The Advocate 04-06-2025

COASTAL EXPECTATIONS

New restaurants redefine the Gulf Coast dining scene

BY IAN McNULTY | Staff writer

Farm-to-table restaurant sourcing is one thing. At the restaurant The Hope Farm in Fairhope, Alabama, radishes and carrots, mint and scallions all come from beds within arm’s reach of the outdoor patio tables.

About an hour away in Pensacola, Florida, cooks at Pearl & Horn broil oysters with blasts of umami-boosting black garlic and miso borrowed from Japanese cuisine. Fried snapper is served with a classic French beurre blanc blended with a chile sauce from the chef’s Eastern European homeland.

And over in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, the restaurant/butcher shop Butcher Baker has artisanal bread and charcuterie next to outright exotica. Cue the raw, marinated soft-shell crab. It’s an exceedingly rare dish at restaurants anywhere. This one can be found in a strip mall in small-town coastal Mississippi Louisianans head to the Gulf Coast for sun, sand, boating and maybe some bushwackers. Adventurous food and refined dining aren’t typically among their expectations. But that’s changing. Parts of the Gulf Coast are among the fastest-growing areas of the United States. More people from Louisiana and around the South are choosing the region to live and work not just for vacations. The economic boom that’s transforming the cities and towns stretching from Pass Christian to the far reaches of 30A is also transforming its restaurant and hospitality industry

A road trip to explore what’s new along the Gulf Coast before the prime travel season plotted out visits in three states over three days.

ä See DINING, page 1A

Butcher Baker in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, a combination butcher shop and restaurant, brings casual, inventive meals, like this night’s mix of octopus, local pork chop, bread and raw, marinated soft-shell crab

Fewer La. students taking TOPS

Scholarships

fall short of college tuition costs

BY PATRICK WALL | Staff writer

Janna Jordan’s family lives in

about a 30-minute drive from

Louisiana has long offered a merit-based scholarship, Taylor Opportunity Program for Students or TOPS, to entice students to choose one of the state’s public colleges or universities But Abby, who will attend the University of Southern Mississippi, is among the growing number of high schoolers who don’t meet TOPS’ academic requirements. Even if she were eligible, the award amounts have been frozen since 2016 while tuition continues to rise.

“TOPS is not going to keep us in state,” Janna Jordan said, “whether we get it or not.”

Nearly 30 years ago, Louisiana made its students a compelling offer: Earn good grades and test scores in high school and your in-state college tuition will be covered, courtesy of a TOPS scholarship. The deal proved immensely popular Participation and costs rose steadily until the 2020-21 school year, when 56,000 students earned nearly $321 million in awards, according to state data. Then, suddenly, the numbers started falling. This school year, there are fewer than 48,000 TOPS recipients — the lowest count in a decade — getting $270.4 million, about $50 million less than four years ago.

ä See TOPS, page 6A

Third river bridge faces more delays

Project leaders say progress made but 2033 is earliest projected date

BY HALEY MILLER | Staff writer

The earliest a highly anticipated new Mississippi River bridge could be constructed and open for traffic is now 2033, two years later than the original estimate suggested by agencies leading the project. At a meeting Monday of the Capital Area Road and Bridge District, city and state officials attempted to put in simple terms what work has been done on the long-awaited, multibillion-dollar bridge project, which is expected to ease traffic in Baton Rouge and the west Mississippi River bank, as well as deliver an economic boost to Plaquemine and Iberville Parish. They landed on the duck metaphor Like waterfowl, the project appears smooth and still to the observer, but is paddling like crazy beneath the surface.

“It is, like you said a duck paddling in the water,” a representative from the Louisiana

ä See BRIDGE, page 7A

STAFF PHOTOS By CHRIS GRANGER

Dining at the bar at Butcher Baker in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, a combination butcher shop and restaurant, brings casual, inventive meals.

Prairieville,

LSU. This fall, her daughter Abby Veillon will head to Mississippi for college.

BRIEFS FROM WIRE REPORTS

Netanyahu to meet with Trump on Monday

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet on Monday with President Donald Trump in Washington to seek a better tariff deal for Israel and to discuss the war in Gaza, the situation in Syria and the Iranian nuclear program, an Israeli official said. Netanyahu is in the Hungarian capital Budapest where he was warmly welcomed by Prime Minister Viktor Orban in defiance of an arrest warrant issued against Netanyahu by the International Criminal Court in November over Israel’s conduct in Gaza.

The Israeli official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Orban and Netanyahu jointly phoned Trump and, on the call, the Israeli leader raised the 17% tariff the U.S. is due to impose on some Israeli goods. Israel hoped to escape tariffs by announcing an end to all remaining tariffs from the U.S. in advance but that failed to work.

The president urged Netanyahu to come to Washington to discuss it, the official said. With the Passover holiday a week away, Netanyahu’s aides suggested a visit later in the month, but the White House wanted the meeting this very Monday, he said.

Zelenskyy meets military leaders from Europe KYIV, Ukraine Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met the leaders of the British and French armed forces in Kyiv Saturday to discuss the potential deployment of a multinational peacekeeping force to Ukraine, despite the reluctance of U.S. President Donald Trump to provide security guarantees The U.K. Ministry of Defense said that officials addressed the structure, size and composition of any future “reassurance force,” while the chief of the defense staff, Adm. Antony Radakin, emphasized that the U.K. would look to “build on the formidable capabilities of the Ukrainian army and put them in the strongest possible position to deter Russian aggression.”

The weekend discussions are planned to set the ground for a further meeting between defense ministers in Brussels and the Ukraine Defense Contact Group on Friday Britain has been promoting the idea of a European-led peacekeeping force for Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire but it has said such a force needed a U.S. “backstop” to make it credible in the face of possible Russian reprisals.

Building a force big enough to act as a credible deterrent — U.K. officials have talked about possibly 10,000 to 30,000 troops — would be a considerable effort for nations that shrank their militaries after the Cold War but are now rearming.

Trump, who has been pushing for a ceasefire in the war in Ukraine, temporarily paused military aid to Kyiv and has repeatedly said that the country will never join the NATO military alliance.

Endangered tortoises

born at Pa. zoo

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — A pair of critically endangered, nearly 100-year-old Galapagos tortoises at the Philadelphia Zoo have become first-time parents.

In an announcement Friday, the zoo said it is “overjoyed” at the arrivals of the four hatchlings, a first in its more than 150year history The babies are the offspring of female Mommy and male Abrazzo, the zoo’s two oldest residents.

The quartet is being kept behind the scenes inside the Reptile and Amphibian House for now, “eating and growing appropriately,” the zoo said. They weigh between 70 and 80 grams, about the weight of a chicken egg. The first egg hatched on Feb. 27 and more that still could hatch are being monitored by the zoo’s animal care team.

“This is a significant milestone in the history of Philadelphia Zoo, and we couldn’t be more excited to share this news with our city, region and the world,” President and CEO Jo-Elle Mogerman said in a statement.

The zoo plans a public debut of the hatchlings on April 23, as well as a naming contest

Protesters tee off against Trump, Musk

‘Hands Off!’ rallies held

across the U.S

BY DAVE COLLINS Associated Press

Crowds of people angry about the way President Donald Trump is running the country marched and rallied in scores of American cities Saturday in the biggest day of demonstrations yet by an opposition movement trying to regain its momentum after the shock of the Republican’s first weeks in office.

So-called “Hands Off!” demonstrations were organized for more than 1,200 locations in all 50 states by more than 150 groups including civil rights organizations, labor unions, LBGTQ+ advocates, veterans and elections activists.

The rallies appeared peaceful, with no immediate reports of arrests From the National Mall and Midtown Manhattan to Boston Common and multiple state capitols, thousands of protesters assailed Trump and billionaire Elon Musk ‘s actions on government downsizing, the economy, immigration and human rights In Seattle in the shadow of the city’s iconic Space Needle, protesters held signs with slogans like “Fight the oligarchy.”

Demonstrators voiced anger over the administration’s moves to fire thousands of federal workers, close Social Security Administration field offices, effectively shutter entire agencies, deport immigrants, scale back pro-

tections for transgender people and cut funding for health programs.

Musk, a Trump adviser who owns Tesla, SpaceX and the social media platform X, has played a key role in the downsizing as the head of the newly created Department of Government Efficiency He says he is saving taxpayers billions of dollars.

Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign advocacy group, criticized the administration’s treatment of the LBGTQ+ community at the rally at the National Mall, where Democratic members of Congress also took the stage.

“The attacks that we’re seeing, they’re not just political. They are personal, y’all,” Robinson said.

U.N. urges relief efforts in Myanmar as quake deaths rise

BY GRANT PECK Associated Press

BANGKOK The death toll from last week’s massive earthquake in Myanmar rose to 3,455, state media said Saturday, as U.N. agencies and foreign aid donors ramped up their emergency relief efforts.

The 7.7-magnitude quake hit a wide swath of the country, causing significant damage to six regions and states including the capital Naypyitaw The earthquake left many areas without power, telephone or cell connections and damaged roads and bridges, making the full extent of the devastation hard to assess.

It also worsened an already dire humanitarian crisis triggered by the country’s civil war that has internally displaced more than 3 million people and left nearly 20 million in need, according to the United Nations.

The military government’s leader, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, has said the earthquake was the second most powerful in the country’s recorded history after a magnitude 8 quake east of Mandalay in May 1912.

Min Aung Hlaing told Cabinet members Saturday that the quake’s death toll has reached 3,455, with 4,840 injured and 214 missing according to a report on state television MRTV

He said 5,223 buildings, 1,824 schools, 2,752 Buddhist monasterial living quarters, 4,817 pagodas and temples, 167 hospitals and clinics, 169 bridges, 198 dams and 184 sections of the country’s main highway were damaged by the earthquake.

Myanmar’s military seized power in 2021 from the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi sparking armed resistance that is now believed by analysts to control more territory than the army

Members of the U.N. Security Council “recognized the need to strengthen rescue, relief and recovery efforts and to scale up immediate and rapid humanitarian assistance in response to the requests to help the people of Myanmar, supported by the international community,” its president, Jérôme Bonnafont, of France, said in a statement Friday

“They’re trying to ban our books, they’re slashing HIV prevention funding, they’re criminalizing our doctors, our teachers, our families and our lives.”

“We don’t want this America, y’all,” Robinson added. “We want the America we deserve, where dignity, safety and freedom belong not to some of us, but to all of us.”

In Boston, demonstrators brandished signs such as “Hands off our democracy” and “Hands off our Social Security.”

Mayor Michelle Wu said she does not want her children and others’ to live in a world in which threats and intimidation are government tactics and values like diversity and equality are under attack

“I refuse to accept that

they could grow up in a world where immigrants like their grandma and grandpa are automatically presumed to be criminals,” Wu said.

Roger Broom, 66, a retiree from Delaware County, Ohio, was one of hundreds who rallied at the Statehouse in Columbus. He said he used to be a Reagan Republican but has been turned off by Trump.

“He’s tearing this country apart,” Broom said. “It’s just an administration of grievances.”

Hundreds of people also demonstrated in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, a few miles from Trump’s golf course in Jupiter, where he spent the morning at the club’s Senior Club Championship. People lined both sides of PGA

Drive, encouraging cars to honk and chanting slogans against Trump.

“They need to keep their hands off of our Social Security,” said Archer Moran of Port St. Lucie, Florida. “The list of what they need to keep their hands off of is too long,” Moran said “And it’s amazing how soon these protests are happening since he’s taken office.”

The president planned to go golfing again Sunday, according to the White House.

Asked about the protests, the White House said in a statement that “President Trump’s position is clear: he will always protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid for eligible beneficiaries. Meanwhile, the Democrats’ stance is giving Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare benefits to illegal aliens, which will bankrupt these programs and crush American seniors.”

Activists have staged nationwide demonstrations against Trump and Musk multiple times since Trump returned to office. But before Saturday the opposition movement had yet to produce a mass mobilization like the Women’s March in 2017, which brought thousands of women to Washington after Trump’s first inauguration, or the Black Lives Matter demonstrations that erupted in multiple cities after George Floyd’s killing by police in Minneapolis in 2020. In Charlotte, North Carolina protesters said they were supporting a variety of causes, from Social Security and education to immigration and women’s reproductive rights.

Feds argue judge can’t order return of mistakenly deported Md. man

BY MICHAEL KUNZELMAN Associated Press

WASHINGTON A federal judge didn’t have the authority to order the Trump administration to broker the return of a Maryland man who was mistakenly deported from the U.S. to a notorious El Salvador prison, government attorneys argued Saturday as they urged an appeals court to suspend the ruling.

U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis on Friday ordered the administration to “facilitate and effectuate” Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s return to the U.S. by late Monday night. Justice Department lawyers asked the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to immediately pause the judge’s order

“A judicial order that forces the Executive to engage with a foreign power in a certain way, let alone compel a certain action by a foreign sovereign, is constitutionally intolerable,” they wrote.

The appeals court asked Abrego Garcia’s lawyers to respond to the government’s filing by Sunday afternoon.

Abrego Garcia, a 29-year-old Salvadoran national, was arrested in Maryland and deported last month despite an immigration judge’s 2019 ruling that shielded him from deportation to El Salvador where he faced likely persecution by local gangs.

His mistaken deportation, described by the White House as an “administrative error,” has outraged many and raised concerns about expelling noncitizens who were granted permission to be in the U.S. Dozens of supporters gathered at the Greenbelt, Maryland, federal courthouse for Friday’s hearing. A cheer erupted in the courtroom when Xinis ruled in favor of Abrego Garcia, whose wife, a U.S.

citizen, was in attendance.

Xinis, who was nominated by President Barack Obama, said there was no legal basis for Abrego Garcia’s detention and no legal justification for his removal to El Salvador, where he has been held in a prison that observers say is rife with human rights abuses.

Abrego Garcia’s attorney, Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg, said the government has done nothing to get his client back even after admitting its errors. “Plenty of tweets. Plenty of White House news conferences. But no actual steps taken with the government of El Salvador to make it right,” he told the judge on Friday

GET IN TOUCH

CustomerService: HELP@THEADVOCATE.COMor225-388-0200 News Tips /Stories: NEWSTIPS@THEADVOCATE.COM

Obituaries: 225-388-0289•Mon-Fri 9-5; Weekends 12-5

Advertising Sales: 225-388-0262

theadvocate.com/subscribe E-Edition: theadvocate.com/eedition Archives: theadvocate.newsbank.com

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JOSE LUIS MAGANA

Demonstrators hold up signs Saturday during a ‘Hands Off!’ protest against President Donald Trump at the Washington Monument in Washington.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO

Maha Aungmye Bonzan Monastery, commonly known as the Me Nu Brick Monastery, is damaged after last week’s earthquake in Innwa, Tada-U township, Mandalay, Myanmar

Storms slashfromTexas to Ohio,killing at least16

BY BRUCE SCHREINERand OBED LAMY Associated Press

DYERSBURG,Tenn. Another roundoftorrential rain and flash floodingcame Saturday for partsofthe South andMidwest alreadyheavily waterlogged by days of severe storms that also spawned deadly tornadoes. Forecasters warned that rivers in some places would continue to rise for days.

Day after day of heavy rains have pounded the central U.S., rapidly swelling waterways andprompting aseriesofflash flood emergencies in from Texas to Ohio. The National Weather Service saiddozens of locations in multiple states were expected to reach what the agency calls “major flood stage,” withextensive flooding of structures, roads,bridges and other critical infrastructure possible

At least 16 weather-related deaths have been reported since the start of the storms, including 10 in Tennessee.

A57-year-old man died Friday evening after getting out of acar that washed offaroad in West Plains, Missouri. Flooding killedtwo people in Kentucky —a9-year-old boy swept away that same day on his way to school, and a74-year-old whose body was found Saturday inside afully submergedvehicle in Nelson County,authorities said.

Also Saturday a5-year-old died at ahome in Little Rock, Arkansas, in aweather-related incident, according to police. No details were immediately provided.

Tornadoes earlier in the week destroyed entire neighborhoods andwere responsible for at least seven of the deaths.

And interstate commerce is affected the extreme flooding across acorridor that includes the major cargo hubs in Louisville, Kentucky,and Memphis could lead to shipping and supply chain delays, said Jonathan Porter,chief meteorologist at AccuWeather.

The outburst comes at atime whennearly half of NWS forecast officeshave20% vacancy rates after Trump administration job cuts —twice that of justadecade ago.

LouisvilleMayor Craig Greenbergsaid Saturday that the Ohio Riverrose 5feet in 24 hours and would continuetoswell fordays.

“Weexpect this to be one of the top 10 flooding events in Louisvillehistory,” he said.

Flash flood emergency and tornado warnings continued to be issued Saturday across Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee and Kentucky,with more heavyrains anddamaging windsinthe mix. All of eastern Kentucky wasunder afloodwatch throughSunday morning.

Hundreds of Kentuckyroads across the state were impassable because of floodwaters, downed trees or mudand rock slides.

Downtown Hopkinsville, Kentucky,reopened in the morning after floodwaters from the Little River receded, giving amuchneeded reprieve,but stillmorerainfall was on its way,Mayor James R. Knight Jr.said.

“Wegot alittle rain, but mostofitwent northofus,” Knight said. “Thank goodness on that. Gave us alittlebreak.”

In north-central Kentucky,emergency officialsordered amandatory evacuation for Falmouth, atown of 2,000 people in abendof therising Licking River. The warnings were similar to catastrophic flooding nearly 30 years ago when the riverreached arecord50 feet, resulting in five deaths and 1,000 homes destroyed.

In Arkansas, weather officials pleaded with people to avoid travel unless absolutelynecessary due to widespread flooding.

BNSFRailway confirmed thata railroad bridge in Mammoth Spring was washed out by floodwaters, causing the derailment of several cars. No injuries werereported, but there was no immediate estimate for when the bridge would reopen.

SinceWednesday,morethan afoot of rain hasfallen in partsofKentucky,and more than 8inchesinparts of Arkansas andMissouri, forecasters said Saturday.

Forecasters attributed theviolent weather to warm temperatures, an unstable atmosphere, strong wind shear andabundant moisture streaming from theGulf.

At least two reportsofobserved tornadoes were noted Friday evening in Missouri and Arkansas, according to the NationalWeather Service. One, near Blytheville,Arkansas, lofted debris at least 25,000 feet high, accordingtoNWS meteorologist Chelly Amin. Thestate’semergency management office reported damagein22counties from tornadoes, wind, hail and flash flooding.

In Dyersburg, Tennessee, dozens of people arrived Saturday at astorm shelter near a public school in therain, clutching blankets, pillows and other necessities.

DRESS to IMPRESS

Spring into anew season with ourfavoritedress shoes.

ANTONIOMELANI Lenore slingback pump,$118.

ANTONIOMELANI Mya linenplatform sandal,$129.

ASSOCIATEDPRESS PHOTO By JON CHERRy Carole Smith walks through her flooded home on SaturdayinFrankfort, Ky

ANTONIOMELANI xStyle by Simkins Lisa pump,$129.

COPPERKEY Lux sandal $89.99

ALEX MARIE Leighten slingback pump,$79.99.

STEVEMADDEN Cary leathersandal, $79.99

ANTONIOMELANI xStyle by Simkins Blake mule,$129.

ALEX MARIE Barbra sandal $79.99

COPPERKEY Adore patent sandal,$79.99.

ALEX MARIE Adeline leather sandal,$79.99.

Senate GOPOKs framework

fortax breaks,spendingcuts

BY LISA MASCARO, LEAH ASKARINAM and KEVIN FREKING Associated Press

WASHINGTON Senate Republicans plugged away overnight and into early Saturday morning to approve their multitrillion-dollartax breaks and spending cuts framework, hurtling past Democratic opposition toward what President Donald Trump calls the “big, beautiful bill” that’scentral to his agenda.

The vote, 51-48, fell along mostly party lines, but with sharp dissent from two prominent Republicans. It couldnot have come at a more difficult political moment, with the economy churning afterTrump’s new tariffs sent stocks plummeting and experts warning of soaring costs for consumers and threats of apotential recession. Republican Sens. Susan Collins, of Maine,and Rand Paul, of Kentucky,both voted against the measure But with anod from Trump, GOP leaders heldon. Approval pavesthe way for Republicansin the months ahead to try to power atax cut bill through both chambers of Congressover the objections of Democrats, just as they did in Trump’s first term with unified party control in Washington.

“Let the voting begin,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said Friday night.

Democrats were intenton making the effort as politically painful as possible, with action on some two dozen amendments to the package that GOP senators will have to defend before next year’s midterm elections.

ABC’s“This Week”: Kevin Hassett, director of the White House National Economic Council; Sen.Cory Booker, D-N.J.; former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers.

Amongthemwereproposals to ban tax breaks for the super-wealthy,end Trump’s tariffs, clip his efforts to shrink the federal government,and protect Medicaid, Social Securityand other services.One,inresponseto the Trumpnational security team’s use of Signal, sought to prohibit military officials from usingany commercial messaging application to transmit warplans.They all failed,though aGOP amendment to protect Medicare andMedicaidwas accepted.

Democratsaccused Republicans of laying the groundworkfor cutting keysafety netprogramstohelp pay for more than$5trilliontax cuts they say disproportionately benefit the rich.

“Trump’spolicies area disaster,” said SenateDemocratic leader Chuck Schumer,ofNew York,asisElon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency,headded.

“Republicans couldsnuff it out tonight, if they wanted.”

The Republicans framed their work as preventing a tax increase for most American families, arguing that unless Congress acts, theindividualand estatetax cuts that GOP lawmakerspassed in 2017 will expireatthe end of this year

The Senate package pulls in otherGOP priorities, including $175 billion tobolster Trump’smass deportation effort,which is running short of cash,and an additional $175 billion forthe Pentagon to build up the military,from an earlierbudgeteffort.

Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, the No. 2ranking Republican,said voters gave his partyamission in November and the Senate’sbudgetplan delivers.

SUNDAY NEWS SHOWS

The framework now goes to the House, where Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Benton, could bring it up for avote as soon as next week as he works towardafinal product by Memorial Day

The House and Senate need to resolve their differences.

The House’sversionhas $4.5 trillion in tax breaks over 10 yearsand some $2 trillion in budget cuts,and pointedat changes to Medicaid, food stamps andother programs.

Some House Republicans have panned theSenate’sapproach.

Republican senators used their majority to swat back Democratic amendments, often in rambunctious voice votes.

Amongthe morethan two dozenamendmentsoffered wereseveral to protect safety net programs.Several Republicans, includingSen. Josh Hawley,ofMissouri, joined Democrats in voting to preserve some of those programs, particularly regardinghealth care. Collins opposedthe entire package in awarning againststeep Medicaid cuts.

Collins said thepotential reductions for that health programinthe House bill “wouldbevery detrimental to alot of families anddisabledindividuals andseniors in my state.”

Paul questioned themath being used by his colleagues that he said would pile on the debt load. “Something’s fishy,” he said.

One Republican, Sen. Bill Cassidy,ofLouisiana,expressed hisown misgivings abouttax breaksadding to the federal deficits and said he has assurancesthat Trump officials would seek the cutselsewhere.

NBC’s“Meet the Press”: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent; Sens.AdamSchiff, DCalif., and James Lankford, R-Okla. CNN’s“Stateofthe Union”: Agriculture SecretaryBrooke Rollins; Gov.Tim Walz, DMinn.;Reps. Nicole Malliotakis,R-N.Y., and Hillary Scholten, D-Mich CBS’ “Face the Nation”: CommerceSecretary Howard Lutnick; Sens. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., andMaria Cantwell, D-Wash.; NATO SecretaryGeneral Mark Rutte; Rep. DonBacon,RNeb. “Fox News Sunday”: Attorney General Pam Bondi; Sens Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., and Chris Coons, D-Del. TheAssociated Press

ELIMINATE BACK PAIN ANDSCIATICA

scarsand expenseofbacksurgery...

 Sciatica  Neck pain  Disc Herniations  LowerBackpain

We areDr. ScottLeBlanc andDr. Dana LeBlanc, ahusband andwifeteam, that ownLeBlanc SpineCenter. We have helped thousandsofpatientsget outofpainwith Spinal Decompressiontherapy treatments, andwelove what we do.Discissuesare common,and patients sufferingare usually givenlimited optionsoftreatment.Werun thesebig newspaperadvertisementstolet people in thecommunity know thereisanotheroptionoftreatment forpain- without medication,injections, or surgery!

NON-SURGICAL SPINAL DECOMPRESSION isabreakthrough,non-invasivetreatmentthat hasbeenproventoreversedischerniations andrelievenervepainintheneckandlow back. Duringtheprocedure,aspinaldiscis isolatedandaseriesofdistractionandrelaxationphasesoccurataveryspecificangle, targetingthesourceofpain.Avacuumcanbe createdinsidethediscandthenegativepressuredeliversnutrients,oxygen,andfluidfrom surroundingtissues,toassistwithrepairofthe damageddisc. Thetreatmentisnotpainfulat all,andmostpatientsreadoreventakeanap whileontreatment!

PROOFTHIS TREATMENTWORKS

There’splentyofresearchto back up the claims of Spinal Decompression Therapy andits effectiveness.Hereare just afew of thepublishedscientificstudies

•“Patients reported amean88.9% improvement in back pain andbetterfunction...No patientrequired anyinvasivetherapies (e.g. epiduralinjections, surgery).”-American AcademyofPainManagement

•“We thus submit that decompression therapy shouldbeconsidered first, before thepatientundergoes asurgicalprocedure whichpermanently alters theanatomy and function of theaffectedlumbarspine segment.” -Journal Of NeuroscienceResearch

•“86% of the219 patients whocompleted thetherapy reported immediate resolution of symptoms.” -Orthopedic Technology Review

•“Vertebralaxial (spinal) decompression wassuccessful in 71% of the778 cases”JournalofNeurological Research

•“Good to excellentrelief in 86%ofpatients with Herniateddiscs”- TheAmericanJournalofPainManagement

•“Decompression Therapy reported a76.5% with completeremissionand 19.6% with partialremissionofpainand disability”-

IcametoLeBlancSpine Center becauseI had beensufferingwithextreme back pain and legpain forseveral weeks. Ihad triedother treatments,massage, NSAIDs andTylenol,but I wasstillinpain Ibegan Spinal Decompression treatments in April2024, andInow feel 100% improved! What Ilikemostabout my treatmentisthatit is non-invasive anditeliminatedmypain. My treatmentappointmentsare notlong, and thetreatment is pain-free. Sincebeginning treatmentatLeBlancSpine Center,Iamnow able to do allofmypreviousactivitiesand work withoutpain.I also have more rangeofmotion. Iwould highly recommendLeBlanc SpineCenter! Dr.JohnBarksdale (Dentist) hometown-Baton Rouge,LA

RioGrandeHospital,DepartmentofNeurosurgery

At LeBlanc SpineCenter, weutilizeadvanced,FDA-clearedtechnologythatisproventoeffectivelyalleviatepain.It’simportant tonotethatnoteverypatientisacandidate forSpinalDecompression,whichiswhywe prioritizeathoroughindividualassessment foreachpersonwhowalksthroughourdoors

answerstowhatiscausingyourpain.Ifyouhaveseenour adsinthepastandhavethoughtaboutcalling,don’thesitate. Youdon’thavetogoonlivinginpain,missingoutonactivitiesandotherpartoflifethatyouenjoy.Callustoday!

Ourhighsuccessrateinpainreliefstemsfrom ourcommitmenttoonlytakingonpatients whomweconfidentlybelievewecanhelp

Forthe next 7days, we areofferingaspecial “DecompressionEvaluation” offer, at no cost to you!

Whatdoesthisofferinclude?Everythingwe normallydoinournewpatientevaluations:

•Anin-depthconsultationaboutyourhealth andwellbeingwherewewilllisten. reallylisten. tothedetailsofyourcase

•Acompleteneuromuscularexamination

•AfullsetofspecializedX-rays(ifclinically necessary)

•AthoroughanalysisofyourexamandX-ray findings

Youwillsitwiththedoctoroneononetogo overyourx-rays,andyou’llgettoseeeverythingfirsthand.

AtLeBlancSpineCenter,wearehonestwith ourpatientsandwegivepersonalizedattentionandanalysistoeachcase.Wetrulyenjoy meetingwithpatientstoanswertheirquestions andtohelpfindoutifSpinalDecompression treatmentscouldbetheanswertotheirpain. Thereisnochargeatallandyoudon’tneedto buyanything. Youhavenothingtolosebytakingusuponthisspecialofferandyouwillget

Ihad beensuffering with pain from herniateddiscs in my lowerback. Icould notstand forlongerthan5minutes withoutpain. Ihad triedepiduralsteroid injections and physical therapyinthe past,but wasstill suffering. Ihave always been active andmybackpainwas affecting my lifestylegreatly IcametoLeBlancSpine Centerand beganDecompression treatment.. andI am now100%improved! Ican do everything Idid beforemypainstarted,and my favorite part aboutthistreatment is theresults! Ican do allofmydaily activities withoutany pain.The doctorsand staff here have also treatedmegreat IhaverecommendedLeBlancSpine Centertomany people andwillcontinuetodoso!

Mark Evans (Former High School Coachand Insurance Agent) Hometown -Baton Rouge,LA

Ihad been suffering with lowerbackpain, sciaticpain, andnumbness in my feet.I began Spinal Decompression treatments at LeBlanc SpineCenterand Iamnow 80%improved! Ican nowstand andsit for longerperiods withoutany pain,and Iamabletowalklongerdistances.I am feelingsomuchbetter. Thestaff here treats me excellent. Oneofthe best things aboutmycare at LeBlancSpine Center is that Iamshown care andconcern. Iwould recommendLeBlancSpine Centerand thetreatment-everyone here is so nice andithas beensohelpful!

TessaGuerin (Bus Driver) Hometown -Maurepas, LA

“Clearly we’re trending in thewrongdirection,”said KimHunter Reed, Louisiana’shigher education commissioner.“I’m very concerned about it.”

The pandemic’sacademic disruptions and major hurricanes appear to haveplayed arole in the downturn, as the number of eligible students has dipped in recent years.

But also,asthe awards fall short of college costs, the program has become less alluring. More eligible students are turning down TOPS, atrend that preceded COVID-19,according to an analysis by the stateBoard of Regents, which oversees public higher education.

Some students are passing on college, while others areleavingLouisiana. The highest-achieving Louisiana students canreceive scholarships in other states that dwarf TOPS, which no longer covers the cost of in-state tuition and fees.

Now,state lawmakers want to reverse those trends. Bills that will be introducedwhen the legislative session starts this month aim to expand program eligibility and participation. One would increase the existing award amounts and create anew award for the highest-scoring students that pays$12,000 annually —thousandsmore than whatTOPS recipients currently get.

“We’re trying to get our best and brightest to stay here,” saidRep. Christopher Turner,R-Rustin, who co-authored the bill. “I just want to see us educate and take care of our own.”

Ashrinking scholarship

The Taylor Opportunity Program forStudents, which began under adifferent name in 1998,was oneofthe country’sfirst state-funded scholarships to focus only on students’ academic achievement and not their financial need. Today,Louisiana spends nine times the national averageon merit-only aid, according to an analysis by the Southern Regional Education Board,a nonprofit research group.

TOPS became ahugely popular entitlement for students who score 20 or above on the ACTand earn a2.5 GPAor higher.(TOPS Tech, aseparate scholarship that pays for two years of vocational training, has different eligibility rules.) The program grewexponentially: Within five years, its cost doubled to nearly$111 million as 41,000 students received scholarships tied to current tuition rates.

In 2016, faced with amassive budget shortfall, the state Legislature for the first time onlypartially funded TOPS, coveringabout 70% of recipients’ tuition bills. To contain futurecosts,lawmakers also froze the award amounts at that year’slevels.

At the same time, the state has cut backonhigher-education funding. To makeup the difference, public colleges and universities have raised tuition and fees, which reached an average of about $10,200 at four-year institutions in 2024, according to the Board of Regents.

But TOPS amounts, which vary by institution, have been flat for nearly adecade. They range from about$3,200 at most community collegesto about $5,100 at Grambling State University and just under $7,500 at LSU’sBaton Rouge campus. (Higher-scoring students also get annual stipends of up to $800.)

“That gap betweenthe cost to attend (college) and the amount that TOPS pays

there’sasignificance difference there,” Sujuan Boutté, executive director of the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance, told lawmakerslast year

TOPS acceptance rates have steadily declinedsince 2018, just after the amounts were capped. By 2023, only 81% of eligible students accepted theirawards, a10year low.The acceptance rate for the most selective TOPS award, called Honors, was 73% —11percentage points lower than adecade earlier Astudy byBoutté’s agency and the Board ofRegents found thatagrowing number of those highest-performing studentsare leaving Louisiana. In 2021, about 83% of studentswho turned down Honors awards went to college in other states. Theirtop three destinations were Southern Mississippi, Alabama and Mississippi universities.

Suchschools aggressively recruit Louisiana’sstrongest studentsbyoffering more money than TOPS, Boutté told lawmakers.

“What they’re saying is, ‘Oh hey,wesee your award is capped,” she said. “‘We’re going to offer you what equates to afull ride.’”

Meanwhile, students who stay in Louisianaare shouldering the higher cost of college.In2021, graduates of Louisiana’spublic institutions had more debt,onaverage, than theirpeers inthe South andnationally,accordingto theSouthern RegionalEducation Board analysis.

“Louisiana faces challenges in collegeaffordability,” said thegroup’ssenior analyst MJ Kim, “with declining state support,increasing student costs and growing reliance on student borrowing.”

Toppingup TOPS Lawmakers want to tackle the affordability crisis by givingmore TOPS moneyto

more students. In 2023, just 20% of eligiblestudents accepted TOPS Tech.One big reason is that theawardcan only be used for certain occupational programs, such as computer science, nursing or industrial technology.House Bill 161 by Rep. Jason Hughes, D-New Orleans, would letstudents spend themoney on more typesoftraining.

House Bill 70 by Rep. Ken Brass, D-Vacherie, would give studentsa newway to qualify for TOPSTech. In addition to either earning at least a2.5 GPAorscoring 17 or higher on the ACT, they could also take early-college courses during high school to access thataward.

HouseBill 77 by Turner and Rep. Laurie Schlegel, R-Metairie, would make the biggestchangestoTOPS by essentially raising theaward amounts.

The bill would decouple TOPSfrom 2016 tuitionrates, creatingstandard amounts across schools. The amounts would vary by TOPS achievement level, giving moremoney to students withhigher gradesortest scores.

Beginning next academic year,students would get $3,500 for TOPS Tech,$6,000 for Opportunity,$6,500 for Performance and $9,000 for Honors.The billalsowould establish anew category, Excellence, thatprovides $12,000 to students who score 31 or higher on theACT At most schools, the amounts would be amajor increaseoverwhatstudents get now.AtLSU, which has higher tuition and TOPS rates, students wouldkeep getting the higher amount.

Schlegelsaidthe changes would help Louisiana retain outstanding students who “heavily recruited” by other states “and offered packages they can’tturndown.”

“Itputs us acompetitive

advantage,” she said.

The bill’scostisstill being calculated, but it could increase TOPS spending by up to $35 million, Turner said. Paying for it could be achallenge,asGov.JeffLandry has proposed astandstill budgetfor next fiscal year and lawmakers must find $200 milliontokeepteacher

payflat Steven Procopio, president of thePublic Affairs Research Council of Louisiana,aBaton Rouge-based think tank, said it would be hard to put more money into TOPSwithout raising taxes or cutting other programs. Yetthere are also upsides to giving moregenerous scholarships, he added.

“The ideathatwe’rekeepingmorehigh-qualitystudents in statemight havea cost,” he said, “but there’s adefinitebenefitofthatas well.”

EmailPatrick Wall at patrick.wall@theadvocate. com.

OurLadyofthe Lake Children’s Health transforms Louisiana girl’s life with innovative epilepsy treatments

By Amanda McElfresh| amcelfresh@theadvocate.com

This articleisbrought to youbyOur Lady of theLake.

Just before HarmoniJones turned four years old, herpreschool teacheralerted Harmoni’s mother,DeantoneciaJones,thatthelittlegirlhad experiencedaseizureinclass.Assurprisingasthe newswas,itwasjustthebeginningofayears-long struggletodiagnoseHarmoniandfindasolution Harmonicontinued to have as many as 50 to 100seizuresper day. Many episodes lasted less than 30 seconds, during whichHarmoni would suddenly stop what shewas doing, stareintothe distance andbecome unresponsive “Whatevershewasdoingatthetime,herbody wouldkeepdoing it,but hereyeswould start rolling,”Jones said DoctorsnearHarmoni’shometownofFarmerville,La.triedasmanyas10differentmedications sometimesthree or four at thesametime. Some wouldworkforashorttimebuthavenolong-lasting positiveeffects.Atagenine,Harmoniwasreferred to pediatricneurology specialistsatOur Lady of theLakeChildren’sHealthinBaton Rouge. Dr.YashShah, apediatric neurologist and epileptologist servingasthe division chiefof pediatricneurology at OurLadyofthe Lake Children’s Health,identified Harmoniashaving drug-resistantepilepsy.Afterreviewingthelittle girl’smedicalhistory,hedidn’twanttosubjecther tomoretraditionalmedications.Instead,Dr.Shah, workingclosely with thepediatric neurosurgery team at OurLadyofthe Lake Children’s Health, prescribed Harmonia combinationofappropriatedoses of CBDoil (Epidiolex)and asurgical procedurecalledvagusnervestimulation,orVNS In aVNS procedure, doctorsimplanta device underthe patient’sskintostimulate thevagus nerve. It hasbeenshown to help reduce seizure frequencyand severityinpeoplelikeHarmoni whohavenot seen successwithmedication.

“WhenI evaluate patients,Ialwayscounsel theparents that thegoalofVNS is nottoprovide acure. It’s to substantiallyreducethe number of seizures,” said Dr.Jillian Ploof, apediatric neurosurgeonatOurLadyoftheLakeChildren’s Health.“WhenachildlikeHarmoniishavingup to100seizuresinaday,itcanbedisablingandvery hard to do well in school.Implantinga VNScan reduce seizures andallow us to peel back some of thosemedications,which is ultimately what we were able to do with Harmoni.

Dr.Shahsaidthe useofCBD oilisstill limited in epilepsy patients,including children,but has been showntobetremendouslyeffective

“Itworks in acompletelydifferentway than otherseizure medications,”hesaid. “Aside from controllingseizures, patients whouse CBDin this waysay that they feel more like themselves, whereasother medicationscan make them feel zombie-like.We’veseengoodoverallcompliance andpositiveeffects on people’s bodies.”

Theinnovativetreatmenthas resulted in a drasticreduction in Harmoni’sseizures. Now 11 yearsold,she only hasfive episodes perweek at amaximum.Not only that,but Harmoni’s personalityand talent areshining through more than ever

“BeforewewenttoOur Lady of theLake, shewould just layaroundand didn’t want to do anything,”Jones said.“Now, she’ssocreative.

She’sdrawing.She’sin choir.Icouldn’tgether todoanyofthatatfirst. She’sbrighternow.She wasdim anddulland justdidn’thaveenergy before.Now,she hasa lotofenergy.”

Harmoniisalsonow abletokeeptrackofher seizures,sinceshecan sensewhentheVNSis activated. Thefamily recordsthatdataand discussestheepisodes with OurLadyofthe LakeChildren’sHealth physicians during her regularcheckups. Dr Shah said doctorscan also follow thedevice andreceivealertswhen it is used

Dr.YashShah

Dr.Jillian Ploof

“It’sanexcitingtime in thehealthsystem, especially with theseadvancementsintechnology,”Dr. Ploofsaid. “Hopefully, we canembark on even more complex epilepsy procedures in thefuture.”

Dr.Shahsaidheisalsoproud to work for OurLadyofthe Lake Children’s Health,where doctorsare willing to thinkoutside thebox and trynew approaches

“It’sextremelyrewardingtobeapartofahealth system that lets us help patients with evidencebasedpractices that we thinkwillbeeffective Everyone is so supportive here,” he said.“We have partners in Lafayetteand Monroe,and we come together once amonth to discusscomplex cases. That makesour system stronger.” Jonessaidthatafter seeing Harmoni’s substantialimprovement, sheonlywishesshe wouldhavemadeanappointment at OurLady of theLakeChildren’sHealthsooner.

“Theyarethesweetestpeople,”shesaid.“They brokeeverythingdown, explainedeverything well andput aplaninplace of howtodothings. They helped me understandthe processbetter of what we were doing. Ireallyappreciatethem. ThepediatricexpertiseatOurLadyoftheLake Children’sHealthmeansthatitsteamoftentreats patients from otherparts of Louisianaaswell as surroundingstates. TheHogsfor theCause Family SupportHome, locatedonthe campus of OurLadyofthe Lake Children’s Hospital in BatonRouge,gives families aplace to stay if they need to travel fortheir child’scare.

“Thisallowsthem to stay forafew days and completemultipleappointmentsandprocedures withoutthestressoftryingtomanageeverything in asingleday,” Dr.Shahsaid. “For follow-up care,wealsoprovide full virtualvisit support, making it easier forpatientstostayconnected withouthavingtotravel, as we seepatients all theway from De Soto to Plaquemines.”

Visitololchildrens.org to learnmoreabout pediatriccareatOur Lady of theLakeorto finda provider

BY DAVE COLLINS Associated Press

New York state officials have told the Trump administrationthat they will not comply with its demands to end diversity,equity and inclusion practices in public schools, despite the administration’sthreats to terminate federal education funding.

Daniel Morton-Bentley,counsel and deputy commissioner of the stateDepartment of Education, said in aletter dated Friday to the federal Education Department that state officials do not believe the federal agency has the authority to make such demands.

“Weunderstand that thecurrent administration seeks to censor any-

BRIDGE

Department of Transportation and Development told the chair of the bridge district, J.H. Campbell Jr “Because it doesn’thappen overnight, especiallyonce you get into the fieldwork portionofthe project.”

If constructed, the bridge would become the third place to cross the Mississippi in Baton Rouge, in addition to the Horace Wilkinson Bridge and the Huey P. Long Bridge

Over the past year,DOTD employees said at the meeting, they have drilledand tested the soil for whatis called ageotechnical investigation,completeda topographic survey and performed asubsurface utility engineering analysis to reduce the risk of damaging utility infrastructure during construction.

Still, the project has been slow going. The timelineis extended as DOTD discovers additional studies that need to be ordered, such as ahydraulic study of the river,DOTD spokesperson Rodney Mallet wrote in an email. These steps are important prior to aformal

thing it deems‘diversity, equity & inclusion,’”hewrote. “But there are nofederal or Statelaws prohibiting the principlesofDEI.”

Morton-Bentley also wrote state officialswere “unaware” of any authority the federal Department of Education has to demandthat statesagreewith its interpretation of court decisions or to terminate funding without aformal administrative process

The U.S. DepartmentofEducationdid not immediately respond to emailedrequests for comment.

The Trump administration on Thursdayordered K-12 schools nationwide to certify within 10 days that they are following federal civil rights laws and ending any discrim-

inatoryDEI practices,asaconditionfor receiving federal money Federal funding comprises about 6% of thetotal funding for New York K-12 schools “Federal financialassistance is aprivilege,not aright,” Craig Trainor, acting assistant secretary forcivil rights,said in astatement when thedemandwas made. He said many schools have flouted their legalobligations, “including by using DEI programs to discriminateagainstone group of Americans to favor another.”

The certification demand asked state and school leaders to sign a “reminder of legal obligations”acknowledging their federal money is conditionedoncompliancewith

federal civilrightslaws. It also demands compliancewithseveral pages of legalanalysis written by the administration.

The demand specifically threatens Title Ifunding, which sends billions of dollars ayear to America’s schools and targets low-income areas Morton-Bentleywrotethatthe stateEducation Department has already certified to the federal government on multiple occasions thatitiscomplying with Title VI of the CivilRightsAct of 1964,most recently in January.Hesaid the federal department is basing its demands to endDEI programson afaultylegal interpretation.

“Giventhe fact that youare al-

readyinpossession of guarantees by NYSED that it has and will complywithTitle VI,nofurther certification will be forthcoming,” he wrote. He also said the administration’s stance is an “abrupt shift” from the one taken by the first Trumpadministration, citing comments in 2020 madebythen-U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVosthat diversity andinclusion were “cornerstones of high organizational performance.” He wrote theadministration has provided no explanation of why it changed positions. Criticsofthe certification demandsaid it conflicted with Trump’spromise to return education to schools and states.

DOTD secretary Joe Dona-

reviewunder theNational Environmental Policy Act, he added

“By finding these issues in thepre-NEPAprocess, it helpstoensurethe actual NEPA process (one-year time frame) runs smoother and can actually save time in the long run,” Mallet wrote.

Protestfromresidents

Beyond bureaucratic hurdles, the project has alsomet with resistance from acommunity in Iberville Parish.

One of three final potential bridge locations, referred to as E-11-IV,would run through Plaquemine Point, whichcontains theA.E. LeBlanc Natural Area and Old-Growth Cypress Forest. Area landowners have protested DOTD acquiringthe land via eminent domain and bisecting theforest.

They allege that DOTD is alsoneglectingits duty to completeanEnvironmental Impact Statement, necessitatedwhen significant environmental effects of a projectare discovered,and is instead following aless rigorous course called an Environmental Assessment

“These cypress trees have so much morepotential to live out theirlives, and they’re already so much older than all of us,”said Laura Comeaux, whosefamily has ledthe opposition to E-11-IV “That’sreally one of my family’s prime concerns, but habitat among them, too.”

Currently,NEPAinitiation is scheduledfor April 25, with completion of theenvironmental review process expected in spring of fiscal year 2026. Comeaux said that time frame does not

leave adequatetime to incorporate public comment. In response to criticism at public meetings, project leadershave said that none of theoptionsisfree from

potentially negative effects. “I think common sense tells youthatthere will be different impacts to different individualsfrom allofthe alternatives,”

Instantshade at the

TotheOrganizers,Participants,andSupportersof theDefendersofLibertyAirShow:

Iwant to extend my gratitude and appreciation to everyone whomadethis year’sDefendersofLiberty AirShow at Barksdale Air ForceBase such aresounding success. This incredibleevent not onlyshowcased theskill anddedicationofour Airmen, but also strengthened the bond between Barksdaleand theShreveportBossiercommunity.Theairshowservesasanimportantbridgebetweenourmilitary and the public,fostering adeeperappreciation andrespectfor themen andwomen whoserveourcountry.

With an astounding 200,000 attendees over the weekend and an estimated$5 millionineconomicimpact,itisclearthattheDefenderofLibertyAirShowisamajor state event. Iwouldliketopersonally thank Senators Adam Bass, SamJenkins, Thomas Pressly, and Alan Seabaugh for theirsupport andcommitment to making this event asuccess. Additionally, Iwant to specifically recognize Colonel Michael Maginness, Commander of the 2nd Bomb Wing; General Jason Armagost, Commanderofthe8thAirForce;and General ThomasBussiere, CommanderofAir ForceGlobalStrikeCommand,andthankthemfortheirleadershipanddedication

Beyondthe amazing display of aircraftinthe sky,the Defenders of Liberty Air Showbrought families,veterans, and aviation enthusiaststogetherasacommunity, while reinforcing Louisiana’scommitment to supportingour military.Iwould liketo extend aspecial thank you to the Shreveport-Bossier Committee of 100 and its president, David Dethloff, forhostingtheFridaynighteventforlegislators,aswellas totheShreveport-BossierMilitaryAffairsCouncilanditspresident,TreyGiglio,for theiroutstandingeffortsinorganizingandhostingthisyear’sairshow.

Aswelookaheadtothenextairshow,Iamconfidentthatthistraditionwillcontinue toinspireandunitethecommunity.TheDefenderofLibertyAirShowisandhasbeen amajoreventforLouisianafordecades.Thankyouagaintoeveryone—organizers, volunteers,performers,andattendees—whomadethiseventasuccess.

SenaTe STaTeoFLouISIana

It surfaced newly minted gems that are raising the bar for Gulf Coast dining. And behind those restaurants are stories of next-generation chefs making their mark, changing customer expectations,inspirations from around the globe and thefar-reachinginfluence of food-obsessed Louisiana.

“In the summer, halfthe parking lot here is filled with Louisiana license plates,” said Bill Briand, chef at The Hope Farm and its soon-tobe-opensibling restaurant Little Bird in Fairhope.

“These people know howto eat, and if they’re coming this way,wewant to feed them.”

Bigchangeinasmall town

Raw soft-shell crab, aKoreanspecialty,would be an outlier on any Gulf Coast menu, and that’salso true at ButcherBaker,asmall restaurant that opened in Ocean Springs in February

The same dinner brought more familiar fare,likea pork chop from Pearl River Pastures nearthe state line, falafel madewith zipper peas from Florida and bread baked by the chef’swife.

The common thread, from the crabs to gins for the house cocktails, is arobust embrace of local sourcing by chef Michael Paoletti.

Paoletti saw an opportunity to bring something newto his hometown by tapping the growing diversity of small, hyperlocal producers proliferating in the region, and to contribute to agrowing local restaurant scene.

“If we can do this here, then youcan push theculture forward,” Paolettisaid

“Ocean Springs has always been about art, and cuisine is art too. Will it catchon? That’sarisk you’re always taking when you do new things.”

Much is new aroundOcean Springs thesedays. Long known as an artsy haven across thebay from thecasino high-risesofBiloxi, downtown Ocean Springs now has abooming hospitality and nightlifescene between its cottages and lacing oaks.

from Vestige’sexample, and today he and Perry share intel on sources and producers. Stephanie Paoletti,the chef’s spouse, runs the bak-

ery Sweet Enchantments afew doors downfrom ButcherBakerinthe same strip mall. The couple has moreontap, with three different concepts coming to

thenew food hall Crave, set to open this spring in downtown Ocean Springs —one forcharcuterie, one for baked goods, and araw bar for localoysters and chilled seafood.

“A decade ago, we wouldn’t have been open morethan a month,” Paoletti said. “But things are changing, andif we grow the scene, and give people more, then more things will happen.”

Acampusofcuisine

The next stopwas Fairhope, the small town down the bay fromMobile, andits destinationrestaurant The Hope Farm Downtown Fairhope is a tight grid chockablock with shops andgalleries andthat appealingmix of modern style and old-school Gulf Coast roguishness. Aday that canstart with coffee anda quinoabreakfast bowl at Provision(part cafe, part wine bar, part boutique market) can endaround the corner and aworld away at Bone &Barrel, adive tavern with afriendly welcomeand aguy strumming acoustic cover songs on the back patio

TheHopeFarmsitsoutside of downtown, across Highway98, past theconventionalrange of thegolf carts that command the downtown streets.

One minute you’re drivingbychainsand strip malls, the next you’re in a campus of buildingsand patios done in beachhouse whiteand weatheredwood. In the daytime, pollinators flutter among blossoms in raisedbeds; in the evening, fireplaces flickerwarmly in the patios.

Breakfast and lunch are served in abuilding called the Barn. In the evening, thefocusshifts to the main dining room, calledthe Hall, witha moreelevated menu blending French, Deep South andCreoleinfluences. Open-air patios in between arelinedwith raised farm beds, while acluster of shipping containers

That’sspreading outside downtown too. At the newly opened ranch-to-tablerestaurant 4-BullsonU.S.90, barbecue plates and burgers are made with meat from the owners’ farm in Grand Bay,Alabama,and there’s an option to pick yourown steak from the meat case and have the kitchen grill it to spec. On the waterjust across Old Fort Bayou, the historic Gulf HillsHotel&Resort has emerged from arenovation and modernization. Its bar,once called the Pink Pony,was avenue for Elvis Presleyearly in hiscareer. Now it’sback with aretro chic vibe as the Sunset Lounge, wherevisitors can sip martinis with aview of the sun sinking over marshes just beyond. Back downtown, the local leading light for fine dining is Vestige, which serves asingle tasting menu per night, with an approach blending the Ocean Springs roots of Alex Perry with techniques from hiswife Kumi Omori’snative Japan. Paoletti took inspiration

STAFF PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER Chickenballotine is finishedwith asatsumajus at The Hope Farm restaurant in Fairhope, Alabama.

STAFF PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER

STAFF PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER

whilethe

STAFFPHOTO By IAN McNULTy

The PearlRoom has botharaw barand cocktail

Continued from page8A

hidden behind atall fence hold hydroponic farms stacked with racks of produce, with one section devoted just to mushrooms Briandand his chefs have the pick of theharvest for their menus, as do thebartenders.

