The Advocate 03-30-2025

Yates elected St. George mayor

Home-rule charter rejected; District 4 seat will go to runoff

BY PATRICK SLOAN-TURNER Staff writer

In a landslide victory, voters af-

firmed Dustin Yates’ leadership Saturday night, electing the interim mayor to steer St. George for the next four years.

Yates defeated fellow Republican Jim Morgan by a margin of 30 percentage points, securing 65% of the vote over Morgan’s 35%.

“Here we are today, a day that we never thought would ever come,” Yates told supporters. “A day where I stand in front of you as the first elected mayor for the city of

St. George.”

However, voters rejected the home-rule charter he and other established St. George leaders supported, leaving key questions about how the city will operate unanswered

Appointed by Gov Jeff Landry last year, Yates campaigned on the importance of his continued leadership as the key to building St. George’s future. He has spent the past 11 years as chief administrative officer for the St. George Fire Department, and is the leader of a group of established candidates in the city of roughly 86,000 people.

Yates’ opponent, Jim Morgan, garnered endorsements from firefighter unions in both St. George and Baton Rouge shortly after qualifying but also saw his campaign swiftly face obstacles.

Morgan announced he would be dropping out of the race after The Advocate asked him about a prostitution charge to which he pleaded guilty in 1997. But a week later the candidate changed his mind and resurrected his campaign, blaming his opponent for the bad press.

Morgan’s messaging leaned on

Constitutional changes were supported by Gov. Jeff Landry

BY ALYSE PFEIL | Staff writer

Louisiana voters soundly rejected all four proposed amendments to the state constitution on Saturday, shutting the door on changes to courts, government finances, teacher pay increases, juvenile crime, and elections for judicial seats. With nearly 100% of the precincts in, all four amendments had received less than 40% of the vote.

The defeat of Amendment 2, a sprawling revision of the section of the constitution that deals with state taxes and budgeting, was a loss for Gov Jeff Landry, who had stumped across the state in support of the change. He couched it as part of his larger effort to make Louisiana’s tax system more attractive to business investment. Its failure also means teachers will likely not get a planned pay raise, and it may disrupt state lawmakers’ plans for the state budget they will soon need to craft for the upcoming fiscal year

With the failure of Amendment 3, Louisiana will

ä See AMENDMENTS, page 6A

New census estimates show small gains in capital region

But statewide, job growth far behind national average

BY CHRISTOPHER CARTWRIGHT

On the heels of an announced

investment in

Donaldsonville and an appeal to the state treasurer to update Livingston Parish’s population numbers, newly released census estimates add to the optimism for the capital region’s future.

Data released March 13 by the

U.S. Census Bureau shows a population increase across the capital region from July 2023 to July 2024. The bureau estimated population

gains in East Baton Rouge Parish for the first time in years. Livingston and Ascension parishes continued their trend of adding residents, with Livingston growing by around 1.5% to an estimated 152,886 people, and an estimated 1.2% increase for Ascension.

Officials and those involved in the region’s business community are excited. However, the data also shows that nearly two-thirds of Louisiana parishes saw a population decline. Allison Plyer, chief demographer for New Orleans-based nonprofit The Data Center, cautioned that the state has been losing population in recent years and that the bureau’s recent methodological changes might account for the estimated growth.

“One year does not make a trend,” she said. “The recent estimates are very much subject to change, and if they are accurate, what the conclusion is is that the growth is entirely due to international immigration, which is very likely to be greatly diminished in the next set of estimates.”

EL EC TI ON 20 25

STAFF PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK

St George mayor-elect Dustin yates, center, greets Andrew Murrell before addressing supporters during an election night party for elected officials for the city of St. George at the Renaissance Hotel in Baton Rouge on Saturday.

STAFF PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS Voting clerk Will Clancy opens the curtain for Charlotte, 4, to join her mother Megan Gibbens, in the voting booth as she reaches out to grab her hand at East Baton Rouge Parish Library on Saturday.

Taliban release woman held in Afghanistan

WASHINGTON An American woman detained for weeks in Afghanistan by the Taliban has been released from custody according to a person familiar with the matter and a social media post Saturday from a longtime U.S. diplomat.

Faye Dail Hall, who was detained in February on charges of using a drone without authorization, was released as part of a deal that Qatari negotiators helped broker, said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the negotiations.

The person said that Hall was taken to the Qatari Embassy in Kabul, the Afghan capital, and was in good health, and that arrangements were being made for her to return to the U.S. In a post on X, a former U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, confirmed Hall’s release and said she would “soon be on her way home.”

Few details were immediately available Saturday, including why she was in Afghanistan or how long or the circumstances of her detention

Musk sells X to his own xAI for $33B in stock

Elon Musk has sold social media site X to his own xAI artificial intelligence company in a $33 billion all-stock deal, the billionaire announced on Friday

Both companies are privately held, which means they are not required to disclose their finances to the public.

Musk said in a post on X that the move will “unlock immense potential by blending xAI’s advanced AI capability and expertise with X’s massive reach.”

He said the deal values xAI at $80 billion and X at $33 billion Musk, who serves as CEO of Tesla and SpaceX as well as an adviser to President Donald Trump, bought the site then called Twitter for $44 billion in 2022, gutted its staff and changed its policies on hate speech, misinformation and user verification and renamed it X.

He launched xAI a year later

FCC commissioner opens probe into Disney, ABC

President Donald Trump’s Federal Communications Commission chief said Friday he’s opening an investigation into the Walt Disney Co. and its ABC television network to see whether they are “promoting invidious forms of DEI discrimination,” referring to its diversity, equity and inclusion policies.

FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr announced the probe in a letter to Disney CEO Robert Iger on Friday The company said it was reviewing the letter and looking forward to answering the commission’s questions.

“For decades, Disney focused on churning out box office and programming successes,” Carr wrote to Iger “Disney has now become embroiled in rounds of controversy surrounding its DEI policies.”

Last month Axios reported that Disney had made some policy changes, including eliminating a website designed to highlight personalities and stories from underrepresented communities.

Disney also softened messages that appeared before movies like “Dumbo” and “Peter Pan,” Axios said. Instead of warnings that the films include “negative depictions and/or mistreatment of peoples or culture,” the messages changed to “this program is presented as originally created and may contain stereotypes or negative depictions.”

Carr’s letter linked to an article by conservative activist Christopher Rufo describing Disney as “the wokest place on Earth.”

Some examples Carr cited go back several years, such as a one-time policy at ABC that at least 50% of characters in TV pilots be from underrepresented groups.

CORRECTION

share of energy production. It is responsible for 97% of U.S. offshore oil and gas production.

Serbians rally outside pro-government station

BY JOVANA GEC Associated Press

BELGRADE, Serbia Thousands of people rallied outside a progovernment television station in Serbia on Saturday accused of a propaganda campaign against university students behind months of anti-corruption protests rattling populist President Aleksandar Vucic.

Informer TV is among mainstream media outlets in Serbia loyal to Vucic and his right-wing government. Informer TV and tabloid newspaper have repeatedly branded student protesters as extremists during nearly five months of almost daily street demonstrations.

Protests have been peaceful, but pro-government media have accused organizers of fueling violence and seeking to overthrow the government under orders from abroad. They have provided no evidence to support those statements.

“For months now, ever since the blockades started we have been their target, we have been constantly smeared in the media,” student Ivona Markovic said.

The protests started after a concrete canopy collapsed in November at a train station in northern Serbia, killing 16 people. The tragedy drew focus on rampant government corruption, triggering demands for accountability and political changes.

Protests have put pressure on an increasingly authoritarian Vucic, who is formally seeking European Union membership for Serbia but maintains close relations with Russia and China.

Vucic has promised a “counterrevolution” against the protests. Authorities have threatened legal action against university professors, including calls for the arrest of Vladan Djokic, the head dean at Belgrade University

On Saturday, Vucic visited a camp of his loyalists outside the presidency building, including a group of pro-government university students He said that “those who introduced anarchy” at the university would be held to account.

Student protests have drawn hundreds of thousands of people, striking a chord among citizens who have been largely disillu-

sioned with politicians.

Wearing protective white suits, several students symbolically staged a “decontamination” performance outside the Informer TV building A “wall of shame” displayed Informer’s headlines about the protests in the past months, including one alleging protest plans for a “bloody coup.”

Students also launched a petition to limit the television station’s access to broadcasting frequencies. The protest dubbed “DisInformer” was set to last for six hours.

“This is a media war between Informer and students, between lies and truth, abuse of power and resistance,” the students said. “They (Informer) do not inform, they persecute.”

Informer on Saturday received support from top government officials, including the defense minister The newspaper described the protest outside its building as a “hostage crisis.”

Informer is widely watched and read in Serbia, where independent media have faced limited visibility and where critical journalists have complained of pressure, hate campaigns and lawsuits.

Top vaccine official quits, criticizes ‘misinformation’

Dr. Peter Marks coined ‘Operation Warp Speed’

BY MICHAEL CASEY and MATTHEW PERRONE Associated Press

WASHINGTON The top vaccine official with the Food and Drug Administration has resigned and criticized the nation’s top health official for allowing “misinformation and lies” to guide his thinking behind the safety of vaccinations.

though during his Senate confirmation hearings he seemed to say he would not undermine vaccines.

Since becoming secretary, Kennedy has vowed to scrutinize the safety of childhood vaccinations, despite decades of evidence they are safe and have saved millions of lives.

Marks oversaw the agency’s rapid review and approval of COVID-19 vaccines and treatments during the pandemic.

Doctor cites the pope’s ‘surprising improvement’

BY COLLEEN BARRY and TRISHA THOMAS Associated Press

ROME Pope Francis has shown “a truly surprising improvement” since returning to the Vatican to convalesce after surviving a life-threatening bout with double-pneumonia, the doctor who coordinated the pontiff’s five-week hospitalization said Saturday

“I find him very lively,” Dr Sergio Alfieri said, after visiting the pope at his apartment in the Santa Marta Domus on Wednesday, three days after his release from Rome’s Gemelli hospital. “I believe that he will return if not to 100%, 90% of where he was before.” Alfieri said the pope’s voice was regaining strength, and that his reliance on supplemental oxygen has decreased. The limited mobility of his arm was due to an unspecified trauma he sustained before being hospitalized, and that will take time to heal, Alfieri said.

The 88-year-old pope was hospitalized on Feb. 14 after a long bout with bronchitis that left him breathless at times, and which quickly developed into double pneumonia and revealed a polymicrobial (viral, bacterial and fungal) respiratory infection Throughout the ordeal, doctors emphasized the complexity of his condition, given his age, lack of mobility requiring a wheelchair, and the removal of part of a lung as a young man. Alfieri repeated that he didn’t think the pope would make it after a severe respiratory crisis a week after being hospitalized, and he informed the pope that a “decisive” treatment necessary to save him would put his organs at risk.

“He gave his consent, and then he looked a Massimiliano Streppetti, whom he named his personal health assistant who assumed the responsibility to say, ‘We approve everything,” said Alfieri. Alfieri preferred to describe the treatment as “decisive,” and not aggressive, and emphasized that no extraordinary, lifeextending measures were ever taken.

While Francis beat the double pneumonia in the hospital, Alfieri said he is continuing to treat the fungal infection, which he said will take months to resolve.

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Dr Peter Marks sent a letter to Acting FDA Commissioner Sara Brenner on Friday saying that he would resign and retire by April 5 as director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research In his letter, which was obtained by The Associated Press, Marks said he was “willing to work” to address the concerns expressed by Robert F. Kennedy Jr about the safety of vaccinations. But he concluded that wasn’t possible.

“It has become clear that truth and transparency are not desired by the Secretary, but rather he wishes subservient confirmation of his misinformation and lies,” he wrote.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services did not respond to a request for comment.

Marks was offered the choice of resigning or being fired by Kennedy according to a former FDA official familiar with the discussions, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he didn’t have permission to discuss the matter publicly Kennedy has a long history of spreading anti-vaccine misinformation, al-

Marks is credited with coining the name and concept for “Operation Warp Speed,” the effort under President Donald Trump to rapidly manufacture vaccines while they were still being tested for safety and efficacy The initiative cut years off the normal development process.

Despite the project’s success, Trump repeatedly lashed out at the FDA for not approving the first COVID shots even sooner Trump told confidants after his 2020 loss that he would have been reelected if the vaccine had been available before Election Day

The resignation followed news Friday that HHS plans to lay off 10,000 workers and shut down entire agencies, including ones that oversee billions of dollars in funds for addiction services and community health centers across the country

In a post on social media Thursday, Kennedy criticized the department he oversees as an inefficient “sprawling bureaucracy.” He also faulted the department’s 82,000 workers for a decline in Americans’ health.

Marks, who could not be reached for comment, also raised concerns in his letter about “efforts currently being advanced by some on the adverse health effects of vaccination are concerning” as well as the “unprecedented assault on scientific truth that has adversely impacted public health in our nation.”

Informer TV accused of propaganda campaign against

Earthquake death toll rises above 1,600

Resistance forces announce partial ceasefire

BY GRANT PECK and JINTAMAS SAKSORNCHAI Associated Press

BANGKOK A unilateral partial ceasefire to facilitate earthquake relief efforts was announced on Saturday by Myanmar’s shadow National Unity Government, which coordinates the popular struggle against the ruling military The country’s death toll from the disaster soared to 1,644. The figure was a sharp rise compared to the 1,002 announced just hours earlier, highlighting the difficulty of confirming casualties over a widespread region and the likelihood that the numbers will continue to grow from Friday’s 7.7-magnitude quake. The number of injured increased to 3,408, while the missing figure rose to 139.

In neighboring Thailand, the death toll increased to 10. The quake rocked the greater Bangkok area, home to around 17 million people, and other parts of the country Many places in the north reported damage, but the only casualties were reported in Bangkok, the capital.

Nine of the fatalities were at the site of the collapsed high-rise under construction near Bangkok’s Chatuchak market, while 78 people were still unaccounted for On Saturday, more heavy equipment was brought in to move the tons of rubble, but hope was fading among friends and relatives.

“I was praying that that they had survived, but when I got here and saw the ruin — where could they be?” said 45-year-old Naruemol Thonglek, sobbing as she awaited news about her partner, who is from Myanmar, and five friends who worked at the site. In Myanmar, rescue ef-

forts so far are focused on the major stricken cities of Mandalay, the country’s No. 2 city and Naypyitaw the capital.

But even though teams and equipment have been flown in from other nations, they are hindered by damage to airports. Satellite photos from Planet Labs PBC analyzed by The Associated Press show that the earthquake toppled the air traffic control tower at Naypyitaw International Airport as if sheared from its base.

It wasn’t immediately clear if there had been any casualties from its collapse.

Another major complication is the civil war roiling much of the country, including the quake-affected areas. In 2001, the military seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, sparking what has since turned into significant armed resistance. Government forces have lost control of much of Myanmar, and many places are incredibly dangerous or simply impossible for aid groups to reach. More than 3 million people have been displaced by the fighting

and nearly 20 million are in need, according to the United Nations.

The interplay of politics and disaster was demonstrated Saturday night, when Myanmar’s shadow National Unity Government announced a unilateral partial ceasefire to facilitate earthquake relief efforts.

It said its armed wing, the People’s Defense Force, will implement a two-week pause in offensive military operations starting Sunday in earthquake-affected areas and it would also collaborate with the U.N. and international nongovernmental organizations “to ensure security transportation, and the establishment of temporary rescue and medical camps,” in the areas it controls. The resistance organization said it reserved the right to fight back in defense if attacked.

The earthquake struck midday Friday with an epicenter not far from Mandalay, followed by several aftershocks, including one measuring 6.4. It sent buildings in many areas toppling to the ground, buckled roads and caused bridges to col-

lapse.

In Naypyitaw, crews

worked Saturday to repair damaged roads, while electricity, phone and internet services remained down for most of the city The earthquake brought down many buildings, including multiple units that housed government civil servants, but that section of the city was blocked off by authorities on Saturday

An initial report on earthquake relief efforts issued Saturday by the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said that it’s allocating $5 million from a Central Emergency Response Fund for “lifesaving assistance.”

The immediate planned measures include a convoy of 17 cargo trucks carrying critical shelter and medical supplies from China that is expected to arrive on Sunday, it said.

It noted the severe damage or destruction of many

health facilities, and warned of a “severe shortage of medical supplies is hampering response efforts, including trauma kits, blood bags, anaesthetics, assistive devices, essential medicines, and tents for health workers.”

Myanmar’s friends and neighbors have already brought in rescue personnel and relief materials. China and Russia are the largest suppliers of weapons to Myanmar’s military, and were among the first to step in with humanitarian aid. China said it has sent more than 135 rescue personnel and experts along with supplies like medical kits and generators, and pledged around $13.8 million in emergency aid. Russia’s Emergencies Ministry said that it had flown in 120 rescuers and supplies, and the country’s Health Ministry said Moscow had sent a medical team to Myanmar

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Myanmar rescuers search for survivors of Friday’s earthquake beneath a damaged building in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, on Saturday.

Columbia University’s interim president steps down

Will return to post at New york school’s medical center

By The Associated Press

NEW YORK Columbia University’s interim president Katrina Armstrong has resigned, returning to her post running the New York school’s medical center

Armstrong’s return to her former job as CEO of Columbia University’s Irving Medical Center comes days after Columbia agreed to a host of policy changes demanded by the Trump administration as a condition of restoring $400 million in government funding.

In a statement published on the Columbia University website Friday, Armstrong said she was proud to have led the university during an “important and challenging time.”

“But my heart is with sci-

ence and my passion is with healing. That is where I can best serve this University and our community moving forward,” she wrote.

Armstrong had stepped into the role in August after the previous president, Minouche Shafik, resigned following scrutiny of her handling of protests and campus divisions over the Israel-Hamas war

The university’s trustees appointed the co-chair of their board, Claire Shipman, as acting president while the search for a permanent replacement continues.

Armstrong led the university through some of the most fraught months in its long history

The move by President Donald Trump’s administration to strip the university and its hospital of research funding, on the grounds that it hadn’t done enough to combat antisemitism or punish students who participated in pro-Palestinian demonstrations last year, created what many consid-

ered an existential crisis.

The university quickly capitulated, agreeing to a list of administration demands. Among the new changes, Columbia agreed to review its admissions policies, ban protesters from wearing masks, bar demonstrations from academic buildings and to put its Middle East studies department under the supervision of a new senior provost with a mandate to review its leadership and curriculum.

The school’s acquiescence was condemned by some faculty members and free speech advocates, with Donna Lieberman, the executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, saying it “endangers academic freedom and campus expression nationwide.”

U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon said the university was “on the right track” but has not yet indicated whether funding might be restored leaving researchers at the school — many from the medical

center in a state of limbo.

In recent weeks, the Trump administration has moved to deport several Columbia students who participated in demonstrations as it cracks down on noncitizens involved in pro-Palestinian activism on campuses.

Two of those students, Mahmoud Khalil and Yunseo Chung, are lawful U.S residents who were involved in demonstrations at the campus and are now fighting in court to stay in the country Immigration agents arrested Khalil at his university-owned apartment, and have searched other residences on the school’s campus.

The new acting president, Shipman, was a correspondent for ABC News, NBC News and CNN over a long career in journalism, covering the White House and Russia, among other beats. She has written several books on women’s leadership.

Trump commutes the sentence of Carlos Watson

Was co-founder of Ozy Media

BY CHRIS MEGERIAN Associated Press

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. Pres-

ident Donald Trump commuted the sentence of Ozy Media co-founder Carlos Wa Friday, just before Wa due to report prison for 10-year in a financial spiracy case.

Watson victed last in a close that showcased the implosion of an ambitious startup company at a time of turmoil in the media industry He had been ordered to surrender to prison on Friday Watson thanked the president in a statement and blasted the judge who sentenced him as “conflicted and unethical.”

“I am profoundly grateful to President Trump for correcting this grave injustice,” Watson said Trump has aggressively used his presidential power to commute sentences and issue pardons for people who he believes were treated unfairly by the justice system. The president himself was convicted last year in a case involving hush money payments, part of what he has described as a politically motivated witch hunt against him.

Watson’s commutation was among a string of other acts of clemency revealed by the White House on Friday They included Trevor Milton, the founder of electric vehicle company Nikola, who had

been sentenced to four years for fraudulently exaggerating the potential of his technology and was pardoned; and three entrepreneurs who founded and helped run the cryptocurrency exchange BITMEX, which was ordered to pay a $100 million fine earlier this year after prosecutors said it lly flouted ti-money laundering laws revenue.” been sento probawere also s founded on a premproviding a fresh, sophisticated-but-notstuffy take on politics, culture and more — billed as “the new and the next” — while amplifying minority and marginalized voices.

It announced it was shutting down in fall 2021 less than a week after a New York Times column raised questions about the media organization’s claims of millions of viewers and readers while also pointing out a potential case of securities fraud.

Watson was arrested in February 2023 after two of the company’s top executives pleaded guilty to fraud charges.

Prosecutors said Watson deceived investors and lenders by inflating revenue numbers and suggesting deals were final when they were not At one point, Watson’s co-founder pretended to be a YouTube executive on a phone call with potential investors, according to prosecutors.

After Watson’s sentencing, then-Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Breon Peace said the jury had determined that “Watson was a

con man who told lie upon lie upon lie to deceive investors into buying stock in his company.”

Ozy Media “collapsed under the weight of Watson’s dishonest schemes,” Peace said.

But Watson, who is Black, called the case “a modern lynching” and argued that he was the victim of “selective prosecution.”

“I made mistakes. I’m very, very sorry that people are hurt, myself included,” Watson said, but “I don’t think it’s fair.”

U.S District Judge Eric Komitee, a Trump appointee, said during sentencing that the “quantum of dishonesty in this case is exceptional.”

Watson held degrees from Harvard University and Stanford Law School, worked on Wall Street, had on-air gigs at CNN and MSNBC, and boasted entrepreneurial chops.

Ozy Media was his second startup, coming a decade after he sold a testprep company that he had founded in his 20s.

Mountain View, California-based Ozy produced TV shows newsletters, podcasts and a musicand-ideas festival. Watson hosted several of the TV programs, including the Emmy-winning “Black Women OWN the Conversation,” which appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Network.

Ozy snagged big advertisers, clients and grants But beneath the outward signs of success was an overextended company that struggled — and dissembled — to stay afloat after 2017, according to insiders’ testimony

The company strained to make payroll, ran late on rent and took out pricey

Shipman said in a statement she is assuming the role “with a clear understanding of the serious challenges before us and a steadfast commitment to act with urgency, integrity, and work with our faculty to advance our mission, implement needed reforms, protect our students, and uphold academic freedom and open inquiry.”

She added that when a permanent president is chosen, that person will “conduct an appropriate review of the University’s leadership team and structure to ensure we are best positioned for the future.” Whoever accepts the role permanently will have to navigate between the demands of the Trump administration and ongoing protests from students upset about the war in Gaza and emerging restrictions on free speech.

cash advances to pay bills, former finance vice president Janeen Poutre told jurors. Meanwhile Ozy gave prospective investors much bigger revenue numbers than those it reported to accountants, according to testimony and documents.

Twohundred SouthLouisiana families recently walked away with $50worth offreegroceries from Ralph’sMarket in Gonzales,courtesyofPelican State Credit Union.

ExcitedshopperslinedupforthePelican Pays giveaway as earlyas7 a.m. In addition to free groceriesand Pelicanbags, Pelicanteammembers greetedshoppers outsidethe storewithexclusive Pelican cups androuxspoons.

“Thisparticularevent requires alot of people to help out,”saidLeigh Porta, Pelican’sChief Growth Officer. “It’san exciting opportunity in particular for ourbackoffice teamstomeetwiththe public.Wehavea lotofteammembers from departmentslikecompliance, risk management andaccountingwho areabletoget outofthe office fora day, andtheylovethat. We’relucky to have greatpeoplewho arealwaysexcited to give back.”

Portasaidthe events nowknown as PelicanPaysbegan severalyears ago when employees andleaderswould stop into localrestaurants andcoffee shopsto buymeals for allcustomers. Today, the programhas been formalizedwiththe cooperationoflocalbusinesses, including Ralph’sMarket.

“One of thebestthingsabout working

for Pelicanisthatnoideaistoo big,” Portasaid. “Thisstarted with some folks sharingideas andthinkingthiswould be somethinggreat forthe community. We love this direct form of community supportthathas an immediateimpact on people.”

Portaadded that outreach events like PelicanPaysare aperfect example of thecompany’s “boots on theground philosophy when it comestocommunity support.

“Wefeelthatisthe bestway to earn thetrust of thecommunity,” shesaid “We’re neverjustgoing to sponsor an eventwhere ournameorlogoison a banner.Wewanttobethere volunteering andhelping out. We feel it is much more rewardingtoshowour dedication with action rather than just words.”

PelicanState Credit Unionserves membersacrossthenationandhasmultiple locationsthroughoutLouisiana.Pelican workswithmembers in everystage of theirlives with awidearray of financial programs andcompetitive products.As a designated CommunityDevelopmental FinancialInstitution (CDFI),Pelican is committedtoprovidingfinancialsolutions to individuals, families,and communities in underservedmarkets.Tolearn more, visitpelicanstatecu.com.

Hidden gems: How nine Louisianamuseums attract global visitors,preservehistory and boost localeconomies

By Amanda McElfresh,amcelfresh@theadvocate.com

Thisarticle is broughttoyou by theLouisiana SecretaryofState’s Office

Last year,Secretary of StateNancy Landry was on avisit to theDelta MusicMuseuminFerriday when shemet agroup of visitors from Norway.The travelers hadmadetheir wayacrossthe Atlantic Oceantothe smalltownonthe MississippiRiver forone reason –toexplore themuseumthatpays homage to bluegrass, gospel,blues androckabilly.

“I thoughtthatwas agreat example of theimpactthese museumshave on theircommunities,” Landry said.“In addition to beingagreat placefor localchildrenand adults to learnabout Louisianahistory they attractvisitorsfromall over theworld.Those visitors eatinthe localrestaurants andshopinlocal stores.That’sgoodfor theeconomies inthese areas, especially since many of thesemuseums areinour smaller towns.

In fact,upto40percent of thevisitors to theDelta MusicMuseumare from othercountries,saidmuseum director ShaunDavis.The museum centersits exhibits around cousins andFerridaynatives JerryLee Lewis, Mickey Gilley andJimmy Swaggart,eachofwhombecame famous musicians. Davissaidmost visitors arefansofatleast oneofthe performers,but endupleaving the museum with newfound knowledge aboutother popularartists

“Onceyoustarttodigalittledeeper, youunderstandhow much music, especially earlyrockand roll,was generatedfromthispartofLouisiana,”Davis said.“People come here forone exhibitthey’ve read about online,but they arealwaysamazed at ourdiversity.Anyonewho hasan interest in music, no matter where they arefrom, arecomingbecause they want to seeanimportant birthplaceofAmericanmusic.”

TheDelta MusicMuseumisone of nineinLouisiana that operate underthe SecretaryofState’s office becausetheyalign with itsmission to preserve,present andmakeaccessiblegovernmentinformation.The office hasamuseums division,led by Thomas Carmody. Each museum hasanindividualdirector, and many have localvolunteer groups that commit themselves to regular upkeep,fundraising andmarketing Each museum hasfreeadmission, andsomerentthe venues for events to createastreamofself-generated funds. Donationsare also accepted

“I can’t tell youhow many times people come to amuseumand the first thingtheyask is theadmission price. That blowsthemawaywhen we sayit’sfree,”Carmody said.“Once they tour thesite, they askwhere the donation boxis. That creates anice senseofaccomplishmentbecause thevisitorsrecognizethatthisisa placeworth supporting.”

askfor in termsoffunding, coordinating between themuseums andstate agenciesand workingwith thelocal groups aboutwaystoenhance theirexhibits andeducation.”

At theGermantownColonyMuseum, many volunteerswho overseethe site,which includes several original buildingsthatdatebacknearly200 years,

In BatonRouge,the OldGovernor’sMansion is anothersitethatdraws visitors from around the world, many of whom have heardofthe exploits of Huey Long andwanttosee thehomethatwas built forhim in theearly 1930s. Thebuildingwas home to nineLouisiana governors, includingLong, and features ahiddenstaircase,grand ballroom,watercooled solarium,RoseGarden and areplica of theOvalOffice

TheGermantownMuseumnearMindenoffersinsight into earlycommunallivingwith originalbuildingsand artifacts.

“Therearesomanystoriesabout Huey Long andwhata character he was. We findthatthe interest people have in him is agateway forthemtowanttovisit andlearn aboutmoreLouisianahistory,”said Dr.Sinella Aghasi,who oversees themansion.“We’retryingtotap into that more by building more educationalprograms, including alecture series foradultsand sessions tailored for K-12 students Oneofour goalsistoattract more families andhelpparents instill aloveofmuseums andhistory in theirchildren.”

Landry said theSecretary of State’sofficeregularly receives positive feedback on themuseums’ management,quality andoverall operations.While some otherstate leadershavediscussed moving the museumsfromthe Secretaryof State’soffice to another department,Landrysaidshe feelsthis wouldbeamistake,one that may notresultinany financial savings andmay requirethe hiringofmore than 200new employees

“I thinkitwould be adisservice to thetaxpayers of Louisiana,” Landry said.“We manage these museumswell. Theemployees visitors andcommunity members arehappy with howthingsare now.I haven’theard of anyofthem wantingtomovetheir museum to anotheragency.”

Rather,the museum directors andsupportersare lookingfor ways to expand theirsites’impact on theircommunities.Davis said he waspleased with thedesignation of theFerridayDowntown EntertainmentDistrict, apolitical subdivisioncreatedforcooperative economic developmentpurposes. Hishopeisthatthe DeltaMusic Museum will become acatalyst in that district to spur investment andspendinginother businesses

Located in Lake Providence,the LouisianaCottonMuseumhas artifacts, farming tools, and exhibitsoncotton production’s impact on theeconomy andculture

AsidefromtheDeltaMusicMuseum, theother sitesunder theSecretary of State’sOffice arethe EddieG Robinson Museum in Grambling, theGermantownColony Museum in Minden,the LouisianaState Cotton Museum in Lake Providence,the LouisianaState ExhibitMuseumin Shreveport, Louisiana’sOld StateCapitolinBaton Rouge, theLouisiana StateOil andGas Museum in OilCity, theMansfieldFemaleCollege Museum in Mansfield andthe OldGovernor’sMansion in BatonRouge

“Thisisnot aprofit-drivenventure,” Carmodysaid. “These aremuseums establishedbypeoplewho live in thesecommunities andoperatedthemuntil the job became toobig forthem.That’swhere we come in.The statelegislature,inits generosity,appropriates fundstooperate andstaff thesemuseums.The Division of Administration hasdonea good job in thelastfew yearsinaddressingdeferredmaintenance. My role includes determiningwhatwecan

aredescendants of theoriginalsettlers. LarryHock, wholeads theFriends of theGermantownColony Museum,saidthe grouphandles minorrepairs and beautification, whilethe statepitches in forlarger work like grass-cuttingand majormaintenance projects,including recently putting newroofs on twobuildings

“Wesee tourists from alloverthe worldand alot of people from differentstates,”Hocksaid. “You just don’t seea lotoflog cabins from the1830s in Louisiana. It’s averyuniquepiece of history. Theback porchofthe museum is probably oneofthe most scenic spots in NorthLouisiana.It’ssopeaceful andquiet.You look across thebig pastureand get asense that maybe this is what it waslikebackin the1800s whenthe original settlers were on this same land.”

“Thisdesignation meansmore potentialforgrantsandbondmoney to starttoredevelop some of the architecture here that is just waitingtoberevived,” Davissaid. “Our visitors arealwaysaskingabout places to eat nearby.We’dloveto help people developrestaurants perhaps an art gallery, or maybe even extend ourown museum There’sreasonfor optimism.We know we bringfolks downtown, so we want to take advantageof that to help therestofthe community.”

Carmodysaidheisworking with themuseums to findwaystoincorporate more technology into thevisitor experiences.Thatmay mean having QR codesinfront of artifactsand exhibits,which visitors couldscanwiththeir phones to learnmore details. Thereisalsothe option formoreinteractive exhibits andmultimediapresentations

“I wouldlovetosee themuseums be able to tell theirstory in amoreelectronicway becausesomuch of today’scommunication is acrossthatmedium,” Carmodysaid. “Whatwedoissoimportant because we arethe face of Louisianatothe people that walk into ourmuseums.Wewanttomakesureweare reachingthemina waythatismeaningful and accessible.”

Exhibits at theDelta MusicMuseuminFerriday, La.showcasethe historyofvarious genres, including rock,blues andcountry

Continued from page 1A

his opposition to the homerule charter, which he said should not be passed in its current state

He believed St. George should not have a city manager, and the city’s first elected leaders should appoint a commission to write the charter after they are sworn in later this year

Yates, on the other hand, campaigned for the charter hand-in-hand with his own bid for mayor, believing the document gives St. George residents exactly what they wanted through checks and balances not present in local governments like that of Baton Rouge.

“In my opinion, a delay on (the charter) is a delay in the future progress of the city,” Yates said.

Home Rule charter fails

Voters rejected the home

AMENDMENTS

Continued from page 1A

not see an increase in the number of felony crimes for which teenagers can be charged as adults, a change that had been sought by some tough-on-crime lawmakers but decried by youth and criminal justice advocates Louisiana will not see the creation of new regional or statewide specialty courts with the rejection of Amendment 1. And the rejection of Amendment 4 means that the timing of elections to fill vacant or newly created judicial seats will not change. Here is what the failed amendments sought to change in the Louisiana Constitution.

Amendment 1

State lawmakers would have gained the power to create regional and statewide specialty courts, examples of which include drug, mental health and veterans courts Currently, legislators can only create specialty courts within a parish or a judicial district.

Amendment 1 would have also clarified that, under the Louisiana Constitution, the state Supreme Court has authority over disciplinary cases involving misconduct by out-of-state attorneys doing legal work in Louisiana. The current constitutional language says the Supreme Court has authority over “disciplinary proceedings against a member of the bar.” Proponents said the amendment would give state lawmakers flexibility to set up needed legal forums like business courts and ensure the state can punish bad actors who don’t live here. Opponents, however, said those pushing for the broader jurisdictional limits for courts hadn’t revealed exactly which kinds of courts they wanted to create nor the real reason behind the change.

nificant opposition since the start of the year Critics took issue with the fact that it was written by a commission created by unelected leaders.

Morgan and nearly every candidate outside of established leaders in St. George have taken a stance against the home-rule charter, with some saying the mayor should have more power than this plan of government prescribes.

At-large City Council candidate Bill Johannessen said the provisions in the document would have made it nearly impossible for an amendment to be enacted.

more power by barring the council from raising property taxes without a majority vote from residents, a major difference from its neighboring government in Baton Rouge.

“We in St. George felt like that was a taxation without your expressed representation and was unacceptable,” Murrell said.

With the charter failing, St. George will now operate under Louisiana’s default form of government defined under the Lawrason Act.

runoff

Dellucci led with 28% of the vote in the five-candidate race, Talbot finished in second with 23% and Wyche finished third with 20%. Bill Johannessen, a Republican, tallied 15% and Scott Emonet finished with 13%.

District 4 council runoff

rule charter, with 55% voting against the proposed plan of government for the city

Written by a commission of 11, the home rule charter would have created a government in St. George unique to Louisiana under a

Amendment 2

This amendment would have restructured one of the 14 articles of the Louisiana Constitution that governs state taxes and finance.

The legislation itself included dozens of changes. But at a broad level, Amendment 2 would have given state lawmakers more power to decide which revenue streams should fund government and how to spend those funds

This would have been accomplished by moving some of the state’s tax and budgeting policies out of the constitution, where any policy change requires voter approval, and into state statute, which can be changed by lawmakers without a vote of the people.

Some constitutionally protected education trust funds would have been liquidated, and approximately $2 billion would have gone toward paying down a portion of debt in the Teachers’ Retirement System of Louisiana. Savings from that debt payment would have funded a $2,000 salary increase for teachers and $1,000 salary increase for support staff.

The amendment would have made it more difficult for lawmakers to create new tax-break programs by requiring a two-thirds vote of the Legislature rather than a simple majority New property tax exemptions would have needed a three-fourths vote.

Seniors age 65 and older would have been eligible to double their standard income tax deduction.

A constitutional cap on the state individual income tax rate will not decrease from 4.75% to 3.75%, nor will a constitutional limit be placed on how much state government can increase spending from one year to the next.

Proponents said Amendment 2 would streamline government and allow legislators to change economic development policies that are holding back the state. Opponents argued the policy changes would hurt the average individual taxpayer, and voters couldn’t truly understand

hybrid system that features a city council, city manager and mayor Many of the responsibilities assigned to mayors under a system like Baton Rouge would have been assigned to the city manager

The charter faced sig-

the policy implications of the complicated amendment.

Amendment 3

This proposed amendment would have allowed state lawmakers to expand the list of crimes for which juveniles age 16 and younger could be treated as adults in the criminal court system.

Currently juveniles can only be charged as adults for 16 specific felonies listed in the constitution, most of which are violent offenses like murder and rape.

Amendment 3 would have thrown out that list and allowed lawmakers to choose to have juveniles charged as adults for any felony offense.

Proponents said the change would help legislators respond more effectively to the state’s crime problems and make communities safer Opponents said sending more young people to adult prisons is not an effective crime prevention strategy

Amendment 4

This amendment would have changed the timeline for elections for vacant and newly created judicial seats.

Under the amendment, elections for these seats would have been held during a gubernatorial or congressional election happening within 12 months, or “on the election date first available pursuant to applicable law” passed by the Legislature. Currently, the constitution says they must be held within 12 months of a vacancy

Proponents said the change would potentially reduce the number of elections the state must hold as well as election administration costs. Some opponents said changes to election timelines should be made in statute rather than the constitution.

Email Alyse Pfeil at alyse. pfeil@theadvocate.com.

“If this charter is passed, be prepared to be governed by this document, because we will not be able to change it,” Johannessen said on March 18.

Yet District 4 council member-elect Andrew Murrell, a member of the charter’s commission, said the opposite is true and added the charter gives the people

From what he and others have been told by state officials, Murrell estimates it the soonest a new charter could go before voters is three years, based on interpretation of meeting laws requirements.

Two win at-large seats

Republican David Dellucci was elected outright to an at-large City Council seat, while Republican Jim Talbot and Democrat Shaunn Wyche will go to a

The St. George City Council race for District 4 had its four candidates reduced to two Saturday evening, with Republican Patty Cook and Independent David Madaffari set for a head-to-head race on May 3. Cook, a current interim member of St. George’s City Council, finished ahead of all other candidates, securing 45% of the vote, while 19% of voters cast votes for Madaffari. Republican Justin Turner finished third with three fewer votes than Madaffari.

Email Patrick SloanTurner at patrick.sloanturner@theadvocate.com.

STAFF PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK

East Baton Rouge Mayor-President Sid Edwards, right, mingles with supporters during an election night party for elected officials for St. George on Saturday at the Renaissance Hotel in Baton Rouge.

nel and security patrols, and to beautify and improve the common areas. YES .........................................53% NO 47% LIVINGSTON

Breaking barriers:Women leaders atExxonMobilinBaton Rouge transform theenergyworld

Dellucci, R.................28% Scott Emonet, R 13% William “Bill” Johannessen, R .15% “Jim” Talbot, R.....................23% Shaunn Wyche, D 20% DISTRICT 4 Patricia “Patty” Cook,

ies of the proposed charter are available for review at St. George City Hall and on the city’s website https:// stgeorgela.gov/ YES .45% NO .55%

WEDGEWOOD CRIME PREVENTION DISTRICT

To continue an annual parcel fee on each improved residential

first

are

$60,825

to

up to $150 per

for residential parcels and $400 per year for commercial parcels. The proceeds, after deducting administrative costs, are to be used to increase the presence of law enforcement person-

If you’ve visitedthe ExxonMobil facilities in the BatonRouge area recently,you mayhave noticed that more womenthaneverare in leadership positions. Thesewomen have hadmeaningful careersat ExxonMobil,advancing throughthe ranksthanks to theirtalent, ambition,and thementorshipthey have received from both male andfemaleleaders We spoketo thesewomen to learnabout theirmotivations, theirpassion fortheir work,and theadvice that hasguidedthemalong theway PatriceAron, Mid-Atlantic/Southeast Area Manager, ExxonMobil Pipeline Company

Aron graduatedfromIstroumaHighSchooland earnedadegreeinsecondaryeducationmathematics from Southern University.She taught in theEast BatonRouge Parish School System forseveral years priortojoiningExxonMobil.

“In2001, Iwas in aconversationwithacolleague whowasinterestedinchangingcareersandmentioned ExxonMobilwashiringinOperations.Shementioned sheheard themathportion of thetestwas hard,and suggestedItakethe test so Icould tutorher,since Iwas amathteacher,” Aron said.“Itookthe test, passed it,was hired, and23years laterIamhere with no regrets.”

Throughout herprofessionaljourney,Aronhas oftenreliedonthe advice of her grandfather,who always encouraged her to be thebestshe couldbe andhelpothersalong theway

“WhenIstartedworkingasamathteacher,Istrived forexcellence, notfor myself but formystudents.I carriedthatsamemindset with me when Istarted with thecompany in 2002,” shesaid. “Therefore, I attributemysuccesstobelieving in God, taking my grandfather’sadviceand helping others.

Aron said herworkatExxonMobilisespecially meaningful,since shegrewupabout 12 milesfrom therefinery

“WhenI am at events,I seelotsoffamiliarfaces, from councilmembers andcommunity leadersto teachers andjudges,”she said.“KnowingthatIwork foracompany that trulycares aboutthe community andthe environmentisamazing.”

Ashleigh Celedonia, Port AllenLubricants PlantManager Fromayoungage,mathwasapassionforCeledonia Ahighschoolteacher recognized that strength and pushedhertotakemoreadvancedmathclasses.That rigorousacademicbackgroundinfluencedCeledonia’s collegeand majorchoices,ultimatelyleading herto become adualmajor in actuarialmathematics and management engineering.

NowatExxonMobilfor 15 years, Celedoniahas worked in numerous departments, includingsales planning, logistics, supply chainand operations

“The varietyofexperiences I’ve hadduringmy career hashelpedwithmyindividual growth and developmentandallowedmetocontinuechallenging myself,” shesaid. “Wespend an incredible amount of time at ExxonMobil in developing people,and as

an individual exhibits strengths, newopportunities presentthemselves.”

Celedoniasaidher mentorsatExxonMobilhave also helped herfind thebalance betweenhomelife andher professional goals.

“It’sperfectly finetostrivefor somethinginyour career andalsocreatespace to celebratethose importantmilestoneswithyourchildren,”she said “IalsorememberwhenIwasplanningmymaternity leave andwantedtotakeabout fivemonths, my boss askedmeifthatwas enough. It waswonderful to have that encouragementand know that Icould step back into my career when thetimewas right.”

Regina Davis, BatonRouge ComplexRefinery Manager Davis’ trajectory startedinher earlyyears with encouragementfromher mother, “a wise, God-fearingwoman,” Davissaid. Recognizingthat educationwould help herchildrenbreak thecycle of generational poverty, shemadesuretheyattended asummerprogram each year.Itwas during one of thoseprogramsinher middle school years, that Davismet afemaleengineer. That encounter was thespark forwhatwas to come

“Itjustresonated with me,” shesaid. “I wasfortunatetohavemymom’sforesighttomakesurethatwe were exposedtothe possibilities, andthatexposure piqued my curiosity.”Davis carriesthisexperience forwardinher ownpassion forvolunteeringand mentoringother youngladiestoget them excited aboutcareers in STEM fields.

Davisended up majoring in chemical engineering andstaying an additional semester at Louisiana Tech,choosingtotakeonaninternshiptogain more real-worldexperience. Shegraduated in the earlydaysofa recession,but stoodout to potential employers with hersmartsand skills

Sincebeing namedthe first Blackwoman to lead theBatonRougerefinery,Davissaidshehasreflected oftenonher experiences andhow shecan usethose to “pay it forward” to help developthe next generationofleaders. Shecredits herfaith,hardwork, andhavingateamofsupportersincluding family friends andamazing mentorsaskeystoher success today. WhileDavis is proudofbeing an exampleto otheryoung women, shealsofeels that shehas a responsibility to help shiftthe narrative. “I do wear with pridethe fact that Ihavebeenthe first in many arenas.Mydiverse perspectives,the skills Ihave developedovermycareerand my commitment to excellence have enabledmetodeliver resultsand continue paving theway forothers,”saidDavis Laura Eiklor,Baton RougePlasticsand Resin PlantManager GrowingupinPennsylvania,Eiklorhadhereyeon pursuing musicprofessionally. But, twohighschool teachers recognized hertalents in math andscience andurged hertoconsider acareerasanengineer. “Myparents both have biologybackgrounds,and they encouraged me to find my way,”she said.“I

enteredPennStateasamusicmajor,butIchangedto chemicalengineeringbytheendofmyfirstsemester.” At ExxonMobil,Eiklorsaidshe is gratified to be apartofteamthatsolvesproblemsinrealtimethat impact theproductsthatmillionsofpeopleuse each day. Sheadded that shecontinues to be inspired by hercolleagues’ passion, dedication to qualityand commitment to unlockingone another’spotential “Someofthe bestadviceI’vereceived at ExxonMobilistoliftwhere youstand.Ifyou candoyour best in your currentjob,peoplewillhelpyou getto thenextlevel,” shesaid. “The other oneistodream big. When Ihad beenwiththe companythree or four years, someoneasked me aboutmycareergoals, andmyanswerwas small. They encouraged me to dreambiggerand picturemyselfgoing further. That changedmymindset andmademewilling to trymorenew things.” KateLightfoot,ChemicalPlantManager,Baton RougeComplex Lightfootmadehistory in 2018 as thefirstfemale sitemanagerattheChemicalPlantinBaytown,Texas “I felt blessedtohave an opportunitytobean exampletoother womenthattheycan be wives, moms andleaders whilestill taking care of their physical,mentalandemotionalhealth,”sherecalled Inadditiontoherwork,Lightfootandherhusband have threechildren, andshe is oftenactiveinlocal civicorganizations andprofessionalassociations. It’s quitethe balancingact,but onethatLightfoot says is possible thanks to “lotsand lots of planning.”

“Ithinkahead,Imakeaplan,andevenwhenIdon’t feellikeit,Iexecutemyplan.Myplanincludestesting that balanceofthese rolesoverthe course of weeks andmonths. Idon’t stress toomuchifa givenday or week feelsweightedone wayoranother,” shesaid. No matter what each daymight bring, Lightfoot startseachmorningthesameway–bynamingthree blessingsfor whichshe is grateful,decidingher intentionfor theday anddeterminingwhatshe will accept each day. Shealsomakes time forself-care planningout howshe will fuel andmoveher body plus getenoughrest, to be thebestversion of herself. Lightfootsaidshe is heartenedtosee more girls andyoung womeninterestedinSTEMcareers. Her advice is simple–gofor it!

“Getinthereandlearnanddeveloptoyourgreatest potential,andthenfollowthe path that Godprovides for youtoserve your purposeinthisworld,” shesaid.

Thesewomen leadersare notonlybreakingbarriersinthe energy sector butare also giving back to theircommunitiesthroughmentorshipandsupport. Theircommitmenttonurturing thenextgeneration of female engineersisevident in theirinvolvement withinitiativeslikeExxonMobil’s“IntroduceaGirlto EngineeringDay.” By sharingtheir experiences and providingguidance,theseleadersarepavingtheway foramoreinnovativefutureinthe energy industry

By Amanda McElfresh | amcelfresh@theadvocate.com This articleisbrought to youbyExxonMobil.

released March 13 by the

Continued from page 1A

‘Reason to be excited’

In East Baton Rouge Parish, the newly released estimates showed a reversal of years of population loss. According to the data, the parish had an estimated population of 455,916 in 2020. In 2023, that estimate was 450,943 people.

The July 1, 2024, estimate was 453,022 people, about a 0.5% increase from 2023. The bureau reached its numbers by starting with the 2020 census population base, adding births, subtracting deaths, and then adding net domestic and international migration.

