For nearly four years, a couple and their two children have lived in hiding.
A year spent almost entirely indoors. Other times, moving constantly to evade Pakistani immi-
gration officials Countless nights silencing their children’s cries, desperate to remain unseen and avoid deportation or capture. That’s how former Afghan prosecutor Freshta, her husband, Hadi, and their two small children have existed since 2021, hunted by the Taliban since the terrorist group
took control of the country
But on Thursday night, as the couple and their 4-year-old son and 2-year-old daughter walked through the gates of the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport, their nightmare finally ended.
police coming for you, and there’s no fear of being deported to Afghanistan.”
The family has asked to be identified only by their first names and requested not to appear in photos because of continued fears of retaliation.
“This is how freedom looks like,” Hadi said to his wife. “There’s no
Before the Taliban retook power in Afghanistan, Freshta was one of many prosecutors in Kabul who worked alongside American military officials to prosecute crimes committed by the terrorist group.
The couple were at ground zero when Kabul fell in 2021 as American troops withdrew They were within earshot when a suicide bomb detonated on Aug. 26, 2021,
Afghan refugees sought by Taliban get new life in Baton Rouge ä See FREEDOM, page 6A
Guns still flowing onto BR school campuses
a bag from Assistant
after demonstrating how metal detectors are used for morning arrivals at Woodlawn High
Security moves may not have desired effect
BY CHARLES LUSSIER Staff writer
Since mid-January, three teenagers brought loaded handguns to Baton Rouge high schools. Two evaded walk-through metal detectors. The third ditched his gun and bookbag he was carrying it in rather than risk detection, before he was caught anyway
All three were arrested and charged with crimes. Under Louisiana’s “zero tolerance” laws, the teens will be expelled and reassigned to alternative schools
There has been an uptick in gun incidents this school year even as new walkthrough metal detectors are used daily at all Baton Rouge middle and high schools.
The consequences awaiting the students are far stricter than that of Ali Jaffar The 18-year-old high school student recently was arrested in connection with the rape of an LSU student in her dorm room. He faces a charge of third-degree
rape and up to 25 years in jail.
But Jaffar immediately returned to class at Woodlawn High for a few days before opting to shift to virtual class instruction, according to East Baton Rouge school officials.
Jaffar was able to return to his home school because he is accused of a crime that occurred 11 miles away with no connection to Woodlawn students or staff. In contrast, the three students accused of bringing guns on campus are subject
ä See GUNS, page 4A
BR bus worker strike ends
CATS says full service resumes Sunday
BY HALEY MILLER Staff writer
Baton Rouge bus workers will return to work Sunday, the city’s transit system and its union said, putting an end to a weeklong strike that disrupted service for thousands of riders.
“Our members stood strong and united throughout this process,” George DeCuir, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1546, said in a statement Saturday “This strike shows that our members are willing to lay it all on the line for justice.”
The strike ended when Capital Area Transit System agreed to withdraw its final collective bargaining agreement offer, which union officials said was an attempt to force a contract on the workers, and begin arbitration, according to the union.
In a release, CATS said full bus services will resume. Third-party arbitration will allow the parties to resolve “outstanding matters” regarding the labor contract, the release said.
“We’re pleased to have our drivers back on the job, and services will return to normal tomorrow,” CATS CEO Theo Richards said in the statement. “We appreciate the patience of our passengers and are confident that arbitration will resolve the issues fairly.”
The union announced the strike on March 2 and it took effect early March 3. Workers gathered outside the CATS terminal at Florida and North 22nd streets every day to protest and publicize their reasons for walking off the job.
See STRIKE, page 4A
100TH yEAR, NO. 252
STAFF FILE PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK
East Baton Rouge Parish schools Superintendent LaMont Cole, left, takes
Principal Jes’ca Signater on Jan. 31
School in Baton Rouge.
12 people injured in shooting at Toronto pub
TORONTO A dozen people were injured in a shooting at an eastern Toronto pub in what police called a reckless act of violence by three men who entered the bar and fired randomly without warning.
Superintendent Paul MacIntyre of the Toronto Police Service said that authorities received numerous emergency calls reporting a shooting at the Piper Arms about 10:40 p.m. Friday A preliminary investigation determined that three males entered the pub and began shooting at customers, MacIntyre said during a news conference at the scene. There were no immediate arrests.
“One male was armed with what appears to be an assault rifle, the other two males were armed with handguns, and they walked into the bar, they produced their guns and they opened fire indiscriminately on the people sitting inside,” MacIntyre said, adding that there were no fatalities
Police arrived at the scene and found 12 people suffering from various injuries The victims were transported to local hospitals and six were confirmed to have gunshot wounds that were not life-threatening, MacIntyre said, calling the victims “extremely lucky.” The remaining six victims were hurt by flying and broken glass.
Police: Officer killed, another hurt by teen NEWARK,N.J A 14-year-old shot and killed a police officer and wounded another Friday evening in New Jersey, authorities said, in a chaotic scene that witnesses described as seeing officers running down a busy street before they heard a volley of a dozen or more gunshots.
The slain officer, 26-year-old Joseph Azcona, was part of a team of Newark police detectives and federal agents that had gone to capture a suspect in an illegal weapons sting when the officer was fired on in his vehicle, authorities said “He didn’t even get a chance to step out of the vehicle before he was struck,” Emanuel Miranda, Newark’s director of public safety, told a Saturday morning news conference with Newark’s mayor and top prosecutor Miranda called Azcona a “true hero.
The other officer who was struck was hospitalized with injuries that were not expected to be life-threatening, authorities said. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka called the shooting a “heinous, callous disregard for humanity” and that officers had gone to the scene knowing that “grave danger was possible.”
Man with flag climbs London’s Big Ben tower
LONDON Traffic around the Palace of Westminster in London came to a standstill on Saturday as emergency services tried to reach a man who climbed the Big Ben tower holding a Palestinian flag.
Photos show the barefoot man, who appeared to be staging a protest, standing on a ledge several yards up Elizabeth Tower which houses Big Ben.
Officials said tours of the Houses of Parliament were canceled because of the incident Westminster Bridge and a nearby street were closed for much of Saturday and several emergency services vehicles were at the scene as crowds looked on. Police also blocked off all pedestrian access to Parliament Square.
The Metropolitan Police said earlier that officers received reports about the man about 7 a.m. Saturday and were “working to bring the incident to a safe conclusion” alongside firefighters and ambulance services
House GOP unveils spending bill
Measure likely to spark clash with Democrats
BY KEVIN FREKING Associated Press
WASHINGTON House Republicans unveiled a spending bill Saturday that would keep federal agencies funded through Sept. 30, pushing ahead with a go-it-alone strategy that seems certain to spark a major confrontation with Democrats over the contours of government spending.
The 99-page bill would provide a slight boost to defense programs while trimming nondefense programs below 2024 budget year levels. That approach is likely to be a nonstarter for most Democrats who have long insisted that defense and nondefense spending move in the same direction.
Congress must act by midnight Friday to avoid a partial government shutdown.
Speaker Mike Johnson, RBenton, is teeing up the bill for a vote on Tuesday despite the lack of buy-in from Democrats, essentially daring them to vote against it and risk a shutdown. He also is betting that Republicans can muscle the legislation through the House largely by themselves.
Normally, when it comes to keeping the government fully open for business, Republicans have had to work with Democrats to craft a bipartisan measure
that both sides can support That’s because Republicans almost always lack the votes to pass spending bills on their own.
Crucially, the strategy has the backing of President Donald Trump, who has shown an ability so far in his term to hold Republicans in line.
Trump praised the bill, posting on his Truth Social platform that Republicans have to “remain UNITED — NO DISSENT — Fight for another day when the timing is right.”
“Great things are coming for America, and I am asking you all to give us a few months to get us through to September so we can continue to put the Country’s ‘financial house’ in order,” he said.
House Republicans’ leadership staff outlined the
Russian strikes kill 22 in Ukraine
Polish PM warns against appeasement
By The Associated Press
KYIV, Ukraine Russia launched heavy aerial attacks on Ukraine for a second night Saturday after the United States stopped sharing satellite images with the Ukrainian government, officials said. At least 22 people have been killed.
The U.S. decision to withhold intelligence and military aid came on the heels of a tempestuous White House visit last week by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy President Donald Trump is trying to pressure Ukraine into accepting a peace deal with Russia
Without U.S. satellite imagery, Ukraine’s ability to strike inside Russia and defend itself from bombardment is significantly diminished.
“This is what happens when someone appeases barbarians,” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote on X Saturday “More bombs, more aggression, more victims. Another tragic night in Ukraine.”
At least 11 people were killed in multiple strikes on a town in Ukraine’s embattled eastern Donetsk region late Friday, and another seven people were killed in four towns
close to the front where Russian troops have been making steady advances, said regional Gov Vadym Filashkin. Three others died when a Russian drone hit a civilian workshop in the northeastern Kharkiv region, emergency service officials reported. One man was killed by shelling in the region.
Filashkin declared a day of mourning Saturday and warned that more victims could still be found in the rubble.
Russia fired two ballistic missiles into the center of the front-line town of Dobropillya, then launched a strike targeting rescuers who responded, according to Zelenskyy Forty-seven people, including seven children, were injured in the attack.
“It is a vile and inhumane intimidation tactic to which the Russians often resort,” he said.
When asked Friday if Russian President Vladimir Putin was taking advantage of the U.S. pause on intelligence-sharing to attack Ukraine, Trump responded: “I think he’s doing what anybody else would.”
Zelenskyy did not mention intelligence-sharing Saturday, but said he welcomed Trump’s proposal Friday to impose large-scale banking sanctions and tariffs on Russia until a ceasefire and final peace settlement is reached.
contours of the measure, saying it would allow for about $892.5 billion in defense spending and about $708 billion in nondefense spending. The defense spending is slightly above the prior year’s level, but the nondefense spending, the aides said, was about $13 billion below last year
The measure also will not include funding requested by individual lawmakers for thousands of community projects around the country, often referred to as earmarks.
But Republicans noted that it would provide for the largest pay increase to junior enlisted service members in more than 40 years, and it included an additional $500 million for a nutritional assistance program for women, infants and young children.
The bill does not cover the majority of government spending, including Social Security and Medicare. Funding for those two programs is on autopilot and not regularly reviewed by Congress. Still, Democratic leadership issued a statement Saturday saying they were troubled the bill doesn’t take steps to protect those programs and Medicaid, which Republicans are eying to help pay for extending tax cuts passed in Trump’s first term.
“We are voting no,” said a trio of House Democratic leaders, including Rep. Hakeem Jeffries. The top Democrats on the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, Connecticut Rep. Rosa DeLauro and Washington Sen. Patty Murray, both issued statements blasting
the legislation. Murray said the legislation would “give Donald Trump and Elon Musk more power over federal spending and more power to pick winners and losers, which threatens families in blue and red states alike.”
Maine Sen. Susan Collins, who heads the Senate Appropriations Committee, said the focus must be on preventing a shutdown because closures have negative consequences all across government.
“They require certain essential government employees, such as Border Patrol agents, members of our military and Coast Guard, TSA screeners, and air traffic controllers, to report to work with no certainty on when they will receive their next paycheck,” Collins said. “We cannot allow that to occur.”
Trump’s request for unity appears to be having an effect. Some conservatives who seldom vote for continuing resolutions expressed much openness to one last week.
Rep. Ralph Norman, RS.C., says he has never voted for a continuing resolution, what lawmakers often call a CR, but he is on board with Johnson’s effort. He says he has confidence in Trump and the Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk, to make a difference on the nation’s debt.
“I don’t like CRs,” Norman said. “But what’s the alternative? Negotiate with Democrats? No.”
Vatican: Pope responding well to treatment, showing improvement
BY NICOLE WINFIELD Associated Press
ROME Pope Francis is responding well to the treatment for double pneumonia and has shown a “gradual, slight improvement” in recent days, the Vatican said Saturday But his doctors have decided to keep his prognosis as guarded, meaning that he’s not out of danger yet.
The 88-year-old pope, who has chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed as a young man, has remained stable with no fever and good oxygen levels in his blood for several days, doctors reported in a Vatican statement.
The doctors said that such stability “as a consequence testifies to a good response to therapy.” It was the first time the doctors had reported that Francis was responding positively to the treatment for the complex lung infection that was diagnosed after he was hospitalized on Feb. 14.
Francis worked and rested during the day on Saturday, as he entered his fourth week at Rome’s Gemelli hospital with his condition stabilized following a few bouts of acute respiratory crises last week.
“In order to record these initial improvements in the coming days as well, his doctors have prudently maintained the prognosis as guarded,” the statement said.
In his absence, the Vatican’s day-to-day operations continued, with Cardinal Pietro Parolin celebrating Mass for an anti-abortion group in St. Peter’s Basilica. At the start, Parolin delivered a message from the pope from the hospital on the need to protect life, from birth to natural death.
In the message, dated March 5 and addressed to the Movement for Life, which seeks to provide women with alternatives to abortion, Francis en-
Nuns pray for Pope Francis on Saturday in front of the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome, where Francis is hospitalized.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JULIA DEMAREE NIKHINSON
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-Benton, walks Monday through the Capitol in Washington.
PHOTO PROVIDED By UKRAINIAN EMERGENCy SERVICE Firefighters battle a blaze Saturday after a Russian rocket attack in Dobropillya, Donetsk region, Ukraine.
couraged the faithful to promote anti-abortion activities not just for the unborn, but
“for the elderly, no longer independent or the incurably ill.”
Israel to send delegation to Qatar for talks
Envoys to try to ‘advance’ Gaza ceasefire negotiations
BY WAFAA SHURAFA Associated Press
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip Israel said that it would send a delegation to Qatar on Monday “in an effort to advance the negotiations” around the ceasefire in Gaza, while Hamas reported “positive signals” in talks with Egyptian and Qatari mediators on starting negotiations on the truce’s delayed second phase. The statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office gave no details except to say it had “accepted the invitation of U.S.-backed mediators.”
Hamas spokesman Abdel-
Saturday during a protest in Tel
demanding the immediate
Latif al-Qanoua also gave no details. Talks on the second phase should have started a month ago. There was no immediate comment from the White House, which on Wednesday
made the surprise confirmation of direct U.S talks with Hamas.
Over the past week, Israel has pressed Hamas to release half of the remaining hostages in return for an
2 days of clashes, revenge slayings kill
more than 1,000 in
BY BASSEM MROUE and SARAH EL DEEB Associated Press
BEIRUT The death toll from two days of clashes between Syrian security forces and loyalists of ousted President Bashar Assad and revenge killings that followed has risen to more than 1,000, a war monitoring group said Saturday, making it one of the deadliest acts of violence since Syria’s conflict began 14 years ago. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said in addition to 745 civilians killed, mostly in shootings from close distance, 125 government security force members and 148 militants with armed groups affiliated with Assad were killed. It added that electricity and drinking water were cut off in large areas around the city of Latakia.
The clashes, which erupted Thursday marked a major escalation in the challenge to the new government in Damascus, three months after insurgents took authority after
removing Assad from power
The government has said that they were responding to attacks from remnants of Assad’s forces and blamed “individual actions for the rampant violence.
The revenge killings that started Friday by Sunni Muslim gunmen loyal to the government against members of Assad’s minority Alawite sect are a major blow to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the faction that led the overthrow of the former government. Alawites made up a large part of Assad’s support base for decades
Residents of Alawite villages and towns spoke to The Associated Press about killings during which gunmen shot Alawites, the majority of them men, in the streets or at the gates of their homes. Many homes of Alawites were looted and then set on fire in different areas, two residents of Syria’s coastal region told the AP from their hideouts.
They asked that their names not be made public out of fear of being killed by
Syria
gunmen, adding that thousands of people have fled to nearby mountains for safety.
Residents of Baniyas, one of the towns worst hit by the violence, said bodies were strewn on the streets or left unburied in homes and on the roofs of buildings, and nobody was able to collect them One resident said that the gunmen prevented residents for hours from removing the bodies of five of their neighbors killed Friday at close range.
Ali Sheha, a 57-year-old resident of Baniyas who fled with his family and neighbors hours after the violence broke out Friday, said that at least 20 of his neighbors and colleagues in one neighborhood of Baniyas where Alawites lived, were killed, some of them in their shops, or in their homes.
Sheha called the attacks “revenge killings” of the Alawite minority for the crimes committed by Assad’s government. Other residents said the gunmen included foreign fighters, and militants from neighboring villages and towns.
Iranian leader rejects talks with U.S.
By The Associated Press
TEHRAN, Iran Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said he rejects a U.S. push for talks between the two countries because they would be aimed at imposing restrictions on Iranian missile range and its influence in the region.
Speaking to a group of officials on Saturday, Khamenei did not identify the United States by name but said a “bullying government” was being persistent in its push for talks.
“Their talks are not aimed at solving problems, it is for let’s talk to impose what we want on the other party that is sitting on the opposite side of the table.” Khamenei’s remarks came a day after President Donald Trump acknowledged sending a letter to Khamenei seeking a new deal with Tehran to restrain its rapidly advancing nuclear program and replace the nuclear deal he withdrew America from during his first term in office
Khamenei said U.S de-
mands would be both military and related to the regional influence of Iran.
“They will be about defense capabilities, about international capabilities of the country (They will urge Iran) not to do (certain) things, not to meet some certain people, not to go to a certain place, not to produce some items, your missile range should not be more than a certain distance. Is it possible for anybody to accept these?”
Khamenei, who has final say on all state matters, said such talks would not address solving problems between Iran and the West.
extension of the first phase, which ended last weekend, and a promise to negotiate a lasting truce Hamas is believed to have 24 living hostages and the bodies of 34 others.
Israel last weekend cut off all supplies to Gaza and its more than 2 million people as it pressed Hamas to agree. The militant group has said that the move would affect the remaining hostages as well.
The ceasefire has paused the deadliest and most destructive fighting ever between Israel and Hamas, sparked by the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. The first phase allowed the return of 25 living hostages and the remains of eight others in exchange for the release of nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
Israeli forces have withdrawn to buffer zones inside
Gaza, hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians have returned to northern Gaza for the first time since early in the war and hundreds of trucks of aid entered per day until Israel suspended supplies.
Before their weekly rally in Tel Aviv, relatives of hostages appealed to U.S. President Donald Trump, who met with eight former hostages on Wednesday
“Mr. President, a return to war means a death sentence for the living hostages left behind. Please, sir do not allow Netanyahu to sacrifice them.”
Also on Saturday, foreign ministers from Muslim nations rejected Trump’s calls to empty the Gaza Strip of its Palestinian population and backed a plan for an administrative committee to govern the territory to allow reconstruction to proceed.
The foreign ministers gathered in Saudi Arabia for a special session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to address the situation in Gaza. The OIC has 57 nations with largely Muslim populations. They supported a plan to rebuild Gaza put forward by Egypt and backed by Arab states, including Saudi Arabia and Jordan. Without mentioning Trump, the ministers’ statement said that they rejected “plans aimed at displacing the Palestinian people individually or collectively as ethnic cleansing, a grave violation of international law and a crime against humanity.” They also condemned “policies of starvation” they said aim to push Palestinians to leave, a reference to Israel’s cutting off all supplies to Gaza.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ARIEL SCHALIT People block the entrance to Israel’s defense ministry headquarters on
Aviv, Israel,
release of hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Khamenei
STRIKE
Continued from page 1A
What prompted the strike
The union has been pushing for higher wages, better working conditions and protections during the disciplinary process. The strike was triggered when CATS issued a best and final offer letter
for a new collective bargaining agreement and would not negotiate further, union officials said. A copy of the letter dated Jan. 31 and provided by the union, showed CATS attorney Keith Cunningham stating that the former labor contract would expire by midnight and the transit agency planned to begin using a new collective bargaining agreement.
“Inasmuch as the parties are at an impasse and the contract will expire this evening, the Agency intends to implement the terms and conditions of the attached document immediately,” Cunningham wrote.
Richards said the letter did not implement the new contract, but only gave management the authority to do so. CATS continued to operate from from the previous labor
contract that expired Jan. 31, he said.
“Maybe the confusion is because of how it was phrased in the letter,” Richards said last week. “It gives us the ability to implement the new contract if need be. However, that new contract has not been implemented as of yet.”
Union leaders said the episodewiththecontractshowed disrespect for the workers, and the strike was avoidable
if they had received in writing confirmation that a new labor agreement was not in effect.
“They tried to force that contract down our throat,”
Willie Travis Jr., ATU Local 1546 recording secretary, said last week from the picket line.
What happens next
The parties will now move to third-party arbitration to
settle remaining issues with the labor contract. The previous agreement will be in effect until CATS and the union reach a new contract. Riders should monitor the CATS website or the myStop app for transit information, the system’s release said.
Email Haley Miller at haley.miller@ theadvocate.com.
to stricter discipline by the school district.
These recent cases of student offenders reveal the tensions between prosecuting crimes, disciplining students and keeping schools safe, all while still giving those same students the chance to continue their education.
“What is the answer to making the kids feel safe and working really hard to keep the guns out of the schools?” said LaMont Cole, schools superintendent for East Baton Rouge Parish.
AI weapons detectors
Cole has responded with a series of moves to tighten school security, including buying new artificial intelligence-powered weapons detectors to test at four high schools, including Woodlawn and Tara high schools, where the three students accused of carrying guns were arrested.
The screeners are expected to be installed in March.
Local law enforcement is also being more aggressive in trying to disrupt neighborhood crime committed by young people, Cole said in an interview
As he visits schools, students are telling him the heightened security is also aggravating their anxiety and making school feel more like prison.
The East Baton Rouge Parish school district, home to almost 40,000 students , inevitably ends up on the front lines in trying to juggle these competing goals.
Hundreds of students involved in crimes — some violent flow in and out of public schools in Baton Rouge. The vast majority end up in middle and high schools run by the school district.
School rights and rules
Students, even those accused of or convicted in crimes, are entitled by law to a free public education.
School districts, however, have leeway in deciding where they receive it.
“If the school system feels it is unsafe for the other kids in the system, they can take action to move that child to an alternative placement,” said Pamela Taylor Johnson, a retired Baton Rouge juvenile court judge and an expert in educational law
Simply being accused of a crime, even a serious crime, is not necessarily enough to warrant such a change.
“Just because someone
says you committed a crime doesn’t mean you pose a danger to the other kids in the school system,” Johnson said.
In the case of guns at school, the Louisiana Legislature has settled the question: Those students are getting expelled The same goes for students who bring to school explosives, drugs or knives longer than 21/2 inches.
Various consequences
Aside from these “zero tolerance” infractions, school districts have options in how they treat different kinds of student misconduct East Baton Rouge’s 89-page student handbook lists 37 serious infractions that fall short of automatic expulsion, ranging from arson to threatening other students.
Students bringing guns to schools are expelled for four semesters, but students who do well at their alternative schools can return earlier to their home school. Cole said returning students however, often lead to complaints from parents and other students who think those who bring guns to school should be removed for good.
The student handbook centers around misconduct on campus Off-campus misbehavior is mentioned only in cases of sexual misconduct involving students or staff, and when there is retaliation against school employees.
The handbook doesn’t address cases like Jaffar’s, involving his arrest in a violent off-campus crime. That changes, though, if he is convicted. A student convicted of a felony in adult court or convicted in juvenile court for a crime “which had it been committed by an adult would have constituted a felony” can be expelled.
More detection, more guns
To keep guns away from the classroom, schools have historically relied on student tips, adult observation, social media monitoring, random searches and handheld metal detectors.
In spring 2024, middle and high schools in Baton Rouge added a new tool: walkthrough metal detectors. This new tool, however shifted the mission. Instead of just trying to limit the prevalence of guns, schools now strive to prevent firearms from getting into the building altogether. The hope is also the fear of getting caught will persuade students to give up trying.
It’s an open question, though, whether the metal detectors are having the desired effect.
With three months still left to go in the current school year, district leaders say 13 guns have been reported on school campuses. That is up from the previous three school years — 12 in the 2021-22 school year, six in 2022-23 and four in 2023-24.
Dionne Chaney-Kent, a director of security at East Baton Rouge schools, said the low numbers in 2023-24 can be traced to the walkthrough metal detectors. In fall 2023, four guns were spotted at district schools. Only Istrouma High and alternative schools were then using the detectors. In spring 2024, when the devices were finally deployed districtwide, no guns were reported.
That peaceful stretch was short-lived, however
Five guns were reported at schools during the first month of the 2024-25 school year The scariest case occurred Aug. 22 when a 16-year-old McKinley High student was found with a loaded .40-caliber pistol in his bookbag along with a separate, fully loaded magazine. The gun, which had been stolen, was modified with a switch that made it an automatic weapon.
Cole wonders if more guns are being found because school security and law enforcement are making a greater effort to find them. In addition, the superintendent said, a lot of tips usually anonymous are coming in from students, as well as from people in the community
“A lot of that is contributing to the confiscation of
these weapons,” he said. Bolstering security
The 13 gun cases during the current school year at East Baton Rouge schools range in severity Seven were brought to campus by students during school hours. The other six gun cases involved nonstudents, most of them adults All but one occurred after hours and outdoors.
Six of the seven gun-bearing students managed to bring their weapons indoors. Five were caught thanks to tips. One case was an afterthe-fact report a student had a gun at school.
None of the six students were caught by the new metal detectors. Two Woodlawn High students made the news earlier this year when they managed to evade the detectors.
Cole said some schools have struggled to best use the devices. Older schools with multiple entrances or ones where the main office is distant from the main entrance pose special challenges, increasing the ways students can bypass security
“We built these schools in an era when we didn’t consider people bringing weapons on campus,” Cole said. “It requires a great investment to fix that.”
The detectors, however, did play a key role in at least one case. On Feb. 10, a 16-year-old Tara High student came to school with a gun in his bookbag only to ditch his bag outside when
he realized he would have to brave Tara High’s metal detectors.
‘Bigger problems’
Besides 27 years of experience in education, Cole spent nine years serving on the East Baton Rouge Parish Metro Council. There he became versed with the challenges in fighting crime in the area. He continues to interact frequently with law enforcement. Guns at school is only part of the puzzle, he said.
“We have a bigger problem we don’t talk about and that is young people’s easy access to weapons,” Cole said.
Some students bring guns to school, or consider the idea, because they are worried about what will happen to them if they are unarmed heading home into their sometimes dangerous
neighborhoods, he said. Cole, who grew up in Baton Rouge, said the exposure to guns is much greater today “When you talk to students, their conversation about weapons is really scary,” Cole said. “It’s not so much about the kids bringing guns to school. It’s about kids having so much experience with guns. They have seen them. They have shot them.”
Cole recalled a sobering recent conversation he had with a superintendent in another state. There, despite a lot of security and technology, students bring guns to those schools daily, to the point where it rarely makes the local news.
“We hadn’t gotten there yet We haven’t become numb,” Cole said. “A kid bringing a gun to school is still a big story here.”
Demonstrators march on International Women’s Day
Protests demand equal rights, end to discrimination and sexual violence
BY MEHMET GUZEL and ANDREW WILKS Associated Press
ISTANBUL Women took to the streets of cities across Europe, Africa, South America and elsewhere to mark International Women’s Day with demands for ending inequality and gender-based violence.
On the Asian side of Istanbul, Turkey’s biggest city, a rally in Kadikoy saw members of dozens of women’s groups listen to speeches, dance and sing in the spring sunshine. The colorful protest was overseen by a large police presence, including officers in riot gear and a water cannon truck.
The government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared 2025 the Year of the Family. Protesters pushed back against the idea of women’s role being confined to marriage and motherhood, carrying banners reading “Family will not bind us to life” and “We will not be sacrificed to the family.”
Critics have accused the government of overseeing restrictions on women’s rights and not doing enough to tackle violence against women.
Erdogan in 2021 withdrew Turkey from a European treaty, dubbed the Istanbul Convention, that protects women from domestic violence. Turkish rights group We Will Stop Femicides Platform says that 394 women were killed by men in 2024.
“There is bullying at work, pressure from husbands and fathers at home and pressure from patriarchal society We demand that this pressure be reduced even further,” Yaz Gulgun, 52, said. In many other European countries, women also protested against violence, for better access to gender-specific health care, equal pay and other issues in which they don’t get the same treatment as men.
In Poland, activists opened a center across from the parliament building in Warsaw where women can go to have abortions with pills, either alone or with other women.
Opening the center on International Women’s Day across from the legislature was a symbolic challenge to authorities in the traditionally Roman Catholic nation, which has one of Europe’s most restrictive abortion laws.
From Athens to Madrid, Paris, Munich, Zurich and Belgrade and in many more cities across the continent, women marched to demand an end to treatment as second-class citizens in society, politics, family and at work
In Madrid, protesters held up big hand-drawn pictures depicting Gisele Pélicot, the woman who was drugged by her now ex-husband in France over the course of a decade so that she could be raped by dozens of men while unconscious. Pélicot has become a symbol for women all over Europe in the fight against sexual violence.
Thousands of women marched in the capital Skopje and several other cities in North Macedonia to raise their voices for economic, political and social equality for women.
Organizers said only about 28% of women in the country own property and in rural areas only 5%, mostly widows, have property in their name. Only 18 out of 100 women surveyed in rural areas responded that their parents divided family property equally between the brother and sister “The rest were gender discriminated against within their family,” they said.
In Nigeria’s capital, Lagos, thousands of women gathered at the Mobolaji Johnson Stadium, dancing and signing and celebrating their womanhood. Many were dressed in purple — the tra-
ditional color of the women’s liberation movement
In Russia, the women’s day celebrations had a more official tone, with honor guard soldiers presenting yellow tulips to girls and women during a celebration in St. Petersburg.
In Berlin, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier called for stronger efforts to achieve equality and warned against tendencies to roll back progress already made.
“Globally, we are seeing populist parties trying to
create the impression that equality is something like a fixed idea of progressive forces,” he said. He gave an example of “ large tech companies that have long prided themselves on their modernity and are now, at the behest of a new American administration, setting up diversity programs and raving about a new ‘masculine energy’ in companies and society.”
In South America, some of the marches were organized by groups protesting the killings of women known as
femicides. Hundreds of women in Ecuador marched through the streets of Quito to steady drumbeats and held signs that opposed violence and the “patriarchal system.” “Justice for our daugh-
ters!” some demonstrators yelled in support of women slain in recent years.
In Bolivia, thousands of women began marching late Friday with some scrawling graffiti on the walls of courthouses demanding that their
rights be respected and denouncing impunity in femi-
FRIDAY,MARCH 14
and killed 13 Americans and 170 Afghan civilians.
It was then that Freshta and 1,500 Afghan prosecutors were forced to flee their homeland after the Taliban’s takeover Her family had no other choice but to abandon everything they knew to escape the ever-present threat to her life, and they have since lived as refugees in Pakistan.
Though distanced from the Taliban’s doorstep, the couple described their lives in Afghanistan’s neighboring country as “hell.”
But this week, their dreams were finally realized, thanks to the help of East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar Moore and a group of fellow U.S. prosecutors hellbent on getting families like theirs to safety Freshta and Hadi, both 32, were overcome with relief as they spoke to a welcoming party of about a dozen people airport Thursday night as Moore beside them.
“I don’t know to say,” Hadi struggling to through tears. made it. Because of a few people, sible.”
Like living in ‘a prison’
The process of immigrating to the U.S. is no easy task, even for allies like Freshta who worked with the American military Freshta’s life has been in greater danger than most, Moore said, as she was one of the first women to prosecute a case involving violence against women.
“Afghanistan did not prosecute rapes and sexual assaults because the word of any woman was only valued at one-half of any man,” Moore said.
Moore is a member of the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, a group that has worked tirelessly in recent years to help this group of Afghan prosecutors immigrate to the U.S.
A university professor and journalist, Hadi’s life was threatened by the Taliban, too.
Outside of a dangerous period where Hadi was forced to return to Afghanistan to secure his passport, the two have lived in a handful of homes in Pakistan.
Though they were distanced from the terrorist group, living in Pakistan offered little relief, the couple said.
Tensions between the two neighboring countries have been high, said David LaBahn, president of the attorneys group. Pakistan only reluctantly accepts refugees, and has since deported many of them.
Nearly all of Freshta and Hadi’s family still live in Afghanistan, where the Taliban continues to actively look for them.
In recent years, Freshta’s brother was captured and beaten five times by Taliban members who sought to un-
cover her and her husband’s whereabouts, she said Fears of being deported back to the Taliban’s doorstep have surged. LaB ahn said made deadrefudeported. till a.m., awake about happen,” est they could to keep their children from crying even inside the walls of their temporary housing in Pakistan, hoping to remain invisible to authorities knocking on doors to deport refugees.
“Crying is natural and necessary for human beings. But because of the police coming, going, knocking the doors because of deportation, we couldn’t let the kids cry freely,” Hadi said “Every time we say ‘No, just be silent. Don’t cry.’
As threats of deportation and being turned over to the Taliban increased, the couple went almost a year without stepping foot outside of their temporary home.
“We couldn’t leave the house,” Freshta said. “That was such a prison.”
Hopes killed, resurrected
Moore said he has known of Freshta for about a year Like others in the attorneys group, the East Baton Rouge district attorney operates on a belief that the U.S has a responsibility to help the prosecutors find refuge in this country after aiding the American military
LaBahn said this shouldn’t be a partisan issue, but it unfortunately has become so, especially recently A Trump executive order on Jan. 20 halted the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program that allowed prosecutors like Freshta and her family to find safe haven in the U.S.
“This sweeping executive order and the effects of this executive order are trapping them, and it’s really bad,” LaBahn said.
LaBahn said the Taliban has killed 54 Afghan prosecutors since 2021, and 50 prosecutor families remain in danger
After trying to find passage for nearly a year, it looked
as though a door opened for Freshta and Hadi when they received a call from advocates in mid-January with instructions to race to the Islamabad airport.
The time was now, they were told.
But almost in an instant, their dreams were extinguished.
Baggage packed and ready to go, the couple wept as they texted Moore after they heard they could not go to the U.S., due to Trump’s order
“You dream about something, dream big, and you have hope, you have plans you’re ready to start a new life,” Hadi said. “And something happens, and someone says to you, ‘No, stop there.’”
The development also was a punch to the gut of Moore, who at the time said he was “almost certain” the family would be killed if deported back to Afghanistan.
After they were denied passage, Freshta and Hadi were forced to continue living in limbo in Pakistan with hope dwindling and pressure of deportation back to Afghanistan surging, as the March 21 deadline approached.
“We didn’t know what would happen,” Hadi said. “It was total uncertainty.”
But at the beginning of February, a lawsuit was filed in a federal court in Washington state, challenging the Trump administration’s order
On Tuesday, U.S. District Court Judge Jamal N. Whitehead granted an injunction, pausing Trump’s immigration order and opening the door for refugees like Freshta and Hadi to come to the U.S. if they acted quickly
The same day, the couple went to the airport in Islamabad, where Pakistani officials told them Trump ended the American refugee program. But after some convincing, they were finally able to board a plane for Qatar and then another for Seattle, still worried they could be stopped and sent home at any moment.
“Every step of this trip was full of anxiety and tension,” Hadi said. “This was our last chance.
On American soil
On Wednesday, they landed at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
The idea was that arriving
in the city where a judge had temporarily blocked Trump’s order would improve their chances of clearing immigration.
Local attorneys who volunteer for the attorneys group waited outside customs at the airport, ready to spring into action if immigration officials wouldn’t let them through.
Hadi said it was “the last important step” of their journey The husband and wife waited and prayed as authorities brought the family into a room, took their phones and left to review their documents. Thirty minutes passed before a customs official came back.
“He said, ‘You came late There’s no process. You’re not allowed to enter,’” Hadi said.
The couple asked him to retrieve one of their phones on which they had a copy of the court ruling from days prior
The officer read the order and contacted officials in Washington, D.C., Hadi said.
The family waited for two more hours on pins and needles, until the customs officer finally returned.
“Congratulations. Your documents have been processed,” he told them
The husband and wife
erupted in tears.
“It was a beautiful moment,” Freshta said Overcome with relief, Hadi likened the feeling to weightlessness or being given “a cold glass of water after years in the desert.”
During a brief phone call Wednesday the typically stoic Moore sounded relieved himself.
“They made it through,” he said.
A new life in Baton Rouge
Group volunteers met the couple outside the airport terminal and took them to a hotel, where they stayed until traveling to Baton Rouge the next day Now in Baton Rouge, Freshta and Hadi are living in a hotel as Moore and others look for more permanent housing for them.
A GoFundMe has been launched to support them in rebuilding their lives. The district attorney and others said clothing for the family, household items and other
donations can be dropped off at the Louisiana District Attorneys Association office at 2525 Quail Drive in Baton Rouge. Moore hopes to secure a sponsor for Freshta and help her find work as a support staffer in the District Attorney’s Office while she pursues a law degree in the U.S. Hadi said he is interested in going back to school here
-Jeff M.
Economic worries mount amid Trump’s tariffs, cuts
BY JOSH BOAK Associated Press
WASHINGTON With his flurry of tariffs, government layoffs and spending freezes, there are growing worries
President Donald Trump may be doing more to harm the U.S. economy than to fix it. The labor market remains healthy with a 4.1% unemployment rate and 151,000 jobs added in February, and Trump likes to point to investment commitments by Apple and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company to show that he’s delivering results. But Friday’s employment report also found that the number of people stuck working part-time because of economic circumstances jumped by 460,000 last month. In the leisure and hospitality sectors that reflect consumers having extra money to spend, 16,000 jobs were lost. And the federal government reduced its payrolls by 10,000 in a potential harbinger of the alarm being sounded by the stock market, consumer confidence and other measures of where the economy is headed.
Since January, the economic policy uncertainty index has spiked 41% to a level, 334.5, that in the past signaled a recession. Nicholas Bloom, a Stanford University economist and co-developer of the uncertainty index, said it’s unclear how this will play out, but he’s worried.
“I have an increasing fear we will enter into what may become known as the ‘Trump recession,’” he said. “Ongoing policy turbulence and a tariff war could tip the U.S. economy into its first recession in five years.” That last recession occurred under Trump because of the coronavirus pandemic.
For his part, Trump seems comfortable with the uncertainty that he’s generating, saying that any financial pain from import taxes is a mere “disruption” that will eventually lead to more factories relocating to the United States and stronger growth If Trump’s gambit succeeds, the Republican would cement his reputation as an unconventional leader who proved doubters wrong. But if Trump’s tariffs backfire,
ences to uncertainty up from just 17 in the previous edition in January
“Many businesses noted heightened economic uncertainty and expressed concern about tariffs,” the Fed’s New York branch reported.
“Looking ahead, businesses were notably less optimistic.”
“This is the perfect storm for businesses,” said Brian Bethune, an economist at Boston College “How can you possibly plan anything in this environment?”
September and the recent decline could reflect a slowdown in economic demand.
Bessent suggested a core problem is that the U.S. economy has become overly reliant on government deficits and that the Trump administration would be fostering stronger growth in the private sector
“We’ve become addicted to this government spending, and there’s going to be a detox period,” he said.
costs of Social Security and Medicare. But the initiative has started to downsize the federal workforce in ways that could surface in future jobs reports. Roughly 75,000 employees took the deferred resignation plan There are also thousands of probationary federal workers who were fired and tens of thousands of layoffs to come based on the administration’s plans.
much of the price would be paid by everyday Americans who could suffer from job losses, lower wages, higher inflation and, possibly, an injured sense of national pride.
In an interview to air Sunday on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures,” Trump was pressed to provide some clarity on his tariffs agenda that has caused uncertainty to fester The president largely hedged his answer and blamed the 6% drop in the stock market over the past two weeks on “big globalists.”
“You know, the tariffs could go up as time goes by, and they may go up and, you know, I don’t know if it’s predictability,” the president said.
The White House maintains that Friday’s jobs report showed the administration’s strategy is working because manufacturers added 10,000 jobs. Of the manufacturing gains, 8,900 jobs came from the auto sector, recovering some of the industry’s job losses in January The White House also suggested that the loss of leisure and hospitality jobs was the result of flu season and people having depleted savings and credit card debt because of President Joe Biden’s term.
“I thought it was a really really impressive jobs report,” Kevin Hassett, director of the White House National Economic Council, said of Friday’s numbers. Hassett said the additional factory jobs were the result of companies “on-shoring” work because of the coming tariffs.
“This is the first of many reports that are going to look
like this,” Hassett said with regard to the hiring in the industrial sector
The stock market selloff raises doubts about whether tariffs will create the promised jobs.
“Markets anticipate,” said John Silvia, CEO of Dynamic Economic Strategy “The turn down the dark alley of tariffs signals higher inflation, slower economic growth and a weaker U.S. dollar It is an economic horror movie in slow motion.”
Trump has instigated a trade war in the last week with Canada, Mexico and China, only to then hit a monthlong pause on some of his import taxes because of the threat to U.S. auto factory jobs and because of Mexico’s latest efforts to curb fentanyl smuggling.
More tariffs are coming on April 2 for Europe, Trump says, possibly putting the United States into open conflict with a continent it helped rebuild after World War II. South Korea, India and Brazil could also face new tariffs, Trump said in his address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday Silvia said Trump’s tariffs need to be more targeted with regard to products and nations and set at lower rates, adding that doing so would provide an assurance that there is solid research backing the measures.
There were multiple signs of uncertainty and concerns about the tariffs in the Federal Reserve’s beige book, a collection of anecdotes from hundreds of businesses that the Fed releases eight times a year
Published Wednesday, the beige book included 47 refer-
Still, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Friday on CNBC that he sees positive momentum in combating inflation. He said crude oil prices have fallen since Trump’s inauguration, as have the interest rates on 10year U.S. Treasury notes and mortgages.
Still, interest rates on government debt are higher than they were last year in
This particular form of economic rehab is coming from Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency which is led by T-shirted tech mogul Elon Musk, the owner of Tesla, X and SpaceX, among other companies.
The alleged savings by DOGE are still too paltry to bend the troubling trajectory of the national debt that is largely being driven by tax revenues that are insufficient to cover the rising
Asked Friday in the Oval Office if the government layoffs could hurt the overall labor market, Trump said the economy would be great.
“I think the labor market is going to be fantastic, but it’s going to have high-paying manufacturing jobs,” he said. ”We had too many people in government. You can’t just do that.”
AP economics writer Christopher Rugaber contributed to this report.
BY ADITHI RAMAKRISHNAN
NEW YORK A total lunar eclipse will flush the moon red Thursday night into Friday morning across the Western Hemisphere.
The best views will be from North America and South America Parts of Africa and Europe may catch a glimpse.
Lunar eclipses happen when the moon, Earth and sun align just so. The Earth casts a shadow that can partially or totally blot out the moon. During a partial lunar
eclipse, Earth’s shadow appears to take a bite of the moon. The full moon is covered during a total eclipse and blushes coppery red because of stray bits of sunlight filtering through Earth’s atmosphere Lunar and solar eclipses happen anywhere from four to seven times a year, according to NASA. A partial lunar eclipse graced skies in the Americas, Africa and Europe last September and the last total lunar eclipse was in 2022.
The so-called blood moon will be visible for about an hour starting at 1:26 a.m. on
Friday morning. Peak viewing will be close to 2 a.m.
To see it, venture outside and look up no need for eclipse glasses or any special equipment
“As long as the sky is clear you should be able to see it,” said Shannon Schmoll, director of Abrams Planetarium at Michigan State University.
The setting of the moon may make it harder to see the eclipse in Europe and Africa.
“This is really an eclipse for North and South America,” said astronomy expert Michael Faison from Yale University.
THE CANADIAN PRESS FILE PHOTO By JUSTIN TANG
Sunlight shines through the flags of Canada and the United States held together by a protester on Feb 1 outside on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
Unions seek to stop DOGE from accessing Social Security data
BY FATIMA HUSSEIN and LINDSAY WHITEHURST Associated Press
WASHINGTON A group of labor unions are asking a federal court for an emergency order to stop Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency from accessing the sensitive Social Security data of millions of Americans. The motion for emergency relief was filed late Friday in federal court in Maryland by the legal services group Democracy Forward against the Social Security Administration and its acting commissioner, Leland Dudek.
The unions want the court to block DOGE’s access to the vast troves of personal data held by the agency
Included in the filing is an affidavit from Tiffany Flick, a former senior official at the agency who says career civil servants are trying to protect the data from DOGE. “A disregard for our careful privacy systems and processes now threatens the security the data SSA houses about millions of Americans,” Flick wrote in court documents.
Karianne Jones, a lawyer for the unions and a retiree group behind the lawsuit, said it is not fully clear what
for mean the potential impact is “huge.”
“Essentially what you have is DOGE just swooping in and bullying their way into access to millions of Americans private data. They cannot explain why they want this data. They can’t really tell you what data they want. They just want everything. They want the source code, and they want to do it without any restrictions,” she said.
kind of access that DOGE might have to personal data about taxpayers. But she
said the apparent scope and the lack of information about what DOGE is looking
The Social Security Administration did not immediately respond to a request Saturday for comment on the lawsuit, which was originally filed last month.
DOGE’s work during the early stages of the Trump administration has drawn nearly two dozen lawsuits. Judges have raised questions in several cases about DOGE’s sweeping costcutting efforts, conducted with little public information about its staffing and operations. But judges have not always agreed that the risks are imminent enough to block DOGE from government systems. Across-the-board cuts at the Social Security Administration are prompting questions about the possible effects on benefits for tens of millions of recipients.
FEMA cancels classes at national fire training academy amid cuts
BY CHRISTINE FERNANDO Associated Press
CHICAGO The country’s preeminent federal fire training academy canceled classes, effective immediately, on Saturday amid the ongoing flurry of funding freezes and staffing cuts by President Donald Trump’s administration.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced that National Fire Academy courses were canceled amid a “process of evaluating agency programs and spending to ensure alignment with Administration priorities,” according to a
notice sent to instructors, students and fire departments. Instructors were told to cancel all future travel until further notice Firefighters, EMS providers and other first responders from across the country travel to the NFA’s Maryland campus for the federally funded institution’s free training programs.