Briand joined The Hope Farm last year.ANew Orleans native,hestarted at Emeril’sRestaurant and cooked for years at Herbsaint and Cochon. He still maintains close ties to New Orleans, and he’sbeen recruiting talent from the Crescent City

follows the same dueling land and sea idea. One dining room,the Pearl Room, has alarge raw bar and a marble-toppedcocktailbar under clusters of pearlescent lights. It connects to themore rustic Horn Room, with plants stretching up between curving,forest green booths. Pearl &Horn started as asmaller concept in 2021, andits popularity propelledittotoday’smuch larger location by theend

servedispensersatCask

and Flask, throw back shots at O’Riley’sPub or see how fastthe mechanical bull will throw youatWild Greg’s Saloon, where line dancers in cutoffs and cowboy boots fill thefloor On Saturday mornings, the none-too-fancy Palafox FarmersMarket packs the median (or whatever they call aneutral ground in Florida)with throngsof visitors shopping for everything from produce to Guatemalan pastry andartisan

“It really seems to be growing here. It’sthe people coming through from Louisiana, and new folks moving to the area, and anew generation that’s more interestedinfood and where their food comes from,” Briand said. “I tell my people, if you want to work on the beach and sling food, go do that. We’re doing something different.”

Beyond thebeach

Annual Gulf Coast vacationstendtofollowfamiliar patterns. People make the same stops for gas (and maybe jerky). Some stayin thesamelodgings andhit the same restaurants by the beach from one trip to the next.

In Pensacola, though, visitors are being lured away from the typical beach fare of steamed seafood,pineapple salsa and burgers with a more upscale dinner downtown. Pearl &Horn toggles betweensurfand turf (a whole snapper or Colorado lamb chops), with touches of flavor from chefGeorge Lazi’s homeland in the Republicof Georgia. Therestaurantdesign

By Amanda McElfresh| amcelfresh@theadvocate.com

FirstUnitedMethodistChurchofBatonRougeis readytowelcome everyone to itsEasterservices on April20, whethertheyare an active member of thecongregationorsomeone whohas become distancedfromtheir faith.

“IalwayslovetoseenewpeopleorfacesIhaven’t seen in awhile,” said Rev. BradyWhitton,senior pastoratFirstUnitedMethodist.“Christmasand Easter both have an energy alltheir own. These aredaystocelebratethebiggestmomentsinJesus’ story.IthinkaboutitasJesusbeingourchampion whotakesonanddefeatsourbiggestenemies.The Easter services areaway to honorthat.”

Rev. WhittonsaidFirst United Methodist hasspecial services during HolyWeekaspart of aspiritual journeytowardEasterSunday. On HolyThursday,theserviceisstructuredtocreate asenseofJesus’lastnightwithhisdisciples.The Good Friday services that mark theday of Jesus’ deathare more solemn andreflective in nature

“IlookatHolyWeekasexperiencingalittlebit of darkness before thelight.I thinkitmakes the lightshinebrighteronceEastercomes around,” Rev.Whittonsaid.“Everythingisdesignedtohelp people go on that journeywithJesus.”

On Easter Sunday,there arefourservices at FirstUnitedMethodist.Thisyear’sscheduleis as follows:

•6:30am: Asunrise serviceatRhorerPlaza behind City Hall (230 St.Louis Street)thatis ledbyFUMCyouth.Attendeesareencouraged to bringfamily, friends andalawnchair

•8:30amand 11 am:Servicesinthe FUMC sanctuarywillproclaim‘ChristIsRisen!’The ChancelChoir,FestivalBrass andOrgan will providemusic at both services

•9:45am: TheAmerica Street servicewill includeacelebration of Christ’s resurrection throughwordand musicled by theAmerica Street WorshipBand. Thechurchwillalsoservebreakfastfrom7:30 am to 8:30 am on Easter Sunday Rev. Whittonsaidone of themainreasons formultipleEasterservicesatFUMCisto ensure everyone canbeaccommodated. Several thousand people areexpectedtoattendall four services combined

“Our largestspace canfitabout 900people, so oneofthe reasonswehavevariationsissimply thelogistics,” Rev. Whittonsaid. “Inaddition to that,there aresomeslightdifferences.The sunriseservice hasbeenled by theyouth of our church foratleast 13 years. Thespeakersare usuallygraduatingseniors,and Iamalwaysso impressed by theirmaturity. The8:30and 11:00 services in oursanctuary arealittlemoretraditional andtakeplace in ahistoricsacredspace that will turn 100years oldnextyear. The9:45 serviceisinour multipurpose spaceand is led by aband. It’s averycelebratory stylewitha lot of musicincorporatedintoit.”

Rev. Whittonsaidheencouragespeopleto visitfirstmethodist.orgtofindinformationabout navigating thecampusand parkingonEaster Sunday if they areunfamiliarwiththe current layout.There willalsobegreetersonhandatall servicestoprovidedirectionsandanswerquestions. “Thiscongregationisareallywarmand friendly groupofpeople,”hesaid. “You aregoing to encounterpeoplewho arehappy that youare here andare readytowelcome youtoone of the holiestdaysofthe year.” FirstUnitedMethodistChurchofBatonRouge islocatedat930NorthBoulevard.Formoreinformation,visitfirstmethodist.org,call225-383-4777 or emailfumcinfo@firstmethodist.org.

Lazi

STAFF PHOTO By IAN McNULTy

The HornRoom is one of twodining areas at Pearl&Hornrestaurant in Pensacola, Florida.

Trump goes all in on tariffs

President gambles heavy price will pay off for Americans

BY ZEKE MILLER and STEVE PEOPLES Associated Press

WASHINGTON Not even 24 hours after his party lost a key Wisconsin race and underperformed in Florida, President Donald Trump followed the playbook that has defined his political career: He doubled down.

Trump’s move on Wednesday to place stiff new tariffs on imports from nearly all U.S. trading partners marks an all-in bet by the Republican that his once-fringe economic vision will pay off for Americans. It was the realization of his four decades of advocacy for a protectionist foreign policy and the belief that free trade was forcing the United States into decline as its economy shifted from manufacturing to services.

The tariff announcement was the latest and perhaps boldest manifestation of Trump’s second-term freedom to lead with his instincts after feeling his first turn in the Oval Office was restrained by aides who did not share his worldview.

How it shakes out could be a defining judgment on his presidency.

The early reviews have been worrisome Financial markets had their worst week since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, foreign trade partners retaliated and economists warned that the import taxes may boost inflation and potentially send the U.S. into a recession. It’s now Republican lawmakers who are fretting about their party’s future while Democrats feel newly buoyant over what they see as Trump’s overreach.

Democratic activists planned to participate in rallies across the country Saturday in what was shaping up as the largest demonstrations since Trump returned to office in January “The winds are changing,” said Rahna Epting, who leads MoveOn, one of many organizing groups.

Trump is unbowed.

He has promised that the taxes on imports will bring about a domestic manufacturing renaissance and help fund an extension of his 2017 tax cuts. He insisted on Thursday as the Dow Jones fell by 1,600 points that things were “going very well” and the economy would “boom,” then spent Friday at the golf course as the index

plunged 2,200 more points. In his first term, Trump’s tariff threats brought world leaders to his door to cut deals. This time, his actions so far have led to steep retaliation from China and promises from European allies to push back.

Even some Trump supporters are having their doubts.

Frank Amoroso, a 78-yearold resident of Dewitt, Michigan, said he is concerned about short-term rising interest rates and inflation, although he believes the tariffs will be good for the country in the long run.

Amoroso, a retired automotive engineer who voted for Trump, said he would give the president’s secondterm performance a C-plus or B-minus. “I think he’s doing things too fast,” he said. “But hopefully things will get done in a prudent way, and the economy will survive a little downfall.”

Rep. French Hill, R-Ark., in a telephone town hall with constituents on Thursday night, expressed reservations about the broad nature of the tariffs.

Hill, who represents a district that includes Little Rock, said he does not back tariffs on Canada and Mexico. He said the administration should instead focus on renegotiating a U.S. trade agreement with its two

Consumers rush to buy big-ticket items before Trump’s tariffs kick in

BY CLAIRE RUSH and MARK THIESSEN Associated Press

John Gutierrez had been thinking about buying a new laptop for the past year The Austin, Texas, resident needed a computer with faster processing and increased storage for his photography work and had his sights set on a product from a Taiwanese brand

Then President Donald Trump announced expansive new import tariffs Wednesday, including a 32% tax on imports from Taiwan. That same day, Gutierrez ordered the laptop, with a base price of $2,400, from a retailer in New York specializing in photo and video gear

“I thought I’d bite the bullet, buy it now, and then that way I’ll have the latest technology on my laptop and don’t have to worry about the tariffs,” he said. Gutierrez was among the U.S. consumers rushing to buy big-ticket items before the tariffs take effect. Economists say the tariffs are expected to increase prices for everyday items, warning of potentially weakened U.S. economic growth.

The White House hopes the tariffs prod countries to open their economies to more American exports, leading to negotiations that could reduce tariffs, or that companies increase their production in the U.S. to avoid higher import taxes.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO

Rob Blackwell stands Thursday next to an electronic vehicle in Richmond, Va., that he started leasing before President Donald Trump announced import tariffs.

Rob Blackwell and his wife needed a new car that could handle long drives from Arlington, Virginia, to their son’s college. Their current electric vehicle is older with a limited range, and it will soon be used by his daughter, who is on the verge of getting her driver’s license.

“I have been telling my wife that for some time we were going to need to do it,” he said, “and I was watching to see what the president did with tariffs.”

Blackwell wanted another EV, but said leasing made more economic sense because the technology is everchanging. He had his eye on the new General Motors Optiq; it’s an American car but made in Mexico, which could be subject to tariffs on supply chains that might increase the cost.

After hearing that tariffs would be announced, they made plans the weekend be-

neighbors.

“I don’t support across-theboard tariffs as a general matter, and so I don’t support those, and I will be urging changes there because I don’t think they will end up raising a bunch of revenue that’s been asserted,” Hill said. “I wish I thought they did, but personally I don’t think they will. But I do support trade diplomacy.”

Still, much of Trump’s “Make America Great Again” coalition remains publicly supportive.

Doug Deason, a prominent Texas-based Republican donor, said he loves the president’s tariff plan, even if it causes some economic disruption.

“He told us during the election there would be pain for every American to get this ship turned around,” Deason said. “It is hard to watch our portfolios deteriorate so much, but we get it. We hope he holds course.”

As Trump struggles with the economy, Democrats are beginning to emerge from the cloud of doom that has consumed their party ever since their election drubbing in November

They scored a decisive victory in Wisconsin’s highprofile state Supreme Court election on Tuesday, even after Elon Musk and his af-

filiated groups poured more than $20 million into the contest. New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker then breathed new life into the Democratic resistance by delivering a record 25-hour-long speech on the Senate floor that centered on a call for his party to find its resolve.

Booker told The Associated Press afterward that a significant political shift has begun even as his party tries to learn from its mistakes in the 2024 presidential election.

“I think you’re seeing a lot more energy, a lot more determination, a lot more feeling like we’ve got to fight,” Booker said. “You can’t sit back any more. You can’t sit on the sidelines. There’s a larger, growing movement.” Booker, a 2020 presidential candidate, acknowledged he is not ruling out a 2028

run, although he said he is focused on his 2026 Senate reelection for now There is broad agreement among Democrats — and even some Republicans, privately at least — that what Trump has unleashed on the global economy could help accelerate the Democratic comeback.

Ezra Levin, co-founder of the progressive resistance group known as Indivisible, has been critical of Democratic officials’ response in recent weeks to Trump’s leadership. But on Friday, he was somewhat giddy about the political consequences for Trump’s GOP after the tariffs announcement.

“Raising prices across the board for your constituents is not popular,” Levin said.

“It’s the kind of thing that can lead to a 1932-style total generational wipe out of a party.”

fore to lease the car He said the dealership honored the agreement they worked out before the tariffs were finalized. And although he said the salespeople were a pleasure to deal with, Blackwell sensed a shift in their stance.

“They know what we know which is suddenly it flips from a buyer’s market to a seller’s market very quickly,” Blackwell said, adding that he is happy with his choice.

“It was just a simple rational decision,” he said. “If this is what the government’s going to do, I need to get my act together.”

Lee Wochner, CEO of the Burbank, California-based Counterintuity marketing and strategy firm, also needed a new vehicle. He wanted a more presentable car for business meetings, but kept putting it off because of his busy work schedule.

On March 27, he told his firm’s car broker: “Ed, I need a car pronto and it’s got to happen by Sunday.”

The broker gave him some car and pricing options and he leased an Audi Q3, which was delivered Sunday to his house by a nearby dealership.

A quick back-of-the-envelope calculation showed how much he saved by leasing before the tariffs were implemented. If he had waited, Wochner said, it would have cost about another $4,300.

He believes prices will continue to increase because the U.S. has lost the trust of the international trade market

l Area sponsor tivities begin alk begins ple who have a outside of the e can change ker who joins, nated, means ained in more research, aving moments

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ALEX BRANDON

President Donald Trump reads The New york Post Saturday as he arrives at Trump National Golf Club in Jupiter, Fla.

Israelitroopsdeploytonew security corridor in Gaza

BY NATALIE MELZER Associated Press

TELAVIV,Israel Israeli troops deployed to anewlyestablished security corridor across southern Gaza, the military announced Saturday,aspressure on the Hamas militant group increased weeks into the renewed war Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday announcedthe new Morag Corridor and suggestedit would cut off the southern city of Rafah, which Israel had ordered evacuated, from the rest of Gaza.

Amilitary statement said troops with the 36th Division had beendeployed. It was not immediately clear how many,orwhere exactly the new corridor was located. Morag is the name of aJewish settlement that once stood between Rafah and Khan Younis, and Netanyahu had suggested it would run between the cities.

Maps published by Israeli media showed the corridor running the width of the narrow coastal stripfrom east

SCHALIT

the

People protest SaturdayinTel Aviv,Israel,

to west.

Netanyahu had said it would be“asecond Philadelphi corridor,” referring to theGaza side of the border with Egyptfarther south, whichhas been under Israeli controlsince last May Last month, Israel shattered aceasefire in Gaza with asurprise bombardment aftertrying to pressure Hamas to accept proposed newterms for the truce that had taken hold in January.Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed. Israel quickly reasserted

control over the Netzarim corridor that cuts off the northern thirdofGaza, including GazaCity,from the rest of the strip. The Philadelphi and Netzarim corridors runfromthe Israeliborder to the Mediterranean Sea.

“Weare cutting up the strip, and we areincreasing the pressure stepbystep, so that they will give us our hostages,” Netanyahu said Wednesday. His defense minister has said Israel would seize large areas of Gazaand add them to its so-called se-

curityzones Saturday’sannouncement came shortly after aWhite House official confirmedthat Netanyahu on Monday would again meet with President Donald Trump, their second meeting at theWhite House sinceTrumptook office in January.The U.S. has been amediator in ceasefiretalks, along with Egypt and Qatar, but also supported Israel’s resumptionoffighting.

Followinghis previous

meeting with Netanyahu, Trump made the surprise proposal that displaced Palestinians in Gaza be permanently resettled outside the territory and he suggested that the UnitedStates take “ownership” in redeveloping the area. Palestinians, Arab nations and rights groups sharply criticized the idea.

Israel has pledged to escalate the fighting with Hamas until the militant group returns the remaining hostag-

es taken in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack that sparked the war, disarms and leaves the territory Israel last month again halted all supplies of food, fuel andhumanitarian aidto Gaza in another application of pressure on the militant group and the territory’sover 2million Palestinians. Rights groups say thetacticisawar crime. Gaza relies largely on humanitarianaid, andits residentscannot easily leave.

BY EDITH M. LEDERER, WAFAA SHURAFA and LEE KEATH Associated Press

UNITED NATIONS— Phone video from one of 15 Palestinian medicskilled by Israeli forces last month appears to contradict Israeli claims that the medics’ vehicles didnot have emergency signals on when troops opened fire on them in southern Gaza.

The footage shows the Red Crescent and Civil Defense teams driving slowly with their emergency vehicles’ lights flashing, logos visible, as they pulled up to help an ambulance that had come under fire earlier.The teams do not appear to be acting unusually or in athreatening manner as three medics emerge and head toward the stricken ambulance.

Their vehicles immediately come under abarrage of gunfire, which goes on for more than five minutes with brief pauses.The owner of the phone can be heard praying.

“Forgive me, mother.This is thepath Ichose, mother to help people,”hecries,his voice weak.

Eight Red Crescent personnel, six Civil Defense workers and aU.N. staffer were killed in the shooting before dawn on March 23 by Israeli troops conducting operations in Telal-Sultan, adistrict of the southern Gaza city of Rafah. Troops then bulldozed over the bodies along with their mangled vehicles, buryingthem in a massgrave. U.N. and rescue workers were only ableto reach the site aweek laterto dig out the bodies.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society’svice president, Marwan Jilani, said the

phone with thefootage was found in the pocket of one of itsslain staffers. The Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations distributed the videotothe U.N. Security Council. The Associated Press obtained thevideo fromaU.N.diplomatoncondition of anonymity because it has notbeen made public

One paramedic who survived, Munzer Abed,confirmed the veracity of the videotothe AP.Two blockshaped concretestructures visible in the video are also seen in aU.N.video released Sunday showing therecovery of thebodies from the

site —asign theyare in the same location.

Asked aboutthe video, the Israeli military said Saturday that the incident was “under thorough examination.”

TheIsraeli militaryearlier said it opened fire on the vehicles becausetheywere “advancingsuspiciously” on nearbytroops without headlightsoremergency signals. The initial account of the vehicles not having emergency lightsonwas mistaken, an Israeli military official told journalistsSaturday evening. Theofficial spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.

Louisianapoisedfor

By Amanda McElfresh | amcelfresh@theadvocate.com

Louisianacitizenshave more opportunitiesthan ever before to receiveanaffordableeducation that leadstowell-payingjobsandfinancialstability,thanks to theworkofseveral organizationsacrossthe state.

TheLouisiana Communityand TechnicalCollege System (LCTCS)isplaying akey role in creating those opportunities, with short-term degree andtraining programs that allowstudentstoearncertifications in amatterofmonthsorevenweeks.Someofthe most in-demandLCTCS programs areinareas including healthcare,broadband andskilled trades such as electrical work,plumbingand construction

“All over thestate,wehaveseenthe abilityof thesecollegestobenimbleand flexibleand develop acurriculumorinitiatives basedonindustryneeds,” said SusanBourgeois,Secretary of Louisiana Economic Development. “Thatnimblenatureis really critical to thesuccess of ourwork. Thereisa direct line betweenindustry needsand creating the solution relatedtoit.”

BourgeoisjoinedLCTCS System PresidentDr. MontySullivan, LouisianaWorkforce Commission SecretarySusanaSchowen andRichard Nelson Secretaryofthe LouisianaDepartmentofRevenue fora recent discussion aboutthe connectionsbetween LCTCSand workforcedevelopment across Louisiana. A videoofthe full conversation is availableatwww nola.com andwww.theadvocate.com

Nelson notedthatthe typesofcareers LCTCS prepares students for willcontinuetobeneededwell into thefuture, even with technologicalchanges such as artificial intelligence

“It’sverydifficult to automate theworkofa plumberoranelectrician.Those skills will always be in demand,” he said.“We have gotten alot of bad policy outofthe wayand made it more competitive

for people to stay here.There is goingtobea lotmore economic activity.”

Last year,LCTCS institutions graduatedmore than 35,000 students,a newrecord. Dr.Sullivan said he is optimistic that number cangroweven more.The system is workingtoeducate people in Louisiana’sworkforce abouttrainingopportunities to improvetheir skills,whether they want to grow in theircurrent careersorpivot to somethingdifferent. Bourgeoissaiditisalsoimportant to start raising awarenessamong middle andhighschoolstudents aboutthe opportunitiesthatwillbeavailable for them.Nelsonadded that he hopesstate leaderscan findwaystoaddress potentialbarrierssuchaslack of childcareand tuitionrates to ensure everyone in Louisianawho wantsanLCTCS educationcan receiveone

“Wehaveanopportunity to tackle generational povertyinLouisiana head-on,”Schowen said.“We are in amomentintimewhere we canchangeLouisiana When we putthese people in thesejobs, we lower crimerates.Weimprove educationaloutcomes. We improvehealthoutcomes. We make allofthose things better by this kind of work,and LCTCSis rightatthe core of it.”

LCTCSincludesBaton RougeCommunity College, BossierParishCommunity College, CentralLouisiana TechnicalCommunity College, DelgadoCommunity College, LouisianaDelta CommunityCollege,Fletcher TechnicalCommunity College, Northshore Technical CommunityCollege,Northwest LouisianaTechnical CommunityCollege,Nunez CommunityCollege River Parishes CommunityCollege,South Louisiana CommunityCollege,andSOWELATechnicalCommunity College. Visitwww.lctcs.edutolearn more aboutan institutionnearyou

ASSOCIATEDPRESS PHOTO By ARIEL

demanding

immediaterelease of hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

LOUISIANAPOLITICS

Johnson, Scalisewantjudgesbarredthatblock Trump

would alreadybedone.

Mark Ballard

WASHINGTON —Atarecent town hall in New Orleans, U.S. Rep. Troy Carter was asked why Democrats were doing so little to block the flood of President Donald Trump’sexecutive orders. Carter replied that with Republicans holding majorities in both chambers of Congress and controlling the White House, Democratic lawmakers could do little except talk loudly and go to court. The courts have been the Democrats’ most effective tactic.

Individual federal district judges have temporarilydelayed orders to fire federal workers, ban transgender rights and freeze congressionally approved federalfunding, among other issues. Six emergency applications have reached the U.S. Supreme Court in battles includingthe revocation of birthright citizenship and the use of the Alien Enemies Act to deport immigrants.

Now Republicans are trying legislation to block what are called “nationwideinjunctions”.

The majority GOP House this week is expected to pass the “No Rogue Rulings Act” by Rep. Darrell Issa, R-California. It would essentially forbid single judges from issuing nationwide directives —preliminary injunctions or temporary restraining orders —that postpone implementation of apresident’sexecutive orders. If passed, the bill would go to the Senate for consideration.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Benton, said Tuesday: “Under the existing framework, one singular district court judge out of 677 of them, anywhere in America,can subvert the will of the duly elected president carrying out his constitutional duties. We’ve got to step into this.” Johnson cited aHarvard Law

Johnson Troy Carter pushes for milk substitutes

New Orleans Democratic

Reviewstudy to underline his contention that Democrats are targeting Trump. The 2023 analysis found national injunctions were used sixtimes against Republican PresidentGeorge W. Bush,adozen times to stallpolicies of President Barack Obama and in 14 cases for President Joe Biden, both Democrats. Trump faced 64 in his first term and about that many since taking office Jan. 20. Earlierthis month, Stephen Vladeck,aGeorgetown law professor who writes alegal affairs blog, identified 67 cases in which federal judgesruled on temporary relief in 2025. Not all re-

with each meal, school boards face the likelihood thatreimbursement for the cost of the entire meal will be denied.

sulted in anationwide injunction. Fifty-one individual federal trial judges nominated by seven different presidents in 14 districts issued orders delaying implementation of Trump initiatives, he said. Part of the reason for the increased number is that Trump has issued 107 executive orders, themost since President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed 99 during his first 100 days, Vladeck said. Supporters say nationwide injunctions give courtstime to consider legal issues without clogging theirdockets with hundreds of similar cases Opponentsfrom bothpoliti-

cal parties, depending on whose president is in the White House, say theprocedure is politically motivated. At aSenate Judiciary committee hearing Wednesday,Notre Dame law professorSamuel Bray and panel chairChuck Grassley,anIowaRepublican who has filed abill like Issa’s, agreed that pursuing class-action lawsuitswas preferable to a single judge stalling an executive order Democratic members of the committeeargued such apath would take so long thatany damage by apresidential order eventually found unconstitutional

“The reality is thatthe number of injunctions issued against the first andsecondTrump administrations areevidence of a president who is clearly violating the law,”saidSen.Dick Durbin, D-Illinois.

Both Republicans and Democratshaveturnedtonationwide injunctions to combat orders from the opposing party’spresident.

Forinstance, as aRepublican attorneygeneral,Jeff Landry in 2023 went to U.S. DistrictJudge Terry Doughty,aTrump nominee in Monroe, for apreliminary injunctiontoforbid Bidenadministrationofficials from communicating with social media platforms abouttamping down erroneousCOVID-19 information. The 5thU.S. Circuit Court of Appealsbacked Doughty,but the Supreme Court did not.

Trump andsome of his GOP supporters have called for impeaching judges. That has brought the “No Rogue” bill to the forefront.

Johnsonsaid“impeachment is an extraordinary” action. Removal from the bench has been usedsparingly over history and only whenthe judge wasaccused of committing acrime —never for acontrary ruling.

Sen. JohnN.Kennedy,R-Madisonville,toldThe Washington Post last week that he opposes impeachment but is open to the ideaoflimiting nationwide injunctions.

Regardless of howitplays out, the nationwide injunction legislationallows Republicans another way to showtheir support for Trump.

“The abusesthatwe’ve been seeing with some of these districtcourt judgesthatjust feel their role is to try to stop the duly elected president of the United States andDonald Trump because theydisagree with his policies,” House Majority Leader Steve Scalise,R-Jefferson, said Tuesday.

Email Mark Ballardat mballard@theadvocate.com.

CAPITOL

BUZZ staff reports

U.S. Rep. Troy Carter again joined with South Carolina Republican Rep. Nancy Mace in an effort to get alternatives to cow’s milk in schoolcafeterias. The legislation, which was filed Wednesday,would change 78-year-old laws that put acarton of milk on every school breakfast and lunch tray Unless milk is included

The U.S. Department of Agriculture sends local school districts roughly $1 billion each year for milk.

Butalot of those cartons are tossed in the trash unopened.

Carter said many children of African Americans, Latino, Native Americans, Asian Americans and other ethnicities get sick from milk.

“My wife and children are all lactose intolerant, so I knowjust how uncomfortable consumingdairy milk can befor someonewho cannot process it,” Carter said. “Weneed immediate reforms in ourschools to ensure all children have safe and appropriatedietary options.”

U.S. Rep. Troy Carter is moving forward witha bill that would require schools to offer aplant-based drink along with cow’s milk.

“The federal government is wasting $400 million of our tax dollars ayear by mandating that every school kid getting nutrition assistance has acarton of cow’smilk on thetray even

though millions of them don’twant it and get sick from it,” saidMace.

“Thirty percent of kids throw themilk away in thecarton, and hundreds of millions of tax dollars

wasted is not spilled milk. Kids should have ahealthy choice in lunchrooms,” she added.

The Agriculture Department’sNationalSchool LunchProgramallows milk substitutes, but the requirements areburdensome andschoolsaren’t reimbursed.

The bill by Carterand Mace, which is similarto onethatwas filedduring the last Congress, would require schoolstooffer a plant-based drink along with cow’smilk.

Landryonly fooling with newstate pet

It’sbeen five months sinceBengaltiger Omar Bradleymadehis debut in TigerStadium forLSU’s game against Alabama afterGov.JeffLandry’s weekslong push to geta

tigerinthe stadium forthe first time since2015. At the time,jokesters on social media poked fun at the “Rent-A-Tiger,”in dozens of posts, but for April Fools’ Day this week, the governor gotinonthe laughs.

“Today,IsignedanExecutive Orderdeclaring Omarthe state petofLouisiana!April Fools!” Landry postedonXonApril 1. The post came with an image of Landry walking on the football field beside aleashedcartoon Omar. Omar, who is now around 2yearsold, came to Louisiana on loan from Floridabasedpurveyorofexotic animalinsurance policies Mitchell Kalmanson, after the LSU veterinary school declinedLandry’srequest thatthe university’slive mascot Mike VII make a gameday appearance.

STAFF FILEPHOTO

THE GULF SOUTH

‘Influx’ of newcomers flocking to Pass Christian

‘There’s construction going on everywhere’

BY MARTHA SANCHEZ Sun Herald

Often when Glynn Illich’s phone rings, it’s another call from Louisiana. He keeps hearing familiar laments about weariness with city life. And everyone is asking a question: What about moving to the Mississippi Coast?

“It’s beautiful,” said Illich, a local developer, standing on the back porch of a gleaming new Pass Christian property

“Look at this. It’s $400,000. Any other place in the country, this is $800,000. And it’s quiet as a church mouse out here.”

Growth is surging in the city’s sprawling Timber Ridge subdivision, where Illich has built homes since Hurricane Katrina

The neighborhood also reflects how the coast is changing. The population here is rising faster than most parts of the state and U.S. Census data shows Harrison County grew by about 5,000 people in the last four years Newcomers are moving in from Louisiana and across the country

“It’s a different way of life,” said Steve Scherrer, from Chicago, who just bought a house in Timber Ridge. Now he sees out-of-state license plates all the time. Plush new subdivisions are emerging off old county roads. Billboards for custom new properties are advertising beside Interstate 10. Builders are racing to develop new businesses and enlarge roads to fit the area’s growing numbers.

Timber Ridge growing

Developers say the migration is energizing the local economy And Mississippi is about to eliminate its income tax. That could draw even more wealthy buyers eager to live in one of the last affordable beach communities in the country In Timber Ridge, new homes are still rising from lots of red dirt.

There are about 1,100 properties so far, and some spots are still open in the back of the subdivision. But space on the million-dollar waterfront is running out.

“There’s construction going on everywhere,” said Meresa Morgan, president of the property owners association. She was born in Wiggins and returned from Houston five years ago, when the pandemic closed offices and suddenly she could work remotely

Now she is retired

The biggest change in the neighborhood since she got there? “Just the influx,” she said, wheeling her polished Suburban through streets where purple and gold flags dominate the few flying for Ole Miss, and Jet Skis park beside golf carts in driveways.

She turns down another block of tall homes and wood beams that will soon hold more properties. “This is a new build,” Morgan said She points to more. “This is a remodel. And somebody’s getting ready to build on that lot.”

Real estate agents say the new builds will keep selling.

Almost two decades since Hurricane Katrina, the people who once vacationed here are returning to retire. New builds rise more than a dozen feet off the ground.

Population since the pandemic has dropped in New Orleans and risen in all three of Mississippi’s coastal counties. Morgan said roughly 60% of people in Timber Ridge are now full-time residents.

Signs of Louisiana natives moving in are especially clear in Bay St. Louis and Pass Christian because they are just a short drive away But New Orleanians are also scrolling real estate websites for properties in Ocean Springs. More subdivisions are rising north of Interstate 10 where insurance costs are lower People are coming from Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas. Some are still learning to say old French words with the right Southern drawl and correctly pronounce Biloxi.

“If you are lucky enough to be able to work from home, and decide where it is you want to live, why would you want to live in a big city?” said Stephen Dinjar, who grew up in New Orleans, moved around the country and bought a house in Timber Ridge two years ago with his wife, Sheila.

“Why wouldn’t you go to a pretty little town like Pass Christian?” he wondered. “I see more and more people making the choice.”

Dizzying growth

Scherrer discovered the local charm a few years back while exploring the Gulf Coast on his 48foot boat. He worried about safety in Chicago and was tired of Illinois taxes.

“We liked the people,” he said. “We liked the area. We thought, ‘OK, let’s buy a house down here and we’ll move.’ So that’s what we did.”

Real estate agents and developers say demand has calmed slightly this year because of insurance costs and interest rates.

The coast’s growth is steady but not as explosive as some parts of Florida and Texas. It could still take years for Timber Ridge and other subdivisions to fill all the way

But people keep coming.

Jerry and Joyce Pendleton also arrived two years ago from Oklahoma City Oklahoma. They came from a ranch house and had never lived on pilings. But on vacation, once they veered off the interstate when they saw the sign for beaches, and they were hooked.

“We wanted to go back to a small town,” Joyce Pendleton said. “People thought we were kind of crazy.” Now they wave at neighbors passing on golf carts and have even attended some board of aldermen’s meetings. Jerry Pendleton is starting to golf and wears a red Cruisin’ the Coast T-shirt. He explains it simply: “We’re really just beach people.”

Louisiana residents moving

“We’re getting all of these bigname companies that are about to be building and come here,” said Summer Newman, president of the Gulf Coast Association of Realtors. “It’s going to bring jobs. It’s going to bring people. We’re going to need more houses.”

Still, so much growth can be dizzying. The issue is dominating several local elections, and many candidates are vowing to preserve beloved neighborhoods from developers. An influx of wealthy out-of-staters who sometimes buy homes in cash has also raised prices.

Illich is still building about 20 properties a year and targeting Facebook advertising to Louisiana residents. He estimates he has built somewhere between 300 and 350 houses over the years.

The appeal is not entirely new Families from Louisiana have long bought second homes on the coast for weekend getaways, and building started in Timber Ridge by the 1970s. But the difference now is stark.

Morgan said some longtime Timber Ridge residents “are not as fond of all the growth.” Others joke they wish leisure magazines that praise the coast as an undiscovered paradise would just keep quiet. But the word is out already

Most have been bought by outof-state retirees and empty-nesters. He locked up another spotless new home one recent morning and looked down the street. Three lots were empty except for some trees near the property line.

But soon more homes will rise there. People keep calling.

“I’ll have this whole area built,” he said. “I’m working on the plans right now.”

Stephen Dinjar, who grew up in New Orleans, and wife, Sheila, purchased a home in Timber Ridge when they moved from Dallas two years ago.

PROVIDED PHOTOS By HANNAH RUHOFF

Colorful homes line a street in the growing Timber Ridge subdivision in Pass Christian, Miss.

EDUCATION

Mass layoffs rattling Head Start leaders

BY MORIAH BALINGIT

AP education writer

WASHINGTON The problems for Head Start began days after President Donald Trump took office.

Trump’s administration announced it would freeze federal grants the primary funding for the early education program that serves more than half a million low-income children. Then came glitches with the funding website that forced nearly two dozen Head Start centers to close temporarily Even after the funding freeze was aborted — and the website was restored — those who run the programs remained on edge. On Tuesday, the administration gave them another reason to worry: mass layoffs.

Scores of government employees who help administer Head Start, which is federally funded but run by schools and nonprofits, have been put on leave. Preschool operators say they have received no communication from the Office of Head Start and don’t know who to turn to if they have questions about grants or need the office to sign off on equipment expenditures. They fear the program, which serves some of the nation’s neediest kids and families, could fall victim to the Trump administration’s sweeping cuts. Head Start was started six decades ago as part of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty. While the early childhood program has enjoyed bipartisan sup-

port since then, some Republicans have emphasized its shortcomings and criticized efforts to increase funding. And Project 2025, the policy blueprint created by the conservative Heritage Foundation, called for eliminating Head Start altogether

Joel Ryan, head of the Washington State Association of Head Start, said he is worried the administration is slowly dismantling the program without outright eliminating it. “It doesn’t have to be from an act of Congress,” Ryan said “You can kneecap programs simply by cutting significant numbers of their workforce.”

Preschools need federal staff

Head Start operates in all 50 states, helping families who are homeless or are in poverty Parents who otherwise would not be able to afford child care rely on it when they work or go to school.

Supporters say that underscores the importance of Head Start to the economy and at-risk children alike.

At least five of the 12 regional offices for Head Start were closed Tuesday as part of layoffs at the Department of Health and Human Services, according to the National Head Start Association. While individual preschools’ funding re-

mains unchanged, the association’s statement said the cuts happened without a “clear plan for how the administration intends on supporting Head Start.”

Some worry Head Start will become partisan.

“What I don’t want Head Start to be is a political football,” said Rhett Cecil, executive director of the Indiana Head Start Association. “Because a Republican household, a Democratic household, a libertarian household could be a Head Start household.”

In mid-March, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whose department oversees Head Start, visited a Head Start in Alexandria, Virginia, praising the program and its staff.

“I had a very inspiring tour,” Kennedy said in a video on his department’s Instagram account. “They’re getting the kind of education and socialization that they need.”

Still, advocates worry the GOP’s efforts to slash the federal budget will ensnare programs like Head Start.

Already, the staff layoffs have caused concerns Head Start preschools in Washington state had been awaiting approval to replace downed fencing around a playground and to purchase a refrig-

WE’RE ASKING EXPERTS ACROSS THE STATE HOW TO TACKLE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES FACING

erator for a center Ryan said he fears some operators will lose funding because grant applications won’t get processed. Panic, then closures

The preschools are deeply reliant on federal money. During the brief hold on federal grants, no program was impacted more immediately Unable to make payroll the day of the freeze, several Head Start centers temporarily closed cutting off child care for lowincome families, for whom a day without work is often a day without pay

The news about the funding freeze emerged in January as Head Start leaders from across the country were together at the Capital Hilton, a few blocks away from the White House, preparing to meet with Congress members.

Gathered in a conference room, many leaders simultaneously realized they were locked out of their funds.

“You could almost feel the wave of panic all over the room when I think we all realized at the same time that everyone was locked out of that payment management system,” said Chanda Hillman, executive director of Early Flowers Learning. The group operates 17 Head Start campuses in rural parts of southwestern Michigan.

A few hours later Hillman had to make the call: She would shut down the Early Flowers Learning campuses.

“That meant all of the families were not going to have anywhere to have their kids,” she said.

‘They cannot go to work’

Halfway across the country, Cecil of the Indiana Head Start Association learned about the reported freeze from a Head Start director,

and immediately began to fret.

The closure of Head Start centers across the state would leave families in a pinch. But he also worried about those who would be furloughed — Head Start is Indiana’s 78th largest employer with nearly 4,000 staff.

Not long after came another confusing piece of news: Head Start was never supposed to be a part of the funding freeze. So why, Head Start directors wondered, had they been shut out of the funding portal? Asked about the pause, the Department of Health and Human Services responded with an automatic message that said it was freezing all communication.

Even after the freeze was aborted and the Head Start portal was supposed to be fixed, many centers discovered they still could not access their funds. A week later, at least 45 grant recipients across the country were still locked out, and many were on the verge of closure. In Waukesha, Wisconsin, Head Start programs shut their doors and furloughed most of their staff. The programs would not reopen until the following week when their leaders could access the funds.

Unable to make payroll two

Head Start centers that served rural communities in western New York shut their doors, laying off 84 employees and leaving the families of more than 200 children without care. They would not reopen until Feb. 10, when they were finally able to draw down funds. Head Start leaders said members of Congress from both parties were in touch during the crisis, working to get them answers. For Hillman, it raised hope that Head Start will continue to enjoy bipartisan support — even if some conservatives oppose it.

Iran’s currency falls to record low against dollar

BY NASSER KARIMI and JON GAMBRELL Associated Press

TEHRAN, Iran

Iran’s rial

currency traded Saturday at a record low against the U.S. dollar as the country returned to work after a long holiday costing over 1 million rials for a single greenback as tensions between Tehran and Washington likely will push it even lower

The exchange rate had plunged to over 1 million rials during the Persian New Year, Nowruz, as currency shops closed and only informal trading took place on the streets, creating additional pressure on the market. But as traders resumed work Saturday, the rate fell even further to 1,043,000 to the dollar, signaling the new low appeared here to stay

On Ferdowsi Street in Iran’s capital, Tehran, the heart of the country’s money exchanges, some traders even switched off their electronic signs showing the going rate as uncertainty loomed over how much further the rial could drop

“We turn it off since we are not sure about the successive changes of the rate,” said Reza Sharifi, who works at one exchange.

Iran’s economy has been severely affected by international sanctions, particularly after U.S. President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew America from Tehran’s nuclear deal with world powers in 2018. At the time of the 2015 deal, which saw Iran drastically limit its enrichment and stockpiling of uranium in exchange for lifting of international sanctions, the rial traded at 32,000 to the dollar

After Trump returned to the White House for his second term in January, he restarted his so-called “maxi-

mum pressure” campaign targeting Tehran with sanctions. He again went after firms trading Iranian crude oil, including those selling at a discount in China.

Trump meanwhile has written to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, trying to jumpstart direct talks between Tehran and Washington. So far, Iran has maintained it is willing for indirect talks, but such discussions under the Biden administration failed to make headway Meanwhile, Trump is continuing an intense airstrike campaign targeting the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, the last force in Tehran’s self-described “Axis of Resistance” able to attack Israel after other militant groups were mauled by Israel during its war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Mehdi Darabi, a market analyst, said he believed that foreign pressures in recent months caused “expectations for the possibility of a decrease in oil sales and more inflation, and it caused a higher rate for hard currencies,” according to Tehran’s Donay-eEqtesad economic newspaper

A pensioner who gave only his first name, Saeed, for fear of reprisals, said if Iran stopped its hostile policy toward the outside, financial relief could be possible.

“If we want to live a comfortable life, we should maintain good ties with our neighbors,” he said. “We shouldn’t bare our teeth at them. They will do the same.”

Economic upheavals have evaporated the public’s savings, pushing average Iranians into holding onto hard currencies, gold, cars and other tangible wealth. Others pursue cryptocurrencies or fall into get-richquick schemes.

Meanwhile, internal political pressure remains inflamed still over the mandatory hijab, or headscarf, with women still ignoring the law on the streets of Tehran. Rumors also persist over the government potentially increasing the cost of subsidized gasoline in the country, which has sparked nationwide protests in the past. Iran’s theocracy has responded by dialing broadly back hijab enforcement and easing restrictions on at least one political figure.

BY SOPHENG CHEANG Associated Press

Cambodia

SIHANOUKVILLE,

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet on Saturday presided over the opening of an expansion of his country’s main naval base, which analysts and the U.S. government suspect will be used as a strategic outpost by China. Construction of a new pier to accommodate much larger ships, a dry dock for repairs and other features was completed in recent weeks at the Ream Naval Base in southern Cambodia, on the Gulf of Thailand.

The project has drawn great attention mainly because Washington — noting that China is Cambodia’s closest ally and main source of investment and aid believes that Beijing has been secretly granted special and exclusive privileges to use the base, a claim repeatedly denied by Cambodian officials.

Hun Manet at the inauguration noted that the ceremony was taking place two weeks ahead of a visit to Cambodia by Chinese President Xi Jinping. He praised Xi’s government for help in building the expansion and other projects, describing bilateral relations as good and strong. At the same time, he declared that the Ream base expansion was not hidden from other countries, and said war-

Mexico

By The Associated Press

ships from all friendly countries can visit the base and hold joint military exercises, except for very big warships that cannot be physically accommodated “I would like to take this opportunity to make it clear that the Cambodian government led by the Cambodian People’s Party has no intention, in the past or today or in the future, of violating its Constitution by allowing any country’s troops to establish exclusive bases on Cambodian territory,” he said.

China’s Defense Ministry, in a statement issued in Beijing, said the China-Cambodia Ream Naval Base Joint Support and Training Center — part of the facility that was officially opened Saturday — will support a wide range of joint operations.

Areas of cooperation will include counterterrorism, disaster prevention and relief, humanitarian assistance and joint training, the ministry said in a news release.

“Necessary personnel from both countries will be stationed at the site to ensure smooth operation of the center The center’s establishment and operation are based on mutual respect and equal consultation between China and Cambodia,” the statement said.

Cao Qingfeng, a visiting senior member of China’s Central Military Commission, said in a speech that the base “will surely become a new starting point to continuously promote the relationship between the two armies and consolidate the development.”

confirms 1st case

of bird flu

MEXICO CITY A 3-year-old girl from the western state of Durango is Mexico’s first confirmed human case of bird flu, health officials said Friday Type A H5N1 influenza has been spreading through animals and some people in the United States. There have been 70 cases in that country since during the past year, according to the World Health Organization, though researchers and studies suggest that’s likely an undercount.

In Mexico, the girl was in serious condition in a hospital in Torreon in the neighboring state of Coahuila, the health ministry said in a statement Friday It said she had initially been treated with an anti-flu medication. It was not known how the girl contracted the virus. Investigators were testing wild birds in the vicinity of the girl’s home, the statement said.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By VAHID SALEMI

A currency exchange bureau worker counts U.S dollars Saturday at Ferdowsi square, Tehran’s go-to venue for foreign currency exchange, in downtown Tehran, Iran.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By HENG SINITH Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet arrives Saturday for the opening of the Ream Naval Base in Sihanoukville, southwestern of Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Europe,Canadasay they’llspend more on defense

Butalliesare cool on U.S. demands

BY LORNE COOK and MATTHEW LEE Associated Press

BRUSSELS European NATO allies and Canada on Friday said they are willing to ramp up defense spending butare cool on American demands for the size of their military budgets, particularly given U.S. President Donald Trump’s readinesstodraw closer to Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

U.S. allies have spent billions of dollars more on defense since Putin ordered a full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than three years ago, but almost athird of them still don’tmeet NATO’starget of at least 2% of their gross domestic product.

Trump has said that U.S. allies should committospending at least 5%, but that would require investment at an unprecedented scale. According to NATO figures, the U.S. was projectedtohave spent 3.38% last year,the only ally whose spending has droppedover the last decade.

“It is important that we all agree that Russia is athreat. If not, Idon’tknow why we should always increase more and more defense spending,” Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly told reporters at NATO headquartersin Brussels.

NATO leaders said at a summit last year that Russia “remains themost significant and direct threat to Allies’security.”

Trump’spublic rehabilitation of Putin, who had becomeaninternationalpariah indicted for war crimes, has disturbedU.S. allies, and they believe that the decision to ruleout NATO membership forUkraine weakened Kyiv’shandatthe negotiating table before peace talks have evenbegun.

Beyond that, Europe and Canada were alarmed last month when the United Statessplit with European alliesbyrefusing to blame Russia for itsinvasionof Ukraineinvotes on three U.N. resolutionsseeking an endtothe war.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Washington isn’tinsisting that its allies hit the 5% spending target overnight, but “we thinkthat’s what NATO al-

lies need to be spending for NATO to face thethreats that itself has identified and articulated.”

Rubio said that the extra spending is required to beef up militarycapabilities

“Weare as involved in NATO today as we have ever been,and we intendtocontinue to be. But it hastobea real alliance. And thatmeans that our alliance partners have to increase theirown capabilities,” he said.

Askedwhether that the U.S.would also match the 5% target, Rubio said: “Sure. We’reheading therenow.”

France hasset itself an “objective of 3%-3.5%, and we are preparing to reach 3%-3.5%, which is about the level of American defense spending,” French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot

SpaceX’s privatepolar spacetripreturns to Earth

BY RICHARD TRIBOU

Orlando Sentinel (TNS)

The four crew membersof the private Fram2 mission returnedtoEarth on Friday after spending more than 31/2 days circlingthe planet on the first human spaceflight on apolar orbit.

TheSpaceXCrew Dragon Resilience made aparachute-assisted splashdown off the California coast at 9:19 a.m. Pacific time. The mission launched from Florida’sKennedy Space Center on Monday night.

Chinese-born cryptocurrency entrepreneur Chun Wang, now of Malta, paid an undisclosed price for the jaunt to spaceand aunique view of some of thesame places in the Arctic and Antarctica to which he had trekked by land.

He broughtalong friends and fellow adventurers Eric PhilipsofAustralia, Jannicke Mikkelsen of Norway and Rabea Rogge of Germany all of whom had experience exploring the Arctic.

The California landing was afirst for aSpaceX Crew Dragon, although cargo versionsof the spacecrafthad previously returned off the

Pacific Coast before SpaceX movedoperations to Florida. The company made the decision last year,though, to switch back to thePacific. The move was made for safetyreasons after several incidents were reported of debris found onland determinedto be remnantsofthe propulsion module that detaches from Dragon before splashdown. While theFram2mission wasa private endeavor,the crew performed22research experiments duringthe trip including takingthe first Xrayinspace

Thecapsule was brought up ontoone of SpaceX’srecovery vessels less than 30 minutes after landing with interior cameras showing the quartet givingfist bumpsto oneanother and taking selfies.

The four exited the spacecraft within an houroflandingwith minimum assistance —part of SpaceX’sinvestigationinto crew capabilities for future missions to places like Mars where arecoverycrew wouldn’tbeavailable. The return to gravity still madefor afew stumbles getting out thehatch, but the four got to their feet all

smilesbeforebeing escorted away for medical checks

This marked the completion of Resilience’sfourth trip to spaceafter having debutedonNASA’s Crew-1 mission to theInternational Space Station in 2020. That was followed by theInspiration4 andPolarisDawn private missions paid forby billionaire and likely next NASAAdministrator Jared Isaacman.

It’sthe only Crew Dragon to be outfitted with something other than aforwardfacing docking hatch, since itslast three flightsincluding this one had not required meeting up with thespace station.

Instead, on both Inspiration4and Fram2, SpaceX installeda nearly 4-foot-wide domedcupola window to allow for 360-degree views while in orbit.OnPolaris Dawn, thatwas switched out for the Skywalker apparatus that let Isaacman perform the first commercial spacewalk.

SpaceX has flown 66 people into space aboard its fleet of fourCrew Dragonson17 missions since 2020. Afifth Dragon is underconstruction.

should be spent on European rather than American equipment. In recent years, European alliesplaced around two-thirds of their equipment orders withU.S. defense companies.

Even as the Trump administrationdemands thatdefense spending be ramped up, the president’stariff war is roilingstock markets and is likely to damage economic growth around the world, including amongU.S.alliesat NATO.

Article 2ofNATO’sfounding treatystatesthat allies “will seek to eliminate conflictintheir international economic policies and will encourage economiccollaboration between anyorall of them.”

said. France was estimated to be spending 2.06% last year He said that new funds

Asked whether the tariffs constitute abreach of the treaty,NATOSecretary-General Mark Rutte said: “No, I don’tthink so.Wehaveseen in the past many examples of

differences of view,offights over tariffs. This has happened before without that being in violation of Article 2.” Pressedonhow allies might provide for their security,ifthey no longer have budget space, Rutte said: “I don’tthink I’mhelping this alliancebycommenting on something which is notreally part of alliance policy,and that is to make sure that we can defend ourselves.” Norwegian Foreign MinisterEspenBarth Eide said that NATO membersare working on setting anew spending target,tobeannounced at the next summit in June. But he said that “5% is of course much more thanthe U.S. itself spends and it’sa very high ambition and we are not ready to committoa number at this time. Just as it’simportant to spend more, it’salso important to spend more smartly.”

Statepausesworkoncoastal project

BY MIKE SMITH Staff writer

Gov.Jeff Landry’sadministration has ordered a90-day pause on work on Louisiana’sbiggest-ever coastal project,the controversial Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion, arguing the state cannot afford the more than $3 billionplan and stressing that it must be smaller in scale.

The decision,confirmedbythe state’scoastal officials, took effect Friday.Ithalts nearly allwork related to the project, which has been plannedand studiedfor years and broke ground in August 2023 on the west bankofPlaquemines Parish near Ironton. Funds related

Program offers path for nonviolent criminals

Chargesdropped forthose who attend

rehab

BY QUINN COFFMAN Staff writer

Last week, Marion “Brad” Martin sawhis daughter,Astin, 29, for the first time in 10 years. He also hugged his 10-year-old granddaughter, Peyton, for thefirsttime. Thereunion came March 26 at aceremony markingMartin’s graduation from aprogram meant to help nonviolent criminal offenders reenter society

The last time Martin had seen Astin was at her mother’s funeral in January 2017.

“When she walked in, it was so emotional,” Martin said of theceremony,which markedthe endof his treatment. “That was the first time that Iwas able to actually put my hands on her,hug her,and actually speak words to her.”

The David O’Quin Pre-trial Diversion and Recovery Program, which Martin fully completed on Friday,involves months of sober living, inpatient counselingand gainful employment.

Theprogram is operated by the East Baton Rouge Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, which partners with the parish District Attorney’sOffice. Its goal is to lower recidivism by selecting nonviolent offenders before they are incarcerated and offering them resources to return to normal life.

In exchange fortheir participation, offenders are bailed out of jail and allowed to choose atreatment facility that fits their needs.

The biggest draw for many participants is that, upon successful completion of the program’srequirements, offenders will have their charges dismissedbythe

ä See PROGRAM, page 2B

to the 2010 BP oil spill areintended to pay for it, but state coastal of-

ficials sayrising costs mean Louisianawillbeonthe hook forhundreds of millions of dollars, if not more.

While notofficially killing the project, the pausemoves what many onceconsidered the linchpin of thestate’s coastalrestoration plans furtherout of reach. Only initial work hadbeen allowed to continue in recent months at the site as the state negotiated with Plaquemines Parish over its future.