Domestic migration information is obtained through multiple sources, including the Internal Revenue Service and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. International migration information comes from the Defense Manpower Data Center and the American Community Survey Jake Polansky, director of strategy and research at the Baton Rouge Area Chamber, said the data is “great news for the capital region.”

a population increase across the

“I think when you look at the region as a whole, it offers a lot of different things that people may be interested in,” he added, pointing to the range of more suburban choices in Livingston and Ascension and the urban lifestyle of Baton Rouge. He said the new estimates can help generate momentum for the business community

“It’s also, you know, really well-timed with the kind of the relaunch of our Better in BTR talent campaign,” he said. “Kind of feeding into this narrative of, ‘We are a growing region, we are a thriving region, and there’s reason to be excited.’”

2020 census appealed

The continued growth in Livingston and Ascension parishes brings more challenging dilemmas to those areas. Livingston Parish President Randy Delatte said that “growth is welcome, but at the same time it brings along numerous, numerous problems ”

“A parish like Livingston who has a tax base that doesn’t compare to maybe Ascension or EBR has special challenges to provide the same services those other parishes provide,” he said “ We want our

population to not only just grow with citizens coming, but we want to have businesses here. And so we’re being very careful about our growth.”

To attract businesses to an area that doesn’t have Mississippi River access, the parish is considering removing the inventory tax, he said.

On Thursday, he announced he was making an appeal to the Louisiana State Treasurer’s Office to update its population, claiming that the 2020 decennial census undercounted Livingston Parish.

“If this correction is approved, it could mean millions more for our parish, money we’ve already earned through growth,” he said. “We’re not asking for a handout. We’re asking for our fairness.”

The verge of growth

Kate MacArthur, executive director of the Ascension Economic Development Corporation, said the area has grown by around 2% every year since 2005.

“I think all of South Louisiana is going to continue to grow I think this whole region, from Lake Charles all the way over to New Orleans is significantly growing in

Change in population from 2023 to 2024

Nearly

of parishes lost population, according to new Census estimates.

business developments.”

Those developments include the recent announcement of a Hyundai steel mill on the parish’s west bank and proposed carbon capture-related investments in the area.

MacArthur said the area has become resilient as industries with periods of downturn, like oil and gas, have found opportunities to train employees in new skills.

“We’ve been good about continuing to find ways to

Great

employ people and grow companies and grow our population by providing good jobs,” she added. “

But we also have schools, public schools, that are amazing, so I think that’s another big component that’s driving the growth.”

But speaking about all of Louisiana, Plyer said job growth has grown 10 times slower in Louisiana than the national average.

“We’re very dominated by older industries like oil and gas, and older industries

have to maximize profits by reducing costs. In other words, figuring out how to mechanize, computerize, and therefore hire fewer people,” she said. “So, oil and gas is drilling more and more, but hiring less and less, and so we really need to focus intensively on new industries that build on our strengths.”

Email Christopher Cartwright at christopher cartwright@theadvocate. com.

Great Hearts Harvestonwilladd ninth gradeto itsBaton Rougecampusthisfallasitbeginsits expansionintoa full high school.One gradelevel willbeadded each year untilthe school is afullK-12 campus,withseparateareas forlower school and upperschoolstudents.

“Our scholars arelearninghow to thinkdeeply andevolveintogreat-hearted leaders. Ourcurriculum, rooted in Westerntradition,not only prepares students for college, butalsoequipsthemtolead livesasgoodintellectualand moralcitizenswho can make contributionsinmultipleareasofthe world,” said Dr.AleashiaClarkston,assistant head of school for theupper school

Dr.Clarkston said theGreat HeartsHarveston high school willhave dual enrollment andAdvanced Placementopportunities andwilloffer theTOPS University Diploma. Theschoolalsoplans to become a CLEP testingsite, wherestudentswould be able to take examstoearncollege credit

In addition,the high school willhaveunique academic offerings, includingcourses in Humane Letters, poetry,studioarts, drama, Latinand Greek, as well as aseniorthesis. Electiveswillinclude Calculus II,AmericanRhetoricalTradition,logic andcomputation

Humane Letters, aseminar course featuringthe reading andSocraticdiscussionofGreat Books, will be taught at allhighschoolgrade levels.Students will reada wide rangeofworks of literary fiction and engage in discussion,learningtocriticallyevaluate textsand communicatetheir ideas. Dr.Clarkston said that in Humane Letters, students readapproximately 40 booksoverthe four yearsofhighschool. “Somepeopledon’t gettoreadthatmuchinan entire undergraduate career or even in theirentire lives,”she said.“We’retruly excitedtogiveour scholars an opportunitytoimmerse themselves in literature andsee them developtheir analytical and critical thinking skills.”

By adding ahighschool, Great HeartsHarveston will be able to continue usingaSocraticapproachin teaching whileapplyingthe method to upperschool grades.For example, Alicia Carelus, collegecounselor andupper school literature andcomposition teacher, said shehas seen youngerstudents blossomoverthe course of an academic year as they discussliterary worksand howtheir lessonscan be appliedinrealworldscenarios.Carelus said shehas also seen how theSocraticmethodcan work well in non-literature

coursesatthe school

“I’veseena geomet classwhere they arei seminarsettingdiscussi aproof.Whenstuden arelearningequatio in algebra, yousee th talkingthrough it st by step,” Carelussai “Oursciencestudents doingexperimentsev otherday.Itreallycrea adifferenteducation experience that le students be whothey arewithout fear of beingjudged. As acollege counselor, Carelus helpsstudents discerntheir pathwayafter graduation,navigatethe collegeapplication process, andhosts collegevisits for allhighschoolstudents.

“I really committoanindividualizedapproach becauseIknowwho they areasstudentsand as individuals. It reallyhelps me focusonfindingthe rightfitfor each student,”she said.“Ican help them discover whotheyare as learners andyoung adults Iwanteachofthemtofeelseenand create aspace for them to sharetheir ownvisionfor theirfuture.” Dr.Clarkston said this newchapter forGreat Hearts Harvestonalsomeans growth in other areas of campus.The school is currentlyinPhase 2of a facility expansionplanand is scheduledtoopen itsfull high school area in fall 2027.The spacewill includerooms designed forseminar discussions, robust artand sciencelaboratories, sports fieldsand astate-of-the-art gymwithweightroom. In terms of athletics, thehighschoolplans to open with basketball andsoccer, andadd football,crosscountry andtrack andfieldinsubsequentyears Families interested in GreatHeartsHarveston canvisit greatheartsharveston.org to schedule a campus tour or contactstaff for more information “Our families areexcited aboutwhatweare doing here.Theysee that we areofferinglife-changing opportunities,”Dr. Clarkston said.“Ourscholars aregiven opportunitiestoexplore theirvarious skillsetsand find ways wheretheycan make the best contributionsand reachtheir fullestpotential GreatHeartsHarveston is atuition-freecharter school that openedinBaton Rougein2023. Visit greatheartsharveston.org to learnmore.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

STAFF FILE PHOTO By TRAVIS SPRADLING

Data

U.S Census Bureau shows

capital region from July 2023 to July 2024.

Critics say Trump trying to sanitize racism in history

Activists rebuke order targeting Smithsonian

BY BILL BARROW Associated Press

ATLANTA President Donald Trump’s order accusing the Smithsonian Institution of not reflecting American history notes correctly that the country’s Founding Fathers declared that “all men are created equal.”

But it doesn’t mention that the founders enshrined slavery into the U.S Constitution and declared enslaved people as three-fifths of a person for the purpose of the census.

Civil rights advocates, historians and Black political leaders sharply rebuked Trump on Friday for his order, titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History.” They argued that his executive order targeting the Smithsonian Institution is his administration’s latest move to downplay how race, racism and Black Americans themselves have shaped the nation’s story

“It seems like we’re headed in the direction where there’s even an attempt to deny that the institution of slavery even existed, or that Jim Crow laws and segregation and racial violence against Black communities, Black families, Black individuals even occurred,” said historian Clarissa Myrick-Harris, a professor at Morehouse College, the historically Black campus in Atlanta.

The Thursday executive order cites the National Museum of African American History and Culture by name and argues that the Smithsonian as a whole is engaging in a “concerted and widespread effort to rewrite our Nation’s history.”

Instead of celebrating an “unparalleled legacy of advancing liberty, individual

among younger Black and Hispanic men. He ratcheted up attacks during his campaign on what he labeled “woke” culture and diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, not just in government but the private sector He also used racist and sexist tropes to attack Democratic nominee and Vice President Kamala Harris, the first Black woman and person of South Asian descent to hold national office, and regularly accused her and other liberals of “hating our country.”

inequities in access for Black students.

The Defense Department, at one point, temporarily removed training videos recognizing the Tuskegee Airmen and an online biography of Jackie Robinson. In February, Trump fired Air Force Gen. CQ Brown Jr., a champion of racial diversity in the military, as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Brown, in the wake of Floyd’s killing, had spoken publicly about his experiences as a Black man, and was only the second Black general to serve as chairman.

BY GARY FIELDS and MATTHEW LEE Associated Press

WASHINGTON Most employees at the U.S. Institute of Peace, a congressionally created and funded think tank now taken over by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, received email notices of their mass firing, the latest step in the Trump administration’s government downsizing The emails, sent to personal accounts because most staff members had lost access to the organization’s system, began going out about 9 p.m. Friday according to people familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of fear of reprisal

One former senior official at the institute said among those spared were several in the human resources de-

rights, and human happiness,” the order argues that a “corrosive divisive, race-centered ideology” has “reconstructed” the nation “as inherently racist, sexist, oppressive, or otherwise irredeemably flawed.”

It empowers Vice President JD Vance to review all properties, programs and presentations to prohibit programs that “degrade shared American values” or “divide Americans based on race.”

Trump also ordered Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to determine if any monuments since January 2020 “have been removed or changed to perpetuate a false reconstruction of American history” or “inappropriately minimize the value of certain historical events or figures.”

Trump has long criticized the removal of Confederate monuments, a movement that gained steam after the May 2020 murder of George Floyd Critics argued the order is the latest move by the Trump administration to quash recognition of Black Americans’ contributions to the nation and to gloss over the legal, political, social and economic obstacles they have faced.

Trump’s approach is “a literal attack on Black America itself,” Ibram X. Kendi,

the race historian and bestselling author, said. “The Black Smithsonian, as it is affectionately called, is indeed one of the heartbeats of Black America,” Kendi argued and “also one of the heartbeats” of the nation at large.

The African American museum, one of 21 distinct Smithsonian entities, opened along the National Mall in 2016, the last year that President Barack Obama held office as the nation’s first Black chief executive. The museum chronicles chattel slavery, Jim Crow segregation and its lingering effects, but also highlights the determination, successes and contributions of individual Black Americans and Black institutions throughout U.S history “I’m deeply proud that we now have a museum that honors the millions of African American men and women who built our national heritage, especially when it comes to faith, culture and the unbreakable American spirit,” Trump said in 2017 following a tour that included Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina and then-Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson, both of whom are Black.

Trump won his comeback White House bid with a notable uptick in support from non-White voters, especially

Since his Jan. 20 inauguration, Trump has banned diversity initiatives across the federal government. The administration has launched investigations of colleges public and private — that it accuses of discriminating against White and Asian students with race-conscious admissions programs intended to address historic

The administration has fired diversity officers across government, curtailed some agencies’ celebrations of Black History Month, and terminated grants and contracts for projects ranging from planting trees in disadvantaged communities to studying achievement gaps in Ameri-

can schools. Civil rights advocates and historians expressed concern about a chilling effect across other institutions that study Black history Kendi noted that many museums and educational centers across the country — such as San Francisco’s Museum of the African Diaspora, The Legacy Museum: From Enslavement to Mass Incarceration in Montgomery, Alabama, and the International African American Museum in Charleston, South Carolina — exist with little to no federal or other governmental funding sources Some already are struggling to keep their doors open.

“To me, that’s part of the plan, to starve these institutions that are already starving of resources so that the only institutions that are telling America’s history are actually only telling political propaganda,” Kendi said.

partment and a handful of overseas staffers who have until April 9 to return to the United States. The organization has about 300 people. Others retained for now are regional vice presidents who will be working with the staff in their areas to return to the U.S., according to one employee who was affected. An executive order last month from President Donald Trump targeted the organization, which seeks to prevent and resolve conflicts, and three other agencies for closure. Board members, who are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate, and the institute’s president were fired. Later, there was a standoff between employees who blocked DOGE members from entering the institute’s headquarters near the State Department. DOGE staff gained access in part with

the help of the Washington police.

A lawsuit ensued, and U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell chastised DOGE representatives for their behavior but did not reinstate the board members or allow employees to return to the workspace.

A White House spokeswoman, Anna Kelly, said in an email Saturday that the institute “has failed to deliver peace” and that Trump “is carrying out his mandate to eliminate bloat and save taxpayer dollars.”

The letter to employees said that as of Friday, “your employment with us will conclude,” according to one longtime employee who shared part of the communication.

A second email, obtained by the AP, said the terminations were at the direction of the president.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MARK SCHIEFELBEIN

The National Museum of African American History and Culture is seen Friday on the National Mall in Washington.

Anti-Musk protesters swarm Tesla showrooms

BY MICHAEL LIEDTKE Associated Press

SAN

FRANCISCO Crowds

protesting billionaire Elon Musk’s purge of the U.S. government under President Donald Trump began amassing outside Tesla dealerships throughout the U.S and in some cities in Europe on Saturday in the latest attempt to dent the fortune of the world’s richest man.

brandishing signs such as “Honk if you hate Elon” and “Fight the billionaire broligarchy.”

The Tesla Takedown movement also hoped to rally protesters at more than 230 Tesla locations in other parts of the world. Although the turnouts in Europe weren’t as large as the crowds in the U.S., the anti-Musk sentiment was similar

with a picture of Musk’s straight-arm gesture that said, “You thought the Nazis were extinct. Don’t buy a Swasticar.”

Tesla Takedown was organized by a group of supporters that included disillusioned owners of the automaker’s vehicles at least one Democratic Party lawmaker, Rep. Jasmine Crockett from Dallas.

The protesters are trying to escalate a movement targeting Tesla dealerships and vehicles in opposition to Musk’s role as the head of the newly created Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, where he’s gained access to sensitive data and shuttered entire agencies as he attempts to slash government spending Most of Musk’s estimated $340 billion fortune consists of the stock he holds in the electric vehicle company that he continues to run while also working alongside Trump.

About two dozen protesters held signs lambasting Musk outside a Tesla dealership in London as passing cars and trucks tooted horns in support.

Earlier protests have been somewhat sporadic Saturday marked the first attempt to surround all 277 of the automaker’s showrooms and service centers in the U.S. in hopes of deepening a recent decline in the company’s sales.

By early afternoon, crowds ranging from a few dozen to hundreds of protesters had flocked to Tesla locations in New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Maryland, Minnesota and the automaker’s home state of Texas. Pictures posted on social media accounts showed protesters

Man arrested over swastika on Tesla

BY JESSE BUNCH

The Philadelphia Inquirer (TNS)

The Philadelphia region is no exception to Tesla tension, and one recent incident — in which a Bucks County man allegedly keyed a swastika into the side of a Tesla SUV — set local social media circles ablaze.

In what’s become a feature of the polarized political climate, the online outrage cycle ended with social media vigilantes identifying the suspect before police even filed charges. And in the case of Teslas, the vehicle’s onboard cameras that record almost constantly are providing keyboard warriors and law enforcement alike with an up-close look at the mounting cases of vandalism.

On Thursday, the Central Bucks Regional Police Department issued an arrest

warrant for 55-year-old

Chadd Ritenbaugh, charging him with two misdemeanors and two summary offenses for damaging property, harassment, and disorderly conduct in the Monday incident.

Footage captured by the Tesla’s side camera in a Planet Fitness parking lot that morning shows a man police say is Ritenbaugh exit a gray Lexus, duck behind the vehicle, and scratch the neighboring car with an “unknown” object before walking out of frame.

The Tesla’s owner later left the gym to find “what appeared to be scratches in the shape of a swastika” on the side of the vehicle, according to court documents.

When reached for comment, Ritenbaugh directed The Inquirer to his defense attorney, Paul Lang. “My client is a proud father,

longtime resident, and is currently undergoing cancer treatment,” Lang said in a text message. “We will reserve further comment pending the outcome of the case.”

Days before police sought Ritenbaugh’s arrest — identifying him through security footage and his Planet Fitness membership — fans of Elon Musk, online MAGA supporters, even local Republican officials had taken to plastering Ritenbaugh across social media.

Doylestown Republicans went on to blame Ritenbaugh’s behavior on local Democrats in the upscale Bucks County community

In a statement, Connor O’Hanlon, chair of the Doylestown Democrats, said the group wholly denounces the destruction of private property and has never encouraged vandalism.

One of the signs displayed at the London protest showed a photo of Musk next to an image of Adolf Hitler making the Nazi salute — a gesture that Musk has been accused of reprising shortly after Trump’s Jan 20 inauguration A person in a tyrannosaurus rex costume held another sign

“I’m going to keep screaming in the halls of Congress I just need you all to make sure you all keep screaming in the streets,” Crockett said during a Tesla Takedown organizing call held earlier this month.

Some people opposed to Musk have gone beyond protests and set the automaker’s vehicles on fire and committed other acts of vandalism that U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has decried as domestic terrorism. Musk indicated he was

dumbfounded by the attacks during a March 20 company meeting and said the vandals should “stop acting psycho.” Crockett and other Tesla Takedown supporters have been stressing the importance for Saturday’s protests to remain peaceful. But police were investigating a fire that destroyed seven Tesla vehicles in northwestern Germany early Saturday morning. It was wasn’t immediately clear if the blaze, which was extinguished by firefighters, was related to the Tesla Takedown protests.

A growing number of consumers who bought Tesla vehicles before Musk took over DOGE have been looking to sell or trade in their cars while others have slapped on bumper stickers seeking to distance themselves from the billionaire’s efforts to prune or shut down government agencies.

BALTIMORE BANNER PHOTO By WESLEy LAPOINTE

Protesters gather Saturday at a Tesla dealership in Owings Mills, Md.

Danish foreign minister scolds Trump administration

Vance said nation underinvesting in Greenland

BY PHILIP CROWTHER, KIRSTEN GRIESHABER and AAMER MADHANI Associated Press

NUUK, Greenland

The Danish foreign minister on Saturday scolded the Trump administration for its “tone” in criticizing Denmark and Greenland, saying his country is already investing more into Arctic security and remains open to more cooperation with the U.S Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, make the remarks in a video posted to social media after U.S. Vice President JD Vance’s visit to the strategic island.

“Many accusations and many allegations have been made. And of course we are open to criticism,” Rasmussen said speaking in English “But let me be completely honest: we do not appreciate the tone in which it is being delivered This is not how you speak to your close allies. And I still consider Denmark and the United States to be close allies.”

Vance on Friday said Denmark has “underinvested” in Greenland’s security and demanded that Denmark change its approach as President Donald Trump pushes to take over the Danish territory

Vance visited U.S. troops on Pituffik Space Base on

Cross-political support is shown Friday for Greenland and Greenlanders

Greenland’s representation in Christianshavn, Copenhagen, Denmark.

‘Make America Go Away.’

mineral-rich Greenland alongside his wife and other senior U.S. officials for a trip that was ultimately scaled back after an uproar among Greenlanders and Danes who were not consulted about the original itinerary

“Our message to Denmark is very simple: You have not done a good job by the people of Greenland,” Vance said Friday “You have underinvested in the people of Greenland, and you have underinvested in the security architecture of this incredible, beautiful landmass filled with incredible people. That has to change.”

Trump on Friday released a video on his social net-

working site Truth Social entitled “America Stands With Greenland,” showing footage of U.S. troops there during World War II.

In Greenland, Vance said the U.S. has “no option” but to take a significant position to ensure the security of the island as he encouraged a push in Greenland for independence from Denmark.

“I think that they ultimately will partner with the United States,” Vance said.

The reaction by members of Greenland’s parliament and residents has rendered that unlikely, with anger erupting over the Trump administration’s attempts to annex the vast Arctic is-

land. Danish

back on Vance’s claim that Denmark isn’t doing enough for defense in the Arctic, calling her country “a good and strong ally.”

And Greenlandic lawmakers on Thursday agreed to form a new government, banding together to resist Trump’s overtures. Four of the five parties elected to Greenland’s parliament earlier this month have agreed to form a coalition that will have 23 of 31 seats in the legislature.

The following day, Danish King Frederik X posted on Facebook: “We live in an altered reality There should be no doubt that my love for Greenland and my connectedness to the people of Greenland are intact.”

Hundreds of protesters demonstrated Saturday outside the U.S. Embassy in the Danish capital Copenhagen with some lifting signs saying, “back off, USA” Danish

broadcaster TV2 reported. Even Greenland’s national dogsled race — Avannaata Qimussersu — which kicked off Saturday with some 37 mushers and 444 dogs was not left unaffected. Usha Vance, the vice president’s wife, who was originally scheduled to attend the race opted out when her husband decided to join the trip and visit the military base instead, reducing the likelihood that they would cross paths with Greenlanders. Løkke Rasmussen, in his video, reminded viewers of the 1951 defense agreement between Denmark and the United States. Since 1945, the American military presence in Greenland has decreased from thousands of soldiers over 17 bases and installations on the island, he said, to the remote Pituffik Space Base in the northwest with some 200 soldiers today

BY HALLIE GOLDEN Associated Press

mainland to explode and start fires.

By the time he was honor-

Sgt. Joe Harris, believed to be the oldest surviving World War II paratrooper and a member of the U.S. Army’s first all-Black parachute infantry battalion, has died. He was 108. Harris died March 15 in a hospital in Los Angeles surrounded by family grandson Ashton Pittman told The Associated Press. He will be honored with a full military funeral Saturday “He was a very loving loving, loving man,” said Pittman. “That was one of the things that he was very strict upon was loving one another.” Harris was among the last surviving members of the historic 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion, nicknamed the Triple Nickles The battalion helped protect the U.S. from deadly Japanese balloon bombs, according to Robert L. Bartlett, a retired Eastern Washington University professor who specializes in the 555th. In 1944 and 1945, the Japanese launched thousands of the balloons to be carried by the Pacific jet stream to the U.S.

During World War II, Black Americans were often relegated to more supportlevel jobs in the racially segregated military As a result, the military recruited Harris and hundreds of other Black men, trained them and sent them into blazes on the West Coast Bartlett said. Throughout their time in the military, they faced overt racism, including being barred from going to the base commissary and officer’s clubs unless they were specifically for Black people.

“This unit had to fight to be recognized as human beings while training to fight an enemy overseas, fight in their own country for respect even within the military,” Bartlett said That was not lost on Pittman, who said his grandfather was brave enough to serve the U.S. “during a time when the country didn’t love him, honestly, didn’t care about him.”

Harris was born on June 19, 1916, in West Dale, Louisiana according to Tracie Hunter, spokesperson for WWII Beyond The Call, a nonprofit organization that works to document veterans’ accounts. After filling out his draft registration card, he began his military service in 1941 when he was 24.

ably discharged in November 1945, he had completed 72 parachute jumps, according to Hunter

After the war, he worked for the U.S. Border Patrol He also spent more than 60 years in Compton, California, where Pittman said he was the neighborhood patriarch, a man everyone on the block knew and gravitated to.

“His life is to be celebrated,” Pittman said.

Pittman said that his grandfather would sometimes ask him if he would ever jump out of a plane. In October, Pittman had the opportunity to follow in his grandfather’s airborne footsteps.

For a week, he did paratrooper jump training in Corsicana, Texas, through the Liberty Jump Team, an organization that works to preserve the memory of veterans.

“When I got my wings, I actually broke down and started crying because everything in that moment just resonated with me,” he said.

“It was like, dang, I’m literally doing what my grandfather did.”

Shortly before Harris’ death, he got a landing zone, in Tuskegee, Alabama, dedicated in his name. Pittman said he plans to be the very first person to jump in the Sgt. Joe Harris Dropzone.

Harris

Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen pushed

RITZAU SCANPIX PHOTO By THOMAS TRAASDAHL

in front of

The white hat says

OurDoctors AreOff the Charts!

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Excellence isn’tjust agoal –it’sthe foundation of everything they do, from diagnosing complex conditions to guiding patientsontheir health journeys with unwavering empathy. To our doctors: thank you for the countless ways you make a difference every single day.Your work is truly offthe charts.

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Parent says Trump’s plan will hurt special education

It

could lead to less enforcement of special education laws

BY PATRICK WALL Staff writer

Kathleen Cannino feared this day was coming.

President Donald Trump signed an order this month calling for the U.S. Department of Education to be dismantled. Trump, who argues that the agency is wasteful and ineffective, already has overseen the layoffs of about half of its staff. Louisiana Gov Jeff Landry and state Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley have celebrated Trump’s plan, saying states should control education.

An outspoken advocate for special education in Louisiana whose 12-year-old son has a disability, Cannino is alarmed about what the Education Department’s demise could mean for children like hers. Without the agency monitoring states’ compliance with special education laws, Cannino worries that it will fall on parents to try to hold schools accountable.

“Their fight is already difficult enough,” she said, “and I knew it was going to get harder.”

Cannino is all too familiar with those struggles. After her son allegedly faced verbal and physical abuse by staffers at his St. Tammany Parish school in 2018, Cannino sued the district and started homeschooling her son, Noah. Since then, she has successfully pushed for cameras to be installed in special-education classrooms and helped fellow parents demand that schools accommodate their children with disabilities.

She also called attention to shortcomings in the state’s special education system, which the

Q&A WITH KATHLEEN CANNINO ADVOCATE

FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION IN LOUISIANA

Louisiana Legislative Auditor confirmed in a recent series of reports. The auditor found that the state education department failed to follow up on many parents’ complaints and provides minimal oversight of schools’ special-education programs. (State officials say the agency complies with federal law and has hired additional monitors.)

Until now, the state has had to answer to the federal Education Department, which provides more than $240 million annually to Louisiana in special-education funding. The agency enforces the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA, which requires schools to provide services to students with disabilities. And its Office for Civil Rights investigates parents’ complaints, including dozens in Louisiana.

Trump has promised to preserve that funding, but it’s unclear what will happen to the Education Department’s other functions, including its oversight of special education.

Cannino recently spoke with The Advocate | The Times-Picayune about why the department’s dismantling has her so worried.

The interview has been edited and condensed.

What’s going well with special education in Louisiana? And what isn’t?

The thing that’s going well is teachers who really care and people who really, truly want to improve special education.

As far as what could be improved, in my experience, I think it needs to come from the top. We have a lack of monitoring and enforcement. Our state pretty much allows self-reporting from school

districts but it doesn’t verify that information.

When there is a problem, or a child’s needs aren’t being met, there’s very limited ways for parents to improve that or correct that.

What was your reaction when President Trump issued his order to dismantle the Education Department?

I was extremely worried and disappointed and concerned. And upset for these families of children with disabilities because I know their fight is already difficult enough, and I knew it was going to get harder

My fear is that parents have less of a recourse if things don’t go right. There might be these (special education) laws, but without a way to enforce them, it doesn’t do parents any good.

Why do you think the U.S. Education Department is important?

The federal Department of Education is your checks and balance. Without them, you have loss of oversight, loss of enforcement of IDEA, loss of monitoring of state programs. Parents can write a complaint and they assign an attorney and investigate. They would hold the district accountable to correct the issue.

It was helpful because that seemed to be the only thing that school districts really paid attention to, that had any teeth. Now, if you don’t have that, what are you going to do if the state fails to enforce (the law)?

What else does the department do?

The federal Department of Education is also responsible for data collection. They can use that to improve policy, target resources where they see inequalities or a need for it.

reporter asked what IDEA stands for and she couldn’t even tell her She knew nothing about special education.

The Department of Education keeps posting on Facebook about “boys in girls sports.” They’re not focusing on these children with disabilities and their education.

Proponents say that abolishing the Education Department will restore authority to states and reduce restrictions on federal funding

Our state is already in charge of education, it’s in our Louisiana Constitution. So it’s not correct to say that education will go back to the states — it’s already at the states.

For instance, they collect the graduation rate of children with disabilities. If you’re not monitoring that and these kids start dropping out, how will you know there’s a problem?

They monitor factors such as the ability of these children to read. If they stop monitoring that, you don’t know if these kids can read.

There’s also things like restraint and seclusion numbers. If you have a school that is secluding one student 100 times, that needs to be looked at. That should be a red flag.

Do you think the Trump administration has a clear plan for special education?

Absolutely not. Not when they cut the staff at (the Office for Civil Rights), which is extremely important for oversight and enforcement.

Supposedly, they’re going to move IDEA under the Department of Health and Human Services. But they’ve also cut the health department staff.

[Trump’s Secretary of Education Linda] McMahon was on Fox News being interviewed and the

WE’RE ASKING EXPERTS ACROSS THE STATE HOW TO TACKLE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES FACING LOUISIANA SCHOOLS. HAVE AN

To say they’re going to get the money without strings attached, that is scary If you accept funding, you’re agreeing to the assurances that you will provide a free and appropriate public education (to students with disabilities). If they don’t have to agree to that, they can do whatever they want with the money

It would weaken the protections for students and parents as far as being able to hold districts accountable if they’re not meeting the child’s needs.

What can parents of children with disabilities do in this moment?

I would make sure that your school district has a plan in place so that your child’s needs

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Signs of British control unearthed in historical city of St. Augustine

Town was under Spain’s rule before U.S existed

BY DAVID FISCHER Associated Press

The city of St. Augus-

tine — with its centuriesold buildings and massive stone fort — is an enduring reminder of Spain’s storied history in Florida going back generations before the United States even existed.

But for two decades in the 1700s, Great Britain controlled the region, and archeologists have finally found some of their longsought-after footprints

City archeologists identified a dry moat last fall of a British redoubt, a fortified military outpost, that had been constructed in 1781. Excavations were completed last month in the city’s Lincolnville neighborhood, making way for the construction of a new singlefamily home.

“St. Augustine had a 20year British period,” city archeologist Andrea White said. “They came, and they built seven of these redoubts, and nobody has ever found any archeologically We have rough ideas of where they were, and they show up on historic maps. But we’ve never found actual, tangible, archeological evidence for any of them until recently.”

The Spanish military built the Castillo de San Marcos in the late 1600s, and the fort remains on the western shore of Florida’s Matanzas Bay though as a national monument rather than a military installation.

When the British took control of Florida in 1763, St. Augustine already had extensive Spanish-built defenses, but British officers were concerned about an attack from a nearby river and ordered the construction of the outposts along the city’s western edge.

White said Britain’s relatively brief occupation of St. Augustine, which ended along with the American Revolution in 1783, has been largely forgotten by time, and the discovery of the fort is a way to reclaim a little piece of lost history

“That’s what’s interesting about these British redoubts, they’re the only defenses that the British built themselves,” White said.

“Everything else that’s in St. Augustine or the surrounding area that everyone’s familiar with, those were already built by the Spanish. And then the British just kind of reoccupied them.”

The structure was discovered thanks to a unique archeological preservation ordinance adopted by St. Augustine in 1986, White said. Founded in 1565, the city is the oldest continuously occupied part of the U.S. to previously be a European settlement.

An

To document and preserve that history, St. Augustine has its own archeology program that is part of the city’s planning and permitting department.

“We get a chance to come in and document what’s there prior to construction,” White said. “We never stop construction, that’s not the goal. It’s just to give us a little bit of time to come in, document what might be there, learn a little bit more about our history, and then the project gets to move forward.”

White knew the area under development had a long history, going back to a Native American mission in the early 1700s, followed later by an agricultural plantation and after the Civil War, the construction of the Lincolnville neighborhood

“So we knew we had multiple centuries of history that could potentially be on the property but we’re pretty excited to actually find evidence,” White said. “What we found evidence of was a large moat about 15 feet wide that would have been part of the rampart.”

Researchers found few artifacts at the site and are still unsure about the fort’s actual size and shape, but they did recover thousands of different types of seeds.

White said they’re working with a paleoethnobotanist, who studies the history of how humans and plants interact, to learn how the structure was built and used.

It’s possible that plants like Spanish bayonet or prickly pear cactuses were

used to prevent erosion or to slow down attacking soldiers.

“So we’re very hopeful that we might find some good information from our plant remains that we’ve recovered,” White said.

Jason Heidgerken, the contractor working on the lot where the fort’s moat was found, said the city’s archeological program can certainly cause delays, but White and her team were great and communicating well, so he could adjust his timelines.

“I’ve been around St. Augustine since 1980 personally and part of the attraction is the history,” Heidgerken said.

“So if you want to live there and do this kind of business, it’s to be expected, and you need to have the patience for it.”

Over the past four decades, the city’s archeology program has completed more than 1,200 projects. Not only have researchers collected data from Spanish colonial times but also Native American settlements and villages going back 4,000 years.

“I actually think it’s pretty cool what the city does. I’m a history nut myself,” Heidgerken said. “I think it’s pretty neat.”

New thermal steam vent grabs attention in Yellowstone park

By The Associated Press

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. — A new thermal vent spewing steam in the air at Yellowstone National Park is gaining attention, mainly because it’s visible from a road rather than any significant change in the park famous for its thousands of geysers, hot springs and bubbling mud pots.

When Yellowstone’s roads open to car traffic in April, tourists will be able to view the new steam column from a pullout as long as the vent remains active It’s located in an area about a mile north of the Norris Geyser Basin.

The thermal feature was first spotted by scientists last summer and inspired them to trudge across a marsh and measure 171-degree steam venting from the base of a wooded hill.

A thin coat of gray mud confirmed the vent was new, according to a recent online post by scientists with the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory overseen by the U.S. Geological

Survey Mike Poland, scientist in charge of the observatory said earlier this month that such features are often forming and constantly changing in Yellowstone

“The feature itself is new That there would be a new feature is, you know, mundane,” he said. “The noteworthy part was just that it was so noticeable. But the sort of overall idea that there would be a new feature that formed is pretty normal.

The new steam plume is located within a 200-foot area of warm ground and appears to be related to hot water that surfaced as a new feature 700 feet away in 2003. The plume diminished over the winter Whether it will remain visible from afar this summer, or be stifled by water in the vent, remains to be seen, geologists say Still, geological changes in Yellowstone draw interest because the park overlies a volcano that was responsible for powerful

The volcano’s magma chamber between 5 and 10 miles under the surface heats the underground water that bubbles up as the park’s famous hydrothermal features. Only between 10% and 30% of the chamber currently holds liquid magma. Despite Yellowstone’s sometimes dramatic geological events — including a hydrothermal explosion that hurled hot water and rocks and sent tourists running last summer — geologists emphasize there is no sign the volcano will erupt again any time soon. Yellowstone’s thermal features come and go, but the park’s most famous one, Old Faithful Geyser, is still going strong. “There’s so many thermal features. Not only do they come and go, but they change,” Poland said.

City of St. Augustine Archaeology Program volunteers, from left, Don Roberts, Janet Fittipaldi, David Kasriel and Bob Maerz work to screen soil to recover artifacts from the 1781 British redoubt moat.

PROVIDED PHOTOS By THE ST. AUGUSTINE ARCHAEOLOGy PROGRAM

overview of the City Archaeology Program excavations shows the site of the 1781 British redoubt moat in February.

PROVIDED PHOTO

A plume of steam is seen rising from a newly discovered thermal feature near Nymph Lake in yellowstone National Park, near Mammoth Hot Springs, Wyo

THE GULF COAST

Restaurant faces swift backlash for anti-LGBTQ+ stance

Owner apologizes for ‘couples special’ Facebook video

BY POET WOLFE and JUSTIN MITCHELL Staff writers

A Mississippi Gulf Coast restaurant faced quick backlash from the surrounding community, business leaders and LGBTQ+ groups after posting a now-viral video offering a meal special for only couples who “can produce a child.”

Darwell and Nettie Mechelle Yeager a married couple who run Darwell’s Happiness Cafe in Long Beach, posted the video promoting a Celebration of Couples Day to the restaurant’s Facebook page on Wednesday In the video, the business owners stand in the cafe’s kitchen, and Darwell says the special only applies to “the real kind of couple.”

“If you’re a couple — husband, wife, boyfriend, girlfriend, guy and girl. Couple,” Darwell emphasized.

“We don’t do the trans or the lesbians or gays. I’m sorry That’s down the street,” Nettie said, wearing a pair of oversized sunglasses.

The video has since been deleted, but it circulated again on social media after a nearby business, Trax Bar and Grill, posted a screen recording of the clip Wednesday afternoon, criticizing the Yeagers for not being inclusive to gay couples and for suggesting that any couple who could not conceive children also were not welcome.

Darwell’s video sparks outrage

A string of enraged responses filled the comment section, almost all of them decrying the opinions of the Yeagers.

The Gulf Coast Equality Council, a nonprofit organization for the LGBTQ+ community and its

allies, released a statement about the video Thursday morning, stating that “no one should be made to feel unwelcome simply for being who they are.” Local food influencers Your Barefoot Neighbor and Mississippi Kween also responded, voicing their disapproval.

Angela Singletary, president of the anti-bullying organization The Society was planning on leading a peaceful protest outside of the restaurant Friday, but decided to cancel it due to safety concerns.

“It’s important that we don’t allow this kind of discrimination and these kinds of comments to... just go. We can’t just let them go,” Singletary said Thursday afternoon, before the cancellation.

“They have to be addressed, and people have to be held accountable.”

Owner’s apology On Thursday morning, Nettie made a statement on her personal

Facebook account, apologizing to anyone who was offended by their comments. The Yeagers had maintained throughout the controversy that their comments were based upon their religious beliefs.

“I’m not perfect and I get my feelings hurt too,” the post read.

“Not always right. But I’m human too. I’m truly sorry if you got offended or misunderstood something not meant to hurt anyone... .”

Darwell reposted the apology on his Facebook page six times, after releasing his own statement where he said he was “tired of being bullied by the Left” and said his business was not going to fail. He added that others will support him because of his beliefs. Below the statement was a photo of Darwell, his arms crossed as he grimaced at the camera with a chef’s knife in hand.

Darwell’s Happiness Cafe prides itself on serving “real food for real people” and gained trac-

tion after its shrimp creole dish was featured in Guy Fieri’s “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.” In 2016, Forbes magazine named it one of the best restaurants of the year

The Yeagers declined to comment when asked for a statement at their restaurant on Thursday Other restaurants speak out

Mississippi House Bill 1523 — better known as the Religious Liberty Accommodations Act — was passed into law in 2016, giving organizations the legal right to deny services to members of the LGBTQ+ community based on religious views.

The legislation was passed in a state where 3.5% of the population identifies as LGBTQ+, according to the Williams Institute, and 34% of the community raises children.

The passing of the law under then-Gov Phil Bryant shocked the Mississippi Coast, a place that largely votes conservative but is

known for being socially liberal. HB 1523 prompted the creation of the “If you’re buying, we’re selling” campaign, which gave local businesses the opportunity to place a decal in a noticeable place to let shoppers know all were welcome.

Bay St. Louis photographer Ann Madden went a step further, creating “All Are Welcome” signs that many businesses across the city used. The sign eventually became a mural outside of The Mockingbird Cafe, a popular downtown restaurant and coffee shop.

Madden resurrected her signs on Thursday, offering them up again to Long Beach businesses.

“How sad that we are here again,” Madden said.

Other business and restaurant leaders also spoke out this week.

Jessica Notter owner of Trax Bar and Grill, said she was hurt by the words she heard in the video.

Trax often hosts drag shows, which have become more and more popular on the Mississippi Coast.

“The disgust I feel for statements made in this video is immeasurable; and, if you watch it and find yourself agreeing with this lowlife, then I suggest you not set foot into Trax Bar,” she said on Facebook.

William Rester, who owns several restaurants in downtown Long Beach not far from Darwell’s, encouraged Coast residents to come to his spots and eat, where they can always be their true selves.

Lauren Joffrion, corporate executive chef for Secret Coast Restaurant Group that operates seven restaurants across the Coast, said she felt compelled to make a statement.

“I wasn’t going to say anything, but all in all, you reap what you sow,” she said on Facebook. “Hate gets you nowhere.”

Biloxi Sun Herald reporter Anita Lee contributed to this report.

Bill takes aim at terms of service

U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, RBaton Rouge, has sponsored a bill that would rein in what he calls onerous and unwieldy terms of service agreements.

Customers sign the agreements for virtually all technology from using Google services or an iPhone to downloading the Uber app to streaming Netflix or Disney Plus. But a 2017 Deloitte survey showed only 9% of users read them before they click the “agree” box ProPrivacy.com believes that number is closer to 1%.

LOUISIANA POLITICS

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JACQUELyN MARTIN

U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy’s bill is called the Terms-ofService Labeling Design and Readability Act.

And the agreements are often lengthy: The New York Times has reported that some of these agreements are 20,000 words long, roughly the length of Ernest Hemingway’s “The Old Man and Sea.”

“A number of years ago, I was getting an Apple product, and I decided I wanted to read the terms of service. And it was written by an attorney, clearly designed to keep a nonattorney from reading. And sometimes it repeated itself,” Cassidy said. “

On several occasions, they cut and taped it and kept putting it in the same words again and again and again. It was designed so that I would not read it. That is wrong.”

CAPITOL BUZZ staff reports

Cassidy’s bill is called the Termsof-Service Labeling, Design and Readability Act, or “TLDR” — a common internet acronym for “Too Long, Didn’t Read.”

The bill would require all terms of service agreements to have a “truthful and nonmisleading,” shortform summary statement available to all levels of

Climate change can speed up water cycle, trigger extreme weather

BY TAMMY WEBBER and DONAVON BRUTUS Associated Press

Prolonged droughts, wildfires and water shortages

Torrential downpours that overwhelm dams and cause catastrophic flooding.

Around the globe, rising temperatures stoked by climate change are increasing the odds of both severe drought and heavier precipitation that wreak havoc on people and the environment

Rainfall can disappear for years only to return with a vengeance, as it did in California in 2023, with recordsetting rain and snowfall.

That led to heavy vegetation growth that provided fuel for the devastating January wildfires in Los Angeles after drought returned.

But how can global warming cause both drier and wetter extremes? Here’s what experts say

All about the water cycle

Water constantly moves between the Earth and its atmosphere. But that system — called the hydrological cycle is speeding up as global temperatures get hotter, primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels like coal and gas.

A hotter atmosphere sucks up more water vapor from

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bodies of water and vegetation and soil.

Over land, this atmospheric demand and loss of surface moisture leads to longer and more intense droughts, even causing some arid areas to expand. Though rain falls less often, when it does, it’s often in intense and destructive deluges. That’s because the atmosphere holds 7% more water vapor for every degree Celsius.

“Basically, global warming is turning the atmosphere into a bigger sponge so it can soak up more moisture and then when the conditions are right for rainfall, it’s like squeezing that sponge,” said Jonathan Overpeck, a climate scientist at the University of Michigan. “You get more moisture coming out faster.”

Oceans play outsized role

Oceans absorb most of the planet’s extra heat That causes the water to expand and ice to melt at the poles, raising sea levels. The warmer water also provides fuel for larger hurricanes and cyclones that can dump massive amounts of water in a short time.

In 2023, for example, heavy one-day rains from Mediterranean storm Daniel caused massive flooding

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across eastern Libya that overwhelmed two dams, sending a wall of water through the coastal city of Derna that destroyed entire neighborhoods and swept bridges, cars and people out to sea. Climate scientists say climate change made that storm far more likely Snowpack is diminishing

Climate change also is affecting snowpack, a critical part of the hydrological cycle.

Melting snow helps fill reservoirs and waterways, including for drinking and agriculture. But less snow is falling in general, and what does often is absorbed by thirsty soil.

What’s more, because winters are becoming warmer overall, the growing season is longer, meaning snowmelt also is being lost through evapotranspiration of plants.

But, just like rain, climate change also can cause more intense and sometimes damaging snowstorms.

“All this stuff is related to warming, which we know with perfect confidence is almost all due to human activity,” Overpeck said. “The good news is, we know how to stop it if we want to.”

literacy and persons with disabilities.

It must clearly include a summary of what legal rights the user is waiving, show all past changes to the TOS, clearly say how the user can delete their sensitive information and give a list of data breaches for the previous three years.

In addition, the TOS must not require any new contractual obligation.

Landry renews cybersecurity pledge

Gov Jeff Landry has renewed a state of emergency that his predecessor, former Gov John Bel Edwards, instituted after a series of high-profile cyberattacks on Louisiana government agencies.

Landry’s order says the state continues to face “se-

vere, intentional cybersecurity breaches.” Edwards first declared the state of emergency in December 2023 after a series of major attacks.

In June 2023, hackers breached the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles, potentially gaining access to driver’s license information and other data for all residents with a state-issued license, registration or other paperwork — at least 6 million people.

Earlier that year hackers struck several universities.

In one case, Southeastern Louisiana University’s computer systems went down entirely for weeks, locking students out of email and other crucial tools.

Responding to and defending against cyberattacks costs state government millions of dollars annually, an

amount that has soared in recent years. The state of emergency allows the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness — which Landry recently announced would be moving under the purview of the Louisiana National Guard — more flexibility to respond to cyberattacks. It eases some of the purchasing and procurement rules that state agencies typically follow and requires agencies throughout the state to cooperate with GOHSEP on cybersecurity

NO BALLARD COLUMN

Mark Ballard’s column will return next week.

Man pleads guilty in South BR killing

Jury had previously convicted him of animal cruelty

BY MATT BRUCE Staff writer

A Baton Rouge man has pleaded guilty to charges tied to a fatal 2023 shooting in the old South Baton Rouge area.

Namoni Black, 34, was accused of barging into a residence in the 800 block of Myrtle Street on the night of Nov 30 and firing a shot that killed Eric Johnson, 54. His trial on a second-degree murder charge and a slate of other counts was set to begin Monday But he copped to a reduced

charge of manslaughter and was sentenced to 20 years, according to court records. Prosecutors agreed to dismiss charges of aggravated burglary, obstruction of justice and two counts of illegal use of weapon against Black as part of the plea agreement.

Police responded to the fatal shooting after a “shot spotter” activation drew officers to the Myrtle Street house. One of the residents told officers a man, later identified as Black, came to the door and began arguing with him because he was trying to confront the resident’s grandson. Black pushed the man out of the doorway and forced his way inside, firing his gun into the house at least one time. Johnson was hit and died at the scene. When officers apprehended Black and arrested him during a disturbance on the same block later that day, he was on bail awaiting trial on animal abuse charges. According to court records in that case, Black was arrested March 3,

Mulkey’s sparkle entrusted to glam team

BY JAN RISHER Staff writer

Morgan LeBlanc, of Baton Rouge, did not know anything about basketball before she started doing Kim Mulkey’s hair and makeup.

Doing both hair and makeup for the LSU women’s basketball coach takes about two hours, which has led the pair to get to know each other well. For Mulkey, substance comes more naturally than sizzle, or even sparkle, but she trusts LeBlanc.

“I am not into hair and makeup, so I have to really trust that she knows her profession,” Mulkey said. “I just sit and she works her magic.”

On Saturday in Spokane, Washington, after LSU’s big win over North Carolina State, Mulkey and LeBlanc met for breakfast and to get ready for the day Usually when LSU plays away games, assistant coach Jennifer Roberts finds local stylists to handle hair and makeup for Mulkey NCAA tournament playoff games are different. LeBlanc loads up her tonics, brushes, mascara wands and more and travels with the team.

LeBlanc, a 36-year-old mother of three and LSU grad, has been doing Mulkey’s hair and makeup

ä See MULKEY, page 3B

FIGURE IT OUT

ABOVE: Ellen Ogden stares at model Stephen Guenther a few minutes into sketching his new pose on Thursday during an LSU College of Art & Design figure drawing session at the Shaw Center. The two-hour sessions have been recurring monthly since the fall semester and are free to public.

RIGHT: Art therapist and LSU professor Tiffanie Brumfield dips her brush into green paint to match Guenther’s pants.