“The NFA is a powerhouse for the fire service,” said Marc Bashoor, a former West Virginia fire chief with 44 years of fire safety experience. “It’s not a ‘nice to have.’ It is the one avenue we have to bring people from all over the country to learn from and
SUNDAY NEWS SHOWS
with each other If we want to continue to have one of the premier fire services in the world, we need to have the National Fire Academy.
The academy, which also houses the National Fallen Firefighter’s Memorial, opened in 1973 to combat a growing number of fatal fires nationwide. At the time, the National Commission on Fire Prevention and Control envisioned it to be the “West Point of the Fire Service,” according to a report form the organization. Bashoor said the NFA was set to welcome a new set of fire safety officers for training next week.
ABC’s “This Week”: Kevin Hassett, director of the White House National Economic Council; Sen. Adam Schiff, DCalif.; Shawn Fain, president of the United Auto Workers.
NBC’s “Meet the Press”: Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick; Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich.
CNN’s “State of the Union”: Adam Boehler, the special presidential envoy for hostage affairs; Sens. Rick Scott, R-Fla., and Andy Kim, D-N.J.; Reps Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, and Jake Auchincloss, D-Mass.
CBS’ “Face the Nation”: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem; Reps. Tom Suozzi,
D-N.Y., and Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa.; Canadian Ambassador to the U.S. Kirsten Hillman; Fiona Hill, a former White House adviser on Russia.
“Fox News Sunday”: Boehler; Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.; Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif. The Associated Press
“People had made their plane and travel reservations. And all of a sudden, they get an email that ‘Sorry, it’s been canceled,’” he said.
Field’s Italian is popular spot from Nicaud brothers
BY JUSTIN MITCHELL Staff writer
The doors have been open for about two weeks at Field’s Italian restaurant, the newest dining option on Government Street in downtown Ocean Springs, and dinner reservations are going as fast as general manager Ashton Senn can answer the phone.
“We are booking out every single night,” said the food and beverage industry veteran who has worked in restaurants and nightclubs across New Orleans and the Mississippi Coast
The fried burrata appetizer flies off the menu so fast, she often has to make a grocery store run to Rouses to get more. Once one table orders the dish adored with housemade vodka sauce and chili oil, others follow suit. The same goes for mascarpone cheese used in the fromscratch tiramisu.
Field’s Italian is the brainchild of Field and Jourdan Nicaud, brothers who run some of the most recognized restaurants on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, including waterfront Bacchus eateries in Pass Christian and Ocean Springs, and Field’s Steak and Oyster Bar in Bay St. Louis and Biloxi. Jourdan Nicaud’s latest restaurant is Toro Sushi on Court Street in the Bay
The Pass Christian natives wanted to add an Italian concept to downtown Ocean Springs, a city that’s growing in popularity among tourists looking for a weekend getaway and Louisiana residents in the market for a second home or beach house.
“This has been three years in the making, Jourdan Nicaud said “(We) felt that Gulf Coast was missing an Italian food product at a lower price point, but with a high-end feel.” Jourdan, who lives in New Or-
Rooftop, which had a Mexican restaurant on the first floor and indoor-outdoor bar and dance club on the second.
Field’s is on the first floor and offers two different vibes for diners, Senn said. Guests are greeted by green velvet couches, tropical wallpaper and a giant bar with windows that open to outdoor patio seating.
No reservations are required at the bar, and the full menu is served there.
“It’s cool, colorful and vibrant,” Jourdan said, and the decor transports customers from coastal Mississippi to Miami Beach.
Senn said the private rooms can be arranged to seat from six to 24 people.
A peek at the menu
Lauren Joffrion is the corporate executive chef for the restaurant group, and her menu at Field’s Italian blends the classics with unique coastal flavor profiles.
“We wanted to do some familiar Italian flavors, but with a modern twist,” she said.
crab arancini and mozzarella sticks — the lasagna, lobster ravioli and peppered pig flatbread with an Alfredo sauce base, hot cherry peppers, peperonata, salami and sausage.
Joffrion and her team make everything from scratch, she said.
The most popular cocktails from the bar menu, crafted by Senn, are the “Spressy” espresso martini and Negroni pitcher What’s next?
Field’s will soon open for lunch too, as spring and summer kick off the busiest time for tourism in south Mississippi. Jourdan said a second Field’s Italian restaurant will open in Pass Christian this spring.
It will be located just off the beach in his new Bungalows development, a mixed-use space that features local retail, restaurants and long-term rental units.
“People are already asking about (Field’s), wanting to know who is eating there and what people think,” Ocean Springs Mayor Kenny Holloway said.
Holloway, a Republican who was elected in 2021, said he’s excited for more businesses to open in the building that houses Field’s Italian, including Cat Island Coffee and a rooftop piano bar that Senn will also manage for the Nicaud brothers. A jewelry store anchors the first floor with Field’s, and the second floor will also have hotel rooms.
“It’s good development,” he said. “It’s not anything far out that would be of concern.”
leans with his wife, Vibha, and their daughters, is a big foodie who splits his time between the city and his hometown. He and Field have been renovating a three-story building that houses Field’s after the brothers closed
Behind a door and down a hallway is the dining room, which has shades of olive, blue and brown.
The spaces are more intimate, and there are private rooms separated by leather curtains for large parties and events.
One of the most popular dishes so far has been the spicy rigatoni alla vodka, with guests choosing to add Joffrion’s meatballs to the dish at the recommendation of beloved server Fready Staten.
“A lot of people say this is one of the best meatballs they’ve ever had,” Senn said.
Other popular menu items include the hot charcuterie board — with meatballs, Italian sausage,
Holloway added that Louisiana natives are scooping up second homes near downtown, as Government Street offers dining, art, bars, boutiques, and more local businesses that are just a short walk or drive from the beachfront.
“There are Saints and LSU cars with (Louisiana) tags all over the place,” he said “Ocean Springs is a popular little retreat.”
Email Justin Mitchell at justin. mitchell@theadvocate.com.
STAFF PHOTOS By JUSTIN MITCHELL
Seed oils being criticized by Kennedy, influencers
Nutrition scientists say research confirms health benefits
BY JONEL ALECCIA Associated Press
Until recently, most Americans had never heard the term “seed oils,” even though they’ve likely cooked with and consumed them for decades.
It’s the catchy description coined by internet influencers, wellness gurus and some politicians to refer to common cooking oils — think canola, soybean and corn oil that have long been staples in many home kitchens.
Those fiery critics refer to the top refined vegetable oils as “the hateful eight” and claim that they’re fueling inflammation and high rates of chronic diseases like obesity and diabetes.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the new health secretary, has said Americans are being “unknowingly poisoned” by seed oils and has called for fast-food restaurants to return to using beef tallow, or rendered animal fat, in their fryers instead.
In response to consumer concerns, some food-makers have stripped seed oils from their products. Restaurants like the salad chain Sweetgreen have removed them from their menus.
Many Americans say they now avoid seed oils, according to a recent survey International Food Information Council, an industry trade group.
The seed oil discussion has exasperated nutrition scientists, who say decades of research confirms the health benefits of consum-
scientists say are not borne out by research.
Some critics contend that the way the oils are produced leaves behind toxic byproducts of a chemical called hexane. Hexane is considered hazardous in a gas form, but Decker said the hexane used as a liquid solvent to extract the oil is evaporated off and that the residue that remains “is very low and would not present a risk.”
Another common claim is that the seed oils’ high omega-6 and low omega-3 composition causes an imbalance that may increase the risk of chronic conditions by boosting inflammation in the body.
of linoleic acid the most common omega-6, does not significantly affect concentrations of inflammatory markers in the blood, she said.
“Scientists who study omega-6 and omega-3 think we need both,” Belury said. “Seed oils do not increase acute or chronic inflammation markers.”
In addition, research from the American Heart Association and others has consistently shown that plantbased oils reduce so-called bad cholesterol, lowering the risk of heart disease and stroke, especially compared with sources high in saturated fat.
of butter had a 15% higher risk of dying than those who ate the least. People who ate the most plant-based oils — including seed oils — had a 16% lower risk than those who ate the least.
Dr Daniel Wang, who led the research, said new modeling data suggests that swapping less than a tablespoon a day of butter for equal calories of plantbased oils could lower premature deaths from cancer and overall mortality by 17%. Such a small daily change could result in “a substantial benefit,” Wang said.
ing such oils, especially in place of alternatives such as butter or lard.
“I don’t know where it came from that seed oils are bad,” said Martha Belury, an Ohio State University food science professor In a Senate hearing Thursday, Dr Marty Makary, nominated to lead the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, called for a closer review of the products.
“I think seed oils are a good example of where we could benefit from a consolidation of the scientific evidence,” he said. What are seed oils?
Simply put, they are oils extracted from plant seeds. They include eight commonly targeted by critics: canola, corn, cottonseed, grapeseed, soybean, sunflower, safflower and rice bran. Seed oils are typically made by pressing or crushing the seeds and then processing them further with chemicals and heat to remove elements that can leave the oil cloudy or with an unpleasant taste or odor
The result of such refining is a neutral-tasting oil that is inexpensive, shelf-stable and able to be heated at a high temperature without smoking, said Eric Decker, a food science professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. By contrast, olive oil and avocado oil are considered fruit oils. They’re often cold-pressed, which retains many of the plant-based compounds that benefit health but also makes the oils more expensive and prone to smoking at high heat.
Seed oils are composed mostly of unsaturated fatty acids, including monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat. Most seed oils are high in one type of fatty acid, omega-6, and low in another type, omega-3. Those fatty acids are essential for human health, but our bodies don’t make them on their own, so we must get them from foods.
Claims about health
Critics of seed oils make a range of claims that many
Belury, who has studied fatty acids for three decades, says that claim is based on an oversimplification and misunderstanding of the science. Studies have shown that increased intake
That’s found in new research from Brigham and Women’s Hospital scientists as well. A study of more than 200,000 adults over more than 30 years released last week found that people who ate the highest amounts
Groups like the Seed Oil Free Alliance, which charges firms to certify their products are free of the oils, note that seed oil consumption in the U.S. has soared in recent decades and that they provide empty calories that “displace other, more nutritious foods.”
BY ADITHI RAMAKRISHNAN AP science writer
NEW YORK Scientists have dated the skeleton of an ancient child that caused a stir when it was first discovered because it carries features from both humans and Neanderthals.
The child’s remains were discovered 27 years ago in a rock shelter called Lagar Velho in central Portugal. The nearly complete skeleton was stained red, and scientists think it may have been wrapped in a painted animal skin before burial. When the humanlike child was discovered, scientists noted that some of their attributes — including body proportions and jawbone — looked Neanderthal. The researchers suggested that the child was descended from populations in which humans and Neanderthals mated and mixed. That was a radical notion at the time, but advances in genetics have since proven those populations existed
and people today still carry Neanderthal DNA. But trying to figure out when exactly the child lived has been difficult. Small roots had grown through the bones and contamination from plants or other sources — made it impossible for scientists to use traditional carbon dating to measure the child’s age They instead dated the charcoal and animal bones around the skeleton to between 27,700 and 29,700 years ago
Techniques have improved, and researchers reported Friday in the journal Science Advances that they were able to date the skeleton by measuring part of a protein that’s found primarily in human bones.
Examining part of a crushed arm, they revealed that the earlier estimate was in the ballpark: the skeleton was from between 27,700 and 28,600 years ago
“Being able to successfully date the child felt like giving them back a tiny piece of
their story, which is a huge privilege,” said Bethan Linscott, a study author now at the University of Miami.
She noted the initial discovery was more than a skeleton it was also the grave of a young child. When dating the bones, she couldn’t help but wonder who loved the child, what made them laugh and what their world looked like in the short four years they walked the planet
Paul Pettitt, an archaeologist at Durham University in England who was not involved with the new research said in an email that the study is an example of how dating methods are becoming more effective and helping scientists better understand the past
The study of where humans came from is important “for the same reason we keep the portraits of our parents and grandparents,” said study author João Zilhão from the University of Lisbon.
“It’s a way of remembering,” he said.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO Canola oil, considered a seed oil, is a common staple in home kitchens. Critics of seed oils make a range of claims that many scientists say are not borne out by research.
LOUISIANA POLITICS
Mike Johnson tries to avert a government shutdown
WASHINGTON — While attention focuses on changing tariffs and rising prices, the deadline to stop a government shutdown is fast approaching
When Friday night turns to Saturday morning at midnight, much of the federal government will close unless Congress this week passes legislation to authorize further spending.
Both President Donald Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Benton, are scurrying to get such a bill passed. So far, they haven’t nailed down enough votes to avoid a politically damaging shutdown.
With a 218-216 Republican majority, Johnson can lose only two GOP votes if everyone shows up and the Democrats remain opposed to the usually bipartisan measure.
Johnson is optimistic.
“I believe we’ll pass it along party lines,” he said Thursday “It is a fundamental responsibility we have to fund the government. And a clean CR with a few minor anomalies is not something that they should vote against.”
He’s referring to a “continuing resolution,” a single stopgap measure that would authorize government to spend taxpayer dollars until the end of September A new fiscal year begins Oct. 1. A CR lumps all funding together at the same levels that were approved last year under President Joe Biden.
By clean, Johnson is saying the bill does not include additional funding cuts or riders promoting conservative causes that have proved to be stumbling blocks in the past.
“I certainly hope that reasonably minded members on both sides of the aisle will do the right thing. It doesn’t help anyone to have a government shut down,” Johnson said.
He blamed unreasonable Democratic demands for stifling negotiations that forced the need for a continuing resolution.
Traditionally, Congress passes 12 bills that appropriate spending for the fiscal year at federal agencies. But that’s only happened a few times this century as Re-
Verne Kennedy, La. pollster, dies
Only political insiders knew his name, but Verne Kennedy played a significant role for decades in deciding who would be elected governor of Louisiana.
V. Kennedy
Kennedy was a pollster whose survey results helped candidates craft messages for voters. Former governors Edwin Edwards and David Treen were among his clients. Kennedy’s data also helped business owners decide who to bet their money on. Kennedy, 83, died on Feb. 28 in Gulf Breeze, Florida. He had two children and was married to his wife Martha for 61 years.
Besides working for candidates, Kennedy did polling for a group of about 20 business owners for Louisiana governor’s races from 1995 through 2023.
“We wanted to pick someone who wasn’t in Louisiana or was tied to any candidate and did good research,” said Randy Haynie, a veteran lobbyist in
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Benton, watches before President Donald Trump arrives to address a joint session of Congress on March 4.
publicans and Democrats have become increasingly intransigent.
Because the CR, however clean, deals with lump sums rather than specific expenditures, Trump and his efficiency czar, Elon Musk, would have more discretion to move money around during a time when the two are unilaterally cutting funds and firing workers to reduce the size of government.
Democrats want language in the bill that would give the legislative branch more input in those executive branch
Baton Rouge who was a member of the group that hired Kennedy “We trusted Verne. He gave us the numbers straight up.”
John Georges, who owns The Advocate | The Times-Picayune, was the organizer of the group for many years.
“He was about the science and not the art of politics,” Georges said.
Kennedy didn’t just poll on governor’s races in Louisiana. In Jefferson Parish, for example, he did surveys for such candidates as former Sheriff Newell Normand and former assessor Lawrence Chehardy, said Bob d’Hemecourt, a veteran political operative.
In 2022, Kennedy was inducted into the Louisiana Political Hall of Fame.
In 2023, Kennedy told the business group that his data showed something that few were predicting: then-Attorney General Jeff Landry had a shot at being elected governor outright in the primary And that’s what happened.
Kennedy’s first poll in May
decisions.
“I won’t vote for any budget that fails to protect the American people from the extreme policies of the Musk-Trump administration,” said Democratic Rep. Troy Carter, of New Orleans.
“Republicans control the House, the Senate, and the White House. They have the power and the responsibility to govern. If they can’t come together and pass a budget that prioritizes working families, economic stability, and national security, then they alone will be respon-
that year showed then-U.S. Sen. David Vitter, the Republican who was the heavy favorite, leading with 36% of the vote, with John Bel Edwards, a little-known Democratic state representative, running second with 27%.
But because African American voters typically gave 90% of their vote to the Democratic candidate, Kennedy redistributed the numbers by giving 90% of the undecided Black voters to Edwards.
That gave him 35%, and as news of Kennedy’s survey spread, Edwards suddenly gained credibility as a candidate among the political class.
In July, his numbers showed the Democrat leading with 34%, while Vitter and then-Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle, a Republican, both had 21%. Given that virtually all voters knew Vitter from his years in public office, Kennedy deduced that Vitter had little room to grow Edwards soundly defeated Vit-
sible for shutting down the government.”
Members of the House and Senate appropriations committees have been negotiating to move the individual bills that authorize spending for each agency But Congress doesn’t have time to pass those bills before Friday night.
“Given the March 14 deadline, Congress must act swiftly to prevent a funding lapse,” said Rep. Julia Letlow, R-Start and a member of the House Appropriations Committee.
“Funding the government will keep crucial services operational while empowering us to continue working to pass President Trump’s agenda of tax relief, enhanced border security, and boosting American energy production,” she added.
There have been 10 government shutdowns since 1981. The duration of shutdowns has ranged from a couple of days to 21 days in 1995-1996 to 35 days in 2018-2019.
Generally, federal employees are furloughed, national parks and agency offices are closed.
Some employees, such as active military and air flight controllers, are required to continue working without pay, though usually they are reimbursed once the shutdown is over
Shutdowns end up costing the federal government extra — $400 million in 19951996, $5 billion in 2018-2019 and rattles the world’s financial markets.
The actual CR text is expected to be released over the weekend. The House Rules Committee would take up the CR on Monday and a vote by the full House then would be expected Tuesday
The Senate would then have to approve the measure and deliver it to Trump by Saturday morning.
“I am working with the GREAT House Republicans on a Continuing Resolution to fund the Government until September to give us some needed time to work on our Agenda,” Trump wrote on social media. “Conservatives will love this Bill, because it sets us up to cut Taxes and Spending in Reconciliation, all while effectively FREEZING Spending this year.”
Email Mark Ballard at mballard@ theadvocate.com.
ter in the runoff election, 56% to 44%.
Kennedy’s bill dropping Biden drilling rule passes
WASHINGTON The U.S. House gave final approval on a 221 to 202 vote Thursday to a resolution sponsored by U.S. Sen. John N. Kennedy, R-Madisonville, that lifted an offshore energy production rule rendered during the Biden administration.
The rule required offshore lessees and operators to “submit an archaeological report with any oil and gas exploration or development plan” to drill or lay pipelines.
“I am proud to see that the House passed my resolution to help bring back America’s energy dominance, and I look forward to President (Donald) Trump signing it into law,” Kennedy said in a statement.
The Biden administration rule, approved in September, effectively required a survey when reports previously were only
necessary if there was a “reason to believe” that sunken ships, submerged settlements or other archaeological findings were on the seafloor
Democrats argued that all the rule did was standardize reporting that most of the energy industry already filed with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, called BOEM.
Republicans, however, rejected that assessment, arguing that the Biden administration passed the rule as another hurdle to exploring, drilling and producing oil and natural gas in the Gulf. The archaeological rule was one of 225 regulations that increased compliance costs that were particularly onerous for smaller operators, GOP House members argued. Voting for the legislation were all the Republican members of Louisiana’s congressional delegation: House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Benton; Rep. Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson; Rep. Julia Letlow R-Start; and Rep. Clay Higgins, R-Lafayette.
Both Democratic members of the state’s delegation voted against the measure: Rep. Troy Carter, D-New Orleans; and Rep. Cleo Fields, D-Baton Rouge.
Mark Ballard
CAPITOL BUZZ staff reports
J. Kennedy
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JULIA DEMAREE NIKHINSON
Black graves moved to make way for industrial park
BY BEN FINLEY Associated Press
DANVILLE, Va. — A decision to move the remains of hundreds African American tenant farmers from a former Virginia tobacco plantation to a dedicated burial ground has elicited a range of emotions among the sharecroppers’ descendants.
Some worry about the implications of disturbing the graves of people who were exploited and enslaved. Others hope the remains can be identified and reburied with more respect than they were afforded in life.
The mostly unidentified remains are being moved from a site that had been part of one of the nation’s largest slave-owning operations, to make way for an industrial park.
When they were buried they weren’t considered fully human, but now they are “patriots who are coming out of their graves with equal rights in 2025,” one descendant, Cedric Hairston, said Archaeologists have already started exhuming the approximately 275 plots, and some of the remains of tenant farmers and their families are already in a funeral home but will be moved to the new burial site about a mile away Officials have been consulting with descendants about genetic testing on unidentified remains as well as designs for the new cemetery, including a memorial archway
“I don’t think anybody would want their ancestors exhumed or moved,” said Jeff Bennett whose great-great-great-grandfather was buried at the plantation. “But for
BY COREY WILLIAMS
Associated Press
EAST LANSING,Mich.— An 1842
U.S. Supreme Court ruling
overturning the kidnapping conviction of a White man who seized a Black family and forced them into slavery south of the Mason-Dixon line is still being cited in American jurisprudence, 160 years after enslaved people throughout the U.S. were freed.
Prigg v. Pennsylvania has been cited in 274 other rulings since then, according to the Citing Slavery Project at Michigan State University They are among more than 7,000 direct citations of slavery-law precedents that continue to guide lawyers and judges, said the project’s director, law professor Justin Simard.
This research into the lasting impact of legal principles related to the ownership of other humans is a counterpoint to efforts by the Trump administration and elected officials in Republican-led states to remove references to America’s racial history and dictate what teachers can discuss in classrooms.
“Because people are invested in trying to pretend that our history of slavery didn’t happen and that its effects are not still with us,” Simard told The Associated Press, “I thought, what better way to prove that slavery had an influence on our legal system than using official legal sources?” Most of the slavery precedents concern how property rights were protected by the U.S. Constitution, which was written by wealthy property owners in an era when much of the young nation’s economy was powered by the buying and selling and sweat of
them to give us a lot of say so in the new cemetery, down to the design details and the plaques and memorials that we put up, I feel like (they’re) really doing it in a dignified way, in a respectful way.”
African American cemeteries have suffered neglect, abandonment and destruction over the centuries. But efforts to preserve them are gaining momentum, with communities unearthing and rebuilding these crucial links to past generations.
While generally supportive of the project to move the graves, Hairston worries about the indignity of exhuming the graves of people who were brutalized as slaves and exploited as sharecroppers.
“It just seems that 100 or so odd years after their death, there’s still no rest,” he said.
Largest enslaver in the South Oak Hill was part of a family empire that enslaved thousands of
people across 45 plantations and farms in four states, according to “The Hairstons,” a 1999 book by Henry Wiencek that chronicles the Black and White Hairston families.
Samuel Hairston, the plantation’s owner, was reputedly the largest enslaver in the South, Wiencek wrote.
But the grand property has stood mostly empty and unused since sharecropping ended last century
The 1820s plantation house was destroyed by fire in 1988.
Many who were enslaved at Oak Hill left after emancipation, Wiencek wrote Those who remained as tenant farmers were often cheated of wages and faced crushing poverty and sometimes violence in the Jim Crow South.
Some tenant farmers took the Hairston surname, in part because “we had no other name to identify with, as the government was collecting data for the census. We brought no last name with us from Africa,” Cedric Hairston said, add-
ter, mostly in cases involving property law, as guidance regarding the boundaries between state and federal power Simard said.
The continuing use of such citations shows that slavery wasn’t just a historic stain that the 13th Amendment cleaned up these precedents have an insidious effect on jurisprudence even today said Leonard Mungo, a Michigan-based civil rights and employment discrimination attorney
enslaved people.
The Supreme Court made slavery’s importance to the America’s founding clear when it ruled that Pennsylvania’s anti-slavery law was an unconstitutional affront to the federal Fugitive Slave Act, and ruled in favor of Edward Prigg, who had forced Margaret Morgan and her children into slavery in Maryland.
The U.S. Constitution clearly granted “to the citizens of the slaveholding states the complete right and title of ownership in their slaves, as property, in every state in the Union, into which they might escape from the state where they were held in servitude,” the court wrote.
The slaveowner’s right to “this species of property” was so fundamental to the framers of the Constitution that without it, “the Union could not have been formed,” the justices added. Slavery became illegal when the 13th Amendment was adopted in 1865, but Prigg has been most often cited in the decades thereaf-
“The unashamed use of human beings as property and as the foundation for the development of jurisprudence regarding property law is the same reason courts across this country rarely find violations of civil rights in employment and other contexts in its rulings and decisions,” Mungo said.
And it’s not like only minorities are affected: Prigg was cited in a 1989 Supreme Court decision overruling most of the $850,000 judgment awarded by a Texas jury to a White football coach who alleged that he was reassigned and demoted from a mostly Black high school because of his race.
Sometimes, slavery precedents are invoked in efforts to reaffirm civil rights. In a 2016 Iowa Supreme Court opinion, dissenting justices said people arrested but not yet formally charged with a crime must be allowed private in-person attorney consultations. Citing how Fugitive Slave Act enforcement shaped the Iowa Constitution, these justices said enslaved people were given the right of counsel — and so should an Iowa man accused of driving under the influence. They were outvoted, 4-3.
Simard was doing research
ing, “Many of our women carried and birthed a Hairston child, never with the support of the law to report that they were raped.”
The search for a sharecropper
One of the sharecroppers was Fleming Adams Sr., Bennett’s great-great-great-grandfather
Known as “Flem,” he was born into slavery on another plantation in 1830. He later worked at Oak Hill, where he had to duck through doorways because he was so tall, Bennett said.
Adams and his wife Martha raised three sons — George, Daniel and Flem Jr. — before he died in 1916. His death certificate lists his burial place as Oak Hill.
“My hope is that we can discover where Flem is,” Bennett said. “He was 7 feet tall, so they’d be looking for a bigger coffin. And hopefully there’d be enough of his remains where they could do a DNA sample.”
Most of the graves in the two secluded sharecropper cemeteries were marked only by moss-covered stones without inscriptions. Rows of depressions in the earth showed where the wooden coffins had collapsed below. Needles from loblolly pines covered many of the plots.
A public entity, the PittsylvaniaDanville Regional Industrial Facility Authority, acquired 3,500 acres of land that included the former Oak Hill plantation, and Tennessee-based Microporous announced in November it would build a $1.3 billion battery production facility there. It expects to create 2,000 jobs.
Virginia’s Department of Historic Resources granted a permit in late November to move the graves, noting that relocation is consistent with the desires of the descendant families. Bennett and others vis-
ited the sites in December
Silence fell as they walked into the first cemetery J.D. Adams, an Oak Hill descendant, said a historical marker must be placed there.
“We need some time in order to determine what it is we want and how we want it,” Adams told Matt Rowe, Pittsylvania County’s economic development director Rowe replied: “I’m open to anything and everything.”
The industrial authority has raised $1.3 million from logging the land to fund the project, which is being handled by engineering and consulting company WSP WSP’s archaeologist, John Bedell, said everything would be collected from each grave shaft, even if it is mostly soil, and transferred to its new space, including the stone that marked it.
The firm hopes to finish transferring the graves this month. Work on the new burial site and a dedication ceremony will follow in the coming months.
Mementos of past lives
Bennett and others recently viewed personal items found in the graves. Protected in plastic bags, they included eyeglasses, a medicine bottle and a 5-cent coin from 1836. One man was buried with a light bulb, socket and electrical cord. Another man’s grave was lined with bricks, indicating he was wealthy, Bennet said. Those bricks will be repurposed at the new burial site, possibly in the memorial archway, and inscribed with the names of the deceased, he said.
Descendants are reviewing funeral home records to try to identify those buried in unmarked graves. Given the challenging nature of the task, they may inscribe the names of everyone who lived in the area.
for his dissertation when he began compiling evidence that northern judges had cited slave cases in the 19th century
He discovered that these citations were more numerous, widespread and recent than he imagined.
“I kept digging and digging and digging and realizing that this wasn’t something just one judge did or some very racist judge or something,” Simard said. “This was just a basic feature of the legal system and it really shocked me, really surprised me.”
More than 12,000 slavery rulings have been identified to date by Simard’s team,
which then searches for citations.
And yet many lawyers and judges are either unaware of these origins or don’t think it matters that enslaved humans were the property in question, and consider them “just like regular law,” Simard said. “Not only are we ratifying their treatment as property in the past but also continuing to treat them as property in the present.”
Simard’s team successfully lobbied the editors of The Bluebook, a guide to citations used by the legal profession, to require case notations such as “enslaved party” or “enslaved person at issue.”
“I think just eliminating these cases is impossible,” Simard said. “I think the best approach that lawyers and judges can take is to be thoughtful when they find these cases and cite these cases and to consider whether the law that these cases stand for is still good or not.” Dylan Penningroth, a professor of law and history at the University of CaliforniaBerkeley, agreed.
“These slavery cases are everywhere,” Penningroth said. “How are we ever going to get them all off the book? One answer is you don’t really have to If lawyers stop relying on these cases, they lose their power.”
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JEFF BENNETT
Land is cleared where the graves of Black tenant farmers were buried on the former Oak Hill plantation outside of Danville, Va.
EDUCATION
La. is changing how children learn math
Math
expert explains how new plan will help instruction
BY ELYSE CARMOSINO Staff writer
A few years after Louisiana pushed schools to adopt a new, systemic approach to reading instruction, education officials want to revamp the way students learn math.
Last month, the state emerged as an unexpected leader in literacy after scores on a national test saw Louisiana jump from 50th in the nation for fourth grade reading in 2019 to 16th last year
Officials attributed the gains to a series of laws and policies that encouraged schools to have their educators systemically teach students about the fundamentals of reading. The state now aims to do something similar with math instruction, which Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley has called a “back-to-basics” approach.
Jamie Hebert, the state education department’s math director and a former math teacher who heads a team of curriculum and standards specialists, is helping lead the charge.
She explained that a back-tobasics strategy means building foundational math skills and using frequent assessments to identify students who need extra help “We’re at a point where we need educators to know which students are and are not fluent and make sure they understand how to support them individually,” she said, “just like we’ve done with foundational skills in literacy.”
Q&A WITH JAMIE HEBERT MATH DIRECTOR FOR THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
math instruction look like in classrooms?
In math, it means understanding which kids need support, and also understanding how to intervene and communicate that struggle to parents. In classrooms, it looks like teachers are keeping track of students’ successes or struggles in the moment.
We’re doing a lot of things right in Louisiana, and our NAEP (national test) scores are proof of that work. But building foundational skills for students will continue to support that growth.
Why do students’ math scores tend to decline after fourth grade?
In elementary, kids are doing very concrete math. As they move into middle school, things become much more abstract, and so the relevance is harder for kids to see. We’re working on foundational learning as a way to address that.
To prompt this shift, the state Legislature passed a law in 2023 requiring that all math educators for grades four through eight complete training on how to teach numeracy skills. Last year, lawmakers also voted to require tutoring for students who score below a certain threshold on state math tests.
Moving forward, Hebert said the state will focus on early intervention and additional teacher training and support to ensure they can give struggling students the personal attention they need. Here’s what Hebert has to say about the future of math education in Louisiana. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity
What does a back-to-basics approach to
Can you talk about the department’s “Math Refresh” effort that started a couple of years ago? Is it ongoing?
It’s now our comprehensive plan, which includes having highquality, grade-level instruction provided by a high-quality teacher as the expectation for all of our students in Louisiana.
In order for that to happen, teachers need to be given ongoing professional learning and time so they can better support students, and we must acknowledge the role of the family and caregivers in students’ success
The state has also placed a big emphasis on tutoring in recent years. Is that part of the state’s math plan?
Yes. Tutoring initiatives are in place for K-5 schools and for families of students in grades
K-12. In K-5, students who are identified [as needing extra support] through screeners must be provided high-dosage tutoring during the school day
Students in grades K-12 can also apply to the Steve Carter tutoring program. This year, that program expanded to include math. It provides $1,500 tutoring vouchers to families so they can purchase high-quality literacy and math tutoring services.
There has been a lot of discussion about the “new math” in schools, which focuses on conceptual understanding and problem solving versus rote memorization. Does the department encourage schools to use this approach?
We often talk about “new math” as math people do in their heads. It’s mental math. We’re just explicitly teaching our students to put their thinking on paper so that they can build that fluency and understanding in mathematics. Really, our department is focused on the alignment and coherence of the standards, the curriculum and the assessments and how all of that connects for kids.
Our standards call for kids to develop skill and fluency, build understanding, and apply that skill and knowledge.
One example is an early elementary student learning that two plus three is five. They might be given a group of objects and they count the objects and then they can make a group of two and a group of three. When they separate that into two groups, they still have five objects.
Eventually that becomes a tool in students’ back pockets. If they
WE’RE ASKING EXPERTS ACROSS THE STATE HOW TO TACKLE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES FACING LOUISIANA SCHOOLS.
don’t have the objects in front of them and they’re struggling with something, they can draw a picture of the objects, but that picture is just a tool. It eventually becomes automatic.
This is parallel to literacy in that it’s similar to students sounding out words. When students come across an unfamiliar word, they know all the sounds that the letters make and we sound it out. The more that we read that word, the more automatic the word recognition becomes.
A new state law requires students in grades K-3 to take three numeracy assessments each year.Why is that important?
We talked earlier about how teachers should know which kids are fluent and which are not. The screeners are the tool that helps them do that. It gives teachers the knowledge of individual students and which specific skills they need support with.
Screeners identify struggling students early so that teachers can intervene early
Other recent state laws require numeracy training for current and aspiring teachers. What are some core math concepts every teacher needs to know?
Teachers need to clearly understand how the mathematics build across and within their grade
It’s
U.S. butterflies disappearing at ‘catastrophic’ rate, study finds
Number has dropped 22% since 2000
BY SETH BORENSTEIN
AP science writer
WASHINGTON — America’s butterflies are disappearing because of insecticides, climate change and habitat loss, with the number of the winged beauties down 22% since 2000, a new study finds.
The first countrywide systematic analysis of butterfly abundance found that the number of butterflies in the Lower 48 states has been falling on average 1.3% a year since the turn of the century, with 114 species showing significant declines and only nine increasing, according to a study in Thursday’s journal Science.
“Butterflies have been declining the last 20 years,” said study coauthor Nick Haddad, an entomologist at Michigan State University.
“And we don’t see any sign that that’s going to end.”
A team of scientists combined 76,957 surveys from 35 monitoring programs and blended them for an apples-to-apples comparison and ended up counting 12.6 million butterflies over the decades.
Last month, an annual survey that looked just at monarch butterflies, which federal officials plan to put on the threatened species list, counted a nearly all-time low of fewer than 10,000, down from 1.2 million in 1997
Many of the species in decline fell by 40% or more.
‘Catastrophic and saddening’
David Wagner, a University of Connecticut entomologist who wasn’t part of the study praised its scope. And he said while the annual rate of decline may not sound significant, it is “catastrophic and saddening” when compounded
over time.
“In just 30 or 40 years we are talking about losing half the butterflies (and other insect life) over a continent!” Wagner said in an email. “The tree of life is being denuded at unprecedented rates.”
The United States has 650 butterfly species, but 96 species were so sparse they didn’t show up in the data and another 212 species weren’t found in sufficient number to calculate trends, said study lead author Collin Edwards, an ecologist and data scientist at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
“I’m probably most worried about the species that couldn’t even be included in the analyses”
because they were so rare, said University of Wisconsin-Madison entomologist Karen Oberhauser who wasn’t part of the research.
Haddad, who specializes in rare butterflies, said in recent years he has seen just two endangered St. Francis Satyr butterflies which only live on a bomb range at Fort Bragg in North Carolina — “so it could be extinct.”
Some well-known species had large drops.
The red admiral, which is so calm it lands on people, is down 44% and the American lady butterfly, with two large eyespots on its back wings, decreased by 58%, Edwards said. Even the invasive white cab-
bage butterfly, “a species that is well adapted to invade the world,” according to Haddad, fell by 50%.
“How can that be?” Haddad wondered.
Decline a warning sign
Cornell University butterfly expert Anurag Agrawal said he worries most about the future of a different species: Humans.
“The loss of butterflies, parrots and porpoises is undoubtedly a bad sign for us, the ecosystems we need and the nature we enjoy,” Agrawal who wasn’t part of the study, said in an email.
“They are telling us that our continent’s health is not doing so well
Oberhauser said butterflies connect people with nature and that “calms us down, makes us healthier and happier and promotes learning.”
What’s happening to butterflies in the United States is probably happening to other, less-studied insects across the continent and world, Wagner said. He said not only is this the most comprehensive butterfly study, but the most data-rich for any insect.
Butterflies are also pollinators, though not as prominent as bees, and are a major source of pollination of the Texas cotton crop, Haddad said.
Dry, warm areas are the worst
The biggest decrease in butterflies was in the Southwest — Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma where the number of butterflies dropped by more than half in the 20 years.
“It looks like the butterflies that are in dry and warm areas are doing particularly poorly,” Edwards said. “And that kind of captures a lot of the Southwest.”
Edwards said when they looked at butterfly species that lived both in the hotter South and cooler North, the ones that did better were in the cooler areas.
Climate change, habitat loss and insecticides tend to work together to weaken butterfly populations, Edwards and Haddad said. Of the three, it seems that insecticides are the biggest cause, based on previous research from the U.S Midwest, Haddad said.
“It makes sense because insecticide use has changed in dramatic ways in the time since our study started,” Haddad said.
Habitats can be restored and so can butterflies, so there’s hope, Haddad said.
Butterflies are an ambassador for nature’s beauty fragility and the interdependence of species. They have something to teach us.”
Scientists create mice with thick hair like extinct woolly mammoth
BY CHRISTINA LARSON AP science writer
WASHINGTON Extinction is still forever, but scientists at the biotech company Colossal Biosciences are trying what they say is the next best thing to restoring ancient beasts — genetically engineering living animals with qualities to resemble extinct species like the woolly mammoth.
Woolly mammoths roamed the frozen tundras of Europe, Asia and North America until they went extinct around 4,000 years ago.
Colossal made a splash in 2021 when it unveiled an ambitious plan to revive the woolly mammoth and later the dodo bird. Since then, the company has focused on identifying key traits of extinct animals by studying ancient DNA, with a goal to genetically “engineer them into living animals,” said CEO Ben Lamm. Outside scientists have mixed views about whether this strategy will be helpful for conservation.
“You’re not actually resurrecting anything — you’re not bringing back the ancient past,” said Christopher Preston, a wildlife and environment expert at the University of Montana, who was not
Colossal said it focused on mice first to confirm if the process works before potentially moving on to edit the embryos of Asian elephants, the closest living relatives to woolly mammoths.
However, because Asian elephants are an endangered species, there will be “a lot of processes and red tape” before any plan can move forward, said Colossal’s Lamm, whose company has raised over $400 million in funding. Independent experts are
skeptical about the idea of “de-extinction.”
“You might be able to alter the hair pattern of an Asian elephant or adapt it to the cold, but it’s not bringing back a woolly mammoth. It’s changing an Asian elephant,” said University of Montana’s Preston.
Still, the refinement of precision gene-editing in animals could have other uses for conservation or animal agriculture, said Bhanu Telugu, who studies animal
biotechnology at the University of Missouri and was not involved in the new research.
Telugu said he was impressed by Colossal’s technology advances that enabled scientists to pinpoint which genes to target. The same approach might one day help fight diseases in people, said Lamm. So far the company has spun off two health care companies. “It’s part of how we monetize our business,” said Lamm.
involved in the research.
Last week, Colossal announced that its scientists have simultaneously edited seven genes in mice embryos to create mice with long, thick, woolly hair They nicknamed the extra-furry rodents as the “Colossal woolly mouse.”
Results were posted online, but they have not yet been published in a journal or vetted by independent scientists.
The feat “is technologically pretty cool,” said Vincent Lynch, a biologist at the University of Buffalo, who was not involved in the research.
Scientists have been genetically engineering mice since
the 1970s, but new technologies like CRISPR “make it a lot more efficient and easier,” said Lynch.
The Colossal scientists reviewed DNA databases of mouse genes to identify genes related to hair texture and fat metabolism Each of these genetic variations are “present already in some living mice,” said Colossal’s chief scientist Beth Shapiro, but “we put them all together in a single mouse.”
They picked the two traits because these mutations are likely related to cold tolerance a quality that woolly mammoths must have had to survive on the prehistoric Arctic steppe.
ASSOCIATED
COLOSSAL BIOSCIENCES PHOTO
A genetically edited mouse with long, thick, woolly hair was created in a lab in Dallas.
Pastor takes on Landry over tax changes
Tony Spell says constitutional amendment harms nonprofits
BY ALYSE PFEIL Staff writer
A Baton Rouge church leader known for successfully battling
Special ed students shop for prom apparel
Free secondhand clothing event precedes dance at Walker
BY CLAIRE GRUNEWALD Staff writer
A group of Walker middle and high school students showed off their best runway walks Friday, surrounded by racks of formal dresses, rows of glittery heels and a range of accessories.
This was a glimpse inside the inaugural free secondhand clothing shopping event for Livingston Parish’s special education students before their prom.
The Unique Boutique and Clothier is a two-day-only clothing store for the parish’s special education students attending the March prom for students with significant disabilities and autism.
Jacob Franco, a Walker High School 10th grade student, was all smiles as he tried on a blue blazer Franco said it is not his first dance, but it is the first jacket like that Going to traditional prom with the entire student body can sometimes be too difficult for special needs students because of the lights or crowds. Years ago, Walker High School teacher Angel Roberts decided to arrange a dance that would alleviate these issues for her students.
Originally the dance was just for Walker students, since the school has one of the largest specialneeds departments in the area, she said. The dance hasn’t been held since before the coronavirus pandemic started in spring 2020.
“I went to my principal, and I was like, ‘I would love to take the opportunity to bring it back,’” Roberts said. “But also, I didn’t want it to be a financial burden.”
With that, the boutique came to life Collecting donated clothes from the entire parish, students have the chance to look for short or long formal dresses, suit jackets, ties and more.
“It’s all they’re talking about You can see when they first walked in,
ä See PROM, page 2B
COVID restrictions at the Louisiana Supreme Court is now mounting an eleventh-hour campaign against a proposed constitutional amendment backed by Gov. Jeff Landry, arguing it could lead to the elimination of some property tax exemptions for churches.
“The power to tax is the power to destroy,” said the Rev Tony Spell, pastor of Life Tabernacle Church, quoting an 1819 U.S. Supreme Court decision “It be-
comes a political weapon in the hand of a legislative body,” he added.
Spell, in a 2020 crusade against COVID restrictions, once found an ally in Landry, who was state attorney general at the time. Now, Spell says Landry has not been up front with voters about the impact of the amendment and strongly opposes the ballot measure, even after talking with the governor this week.
Landry did not respond to a request for comment.
Spell is calling on state officials to halt voting on the proposed constitutional amendment, which includes a slew of tax-policy changes and will appear as Amendment 2 when voters go to the ballot box on March 29. Legislators who support the amendment point out that property tax exemptions for religious organizations and nonprofits
would remain in place in state statute they would only be removed from the state constitution — and they say there are no plans to eliminate property tax breaks for nonprofits.
“No entity that is enjoying a property tax exemption today will lose that exemption if this amendment passes,” said state Rep. Julie Emerson, R-Carencro,
BUSy BEE
Buc-ee’s and Trader Joe’s would be big deal in retail
Only two cities have both; Lafayette could be next
BY ADAM DAIGLE Acadiana business editor
Where in the United States can you visit a Buc-ee’s and a Trader Joe’s all in the same area?
If things go according to plan, Lafayette would be one of only three to have that level of retail bragging rights. That’s a unique retail territory to be in — one of three cities to have the two popular American retail brands close enough that you could visit both on your lunch break, online listings show
Only two cities in Texas — Fort Worth and the Houston suburb of Katy — can claim both companies.
In what is referred to as the greater Katy area, which has a population of about 300,000, the two stores are only 7 miles apart. In 121,000-population Lafayette, the Buc-ee’s site — which crews recently cleared at the corner of Interstate 10 and Louisiana Avenue — would be 11 miles from the site sources indicate Trader Joe’s is targeting near River Ranch at the corner of Camellia Boulevard and Bluebird Drive. That deal is not expected to close until possibly August In Fort Worth, with its population just under 1 million, the two stores are about 25 miles apart
The greater Katy area, it’s worth noting, also has a massive threestory Topgolf location with over 100 bays The Topgolf in Lafayette has
STAFF PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK
A honeybee takes flight from the petals of a clover bloom in a grassy field recently in downtown Baton Rouge.
14-year-old killed in apartment shooting
CRIME BLOTTER staff reports
A 14-year-old boy was killed Friday night when an unknown assailant fired multiple shots into an apartment on Cadillac Street, Baton Rouge police report. Derrick Dorsey was struck multiple times about 10:20 p.m in the 5900 block of Cadillac Street, police said He died at the scene. Police are asking that anyone with information on the shooting to contact the Violent Crimes Unit at (225) 389-4869 or Crime Stoppers at (225) 344-7867.
Five booked on suspicion of DWI
Five people were booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison between noon Friday and noon Saturday on suspicion of driving while intoxicated.
Those booked and the counts against them:
n Jasmine Lair 33, Baton Rouge, operating while intoxicated, first offense; possession of alcohol in vehicle; driver must be licensed; improper lane usage; insurance required; possession of marijuana; warrant/bench warrant.
n Randy, McDonald, 33, Woodville, operating while intoxicated, second offense; operating a vehicle under suspension; failure to signal; possession of alcohol in vehicle; window tint violation; sale, distribution or possession of legend drug without prescription or order; possession/distribution manufacturing Schedule II.
n Merlin Perez-Estrada, 32, Baton Rouge, operating a vehicle while intoxicated; reckless operation of a vehicle; false inspection sticker; disobeying red light; seat belt violation; driver must be licensed; insurance required; temporary tag misuse.
n Cameron Phillips, 30, Gramercy, operating a vehicle while intoxicated; operating a vehicle under suspension
n Keith Primeaux, 55, Baton Rouge, operating a vehicle while intoxicated; improper lane usage.
St. Tammany committee to review budgets
Transparency group is purely advisory
BY WILLIE SWETT Staff writer
Echoing a national trend, the northshore district attorney and St. Tammany Parish Council have teamed up to form a DOGE-like committee aimed at finding waste and improving the parish’s budget process.