Statecoastal officials say they are now developing ideas for a smaller diversion and want to move forward with construction of

alarge-scalelandbridgeinBarataria Basin usingdredged sedimenttobuild it

Prominent coastal advocacy groups expressed dismayover the move and urgedthe state to reconsider.They note that marshbuilding projects using dredged sediment eventually erode just like the rest of the coast, whereas the Mid-Barataria project mimics the way south Louisiana was built in the first place.

But state officials say adecision had to be made.

“This thing is just costing us a fortune right now,sowehave to quickly suspend it for 90 days, and thatway we at leaststopthe bleeding,” said Gordon Dove, chairman

of the board overseeing the state’s Coastal Protection andRestoration Authority Tony Alford, who chairs the governor’s advisory commission on coastal affairs, offered similar comments. The CPRA issued a statement saying asmall amount of work would continue, including relocation of apipeline in the area and site maintenance.

Dove said he hopestoannounce a new strategytomoveforward with in amonth or two,but stressedthat the state intends to push ahead with planningfor other projects in the meantime,including the land bridge thatwouldstretchmore than20miles. Coastal advocates saythe Mid-Barataria diversion wasmeant to nourish that land bridge withsediment, but Dove maintainsthere are other options.

Asmallerdiversionwould cause farless harm to commercial shrimping andoyster growing in the area, one of the main criticisms of theMid-Barataria project. Under the previous plan, shrimpers and oyster growers in thediversion area would have to movefarther out or find another line of work. Nearly $380 million hadbeen setaside to help those affected by the project, including commercial fishers and buyouts forhomeowners.

Dove says the $380 millionwill not be nearlyenough compensation and is worried about the prospects of lawsuits. Contractors could, however, also sue over the lost work if the project is canceled,and it is unclear whetherthe

BY CHRISTOPHERCARTWRIGHT Staff writer

While officials work outapotential agreement between the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System and Prevost Memorial Hospital for anew facilityinDonaldsonville, thesystem is expanding its operations across Ascension Parish. The health system, which operates theOur Lady of the Lake hospitals in the Capital Region, is bringing multiple new services to theparish including an infusion center and aclinic for early detection of lung cancer In asymbolic move, it also shifted the name of its Gonzales hospital to Our Lady of the Lake St. Elizabeth, areference to its original name. “This name change honorsnot only our deep connection and commitment to the Ascension Parish communitybut also the inspiring legacy of St. Elizabeth of Hungary,” the hospital stated in anews release. “…Despite the official namechange in 2018, the people of Ascension Parish continued to refer to the hospital as St. Elizabeth.” Ascension Parish has been one of the fastest-growing parishes

See EXPANDING, page 2B

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

Caroline Ondrusek picks flowers at thebooth foryellowVan Farmsduring the FlowerFest on Saturday at the ElectricDepot in Baton Rouge.

I-10 College Drive exit change delayed

BY QUINN COFFMAN Staff writer

Changes to the Interstate 10 westbound exit at College Drive in Baton Rouge will be postponed until Tuesday, the Department of Transportation and Development announced Saturday

The changes, which include a new, far-right exit lane that will travel only to Corporate Boulevard, were expected to go into effect Sunday but are being delayed due to forecast rain Saturday night, which DOTD says will interfere with overnight concrete work.

Work on the new, fourlane configuration will instead start at 5 a.m.

Tuesday With the new design, three of the exit’s lanes will go to the College Drive traffic signal, while the far-right lane will bypass College Drive to go directly to Corporate Boulevard. The new lane toward Corporate Boulevard will have a rollover curb, separating the far-right

PROGRAM

Continued from page 1B

District Attorney’s Office.

lane from College Drive and preventing drivers from entering those lanes.

Tuesday’s construction will only include the end of the exit ramp where it approaches College Drive. The beginning of the I-10 westbound exit ramp between the I-10/I-12 merge and College will still be in use.

The future College Drive exit lanes from I-10 and I-12 are still under construction. DOTD expects them to be finished by late April or early May, depending on weather

DOTD officials said in a statement that they appreciate drivers’ patience and ask for cautious driving through the construction area, and to be on lookout for work crews and their equipment.

The new configurations are part of the DOTD’s nearly completed $52.3 million College Drive Flyover project Information about the project can be found at collegeflyover.com.

For Martin, the program has “given me the strength and the hope that there is something better out there.” On Friday morning, in front of supporters and other members of the program, Assistant District Attorney April Landry handed Martin the letter officially dismissing his charges

Letting go and letting God Martin, 49, said his life had been in a “total state of hopelessness” before he joined the program. He first heard about the program while being held in parish jail on counts of drug possession and improper telephone communication.

In July 2024, Martin had been arrested for sending threatening text messages and banging on the door of a residence When searched, he was found with a small amount of crack cocaine and a pipe to smoke it. His charges made him eligible for inclusion in the program, which focuses on those suffering from drug addiction. But he wasn’t sure he would be accepted. Sitting in the parish prison’s chapel on a Sunday morning, he considered what had led him there.

Martin’s wife, Danette, died on Dec. 31, 2016. His father had died two months earlier In his grief, he took to drinking, a choice he said “destroyed my family, my career, everything.”

After that, he became estranged from his three children, the oldest of whom was only 19 at the time

“I just did not know how to handle my grief very well,” Martin said, “I dove into a bottle and it cost me everything. I left them at the worst possible time because I was too ashamed, too drunk and too ashamed.”

A flood and then a fire cost Martin two homes within two years, and for a year he was homeless. During the sermon in the jail chapel, Martin was struck by the phrase “letting go and letting God.”

“So I decided to not bond out,” Martin said, still not knowing if he would be accepted into the pretrial diversionary program or be stuck in jail.

“Somebody had called me up

EXPANDING

Continued from page 1B

in the state for decades Recently released census estimates show a 1.2% population growth between 2023 and July 2024.

Dr Christopher Trevino, the physician executive at the Gonzales facility and parish coroner, said the growing population is a major reason the hospital is expanding services.

“We have to be prepared to meet the needs of the community,” he said. “With parish growth, the facility in the hospital needs to grow with it. And so, we’re very excited to be able to provide as much health care as possible locally.”

Officials: Son of slain Amite couple arrested in Los Angeles

CRIME

BLOTTER staff reports

The son of an elderly couple found slain at their Amite home this week was arrested Friday night in Los Angeles, the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office said. Joshua Brocato, 34, had been missing since his parents, Marc Brocato, 75, and Pri sci ll a Brocato, 66, were found dead Thursday afternoon at their home on Eastwood Drive. Authorities first sought him as a person of interest but said late Friday afternoon that warrants had been issued for his arrest in the killings.

The Sheriff’s Office said just before 10:30 p.m Friday that Joshua Brocato had been taken into custody in California but did not release any other information.

When deputies arrived at an Eastwood Drive house around 1 p.m. Thursday in response to a call for a welfare check, they found a dead woman, identified as

Priscilla Brocato. Several hours later, the department announced the body of Marc Brocato had been found on the property Man sought for murder connection

A man is wanted in connection with a drug-related murder in Kentwood, according to the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office. Willie Elzy Wells, Jr., 32, is wanted on one count each of first-degree murder, armed robbery and felon in possession of a firearm. Authorities believe he was the triggerman in an early morning shooting in the 26000 block of Mount Hennan Cut Road in the Kentwood area.

Police found the home’s resident, Antonio Famularo, 42, dead on the scene at around 1 a.m. Saturday, TPSO said.

Tipsters may contact TPSO’s Criminal Investigations Division at (985) 9022088 or share information anonymously at (800) 5545245 or by visiting www.tangicrimestoppers.com

on a video chat that day and said they’d come get me, but I knew if I got out, then I wasn’t going to get the help I needed.”

Having taken that leap of faith, Martin waited until the next day when Lisa Burns, case manager for the program, visited and asked him why they should give him the opportunity to bond out.

“Because,” he said, “I promise, if you give me this opportunity, I’ll put as much into this as I’ve ever put into anything.”

Long road to recovery

The program started in 2017, named for a young man who died at the parish prison while suffering from a substance abuse problem and behavioral health disorder

“What the program is designed to do is to stop recidivism, with the notion of trying to get to them before they begin to come in and out of the legal system,” said Debbie Norwood, resource coordinator for the program.

Norwood staffs the program alongside Burns, and both have decades of criminal justice and social work experience in the parish.

Norwood worked at the Sheriff’s Office for over 23 years, leaving her role as a supervisor at central booking to help start the program.

“This is so much more fulfilling than arresting people,” Norwood said. “I was arresting them for drugs, and now I’m getting them treatment for drugs.”

Burns is a licensed clinical so-

One of the major changes is the addition of an infusion center to the hospital. Previously Trevino said the closest center was located in Baton Rouge. The new facility, which opened Feb. 27, provides infusion to chemo patients and others and features 15 infusion chairs in a 4,109-squarefoot space.

“We’ve done a recent renovation of one of our office buildings, and it’s really a beautiful infusion center,” he added.

Lung-related care

This month, a lung nodule program is expected to open as well to provide early detection for lung cancer Using robotic technology that launched in the network’s Baton Rouge hospital in 2022, the

Three booked on suspicion of DWI

Three people were booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison between noon Friday and noon Saturday on suspicion of driving while intoxicated.

n James Georgetown, 49, of St. Gabriel, was booked on a count each of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, third offense; reckless operation of a vehicle, and speeding.

n Meraz Lusvin, 36, was booked on a count each of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, first offense; possession of alcohol in vehicle; careless operation of vehicle; unlicensed driving; no proof of insurance, and expired registration.

n David Munoz, 19, of Forest, Mississippi, was booked on a count each of underage operation of a vehicle while intoxicated, no seat belt, possession of alcohol in vehicle, window tint violation, no proof of insurance, and unlicensed driving.

Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, go through 12 to 15 weeks of triweekly counseling, find a sponsor and pay their own rent. There are also classes and assignments related to their particular struggle and consistent check-ins with Burns and the court.

“At first, I was like, ‘This is just a bunch of hullabaloo,’ ” Martin said. “But as I got more into the program and I started seeing that people actually, genuinely cared about someone else’s recovery, it really got me more enthused.”

Burns said that after the initial “carrot” of being bailed out of jail, some offenders do take off and refuse to engage with their own recovery

“But oddly enough, it doesn’t happen as often as you might think. We try to stay very engaged with them,” she said.

DIVERSION

Continued from page 1B

roughly $500 million already spent can be recouped.

The diversion project would funnel up to 75,000 cubic feet per second of water and sediment from the Mississippi River into the Barataria Basin to rebuild lost wetlands. It was projected to build 21 square miles of land over 50 years and was issued a permit for construction by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers after an exhaustive environmental study Coastal advocates say it matches the scale of Louisiana’s land-loss crisis, with the state having lost some 2,000 square miles over the last century Sea level rise is projected to worsen the problem in the decades ahead.

“Efforts to delay this project are dangerously misguided, squandering valuable time and jeopardizing hundreds of millions already invested in our coast, all while disregarding the robust science underpinning our coastal master plan,” said Simone Maloz, campaign director of the Restore the Mississippi River Delta coalition, referring to the state’s 50-year blueprint for salvaging as much of the coast as possible.

“In a place losing land faster than almost anywhere else on the planet, we have no time to lose putting our communities and culture at further risk. There is simply no alternative that provides a greater chance of survival for the people, wildlife and economy of Louisiana.”

Kim Reyher, executive director of the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana, said the organization was “disappointed by this development, but the river can still do what it’s always done: build and sustain land and life in our wetlands.”

“We call on our leaders to focus on acting with urgency and using Deepwater Horizon settlement funds for projects vetted through our master plan,” she said.

‘It’s falling apart’

cial worker who worked at the parish prison for 16 years, as well as with the public defenders office for 18 years.

The pair say that without intervention offenders with drug charges are likely to reoffend, developing a criminal record that keeps them from seeking employment or housing.

Before Martin, 87 other nonviolent offenders had passed through the program and graduated. Of those, less than 5% have reoffended.

But, to Burns, the real change is seen not in the numbers, but in the quality of life changes that graduates experience.

“They get their lives back,” she said “Over the years, we’ve had one person who was able to go on and get married and get her children back in her life. She’s bought a house. (Others) are reintroduced back into their families with a new sense of trust.”

“I mean, we’re talking lifechanging,” Norwood added.

But the work for graduates to get there is extensive.

Members work with case managers to select a facility that fits their needs, in what Burns says is a “team approach” to recovery. They start with a monthlong inpatient stay at their facility then transfer to sober living where they are required to get gainful employment.

Martin has been plying his trade as a carpenter while finishing the program. Participants also have to attend

system can analyze small areas in a lung that could be cancer in its early stages. “Lung cancer is very, very curable if you catch it early,” Trevino said. “And if you catch it late, it’s very, very not curable. And so, the sooner that we identify if these nodules are significant in terms of cancer, then really a dramatic impact it has on the patient.”

Louisiana has a higher lung cancer rate than the national average

According to the National Cancer Institute, the state had 61.1 cases per 100,000 people between 2017 and 2021, versus 53.1 per 100,000 nationally Ascension’s rate falls slightly below the state level at 59.9 cases per 100,000 people. The highest rate in the state is in Caldwell

Martin said he never would have had the courage to reach back out to his daughter and his two sons without the counseling he received. He would never have met his grandchild.

Also while in recovery, Martin started an online degree for criminal justice and human services. He hopes to be a counselor when he graduates.

“I’ve always wanted to give back and help people that came out of the same situation that I did,” Martin said “To show people just because there’s bad moments doesn’t mean we have to continue to make those irrational decisions.”

Martin now holds a letter from the District Attorney’s Office not only dismissing him of his charges, but also now showing the world what he went through to make a new version of himself.

Burns is optimistic about Martin’s chance.

“He has a good heart, he’s not violent, and he now has a chance, you know?” Burns said. “I think he will make it. I really have high hopes for him that he won.”

She said over her years doing this work she has developed a philosophy

“Everyone has a purpose here, and if you’re caught up in drugs and living on the streets you’re not necessarily able to serve what purpose you may have for the good of mankind,” Burns said. “To see people blossom into that person that they were meant to be is the most rewarding thing.”

Email Quinn Coffman at quinn. coffman@theadvocate.com.

Parish, which had 90.4 cases per 100,000.

Beyond the lung nodule program, the hospital also brought back a comprehensive pulmonary program last fall.

That program, which allows pulmonologists or lung doctors — to be available on-site, was consolidated in Baton Rouge during the COVID pandemic Trevino said.

“It’s very nice to have these guys back on campus to help us take care of not just pulmonary care, but when we have very sick patients that need critical care in the hospital,” he said.

Email Christopher Cartwright at christopher.cartwright@ theadvocate.com.

Alford said a diversion around a third of the size of Mid-Barataria, or possibly less, was among the options being studied. He and Dove said that while they respect the positions of those favoring the diversion, they simply cannot see a way forward. They also argued that marshbuilding with dredged sediment could build land faster without harming commercial fishing. They said they are not abandoning the state’s master plan, pointing out the land bridge is included in it.

Landry made similar comments when he spoke before a legislative committee in November, saying the project would “break our culture.”

Beyond those concerns, Alford argued that “you just can’t afford it.”

“You look at the coast and how much of the land is falling apart as we go forward, and it’s falling apart a lot faster than replenishing or getting that kind of result in 50 years,” he said of Mid-Barataria’s projected land-building.

Some $2.92 billion in BP funding has been approved for the project, but Landry has said the cost has now risen to at least $3.1 billion.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a key member of the trustees group overseeing the BP funds, says the contract includes a maximum guaranteed price and that contingency funding is in place for cost increases. But NOAA notes that cost increases because of delays caused by the state are not covered under the maximum guaranteed price.

Landry shifted the state’s position on the project after taking office in 2024. He abandoned the state’s previous legal position that it did not need a permit from Plaquemines Parish, which firmly opposes the project and has filed suit to stop it An agreement with the parish had allowed limited work to move forward. Work done includes site clearing, utility relocations, drainage improvements and access dredging. The 90-day pause will now see equipment moved off the site, which Dove says will save money

Using the BP funds for a different project would likely trigger the need for approvals and scientific analysis that may take several years.

Email Mike Smith at msmith@ theadvocate.com.

STAFF PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS

From left, public defender Gabriel Floss, Resource Coordinator for Pretrial Diversion and Recovery Program Debbie Norwood, Judge Donald R. Johnson, program graduate Marion ‘Brad’ Martin, case manager Lisa Burns and Assistant District Attorney April Landry gather at the 19th Judicial District Courthouse on March 28.

St. Tammany library wins over voters

Millage campaign a success

BY WILLIE SWETT Staff writer

If endorsements were any predictor, the two tax propositions on the March 29 ballot in St. Tammany Parish would have had a radically different outcome.

One tax proposition, which redirected sales tax revenue toward St. Tammany’s criminal justice system, received broad support from elected officials and the parish’s and state’s political class, with even Gov Jeff Landry chiming in via text to encourage voters to approve it.

The other tax proposition — a property tax that provides 96% of the revenue for the parish’s 75-year-old library system — received relatively little formal backing from some of the parish organizations that had endorsed the sales tax rededication.

The organizations’ reticence to back the property tax may have been in part due to the controversy the library system has faced since 2022 over minors’ access to items with sexual and LGBTQ+ themes.

Although the library has since adopted a tiered card system giving parents more control over their kids’ access to materials, the view among some in the parish’s political class was that the 4.35-mill library tax was in trouble, while the sales tax rededication had a decent chance of passing.

But instead, the opposite turned out to be true.

Fifty-five percent of voters approved the library millage, according to the secretary of state’s website. The 42,262 people who cast votes represented a far higher turnout than predicted On the other hand, a slim majority of voters in unincorporated St. Tammany, where the sales tax is levied, voted against the rededication.

“We didn’t have any public support,” said Charles Branton, a library board member who hit the campaign trail to rally support for the tax.

“Not the Northshore Business Council, not the Chamber of Commerce, not the City Council, not CCST But we have supporters, patrons, and we put out the facts.”

Branton, like others involved in the library’s campaign, saw the victory as reflective of the library’s messaging — a fact-based approach exemplified by a detailed website that library staff filled with statistics about usage and cost effectiveness and an FAQ that addressed the library controversy head-on.

Sam Caruso Jr., whose firm was hired by the library for $18,000 to help with outreach,

said he has worked on many other tax campaigns, but none have been like the library’s.

“If you want to get accurate facts and research done really well, you can’t do any better than a room full of librarians,” Caruso said Library Director Kelly LaRocca attributed the millage campaign’s success to her staff and their relationships with library patrons.

Starting in February, she said, staff placed bookmarks with election information in every book that patrons checked out.

“We made sure that our patrons couldn’t miss it,” LaRocca said James Hartman, a political consultant who has worked on countless St. Tammany campaigns, meanwhile, saw the outcome as connected to partisan politics He said “the kerfuffle over library matters in recent years quite predictably, to me, mobilized left-leaning voters more than it did right-leaning voters.” He said it was unclear what effect the endorsements had on the election outcome.

Caruso said that when he tried to hire a conservative consultant for the campaign to help address public outcry about the books, the consultant replied, “I wouldn’t touch that with a 10-foot pole. You’re gonna get your brains beat in.”

But many conservatives were openly in support of the library tax, including Branton, whose nomination to the St. Tammany Library Board of Control had been backed by the Republican Executive Committee St Tammany Parish Council member Jeff Corbin, who has faced political backlash for his comments about the library board, and Parish Council member Pat Burke, who is also a member of RPEC. Burke said he thought social media had fueled misinformation about minor access to the library’s collection and the library’s cost, driving some people to oppose the library millage.

“People who don’t go to the library think nobody uses it, but not everybody is fortunate enough to have computers” or to be able to buy books, said Parish Council member Jimmy Strickland, the lone Democrat on the council. “A lot of the people that were speaking against the library didn’t really use the library.”

Some organizations, like the St Tammany Economic Development Corporation and the Military Road Alliance, endorsed both the library millage and the sales tax rededication. But others chose just to endorse the latter Concerned Citizens of St. Tammany came to a stalemate on whether to endorse the library tax, its president, Rick Franzo, said.

Loyola plans for hotel on campus

Proposal for historic buildings still in early stages

BY STEPHANIE RIEGEL Staff writer

For roughly a century, an order of Dominican nuns from Ireland educated girls and young women inside an Italianate building with colonnaded galleries and a distinctive cupola steps from St. Charles Avenue.

Loyola University took over the building and surrounding campus in the 1980s, and while some buildings on the property were used to house Loyola’s law school, others ended up sitting vacant. Now, the school is planning to turn the iconic building and two other historic properties on the campus into a boutique hotel with a conference center, restaurant and bar.

The proposal, still in its early stages, includes a hotel with up to 100 guest rooms spread over 57,000 square feet in the 7200-7300 blocks of St. Charles. The iconic Dominican college building, called Greenville Hall, would house a conference center and hotel rooms on its second floor

Two historic mansions in the 7300 block of St. Charles would have additional rooms and be connected by a new building, where most of the hotel would be located.

The goal of the project is to find a new use for the buildings that will serve the university, benefit the community and generate revenue for Loyola, developer Bill Hoffman, of Woodward Interests, told about 50 neighborhood residents Wednesday night at a meeting to unveil the project.

Loyola selected Hoffman and his partner, Paul Flower, several years ago to come up with a conceptual plan for the unused structures on the Broadway campus.

Some neighbors are concerned about parking, drainage and the live oaks that shade the campus. They’re also worried about what the new building, which could be up to six stories, will do to the character of their neighborhood.

“Loyola wants to build something that is taller than anything else on St. Charles,” said Vivienne Hayne “This is a unique neighborhood. What discussion is there about respect for the historical character?”

Hoffman said his team recognizes that, “whatever we do has to fit in with the neighborhood.”

Rich history

Loyola’s 4.2-acre Broadway campus is located five blocks up St. Charles from the university’s main campus. It encompasses two square blocks bounded by St Charles, Broadway, Dominican and Lowerline streets. Pine Street runs through the middle of it.

Greenville Hall, the old-

est building on the campus, dates to the 1860s and was built by the Dominican nuns as St. Mary’s Academy for Girls. In 1910, the school became St. Mary’s Dominican College and gradually expanded over the next 75 years to include a dorm and additional educational buildings.

When the college closed in 1984, Loyola bought the property and moved its law school and law library to two of the newer buildings on the campus. It used the dorm for graduate student housing.

But some of the older structures on the campus have been underutilized or even vacant since coming into the university’s possession. In 2019, former Loyola President Tania Tetlow’s administration asked developers to submit plans for the properties.

Woodward was selected, but the development process was delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic and has been slow to restart.

In the meantime, Tetlow left to become president of Fordham University Her successor, Xavier Cole, declined to discuss the university’s broader vision for commercializing the Broadway campus.

In a prepared statement, the university said, “There are no preliminary details about scope, logistics or operations. If any further plans are actualized, Loyola will share those plans with the community.”

The statement added: “The developer has committed to adhering to Loyola’s strategic goals and priorities.”

Full of questions

What was presented on Wednesday was conceptual only, the developers’ attorney Mike Sherman, told neighbors. Woodward hasn’t finalized architectural plans or filed for any permits with the city The developers don’t have renderings or a price tag they’re willing to share.

But city law requires that universities update their Institutional Master Plan every few years and notify neighbors of any changes. Since Loyola’s updated master plan includes the proposal for the

new hotel, the development team let neighbors in on what they’ve come up with so far

As envisioned, the proposal calls for renovating Greenville Hall at 7214 St. Charles into a ground-floor conference center with about 20 rooms on the second floor

The bulk of the hotel would be across Pine Street in a structure that would include the newly constructed building and the two historic houses. One of those houses, a grand stone mansion with a port cochere known as Veritas Hall, would have about 10 rooms and serve as the entrance of the hotel.

The other house, called Sacred Heart, would have three guest rooms and a fitness center

The newly constructed building would house a restaurant and maybe as many as 60 or 70 guest rooms.

Sherman likened the project to the Hotel St. Vincent in the Lower Garden District or Hotel Peter and Paul in the Marigny

Neighbors came ready with questions and concerns that centered primarily on

parking in the neighborhood, already tight because the campus doesn’t have enough off-street parking for its law students, and how constructing a new building would impact drainage. They also voiced concerns about the new building, which would front Lowerline Street and, some argued, tower over the 19th-century single-family houses on the block.

“I think neighbors understand wanting to use the historic buildings and put them back into commerce,” said Donna Miceli, who attended the meeting. “The angst is about this new construction.” With respect to parking, Hoffman said the hotel will have valet service but acknowledged that won’t solve the existing problem with law students parking in the neighborhood.

“This hotel is not going to make that problem any better, but it won’t exacerbate it,” Hoffman said. He also assured them that the live oaks on the property would not be touched.

STAFF PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER

A new master plan for Loyola’s Broadway campus calls for turning buildings in the 7300 block of St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans into a boutique hotel with bar and restaurants. One of the buildings is pictured on Wednesday.

PROVIDED PHOTO

From left, Roy Chenevert, Michael Kincey and Ruby Jackson move out from Dominican College’s Greenville Hall after it was sold to Loyola University, circa 1984.

Ellzey III, Leon

Berlin, Alfred E. 'Trey'

Alfred E. "Trey"Berlin III, 74, aresident of Baton Rouge, passed away unexpectedly at home on March 23, 2025. Born in Havre de Grace, MD, on November 23, 1950, Trey grew up in Alexandria, LA, and graduated from Bolton High School in 1968. He attended LSU-A before transferring to and graduating from LSU in Baton Rouge, which became his family home for the next 54 years. Trey is preceded in death by his parents, Alfred Elmer "Buster" Berlin Jr. and Mabel Protho Berlin; his sister, Belva Ann Berlin Dewey; his brother, John Berlin; his wife of 36 years, Mary Evelyn D. "Winkie" Berlin; and his wife of 10 years, Tanna Glaser Berlin.

He is survived by his sons: Alfred Elmer "Bubba" Berlin IV (Melanie) of Asheville, NC; Michael Berlin (Anne) of Asheville, NC; and Brian Berlin (Mathilde) of New Orleans, LA. He is also survived by hisgrandchildren: Perry Berlin and Molly Berlinof Asheville, and John, George, and Bernard "Bear" BerlinofNew Orleans. Trey is also survivedby his stepdaughters: Allison Roberson of Baton Rouge, LA; Angela Andrus (Frankie) of Baton Rouge, LA; Ashley Howard (Tim)of Spring, TX; and Amy Traylor-Nikolaus (Emily) of Baton Rouge, LA, along with their children. Additionally, he is survived by his dear and special friend, Susan van Bueningen.

Trey enjoyed asuccessfuland fulfilling 50-year career with Coburn Supply Company. Starting in the warehouse in 1972, he quickly rose through the ranks due to his strong leadership and exceptional people skills. He retired in 2022 as Senior Vice President and amember of the Board of Directors. Trey was instrumental in the growth and success of Coburn's and was known throughout the company as amentor and friend—respected and beloved at every levelof the organization. An Eagle Scout, Trey took pride in his time with Troop 12 in Baton Rouge, whereheencouraged and mentored young scouts in their journey toward the rank of Eagle. Trey loved fishing, cooking, music, skeet shooting, chess, traveling, and awell -madeOld Fashioned.

Family and Friends are invitedSaturday, April 12 to Trinity Episcopal Church, 3552 Morning Glory Ave, Baton Rouge, LA 70808 for avisitation beginning at 1:30 PM until the start of the service Requiem Eucharist at 2:30 PM, followed by areception. Trey will be interred at alater date in Pineville Family and friends may sign the online guestbook or leave apersonal note at www.rabenhorst.com. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Trey's name to Coburn Cares (Coburn Cares, PO Box 2177, Beaumont, TX 77704-2177, attn: Melisa Winn) or to acharity of your choice.

Broussard, Garland

Garland "Bruce" Broussard, 84, long term resident of Labadieville, Louisiana, was in the loving arms of his beloved children when he was called home to his eternal rest to be with his beloved wife and son on April1, 2025. Bruce was adevoted, loving, and honorable husband, father, grandfather andgreat-grandfather,

son, brother,and uncle. Bruce is survived by his children, Julie (Greg) Holley,Dwight (Angella) Broussard, and Janet (Joseph) Baynard; daughter-in-law, Suzanne Broussard; grandchildren, Kenneth Jr.,and Matthew (Claire) Holley,Caleb (Moriah) Broussard, Heather and Trey Baynard; greatgrandchildren,Amelia Holley and Christian Ruiz; brother, Whitney Jr."Sonny" (Carrie) Broussard; twosisters-in-law, Patricia Collierand Hazel Broussard; as well as countless nieces, nephews and cousins.

Bruce is precededin deathbyhis wife, Gloria "Bea" Broussard; son, Dwayne Peter Broussard; his parents, Whitneyand Mabel Broussard; brothers, Roland, Calvin, Dalton, and Glenn Broussard; and sisters, Rachel Broussard and RosalineRichmond.

Bruce willberemembered by allasa man who was dedicatedtohis family, hard working and aman of many talents and amaster of much.Hestartedoff in life as afarmer,worked as asteeplejack,heavy equipmentoperator, fisherman,carpenter and handyman, travelerand a loverofadventure. Bruce was never one to pass up a challengeand in lifemany of his later years werenot withoutchallenges. He was never one to give up and woulddowhatever was necessary to achieve his goals. He lovedtotravel and spend as much time with the ones he loved the most and believed that family always came first and together we wereinvincible.

The Broussard family askthat they be allowed to have this time to mourn with aprivate burial and willhavea celebrationof life in the future.Inlieu of flowers, pleasemakedonations to St. Joseph Hospice Care in Thibodaux, Louisiana in both Mama and Daddy'sname,asthey took amazing care of our parents.

Online condolences can be given at www.landr ysfuneralhome.com

Landry's Funeral Home,Inc. is in charge of arrangements.

Griffith,Angela Wascom 'Noel'

Angela “Noel”Wascom Griffith,a resident of Slaughter,passedaway peacefullysurrounded by her family at herhomeon Wednesday,April 2, 2025 She wasa PetGroomer for over55years.Memorial VisitationwillbeonThurs‐day,April 10, 2025 at St Johnthe BaptistCatholic Church in Zacharyfrom10 amuntil Mass of Christian Burialat12pmconducted byFr. LamarPartin. Burial willbeonFriday, April11, 2025 at GreenoaksMemor‐ial Park in BatonRouge Meet in theLobby no later than9:45am. Sheissur‐vived by herhusband of 24 years,GeorgeGriffith.3 daughters,JenniferNor‐mandSweeney (Scott), MadelineComeaux (Jay), and CatherineNormand.2 stepsonsMarkGriffith (Christine),Brett Griffith ((Becky).7 grandchildren, Cameron Normand,Jordan Comeaux,and Jude Comeaux,Dylan Griffith, BrookeGriffith,Lucas Grif‐fith,and KellerGriffith.A sister, Terri Oehmichen (Mark). Noelwas along‐timedog trainercompeting inAgility.She wasCoFounder of RedStick Agility withinthe LouisianaCapi‐tal City ObedienceClub. She wasanactivemember ofSt. John theBaptist Catholic Church.Inlieuof flowers, please make ado‐nationtoone of thefollow‐ing non-profits who have been vitaltoher comfort and joys,Red StickAgility Club, LCCOC, 10115 Tams Drive,Baton Rouge, LA 70815, or FreshStart Sheltie Rescue www mysheltie.com or TheHos‐piceofBaton Rouge, www hospicebr.org.Share sym‐pathies,condolences and memoriesatwww.Charlet FuneralHome.com.

KimGuidrozGustin,a nativeand resident of New Roads, passed away on Thursday, April 3, 2025 at her home. She was 69 and aretired co-ownerofCity Dry Cleaners.She is survivedbyher husband of 50 years, Randall Gustin; sons, Joshua Gustin, Grant Gustin and wife Marcy; mother, MaryBondi Guidroz; grandchildren, Loghan, Bensonand Cane Gustin; sisters, Deborah and Tommy Cashio,Patti and Randy Swindler, Kandace and Mac Peek; brother,Joeyand Cindy Guidroz; numerous nieces and nephews. She is preceded in deathbyher son, Logan Gustin; father, Theodore Guidroz;sister, Chris Guidroz; nephews, Dillon Walls and Brandon Gustin Avisitationwillbeheldat Niland'sFuneral Home in NewRoads on Tuesday, April8,2025 from 9:30 am until 11:45 am. Mass of ChristianBurial willbe held at St. Mary's Catholic Church at 12 noon. The entombment will follow at False RiverMemorial Park Mausoleum. Pallbearers willbeher nephews, Scott and Clay Cashio,Sean Gustin, JosephGuidroz, Peyton Swindler and HarrisonWalls. Honorary pallbearerswillbeher brothers in law, Tommy Cashio Randy Swindler, Rock Gustin, WalterGustin and Mac Peek, nephews, Darren Gustin and Jonathan Guidroz. Special thanks to Dr. GeraldMiletello,Dr. Ashley Bordelon, Pointe Coupee Hospice and Home Health.

JessicaAnne Hartley, a residentofDenham Springs,passedaway peacefullyonWednesday April 2, 2025 after abrief ill‐ness. Shewas 40 yearsold and wasthe ownerofVinyl World &MoreinWalker. VisitationwillbeatPlain‐viewBaptist Church in DenhamSprings on Mon‐day,April 7, 2025 from 5pm until 9pm. Visitation con‐tinuesonTuesday,April 8, 2025 at thechurch from 10 amuntil serviceat2 pm Burialwillbeinthe church cemetery. Sheissurvived byher father,John“Andy” Hartley andpartner,Don Williamson.Her partnerof 15years,JohnWeems. A brother,JustinHartley and wife, Elizabethand their daughter, AbigailPamela Hartley.Her belovedniece “Bug”,Naomi Dixonand stepsisterMaryClark and numerous, aunts, uncles and cousins. Sheispre‐ceded in deathbyher mother, Pamela Jean Hart‐ley andher grandparents Share sympathies,condo‐lencesand memories at www.CharletFuneralHome. com.

LacyJane

Lacy B. Honore, aloving and devoted wife, sister, aunt,grandmother and friend gainedher heavenly wings(departedthislife) on Monday morning, March 31, 2025, at Our Lady of theLake Regional Medical Center. She was born October 20, 1944, in Baton Rouge, LA She is survivedbyhost of loving relatives and dear friends.

Lacy is preceded in death by her husband,Paul B. Honore, her parents, AlmetaW.Boulignyand

GeorgeA.Bouligny; five sisters,Joyce B. Burchell, SusieB.Anderson, Bernadine P. Bouligny, Fannie B. Singleton and Joan B. Kasey. Memorial servicewillbe held at St.Francis Xavier, 1150 South12thStreet, BatonRouge,LAonSaturday, April5,2025. Service will beginat10:00 a.m. and will be conductedbyFather Henry. DesselleFuneral Home in chargeoffuneral arrangements.

Our beloved son, brother, and nephew Michael Joshua LeClere of Baton Rouge, LA diedsuddenly on 3/26/25. He was so lovedbyhis mother, Debbi Coltharp; his brothers, ChristianColtharp-Parr (Justine), David LeClere II (Caitie), JacobGunter (Ashlee), and Ben LeClere; as wellasbyhis grandmother, aunts, uncles, niece, twonephews, and cousins.Josh was preceded in death by his father, David LeClere. He lovedhard with every ounce of himself, whether in aromanticrelationship where he embracedhis partner's family as his own or when it came to thefriends, who became familyover time. With aheart of gold, Josh was one of the sweetest people that ever lived. He was afree spirit who was joyful,kind, gregarious, and had aunique talent formaking people laugh. He always worked to buildothers up to feel specialand loved, and seemed to do so with ease Determined to chart his own path, he found his calling working within the trades. Josh couldfix anything.Withaneverpresent smile anda bucket full of tools, he madea lasting, positiveimpact on so many friends and strangers alike Whether youknew him as Josh, Michael, Uncle Gator,orMiguel, to know him was to love him.

It is withgreat sadness that we announce the passing of Mary Joyce Leger, abeloved wife, mother, grandmother,great-grandmother, and friend. Joyce passed away peacefully in her home on April 4, 2025, at theage of 77. Joyce was bornand livedher life in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She had afull career as alicensed beautician and,laterinlife, spent her time working alongside her husband at theirbarbershop, Headquarters. Theirshared passionfor servingthe communityextended beyond theshop—Joyce was also deeply involvedinthe Greater Baton Rouge State Fairfor over fifty years. She was adevoutCatholic and aparishionerofMost Blessed Sacrament for over forty years. Joyce cherished time spent with her family.She found joy in dancing with her husband, traveling with friends, road tripsin themotorhome, watching Hallmark movies, tailgating forLSU games, and cooking -especially Mondaynight dinners with her family

She is survivedbyher devoted husband, RL;her children, Lance and his wife Sophie,and Michele; her grandchildren, Morgan and her husband Dwayne, Landon, Logan, Brennan, Kelcie, and Caden; her great-grandchildren, Rose, Frank, and Alec; her sisters Emily and Carol (Ducky) and her brother Roger Joyce is preceded in death by her parents, Maxine and Willford;her sister, Ethel; andher brothers, Wilfordand Harold Relatives and friends are invitedtoattend a Mass of ChristianBurialat Most Blessed Sacrament CatholicChurch, 15615 Jefferson Hwy in Baton Rouge, on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at 2:30 p.m. Avisitation willbeheldatthe church beginning at 12:30 p.m. Burial willfollow at Resthaven Gardens of Memory, 11817 Jefferson Hwy in Baton Rouge. Are-

ception willfollow at Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church Familyand friends may sign theonline guestbook or leave apersonal note to thefamilyatwww.resthav enbatonrouge.com

Charles Levy wasborn October26th, 1935 to CorinneScioneauxLevy andGabrielLevyinBaton Rouge,Louisiana. He graduated from Catholic High School in 1953 and attended LSUfor onesemester then enlisted in theMarine Corpswhere he served from 1953 to 1956. He returned to LSUand graduated in 1959 with aB.S. in Electrical Engineering with an Electronics option. In addition to his studies, he served as selective service clerkfor theuniversity. WhileatLSU,hemarried Bernadine Ann Ricca, his belovedwife of 66+ years. During that time they had 3 childrenDawn Elizabeth, AnnCharla, and David Samuel After graduation,he workedonNavigational Aids for theFederal Aviation Agency. In 1961, Charles andBernadine moved to CollegePark, Maryland, wherethe National Aeronautics and Space Administration at GoddardSpace FlightCenterwas interested in his knowledge of Navigational Aids. Charles contributed on thedesign of several scientific satellite programs among them was "Topside Sounder" (a study of theatmospheric degradation at various frequencies)and "Study of Enhanced RadiationBelt" (programtodetermine if theatomic bomb test at JohnsonIsland altered the VanAllen radiation belt).

In 1963, Charles and Bernadine moved to Houston,Texas wherehewas offered achallenge to work on programs at the newlyestablishedManned SpaceflightCenter(now calledthe Johnson Space Center). During the20 years at thespacecenter, he had contributed to the design, development, test and integration of electronic systems for the Gemini, Apollo,and Space Transportation Systems. He also served as Chairman,STS/DOD Avionics WorkingGroup,USTechnicalChairmanona jointUS/ European Space Agency program, consultanttothe NASA Safety Panel andthe DODSafety Review Team, anda systems consultant to theDOD for thedevelopmentofPayloadSupport Systems.

Whiletheyresidedin Houston, theLevyfamily wasactive at St.Christopher's Catholic Church Charles served as an Extraordinary Minister, Lector, Director Confraternity of Christian Doctrine,and Presidentofthe School Board.

In 1982, Charles retired from NASA andaccepteda position with MartinMarietta Astronautics (now Lockheed Martin), Houston Operations, wherehe served as chiefengineer, Manager of DODClassified Programs, then Manager, Houston Operations. In 1990, Charles and Bernadine moved to Littleton CO. whereheaccepteda position as ProgramManager of aClassified Program. He retiredfrom Lockheed Martinin1999 when they moved to Georgetown, Texas.

During retirement Charles enjoyedplaying golf. He concentrated on serving veteran needsand activities. He volunteered with the Texas Military FamilyFoundation andthe USOatFortHood. He was active in the Georgetown Post of theAmerican Legion whereheservedas Chaplain, Commander, 1st Vice Commander, and Judge Advocate.Hewas also alifemember of the WilliamsonCountyDetachmentofthe Marine Corps League; served many years as itsChaplain, and amember of theMilitary OrderofDevilDogs. He wasalso alifemember of theTexas Chaplain Association andDisabled AmericanVeterans During his life, he received manyawards from NASA,DOD,Lockheed Martin, Marine CorpsLeague andChapelofthe Four

Chaplains. However, his greatest joywas hisfamily whichheloved andcherished Charles is survivedby hiswife,Bernadine Ricca Levy of Georgetown; daughterDawn Levy Browderand herhusband Charles Browder of Fort Worth; daughterAnn C. Levy-Valdez andher husbandGilbert Valdezof Houston; son David Samuel Levy andhis wife Dr.Mary Hewitt Levy of Baytown; granddaughters Adrien Valdez, Anna Browder, Loren Valdezand Corinna Levy;sister MarieHilda Levy Bourg;nieces Denise Bourg Curtisand Laura Venincasa-Cox: and nephewsKevin Bourg, Doctors Mark andMichael Venincasa. He wasprecededin death by hisparents, CorinneScioneauxLevy andGabrielLevy, andhis sister Geraldine Levy Venincasa Avisitation for Charles will be held Tuesday, April 8, 2025 from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Cook-Walden Davis Funeral Home, 2900 Williams Drive, Georgetown, Texas 78628, with a rosarytaking place at 5:00 PM.Funeral mass willoccurWednesday, April 9, 2025 at 11:00 AM at Santa Rosa de Lima Catholic Church,6571 FM9 70, Florence, Texas 76527, followed by alunch reception at thechurch.The committal service will follow at 2:00 PM at Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery, 11463 TX-195, Killeen Texas 76542, whereMarine Corpsfuneral honorswill take place. In lieu of flowers, donationsmay be made to St Jude Children'sResearch Hospital, P.O. Box 100, Dept.142, Memphis, TN 38148-0142, or theSemper Fi Fund, 825 CollegeBlvd., Suite 102, PMB 609, Oceanside, CA 92057.

Sister Lilian Bernard Lynch,Franciscan Missionaries of OurLady, went to hereternalhomeonApril 3, 2025. Sister Lilian, anative of Cork, Ireland, was born September 27, 1936, to parents Mary Elizabeth "Lilian"and Bernard Lynch.She grew up in a loving Catholic family whichinfluencedher faith andvocation.She wasprecededindeathbyher parents, hersistersMaureen andMoira, herbrothers Tom, Liam, Richard, Fergal, Oliver andBrother Barry C.F.C,and twobeloved nephews. Shewill be missed by hergodchildren Joe, Chris, Kathy, Susan, and herniece, Ethel, who wasnamed in herhonor as well as manynieces, nephewsand cousinslocated in Cork, Ireland, and NewYork. Sister Lilian leaves behind herFranciscanMissionaries of OurLady Communityand the Franciscan Missionaries of OurLady Associates. Sister Lilian began herlifewith theFranciscan MissionariesofOur Lady in 1958. Her initial religiousformation wasinEngland, Scotland andFrance. After making herfirst vows in 1961, she moved to theUnited States andbecame aresident of Baton Rouge,Louisiana. Shemade herperpetual profession in 1964. Her life'sworkand ministry spanned manydecades touching countless individuals with herfaith, tenacity andwit.She continued herreligiousformationand academic studies in the United States andRome. Shecompleted hernursing degree from Marillac College,St. Louis. Knownas "TheWestPoint for Nuns," Marillac Collegeprepared herwell for adistinguished nursing career.She was actively involvedinthe leadership of the North American Region, serving as aRegionalCouncilor anddevotingherself to the formationofNovices. Sr Lilian's ministrieswere deeply rooted in Gospel and Franciscan valuesand principles.Her solidarity with thepoor and home bound reflected herprofoundempathyand dedication. Hergreat love for herFranciscan ministry wasfurther evident in her contributions to develop theFranciscan MissionariesofOur Lady Education andHealth System.Sister Lilian served as Director of theEye,Ear, Nose,and Throat Department at Our Lady of theLake Regional Medical Center.Thiswork began herlifelongsupport for eye disease andcare

Gustin,Kim Guidroz

Levy, Charles David

LeClere, MichaelJoshua

Lynch, Sister Lilian Bernard

Hartley, JessicaAnne

Leger,Mary Joyce

Honore,

for the visually impaired. She was atireless advocate for crucialresources and played apivotal role in establishing the Baton Rouge RegionalEye Bank, anonprofit organization supplying donor ocular tissue to local ophthalmologistsfor restoring vision. In 2004, Sister Lilian was honored for her commitment to the EyeBankwhen its Board of Directors established the Sister Lilian Lynch Visionary Award. Thisaward recognizes outstanding EyeBank volunteers, afitting tribute for Sister Lilian's remarkable contributions. At the St. Francis Chapel, located on the Franciscan MissionariesofOur Lady grounds, Sister Lilian facilitated all the services for many years. She loved and cherished her Sacristans and Readers, with special fondness for Francis Guglielmo, Gerard Barrow, and Vicky Broussard. The many people who attended Mass were familyand friends to her and all were lifted in her prayers daily. She enjoyed having Legatus here at the St. Francis Chapel and recalled their time fondly. Thank you to the many priests who came celebrate Mass, and to the cantors,and musicians. Thank you to the Franciscan Sisters, Our Lady of the Lake Emergency Department, Our Lady of the Lake Hospital Medicine, Chuck Spicer, Nicole Telhiard, and the many physicians, nurses,medical professionals, Chaplains and care team at Our Lady of the Lake. Sister Lilian knew well your excellent care and kindness. Thank youto the Care Teams at Ollie Steele Burden Nursing Facility and Flex Choice, and thanks to Hospice of Baton Rouge for your care and sensitivity. Thank you also to all the team membersat FranciscanMissionariesof Our Lady Health System who ministered with her over the years. Truly living St. Francis' spirit, Sister Lillian had special affection for God's creatures in particular an orange tabby cat named "Sunny."Hemisses her. Sister Lilian's life was atestament to the power of vision and compassion. Her legacy will continueto inspire and impact countless lives through the gifts she has given her the Church and Community. Visitation at St. Francis Chapel 4200 Essen Lane, Baton Rouge. Sunday, April 6, from 4:30PM- 7:00PM. Rosary at 6:00PM. Visitation will continue on Monday, April 7from 10 am until service begins. Celebration of Christian Burial Mass at St. Frances Chapel Monday April 7at12:30PM. Following Mass, Burialat Roselawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her memoryto the Retirement Fund for Religious (https://retiredre ligious.org/), the Eye Bank of Baton Rouge (7777 Hennessy Blvd #1005, Baton Rouge, LA 70808), or your charity of choice.

Nancy Morazan, 80, passedawaypeacefully on March 16, 2025, at her home, surroundedbyher lovingchildren. Born on June 2, 1944, in Stuttgart, AR, Nancy movedwith her family to St. Bernard Parish during her childhood and later settled in Baton Rouge, where she livedfor over 60 yearsand raised her family. Nancy was asuccessful business owner, guided by acore principle of helping others —a philosophy thatalso defined her personal life Shewas precededindeath by her former husband, RonaldMorazan, and her parents, Ralph and Orie Grob. Nancyissurvived by her children, Rosana Meadows and Dennis Morazan, and his wife Jodi Morazan. She was aproud grandmothertoKacen Morazan, Kylie Morazan Edwards, MelissaWaldmeier,and Luke Meadows, and agreat-grandmother to JaydenEdwards and Ada and Alice Waldmeier Sheisalsosurvivedbyher brother,Ron Grob. Nancy's kindness and spiritwillbe fondly rememberedbyall who knew and lovedher

Carolyn O. Morris passed awayonApril2 2025,atthe ageof93. She was bornonDecember19, 1931,inOwenton, Kentucky to the late BenjaminSleet and Jessie Barr Shields. Shelovingly cared for many childreninher home forover 20 years. In her youngerdays, she enjoyed archery, bowling and gardening. Sheissurvived by her two sons, Michael and MatthewMorris; grandchildren,Max,Connor, and RyanMorris; one brother, LouisShields; and numerous niecesand nephews. Sheisprecededindeath by herlovinghusband, Richard Morris; parents; and her brother,Buell Shields. Visitationwilltake place on Wednesday, April9, 2025 at Greenoaks Funeral Home, 9595 Florida Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA, 70815, from 12 pm until 1:45 pm with ashortprocession from thefuneral home to herfinal resting place in Greenoaks MemorialPark, fora graveside service beginning at 2pm.

Murphy,Lucille Cusimano Lucille "Lou" Beth Cusimano Murphy passed awayMarch18, 2025.She was born in Baton Rouge on November5,1945, and was alifelongresident ShegraduatedfromRobert

ELee high school, and soon after marriedher high schoolsweetheart, LeonardEugene"Gene"

Murphy on August 21, 1964. Gene passed away 1 monthshy of their 55th wedding anniversary. Lou was adevoted homemaker, mother, grandmother and greatgrandmother. She stoodbyGene after he had adevastatinginjury in June 1978, and continued that devotionthrough many months of rehabilitation and beyond. She is survivedbyher children, Leah Calandro (Mark), TracieJohnson and Patrick Murphy (Maggie); her grandchildren, Joseph, Taylor, Jordan, Hayden, Natalie,Katie, Mitchell, Sarah, Haley, Wadeand Levi; and by 6great grandchildren, Izzy, Tip, Kinleigh, Ivar, Everest, and Seve,arriving in July, and astep greatgrandson, Mac. Also survivedbyher sisters Joanne Bourgeoisand Barbara Gilblair. She was preceded in death by her husband, Gene;her son, John (Buff); her parents John and Mildred Cusimano; and brother, Robert (Butch) Cusimano.A special thank youtoLou's nurseswith Pinnacle, Anne,Annette, Barbara and Brandy. An even biggerthank youtoher special cousin, Henry"Bucky" Soniat,for his many years of kinship. Louenjoyed receiving his steadystream of thoughtfully written letters in themail, and cherishedhis many visits to her home. PerLou'swishes, aprivate servicewas heldonMarch 26, 2025 with burial at Greenoaks Cemetery. Pallbearers were JosephPizzuto, TaylorCalandro,Jordan Calandro, Hayden Murphy, Mitchell Murphyand Lenny Johnson.

Michael AllenReid, born on April 5, 1954, to Neil AllenThompson and Jo Ann Reid,passed away on April3,2025, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. AgraduateofHammond High School in 1973, Michael continued his education at Southeastern Louisiana University, where he earneda Bachelor of Arts degree in 1980. Following this, he pursuedfurther studies at The American College of Financial Services, earning his ChFC certification. Michael's professional careerwas dedicatedtolife insurance and financial services, servingasa sales agent and then significantly advancing to theroles of branch manager and regional manager. Throughout his career, Michael's exceptional skills and leadershipearnedhim several prestigious sales awards, highlightinghis commitment to excellence in his field.Outside of his professionallife,Michael had a wide array of hobbiesand interests. He was passionateabout commodities trading and investing.His love forcollecting spanned various items, including unique types of rabbits, watches, walking canes,

and pocket knives. An avid photographer, Michael cherished capturingmomentsintime.Hegreatly enjoyed spending quality time with family,particularlyduring memorable vacations to DisneyWorld. Michael is survivedbyhis mother, Jo Ann Reid;his daughters, Molly Erin Darouse (Austin) and Brett Allison Evans (Randy); his significant other, Victoria Reynolds; Victoria's daughter, BrittanyTsai (Mike); and Victoria's granddaughter,Camellia LinTsai. He was preceded in deathbyhis wife of 39 years, BrendaS.Reid; his father, Neil AllenThompson; and his step-father John E. Reid.Family and friends are invitedtoattend theFuneralService forMichael on Tuesday, April8,2025, at 11:00 AM at Resthaven Gardens of Memory &Funeral Home, located at 11817 Jefferson Hwy., Baton Rouge, LA 70816. AVisitation willbe held beginning at 9:30 AM. Interment willfollow the serviceatResthaven Gardens of Memory.

