The Acadiana Advocate 03-23-2025

New UL coach fueled by N.O. upbringing

Quannas White ‘doesn’t accept losing,’ older brother says

BY KEVIN FOOTE Staff writer

Clarence White IV, who is five years older than new University of Louisiana at Lafayette men’s basketball coach Quannas White, discovered at an early age how fiercely the determination to succeed rages inside his younger brother

One afternoon when Quannas White was about 11 or 12, he became particularly perturbed after losing to his big brother So after the family went to sleep, he challenged his older brother to a rematch.

“The park was about two blocks from our house, but it’s like 10:30 or 11 o’clock at night,” Clarence White IV recalled. “He tells me

‘Let’s go to the park right now I’m telling you, I’ll dominate you.’ I’m like, ‘It’s late and Mom and Dad are asleep — how are we even going to get out of the house?’” Quannas White would have none of it, relentlessly trash talking his older brother until he

‘Extraordinary life’

Lafayette icon Red Lerille remembered for faith, fitness

BY JOANNA BROWN Staff writer

Red Lerille could be found working (and working out) at his gym on Doucet Road almost every day it was open

During his final journey, it was fitting that the Lafayette fitness icon passed one last time through the parking lot of Red’s Health and Racquet Club — just as he did every morning around 2 a.m., on his way to his daily workout with longtime gym members and friends.

Money flows into mayoral race

Challengers

face wide gap with incumbent in Lake Charles

BY MEGAN WYATT Staff writer

“He did everything,” said the bishop, before adding that he joined Red’s because he heard “it was the best” when

ä See LERILLE, page 7A

Red Lerille — a U.S. Navy veteran, former Mr America and Mr Universe, and owner of Red’s Health Club — died March 14 in Lafayette. He was 88 years old A Mass of Christian Burial was held Saturday at St. Mary, Mother of the Church in Lafayette, where the businessman was a longtime parishioner Bishop Douglas Deshotel read the homily at Lerille’s funeral, which was packed with friends, family members and employees of Red’s. The service focused on his deep Catholic faith and what Deshotel termed his “extraordinary life.”

Out-of-state students fueling LSU’s growth

BY PATRICK WALL Staff writer

In the lead-up to a crowded mayoral race in Lake Charles, incumbent Nic Hunter has a huge fundraising and spending lead over his four challengers, garnering seven times as much money as his nextclosest competitor Hunter, a Republican vying for a third term in office, has raised more than $500,000 for the race, including about $75,000 left over from his previous run for mayor, the most recent filings with the Louisiana Board of Ethics show Hunter had spent about $280,000 of that as of Monday Voters go to the polls Saturday Despite Hunter’s money advantage, a local political scientist says that won’t necessarily determine a race that has largely centered on economic development and diversification — especially how the city can prepare for the possibility of Texas legalizing gaming and whether resources are fairly allocated between north and south Lake Charles.

“It feels like I actually could belong here,” she said.

Louisiana’s flagship public university, LSU has become a magnet for out-of-state students. Its steady expansion, to more than 34,000 undergrads last fall, has

Danielle Hawkins, an LSU admissions counselor, asked a group of about 40 middle and high schoolers this week how many had been to a Mardi Gras parade. Only a few hands went up. “OK, a couple,” she said brightly “Look at y’all!” The students had come from Tampa to tour the Baton Rouge campus. Hawkins, who frequently travels to New Jersey and Pennsylvania to recruit, gave a presentation, then introduced their tour guide: an LSU junior from Houston As the Florida students shuffled across the sprawling campus, where 4 in 10 freshmen come from out of state, 10thgrader Ah’Yanna Maultsby liked what she saw

been driven almost entirely by students coming from outside Louisiana. Over the past decade, the number of undergrads from other states has nearly tripled, exceeding 12,000 students in 2024, according to LSU fall enrollment data that includes online and campus students. By

ä See STUDENTS, page 4A

Hunter is facing four challengers: Marshall Simien Jr., an independent; Khalid Taha, a Republican; Wilford Carter II, a Democrat; and James Steward, running under no party

“Any time I hear or my team hears any kind of commentary like ‘Oh, he’s got it in the bag,’ ‘This is a done deal,’ ‘This election’s over,’ we try to shut that down,” Hunter said in a Saturday social media

Hunter

Simien

Taha Carter

Steward

University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s new men’s basketball coach

Quannas White with his father Clarence White IV; mother Colette White-Pate; and sister Taeneia White-Ducre

PROVIDED PHOTO

ä See COACH, page 7A

STAFF PHOTO By BRAD KEMP

The casket is brought in during a Mass of Christian Burial for Red Lerille at St. Mary, Mother of the Church on Saturday in Lafayette.

Venezuela to resume repatriation of migrants

CARACAS Venezuela Venezuela will once again accept repatriation flights from the United States carrying its deported nationals after reaching an agreement with the U.S., a Venezuelan official said on social media Saturday Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro suspended flights on March 8, after the U.S. Treasury Department announced the withdrawal of Chevron’s license to export Venezuelan oil.

“We have agreed with the U.S. government to resume the repatriation of Venezuelan migrants with an initial flight tomorrow Sunday,” said Jorge Rodríguez, president of Venezuela’s Assembly and Maduro’s chief negotiator with the U.S. Venezuela accepted the deal to guarantee the “the return of our compatriots to their nation with the safeguard of their Human Rights,” Rodríguez said.

In his statement, Rodríguez referred to the deportation by Donald Trump’s government of some 250 Venezuelans to a highsecurity prison in El Salvador.

“Migrating is not a crime and we will not rest until we achieve the return of all those who require it and until we rescue our brothers kidnapped in El Salvador,” Rodríguez said Trump alleged the deportees were members of the Tren de Aragua gang. He labeled the Tren de Aragua an invading force on March 15 when he invoked the Alien Enemies Act

Beloved bald eagle dies after storms in Missouri

A beloved bald eagle who gained popularity for incubating a rock in 2023 is being mourned Saturday after the 33-year-old avian died following intense storms that recently moved through Missouri.

Murphy, who surpassed the average life span of 25 years, died last week at the World Bird Sanctuary in Valley Park, Missouri.

Sanctuary officials believe the violent storms that ripped apart homes and claimed 12 lives last weekend may have factored in the bird’s death.

They said birds have access to shelters where they can weather storms and the sanctuary has contingency plans for different environmental situations. But evacuations weren’t performed since no tornadoes approached the sanctuary Three other birds who were in the same shelter with Murphy survived.

A veterinarian performed a necropsy and found the bald eagle sustained head trauma “We are unable to determine if Murphy was spooked by something and hit his head while jumping off a perch or if wind and precipitation played a part in the injury,” a statement shared by the sanctuary on social media said.

Murphy lived in the sanctuary’s Avian Avenue exhibit area and rose to prominence in 2023 when he incubated a rock. His instincts were rewarded when he was allowed to foster an injured eaglet that he nurtured back to health. The eaglet was eventually released back to the wild and another eaglet was entrusted to Murphy’s care. The second eaglet is expected to be released into the wild this summer.

Trump to visit wrestling championships

BRIDGEWATER, N.J President Donald Trump plans to attend the NCAA wrestling championships for the second time in three years, the latest example of how he has mostly limited travel early in his new term to trips built around sports events.

Trump is expected to be at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on Saturday night as Penn State looks to close out its fourth straight men’s team title. The Republican president spent Friday night as his club in Bedminster, New Jersey, about 70 miles northeast of Philadelphia, on what was his first visit there of his second term.

“We’re going to the big fight. The reason I’m going is in Philadelphia. They have the NCAA, world, wrestling for college. And I’ve always supported the wrestlers,” Trump told reporters as he left the White House on Friday evening “I want to support them. These are the great college wrestlers from the various schools.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JEHAD ALSHRAFI

Israel strikes Lebanon after rocket attack

Heaviest exchange since truce with Hezbollah

BY BASSEM MROUE AND WAFAA SHURAFA Associated Press

BEIRUT, Lebanon Israel struck Lebanon on Saturday in retaliation for rockets targeting Israel, killing six people including a child, in the heaviest exchange of fire since its ceasefire with the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah almost four months ago

The rockets fired from Lebanon were the second ones launched since December and again sparked concern about whether the ceasefire would hold In a statement, Hezbollah denied being responsible for the latest attack, saying it was committed to the truce

Israel’s army said the intercepted rockets targeted the Israeli town of Metula. An Israeli official said six rockets were fired and three crossed into Israeli territory and were intercepted. The official said Israel could not confirm the identity of the group that fired the rockets.

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it instructed the army to act forcefully against dozens of targets in Lebanon. Israel’s army said it struck Hezbollah command centers and dozens of rocket launchers.

Lebanon’s state-run National News

Agency said a strike in the southern village of Touline killed five people, including a child, and wounded 11 others, including two children.

On Saturday night, Israel again struck Hezbollah targets in Lebanon. A strike hit a garage in the coastal city of Tyre, the NNA reported, with one person killed and seven wounded. It was the first time the city had been struck since the ceasefire took effect.

And a strike on Hawsh al-Sayed Ali village along the border with Syria wounded five people, according to the NNA.

In a statement, Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam asked the Lebanese military to take all necessary measures in the south but said the country did not want to return to war

Hezbollah began launching rockets, drones and missiles into Israel the day after Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack out of Gaza ignited the war there. The Israel-Hezbol-

lah conflict

boiled over into all-out war in September as Israel carried out massive waves of airstrikes and killed most of the militant group’s senior leaders. The fighting killed over 4,000 people in Lebanon and displaced about 60,000 Israelis.

Israeli forces were supposed to withdraw from all Lebanese territory by late January under a ceasefire struck on Nov 27. The deadline was extended to Feb. 18.

But Israel has remained in five locations in Lebanon, across from communities in northern Israel. It has carried out dozens of airstrikes on southern and eastern Lebanon, saying it attacked Hezbollah, while continuing drone attacks that have killed several members of the militant group.

Lebanon has appealed to the U.N. to pressure Israel to fully withdraw from the country The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, said it was alarmed at the possible escalation of violence and urged all parties to avoid jeopardizing the progress made.

The strikes came a day after Israel said it would carry out operations in Gaza “with increasing intensity” until Hamas frees the 59 hostages it holds — 24 of whom are believed to be alive.

Israeli strikes on Friday night killed at least nine people, including three children, in a house in Gaza City, according to Al-Ahli Hospital, which received the bodies.

“Rubble and glass started falling on us,” said Sameh al-Mashharawi, who lost his brother in the attack. He mourned with his young nephew Samir al-Mashharawi, whose parents and siblings were killed.

The 12-year-old, his head and wrists bandaged, sat in the back of a truck and cried.

Israel’s military said Friday its forces were planning fresh assaults into three neighborhoods west of Gaza City and issued warnings on social media for Palestinians to evacuate the areas.

“Hamas, unfortunately, understands military pressure,” Netanyahu’s foreign policy adviser Ophir Falk told The Associated Press.

Around 600 Palestinians have been killed since Israel relaunched the war earlier this week. Israel had already cut off the supply of food, fuel, and humanitarian aid to Gaza’s roughly 2 million Palestinians, aiming to pressure Hamas over ceasefire negotiations.

The international community has condemned the resumed attacks.

Pope to be released from hospital Sunday after 5 weeks

BY NICOLE WINFIELD, TRISHA THOMAS and GIADA ZAMPANO Associated Press

ROME Pope Francis will be released from the hospital on Sunday after 38 days battling a severe case of pneumonia in both lungs that threatened his life on two occasions and raised the prospect — for now put to rest — of a papal resignation or funeral.

The 88-year-old pontiff will require at least two months of rest, rehabilitation and convalescence back at the Vatican during which time he has been discouraged from meeting in big groups or exerting himself, said Dr Sergio Alfieri, who coordinated Francis’ medical team at Rome’s Gemelli hospital.

to go home a few days ago, as even he realized he was improving, breathing better, and that he could work longer. But I have to say he was an exemplary patient,” Alfieri said. “He listened to the suggestions from me, Dr Carbone and the rest of the team.”

Francis

But Francis’ personal doctor, Dr Luigi Carbone, said if he continues his steady improvements and rehabilitation, he should eventually be able to resume all his normal activities.

The doctors spoke at a hastily called news conference Saturday evening in the Gemelli hospital atrium their first in-person update on the pontiff’s condition in a month. They said they were discharging Francis after he registered two weeks of stability and increasing progress in his recovery

“The Holy Father would have wanted

The doctors confirmed he would be released Sunday, after first offering a blessing to the faithful from his hospital suite, the first time he will have been seen by the public since he was admitted Feb. 14. They provided details on the severity of the infection, which he is still being treated for, and Alfieri noted that not all patients who develop such a severe case of double pneumonia survive, much less be released from the hospital.

“When he was in really bad shape, it was difficult that he was in good spirits,” Alfieri said. “But one morning we went to listen to his lungs and we asked him how he was doing. When he replied, ‘I’m still alive’ we knew he was OK and had gotten his good humor back.”

Alfieri confirmed that Francis was still having trouble speaking due to the damage to his lungs and the time he spent on supplemental oxygen and ventilation. But he said such problems were normal and predicted his voice would return.

NEW MEXICO

3 killed, 15 hurt in shooting at park

BY JULIE CARR SMYTH Associated Press

Three people died and 15 others were injured after an altercation broke out at a park in the desert city of Las Cruces, New Mexico, police said Saturday Police and fire crews arrived at just after 10 p.m. Friday onto a chaotic scene at the city’s Young Park, where an unauthorized car show had drawn about 200 people, police said during a news conference Gunshot victims ranging in age from 16 to 36 were treated on the scene or sent to area hospitals.

Between 50 and 60 shell casings — all from handguns were found scattered across a wide swath of the large park, Las Cruces Police Chief Jeremy Story said, suggesting multiple shooters and multiple weapons within two groups whose “ill will” toward each other police believe led to the shootings. Several others were injured in the crossfire, he said.

Those who died were two 19-year-old men and a 16-year-old boy Their names and those of the other victims were not yet being released. Local police were being assisted in their investigation by New Mexico State Police, the Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Las Cruces Fire Chief Michael Daniels said seven patients were treated at the

scene, including two who died, and 11 others were sent to three local hospitals or to University Medical Center of El Paso, the regional trauma center By Saturday, seven of the surviving victims were in El Paso, while four others had been treated and released and the four remaining victims’ conditions were not known, he said.