Officially, the new committee, known as the “Transparency and Resource Accountability Committee,” or TRAC, will focus on the parish’s 2026 budget, after last year’s budget-making process was marred by infighting over funding for the district attorney, northshore judges and parish jail.
A forensic accountant from District Attorney Collin Sims’ office will be available to provide the Parish Council with “an exhaustive budget review for 2026 and recommendations for more efficient operations if discovered,” according to the council’s resolution creating the committee.
But some of the committee’s new members suggested in interviews that TRAC may eventually have a larger purview. And the committee appears to be at least partly inspired by trends at the national level.
“It’s DOGE minus the ability to execute the suggestions,” Sims said in a phone interview, referring to the federal Department of Government Efficiency that was created by President Donald Trump and is run by Elon Musk. Gov Jeff Landry has also formed a DOGE-like task force to study government spending.
Unlike Musk’s federal agency, St Tammany’s four-letter group has no new staff and is purely advisory It will consist of Sims, Parish Council Chair Joe Impastato and the council’s Finance Committee, the resolution said. Impastato said he and the
chair of the Finance Committee, council member Cheryl Tanner, will direct what agencies the district attorney’s forensic auditor, Laura East, will look into first. Sims, meanwhile, will approve how much time East, who will remain an employee in his office, can spend on the initiative, the resolution said.
East will essentially serve as a “fact-finder,” Sims said, providing budget information to the Parish Council and President Mike Cooper’s administration at no additional cost to the taxpayer.
“It’s not an investigation. We’re here to help,” Impastato added. If anything, he said he thinks that when taxpayers realize how some agencies are using their money, they will be pleased.
East normally works for Sims on white collar and public corruption investigations. He said she has worked on the case involving Abita Springs employees criminally charged with embezzling public funds.
In the coming months, the Parish Council will establish guidelines for the committee, the resolution said.
Impastato said East will prioritize reviewing budgets under parish government control, such as the animal control budget and the St. Tammany Coroner’s Office.
But eventually, Sims and Impastato said they hope the committee will be able to look at all government agencies in the parish, including ones with their own dedicated property taxes.
Officials, including Parish President Mike Cooper, Sims and Impastato, have pushed a message of greater transparency as they seek voter support for a sales tax rededication on the March 29 ballot that would cover some of the parish’s criminal justice expenses.
Cooper is now also backing the transparency committee.
Cooper’s spokesperson, Michael Vinsanau, said TRAC won’t be sending emails asking people to note five things they did this
Continued from page 1B
the excitement,” Roberts said. Velvet Crow, a district specialeducation curriculum coordinator, said the theme for this year’s dance is “Explore” and “A Night to Remember.”
“It’s an opportunity for kids to explore the community and for it to be community based,” she said.
Crow and other employees hope after returning this year, the dance will grow in attendance in the years to come.
The dance is at Walker High School on March 15 and the school district expects about 75 students to attend.
Email Claire Grunewald at claire.grunewald@ theadvocate.com.
week. “The purposes are different,” he said. “But it is going to create more accountability in the budget process.”
For Sims, tax restructuring is the way forward for St. Tammany government. And he thinks the committee can help with that.
“Taxpayers in St. Tammany have said we don’t want to pay any more taxes. We need to start using your money smarter,” he said.
Sims said he hopes the committee will eventually look at the budgets of “all” agencies.
The Sheriff’s Office and School Board are excluded at this point, he said.
“I’m not against dedicated taxes for certain things, but there are a lot of things that should just be line items in the budget, right?” Sims said, offering the Mosquito Abatement District as an example.
Almost all of Mosquito Abatement’s District’s $8.7 million in expenditures in 2024 were covered by a parishwide property tax voted on by parish residents, said St. Tammany Mosquito Abatement Director Kevin Caillouet.
The Parish Council does not have any direct power over the money from that dedicated tax
— Caillouet said Mosquito Abatement’s budget is controlled by a board of volunteers — though
TAX
Continued from page 1B
chair of the House tax-writing committee
Tax breaks
Spell is concerned about one piece of the expansive amendment that would remove from the constitution some property tax exemptions for religious and nonprofit organizations While those tax breaks would continue as part of state statute, the bar for changing them in the future would be lower.
Any legislation aimed at changing property tax exemptions in the constitution needs voter approval.
If Amendment 2 passes, changes to the property tax breaks would only require a two-thirds vote of the Louisiana Legislature.
If the amendment passes, “I’m now at the mercies of two-thirds of the Legislature,” said Spell.
The current property tax exemption in the constitution pertaining to nonprofits and religious organizations includes property owned by nonprofit organizations used exclusively for religious, charitable, health, welfare, educational, fraternal or burial purposes.
The proposed change would only leave in the constitution a property tax exemption for houses of worship, clergy housing, and property for religious ministry training.
Spell believes any nonprofit not specifically engaged in religious activity is in danger of losing its property tax exemption someday
He added that some religious organizations own rental housing with many units, for example.
“That’s why I’m concerned about it, because I own some of those properties,” he said.
Why it was proposed
Lawmakers crafted Amendment 2 during a special session late last year aimed at dramatic changes to Louisiana tax law
With Landry’s backing, they ultimately slashed income taxes and raised the sales tax, among other changes. Now legislators want voters to sign off on a rewrite of the section of the constitution that deals with taxes, which state leaders have branded as an effort to simplify overly complicated tax policy
Moving tax exemptions and credits out of the constitution and placing them in statute gives the Legislature more flexibility to enact changes to tax policy without the need for a ballot measure, said state Sen. Franklin Foil, R-Baton Rouge, who chairs the Senate Finance Committee and
the Parish Council does have to pass a resolution for such agencies to put their tax requests on a ballot. Sims is also technically the legal representative of parish agencies like Mosquito Abatement.
The resolution establishing TRAC did not specifically mention Mosquito Abatement, and Caillouet said he had not been notified about anything related to the committee.
“We’re all for minimizing waste and fraud,” Caillouet said, but he noted that his agency’s tax was approved by a parish vote and said “mosquitoes are a bipartisan issue.”
The general idea of a government transparency group is not new in St. Tammany, which saw a series of public corruption scandals in the 2010s.
In 2013, the parish convened a task force to study the creation of an inspector general. That task force recommended a more thorough auditing system for the parish, a proposal that became state law the following year Since then, Concerned Citizens of St. Tammany, a community watchdog group, has pushed for the establishment of an inspector general’s office. That idea was floated at a Home Rule Charter Review Committee meeting in February
played a key role in negotiations during the tax special session.
“We decided that as we went through the special session we wanted to keep churches and religious organizations protected in the constitution from paying property taxes like they have already been because we feel like that’s a priority,” said Foil. Foil said the move toward having a smaller list of property tax exemptions in the constitution was not aimed at ultimately eliminating exemptions for nonprofits.
A broader challenge
The issue of property tax breaks for religious groups is also a factor in a separate, broader legal challenge to the proposed amendment.
New Orleans attorney William Most is leading that charge in a lawsuit filed in the 19th Judicial District. Representing a pastor and two teachers, the plaintiffs in the suit, he is asking the court to block Amendment 2 from appearing on the ballot or if that’s not possible due to timing, block it from taking effect.
A preliminary injunction hearing is set for Wednesday in Baton Rouge.
Court filings argue that, in a variety of ways, the ballot language voters will see is biased and misleading
This week, Most published a piece in the news publication Central City News under the heading “Churches Could Be Taxed out of Existence,” warning readers that property tax exemptions of religious organizations are under threat.
The Facebook page of Central City News, which is owned by Woody Jenkins, on Friday also featured a video from Spell, which urges viewers not to “believe the propaganda in favor of this amendment.”
Jenkins said he fully opposes Amendment 2 and believes “it is absolutely essential it be defeated.” He also opposes the broader package of tax changes championed by Landry in fall, which he called “tremendous false advertising.”
LOTTERY
FRIDAY, MARCH 7, 2025
PICK 3: 7-7-0
PICK 4: 4-7-6-4
PICK 5: 0-9-7-5-1
PHOTOS By APRIL BUFFINGTON
Walker High School’s Carah Ellis said yes to her prom dress at the formal clothing shopping event put on by the Livingston Parish school system held at LPPS Suma Center on Friday
Walker High School’s Nathan Sherman tries on a suit jacket at the formal clothing shopping event.
PROVIDED PHOTO
From left, St. Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper District Attorney Collin Sims, Sheriff Randy Smith, District Judge Alan Zaunbrecher and Parish Council Chair Joe Impastato address the St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce about a tax rededication on Feb 26.
As UNO fights to survive, alumni heed call for help
Grads help on campus, recruit students, offer donations
BY MARIE FAZIO Staff writer
Most mornings, Pierre Champagne wakes before dawn, dons a blue polo and socks emblazoned with the University of New Orleans logo and reports to campus to help save his alma mater Champagne, a retired AT&T engineer who graduated from the university in 1976, has spent the past few months volunteering at the front desk of the Bursar’s Office, answering the phone and reassuring panicked students as the university contends with the worst financial crisis in its history
“If you want to define it, my job is to give (students) comfort, give them encouragement, make sure they know they have an ear to listen,” said Champagne, who keeps tissues and a fully stocked mug of candy at his desk to help soothe anxious students.
For years, Champagne has been on a mission to rally his fellow alumni to donate their time and money to the university He often issues clarion cries on social media, such as this Instagram post from 2023: “WE NEED ALL 400,000 FORMER STUDENTS TO STEP UP AND RECRUIT STUDENTS!!,” he wrote.
“All hands on deck, Privateers!” But lately his endeavor has taken on heightened urgency as the university attempts to right a major budget deficit that administrators have blamed on years of low enrollment and missteps including expensive long-term contracts. Since last summer, the university has laid off and furloughed staff, closed buildings and consolidated colleges to address a $10 million gap. More changes could be on the way: Last month, Senate President Cameron Henry and House Speaker Phillip DeVillier asked the Board of Regents, which oversees higher ed-
ucation across the state, to consider putting UNO under new leadership.
The proposal would move UNO from the University of Louisiana System, where it’s been since 2011, back to the Louisiana State University system.
The financial uncertainty and questions about UNO’s future have spurred an outpouring of support from alumni near and far, school officials say Adam Norris, a UNO spokesperson said alumni have recently offered financial donations, hosted alumni events, volunteered on campus and helped with student recruitment.
“I am so inspired by so many of our alumni who now are leaders in our community, leaders in business who constantly reach out to me to tell me how much their UNO degree has meant to them and how much they’re rooting for us,” UNO president Kathy Johnson told staff at a December town hall meeting.
UNO is often credited with developing New Orleans’ middle class by offering an affordable education to a diverse student body, which includes a sizable number of nontraditional college students. Since its founding in 1958, it has graduated countless engineers, researchers, teachers, artists and writers, many of whom stayed in New Orleans and shaped the city economically and culturally UNO has about 50,000 graduates, a spokesperson said, but the number of people who have taken classes or obtained a certification at the public university is likely far greater Some of its notable graduates include local leaders, including former New Orleans police chief Ronal Serpas and Jerry Bologna, who leads the Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission, and culturally significant artists, such as Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Jericho Brown, the late cartoonist Bunny Matthews and many successful local musicians. Frank Ocean briefly attended the university before Hurricane Katrina.
Tim Ryan, a UNO graduate and New Orleans economist who has
served as a UNO faculty member and chancellor, said the university plays an important role in the New Orleans economy as a designated research-based institution.
“If we’re going to ever diversify our economy, a place like UNO is an incredibly critical part of it,” he said.
Julie Stokes, a former state representative who serves on the UL Board of Supervisors, said that UNO’s low cost allowed her her husband and her sister-in-law to obtain top-notch educations while living at home in New Orleans.
“We all came from nothing and now we’re all very successful, in large part because we had an affordable option,” said Stokes, who graduated from UNO in 1992 with a degree in accounting.
Stokes said she knew about UNO’s long-term enrollment struggles but was surprised to learn about the severity of the financial crisis. In the months since the reality of UNO’s financial predicament has surfaced, she said she’s heard from alumni and others asking how they can help. A group of alumni have discussed writing an op-ed and others plan to write to state legislators urging them to step in.
“The amount of community sup-
port has been overwhelming,” she said.
Few alumni have stepped up as visibly as Champagne. After his retirement in 2023, he began patrolling the campus and popping into buildings to ask, “How can I help?”
“After a while,” he said recently, “people actually came to realize that I am serious.”
His current post in the Bursar’s
Office comes after decades of volunteer work at UNO, including scorekeeping during basketball games, mentoring engineering students and assisting the alumni association.
In 2022, Champagne and his wife, Cheryl, who has been an adviser to the cheerleading squad on and off since the 1970s, were inducted into the UNO Athletics Hall of Fame.
Pierre Champagne is a ubiquitous presence on campus. He regularly attends meetings of the student government, faculty and staff senate, and the United Campus Workers, the campus union that represents faculty and staff. After the university cut spending on groundskeeping services, he helped pick up the slack, recently cleaning the grime he noticed on some signs around campus.
“I beg alumni and former students,” he said. “At least show up
‘Doc’ Bonin power plant set for demolition
A look inside before its demolition
BY MEGAN WYATT Staff writer
The Louis “Doc” Bonin Electric Generating Station on Walker Road will soon be demolished and rebuilt as part of a $400 million project by the Lafayette Utilities System.
Demolition is set to begin this summer and will take about a year The Acadiana Advocate recently had the opportunity to explore the facility with power plant superintendent Luis Bayuelo.
The Doc Bonin station opened in 1965 at 1120 Walker Road with one natural gasfired steam turbine and cooling tower That first unit had a capacity of just 55 megawatts.
A second unit with a 100- me ga wa tt capa ci ty was added to the station in 1970, and a third unit with a 200-megawatt capacity was added in 1976 to keep up with the demands of a growing city
“Each new one was double the previous unit,” Bayuelo said. “But it was double the space, too So they kept adding to the building.”
The new station will feature a single, more efficient natural gas unit with a capacity of 230 to 250 megawatts It will also be much smaller than any of the existing units at the station. Construction is set to begin on the new station, which will have a smaller footprint, in 2027 and be fully operational in 2029. The project will provide another local source of electricity for the city in anticipation of the closure of the Rodemacher Power Station Unit 2 near Boyce. The coal-powered Rodemacher plant, which LUS has an ownership interest in, is slated to close by 2028 amid stricter environmental regulations. It is able to provide about 250 megawatts of power to the city of Lafayette.
LUS also owns and operates the T.J. Labbe and HargisHebert electric generating stations in Lafayette which opened about 20 years ago. Each of those stations has the capacity to produce about 100 megawatts of electricity
“We can produce about 200 megawatts in town,” Bayuelo
Power plant Superintendent Luis Bayuelo gives a tour inside the Louis ‘Doc’ Bonin Electric Generating Station on Feb 25 in Lafayette. The station will be demolished over the next year so that a new power plant, Bonin 4, can be built.
said. “But that’s not enough for the Lafayette demand.”
Demand fluctuates depending on the time of year and time of day, but it generally hovers around 400 to 450 megawatts at any given moment, Bayuelo said.
Without the new power plant, LUS would have to purchase electricity on the open market to meet local demand.
Volatile prices would likely mean more expensive utility rates for residents and businesses.
“It’s going to make us more resilient, more reliable,” said LUS Director Jeff Stewart. “It’s going to make the city better.”
Stewart also sees the investment, which was approved by the Lafayette City Council and will be paid for by LUS customers, as a way to boost the local economy after hurricanes and other natural disasters. First responders and evacuees need reliable electricity not just in hospitals and shelters but also at hotels, gas stations and grocery stores.
“Lafayette can become a hub for emergency services for not just the parish, but for the
The control room inside the station.
region — as long as our utility system is at the top, and we stay as reliable as we can,” Stewart said.
The Doc Bonin project will involve demolishing the existing natural gas facility, which stopped producing electricity in 2013, and building a more efficient natural gas plant at the same location
The plant’s namesake comes from a former LUS employee who championed the construction of a new electric generating station. Doc Bonin was known for his warm
demeanor and kindness in the workplace as well as his wardrobe of starched khakis and a leather bow tie. He began working as a lineman at LUS in 1924 and later served as the electric distribution superintendent. He died in 1959 before the station opened in 1965.
“He worked a lot in LUS to make sure this plant was built,” Bayuelo said. “But he passed before it was built.”
Email Megan Wyatt at mwyatt@theadvocate.com.
Come to campus. Find your department.”
Sometimes, he said, students, staff and faculty simply need a morale boost and to know they have the community’s support
“That is the greatest power I believe we have that is not fully tapped,” he said.
Champagne attributes UNO with shaping the trajectory of his life.
After graduating from De La Salle High School, a Catholic school on St. Charles Avenue, he enrolled at UNO because of its low cost. His engineering coursework included a co-op position at Southern Bell, now AT&T that led to a long career at the company
And on a spring day in 1971, he met his wife Cheryl on campus. (He can still point out the exact spot, five steps above a landing at the University Center.) Two weeks after that first meeting, they were engaged.
“My ring trilogy: my marriage, my degree, my engineering career,” Champagne said, pointing to his wedding band, engineering society ring and class ring. “Tolkien has his, I have mine, and it would have been impossible without UNO.”
This year, Champagne was nominated to ride in the university’s annual Carnival parade, known as Krewe of UNO, on a float honoring the school’s “Everyday Heroes.” When the parade rolled through campus Tuesday, Champagne threw beads and candy to onlookers from the ship-style float. Decked out in a bedazzled silver and blue hat and a sash that read “UNO hero,” he was accompanied on the float by the student homecoming queen, a representative from the Beach at UNO, a faculty member and a student advisor Champagne said that seeing the celebration proceed despite the turmoil at UNO felt a little like New Orleans throwing the first Jazz Fest after Hurricane Katrina.
“We need to be able to laugh together, to celebrate together and commiserate together,” he said. “This is my life, this is my family.”
COMBO
Continued from page 1B
two levels and 60 bays. Yet Katy does not have a Dave & Buster’s; the nearest location is on the edge of Houston.
In Lafayette, local officials, along with Bucee’s representatives, will hold a groundbreaking ceremony at the site at a later date, said Mandi Mitchell, president and CEO of the Lafayette Economic Development Authority Construction for the Ruston Buc-ee’s is expected to begin this week, reports indicate, but a groundbreaking date for that is also undetermined.
The $82 million Lafayette project will include a 74,000-square-foot store along with about 120 gas pumps and 546 parking spaces. That square footage would be nearly as large as the 75,593-square-foot store in Luling, Texas, which is billed as the world’s largest Buc-ee’s store. Shoppers at the store will pay an extra 1-cent sales tax on all items on top of another 1-cent sales tax for the economic development district in that area, according to the 20-year cooperative endeavor agreement LEDA signed with Bucee’s.
The company will be reimbursed $3.5 million for its $12.5 million public infrastructure improvements in two payments from the current economic development district’s trust fund: a $1.75 million payment within 30 days of opening and another $1.75 million payment one year after that first payment
It will be reimbursed for its private infrastructure improvements each year by either 2% of the store’s annual revenue or $20,000, whichever is greater Payment will be made on or before March 31 of each year LEDA will also give the company a one-time payment of $300,000 if it maintains 150 employees. The store is expected to generate $1.5 million in sales tax collections a year, LEDA officials said.
The Buc-ee’s store is a big deal also in terms of jobs and tax revenue, said Jeff Lenard, spokesperson for the National Association of Convenience Stores. Convenience stores are often big contributors to local taxes with $1 out of every $4 in sales going to taxes.
“That is federal, state and local,” Lenard said “That is because of gas taxes, beer taxes, tobacco taxes and various other taxes. Convenience stores are pretty efficient tax collectors. And when you have the sales of a Buc-ee’s, that means a lot to a local community.”
Buc-ee’s, meanwhile, is moving ahead on its store in the south Mississippi city of Pass Christian. That store will be 74,000 square feet and include 126 gas pumps, 24 EV charging stations and 165 toilets. It remains a hugely popular brand, especially in Texas and the southern U.S., although Buc-ee’s often ranks behind Wawa and QuikTrip as the most popular convenience store chain in the U.S. “There’s something about that logo,” Lenard said. “Anytime I wear a Buc-ee’s T-shirt and we’re hundreds of miles from the nearest Bucee’s, someone stops me and says, ‘Oh, wow You’ve been to Buc-ee’s.’
“There are people that have tattoos from Bucee’s When people have your brand on their body they’re
STAFF PHOTO By BRETT DUKE
Pierre Champagne, a UNO graduate and volunteer, works in the Bursar’s Office at the University of New Orleans on Thursday.
STAFF PHOTOS By LESLIE WESTBROOK
Acomb, Glenn Allen
Glenn Allen Acomb, 76, passed away at home on February 24, 2025 in Gainesville, Florida surrounded by his family. Born on September 30, 1948 in New Orleans, Louisiana, Glenn lived alife marked by intellectual curiosity, professional excellence, and deep personal connections. Glenn pursued his passion for landscape architecture with dedication, earning an undergraduate degree in the field from Louisiana State University before obtaining aMaster of Landscape Architecture from Harvard. His career was distinguished by his expertise in green roofs, sustainability, and site design, but especially by his gift for teaching as an outstanding educator. For these accomplishments and more, he earned recognition as aFellow in the AmericanSociety of Landscape Architects. He was especially proud of his second career as an educator at the University of Florida. He held high expectations for his students, encouraging them to push beyond their limits and instilling in them a passion for learning and excellence. Beyond his professional achievements, Glenn was known for his sharp intellect, love of the outdoors, kindness, and warm sense of humor. He found joy in fishing the flats and cherished time spent with his wife Kristin and their beloved border collie Max. His faith was also an important part of his life, and he was amember of the United Church of Gainesville. Glenn lived every day to its fullest, despite his cancer. Glenn is survived by his wife, Kristin Larsen; his daughter, Libby Acomb; his son, Mason Acomb; and his sister Nancy Acomb Brown (Greg). He is also remembered by his extended family, including sisters-in-law Sonja Larsen (John Bourdeau) and Karin Larsen; brother-in-law Bjorn Larsen (Marit Trelstad); and nephews Ryan Hunt, Grayson Hunt, and Kai Trelstad-Larsen; and niecesLena Larsen-Bourdeau and Tove TrelstadLarsen. He was preceded in death by his parents, Elsie and Webster Acomb, Jr. Amemorial service will be held on Saturday, March 29, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. at the United Church of Gainesville, located at 1624 NW 5th Avenue in Gainesville, Florida.His family thanks all of the outstanding medical professionals at Davis Cancer Center for their caring treatment of Glenn. Glenn's legacy lives on through the landscapes he designed, the students he mentored, and the love he shared with those around him. May his memory bring comfort to all who knew him. In lieu of flowers, gifts can be made in Glenn's memory to Captains for Clean Water at https://cap tainsforcleanwater.org/; Prostate Cancer Foundation at https://www.pcf.org/;or the Landscape Architecture Foundation at https:// www.lafoundation.org/
Jerry "Red" Henry All Sr., 78, native of Lake Louisiana, and resident of Pierre Part, Louisiana, passed awayonTuesday, March 4, 2025. Jerry worked as an operatorat Borden Chemical and proudly served in the United States Army. He wasa patriotic man who loved his country and enjoyed the simplepleasures of life—hunting, fishing, crawfishing, and spending time with his family. Jerry was alifetime member of the VFW 3693, where his commitment to service and camaraderie were greatly valued. He is survived by his children, Theresa (Brad) All Duplessis, Lacey (Amy) All, Rachel All, and Jerry All Jr.;
commitment to service and camaraderiewere greatly valued. He is survived by his children, Theresa (Brad) All Duplessis, Lacey(Amy) All, RachelAll, and JerryAll Jr.; his grandchildren, Brant Duplessis, Brooke Duplessis, Payton All, Chloe All, Emerson White, and Monroe White;his sister, Mary "Sis" Jane Dupuy;his brother, Lewis C.All Jr.;his ex-wife, Roxy Haltom; and ex-daughters-in-law, Melissa Nussbaum and LindseyEason All.Heis preceded in death by his parents, Lewis C. AllSr. and Agnes Lavaigne All; brother-in-law, Leroy Dupuy; nephew, Timothy All; ex sister-in-law, Sandra All; great niecesKayla Denham and AlexisMolliere; and ex wife,Mary Pulley. Avisitation for Jerry will be held on Monday, March 10, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM atOurso Funeral Home, 13533 Airline Hwy, Gonzales, Louisiana 70737. Afuneral service will followfrom 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the same location. Burial will occur at 12:15 PM at Serenity Oaks MemorialPark, 15304 Hwy 73, Prairieville, Louisiana. Pallbearers will be Jerry All Jr.,Brad Duplessis, Brant Duplessis, Teddy Dupuy, Seth Denham, and Mike McCarty. HonoraryPallbearers include Terry Andrews and Barry Dupuy. Thefamily would like to extend special thanks to Pinnacle Hospice and nurses Brittni, Veronica, and Barbara for their compassionate care during Jerry's finaldays. In lieuofflowers, the family requests thatdonations be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
Evelyn Soileau Amoroso passedfrom this life, surroundedbyher family, on Tuesday, March 4, 2025 at the age of 74. She was born on January26, 1951 in New Orleans, raised in Metairie and wasa resident of Baton Rouge since 1991. Evelyn was preceded in death by her father, Perry Dewey Soileau, her mother, Lorita Mary Soileau, and her brother, Michael E. Soileau, Sr. She is survivedbyher husband of 53 years, August J. Amoroso, Jr theirsons, August J. Amoroso, III and wife Lauriel, Samuel D. Amoroso and wife Hannah, and adaughter,Claire A. Duplechain and her husband Michael. She is also survivedbyher sister, Cheryl Blum, and grandchildren Rebekah and Stephen Amoroso, and Jacob and Anna Duplechain. Evelyn was aloving wife, mother, grandmother, and teacher. Graduating from Archbishop Chapelle High School in Metairie in 1969, she met her future husband, August, and theysoon began their lifelong adventure together.AsanArmy Wife, she traveledaround the U.S.A., Europe and Asia supporting her soldier husband and raising theirfamily in oftenchallenging circumstances and locations; concurrently, she advanced her education and careerearning abachelor's degree in education from the University of St Mary in Leavenworth, Kansas and aMaster'sDegree in Education with a Gifted Certificate from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. In 1991, Evelyn began herteaching careerinBaton Rouge at Dufroq Elementary. Once she obtainedher gifted education certificate, she movedtoBrownfields Elementary where she taught in the Giftedand Talented Program. She later moved to Southeast MiddleSchool and finally to Woodlawn Middle School where she became the Literacy Coach until her retirement in 2011 after acareerof20years in the East Baton Rouge Parish School System. In her retirement she enjoyed traveling with family and friends, loving her grandchildren, hosting family dinners and in particular playing Mah Jong with her long time teaching colleagues every week. Her favorite place to be was the lake house at OldRiver with hergrandchildren. The family wishes to thank the care providers at Mary BirdPerkins, Woman's Hospital, and The Hospice of Baton Rouge for their caring and professional service. Services will be on Tuesday, March 11, 2025 at 2 p.m. followed by memorial
an's Hospital, and The Hospice of Baton Rougefor their caring and professional service. Services will be on Tuesday, March 11, 2025 at 2 p.m. followedbymemorial and visitation until 6p.m. at Rabenhorst Funeral Home East, 11000 Florida Blvd, Baton Rouge, La. 70815. In lieuofflowers please make contributions in her name to theVolunteers of America, South Central Louisiana, 7389 FloridaBlvd., Suite101A, Baton Rouge, LA 708064657, (225) 387-0061, www.voascla.org.
John Richard Bowman, born on May 16, 1973, passed away on March 4, 2025 at theage of 51. John was born in Salina, Kansas. He graduated fromSalina South High School and the University of Kansas Engineering School. John went on to become aChemical Engineer, working at Jacobs/Worley in Lenexa, KS; Golden, CO; Leiden, Netherlands; and Baton Rouge, LA over a25-year career. Outsideofwork, John enjoyed golf, music, Kansas Jayhawk basketball, LSU football, Liverpool FC, grilling, and entertaining friends. Even as anative Kansan, John embraced Louisiana's Jazz Fest,Cajun food, crawfish boils, LSU tailgating, carnivals and Mardi Gras parades. He was agreat dad, attending countless soccer matches, hosting and feeding friends, and encouraging their education. John is survived by his parents Linda Bowman and Philip Bowman of Salina, KS; daughter Natalie and sons Andrew and Jack of Baton Rouge, LA;and brother Aaron (Deb) Bowman of Olathe, KS. Visitation will take place at 12:30pmon Friday March 14 at Resthaven Funeral Home with services at 2:30pm and burial following at Resthaven Gardens of Memory. Special thanks to the staff at Pinnacle Home Health, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, and the NeuroMedical Center. Donations may be made to Cancer Services of Baton Rouge. Family and friends may sign theonline guestbook or leave apersonal message to thefamily at www.resthavenbatonroug e.com.
Chapman, Lemener Matthews Lemener “Coot” Matthews Chapman 94, a resident of Zachary and former resident of Jackson La., passed from this world on Sunday, March 2 2025 at her daughter-in-law’s home. She was the owner and operator of “Bobby’s Drive Inn” in Jackson, La for 37 years. Visitation will be on Monday, March 10, 2025 at Charlet Funeral Home, Inc., Zachary, from 10:00 am until 12:00 pm with a 1:30 pm graveside service at Spring Creek Baptist Church Cemetery, Kentwood Coot is survived by her daughter-in-law, Barbara Millet Matthews stepchildren, Conrad Chap‐man (Denise), Greg Chap‐man (Sherri), Sandy Con‐nell and Rick Chapman (Lois Anne), sister Janie Birch, grandchildren, Jen‐nifer Matthews Bozeman Katherine Matthews Christ (Jeremy) Michelle Matthews Marbury (Je‐remy) 7 step grandchil‐dren and numerous greatgrandchildren Coot is pre‐ceded in death by her first husband, J.L Matthews, second husband, Edward “Bobby” Chapman, son, Mark A. Matthews, par‐ents, siblings, grandchild, Steven Bozeman and step grandchild, DeAnne Spill‐man Special thanks to Hospice of Baton Rouge for all the care given to our family in our time of need
Coulter, Helen Martha Helen Martha Coulter passed away on Monday, February 24, 2025, at the age of 87. She was anative of Fordoche, LA, and aresident of Baton Rouge, LA Helen is survived by her daughter, Wanda Adreon (Richard Lepkowski); 15 grandchildren; and four great grandchildren. Helen is preceded in deathbyher son, Gregory Gobert; husband,David Coulter; parents, Rudolphand Nita Hebert; and siblings. Visitation will be at Greenoaks Funeral Home, 9595 Florida Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA, on Monday, March 10, 2025,
band,David Coulter; parents, Rudolphand Nita Hebert; and siblings. Visi-
tation will be at Greenoaks Funeral Home, 9595 Florida Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA, on Monday, March 10, 2025, from 11am until thetime of funeral services at 2pm. Burial will immediately follow at Greenoaks Memorial Park. Family and friends are invited to signthe online guestbook at www.gre enoaksfunerals.com
Barbara Ann Yent Cox, age 81, of Brusly, passed away peacefully at BR General-Bluebonnet and was called to the Church Triumphant on March 4, 2025. She was born July 13, 1943, in Madisonville, Louisiana, to William and Mabel Clayton Yent. Preceded in death by her parents; her beloved Mawmaw, Elizabeth Schligelmeyer; stepmother, Constance Yent; loving husband,Marvin Cox; and brother, Michael Yent.A 1962 graduate of Ponchatoula HighSchool, she worked at the TG&Y five and dime store. Barbara embraced her role as ahomemaker withjoy, taking immense pride in maintaining awarm, welcoming home for Marvin and her two boys. She started a house cleaning service with her good friend Virginia Currie. Her creative spirit shone brightly through her artsand crafts, painting, crocheting, and knitting. Whether dancing to thetunes of her cherished 1963 Seeburg Jukebox or sharing laughter at the monthly Girls Night Out gatherings, Barbara brought joytothose around her. Amember of Cross of Calvary University Lutheran Church, Barbara's faith(Jesus) was the cornerstone of her life. She is survived by her two sons, Wade Coxand Benjamin Cox; three brothers, Lynn Yent, Roy Yent, and KennethYent; and sister, Priscilla Yent Reno.Visitationwill be held on Saturday, March 15 from 3pmto 4pmatCross of Calvary University Lutheran Church, 3235 Dalrymple Dr, Baton Rouge, LA 70802 with amemorial service at 4 pm. Reception to follow. Barbara's ashes will be laid to rest at Cottonwood Cemetery in aprivate ceremony in Lottie, Louisiana at alater date.
Cox Bergeron, Patricia Ann Patricia Ann Cox Bergeron, age 81, was called to her eternal home on February 8, 2025. Patricia was born in Ponchatoula, Louisiana and was aresident of Kentwood Louisiana. Daughter of Mary Emma Slocum Cox & Albert Lawrence CoxSr. Granddaughter of David Warren Slocum &May Ivy Slocum. Brothers, Albert L. Cox Jr., Robert H. Cox, James W. Cox, Marvin M. Cox, Glen T. Cox. Patricia is preceded in death by her husband, John Barry Bergeron, anative resident of Fordoche, Louisiana. Acelebration of life service will be held at New Life Worship Center, 806 Hospital Rd., New Roads, La. 70760 on March 22, 2025 at 10:00 a.m.
Louisiana First Lady Alice C. Foster, a48year resident of St.Mary Parish and native of Portsmouth, Virginia, went to be with the Lord on Thursday, March 6, 2025 surrounded in love by her family. As First Lady, Alice supported many causes such as The Governor's Mansion Foundation, Keep Louisiana Beautiful, Breast Cancer Awareness, the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for TotsProgram, the promotion of theeducational children's book, YouAre Sunshine, as well as many other programs and projects throughout her very active eight years serving thegreat state of Louisiana.
Though she took great joy in serving alongside her husband,Alice's life was certainly not defined by those eight years. She was awoman of strong values, loyalty and grace, as evidenced throughher sincere love of family and
herhusband, Alice's life wascertainly not defined by those eightyears. She was awoman of strong values, loyalty andgrace, as evidenced through her sincere love of family and friends. Alice cherished thelife spent with her husband of 40 years, Governor Murphy J. "Mike" Foster, Jr.; her sons, Paul West and his wife Lisette and Troy West and hiswife Sandra; her step-son, Murphy J. Foster, III and his wife Diane; and her step-daughter, Ramelle Foster. Alice's legacy includes nine grandchildren: John West,Jennifer Harding, Michelle Eunice, Christopher West, Zachary West, Spencer West, David West, Murphy J. Foster, IV, and Clark Foster; 14 greatgrandchildren;and her brother, Fred Cosner and his wife Darlene. She also leaves behind her dedicated and loving employees, Leslie Braud, Anne Cortez, and Mary Edwards; and her devoted caregivers, "the A-Team": Sherry Henderson,Coratio Yelling, Cassie Murdock, Debra Declouet, Patrice Charles, and Pauline Johnson. She was preceded in death by her parents, Hubert Cosner andVira Surles Cosner.
Funeral services will be held at St. Mary's Episcopal Church, 805 First Street, Franklin,LA70538, on Wednesday, March12th, 2025, at 12:00 PM,officiated by Rev. Stephen Crawford. Agathering of family andfriends will begin at 10:00 AM. Following the services interment will be held in theFranklin Cemetery whereshe will be laid to rest beside her beloved husband. In lieu of flowers, contributions to St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Franklin or to the Keep Louisiana Beautiful Foundation are appreciated.
Family and friends are invited to share their memories andcondolences with the family by visiting her memorial page at www.iberts.com.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Ibert's Mortuary, Inc. 1007 Main Street, Franklin, LA 70538, (337) 828-5426.
Wayne Guy was born July 23, 1943 and called home by his Heavenly Father March 3, 2025. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Brenda Robertson Guy ason Brandon Guy and his wife Carrie and a daughter Shayne Guy, DDS (formerly Clouatre). He hasfive grandchildren, Gage, Caden, and Brooks Clouatre, and Addison and Andrew Guy. He is also survived by his brother, Keith Guy, and his wife Phyllis, brothers-in -law David Robertson and his wife, Rheba, Darrell Robertson and his wife, Beverly, and Douglas Robertson, along with numerous nieces and nephews. Wayne was preceded in death by his parents Monroe C. Guy and GeraldineJohnson Guy.
Wayne graduated from Istrouma High School and Louisiana State University. Wayne and Brenda worked side by side for 28 years (from 1979 to 2007) as owners of Delta Process Equipmentand Delta Environmental Products located in Denham Springs, LA. Both businesses were related to the sale and repair of Engineered Products for the Chemical, Petrochemical, and Wastewater treatment industries. Wayne was considered an expert in rotating equipment. Back in the day, Wayne was awell-known local musician.His instrument was primarily the keyboards, but he couldalso play the guitar. Many times, he entertained friends and family with a mean rendition of Lucille! Wayne loved to play golf, but of late,his favorite pastime was spending time with his kids, grandkids, andgood friends.
Wayne and Brenda are members of Jefferson Baptist Church. Services will be held Monday, March 10th at Jefferson Baptist Church, 9135 Jefferson Hwy, Baton Rouge, LA, 70809. Visitation with family to begin at 1:00 PM with afuneral service to follow at 3:00 PM. Special thanks to the nursing staff at OLOL 9th floor Critical Care ICU. In lieu of flowers, please donate to theBaton Rouge Food Bank.
Ann Sperry Hair was called home to herLord Jesus on March3,2025, at the age of 92. Shewas born on September 19, 1932, in Apalachicola, Florida. She met her husband"Buddy Hair" when he was afighter pilot training in Panama City, Florida in 1954. They enjoyed 63 incredible years of marriage. Buddy and Ann were twoofthe greatest LSU Tiger football and baseball fans of all time, never missing home games and traveling all over the country in their motorhome to watch them play. In 1980 Buddy &Ann bought Vacajun Marinain Springfield where they enjoyed many happy years living on theriver. Ann made an incredible impact on everyoneshe met, and she will be greatly missed by family andfriends! She was preceded in death by her husband B.G. "Buddy" Hair; her sons, Michael and Gregory Hair; and daughter-in-law,Kristen Hair (wife of John Hair); and granddaughter Isabella Hair. She is survived by her sister, Mary Holly; son, John Hair; daughter, JoAnn Hair Williams (Ray); 8 grandsonsand 1granddaughter, Cade, Jacob, and Westin Williams, and John Michael, Zachariah, Joshua, Daniel, Nathan, and Abigail Hair. Visitation will start at 10 a.m. followed by aMemorial Service at 12 p.m. on Friday, March 14, 2025, at Greenoaks Memorial Park and Funeral Home, 9595 Florida Blvd, Baton Rouge. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to OurDaily Bread Food Bank. Website: ourdai lybreadhammond.org or PO Box 1476
Hal Murray Herrington, Jr., 62, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana and New Port Richey, Florida, died March 4, 2025, in Wesley Chapel, Florida. He wasborn on July 29, 1962, to Hal Murray Herrington and Judith Cade Herrington in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Hal attended Louisiana State University and was a member of the Army National Guard. He worked as achef in Baton Rouge for many years and as abuilder/fixer of racing and off-road bicycles. After he moved to Florida nearly 20 years ago, he became an employee of the United States Postal Service for the remainder of his life. He wasa talented cook, avid bicyclist, kayaker, motorcyclist, muscle car enthusiast, sci-fi fan, and animal lover. He is survived by his two sisters Laura Morris and Jan Herrington Spillman, his niece Lindsay Parker and her 3children, his nephew Joey Dufrene, his stepmother Brenda Herrington, his stepfather Gary Lantrip, and his 3cats Panda Bear, Buddy, and Simon. He is preceded in death by hismother and father and his youngest sister. Visitation and celebration of Hal's life will be March 16, 2025, from 3pm to 5pm, at Cremationsof Greater Tampa Bay, 110 N. MacDill Ave., Tampa, Florida, 33609. Aportion of Hal's remans will be scattered on one of thebeaches he loved. The rest will remain with hisfamily. In lieu of flowers, memorials or donationsin Hal's name may be made to your local animal shelter, animal rescue, or Humane Society. The joys that he missed
Hair, Ann
Cox, Barbara Ann
Bowman, John R.
Amoroso, Evelyn Soileau
Herrington Jr, Hal Murray
Foster, Alice C.
All, Jerry Henry 'Red'
In lieu of flowers, memorials or donationsin Hal's name may be made to your local animal shelter, animal rescue, or Humane Society. The joysthat he missed on life's highway. May he find in God's garden of rest.
Lorio, Narcille
Couvillion 'Cille' Narcille Couvillion Lorio, 88 years old, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, peacefully passed away of Alzheimer's Disease on February 18, 2025. .She was born in Simmesport LA but lived and worked most of her life in Baton Rouge. She is survived by three children, Judith Lorio White, John F. Lorio, and Anita Lorio Schreiber, as well as many nieces and nephews. For complete details please see https://www.fr enchfunerals.com/obituari es/narcille-lorio
Frank R. McLavy, Jr.,a
beloved husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend, passed away peacefullyathis home on Thursday, March5,2025, in Denham Springs, Louisiana at the age of 81. Frank lived an extraordinary life filled with adventure, laughter, and love. He was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on July5,1943, and was aresident of Denham Springs. Frank graduated from Baton Rouge High School in 1961. He attended LSU where he met his wife, Gayle, then transferred to the University of Southern Mississippi where he earned his bachelor's degree in political science and was amember of the Kappa Alpha Order. Frank enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in the fall of 1966 and was commissioned as aSecond Lieutenant. In 1967, he served in Vietnam where he was woundedin action. He was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star with Valor for his heroism in combat. After returning from Vietnam, Frank continued to serve in the Marine Corps for several years.During that time, he was stationed in Guam for two years and was honorably discharged in 1972 as a Captain. Following his discharge from the Marine Corps, Frank returned to Denham Springs. He went on to manage Todd Garland & Company for much of the 1970s. In 1979, Frank opened his own business in Baton Rouge -then McLavy &Easterly -with his friend and partner from Garland's,EdEasterly. When Ed moved to Florida in the 1980s, the business became McLavy, Ltd. Frank created his own private label called "Louisiana Lodge," made with the sportsman in mind and inspired by Frank's love of the outdoors.A born salesman, Frank cherished his relationships with his customers and employees. For Frank, his store was not just abusiness, it was an extension of himself.He treated everyone who walked in like family, and that often meant offering them his signature cocktail, the Lodge Lemonade. Frank, affectionately called "Bops," was afamily man, atrue patriot, aTiger fan, an avid reader, a mixologist, amateur bongo player, and an outdoor enthusiast. Hislifelong love of fishing -especially fly fishing -took him all over the world. Frank was aLife Member of CCA Louisiana and amember of Ducks Unlimited. He never met a stranger, and his positivity, humor, and fun-loving spirit will be remembered by everyone who knew him Frank is survived by his wife of 59 years, Gayle Jackson McLavy, his daughters, Travis McLavy and Ashley McLavy Parker (Greg), granddaughters Olivia Parker and Jane Ashley Parker, sister Corinne "Pug" Gussman, niece Tracey GussmanNeyland (Tommy), nephews William Gussman (Michelle), Lance Thomas (Jaci), Smith Thomas, James "Peck" Jackson III (Alicia), and David Jackson (Shannen), sister-in-law Janie Jackson Rainey (Gerald), and sister -in-law Kaye Watson Jackson. He is preceded in death by his parents, Corinne HeromanMcLavy and Frank "Mac" McLavy, Sr., his nephew, William Thomas IV, brother-in-law James "Jack" Jackson, Jr., and brother-in-law Larry Gussman. Visitation will be on
Frank "Mac" McLavy,Sr., his nephew, William Thomas IV, brother-in-law James"Jack" Jackson, Jr., and brother-in-lawLarry Gussman. Visitation will be on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, from 4:00pm to 8:00pm at Seale Funeral Home in Denham Springs. Service will be on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at St. Francis Episcopal Church in Denham Springs at 11:00am with visitation from 10:00am to 11:00am. Honorarypallbearers will be Greg Parker, Rickey Heroman, Peck Jackson, Tommy Kleinpeter, Gregg Baiano, and Channing Stowell. The family would like to express our sincere gratitude to Kathleen Fitzgerald, Claudette Helm, Lori Ann Wild, and Marcus McGovern for taking excellent care of Frank.
Netterville, Jennifer
JenniferLyle Netterville passedaway on March 5th, 2025, in Baton Rouge,LA. Born to Guy and Margaret Lyle on November 9th, 1936, in Greensboro, NC, Jenniferwas known for her vibrant and spirited personality that was always the life of every gathering She had aprofound love for travel, especially to Reba's ranch in Austinwith family and friends. Jennifer's hobbiesincluded baking, shopping, entertaining, exercising, and exploring new destinations and cultures, which kept her zest for life evergreen. She lovedbaking her incredible lemon cake forall her kids' birthdays and always lookedforward to making seafood gumbo and cocoons for the yearly Netterville Christmas weekend. Her legacy continues through herincredible lemon cake and cocoons recipes, which no one has yet to replicate, and the countless memories she created with everyone she touched. She will be deeply missedby all herfamily and friends. Jennifercherishedher family and her late husband, Bob Netterville,with whom she shared52wonderful years. She is survived by her childrenRobbie Cox (Steve), Carolyn Boone (Ronnie), Greg Landry (Kay), Laura Thompson (Mark), and David Landry (Ann); her grandchildren KelliBrock, Shane Boone,Beau Landry, Libby Moore,Jenny Hillyer, Cortney Swarts, Parker Morgan, Brittany Faunce, Gage Goodspeed, Colin Landry, Jessica Pray, Mark Thompson Jr., Shannon Cooper, Brandy Netterville, Charlie Netterville; and 26 great-grandchildren. She was precededindeath by her husband Bob, her parents, and her brothers Don and Chris and her son Mike Netterville.Professionally, Jennifer retiredfrom the Teachers Retirement System in which she managed the teacher's investment portfolio and then went on to build and run asuccessful fabric store, Fabric Warehouse,which became astaple in the community for fabric and design lovers. She was afaithful member of First Christian Church, where she enjoyed participating in community services, church services, and events. Sincere thanks to Moore Care Caregiver Services especially Merrion Freeman, Lashawndra Smith and Jeffrey Moses as well as all the rest of the caregivers over the years. Your love and devotion to Bob and Jennifer hasmade such adifference in all our lives!A visitation for Jennifer will be heldonMonday, March 10, 2025 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Greenoaks Funeral Home, 9595 Florida Blvd. Baton Rouge, LA. 70815. Afuneral service will occur at 12:00 PM with agraveside service occurring immediately thereafter. In lieu of flowers donations canbemade to First Christian Church 8484 Old Hammond Hwy. Baton Rouge,LA. 70809.