Adevoted wife, mother and grandmother, Marilyn Joy Roy, 95, passed on March 26, 2025, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Known as Joy, she was born on November 12th,1929 in Smithdale,Mississippithe daughter of Quincyand Jewel Adams. She shared a twinsister, CarolynJean, in afamily of nine children which included threesets of twins. Joymet her husband Thomas Albin Roy III (Tom) on ablind date in BatonRouge and they eloped thefollowing year. The couplemoved to Germany in 1954 where Tom was in theservice before settling in Baton Rouge. They had threechildren Thomas AlbinRoy IV, Carolyn JoyRoy and Sanford Forrest Roy. Their family grew with theadditionof Sanford's wife JanAubert Royand four grandchildren,Thomas AlbinRoy V, TessAdams Roy, Ashley Marie Roy, and Forrest Gerard Roy. Joylived alife of graceand beauty. Her gardens, interiors, culinary skills and gift for entertaining were unparalleled.She had away of making everything morebeautiful with her kindness and generosity.Her home was a place of love where she created thoughtful meals that brought family and friends together. She was also fiercelyindependent, resilient and strong. Her unyielding spirit willbe missed. Afuneral service willbeheldatSt. Thomas More Church in Baton Rouge on April 7, 2025 at 1:00 pm.

Theman,the myth, the marketing legend!William Raymond (Bill) Simon, Sr., was88yearsyoung with more to give when he was tragically torn from his familyinCentral, Louisiana at dawnonMarch 28, 2025, thefirst morning of hisretirement Founder and ownerof Simple Simon Tires for 60 years, Billwas apowerhouse. Whetherfor work, pleasure, or spiritual uplift he didn'tknowhow to stop doing all he loved. His voiceand laughterwere oneofa kind andwilllive on in thememories of all wholoved him.

The fifthofnine children born to Henryand Barbara SimononAugust 16, 1936, in Elk City, Oklahoma,Bill grew up on acotton and wheatfarm. Things were tough and got tougher when Billwas nineand his dad died. In theyearsafter, he workedthe farm andattendedschool in a one-room schoolhouse before graduating He wasdrafted into the Army in 1959 and released in 1961. He married, started afamily, andworkeda stringofjobsbeforeleasinganEsso stationin1966. Determinedtostarthis ownbusiness, he worked 15-hour days, saved up, andin1975, opened the first Simple Simon.

Thebusinessflourished as hissignature commercials—featuringcrazy antics andaslewofcharacters that he inventedand portrayed—hitTVscreens across Baton Rouge.Bill marriedPeggyin1978. She hasplayedthe supporting role in hislifeand business for almost 50 years.

Stafford,Gerald Manual 'Tommy'

Gerald Manual "Tommy" Stafford, native and lifelongresident of Gonzales, passed away on March 8, 2025, at theage of 87 in Baton Rouge.Heworkedas ameter reader for Gulf States Electric and was also theowner of several businesses. Tommy faithfully served in theUSAir Force. He was an avidLSU fan,watched Cowboy movies and sports, as well as enjoyed playingcards with hisfamilyand friends. Tommy is survived by his children, Kay Wimberly, JerriLynnKeller(Anthony), Chad Stafford (Lira), RachalWard (Andre) and RhettVicknair (Becky); 11 grandchildrenand several great grandchildren; brother, Connie R. Stafford; dear friends, Alton Roullier andRoy Hunt.Tommy is preceded in death by his wife, Juanita Stafford; parents, Carland Mildred Braud Stafford; siblings, TerryStafford, Ferrel Stafford, Charles Stafford. Agravesideservice to honor Tommy will be held at St.Theresa of Avila Catholic Church Cemetery on Friday, April 11, 2025, at 10:30am. In lieu of flowers, please considermakinga donation in Tommy's honor to St.Theresa of Avila Catholic Church

Billispredeceased by hisMotherBarbara Grateman Simon,Father Henry PeterSimon,Son William Raymond (Billy) Simon, Jr SonGregoryScott(Greg) Simon, Ex-wife, Meloda AnnMcCrary (Melody), Brother VincentSimon, Brother John Simon, Sister Mary SimonChurch,and Brother CarlSimon Billissurvived by his Wife Peggy MorelSimon, Daughter Angela Simon (Angie) Swanford, Son ChristopherNicholas (Chris) Simon(Herpreet) Grand ChildrenJennifer Anne Long, Heather Long Boudreaux(Jake), Rebekah LeannStrickland, Megan Nicole Swanford,William Michael (Will)Simon, Adam Mitchell Simon Desmond Emerson Singh Simon, Lakshmi AleahKaur Simon, andnine great grandchildren. He wasa cherished husband, father, grandfather andgreat grandfather. Our hearts are broken, butwe couldn't be prouderwho he wasand all he hasaccomplished AVisitationwill take place on April 9, 4-8pm, at RabenhorstFuneral Home 11000 Florida Blvd.OnApril 10, 11am-12pm, aVisitation will take place at St Alphonsus Church,14040 GreenwellSprings Rd, followed by aKCRosary, 1212:30pm, andMass, 12:302pm. Burial will take place at Green Oaks Cemetery after theM

Richard Thompson,born March24, 1942, in Eagle, Colorado, passed away peacefully on April 3, 2025 surroundedbyfamily, in Baton Rouge,Louisiana. A dedicated engineer and projectmanager, he served ShellOil Company for 33 years. He is survived by hisbeloved wife of nearly 40 years, Jo Ann Thompson;his children, Dr Dale (Catherine) Thompson, Michael (Denise) Southerland, Michael (Mia) Levert,Brett (Claire)Levert, Dr.Keith (Kristin) Levert, Kim(Tim) Heath, Kristen(Paul) Belanger,and Carolyn (Brad)Bryant; 16 grandchildren; 12 greatgrandchildren; sister DebbiePlumlee; and brother Ed Thompson.Hewas precededindeathbyhis parents, Truman and Georgie Thompson;siblings Jimmy and Pat;former wife Madilene;grandsonAaron Belanger; andgreat-grandson MJ Ortiz. Awake will be held Sunday, April 6, 2025, from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Rabenhorst Funeral Home, Florida Boulevard, Baton Rouge.Funeral serviceswill follow Monday, April 7, 2025, at 12:00 PM at St.Jude the Apostle Catholic Church,Baton Rouge,with visitation from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorial donationsmay be made to MD Anderson.

Morazan,Nancy Grob

SimonSr., William R.

Roy, Marilyn Joy Adams

Morris, Carolyn O.

Thompson, Richard

Reid,MichaelA.

OPINION

OUR VIEWS

Look ahead for real reformsafter amendment’s defeat

The defeat of Amendment2 on thestatewide ballot last month should not mean the endfor some individual proposals within the amendment. If legislators give voters amenuofoptions for reform rather than amassive,all-ornothingpackage, realreform mightactually happen.

And the shape of that reform could be largely if not entirely,along the general lines envisioned in thefailed Amendment2

Among the parts of the package that should be salvaged one way or another, considerthreeto start with.

We agree Louisiana should makepermanent the $2,000 teacher pay raise that otherwise will expireatthe end of thecurrent school year

We agree the state should move awayfromthe business inventory tax. And we agreethatproperty taxes should not be assessed on medicines in storage. The teacher pay raise can andshould be accomplished statutorily, one way or another, in the coming legislative session.Althoughitwas technicallytime-limited whenfirst introduced, nobody ever really expected it to disappear Attractingand keeping goodteachers should always be apriority.Before the$2,000 addition, theaverage teacher pay inLouisianaofaround $54,000 was substantially below the southern average of more than $59,000, accordingtothe Southern Regional Education Board. To be competitive,Louisiana needs tokeep the$2,000 and addmoreontop.

Meanwhile, Amendment2’s proposalto incentivizelocal governments to eliminate thelocal businessinventorytax is agood idea. Only nine states fully tax business inventory. Louisiana should join the other 41 states that wisely realizethat atax that applies even tounprofitable businesses, while requiringsignificant paperwork burdens atop the actual tax costs themselves, is both unfair and economically counterproductive.

Louisiana’sinventory tax system involves some complicated trade-offs, but one wayoranother,the tax ought to be phased out. Finally,for parishes that stillchoose tocharge inventory taxes, Amendment Twoincludeda smart recommendation toprohibit those taxes from applying to prescription drugs. If medicine can be stockpiled cheaply to guardagainst future price hikes, government should nottax its storage.

Overall, the basic thematic thrustofAmendment 2—namely,reducingexemptionsand complications in the tax code andproviding legislators at least alittle more ability to adjust to changing circumstances —was agood one. It would help going forward, though, if there were more rhyme and reason as to when,where and why the Legislature merits more discretionon how to spend which revenues. Amendment2 was confusing, in that it provided more discretion in some places whileremovingdiscretion entirely in others.

In recent days, anumber of legislators have said they “got the message” that voters prefer reforminbite-sized chunks. If thelawmakers follow up accordingly,boththe stategovernment’s finances and the state’seconomycan benefit.

LETTERSTOTHE EDITOR ARE WELCOME. HERE AREOUR

GUIDELINES: Letters are published identifying name, occupation and/or title and the writer’scity of residence

TheAdvocate |The Times-Picayune require astreet address andphone 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.

Chuck Schumer is right, and James Carville is right. They don’twant the Democratic Party getting pulled into MAGA’s cyclone of ruinous policy.To get to safety, they are reining in the left flank for whom the fight is all. The hotheads don’trecognize that bad timingloses battles

SenateMinority Leader Schumer took agood deal of incoming after he pushed his caucus to help pass theRepublicans’ continuing resolution, thus not causing agovernment shutdown. The ensuing chaos would have rattled Americansmorethan Donald Trumpand Elon Musk have already done. Do Democratswant to be seen compounding anxieties?

ing amistake.”

Democratic Sen. John Fetterman understood the gamewhen he rightly noted that shuttingdown thegovernmentwould be “a gift for theRepublicans.” House Speaker Mike Johnson seemed tobeegging Democrats on to do just that, undoubtedly,tofend off theanger of scared consumers, investors, retirees and anyone dependent on Medicare or Medicaid.

As Napoleon famously said, “Never interrupt your enemy when he is mak-

Democrats now have agrand opportunitytolet the public see what it stands tolose under the MAGAbulldozer.Republicans are messing up the economy faster than even their opposition could have imagined. Why would Democrats want to movenews cameras away from theGOP reps scared to hold town halls? Which brings up one smart thing Democrats can do and aredoing: hold their own town halls in congressional districtsrepresented by Republicans.

Rep.Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez clearly sought to be the face of agovernment shutdown. She had previously called for defunding the police, defended prostitutes propositioning boys on the way to school and railed against theexecutive order banning transgender kids born male from competing in girls’ sports. About 80% of Americans agree, as should anyone whocares about fairness in girls’ sports.

AOC not gettingher star turn before thecameras must have been agrave disappointmenttoFox News.Chuck Schumer may not be the mostcharismatic figure to representthe party,but

Electionsdrive

The aftermath of an election always brings analysis from all corners, and Louisiana’srecent vote rejecting four constitutional amendments on the March 29 ballot was no exception. Many had theories as to what it all meant. Wasthis arebuke of Gov.Jeff Landry’s agenda, or were voters sending amore nuanced message that theballot measures were too complex?

Will Sutton and Quin Hillyer.It’sa

at least he’snot adisastrous choice to address ordinary Americans. Democratic strategist Carville also drew fire foradvising Democrats to lay low forthe timebeing. Southernizing Napoleon’scounsel, he advised Democrats to “play possum,” that is, go limpinstead of fighting every Republican provocation. The midtermsare less than two years away Democrats should assemble ameatand-potatoes message forapreelection onslaught. They don’thave to promise cheap eggs or free neck lifts. They just need to makeclear that they’re not the ones sending food prices higher and stock values lower

And importantly,Democrats are the only hope forrestoring America’s sinking reputation as defender of Western democracy.Turning Canada into an enemy is plain insanity Republicans would just love to draw Democrats into their mayhem.Again, Democrats should not rise to the bait. They should take acue from Pogo and play dead until they are ready to swing into action.

Froma Harrop is on X, @FromaHarrop. Email her at fharrop@gmail.com

Longtimepolitical observers came to different conclusions. Andso did manyofyou, our letter writers. It is always interesting to me to see the reactions after voters have their say AndIknow manypolitical junkies also devour every word of our coverage after any election. In theOpinion section, we had several pieces looking at the election from different angles. ButIhave to say,one of my favorite features is our “Behind theHeadlines” conversations with veteran columnists. The one after the election featured Stephanie Grace,

chance to put you at the table to hear their takeaways. Iwould bet manyof you had similar reactions. As someonewho listens to podcasts, Ilove the experience of having that kind of up-close view withthose in the know We hope to continue doing these conversations and finding topics that interest you. If you have any ideas fortopics you’d like to hear ourcolumnists expound upon, send them my way We also hope you will want to engage with our next Town Square topic. With Easter and Passover around the corner and Eid al-Fitr just passed, we thought we would ask you to focus on issues of religious faith. We want to know:How important is your faith to your daily life, and what role, if any,should it play in civic life? Send your responses to letters@theadvocate.com. We will publish aselection of the best responses in afuture edition. For ourletters log, Ican update you

on two weeks in March. For March 6-13, we received 84 letters. It was clear that the constitutional amendments began to get moreattention as the election got closer.Wehad five letters on the topic, and outside of national politics, that wasthe mostof any issue. Four of those letters were about Amendment 2and one was about Amendment 3. We received four letters on our Opinion coverage, and three letters each on the death penalty and DOGE For the week of March 13-20, we received 96 letters. The hottest topic of that week, outside of national politics, wasthe return of the death penalty to Louisiana. We received 10 letters on the topic with eight opposed. The next mostpopular topic wasthe use of the term Gulf of America, which was the subject of six letters, with four opposing the new name.

Arnessa Garrett is Deputy Editor | OpinionPageEditor.Emailher at arnessa.garrett@theadvocate.com.

Arnessa Garrett

Froma Harrop

COMMENTARY

When Louisianansneedhelp, OneDoorshouldopen

Perhaps the most important bill in Louisiana’supcoming legislative session will be one almost everyone can agree on. Designed to make it easier for people to movefrom society’seconomic margins to more comfortable, productive working lives, it should be a“winwin” for everybody To be introduced by Stephanie Berault, RSlidell, in the House and Patrick McMath, RCovington, in the Senate, the bill would institute the so-called “One Door” approachto publicassistance that has worked tremendously well for Utahsince 1997. The basic idea is simple: Those who need public assistance should be able to navigate the system with the equivalent of “one-stop shopping,” with asinglecaseworker,rather than going to multiple offices, filling out multiple and largely duplicative forms and waiting for multiple bureaucraciestoprovide ofttimes conflicting responses. Better still, while disabledpeople should be able to receive help with more ease and certainty,the

whole rest of the system should be designed to move people from assistance to work rather than miring them in near-endless dependency.

“The purpose of this is to start in asubstantial way to address generational poverty in Louisiana,” Berault said. “Wecan move the people who can have the dignity ofwork and selfsufficiency back into the workforce at atime when we have announced to the world that we are open to business and we are going to needmore people active in the workforce.”

The key element in the bill is to put the federal benefits programs into arenamed “Louisiana Works” agency that makes job training and recruitment available in the same place as the food and cash grants —and, to repeat, with asingle case worker for each beneficiary who can help therecipients match up all the available aid and training.

Consider acouple with two children trying to stay together and trying to work, but both lacking adequate job skills or training. If

each scrapes up 30 hours of weekly gig work at $10 an hour,together they earn just over $30,000 per year.Food alone costs their family at least half that, which is why they are eligible (upto$40,560 per year) for thefederal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (commonly called “food stamps”) and for cash allowances through TemporaryAssistance for Needy Families (commonly called “welfare”). Wisely,both SNAP and TANF carry work or work-training requirements.Yet right now,the couple would need to go to one office for SNAP,one forTANF, another for the keyworkforce training they need to give them the skills for better jobs,and more. Meanwhile, employers needing workers don’thave a ready,easy,one-stop stateoffice to help them match available and willing workers with ready jobs.

If Berault’s One Door bill passes, though, asingle caseworker can manage each applicant to match needs withresources (including helping refer confused recipientstoother government programssuch as Medicaid or housing assistance even though

notactually managing those programs), all while directing the ultimate focus toward muchimproved job readiness and employment. Louisiana desperately needs better coordination. ALouisiana Workforce and Social Services Reform Task Force reported in late January that Louisiana had the lowest TANF “work participation rate” in the nation (3.5%) in 2020. That’spathetic. And, in a problem that would be solved by having “one door” and asingle caseworker rather than multiple ones: “Themost prominent barrier for every population of recipients is navigating the complex set of requirements for demonstrating eligibility for numerous independent programs.”

That’swhy,for example, “The audits of SNAP identified significant errors in the tracking of data. .Further,the audit identified that over eighty percent of participants lost services due to nonfinancial reasons (e.g. reporting issues), many of whom would re-enter the system less than 90 days later.”

Reentry,that is, only after wasting everybody’stime with

more paperwork and more rigmarole.

The conservative Pelican Institute think tank, which has tirelessly advocated the One Door approach for years, noted that in 2021 the state’sadministrative costs for TANF ($56.2 million) actually exceeded the direct cash assistance ($37 million) it provided to needy families. Not only should the new set-up do abetter job serving would-be workers, but it also should save administrative costs and, eventually, taxpayer dollars.

Alot more statistics could be cited, more examples given, but the sensibleness of One Door should be obvious —and entirely non-ideological, too.

“It genuinely is astory that can be embraced by everybody,” said Susana Schowen, Secretary of the Louisiana Workforce Commission. “[The goal is] lifting people out of poverty,providing pathways to self-sufficiency,reducing welfare rolls, and ensuring that our employers have the workers they need to prosper.” Quin Hillyer canbereached at quin.hillyer@theadvocate.com.

It’s past time to focusonthe dignityofgovernmentwork

We’ve all heard the language those backingthe ongoing,reckless purgeofthe federal workforceare usingtojustifytheir actions: Government employees are nothing but bureaucrats, or worse, deepstatesaboteurs of the politicians who trash them. Government is rife with not just waste but fraudand abuse —the latter two of which are firing offenses if actually proven, which those throwing aroundthis phraserarely even try to do.

rent, let alone who do important work on behalf ofall of us. Who’d support this level of collective cruelty then?

Like manynarratives, this one is powerful.

eton privilege who rebelled, worked fora time in coal mining and wound up figuring out how to keep mines from collapsing for theDepartment of Labor,saving countless private-sector worker lives.

In justifying the DOGE-driven assault on the publicworkforce, President Donald Trump claimed without evidencethat “many of themdon’twork at all. Many of them never showed upto work.”

Butthen, so is agrowing counternarrative.

This storyline is nothingnew,and it’s been weaponizedagainst workers at all levels of government. Before Trump, there were people like former Gov.Bobby Jindal, who would sneeringly boast of havingremoved 30,000 “bureaucrats” from Louisiana’spayroll— never mindthatthe reality wasfar more nuanced Youhave to dehumanize people in your mindto talkabout themthatway,and certainly to do what the Trumpadministration is doing —locking them outenmasse; firing them without cause andsometimes saying oops, nevermind;mocking them with Elon Musk’schildish chain saw. You can’t think of them —orhave your supporters think of them —asfellow citizens who must put food on the table and pay the

It turns out that if you’re open to hearing them, stories that undercut the stereotype of the lazy,freeloadinggovernment worker are incredibly easy to find, because they’re all around us. That was one of thetakeaways of astirring conversation at last week’s New Orleans Book Festival, led by bestselling native-son Michael Lewis, author of “Moneyball” and “The BlindSide.” Lewis first setout to document the work —and I’m not making this up, the fascinating stories —behind government service duringthe firstTrumpadministration, in his book, “The Fifth Risk.”Heand some other prominent writers arenow out with anew book, based on aWashington Post series andaptly called “Who is Government?The Untold Story of Government Service,” and its publication could not have been better timed.

In the introduction, Lewis is explicit, writingthat the project’s ambition is to subvert the “lazy and stupid” stereotype of thepublic servant.

If you’d attended their panel at Tulane University last week,you would have heard Lewis tell the tale of achild of Princ-

You’dhave heard Casey Cep talk about theman who oversees the nation’snetwork of military cemeteries, which have higher customer service ratings than private companies like Costco and Chick-fil-A.

“I thinkthe storyRon Walters allows us to tell is that alot of people are working very hard to meet theneeds of the American people. And that workismeaningful,” she said.

You’dhave heard W. Kamau Bell describe interviewing afederal employee he happened to know,and getting an earful from his goddaughter about the sense of purpose she found as an antitrust paralegal for theDepartment of Justice.

Andthe stories weren’tjust told on one stage.

Elsewhere at thebook festival, courtly former National Institutes of Health director Francis Collins practicallyseethed over the dismantling of his former agency, which has discovered breakthroughs on along list of devastating diseases and is working towardmore. He saidit’sparticularly shortsighted to fire recent hires with fewer job protections, as the Trump Administration has done, because the newly hired often bring new skills, ideas and talent.

AndRockefeller Foundation President

Rajiv Shah told the story of how American health care workers and military personnel wenttoWest Africa adecade ago and stopped the spread of the deadly Ebola virus before it could come to U.S. shores. That happened when Shah ran USAID, the humanitarian agency that wasTrump’s first high-profile target fordestruction. As always, there’sa“to be sure” here, as journalists put it. To be sure, government does not always operate efficiently or heroically,and not every public employee is astar or even a top performer.Where potential taxpayer savings exist, they should be identified and targeted. When bad behavior happens, it should have consequences. And where outdated regulations and technology prevent government workers from doing the best job they can for the public, they should be aggressively confronted; on that, Isuspect mostgovernmentemployees would agree. Regardless, there’sapowerful story to tell —ormore like millions of them about what the people whowork forour government —for us —do, and whythey do it.

At this momentofwanton, senseless, mean-spirited destruction, these stories are urgent.

And they have the added power of being true.

Email Stephanie Grace at sgrace@ theadvocate.com.

Orleansschoolleaders must be transparentwithmoney

Congrats, Dr.Fateama Fulmore.

Congrats, Orleans Parish School Board. The Orleans Parish School District is moving forward with apermanent school superintendent. The board chose Fulmore at a Wednesday meeting. She dropped “interim” from her title, and now, though she sits in the same chair in the same office, she has certainty that her decisions matter Public school charter students in highschool have seen several superintendentscome and go since they were in elementary school. I’m hoping that Fulmore will get agood, seven- to 10-year run to establish stability andto give her,and the board, adecent chance to significantlyimprove public education in New Orleans. It’ll take that longto repair some of the damage done in thelast two decadeswith the charter school “experiment.”

Fulmore has achance todo something that other superintendents have not done: She candevelop aboard-charter-community vision that better appreciates and respects the various ideas and philosophies about public school

education with data and firm accountability,including traditional school perspectives with new approaches from charters and others.

Fulmore was selected from a pool of 20 candidates, becoming one of two finalists. The other was Dr.Sharon Latten-Clark, the District 2representative on the Louisiana StateBoard of Elementary and Secondary Education and leader of Sophie B. Wright High School. The board voted 5-2 in favor of Fulmore Board members Nolan Marshall Jr.and KaTrinaChantelle Griffin votedno. Griffin said though Clark wasn’tselected, she extends “sincere congratulations to Fulmore.“Thefuture of our children is too important for division, and Iremain committed to working alongside Dr.Fulmore to ensure that every student in New Orleans has access to ahigh-quality education.” She looks forward to board accountability,“holding us accountablefor the success and well-beingof our students, families and educators.”

State Sen. Joe Bouie, afrequent OPSB critic,had hopedthe board would go in adifferent direction for leadershipaswell. Now he’s readyto“circle the wagons around(Fulmore) and give her an opportunity to demonstrate wheth-

er she can save our system.”

Unfortunately,Fulmore is stepping intoher permanent role as too manyhave lost trust in the board and the district

There’sa significant budget shortfall. Not having $36 million, as was reported last year,isone thing.Not having $50 million,the updated number,ispotentially so crippling that there could be massive layoffs, school closures and yet another school reorganization. It can’tbeastopgap step.

Ourschool children are owed better

Someone —orsome people madeacolossal financial error Budget and funding calculations

were based on a12-month calendar year and not the monthsshorter school year.I’m not a certified public accountant, a forensics accountant or achief financial officer,but Idid take a “finance fornonfinancial managers” course when Iwas responsible for an entire newsroom budget.Calendar year,quarterly and monthly calculations are different yet tied together.Our instructors didn’tspend any time explaining how to spread nine or 10 months of money across an entire year

The board is blaming Mayor LaToyaCantrell for backing out of asettlement to pay the district what they think they’re owed. If there ever was alegitimate agreement, it’sreasonable to expect payment. With or without an agreement, students, educators, parentsand taxpayers deserve to know more about such asignificant miscalculation.

“Wehave no comprehensive explanation about the miscalculation,” Bouie said Thursday.“We know very little about who, how, and the board’s position on ensuring that can never happen again.” The complex legal and moral debateabout what the city owes thedistrict will be resolved in time. Meanwhile, in March, the school board approved aFulmore

plan to use district savings and someofa budget surplus to soften the financial blow this year

And what about next year?

To be fair,the school has provided explanations about the inflated revenue projections, but none that have resonated as understood with the public.

“My objective is to be the person whoworks hardest forchildren to get what they deserve,” Fulmore said during aTuesday night townhall.

Board President Katie Baudouin is happy with making Fulmorepermanent. “The district is on agreat path right now,and I think that (Fulmore’s) leadership really played abig role in getting us here,” Baudouin said after the meeting.

Fulmore worked hard to earn her shot at running an entire school district as asuperintendent. “This is adream cometrue,” Fulmore told reporter Marie Fazio. That dream can rapidly evolve into anightmare if Fulmore, Baudouin and the board don’tcome clean with facts —including a timeline —about how such acolossal financial mistake was made in waysthe public can grasp. We deserve to know

Email Will Sutton at wsutton@ theadvocate.com.

Quin Hillyer

Stephanie Grace

Will Sutton

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER Superintendent of Orleans Parish schools Fateama S. Fulmore

Baton Rouge Weather

Wannamaker, Mary Jo Mary Jo Wannamaker,a residentofZachary, passedawayonThursday April 3, 2025. Shewas 82 years oldand anativeof WestMonroe. Graveside Service will be on Thurs‐day,April 10, 2025 at Port HudsonNationalCemetery inZachary at 11 am.She is survivedbyher children, Ronda Smotek andhus‐band, Glennand Scott Wannamaker. Sisters, Eliz‐abeth “Ann” Phillips and husband,Wendell, JoyAl‐ford, andJan Doss Owen, Brothers, Gary Parrishand Ted Parrishand wife, Donna.2 grandchildren, Jackand Katherine Smotek. Sheisprecededin death by herhusband of 48 years,WilderWanna‐maker.Share sympathies condolences andmemo‐riesatwww.CharletFune ralHome.com

Wefel, John P.

John P. Wefel, Professor Emeritus of Physics at LSU passed awayonMarch30, 2025 in Port Townsend WA. He was 80 years old. John was aloving husband and father. He is survived by his wife, Sandra, his sons Paul (Katrina) of Urbana, Illinois and Mark (Christina) of Leavenworth, WA, five grandchildren (Aidan, Brianne, Cassie, Bridger, Cooper), a brother Peter, and his many friends, extended family and colleagues who will miss his warmth, generosity, and unyielding love for his familyand his work. More detailsare in the online version. A memorial service will be held on June 21st, 2025at Grace Lutheran Church in Port Townsend.

Patsy Jean Stephens

Patsy Jean Stephens Wolfe peacefully transitionedtothe nextlifeon March 28, 2025 in Baton Rouge. Born August 27, 1932 and raised in Shreveport, she was precededindeath by herhusbandof39 years, DonaldEdward Wolfe,her parentsEthel Lee Reed Stephens and John HershelStephens Sr., brothersSteve Lee Stephens, William Robert Stephens, and John Herschel Stephens Jr Highlights of her lifeinclude graduating from ByrdHigh School and subsequent involvement with the alumni associationand ByrdBabes; time as aPhi Mu and PKADream Girl at Louisiana Tech whereshe earneda bachelor's degree in education and later a master's degree in guidance and counseling. Sheoperatedtwo businesses over the years, visited nearly every national park and traveledwidely to allhemispheresofthe world.

Shewas involved in numerous organizations including Lagniappe Ladies at Louisiana Tech and the CentenaryMuses andPEO Chapter BinShreveport.

Her true passion was children and teaching them to read as afirst and second-grade teacher in Shreveportand New Orleans. Always faithful and dedicatedtoher church, she was an active memberof CentralChristianChurch and Broadmoor Methodist ChurchinShreveport and TrinityEpiscopal Church in Baton Rouge Mostimportant to her alwayswas herbeloved family. She is survived by broken-hearteddaughters Katheryn Wolfe Flournoy (Clay)and LauraLee Wolfe (PhilipElliott); granddaughter BeatrixRose Flournoy (ChrisClay), bonus granddaughter Sarah Falconer(Craig) great-granddaughter Lydia

Noffke; and her brother Michael Reed Stephens (Anita), as well as numerous cherished nieces, nephews, cousins,and friends.

Described by one of her many exceptional Home Instead CarePros as a mightywarrioratthe end, she truly believed we should love one another and spent her life attempting to do just that.She was lovedand willbemissed.

Her familyiseternally grateful forthe many kind loving employees and residents of The Claiborne BatonRouge and forthe incredible blessing that is Hospice of BatonRouge, who guidedthe family throughthe end with their love,knowledge, and support.

Funeral services are set for11a.m. SaturdayApril 12, 2025 at Trinity EpiscopalChurch, 3552 Morning Glory Ave., Baton Rouge. Visitationwillbeheld10-11 a.m. in theTrinity Common Room and aCelebrationof Life reception willfollow thefuneralservice.

LSUgym clinches itsshot to repeat

Tigers earn 15th regional titlebynipping Mich.St.

BY SCOTT RABALAIS Staff writer

The champs are going backto the championship meet.

The LSU gymnasticsteamleft no doubt against astrong field in Saturday’sNCAA Pennsylvania regional finalthatitwould be returning to Fort Worth, Texas,later this month to try to repeat as NCAA champions.

TheTigers, the NCAA’s No. 1overall seed, posted their fifth straightscoreof198-plus and seventh overall with a198.050, edging out No. 8Michigan State(198.000)for the regional championship at Rec Hall in University Park, Pennsylvania. No. 9Kentucky was third at 197.625, while No. 16 Arkansas was fourth at 197.375.

“It was by far the toughestregional field in the country,” LSU coach JayClark said. “Michigan State is legit. Iknewifwemessed around, we’d get in trouble.

“Wedid enough. On to thenextone.”

“The next one” is atrip to the NCAA national semifinals for the Tigers, their third ä See GYM, page 8C

the NCAA bracket after advancing to the final eight SaturdayinUniversityPark,Pa.

Shores, LSUbeat conditions, Oklahoma

BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer

NORMAN, Okla. Many LSU baseball fans were calling for JayJohnson to shake up his rotation.

The LSU coach had stuck with the same starting rotation —and in the same order since opening weekend. But after acouple of rocky outings from right-handedjunior Anthony Eyanson and right-handed redshirt sophomore Chase Shores to start Southeastern Conference play,there were Tigerfaithfulwho wanted to see achange. Johnson stuck to his guns, anditispayingoff.

Eyanson bounced back with consecutive starts where he didn’t allow an earned run, and Shores took his big step forward Saturday

At L. Dale Mitchell Park against No.10 Oklahoma, Shores allowed no earned runs and three hitsinfive innings to help No.7 LSU push past the Sooners 3-2. The victory clinched LSU’sthirdseries sweep in four weeks of SEC play

“This is agood accomplishment,” Johnson said. “How we’ve played consistently over 33 gamesiswhat you’d like to see. And for me, that’sthe story.”

ä See LSU, page 8C

SPRTS

P OR

WALLS FALL DOWN?

Saints’offseason tells us they really believein foundation of roster

The New OrleansSaints are telling us something this offseason. They’re saying last season wasan aberration. Amirage. Aflukey outlier of acampaign.

They’re essentially blaming the 5-12 season on bad juju and, to an extent, bad coaching. How else to explain their offseasonsofar?

The Saints’ worst season in nearly two decades spurred team officials to change their coaching and training staffs —and not much else.

The front office remains intact.

The roster is largely the sameone that finished last in theNFC South a year ago.

Seventeen of the 22 players who started the 2024 season opener will return, and if you includecornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry —who moved into thestarting lineup after Marshon Lattimorewas traded in November it’s18of22. In fact, 44 of the 53 players on theactive roster from ayear ago are back this season. Through trades and free agency the Saintsadded afew veterans that should play key roles in safety Justin Reid,receiver Brandin Cooks, defensive tackle Davon Godchaux and guard Dillon Radunz, but mostofthe additionsare backups or role players.

ä See DUNCAN, page 4C

BYREED DARCEY Staff writer

LSU great Sylvia Fowles soon will be enshrined intothe Naismith MemorialBasketball Hall of Fame. On Saturday, the hall announced that it will induct Fowles as part of its2025 enshrinement class, agroupalsoheadlined by Sue Bird, Maya Moore, Carmelo Anthony andDwight Howard. Fowles— whowon twoWNBAtitles, aleague MVP award andfourOlympic gold medals after herdecoratedcareer left Baton Rouge ended in 2008 —led the Tigers to theFinal Four in allfouryears of hercollegiatecareer

“I don’tthink (any)one of us go into this thinking that we’re going to be Hall of Famers,”Fowles said. “You just do your job and when it’sall saidand done, thejob is complete and here we are.”

The 6-foot-6 center is LSU’sall-timeleader in rebounds (1,570), blocks(321), career double-doubles (86), games played (144) and postseason gamesplayed (20). Her 2,234 career pointsrank fifth in program history

In the WNBA, Fowles played forthe Chicago Skyand Minnesota Lynx.She wasa

two-time Finals MVP,afour-time defensive player of the year and an eight-time all-league selection. She wasnamedWNBA MVP in 2017, aseason in which she averaged 18.9 pointsand 10.4 rebounds per game while shooting 66%from the field. Fowles also shined on the international stage. She helped Team USA win gold in every Olympics from 2008-21. Only Diana Taurasi (six) and Bird (five) have more gold medals. In November,Fowlesalsowas inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. She’s following the same path thather formerLSU teammate Seimone Augustus took in 2024,whenshe wasenshrined into the Women’sBasketball Hall of Fame, the NaismithMemorial BasketballHallofFame and the Louisiana Sports HallofFame allinthe span of afew months. IncludingFowles, eightLSU players or coaches are in the NaismithMemorial Basketball Hall of Fame: Augustus, Pete Maravich, Bob Pettit, Shaquille O’Neal, VanChancellor,Sue Gunter and KimMulkey This year’sNaismithenshrinementceremony is scheduledfor Sept. 6inSpringfield, Massachusetts.

Jeff Duncan

PROVIDED PHOTO By LSU ATHLETICS LSU gymnasts smileastheyupdate

Sylvia Fowles STAFF FILE PHOTO By LIZ CONDO

2

Harman survives wind to lead Texas Open by 3 SAN ANTONIO Brian Harman survived 30 mph wind by playing the final 13 holes without a bogey giving him an even-par 72 and a three-shot lead in a Texas Open so difficult that only six players managed to break par Harman had his chance to join them until narrowly missing a 12-foot birdie attempt on the final hole at the TPC San Antonio. He was more than satisfied to finish with his first 54-hole lead since he won the British Open two years ago at Royal Liverpool. That also was his last victory Harman, three shots clear of Andrew Novak (69), with Tom Hoge (68) another shot behind going into the final round. Keith Mitchell had a 73 and was five behind. Mitchell and Novak need to win to get into the Masters next week.

Anthony, Howard highlight basketball HOF

BY TIM REYNOLDS AP basketball writer

Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard are going into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame later this year not once, but twice. And LeBron James and Chris Paul are part of the group that’s headed to the Hall as well, even before their playing careers end.

Anthony and Howard were announced Saturday as members of the Class of 2025, as was the 2008 U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team that they played on — dubbed the “Redeem Team,” the one that captured gold at the Beijing Games and started a still-going run of five consecutive Olympic titles and counting for USA Basketball’s men’s program.

Also selected for enshrinement were WNBA greats Sue Bird, Maya Moore and Sylvia Fowles, Chicago Bulls coach and two-time NCAA champion Billy Donovan, Miami Heat managing general partner Micky Arison and longtime NBA referee Danny Crawford.

“I made it to the real basketball heaven,” Howard said. “It’s crazy.” Enshrinement weekend is Sept. 5-6 at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut, and the Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts.

“When the call comes and in my case, I saw Springfield on the phone,” Anthony said on the televised announcement “You know what time it is when Springfield is on the phone. You know who it is. You get the phone call and you hear, ‘You’re in.’ And I think for me, it was a burden off of my shoulders.” Donovan won back-to-back titles as a college coach with Florida. Arison oversaw Miami’s path to NBA titles in 2006, 2012 and 2013 Crawford worked NBA games for 32 seasons and was picked to work the NBA Finals in 23 of those years.

“For some, this is an individual honor,” Arison said. “But for me, this speaks to what our entire

Heat family — players, coaches, staff and fans have built together.”

Combined, the five players selected as individuals Bird, Moore, Fowles, Howard and Anthony were part of 11 WNBA or NBA championship teams, won 15 Olympic gold medals, made 37 AllNBA or All-WNBA appearances and were named as All-Stars 45 times in their careers.

“Surreal,” Bird said of her selection. “I don’t think there’s any way to really wrap your head around it.”

The Redeem Team’s selection means that Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Jason Kidd and Kobe Bryant already enshrined as Hall of Famers — essentially now go in for a second time. James and Paul, who are obviously both locks to get into the Hall after they retire, also played for that Olympic team, as did Anthony, Howard, Michael Redd, Carlos Boozer, Deron Williams and Tayshaun Prince. That team’s managing director was Jerry Colangelo, who now chairs the Hall of Fame.

“We developed a set of standards where all the guys lived by those standards,” said former Duke coach and 2001 Hall of Fame inductee Mike Krzyzewski, who coached that 2008 Olympic team

“They were the best group of guys. I wish like crazy that Kobe was here. He was really the key guy, I think. As many great players as we had at that point, he was the greatest and everyone looked up to him.” Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven others were killed in a 2020 helicopter crash. Bryant was enshrined posthumously into the Hall later that year

The Redeem Team had that moniker because it was the team tasked with restoring USA Basketball’s place atop the world stage, after the 2004 Olympic team only managed a bronze medal at the Athens Games. The Redeem Team went 8-0 in Beijing, winning those games by an average of 27.9 points.

“USA Basketball is thrilled to see the 2008 U.S. Men’s Olympic Team elected to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame,” USA Bas-

ketball CEO Jim Tooley said. “The Redeem Team’s celebrated run in Beijing marks a pivotal moment in U.S. men’s Olympic basketball history and has propelled us to five straight gold medals.

“Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard, members of that team and individual inductees, are two of the many legends in this Class who have contributed to our organization’s success over the last 20-plus years, including Sue Bird, Billy Donovan, Maya Moore and Sylvia Fowles.”

The UConn women’s program already had coach Geno Auriemma, Swin Cash (enshrined as a player) and Rebecca Lobo (enshrined as a contributor) in the Hall of Fame, and Bird and Moore going in together will add to what’s always a huge weekend in New England.

“They’re hall of famers for me, they’re hall of famers for their family, they’re hall of famers for everybody they’re even hall of famers for UConn haters,” Auriemma said. “That’s one thing they can all agree on.”

Patricia getting up to speed as Buckeyes’ new DC

BY JOE REEDY AP sportswriter

COLUMBUS, Ohio Matt Patricia knows the pressure that comes with defending a championship and the limited amount of time that accompanies it. Whether or not Patricia can have the same success in college will be a work in progress.

Patricia is still getting up to speed after being named Ohio State’s defensive coordinator on Feb. 20. After spending most of his career coaching in the NFL, Patricia has received positive reviews for his work during the first three weeks of the Buckeyes’ spring practices.

“I think the feedback from our players has been good,” head coach Ryan Day said. “Matt and his experience and credibility speaks for itself. I think they know that, but now they’re getting a chance to meet him, and I think it’s been great. We’ve got great feedback from the recruits as well.”

Patricia is back in college for the first time since 2002, when he was a graduate assistant at Syracuse. Day’s hiring of Patricia was surprising considering the coach’s

struggles since leaving New England after the 2017 season. Patricia went 13-29-1 in his nearly three seasons as the head coach of the Detroit Lions from 2018 through ‘20. He returned to the Patriots for two seasons, including being the offensive play caller in 2022, when that unit struggled.

In 2023, Patricia went to Philadelphia as a senior defensive assistant. He took over the defense for the final five games, including the playoffs, but the Eagles continued to struggle and went 1-4 down the stretch. That included a loss at Tampa Bay in the NFC wild-card round

“I’m very blessed for my NFL career I was lucky to coach great players and I had a lot of fun,” Patricia said. “I think this is a great opportunity to go coach, and that’s what I want to do.” Day and athletic director Ross Bjork also vetted Patricia about his 1996 arrest for sexual assault while on spring break in Texas when he was a student at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. The case, which also involved an RPI teammate, was dismissed when the woman was unable to testify Details of the case originally

came to light during Patricia’s first season in Detroit in 2018. He said at the time he was wrongly accused. Patricia takes over the Buckeyes defense after Jim Knowles went to Big Ten rival Penn State after three seasons. Ohio State led the Football Bowl Subdivision in scoring defense, total defense and passing defense last season en route to its third national championship since 2002. However, the Buckeyes return only three starters from that unit with none being on the defensive line.

Patricia’s greatest asset when he was at New England was being able to adjust to his personnel by running multiple fronts and coverages.

“I think multiplicity comes in a couple different ways,” Patricia said. “I do like the flexibility of the nickel (package) and linebackers that can play on and off the ball. Let’s get as many guys as we can in different roles and keep it moving on the offense and stay ahead of them before they figure it out.”

Day has stressed throughout spring drills that time is of the essence. When the Buckeyes

had their first spring practice on March 17, it was only eight weeks after they beat Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff championship game. Day initially thought about not doing a spring game on April 12, but has changed course the past couple weeks. A big reason for that is because the Buckeyes host Texas in their opener on Aug. 31, in what will be a rematch of the CFP semifinal at the Cotton Bowl, which Ohio State won 28-14.

Patricia certainly understands short time frames coming off championships from his time in New England.

“We’re behind everyone else. It’s just trying to create that urgency of what’s happening right now with our team and to be intentional about everything,” he said. “It’s also making sure you get the rest and recovery I always tell the guys, too, when you reach the top of the mountain, there’s a huge target on you. Teams are going to spend the offseason studying everything you do. Some teams will spend six months getting ready for us, so we have to understand we’ve got to catch up to where they are.”

Duke’s Flagg, USC’s Watkins pick up Wooden Awards

LOS ANGELES Cooper Flagg of Duke and USC’s JuJu Watkins are adding more hardware to their trophy cases. Flagg, a freshman forward, was named the John R. Wooden Award winner as the nation’s top men’s player, beating Auburn’s Johni Broome by 178 votes on Saturday

He is Duke’s eighth Wooden winner, the most of any school. Flagg averaged 18.9 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists while leading the Blue Devils to the Final Four

The other finalists were Walter Clayton of Florida, Mark Sears of Alabama and Braden Smith of Purdue. Watkins, a sophomore guard, won the women’s award. She beat out UConn’s Paige Bueckers, who won in 2021, by 46 votes.

SMU names Barnes women’s basketball coach

DALLAS Adia Barnes was named SMU’s new women’s basketball coach Saturday after nine seasons at Arizona, where she led the Wildcats to the national championship game four years ago. Barnes takes over an SMU program that is coming off a 10-20 record in its first season in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Mustangs were 2-16 in league games.

The hiring came a week after SMU fired Toyelle Wilson, who was 55-64 overall in four seasons SMU’s only NCAA Tournament appearance was in 2007-08. Arizona was 169-114 under Barnes and made four consecutive NCAA women’s tournaments from 2021-24, including a 54-53 loss to Stanford in the 2021 national title game. The Wildcats were 19-14 in their first Big 12 season, going 10-8 in conference play

Arizona’s Marte on IL after straining hamstring

WASHINGTON — Arizona second basemen Ketel Marte was put on the 10-day injured list Saturday, a day after leaving the Diamondbacks’ 6-4 victory over the Washington Nationals in the first inning with a strained left hamstring suffered while running the bases. Marte hit a long ball to the wall in center field and, as he rounded first base and headed to second, he started to stutter-step. He pulled in slowly for a standup double while holding his left hamstring.

“To see him pull up like that in the first inning was not, no one in the dugout was feeling good,” said right fielder Corbin Carroll, who hit two home runs and drove in three runs for Arizona.

Nebraska coach dismisses transfer receiver Gilmore LINCOLN, Neb Nebraska receiver Hardley Gilmore, who transferred from Kentucky in January, was dismissed from the team, coach Matt Rhule announced Saturday The second-year player from Belle Glade, Florida, had come to Nebraska along with former Kentucky teammate Dane Key and receivers coach Daikiel Shorts Jr and had received praise from teammates and coaches for his performance in spring practice. Rhule did not disclose a reason for removing Gilmore. Gilmore was charged with misdemeanor assault in December for allegedly punching someone in the face at a storage facility in Lexington, Kentucky, the Lexington Herald Leader reported on Jan. 2.

AP FILE PHOTO By SETH WENIG

Former New york Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony reacts after hitting a 3-pointer during a game against the Sacramento Kings on Dec. 4, 2016, in New york.

Howard

South

Staleyreactsduringthe first half of anational semifinal game against Texasduring thewomen’sNCAA Tournament on FridayinTampa, Fla

SouthCarolinaone winawayfroma 3rdtitle in 4years

BY DOUG FEINBERG

basketball writer

TAMPA, Fla. DawnStaley and South Carolina are one win away from joining an elite group of programs in women’sbasketball history with athird nationalchampionship in four seasons

Only two other schools have accomplished that feat: UConn and Tennessee.

“It’shard to break into whatPat Summitt andGeno (Auriemma)” have done for women’sbasketball,Staley said. “It’sreallyhard to even be mentioned in that air. Anything that youdoand you have sustained successisreally,really, really hard.

“But once you are able to understand what it takes to succeed there,it’salittle easier because you know.”

Auriemma and the Huskies stand in the way with the teams set to play Sunday for the NCAA title. It’sbeen nine years sinceAuriemma’steam won the championship, which capped off arun of four consecutive titles from 2013-16.

That win was the most recentof the record 11 national titles that Auriemma has won in his four decades at the school.

UConn has only reached thetitle game once since 2016, and during that drought has come up on the short end of heartbreaking lastsecondlossesinthe FinalFouron buzzer-beaters. The Huskies’lone title appearance in the past nine years came in 2022 when Staley’s team beat UConn to start the Gamecocks’ current runofsuccess, agame that ended Auriemma’sperfect record in title games.

Auriemma has ahealthy respect for Staley,knowing the South Carolina coach from herplaying days at Virginia to her time with USA Basketball. She was an assistant coach for him duringthe 2016 Olympics before she became the national team’shead coach.

“Tobewhere she is rightnow and to have done it in the way that she’s done it, Ihave alot of respect for her,” he said. “I have tremendous respect for her knowing how she grew up and howhard she fought to get to where she is today You don’tget here by accident. Youget

here by being committed andtrue to who youare. And she doesn’ttry to be anything she’snot.”

After losing in the 2023 Final Four to Caitlin Clark and Iowa, theGamecockshad an undefeated season last year to the school’s third title since 2017.

The only UConnplayer that saw significant timeinthe title game three years ago against SouthCarolina was Paige Bueckers. She’ll be playing in her finalgamefor UConn hoping to leavethe school with achampionship, joining manyother Huskygreats that have played for Auriemma.

“I think everything in life has kind oftaught me not to take things for granted,” she said. “Being in thenational championship game, it’sextremelyhard to get to and extremely rewarding to be apart of.And justhow much we need to play 40 minutes andhow connected we need tostay throughout thegame. It’sgoing to be agame of runs. It’sextremely high stakes.”

The teams met earlier this season andUConnstunned South Carolina with a29-point victory that ended the Gamecocks’ 71-game home winning streak,winning 8758 on Feb.16.

Neither team puts much stock in that game, although BetMGM has the Huskiesas5.5-point favorites despite being the lower-seeded team

Staley wants South Carolina’saccomplishments equally acknowledged

While Staley complimented what Bueckers has accomplished for UConn and women’sbasketball during hercareer, shealso believesher team’s dominant run over the past few years merits equal recognition

Whenthe Gamecockswent undefeated en route to their championship last year,the major storyline was Clark, one of greatest college basketball players trying to capture anationaltitleinher final game

“Sometimes we create these narratives about great players,”

Staley said. “Caitlinwas oneof them;Paige is one of them right now,and wetendtoforget thenarrative about what ourkids have been abletodo.”

Claytonleads Florida to NCAA titlegame

BY STEPHEN HAWKINS AP sportswriter

SAN ANTONIO Walter Clayton Jr

scored 34 pointsand Florida beat Southeastern Conference rival Auburn79-73 in the Final Four on Saturday night,sending the Gators to thenational championship game forthe first time since their titles in 2006 and 2007.

The All-Americaguard for the Gators (35-4) had adriving layup with 2:24 left, on thepossession rightafter Australian big man Alex Condon drew acharge againstJohni Broome, the other All-America player in this national semifinal —and who was dealing withaninjured right elbow

Aftera record 14 SEC teams madethis NCAATournament, seven got to the Sweet 16 before the league made up half the Elite Eight and thenthis FinalFour filled with No. 1seeds.

TheGators will have the chance Monday night to win theSEC’sfirst title since Kentuckyin2012, the only one since they won in backto-back seasons. Florida takes an 11-gamewinning streak into the title championship game in the Alamodome against either Duke or Houston.

“We’re just alltogether,onthe court and off the court,” Clayton said.

Evenatthe endofthe first SEC matchup in aFinal Four, Clayton chased aloose reboundand tipped it back inbounds to keep the clock running out on the win. When he started to walk back on the court, teammate Alijah Martin was standing watching himatthe end line nodding with asmile to greet him.

TheTigers(32-6),intheir second Final Four with coach Bruce Pearl, werethe top overall seed and had an eight-point halftime lead “Auburn had us on our heels in the first half but we came outwith agreat startand we didn’tlook back,” said 39-year-old Florida coach Todd Golden, who joined Pearl’sfirst staffatAuburn in 2014. Clayton became the first player with consecutive 30-point games in theElite Eightand semifinals since Larry Bird for Indiana State in 1979, according to ESPNStats Claytongot over 30 with his threepoint play with 1:33 left, scoring on alayup while being fouled and adding the free throw Martin,who playedinthe Final Four with FAUtwo years ago, added 17 points forthe Gators. Thomas Haugh had 12. Florida opened the second half with a13-3 run, with Clayton capping an 11-0 run with alayup afterRueben Chinyelu’ssteal.That put the Gators up 51-49 with 15 1/2

minutesleft.

ChadBaker-Mazara,with his left hand partially wrapped because of athumb issue, led Auburn with 18 points, including four 3-pointers. Broome finished with 15 points on 6-of-14 shooting and had seven rebounds —hehad only three points after halftime.

Even before the final buzzer sounded, Broome was hunched over and then was surrounded by cameras to capture his reaction He eventually stood up to shake hands,thenwalkedoff thecourt with hiseyesred from crying pulling up his jersey to wipe his face as cameras continued to follow his exit.

Broome and Baker-Mazara both were injured in the win over MichiganState last Sundaythatsentthe Tigers to the Final Four.Broome’s right elbow bent awkwardly during ahard fall in the second half, andinthe FinalFourheworesome kind of brace on hisarm covered by asleeve.

Houston takesadvantage of an epic Duke collapse

BY EDDIE PELLS AP national writer

SANANTONIO Houston’ssuffocatingdefense wipedaway a14-point deficit over thefinaleight minutes and erased Cooper Flagg and Duke’stitle hopes Saturday in a 70-67 stunner over theBlue Devils at the Final Four.

Duke made agrand total of one field goal over the last 101/2 minutes of the game. The secondto-last attempt was astep-back jumper in thelane by Flagg that J’WanRobertsdisrupted. The last was adesperation heave by Tyrese Proctor that caught nothing at the buzzer It was Roberts’ two free throws with 19.6 seconds left that gave theCougars theirfirstleadsince 6-5, after Flaggwas calledfor an over-the-back foulonarebound.

LJ Cryer,who led Houston with 26 points while playing all 40 minutes,made two more free throws to push the lead to three after Flagg missed his potential goahead jumper.Itwas Houston’s biggest lead of the night Houston closed the gameona

UConn’sBueckerssaysotherscan ponder herlegacy

BYFRED GOODALL Associated Press

TAMPA, Fla. Paige Bueckersinsists she’snot concerned about her legacy.