Louisiana could criminalize intentional exposure of STIs

Bill creates felony in case of incurable infections

BY MEGHAN FRIEDMANN Staff writer

A bill set to be considered during the upcoming legislative session

would make it a crime to intentionally expose others to a sexually transmitted infection, punishable by up to 10 years in prison, depending on the circumstances.

State Rep. Pat Moore, D-Monroe, said she filed House Bill 76 at the request of a Louisiana woman who said she contracted genital herpes from her husband, who was not honest about his condition and also was unfaithful. Moore filed similar legislation in 2021. “I think it’s something that we truly need to consider,” Moore said of HB76. Critics say it is usually impossible to prove what someone’s intent was, and that the law would further stigmatize STIs. They point out that the state does not have laws criminalizing exposure to illnesses like the common cold. Under the proposal, intentionally exposing someone to incurable STIs such as HIV or genital herpes would be a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison or a fine of up to $5,000. The penalties would be harsher in cases involving child or statutory rape, or where the victim is older than 65 or has an intellectual

disability

Cases where both parties knew of the infection would not lead to a conviction. The bill defines “exposure” as sexual intercourse, needle sharing or selling or donating bodily fluids such as blood.

The bill also makes it a

STAFF PHOTOS By JAVIER GALLEGOS

Mulkey

STAFF PHOTOS By BRAD KEMP

‘An important step towards reconciliation’

Louisiana historical marker acknowledges history of lynchings, racial injustice

BY ANGELINE MATHEWS Contributing writer

On Saturday, Move the Mindset, a civil rights organization dedicated to promoting racial and social justice, held a ceremony for the installation of a historical marker honoring the lives of two Black men who died by lynching in 1896 and 1906. The marker recognizes the unjust destiny faced by Antoine Domingue and Louis Senegal and offers details about the history of lynching in America.

Domingue, described as peaceable, was attacked and killed on Nov 24, 1906, by “whitecappers,” bands of poor White farmers who saw Black farmers as economic competition. According to historical accounts, they monitored Carencro roads, waiting for Black people to fall into their traps. Local law enforcement was aware of the crimes they committed but never intervened, according to accounts.

Domingue and two other Black men were making their way home when they were attacked. The two other men escaped, but Domingue was beaten repeatedly Knocked off his buggy, he fled to his home to retrieve a gun He returned to the scene and was shot and hanged.

Six White men were arrested and charged, causing other Whites to protest the arrests. After each man was released on $300 bond, the case dissipated.

On March 24, 1896, Louis Senegal, also referred to as Louis Sinclair in some records was accused of assaulting Louise Martin, a White woman. While awaiting trial in jail, a mob of 500 masked White men overpowered the guard watching Senegal and “the prisoner was no doubt lynched, but no trace of him can be found anywhere,” according to an archive of The Times-Democrat, a New Orleans-based newspaper.

Neither Domingue not Senegal’s murderers faced prison time or other legal repercussions for their actions.

This is why almost 130 years after the murders, Ola Prejean, president of Move the Mindset, believes a marker honoring the two men is long overdue. An installation ceremony took place in the Carencro Welcome Center, a quaint building already filled with rich history that now holds two jars of soil honoring Domingue and Senegal.

With a much larger audience than expected on Saturday, people poured outside the doors of the welcome center, onto the lawn and into the street. As the lyrics of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” played, the sun shone and the rain was delayed

“For the marker to be officially unveiled, I don’t have words,” Prejean said. “My late husband started this organization, and even though he’s not physically here to see it, I know he’s here.”

This historical marker installation is part of an ongoing effort to commemorate victims of racial violence and encourage conversations about justice and racial reconcili-

Zachary council to withhold payment on police station

New HQ has issues, chief alleges

BY OLIVIA MCCLURE Contributing writer

Malfunctioning doors.

A leaking roof. Bubbling paint.

Zachary’s new police headquarters has some problems.

They were a point of discussion at the City Council’s March 25 meeting, where members of the panel voted to deny — at Police Chief Darryl Lawrence’s request — a payment of $440,648 to the firm that constructed the building.

The police facility on Old Slaughter Road cost more than $8 million to build and officially opened at the beginning of the year It was built by Stuart and Company, and the architect was Grace Hebert Curtis.

The council’s agenda in-

ation led by the Equal Justice Initiative.

“It’s necessary to acknowledge history to move forward,” said Steaphie Wylie, an EJI staff attorney “Facing what happened openly and honestly is an important step towards reconciliation because we can’t move forward without this history It also represents a commitment that this kind of violence is not forgotten and to ensure it never happens again.”

A part of the ceremony was recognizing submissions to the “Reflections on What the History of Racial Injustice in Lafayette Parish and America Means to Me” literary contest, encouraging Carencro students to express their feelings on the past and future of equality

In third place was Israel Rhodes, a 10th grade student who wrote an essay titled, “Understanding Racial Injustice.” His essay tackled religion’s role in permitting slavery, with Bible passages being misunderstood to condone the mistreatment of Africans He noted how discrimination shows itself in resources, education and opportunities.

TyRiana Williams, second-place winner and a senior at Carencro High, wrote a poem about being from Lafayette but knowing its dark history with racial injustice. She ends her poem with “for justice must rise like the morning sun until every name is remembered as one,” a reminder to listeners that the effort to honor those who died unjustly is never over

Alexandra Alfred, a Carencro High senior, won first place with her powerful piece highlighting Black stereotypes and how they morph one’s sense of self worth. She mentions cornrows, a popular hairstyle once used to help slaves escape plantations and streets named after slave masters that never wanted to see Black people prosper

“My mom encouraged me to do the competition, and at the same time in U.S history class we talked about lynching,” Williams said. “I wanted people to know that it isn’t all about us getting discriminated against; we’re more than that.”

After students read their pieces, Prejean removed the cloth covering the marker, revealing a bright, blue monument with distinct gold lettering.

“I think it’s important for the community to be able to say, ‘It’s OK for us to learn about our past.’ We don’t need to keep it buried,” Prejean said. “It heals people when we bring these topics to light.”

cluded two payments to Stuart and Company Members agreed to pay the firm $61,495, the final installment for construction of the headquarters. But after hearing about building deficiencies that haven’t been addressed yet, they voted against another pay request for $440,648 worth of punch list items.

“The chief does not believe there has been significant portions of the punch list achieved, and he is recommending withholding payment,” said City Attorney John Hopewell.

“I will tell you, you have no legal basis to do that,” he cautioned. “The certificate of substantial completion and the clear lien certificate pursuant to the contract and the architect’s recommendation empower them to request and empower you to pay.” Capt. Shawn Pratt told the council about the problems at the facility

Hopewell reassured the council that the city won’t be paying for the painting expenses.

Later in the meeting, the council approved a site plan for a commercial building in the Americana development. It is planned to feature solo suites that will house shops, salons and similar businesses, city planner Bryant Dixon said. Councilwoman Ambre DeVirgilio, whose district includes Americana, is looking forward to the new building.

“I’m really excited about this project and what the suites are going to bring to Americana,” she said. “I love the other developments that this concept is in. I think it’s very elevated There’s 360 landscaping all around with the brick construction all around. I think it’s going to be beautiful.”

“The leaking of the roof is starting to cause bubbling on the walls,” he said. “We’ve had to call painters and stuff out there.”

Woman accused of lighting camper on fire while owner was inside

A New Orleans woman was arrested Friday by state fire marshal deputies after allegedly setting fire to a camper in Ascension Parish while someone was inside.

Nicole Mellon, 43, was booked into the Ascension Parish jail on counts of attempted second-degree murder and aggravated arson.

fire to the exterior of an occupied camper around 5:30 a.m. Monday in the 10000 block of Acy Road in St. Amant.

CRIME BLOTTER staff reports

According to fire marshal investigators, Mellon set

KILLING

Continued from page 1B

2022, after Baton Rouge police responded to reports of a man abusing a dog outside a home in the 2200 block of Tennessee Street. Investigators said the man was beating a pit bull-terrier mix with a large pole and a heavy-duty chain. When officers questioned Black about the abuse, he said the dog bit him when he was feeding her and he

STIS

Continued from page 1B

misdemeanor to expose others to curable STIs, such as gonorrhea or chlamydia. Those accused could be sentenced to up to six months in prison or have to pay a $1,000 fine.

Moore said spiking STI rates were another factor behind her decision to bring the bill. STI rates in Louisiana skyrocketed in the years following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. They began to level off late last year but Louisiana still ranks among the highest in the nation for chlamydia, syphilis and gonorrhea.

Patty Kissinger, an infectious disease epidemiologist at Tulane University, said she did not favor criminalizing STI exposure, even

Mellon and the camper’s occupant reportedly had been in an argument hours earlier

A neighbor saw the fire and woke the occupant, who escaped unharmed.

The St. Amant Fire Department was called, but neighbors extinguished the

had to “chastise her,” police reports indicated. When officers found the dog, it was limping and bleeding from the mouth. An East Baton Rouge Animal Control report indicated the dog also suffered a broken toenail and had to be treated for a UTI because of blood in its urine. An East Baton Rouge Parish jury found Black guilty of aggravated animal cruelty Nov 7 after listening to two days of testimony in his trial in that case During Monday’s hearing, Dis-

though punishment may seem appropriate in certain egregious cases.

Criminalization “is a dangerous thing because it increases stigma for STIs,” Kissinger said.

“What if I had a cold and I shook hands with somebody?” she asked.

Kissinger also wondered how it would be possible to prove an exposure was intentional.

There is already a controversial law on the books that makes it a felony for someone who knows they are HIV positive to expose someone else through any means of contact It mandates up to 10 years in prison and 15 years on the sex offender registry for those convicted.

Critics say the law is outdated, given that modernday treatments can make it next to impossible to spread the virus. Others have ar-

fire with a hose before fire-

fighters arrived.

One booked on suspicion of DWI

One person was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison between noon Friday and noon Saturday on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. n Bryan Terrance, 38, was booked on a count each of operating a vehicle while intoxicated and reckless operation of a vehicle.

trict Judge Louise Hines Myers, who imposed the 20-year punishment on his murder charges, sentenced Black to another 10 years for his animal cruelty conviction.

The judge suspended the balance of Black’s prison stint for that sentence and ordered him to serve three years on probation after he is released from incarceration, court records show

Email Matt Bruce at matt.bruce@theadvocate. com.

gued the law’s definition of “exposure” is so vague that it could include means of contact that cannot actually transmit the virus. (Moore’s law more specifically defines “exposure”).

Between 2011 and 2022, at least 176 people were arrested under Louisiana’s HIV criminalization statute, according to a report by the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law A 2022 analysis of law enforcement incident-level data and the state’s sex offender registry found that the law was disproportionately enforced based on race and sex: 91% of arrests for allegations related to HIV crimes were of Black men, a population that makes up 44% of Louisianans living with HIV

Email Meghan Friedmann at meghan.friedmann @theadvocate.com.

Ola Prejean, right, president of Move the Mindset, unveils the historical marker Saturday during the historical marker dedication ceremony memorializing lynching victims Louis Senegal and Antoine Domingue at the Carencro Welcome Center in Carencro.

The new historical marker memorializes lynching victims Louis Senegal and Antoine Domingue.

N.O. Musicians’ Clinic ends partnership with LSU

Crescent Care will take over serving patients this summer

BY STEPHANIE RIEGEL Staff writer

The New Orleans Musicians’ Clinic and Assistance Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides medical care and support services to the city’s musicians and culture bearers, is parting ways with the LSU Health Network after more than a quarter of a century

The change is the result of funding shortfalls facing the foundation, which pays the salaries of three full-time LSU staffers a nurse practitioner, social worker and medical assistant — who work at the St. Johnson Street clinic on the LSU Health campus The foundation also helps cover out-of-pocket medical costs for those it serves.

Altogether, those costs topped $450,000 last year

During its recent donor appeal, the foundation raised about $220,000 less than half what it needs to keep the clinic running.

“We are operating at a deficit, which is not fulfilling our fiduciary duty,” said Dr. Peggy Honoré, president of the foundation board. “Last year, we had to dip into our reserves. That is not sustainable.”

But the foundation has found a way to keep its mission alive at another location. Crescent Care, a community

MULKEY

Continued from page 1B

since the Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer accepted the LSU job in 2021. With a degree in elementary education, LeBlanc is self-taught in hair and makeup.

She had never been to an LSU women’s basketball game before she met Mulkey, but nearly four seasons in, she has upped her basketball IQ significantly

When an ESPN camera panned to LeBlanc in the stands as she anxiously watched Friday night’s game, friends back home took note and blasted her phone with screenshots. One even used the image to make a meme of the Baton Rouge makeup and hair artist.

Though they don’t always talk basketball, under Mulkey’s tutelage, LeBlanc has learned a lot about the game.

“I have learned to get that rebound,” LeBlanc said. “I have learned to work as a team, to always be one step ahead of what the next play is going to be.”

LeBlanc said she doesn’t do makeup or hair touch-ups for Mulkey during halftime.

“But a lot of people ask what setting spray I use so that her makeup lasts all day,” LeBlanc said. “I use On ‘Til Dawn.”

She describes herself as a “makeup guru” who loves trying products but sticks with what works.

“High-end makeup does not always mean better. I use drugstore makeup, but I also use high-end makeup,” LeBlanc said. At home in Baton Rouge, LeBlanc does hair and makeup for a variety of clients, including for weddings, debutante balls and other big events.

She said she charges the same for everyone, Mulkey included — about the equivalent of the price of a fancy dinner out for two, with a bottle of wine.

‘True work ethic’

She said working with Mulkey has had a profound effect on her life.

“Kim is the definition of having true work ethic,” LeBlanc said. “She inspired me that you can have it all have a good career and be a good mother.”

When LeBlanc travels with the team, her husband, Cliff, takes care of their three children, along with

health center with two facilities in New Orleans, has agreed to operate the New Orleans Musicians’ Clinic from its location in the 2500 block of Canal Street.

The change goes into effect in June, when the clinic’s existing location will close

The New Orleans Musicians’ Assistance Foundation, meanwhile, will continue to fundraise and shift its focus to helping musicians get health insurance. Honoré said the organization will use the money it raises to pay a portion of its clients’ insurance premiums and out-ofpocket costs like copays and deductibles

“There are likely going to be a lot more out-of-pocket costs in the future, if Medicaid is cut,” Honoré said. “So, we’re already planning and working with Crescent Care on how best to prepare.”

‘They care’

The New Orleans Musicians’ Clinic was created in the late 1990s to address the growing health disparities faced by musicians and other culture bearers in the city, many of whom were uninsured or underinsured at a time when health care was becoming increasingly complex and expensive

The clinic was founded by a group of musicians and their advocates in partnership with the LSU Health Network, a nonprofit group of clinics affiliated with the LSU Health Sciences Center and staffed by LSU physicians. The organization and its mission resonated in a historic city renowned for its jazz and unique culture.

New Orleans’ musicians and performers power the local cultural economy Yet many were neglecting preventive health care, working late nights and erratic schedules without benefits like health insurance or paid sick leave, the organization’s founders said at the time.

As the clinic grew, so did the need for more financial support In 2007, the New Orleans Musicians’ Assistance Foundation was created to provide administrative and fundraising support for the clinic and expand its services to include things like financial literacy, behavioral health self-care and community wellness. Jeff “Papa Frog” Klein, 74, a composer, percussion-

Kim Mulkey LeBlanc traveled to Spokane, Washington, with the LSU basketball team for the NCAA Tournament

support from her parents.

LeBlanc said she and Mulkey spend their time together visiting and laughing a lot.

“She is so personable and friendly, and conversation with her is very easy when she is working on me,” Mulkey said They talk a lot about their children and what’s going on in their lives.

LeBlanc said Mulkey is “the best” at giving life advice and helps her with how to handle situations and move forward in a positive direction, especially as a mother

“Not only is she very inspirational, but people have no idea how funny and relaxed Kim is,” LeBlanc said. Most of the time, she’s not that serious person you see on the sidelines.”

Importance of sparkle

Jennifer Roberts, one of Mulkey’s assistant coaches, initially contacted LeBlanc to work with Mulkey

“Jennifer’s cousin was roommates with one of my friends,” LeBlanc said. “And that’s how she got my number.”

Roberts has been coordinating Mulkey’s look for 23 years since the pair met when Roberts was a student at Louisiana Tech. Roberts first followed Mulkey to Baylor University

When Mulkey accepted the job to come back to Louisiana, Roberts moved home, too, along with many other members of Mulkey’s staff.

Recounting the story of how she discovered the nowfamous butterfly Queen of Sparkles jacket that Mulkey wore for a game against Iowa State in her first LSU season, Roberts knows the difference sparkle makes.

Interest in Mulkey’s sartorial choices has gained serious momentum at home and across the country

“It’s literally selling season tickets,” Roberts said. “It’s crazy People who know nothing about basketball are entertained.”

As to what Mulkey will wear next, Roberts said she has three options picked out for Sunday afternoon’s game against UCLA — and that no color is ruled out, even light blue, which the Bruins wear

“We are not the type to worry about the other team,” Roberts said. “You know, ‘We’re not gonna wear this color ‘cause that’s the other team’s color.’ We never have been like that.”

Beyond that, Roberts

LOTTERY FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2025 PICK 3: 6-9-4

PICK 4: 8-4-0-6

PICK 5: 2-6-2-6-4 MEGA MILLIONS: 2-9-31-60-63

MEGA BALL: 23 MEGAPLIER:

ist and bandleader, has used the clinic and foundation’s services for more than a decade, mostly for well visits and referrals to specialists. He says the artistic community would be lost without it.

“They say that New Orleans is a city that loves you back,” he said. “The musicians’ clinic embodies that 100% They care about us not just if we break a finger — but as people.”

Financial constraints

Despite its popularity within the community, the foundation has struggled in recent years to raise enough money to cover the costs associated with the clinic. In the nonprofit world, financial weaknesses can

is looking ahead. She has three more outfits ready for Final Four games in Tampa, Florida.

Roberts said the outfit Mulkey wore Friday night (that gave the internet Michael-Jackson-”We-are-theWorld” vibes) almost didn’t

quickly snowball, Honoré said. Funders are reticent to make grants or large gifts to organizations that are not sustainable, which, in turn, makes them less sustainable.

In October the clinic notified LSU that it would no longer be able to afford the salaries of the three staffers at the clinic, which cost $350,000 of the total $450,000 in operating expenses last fall.

“Our relationship with the clinic was always a good one,” said Ben Lousteau, interim vice chancellor for finance at LSU Health. “We supported the concept, but they said due to financial constraints they would no longer be able to support the clinic.” LSU will continue to have a

come together

“I went through extreme measures because we had to order the pants and have them overnighted. Once she put them on, they were too long,” Roberts said. “So we had a two-hour window to take them to a place to do an

relationship with the foundation, he added. The organization’s administrative offices are located within LSU and patients will still have access to any specialists at LSU they were referred to by the clinic.

New path forward

Late last year, Honoré reached out to Crescent Care about partnering and taking over the musicians clinic.

Founded more than 40 years ago, Crescent Care was originally known as the NO AIDS Task Force and has grown to become a full-service community health center with a staff of more than 270 and a variety of primary and behavioral health care services that treated more than 13,000 patients in 2024.

As a practical matter Crescent Care would treat the musicians and performers from the musicians’ clinic even without a partnership because, under its mission as a federal qualified community health center, it treats anyone.

But Executive Director Alice Reiner said it’s important to retain the branding of the New Orleans Musicians’ Clinic within Crescent Care because the clinic has such deep roots in the community and is a known entity among musicians and performers.

“Above all, we want to ensure continuity of care and support for the musicians,” Reiner said. “There are obviously some unique challenges that musicians have that we want to figure out how to support. We are thrilled to be able to partner with them.”

emergency alteration.”

The pants were ready at 2:20 p.m., and they left the hotel for the arena at 3 p.m. Mulkey was ready, makeup, hair and all.

Email Jan Risher at jan. risher@theadvocate.com.

PROVIDED PHOTO

Makeup and hair artist Morgan LeBlanc, of Baton Rouge, left, stands next to LSU coach

STAFF PHOTO By BRETT DUKE

Jeff ‘Papa Frog’ Klein, 74, a composer, percussionist and bandleader who is a longtime user of New Orleans Musicians’ Clinic, sits Friday at his home in New Orleans. He says the artistic community would be lost without the clinic.

F.

Calvin Francis Balencie aresident of Baton Rouge, LA, passed away peacefully on March 26, 2025. Calvin was born in New Orleans, LA, on April 7, 1936. He graduated from Francis T. Nicholls High School in 1954 and married JoAnn Thomasin1956.

Calvin worked as asalesman for Woodward, Wight &Co., Ltd., and later, as a purchasing agent for the New Orleans Hilton. He was aresident of Terrytown and attended Christ the King Church until 2006 when he and JoAnn moved to Baton Rouge. Calvinbecame an artist at an early ageand has been painting and participating in art shows and exhibitions for nearly 70 years. He has won countless honors and awards for his work. He participated in the Pirate's Alley Art Show for over 50 years. He was amember of the West Bank Art Guild, New Orleans Art Association, Art Guild of Louisiana, the LA Watercolor Society and Ochsner Golden Opportunities. He was aveteran and served in the Army National Guard.

Calvin is survived by his daughters, Jeanne B. Hildebrandt (David) and Angele B. Ourso (Darrell); four grandchildren, Christopher Hildebrandt (Amanda), Ryan Hildebrandt (Naomi), Amanda O. Ieyoub (Nicholas), and Daniel Ourso (Caroline); and four great-grandchildren, Abigail, Holly, Charlie and James Hildebrandt; sisters -in-law, Joan T. Carona and Mary E. Thomas; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, JoAnn Thomas Balencie; parents, John M. and Ruby Hountha Balencie; siblings, Ruby B. Boos, Shirley B. Mondello, John M. Balencie, Jr., and Joycelyn Balencie.

The family would also like to recognize and thank Calvin's friends at the Antioch Senior Center, his wonderful neighbors on Margaux Drive and the staff of PinnacleHealth Visitation willtake place on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, from 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM at Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 15615 Jefferson Highway., in Baton Rouge. Mass will follow at 11:00 AM. Following the mass, inurnment will take place at Resthaven Gardens of Memory Mausoleum Chapel, 11817 Jefferson Highway. Family and friends may sign the online guestbook or leave apersonal note to the familyatwww.resthav enbatonrouge.com.

Boyd, Berkley Benjamin

Rev. Berkley Benjamin Boyd, Jr., aretired Southern Baptist minister, went home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christon Tuesday, March 11, 2025. He was 77. Berkley is survived by his wife, Dovie Peace-Boyd, his son, Jeffrey Paul Boyd, two stepdaughters, Nicole Peace Coarsey and Shannon Peace Stephens, asister, Evelyn Boyd Sullivan, four step-grandchildren, two step-great-grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews, and many friends.

He is preceded in death by his wife of 44 years, Ruth Grantham Boyd, mother Goldie Cooper Boyd, father Berkley Benjamin Boyd, sisters Bertha Boyd Craft and Louise Boyd May. Berkley was born on August 13, 1947, in Holden Louisiana. He became aborn-again Christian at the age of 9 years. He surrendered his life to the ministry in 1969 and devoted his life to the service of the Lord for over 50 years on six church fields winning many people to Christ. He was educated at Clark College in

life to the ministryin1969 and devoted hislifetothe service of the Lordfor over 50 yearsonsix church fields winning many people to Christ. He was educated at ClarkCollege in Newton Mississippi and East Texas Baptist University in Marshall,Texas, graduating in 1974. In 1983 he served as amissionary to the island of Mindanao in the Philippineswhere he planted achurch and led over 100 people to Christ. Berkley loved to sing was an avid footballfan, and an excellent cook who lookedforward to cooking Thanksgiving dinnerevery year. He also likedbirdwatching and going on cruises. He was aloving family man and generous friend.

AMemorial Service will be held on Saturday, April 5, 2025, atFirst Baptist Church Livingston, 29401 S. Frost Rd., Livingston, LA. Rev. Brian Gunterwill officiate. Visitation begins at 10:00 AM. Service begins at 11:00 AM.

John Henry Brydels, Sr., age 95, died on March 24, 2025, at St. James Place in Baton Rouge, LA. John is preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Faye RayeCrump Brydels. He is survivedby their three children, Deborah Ann Brydels Buco (Dr. StevenBuco), Kathy Christine Brydels Seger (Jon Seger), and JohnHenry Brydels, Jr., all of Baton Rouge, LA. He is survived by eight grandchildren; Benjamin Buco of Baton Rouge, LA, Daniel (Rebekah) Buco of Baton Rouge, LA, Rev. David Buco of Galveston, TX, Dr. Steven(Dr. Ellen) Buco, Jr. of Germantown, TN, Jennifer (Jason) Seger-Paisley of Wilmington, NC,Allyson Seger (Stephen Cassidy)of Spicewood, TX, Dr. Sarah Seger of Moorhead, MN, and Katherine Seger of Brooklyn, NY. He is further survived by elevengreat grandchildren; Faye Malyn Buco, Jackson Paul Buco, Savannah Mae Buco, and Brooks Lee Buco of Baton Rouge, LA, John Henry Robert Buco of Galveston, TX, Abigail Louise Buco and Andrew JamesBuco of Germantown, TN, Hailey Renee Seger-Paisley and Gabriel Luke Seger-Paisley of Wilmington, NC, Adeline Seger Cassidy and Beatrix Seger Cassidy of Spicewood, TX

He is also survived by a sister-in-law Gloria "Teasie" Henniganof Natchitoches, LA, abrother -in-law Dr. Daniel "Danny" Crump of Starkville, MS, and brother-in-law Robert "Bob" BenderofFort Wayne, IN. He is preceded in death by his wife, Faye Raye Crump Brydels. He is also preceded in death by his parents JulesBernard Brydels and MaryBlondena Verzwyvelt Brydelsof Alexandria, LA. He is further preceded in death by his four sisters, Clementine Michiels (Joseph "Joe Michiels, also deceased) of Alexandria, LA, Catherine Turner (Ray Turner, also deceased) of Alexandria, LA, Judy Brydels of Alexandria, LA, and Madelane BenderofFortWayne,IN and brothers, JulesBrydels, Jr. (Mavis Brydels, also deceased) of Lake Charles, LA and Francis Joseph Jack" Verzwyvelt of Alexandria, LA (Hattie May Verzwyvelt, alsodeceased). He is furtherprecededindeath by his brother-in-law Waymond "Bud" Crump and sister-inlaw Joyce Crump of Marthaville,LAand brother-in-law Dr. Thomas Hennigan of Natchitoches, LA John was bornonMarch 5, 1930, in Alexandria,LAto parents Jules and Blondena Brydels. He graduated from Northwestern State College in Natchitoches, LA in 1951. John is aKorean War veteran. Afterserving in the Army, John earned an MBA from LSUin1958. He was aCertified Public Accountant from 1958 until his retirement in 2010. From 1980 until retirement John and Kathy worked together.Hewas amember of the LCPA and AICPA. John's hobbiesincluded playing booray with wife Faye and other couples, attending horse racing events and LSU Football games, watching St. Louis Cardinals baseball, picking his figs and persimmons, coaching his children's baseball and softball teams, and latercoaching his granddaughters' softball teams. Faye and he enjoyed taking tripswith granddaughters to the beach and fishing tripsto Lake Fausse Pointe. John enjoyed his grandchildren

his granddaughters' softball teams. Faye and he enjoyed taking tripswith granddaughters to the beach and fishing trips to Lake Fausse Pointe. John enjoyed his grandchildren playing Rook cards and watching their athletic events. He enjoyed fishing in Debbie's lake with the great grandchildren. John and Faye were able to enjoy attending theKentucky Derbyfor their anniversary and John and John, Jr. attended aWorld Series game in St. Louis. John and Faye also traveled on trips organized through the church and were able to visit his relatives in Belgium.

John was raised in the Catholic faith. As an adult, he was amember of UniversityUnited Methodist Church in Baton Rouge, LA

The family expresses their gratitudefor theloving care given to John by Lillie Anderson and the staff at St.James Place.

Visitation will be Monday, March 31 from9AM to 11AM at University United Methodist Church, 3350 Dalrymple Drive, Baton Rouge, LA

Funeral services will be Monday, March 31 at 11AM at University United Methodist Church, 3350 Dalrymple Drive, Baton Rouge, LA Reverend Katie Simpson will officiate.

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Dr. Michael K. Butler, age 69, on Friday, February 28, 2025. Affectionately known as "Dr. B," he was raised in Baton Rouge and Natchitoches, LA. He madelasting homes in both Baton Rougeand Houma, LA, and carried fond memories fromhis time in Miami, Florida. Dr. Butler was predeceased by his parents, Felton and Mildred A. Butler, and his beloved wife, Marian E. Butler. He is survived by his two daughters, Ebony and Yashica, and his granddaughter, Madison. Amemorial service will be held at Capitol Park Museum in Baton Rouge, LA at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 5, 2025. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Dr. Michael K. Butler Scholarship Fund https://bit.ly/Dr Bscholarship. Services entrusted to Desselle Funeral Home.

Cannatella, Suzanne Suzanne Cannatella passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Sunday, March 23, 2025, at the age of 62. Aprivate family gravesideservice will be held at Grace Memorial Park, Plaquemine at alater date. Suzanne is survived by her siblings, Michael Cannatella and wife Anita, Paul Cannatella and wife Cindy, Mary Grace Campo and husband Ron, and Monica Trevor; and numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins. Preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Grace Cannatella. Suzanne loved her family, enjoyed listening to music and watching her cartoons. Special thanks to Evergreen Group Home for their loving care and dedication to Suzanne. Also special thanks to Hospice of Baton Rouge Butterfly Wing for thedevotionand care to Suzanne during the last few weeks. In lieuof flowers the family ask that memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Baton Rouge Butterfly Wing.

Delaune, Delmas Raymond

Delmas Delaune, aloving husband,father, and grandfather, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, at the age of 79. He resided in Mount Hermon, LA and was anative and long-term resident of Prairieville, LA. He was retired from BASF in supervision. Delmas is survived by his loving wife Sharon Delaune; his daughters Robin Delaune, Tonia Delaune, Sonia Cross and husband

retired from BASF in supervision.

Delmas is survived by his loving wife Sharon Delaune; his daughters Robin Delaune, Tonia Delaune, Sonia Cross and husband Thomas; brother Ronald Delaune; sister Janice Eastridge and husband David; brother-in-law Gill Mixon; his granddaughters Destinee Ahmed and husband Darren, Hannah Cross, Abigail Cross, and Cassie Cox; great-grandson Dominic Ahmed; several nieces and nephews; and his lifelong friend William "Whip" Brown.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Henry Thompson Delaune and Yvonne Lambert Delaune; sisters-in-law Carole Delaune and Becky Mixon; and niece Erica Eastridge.

Delmas enjoyed raising cattle, doing tractor work, baling hay withhis buddies and being on his land; and he loved to joke around,especially with his grandchildren. He will be dearly missed by his family and friends.

Aprivateservice will be held at alater date.

Dr. Harry W. Ezim Jr., Esq., age 68, passed away with family at his home in Baton Rouge on January 2, 2025. Dr. Ezim was aman of power, quick wit, and compassion. He was born on May 11, 1956, and left an incredible academic career in his wake. Adevoted husband and loving father, he is survived by his wife, Jane; his three children, Harry, Princess, and McDavis; as well as five siblings. Amemorial service will be held at Comfort Event Hall, 7715 TomDr., Baton Rouge, LA 70806, on April 25, 2025. The memorial will be from 5:00 to 8:00 PM, with arepass following immediately after. A graveside service will be held at Greenoaks Memorial Park on April 26, 2025 at 10 am. In lieuofflowers, donations can be made to the the Public Defender Association of Louisiana.

Carol M. Gautreau, of St. Amant, LA, passed away on March 28, 2025, at the age of 78. She was born in Grand Point, LA on November 3, 1946, to the late Percy and EdithMartin. She is preceded in death by her husband Carlton "Gob" Gautreau. Survived by her children, Chad Gautreau (Andi) and Christie Duhe (Malcolm "Mac") and her grandchildren, Kami Gautreau and Khi Gautreau. She is also survived by her siblings, Barbara Yambra, LeoMartin (Mary) and Teddy Martin and numerous nieces, nephews, family members and friends.

Carol was adedicated wife, mother, grandmother and friend to many. She spent many, many years in the retail business. She enjoyed crocheting, going to the casino, doingpuzzles and traveling as much as she could. Carol loved to spend time withher family especially going to watch her granddaughters play softball. She will be greatly missed by allofthose who knew and loved her.

Family and friends are invited to attend services on Wednesday, April 2, 2025 at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 44450 LA Highway 429, St. Amant, Louisiana 70774. The visitation will begin at 9:00 AM with theMass of Christian Burial starting at 11:00 AM Carol will be laid to rest in the church cemetery. Fond memories and wordsof condolences can be expressed at www.OursoFH.comfor the Gautreau family.

Carmen Generes Gravois passed away peacefully at 95 years of age on Sunday, March 23, 2025, with family by her side. For complete obituary, please see Tharp Funeral Home website.

Family and friends are invited to her funeral services/Mass on Saturday, April 5th at St Angela Merici Catholic Church (901 Beverly Garden Drive)in Metairie. Visitation begins at 10 am followed by Mass of Christian Burial at noon. ACatholic burial/interment will follow at St. Louis Cemetery #3 (3421 Esplanade Ave) in New Orleans.

Bert Guerin passed away at his home on Saturday, March 22, 2025 with his loving family by his side. He was 91 and aresident of Walker, LA. Bert was born in New Roads, LA on May 18, 1933. He fought in the Korean War, where he proudly served his country in theArmy. He retired as asupervisor from EBR-DPW with 30 years of dedicated service and went on to do volunteer workfor them, as wellas being avolunteer firefighter. Bert married the love of his life, Ruby Bergeron Guerin on February 12, 1952. They had one beautiful daughter, Janice Gordon, whom Bert adored. Travelling was alarge love of their life and they were members of FMCA, Cruisin Cajuns Chapter RV Club where he served as awork volunteer for 29 years. Bert wasloved by many and will definitely be missed by all who knew him.

He is survived by daughter JaniceGordon (Scott), granddaughter Sierra Teekel, great-granddaughters Olivia Hebert and Sydnie Teekel-Planchard, sister Joyce Naquin,and numerous nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by parents Hilaire and Amelia Guerin, brother Leo Guerin, and sisters Mary Bonaventure, Clarie Belle Holland, Vern Lablanc, and Iris Guerin. Pallbearers will be Scott Gordon, Robert Bergeron, Terry Creasy, Michael Maroney, Craig Hebert and Andrew Planchard. Honorary pallbearer is Grady Hill.

The family would like to extend aspecial thanks to The Hospice of Baton Rouge.

Visitation will be Monday, March 31, 2025 from 10am to 11am followed by amass starting at 11am at St. George Catholic Church (7808 St. George Drive, Baton Rouge, LA). Procession to follow for interment at Greenoaks Memorial Cemetery.

Family has requested in lieu of flowers for donations to be sent to St. George Catholic Church in Baton Rouge, LA or to the American Heart Association -Baton Rouge, LA.

Mary Roppolo

Mary Harper, abeloved mother, grandmother, and friend, passed away on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, at the age of 74. Anative of Baton Rouge and resident of Central, she was knownfor her warmth, kindness, strength andsuperb culinary skills as wellasmany other creative talents like oil and china painting, sewing, floral arranging, interior decorating, gardening, etc. She excelled at so many endeavors while making them seem effortless. Mary dedicated her life to her family. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her. Mary is survived by her husband,

will

Michael "Mickey" LeMoine passed away Thursday, March 20, 2025, at the age of 73. He was a native of Lutcher, LA anda longtime residentofGonzales, LA. His life's purpose wasguided by hisfaith and commitmenttofamily. He was a3rd degree member of the Knights of Columbus, Council 8147. He was the first born of eight siblings and atrue leader. He was an avid and awardwinning cook. He retired after a35-year career at Marathon Oil Company. He is survived by his wife, Deborah "Debbie" Haydel Creel LeMoine; daughters, Kressynda (Michael) Krennerich, Tabbitha (Jeremy) Moore, Charritye (Timothy) Green andJoshline (Christopher) Davis; stepsons, Scott (Jill) Creel and Brandon (Kristi) Creel; grandchildren, Cailey (Rayon)Thomas, Cassidy (Thomas Andrews) Moore, Jaden Green, Andrew Krennerich, Abigayle Krennerich, QuinnDavis, Anderson Krennerich, Cade (Grace) Creel, McKenzie Creel, Bailey Creel, Emery Creel, Krista (David) Wale and Mathew Mankopf; sisters, Mona Martin and Jody LeMoine; brothers, Ronald "Ronnie" (Nidia) LeMoine, Dave "Smoke" (Phyllis) LeMoine, and Steven "Buggy" (Suzanne) LeMoine; sisters in law, Claudia (Gordon)Terrell, Cindy Millet, Lori LeMoine and Diane (Danny) St. Pierre; brothers in law, Ken Haydel and Ray Haydel. He was preceded in death by his parents, Herman and Jeannette Perque LeMoine; wife, Shannon Millet LeMoine; sister, Patricia "P -Pat" LeMoine; brother, Calvin "Heavy" LeMoine; brothers in law, Randall "Randy" Millet and Clark "Chucky" Martin. Visitation will be at St. Mark Catholic Church Gonzales, LA on Tuesday, April1, 2025, from 10:00am until a Mass of Christian Burial at 12:00pm. Intermenttofollow at Hope Haven Cemetery on Hwy 30, Gonzales, LA.

Gravois, Carmen Marie

Bickham

Balencie, Calvin

Hebert, Mary Kathryn 'Kathy'

Mary Kathryn "Kathy" Hebert, anative of Plaquemine and resident of Baton Rouge passed away on March 19, 2025 at the age of 81. AChristian Mass will be heldatOur Lady of Mercy Catholic church on April 7, 2025 at 10:00 am with

Brydels Sr., John Henry

Ezim Jr., Dr. Harry W.

Guerin, Bert

Butler, Michael Keith

LeMoine, Michael Andrew 'Mickey'

Gautreau,Carol M.

Harper,

Lisa Phillips Manale was born on March 27, 1955, in Weirton, West Virginia, to Eleanor and Joseph Phillips. Her family relocated to Texas and later to Kenner, Louisiana,where Lisa attended Grace King High School and was abrilliant student. After her mother left, Lisa was raised by her father, Joseph, who passed away in 1980, leaving her to navigate life on her own. Despite these challenges, Lisa remained strong and pursued acareer in healthcare, training as asurgical technician at Ochsner Medical Center. She spent many years working at the New Orleans Orthopedic Clinic, where she met the love of her life, Dr. Bernard Manale. They were married on December 8, 2002. Lisa continued her career at Orthopedic and Sports Therapy of Kenner, where she formed deep connections with Bernard's children—Cindy, Michelle, and Steve—and his sister, Vada Cazaubon, who became like family to her. Aproud New Orleans resident, Lisa had alifelong love for the city and its culture. She cherished MardiGras, having been crowned Queen of Endymion in 1976. Travelingwas one of her great passions, and she particularly enjoyed her annual trips to Las Vegas. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Lisa and Bernard relocated to Gonzales. She cared deeply for her pets, firstRiley, her one-eyed dog, and later Vito, aBichon with his own health challenges. Over the years, Lisa's childhood hipcondition necessitated ahip replacement, and herhealth began to decline. In March 2025, Lisa became gravely ill. She passed away peacefully in the arms of her beloved husband and longtime friend, Danny Stockton. Lisa will be remembered for her warmth, kindness, and the love she shared with her family, friends, and countless patients who were touched by her compassion. A deeply spiritual woman, she believed in God and is now forever at peace with Him.

Murray, Betty Carolyn 'Doats'

Betty Carolyn "Doats" Murray of Plaquemine passed awaypeacefully on March 25, 2025, surrounded by her loving family. She was abeloved wife, aloving mother, and an adoring grandmother. She was preceded in death by her parents, Holcomb and Lucielle Steed, and her brother, Patrick Steed. Betty is survived by her husband and best friend, Harry, her son, David (and his wife, Naomi), and her grandchildren, Crystal and DavidJr. Betty was anative of Leachville, Arkansas, but called Plaquemine home most of her life. She was alongtime member of the First Baptist Church of Plaquemine, during which time she served as pianist, assistant pianist, choir member, and member of the Sonshine Singers gospel quartet. She enjoyed traveling, working with her flowers, music, and baking. What she enjoyed the most was spending time with her family. Aprivate graveside service will be held for family at Grace Memorial Park in Plaquemine. Please share sympathies, condolences, and memories online at www.wilbertservices.com.

Musson, Paul A. Paul A Musson, 69, a resident of Zachary, LA, died on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. There will be a visitation on Monday, March 31, 2025 at Milldale Baptist Church from 10:00 am until 12:00 noon ser‐vices, conducted by Pastor

PA Musson, 69, a resident of Zachary, LA, died on Wednesday March 26, 2025. There will be a visitation on Monday March 31, 2025 at Milldale Baptist Church from 10:00 am until 12:00 noon ser‐vices, conducted by Pastor Jeremy Pruitt and Pastor Rick Geren. Burial will fol‐low at Louisiana National Cemetery He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Vio‐let Lynn Musson; one daughter Janice Marie Leach of Pride; two sons: Paul A. Musson Jr and Jen‐nifer Daigle of Pride; James “Jimmy” Musson of Zachary; and four grand‐children: Kaylee Musson, Katelyn Smith, Stormie Musson, and Skye Musson He was preceded in death by three brothers: Tom Musson Wayne Musson and Gene Musson. Share sympathies, memories and condolences at www CharletFuneralHome.com

Max Richards, age90, passed away on February 27, 2025. He was bornin Wewoka, Oklahoma, and resided in Baton Rouge Louisiana. Max earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Petroleum Engineering at the University of Oklahoma and then his Master of Science in Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh. He was amember of the Gamma Phi Chapter of Beta Theta Pi Fraternity. He was alifetime member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers. Max served 20 years in the United States Army attaining the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and was Airborne qualified. During this time,hewas stationedinEurope,Vietnam and Korea. He received two Army Commendation Medals, two Meritorious Service Medalsand two Bronze Stars. Upon retiring from the Army, Max movedtoLouisiana and held several engineering positions. He wasanavid tennis playerand loved making memories with his wife, five children, ten grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.Max is survivedbyhis wife of almost 70 years, Pat Richards; sons, Ken Richards (Beth) and Tim Richards (Tonda); daughters, Jill Richards Kalimeris (Andreas), Becky Richards Hearn (Darrel) and Meg Richards Gerald (Don); grandchildren, Tanner Richards (Taylor), Reeves Richards (Maritza), Tarin Richards Worrest (Alan), Tyler Richards, Tessa Richards, Walsh Hearn (Sarah), Will Hearn, Megan Hearn Rhyne (Matt), Rainey Gerald andFallon Gerald Tullier(Devin); and eight great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents, WilliamElmer Richards and PollyVerona Sams Richards; sister, Jacqueline Richards Pagan; brother-in-law, Roy Pagan; father-in-law Allen Walsh; and mother-in-law, Louise Walsh. Avisitation will be held on April4,2025 at Broadmoor United Methodist Church from 911AM; with afuneral service beginning at 11AM. Inurnment will follow at Louisiana National Cemetery at 2PM. Memorial contributions can be made to St. Joseph'sAcademy in Baton Rouge

Steintrager, Marianne O'Niell

Marianne O'Niell Steintragerwas borninNew Iberia, Louisiana, on August 7, 1936, toJackO'Niell and Willie Giles. She loved learning, reading, swimming, walks, icecream, cheese and picklesandwiches, hot tea, yellow, and enjoying the sunshine whenever possible.She was awonderful cook, quick witted and tongued, engaged in life,and sassy to the end. She fondly recalledher childhood in New Iberia and then Baton Rouge, with her parents and sisters, Jacqueline and Sally. Agraduate of Baton Rouge High and LSU, after college, she studiedinGreno-

She fondly recalled her childhood in NewIberia and then Baton Rouge, with her parentsand sisters, Jacqueline and Sally. AgraduateofBaton Rouge High and LSU, after college, she studied in Grenoble, France as aFulbright scholar and traveled Europe. Marianne then moved to Chicago, earning an MA in political science from the Universityof Chicago. There she met Detroit native James (Jim) Alvin Steintrager, who was studying towards his PhD. They married in 1960 and set up ahome in Baton Rouge, where their first child, Kirsten Marianne, was born.They soon moved to Austin, Texas, where their son, James Alvin Jr., was born.Next to Winston-Salem, North Carolina,for Jim's jobasa professor at Wake Forest University. There, they had two more daughters, Rebecca Claire and Megan O'Niell. Marianne and Jim formed lifelong friendships within theWake Forest community, within their church, Lady of Fatima, and across Winston-Salem. When her husband died suddenly at the age of 45, she was determined to parent and serve her communitystill. She was an avid volunteer, worked at Crisis Control Center, Habitat for Humanity, and served as president of the League of Women Voters. Marianne returned to Baton Rouge in 1991, where she lived withher sister Jacqueline, daughter Kirsten, and granddaughter, Marianne. She continued her volunteer work for the underserved with rigor and passion throughOur Lady of Mercy and withthe support of Father Mike Moroney. She brought to him the idea of afree pharmacy serving the Baton Rouge area, and in May of 1995 the St. Vincent de Paul CommunityPharmacy opened.There she volunteered daily. She also worked with refugees from Kosovo, and gave her time to Volunteers in Public Schools, helping children with reading difficulties. Marianne is survived by her sister Jacqueline; her children, Kirsten, Jim and his wife, Tanya, Rebecca and her husband,Andrew, and Megan; and her grandchildren, Kirsten's daughter, Marianne and Marianne's spouse, Julian, and Jim and Tanya's sons James and Max. She was preceded in deathbyher husband, James, and her sister Sally. She will live forever in the memories of her family and friends, so many of whom have reached out to share remembrances of her and tell us about theprofound impact she had on their lives.

In her final years, Marianne was cared for by her sister Jacqueline and daughter Kirsten, whose tireless attentionallowed her to live at home until the end. Jim Jr., Rebecca, and Megan are eternally grateful for everything they didfor her. She died peacefully at home with family and her dogs, Teddy and Annie, by her side. We would like to givespecial thanks to familyfriends Marianne St.Amant and Renee' Tullier, and to the caregivers fromSt. Joseph's Hospice, who brought so much comfort and support Services will be held at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church in Baton Rouge, 445 Marquette Ave., Baton Rouge, LA 70806 on April 3. Visitation will be at 9a.m., followed by afuneral mass at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be madetoCatholic Relief Services (crs.org), Catholic Legal Immigration Network (cliniclegal.org), or Humane World for Animals ).

It is with great love and sadness that we announce the passing of our husband and father Sheldon Blaine Strasner, who left us peacefully at his home surrounded by his family on March 25, 2025. Born in Duncan, Oklahoma on February 10, 1959, to Hope and Stuart Strasner, Sr., Sheldon's life was filled with kindness, humility, and aremarkable sense of humor. After moving to Baton Rouge, he attended Broadmoor High School, where he served as Student Body President and was later voted Most Likely to Succeed by his peers. Sheldon went on to earn adegree in finance and an MBA from LSU, where he became alifelong fan of the Tigers—his heart forever tied to thespirit of Baton Rouge and its beloved

ceed by his peers. Sheldon went on to earn adegree in finance and an MBA from LSU, where he became alifelong fan of the Tigers—his heart forever tied to thespirit of Baton Rouge and its beloved team. He and several friends from Broadmoor later founded "The Bengal Group", which provides scholarships to worthy LSU students.

His career began in banking and public investments where he met many lifelong friends, buthis entrepreneurial spirit eventually led him to found Capitol Solutions, where his reputation in the industry flourished and his intelligence and work ethic helped him shapea successful company. Yet,his greatest accomplishments were never in the office. Sheldon was adevoted husband to Jennifer, a proud father to Helen, Bert, and Ned, and loving grandfather to Bear and Maisie. Sheldon converted to Catholicism at age 28, and was adevoted member of St Judeparish, where he was alector, member of the St.JudeMen's Club, member of the School Board,and Annual Appeal Chairman. Sheldon also enjoyed coaching his sons in basketball—instilling in them not just technical skills, butlessons in teamwork, perseverance, and humility.