Authorities continued to solicit videos and other tips from those in attendance as they worked to identify a suspect or suspects who carried out the attack.

“This horrendous, senseless act is a stark reminder of the blatant disregard people in New Mexico have for the rule of law and order,” Story said, vowing about the perpetrators to “find each and every one of them, and we will. We will hold them accountable to the criminal justice system.” Story acknowledged that illegal car shows at Young Park are not an uncommon occurrence and that the police presence has been larger in the past. He said that understaffing within the police department meant that he had “no units available for most of the night” on Friday Also, the city has purchased new technology for all its parks as part of its real-time crime center, he said, but it hasn’t been installed yet.

In a post to Instagram on Saturday, Las Cruces City Councilor and Mayor Pro Tem Johana Bencomo expressed grief at the tragedy

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Smoke rises from a building Saturday after it was targeted by an Israeli army strike in Gaza City following evacuation orders for residents.

ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL PHOTO By JUSIN GARCIA Crime scene technicians work Saturday at young Park’s parking lot after a mass shooting overnight in Las Cruces, N.M.

U.K. orders probe into Heathrow shutdown

BY JILL LAWLESS Associated Press

LONDON The British gov-

ernment on Saturday ordered an investigation into the country’s “energy resilience” after an electrical substation fire shut Heathrow Airport for almost a day and raised concerns about the U.K.’s ability to withstand disasters or attacks on critical infrastructure. said erational, sengers airlines disruption as planes tr tions.

gers, concerned want seemingly

fied processes. We’ve moved towards a sort of ‘just in time’ economy There is an element where you have to make sure you’re available for ‘just in case.’ You have to plan for things going wrong.”

‘Clear planning failure’ Heathrow is one of the world’s busiest airports for international travel, and saw 83.9 million passengers last

“That’s how most airports operate,” said Woldbye, who insisted “the same would happen in other airports” faced with a similar blaze.

But Willie Walsh, who heads aviation trade organization IATA, said the episode “begs some serious questions.”

“How is it that critical infrastructure — of national and global importance is totally dependent single

the 2010 eruption of Iceland’s Eyjafjallajokull volcano, which shut Europe’s airspace for days. Passengers on about 120 flights were in the air when Friday’s closure was announced and found themselves landing in different cities, and even different countries.

Mark Doherty and his wife were halfway across the Atlantic wh the in-flight

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video. “Because crazy things can happen during an election, and if people don’t go vote, crazy things happen.”

Hunter has faced Simien before. A lawyer and former City Council member, Simien has raised about $55,000, including about $2,000 from an unsuccessful 2017 bid for mayor He’s also contributed an additional $17,000 of his own funds. He had spent more than $65,000 of that, according to his most recent filing on Tuesday Simien served two terms on the City Council as Lake Charles recovered from Hurricane Rita and has sat on the city’s Port Board of Commissioners, the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury and the Louisiana Board of Commerce and Energy

“My life experiences have more than prepared me to work with everyone to build a stronger, resilient and more prosperous Lake Charles,” Simien said in a campaign video.

The other three contenders have pulled in significantly less money Taha, a senior chemist at Westlake Corporation South, has raised about $14,000, including about $2,500 from a past bid for City Council. He had spent nearly $10,000 of that by Monday Carter, a public school educator landlord and bail bondsperson, has raised $4,000 and contributed an additional $800 of his own funds. He had spent more than $4,600 of that by Tuesday Steward, a Calcasieu Parish sheriff’s deputy and Army veteran, has raised just over $3,000 and contributed another $3,000 of his own funds. He had spent just over $2,500 of that by Monday McNeese State University political scientist Victoria Jeansonne says television advertising is still relevant, but there’s been a huge increase of it on streaming services and social media ahead of elections “You don’t have to spend

more money to win,” Jeansonne said “What we do know is that, in general, you will spend more money when the competition is more fierce.”

Candidates have spent donor funds on everything from campaign signs and push cards to Mardi Gras throws and funeral flowers for constituents. They’ve also poured money into advertising.

Hunter had spent about $185,000 in advertising, mainly on streaming services, social media and TV.

Hundreds of donors backed Hunter, including real estate companies, lawyers, doctors, insurance agents, construction companies, pharmacies, auto businesses and a few political action committees. Among those are the Acadian Ambulance Employee PAC, Kleckley PAC, For All of Louisiana PAC and TPG PAC.

Simien had spent about $16,000 on advertising, mainly for social media and radio, along with about $18,000 on social media management.

Donors to Simien’s campaign include real estate companies, construction companies, law firms, a trucking company, a horticultural company, a tax group, a medical group and a funeral home.

Taha had spent about $8,000 on advertising, mainly on TV Business contributions to Taha’s campaign include auto groups, a medical group, a clothing store, a beauty company, a cellphone repair store, a seafood company and a farm.

Carter and Steward had spent no money yet on advertising, according to campaign finance and Federal Communications Commission records.

Carter had just two individual donors contribute to his campaign. Steward had 16 individual donors.

Economic development, a proposed amphitheater and public safety

Hunter, a former member of the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury and a partner in the restaurant Villa Harlequin, was first elected mayor in 2017.

He earned 34% of the vote in the primary election that year against seven challengers, ultimately defeating Wilford Carter Sr. in the runoff with 56%

of the vote Simien narrowly missed the runoff that year

During his first term, Hunter found himself in the national eye after Lake Charles was slammed back-to-back with Hurricanes Laura and Delta in 2020. He called on federal leaders not to overlook Lake Charles’ suffering and to put resources toward helping the city recover

The next year, he sailed to reelection, tallying 74% of the vote against three new challengers during the 2021 primary election.

This time around, Hunter’s campaign has focused on his success with economic development districts, infrastructure projects and raising city employee wages without increasing taxes He touts a lakefront economic development district that includes the inprogress Crying Eagle Brewery and recently completed Port Wonder, which houses a children’s museum and a state nature and science center

“We have talked about lakefront development for decades,” Hunter said during a debate last week. “And it’s finally happening now with Port Wonder and Crying Eagle.”

Hunter defends the city’s purchase of the property where the Capital One Tower, which served as a constant reminder of Hurricane Laura’s devastation until its demolition, once stood and the plan to construct an amphitheater in its place. The Capital One Tower site purchase has emerged as one of the issues that’s divided candidates in the race.

Simien has spoken out against the city’s purchase of the Capital One Tower site, citing lost property tax revenue.

“We can’t go around saying we’re the most weatherbattered city in the country,” Simien said during the debate. “Because that’s going to drive everybody away.”

Simien has focused on his achievements on the City Council, Police Jury Port Board and Board of Commerce and Energy, such as beautifying Riverside Park and attracting L’Auberge Casino Resort to Lake Charles.

Simien will again face Hunter along with Wilford Carter Sr.’s son. The elder Carter,

a former judge and current state representative, has donated nearly $6,000 of in-kind campaign sign contributions to his son’s campaign, according to finance reports.

Carter’s campaign has largely centered on marketing Lake Charles to encourage economic development from outside companies.

“We have amazing resources that we’re not taking advantage of,” Carter said in the debate. “We need to sell that to the rest of the world.”

Carter said he supports the proposed amphitheater because of money invested in the project, but he wants to be strategic about plans going forward.

Taha said he would take care of existing local businesses instead of trying to bring new companies to Lake Charles. He also said a priority is increasing salaries for police officers to address crime in the city

“Safety is a top priority,” Taha said in the debate. “It’s not the same as back in the ’80s and ’90s. It’s very dangerous.”

Taha has voiced concerns about the amphitheater, saying local government is incompetent at running a business and the venue could fail on the taxpayers’ dime.

Steward has also raised concerns about the amphitheater saying the city’s police shortage could cause security problems during large concerts there.

He’s questioned why Lake Charles isn’t getting a Buc-ee’s like Lafayette or a boardwalk like Kemah, Texas. He also advocated for raises for the city’s first responders and promised to bring manufacturing jobs to Lake Charles.

“You won’t have to go through a six-month school or get a two-year degree to go to work,” Steward said during the debate. “You will be able to go to work, on-the-job training, and make you some money so you can take care of yourself.”

The primary election is March 29. If no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, the top two candidates will face off in the general election May 3. Email Megan Wyatt at mwyatt@theadvocate.com.

STUDENTS

contrast, the number of Louisiana undergrads inched up only 2%, to about 20,300 students.

The swelling ranks of students from outside Louisiana — including nearby states like Florida and Georgia as well as distant ones like California, Illinois and Maryland is no accident. Like other public universities, LSU has ramped up out-of-state recruitment to broaden its pool of high-achieving applicants, raise revenue and boost the school’s national profile.

“I told the team when I first arrived, ‘Find the best students in the state of Louisiana and find the best students outside the state of Louisiana and bring them here,’” William Tate IV, LSU’s president since 2021, said in an interview last year “Whoever you are, if you’re really good, you’re welcome.”

In this regard, LSU is playing catch-up with its competitors, including the University of Alabama and Ole Miss, where more than 60% of freshmen come from other states. Those schools recruit aggressively: One Alabama recruiter lives in St. Tammany Parish and regularly visits the local high schools.

The rise of out-of-staters at LSU has drawn scrutiny from some state lawmakers who question whether the university is doing everything possible to keep Louisiana’s top talent in state, and whether taxpayers win if many out-of-state students return home after graduation.

“So then the flagship university of the state of Louisiana,” said state Rep. Kim Carver R-Mandeville, “is producing the quality workforce for all of these other states.”

Cross-country recruiting

Out-of-state students, who pay significantly higher tuition than state residents, are a cov-

Continued from page 1A ä See STUDENTS, page 6A

STAFF PHOTO

Pentagon scrambles to restore pages amid DEI purge

BY LOLITA C. BALDOR and TARA COPP Associated Press

WASHINGTON Every day over the past few weeks, the Pentagon has faced questions from angry lawmakers, local leaders and citizens over the removal of military heroes and historic mentions from Defense Department websites and social media pages after it purged online content that promoted women or minorities.

In response, the department has scrambled to restore a handful of those posts as their removals have come to light While the pages of some well-known veterans, including baseball and civil rights icon Jackie Robinson, are now back up on Pentagon websites, officials warn that many posts tagged for removal in error may be gone forever

The restoration process has been so hit or miss that even groups that the administration has said are protected, like the Tuskegee Airmen, the first Black military pilots who served in a segregated World War II unit, still have deleted pages that as of Saturday had not been restored.

This past week chief, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a video that mistaken removals will be quickly rectified. “History is not DEI,” he said, referring to diversity, equity and inclusion.

But due to the enormous size of the military and the wide range of commands, units and bases, there has been an array of interpretations of what to remove and how as part of the Pentagon directive to delete online content that promotes DEI. Officials from across the military services said they have asked for additional guidance from the Pentagon on what should be restored, but have yet to receive any

The officials, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to describe internal deliberations, said, for example, they were waiting for guidance on whether military “firsts” count as history that can be restored. The first female Army Reserve graduate of Ranger School, Maj. Lisa Jaster or the first female fighter pilot, Air Force Maj Gen. Jeannie Leavitt, both had their stories deleted

Some officials said their understanding was it did not matter whether it was a historic first. If the first was based on what Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth found to be a disqualifying char-

SUNDAY NEWS SHOWS

ABC’s “This Week”: White House border czar Tom Homan; Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.

NBC’s “Meet the Press”: Sens. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and John Curtis, R-Utah.

CNN’s“State of the Union”: Education Secretary Linda McMahon; Reps. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., and Jason Crow, D-Colo.

CBS’ “Face the Nation”: National security adviser Mike Waltz; Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky.; Rep Jim Himes, D-Conn.; Scott Gottlieb, former Food and Drug Administration commissioner

“Fox News Sunday”: Steve Witkoff, U.S. special envoy; Gov Wes Moore D-Md.

The Associated Press

websites and social media pages amid a purge of online content that promoted women or minorities.

acteristic, such as gender or race, it had to go, they said.

One Army team has taken a very deliberate approach. According to the officials, the team took down several major historical heritage sites that had many postings about women and various ethnic or racial groups. They are now going through them all and plan to rework and repost as much as possible on a new website focused on Army heroes. The process, the officials said, could take months.

Overall, tens of thousands of online posts that randomly mention dozens of key words, including “gay,” “bias” and “female” — have been deleted. Officials warn that the bulk of those images are gone for good. Even as complaints roll in, officials will be careful about restoring things unless senior leaders approve. The officials described the behind-the-scenes process as challenging, frustrating and emotionally draining. Workers going through years of posts to take down mentions of historic accomplishments by women or minorities were at times reduced to tears or lashed out in anger at commanders directing the duty, the officials said

Others were forced to pull down stories they were proud of and had worked on themselves They were often confused about the parameters for removal once a key word was found, and they erred on the side of removal according to the officials.

Not complying fully with the order was seen as dangerous because it could put

senior military service leaders at risk of being fired or disciplined if an errant post celebrating diversity was left up and found. Officials said the department relied in large part on a blind approach — using artificial intelligence computer commands to search for dozens of those key words in online department, military and command websites.

If a story or photo depicted or included one of the terms, the computer program then added “DEI” into the web address of the content, which flagged it and led to its removal.

Purging posts from X, Facebook and other social media sites is more complicated and time intensive. An AI command would not work as well on those sites.

So military service members and civilians have evaluated social media posts by hand, working late into the night and on weekends to pore over their unit’s social media pages, cataloging and deleting references going back years. Because some civilians were not allowed to work on weekends, military troops had to be called in to replace them, as the officials described it.

The Defense Department is publicly insisting that mistakes will be corrected.

As an example, the Pentagon on Wednesday restored some pages highlighting the crucial wartime contributions of Navajo Code Talkers and other Native American veterans. That step came days after tribes condemned the removal. Department officials said the Navajo Code Talker material was erroneously erased,

The previous week, pages honoring a Black Medal of Honor winner and Japanese American service members were also restored.

The restorations represent a shift from early, adamant denials that any deletion of things such as the Enola Gay or prominent service members was happening at all. At least two images of the Enola Gay the plane that dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, during World War II, are still missing.