TheUConn standoutwillclose out her college career when the Huskies face South Carolina in Sunday’snational title game. She said Saturday that she would like to be remembered as “a great teammate, agreat leader”who makes players around her better

She’ll leave it to others todecide if adding an NCAA championship to an already impressive resume will validate her accomplishments.

“I don’t think that’supto me. I think that’suptothe people who, I guess,get to decide if people’slegacies are cemented or whatever,” Bueckers said. “But I’m not worriedabout that at all

“The thing Itake great joy and great pride in is the relationships, the experiences, the journeys we’vegone on throughoutthe team,” she added.“Just the bonds I’ve been able to create with my

teammates, thememories, the close-knitstuff that,Imean, you can’treallyexperience without support, just howit’sbrought us alltogether and how much we’ve grown as individuals, grown as ateam.All the stuff we’vebeen throughand how muchit’smade us stronger.”

UConn players talk about their desire to deliver a12th national title for Geno Auriemma, whohas ledthe Huskiestoa record 24 Final Fours. The coach, however,would like Bueckersand the rest of his players to experience the joy of winning it all. Winorlose, however,Auriemma knows Bueckers has already made alastingimpactonhis storied program.

“If you’re in this for the first time, you really don’thave the appreciationfor what it really is. If you’re fortunate likeI’vebeen, you know what that feels likewhen someone who has given their whole heart and soultoyour programwalksoff thecourt in the last game of their career with anational champion-

ship. …You see the effect that it has on their life,” Auriemma said. “Paige doesn’tneed anything to change herlifetomakeher life better.She’s gota life that most people would dream about.But for

someone who’s invested so much into the University of Connecticut, thecommunity,the team, her teammates, and loves the gameso much, she deserves to go outasa national champion,” Auriemma

added. “But so do abunchofkids at South Carolina that have done the exact samething.”

Count South Carolina coach Dawn Staley,whose team is seeking an impressive third title in four years, among those whodon’tbelieve Bueckersneeds to win Sunday to validate her career

“She’sagreat player,but just because you’re agreat player doesn’t mean you need to winthe national championship to legitimizeit. Paige is legit. She was legit from the moment she stepped on this stage or priorto, in Minnesota,” Staley said. “Her career is legendary,” Staley added. “Shewillleave alegacy at UConn whethershe wins one or not.”

Bueckers scored 16 points on 7 for 17 shooting in UConn’s85-51 victoryoverNo. 1overall seed UCLA in Friday’snationalsemifinals. While the Huskies wenton the road to beat South Carolina by 29 points in mid-February,there are lingering memories of aloss to theGamecocks in the2022NCAA title game.

9-0 run in the final 33 seconds. Flagg finished with 27 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Emanuel Sharp scored 16 points forthe Cougars.

The Cougars —who never have won atitle,not even in thedays of Phi SlamaJamma —will play Florida on Mondaynight forthe championship.

AP

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By CHRISO’MEARA

Carolina head coach Dawn

ASSOCIATEDPRESS PHOTOByBRyNN ANDERSON Florida forwards AlexCondon, left, and Thomas Haugh celebrate theirwin against Auburninthe Final Four of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday in San Antonio.The Gators will playfor the national championship.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOByyOUNG KWAK

UConn guard PaigeBueckers shoots duringthe first half against SouthernCalifornia in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament on March 31 in Spokane, Wash.

ASSOCIATEDPRESS PHOTOByERIC GAy

Roberts celebrates against Dukeduring the second half in the Final Four of the NCAATournament on SaturdayinSan Antonio. Houston scored the last nine points to stun Duke70-67.

What directions should Saints go in draft?

BY JEFF DUNCAN, LUKE JOHNSON, ROD WALKER AND MATTHEW PARAS Staff writers

Free agency has yielded to NFL draft preparation in the player procurement phase of the New Orleans Saints’ offseason

We’re three weeks away from the April 24-26 NFL draft in Green Bay Wisconsin, where the Saints are scheduled to make nine selections, their most since 2015. Considering the number of picks, offseason coaching changes and overall state of the organization, it might be the Saints’ most important draft since 2017. Our coverage team sat down recently to analyze where the team stands as it heads into the draft and which direction we think the team might take on draft weekend. Here’s our conversation:

Now that we’ve traversed most of free agency, what are the Saints’ most important needs in this draft?

Luke Johnson: Though the Saints have addressed some important gaps among their starting 22, I still believe they need depth across the board and should not pass on someone they really like just because he doesn’t fit an immediate need. That said, if I were to prioritize current needs, it would go like this: cornerback, interior offensive line, pass rush and possession receiver Matthew Paras: I keep tinkering with the actual order but I can’t shake that edge rusher should be pretty high on this list. Chase Young’s three-year, $51 million contract wasn’t a bad deal to keep him in New Orleans, but the Saints still need more out of that position. After that, I’d put guard, cornerback, receiver and tight end.

Rod Walker: This is one of those drafts where every time the Saints pick someone, I’ll say, ‘Yep, they needed help at that position.’ With that being said, a possession receiver would be my top priority But the roster has so many holes that they really can’t go wrong with any position. Cornerback would be my second choice.

Jeff Duncan: The Saints tipped their hand with how they feel about this position in their pursuit of Charvarius Ward in free agency Losing Marshon Lattimore and Paulson Adebo and replacing them with Kool-Aid McKinstry and Ike Yiadom is a downgrade. So cornerback feels like the No. 1 priority for this team, especially in a league where dime packages are used on roughly 70% of the defensive snaps.

Hollis in the second half of

on Oct. 26 in Tucson, Ariz.

What do you make of team officials’ quarterback interest? Are they just doing their due diligence? Or are there genuine signs that this team has plans to draft a quarterback?

Johnson: While the Saints seem committed to Derek Carr as their Week 1 starter I think we’d all be foolish to assume the organization feels it has its long-term answer at the position

Paras: It makes sense to do the homework, and I think if they do pick a quarterback, it’s a reflection that Kellen Moore wants “his guy” at the position rather than the ones he inherited. There’s nothing wrong with the strategy, and it’s quite common for new coaches to do just that. Carr’s future here is far from settled.

Walker: Quarterback is the one position where you can never go wrong doing your due diligence. With Moore being a former quarterback he understands the position more than most and knows exactly what he’s looking for Duncan: Smart teams are always in the quarterback business. It’s the most important position on the field, and the Saints lack a long-term answer on the roster, so it makes sense that they are performing their due diligence. That said, this team has so many other needs right now that taking a quarterback high in the draft feels like a reach, especially in a year where the QB class is considered average at best.

Do you draft a QB at No. 9? What about trading up with the Titans at No. 1 to take Cam Ward?

Johnson: Kellen Moore said this week that he thinks this is a strong quarterback class, but I’m not sure I agree with him. Everybody after Ward comes with some serious swing-and-miss potential. I would sit this one out when it comes to a quarterback at No. 9. And while Ward is clearly the best in the class, I’d have serious reservations about the massive haul the Saints would need to send to Tennessee to move up and select him. The Panthers also had the No. 9 pick a few years ago when they traded up to No. 1 to select Bryce Young, and they gutted their ability to build around him. New Orleans would have to be utterly convinced Ward is going to be a star who can elevate the players around him, because if he’s not, they will not have the resources to help him.

Paras: If Shedeur Sanders is there at No. 9, the Saints would have to take a long look at him. The Colorado star would be a great fit for the tempo-heavy offense that Moore could implement. Despite arm-strength concerns, his touch, accuracy and fast processing skills would be other reasons he could pan out. That said, I still probably would draft another need — especially if someone such as Georgia pass

rusher Jalon Walker is there. As for trading up, I don’t think the Titans would move the pick since they have a massive need at quarterback. Walker: If the Saints feel strongly enough about Ward, they should trade up and get him. I doubt they feel strongly enough to make that type of move and give up what it would take. As far as the No. 9 pick, I think the Saints should draft Sanders if he somehow falls that far Having watched Sanders at both Jackson State and Colorado, I think his ceiling is a lot higher than most draft experts think. I thought the same thing about Michael Penix this time last year Skipping over Sanders would be one of those moves fans will regret down the line.

Duncan: Normally, I’d be all for such a bold move, but the Saints would have to give up the farm to get Ward. That’s a luxury this club can’t afford right now They’re not “one player away.”

What’s more, while I like Ward’s potential a lot, I don’t see him as a “can’t miss” prospect like Joe Burrow or Andrew Luck. The Saints are not in a position to gamble right now especially in such a big way

Is this the year the Saints finally trade down in Round 1? And should they?

Johnson: No, they will not trade down. We’re coming up on the 20year anniversary of the last time they made such a move at any point in the draft. It’s just not how they do things, and to be honest, I would not be surprised if they moved up. Whether they should is an entirely different question. I understand how they arrived at their reasoning for never trading back: They put a lot of effort into the scouting process to identify the guys they want, and they don’t want to lose out on them if they’re available. But even with all that work, they’ve got to understand the draft is and always has been a bit of a crap shoot, and they should always be looking for more bites at the apple. If someone called to, say move up from 12 or 13, I would be extremely receptive.

Paras: Come on. No. They won’t. And honestly, I like the overall haul the Saints have this year The picks gained in the Marshon Lattimore trade added real value, and that might be general manager Mickey Loomis’ best move in some time.

Walker: History tells us that the Saints don’t trade down. This year won’t be any different. If there was a year to do it, though, this would be it. This roster has plenty of holes that need to be filled.

Trading down would give them a chance to fill even more of those holes. Maybe they will in some of the later rounds, but not early Duncan: Everything depends on how the board falls ahead of them. At No. 9, the Saints are right on the edge of where the elite players in this class could drop off the board. If they’re all gone by the time the Saints get on the clock, then I could see a scenario where the Saints trade down in the first round and acquire one or more top-100 selections. That would be a wise move considering Jeff Ireland’s track record in the draft.

Who is one “Saints’ Kinda Guy” in this draft that you think the team should take and why?

Johnson: A quick caveat: The guy I’m about to mention normally would not fall into the “Saints’ Kinda Guy” bucket because he is undersized, at least as an edge defender But everything else about Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker screams Saints. He played at a high level for a big-time program against big-time competition; he is a versatile player who can add value on or off the ball; and he has drawn rave reviews for his leadership qualities. He would be an exciting movable chess piece for Brandon Staley’s defense, providing some juice off the edge while also giving the team another superior athlete in its linebacker corps. Paras: I’ll bring up Penn State tight end Tyler Warren. Big-time program, freak athlete and has the kind of versatility that can be a tone-setter for Kellen Moore. Plus, I love the fact that he wears No. 44 for John Riggins. If the Saints draft him, he should stay in it.

Walker: Yeah, I know the video of Tetairoa McMillan that surfaced last week with him saying he doesn’t like film study rubbed a lot of people the wrong way But his 6-foot-5, 212-pound frame is just what the Saints need to add to a wide receiver room that for now has three speedy receivers (Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed and Brandin Cooks) who sort of bring you the same thing. McMillan could bring the Saints what they’ve been missing since the Michael Thomas days. Duncan: I like all of the aforementioned guys and think they’d be great fits for the Saints. The guy I like best, though, is Texas defensive back Jahdae Barron. Like Walker, he’s the kind of versatile defender that suits Staley’s scheme. He can play every position in the defensive secondary and has the talent, confidence and moxie to start from Day One.

Rodman scores early as U.S. women beat Brazil

BY GREG BEACHAM AP sportswriter

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Trinity Rodman drilled her shot into the bottom corner of Brazil’s net and promptly got mobbed by her teammates. She broke away from the goal celebration and grabbed her lower back, pretending to seize up with pain — only to stand up tall and laugh while flipping her pink hair over both shoulders. After eight months of recovery from back woes, Rodman is feeling close to her old self again. The U.S. women’s national team also showed signs of its top form while coolly handling another world power.

Rodman scored in the fifth minute of her return from a lengthy injury absence, and the Americans beat Brazil 2-0 Saturday in a friendly rematch of the Paris

DUNCAN

Continued from page 1C

No, what you saw in 2024 is essentially what you’re going to get in 2025, give or take a few rookies from the draft. Essentially, the Saints are running it back, which is a puzzling way to respond to the club’s worst season in nearly two decades. If you were hoping the disastrous season would inspire team officials to drain the swamp or overhaul the roster, you’re out of luck. General manager Mickey Loomis leaned into the injury excuse after the disappointing season, and his actions this offseason have backed up his words Team officials are essentially saying the roster was good enough, but the health and coaching were not.

Olympics gold-medal match. Rodman, the 22-year-old star and Orange County native, delivered her 11th goal for the U.S. by finishing off a brilliant run by Alyssa Thompson. Rodman hadn’t played for the U.S. since the Olympic final due to persistent back problems — hence her cheeky celebration.

“The medical staff was freaking out, but I felt like I had to do it,” Rodman said with a grin. “It felt so good to be in this atmosphere again, to be with the team. The stadium was crazy.”

Phallon Tullis-Joyce made six saves while keeping a clean sheet in the 28-year-old goalkeeper’s U.S. debut. Captain Lindsey Heaps also scored a second-half penalty goal in the first of two California friendlies in four days against Brazil, who lost 2-1 in Paris as the U.S. se-

In that way, the transition to the Kellen Moore era looks and feels more like the one Dennis Allen oversaw in 2022 than the overhauls Jim Haslett and Sean Payton orchestrated in 2000 and 2006, respectively

You might recall that after the Saints flat-lined to 3-13 under Mike Ditka in 1999, Haslett and then-general manager Randy Mueller brought in 25 new players, including 11 starters, the next year, and the results were instantaneous. The Saints went 10-6 and won the NFC West. Payton oversaw a similar overhaul in 2006, with 10 new starters and 23 new players. The new-look Saints responded with a 10-6 record and their first-ever trip to the NFC championship game. Instead of backhoes and bulldozers, the Saints have attacked the roster this offseason with a spatula and touch-up paint.

cured its fifth Olympic gold medal.

“I think it shows where this group is going,” Heaps said. “Our group is just getting better and better, and there’s not massive gaps between players. These young guns coming in it’s such a cool thing for us to see.”

Played before a lively crowd of 32,303, this game was billed as the first professional women’s sporting event at SoFi Stadium, the nearly 5-year-old home of the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams.

The teams meet again Tuesday night in San Jose, California.

In their most recent outing in late February, the U.S. women took their first defeat of coach Emma Hayes’ tenure, falling 2-1 to Japan in San Diego in the final of the SheBelieves Cup. The Americans had been 15-0-2 since Hayes took over in June 2024. Back at it in SoFi, the Americans

They appear to be following the blueprint executed recently by the Los Angeles Rams, who were able to reload while remaining competitive in the wake of their Super Bowl title in 2021.

The Rams, after bottoming out at 5-12 with an aging, bloated roster in 2022, refused to blow things up. Instead, they employed a less extensive makeover They were selectively frugal in free agency pared or traded off some high-priced talent and remodeled the roster around a handful of core players.

By the time training camp began in 2023, the Rams had 44 new players on the 90-man roster, including eight new defensive starters

“To me, in a rebuild, you would just bulldoze the house down and rebuild from the ground up,” Rams general manager Les Snead said in 2023. “But again, when you have someone like

struck early — and with style.

Studio City native Thompson got a midfield touch and made an impressive run through Brazil’s formation, sending one defender to the grass in confusion before pushing a perfect pass to Rodman for her cool finish.

Rodman’s celebration was a treat as well — for most observers, anyway

“Except I didn’t think she was pretending,” Hayes said with a grimace. “I will have a word with her, because that was like a ‘cry wolf’ moment. I turned to the physios and said, ‘Her back’s hurting,’ instantly. And then I realized she was tricking us.”

Later in the first half, Rodman appeared to be dealing with actual pain, which she blamed on a charley horse from getting kneed by an opponent. She still played 16 minutes into the second half before coming off.

Matthew Stafford, players like Cooper Kupp, Aaron Donald there are some weight-bearing walls there that we still have, and we’re gonna rely on those.”

The key to the Rams’ successful remodel was the draft. They nailed both the 2023 and 2024 lotteries, hitting on top picks Jared Verse, Braden Fiske and Steve Avila, while scoring on mid- and late-round picks Puka Nacua, Kobie Turner, Byron Young and Beaux Limmer

The results have been impressive. While retooling the roster, the Rams posted back-to-back 10-7 seasons and made the playoffs each year They’ll enter the upcoming season as the favorites to win the NFC West.

The Saints are trying to thread the needle in a similar fashion.

There are differences, though. For one, the Saints don’t have the gravitas of a Super Bowl title to

The U.S. was awarded a penalty when substitute Lily Johannes was tripped in the box. Heaps hammered it home for her 37th goal.

The depleted U.S. defense had several rough moments in front of goal The Seleção carried significant stretches of play and forced TullisJoyce to work hard, but the Long Island native who plays for Manchester Unitedhandledeverychancecapably

Tullis-Joyce is competing for the first-string job after the retirement of Alyssa Naeher Her parents and brother attended the match, but they didn’t know she would start until the lineup was announced an hour before kickoff.

“I love a clean sheet,” TullisJoyce said. “Happy for my teammates as well. That back line, they really gritted it out. Everybody was putting their body on the line. Credit to Brazil.”

appease the fans during the transition. Secondly, they have not been nearly as aggressive as the Rams were on defense, where the Saints plummeted to 30th in the league rankings despite enjoying relatively good health. Surprisingly the Saints have elected to keep their front seven almost entirely intact from a year ago. And finally, you could argue the weight-bearing walls for the Saints Cam Jordan, Demario Davis, Tyrann Mathieu, Alvin Kamara and Erik McCoy — are not as sturdy as they were a few years ago. Regardless, one thing is certain: To pull this off, the Saints will need to draft well, and certainly better than they have in recent years. Moore and company need to find their versions of Verse and Nacua this year to kick-start the transition. If not, those weightbearing walls might crumble the same way they did in 2024.

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By RICK SCUTERI

Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan tries to make a catch over West

Virginia cornerback Garnett

their game

OUTDOORS

Gone with the wind

Spring weather has been largely unkind to fishermen

BY JOE MACALUSO

Contributing writer

After a week of strong southerly winds, what can fishermen expect from the coming days?

Yeah! A cold front, more winds, this time from the north and chilly morning temperatures, and a reason to doubt that adage that March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb.

Well, what do we call this April weather thing? A roaring tiger?

For coastal anglers, the south winds helped push water into the marshes and helped those areas recover from winter’s low-water periods.

South winds also help by pushing small brown shrimp into inland coastal water where, yes, they become food for us and food for hungry trout and redfish.

But what will happen this week? The north winds will push the water out again.

Hopefully, the gusts won’t be strong enough to push water levels down to the point where fishermen will have to watch where they run to avoid getting stuck on mud flats.

Through this weather change, we can expect to find lots of dirty water from the winds and rain run-off coming from the rivers and bayous.

Good luck and stay safe.

More CWD

During Thursday’s meeting, the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission voted in a Declaration of Emergency to be followed by a notice to expand the Chronic Wasting Disease Control Area after an infected whitetail deer was taken in Catahoula Parish during the recent hunting season. The CWD protocol in this area will take effect May 1. It’s the 40th CWD-infected deer found in our state.

The protocol sets out a 25-mile radius from the Catahoula site where the deer was taken and

MONDAY-THURSDAY

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, Tuesday, 5-6 p.m. on recreational reef fish management. General public comment 2-5 p.m., Wednesday. Main topics: Increasing lane snapper minimum size limit; Mutton snapper, yellowtail & red grouper stock assessments. Webinar available. Website: gulfcouncil.org

TUESDAY

LA. CRAB TASK FORCE MEETING: 10 a.m., Terrebonne Parish Government Tower, 8026 Main Street, Houma.

WEDNESDAY

BUGS & BEERS: 6:30 p.m., Skeeta Hawk Brewing, 455 N. Dorgenois St., New Orleans. Fly tying. Open to the public. Email A.J. Rosenbohm:

CITY PARK BASS FISHING RESULTS

Saturday’s results by division and species from the 76th City Park Big-Bass Rodeo & Fishtival in New Orleans. Weights are in pounds. The Boats on the Bayou Division was canceled (weather): Battle for The Bass 1, Jesuit High, 2.95 pounds (Garrett Cruppi, Jackson Fischer, Luke Montalbano, Lucas Reinhardt, Christian Wright). 2, Holy Cross High, 2.9. 3 Brother Martin High, 2.62 Cichlid & Bream Team: 1, Team Camo, 7.04. 2, Team C.R.E.A.M. 6.24. 3, Team Henderson, 5.72. Junior (12-under): 1, Oliver Pichon Jr., 1.27 (cichlid). 2, Rylan Dunaway, .66 (cichlid). 3, Jack Karas, .28 (bream). Bass Divisions Champions Challenge: Scott Daigle, 4.2. Junior (12-under): 1, Sebastian Breaux, 1.81 (Paul Kalman Award). 2 Liam Schindler, 1.27. 3, Cace Olasin, 1.03. Adult: 1, John Lavarine III, 5.26 (Joe Courcelle Award). 2, Kelvin Minor, 2.57. 3, Jon Burrell, 2.38.

includes parts of Catahoula, Caldwell, Richland and La Salle parishes.

This new control area follows the first established CWD control area that takes in Tensas Parish and parts East Carroll, Madison, Franklin and Concordia parishes Earlier this year, a deer with CWD forced the same move in Franklin Parish.

The declaration runs for 180 days or until the notice takes effect and “ prohibits the baiting and supplemental feeding of deer and the transport of deer carcasses outside of the control area also is prohibited except for the specific parts listed, or by permit for purposes of taxidermy.”

No jakes

The turkey season began in earnest Saturday, and Wildlife and Fisheries is warning hunters 18 and older about a no-take rule on taking jakes, the young male turkeys.

The rule defines a jake is “as having a beard less than six inches and a spur less than 0.5 inch.”

Properly licensed hunters 17

ajrosenbohm@gmail.com. Website: neworleansflyfishers.com

THURSDAY

JUNIOR SOUTHWEST BASSMASTERS MEETING: 7 p.m., Seminar Room, Bass Pro Shops, Denham Springs. Boys & girls age-group bass tournaments for ages 7-10, 11-14 & 15-18 anglers. Call Jim Breaux (225) 7723026.

THURSDAY-SUNDAY

BASSMASTER ELITE SERIES: Pasquotank River/Albemarle Sound, Elizabeth City, North Carolina. Website: bassmaster.com

SATURDAY LA. HIGH SCHOOL/JUNIOR QUALIFIER/EAST DIVISION: Doiron’s Landing, Stephensville. Call Tommy Abbott (504) 722-6638. Website: louisianahighschoolbassnation.com

SACK UP FOR CLEAN WATER: 8:30 a.m.-noon, Bucktown Marsh,

to the Yankees again

BY WILL GRAVES AP sportswriter

PITTSBURGH Paul Skenes

isn’t exactly sure what the Pittsburgh Pirates’ record is, only that it’s not nearly good enough. So while Pittsburgh’s young ace and reigning National League Rookie of the Year understands the frustrations that resulted in boos and chants of “Sell the team” directed at increasingly popular targets manager Derek Shelton and owner Bob Nutting during a 9-4 loss to the New York Yankees on Friday, Skenes said the angst should be directed elsewhere.

“Mr Nutting and Shelty aren’t the ones playing,” Skenes said on Saturday, hours before the Pirates dropped to 2-7 after falling

and younger can take one jake per season Hunters are limited to take one gobbler (a male) per day and two per season, and all hunters must use agency-issued tags before taking a turkey from the field.

Going to nationals

Catholic High’s Porter Morrison, who competed by himself, finished fourth among 76 teams in Bassmaster High School Series on Oklahoma’s Lake Tenkiller last weekend and qualified for the tour’s national championship. His five-bass limit weighed out at 15 pounds, 10 ounces Arkansas Youth Anglers’ Connor Gartman and Blake Starr won with an 18-10 catch.

Other state teams among the top 50 included Denham Springs High’s JackVarnado and Dylan Johnson (19th, 12-6), Sulphur High’s Kyler Harsh and Annabella Youngblood (27th, 11-11) and Teurlings High’s Joshua Burows and Brylee Williams (42nd, 100).

The college series

Levi Thibodaux, of Thibodaux, and LSU-Shreveport teammate WilliamTew took third place in the 175team Bassmaster College Series last week on Oklahoma’s Lake Eufaula. Their two-day catch weighed 33 pounds, 2 ounces Their LSU-S teammates Triston Richardson and Johnny Hudson finished 13th (24-06) and Grayson Bonfils and Nevan Osburn took 41st place at 1901. Northwestern State’s NoahTrant and Evan Howe were No. 44 with an 18-10 catch.

Houseboats

A reminder about houseboats

If you have one, you must register it through Wildlife and Fisheries’ website: www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/title-or-registeryour-boat. You’ll need to submit an affidavit of ownership of the non-motorized houseboat and provide a photo of the houseboat.

CALENDAR

325 Metairie-Hammond Hwy., Metairie. RSFF/No Wake Outfitters conservation, environmental & habitat enhancement days. Email Almeida Robinson: almeidarob38@gmail.com

FLY CASTING CLINIC: 9 a.m., Perkins Road Park, 7122 Perkins Rd., Baton Rouge. Red Stick Fly Fishers event. FLY FISHING 101/CARP: 9-11 a. m., Orvis Shop, Bluebonnet Boulevard, Baton Rouge. Fee free. Basics of casting, rigging, fly selection. Equipment furnished. All ages. 15-andyounger must be accompanied by adult. Preregistration required. Also fly tying for carp, April 13. Call Shop (225) 757-7286.Website: orvis.com/ batonrouge

HUNTING SEASONS

TURKEY: Area A: through May 4; Area B: through April 27; Area C: through April 20.

AROUND THE CORNER

APRIL 14—RED STICK FLY FISHERS

Catchin’ at Caney

Pat Broussard has been fishing with his friend Jay Falcon for 45 years and they decided to schedule a trip to Caney Creek Reservoir, the lunker bass lake south of Ruston. ‘We fished Caney twice last year and missed prime time both times. We hit it right this time,’ Broussard said. A guide put them on giants. Broussard is showing off two of three 10-pound-plus largemouths he and Falcon caught on one day in late March. They had another 8-pounder and a 7-pounder and caught as many as 30 bass on the two-day trip. Broussard said the top producer was a 4-inch June Bug-colored tube.

MEETING: 7 p.m., Regional Branch Library, 9200 Bluebonnet Boulevard, Baton Rouge. Open to the public. Email Brian Roberts: roberts.brian84@gmail.com. Website: rsff.org

APRIL 14-15—COMMERCIAL FISHING LICENSE/BOAT REGISTRATION

RENEWAL: 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m., LDWF office, 1025 Tom Watson Road, Lake Charles. Also April 16-17, 9 a.m.-

3:30 p.m., LDWF office, 200 Dulles Drive, Lafayette; April 22-24, 8 a.m.3:30 p.m., LDWF office, 468 Texas Gulf Road, Bourg; April 29-May 1, LDWF office, 2045 Lakeshore Drive, Suite 438, New Orleans. Call LDWF Licensing (225) 765-2898

APRIL 15—LAFAYETTE KAYAK FISHING CLUB MEETING: 6 p.m., Pack & Paddle, 601 E. Pinhook, Lafayette. Call (337) 232-5854. Website: lafayettekayakfishing.com

APRIL 15-17—MLF BASS INVITATIONAL: Smith Lake, Cullman, Alabama. Website: MajorLeagueFishing.com

FISHING/SHRIMPING

SHRIMP: Inshore season closed except in Breton/Chandeleur sounds & all outside waters open.

CLOSED SEASONS: Greater amberjack, red snapper; gag, goliath & Nassau groupers in state/federal waters. OPEN RECREATIONAL SEASONS: Flounder; lane, blackfin, queen and silk snappers & wenchmen among other snapper species; all groupers except closed for goliath & Nassau groupers in state/federal waters.

LDWF UPDATES

CLOSED: Pearl River WMA (Old U.S 11 gate & shooting range; flooding); Hope Canal Road/boat launch (Maurepas Swamp WMA, levee construction); Blackhawk Boat Landing, Annie’s Lake, Lincecum, Union Point, Dobbs Bay & Routen Camp roads and the Warren Trailhead (Richard Yancey WMA, flooding, culvert failure). EMAIL: jmacaluso@theadvocate.com

“We’re the ones playing. If we were 8-0 through however many games we’ve played right now, the fans aren’t booing. We’ve got to play better.”

The 22-year-old former LSU star has been one of the few bright spots during Pittsburgh’s worst start since 2020.

The right-hander has been brilliant during his two starts, allowing two earned runs on six hits with 13 strikeouts in 121 3 innings.

But it’s telling of how things have gone that the Pirates dropped their opener when the bullpen imploded after his exit and needed a late dash of offense — a rarity so far — to shake free of Tampa Bay on Wednesday On Friday, the typically

celebratory atmosphere of Pittsburgh’s home opener was tinged with audible and visible signs of fan unrest. A plane circled PNC Park towing a banner urging Nutting to put the club up for sale. Shelton, now in his sixth season, was booed when he was introduced. And chants of “Sell the Team” popped up a handful of times as the Yankees quickly pulled away Everyone in the organization, from Nutting to Shelton to Skenes, have stressed it’s time for the Pirates to contend. They haven’t looked the part so far. The previous time they were 2-7 through nine games was during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season in

er

ALL-METRO STAR OF STARS BASKETBALL

GIRLS MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

STAFF PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK

Southern Lab guard/forward Shaila Forman shoots over Ouachita Christian forward Gracyn Reppond in a Division IV select semifinal game on March 5 in Hammond. Forman averaged 22 points per game to lead Southern Lab to its third state title in four years.

SHAILA FORMAN SOUTHERN LAB, SR. • GUARD/FORWARD

After a knee injury sidelined Shaila Forman for her entire junior season, there was a key question: What kind of player would the Kittens standout be when she returned?

The resounding answer? A dominant one

The 5-foot-10 Forman helped lead Southern Lab to its third LHSAA Division IV select title in four years by averaging 22 points, five rebounds and two assists per game The Kittens established themselves as not only a top Class 1A team, but among the best on all LHSAA levels.

“I didn’t reach every goal I had, but I am proud of what we did together as a team,”

Forman said.“That’s what this was about being able to come back, win another state title and beat a lot of the top teams means a lot. I was asked to do different things for the team this year Coming back from an injury like that tests you mentally and physically, but it was good.”

Instead of playing only a guard’s role, Forman was called on to play under the basket when she returned.The Lamar signee handled the transition with ease and there was a perfect ending Forman scored 24 points and was voted the Outstanding Player in the title-game win over Cedar Creek.

GIRLS COACH OF THE YEAR

TAMI REYNOLDS McCLURE ZACHARY

Talk about a long time coming McClure coached the Broncos to their first girls basketball state title in 98 years. It was also Zachary’s first appearance in the LHSAA state tournament in 41 years.The Broncos

GIRLS ALL-METRO TEAM

STELLA ALLISON

French Settlement, 5-8, Jr. 19.0 points, seven rebounds

KENNEDY ALDRIDGE

University, 5-9, So. 18.3 points, 7.2 rebounds

JACEY COLEMAN

St.Amant, 5-11, Sr. 23 points, 11 rebounds

ERYN BROWN Istrouma, 5-8, Jr. 36.7 points, 13.2 rebounds

MOLLEE DAY Dunham, 5-7, Sr.

11.0 points, 5.0 assists

SHAILA FORMAN

Robin Fambrough

finished the season with a 26-4 record that included a victory over two-time reigning champion Parkway in the Division I nonselect title game

Robin Fambrough

AMIJAH PRICE

Southern Lab, 5-10, Sr. 22 points, five rebounds

CAMBRIEION

LINK

White Castle, 5-6, Sr. 24 points, six assists

TIARRA McPIPE

Zachary, 5-11, Sr. 16.5 points, 9 rebounds

ASIA PATIN

Southern Lab, 5-6, Jr. 14 points, five assists

ARIONNA PATTERSON Walker, 6-0, Sr. 20 points seven rebounds

GIRLS HONORABLE MENTION

BOYS MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

MALEK ROBINSON LIBERTY, SR • GUARD

Malek Robinson is best known as a lockdown defender and a point guard. His ability to become a scorer in his final prep season helped make the Patriots one of the top teams in the state.

“We asked Malek to take on a different role for us,” coach Brandon White said.“He needed to score and shoot more. Defense is still his calling card.That’s his main thing

“Without a doubt, Malek became a more complete player this season. His numbers in every area went up.”

Robinson averaged 14.5 points, an eyepopping 8.1 steals and 7.7 assists per game.

The steals average earned Robinson a national

ranking from MaxPreps as he led the Patriots (25-2) to the Division I select semifinals where they lost to eventual champion St Augustine. Robinson also increased his assists totals and improved his shooting percentage after helping Liberty win a Division I select state championship as a junior “I’ve had a different role every year I’ve been in high school,” Robinson said.“At first, it was to bring energy on defense and then to run the team.A pass-first point guard that’s what I consider myself to be. I’ve always been able to shoot and score the ball. (Passing) had to become a bigger part of my game to help us win.” Robin Fambrough

BOYS COACH OF THE YEAR

SCOTT OSBORNE CENTRAL

The Wildcats soared to new heights in Osborne’s third year as coach. Central finished 26-5 and advanced to the state tournament for the first time in 31 years.

Wildcats defeated former district

Denham Springs in the

fi

before

to District 4-5A rival Zachary in the Division I nonselect title game.

Woodlawn, 5-8, Sr.

18.2 points, 9.6 rebounds

AVA

RAYMOND

Zachary, 5-10, So. 18.6 points, eight rebounds

ANNA

RICHERSON

Parkview Baptist, 5-10, Jr. 14 points, five assists

BROOKLYN

SMITH

Madison Prep, 5-9, So. 18 points, 5 assists

TAYLOR

SMITH

Denham Springs, 5-10, Sr. 14.8 points, 5 rebounds

Once at the LHSAA tourney, Osborne’s

BOYS ALL-METRO TEAM

JACE

CONRAD

Central, 6-3, Jr. 13.5 points, 4.1 rebounds

QUINTON

DABNEY

Donaldsonville, 6-2, Jr. 17.3 points, 6.2 rebounds

CHAD

ELZY

Ascension Catholic, 5-10, Sr. 16.8 points, 5.3 rebounds

XAVIER FERGUSON Zachary, 6-0, Sr. 20.4 points, 5.4 rebounds

IAN

EDMOND

Zachary, 6-0, So. 17.3 points, 47% FG

ELIJAH GARNER

Madison Prep, 5-11, Jr. 16.2 points, 8.8 rebounds

ELIJAH HAVEN Dunham, 6-6, So. 13 points, 8.2 rebounds

JAKYRIS JENKINS Plaquemine, 6-2, Jr. 27.6 points, 7.5 rebounds

CRAIG LOVELADY McKinley, 6-6, Sr. 15 points, 9 rebounds

BRYSTEN MARTINEZ East Ascension, 6-7, Jr. 15.6 points, 8.8 rebounds

BOYS HONORABLE MENTION

TATE

Robin Fambrough

McCURRY Catholic, 6-3, Sr. 14.5 points, 4.2 rebounds

JERMAINE O’CONNER

Denham Springs, Jr. 14 points, 3.2 assists

A.J.

OLIVIER Dunham, 5-11, Jr. 16.7 points, 4.7 assists

MALEK ROBINSON Liberty, 5-11, Sr. 14.5 points, 8.1 assists

DEDRICK

SNEARL Brusly, 6-3, Sr. 20.3 points, 7.3 rebounds

Jamya Cain, Southern Lab; Alaiah Jarrell, Brusly; Taylor Lee, University; Quiana Lavergne, Liberty; Ella Lefors, Parkview Baptist; Ryli Martin, University; Kaidance Ponder,Albany; Auri Ray, Madison Prep; Kylee Savant, Doyle; Caroline Watson, Episcopal; Kori Wesley, Southern Lab; Emyrie Williams, Family Christian.

rival

semi

nals

losing

Braylon Brown, Southern Lab; Sean Brown, St. Michael; Kedrick Franklin, Central; Da’Jean Golmond, Denham Springs; Tavorian Hart,Albany; Marcus Holmes, East Iberville; Kaden Irvin, Parkview; Kingston Jarrell, Liberty; Charles LaGarde-Leblanc, Southern Lab; D’Ron McZeal, East Ascension; William Nelson Jr., Madison Prep; Jerome Watkins, U-High; Triston Williams, Family Christian.

STAFF PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK

Liberty’s Malek Robinson dunks over Zachary’s Mason Newman on Feb 11 at Liberty Robinson, known for his ball-hawking defense, became a more complete player last season while averaging 14.5 points and 7.7 assists per game.

THE VARSITYZONE

Buratt shines on mound, at theplate

BY ROBIN FAMBROUGH Staff writer

It had the potential to be acompetitive late-season nondistrict baseball game both teams could build on. And it still might be.

But with the wind blowing out andWyatt Buratt hitting all his marksonthe moundand atthe plate it turned into something else —a 16-1 Ascension Christian victory over French Settlement

The Saturday afternoon game at Ascension Christian lasted just four innings. Buratt, aBelhaven signee, tossed atwo-hitter with four strikeouts. He also hittwo home runs, one of which was a fourth-inning grand slam, to finish with six RBIs for Ascension Christian (20-7).

“I just try to throw strikes and trust my defense to make plays,” Buratt said. “I thoughtmyslider probably worked the best today. Everything was on point and Iwas

commanding the (strike) zone.”

Buratt(7-0) has 64 strikeouts and two saves for Ascension Christian, rated third in the LHSAA’s latest Division IV select power ratings. But it was Buratt’s bat thatmade the loudest early statement against French Settlement (13-12), ateam ranked seventh in the LHSAA’s Division III nonselect power ratings.

Carson Sulfstedled off the bottom of the first with asingleand Burattfollowed with long home runto center.WyattStafford followedwithanother two-run homer.Ascension Christian’shome run derby continued with Mason LeBlanc’stwo-run homerinthe bottom of the second. The home team added twomore runs in the third.

“We’ve been swinging it real well lately,” Ascension Christian coach Jared Kleinpeter said. “And with the wind blowing out, that certainly helped.

“Ourbig thing now is to try and play as consistently as we can everyday …making surewecontrol thethings we can control.”

AscensionChristian wasin control throughout. An eight-run fourth inning thatfeatured six hits sealed the deal for thewinners.

Buratt smacked agrand slam to start things in thefinal inning. LeBlanc’ssolohome runended the game. Ascension Christian finished with15hits.

Brycen Valle andTrevor McMorrishad thehits for French Settlement, asemifinalistatthe LHSAA tourney ayear ago.

“Baseball is agame thatwill humble youreal quick,” French Settlementcoach Kade Scivicque said. “We’re at the end of the regular season now.Hopefully,this onegets us back to beinglocked in whereweneed to be.”

EmailRobin Fambrough at rfambrough@theadvocate.com

Non-marqueesportsget theirchance in limelight

Plenty can be written and said about high school sports during April and May LHSAA championships for seven sports are decided over a six-week period.

are LHSAAsports, let alone spring sports. They are. And both complete their seasons with overlapping championship events this week. The fact that thefirst spring sports trophies are given out two weeksafter the finalwinter sport, powerlifting, ended isagood trivia point. Right now,some demographicsexpert is about to click on something else, I’m sure. Bowling, gymnastics, tennisand golf? Who cares?

What might surprise you is that studentsparticipating in what we consider a“nonmarquee” sport are just as passionate as those who compete in football, basketball or any other sport. So, as we report on other LHSAA events you might not be as familiar with —like bowling and gymnastics this week keep that in mind.Inhigh school sports, it should all matter Bowling, gymnastics

Think running of the bulls in Spain and the concept of how this spring sports parade of champions flows may comeinto focus. There is always something coming at you. I know baseball and softball grab most of the notoriety for many reasons.

Here’sthe thing, if you say you care about high school sportsyou should care. More than94,000 high school students participatein high school sports in Louisiana, That is asignificant number of students enrolled in grades nine through 12. There are also over 10,000 coaches and 5,000 contest officials involved.

Yep, games are played and titlesare won, blah, blah, blah. Butthere really is more to high school sports than numbers and titles.

Both are prominent sportsin the spring and along with track and field have the largestnumber of participants. Just as a football is the focal point of fall sports and basketball headlines winter sports, it’sfair to put baseball and softball at the top of theheap in terms of overall interest.

I’ll bet most people don’trealize that bowling and gymnastics

Thereare life lessons,like how to handle winning and losing. It’saforum tocultivate in-person social skills and interactions that our digitally driven world cannot provide.

High school sports foster selfconfidence too. Of course, victories, championships and perfect experiences are not guaranteed. We know the same is true in the game of life.

PREP REPORT

Level3 All-Around 1. Peyton Lambert, Dutchtown, 38.85. 2. Emma Freeman, Dutchtown, 38.8. 3. Sara Atkinson,St. Joseph,38.65 Level4 All-Around 1. Hannah Hernandez, Dutchtown, 39.1. 2. Juliette Schmitt, St. Joseph, 38.3. 3. Camryn Houston,St. Joseph,37.9 Level8 All-Around 1. Ashton Lyngaas, Dutchtown, 36.2. 2. Mallory Mitchell, Dutchtown, 35.25. 3. Ella Odam, Prairieville, 26.2 Track and field LHSCAmeet

Boys TRACK 100: 1. Patrick Gales, Brusly,10.56. 2. Davian Jackson,Westgate, 10.75. 3. Erin Moore, University,10.76. 110 hurdles: 1. MasonBoyd,Southern Lab, 14.99. 2. Jude Lejeune, Brusly, 15.27. 3. Reece Thompson,Central, 15.55. 200: 1. Patrick Gales, Brusly, 21.68. 2. Erin Moore, University,22.01. 3. Zackeus Malveaux, Opelousas, 22.25 300 hurdles: 1. Cyren Oxley,Brusly,40.60. 2. Jamarcus Young,Glen Oaks,41.39. 3. Caleb Clement, Westgate, 42.27. 400: 1. JalenJackson, Hammond, 49.16. 2. Jordan Thomas, Hammond, 49.63. 3. Dextavious Washington, Westgate, 50.88.

800: 1. Antoine Taylor, Albany, 2:00.51. 2. Ja’Kyron Profit,Belaire, 2:04.07. 3. John Dauterive, Westgate, 2:05.53. 4x100 relay: 1. Brusly,41.86. 2. Westgate 42.32. 3. Northwood,42.49. 4x200 relay: 1. Glen Oaks, 1:29.63. 2. Huntington, 1:29.64. 3. Westgate, 1:29.99. 4x400 relay: 1. Glen Oaks, 3:27.59. 2. Brusly 3:28.88. 3. Huntington, 3:32.11. 4x800 relay: 1. University,8:31.97. 2. Glen Oaks, 8:40.49. 3. Westgate, 8:53.84. FIELD Discus: 1. Lionel Bowers, Plaquemine, 12303. 2. Ray’ShawnDunham,Donaldsonville, 116-05. 3. VictorHollins, Madison Prep, 87-07. High jump: 1. Landon Gibbs, Huntington, 6-06. 2. BrayhlonArtholee, Opelousas,5-10 Cullen Francis, Lafayette Christian, 5-06 Javelin: 1. Alex Ortego, St. Edmund, 157-01. 2. Gordon Rush, University,148-02. 3. JonMichael Brown, St. Edmund, 142-04. Long jump: 1. Landon Gibbs, Huntington,

The LHSAA bowling team competition begins with girls competition at 1p.m. Wednesday at Premier Lanes in Gonzales. The first action includes asemifinal between Ascension rivals Dutchtown and St.Amant. Finals follow at 3:30 p.m. Boyssemifinals, including University High and Belle Chasse in Division II, start at 9:30 a.m. Thursday at Premier.The Division II final is at 1:30 p.m.

Singles competition for boys and girls begin at 11 a.m. Friday at AllStar Lanes in Baton Rouge.

LHSAA boys gymnastics competition begins at 2p.m. Friday at Baton Rouge High. Four girls sessions are set for Saturday starting at 8:15 a.m. The last session for Level 8competitors begins at 5:15 p.m.

EmailRobin Fambrough at rfambrough@theadvocate.com

22-02.25. 2. Patrick Lundy,Madison Prep, 21-07. 3. Granger Collins, University,21-2.25. Shot put: 1. Darius Mack, Madison Prep, 41-10. 2. Jatyri Rankin, Westgate,40-06. 3. Victor Hollins, Madison Prep, 39-06 Triple jump: 1. Jamarcus Young, Glen Oaks, 42-01. 2. PatrickLundy,MadisonPrep, 41-09.25. 3. Granger Collins, University 41-06.50. Girls TRACK 100: 1. Tristen Harris,West Feliciana, 11.68. 2. Taylor Gougisha, Brusly,12.08. 3. Nia Brown, Brusly,12.14. 100 hurdles: 1. Makayla Miller, Madison Prep, 14.70. 2. Terriona Richmond, Huntington, 15.06. 3. JekiraWashington-Johnson, Donaldsonville, 15.70. 200: 1. Tristen Harris,West Feliciana, 23.87. 2. Taylor Gougisha, Brusly,25.12. 3. Alaysia Titus, Lafayette Christian, 25.32 300 hurdles: 1. Naliyah Jiles, Broadmoor 45.63. 2. Annie Garrison, University,47.64. 3. JekiraWashington-Johnson, Donaldsonville, 48.90. 400: 1. Livvy West,Huntington, 58.78.2 Arin Primus,Brusly, 1:00.13. 3. Asia Patin, Southern Lab, 1:01.59. 800: 1. Caroline Cain, University,2:28.67. 2. Amalie Taylor, University,2:32.72. 3. Jolie Lejeune, Brusly,2:38.15. 4x100 relay: 1. Huntington, 49.88. 2. Glen Oaks,51.00. 3. Southern Lab,51.20. 4x200 relay: 1. University,1:43.84. 2. Bunkie, 1:45.58. 3. Glen Oaks, 1:47.89. 4x400 relay: 1. University,4:05.99. 2. Huntington, 4:16.40. 3. Southern Lab,4:17.17. 4x800 relay: 1. University,10:08.14. 2. Huntington, 11:39.02. FIELD Discus: 1. Salayiah Wilson, 76-04.2.Tabrina Knighten, Madison Prep, 68-03.3.Courtney Thomas, Plaquemine, 61-05 High jump: 1. Kariah Dunn, East Feliciana, 5-02. 2. Anaiyah Narvaja, Huntington, 4-10 3. Zoey Thompson, Plaquemine, 4-10 Javelin: 1. Kaylen Rabalais, Bunkie, 155-05. 2. Aubree Lejeune, St. Edmund, 121-09. 3. Jelani Johnson, Donaldsonville,98-03. Long jump: 1. Tristen Harris,West Feliciana, 19-05.25. 2. Kariah Dunn, East Feliciana, 15-11.50. 3. JekiraWashington-Johnson, Donaldsonville, 15-08.50. Triple jump: 1. Alaysia Titus, Lafayette Christian, 36-01.2.CaliCain, University,3510. 3. Breanna Chavis, Opelousas,35-00.

Emily Cortez,E.D,White,Kimora Celestine, Iowa;Naomi Dismon, Tioga;KamaraEffit, Southwood; Justyse George,Teurlings Catholic;Aveonna Glasper, Peabody; SummerGould, Douglass; Fran Green,Southwood; Miranda Holincheck,Hannan; Alaiah Jarrell, Brusly; Brooklyn Jefferson, Minden; Kenzie Marceaux, North Vermilion; Miamor McQueen Opelousas; AddisonPontiff, St. Scholastica; Makayla Rogers,Northwood;Janai Shaw, Assumption; Ashanti Smith, Wossman;Sa’NiahStokes,South Terrebonne

Wossman, Vandy, Hannan claim headlinerawards

BY JAKE MARTIN

Written for the LSWA

Basketball history wasmade in Class 4A in 2024-25 by multiple teams withWossman, Archbishop Hannan and Vandebilt Catholic leading the way Now the same schools headline theLouisiana Sports Writers Association’sClass 4A All-State teams. Drew TimmonsofDivision II select champion Archbishop Hannan wasselectedasthe Outstanding Player on the LSWAboys squad, while Wossman’sAnyra Wilson garneredOutstanding Player recognition on the girls side after leading herteam to aDivisionII nonselect title.

Vandebilt Catholic coach Jerwaski Coleman netted girls Coach of the Year honors, while Wossman’s Casey Jones earned his first coach of the year honor in roughly adecade.

Wilson averaged 13.6 points, 3.6 rebounds and3.3 assists per game for aWossmangirls squadthat dominated opponents, winning playoff games by an average of 44 points. It wasfourth straight state championship for the Wossman girls, making them the first team in OuachitaParish to accomplish that feat since 1936-39.

Timmons, alreadyvoted the Louisiana GatoradePlayerofthe Year,averaged21.4 points, 9.5rebounds and 2.4assists pergame

while leading HannantoasecondDivisionIIselect title in four years. Meanwhile, Wossman’sJones netted boys Coach of the Year honors after his team won asecondstraight state championship with ateam that featured three new starters. Wossman became thefirst boys basketballprogram from Ouachita Parish to winbackto-back state titles. Vandebilt Catholic won the DivisionIIselect girls title,the school’s first title since 2010, with Coleman claiming Coach of the Year honors forthe girls.

Vandebilt’schampionshiprun cameone year after the school forfeited an LHSAA tourney berth because of an academically ineligible reserve player. TheTerriers also overcame injuries to key players on their route to the Division II select girls crown.

STAFF PHOTO By ROBIN FAMBROUGH Ascension Christian pitcher Wyatt Buratt threwa two-hitter,hit twohome runs and had sixRBIshis

Tigers slip past Tide

Afterrun-rulewin

Friday,No. 5LSU

takes2-1 victory

BY WILLIAM WEATHERS

Contributing writer

Not every regular-season victory is created equal, but all have identicalvalue.

No.5 LSU,a game after posting its first run-rule win over No. 24 Alabama in 23 years, had to grind out a2-1 victory SaturdayinSoutheastern Conference play before2,279fans at awindy Tiger Park.

“The two pitchers for them did anice job today,” LSU coach Beth Torina said. “I think ouroffense did a nicejob of findingways to score. Sometimes it’slike that. Sometimes you just have to find away.”

LSU (34-4, 8-3 SEC) won its third conference series and will try to sweep Alabama (27-15, 4-7) for the firsttime since 2013 in a4 p.m. matchup Sunday Alabama narrowedLSU’s lead to 2-1 with arun in the fifth and left thebasesloaded. The Tide also loaded the basesinthe seventh, getting aleadoff single that resulted in staff aceSydney Berzon coming in relief of starter Jayden Heavener.

Instead of having Heavener,who threw 119 pitches, face the Alabama lineup for afourth time, Torina opted for Berzon, who recorded

(2 for4)withoutaplayatthe plate.

Heavener ran intotrouble in the topofthe fifth when Bama loaded the bases on a single,walk andhit batter She hit Duchscherer in the helmetwith an 0-2pitchfor arun but responded with astrikeout of pinch hitter Mari Hubbard to end the inning.

“The walks and hit batters are kind of repetitive for me,” Heavener said. “I’m trying to workthrough those and get themlower each game.”

LSU had asimilar start to Friday’s8-0 win.

COLLEGE

Southern shows grit,takes series from Grambling

BY TOYLOYBROWN III Staff writer

Whilethe wins don’talways arrive for Southern this year,one thing that remains consistentisthe team’sresilience.

Late Friday

On Friday at Lee-Hines Field, that grit wasonfull display and rewarded as it beat rivalGrambling 15-14 in the 10thinning after trailing7-0 after the first inning.

Junior secondbaseman KJ Whitewas responsible forthe walk-offRBI that gave Southern thewin Southern (12-17, 5-7 SWAC) thencame back Saturdayto take the rubber game of the series 16-12.

“I justwentback to my process and my work,” WhitesaidlateFriday night after hisgame-winning hit “I wasn’t even scared to fail. Iwas justreadytogo.”

Southern coach Chris Crenshaw told his leadoff hitter to have his typical at-bat.

fourhits, three walks and seven earned runs while achieving only oneout. The culminationofhis struggles resulted in atwo-run homer by Gramblingsophomore Martavius Thomas. Crenshaw changedpitchers, putting in Jackson.The right-handermanaged to steady thegame and prevent anymore damagein the inning.

After Stewart homered in the second inning, the Jaguars’ fortunes changed in the thirdinning.

The Jaguars’ five-run third inning featured six hits.Southern’sspeed was also crucial as baserunners Bikarand JacobyRadcliffe each stole two bases before eventually reachinghome plate.