Sheldon's favorite thing to do was share adelicious meal withthose he loved, often paired with his favorite Chardonnay 'saucy, yet not insubordinate'. Whether it was a quiet evening at home or a celebratory gathering, food and drinkwere always better when shared with family and friends.

Above all, Sheldon loved deeply. His generosity, warmth, and incredible wit and sense of humorwill be remembered by his wife, children, grandchildren, countless friends and all who knew him. Like St. Joseph, Sheldon was the protector of his family and led by example with quiet humility. The greatest gift he gave to his family was the way he lived his lifewith kindness, cheerfulness and faithinGod, which givesthem thecomfort of knowing he is at peace and with Our Savior.

Sheldon is survived by his wife, Jennifer Single Strasner; three children Helen Strasner Karam (Robert), Bert McGowan Strasner, and Edward Stuart Strasner (Mary Jane); and two grandchildren Robert Anthony Karam III and Mary Rosalie Karam. He is also survived by two

art Strasner (Mary Jane); and two grandchildren Robert AnthonyKaram III and Mary Rosalie Karam. He is also survived by two brothers Stuart Bert Strasner, II (Sheri) and Stanton Brett Strasner (Geri), andanextended family that spans generations, all of whom will carry hismemory forward with love, joy, and gratitude. Sheldon is preceded in death by his parents, Hope and Stuart Strasner andfather-in-law Kenneth Adolph Single, cousin Josh Strasner, in-law Robert "Bob" AnthonyKaram, Sr., as well as dear friends William "Billy" Allen and Stephanie Durio Hutchinson. In Sheldon's memory, the family asks that you raise aglass of wine—saucy, yet not insubordinate—andshare a meal with loved ones, just as he wouldhave wanted. Rest in peace, Sheldonhusband, dad, brother, friend, and 'Opa' as he was known to his grandchildren. You will be deeply missed, and never forgotten.

Honorary pallbearers are Rudy Aguilar, Dan Bosse, Alan Darden,Bobby Fahey, Donie Hicks, Bill Justice, Paul Leinweber, Richard Lieux, Mark Schoen, Greg Scott, Martin Walke, and Chris Wall, all of whom are dear friends who supported and loved Sheldon and his family throughouteach of their friendships, but especially during the past nine years.

The family would like to extend special thanks to Gail Sylve, Sydney Joffrion Janelle Sims andBecca Babin for their exceptional care of Sheldon over the past year.

AMass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, March31st, 2025, at St. Jude Catholic Church. The DivineMercy recitation will begin at 10am followed by Visitation from 10:30-12:00pm with aFuneral Mass beginningat 12:00pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Sheldon's name to Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center in Baton Rouge or the American Cancer Society.

Lynn Edward Trosclair, a resident of Gramercy, passed away on Wednes‐day, March 26, 2025 at the age of 82. Beloved husband of Patricia “Pat” Louque Trosclair for 62 years. Lov‐ing father of Brett Trosclair (Tracie) Tricia Allen (Dan) and the late Roy Trosclair Grandfather of Kristie, Brit‐tny, Jessica, Ashley, Brandy, Caiden, Peyton, James Janie, Josie and Corie Great-grandfather of Hudson Jalan, McKenzie and Adalynn. Son of the late Royal Trosclair and Mildred Landry Trosclair Brother of Nancy Jacob (the late Andre) and the late Robert “Bobby” Trosclair Uncle of Dr. Ryan Jacob Relatives and friends are invited

Missingyou everyday and rememberingthe wonderful timeswesharedtogether. Church everySundayhasn’t been thesamewithout you. Your SpecialFriend BarbaraW.Franklin Joseph Charles Pate ‘Dancing Man’

Trosclair, Lynn Edward

Richards, Max

Strasner, Blaine

OPINION

OUR VIEWS

After shocking national security breach, Congress must wake up

The disturbing report that senior defense and national security leaders used a commercial messaging app to discuss highly sensitive plans to bomb targets abroad should rattle every thinking American. And more importantly, it should be a sobering moment for Congress to at last step up to the crucial role it plays in ensuring the safety of the many courageous men and women who put their lives on the line around the globe to protect our nation’s interests.

But alas, we fear that is not happening.

In mid-March, the U.S. military launched airstrikes on targets in Yemen held by Houthi rebels, who have been harassing ships in the Suez Canal. Afterward, Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic magazine, published an extraordinary account of how he was accidentally added by National Security Adviser Mike Waltz to a group on the Signal app that involved Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance and other senior officials discussing plans for the attack before it happened.

That the chat happened outside of secure government communication channels itself is a serious breach. Signal, though it encrypts messages, is by no means immune to hacking, as the Pentagon warned employees months ago. That a journalist — or anyone whose true identity was not known — was mistakenly added to the chat should raise alarming questions. This was talk about a military action, the details of which, had they become known, could have put lives at risk. Yet the response from Congress has been predictable and disappointingly partisan. As Democrats call for firings and resignations, Republicans mostly want to move on. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Benton, said he trusted President Donald Trump’s team would make sure it doesn’t happen again. Sen. John Kennedy agreed there’s nothing to see here. “I don’t think most Americans care one way or another,” he said.

That is beside the point We elect representatives to Congress to take such matters with the seriousness they deserve. The public is not privy to all the ins and outs of our national security protocols. We do not swear an oath to protect the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Our elected representatives — both Democrats and Republicans — are the ones who have a duty to act, especially when troops could be put in harm’s way How did we come to the point that our very national security is a partisan issue? When Republicans rightly raised security concerns about former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton using a private email server Democrats sought to minimize the risks. Now, many of those same Republicans seem to have no concerns here.

Americans need Congress to stop defaulting to its usual tit-for-tat and to call for a thorough vetting of what happened, at the very least If this is not a wake-up call for our lawmakers, we are afraid to imagine what would be.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ARE WELCOME. HERE ARE OUR GUIDELINES: Letters are published identifying name, occupation and/or title and the writer’s city of residence The Advocate | The Times-Picayune require a street address and phone number for verification purposes, but that information is not published. Letters are not to exceed 300 words. Letters to the Editor,The Advocate, P.O Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0588, or email letters@ theadvocate.com. TO SEND US A LETTER, SCAN

Due process for all, or

President Donald Trump is using an 18th-century law the Alien Enemies Act — to justify the deportation of hundreds of people he says are members of a vicious Venezuelan gang. That law was last used during World War II by the Roosevelt administration to justify the internment of Japanese Americans. The government later apologized for that action and paid reparations to the survivors who were detained, but not until 1988 in the last year of the Reagan administration.

U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, the chief judge of the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., ordered a halt to deportations until a hearing could be held. The administration said the planes deporting Venezuelans were already in the air and over international waters before the judge’s order President Trump has called for the impeachment of Boasberg, an appointee of President Obama.

One can agree that these Venezuelans are “very bad people” while still defending their right to due process, a concept at least as old as the Magna Carta.

In a summation of the Magna Carta’s influence on modern law, a posting on the Library of Congress site says: “The

Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments to the Constitution, which guarantee that no person shall ‘be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law,’ incorporated the model of the rule of law that English and American lawyers associated most closely with Magna Carta for centuries. Under this model, strict adherence to regular procedure was the most important safeguard against tyranny.”

There was at least one option other than paying $6 million to El Salvador to take the Venezuelans and imprison them. It’s what the administration initially planned send suspected criminals to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to await a hearing before an immigration judge. Hundreds of tents were erected for the prospective deportees. The administration apparently preferred a faster strategy, perhaps to demonstrate how tough it could be when following through on Trump’s campaign and subsequent promises to rid the country of undocumented aliens and “known criminals.”

That approach has likely contributed to Trump’s record-high poll numbers, but at what cost? If the Venezuelans had been sent to Guantanamo and each one appeared

before an immigration judge, the chances would have been excellent they would end up being deported. That would uphold constitutional law and produce the same results as the administration desires.

Think of it this way: If you were charged with a crime, would you want the government bypassing a jury trial to satisfy a government or political objective? This is the way totalitarian regimes behave. It should not be a policy of the United States. No president should be allowed to unilaterally remove constitutional rights from anyone, including those who may have broken the law to get to this country Founding Father George Mason said: “...No free government, nor the blessings of liberty can be preserved, to any people but by a firm adherence to justice, moderation, temperance, frugality and virtue; by frequent recurrence to fundamental principles; and by the recognition by all citizens that they have duties as well as rights, and that such rights cannot be enjoyed save in a society where law is respected and due process is observed.”

Either due process is for everybody, or it is for nobody Email Cal Thomas at tcaeditors@ tribpub.com.

We sometimes get requests to run letters with multiple signers.

I understand why a group would want to put many names on a letter It is often a way to show there is broad support for an issue or viewpoint. However, we typically limit letters to one or two signers. We believe letters should represent the views of the writer, rather than of a group. It’s hard for a group to truly collaborate on authoring a letter, and we could rather print the name of the letter’s true author, while mentioning the affiliated group. Also, I find that letters in a writer’s own words are more engaging than those written as a group project. An individual’s unique syntax and phrasing are sometimes watered down in a letter written by committee. Often, that can make the letter feel less than authentic.

Then too, there are groups that encourage their members to write to us in a letter-writing campaign on a specific topic. We don’t mind this. It’s good to know when an issue has broad interest. But we do discourage copying and pasting text that isn’t your own in letters to the editor When you send a letter, we assume you are relating your views and your views alone. Even if you feel like a certain form letter expresses your thoughts exactly, we would rather you put your opinion in your own words. It can be hard to determine when a letter is from a source other than the purported author But when we get multiple letters with the exact same wording, or substantial chunks of text that read the same, we generally weed out those letters. In our letters inbox for the week from Feb. 28-March 6, we received 71 letters. That was a bit lower than previous weeks, but you still had a lot to talk about. The most popular topic that week, outside of national politics, was the war in Ukraine, with 20 letters received on the topic. The overwhelming majority wanted to see the U.S. continue to support Ukraine. As it was the week of Mardi Gras, we received nine letters about the holiday, mostly regarding things you saw on the route. And lastly, we received three letters regarding vaccines, a topic that resurfaced after the Texas measles outbreak.

Arnessa Garrett is Deputy Editor | Opinion Page Editor. Email her at arnessa.garrett@theadvocate.com.

Arnessa Garrett

COMMENTARY

NORD facilities awful, but renewal may have begun

So: This was going to be an easy column. Namely: The New Orleans Recreation Development Commission appears dangerously negligent, but a major community coalition is determined, against all odds, to right the ship

As it turns out, the column is not so simple. But that’s good news, because the complications arise from progress NORD is making. And the coalition that was ready to blow the whistle on NORD is even better poised to partner with it.

The subject arose, and took urgency, from a Substack post last December by former longtime local prosecutor Laura Cannizzaro Rodrigue, blasting NORD for the horrid state of disrepair of many of its playgrounds.

Rodrigue’s reporting, full of photographic evidence, depicted fields in dangerous condition, garbage-filled concession areas, fallen electrical boxes, bleachers broken beyond repair, strong odors of urine and feces and even homeless encampments at a playground.

There is no denying the vast bulk of Rodrigue’s reporting — and NORD doesn’t deny it.

With all of that evidence in mind, seven key groups ranging from the NAACP to the Metropolitan Crime Commission to the New Orleans Chamber of Commerce, all led by the NOLA Coalition (which itself is an umbrella group of well over 500 nonprofit groups and businesses) issued a March 25 statement lamenting the “unacceptable conditions of recreational facilities” and calling for “rebuilding NORD.”

Their statement comes on the backdrop of a February notice from the New Orleans Inspector General of an audit “to determine whether NORD spent funds for capital projects in accordance with policy and best practices.”

All of which looks, well, flat-out awful for NORD At the very least, much more engagement from the mayor and City Council seems warranted.

There is, however, more to the story.

What was admittedly horrendous in December is, in at least some of the facilities, improving significantly Among the ball field facilities most criticized by Rodrigue, two are in remarkably

better condition, with major work ongoing.

The first, which Rodrigue identified as Larry Gilbert Stadium in Hollygrove but which actually is the adjoining Cuccia-Byrnes Playground that for years was home to Carrollton Boosters Little League competitions, was the one where homeless people had lived for nearly two years.

Now, though, the homeless encampment is gone, locks are in place, the main building looks clean, and the field seems reasonably usable.

Be that as it may, NORD communications director Emily Oliver said that it was only last summer that NORD regained management of the facility from Carrollton Boosters, which had contractually assumed management during Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s administration but had moved its Little League programs elsewhere “three or four years ago.”

And NORD already had identified Cuccia-Byrnes as a prime target for repairs.

Meanwhile, when I visited another of the places Rodrigue had described in horrific terms, the Perry Roehm playground near Elysian Fields and Florida Street,

things were even better The place is a hotbed of refurbishment activity, with work crews using heavy equipment to ready the infield for artificial turf literally used in this year’s Super Bowl.

The renovations at Cuccia-Byrnes, Perry Roehm and elsewhere, NORD’s Oliver said, are part of a master plan that preexisted Rodrigue’s December Substack article.

Sure enough, the city’s Big Green Easy master plan, which is not just for NORD facilities but for all the city’s parks and greenways, openly lists bad conditions at a number of NORD playgrounds and carefully designates a schedule for substantial improvements. An admirably comprehensive report and guide, it was published in January 2024.

In Oliver’s telling, Rodrigue’s report was largely accurate but just happened to come in the interregnum between the plan’s adoption and the plan’s actual implementation.

And while it’s well worth figuring out how conditions in so many playgrounds got so bad in the first place, the most important takeaway is that caring citizen activists such as Rodrigue and the vast

coalition that issued the March 25 statement are fully engaged now, both prodding NORD and, even more importantly, offering their assistance.

Coalition member Michael Hecht, fresh off his successful oversight of the city’s preparation for the Super Bowl, said he has “been struck by the diversity of voices looking for ways they can help ensure that our kids have safe and supportive recreation opportunities.”

Dawn Hebert, president of the Eastern New Orleans Advisory Commission, said the coalition is “encouraging NORD to consider public-private partnerships, as this is a proven model, and will help NORD leverage private dollars.”

NORD’s Oliver said her agency welcomes such public interest: “These are shared responsibilities that we all have. Taking pride in our communities is something we all should do.”

This engagement, and the transparent goodwill expressed by NORD’s Oliver, is all terrific. Let’s keep it going.

Quin Hillyer can be reached at quin.hillyer@theadvocate.com.

Johnson learns that parenthood trumps partisanship

There aren’t too many forces powerful enough to break through the partisan gridlock in Washington, D.C., but maybe here’s one: motherhood. This possibility could wind up handing House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Benton, a notable loss at the hands of one of the GOP’s truest believing Trumpers.

The member in question is a Florida representative named Anna Paulina Luna, who gave birth in 2023 and was unable to attend key votes in person, as the rules require, due to subsequent complications. She’s a highprofile face of an effort to allow new moms and dads and also women who are experiencing pregnancy complications — to vote by proxy Johnson, who has so far managed to keep his tiny Republican majority mostly united opposes the proposal and is reportedly discouraging Luna from pushing it He says he sympathizes with the predicament of members caring for newborns but that the Constitution bars proxy voting But if Luna wants to push it she can, through a procedure known as a discharge petition, which allows a measure with majority support of the full House to bypass leadership and get a floor vote. And Luna is

making it clear that this is what she wants to do.

“This is about changing the institution for the better,” Luna told the news outlet NOTUS “We had some great members of Congress that we lost because of the fact that they were like, ‘this was just too hard with her family.’ ”

All of which is creating a complication for the self-proclaimed family values crowd that runs things.

The proposal, which would give new moms and dads 12 weeks to vote by proxy, is popular with Democrats; one co-sponsor is Colorado Democrat Brittany Pettersen, who had her second baby in late January and made headlines by bringing her fourweek-old to vote with her on the floor But it also has some backing among Republicans, both male and female.

So while Johnson’s putting pressure on his caucus to hold the line, there’s a real chance he could wind up on the losing end of a full House vote.

The requirement that members vote in person under all circumstances has some vocal adherents. One is Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson, who noted that he did not vote when he was hospitalized following a 2017 assassination attempt Among his arguments is that it’s important to look fellow members in the eye before voting.

The current system certainly creates its share of drama — there’ve been instances of members leaving their hospital beds to vote — but these extreme instances just emphasize the distance between the longstanding system and the reality that human beings who populate it can face.

And it’s certainly fair to point out that the burden is disproportionately borne by members who give birth.

Women now make up just under 29% of House members and 26% of senators, and the difficulties in balancing family life and work in a different city — in an institution in which it’s become the norm to leave families back home rather than relocate to the nation’s capital — surely contribute.

The proposal’s proponents think so anyway Here’s what Petterson told CBS News: “Historically, it’s been much more wealthy, older men who serve in Congress. This isn’t designed for young families and for young women, especially.”

That challenges surrounding young families in politics would cross party lines might not be surprising to those who closely follow Louisiana politics. In 2019, a ruling that a female candidate with young kids couldn’t charge child care expenses to her campaign during a political event — and an older male Ethics Board member’s insulting suggestion that the candidate had misplaced priorities — drew bipartisan

criticism from state lawmakers, so much so that the board reversed itself.

And if opponents want to argue that carving out this exception would create a slippery slope, well, that slippery slope seems to exist already The House allowed proxy voting during the COVID pandemic when Democrats were in charge. And while Republicans criticized it at the time, Johnson was among those who took advantage on more than one occasion — as Luna pointed out, with receipts, on social media. Then there are reports that another Florida Republican, Byron Donalds, seems to have recently voted by proxy while in California for a television appearance on HBO’s “Real Time” show

Surely in modern America, it’s more important to allow new parents to recover from childbirth and bond with their babies than to joke around with Bill Maher And surely it’s more important still for lawmakers to understand the work/life challenges that so many of their constituents face, and — one would hope — to enact policies for the rest of us that address those concerns.

Maybe it’s just me, but that sounds like real family values in action.

Email Stephanie Grace at sgrace@ theadvocate.com.

Amid national struggles, La. Democrats plan a fight

Democrats across the nation are pissed off.

They can’t believe President Donald Trump, South African billionaire Elon Musk, House Speaker Mike Johnson and their Republican colleagues, influencers and power players are tearing down the federal government so many — Democrats and Republicans alike — spent centuries to build.

They want it to stop. But they’re not sure what to do. In Louisiana, just in recent years, Democrats lost the governorship, Republicans hold all statewide offices and supermajorities in the Louisiana Senate and House of Representatives. Democrats got a win, with the support of Gov. Jeff Landry, when the party got a second congressional seat, though that pick up is being challenged in the courts. Democrats have some mayoral seats Not putting up enough candidates to challenge some district representative seats allowed the GOP to walk into the Baton Rouge state capitol with an advantage. Congressional Democrats have hosted town halls recently seizing on the opportunity to highlight and blast Trump’s federal government cuts with more cuts coming,

including the president’s intent to demolish the Department of Education. U.S. Rep. Cleo Fields, D-Baton Rouge, held town halls in Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Natchitoches, Opelousas and Shreveport. U.S Rep. Troy Carter held a town hall in Georges Auditorium at Dillard University in New Orleans.

I was reminded how bad things look for Democrats when I attended Carter’s town hall in Gentilly Carter hosted the event to hear about the critical health issues that might become dire if Republicans make the Medicare and Medicare changes being discussed.

Before the event started, there were a few people in the Georges Auditorium seats and a few people mingling outside. As the start time neared, every few minutes there were two or three, then five or six, dozens and scores parking and walking, or rushing, to get inside.

These were not the Democrats who were disappointed with Vice President Kamala Harris’s loss to Donald Trump and, exhausted, decided to set politics aside as they did their best to ignore what’s been going on — and what’s likely to happen. Participants continued to come

that Democrats could lose 12 congressional seats with the next U.S. census. The more conservative American Redistricting Project basically agreed, saying it’s likely that Democrats could lose 11 seats.

That feels like Democrats are battling on several fronts as they search for a message that gets more Democrats engaged, gets more Democrats registered and gets more Democrats out to vote. I asked Louisiana Democratic Party Chair Randal Gaines about the challenge. He sighed, then said, “I’ve got a tough job. We’ve got a tough job.”

in well after the program started. They listened to Carter and health professionals who shared disturbing and depressing data about communities like ours who could lose jobs, critical health care access and uncertain disability and special education support. They railed about Minority Leader Chuck Schumer joining a few other Democrats to approve a Republican budget stopgap measure that most Democrats saw as damaging. Things could get worse. The more progressive Brennan Center recently suggested that blue states are shrinking enough

Realizing that as the party leader, he must exude hope, he immediately switched gears and talked about party moves, needs and opportunities.

He’s most excited about the party’s new executive director, Dadrius Lanus.

Lanus has been the executive director of 100 Black Men of Metro Baton Rouge. He built the staff from one to three to 10 employees in three years.

The chapter won the national organization’s chapter of the year award in 2023. Recommended by Gaines after a search conducted by a firm with political expertise, the party leadership team confirmed the

selection Wednesday night. Lanus serves on the East Baton Rouge School Board, representing the same district that includes his high school, Glen Oaks High School. He has an undergraduate degree, a master’s degree, a doctoral degree from Southern University and a law degree from Southern University Law Center On his first full day of work Thursday, Lanus told me despite all the challenges Democrats face, he wanted this job. “Right now, we’re in a hostile situation,” he said, “but it’s a perfect storm because there’s so much we can accomplish — and people just want to see us fight.”

Some in the Carter town hall audience begged Carter and his colleague Democrats to do much more, and to enlist their help. Carter insisted that they had, and they still do. With counter messaging, with town halls and encouraging people to stay involved. In the end, however, he said the biggest key can be summed up in one word: Vote. We’re in this mess largely because not enough people voted for another direction. Gaines and Lanus are aiming to change that in Louisiana.

Email Will Sutton at wsutton@ theadvocate.com.

Quin Hillyer

Stephanie Grace Will Sutton

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON Louisiana Democratic Party Chairman Randal Gaines

Merciful end nears for N.O. pro seasons

Plagued by injuries, city’s franchises fail to deliver much joy

BY REED DARCEY Staff writer

SPOKANE,Wash The Tigers almost didn’t make it here.

On Friday, before the Tigers eventually landed in the Elite Eight, their season was endangered. Mikaylah Williams can even pinpoint the exact moment that things shifted.

“I think it was five minutes and 28 seconds left on the clock,” she said

At that point of the fourth quarter, North Carolina State led 65-62.

Aneesah Morrow had just snared her ninth offensive rebound of the night, then turned it into another second-chance layup to cut the deficit to three. Coach Kim Mulkey thought Sa’Myah Smith was fouled on LSU’s first shot attempt of the possession, so she bounded off the floor, scowling and tapped the gold leaf on the shoulders of her jacket, signaling for a 30-second timeout she’d use to bark at the officials.

That discussion gave Morrow a chance to address her teammates in the huddle.

“This is not gonna be my last game,” Williams recalled Morrow saying, “so y’all need to put on.” LSU senior forward determined to end career in Final Four

If you’re a fan of pro sports in New Orleans, you’re going to love this next sentence: The Pelicans’ season is almost over Just eight games remain for the Pelicans in what will end up being the second-worst season in franchise history Couple that with what the Saints did this past season and you can probably understand why fans in the city are just ready for it all to be over The Saints finished 5-12 this season. The Pelicans are currently 20-54. If the Pelicans don’t win another game, the combined 25 wins by them and the Saints would be the lowest total by the two franchises since NBA basketball returned to the city in 2002. As of now, the worst year of combined wins was in 2004 when the Saints went 8-8 and the Pelicans finished 18-64, giving the franchises just 26 wins. But at least the Saints finished .500 that season. This will be just the fifth time the Saints and Pelicans have finished below .500 in the same year, and it’s the first time that’s happened in nine years. The Saints went 7-9 in 2016 and the Pelicans went 34-48 in the 2016-17 season. The Pelicans have eight more chances to add a few more wins to their slate. Fittingly, the first of those eight games comes Sunday when the Pelicans host the equally struggling Charlotte Hornets. No two cities with NBA and NFL franchises have struggled quite like New Orleans and Charlotte this season. Only Charlotte’s Hornets and Panthers have less combined wins (23) than the Pelicans and Saints. The Hornets bring an 18-55 record to the Smoothie King Center on Sunday The Panthers finished 5-12, including a win over the Saints that was the swan song of Dennis Allen’s time as head coach in New Orleans.

Another reliever comes up big for LSU in win over Mississippi State

BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer

Who will be the next Griffin Herring?

When it came to the bullpen, that was the question on LSU fans’ minds heading into the season. Did the bullpen have someone who could throw multiple shutout innings in a tight game? Did anyone have the makeup to fill such a roll?

Coach Jay Johnson didn’t anoint any pitcher before the start of the year but LSU spent the preseason developing a number of potential candidates for the role, including freshman right-hander William Schmidt, junior right-hander Gavin Guidry and junior left-hander Conner Ware. Also among that group was freshman right-hander Casan Evans and junior righthander Zac Cowan. Through 28 games, it’s been Evans and Cowan who both have earned the role. After Cowan tossed four scoreless innings

in relief Thursday, Evans threw four more shutout innings Friday to close out LSU’s 2-1 win over Mississippi State and clinch the series victory over the Bulldogs at Alex Box Stadium. “I’m just a big believer, man,” Johnson said. “At the end of the games is where you need your guys, and especially with an offense like we have.”

It wasn’t all smooth sailing for Evans. He ran into a bases-loaded jam with two outs in the eighth inning after walking a pair of batters and surrendering a single, but

BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS

Right lat muscle pain ends Scherzer’s day early Three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer left his debut start with the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday because of soreness in his right lat muscle.

Facing Baltimore, Scherzer allowed two runs and three hits, including two solo home runs. He threw 45 pitches in three innings, 28 for strikes. Scherzer struck out one and walked none.

Earlier this month, the 40-yearold Scherzer had a spring training start pushed back because of thumb pain.

Clayton rallies Florida into Final Four

BY JOSH DUBOW AP sportswriter

SAN FRANCISCO Coach Todd

Golden cut the final strand of the net, waved it to the crowd and performed the famed Gator Chomp A celebration that seemed completely improbable just a few minutes earlier was in high gear Florida is heading back to the Final Four

Walter Clayton rescued topseeded Florida with two late 3-pointers, and the Gators rallied from nine points down late to beat Texas Tech 84-79 in the NCAA Tournament’s West Region final on Saturday

“It goes to show how together we all are,” Clayton said. “Many times could easily just break, start pointing the finger, blaming each other for this and that. But we just stayed together through the end and stayed the course And thankfully we got it done today.”

The Gators (34-4) trailed 75-66 with less than three minutes to play before staging a furious rally against the third-seeded Red Raiders (28-9), who had done the same in the Sweet 16 against Arkansas. Clayton dribbled out of the paint and hit a fadeaway 3 with 59 seconds left to give Florida a 78-77 lead, and the Gators held on from there to advance to their first Final Four since 2014 in Golden’s third season. Florida will face the South Region champion either Auburn or Michigan State — next Saturday in San Antonio.

“There’s not another player in America you would rather have right now than Walter Clayton with the ball in his hands in a big-time moment,” Golden said. “The biggest thing in those moments is you need to have somebody that wants to take those shots. They’re obviously difficult plays, but someone that has the confidence to step up and make incredible individual plays. Walter did that for us tonight.”

The comeback provided a happy ending to Golden’s return to the Bay Area, where he played in college at Saint Mary’s and got his start as a head coach at San Francisco.

As the final horn sounded, Golden turned to the Gators fans and demonstrably pumped his fist as his players rushed out to the court to celebrate.

“It’s crazy,” forward Thomas Haugh said “I feel like I’m dreaming. I was watching the round of 64 in the eighth grade sneaking my phone into science class watching it. Now to say I’m playing in the Final Four is wild. It’s wild.”

Clayton, who began his college career at Iona, scored 30 points to

lead the Gators. Thomas Haugh added 20 points and 11 rebounds off the bench, including the two 3-pointers that started the comeback.

Clayton then tied it with his shot from long range after Texas Tech missed a second straight front end of a one-and-one as Golden called for the Gators to foul early to prolong the game.

“It was a calculated decision we had to make at that point where we needed to get more possessions in the game and it worked out well for us,” Golden said.

After Darrius Williams scored down low for Texas Tech, Clayton’s last 3 put Florida ahead to stay, and the Gators sealed it at the foul line.

Williams missed two 3s late.

He had sank the game-tying basket late in regulation and gamewinner in the closing seconds of overtime against Arkansas on Thursday night.

“I wish I could change a few plays that happened,” Williams said “But can’t go back and do that. I thought we could win until it hit zero.”

Texas Tech fell just short of its second Final Four trip ever after being on the wrong side of a lategame comeback. The Red Raiders rallied from 13 points in the final five minutes to beat the Razorbacks in the Sweet 16.

Williams scored 23 points to lead Texas Tech and JT Toppin added 20.

Judge homers 3 times as Yankees hit 9

BY RONALD BLUM AP baseball writer

NEW YORK Aaron Judge combined with Paul Goldschmidt and Cody Bellinger to go deep on the first three pitches from Nestor Cortes, then hit two more homers as the New York Yankees set a team record with nine home runs against the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday Judge hit a solo homer, his ninth career grand slam and a two-run shot in his 40th multihomer game and third with three homers. He finished with a career-high eight RBIs in New York’s 20-9 victory He came up just short of becoming the 19th player to hit four homers in a game when his sixth-inning fly fell on the right-field warning track for a run-scoring double. He flied out again in the eighth against Jake Bauers, an outfielder and first baseman.

Goldschmidt, Bellinger and Judge homered starting the first on the unusually warm 78-degree afternoon. Major League Baseball said this was the first time a team homered on its first three pitches since tracking of pitch counts began in 1988. Austin Wells homered later in the inning as New York hit four home runs in the first inning for the first time in its century-plus history Anthony Volpe added a three-run drive in the second for a 7-3 lead against Cortes who allowed a career-high five home runs.

Judge’s first homer went 468 feet. He added his ninth career slam in the fourth on a 396-foot drive to left-center off Connor Thomas, a 27-year-old left-hander making his major league debut. Jazz Chisholm Jr followed with a home run, boosting the lead to 13-3. Judge hit a 425-foot two-run homer to center in the fourth against Thomas. Pinch-hitter Oswald Peraza connected for a two-run homer in the seventh against Chad Patrick, who was making his big league debut.

New York had hit eight homers at the Philadelphia Athletics on June 28, 1939, and against the Chicago White Sox on July 31, 2007. Toronto set the record of 10 homers against Baltimore on Sept. 14, 1987. Batting leadoff for the first time in his 15-year major league career, Goldschmidt drove a fastball 413 feet into the Brewers’ bullpen in left field against Cortes, who was making his Milwaukee debut following a December trade from the Yankees. Bellinger sent a fastball into the

right-field bleachers, and Judge drove a cutter 468 feet into the left-field second deck. After a mound visit by pitching coach Chris Hook, Chisholm took a called third strike, Volpe grounded out and Wells hit a fastball 372 feet into the left-field seats. Milwaukee closed to 4-3 in the second against Max Fried, who lasted 4 2/3 innings in his Yankees debut, and Volpe hit a cutter 349 feet into the left-field seats.

Wells led off Thursday’s game with a home run off Freddy Peralta, becoming the first catcher to hit a leadoff homer on opener day The Yankees joined the 2011 Texas Rangers as the only team to lead off with a home run in its first two games. Ian Kinsler went deep starting both those Rangers games.

Cortes, a 30-year-old left-hander who pitched for New York from 2018-24, had never before allowed more than three homers in a game. He is remembered by Yankees fans for allowing a first-pitch grand slam to Freddie Freeman in the 10th inning of last year’s World Series opener that lifted the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 6-3 win, putting them on the way to the title. Pitching with his hair dyed blond, Cortes gave up eight runs, six hits and five walks in two innings and left with a 36.00 ERA. Thomas allowed his first five batters to reach and allowed eight runs, six hits and two walks in two innings.

Baltimore’s Colton Cowser put Scherzer in an early hole with a 417-foot drive to center on the second pitch of the game. Jordan Westburg’s two-out drive off Scherzer traveled 434 feet for the longest home run of his career

WNBA champions Liberty re-signs two-time MVP

Breanna Stewart re-signed with the New York Liberty on Saturday, the team announced. The move wasn’t a surprise after she helped lead the franchise to its first WNBA championship last year Stewart has won three league titles, the first two coming with Seattle. She earned WNBA MVP honors twice and was Finals MVP twice.

Stewart has averaged 21.8 points and 8.9 rebounds in her two seasons in New York. She also had 3.7 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.4 blocks. The 30-year-old Stewart came to the Liberty in 2023 to be closer to her home in Syracuse, New York. She played the first seven years of her career in Seattle after she was drafted first by the Storm in 2016.

Sabalenka bests Pegula for first Miami Open title

Aryna Sabalenka entered the Miami Open final against Jessica Pegula with 18 career titles on her elite resume. The Miami Open crown had proved elusive until Saturday

The No. 1 seed from Belarus knocked off fourth-seeded Pegula 7-5, 6-2 for her first Miami Open title in a rematch of the 2024 U.S. Open final.

Sabalenka fired up her lethal forehand in posting 22 winners on that wing to win the $1.1 million first prize. Sabalenka hit a backhand passing shot on match point after which she raised both hands to the air and looked up to the sky Sabalenka, a three-time Grand Slam champion, had won the U.S. Open over Pegula 7-5, 7-5 Sabalenka leads the series vs. Pegula 7-2.

LSU’s softball game against South Carolina postponed

Because of inclement weather Saturday’s softball game between LSU and South Carolina was postponed. LSU and South Carolina will now play a doubleheader Sunday starting at 1 p.m. at Tiger Park. The second game will start after the first game ends. On Friday, third-ranked LSU (312, 6-1 Southeastern Conference) blasted No. 10 South Carolina 11-3 in five innings in a game that was delayed one hour by the weather Catcher Maci Bergeron and infielder Tori Edwards had home runs to lead the Tigers Edwards smacked her third grand slam of the season and had a team-best five RBIs.

Friday’s win was LSU’s 14th runrule victory of the season and second in SEC play The Gamecocks fell to 25-7, 2-5.

Lee separates from pack in quest for first PGA win Min Woo Lee chipped in for birdie to take the lead and then left Scottie Scheffler and everyone else in his wake Saturday with a 7-under 63, giving him a fourshot lead in the Houston Open as he closes in on his first PGA Tour victory Scheffler began the third round with a one-shot lead but was stuck in neutral at Memorial Park, making birdie only on the par 5s and missing a few par putts in the 6-foot range to fall five shots behind. Lee turned a bunched leaderboard into big separation around the turn, which included a tee shot on the par-3 ninth that was inches from going in for an ace and a 12-foot birdie putt on the 10th hole.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ANGELINA KATSANIS

New york yankees teammates Cody Bellinger, right, and Aaron Judge celebrate after Judge hit a home run during the first inning against the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday in New york.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By GODOFREDO A. VÁSQUEZ

Florida players celebrate after their win against Texas Tech in the Elite Eight on the men’s NCAA Tournament on Saturday in San Francisco

Southern player finds sanctuary from grief on diamond

BY TOYLOY BROWN III Staff writer

Cardell Thibodeaux Jr.’s first home run with the Southern Jaguars was unforgettable.

loved that has moved on to glory,” said his father, Cardell Thibodeaux Sr “That was just an awesome moment that I can barely put into words.”

In his first at-bat against Prairie View on Feb. 16, he blasted a fastball to the second deck of Minute Maid Park in Houston with his parents in attendance. The junior’s moment of jubilation was a reprieve from his grief.

The day before he was a pallbearer at his first cousin’s funeral. She was a high school senior who died in a car crash. Thibodeaux is also mourning the death of two close friends.

“Just in a dark season in my life,” Thibodeaux said of his last half year “Some days at practice, it’s just, you know, mentally hard being there.”

The 21-year-old Lafayette native is managing with the help of his family, coaches and baseball. The sport has been a constant in which he can release his feelings

“The baseball field is my sanctuary it’s home, it’s where, you know I go to vent, I go to get away from everything else, and it’s what I enjoy to do,” Thibodeaux said. “It’s hard right now, but we keep going. We don’t quit.”

The first home run was an experience that will be tough to top at Southern. It was a highlight in a game and his emotional healing as he dedicated that big play to his cousin “He came through with something so great for someone that he

LSU starting pitcher Anthony Eyanson pitches against Mississippi State on Friday at Alex Box Stadium. Eyanson struck out 12 batters in five innings while allowing just one run in LSU’s 2-1 win.

The younger Thibodeaux hasn’t slowed down since his second game of the season with Southern (9-15, 2-6 SWAC). The Jaguars fell 18-1 Saturday night at BethuneCookman.

The UL-Monroe transfer has a .500 batting average, 33 RBIs, 10 home runs and a 1.013 slugging percentage, which are were first in the Southwestern Athletic Conference entering Saturday. He also had eight doubles, 34 runs scored and a .579 on-base percentage, which is second in the SWAC.

“You gotta be special,” Southern coach Chris Crenshaw said of Thibodeaux. “Special talent, special person, to handle all that and to keep going I commend him.”

Cre nshaw knew about Thibodeaux well before his entrance into the transfer portal.

When Crenshaw still was an assistant at Southern, he recruited the 5-foot-8 outfielder in high school for two years before he ultimately committed to UL-Monroe.

After Thibodeaux’s solid freshman season, where he made 51 starts, the lefty hitter didn’t play as much as a sophomore, playing 28 games and making eight starts. He decided it would be best to look elsewhere for a program where he could be an everyday player

The decision to leave UL-Monroe wasn’t easy since it became a “home away from home.”

“It was hard,” Thibodeaux said, “even deciding to hit the transfer portal. But life, we have to make tough decisions We have to live

with it. So I don’t regret making my decision, but I definitely do miss all my people out there in Monroe.”

Southern has begun to feel like his new home since moving to Baton Rouge in August. He said people’s generosity in the community is what he enjoys the most.

Outside of his baseball play, Thibodeaux’s comfort in his new

Continued from page 1C

sixth strikeout of the night Evans admitted Friday wasn’t his best outing.

“Command, fastball, slider, changeup, all of it I thought it could have been a little better, but that’s the game of baseball,” Evans said. “You can’t be perfect every time.”

Evans closed out the game by inducing a deep fly to center field with two outs in the ninth. The save was Evans’ fifth of the year after throwing a career-high 73 pitches.

“(He has) a whole lot of ability with the right mental makeup and pitchability,” Johnson said. “And, I mean, that was impressive tonight.”

Friday was junior righthander Anthony Eyanson’s best start in SEC play But before he could throw a pitch, he had to wait an extra two hours and 36 minutes because of inclement weather in the Baton Rouge area.

The game originally was scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m., but Eyanson’s first pitch didn’t come until 9:06 p.m. The contest didn’t

end until 12:10 a.m. Saturday morning.

The UC San Diego transfer thrived in the late-night setting, striking out 12 batters in five innings while allowing just one run that was unearned

He surrendered a run in the fourth on a passed ball after Mississippi State (1611, 1-7 SEC) loaded the bases with nobody out, but he kept the Bulldogs at just the one run after striking out the side.

The fourth inning wasn’t Eyanson’s only pickle of the night. Mississippi State threatened again in the fifth, placing two runners in scoring position with one out, but Eyanson recorded two strikeouts to escape the jam.

“I probably say it a lot,” Eyanson said. “But what it really comes down to, I think I just executed pitches when I really needed to ”

Eyanson’s day ended in the sixth inning when he walked the leadoff batter

The Bulldogs then managed to put men on the corners with two out against Evans, but the Texas native forced a groundout to get out of the inning.

Stranding runners in scoring position was Mis-

sissippi State’s downfall

Friday The Bulldogs left 12 runners on base and were just 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position.

LSU (25-3, 6-2) kicked off the scoring in the second inning on a solo home run from junior Ethan Frey

The blast was his fifth homer of the year

Mississippi State lefthander Pico Kohn kept the Tigers’ bats quiet over the next two innings but senior Luis Hernandez got to Kohn in the fifth, blasting his fourth homer of the year with one out. The shot down the left-field line handed LSU the 2-1 lead.

Kohn, who was the SEC Pitcher of the Week last Friday against Oklahoma, exited after the fifth inning. He struck out eight batters and allowed five hits on 93 pitches.

“He hides the ball well, does a really good job,” Johnson said. “(He) keeps it behind him and it’s a little unique slot.

“He locates the fastball well, and the slider is hard, and it comes out of the kind of the same tunnel, kind of spins the same.”

Email Koki Riley at Koki Riley@theadvocate.com.

WALKER

surroundings is shown in his cooking, which he learned from his mom, Rodnika Thibodeaux. One of his specialties is his smothered pork chops.

“The guys he’s rooming with, they can tell you they want him to cook all the time,” Thibodeaux Sr said.

Southern assistant coach TJ Perkins also has aided in the junior’s

Continued from page 1C

It’s been seven months of frustration for Gayle Benson’s two franchises. Boos have been loud at times in the Caesars Superdome and across the street at the Smoothie King Center Injuries decimated both teams, starting with the groin of Saints center Erik McCoy on the opening drive against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 3 to the shoulder of Pelicans forward Trey Murphy that ended his season on St. Patrick’s Day For a crash course on injuries, just look at the never-ending injury reports of both franchises. You name it, the Saints and

acclimation to Southern.

Perkins specifically helps with the outfield position group. Thibodeaux took a liking to one of his assistant coach’s mottos: Mastery is the art of doing the little things correct and also controlling what you can control.

The player development is supplemented with the availability to help them as people.

“These guys are human as well,” Perkins said. “They have things that they battle, and my biggest responsibility is just making sure I can be there for them off the field.”

Emphasis on the human aspect is exactly what a reserved Thibodeaux needed His dad describes his son as someone who “tends to hold things in.”

Thibodeaux confided to his coach about his off-the-field sorrows. Perkins, in turn, shared wisdom he gained after experiencing his own losses of two siblings.

His message: Express yourself through your passion for baseball.

“One of the things that I’ve talked to him about is just making sure you pour everything you can into these opportunities,” Perkins said.

“Just cherishing those moments, doing it and playing as hard as possible for them, and also the legacy that they would have wanted you to live by.”

Perkins’ words resonated and have kept Thibodeaux’s spirits high as he continues his breakout season.

“I don’t want to stay stagnant,” Thibodeaux said. “I want to keep excelling and keep striving for even better than what I’m doing now.”

Email Toyloy Brown III at toyloy.brown@theadvocate.com.

Pelicans injured it. Achilles. Shoulders. Hands. Ankles. Obliques. Concussions. Backs. Elbows. Hamstrings. Well, lots and lots of hamstrings, including the one that sidelined Zion Williamson for 28 games this season. He’s also missed the last three games with a lower back contusion after a hard fall against the Detroit Pistons. With just eight games remaining and nothing to play for, the Pelicans should shut Williamson down the rest of the way There is no use in risking another injury for a team that already has used 41 different starting lineups this season. That averages out to a different starting lineup every other game. Credit Pelicans coach

Willie Green for getting his team to play hard during a trying season. That was evident Friday night when the shorthanded Pelicans played three-plus strong quarters against a Golden State Warriors team playing at full strength. Green’s message to his team, despite the circumstances, has been a simple one, said Pelicans wing Bruce Brown. “We’re not here to lose,” Brown said. “We ain’t trying to lose. Go out there and play for each other Share the ball and play the right way and we can win games.” More times than not, that hasn’t been the case for the Pelicans. It wasn’t the case for the Saints, either Thankfully, it’s almost over

TRANSFORMING TRAUMA RECOVERY

STAFF PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK

STAFF PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK

Southern center fielder Cardell Thibodeaux Jr bats against LSU on Feb 18 at Alex Box Stadium.

Thibodeaux Jr

OUTDOORS

Anglers puzzled about absence of forage fish

BY JOE MACALUSO

Contributing writer

Maybe it was the snow and deepfreeze cold front of a couple of months ago.

Maybe, in a couple of cases, it was the result of fall-into-winter drawdown of lake levels.

Maybe it’s a succession of cold fronts into the middle of this month.

Whatever the reason, shad in the Verret Basin, at False River, in bayous and rivers haven’t shown in the big numbers seen during the past four to five years

Usually, by early March, shad move to the shallows and begin their spawning ritual, an ages-old late winter habit when millions — yes, millions — of shad take several weeks to make many more baby shad.

This move to the shallows triggers bass, sac-a-lait, catfish and even bream to move with the shad. After all, shad are the forage species for these predators, and it’s hard for these voracious eaters to pass on this expansive buffet

Last week, a half-dozen bass and sac-a-lait fishermen said they haven’t seen the shad spawn yet, the lateness of which might explain why in late March, we haven’t seen the big spawning moves by bass and sac-a-lait These two species were in postspawn mode this time last year.

Patience, mes amis. Patience. Water temperatures will get right with the just-right moon phase — April 12 is the next full moon — and, though late, all will be right in our freshwater fishing world.

Word to the wise

Our spring turkey season begins in earnest Saturday — after a special youth and physically challenged hunter weekend — and it’s a sure bet we’re going to see reports about hunters taking turkeys over

New card

This photo of a tailing redfish taken by Ty Hibbs was one of four selected by Wildlife and Fisheries to be the image on a second year of the agency’s hard licensing cards. The LDWF will begin selling the cards on April 28 for an additional $5 over the regular licensing fees. The cards are a more durable way to carry licenses, and current license-holders will be able to transfer all licenses to a hard card. To purchase a hard card, go to the agency’s website at louisianaoutdoors.com.

bait. Don’t do it and think you’ll get away with it.

It happens every year, and what these illegal hunters haven’t figured out is how many more eyes they have on them than were watching years ago.

Wildlife and Fisheries’ Enforcement reports constantly cite how “a tip” led them to violators.

Maybe it’s the rewards offered by Operation Game Thief triggering this increase in OGT hotline calls, or maybe legal hunters are tired of watching game taken by illegal methods, whether it be deer, ducks, doves and/or turkeys.

Our state is coming off its best turkey season since 2009 3,695 birds were taken legally and reported in 2024 — and the prospects are good for this season.

Note here that turkey hunters need basic hunting and wild turkey licenses — or an equivalent (for example, a lifetime license) and hunters 17 and younger need

a youth hunting license Turkey tags are required for all hunters, and must be used to report when taking a gobbler Yes, the season is limited to taking gobblers, not hens.

The commission

A major change is set for Thursday’s Wildlife and Fisheries Commission meeting. It’s scheduled to begin a 9 a.m. at the Crowne Plaza Hotel on Constitution Avenue in Baton Rouge.

Top agenda items include a report on public comments for the proposed 2025-2026 hunting seasons; an update on Chronic Wasting Disease and consideration of an emergency declaration to expand CWD control areas after a deer infected with CWD was found in Catahoula Parish; and, a report on legislation filed in this year’s legislative session dealing with Wildlife and Fisheries matters.

Williams-Connor Champagne Teurlings Catholic (5) 7.84. 10, Carter Broussard-Ashton Guillotte, Southside High 5) 7.72. 11, Grey Traxler-Tanner Miller, CatholicBaton Rouge (5) 7.18. 12, Kade EllenderCaden Doucet, Sulphur High (5) 7.13. 13, Deaton LeBlanc-Callian Watkins, Denham Springs High (5) 7.09. 14, Gage DowersCade Whittington, Sulphur High (4) 6.97. 15, Travis Meche-Chance Watson, Rayne Bass Team (5) 6.93. 16, Evan Breaux-Cleve Matherne, Lafourche Bassmasters (4) 6.83. 17, Landon Watts-Josiah Shockley, Livingston Parish Bassmasters (4) 6.7. 18, Connor KramerAustin Kramer, Lafourche Bassmasters (5) 6.69. 19, Bennett Fontenot-Braxton Speyrer, Port Barre High (5) 6.6. 20, Drake Scheer-Beau Carter, Terrebonne Bassmasters (5) 6.5. Big Bass: 1, Byrd-Byrd, 4.53 pounds. 2, Todaro-Muller, 3.82. 3, Williams-Champagne, 3.36. Club Award: Sulphur High Junior Bassmasters WESTWEGO — Top 10 teams from the B.A.S.S. Nation Junior Bassmasters East tournament (25 teams) held from Bayou Segnette State Park with anglers, their schools/teams, number of bass weighed in parentheses (5-bass limit), total weight in pounds and big-bass winners: Top 10: 1, Reese Forbes-Mason Grantham, Jr. SW Bassmasters (5) 5.78 pounds. 2, Cole Watkins-Luke Delaney, Jr. SW

AROUND THE CORNER

THURSDAY LA. WILDLIFE & FISHERIES COMMISSION MEETING: 9 a.m., Crowne Plaza Hotel, 4728 Constitution Ave Baton Rouge.