Gregory Boyce Oden, a devoted brother, and adventurous spirit,passed away on March 3, 2025, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana at the age of 74. Gregory proudly served as aParatrooper in the US Army, the 82nd Airborne division, Fort Bragg, NC, an experience that filled him with joy as he relished the thrill of jumping out of airplanes. Thisadventurous spirit defined much of Gregory's life, as he embraced challenges and approached each new day with enthusiasm. Gregory dedicated his professional life to thecraft of welding and boiler making, earning the esteem of colleagues and clients alike. His technical skills were complemented by aremarkable passion for mechanics, and love for working on old cars and motorcycles. Among his proudest accomplishmentswas his unique stint as an extra in various films, including those featuring the legendary Burt Reynolds. These experiences brought him immense joy and a sense of excitement that resonated deeply with his passion for life. He is preceded in death by his parents, Olander Oden and Althea Brignac Oden. Gregory is survived by his loving siblings, Elizabeth Koster, Helen Hebert (James), and Kenneth Oden (Sandra) 3nieces and 3nephews. His absence will undoubtedly be felt among family and friends, especially his dear friend Wesley, who the family would like to give thanks to forbeing such a great friend. As we bid farewell to Gregory Boyce Oden, we celebratea life rich with experiences, achievements, and deep connections. He will be dearly missed and fondly remembered by allwho had the privilege of knowing him. We would like to give aspecial thank youto ClarityHospice and thank you to the dedicated staff at Whealdon Estates. Please refer to churchfuneralservices.com to leave condolences for the family.
Richards, Max
Max Richards, age 90, passed away on February 27, 2025. He was born in Wewoka, Oklahoma, and resided in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Max earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Petroleum Engineering at the University of Oklahoma and then his Master of Science in Engineering at the UniversityofPittsburgh. He was amember of the Gamma PhiChapter of BetaTheta Pi Fraternity. He was alifetime member of the SocietyofPetroleum Engineers. Max served 20 years in the United States Army attaining therank of Lieutenant Colonel and was Airborne qualified During this time, he was stationed in Europe, Vietnam and Korea. He received twoArmy Commendation Medals, twoMeritorious Service Medals and two Bronze Stars. Upon retiring from theArmy, Max moved to Louisiana and held several engineering positions. He was an avid tennis player and loved making memories withhis wife, five children, ten grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Max is survived by his wife of almost 70 years, Pat Richards; sons, Ken Richards (Beth) and Tim Richards (Tonda); daughters, Jill Richards Kalimeris (Andreas), Becky Richards Hearn (Darrel) and Meg Richards Gerald (Don); grandchildren, Tanner Richards (Taylor), Reeves Richards (Maritza), Tarin Richards Worrest (Alan), Tyler Richards, Tessa Richards, Walsh Hearn (Sarah), Will Hearn, Megan Hearn Rhyne (Matt), Rainey Gerald and Fallon Gerald Tullier (Devin); and eight great-grandchildren. He is preceded in deathby his parents, William Elmer Richards and Polly Verona Sams Richards; sister, Jacqueline RichardsPagan; brother-in-law, Roy Pagan; father-in-law Allen Walsh; and mother-in-law,
his parents, William Elmer Richards and Polly Verona Sams Richards; sister, Jacqueline RichardsPagan; brother-in-law, Roy Pagan; father-in-law Allen Walsh; and mother-in-law, Louise Walsh. Avisitation will be held on April 4, 2025 at Broadmoor United Methodist Church from 911AM; with afuneral service beginning at 11AM. Inurnment will follow at Louisiana National Cemetery at 2PM. Memorial contributions can be made to St. Joseph's Academy in Baton Rouge.
Blanca Isabel Rush, 76, peacefully passed away on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, at The Hospice of Baton Rouge's Butterfly Wing.A devoted wife, loving mother, and cherished friend, Blanca leaves behind a lasting legacy that will continue to inspire all who had the privilege of knowing her. Born in San Lorenzo, Honduras, Blanca moved to the United States in 1981 on aFulbright Fellowship to pursue aMaster's degree in Education at Louisiana StateUniversity. It was there, in 1982, that she met her beloved husband, Dr. Milton Charles Rush. Together, they built alife grounded in love, family, and a shared commitment to service. Blanca dedicated her career to education, teaching Spanish at LSU,Southeastern University, Baton Rouge CommunityCollege, and within theEast Baton Rouge Public School System. Her unwavering belief in education as apowerful force for changeinspired and shaped the lives of countless students, leaving aprofound impact on the Baton Rougecommunity. After her husband's passing, Blanca took the reins of Rush Rice Product LLC,passionately promoting thedistinctiveBlanca Isabel Purple Rice and making ameaningful impact across Louisiana and Texas. Blanca's warmth, optimism, and dedication to others will be forever remembered.Her legacy of kindness, integrity, and service lives on in her children, Claudia Rush (and her husband,Mauricio Hernandez), AnaMorales, and Dr. Tomás Allen Rush (and his wife, Dr. Joanna Tannous Rush), as well as her beloved granddaughter, Karlie Lillian Rush. She is also survived by her nephews, Jesus Retana and Olson Rodriguez, and her sister, Elizabeth Morales. Blanca was preceded in death by her husband,Dr. Milton Charles Rush. Her lifewas atestament to love, resilience, and theprofound difference one person can make. While her presence will be deeply missed, her memory will remain in the hearts of all who had the honorof knowing her.
Simmons, Marguerite Casey
It is with profound sorrow and solemn reverence that we announce the passing of Ms. Marguerite Simmons, who departed this earthly life on the15th of February, in theyear of our Lord 2025, at thedistinguished age of 98. Apublic viewing shall be held in her honor on Monday, the 10th of March, commencing at 9:00 AM at Winnfield Funeral Home, where family and friendsmay gather to pay their final respects. A Celebration of Life shall follow at 10:00 AM. Her earthly remains shall be laid to rest at at Roselawn Memorial Park. The distinguished &solemn arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Winnfield Funeral Home of Baton Rouge &C.D.Slaughter, FDIC.
guished &solemn arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Winnfield Funeral Home of Baton Rouge &C.D.Slaughter, FDIC.
Swinney, Raymond Pierce
RaymondPierceSwinney of Baton Rouge, LA, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend passed away peacefully in his home on February 26, 2025, surrounded by his loving family. He was 85 years old. Ray Swinney was born at home on April 4, 1939, to Marion Mott (Bill) and Bessie Swinney in Vinton, LA. and wasthe youngest of 8children. He spoke often and with pride of his home life in Vinton.He loved spending time after school andonweekends at Swinney's Cafe owned by his father. Ray was the first in his family to graduate from college receiving his Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Technology from LouisianaState University. It was there that he met the love of his life, Verna Thompson Swinney, of Baton Rouge, in 1959. They married on June 2, 1962, and began their beautiful life together. Upon graduation from LSU in 1962, he began his career with Foster Canvas Products in New Orleans. In 1966, he accepted aposition with Kellwood Company and moved his family to McComb, MS. Throughout hiscareer with Kellwood, he was relocated to several differentstates and in 1979, moved his family backtoMcComb. Shortly after movingback, he was promoted to Director of Quality Control working outofthe corporate office in St. Louis, Missouri. Ray traveled the world with Kellwood where he was able to see over 31 countries and he brought his family with him whenever he could. He retired in the year 2000 after 34 years of outstanding ser-
countries and he brought his family with him whenever he could. He retired in the year 2000 after years of outstanding service. Although he attained great success in hisprofessional career, receiving many awards and accolades, his proudest role was that of aloving husband, father, and grandfather. He loved spending time with his family. He is survived by his wife, of 62 years, Verna Thompson Swinney; three daughters, Leah Swinney, Regan Swinney Jones (Dennis), Dana Swinney; son, Mitch Swinney (Kayla); and 5grandchildren,Julia Jones King (Andy), Gwinneth Jones, Emily Swinney, Jack Delamain, and Henry Swinney. He is also survived by one sister, Betty Parker, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Outside of spending time with family and friends, Ray enjoyed sailing, gardening, genealogy, traveling, music,and carpentry. He also loved animals and wildlife and as aresult, there were many pets within thehome throughoutthe years. He was askilled craftsman in the art of ship modeling and built historical model ships for each of his children. His love of sailing began in childhood where he would draw pictures of boats and ships to decorate his bedroom walls. At the age of 17, he worked on atugboat as adeckhand andsobegan his love of the waterand boating. He purchased hisfirst sailboat, while living in North Carolina in theearly 1970's, sharing hispassion for sailing with his family throughoutthe years. They were hisfavorite crew. He was amember of the Pontchartrain Yacht Club for 32 years and Corinthians Sailing Association for 20 years. He loved to race competitively, receiving numerous awards over the years. His wife Verna shared his love for sailing and often served as his "first mate" during relaxing leisure sails as well as racing competitionson Lake Pontchartrain. They also shared an exciting two-week sailing adventure from New Orleans to Destin, Florida. Memories of which he loved to share with others. Ray was a man of few words, but we cherished them. He had a kind and gentle soul. He was honest, hardworking, respectful, and loyal. He loved to fix things and solve problems. Ray enjoyed the simple things in life. He had apeacefuland quiet presence. We loved everythingabout him, and we will miss him.... until we
Oden,Gregory Boyce
Rush,Blanca Isabel
McLavy Jr., Frank R.
OPINION
OUR VIEWS
Trump’s tariffs are bad economic policy, especially for Louisiana
President Donald Trump’s tariff wars are a terrible idea anyway, but Louisiana’s congressional delegation should be particularly opposed to them and eager to reassert congressional authority Trump has been playing a cat-and-mouse game with taxes on imports from Canada and Mexico, has instituted new tariffs on China and is threatening “reciprocal” levies on goods from all nations that impose their own import taxes. His announcements have spooked stock markets, even as inflation continues above target rates and the economy looks headed for a contraction in this year’s first quarter
The tariffs surely will lead to higher prices not just on imported goods but also on American-made products that use foreign parts. For instance, if Trump a month from now goes through with the threatened (but temporarily suspended) tax on Canadian and Mexican auto parts, Bloomberg reports average car prices could rise by a whopping $12,000. New home prices could rise by some $35,000.
The Tax Foundation says the tariffs will raise not just prices but also taxes, with just those on our American neighbors and on China putting an extra tax burden on the average American household of $1,072. And all for little net gain to the U.S Treasury as “nearly all the new tariff revenue raised under President Trump’s first term was used to bail out farmers harmed by retaliatory tariffs.”
Not to mention that just keeping track of and implementing all the individual tariffs would require more government workers and red tape, rather than streamlining the federal behemoth. Louisiana would be hit especially hard by widespread tariff hikes. The whole point of Trump’s trade policy is to favor local manufacturers by discouraging imports. Likewise, when other nations retaliate, as they surely would, U.S. exports will decline accordingly All of which means far less work for U.S ports Considering that, by tonnage, Louisiana has four of the nation’s 10 busiest ports — South Louisiana (2), New Orleans (5), Greater Baton Rouge (7), and Lake Charles (10) the tariffs could be devastating to the state’s economy That statistic involves merely the ports themselves. When one considers all the local suppliers that export from Louisiana and the businesses that depend on easy access to imported goods at low prices, the deleterious results wouldn’t be mere ripple effects, but tidal waves. For just one example, Geoffrey Meeker, the Louisianabased owner of the French Truck coffee house chain, said in January that a threatened 25% tariff on Colombia “would have wiped out my company’s profit for a quarter” and hurt his 170 employees. Kristi App, chief operating officer at the J.W Allen global logistics provider in St. Rose, said “things can change with tariffs that completely blow up your budget.”
The Constitution specifically gives Congress, not the president, the power “to regulate commerce with foreign nations.” Led by Louisiana’s delegation, Congress should retake that power from President Trump.
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this really a
Democrats are raising an alarm about what they call a “constitutional crisis.” If there is one, they should know because they are to blame for it. That’s because their party, since the days of Franklin Roosevelt, has been violating the boundaries and restrictions on government set forth in our founding document.
The Founders wanted government to be limited so the people would be able to achieve their highest aspirations consistent with hard work and their talents.
Much of life has boundaries and rules that when violated, bring consequences. Think of speed limits, boundaries in sports, even rules while playing cards and board games. Warnings on medications tell of what can happen if directions are violated and possible side effects ignored.
Only when it comes to government are constitutional limits violated with little concern from most politicians. One consequence that is finally receiving serious attention is the national debt. As The Wall Street Journal recently noted, servicing the debt now costs more than the entire Defense Department budget. This is unsustainable and as the Journal notes and I
In your letters, many of you often want to recommend a book, movie, restaurant or something that you liked to other readers. Generally, we allow these recommendations because they help others to find interesting options they may not have known of. However, if a letter is a promotion for something that a reader has a financial interest in, we generally do not publish that If you want to get the word out about something you’re involved with, we have an advertising department that can help with those kinds of inquiries. Plus, we think our letters page is more vibrant when we publish strong opinions rather than promotions. For those who pitch guest columns for our pages, we know you may have an interest in the topic you are writing about. Often, a writer has a strong opinion on a topic precisely because it affects them in a profound way We only ask that you disclose this. We generally don’t allow writers to market
wrote five years ago in a book called “America’s Expiration Date” — past nations have expired under the weight of massive debt.
Looking to the past for wisdom in how to deal with debt and so much else is ignored by many modern politicians in both parties.
The Founders — and those presidents who paid attention to their wise words — conducted government in a responsible way that promoted the general welfare. It only takes a few seconds on Google to assess the wisdom of presidents who embraced their principles. Below are only three of many examples that show what they believed to be the consequences of big government and the scourge of debt.
Thomas Jefferson: “A wise and frugal government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, which shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government. ...”
Notice the inversion. Labor and what it produces for the person who earns from it is to be protected and encouraged. Government is to be restrained
products and services to our readers. Readers have argued for greater transparency among letter writers and guest columnists about their interests in a topic. We believe transparency is important and allows the reader to evaluate an opinion in the proper context. It is why we demand similar transparency from our political leaders. We encourage readers to bring any issues about conflicts of interest to our attention. We do strive to make it known and remove ourselves from issues where we may have conflicts. I want to thank those readers who have responded to our first Town Square of the Year: If you could make a New Year’s resolution for the state of Louisiana, what would it be? We’ve had a newsy start to the year, so we did not yet publish your responses. But we will be contacting those who have sent the best letters and publishing them shortly There is still time to get in a letter
from causing injury to the person or business that profits from such industry Today the attitude seems to be that government should be a major beneficiary of one’s labor and risk-taking. Consider the top federal tax rate of 37% and additional state, local and other taxes that go to government coffers. Again, Jefferson put it succinctly: “The course of history shows that as government grows, liberty decreases.” We are not the first to roam the Earth. Others who came before have figured things out so that we don’t have to, but too many act as if the past can teach us nothing. Our 30th president, Calvin Coolidge, was wiser than the credit given him by many historians. A century ago, Coolidge said: “Unless the people, through unified action, arise and take charge of their government, they will find that their government has taken charge of them Independence and liberty will be gone, and the general public will find itself in a condition of servitude to an aggregation of organized and selfish interest.” Need I say more? Donald Trump and Elon Musk seem to be listening. Will Congress?
Email Cal Thomas at tcaeditorstribpub.com.
Going to our letters inbox for the week of Feb. 6-13, we received 80 letters. National politics was the hottest topic, with 18 letters. Of those, five focused on the actions of Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency In the aftermath of a successful Super Bowl in New Orleans, we got 15 letters commenting on the event. And immigration continues to draw interest, with four letters on that topic.
We continue to have a high volume of letters, mostly prompted by the flurry of changes at the federal level. While we strive to publish as many letters as we can, we will not have room for letters that repeat the same or similar arguments. And unfortunately, we cannot respond to letter writers about the status of their letters. But know that they may take a few weeks to get published.
Arnessa Garrett is Deputy Editor | Opinion Page Editor. Email her at arnessa.garrett@theadvocate.com.
Arnessa Garrett
Cal Thomas
COMMENTARY
Families, food and neighborhoods intertwine in La.
There’s absolutely nothing in the United States like the love affair Louisiana has with food and drink. When this newspaper last week published Ian McNulty’s wonderful review of Avegno lounge, the new adjunct to the legendary Uptown restaurant Gautreau’s, memories came rushing back. It was in the late 1970s, or maybe 1980, that as Dr Howard Russell drove his son Hugh and me to some forgotten event, we stopped for about 10 minutes at an abandoned Soniat Street pharmacy that Dr Russell recently had acquired There were still wares — aspirin bottles, I think, and bandage boxes, and the like on some shelves. I distinctly remember running my finger through and blowing into the air clouds of significant layers of dust.
“What are y’all gonna do with this place?” I asked Hugh shrugged in response: “My mom is thinking of starting a restaurant here.”
Then Hugh and I looked at each other and laughed Hugh’s mother, Anne Avegno Russell, had grown up with my mother and Anne was my godmother Anne had an irrepressible personality, full of life and warmth. Still, raising what soon would be six children seemed to be more than enough for her to handle — and though she cooked really well, she had no restaurant background at all. Sure enough, though, she plowed forward, and on either Aug. 23 or 24, 1982 (I can’t remember if it was the Monday of that week or the Tuesday), she opened in the old pharmacy building what was intended to be a sort of high-end lunch place, named Gautreau’s after the Avegno relative made famous as the “Madame X” of the portrait by painter John Singer Sargent. Gautreau’s then featured a few dine-in tables, but the expectation was that its main focus would be providing plenty of takeout soups, salads and sandwiches. I walked
in about midafternoon on that first day, which had seen more traffic than Anne expected, and I ate some of the very last remaining soup. Anne was, if I remember correctly, a bit panicked at the thought that she already was short of food supplies for the next day’s clientele.
I went off to my freshman year of college two or three days later and, lo and behold, by school year’s end, Gautreau’s was open for dinner, too, and was drawing rave reviews as a gourmet restaurant. Somewhere along the line Anne hired a wonderful, professional chef named Armand Jonté, who cemented Gautreau’s place in the pantheon of the city’s finest restaurants. Hugh later became the restaurant’s general manager and I filled in twice on short notice as a busboy, without more than ten minutes’ training, when employees belatedly called in sick. The experiences left me with a new, awed appreciation for the hard work and indefatigable energy required to run a good restaurant’s kitchen.
The Russells sold Gautreau’s in the early 1990s, and I hadn’t eaten there in three decades until my good friend Bill Kearney, whose father grew up down the street from my father, bought it in 2023 with business partner Jay Adams, whose daughter Katie is the general manager There at the reopening night, I discovered the place and the food were still magic. The Kearney-Adams team by all accounts is working wonders. And now, with the well-received opening a few weeks back at the adjoining lounge Avegno — I am so, so eager to try it — I feel sure Anne, who died in 2009, would love knowing that her creation is now becoming even more of a gathering place than it already has been for lo these 42 years. All of which is over-lengthy prologue to this observation: Here in Louisiana, memorably good restaurants spring up in every neighborhood, usually with lengthy, intertwining family histories. They spring up as po-boy joints; they spring up as plate-food cafes; they spring up as ethnic-food specializers; and some spring up
to serve fine, gourmet repasts.
But spring up they do, again and again; here, there, and everywhere they arise and, amazingly, thrive.
My Alabama-native wife, accustomed to searching in vain for Mobile neighborhood restaurants, is constantly delighted with the accessibility and variety and personality of Louisiana dining establishments of all kinds. She always asks how it can be so wonderfully this way
Well, Anne Russell is how Bill Kearney and the Adamses are how The Mandinas are how, and the Liuzzas are how and the Brennans and Domilises, the Reginellis and Chases, the Jubans and Prejeans, are how
Good food and drink in convivial settings are a Louisiana family blessing. And it’s particularly fitting for a restaurant to emerge from a pharmacy, because Louisiana cuisine and Louisiana friendliness are a miraculous prescription for the soul.
Quin Hillyer can be reached at quin.hillyer@theadvocate.com.
Cantrell is grounded, and other tales of checks and balances
Is there a more fitting image to capture the current state of city government in New Orleans than the mayor being grounded?
Perhaps, but only if you consider a previous move by the same City Council that recently ordered LaToya Cantrell to stay home: her eviction from the city-owned Pontalba apartment that she improperly used. Both are embarrassments for the city’s lame duck leader — surely designed, at least in part, to humiliate. Yet it would be wrong to view either action as purely gratuitous or entirely unprovoked.
Yes, the council’s unanimous vote to temporarily bar Cantrell and her staff from spending public money on most travel is an obvious callback to her much-lampooned luxury flights to far off locales for conferences cultural visits and the like These trips had her out of town one of every five days in 2023 and the first part of 2024, and cost taxpayers a cool quarter million bucks for her and other city staffers. But it’s also an on-point response to her bizarre and unconvincingly explained reversal on the city’s agreement to pay the Orleans Parish School Board a $90 million settlement over 10 years to end a longstanding dispute over tax collections Cantrell’s administration had been in on the negotiations, and she signed a budget that included the money The school system has been counting on upfront payments in light of an unrelated and also galling accounting error that put it in a deep hole. The council supported the settlement and has now joined with the school board in asking a court to force the administration to pay up.
The mayor’s professed reasoning for her weird reversal is a moving target She’s claimed that the council entered the agreement without the administration’s permission. Her top finance aids have made the case that the city is facing unexpected financial challenges lost traffic camera revenue, confusion about President Donald Trump’s federal spending cuts and some other multimillion-dollar judgments — and can’t afford to pay That seemed to come as news to council members who approve and closely monitor city spending.
It also amounted to an open invitation for a council crackdown — not to mention a Council President JP Morrell social media beatdown, the sort he rarely refuses and certainly didn’t here.
“No more flying around the country,” Morrell wrote. “No more eating out. No more other related nonsense, because if we can’t afford to take care of the kids, we can’t afford to do anything else.”
Still, Morrell insisted at the meeting at which the ban was adopted that “this is not punitive This is in response to representation made by the head of the finance
department that our budget is in crisis, that spending is out of control.”
He’s got a point there, even if it comes across as awfully punitive anyway New Orleans traditionally has a strong mayor system, with the legislative arm of government mostly deriving its power in specifically designated realms such as utility regulation and land use, as well as the budget.
But this council, led by two at-large members who rotate the presidency, Morrell and now-mayoral candidate Helena Moreno, has been as assertive as any in recent memory in part in response to Cantrell moves that raised eyebrows.
Another example is the charter change the council pushed to give itself approval over top mayoral appointments, which saw its first use when Cantrell chose and the council ratified Anne Kirkpatrick as police superintendent.
The amendment followed some explosive controversies involving Cantrell appointees, and the fact that 60% of voters supported it suggests a public appetite for a stronger oversight.
All this may have much to do with the personalities involved; indeed, there’s been plenty of council preening throughout these multiple squabbles, and you can’t get much more on the nose than clipping the mayor’s wings, whether metaphorically or literally Still, anything that strengthens checks and balances — and reins in an executive who goes off the reservation is probably a good thing, at any level of government. In fact, it’s something that a certain legislative branch up in Washington might want to consider
Email Stephanie Grace at sgrace@ theadvocate.com.
Many turned to Black media to counter Trump speech
President Donald Trump addressed a joint session of the U.S. Congress on Tuesday night, getting more than 36 million people to watch. That’s 13% higher than former President Joe Biden’s 2024 speech (32.2 million), but lower than each of Trump’s first-term congressional addresses (47.7 million viewers in 2017, 45.6 million in 2018, 46.8 in 2019, 37.2 million in 2020). Trump may be the president, but fewer people are listening to him. That includes Black Louisianans. According to Variety, Neilson rating results show that “this year’s total accounts for viewers across ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, Merit Street, Telemundo Univision, PBS, CNN, CNNe, FOX Business, Fox News Channel, MSNBC, Newsmax and NewsNation.” Fox News didn’t focus on Trump’s viewership loss. Instead, the conservative network claimed success because 10.7 million of the viewers watched their network. What Nielson didn’t measure was those who chose to watch Black, independent media, people
who chose something other than a speech full of lies, people who deliberately chose to ignore Trump.
Roland Martin Unfiltered, a Black-focused daily digital news program, has a healthy audience of Black and other people. Martin started the show in 2018. He’s built the startup into a mainstay in six years Tuesday night was a major high. In an interview, Martin said until Tuesday night the highest viewership was about 29,000 viewers. That was the night that the Tyre Nichols Memphis police beating video was released. About 8,000 were online before the first half-hour ended. On Tuesday night, more than 1.1 million people watched the “State of Our Union,” Martin’s Trump speech alternative. People who tuned into Martin’s six-plus-hour special heard the Rev Dr William J. Barber II, president of Repairers of the Breach and co-chair of the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call For Moral Revival.
As an anti-poverty activist Barber emphasized the plight of poor people and workers and issued a call for action.
“We’ve got to increase and increase and embolden our agitation,” he said during the live broadcast as I watched. “We’ve got to stand tall because bowing down is not an option.”
Martin said it’s taken focus and time to build the national media platform he leads, and Tuesday night is evidence that Black people want to engage with independent Black media addressing serious issues without bowing to Trump’s stupidity. Hundreds of Louisianans tuned in to hear Barber, Martin and a host of nonpartisan, partisan and elected officials, including U.S. Rep. Troy Carter New Orleans native Damon Hewitt, president and executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law was featured on a panel. Before the show, Martin sent a text to a few friends and it flew into the Black universe. It popped into community and family text groups. It was posted on social media, including on New Orleans Facebook groups. “Black Louisianans were definitely watching,” he said later Yes, they were. I got several copies of the text.
“We’ve never done anything quite like this,” Payne shared with me Thursday “We’ve held other live streams across YT (YouTube) and IG (Instagram), but nothing compares to this.”
Payne said what happened shows that “there were a number of people looking for refuge” from what was expected.
Trump won 49.8% of the November popular vote. At least 50.2% of voters wanted someone else. Trump and the GOP toyed with large media even as they capitalized on the reach of independent and single-person media platforms.
Democrats should pay attention to Martin’s and Payne’s success. Obviously, Makeba and others will spend hours where there is appealing, substantive programming.
So did Dwana Makeba, a Gentilly hair stylist, former educator and Army veteran who wasn’t going to watch Trump then chose to watch Martin’s show after several friends sent her the text. She watched the program from shortly after 7 p.m. until 11:30 p.m. Makeba, 54, decided to watch the Trump recording the next morning, but she stopped. “I was so repulsed,” she told me. She said the president was “in full arrogance” mode talking about things he’s done “as if those things were positive,” knowing he’s hurting children, workers and veterans like her Retired WWL anchor Sally-Ann Roberts was watching, too. “II watched and was impressed with Bishop Barber’s sermon,” she shared. What happened Tuesday night also surprised Amber Payne, publisher and general manager of The Emancipator, a digital news outlet that challenges readers to think seriously about race, racism and structural racism and how it impacts everyone. Since it started in spring 2022, the online magazine hasn’t done anything like the 24hour livestream attempted a few days ago. The outlet had 98,000 livestream viewers, including 21,000 during the time that the president spoke to the joint session of Congress. The broadcast was so successful that they picked up 2,700 new subscribers.
Email Will Sutton at wsutton@ theadvocate.com.
Quin Hillyer
Stephanie Grace Will Sutton
STAFF FILE PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER
New Orleans Police Department Supt. Anne Kirkpatrick talks to Mayor LaToya Cantrell on Bourbon Street ahead of Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans last month.
Walters, Carol Jean Smith
rate office in St. Louis, Missouri. Ray traveled the world with Kellwood where he was abletosee over 31 countries and he brought his family with him whenever he could. He retired in the year 2000 after 34 years of outstanding service. Although he attained great success in his professional career, receiving many awards and accolades, his proudest role was that of aloving husband, father, and grandfather. He loved spending time with his family. He is survived by his wife, of 62 years, Verna Thompson Swinney; three daughters, Leah Swinney, Regan Swinney Jones (Dennis), Dana Swinney; son, Mitch Swinney (Kayla); and 5grandchildren, Julia Jones King (Andy), Gwinneth Jones, Emily Swinney, Jack Delamain, and Henry Swinney. He is also survived by one sister, Betty Parker, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Outside of spending time with family and friends, Ray enjoyed sailing, gardening, genealogy, traveling, music, and carpentry. He also loved animals and wildlife and as aresult, there were many pets within the home throughout the years. He was askilled craftsman in the art of ship modeling and built historical model ships for each of his children. His love of sailing began in childhood where he would draw pictures of boats and ships to decorate his bedroom walls.At the age of 17, he worked on atugboat as adeckhand and so began his love of the water and boating. He purchased his first sailboat, while living in North Carolina in the early 1970's, sharing his passion for sailing with his family throughout the years. They were his favorite crew. He was amember of the Pontchartrain Yacht Club for 32 years and Corinthians Sailing Association for 20 years. He loved to race competitively, receiving numerous awards over the years. His wife Verna shared his love for sailing and often served as his "first mate" during relaxing leisure sails as well as racing competitions on Lake Pontchartrain. They also shared an exciting two-week sailing adventure from New Orleans to Destin, Florida. Memories of which he loved to share with others. Ray was a man of few words, but we cherished them. He hada kind and gentle soul. He was honest, hardworking, respectful, and loyal. He loved to fix things and solve problems. Ray enjoyed the simple things in life. He had apeaceful and quiet presence. We loved everything about him, and we will miss him.... untilwe meet again. Ray was preceded in death by his parents, Marion Mott (Bill) and Bessie Swinney; brothers, Bill Swinney (Gloria), John L. Swinney (Billie Jean); and infant brother, Bobby Lee; sisters, Joyce Dillon (Burnice), Dora Magee (Edward), Jo Ann Powers (Edward); and brother-in-law, Buford Parker. Visitation will beat Greenoaks Funeral Home in Baton Rouge, LA, on Saturday, March 15, 2025, from 1:00 pm until the Memorial Gathering at 3pm. The family would like to thank Pinnacle Hospice for their loving care of our father during his final days with us. Walters, Carol Jean Smith Carol Jean Smith Walters was born February 13, 1937 to Merrick and Myrtle Sheets Smith in Baton Rouge. She grew up in Istrouma Baptist Church, graduated from Istrouma Highs School, and while attending Louisiana College met and married her preacher husband, Charles Milford Walters. Their only child, Deleece Duahn Walters Nicholswas born while they were in college and she grew up helping them serve many Baptist churches across Louisiana Carol spent her professional career teaching elementary and junior high school. She was innovative and creative in her teaching methods impacting many students. Her life's calling was teaching about and sharing Jesus! She loved serving in church doing fun eventsto draw others to church and to Jesus! She spent her early ministry serving kids and students thru teaching, events, and fun trips! Her later ministry served adults with bibleteachings and walk through displays for large tour groups. She loved teaching the Bible Carol was agifted musician and loved playing the piano and organ for church. She enjoyed traveling with family, she loved organizing and creating, and was adelicious cook. She could throw aparty like no other! She even like trying to be amatchmaker. She was ahard worker who believed in having lots of fun! Most of all, she loved agood bargain, and awhole lot of it! In her final years she loved her familyand friends at Harvest Manor where she enjoyed playing the piano for the nursing
Carol Jean Smith Walters was born February 13, 1937 to Merrick and Myrtle Sheets Smith in Baton Rouge. She grewupin Istrouma Baptist Church, graduated from Istrouma Highs School, and whileattending Louisiana College met and marriedher preacherhusband, Charles Milford Walters. Their only child, Deleece Duahn Walters Nichols wasborn while they were in college and she grew up helping them serve many Baptist churchesacross Louisiana. Carol spent her professional careerteaching elementary and junior high school. She was innovative and creative in her teaching methods impacting many students. Her life's calling was teaching about and sharing Jesus! She lovedserving in church doing fun events to draw others to church and to Jesus! She spent her early ministry serving kids and students thru teaching, events, and fun trips! Her later ministryserved adults with bible teachings and walk through displays for large tour groups. She loved teaching the Bible. Carol was agifted musician and loved playing the piano and organfor church. She enjoyedtraveling with family, she loved organizing and creating, and was adelicious cook. She could throw aparty like no other! She even like trying to be amatchmaker. She was ahard worker who believed in having lots of fun! Most of all, she loved agood bargain, and awholelot of it!
Visitation &Religious
In her final years she loved her family and friends at Harvest Manor where she enjoyed playing the piano for the nursing home Christmaschoir. She enjoyedlife to the end with her friends who calledher "the life of the party"! Now, Marlene, her sister, will need to takeonthat role Leaving to follow Milford and Carols footsteps in the Christian faith and legacy is their daughter: Deleece Nichols, who servesKIDS Ministryat Greenwell Springs Baptist Church. Their grandchildren: Corrbet Steven Nichols and CurrieNichols Stewart and the precious great grands Beaux Charles, Noelle Duahn, Jonah Nichols, and Evangeline Deleece, The family is grateful for the heritage they have trainedand demonstrated overtheir life long ministryoffaith and love.ItisGramps and Grands prayer thatthey will all spend eternity together.
Carols life will be celebrated Monday, March 10th at Greenwell Springs BaptistChurch (where Milford served as pastor for 14 years). Visitation is from 10:00am until 11:00am service. Following internment areception will take place at Harvest Manor in the afternoon.
Wesley Jr., Vernon
services Monday March 10, 2025 at the NorthIberville CommunityCenter, 75700 Rosedale Rd, Rosedale, La., 9amuntil services at 11 am. Conducted by Pastor Roderick Scott. Interment Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Cemetery. On Saturday, March 1, 2025, at Our Ladyofthe Lake Regional Medical Center, V. "Jaye" Wesley, 29, denounced Time and embraced Eternity, as acherished heir of Salvation. Jaye, anative and resident of Maringouin, was the first blessing born to Clarissa Lynn Batisteand the lateVernon J. Wesley Sr. Jaye leaves to cherish his life and legacy, his loving and devoted mother, Clarissa Lynn Batiste; his sister, Verneka Wesley; his brother, Jaden A. Fowler; his maternal grandmother, Betty J. Batiste; his maternal auntsand uncles, James BatisteIII and Sandra, Fredrick J. BatisteSr. and Terryn, E. Tyrone Dorsey and Kenya, and ChristyL.Thomas; his cousins who were like his siblings, DeJuan "DJ" Batiste, Darri (Rochelle) Joseph, James BatisteIV, his godsister, Amari J. Batiste, Reginald T. J. Dunn, Brycen A. Dorsey, Fredrick "Joey" J. BatisteJr., and Kayleigh J. Batiste; his paternal grandparents, Arthur Wesley Sr. and Emily Wesley; his paternal aunts and uncles, Stacey and Brian Jenkins Jr., Tameka and Clifton Watson, Twanda Wesley, Arthur Wesley Jr., Lynet Wesley, Tynet and Malcom Wicks, Jammie and Dawneshia Wesley, April and Brennon Robertson, and Kim Fox; his great aunts, Helen Isaac, Dorothy Thomas-Thomas, Brenda M. Batiste, WandaL Thomas, Bernadette T. (Marvin) Williams, and Mandy T. Jackson; his uncles, Alfred Batiste, Donald W. Thomas Sr., Hardy E. Thomas, Sr., Ricky N. (Jackie) Thomas Sr., and Michael W. Thomas Sr.
Visitation &Religious services Monday March 10, 2025 at the North Iberville Community Center, 75700 Rosedale Rd, Rosedale, La., 9amuntil servicesat11 am. Conducted by Pastor Roderick Scott. Interment Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Cemetery. On Saturday, March 1, 2025, at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, V. "Jaye" Wesley, 29, denounced Time and embraced Eternity, as acherished heir of Salvation. Jaye, anative andresident of Maringouin, was the first blessing born to Clarissa Lynn Batiste and the late Vernon J. Wesley Sr. Jaye leaves to cherish his life and legacy, hisloving and devoted mother, Clarissa Lynn Batiste; his sister, Verneka Wesley; his How to place an Obituary Notice
Wesley Jr., Vernon
Southern basks in SWAC title
Jags wrap regular season with win over Bulldogs
BY CHARLES SALZER
Contributing writer
The nets came down Saturday night at the F.G. Clark Activity Center
There was cause for celebration after the Southern men’s basketball team wrapped up the Southwestern Athletic Conference outright regular-season championship with a 71-57 win over Alabama A&M
The nets came down on both ends of the court, one for the men’s team and the other for Southern’s women, who won their regular-season title on Thursday night.
The win sets up Southern (20-11, 15-3) as the No. 1 seed in next week’s conference tournament in Atlanta. It is Southern’s first regular-season title since 2014, which is also the last time the Southern men and women won it in the same season.
After the win, Southern coach Kevin Johnson withstood a Gatorade bath and said he knew his team was special after a 5-7 start against one of the toughest schedules in college basketball.
“If you look at the nonconference records of the schools in our league, they don’t survive it, but we did,” he said. “We started conference play and we’ve led this league from start to finish. That doesn’t happen often. That’s how special this group is.”
ä See SOUTHERN, page 6C
PHOTO By JOHN OUBRE
Southern guard Jordan Johnson drives to the basket past Alabama A&M defender AC Bryant on Saturday at the F.G. Clark Activity Center
& DEFEATED
BY REED DARCEY Staff writer
GREENVILLE, S.C. — The LSU women’s basketball team already was missing Flau’jae Johnson. Then it lost Aneesah Morrow to an injury Saturday in its Southeastern Conference Tournament semifinal game against Texas.
The No. 3-seeded Tigers nearly fought for a win anyway But their valiant effort fell short, and the No. 1-ranked Longhorns prevailed 56-49 after holding LSU to its low-
BY LUKE JOHNSON Staff writer
Though the New Orleans Saints hold a top10 pick for the first time in nearly 20 years, figuring out what direction they will go with it feels like an exercise in futility. Last year it felt preordained they would take the best available offensive tackle with the No. 14 pick and they did, selecting Oregon State’s Taliese Fuaga. Tackle was such a glaring need last year that it felt obvious, but this year the needs feel pressing all over the roster
The defense could use young playmakers at all three levels, especially now that Brandon Staley is calling the shots for a different type of scheme than the one the Saints have run for the better part of the last decade.
While New Orleans has some nice pieces on offense, it’s also not hard to envision the team using its top pick or picks on any number of positions on that side of the ball, giving new head coach Kellen Moore some additional firepower Even with Alvin Kamara coming off a strong season that could include running back in what is considered a strong class at that position
Let’s take a spin through the Pro Football Focusmockdraftmachineandtakealookatsome players who may be available when the Saints pickonthefirsttwodaysofthe2025NFLDraft.
ä 2025 NFL Draft 7 P.M.APRIL 24,NFL NETW
No. 9: Arizona WR Tetairoa McMillan
Also considered: Penn State TE Tyler Warren, LSU OT Will Campbell, Georgia LB/Edge Jalon Walker, Marshall Edge Mike Green. The first eight picks of the draft fell favorably in this scenario, giving us several really strong options with the No. 9 overall pick. While it was extremely tempting to beef up either the offensive or defensive fronts, McMillan would provide the Saints the big-bodied football vacuum they’ve so sorely missed since Michael Thomas suffered an ankle injury in 2021. There is decent depth in this class along the offensive and defensive lines, while this wide receiver class is generally considered to be thinner than recent years. This felt like an area where the Saints could snag a potential star The 6-foot-5 McMillan has excellent ball skills and would provide an ideal stylistic complement to Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed. In three years at Arizona, ä See SAINTS, page 5C
est scoring output in a single game under coach Kim Mulkey That occurred a day after the Tigers set a program record for points scored in an SEC Tournament game with 101.
“I think that everything was really on us,” LSU guard Mikaylah Williams said. “I think we beat ourselves tonight more than (it was) Texas beating us.” LSU suffered the loss as it battled an adverse set of circumstances.
ä See SEC, page 6C
Tetairoa McMillan
Tigers close out regular season with a loss vs. Texas A&M
BY TOYLOY BROWN III Staff writer
Instead of athletic forwards skying for a put-back, LSU men’s
CARLSON
Texas forward Taylor Jones, right, vies for the ball with LSU forward Aneesah Morrow during the
SEC Tournament semifinal game on Saturday in Greenville, S.C. LSU lost 56-49.
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MEN’S TOP 25 ROUNDUP
Sears’ floater at buzzer upsets Auburn
AUBURN, Ala. — Mark Sears hit a game-winning floater as time expired, and No. 7 Alabama spoiled the home finale of rival and No. 1 Auburn with a 93-91 overtime road win Saturday
The off-balance buzzer-beater from the free-throw line was only the third made basket of the game for Sears, who finished with nine points.
Alabama (24-7, 13-5 Southeastern Conference) got 23 points from Grant Nelson and 15 points each from Labaron Philon and Clifford Omoruyi. The win ended a two-game losing skid for Alabama and handed a second straight loss for Auburn (27-4, 15-3).
Johni Broome scored 34 points, including a game-tying layup in the final minute of regulation and a game-tying 3-pointer with 15 seconds left in overtime.
Tahaad Pettiford added 19 points for Auburn, which was without second-leading scorer Chad Baker-Mazara for the final 10:52 of regulation and overtime. Baker-Mazara was ejected for a Flagrant 2 foul on Alabama’s Chris Youngblood.
No. 2 DUKE 82, UNC 69: In Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Freshman Kon Knueppel scored 17 points to help No. 2 Duke beat rival North Carolina on Saturday night and clinch the outright Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season title. Cooper Flagg added 15 points, nine rebounds and six assists despite first-half foul trouble for the Blue Devils (28-3, 19-1).
No. 4 TENNESSEE 75, SOUTH CAROLINA 65: In Knoxville, Tennessee, Chaz Lanier scored 23 points to lead No. 4 Tennessee to a victory over South Carolina on Saturday The Volunteers (25-6, 12-6 Southeastern Conference) wrapped up a double bye for the SEC Tournament. Cade Phillips came off the bench to score 15 points, Igor Milicic had 13 and Jordan Gainey added 10 points.
No. 5 FLORIDA 90, OLE MISS 71: In Gainesville, Florida, Walter Clayton Jr scored 23 points on senior night, Alex Condon notched his second straight double-double and No. 5 Florida beat Mississippi in
the regular-season finale for both teams Saturday Fellow senior Alijah Martin chipped in 13 points for the Gators, who closed out the regular season by winning nine of 10 and strengthening their case for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Florida (27-4, 14-4 Southeastern Conference) already clinched the No. 2 seed in next week’s league tourney No. 6 ST. JOHN’S 86, No. 20 MARQUETTE 84: In Milwaukee, Zuby Ejiofor hit a tiebreaking shot at the buzzer, Kadary Richmond got the first St. John’s triple-double this century and the sixth-ranked Red Storm beat No. 20 Marquette in overtime Saturday for their sixth consecutive victory St. John’s (27-4, 18-2 Big East) matched a program record for regular-season wins. The Red Storm went 27-4 in the 1985-86 regular season and ended up finishing 31-5 that year They already had clinched their first Big East outright regular-season title since 1985 a week earlier No 10 IOWA ST 73, KANSAS ST 57: In Manhattan, Kansas, Curtis Jones scored 24 points to lead No. 10 Iowa State past Kansas State on Saturday
The Cyclones (23-8, 13-7 Big 12) led wire-to-wire They got 14
points from Joshua Jefferson and 11 points from Dishon Jackson. Kansas State (15-16, 9-11) was led by senior David N’Guessan with 19 points. Dug McDaniel had 14 points.
No. 11 CLEMSON 65, VIRGINIA TECH
47: In Clemson, South Carolina, Viktor Lakhin scored 12 of his 16 points in the first half as No. 11 Clemson opened a doubledigit lead and beat Virginia Tech on Saturday for the program’s record-tying 26th victory of the season.
The Tigers (26-5, 18-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) matched a mark set by the 1990 team led by Dale Davis and Elden Campbell, who won Clemson’s only ACC regular-season crown. No. 13 MARYLAND 74, NORTHWESTERN 61: In College Park, Maryland, Julian Reese had 19 points and 11 rebounds in his home finale, and No. 13 Maryland pulled away late for a victory over Northwestern on Saturday
The Terrapins (24-7, 14-6 Big Ten) had a sluggish day offensively but did enough to win for the seventh time in eight games with the only defeat coming on a 65-foot shot at the buzzer against Michigan State late last month.
WOMEN’S TOP 25 ROUNDUP
No. 14 LOUISVILLE 68, STANFORD 48:
In Louisville, Kentucky, Terrence Edwards Jr and Chucky Hepburn scored 16 points apiece, and No. 14 Louisville ended the regular season Saturday with a victory over Stanford. The Cardinals (25-6, 18-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) used their defense to earn their ninth straight victory and 19th in 20 games. Stanford went nearly eight minutes between baskets, missing 11 shots in a row That allowed Louisville to go on a 14-1 run and take a 29-11 lead after Hepburn’s layup with 5:04 left before halftime. No.19 KENTUCKY 91,No.15 MISSOURI 83:
In Columbia, Missouri, Otega Oweh scored 22 points, and Andrew Carr added 16 points and 12 rebounds to help No. 19 Kentucky beat No. 15 Missouri Saturday Koby Brea scored 17 points and Amari Williams added 14 points and eight rebounds to help Kentucky (21-10, 10-8 Southeastern Conference) win its second game in a row PENN ST 86, No. 12 WISCONSIN 75:
In Madison, Wisconsin, D’Marco Dunn had 25 points and Yanic Konan Niederhauser added 15 points and 11 rebounds as Penn State rallied in the second half for an victory over No. 12 Wisconsin on Saturday preventing the Badgers from clinching a double bye in the Big Ten Tournament. Wisconsin (23-8, 13-7) went into the weekend in a three-way tie for third with No. 13 Maryland and No. 18 Purdue, but could have secured the double bye with a victory following Illinois’ victory over the Boilermakers on Friday ARKANSAS 93, No. 25 MISSISSIPPI ST 92: In Fayetteville, Arkansas, Jonas Aidoo made one of two free throws with 11 seconds left to break a tie game and No 25 Mississippi State missed two potential game-winning shots at the rim at the other end to close out Arkansas’ victory on Saturday Mississippi State (20-11, 8-10 Southeastern Conference) used a 12-0 run to go up by one point with 3:14 to play, its first lead since before halftime. Arkansas (19-12, 8-10), which led by one at the break, opened the second half on a 10-run.
