not to do it. That is likely part of the reason why the LSU coach acknowledged a higher power after his offense picked up the ﬁrst down.

Veteran RB gets a shot Running back Caden Durham touched the ball only nine times in LSU’s first seven games. But the junior received three touches against Auburn on Saturday, when he worked behind Jones as the Tigers’ clear-cut No. 2 tailback for the first time this season. Durham was the leading LSU rusher in each of the first two years of his career, but he’s spent most of his junior campaign buried on the depth chart behind Jones, sophomore Harlem Berry and Central Florida transfer Stacy Gage. Kiffin and his staff have been rotating their No. 2 backs all season. Gage got the first crack at the job, then ceded it to Berry by Week 4. Berry has carried the ball only four times in the last two games, though, and Gage lost a fumble last week in LSU’s win over Mississippi State. So now it’s time for Durham to get a crack at the job. He picked up 22 yards on the three carries against Auburn.

won an SEC road game in more than two years. A loss to Auburn would’ve been the ninth straight league matchup that LSU had dropped away from Tiger Stadium, and it would’ve put the Tigers just one more SEC road defeat away from matching the longest skid of such losses in program history. LSU has two separate streaks of at least nine SEC road losses — one that ran from 1998-2000 and one that ran from 1974-76. The Tigers’ most recent SEC road losing skid started with the loss they suffered at Texas A&M on Oct. 26, 2024. The streak extended to six games before Kifﬁn took over the program, and then it widened to eight once his newlook group dropped road matchups with Ole Miss and Kentucky this season. LSU has two more road trips left: one to Tennessee on Nov. 21 and another to Arkansas on Nov. 28 in the last week of the regular season.

Historical context LSU’s 21-point win was its most lopsided road victory over Auburn in program history. Before Saturday, the Tigers never had won by more than 14 points on The Plains.

Email Reed Darcey at reed. darcey@theadvocate.com. For more LSU sports updates, sign Losing skid ends up for our newsletter at theadvoBefore Saturday, LSU hadn’t cate.com/lsunewsletter

14 plays, including a fourth-and-2 on the LSU 32 converted on a direct snap to Jones, who handed off to Leavitt, who then hit Green for 11 yards. The drive ended with Leavitt ﬁnding Green over the middle for a 15-yard catch and run across the goal line to make it 17-3. Auburn (4-3, 2-3) answered with its only touchdown drive of the day, but LSU would have two more before the half ended. One lasted just three plays, thanks to a 70yard touchdown for Harris on a pass threaded over the middle by Leavitt on third-and-5. The next drive, 74 yards on 10 plays, was more methodical, draining most of what remained of the first-half clock. The possession was powered by rushes of 9, 16, 10 and 12 yards by Jones. Leavitt finished the first half with an exclamation point, diving across the line on a 4-yard touchdown run that gave LSU a 31-10 lead going into the locker room. “We came in here and kind of shut out the crowd pretty early,” Leavitt said. Jordan-Hare steadily emptied in the second half, because there

was little to keep Auburn fans’ attention offensively. LSU kept Brown bottled up, notching 12 tackles for loss and seven sacks (six of them on Brown). Auburn’s first three possessions of the second half traveled just 29 combined yards on 15 plays, and Jones helped put the game away, spinning out of a tackle on his way to a 12-yard touchdown run that made it 38-10 LSU just over a minute into the fourth quarter. Auburn scored a garbage-time touchdown with 24 seconds left to cut the deficit back to 21 points, which was tighter than what LSU achieved a week ago against Mississippi State. Leavitt just shrugged it off. “How much did they finish with? 17?” Leavitt asked reporters. “Last play of the game, whatever.” LSU left no doubt. November awaits, which will provide the Tigers with many meaningful opportunities to notch their best performance yet. Email Jon Blau at jon.blau@theadvocate.com

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The Times-Picayune F nola.com F Sunday, October 25, 2026 F 7C

LSU 38, AUBURN 17 THREE AND OUT: SCOTT RABALAIS’ TOP THREE TAKEAWAYS FROM LSU’S ROAD VICTORY IN AUBURN

EARLY START, EARLY FINISH Saturday’s road game marked a second straight 11 a.m. kickoff for LSU. Early to play, early to rise up for the visiting Tigers, who played one of their best halves of football this season to take a convincing 3110 halftime lead. LSU was up 10-3 when a bad pass by quarterback Sam Leavitt resulting in an interception was reversed on review. Leavitt threw for two scores and ran for one after that as the rout was on.

WELCOME BACK, TREY’DEZ GREEN Out since suffering a knee injury Sept. 19 at Ole Miss, Green was the subject of much speculation all week after being left off LSU’s availability report. Green started and played a big part, catching a 15-yard touchdown pass from Leavitt after that reversed interception to complete a 95-yard drive. Green finished with five catches for 50 yards, not a dominant day but an excellent sign for LSU heading into the final month of the season.

DUAL THREAT, LITTLE THREAT Much was made about the dual threat of Auburn quarterback Byrum Brown after he had 265 yards of total offense (150 rushing, 115 passing) in the Tigers’ 27-24 upset of No. 1 Georgia. Brown did break free on a 34yard run to set up his 1-yard keeper for Auburn’s first touchdown, but the LSU pass rush wreaked havoc on him with six sacks. He finished with 21 net yards rushing as Auburn managed just 67 yards on the ground.

AERIAL SHOW FLYING HIGH TE Green’s return puts foes’ secondary in danger zone

BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer

AUBURN, Ala. — The snap came so fast that Sam Leavitt wasn’t ready for it. At least that’s what it looked like, though nothing in Lane Kiffin’s offense happens by accident. The LSU quarterback still handled the hot snap with ease and found Trey’Dez Green over the middle while the Auburn defense was fast asleep. Green then turned, trucked through four defenders and dove into the end zone for a 15-yard score. Before Auburn could blink, LSU led 17-3 with nearly 10 minutes left before halftime. This is what LSU had missed for four weeks. Green, who returned this weekend after injuring his knee in Week 3, was the centerpiece of the passing attack before an Ole Miss defender collided with his knee and forced him to sit for a month. But Saturday was not just the Green show. Jackson Harris — the transfer wide receiver from Hawaii who stepped up after Green’s injury — had nine catches for 178 yards and two scores as the combo lifted LSU past Auburn 38-17 on Saturday. “Having Trey’Dez on the field along with Jackson is (having) two dominant one-on-one players,” Leavitt said. “How are you going to cover two dominant one-on-one players? You can’t double them both.” On LSU’s next drive after Green’s second-quarter score, Harris found the end zone on a 70-yard catch-and-run that pushed the lead to 24-10. He had seven catches for 10-plus yards and finished the first half with 139 yards and two touchdowns on seven receptions. The 70-yard score was LSU’s longest play from scrimmage this year. “Feel players. And when I say that it’s just the way that you feel space,” Leavitt said of Harris. “He feels it very well, and he’s very long to go catch back-shoulder balls.” Green caught five passes for 50 yards and had four receptions by halftime. His

RABALAIS

Continued from page 1C wrong for LSU in its ﬁrst two road games, lost by a combined nine frustrating points at Ole Miss and Kentucky, the Tigers exercised not just two games but two years of road demons in this one. On this bright, blue Saturday on the plains, LSU didn’t take long to put Auburn’s lights out. For the second straight week LSU just went out and squeezed the life out of a Southeastern Conference foe — 31-0 the previous week against Mississippi State, up 31-10 at halftime in this one en route to a 38-17 decision over Auburn. A sheet-sized sign held up by an LSU fan in the rapidly emptying Jordan-Hare stands during the closing minutes said it all: “Kifﬁn says: ‘Save your toilet

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO BY BUTCH DILL

LSU tight end Trey’dez Green carries the ball in for a touchdown against Auburn during the first half on Saturday in Auburn, Ala. addition to the lineup didn’t take anything away from Harris or LSU’s other weapons; it only enhanced what LSU already had. “You just feel different when he’s there,” Kifﬁn said of Green. “That’s why I was so in the tank when Dashawn and the two sevens (Green and Whit Weeks) went down because they’re impactful players. It’s kind of like, I don’t know, like fishing with really good bait and tackle.” Since Green’s absence, the LSU passing attack has improved after an upand-down start. Leavitt’s accuracy has improved over the last four weeks, completing more than 70% of his passes. And the LSU weapons, especially Har-

paper!’ ” The local supporters had no cause to roll the live oaks at Toomer’s Corner after this one, trees that still held tattered remnants of the post-Georgia victory celebration. It was practically a 180-degree reversal of that, as No. 18 LSU (6-2, 3-2 SEC) recorded its biggest road margin of victory ever over Auburn, topping a 14-point win here in 1973. LSU’s previous four wins at Auburn dating back to 2008 were by a combined 12 points. LSU buried a lot of bad SEC road voodoo in this one, snapping an eight-game conference road losing streak that stretched all the way back to October 2024. “When we don’t screw games up,” Kifﬁn said, rather ruefully, “we’re really hard to beat.” LSU really had only one big chance to make a mess of things. Up 10-3, Sam Leavitt rolled right and threw deep and wild and into

ris, have gotten more comfortable in the offense. Running back Dilin Jones has become a reliable check-down option for Leavitt. Troy transfer Roman Mothershed and freshman Corey Barber have earned larger roles. LSU led the SEC in passing yards before Saturday without its most dangerous weapon for more than half of the year. Getting Green back makes the aerial attack harder to defend. “Every time you get man (coverage),” Leavitt said, “throw the ball to seven.” Green’s return comes at the perfect time. Alabama has a dangerous defensive line that should challenge Leavitt’s

the arms of Auburn safety Eric Winters. But wait. After further review, the point of the ball touched the turf. Incomplete. A do-over. The kind of second chance LSU didn’t get in its 35-34 overtime loss two weeks earlier at Kentucky. The Tigers pounced on the opportunity. And At Auburn Kiffin, unlike At Kentucky Kiffin, was the aggressor. On fourth-and-2 from LSU’s 31, he made the fourth-down gamble he was unwilling to make on fourth-and-1 from the LSU 43 in Lexington. Not only did LSU go for it, the Tigers did so with panache: a direct snap to Dilin Jones, who tossed to Leavitt, who threw in the right flat to Trey’Dez Green for 11 yards. Nine plays later, Leavitt threw again to Green, who 18-wheelered his way into the end zone on a 15-yard scoring play that put LSU up 17-3, capping a

ability to get the ball out to his weapons when the Tigers return to acton on Nov. 7. The two opponents after that, Texas and Tennessee, have two of the best defenses in the country. Saturday was a promising step in the right direction for the LSU offense. It has to keep it up to remain in the thick of the College Football Playoff race. “This is what the whole thing was supposed to look like,” Kifﬁn said, “when we put it together.” Email Koki Riley at koki.riley@ theadvocate.com. For more LSU sports updates, sign up for our newsletter at theadvocate.com/ lsunewsletter

14-play, 95-yard drive. Green, who missed the last fourplus games with a knee injury, was worth his 242 pounds in gold to the LSU offense. He had five catches for 50 yards, not matching wide receiver Jackson Harris’ stellar day (nine catches, 178 yards, two scores) but adding a dimension to the offense that the Tigers definitely missed. “As much as the play of him, it’s the feel of him,” Kiffin said. “You just feel different. Just to have him back in uniform just felt good.” Leavitt went off after his near mistake, finishing with more than 400 yards of total offense (387 passing, 54 rushing) and four touchdowns. He got a mulligan, but that’s now two straight games without an interception for the transfer quarterback who seems to be truly grasping the Kiffin/ Charlie Weis Jr. offense. “It’s a constant progression,”

said Leavitt, who did nothing to hurt his standing as the SEC’s top passer. “Today was another step forward.” LSU now heads home for the season’s only open date before opening up the well-publicized November gauntlet: Alabama and Texas at home, another road trip to Tennessee before closing things out at Arkansas. Maybe this is the year a 9-3 team makes the 12-team College Football Playoff, but neither LSU nor anyone else can count on that. The Tigers have to play like there is no margin for error. Could be that loss at Kentucky will haunt the Tigers in the end, but there is nothing LSU can do about that now. But here is a history lesson that can beneﬁt the Tigers in the big games to come: If they play as they have the past two weeks in the next four, there is no game LSU can’t win. No magic required.

LSU SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE

Sept. 5

Sept. 12

Sept. 19

Sept. 26

Oct. 3

Oct. 10

Oct. 17

Oct. 24

31-0 38-17 W W L W 63-14 W 35-34 L W W

51-10 45-14 32-24 35-6 OVERALL: 4-2 ACC: 2-1

OVERALL: 5-2 SUN BELT: 3-0

OVERALL: 5-2 SEC: 3-2

OVERALL: 4-4 SEC: 1-4

OVERALL: 3-5 SOUTHLAND: 2-3

OVERALL: 6-1 SEC: 4-1

OVERALL: 4-3 SEC: 2-3

Nov. 7

Nov. 14

Nov. 21

Nov. 28

Alabama TBA TV: TBA

Texas TBA TV: TBA

at Tennessee TBA TV: TBA

at Arkansas TBA TV: TBA

OVERALL: 6-2 SEC: 4-2

OVERALL: 5-2 SEC: 2-2

OVERALL: 6-2 SEC: 3-2

OVERALL: 3-4 SEC: 1-3

8C F Sunday, October 25, 2026 F nola.com F The Times-Picayune

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SAINTS GAMEDAY

ROSTERS SAINTS No. Player Pos Ht Wt Exp College 1 Kool-Aid McKinstry CB 5-11 199 3 Alabama 2 Spencer Rattler QB 6-0 211 3 South Carolina 4 Oscar Delp TE 6-4 245 0 Georgia 5 Kendre Miller RB 6-0 220 4 TCU 6 Tyler Shough QB 6-5 219 2 Louisville 7 Jonas Sanker SAF 6-1 211 2 Virginia 10 Daniel Carlson K 6-5 222 9 Auburn 11 Zach Wilson QB 6-2 214 6 BYU 12 Chris Olave WR 6-0 187 5 Ohio State 14 Devaughn Vele WR 6-5 210 3 Utah 17 Ryan Wright P 6-3 245 5 Tulane 18 Bryce Lance WR 6-3 204 0 North Dakota St. 19 Barion Brown WR 5-11 177 0 LSU 20 Pete Werner LB 6-3 242 6 Ohio State 21 Justin Reid SAF 6-1 207 9 Stanford 22 Martin Emerson Jr. CB 6-2 201 5 Mississippi St. 23 Julian Blackmon SAF 6-0 202 7 Utah 25 D. Richardson CB 6-2 192 4 Mississippi St. 28 Danny Stutsman LB 6-3 233 2 Oklahoma 29 Quincy Riley CB 5-11 195 2 Louisville 31 Jordan Howden DB 6-0 209 4 Minnesota 33 Anfernee Jennings DE 6-2 255 7 Alabama 36 Lorenzo Styles SAF 5-11 194 0 Ohio State 41 Alvin Kamara RB 5-10 215 10 Tennessee 42 Mike Reid SAF 6-2 200 1 South Dakota 43 CJ Donaldson RB 6-1 230 0 Ohio State 44 Isaiah Stalbird LB 6-1 215 2 South Dakota St. 49 Zach Wood LS 6-3 255 10 SMU 50 Colby Wooden DL 6-4 273 4 Auburn 51 Cesar Ruiz OG 6-4 316 7 Michigan 52 Christen Miller DT 6-3 321 0 Georgia 53 Jaylan Ford LB 6-2 240 3 Texas 55 Kaden Elliss LB 6-2 238 8 Idaho 58 Chris Rumph II LB 6-2 244 6 Duke 65 Jeremiah Wright G 6-5 331 0 Auburn 66 William Sherman G 6-4 300 2 Colorado 72 Asim Richards OL 6-4 307 4 North Carolina 74 Mason Murphy T 6-5 315 0 Auburn 75 Taliese Fuaga T 6-6 324 3 Oregon State 76 David Edwards G 6-6 308 8 Wisconsin 78 Erik McCoy C 6-4 303 8 Texas A&M 82 Treyton Welch TE 6-4 240 1 Wyoming 83 Juwan Johnson TE 6-4 245 7 Oregon 87 Noah Fant TE 6-4 249 8 Iowa 91 Vernon Broughton DL 6-5 311 2 Texas 92 Davon Godchaux DL 6-3 330 10 LSU 93 Nathan Shepherd DL 6-4 315 9 Fort Hays State 94 Cameron Jordan DE 6-4 287 16 California 95 John Ridgeway III DL 6-5 321 5 Arkansas 96 Carl Granderson DE 6-5 261 8 Wyoming 97 Khristian Boyd DL 6-2 320 3 Northern Iowa 98 Tyree Wilson DE 6-5 263 4 Texas Tech 99 Chase Young DE 6-5 265 7 Ohio State

FOUR THINGS TO WATCH

TOP TOPICS FOR WEEK 7

Mayﬁeld returns vs. Panthers

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Niners want to pressure Falcons Rams behind in playoff chase

The NFC South’s last-place Tampa Bay Buccaneers are in need of a spark. Baker Mayfield would seem to be the right guy to provide it when he makes his return to the field Sunday against division rival Carolina. Mayfield missed the past three games with a dislocated right thumb, but he returned to practice this week wearing a protective white glove designed to add support to the area. He said Thursday the thumb has “gotten to a place where it’s strong enough to be able to play.” Mayfield is 6-1 against Panthers as a starter, with five of those coming with the Bucs.

San Francisco 49ers defensive linemen Keion White and Osa Odighizuwa will take aim at Atlanta Falcons right tackle Jawaan Taylor and right guard Chris Lindstrom. White leads the 49ers with 3½ sacks and Odighizuwa has three. If the 49ers take notes from the Bears’ defensive game plan last week against the Falcons, they also can be expected to utilize blitzes to put pressure on Atlanta QB Michael Penix. The Falcons’ hopes of keeping Penix on his feet will start with blocking the left side of the defensive front. Atlanta has allowed 16 total sacks this season.

WR Chase takes aim at Baltimore Cincinnati wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase usually gashes his division rival Baltimore. In 10 games against the Ravens, Chase has averaged 7.5 receptions for 120.4 yards. In 2024, he had 21 catches for 457 yards and five TDs in the two games against Baltimore. Keep an eye on how safety Kyle Hamilton is deployed as the Ravens try to balance the desire to be aggressive against the need to avoid allowing the big play. Chase was in concussion protocol and fellow wideout Tee Higgins had an adductor injury, but both played in a win over Miami on Oct. 11.

The losses are piling up for the Los Angeles Rams, which entered the season as the heavy Super Bowl favorite. They go into Sunday’s game at Las Vegas at 2-4 with the odds considerably stacked against them to even make the playoffs, making this matchup against the Raiders (3-3) close to a must-win. Since the playoffs expanded from 14 teams in the 2020 season, only seven of the 36 clubs that opened 2-4 have made the postseason. Should the Rams improve to 3-4, the numbers are 10 of 41. Only four of the 33 teams that began 2-5 made the playoffs.

Packers could air it out on Lions Keep an eye on the Packers’ passing game against Detroit in this NFC North clash. Green Bay WR Christian Watson has 538 yards receiving and six TDs while teammate Matthew Golden has 501 yards receiving and three TDs this season. They are the only duo to rank among the top 10 in yards receiving. The Lions are last in the league in passing defense, allowing nearly 300 yards per game. The Packers have allowed 24 points during their three-game winning streak, the lowest point total they have given up in a three-game stretch since 2021.

GAME OF THE WEEK

Seahawks host old friend Walker, Chiefs BY ANNE M. PETERSON

AP sportswriter

As the Seahawks prepare to face former teammate Kenneth Walker, they are searching to reestablish the running game he spearheaded during their Super Bowl journey last season. His former backﬁeld mate, running back Zach Charbonnet, still hasn’t played this year and was ruled out for Sunday when Seattle hosts the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs. The Seahawks’ run game has struggled for much of the season and they could use Charbonnet, who tore his ACL in January and spent the first six games of the season on the physically unable to perform list. He was activated and practiced Wednesday and Thursday, but he’s still not ready. Seattle is ranked 18th in the league with an average of 107.2 total yards on the ground this sea-

son. They have ﬁve rushing touchdowns. Rookie Jadarian Price, who was expected to help, is out with a chest/shoulder injury. Charbonnet rushed for 730 yards and 12 touchdowns for the Seahawks last season before he was injured. Of course, one of the reasons why Seattle’s run game has dipped this season is the loss of Walker, their Super Bowl MVP who went to the Chiefs as a free agent in the offseason. “But I think there’s mixed emotions. We’re happy for him, but also, we’re trying to figure out ways to stop this guy, too,” Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said. Walker rushed for 128 yards and two touchdowns in Kansas City’s 22-6 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers last Sunday. It was the fourth game he’s topped 100 yards rushing this season. Walker is averaging a league-leading 133

yards rushing per game and has scored a combined eight touchdowns. Walker became the Seahawks’ top back after Charbonnet was injured, and he ran for 135 yards in the Super Bowl against the Patriots to earn MVP honors. Chiefs coach Andy Reid expects Walker to treat his return to Seattle as he does every game. “I think the boys there will try to get after him a little bit,” Reid said. “But he’s a pretty level-headed guy. The way he plays, you’re going to get a good rep when he gets the ball in his hands,. He kind of has one speed: He’s coming at you. It doesn’t matter who he’s playing or where he’s playing.” The Seahawks’ run defense is allowing an average of 96 yards a game, with four total rushing touchdowns. Seattle has not allowed a rusher to go 100 or more yards in 35 straight games, the league’s longest current streak.

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

W 5 4 2 0

L 1 3 4 5

T 0 0 0 0

Pct PF PA Home Away .833 197 171 2-1-0 3-0-0 .571 160 143 3-0-0 1-3-0 .333 112 122 1-1-0 1-3-0 .000 70 132 0-2-0 0-3-0

AFC NFC Div 3-1-0 2-0-0 0-1-0 4-1-0 0-2-0 2-0-0 2-1-0 0-3-0 0-1-0 0-3-0 0-2-0 0-0-0

W 4 2 2 1

L 2 4 4 5

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Pct PF PA Home Away .667 154 104 3-1-0 1-1-0 .333 144 164 1-2-0 1-2-0 .333 144 143 0-3-0 2-1-0 .167 84 129 0-3-0 1-2-0

AFC NFC Div 3-2-0 1-0-0 0-1-0 1-4-0 1-0-0 1-1-0 2-3-0 0-1-0 2-1-0 1-3-0 0-2-0 1-1-0

W 4 4 4 3

L 2 2 2 2

T 0 0 0 0

Pct .667 .667 .667 .600

PA Home Away 122 3-0-0 1-2-0 128 3-0-0 1-2-0 132 1-1-0 3-1-0 109 1-1-0 2-1-0

AFC 2-2-0 2-2-0 2-1-0 2-2-0

NFC Div 2-0-0 2-0-0 2-0-0 1-1-0 2-1-0 0-1-0 1-0-0 0-1-0

W 5 4 3 0

L 0 2 3 6

T Pct PF PA Home Away 0 1.000 140 83 3-0-0 2-0-0 0 .667 114 125 3-0-0 1-2-0 0 .500 162 162 1-2-0 2-1-0 0 .000 90 151 0-3-0 0-3-0

AFC 5-0-0 2-1-0 2-3-0 0-4-0

NFC Div 0-0-0 3-0-0 2-1-0 1-1-0 1-0-0 1-1-0 0-2-0 0-3-0

W 3 2 2 1

L 2 4 4 4

T 1 0 0 1

Pct .583 .333 .333 .250

PF 136 106 151 132

PA Home Away 140 3-1-0 0-1-1 137 1-2-0 1-2-0 159 1-2-0 1-2-0 172 1-1-1 0-3-0

AFC 1-0-0 1-1-0 1-1-0 0-1-0

NFC Div 2-2-1 1-0-1 1-3-0 1-0-0 1-3-0 1-1-0 1-3-1 0-2-1

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

PA Home Away 123 1-1-0 2-1-0 153 0-3-0 2-1-0 178 0-3-0 2-1-0 138 0-4-0 1-1-0

AFC 0-1-0 0-2-0 1-1-0 0-3-0

NFC Div 3-1-0 1-0-0 2-2-0 1-1-0 1-3-0 0-1-0 1-2-0 0-0-0

W 5 5 4 3

L 0 2 2 2

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

PF PA Home Away 109 64 2-0-0 3-0-0 180 143 3-1-0 2-1-0 127 125 2-1-0 2-1-0 164 148 2-0-0 1-2-0

AFC 1-0-0 2-0-0 1-0-0 1-1-0

NFC Div 4-0-0 2-0-0 3-2-0 0-2-0 3-2-0 1-1-0 2-1-0 0-0-0

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

AFC 2-0-0 2-1-0 1-0-0 0-2-0

NFC Div 4-0-0 3-0-0 1-2-0 1-1-0 1-4-0 1-2-0 2-2-0 0-2-0

PF 106 137 156 128

PA Home Away 110 4-0-0 2-0-0 122 2-1-0 1-2-0 178 0-2-0 2-2-0 138 1-3-0 1-1-0

WEEK 7

WEEK 8

Thursday’s game Chicago 30, New England 24 Sunday’s games Pittsburgh vs. New Orleans at SaintDenis, FRA, 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 Monday, Nov. 2 Chicago at Seattle, 7:15 p.m.

NFL BRIEFS

FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO BY MATT ROURKE

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith catches the ball for a touchdown in front of Carolina Panthers cornerback Will Lee on Oct. 18 in Philadelphia.

Eagles to go sans WR Smith on Monday

Ravens face Bengals without QB Jackson

PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Eagles will play without wide receiver DeVonta Smith on Monday night against Dallas because of a hamstring injury. Smith will miss his third game this season because of the hamstring. The Eagles also will play without wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks because of an ankle injury. The Eagles (2-4) have lost four straight games and are expected to play the rest of the season without QB Jalen Hurts because of blood clots. The Cowboys are also 2-4.

BALTIMORE — The Baltimore Ravens have ruled out star quarterback Lamar Jackson for Sunday’s game against Cincinnati because of an ankle injury. The Ravens went 1-1 against Atlanta and Cleveland without Jackson. He was able to practice on a limited basis this week and even spoke to reporters, but Baltimore announced Saturday that he would not play against the Bengals. He had told reporters that he still feels pain in the ankle when running. That leaves Tyler Huntley in line to start again.

Niners receiver Evans won’t go vs. Falcons

Browns DT Graham returns after 2 games

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — San Francisco 49ers star receiver Mike Evans will miss Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons because of Achilles tendinitis. Evans tried to play through the injury last week against Washington before leaving the game late in the ﬁrst half and has been unable to practice this week. He will miss the game on Sunday and then have a week to rest when San Francisco is on a bye before the next game on Nov. 8 at home against Las Vegas.

Mason Graham’s season appeared to be in jeopardy when the Browns defensive tackle went down with a knee injury during the ﬁrst half against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Oct. 1. It turns out, Graham had to miss only two games and will be back in the lineup on Sunday when the Browns hit the road to face the Tennessee Titans. Even though it was originally feared that Graham might have suffered a torn ACL, it ended up being a left MCL and ankle sprains.

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The Times-Picayune F nola.com F Sunday, October 25, 2026 F 11C

COLLEGE BASKETBALL LSU falls to Florida State in ﬁnal exhibition game Wade starts three newly eligible players

BY TOYLOY BROWN Staff writer

LSU had its ﬁnal rehearsal before the season starts, playing an exhibition game against Florida State on Saturday with multiple new players recently ruled eligible. Despite having all but two scholarship players available, the Tigers fell 89-87 to the Seminoles in Tallahassee, Florida. The new players LSU had available were fifth-year UCLA transfer Skyy Clark and international signees Saliou Niang and Brice Dessert. All three were part of the starting lineup. The non-walk-on players sidelined were center Gilad Levy of Israel and Austin Nunez, an injured ﬁfth-year transfer from UTSA. The Tigers trailed for much of the exhibition but stayed within single digits most of the way. They had a chance for a go-ahead 3-pointer with 2.1 seconds remaining. However, LSU fifth-year point guard Donovan Dent — who led the team with 24 points and nine assists — threw the ball away on a sideline inbounds pass to Clark.