“This is fake news and anyone with a pulse knows it!” the Defense Department’s new “Rapid Response” social media account asserted March 7. “We are NOT removing images of the Enola Gay or any other pictures that honor the legacy of our warfighters.”

Over time, the Pentagon

has shifted its public response as more examples of deleted pages came to light.

On Thursday, Parnell acknowledged in a video posted online that: “Because of the realities of AI tools and other software, some important content was incorrectly pulled offline to be reviewed We want to be very, very clear: History is not DEI. When content is either mistakenly removed, or if it’s maliciously removed, we continue to work quickly to restore it.”

But others have seen the widespread erasure of history “Most female aviator stories and photographs are disappearing including from the archives. From the WASPs to fighter pilots, @AFThunderbirds to @BlueAngels — they’ve erased us,” Carey Lohrenz,

one of the Navy’s first female F-14 Tomcat pilots, posted to X. “It’s an across the board devastating loss of history and information.” Among the webpages removed include one about the Women Air Service Pilots, or WASPs, the female World War II pilots who were vital in ferrying warplanes for the military, and the Air Force Thunderbirds. Parnell, Hegseth and others have vigorously defended the sweeping purge despite the flaws.

“I think the president and the secretary have been very clear on this — that anybody that says in the Department of Defense that diversity is our strength is, is frankly, incorrect,” Parnell said during a Pentagon media briefing. “Our shared purpose and unity are our strength.”

Coloncancerscreenings become easier as guidelines encourageyounger adults to beginregular testing

Coloncancerhas become more predominant across thenationinrecentyears,withthe American Cancer Societyestimatingthatmorethan 107,000new caseswillbediagnosed in 2025 That number is almost evenly splitbetween menand women, although doctorsare seeing more coloncancerdiagnoses amongyounger patients than ever before.

“A lotofpeoplehave it in theirminds that colon cancer can’thappenuntil someoneisatleast in their50s.Thatisnot true at all,”saidDr. Larry Simon, senior medicaldirectorfor Louisiana Blue.“We’veseena marked increase in cases in people in their30s and40s,especiallyin Louisiana, whichhas some of thehighest rates of coloncancerinthe entire country.

Dr.Simon notedthatcolon cancer is also now theleading causeofcancerdeath in menand womeninthe United States,surpassingbreast cancer,prostatecancerand allother forms of thedisease.The American Cancer Society estimatesthatcolon cancer willcause about 52,900 deaths this year alone.

disease. That’s whyit’simportant to talk to your doctor aboutyourspecific situation. Asidefromafamilyhistory,weknowthat smokingand excessive alcoholconsumption have beenlinkedtomanyother forms of cancer as well as otherhealthproblems. Thosefactors maynot make youmoreatriskfor coloncancer but they cancertainly contributetonumerous issues throughout thebody. What arethe main benefits of screening, especially acolonoscopy? Oneofthe upsidesofacolonoscopy is that if it’s clean, youdon’t need to thinkabout it foranother 10 years. Thesescreeningsare oftencovered by aperson’sbenefits,sothere is usuallyvery little cost associated with having one. Another advantageisthatifpolypsare discovered,they canberemoved rightaway.

Yet,manycoloncancerdeathscouldbeprevented with proper screening. Today’sguidelinescall forthose screenings to beginatage 45 forpeople of averagerisk, andevenyounger for people who mayhave more risk factorsfor thedisease.A colonoscopyisconsideredthe gold standard in coloncancerscreening. If theresultsshowno problems,acolonoscopymay be needed only once every10years.

“Everyadultshouldseetheirdoctorforregular checkups,ideally each year,but certainlyatleast everycoupleofyears,” Dr.Simon said.“People should askabout coloncancerscreeningsduring thoseappointments. Your doctor canlookatyour family historyand risk factorsand determine thebesttimetostart.Coloncancerisextremely treatable if it is caught early, especially nowthat therehavebeeninnovations to better tailor treatment to individuals.”

Dr.Simon shared additional insights about coloncancerscreenings,riskfactors andmore.

What aresomeofthe main risk factors for coloncancer?

Family historyisthe main one, especially if anyone in your immediatefamilywas diagnosed before age50. Thereare also certaingenetic conditions that canpredisposepeopletothe

We’venoticed aparticular laginpeopleages 45 to 49 whoare newlyeligiblefor screenings andare hesitant.Sometimes people arescared to findout theresults.I encouragepeopletoget answers. If it’s clear, youhavepeace of mind If it’s not, youcan starttoworkwithyourdoctor on aplantoaddress it What aresomeofthe biggestmisperceptions abouthavinga colonoscopy? Peoplehardlyeverexperiencepainordiscomfort Theanesthesiaworks great, andmanypeople sayitendsupfeeling like areallynicenap.The preparationismuchmorecompact than it used to be andcontinues to become easier Alot of people thinktheywillneedtomiss a lotofwork, butthat’snot thecase. People return to theirfullfunctions thenextday with minimal discomfort.You cantakeaslittleasanafternoon off of work andbebackthe followingday Arethereanycommoncoloncancersymptoms? Thebig oneisblood in thestool or ablack discolorationand tar-like consistencytothe stool. Many patients also experience fever, weight loss andnight sweats. If younoticeany combinationofthose symptoms,it’sdefinitely time to seea doctor LouisianaBlueand most health insurers cover colonoscopiesand otherpreventivescreenings at very low or no cost.Contact Customer Service foryourhealthplantoask howcancerscreening is coveredand what,ifanything, youwould pay

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By BRANDEN CAMP

A page dedicated to Maj. Lisa Jaster, center, the first Army Reserve female to graduate the Army’s Ranger School, is among those removed from Defense Department

eted commodity for public universities squeezed by declining enrollment and state funding cuts.

“Quite honestly it would be professional malpractice for your admissions office not to be doing this,” said Michael S. Harris, a professor of higher education at Southern Methodist University Schools that aren’t pursuing those students are “leaving money on the table.”

The University of Alabama was one of the first state schools to recruit nationally, borrowing from the playbooks of elite private institutions. By 2014, about 64% of its freshmen came from outside Alabama.

Danny Barrow, LSU’s vice president of enrollment and student success, said that 17% of incoming Baton Rouge freshmen were from other states when he arrived in 2017 That percentage was “wildly off” from other Southeastern Conference schools, he told lawmakers in October By 2024, LSU had raised it to 40%.

The university uses datadriven recruitment, targeting specific schools in key markets, officials say Big states with an excess of students are a particular focus. LSU’s incoming class last fall included about 1,000 Texans, more than double the number in 2017, Barrow said.

LSU admissions counselors spend much of the fall traversing Louisiana and other states, attending up to 20 recruitment events a week. This month and next, LSU reps are meeting admitted students in cities across the country, from San Francisco to Chicago, Philadelphia and Atlanta.

according to federal data.

Many are enticed by the warm weather, the lavish amenities (including a massive recreation center with a climbing wall and LSUshaped “leisure river”) and the price. The cost to attend public universities in the South tends to be lower than in other regions, and LSU’s roughly $29,000 per year in out-of-state tuition and fees is cheaper than some other southern flagships.

“Really, for what it is that they offer,” said Rhonda Lewis, a Maryland parent whose son Ahmad will attend LSU this fall, “it’s a pretty good bargain.”

for Louisiana,” he said in a statement, adding that LSU is the state’s top industry “for in-migration and helping Louisiana grow.”

Competing for La.’s best Public universities, which receive state tax dollars, were founded to educate their states’ citizens. But the influx of out-of-state students has sometimes sparked concern that fewer seats and scholarships will be available to state residents.

cluding some graduate students who support faculty with research.

“I want to see the math that shows where it’s good for us to spend THAT much on students who aren’t from Louisiana,” state Rep. Charles Owen, R-Rosepine, wrote in an online essay last month.

Another question is whether LSU is doing enough to woo Louisiana’s top students.

ship program for state residents, and the aid LSU has offered him so far, Southern Miss would cost less.

LSU “offered me some,” he said, “just not enough.” Christian Monson, principal of Mandeville High School in St. Tammany Parish, watches colleges compete for his top students Recently, the president of Southern Miss personally visited the school to meet students, and the University of Alabama recruiter who lives nearby is a frequent visitor He said LSU also sends recruiters, but some universities offer more money “There’s really, really strong kids that are leaving our state,” he said. “They considered LSU, but they chose to go to another school because there were better incentives to go out of state.

LSU officials say the university is deeply committed to educating Louisiana students.

At a February hearing, some lawmakers said universities in other states promote scholarships that students automatically qualify for based on their grades and test scores, but LSU does not.

Recruiters tout the university’s research prowess and more than 300 academic programs. The school culture is an equally big draw, with over 400 student organizations, Greek life and football Saturdays. “It’s kind of the epitome of what I feel like a southern college experience should feel like,” said Genevieve O’Connell, a high school senior in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, who’s heading to LSU this fall. “It’s like a work-hard, play-hard situation.”

LSU also offers merit scholarships to high-achieving students from other states. Brenda Fay, whose family lives in Florida, said LSU offered her son Tanner $86,000 over four years.

“I was impressed,” she said. “They put their money where their mouth is.”

“There is some research suggesting that, at least at some public flagships, they’ve effectively crowded out some in-state students and replaced them with out-of-state students,” said Robert Kelchen, an education professor at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. He said that is less of a concern at schools that expanded enrollment by adding students from both groups.

At LSU, “it’s unpredictable,” said state Rep Laurie Schlegel, R-Metairie, adding that LSU often doesn’t send award letters until the spring of students’ senior year “I promise you by that time it’s too late — those students are going to other schools.”

LSU recruits in every parish and fundraises to offer Louisiana students needbased and merit scholarships to supplement TOPS, said Barrow, the enrollment official He added that the number of top Louisiana students who get admitted to LSU but enroll elsewhere has gone down, while the number of in-state freshmen has grown 18% since 2017.

LSU’s “mission is to identify recruit, and build meaningful relationships with Louisiana’s best and brightest,” he said.

Like other southern universities, LSU has seen a surge of interest from students in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. Over the past decade, the number of LSU freshmen from New York has grown eightfold, the New Jersey contingent grew sevenfold and the Maryland crew quadrupled,

Even with the scholarships, out-of-state students still pay more than Louisiana students and earn LSU revenue, officials say They also bring geographic diversity, expand the alumni network, elevate LSU’s national standing and contribute to Louisiana’s economy, Barrow added.

“LSU’s investments in both in-state and out-ofstate talent are paying off, strengthening the academic profile of the university and ensuring long-term benefits

His university recently guaranteed admission to any high-performing Tennessee student and set a goal that two-thirds of freshmen would come from within the state The University of North Carolina system has long capped the share of out-of-state freshmen at 18% on most campuses.

Now, LSU is starting to face questions about its outof-state enrollment boom.

Costs are one concern. In 2024, LSU gave about $80 million in scholarships to out-of-state students, in-

Tobey Mitchell is a senior at Haynes Academy for Advanced Studies, a Jefferson Parish magnet school, hoping to study construction management in college. A high achiever, he was recently offered a full ride, including room and board, to the University of Southern Mississippi. He’s also considering LSU, where he was admitted to the honors college and participated in a summer research program. But he said that even with TOPS, Louisiana’s scholar-

Hawkins, the admissions counselor is responsible for recruiting Louisiana students along with those in other states. This week, after welcoming the Tampa group, she and a colleague met with two Baton Rouge students.

“As the flagship, in-state students are still the priority for us,” she said. “We want to keep all that wonderful talent in state.”

Email Patrick Wall at patrick.wall@ theadvocate.com.

Genevieve O’Connell, right attends an LSU football game with her mother, Sister O’Connell.

gave in. So off they went to the park next to their house on Desire Street in the Lower 9th Ward in New Orleans.

“To this day I can’t believe I let a 12-year-old coerce me into going to a park in a challenging neighborhood that late, but I did it,” he laughed Young Quannas wasn’t faring any better in the rematch when things suddenly took a turn.

“I’m destroying him again, the score is something like 11 to 1 and then gun shots literally rang out in the park,” Clarence White IV said “Somebody was chasing somebody and shooting at him.” Big brother yelled for the two to leave the park right away, but as Clarence approached the edge of the park, he turned around.

“I don’t see him behind me,” Clarence White IV said. “I’m like, ‘What are you doing Quannas? Let’s go now.’ I get really agitated, so I go to get him and he said, ‘No, the game is not over.’”

Clarence White IV said his brother was so focused on the task at hand he didn’t process the danger around him.

“I looked and thought, ‘That’s passion that I probably will never possess,’ ” Clarence White said. “There was not a chance he was going to win, but he was determined to finish — win or lose.”

Division I basketball

In a few years, Quannas White, 44, achieved his goal of beating his older brother as his hard work helped St. Augustine High School win a state championship. At that point, he went to Midland Junior College; some wondered if he could play Division I basketball.

Again, Quannas White proved his doubters wrong by landing at Oklahoma where he began his relationship with coach Kelvin Sampson — helping the Sooners reach the Final Four in 2002.

“He will not take no for an answer,” said Clarence White IV, who is now a captain in the New Orleans Fire Department. “He just doesn’t accept losing. He’s always been in an underdog situation, but it just fuels him.” So when Quannas White was speaking to the UL fan base in last week’s introductory news conference about how he takes over the Ragin’ Cajuns program with the same goals he had when joining Sampson with the Houston Cougars, he’s not just talking. He really expects to achieve all of his lofty goals.

“Oh, definitely,” his father Clarence White III said. “You’re going to see a great change at UL.”

Growing up in New Orleans

It was his father’s approach when his two older sons were small that helped mold that mentality in Quannas.

“I would take them to different parks around what they call the projects and

they would play against older guys,” Clarence White III said. “That helped them be hard and gave them a toughness. That made my boys the way they are today.”

Yes, his father knew many of those men they were playing basketball against had habits the White boys’ parents wanted nowhere near their sons.

“I was strict with them with my tone and with my eyes,” Clarence White III said. “Quannas has some of those same characteristics, and that makes him a great coach

“But I would tell them, ‘Hey don’t look that way Continue to play ball here. Don’t go over there.’”