Southern tookcontrolof the game in the fourth inning. TajBates delivered a solo home run. Stewart later smacked afastball to left field,resulting in atwo-run tripleasSouthern took a9-8 advantage, its first lead of the game.

the first out with apop fly She had the opportunity for the second out when she gloved LarissaPreuitt’s grounder,but threw the ball past first basemanTori Edwards, giving the Tide runners at secondand third base Kali Heivilin drew awalk to load thebases when Berzon responded witha strikeout of cleanup hitter Abby Duchschener and aground ball that DaniecaCoffey threw toEdwards forthe finalout Heavener (11-2) allowed arun on three hits, walked four and struck out seven, while Berzon earned her first save of the season

tying herfor third on the school’s career list with eight.

“I knewshe felt terrible about that,” Torina said of Berzon’s miscue. “She does agood job of not being fazed by anything.”

Heavener carried ano-hitterinto the fourthwhen opposing pitcherCatelyn Riley singled with two outs to left before Marlie Giles flied out to Jalia Lassiter in center LSU, which outhit Bama 8-3, made it 2-0 in the fourth witharun against Riley. Jadyn Laneaux doubled to left-centerfield,moved to third on Coffey’s bloop single andscored on asuicide squeeze bunt from Lassiter

Coffey (2 for 3) drew a leadoff walk and reached third on ahead-first slide on Lassiter’sinfield single. Maci Bergeronwalked to load thebases, andthe Tigers scored first on Edward’s team-high54thRBI on agroundout before leaving the bases loaded.

It wasthe second straight gameBama’sstartingpitcher didn’tmake it out of the firstinning when starter Jocelyn Briski was lifted after her shortest outing the season. Riley,who inherited aone-out,bases-loaded jam, worked outoffurther trouble andsilenced theTigers until thefourth.

“Wehave asaying, ‘How baddoyou wantit?,’ ”Coffey said. “It doesn’tmatter how you get outs, you’ve got to getthe outs. We wantit real bad. It doesn’t matter how you get it done.”

“‘Igot alot of confidence in you,’ “Crenshaw saidto White.“‘Go outand do what you’re supposed to do.’ “ TheJaguars lost the opener 12-10 on Thursday after allowing seven runs in the seventhinning. On Friday,sophomore pitcher Kenneth Jackson was crucial as he struck outtwo andallowed onehit and two earned runs in six innings Another player who demonstrated resiliency wasfirst baseman Brant Stewart. After two errors in the first inning, the freshman bounced back to have four hits —including his first career home run —and four RBIs Southern’s start could best be described as rough. Itsstarting pitcher was seniorright-hander Malik Abdul. He struggled to throw strikes, walking the first two batters he faced.

The first score came aftera pair of fielding errors when Stewart dropped afly ball near first andthen had an errant throw to freshman shortstop Benny Bikar thatwasn’t caught.

Grambling (11-19, 7-5) scored arun and hadrunners advance to second and third.

Abdul faced eight batters in thefirst inning, allowing

Apassed ball for arun and an RBI viaabunt by White gave Southerna secondstraight five-runinning andan11-8lead

Grambling reclaimed the lead, scoringfour runs in the seventh inning after Crenshaw had to replace Jackson

The Southern pitching staff struggled to gettwo more outs as three new pitcherswereused. Grambling took a12-11 lead after abases-loaded walk. Southern used six pitchers in the game. Sophomore right-hander Peyton Huff closed thegameout with 22/3 innings while allowing no hitsand four walks. Grambling took a1411 lead in the eighth,but Southern refused to give in After an RBI singleby Bikar,junior left fielder CardellThibodeaux smashedatwo-run homer to tiethe game at 14. After neither team scored in theninth,White delivered asingle to get Radcliffe home.

Wins likethis onegivethe Jaguars belief andreminds themtorelyontheir grit.

“Wekeep playing, we work really hard at this,” Crenshaw said.

“Juststayfaithful,stay together.”

Continued from page 1C

Shoresstruggled with hiscontrol at times, walking four batters. But he kept the ball on the ground (forcing sevengroundouts) and didn’tgive up much hard contact.

The only run he allowedwas a passedball that squirted past senior catcherLuisHernandez in the second inning.

“I thought (I was) just mixing pretty good, (that) was kind of the strong suit of today,” Shores said, “getting ahead, just attacking hitters.” The weather played abig part in Shores’ outing. With 40-degree temperatures and strongwinds blowing in from centerfield, driving the ball in the air proved to be an almost impossible task

“This is maybe the least conducive to run-scoring conditions we’ve played in since I’ve been the coach at LSU,” Johnson said.

Junior right-hander Zac Cowan replaced Shores in the sixth inning and allowed just one unearned run in four inningstoearn his fourthsave.

Cowan surrendered arun-scoringsinglewithtwo outs in the ninth inning that cut the LSU (303, 10-2 SEC) lead to one, but he stranded the game-tying run at second base by forcinga fly out to end the game.

“He’sthe best. Iwouldn’ttrade himfor anybody,” Johnson said of Cowan. “The most valuable pitcher in college baseball as far as I’m concerned.” Saturday’swintry conditions

also played apart in quieting the LSU bats. The Tigers had justtwo hits after the fifth inning and went 1for 13 with runners on base Hernandezand sophomore Steven Milam were the only Tigers with multiple hits.

ButLSU still jumped out to an early lead in thesecond inning thanks to an error from Oklahomasecond baseman Kyle Branch.Freshman Derek Curiel hita groundball with twoouts that went right through the freshman’slegs, allowing two runs to score and handing the Tigersa 2-0 advantage.

AfterOklahoma (23-8, 5-7) answered with arun in thebottom half of theinning,LSU stretched its lead back to two in the fourth after Curiel’sdouble down the left-field line scored junior Chris Stanfield from first base.

“Whetherit’srain delaysand finishing at 2a.m. or 28 degrees and windy,” Johnson said, “you name it,theystayinthe fight, stay prepared.”

Curiel’shit extended his onbase streak to 33 games, breaking LSU’sprevious freshman on-base record (since at least 1985) set by MikeFontenot in 2000.

“That means alot,obviously to me andmy family.Ithink that’s great,” Curiel said. “I think it’s asteppingstoneinmycareer here, but obviously I’m here to do more.”

LSU’sroad trip continueson Tuesday in Thibodaux when the TigersfaceNicholls State. The game was rescheduled from its original date of Feb.19.

First pitch is slated for 6p.m. andthe game will be available to stream on ESPN+. LSU

GYM

Continuedfrom page1C

straight, and Spartans, their first since 1988. The top twoteams from each of four regionals advance to theNCAA championships on April 17-19 in Fort Worth.

It is LSU’s34thNCAAchampionship appearance and15th regional title.

LSU started on uneven bars and had a49.450 led by a9.925 from freshmanleadoff gymnast Lexi Zeiss. The Tigers held aslim lead after onerotation on theSpartans (49.425), whocompeted on floor Michigan State then wentto vault and threw astrong 49.650 at LSU, but theTigersresponded with something even better.Led by 9.95s from freshman Kailin Chio (tying hercareer-high) and seniorAleah Finnegan, as well as a career-high 9.925 from sophomore Kylie Coen, LSU posted a49.675 on balance beam, its best NCAA regional score ever in that event.

At thehalfway point, LSU led Michigan State99.125-99.075.

“Weputzed around on ourbar landings in thefirst rotationand didn’ttakeadvantage of ouropportunities,” Clark said. “Then we went to beam and wired beam.Itwas good to seethem respond thatway.”

While returning to theNCAA championships is the headline for the Tigers, having Konnor McClain back on floor is acompelling subplot. TheAll-America sophomore performed on floor for the first time all season after being limitedtounevenbars andbalance beam after recovering from atorn Achillesshe suffered in May dur-

NCAA Pennsylvania regional final at University Park,Pa. Toptwo advancetoNCAAChampionships

1. #1 LSU 198.050 (Vault—49.350, Bars 49.450, Beam —49.675, Floor —49.575)

2. #8 Michigan State 198.000 (Vault —49.650, Bars— 49.575, Beam —49.350, Floor —49.425)

3. #9 Kentucky 197.625 (Vault—49.250, Bars —49.450, Beam —49.525, Floor —49.400)

4. #16 Arkansas 197.375 (Vault—49.225, Bars —49.250,Beam —49.400, Floor —49.500) Individual (includes first place and all LSU competitors, regional titles were decided in semifinals)

All-around 1. Nikki Smith, Michigan State, 39.650; 2. Joscelyn Roberson, Arkansas, 39.625; T3. Aleah Finnegan, Haleigh Bryant, LSU,39.600; 5. Delaynee Rodriguez, Kentucky,39.525; 6. SkylarKillough-Wilhelm, Kentucky,39.400; 7. Gabrielle Stephen, Michigan State, 39.050. Vault T1. Nikki Smith, Sage Kellerman, Michigan State, 9.95; T5.HaleighBryant, Amari Drayton, KJ Johnson, LSU,9.90; T15. Aleah Finnegan, Lexi Zeiss, LSU, 9.825; 24. Kailin Chio, LSU,9.75. Bars 1. Nikki Smith, Michigan State, 9.975; T4. Lexi Zeiss, LSU,9.925; T7. Haleigh Bryant, Kailin Chio, LSU, 9.90; 14. Ashley Cowan, LSU,9.875; T15. Konnor McClain,Aleah Finnegan,LSU,9.85. Beam T1. Aleah Finnegan, Kailin Chio, LSU Joscelyn Roberson, Arkansas,SharonLee, Kentucky,9.975; T5.Haleigh Bryant, Konnor McClain, Kylie Coen, LSU, 9.925; T10. Sierra Ballard, LSU,9.90. Floor 1. Aleah Finnegan, LSU, 9.975; 6. Amari Drayton, LSU, 9.925; T7.Konnor McClain, SierraBallard, LSU, 9.90; T12. Haleigh Bryant, LSU,9.875; T14. Kylie Coen, LSU,9.85. Attendance: N/A

ing apre-Olympic meet McClain replaced freshman Kailin Chio, who competed in the otherthreeevents, andgot a9.90on floor.LSU’sbig score in the event came from senior Aleah Finnegan, whotiedher season-bestwitha 9.975 that wasthe Tigers’ best score on any event the entire regional.

“Chio wasfatigued,”Clark said. “She didn’tfeel great today.Konnor went up and knocked it out of thepark.”

McClain, speaking to ESPNannouncersafter themeet,beamed as she said competing again on floor “meanseverything to me.

“It seems like adream after everything we’ve been through as a team, what I’ve been through per-

sonally,” McClain said. “It’s just been the best.” The Tigers basically coasted home from there as both LSU and MichiganState matched scoresin the final two rotations while keeping Kentucky andArkansasat arm’slength. LSU went 49.575 on floor led by Finnegan’s9.975, then hadnothing better than a9.90 on vault fora 49.350, discarding an uncharacteristic 9.75 fromChio LSU still held on to the regional title when Michigan State beam anchor Gabrielle Stephen, who won theregional all-aroundtitle in Thursday’sregional semifinals, fell and got a9.30.

Finneganfinishedfirst on floor and in afirst-placetie on beam with Chio, Arkansas’ Joscelyn Roberson andKentucky’sSharon Lee. Michigan State’sNikki Smith finished first in the all-around (39.650), tied forfirst on vault with teammate Sage Kellerman (9.95) and was first on bars (9.975). TheTigers’ 198.050 wastheir third-best scoreina regionalfinal ever andfourth-best scoreina regional in any round after LSU’s 198.100 Thursday to win itssemifinal.

LSU will remain the No. 1overallseed going to Fort Worth, even though Clark thought his Tigers could have performed better here and there.

Still, he didn’twantthempeaking too soon.

“Weleft alot out there,” he said. “Wereally did. We could have been at 198.5 or 198.6 tonight.

“But tonight is notthe night. We’ve got to keep it in itsproper place. Ididn’twant them to blow everything up tonight. Iwanted us to do what we did.”

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

LSU second baseman SierraDaniel slides safely past thetag of Alabamashortstop Salen Hawkinsduring the fifthinning on SaturdayatTiger Park. The fifth-ranked Tigers wontheir third SECseries of the season

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

LSU starter Jayden Heavener delivers apitch against Alabama on Saturday. Heavener,who carried ano-hitter intothe fourth inning,was relievedinthe seventh by Sydney Berzon, whogot the eighth save of her career

Hamlin looksfor next step toward Cuptitle

BY PETE IACOBELLI Associated Press

DARLINGTON, S.C. Denny Hamlin is continually questioning his confidence as he navigates his latest try for aNASCAR CupSeries title.

Hamlin’swin last weekatMartinsville has him in the field of 16 when the playoffs come aroundin aboutfive months. And he’sprepping to runthe Goodyear400 on Sunday at Darlington Raceway,a track where he leads allcurrent drivers with four previousvictories.

Still, Hamlin said self-scouting is essential.

“I think it’salways good to question your confidence,” Hamlin said Saturday If you don’t, Hamlin explained, you’re left wondering if you’ve truly done all you can to make your race team as successfulas possible.

Hamlin, 44, has done just about everything possible in the sport

exceptclaim achampionship. He’s won theDaytona500 and Southern 500 three times each and owns avictory in the 2022 Coca-Cola 600, thecircuit’slongest race and considered another of thesports’ crown jewels.

Still, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver with 55 career winshas not cashed in his numerous opportunities at atitle. Hewas in NASCAR’slast four four times (2014, 2019, 2020, 2021) without afinal, career-definingwin.

There’salong stretch to go before Hamlin fully focusesonendingthattitle drought. Last week’s breakthrough victory was apositive step

“It was certainly agreat week for theteam,” hesaid.

And whenever they can follow success like that at atrack where Hamlin has won before —the last time was the Southern 500 in 2021 —itadds to theteam’sexcitement to get back to work.

Points leader WilliamByron knows what it’s like to winatDarlington, which he didinthisrace two yearsago. Thereare good feelings whenever you return somewhereyou’ve had success before. “It’sa tough place to run, but knowing we’ve done well there helps,”hesaid.

Byron’steammate, Kyle Larson, is second in points through seven races with avictory at HomesteadMiami twoweeks ago. He,too, has felt theboostofconfidence after aDarlington win, taking the Southern 500 in 2023, then finishing fourth in his last visit this past Labor Day weekend.

“It’s always been someplace I’ve felt good about,” Larson said. Hamlin had astrongqualifying performance and will start third Sunday. Byron took the top spot with Ryan Preece right behind. Therest of thetop 10 starters are Chase Briscoe, Bubba Wallace, Austin Cindric,TylerReddick, Kyle Busch, Ryan Blaney and Michael McDowell.

Ewersembarks on NFL journeywithnoregrets

CALVIN WATKINS

TheDallas Morning News (TNS)

DALLAS The first high school prospect to cash in on NIL is gettingready to be paid as aprofessional.

Quinn Ewers from Southlake Carroll wanted to stay in high school to receive compensation,but UIL rules prevented him from doing so as asenior So Ewers entered college early, enrolling at Ohio State to earn acool $1 millioninNIL. He departedafter taking two snaps to return home.

Ewers finished his college career at Texas, enduring injuries and aManning looking over his shoulder Ewerssaidhe’sgot no regrets with the difficult decision he made to leave high school early,transfer from Ohio State andeven leave Texas for the NFL.

“I think that you know,the school makes alot of money off of what we do,” Ewers said at theNFL scouting combine. “So for us to be able to makealittle bit of moneyoff that too, Ithink it was really cool and obviously NIL was the reason Ileft my senior year [of high school] early So there was alot of that impact for sure.”

Last season,Ewers said he was healthyfor maybe two or three games. He dealt with apartially torn oblique muscle and a sprained ankle. He finished the season named second-team AllSEC and tied forsixth in FBS with31touchdowns. Ewers also threw atouchdown in his final27 games Health,hemissed five games because of shoulderissuesbetween the 2022 and 2023 seasons, slowed his development andsomeNFL scouts question if he can stay healthy for afull season Then there was Arch Manning waiting to take over at Texas. Ewers said Manning is apal and “he’sgonna be agreat player,obviously.” Ewers could have stayed one

moreseason at Texas to improve his draftstock and to delay Manning eventually taking over the starting job.

“I wanted to continueonmy journey to the NFL, and Iwanted to leavealegacy at Texasand I didn’twant to disrupt that at all,” he said.

Former Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy has worked with Ewersduringthe draftprocess, making sure he’ll be ready for workouts with teams

So the playerthe Cowboys visitedwith WednesdayatThe Star is moving on from NIL,Texas football and the mullettothe NFL.

“You know,the Texas legislature wasn’tgonna allow high school football players to be paid,” Ewers said. “I had abig opportunity in front of me to go make agood chunk of money.And Ikindofwent about it [like], Idon’tknow what’scertain in the future, but Iknow what’scertain right now and there’sa good chunk of money that couldchange a lotofthings, andI decidedto go aheadand take that stepin time.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By CHUCK BURTON

DennyHamlin hugs his fiancee Jordan Fish after winning aNASCARCup

Martinsville, Va

AP PHOTO By GARETH PATTERSON Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers passes against OhioState during the first halfofthe Cotton Bowl on Jan. 10 in Arlington, Texas

DannyHeitman AT RANDOM

Taking a moment fora miracle of spring

Ihave my latefriend andfellow journalist Relma Hargus to thank for introducing me to cedarwaxwings many years ago. Youmight already know about these beautiful birds, which are most visible in Louisianain late winter and early spring

They’re about as big as cardinals, mostly olive and bright yellow,with red wing tipsthat resemble wax and inspire their funny nickname. The most striking feature is the black bandit mask across their eyes, fitting for abird that loves to plunder Cedar waxwings pillagefruit and berries, and they work quickly,often stripping atree in minutes before moving on As Relma suggested, if you see acedar waxwing, pause and take note. Its presence is aglancing gift, one to savor precisely because it won’tlast long.

Relma had aknack for living in the moment, which can be a complicated thing for anyone who works in adeadline-driven newsroom. She saw the frantic hands of our office clock as little more than afriendly wave. Many an editor sighed in defeat as the appointed hour arrived and Relma’scopyhad not yet arrived. She was awoman prone to private reveries, perhaps more interested in the coming of waxwings than the urgencies of dailyjournalism. All of this came to mind a few weekends ago as my wife and Iwere having breakfast on the patio. Abusy day loomed, and we were headed inside when my wife spotted the season’sfirst waxwing on our hollies.

If we hadn’tlingered that morning, we would have missed it.

Iwas working from home a few days later when, fromthe corner of my eye, Ispotted our stand of holliesasthey trembled in the afternoon sun. Every tree wasalive with cedar waxwings, drawn to the big red berries adorning the leaves. Birds crowded the branches,some upsidedown as they reached for the best meal.

Fifty or more birds worked the trees in alively swarm, darting back and forth like bees rising from ahive. The legal pad on my desk included along list of assignments to finish,messages to answer,meetings to attend.

Ihadn’tpenciled in any appointmentswith waxwings

Then Ithought of Relma and her advice about waxwings —the notion that their arrival is reason enough to pause. I

FORGOOD MEASURE

BY JANRISHER | Staff writer

uestion: What do Barron Trump, Jayden Daniels andEli Manning have in common?

Answer: Their tailor is Baton Rouge’sNathan Pearce

Though Nathan Pearce may not be ahousehold name even in Baton Rouge,the 34-year-old entrepreneur saystojustgive himtime

If the growthofhis business over the last seven yearsisanindicator, he seems to be on his way

In January,Barron Trump wore aPearce Bespoke suit to his father’s presidential inauguration.

Remember thegray three-piece suit Jayden Daniels wore in 2023 whenhewon theHeisman? That was also by Pearce Bespoke.

See TAILOR, page 4D

BY ROBIN MILLER Staff writer

Blameitonthe gravedigger

As the story goes, he’sresponsible forthe incorrect layout of the St. Joseph Catholic Church Cemetery at 401 S. AdamsAve., in Rayne, which caught the eye of “Ripley’sBelieve It Or Not!” in 1997. Ripley’sfeatured the cemetery in its syndicated newspaper comic panel on July 24, 1997, declaring that not only did the gravesites’ north-south placement buck the cemetery tradition of east and west, it was also the only cemetery in the United States with graves facing the wrong way ‘Wrong WayCemetery’ This may account forits local nickname, the “Wrong Way Cemetery.”

ALouisiana State Historical Marker standing kitty-corner commemorates the cemetery’s incorrect layout, concluding that no one really knowswhy or how this happened.

Which prompted DeeJeffers’ inquiry

“I grew up in Branch, and I have relatives buried in that cemetery,” the Baton Rouge resident said. “Weknew the graves were facing the wrong way, but no one ever said why. Is there anyone out there who might know why?” Author and local historian Tony Olinger stepped up with the answer

“Wehave no proof one way or the other,soit’ssort of alegend,” he said. In 1880, the community of Pouppeville decided to move its community amile west. The ä See AT RANDOM, page 4D ä See CURIOUS, page 4D

PROVIDED PHOTO

Nathan Pearce, CEOofPearce Bespoke

ä

PROVIDED PHOTOS

Pearce Bespokeassociate Cole

LeBlanc, from left, is pictured withclients Jayden Daniels and Barron Trump.

COMMUNITY

Seniors take center ring at circus party

The Iota Master Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi International celebrated the highs and lows of senior life under the “big top of society” by presenting a circusthemed couples’ social on March 14.

“Life, much like a circus, unfolds with a colorful array of acts, unexpected twists and daring feats,” a news release states. “For seniors, having weathered life’s storms and balanced on the tightrope of challenges, are not merely survivors — they’re the seasoned trapeze artists of existence, soaring with grace, wisdom and the courage born of experience Their stories are the heartbeat of the circus we call life.”

This circus was presented in a tent-like environment complete with pennants, a ticket booth, a caged tiger and performances by the chapter members, all resembling circus theme productions and acts.

The ringmaster and voice of the circus was John McGraw, master of ceremonies. Circus acts included ribbon twirling performed by the four visionaries who brought this circus social event to life: Cheryl Foster Vonnie Brewer, Pat Buturla and Nancy McGraw Their routine weaved their ribbons into a vibrant symphony of color, celebrating the creativity and passion of the social committee members as their ribbons danced through the air No circus is complete without clowns. Darlene Poindexter and McGraw entertained with their comedic capers keeping the audience roaring with laughter

Other circus acts were the strong man, Ken Buturla, who performed feats of human strength that left the audience in awe; Lola, the faithful, trained dog and her trainer Linda Garafola. The dog’s tightrope performance and successful walk

Iota Master Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi International

Members of the Iota Master Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi International celebrated the highs and lows of ‘senior life’ with a circus-themed couples’ social on March 14. John McGraw was master of ceremonies.

left the crowd spellbound. The trick pony “Charlie,” ridden by Sandy LeJeune, and trained by Charles LeJeune, jumped hurdles with agility The tattoo lady Vonnie Brewer, showed off her body art and passed out removable tattoos to the crowd. Carolyn Miller presented the dancing dog act, consisting of paw-tapping, tail-wagging pups as she twirled and leaped in the routine. Lynda Smith displayed whimsy and wonder with her artistry and skill as a balloon artist, and Bill Smith practiced his skill in “distributing peanuts in the shell.” Also making their appearance were Ernie Poindexter as the bearded lady, and close by was Roy Miller, dressed as “the Lion King.” Jane Haupt was part of the circus staff and a vital part

of this event. The grand finale of the circus was a showdown between the LSU tiger mascot and the Alabama Crimson Tide elephant mascot, who collided in a battle for pride, glory and ultimate bragging rights. Cheryl Foster rode the elephant and Ed Foster the tiger The crowd cheered as it seemed the wild and cunning ferocity of the tiger was winning, then the raw and unyielding power of the elephant was evident and all held their breath as the battle raged and ended in LSU’s tiger mascot as the winner Prizes were given and trophies awarded to each performer Concessionaires provided hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, chips, cotton candy, peanuts, funnel cakes and more.

Lee

a

Andrea Normand, Sara Grady, Babs Babin and Ann Dugas. Not pictured is Elisa Tubbs.

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

in

Cane’s River Center Performing

Theater,

Tickets are $35-$55.

Play Festival The LSU School of Theatre and the College of Science announced the return of the SciArts New Play Festival, showcasing three staged readings of new accurate science plays selected from more than 150 submissions across the nation. Along with the readings, there will be two keynote speakers: Holden Thorp, editor-in-chief of Science, and Doron Weber, vice president of the Sloan Foundation. All events will take place in

the Studio Theatre in LSU’s Music and Dramatic Arts Building, Dalrymple Drive on the LSU campus. Tickets are free by visiting lsu.edu/cmda/ theatre.

At Baton Rouge Gallery Baton Rouge Gallery center for contemporary art, 1515 Dalrymple Drive, Baton Rouge, is showing the exhibit

“Real-Life Experience: Juried High School Exhibition” through May 1.

The exhibit features approximately 70 original works of art by public and private high school students in East Baton Rouge Parish.

Hours are noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Admission is free. Call (225) 383-1470 or visit batonrougegallery.org.

‘Antigone’ tickets Southeastern Louisiana University Theatre Mainstage will present the final production of its 2024-25 season, the premiere of an original adaptation from Sophocles,

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.

“Antigone: In These Times,” at 7:30 p.m. April 9-12 outside on the west side of Pottle Music Building near Friendship Circle. The production is adapted by instructor of theatre and director of the production Anne-Liese Fox with student devised text and original music and sound design by student Connor Planchard, of Prairieville. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs to sit under the stars and oaks. Admission is free.

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 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 26, and 2 p.m. Sunday, April 27. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased by visiting citedesarts.org/events/reunionwritten-and-directed-by-patricia-cravins-2025-04-26-14-00. Also, registration is open for the theater company’s two-week

PROVIDED PHOTO

STAFF PHOTO By JAN RISHER

Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra

Representing

Michael’s at the Mad Hatter’s luncheon/fundraiser for the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra are, from left, Debbie Dumas, Paula Pennington de la Bretonne, Diane Tate, Becky Harris and Michelle Honore. The event took place March 27 at Crowne Plaza in Baton Rouge.

PROVIDED PHOTO

GFWC Lagniappe Woman’s Club

The GFWC Lagniappe Woman’s Club met March 17. Speaker Emily Hunt, a teacher, talked about changes in education. Shown are, from left, DiAnne Blouin, Hunt, Virginia McDonald and Wynona Martin.

PROVIDED PHOTO

The Couyon Girls

Members of the Couyon Girls, a Baton Rouge social group, attended the Baton Rouge Symphony League Mad Hatters Luncheon 2025. Gathered are, front row, from left, Maggie Collard, Trini Rhorer, Bonnie Bowen, Susan Pellegrin, Deidre Hill and Elena Branzaru; back row, Judy Gonzales, Shasta Felton, Barbara Ruiz, Allyson Eckman, Leonard Augustus, Aimee Dyess, Denise Clause, Kara Baquet, Lynn Graham and Lori LeBlanc. Present but not shown is Deborah Trahan and Teresa Alvarez.

PROVIDED PHOTO

West Side Women’s Club

The West Side Women Club’s March 20 meeting in Brusly included

historic site tour and welcome by Mayor Scott Rhodes. Shown are, from left, Julie Graffeo, Ada Hebert, Alice LeBlanc,

ON THE ARTS AND CULTURE SCENE

TRAVEL

Soak up beautifulbloominggardens in La.and beyond

BY CHERE COEN Contributing writer

There’ssomething innately heart-soaring about walking among flowers and greenery after winter’sstretch of bareness. It’s akin to turning on awarmlight in adarkened room.

We’re fortunate in Louisiana that winter’s“lease hath alltoo short adate,” to borrow asonnet phrase from Shakespeare (he remarked on summer,but as we know,summer feels endless). But spring gives us acolorfulwindow between cold, rainy winter and the onset of humid summer

Here are some lovely gardens to enjoy spring blossoms, both close to home and withina short drive.

Within Louisiana

Afton Villa, St. Francisville, aftonvilla.com

Every spring andfall, Alton Villa’s20acresofformal gardens are open to the public. From now until June 30, stroll the grounds and enjoy the famous ruinsgardens, aformal parterre garden ancient live oak trees, ahistoric family cemetery and much more. New Orleans Botanical Garden,CityPark, neworleanscitypark.org

City Park’s10-acre Botanical Garden—the city’sfirstpublic classical garden —containsmore than 2,000 plant varieties from aroundthe world andishome to 15 statues at the Enrique Alferez Sculpture Garden, the Conservatory of the TwoSisters and the Historic New Orleans Train Garden. Louisiana residents are admitted free every Wednesday LongueVue House and Gardens, New Orleans, longuevue.com

This former home of philanthropists Edith and Edgar Stern contains eight acres of gardens designed by 20th-century landscape designer Ellen Biddle Shipman. Visitors may tour boththe historic home and gardens. American Rose Center,rose.org

The national home of the American Rose Society,the 118acre wooded tract near Shreveport is the nation’slargest park dedicated solelytoroses. Peak bloom times are April to June and SeptembertoOctober,but

TRAVEL TROUBLESHOOTER

By ChristopherElliott

thehome’sformal English gardens, greenhouse and fountain. Jungle Gardens,AveryIsland, www.junglegardens.org

the park is open year-round with walkingtrails, apicnic area and achildren’splayground. While in Shreveport,visit the R.W.Norton Art Gallery for its 40 landscaped acres featuringazalea gardens, trails and more. The Biedenharn Museum &Gardens, Monroe, www.bmuseum.org

This museum complex includes the Biedenharn home built by Joseph Biedenharn, thefirst bottler of Coca-Cola. Enjoythe home’s antiques and artifacts and the nearby Bible Museum and theCoca-Cola Museum, but don’tmiss

We know the McIlhenny family for giving us Tabasco, but Edward A. McIlhenny opened his 170-acre gardens to the public in 1935 and it’sbeen apopular attraction ever since. Visitors will enjoy camellias, azaleas and assorted plants as well as wildlife, the 900-year-old Buddha and the “Bird City” rookery Nearby is Rip VanWinkle Gardens on Jefferson Island, 15 acres of semi-tropical gardens surrounding amansion once home to American actor Joseph Jefferson. After touring thegardens, enjoy lunch in Café Jefferson overlooking the lake. www.ripvanwinklegardens.com

Kisatchie National Forest, www.fs.usda. gov/kisatchie

The Wild Azalea Trail in the Kisatchie National Forest’sEvangeline Unit of the Calcasieu Ranger District, west and southwest of Alexandria, provides aglimpse into thestate’sonly native azalea variety. Trail maps may be picked up at

tourist welcome centers andthe Wild Azalea Trail end points at the Kisatchie National Forest’sValentine Lake Recreation Area and Woodworth Town Hall. Briarwood Nature Preserve, Saline,briarwoodnp.org

Thirty minutes from Natchitoches, this pristine acreage was once home to Caroline Dormon, a20th-century naturalist who helped create the Kisatchie National Forest and the Louisiana StateArboretum.Today her homesteadisopen to the public to view native flowers and shrubs of central Louisiana —look for Louisianairises this month —but tours must be scheduled, weather permitting. Baton Rouge and Lafayette City Gardens

The Botanical Gardens at Independence Community Park in Baton Rouge is managed by the Baton Rouge Garden Club, and the public is invited to walk through thegardens at no charge. Lafayette Master Gardeners maintain ademonstration garden at the Ira Nelson Horticulture Center on theUniversity of Louisiana at Lafayette campus, filled with plants

and educational information.

Within aday’s drive

Bellingrath Gardens, outside Mobile,Alabama, bellingrath.org

The 65 acres of Bellingrath Gardens, and the homeofWalter and Bessie Bellingrath, come alive this time of year,first with its brilliant display of 250,000 azaleas. Bloomscontinue throughout the spring with special events at Easter and the Gulf Coast Chinese Lantern Festival, April 17 through June 15.

GarvanWoodland Gardens, HotSprings, Arkansas, www.garvangardens.org

The gentle rolling hills by the shores of Lake Hamilton provide the University of Arkansas with fertile ground forawide variety of flowers, shrubs and trees. To check bloom times on the flowers gracing Garvan’s210 acres, visit Garvan’sFacebook page.

HoustonBotanic Garden, Houston, hbg org

Aformer golf course southeast of downtownisnow hometonative plants, flowers and trees at the 132-acre Houston Botanic Garden. The attraction surrounded by SimsBayou offers several themed gardens, such as culinary and coastal prairie, and the Susan Garver Family Discovery Garden that features ahands-on experience. Classes and special events are offered throughout the year CallawayResort&Gardens, Pine Mountain, Georgia, www.callawaygardens.com Spring at Callaway starts with 150,000 tulips and 20,000 azalea blooms! In addition to spring blossomsonthe 2,500 acres by Mountain Creek Lake, visitors may enjoy fishing, hiking, the Virginia Hand Callaway Discovery Center and Cason’sGarden with its new art installation, “Flights of Color,” acolorful display of kites. Gibbs Gardens, Ball Ground, Georgia, www.gibbsgardens.com

Gibbs is knownfor opening at the onset of spring and the flowering of its 20 million-plus daffodils on morethan 50 acres, truly a sight to see. As the daffodil explosion ceases, the garden’sazaleas bloom in early April. Gibbs has a large collection of native azaleas, but also 1,200 Encore azaleas for atotal of morethan 3,000 azaleas.

Booking.comrentalinItaly wasascamand bots were no help

Christopher Elliott

Irecently used Booking.com to reserve an apartment in Menaggio, Italy,for two nights. Idecided to use Booking.combecause of its reputation and the property’spositive reviews. Before Ileft, Inoticed the ratings forthis place had tanked, and Inervously reached out to Booking.com, letting them know my concern and to makesure they would stand behind the booking.Theysaid they would.

My concernwas thatmanypeoplewere arriving and not able to getinto the place and being forced to book elsewhere —basically,a fraud. ABooking.com representative assured me they had been incontact with the host and that everythingwouldbe fine.

As expected, Iarrivedand couldnot get access to the place, though Itried for a number of hours using all phone numbers.

Iimmediately contacted Booking.com but didnot receivearesponse until days later. Ihad to find anotherplace in the middle of peak season,whichwas no easy feat. But the listing stayed online,even as the negative reviews piled up

Booking.com ultimately responded that if Ihad contactedthem during the stay, they would have been able to help me. But Iwas proactive and reachedout before my stay andatthe beginning of my stay, and was met with silence.

Iwant all of my money back, and Iwant Booking.com to cover my extracosts. Can you help? —Tom Mason,Long Grove, Illinois

Booking.com should have found youa newapartment while it investigated the property.Instead,

it appears arepresentative gave youassurances that you would be able to access the rental, despite strong evidence to the contrary

Your question exposes apractice that I’ve long suspected but have neverbeenable to prove: that call center representatives rarely read their own website.

(If they had, they would have at least looked into your concerns.)

Youhad apretty good sense that you were getting the blowoff from Booking.com. Ilooked at your chat thread and noticed that you were getting canned responses from the“Booking Assistant,”which was most likely either AI or an AI-assisted representative.

Youmight have escalated your concern to ahigher level. I

publish the names, numbers and email addresses of the Booking. com customer service managers on my consumer advocacy website, Elliott.org. Abrief, polite email to one of them might have fixed this Unfortunately,myadvocacy team and Ihave been seeing too many of these kinds of cases recently It feels like online agencies are no longer staffed by humans, but by AIs that can’tunderstand even the most basic customer service problem. Ihope I’m wrong about that.

Icontacted the company on your behalf. ABooking.com representative apologized for your experience and said it usually investigates any potentially sus-

picious listings “swiftly.”

“In this instance, we recognize that we did not support as quickly as we normally would and have been in touch to apologize to the customer directly,” the representative added. “Wecan confirm the property has been suspended from our platform while aproper investigation is carried out.” In addition to refunding the total amount of the original booking, Booking.com also covered the difference in cost for the alternate accommodation.

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

BR Little Free ArtLibrary shares artresources

BY JOYHOLDEN Staff writer

The Walls Project has changed Baton Rouge one mural at atime, but one small white building offers free access to creative inspiration for anyone.

Abit larger than aLittle Free Library,the Little Free Art Library is located outside TheWalls Project Headquarters at 458America St., Baton Rouge. Instead of books, this little library holds arts and crafts supplies.

In 2022, Samantha Morgan, the former program manager of The Walls Project, began the Baton Rouge Little Free Art Library to provide asustainable way for artists to try new things and create without financial limitations. Currently,The Walls Project’sAnn Richè tendstothe library,organizes materials, connects people to their desired suppliesand announces new treasureson the group’sFacebook page.

Richè said the Little Free Art Library is not only aconduit for residents to donate and share art

TAILOR

Continued from page1D

‘Get into thesuitbusiness’ Pearce grew up in Birmingham, Alabama, wentto schoolatMillsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi, and right out of college, he promptly started his first company —aclothing manufacturing business.

That initial business ended up closing, but the experience of buying aclosed L.L. Bean mill in Tylertown, Mississippi, and then rehiring many of the employees taught him alot of lessons.

“Being asales guy and abrand builder and abigidea guy trapped inside a manufacturing company —that was not my idea of a dream job,” Pearce said. Even so, manufacturing introduced him to alot of people, including an older man who was atraveling tailor from the New York City area. Their relationship changed the trajectory of Pearce’slife.

“He called me and was like, ‘Well, now that you’re out of the factory,what are you going to do next?’ Pearce said. “I’m like, ‘I’m gonna start another clothing brand.’ And his response was, ‘You shouldget into the suit business.’

To which Pearce replied, “Dude, Idon’tknow anything about suits.”

The man said, “Well, I’ll teach you.” So, Pearce spent several months zigzagging across the country,following the traveling tailor.Along the way,helearned how to measure, the styling terminology,what goes with what and how to pair it with

CURIOUS

Continued from page1D

Southern Pacific Railroad was coming through, and the town wanted the benefit of being located along its route, now run by the Union Pacific Railroad. The community not only changed its location but also changed its name to Rayne in honor of railroad executive B.W.L. Rayne.

“Whenever the railroad came through in 1880, the priest at St. Joseph decided to move the church to Rayne,” Olinger said. “So they actually moved the church on logs and rolled it to the new location with mules and horses. They would move the logs from the back to the front until they got it to the city block where it stands now.” The block had been donated for both the church and cemetery Graves facedthe church

“So, soon after,I’m sure the priest wanted the graves moved from the old graveyard to the new graveyard,” Olinger said. “And if you think aboutit, the man who moved the graves dug them

supplies, but it is partofalarger subculture of no-waste andbuynothing groups. Instead of trashing unused arts andcrafts supplies, communitymembers donate to the Little Free Art Library.And, instead of purchasing supplies,individuals use gifted and donated pre-owned fabrics,art supplies, yarn and more.

On trend with the surge in knitting and crocheting, Richè said the most popular supply is yarn, and BatonRouge has an anonymous “yarn fairy” who donateslarge quantities of yarn periodically Every fewmonths,the anonymous donordrops off fourtofive garbagebagsfullofyarn— more than enoughtofill the library

“Within hours, before the endof theday,it’sall gone,” Richè said. Richèhas aporch system for donations that do not fit inthe allotted library space. She organizes supplies andwhatdoesn’tfit, she keeps inside her office at the Walls Project until it’stime to refill. The library is set up to be self-sufficient,Richè said, where people take what they needand donate

Ann Richè, the office manager of The Walls Project, helps keep the Little Free ArtLibrarystocked and organized, while helping peoplemake connections and find resources.

what they can. “But alot of times it’ssofull that people will often leaveitonour porch, whichIencourage,” she said. “Before Istarted working here, it was just supposedtobe self-sufficient, but so manypeople

wanted to donate,and Ihated to turn anything away.”

Donations for theart library often come fromcommunity members, businesses andestate sales that are decluttering and the Walls Project’sleftover supplies.All do-

other pieces and patterns. In the process, hefell in love with the business.

“I thought it was thecoolest model I’d ever seen,” Pearce said. Compared to the manufacturingbusiness with “ridiculous overhead”and loads of W2 employees and theheadaches that gowith that, Pearce said thetailoringbusiness seemed like a breeze.

Not to mention thelack of equipmenttomaintain

“I don’tthink alot of people know this about manufacturing, but when one thing goes wrong, everything goes wrong,” Pearce said. “Every brand that we made clothes for, every retailer that we made clothes for —one machine goes down, and they’re all in trouble.”

Versus theold tailor who had no inventory,noretail store, no lease and no employees —and big margins

Pearce says he was excit-

The gravesites in St.Joseph Catholic CemeteryNo. 1 in Rayne arepositioned north and south instead of the traditionaleast and west, which earned it the nickname the ‘Wrong WayCemetery.’

so they wouldbefacingthe church,which was north of the graveyard.” Thoughthismakes perfect sense, Olinger again reiterates that he hasno proofofwhatthe gravediggerwas thinking. The only story that continues to circulate aroundthe community,and evenonthe internet, is that the gravediggerwasn’tfamiliar with cemetery protocol, which led to the establishmentof the Wrong WayCemetery

North and south or east and west —does it really matter?Apparently so. East-westtradition

In Christian tradition, bodies traditionally are buried facing east withtops of heads pointing westward based on an interpretation of Matthew 24:27 that Jesus’ second coming would be from theeast: “For as thelightning comes from theeast and shines to the west, so will be thecoming

ed to go to workevery day

“I just remember thinking Icould do something with this,” Pearce said.

Sellingsuits ‘inthe swamps’

About that time, he moved to Baton Rouge to be with Anne Hawkins, who he eventually married.

He told her he was getting into thesuit business.

“The jokebecame that if Icould sell suits in the swamps of Louisiana, anybody could sell suitsanywhere —and Icould probably teach ’em how to do it,” he said. “And that’show we launched.”

He creditsthe idea of duplicating himself as part of his secret to success.

He sells franchises to others and teaches them how to do themeasurements and other details related to helping aclient choose all the elements related to asuit.Currently,hehas 60 franchises or “territories,” as he calls them. Each goes through training to learn the art and science of measuring, styling and customer service.

Pearce Bespoke works with seven factories overseas tocut and sew thesuits and promises some of the fastest turnaround in the world.

“We’re thefirst and only custom clothing franchise,” Pearce said. “No one’sever done it before.”

Respectful deadlines

Cole LeBlanc, alandman based in Lafayette, has owned aPearce Bespoke franchise for about ayear The venture into Pearce Bespoke allows him to balance his longtimeoil and gas business withhis passion for clothes.

He works with two cloth-

of the Son of Man.”

This custom also follows Judaic traditions, which dictatethat the body be buried facing east in the direction of Jerusalem as soon as possible after death. In Islam, thebody faces east toward Mecca.

Before that, Pagan religions buried theirdead facing the rising sun in theeast.

So, thetradition wasn’t anew concept when the gravedigger took on the assignment.It’sobvious that he simply didn’tknow No sure wayofknowing

“Wehave no way of knowing if thegravedigger dug thegraves to face the church, but back then people didn’t have educations,” Olinger said. “Andtoday,there’sno way to research it.Idon’t even know if thepriest knew it was happening, butbythe time it was discovered, it was too late. Everything was already pretty much laid out theway it is now.”

The cemetery’s2,093 graves, mostofwhich are above-ground tombs, now occupy acity block.

“The northeast corner is where thefirst graves were placed after they were exhumed from the original cemetery,” Olinger said.

nations are welcome, but the Walls Project asks that people do notinclude any combustible items (like spray paint), sharp objects or perishable items.

The Little Free Art Library partners with homeschoolers, nonprofits and other youth organizations to donate supplies that fit the needs of those groups. For example, Youth Oasis —aprogram forteenagers and young adults to visit foremergencyshelter,after-school programming and as adrop-in center —benefits from the library

Liniah Slater,the program manager forthe Basic Center of Youth Oasis, saidRichè’shelp and the Little Free Art Library has been a jumping-off point to other shared resources that meet theunique needs of Youth Oasis.

Richè said the Little Free Art Library hasshown herthe Baton Rouge communityenjoyssharing their love of arts and crafts with others.

“Theydon’t want to justconsume and throw away,” she said. “They want to give it anew life.And Ijust think that’ssoamazing.”

PROVIDED PHOTO

Traceyoung,wearing a PearceBespokesuit, is flanked by LSUstandout athletes Flau’jaeJohnson and Olivia Dunn.

iers, both trained to measure and workwith clients to design their suits, shirts and sportscoats.

“The franchise has good training protocols, training videos and support,” LeBlanc said. “From even what it was ayear ago till now, it’smuch easier to integrate anew clothier and get them off and running.”

Asports coat can range from $750 to $3,000, depending on fabrics and details. Asuit starts at $1,000 and can go up to $5,000. Shirts are around $250, LeBlanc said.

“The average turnaround from order placement is about three to four weeks,” LeBlanc said.

LeBlanc says that while the business “leans toward luxury,” it’snot exclusive to those with ahigh net worth.

“Customers whocome to us appreciate what we do,” LeBlanc said. “It’svery intentional. We provide a service. We’re there to take

“That’snow knownasSt. Joseph’sCatholic Cemetery No.1,but it’sfull now.So, there’sanew cemetery called St. Joseph’sCatholic Cemetery No.2,about a mile south of Rayne.”

Where do those graves face?

“Oh, they’re all buried east and west there,” Olinger said. “The sun is supposed to rise in the east at your feet, and that’show they’re all buried there.”

As forSt. Joseph No. 1’s Ripley’sdesignated distinction of being the nation’s only north-south cemetery, Olinger said that no longer stands.

“There have been other cemeteries that are northsouth that have been found around the country since then,” Olinger said. “But when Ripley’sdid the piece on this one, it wasthe only one that was knownatthe time.”

Do you have aquestion about somethingin Louisiana that’s got you curious? Email yourquestionto curiouslouisiana@ theadvocate.com. Include yourname, phone number and thecitywhere you live.

care of acustomer.We’re not just selling them agarment.”

Abalancing act

The company recently launched new technology that offers a3Dsuit visualizer so clients are able to see what their suit will look like from every angle.

Pearce also recently named anew company president, Shafik Mina, who lives in Canada. Mina is a former franchisor whosold his company last year

“Anytimeyou can improve your board of advisers is agood thing,” Pearce said. “Shafik felt like a great fit forthe company.I focus on what I’mgood at —the visionary stuff,making sure that we’re growing so that we can continue expanding, the creative side of the business. Ihire for what my weaknesses are.” In the last fewweeks, Pearce wasinMichigan and back to Palm Beach, where he wasmeasuring and working with clients, some of whom he met through Barron Trump. Pearce is learning alot about balancing his work with his family life. Twoevents had abig effect on his work/life balance in January.Not only did Barron Trumpwear a Pearce Bespoke suit to the inauguration, but Pearce and his wife welcomed Lucy,their second daughter,tothe world days before the inauguration. The proud papa says Eliza, whois2,enjoys doting on her baby sister Good thing Pearce Bespoke makes women’s clothing too.

Email Jan Risheratjan. risher@theadvocate.com.

Continued from page1D

grabbed somebinoculars from anearby shelf, training my gaze on a single waxwing within the flock. He wasperched near athick bunch of berries that weremounded like grapes at an emperor’sfeast.

With astonishing speed, he gobbled them up, each berry sliding down his gullet as quickly as amarble into asock. I watched it all forafew minutes, then returned to my keyboard, my smartphone, my list of things to do.

I’dmade time fora small miracle of spring. Somewhere, Isuppose, dear Relmawas smiling.

Email Danny Heitmanatdanny@ dannyheitman.com.

STAFF PHOTO By ROBINMILLER

PROVIDED PHOTO Nathan Pearce, CEO of Pearce Bespoke, and client Jayden Daniels at the Heisman Trophy event in 2023.

STAFF PHOTO By JOyHOLDEN

By The Associated Press

Today is Sunday,April 6, the96th day of 2025. There are 269 days left in the year

Todayinhistory

On April 6, 1917, the United States entered World WarIasthe House joined the Senate in approving a declaration of war against Germany that was then signed by President Woodrow Wilson.

On this date:

In 1830, Joseph Smith and others met in Fayette, New York, to form theChurch of Christ —now known as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

In 1862, the Civil WarBattleof Shiloh began in Tennessee as Confederate forceslauncheda surprise attack against Union troops, who beat back the Confederates thefollowing day In 1896, the first modern Olympic games formally opened in Athens, Greece.

In 1954, Sen. Joseph R. McCarthy, R-Wis., responding to CBS newsman Edward R. Murrow’s broadside against him on “See It Now,” claimed in remarks filmed forthe program that Murrow had,inthe past, “engaged in propaganda for Communist causes.”

In 1968, 41 people werekilled by a pair of explosions spurred by anatural gas leak at asporting goods store in downtown Richmond, Indiana.

In 1994, Rwandan President Juvénal Habyarimana and Burundian President Cyprien Ntaryamira were killed when the jet they were riding in was shot down by surface-to-air missiles as it attempted to landin Kigali, Rwanda.

In 2012, five Black people were shot, three fatally,inTulsa, Oklahoma; Jake England and Alvin Watts, who admitted to targeting the victimsbecauseoftheir race, pleadedguilty to murder andwere sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Today’sBirthdays: Scientist James D. Watson is 97. ActorBillyDee Williams is 88. Film director Barry Levinson is 83. Actor JohnRatzenberger is 78. BaseballHall of Famer Bert Blylevenis74. ActorMarilu Henner is 73. Actor Michael Rooker is 70. Minnesota Gov.Tim Walz is 61. FootballHall of Famer Sterling Sharpe is 60. ActorPaul Ruddis56. Actor Zach Braff is 50. Actor Candace CameronBure is 49. Musician Robert Glasper is 47.

What’s theetiquette betweentwo doctors?

Dear Miss Manners: I’m aphysician,soIamusedtopeople addressingmeas“Dr.Jones.”

first name, or should Ialways address them as “Dr.Smith?”

Judith Martin MISS MANNERS

That includes both patientsand nonphysician staff in thehospital where Iwork. Even out in public, if Irun into someone from thehospital, it is common for them to address me as “Dr.Jones.”

However,when Igotoamedical office as apatient, whether it is my primary care physician, the dentist, the optometrist or another specialist, they invariably address me by my first name. It is my impressionthat Iamnonetheless expected to address them as “Dr Smith,” whether in person or in subsequentcorrespondence.

What is the etiquette for apatientwho is aphysician addressingthe doctor providing care? Is it acceptable formetouse their

Dear Heloise: Reading the“Meat-

loaf Like Mama’s” letter really made me want to writeyou. To remind people of the letter,the reader has four boys/men, and shemakes agreat meatloaf. So, why didn’tshe teach themhow to make it?

Gentlereader: Did you just now notice this inequity? Or have you always addressed your patients with titles and surnames, since you expect them to use yours?

Because that is the rule. Respect should be reciprocal. It rarely is, in these situations. Doctors tellMiss Manners that they should be so addressed because they earned theright to that title, and that they use patients’first names tobefriendly and put them at ease.

Butpatients are also entitled to honorifics, just by virtue of being adult human beings. Furthermore, they do not consult doctors because they are looking to makefriends.

So these are formal situations, in which patients are in need of dignityand professional distance. As Miss Manners has pointed out,when people are friends, they either both have their clothes on or neither of

them do. Youcould use the ploy of responding in kind, using your physician’s given name. Or, slightly more tactfully,you could ask, “Shall we call each other ‘doctor,’ or do you prefer to use first names?”

Butthiswould only establish that you, too, are on that august level they assume. Youcould makeboth points by pleasantly saying, “I don’tcall my patients by their first names —itseems fairer andmore dignified to call them ‘Mr.’ or ‘Ms.’ Or ‘Doctor,’ as the casemay be.” Dear Miss Manners: Is there a “best”or“correct” waytoseat couples at adinner party using place cards? My husband and Ienjoy speaking with other people, andwesplit couples up when we host. However,our friends seat couples together Should oneask couples in advance whether they’d prefer to be seated together or separately?Itseemsashamenot to

ask, since we would have liked to have been asked, but it puts guests on the spot forananswer Gentle reader: Why would you want to be seated together? Or asked another way, if you and your spouse wanttohave dinner together,why are you accepting an invitation to adinner party? It is the duty of guests to socialize with the hosts and other guests. The rule is to separate couples so that they can do so. They should not be asked, because no one wants to declare apreference forbeing apart. If there is acompelling reason (“My wife broke her arm and can’tmanage the fork”), the guest should declare it.

Sendquestions to Miss Manners at herwebsite, www missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@ gmail.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St.,Kansas City,MO64106.