STAFF PHOTO BY PEARL SPURLOCK

LSU coach Will Wade has a heated exchange with a referee during an exhibition game against Central Florida on Oct. 14 at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Clark had his best showing among the new players. He had 21 points, making 7 of 12 from 3-point range. The 6-foot-2 guard also had eight rebounds, three assists and one steal in 33 minutes. Dessert, a 6-11 center, played 16 minutes, the least of any LSU player. The 23-year-old from France had four points on two ﬁeld-goal attempts, two rebounds and one block. He also had two fouls and three turnovers. Niang had ﬁve points, seven rebounds, two assists and a steal in 24 minutes. The 6-7 wing’s best moment was an alley-oop dunk in the second half. The LSU team website listed 14 players on its roster Wednesday. In June, that total was four, and it was just 10 players for the McNeese State exhibition game on Oct. 8.

Clark obtained eligibility Oct. 16 through a temporary injunction for a ﬁfth year in a Kentucky lawsuit. While he was among the original plaintiffs in the same California eligibility lawsuit that fellow UCLA transfer Dent is a part of, he signed a request for partial dismissal without prejudice Aug. 13, according to court documents. The NCAA cleared Dessert and Niang to play for LSU on Tuesday, the same day Dent had his preliminary injunction granted after being eligible previously through a temporary restraining order. The lone player awaiting eligibility clearance is 7-3 center Levy, 24. He is listed on the Tigers’ 14-player roster after being the last player to commit to the program on Aug. 25.

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO BY JOHN MARSHALL

LSU coach Dale Brown and members of the team celebrate on the floor of the Omni in Atlanta after they defeated Kentucky in an NCAA Tournament Southeast regional final on March 22, 1986. Brown was the first coach to lead an 11th-seeded team to the Final Four.

ONE OF A KIND

SPORTS

24/7

Former LSU coach Brown was inspirational, controversial

“Unique” is one of the most overused words in the English language. But for Dale Brown, no word better applies. The Hall of Fame LSU men’s basketball coach, who died Friday at age 90, was a true American original, his life a bona ﬁde Oliver Twist-like tale of a boy who grew up fatherless in the height of the Great Depression to scale the heights of his chosen ﬁeld. When Brown retired in 1997 after 25 years as the LSU coach, he had 448 wins, second-most in Southeastern Conference history behind only Kentucky’s Adolph Rupp. Nearly three decades later, Brown impressively still ranks fourth on the all-time list. But mere wins are a small part of Brown’s legacy. For him, basketball was the highly visible platform from which he championed countless causes. Make no mistake, Brown wanted to win. He couldn’t have led LSU to two Final Fours, four SEC regularseason titles, the Tigers’ only SEC Tournament championship and a total of 15 NCAA and NIT appearances (when the NCAA Tournament was smaller and making the NIT was a bigger deal) if he didn’t have a drive to win. For Brown, the struggle, the journey, the battle against what he saw as injustices and inequalities in the world were more important than what the scoreboard read when the buzzer sounded. Brown’s world view extended far beyond the basket or the baseline. As he once said of himself, “I know the Louvre isn’t an inbounds play.” There were times when his passion bubbled over the top. Got him into trouble. Like the famous incident at the 1992 SEC Tournament when he ran onto the court to shove Tennessee’s Carlus Groves away from Shaquille O’Neal,

Scott Rabalais Brown’s greatest player, after Groves intentionally fouled him. Brown drew a reprimand from the SEC and Will Wade-like ire from SEC basketball fans. LSU lost O’Neal to an ejection but won the game, 99-89. In the November 1985 Sports Illustrated, then the unrivaled authority on American sports, there was a cover story on the wild antics of LSU athletics. The magazine put Brown on the cover under the banner headline, “Crazy Days at LSU.” Inside, the proﬁle of LSU’s controversial coach read, “Hello, trouble, I’m Dale Brown.” “From the moment they snipped the umbilical cord,” Brown said in that 1985 proﬁle, “I’ve been in the middle of controversy.” Brown spent his life challenging authority and making waves, like how he referred to the NCAA and its draconian rule-makers as “Gestapo bastards.” People may have frequently questioned Brown’s antics or motives, but he never wavered in his convictions that he was doing the right thing. Trying to do the right thing for people. It showed up in the way he stayed after former players to go back to college and earn their degrees, often for years. Or the way he tried to champion rights for players everywhere. That took years too, but agree or not, in true Dale Brown fashion, many of the things he wanted for student-athletes in terms of NIL compensation, stipends for cost of attendance and relaxed rules on

simple things have come to pass. “He was a motivator,” John Tudor, a guard on Brown’s 1981 Final Four team, told KLAX in Alexandria. “He was always an optimist. He was an excellent coach and a good human being who cared equally for all of his players.” The “excellent coach” part is something Brown’s detractors quibbled with. His amazing 1989-90 team that included four future NBA first-rounders — O’Neal, Stanley Roberts, Chris Jackson (Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf) and Geert Hammink — reached only the second round of that year’s NCAA Tournament. In his three NCAA Tournament matchups against the fiery Bobby Knight, Brown was 0-3, including that 1981 Final Four. A 1987 onepoint loss to Knight’s Indiana team in the Elite Eight in Cincinnati kept LSU from making a Final Four appearance at the Caesars Superdome. But Brown’s Tigers beat 28 top-10 teams, including Kentucky’s 1978 national champions in overtime after all five LSU starters fouled out. If you had one game to win and needed someone to coach your team, especially as an underdog, you wanted Brown on your bench. He once traveled the length of the Mississippi River in a speedboat (with my former sports editor and mentor, Sam King, tagging along), tried to climb the Matterhorn and searched for Bigfoot. “I always thought if I was to die it would be in a fall off the Matterhorn or being eaten by Bigfoot,” Brown said after recovering from a stroke at 67. Bigfoot wouldn’t have had the guts. For more LSU sports updates, sign up for our newsletter at theadvocate. com/lsunewsletter

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12C ✦ Sunday, October 25, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

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THE VARSITY ZONE WEEK 8 FOOTBALL REPORT Friday’s scores

Abramson def. Carroll, forfeit Ascension Christian 52, Highland Bap. 13 Sacred Heart-GC 25, North Central 8 Alexandria 27, Ruston 21 Ascension Christian 52, Highland Baptist 13 Avoyelles 42, Oakdale 40, OT B.T. Washington 38, Woodlawn (SH) 0 Barbe 59, Sam Houston 29 Beau Chene 38, Breaux Bridge 31 Belle Chasse 42, Discovery 14 Benton 41, Natchitoches Central 35 Block 54, Acadiana Christian 21 Bogalusa 40, Loranger 38 Buckeye 42, Plain Dealing 6 C.E. Byrd 28, Evangel Christian 24 Caldwell Parish 38, Oak Grove 34 Carencro 44, Livonia 0 Catholic High 41, Central 14 Cedar Creek 62, Arcadia 6 Central Lafourche 41, Riverdale 0 Church Point 26, Crowley 21 Country Day 56, Covenant Christian 7 Covington 49, Hammond 21 DeQuincy 41, Pickering 0 DeRidder 24, Kinder 20 Delta Charter 42, LaSalle 36, OT Destrehan 49, Terrebonne 0 Donaldsonville 38, Springﬁeld 14 Dunham 55, Episcopal 6 Dutchtown 17, Denham Springs 14 E.D. White 49, Assumption 7 East Ascension 48, Parkway 32 East Beauregard 40, Pine Prairie 6 East Iberville 42, White Castle 13 Ellender 39, Morgan City 6 Erath 37, Abbeville 12 Eunice 40, Mamou 13 General Trass 38, Delhi 22 Glen Oaks 48, Belaire 12 Glenbrook 44, Lena Northwood 6 Hahnville 13, East St. John 12 Hannan 31, Pearl River 28 Haughton 42, Airline 21 Haynes Academy 21, Reed 19 Haynesville 53, Lincoln Preparatory 0 Homer 40, Green Oaks 8 Houma Christian 55, Gueydan 32 Independence 41, St. Thomas Aquinas 6 Iota 55, Ville Platte 0 Iowa 53, Westlake 22 Jeanerette 34, Central Catholic 20 Jena 44, Bunkie 34 Jesuit 24, John Curtis Christian 8 Kaplan 57, St. Martinville 7 Kentwood 36, Catholic High PC 6 Lafayette 61, New Iberia 23 Lafayette Christian 23, Loreauville 6 LRCA 54, ARCA 6 Lake Charles Prep 42, North Vermilion 0 Lakeshore 56, Franklinton 34 Lakeside 41, Oberlin 0

Landry/Walker 51, Cohen 0 Leesville 62, LaGrange 0 Logansport 50, Ringgold 0 Loyola Prep 50, Bastrop 16 Lutcher 42, Vandebilt Catholic 40 Mandeville 36, Saint Paul’s 29 Mansﬁeld 48, Red River 12 Marksville 30, Grant 14 Minden 52, Southwood 13 Notre Dame 41, Lake Arthur 21 New Iberia Catholic 45, West St. Mary 6 Newman 49, Fisher 7 North Caddo 35, Magnolia Excellence 8 North DeSoto 78, Franklin Parish 64 North Iberville 44, Benjamin Franklin 7 Northside 30, Liberty 20 Northshore 28, Fontainebleau 3 Northside 30, Liberty 20 Ouachita Parish 49, Peabody 15 Patrick Taylor 33, S. B. Wright 6 Pope John Paul II 21, Albany 18 Port Barre 36, Holy Savior Menard 32 Prairieville 42, St. Amant 35 Riverside 34, Ascension Catholic 0 Sacred Heart 28, JS Clark 24 Salmen 47, Sumner 6 Shaw 24, Calvary Baptist Academy 7 Shreveport Northwood 44, Bossier 14 Slidell 42, Ponchatoula 3 S. Lafourche 32, South Terrebonne 30 S. Plaquemines 24, West St. John 16 Slaughter Charter 19, Northeast 14 Southside 17, St. Thomas More 14 St. Augustine 49, Brother Martin 35 St. Charles Catholic 55, Berwick 0 St. Edmund 42, Opelousas Catholic 21 St. Helena 44, Northlake Christian 0 St. James 43, Patterson 6 St. John def. Capitol, forfeit St. Louis 42, Washington-Marion 35 St. Mary’s 58, Lakeview 6 Sterlington 48, North Webster 15 Thibodaux 27, H.L. Bourgeois 14 Tioga 52, Wossman 22 Union Parish 47, D’Arbonne Woods 0 University 58, West Feliciana 30 Vermilion Catholic 42, Centerville 14 Vidalia 56, Delhi Charter 22 Vinton 43, Rosepine 26 Walker 27, Live Oak 18 Welsh 43, Basile 0 West Monroe 51, Pineville 0 Westgate 44, Teurlings Catholic 32 Westminster-LAF 55, Hanson 0 Winnﬁeld 40, Many 30 Young Audiences 44, Willow 33 Zachary 54, Woodlawn 0

Saturday’s scores

Rummel 24, Holy Cross 9 Warren Easton 44, West Jefferson 0 McDonogh 35 56, Carver 22

WEEK 9 SCHEDULE All games 7 p.m. unless noted.

Thursday

District 8-5A Warren Easton vs. John Ehret at Memtsas, 6:30 p.m. District 9-4A Abramson vs. McMain at Morris F.X. Jeff Sr. Stadium District 10-3A Haynes vs. Booker T. Washington at Pan American, 3:30 p.m. District 11-3A Thomas Jefferson vs. Sophie B. Wright at Pan American District 11-2A Country Day at Newman

Friday

District 6-5A Covington at Ponchatoula Fontainebleau at Hammond Mandeville at Northshore Slidell at St. Paul’s District 7-5A Destrehan at Zachary Hahnville at Thibodaux East St. John at Central Lafourche District 8-5A Bonnabel vs. Higgins at Memtsas Riverdale vs. East Jefferson at Yenni District 9-5A Brother Martin at Chalmette Rummel vs. Jesuit at Gormley District 7-4A Lakeshore at Hannan Salmen at Franklinton

District 9-4A Kennedy vs. Carver at Pan American District 10-4A Belle Chasse at Young Audiences Shaw vs. Kenner Discovery at Bertolino District 8-3A Pope John Paul II at Bogalusa District 9-3A Lutcher at St. Charles District 10-3A De La Salle vs. Sarah T. Reed at Joe Brown District 11-3A Jefferson Rise vs. L.B. Landry at Morris F.X. Jeff Sr. Stadium District 10-2A Northlake Christian at Amite District 10-1A South Plaquemines at Ascension Catholic West St. John at St. Martin’s Nondistrict Catholic-Pointe Coupee at Riverside Fisher at Ascension Catholic Morris Jeff at Pearl River Willow at Ben Franklin

Saturday

District 9-5A Holy Cross vs. John Curtis at Bertolino, 2 p.m. Edna Karr vs. St. Augustine at Gormley District 11-3A Patrick Taylor vs. Cohen at Pan American, 2 p.m.

STAFF PHOTO BY ENAN CHEDIAK

Brother Martin’s Justin Morgan runs with the ball against St. Augustine on Friday at Tad Gormley Stadium.

Rummel downs Holy Cross BY CHRISTOPHER DABE Staff writer

Unable to score touchdowns in the red zone, Rummel found other ways to put points on the scoreboard. Joseph Delcid’s three field goals, along with quarterback Colton Nussmeier’s two touchdown passes to Nathaniel Singleton from outside the 20-yard line, keyed Rummel’s 24-9 victory over Holy Cross on Saturday at Joe Yenni Stadium. The Rummel defense also played a key role, allowing just one first down in the second half. “I think just playing the whole second half on their side of the field puts a lot of pressure on their offense,” Rummel coach Nick Monica said. “For us to be able to keep pinning them back, (Delcid) deserves a lot of the credit for that, getting touchbacks and making them start on their own 20.” Delcid, a senior, is a first-year placekicker who joined the football team after being pulled off the soccer team just days before Rummel’s season opener. He handles kickoffs, field goals and extra points. His most impactful field goal of the season came in the fourth quarter of Rummel’s 10-9 victory over John Curtis. Against Holy Cross, he kicked two field goals before halftime, then added a third late in the third quarter to give Rummel (7-1, 4-1 District 9-5A) a two-score lead. “The field goal that put us up two possessions … was huge,” Monica said. “It al-

STAFF PHOTO BY ENAN CHEDIAK

Rummel kicker Joseph Delcid kicks a field goal against Holy Cross on Saturday at Joe Yenni Stadium in Metairie. Delcid kicked three field goals in the win. lowed us to call the game differently and do some different things. That was a big ﬁeld goal.” Delcid connected from 36 and 39 yards in the ﬁrst half. Both kicks came after Rummel drives into the red zone stalled. “It’s a great thing that they got it to where I can make it,” Delcid said. After Holy Cross (3-5, 1-4) took a 9-6 lead into halftime, Rummel’s defense shut out the Tigers in the second half. Linebacker Sedrick Thompson recorded two sacks, and sophomore Mason Aguillard added an interception. Holy Cross coach Scott Wattigny lamented his team’s missed opportunities to force turnovers. “How many interceptions

did we drop?” Wattigny asked. “When you’re playing a team like that, you got to make those plays. If you don’t, what winds up happening is you keep putting them on the field and you keep putting them in favorable spots and they score touchdowns.” Holy Cross wide receiver Talon Meyers caught a 10yard touchdown pass from Cooper Odle, and Drew Aguire kicked a 23-yard field goal with one second remaining in the first half to give the Tigers their 9-6 lead. Meyers finished with seven catches for 80 yards, all before halftime. Coryan Hawkins carried 17 times for 72 yards for Rummel. Nussmeier completed 10 of 19 passes for 128 yards and two touch-

downs to Singleton, who had four catches for 60 yards. Rummel punter Joseph Carapina also helped swing ﬁeld position when one of his punts rolled to the Holy Cross 8-yard line. An intentional grounding penalty from inside the end zone later resulted in a safety. Rummel opened the season with six consecutive wins before losing to topranked Edna Karr last week. The Raiders will face Jesuit next before closing the regular season against undefeated St. Augustine. Holy Cross will take on John Curtis before ﬁnishing its regular season against Brother Martin. Contact Christopher Dabe at cdabe@theadvocate. com

Speedy McDonogh 35 gets past Carver BY DARRELL WILLIAMS Contributing writer

Homecoming proved to be a reprieve for McDonogh 35 in its District 9-4A game against Carver on Saturday at Tad Gormley Stadium. The speedy Roneagles used big plays to build an insurmountable 29-point halftime lead on the way to a 56-22 triumph. McDonogh 35 (3-5, 2-1) had lost four of its past ﬁve games as well as head coach Nick Foster due to violations in a trying season. However, Saturday, the Roneagles broke loose against Carver (3-6, 2-1), which had won its past two games after losing four in a row. “We have speed,” said interim coach Speed Hingle, a McDonogh 35 alum. “Our receivers — Jaquan Davis, CL Williams, Jayden Martin, Jarvis Davis ... they are capable of making a big play at any time, and our quarterback (Deddrick Peters) is also a fast weapon. “We played with discipline, and I am so proud of our guys. The players have been putting in the work.” The teams were tied 14-14 after Carver defensive back Ken’Ryn Johnson intercepted a pass on the sideline

and raced 70 yards for a touchdown. However, McDonogh 35’s Carl White returned the ensuing kickfoff — an attempted squib kick straight to his arms — 70 yards for a touchdown and a 21-14 lead at 8:44 of the second quarter. That touched things off for the Roneagles. White then picked off a pass, giving McDonogh 35 the ball at the Carver 38. On the next play, Martin sped 62 yards around left in on a jet sweep. Suddenly, McDonogh 35 was up 29-14. The Roneagles’ next possession also started at the Carver 38 after a sack on fourth down. Two plays later, Peters passed 19 yards over the middle to Williams. A final first-half touchdown on a 7-yard keeper by Peters stretched the lead to 43-14. Rams coach Luis Figueroa clearly was displeased with his team’s performance. Carver entered in first place in 9-4A and now will end the season against formidable Kennedy next week. “I’m just not too happy with our performance,” Figueroa said. “We put too many hours and too much work in to perform like this. I’m not going to get into specifics, but we’ve got a lot to clean up.”

The Roneagles, meanwhile, will end the season with a far lesser challenge when they play McMain. Carver appeared to be a spoiler. The Rams took the game’s opening possession and, aided by a Roneagle 15-yard penalty, went 65 yards in eight plays to Gideon Haynes’ 16-yard touchdown pass to LaTroy Hardy. Jeremey Mick ran for the two-point conversion and an 8-0 lead. The first play on the drive was a 25-yard pass from Haynes to Jon’Anthony Towsend. The Roneagles, however, came right back behind Peters. A junior, he completed passes of 13, 13, 12 and 11 yards on the drive before Alijah Jackson scored on a 6-yard run. A 22-yard punt and a 15-yard return again gave McDonogh 35 field position at the Carver 30. Two plays later, Peters teamed with Davis for a 15yard touchdown and a 14-8 lead. The Roneagles’ defense, led by defensive lineman Jhamil Anderson, forced four Carver turnovers in the first half — two fumbles and two interceptions. “As a ‘35 graduate, it feels good to win our homecoming game,” Hingle said. “We want to continue to work hard and get better. It’s been a challenging season.”

Warren Easton’s smothering defense shuts out West Jefferson BY PEYTON DOYLE Contributing writer

After a slow start to the regular season, Warren Easton (4-4) moved to 4-0 in District 8-5A play with a 44-0 win over West Jefferson (3-5). “We started off with a couple of really tough teams in the beginning, but as my team gets more experience, we’re just getting better and better every week,” Eagles coach Jerry Phillips said. “That’s a good showing tonight against a pretty good West Jeff team. Coach Frank Daggs always does a good job whenever he’s at, so it’s a damn good showing.” As they have the past few weeks, the Eagles found success thanks to their smothering defense. The Buccaneers tallied just 115 yards and surrendered seven sacks. Warren Easton defensive tackle Kane Mitchell sacked quarterback Curnell Cole four times and added two more tackles for loss. “Don’t let the guy touch you; coach always preaches to his defensive line, ‘hands, hips and feet, come off the ball fast, strike, get

them out your way and get paid,’ ” Mitchell said. “The quarterback and the offensive line, I look at them as a man trying to stop me from feeding my family, and my family got to eat. I ain’t let no man stop me from feeding my family.” On the offensive end, the Eagles kept the pressure up by using two quarterbacks, Anthony Perkins and Lavon Smith. Perkins and Smith each challenged the Buccaneers through the air. The duo combined for 235 yards passing and three touchdowns. “They’re making it hard as hell on my offensive staff,” Phillips said of Perkins and Smith. “Both of them do really good things and two good quarterbacks, man, that’s a good problem to have.” Smith opened the contest with a 60-yard touchdown to Malcolm Martin. The score was followed by a pair of drives that finished on the ground. The ﬁrst resulted in a 5-yard touchdown from Josiah Everage, and the second was a 1-yard score from Jaden Mat-

yards for a score to make it 37-0 Warren Easton. “Josiah, he’s a warrior for us, man,” Phillips said. “Josiah was our starting wide receiver, and we moved him to running back out of necessity, and he took to it and has done a real good job. He ran the ball really well today.” The Eagles capped the win with a final scoring drive led by Smith. On it, he found receiver Albert Dumas, who made a leaping catch over a defender for an 18-yard touchdown to make it 44-0. “It’s homecoming, man, and you’ve seen the support,” Mitchell said. “We don’t play for ourselves; we have to play for the people and the school and the brand. It’s not PHOTO BY PEYTON DOYLE about us. Warren Easton was here before us, and it’ll be here after Warren Easton quarterback Anthony Perkins prepares to throw against us, so we just gotta keep stacking West Jefferson on Saturday. them and playing as a team and playing unselfish football.” Next, Warren Easton will travel In the second half, Mitchell conthews. Perkins put a cap on a 30-point tinued to dominate defensively, to face John Ehret on Thursday at first half for the Eagles with a 50- and the Eagles offense buried the 6:30 p.m. West Jefferson will next take yard touchdown pass to Emery, Buccaneers. After Mitchell forced who finished the game with 132 a punt after a sack and another the field at John Ehret on Nov. 6 at yards. tackle for loss, Everage ran it 70 7 p.m.

FAITH: Chip Luter takes the helm at Franklin Avenue Baptist Church 4D

LOUISIANA INSPIRED: Lafayette veteran finds new purpose after losing her sight 5D

LIVING

N O L A.C O M

S u n d ay, O c t O b e r 25, 2026

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Jan Risher

Grief, faith and why people love being scared When J. Gerald Kennedy was about 13 years old, his school let students order paperback books. He picked “Ten Tales by Edgar Allan Poe.” He thought it might be fun. The stories were powerful and frightening. Many were about death. That same year, his grandfather was dyKennedy ing of cancer. “I thought somehow maybe my grandfather would enjoy reading the book,” Kennedy said. “So I loaned it to him.” Sixty-six years later, he still doesn’t know whether his grandfather read it. “I’ve spent my whole life hoping he didn’t,” he said. That boy grew up to become chair of LSU’s English Department and Boyd Professor of English. He taught American literature at LSU from 1973 to 2015 and began publishing on Poe in the 1970s. He’s written a long list of books, articles and essays — many about Poe. He’s appeared in a number of Poe documentaries. Now, he’s writing a biography of Poe for W.W. Norton, due out in a couple of years. He’s writing it to be accessible to general readers. Most mornings, Kennedy gets in four good hours of work

ä See SCARE, page 10D

Nominate someone extraordinary for our 2026

INSPIRIT AWARDS

Know someone in Louisiana who is making a positive difference? We’re looking nominees for our 2026 Inspirit Awards — people of any age who do their best to make their local community a better place, whether in their work, at schools, in organizations or in neighborhoods. Nominate someone at nola.com/site/forms/the_ inspirit_award by Sunday, Nov. 1. Recipients will be announced in December. Be sure to include details and examples of how you think their efforts can inspire others. We’re eager to share their stories.

Jeff Thomas poses for a photograph by his Bywater home in New Orleans.

Meet the local Halloween fanatics sparing no expense to delight or fright, ‘just because’ BY KASEY BUBNASH

Staff writer

hey live among us unnoticed for much of the year, shopping at our grocery stores, living in our neighborhoods. Then in October, sometimes earlier, their homes transform. Spiderwebs shroud the shrubbery. Candles ﬂicker in the windows. Ghosts and ghouls haunt the front porch. They go above and beyond the average household for All Hallows’ Eve — with ﬂashy light displays, handcrafted tombstones and anima-

STAFF PHOTOS BY ENAN CHEDIAK

ä To see a video sneak peak of some of the spooky decor, GO TO NOLA.COM. countless hours and all-too-countable amounts of money to decorating their homes each fall. In a city known for needing no excuse for exuberance, the spirited holiday speaks to these homeowners on different plane of existence. In many cases, these homes become permanent fixtures of the spooky season in New Orleans, as generations of trick-or-treaters stop for candy or photo ops. For Norman, his Banks Street property is known for three spellHalloween decorations adorn Todd weaving witches and their enNorman’s Mid-City home in New chanted paraphernalia. The pressure to continue year after year, Orleans. Norman said, is great. “I just want to do something for tronic ﬁgurines with glowing eyes. These aren’t the kind to give out the kids,” Norman said. “I want “chump candy,” as one such speci- people to see something and say, men, Mid-City resident and New ‘Wow, look at that house.’ That’s Orleans native Todd Norman, put it. what I go for.” They’re Halloween fanatics, ä See FANATICS, page 10D dedicating precious storage space,

‘I JUST DECIDED I WOULD FIX IT. I WOULD TRY TO FILL THAT GAP.’

Drag performer opens store for costume-making essentials BY JENNA ROSS Staff writer

Before 10 a.m. on a recent morning, Dan’l Linehan was standing behind the counter of the fabric shop he’d opened in the Marigny, rolling a bit of bright purple fringe. In other words, he was exactly where he’d hoped to be — had dreamed of being — for years. A drag performer, Linehan had been struggling to ﬁnd the fabrics and supplies he needed to build his

curious, complicated costumes. Joann Fabrics had shuttered. Jefferson Variety Store was an hourlong bus ride away. And other, closer fabric stores didn’t carry nearly Marigny enough sequins. “I just decided I would ﬁx it,” Linehan said. “I would try to ﬁll that gap. “So I emptied out my savings and spent it all on fabric and trim.” In early October, the 48-year-old graphic designer opened Faubourg

Fabrics and Trimmings, a shop on St. Claude Avenue geared toward costumers and performers like himself. A store filled with stiff crinoline and shiny vinyl and four colors of neon spandex. With sequins and rhinestones and zippers that separate at the bottom. In time for Halloween, sure, but geared toward the people who make costumes year-round. So, really, much of New Orleans.

ä See COSTUMING, page 11D

Dan’l Linehan cuts fabric for a customer at Faubourg Fabrics and Trimmings.

STAFF PHOTO BY ENAN CHEDIAK

2D F Sunday, October 25, 2026 F nola.com F The Times-Picayune

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DINING SCENE Chef concocts dishes, cocktails at reopened Tatlo Filipino dishes leave diners spellbound

It’s hard to keep a good witch down, and New Orleans chef Cristina Quackenbush is indeed a good witch. Two years ago, she spun together her spiritual identity as a witch with a modern interpretation of her Filippino roots cuisine to create Tatlo, an absinthe Ian bar and resMcNulty taurant that WHAT’S was unique COOKING in New Orleans, and perhaps anywhere. She closed Tatlo after just a year, pledging to reopen it again. Now she has, precisely in the same location. It’s just off Bourbon Street in a speakeasy-style den connected to the Old Absinthe House. Tourists pour into that landmark French Quarter bar for beers and shots and an ambiance of old New Orleans. In the corner of the bar, an unmarked door with a small, grated window gives anyone who peeks through a glimpse into Tatlo. It’s a very different scene on the other side of the wall. The lighting is kept at perpetual twilight. Spanish moss clings to thick rafters. Antique absinthe fountains rise from the bar. Emblems evoking the feminine occult adorn the walls. There’s an elegant mystique to Tatlo, a sense of ﬁnding something hidden in plain sight. While October in New Orleans has become a season of “witch brunches” and costumed events at restaurants, that is not Tatlo. This is a genuine manifestation of the chef’s spirituality

TATLO

STAFF PHOTOS BY CHRIS GRANGER

Chef Cristina Quackenbush created her restaurant and absinthe bar Tatlo in the French Quarter by blending her Filipino roots cuisine and her spirituality as a witch.

The divine connection is a cocktail with blue absinthe at Tatlo.

A candle made of butter melts into the protection noodles, one of the dishes designed as a benevolent spell at Tatlo, a restaurant and bar in the French Quarter.