To this day, Quannas White remembers those lessons.

“My mentality comes from growing up in New Orleans,” he said. “I remember me and my brother playing at Bunny Friend Park in New Orleans on Desire Street. That’s where I was raised. That’s what kind of shaped who I am and built me.

“I’m a guy who has a bluecollar mentality who lives with a chip on his shoulder I tell our kids today and our team here, never lose your chip.”

‘The outgoing one’

When Quannas White and his siblings weren’t playing basketball in city parks, they were most likely at Mount Zion Baptist Church. That influence was something both father and mother, Colette White-Pate, brought to the family Mom was the director of the Sunbeam choir, and their children were regularly singing, playing musical instruments or performing in a church play

Sister Taeneia WhiteDucre said she and brother Clarence were generally more reserved, but “Quannas was the outgoing one, like Mom. He was always very driven and always wanting more. The sky is always the limit for him.

While some children were uncomfortable with performing, Quannas relished the spotlight.

“I remember when he was 4 years old, we did a play called ‘Little Big Lunch’ and Quannas stole the show,” his mother said. “He just had one little part where he said, ‘I will serve my God where I have my beam,’ and everybody just went crazy about it.”

When it was time to take pictures to record those cherished moments, Quannas didn’t shy away from that either

“He always liked to stand

out,” White-Pate laughed.

“When I would take pictures, he would say ‘Mom, you taking my picture too?

You got me in?’ That’s the way he was.

“He was always outgoing and always had a winning spirit about him.”

Helping, instructing others

Like so many players, Quannas White hoped to play in the NBA. He had stints in the D-League in Austin and Rio Grande Valley and also played professionally in France and Germany

But in many ways, coaching was in his family’s blood. Not directly but it’s a family focused on helping and instructing others.

The foundation was built in church, but Clarence White III is also a social worker helping the homeless, Clarence White IV is a firefighter White-Pate and White-Ducre teach etiquette courses.

Moreover, Quannas White began training players while running an AAU program after his playing days were over That included helping his younger brother, Josh White, who blossomed into a Hall of Fame career at North Texas under coach Johnny Jones.

Josh White will join his brother on the staff at UL.

He carries a healthy combination of discipline, compassion and basketball knowledge to the profession.

“He really cares about people, so I could see this being his path,” White-Ducre said. “I just knew he would do something big in basketball when it didn’t work out with the NBA.

“He’s my younger brother but he inspires me, really, to just want more and never settle or be complacent.”

“Coaching was absolutely not what we had in mind at all,” his wife, Leah, said even after he began the AAU program.

“Because of some of the players he developed like (former NBA player) Jacob Evans, these relationships began to form with some of these college coaches across the country.” It began at Tulane University in 2014 and then Western Kentucky two years ago, before reconnecting with Kelvin Sampson at Houston in 2017. Those who crossed his path soon learned what White’s family has always known.

“Quannas tells the players, ‘I work for you. I don’t work for the university,’ because he’s coaching the players in the way that he would coach his own son to help them be successful professionally in

whatever they do,” Leah White said. “But also the hardships of life.

“He thinks back on opportunities that he passed up that he could have done better He’s seen it from every perspective. He’s been a player he’s an AAU program coach and now a college coach — also some advising in his personal training — that’s a lot of perspective.”

Those relationship skills are what UL fans are now hoping can bring some magic back to the Cajundome.

“With his recruiting skills and the relationships that he can build, there’s going to be people who are going to want to play for Quannas,” Clarence White III said. “He has a powerful skill in moving individuals in the right direction.

“He has the right demeanor and right attitude to instill in his players and in his coaching staff Quannas and his brother Josh were point guards. They played the game, they know the game and they can coach the game.”

Email Kevin Foote at kfoote@theadvocate. com.

LERILLE

Continued from page 1A

he was installed as bishop in the Diocese of Lafayette in 2016. “He was a man of faith first of all He donated towels from his club to the Catholic Charities homeless facilities, and we were very grateful.

“Through Red’s he taught the importance of caring for the body and disciplining yourself, while also nourishing yourself with the true bread of Christ.”

“The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” a nod to Lerille’s military service and faith, played as his casket processed out of the church, followed by dozens of family members and Emma Lerille, his wife of 62 years.

The funeral procession passed through the parking lot of Red’s Health Club as it left St Mary’s Church, with hundreds of club members waving their final goodbyes as Lerille passed.

A public visitation was held Friday at Martin & Castille Funeral Home the evening before Lerille’s funeral Mass and burial. Thousands of Lerille’s friends, associates and club members attended the visitation, with many remarking on social media on the gym owner’s impact in their lives.

“Thank you for helping shape generations in this town simply by your example,” wrote Heidi Jacobs McDonald in a Friday Facebook post. “A few years ago, I was leaving Red Lerille’s Health & Racquet Club. It was late,

I had gone after work. As I walked out, I passed Mr Red... at this point it had to be at least 6/7pm... (despite his typical early arrival) and he was literally on his hands and knees scrubbing the floor He had to have been about 80 at the time Teenage employees passed and he happily acknowledged them and kept right on about his scrubbing while they went on about their jobs... it blew my mind.”

Mark Lerille, Red Lerille’s son and fitness director at Red’s, said the club will go on in the wake of his father’s death.

Lerille was a native of New Orleans, born on June 9, 1936. He first started training at the New Orleans Athletic Club, and competed in his first weightlifting competition at 14. He later enrolled at Southwestern Louisiana Institute, now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and began pursuing bodybuilding in earnest, winning the Mr America and Mr Universe titles in 1960. At the age of 26, he bought Mike’s Gym in downtown Lafayette, and started building his health club — a dream he had since he was 7 years old and first

Email Joanna Brown at joanna.brown@ theadvocate.com.

Quannas White played basketball in high school at St. Augustine in New Orleans.

PROVIDED PHOTOS

Quannas White, second from right, celebrates Houston’s Big 12 Tournament championship with three of his children — son Asa, daughter Anaiah and son Asher — and wife, Leah.

STAFF PHOTO By BRAD KEMP

Cars belonging to Red Lerille pass Red Lerille’s Health and Racquet Club while family and friends say their last respects after a Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday in Lafayette.

Colleges cutting ties with DEI nonprofit

BY CHEYANNE MUMPHREY and JOCELYN GECKER

AP education writers

Until recently, it was a littleknown program to help Black and Latino students pursue business degrees. But in January, conservative strategist Christopher Rufo flagged the program known as The PhD Project in social media posts that caught the attention of Republican politicians. The program is now at the center of a Trump administration campaign to root out diversity equity and inclusion programs in higher education.

The U.S. Education Department last week said it was investigating dozens of universities for alleged racial discrimination, citing ties to the nonprofit organization. That followed a warning a month earlier that schools could lose federal money over “race-based preferences” in admissions, scholarships or any aspect of student life.

The investigations left some school leaders startled and confused, wondering what prompted the inquiries. Many scrambled to distance themselves from The PhD Project, which has aimed to help diversify the business world and higher education faculty

The rollout of the investigations highlights the climate of fear and uncertainty in higher education, which President Donald Trump’s administration has begun policing for policies that run afoul of his agenda even as he moves to dismantle the Education Department. Colleges asked to explain ties

There is a range of nonprofits that

ASKING

University, under fire for its handling of pro-Palestinian protests, the administration pulled $400 million in federal money and threatened billions more if it does not comply with its demands.

“There is a concern that if one university steps up and fights this then that university will have all of their funding cut,” said Veena Dubal, general counsel for the American Association of University Professors. “They are being hindered not just by fear but a real collective action problem. None of these universities wants to be the next example.”

Some colleges moved swiftly to stop working with The PhD Project.

Gov Greg Abbot posted on X that the university “president will soon be gone” unless he immediately “fixed” the matter Texas A&M responded by withdrawing from the conference, and soon after at least eight other Texas public universities that had participated previously in The PhD Project’s conference also withdrew the Texas Tribune reported. Rufo has not responded to a request for comment.

Some of the schools under investigation raised questions about where the complaints against them originated.

work to help minority groups advance in higher education but The PhD Project was not well known before Rufo began posting on X about its work with colleges, said Jonathan Fansmith, senior vice president of government relations at the American Council on Education, an association of college presidents.

“It’s not hard to draw some lines between that incident and why 45 institutions that were partners with The PhD Project are getting this investigation announced,” he said.

The 45 colleges under investigation for ties to the organization include public universities such as Arizona State, Ohio State and the University of California, Berkeley, along with private schools like Yale, Cornell, Duke and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The Education Department sent letters to the universities informing them its Office for Civil Rights had received a complaint and they were under investigation for allegedly

discriminating against students on the basis of race or ethnicity because of a past affiliation with The PhD Project. The letters set a March 31 deadline for information about their relationship with the nonprofit.

In a statement, the PhD Project said it aims to “create a broader talent pipeline” of business leaders. “This year, we have opened our membership application to anyone who shares that vision,” it said.

Colleges tread carefully

Public reaction from the universities’ leadership has been minimal and cautious, with most issuing brief statements saying they will cooperate with investigators and refusing further comment.

Colleges may see reasons not to push back. The Trump administration has shown willingness to withhold federal funding over issues involving antisemitism allegations, diversity programs and transgender athletes At Columbia

The University of Kentucky said it severed ties with the nonprofit on Monday The University of Wyoming said in a statement that its college of business was affiliated with the group to develop its graduate student pipeline, but it plans to discontinue its membership.

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas issued a statement saying three professors participated in the program, but two no longer work at the university and a third was killed in a shooting on campus in 2023. Arizona State said its business school is not financially supporting The PhD Project this year and it told faculty in February the school would not support travel to the nonprofit’s conference.

Campaign against work

Similar fallout came in Texas earlier this year, when Rufo began posting on X about the PhD Project.

“Texas A&M is sponsoring a trip to a DEI conference,” Rufo posted on Jan 13. Rufo, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, a conservative think tank, accused the university of “supporting racial segregation and breaking the law.”

The next day Republican Texas

Montana State University said it follows all state and federal laws and was “surprised” by the notice it received and “unaware of any complaint made internally with regards to The PhD Project.”

Six other colleges are being investigated for awarding “impermissible race-based scholarships,” the Education Department said. Additionally, the University of Minnesota is being investigated for allegedly operating a program that segregates students on the basis of race.

At the University of California, Berkeley, hundreds gathered Wednesday on the campus known for student protests. But this one was organized by faculty who stood on the steps of Sproul Hall, known as the birthplace of the free speech movement in the 1960s. In a campus email last week, Berkeley Chancellor Rich Lyons did not specifically mention the investigation targeting his school. But he described the federal government’s actions against higher education as a threat to the school’s core values.

“A Berkeley without academic freedom without freedom of inquiry, without freedom of expression is simply not Berkeley,” Lyons said “We will stand up for Berkeley’s values and defend them to the very best of our ability.”

“Such

LOUISIANA POLITICS

Medicaid concerns roiling Congressional town halls

WASHINGTON — Usually constitu-

ents are polite when attending town halls, using the events as opportunities to meet and discuss issues with their congressperson.

Mark Ballard

That changed recently, first for Republican representatives and now for Democratic members. Scenes of participants booing and hurling invectives at GOP members of Congress over President Donald Trump’s policies, such as fears about the future of Medicaid and Social Security, have turned the once-staid affairs into shouting matches in many states including Nebraska, Michigan, and North Carolina — all shown on television

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Benton, suggested GOP members avoid scheduling in-person town halls during last week’s congressional recess. Most followed his advice.

“They’re professional protesters,” Johnson said of the agitators at Republican district town halls.

Johnson provided no proof for his assertions, but Trump has made similar claims on social media.

The Democrats were delighted at the GOP withdrawal from the town hall scene and decided to accentuate the GOP’s arm’slength approach. That strategy hasn’t totally worked out for Democrats.

A Democrat-affiliated group erected billboards targeting six Republican House members in Colorado, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Texas and two in Virginia for voting to cut Medicaid.

The Washington Examiner reported Thursday that the billboards were taken down by Lamar Advertising Company, headquartered in Baton Rouge, after the National Republican Congressional Committee warned that the representatives had not voted to do away with Medicaid and saying so could make vendors liable to defamation claims. And many Democratic representatives ran into voters outraged at representatives for not doing enough to oppose Trump’s

Landry signs ‘Gulf of America’ executive order

Gov Jeff Landry has signed an executive order directing state agencies, boards and officers to change “Gulf of Mexico” references to “Gulf of America” on all published materials moving forward. References must also be changed to ”Gulf of America” in the Louisiana Administrative Code, a publication that serves as the official log of the policies of various state agencies, no later than May 20, according to the executive order

The order also serves as a formal request to the Louisiana Law Insti-

policies. Democratic members were chastised at town halls in Maryland, Oregon, Arizona and other states. So far Louisiana town halls haven’t been as combative as elsewhere around the country Medicaid came up during a telephone town hall held by House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson, for his constituents in his Republicanmajority congressional district. But most of the questions ranged from flood insurance to tax cuts

CAPITOL BUZZ staff reports

tute to “study updating all statutory references to the ‘Gulf of Mexico’ to the ‘Gulf of America’ to reflect the official and standard geographic name.” Landry signed the directive Thursday at a networking luncheon hosted by the HoumaTerrebonne, Lafourche, St. Mary and Thibodaux Chambers of Commerce, among others. In a recording posted on social media, he said he was signing the order “in honor of President Trump, who is absolutely putting

for families and businesses.

Medicaid questions have become much more pointed at town halls in Democratic districts, said U.S. Rep. Cleo Fields, DBaton Rouge.

“It’s more the anticipation of what’s going to happen. I think that’s where all the anxiety is coming from,” Fields said.

Trump and Johnson say Medicaid won’t be touched, except to correct for fraud and inefficiencies.

But House Republicans passed

America first.”

Landry’s order follows and also makes reference to an executive order signed by President Donald Trump his first day in office titled “Restoring Names that Honor American Greatness” that in part orders the U.S. secretary of the interior to rename the Gulf of Mexico. Google Maps now reflects the change. The Louisiana State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education voted last week to align the state’s fourth and fifth grade social studies standards with Trump’s order Trump signs bill that rolls back drilling rules

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump signed into law legisla-

a framework bill that requires House committees to find $1.5 trillion in spending cuts — $880 billion of which would come from the committee overseeing Medicaid.