FRIDAY REDFISH ON THE FLY: 5:30 p.m., Orvis Shop, 7601 Bluebonnet Boulevard, Baton Rouge. Redfish semimar by Tony Friedrich & Bailey Short. Call Shop (225) 757-7286. Website: orvis.com/batonrouge

FRIDAY-SUNDAY

FATHER-CHILD FUN CAMP: Families Understanding Nature weekend, Woodworth Outdoor Education Center, Woodworth. Parents with children ages 10-13. Preregistration required. Fee $50/family (two children; $25/additional child; includes lodging, meals, supplies). Registration website: wlf.louisiana.gov/ page/fun-camp. Also, Oct. 10-12, Mother-Child Camp. Email Mitchell Hukins: mhukins@wlf.la.gov or Amber Breaux: abreaux@wlf.la.gov

FRIDAY-MONDAY

COLDWATER FLY FISHING WEEKEND: Little Missouri River, Murfreesboro, Arkansas. Red Stick Fly Fishers event. Call Cole Miller (225) 921-9192.

SATURDAY

LA. HIGH SCHOOL/JUNIOR QUALI-

FIER/WEST DIVISION: Butte Larose Landing, Henderson Lake. Call Tommy Abbott (504) 722-6638. Website: louisianahighschoolbassnation.com

HUNTING SEASONS

TURKEY: March 30, Youth/Physically Challenged special weekend. Area A: April 5-May 4; Area B: April 5-27; Area C: April 5-20.

APRIL 7-10—GULF OF MEXICO FISHERY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL

MEETING: 8:30 a.m. daily, The Lodge at Gulf State Park, Gulf Shores, Alabama. Special public comment session, 5-6 p.m., April 8 on recreational reef fish management. General public comment, 2-5 p.m., April 9. Main topics: Increasing lane snapper minimum size limit; Mutton snapper, yellowtail & red grouper stock assessments. Webinar available. Website: gulfcouncil.org

APRIL 8-10—MLF TOYOTA BASS SERIES/PLAINS DIVISION: Kentucky Lake, Gilbertsville, Kentucky. Website: MajorLeagueFishing.com

APRIL 9—BUGS & BEERS: 6:30 p.m., Skeeta Hawk Brewing, 455 N. Dorgenois Street, New Orleans. Fly tying. Open to the public. Email A.J. Rosenbohm: ajrosenbohm@gmail. com. Website: neworleansflyfishers.com

APRIL 9—JUNIOR SOUTHWEST BASSMASTERS MEETING: 7 p.m., Seminar Room, Bass Pro Shops, Denham Springs. Boys & girls agegroup bass tournaments for ages 7-10, 11-14 & 15-18 anglers. Call Jim Breaux (225) 772-3026.

APRIL 9-11—B.A.S.S. NATION QUALIFIER: Lake Eufaula, Eufaula, Oklahoma. Website: bassmaster.com APRIL 9-11—YETI COLLEGE NATIONAL BASS CHAMPIONSHIP: Wheeler Lake, Decatur, Alabama. Website: MajorLeagueFishing.com

APRIL 10-13—BASSMASTER ELITE SERIES: Pasquotank River/Albemarle Sound, Elizabeth City, North Carolina. Website: bassmaster. com

APRIL 12—LA. HIGH SCHOOL/JUNIOR QUALIFIER/EAST DIVISION: Doiron’s Landing, Stephensville. Call Tommy Abbott (504) 722-6638. Website: louisianahighschoolbassnation.com High School qualifier WESTWEGO—

PROVIDED PHOTO By LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES

ALL-METRO STAR OF STARS GIRLS SOCCER

DIVISION I, II MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

Call it an encore performance with all the feelings for Rispone.The Nicholls State signee was selected as the Outstanding Player for the Division I, II All-Metro Star of Stars soccer team for the second straight season.

Rispone led the Redstickers to the No. 1 playoff seeding with a revamped team that included a lot of new starters. She finished the season with 20 goals and 22 assists.

Though SJA’s season ended with a semifinal loss to eventual Division I champion Mt. Carmel, Rispone is thankful for the journey.

“We had a lot younger players who were new to high school soccer,” Rispone said.“But we really came together as a team quickly, even though we had never played there

“I watched them go through some of the things I went through when I was younger I encouraged them and offered advice when I needed to.The season did not end like we wanted it to, but I would not trade the journey for anything. It made me a better player and a better person.”

As the statistics show, versatility was the key to Rispone’s success. She was equally adept at scoring a goal or facilitating one for a teammate.

“It was a joy to (coach) Angelina through high school and watching her grow,” coach Kyle Carmouche said “This is a perfect ending.”

RobinFambrough

DIVISION

It seems strange to say that a player already voted the title-game MVP twice has just now come into her own.

Johnston and her coach, Raphael Nunes, say that is the case for the Outstanding Player on the All-Metro Star of Stars Division III, IV squad.

“Last year I felt like there was a big weight on my shoulders because my sister (Faith) was injured,” Johnston said.“When she decided to graduate early it could have been that way again.

“This time, I became the big sister I knew it was my job to be a leader and help the team get where we wanted to be. I was comfortable with that.”

The sophomore finished the season with 39 goals and 24 assists to help lead the Eagles to

their third straight Division III title.

“No one outworks her,” Nunes said.“She comes early to practice to run and asks if she can stay late to get in more free kicks.

“She cares about her teammates. She does whatever we need her to do.

Now a third-year varsity player, Johnston displayed a more aggressive style. It led to her receiving the first yellow card of her career

“That surprised me,” Johnston said of the infraction.“I got physically stronger and knew I could handle contact.

“I also see the field better now, which makes it easier to find my teammates. I like getting everybody involved.

RobinFambrough

DIVISION I, II COACH OF THE YEAR

The return to coaching was indeed successful for Goodall and the Hurricanes.The former East Ascension coach led Prairieville to a district title and a berth in the Division II

quarterfinals in what was the school’s first varsity season.The Hurricanes finished with a 13-6-2 record.

DIVISION I, II ALL-METRO TEAM

TAYLOR CARTY

East Ascension, Sr. 42 goals, nine assists

MALLORY SUTTON

St.Amant, Sr. 29 goals, 10 assists

SOPHIA COLLINS

Prairieville, So. 24 goals, 23 assists

CAMERON BONADONA

Dutchtown, Sr. Eight goals

NOELIA LAGOS

Live Oak, Sr. 46 goals, seven assists

ANGELINA RISPONE

St. Joseph’s, Sr. 20 goals, 22 assists

MELISSA NOLAN

Zachary, Sr. Six goals, six assists

GRACIE DAVIS

St. Joseph’s, Sr 27 goals, 27 assists

TRINITY SPENCE Zachary, Sr. 15 goals, nine assists

AVA LEWIS Zachary, Fr. 11 goals, seven assists

CORI BERGERON St.Amant, Jr. 10 goals, 14 assists

JULIANA WILLIAMS Denham Springs, Jr 34 goals, 14 assists

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ELIZABETH MEISNER

Dutchtown, Sr. 174 saves, two goals

KEIRA HERRMANN Lutcher, Sr 40 goals, 18 assists

ANNA ALLEMAN

St. Joseph’s, Sr. 17 goals, seven assists

CATHERINE BECKMAN Walker Sr 246 saves

ADYSON NAQUIN Prairieville, Jr. 19 goals, 18 assists

AUDREY GALINDO East Ascension, Sr. Six goals, five assists

DIVISION III, IV COACH OF THE YEAR

Parkview Baptist

Three for three — as in three LHSAA state titles over the past three years — sums up the story of Nunes’ success story with Parkview Baptist.

A 2-0 victory over rival University in the Division III final in Hammond gave the topseeded Eagles (25-2) title No. 3 last month.

DIVISION III, IV ALL-METRO TEAM

ELISE FORD

Dunham, Sr. 14 goals, six assists

LAUREN BRADFORD Episcopal, Jr Four goals, 11 assists

ELLA KATE JOHNSTON

Parkview Baptist, So. 39 goals, 24 assists

SARAH ORTLIEB

Parkview Baptist, Sr. 17 goals, 14 assists

MACEY THERIOT

Parkview Baptist, Sr. 17 goals, 12 assists

KAMRYN WATSON

St. Michael, Sr. 18 goals, 10 assists

KENDYL EDWARDS

St. Michael, Sr. Four goals, five assists

JAYLA RENTER University, Sr 10 goals, 2 assists

SYDNEY BONNECAZE

Episcopal, So. 19 goals, 13 assists

ANSLEY BERNHARD

Parkview Baptist, Fr. Three goals, four assists

KARIS PHILLIPPE

Parkview Baptist, Sr. Seven goals, six assists

AMELIA GUESS

Parkview Baptist, Sr. Two goals, five assists

Note: Teams selected by area coaches.

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AUDREY LANOUX

St. Michael, Sr. Defender scored one goal

SAVANNAH MITCHELL University, Fr 23 goals, 14 assists

SOPHIA MITCHELL University, Jr Eight goals, 13 assists

JULIANA SCHWAB University, Sr Four goals, two assists

ANNE BRADLEY EWING Episcopal, Jr. Nine goals, two assists

ELOISE THARP Episcopal, Jr. Six goals, six assists

STAFF FILE PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

St. Joseph’s Academy’s Angelina Rispone runs during a Division I quarterfinal game against Fontainebleau on Feb 10 at the Burbank Soccer Complex. Rispone, who had 20 goals and 22 assists, led the Redstickers to the No 1 playoff seeding

STAFF FILE PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

Parkview Baptist midfielder Ella Kate Johnston takes a shot against U-High during the Division III state title game on Feb 19 in Hammond. Johnston, a sophomore, finished the season with 39 goals and 24 assists to lead the Eagles to their third straight state title.

ALL-METRO STAR OF STARS BOYS SOCCER

DIVISION I, II MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

JANKELL ARIAS ■ DENHAM SPRINGS, JR. ■ F/MF

Why excel at just one position when you can do it at two?

First-year Denham Springs coach

Sean LeBlanc challenged Arias to do just that. The junior accepted, and the decision was one reason the yellow Jackets soccer team enjoyed the best season in school history.

“He started out playing forward,” LeBlanc said There were just some things I knew Jankell could do physically in the midfield to help us “So we moved him around, depending on situations or the game plan.”

Arias finished the season with a team-high 28 goals while helping lead DSHS to a district title, a No. 1 playoff seed in Division I and a berth in the semifinals.

“I always played forward, but when I play midfield, I am able to see the whole field so much better,”Arias said.“That made it easier for me to score myself or to find one of my teammates in position to score.”

A loss to longtime rival Catholic High in the semifinals ended the yellow Jackets’ season. Now Arias said he feels good about celebrating the success of the season.

“I think I got better as a player And I also think I am a better team player now,” he said.

“I am a little disappointed we didn’t make it all the way (to the final). Honestly this was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had in soccer It was great.”

DIVISION I, II COACH OF THE YEAR

SEAN LEBLANC, DENHAM SPRINGS

LeBlanc’s first season as the yellow Jackets’ coach was historic.

Denham Springs was the No. 1 playoff seed in Division I and was unbeaten in the regular season for the first time.

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DSHS also won a district championship and advanced to the semifinals. LeBlanc’s squad finished 19-1-1.

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DIVISION III, IV MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

to its first LHSAA Division III state title in three seasons.

WILLIAM MAY ■ UNIVERSITY, JR. ■ CENTERBACK

With a new year came a fresh approach for May and the Cubs, who won the school’s first LHSAA Division III title in three seasons.

The change also played a role in making May the Outstanding Player on the All-Metro Star of Stars squad for Divisions III and IV

“We did a lot more possession work at practice and worked to improve our passing as a team,” May said.“It wasn’t very pretty at first, but it ended up working out.

“We knew if we could get the passing locked down, we would have a better chance of winning It taught us to trust each other more. As a centerback, May’s role is traditionally more about defense.The Cubs’ possession-

oriented style altered the role, giving May the chance to make key decisions to help both the UHS defense and offense.

“We had a very strong backline, which allowed me to be more aggressive and play more direct. I could move higher up field and go straight at the other team. It also gave me a chance to player shorter and possess the ball up the field toward the offense.”

May said improving his physical strength in the offseason gave him the confidence needed to take on the new U-High approach.

“We did not have a full squad at the end of the last two seasons because of injuries and other things,” May said.“This time we were ready. RobinFambrough

DIVISION III, IV COACH OF THE YEAR

CHRIS MITCHELL, UNIVERSITY

Mitchell’s Cubs took on the challenge of winning the school’s first LHSAA soccer title since 2022 and accomplished it A 1-0 victory over top-seeded Loyola gave

DIVISION I, II ALL-METRO TEAM

GABRIEL HALL

Baton Rouge High, Sr. Defender, 2 goals

GEORGE PERKINS

Baton Rouge High, Jr. 28 goals, 4 assists

LEIDEN POKLEMBA Baton Rouge High, Jr. 13 goals, 17 assists

COOPER ALLEN

Catholic, Sr. Eight goal, four assists

MAC COUHIG

Catholic, Sr. 33 goals

MAX CHAMBERLAIN

Catholic, Sr. Three goals, two assists

ELIEL SABIO Denham Springs, So. Midfielder

JANKELL ARIAS Denham Springs, Jr 35 goals

JORDEN MOORE Denham Springs, Jr. 28 goals

TATE FUENTES Denham Springs, Sr 15 shutouts in goal

BRADY CARROLL Dutchtown, Sr. Seven shutouts in goal

JAKE CHAIX Dutchtown, Sr. Eight goals, two assists

MICHAEAL BRIZZARD Dutchtown, Sr. Seven goals, five assists

DANIEL RAMIREZ East Ascension, Sr. 18 goals, three assists

TRISTAN MORGAN Livonia, Sr. 30 goals, 12 assists

CARL ROUSSEL Prairieville, Jr. Defensive MVP

KAYDEN MANCHESTER St.Amant, So. 17 goals, two assists

SAHIR MARTINEZ Tara, Sr. 37 goals

DIVISION III, IV ALL-METRO TEAM

LUKE STELLY Episcopal, Sr Top goalkeeper

JOSS ANDERSON Episcopal Sr 15 goals

JACOB BERG Episcopal, Sr LHSCA all-star

DAVID OLINDE Episcopal, Sr 18 goals

YASEEN ZAID Episcopal, Sr 12 goals

JULLIAN INTRIGO Episcopal Fr Three goals

JEREMY ARMSTRONG

Parkview Baptist, Sr. Defender, five goals

ASA GOODIN

Parkview Baptist, Sr. 14 goals, 20 assists

LUIS ALVARADO Port Allen, Jr. 15 goals, 14 assists

CAMDEN GITZ

St. Michael, Jr. 10 goals, 10 assists

MATTHEW GOFF

St. Michael, Jr. 105 saves, seven shutouts

EVAN NAQUIN

St. Michal, Fr. 19 goals, two assists

ISRAEL HOLLIE University, Sr LHSCA all-star, captain

SIE PARKER University Jr Finals MVP three goals

ETHAN GOMEZ University, Sr 17 goals, 8 assists

WILLIAM MAY University, Jr State MVP , team catalyst

Note: Teams selected by area coaches.

No. 2 U-High (21-2-2) the Division III title. It is the fourth title for Mitchell, now in his 23rd season at the school.

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FILE PHOTO By JOHN OUBRE

Catholic’s Caden Bland, right, plays tight defense on Denham Springs’ Jankell Arias on Feb 16 in Denham Springs. Bland finished the season with 28 goals in leading the yellow Jackets to a district title, No. 1 seed in the Division I playoffs and berth in the semifinals.

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

University High centerback William May was a strong defensive presence this season while also giving the Cubs an offensive boost when needed. May helped lead the U-High

THE VARSITY ZONE

Triple threat

Lutcher boys join girls as state powerlifting champs

BY SPENCER URQUHART Staff writer

The Lutcher boys powerlifting team was aiming to win a state championship on Saturday after the girls team won their 19th title in a row on Friday at the LHSAA state powerlifting meet.

The fourth and final day of lifting at the Pontchartrain Center in Kenner had Lutcher’s boys winning Division II for the first time since 2021. Lutcher had six boys record podium finishes, with junior Logan Borne taking first in the 275-pound weight class.

Borne held off his teammate Colin Hastings for first-place honors. Borne finished with a total of 1,435 pounds in the competition that combines the squat, bench press and deadlift. Hastings, a sophomore, finished with 1,395-pound total.

together as a team for the win today It was a great job by them.

“The whole time, Logan was cheering for (Hastings). I thought that was great. That kind of sums up our team.”

Hastings’ 575-pound deadlift topped Borne’s, but Borne recorded a higher total with a 575-pound squat and a 355-pound bench press

“I was hoping for the best for (Hastings),” Borne said. “I would’ve been OK with second place We took it home together I’ve always been good at squat, but I really pushed it today.”

Sophomore Nichoas Magendie, the son of Lutcher girls powerlifting coach Jon Magendie, finished second in the heavyweight class with a 1,430-pound total.

Daigle said. “(Magendie) fell down on his first squat but came back really well. With his parents, coach Jon and Kelly Magendie having 19 championships with the girls (team), it’s bred in him.” St. Michael senior Sammy Tramonte won the Division II 123-pound class and was named as the lightweight group’s Most Outstanding Lifter

Division I standouts

Denham Springs senior Trent Harrison won Most Outstanding Lifter in the Division I heavyweight group. Harrison recorded a 1,805-pound total to take first in the 220-pound class. Woodlawn finished second as a team with a trio of seniors reaching the podium. Adam Abdelghani and Rashad Batiste finished first in their classes, and Dwayne Beverly finished second in the heavyweight class.

Scotlandville’s Shepard has nation’s best triple jump

BY ROBIN FAMBROUGH Staff writer

It was only a matter of time for Scotlandville’s Ferzell Shepard And that time came Thursday

The Hornets’ senior jumps specialist/sprinter hoped to crack the 50-foot barrier in the triple jump at the LHSAA indoor meet last month.

When it did not happen, the focus for Shepard and coach Allen Whitaker turned to the outdoor season. Shepard got his mark with a leap of 50 feet, 1 inch at the Denham Springs Relays. That performance makes Shepard the nation’s first high school jumper to surpass 50 feet this spring.

“Ferzell has been putting in the work,” Whitaker said “I told him that he has been putting in a 50-foot effort work-wise. What we had to change was his positioning and a few other things.

“The amazing thing about that jump is that he did it with two fewer steps. We train for a 16-step approach The runway was shorter, so he had two less steps.”

Whitaker said Shepard is pondering college options with plans to compete in football and track. Shepard, a longtime Mississippi State commitment as a football wide receiver, decommitted in February

Tourney MVPs

Drew Timmons of Archbishop Hannan and Caroline Bradley of Oak Grove were selected as the Most Valuable Players by the LHSAA for its girls/ boys basketball state tournaments held earlier this month.

Both players also were voted the MVP after their respective title-game appearances. Though Oak Grove lost to Oakdale 48-43 in the Division III nonselect final, Bradley, a sophomore, finished with 38 points and 22 rebounds.

Timmons led Hannan to a 59-55 victory over Shaw in the Division II select final. He finished with 22 points. Southern Lab’s Brayden Brown, Central’s Jace Conrad and Zachary’s Ian Edmond are

area players on the boys squad. Southern Lab’s Shaila Forman, Zachary’s Tiarra McPipe and Ava Raymond and Woodlawn’s Amijah Price made the girls team.

Did you know?

LSU paid tribute to a local women’s sports pioneer by hosting its Lurline Hamilton Invitational last weekend. Hamilton is perhaps best known as a longtime sports official for basketball and softball. She also served as an assignment secretary for local officials.

Hamilton has another distinction. She earned a track scholarship at LSU in the mid-1960s and competed on the LSU men’s team seven years before title law was signed into law

Job opening

White Castle is seeking a football coach/teacher/athletic director for the 2025-26 school year Applications for the job at the Iberville Parish-based Class 1A school can be submitted online by going to www.ipsbnet.

Scotlandville’s Ferzell Shepard soars in the triple jump in the LHSAA indoor championships on Feb 17, 2024, at Carl Maddox Fieldhouse The Hornets senior, who went 50 feet, 1 inch during the Denham Springs Relays last week, has the nation’s best triple jump so far this season. Boys powerlifting Final results from the LHSAA state powerlifting meet for Divisions I-II on Satuday at the Ponchartrain Center in Kenner. Lifts are in the order of Squat, bench press, deadlift and total weight. Division I 114 pounds: 1. Jacob Gaskin, Ruston, 375-220-350-945. 2. Peyton Williams, Slidell, 310-175-375-860. 3. Ashton Wright, Southside, 320-175-350-845. 123: 1. Hunter Wright, Ouachita Parish, 375-245-430-1050. 2. Ethan Andrews, Southside, 400-220-4201040. 3. Daniel Hale, Covington, 370-245-390-1005. 132: 1. JT Sylvera, Covington, 425-290-530-1235. 2. Anderson Le, Catholic High, 500-295-440-1075 3. Braden Fontenot, Sam Houston, 415210-450-995. 148: 1. Joshua Thompson, Dutchtown, 575-310-590-1475. 2. Brett Falco, Covington, 560-370-540-1470. 3. Alex Folmar, West Monroe, 470410-495-1375. 165: 1. Dylan Rockett, Live Oak, 610395-550-1555. 2. Eric Arbour, Dutchtown, 600-320-585-1505. 3. Maddox Parker, St. Amant, 525-375-540-1440.

181: 1. Brennen Lamotte, Woodlawn, 545-345-660-1550. 2. Aidan Calkins, Catholic High, 620-325-600-1545. 3. Hayes Turner, Catholic High, 600305-595-1500.

198: 1. Rashad Batiste, Woodlawn 605-355-700-1660. 2. Blaine Parsons, Denham Springs, 605-340-655-1600. 3. Wilbert Ledet, H.L. Bourgeois, 575335-585-1495. 220: 1. Trent Harrison, Denham Springs, 700-455-650-1805. 2. Christian Ponti, West Monroe, 745400-575-1720. 3. Troy Smith, West Monroe, 615-360-615-1590. 242: 1. Blaize Donnaud, Hahnville, 675-385-590-1650. 2. Nicco Tommaseo, Holy Cross, 680-395-565-1640. 3. Ja’Darrius Lewis, West Monroe, 640-425-505-1570.

275: 1. Damien Sanders, West Monroe, 710-410-630-1750. 2. Oluwatimilehin Oluwade, Dutchtown, 640-385640-1665. 3. Dailyn Tatum, Pineville, 720-350-575-1645. SHW: 1. Alexander Washington, Ouachita Parish, 765-450-470-1685. 2. Dwayne Beverly Woodlawn, 690-470485-1645. 3. Kaden Adams, Central

“Just a complete team effort,” Lutcher coach Chris Daigle said. “We’ve got a lot of good lifters. Everybody did their job, and we put it

Junior Coy Ruiz entered as a No. 4 seed in the 198-pound class but managed to finish second with a total of 1,395 pounds. Lutcher seniors Kenyon Gardner and Tariot Snowden had third-place finishes in their classes.

“(Ruiz) is a hard worker,”

Junior Joshua Thompson won the 148-pound class for Dutchtown, which also had seniors Eric Arbour and Tim Oluwade record runner-up finishes in their classes.

Written for the LSWA

For the first time in 64 years, the Lacassine Cardinals were crowned as state champions in boys basketball. The Fairview Panthers claimed their second consecutive girls state championship and the 16th in school history Now Seniors Kane Broussard of Lacassine and Reesie Jinks of Fairview headline the Louisiana Sports Writers Association’s Class B all-state teams.

Broussard averaged 21 points per game in leading the Cardinals to the state championship, while Jinks scored 23 points per game in guiding the Panthers to their 14th state title since 2000.

Anacoco girls coach Tim Parker and Lacassine boys coach Micah Rasberry were chosen as Coach of the Year recipients. Parker,

ment from coaching,

Anacoco to the LHSAA tourney for the

Lafourche, 660-435-535-1630. Division II 114: 1. Chance Watson, Rayne, 300215-335-850. 2. Matthew Descant, Pearl River, 270-190-350-810. 3. Timothy Borel, Breaux Bridge, 280155-350-785. 123: 1. Sammy Tramonte, St. Michael, 440-265-430-1135. 2. Seth Dukes, Leesville, 350-215-455-1020. 3. Cooper Weber, Lakeshore, 355-215405-975. 132: 1. Caden Reeser, Ovey Comeaux, 410-230-455-1095. 2. Phillip Huth, Pearl River, 410-235-445-1090 3. Kenyon Gardner, Lutcher, 370-230445-1045. 148: 1. Blake Chambers, North DeSoto, 485-295-445-1225. 2. James Matassa, E.D. White, 405-280-4551140. 3. Kendrick Lee, Leesville, 425-245-430-1100. 165: 1. Cris Germany, Northwood, 500-300-505-1305. 2. Roman James, Loranger, 500-285-500-1285. 3. Michael Nguyen, North Vermilion, 480-300-500-1280. 181: 1. Jesse Gonzalez, Pearl River, 590-335-545-1470. 2. Jaylen Reed, Northwood, 495-315-545-1355. 3. Tariot Reed, Lutcher, 515-305-5351355. 198: 1. Ethan Tate, North Vermilion, 510-355-570-1435. 2. Coy Ruiz, Lutcher, 565-315-515-1395. 3. Quintin Wilson Woodlawn, 520-320-550-1390. 220: 1. Kenny Ponthier, Tioga, 535350-590-1475. 2. Blake Polk, Pearl River, 570-315-530-1415. 3. Omarion Houston, Woodlawn, 600-325-4701395. 242: 1. Isaiah Koontz, Lakeshore 650-355-610-1615. 2. Michael Robertson, Northwood, 540-345-550-1435. 3 David Brown, Southwood, 550-335550-1435. 275: 1. Logan Borne, Lutcher, 575355-505-1435. 2. Colin Hastings, Lutcher, 550-315-530-1395. 3. Devin Joseph, Loranger, 525-345-520-1390. SHW: 1. Marcus Palmer, Woodlawn, 700-440-405-1545. 2. Nicholas Magendie, Lutcher, 570-375-485-1430. 3. Owens Stokes, Grant, 550-325525-1400. Division III 114: 1. Damarcus Boast, Church Point, 335-175-365-875. 2. Trey Nguyen, Abbeville, 265-170-375-810. 3. Brian Manuel, Church Point, 315165-325-805. 123: 1. Conner Richard, Church Point, 340-225-415-980. 2. Ryan Reed, Jennings, 330-225-345-900. 3. Jeremy Staten, Wossman, 300-190-360-850. 132: 1. Bryand Mao, Abbeville, 400-260-410-1070. 2. Lee Mitchell Bastrop, 400-255-415-1070. 3. Zion Knight, Wossman, 335-175-400-910. 148: 1. Jordan Grissom, Church Point, 420-285-480-1185. 2. Julian Washington, Port Allen, 415-245500-1160. Dylan Broussard, Erath, 360-225-460-1045 165: 1. Kaloe Henderson, Carroll, 490-220-510-1220. 2. David Hickman, Sterlington, 440-290-470-1200. 3. Caliber Byler, St. Louis Catholic, 455245-465-1165 181: 1. Aiden Brown, Abbeville 530-365-505-1400. 2. Luke Trahan, St. Louis Catholic, 560-285-475-1320. 3. Kaden Hatten, Caldwell Parish, 505315-495-1315 198: 1. Tyrin Doucette, Kaplan, 600400-550-1550. 2. Mason Lantz, Iota, 545-345-525-1415. 3. Ty Williams, Pine, 495-315-580-1390. 220: 1. Trevor Ruffner, Iota, 515-410520-1445. 2. Zach Thomas, Pine, 545275-595-1415. 3. Waylon Breithaupt, Jena, 560-300-525-1385. 242: Braxton LeBlanc, Church Point, 540-365-570-1475. 2. Colten Sharp, Jena, 535-320-535-1390. 3. Andrew McKee, Caldwell Parish, 525-315545-1385. 275: 1. Jeremiah Boyd, Church Point, 600-405-700-1705. 2. Brian Alston, Caldwell Parish, 615-405-640-1660. 3 Jordan Holmes, Carroll, 555-285650-1490. SHW: 1. Austin Worley, Caldwell Parish, 675-450-615-1740. 2. Slade Stelly Church Point, 560-410-550-1520. 3. Kain Gravois, St. James, 560-320555-1435. Baseball

4 p.m Catholic vs. Liberty at Traction Sports, 4 p.m. St. Michael at Broadmoor, 4 p.m. Kentwood at East Feliciana, 4 p.m. East Iberville at North Iberville, 4 p.m Ascension Catholic

Monday Port Allen at Plaquemine, 4 p.m. Northeast at Slaughter, 5 p.m. Livonia at St. John, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday Country Day at False River, 3:30 p.m. Maurepas at Donaldsonville, 3:30 p.m. McKinley at West Feliciana, 4 p.m. Madison Prep at University, 4 p.m. Port Allen at Parkview Baptist,

WOMEN’S NCAA TOURNAMENT

Van

Lith scores 26 points to lead TCU to 1st Elite Eight

BY DOUG FEINBERG AP basketball writer

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — TCU is in unchartered territory thanks to Hailey Van Lith, reaching the Elite Eight for the first time.

It sure seems like business as usual for the dynamic guard

Van Lith scored 12 of her 26 points in the fourth quarter to help second-seeded TCU beat No. 3 seed Notre Dame 71-62 on Saturday in the Sweet 16 of the women’s NCAA Tournament

“That game was unbelievable. That’s what March Madness is all about,” TCU coach Mark Campbell said. “Amazing team effort incredible defensive effort. The fight and spirit this group showed in the second half is what you have to do in March.”

Sedona Prince added 21 points for the Horned Frogs (34-3), who will play Texas on Monday night. With the game tied at 52 early in the fourth, Van Lith took over She scored five of the next six points for TCU to give the team the lead

Every run that the Fighting Irish made, Van Lith and the Horned Frogs had an answer

“My message to the girls right before we went out for the fourth quarter is we’re going to be steady, and that’s what won us the game,”

Van Lith said

Van Lith, who started her career at Louisville before transferring to LSU last season and then TCU this past year is on her way to a regional final for the fifth time.

Notre Dame (28-6) was trying to reach the Elite Eight for the first time since 2019 The Irish have lost

in the Sweet 16 the past four years.

Liatu King scored 17 points for the Irish. Hannah Hidalgo had 15 and Olivia Miles finished with 10. But the star backcourt was a combined 6 for 29 from the field.

“We literally were just missing shots that we normally make and that’s going to happen at times,” Miles said.

Notre Dame got off to a slow start before rallying for a 35-33 halftime lead. Neither team led by more than four points in the second quarter

The teams met in November in a Thanksgiving tournament in the Cayman Islands, and the Horned Frogs came away with a victory after rallying from a 14-point deficit. The Irish were missing Maddy Westbeld and Liza Karlen for that game.

USC shakes off Watkins’ absence, beats Kansas State

BY ANNE M. PETERSON AP sportswriter

SPOKANE, Ore. — Kennedy Smith stepped into the void left by injured star JuJu Watkins, scoring 19 points to help Southern California hold off Kansas State 67-61 in the Sweet 16 of the women’s NCAA Tournament on Saturday

The top-seeded Trojans (31-3) were considered title contenders before Watkins tore her right ACL during a second-round victory over Mississippi State. Now they’ll be underdogs in an Elite Eight rematch on Monday with Paige Bueckers and second-seeded UConn. The Huskies knocked the Trojans out of last year’s March Madness in Watkins’ first season Avery Howell, another freshman, scored 18 points for USC, which went on a 12-0 run during the third quarter to take a 46-39 lead, matching its biggest advantage of the day Kansas State (28-8) kept pushing, though, and tied it at 51-all early in the fourth on a layup by Ayoka Lee. Rayah Marshall responded with two straight buckets for USC. A layup by Serena Sundell got the Wildcats within 60-59. Smith responded with a pair of free throws, and USC was solid enough at the foul line to close it out Sundell scored 22 points and Lee had 12 for the fifth-seeded Wildcats (28-8), who fell short of the program’s second Elite Eight appearance and first since 1982. They beat Kentucky 80-79 in overtime to reach their first Sweet 16 since 2002 Smith had 11 points in the open-

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By

USC guard Avery Howell, center, talks with teammates during the first half of a Sweet 16 game against Kansas State on Saturday in Spokane, Wash.

ing quarter as the Trojans built 19-9 lead The Wildcats pulled ahead 1916 after Sundell’s layup and free throw USC answered with a pair of 3-pointers from Howell and Malia Samuels. Sundell hit a jumper and two free throws down the stretch to help Kansas State to a 30-28 advantage at the half. Honoring JuJu USC arrived at Spokane Arena wearing Nike T-shirts emblazoned

with Watkins’ face. Players passed around a small Watkins bobblehead, complete with her trademark “JuJu Bun” hairstyle, on the sidelines during the game. A day earlier, coach Lindsay Gottlieb said her team was playing for its inured star: “I think the prevailing feeling is that we can still do something together, and that’s what JuJu wants us to do.” Watkins was hoping to lead USC to its first national title since it won back to back in 2002 and ‘03.

Booker scores 17 to help Texas edge Vols

BY ALANIS THAMES AP sportswriter

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Texas coach Vic Schaefer got the tense battle he expected between his defensive-minded Longhorns and the highest-scoring team in the country in Tennessee. In the end, the Longhorns edged their Southeastern Conference foe with the same approach they’ve had all season relying on swarming defense and the shot-making of SEC Player of the Year Madison Booker

Top-seeded Texas got 17 points from Booker and outlasted the fifth-seeded Lady Volunteers 6759 on Saturday in the Sweet 16 of the women’s NCAA Tournament.

“We’ve been in these battles enough,” Schaefer said. “We know what it takes. When you’re tired or maybe in that moment of the last four or five minutes, that’s when you don’t rise to the occasion, you fall back on your fundamentals.”

“I was proud of how hard we played,” said Tennessee coach Kim Caldwell, who brought new energy to the Lady Vols program in her first season, during which she gave birth to a son. “A big point of emphasis was rebounding, and we did what we needed to there. They just did such a great job of rushing us into shots and forcing some turnovers down the stretch when we needed to get some shots off.”

Bryanna Preston added 12 points and four assists for Texas, which got 40 points in the post.

Zee Spearman had 13 points for the Lady Vols, who continued their run as the only school to appear in every Division I women’s tournament with their 43rd straight appearance. Tennessee outscored Texas 17-13 in the second with Booker sitting on the bench much of the quarter after picking up two early fouls. Still, the Longhorns held a 34-30 edge at the half.

Despite what Schaefer said wasn’t his team’s best day, the Longhorns locked down on defense down the stretch against Tennessee’s potent offense, which averages 87.5 points per game.

“We didn’t want it to be the last time we did it,” said Texas senior guard Rori Harmon, who finished with eight points. “We talked about accountability and leadership. We were over here grabbing each other by our jerseys and telling (each other), ‘You can’t let this happen, you can’t let this happen.’ I think it was just collectively we all just wanted it so bad.”

Texas held Tennessee to nine points in the fourth, forced four Tennessee turnovers over the final five minutes and held the Lady Vols to no makes on their final five shots.

Jordan Lee scored 13 points and Taylor Jones added 12 points and eight rebounds for the Longhorns (34-3), who advanced to face TCU in the Elite Eight. The Horned Frogs beat Notre Dame earlier Saturday to reach the first regional final in school history Booker scored seven points in the fourth quarter, including four straight with the game tied at 54 with five minutes left. Tennessee pulled back within one on a jumper by Ruby Whitehorn, who led the Lady Vols (2410) with 16 points, before the Longhorns stretched their lead to eight. That was Texas’ biggest advantage of the day, with Tennessee matching the Longhorns’ biggest strengths: defense, rebounding and post play. The Lady Vols outrebounded the Longhorns 39-36, had 15 second-chance points to Texas’ five and got 36 points in the paint.

BY ANNE M. PETERSON AP sportswriter

SPOKANE, Wash. — Paige Bueckers scored a career-high 40 points, rescuing UConn from its firsthalf doldrums and single-handedly turning a tight game against Oklahoma into an 82-59 rout on Saturday that sent the Huskies to the Elite Eight of the women’s NCAA Tournament.

Bueckers had 29 points after halftime for the Huskies, who trailed 36-32 at the break. The likely No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA draft eclipsed her previous career best of 34 points, set Monday in UConn’s second-round victory over South Dakota State, her final home final game at Gampel Pavilion. The electrifying senior guard matched her career high with six 3-pointers, the last two during a personal 10-0 run in the fourth quarter Bueckers checked out of the game with 3:06 left and UConn ahead 80-51. The second-seeded Huskies (34-3), winners of 13 straight, will face the winner of Saturday’s late game between Southern California and Kanas State in a regional final on Monday Ashlyn Shade added 12 points and Sarah Strong had 11 points and 11 rebounds for UConn, which is seeking to extend its

record by winning a 12th national title. The Huskies reached their 18th Elite Eight in the past 19 seasons, but coach Geno Auriemma’s team hasn’t won it all since 2016. Payton Verhulst scored 16 points for third-seeded Oklahoma (27-8), which reached the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2013. The Sooners have never beaten the Huskies in a series that includes the 2002 national title game.

Bueckers took UConn to the Final Four last season, where it lost to eventual champion South Carolina.

The Sooners jumped out to an 8-0 lead. The Huskies’ first points came on Bueckers’ 3-pointer just over three minutes into the game, which touched off a 11-0 UConn run. The Huskies led 17-12 after the opening quarter Verhulst hit a deep 3-pointer to put the Sooners back on top, 2423. She added a jumper and another 3 to extend the lead to 2923. Verhulst had 13 points in the second quarter Reyna Scott’s 3 sent the Sooners into the break with a fourpoint lead.

Bueckers clearly did not not want her collegiate career to end, scoring with eight points early in the third quarter to put the Huskies ahead.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By GERALD HERBERT

TCU guard Hailey Van Lith drives to the basket against Notre Dame guard Hannah Hidalgo during the first half of a Sweet 16 game on Saturday in Birmingham, Ala

AP PHOTO By BUTCH DILL Texas forward Madison Booker blocks the shot attempt of Tennessee guard Ruby Whitehorn during the first half a Sweet 16 game on Saturday in Birmingham, Ala.

JENNy KANE

BY REED DARCEY Staff writer

SPOKANE,Wash.— A year ago, Sa’Myah

Smith couldn’t leave the bench

A bulky brace stabilized her surgically repaired knee. The ligaments she tore on an early-season drive to the rim were still healing, far too tender to withstand the rigors of the women’s NCAA Tournament.

Now Smith can’t leave the floor

The 6-foot-2 forward’s contributions are simply too valuable to the LSU women’s basketball team, which pulled out an 80-73 win over No. 2-seeded North Carolina State on Friday to bring itself back on the doorstep of the Final Four

“When you have games like this,” Smith said on Friday, “it makes it all worth it.”

Before this NCAA Tournament began, Smith had tallied at least 20 points and 10 rebounds in just one of her 76 career games.

The redshirt sophomore now has hit both of those marks in consecutive contests, first with a 20-point, 12-board, six-assist outing in the No. 3-seeded Tigers’ second-round win over No. 6-seeded Florida

MORROW

Continued from page 1C

The No. 3-seeded Tigers listened.

What followed Morrow’s plea was an 18-8 surge that propelled LSU past the Wolfpack and into an Elite Eight clash with No. 1 overall seed UCLA. That game will tip off at 2 p.m. Sunday on ABC, and it’ll give Morrow her final chance to reach the Final Four before her impressive collegiate career runs out of eligibility Williams still can play two more years. Flau’jae Johnson can play one more, though she is eligible to declare for the 2025 WNBA Draft.

But Morrow’s career can end as soon as Sunday She never took a redshirt year and was one year too late to pick up an extra COVID season. Her college hoops career will soon come to a close, a fact that only

State, then with her 21-point, 11-rebound performance in the Sweet 16 victory over the Wolfpack.

On Friday, Smith played all 40 minutes for the first time in her career Smith and Mikaylah Williams scored the Tigers’ last 16 points of the game.

On one of those late fourth-quarter possessions, Williams drove baseline and drew a help defender as Smith took one step to her right, opening a window for a bounce pass that set her up to finish her eighth field goal in 13 attempts — a short jumper that she floated up and through the rim.

That bucket cut a three-point Wolfpack lead to just one with 1:48 to play and kick-started the 10-0 run that LSU used to ice the game.

Smith scored six of those points.

“I would say

Sa’Myah is playing very confident,” LSU coach Kim Mulkey said. “Sa’Myah is quietly just doing her job and somewhat doing everybody else’s job, too.”

Smith grabbed four of the 18 offensive rebounds that LSU corralled against NC State. She also stole two Wolfpack possessions and blocked two shots.

“When we got beat tonight on

heightens the urgency at which she chases her buckets and rebounds.

“Just knowing that Nees works so hard,” Williams said, “and she’s gone through so much to get to this point, it just gives us that much more motivation to want to get her to the Final Four and get her that experience. Because she deserves it.”

On Friday, Morrow willed LSU into a battle with NC State before Williams and Smith guided it across the finish line. Morrow finished with 30 points and 19 rebounds, posting her seventh career 30-point, 15-board game and the first such outing in the second weekend of the women’s NCAA Tournament or later since 2010.

Morrow pulled nine of her rebounds from the offensive glass, enough to tie her season high. She turned all but three of those boards into second-chance points. That work on the glass allowed LSU to both attempt and make seven more field goals than the

dribble penetration,” Mulkey said, “and they would come off that screen at the top, she altered shots, she blocked shots, she got rebounds. She’s just becoming more comfortable.”

In Southeastern Conference play this season, Smith averaged only 4.6 points and 5.8 rebounds per game while shooting 46% from the field. She scored in double figures just twice and grabbed at least 10 rebounds only once.

Smith is scoring 17.0 points, pulling down 10.3 rebounds and converting 70% of her shots through three NCAA Tournament games.

Her emergence couldn’t have come at a better time for LSU, which will meet first-team AllAmerican center Lauren Betts and her No. 1 overall seeded UCLA team in the Elite Eight at 2 p.m Sunday (ABC). On Friday the Bruins defeated No. 5 seed Ole Miss 76-62 behind Betts’ 31 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks.

Smith will draw the assignment of defending Betts more than a year after the season-ending knee injury that took away her entire sophomore year

“I’m 100% glad I stuck with it,”

North Carolina State guard Saniya Rivers blocks a shot by LSU forward Aneesah Morrow during the second half of their Sweet 16 game on Friday in Spokane, Wash.

Wolfpack, and it also moved Morrow into fourth place on the alltime NCAA Division I rebound-

Smith said, “and battled what I battled, mentally and physically “I don’t say it a lot, but I’m kind of proud of myself. It’s starting to pay off, and I’m happy about that.”

Format chafes Mulkey

Like UConn coach Geno Auriemma, Mulkey isn’t a fan of the two-host regional format of the women’s NCAA Tournament.

On Saturday, Mulkey said “we sold our soul too early” in choosing to play the Sweet 16 and the Elite Eight at two regional sites instead of four This year the host cities are Spokane, Washington, and Birmingham, Alabama.

“This game has gotten better,” Mulkey said. “And man, if you still had four regionals, can you imagine the attendance? I know our fan base. They can’t afford to come to Spokane. But they could if it was a little bit closer.”

On Friday, Auriemma said the two-host format “ruined the game,” in part because the logistical challenges of assigning eight teams to one regional site led to scheduling issues. The Huskies, Auriemma said, had to wake up at 6 a.m. for a one-hour practice Friday, then rise

ing leaderboard. The 6-foot-1 senior has corralled 1,707 career boards, only five fewer than the player who sits in third place, former Oregon forward Jillian Alleyne.

“It’s just so impressive,” UCLA coach Cori Close said Saturday of Morrow, “the way in which she exerts her dominance on the offensive glass and then really being crafty around the rim or attacking from the high post off the dribble. So that’s going to be our challenge.” Morrow has posted 30 doubledoubles this season — eight more than any other Division I player She’s had one in each of LSU’s first three tournament games, while also elevating her scoring total in each contest from 12 points, to 26, to 30.

In the Tigers’ 2024 tournament run, Morrow averaged 16.3 points and 9.5 rebounds per game while shooting 48% from the field.

at 5 a.m. Saturday for a half-hour shootaround at 7:30 a.m. — seven hours before their Sweet 16 game vs. No. 3-seeded Oklahoma tipped off in Spokane Arena.

“We need to fix this,” Mulkey said. “We don’t have to wait until the contract’s up. Let the people keep their super regionals. Just go add two now I’ve never ever been one to believe that you can’t work things out if it’s better for the game.”

Morrow’s numbers

Aneesah Morrow tallied 30 points and 19 rebounds Friday against the Wolfpack.

How rare is that stat line? Before Friday, only 22 women had ever scored at least 30 points and pulled down at least 15 boards

As a senior, Morrow is scoring six more points (22.7) and grabbing five more rebounds (14) per game in the tournament while maintaining her shooting efficiency (49%).

She’s also willing LSU to wins. Both on the court and in the huddle, unafraid to issue the Tigers stern reminders that she doesn’t want her collegiate career to end anywhere other than Tampa, Florida, the site of the 2025 Final Four

“We were like,” Williams said, “ ‘OK, let’s do it.’ ” LSU now meets an UCLA team that it defeated in the Sweet 16 exactly one year ago, on March 30, 2024.

“Even to go a little further,” Williams said, “Nees is only missing a national championship. She has everything else you could ever think of, so we want to be the team that gives it to her.”

Email Reed Darcey at reed. darcey@theadvocate.com.

AP

PHOTO By yOUNG KWAK

A no-show moon still left plenty to see Danny Heitman AT RANDOM

Earlier this month, when I learned that a blood moon might be at its best in the middle of the night, I didn’t have to set my alarm clock for the viewing.

As a man of a certain age, I usually wake up a couple of times each night, anyway It was easy enough, during my first pre-dawn reveille, to rub the sleep from my eyes, slip on my bathrobe, and sneak into the yard to see what I could see. I had some hope of seeing something.

A few hours earlier, while my wife and I were putting the house to bed, I’d stepped outside and spotted a bright full moon. The sky was hazy, which made the big white moon seem even more vivid, like a single light bulb above a high closet shelf. The moon hadn’t yet begun to blush, the spectacle that gives blood moons their memorable nickname. Blood moons happen during a lunar eclipse, when shadow and light conspire to rust the moon to the color of copper In our corner of Louisiana, the blood moon was supposed to be at its reddest around 2 a.m. I returned outside at the appointed hour to find the moon shrouded in clouds.

I wasn’t too disappointed by the lack of a show Mostly, I felt the odd contentment that usually visits me in those rare times when I’m outside in the dark. It’s the pleasure, I think, of having the world to yourself. The light was bright enough for me to see other things: a rake leaning against the porch, a garden bucket beneath the beam of a street lamp, a birdfeeder strung like a lantern from a branch of the crape myrtle. It was a windless night, and in the faint glow, even ordinary things seemed to hum with meaning, like props in a stage set before the actors arrive.

I noticed, while scanning the broad silhouette of our Shumard oak, that the black outline of its canopy was slightly fringed, the effect as subtle as the stubble of a beard. I wondered if I’d spotted the tree’s first, faint shoots of green Our Shumard had been slow to leaf out this spring, and this was a hopeful sign.