Witchcraft has been part of her life since she was a teenager. It’s always been a benevolent practice, she says. She channeled A chef’s journey it into a different kind of Quackenbush first gained restaurant when Tatlo first opened in 2024. a following for the tradi“One reason I wanted to tional cooking of her Filipino heritage with Milkfish, do this is to change misconwhich started as a pop-up, ceptions,” Quackenbush became a restaurant for said. “As witches, we’re all a few years and reverted about the ingredients, the again to a pop-up concept. environment and how that

expressed through food, drink and hospitality, from the decor to the recipes.

can shape how we’re living. We need to be at one with ourselves, and witchcraft is what has helped me through my life.” Tatlo quickly made a splash. The ambience and witchy identity were certain to draw tourists looking for a spooky French Quarter vibe. But the restaurant also developed a local clientele based on the chef’s reputation for

are arranged on the plate in a runic triangle shape for a dish called the Triquetra, 240 Bourbon St. Wed.-Sun., 6 p.m. to midnight recommended for mental clarity. (1 a.m. on Fri., Sat.) A dish called Teach a Girl Note: open to ages 21 and up. to Fish is based on the traditional Filipino sinigang Filipino cooking and latesoup, with a tart base of night hours that drew hostamarind, tomato and okra. pitality workers after their But here it becomes an upshifts. It made a 2025 list scale treatment of the daily from Bon Appétit of nine fish with a delicate smoked top new bars across the fumet replacing the broth. country. For Quackenbush, it’s a dish But the finances were not that represents her culture working out, the chef said. and is a symbol of rebirth After a year, she closed and change. Tatlo and began scouting Prices are mid-range, other potential locations. with dishes between $15 Nothing fit quite right. and $25. But in the interim, one of The full bar has a collecher frequent customers tion of absinthe, including stepped up as a new inves- from local maker at Atelier tor and the chef was able to Vie, for artfully composed cocktails or traditional come to better terms with service with fountains and the landlord at the Old Absugar cubes. sinthe House location. For a dose of awakenThus, all the pieces and parts she had moved out ing and connection, try started going back in, and the Divine Connection, an a renewed Tatlo opened its absinthe cocktail with bluedoors last week. berry, lemon and butterfly pea flower, while there’s Dishes, drinks as spells power and remembrance in There are some differenc- Aunt Nan’s Old Fashioned, a riff on the classic made es now. A broader range of with rice whiskey and jackSoutheast Asian influences on the first menu has been fruit. refined to more specifically Hecate’s Crossroads, a Filipino flavors, with the cocktail of absinthe and chef’s modern interpretaprosecco with lavender, promises wisdom and guidtions. Recipes are composed as ance. Of course, that could spells and chosen for a pur- depend on how many are pose, based on the spiritual tipped back in a night. or wellness properties of Note: In November, Tatlo their ingredients, Quakenwill start a late-night menu, bush says. served from 11 p.m. on, with Protection noodles, the more traditional Filipino top dish from Tatlo’s first dishes from the Milkfish run, have crab and green repertoire. The restaurant curry and lots of garlic will also soon begin using tangled in pancit noodles, two additional dining rooms with a candle made of butfor groups and events, loter that’s lit at the table to melt into the dish. Garlic is cated on the second and known for its antimicrobial third floors above the Old properties. Absinthe House, accessed At Tatlo, it’s recommendby a winding staircase and ed for protecting emotional giving views over Bourbon Street. well-being too. Pork ribs crusted with Email Ian McNulty at imcseasoning and sticky with lemongrass barbecue sauce nulty@theadvocate.com.

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The Times-Picayune F nola.com F Sunday, October 25, 2026 F 3D

TRAVEL Seven upcoming concerts worth a road trip BY JUDY BERGERON Staff writer

Ah, the adventure of the open highway, watching towns and cities go by out the window. Road trips are Americana at its best, whether it’s families heading to see “the Big Mouse” or adventure-seekers behind the wheel of an RV on the hunt for their next starry night stay-over stop. When a music concert is the destination, it adds another layer of fun to the journey. Here are seven concerts scheduled in the next six months that require no more than a day of travel time:

INVISION/AP PHOTO BY SCOTT A GARFITT

ASHLEY McBRYDE When: 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 15 Where: Thalia Mara Hall, 255 E. Pascagoula St., Jackson, Mississippi Nearby places to stay: Embassy Suites by Hilton, Hyatt Place, Hampton Inn & Suites and The Westin The Arkansas-born country music singer-songwriter released her ﬁfth studio album, “Wild,” on May 8. Tickets start at $40.75 at ticketmaster.com. With a musical style blending country with rock, bluegrass and pop, McBryde’s hits include “One Night Standard,” “Light on in the Kitchen,” “Girl Goin’ Nowhere” and her Grammywinning duet with Carly Pearce, “Never Wanted To Be That Girl.”

PAM TILLIS/LORRIE MORGAN When: 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 15 Where: Hard Rock Live, 777 Beach Blvd., Biloxi, Mississippi Nearby places to stay: White House Hotel, Hyatt Place, Hampton Inn, Courtyard by Marriott and Holiday Inn Express Tillis and Morgan were literally born into country music — Tillis the daughter of Mel Tillis and Morgan’s father being George Morgan, legends in the genre. The women, with accomplished careers of their own, have collaborated on projects including albums “Dos Divas” in 2013 and “Come See Me and Come Lonely” in 2017. Their successful “Grits and Glamour” tour ﬁrst kicked off in 2009. Tickets are $74 and up at https:// www.eventticketscenter.com/.

LYLE LOVETT When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29 Where: The Ellis Theater, 311 Byrd Ave. N., Philadelphia, Mississippi Nearby places to stay: Holiday Inn Express and Suites (Winona), Best Western Plus and Chilpley’s Squareview Inn (Carthage) Not one to be pigeon-holed, Lovett’s singing and songwriting directions have spanned alterna-

Harry Styles will perform several shows at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, in April.

dol Mill Road, Arlington, Texas Nearby places to stay: Holiday Inn, Courtyard by Marriott (Dallas), Live by Loews, Comfort Suites. PROVIDED PHOTO FROM QPRIME From the British music competiHit the road to see country artist Ashley McBryde in Jackson, Miss., on Nov. 15. tion series “The X Factor” and the boy band One Direction, Styles The Grammy-nominated Bo- went solo with his debut album celli, 68, also holds World Music in 2017, featuring the hit “Sign of Awards, Classical BRIT Awards the Times.” The British pop-rock and Billboard Latin Music Awards, phenom is a three-time Grammy winner with four studio albums, among other honors. and had the world’s biggest single ROD STEWART in 2022, “As It Was.” Styles’ other hits include “AperWhen: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 10 ture,” “American Girls” and “WaWhere: Mississippi Coast Colise- termelon Sugar.” Tickets are $68 and up at ticketsmarter.com. um, 2350 Beach Blvd., Biloxi Nearby places to stay: White House Hotel, Hyatt Place, Hampton Inn, EARTH, WIND & FIRE Courtyard by Marriott and HoliWhen: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 17 Where: Brandon Ampitheater, day Inn Express. At 81, the British rock-pop sing- 8190 Rock Way, Brandon, Missising and songwriting giant, whose sippi career began in 1962 with a harNearby places to stay: Spark by Hilmonica in his hand, continues to ton, Courtyard by Marriott (Pearl), FILE PHOTO BY MAX BECHERER thrill concert audiences, dancing Holiday Inn Express & Suites across the stage as if it were still (Brookhaven), Hampton Inn (FloLyle Lovett will take the stage at the ’80s. wood) and Wingate by Wyndham The Ellis Theater in Philadelphia, His signature raspy voice has (Ridgeland) Miss., on Jan. 29. FILE PHOTO BY JEFF STROUT belted out hits like “Maggie May,” These guys have been around “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy,” “Sailing,” since 1969 with soul, R&B, disco, Catch Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli “Tonight’s the Night (Gonna Be Al- funk, rock, and jazz sounds that tive country, Americana, rocka- on the road in Houston on Feb. 7. billy, blues, jazz and swing. right),” “Hot Legs” and “Forever have sent generations to the dance ﬂoor. “September,” “Let’s Groove,” His discography spans 14 alYoung.” Rock and Roll Hall of Famer “Boogie Wonderland” and “Shinbums and 25 singles, among them Best Western, Embassy Suites. Italian tenor Bocelli’s discogra- Stewart, who’s sold more than ing Star” are among the band’s the No. 10 hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, “Cowboy phy spans both classical and pop, 120 million records worldwide, is greatest hits. Man.” The four-time Grammy win- with his most famous song thought among the best-selling music artEWF has sold 90 million-plus alner’s most recent album was 2022’s to be “Con te partirò,” known ists of all time. And that’s Sir Rod bums and has received 20 Gram“12th of June.” Tickets start at throughout the world as “Time to Stewart, as he was knighted by my nominations. Over the years, Say Goodbye.” Tickets are $191 Prince William in 2016. Tickets the band has had over 50 members, $65.50 at ticketmaster.com. and up at gotickets.com. start at $96.40 at ticketmaster.com. although not at the same time. The ANDREA BOCELLI Bocelli’s other hits include “The band was inducted into the Rock Prayer” (duet with Céline Dion), HARRY STYLES and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. When: 8 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 7 Where: Toyota Center, 1510 Polk “Vivo per Lei” (duet with Giorgia When: 7:45 p.m. Friday and Sat- Tickets are $53 and up at ticketand other international artists), urday, April 9 and 10; Wednesday, master.com. St., Houston Nearby places to stay: Three Hilton “Perfect Symphony” (collabora- April 14; and Friday and Saturday, properties — Hilton Americas, tion with Ed Sheeran), “Fall on Me” April 16 and 17 Email Judy Bergeron at Home2 Suites and Tru by Hilton; (duet with his son, Matteo Bocelli). Where: AT&T Stadium, 900 E. Ran- jbergeron@theadvocate.com.

TRAVEL TROUBLESHOOTER By Christopher Elliott

Priceline left customer with bill after canceling hotel reservation I booked two rooms at the Hampton Inn in Islandia, New York, through Priceline.com for a stay over the holidays.The total cost was $502.A few days later, Priceline Christopher canceled the Elliott rooms without my knowledge or consent and issued a refund. I immediately called Priceline to ask for a rebooking at my original rate.An agent told me no and said Priceline would not offer anything. I then rebooked the same rooms on the same website for the same dates, but this time I was charged $862.

I’ve spent weeks calling and emailing Priceline. During these conversations, a Priceline agent actually confirmed that my original reservation was canceled by an agent without my consent. Despite admitting to the error, the company refused to refund the $360 price difference. I have been very diligent and honest. I provided a full log of my calls and the original receipts. I even filed complaints with the California and New York attorneys general to try to get some movement. I even had an attorney send a demand letter for the refund. Priceline kept telling me that the matter had been escalated to a management team and asked for my patience, but nothing has happened for months.

I did not cancel this trip, and I should not have to pay for a mistake the company admitted it made. Can you help me get my money back? — Charles Marcus, San Francisco Priceline should have honored your original rate. If its own agent canceled your reservation by mistake, the company is responsible for making it right — either by restoring the original booking or covering the cost of the new one. You did the right thing by trying to resolve this through the ofﬁcial channels, but when a company admits it made an error and still holds on to your cash, it’s time to escalate. You

can avoid a lot of this frustration by keeping a meticulous paper trail, which you did. If the front-line agents are stuck in a loop of “we’re looking into it,” you should send a brief, polite email to an executive. I publish the names and email addresses of the Priceline executives on my advocacy site, Elliott.org. In hindsight, though, I think it might have been better to wait for a resolution instead of booking a replacement room. Generally speaking, online agencies are reluctant to refund customers who book on

their own and then bill the company. But getting something in writing — not a confession by phone — that promises to ﬁx the problem, that’s usually a sure thing. I contacted Priceline on your behalf. Priceline asked you for more evidence, including phone logs and the previous email where Priceline admitted its error. Priceline ﬁnally did the right thing. You received an email authorizing a full refund of the $360 difference. It’s a reminder that persistence pays off, especially when you have the receipts

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to prove the company is wrong. Christopher Elliott is the founder of Elliott Advocacy, a nonproﬁt organization that helps consumers solve their problems. Email him at chris@elliott.org or get help by contacting him on his site.

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FAITH

From father to son Chip Luter takes the helm at Franklin Avenue Baptist Church

BY BOB WARREN

Staff writer

The seeds of the Rev. Fred “Chip” Luter III’s journey to the leadership of one of the largest Baptist churches in Louisiana were planted at a Catholic high school. Luter was 16 and a student at Brother Martin High School in New Orleans. Though his father, the Rev. Fred Luter Jr., was the lead pastor at Franklin Avenue Baptist Church, the younger Luter wasn’t sure about making church work a family business. Architecture had grabbed his interest, spurred by a career day chat with an architect who fascinated him with tales of drawing designs and watching them come to fruition. But fate would intervene in 2001. “I was asked to do a ‘student reﬂection’” for the school’s Grandparents Day Mass, Luter recalled. Inside the packed Brother Martin gym, Luter, who was going into his senior year, spoke about his relationship with his grandparents. Afterward, a woman caught up with him and his mother outside and spoke glowingly of Luter’s poise and polish. “She really praised me,” he said. Luter began to feel a pull he couldn’t totally describe at that point in his young life. The presentation, and the compliments the woman had lavished on his mother, made Luter wonder if perhaps public speaking was a gift that he had received. So perhaps he was interested in following in his father’s footsteps, after all? “I was already wrestling with it,” he said. “But I said, ‘Lord, evidently you want me to do this, even if I’m not sure I want to.’” And, being a teenager, the notion came with no small measure of hubris. “I thought, ‘If it doesn’t work out, it’s your fault, God,’” he laughed. “The arrogance of a teenager!”

Big shoes Chip Luter will become the leader of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church and its roughly 7,000 members in November, as the church marks the retirement of his father. A formal ceremony will follow in February. Fred Luter Jr.’s ﬁngerprints are on just about everything at Franklin Avenue Baptist Church, the megachurch he nurtured and has led for nearly 40 years. In 1986, Luter, at the time a selfdescribed “street preacher from the Lower 9th Ward,” was elected by the 65 members of the then Franklin Avenue Baptist Mission Church as their new pastor. The decades that followed saw the church blossom under his leadership — and an initiative he called “FRANgelism,” in which members invited friends to join them at services. The congregation grew into the thousands. Franklin Avenue twice moved into larger buildings. The congregation moved into its current site on I-10 Service Road in New Orleans East in December 2018. Nearly 130,000 square feet of space includes a 3,500-seat sanctuary and represents a $35 million

STAFF PHOTO BY CHRIS GRANGER

The Rev. Fred ‘Chip’ Luter III will soon take over as lead pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church.

enue Baptist and, many figured, the natural heir apparent. It didn’t hurt, of course, that Fred recommended Chip for the job. “I’ll be 40 years this coming October (2026),” Fred Luter Jr. said. “This is my only church. Me and Chip started talking ﬁve years ago. He was preaching in Florida. “If I didn’t have him as my retirement plan, I don’t think I’d be retiring.” As in many Baptist churches, the choice of a new pastor was put to a vote and the congregation overwhelmingly voted last November for Chip Luter. Since then, Luter and his wife, Jasmine Luter, and their three children have been preparing for the transition. Chip Luter, who turned 42 this month, is eager to pay homage to his father’s legacy, but also understands that to be successful he must also establish his own style. Is he nervous? “This may be a weird way to answer it, but it may be more so the pressure of letting down, rather than living up to an expectation,” he said. “My dad, he would say stuff publicly all the time. ‘Chip’s my retirement plan.’ Even though we didn’t have an active plan at that moment, he just always knew I’d be there.” Chip wants to step outside his father’s shadow, but it’s clear as he shows off the mementos and photos on the walls of his father’s ofﬁce that Fred Luter Jr. is one of his heroes. “How could he not be?” Chip asked.

of Lake Forest Charter School, said both Luters have great personalities. Both are approachable and adapt well to any situation. And both are great at remembering names — an important talent in the church leadership role, she said. “Pastor (Fred) Luter allows all the young pastors, including Chip, to come up with new things. They embrace change,” she added. Father and son are different, however. “I’m old school!” Fred said, laughing. “He has an iPad, man, and he’s walking back and forth. He has props.” Chip Luter has a degree in psychology from Dallas Baptist University and a master’s degree in pastoral ministry from the New Orleans Baptist Seminary. He served stints as pastor at churches in Dallas and Tampa before settling in at Franklin Avenue, where, since 2021, he has been senior associate pastor. Fred wanted to clear out the old photos from the walls of the big ofﬁce Chip will soon occupy. “He said ‘Chippy, I’ll take those out,’” Chip Luter said. “ I said, ‘No, Pop, we’re keeping them.’”

’Mission stays the same’

As he started the transition, Chip asked his father for a list of things to know, a blueprint of sorts. “My dad had a document of, like, 40 items,” Chip Luter said. The points on the list covered a range of ground. “Even things as personal as, ’Hey, make sure you’re getting your annual physical, make sure your health is important, make sure you have your day off for your family,’” he said. Chip also began preaching more. “Last year, I preached on one Sunday a month,” he said. “This year, it was two Sundays a month.” After he formally becomes the lead pastor, he’ll preach weekly for the most part. “Every Sunday, The Rev. Fred Luter, Jr., left, and his son, Fred ‘Chip’ Luter III, take the yeah.” pulpit during services at Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans. Asked about noticeable differences between him and his father, Chip joked, “Well, one. I don’t wear suits as much.” Then, more seriously, Chip said his father hasn’t pushed him to adopt a certain style. “It’s a blessing that my dad allowed me (to be different),” he added. One thing that will remain, Chip says, is Franklin Avenue Baptist’s role in the community. Over the years, the church has often served as much as a social and community hub as a place for weekly services. Those programs, such as a community baby shower the church recently organized, will continue. “The church has to really be flexible and adaptable in ways,” he said. “But the mission stays the Like father, like son same: Exalt the Savior, equip the Franklin Avenue Baptist Church is located in New Orleans East along Mardele Early, who has attended saints, and evangelize the sinner. Interstate 10. “That’s always been the mission. Franklin Avenue Baptist for nearly 30 years, watched Chip grow The language is not changing with investment — a far cry from the must-make stops of the city’s po- up. She sees so much of Fred Jr. me.” days of 1986 when Fred Luter Jr., litical class. in him, and, she says, that’s a good Reporter Bob Warren covers all of 30 years old, took the helm. When the elder Luter announced thing. Over the decades, the church’s his retirement in October 2025, “I always prayed that (Chip) Louisiana faith and spirituality. proﬁle grew along with its surging many eyes naturally turned to his would be our next pastor. I think Email him at bwarren@theadvomembership numbers. Franklin son, Chip, who at the time was an it’s a perfect ﬁt,” she said. cate.com Avenue Baptist is often among the assistant pastor at Franklin AvEarly, who was the founding CEO

Some of America’s witty church signs aim to inspire They also attract drivers and passersby BY GIOVANNA DELL'ORTO

The Associated Press

WOODBURY, Minn. — “Forecast: God reigns and the Son shines.” In midSeptember, the large electronic sign of a Lutheran church ﬂashed this message by a throughfare between growing subdivisions and cornﬁelds in a Twin Cities suburb. The messages on Resurrection Lutheran Church's sign range from witty to practical to profound. It’s an effort to inspire and attract drivers and passersby that’s uniquely popular in churches across America, the quintessential land of open roads and advertisements. “This is about people saying, ‘this makes a difference to me,’ and … sensing they’re loved by God,” says Heather Hultgren, who's in charge of Resurrection's daily sign changes. There’s nothing unusual about

posting writings to church doors — that’s how tradition says the Protestant Reformation got started in 16th-century Germany. But for the last few decades, U.S. pastors have gotten creative, aiming to brighten a commuter’s day, spur a reﬂection while chauffeuring to football practice, and maybe persuade a lapsed Christian or two that it’s not all ﬁre and brimstone inside. “It’s a way to bring something lighter in the world,” says the Rev. Karna Moskalik of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, in the historic river town of Stillwater, Minnesota. Moskalik likes “invitational” signs, like the classic — “CH - - CH What’s missing? U R!” Some humorous messages that get social-media shoutouts across the U.S. originated with “the sign guy,” Our Savior’s pastor in the early 2000s. He published a collection entitled, “If there were no Lutherans, would there still be green Jell-O?” At Madison Avenue Baptist Church in New York City, a weather pun during the latest brutal heat-

wave caught many eyes — “Lord, whatever you’re baking, it’s done.” Elizabeth Pustinger says people stop to ask about the historic church’s sign as she’s manually changing it weekly, and sometimes later attend services. “It’s a very powerful ministry,” adds the Rev. Susan Sparks, whose favorite sign is the dark warning to drivers, “Honk if you love Jesus, text if you want to meet him.” Laughter can help process tragedy or serve as a wedge to probe big questions — that’s why Jewish and Christian scriptures have humorous passages, says Rolf Jacobson, professor of Old Testament at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. “God’s business is turning mourning into gladness, Good Friday into Easter Sunday,” he says. So chuckle away next time you speed past a church sign. But spare a thought for the sweaty person of God who invented this perennial favorite: “Too hot to keep changing sign. Sin bad. Jesus good. Details inside.”

A positive message is displayed on the sign for Locust Grove Free Will Baptist Church in Locust Grove, Okla. ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO

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The Times-Picayune F nola.com F Sunday, October 25, 2026 F 5D

LOUISIANA INSPIRED

Veteran finds new purpose after losing her sight She’s inspiring fellow veterans with resilience and determination

BY JA'KORI MADISON Staff writer

Lafayette veteran Shawtina Gibson never expected to lose her sight while serving in the military. She also never expected that, years later, she would be rock climbing, skydiving and running 10-mile races. Those adventures were far from what she imagined when an eye disease began damaging her vision while she was serving in the military. At the time, Gibson was a single mother worried about how she would care for her daughter. “When I first lost my sight, the hardest part was not being able to help my child,” said Gibson. “Helping her with simple tasks like homework just weighed on me.” A U.S. Navy and Army National Guard veteran, Gibson began seeking medical care for her eye problems in 2013. What she initially thought was pink eye was later connected to an immune system disorder that progressively damaged her vision, she said. By the time doctors discovered the extent of the damage, much of it was irreversible. Gibson eventually lost sight in her left eye and was left with only limited light perception in her right. “For the first four or five years, I just tried to manage, but it was the hardest time of my life,” Gibson said. She eventually moved to Lafayette to access rehabilitation services and develop the independent living skills she needed while raising her daughter. There, she found support among fellow blind veterans and learned about adaptive sports through the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Challenged Athletes Foundation’s Operational Rebound program.

PROVIDED PHOTO

Lafayette resident and blind veteran Shawntina Gibson’s fearless approach earned her the nickname ‘Daredevil Superwoman’ among fellow blind veterans. At ﬁrst, Gibson wasn’t looking to become an athlete. After treatments that included steroids and chemotherapy, she wanted to improve her health and reduce her reliance on medication. “I honestly just wanted a gym membership to my local gym, just to see if I could at least be healthy and work on getting off a lot of the meds,” Gibson said. That modest goal led to her ﬁrst adaptive sports trip in Colorado, where she spent a week trying rock climbing, mountain biking,

kayaking and hiking. The experience opened the door to new challenges including running a half-marathon, participating in triathlons and pursuing other endurance activities. Her fellow veterans were impressed by how far she was willing to push herself. Her fearless approach earned her the nickname “Daredevil Superwoman” among fellow blind veterans. “They were amazed and said, ‘Oh, well, we draw the line, but you are a daredevil, and that’s

Mars platform

where the name came from,’” Gibson said. For Gibson, sports became more than a way to stay active. Each new challenge gave her a reason to work on other parts of her life. She found herself returning home motivated to learn braille, improve her computer skills, and become more independent. “I would come back home and work on something that I couldn’t do. So what I did poured over into my personal time,” she said. Technology eventually gave Gibson another way to navigate the world more independently. For about two years, she has used Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses equipped with artificial intelligence to help interpret her surroundings, read signs and prices, and access information that would otherwise be difficult to obtain independently. The glasses became part of a milestone she had spent years working toward: traveling alone. “It took me 12 years. I took my first trip to Savannah, Georgia, by myself in September,” Gibson said. Rather than relying on an organization to coordinate her travel, Gibson booked her own flight, took an Uber to her resort and met up with a blind friend. The two women went shopping and visited restaurants, using their glasses to help interpret their surroundings. “We were literally like two girls having a girl’s trip, having a good time,” Gibson said. While shopping, the glasses could describe items and read prices. At restaurants, the women could use the technology to explore menus without asking someone else to read the options aloud. For Gibson, those features offered greater control over experiences many people take for granted. The glasses did not simply provide information; they helped her make decisions and enjoy a trip on her own terms. That same sense of indepen-

dence carried into the Army TenMiler in Washington, D.C., where Gibson recently completed the 10-mile race using Oakley Meta smart glasses designed for athletes. As she ran, the glasses’ live AI features helped her identify mile markers, locate upcoming water stations and learn about landmarks along the course. “It helped me follow the race and better understand what was happening around me. I felt very connected to the experience,” she said. Gibson’s experience comes as Meta has pledged to donate AI glasses to blinded veterans nationwide in recognition of their service. According to Meta, more than 130,000 American veterans are legally blind and will be eligible for the initiative. Each pair includes access to training resources designed to help veterans use voice commands to identify objects, read text and manage everyday tasks. For Gibson, expanding access to technology matters because veterans may not receive all the benefits or financial assistance others assume are available through the Department of Veterans Affairs. Her experience has also shaped how she supports other veterans in Lafayette. Gibson organizes an annual golf day in Lafayette that pairs blind veterans with sighted veterans, helping those who have lost their vision return to a sport they once enjoyed. With adaptive equipment, including specialized golf balls and tees, and guidance from their partners, participants can find new ways to play. She hopes others facing vision loss or a major life change will give themselves time to adjust and seek support. “Just focus on one thing at a time because you’re going to gradually get there, and there are people that can help you get there. Don’t give up,” Gibson said. Email Ja’kori Madison at jakori. madison@theadvocate.com.

“It’s just a great sense of pride to be part of the energy past and energy into the future. We have produced a billion barrels and we are not done yet.” Billy Lott Operation Supervisor

reaches historic 1-billion barrel milestone

Since 1996, the Shell-operated Mars platform has played a defining role in deep water energy production. Designed for waters nearly 3,000 feet deep, Mars was a bold step forward at the time and helped redefine what was possible offshore. Nearly 30 years later, continued investment, enduring engineering, and the commitment of generations of people have helped bring Mars to this landmark achievement. To be the first platform in the Gulf to reach one billion barrels is a momentous milestone, but for those who have been part of Mars, it has never been just about the number. The Mars community identifies as Martians, united by the enduring principle, “once a Martian, always a Martian.” This milestone carries the weight of long days offshore, shared challenges, and moments of problem-solving that happen when people rely on one another. It reflects years of dedication and quiet perseverance, and the deep sense of pride that comes from being part of something that continues to move forward.

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry joined Shell GOA and Pipeline staff to commemorate one billion barrels produced from the Shell Mars asset via the Mars booster station in Port Fourchon. From L to R: Greg Mouras, Nick Stone, Ken Duplantis, Jeff Bergeron, Gov. Jeff Landry, Lynn Belanger, Shawn Danos, Wayland Neil, Colette Hirstius, Chris Nace, Kevin McMahon, Richard Krebs, Sean Guillory

shell.us/louisiana | #PoweringProgress

6D F Sunday, October 25, 2026 F nola.com F The Times-Picayune

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BOOKS

ä For area book events, go to

WWW.NOLA.COM/ENTERTAINMENT_LIFE/ BOOKS

Danny Heitman

‘Fire in the Mind’ recaps poet’s long career

Finding confidence and ‘Hope’

Five judges — Grooms, Edward P. Jones, Opal Moore, Francine Prose and Patricia Towers — read submitted manuscripts throughout the year to choose the recipient of the Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence Grooms said the entire panel was impressed that “Great Black Hope” is Franklin’s ﬁrst publication. “We were surprised that a young writer had written something in such a mature voice,” Grooms said. “Not only was there strong writing but also very good storytelling. It very successfully blends genres — part murder mystery, part introspective novel about generational relations and responsibilities.” Franklin’s setting in New York City is not unique, Grooms said, but for the novel to focus on more of a bohemian and artistic community instead of a professional one was new for the panel. For Franklin, he says winning the award named for such a giant of African American literature is a huge honor. “I think there are some interesting parallels because I’m writing about, in part, the American South, and trying to depict a milieu with this Southern Black bourgeoisie that I feel like I haven’t seen a ton of in popular culture,” Franklin said. “I feel very honored to be working in a tradition that he helped to deﬁne.”