Many town hall participants question whether the GOP can reach that goal without significantly shifting much of those costs from federal to state treasuries.

Health care accounts for $21.4 billion, or 43.4% of the state’s total budget. Louisiana taxpayers

tion co-sponsored by Louisiana Sen. John N. Kennedy that rolled back an archaeological rule in the oilfield, part of a broader push by Republicans to undo restrictions the Biden Administration placed on the oil and gas industry

“Burdensome regulations hurt oil and gas producers’ ability to provide affordable energy and jobs to Americans,” Kennedy said in a statement announcing Trump’s signature.

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

The Biden Administration said the

will be expected to put up $3.23 billion of that amount through the state general fund during the next fiscal year

Any decrease in federal funding would require the state to pay more or services to be cut.

Nearly a third of Louisiana’s residents, 1.6 million people, are on Medicaid, the state-federal health insurance program for low-income families.

Rep. Troy Carter, D-New Orleans, told a Tuesday night town hall he organized on the Dillard University campus in New Orleans that if Republicans cut Medicaid by $880 billion or anywhere close to that, then millions of Americans would lose their medical insurance, hospitals and nursing home would close, and health care would become “much worse for our children, the disabled, and the elderly who rely on these services. We cannot, we will not sit idly by.” Carter sits on the House committee tasked with finding the budget cuts that might impact Medicaid. But Medicaid was not the only worry among Carter’s constituents.

The Rev Jeff Conner, a retired Methodist minister, asked Carter what could be done to stop the erroneous rhetoric that dead people are still receiving Social Security benefits.

Carter said he has been trying “to dispel the lies” through frequent interviews on television and on social media.

A participant named Keenan politely but pointedly criticized Democrats for not doing enough to oppose Trump policies.

“We have to use every tool in our arsenal,” Carter responded. He added because Republicans have narrow majorities in the House and Senate and hold the White House, that Democrats must turn a handful of GOP representatives to their side, use parliamentary rules to slow legislative progress and go to the courts to challenge policies.

“I don’t think we have the luxury of waiting for 2026 (when a new Congress is scheduled to be elected). We have to live in 2025,” Carter said.

Email Mark Ballard at mballard@theadvocate.com.

purpose was to standardize the reporting to create a database of the reports that could be used for future surveys.

Oil and gas interests, however, argued that the Biden administration rule effectively required a survey for every project 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

Kennedy co-sponsored the resolution with U.S. Sen. Cindy HydeSmith, R-Mississippi.

“President Trump promised to restore America’s energy might and by signing these resolutions of disapproval he helps Congress reset policy in a way that encourages offshore oil and gas production,” Hyde-Smith said.

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U.S. Rep. Troy Carter, R-New Orleans, and Dr Rebekah Gee, the former secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health, field questions about possible changes to Medicaid during a March 18 town hall meeting in New Orleans.

Detained Istanbul mayor faces 2nd day of questioning

Protests over his arrest intensify

By The Associated Press

ISTANBUL Hundreds of supporters gathered in front of an Istanbul courthouse on Saturday, where detained Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu faced further questioning over allegations of corruption and terror links. His arrest this week intensified political tensions and sparked widespread protests across Turkey, with demonstrators rallying in multiple cities to voice their opposition.

Police questioned Imamoglu for around five hours on Saturday as part of an investigation into allegations of aiding the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, the Cumhuriyet newspaper reported. A day earlier he was questioned for four hours over the corruption accusations The mayor rejected all charges during both interrogations. He was later transferred to a courthouse for questioning by prosecutors along with some 90 other people who were also detained with him.

The authorities barred access to the courthouse using barricades on local roads and closing nearby metro stations. Hundreds of police officers and over a dozen wa-

ter cannon trucks were deployed. Still, hundreds gathered in front of the building shouting: “Rights, law, justice!”

Crowds also began to rally outside the city hall for a fourth night in a show of support to the mayor Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya posted on social media that 343 suspects had been detained in protests in major cities on Friday night adding “There will be no tolerance for those who seek to violate societal order, threaten the people’s peace and security, and pursue chaos and provocation.” The cities listed included Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Adana, Antalya, Canakkale, Eskisehir, Konya and Edirne.

Imamoglu, who is a popular opposition figure and seen as a top challenger to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was detained on Wednesday following a dawn raid on his residence over allegations of financial crimes and links to Kurdish militants. Dozens of other prominent figures, including two district mayors, were also detained

Many view the arrest as a politically driven attempt to remove a popular opposition figure and key challenger to Erdogan in the next presidential race, currently scheduled for 2028. Gov-

ernment officials reject accusations that legal actions against opposition figures are politically motivated and insist that Turkey’s courts operate independently

His arrest has ignited protests that have steadily increased in intensity

On Friday, police in Istanbul used pepper spray, tear gas and rubber bullets to push back hundreds of protesters who tried to break through a barricade in front

3 killed in Russian attacks on Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia

BY SAMYA KULLAB Associated Press

KYIV, Ukraine Russia launched a drone attack on the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia, killing three people and wounded 14, Ukrainian officials said Saturday, despite agreeing to a limited ceasefire.

Zaporizhzhia was hit by 12 drones, police said. Regional head Ivan Fedorov said that residential buildings, cars and communal buildings were set on fire in the Friday night attack. Photos showed emergency services scouring the rubble for survivors. Ukraine and Russia agreed in principle Wednesday to a limited ceasefire after U.S President Donald Trump spoke with the countries’ leaders, though it remains to be seen what possible targets would be off-limits to attack. The three sides appeared to hold starkly different views about what the deal covered. While the White House said “energy and infrastructure” would be part of the agreement, the Krem-

a Russian drone strike in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine.

lin declared that the agreement referred more narrowly to “energy infrastructure.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he would also like railways and ports to be protected The dead in Zaporizhzhia were three members of one family The bodies of the daughter and father were pulled out from under the rubble while doctors unsuccessfully fought for the mother’s life for more than 10 hours, Fedorov wrote on the Telegram messaging app

The Ukrainian air force reported that Russia fired a total of 179 drones and decoys in the latest wave of attacks overnight into Saturday It said 100 were intercepted and a further 63 lost, likely having been electronically jammed.

Officials in the Kyiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions also reported fires breaking out due to the falling debris from intercepted drones.

Russia’s Ministry of Defense, meanwhile, said its air defense systems shot down 47 Ukrainian drones.

Sudan’s army says it seized

BY SAMY MAGDY Associated Press

CAIRO Sudan’s military on Saturday consolidated its grip on the capital, retaking more key government buildings in Khartoum a day a day after it gained control of the Republican Palace from a notorious paramilitary group.

Brig. Gen. Nabil Abdullah, a spokesperson for the Sudanese military, said troops

expelled the Rapid Support Forces from the headquarters of the National Intelligence Service and Corinthia Hotel in central Khartoum. The army also retook the headquarters of the Central Bank of Sudan and other government and educational buildings in the area, Abdullah said. Hundreds of RSF fighters were killed while trying to flee the capital city, he said. There was no immediate

comment from the RSF

The army’s gain came as a Sudanese pro-democracy activist group said RSF fighters had killed at least 45 people in a city in the western region of Darfur

On Friday, the military retook the Republican Palace, the prewar seat of the government, in a major symbolic victory for the Sudanese military in its nearly two years of war against the RSF

of the city’s historic aqueduct while hurling flares, stones and other objects at officers.

Police also dispersed groups that had rallied outside of the city hall for a third night running, after the opposition Republican People’s Party leader, Ozgur Ozel, delivered a speech in support of the mayor

Simultaneously, police broke up demonstrations in Ankara, the capital, as well as in the Aegean coastal city

of Izmir, resorting to forceful measures at times, according to television images. Thousands marched in several other cities calling on the government to resign.

Earlier, Erdogan said the government would not tolerate street protests and accused the opposition party of links to corruption and terror organizations.

The Istanbul governor’s office announced it was expanding a ban on demon-

strations until March 26 and imposed restrictions on the entry and exit of vehicles deemed to be transporting people “likely to participate in unlawful activities.”

Erdogan on Saturday accused the CHP’s leadership of turning the party “into an apparatus to absolve a handful of municipal robbers who have become blinded by money.”

He also accused it of “doing everything to disturb the public peace, to polarize the nation.”

Imamoglu’s arrest came just days before he was expected to be nominated as the opposition Republican People’s Party’s presidential candidate in a primary on Sunday Ozel has said that the primary, where around 1.5 million delegates can vote, will go ahead as planned.

The opposition party has also urged citizens to participate in a symbolic election on Sunday through improvised ballot boxes to be set up across Turkey — to show solidarity with Imamoglu. In a tweet posted shortly before his arrival at the courthouse, Imamoglu urged the public to safeguard the ballot boxes for Sunday’s primary, “Don’t forget: they are very afraid of you and your democratic right to vote.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By KHALIL HAMRA

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By KATERyNA KLOCHKO Rescue workers clear the rubble Friday of a home destroyed by

THE GULF COAST

Currently

PROVIDED PHOTO By ALLEN STANFIELD AND TRAVIS TANK

Waterfront Ocean Springs, Miss., hexagon home for sale at $1.25M

BY POET WOLFE

Staff writer

Tucked behind live oaks in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, an oddly shaped, powder blue house

perched on concrete piers overlooks the water

The three-bedroom three-bath hexagonal home, which spans 1,708 square feet and sits on more than an acre of land, is listed for $1.25 million, according to the real estate company Zillow.

Currently operating as an Airbnb, the beachfront property sits between a winding road and an in-

finite stretch of bluish-gray water

With its shingle roof and overall structure, the house resembles the shape you learned about in elementary school, with wide angles connected by soft curvatures. It stands solitary on Belle Fontaine Drive, where most homes adhere to standard architectural designs.

The property was constructed by Deltec Homes, a North Carolina-based company that says its curvilinear design helps coun-

teract the wind pressure by 30%.

Deltec advertises that its homes have endured some of the Gulf Coast’s most powerful hurricanes on record, including Katrina, Michael and Ian.

“[Deltec homes are] built for durability with the high-end wind construction,” said Allen Stanfield, the real estate agent who listed the Ocean Springs house, while describing its weatherproof design.

Stanfield considers the property a fit for those looking for a sustainable lifestyle and families who desire an income-producing vacation home

Most homebuyers looking to buy in Ocean Springs lately are New Orleanians, according to real estate website Redfin.

“New Orleans homebuyers searched to move into Ocean Springs more than any other metro followed by Atlanta and Washington,” Redfin said in a statement.

Built in 2021, the waterfront house eschews old-fashioned

designs and embraces modern luxury

Over the kitchen and living room is a wooden vaulted ceiling with recessed lighting. At the center of the kitchen is a marble island surrounded by indigo cabinets with gold handles.

The living room is modest with large windows that offer a beachfront view The master bedroom, similar in size to the living room, includes what Stanfield calls a “spa-inspired” bathroom, featuring a soaking tub and a custom shower with multiple showerheads. Outside, a black fence separates the saltwater pool and multi-level decks from a grassy field. Stanfield said the house offers a clear view unlike a majority of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, where U.S. 90 sprawls between beaches and homes.

“You have direct beachfront access with no public property in front of you,” Stanfield said, adding that the home sits outside of the flood zone.

As temps warm up, see which Gulf Coast beaches allow alcohol

BY POET WOLFE Staff writer

With the warm weather of spring emerging, people will start flocking to Gulf Coast beaches with the essentials: sunscreen, bathing suits and towels. Many will also have alcoholic beverages, from fizzy hard seltzers to ice-cold beer, clinking in beach bags. But rules vary for the consumption of alcohol at the white sand beaches across the Gulf Coast, including those in Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida panhandle

Some allow vacationers and springbreakers who are 21 years or older to drink, though forbid glass containers, while others fully prohibit alcoholic beverages.

Perhaps you, like many other Louisianans college students anticipating spring break and employees in need of a vacation — are preparing for a beach getaway

Here’s a list of popular beaches in Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida panhandle that allow and do not allow alcoholic beverages.

Mississippi

According to government officials, glass containers are not allowed on the beaches of Harrison County, where Biloxi, Gulfport, Long Beach and Pass Christian are located. Its official website does not say that alcoholic beverages are prohibited.

Beaches in Hancock County, including those in Waveland and Bay St. Louis, allow vacationers to bring alcoholic beverages, though glass containers are not allowed, its Chamber of Commerce says.

For beaches in Jackson County, home to Ocean Springs and Pascagoula, its rules on alcohol vary Mississippi’s tourism website does not explicitly say that people can’t bring alcohol to Front and East Beaches in Ocean Springs, but it does warn

of glass containers being prohibited.

As for Pascagoula, its parks and recreation department states that no alcohol can be sold or consumed on city property without a permit.

Alabama

A resort city in Baldwin County known for its blue-green water and fine white sand, Gulf Shores does not allow the consumption of alcohol on any of its beaches, according to its website.

In Orange Beach, next door to Gulf Shores, alcohol is permitted, though government officials warn glass containers are prohibited.

Located on the tip of Dauphin Island, West End Beach allows vacationers to bring their own beverages, its website says, but similar to Orange Beach, glass containers are banned.

Florida panhandle

Destin, a busy beach town known for its recreation and fishing opportunities, allows the consumption of alcohol, but prohibits glass containers, according to a representative on its tourism website.

Eleven months out of the year excluding March, alcohol consumption is allowed on Panama City Beach, its website says. Glass containers are prohibited year-round.

The tourism website for Pensacola Beach states that while glass containers and public displays of drunkenness are not allowed, alcoholic beverages are OK.

Fort Walton, a beach city within Oskaloosa County, prohibits alcohol consumption outside of state parks, according to a vacation rentals website.

Rosemary, Grayton and Seaside beaches, all of which are a part of the scenic 30A highway corridor, permits alcoholic beverages and open containers, another vacation rentals website says. Glass containers are not allowed.