It was enough to think about and I was so deep in the question of Shumards and leaf cycles that I almost didn’t notice my wife arriving in the driveway She often rises in the middle of the night, too, and she’d come to join my hunt for the blood moon. We must have made quite a sight: a man and a woman, both past middle age, in the front

ä See AT RANDOM, page 6D

SCHEINUK

Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr through Baton Rouge teenagers’ eyes:

Was Barq’s root beer invented in N.O.?

BY RACHEL MIPRO

Contributing writer

Louisianans and Mississippians have long battled over claiming rights for Barq’s Root Beer, a beloved soft drink known for its high carbonation, low-foam taste and fabled Southern origins.

Thirteenth Ward resident Walker Lasiter posed the question anew after having po-boys with a friend from Mississippi. While both agreed Barq’s is the beverage of choice for the meal, they fought over the origins of the drink, each claiming it for his respective state. Lasiter was left with the crucial question: Was Barq’s invented in New Orleans? Barq’s historian and greatgranddaughter of the original Louisiana Barq’s manufacturing family Veni Harlan, has some answers. Harlan begins her recounting of the Barq’s legacy in the late 1800s, when New Orleans native and trained chemist Edouard Barq was tinkering with soda flavors in the French Quarter After dealing with a series of family tragedies and financial hardship, in 1898, a newly married Barq moved his family to the Mississippi Gulf Coast for a fresh start.

‘The ultimate apprentice’

BY JOY HOLDEN Staff writer

Each year for the ninth month on the Islamic calendar, Ramadan is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting and spiritual connection For four teenagers in Baton Rouge who all attend Liberty Magnet High School, the religious holiday honoring the Quran is also a time for family and worship that culminates in one large feast on Eid al-Fitr, the end of Ramadan.

The ninth month is also the month in which the Quran is believed to have been revealed to the Islamic Prophet Muhammad. However, the Islamic calendar follows the lunar cycle, so the sighting of the moon determines the end of the monthlong period of Ramadan and the beginning of Eid.

This year, Ramadan began Feb. 28, and will end either Sunday or Monday Abdallah Mizyed, a Palestinian-American high school senior, sees Ramadan as a time to become “the best versions of our-

selves and cleansing not only our bodies with fasting but our experience in becoming more holy.”

Liberty Magnet has accommodated its Muslim students by giving them time to pray during the day, which Mizyed says has been very helpful during Ramadan. The Muslim students have been able to form a community and support one another during the holiday

When they’re struggling, others are there to lift them up.

Though many people associate Ramadan with fasting only, the month revolves around faith and family Mizyed says his family and friends get together during Ramadan to break their fasts with dates and water after sunset — the same way the Prophet Muhammad did — and they go to the mosque together and share a large meal, iftar Abdelrazq Ayyad, a senior originally from Palestine, says that Ramadan for

“He establishes himself as a soft drink manufacturer, buys an artesian well outfit and scrambles to do what he knows how to do,” Harlan said. “And that same year, my great-grandfather, who maybe had a fourth-grade education, had an impoverished child life, walked into his warehouse. He became the ultimate apprentice, trusted and grew up in the business, and Mr Barq taught him everything. He soaked up everything.”

After learning the trade, Harlan’s great-grandfather, Jesse Louis Robinson, moved to New Orleans in 1909, with the idea of starting his own soft drink business.

By 1922, the Robinson family had Orangine Bottling Works, where they made and distributed flavored drinks like ginger ale, Orangine and Celery Tonic. The Robinson and Barq families remained close, Harlan said.

“Mr Barq was obviously a great mentor and a teacher

Mr Barq had always experimented with all kinds of flavor drinks, trying to find the right thing that would take off,”

STAFF PHOTO By HILARy

Khaled Saleh, 16, from left, Abdallah Mizyed, 17, and Abdelrazq Ayyad, 17, gather for prayer Tuesday at the Islamic Center of Baton Rouge.

PROVIDED PHOTO

Matel Ndongo, left, a Senegalese-American 16-yearold girl, sits with her sister

Baton Rouge DAR

The Baton Rouge Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution honored four high school students from the Baton Rouge area as recipients of the 2024-25 DAR Good Citizen Award. Shown are, from left, Chapter First Vice Regent Alice Wynn Welch Fresina, Natalie Zito, Christopher Johnson Jr., Chapter Registrar Zora McGuffee Olsson and Chapter Good Citizens Chair Verna Fletcher

DAR honors high school students as Good Citizen Award recipients

The Baton Rouge Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution honored four high school students from the Baton Rouge area as recipients of the 2024-25 DAR Good Citizen Award.

These students were recognized as setting themselves apart from their peers by exhibiting dependability, service, leadership and patriotism in their homes, schools and communities Chapter Committee Chair Verna Fletcher, who presided over the March 17 presentation ceremony, announced the students selected: n Natalie Zito, University Laboratory School,

overall winner for the Baton Rouge Chapter and daughter of Karen and Devin Zito

n Christopher Johnson Jr.,Liberty Magnet High School, son of Elicia Brown and Affonso Brown

n Sienna DiBenedetto, Parkview Baptist High School, daughter of Vanessa Estrada

n Avery Williamson, St. Michael the Archangel School, daughter of Mr And Mrs. Brian Williamson

Each of the students was given a certificate, a pin and an honorarium Refreshments included a custom-decorated cake embellished with the DAR Good Citizens insignia.

The chapter’s regular monthly meeting was held on March 17 at the Main Library at Goodwood.

Baton

Rouge Navy Submarine Veterans

The Baton Rouge area Submarine Veterans held a bi-monthly meeting at Drusilla Seafood Restaurant on Feb 11. Gathered are, from left, seated Gary Surber John ‘Tiny’ Ruisch WWII combat veteran James Bunch, Commander Bill Pedneau, James Powell, Donald David, Paul Barker and Brian Watson; standing, Robert Chenier, Jimmy Fountain, Christopher Graham, Brien Dickson, James Bunch Jr., Thomas Lacy, Brian Septs, David Voisin, Daniel Ross, Kevin Vizinat, Gilbert Thomas, Stuart Dupre and Gregory Wiley. Present but not in the photo are William Powell and William Hardin.

COMMUNITY GUIDELINES

The Community column runs Sundays in the Living section and accepts submissions for news of events that have taken place with civic, philanthropic, social and religious auxiliary organizations, as well as academic honors.

Submissions should be sent by noon Monday to run in the upcoming Sunday column. Because of space limitations, organizations that meet monthly or more are limited to one photo per month. If submitting digitally, we prefer JPG files 300KB or larger If taking a photo of a group, have them stand or sit shoulder-to-shoulder If more than six people are in the photo, arrange them on multiple, distinct rows.Avoid strong background light sources.

Identify those pictured by first and last names as viewed from left to right, row by row.We prefer emailed Community column submissions to features@theadvocate.com.We also accept submissions by mail at P.O. Box 588 Baton Rouge LA 70821.A phone number must be included.

Sacred Heart School Class

for a landscape.

and Cindy

ON THE ARTS AND CULTURE SCENE

performances.

Choir will collaborate with Kids’ Orchestra to present a musical showcase that highlights the talents of young performers and the power of music to bring communities together Admission is free. Email gbrccmusic@gmail.com.

‘Umbrella of Color’ The installation, “Umbrella of Color,” by students in Glasgow Middle School’s talented visual arts program, will run through Monday in the Shaw Center for the Arts, 100 Lafayette St., Baton Rouge. Admission is free. At the Poydras Center The Poydras Center, 500 W

Main St., New Roads, is sponsoring a duo art exhibition through Monday of Louisiana artists Kellie Martin Smith and Olivia McNeely Pass. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. This exhibit, which is a collaboration between the Arts Council of Pointe Coupee and the Pointe Coupee Historical Society, marks the third year for these pop-up exhibits. For more information, visit pointecoupeehistoricalsociety.com and artscouncilofpointecoupee.org.

At Cité des Arts

Tickets are on sale for Cité des Arts’ production of “Reunion,” written and directed

by Patricia Cravins. The show will have three performances at the theater, 109 Vine St., Lafayette, during Festival International de Louisiane. The show focuses on a prominent Creole family that’s forced to confront a long-held secret at an annual family reunion. Performances will be

Also, registration is open for the theater company’s two-week filmmaking workshop, “Movie Magic 101,” for students in the sixth through 12th grades. The workshop runs from 1

PROVIDED PHOTO

PROVIDED PHOTO

Associated Women in the Arts

Members of the Associated Women in the Arts held their meeting at the Louisiana State Archives on March 11. Dana Mosby demonstrated the use of PanPastel to create an underpainting

Shown are, from left, Becky Olivera, LeFon Johnson, Mosby, Monica Wood

Stewart.

PROVIDED PHOTO

PROVIDED PHOTO

of 2009

The Sacred Heart School Class of 2009 gathered at Eddie and Lisa Gardner’s home for the annual Wearin’ of the Green St. Patrick’s Day Parade. After the parade, the group enjoyed crawfish and a performance by another Sacred Heart School graduate, bagpiper Thomas Martin. Shown are, from left, first row, Janice Lofaso, Zach Johnson and Megan Johnson; second row, Rene Reech, Kristina Reech and Brynne Costarella; third row, Mary Cash, Joe Kimbrough, Miranda Kimbrough, Kristina Reech, Johnathan Brandel; fourth row, Savannah Kirk, Graham Gardner Ben Westra and Caleb Porter

PROVIDED PHOTO

Elizabethan Gallery

Elizabethan Gallery hosted its annual Winter Art Thaw art opening and open house on Feb 27. Guests were able to engage with the artists and enjoy refreshments. Gathered are, from left, front row, Mariana Kalacheva Carol Hallock, Carol Creel, Liz Walker Dana Mosby, Ellene Whiley and Kathy Daigle; back row, Heidi Bergeron, Claire Pasqua, Cheri Fry and Felicia Jackson.

Opt for something different with Branson’s natural side

BY CHERE COEN Contributing writer

When rivers were dammed in southern Missouri and bass fishing became a regional sport, Johnny Morris saw an opportunity

At 21, the Missouri native convinced his father to let him sell fishing products in the back of his father’s liquor store in Springfield.

Morris loved the outdoors, especially hunting and fishing, so he used that experience to develop a retail brand that expanded into Bass Pro Shops There are nearly 200 such retail stores and marine centers across North America. The massive stores that double as a tourist destination — with locations in Denham Springs and Bossier City — see about 200 million visitors annually, and have made Morris a billionaire. Conservation is Morris’ other passion and he’s used his profits to build several nature-based attractions in the Ozarks near Branson under the umbrella of the Johnny Morris Foundation. There’s the Top of the Rock heritage preserve with its Lost Canyon Cave and Nature Trail and the Ancient Ozarks Natural History Museum featuring hundreds of Native American artifacts, one of the largest collections in the world. Dogwood Canyon Nature Park treats visitors to the natural side of Branson while the Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium in nearby Springfield offers hours of museum fun.

Dogwood Canyon

A short drive from Branson and a world away is the peaceful Dogwood Canyon Nature Park, 2,200 acres Morris developed for visitors to enjoy the outdoors in its pristine state Dogwood is home to numerous animals, waterfalls, hik-

ing trails and trout streams for public enjoyment but while visitors are welcome, preservation is everything.

“If a tree falls down, we let it lie where it falls,” said tour guide James Cummings.

Naturally, the 10,000-acre Dogwood Canyon boasts dogwood trees, Missouri’s state tree. There are five species of dogwood in Missouri, with the flowering dogwood most commonly

TRAVEL TROUBLESHOOTER

By Christopher Elliott

My

found in the canyon blooming from mid-April to midMay

The best way to enjoy Dogwood Canyon is the Canyon Discovery Tours, where nature experts such as Cummings explain the natural and human history of the canyon, take visitors inside the bison and elk fields off-limits to the public and show visitors the perfect places for photos. Other events include guided bicycle tours, trout fishing on the three creeks and foraging with survival instructor and naturalist Bo Brown, author of “Foraging the Ozarks.”

Dogwood includes a fullyfunctioning mill that sells grits and cornmeal, a restaurant overlooking a lake and waterfall, conservation center, an Amish bridge that required no power tools to build, a chapel that’s rentable for weddings and special events, a treehouse

enough information to support our claim.

transaction will not be removed from your account,” they said I am confused as to what I could possibly send them that would indicate the ticket was not purchased I don’t have a receipt to show what I didn’t buy Between customer service and the resolution department at Citi and American Airlines, I have been on the phone for close to 25 hours. I need your help. — Glenn Ward,Whitman, Massachusetts

You should have only received one charge for your tickets, of course. And if you got a double charge, then your agent — with American Airlines’ help — should have fixed it. You shouldn’t have needed to file a credit card dispute, which usually allows you to claw back the money

built by Animal Planet’s “Treehouse Masters” and a horse stable facility

The mother ship

In nearby Springfield, visitors will find the “granddaddy” of Bass Pro Shops, offering its inventory of outdoor gear and more in nearly 500,000 square feet of space. It’s not the largest — the Memphis Pyramid clocks in at 535,000 square feet — but it’s home to the Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium, the largest immersive wildlife attraction in the world.

The museum features several wildlife habitats with taxidermy, a massive aquarium, “Nature’s Best Photography” exhibit, conservation efforts, the history of Morris and his brand, special events and opportunities such as swimming with sharks and much more. It’s so expansive, visitors are told to plan four to five hours to see it all.

“It’s just under 2 miles of walking trails,” said Nichole Mosley, education manager “I suggest doing half of the museum, stopping

But while we’re on the subject let me say this: You should carry a credit card that carefully considers every chargeback you file. It looks like your bank did not thoroughly review your request, which is too bad. You might consider finding another card that will take better care of you. Your case was half-solved by the time you reached out to me. American Airlines had refunded your wife’s ticket, but not yours. It still owed you $1,666. Why did American Airlines charge you for a second set of tickets? Your travel adviser doesn’t know I asked the airline, and it doesn’t know either But everyone could agree — everyone except your bank, that is — that you deserved a refund for those

for lunch and then visiting the rest.”

Where to dine

Top of the Rock features elegant dining with a breathtaking view at its Osage Restaurant. Descend the stone-lined stairwell from the restaurant to the End of the Trail AllAmerican Wine Cellar for fine wines by the glass, a whiskey room and a cigar humidor

For something more casual, Arnie’s Barn overlooks what used to be the Top of the Rock’s golf course before sinkholes led owners to discover incredible rock formations (plans are to rework the golf course but maintain the gorgeous red rocks). Arnie’s Barn serves up Mexican-inspired cuisine with local ingredients such as bison from Morris’ farms. The bison tacos were to die for!

In Springfield, Finley Farms and The Ozark Mill have all the hallmarks of a Morris establishment retail, dining and atmosphere for an experience that’s as much a destination

American Airlines tickets.

In a situation like this, you need to keep a complete paper trail of correspondence between you and the airline (which you did). And you need to escalate your problem to the right executive at the airline (which you didn’t). I publish the names, numbers and emails of the American Airlines customer service managers on my consumer advocacy site, Elliott.org.

One thing you should not do is call the airline to get this fixed. Spending 25 hours on the phone with American Airlines was a waste of your time. I’m guessing you had to tell your story to many agents, none of whom could authorize a refund. Many consumers believe they can fix a billing problem with a quick phone call, but that

and an urban farm. Where to stay

Just outside Branson, Big Cedar Lodge offers cabins, cottages, lodge rooms, golfing accommodations and camping at its 4,600-acre lakeside

field,

Shops

almost never works. You have to put everything in writing. By the way, your travel adviser should have also been able to help you. They have special contacts at the airlines and should be able to fix a problem like this quickly It’s not clear why your travel advisor could not help you. I contacted American Airlines on your behalf. A representative said it had reviewed your case and refunded your second ticket.

Christopher Elliott is the author of “The Unauthorized Travel Manual”

the Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium, visitors can swim with the sharks in a guided experience. PHOTOS By CHERÉ COEN

AT THE TABLE

Crawfish Cardinale makes the best of season’s peelings

BY LAUREN CHERAMIE Staff writer

When March rolls around in Louisiana, the spring weather always reminds me of my favorite season — crawfish season, that is.

After the unusual crawfish season last year, due to weather and high prices, I think I speak for the entire state when I say, “Hallelujah! We can enjoy crawfish freely again!”

My little Cajun childhood in Morgan City was filled with fond memories of crawfish boils with friends and family members. Notably, my family always gathered for Mother’s Day at my grandmother’s house, where the kids would swim and the uncles would prepare boiled crawfish with corn, garlic, onions and sausage.

I remember sitting at a table, still in a wet bathing suit, waiting for my dad to peel each crawfish for me. When I was around 5 years old, I guess my dad decided that I would have Cajun initiation — I would learn how to peel my own crawfish.

Since I’ve learned, I have taken immense pride in how much crawfish I can eat in one sitting. Oftentimes, I’m one of the last people at the table as everyone else has stepped away to wash their hands and move on.

Now, anytime someone poses the question, “Should we go get crawfish?,” my pupils get big, and I’m filled with excitement. Since the season only comes around once a year I guess it must be true that absence makes the heart grow fonder

In past food columnist Corinne Cook’s book, “Extra! Extra! Read all

TODAY IN HISTORY

By The Associated Press

about it!,” she includes a recipe for Crawfish Cardinale from the newspaper’s first food editor, Pat Baldridge. “Pat loved sharing good food with family and friends. She was an excellent example of Louisiana’s joie de vivre,” Cook writes in the introduction for the recipe. “Crawfish Cardinale was one of her favorite recipes. She included it in her popular cookbook, ‘Louisiana Largesse.’”

Crawfish Cardinale is a dish that starts with a roux and transforms into a thick cream sauce that can be served over rice or pasta, in puff pastries or on top of fish.

Baldridge’s recipe calls for a can of mushrooms, but I substituted for fresh ones. I also added a few ingredients to step three, including four cloves of minced garlic and one half cup of minced shallots. Other recipes online add red bell pepper and celery as well.

One thing I would change in the recipe is substituting tomato paste for ketchup, as the ketchup adds a sweetness to the recipe that isn’t needed with the brandy In addition to the brandy, a recipe from The Times-Picayune archives adds one-half cup of dry white wine. The last step calls for the chef to spoon the sauce into greased ramekins and bake in the oven. However, I found that this step isn’t necessary if you’re serving it over rice or pasta.

Overall, this Crawfish Cardinale recipe is very much open to experimentation. It’s quick to make, versatile and perfect to satisfy a family or large crowd.

Email Lauren Cheramie at lauren. cheramie@theadvocate.com.

Today is Sunday, March 30, the 89th day of 2025. There are 276 days left in the year

Today in history: On March 30, 1981, President Ronald Reagan was shot and seriously wounded by John Hinckley Jr. outside a Washington, D.C., hotel. Also wounded were White House press secretary James Brady, Secret Service agent Timothy McCarthy and a District of Columbia police officer, Thomas Delahanty (Hinckley would be found not guilty by reason of insanity and held at a psychiatric hospital until his supervised release in 2016. James Brady died in 2014 as a result of his injuries.)

Also on this date:

In 1822, Florida became a United States territory

In 1867, U.S. Secretary of State William H. Seward reached an agreement with Russia to purchase the territory of Alaska for $7.2 million, a deal ridiculed by critics as “Seward’s Folly.”

In 1870, the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which prohibited denying citizens the right to vote and hold office on the basis of race, was declared in effect by Secretary of State Hamilton Fish.

In 1923, the Cunard liner RMS Laconia became the first passenger ship to circle the globe as it arrived back in New York after a 130-day voyage In 1939, Detective Comics issue No 27 was released, featuring the first appearance of the superhero character Batman.

In 1975, as the Vietnam War neared its end, Communist forces occupied the city of Da Nang.

In 2023, a Manhattan grand jury voted to indict Donald Trump on charges involving payments made during the 2016 presidential campaign to silence claims of an extramarital sexual encounter, the first criminal case against a former U.S. president. Today’s birthdays: Actor John Astin is 95. Actor-director Warren Beatty is 88. Basketball Hall of Famer Jerry Lucas is 85. Musician Eric Clapton is 80. Actor Paul Reiser is 69. Rap artist MC Hammer is 63. Singer Tracy Chapman is 61. Actor Ian Ziering is 61. TV personality Piers Morgan is 60. Singer Celine Dion is 57. Actor Mark Consuelos is 54. Singer Norah Jones is 46. Country musician Justin Moore is 41. Country musician Thomas Rhett is 35.

Pay off bills instead of giving a gift

Dear Heloise: Now that my children are out of the nest, and we are in a stage of our lives where we want to begin paring down our material possessions, I’ve suggested taking the money my children would have spent on a gift for us and making an extra credit card payment with it. This includes flower bouquets for birthdays and other occasions.

Yes, giving money to a charity in our name is a beautiful thing, but it is my hope that these small efficiencies might spark a trend for improving economic situations. This may even

Dear Harriette: I’ve made some questionable decisions over the years that had a negative impact on my credit.

Many of those mistakes were things I did when I didn’t fully understand the con-

put them in a better situation down the line to make charitable contributions in their own name. — Judy J. via email Judy, one of the very best things you can do for your children is to teach them how to manage and be responsible with money It’s easy for some, but for many others, it’s a little more challenging. I liked your hint and hope that many parents take the same approach you and your husband have taken. Heloise

Removing grease from soups

Dear Heloise: This hint to remove grease from soups involves putting ice cubes in a metal ladle and sitting the bottom of the ladle on the

cept of credit and financial responsibility Now my bad credit is haunting me.

I’ve been trying to take all of the steps to diminish debt and rectify certain things, but as you probably know, building good credit just takes time. I’m in a serious relationship now, and my boyfriend really wants to buy a house together, but I’m scared to admit my

surface of a soup. The cold ladle causes the grease to congeal on the outside of the ladle, and you can just keep wiping it off with paper towels until all the surface grease has been removed. I enjoy your column very much. — Mel, in Arkansas Rubber band hint

Dear Heloise: Another use for those sturdy 1/4-inch rubber bands that keep bundles of produce together is to use them as a bag fastener Products sold in a plastic bag, such as pancake mix, can be rolled up from the bottom and secured with a rubber band. This accomplishes two things: It squeezes the air out of the package to aid with freshness, and it removes the need for bag clips or tape.

— Nancy T., in Colorado Springs, Colorado

Decluttering closets

Dear Heloise: I hated the very idea of going through every closet in the house and getting rid of the junk my family and I had accumulated over the past eight years. Finally, I just decided to do one closet a month, and I started with the hall closet. There, all odd items went to die. Old tennis rackets, a large coffeepot, hockey sticks, and more emerged from the dark. I am going from closet to closet and cleaning the way you would eat an elephant — one bite at a time. — Nora, in Michigan

Send a hint to heloise@ heloise.com.

credit issues. The way I see it, I can either stall him until my credit improves or come clean and likely have to wait to purchase anyway Is stalling a bad idea? Bad Credit Dear Bad Credit: Yes, stalling is bad. Own up to your life. Tell him that you are working on improving your credit, but you have a way to go. Be honest about your irresponsible

STAFF PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS

National Charity League recognizes 27 seniors

The River Road Chapter of National Charity League

honored 27 Baton Rouge area high school seniors for their community volunteer work at its annual Senior Soirée on March 8 at the Renaissance Baton Rouge Hotel.

These young women have served more than 4,079 hours at various local charitable organizations over the past six years. As members of the National Charity League, in addition to service to Baton Rouge area charities and nonprofit organizations, each senior has fulfilled the requirements for participation in cultural activities and leadership development.

Several of the seniors were recognized with a sixyear award for their service from seventh grade through senior year of high school.

The recipients are:

n Alexandria Nicole Bellanger, the daughter of Dorsey and Albert Bellanger, Central High School

n Audrey McCall Bongiorni, the daughter of Sara and Kevin Bongiorni, University Laboratory School

n Bella Kristian Bridgewater, the daughter of Dr Anika Bell and Dominick Bridgewater St Joseph’s Academy

n Zoe Gwen Davidson, the daughter of Cristy and Craig Davidson, St. Joseph’s Academy

n Annie Burk Leotta, the daughter of Victor and

Kappy Leotta, University Laboratory School

n Lily Kyle Mills, the daughter of Megan and Wade Canty, and Ray Mills, St. Joseph’s Academy

n Anna Grace Murrill, the daughter of Dr William and Kasey Murrill, University Laboratory School

n Grace Elizabeth Olinde, the daughter of Mary and Jason Olinde, St. Joseph’s Academy

Elaine

Marie Reine the daughter of Kristyne and Christopher Reine, St. Joseph’s Academy

n Jessica Leigh Ross, the daughter of Angela and Jon Ross, St. Joseph’s Academy

n Rachel Caroline Saunders, the daughter of Karen Weimer Saunders and Henri Michel Saunders, St. Joseph’s Academy

n Caroline Easterly Thibodeaux, the daughter of Jennifer and Mike Thibodeaux, Baton Rouge Magnet High School

n Margaret Emily Viator,

the daughter of Kelly and Kyle Viator, University Laboratory School

Also recognized for their service are:

n Bria Kamille Coleman, the daughter of Bridgette and Brian Coleman, IMG Academy

n Macy Celeste Davis, the daughter of Dawn Davis and Ivery Reed, St. Joseph’s Academy n Ryann Olivia Dotson, the daughter of Melissa and Anderson “Andy” Dotson III, St. Joseph’s Academy

n Kate Michel Hebert, the daughter of Andrae and Rory Hebert, St. Joseph’s Academy

n Toni Rose Heyward, the daughter of Stephanie and

Tony Heyward, St. Joseph’s Academy

n Finley Katherine Malone, the daughter of Lana and Sean Malone, St. Joseph’s Academy

n Catherine Élise Murthy, the daughter of Heddie Carville Murthy and the late Bob Murthy, St. Joseph’s Academy

n Margaret Logan Murthy the daughter of Heddie Carville Murthy and the late Bob Murthy, St. Joseph’s Academy

n Gabrielle Renee Noel, the daughter of Michelle and Neal Noel, St. Joseph’s Academy

n Gianna Lanae Northern, the daughter of Krissy Thomas and John Northern, Baton Rouge Magnet High School

n Lauren Elise Taylor the daughter of Leslee and Porter Taylor, St. Joseph’s Academy n Grace Elizabeth Thornton, the daughter of Elizabeth and Michael Thornton, St. Joseph’s Academy

No tip jars should be necessary at a private

seat.

Dear Miss Manners: I hold an annual party, for which I hire a person to assist me in setting it up, maintaining the buffet and serving drinks. She has always done a great job. At the most recent party however, I noticed she had set up a tip jar next to the drinks. I was horrified. I went over and grabbed the jar, then pulled her aside and said that I was sorry that she did not feel I was paying her enough, and that she felt the need to seek compensation from my guests.

I told her to tell me how much she felt like I was underpaying her, and that I would compensate her so she didn’t need a tip jar I went back to the friends

I had been chatting with and explained what happened They all thought it was perfectly appropriate for her to have a tip jar

After the party, I called my mother and told her what happened. Like me, she was horrified that someone would seek tips at

a party that I was hosting. Who do you think is right here?

Should I have let her keep the tip jar out?

Gentle reader: Inclined to side with mothers whenever possible, Miss Manners is happy to say she agrees with yours. And with you. It is rude to leave out a tip jar in a private home. It screams, as you indicated, that your employees are not satisfied with their pay or are crassly looking for extra.

Your approach was justified and your offer generous, although you did not mention if the worker took you up on it. Or if you are still employing her

Dear Miss Manner: What is the etiquette about flossing your teeth at a table where others are eating?

Gentle reader: Not to.

Dear Miss Manner: My husband and I are intensely divided over the appropriateness of using the kitchen sink to wash one’s hands for anything other than food prep.

I grew up in a house where the bathroom was all the way across the house from the kitchen. We were always welcome to use the kitchen sink to

wash our hands before meals, as long as we didn’t get in the way of the cook. In my current home (with five children), there is one hall bathroom upstairs, plus a tiny powder room downstairs.

I don’t use the latter for much, since the door opens to block a main thoroughfare and my darling boys tend to leave the toilet seat up. Is it indeed mannerless to use the kitchen sink for general hand-washing?

Should I send the children to queue at the upstairs hall bath before dinner? I may have been raised by wolves, but if I know better, perhaps I can do better

Gentle reader: Even Miss Manners, who was most decidedly not reared by wolves, is having difficulty distinguishing between food prep hand-washing and general hand-washing. Is it the degree of dirt?

In any case, she would think the division of bathroom labor infinitely better

than risking dirty banisters or destroying the powder room. Particularly since the towels there are dangerously close to an open toilet

n Evelyn Elizabeth Trahan, the daughter of Rebecca and Greg Trahan, University High School

n Estrella Lynette Vazquez, the daughter of Chanita and Ruben Vazquez, Baton Rouge Magnet High School

The National Charity League, established in 1947 and incorporated in 1958, has more than 300 chapters in 32 states, with 230,000 members and alumnae nationwide. Its mission is fostering the mother-daughter relationship through an ongoing commitment to philanthropy, culture and leadership.

The River Road Chapter formed in 1999, is celebrating 27 years in the Baton Rouge community Today, the local chapter, which is NCL’s only chapter in Louisiana, has grown to nearly 300 members

Women and their daughters may be nominated for membership in the organization by one of the organization’s active members in good standing. Students can become eligible for membership in the seventh grade. For more information on the local chapter visit nationalcharityleague.org/ chapter/riverroad.

home party

Send questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners. com; to her email,

dearmissmanners@gmail. com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.

Judith Martin MISS MANNERS

This month is all about being kind to others and yourself. Anybody is welcome to fast and celebrate Eid. Don’t be scared to try it You might have fun with it.” MATEL NDONGO a Senegalese-American -year-old

RAMADAN

Continued from page 1D

him is a month of worship to get closer to God.

“It’s a way to heal from any pain and kind of guide myself into a more spiritual way of living” he said.

‘It humbles you’

When it comes to fasting from sunrise to sunset, Khaled Saleh, a 16-year-old from Jordan, says that practicing Ramadan since a child makes fasting during the day as a teenager “not that bad.”

All three boys agreed that the first week is a challenge, but once their bodies adjust, they experience more mental clarity and a renewed sense of solidarity with the poor

Mizyed says he has less brain fog during Ramadan.

“It’s also very humbling, too,” Ayyad said. “You feel for the poor, and it kind of puts you in their situation. You’re like, ‘Oh, I really want to eat. I really want to eat, but you can’t.’ It humbles you.”

Matel Ndongo, a SenegaleseAmerican 16-year-old girl, says that Ramadan in her family is not so strict when it comes to not listening to music or not watching television. For the Ndongos, the most notable part of Ramadan is to fast until sunset. The family also sets time to pray on time every day “Ramadan, to me, is the month

where me and my family come together to fast, pray, and be kind and generous to others,” she said.

Many teenagers are notorious for skipping breakfast, but these four students eat something small in the morning like dates or rice and drink water before sunrise. They look forward to the family feasts at night.

One lesser-known aspect of Ramadan at the Islamic Center of Baton Rouge is the monthlong soccer tournament that takes place between teams from the Islamic Center Ayyad, Mizyed and Selah all said the tournament is incredibly competitive, drawing from the talents of the mosque. The tournament ends with a giant night game toward the end of Ramadan with food vendors who have “the best falafel you’ve ever had,” according to Mizyed.

Eid al-Fitr traditions

For Mizyed, Ramadan is a month of reconnection, but Eid al-Fitr is a time of joy and family that he looks forward to every year Zee Mohamed, the president of the Islamic Center of Baton Rouge and member for 45 years, says the purpose of Eid is to celebrate.

“That day is a day that we eat, we have a good time with our families, and we go out to almost all our relatives,” said Mizyed. “We just try to spread positivity and see one another It’s a very happy day It’s almost

Abdallah Mizyed, 17, left, stands with Abdelrazq Ayyad, 17, inside the Islamic Center of Baton Rouge. The pair look forward to a lesser aspect of Ramadan: a soccer tournament held by the Islamic Center that brings the community together

like Christmas for us.”

Mizyed holds his Eid al-Fitr memories close, including visiting his grandparents in Palestine and going to the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, which is the second most holy site in Islam. He says he cherishes those memories because peo-

CURIOUS

Continued from page 1D

Harlan said. “He decided it was a root beer that he had been working on.

“He would often come to New Orleans and work in the lab with my great-grandfather, and my grandmother actually would type up the various formulas that they would come up with as they experimented.”

In 1934, with a perfected recipe, Barq gave Robinson the right to make the secret formula and distribute the product throughout Louisiana while the Barq family sold the product in Mississippi.

An iconic Gulf Coast drink

“It’s a combination of Louisiana and Mississippi,” Harlan said. “It became a drink that was so iconic to the Gulf Coast.”

As the soft drink took off, the Mississippi family established franchises across the country while the Robinsons built a bot-

six-pack

tling plant in Baton Rouge in 1949.

“Basically, he gave him the state of Louisiana,” Harlan said.

“It’s a little bit different from a franchise, because a franchise

buys the secret formula from the original manufacturer But in Jesse’s case, he already knew the formula, because he worked with Mr Barq side by side. He was given the rights to make his own formula.”

Part of the original agreement stated that only direct descendants of the Robinsons could learn the secret formula for the soft drink, so Harlan’s grandmother guarded the recipe and ran the Baton Rouge plant Harlan recalls her childhood, one filled with memories of drinking Barq’s and the family business.

“I didn’t want to stay with the housekeeper I didn’t want to go to lunch,” Harlan said. “I wanted to go into the plant with my grandmother I found it very fascinating as a child.”

Coca-Cola buys the legacy

In 1976, Barq descendants sold their holdings to attorneys John Oudt and John Koerner, who later expanded their holdings by buying the New Orleans Barq’s territory rights. In 1995, the two sold all of

ple of different backgrounds and ethnicities were peaceful and having a good time on that day

Ayyad says Eid al-Fitr is all about celebrating getting through Ramadan, being with family and exchanging gifts. The boys said they received

gifts when they were younger and now it’s expected for them to give gifts to their mothers, grandmothers, aunts and sisters.

Ndongo looks forward to the food, relatives and gifts. Although Ndongo’s family is from West Africa and the others boys’ families are from the Middle East, they share at least one food in common: lamb. Various lamb dishes are popular among Eid celebrations, such as Mizyed’s favorite, mansaf, a lamb and rice dish, and maqluba, an upside-down dish of rice, vegetables and lamb.

“My favorite food dish during Eid is grilled lamb because my mom cooks it so well,” said Ndongo. “I do not know if all Muslims celebrate Eid with lamb, but almost every year my family grills it with other dishes along the side. Since we are African, our dishes take influence of what we regularly eat — one example being thieboudienne, a dish that originated in West Africa.”

All four teenagers opened up about their faith and devotion during Ramadan, eager to share their experiences and memories.

“This month is all about being kind to others and yourself,” said Ndongo. “Anybody is welcome to fast and celebrate Eid. Don’t be scared to try it. You might have fun with it.”

Email Joy Holden at joy holden@theadvocate.com.

their Barq’s holdings to Coca-Cola. Harlan’s mother sold the family’s share of holdings to Coca-Cola in 2000, a move which skyrocketed Barq’s to a wider national audience. But many in the area still remember the soft drink’s local legacy Barq’s collector Robert Sherrill, who started scouring for bottles, signs and other Barq’s memorabilia around 1998, has a similar outlook. In the course of his collecting, he has spoken to former Barq’s plant workers and researched the history of Barq’s through old newspapers, historical documentation and conversation with a Barq family member “To me, they both share it,” Sherrill said. “He had a root beer in 1898, but it’s not what you were drinking today.”

Do you have a question about something in Louisiana that’s got you curious? Email your question to curiouslouisiana@ theadvocate.com. Include your name, phone number and the city where you live.

in their pajamas in the middle of the night. Sometimes, when you crane your neck and scan the sky for odd things, it occurs to you that the oddest thing in the universe just might be you.

FILE PHOTO By G. ANDREW BOyD

STAFF PHOTOS By HILARy SCHEINUK

From left, Abdallah Mizyed, 17, Abdelrazq Ayyad, 17, and Khaled Saleh, 16, pray Tuesday at the Islamic Center of Baton Rouge.

DINING SCENE

Ian McNulty

WHAT’S COOKING

The dishes were gorgeous, from the curry-scented lobster Malabar to the majestic, pastry-domed truffle soup. But many of those pulling out phones during dinner at this grand Uptown mansion were snapping photos of the chefs circulating among the tables rather than the food. They were, after all, among the most famous and acclaimed chefs in the U.S with global reputations to match They graciously worked the rooms, visiting tables to shake hands, listen to stories eagerly shared of meals at their restaurants through the years, and pose for photos.

There was Thomas Keller, known for his Napa Valley restaurant French Laundry and Per Se in New York, calling across one bustling room to his good friend Daniel Boulud, perhaps the bestknown French chef working in the U.S., recruiting him for a group photo with a New Orleans couple. Emeril Lagasse soon joined them too, along with Jérôme Bocuse, the chef who continues the legacy of his father Paul Bocuse, the revered godfather of modern French cuisine. One part of that Bocuse legacy was the reason the chefs were lending their star power for one big night in New Orleans, and why we’ll be seeing more like it in the city

The event was part of a bigger effort with the potential to boost New Orleans’ standing on the global culinary stage, and elevate a key piece of the city’s culture and economy along the way Chefs convene, hosts prepare

The evening was a dinner to launch the host committee for Bocuse d’Or Americas, held at the home of attorney John Houghtaling, the historic Romanesque Revival mansion on St. Charles

Avenue. It was a fundraiser in support of Team U.S.A., which represents the nation in the international culinary competition Bocuse d’Or, and to support the return of that prestigious event to New Orleans in 2026. Bocuse d’Or was created by Paul Bocuse in the 1980s, along with the closely related Coupe de Monde de la Patisserie, or Pastry World Cup. They’ve grown into one mega event, held every two years in Lyon, France, and together they’re regarded as the world cup of cuisine. They stoke the same pride and passion as sporting world cups; reputations are minted in their winners’ circles; they’re covered closely by international media and draw big sponsorships and industry money They’re much lesser known in the U.S., but that is changing. To compete in the finals, national teams must qualify in preliminary rounds. Last year, the qualifiers for countries in North Amer-

ica and South America were held in the U.S. for the first time, and the host city was New Orleans.

To bring the first competitions here, New Orleans & Co., the city’s tourism sales and marketing agency, worked with GL Events, the same French-based production giant that helped orchestrate the Paris Olympics.

In January, they announced that New Orleans would again host the qualifier round for Bocuse d’Or and the Pastry World Cup in 2026.

Planning is underway, and this dinner, held in February just after the Super Bowl, was one of the first moves.

The aim was to begin marshaling support among philanthropists and restaurant industry insiders who will help support the event’s return next year The dinner brought in $150,000 toward that goal.

Houghtaling has long been campaigning to get Bocuse d’Or to come to New Orleans. He is friends with chefs Keller, Bou-

lud and Bocuse, who are on the board of Ment’Or, the group that supports Team U.S.A. Traveling to Lyon to attend the Bocuse d’Or finals through the years, he recognized its potential to shine a brighter global spotlight on the New Orleans culinary scene, and elevate the work of local chefs guiding it.

“It was a huge honor to have Bocuse come here, and it’s a huge responsibility,” Houghtaling said. “Hopefully people in the business and people who care about food will see what an honor this is, and as a city, we can keep it coming back here.”

A roster of chefs

At the host committee dinner, while the celebrity chefs worked the rooms around the mansion, the kitchen was a hive of energy as a roster of local and visiting chefs cooked together That included Gavin Kaysen, a Minneapolis-based restaurateur who is president of Team U.S.A.

and a Bocuse d’Or competitor from the 2007 campaign, with Chris Nye, executive chef at Kaysen’s company, Soigne Hospitality

They joined local chefs who each handled a course for the dinner

That included Justin Devillier of La Petite Grocery and Justine; Ashwin Vilkhu, who with his family runs Saffron NOLA and the forthcoming restaurant The Kingsway; Baruch Rabasa, a private chef and creator of the Applied Arts Coffee brand; E.J. Lagasse, who leads his family’s flagship Emeril’s Restaurant and co-founded their modern Portuguese spot 34 Restaurant & Bar; and pastry chef Kristyne Bouley

The meal was lavish and carefully composed. As a finale, trumpeter Irvin Mayfield led a performance in the center of the house.

At one point, Keller addressed the crowd, explaining his passion for Bocuse d’Or He sees America’s pursuit of the competition as a point of inspiration for today’s chefs, and the next generation coming behind them. Keller himself often credited with transforming American fine dining a generation ago, said inspiration could shape the future of American cuisine.

New Orleans got a taste of what’s possible at this level last year with the first edition of the Bocuse d’Or qualifiers. For one week, the city was abuzz with

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Chefs who took part in

from left, Ashwin Vilkhu, Kristyne Bouley, Baruch Rabasa, Emeril Lagasse, Jerome

bottom row from left, Daniel Boulud, Thomas Keller and E.J Lagasse.

BETWEEN THE PAGES WITH CAROLyN HUyNH

Book’s inheritance competition brings a character to N.O.

Siblings tasked with reviving dying banh mi shops

BY SERENA PUANG Staff writer

The Tran siblings are not exactly a happy family, at least not in Carolyn Huynh’s new novel “The Family Recipe.” Their father, a millionaire admired by strangers, is a terrible person to deal with in real life. That’s why they’re estranged. Their mother left years ago in the middle of the night without saying goodbye.

Huynh’s sophomore novel follows her magical realism debut, “Fortunes of Jaded Women,” which took BookTok and Bookstagram by storm in 2022. In “The Family Recipe,” the Tran siblings are forced to compete for their father’s inheritance. Each of the four daughters is assigned to a city where they’re tasked with reviving a dying banh mi shop, and the first to turn a profit inherits everything, but if Jude, the firstborn and only son, gets married first, he gets it all instead.

While navigating past relationships, gentrifications and community dynamics, each of the daughters has to figure out how to win over the local Vietnamese populations in their respective cities: New Orleans, Houston, San Jose, California, and Philadelphia. The story goes back and forth between the different siblings working toward their inheritance and the parents establishing themselves in American present time. Family secrets are uncovered along the way Huynh said she sold the book on 50 pages “that don’t exist anymore,” but the big family ensemble cast is still there.

“I’ve always loved the big ensemble cast,” she said. “This one, they begged me to please cut in half, so I did. ‘Fortunes’ had like 14 women. And this one has like seven (points of view) I really tried hard to pare it down, but I just love chaos.”

The Advocate caught up with Huynh, who is based in Los Angeles, ahead of the book’s release on

Tuesday.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity

What inspired the stories in “The Family Recipe?” I really wanted to write a story about the ramifications of new money for an immigrant family It’s like the desperation of holding onto something When I started thinking about the larger conversation about what I wanted the book to be really about when I was doing research into Houston, it began with the “House of Ho,” the reality TV

new guard coming in with these TikTok viral cafes, restaurants, things like that.

My husband’s also Vietnamese, and we worry about whether these ethnic enclaves will survive in 50, 60, 80 years from now because a lot of those children leave. I left — I moved to Los Angeles, which is not that far away I decided to pick these ethnic enclaves around the country that I feel like not a lot of people are aware of.

show about a Vietnamese family in Houston. It was partially inspired by them, and then I started doing more research on Houston. I realized I had forgotten that in the late 1970s and early ’80s, down in Galveston, (Texas,) the Vietnamese fishermen sued the KKK and won. The story kind of really grew from there.

How’d you pick the cities for your book?

There’s a part of me that didn’t want to write another Vietnamese American story I grew up in Orange County, I know Little Saigon. I had been seeing this shift of the

New Orleans was interesting to me because I’ve always known there’s a huge population there. I am very fascinated by the migration of food.

The origins of Viet Cajun comes from New Orleans, but because of the hurricane, it migrated to Houston.

I’m always curious about what that migration looks like. Now there’s like this huge chain in California where people can go get Viet Cajun food.

It keeps migrating west, which I always think is very American, actually Tell me about your writing process. Do you write the perspectives of the different char-

acters chronologically as we read them in the book, or do you write each character’s story separately?

I have a really chaotic writing process.

My agent, at one point, was like, “You don’t have to make a book hard on yourself,” but I don’t know how to not do it.

I write the book in a very linear format the first time, and then I will scrap the whole thing and never look at it again. I will do the same thing a second time, and then a third time. I’m just not a pleasant person for that year I was really struck by how you craft characters of different generations. Can you talk a little about how you do that?

It’s funny, when I crafted these characters — even my debut book — I was really worried about looking like I was relying on stereotypes for the women. At one point, I was like, I can’t worry about that anymore; this is just my lived reality It could or could not be perceived as a stereotype, but I could only control the ending. I choose to write happy endings because that would never happen. I know that sounds really bleak, but it just would not happen in everyday life.

I had this reader DM me years ago, and she had read “Fortunes,” and she said, “I know your book is fiction, because my mom would never apologize.” And that always sticks with me. It’s kind of the truth, right? Most stories from the global majority especially the Global South, don’t end in happiness. I like to wrap up these stories with a nice bow because it’s like writing your own happy ending. In the book, the four sisters all have their own ideas about how to revive the banh mi shops. How would you revive a dying banh mi shop?

I would turn it into a food truck and park it outside a dog park so the dogs can have a dog banh mi, and humans can have human banh mi.

Email Serena Puang at serena. puang@theadvocate.com.

‘Frenchie’ shares how Cajuns proved their value in WWII

BY DOUG GRAHAM Staff writer

“Frenchie: The Story of the FrenchSpeaking Cajuns of World War II,” by Jason P. Theriot, University of Louisiana at Lafayette Press, 229 pages

In the 1920s and ’30s, young Cajuns in Louisiana who grew up speaking French as their first language sometimes faced discrimination.

In the state-sanctioned Englishonly school system, students who spoke French, even on the playground, could be punished. And Cajuns were often represented as a backward people living a culture stuck in the past

But when those young people went to fight for their country in World War II, they found that their language and way of life actually served as valuable tools in the battle for freedom.

Jason Theriot has spent more than two decades documenting the stories of Cajuns who served during World War II. The author

who is of Cajun-Acadian heritage, has gathered hundreds of those narratives as part of a new project. The tales in this book — augmented by excerpts from sources as simple as church bulletins shine a light on the experiences of those Louisianans.

Translators, chefs, more

During their military training, the Cajuns found value in their French-speaking abilities, in addition to their knowledge of handling weapons and living off the land

Their common backgrounds helped them bond within their units, and many soldiers benefited when Cajuns were moved to kitchen duty, Theriot writes. Among the first “Frenchies” to see action were those sent to the fighting in North Africa. Once there, commanding officers recognized the benefits these Frenchspeaking Cajuns brought to communications with their ability to speak the language of the local people.

Many of them were moved to military police units, while others

worked as translators.

The Louisiana soldiers wrote home, expressing their joy at being able to use their French both in the military and in social situations. They had been derided for speaking the language, but now it was seen as a valuable trait, and it helped them explore a new world.

Some of the soldiers used their French to smooth social interactions, and they became popular with local families who would invite them to dine in their homes and share tales of Louisiana.

As the fighting shifted to France, the Cajuns continued to build on their value.

Some were stationed for long periods in French towns and grew to love the culture and the people.

A few Cajuns even married local women and brought them back to Louisiana. Theriot notes that some companies in Louisiana even targeted these brides in advertisements.

An inspiration

Some of the most compelling stories come from Cajuns who served with the Office of Strate-

gic Services, which was a forerunner to the CIA. The soldiers describe the intense training they had to go through to be accepted into the agency

Among those participating was Breaux Bridge native Sam Broussard, who on D-Day came ashore on Omaha Beach with the 1st Infantry Division as an intel-

ligence officer, then moved into the Normandy countryside and used his knowledge of French to work with resistance fighters and coordinate missions.

The book also describes the service of Cajuns in the Pacific Theater, where they found the tropical weather on islands in the South Pacific similar to the hot and humid conditions of southern Louisiana. As with their compatriots fighting in North Africa and Europe, they found their knowledge of French to be a handy tool as they served as interpreters and interacted with locals.