Since the publication of her debut collection, “Watering,” in 1972, Catharine Savage Brosman has been writing poetry at a steady clip, even as she taught French at Tulane University. Now retired, she’s divided her time in recent years between Houston and New Orleans. Brosman will be back in Louisiana on Oct. 31 for the Louisiana Book Festival in and around the State Capitol in Baton Rouge, with a reading scheduled for noon in the West Tent near Capitol Park Museum. The Brosman program will draw from “Fire in the Mind,” a new book that collects her best work from more than half a century. The book opens on a valedictory note, dedicating its poems to “family members and cherished friends, and in memory of those deceased who were dear to me.” That backward glance is understandable for a poet who’s now 92, her long life an instruction in what time gives and what it takes away. There’s also a sense of summing up in Brosman’s introduction to these poems, which offers a capsule summary of her career. It includes a funny anecdote about an early professor who noted that Brosman was “awfully intellectual,” cautioning her that it’s “only half of what’s necessary.” Presumably, he was nudging her to embrace feeling on the page, too, and there’s plenty of that in “Fire in the Mind.” The mere titles of these poems, scanned casually in the table of contents, are a feast of sensations. From “Eating Pears at Midnight” to “The Effects of Clouds: New Orleans” to “Gumbo” to “Melons,” they suggest experience as something that registers on the fingertips, the nose and the tongue. When these poems unfold within a New Orleans setting, their sensibility chimes naturally with a city where life announces itself so palpably on the skin. In “Report from New Orleans: Saturday Night,” Brosman points to the pageant of wonders a weekend evening in the Garden District can bring, including “clusters of people in fancy clothes,” “a rosy priest with his entourage” and a restaurant window that reveals “the phosphorescent fauna of the night.” Amidst the splendor, a “poor man carrying a lumpy sack” appears, much like other street dwellers “wearing cracked shoes and faces of bewilderment.” In the spirit of “Pink Dog,” Elizabeth Bishop’s famous poem about suffering within the celebration of Brazil’s Carnival, Brosman deftly explores how plenitude can be touched by loss. In “Crab Cakes,” another New Orleans poem, two old flames reminisce at Galatoire’s: “We cheated carpe diem in our youth; embracing, we acknowledge now its truth.” Advancing age understandably figures as a theme in Brosman’s later poems, as in “Deep Maturity,” where she suggests that imagination can somehow make a whole of past, present and future “as I stand here beneath a waning moon. / Its luster silvers me. Old I am not.” It’s vintage Brosman, expressing the voice of a poet resolved to be luminous until the end.

Email Joy Holden at joy.holden@theadvocate.com.

Email Danny Heitman at danny@dannyheitman. com.

Ernest Gaines award honors Rob Franklin and his novel BY JOY HOLDEN

in his 20s who is in the throes of grief and alienation while he reconciles with his identity. Smith is partying with the New York elite in the Hamptons when he is arrested for a small amount of cocaine. As the son of a prestigious historically Black college president and a successful attorney, Smith knows his mistake will derail his parents’ hopes for him as well as his own blurry idea of his future. As a part of his attorney’s advice, Smith starts on a sobriety journey that is sharpened by the intense grief of losing his best friend and roommate, Elle, to a mysterious overdose. Smith navigates this year of his life while monitoring his other best friend’s erratic behavior. Throughout the novel, Smith gains conﬁdence, composure and a new group of friends who are creators instead of destroyers. Franklin’s poetry foundation is evident in his vivid prose. “Great Black Hope” is full of precise imagery and detail that evokes the singular experience that Smith is having.

Staff writer

Each October, the Baton Rouge Area Foundation presents one of the most prestigious literary prizes given to Black American writers, the Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence. To honor celebrated Louisiana writer Gaines, the award serves to inspire and recognize rising African American ﬁction writers at a national level. The Baton Rouge Area Foundation will give the 19th annual honor to Rob Franklin for his novel “Great Black Hope” at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 29 at the Manship Theatre at the Shaw Center, 100 Lafayette St., Baton Rouge. Community members can attend the event by registering at ernestjgainesaward. org/rsvp. “All the judges feel that we are doing something important by honoring one of the great writers in the American canon, Ernest Gaines,” said Anthony Grooms, one of the judges for the award. “It’s a big responsibility to bring some attention to emerging African American writers, particularly for a writer like Rob Franklin, who we think is a real talent.” The book award, initiated by donors of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, comes with a monetary award of $15,000 to support and enable the writer to focus on their craft. The foundation also sponsors the winner’s travel to Baton Rouge to receive the prize at the ceremony, where Franklin will read an excerpt from “Great Black Hope,” which was published in June 2025. While in town, Franklin will speak to students at Baton Rouge Community College, visit the Gaines family in New Roads and visit the church and cemetery that Gaines restored.

Forging his own voice Franklin, 33, has been traveling through Louisiana since he was a child. An Atlanta native who now lives in New York, Franklin frequently visited his grandmother in Texas, and along the way, his family would stop overnight in New Orleans. Franklin holds a Bachelor of Arts from Stanford University and a Masters of Fine Arts from New York University’s Creative Writing program. He teaches writing at School of Visual Arts, a private art school in New York City. Since high school, Franklin has had an interest in writing, but he started out with poetry. He became serious about the craft after reading Richard Siken’s poetry collection, “Crush.”

Rob Franklin

PROVIDED PHOTO

“It’s really the book that made me want to write because I think it really reinvigorated what I understood poetry could do,” Franklin said. “It was very different from the poetry we’d read in English class. It was experimental, urgent and queer.” He said that he “forged” his own poetic voice in college, although he dabbled in short stories. After college, Franklin wrote while working as a consultant in the corporate world. He was four years into the development of a novel set in Berlin when the inspiration for “Great Black Hope” changed his path. While home with his parents in Atlanta, he had free written a few pages that turned into a character sketch of who would become Smith, the main character of “Great Black Hope.” “It was this character who was very shaped by familial expectations, history and the lessons of Black respectability politics,” Franklin said. “I was so interested in this question of how those particular lessons for some people can be the motivational force that they are intended to be, and other people crack under the pressure because there can be a psychological toll that they’re not totally prepared to bear.”

Upward mobility, downward spiral “Great Black Hope” features Smith, a young, upwardly mobile Black man

‘A mature voice’

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The Times-Picayune F nola.com F Sunday, October 25, 2026 F 7D

HOLLYWOOD SOUTH

Dew Drop Inn doc to premiere at film fest N.O. nightclub has storied history

Nearly five years ago, filmmaker Michael Murphy had lunch with Curtis Doucette after learning of his plans to restore New Orleans’ iconic Dew Drop Inn, which suffered years of decline following Hurricane Katrina. Murphy and his producing partner, CiLeslie lista Eberle, Cardé figured a film about the rebirth of a lounge and hotel that attracted legends like Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, Sam Cooke, Little Richard and a whole host of other talented musicians would be of interest to everyone. That notion, however, would encounter a major stumbling block. “As it turned out, there were no performances of any kind that existed on film,” Murphy remembered. “Not even photographs. Nothing. If there had been, Katrina wiped it out. So essentially, there were no assets. So, we said to ourselves, this film about the grand reopening of the Dew Drop Inn with all these great performances could no longer be what we had planned.” But digging deeper, the underlying story of the Dew Drop turned out to be far more compelling. When the nightclub opened in 1939, segregation permeated the city with restrictive Jim Crow laws. Owner Frank Painia believed that Black and White musicians should be able to play together, and his mixed audiences should not be divided

PROVIDED PHOTO BY MICHAEL MURPHY PRODUCTIONS

The Dew Drop Inn is pictured when it opened in the 1930s.

Murphy

Eberle

by a wall. His open deﬁance culminated in police raids and arrests, until he hired renowned attorney A.P. Tureaud to sue the city. That legal victory led to the desegregation of all New Orleans bars and restaurants.

“We knew about the history, and we knew about the artists that played there, but we really didn’t know what the culture that surrounded it was all about, which was the most surprising part of my research,” Eberle recounted. “So, the movie quickly expanded to include what was going on behind the scenes in Central City and how places like the Dew Drop Inn and Dooky Chase’s became meeting places where participants could gather safely to talk about civil rights.” That newfound understanding has led to a new

documentary, “The Dew Drop Inn: Resistance and Resilience,” premiering Sunday at the New Orleans Film Festival. For writer and director Murphy — who had interviewed dozens of musicians for his other ﬁlms, like “Up From the Streets — New Orleans: The City of Music” or “Make It Funky!” — this ﬁlm would prove to be the most challenging, yet rewarding, of his career. “You often hear stories about the good times at the ‘swankiest music club in New Orleans,’” Murphy noted, “but I learned of its importance during the

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struggle for civil rights and an end to Jim Crow. This is ultimately the fight of Black Americans for constitutional rights and how that fight directly impacted the legal and human rights benefiting all Americans today.” The film is eye-opening in its candor about the indignities Black musicians encountered as they toured the country, knowing they were not welcome at most hotels. It was common practice in New Orleans to allow performers to entertain within the confines of a hotel, but not to allow them to spend the night.

For those who were playing on what was known as the Chitlin’ Circuit (performance venues in the South, East and Midwest), it was critical to secure lodging wherever they performed. For instance, in New Orleans, Black musicians might play the Blue Room at the Roosevelt Hotel, then stay up all night jamming with the artists at the Dew Drop Inn, which had lodging available. It created an incubator for different musicians to learn from each other, and, as Eberle noted, the music of New Orleans wouldn’t have been the same without that. The Dew Drop Inn reopened in 2024 and has become home to a newer generation of artists like Tarriona “Tank” Ball, of Tank and the Bangas, Big Freedia, PJ Morton, Questlove and Trombone Shorty. “The work of preserving historic places like the Dew Drop Inn is critically important in this moment because I believe that more Americans want to reconcile our racist past,” said Brent Leggs, president and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. “We want to heal from the divided bridges so that we create a better future, a more inclusive future where everyone can see one another’s humanity.” “The Dew Drop Inn: Resistance and Resilience” is screening Oct. 25 at the Contemporary Art Center’s Worklight Pictures Warehouse Theater starting at 8 p.m. A Q&A session with the ﬁlmmakers follows the 60-minute movie. The afterparty, sponsored by Paramount, is at The Dew Drop Inn, 2836 Lasalle St. Contact Leslie Cardé at lesliecardejournalist@gmail.

8D F Sunday, October 25, 2026 F nola.com F The Times-Picayune

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Iris crowns monarchs, announces 2027 theme at gala The Krewe of Iris recently

celebrated the coming Carnival season with their Goddess Gala at the Orpheum Theater. Reigning over the festivities were queen and king for 2027 Edith Pendleton Evans and Kenneth Eugene Evans Jr. The annual event celebrates the past court and their service to the krewe while crowning the 2027 court. The setting, adorned with gold

Officers for Iris are, from left, Sarah Petitto, Sarah Nieuwenhuizen, the captain, Pam Pickett and Cindy Borrello.

irises and centerpieces, also heralded the court that included maids Kristin

Golden streamers announced the new monarchs and court for the Krewe of Iris at the Goddess Golden Gala recently.

Butler, Britney Stahl, Tiffany Wilson, Lark Champion, Haley Arnold and Margaret Perkins. Dukes presented were Story Phillips, Matthew Stahl, Robert Wilson IV, Hunter Champion, Bradford Arnold and Gene Perkins. “Iris is Golden” was announced as

PROVIDED PHOTOS BY JAMES SHAW PHOTOGRAPHY

the theme by the krewe’s captain as

Edith Pendleton Evans and Kenneth Eugene Evans Jr. will reign as gold streamers ﬁlled the space. queen and king of the Krewe of Iris’ 2027 Carnival celebrations. Entertainment was provided by DJ The duo was crown at the Goddess Gala recently at the Orpheum Theater. Paris, Kinfolk Brass Band and Bag of Donuts. The krewe, the oldest parading women’s organization in Carnival, will roll Saturday, Feb. 6, 2027.

Members of the Krewe of Iris 2027 Carnival court include, from left, Kristin Butler, Story Phillips, Britney Stahl, Matthew Stahl, Tiffany Wilson and Robert Wilson IV.

Included in the court of the Krewe of Iris for 2027 are, from left, Lark Champion, Hunter Champion, Haley Arnold, Bradford Arnold, Margaret Perkins and Gene Perkins.

Trying to make new friends and slowly rebuilding a social life Dear Annie: I’m hoping you might terested and unmotivated to do have some advice for me about things that I would normally enhow to meet people and make new joy doing with friends. I’ve tried friends as an adult. I’m 40, online dating too, but that and I’ve been depressed for hasn’t really gone anyabout a year. I was seeing a where. So I feel like I’m therapist for almost a year, stuck in this cycle where but have recently given I’m depressed and alone, up on him. We tried differbut I don’t know how to meet people or build a ent things, but I still feel Annie social life. pretty stuck and alone. I’ve Lane I wanted to ask you tried going out by myself, DEAR ANNIE what you think I should but people generally don’t actually do to meet new talk to me when I do, and I people. How do you make get incredibly nervous and anxious — sometimes it feels like connections when you don’t almy body is going to explode. It’s ready have a group of friends to much easier when I have someintroduce you to people? I feel like I’ve tried going out, but I’m one I know with me, but most not sure I’m doing it in a way that of my friends are work friends gives me a real chance to connect who I rarely see anymore since with anyone. If you have any adCOVID. I have two or three friends I vice or ideas, I’d really appreciate rely on a lot, but I’m almost alit. — Hopeless and Stuck Dear Hopeless and Stuck: You do ways the one who initiates everynot need a whole new social life thing. I worry that I’m becoming overnight. You need one small a burden to them. When I’m by opening. myself, I’m also really disin-

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Instead of simply “going out,” try going somewhere built around repeated contact. Sign up for a class, volunteer at your church, or join a walking or book club. Friendship usually grows from seeing the same people again and again, not from hoping a stranger starts a conversation. And please don’t give up on getting help just because one therapist wasn’t the right ﬁt. The depression and anxiety you describe are making an already difﬁcult task much harder. Finding someone new to talk to could help you get your footing again. As for your friends, initiating doesn’t automatically make you a burden. Sometimes one person is simply the planner. Start small. One class. One invitation. One conversation. A full life is rarely rebuilt all at once. Dear Annie: My daughter is single and raising two sons. Her husband died in an automobile accident four years ago.

I am worried about the relationship between her sons, “Steven,” 16, and “Frederick,” 10. I think they are too close and too affectionate with each other. Steven is very protective of Frederick, and Frederick worships his big brother. When I visit them or they come to my house, they cling to each other. They are constantly hugging and even kissing, which I honestly ﬁnd a bit disgusting. Sometimes they watch TV together cuddled up on the sofa. I have even seen Frederick sleeping with his head in Steven’s lap. My daughter mentioned that sometimes Frederick sleeps in his brother’s bed when she works third shift. I once tried to tell them they are too affectionate and need to cut it out. They both just laughed and said they love each other. I don’t think there is anything sexual going on between them, but I think that once Frederick

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reaches puberty, it could very well happen. I discussed it with my daughter, and she said she sees nothing wrong and I am just being old-fashioned. She said kids are a lot more open these days. She said that they turned to each other when their dad died and that Frederick sees his big brother as a father ﬁgure. I can understand that, but am I wrong to be disgusted by their behavior? — Concerned Grandfather Dear Concerned Grandfather: Your daughter is ﬁne with her sons’ dynamics, and that’s enough. You have to trust the job you did as a parent in teaching her good judgment — that if something inappropriate were going on between her sons, she would stop it. Steven must be a mature and caring person to take his little brother under his wing as he has. Of that you should be proud. Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@creators.com.

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The Times-Picayune F nola.com F Sunday, October 25, 2026 F 9D

When saying ‘thanks’ doesn’t seem like enough Dear Miss Manders: How do you phone, or we’d be even more lost. thank people for their support We picked up the dogs and cat after a devastating fire and ran outside. Thank God destroys your home? we were all safe and uninWe just had a grease jured. fire in our propane grill. The outpouring of support I did what I always do: from our neighbors and I turned the burners off local community is overand shut the propane whelming. In these times, Judith tank valve, then closed is a comfort to know that Martin it the lid and waited for it to people are still good, and MISS go out. there for you when you MANNERS Well, this time it didn’t least expect it. go out. Instead, it burned My wife and I are trying through to the area where the to figure out how we can pospropane tank is stored. sibly thank the hundreds, if not We evacuated immediately — thousands, of people who have exno shoes on our feet, no ID, nothpressed their support physically, emotionally and financially after ing but the clothes on our bodies. this tragedy. Somehow I grabbed my cell-

One final PSA, if I may, please: If you have a fire in your gas grill, don’t wait for it to go out. Go get the fire extinguisher as quickly as you can and put it out ASAP. Gentle reader: Noted. Write back to as many of these kind people as possible, expressing your thanks and adding a small present (flowers, etc.) to anyone who took you in for an extended stay. Speak of it widely, in hopes that this gets back to everyone who showed support. And then resolve, as Miss Manners has no doubt you already have, to show the same kindness to anyone who endures a similar calamity. Sadly, it seems that lately there are ample opportunities.

Dear Miss Manners: I am writing regarding our mahjong’s group’s policy on health and attendance. Lately, there have been several instances where players have asked if they should attend while experiencing symptoms of illness. While I appreciate the offer to wear a mask, I want to be clear about my personal boundary: I do not feel comfortable playing in person with anyone who is unwell, regardless of the precautions taken. Since this situation comes up frequently, I would like to establish a standard that if someone is feeling under the weather, they should stay home until they are healthy. This helps ensure that

the game remains a comfortable environment for everyone. I value our time together and want to make sure we can all enjoy our games without any added concern. How do I articulate this? Gentle reader: Say it when everyone is healthy. “Flu/cold/allergy season is coming up, and I want to make sure that we all stay as healthy as possible. Let us agree that if we are not feeling well, we will stay home and take care of ourselves.” Miss Manners recommends you disinfect those tiles anyway, just in case. Send questions to Miss Manners at dearmissmanners@gmail.com.

Be cautious of how you store your batteries Dear Heloise: I wanted to write in response to the suggestion from Mary M., about hearing-aid batteries and her keeping them in an empty mediHints from cine bottle. One of Heloise the reasons why hearing-aid batteries are separated onto a cardboard sheet is to keep the ends of the batteries from touching each other. Batteries are polarized. If you get opposite poles touching each other, they’ll drain the battery. You could easily wind up with a medicine bottle full of dead batteries. — Roy R., in Fullerton, California

Roy, thanks for the tip! This makes a lot of sense. I’ll make sure to keep batteries in their cardboard. — Heloise

Packaging makes a big difference Dear Heloise: In regard to the childproof packaging of hearing-aid batteries, I buy my 312 batteries online. If you look carefully, you can ﬁnd batteries that are in an easy-to-open box, as opposed to the ones that need to be cut from the package. — Jay, in Nebraska Jay, thank you so much for this helpful tip! Finding easier ways to handle packaging makes such a big difference. I appreciate you taking the time to share this with me and my readers. — Heloise

A persistent runny nose

Dear Heloise: I read the letter from Louise W., who suffers from a constant runny nose. Instead of living with the problem, she should consult her doctor and determine if she’s suffering from rhinitis. There are two types: allergic and nonallergic rhinitis. There are treatments for both that’ll make life easier for her. I’d suffered with nonallergic rhinitis for years until I brought it up to my physician, and he prescribed a nasal spray that stopped my nose from running all day. This is an embarrassing condition that she may not have to live with. — Dennis C., via email Dennis, it could be caused by any number of different reasons, but

she’ll need to see a doctor to determine what the root cause happens to be. I’m sure that a physician could help her, but she needs to make an appointment to see her doctor. — Heloise

Light bulb safety Dear Heloise: A number of people like to use petroleum jelly on the end of a light bulb to keep it from sticking. However, there are a couple of things that they need to remember. n Heat sensitivity: Petroleumbased products are highly ﬂammable. High heat from a running bulb can cause the jelly to melt, become tacky, smoke or potentially ignite. n Electrical issues: Petroleum

TODAY IN HISTORY We Sell a House Every 3 Days!

Today is Sunday, Oct. 25, the 298th day of 2026. There are 67 days left in the year. Today in history: On Oct. 25, 1929, former Secretary of the Interior Albert B. Fall was convicted of accepting bribes in exchange for oil field leases at Teapot Dome in Wyoming and the Elk Hills and Buena Vista oil fields in California. As a result of the “Teapot Dome scandal” Fall would become the first U.S. Cabinet member to be imprisoned for crimes committed while in office. Also on this date: In 1415, England’s King Henry V’s forces defeated a much larger French army at the Battle of Agincourt during the Hundred Years’ War. In 1760, Britain’s King George III succeeded his late grandfather, George II. In 1859, radical abolitionist John Brown went on trial in Charles Town, Virginia, for his failed raid at Harpers Ferry. (He was convicted and later hanged.) In 1962, during an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council, U.S. Ambassador Adlai E. Stevenson II demanded that Soviet Ambassador Valerian Zorin confirm or deny the existence of Soviet-built missile bases in Cuba. Stevenson then presented the council with photographic evidence of the bases, a key moment in the Cuban missile crisis. In 1971, the U.N. General Assembly passed a resolution recognizing the People’s Republic of China as that country’s sole legitimate representative to the United Nations, expelling representatives of Chiang Kai-shek from the world body and effectively casting out Taiwan.

In 1983, a U.S.-led force invaded Grenada at the order of President Ronald Reagan, who said the action was needed to protect U.S. citizens there. In 1999, golfer Payne Stewart and five others were killed when their Learjet lost cabin pressure, flew hundreds of miles off course on autopilot, and crashed in a field in South Dakota. Stewart was 42. In 2024, U.S. President Joe Biden formally apologized to Native Americans for the “sin” of a government-run boarding school system that for decades forcibly separated children from their parents, calling it a “blot on American history” during a visit to Indian Country in Arizona. Today’s Birthdays: Actor Marion Ross is 98. Former Apollo 9 astronaut Rusty Schweickart is 91. Author Anne Tyler is 85. Rock singer Jon Anderson (Yes) is 82. Guitarist Glen Tipton (Judas Priest) is 79. Basketball Hall of Famer Dave Cowens is 78. Olympic gold medal wrestler Dan Gable is 78. Olympic gold medal hockey player Mike Eruzione is 72. Actor Nancy Cartwright (TV: “The Simpsons”) is 69. Rock drummer Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers) is 65. Violinist Midori is 55. Baseball Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez is 55. Author Zadie Smith is 51. Pop singer Katy Perry is 42. Singer Ciara is 41. Golfer Xander Schauffele is 33. MLB All-Star Juan Soto is 28. Actor Dallas Young is 20.

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jelly is an insulator. If it gets on the contact points at the base or socket, it can cause the bulb to ﬂicker or fail to work at all. — Sandra, via email

Opening smaller bottles Dear Heloise: I use a regular Vshaped nutcracker to open smaller bottles. I place the nutcracker around the cap, hold it tightly in place, and turn the bottle with my other hand, rather than trying to turn the cap. It works very well for me. Also, before doing this, try tapping on the cap with the thick end of a table knife to loosen the vacuum seal. — Rose S., via email Send a hint to heloise@heloise. com.

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10D ✦ Sunday, October 25, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

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“I think that New Orleans is really special in that there’s, I don’t know, there’s just something in the air here I feel, where people want to celebrate, they want to go big. Just because.” LAURA MAGOVERN

STAFF PHOTO BY ENAN CHEDIAK

Todd Norman poses for a portrait at his Mid-City home in New Orleans.

FANATICS

“Serves you right,” the clown says as he lowers slowly back into his depraved home. “I’ll pour some blood on them soon,” Pickering said, noting there’s always room for improvement.

Continued from page 1D

Nightmare on Burgundy St.

For many, it starts in childhood. Jeff Thomas must have been just 6 or 7 years old when he threw a white sheet on and inhabited the character of Casper the ghost. He spent much of the next several months as the undead, running to his southeast Kentucky home after school most afternoons to don the costume and repeat his one and only line — “Boo!” — even after Halloween was a distant memory. It lasted about a year before his mom, weary of daily jump scares, ﬁnally took the costume away for good. But it wasn’t until he was grown and living in New Orleans that Thomas found his true calling. Inspired by a Bmovie about a ventriloquist, he reimagined a doll he found at a thrift shop and put it out on his porch to bolster his already eccentric Halloween decorations. Where your average doll-maker might add bows, ribbons and sparkle, Thomas added blood, tears and horns. A passerby offered him $100 for the demonic doll, and soon, Thomas was making 13 dolls a year to haunt his porch each October, then selling them online and in stores. Now, despite his mother’s best efforts, Thomas’ whole year revolves around Halloween, scouring thrift stores and junkyards for beat-up old dolls and anything else to set the ill-fated scene. “When people say they have skeletons in their closet, we ac-

SCARE

Continued from page 1D on the project. In full disclosure, Kennedy and I go to church together. After my column about the wooden raven that arrived at my home from Spain, he told me he appreciated my restraint in not mentioning Poe. The bird, now named Carl after a reader’s suggestion, remains a mystery. Talking with Kennedy for 30 minutes about Poe turned out to be a master class in looking beyond the gloomy man in the black coat. Kennedy has Poe scholar friends in Japan, Spain, Italy, France and India. He said Poe is probably the American writer read by more people around the world than any other. When I was growing up, nearly every Disney hero had lost at least one parent. From “Bedknobs and Broomsticks” to “Snow White,” a little grimness came

Death by disco

STAFF PHOTO BY ENAN CHEDIAK

Halloween decorations adorn Jeff Thomas’ Bywater home. tually have skeletons, witches, vampires and ghosts,” Thomas said. Thomas’ longtime partner, Shelton Pollet, said people from all over come to see their Burgundy Street house, which has become akin to a PG-13, Bywater version of the Skeleton House on St. Charles Avenue. “It’s more than just the kids,” he said.

Archer’s revenge Just across the street from Thomas and Pollet, a child prodigy is giving the couple a run for their money. The ghastly figurines decorating 13-year-old Archer Pickering’s yard aren’t homemade, but they move and talk. Mostly they laugh maniacally. Pickering has been collecting terrifying, life-sized animatronics for the past three years, ever since one jumped out at him at Spirit Halloween. “It scared me,” Pickering said. He loved it. His mom, Katie Bishop, is

more of a Christmas person herself, but she’d never seen something capture her son’s interest so fully. He got his ﬁrst animatronic at age 10, a haunted scarecrow that he fully assembled himself, learning about all the mechanisms that made it tick. “He just got really into it,” Bishop said. “And so it ended up being that’s the only thing he wanted for Christmas, that’s the only thing he wanted for his birthday.” Today, Pickering has a vast orchestra of robotic puppets — he bought eight last year alone — which he conducts with the mastery of a much older, wiser Halloween obsessive. Drivers passing by slam on the breaks to snap photos, and passing pedestrians and their dogs ﬂinch as Mary the Unhappily Ever After springs forward with the scream of a bride abandoned at the altar. A melting clown head pops out of an “I Scream” cone cart like a demented Jack-inthe-Box.

foster parents who took him in never adopted him, and his foster father eventually disowned him. The mother of a school friend, a woman he adored as a teenager, died suddenly. His foster mother died when he was 20. He married his cousin Virginia, who caught tuberculosis young. “The Raven” came out in January 1845. Kennedy calls it a poem STAFF PHOTO BY JAN RISHER about grief and how a person This carved wooden raven appeared comes to terms with losing someone who means everything. in a package at columnist Jan “He knew his wife was dying Risher’s door on the autumnal when he writes a poem about equinox. She’s not sure who sent it a man who has already lost the or why. woman he loves,” Kennedy said. “It’s really a kind of rehearsal for his own loss.” with the happy ending. I asked Virginia died two years later. Kennedy whether Poe offers She was 24. Poe died at 40. grown-ups something similar: a Kennedy sees Poe’s life as a way to face frightening things long struggle between believing from a safe distance. in a loving God and an everlasting “Poe had a genius for making life, and fearing that this world frightening situations and feelwas all there is, “that you died ings understandable and illumiand everything went dark.” nating,” he said. As a boy in Richmond, Poe atPoe was an orphan himself. His mother died when he was 3. The tended Monumental Church,

For some of these semi-pro decorators, Halloween is in the blood. Laura Magovern has her dad to thank for inspiration. Back when Magovern was growing up in south Florida, before stores sold 12-foot skeletons and inﬂatable ghosts and pumpkins, her dad had to get creative. She recalled how he traced her brother’s arm out on a piece of wood and cut it out with a jigsaw, then stuck that in the front yard near homemade tombstones. He set a boombox in the window and played a cassette tape of spooky sound effects on repeat. One year, he rigged up a pulley system so that trick-or-treaters opening the front door were greeted by a ﬂying witch.