S. Carolina advances to SEC Tournament title game
The Associated Press
GREENVILLE, S.C. — Joyce Edwards scored 21 points, and No. 5 South Carolina advanced to the Southeastern Conference Tournament championship game with a 93-75 win over 10th-ranked Oklahoma on Saturday MiLaysia Fulwiley scored 19 points to provide a huge boost off the bench for South Carolina (293), and Sania Feagin added 14. Sahara Williams had 17 points and Payton Verhulst added 15 points and nine assists for Oklahoma (257), which looked fatigued playing its third game in three days. South Carolina’s smothering defense set the tone early, repeatedly forcing hurried, bad shots and five turnovers while racing to a doubledigit first quarter lead. The Gamecocks stretched the lead to 45-28 at the break, closing the first half on a 14-2 run while holding Oklahoma without a field goal over the final four minutes.
South Carolina never led by fewer than 10 points in the second half. No. 2 USC 82, MICHIGAN 70: In Indianapolis, Kiki Iriafen scored 17 of her 25 points in the second half Saturday, JuJu Watkins added 20 points and each pulled down 11 rebounds to send No. 2 Southern California past fifth-seeded Michigan and into the Big Ten championship game.
The Trojans (28-2) will face No. 4 UCLA, a winner over No. 13 Ohio State, on Sunday USC won the league’s regular season by sweeping the two-game series against the Bruins. No. 4 UCLA 75, OHIO ST 46: In Indianapolis, Londynn Jones made six 3-pointers and scored a seasonhigh 22 points Saturday, leading No. 4 UCLA to a rout over No. 13 Ohio State in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals.
The victory sets up a third showdown between the league’s regular-season champ, No. 2 Southern California, and the runner-up Bruins on Sunday The Trojans swept
the first two meetings, and Round 3 of the cross-town rivalry is what many hoped to see. No.8TCU 71,WVU 65: In Kansas City Missouri, Hailey Van Lith had 19 points, six rebounds and eight assists, Sedona Prince added 18 points with 16 rebounds, and No. 8 TCU held off No. 16 West Virginia on Saturday to reach the women’s Big 12 Tournament championship for the first time in school history The top-seeded Horned Frogs will play No. 21 Oklahoma State or No. 17 Baylor on Sunday No 11 DUKE 66, No 6 NOTRE DAME 56: In Greensboro, North Carolina, Oluchi Okananwa had 14 points off the bench and Ashlon Jackson scored 12 to help No. 11 Duke beat No 6 Notre Dame in the ACC Tournament semifinals on Saturday Duke (25-7) will meet No. 7 N.C. State, the top seed, in the Atlantic Coast Conference title game on Sunday It’s the Blue Devils’ first time playing in that game in eight years. N.C. State beat No. 14 North Caro-
lina in the first semifinal matchup. No. 7 NC STATE 66, No. 14 UNC 55: In Greensboro, North Carolina, Aziaha James scored 19 points and No. 7 N.C State jumped out to a big lead to beat No. 14 North Carolina in the ACC Tournament semifinals on Saturday Madison Hayes and reserve Lorena Awou each had 10 points as the Wolfpack (26-5) avenged a one-point regular-season road loss. N.C. State faces either No. 11 Duke or No. 6 Notre Dame in Sunday’s Atlantic Coast Conference final. No.3 UCONN 71,ST.JOHN’S 40: In Uncasville, Connecticut, Paige Bueckers had 20 points to lead No. 3 UConn to a win over St. John’s in the quarterfinals of the Big East women’s basketball tournament on Saturday Sarah Strong had 10 points and 14 rebounds while Azzi Fudd finished with 11 points for UConn (29-3) as the Huskies won their 13th consecutive Big East tournament game and recorded their 34th win in a row in a conference tournament.
Chiefs WR Worthy gets domestic violence charge
Kansas City Chiefs rookie receiver Xavier Worthy has been arrested on a felony domestic violence charge.
Williamson County, Texas, online jail records Saturday showed that Worthy was arrested Friday by deputies and held in the county jail on a charge of assault on a family or household member in which their breath was impeded, or choking in common terms.
In a statement, Worthy’s attorneys, Chip Lewis and Sam Bassett, said their client was innocent of the charge against him. His attorneys said the allegation was made by a woman who had been living in Worthy’s home in Williamson County The statement said she had been asked to leave multiple times over the last two weeks “upon discovery of her infidelity.”
Bills extend pass rusher Rousseau for 4 years
The Buffalo Bills on Saturday signed edge rusher Greg Rousseau to a four-year contract extension that’s worth up to $80 million in the team’s latest move to lock up its young core.
The 24-year-old Rousseau was selected by Buffalo 30th overall in the 2021 draft out of the University of Miami. He was entering this season playing on the fifth-year option of his rookie contract, but he is now under contract through 2029.
Rousseau finished last season with a team-leading eight sacks — three coming in Buffalo’s season opener 16 tackles for a loss and three forced fumbles. Overall, he’s totaled 25 sacks, 46 tackles for a loss and forced six fumbles over 62 games — all of them starts.
Heat center Adebayo fined for antics toward referee Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo was fined $50,000 by the NBA on Saturday for making inappropriate contact with and directing profanity toward a referee.
Adebayo’s actions came after the conclusion of the Heat’s 106-104 loss to Minnesota on Friday, when he missed a 3-point attempt that would have won the game.
Minnesota’s Julius Randle leaped to contest the shot and Adebayo ended up falling to the court after the shot. The NBA determined Saturday that referees were correct in not calling a foul, saying in its Last 2 Minutes report there was only marginal contact on the attempt and further contact came after the ball already had been released.
Tigers sign former Astros starting pitcher Urquidy
The Detroit Tigers have signed right-hander José Urquidy to a $1 million, one-year contract that includes a club option for the 2026 season. The team announced the deal on Saturday
Urquidy, who turns 30 on May 1, had Tommy John surgery on June 5. He also had the operation in 2017. His club option is worth $4 million, and he can earn an additional $3 million in performance bonuses based on games started next year
Urquidy was placed on the 60day injured list as he continues his rehab from his elbow surgery Urquidy made his major-league debut with Houston in 2019. He is 27-16 with a 3.98 ERA in 70 starts and nine relief appearances — all with the Astros.
Morikawa in position to win for first time in 17 months
Collin Morikawa made a 12foot birdie putt on the 18th hole Saturday on the Bay Hill course for a 5-under 67, giving him a one-shot lead in the Arnold Palmer Invitational and a chance to win for the first time in 17 months.
Russell Henley holed a long bunker shot for birdie on the opening hole ran off four in a row to start the back nine and had a 67 to finish one shot behind. Corey Conners of Canada missed the 18th fairway, chipped out and made bogey for a 69 and was two back.
Shane Lowry, the 36-hole leader, struggled. He shot a 76, leaving him six shots behind. Rory McIlroy shot a 73 to fall seven shots behind.
The Associated Press
ASSOCIATDE PRESS PHOTO By BUTCH DILL Alabama guard Mark Sears, center celebrates with teammates and head coach Nate Oats after making a game-winning shot against Auburn in overtime Saturday in Auburn, Ala.
OUTDOORS
Duck season amended again
Hunters will get some late in-the-season days back; red snapper season also set
BY JOE MACALUSO Contributing writer
After two months of wrangling over the next season in Louisiana’s West Waterfowl Zone, a second amendment offered during Thursday’s Wildlife and Fisheries Commission meeting apparently has put the issue to rest.
After the first amendment to a Jan. 30 close of a 60-day duck season lopped 12 days off the end of the 2025-2026 season, opponents to that offering got some late-inthe-season days back with Thursday’s adjustment.
So, now the West Zone duck season will begin with a youth-only weekend Nov 8-9, then move to a first segment running Nov 15-Dec.
7. Following a 13-day split, the second segment will run Dec. 20-Jan. 25 with a honorably discharged veterans-only weekend set Jan. 31-Feb. 1. The commission also decided to change the East Zone waterfowl dates to a youth- and veterans-only weekend hunt set Nov 15-16 with the first segment of the 60-day season taking on an odd schedule of Nov 22-Dec. 8 (a Monday), then picking up the balance of days with a Dec. 20-Jan. 31 segment.
The original East Zone offering split the special youthand veteran-only hunts into single days, one prior and one after the regular segments.
The reason for combining those days into one weekend centered around older veterans wanting to hunt with
SUNDAY
NOTEBOOK
children and grandchildren during November’s weather conditions.
State wildlife managers told the commission those changes will affect dates for the Conservation Order on blue, snow and Ross’ geese
Also announced was the call for a special April 22 (10 a.m.-noon) public comment on the amendments offered since the proposed 2025-2026 hunting seasons were announced in early January The meeting is set for Wildlife and Fisheries headquarters in Baton Rouge.
Red snapper
Yielding to some of the comments received from an email survey and comments on its website, Wildlife and Fisheries Marine Fisheries managers proposed a May 1 opening to the private recreational red snapper season. State-certified charterboat operations also are included in this season. The season will be opened daily with a four-fish-perperson daily limit. “Keeper” red snapper must measure at least 16 inches long. Because our state’s take exceeded the 934,587-pound allotment in 2024, this year’s allocation will be 894,955 pounds. The 2024 season opened April 15, was shut down briefly then reopened to run through Labor Day and ended Oct. 6.
FLY TYING FOR BASS: 2-4 p.m., Orvis Shop, Bluebonnet Boulevard, Baton Rouge. Fee free. All ages, but 15-and-younger must be accompanied by an adult. Call Shop (225) 757-7286. Website: orvis.com/ batonrouge
MONDAY COMMERCIAL FISHERIES/ATCHAFALAYA BASIN SESSION: 6 p.m., Cajun Room, Wildlife & Fisheries district office. Inland Fisheries Division, 200 Dulles Drive, Lafayette. RED STICK FLY FISHERS 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
WEDNESDAY
LA. SHRIMP TASK FORCE MEETING: 10 a.m., Terrebonne Parish Government Tower, 8026 Main Street, Houma.
BUGS & BEERS: 6:30 p.m., Skeeta Hawk Brewing, 455 N. Dorgenois Street, New Orleans. Fly tying. Open to the public. Email A.J. Rosenbohm: ajrosenbohm@gmail.com. Website: neworleansflyfishers.com
Bear season
The commission also approved a notice to expand the black bear hunting season to offer as many as 20 tags for the December season.
That’s an increase from 10 tags drawn in a lottery for the 2024 season, the first in our state in decades
The notice also adds two areas to the list, one taking in Pointe Coupee and the Feliciana parishes. A lottery will determine who gets the tags.
One concern from the commission was an increased take of female bears. Hunters drawn for December’s hunt had to attend a training
seminar some of which was devoted to recognizing the subtle differences between male and female bears. Hunters were, and will be, prohibited from taking female bears with cubs.
A post-hunt analysis determined eight males were among the 10 taken during December’s ground-breaking season.
Public comment on this move will be taken through May 1.
Bussey Brake bass
The commission also heard a notice from the Inland Fisheries Section about new regulations state fisheries biologists figured would
CALENDAR
FISHING RESULTS
Anglers vs. Autism STEPHENSVILLE — The top 10 teams from the annual Anglers Against Autism bass tournament held from Doiron’s Landing with anglers, number of bass weighed in parentheses (five-bass limit), total catch weight in pounds and prize money Also the top two big bass: Top 10: 1, Wyatt Ensminger-Dawson Andrews (5) 17.56 pounds. 2, Dustin Robichaux-Norm Hightower (5) 14.81. 3, Greg Gleason-Trey Clement (5) 14.08. 4, Edwards Dupuis-Dominic Thompson (5) 13.74. 5, Beau Theriot-Adam Marceaux (5) 13.68. 6, Leavitt Hamilton-Anthony Amorello (5) 12.84. 7 (tie), Creed David-Brad Territo (5) & Neil Whitam-Jimmy Roberts (5) 12.76. 9, Mike Pyle, (5) 12.48. 10, Chad PortoBlake Laiche (5) 12.3. Big Bass: 1, Robichaux-Hightower, 4.62 pounds. 2, Ensminger-Andrews, 4.34. Bassmaster Elite OKEECHOBEE, Fla. — Final top five from the four-day Champion Power Equipment Bassmaster Elite held on
WEDNESDAY-FRIDAY
B.A.S.S. NATION QUALIFIER: Pickwick Lake, Florence, Alabama. Website: bassmaster.com
HUNTING SEASONS
TURKEY: March 29-30, Youth/Physi-
Lake Okeechobee with anglers, their hometowns, number of bass weighed in parentheses (5-bass daily limit), total weight in pounds and ounces and prize winnings. Also listed are Louisiana anglers, big-bass daily/overall winners & contingency money winners. Only the top 50 in the 104-angler field moved to the third round, and only the top 10 advanced to the final round: Top five: 1, Brandon Palaniuk, Rathdrum, Idaho (20) 95 pounds, 4 ounces, $100,000. 2, John Garrett, Union City, Tennessee (20) 79-7, $20,000. 3, Kyoya Fujita, Yamanashi. Japan (20) 77-4, $15,000. 4, Will Davis Jr., Sylacauga, Alabama (20) 76-5, $13,000. 5, Bob Downey, Detroit Lakes Minnesote, (20) 73-2, $11,000. Louisiana anglers: 29, Tyler Rivet, Raceland (15) 40-12, $5,500. 66, Greg Hackney Gonzales (10) 21-3. 84, Caleb Sumrall, New Iberia (10) 18-11. 99, Logan Latuso, Gonzales (8) 14-15 Phoenix Boats Big Bass: David Gaston, Sylacauga, Alabama, 11-8, $2,000. Rapala CrushCity Monster Bag: Palaniuk, 34-10, $2,000.
cally Challenged special weekend. AROUND THE CORNER
MARCH 16–44TH KIWANIS OF POINTE COUPEE OPEN BASS TOURNAMENT: 3 p.m. weigh-in, Morrison Parkway public launch, New Roads. Pick-your-partner/$150 entry fee.
help sustain Bussey Brake Reservoir (Morehouse Parish) as the state’s top bigbass lake.
Noted in the presentation was how this impoundment produced two of the state’s top 10 state-record largemouth bass — a No. 4, 15.78 pounds and No. 9, 15.36 pounds and how much fishing pressure there has been during the past five years during what biologists called the reservoir’s “new lake effect.”
Another change institutes a slot limit of 18-22 inches — anglers must return these fish to the water — but are allowed “temporary retention of a bass greater than 22 inches in an aerated livewell to weigh on a personal scale or LDWFprovided certified scale at the launch site.”
Daniel said the reservoir has attracted bass fishermen from across the country and said, “This will promote and prolong this fishery.”
Area biologist Ryan Daniel said Bussey Brake’s “new lake effect” period is over and to keep the area producing trophy-sized largemouths new creel and size limits are needed. Offered in the notice is an increase from 16 to 18 inches in “keeper” bass with a daily limit of five per day
Benefits False River projects. Call Kenneth St. Romain (225) 718-1319. MARCH 17—GULF COUNCIL REEF FISH ADVISORY PANEL MEETING:
7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. (Central), Council office, 4107 West Spruce Street, Suite 200, Tampa, Florida. Draft amendments on changed to shallow-water & deep-water groupers; stock assessments on red grouper & mutton/yellowtail snappers. Public comment accepted in person & via Webinar. Website: gulfcouncil.org
MARCH 18—GULF COUNCIL IFQ ADVISORY PANEL MEETING: 7 a.m.-4 p.m. (Central), 4107 West Spruce Street, Tampa, Florida. Open to public & via webinar. Commercial IFQ on red snapper, grouper & tilefish. Website: gulfcouncil.org
MARCH 18—LAFAYETTE KAYAK FISHING CLUB MEETING: 6 p.m., Pack & Paddle, 601 E. Pinhook, Lafayette. Call (337) 232-5854. Website: lafayettekayakfishing.com
MARCH 18-20—MLF TOYOTA BASS SERIES/CENTRAL DIVISION: Lake Chickamauga, Dayton, Tennessee. Website: MajorLeagueFishing.com
MARCH 19—FLIES & FLIGHTS: 7 p.m., Rally Cap Brewing, 11212 Pennywood Avenue, Baton Rouge. Fly tying. Open to public. Spare tools,
materials for novices. Email Chris Williams: thefatfingeredflytyer@ gmail.com
MARCH 19-20—YAMAHA RIGHTWATERS BASSMASTER KAYAK CHAMPIONSHIP: Lake Fork, Yantis, Texas & final award March 21, Dickies Arena, Fort Worth. Website: bassmaster. com.
MARCH 20—DUCKS UNLIMITED/BATON ROUGE GRAND SLAM SPONSOR BANQUET: 5:30 p.m., Renaissance Hotel, 7000 Bluebonnet Blvd., Baton Rouge. Honoring Luke & Sonja Laborde. Call Taylor Bennett (225) 921-4535/(225) 248-1111. Email: taylor@whenwemesh.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
PROVIDED PHOTO
The last time these two young anglers made their mark was in state bass fishing circles when Dawson Andrews, left, and Wyatt Ensminger were in high school a couple of years ago. They carried their prowess into the big time last weekend when they won the annual Anglers Against Autism tournament held from Doiron’s Landing in Stephensville. Here they show their
Dustin Robichaux and Norm Hightower finished second with
THE VARSITY ZONE
Southern Lab gets
Forman named game’s MVP
BY ROBIN FAMBROUGH Staff writer
Challenge accepted and mission accomplished for Southern Lab.
The top-seeded Kittens trailed most of the first half and fended off a fourth-quarter challenge en route to a 67-57 victory over Cedar Creek on Saturday
The Division IV title game opened the final day of the LHSAA girls basketball tournament at the University Center in Hammond. In honor of senior Shaila Forman’s last ride, Southern Lab coach Quianna Chaney and her staff dressed in cowboy gear The symbolism was spot on.
Forman, the title-game MVP, scored 14 second-half points, including six of eight free throws in the final minute.
“Hats off to Cedar Creek. They made us think,” Chaney said. “Making the right decisions is the most important thing in games like this. They pushed us.”
The title is the third in four years and second in a row for Southern Lab (21-5) Forman also had nine rebounds and five steals after missing the 2023-24 season with a torn ACL.
It was the stiffest postseason test for the Kittens who had outscored opponents 231-43 in three previous playoff games.
“As you could see, I was crying, so it was an emotional roller coaster,” Forman said. “I just wanted to come out and leave my mark on Louisiana high school girls basketball.”
Point guard Asia Patin added 13 points and Jamiya Cain 10. Eighth grader Bre’Alle Clark contributed eight points and eight re-
bounds.
Second-seeded Cedar Creek (29-4) had five players in double figures led by Taylor Martinez with 13.
Cedar Creek flipped the script, starting the game with a full-court press. In turn, Southern Lab came out the gate slow, making 5 of 18 shots from the field in the first quarter Martinez scored the first seven points, including a 3-pointer to give the Cougars a 7-1 lead two minutes into the game. The total equaled the Cedar Creek junior’s scoring average. Southern Lab led only once in the first quarter Cedar Creek took a 15-12 lead into the second quarter. Southern Lab outscored Cedar Creek 19-11 in the second quarter, scoring 13 of the final 16 points in the half. Martinez and Forman had 11 first-half points. Two 3-pointers by Kori Wesley closed the first half for Southern Lab. The Kittens outscored the Cougars 21-12 in the third quarter and led 50-38.
Cedar Creek forced the issue in the fourth quarter A Martinez basket off a turnover made it a 62-57 with 1:56 remaining, but Forman and the Kittens held their ground. Email Robin Fambrough at rfambrough@theadvocate.com
Madison Prep loses heartbreaker to Vandebilt
Curtis sit dejected on the bench after losing 46-42 to Vandebilt Catholic in the Division II select championship game Saturday in Hammond.
BY TREASURE WASHINGTON
Contributing writer
The Madison Prep Chargers came close to winning their first girls basketball state championship since 2021. The fifth-seeded Chargers were in a tight contest most of the game against No 2 seed Vandebilt Catholic in the Division II select final Saturday at the University Center in Hammond, even rallying from an 11-point deficit to start the second half. With the game tied at 42 in the final seconds, the Terriers were in the one-and-one bonus and came up with an extra possession at the free-throw line.
Madison Prep once again fell in heartbreaking fashion in the final with a 46-42 loss.
The Chargers bench was solemn as Vandebilt Catholic and its faithful celebrated their first state championship in 15 years. Madison Prep fell in the championship for the third time in four seasons. The past two defeats were decided by a combined nine points.
“We had every opportunity to win the game,” Chargers coach Dwayne Hayes said. “It didn’t end the way we wanted to, but we fought back and played hard. We just came up short.”
This state championship game was personal for Madison Prep (20-13) following its loss to Lafayette Christian last season. While the Chargers started slow this season, they picked up steam heading into the postseason.
“Knowing that we lost last season (to the Knights), we were more hungry to win (state) this season,” Ray said “We didn’t go down without a fight.”
Madison Prep struck first as senior Paige Hawkins (game-high 15 points) hit a layup during the middle of the first quarter For Madison Prep, junior Auri Ray registered a nine-point, eightrebound, four-assist, five-steal outing before fouling out, senior Paityn Tolbert (eight rebounds) excelled in the paint and sophomore Brooklyn Smith came up with four steals.
But as the Chargers were look-
ing to take time off the clock inside the final two minutes, Hawkins said his players got anxious and took ill-advised shots.
Senior Makayla Charles (the tournament’s MVP) and junior Tyanna Stewart both netted double figures for Vandebilt Catholic (19-4).
Maturity is one of the biggest things Madison Prep aims to take away from this loss.
“I think they’re going to learn from taking quick shots, being patient and not putting the game in other people’s hands,” Hayes said.
“I think they’ll learn about being disciplined with (certain things).”
The Chargers return most of their team heading into next season. While they lose their top rebounder in O’Nya Curtis and another double-digit scorer in Hawkins, Ray and Smith will return as Madison Prep’s leading scorers.
“It motivates me to go hard,” Smith said on losing at state. “It pushes me to want to win a championship more.
BY MIKE GEGENHEIMER
Contributing writer
For the second straight year Woodlawn could see the light at the end of the tunnel. And for the second straight year it slipped away just out of reach. No. 3 Woodlawn once again fell in the Division I select girls basketball final on Saturday, this time 61-51 to No. 4 Huntington of Shreveport in a rematch of the 2024 semifinal that saw Woodlawn come out on top.
The win is Huntington’s first state championship in either girls or boys basketball.
“I feel like it’s a blessing,” Woodlawn senior Mya Montgomery said.
“Because there’s a lot of teams that hope and pray to be in our position and they don’t get to make it there. For us to be able to do it back to back it speaks volumes, even though we fell short both times.”
They say basketball is a game of streaks and Saturday night was evidence of that old adage. Huntington pulled out to a ninepoint lead early in the second half after both teams largely played neck and neck in the first. But Woodlawn immediately responded with a strong 10-0 rally that gave it a one-point lead moments into the fourth quarter
But that’s where Huntington took over for good behind an 11-0 run that was sparked by sophomore Kaylie Dupree, who went from no field goals in the first three quarters to seven points, a rebound and a steal within two minutes of Woodlawn taking the lead.
Huntington never trailed again.
“Basically, the team that want-
ed it the most, the team that wanted to eat, the team that was hungrier is the team that won,” Woodlawn coach Alicia Dedeaux said. Woodlawn was driven offensively by Amijah Price. The senior guard had a team-high 14 points to go with her four assists, four steals and five rebounds. But foul trouble limited Price’s ability to lead a comeback. As a team, Woodlawn shot 19 of 49 from the field and
STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON
From left, Madison Prep’s Gabrielle Dotson, Auri Ray, Brooklyn Smith and O’Nya
STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON
LSU gymnasts keep emotions in check to excel
BY SCOTT RABALAIS Staff writer
The emotions were there all week, bubbling just beneath the surface and finally coming to a boil Friday night as the LSU gymnastics team and its 10 seniors faced their final home meet in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center
LSU coach Jay Clark quietly fretted that such a moment for so many of his gymnasts would water down their performances, especially against an improved Georgia team just good enough to spring an upset. He needn’t have worried The Tigers turned their emotions into high-octane fuel, powering a record-setting performance that met the gravity of the moment and propelled LSU into a higher orbit.
Behind the team’s first perfect 10 of the season by Aleah Finnegan, the No. 2-ranked Tigers recorded an historic 198.575-197.175 victory over No. 10 Georgia before a roaring crowd of 13,476, LSU’s fourthbest attended home meet ever
“Obviously tremendous performance from our team across the board,” Clark said. “They really showed up and did a great job. I am just super proud of them.” After the meet, it became apparent what a tremendous performance it was.
LSU’s school-record score was the ninth-highest in NCAA history, the second-highest in Southeastern Conference history and the best so far this season by nearly four-tenths of a point. With scores of 49.600 on vault, 49.625 on uneven bars and 49.675 on beam and floor, LSU became the only team with scores of 49.600 or better this season in all
By PATRICK DENNIS
four events
The win allowed the Tigers to improve to 10-2 overall and 6-1 in the Southeastern Conference, pulling into a first-place tie in the league standings with No. 1 Oklahoma with one regular-season meet to go for each team.
LSU goes to Auburn next Friday, while Oklahoma is at Georgia. If LSU wins, the Tigers will clinch at least a share of the SEC regular-season championship with Oklahoma, LSU’s first since 2018.
A huge group of gymnasts bid farewell to their home floor for the last time: fourth-year seniors
Finnegan, Alexis Jeffrey, KJ Johnson, Tori Tatum and Kathryn Weilbacher; fifth-year seniors Sierra Ballard, Haleigh Bryant, Olivia Dunne and Chase Brock; and sixthyear senior Alyona Shchennikova.
“I did a bad job all week” with her emotions, Ballard said. “But walk-
ing into the PMAC today, it was like being in auto pilot mode. It felt right and natural to be locked in, the opposite of emotional
“There’s something about this place that makes it real easy to do good gymnastics.”
From the outset the Tigers appeared poised to eclipse last week’s season-high 198.125 in the Podium Challenge at the Raising Cane’s River Center against George Washington. LSU got three 9.95s on vault to share first place from Finnegan, Amari Drayton and Kailin Chio. The Tigers led Georgia (49.275 on uneven bars) by more than threetenths.
On bars, Konnor McClain flirted with a perfect 10 herself and won the event with a 9.975, helping boost the Tigers to a commanding 99.225-98.475 lead at the meet’s halfway point
“I thought we started out on fire
Saints, Carr ensure he’s back in 2025
BY MATTHEW PARAS Staff writer
New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said at the NFL scouting combine last week that he believed the team had a quarterback they could win with in Derek Carr And now, Carr’s not going anywhere for 2025
The Saints restructured Carr’s contract on Saturday, a source with knowledge of the situation confirmed a move that all but guarantees he’ll be the team’s starter next season. By converting most of Carr’s base salary into a signing bonus, the restructure can go a long way toward helping the Saints become cap compliant in time for the start of the NFL’s new league year starting Wednesday
The Saints were more than $40 million over the salary cap as of last week when the league set next year’s salary cap at $279.2 million. New Orleans since has made other moves to chip away at that figure, such as releasing running back Jamaal Williams and restructuring center Erik McCoy’s contract.
But restructuring Carr was always the move that could allow the Saints to free up the most salary-cap room with one player In dropping his $30 million salary to all but the league minimum of nearly $1.3 million, and converting his $10 million roster bonus, the Saints cleared a reported $30 million in cap room. There are trade-offs for doing such a deal however. After restructuring Carr’s contract for a second straight year, his 2026 cap figure is now set to be roughly $69 million instead of $61 million. And if the Saints want to release Carr after this season without a post-June 1 designation, that move now would leave $59 million on the books instead of $28.6 million, according to Over The Cap Carr originally signed a four-
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McMillan hauled in 213 passes for 3,423 yards and 26 touchdowns.
No. 40: Ohio State DT Tyleik Williams
Also considered: Toledo DT Darius Alexander, Oregon OL Josh Conerly, Ole Miss CB Trey Amos, LSU edge Bradyn Swinson.
While Bryan Bresee is coming off a nice season as a pass rusher, the Saints desperately need to get stronger along their defensive interior Enter Williams, the 334-pound Ohio State product who instantly would provide a physical
“Derek’s a tremendous processor, rhythm, timing, quarterback in this league. A guy that is — every team has a teach tape with a lot of concepts, and Derek has been on those for a long time, no matter where you’re at.”
KELLEN MOORE Saints coach
year, $150 million contract with the Saints in 2023, shortly after being released by the Las Vegas Raiders. He has gone 14-13 in his two seasons with the franchise, but the Saints were 0-7 last year in the games the quarterback missed because of injuries.
Before Saturday’s restructure, Carr’s future in New Orleans was a subject of conversation.
At his introductory news conference, new Saints coach Kellen Moore gave a noncommittal answer when asked about the quarterback. Moore said he respected Carr and the Saints were “fortunate” to have him, but he told reporters he would go through “the process” when pressed on whether the 33-year-old would be the team’s starter next season.
Weeks later at the scouting combine, Moore and Loomis were much more complimentary of Carr. Loomis indicated the four-time Pro Bowler would return for 2025, while Moore called him a “big-time” quarterback.
“Derek’s a tremendous processor, rhythm, timing, quarterback in this league,” Moore said “A guy that is every team has a teach tape with a lot of concepts, and Derek has been on those for a long time, no matter where you’re at.”
Still, Carr’s contract loomed over the situation. With the Saints tight on cap space, Loomis said he was hopeful they could “maneuver” Carr’s contract.
The options facing the Saints, in theory, included asking Carr
presence in the middle of the defense. Williams got the nod over Alexander here, mostly because of his ability as a run defender
No. 71: LSU TE Mason Taylor
After going with a pass-catcher in the first round, let’s give Moore another offensive weapon in the LSU product Taylor is not as flashy as some of the other tight ends in this class, but he may offer more for the team when combining his pass-catching and blocking ability Taylor has a strong pedigree, as his father (Jason Taylor) and uncle (Zach Thomas) are Pro Football Hall of Famers He backed that up by breaking LSU’s career receptions record for tight ends in his three years there. With Juwan Johnson poised to hit free agency, this is
whether he would take a pay cut. But the quarterback told ESPN after the 2024 season that he would not be open to such a move. The NFL Network reported Saturday that Carr and the Saints had “numerous talks” about Carr’s salary before settling on a simple restructure.
“I wouldn’t take a pay cut,” Carr told ESPN. “Yeah, I wouldn’t do that. Especially with what I put on tape. Would I restructure?
Absolutely I’ll always help the team that way But there’s some things that you put out there that you earned.
“It’s hard enough putting our bodies through it. And you’re trying to get everything you can for your family for it.”
Because of the restructure, Carr will still get paid the full $40 million he was set to earn next season.
Carr was statistically among the best quarterbacks in the league last season when healthy, ranking 11th in Expected Points Added per dropback and 10th in passer rating. He was particularly impressive in the first two games of the season when the Saints scored more than 40 points in back-to-back weeks. But he was uneven in other moments, such as in a Monday loss to the Kansas City Chiefs and a November outing in which he and the Saints lost to the then-17 Carolina Panthers.
The Saints were ultimately 5-5 in games with Carr But the team failed to win a game without him. Carr first missed three games in the middle of the season with an oblique injury and then suffered a season-ending fracture to his non-throwing hand in Week 14 when he attempted to dive for a first down against the New York Giants. The 10 appearances were the fewest of his 11-year career
Email Matthew Paras at matt. paras@theadvocate.com
a positional need for the Saints. No. 93: Georgia OG Tate Ratledge
The Saints have a hole at guard, and there may be a couple of avenues to fill it One is to kick right tackle Trevor Penning inside where his run-blocking skill and overall demeanor may translate nicely and draft his replacement in the top 10. Another is to use one of their three second-day picks on a guard. Let’s follow that latter scenario and snag Ratledge, a threeyear starter in the Southeastern Conference who also wowed at the combine, posting an unofficial 9.98 Relative Athletic Score.
on vault and continued that on bars,” Clark said. “We landed well most of the night.”
The Tigers were just getting started. LSU went to balance beam and got 9.95s from Chio and Bryant, tying their season highs. It was all setting the stage for Finnegan, who anchored the event with a 10.0 score, the eighth of her career and second on beam.
“I wanted to do a good beam routine for them,” Finnegan said at the post-meet news conference, casting a tearful eye toward Ballard and Bryant next to her on the podium. “They set me up so well.”
“She’s been reaching for that,” Ballard said. “It’s exciting to see it all come together on such a special night.”
LSU honored its seniors on the floor after the meet, with Bryant, Finnegan and others wiping away
tears as they were joined by their families and coaches.
Now they go in pursuit of the SEC regular-season crown, a repeat SEC championship meet title on March 22 in Birmingham, Alabama, and a repeat NCAA championship.
Clark stressed focusing on the Tigers’ performances rather than the judges’ subjective scoring.
“Did we perform at a championship level tonight?” Clark asked.
“Unequivocally yes I don’t think there’s any doubt we won the meet and that it was a great performance.”
Ballard didn’t hesitate to respond when asked what Friday’s meet would do for the Tigers’ confidence.
“It’s all gas, no brakes from here,” she said. “It’s exciting to know we were able to accomplish this with all the emotions of today We know there’s even more left in us.”
9 BR teams headed to LHSAA boys tourney
BY ROBIN FAMBROUGH Staff writer
There will be no shortage of storylines with nine Baton Rouge area teams headed to Lake Charles for the LHSAA boys basketball tournament. The six-day tournament begins Monday with five semifinals at the Burton Coliseum. There will be five semifinals played on each of the first four days. Finals for four select and four nonselect divisions, along with Classes B and are C, are set for Friday and Saturday There is one all-area matchup in Division I nonselect. Second-seeded Central (25-4) takes on No. 3 Denham Springs (28-3) at 6:15 p.m. Thursday This is Central’s first LHSAA tourney appearance since 1994. Denham Springs is in the tourney for the first time since 2003.
The teams are part of a fourteam Division I select/select contingent. Reigning Division I select champion Liberty (25-1) and Zachary (26-6), the top seed in Division I nonselect help headline the tourney as well.
Liberty takes on No. 4 St. Augustine (28-4) at 2:45 p.m. Wednesday Zachary, a champion in 2021 and 2022, meets No 4 Natchitoches Central (25-5) at 8 p.m. Thursday Central and Denham Springs are not the only teams making a muchanticipated return to the tourney Sixth-seeded East Iberville (1914) makes it’s first appearance in 29 years. The Tigers play No 2 Franklin (23-5) at 6:15 p.m. Monday Third-seeded Southern Lab (207) tips off Monday against No. 3 Lincoln Prep (25-7). Email Robin Fambrough at rfambrough@theadvocate.com
STAFF FILE PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK LSU tight end Mason Taylor runs with the ball up the left side after a catch as Florida linebacker Derek Wingo pursues during a game on Nov. 16 at
PHOTO
LSU senior Aleah Finnegan is greeted by jubilant teammates after her perfect 10.0 performance on balance beam on Friday during the final home dual meet of the season at the PMAC against Georgia.
PHOTO By SONyA GOSS Xavier Ferguson of Zachary scores vs. Woodlawn earlier this season.
Southern women
finish on low note
BY CHARLES SALZER
Contributing writer
There was nothing wrong with the defense the Southern women’s basketball team played Saturday in its Southwestern Athletic Conference regular-season finale against Alabama A&M at F.G. Clark Activity Center
The offense? That was a totally different story
Despite already clinching the outright SWAC title, Southern ended the regular season on a low note after a 48-35 loss to Alabama A&M. Southern didn’t miss every shot it took, but there were times when it felt like nothing would go in the basket.
The Jaguars endured a scoreless stretch of nearly eight minutes in the second quarter, when it scored only two points. That contributed to some unimpressive final numbers as Southern hit season lows for points scored and field-goal percentage (21.2%).
Defensively, the Jaguars held an opponent under 50 points for the
LSU
Continued from page 1C
Sears had 21 points for LSU (1417, 3-15). LSU’s top scorer Cam Carter had seven.
“The first half, we were really dialed in on the defensive end of the floor,” LSU coach Matt McMahon said. “The game really shifted at the start of the second half We missed the layup at the end of the first, and we struggled to finish some plays at the rim there in the first five minutes of the second half. And A&M really overwhelmed us on the offensive glass.” The Aggies had 14 offensive rebounds and 17 second-chance points. LSU finished the game shooting 30% overall
The Tigers were without Corey Chest and Vyctorius Miller because of injuries.
McMahon used a new starting lineup by inserting forward Derek Fountain for Daimion Collins and Sears for Curtis Givens to give the two seniors a start during their final game at the PMAC.
The new-look lineup did little to slow down Texas A&M star guard Wade Taylor He was 4 of 4 as the Aggies jumped out to a 15-7 lead with 14:49 remaining in the first half.
LSU got a taste of success on offense after it forced turnovers. Mike Williams had back-to-back steals, and on the second one he found Carter for a corner 3-pointer, cutting LSU’s deficit to four with 10:19 left in the half.
Williams cut the deficit to one after an and-one mid-range pullup after he ran off the 3-point line. During the ensuing possession, Sears got a defender in the air and drew a foul on a 3-point shot. He made all three free throws as LSU took its first lead at 21-19 with 7:52 left in the first half.
The Tigers continued to flourish during a 20-1 run to take a 29-20 lead over the Aggies with 5:39 left in the half.
“I thought LSU just completely dominated us on the glass, their
SOUTHERN
Continued from page 1C
Against A&M (10-21, 6-12), Southern found an offensive rhythm that was lacking in a 70-69 loss to Alabama State on Thursday The Jaguars found it in the first half and built a 43-23 halftime lead.
In the second half, A&M made 11 of its first 16 shots and got as close as 12 points four times. The Jaguars never let the Bulldogs get closer
“Those one-point losses, sometimes you don’t rebound from it, but this group has done it all year,” Johnson said.
“It’s all about these guys. They’ve been tough and resilient all year They love being together That’s what happens when you’re a special team.”
eighth time this season.
Southern (17-14, 15-3 SWAC) will look to regroup next week as the top seed for the conference tournament in Atlanta. After the game, SWAC representatives were on hand to deliver a trophy for Southern’s regular-season championship.
“Offensively, we were just out of sync,” Southern coach Carlos Funchess said. It was senior day, there were parents and family coming in, so there were some distractions, but we just played sluggish. We never got in rhythm.”
Alabama A&M (21-9, 14-4) will go into the tournament as the No.
3 seed
Southern made 14 of 66 shots from the field and 5 of 14 free throws Tionna Lidge was the leading scorer with nine points.
In the third quarter, Southern sliced its deficit to two points twice after A&M led 20-16 at halftime.
The Bulldogs began to separate from the Jaguars late when Lauryn Pendleton made two jumpers and Kaila Walker scored on a layup. Pendleton scored 16 points
while Walker had 14. Their scoring burst gave Alabama A&M a 33-26 lead after three quarters.
Southern fell behind 38-28 in the fourth, then made steals on five straight A&M possessions.
The Jaguars made only two shots during that stretch before A&M surged back out to a 45-35 lead.
In the first half, the Southern defense was its usual sticky self. The Jaguars held Alabama A&M to 21.7% shooting and limited the Bulldogs to 20 points in the first half.
After leading 14-12 entering the second quarter Southern took a 1612 lead on Lidge’s jumper with 7:40 left until halftime. Southern didn’t score again in the quarter
The Jaguars missed their last 10 shots from the field as well as two free throws to fall behind 20-16 at the half.
A&M made just 1 of 11 shots in the quarter, but it was 5 for 8 at the free-throw line. Southern missed five layups in the first half and made just 3 of 10 free throws.
By
A&M’s
LSU guard Jordan Sears drives down the court as Texas
Washington defends in the second half of their game Saturday at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center
energy competitive spirit,” Texas A&M coach Buzz Williams said about the first half. “We were not very good in any possible way.”
Sears was the primary driver of LSU’s success. He scored 16 and had zero turnovers in the first half.
“He was terrific in the first half,” McMahon said. “There was some opportunities when he had the big on him on the perimeter to get by and get into the lane, draw some free throws there.”
LSU owned a 32-30 halftime lead.
The Tigers kept Texas A&M off the offensive glass with just four in the first half. This was crucial as the Aggies entered the game leading the nation in offensive rebounding rate. Almost four minutes into the second half, Sears appeared to hurt his ankle after landing awkwardly on defense. He was helped to the locker room but returned to the court two minutes later
The Tigers struggled in his brief absence as Texas A&M scored
seven points during a 9-0 run. The final basket came after Solomon Washington, a New Orleans native, retrieved his own miss from the free-throw line for a layup and a 41-34 advantage with 14:15 left.
At the heart of the bounce-back second half was the Aggies’ rebounding They had eight offensive boards in the first eight minutes of the half.
The Tigers also became frigid from the field. They were 6-of-27 shooting in the second half and trailed by as many as 16.
“For the most part, we got the shots we wanted to get,” Sears said. “Just couldn’t knock them down.”
LSU made it a 10-point game on three occasions with under six minutes left but couldn’t get any closer
LSU’s next game will be in the SEC Tournament in Nashville, Tennessee. As the No. 15 seed, it will face 10th-seeded Mississippi State at 6 p.m. Wednesday
had seven points, five rebounds and two blocks for the Jaguars.
“The other night we didn’t have the drive and we didn’t deserve it Tonight we came back and we made sure we got it. We made sure we deserved it.”
The game was tied 3-3 before Joe Manning hit a 3-pointer as Southern made five consecutive shots from the field. A&M’s Chad Moodie scored inside as the Bulldogs trailed 16-9, but Southern turned up the heat after that.
“Those one-point losses, sometimes you don’t rebound from it, but this group has done it all year It’s all about these guys. They’ve been tough and resilient all year.”
KEVIN JOHNSON, Southern coach
Southern got a boost from Jordan Johnson, who made four 3-pointers and finished with 14 points. Michael Jacobs added 13 points, and Derrick Tezeno turned in a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
The Jaguars outrebounded A&M 32-26 and made 21 of 27 foul shots.
“We all know what kind of job we need to do to get what we want,” said Brentay Noel, who
Over an eightminute stretch, Southern outscored A&M 22-2 to take control of the game By the time A&M’s Angok Anyang made two free throws, the Bulldogs trailed 38-13 with less than five minutes to go in the half.
A&M put together a mini run, but baskets by Andre Nunley and Tezeno helped the Jaguars take a 20-point halftime lead.
Alabama A&M shot 51.9% in the second half as it gave Southern a run.
“I didn’t like our energy to start the second half, but we just needed to hold serve and maintain some distance,” Johnson said. “Then we changed up defenses a little bit, and we knew they wouldn’t have enough time.”
SEC
Continued from page 1C
Johnson is sitting out with a shin injury, and Mulkey is grieving a family member who died before the Tigers traveled to the site of the tournament. Mulkey joined the team for its quarterfinal win over Florida on Friday She deferred most in-game decisions to associate head coach Bob Starkey, who had stepped into an acting head coach role as LSU prepared for the tournament. The Tigers were then dealt another blow when Morrow left in the third quarter of Saturday’s game after she suffered an apparent lower leg injury on a drive to the rim. Mulkey said the star senior reaggravated a midfoot sprain, but the team expects her to play at the start of the NCAA Tournament.
On Friday the star senior scored 36 points, helping the Tigers dispatch the Gators without much trouble.
On Saturday, their offense didn’t run as smoothly with or without Morrow LSU converted 34% of its fieldgoal attempts, 2 of 8 3-point tries and 9 of 17 attempts at the freethrow line. Texas was even less efficient (32%), but all it needed was an advantage at the stripe to escape with a win and earn a date with South Carolina in the SEC Tournament championship game.
SEC Player of the Year Madison Booker struggled from the field in the first meeting between Texas and LSU, but she finished with 25 points while enjoying a much more efficient 10-of-19 shooting day The Tigers couldn’t put Johnson on her so they asked Mjracle Sheppard to defend her instead. The 5-foot-10 transfer battled but operated at a size disadvantage against the 6-1 Booker, who elevated above LSU defenders to lift open jumpers up and in. Morrow had 10 points on 5-of-11 shooting and two rebounds when she left the game. Williams finished the first half with only three points after she missed four of her first five field goals, but more opportunities in the second half allowed her to wind up with 11
points on 5-of-13 shooting to pair with five rebounds and four assists.
LSU received only 13 points from its bench.
Morrow and Williams were the only two contributors who scored in double figures.
“Texas only scored 56 points with all their weapons,” Mulkey said. “I thought it was a game of defense. I thought both teams are defensive-minded. Just a lot of aggressive play Everything was just hard in the third quarter.” In the first half, LSU couldn’t find open shots on offense or an answer for Booker on defense.
The star sophomore scored seven of Texas’ first 10 field goals and buried three 3-pointers in just the first and second quarters, tying her season-high in long-range makes. The Tigers defended well, but their offensive struggles put them behind 29-23 at halftime. Booker had 18 points.
The teams then battled through an even third quarter even though Morrow exited after only a little more than two minutes had ticked off the clock.
But Texas hit enough shots to take a 48-40 lead by the 2:34 mark of the fourth quarter That advantage was its largest of the game.
LSU will turn its attention to the NCAA Tournament. Mulkey began the postseason under the impression that the Tigers already had won enough games to earn a top-four regional seed and the right to host the first two rounds of the tournament.
It’s still unclear whether LSU will be given a No. 2 seed or a No. 3 seed. It was a No. 2 seed both times the NCAA selection committee gave a peek into its top-16 teams this season. But the Tigers have dropped three of the four games they’ve played since the last reveal, picking up losses against Alabama, Ole Miss and Texas.