When Iread that “the oldestson is getting married and asked his future bride to get the recipe,” Itruly wondered why he did notget the recipe and learn howtocook ithimself. Are we still in the20th century? In fact, as amother,teaching your sons howtocook will make them more appreciate awoman who can cook for them as well. Idon’tmind some traditions, but isn’tittime for menand theirmotherstolearnthat their daughters-in-law are not servants? Let’snot assumethat the womanissupposed to do the household chores just because

she is female. In fact, if more mothers taught theirboys to do laundry,cook and clean, Ithink we would seemoreprogress in equality. —Jeanne H., via email Jeanne, Iagree withyou. There is no reason why cooking dinner shouldn’tbeashared experience. Ahusband can make the salad while his wife prepares something else. Whoever finishes first sets the table.And thereisno reason why agirl can’tbetaught to change atire or safely use a hammer,drill or sander.

Some women want tostick to traditional roles, but some do not. Ibelieve that we mustall learn to take care of ourselves because you can’talways depend on someone elsebeing there for you. —Heloise Forthe birdsand squirrels

Dear Heloise: Glen Allen, in Virginia, said he fed birds and squirrels bread. This is not recommended at all as it contains sugar, sodium and carbohydrates There’snonutritional value in

them. It is not digested well by them, and additionally,the bread can get moldy.Stick to seeds and suet. —Eileen F.,Glenwood, Iowa

Bingingonmunchies

Dear Heloise: Ialways had ahard time with my weight and just could not seem to stop binging on ice cream, nuts, pizza, chips, and other foods that Ididn’t need to eat. Idecided to sit down and make alist of “why Iwas overeating” and form abackup plan. Ibegan to realize what the triggers were: ajob Ididn’treally like, anger over manyofmy husband’s demands, and frustration with my children. It was timefor achange! Iquit my job and started my own business. (I love it!) Isat my husband down andhad avery frank discussion with him concerning what Iwould do and wouldn’tdo (including doing all the cooking and cleaning). Irefused to give my children money anymore and told them that as adults, it was time forthem to grow up

and support themselves. Believe me, I’m sticking to my plan. The results have been good. Inolonger weigh 187 pounds. —BarbaraB., St. Paul, Minnesota Barbara, manywomen often deal with their frustration, sorrow and anger by binge-eating. Glad to know that you’re doing better with the help of these hints! —Heloise Stretching outclothes

Dear Heloise: Frugal plumber here! Everyone likes to make funofplumbers when they bend over,but Idonot have this problem.I stretch cotton materials before Iput them in the dryer or hang them to dry.Doing this makes somequite abit longer; it adds over 4inches to my shirts, even after the dryer Ialso do this with my young kid’sclothes. Pants and shirts will last formonths and are longer forlength. —A.P., via email Email heloise@heloise.com.

‘Personal, political and wildly effective’ New Orleans poet debuts new collection

BY RIEN FERTEL Contributing writer

“Libre” by Skye Jackson, Regalo Press, 120 pages Skye Jackson’s debut poetry collection, “Libre,” leads off with a poem that, back in 2021, won her deserved acclaim.

The first lines of “can we touch your hair?” takes readers to a crowded Mardi Gras street scene.

“at the parades, everyone / wants to touch my hair,” Jackson writes, especially “two white women” who “try to convince me / that they love my hair.”

The pair gropes with their eyes, assures with honeyed appraisal, before disregarding personal boundaries and social norms by reaching out with unwelcome fingers, providing Jackson with the poem’s tense and terse finale: “then suddenly / just like my ancestors long ago, / i am pulled apart / soft / by pale hands / from all directions.”

Personal, political and wildly effective despite its brevity, “can we touch your hair?” wrestles with centuries of history in this present moment. It’s no wonder that former U.S Poet Laureate Billy Collins chose Jackson’s poem for inclusion in the Library of Congress’s Poetry 180 program, a project dedicated to encourage high school students to read one poem each day of the academic year For a young poet working on an MFA degree at the time, this was a significant triumph.

“Libre” is no less a success, a fiercely unwavering collection that heralds a major new talent Jackson, who was born in New Orleans, attended the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts and UNO’s Creative Writing Workshop and is presently a visiting writer and lecturer at Xavier University. She is a perceptive documentarian of her hometown’s past, present and future, its joys and pains

In “i remember,” one of the collection’s strongest poems, Jackson asks New Orleanians if they recognize the sounds of a gentrifying city under the scourge of blue bikes, Starbucks and European Wax Centers.

“do you hear that,” she asks, “it’s the sound of my mama’s voice / as she taps on the window glass / when we drive down burgundy / she points to a renovated row / of candy-colored shotgun houses / and says: / i remember / when only black people / lived over there.” Jackson has a gift for sticking the landing, as in this poem’s final lines: “gentrification is just / another word / for revenge get ray nagin on the prison phone / let him know that this chocolate city / has officially melted.”

A sequence of poems follows Jackson on an amorous interlude to Europe, where she and her lover haunt hotel rooms and museum galleries — assessing these spaces with a critical eye and often humorous tone. The museums provide the more provocative and fecund subject material. At the Musée d’Orsay, she judges Manet’s “Olympia” as a painting that “captured what appears to be / the first ever recorded side-eye / cast towards a white woman.”

In the marvelously titled “#medusawasblackyall,” Jackson sizes up Cellini’s famed bronze of Perseus holding the Gorgon’s severed head and sees herself in the sculpture’s reflection “once, long ago, / poseidon held a fistful / of my black locs / just like this,” she writes “picture a girl built pretty and open / like a temple, only to be destroyed. / be kind: you are looking at ruins / further ruined.”

The titles of her poems are often worth the price of admission. Always rendered in lowercase, like her lines of verse, these titles some-

times become mini poems themselves, revealing precursors that only hint at the thematic complexities to come. In “my dad doesn’t known how to fight the wasps in the mailbox,” a small-scale household calamity turns into a half-serious commentary on the state of modern America. After watching her father try and fail to chase the pests away, she offers the following: “don’t you know / we’re in a housing crisis / good real estate / is hard to come by.”

Note the complexity of layers that end “when the half black man i’m in bed with calls my hair nappy,” a mountain road crash of a poem, featuring numerous jackknife twists that can only culminate in catastrophe.

“i open my mouth to speak / (& want to say / to him / tell me again / how much / your white mother / loves you) / but instead / i say / my curls are beautiful / i love my hair / so quiet / that i can’t even / convince myself / of it / but he’s / already / fast asleep.”

Jackson is unafraid to honor her literary lineage. Lorraine Hansberry, Lucille Clifton, Elizabeth Bishop, Toi Derricotte, Claudia Rankine, Jericho Brown, and Charles Simic all receive shout-outs in these pages.

But she also doesn’t steer clear from those deserving of lyrical reprimands: the Vermont Uber driver who tells her only White people live in the area; a store manager who shockingly defends stocking her shelves with mammy paraphernalia (“but they sell, my dear skye / people buy them”); and even Faye Dunaway, in the deliciously titled “avoid your heroes / trust me.”

In that poem, as throughout this collection, an uncomfortable, racially coded encounter sets Jackson’s verses flowing. In two of the book’s final poems she details similar encounters with older White men at a literary seminar in Key West. Both woo and ultimately betray her trust with micro- and macro-aggressions that render her, at those exact moments, incapable of responding.

“you are holding back something inside you,” she writes after one experience. “you want to say things but you cannot say things.”

But she says them now, not holding back, weaving herself and her experiences into these poems. I can only hope that, no longer silent, she is as the title of her book insinuates free.

Rien Fertel is the author of four books, including, most recently, “Brown Pelican.”

Influential music artist Carl

Perkins was a king in his own right

BY BARBARA SIMS Contributing writer

“Carl Perkins,The King of Rockabilly” by Jeff Apter, Citadel, 240 pages

Carl Perkins was not the bestlooking singer in The Million Dollar Quartet, he ultimately did not sell as many records as the other three Elvis Presley Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis — and he’s not the best known.

But according to biographer Jeff Apter, Perkins was the most influential in the development of rock ’n’ roll, especially in the realm of rock’s signature musical instrument, the guitar And he wrote and performed the first rock anthem, “Blue Suede Shoes,” charting in the Top 10 in Billboard’s pop, country and rhythm-and-blues categories. Besides, he was arguably the nicest, maintaining strong friendships with Presley, Roy Orbison and Cash, and later rock stars, particularly George Harrison, but also Paul McCartney and Eric Clapton. Though alcohol had a grip on him for a time, addiction was not a major theme of his life. He married young and had the same devoted wife until death parted them. His sons joined him in later life to form a rockabilly band that enjoyed considerable success in the U.S. and Europe.

Judged by these and other standards, Perkins’ life may be considered the most desirable and successful among his Sun (Records) peers, though Presley has been crowned the king of rock ’n’ roll and Lewis contended he was the king. Apter has avoided this controversy by naming Perkins the king of rockabilly, which many critics consider the precursor of all rock music to come. Perkins, like Cash and many other poor country children during the Depression, picked cotton to help support his family from the time he was 5 years old. That such labor was required is illustrated by the fact that many rural schools in the South were not in session during “cotton picking time,” incidentally the name of a song by Cash. Perkins left school permanently at age 12 to work in the fields year-round and at 14, he and his two brothers formed a band that developed a following in the honky tonks in the area of his hometown, Tiptonville, Tennessee.

Apter recounts the story of Perkins hearing Presley on the radio in 1954 and, with a little push by his wife, traveling to Memphis, Tennessee, to seek an audition with Sam Phillips The head of Sun Records was impressed by his singing and guitar playing, as well as his songwriting, and lost no time in recording several sides by his band, including “Blue Suede Shoes.” This record was an instant hit and earned him an invitation to appear on Perry Como’s national radio program.

An auto accident that almost wiped out the band occurred as they were traveling to New York for the show By the time he and his brothers had recuperated enough to make the date, Elvis had covered “Blue Suede Shoes,” and Perkins’ bid for fame was seemingly lost forever Add to that the fact that Lewis had arrived at Sun and was occupying a great deal of the energy of Phillips and his brother/sales manager, Jud Phillips. After a few months of limbo at Sun, Perkins signed with Columbia Records and then a succession of other labels, none of which were able to help recapture the momentum of “Blue Suede Shoes.”

It was only with the British Inva-

sion that Perkins’ star began to rise again. Perkins was a hero to the Beatles, whose early recordings included Cash compositions “Glad All Over,” “Honey, Don’t,” “Everybody’s Trying to Be My Baby,” and “Matchbox.” Tours with the Beatles and the Rolling Stones were followed by an invitation by Cash to join his band as guitarist and sidekick. Appearing on ABC’s “The Johnny Cash Show” gave Perkins the visibility that heretofore has eluded him.

Apter depicts Perkins’ decision to leave the Cash entourage in 1974 as influenced by the death of his two brothers, one by suicide, and a desire to spend more time at his home in Jackson, Tennessee. But eventually it ushered in the most satisfying years of his life with the formation of a band with his two sons, the C.P Express. They quickly got bookings not only in smaller venues closer to home, but in New York and Europe. It was also a time of solidifying his friendships with his numerous musician friends in England, spending extended periods in the homes of Harrison and McCartney Another high point was the making of a Cinemax video shot live with Perkins and those he had grown to know since the debut of “Blue Suede Shoes” 30 years before. Appearing on the show were Harrison, Ringo Starr Dave Edmunds, Rosanne Cash and Clapton. Cash and Lewis sent testimonials.

Apter is clearly a Perkins fan and has undertaken an exhaustive exploration of the life of an innovative guitarist, songwriter and singer who learned his craft by working alongside Black sharecroppers who sang blues and rhythm-and-blues in the fields and listening to the spirituals and country music that surrounded him in Tennessee. No one individual did more to bring about the fusion of these elements to form a new music, rock ’n’ roll, than Perkins.

As an employee of Sun Records in the late ’50s, I had the honor of writing the liner notes to his first album, and I agree with Apter’s assessment. Perkins was not as striking in his performance style as others in The Million Dollar Quartet, but he was the most multi-talented, as a performer and singer, a fine rock guitarist and a songwriter He’s a pioneer who deserves respect both as an entertainer and a fine human being. A series of strokes led to Perkins’ death in January 1998. During his life or posthumously he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and several similar musical institutions for musicians and songwriters. Both his farm upbringing and his honky-tonk experience ultimately led to his fusion of Black blues and rhythm-and-blues and the native country music he heard on the radio.

PAPERBACK

PROVIDED PHOTO

New Orleans poet Skye Jackson

ARTS &CULTURE

Vietnamese create agenerationalhomeinLouisiana

‘Making It Home’ looksat50th anniversary of fall of Saigon

Dave Walker

Acoupleofkey timelineentries inform the visitor experience for “Making It Home: From Vietnam to New Orleans,” anew exhibit on view at The Historic New Orleans Collection through Oct. 5. One is April 30, 1975, theday Saigon fell to North Vietnamese troops. The other is less specific, but it was the day about a decade ago when HNOC’sstaff recognized ahole in the institution’s vast archive of research materials relating to New Orleanshistory.

“Wewere reviewing our holdings and realized that we didn’t have anything that really documentedthe Vietnamese experience here in the city,” said Mark Cave, HNOC senior historian and the exhibit’scurator.“Andso we reached out to Mary Queen of Vietnam Church and we organized aseries of oral history interviews with senior members of the community.Wehad atranslator who helped facilitatethe interviews.”

Mary Queen of Vietnam in eastern New Orleans had longbeen a hub of community and culturefor the refugees who settled in Louisiana after the Vietnam War. The current local community of those withVietnameselineage numbers in the tens of thousands. Their presence is attributed to the Gulf Coast’ssubtropical climate, its fishing and shrimping industries and the support of Catholic Charities.

Some of the oralhistories gathered for the project were included in “NOLA Life Stories,” theongoing program for which HNOC partners with WWNO-FM. The

approach of the50th anniversary of Saigon’s fall put afull-scale exhibition in motion.

Interviews,photographs “Weworked andcontinued to add interviews with‘Generation 1.5,’ or people thatwerechil-

ADVERTISEMENT

dren at the time of thediaspora, and so we’ve added anumber of interviews since thatfirst series withcommunityelders,” Cave said, adding thatsimultaneous effortsweremade to add to HNOC’s holdings of objects related to the story.A collection of photographs

Many Americansare fortunate to havedental coverage fortheir entire working life, through employer-provided benefits.Whenthose benefits end with retirement, paying dental bills out-of-pocket can come as a shock, leading people to putoff or even go without care. Simply put —without dentalinsurance, there may be an importantgap in your healthcare coverage.

When you’re comparingplans ...

 Look forcoveragethat

pay formajor services. Some plans may limitthe numberof procedures —orpay forpreventive care only.  Look forcoverage with no deductibles. Some plans mayrequire you to payhundredsout of pocket before benefits are paid.

 Shop forcoveragewithnoannual maximum on cash benefits. Some planshaveannual maximums of $1,000.

be arealburden especially if you’re on afixed income.

Ask about the

also the process of making this their home,” Cave said. “And so those two themes are prominent in the exhibition.”

Spotlights for that concept are afamily’srecreated dining space and living room. Actual news footage of one local family’sperilous boat rescue plays on the living room’svintage TV set. An interactive display allows visitors to track the family’sVietnam-to-New Orleans journey.Visitors can sit at the dining table to hear individuals tell their resettlement stories. Storiesfromthe people

Each visitor will also receive apamphlet containing excerpts from the many individual stories told in the exhibit.

“People comeinto an exhibition differently,” Cave said. “You’ll have those that will sit down and listen to the interactive content. They’ll be invited into the living room and into the kitchen in order to do that. But then there’ll be others who don’twork that way. They maygothrough and look at the pictures and everything, but with the brochure they have aconnection to that narrative, whichwe wantedtostress.

and ephemera made and collected by Mark J. Sindler,who had documented the first decade of Vietnamese resettlement, was acquired.

The exhibit is organized in four sections.The first, “Things Fall Apart,”tracks the movement of families within North and South Vietnam. Part two, “Adrift,” follows the postwar diaspora to U.S. shores. The “Coming Together” sequence exploresthe geographical pockets of local resettlement.

“SteppingForward, Looking Back” tracks the gradual but inevitable process of assimilation. “It’sabout that ‘Generation 1.5,’ this sort of entering into the communityasawhole,” Cave said.

The exhibit’stitle, “Making It Home,” carriesa double meaning. “It’sabout both the act of finally finding agenerational home but

“The individual printed excerpts from the interviews combined with imagery from the exhibition Ithink will catch people in both ways. Those who are alittle bit more passive in their exhibitgoing and who may just kind of go through the exhibit quickly (can) then sit down and have acappuccino and look through the brochure and read the excerpts.”

Afree Community Day to celebrate the exhibit’sopening is scheduled for April 12. Alarger opening event is expected later during the run of the exhibit. Guided tours of the exhibit will launch May 1.

Dave Walkerfocuses on behindthe-scenes coverage of the region’s many museumshere and at www.themuseumgoer com. Email Daveatdwalkertp@ gmail.com.

PROVIDED PHOTOSByTHE HISTORIC NEWORLEANS COLLECTION

commodity Hot ot

with several related ventures, are runfroma

BY RICH COLLINS Staff writer

It’sthe oldest cliche in the fitnessindustry: “No pain, nogain.” New Orleanian Stephen P. Smithhas learned that lesson in multiple ways

Aformer champion bodybuilder and arena football player,Smith haspushed his body to the limit in pursuit of athletic goals He’salso an entrepreneur who launched asuccessful global brandbefore having to completely reinvent his business, whichled to the launch of an even bigger enterprise The first venture, Planet Beach, is aglobal

son team that’sbecome expert at building brands and turning them into franchises, innovating when necessary

chain of tanning salons that reached more than 350 locations worldwide beforeconcerns about health risks stopped the industry’sgrowth.

Thefollow-up— Hotworx —isaninternational fitness chain thatallowsusers to do yoga, Pilates or rideastationarybike in 7-foot-by-9-foot saunas heated to 125 degrees. In theeight years since its debut,the chain has racked up twice as manylocations as Planet Beach at its peak, and it achieved themilestone in half the time.

Both businesses, along withseveral related ventures, arerun from aheadquarters in Marrero, where Smith leads a90-per-

“You’ve got to refresh and reinvent all the time, andthatwill allowyou to grow,”Smith said. “I had this great core team from Planet Beach, and we were in this tough industry,” he said. “But knowing that franchising really is our core competency,I wanted to get them the right product.”

Anative of McComb, Mississippi, Smith opened his first gym in nearby Oxford after he graduated from Ole Miss in the mid1980s. Work brought him to NewOrleans a fewyears later,where,in1996, he and his business partner, NancyPrice, launchedthe first Planet Beach tanning salonina strip mallinUptown.

The duo franchised the brand and, over

ä See CHAIN, page 2E

“You’vegot to refresh and reinventall thetime, and that will allowyou to grow.”

of Hotworx

STEPHEN P. SMITH, founder

Economic investmentscould hitstate record as Landry

BY BLAKE PATERSON Staff writer

Standing at aWhite House podium last week afterHyundai announced plans to build amultibillion-dollar steel mill in AscensionParish, Gov. Jeff Landry made aboldprediction about Louisiana’seconomic fortunes Before the summer is over,he said, his administrationwill have announced $50 billion in new investmentsfrom businesses interested in setting up shop or expanding in the state. “That is arecord, Mr.President,” Landry said, peering over his shoulder at President Donald Trump. Indeed, it would likely surpass the best years on recordinLouisiana.

Thestate’s best year for economic development announcements was in 2023, when Gov.John BelEdwards’ administration touted $25 billionin new capital investments. That was the highest single-year total, according to Louisiana Economic Development’s annual report. The largest of thoseprojects was Venture Global’sannounced $7.8 billion expansion of its liquefied natural gas export facility in Plaquemines Parish. In 2024, duringLandry’s first year in office, Louisiana announced$16.1billion in new capital investments, according to LED. Most of that came in December,when Meta announced planstobuild a$10 billion

datacenter in north Louisiana. Landry got amajor boost toward his $50 billiongoalinMarch thanks to aone-twopunchofannouncements First, VentureGlobal announced another $18 billioninvestment at its PlaqueminesParish facility Then, Hyundai announced its$5.8 billion steel mill near Donaldsonville. That puts Landry’sadministration just $10 billion short of his goal of $50 billion in announcedprojects by theend of September Heading up Landry’seconomic development agenda is LED SecretarySusan Bourgeois. In an

STAFFPHOTO By BRETT DUKE

Stephen Smith, whose first venturewas the global tanning salon chain Planet Beach, has pivoted intothe hot yoga industrywith Hotworx. Both businesses, along

headquarters in Marrero

ASSOCIATEDPRESS FILEPHOTO

Chung Eui-sun, Hyundai Motor Group executive chair,from left, President DonaldTrump and Gov. Jeff Landryannounceasteel mill planned for Donaldsonville in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on March24.

Bourgeois

Social Security payments areupfor some retirees

Baton Rouge

Millions of seniors are getting awelcome windfall. And it’s about time On Jan. 5, Congress ended two provisions the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset —which axed or reduced retirement and disability benefits for more than 3.2 million workers who receive apension from employment not covered by Social Security The Windfall Elimination Provision, signed into law in 1983, reduced the Social Security benefits for workers who receive apension based on earnings that are exempt from Social Security payroll taxes. The intention behind the law was to prevent asituation of “double dipping,” with federal, stateand local government workers with noncovered pensions receiving higher Social Security benefits as though they were low-wage earners who had paid into Social Security over the long term. The Government PensionOffset, passed in 1977, reduced Social Security benefitsfor spouses, widows and widowers whose partners receive pensions fromfederal, state or local government.

Iunderstand the intention of theprovisions. However, teachers, police officers or firefighters who at some point held jobs that did withhold Social Security taxes felt that they and their spouses were being unfairly penalized. What is important to remember is that Social Security uses your earnings and workhistory to determine your eligibility for retirement or disability benefits, or your family’seligibility for survivor benefits when you die. For 2025, you can get one credit for every $1,810 in earnings, maxing out at four credits per year.You must earn at least 40 Social Securitycredits —which you receive when you work and pay Social Security taxes to qualify for benefits. But these two provisions meant that millions of retirees got shortchanged. And overthe years, Ihave heard from many readers upset that their Social Security benefits have been reduced, making it harder for them to make ends meet.

“I divorced at age 40, went to school and became a teacher,” one woman wrote to me. “I don’tunderstand the windfall elimination (provision).Are teachers being discriminated against?”

“I worked for years driving ataxicab,” wroteanother “And then Iwent back to school and got aPh.D. and then Igot ajob for 22-plus years as ateacher,with the university taking money from my pay and placing it in apension fund. When I retired, Social Security says Ionly get half of my earned Social Security money because Ihave aschool pension.”

INVESTMENTS

Continued from page1E

This changed with the Social Security Fairness Act, signedintolaw in January. It seeks to address the complaints from workers whodid ultimately pay Social Securitytaxes toearnbenefits.

Last month, many people started receiving catch-up payments.AsofMarch 4, the Social Security Administration said it has paidabout 1.1 millionpeoplemorethan $7.5 billioninretroactive payments,which cover their benefit back to January2024, when thosetwo laws no longer applied.

The average one-timelump sum payment thus farhas been $6,710.

Going ahead, Social Securityrecipientscovered by those repealsshould start to see higher monthlybenefit payments in April.

How much thesepeople will getmonthlywill vary depending on the type of Social Security benefit received and the amount of the person’s pension, according to the SSA. Some folks could see ajump of $1,000 ormorea month.

But don’tassumethat because you are apublic service worker,you are covered by this change and will receive awindfall. The repeal of WEP and GPOonly appliestopeoplewho receive apension based on work not covered by Social Security (SSA saysmoststate and local public employees—about 72% —pay Social Security taxes and will not be receiving an increasebecauseof the law.)

Also, watch for fraud. If you’re affected by the change, you shouldget anotice in the mail about any retroactivepayment and benefit adjustment.Don’trespondto any text message, email or communicationyou receive on social mediaplatforms, which can be exploitedby scammers.

If you wanttoverify that the mailing address and/or direct depositinformation that SSA has on file for you is correct,check your personal “my Social Security”account.Ifyou don’thave one already,you can createanaccount at ssa.gov/my account. If you havequestions or trouble creating an account, call(800) 772-1213 However,beprepared for along wait. WhenI triedthe number,the systemsaidthe average holdtime was120 minutes. Theagencysays more than 6,000 people each day are choosing to wait to speak toarepresentative about therepeal of WEP and GPO,and it advises waiting until you receive your April monthly payment before contactingthem if youhave questions.

Social Security phone lines are jammed because of staff cutsorchestrated by the Trump administration, but nonetheless, you shouldkeep trying to contact the Social Security Administration directly if you need moreinformation.

Email Michelle Singletary at michelle.singletary@ washpost.com.

interview,she said the $50 billion goal is “optimistic, but webelieve we will achieve it, and hopefully very soon.” At abudget hearing on Monday Bourgeois told lawmakers that her agency has three times as many projects in its pipeline asit did when she took over 14 months ago. Those aren’t“spaghetti on the wall” projects, she said. They’re projects that LED staff are actively working on.

“We’vegot areal shotatthem,” she said. If all 187 of those projects came to fruition, it would amount to $135 billion in capital investments, she said.

Bourgeois said the restructuring of LED during last year’slegislative session created workflows that have allowed staff to more aggressively pursue leads.She also said Meta’sdecisionto invest in the state “madepeople go, ‘Wait, what’shappening in Louisiana?’” There’sbeen so much interest, Bourgeois said she’sgiven her se-

BartFolse has been named chief executive officer of the Louisiana Independent Hospital Network Coalition

The group is acollaborative of more than 25 independent Louisiana hospitals andproviders that are notaffiliated with large systems.

Folse spent thepast four years as chief operating officer at Bayou BendHealth System,formerly Franklin Foundation Hospital. He is the founderand lead consultant at Group213 Strategy Partners.

He earned abachelor’s in allied healthsciences and amaster’sinbusiness administration, both from Nicholls State University

BrentToups has been hiredasvicepresident,sales manager for LUBA Casualty Insurance Co

Toups hasmore than 25 years of experience in workers’ compensationinsurance, most recently as assistant vice president of insurance operations at CompSource Mutual.

He earned abachelor’sinaccounting and amaster’sinbusiness administration, bothfromNicholls StateUniversity

Jeff Skaggs hasbeen promoted to senior vice presidentofunderwritingand loss

CHAIN

Continuedfrom page1E

thenext decade, saw it spread across NorthAmerica.But therewas trouble ahead for the industry

As the numberoftanning salons was growing, so was awareness of the healthdangersoftanning beds, which increasethe risk of skincancer,according to the World Health Organization and other experts.

By 2010,whenfederal legislation added a10% taxtotanning services to discourage industry growth, Smith knew the venture couldn’tsurvive without major changes.

To adapt, Planet Beach began offeringother services,likemassage machines and “red light facial therapy” but, nevertheless, was losing franchisees.

“It was the dark ages of mycareer,” Smithsaid.

‘Sweat’equity

Then,in2014, there was amoment of inspiration that changed everything

While on vacation withseveral Planet Beach execs in Jamaica, Smith was discussing his love of “hot yoga” with his businesspartner’s husband, Jerome Price, whosuggested Smith figure out away to offer yoga classes in asauna. Smith said he put down his rum drink and beganbrainstorming how theidea could work.

“Working out in an infrared sauna cuts down thetime you do yoga to 30 minutes, andyou getevenmoreresults,” he said. “You sweat more, and your sweat has moredetox.”

Afterthat vacation inspiration, Smithwent on adeep dive into sauna technology,specifically infrared saunas, which use infrared radiationto heat objects—and bodies —directly rather than heating the air around them.

Atechie and tinkerer by nature, Smith sketched up infrared sauna designs, then found amanufacturing partner in China to investinthe idea with him.

“Webothrolled the dice on each

Louisiana.”

nior staff permission to start “sayingno.” She told lawmakers that if they don’twant LED to turn down projects, they need to better invest in her agency

She’sasking the state Legislature for aone-time, $150 million allocationtocreate adedicated site development fund that LEDcan tapinto if, for instance, it needs to quicklyfinance anew roador rail spur to makea propertymore desirable for investors. She’salso asking foranother $2 million to hire adedicated “Site Czar” and to developa site-selection database.

(The current site-selectionwebsite that LEDuses is owned by Entergy.)

Relocating,and stayingput

Last week,LED unveiled anew economic development strategy —its first in more than 15 years that calls for greater emphasis on fast-growing sectors like technology and life sciences whilealso doubling down on legacy industries like energy andmanufacturing.

Bourgeois said consultants who helped craft thestrategyfound “that peopleinside of Louisiana actually have aworse opinion of Louisiana than people outside of

control for LUBA. Skaggs has been withthe company since 2022. He has more than 38 years of industry experience, including servingas regional vice president of Texas Mutual.

He earneda bachelor’singovernment and politicsfrom the University of TexasatDallas and amaster’sin leadership and humanresource development from LSU.

Drew Johnson has joined Carson Group as apartner to open ThrivePoint Capital,a wealth advisory firm in Prairieville.

Johnson has 15 years of experience as afinancial planner.Hewas previously with Ameriprise. NewOrleans

M/G TransportServices,aprovider of inland barge transportation services,has made recentchanges to its leadership team.

Terence Gomez hasbeenpromoted to president. Gomez has worked with M/Gsince2013, serving as vice president of operations and chief operating officer.Hehas been in the transportation industry since 1978, with AgriTrans Corporation and AEP River Operations.

Mark Czarnecki hasbeen promotedto executivevice president andchief commercialofficer. Czarnecki joined thecompany in 2017 as vice president of sales. He has worked in the maritime industry for 45 years.

Benjamin Amoss was promoted to chief

other,” he said. “Wedesigneditwith her engineers, and she built the prototype,thenshipped it directly to a trade show in New York City.”

In 2015 in New York, Planet Beach unveiled thefirst “Hot Box Detox” prototype. Based on the positive reception there, the companybegan adding infrared saunas to someofits remaining locations, where the resultswere promising.

“The saunas created more velocity,”Nancy Price said. “Theybrought members in multiple times aweek, versus once amonth forateeth-whitening session or spray tan.”

Soon after,Smith and company decidedthe infrared sauna concept needed to standonits own— and could use abetter name. In 2016, they spent afew hundred dollars on aweb platform that crowdsources ideas for brand names and logos.The winning suggestion wasthe name“Heatworx,” which Smith later changed to Hotworx.

The gym’s first freestanding locationopened in 2017 in Oxford, home to Smith’salmamater.A locationsoon followed in Marrero, true to the Hotworxteam’sroots in the NewOrleans suburbs.

After those early storeopenings, thefranchise really caught fire.

Healthyheat?

At Hotworx locations,gym membersenter asauna that holds up to three people. Some saunasare set up for isometricwork like yoga or Pilates;others contain exercise bikes or other equipment.

Wall-mountedscreensinside each sauna show instructional videos that lead membersthrough 15- or 30-minuteexercise routines.

Smithsaid the company owns all its own software, along with its custom email marketing platform andcustomer relationshipmanagement system. It holdsapatentonthe saunas and has apatent pending on arowing machine.

The gym markets primarily to women,but about 17% of its members are men, said Smith.

Exercising in heat increases the detox effects of sweating and also has a

Bourgeois is seeking $15 million from thestate Legislaturetofund anational marketing campaign to convince businesses and “high-potential” talenttonot only relocate to Louisiana, but also to stay put

Bourgeois said Louisiana also needs to adopt a“whole of governmentapproach” to economicdevelopment,where LED is working side-by-side withagencies like the Louisiana Workforce Commission and Department of Transportation and Development to attract and retain talent. Bourgeoissaid that could be accomplished through an executive order

Bourgeois said success can’t only be measured in capital expendituresorjob creation totals. It also has to takeintoaccount the wages that workers will receive. LEDisexpected to back aproposalinthe upcominglegislative session foranew “high-impact” jobsincentive.

Jobs anddollars

Hyundai’sinvestmentisexpected to create 1,300 permanent jobs —more than any other project announced in the last decade, according to datafrom Conway Projects,

financial officer,two years after being hiredasfinancialplanning andanalysis manager.Hehas more thana decadeof financial experienceinthe automotive and renewable energy industries.

Pete Norgeot is retiring from his job as executivevicepresidentand chief operating officer of Entergy,effective May 1.

Norgeot hasbeen with the utility company since 2014. He spent nearly four decades leading companyoperations, power generation, commercial managementand large-scaledevelopment teams.

KimberlyCook-Nelson will take over as COO. She serves as executive vice president and chief nuclear officer for Entergy,overseeing four nuclear powerplants and five reactors. CookNelson hasbeenwithEntergy since 1996, starting off as adesign engineer, before moving over to plantleadership in 2001.

She earneda bachelor’s in mechanical engineering,a master’s in engineering management and amaster’s in business administration, all from the University of New Orleans. John Dinelli,senior vice president and chiefoperating officerfor Entergy’s nuclear operations will be promoted to executive vice president and chief nuclear officer

Dinelli started working with Entergy in 1991 as an engineering intern at the IndianPoint Energy Center.Hehas served as chief operating officer for Entergy’snuclear business since 2021 He earneda bachelor’s in mechanical engineering from ManhattanCollege.

variety of other health benefits, said Smith, who saidinfrared heat also speeds up the metabolism and dilates capillaries to increase oxygen supply He saidthis will increase wound healing andpotentially decrease inflammation.

Thesuccess of thebrandhas been healing forSmith,who is relishing the chance to build abrand that doesn’thave the samebaggage as the tanning industry He likens the feeling of success to his emotional state when enjoying one of his favorite sports.

“It’slike freedom,man,” he said. “It’s like skiingona wide-open slope.” Hotfranchise

Over the last seven years, Hotworx has growntoroughly 750 locations nationwide —including 12 in greater New Orleans. Nearly 150 new locations opened last year alone. The first overseas Hotworx locations are open in Ireland,Saudi Arabiaand Dubai, and the company recently signed agreements with franchisees who want to open locations in Canada and Mexico.

“I feel that this brand is going to be aratio of 1for every 100,000 people in the country,” Smith said. “If you’ve got 1.1 million in ametro area, you’re going to have 11 locations, and that’s how it turned out in Memphis, which was one of the first cities we really fully developed.”

Hotworx claimsmore than 250,000 members, many paying a$59 or $79 monthly feefor various benefits.

Price said the memberships are the “bread andbutter” of thecompany’s business model. Despite the rapid growth of the fitness brand, manyNew Orleanians have no idea it started in their hometown.

Smith said that’sbeen partly by design.

“The strategy has been to just do our thing, grow the brand, makesure our franchisees are profitable, and eventually,people will take note,” he said.

Email RichCollinsatrich.collins@ theadvocate.com.

aconsulting firm whichtracks corporateexpansions, provided by Leaders foraBetter Louisiana, anonprofit economic development organization. AccordingtoLED, the permanent jobs Hyundai creates will have an average salary of $95,000, slightly above the median household income of around $92,000 in Ascension Parish, according to federal data. Not all of the announced investmentshave similar jobsnumbers attached. Venture Global’s$18 billion investmentannounced in March willcreate no new permanent jobs, accordingtoLED data. The LNG export terminal has also come under scrutiny from environmental advocacy groups for its impact on the surrounding communitiesand its contribution to greenhouse gas emissions.

Landry’seconomicdevelopment agenda faced its first major setback in the March 29 election, when voters rejected an amendment to the section of the state constitution thatdeals with taxes and budgeting. The governor argued the amendment would have madeLouisiana’stax system more attractive to business investment.

But the amendmentfaced atorrent of oppositionfrom both religious organizations on the right who worried about losing property taxexemptions anda coalition of community,social justice and advocacy organizations on the left who argued the 115-page amendment was toocomplicated and would result in amoreregressive tax system

Also, announced investmentsare one thing. Shovels in the ground areanother.Hyundaiand Meta both must clear regulatory hurdles before they can start building. Entergy’splan to power Meta’sdata center is already facing scrutiny from advocacy groups.

Nevertheless, LED’sefforts so far arewinning bipartisan praise from lawmakers.

“Thank you so much for your leadership,” stateRep.Jason Hughes, D-NewOrleans, told Bourgeois at ahearing Monday “There is such arenewed sense of excitement across the state of Louisiana. Ithink everyone wakes up just wondering what the new big thing is going to be.”

Email Blake Paterson at bpaterson@theadvocate.com.

Michelle Singletary

THE COLOR OF MONEy

Folse

Toups

Skaggs

BY TIMOTHY BOONE Business editor

The homebuilding industry has had arough fewyears.Inflation, soaring insurance premiums and aseries of interest rate hikes have conspired to keep existing homeowners on the sidelines and firsttime buyers out of the market altogether

BrianClement has heard the complaints from south Louisiana homebuilders for severalyears now.Hefeels their pain. He’sthe Louisiana state representative withthe National Home Builders Association and apast president of theLouisianaHomeBuilders Association.

Clement is also aveteran of the housing industry with more than 25 years experience.Heco-owns CA Homes in Lafayette with his father-in-law, BobAustin.CA

Homes builds upper-end houses in the $800,000 to $1.1 millionrange. It also develops subdivisions and sells lots to other builders.

In this week’sTalking Business, Clementdiscusses the stateofthe local homebuilding market, what he thinks tariffs will do tothe cost of building materials and what steps he would like to see Congress take to help out the industry

Comments have been edited for length and clarity

What is the homebuilding market likeright now in south Louisiana?

It’ssoft right now.There is starting to be abuildup of inventory, but the interest rates have kept people on the sidelines. We have a lot of people looking at houses, but we just can’tseem to get anybody to pull the trigger on buying’em. I think it’sthat rates are just alittle out of their reach right now.We feelthe demand is there. We just can’tget these buyers in ahouse right now Interest rates haven’tdroppedenough? Not quite. Idid see yesterday there was a5.99% for a30-year conventionalloan. We’reunder 6%, so there’shope.Ithink if it settles in around 5.5%, we could probably start making some things work. Iwould like to see theprice of material comedown some. That

wouldreallyhelp. Thecostof housing is an issue. We sawabig jumpinhousing prices in 2021, 2022. Those costs really haven’t comedown much

What areyou hearing from builders?

They see alot of foot traffic, but they’renot getting them to sign contracts andget ‘em over the finish line.They have open houses, theyhave great turnouts, serious buyers. They’re even getting some to comeback two andthree times They’recoming back with tape measuresand placing furniture and then they kind of disappear

Thebuyer’sagentssay,“Look,they were rightthere ready to do it,but at thelastminute theychanged their mind. They’re going to wait andsee.” We’rethinkingitall has to do with interest rates

Are youconcernedabout building materialcosts goingup? Iknow there’salot of concernaboutthat with tariffs.

We are concerned. Housing costs are already high. Iknow that they talked about 25% tariffs on our National HomeBuilders board. They estimated that those tariffs on soft lumber alone would increase the price ahouse between $7,500 and $10,000. That’sa big hit if that numberholds true. We are seeing the price of oil, gasolineand diesel tapering down some.Hopefully that helps with transportation costs. Maybe we’ll get some relief from that.

Is insurance afactor in allthis?

Yeah,it’safactor.Whenpeople look at homes, you have to add that into your monthly costs.Thatwas never an issuebefore, but now it is. Your business is primarilyinAcadiana, but do you see anysortofdifferencesamongthe homebuilding markets in south Louisiana? Isit on the state board. Italk to alot of guys across thestate. That sentiment is prettymuch the same

statewide as here in Acadiana. They seethe same things we’re seeing here.

In New Orleans, they’re using a method of putting on aroof called fortified roofing, and Ithink that has given them somerelief with insurance. Ithink that’skind of helping those guys.

Arethereany thingsthat give you signs of optimism about what’s going on in the market?

At thebeginning of the year,the mortgagerate wasabout 7.5%. It’s been trending down, like yesterdaywas 5.99%.The interest rates arestaying the same, but mortgage rates are moving down. So I think we’re getting there. It looks likethe economy is positioning itselfwhere it’sgoing to correct that mortgage rate to get it where people can afford it. We see agood opportunity coming up in the short future. How are things looking forCAHomes this year?

We’reinupper-end market right now. We’rebuilding homes that sell for between $800,000-$1.1 million. We’re hoping to do probably seven or eight of those this year compared to fivelastyear. Some are spechomes andsomeare custom homes. In the smaller home market,the cost of materials and the interest rates kind of pushed

those customers to the sideline, and we stopped building those and got into the bigger homes. In the higher-end market, alot of the buyers are cash buyers, so the interest rate is not really afactor,which helped us alot in that market. Do you see anythingthat could be done on thestate or federallevel to makethings easier forbuilders?

Yeah,the newenergy code that cameout. (The American Innovation andManufacturingAct, which was passed by Congress in 2020, phases down the use of existing refrigerants and establishesrequirements for new refrigerants with alower carbon footprint.) We really need alot of help with that. The cost of air conditioning is almost as expensive as the cost of framing ahouse because of the new code. That has really hampered us alot. That’sbeen atough one to deal with.

What does that involve?

It’s different types of Freon that we have to use that is alot more expensive. It’sadifferent type of unit that will receive that Freon.

state’s coastal economy, providing stable jobs,sustaining businesses, and fueling essential industriesworldwide. From the Gulf waters to global markets,menhaden fishing supports communitiesand industriesthatrely on its valuable marine ingredients –fish mealand fish oil –for aquaculture, petfood, and human nutrition.

Leading the industry,OmegaProtein andits fishing partner Ocean Harvesters, along with Daybrook Fisheries and its fishing partner Westbank Fishing,operate one of the largest and most productive fisheries in America. Theirwork transforms Gulfmenhaden into highvalue products thatdriveinnovation and sustainabilityacrossmultiple industries.

AVital Industryfor Louisiana

More than fishing, the menhaden industry drives the economyand supports communities:

•$419M annual economicoutput

•2,000+ direct &indirect jobs

•$25M in state &local taxes

•$50K+ annual wageswithbenefits

Thesewell-paying jobs,particularly in rural areas, sustainLouisiana’s working coast through multiple generations. In a state wherecommercial fishing is deeply

woven intoour culture, themenhaden industryensures that economic opportunityremains arealityfor coastal families

Regional Economic Impact

Together,OmegaProtein and Ocean Harvestersgenerate well over $100 million in economicactivityannually, benefiting Vermilion Parish and surrounding areas.With aworkforce of morethan 260direct and skilled employees,thesecompanies provide stable, high-wage jobs,offering morethan $21 million in annual payroll and benefits –making them among thelargest and highest-paying employers in theregion. Likewise, Westbank Fishing, aLouisianabased, U.S.-owned company,plays avital role in Plaquemines Parish, with all its catchprocessed locally at Daybrook FisheriesinEmpire, LA. Together,these operations support over400 employees, making it the largest employerinsouthern Plaquemines Parish.In 2023,total employee compensation, including wages, bonuses,and benefits, reached $36.5 million,

underscoring the industry’s critical economicrole in theregion. Statewide, the Louisiana menhaden industry procures goodsvalued at over $62.4millionfrombusinessesin32 parishes.Beyond its coreoperations in Plaquemines($11.4million) and Vermilion($7.4 million) parishes, significantindustry-relatedexpenditures

flowinto: JeffersonParish ($6.4million) Terrebonne Parish ($6 million),Lafayette Parish ($5.9 million), OrleansParish ($3.7 million),East BatonRouge Parish ($3.5 million) and Lafourche Parish ($3.2 million), among others Additional parishes benefiting from over $1 millionin industry-driven spending include St.Mary,St. Martin, Calcasieu, Iberia,St. Tammanyand St.John the Baptist.Many othersreceive between $500,000 to $1 million, reinforcing howthe menhaden industry fuels localeconomies farbeyond coastal fishing communities This widespread economic footprintin Louisiana underscores the industry’s vital role in creatingjobs, supporting small businesses, and

The Louisiana Menhaden Industry: An Economic Engine for CoastalCommunities

sustaining Louisiana’s working coast statewide.

CommitmenttoSustainability and Innovation

When theLouisiana menhaden industry thrives,sodoour coastal communities.Weare committedto both economic growth andresponsible stewardship of ourunique coastal environment. Ourworksupports:

•A science-driven approach to fisheries management, ensuring responsible harvest levels and minimalenvironmental impact

•Long-term jobstabilityfor generations of fishingfamilies

•Innovation in marineingredient production to improve nutrition worldwide

Louisiana’s menhaden industry has long-balancedeconomic prosperitywith responsible stewardship of our marine resources.Through science-based managementand ongoing innovation, we remain committedtosustainable fishingpractices that protect ourwaters, support ourcommunities,and drive economic growth.Aswelook to the future, this industry willcontinue to provide stablejobs, strengthen local businesses, anddeliver essentialproducts that powerglobal nutrition—ensuring that Louisiana’s working coast thrives for generations to come.

ACTNOW TO PUT YOUR PLANINPLACE IN JUST 6-7 WEEKS

Yes, knowledge is power, and thechoice is yours. But you MUST ACTNOW to put your estate plan in place. It all starts by attendingone of LauraPoche’sfree educationaleventswhich makes it clear that regardless of your networth, if you want to preserve your hard-earned assetsorhavepeople in your life you need to protectorhavecauses that youwanttopromote, EVERY PERSON NEEDSALEGAL ESTATEPLAN. Let LauraPocheand her professional and knowledgeable staffmakethis process as easyaspossible so youcan livewith PEACEOFMIND.

BATONROUGE

Monday,April 21

Poche LawOffice 4960 Bluebonnet,Ste.C 2:00pm -4:30pm REFRESHMENTSPROVIDED AFTER

BATONROUGE

Tuesday, April22 Mestizo 2323 SAcadianThruway 11:00am -1:30pm LUNCH PROVIDED AFTER

BATONROUGE

Tuesday, April22

Poche LawOffice

4960 Bluebonnet, Ste. C 5:30pm -8:00pm DINNER PROVIDED AFTER

BATONROUGE

Wednesday,April 23

Poche LawOffice 4960 Bluebonnet, Ste. C 9:00am -11:30am

LUNCH PROVIDED AFTER

• Whya Succession maybenecessary when youdie?

• Howtoavoid the Succession processcompletely?

• Federal estate taxthat may be duewhenyou pass away?

• Community property -who gets this when youdie without aWill?

• What happens when youleave your spousethe usufructof your assets?

• Whogetsthe assetsatthe termination of theusufruct?

• Theusufructuary’srights?

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOUDIE WITHOUTAWILL,AND WHYYOU

DO NOTWANTTOBENAMED THE ADMINISTRATOROREXECUTOR

When aLouisianaresidentpassesaway, the title to alloftheir assets is frozen. This includesall bank accounts,investmentaccounts, and real estate in their name.None of it canbesolduntil ajudge orders thetransferofthe assetstothe surviving heirs.

HOWWILL MYASSETSGET TRANSFERRED TO MY HEIRS:

•Assetsneedtobe sold or managed priortothe completionofthe succession?

•Thereisadisagreementamong the heirs?

•The deceased has billsthat need to be paid promptly?

•Itwill take alongtime to determine the assetsand debts of thedeceased

•Thereare manycomplicating factors?

WHAT IS USUFRUCT?

Ausufructis aright that apersonhas fora certain period of time on the property of another person. Thefeatures of the right of ausufruct vary with thenatureofthe thingssubjecttoit. Usufructs areoften established when some-one dies. Forexample,a marriedpersonmay,in hisWill, leave his surviving spouseusufructofeverything he owns whenhedies, butthere arecertain restrictions and limitations when establishing ausufruct. Theusufructuary may have numerousobligations,such as an obligation to provide security,the responsibility to providerepairs,the paymentofnecessary expenses,taxes,debts,and othercharges. consequences.Typically,noone paysincome taxonagift regardless of thevalueofthe gift Asizeablegift will haveestateand gift taxconsequences

IMPORTANTGUIDELINES FOROUR WORKSHOPS:

All ourlearningworkshopsemploystrictsocial distancing standards foreveryone’s safety Workshopsare open to FIRST-TIMEATTENDEES ONLYand aregeared towardspeople who want or need your legal estate plan in placequickly. Pleasehaveyourpersonal calendarhandy at the workshop so youcan choose to startyourplan NOW! If married, both spouses mustattend a workshop to ensurethat alldecision-makersare involved in your family’scoordinated plan.

All people whoattendwill receiveaFREE copy of the updated 2nd edition of LauraPoche’s Book, “Estate Planning AdvicebyaWoman forLouisiana Women: AGuide forBothMen and Women About Wills,Trusts,Probate, Powers of Attorney, Medicaid, Living Wills and Taxes.”

LOUISIANA

Howbodydonationworks in Louisiana

BY EMILYWOODRUFF Staffwriter

When MichelleMoore’smom, Betty, was diagnosed with ALS at age 64, the progress of the disease wasswift and devastating.Bythe time she moved in with her daughter in New Orleans in 2018 —about nine months into her diagnosis—she was in apower wheelchair and communicated throughtextmessaging.

Faced with the inevitable progression of an illness thathad stolen her independence, Moore said sheand hermother focused on what they could control.

“Wecouldn’tchange what was coming,” Moore said. “So how do we make the most of the time we have, and not let life go to waste?”

For her mother,that answer came in the form of body donation. Ahospice worker mentioned it to her as an option, and shelatched on to the idea as away shecould stick around for alittle bit longer,servingapurpose.

“This disease takes so much away from you,” Moore said.

“But if someone else can learn somethingbecause of her life —literally her body —then that would be wonderful to contribute to.”

In Louisiana, programs at LSU and Tulane accept whole-body donations to train future doctors, scientists, dentists and other medical professionals. Unlike organ donation, which typically benefits asingle recipient, body donation serves abroader educational mission, training

PROVIDED PHOTO

After beingdiagnosed withALS at 64

Betty McCloud Bacon decided to donate her bodytoscience through LSU.

medical professionals with hands-on experience.

The firstpatient

In amorgue on Perdido Street in New Orleans,bodies storedinfreezers at LSU Health Sciences Center have abig job ahead of them:They will be thefirst patient of new medical students, the silentteachers guiding them through the

fundamentals of human anatomyand clinical care.

Each year,LSU Health NewOrleans receivesabout 250 donated bodies that areusedfor gross-anatomy labs for firstyear medical students, surgical training for residentspracticing procedureslike kneereplacements or spinal fusions,ultrasound-guided needle insertion training, andhands-onworkshops for emergency medicine and traumacare simulations. The impact of asingle donation is far-reaching, saidJay Mussell, aprofessor in thedepartment of cell biology and anatomy

“Oneindividualmay provide training for 100 different people,” Mussell said.

That reach,Mussellsaid, comeswith a great responsibility

“Truly,noone will ever be moreintimate withaperson’sbody than those of us doing gross anatomy courses,” said Mussell. “AndIdon’ttake that lightly.”

LSU students hold amemorial forbody donorsafter the completion of their course.

The ceremonies are meant to honorthe individuals whomadethe donation and acknowledge the profound educational gift they gave.

“The day of memorialization is really not about (the students) at all,” he said. “It’sabout understanding howyou stand on theshoulders of giants andhow you have to acknowledgethe individuals that enabled you to have that personal growth.”

Technology canhelp personalize sleephealth

BY MARGARETDeLANEY Staff writer

Dr.Michael Darin is asleep doctor and director of sleep medicine at Ochsner Baptist in New Orleans. He thoughthewas having good sleep, until he got the Oura Ring.

The smart ring, developed by a Finnish company,tracks sleep, activity and body signals like heart rate, providing personalized insights into health and wellness throughanaccompanying app Theringrangesinprice from around $200 to $500.

Marketcompetitors include similarrings designedtomonitor sleep by Samsung, Ultrahuman, Amazfit, Ring AIR, RingConn and others.

“It’sreally interesting that most of us think we have someidea of what’sgoing on in oursleep,” Darin said. “The truth is, we have no idea.

On average, 40% of Louisiana adults reported sleeping less than seven hoursina 24-hour period, according to America’sHealth Rankings analysis of the Centers forDisease Control and Prevention’s2022 Behavioral Risk Factor SurveillanceSystem.

The primary indicators of bad sleep are present the morning after: Howlongdopeople stay awake?Whatdotheyremember from the night before? How many timesdid theywake up?

New technologies, including devices like the Oura Ring that monitorheartrates,breathing levels and more, can moreaccurately determine sleep health —and the best waytofixit.

Howmuchshouldpeoplesleep?

To give people an accurate number of hours for each person to sleep is counterproductive to getting better sleep, according to Darin.

According to the American AcademyofSleep Medicine, nearly 70 million Americans have asleep disorder.