So when Magovern and her husband moved from Virginia into their Uptown home on Nashville Avenue and saw a giant skeleton covered in mirrored disco ball tiles a few doors down, it clicked. “I want my kids to have that,” Magovern said she thought. “I want to have it. The city calls for it.” Possessed by the Halloween spirit, the Magoverns promptly purchased a 4-foot tall skeleton torso and head from Costco. Dubbed Rufus by their oldest daughter, the family proceeded to paint it chrome and cover it with roughly 180,000 mirrored tiles by hand. Magovern estimates the whole project cost nearly $600 and took over 100 hours to complete, and practically every member of the family — grandparents and the kids’ nanny included — helped glue through the entire month of September. “Everybody has touched Rufus,” nanny Latosha Sample said. “Everybody is a part of Rufus’ story.” Magovern can’t really explain why they set out on such a task, which left everyone with glueencrusted fingers and gashes from the glass tiles. Maybe she had something to prove, to her kids, to her new city, to all the other Halloween fanatics around town. “I think that New Orleans is really special in that there’s, I don’t know, there’s just something in the air here I feel, where people want to celebrate, they want to go big,” she said. “Just because.”

PROVIDED BY LAURA MAGOVERN Email Kasey Bubnash at kasey.bubnash@theadvocate. com.

Rufus the disco skeleton hangs out on Nashville Avenue.

where Bishop Richard Channing Moore preached. Kennedy has read the bishop’s sermons and calls him “years ahead of televangelists.” After his foster father disinherited him, Poe mostly stopped going to church. “It was a struggle,” Kennedy said. “A struggle to hang on to something that could hold him up.” I thought again about the book he’d handed his grandfather. “You don’t read Poe for comfort,” Kennedy said. “You don’t read Poe for reassurance, blessed assurance.” So why do so many of us read him anyway? “We all have moments of doubt,” Kennedy said. “We all have bad dreams from time to time.” The fear Poe returns to again and again is death, something everyone lives with and tries to come to terms with. Kennedy, 79, called that “an ongoing process as we age.” “There is a lot in this world that

scares the daylights out of us,” he said. A scary movie or story can neutralize fear, he explained. A person watching can always think, “I’m not in this. This is not happening to me.” I’ve always wondered why we make room for so much darkness this time of year. Years ago, someone told me the veil between this world and the next grows thinner in late October. Kennedy said the idea is ancient. In the Celtic calendar, Oct. 31 marked the end of the old year. On that threshold, “the spirits of the dead are able to rise and roam,” Kennedy said. I couldn’t help but think about the Celtic knots carved into Carl the raven. On Sunday morning, Kennedy is teaching a Sunday School class on Poe, grief, God and “The Raven.” I’ll be out of town, so I’m sending Carl in my place. Email Jan Risher at jan.risher@ theadvocate.com.

The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Sunday, October 25, 2026 ✦ 11D

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COSTUMING

Continued from page 1D “It’s such a costuming city,” said Vivacious Miss Audacious, a burlesque dancer who was waiting when Linehan ﬁrst opened the shop’s doors earlier this month. “Whether you’re in the entertainment industry or you’re a civilian, everybody’s got a costume closet.” For a while, even after Linehan had outlined its every detail in a business plan, the store seemed like just a dream. (One potential investor ghosted Linehan, then another. One potential landlord stalled, then another.) But Linehan’s dreams have come true before. He was an 8-year-old kid living in a strict, religious Texas household — a little like “Carrie,” he said — when he ﬁrst visited New Orleans. The city — its vivid colors, in particular — appeared in his dreams for years afterward. His parents wouldn’t let him hang out or go out, he said, so he enrolled in school extracurriculars, including band and theater. His grandmother, “a seamstress and a tinkerer,” became Linehan’s safe haven. At the fabric store together, he was “like a little magpie, drawn to all the sparkly stuff.” She loved that stuff, too. He dropped out of college in Texas, attended a clown conservatory in California and moved to New York City in 1999. But any time Linehan experienced heartbreak, he escaped to New Orleans. “And I came here to heal so many times,” he paused. “I’m going to cry.” He started again: “I came here to heal so many times, and the last time I had a really bad heartbreak, I came to heal and I said, ‘Why do you keep leaving?’

STAFF PHOTOS BY ENAN CHEDIAK

Dan’l Linehan rolls out fabric for a customer at Faubourg Fabrics and Trimmings in New Orleans, the shop he opened in his neighborhood, for his community. different layers to it. “It reminds me very much of our city, as well.” Dan’l, whose ﬁrst name rhymes with “ﬂannel,” and his partner, Ben, did try leaving. In 2019, they moved to New York City. They loved the fabric district there, Linehan said. “I got used to that very quick.” But, more broadly, “we were miserable.” They broke their lease to return. That’s when, in 2022, Linehan began making a spreadsheet of all the things Faubourg Fabrics would carry. All the things he yearned to have within walking distance. All the things his fellow performers said caused mini-emergencies, mid-costume. Needles and thread and elastic. Underwire. Stripper zippers. Clear straps. Then, in July, when he got access to the St. Claude space, he began buying, building. He spent $5,000 on rhinestones. His partner installed lighting. Summers helped roll fabrics around sturdy cardboard, a process that’s harder than it looks. He elevated the cutting counter, like a stage. Linehan had designed branding for other retailers, including

“Maybe you should just stay where you’re healed.” So, a decade ago, he stayed. As Apostrophe, he became known for his expertly crafted, wonderfully weird drag costumes and his sculpted headpieces. In one crowd favorite, as Fiona Apple’s “Criminal” plays, a slow striptease reveals that he’s not just any jailbird but the Hamburglar, ﬁnishing the number by munching a Big Mac. In another performance, ﬁlmed during the pandemic, Linehan becomes a lip-synching suburban housewife wearing an A-line dress, high heels and a thick beard, downing a martini as a baby wails. That baby was played by Sunny Dawn Summers’ then-toddler. Summers, a seamstress, met Linehan after posting a Craigslist ad for her duplex on the tracks between the Marigny and the Bywater. Quickly, she became his “good Judy,” or best girlfriend. “Dan’l is just enough art witchy PHOTO BY JOHN LAVIN/PROVIDED BY DAN’L LINEHAN enough that he needs to be in an environment that really embraces For years, Dan’l Linehan, pictured that for its lightness and not its performing as Apostrophe, hosted darkness,” she said. “His brand a Friday night show at Oz New of witchy is creative and dark and ironic and funny. It has so many Orleans.

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504.919.8585 katie@wcnola.com

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Chance in Hell SnoBalls, with its winking kewpie of a devil. He wanted Faubourg Fabrics to feel like an old mercantile, and the space on St. Claude added to that, with its exposed brick walls. He found an antique cash register on Etsy with a satisfying “ding.” And he designed cheeky signs and labels for every item. “Please ask for assistance with rolled fabrics,” one sign says. “They will unroll uncontrollably and, yes, I know that sounds like fun to watch, but it’s a nightmare.” Each bag of ﬂatback rhinestones comes with “a li’l lagniappe.” The tote bags advertise, “Makin’ costumes.” In the end, he spent $50,000 of his own money on the store. “It makes it even more special, maybe, that it was all mine.” Had his grandmother, who died in January, been able to see the space, “I would think she would laugh and she would cry. “She would shop here.” Linehan was perched behind the counter on a weekday afternoon when a pair came in, the woman carrying a little dog, the man carrying a jagged piece of cardboard,

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dimensions scrawled on it. “Hey man, do you have any silver or copper vinyl?” he called. “I have holographic vinyl,” Linehan said, hopping down. “I don’t have solid silver or copper yet. … But I have holographic or a wet black look, which is a solid without the holographic. He pulled a bolt forward, and Brad Abrams got close. “I like the holographic more.” “Me too!” Linehan laughed. Abrams had been to Walmart (“They don’t sell fabric anymore!”) and two fabric stores (“They’re appointment only!”) before finding out about Faubourg. Then Abrams described what he’d been building, in a backyard not far away, with a friend’s help: Two electric bikes with coffins on top. Bars inside the coffins. To ride in parades. They’d been working on them for years, Abrams said, “and we’re getting really close, but now we need to cover the seats.” Linehan beamed. Paused. Took it all in. “I love it.” Then he got back to work, pulling the fabric from the box. “Great. I can give you half a yard each.”

12D ✦ Sunday, October 25, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

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BUSINESS N O L A.C O M

S U N D AY, O C T O B E R 25, 2026

1EN

Pan-American Life CEO targets ambitious new goal

STAFF PHOTO BY BRETT DUKE

José S. Suquet, board chair and CEO of Pan-American Life Insurance Group, has led the New Orleans-based company’s global operations over the last two decades, driving profits to record-breaking highs.

115-year-old south Louisiana-based firm with a global footprint is on track to surpass $2B in revenue BY RICH COLLINS Staff writer

IDEAS &

INNOVATION

Insurance industry veteran José Suquet’s bags were nearly packed for a job in Miami in 2004 when recruiters looking to ﬁll the top job at Pan-American Life Insurance Group in New Orleans came calling. After studying the now-115-year-old company’s history, challenges and opportunities, he decided the role was too good to pass up, so he ﬂew back to New York to pitch his family on a new game plan. It turned out to be a good decision for all

involved — especially for the legacy New Orleans-based insurer that was losing market share and seeing proﬁts erode at the beginning of the millennium. Since reporting for work in November 2004, Suquet has led Pan-American through a two-decade turnaround, helping boost its annual revenue from $284 million in 2004 to an expected $2 billion this year, an all-time high. Today, the company’s 2,200 employees worldwide help sell life, health and accident insurance to groups and individuals throughout the United States and in 21 Latin

American and Caribbean countries. Suquet said he and his team reversed PanAmerican’s fortunes by shedding unproﬁtable lines of business, selling the two New Orleans skyscrapers it owned, maintaining a conservative investment strategy and, most important, focusing on the markets that gave it its start — even though that means underwriting risk in some countries marked by political and economic volatility. As a result, a business that at one point was in danger of getting downgraded by

ä See PAN-AMERICAN, page 2E

Major projects step up pressure on La. road, bridge work BY IANNE SALVOSSA, JONAH MEADOWS and ADAM DAIGLE

Staff writers

For more than a decade, planners have been talking about a new bridge across the Mississippi River in Baton Rouge, though there’s still no timeline for a groundbreaking, much less completion. In St. Bernard Parish, a major transit corridor considered key to the Louisiana International Terminal deep-water port is still in the early planning stages and years from reality. And in Lafayette, an extension of Interstate 49 that has been publicly debated since the 1990s is ﬁnally inching forward, though design and construction won’t start before next year at the earliest. Major infrastructure projects

“These infrastructure projects go hand in hand with economic development. We need to invest in roads and bridges across our state to bring projects like SpaceX, Meta and Hyundai Steel to our state.”

worth of projects planned for the next 20 years, long-delayed road and bridge improvements are taking on a new sense of urgency and showing signs of moving forward, according to Glenn Ledet, Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development secretary. “These infrastructure projects go hand in hand with economic development,” Ledet said last week. “We need to invest in roads and bridges across our state to bring GLENN LEDET, Louisiana projects like SpaceX, Meta and Department of Transportation Hyundai Steel to our state.” and Development secretary Still, major questions remain about funding, environmental impacts and even the speciﬁc lotake a long time. In Louisiana, cation of some of these projects it would seem, they drag on for — issues that need to be resolved years or even decades, if they before the ﬁrst pile is driven. happen at all. Here is a rundown on where Now that the state is in the things stand. throes of a new explosion of indusä See ROAD, page 2E trial expansion, with $250 billion

STAFF FILE PHOTO BY MICHAEL JOHNSON

A long-awaited third bridge across the Mississippi River in the capital region is slowly making its way through the final planning stage, promising at least some relief to the gridlock that has plagued the Interstate 10 corridor for decades.

2E F Sunday, October 25, 2026 F nola.com F The Times-Picayune

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PAN-AMERICAN Continued from page 1E

insurance industry ratings agencies instead began an era of unprecedented growth. It’s a remarkable comeback for an enterprise that Tulane University business professor Peter Ricchiuti describes as the “biggest New Orleans business that few people have ever heard about” — and it’s a win for a city that has lost many corporate headquarters in recent decades. It’s the kind of success that leaves Pan-American’s board wanting more — and Suquet said he plans to take the company to the next level. The longtime CEO and chair of the board, who turned 70 in May, said a succession plan is in place but that he’s not retiring anytime soon. “We’ve been able to bring this ‘grand old lady’ that had lost its luster to where we are now,” he said. “And we have very ambitious plans over the next ﬁve years.”

‘Lost their focus’ Pan-American Life was founded in 1911, when New Orleans was the largest city in the South and one of the United States’ most important gateways to Latin America. Co-founder Crawford H. Ellis recognized an opportunity to sell life insurance to individuals and businesses throughout the Americas during his time as an executive at the United Fruit Co., the storied enterprise that a century ago was responsible for importing millions of bananas a year from Central America and the Caribbean. One of the company’s first markets was Panama. Over the decades, it entered new countries and added new products, along the way weathering several wars, the Great Depression and all manner of political upheaval. By the early 1950s, Pan-American was in business in nine Central and South American nations as well as half the U.S. states. And, by 1980, its New Orleans employee count had reached roughly 900, causing the company to move from its midcentury modern headquarters on Canal Street into a new 28-story granite skyscraper on Poydras Street in the Central Business District. Crawford led the venture he cofounded for more than a half century before his death in 1966. Several leadership groups followed, including executives in the 1990s who prioritized expansion in the United States. But that strategy didn’t pay off, Suquet said, which is why, by the time a recruiting firm was searching for new leadership in 2004, the firm’s board of directors wanted a course correction. “Management at the time tried to be this company that they’re not, which is a large American insurance company, competing with the giants like Northwestern Mutual,

ROAD

Continued from page 1E

STAFF PHOTO BY BRETT DUKE

José S. Suquet, center, board chair and CEO of Pan-American Life Insurance Group, speaks during a meeting in New Orleans.

STAFF FILE PHOTO BY DAVID GRUNFELD

By the 1980s, the Pan-American Life Insurance Group, founded in 1911, had grown to 900 employees in New Orleans, prompting a move into a 28-story building on Poydras Street in the Central Business District.

Prudential and MetLife,” Suquet “We had just under $300 million said. “But they had lost their focus of premium then for the total comon their core market, which was pany, and no profits,” he said. “We Latin America.” were not making any money.” One of the first things Suquet ‘All the opportunities’ did was to ask ratings agencies, Suquet, who began his career in which were “knocking on the door the 1970s as a life insurance agent to downgrade us,” for time to make after graduating from Fordham changes. Then he began selling University, had already notched underperforming U.S. assets that nearly three decades in the in- were expensive to operate and redustry when the opportunity to quired massive scale to be profitlead Pan-American came along. able. He wanted the job so badly that These included a compliancehe hired his own consulting firm heavy broker dealership, a disand spent time analyzing the com- ability insurance business, and a pany’s financials and strategy to product designed to cover funeral create a business plan before he costs. The insurer also got out of the started. His early days on the job were real estate business, selling its “rough,” he said, with unpaid headquarters building in 2006 and claims piling up in one storeroom, the InterContinental next door in and enough empty space on an- 2013. The company now leases other floor to set up a volleyball only two floors of the office tower that bears its name. tournament.

PALIG today

The elevated highway could charge tolls and connect the planned Louisiana International Terminal with Interstate 510 510

POSSIBLE ROUTES

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PLANNED CONTAINER TERMINAL 39

POYDRAS Source: New Orleans Regional Planning Commission

commitment to ﬁgure out the has the backing of state and ways to move forward.” federal officials who say Louisiana needs a new conSt. Bernard corridor tainer terminal to handle In August, the Port of New larger modern ships that Orleans got the go-ahead can’t ﬁt under the Crescent from the U.S. Army Corps of City Connection. But the massive termiEngineers to begin work on the $2.6 billion Louisiana In- nal planned near the Violet ternational Terminal, which Canal will need a new road

“As long as you manage the risk parameters on your investments, you’re going to do OK,” he said. “Ninety-seven percent of ours are in investment-grade corporate bonds. It’s not very exciting, but you don’t want to be exciting in insurance.” These days, as three company presidents manage day-to-day operations, Suquet takes the long view, planning for the risks and opportunities created by the rise of artificial intelligence, everchanging political landscapes and other factors. “In our footprint, we have hurricanes, volcanoes, changing weather patterns, government turmoil, coups and everything imaginable,” Suquet said. “We’re always going to have the macro issues, whether they’re government inflicted, technology or catastrophes.” He’s also setting ambitious goals. It took Pan-American a little over a century to reach its first billion-dollar year — a milestone met in 2016 — and an additional decade to double that number. Suquet said he’s challenged his senior leadership team to hit the $3 billion mark within five years. And at a time when a company like Pan-American could be headquartered anywhere, Suquet said he and his fellow leaders are resolute about keeping the business in the city where it all began. “There’s just absolutely no reason to explore any other options,” he said. ”We have a rich history here, and our costs would go up dramatically if we moved.”

Pan-American is much bigger and more decentralized today than it was when Suquet arrived. The company sells employee beneﬁts and group insurance to a “who’s who” of American and international companies, including Walmart, Amazon, Dell and Microsoft — many of whom use Panama or Costa Rica as a hub for their operations in Latin America. In 2004, the company had 500 employees in New Orleans and an additional 300 worldwide. Now it has over 300 in Louisiana plus another 300 across the U.S. The rest of its workforce is located in Panama, Costa Rica, Colombia and other countries. Suquet said the company’s goal is to bring in more in premiums than it pays for claims and administration costs, while investing the money it collects in safe assets to Email Rich Collins at rich.colgenerate additional income. lins@theadvocate.com.

St. Bernard Transportation Corridor route proposals

New bridge for BR A long-awaited third bridge across the Mississippi River in the capital region is slowly making its way through the final planning stage after years of study, promising at least some relief to the gridlock that has plagued the Interstate 10 corridor for decades. DOTD is waiting on the completion of an environmental assessment, which is required for a permit from the Federal Highway Administration, according to Ledet. Once the permit is obtained, which could happen by the end of this year, planners can finalize selection of the route — connecting La. 1 on the west bank to La. 30 on the east bank. Design and construction come next. Ledet said DOTD will hold a public hearing for the plans in the first quarter of 2027 before giving final approval. Still uncertain is funding for the roughly $2 billion project. State officials have set aside $400 million over the past several years, and planners are looking into the feasibility of tolls and bonds to provide additional funds. The combination of local, state and federal officials working on project planning and capital investment in the state shows progress, he said. “I know folks have waited for these projects for a long time and talked about it for a long time,” he said. “But I think we’ve just made that

“We didn’t want to have 60% of our capital tied up in two buildings in the path of hurricanes,” Suquet said. While Pan-American was making these changes, it also was reinvesting in Latin America — a largely untapped market that has been growing rapidly in recent years and shows no signs of slowing down. It expanded in the region through a 2012 acquisition of MetLife assets in multiple countries, and it focused its efforts on existing in business in Colombia, where premiums grew from $1 million annually two decades ago to $200 million this year. “We modernized it, invested in it and got a professional CEO down there,” Suquet said. “It’s been like that with every country we’re in.”

Staff map

— the St. Bernard Transportation Corridor — to make room for the hundreds of trucks that are anticipated to come and go every day. A feasibility study identified three potential routes for the corridor, and state officials hired Stantec to assess the relative traffic benefits and

wetland impacts of each. Depending on how significantly the new road is projected to affect the surrounding wetlands, the firm’s study will result in either an environmental assessment, which could be complete within a year, or a much more rigorous environmental impact statement, which could take as long as two years. “From there, we will have formal public meetings as well as public hearings that will relay all of the alternative routes, as well as the final selection of the preferred alternative,” Ledet said. Consultants are weighing tolls, container fees or both as potential revenue sources. At the same time, Port NOLA’s staff is sounding out investment banks, equity funds and financial advisers for feedback on how to foot the roughly $1 billion bill through a public-private partnership. State and federal appropriations are covering $75 million of the cost of preliminary work. Officials will seek hundreds of millions of dollars of infrastructure grants for construction costs once federally required environmental reviews are complete, which is anticipated in 2028. Matt Gresham, Port Nola’s vice president of governmental relations, hopes to move quickly into the final design and construction phase once Stantec’s work is complete.

significant jolt earlier this month in the form of a $50 million federal grant. The funding will go toward overhauling the intersection of U.S. 90 and Kaliste Saloom Road, a significant part of the I-49 Connector, Lafayette Consolidated Government officials announced earlier this month. The connector is a $2 billion, 5.5-mile project that will connect I-49 at its terminus at I-10 in Lafayette to the current U.S. 90 that stretches to New Orleans. The intersection with Kaliste Saloom, which is adjacent to a railroad crossing and has been identified as being among the 100 worst freight bottlenecks in the U.S., will be redesigned to include onramps and flyover bridges to avoid train conflicts. The connector is still awaiting a final decision from federal officials, anticipated in the first quarter of 2027. That will clear the way for further design and construction.

New Calcasieu bridge

After years of planning and delays, work got underway earlier this year on a replacement for the nearly 75-year-old span over the Calcasieu River in Lake Charles, which is known as much for its steep grade and intimidating height — 135 feet — as for its dueling pistol guardrails. In April, Gov. Jeff Landry celebrated the groundbreaking on the new $2.3 billion bridge. It’s scheduled to be I-49 Connector completed by 2031. Staff writers Courtney A major highway project Pedersen and Claire Taylor that’s been publicly debated contributed to this story. since the early 1990s got a

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The Times-Picayune F nola.com F Sunday, October 25, 2026 F 3E

TALKING BUSINESS A S K T H E E X P E RT S

Contractor grows from historic, passion projects BY GRACE MAYER

happen to the economy. Now, with the 2028 College Football Playoff National Championship coming up and the new Convention Center For Ryan Gootee, CEO and business coming in two years, the founder of Ryan Gootee General time is now to get those renovaContractors, worktions done. We’ve seen a lot of that, ing on historic including work we’re completing projects in New on the Omni Royal Orleans hotel. Orleans is always There is a lot of demand for industrial a passion project. projects in the state. Are you guys chasing To date, Gootee, any opportunities there? Do you feel any a self-described pressure to go after that work? history nerd and a A lot of contractors have chased fourth generation Gootee and followed the data center work, builder, and his and we have made contact with firm have worked on 146 historic some of these companies develrenovations, totaling $330 million. Historic projects make up about a oping these projects. If the right third of the company’s portfolio. opportunity came along, we’d go The Metairie-based contractor and follow it. We’re not afraid has restored and renovated the of it. We know we can do it. Like New Orleans Jazz Museum, The with SpaceX, we may have some Historic New Orleans Collection opportunity in that arena, and we and the Omni Royal Orleans hotel. may be looking to go over there in Currently, the firm is working on Vermillion Parish but it’s got to be STAFF FILE PHOTO BY CHRIS GRANGER restorations to the St. Louis Cathethe right opportunity. A temporary enclosure is in place at the historic St. Louis Cathedral in the French Quarter as it undergoes You’re the fourth generation in your family dral. Winning work as the general major renovation for the major renovation. to work in construction. How are you thinking contractor on the project is affirabout succession planning? Do you want it mation of his team’s expertise in to continue as a family business? restorative work, Gootee said. thedral, we’ve been working on My kids are still in school or just “If you had to pick the most iconrenovations to the Historic New FOUNDER OF RYAN GOOTEE GENERAL CONTRACTORS Orleans Collection, and a lot of the starting their careers. But last ic building in the city, that would week, I told them next year, we’re things we learned from that projbe it,” Gootee said. “It’s like renogoing to sit down and decide who ect, like doing historic masonry vating the Lincoln Memorial. It’s wants to be in the business and and stucco, were relevant to the just something that’s been around toric fabric of a building — which his business. who doesn’t, because I need to cathedral. forever.” can jeopardize funding. So can Responses have been edited for plan. If my kids don’t want to be It’s also a logistical nightmare Before RGGC became a go-to falling behind on meeting a projlength and clarity. trying to work in the French Quar- involved, I’ll eventually sell all my contractor for such projects, How did RGGC become a go-to contractor ect deadline, because you have to shares out to nonfamily members. Gootee spent 10 years working at for historic projects? complete a project within the fiscal ter. It’s a lot of moving parts, a lot I currently share ownership his family’s business, Gootee ConWe landed a lot of construction, year for the tax credit to apply that of people, there’s not a lot of space, of the company with Michael and I think we had a really good struction, a mechanical contractor renovation and cleanup work after year. A developer might not be DeGruy, our company president. Katrina. When all that work dried able to hold the carrying costs of plan on how to approach it. also in Metairie. After Katina in Over the last few years, I’ve been up, I educated myself on the hisnot getting that chunk of money. Where are you seeing new opportunities 2005, he decided to go out on his selling some of my shares to MiWe just got good at these projfor growth? own, though he still works closely toric tax credit program, because Work in the hospitality industry with Gootee Construction and ofI knew it would present a lot of ects over time. Now, we’re doing chael, who now owns 30% of the is a bright spot right now. We’re company. I’ll probably sell my ten hires them as a sub on projects. opportunities and funding for con- no-bid, no-selection process projshares to some other key people RGGC is on-track to grow revects where people come to us say- seeing a lot of hotels asking for struction projects. So many buildrenovations. I think everybody in the coming years. I want to give ing, “we want you to do the job.” ings in New Orleans are historic, enue by 12%, hitting about $65 just didn’t know what to do until some people who have earned it You did have to compete for work on the million this year. The company em- and when you get 45 cents on the after the city was done hosting the a seat at the owner’s table. I want St. Louis Cathedral. How did you guys win ploys a 50-person team at its office dollar back on qualifying restora2025 Super Bowl and, of course, to let them sit where I’ve sat, and in Metairie. tion expenses, that’s a lot of money. that project? Mardi Gras. Hotels didn’t want to handle the risks and rewards of We have a pretty large portfolio In this week’s Talking BusiThere is a lot of pressure to get put their properties in the middle being an owner. these projects done in a timely and of projects in the French Quarter, ness, Gootee discusses the chalof renovations or out of commisand I think that helped us stand correct manner. I’ve heard about lenges of navigating historic projEmail Grace Mayer at grace. out from other contractors. Down instances where a contractor took sion during those events. They ects, the opportunities he sees for the street from the St. Louis Caout a beam or messed up the hisalso didn’t know what was going to mayer@theadvocate.com. growth, and long-term plans for Staff writer

Q&A WITH RYAN GOOTEE

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4E ✦ Sunday, October 25, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

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ACROSS THE REGION

North Louisiana hospitals to be sold Minden Medical board members resigned amid unpaid taxes, threats of fines

BY LIZ SWAINE

Staff writer

After six members of Minden Medical Center’s Board of Governors resigned, that hospital and three others owned by Allegiance Health Management are being put up for sale. The Allegiance hospitals that are pending sale are Minden Medical Center, Northern Louisiana Medical Center in Ruston, Acadian Medical Center in Eunice and Mercy Regional Medical Center in Ville Platte. All four of the Allegiance hospitals pending sale were warned in July by the federal government to either be more transparent about their basic pricing information or risk millions in federal penalties. They were on a list of 27 around the state singled out for not disclosing actual prices for common tests and procedures. Allegiance, which is based in Bossier City, also owns medical facilities in Arcadia, Oakdale, Many, Marksville, Winnﬁeld, Monroe, Eunice, and DeQuincy, and in Greenville, Mississippi. Scott Prouty, chief operating officer and executive vice president, said in a statement, “Our highest priority is protecting the delivery of quality healthcare service and ensuring that patients, employees, physicians and the communities these hospitals serve experience as little disruption as possible.