LSU expects both Johnson and Morrow to return for the start of the NCAA Tournament, which will have its full 68-team field set at 7 p.m. March 16.
Email Reed Darcey at reed. darcey@theadvocate.com. For more LSU sports updates, sign up for our newsletter at theadvocate.com/lsunewsletter
PHOTO
PATRICK DENNIS
Solomon
PHOTO By JOHN OUBRE Southern guard Cam Amboree drives the ball around Alabama A&M defender Darius Ford on Saturday at the F.G. Clark Activity Center
PHOTO By JOHN OUBRE
Aniya Gourdine, right, of Southern is pressured by Alabama A&M
defender Kalia Walker on Saturday at the F.G. Clark Activity Center
COLLEGE BASEBALL/SOFTBALL
LSU’s Eyanson
finds
rhythm, overpowers foe with 15 strikeouts
BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer
The first inning wasn’t ideal for Anthony Eyanson
After allowing three runs in the first to Nebraska last week, the right-handed junior surrendered two runs to North Alabama on a walk and two hits Saturday. One of those hits was a hard hit double down the left-field line.
“I just want to be sharper out of the gate,” Eyans on said. “This outing, I put a pretty big em ph as is mentally on executing in the first inning.”
But, unlike a week ago when it took until the fourth inning for Eyanson to find a groove, the UC San Diego transfer locked in immediately after allowing a runscoring single to the Lions.
Eyanson struck out the next seven hitters after the second run came across, finishing the afternoon with 15 strikeouts in seven innings as No. 1 LSU took down North Alabama 6-2 at Alex Box Stadium.
“When you get a pitcher that throws four pitches for strikes,” LSU coach Jay Johnson said, “it’s really hard to handle all of them.”
Saturday’s performance was the most strikeouts an LSU pitcher had accumulated in a game since Ty Floyd struck out 17 in Game 1 of the 2023 College World Series final.
“I don’t really look at the stats during the game at all,” Eyanson said.
He didn’t allow a hit after the first inning. Only one batter reached base on a walk in the third.
The money pitch for Eyanson was his slider By keeping it low and out of the strike zone, he was able to get the Lions (3-10) to consistently chase after it with two strikes.
“I just want to execute with that pitch,” Eyanson said, “keep it down.”
While Eyanson was LSU’s star on the mound, junior Jared Jones stood out at the plate. With LSU trailing 2-0, Jones kicked off the comeback in the first inning with a double that bounced off the edge of the top of the wall in center field. He later scored on a bloop hit into center field from junior Ethan Frey that cut LSU’s deficit to 2-1 LSU (15-1) tied the game in the third inning after Frey popped out to shallow right field. Freshman Derek Curiel, the runner at third base,
RANKINGS: LSU is No 1 by D1Baseball; North Alabama is unranked.
PROBABLE STARTERS: LSU — RHP Chase Shores (3-0, 3.00 ERA); North Alabama — RHP Anthony Pingeton (1-1, 2.77)
PREGAME UPDATES: theadvocate.com/lsu
ON X: @KokiRiley
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Shores will start for LSU after allowing four earned runs in five innings last weekend against Sam Houston State. He’ll try to get past the fifth inning for the first time this season on Sunday Pingeton started 11 games and had a 5.75 ERA last year for the Lions.
KokiRiley
wasn’t expected to score on the play but the throw home was off line, allowing LSU to tie the game.
“We weren’t really good (offensively),” Johnson said, “but we were close to being really good.”
Thanks to Curiel again, LSU took the lead in the fifth inning after his double drove in junior Chris Stanfield. Jones then blasted a two-run home run into left field — his fifth of the year — to give the Tigers a 5-2 lead. Jones went 3 for 4 with two RBIs and two doubles. Curiel was the only other Tiger who had multiple hits.
“Just having more college at-bats up under my belt obviously helps a lot,” Jones said. “And then guys protect me in the lineup, like Derek and Danny (Dickinson), who are around me, so I’m getting pitched to a little bit more.”
Junior right-hander Zac Cowan replaced Eyanson in the eighth inning and struck out five batters in two shutout innings to end the game. Between Eyanson and Cowan, 20 of the 27 outs LSU recorded came via strikeout.
“It was pretty boring out there,” Jones said about playing defense.
LSU returns to Alex Box Stadium for the final game of its series with North Alabama on Sunday First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. and the game can be streamed on SEC Network+.
Email Koki Riley at Koki. Riley@theadvocate.com
LSU
BY JIM KLEINPETER
Contributing writer
The No 4 LSU softball team cruised to its ninth five-inning victory riding the success of a pair of key newcomers who keyed a 10-0 victory against Minnesota on Saturday in the LSU Round Robin at Tiger Park.
Freshman left-hander Jayden
Heavener tossed a one-hitter and struck out 11 while transfer shortstop Avery Hodge drove in five runs for the Tigers (22-1) Heavener (6-1) overcame a walk and her ninth hit batter this season in the first inning, to strike out the other three she faced and get into a groove. During one stretch, she struck out seven of eight hitters as only five 19 batters put the ball in play against her Margaret Tobias’ soft single to center field in the third inning was
STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON
freshman outfielder Derek Curiel has been a smash hit at the top of the order, reaching base on 26 of his past 41 plate appearances
Johnson: ‘I like where we’re at’
LSU coach keeping close tabs as his lineup thrives
BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer
Jay Johnson never tinkers.
The LSU baseball coach doesn’t even know what the word means. The adjustments he makes to his lineups are purposeful, not experimental, and they’re always designed to win that day’s game.
“I set the team up to win,” Johnson said. His lineups reflect a matchup-dependent philosophy, one that shows how he’s not afraid to move players up and down or in and out of the order He didn’t settle on a particular lineup last season until the SEC tournament.
But lately, Johnson hasn’t changed his batting orders much. The Tigers have rolled out a certain group of players in a similar order since the start of the Frisco College Baseball Classic on Feb. 28.
And it has worked, LSU has put up at least eight runs and 10 hits in six of its past seven games.
“I like where we’re at right now,” Johnson said. “I like some things about how it flows.”
The two biggest questions the lineup has answered are who leads off and who hits behind junior Jared Jones.
Freshman Derek Curiel has answered the first question with flying colors. Since rising to the top of the order, he’s reached base in 26 of his past 41 plate appearances.
His consistency has set the table for Jones The slugger, who blasted his fifth home run of the season Saturday has been hitting second after starting the year batting third.
After Jones in the order is junior Daniel Dickinson, the answer to the second question.
Dickinson is tied with Jones for the team lead in homers. His three-run blast on Feb. 28 against Kansas State, after Jones was intentionally walked, was a perfect example of what Johnson was hoping for when he slotted him there in the order He finished that
game with six RBIs.
“They’re so afraid to pitch to Jared Jones. Great, (here’s) six RBIs,” Johnson said. “Keep walking him.”
The cleanup hitter after Dickinson has been the designated hitter. Against a left-handed pitcher, that’s been junior Ethan Frey For righties, senior Josh Pearson has usually filled the role.
Sophomores Steven Milam and Jake Brown have batted fifth and sixth after the DH.
Senior Luis Hernandez and the starting third baseman that day follow Brown. Third base has turned into a platoon between junior Tanner Reaves and senior Michael Braswell. Braswell, who led off for the Tigers last season, is right-handed and the more experienced defender at third. Reaves is left-handed and had only played a couple games at third before transferring to LSU from Blinn Community College in the summer Who starts depends on the matchup for that day, but Reaves has emerged at the plate lately He went 2 for 3 with a double against Nebraska and was 3 for 3 with a three-run home run on Friday
Johnson is comfortable with the platoon LSU has settled on, even if Reaves started against a left-handed pitcher Saturday
“I think we’re going to need them both,” Johnson said. “I don’t feel like it has to tip one way or the other, or probably that it will for a while.”
Junior Chris Stanfield hits after the third baseman in the nine hole. He led off LSU’s first five games, but Johnson said he likes how Stanfield has settled into the final spot in the lineup.
The lineup alternates between lefthanded and right-handed hitters when Reaves starts against a righty, with the exception of Jones and Dickinson who both are right-handed.
Having that balance throughout the order has paid off for Johnson. He’s been happy with how the Tigers have performed against left- and righthanded pitching.
“There is still a lot of left/right mixing because we’re going to see probably a 50/50 split between left and right pitchers in SEC play,” Johnson said, “at least with the 10 teams on our schedule.”
LSU starting pitcher Jayden
Heavener tossed a one-hitter and struck out 11 Minnesota batters in a 10-0 win in five innings on Saturday in Tiger Park.
the only hit for Minnesota (10-11).
“I came to a little bit of a struggle (in the first inning),” Heavener said “I just had to figure out my mechan-
ics in between batters, but it didn’t take much to know what I was doing wrong and what I needed to fix.
“I’m learning a lot. I’m grateful for the opportunities I get. If I do fail, I’m learning from the mistakes before SEC play and big games. It’s a blessing in disguise.”
Heavener had good support as LSU scored six runs in the first inning, capped by a two-run single by Hodge, and then put the game away when Hodge had her first extra-base hit of the season, a basesloaded triple.
“Really good by the offense for setting the tone early,” coach Beth Torina said. “They were able to execute a lot of things they were asked of, and it came from good discipline at the plate, running the bases well and capitalizing on their mistakes.
“Only three singles in the first inning but we were able to score six and that’s a tribute to the way they run the bases and control the strike zone.” LSU took advantage of two walks, a hit batter and an error in the first against Minnesota
starter Jessa Snippes (1-2). Maci Bergeron, Sierra Daniel and McKaela Walker each drove in runs. Hodge, the team’s No. 9 hitter, came up huge in the fourth inning with a line drive over the head of Minnesota right fielder Nani Valencia for her second career triple. Hodge, who had a career-high five RBIs, transferred from reigning national champion Oklahoma and took over at shortstop from fouryear starter and All-American Taylor Pleasants.
“Each at-bat has a life of its own,” Hodges said. “If I’m not going to do it I know Danieca (Coffey) will and if not her the next person behind her It’s comforting knowing that anyone in our lineup can get it done.
Johnson
Eyanson
PHOTO By PATRICK DENNIS
BY ROBIN MILLER Staff writer
After reading the Feb. 2 Curious Louisiana story about the Southern Pacific Railroad line connecting Baton Rouge and Lafayette in the early 20th century, Craig Bridges’ interest was piqued.
“The story said there was no train track crossing the Mississippi River at that time, so the train was carried across to West Baton Rouge Parish on a ferry, where it connected with the railroad track at a place called Anchorage,” the Baker resident said. “Where was Anchorage located in West Baton Rouge?” Two stories coincide Port Allen resident Debbie Martin knew its exact location from her genealogy work of identifying and documenting lost African American cemeteries in West Baton Rouge. Were trains once ferried across the river in BR?
ä See CURIOUS, page 6D
PROVIDED PHOTO By WEST BATON ROUGE HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
The George S. Walker train ferry transports a train across the Mississippi River from Baton Rouge to the Anchorage railroad site in West Baton Rouge Parish in 1937.
Accordion ace Corey Ledet has made fans dance to zydeco on the beaches of Hawaii. He’s toured Russia with his own security detail in tow.
Ledet recently had so many Alaskans moving and grooving at the Anchorage Folk Festival that the astonished promoter booked him for another fest.
But after 22 years on stages near and far, along with two Grammy nominations, Ledet admits the March 11 gig at the Smoothie King Center in New
Louisiana home with cypress siding is getting new life
BBY JOY HOLDEN Staff writer
ald cypress trees once covered more than a million acres of Louisiana before the logging boom, which nearly eliminated all of the old-growth cypress.
Cypress logging for commercial markets grew to industrial levels from 1870 to 1930 with the advent of the pull boat and mechanical skidder, “which changed the game rapidly as thousands of acres of profitable cypress were logged out of Louisiana swamps,” said Jacob Gautreaux, an adjunct history instructor at University of Louisiana at Lafayette who specializes in Louisiana environmental history
The cypress tree, called “wood eternal,” is hardy, so its lumber was and is an ideal building material.
Brent Corbin saw beyond the serious fixer-upper status of one old Baton Rouge home with cypress siding to reveal its strength and beauty.
Even though some questioned the decision, Corbin believed the home was worth investing in and saving — even if it took a long time to restore.
“One of the beauties of cypress, and particularly really old cypress
is it is very insect resistant and water resistant because it has a high natural oils content in it,” Corbin said. “It basically provides its own water barrier It holds up under the weather extremely well.”
Big project with stunning potential Corbin, executive director of the national nonprofit Reformed Youth Ministries, is based in Baton Rouge but works with church youth groups across the country He was on a Zoom call in the spring of 2021 when a friend mentioned an older home located on the LSU Lakes that may be for sale. Corbin knew it was a big project, but the location was alluring. Corbin grew up in the Oklahoma oil fields helping his dad — a
The exterior of Brent Corbin’s Cypress restoration house
STAFF PHOTOS By JAVIER GALLEGOS
Brent Corbin sweeps the front porch at his Cypress restoration house.
Herman Fuselier
Members participating in the Feb 12 meeting of the Inter-Civic Council of Greater Baton Rouge met at Don Bergeron’s City Market. Shown are, from left, Doris Alexander, of Baker Interclub Council; Bruce and Joy Hammatt, of Kiwanis Club of Baton Rouge; Stephanie Charles and Support Dog Toulouse, of Epilepsy Alliance Louisiana; guest speaker Kelley Stein, of 10/31 Consortium; and ICCGBR President Kathy Coleman of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Information Center of Louisiana.
Halloween krewe for kids discussed
The efforts of a local Halloween organization to help deserving kids dress up for the popular holiday was the main topic at the Inter-Civic Council of Greater Baton Rouge’s regular monthly meeting on Feb. 11 at Don Bergeron’s City Market on Jefferson Highway Kelley Stein, chief marketing officer for 10/31 Consortium, spoke to the local community-service and nonprofit leaders about her organization, a nonprofit charity whose members volunteer time and effort to serve children. Its philosophy of service, based on the fun and creativity of Halloween, has given hope to the Greater Baton Rouge community since its establishment in 2010.
Stein noted that parents, guardians and caregivers may need help building positive and lasting memories for children during Halloween, which kids often rank as their favorite time of the year Consortium 10/31 provides new and gently used costumes for children, secures free candy for neighborhoods, assists with safety and security for trick-or-treating, prepares gift bags for hospitalized kids and presents the Fifolet Halloween Festival, a multi-day event held each fall. The festival boasts a charity ball, 5K walk/run, arts market, parade, pub crawl and brunch — all of which Stein called “a perfect way to combine kids, friends, family fun and philanthropy.”
Stephanie Charles, of Epilepsy Alliance Louisiana and ICCGBR vice president, introduced the guest speaker During the “Member Spotlight,” Virginia McDonald,
New
Red Stick Kiwanis Club
The Red Stick Kiwanis Club semi-monthly luncheon on Feb 26 featured a talk by Jennifer Richardson, founder of Keep Tiger Town Beautiful, the nonprofit, all-volunteer litter abatement organization, which received a $500 contribution presented by club president Cherryl Matthews. Shown are, from left, Richardson and Matthews.
of the GFWC Lagniappe Women’s Club, and John Hough, of Baton Rouge Botanic Garden Foundation each gave a brief report on their organization’s mission, services and activities. Kathy Coleman, of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Information Center of Louisiana and ICCGBR president, introduced Shannon and Donald Green Sr., representing City to City Riderz. ICCGBR members introduced themselves by name and organization and noted their upcoming events of interest to the general public. Tommy Darensbourg, of Cajun Clickers Computer Club and ICCGBR immediate past president, offered an invocation, and Gerard Ruth, of American Legion Nicholson Post 38, led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.
KTTB founder speaks to Red Stick Kiwanis
Jennifer Richardson, the founder and president of Keep Tiger Town Beautiful,
Roads Lions Club Carnival selects queen, king
Lauren Elizabeth Lemoine and Kurt Kellerman reigned as queen and king of the 2025 Lions Club Carnival in New Roads
A native and lifelong resident of New Roads, Lemoine is a 2020 honors graduate of Catholic High School of Pointe Coupee. She also graduated from Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University in 2024 with a bachelor of science degree in nursing, and is employed in the Intensive Care Unit at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge. Her parents are Desiree Triola Lemoine and Michael Lemoine. Kellerman is the New Roads Lions Club’s 81st Mardi Gras king. He and his wife, Ramona Ferrara Kellerman, have one son, Tony Kellerman is a native of Morganza, and graduated from Catholic School of Pointe Coupee in 1983. He also has a degree in business administration from LSU The king and his younger brother, Jack, opened a kitchen and bath design/build firm which has operated for 30 years. He is a five-term member of the New Roads City Council.
gave a presentation about the work of hundreds of litter warriors and the benefits the Baton Rouge community receives from the organization’s daily trash pickups.
Speaking to the Kiwanis Club of Red Stick on Feb. 26, at Lake Sherwood Village Retirement Community, Richardson chronicled the progress of KTTB since its first clean-up day at the intersection of Essen Lane and Jefferson Highway in 2020 just before the onset of the COVID pandemic with some 15 volunteers who responded to her posts on Facebook and the Nextdoor app. They collected 42 contractor bags of litter Encouraged by the growing volunteer response, Richardson and KTTB leaders gradually transitioned from weekend pickups to daily early-morning cleanups, often deploying multiple crews in different local neighborhoods.
Since 2020, KTTB’s vigilant “litter warriors” have
filled more than 34,000 contractor bags of litter of every kind. Desiring to “be the solution for eradicating a host of ills in the community,” the group has conducted numerous cleanups targeting homeless encampments and blighted properties, preventing illegal drug use and para-
phernalia waste under interstate highways, collecting “litter-on-a-stick” signs for disposal, and turning in handguns and ammunition found on the streets to law enforcement agencies.
The Red Stick Club surprised Richardson with a $500 contribution to further KTTB’s mission and work in the capital city
TODAY IN HISTORY
Today is Sunday, March 9, the 68th day of 2025. There are 297 days left in the year Daylight saving time returns at 2 a.m. local time. Today in history
On March 9, 1945, during World War II, over 300 U.S. B-29 bombers began Operation Meetinghouse, a massive firebombing raid on Tokyo The raid killed an estimated 100,000 civilians, left 1 million homeless and destroyed 16 square miles of the city
On this date: In 1796, the future emperor of the French, Napoleon Bonaparte, married Josephine de Beauharnais.
In 1841, the U.S. Supreme Court, in United States v. The Amistad, ruled 7-1 in favor of a group of illegally enslaved Africans who were captured off the U.S. coast after seizing control of a Spanish schooner, La Amistad. The justices ruled that the Africans should be set free.
In 1862, during the U.S. Civil War, the ironclad warships USS Monitor and CSS Virginia (formerly USS Merrimac) clashed for five hours to a draw at Hampton Roads, Virginia.
In 1916, more than 400 Mexican
raiders led by Pancho Villa attacked Columbus, New Mexico, killing 18 Americans. In 1959, the Barbie doll was introduced at the American International Toy Fair in New York.
In 1964, the U.S. Supreme Court, in New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, raised the standard for public officials to prove they’d been libeled in their official capacity by news organizations.
In 1997, rapper The Notorious
B.I.G. (Christopher Wallace) was killed in a still-unsolved drive-by shooting in Los Angeles at age 24. In 2022, a Russian airstrike devastated a maternity hospital in the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol. Today’s birthdays: Singer Jeffrey Osborne is 77. Actor Linda Fiorentino is 67. Actor Juliette Binoche is 61. Actor Emmanuel Lewis is 54. Actor Oscar Isaac is 46. Comedian Jordan Klepper (TV: “The Daily Show”) is 46. Actor Matthew Gray Gubler is 45. Olympic skiing gold medalist Julia Mancuso is 41. Actor Brittany Snow is 39. Rapper Bow Wow is 38. Rapper YG is 35. Social media personality Khaby Lame is 25. Olympic gymnastics gold medalist Sunisa Lee is 22.
PROVIDED PHOTO
ICCGBR
PROVIDED PHOTO
PROVIDED PHOTO
Magnolia Wood Garden Club
Agricultural consultant Lance Rodriguez spoke to the Magnolia Wood Garden Club about the sugar cane industry in Louisiana, other states and other countries. The club met at the home of Frank and Beth O’Quinn on Feb 26. Pictured are, from left, seated Matt Blunt, Suzanne Blunt, Tamara Heidenthal, Carmen Rodriguez and Lance Rodriguez; standing Beth O’Quinn, Frank O’Quinn, Debbie Dixon, Stephen Dixon, Dana Delabretonne and Bruce Hammatt.
PROVIDED PHOTO
Magnolia Wood Garden Club
Master Gardener Marcia Barton spoke to the Magnolia Wood Garden Club on Jan. 29 at the home of Bruce and Joy Hammatt. Pictured are, from left, seated, Duane Huffty, Trudy Huffty, Barton, Tamara Wittenbrink, Jeff Wittenbrink, and Joy Hammatt; standing, Patrick Wegeng, Patty Nolan, Mark Heidenthal, Tamara Heidenthal, Matt Blunt, Suzanne Blunt, Beth O’Quinn, Frank O’Quinn, and Bruce Hammatt.
PROVIDED PHOTO
West Side Women’s Club
The West Side Women’s Club held its Feb 20 meeting celebrating Louisiana writers. Hostesses pictured are, from left, Shirley Catanzaro, Author Chad LeBlanc, Jane Caillouet, Metha Arnold, Fannie Easterly, Karen Cordell. Not pictured is Elisa Tubbs.
PROVIDED PHOTO Lions Club Carnival 2025 queen and king Lauren Elizabeth Lemoine and Kurt Kellerman
fest best bets
Authors we’re looking forward to at the New Orleans Book
BY JAN RISHER Staff writer
The New Orleans Book Festi-
val at Tulane University is one of those rare gifts. It’s free. It’s well organized. It’s full of literary greats. The event, set for March 27-29, celebrates literature and reading It features authors, panel discussions and book fairs.
This year is expected to live up to years’ past, with an “aim to support and nurture a literary community by connecting readers of all ages and backgrounds with local and national authors through experiences that celebrate the power of literacy and ideas.”
To see the full schedule of events, visit bookfest.tulane. edu/schedule, which includes more than 90 panels like “Archie Manning: A New Orleans Saints Legacy On and Off the Field,” “Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection” and “Making the Case for New Orleans as America’s Sandwich Capital.”
Here is a taste of the variety of authors and the books they have released:
Sarah M. Broom
Sarah M. Broom is a native New Orleanian. Her memoir “The Yellow House,” which came out in 2019, details her upbringing in an unsung New Orleans East neighborhood far from streetcars and Garden District mansions. After Hurricane Katrina, her beloved shotgun house was bulldozed but she and her family still cling to it The book doesn’t include whimsical, romanticized tales of French Quarter magic, but it does express the relentless pull of home and family The memoir, which won the 2019 National Book Award, is a very real, gritty and sometimes tender look at one family’s trials and tribulations across generations. Broom’s “The Yellow House” was heralded by The New York Times book review as “an instantly essential text, examining the past, present and possible future of the city of New Orleans, and of America writ large.”
Connie Chung
Connie Chung is a familiar face to many. The former CBS News anchor’s memoir, “Connie: A Memoir,” was released in September
Not only a New York Times bestseller, the newspaper also listed it as one of 100 Notable Books of 2024. Time magazine listed it on its 100 Must-read Books of 2024. It won Kirkus’ best nonfiction book of the year The book reveals behind-thescenes details of her personal and professional life.
Casey McQuiston grew up in south Louisiana and now lives in New York City McQuiston writes bestselling romantic comedies. The most recent being “The Pairing,” which Rolling Stone described as “summer’s best romance novel” is about two bisexual exes who accidentally book the same European food and wine tour and challenge each other to a hookup competition to prove they’re over each other except they’re definitely not.
Vivek Murthy, M.D.
Vice Admiral Vivek H. Murthy M.D., MBA, was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in March 2021 to serve as the 21st Surgeon General of the United States. He left the office in January
As the nation’s top doctor, Murthy helped to advance the health and well-being of all Americans and worked to address critical public health issues around loneliness and mental health — including Surgeon General’s advisories on the youth mental health crisis and social media’s impact on youth mental health, the epidemic of loneliness and isolation, and on burnout in the health worker community Murthy also issued a
Festival
Surgeon General’s Framework on mental health in the workplace. His book, which came out in 2023, is called “Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World.”
The book includes strategies to help weather the crisis of loneliness and heal, including these four specific pieces of advice:
n Spend time each day with those you love. Devote at least 15 minutes each day to connecting with those you most care about.
n Focus on each other Forget about multitasking and give the other person the gift of your full attention, making eye contact, if possible, and genuinely listening.
n Embrace solitude. The first step toward building stronger connections with others is to build a stronger connection with oneself. Meditation, prayer art, music and time spent outdoors can all be sources of solitary comfort and joy
n Help and be helped. Service is a form of human connection that reminds us of our value and purpose in life. Checking on a neighbor seeking advice, even just offering a smile to a stranger 6 feet away, all can make us stronger
Boyce Upholt
Boyce Upholt grew up in the Connecticut suburbs and moved to the Mississippi Delta in 2009 to teach school and become a writer
When he was assigned to profile
John Ruskey, Upholt began learning more about the Mississippi River and its vast floodplain. He was hookwed.
In “The Great River: The Making and Unmaking of the Mississippi,” he mixes geography and geology, hydrology, ecology and travelogue with villains, heroes and lore. When Upholt began research for the book, he paddled the lower river, camped along its shores, bathed in the water and drink river-water coffee. What resulted from his adventures is a book that tells the story of the sweeping history of the Mississippi River and the centuries of efforts to control it.
Email Jan Risher at jan.risher@ theadvocate.com.
5 books every Louisiana birder should have
When some good folks from the local Audubon Society asked me to dream up a list of great bird books, I had fun exploring the possibilities. The titles should resonate with birders across Louisiana as spring’s bird-watching season gets in gear
I didn’t aim to be definitive. This isn’t a list of the best bird books of all time; it’s simply a survey of some books I’ve found useful as a Louisiana bird enthusiast. The list includes some old favorites as well as recently released titles. Here are five standouts:
‘Peterson’s Field Guide to the Birds of Eastern and Central North America’
With convenient birding apps such as Merlin within quick reach on a smartphone, printed field guides like the Peterson series might seem outdated. I welcome those digital tools for birders, but the Peterson books offer a lovely, compact survey of area bird life, and the artwork is a pleasure
all its own. I have a soft spot for the fifth edition, which was completed by an LSU ornithologist, H. Douglas Pratt, after series founder Roger Tory Peterson died before the project was finished.
‘Attracting Birds to Southern Gardens’
Drawing birds to your window means more than putting out a bird feeder An ideal mix of plants and trees is part of the equation, too. Authored by LSU experts Thomas Pope, Neil Odenwald and Charles Fryling Jr., this book uses a clear arrangement of text and pictures that even novice gardeners can follow I think everyone in Louisiana should get a copy as a
housewarming present.
‘The Birds of America’
There are more pictures from Louisiana in John James Audubon’s “The Birds of America” series than anywhere else. Those
of us who live in this part of the world should be aware of this legacy Deluxe editions of the book can be pricey, but you can usually find small versions within your budget.
‘The Life of the Skies’
Bird-watchers have a reputation as an odd bunch, but in this lively narrative, author Jonathan
Rosen argues that watching birds just might be America’s biggest pastime. His reporting takes him to Louisiana, where he looks for the elusive ivory-billed woodpecker near Pearl River But the only ones he manages to see are stuffed specimens at LSU, which he describes as “folded like portable umbrellas.” Phrases like that make Rosen a joy to read.
‘Spark Birds
This anthology of essays and poems about birds has taken a place of honor on my nightstand, the brief entries a nice way to close each day I’m partial to “Afternoon With Brown Pelicans,” a Jean Monahan poem with Louisiana’s state bird at its heart. Watching some pelicans fly away, she’s moved to think that “everything, everything we have is borrowed.”
Which is why watching birds is so special. It nudges you to live in the moment, embracing a bit of magic before it takes flight.
Email Danny Heitman at danny@ dannyheitman.com.
Danny Heitman AT RANDOM
Casey McQuiston
PHOTO By ADAM SHEMPER
Sarah M. Broom
New attractions coming to Panama City Beach
BY NOREEN KOMPANIK TravelPulse (TNS)
Renowned for its 27 miles of sugar-white sand beaches and stunning turquoise waters, Panama City Beach, Florida, has announced new attractions, enhanced accessibility offerings and more for 2025.
“Panama City Beach is proud to showcase the many exciting new openings and developments in store for 2025,” said Dan Rowe, President and CEO of Visit Panama City Beach.
New and upcoming openings include: Pirates Voyage and Dinner Show, spring
Dolly Parton brings the swashbuckling fun of her Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show to Panama City Beach in a captivating new attraction with an immersive dining experience including a fourcourse feast, epic pirate battles and spectacular stunts. Inside the sprawling indoor theater, an action-packed show features pirate battles on deck, in a 15-foot-deep lagoon and in the “sky” above two full-sized pirate ships, accompanied by high-flying acrobatics and pyrotechnics, tropical birds, playful sea lions and more.
tainment.
Topgolf, summer
Topgolf will open a new facility in Panama City Beach’s Pier Park area, bringing a modern, hightech golf experience. The twostory venue features 74 outdoor climate-controlled hitting bays, a restaurant and bar, 22-foot video wall, more than 140 HDTVs, an outdoor patio, music, familyfriendly programming, and prime spots for team outings and family gatherings.
Shop By the Shore Trail, spring
The Trail offers a coastal shopping experience with local treasures capturing the charm of Panama City Beach. Visitors can grab a passport from the Visitors Center or participating stores, follow the map for a unique shopping adventure, get the passport stamped at each stop and leave with a special souvenir Fun. For. All. Microsite, spring
throughout the destination.
Frank Brown Park Skate Park, summer
Frank Brown Park expands outdoor recreation offerings with a new skate park breaking ground in January, a state-of-the-art facility for skaters of all ages and skill levels, with plans for multiple skate lanes and various riding areas.
Edward F. Hickey Jr. Park, open In an effort to make the destination’s beautiful beaches accessible to everyone, the Park at Beach Access 22 was converted into a new ADA beach access point designed to accommodate those with mobility challenges. Features include handicapped parking spaces, an accessible beach ramp and over 100 feet of mobility mats extending to the beach. A new accessible viewing platform is scheduled for later this year
McGuire’s Irish Pub In its third location, McGuire’s brings a turn-of-the-century, New York Irish saloon-themed restau-
rant to Panama City Beach. With a lively atmosphere and more than 1 million signed dollar bills hanging from the ceilings and walls, the Pub offers delicious food, drinks, and live Irish enter-
Continuing the evolution of the “Fun. For All.” accessible travel initiative, Visit Panama City Beach is gearing up to launch the official “Fun. For All.” Microsite, a resource for visitors planning an accessible getaway The site features interactive maps and spotlights accessible offerings
Frank Brown Park Pickleball Courts, late 2025
The park continues growing its amenities with the addition of 10 pickleball courts. Construction is expected to begin in August, with completion in late 2025.
By Christopher Elliott
Toronto vacation rental is reassigned, but already occupied
Christopher Elliott
My family booked a condo in downtown Toronto through Vrbo recently Just before we arrived, we received a text that our reserved condo had plumbing issues and that they had assigned us another rental in a different building When we tried to check in, we found the unit appeared to be occupied by another guest.There were toiletries in the bathrooms, clothes in the closets and food on the table.We immediately notified the manager. His advice was to lock ourselves inside the condo and that they would send a cleaner I considered
couldn’t provide the rental you had reserved Vrbo has a Book With Confidence guarantee that says if your property is “materially misrepresented” in the listing, it will help you book a replacement So what went wrong here?
It looks like you worked with the property manager on the rental swap When you needed help, you reached out to Vrbo in writing, but Vrbo just contacted the property manager for a resolution This isn’t surprising Vrbo sees itself as a platform an intermediary between the renter and the rental manager — and only wants to get involved when it collects its fees.
Apart from that, Vrbo usually sides with the rental managers, who are its real customers.
In reviewing the correspondence between you, the manager and Vrbo, I don’t see any evidence that your husband was abusive. If anything, you were polite and direct. You just wanted what Vrbo had promised Not a smaller apartment and not a condo that was already occupied. You could have sent a brief, polite email to one of the company’s executives, another review case. I publish the
names numbers and email addresses of the Vrbo executives on my consumer advocacy site, Elliott.org.
Here’s my take on what should have happened. Instead of referring you back to the condo manager, Vrbo
should have found you a comparable rental quickly That would have fixed the problem and ensured your family had a positive experience using the rental platform. Clearly, Vrbo did not take its Book With
Confidence guarantee seriously in your case. It can do better I contacted Vrbo on your behalf.
It apologized and refunded the $2,356 you spent on the occupied condo.
Christopher Elliott is the founder of Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that helps consumers solve their problems. Email him at chris@elliott.org or get help by contacting him on his site.
AT THE TABLE
Gumbo z’Herbes a great meal for the Lenten season
BY CATHERINE S COMEAUX Contributing writer
Twenty years ago, when I was a household of one living on pasta, cheese and peanut butter I signed up for Earthshare Gardens in hopes of getting more fresh vegetables in my diet. The nonprofit, communitysupported agriculture program had just started a small farm in Lafayette.
Funded by shareholder buy-in, a handful of volunteer growers with a passion for sustainable farming practices would provide shareholders with a bag of locally grown veggies every other week big, beautiful, sometimes mysterious vegetables.
They occasionally included recipes. One particularly prolific season for greens, they shared a Gumbo z’Herbes recipe that has since become a family favorite.
Gumbo z’Herbes, or green gumbo, with its dark verdant, cling-to-yourspoon texture has become a Halloween tradition in our family thanks to its resemblance to witches’ brew However, the dish is perfect for the transitional time between winter and spring in south Louisiana when the chill of gumbo weather is still in the air as warm fronts are more frequent, and experienced gardeners are harvesting greens while the rest of us will find them more abundant in the grocery stores.
The dish is traditionally a Lenten meal — simple yet full of fortifying greens for the season of fasting leading up to Easter In the past, Lent was a time when Catholics refrained from meat for the full 40 days, but current church traditions call for abstaining from meat only on Fridays with fish and seafood permitted in its place. (As a bonus, alligator was approved as part of the “fish family” by the Archdiocese of New Orleans in 2010.)
Every year, Acadian Catholics debate whether a fried seafood platter is in the true spirit of abstaining from meat on Fridays. I offer green gumbo (omitting the andouille and sausage) as a simple, hearty Friday meal this Lent or any time of year in the spirit of reducing meat con-
PLANTING A GARDEN FOR SPRING?
According to Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service, mustard greens should be planted through mid-March, Swiss chard until the end of April, and collards midMarch until the end of September For a wide variety of unique greens to plant, check out heirloom seed catalogues like Ujamaa Seeds at www.ujamaaseeds.com or Southern Exposure Seed Exchange at www.southernexposure.com.
sumption for the sake of the environment and health.
Abstaining from meat might be inspired by noble spiritual, environmental or health reasons, but there’s even greater benefit when the selfdenial is coupled with an enthusiasm for vegetables.
New culinary horizons open up when you grow a garden, explore the produce section beyond the bagged salads or join a CSA Earthshare Gardens opened my eyes to a wider variety of vegetables, greens in particular
Beyond mustard and collards, there are dinosaur kale, dandelion
greens, callaloo and so many more
The original Earthshare Gardens recipe included the notation that for each different green added to the gumbo, a new friend would be made another bonus of expanding your vegetable world.
In the Acadiana area, individuals can contact Earthshare Gardens at www.earthsharegardens.org to become a shareholder for their spring growing season, which runs from Feb. 23 to May 18
The public can also learn more about growing vegetables locally by volunteering to assist in the gardens.
5-8 bunches different types of greens (e.g collard, mustard, turnip greens, spinach, shallots, beet greens, parsley celery leaves, watercress or dandelion greens)
1
or
1. Thoroughly wash the greens. Remove tough stems and discolored leaves. Place washed greens in colander and rinse under cold water
2. Shake colander and place damp greens in large, heavy pot, add 1⁄3 cup cold water and heat to high. When water at bottom begins to boil, cover the pot and reduce heat to medium. Cook 12 minutes until just tender
3. Remove greens from pot by dumping into colander placed in large bowl to catch the green liquid. Keep the liquid.
4. Chop cooked greens and set aside.
5. In a large 7- to 8-quart pot, brown the chopped ham/ tasso and the sausage. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside.
6. Brown your onion and garlic in the fat released while browning the meat.
7. Add the browned meat back to the pot along with the green liquid. Mix well.
8. Add the chopped cooked greens and seasonings.
9. Keeping heat low gradually add 2 quarts water or broth. Raise the heat to high and bring gumbo to a boil, then lower heat to low
10. Dip a measuring cup in the pot and pull out a cup or so of the liquid, whisk the roux in this hot liquid and then dump it all back in the pot. Or add the roux directly to pot — it will eventually dissolve.
11. Simmer on low for 11/4 hours. Taste after about a half hour of simmering, then add salt and pepper as you like it.
12. Serve over white, longgrain rice with cornbread. Recipe tips:
1. If you choose to go meatless, use a good, hearty vegetable broth and consider adding a few dashes of liquid aminos for boosting the umami. Take a few extra minutes to caramelize the onions.
2. Savoie’s jarred roux is “light” in color, not fat content.
PHOTO By CATHERINE S COMEAUX
Gumbo z’Herbes
CYPRESS
Continued from page 1D
that gave him the chance to learn about tools and spurred his curiosity about building things.
Corbin and his wife, Sarah, have renovated homes before in three states — North Carolina, Oklahoma and their current home in Baton Rouge The couple wasn’t looking for a new project at the time, but the potential and character of the 1723 May St. house was appealing
“One thing led to another,” he said. “It was a cool house. It was in total disrepair, but the location was stunning, and I knew that it was going to be a really great house.”
The aluminum siding was in bad shape, and Corbin could tell there was some intriguing wood underneath, though he wasn’t sure of the wood’s condition
The first day the house was on the market, eight buyers were in a bidding war, including the Corbins. They made their offer, and they purchased the house for $275,000. The house was large enough for the family with four school-aged daughters — with six bedrooms, three baths and 3,101 square feet of living space.
“We were the suckers that ended up with it,” Brent Corbin said.
“When you’re in a bidding war like that, you just don’t have the time to do all the due diligence and as much on the inspection side as you would want.”
After removing the aluminum, he saw old cypress panels below Although they were not all in great shape, they could be repaired.
The renovation has lasted four years, and the Corbins are hoping that the house will be fin-
LEDET
Continued from page 1D
Orleans gives him butterflies. He plays at the halftime show of the Pelicans-Clippers basketball game, his first NBA gig.
“I still get a little nervous before I play,” said Ledet, 43. “The anticipation builds up.
“Then once I finally get there, I settle down. This is going to be pretty cool.”
Pelicans fans will get a sample of a self-taught, squeezebox wizard nicknamed “The Accordion Dragon.” Accordionists are almost on every corner in Acadiana, the south central and southwest corner of Louisiana that is the homeland of zydeco and Cajun music.
Ledet is one of the talented few to master the complex, pianoaccordion style of Grammy Hall of Famer and “King of Zydeco” Clifton Chenier In fact, Ledet has played at Chenier’s grave when particular tunes gave him the blues. Those troubles soon faded in Chenier’s presence. Ledet’s study and extraordinary talent have produced more than a dozen albums and tours to 15 countries.
Yet Ledet lives a reality for many musicians in this musiccrazed state. Although homegrown musicians entertain thousands and earn Grammy nominations and victories, few can afford to play music full time. Those that do must travel.
Ledet drives 18-wheelers for Amazon, a job that gives him steady pay, health benefits, retirement and a flexible schedule for music on the weekends.
Ledet is also among the road warriors whose music is accepted more on the road than at home Ironically, Ledet decided five years ago that all his future songs would be written in KouriVini, the Creole language spoken by his family in St. Martin Parish. The all-Creole “Corey Ledet Zydeco” album that followed
ished by summer He says the process has taken longer than expected due to his family responsibilities, work obligations and his desire for perfectionism. He wants the details to be just right and reflect the time when it was built.
The Corbins have added some elements of style to the exterior like a front porch and a side addition to the house. Another fun feature is in the study a secret door built into the bookshelves that passes through to the master bedroom right behind it
A house rich in history
The first owner listed on the East Baton Rouge Parish assessor’s report is Margaret T. Elam, who took ownership of the home Jan. 1, 1940. She was the widow of Joseph Barton Elam Jr., who was the founder of the Mansfield Progress newspaper which later merged with the Mansfield Enterprise, and a former mayor of Mansfield. Elam moved to the home in Baton Rouge so her children could be close to LSU. Alyce Dietz, an architect with the Hoffpauir Studio and LSU School of Architecture alumnus, recognized the pier and beam foundation and central hallway
Corey Ledet performs at the Clifton Chenier Centennial/Slim’s y-Ki-Ki Restoration Fundraiser in Opelousas last year
earned a Grammy nomination in 2021.
“The style of music I play, it might not put me over too well at home, which is OK,” said Ledet.
“Now I enjoy getting out more, seeing different things, meeting new people.
“This music has taken me to Switzerland, Denmark, Germany the Netherlands, Paris and two Grammy nominations. I’ll take it.”
His evolution continues. With
“Black Magic,” an all-black, customized accordion imported from Italy, Ledet is working on an all blues album and holding auditions for band members skilled in the genre.
Ledet is also adding jazz, reggae, rock and more to his accordion gumbo. He’s expecting more of the world to eat it up.
“If you look up blues festivals, you won’t be able to count them.
That’s how many blues festivals there are worldwide.
“It’s the same formula that Clifton (Chenier) and Buckwheat (Zydeco) did. You can play the blues on a piano accordion.
“Blues is like Jell-O. There’s always room for it.”
Herman Fuselier is executive director of the St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission. A longtime journalist covering Louisiana music and culture, he lives in Opelousas. His “Zydeco Stomp” show airs at noon Saturdays on KRVS 88.7 FM.
throughout the main floor, called a dog trot corridor, as a traditional way Louisiana builders designed homes to keep them cool before central air
“You could open the front and the back doors, and it would create sort of a breezeway, pull air through the house, help ventilate it,” said Deitz, “and then having it raised off the ground allowed air to circulate underneath it as well, to keep it cool.”
The house was built in the late
CURIOUS
Continued from page 1D
Her research has given her vast knowledge of current and lost communities throughout the parish, and she’d been receiving emails about the community that grew around the Anchorage railroad stop.
But she and husband, David, did more than pinpoint the train stop — they took a break from their cemetery search on a Saturday morning and led the way to the point where the train line’s east met west.
Remnants of the train track are still embedded in the levee along La. 415, commonly known as River Road.
The Martins drove the few miles from their Port Allen home and stopped alongside the levee, only a few yards from a state historical marker commemorating the former Sunrise community
The real thing
No such marker has been designated for Anchorage, but what’s there is the real thing. Wooden pilings stand on either side of the last vestiges of a track at the top of the levee. Below more pilings surround crumbling wooden reinforcements that supported the track.
“This was where teenagers used to come and party when I was in high school,” David Martin said.
“Did you ever come here?” Debbie Martin asks. Her husband smiles. Maybe a time or two.
East meets west
Between 1906 and 1947, this was the spot where a steam-powered rail ferry transported trains to the west. According to the West Baton Rouge Parish Historical Association’s archives, the railroad ferry George H. Walker was the line’s final and best known ferry, operating between 1923 and 1947. Therefore, the Southern Pacific Railroad’s line used the George
1930s, coinciding with the construction of the University Lakes.
The University Lakes project began in 1933 and was finished in 1938 by 900 workers of the Works Progress Administration, a part of Roosevelt’s New Deal. The project resulted in over a million board feet of cypress lumber cut from the cypress trees of the Old Perkins Swamp.
The cypress used for building the Corbins’ home could have been sourced from the former
Old Perkins Swamp, or maybe from another mill. Regardless, the builders benefited from the end of the cypress boom, and “the house is a preservation piece that shows cypress was still a soughtafter material despite diminishing supplies,” said Gautreaux
“Old-growth cypress homes preserve a piece of history of when Louisiana swamps, however short-lived, produced a premier and sought-after wood that served as a rot-resistant framework for housing,” said Gautreaux.
The Corbin family has lived in the St. George area since they moved to Baton Rouge. With four girls in multiple East Baton Rouge public schools elementary, middle and high school — the Corbins are not eager to relocate and change their lifestyle, but the passion project could convince them once it’s finished in early June.
“It’s going to be a beautiful house,” said Corbin. “I have already envisioned the landscaping and curb appeal, and the cypress siding is ready to go for another 100 years.”
Email Joy Holden at joy holden@theadvocate.com.
H. Walker for 11 years between 1923 and the abandonment of its southwest Louisiana railway in 1934.
Southern Pacific wasn’t the only railway serviced by the ferry system. It was put out of business a few years after the Kansas City Railroad line opened in 1945. The Kansas City Railroad line still runs through the center of Baton Rouge’s Huey P. Long Bridge. Traveling diagonally
As for the train ferry’s route, trains on the east side would pull up in the Kansas City Southern railroad depot, which now houses the Louisiana Art & Science Museum at 100 S. River Road downtown.
The Waterways Journal, in a 2019 article, states that the landing was “near the Louisiana State Capitol,” which makes sense, since Louisiana’s Old State Capitol across from the station was operating as the seat of state government at the time.
“The east bank landing was near the Louisiana State Capitol building, and the west bank landing was just a bit farther upriver at Anchorage, making for an angled crossing distance of about a mile and a quarter,” the Waterways Journal article states.
The ferry was operated by Gulf Coast Lines and the Missouri Pacific Railroad with the Willard V. King ferry preceding the George H. Walker at the crossing.
The earlier ferry was a twotrack transfer boat with a capacity of 16 freight cars or eight passenger cars.
Biggest steel-hull boat
“In May 1922, the railroad contracted with the Dravo company of Pittsburgh to design and build a replacement, a steel-hulled boat large enough to carry entire passenger trains,” the Waterways Journal states. “Dravo came up with a design for a 340-foot sidewheeler with three train tracks.