Trump plans tariff ‘liberation day’ with more targeted push

BY JOSH WINGROVE Bloomberg News (TNS)

President Donald Trump’s coming wave of tariffs is poised to be more targeted than the barrage he has occasionally threatened, aides and allies say, a potential relief for markets gripped by anxiety about an all-out tariff war

Trump is preparing a “liberation day” tariff announcement on April 2, unveiling socalled reciprocal tariffs he sees as retribution for tariffs and other barriers from other countries, including longtime U.S. allies. While the announcement would remain a very significant expansion of U.S. tariffs, it’s shaping up as more focused than the sprawling, fully global effort Trump has otherwise mused about, officials familiar with the matter say Trump will announce widespread reciprocal tariffs on nations or blocs but is set to exclude some, and as of now — the administration is not planning separate, sectoral-specific tariffs to be unveiled at the same event, as Trump had once teased, officials said.

Still, Trump is looking for immediate impact with his tariffs, planning announced rates that would take effect right away, one of the officials said. And the measures are likely to further strain ties with allied nations and provoke at least some retaliation, threatening a spiraling escalation. Only countries that don’t have tariffs on the U.S., and with whom the U.S. has a trade surplus, will not be tariffed under the reciprocal plan, an official said. As with many policy processes under Trump, the situation remains fluid and no decision is final until the president announces it. One aide last week referred repeatedly to internal “negotiations” over how to implement the tariff program and some of the most regularly hawkish signals come from Trump himself, underscoring his avowed interest in sharply raising import taxes as a revenue stream.

“April 2 is going to be liberation day for America. We’ve been ripped off by every country in the world, friend and foe,” Trump said in the Oval Office Friday. It would bring in “tens of billions,” he added, while another aide said recently the

By The Associated Press

BEIJING U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, a strong supporter of President Donald Trump, met Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng with warm exchanges in front of journalists on Saturday even as tensions between their countries spiked over trade tariffs and the handling of the illegal trade in fentanyl. Daines, the first member of Congress to visit Beijing since Trump took office in January, will meet with Chinese Premier Li Qiang on

tariffs could bring in trillions of dollars over a decade.

But the market reaction to initial tariffs imposed on Canada, Mexico and China — as well as certain metals has hung heavy over a West Wing serving a president who has long used major indexes as a measuring stick of his success.

Trump officials publicly acknowledged in recent days the list of target countries may not be universal, and that other existing tariffs, like on steel, may not necessarily be cumulative, which would substantially lower the tariff hit to those sectors. That includes comments from Trump himself, who has increasingly focused his remarks on the reciprocal measures

It’s already a retreat from his original plans for a global across-the-board tariff at a flat rate, which later morphed into his “reciprocal” proposal that would incorporate tariffs and nontariff barriers. It’s not clear which countries Trump will include under his more targeted approach. He has cited the European Union, Mexico, Japan, South Korea, Canada, India and China as trade abusers when discussing the matter, an official said.

While narrower in scope, Trump’s plan is still a much broader push than in his first term and will test the appetite of markets for uncertainty and a raft of import taxes.

“There will be big tariffs that will be going into effect, and the president will be announcing those himself,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday Markets overestimating Kevin Hassett, Trump’s

Sunday and the nation’s No. 2 official will give him an introduction to China’s policies, according to He. Daines, who previously worked for American consumer goods company Procter & Gamble in south China’s economic hub of Guangzhou, said this trip marked his sixth visit to China. He had met Li in 2018, when he served as the Communist Party secretary of Shanghai. He said this visit comes at a time when there are some important issues to discuss

National Economic Council director, said markets are overestimating the scope.

“One of the things we see from markets is they’re expecting they’re going to be these really large tariffs on every single country,” he told Fox Business host Larry Kudlow, who held Hassett’s job during Trump’s first term.

“I think markets need to change their expectations, because it’s not everybody that cheats us on trade, it’s just a few countries and those countries are going to be seeing some tariffs.”

Trump has also pledged to pair those with sectoral tariffs on autos, semiconductor chips, pharmaceutical drugs and lumber The auto tariffs, specifically, he said would come in the same batch.

“We’re going to do it on April 2, I think,” he said in a February Oval Office event.

But plans for those remain unclear and, as of now, they aren’t set to be launched at the same “liberation day” event, officials said.

An auto tariff is still being considered and Trump has not ruled it out at another time, officials said. But excluding the measure from the April 2 announcement would be welcome news to the auto sector which faced the prospect of as many as three separate tariff streams straining supply chains.

The “liberation day” event might also include some tariff rollbacks, though that’s uncertain Trump imposed, then heavily clawed back, tariffs on Canada and Mexico for what the U.S. said was a failure to slow shipments of fentanyl destined for the U.S. The fate of those remains deeply unclear: a Trump pause on swathes of those

between China and the U.S.

“I’ve always believed in having constructive dialogue and that has been the nature of all my visits to China over the course of many years,” he said.

The U.S. Embassy in China posted on X later Saturday that Daines voiced Trump’s ongoing call for Beijing to stop the flow of fentanyl precursors from China. Daines also expressed hopes that further high-level talks between the two countries will take place in the near future.

tariffs is due to expire, but the tariffs could be lifted entirely and replaced with the reciprocal number, officials said.

‘Dirty 15’

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said last week that steel and aluminum tariffs may not necessarily add on to the country-by-country rates. “I will have a better sense as we get closer to April 2nd So, they could be stacked,” he told Fox Business last week.

In the same interview, he said it’s roughly 15% of countries that are the worst offenders.

“It’s 15% of the countries, but it’s a huge amount of our trading volume,” he said, referring to it as the “dirty 15” and signaling they are the target. “And they have substantial tariffs, and as important as the tariff or some of these non-tariff bar-

riers, where they have domestic content production, where they do testing on our — whether it’s our food, our products, that bear no resemblance to safety or anything that we do to their products,” he said.

Trump aides considered, before abandoning, a threetiered option for global tariffs, where countries were grouped in based on how severe the administration considered their own barriers, people familiar with the plans said That option was reported earlier by The Wall Street Journal.

Trump sees tariffs as a key tool both to steer new investment to the U.S. and to tap new sources of revenue, which he hopes to offset tax cuts Republicans are considering.

“Tariffs will make America more competitive. They will incentivize investment into America,” Stephen Miran,

Trump’s Council of Economic Advisers chairman, said in an interview, declining to detail the steps. The White House has also argued that trillions of dollars in pledged announcements by foreign countries and companies provides evidence Trump’s plans are working. Miran told Fox Business last week that talks are ongoing ahead of April 2 deadline.

“I do think that it’s perfectly reasonable to expect that we could raise trillions of dollars from tariffs over a 10-year budget window and like I said before, using those revenues to finance lower rates on American workers, on American businesses,” he said. Still, economists have questioned whether the tariffs would meaningfully impact the deficit, particularly considering the risk of inflation or an economic slowdown.

ABACA/TNS PHOTO By yURI GRIPAS

President Donald Trump speaks March 13 in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington.

Tariffs would hurt tourism, Nungesser says

Canada is the state’s biggest international tourism market

BY STEPHEN MARCANTEL Staff writer

Tariffs on Canada would harm Louisiana’s tourism industry, which has yet to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, Lt. Gov Billy Nungesser said.

Speaking at the Louisiana Environmental Conference and Trade Fair in Lafayette on Thursday Nungesser said Canada is the state’s biggest international tourism market

North Lafayette company to lay off dozens

Southern Glazer’s may be consolidating operations

BY ADAM DAIGLE

Acadiana business editor

A national liquor distributor will let go of 48 employees at its Lafayette location in a possible move to consolidate operations in another region of the state, records indicate.

Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits will enact layoffs May 16 at its location at 939 W. Pont Des Mouton Road, according to the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification notice the company sent the Louisiana Workforce Commission last week. Details were not available Friday, but earlier reports indicate the company may be consolidating its operations into a 375,000-squarefoot distribution center in Ascension Parish.

The layoffs come after Southern Glazer’s, the Miami-based company that is billed as the largest wine and spirit distributor in the country, sold the Lafayette building in November 2023 to Stirling Properties for an undisclosed amount, land records show Stirling later took out a mortgage for $6.875 million for the property Company officials at the time did not respond to questions about the sale. Stirling Properties is currently listing the 148,000-square-foot building for lease and indicates it is immediately available.

Southern Glazer’s at one time leased property at a distribution center 1016 Southwest Evangeline Thruway since 2016. It’s unknown if or when the company vacated that space, which is also listed for lease by Stirling Properties

The company is the 10th-largest private company in the United States, with 24,000 employees and $26 billion in revenue for 2024, according to Forbes. It distributes 8,600 brands with 3,000 trucks in its fleet, according to a company fact sheet, and orchestrates 7.1 million customer deliveries annually to more than 250,000 customers. Christopher Cartwright and Timothy Boone contributed to this report.

after more than 188,000 Canadians visited Louisiana in 2019. President Donald Trump’s tariffs against the country, he said, have soured the appeal of coming to the United States for now

Several Canadian mayors and of-

ficials were set to visit Lafayette for an upcoming event, but some have now canceled their trip, he said.

“I’m hoping these trade wars can be put to bed quickly because it will affect our numbers from Canada,”

Nungesser said. The state will certainly break tourism records this year due to the Super Bowl in New Orleans. But barring that event, the state still hasn’t surpassed its 2019 numbers.

In 2019, the state had more than 53 million visitors, while last year drew around 44 million people Before the pandemic, tourism numbers grew around 3% to 5% yearly smashing records for five years in a row The increase made hospitality and tour-

ism the fourth-largest industry in the state, but it has since fallen to fifth place, he said.

Neighboring states, he said, have rebounded better than Louisiana.

The state continues to diversify its international markets, Nungesser said. The federal government recently awarded the state $300,000 for the next three years to expand its global reach to places like Italy Spain and India.

The largest draw to Louisiana con-

tinues to be New Orleans and the Carnival celebrations. Nungesser said that over the past few years, they have been promoting Mardi Gras in other cities and have seen success.

“We’ve seen double-digit increases in number coming to Houma, Morgan City, Lafayette and Shreveport,” he said.

Social media and television advertisements are the main way they reach out to people around the nation and the globe. Beyond that, they use travel writers and attend trade shows to boast about the state.

DOGGy DAyS

BOTTOM RIGHT: Karter Sampy, 10, gives cuddles to a sweet dog offered by The Animal Aid for Vermilion Area organization for adoption. BOTTOM LEFT: The Terrebonne Parish Animal Shelter also offers dogs for adoption.

Previously rescued dog Arlo enjoys running through the tunnel with his owner Wren Stelly, 3, during the Bark in the Park event held at Girard Park on Saturday

By ROBIN MAy

Hunter cited for illegally killing black bear

Incident happened near state park

BY KRISTIN ASKELSON Staff writer

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries enforcement

agents on Wednesday cited a southwestern Louisiana man for allegedly illegally taking a Loui-

siana black bear in Vermilion Parish.

Agents cited Shannon R. Parker, 50, of Abbeville, for taking a bear during a closed season and failing to comply with wild quadruped times and methods of taking.

Agents received information that a black bear was killed near the Palmetto State Park on private land in early March

Agents located the deceased female bear, which was about 10 years old and weighed about 200 pounds.

A necropsy was conducted on the deceased bear, and it revealed the bear was shot with a high power rifle on or about Feb. 28 or March 1.

Parker said he shot at a dark silhouette that he believed was a wild hog and failed to identify his target before firing his rifle

Agents also learned that Parker

ä See BEAR, page 2B

During an investigation, evidence led agents to Parker as a suspect in the killing Agents made contact with Parker on Wednesday, and during questioning he admitted to taking a black bear at night with his .270 rifle on Feb. 28.

PHOTOS

Whitney Bank building hotel plans back on track

More hotels to anchor CBD area

BY ANTHONY MCAULEY Staff writer

tral Business District block, which would transform the former “banker’s row” area into another node of the city’s ever-expanding tourism industry

Baton Rouge developer Mike Wampold and his partners bought all seven buildings that made up the Whitney Bank complex six years ago, including the 14-story Whitney est At out compl luxu

apartments floor lets The ic derailed worldwide lapsed skyrocketed terest harde

Ho In Wampold has been trying to sell off some of the structures holding tower Charles origin sales

according to three people familiar with the project

public records show Mackie’s representatives did not respond to a request for comment.

fruition those are partners Av to McDon in who for separate uled sale historic Memorial is est century ture in the city It was sold together with the adjacent building at 619 Gravier St. The sale price was not disclosed but Wampold’s real estate agent, Talbot Realty, had recently been offering the Norman Mayer building for $5.5 million.

the dust settle’

The block, which is bounded by St. Charles Avenue, Common, Camp and Gravier streets, played a significant role in the commercial history of New Orleans and has ng been slated for renovation. If the new projects come to fruition, they would add hundreds of new hotel residential units and floor shops and restaurants to the heart of the CBD.

noted that he has ties to Marriott International. His Renaissance Hotel in Baton Rouge is a luxury Marriott brand, and his Watermark Hotel in downtown Baton Rouge is part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection of upscale boutique hotels. Historical significance

The entire Whitney complex block is part of the Lower Central Business District, which has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1991.

decade ago to a Marriott AC Hotel. Also, the former New Orleans Public Service Inc. building on Baronne Street in 2017 became the NOPSI Hotel.

All but two of the buildings on the Whitney Bank block are also part of a local preservation district, the Picayune Place Historic District, which covers six blocks within the larger CBD.

Wampold said the sale of the properties has helped put his development group back on track for a slightly scaled-down conversion of the rest of the Whitney complex.

The Norman Mayer Memorial Building has a storied past, having been designed by local architects Andry and Bendernagel, who also occupied offices there when the ground floor tenant was Interstate Bank in the early 1900s.

The Historic District Landmarks Commission, which regulates local districts, notes that Picayune Place became the fledgling “American Sector” in the early 19th century, attracting new arrivals after the Louisiana Purchase.

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The new owner of both buildings is developer Sean Cummings, who already owns the 117-room International House Hotel on the corner of Camp and Gravier streets, and plans to expand

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“We’ve really been focused on paying down debt, and now we want to let the dust settle on these property sales,” Wampold said. “But we have a preliminary plan for what we have left and hope we can get a green light later this year and move forward with construction soon after.”