STAFF FILE PHOTO BY JILL PICKETT

Minden Medical Center in Minden is among four Allegiance Health Management-owned hospitals being put up for sale. “The planned transactions remain subject to customary processes and approvals. Additional information regarding the potential new ownership and timing of the transitions will be shared as appropriate.” The move comes after Minden Medical board members resigned in protest of what they said in a statement are concerns about the hospital’s financial conditions and direction under its Bossier City-based ownership, according to a statement from former members. Members of the board, including Dr. Melissa Madden, who submitted the statement, said their decision to resign “was based on serious and continuing concerns about the financial condition” of the hospital. In the statement, Madden said the situation there deserves transparency. “We believe that the financial challenges facing the hospital deserve transparency, accountability and careful scrutiny,” the statement said. “Ultimately, we reached the point where we

could no longer remain in our positions without feeling that our continued service might be viewed as a stamp of approval for the financial circumstances and decisions surrounding Minden Medical Center and its relationship with Allegiance Corporation. We were not willing to have our names or our positions interpreted as an endorsement of a situation about which we have significant concerns.” These financial issues are not new. In 2018, Allegiance paid $1.7 million to settle a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice alleging it violated the False Claims Act by improperly billing Medicare for services that were not medically reasonable or necessary, according to a Justice Department release. More recently, the IRS has filed liens totaling more than $30 million against Allegiance hospitals and clinics for unpaid taxes. In October 2025, Allegiance Health Management President and CEO Rock Bordelon said he was working to

resolve the situation. Bordelon said rural hospitals have been “grossly underfunded for years, particularly since Medicaid expansion was enacted in Louisiana.” At the time, Bordelon said that changes proposed by Louisiana and approved by the federal government have started to address funding issues and “the future for these hospitals now looks bright.” In recent years, rural facilities have been hit hard by rising healthcare costs and dwindling reimbursements from insurers and the federal government. The largest of the structural cuts from President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the federally mandated Medicaid work requirements, take effect in early 2027. The National Rural Health Association estimates those cuts may cost small-town hospitals $155 billion over 10 years and push hundreds of rural hospitals to make severe cuts or close completely. Email Liz Swaine at liz. swaine@theadvocate.com.

PEOPLE IN BUSINESS Staff report

growth at Pair Team, an artificial intelligence-enSouth Louisiana business- abled medical group serves and nonprofit groups ing populations on Medicrecently announced the aid and Medicare populafollowing promotions, new tions. hires and resignations. Jean-Marc Germain has been New Orleans appointed to the board of Jomel Whittington, president Pool Corp. Germain is the former of the Avala Physician Network, was CEO of Constellium SE, an p r o m o t e d aluminum company, where to CEO of he now serves as special Av a l a , a advisor to the board. Covington-based Baton Rouge health netEric Morvant has been hired work and by Jones Walker as special counsel in hospital, Whittington its Baton following Rouge ofthe retirement of longtime chief Bill Hankins. fice, returnWhittington previously ing to the worked as operations difirm after working as rector at DISC of Louisipublic afana, where he helped develop the spine surgery clinic. Morvant fairs manager for Doussan Music Group, a Entergy Louisiana. concert promotion compaBefore joining the utility, ny headquartered in Cov- Morvant represented cliington, has opened a second ents in commercial, energy, office in Nashville, Tennes- environmental and regusee, and announced the re- latory disputes in Jones cent hiring and promotions Walker’s litigation practice group. of three senior leaders. Hale Neitzschman has been Brian Keller has been pronamed director of finance, Rebecca Saladis has been promoted to president moted to director of bookand CEO ing, touring and artist relaof Louisitions and Anna Margaret Kilgore was hired as talent buyer. ana Blue, succeeding Peter Morrison has been CEO Bryan hired as the chief growth Camerofficer of Nest Health, a Keller linck, effecNew Orleans-based comtive Dec. 1. Keller had been the inpany that provides primary care for families on Medic- surer’s executive vice president and chief growth aid. Morrison, who has pre- officer. viously worked for UnitedHealthcare, Centene, Do you have personnel Deloitte and school-based changes to share or other care provider Goodside ideas for our business Health, was most recently coverage? Drop us a line the senior vice president at biztips@theadvocate. of strategy and head of com.

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6E F Sunday, October 25, 2026 F nola.com F The Times-Picayune

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TECHNOLOGY

Consumer apprehension grows amid use of AI pricing tools BY DEE-ANN DURBIN and ANNE D'INNOCENZIO AP business writers

U.S. consumers aren’t just frustrated with high prices. They’re angry and confused about the increasingly high-tech ways that restaurant chains and major retailers are setting those prices. Digital price tags are rapidly replacing paper ones in grocery aisles. Artificial intelligence tools help businesses decide what to charge by predicting how customers might respond. Terms like “dynamic pricing” and “surveillance pricing” are stirring anxiety on social media, where users wonder if different people are getting different prices for the same product. Americans have grown accustomed to changing prices when booking flights, hotel rooms and rides, but the prospect of everyday spending shaped by algorithms they don’t understand and personal data they may not realize they’re sharing has touched a nerve. “There are major tensions happening right now between who’s really going to have the power with some of these algorithms and usage of bots and AI: the companies or the shopper,” said Katie Thomas, who leads an internal consumer behavior think tank at the management consulting firm Kearney. Companies using the technology say some concerns stem from misconceptions about how their pricing tools work. Walmart CEO John Furner said in a blog post last month that digital price tags save workers’ time and keep prices up to date. He said the labels aren’t used to raise prices based on the weather, time of day or individual shopper. “We price the product, not the person,” Furner wrote. But companies aren’t always transparent about the customer data they collect and how it’s used, which has made consumers suspicious and led to speculation. For

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO BY JEFF DEAN

Digital price tags are rapidly replacing paper ones in grocery aisles. Artificial intelligence tools help businesses decide what to charge by predicting how customers might respond. Terms like ‘dynamic pricing’ and ‘surveillance pricing’ are stirring anxiety on social media, where users wonder if different people are getting different prices for the same product.

“There are major tensions happening right now between who’s really going to have the power with some of these algorithms and usage of bots and AI: the companies or the shopper.” KATIE THOMAS, of management consulting firm Kearney

example, social media posts falsely imply that electronic shelf labels Walmart plans to put in all its U.S. stores scan shoppers’ faces or cellphones to set individualized prices, Thomas said. Lawmakers and regulators are taking action. Legislators in at least 30 states have considered pricing bills this year, including measures addressing algorithmic and personalized pricing, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. The Federal Trade Commission has proposed an enforcement policy warning businesses that failing to disclose their use of personal data to set individualized prices could violate consumer protection law. One of the latest trends is algorithmic pricing, which uses soft-

ware to recommend or automatically set prices. Companies have used such systems for decades. AI can help the software identify patterns in sales, competitors’ prices and other information to predict demand and estimate how different prices would affect sales and proﬁts. These tools can support both dynamic and personalized pricing. It’s unclear how widely retailers use AI to help set prices, but research suggests businesses across industries are adopting it. Simon-Kucher, a global consulting company, surveyed more than 2,200 business leaders in 28 countries and 39 industries last year, and 41% said they used AI software to gather market intelligence, including competitors’ prices. Another 28% said they

used it for “real-time price optimization.” Price optimization means choosing prices that advance business goals, such as increasing profits, attracting shoppers or clearing unsold goods. The National Retail Federation, which represents big and small stores, said algorithmic pricing is a new method of doing what retailers have always done: monitor and adjust prices depending on supply, demand, seasonality, competitors’ prices and other factors. Some lawsuits have alleged companies used pricing algorithms to undermine competition. A 2023 anti-monopoly lawsuit the FTC brought against Amazon challenged, among other practices, an algorithmic tool codenamed Project Nessie. The agency alleged Amazon used the tool to identify products whose prices it could raise with competitors likely to follow, generating more than $1 billion in excess profits. A trial is scheduled for next year. Amazon said the FTC allegations “grossly mischaracterize” the pricing tool. Project Nessie was intended to stop retail price-matching practices from creating unsustainably low prices, the e-commerce giant said. Amazon said it tested the tool for a few years but it didn’t work as intended and was scrapped before the federal agency’s lawsuit. A recent consumer lawsuit against McDonald’s alleged that its pricing system uses nonpublic sales data from competing locations to coordinate prices. The Chicago-based burger giant said the lawsuit was “filled with inaccuracies” and that the company makes the tool available to U.S. franchisees to help them set prices at their individual restaurants.

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The Times-Picayune F nola.com F Sunday, October 25, 2026 F 7E

SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

3D printer preps workforce for next gen manufacturing BY JONAH MEADOWS Staff writer

Jace Dugas was ready for a change. He had worked in traditional manufacturing, mostly for the oil and gas industry, for the whole of his two-decade career. During his time as operations manager at a machine and tool shop in New Iberia, he’d helped the company cut down on its error rate and improve its productivity. Yet the business remained vulnerable to volatility in the energy market. “It was just constantly riding an up-and-down roller coaster,” Dugas said. “They weren’t diversified enough to maintain through slowdowns in the oil and gas industry.” So Dugas decided to pivot from “subtractive,” or traditional manufacturing, to “additive” manufacturing, which includes 3D printing. Today, his company, Additive Innovators, generates more than $1 million in annual revenue, sells nearly 100 3D printers a year and counts Exxon, Chevron, the LSU AgCenter and the U.S. military among its clients. He’s founded a nonprofit, the Louisiana Advanced Manufacturing Association, aimed at building an advanced manufacturing hub in the state by promoting 3D printing as a solution for industry and training a workforce to use it. Five years in, Dugas has nine employees between the two ventures. And he finds life as a small-business owner both less risky and more lucrative than working for someone else. “How hard I work dictates how much money I make,” he said. “I go work for somebody, and work as hard as I want, and the money don’t change.”

STAFF PHOTO BY JAVIER GALLEGOS

Jace Dugas, founder of Additive Innovators, holds a microfluidic device.

Adding it up Unlike subtractive manufacturing, which involves taking some piece of raw material — whether metal, resin, wood or something else — and cutting it down to the desired size, additive manufacturing tools, such as 3D printers, form new products out of a wide variety of forms of feedstock. “With subtractive, you have to whittle away. You waste the material,” Dugas said. “Additive, you don’t waste no material.” Prior to the pandemic, Dugas had been in talks to purchase his own 3D printing machine and fulﬁll a contract to produce specialized parts for fire suppression systems for a New Orleans company — parts that otherwise would have taken up to 18 months to acquire via the existing supply chain. But the coronavirus put the kibosh on that plan. So Dugas pivoted to producing

Plexiglas shields and providing COVID cleaning services, winning contracts from more than 50 clients, including Southern University and Travel Centers of America stores across the state. By 2021, Dugas was ready to return to his pursuit of additive manufacturing. He met with equipment manufacturers and potential customers to figure out what they needed. Then, he acquired equipment and began a partnership with the LSU AgCenter, which now uses more than 130 3D printers to develop custom research tools and equipment for studying organisms, among other things. Additive Innovators today operates out of a 20,000-square-foot warehouse in Broussard, while also keeping some consignment equipment in Houston and other parts of the country. The company sells more than just 3D printers, which

retail for about $5,000 to $10,000 a piece. Among Additive Innovators’ other product offerings are 3D blue-light scanners, which sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars and can capture precise physical geometry and generate dimensional reports in minutes, and laser projection systems that can beam 3D blueprints directly onto physical parts to eliminate the need for tape measures, stencils and paper drawings. Dugas said he has been able to expand his business without needing to borrow money from banks, crediting the Geaux Engage networking referral group with aiding its growth. “We outsourced a lot of stuff, so that just kept us lean and operating, building up cash ﬂow,” he said.

Shaping the future Though the public may lack much familiarity with additive manufacturing

beyond using 3D printers to produce plastic trinkets, it is nevertheless ramping up. The industry as a whole grew 11% last year to more than $24 billion, according to consulting firm Wohlers Associates. “It’s here, it’s now,” Dugas said. “These companies that are using it, they don’t just print out one or two parts — they print out like 30 tons of material in a year.” Business intelligence firm IDTechEx projects that metal printing, one of the most technically demanding parts of the market, will nearly triple over the coming decade. “There’s a lot more that goes into metal printing,” Dugas said. “They have a whole metallurgy science behind it, down to machines that X-ray the parts to make sure it’s built correctly.” The oil industry is especially interested. The ability to print new parts on demand, especially for old equipment for which spare parts are no longer produced, can be invaluable, not to mention a much quicker timeline for delivery. Dugas said Exxon has been among the largest contributors to his nonprofit industry association and now has inhouse additive manufacturing technology, which has cut the turnaround time to produce equipment from nine months down to three days and reduced the cost by 85%. “I promise you, a company like them, they’re not going to be spending money on anything that they don’t see a tremendous value,” he said. Currently, Houston-based Baker Hughes is the only U.S.-based company certified by the American Petroleum Institute to make tools up to the standards needed

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for the oil and gas extraction. Dugas said Additive Innovators and the Louisiana Additive Manufacturing Association have partnered with Baker Hughes to develop a joint training curriculum for students to develop skills. And, starting in 2023, the association began hosting an annual conference, convening major industry players like Halliburton to explore the latest tools and see how they can be used by industries in the region. The third LAMA Advanced Manufacturing Expo is set for Dec. 10 at L’Auberge in Baton Rouge and will feature companies from across the country and Europe across military, aerospace, petrochemical and other ﬁelds. Among those expected to be in attendance, are the vendors who provide the equipment used by SpaceX to make their rocket engines. SpaceX has been a leader in the space industry’s adoption of additive manufacturing, using 3D printers to produce rocket engines, exhausts and other components. Dugas said he’s already seen some of his Acadiana customers getting new welding, fabrication and manufacturing work in the wake of the announcement of SpaceX’s proposed $100 billion investment in Vermilion Parish. Going forward, he’s hoping his small business can get a piece of that spending. “If you don’t make an opportunity of this, man, you’ll let everything go by,” he said. “You’ve got to have at least something you can sell them.” Email Jonah Meadows at jonah.meadows@theadvocate.com.

8E ✦ Sunday, October 25, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

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Beautifully renovated 4 Bed, 3 Bath, 2,525 SqFt home only steps from Trader Joe’s, dining, and shopping. Blends historic N.O. charm with modern luxury, featuring high ceilings, heart pine flrs, 5 frplcs, chef’s kitchen, luxurious primary suite, private upstairs guest retreat, California Closets, oversized fenced lot, porches, gated parking, EV charger, & abundant storage. Maddie Lazar • 504-228-9714 Mat Berenson • 504-232-1352 Compass • Uptown 504-866-2785

NEW

OPEN

PRICE

HOUSE

SUN

12 - 2

NEW

LISTING

SUN

1-3

2236 Upperline Street • Uptown

#42,:+2."3";0.7.;0.;1):/;.0(:7.541.0'!*2.;3.0%6,.!&8.4)#3141.$9<<*33*9;'

Circa 1890 Bracket style Victorian. Beautifully renovated in 2023, blending historic charm w/ modern features. Three bedrooms, two great baths. Open concept kitchen. Expanded living on new screened porch overlooking private brick patio. Just blocks from Magazine Street’s renowned restaurants, boutiques, & streetcar, w/ easy access to Audubon Park & Uptown amenities. Carmen Duncan 504-452-6439 RE/MAX N.O. Properties 504-866-7733

OPEN

PUT YOUR LISTING HERE!

$770,000

HOUSE

SUN

GREAT

STARTER

HOME

1-3

1572 N. Prieur Street • Historic Esplanade Ridge $369,000

1025 Orion Avenue • Metairie

Discover classic New Orleans charm in this 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath, 1,870 SqFt home w/ open layout, soaring ceilings, wood floors, exposed brick, a spacious kitchen w/ island, plus a luxurious primary suite. Enjoy multiple living areas, a private fenced backyard w/ deck & stock-tank pool. Off-street parking near the French Quarter, Bayou St. John & Lafitte Greenway. Adrienne LaBauve 504-344-0877 LaBauve Group / eXp Realty 504-513-3109 X 165

Beautiful 2 Bedroom, 1 Bath, 1,232 SqFt home w/ original hdwd flrs & an interior that was recently repainted. SS appls in the kitchen & plenty of natural light throughout. Screened porch outside of the primary bedroom perfect for sipping your morning coffee. Backyard equipped w/ large shed outfitted w/ electrical, insulation, & A/C. Situated on a sprawling 45’x150’ lot. Brent Petagna • 504-905-6088 Jansen Petagna • 504-621-9443 FQR Realtors 504-949-5400

HAVE A HOME THAT’s

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To place your Enviable Address, contact Gwen Enderline

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AT 504-300-6411 OR genderline@theadvocate.com

$315,000

2F ✦ Sunday, October 25, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

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APARTMENT

New Orleans Real Estate For Sale FARM 60 Acre Cow/Horse Farm with 4 barns. Ready to use today. Kentwood, LA $650k. 225-324-4522

New Orleans Rental APARTMENT Belle Chasse Louisiana GLEN OAKS APARTMENTS 2-and 3 -bedroom 2 bath apartments All appliances included From 944.00 mo. 504-366-4611 EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

APARTMENT 2 Bedroom half double, 462 Maple Street, Harvey LA $750/month. 504366-9448 APARTMENT 3806 LaSalle Street. 1 Block from Freret St. 1 Bedroom 1 Bath, stove, refrigerator & Utilities included. $1000/month. 504-782-7837

KENNER 2850 IDAHO AVENUE 1 Block to Vets & Williams All Amenities * Pool * Parking Studio/1 Bed Apt * Starting $675/Mo 504-385-5482 * 504-454-1333

HOME STORE PROPERTIES

*********************

APARTMENT METAIRIE

10,000 Apt Homes and 75 Locations with Studio, 1, 2 & 3 Bedrooms Pools, Access Gates, Garages (504) 360-9347

HOME-DELIVERED

EVERY DAY

APARTMENT 4631 West Metairie Avenue 3 Bedroom Double, 1.5 Bath, Central air/heat. Backyard $1600/month. 504-888-1592

AVENUE WALK IN OLD METAIRIE 501 Lake Ave. 1&2 Bds

METAIRIE 2720 WHITNEY PLACE UNIT #504 • $1,500/Mo

NEW APT HOMES 10' Ceilings, Custom Cabinetry w/ Kitchen Island, Granite Countertops, W&D Incld.

2 Bdrm / 2 Bath Condo. ALL UTILITIES INCLUDED! New Carpet & ﬂrg, quartz countertops in baths. No pets. 2-yr lease. Laundry Rm on 1st ﬂoor. Guard @ night. Sandy Ward * 504-259-2616. Re/Max Living * 504-475-1011. Ea ofc indpntly owned & operated.

APARTMENT Efﬁciency #E $800. 4327 & 4329 Hollygrove Street: 1 Bedroom. Water Pd $900. 504-313-2192

NOLA.COM/SUBSCRIBE

EACH OFFICE IS INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED AGENT IS LICENSED IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA UPTOWN 5231 ST CHARLES AVENUE, NEW ORLEANS, LA

HOUSE

APARTMENT

OPEN HOUSE

Call: 504-455-3939

METAIRIE 3201 RICHLAND AVENUE 1/2 Block off Vets * by Paretti Jaguar 1 Bed * Prkg * Pool * Rent $675/mo 504-320-6958 * 504-454-1333

METAIRIE 3513 EDENBORN AVENUE Lrg 2 Bed, 1 Bath * $925 * Off St Prkg Blocks from Lakeside 504-982-4040 * 504-885-8060 504-454-1333

OPEN SUNDAY 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM

Set along St. Charles Avenue, this Uptown condo features spacious living and dining areas with large steel framed windows, abundant natural light and crown molding. The renovated kitchen offers stone countertops, stainless steel appliances and a gas range. Wood floors, updated baths and a separate laundry room add appeal. A covered patio overlooks the Avenue and live oaks. Gated driveway and one car garage.

APARTMENT

$625,000.00 AARON DARE

APARTMENT N.O. EAST * LITTLE WOODS SPECIAL 7819 SANDS STREET * 3 BD/2 BA Central A & H * Fenced Backyard Sec 8 Welcome. No Deposit. $1,200 504-241-6189 * 504-430-1162

APARTMENT

GENTILLY 2544 ALLEN TOUSSAINT BLVD. NEWLY RENOVATED!!! 1-2 Bdrm Apts * From $800/mo Parking * Sec Gate 504-209-8054 * 504-454-1333

APARTMENT OLD METAIRIE

APARTMENT

CRANE REALTORS 504-210-2014

HOUSE 1 bedroom with appliances, Water Paid. 4901 S. Saratoga Street. Quiet area $1090/month. 504-909-9535

Looking for the right hire?

1-800-960-6397

MOBILE HOME 3 Bedroom, 2237 Washington Ave, Harvey LA $800/month 504-366-9448

jobs.nola.com Search Place Onlines at jobs.nola.com • Call Us Monday - Friday 8AM 8AM - 5PM at at (504) Search &&Place AdsAds Online at classiﬁeds.theneworleansadvocate.com • Call Us Monday - Friday - 5PM (504) 636-7435 636-7435

Announcements 1GDEG25Z6N7506785 GMC is stored at 9581 Westbank Expressway, Westwego, LA, 70094. If all current charges are not paid and vehicle claimed by the owner by 11/13/2026 a Permit to Sell may be obtained. 204852-Oct 24-25, 2t $76.80 Anyone knowing the whereabouts Lurvin G. Macias and/or Bryan Christopher Hale contact attorney Betty Maury at 504-475-6522. 204856-Oct 24-26, 3t $69.10

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Cashmere Smith Jr., Eric Smith, David Smith, Kevin Smith, Glenn Smith Sr., Calvin Smith Sr., Debra Holmes, and Joan Sorapuru to contact Desiree Valenti Atty at 5045983018. 204879-Oct 24-26, 3t $100.60 Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Claude E. Wilkerson Jr. please contact attorney Steven Jupiter (504) 533-8720. 204877-Oct 24-26, 3t $67.00

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Roy Patterson, or any heirs or surviving spouse(s), please contact Attorney Tiffany A. Boveland at (504) 812-4173. 204855-Oct 24-26, 3t $79.60 Sinkhole De Mayo LLC d/b/a Sinkhole de Mayo is applying to the Ofﬁce of Alcohol and Tobacco Control of the State of Louisiana for a permit to sell beverages of high and low alcohol content at retail in the Parish of Jefferson at the following address: 2701 Airline Drive, Suite A Metairie, LA 70001 204853 Oct. 24, 25, 2t $143.20

Employment INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Sr. Analyst (New Orleans, LA). Build metrics, reports & project level dash‐ boards in support of power delivery strategy. Gather & analyze data, ensure data integrity & communicate findings to relevant teams. Mast in Info Man‐ agement, Bus Analytics or closely rel field. 3 yrs' exp in data analytics, to incl a strong backgrnd in each: optimizing bus processes; gathering requiremts & formulating metrics; data visualizatn & present techniques; regression & vari‐ ance analysis; scalable reporting strategies; machine learning method‐ ologies (incl linear regression, decision trees, k nearest neighbor); stakeholder mgmt; team leadership; spreadsheet analytics; data architecture; data flow pipeline developmt; data modelling, wrangling & warehousing; automation pipeline developmt; project/product mgmt fundamentals (incl project cycle, roadmap, project charter, Agile methodology, JIRA, Scrum); Power BI. Proficient in: MS SQL Server (Queries, Views, Stored Procedures, Joins); NoSQL; MySQL; PostgreSQL; Python; Pandas; SQLAlchemy; NumPy; Mat‐ plotlib; PySpark; SSAS; SSIS; SSRS; R; MS Access; MS Office Ste; Advanced Excel (incl Pivot tables, Macros/VBA, Vlookup, Xlookup, index matching, Power Query); Tableau. Excel written & verbal commun skills. Hybrid schedule is an option. Up to 25% domestic travel for business needs. Must send CV & cvr ltr to tbott90@entergy.com or Patricia Bott, Entergy Services, LLC, 639 Loyola Avenue, L-ENT-4C, New Orleans, LA 70113 w/in 30 days, ref Job #2022-058. #LI-DNI #DNI

• Coordinate and support blood drive events • Help meet collection goals that di‐ rectly impact patient care • Represent a respected community or‐ ganization with a life-saving mission What We're Looking For • Self-motivated, energetic, and goaloriented individuals • Strong communication and relation‐ ship-building skills • Sales, marketing, customer service, or business development experience pre‐ ferred • Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Sales, or a related field preferred • Valid driver's license and reliable transportation required What We Offer * Competitive Guaranteed Salary * Incentive and Bonus Opportunities * Medical, Dental, and Life Insurance Ef‐ fective Day One * Paid Holidays * Paid Time Off * Employer-Contributed Retirement Plan * Supportive Team Environment * The Opportunity to Make a Difference Every Day

HEALTH CARE

JEWELRY/WATCHES Ladies Beaut. 10k yg Diam. Clustered Heart Ring Must See $350 504-994-7385

AKC Miniature Schnauzers AKC miniature schnauzer gorgeous pups has all shots 5043902918 $1,500.00 504-390-2918

Home Instead is hiring compassionate, motivated caregivers to help seniors remain safe and independent at home.

JEWELRY/WATCHES Ladies Beautiful 10k Gold Diamond Cluster Ring Must See! $350 (504) 994-7385

CKC YORKIE puppies vet checked shot worming meet in Gulfport $750.00 334-467-3416

$13–$15.50/hr | Full & Part-Time | Per‐ sonalized Shifts | Paid Training | Med‐ ical Insurance

JEWELRY/WATCHES Ladies beautiful 10k gold diamond wishbone ring. $300. 504-994-7385

Golden Doodle & Retriever DoodleCKC-born 8/18/26-1st shots. 3 females, 1 male. Parents on site. Retriever-AKC-born 9/16/26-4 males, 4 females. Parents on site. $700.00 601-876-8999

CAREGIVERS NEEDED – METRO NEW ORLEANS Home Instead

Requirements: Age 21+, high school diploma/GED, reliable transportation, valid driver's license/ID, and ability to pass background check & drug screen‐ ing. Caregiving experience preferred. Apply today! Interviews within 24–48 hours. Apply at HomeInstead.com/339 Call us at 504-455-4911

EDUCATION Notice of Vacancy & Request for Applications SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS Lead with vision. Inspire with purpose. Achieve with impact.

Merchandise

SALES & MARKETING * Guaranteed Base Salary + Unlimited Bonus Incentive Potential * Medical, Dental, Life Insurance & More Begin on Your Date of Hire

Reporting you can trust on stories that matter

Are you energized by building relation‐ ships, meeting goals, and making a real impact in your community? If you're a motivated, outgoing professional who thrives on connecting with people, this is your opportunity to turn your talent into a meaningful career. At The Blood Center, you'll be the dri‐ ving force behind successful blood dri‐ ves that provide lifesaving blood prod‐ ucts to area hospitals. Every donor you recruit and every blood drive you coor‐ dinate helps save lives throughout our community.

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

What You'll Do • Develop relationships with busi‐ nesses, schools, churches, and com‐ munity organizations • Schedule, plan, and promote blood drives • Generate new opportunities and grow existing accounts

QUESTIONS For questions regarding the applica‐ tion process, please contact the APS Central Office at 318-253-5892. Equal Employment Opportunity Em‐ ployer. Avoyelles Parish Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, or other prot ected class in employment or the provision of ser‐ vices.

CATS Young Male Cat, Gray Colors, Have too many cats, Looking for another home for him. Please call 504-861-9617 ($50)

CLASSIFIEDS.NOLA.COM

Legal Notices

Thomas E. Schafer, III, New Orleans, LA (2026-OB-01267) has been transferred to disability inactive status by order of the Louisiana Supreme Court dated October 7, 2026. JUDGMENT FINAL and EFFECTIVE October 7, 2026. Gist: Mr. Schafer cannot practice law pending further orders from the Court. WANT TO BUY Old Records 33's, 45's & 78's. All types of music. Call 985-259-1889

WANT TO BUY Old toy electric trains, any condition, Lionel Am. Flyer cash paid, 504-452-1000 CEMETERY CRYPT Lakelawn Metairie Cemetery Companion Crypt for 2 (Max. 4) Face Value $36,000 Sell for $32,000 or Offer 504-450-9419

FURNITURE 2 antique chairs, 3 barstools, 2 bicycles, 1 coffee table for sale 504737-9226

CLASSIFIEDS.NOLA.COM

Teacup. POMS. Chihuahuas POODLES Miniature Goldendoodles MALTIPOOS SHIH TZUS. CAVALIER KING CHARLES Call. 504-259-2222 UTD. S/W. Pups. 595-1495. Call 4 pics. 2yr. H. G.