The price tag was $250,000, the equivalent of about $3.5 million today.” The resulting ferry was, of
course, the George H. Walker, which was the largest steel-hull boat on the Mississippi River at the time.
“The finished boat had a length overall of 346 feet and a hull depth of 11 feet,” the Waterways Journal states. “The beam was 56 feet, but with the sponsons and paddlewheels, the boat’s width was about 91 feet over the guards. The hull was divided into 26 airtight and two oil-tight compartments. ”
The boat was powered by four 72-by-18-inch Bronson-type boilers, two on each side.
“The boilers were adapted for oil but could be fired by coal if necessary,” the Waterways Journal states.
Not a pretty boat
The Waterways Journal points out that the George H. Walker wasn’t exactly a pretty boat.
“As steamboats go, the Walker was not going to win any beauty contests,” the article states. “It was basically a big flat deck with an unadorned, short, squat block-shaped deckhouse on each side, paddlewheel housings looming a little higher, and a simple structural bridge straddling the three tracks to hold the pilothouse above it all.”
But that didn’t matter as long as the ferry did its job. And it did just that for quite a while, enabling transportation from Baton Rouge to Anchorage, where, according to the West Baton Rouge Historical Society, also was home to a small train depot.
Now the site is marked only by the ruin of a trestle unnoticed by most drivers along the River Road. But not Debbie and David Martin.
They know its history and location, and they’re happy to keep its story alive.
Do you have a question about something in Louisiana that’s got you curious? Email your question to curiouslouisiana@ theadvocate.com. Include your name, phone number and the city where you live.
STAFF PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS
Brent Corbin stands in front of his Cypress restoration house on Feb. 27. The original cypress siding is being preserved, seen behind Corbin, while major renovations are made to the historic house
PROVIDED PHOTO
Original cypress siding started to show after Corbin removed the aluminum siding
PROVIDED PHOTO
Custom-made cypress doors for the home on May Street
FILE PHOTO By ROBIN MAy
Amateur historian spills tragic family history
Dear Miss Manners: I received a group email from a younger family member that included all of the relatives of my generation, and some younger The subject was a beloved aunt who passed away years ago. Apparently, this young man had been doing some ancestry research, and sent the family some of his results regarding my aunt.
It was filled with police reports and news stories regarding a violent and traumatic experience that my aunt suffered when she was young. It was devastating to learn of this. Her own children knew nothing of their mother’s experience.
I feel that this was an incredibly intrusive act, and can’t imagine what his motivation was in sharing information that my aunt quite clearly wanted to be kept private. I’ve never responded, and I can’t think of a polite way to do so.
Gentle reader: This conversation is going to involve correcting the young man’s manners something that can only be properly done by a parent or other person with similar standing Therefore, the first question for you to answer is not “how?” but “who?”
Once you know that, you can then ask that person to speak with him, saying that while you are sure his intentions were good, his actions were thoughtless. As you said, the aunt obviously did not share the information herself because she wanted it kept private. Someone needs to alert him both to what he did and to the fact that, going forward, he needs to be more discreet.
Some follow-up communication, apologizing for his indiscretion, is likely necessary
Dear Miss Manners:: Is there a word for a married couple’s parents to call each other?
We all live relatively close to each other and visit semiregularly No one I’ve asked has an answer Maybe you can come up with something. I don’t really want to call them my “out-laws.”
Gentle reader: Actual names usually work.
Dear Miss Manners:: My dear neighbor regularly walks their dog on our fairly remote suburban streets, which don’t have sidewalks, counter to the recommended method: They walk with traffic rather than facing it. They also walk with earbuds, listening to who knows what, making it difficult to hear traffic coming behind them
I have gently pointed out that it’s the law, and safer, to walk facing traffic so they can see the cars coming Their answer is that “the dog tells me when cars are coming.” The dog also walks to their left, into the traffic lane, further endangering the animal.
Yes, motorists are careful when they pass my neighbor on the road, but they also must be nervous that the walker does not fully acknowledge them.
I sincerely care about this person and do not want to see them (or the dog) hurt.
How can I impress upon them to follow the rules on walking safely?
Gentle reader You have tried. Now you are going to have to hope for the best — and remember that both etiquette and personal autonomy allow your neighbor to make their own choices.
Send questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com or email, dearmissmanners@ gmail.com.
Tips on finding your parked car
Dear Heloise: Regarding a recent hint about how to find your parked car: If you have an iPhone, you don’t have to remember to take a picture or make notes. When you can’t find your car, just go to the maps app and ask for directions to your parked car It keeps track of where you stopped driving!
It doesn’t always work, but it does address the main problem: “If I could remember to take a picture or make a note when I park, I could remember where I parked!”
That being said, I am careful to take a picture when I park in a big structure at an airport. Darin
Dear Harriette: I recently returned to work after maternity leave, and I’m finding it difficult to focus. All I can think about is my baby, and it’s affecting my productivity and ability to be present at work. I love my child deeply, but I feel guilty about not being able to fully engage in my job, which has always been important to me. Even when I try to focus on tasks, my mind constantly drifts back to my baby’s needs and well-being. I’m also feeling torn between wanting to give my all at work and wanting to be there for every moment with my child. The guilt of leaving my baby during the day is overwhelming, and it’s causing me to feel distracted and less
Williams,Tucson,Arizona
Toothbrush hygiene
Dear Heloise: We have one electric toothbrush with separate toothbrush heads for each of us. We store the heads in shot glasses that are filled with mouthwash. Every brush is color coded so that we don’t get them mixed up, but even if we do, the brushes are cleaned sterilely every time. — Istello, via email
Eyeglass trick
Dear Heloise: Now that it is winter, and I wear eyeglasses, I always try to remember to do what my eyeglass-wearing dad always did in the wintertime during my years growing up in Detroit: He would back out of the door of a house or walk with his back facing in when
confident in my abilities. I don’t want to let my job or my baby down, but I’m not sure how to find a balance. How can I shift my mindset and improve my focus at work without feeling like I’m neglecting my baby or my career? — Baby
Balance
Dear Baby Balance: There is a saying: You can do everything, just not at the same time. Make a daily to-do list of all of your responsibilities one column for work, one for your baby Methodically check off your list throughout the day, doing your best to focus on whatever small, specific task is at hand. When your mind wanders, remind yourself that you just have to finish whatever is in front of you before you can pivot to something else. Create the discipline in yourself to complete small tasks with focus. This will help you to get through each day Replace
he would come in from the cold outside. Then he would turn around, which went a long way in preventing his glasses from fogging over It can be a real hazard, and it does get cold enough in Houston in the winter for people to need this hint! — Phyllis Stover, via email
Caring for animals
Dear Heloise: I’ve been reading your column for many years, and I like the way you champion animal rights. Too many people in my state abandon animals when they are no longer puppies. One of the members of a social club I belong to told me that he and his wife took their 6-month-old puppy to a shelter because it chewed up one of his wife’s leather shoes. But it wasn’t the
dog’s fault; it was on the owners for leaving the shoes out where the puppy could find them. No pet should live outside or be abandoned because the owners are too lazy to interact with the animal and properly train them. This doesn’t mean hitting the animal, starving it, or mistreating it in any way Abuse only teaches the animal to fear and even hate its owner If you adopt a pet, get it neutered,
feelings of guilt with feelings of success for achieving small victories. Be sure to include self-care on your to-do list. This will help you to have enough energy to get through each day
Dear Harriette: Another view on “Unclear Role,” the woman whose boyfriend does not want her to act in a motherly fashion to his kids.
I agree that more communication to understand why he holds this view is necessary It is not apparent from the letter if he ever expresses appreciation for his girlfriend’s loving presence in his daughters’ life. Even so, his stance about the “biological mom” designation is disrespectful to his current girlfriend. He is devaluing her involvement and availability with his daughters, which she gives freely from her heart, well beyond what is being asked of her
This shows emotional immaturity His girls are part of his life, no matter what. An emotionally mature man would want a partner who also wants to embrace those who he considers the most precious. He is trying to compartmentalize or control where love comes from, and it doesn’t seem to be working. From my experience, a man who does not support or endorse his significant
‘Deli Boys’ brings laughter and chaos to the screen
BY LESLIE AMBRIZ Associated Press
WEST HOLLYWOOD Calif. Abdullah Saeed wasn’t looking to write a groundbreaking comedy. He was just looking for a job.
The “Deli Boys” creator wrote a sample script in 2019, hoping to secure a staff position in a writers’ room after transitioning from journalism to screenwriting (“Nobody was buying my documentaries,” jokes Saeed.) He had recently co-written a script for a feature film, but needed something to showcase his own voice.
Saeed sat down to write without worry about representing his entire community and decided to freely create a show that was as lighthearted as he is.
“The pressure was off because I didn’t think it was going to be a TV show I was just like, ‘OK, whatever, I think that’s funny,’” said the Pakistani American writer “Deli Boys” soon landed in front of television writers and producers Jenni Konner (“Girls”) and Nora Silver (“Single Drunk Female”), who immediately wanted to do more than hire Saeed They wanted to develop the half-hour pilot and bring it to life.
“It was so unique and so funny and fresh, and (there is) nothing like that in the world, ever,” said Konner who later brought on showrunner Michelle Nader (“2 Broke Girls”).
The 10-episode Hulu original comedy presented by Onyx Collective stars Saagar Shaikh (“Ms. Marvel”), Asif Ali (“WandaVision”) and Poorna Jagannathan. Premiering Thursday, “Deli Boys” follows two Pakistani American brothers, Raj and Mir — played by Shaikh and Ali — who lose their comfortable lifestyles after their convenience store mogul father (Iqbal Theba) dies unexpectedly from a golfing accident. Raj and Mir must now work together to take over the family business, but soon learn they are in way over their heads when they discover the stores were a front
for cocaine distribution.
Saeed, who used to cover stories centered on music, cannabis and recreational drugs, says he was inspired by the “unverified stories about stealth and smuggling” that he heard over the years.
“It’s just lore,” he said of the stories he was never able to report out. “But in this show, we can borrow all that stuff, right? And so, like, there’s all these elements about, you know, stealth, like how you actually package and move drugs that really made their way into the show.”
The brothers at the show’s heart are two complete opposites who have to find themselves while being comically thrust into the drugsmuggling underworld: Raj is the free spirit who relies on cannabis, his shaman and good looks to get him by, while Mir is the buttonedup model child looking to make his father proud.
“It was great to finally, for the first time, be a flawed character not a model minority,” said Shaikh. “The spectrum for white shows goes from like, ‘Full House’ to “It’s Always Sunny.’ And, you know, we are, like them, not a
monolith, right? We have different stories. We have different values from house to house. We have different cultures from house to house. And we rarely get to see
any nuance.” For Ali, portraying Mir was something he never would have imagined.
“It really is above just being,
you know, an exploration of what being South Asian is,” said Ali. “It’s something that I have never seen our community have before. Just like straight-up crazy comedy.”
Jagannathan plays their father’s right-hand woman Lucky, who quickly takes the boys under her wing in an effort to salvage the family’s dwindling drug operation. According to Jagannathan, Lucky was initially written as a man until Saeed was advised to go back to his script and change two characters from men to women. Soon, Lucky became a blend of Saeed’s mother whom he describes as a “self-starting, headstrong badass,” executive producers Silver and Konner, Nader and Jagannathan’s past roles as a mother on “Never Have I Ever” and “The Night Of.”
“She’s sweet and loving and nurturing and then the next scene is her putting a bullet in someone’s head,” said Jagannathan “And I think the juxtaposition of that is so funny, but the script has so much of that. It’s the expected with the unexpected right next door.”
The cast also includes Alfie Fuller (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”) and Brian George, a familiar face to “Seinfeld” and “The Big Bang Theory” fans who is now front and center as Lucky’s second-incommand. Guest stars for this season also include “Queer Eye’s” Tan France, who makes his acting debut in the sixth episode
“I saw the script, and it was a fully formed character I was so nervous. But the first day I got on that set, I had the best experience,” said France, who initially thought he was only going to play a small role.
Saeed and Konner hope the show will have the opportunity to welcome more South Asian guest stars in later seasons. “There’s a lot of people we would die to have,” said Konner.
“And then for each of them, we’ve now set this thing up for ourselves where they have to play someone against type,” said Saeed.
“So, that makes it more fun for us if we get somebody huge, right? And we’ve only seen them one way; we get to put them into something different.”
Many Americans are fortunateto havedental coverage fortheir entire working life, through employer-provided benefits.When those benefits end with retirement, paying dental bills out-of-pocket can come as a shock, leading people to putoff or even go without care. Simply put —without dental insurance, there may be an importantgap in your healthcare coverage.
When you’re comparing plans ...
Ask about the
PROVIDED PHOTOS By DISNEy
Saagar Shaikh, from left, Asif Ali, Poorna Jagannathan and Brian George star in the Hulu series ‘Deli Boys.’
In ‘Deli Boys,’ Saagar Shaikh, left, and Asif Ali must work together to take over the family business, but soon learn they are in way over their heads when they discover the stores were a front for cocaine distribution.
Open shutand
People walk and shop at the Mall of Louisiana. More than a decade after e-commerce upended the way
changes reverberating in Louisiana.
As nationwide retailers bowing to e-commerce close their doors, some Louisiana malls with luxe offerings gaining ground
BY STEPHANIE RIEGEL
is closing its longtime anchor store in the Acadiana Mall as the department store chain continues to downsize across the country In Metairie, discount outlet Big Lots is in the process of shutting down its Veterans Boulevard store as its parent company navigates bankruptcy And New Jersey-based Party City is shutting down all eight of its locations in Louisiana because the party supply retailer is going out of business Yet, amid what seems like terrible times for brick-andmortar stores, Canal Place in downtown New Orleans recently added a new Swarovski Crystal store to its mix of high-end tenants, while Lakeside Shopping Center is building out new spaces for trendy retailers Mango and Alo Yoga. Confused? You’re not alone. More than a decade after e-commerce upended the way people shop, the industry is still in flux with changes reverberating in Louisiana. Commercial property brokers, mall executives and other market watchers say some stores are
ä See MALLS, page 2E
BY RICH COLLINS Staff writer
STAFF FILE PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS
shop, the retail industry is still in flux with
STAFF FILE PHOTO By LESLIE WESTBROOK
at the Acadiana Mall in Lafayette.
Baton Rouge
Erin Walker has been hired as vice president of planning and performance for Our Lady of the Lake Health Walker has more than two decades of experience in health care operations, strategic planning and performance improvement. Most recently she was vice president of operations at Oklahoma Children’s Hospital.
She earned a bachelor’s in health care administration from Southwestern Oklahoma State University and a master’s in health administration from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
Bill Sanders and Chris Flood have been hired by Lee & Associates Sanders will serve as a partner
Fool’s Take: A ‘fintech’ giant
PayPal (Nasdaq: PYPL), a pioneer in internet payment processing, is undergoing a transition. The financial technology company’s management is culling unprofitable products and segments to build a more profitable business. That’s weighed on the company’s revenue growth, but it’s likely not a long-term concern. Last year saw a strong recovery in adjusted earnings per share, up 21% year over year Still, management expects the transition to continue in 2025, and it’s projecting single-digit growth in the near term. But PayPal, also home to Venmo, is still the leading payments network on the internet. That gives it a significant competitive advantage, enabling it to win more merchants and, in turn, drive more consumers to sign up for its digital wallet.
So long-term investors have an opportunity to buy shares now at a lower price. PayPal’s stock recently sported a forward-looking price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 14, well below the five-year average of 20. For a stock capable of growing quickly, that’s a discount.
As management focuses on improved profitability, steady revenue growth and profit margin expansion should result in healthy growth in net income. Combining that with a focus on repurchasing shares, PayPal stands a good chance of growing its earnings per share substantially in the coming years. (The Motley Fool owns shares of PayPal and recommends its stock and options.)
Fool’s School: Asset, allocation, rebalancing
Many investors go years with-
MALLS
Continued from page 1E
improving their prospects with inperson shoppers while others are seeing their sales fall — or are going out of business altogether.
“It’s hard to explain a little bit because it seems like there are contradictory trends,” said Ryan Pecot, a commercial agent with Stirling. “The reality is there are a few different things going on.” Macro trends
Part of the reason for the seemingly incongruous trend, with some retail sectors seeing improvements while others slip, is a widening wealth gap and the impact of inflation on middle- and lower-income Americans.
A recent report by Moody Analytics found that the top 10% of earners, those who make $250,000 a year or more, accounted for nearly half of all spending in America last year compared with about twothirds of all spending 30 years ago, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Spending by the wealthy on new cars, homes, pricey clothes and luxury goods is rising quickly too, and outpacing inflation. From Sep-
PEOPLE IN BUSINESS
and principal. He has 15 years of experience as an office broker working with more than 500 clients in Baton Rouge, Shreveport and Birmingham, Alabama.
Flood will serve as a senior associate. He specializes in office tenant representation and corporate occupier solutions.
New Orleans
Molly K. Vigour has joined Kean Miller as special counsel.
Vigour was an in-house counsel for nearly 20 years and has experience in labor and employment, entity formation, business licensing, commercial and restaurant leases, vendor contracts, lease extensions and disputes. Her practice is focused on business, transactional, hospitality law, real estate, compliance and entertainment matters.
She earned a bachelor’s in history, with honors, from Mount Holyoke College and a law degree, cum laude, from Tulane University Law School. Vigour served as a law clerk for U.S. District Judge Donald E Walter, of Shreveport.
out engaging in or even understanding — asset allocation and rebalancing. That can be a costly mistake. The term “asset allocation” refers to how your portfolio is divided among various asset classes, such as stocks, bonds and cash.
As an example, you might decide that you want to have your portfolio consist of 70% stocks, 20% bonds and 10% cash. Here’s where rebalancing comes into play Since stocks tend to change in value faster than bonds, in a few years your portfolio’s allocation might have become 85% stocks, 10% bonds and 5% cash. If so, you’ve got more in stocks and less in bonds than you wanted to have. So you “rebalance” — perhaps by selling some stocks and buying some bond investments to get back to your ideal allocation mix. Many people change their asset allocation as they get older, shedding some stocks and adding some bonds (“Target-date” or “life-cycle” funds will do this for you automatically.)
It’s worth reassessing your portfolio’s asset allocation annually and rebalancing as needed.
It can be quite easy to do if you’re invested mainly in lowfee index funds such as ones that track the overall stock market and overall bond market. As examples, the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) will instantly have you invested in 500 of America’s biggest companies, and the iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (AGG) will invest you in a broad range of bonds. You’ll simply sell and buy the number of shares you want.
If you’ve invested in individual stocks, you might identify your least promising ones and sell some or all of those You might also want to shave some shares off any stock holding that’s grown a lot. For example, if one terrific stock soared so much that it’s now 35% of your portfolio, you’re holding too many eggs in that one basket. It’s true that letting your winners run can be
tember 2023 to September 2024, top earners increased their spending by 12%.
Spending by working-class and middle-class households dropped over the same period.
“There is definitely a gap between the haves and the have-nots, and that has an effect on retail,” Pecot said.
Higher-end malls like Canal Place are reaping the benefits of more spending by well-heeled shoppers, which includes a mix of tourists, locals and a regional drive-in market, according to manager Matt Brown.
With the February opening of Swarovski, the shopping center is 95% leased, with a tenant mix that includes Louis Vuitton, Tory Burch, Tiffany & Co. and longtime anchor Saks Fifth Avenue among others.
“The majority of our first-floor tenants are only located here, in Houston and Atlanta, so it’s really a regional luxury destination for shopping,” said Brown. “We’re thriving.”
The boom is also apparent at Lakeside, a regional mall in Metairie that averages around 99% occupancy In late February, the mall announced that Spanish fashion retailer Mango will open a 5,500-squarefoot store later this spring across from Arhaus, the trendy furniture
WASTE
Continued from page 1E
Kimberly Ramagos has been hired by the Louisiana Bar Foundation as chief financial officer Ramagos has more than 15 years of experience in financial and human resources management for nonprofit organizations, manufacturing, retail and real estate businesses. She earned a bachelor’s in accounting and finance and is working on a master’s in business administration, all from the University of New Orleans.
Ryan D.McNamara has joined Fishman Haygood as special counsel in the business section. His practice primarily focuses on corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, securities, private equity and venture capital and real estate.
He earned a law degree, magna cum laude, from Tulane University Law School. McNamara was a member of the Tulane Law Review
a powerful move, but keep your risks in check.
Ask the Fool: Talking tax rates
What, exactly, does it mean if I’m in the 22% tax bracket? That I pay 22% of all my income in taxes? — E.S., Bath, Maine
You’re smart to ask, because many people assume that’s the case — and it’s not. That 22% is your “marginal” tax bracket — your highest rate, paid on your top tier of income. For the 2024 and 2025 tax years, there are seven federal income tax brackets: 10%, 12%, 22% 24% 32% 35% and 37%. Each bracket applies to a certain range of earnings. Let’s say you’re single and your taxable income for 2024 is $75,000. You’d pay 10% on your first $11,600 of income (that’s $1,160), 12% on your income from $11,601 to $47,150 ($4,266) and 22% on your income from $47,151 to $75,000 ($6,127). (That 22% bracket covers income up to $100,525, by the way.) Add those three amounts for your total tax: $11,553. Divide that by your taxable income of $75,000, and you’ll see that you paid a little over 15% of your income in federal taxes. That’s your effective tax rate reflecting your total taxes paid, and it’s more meaningful than your marginal rate.
What’s the “efficient market” hypothesis? T.R., Grand Rapids, Michigan It suggests that all (or most) available information is factored into the price of stocks. Therefore, a particular stock can’t be over- or undervalued, and investors can’t outperform the overall market consistently by using their brains.
Critics of the hypothesis see the stock market as only somewhat efficient, as many investors act on emotions (such as greed or fear) instead of rational reasoning They point to the long-term outperformance of investors such as Warren Buffett as proof that the market isn’t purely efficient.
store that relocated from the South Market District near the Caesars Superdome to Lakeside last year California-based activewear brand Alo Yoga will also open a new store this spring in a 5,000-square-foot space.
“Lakeside is a behemoth that continues to reinvent itself, and it’s in a prime location to attract a variety of shoppers, including those who have a lot of spending power,” said Kirsten Early, a principal and longtime commercial agent with SRSA. Department store struggles
While some luxury stores are expanding and thriving, longtime chains like Macy’s, which has been closing stores for nearly a decade, and JCPenney continue to struggle, much as Sears did before it shuttered most of its stores five years ago. Part of the problem with those traditional department stores is that they tried to be too many things to too many people and couldn’t compete with online retail, said Pecot. The same goes for discount chains like Party City, Big Lots and Bed Bath and Beyond, the latter of which went out of business in 2023.
“Who is going to go to Party City when you can order the same thing with more selection online, and
tribution and composting nonprofits to collect and put it to use.
U.S. throws out third of its food
In a report released last week, national nonprofit ReFed said that after a pandemic dip, the amount of unsold or uneaten food in the United States rebounded to 74 million tons, nearly a third of the country’s food supply ReFed said that food is worth $382 billion, more than 1% of the country’s gross domestic product. The largest amount of that waste, about 35 million tons, comes from uneaten groceries and restaurant leftovers, according to ReFed. Food-producing businesses, meanwhile, create about 21 million tons of surplus food annually But they are trying to change.
ReFed said that the country’s top 65 food producers — in the categories of food service, retail and manufacturing — all have food waste reduction targets in place. In total, more than $900 million was invested in food loss and waste solutions in the U.S. last year
In New Orleans, hospitality enterprises and schools are leading the way, according to Dana Eness, a founding board member of the independent business alliance Stay Local, which hosted a food waste education event last year
Aramark, Tulane’s food service provider, is testing several ideas to raise awareness about food waste in partnership with the university Keeping track of how much uneaten food is scraped from plates is one of them.
Since the start of the fall 2024 semester, workers have bagged and weighed food waste each day so the school can keep a tally of what goes uneaten in its 6-year-old, $55 million facility, which serves about 3,500 meals a day During one week in late February, the daily total was just under 160 pounds.
Most Tuesday evenings in one of Tulane’s two dining facilities, student workers take the food waste accounting to the next level. They help students discard their uneaten food into a clear container, which fills up quickly
“Traditionally you just put your tray on the dish belt, and it goes away, so no one knows how much food gets wasted,” said Emily Slazer, sustainability manager at Aramark/Tulane Hospitality “This way you can see how it’s accumulating.”
Tulane Hospitality also has installed signage throughout both dining halls on campus, encouraging diners to choose the right portion size to avoid waste.
“People will fill the vessel they’re given,” Slazer said. “If there’s a huge bowl by the salad bar, they’ll fill it So we put smaller bowls by the cut fruit and things like that to nudge behaviors.”
The school has partnered with several local nonprofits and student organizations to distribute surplus food to those who need it.
Feeding the turtles
The Convention Center doesn’t cater to hungry college kids every day, but it often hosts tens of thousands of people at a time.
One weekend last month, an independent hardware distributor gathering brought roughly 20,000 people into the 1.1 million-squarefoot building.
To handle the job, the facility has two kitchens, where chefs use industrial cooking equipment to make gumbo, jambalaya po-boys and other local classics in massive quantities.
That type of volume has the potential to create a lot of surplus food and scraps, which is why the center has partnered with several food dis-
have it delivered to your door in a day?” said Pecot.
Of course, there are exceptions. Not all high-end stores are doing well, and not all discount chains are doing poorly Midtier retailers like Marshall’s, T.J. Maxx and HomeGoods, which share a corporate owner, and Ross Dress for Less are doing well in Louisiana and looking to open more stores, according to commercial brokers in Metairie and in Baton Rouge.
“To an extent, it comes down to the company and how well it is run and if it is able to deliver decent quality at the right price point,” Early said.
A retailer’s success these days also comes down to their ability to pivot and respond to changing consumer tastes. The longtime Barnes & Noble in Baton Rouge’s Citiplace, an aging strip center that has lost a number of tenants over the past decade, is leaving its 20,000-squarefoot location and moving down the street to a new, smaller store in the high-end Towne Center, according to Jonathan Walker a commercial agent with Maestri Murrell.
Rival bookseller Books-a-Million went in a different direction in Lafayette. The chain moved out of its pricey 12,000-square-foot location on an outparcel near Target and
Straight credits the food waste initiatives with helping the center earn its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Gold certification in 2022. It’s a rating system that measures a building’s environmental performance and sustainability It’s also a sales tool. Straight said the Convention Center’s sustainability and food waste initiatives help it stand out as it competes with similar facilities worldwide.
“We’re the largest LEED goldcertified building in the world,” Straight said. “That’s something to be said, especially for a community like New Orleans that has struggled with recycling and sustainability in the past.”
At Acorn, the Dickie Brennan-run restaurant inside the Louisiana Children’s Museum, food waste prevention isn’t just a priority, it’s a focus of the entire operation, which also offers more vegan and healthy options than your average New Orleans eatery
Campsen said the restaurant is careful not to over-order ingredients He tries to use each one in multiple dishes to decrease the chance of waste. The restaurant also uses compostable serving tools.
Leftovers and scraps serve a very specific purpose.
“People like to feed the turtles in the lake next door,” he said. “Anything that we can’t use, like the very backs of the Brussels sprouts or celery leaves that are turning, we cut it up for them.”
Pet food made from flies?
Representatives of Tulane, the Convention Center and Acorn all got a crash course on food waste mitigation last summer at the Stay Local food waste class led by Lucia Loposova, a University of Hong Kong professor who runs a global nonprofit.
Loposova gave a crash course on food waste basics: Use local ingredients, don’t throw away edible food and keep track of what ends up in the trash. But she also advocated for innovative ideas: making a leather substitute out of pineapple leaves, for instance, or milling oyster shells to make toothpaste for dogs.
“It has a fishy taste, but dogs love it,” she said. In Hong Kong, university students devised a way to use old bread as a substitute for barley when making beer The new brew gained popularity Now, the staff at some pizza places in the area might ask customers if they plan to eat their crusts. If not, they cut them off in advance and save them to make beer And then there’s the black soldier flies.
Buffalo, New York-based company Stratium, following the lead of international counterparts, is creating fly “farms” to consume food waste. The insects’ excrement can be used as a fertilizer, and they themselves are a source of protein that can be used to make food for poultry, fish and pigs.
“It’s a fantastic solution,” Loposova said. “It’s efficient and scientifically proven. Save everything you have, create new things and make it as circular as possible.”
Dana Eness, of Stay Local, hopes someone will try out the idea in New Orleans.
“It’s an incredible entrepreneurial opportunity,” she said. “You can start with something the size of a storage container and scale up.” Email Rich Collins at rich. collins@theadvocate.com.
moved into a larger store nearby, rebranding as a 2nd & Charles and changing up the merchandise mix to include new and used books, music, games and pop culture items.
“They’re doing well now,” Pecot said. “It was a real success.” Too expensive to build new
One of the biggest problems retailers face is the lack of availability of new space. Though there are plenty of vacant storefronts in older strip centers across the state, rising inflation, interest rates and insurance premiums have chilled most new retail construction.
“Most of the leasing we are doing is in existing shopping centers because of the cost,” said Walker “And even there, it’s so expensive to do a build-out, it’s mostly highend retailers that can afford it.” Early said she has had to turn some deals away because there isn’t enough new retail space in prime locations, which is slowing growth.
“Where is the new construction?” she said. “That is what everyone is asking, and the answer is, there is none.”
Email Stephanie Riegel at stephanie.riegel@theadvocate. com.
Campsen
Walker
Sanders Flood Vigour
Ramagos
McNamara
Motley Fool
BUSINESS WITH BRANDON LANDRy
Adaptability the key to restaurant operator’s success
BY TIMOTHY BOONE Business editor
Just over 20 years after cofounding Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux, Brandon Landry has become one of the most successful restaurant operators in Louisiana.
Landry started the sports bar chain with Jack Warner, a fellow walk-on with the LSU basketball team, and in its first decade, WalkOn’s grew steadily in size and popularity
But its reputation took off in 2012, when the Poydras Street location in downtown New Orleans was named ESPN’s Best Sports Bar in North America. Walk-On’s now has 80 company and franchise locations across the U.S., stretching from Las Vegas to South Carolina and plans to add 10-15 new restaurants this year and in 2026. Along the way, former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees became a partner, and the company signed up franchisees such as Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott.
Landry and Brees are also partners in another restaurant chain, Smalls Sliders, which does a takeout-only business selling cheeseburger sliders and fries out of vivid orange shipping containers. And, in 2022, Landry opened yet another new restaurant in Baton Rouge — the Supper Club. The highly Instagrammable eatery with trendy decor is reservationonly, with an upscale menu that includes dishes such as Wagyu beef, Beluga caviar and Alaskan king crab.
In this week’s Talking Business, Landry discusses the status of his restaurants, his role with the Louisiana Economic Development Partnership (a private-sector advisory board that promotes economic growth) and his favorite place to get a meal.
This interview has been edited for content and clarity
How are things going with Walk-On’s?
COVID changed everything, especially for casual dining. It was an opportunity for us to look at our concept and reset. Our dining rooms were, for lack of a bet-
ter term, shut down Then they came back at 25% capacity 50% capacity throughout the country
And what we noticed is even with 50% capacity, we were doing preCOVID sales We looked at this and were like, can we go back to the drawing board and maybe reduce the footprint, reduce the menu, the amount of (items), the size of the kitchen? It gave us an opportunity to reset and think about what the next phase of Walk-On’s looks like.
We spent some time redesigning the building and the footprint and the menu, and it has done well for us.
About a year ago, Walk-On’s moved its headquarters out of Baton Rouge to Atlanta. How has that worked out for the company? It’s not something that I wanted to do. It was necessary for the brand and it was tough. I’m prob-
ably the only person on the Louisiana Economic Development Partnership that has a company that left Louisiana. And I’ve been bringing that up for discussion on the board. We’ve got to do something different here. We have to attract people. We have to retain great talent. Look, I’m born and raised in south Louisiana, White Castle. I grew up a fourth-generation sugar cane farmer’s son. I love this place. But at the end of the day, we couldn’t get people to move here. What do you see as the solution to keeping people in Louisiana and attracting workers?
Let’s start tackling some of the issues that we’ve all heard about. I mean the crime the school systems. I think when great minds come together and we truly have a focused approach, you can make
some change and you can make it rather quick. A great example is what New Orleans did for the Super Bowl. There was a horrible incident that happened before the game, but the city, the parish, the state all came together and said, we’re going to make it the safest, cleanest city that a Super Bowl has seen in a long time. And we did that. Everyone that I talked to said New Orleans was a great representation for our state for Super Bowl week. Everyone came together and had a common goal.
Smalls Sliders has been growing a lot.How has the business been doing? It is amazing the way this concept has taken off in five short years. I came up with the idea in 2018 and opened the original on Nicholson Drive across from Tigerland (in Baton Rouge) in 2019. I didn’t think it would take off like this. Being in the Walk-On’s world, we have full service in big facilities and lots of team members and large menus lots of moving parts. The idea with Smalls was the exact opposite, and we have been attracting very sophisticated franchise groups that have a couple hundred other franchise locations of numerous brands. They have the infrastructure and the knowledge of how to run these types of organizations. We just opened number 24 yesterday in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and we will probably open around 40 locations in 2025.
It’s crazy to say, but 750-squarefoot units are averaging between $2 million-$2.5 million in annual sales. Some units especially in Florida lately, look like they’re tracking around $3 million. Supper Club is a different sort of concept for Baton Rouge. How has business been? Phenomenal. Better than I expected.
It was a little risky bringing a concept like Supper Club that kind of broke the mold for traditional Baton Rouge fine dining. But I think what we learned is people like quality People like to be taken care of. If you do it right, source the best products, spend time coaching and training your staff to make your guests feel like
a million bucks, people will come. Our goal there was to create a unique dining experience with the best products that we could source around the world and not try to be something that we’re not. We’re not a lunchtime spot It’s for dinner only, it’s for supper We don’t ever want to rush someone. We don’t ever want to make them feel that we have to turn this table. It’s come and enjoy yourself and get dressed up and maybe feel like you’re not in Baton Rouge for a couple of hours. People appreciate that. Any thought about expanding it further to other markets or this is kind of strictly a Baton Rouge thing?
I’ve been asked that question a lot, and it started off as a passion project for Mackenzie (Landry’s wife) and I. We wanted to bring something special to our hometown. But I do think it has legs. It has to be the right situation, though. It’s not a brand that I would franchise.
How has inflation affected your restaurants? Have you had to make any sort of menu changes or recipe changes?
One thing we’re not going to do is sacrifice quality because of price. It has given us an opportunity to do a deep dive into all items that we have and go back to the table with some of our vendors and figure out how to work together, because we can’t outprice ourselves. What’s important is quality consistency and keeping the portion size. On the Walk-On’s side, it has been mainly streamlining menus and asking ourselves if we really have to have 65 menu items. Maybe it’s better to have the best 55 We may have a few guests who say, “Oh man, I really love that dish.” But guess what? They’ll find a new favorite. If you’re going to eat a meal in Baton Rouge, where’s it going to be? My wife and I love Gino’s. They’ve done a great job for 50 or so years now and still have Mama Marino’s lasagna on the menu, and you can still see her son Gino Marino and talk to him. That’s our go-to if we’re not going to Supper Club. Email Timothy Boone at tboone@theadvocate.com.
SustainableFishing: HowLouisiana’s Menhaden Industry Protects the Gulf
Forgenerations,Louisiana’smenhaden
fishing industry has supported small coastal communities and harvested a sustainable resource while employing responsible fishing practices thatprotect the Gulf’s ecosystem. Through sciencebased management, innovativetechnology, and strict regulations,weensurethat menhaden remains abundantfor future generations
The commercial menhaden fishery uses the purse seine method, aspecially designed technique thatminimizes environmental impact.Here’show the processworks:
schools of menhaden.
•Setting the Net: The vesselencircles the school with apurse seine net, whichcloses at the bottomtoform a contained “purse.”
•Hauling in the Catch: Awinch system pulls in the net,and avacuum pump transfersthe fish onto the boat while safely returning anylarger marine species,liketurtles,sharks, or dolphins,back to the water.
•Sorting andProcessing: Fish aresorted using bycatchreduction devices,which separate non-target species beforethe catchistransported forprocessing onshore.
areemphatically rejected by scientific studies.A 2021 study published in Conservation Biologyfound thatimposing additionalcatchlimits on species like menhaden would not significantly increase predatorpopulations.Similarly,a 2017 study in Fisheries Research confirmed that predatorpopulations areinfluenced more by environmentalfactorsthanbyfishing, and thatforagefish targetedbypredators arenot the same as thosetypically caught by commercialfisheries
The menhaden industry removes lessthan 2% of the totalGulf menhaden biomasseach year—far belowlevelsthat would negatively impact the ecosystem.
The menhaden industry removesless than 2% of the total Gulf menhaden biomass each year—far belowlevels thatwould negatively impact the ecosystem.
Stock assessments confirm that menhaden populations arenot overfished, ensuring asustainable fishery that maintains acritical food source for marine predators likeredfish, speckled trout,and dolphins.Since 2019,the fishery has been certified as sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council, the gold standardfor seafood sustainability. Louisiana’smenhaden industry operates under strict federal and state regulations,ensuring responsible practices thatsupport the environment and coastal economies.Calls foradditional restrictions lack scientific backing and threatenthe livelihoods and communities of thousands of workerswho depend on this industry
Through significantinvestments in sustainable fishing methods,reducing bycatch, and maintaining healthy menhaden populations,the Louisiana commercial menhaden industry continues to balance conservation with economic prosperity. Sustainable fishing isn’tjust about the environment—it’sabout people, communities,and Louisiana’scoastal economy. Let’sensurethatscience, not politics,drives the futureofthis fishery
PROVIDED PHOTO
Brandon Landry is a co-founder of Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux and is a partner with former Saints quarterback Drew Brees in another restaurant chain, Small Sliders. He also opened the Supper Club in Baton Rouge.
ACTNOW TO PUT YOUR PLANINPLACE IN JUST 6-7 WEEKS
Yes, knowledge is power, and the choice is yours. But you MUSTACT NOW to put your estate planinplace.Itall starts by attending oneofLaura Poche’s free educational eventswhich makes it clear that regardless of your networth, if you want to preserveyourhard-earned assetsorhavepeople in your life you need to protectorhavecauses that youwanttopromote, EVERY PERSON NEEDSALEGAL ESTATE PLAN. Let LauraPoche and her professional and knowledgeable staffmakethis process as easyaspossible so youcan livewith PEACEOFMIND.
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Monday, March 24 Poche LawOffice 4960 Bluebonnet,Ste.C 2:00pm -4:30pm REFRESHMENTSPROVIDED AFTER
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2323 S. Acadian Thruway 11:00am -1:30pm LUNCH PROVIDED AFTER
• Makesureyourestateutilizesthe exemption available fordeaths occurring in 2025.
• Properly setup your Will or Living Trustsotherewill be no taxupon the death of thefirst spouseregardlessofthe sizeofthe estate
• Ensure that your heirsreceivea step-up in taxbasis -not justwhen the first spousediesbut againwhen the surviving spousedies.
• Utilizethe 2025annualgifttax exclusion to make giftsof$19,000 per year per person duringyourlifetime to reduceyourtaxable estate at your death...and MUCH MORE!
INCOME TAXSEASON IS HEREWATCHOUT FORTHOSE ESTATE, GIFT ANDCAPITAL GAINSTAXES,TOO!
Everyone wantstoavoid tax. When people think about avoidingtaxes,theyusually think aboutavoiding income tax. But Louisiana residents must be concerned with severaltypes of taxeswhen theyare planning their estates.
FEDERAL ESTATE TAX-DID YOUKNOW?
Thefederal estate taxappliestoestates of people who areresidents in anyofthe 50 states. When it applies,itissignificant. Essentially,when apersondies, we must add up the fair marketvalueofeverything the deceased owned -their house, cars,bank accounts,IRA’s, 401(k)’s, life insurance, stock,businesses theyown, real estate and more. Since2013, new federal estate taxlawswerepassed. Theexemptionamountis$13,990,000 fordeaths occurring in 2025, and the estate taxrateis40%.
WHAT ABOUT THE SURVIVING SPOUSE?
Before 2010,each spousehad an estate taxexemption. If the estate of thefirst spousetodie didnot usetheir exemption, it would be lost,and the surviving spousecould notuse anyof the exemption of the first spousetodie.However, in 2013,“portability” waskeptinplace-the surviving spousecan nowincreasetheir exemptionbythe amount of the unused exemption amountof thedeceasedspousewho died after2010. But portability must be exercisedtimely.
HOWTOAVOID CAPITALGAINS TAX
Thetax that often creepsuponpeople is capitalgains tax. Capitalgainsispaid when you sell an asset that has appreciated in value.Example: youbuy astock for$20,000 andlater sell the stock for$100,000.You will have$80,000 of capitalgain, and youmustpay taxon this.How youstructureyourbequeststoyourspouseand your familycan haveasignificant impactonhow much capitalgains taxyourheirswill havetopay.Whenyou die,yourassets will be “stepped-up” and your heirswillget anew value.
GIFTS OF $19,000 PERYEARPER PERSON (USED TO BE $10,000 PER YEAR PER PERSON) Youmay haveheardyou candonateorgive$19,000each year per personwithout gift tax consequences.Typically,noone paysincome taxonagift regardless of the value of thegift. Asizeable gift will have estate and 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.”
5 years after the world changed
What did La. hospitals learn from pandemic?
BY MARGARET DeLANEY Staff writer
Louisiana’s first case of COVID-19 was reported on March 9, 2020, with the first death on March 14, 2020, followed by Gov. John Bel Edwards closing schools statewide on March 16, 2020, restricting most businesses to takeout and delivery only. The governor also postponed presidential primaries and placed limitations on large gatherings.
On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic after more than 118,000 cases in 114 countries.
According to WHO, more than 777 million cases of COVID-19 have been reported globally to date, including more than 7 million deaths, with 103 million cases and 1.2 million deaths being reported in the United States alone.
In Louisiana, there were over 1.5 million COVID-19 cases and 18,370 COVID-19 deaths between March 11, 2020, and December, 31 2023, according to Johns Hopkins University Center for Systems Science and Engineering
The time of COVID-19, now referred to as “the pandemic,” does not have an official start and end date, as COVID-19 is still infecting Americans each season
On March 23, 2020 Edwards enacted a statewide stay-at-home order to encourage social distancing Hospitals across the state prepared beds and opened new floors. Medical professionals at all levels learned about a new disease, reused protective gear,
Dr Mary Raven uses her cellphone so a ventilated COVID-19 patient can listen to her husband tell her he loves her
isolated themselves from their loved ones and transitioned entire hospitals to remote care as the nation was forced on lockdown.
Five years after the world changed, the United States still faces many uncertainties about how prepared the country is for the next public health crisis.
But some in Louisiana say they are more prepared than ever
Reusing equipment and making room
Donna Williams was an emergency
room registered nurse at Baton Rouge General in March 2020. She remembers when the first COVID-19 patient was admitted to the hospital.
“It was surreal,” she said.
Joey Boutwell, a licensed practical nurse in Baton Rouge at the capitol area hospital, remembers that there weren’t enough beds to fit the influx of patients. They had to reopen a previously unused third floor
See PANDEMIC, page 2
BY MARGARET DeLANEY Staff writer
It’s time for spring cleaning Yes, that includes the medicine cabinet.
Dr Mai Lam at Ochsner Health Center in Kenner, a primary care physician taking care of newborns to elderly patients, has the list of essential items, expiration requirements and optimal storage to keep the medicine cabinet fresh and effective.
Watch out for expiration dates
All prescription drugs and overthe-counter medications have an expiration date on the label that is based on testing. The date is the final day that the manufacturer can guarantee the full potency and safety of the drug, if properly stored. Some studies show that many drugs can still be taken after their expiration date if they are properly stored.
But is it better to be cautious and dispose of expired medication?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is clear on this question. The FDA says using expired medical products is risky and possibly harmful and recommends proper disposal.
The FDA explains that expired medications can be less effective or risky due to change in composition or decrease in strength Less potent antibiotics can fail to treat infections for example.
Keep it dry. Keep it cool.
Medicine cabinets work for toothpaste and soap, but the humidity in the bathroom or kitchen can be bad for medications. It can cause them to break down more quickly and render them less useful.
In the South, especially in the hotter months in Louisiana, Lam warns that it is important to keep medicines away from direct sunlight — including cars.
The best place to store most medicines is in a cool, dry and dark area, such as a secure bedside drawer, storage box, closet shelf or kitchen cabinet. Certain medications need to be in the refrigerator
“It’s really important to read the label on the bottle or package and look for specific storage instructions,” Lam said.
Consider storing medications away from curious hands — especially children — in a locked, tackle-type box to prevent them get into the wrong hands.
STAFF FILE PHOTOS By DAVID GRUNFELD
Adam Ferguson, a physician assistant with arms crossed, prepares a team before they enter a negative pressure room to help a COVID-19 patient at Our Lady of the Lake Hospital in Baton Rouge in April 2020.
HEALTH MAKER
35 years at Pennington Biomedical Research Center
Louisiana researcher known for world-class heart diet reflects on career
BY MARGARET DeLANEY Staff writer
Catherine Champagne, 66, still vividly remembers passing the Perkins Road construction site where Pennington Biomedical Research Center was taking shape in the late 1980s.
She was on her way to drop off her two young sons at school and had heard plans for a facility with a mission to improve human health throughout the life span, including a center for the study of nutrition. For Champagne, the thought stirred a longing to return to a field that she loved but hadn’t pursued in years.
“That would be a really nice place to work,” the Louisiana native recalled thinking, not knowing at the time how prophetic that moment would prove to be.
Three and a half decades later, Champagne, who is a professor of dietary assessment and nutrition counseling and nutritional epidemiology has been a part of the team at Pennington Biomedical Research Center since its earliest days.
However, the professional path this St. Martinville native took to arrive at her post was hardly a geographical straight shot along Interstate 10 from her hometown to Baton Rouge.
After receiving her undergraduate degree in Home Economics Education from the University of Southwestern Louisiana (now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette), Champagne earned both a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in
PANDEMIC
Continued from page 1
“The losses hurt and there were many but that only strengthened our willingness to do whatever was needed,” Boutwell said.