The International House Hotel was itself a conversion of a storied beaux-arts building in 1998 by Cummings and architect Brooks Graham. The 1906 building was designed by Diboll and Owen and was a bank until the middle of the last century when it became the first site of the city’s World Trade Center

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from Wampold’s project, there are also plans to convert another building on the block into a tiny boutique hotel Hollywood actor and New Orleans native Anthony Mackie bought 204 St. Charles Ave. three years ago. The four-story building had a Subway sandwich shop on the ground floor before it was sold Mackie has applied for permits to convert the slim, century-old building into three rental units with a bar

He said the preference still would be for a branded hotel with up to 300 rooms on the site. Though he and his partners have been in talks with several hotel groups,

Many other notable buildings in the business district have seen hotel conversions in recent years, including the former Cotton Exchange on Carondelet Street, which was converted just over a

The historic significance of the buildings is important both in terms of navigating the permitting process as well as taking advantage of the myriad federal and state tax breaks and grants used to finance renovations of historic properties.

Wampold said his development team has applied for federal and state historic building tax credits and are in talks with financial partners to move ahead with the project.

The whole block is designated as an Opportunity Zone, which means eligible investors can get a break on capital gains taxes.

McDonnel and Bates said they are still in the middle of

securing the permits for the 210 St. Charles project and declined further comment. During the 1940s, 210 St. Charles had been the address of the legendary Dixie’s Bar of Music, where the 35-foot wide Xavier Gonzalez Mural had hung before it was moved in 2018 to the New Orleans Jazz Museum. Documents submitted to the HDLC show the developers are seeking to have a ground-floor hotel lobby, lounge and wet bar on the St. Charles Avenue side of the property with a total of 37 hotel rooms on floors two through four Glad to see activity Apart from the International House Hotel, the only other building currently in commercial use on the block is the Gulf Coast Bank and Trust. A rare reminder of the area’s banker’s row past, it has been at 200 St. Charles Ave. since it was founded in 1990. Gulf Coast President and CEO Guy Williams said his bank isn’t part of any development plans for the block and is expecting to stay put. “I’m just glad they seem to be finally moving ahead there,” Williams said. “It’s been empty for a long time.” Email Anthony McAuley tmcauley@theadvocate. com.

Belle Chasse businesses fear impact of bridge toll

Extra cost may keep customers away

BY BLAKE PATERSON Staff writer

When B&B Tackle relocated from Marrero to Belle Chasse seven years ago, it seemed like the perfect business move. The new storefront on La. 23 was a quick stop for customers on the way to lower Plaquemines Parish and its world-famous fishing waters. Then came the construction of the new Belle Chasse Bridge over the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway The $170 million project kicked off in April 2021, and in the years that followed, intermittent road closures have caused traffic nightmares. The congestion was made worse by the crush of workers trying to get to Venture Global’s Plaquemines LNG plant in Port Sulphur

“It made it hard for anybody on a schedule to come and get stuff,” said Austin Plaisance, 33, owner of B&B Tackle “There’s days where we hardly got any customers.”

On Monday, after an 11-month delay, the Belle Chasse Bridge finally opened, allowing traffic to flow more smoothly But Belle Chasse business owners haven’t exhaled yet

Drivers will soon have to pay a toll to cross the bridge, and business owners are worried what that might mean for their customers.

“I’m just nervous that I’m not going to get the people on that side of the bridge that want to come shop with me because of the toll,” Plaisance said.

The bridge was originally scheduled to open last April, but was delayed

after its developers, Plenary Infrastructure Belle Chasse, discovered that higher-than-expected subsidence was causing the structure to sink and that the slabs that provide a smooth transition from the road to the bridge needed to be replaced Plenary has been incurring $10,000-per-day fines as a result of not fully opening the bridge to traffic on time. Those fines were expected to reach $3.5 million by the end of March, Department of Transportation and Development Secretary Joe Donahue told lawmakers in December Public-private partnership

The four-lane bridge replaces a vertical-lift bridge built in 1967 and a tunnel that opened in 1955. Before the new bridge was built, drivers used two southbound lanes through the tunnel and two northbound lanes on the old bridge.

The new bridge is Louisiana’s first public-private partnership for a major infrastructure project and is supported by around $100 million in federal funds, with much of the rest covered by Plenary.

When the project was approved by the state Legislature in 2019, supporters argued that rejecting the proposal would cripple the chances of public-private partnerships elsewhere in Louisiana, including one to finance a new bridge across the Mississippi River in Baton Rouge. Still, the project faced pushback from residents and business owners in Plaquemines Parish for the toll.

“It absolutely is going to hurt business. Why would you pay a toll to get your teeth cleaned, get your hair cut, shop, eat, do anything when you could do it in Gretna,” Lt. Gov

Motorists cross the Belle Chasse Bridge that fully opened to traffic at 5 a.m. on Monday, 11 months later than originally anticipated.

Billy Nungesser, a former Plaquemines Parish president, said last week.

Dale Adams, owner of Adams Catfish House, said his business is down about 70% thanks to the traffic congestion. He said he saved up money to help cushion his coffers during construction, but didn’t anticipate the 11-month wdelay Adams suggested that the money DOTD is fining Plenary for the delay be redirected back into helping businesses and residents in Belle Chasse. “You’re penalizing them, but we’re the ones taking the brunt of it,” he said.

The Joint Legislative Committee on Transportation will have the final say

on how the money is spent under a new law sponsored by State Rep. Jacob Braud, R-Belle Chasse.

For now, Plaisance plans to stick it out where he’s at, and is crossing his fingers that his business doesn’t take any more of a hit.

“It’s going to drag me down with it if it goes down,” he said.

Toll prices

Over the course of the 30-year contract, Plenary could collect about $630 million in toll revenue, at the low end, or $726 million at the high end, according to Plenary projections included in a 2023 audit from the Louisiana Legislative Auditor Tolls are not yet being

charged, but are likely to commence in the next week or two, after DOTD inspections are complete, project spokesperson Abbe Ginn said.

The cost for most vehicles is 25 cents for Plaquemines residents, $1.13 for nonresidents with a GeauxPass and $2.26 for everyone without a GeauxPass. The cost is higher for those pulling trailers and larger trucks and vans. Plenary can increase most tolls each year based on the consumer price index, though the toll for Plaquemines residents can only increase by one cent per year

“Tolls will be collected in each direction by an electronic tolling system that

does not require vehicles to stop,” DOTD wrote in a news release. “Residents and commuters are encouraged to get a GeauxPass, which offers lower toll rates and ease of payment.”

Town halls

There are three open houses to help residents sign up for a GeauxPass at the Belle Chasse Auditorium, 8398 La. 23, Belle Chasse, LA 70037 in the coming week: n March 24: Noon to 6 p.m. n March 26: 9 a.m to 3 p.m. n March 27: 9 a.m to 3 p.m.

Email Blake Paterson at bpaterson@theadvocate. com and follow him on Twitter, @blakepater

Consultants mull fully closing Bourbon Street to cars

Report will address age-old question, other security measures

BY SOPHIE KASAKOVE Staff writer

For months, a crew of consultants has been pondering how and when to close off Bourbon Street to cars and thus ward against deadly attacks like the one that roiled the famed party strip on Jan. 1.

This week, they will make their recommendations public, just as a festival-laden spring in New Orleans kicks off. Former New York Police Commissioner William Bratton and his team will present their suggestions for Bourbon Street pedestrianization and other key security measures on Monday to the New Orleans Police and Justice Foundation, the booster group that covered the cost of Bratton’s work, which will share the findings with New Orleans Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick, Mayor LaToya Cantrell and the City Council, said foundation Chair Darrah Schaefer

That report is meant to guide a city that must fend for itself in the coming months, as heightened federal security in place for Super Bowl and Mardi Gras is not expected to persist through French Quarter Festival, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and any number of other spring and summer events sure to draw smaller, yet substantial crowds.

Teased in late January and February by the consultants and Kirkpatrick, who commissioned their work, the guidance has already revived a long-discussed and controversial debate. But Schaefer said the idea of imposing tighter restrictions on cars is just one of the options Bratton’s team will present to city leaders.

Their report will also touch on longer-term recommendations for deploying officers, new technology the city could use to detect threats, and equipment it could use to block streets. The team will advise the city on protections for crowds at April’s French Quarter Fest, and the consultants have also studied whether law enforcement responded appropriately to the New Year’s Day attack

Some say the guidance is welcomed in a city that has no long-term plan of its own to keep Bourbon Street and other major arteries safe from similar attacks, without also creating major traffic jams, or challenges for locals trying to access their homes and businesses.

“There are things that need to happen to make the French Quarter safer in the future, and we as a community have to figure out what level of security were comfortable with,” said Walt Leger III, president of New Orleans & Co.

But many still question if such an option would divert too much traffic to surrounding streets, among other concerns, and be too burdensome on area businesses that rely on delivery trucks and other vehicles.

“We want Bourbon Street to be safe, and in the next breath, there has to be a balance between safety and accessibility,” said Melvin Rodrigue, president and CEO of Galatoire’s Restaurants. Bratton, the Cantrell administration, and the council’s two at-large members, Helena Moreno and JP Morrell, did not respond to a request for comment Bratton’s group is also expected to detail its recommendations at a public town hall Wednesday, hosted by the Vieux Carré Property Owners and Residents Association.

Pedestrian-only zone?

Consultants have floated the logistics of shutting the strip to cars at recent com-

munity meetings, seven people who attended those meetings said.

In a Feb. 24 meeting with French Quarter neighborhood leaders, representatives from Teneo, the global consulting firm from which Bratton hails, offered an option for a “pedestrianonly zone for Bourbon Street” that would block vehicle access from Canal Street to Dumaine Street, using barriers placed on Bourbon Street and on every side street

The barriers would be staggered to allow residents and businesses to access driveways on side streets a bid to address a major concern that closing off the busy strip to vehicles would impede deliveries and travel.

Photos of the consultants’ presentation, obtained by The Times-Picayune, show examples of bollards and barriers from other cities that “can be deployed to align with the architecture and aesthetic of the French Quarter.”

At those meetings, the proposal prompted the same concerns and questions that have emerged in response to past attempts to “pedestrianize” Bourbon Street over the years.

In interviews this week some business owners said they worried that strict limitations on vehicle access to Bourbon Street would create traffic jams on streets that are open to vehicles nearby that would deter visitors from coming to the area at all.

“Imagine the traffic you have for Mardi Gras, but 365 days a year,” said Rodrigue

Erin Holmes, with Vieux Carré Property Owners, said traffic circulation is “going to have to be ironed out,” as will the impacts of the plan on residents.

John Casbon, co-founder of the Police and Justice Foundation, said that the consultants’ report will likely recommend a “com-

promise” that integrates feedback from neighborhood leaders by allowing designated vehicles like delivery trucks to access Bourbon Street for most of the day before shutting it and side streets off to all vehicles in the late afternoon.

Israel Duplessis, who works the door at Tropical Isle on Bourbon Street, said that closing Bourbon Street to cars would be an inconvenience to workers like him who drive to work, not just business owners.

“Workers out there still have to get to work,” said Duplessis.

Kim Alexander who operates a henna tattoo business out of a few camping chairs on Bourbon Street, said she supports closing Bourbon Street to cars as much as possible, as long as the city also comes up with a plan for a designated

parking lot where workers can park nearby

“That would solve a lot of problems,” said Alexander “Not only would it help the police monitor Bourbon even better, it would help the tourists feel a little more safe.”

Yearslong debate

It’s hardly the first time that proposals to restrict traffic on Bourbon Street have met resistance. A push by then-mayor Mitch Landrieu in 2016 for additional limits on vehicle access as part of a broader French Quarter safety initiative following a mass shooting on Canal Street after the Bayou Classic was ditched after pushback from business owners and residents.

Instead, a $40 million safety plan in 2017 added safety bollards along Bourbon Street designed to de-

ter acts of terrorism using vehicles, along with new crime cameras and more police.

A 2020 proposal by Cantrell’s administration that called for expanding pedestrian malls, restricting vehicular traffic, and lowering the speed limit gained some traction, but after pandemic-era restrictions ended, the plan fizzled.

Casbon said that whatever plan city officials decide on is only as good as its implementation and enforcement.

“If you don’t have people owning this, it’s not going to work,” said Casbon. “Somebody’s job has got to be putting all the barriers out, making sure everything is battened down.”

Email Sophie Kasakove at sophie.kasakove@ theadvocate.com.

STAFF PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD

Jessie Hoffman’s death puts our justice system under lens

The execution last week of Jessie Hoffman Jr marked the end of a 15-year-long stretch in which the death penalty was on the books in Louisiana but not carried out.

It also marked the beginning of a new era in which a practice already fraught with moral significance is complicated still further by deep ethical questions over the new method the state has chosen to employ Plainly put, we find that no matter how horrific the crime — and the 1996 kidnapping, rape and murder for which Hoffman was convicted was indeed that — the use of nitrogen gas is an affront to both the Constitution and human decency We urge the Louisiana Legislature to reconsider its approval Should it not, we would welcome a fuller vetting of the new execution protocols through the courts.

Take that last point first Both in an Alabama death-by-nitrogen case and in Hoffman’s, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on emergency injunctions without benefit of a full lower-court trial on whether the method of execution amounts to a “cruel and unusual punishment” prohibited by the Constitution’s Eighth Amendment Courts generally place a high bar against injunctive relief, whereas a full trial could more thoroughly establish a factual basis that could convince the Supreme Court to focus on the central issue that death by pure nitrogen gas is a cruel abomination.

We have concerns over how two judges on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals overruled federal district court judge Shelly Dick, thus putting Hoffman’s execution back on schedule The Fifth Circuit decision was so dismissive of the careful factual record amassed by Dick, even without benefit of a full trial, that it should raise red flags. If our judicial system cannot take the time to answer a fundamental constitutional question, and one where getting it wrong will result in irreversible harm, what is it there for?