JEWELRY/WATCHES Ladies beaut. 10k-14k gold diamond cross & chn $350 504-994-7385

204900-700108-oct 25-1t $ 240.00

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Legal Notices

ATTORNEY DISCIPLINE

APPLICATION MATERIALS Application materials and complete in‐ structions are available at: www.avoyellespsb.com/employment MAIL APPLICATIONS TO Superintendent Search Avoyelles Parish Schools PO Box 279 Marksville, LA 71351

CATS RAGAMUFFIN & RAGDOLL KITTENS www.CatsByFrancy.com/kittens $1500up! Reg. Shots & Guaranty 337-230-3150

MISC FOR SALE Antique (Foreign) Tea Pots 10-12 Must See $300 Take All 504-994-7385

SALARY: Negotiated by the Board

ACCOUNT REP -

Pets

Apply online at: www.thebloodcenter.org

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS: Certified for the position of Superinten‐ dent of Schools or eligible for immedi‐ ate certification to serve as a Superin‐ tendent as reflected on the applicant's certificate or as confirmed in writing by LDOE at the time of appli‐ cation. LDOE confirmation must ac‐ company the completed application. Applicants must be able to serve as Su‐ perintendent alone without the ap‐ pointment of an employee to handle curriculum or other components of the position.

SALES

MISC FOR SALE Mens gorgeous black & gold Saints jacket, size 2X, must see! $300 (504) 994-7385

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The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Sunday, October 25, 2026 ✦ 3F

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GONZALES CONCRETE

Corinne Fox REALTOR®

“Connecting You to the Soul of New Orleans One Home, One Neighborhood, One Passion at a Time!”

Any size job Servicing New Orleans & Northshore area

m 504.239.1481

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Email resume with past experience in the seafood industry to: shrimpexpert89@gmail.com

ABLE TREE SERVICE 50+ YEARS LOCAL SERVICE $2 Million Liabilty Insurance • Worker’s Comp NEVER A COMPLAINT TO THE REMOVAL STORM PREP

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To advertise here, please call 225-383-0111 or visit us at servicedirectory.nola.com

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4F ✦ Sunday, October 25, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

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Why you need dental insurance in retirement. Many Americans are fortunate to have dental coverage for their entire working life, through employer-provided benefits. When those benefits end with retirement, paying dental bills out-of-pocket can come as a shock, leading people to put off or even go without care. Simply put — without dental insurance, there may be an important gap in your healthcare coverage.

When you’re comparing plans ...  Look for coverage that helps pay for major services. Some plans may limit the number of procedures — or pay for preventive care only.  Look for coverage with no deductibles. Some plans may require you to pay hundreds out of pocket before benefits are paid.  Shop for coverage with no annual maximum on cash benefits. Some plans have annual maximums of $1,000.

Medicare doesn’t pay for dental care.1

Previous dental work can wear out.

That’s right. As good as Medicare is, it was never meant to cover everything. That means if you want protection, you need to purchase individual insurance.

Even if you’ve had quality dental work in the past, you shouldn’t take your dental health for granted. In fact, your odds of having a dental problem only go up as you age.2

Early detection can prevent small problems from becoming expensive ones. The best way to prevent large dental bills is preventive care. The American Dental Association recommends checkups twice a year.

Treatment is expensive — especially the services people over 50 often need. Consider these national average costs of treatment ... $274 for a checkup ... $299 for a filling ... $1,471 for a crown.3 Unexpected bills like this can be a real burden, especially if you’re on a fixed income.

1 “Medicare & You,” Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2025. 2 “Aging changes in teeth and gums”, medlineplus.gov, 4/17/2022. 3 FairHealth, Inc. National average dental fees. Data current as of July 2025; subject to change.

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© 2026 Consumer Cellular, Inc. Terms and Conditions subject to change. Plans shown include $5 credit for AutoPay and E-billing. Taxes and other fees apply. Credit approval required for new service. Cellular service is not available in all areas and is subject to system limitations. For unlimited plans, high-speed data is reduced after 35GB on single-line plans and 50GB of combined usage on multi-line plans for the remainder of your billing cycle. Unlimited data plans only for customers age 50+. Age validation required. *2025 ACSI® Survey of customers rating their own wireless service provider. ACSI® and its logo are registered trademarks of the American Customer Satisfaction Index LLC. For more about the ACSI®, visit www.theacsi.org.

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A dietitian’s (and mom’s) approach to Halloween PAGE 3

DISCOVERY | INNOVATION | LIVING WELL

HEALTH

LOUISIANA

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

S U N D AY, O c t O b e r 25, 2026

Molly Kimball 1N

’Tis the season for RSV wheezin’

GETTY IMAGES PHOTO

HIP FINDINGS

Two Tulane students discover new muscle attachment in the hip BY MARGARET DeLANEY Staff writer

Dominic Roy and Cooper Bruce were two 19-year-old sophomores working for the summer at Tulane University’s cadaver lab a couple of years ago, studying a biometric tool that could create 3D digital scans of cadavers. They and lab director R. Shane Tubbs, a professor of neurosurgery, had never expected to make a possible discovery. Tubbs “It was my ﬁrst time working with a human body, so it was deﬁnitely a really impactful experience,” said Bruce, a Pennsylvania native who was exploring his options between medicine and research, working both there and in another New Orleans lab. Roy, originally from Madisonville, spent five days a week at the Tulane lab, interested in the clinical application of Tubbs’ research. Tubbs had asked the two to dissect about 20 cadavers to

PHOTO PROVIDED BY DOMINIC ROY

Tulane University undergraduate students Dominic Roy, left, and Cooper Bruce discovered a new muscle attachment in the pelvis during their summer at Shane Tubb’s cadaver lab on campus. look at the fusion points of the two large muscles in the hip, the psoas major and the iliacus. Those muscles become one at some point between the hip and the top of the femur. “It’s different in everyone,” Roy said. “It’s really cool. It

varies in every single specimen.” They were instructed to also look for a “controversial muscle” — a muscle not conﬁrmed by all scientists — under the iliacus connecting the larger muscle to the hip bone, Roy

said. They found this muscle in some of the cadavers, but about a quarter of the way through their dissections, Roy noticed something else that was interesting. In one cadaver, when Roy peeled back muscle, he saw another tether in the renal region, “the crotch area” toward the midline of the body, Roy said. “I looked at that. I was like, ‘Oh, we didn’t talk about this in the morning meeting,’ ” he recalled. Bruce didn’t know what it was either. Neither did the senior fellows in the lab. When they asked Tubbs what they were looking at, they learned he had never seen it. “There was just something off about it,” Bruce said. “It was kind of surprising to hear (Tubbs) say that it was odd. That’s when the interest really piqued.” The pair, under the instruction of Tubbs, went to anatomical research — books and studies and history — to look for previous evidence of the muscle attachment. Roy

ä See HIP, page 2X

This is a column in a series from Dr. Scott Hamilton, director of the pediatric emergency department at Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Center, offering practical guidance on preventing and treating illnesses and injuries so kids can stay healthy and out of the emergency department. RSV is back again. If babies could talk, they would recount the miseries of the winter virus and how it’s similar to influenza. Humorist Dave Barry described how, when he and his wife got the Dr. Scott flu, they spent Hamilton days in bed achy, congested and DOCTOR feverish. “There SAYS has been a mound of blankets on my wife’s side of the bed,” he wrote long ago. “I think it might be my wife ... the only way to tell for sure would be to prod it, which I wouldn’t do” for fear that poking her could be fatal. Dave, espousing a more active lifestyle, attempted to crawl to the bathroom. In addition to cough and congestion, babies with RSV get fevers and aches like the flu. Adults can get RSV, too, but infants are more often severely affected. Sometimes congestion happens deep in their lungs and they struggle to breathe and get enough oxygen. Also, with noses clogged with mucus, they can’t breathe and feed at the same time, which can lead to dehydration. Dehydration dries out the mucus, which becomes stickier and harder to hack out of their throats and lungs. The other bugaboo about RSV is that, again like flu, it’s highly contagious. Maybe your child’s daycare is great about handwashing, but RSV flies around the room with every cough, to be inhaled by other nearby infants and picked up from contaminated surfaces. Parents and grandparents may carry it home from work or shopping, while older siblings bring it home from school. If babies aren’t the only child at home with obsessive hand-washing parents who stop every visitor at the door to inspect for sniffles and grubby paws, they’re at risk. RSV is difficult to treat. Babies’ lungs wheeze like kids with asthma, but breathing

ä See RSV, page 2X

STAFF FILE PHOTO BY SOPHIA GERMER

RSV season has returned to Louisiana.

NEW EPISODE

Bone Marrow Transplant ochsner.org/decoded

AN OCHSNER HEALTH PODCAST

2X ✦ Sunday, October 25, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

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HEALTH MAKER

Layla Kiffin opens fitness studio near LSU campus She hopes visitors will embrace red light rooms at facility

BY MARGARET DeLANEY

Staff writer

Layla Kiffin knew she wanted to find a wellness community in Baton Rouge when she moved from Los Angeles in early summer. She didn’t anticipate opening her own fitness studio. Kiffin, the 52-year-old ex-wife of LSU football coach Lane Kiffin, moved to the bayou state with her daughter and son. She’s always been into her health, she said: marathons, supplements, yoga classes, weight training, red light therapies and more. She shopped around for yoga studios in the city. They were all great, she said, but none reminded her of the spaces she was accustomed to in California. So she started a studio herself, right across the street from LSU’s campus. LIVIN Studio, at 3636 Nicholson Drive, opened in July. “When I was looking all around, I didn’t want to pigeonhole myself in one area,” Kiffin said. “Nicholson is a thoroughfare to (so many) neighborhoods. It’s definitely student heavy and athlete heavy.” Kiffin, a former interior designer, went for a simple, modern design for her new studio with a sleek gray welcoming space and one workout room outfitted with infrared heaters and a dehumidifier. But the heart of Kiffin’s brainchild studio are the four curtainedoff red light therapy lounges in the back of the studio. Although popularized to treat wrinkles, acne, scars and redness, Kiffin believes red lights are also beneficial for athletic performance and recovery and for chronic pain. Sessions with pinned-up red light mats and red light masks are available for 30-minute increments. “It helps with your circulation, relaxation, all of your skin damage, muscle recovery, joint recovery,”

STAFF PHOTO BY PEARL SPURLOCK

Layla Kiffin sits in the red light area of LIVIN Studio in Baton Rouge. Kifﬁn added.

What the science says Science is not conclusive about the claims behind red light therapies. NASA initially experimented with red lights to grow plants and heal wounds for astronauts in space. The bright lights activate mitochondria, the powerhouse of cells, giving them more energy to work more efﬁciently, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Wavelengths of red light, typically between 630 and 850 nanometers, penetrate the surface of the skin and underlying tissues. Compared with visible red, an 850 nanometer wavelength scatters less and penetrates deeper, delivering light to muscles, tendons, joints and peripheral nerves, according to a 2021 study of a collection of research published in the National Library of Medicine. The gold standard of studies to determine if a product is effective

is a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. So far, none of the red light therapies have passed this scientiﬁc muster. But red light therapies have no indication of being unsafe. They aren’t associated with any side effects if used short-term and as directed, according to the American Academy of Dermatology Association. Still, wellness gurus and health enthusiasts such as Kiffin claim to reap the beneﬁts of regular red light therapy treatment. Bringing

the red lights to Baton Rouge was a risk for Kifﬁn, even when coupled with heated group exercises in her studio. “My concern was that I was going to create this and no one would come,” Kifﬁn said. “But, I have to say, every morning our classes are wait-listed. For being open a month, I’m really pleased.” Email Margaret DeLaney at margaret.delaney @theadvocate.com

HIP

Continued from page 1X and Bruce pored over the literature, some in other languages such as French and German, to verify their discovery was novel. “To our knowledge, this is the ﬁrst report of an iliac attachment of the psoas major in humans,” Tubbs said in a statement. “Most people think anatomy is pretty static and doesn’t change, but we contribute to it, change our understanding and broaden it.” Roy and Bruce finished their lab work that summer of 2024 looking for the new muscle attachment in the existing cadavers. They found a few that matched their original discovery. The two went back the following summer as well, and determined that the attachment is known as an anatomical variation. Some humans have it, and others don’t. The students studied 200 additional hips and found it was present in 28% of donated specimens. Some cadavers had it in both hips, others in just one. “Making a discovery like that is crazy because you would think that we, by now, would have everything under control and have (all the muscles) documented,” Roy said. The results of the research were published in the journal Clinical Anatomy this year. “The newly identified body part is a small muscu-

RSV

Continued from page 1X treatments and steroids we use for asthma don’t work for RSV. Infants and toddlers who become seriously ill need hospitalization for oxygen supplementation and IV ﬂuids to keep them hydrated. Sometimes they need more intensive care,

IMAGE PROVIDED BY TULANE UNIVERSITY WITH ELEMENTS BY ISTO

The newly identified muscle attachment is found deep in the pelvis, near the front of the hip, where it connects with the larger psoas muscle that helps move the hip and stabilize the body. lar head found deep in the pelvis, near the front of the hip, where it connects with the larger psoas muscle that helps move the hip and stabilize the body,” according to Tubbs in a statement from Tulane. “The new muscle attachment, dubbed the iliac attachment of the psoas major, may help steady the psoas muscle and could be important for surgeons operating in and around the hip.”

“Knowing there’s an extra attachment might tell the surgeon that there’s another attachment that needs to be dealt with,” Tubbs said in his statement. “Hopefully this study will help people.” The research could help people with diseases, injuries or tendon irritation in their hip region, according to the journal article. “Obviously it’s really fun to discover things in person, but the literature review

and some infants die. Of course, the best medicine is prevention: Don’t let your baby get it! Fortunately, there’s now a shot that’s effective at preventing RSV. Babies can receive it on their ﬁrst ofﬁce visit after birth, or pregnant moms can get it before delivery, passing immunity to baby through the placenta. We hope RSV will become like measles or polio: one

more deadly virus tossed to the scrap heap of history. Maybe ten years ago this would have been true. However, misinformation on social media and now in government have sowed doubt about preventive shots, and some parents are confused trying to decide what’s best for their children. Listen to your kid’s doctor: RSV shots are safe. Getting RSV is not.

took a lot of the time,” Bruce said. “There’s a lot of questions to answer.” Most of Bruce’s writing background consisted of what he learned in high school English courses, he said, and getting the experience to contribute, research and submit his own scientiﬁc literature “was deﬁnitely an experience.” Roy said he isn’t holding his breath when it comes to seeing the new muscle

to dissect the cadavers for research. Roy, however, is passionate about having cadavers in academic medicine, despite a steady move in universities toward synthetic or digital cadavers for student study. “We have medical students now graduating without ever even touching another human body in their anatomy labs,” Roy said. What he and Bruce found that summer “is a great example of variational anatomy and how complex the human body is in that it varies amongst everyone.” “The placement of everything is totally different in every single cadaver,” Roy continued. “Getting that hands-on experience before becoming a practicing physician, I feel is extremely important.” Both Roy, 22, and Bruce, 21 graduated with their undergraduate degrees from Tulane a year early. Roy is now in Tulane’s masters program in anatomy and Bruce is in the masters program for neuroscience. They both have their sights set on medical schools in the spring. “Dominic always knew what he wanted to do. He was really interested in anatomy. I remember he was helping me a lot when we were in the Tubbs lab together,” Bruce said. “Even though we were listening to the fellows, he was giving me advice too. It was kind of cool.”

attachment in textbooks or in clinical practice anytime soon. “I think (Tubbs) said it could take about 17 years to even reach clinical applications,” Roy said. The discovery came through the Willed Body Program, where medical students at Tulane can use cadavers in their studies. After their school year has Email Margaret DeLaney ended, the team in the anato- at margaret.delaney my department can continue @theadvocate.com

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU The Louisiana Health section is focused on providing in-depth, personal accounts of health in the state. This section looks at medical innovations, health discoveries, state and national health statistics and reexamining tried and true methods on ways to live well.

Health editions will also profile people who are advancing health for the state of Louisiana. Do you have a health story? We want to hear from you. Email margaret.delaney@ theadvocate.com to submit health questions, stories and more.

The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Sunday, October 25, 2026 ✦ 3X

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Eat Fit Live Fit B R O U G H T TO YO U BY

Molly Kimball RD, CSSD

A dietitian’s (and mom’s) approach to Halloween Guest column by Brittany Craft, a registered dietitian with Ochsner Eat Fit

love Halloween, and to some, that’s surprising! I have never watched a horror movie, I don’t particularly enjoy scary decorations and even more surprising — I’m a registered dietitian. The truth is, for me, Halloween has never been about the candy (or the spooky stuff). It’s about the memories of running around my neighborhood with my sister and parents, staying up past my bedtime and getting to feel like a storybook character or princess in my elaborate costumes. I remember giggling as we passed the tree where our neighbor would hide in the branches, shaking them and making spooky noises to scare trick-or-treaters. There was also the house with the best decorations, where we could walk through lights and smoke to pick out a small toy. The joy has always been in the experience and now it’s so fun to watch my kids enjoy Halloween as much as I did. But for some parents, the piles of candy that inevitably come after the holiday can be scarier than the decorations. Don’t fret! Here are some things that we implement in our home that make Halloween full of fun, not fright!

cheese puffs or 100% fruit strips or leathers. Again, my daughter gets just as excited about these as a snack and they’re the perfect ﬁller in between candy treats as we canvass the neighborhood.

Keep the Big Picture in Mind

crackers, cheeses, meat, veggies and fresh fruit. Pro tip: Cutie oranges make the best jack-o’-lanterns to accent your spread — just draw on a face with a Sharpie!

Use It as a Lesson in Respect

Halloween is an excellent opportunity to teach kids to grab just one piece of candy per house (unless the neighbor speciﬁes otherwise) and say “thank you” to every neighbor before leaving. Setting this expectation can help keep the amount of candy they collect in check.

Set the Example

We are HUGE fans of non-candy treats. Set the example with the bowl you leave by your own house. They are often the

same price (or cheaper) than candy and so much more fun to collect! When my daughter was two, her favorite Halloween treasure was a tiny rubber duck she received while trick-or-treating. She carried it all evening. Now in elementary school, she still loves the non-candy treats including fun tattoos, stickers, sticky hands, spider rings and glow sticks. They are more exciting than the run-of-the-mill candy she gets at every other house. Another beneﬁt is that non-food treats can help make Halloween more inclusive for children with food allergies or certain medical conditions. If you feel like you’re being a bummer by not giving out candy (I promise, you’re not), you could always opt for Halloweenthemed food snacks, such as pretzels,

Start With a Filling Meal

The last thing I want is to send my kids out trick-or-treating with empty bellies, waiting to be ﬁlled with just candy. Our house is usually the gathering spot and I make sure to have a spread of food for our family and friends to feast on before we hit the streets. We love to make a charcuterie board with whole-grain

Molly Kimball, RD, CSSD, is a registered dietitian with Ochsner Health and founder of Ochsner’s Eat Fit nonproﬁt initiative. For more wellness content, tune in to Molly’s podcast, FUELED Wellness + Nutrition, and follow @MollykimballRD and @EatFitOchsner on social media. Email nutrition@ochsner.org to connect with Molly or schedule a consult with her team.

And now, perhaps the biggest question: How do you navigate the piles of candy that your child promptly dumps on the living room ﬂoor to sort through as soon as trick-or-treating is over? Personally, I don’t make Halloween night about limiting how much candy my kids can eat. For one, I keep things in perspective: Halloween is one night and, for most healthy children, one evening of eating more sweets than usual is unlikely to make a meaningful difference in the grand scheme of things. I’m more interested in creating a positive association with food that is free from guilt or morality for my children and teaching them to listen to their bodies. In the days that follow, we incorporate the Halloween candy mindfully, offering candy after some (but not all) meals and snacks. The candy doesn’t disappear overnight, but it also doesn’t become the main event. Eventually, the excitement fades and we move on. At the end of the day, Halloween is about so much more than candy. It’s about dressing up, running around with friends and making the kind of memories your kids will carry for years to come. As a dietitian and a mom, that’s what I want my kids to remember the most.

BY THE NUMBERS

GETTING ENOUGH PROTEIN? CDC LISTS AVERAGES FOR ADULTS The protein craze was cemented by the federal government’s dietary guidelines released this year. Data released from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that protein consumption among American adults is down overall in the last decade. Prioritizing high-quality, nutrientdense protein foods, including eggs, poultry, seafood and meat is essential for health, according to the American Heart Association.

American guidelines target around 1.2 to 1.6 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight daily (roughly 80 to 100 grams for a 150-pound adult). Between August 2021 and August 2023, adults age 20 and older consumed 15.5% of calories from protein on a given day, according to CDC estimates. The recommendation is that 10% to 35% of daily calories come from protein. Among all adults, males

consumed more calories from How much protein are people eating? protein, at 15.7%, than females, at Mean percentage of calories from protein among American adults between 2021 and 2023. 15.3%. Also among adults, the Male Female All Age group percentage of calories consumed All ages 15.70% 15.30% 15.50% from protein decreased from 20-39 15.90% 15.30% 15.60% 16.1% in 2013-2014, according 40-59 15.90% 15.50% 15.70% to the CDC estimates. 15.40% 14.90% 15.10% As for type of proteins consumed, 60 and older the top five sources among adults Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Staff graphic over 20 were sandwiches (15.6%), poultry (9.4%), mixed meat dishes (6.4%), meat (6.0%) and mixed grain dishes (4.8%).

HEALTH NOTES

LSU Health N.O. establishes department of radiation oncology BY MARGARET DeLANEY Staff writer

LSU Health New Orleans recruited radiation oncologist and physician-scientist Dr. Puneeth Iyengar to establish and lead the medical school’s first academic Department of Radiation Oncology, a part of LCMC LSU Health Center’s push to become a National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center, a moniker awarded to institutions that Iyengar meet the federal standard for cancer research, prevention and clinical care. Iyengar will oversee the creation of a statewide, digital early-phase clinical trial network platform that will integrate and connect cancer physicians and patients in the state. In addition, he will create a group of researchers from the LSU LCMC Health Cancer Center, Pennington Biomedical Research Center and LSU Health Shreveport to better understand how

metabolic health and nutrition can affect cancer care and outcomes.

State health department congratulates pharmacist T.J. Woodard was named the 2026 National Community Pharmacists Association Willard B. Simmons Independent Pharmacist of the Year, according to the Louisiana Department of Health. Woodard, owner of Prescriptions to Geaux, a pharmacy with two Baton Rouge locations, received the award during the association’s annual convention in Kansas City, Missouri. The award recognizes a pharmacist who demonstrates “exemplary professional leadership, service to community, and commitment to independent pharmacy,” according to the association. He and his wife, Aimee, also a pharmacist, opened their first Prescriptions to Geaux location in downtown Baton Rouge in 2013.

Pennington researchers examine gut-brain link The purpose of a Gut-Brain Rate

study at Baton Rouge’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center is to better understand how nutrients are sensed by the brain. Participants of the study will need to report to Pennington for a screening visit, including blood draws, brain MRIs, height and weight measurements, energy expenditure measurements and body composition tests. After the screening, there will be two food pick-ups and two monitored overnight stays at the center’s inpatient unit over a period of two months. To qualify for this research study, participants should be between 18 and 45 and have either a BMI between 18.5 and 27.5 or a BMI above 30. Participants in the trial can receive up to $750 in compensation.

Ochsner LSU Health welcomes breast surgeon Shreveport native Dr. Christopher Sockrider joins Ochsner LSU Health after two decades in breast surgery, expanding access to specialized breast care for patients across north Louisiana, according

to a release from the hospital system. Sockrider specializes in the evaluation and surgical management of breast disease Sockrider and breast cancer, including services like needle biopsy, lumpectomy, mastectomy and lymph node surgery.

Hospital hosts ‘look good, feel better’ workshops Woman’s Hospital, at 100 Woman’s Way in Baton Rouge, will host in-person workshops to provide hands-on tips, tools and techniques to help manage appearance-related side effects of cancer treatment. The session from 1 to 3 p.m. Nov. 3, will cover skin and nail care, makeup application, wig selection and styling scarves, turbans and hats. The Look Good Feel Better program, a collaboration of the Look Good Feel Better Foundation and the Professional Beauty Association, is free and open to all women

with cancer who are undergoing treatment. Registration is recommended and can be done at the hospital’s website.

Baton Rouge General hosts life support course Baton Rouge General — Mid City, at 3600 Florida Boulevard in Baton Rouge, will host a one-day, instructor-led course for cardiac life support recertification on Wednesday, Oct. 28. The course is $175 and registration is required on the hospital’s website, brgeneral.org. The course highlights the importance of team dynamics and communication, systems of care and immediate post-cardiac-arrest care. It also covers airway management and related pharmacology, according to Baton Rouge General. Health Notes is an occasional listing of health happenings around Louisiana. Have something you’d like to share? Contact us at margaret. delaney@theadvocate.com.

4X ✦ Sunday, October 25, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

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Adult acne is real, but there are ways to treat it BY ADITHI RAMAKRISHNAN AP science writer

NEW YORK — As a teenager, Gillian Maegan Montalbo’s pimples weren’t too bad — just a few bumps on her forehead and nose. But as an adult in the workforce, the breakouts returned and intensiﬁed. The acne on her cheeks and chin made her hesitant to look her bosses in the eye. “It really took a toll on my self-esteem and my selfconﬁdence,” said Montalbo, a marketer and content creator who lives in the Philippines. Pimples and acne are an uncomfortable hallmark of teenage years, but adults can have breakouts too. Acne can also happen on other parts of the body like the chest and shoulders. And then there’s bacne, the internet’s term for back breakouts. The best treatments vary from person to person depending on what’s causing the acne and how it looks. And breakouts can leave behind dark marks and scars that take even longer to heal. Pimples come and go, but if breakouts stick around and cause discoloration or changes in skin texture, it’s a good idea to see a dermatologist. “We know how to treat acne. We know the cause of it. So don’t suffer alone,” said Dr. Crystal Aguh, a dermatologist and director of the Ethnic Skin Program at Johns Hopkins School of

Medicine.

Causes of acne can vary Teenage acne tends to affect the forehead, nose and cheeks. Older adults and women in particular can experience hormonal acne that pops up along the jawline and chin, Aguh said. Taking steroids can also trigger acne for some people. Pimples happen when tiny pores in the skin get clogged by oil, bacteria and dead skin cells. They can fade over the course of weeks to months, but if patches persist and spread, it could be a sign of acne, which dermatologists consider a medical condition. “Essentially, you’re not getting a break from a breakout,” Aguh said. Acne is caused by many factors including genetics, hormones, environment and even diet — like eating excessive amounts of dairy. The causes of facial and body acne are similar, although skin bacteria sometimes plays a larger role in body acne. Breakouts can look like milder, painless white bumps or dark specks known as whiteheads and blackheads, or more painful red bumps and deeper cysts — a mark of cystic acne.

Treatments for acne Don’t pick or pop your pimples, no matter how strong the urge or how satisfying it might be. “Everyone wants to pick and squeeze. That will almost

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO BY ERIN HOOLEY

Pimples and acne are an uncomfortable hallmark of teenage years, but adults can have breakouts too. always make things worse,” said Dr. Lauren Fine, founder of Fine Dermatology in Chicago. Picking can drive inﬂammation deeper into the skin and cause acne to spread. It also increases the risk of marks and scarring. For darker-skinned people, those marks take longer to go away because their skin produces extra pigment when stressed, Aguh said. Treatments for acne range from over-the-counter creams and lotions to prescription-strength medications. Dermatologists say it’s somewhat easier to treat acne on the face compared to the rest of the body because the face has more sweat

glands and doesn’t dry out as easily. It’s also harder to apply some treatments like creams to hard-to-reach areas like the back, so doctors often prescribe oral medications. For milder forms of face acne, dermatologists may recommend face washes or creams containing benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid or retinoids like adapalene. For more frequent breakouts, they might prescribe higher-strength regimens like antibiotics or medicines with tretinoin. Isotretinoin may be an option if those medicines don’t work, or for cases of severe cystic acne. Treatments for adult hormonal acne, particularly

in women, can differ from what’s done for teens. Some dermatologists recommend birth control, which can help stabilize hormones, or treatments like spironolactone. Shots of cortisone can help treat active acne spots in a pinch, but they aren’t a longterm ﬁx, Fine said. Pimple patches containing a gel called hydrocolloid can absorb fluids from oozing pimples and stop you from picking at them. Aguh said they are suited only for mild forms of acne; Fine said the patches have given some of her patients discoloration and she doesn’t recommend them.