In the coming months, Williams, Boutwell and many other health care workers in Louisiana faced the brunt of the pandemic — both mentally and physically.
Boutwell remembers seeing a family friend come close to death and learning to walk again. Joy Miceli, a registered nurse in Baton Rouge, witnessed the death of a fellow nurse and friend
The dire straits brought on by the pandemic were sudden and drastic Dr Timothy Riddel saw the news out of China, where the virus originated, and thought it most likely be similar to a bad flu in the United States. He was wrong.
“I was out of town for Mardi Gras,” said Riddel, the chief medical officer of Northshore, Mississippi Gulf Coast, Baton Rouge, Acadiana and Rush Regions for Ochsner Health. “Immediately upon my return, I was met with the harsh reality of the pandemic: severe illness and death.”
Jade Oliver-Brady was working in two emergency rooms at the time the pandemic hit.
“I watched the nurses and doctors working so hard with limited resources,” Oliver-Brady said. “Coming out of the rooms sweating, disappointed, sad and scared.”
Most health care workers had to reuse personal protective equipment, or PPE masks, gloves, goggles, full-body coverings used to protect staff and patients from contagious illnesses Oliver-Brady, a social worker in the emergency room, was often the person who spoke to families to tell them their loved one was put on a ventilator or if they had passed.
“Life was just so immediately different,” Oliver-Brady said. “It was shocking and traumatizing.”
Health care workers across the state relied on each other for mental health needs, knowledge of a new disease and protective equipment to work in the hospital
The emotional toll rippled through hospitals, and, although many backed away from the weight of the pandemic, some found solace in their community
“We watched people die on a daily basis with the fear that it could easily happen to us knowing we were in direct contact and using reused PPE,” Oliver-Brady said. “We changed clothes in our cars to pre-
Nutrition from Mississippi State University
During her time at Mississippi State, Champagne started a family before moving to Arkansas, where she worked as a clinical dietitian at The University of Arkansas Medical Center in Little Rock, serving patients across the pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology and psychiatric specialties.
Although she received her training and honed a passion for her work in Mississippi and Arkansas, for all the pieces to truly fall into place, Champagne had to return home to Louisiana.
“I’ve had fun,” Champagne said of her 35-year career at Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge.
What made you want to come back to Louisiana? What intrigued you about Pennington?
After graduate school, my husband got a job in Little Rock, Arkansas. At the time we moved, we had a baby daughter After about two months living in Little Rock, there was a job opportunity at the University of Arkansas Medical Center for a clinical dietitian.
I was not yet a registered dietitian, but they hired me and I actually worked shepherding dietetic interns as a part of their clinical rotation.
In February 1975, our 19-monthold daughter died from h-flu meningitis. After that, I found out that I had passed the RD exam, but things were hard from the loss.
We missed Louisiana and came back to Lafayette where I had a job at the university Later I had a son.
After a while in Baton Rouge, I got to thinking about completing my Ph.D. Mississippi State Uni-
versity agreed to let me do my research here on the LSU campus, giving credit for some courses and counting my research for credit to my degree.
I really needed to do nutrition research to utilize my training and from what I knew about Pennington, it seemed like the best place to be. I had a mentor in New Orleans with whom I worked with on my Ph.D., and one Saturday in the summer of 1989 I called her to see about nutrition opportunities for employment, but I did not know she had a Pennington connection.
She told me I was like “manna from heaven.” She was looking for someone to take over her research with the Bogalusa Heart Study (she was in her late 90s at the time), and that person needed to have laboratory experience. It was through her that I met someone at Pennington and found
my home here. Tell me about the DASH diet and the impact it has had on a national scale
I designed the final DASH Diet menus for all four research sites (including Harvard and Duke) due to my food composition and research experience. I really did not appreciate the impact that diet had on a national level.
DASH stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. The DASH diet is a healthy-eating plan designed to help prevent or treat high blood pressure, also called hypertension. It also may help lower cholesterol linked to heart disease.
U.S. News and World Report listed DASH as the No. 1 diet for seven or eight years in a row beginning in 2001. Now it is still at the top of the list — although the Mediterranean Diet is listed as No. 1 in about the past five years. Both di-
Registered nurse Chelsea Porter dons her Tyvek coveralls in July 2020 as she prepares to go to work in the isolation unit at Lafayette General Medical Center in Lafayette.
vent bringing anything home, and many of us had to live separately from the ones that we love, especially children.”
Christopher Trevino, vice president of emergency services at Our Lady of the Lake in Gonzales, remembers the fear — for patients and for their families.
“We had to circle the wagons and stay in the fight and make sure we take care of each other as well,” Trevino said
The new normal COVID-19 prompted both small and sweeping changes.
According to Trevino, the most persistent change in the hospital system has been an awareness for health care protective equipment. Statewide programs have also worked to implement the World Health Organization’s “5 Moments for Hand Hygiene” — hand-washing, or an alcohol-based sanitizer:
n Before touching a patient, n Before performing a procedure, n After potential exposure to body fluid,
n After touching a patient,
n After touching a patient’s surroundings or things.
Hospital systems developed effective and thorough methods of telemedicine and telehealth in order to reach patients during lockdown.
Patients still have access to these telehealth methods, giving way for a “new normal” for many practitioners.
“Having telehealth become more normalized during COVID for practitioners, patients and families has helped us be able to establish a telepalliative care programs,” said Ra-
fael Flores, the director of mission integration at Our Lady of the Angels Hospital in Bogalusa.
In New Orleans, Falyn Curtis, vice president of information service clinical systems at Ochsner Health, said her team pushed to find solutions to accessing patients remotely.
This included patient monitoring with wireless wearable vital sign devices, virtual solutions to obtain medication histories and coordinate discharge planning and education all emerged as solutions to provide care for patients — and will continue to do so in the future, according to Curtis.
Many hospitals now prioritize the health of health care professionals more than they did before the pandemic. They mandate all to go home when sick making sure they are fully healthy before returning, with no fever for 24 hours before returning to work.
“It is not that COVID-19 made me realize the importance of community, but it certainly reinforced just how pivotal community is for our overall well-being,” Flores said.
Looking ahead, Trevino said Our Lady of the Lake in Gonzales is more prepared for large-scale health events. The emergency department and ICU will take the brunt of future emergencies.
“We are focusing on preparing for this,” he said. “Learning how to expand during large surges in patient volume is a challenge, and we need to be better at it.”
Those who stayed
The pandemic prompted an increased rate of health care workers resigning, retiring early or
ets emphasize fruit and vegetable intake, fiber from whole grains, lean protein and differ in fat intake. Both are really good diets.
What is Women’s Wellness Day at Pennington Biomedical Research Center? March 8 was our 25th anniversary for the Wellness Day for Women. We have a lot of health screenings.
It’s a place where women can get some free screenings to judge how well they’re doing and what they need to do to get healthy We usually draw between maybe 600 and 700 women.
We also have a number of health related talks. This year we’re going to have a panel of investigators here at Pennington. It’s going to be like a Q&A we’re going to let the audience ask questions. Sometimes we don’t hit all the issues that people are interested in, so this gives women in the community an opportunity to ask that burning question.
In your 35 years, what have been the biggest changes in research?
Technology has played a big, big role. I mean, we didn’t even have email at the time I started out. When email was starting off, I remember going to the director’s office one day having a conversation with him. I said, “Well, I’m going to follow up on email.” He told me, “No, I don’t do email. You send me a memo.”
And that was it.
When I started here, I started six months after the director came in July of 1989. I came in December of 1989. It was so small that I quickly knew everybody here — every person who was walking the halls I knew The bigger we got, the more interesting it was.
Email Margaret DeLaney at margaret.delaney@theadvocate. com.
CABINET
Continued from page 1
“If you have small children, take extra precautions. Some medications come in very pretty colors and storing them out of reach or ‘hiding’ them may not be good enough,” Lam said.
The essentials
“Medications that help with some minor aches and pains, as well as fever reducing medications are really good to have,” Lam said of families with patients young and old. Keep certain medications and supplies in the home for coughs and colds, minor injuries and emergencies. Here’s a checklist Lam recommends having in your home:
n Tylenol (acetaminophen)
n Neosporin (or other antibiotic creams)
leaving the profession altogether However, some found a newfound passion for the work.
Here’s why these Louisiana health workers stayed:
n “Sheer resilience!” Joy Miceli said, registered nurse at Baton Rouge Rehab Center
n “I’m in my 50s. And although I have contemplated leaving the field numerous times, I don’t want to start over at this point in my life. I love being an ER nurse, and I feel like I do help make a difference,” said Donna Williams, an emergency room registered nurse at Baton Rouge General.
n “I want to continue to make a difference in ensuring that people have the best information possible and that every human being has access to the best care,” said Dianne Teal, a registered nurse and chief nursing officer at Ochsner Health — Baton Rouge.
n “Medicine is hard. ...There were hard days, tearful days, days where I felt so lonely and overwhelmed But I was never alone, and I think that saying “medicine is a team sport” is what bolstered me through the entire pandemic,” said Kristen Toups, a doctor of hospital medicine at Ochsner Health.
n “When I walked in a room, I remember a patient saying, ‘I am so glad to see a human.’ I smiled, and the patient stated, ‘I know everyone is scared of this and I understand.’ My heart melted. I sat with him for a while even though I did not have to I simply remember saying to myself: This is why I do this,” said Jackie Odom, a registered respiratory therapist at Ochsner Health in New Orleans.
n antacids (like Tums)
n Imodium (or other antidiarrhea medication)
n antiseptic solution to clean cuts (such as Iodine or Betadine)
n Calamine lotion to treat bug bites and other itchy problems
n cold and cough medications
n cold packs or ice packs for injuries or head aches n cotton balls and swabs n eye wash and drops n Advil or Motrin (ibuprofen)
n laxative
n petroleum jelly n scissors and tweezers n sunscreen n syrup of ipecac to induce vomiting
n thermometer Although it can be tempting to stock up on certain medications, Lam advises to refrain from the multi-packs to avoid expiration before use Lam also recommends keeping electrolyte packages (like liquid IV and others) in the medicine cabinet for the hotter months in Louisiana
“Hydration is key,” Lam said. “And electrolyte packets are excellent for fluid replacement when you are sick.” Take inventory at least once a year to replace items that have expired or been used up. Email Margaret DeLaney at margaret.delaney@ theadvocate.com.
PHOTO PROVIDED By CATHERINE CHAMPAGNE
Catherine Champagne in an underwater weighing tank designed to to measure metabolic body composition at Pennington Biomedical Research Center Champagne
STAFF FILE PHOTO By LESLIE WESTBROOK
Eat Fit Live Fit
AWake up to thehealth benefits of coffee: Amping up your morning brew
LA. HAS MORE THAN U.S. AVERAGE OF ADULT E-CIGARETTE SMOKERS
Electronic cigarettes were developed way back in 1965 and patented in 2003.Around 2010, they hit the market, and their market share has grown exponentially
Also called e-cigarettes or vape pens, the electronic devices use heat to make an aerosol inhaled by the user
In recent years, the popularity of e-cigarettes, especially among youth, has continued to surge in Louisiana, according to 2023 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
National trends show a correlation between daily or “some day” use of e-cigarettes with level of education — the higher the education, the less likely an adult over the age of 25 is to regularly use e-cigarettes.
Louisiana ranks 35th in the nation for e-cigarette smoking adults with some high school education or more with 7.8% prevalence across the state — just over the national average of 6.9%, according to data gathered by America’s Health Rankings New Hampshire has the lowest rates of
e-cigarette smokers among adults with a high school education or higher, with 4.4% rate of e-smokers.Vermont (4.7%), New york (4.8%), Maryland (5.3%), Maine (5.3%) and Wisconsin (5.3%) followed in the national rankings. Arkansas had the highest prevalence of e-cigarette smokers with 11.6% of adults, followed in the rankings by West Virginia (11.5%),Tennessee (10.3%), Oklahoma (10.1%) and Mississippi (10.1%).
Use of e-cigarettes is associated with increased odds of developing respiratory symptoms or wheezing and respiratory disease. A 2017 study also found e-cigarette use in adolescence to be a strong predictor of regular cigarette use in adulthood.
Additives in e-cigarettes, according to the America’s Health Rankings, include harmful substances such as cancer-causing chemicals and flavoring chemicals that are linked to serious lung disease and lung injury.
BY MORAYO OGUNBAYO The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (TNS)
Incidences for many common types of cancer have risen in recent years, with young women experiencing the brunt of the shift.
According to research from the American Cancer Society the incidence rate of cancer for women under 50 has increased from 51% higher than men in 2002 to 82% higher than men in 2021, the last year this information was recorded.
Using statistics published in “Cancer Statistics, 2025,” the society’s medical journal, the ACS found that “The risk of developing cancer varies markedly by age and by sex.”
“Middle-aged women now have a slightly higher risk of developing cancer than their male counterparts,” the ACS said in a news release on their findings. “Women younger than age 50 are almost twice as likely to develop cancer than young men,
a gap which has widened since the early 2000s.”
“We see for the first time, if you’re a woman under the age of 65, you’re now more likely to develop cancer than men in that same age group,” Dr William Dahut, a chief scientific officer for the American Cancer Society, told CNN. “Age remains the No. 1 greatest risk factor for cancer overall, and that hasn’t changed. But we’re seeing some shifting.”
“The only age group where we’re seeing actually an increase in cancer risk, in incidence going up, is under the age of 50,” Dahut told CNN.
Widespread screenings for cervical cancer reduced the incidence and death rates of the disease in women. However this decrease has begun to stabilize. This is due to an increased proportion of a specific strain of cervical cancer, called adenocarcinoma, that modern screenings often overlook.
The only cancer with a lower chance of survival than it had 40 years ago, uterine cancer, develops in tissues of the uterus.
“There have only been modest advances in treatment, and there are no recommended screening tests to detect this disease early,” the ACS said. “About 70%
of cases are found at an early stage though because a common early symptom is irregular or postmenopausal vaginal bleeding.” The ACS said the lack of progress on uterine cancer is due in part to underfunding by the National Cancer Institute.
The ACS findings also saw racial disparities in cancer mortality persist, with Black people and American Indian and Alaska Native people being two times more likely to die of cancer than White people.
“You’re more likely to develop breast cancer as a White woman,” Dahut told CNN. “You’re more likely to die of it as a Black woman, particularly when you look at the younger populations.” Despite this gloomy news, rates of cancer mortality continue to decline The ACS attributes these wins to smoking cessation, early cancer detection and treatment advances, which have “reduced the cancer mortality rate in the United States by 34% over the last 30 years, sparing about 4.5 million lives.” This progress follows declines in the four mostcommon types of cancer — lung, prostate, breast and colorectal.
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU
The Louisiana Health section is focused on providing in-depth, personal accounts of health in the state. This section looks at medical innovations, health discoveries, state and national health statistics and reexamining tried and true methods on
ways to live well. Health editions will also profile people who are advancing health for the state of Louisiana. Do you have a health story? We want to hear from you. Email margaret. delaney@theadvocate.com to submit health questions, stories and more.
Students learn healthy habits through School Garden Initiative
BY ELYSE CARMOSINO Staff writer
Several days a week, students at Mar-
tial Billeaud Elementary School in Lafayette can be found outside in shifts, tending to a garden nestled in a small plot beside their school building, watering, weeding and debugging an array of vegetables.
The scene is a typical one at many of the district’s elementary schools, seven of which have joined forces this year with the LSU AgCenter’s School Garden Initiative, a program that aims to teach kids healthy habits by showing them how to grow and cook their own food.
Now in its 16th year, the initiative is part of a movement to get kids curious about agriculture while connecting them to their school community
“So much learning can come from growing plants from seeds,” said Kessler Landry, a master gardener and instructional leader at Martial Billeaud. “There’s something really neat about the kids being able to take care of the plants and grow the food, then harvest it and be willing to try things like brussels sprouts and cabbage.”
At least once a week students sit through a classroom lesson with a master gardener, then head outside to apply what they learned in the garden. Classroom teachers incorporate some of what students learn, such as temperature, precipitation and learning how to decipher charts and graphs, into the school’s general math and science curriculum.
The School Garden Initiative pulls curriculum material and lessons from the junior master gardener program at Texas A&M University as well as Seeds to Success, a USDA-funded program developed through the State Department of Education and the LSU AgCenter
“It’s connecting nutrition education, the classroom curriculum and the garden as an outdoor laboratory,” said Charles Hebert, Extension Agent/4-H Youth Development in Lafayette Parish with the LSU AgCenter The program focuses on a different theme each month. In February, students learned about the life spans of different plants and the difference between biennials — plants that grow every two years — and perennials, which live for three or more and the
that each team
Jan Risher
8 ways to make new friends
This month marks the third anniversary of our moving to a new city — our first move in 20 years. Our two young-adult daughters who have been living on their own for several years were not the conduits to friendship that they were the last time we moved. Then, the parents of their friends became our friends. This go round, we were on our own. After decades of making and collecting friends all over, I faced the big ol’ question: How does a full-grown adult in a new place make new friends?
Three years in, I’ve made some new friends. But the truth is, I’m still figuring out the answer to that question — and, occasionally, I’m still lonely I share that to normalize the feeling. Lots of people are lonely these days. So, what can we do about it? We live in a busy world where finding opportunities to connect often don’t come easy. If the timing is off — say two people are in different phases of life — creating a friendship is tough. Proximity plays an important role too. Being friends with neighbors is easier than being friends with someone who lives on the other side of town.
Plus, becoming good friends takes time. Jeffrey Hall, a Kansas University professor, found that most people require roughly 50 hours of time together to move from acquaintances to casual friends. From there, Hall found that it takes about 90 hours to go from casual friendship to real “friends” and then more than 200 hours before a person can consider another a “close friend.”
Sanya Nayeem, a journalist in Canada, developed the “11-3-6 friendship formula Nayeem’s research shows that it takes a minimum of 11 meetings that last at least 3 hours and occur within a period of six months to “turn an acquaintance into a true friend.”
So how do you do all of that?
Here are eight ways:
Be a joiner
plant hardiness map, which gardeners and farmers use to determine which plants are most likely to thrive in a given location in the U.S., including which fruits and vegetables grow well in Louisiana
For many students, the opportunity is their first time experiencing gardening’s trial-and-error process.
“It’s kind of hard to grow vegetables because you have to know the exact steps and when to grow them,” said third grader Amelie LaBiche.
“Something I learned is that there’s a difference between good bugs and bad bugs,” said Mila Russo, also in third grade. “You have to look under the leaves and make sure the plants aren’t getting eaten by bad bugs.”
Initially launched three decades ago, the program, which gives participating schools grant money using federal, state and local funding, was on hiatus for several years after the university deemed it unsustainable to continue due to lack of staffing.
When the center decided to bring the initiative back to life in 2009, “we knew we needed a sustainability plan, and that was to incorporate a collective community of people,” Hebert said.
That plan meant bringing on board school leaders and staff, as well as master gardener volunteers — individuals
who are considered subject matter experts — to assist with teaching classes.
“The staff and students would develop the skills necessary to manage and sustain the gardens independently on a regular basis,” said Hebert.
Gardening can be physically and mentally beneficial to young children, research has shown, helping them learn more about nutrition, improve their cognitive skills and increase their physical activity levels. Various studies have found that kids who participate in school gardening programs often see better results on math and science tests, as well as higher GPAs.
According to Hebert, gardening can also help students create a sense of community and strengthen family bonds.
“We want them to grow their own vegetables and take them home to their parents,” he said. “In today’s society, people don’t sit with their family and eat. We want more kids to bring their families back together.”
For many students, one of the most exciting aspects of the program is the annual cookoff that happens the first weekend of every February
Each participating school forms a team of three to five students, who work
Repetitively going to places and seeing the same people who have shared interests leads to friendship. I’ve done this by joining a book club and joining a church. I’ve made friends in both places.
Volunteering is another way. Invite people to join you
In other cities where I lived as an adult, I started a ladies’ investment club, with the dozen or so women in the clubs becoming anchor friends for me. I haven’t started one yet in our new home, but I’m considering it.
I have hosted events in my home though and unlike Instagram, they have not been picture perfect. But they have been a lot of fun. I believe inviting people into your home is a building block of getting to know people and making friends.
I’ve hosted people for a pestomaking party, New Year’s vision board parties, a ridiculous $10 shopping spree for two dozen friends, followed by a fashion show It was over-the-top silliness and incredible fun.
Inviting someone for a walk or lunch works well.
The thing about inviting people to do things is this — they may not come. Do it anyway
Go outside
STAFF PHOTO By LESLIE WESTBROOK
Instructional leader Kessler Landry and students Amelie LaBiche, 9, from left; Michael Perez 9; Alli Welch, 9; and Mila Russo, 8 look for Brussels sprouts under the plant leaves recently at Martial Billeaud Elementary School in Broussard.
PROVIDED PHOTO
Martial Billeaud Elementary School students recently competed in the regional cookoff. Each participating school forms a team of three to five students, who work with a local chef, an elected official and a school teacher to create a meal with a themedmenu board based on USDA MyPlate standards, which emphasize vegetable-heavy meals with whole grains and lean proteins. Competition rules require
use at least two vegetables from their school garden.
Presley, Keough book panel announced
Louisiana Inspired Book Club to meet March 18
BY JOY HOLDEN Staff writer
The much-anticipated Lisa Ma-
rie Presley and Riley Keough
Inspired Book Club’s virtual statewide discussion is approaching Jan Risher will facilitate the discussion of “From Here to the Great Unknown,” with a panel of guests at 12:15 p.m. on March 18.
The panelists joining the discussion are Roy Turner and Annie Vaden. Both are uniquely prepared to talk about the book and subject matter Turner is a Tupelo, Mississippi, native and the executive director of the Elvis Presley Birthplace in Tupelo. Although his career was spent in the manufacturing business, after retirement, Turner joined the team at the Birthplace His deep connections to the Presley family give him in-
RISHER
Continued from page 1y
a neighbor We’ve become great friends. For months, we ended up walking around the neighborhood together and got to know each other well.
Talk to people
Paying attention and listening to people provides a chance to notice details that indicate shared or surprising interests. These provide the perfect jumping-off place to start a conversation.
As a journalist with the livedexperience, I know that if I ask people good questions, most of the time, they will talk to me. If I am interested, keep listening, ask occasional questions — and occasionally share my own stories — they will share and share and share with me.
sights and perspective that will add to the discussion of the book, including the way the family, especially Lisa Marie Presley, dealt with the grief that permeated her life
Vaden is the lead social worker in the palliative care and hematology-oncology departments of Manning Family Children’s (formerly Children’s Hospital of New Orleans)
She works with the Trauma and Grief Center to facilitate grief therapy groups for children and adolescents and has specialized training in grief and bereavement
Vaden will be able to give insight into Presley and Keough’s experiences To join the discussion, go to youtube.com/live/1dTO8HQ5l2U
Find a way to stay in touch
Social media makes this much easier than it used to be. When I meet people I believe could become friends, I say, “Are you on Instagram or Facebook?” And that link provides an opportunity to reconnect potentially
Ask for help
If a new prospective friend has a hobby I’m interested in — whether it’s metal detecting, birding, knitting, weaving, gel printing, making homemade pasta or whatever — asking for help in learning something is a great way to get to know someone better
Shopping can be a low-risk activity that can be fun to do together If I have a big event coming up and need to look my best, I’ve asked prospective friends with a sense of style to go shopping with me. I have literally said, “You’ve got a great sense of
Louisiana Inspired Book Club’s first book for 2025 is ‘From Here to the Great Unknown’ by Lisa Marie Presley and Riley Keough.
at 12:15 p.m. on March 18. Email Joy Holden at joy holden@theadvocate.com.
style. Could you help me?”
Host an informal dinner party
Dinner parties don’t have to be fancy Even potluck suppers are a great way to mix, mingle and get to know people better
Again, if your home isn’t perfect, that’s great! No home needs to be perfect. While social media has helped us be able to stay in touch with each other, it has hurt us in setting unreasonable expectations in home decor and meals. Help normalize end tables that don’t match!
Host a game night
For board game fanatics like myself, this one should be easy
As I made this list, I realized that I used to host them often, but I haven’t hosted a game night in a long time. I think I will tonight.
Email Jan Risher at jan.risher@ theadvocate.com.
GARDEN
Continued from page 1y
with a local chef, an elected official and a school teacher to create a meal with a themedmenu board based on USDA MyPlate standards, which emphasize vegetable-heavy meals with whole grains and lean proteins. Competition rules require that each team use at least two vegetables from their school garden.
Teams are given an hour to prepare their meal, then judges interview each group to learn about their gardening experience and why they chose the dish they created. After, the teams give a presentation where they present nutrition facts about the garden-grown vegetables they chose and share their meal with the audience.
The event is called Cuisine de Jardin, French for “we cook from the garden.”
The winning team’s meal is served to the more than 30,000 students in the Lafayette Parish School System the following October in honor of National Farm to School month and National Nutrition Week.
For the second year in a row, Martial Billeaud Elementary took home first place. This year’s dish? Pizza soup, and can-
nolis with garden-grown mint and strawberries for dessert. The program “has really become a bigger part of our school than we thought it was going to be,” Landry said. “Several kids now have home gardens because of the initiative. It’s become part of the school culture.”
Email Elyse Carmosino at ecarmosino@theadvocate.com.
PROVIDED PHOTO
STAFF PHOTO By LESLIE WESTBROOK
Tatum Carpenter, 8, from left; Caroline Poirrier, 9; Theo DuBois, 8; and Camden Naquin, 8, check out their strawberry plants under the guidance of Charles Hebert, county agent for the LSU AgCenter, recently at Martial Billeaud Elementary School in Broussard Vaden Turner
PROVIDED PHOTO
Martial Billeaud Elementary School students competed in the regional cookoff in February. Competition rules require that each team use at least two vegetables from their school garden.
Dani Cobb, MD General Surgeon
N.O. Pelicans and Saints massage therapist shares journey
Mandeville native learned through grit and resilience
BY JOY HOLDEN Staff writer
Amanda Martinez is a Mandeville native and massage therapist for the New Orleans Pelicans and New Orleans Saints, as well as the owner of Massage D’ville in Mandeville. She has been practicing massage therapy for 11 years and is a mother of two.
Martinez’s road to business ownership and working with professional athletes was not an easy one In 1999 when she was 15, she was in a difficult place and ended up going to Boys Town in Omaha, Nebraska, where she lived with other teenage girls in a family home and graduated in 2002.
Boys Town is a nonprofit child and family care organization that has been helping others since 1917. Based in Omaha, the organization has programs across the country, including New Orleans Boys Town Louisiana was founded in 1989 and offers Head Start programs, parenting courses, diagnostic and assessment services, Family Home sites, in-home services for families in crisis and a work development program. How did your experience at Boys Town shape your life?
I was a hard-headed teenager, and it was the best decision for my life at the time, to go there. While I was there, Boys Town taught me lots of skills. Before, I didn’t really have any guidance, so they gave me the guidance I needed on how to be a good student. They pushed me to step outside of myself, and it was more of a family environment than what I had come from. They created an environment for kids to thrive. I had family teachers There were seven other girls in the house, but we all lived as one family. We all cooked for each other and took turns doing chores. We were like sisters. I’m still in touch with a lot of the girls who I was in school with, and it’s just an extended fam-
ily We still maintain that connection.
We would do family outings, just normal stuff that families do. A lot of us came from environments where going to movies with your family wasn’t something that you did. In my situation, my mom was always working, so it was me raising my sister and brother We didn’t really get to do fun things like that. Boys Town gave us the opportunity to be a kid and to be a teenager
Are there any lessons that you learned there that you still implement today?
Boys Town taught us problem solving skills A lot of us were so reactive before we went there.
They gave us a chance to slow down and think, to be able to handle a situation in an appropriate way They helped us to find the confidence in ourselves. By putting us into sports and pushing us to do electives, we were able to find that grit within ourselves and push ourselves past our boundaries. We were able to dig deep and find who we are, and find our inner strength. I always have the Boys Town motto, “He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother,” in the back of my mind.
This has instilled values of being of service to others in the community when there is a need. We were taught to give back and honor others.
Whenever you have conflict with your daughters,what comes back to you from your experience at Boys Town?
Boys Town definitely had an influence on how I raise my daughters by teaching them how to problem solve and think situations through teaching them how to navigate through issues and that mistakes are not the end of the world. A mistake is a learning opportunity
Also, helping them to get involved in extracurriculars and step outside of their norms, and pushing them to be the best version of themselves that they can be. I keep the door open for them and allow a safe space for them to be themselves A lot of kids don’t have a safe space where they’re able to be themselves. And that’s just one thing that I like to try to do as a parent. What do you think people don’t understand about teenagers in tough situations? These kids have so much more to worry about. Some of them go
to school and fear for their lives.
Some of them don’t have, especially in New Orleans, a lot of extracurriculars to go to.
They’re not provided safe spaces. Boys Town provided that safe space and that network of people there to help. We were put in an environment that helped us to thrive.
How do you use your Boys Town experience in working with professional athletes?
When I was actually at Boys Town, I worked with a lot of the athletes. I was their version of an equipment manager It was an easy transition.
I find that my experience helps me connect with some of them better because I was once in an environment where I was surrounded by a bunch of people I didn’t know A lot of these guys are coming in from all over the place. Yeah, they’re professional athletes, but they’re people, too.
So just providing warmth and being a friend to them. They have
such a different mentality at the professional level. They seem to naturally have those personality traits that Boys Town kids have, so there’s kind of a connection — that determination, that grit.
How would you describe the kind of environment around a professional sports team?
It’s a team environment. With my employees, we’re a team. We pick up where the other lacks. We all have each other’s backs. It is inspiring to know that everybody’s there for a bigger purpose than ourselves.
It’s humbling at the same time.
I’m definitely grateful to be there. You know, every time I walk in, I get a chill.
Do you know someone who is making a difference or creating solutions? Let us know about them.
Email Joy Holden at joy.holden@ theadvocate.com.
Email Joy Holden at joy.holden@ theadvocate.com.
Amanda Martinez is a massage therapist for the Saints and Pelicans and a graduate of Boys Town.
PROVIDED PHOTOS
Amanda Martinez works in a massage therapy session with a Saints player.
FAITH & VALUES
Hindu devotional singing rises in popularity
BY RICHA KARMARKAR Contributing writer
The winner of the 2025 Grammy Award for best new age, ambient or chant album a category once dominated by Enya — was an album titled “Triveni,” meaning “the confluence of three rivers” in Sanskrit, an apt description for its weaving of Vedic chants, melodic flute and cello by India’s Chandrika Tandon, South Africa’s Wouter Kellerman and Japan’s Eru Matsumoto.
The name, which is given to the meeting point of the holy Ganges, Yamuna and Saraswati rivers, said singer Tandon, came to her in one of her daily meditations.
“It was a beautiful coincidence that our album called Triveni won the Grammy on Vasant Panchami when the Maha Prayag was going on,” Tandon told RNS, referring to the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela festival held where the three rivers meet in Prayagraj, India, considered one of the holiest pilgrimage sites in the nation. The world’s largest gathering of humanity, with 400 million people attending this year the Kumbh Mela happens every 12 years, with this year’s celebration, the Maha Kumbh Mela, happening only every 144 years, when the sun, the moon and Jupiter align.
“Think what you like, say what you like, but one has to just smile at this incredible coincidence,” Tandon said.
Tandon was a prominent business mogul for more than half her life, the namesake of New York University’s Tandon School of Engineering and sister to former PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi. Twenty-five years ago, however, Tandon faced what she describes as a “crisis of spirit.”
“I knew I had everything, and yet I felt like I had nothing,” she said. “If I died today, what is it that I want to have accomplished? Is it just more money, more climbing up the ladder or was there something else that would just give me happiness and make each day complete?”
That something else, she found, was devotional music.
Pulling from the mantras she once heard as a little girl in Chennai, Tandon found a new purpose in creating melodies and “praying into the notes” as a form of meditation. “Music helped me find myself,” said Tandon, the creator of six albums of her own.
And according to Tandon, the Grammy win signifies a larger cultural moment, helping young people all over the world discover the “extraordinary gems” of the ancient Vedic traditions. “Instead of a traditional Indian ornate piece of jewelry I’ve simply put them in a completely Western jewelry setting,” said Tandon “Suddenly it’s more apparent, it’s more discernible, more relatable. And suddenly there’s this curiosity about, ‘What is that? It makes me feel so good!’”
According to Tandon and other devotional musicians, the melodic repetition of Vedic mantras, often associated with the many names of the tradition’s various deities, has proved to calm the mind for centuries The 21st is no different, they say, as they see a burgeoning space for the spiritually curious youth seeking a respite from the fast-paced internet culture they grew up in. Now, a new generation of kirtan artists is leading the charge on Hindu sacred music
Amid confusing times says devotional musician Gaura Vani, Generations Z and X have found a way to articu-
late their complicated emotions and feelings through the call-and-response style of kirtans, the devotional songs commonly associated with the Hare Krishna faith.
“This is almost a miraculous thing to say, but in this world of social media and phone addiction and all that, the kids in the Krishna community are doing the craziest thing: Without anyone telling them to, they will find a weekend where everyone’s free, they will dress to the nines together, and find a temple or a space where they will do kirtans for, like, 10 hours straight,” he told RNS. “It’s crazy It makes no sense in the modern world, but they’re doing it.”
Vani, born into an American Hare Krishna family just performed his first solo live concert at Mumbai’s Royal Opera House in late January Once the head of the successful early 2000s “Krishna-conscious” rock band As Kindred Spirits, Vani joined musicians from the East and the West for a fusion of world music, mantra, pop and rock. “It’s all about spiritual stories and spiritual music from around the globe,” he said. “That’s kind of my jam.”
Some form of singing or chanting takes place in almost every Hindu tradition says Vani, but the bhakti, or devotional, tradition practiced by members of the International Society of Krishna Consciousness, or ISKCON, places an emphasis on music as a way to connect with the Divine, and “as a way to create harmony, peace in the world, peace in oneself and to heal both spiritually and physically.”
The Maha Mantra, a repetition of the words “Hare,” or praise, “Krishna” and “Rama,” set to any melody
the singer, or kirtaniya, chooses, is an ISKCON staple. This Sanskrit call-andresponse, with the names of God sung alongside a harmonium and a mridanga, a type of drum, says Vani, can lead participants to a “flow state” where it may feel like “music is kind of descending from the heavens and coming out through you.”
“It’s the closest thing to ecstasy I’ve ever experienced,” said Vani.
Steeped in this tradition since birth, Vani and his wife, a trained Indian classical dancer, have now surrounded their three teenage children with song and dance. But as Vani has taught his kids, spiritual meaning is not limited to kirtans: “If you look for it, spiritual music is all around us, in all cultures,” he said, from gospel to Sufi Zikr to praise music from South Africa. And, says Vani, it’s in his daily playlist of Nora Jones, George Harrison, the Talking Heads and The Police. (The latter’s song “Spirits in the Material World” is, he said, a personal family favorite.)
Premanjali Dejager, a 24-year-old “Krishna kid” — a term of endearment for those raised in a Hare Krishna household — lives in New York’s Bhakti Center ashram and doesn’t go a day without chanting the Maha Mantra a few times The kirtaniya, who grew up in Australia, says kirtans can feel like a “spiritual dance party,” where “teenage angst” and “club dance moves” meet in a safe, nondestructive environment.
“When you’re in the midst of it, like, when someone is really singing from their heart and, like, really connecting, you feel that sense of connection in the room,” Dejager, who grew up in
Australia, told RNS. “It’s just contagious.”
Dejager has sung around the world with her guru Indradyumna Swami, known as the Travelling Monk, since graduating gurukul, or “spiritual high school,” in 2018. But, she said, she wasn’t always so musically inclined. “I was actually a really terrible singer,” she said, recalling that she was removed from her primary school’s singing group because she “just couldn’t sing on key.”
Yet taking singing lessons in jazz and pop music grew Dejager’s confidence, and she started posting devotional singing videos on social media, some of them “really cringy.” Today, she has more than 50,000 Instagram followers and her own virtual kirtan school, where she has, since 2021, taught other aspiring singers over Zoom that what’s important is “being real,” or coming as you are to the devotional practice.
“Sometimes, if I’m feeling really sad or going through something difficult or having to make a difficult decision, that’s what’s on my mind,” she said. “It’ll just be a prayer offering of like, ‘Krishna, I need your help here. I need your guidance.’
And sometimes it does happen where I’m having to catch myself from like spacing out, and my mind goes everywhere. It is a practice of constantly trying to bring the mind back and just trying to bring my heart into the picture.”
Nikita Bhasin, a California native, considers herself more spiritual than religious.
A certified yoga instructor since the age of 17 Bhasin was raised attending and singing devotionals at the Kali Mandir in Laguna Beach
— a common story of being “dragged along by my family.”
“I left all the kirtan stuff behind because I was older and I didn’t have to do what my parents told me to do,” Bhasin, 27, told RNS. But Bhasin eventually found her way back to the music, when she learned yoga from an instructor who began practice with the same chants she heard as a child, but in a “more digestible” 10-minute format rather than the three hours she spent at the temple. She took up the harmonium and now opens and closes each of her yoga classes in New York, barring if they are in a gym setting, with a Sanskrit chant, often to the theme of the asanas, or postures, such as repeating “Jai Ma,” or hail Mother Earth, in a class about “balancing opposition.” Many of her students have never chanted before holding varying beliefs (or no beliefs) about God, some coming only for the physical asanas of yoga. Bhasin invites them to “put their own spin” on the ancient practice.
“A lot of these chants, you are chanting to something higher than yourself,” she said. “And there’s a lot of interpretations of that. There’s thousands of lineages that think of God or divine as something different: Divine could be a hug from your friend, or it could be feeling like you’re not on autopilot and are grateful and connecting with people in your life.
“It’s been interesting, because a lot of people tell me after class that they haven’t sung since they were like 10 years old, and this is how they’re coming back to their body and coming back to this childlike spirit of just letting go,” she said.
Women’s Empowerment Center comes to Baton Rouge
BY HALEY MILLER Staff writer
Editor’s note: This story mentions domestic violence For support, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at (800) 7997233, or find your parish crisis line here
The unveiling of Baton Rouge’s new women’s empowerment center in February was a celebration. Two different dance troupes performed. There was an a cappella rendition of “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” And the supporters who stood at the podium to give speeches about the center hailed it as a haven for the women who, in the words of a minister who spoke, “take hits.”
“We take hits when we trust men, our partners, with everything that we have, and in return, we are abused and used,” Tonja Myles, of Set Free Indeed Ministry, said.
But the new center operated by the Baton Rouge chapter of the Young Women’s Christian Association, will give women the space to admit they are hurt, accept help and find their strength, Myles said, her voice getting louder
“This place will do that, because at the end of the day, we all deserve to heal,” Myles said. “Healing is our birthright.”
Louisiana ranked fifth in the nation for women murdered by men in 2020, according to the Violence Policy Center using the most recent year reliable data was available. Resources for women experiencing domestic violence exist in Baton Rouge, but according to YWCA CEO Dianna Payton, they are spread across agencies, not always accessible to women who are new to navigating the social services and court system.
The YWCA opened the Women’s Empowerment
Center to provide comprehensive services, including case management, mental health support, pro-bono legal assistance, child care support and classes, all in one building
“There’s so many nuances, and every person’s journey is different — and it’s making sure no matter where they’re landing, we’re there to catch them when they fall,” Payton said.
When they enter the renovated Mid City Gardens Building, visitors will find legal offices, meeting rooms and public computers, where they can get help filing a restraining order or applying to jobs, for example.
All women and families are welcome to the center regardless of what they are going through, Payton said. In addition to services for women in domestic violence situations, the center hosts recreational activities, including trauma-informed movement in the new dance studio and art therapy Visitors can also relax in the outdoor garden.
There are no income requirements or other cri-
teria to receive services, Payton said.
“The work continues to get new layers and depth as we meet partners who are willing to come on and join us in the work,” Payton said.
The project took shape over the past two years through a partnership with the Louisiana Housing Corporation, who financed the space, built in 2013, and accepted the YWCA’s bid to lease it and create a women’s empowerment center.
Chief programs officer Brenda Evans said the Women’s Empowerment Center aligns with the Louisiana Housing Corporation’s mission to lift up families and build strong communities.
“Instead of having to go to several different outlets, we have a group of professionals there that can help you with your physical, mental, emotional needs,” Evans said. “It’s a one-stop shop for women and families and children.”
Payton, a former social worker, said the opening of the center fulfills her purpose to empower women and families She strives to address the gaps in the
system she’s observed over the years, she said.
believe in solutions,”
Dancers from Southern University perform during the opening
Dancers from Southern University finish a dance routine while moving through the audience during the opening
STAFF PHOTOS By MICHAEL JOHNSON
Dianna Payton, CEO of yWCA Greater Baton Rouge, welcomes everyone to the opening of the new women’s empowerment center on Thursday in Baton Rouge.
SUNDAY, MArch 9, 2025
CURTIS / by Ray Billingsley
SLYLOCK FOX / by Bob Weber Jr
GET FUZZY / by Darby Conley
HAGAR THE HORRIBLE / by Chris Browne
MOTHER GOOSE AND GRIMM / by Mike Peters
ZIGGY / by Tom Wilson
ZITS / by Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman
SALLY FORTH / by Francesco Marciuliano & Jim Keefe
PEARLS BEFORE SWINE / by Stephan Pastis
directions: Make a 2- to 7-letter word from the letters in each row. Add points of each word, using scoring directions at right. Finally, 7-letter words get 50-point bonus. “Blanks” used as any letter have no point value All the words are in the Official SCRABBLE® Players Dictionary, 5th Edition.
word game
instructions: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed. 3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.
todAY's Word — VerAcitY: vuh-RASSih-tee: Conformity with truth or fact.
Average mark 39 words Time limit 60 minutes Can you find 48 or more words in VERACITY?
ken ken
instructions: 1 - Each row and each column must contain the numbers 1 through 4 (easy) or 1 through 6 (challenging) without repeating 2 The numbers within the heavily outlined boxes, called cages, must combine using the given operation (in any order) to produce the target numbers in the top-left corners.
3 - Freebies: Fill in the single-box cages with the number in the top-left corner.
instructions: Sudoku is a number-placing puzzle based on a 9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. The difficulty level of the Conceptis Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday.
directions: Complete the grid so that numbers 1–132 connect horizontally, vertically or diagonally
Sudoku
Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis
mCCLain
super Quiz
Take this Super Quiz to a Ph.D. Score 1 point for
Tough play to make
South in today’s deal was Australian Joe Haffer North-South were playing negative doubles, as most do these days, so South’s free bid of one spade promised at least five spades.
East won the opening heart lead and cashed another high heart. He was end-played at this point and had no good exit, so he tried the eight of diamonds. Haffer captured West’s jack with dummy’s ace and took some time to think. East’s aggressive bidding, thought Haffer, marked him with both black kings.
Neither finesse was likely to be successful, so Haffer took neither one. He cashed dummy’s ace of spades and led a diamond to his queen. He led a diamond to dummy’s 10 as East shed a heart.
Haffer discarded a club on the king of diamonds and led a spade from dummy. East won with the king but had to lead a club from the king of clubs or yield a ruff-sluff. 10 tricks either way. Nicely played!
Haffer played the hand well, but the defense might have prevailed. The East-West methods
PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) Reevaluate what you want. Attend a social event that offers a unique perspective regarding new possibilities. Keep an open mind, but don’t let anyone take control.
ARIES (March 21-April 19) Retreat and give yourself a chance to carefully evaluate each situation you face Acting in haste will lead to poor decisions. Get your facts straight, and you’ll find better alternatives.
were that West’s eight-of-hearts lead was either from a short suit or included the 10. East could have risked leading a low heart at trick two. West would take his 10 and surely find the winning club shift. Maybe next time.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Spend more time at home. Don’t rely on others to make choices for you Giving someone else jurisdiction over your life will leave you feeling incapable and doubting yourself. GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Speak up, be clear and deflect anyone’s attempt to manipulate you or your choices. Listen carefully, and you will gain insight into someone’s ulterior motives. CANCER (June 21-July 22) Work behind the scenes to bring about change, and you’ll avoid interference. Pie-in-the-sky ideas may excite you, but refuse to get caught up in someone else’s dream.
about your business. Don’t feel you have to accommodate others. Focus on being your best through learning, experiencing and growing.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) A little sparkle will go a long way. Do your best to get out and mingle with people who need a little cheer. It will change your perspective about life, love and what’s important to you.
pared to experience deep, powerful feelings.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) Let your imagination take you on a journey that helps you uncover your feelings. It’s a good time to implement a positive lifestyle change.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) A positive attitude will carry weight. Worry less about what others do while going
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) You have plenty to gain whether you travel physically or spiritually. Openmindedness will lead to encounters with interesting people. Be pre-
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) You’ll be torn between what you want to do and what others expect. Get your act together and organize a schedule to take care of both. Disappointment will come from procrastination.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Refuse to let anyone interfere or talk you out of following your instincts. A
positive change will improve your lifestyle, position and reputation Choose practicality over emotions. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Put your energy into making the most of what you already have. Refuse to get bamboozled by someone offering something too good to be true. Peace of mind is worth far more than an unrealistic desire.
1. "Moby-Dick." 2. "Fahrenheit 451." 3. "Elmer Gantry." 4. "The Old Man and the Sea."
5. "Nineteen Eighty-Four" ("1984"). 6. "The Color Purple." 7. "Slaughterhouse-Five." 8. "Peter Pan." 9. "The Razor's Edge." 10 "A Tale of Two Cities." 11. "Beloved." 12 "Catch-22." 13 "The Great Gatsby." 14. "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter." 15. "Grtavity's Rainbow."
SCORING: 24 to 30 points — congratulations, doctor; 18 to 23 points honors graduate; 13 to 17 points — you’re plenty smart, but no grind; 5 to 12 points — you really should hit the books harder; 1 point to 4 points — enroll in remedial courses immediately; 0 points — who reads the questions to you?
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Saturday's Cryptoquote: Never give a sword to a man who can't dance. — Confucius
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jeFF mACnelly’s shoe / by Gary Brookins & Susie MacNelly