While sections of the book can feel disjoined as the author bounces between the soldiers’ stories, sometimes in very short passages, Theriot continues to do important work in examining the experiences of this generation of Cajuns.

Discovering how they overcame discrimination and prejudice against their people and culture serves as an inspiration.

Email Doug Graham at doug. graham@theadvocate.com.

PROVIDED PHOTO

Carolyn Huynh

INVESTMENT IN

RETURNS

BY RICH COLLINS Staff writer

These statistics have raised alarms for political and business leaders who know that as Leaders, civic groups point to insurance, quality of life solutions to bring back disaffected residents leaving the state

BY TIMOTHY BOONE

“If you can’t get basic services right, you’re probably not going to get anything else right.”

PRES KABACOFF City Services Coalition co-founder

people leave in search of jobs, affordable housing, quality of life and good leadership, they leave behind less tax revenue and a smaller workforce. So what can be done to keep people here, bring people back and attract newcomers?

Interviews with more than a dozen Louisiana CEOs, civic leaders, elected officials, researchers and academics sug-

“You retain people by investing in local business owners, developers and educators who are very interested in staying.”

ANDRE PERRy, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution

gest that reversing the trends requires strong city and state leadership, new policies to lower insurance costs, investment to revive stagnant neighborhoods and support for new industries.

But there are plenty of longstanding political and cultural forces in play not to mention forces of nature — that will make these tasks harder, they said.

“Other places have made bets on new industries, which hire lots of people.”

ALLISON PLyER, chief demographer at The Data Center

“The region and state have struggled for a long time,” said Greg Rusovich, a shipping industry veteran who is active in New Orleans civic affairs.

“Louisiana hasn’t progressed the way other Southern states have. So what do we do about it?”

“To keep (smart young people) here and working on ... solutions, we need to invest in their ideas.”

JOSH FLEIG, Louisiana Economic Development chief innovation officer

Baton Rouge

Blake A. Altazan and Taylor Dunne have joined the staff of Kean Miller Altazan is a special counsel, with a practice focused on casualty and mass tort, insurance and commercial litigation matters. He earned a bachelor’s in business administration from LSU and a law degree from the Mississippi College School of Law

Dunne is an attorney, with a practice focused on intellectual property and environmental regulatory matters.

She earned a bachelor’s in chemistry from LSU and a law degree, cum laude, from Tulane University Law School.

Scott D. Wilson has joined Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson as of counsel.

Wilson focuses his practice on

Fool’s Take: Chips and growing dividends

labor and employment law handling litigation, counseling and administrative matters. His legal career spans more than 30 years.

He earned a bachelor’s in political science from LSU and his law degree from the University of California, Berkeley

Dr Sarah Baker has joined Baton Rouge General’s Advanced Robotics of Louisiana as a colorectal surgeon. Baker treats diseases such as colon cancer diverticulitis, Crohn’s and hemorrhoids. She earned her medical degree from LSU School of Medicine in Shreveport. Baker completed a general surgery residency at Ochsner Clinic in New Orleans and colorectal surgery fellowship at Northside in Atlanta.

Clyde Bagley has been named vice chancellor of the Southern University Ag

The Nasdaq Composite index has tumbled in recent weeks, and it was recently down more than 10% from its peak. Sell-offs like this can be tough to stomach, but they can also be buying opportunities — especially for dividend-paying stocks, since dividend yields rise when a stock’s price falls.

Enter Broadcom (Nasdaq: AVGO), a semiconductor and software giant, with a recent market value around $900 billion. Broadcom’s stock price recently dropped, pushing the company’s dividend yield up to around 1.2%. While it’s higher than the dividend yield on the Nasdaq, it’s right in line with the S&P 500’s dividend yield. However, where Broadcom really shines is in its ability to grow its dividend. The company gave its investors an 11% raise late last year, extending its dividend growth streak to 14 years in a row The technology company has grown its dividend by a jaw-dropping 8,330% during that period. The payout has more than doubled over the past six years.

Broadcom is in an excellent position to continue growing the dividend. Artificial intelligence is driving robust demand for its semiconductor chips, and AI revenue was up 220% to $12.2 billion last year Given the growth still ahead for Broadcom, long-term investors might consider buying some shares. (The Motley Fool recommends Broadcom.)

Fool’s School: Is a recession on the way?

No one can know for sure exactly what the stock market (or our economy) will do in the near term. But there are some signs suggesting that a downturn may be happening.

For starters, various sizable tariffs have been proposed or enacted, and ensuing tariff wars are likely to increase many prices Economists generally believe that high and protracted tariffs will lead to higher inflation. Worries about inflation appear to be depressing. The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence index fell sharply in February, indicating that people are anxious about the U.S. economy Americans have other concerns, too: Stephanie Guichard, senior economist in Global Indicators at The Conference Board, said, “Consumers became pessimistic about future business conditions and less optimistic about future income. Pessimism about future employment prospects worsened and reached a 10-month high.” A lack of confidence could curtail spending. This would, in turn, lower the sales and earnings of many companies. Meanwhile, the stock market’s valuation has recently been steep. The S&P 500 Shiller CAPE ratio, a widely followed valuation metric was recently near its second-highest level ever Stock valuations can remain steep for long periods, but the chances of a bear market are arguably higher when stocks are overvalued. Maybe a bear market is coming soon, and maybe not. Either way, you shouldn’t panic. Your best strategy is to focus on the long term. Only buy stocks with money you won’t need for the next five years — or, to be more conservative, longer This should provide time for your portfolio to recover if stocks fall. Bear markets, on average, last around 10 months, but there’s always the chance that one will last for years. Put your shorter-term dollars in less volatile places, such as bonds, savings accounts, money market accounts or certificates of deposit. If you’re on the verge of retiring and you’re worried about an economic downturn, you might consider delaying your retirement a bit, if possible

Center Bagley has more than 40 years of experience in agriculture research and academia, teaching and serving as an administrator at Texas

A&M-Commerce and Tennessee Tech University He previously was the interim associate vice chancellor for research and director of the beef research unit at the ag center He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from LSU and a doctorate in nutrition from Virginia Tech University

Tyler Traweek has been hired as regional director of operations — East Louisiana for the Health and Safety Council Louisiana Traweek most recently was health, safety and environmental director for Conco Services. Under his leadership, Conco had more than 2 million man-hours worked without recordable incidents.

BUSINESS BRIEF

Home Bank among region’s top banks

Home Bank made the S&P Global Market Intelligence’s list of 50 Best-Performing U.S. Credit Unions, Community and Public Banks, and

RETURNS

Continued from page 1E

Start with the basics

As New Orleans goes, so goes Louisiana. It’s the biggest economy in the state and its international reputation drew nearly 18 million visitors in 2024.

But it’s also a city beset by crumbling infrastructure, struggling schools and public safety concerns, although violent crime has dropped dramatically since 2022

One citizen-led group, the City Services Coalition, believes New Orleans can become more attractive to residents by focusing on the basics, like speeding up the time it takes to receive a building permit or repair a pothole. The group’s focus is safety, streets, water, permits and sanitation.

The 30-member coalition, formed in 2024, hopes its new, 216-page study will inform this year’s mayoral election and shape policy during the next mayor’s term. It is pushing to reinvent the New Orleans Sewerage & Water Board, strengthen the position of the city’s chief administrative officer, create committees for safety and infrastructure, streamline permitting and more.

“There are lots of things you need for economic development,” said Pres Kabacoff, one of the coalition’s founders. “But if you can’t get basic services right, you’re probably not going to get anything else right.”

It’s the economy

While improving city services in New Orleans is important, some say it’s a moot point if Louisiana doesn’t spice up its economy, which has seen only 2% job growth since 2000 compared with the nation’s 20% growth over the same time frame, according to federal data.

“You can have a better quality of life but if there are no jobs for people, they still aren’t going to come,” said Allison Plyer, chief demographer at The Data Center, a nonprofit research group.

A refrain among some business leaders is that over the years the city and state became too reliant on energy petrochemicals and tourism. They say Louisiana’s economy needs innovations in these legacy industries — including investments in hydrogen, biofuels, battery materials wind and solar — while expanding health care, biotech and other sectors.

Expanding to sectors with high growth potential was a key part of a new report, released Wednesday, from Louisiana Economic Development, aimed at providing a strategic plan for attracting businesses.

“Any place that continues to focus on older industries will see declining growth and therefore declining population,” Plyer said.

“Other places have made bets on new industries, which hire lots of people.”

Housing an existential threat

The top concern for many in

He earned a bachelor’s in kinesiology health promotion and wellness from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, a master’s in occupational safety and health and a master’s of business in project management, both from Columbia Southern University and a postbachelor’s certificate in construction management from LSU. Traweek is an Army veteran.

New Orleans

Kelly Haynie has been named chief executive officer of Ochsner Medical Center-West Bank Campus effective June 1.

Haynie has more than a decade of experience in health care, holding numerous leadership positions with MedStar Health, an organization in the Baltimore and Washington, D.C., areas He is vice president of operations at MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center Haynie succeeds Mary Deynoodt, who is chief executive officer at Ochsner Baptist.

Community Banks by region for 2024. Institutions were ranked based on returns, growth, funding and the strength and risk profile of balance sheets. Of community banks with assets of $3 billion to $10 billion,

south Louisiana is the rising cost of living, powered by spiking homeowners insurance premiums in the wake of hurricanes in 2020 and 2021.

Jesse Keenan, a Tulane University professor who studies real estate and climate change, said housing costs are a major reason people are leaving.

“One of the city and state’s biggest draws was affordable housing,” he said, noting that rising insurance premiums, along with increases in property taxes and utility costs, have made New Orleans less competitive and affordable than it once was.

“The cost to live here is on par with high-tech cities on the coasts, but you don’t get the same government services for it,” said Keenan, who said the city needs to focus on housing and infrastructure solutions the way it did after Hurricane Katrina and the way the citizen-led NOLA Coalition targeted crime after the pandemic.

Ben Albright, a Baton Rougebased lobbyist who represents independent insurance brokers, said the state’s nascent fortified roof program, which has offered $10,000 grants to help homeowners build more wind-proof structures, might help bring costs down if more people are able to take advantage.

So far more than 5,000 fortified roofs, which use special nails and waterproof coatings, have been installed statewide, and Albright said he’s seeing signs that homeowners’ premiums may be stabilizing.

Michael Hecht, CEO of Greater New Orleans Inc., the region’s nonprofit economic development organization, plans to lobby for national catastrophic insurance that will remove some risk for private insurers.

“This is a problem for the whole country, and by solving it for America, we can solve it for Louisiana,” he said. “There are many possible models, but a simple one could be that the government provides ‘all-perils’ insurance for flood, wind, fire, earthquake, etc.”

Hecht said the plan could cover the first $100,000 of damage and the private market could then sell “excess” insurance on top.

Pointers from Detroiters

Andre Perry, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution who focuses on racial equity work and community development, points to initiatives in Detroit as examples for New Orleans to follow as it tries to attract more people.

Since 2013, when Detroit became the largest city in America to file for bankruptcy protection, investors have helped revitalize parts of downtown by building new hotels, restaurants and apartments. Warehouses and industrial yards have been converted into a 3.5-mile-long riverfront park, and the city has

He earned a bachelor’s in homeland security from the University of Maryland-Adelphi, a master’s in public administration from the University of Baltimore and a doctorate in health administration from Capella University Haynie has served as adjunct faculty in Towson University’s Department of Health Sciences and as an assistant professor at Georgetown University’s School of Medicine. He is an Army veteran.

Around Louisiana

Christian Bergeron has been named chief operating officer of COLAB (formerly the South Louisiana Economic Council). Bergeron previously served as district representative and grants director for former U.S Rep Garret Graves, R-Baton Rouge. He earned a bachelor’s in political science/prelaw from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and a law degree from the Southern University Law Center

Home Bank was the only Louisiana bank in the top 50. Home Bank’s has 43 branches in Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas and a commercial banking office in north Houston. As of January Home Bank had $3.4 billion in assets.

either razed or renovated thousands of vacant homes.

In 2023, Detroit saw an uptick in population for the first time since 1957, though it still struggles with crime, poverty, struggling schools and a shortage of affordable housing.

Perry said there are examples in Detroit of restoration without gentrification.

“You have to have the goal of retaining people and attracting people simultaneously,” said Perry, who lived and worked in New Orleans from 2004 to 2017.

“You retain people by investing in local business owners, developers and educators who are very interested in staying.”

Big job ahead

In New Orleans, the City Services Coalition and other civic groups, like Together New Orleans, hope to encourage community engagement in the next mayoral election to create momentum for positive change.

There’s no doubt whoever wins the job will be facing a big challenge turning around demographic trends.

“People have felt New Orleans is hopeless due to the constant challenges they face trying to live here,” said Helena Moreno, one of the candidates. “This mayor’s race is a tipping point.”

Oliver Thomas, the race’s other high-profile candidate, said he wants New Orleans to be a place where young people are excited to raise families.

“Young people’s top priority is creating an environment where new businesses thrive,” he said.

“We can accomplish that by partnering with banks on lowinterest loans for entrepreneurs and I’ll work with anyone who will listen to bring in high-wage jobs and low-cost housing.”

Working in the next mayor’s favor will be momentum from the city’s multimillion-dollar Super Bowl LIX cleanup effort that received mostly high marks.

GNO Inc.’s Hecht, who coordinated the work, said the city and other organizations plan to keep their regular meeting schedule to continue making infrastructure improvements.

Something as simple as the daily pressure-washing in the French Quarter has lifted morale in the city’s historic neighborhood.

Meanwhile, at the state level, several big investments, including Meta’s planned $10 billion data center in north Louisiana and Hyundai’s just-announced nearly $6 billion steel mill near Baton Rouge, have boosted enthusiasm at Louisiana Economic Development, which recently launched an innovation division.

“Smart young people want to solve interesting problems,” said Josh Fleig, LED’s chief innovation officer “Louisiana has some of the most interesting problems in the world. To keep them here and working on those solutions, we need to invest in their ideas.”

Email Rich Collins at rich. collins@theadvocate.com.

fund was so, relatively, easy

“Firms that are generalists, with multiple geographies, are a tougher pitch these days,” he said. “Investors want to see a different strategy.”

Carr’s Hill also had an advantage in the fact that it had already prefunded four companies: Matthews Brothers Dredging in Pass Christian, Mississippi; Axis Industries, a La Porte, Texas, business that provides industrial maintenance services; Arrow Waste, an Atlanta company that offers dumpster rentals; and Smart Safety Group, an Atlanta company that provides safety training and Occupational Safety and Health Administration compliance.

Those four businesses have grown substantially since Carr’s Hill invested in them over the past few years in terms of profits, employees and revenue, de Lauréal said.

The plan is to acquire and partner with five to seven similar businesses. The fund will pull “all levers of growth” for the companies it supports, de Lauréal said, including hiring employees for the sales, management and human relations side, purchasing equipment expanding facilities and acquiring competitors. “We want to help professionalize a business, to allow it to grow,” he said.

The ultimate goal for Carr’s Hill is to get the operations of the companies it invests in to the point where they are taken over by a much larger owner

Focus on the Coast

De Lauréal launched Carr’s Hill in 2019, after he was managing director and a founding member of Bernhard Capital, an energy services-focused private equity firm started by former Shaw Group CEO Jim Bernhard. Through his years at Bernhard, de Lauréal said he developed an operational minded approach toward investing in companies and how to build a team.

The Gulf Coast has not traditionally been known as a hub of private equity activity but Bernhard Capital changed that when it was established in 2013. It is the largest private equity firm between Houston and Mobile, Alabama, with four funds managing about $4.4 billion in assets Partnering with smaller, family-owned businesses is different than what Bernhard Capital does, which is invest in larger infrastructure, construction and utility companies, but de Lauréal said it suits the personality of his firm and offers an opportunity for greater returns.

De Lauréal grew up in a prominent New Orleans family with deep roots in the business community His father, the late Martin de Lauréal was a senior executive with Stewart Enterprises, until the funeral service provider was acquired in 2013. His older brother, Martin de Lauréal Jr., is president of First Horizon Advisors; his younger brother Jonathan de Lauréal, is a managing partner with Bernhard Capital. David De Lauréal said he expects to start a second Carr’s Hill fund in the next five years or so. “I really like what we’re doing here as a team,” he said. “I don’t think we’ll run out of targets.” Email Timothy Boone at tboone@theadvocate.com.

Altazan

Dunne

Wilson Baker Bagley

Traweek

Haynie

Bergeron

Hecht

Motley Fool

Globalstar’s constellation is growing

BY RICH COLLINS Staff writer

When Silicon Valley rock star

Paul Jacobs in 2023 became CEO of Globalstar — a publicly traded satellite company that powers communication for mobile devices

— it was something of a full-circle moment.

Jacobs spent nearly a decade in the mid-2000s at the helm of Qualcomm, the San Diego maker of semiconductors, software and services for wireless technology that created Globalstar in the early 1990s, so taking the helm of the Covington-based company was a return to his roots.

It was also a pivotal time for Globalstar Jacobs arrived at the company a year after it landed a deal with Apple to power the Emergency SOS services on iPhones — a game changing partnership, now reaching $2 billion, that has reoriented the company’s trajectory and kept Jacobs busy

Earlier this month, Jacobs joined his local team to celebrate the opening of Globalstar’s new $5 million control center. The 10,000-square-foot space, located within the company’s larger headquarters, will monitor and manage its growing communications network of satellites and ground stations around the globe.

Jacobs sat down for an interview after the recent ribbon cutting to talk about Globalstar’s three-decade history and his plans for the future.

This conversation has been edited for brevity and clarity.

Globalstar was created as a satellite phone service by Qualcomm and a partner in the early 1990s. In the following years, it had ups and downs.

Mostly downs.

Why was that the case?

First, any satellite company has to be able to pay for the satellites, and that’s really expensive. So if you don’t have a good business model, you’re in trouble

The original idea for Globalstar and its competitor, which was called Iridium, was to provide cellular services outside of cellular

coverage area, which sounds a little familiar now Well, that didn’t work decades ago. It was a niche for people who really needed it, backpackers or first responders

The market wasn’t enormous.

So Globalstar pivoted finding other users of its tech.

The company figured out how to do “internet of things,” monitoring cattle and horses, equipment for the oil and gas industry, or shipping containers. That’s all over the landscape, and nobody wants to lose some expensive piece of equipment just because somebody parked it somewhere and they forgot about it.

Then came this idea of working with our partner (Apple) to be able to build something that actually worked on an existing phone. And the reason why that was possible is because the way that Globalstar satellites work, when you send data out of here, it essentially

bounces off the satellite back down to a huge antenna.

The enormous market that we’re addressing now is peace of mind. Everybody depends on their cellphones now, and when you get outside of coverage, it’s a little nerveracking. If I’m a backpacker and I twist my ankle out in the mountains, I would like to know that I can let somebody know and come rescue me.

Globalstar has a license to use certain radio frequencies to transmit and receive signals, called spectrum. Can you explain what that means in layman’s terms?

When you think about radio, although some people are too young for that, each station is using a chunk of spectrum to transmit radio waves. They are divided up into different chunks, like somebody singing lower or higher frequency You can divide those up and only listen to a certain frequency It’s a finite resource of nature, and so

people try to find better and more efficient ways of using it. How long is the company’s spectrum license?

We just got a 15-year renewal, which goes with the 15-year life of the satellite. Looking back at the company’s slow build, did anyone think this was going to be a 30year play?

It’s interesting you ask that, because one of the early things at Qualcomm was messaging to long-haul trucks, which was also satellite based, and that was a 30year kind of business. And then we sold it for a billion dollars at the end. What happens next, if everything goes swimmingly?

We’re building new ground stations around the world. We’re in the process of two different tranches of satellites. We will launch some by the end of the year to replenish this constellation. And

we’re going to go from 24 satellites that are operational to 32 satellites that are running the system. Beyond that, we’ve got another 50 that are underway that are next generation. So we have a long road map now of having the ability to have the satellites up, and this facility in Covington will control all those. Globalstar’s got a good solid base now

Last month, Globalstar moved from the New York Stock Exchange to the Nasdaq and completed a reverse stock split. Can you explain what that is and why you did it?

The company was a multibilliondollar market cap company, but because they had issued so many shares, the shares were in the dollar range, and most institutional investors can’t invest in a stock that’s below five bucks. We were missing a huge portion of the investing community, and because of that, we didn’t have a lot of analysts following us either So there was sort of this negative spiral of not having people investing and not having people covering us, so people weren’t investing and the stock price stayed low. By doing the reverse split, we just moved the stock, didn’t change the market capital of the company, didn’t change the value of the company, just changed what the per-share price was.

Why move to NASDAQ from the NYSE?

NYSE is a great exchange, and they were very supportive of the company For me, I’d been involved with NASDAQ through most of the companies I’d been part of, so it just seemed like a natural move for us.

Now that you have to come to Louisiana from time to time, what’s your routine? There’s a Southwest flight to MSY, and sometimes I stay in the Southern Hotel in Covington and sometimes I’ll stay in New Orleans. We’re pretty virtual actually The senior team is together a lot, but it’s like at a customer, convention or investor event. We don’t necessarily all have to work in the same place to run the company Email Rich Collins at rich. collins@theadvocate.com.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER

CEO Paul Jacobs, standing in the new satellite control center at Globalstar’s headquarters in Covington, says the satellite company is gaining new ground around the world.

Spring 2025 Cost GetawayAcadia al

✜ 5Natural Wonders within the US

✜ TheLouisiana Oyster Trail

✜ SouthernMusic in the Spring

✜ Jefferson Parish Outdoor Adventures

✜ Louisiana Museums

✜ BestSpotstoKayak

Spring TRAVEL GUIDE

5 SpringFever 5Fever

AGRAND CANYON

Hereare fiveNatural Wonders withinthe US to satisfy your

By Stevie Cavalier Licciardi |stevie.licciardi@theadvocate.com

sthe cozy sleepiness of winter meltsawayand theriversand streamspickup steam, thereisafeelingofrestlessnessinthe air—alonging to take part in this exciting time.Inthe United States youare neverfar from wondrous landscapes that expandbothheart andmindastheyextendbeyondthe horizon.

This spring,takeatriptothe to experience oneofthe most stunningpanoramic vistas in theworld. TheSouth RimofGrand Canyon National Park is open 24 hoursa day, 365 days ayear, andnoreservationsare required.Anentrancepassisrequired,and standard national park admissionis$35.00 pervehicle.Whether it’s soakinginthe sights from thevisitor’s centers or ridingamule down themile-deepcanyonwalls, thereisa myriad of ways to take in thenaturalbeauty of theGrand Canyon.Moreinformation: www.nps.gov/grca

FLORIDA KEYSNATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY

Forthose whoprefertobeimmersedinthe beauty of theocean,the viewsfrombelow thesurface in theFlorida Keys National Marine Sanctuaryare easily accessible during thespringtimemonths.Snorkeling andscuba diving arepopular activities in thesanctuary whichprotectsthe only living coralbarrier reef within thecontinental US. On thesurface of thewater,visitorsalso enjoyvarious boatingactivities, such as kiteboarding, fishing, andpaddling. More information: floridakeys.noaa.gov.

ACADIA NATIONAL PARK

If thedry desertscapesofthe westernUS have youyearningfor spring blossoms,check outAcadiaNationalPark, locatedinMaine. Therocky cliffsofthisnortheasternparadise come aliveinlateMay andearly June as wildflowerspaint thestony crags with color. Thereisaplethora of hiking trails to enjoy with incredible viewsofthe Atlantic Ocean, andfor thosewho have an itch fornautical historythere arethree lighthouses to visit on park grounds. Experiencingthe sunrise from Cadillac Mountain is abucketlistitem, as well Themostpopulartimetovisit is June throughSeptember,but to experience alesscrowded time at theparkplanfor the shoulder seasonswhichrun from Aprilto Mayand OctobertoNovember. More information: www.nps.gov/acad.

MAMMOTH CAVE NATIONAL PARK

Within theUS, wondersbelow thesurface aren’t limitedtounderwaterlandscapes. In MammothCaveNationalPark, visitors areawedbythe marvelsofthe cavernous underbelly of thecontinent.Mammoth Cave National Park,located in Kentucky, is home to thelongest cave systeminthe world, whichcan be exploredvia itsvarious cave toursthatencompass arange of skill levels.Reservationsfor toursare highly recommendedastheyoften fill up weeksin advance. Thereare also plenty of grounds to explore abovethe surface,and thespring months of Aprilthrough earlyJuneare thebesttimetovisit theparkdue to fewer crowds,temperate weather, andthe array of springtime blossoms.Moreinformation: www.nps.gov/maca.

NIAGARA FALLS

Last butcertainly notleast,there is nothing equaltothe awe-inspiringpower of a waterfall in springtime.Snowrunoff from across theNorth American continent convergestoleapfromcliffs, creating striking spectacles such as therenownedNiagara Falls, whichsitsonthe border of Canada and upstateNew York.Yearround, TheWorld ChangedHerePavilionisanexcellentarea to experience themajesty of Bridal Veil Falls as youdrenchyourselfinthe beauty of the fallson“Hurricane Deck”orobserve from adrier overlook TheMaidofthe Mist also offersboatrides that bringvisitorscloserto theroaring waters,beginninginthe month of May. More information: www.niagarafallsstatepark.com.

Spring TRAVELGUIDE Ta

OysterTrail

hr uisiana Taste Your Way Through the Louisiana

ASeafood Lover’sDream in Jefferson Parish

By Stevie Cavalier Licciardi |stevie.licciardi@theadvocate.com

Takeatriponthe LouisianaOysterTrail! TheJefferson Convention &VisitorsBureau, Inc. andthe Louisiana TourismRecoveryProgram createdthe LouisianaOyster Trailin2012. Thetrail is an experience focusingonJeffersonParish restaurantsserving LouisianaOysters!Visitorsand locals alike will experience local flavor,and as “lagniappe”(alittlesomething extra) gettoenjoy thewhimsy of each participating restaurant’s 3-foot tall oyster sculpturehand-painted with flairbya localartist. Whetheryou’reavisitor or alocal,thisisthe perfectopportunity to experience authenticLouisiana flavor and flairthroughoutJefferson Parish’s culinarygems.

Presently, theTrail has 19 participating restaurantsand businesses and continues to grow,which meansmoregreat oyster eateries are showcased andmoreLouisiana oystersare eatenina varietyofways! TheLouisiana Oyster Trailspans theparish, extendingfromrestaurants inthe metropolitan areassurroundingLakePontchartrainand the Mississippi Riverall theway to theGulfof Mexico in GrandIsle! In addition to supporting localrestaurants andbusinessowners, taking atripalong theOysterTrail is also agreat waytoenjoy oneofthe mostnutritionally well-balancedfoodsavailable.Oysters arelow in fat, calories andcholesterol andhighinprotein, iron,calcium, potassium andseveralvitamins. Studies have shown they canboost metabolism, increasetissuerepairand growth,lower blood pressure andcholesterol, increase bone strength andimprove energy.

THE RESTAURANTS CURRENTLY ON THE OYSTER TRAIL

Acme Oyster House 3000 Veterans Memorial Boulevard, Metairie

Balcony Ballroom 4738 Utica Street, Metairie

Boulevard American Bistro 4241 Veterans Memorial Boulevard, Metairie

Colonial Bowling Lanes 6601 Jefferson Highway, New Orleans

Deanie’s Seafood 1713 Lake Avenue, Metairie

Don’s Seafood 4801 Veterans Memorial Boulevard, Metairie

Drago’s Seafood Restaurant 232 North Arnoult Road, Metairie

Galley Seafood Restaurant 2535 Metairie Road, Metairie

Gattuso’s Neighborhood Restaurant, Bar and Catering 435 Huey P. Long Avenue, Gretna

Mr. Ed’s Oyster Bar & Fish House 3117 21st Street, Metairie

New Orleans Marriot Metairie at Lakeway 3838 North Causeway Boulevard, Metairie

Perino’s Boiling Pot Restaurant 3754 Westbank Expressway, Harvey

R & O’s Restaurant 216 Metairie Hammond Highway, Metairie

Red Maple Restaurant 1036 Lafayette Street, Gretna

Restaurant de Familles 7163 Barataria Boulevard, Marrero

Segnette Landing Restaurant 450 Laroussini Street, Westwego

Short Stop Poboys 119 Transcontinental Drive, Metairie

Vincent’s Italian Cuisine 4411 Chastant Street, Metairie

Spring TRAVELGUIDE

Music Cities in the Spring

By Stevie Cavalier Licciardi |stevie.licciardi@theadvocate.com

Austin

Austin, Texasisknown as theLiveMusic Capital of theWorld,and rightlyso. Thecityhosts artists from acrossanever-wideningrange of musical genres, spanningfromAmericana to electronic post-punkand pop. Twomajor music festivalsthatmaketheir home in Austin arethe Southby SouthwestMusic Festival (www.sxsw.com)and theAustinCityLimits Festival (www.aclfestival. com). However, to getyourdaily doseoftunes this spring,check outthese popularAustinvenues: BrokenSpoke,Antone’sNightclub,and TheFar OutLounge&Stage.

NewOrleans

NewOrleans is widely recognizedasthe birthplaceofjazz, andyear-roundyou can dancetothe rhythmsthatresound through thestreets. Blues, bounce,indie,Dixieland, andzydecoare all reveredmusic genres within thecity. Popularvenues arePreservationHall, Tipitina’s, andSnugHarbor. Everyspringthe city welcomesvisitorsfromaroundthe world to take part in therenownedNew Orleans Jazz &HeritageFestival(www.nojazzfest. com)and French QuarterFestival(www. frenchquarterfest.org).

NewOrleans toNashville Southern

Nashville

Nashville, also knownasMusic City,stirs theheartsofmanymusic lovers.Withnearly 200 music venues, rangingfromthe Grand OleOprytomoreintimatesinger/songwriter paradiseslikeListening Room Café,there is always aplace to immerse yourself in the beauty of music in Nashville. TheCountry Music Hall of Fame &Museum (www. countrymusichalloffame.org),RecordStore Day(recordstoreday.com), andRock‘N’ Roll RunningSeries Nashville (www.runrocknroll.com/nashville)are all greatwaystoexperience Music City this spring.

Memphis

ThesoutherncityofMemphis pulses alongside themightyMississippi Riverasthe home of blues, soul,and rock n’ roll This May don’tmissthe second annual RiverBeatMusic Festival at TomLee Park overlookingthe river(www.riverbeat.com). On BealeStreet, visitors canget ataste of thecity’smusical flavorswhile also grabbing abitetoeat.Iconic venues to checkout areB.B.King’sBlues Club, TheRum Boogie Café,and SilkyO’Sullivan’s Forloversofmusic history, thelegendary Sun Studio is worthavisit.Tourthe studio where ElvisPresley made his firstrecordand where so many othergreatsleft their mark on music history(sunstudio.com).

Outdoor ADVENTURES IN JEFFERSON PARISH

By StevieCavalier

T|stevie.licciardi@theadvocate.com

he diverseregionofJeffersonParishallowsyou theability to explore nature yetremainclose to theactionofNew Orleans. In fact, theparishisjust10 minutesawayfromdowntown! Here aresomeofthe best ways to getoutside in JeffersonParish. Head to www.visitjeffersonparish.com/outdoors forevenmoreideas.

Beaches

Craving arelaxinggetaway?JeffersonParishboastsseven miles of gorgeouswhite sand beachesin GrandIsle. VisitElmer’s Island WildlifeRefugeand seethe beautifultractofbarrier beachfront locatedonthe southwestern tipofJeffersonParish. At theeastend of GrandIsle, visitthe pristine beachesofGrand Isle StatePark, which include a400-foot fishingpier,naturetrailsand overnight camping.

Fishing

Fishingisayear-roundadventure in JeffersonParishand with generous limits, therewillbeplenty to bringhome. Whethersaltwater or fresh—Jeffersonhas theperfect fishingholefor you. Bass, speckled troutand catfish arebountiful betweenApril andJune.Don’t have aboatorareel? No problem! Hire an experiencedcharter boat captionfor thetripofalifetime.

Parks

JeffersonParishishometothe BaratariaPreserveofJeanLafitte National Historical Park andtwo stateparks, GrandIsleand Bayou Segnette.

TheBarataria Preserve features beautifulnaturetrails, birdingtrails anda visitorcenterfeaturing akids’ activity center, aJuniorRanger program, abookstore,and more.Guidedtours areoffered.

Just a30-minutedrive from NewOrleans,Bayou Segnette StatePark has camping, boating, fishing, canoeing, picnicking,playgrounds,and swimminginthe wave pool,aswellasanecosystemthatoffersyou thechancetospotplants, trees, andwildlifefrombothswampsand marshland. Sixteen floating cabins on thecanal adjacenttoBayou Segnette include twobedrooms, afull kitchen, aliving/diningarea, anda screened-in porchoverlooking thecanal.

GrandIsleState Park features thelastwildbeach in Louisianaalong with greatlocal fishing. Thepier is theonlyone in Louisianathat extends into theGulf- a900-foot-long public fishingpier with a nearby fish-cleaningstation. Thecamping area features 49 campsites with anearbybathhouse with runningwater andanadjacent dump station. Thereare threemiles of hiking trails with primebird watching.

Barataria Preserve

Licciardi

Spring TRAVEL GUIDE

Enrich

your Louisiana Travel Experiencewith a UniqueMuseum Visit

By Stevie Cavalier Licciardi |stevie.licciardi@theadvocate.com

Agreatway to explore thehistory of this region is to visitone of themany living historymuseums or ahistoricalhomes around thestate. TheLSU Rural Life Museum (www.lsu.edu/rurallife), locatedinBaton Rouge, spans25acres andcontains32historicbuildingstotour. Vermilionville, situated in Lafayette, also includes alivinghistory exhibit whereguests cantourseven historic homes andinteract with costumedcraftsmen whoshare demonstrationsand oral histories (bayouvermiliondistrict.org/vermilionville).

SPORTS&CULTUREMUSEUMS

Sports arean importantpartof thestate’s culture, andthe LouisianaSportsHall of Fame &Northwest LouisianaHistory Museum in Natchitochesisanexciting waytowitness themajor role sports have played in Louisianaoverthe years. More information: louisianastatemuseum.org/museum/louisiana-sports-hall-fame-northwestlouisiana-history-museum.

Anotherexemplary avenue to experiencethe cultureofLouisiana is to enjoyavisit to theNew OrleansJazzMuseumatthe OldU.S. Mint whereexhibitscelebrate the influence jazz has hadonthe cultural fabric of theworld.Besuretocatch oneof themanyliveperformancesormasterclasses availableonsite. More information: nolajazzmuseum.org

ROADSIDE ATTRACTIONS

If your travel crew is down forquirky and campyroadside museum attractions, The Bonnie &Clyde Ambush Museum, outside of Shreveport,isaperfect place forapitstop (www.roadsideamerica.com/story/10864). Anotherfascinatingoff-roaddiversion is theAbitaSprings MysteryHouse which is situated on theNorthshoreofLake Pontchartrain. This zany collection of art, arcade games, signage,and toys is a refreshingreminder that oneman’s trashis anotherman’s treasure (abitamysteryhouse. com).

TheBonnie &Clyde Ambush Museum –Gibsland

TheNational WWII Museum tells the story of the American experienceinthe warthat changed the world.

HISTORY MUSEUMS

TheCabildo,a legendary government buildingwhichhostedthe transfer ceremonies of theLouisiana Purchasein 1803, is amust-see museum foranyone visiting theFrenchQuarter This Louisiana StateMuseum is locateddirectlybeside theiconic St.Louis Cathedral, andits exhibitseducate visitors on monumental happenings in Louisiana, such as the Battle of NewOrleans.Moreinformation: louisianastatemuseum.org/museum/ cabildo

On theother side of theSt. Louis Cathedral, an equallyelegant Spanish colonial building, knownasthe Presbytère, also opensits doorstothose interested in learningmoreabout NewOrleans.Exhibits

ART MUSEUMS

centeronthe culturalphenomenonof MardiGras, as well as theeffects Hurricane Katrinahad on thecity. More information: louisianastatemuseum.org/museum/ presbytere

At TheNationalWorld WarIIMuseum in downtown NewOrleans,visitorscan immerse themselves in theAmerican experience of WorldWar II. With multimediaexhibits, stirring films, andlive performances, this iconic museum allows guests to experience themusic, fashion, andhistory of the1940s in aunique and all-encompassingway.Moreinfo: www nationalww2museum.org.

Agreat waytoexplore thehistory of this region is to visitone of themanyliving historymuseumsorahistoricalhomes

around thestate. TheLSU RuralLife Museum (www.lsu.edu/rurallife), located in BatonRouge,spans 25 acres andcontains 32 historic buildings to tour.Vermilionville, situated in Lafayette, also includes aliving historyexhibit whereguests cantourseven historic homesand interactwithcostumed craftsmen whoshare demonstrationsand oral histories (bayouvermiliondistrict.org/ vermilionville).

TheWhitney Plantation features a historical home andhas solidified itsplace in southLouisiana as amuseum dedicated to educatingthe public aboutthe history andlegacies of slaveryinthe United States. More information: whitneyplantation.org.

TheOgden Museum of Art(ogdenmuseum.org)and theNew Orleans Museum of Art(noma.org)curate interestingand informative art collectionsthattreat guests to southern-focused art, as well as artfrom around theworld.Right next door to the NewOrleans Museum of Art, andalsowithin theperimeter of NewOrleans City Park,are theBesthoff SculptureGarden (noma.org/besthoff-sculpture-garden), andthe LouisianaChildren’s Museum (lcm.org).

If you find yourself roamingthrough theAcadianaregion, don’tmissout on theHillardArt Museum (hilliardmuseum.org), locatedinLafayette, or theAlexandriaMuseum of Art(themuseum.org).

Kimberly Ha, AFamily Affair,2022 Hoa Tay(FlowerHands)

Southern Artists of the Vietnamese Diaspora- Ogden Museum

RileyHal Burriss, Don’sBar –Regal Beer,1945

Crescent Cityscapes Collection -Ogden Museum

KnuteHeldner,French Quarter Rooftops, 1923

Crescent Cityscapes Collection -Ogden Museum

Drummer Baby Dodds -The New OrleansJazz Museumcollection is the largestand mostcomprehensive ofits kind in the world.

Kayaking

Paddleon

ThePerfect Blend of Adventure, Fitness, and Serenity –Plus the BestSpots to Paddle in Louisiana

By Stevie Cavalier Licciardi |stevie.licciardi@theadvocate.com

Whether you’re lookingfor apeaceful waytoconnect with nature,anintense workout, or an exciting adventure, kayaking offerssomething foreveryone. Here’s why kayaking is such agreat activity.

AFull-Body Workout with LowImpact

Kayaking is an excellentformofexercisethatengages multiple muscle groups. Paddlingworks your arms,shoulders, andbackwhile engaging your core forstability.Atthe same time,yourlegs help controlbalance andmovement. Unlike high-impact activities like running,kayakingis gentle on thejoints, making it agreat optionfor people whowanttostay activewithout riskinginjury. Plus,the resistance of thewater addsan extrachallenge,helping to buildstrengthand endurance.

AFun and Accessible WaytoExploreNature

No matter whereyou arepaddling, kayaking provides aunique perspectivethatyou can’tget from land.It’safantastic waytosee wildlife, from birdsand fish to dolphinsand seaturtles. Because kayakingisrelativelyeasytolearn,it’sanaccessibleway forpeopleof allagestoenjoy thegreat outdoors.

AGreat WaytoRelieve Stress

Spendingtimeonthe waterhas been shown to reduce stress and promotementalwell-being. Therhythmic motion of paddling, the soundofwater lappingagainst thekayak,and thefresh airall contribute to acalmingexperience.Whether you’re paddlingalone forsome quiet reflection or with friends forasocialouting, kayaking provides a refreshingescapefromthe hustle andbustleofeverydaylife.

Places

TO KAYAK INLOUISIANA

BayouSt. John, NewOrleans: An easy andscenic paddle with viewsofhistorichomes,parks, andwildlife. Thecalm watersmakeitagreat spot forbeginners, andkayak rentalsare available nearby

HoneyIsland Swamp, Slidell: Paddle throughcypress and tupelo treesdrapedinSpanish moss whilespottingalligators, egrets,and turtles. Guided eco-toursare availablefor thosewho wanttolearn more aboutthe ecosystem.

Atchafalaya Basin, South Louisiana: With itsmaze of bayous,lakes, andcypress forests, it offersa trulywildand remote paddlingexperience.Wildlifesightings include alligators, otters andbaldeagles.

Bogue Chitto River,Franklinton: This scenic riverwinds throughsandy banks, rollinghills,and lush forests. Thegentle currentmakes it greatfor beginners, andseveral outfittersoffer kayak rentalsand shuttle services.

Cane Bayou, Mandeville: Abeautiful,quiet paddle from Fontainebleau StateParktoLakePontchartrain. You’ll see diversewildlife, including osprey,deer, andturtles. Thetripends with stunningviews of thelake.

Ready to test the waters?

BayouAdventure offersself-servekayak rentals. (www.bayouadventure.com).

Unplug& Unwind

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LOUISIANA

CARE IN THE AIR

BY MARGARET DELANEY

Staff writer

Zachary Dubroc thought

he wanted to be a registered nurse. But, after pivoting to emergency medical technician school and working in emergency services, Dubroc found where he wanted to be taking care of patients in the air

Acadian Air Med, founded in 1981, operates a fleet of 13 medically configured helicopters and three fixed-wing aircraft from bases throughout Louisiana.

The aircraft can be used to transport patients with major trauma, post-cardiac arrest, severe illness, surgical emergencies and more.

Patients who require a high level of care during transport often take the helicopter and team to facilities in New Orleans, Houston or even as far as Tennessee.

Dubroc, who is both a registered nurse and paramedic, regularly commutes to air bases across the state for air med flights.

“I worked in Lake Charles yesterday, Lafayette today and tomorrow I’ll work in Houma and Hammond,” Dubroc said. “I kind of live in the middle of the state, so I just drive where I’m needed.”

There are 86 people employed at Acadian Air Med including in-flight paramedics, in-flight registered nurses and staff members. Each flight has a pilot (a separate group provided by Metro Aviation), a flight paramedic

and a flight registered nurse. When he’s not at an air base, or driving to an air base, Dubroc clocks in hours at an emergency room and ICU.

“A lot of the knowledge is the same,” Dubroc said of his experience in both hospital and emergency settings.

“Out in the field, it’s very unorganized chaos, where the hospital is more organized chaos in the way they operate.”

Joseph Sanchez, a paramedic with air med, compared arriving to an emergency situation in a helicopter to a duck treading water

It’s important for the air med team to display a calm manner on the surface, according to Sanchez, even

when they recognize the severity of the situation.

“When we land in our helicopter, we are assuming control and command of the entire scene,” Sanchez said. “Everyone’s going to look up to you, and your demeanor is going to be contagious to the rest of the scene.”

Both the paramedic and registered nurse bring “unique skills” to the scene, according to Sanchez Paramedics with Acadian Air Med typically have previous experience with 911 calls or treating patients in moving ambulances as an EMT skills that prepare them for new scenes and situations.

Nurses bring ICU experi-

ence, clinical knowledge and a better understanding of long-term care.

“A paramedic wants to make sure the patient stays stable enough to get to the hospital or facility,” Sanchez said. “A nurse is more likely to look at how the patient will react three or four hours later.”

According to Sanchez, part of the job is learning how to read people, especially regarding those who might be afraid of flying or have a fear of small spaces.

“Before we get to the aircraft, we’ll talk with the patients and let them know the

Experts rethink 98.6 degrees

Researchers consider what temperature is considered a fever

BY AVERY NEWMARK

For seemingly forever, we’ve been told 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit is the standard for a normal body temperature. However, recent studies suggest that the number may be outdated.

According to research, the average body temperature has dropped to around 97.9, with variations based on age, health conditions and even race and gender The discussion gained traction recently when a viral TikTok video questioned whether 99.1 should count as a fever It turns out, they have a point.

The idea that 98.6 degrees is “normal” comes from 19th-century German physician Carl Reinhold August Wunderlich, who took more than a million temperature readings and set the standard. But that was nearly 200 years ago, and our bodies and the world have changed.

“We are not the same people that we were in the middle of the 19th century,” Dr Julie Parsonnet, the George DeForest Professor of Medicine and a public health researcher at Stanford Medicine, told USA Today A 2017 Harvard Medical School study analyzed data from more than 35,000 patients and found the average body temperature is 97.9, ranging from 97.2 to 98.4.

The study also found body temperature varies by age, gender and medical conditions. Older adults tend to run cooler, African American women the warmest, and older White men the coolest. People with hypothyroidism often have lower temperatures, while those with cancer or higher BMIs tend to run warmer

The decline in body temperature is most likely linked to improvements in health and lifestyle, according to a 2020 study published in the open-access journal eLife.

In the 19th century, people faced more infections, harsh living conditions, and limited medical care, which kept their immune systems constantly active — raising their internal temperatures. Thanks to modern medicine, our bodies no longer have to work as hard to fight off disease, allowing temperatures to drop slightly

“Physiologically we’re just different from what we were in the past,” Parsonnet said in a news release. “The environment that we’re living in has changed, including the temperature in our homes, our contact with microorganisms and the food that we have access to.” Doctors traditionally define a fever as 100.4 or higher But if your normal temperature is lower, even 99.1 might make you feel unwell. Instead of focusing on one number,

STAFF PHOTOS By BRAD BOWIE

Flight Nurse Zachary Dubroc, left, and Flight Paramedic Joseph Sanchez, stand on March 6 at Acadiana Air Med’s helicopter air base in Lafayette.

Flight Nurse Zachary Dubroc discusses transporting patients in a helicopter at Acadiana Air Med’s helicopter air base.

HEALTH MAKER

CEO, La. hospital leader discusses what’s next for state

BY MARGARET DELANEY Staff writer

In May 2024, E.J. Kuiper was selected as the president and chief executive officer and leader of Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System.

Originally from Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Kuiper originally intended to be a professional athlete playing soccer in Europe. However, a devastating knee injury halted his sights on competitive sports and kick-started Kuiper’s journey into health care.

Kuiper joined the Louisiana and Gulf Coast team from CommonSpirit Health in the Midwest serving hospitals in Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa and North Dakota.

The FMOL health system includes hospitals all around Louisiana and Mississippi including multiple locations in Acadiana, the greater Baton Rouge area, Northshore, Monroe and Jackson.

What inspired you to pursue a career in health care?

While playing soccer in Holland, I had a significant knee injury that caused me to have multiple knee surgeries to stabilize my knee.

I was exposed to a lot of surgeons and team doctors, physical therapists, athletic trainer people that were physical, spiritual and emotional support system.

It was a pretty dark period of time for me because I thought I was going to be able to be a very good athlete in Holland, but it became clear over a period of a year and a half that I wasn’t going to be able to play competitively I really liked the team that surrounded me for those years while I was getting back to myself, so I decided to go back to school and become a physical therapist.

Around my graduation (in 1991), the Hospital Corporation of America was recruiting physical therapists in Holland They brought

in a huge map of the United States with over 200 dots on it. And they said, “We have jobs anywhere.”

I picked Fort Meyers, Florida because of the white beaches and the whole Disney World thing.

I thought that I was going to come back to Holland after a year, but then I met my future wife, Patty, who was a nurse in the hospital that I worked at.

We fell in love — and one year turned into never going back.

Three or five years in, I started getting a little bit frustrated with “suits,” guys in a suit and tie who

were administrators, who I felt at that time were a little disconnected from all of those in the trenches that actually made all the difference.

One day, the CEO took me aside and said, “Hey instead of bringing all these problems to me, maybe you should consider becoming part of the solution.”

While working, I went back to school, and I got my masters and doctoral degrees.

I know I’m a better administrator today because I started in the trenches. I remember what it feels like when you don’t have support from the senior administrator

My job is to remove barriers and seize opportunities for the people that take care of the patients in our communities.