Exfoliants, face washes Experts say exfoliants

and face washes containing glycolic acid can help discoloration fade. Over-thecounter products containing adapalene and retinol creams can also help. For more serious scarring, dermatologists can recommend more aggressive treatments like lasers that probe deeper into the skin. It can take time to develop the right treatment plan, and longer still to see results. When starting a new treatment, some people can also experience skin purging: breakouts that happen when a product quickly brings clogged pores to the surface of the skin. Montalbo’s acne cleared up within a year after seeing a dermatologist, but she was still dealing with acne scars. After that, she had to rebuild her self-conﬁdence. She said a strong support system was essential to getting through some of the hardest moments. Her dad, who also struggled with acne, was the one who encouraged her to see a doctor and find the right products. She also had a close friend who traveled with her overseas for a vacation during the worst of the breakouts, and mentioned in passing that she’d never even noticed Montalbo’s acne. “When you are with the right people, they won’t mind how you look,” Montalbo said. “Because to them, what’s important is how you treat them.”

University of Pennsylvania helps test mRNA cancer vaccine BY KAYLA YUP

The Philadelphia Inquirer (TNS) PHILADELPHIA — Denise Fitzsimmons knew that removing the fastgrowing lump above her eyebrow in 2024 didn’t eliminate the possibility that her melanoma could return. But a clinical trial at Penn Medicine offered the 63-year-old grandmother from Birdsboro, Pennsylvania, hope of a more enduring remission. It tested a novel vaccine, based on Penn’s groundbreaking mRNA research, that trains the patient’s immune system to find and kill cancer cells. That technology has become the ﬁrst mRNA cancer vaccine to succeed in a late-stage clinical trial, according to preliminary ﬁndings released last month by Merck and Moderna, the pharmaceutical giants developing it. The vaccine extended the time a patient survived without their cancer returning or spreading, according to the companies, which announced recently that they would share the full trial results at the 2026 European Society for Medical Oncology meeting in Spain. The drugmakers merely said that the results were positive. Without knowing the exact numbers involved, or how long the benefit lasted, it’s still unknown if the results will prove clinically meaningful for patients. The companies also have not announced a commercial price tag for the therapy, called intismeran autogene, though similar immunotherapies can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. The trial could mark a turning point for mRNA technology, which has proven useful against infectious diseases but hadn’t had the same success in cancer. Melanomas typically contain thousands of genetic mutations due to sun damage, making them an ideal target for the approach, which teaches the immune system to respond to unique markers on cancer cells. “It’s a very big step forward after many negative studies in the

DREAMSTIME/TNS PHOTO BY ANUPONG THIPROT

The vaccine extended the time a patient survived without their cancer returning or spreading, according to the companies, which announced recently that they would share the full trial results at the 2026 European Society for Medical Oncology meeting in Spain. last few years,” said Ravi Amaravadi, the lead investigator of the Penn trial site, one of more than 100 around the globe. mRNA vaccines gained widespread attention in 2020 when used to develop the first immunizations for COVID-19. These shots used the mRNA platform developed by Nobel Prize winners Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman, a University of Pennsylvania professor. Since then, mRNA vaccines for RSV and the flu have gained approval. “This was kind of the wake-up call that RNA vaccines in cancer have an enormous future,” said Weissman, who was not involved in the trial and has no financial stake in Merck or Moderna.

How the vaccine works Melanoma is a serious type of skin cancer that develops when melanocytes — the cells that give skin its color — grow out of control. This trial tested the vaccine in patients whose melanomas had already been removed through surgery. The goal was to destroy any remaining cancer cells and prevent the disease from returning or spreading to other parts of the body.

“It’s the deadliest form of skin cancer because it can metastasize,” Amaravadi said. Penn’s site was one of the first trial locations to open in the United States. Scientists personalized the vaccine for each patient by analyzing their tumor samples for unique genetic mutations. That enabled them to design mRNA — a molecule that carries genetic instructions — that would encode bits of protein that look like the tumor. When the immune system encounters those proteins, it learns to recognize the cancer and attack it. It’s similar to vaccines for the flu or COVID-19, which train the body to identify and fight off specific viruses. If the immune system is trained in this way, it could produce a longlasting memory against the cancer, Amaravadi said. “We are now able to train the immune system to look for the tumor, arguably for the first time, in the most effective way,” Amaravadi said, referring to the mRNA platform. That mRNA was loaded into a nanoparticle (which acted like a delivery truck hauling cargo) and injected into the arm as a shot.

Two-thirds of the 1,137 partici- free for the last two years. “My fifth granddaughter is on pants were randomly chosen to receive the vaccine in combination her way,” she said. “So I have a lot with Keytruda, a standard-of-care to live for.” immunotherapy, while the remaining third received Keytruda alone. The future of mRNA RNA offers a few key advantagThe trial es as a treatment. Its effects are transient and conTrial participants who received the vaccine had fewer metastases trollable. The material lasts only a compared to patients who got the couple of days in the body before it immunotherapy alone, Amaravadi degrades and disappears. said. It’s also relatively easy to make. However, the company has only “We made billions of doses of the announced that the results were COVID vaccine within a year. No positive. Without knowing the other vaccine or therapeutic can data, it is hard to say whether the be expanded that quickly,” Weissresults are also clinically meaning- man said. He believes RNA vaccines could ful, Amaravadi said. “We are hopeful we’re going to beneﬁt people with genetic mutasee the same absolute beneﬁt when tions that put them at higher risk we see the data published,” he said. of cancer, such as BRCA carriers. Amaravadi also wants to see If people receive the vaccine whether there were any unex- before their tumors form, it could pected side effects that patients kill off any early cancer cells that should consider before taking the arise. “That way you prevent the cantherapy. Another data point of interest: cer from ever forming, instead of How many patients agreed to re- trying to treat it after it’s already ceive the treatment but ultimately there,” Weissman said. Conversely, he doesn’t think couldn’t receive it. In some cases, patients’ tumor samples were too RNA vaccines would work well in small, didn’t contain enough us- someone whose advanced cancer able genetic material, or were of cannot be removed. The immune too poor quality to actually make system has a hard time killing large tumors, he explained. the treatment. This trial tested the vaccine as If this were a consistent problem, the technology used to analyze tu- a follow-up to surgery, targeting mors’ genetic makeup would need leftover tumor cells. Other ongoing trials are testing to improve. “It’s still a little bit of a bottle- mRNA vaccines in pancreatic, neck for some patients to get ac- breast, colon, lung, prostate, and other cancer types. cess to the treatment,” he said. Outside of cancer, clinical trials Fitzsimmons, a grandmother living in the small Berks County are testing mRNA vaccines for town of Birdsboro, participated herpes viruses, malaria, tubercuthrough Penn’s site. She doesn’t losis, Zika, chikungunya, and noroknow whether she received the virus. Scientists are also exploring treatment or a placebo (that infor- whether mRNA technology could mation is kept secret from both be used to treat allergic and autopatients and researchers to avoid immune diseases. bias.) This work has continued to adBut she recalls feeling flulike vance, even as Health and Human symptoms the day after each Services Secretary Robert F. Kenshot — including body aches and nedy Jr. last year slashed $500 milsweats — making her speculate lion designated for mRNA vaccine that she may have received the development. vaccine. COVID-19 mRNA shots “The potential for RNA to treat often prompt similar reactions. many different diseases can’t be Fitzsimmons has been cancer- ignored,” Weissman said.

New nasal spray ﬂu vaccine to boost immunity of aging lungs BY KARL HILLE

The Baltimore Sun (TNS) BALTIMORE — A single dose of a new nasal spray inﬂuenza vaccine can breathe new life into older lungs while providing broad protection against multiple inﬂuenza strains, researchers reported. In trials with mice, the spray, which combines a boost of manganese ions and another immunestimulating molecule, gave older mice a powerful immune reaction

similar to younger mice, the researchers reported. Better yet, testing showed the immune system in the lungs of the mice was working more like younger mice in a control group. “Given the poor efficacy of current inﬂuenza vaccines in elderly adults, the study holds the potential for safeguarding aging populations, who are disproportionately vulnerable to seasonal outbreaks and pandemics,” Shilin Gao, of Harvard Medical School,

and her colleagues wrote. They published their ﬁndings in the September issue of Science Immunology. Older adults are recommended to get an annual flu vaccine to prevent flu-related complications. Vaccines with adjuvants, or additional ingredients designed to stimulate the immune system, are particularly recommended by National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. Those older than 65 who catch

the flu increase their risk of heart attack three to five times and double or triple their stroke risk in the ﬁrst two weeks of the infection. But the illness can contribute to 6-times higher risk of dying from complications for another few months. Getting an annual ﬂu vaccine lowers your risk of heart attack and stroke as well, the NFID reports. The researchers developed a nasal-spray vaccine boosted by the adjuvant combination called AM-

nESTI, which stands for AEC-targeting MN Encapsulated STING agonist. They analyzed RNA from the mice to evaluate how the vaccine affected their base-level immunity. Human trials will be needed before the drug can be found in your local pharmacist. The authors also hope to develop new trials to test the benefit of combining their AMnESTI booster with other respiratory vaccines with pandemic potential.

The Times-Picayune ✦ nola.com ✦ Sunday, October 25, 2026 ✦ 5X

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Personalized care, powered by innovation: How Ochsner is transforming breast cancer treatment

LEFT: Nicole D., breast cancer patient at Ochsner Cancer Center of Acadiana. TOP RIGHT: Claire C., breast cancer patient at Ochsner MD Anderson Cancer Center at The Gayle and Tom Benson Cancer Center. BOTTOM RIGHT: Michelle A., breast cancer patient at Ochsner MD Anderson Cancer Center at Ochsner Cancer Center - Baton Rouge.

Rouge, said there have been specific surgical options with breast cancer patients, she also talks about improvements in treating triple neghow each procedure will affect ative and hormone-positive forms of them in the future. the disease. This story is brought to you “A lumpectomy generally “The advances in treating triby Ochsner Health. has a shorter recovery time and ple-negative breast cancer have been less surgical intervention,” she For patients diagnosed with breast around a regimen with immunothersaid. “A mastectomy involves a cancer, treatment looks different from apy, not simply chemotherapy. In adlonger recovery and more risk one person to another. At Ochsner Health, dition, the targeted therapies Kimberly LeBlanc, MD Hematology Oncologist of complications. With reconphysicians combine specialized expertise, for hormone-positive breast Ochsner MD Anderson Cancer struction, there may be multiple coordinated care and advances in medi- cancers have shown great adCenter in Baton Rouge surgeries. We talk about whethcal technology to develop individualized vances in preventing cancer er the patient is inclined to have treatment plans and help patients navigate recurrence,” Dr. LeBlanc said. The individualized nature of modern less surgery and more follow-up after, or a their diagnoses. “I’ve had patients ask why their treatment breast cancer treatment means several spe- larger surgery that may not require those may be different from someone else with the cialists are often involved, including surgeons, other obligations.” Regardless of the procedure, Dr. Rivere same type of cancer. It’s because breast can- hematology oncologists, radiation oncologists, said improved surgical imaging and techcer treatment has gotten incredibly person- nurses and other support professionals. “For the patient, the goal is coordinated niques allow surgeons to often preserve alized with collaboration among multiple care. Instead of looking at one part of treat- more healthy breast tissue than ever before, specialists and pathology testing to ment in isolation, we are consid- place incisions where they are less visible tailor therapies to each individual ering how each piece fits into the and improve cosmetic outcomes. person,” said Molly Thomas, MD, he“Our goal is to treat the cancer approprioverall plan,” Dr. LeBlanc said. matology oncologist, Ochsner Cancer “When I speak with a patient, ately while also considering how the patient Center of Acadiana – Lafayette. I always tell them it is a fluid will recover and live with the results of surDr. Thomas said Ochsner physiprocess, and our conversation gery long after treatment is complete,” she cians evaluate numerous variables is based on the information we said. “I try to get to know their personal prefwhen developing a treatment plan. have that day. Things can change erences as well and take those into account.” Those include the cancer’s stage, Dr. Rivere said imbased on the results of another tumor size, location, whether it Molly Thomas, MD test or scan. I try to prepare proved breast imaging has spread to lymph nodes and Hematology Oncologist technology, including 3D them emotionally for the fluidcertain biological characterisOchsner Cancer Center mammography, contrast of Acadiana - Lafayette ity of the process.” tics like hormone involvement or enhanced mammograOchsner’s clinically integratgenetic markers. phy and breast MRI, has Those evaluations often begin with the ed partnership with MD Anderson Cancer changed how surgeons work of fellowship-trained breast radiolo- Center has also opened up more clinical triapproach their work. gists, Dr. Thomas said. These experts have al opportunities for breast cancer patients To d a y, surgeons extensive experience reviewing mammo- in Louisiana. Amy Rivere, MD begin a procedure with a “When someone is in Stage IV, grams, ultrasounds and breast MRIs, and Breast Surgical Oncologist much clearer picture of help guide discussions on the extent of the those trial treatments may save Ochsner MD Anderson Cancer cancer, the size of the tumor and its type. In their life or prolong their life unCenter in New Orleans how much cancer is present and where it is locatLafayette, their input is shared with a mul- til another treatment becomes tidisciplinary team of surgeons, medical available. I find that for my patients ed. That means less chance of subsequent oncologists and radiation oncologists, who with advanced disease, they are critical,” operations and a smoother process overall. “There are fewer times where the canthen meet with each patient in one coordi- Dr. LeBlanc said. “For early stage cancers, those trials can give us good information cer is underestimated prior to surgery,” she nated day of visits. said. “We use real-time images to make sure “The patient gets a good idea of the en- about potential side effects.” we remove all of the areas the radiologist intire treatment plan. I find that their anxiety dicated. It’s a gift to us and to patients to be lessens after we meet with them in the mul- Modern techniques bring able to use advanced imaging technology to tidisciplinary clinic and we take a proactive greater precision to surgery Surgery remains a core part of treatment make surgical decisions in real time. That’s approach in their care,” Dr. Thomas said. for most breast cancer patients, said Amy Ri- really what we mean when we talk about vere, MD, breast surgical oncologist, Ochs- coordinated multidisciplinary care.” Individualized treatments ner MD Anderson in New Orleans. Each offer new approaches to care Advances in targeted therapies and im- patient’s surgical plan is developed based Specialized expertise and munotherapies continue to expand treat- on their specific diagnosis, extent of the can- early detection strengthen ment possibilities for patients with different cer and personal preferences. Some patients treatment approaches O c h s n e r ’s i n t e g r a t i o n w i t h types of breast cancer. Kimberly LeBlanc, may undergo a lumpectomy, while a mastecMD Anderson provides another layer of MD, hematology oncologist, Ochsner tomy may be more appropriate for others. Dr. Rivere said that when she discusses specialized support. Ochsner physicians in MD Anderson Cancer Center in Baton By Amanda McElfresh amcelfresh@theadvocate.com

For the patient, the goal is coordinated care. Instead of looking at one part of treatment in isolation, we are considering how each piece ﬁts into the overall plan.

Kimberly LeBlanc, MD

Hematology Oncologist Ochsner MD Anderson Cancer Center in Baton Rouge

Baton Rouge and New Orleans can consult with MD Anderson clinicians and researchers on complex cases, and Ochsner MD Anderson’s eight locations, including those in New Orleans, Covington, Slidell and Baton Rouge, follow MD Anderson treatment protocols and practice standards. “ Wo r k i n g s o c l o s e l y w i t h MD Anderson has vastly expanded my network of colleagues in different areas of oncology. We consult them in particular for the rarest types of breast cancer, when the cancer doesn’t ﬁt into normal guidelines or is otherwise out of the ordinary. That is where it is extremely beneﬁcial,” Dr. LeBlanc said. “It also means all of our patients receive that advanced level of care close to home.” While breast cancer treatment continues to advance, early detection remains the most important way to improve outcomes. Recommendations call for women of average risk to begin annual mammograms at age 40. Women with higher risk factors should discuss screening with their doctor, as earlier tests may be recommended. Family history and genetic mutations can increase a woman’s risk of breast cancer, along with lifestyle choices. Maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, limiting alcohol consumption and eating a healthy diet can all help reduce risk. “As breast cancer treatment becomes increasingly personalized, Ochsner MD Anderson is bringing together advanced diagnostics, leading-edge therapies and a multidisciplinary team approach to ensure patients receive the right treatment at the right time close to home,” Dr. Rivere said.

Ochsner Health is the leading nonproﬁt healthcare provider in Louisiana, Mississippi and across the Gulf South, delivering expert care at its 47 hospitals and more than 370 health and urgent care centers. To learn more about how Ochsner empowers people to get well and stay well, visit ochsner.org.

6X ✦ Sunday, October 25, 2026 ✦ nola.com ✦ The Times-Picayune

lll

100+ specialists. One focus.You.

Melanie Sheen, MD Breast Medical Oncology

Alexa Elder, MD Breast Surgical Oncology

Cancer care works best when experts work together. At Ochsner MD Anderson Cancer Center, specialists across disciplines collaborate to guide every step of treatment, combining advanced medicine with personalized support for you and your family. Learn more at ochsner.org/EndCancer.

Alejandro Gimenez, MD Breast Plastic Surgery

SUNDAY, OctOber 25, 2026

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wonderword

scrabble grams

word game

directions: Make a 2- to 7-letter word from the letters in each row. Add points of each word, using scoring directions at right. Finally, 7-letter words get 50-point bonus. “Blanks” used as any letter have no point value. All the words are in the Official SCRABBLE® Players Dictionary, 5th Edition.

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

todAY's Word — MArMoset: MARmoh-set: A small monkey with claws instead of nails. Average mark 52 words Time limit 60 minutes Can you find 66 or more words in MARMOSET?

For more information on tournaments and clubs, email NASPA – North American SCRABBLE Players Association: info@scrabbleplayers.org. Visit our website: www.scrabbleplayers.org. For puzzle inquiries contact scrgrams@gmail.com. Hasbro and its logo SCRABBLE associated logo, the design of the distinctive SCRABBLE brand game card, and the distinctive letter tile designs are trademarks of Hasbro in the United States and Canada. ©2026 Hasbro. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

cryptoquote AxyDLBAAxR iS LONgFELLOW One letter stands for another. in this sample, A is used for the three L’s, x for the two O’s, etc. Single letters, apostrophes, the length and formation of the words are all hints. Each day the code letters are different.

AnsWers to ALL PuZZLes Are on inside BAcK PAGe

Sudoku

ken ken instructions: 1 - Each row and each column must contain the numbers 1 through 4 (easy) or 1 through 6 (challenging) without repeating. 2 - The numbers within the heavily outlined boxes, called cages, must combine using the given operation (in any order) to produce the target numbers in the top-left corners. 3 - Freebies: Fill in the single-box cages with the number in the top-left corner.

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 Conceptis Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday.

hidato directions: Complete the grid so that numbers 1–132 connect horizontally, vertically or diagonally.

AnsWers to ALL PuZZLes Are on inside BAcK PAGe

Los angeLes Times sunday Crossword puzzLe — Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis “Teasing does iT” By pam amiCK KLawiTTer aCross 1 Muted hue 7 “I’m off!” 12 Signs fraudulently 18 Queen of mystery 19 Like a major artery 20 “South Pacific” song 21 Light fare after a breakup? 23 Line judges? 24 Ramen mushroom 25 Caffeine-rich nut 27 Sleeveless tops 28 General vibe 32 Way out 36 Archaic possessive 37 __ penguin 40 Tree on the Lebanese flag 41 Curved paths 43 Haberdashery clip 44 Deal that generates interest 46 __ as a pin 48 Large med. facilities 51 Like the first little pig? 54 Save from ruin 56 Hit that clears the bases 57 Blokes 60 Enter traffic 61 Brazilian icon known as “The King of Football” 64 “Unstoppable” singer 65 Visual 67 Longtime language columnist William 68 Bird: Pref. 69 Best time of year to visit a pawn shop? 72 Afternoon

refresher 73 Pan coating 75 Fancy pitchers 76 Genetic letters 77 Some NCOs 78 Oscar winner Tatum 79 Play thing 80 Will, given a chance 82 Chemical variant 84 Golf club that’s almost too heavy to swing? 90 Like butter ready for whipping 91 Baby sheep 94 Dec. 25 95 Charcuterie slice 96 “Not That Fancy” writer McEntire 98 “Tiny Alice” playwright 100 Snippets of time 101 CBS forensic franchise 103 Over the moon 107 Part of a classroom lineup 108 76-Across strand shape 110 Unflappable 111 Drug cops 114 Put to work 116 One who makes relocating even harder than it already is? 123 Broadway honor 124 Paperless event notices 125 Over-the-top 126 Partake (in) 127 Barber’s tool 128 “You’ll love doing this!” down 1 Friskiness 2 Huntsville’s st. 3 Camera choice, initially 4 Vietnamese celebration 5 Source of some lake-effect snow 6 Swann who won four Super Bowls

with the Steelers 7 Sega hedgehog 8 Bullpen stat 9 Short “... need I go on?” 10 Went on and on and on 11 One who didn’t get a seat 12 Rage 13 “Last Week Tonight” host John 14 Formal ceremony 15 Task for a haunted house after Halloween? 16 Habitat for humanity 17 Actress Spacek 19 Satisfies one’s curiosity, in a way 20 Boyfriend 22 One on the move 26 Legends 28 Team whose mascot’s head is a baseball 29 Skip over 30 Abbr. on old phones 31 Primary event 33 Smoothie berry 34 Teller’s partner in magic 35 Bye line 38 Flirty growl 39 “Only the Lonely” singer 42 Staff symbol 44 Player coached by JJ Redick 45 Resource in Minecraft and Catan 47 Core muscles 49 Toddler, slangily 50 Brews 52 Like a large-scale tale or fail 53 Tumbler 55 Somali supermodel 58 Get old 59 Numbs, as pain 61 Local lingo 62 “Despite that ... “

63 Youngest sibling’s lot? 65 Likely to err 66 Ballpark fig. 67 Scoundrel 69 Graphic start 70 __ Jima 71 Hidden hiccup 74 Hot drink with foam art 77 Ready for the laundry 79 Shell game pellet 80 The Marlins, on scoreboards

goren Bridge

81 Zurich transport 83 Scheme 85 Chopped down 86 Jean Grey’s cohort 87 Wind indicator 88 911 responders: Abbr. 89 Board game played on a map 92 Bueno’s opposite 93 Late __ 97 Olympic sport since 1904 99 Luxury

wuzzLes

watchmaker bought by Citizen in 2008 100 “Jeopardy!” creator Griffin 101 Laundry slide 102 __ Hall University 104 Included, in a way 105 Baltimore’s __ Harbor 106 Bugs or badgers

109 “Heated Rivalry” role for Connor Storrie 112 Big Four bank name 113 Bank opening 115 “The Batman” actress Kravitz 117 To wit, for short 118 Skater Midori 119 Word in many California place names 120 DOJ division

121 “We’ll settle this later” letters 122 __ sequitur

super Quiz

Good choice

Take this Super Quiz to a Ph.D. Score 1 point for each correct answer on the Freshman Level, 2 points on the graduate Level and 3 points on the Ph.D. Level.

Today’s deal is from a match between a team from Turkey and a team from Spain. Most players with the North hand would insist on playing in spades after partner’s one no-trump opening. The Turkish North here was willing to settle for a no-trump contract. That was a good choice on this lie of the cards, as it is hard to see 10 tricks coming in a spade contract. South won the opening heart lead with his ace and led a spade to dummy’s jack, learning of the bad split. He ran the 10 of hearts to West’s jack and West exited with his last heart. South won and cashed his long heart, putting West under discarding pressure early in the deal. A diamond discard would allow South to lead a low diamond from his hand, coming to a second diamond trick whether West played the king or ducked. West chose to discard his low club. South led a low club from his hand to West’s now singleton ace. West reverted to spades, dummy’s 10 winning the trick. South might have discarded two diamonds on the ace-king of spades and led a club toward his queen for a ninth trick. Instead, he chose to play three rounds of spades, discard-

SUBJECT: PORTMANTEAU

7. Gidget

WORDS

Answer________

Identify the two words

8. Bananagrams

that are combined to make the given portmanteau word. (Exam-

Answer________ 9. Popsicle

ple: Yelp. Answer: Yel-

Answer________

low pages and help.)

10. Cockapoo Answer________

FRESHMAN LEVEL

ing all the clubs from his hand, and putting West back on lead with only diamonds in his hand. West led the king of diamonds, but South ducked, forcing another diamond lead and making his contract. Nicely done! Tannah Hirsch welcomes readers’ responses sent in care of this newspaper or to Tribune Content Agency inc., 2225 Kenmore Ave., Suite 114, Buffalo, Ny. 14207. E-mail responses may be sent to gorenbridge@ aol.com. © 2026 Tribune Content Agency

1. Amtrak

PH.D. LEVEL

Answer________

11. Pokémon

2. Stagflation

Answer________

12. Fluff

3. Microsoft

Answer________

13. Genome

4. Camcorder

Answer________

14. Prissy

5. Electrocute

Answer________

15. Infomercial Answer________

GRADUATE LEVEL 6. Dumbfound

ANSWERS TO ALL PUZZLES ARE ON NEXT PAGE

Answer________

zodiaC SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) Share your feelings and intentions. Don’t mince words or let anyone make decisions for you. Avoid poor behavior and people who are manipulative or misleading. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Fix up your space, learn something new, explore what’s available to you in your neighborhood or reach out to family and friends who can help you make your dreams come true. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Take a step back and rethink your next move. Reach out to someone you trust to point out the complications

your plans can unleash. Don’t limit what you can do for something that isn’t tangible. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Look before you initiate a change or commit to something that can sprout hidden costs. Elevate your position using caution and putting a plan in place that gives you more wiggle room to work with. PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) What you already have looks promising if you do your research and plan your actions carefully. Refuse to let someone with fewer scruples lead you to shortcuts that can end up costing you.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) Use your creativity to follow through with determination. Have a plan in place, and finish what you start. Engage in events that offer insight into career options. TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Put anger aside, and channel your energy into something you enjoy doing. Taking a break from life’s little aggravations will help you see obstacles differently. GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Study, plan and implement changes that encourage you to use the skills and talents you enjoy the most. Step outside your comfort zone,

and choose to use discipline and innovation to stand out. CANCER (June 21-July 22) If you stick to rules and regulations, it will be easier to bring about change. Protect your position, reputation and rights by making sure you finish what you start and keep everything up to date. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Set your sights on what you want to achieve. Research, then note what you can do to ensure you reach your goal. Learning is the key to opening doors that can help you advance. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Take a break to go over details, fact-check

and decide what’s feasible and what isn’t. The cost of something you want will have hidden costs. Don’t make premature decisions. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) Share your feelings, and direct your energy into relationships that you want to explore or take to the next level. A physical connection may lead you into a situation that lacks mental stimulation or compatibility. The horoscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact. © 2026 by NEA, inc., dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication

dustin / by Steve Kelley & Jeff Parker

Answers to puzzles super quiz 1. American and track. 2. Stagnation and inflation. 3. Microcomputer and software. 4. Camera and recorder. 5. Electric and execute. 6. Dumb and confound. 7. Girl and midget. 8. Bananas and anagrams. 9. Pop and icicle. 10. Cocker spaniel and poodle. 11. Pocket and monster. 12. Flue and puff. 13. Gene and chromosome. 14. Prim and fussy. 15. Information and commercial. SCORING: 24 to 30 points — congratulations, doctor; 18 to 23 points — honors graduate; 13 to 17 points — you’re plenty smart, but no grind; 5 to 12 points — you really should hit the books harder; 1 point to 4 points — enroll in remedial courses immediately; 0 points — who reads the questions to you?

Cryptoquote Answer Saturday's Cryptoquote: It looked like the world was covered in a cobbler crust of brown sugar and cinnamon. — Sarah Addison Allen

word GAme Answer maestro mare marmot mart maser mast master mate meat memo mesa meta metro moat more mores most

mote aero arms arose aster atom rate ream rest roam roast rose rote oast orate osar same

sate seam sear seat seta smart smear soar some sora sore sort stammer star stare steam stem

store storm stream east tame tamer tare taro team tear term tome tore tram tsar

sudoKu Answer jumble Answer

Crossword Answers

jeFF mACnelly’s shoe / by Gary Brookins & Susie MacNelly

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