Insomnia is the most common, with30% of adultsexperiencing short-term insomnia (when going to sleepbecomes difficult aftera traumatic eventorfor ashort period of time) and 10% of people experiencing long-lasting insomnia (persistent difficulty falling asleep foroverthreenights a week for threemonths).

“Discussing the number of hours of sleep is not so much to tell people to try to get more sleep,” Darin said.

“If they trytofollowthe exact recommendations, mostlikely all it’sgoing to do is makethem more anxious.

Between seven to nine hours of sleep anight is generally believed to be the ideal range to maintain sleep health, but not everyone needsthe same amount.

N.O. doctor details advancements ä See SLEEP, page 3X

HEALTH MAKER

New drug can extend life expectancy, BR doctor says

Pancreatic cancer treatment can add months for patients

BY MARGARET DeLANEY Staff writer

Dr William Russell specializes in radiation oncology in Baton Rouge. He graduated from the University of Mississippi School of Medicine in 1984.

Russell is double-board certi-

fied in internal medicine and radiation oncology served six years in the U.S. Army and 16 years in the U.S. Air Force, and taught internal medicine at Wilford Hall Air Force Medical Center

He currently has interests in prostate brachytherapy and conformal treatment planning for breast, lung, prostate, head and neck and gastrointestinal cancers at Ochsner MD Anderson Cancer Center

Most recently, Russell has worked to bring Pluvicto to Baton Rouge — a federal Food and Drug Administration-approved, breakthrough medication for

patients with advanced prostate cancer that has spread to other parts of the body

The medication could be lifechanging for many patients in Louisiana, where prostate cancer remains the most common type of cancer in the state.

Nationally, about 1 in every 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime, and Louisiana’s rate is 32% higher than the national average. What is the current level of care and treatment for prostate cancer?

Prostate cancer is obviously a very common cancer in men, and it’s more prevalent as men get older

Usually men with prostate cancer are treated with either surgery or radiation. In rare cases, some other outliers that are used, such as cryotherapy and partial-prostate treatments, but the majority of men who have prostate cancer will not die from the disease.

There are a group of men (about 1 in 44), either despite local treatment or who already present with metastatic disease, are likely to die of their prostate

cancer With prostate cancer, we just need to know who needs to be treated. We have a variety of tools at our disposal now

Over the past decade, how have prostate cancer detection technologies improved?

The use of MRI for prostate cancer detection and the use of a scan called a PSMA PET scan have changed the game in prostate care.

We’ve also begun to move the dial with genetic testing — not the gene test people get in their blood, looking for a risk of cancer

This test is actually an analysis of their prostate cancer, their genetics and how likely this disease is to progress and cause pain and suffering.

I have a lot of patients with prostate cancer who don’t need radiation or surgery We just follow their progress. But when men start having higher risk factors, or they have imaging evidence of disease, that’s worrisome.

The surgeons have gotten very good at surgical resection for prostate cancer — radiation oncology has come a long way

When I came to Louisiana from

Researchers seek to prove treatment delays symptoms of Alzheimer’s

BY LAURAN NEERGAARD

and SHELBY LUM Associated Press

An experimental treatment appears to delay Alzheimer’s symptoms in some people genetically destined to get the disease in their 40s or 50s, according to new findings from ongoing research now caught up in Trump administration funding delays.

The early results — a scientific first — were published Wednesday even as study participants worried that politics could cut their access to a possible lifeline.

“It’s still a study but it has given me an extension to my life that I never banked on having,” said Jake Heinrichs of New York City

Now 50, Heinrichs has been treated in that study for more than a decade and remains symptom-free despite inheriting an Alzheimer’scausing gene that killed his father and brother around the same age

If blocked funding stops Heinrichs’ doses, “how much time do we have?” asked his wife, Rachel Chavkin. “This trial is life.”

Two drugs sold in the U.S. can modestly slow worsening of early-stage Alzheimer’s by clearing the brain of one of its hallmarks, a sticky gunk called amyloid. But until now, there haven’t been hints that removing amyloid far earlier — many years before the first symptoms appear — just might postpone the disease.

The research led by Washington University in St. Louis involves families that pass down rare gene mutations almost guaranteeing they’ll develop symptoms at the same age their affected relatives did — information that helps scientists tell if treatments are having any effect.

The new findings center on a subset of 22 participants who received amyloid-removing drugs the longest, on average eight years. Long-term amyloid removal cut in

half their risk of symptom onset, researchers reported Wednesday in the journal Lancet Neurology

Despite the study’s small size, “it’s incredibly important,” said Northwestern University neuroscientist David Gate, who wasn’t involved with the research.

Now participants have been switched from an earlier experimental drug to Leqembi, an IV treatment approved in the U.S., to try to answer the obvious next question

“What we want to determine over the next five years is how strong is the protection,” said Washington University’s Dr. Randall Bateman, who directs the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer’s Network of studies involving families with these rare genes. “Will they ever get the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease if we keep treating them?”

Here’s the worry: Bateman raised money to start that confirmatory study while seeking National Institutes of Health funding for the full project but his grant has been delayed as required reviews were canceled. It’s one example of how millions of dollars in

Chapel Hill, North Carolina, we were the first center to set up three-dimensional treatment planning. That was a huge leap forward.

We have gotten better at understanding who needs to be treated, better at confining the treatment to the areas we want to treat, avoiding the organs we don’t want to injure and have a better understanding of the biology of cancer

I remember seeing early PET scans at Chapel Hill in the early ’90s. Duke was one of the centers that worked on it. We were able to see cancer in cells and areas that appeared structurally normal.

In other words, everybody could understand better what stage their cancer really was.

But, even though we have gotten better at this, there are still men who develop metastatic disease.

Tell me how the new cancer drug Pluvicto, works.

Pluvicto was recently approved by the FDA for men whose prostate cancer has not responded to standard treatments. It works by finding and attacking cancer

DONATION

Continued from page 1X

Not all body donation programs have maintained that standard.

High-profile scandals at other institutions — including one involving a Louisiana man whose remains were dissected before a paying audience at a for-profit event — have raised questions about how donated bodies are used and whether families can trust what happens after death. LSU has had some donors question the process following such incidents at other institutions, officials said. Louisiana is a first-person consent state, meaning individuals must register themselves to donate; next-of-kin donations are rare and heavily vetted. LSU also returns cremated remains to families, which is not guaranteed by every program. How does it work?

cells while leaving healthy cells alone, which can mean better results and fewer side effects.

Pluvicto is given intravenously once a week for six weeks (six doses). It’s a drug that is needed for a small group of men where therapy hasn’t worked, who only have disease we can see on a PSNA PET scan (a scan that allows us to see metastatic prostate cancer with a very high degree of specificity).

For that group of men who reached the point where they were resistant to therapies, this drug was able to prolong their lives by eight months, according to the initial studies.

Eight months doesn’t sound like much, but it does if you’re looking at a potential one-month lifespan with cancer.

While not a cure, Pluvicto offers hope helping to extend life expectancy and slow tumor growth for men in our area who are battling advanced prostate cancer

Email Margaret DeLaney at margaret.delaney@theadvocate. com.

Rodrigue’s own mother signed up to be a body donor in 1981. She used to joke that students would “have a lot of fun with her” because of all her ailments.

“She loved the idea of being able to come here and have students work on her as their first patient,” Rodrigue said. Families can expect to receive the cremated remains around three years after death. There is no cost to donating, unless the donor is more than 200 miles outside of LSU, in which case the family would need to cover transportation costs. For some, potential savings in cremation costs may be a draw, though the university takes care to prevent financial incentive from becoming a motivation for donation.

While they are meeting current needs, additional donors would allow LSU to expand educational opportunities, such as allowing fewer students per cadaver or providing more specimen availability for advanced training, Rodrigue said.

research have been stalled as NIH grapples with funding restrictions and mass firings.

At the same time, researchers wonder if NIH will shift focus away from amyloid research after comments by Dr Jay Bhattacharya, who was confirmed March 25 as the agency’s new director

“One of the reasons I think that we have not made progress in Alzheimer’s, as much as we ought to have, is because the NIH has not supported a sufficiently wide range of hypotheses,” Bhattacharya told senators, responding to one who brought up an example of earlier science misconduct unrelated to current research.

Scientists don’t know exactly what causes Alzheimer’s a minddestroying disease that affects nearly 7 million Americans, mostly late in life. What’s clear is that silent changes occur in the brain at least two decades before the first symptoms — and that sticky amyloid is a major contributor At some point amyloid buildup appears to trigger a protein named tau to begin killing neurons, which drives cognitive decline.

Each donor’s use is determined based on their condition That determines if they will be embalmed and used long-term for dissection or frozen and used in advanced clinical training for residents or faculty performing procedures that require a realistic tissue feel, such as pelvic floor reconstruction. If a donor body wasn’t found until a day or two after death, the program may not be able to use it. Certain infectious diseases, such as MRSA, some types of hepatitis and HIV also preclude donation, said Tara Rodrigue, program administrator of the Bureau of Anatomical Services at LSU School of Medicine. A high body mass index that exceeds storage tank limits can also disqualify a donor. What happens after death depends on the circumstances. If a donor dies at home, the coroner is sometimes involved; any case requiring an autopsy or involving trauma such as a gunshot wound or car accident, typically disqualifies the body If the death occurs under hospice or in a hospital, a medical professional contacts LSU to begin screening. Rodrigue’s team reviews the donor’s medical history to determine eligibility. Once accepted, LSU’s contracted funeral home retrieves the body and brings it to the morgue, where staff assess its condition and decide whether to embalm it for longer-term use or freeze it for shorter-term clinical training.

‘Your second job is done’ Near the end of her life, Rodrigue’s mother developed Alzheimer’s. She wasn’t able to have meaningful conversations with her But body donation was something her mom had talked about for decades. Seeing it through gave Rodrigue peace.

“I grew up knowing that she always wanted to be a donor, and so that’s the one thing that I feel that I was able to do, was make that happen,” Rodrigue said. Similarly, Michelle Moore felt body donation was part of her mom’s legacy Betty was someone who always wanted to keep busy who worked as long as she could through her ALS diagnosis, and whose friends and family knew her to be humble and always looking to be helpful to others.

Two years after LSU’s contracted funeral home came to get her mom after she passed away Moore received a call that her mom was “ready for pickup.” She went alone to retrieve the ashes, which were placed in a box inside a bag. She placed the box in the front passenger seat of her car, talking to her mom and chuckling to herself over the reunion. It was, she said, a moment of a sense of completion for both of them — “like your second job is done.”

Email Emily Woodruff at ewoodruff@theadvocate.com.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

The Louisiana Health section is focused on providing in-depth, personal accounts of health in the state.This section looks at medical innovations, health discoveries, state and national health statistics and re-examining tried and true methods on ways to live well.

Health editions will also profile people who are advancing health for the state of Louisiana.

Do you have a health story? We want to hear from you. Email margaret.delaney@ theadvocate.com to submit health questions, stories and more.

Jake Heinrichs prepares for his March 12 infusion treatment with an experimental anti-amyloid Alzheimer’s drug

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOS By HEATHER KHALIFA

Jake Heinrichs hugs his wife, Rachel Chavkin, on March 12 at their home in New york. Heinrichs is part of the study of an experimental treatment that appears to delay Alzheimer’s symptoms.

Eat Fit Live Fit

BROUGHT TO YO UB Y

Cautionary tales: Howmuchshould youtrustthatwellnessinfluencer?

Iseeiteveryday:socialmediafeeds filledwithadvicefrompeoplecalling themselvesnutritioncoachesorwellnessgurusbutwhohavehadnoformal educationorcrediblefoundationinthe field.Theysharepersonalstories,often dramaticoremotional,andpromisequick fixesforeverythingfromweightstruggles tochronicillnesses.

Whensocialmediaalgorithmsserveup wildlypersuasiveself-appointed“experts” playingtoourvulnerabilitiesandfears,it canbedifficulttodiscernwhatislegitimatecontentandwhat’sjustunchecked self-promotion.

Letmeclarifysomethingrightupfront:I havealotofrespectformanyholisticand complementaryapproaches.Functional medicinetherapiescanabsolutelyhavea placeinourwellnessjourney—provided theycomefromcredentialed,welltrainedprofessionals.Infact,Ioften findmyselfworkinginthat“middle space,”embracingbothtraditionaland integrativetherapies.Iamgratefulfor conventionalmedicineandthetalented, dedicatedproviderswhopracticeit.I alsoseethevalueofnaturalapproaches andtargetedsupplementswhenthere’s soundevidencebehindthem.

Thatisthekey differencethat deservesour focus.Licensed experts—bethey medicaldoctors,dietitians, chiropractors oracupuncturists—havealot morecredibility thanunregulated influencerswho mayhavelittle tonoapplicable educationor oversight.

Arecent NewYorkTimes article illustrated how many online personalities promote wellness tests or therapies that lack credible backing. Some influencers may haveundisclosed financial ties to the products they promote, conveniently sidestepping vital conversations about potential downsides or scientific uncertainty.

Documentingdeception

Addingtotheconversationisthe Netflixdocuseries“AppleCiderVinegar.”It chroniclestheself-spunsagaofBelleGibson,anAustralianwellnessinfluencerwho claimedtohavecuredherterminalbrain cancerthroughdietalone.Spoileralert: sheneverhadcanceratall,noranyeducationorcertificationsinthefield.Gibson’s

BY THENUMBERS

radiantsocialmediapresence,cookbook andrecipemobileappluredinmillions whoweredesperatelysearchingforhope, butherentirepremisewasalie.

Whilethisisanextremestory,itcan serveasacautionarytaleremindingus howquicklymisinformationcanspread andharmthosewhotrustitblindly.

Goodadviceorjustagoodstory?

Foradeeperlookintowhywecanbe sosusceptibletothis,Iinterviewedtwo experts,Dr.JohnSawyer,aneuropsychologistwithOchsnerHealth,andMelanie WarnerSpencer,ajournalistwhofrequentlycoverswellnesstopics.

Youcanlistentothefullinterviewon mypodcast,FUELEDWellness+Nutrition. Belowisasummaryofourconversation.

“Whenweseesomethingthataligns withwhatwethink—orwhatwehope —tobetrue,weoftenturnoffthepart ofourbrainthatsays,‘Wait,isthisreally accurate?’”Dr.Sawyersaid.“That’scalled confirmationbias,andit’ssomethingwe alldo.”

Healsopointedoutthatpeoplepushing dubiousclaimsmaynotstartoutwith theintentofdeception.“Somefolksjust believetheirownmarketing,”Dr.Sawyer noted.“Andthentheyignoreanyevidencethatcontradictsit,oftenbypassing peerreviews,researchorclinicaltrials.”

Spencerunderscoredtheemotional pullofpersonalstories:“Wearewiredto loveagoodstory.Journalistsusethemall

MollyKimball,RD,CSSD,isaregistereddietitian withOchsnerHealthandfounderofOchsner’sEatFit nonprofitinitiative.Formorewellnesscontent,tuneinto Molly’spodcast,FUELEDWellness+Nutrition,andfollow @MollykimballRDand@EatFitOchsneronsocialmedia. Emailnutrition@ochsner.orgtoconnectwithMollyor scheduleaconsultwithherteam.

SLEEP

Continuedfrom page1X

LOUISIANAHAS SECOND HIGHEST RATE OF MEDICAIDCOVERAGE

thetime,”shesaid.“Wefindacompelling personalexperienceandweaveinthe research.Butinfluencerscanexploitthat byfocusingonthefeel-goodangleand leavingoutthefactthatthere’snosolid evidencetobacktheirclaims. Sowheredoesthatleavetherestofus? It’simportanttostaycurious,yetcautious. Diggingdeeper

First,askquestions.Aretheperson’s credentialslegitimate?Ifheorsheclaims tobeamedicaldoctor,achiropractorora dietitian,doalittlediggingtoverifythat. Dotheydisclosepotentialconflictsof interest—likedirectprofitsfrompromoting specificproducts?

Second,considerhowurgenttheissue is.Ifyouhavealife-threateningcondition, bewaryofanyonewhoinsistsyouignore medicaladviceorabandonmainstream treatments.

Third,findprovidersyoutrust—those wholisten,respectyourinputandcan supportyouinexploringcrediblecomplementaryapproaches.

It’sokaytoexploreholisticoptions, especiallyifyou’redealingwithnon-urgentconditions.OurLifestyleNutrition dietitiansoftenworkwithphysicianswho blendlifestyle-basedapproaches—liketargetedsupplementsorspecialdiets—with moretraditionaltreatments.

Nexttimeyouscrollthroughsocial media,don’tletashinystoryorslick imagefoolyou.Ifyouneedareminderof howlowsomepeoplewillgowhenno one’swatchingclosely,justthinkofBelle Gibson.

Thereispowerintellingourpersonal stories,yes,butthere’salsopotentialharm ifthestoriesarebuiltonhalf-truthsor outrightfabrications.Stayinformed,stay engagedandaskthehardquestions—becauseyourhealthistooimportanttotrust tojustanyonewithanengagingsocial mediafeedandagoodstory.

“We’re basically under anesthesia during sleep. We remember going to sleep.We remember thetimes we wake up at night —and we think that that’s thewhole picture.”

these online sensations for better sleep or awaste of time?

During sleep, the body repairs itself. It is atime when hormonal systems adjust themselves, when thebrain cleans itself and consolidates memories, when theimmunesystem recovers and much more.

Alack of sleep can put stress on all thebody’s systems.

DR. MICHAEL DARIN, director of sleep

at Ochsner BaptistinNew Orleans

People can do theirown experiments with their night routines(or morning andday routines) and how it affects their sleep. New tech allows people to track adifferencein sleep basedonpersonal data, without the need for wires,bright lightsand uncomfortable beds often associated with sleep studies.

Darin interprets the range of sleep as atimeto give the body the opportunity to sleep. Someone who stays up late either working or watchingtelevision, thenhaving to wake up early in the morning, should look at their routine to establish better sleeping habitsfirst.

improve their sleep,” Darinsaid. “That would be theequivalent of buying $4,000 running shoes, and hoping it’sgoing to make yourun.”

Although running shoes areimportant (ask any runner), the shoes themselves don’tmakeanathleteperform better or faster.Darin feels the same about mattresses, pillows and sheets.

“We’re basically under anesthesia during sleep,” Darin said. “Weremember going to sleep.Weremember the times we wake up at night— and we think that that’sthe whole picture.”

Medicaid is ajoint federal and state program of comprehensivehealth coverageand along-termcare program available to lower-income adults and families in the United States. In 2025, an estimated 72 million people will have Medicaid, according to Medicaid. gov.

The percentageofpeople whoreport having Medicaid is 21% nationally,but ranges from 11%inUtah to 34% in NewMexico. In Louisiana, 31.9% have Medicaid —the second highest rate of Medicaid users in the nation,KFF data says According to data fromGeorgetown University,Louisiana Medicaid coverage rates in 2023 varied from 22.3% to

However,someone who goes to bed at nine, then lies awake for four hours before finally getting to sleep, may need to seek helptoaddress their sleep health.

47.2% for all agegroups. East Carroll Parish had thehighest rate of Medicaid coveragewith 47.2% coveragefollowedbyMadison

Mostofthe current sleep research centersonthe dangers of getting less thansix hours of sleep consistently: anxiety,depression, heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, memory issues, lack of immune system and more. Keep rhythm on track

Thefirst thingtodoto help improve sleephealth is thinking about sleep as skill thatrequiressome work and some effort. It can take anywhere from 10 days to monthstoimprove sleep habits.

Although improving sleep health is possible, short-term fixes don’tusually work,and manypeople end up frustrated in theeffort.

Makingsure to focus on theright thingstoboost better sleeping habitsis critical, according to Darin. Spending moneyand time on habits and sleephacksmight just be a waste.

“I have patientswho pay $4,000 for amattress to

Proper bedding mayincrease comfort (as proven with the hotel mattress market where guests purchase beds from hotels where the sleep was simplybetter than home), they are unlikely to be the underlying problem of poor sleep health. The sleepfoundation.org, afoundation that researches sleep needsand sleep hygiene, hasresources to discover good habits for sleeping —fromthe night routine to snoring to the best bedof2024. For ideal sleep,it’simportant to check allthe following boxes— andin some instances even more thanthose listedhere:

n No caffeine late in the day

n Exercise during the day n Have anight shade to block light

n Melatonin gummies or pills

n Adarkbedroom n Acoldbedroom

Thenextfrontierofsleep

Eating late at night, melatonin, sleepy girl mocktails, late-night stretches, reading abook, whitenoise andlongbaths —are all of

Wearable sleep devices, like the Oura Ring or the Ultra Human(another brand of smart rings), collect data during sleep and give positive feedback on what works andwhat doesn’t.

According to Darin, the newtech can help bridge the gap between people notbeing able to figure out what theycan change. Many sleep studiesrevolve around howtostimulate the brain to recreate thebrain waves of sleep Their main efforts are to understand whatthe brain is doing in sleep in order to find ways to get the brain back to thatstate easier

“I don’tknowifthat’s even possible,” Darin said. When Darin got an Oura Ring, he did notexpect the data to show him anything toodifferent abouthis current understandingofhis sleep health. It turns out, Darin’shabit of eating lateratnight was affecting his heart rate variabilityand wasimpacting his sleep “I was shocked,” he said. “Having that kind of objective information from newtechnologies —Ireally think that’sagame changer.”

EmailMargaret DeLaney at margaret.delaney@ theadvocate.com.

Molly Kimball RD,CSSD

festing Healthy

Springisuponus.Thatmeansit’stimetogearupfor Louisiana’sfamousfestivalseason.Herearesomefestprep tipstohelpensurenothinggetsinthewayofagoodtime.

Howtopack

Besuretotaketheseessentialswithyou whenpackingforafestival:

Agoodbag.Makesureyouhavethesmallestpossiblebag fortheitemsthatyouneed.Chooseonethat’slightweight butsupportiveforyourback.

Anemptywatercontainer. Somefestivalsdon’tallow outsidewater,buttheremaybeaplacetofillbottlesonce yougetinsidetokeepyourselfhydratedandsavealittle money.(Donotbringglasscontainers.)

Appropriateformsofpayment Somefestivalsare cashless;somearen’t.Besuretocheckthefestivalwebsite aheadoftimetofindoutwhichformofpaymentyouneed.

Festival food: Howtomake healthy choices

Musicandfoodgohand-in-handwithLouisiana festivals.Goodmusiccanfeedthesoul.Decadent festivalfood,however,canbedetrimentaltoyourdiet.

So,thequestionis:howcanweeatwellwhilestill enjoyingwhat’sonfestivalmenus?

Herearesometips:

Hydrate.Drinkingwatercanreduceappetite bytakingupspaceinthestomach.Bringyour ownwaterbottle,sipandrefillthroughout theday

Pickplants.Whenitcomestowhattoeat, think:“HowcanIeatmoreplants?’’From saladstobeanstofreshfruit,wherecanyou incorporatemoreoftheseintoyourdiet?

Packsnacks.Stockupontherightsnacks tokeepyouenergizedandsatisfied.Afew nonperishableideasincludenuts,trailmix andproteinbars.

Planinadvance.Manyfestivalsnowshare theirmenusonline,socheckoutthefood vendorsinadvancetoseewho’soffering grilledproteinsandveggies.

Sharethesplurge.Findafriend(orafew)to sharethemoreindulgentitemsyoujustcan’t resist.Usually,afewbitesareallyouneedto satisfythatcraving!

Lookforthe EatFitseal. TheEatFitsealhighlights menuitemsthat meetOchsnerEatFit nutritionalcriteria.While notallfestivalshave EatFitoptions,somedo!

Sunscreen.Applybeforeyouleaveyourhouseandbringmoreforreapplications.Lookforsunscreenwith anSPFof30orhigher.

Sunglasses.It’simportanttoprotectyoureyesfromthesun’sultravioletrays.

Hat.Protectyourheadandfacefromsunburn.

Scarf Youcanwrapitaroundyourshouldersifyougetchillyorsoakitinwaterandtieitaroundyour necktocooldownifit’shotout.

Tissuesorbabywipes. Usethemforanythingfromcleaningupafteramealtowipingofffestivaldust. Earplugs.Protectyourears;festivalamplificationsystemscanbedeafening.

Plasticbags.Ifaspringshowercomesalong,aplasticbagwillprotectyourphone,walletandanything elseyoudon’twanttogetwet

Medication Makesureyouhaveanyprescriptionmedsyoumayneedaswellasheadachemedication andsomethingforupsetstomach,justincasethefestivalfooddoesn’tagreewithyou

Portablephonecharger Justincaseyourphonedies

Menstrualproducts.Packmenstrualproductsifyouthinkthere’seventheslightestchanceyou’llneed them.Andifyoudon’t,afellowfestivalgoermight.

Adhesivebandages.Comepreparedforblisters.

Bladder tipsfor festival season

Urinaryurgencyandfestivalsdonotgowelltogether.That“gottago”feelingcanbepowerfulandhasbeen thebaneofmanyfestgoerswhofindthemselveswaitinginlonglinesforaportapotty.

Herearesometipstoeasetheurge:

Stayhydrated.Itmayseemcounterintuitive,butdecreasingyourwaterintakecanmakeurgencyworse.And lessfluidintakeproducesconcentratedurinethatcanirritatethebladder.Ontheflipside,drinkingalotat oncecandramaticallyincreasethevolumeofurineyourbodyproduces,makingurgencyworse.Drinkwater insmallsipssteadilythroughoutthedaytogiveyourbodytimetoadjustandkeepyouwellhydrated. Limitbladderirritants.Alcohol,coffee,caffeine,carbonatedbeverages,tomatoproductsandcitruscan irritatethebladder.

Maintainbladderhealth.Ifurinaryurgencyissomethingyoustrugglewithoften,makesureyou’regiving yourselfenoughtimeonthetoilettofullyemptyyourbladder.Andavoid“justincase”peeing.Usingthe restroom“justincase”beforegettinginthecarorstartingamovieisahabitthatcaninterruptthedelicate feedbacksystembetweenyourbrain,bladderandpelvicfloor.Just-in-caseurinationcanmakethebladder moresensitive,soit’sbesttowaituntilyouhavetogo.

LOUISIANA

PhyllisColemanMouton, founder of LafayettenonprofitWomen of Wisdom,addresses the CEOofVieMed, his executivestaff and WoWwomen at the WoWCorporateConnection meeting at VieMed in Lafayette on June 5.

‘POWERFULSISTERHOOD’

8decades, 12 ethnicitiesofLafayette womenmakeimpact

BYJOANNA BROWN Staffwriter

Phyllis Coleman Mouton, founder of Women of WisdomAcadiana, has been awoman of action her entire life —and she has the resume to prove it.

Mouton, aLafayette native,retired as vice president of workforce and economic development from Baton Rouge Community College in 2017. Before that, she owned an oilfield drilling supply firm, worked for Gov.Buddy Roemer,and was the first woman to be named president of the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce —amongother laurels gathered over along career spent connecting people and communities.

Herindomitable energy didnot endat retirement. These days, Mouton is giving her full attention to apassion project she startedback in 2018, after moving back home and looking for ways to make adifference in Lafayette.

The resultingnonprofit organization Women of Wisdom Acadiana, is focused on afew key areas of benefit for women, children, students andfamilies, among other issues —but the real impactcan be found in the “powerful sisterhood” that Mouton developed,according to member RuthFoote.

“WoW enabled me to step out of my comfort zone —especially the members in it,” said Foote, aLafayette journalist and former director of grants andcommunications at SMILE Community Action Agency

Foote said WoWmembersencouraged hertosubmither resumetofill aseat on the Bayou VermilionDistrict

Members of Women of Wisdom Acadiana attended the LibraryBoard of Control meetingonMarch 17 in supportofbuilding the newNortheast Regional Libraryin Lafayette.

Board of Commissioners that Mouton hadserved in for several years.

With their encouragement, Foote went for it and was appointed to the board

“Because of that,I becamea member of the Board of Commissioners, andI really enjoy it,” said Foote, who wasappointedin2023 for afour-year term. “Justknowing thatyou can do the things thatother people see in youis onegreat aspect of WoW.”

The Women of Wisdom don’thave aparticular creed,and there are few barriers to joining, apart from awillingness to contribute your unique interests,talentsand energies. AllMouton asks is that potential members meet her for an introductory coffee chat andshe gets the ball rolling from there.

AccordingtoMouton, theloose structure is by design —but WoWwomen are resolutely strategic about where they spend their effort.

Moutonemphasizes that WoWmembers are resolutely strategic about where they spendtheir collective effort.

“We’re notanorganization that duplicates what othersdo,”she said. “Generally,wepay close attention to where we think adiversecoalition of women need to gettogetherand use our voices and useour presence.”

WoWwomen attended the March 17 Lafayette Public Library Board of Control meeting. Member Mary Lib Guerciohas been alongtime proponent

Days like this are

Ispent 17 yearsasaprofessionalevents planner. Iknow howtothrowa party.Ilong ago letmyhusband offthe hook Planning andhosting aparty is nothis thing. If Iwanta party formy birthday, Iorganize it. He goes to the nth degreetohelp, but Iamthe driving force. After 31 yearsofmarriage, we’ve settledinto ourroles —not because we have to,but because we understand each other better. We knowthateveryone is happierthatway Forexample,lastyearfor my birthday, Ithrewa bigone. I hireda band andacaller, and we had acontra dance with more than60people. This year,I decidedtotoneit down. No party.Just aday with my family In late March, both of my daughters came home formy birthdaysoour whole family could be together. Ihad to be at my officefor the afternoon, but even thatworkedout because my girls worked together while Iwas gone to prepare one of life’s loveliest pleasures —a homemade cake, just for me Iamabelieverinfully appreciating things that make life lovelier. I’ve learned the value of recognizing andsavoring the small joys life offers. A homemade cakeisone of them Dismissing homemade cake as pure indulgence is folly.We spend so much time in aworld thattells us to do more, eatless or hurry up. Every so often, doing the opposite is exactly whatweneed Do less. Eatmore. Slow down. In the world thatIwant to live in, ahomemade cake is not an extravagance,itisanoccasionalnecessity Whenitcomes to the kitchen, neitherofour daughters has needed my help for awhile. The sweetness of the cake went beyond the cup of sugar involved.

Fewthings bring such simple,undeniable joy as a homemade cake. My daughters could have worked for weeks on something much more complicated,but would we have gainedasmuchpure enjoyment from it? Idoubt it. To addtothe deliciousness, my husband prepared my favorite meal —homemade chile rellenoswith black beans, Mexican riceand guacamole. While he wouldn’tplanaparty, he will roastchilesand stuff rellenoswith cheese and beef. Then, he carefully coats and batters each oneand individually friesthem. Despite all of that, theyare light andunbelievably delicious.

There is something deeply good aboutfood made by the hands of those we love. Irecognize days like this are fleeting. Sitting at the table that night, eating ascrumptious meal alongside the people I love most in the world, Iwanted to bottle up that feeling. I’ve come to realize that it’s notthe big partiesorgrand gesturesthatmatter most. Instead, it’stwo sisters baking acakefor their mother’sbirthdayona Mondayafternoon. Yes, Istill love aparty,and this is nottosay thatIwon’thave anotherone sometime soon. There will be time for that. But for now, the best gift is time —time in awarm kitchen, at afull table,with the people I love most.

EmailJan Risher at jan. risher@theadvocate.com.

PROVIDED PHOTO

Brothers share farmland to educate, train others

It’s the center of St. Helena Parish

BY JOY HOLDEN Staff writer

Chris Muse, one of four brothers who own Muse 3 Farm in Greensburg in St. Helena Parish, retired to farm and help others in his hometown. The farm consists of over 200 acres half of which are dedicated to longleaf and loblolly pine timber The other half is pristine pasture land where cattle, sheep, goats and chickens feast on Bahia grass.

The Muses use this land to educate and train sharing their farmland with their community.

Muse is the administrator of the local farmers market, and his goal is to recruit more farmers to offer fresh produce to the parish The market provides a great opportunity to work with Greaux the Good, which offers the match program for SNAP and EBT clients

While the name of the farm is Muse 3, there are four brothers in ownership. The name is an homage to their father, who long ago branded his cattle with a three because he was the third brother

How did the farm get started?

We founded the farm in 2015, incorporated in 2018 — me and three of my brothers. We grew up on a farm. My grandpa and my dad farmed, and all of his siblings farmed.

But being in St. Helena Parish, we didn’t see farming in our future so we took different career paths. We all graduated from college, and we all moved away After college, I moved to Atlanta, Georgia, and I spent 32 years working for IBM My brothers all moved away and made careers, too.

We had to go off in order to come back home.

While we were away, we would frequently come back to our small town to visit. There is something about a small-town atmosphere — a tranquillity about it. So, we decided that we were going to retire, and we were going to move back to our hometown and the farm. As we’re doing it, we fig-

SISTERHOOD

Continued from page 1y

ured we had a chance to do something different. We wanted our farm to be a training and educational farm. We wanted the farm to also be self-sustaining, because we want our kids to eventually take over the farm

What are some ways that the Muse 3 Farm practices climate-friendly farming or sustainable farming?

We preach that everything we do on our farm begins with the soil. Soil health is very important to us We have about 150 acres dedicated to our animals We do rotational grazing. We also do multi-species grazing because we like the various animals growing together

We do not use any herbicides on our farm. Everything’s organic. We try to have a fresh water source in every paddock for other animals.

We like to do wildlife conservation. This is Louisiana, Sportsman’s Paradise. You have to save the predators as well. We planted 100 acres of pine trees because we need trees. All of that is what we need to make this world a better place.

How do you share your resources with the community?

We work with the other farmers in the area and do training and education for those guys to help make their farms more profitable.

We want farmers to be able to utilize all of the programs and services that are available, state or local. As part of those workshops, we bring in representatives from those agencies to talk about their programs, and then we would work with farmers to follow up with them to make sure that they actually go out and sign up for some of those programs. We decided from day one, we were going to try to help others out, whether it be farmers, future farmers, kids or youth.

I hadn’t realized, even in a rural area like St. Helena, most of these kids had not seen a farm.

We do tours to bring kids in. We work with the local 4-H office. Most of the kids out here do not own cattle, so they don’t have an animal to show We have animals and a space, so we allow the 4-H students to show one of our animals.

We open up our farms to others so that they can come and see what farming is like. We just wanted to get back to that.

of expanding library access in Lafayette Parish, and the group lent their support by encouraging Board of Control members to move forward with building a new Northeast Lafayette Regional Library At the meeting, they counted it a victory when the board unanimously approved building the largest option: 20,500 square feet of books and community-use spaces.

The 164-member strong nonprofit has women ranging in age from 20 to 92, says Mouton “How rich it is to hear from a 20-year-old, sitting at a table with a 90-year-old,” she said. “That’s eight decades of women. That’s beautiful. We’re 12 different ethnicities. It’s just a wonderful array of women, and that’s so powerful in terms of how we operate very effectively as a coalition of women who are empowered to create a thriving community for everyone.”

One of WoW’s signature projects is CAFÉ — Community and Family Engagement — through Lafayette-based educational foundation Love Our Schools. The program helps to bring resources to area schools by activating networks in the surrounding communities, and Women of Wisdom has taken the lead on CAFÉ initiatives at Lafayette schools like Carencro High and J.W Faulk Elementary where they focus on lessening truancy, supporting ACT prep, and stocking care closets with uniform items and toiletries.

Other WoW efforts include support for organizations like

Have you seen any expansion and success in your area with other farmers?

Yes, now there are other farmers who have implemented some of those services and do field days at their own farms.

What vegetables are y’all growing right now?

We’re transitioning over to the spring garden. We have sweet corn growing right now with purple peas, tomato, okra and cucumbers. They need about six to eight more weeks, though.

What does the land mean to you since it’s been in your family for many generations?

My grandfather moved here in 1920. People probably look at this and say “This parish, you want to live here?”

But to me, I’m not moving anymore. I’m back at home. This is my land This is my forefathers’ land. I want to be able to bring my kids and hopefully, the grandkids come back.

Innocence Project New Orleans, which holds an annual fundraiser in Lafayette. IPNO lawyers work to free innocent people serving life sentences in Louisiana, and WoW members came out in force for their recent Acadiana fundraiser held on Feb 18.

“This is really an incredible organization that Phyllis started,” said IPNO executive director Jee Park. “I attended their monthly meeting in February and we talked about constitutional amendments and had a wonderful dialogue These are women who are showing up, supporting each other and empowering one another to get out there and support the organizations and issues in their community.”

For the members themselves, they know that there’s no limit to what they can do if they work together From WoW-led speaker series, to corporate workshops and service opportunities, they are giving each other the tools to make a difference, no matter where they stand.

“When you bring powerful women together, of all backgrounds, one thing they all want no matter their political affiliation, or their race, or socio-economic background,” Foote said, “Every woman wants a better world for her family and future generations.”

Foote said the group does more than learn about issues.

They do more than talk about issues.

“We’re actually getting out and doing something and making an impact on the community,” Foote said.

Email Joanna Brown at joanna. brown@theadvocate.com.

PROVIDED PHOTO

Phyllis Coleman Mouton, founder of Women of Wisdom Acadiana, speaks to new members at the pinning ceremony held in Lafayette on Jan. 9.

Chris Muse, co-owner of Muse 3 Farm, on his land with grazing cattle in Greensburg

PROVIDED PHOTOS

The Muse brothers who own Muse 3 Farm, from left, Chris Muse, Allen Muse, Burnell Muse and Mittie Muse.

Cleanupthe stateduringLovethe Boot Week

BY JOYHOLDEN Staff writer

Louisiana is known for its natural beauty, but the litter and trash scattered on the interstates, in parking lots, swampsand waterways obscures this beauty,driving away future investorsand tourists.

Lt. Gov.Billy Nungesser andthe

KeepLouisiana Beautiful team are determined to cleanupthe state through Love the Boot Week April 5through April 13, which will sweep the state clean of trash.

Love the Boot Week is Louisiana’slargest litter removal and beautification effort. All 64 parishes have events scheduled, and there are 963 events planned for theweek. So far, 14 universities andover100 schools will also have groups cleaning upacross the state.

Nungesser developed his passion for removing litter whenhe was parish presidentofPlaquemines Parish after Hurricane Katrina. He implemented garbage cans on everyroadleading to La.23to give drivers aplace to throw away trash. It was an improvement 90% of the garbage ended up in or around those cans.

“I realized early on that if you made an attemptto givepeople aplace to put it, and alittle bit of education,wemade arealdifference,” Nungesser said.

Love the Boot Week is the state’s opportunity to make adifference.

“Wehave such adivisiveclimate nowadays, but cleaningupthe state is an issue that we can truly be united behind,” saidSusan Russell, executive director of thenonprofit organization Keep Louisiana Beautiful.

Russell says that cleaning the state is amust because of the harmful effectsthat trashand blight have on our economy,tourism, health, safety,quality of life and mental well-being.

Keep LouisianaBeautiful

Keep Louisiana Beautiful was established over 20 years agowith the goal of promoting corporate and individual responsibilityfor a cleaner and more beautifulLouisiana. The organization works through litter removal, prevention, educa-

tionand enforcement.InAugust 2024, the Nungesser placed Keep Louisiana Beautiful underhis office as astate program, which stabilized the inner structure and helpedmomentum toward accomplishing the mission of cleaning up Louisiana

“Wehave abeautiful state,” said Russell,“but we don’tdoagood job keeping it clean.”

Keep Louisiana Beautiful programsinclude education for youth and motorists, aClean Biz programtoengage businesses to have trash receptacles at transition pointsand library partnerships that provide pickup tools for litter removal.

“We’re empowering individuals in small groups so that when you see something, do something,” said Russell. “You don’thavetowait for someone else to organize alarge community cleanup, and if we all did our part right —ifschools took care of theircampuses, if residents andcitizens made sure that household trash wasbagged and tied and our garbage pan covered so that it wouldn’tblow down the street —itwould make ahuge difference. It’severybody working together to do their part, and it is 100% solvable.”

Getout andlovethe boot

According to a2023 Louisiana Litter Study conducted by Keep Louisiana Beautiful, at anygiven time, there’sabout 143 million piecesoflitter on the state roadways, andthe cost is high —$92 millionin2024.

“What we’re doing in April gives me hope, and it’sveryexciting because it is showing us that our citizens, our business ownersand ourelected officials areready for change,” Russell said.

Love the Book Week is amixture of schools, businesses, local governments, state agencies and nonprofit partners who are rolling up their sleeves andgoing out in their respective communities to clean.

The plannedevents for the week vary from picking up litter to paintingbenches to removing graffiti to plantingtrees andgardens. Love the Boot participation hasincreased 30% from 2024 to 2025.

“This started out withustry-

ing to getpeople outwalking the streets andcaring for their community,” Russell said. “It has turnedinto amovement. We had over 19,000volunteers last year whoremoved 347 tonsoflitter, planted920 trees,400 plantsand refurbished over 360 gardens.”

In 2025, Love theBoot Week is not only going to removelitter but will also be diverting waste from landfills by separating aluminum cans and plastic bottles from litter and recycling them.

Nungesser and Russellagree that walkingthe streetsand picking up litter is transformative because people who pick up litter for aday areabout 80% lesslikely to litter again.People of all ages can participate, and studentscan earn service hours for clubs and school requirements Removinglitter is the beginning of behaviorchange,and Russell says that’s Love the Book Week plantsthe seeds for change.

“I hope Love the Boot Week this year gives us the momentum going into fair and festival season

to really care about our state,” Nungesser said. “Love where you live and protect it, and that’sfrom therivers and waterways, to the parks, and to theparking lots.”

To learnmoreorsignuptoparticipate, visit lovetheboot.org. Email Joy Holdenatjoy.holden@ theadvocate.com.

As theregion’sonly dedicated comprehensive esophagealcancer careteam we provide expert careclose to home. At Our Ladyofthe Lake Cancer Institute, we want to make sure younever miss amoment of what really counts. We deliver theexpertise, resources and compassionatecareyou need tofight cancer.That’s why we’rethe region’sleading cancer treatment destination. That’s why it allcountshere. Learnmoreatololrmc.com/cancer

Nicholas LeBlanc, MD,Thoracic Surgery

Agroup of volunteers picks up litter on the sideofthe road during Love the Boot Week

Volunteers pick up trash with Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser,far right, during Love the Boot Week.

Theologianslooktoreshape spiritualfuture

Africandenominations preparefor Nicene Creed’s anniversary year

FREDRICK NZWILI

Contributing writer

As Christian denominations in Africa join the preparation for the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea, clerics, theologiansand laypeople areembracing the moment as a chance to reshape the continent’s spiritual and social future.

The gathering of bishopsin Nicaea (now Iznik, in Turkey) in 325 was called by Roman Emperor Constantine to settle factionalism in the early church caused by Arianism,a theologythat said Jesuswas notdivine,thatoriginated in Africa.

“Why it was held is because an African cleric like myself raised issues that needed to be addressedconcerning thedoctrine of the Holy Trinity,” saidthe Rev. StephenNjure,a CatholicChurch

historian at Moi University in western Kenya.“That is Arius. Arius came up with aheresy that necessitated thecouncil.

Theanniversary,said Njure, “has everything to do with us, since one of us prompted its being, because of our need for clarityof faith,”addingthatideas likeArianism, which the council declared aheresy,help the church by forcingittoformulate doctrine and purify its teachings.

In the late spring of 325 at Nicaea, 318 bishops deliberated on controversies on thenature of Christ, bothhuman anddivine, andagreedona standard statement of faith still known today as theNicene Creed andsaid across much of the globe each Sunday. Thecreed definesGod as one entity manifested in three persons: Father,Son andthe Holy Spirit.

The bishops meeting at Nicaea also established adatefor Easterand laid theground forearly canonlaw Protestant,Catholic andOrthodox churches around theglobe are celebrating the anniversary, with conferences lookingafresh at the counciland the lessons

it can teach on Christian unity amid divisions and atroubled globe. In November,the World Council of Churches will hold a conference in November titled “Towards Nicaea 2025: Exploring the Council’sEcumenical SignificanceToday,” and aglobal meeting of evangelical Christians is planned for October in Istanbul.

Lastyear,before he fellill, Pope Francis told Eastern Orthodox priestsvisiting the Vatican that he hoped to travel to Turkey to celebrate thecreed with the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, and in January,Francis expressed hiswillingness to work on once again finding a common date for Easter.(The two branches of Christianity, separatedbythe Great Schismof 1054, followdifferent calendars, with the Eastern Orthodox keeping to the Julian calendar and marking Easteraweek after the West.)

In Egypt, the Coptic Orthodox Church will host the Sixth World Conference on NICAEA organizedbythe WorldCouncil of Churches. “(This) is more than a

gathering of church leaders; it’s achance for Africa to reshape itsspiritualand social future,” said theRev.JackieMakena, a Methodist theologian andadjunct lectureratSt. Paul’sUniversity in Limuru,near Nairobi, who stressed that forAfrica, Nicaea wasaboutreclaiming itsnarrative

“Amid centuriesofcolonial influence, the conference offers aplatform forAfricanvoices to lead conversations on decolonizingtheology,leadership and social justice, climatejustice and racial justice issues,”Makena said.

According to thetheologian, across the continent,preparations forthe conference in Egypt are in full swing.

“Delegations, including differentworld communionsand theological institutions, are hostingpublic lectures,paper presentations,and engaging in community discussions,” she said.

Makenasaid that themeeting would show Africa’srich theological heritage andcomeout with new waysofthinking about

faithunbound by colonial legacies. “Institutions and leaders are uniting to ensure thatAfrica’s perspective is not only heardbut also formsa cornerstone of the broader ecumenical dialogue,” shesaid.

The Rev.John Ngige Njoroge, an Orthodox priestwho heads theology andinterfaith relations at the Africa Conference of Churches, said Nicaea was the first ecumenical council that demonstrated howChristians could unite to find solutionsto challenges,including theological disagreements

“This is very significant for Africa, wheretoday the propagation of misleading theologies is a threat to Christian unity and humandignity,” said Njoroge. Makena, theMethodist theologian, hopes theanniversary celebration results in arevitalized, inclusive church that bridges divides, whether they be theological, racial or generational. “As Africa plays apivotal role in this conversation,the hopeis that its renewed perspective will inspire unity in diversity,” she said.

LouisianaInspiredhighlightsvolunteer opportunities across south Louisiana.Ifyourorganization has specific volunteer opportunities, pleaseemail us at lainspired @theadvocate.com with details on the volunteer opportunity,organization and the contact/registration information volunteers wouldneed

Acadiana Moncus Park, 2913 JohnstonSt., Lafayette,isasupporterfundednonprofitdedicated to developingand maintaining 100acres of green space, showcasing the cultures and talents of Acadiana, uniting communitiesthroughcelebration and creating traditions together For volunteer opportunities, visit moncuspark.org/volunteer

BatonRouge

The ALS Association Louisiana-Mississippi Chapter,14241 CourseyBlvd., Baton Rouge, has amission to discover treatments and acure forALS,and to serve,advocate forand empowerpeople affected by ALS to livetheirlives to the fullest. Forvolunteer opportunities, call (225) 343-9880orvisit als org/support/states/louisiana.

NewOrleans

LightHouse Mentors, 520 OliveSt., Shreveport, offers opportunitiesfor busy communitymembers,high school age and above,tomentor an at-risk child. Mentees rangeinage from 6to17.ALightHouse Mentor is afriend, coach, role model, adviserand resource forthe mentee. For volunteer opportunities, visit voanorthla.org/services/ children-teens-and-families/the-lighthouse/. Want to getthe word out about your volunteer opportunities? Email romiller@theadvocate.com. ONEgreat

PROVIDED PHOTO

As Christian denominations in Africajoin the preparationfor the 1,700thanniversaryofthe FirstCouncil of Nicaea,clerics,theologians and laypeople are embracing the moment as a chance to reshape

SUNDAY, April 6, 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 /byStephan 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 — sAGAciousLY: suhGAY-shus-lee: Wisely

Average mark 45 words

Time limit 60 minutes

Can you find 61 or more words in SAGACIOUSLY?

ken ken

instructions: 1 -Each rowand each column must contain thenumbers 1through4 (easy) or 1through6 (challenging) without repeating 2 -The numbers within the heavily outlinedboxes, called cages, must combine using thegiven operation (inany order)toproduce the target numbersinthe top-left corners. 3 -Freebies: Fillinthe single-boxcages withthe numberinthe top-left corner

instructions: Sudoku is anumber-placing puzzle based on a 9x9 gridwith several given numbers. The object is to placethe numbers 1to 9in theempty squares so that each row,each column and each 3x3 boxcontains the same number only once. The difficultylevel of the Conceptis Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday

directions: Complete thegridso that numbers 1–132 connect horizontally, vertically or diagonally

Sudoku

Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis

wuzzLes

Creating an entry

North-South got to show off their fancy Key Card Blackwood methods, but it was probably just for show South, we believe, would always have bid a slam after North opened the bidding. The slam was excellent, and normal splits in both black suits would yield an easy 13 tricks. Suits often don’t split normally after a pre-empt, however

The three of hearts was an obvious singleton South won in hand with the ace and led a spade to dummy’s ace, followed by the queen and jack of spades South couldn’t know how the minor suits were splitting, but East was known to have started with 10 cards in the majors, so South could not count on a good club split South was a resourceful player and he handled the problem beautifully. He led a club to his ace and cashed the king of spades, discarding a heart from dummy while drawing East’s last trump. He cashed the king and queen of clubs, then led his low diamond to dummy’s king. He led the 10 of clubs and

elegantly discarded his ace of diamonds. West won with the jack but had to lead a diamond South won in dummy, discarding a heart, and discarded his last heart on the nine of clubs. Well done!

ARIES (March 21-April 19) Dream, strategize and turn your ideas into a reality. Be forthright regarding what you want and what you are willing to give in return. Trust your instincts and shoot for the stars.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Conquer your fears by embracing whatever stands in your way A fearless approach will make you impossible to defeat. Focus on your attributes and use them to reach your objective.

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

GEMINI(May21-June20)Keepawatchful eye on anyone you don’t fully trust. Be aware, open and prepared to take charge or leave any situation that can alter your life. Look out for your best interests. CANCER (June 21-July 22) Use your creative imagination, and you’ll outmaneuver anyone trying to compete with you. A financial opportunity will come from someone or something you least expect. Be quick to respond, and prosperity will be yours. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Explore, learn and expand your awareness. The time to venture out and discover what’s possible is now. The future looks bright if you embrace what’s new and exciting. Broaden your circle of friends.

VIRGO (Aug 23-Sept 22) Put more time, effort and thought into money matters. Look for opportunities, but don’t bet everything on one person or prospect. Cut your losses, divvy up your interests and participate in what’s most purposeful.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct 23) Engage in something that makes you think, and expand your mind, interests and friendships. Stop procrastinating and waiting for things to come to you. The future looks bright.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) Social and networking events will be valuable Someone you encounter will offer a unique perspective that will help

diversify how you use your skills and evaluate what you do.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Keep a low profile, and you’ll exceed your expectations. Once you eliminate interference, you’ll have a chance to let your mind wander and find inspiration.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Participate, travel and be resourceful. Take interest, ask questions and try your hand at something that you can incorporate into your lifestyle or turn into a profit.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Push for change, be the forerunner and show everyone how to do things properly

Taking charge will help you develop a pattern that is conducive to using your skills experience and awesomeness. PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) Take charge, and don’t stop until you are happy with the results Whether you put yourself in a competitive situation or decide to socialize with peoplewhoshareyourinterests,you stand to come out on top.

The horoscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact. © 2025 by NEA, inc., dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication

Answers to puzzles

1. Honolulu, Hawaii. 2. Denver, Colorado. 3. Juneau, Alaska.4.Nashville, Tennessee

5. Richmond, Virginia. 6. Madison,Wisconsin

7. Indianapolis, Indiana.8.Lansing, Michigan

9. Providence, Rhode Island.10. Topeka,Kansas

11. Carson City,Nevada. 12. Frankfort, Kentucky.13. Springfield, Illinois.14. Bismarck, North Dakota. 15. Olympia, Washington.

SCORING: 24 to 30 points —congratulations, doctor; 18 to 23 points—honorsgraduate; 13 to 17 points —you’replenty smart, but no grind; 5to12points —you really shouldhit the booksharder;1point to 4points —enroll in remedial courses immediately; 0points who reads thequestions to you?

Saturday's Cryptoquote: Imust have flowers, always, always. —Claude Monet

jeFF mACnelly’sshoe/ by Gary Brookins &Susie MacNelly

FoXtrot/ by BillAmend

dustin /bySteve Kelley&JeffParker