How is Louisiana different from other hospital systems in the country?

I’ve been around the block. I was in Florida. I was in Illinois, and I spent time in the Midwest. There are some differences in state governments, but at the end of the day, it’s always about finding the best ways to take care of patients.

I think Louisiana is the same. I find that there are many many people here in Louisiana that very much care about good health care

outcomes.

I found a lot of people here, across the state, that have the same passion as I do about improving the health of the patients in our communities.

Tell us about new technologies being introduced in the health system.

For our technology advancements, our philosophy is that we want to be on the leading edge, but we don’t want to be on the bleeding edge.

There are really cool things that we’re developing right now that will cut back on the time our clinicians, doctors and nurses have to spend typing notes and documentation.

Documentation is really important in health care for a variety of reasons, but I would much rather have a nurse spend more time directly with the patient than typing up a note.

We are also working on ambient listening devices that pick up the conversations in a cath lab or in surgery The AI systems can pick up those conversations and transition that into a postoperative note for the physician.

That way, instead of having to type up a note for 10 or 15 minutes, the surgeon can look at a pre-written note and would only have to edit it. That’s more time that can be spent with pa-

tients. What’s next for the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System?

We will have more than a quarter-billion dollars in capital investments that we’re going to recommend to the board over the next several months, which then would cover the next fiscal year I fully expect us to make those investments and more. But you stay in health care long enough, you know that the environment tends to change. One of the things that we do well is we adapt according to the overall environment.

Right now, in D.C., government leaders are contemplating significant reductions in Medicaid reimbursement that would have a big impact on health care in Louisiana.

We’re watching it very closely in our meetings on a very regular basis with our legislative leaders like Speaker of the House Rep. Mike Johnson, Rep. Steve Scalise and Gov Jeff Landry We talk to our Louisiana leaders a lot about how important health care is for Louisiana, and the funding aspect is critical.

Email Margaret DeLaney at margaret.delaney@ theadvocate.com.

As AI nurses reshape hospital care, human nurses push back

BY MATTHEW PERRONE

AP health writer

The next time you’re due for a medical exam you may get a call from someone like Ana: a friendly voice that can help you prepare for your appointment and answer any pressing questions you might have.

With her calm, warm demeanor, Ana has been trained to put patients at ease like many nurses across the U.S. But unlike them, she is also available to chat 24/7, in multiple languages, from Hindi to Haitian Creole.

That’s because Ana isn’t human, but an artificial intelligence program created by Hippocratic AI, one of a number of new companies offering ways to automate time-consuming tasks usually performed by nurses and medical assistants.

It’s the most visible sign of AI’s inroads into health care, where hundreds of hospitals are using increasingly sophisticated computer programs to monitor patients’ vital signs, flag emergency situations and trigger stepby-step action plans for care — jobs that were all previously handled by nurses and other health professionals

Hospitals say AI is helping their nurses work more efficiently while addressing burnout and understaffing. But nursing unions argue that this poorly understood technology is overriding nurses’ expertise and degrading the quality of care patients receive.

“Hospitals have been waiting for the moment when they have something that appears to have enough legitimacy to replace nurses,” said Michelle Mahon of National Nurses United. “The entire ecosystem is designed to automate, de-skill and ultimately replace caregivers.” Mahon’s group, the largest nursing union in the U.S., has helped organize more than 20 demonstrations at hospitals across the country, pushing for the right to have say in how AI can be used — and protection from discipline if nurses decide to

disregard automated advice. The group raised new alarms in January when Robert F. Kennedy Jr the incoming health secretary, suggested AI nurses “as good as any doctor” could help deliver care in rural areas. Hippocratic AI initially promoted a rate of $9 an hour for its AI assistants, compared with about $40 an hour for a registered nurse It has since dropped that language, instead touting its services and seeking to assure customers that they have been carefully tested. The company did not grant requests for an interview

Hospitals have been experimenting for years with technology designed to improve care and streamline costs, including sensors, microphones and motion-sensing cameras. Now that data is being linked with electronic medical records and analyzed in an effort to predict medical problems and direct nurses’ care — sometimes before they’ve evaluated the patient themselves.

Adam Hart was working in the emergency room at Dignity Health in Henderson, Nevada, when the hospital’s

computer system flagged a newly arrived patient for sepsis, a life-threatening reaction to infection. Under the hospital’s protocol, he was supposed to immediately administer a large dose of IV fluids. But after further examination, Hart determined that he was treating a dialysis patient, or someone with kidney failure. Such patients have to be carefully managed to avoid overloading their kidneys with fluid.

Hart raised his concern with the supervising nurse but was told to just follow the standard protocol Only after a nearby physician intervened did the patient instead begin to receive a slow infusion of IV fluids.

“You need to keep your thinking cap on that’s why you’re being paid as a nurse,” Hart said. “Turning over our thought processes to these devices is reckless and dangerous.”

Hart and other nurses say they understand the goal of AI: to make it easier for nurses to monitor multiple patients and quickly respond to problems. But the reality is often a barrage of false alarms, sometimes errone-

ously flagging basic bodily functions — such as a patient having a bowel movement — as an emergency

“You’re trying to focus on your work but then you’re getting all these distracting alerts that may or may not mean something,” said Melissa Beebe, a cancer nurse at UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento. “It’s hard to even tell when it’s accurate and when it’s not because there are so many false alarms.”

Even the most sophisticated technology will miss signs that nurses routinely pick up on, such as facial expressions and odors, notes Michelle Collins, dean of Loyola University’s College of Nursing. But people aren’t perfect either

“It would be foolish to turn our back on this completely,” Collins said. “We should embrace what it can do to augment our care, but we should also be careful it doesn’t replace the human element.”

More than 100,000 nurses left the workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic, accord-

ing to one estimate, the biggest staffing drop in 40 years

As the U.S. population ages and nurses retire, the U.S. government estimates there will be more than 190,000 new openings for nurses every year through 2032.

Faced with this trend, hospital administrators see AI filling a vital role: not taking over care, but helping nurses and doctors gather information and communicate with patients.

At the University of Arkansas Medical Sciences in Little Rock, staffers need to make hundreds of calls every week to prepare patients for surgery Nurses confirm information about prescriptions, heart conditions and other issues — like sleep apnea that must be carefully reviewed before anesthesia.

The problem: many patients only answer their phones in the evening, usually between dinner and their children’s bedtime.

“So what we need to do is find a way to call several hundred people in a 120-minute

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

window — but I really don’t want to pay my staff overtime to do so,” said Dr Joseph Sanford, who oversees the center’s health IT Since January, the hospital has used an AI assistant from Qventus to contact patients and health providers, send and receive medical records and summarize their contents for human staffers. Qventus says 115 hospitals are using its technology, which aims to boost hospital earnings through quicker surgical turnarounds, fewer cancellations and reduced burnout. Each call begins with the program identifying itself as an AI assistant.

“We always want to be fully transparent with our patients that sometimes they are talking to a human and sometimes they’re not,” Sanford said. While companies like Qventus are providing an administrative service, other AI developers see a bigger role for their technology Israeli startup Xoltar specializes in humanlike avatars that conduct video calls with patients. The company is working with the Mayo Clinic on an AI assistant that teaches patients cognitive techniques for managing chronic pain. The company is also developing an avatar to help smokers quit. In early testing, patients spend about 14 minutes talking to the program, which can pickup on facial expressions, body language and other cues, according to Xoltar Nursing experts who study AI say such programs may work for people who are relatively healthy and proactive about their care. But that’s not most people in the health system.

“It’s the very sick who are taking up the bulk of health care in the U.S and whether or not chatbots are positioned for those folks is something we really have to consider,” said Roschelle Fritz of the University of California Davis School of Nursing.

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.

PROVIDED PHOTO

E.J Kuiper

PHOTO PROVIDED By NATIONAL NURSES UNITED

in health

Eat Fit LiveFit

Abetterpeanut butter cup: Cut the sugar,savor the flavor

Asindulgencesgo,peanutbuttercupshave alwaysrankedhighamongmyfavorites.It’s justhardtoresistthesweet-and-just-a-bit-ofsaltinessofachocolatepeanutbuttercup,especially aroundEasterandHalloween.

Thebadnewsis,atypicalservingcanpackin20 gramsofaddedsugar,alongwithquestionableingredientslikeTBHQ,afoodpreservative Thegoodnews?Youcanmakeyourownathome. I’llshareadeliciousrecipefromourEatFitCookbook inthesidebarofthiscolumn.Low-carb,glutenfree andvegan,thesedarkchocolatedelightsworkgreat inamuffinpanwithcupcakelinersorinabunny-or Easteregg-shapedsiliconemold.

Ifyou’renotquitereadytogetintocandy-making mode,therearesomegoodpre-packagedalternativesoutthere.Morebrandsaregivinguslow-carb, low-sugarpeanutbuttercupoptions.Youcaneven findsomethataremadewithothernutbutters

Herearefourbetter-for-youchocolatepeanut buttercupsthatareworthtrying—allofthem gluten-free,grain-freeandlowcarbwithzero addedsugar.

Lily’sPeanutButterCupsaresweetenedwith natural,plant-basedsweetenerserythritolandstevia. Otheringredientsincludeunsweetenedchocolate, cocoabutter,wholemilkpowderandpeanutbutter.

•Pertwomini-cupserving:140calories,3netcarbs, 7gramsfiber,<1gramsugar,0addedsugar

ChocZeroPeanutButterCupsaresweetenedwith monkfruitandcontaincocoabutter,unsweetened chocolateandpeanuts.Youcanchoosedarkchocolate,milkchocolateorwhitechocolate.

•Pertwomini-cupserving:140calories,3netcarbs, 13gramsfiber,1gramsugar,0addedsugar

QuestPeanutButterCupsaremadewithwhey proteinisolate,unsweetenedchocolate,cocoabutter, peanutsandnaturalerythritolsweetener.Theyalso containartificialsweetenersucralose(Splenda).Althoughmyusualrecommendationistoavoidartificial sweeteners,IjusthadtoincludeQuestPeanutButter Cupsbecausetheyaresuchacrowdpleaserasa low-sugaralternative.

•Percup:100calories,<1gramnetcarb,2grams fiber,0gramsugar,0addedsugar EvolvedAlmondButterCupsaremadewith organicalmonds,cacao,cacaobutter,pinkseasalt andmonkfruit.

•Percup:100calories,2netcarbs,5gramsfiber, 1gramsugar,0addedsugar

MollyKimball,RD,CSSD,isaregistereddietitian withOchsnerHealthandfounderofOchsner’sEatFit nonprofitinitiative.Formorewellnesscontent,tuneinto Molly’spodcast,FUELEDWellness+Nutrition,andfollow @MollykimballRDand@EatFitOchsneronsocialmedia. Emailnutrition@ochsner.orgtoconnectwithMollyor scheduleaconsultwithherteam.

BY THE NUMBERS

SaltedDarkChocolatePeanutButterCups

Makes12peanutbuttercups

Forthechocolatecoating

•¾cupcoconutoil,melted

•¾cupunsweetenedcocoapowder

•¼cup+2tablespoonsSwerveConfectioners

Forthepeanutbutterfilling

•½cupno-sugar-addedcreamypeanutbutter*

•¼cupcacaobutter,melted

•¼cupSwerveConfectioners •1½teaspoonsseasalt

Inamuffinpan,placelinersinto12cups.Setaside.

Preparethechocolatecoating:Whisktogethermeltedcoconut oil,cocoapowderandSwerveinamediumbowl.Spoon1 tablespoonofthechocolatemixtureintoeachmuffinliner. Freezefor5minutesoruntilmixtureisnolongershinyontop.

Makethepeanutbutterfilling:Whisktogetherpeanutbutter, meltedcacaobutter,Swerveandseasaltuntilcombined.Ifit seizesup,microwavefor10seconds.

Removemuffinpanfromfreezerandadd1tablespoonofpeanut buttermixturetothefrozenchocolatecoating.Returnpanto freezerfor5-10minutes.

Aftermixturehasset,removepanfromfreezerandadd½ tablespoonoftheremainingchocolatemixturetoeachcup, coveringthepeanutbutterlayer.Freezefor5-10minutesuntil completelyfrozen.Storeinfridgeorfreezerinanairtight containerandbesuretoletfrozencupssoftenforafew minutesbeforeserving.

Perserving(1peanutbuttercup):240calories,24gramsfat,15 gramssaturatedfat(nearlyallplant-based),240mgsodium,13 gramscarbohydrate(2gramsnetcarbs),3gramsfiber,<1gram sugar(0addedsugar),4gramsprotein

*Thesechocolatetreatsareequallydeliciouswhenmadewithalmond butter,cashewbutterorsunflowerseedbutter.

LOUISIANA IN TOP FIVE STATES WITH HIGHEST CANCER

RATES

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for nearly 10 million deaths in 2020, or nearly one in six deaths, according to the World Health Organization.

Louisiana has higher cancer rates than the national average.According to the American Cancer Society, the age-adjusted cancer incidence rate in Louisiana from 2017 to 2021 was 483.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 444.4 per 100,000 nationally

Out of 64 Louisiana parishes, only Orleans, Concordia and Lincoln parishes had less than the national average cancer incidence rate per 100,000.

Lincoln had the lowest rate of cancer cases in the state with 421.8

per 100,000 followed by Concordia (431.7 per 100,000), Orleans (434.1 per 100,000), St. John the Baptist (458.2 per 100,000) and St. Helena (461.4 per 100,000).

The parishes with the highest cancer incidence rates in Louisiana include:

n Iberville with 586.4 per 100,000

n Cameron with 579.7 per 100,000

n St. Landry with 542.3 per 100,000

n Vermillion with 537 per 100,000

n St. James with 533.5 per 100,0000

Louisiana ranks 46th in the nation for cancer incidence rates per 100,000, according to the National Cancer Institute — a lower ranking compared to the state’s neighbors (Mississippi at 39th,Arkansas at 25th and Texas at 11th).

line the tunnel of the helicopter with no space left untouched.

ceiling is gonna be six inches above their face,” Dubroc said. “And we’re gonna be right there with them.”

With children, air med has an extra seat in the front for a parent to accompany them to the hospital or secondary facility

“We try everything we can to bring them,” Sanchez said. “But some of what we do is weight-based as well, so we take all of that into account along with the pilot.”

In each helicopter, the “tunnel” (the back of the aircraft) is stocked with the latest emergency technology However, with seats for two medical personnel and a patient in a gurney, space is limited. All of the equipment must be compact.

Bungee cords holding EKGs in place, nets fitting emergency equipment to the inside walls and efficiently packed med kits

On board each flight, there are cardiac monitoring tools, ventilators that fit both adults and babies, med pumps that provide fluids to patients, a video laryngoscope, blood and blood warmers for transfusions and a mechanical CPR machine.

When in flight, a patient’s nose is typically six inches away from the ceiling of the helicopter That leaves little space for the paramedic and nurse to provide CPR if necessary while in the air

The CPR technology places a backboard below the patient and mechanically squeezes the patient’s chest.

“Studies show that in an ambulance going down the road, efficiency doing CPR drops by 60% or 40%,” Dubroc said. “So in the helicopter, where we have less room to do CPR, we can use the board that does CPR way more efficiently than

we can.” Each quarter the team gets together to look at new technologies — or different sized technologies — to add to the tunnel.

“Every year, we try to update something,” Sanchez said. In 2018, the fleet added blood transfusion capabilities to its helicopters. Now, all operational air med aircraft are equipped with two units of blood at all times. Sanchez treated a young adult after a crash on the way to work. The patient was trapped under the vehicle with a pelvic fracture and had lost a lot of blood.

“When we got there, the patient was already in hemorrhagic shock,” Sanchez said. “Being able to have that blood and administer the units while he’s trapped inside of the vehicle, I believe, gave him the extra little bump he needed.”

Email Margaret DeLaney at margaret.delaney@ theadvocate.com.

STAFF PHOTO By BRAD BOWIE

Aircraft mechanic Brandon David performs routine maintenance on a helicopter on March 6 at Acadiana Air Med’s helicopter air base in Lafayette.

BRO UGHT TO YO UB Y Molly Kimball RD,CSSD

PhotobyTeddieTaylor

gut

Dietandnutrition:Aimforahighvarietyofplant-basedfoods eachweek,includingnuts,seedsandherbs.Youshouldmaintain ahigh-fiberdietforyourbestguthealthwhilestillenjoying deliciousfoods.ConsideraMediterranean-styledietwithacolorful assortmentoffruitsandvegetablesalongwithwholegrainsand legumestosupportyourgut.

Sleepandstresscontrol:Prioritizegoodsleepandstresscontrol. Stressaffectsthegutthroughthenervoussystem, somanagestressforbetterhealth.Andaim forseventoninehoursofsleepevery nighttoletyourbodyrepair.

Exercise:Aimfor150minutesof moderateintensityexerciseeach week,likebriskwalking,light cycling,dancing,gardeningor playingwiththekids.

Supplements:Supportyour guthealthwithprobiotics(live bacteriafoundincertainfoods) anddigestiveenzymes.Probiotics addgoodbacteria,whileenzymes helpdigestfood.FoodslikeGreek yogurt,kimchiandkombuchacontain probiotics.Alwaystalktoyourdoctorbefore startingsupplementstoensurethey’resafe.

Stayhydrated:Drinkplentyof watertoaidwithdigestionand keepyourgutlininghealthy. Thissupportsthebalanceof goodbacteriathatregulate yourbowelmovements, preventconstipationand breakdownfoods.

Reduceharmfulhabits: Quitsmokingandcutback onalcoholtoimprovegut health.Regularlydrinking alcoholcanirritatethegut andinflametheintestines (gastritis).TheOchsner SmokingCessationProgramand challengeslikeOchsnerEatFit AlcoholFreefor40canhelpkeep youmotivatedtomakehealthy choices.VisitOchsner.org/quitto learnaboutfreesmokingcessation services.JointheAlcoholFreefor40 grouponFacebookforsupportand inspiration.

Managefoodsensitivities:Some peopleexperiencefoodsensitivities tothingslikeglutenordairy.Theymay notbefull-blownallergies,butfood sensitivitiescanstillaffecthowyou feel.Ifyoususpectyoumayhavea sensitivity,talktoyourdoctorabout testingortrydietarychanges.

Wehumanshavetrillionsoftinyorganismsliving insideourintestines.Mostlybacteria,collectively theyarereferredtoasthe“gutmicrobiome.”These bacteriaandothermicroorganismsarekey toguthealth.Theyhelpdigestfood, keepourimmunesystemincheckand protectusfromdisease.

Aproperbalanceoftheseorganisms cancreategoodguthealth.An imbalanceincreasestheriskofgut diseases,likeinflammatorybowel diseaseandirritablebowelsyndrome, cardiovasculardisease,Type2diabetes, obesityandotherhealthproblems.

Turnsout,thephrase“trustyourgut”ismorethanjustafigureofspeech. Scientificresearchhasmadeclearthatourfoodchoicesaffectourmood, cognitivefunctionandmentalwell-being.

Ahealthygutmicrobiomecankeeptheintestinalliningstrong,protectagainst harmfulgermsandreduceinflammation.Healthybacteriaintheguthelp absorbnutrientsandsendsignalstothebrain,promotingbetterbrainfunction andemotionalhealth.

Dietisthekeyincontrollingharmfulinflammation.Foodshighinrefined sugarsandprocessedingredientscanincreaseinflammationand oxidativestress,harmingbrainfunctionandworseningmood disorders.Thebestfoodsforbrainandoverallhealthinclude fruitsandvegetables,healthyfats,wholegrains,leanproteins andfermentedfoods.

Changingeatinghabitscanbeachallenge,especiallyinsouth Louisianawherefoodissuchabigpartoftheculture.Hereare afewtipsforintroducingabrain-healthdiet.

Tweak your diet for better brain health

Startsmall:Makethetransitiontoabrain-healthydiet manageablebyslowlyincorporatingmorenutrient-dense foodsandreducingprocessedandrefinedsugars overtime.

Stayhydrated:Drinkplentyofwaterthroughoutthe day,ashydrationisimportantforcognitivefunction.

Mindfuleating:Payattentiontohowdifferentfoods makeyoufeel.Thisawarenesscanhelpyoumake moreinformeddietarychoices.

Balancedmeals:Tosupportbrainfunction,aim forbalancedmealswithhealthyfats,proteinsand complexcarbs.Complexcarbohydratesaresugar moleculesthatbreakdownslowly,providing steadyenergyandstabilizingbloodsugarlevels.

Consistenteatingschedule:Trytoeatmeals aroundthesametimeeachdaytomaintain steadybloodsugarlevels,whichcanhelp preventmoodswingsandenergydips.

LOUISIANA

LIBRARY LIFESTYLE

New Orleans library builds ‘Read and Ride’ youth program

BY MISSY WILKINSON Staff writer

When the New Orleans Public Library staff and stakeholders developed their 10-year strategic plan in 2021, the goal was to cultivate a “library lifestyle” for all New Orleanians by redefining the library’s role and offerings. However residents were still grappling with intermittent pandemic-related closures, along with limited access to transportation — obstacles that impacted those who stood to benefit the most from library services: young people.

“Talking with teens inside and outside the library and reading the newspapers, we were hearing from all sides that transportation was a barrier for teens to get to the library, and we wanted to eliminate this,” said Amy Wander, head of youth programming.

Inspired by similar programs at other libraries, Wander pitched to the Friends of the New Orleans Public Library a free bus pass program, operated on the honor system, to help kids get to all 15 library branches.

“One of the words Amy said was ‘independent,’” recalled Shannan Cvitanovic, executive director of Friends of the NOPL. “When you are young and trying to assert your independence, coming to the library is a safe way to do that.”

The “Read and Ride” pilot program launched in summer 2022 with funding from the United Way, Baptist Community Ministries and the Friends of the NOPL. Each youth gets one pass per visit, and passes are good for unlimited RTA bus, ferry or streetcar rides citywide for 24 hours after first use.

“I don’t have to ask my mom for a ride, so it lets me be more independent, which I like a lot,” said Read and Ride participant Ocean Hamilton.

Nearly three years later, the program is “a well-loved offering,” Wander said. Funded by Friends of the NOPL’s donations, grants and used book sales, passes cost $1 each. Busier branches may distribute 40 passes per month, said Wander, and the library is reviewing data to identify areas of greatest need

“What started as a summer pilot program ended up being a year-round endeavor,” said Cvitanovic.

Librarians distributed between 800

staffers have observed heavy use at library branches located near schools — especially in the Lower 9th Ward, at Dr Martin Luther King Jr Charter School for Science and Technology, which is a short walk from the library’s Martin Luther King Branch at 1611 Fats Domino Ave.

Making the amazing choice

In the television show “Amazing Race,” contestants compete in teams of two to race around the world, making pitstops at a variety of locales with the last team to arrive usually being eliminated.

I was a faithful watcher of the show for years as it was the perfect intersection of my wanderlust and love of games. Years ago, I even sent in an audition tape with my youngest brother Sadly, we never got the call.

Each season, the random cast of characters travels to a variety of foreign cities where they must compete tasks, one being deciding between two so-called “Detours,” that involve different skills or challenges. The decision on which task to do lies solely with the team The Detours usually have creative, catchy names. Examples include: n Sleds or beds in Sweden: Sleds required athleticism as they had to race down a mountain on TechSleds in less than one minute and 58 seconds. Beds was all about craftsmanship, dexterity and attention to detail. Teams had to build a traditional Sami dwelling, called a goahti, along with furnishing it with furs and a fire pit.

n Mix Master or Master Mix in Malaysia: Contestants could either choose to be a DJ and learn to scratch on a DJ table to impress a DJ and his crowd or stack seven cocktail glasses into a two-tier pyramid and carefully pour out different colored cocktails into every glass at the same time to avoid mixing the contents in the SkyBar on the 32nd floor of the Traders Hotel in Kuala Lumpur n Shake Your Booty or Shake Your Pan in Burkina Faso. Contestants could choose Shake Your Booty to impress three local judges with their dance moves. Or they could pan for gold using the traditional methods of Burkina Faso.

When I used to watch the show regularly when the teams would stand quietly deciding which of the tasks to tackle, I would often shout instructions at the television. My message was always clear

“Choose the fun one!” I would first yell.

Followed by “Choose the one that calls out to you!”

Then I would shake my head and mumble something along the lines of, “Don’t be lured thinking that because the other task seems harder that there’s some righteousness to it that is going to earn you extra points.”

When it came time to do this or that to get to the next place, there were never any points for doing the more difficult thing. After watching the show for years, I was convinced that there was no favor in picking the difficult or tedious task, which players seemed to occasionally choose because they were convinced there had to be a catch.

and 1,000 passes to youths in 2024

“Once word got out, it got bigger and more popular,” Wander said

“Now it is more popular than it has been. Some branches have their regulars.”

Read and Ride passes aren’t attached to users’ library cards or accounts, which makes it difficult to track reading habits or areas of greatest use. However, anecdotally Wander said library

“We have found that this is very popular at branches near schools. Those kids weren’t able to stay at libraries (before Read and Ride),” Wander said. “They had to get on the school bus and go home.”

Now, those students can read, use the computers or do research at their leisure without being tied to a school bus

I couldn’t help but think of “The Amazing Race” last week as I read contemporary philosopher Laurie Ann Paul’s report, ”When New Experience Leads to New Knowledge: A Computational Framework for Formalizing Epistemically Transformative Experiences.” It may not be a title that rolls off the tongue for nonacademics like myself, but the subject matter fascinates me still. (Paul wrote the report with Joan Ongchoco, Isaac Davis and Julian Jara-Ettinger.)

In the simplest of terms, the

ä See RISHER, page 2Y

STAFF FILE PHOTO By MISSy WILKINSON

Shannan Cvitanovic executive director of Friends of the New Orleans Public Library, and Amy Wander head of youth programming at the New Orleans Public Library recently show off Read and Ride passes outside the NOPD’s Mid-City branch at 4140 Canal St.

PROVIDED PHOTO

Giovanni, a library user who asked

LIBRARY

Continued from page 1y

RISHER

Continued from page 1y

report is about new experiences leading to new knowledge. It immediately made me think of “The Amazing Race.” She has written a lot about transformative experiences, something that “teaches you something new, something that you could not have known before having the experience, while also changing you as a person.”

Unlike the “Amazing Race Detour”-style options, she has focused on situations when life offers two distinct choices, where one of the options offers a radically new experience with implications that can’t be understood in advance. Such as:

n Deciding to become a parent or remaining childless?

n Taking the new job and relocating my family or stay with the tried and true?

we approach the crossroads that major life decisions offer?

Wander said she’s seen higher teen engagement in the library since launching the program, and she’s glad there’s greater access to programming and re-

schedule. Read and Ride’s success laid the groundwork for a similar pilot program for young adults. The “Opportunity Pass,” supported by a $2.5 million allocation from American Rescue Plan funds approved by the New Orleans City Council in 2023, provides unlimited RTA rides for youth ages 16 to 24. “I like to think they saw what Amy was doing (with Read and Ride) and were spurred on by that success,” said Cvitanovic, who calls Wander “the teen whisperer.”

sources that can help set a child on a new career path, do research online, or just hang out with like-minded peers.

“It’s a great resource that I think more people should know about,” said Read and Ride participant Christopher Washington.

n Marrying this person or exploring another possibility?

n Changing careers? Going into this field or that one?

n Going to college here or going there? The question for us mere mortals is: How do

Our information is incomplete. We can’t answer all the what-ifs? We don’t know what choosing one path over the other will bring or how we will change as we face the consequences. Sometimes, even pragmatic pros and cons lists can’t provide an absolute obvious best choice. Rather than wearing ourselves out debating the unknowable consequences, Paul explores reframing our thinking not approaching the choice itself with set expectations but approaching the new experience to make discoveries about the experience itself, instead of being focused on one of the possibilities being the better choice. As in, via my meager interpretation, don’t stress so much about which path to pick. Just pick a good path and make the most of it. And if you’re still struggling as to which path to pick do the one that seems like it would be the most fun or would sync the best with who you know yourself to be.

Email Jan Risher at jan. risher@theadvocate.com.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER

A file photo of the bridge on Highway 56, known as Little Caillou Road, which was closed for much of the past year requiring a lengthy detour to the west.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

A person walks to the entrance of the New Orleans Public Library’s Main Branch on Loyola Avenue in New Orleans on Aug. 18, 2023. The Library offers a ‘Read and Ride’ pilot program for local youth, who get one pass per visit, and passes are good for unlimited RTA bus, ferry or streetcar rides citywide for 24 hours after first use.

Eunice musician continues to build Acadian accordions

Cajun preserves the culture he loves

BY JOY HOLDEN Staff writer

Marc Savoy is a Louisiana legend

not only in Eunice but around the world He has dedicated his life to preserving the Cajun culture through making instruments, holding jam sessions and maintaining a music store in Eunice for almost 60 years. He began building accordions as a hobby in 1960, opened up Savoy Music Center in 1966 and is still building today His son Joel joined the business six years ago.

Marc Savoy and his wife, Ann, raised their four children in Eunice, and all of them play at least one instrument and speak their native French. The family performs together as the Savoy Family Cajun Band.

In 2021, Marc Savoy’s book, “Made in Louisiana The Story of The Acadian Accordion” was released and published by UL Press. Can you tell me how you got interested in the accordion and Cajun music?

The stimulus that inspired me to pursue music wasn’t a performance. It actually had nothing to do with music. It was my love for my family and for the people around me that made me want to do what they did farming, raising animals, gardening and family gatherings.

One day I heard these people playing music, and I was hooked for life, not because I had a particular interest in fiddles and accordions but rather because these were the instruments they were playing.

I was about 5 years old when I first heard my grandfather playing music on his fiddle, and I remember being so excited that I started laughing uncontrollably. When my parents realized how excited I would always get when I heard my family and neighbors playing music, they organized a house dance on Christmas Eve.

I remember being so focused on the folks making the music that night that I totally forgot about

Santa Claus. The social fabric that developed from these house dances was, for me, a very secure, comfortable and warm environment.

When I became of age, I enjoyed attending the local Saturday night Cajun dance halls to listen to the music, especially to the accordion, but being a musician in a band wasn’t anything that ever had much attraction for me.

I did eventually join a band, but after about a year, I realized that I wanted to pursue music in a different context. My discontent also coincided with a big change that I felt could become an enormous shot of adrenaline for Cajun culture — the 1964 Newport Jazz Festival in Newport, Rhode Island, had just discovered Cajun music.

When the Eunice Playboys, the first Cajun group to be invited to this very prestigious festival, returned to Louisiana and told me about the fantastic reception they had received, I had a premonition that the word “Cajun“ would now become a word with a whole new image.

How do you preserve Cajun culture in your own life and in your community?

After Newport, I was so optimistic that the word “Cajun” would

eventually circle the globe, I decided to open a center founded upon preserving the culture I loved. Although my parents and their ancestors were all rice farmers, I never had an interest in much of anything else unless it was connected to the music of my heritage.

One day it dawned upon me that possibly I could combine both farming and music together I opened the doors to Savoy Music Center in 1966 in the middle of a cotton field. I wanted my music center to be known that I specialized in Cajun instruments for Cajuns. I wanted a center where the older generation French-speaking Cajuns and Creoles could come and feel comfortable speaking their language and playing their music When it was discovered that I respected and honored this older generation for maintaining their heritage, this information spread like wildfire.

The 56-year-old jam session that happens here every Saturday morning slowly began by offering these old-timers an opportunity to

play their music. Visitors say that the jam session is reminiscent of an old-time house dance.

What is the significance of the Saturday jam sessions at the Music Center?

From a business point of view, I would hope that my efforts have helped other people realize that heritage and success cannot only coexist, but can do so to a much greater extent with heritage.

Culturally, I would hope that my efforts have demonstrated to others that visitors come to Louisiana not for the purpose of seeing things that are All-American, but rather to experience everything that is natural and organic about Acadiana. I would hope that my feeble efforts have encouraged a sensibility of community

Can you share more about your family and their talents?

In my 50 years of traveling the world playing Cajun music, the best thing that ever happened to me was meeting a young girl from Richmond, Virginia, who was also interested in doing the same thing I was doing, and she wanted to do those things with me. She was a beautiful jazz guitarist and pho-

tographer who spoke French fluently Ann and I married in 1976. As our four children were growing up, after dinner time, instead of watching TV with the children, Ann and I would take a musical instrument and play a few tunes while the kids were at our feet coloring in their coloring books or playing with toys.

Joel, our oldest son, was the first in the family to express an interest in playing an instrument himself. One day he asked me if he could play my fiddle. I told him he was welcome to play it but to treat it with care and respect — and also not to ask me for any information about how to play it because I wasn’t going to help him get started. If he had passion, he wouldn’t need any help from me. Today I am very proud of the fact that all four of our children play music and speak their native French.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity

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

STAFF FILE PHOTO By BRAD BOWIE

A banner featuring Chris Stafford’s image is seen between Joel Savoy, left, and Linzay young as Festival Acadiens et Creoles kicks off with a 50th Anniversary Revue including special guests Marc Savoy & Family on Oct. 12 in Girard Park.

FILE PHOTO By ROBIN MAy

Marc Savoy has a smile on his face while playing with his family when the Savoy Family Band performs during Festivals Acadiens et Creoles on March 20, 2022, in Lafayette.

FAITH & VALUES

New Age music is experiencing a revival among Gen Z

FIONA MURPHY

Contributing writer

Imagine you are walking into a spa, and you are likely to hear an immersive soundscape of soft harmonies, resonant tones and gentle textures submerging your senses.

You are experiencing New Age music, a genre designed to promote relaxation, mindfulness and internal healing. Nonmelodic compositions featuring soft piano notes, delicate harp scales, the shimmering chimes of crystal bowls and ambient synthesizers characterize the genre.

Often labeled as “spa music,” New Age has experienced a resurgence in recent years, gaining popularity alongside the rise of wellness culture and spirituality and a decline in organized religious participation, especially among younger generations. And while overcoming religious backlash was a challenge New Age artists and producers faced when the genre first gained traction about 50 years ago, today artificial intelligence poses a new threat

“I feel like we live in a society where we are bombarded by stimuli all of the time, especially if you have social media,” said Ava Rian Buckler, a 25-year-old former professional astrologer who now does creative consulting in Indiana.

Rian Buckler was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, which makes her mind particularly restless, she said. Around 2018, she began feeling increasingly overwhelmed, so she decided to delete her social media accounts and came across New Age music online.

“Listening to healing vibrations, I felt like my attention was coming back to me,” she said. “I felt like my energy was coming back to me.”

Rian Buckler describes herself as deeply spiritual rather than religious, having grown up in a nondogmatic Christian household. She often listens to New Age music at a low volume while she sleeps because she said she believes that’s when her subconscious is most receptive to its therapeutic properties. According to HowMusicCharts com, some of the genre’s most notable artists, such as Brian Eno, Laraaji and Steven Halpern, have seen a renewed interest over the past 15 years. Dozens of YouTube channels created in the last several years dedicated to healing sound vibrations have gained millions of subscribers. And in the broader study and relaxation music category,

New Age music has experienced a resurgence in recent years, gaining popularity alongside the rise of wellness culture and spirituality and a decline in organized religious participation.

LoFi Girl, a 24/7 livestream of lo-fi beats, has become one of YouTube’s most-viewed channels, amassing 14 million subscribers since posting its first “easy-listening” video five years ago.

“The thing that I’m really proud of is that we’ve managed to normalize (New Age) and make it part of what young people think of as music as opposed to being something that’s like sort of music with an asterisk,” said Douglas Mcgowan, a Grammy-nominated music producer and owner of Yoga Records, a Los Angeles-based label dedicated to preserving and promoting New Age music and other niche genres.

Yoga Records is known for its archival work and has played a key role in reintroducing classic New Age albums to modern audiences. Mcgowan said that since founding Yoga Records in 2008, he has seen it as his mission to highlight the potential for listeners to find meaning in New Age.

“To me, New Age is a type of secular, profound and spiritual experience,” Mcgowan said. “It’s a personal feeling of wonder It’s the feeling that you get from a beautiful sunset rather than going to a church or a mosque.”

The genre traces its roots in the United States to the 1970s when musicians began experimenting

with sound as a tool for stress reduction. At the forefront of the movement was Halpern, who is regarded as the pioneer of the genre

“I was the first person healed by my music,” said Halpern, who has released over 100 albums and has hundreds of thousands of monthly listeners on streaming platforms. A video published to his YouTube channel called “Steven Halpern Great Pyramid OMs Cymatics” has over 500,000 views. Halpern was also nominated for a Grammy Award for best New Age album in 2013

“Healing comes from a balance of body mind and spirit,” he said. “In the 1980s, the major music labels said, ‘We’re going to call it contemporary instrumental because New Age has a spiritual component to it that we don’t want to get involved with.’”

According to Halpern, healing music can synchronize brainwaves with the alpha state, a neurological pattern linked to relaxation and balance. He references research on the physiological effects of sound, including 1994 findings that suggested his music helped maintain healthy blood flow whereas harsh, stress-inducing sounds cause white blood cells to clump together, potentially leading to health effects.

In earlier days, Halpern said, New

Age music faced backlash from religious groups. For example, in Pastor Bob Larson’s 1989 book “Straight Answers on the New Age,” Halpern was labeled a “ringleader of the demonic cult music that they call New Age music.”

“I said, ‘What?’” Halpern recalled. “I work with angels. I work with powers of light.”

Some religious groups opposed New Age music because of its association with meditation, which they viewed as contrary to Christianity

But Halpern considers his work a continuation of ancient healing traditions, which he connects to biblical references, the teachings of Edgar Cayce (a late self-proclaimed American clairvoyant), Sufi masters and the mathematical principles of Pythagoras Halpern was inspired by historical uses of music in the temples of Egypt, Greece and China

“I wanted to hear a contemporary version of what healing music would sound like in the 20th century, and there was nothing available,” Halpern said.

When music stores in California said they had no place for his work, Halpern, who is a classically trained jazz musician, found success at metaphysical bookstores, yoga centers and crystal shops. He soon was part of building a musical movement.

Fifty years later, as popular streaming services such as Spotify make music more accessible than ever, New Age musicians and producers now are contending with AIgenerated music.

“The whole AI revolution really hit my part of the music field,” Halpern said. “It’s never going to hit Beyonce because you can’t fake her But the arrangement of things? That’s a different story,” adding that New Age music is an easier target for fabrication because of its structural simplicity, repetition and lack of vocals.

“You see very clearly that New Age music is really sort of the first music that is falling to artificial intelligence,” Mcgowan said.

In recent years, Spotify has faced scrutiny for the proliferation of AI-generated beats, ambient tones and New Age music on its platform, which cuts company costs of paying artists.

“In my case, I saw my royalties (on Spotify) go down 70% in one month,” Halpern said. “It was shocking.” Halpern said that, across multiple platforms, Apple Music, Spotify and Pandora, this is the case.

This trend underscores growing concerns that the rise of AI-generated compositions could diminish the genre’s spiritual and wellness essence, which many listeners seek.

“Nobody has shown me any AI New Age music that has meant anything to me,” Mcgowan said.

“I’m not saying it’s not possible — in fact, I’m saying it’s inevitable but my focus on New Age music of the past has always been about creating an anchor in reality Like, it’s about grounding us in a historical bedrock that is solid and real.”

Halpern also said because of costs, much potential research on the healing properties of New Age music has remained unexplored, which also remains true for AI-generated music.

Younger listeners like Rian Buckler are also approaching AI-generated music with caution.

“I want to support real humans who have been doing this for a long time, especially people like Steven Halpern,” she said, adding, however, that if an advanced AI model was specifically designed with healing frequencies and programmed with a deep understanding of the genre’s history and its effects on the brain, she could be open to listening to it.

“But as far as everyday use, I don’t think anybody’s doing that yet,” she said.

Bridging the green divide for park equity and connection

BY AIDAN MCCAHILL Staff writer

It’s no secret Baton Rouge has a lot of parks At nearly 180 of them, the city ranks among the highest in the nation for per capita greenspaces.

Despite that abundance, a history of redlining, discriminatory urban renewal, and overall economic disparities have created a system of unequal access to parks in the city

According to a study by Trust for Public Lands, a nationwide park and conservation nonprofit, residents in low-income neighborhoods have access to 26% less park space per person than those in the average Baton Rouge neighborhood and 52% less than those in high-income neighborhoods. Of the park space residents do have access to, half are labeled in poor condition.

“We have a beautiful park system, but I don’t think there is equal access,” said Crystal EllisLuter, a child policy advocate in Baton Rouge.

In mid 2023, Luter and 15 other residents were selected by BREC, the parish’s recreation and park commission, to join a community planning council. The goal was to generate the highest and most diverse amount of community input possible in order to shape the park system’s new 10year master plan.

Variance in perspectives

Pairs of volunteers met once a month for a year, touring the city’s park system and planning a community outreach event. Andrea Roberts, the chief operating officer at BREC, said there was one caveat.

“We were very intentional that the people we paired up were from totally different socioeconomic classes,” she said

“None of us really knew each other,” said Rex Cabaniss, a local architect who joined the council.

He and his partner volunteer

Dr Evelyn Thomas, a local pastor, lived in very different parts of town But that variance in perspectives made for a great team when planning their community outreach event, he said.

“It’s always interesting meeting someone new who has a different experience living here,”

Cabaniss said During Carnival season last year, the pair held a neighborhood event at North Sherwood Forest Recreation Center, where kids brought miniature Mardi Gras floats they’d designed at home. Cabaniss said the event generated a huge turnout among

young families, most of whom filled out a park survey required to get free jambalaya served at the event.

Meanwhile, Luter and her volunteer partner, a local butcher named Galen Iverstine, organized a cleanup event and established a community garden at Tickie Saia Memorial Park in Lobdell/Wooddale, a neighborhood with a significant Hispanic population.

“The benefit for me, because I’m stuck in this bubble in Shenandoah, was being able to see firsthand the unique needs of other communities,” Luter said.

An increase in contact and trust

The various events were funded through a grant awarded to

BREC from Trust for Public Lands as part of their “On Common Ground” framework, a national effort by the organization to combat polarization and foster community cohesiveness through public parks and green spaces.

More than half of the participants reported experiencing an increase in everyday intergroup contact and increased trust in local government.

The feedback generated by the community council also provided the framework for “Imagine your Parks 3,” BREC’s 10-year master plan centered around equity and investing in underfunded communities.

“A lot of it (the feedback) was just trying to upgrade parks that needed it and using dollars going

forward to bring up the whole system equally,” said Cabaniss. Some of the proposed improvements included better maintenance, improved lighting and heat mitigation strategies to combat rising summer temperatures — all goals of the new master plan.

In November, residents greenlit the plan by voting to renew millages that fund 65% of the park system, expected to generate $55 million in 2025. Among enhancements to the existing system, the plan calls for upgrades to the Bluebonnet Swamp trails and visitors center and improvements to Greenwood and Sandy Creek.

Sustaining our parks system Roberts also indicated plans for another cohort similar to the community planning council, which will focus on ways to engage the community in maintaining the park system.

“We need to be more creative about how we’re going to sustain our parks system over the next 10 years,” Roberts said. “Having the community take ownership in their local parks will also foster connections that bring our community closer together.”

Seeing the level of community involvement on the plan’s ground floor, both Cabaniss and Luter said they were not only excited for the 10-year master plan, but also hopeful for a better future for families and park lovers in Baton Rouge.

“At five o’clock, if you go to our local park, all of our neighbors are there All of the families are engaging each other, and all of the children are getting exercise,” Luter said. “I think that every child and every family within East Baton Rouge Parish deserves that same type of experience.”

Email Aidan McCahill at aidan. mccahill@theadvocate.com.

PROVIDED PHOTO

PROVIDED PHOTO

BREC community planning council members Rex Cabaniss and Evelyn Thomas held a neighborhood event at North Sherwood Forest Recreation Center where kids brought miniature Mardi Gras floats they’d designed at home.

SUNDAY, MArch 30, 2025

CURTIS / by Ray Billingsley

SLYLOCK FOX / by Bob Weber Jr

GET FUZZY / by Darby Conley

HAGAR THE HORRIBLE / by Chris Browne

MOTHER GOOSE AND GRIMM / by Mike Peters

ZIGGY / by Tom Wilson

ZITS / by Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman

SALLY FORTH / by Francesco Marciuliano & Jim Keefe

PEARLS BEFORE SWINE / by Stephan Pastis

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.

word game

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

todAY's Word — AGGrieVed: uhGREEV'D: Troubled or distressed in spirit.

Average mark 55 words Time limit 60 minutes Can you find 71 or more words in AGGRIEVED?

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

directions: Complete the grid so that numbers 1–132 connect horizontally, vertically or diagonally

Sudoku

Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis

By miCHaeL TorCH & KeVin CHrisTian

A different path

Today’s deal is from a recent team match. South was American John McAllister At the other table, six clubs by North failed by two tricks after a heart lead

The diamond position would give McAllister the tricks he needed, butadiamondfinessethroughthe pre-emptor is not for the weak of heart. McAllister made it without the diamond finesse.

The10ofspadescouldhavewon the first trick, but McAllister won in hand with the ace to preserve an entry to dummy A club to the king held the trick, so McAllister led a diamond to his ace and another club. East won and led a diamond — another chance for the diamond finesse but South rose with his king and led a spade to dummy’s king, spurning another possible finesse. This was the position: NORTH

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. © 2025 Tribune Content Agency goren Bridge

ARIES (March 21-April 19) Socialize, observe and refresh your memory regarding your likes and dislikes. Don’t be too eager to share your feelings. Your outlook will change as you listen and learn

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Engage in life, challenge yourself and put your energy into something that excites you or prompts you to follow your heart. Experience something different.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Explore your options but only pursue what’s inviting. You’ll gain the most if you pick away at the changes that have meaning to you. Refuse to let any-

McAllister ran dummy’s clubs. On the last club, East discarded the queen of diamonds to keep his heart stopper McAllister discarded a low heart, keeping the jack of diamonds, and finally took a finesse and claimed his slam when that held the trick

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super Quiz

SUBJECT: THE BIBLE Identify the biblical character or thing. (e.g., She was Joseph’s wife and the mother of Jesus. Answer: Mary.)

FRESHMAN LEVEL

All the waters in this river were turned to blood. (Exodus 7:20)

Answer________

She demanded, “Tell me where your strength lies.”

one lead you astray or waste your time.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) Let your intuition guide you regarding professional matters. Protect your reputation and ideas from those eager to step in and take credit for what you contribute.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Press forward on your own steam. Question red tape issues, government or institutional policies. Learn as you go, and be fearless in approaching those trying to take advantage of you.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) A serious attitude and an energetic approach will make a difference. Believe in

yourself, and get your point across. Put your love on the line in affairs of the heart, and explore romantic possibilities

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) Hold tight and shoot for the stars. You have more options than you realize, and taking your place at the podium will prove your worth to those you need and want on your team.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) Get involved in projects you feel strongly about, and you will make a difference. Mix business with pleasure, and let your knowledge, experience and charm enchant those you encounter

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Take a step back. Someone will offer misleading information to get you to invest your time or money in something that does more for them than you. Stick to what you know and do best.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Networking events will offer the platform to promote and market what you want others to buy. Travel, communication and making others aware of the possibilities will bring good results.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Be careful, patient and thrifty Handling your finances will require restrain-

ing yourself from making unnecessary purchases. Put your energy into positive change and a healthy lifestyle.

PISCES (Feb 20-March 20) Avoid overdoing it and save yourself a bundle. Take time to go over your expenditures and see where you can cut back. A change of attitude that sends you down a positive path will pay off.

The horoscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact. © 2025 by NEA, inc., dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication

“um,yeaH”

1. Nile. 2. Delilah 3. Lazarus. 4. Pilate. 5. Jesus. 6. Moses. 7 Mary Magdalene. 8 Joseph 9. Moses. 10. Judas Iscariot 11. Mud (and saliva). 12. Goliath. 13. Seth. 14. Noah. 15. Abraham.

jeFF mACnelly’s shoe / by Gary Brookins & Susie MacNelly

FoXtrot / by Bill Amend

dustin / by Steve Kelley & Jeff Parker