Be that as it may, the simple fact is that state law on human executions is now more permissive than state law on euthanizing pets, which says that pure nitrogen should be only be used if the pet already has been rendered unconscious; even with small animals, death often can be achieved only through prolonged exposure to the gas while potentially painful hypoxia — in which depleted oxygen causes massive deterioration of organ function — occurs prior to the loss of consciousness

The death penalty, in practice, already is highly problematic for many reasons and has not been shown anywhere to make society safer. But if Louisiana lawmakers cannot come up with a usable execution method that isn’t pure torture — and so far, they haven’t — then there’s no good argument for continuing on this path of inhumanity

OPINION

The pain of Hamas hostage families

WASHINGTON “Good morning. I’m

Kathryn, what’s your name?”

It was a natural enough question at that awkward part of a meeting where we knew the vaguest things about one another I knew he had a family member being held by Hamas. He knew I cared enough to listen to him.

I wanted to put him at ease. And, of course, hear his story I met Ofir Angrest and eight families who’d just traveled from Israel as part of a press event. But it was much more than a media opportunity It was a chance to offer compassion and to learn.

Ofir is the younger brother of Matan Angrest, who was attacked by Hamas militants on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas raided the Nahal Oz miliary base. The three men with whom Angrest shared an Israeli Defense Forces tank Itay Hen, Daniel Peretz and Tomer Leibovitz — were all killed that day Angrest was injured and unconscious and was taken alive.

In a statement, sharing a Hamas hostage video showing a malnourishedlooking Angrest, the family pleaded for expedited negotiations while bemoaning his appearance: “Beyond the

severe psychological state evident in the footage, his right hand is nonfunctional, his eyes and mouth are asymmetrical and his nose is broken, according to testimonies from those who have returned all due to interrogations and torture in captivity.”

I told Ofir that many of us are praying for him, his parents and his brother He told me that he is certain that his brother can feel the prayers of people of good will who recoil in the face of inhumanity and aren’t shy to call out the barbarism of Hamas and the evil of antisemitism.

Ofir’s thanksgiving for Americans taking the time to listen was consistent with the feelings of his father and other families. A newspaper cartoon that former hostage Eli Sharabi recently handed Donald Trump came to mind when some of the fathers started talking about the silence in the West on the hostage issue The cartoon depicted three Holocaust survivors, with the post-World War II “Never again” refrain. The next panel had three former Hamas hostages, as emaciated as those Holocaust survivors. “Again” was under those three one of them a likeness of Sharabi.

Letting opinions ripen

on serious issues.

When our short meeting was over, Merav Gilboa-Dalal came straight for me and gave me a great, disarming hug that communicated so much — gratitude, anger, misery, exhaustion, safety and restlessness.

Her son, Guy, was at his first music festival in October, with his older brother and friends. His big brother Gal survived the brutal Hamas attack on that festival, but Guy was kidnapped, along with many others. Merav hugged Guy, and he took a selfie with her that morning. Merav can’t wait to hug her kidnapped son again. In the meantime, she thanks those of us who are seemingly doing the bare minimum — seeing her son as a human who deserves better than to be held hostage by terrorists.

I wish we had to imagine the evil of antisemitism. While we don’t, may every hug between a Jew and a Christian be healing and, by some miracle, a consolation to those who are isolated in dark tunnels, with no idea if they will emerge from captivity alive to see their mothers and brothers and fathers again.

Email Kathryn Jean Lopez at klopez@ nationalreview.com.

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

Recently I have been thinking about the speed at which news is happening on the state and especially national levels.

It has prompted an outpouring of letters to the editor on everything from the Department of Government Efficiency to the death penalty

One of the priorities of any newsroom is speed. Getting the news out first to the public and getting it out accurately is what we strive to do every day But in opinion journalism, we also see that sometimes it’s better to let ideas marinate, especially when the impact of the news is unclear

So while we will do online “quick takes” on issues that are trending in public discourse, we also are careful to take the time to weigh where we stand

The first impulse of outrage at an action may dissipate once more facts are known. Or conversely, when we have greater clarity about the contours of a proposal, we may be better able to write a strong piece condemning it on the merits.

Sometimes when I get questions about why we haven’t done an editorial on this or that topic, I do take your ideas to the editorial board for discussion. But even if we don’t immediately have a position on an issue you care about, that doesn’t mean we won’t have one in the future when we feel it’s the time is right. So keep sending your ideas.

I don’t have an account of the letters we received to give you this week, but I hope to return next week with an

up-to-date tally We have been running behind simply due to the high volume of letters we have received.

And here’s a reminder that early voting is underway for the March 29 election.

We recently gave our recommendations on the constitutional amendments on the ballot. They are available online in case you missed them.

It’s clear that many of you recognize the importance of when the newspaper comes out in favor or against something.

But in reality, it’s your voice that matters ultimately, and we urge you to take the chance to vote if you haven’t already

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

Arnessa Garrett

Kathryn Jean Lopez

COMMENTARY

Criminal justice solutions rely on better data

Being tough on criminals isn’t the only way to reduce crime.

Almost since its inception, the conservative Pelican Institute has pushed what it calls a “smart on crime” agenda, one which accepts tough punishment for more severe crimes but that stresses rehabilitation of lesser offenders as a way to cut recidivism. Pelican issued a new report March 17 that continues these worthy efforts.

Stopping recidivism, of course, is perhaps the single best way to make our communities safer Studies too numerous to mention (each with slightly different statistics but extraordinarily consistent bottom lines) show that a very small percentage of criminals are, as repeat offenders, responsible for a large majority of all crimes. And the more offenses someone commits, the more likely his offenses will progress to violence.

The questions always are: How severe should sentences be for each type of crime in order to deter crime in the first place,

versus how much wiggle room should be available to give incentives for redemption and for responsible behavior after release from prison? Put another way, how much stick is appropriate, compared to how many carrots?

Pelican’s answer always has been for government to spend more effort and money in rehabilitating minor offenders and less in incarcerating them.

Studies have shown this approach saves taxpayers more money in the long run as it did in Louisiana after earlier Pelican proposals were adopted and plenty of experience shows that the right sorts of rehabilitative programs can indeed keep minor violators from reoffending.

Pelican’s new report builds on this knowledge to make four wise sets of recommendations. (I’ll focus on three.)

The report was drafted by visiting scholar Jordan Richardson, who clerked for the notably conservative federal district judge Aileen Cannon of Florida, served as an adviser for the con-

servative Heritage Foundation and serves on Florida Gov Ron DeSantis’ judicial nominating commission.

First, Pelican recommends that Louisiana make greater use of specialized tribunals such as drug courts and reentry courts for lesser offenders, the latter of which “provide intensive oversight and support during incarceration and through the transition back into the community, under close judicial supervision.”

Whereas most other southern states feature such courts in the vast majority or even all of their judicial districts, only 48% of Louisiana judicial districts boast drug courts and just 19% use reentry courts.

Also, following the lead of Florida and other states, “Louisiana could establish training programs to enhance the capacity of judges, court staff, and program administrators to manage drug and reentry court cases.”

Recommendation two is to adopt a “felony classification system for transparency and proportional penalties.” This is important. Right now, Louisiana has a hodgepodge of more than 600 felony offenses, each with its

own sentencing parameters that usually were set one at a time without careful attention to how they compared with parameters for other offenses. Result: Similar offenses sometimes receive vastly difference sentences.

Pelican suggests doing what other states do and dividing up felonies by the “class” or severity of offense and then providing guidelines for all the penalties within each class. The guidelines would of course provide for more substantial sentences for repeat offenders.

Such a “tiered classification system” of offenses and punishments would “offer greater certainty and transparency to defendants, victims, and their families” alike.

The report’s third major recommendation is for better crime data collection and reporting, allowing for better analysis of what works and what doesn’t.

Only 37% of Louisiana’s 256 law enforcement agencies provide a complete year’s data to the FBI, and only 58% report any data to the FBI at all. Only 10 of 50 states rank worse than Louisiana on data reporting. Rafael Goyeneche, president

of the generally tough-on-crime New Orleans Metropolitan Crime Commission, praised Pelican’s proposals, with some caveats. “I think those recommendations are all reasonable,” he told me. “The key to all of this is to improve data collection and analysis. That is the cornerstone You need to be able to have data from all the judicial districts. Once you get all the data into one centralized hub, you can compare the [specialty drug courts and reentry courts] that are in existence and hold them accountable for the outcomes of those cases.”

Then, he said, “Use that data to make best-practices decisions about what will improve the administration of justice and better provide for the way state dollars are being utilized for justice.” In all of this, the goal isn’t punishment for punishment’s sake The goal is to set both punishments and redemptive possibilities at the best levels, and by the right methods, to reduce the actual occurrence of crime. Quin Hillyer can be reached at quin.hillyer@theadvocate.com.

Five years in, remember best of the COVID response

It’s been five years since COVID-19 began its deadly spread through Louisiana, and on the other side of the pandemic, many things look different.

Work habits have changed, particularly for those who can do their jobs remotely The effects of longterm social isolation are still showing themselves.

Hindsight is all the rage, with all the couldas and shouldas that generally entails.

That’s fine. Good, even We should always be willing to learn from our experiences and study the unintended consequences of our actions.

But when it comes to reexamining how those who practice medicine and public health acted in the dire, confusing moment, let’s also not forget what went right. Mitigation measures such as mask mandates and targeted closures, which evolved with the current understanding of the disease, were no fun, and they put far more of a burden on some than others.

But they did mitigate. We know this because in Louisiana, where health officials working in Gov John Bel Edwards’ administration took the threat very seriously repeated deadly surges of new variants were brought under control.

Also, rapidly developed and tested vaccines remain a marvel of scientific achievement; widespread use didn’t eradicate the disease but slowed its spread, lessened its

severity and better protected those who were most at risk of severe illness and death. We know this because during the later surges, unvaccinated people were far more likely to get sick — 20 times more, according to a 2021 Louisiana Health Department missive about the delta variant The emerging narrative, it seemed at the time, would be that we’d entered a wondrous new world of disease response and prevention, and that we should double down on related research.

As anyone paying attention these days knows, that’s not where we are now Instead, political rhetoric attacking the response has bled into personal behavior

We’re seeing it in markedly lower rates of routine vaccinations among Louisiana kindergarteners.

And we’re seeing it in state government, where Gov Jeff Landry and Surgeon General Ralph Abraham are not only ending mass vaccination programs and banning staff from promoting seasonal vaccines but also irresponsibly trashing actions taken by their predecessors. The Edwardsera vaccine mandates “through both policy and social pressure,” Abraham wrote, were an “offense against personal autonomy that will take years to overcome.”

At a particularly low point during the prior administration, then-attorney general Landry joined Robert. F. Kennedy Jr

at a legislative hearing on vaccine requirements at schools, and Kennedy made the ridiculous claim that the COVID-19 vaccine “is the deadliest vaccine ever made.”

At the time, 11 people in Louisiana had had reactions severe enough to require hospitalization and none had died, according to state data.

That the purveyor of this particularly noxious bit of misinformation is now our nation’s highest-ranking health official confirmed with a key vote from Louisiana’s physician senator Bill Cassidy — is problematic, to put it mildly

So is the reality that one New Orleans physician summed up in a recent story on the surge in skepticism toward all vaccines.

“We went from health care heroes to now we are almost villains at this point, and not to be trusted,” Dr Kara Ward told reporter Emily Woodruff.

That’s got to be enormously frustrating for those who did so much to save lives. But here’s where learning from experience once again comes in.

Several of the physicians Woodruff interviewed described how they’re working harder to help patients and parents of young patients work through vaccine hesitancy So did the authors of a column that ran last month in this paper

“The public health community did a remarkable job during the worst days of the COVID-19 pandemic,” wrote Thomas A.

LaVeist and Pierre Buekens, the current and former deans of Tulane University’s Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, but “we made declarations from a distance and assumed everyone would fall in line. When we realized fear and history and, yes, even politics, were at play leading to vaccine hesitancy, we only doubled down on our messaging. “Vaccines are typically discussed in absolute yes or no terms. But very little in public health is ever absolute. We in the public health community need to provide up-to-date scientific research and the best available information along with a clear risk analysis.”

That’s a smart response, one that I wish more of our politicians would espouse. Their job is not just to protect individual personal liberties but to balance it with the collective good — which, in this case, means encouraging enough uptake to provide herd immunity for diseases such as measles, which is frighteningly on the move again in Texas and other states. That collective responsibility to protect others is something that Edwards frequently talked of during the pandemic, and it’s obviously not a popular sentiment these days. That doesn’t mean it’s wrong.

Email Stephanie Grace at sgrace@ theadvocate.com.

It’s necessary for someone to witness an execution

As a young senior, there are still things

I want to do in life, but watching a statesanctioned execution isn’t one of them

Just a few days ago, for the first time in 15 years, the State of Louisiana executed someone. When the state executed Jessie Hoffman Jr at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola, it wasn’t the first time Louisiana killed someone by execution. Robert Wayne Williams was executed in December 1983, our first execution in the death penalty’s modern era. There have been 29 Louisiana executions since 1983, including 20 electrocutions, eight lethal injections and, now, one lethal gas execution — Hoffman. That’s horrible, but at least the state didn’t resort to the execution method used for the first modern-era execution of Gary Gilmore in Utah in 1977 — by firing squad Hoffman died at 6:50 p.m. Tuesday in the Angola death chamber WDSU evening anchor Gina Swanson and this newspaper’s John Simerman were there to witness the ugly event. Both had compelling reports. Simerman had about 10 days to prepare himself emotionally once he learned he would be a media witness. Swanson had one day to prepare She found out the day before the execution that she, too, would be there. Simerman’s not sure how Swanson did it. He said his days leading to the execution were “nerve-wracking.” “I’ve not

slept right just yet,” he told me Thursday After a day of travel, getting through security clearances, signing paperwork and waiting, Swanson and Simerman watched as a masked and strapped Hoffman twisted, turned and had some convulsions as he breathed nitrogen until he suffocated.

When someone is executed, anything might happen, and it’s important for journalists to witness what happens and report it to the public. “I think we need to be there,” Simerman told me as he tried to relax at a family reunion

There are no journalist witnesses in 23 states because those states don’t have the death penalty and executions. Five other states have paused executions. More than half of the states have concluded that taking someone’s life is not justifiable, moral or a deterrent that works.

Jarvis DeBerry was a young reporter in his first job out of college at The TimesPicayune when he covered Hoffman’s 1998 trial in St. Tammany Parish as a bureau reporter He covered the graphic, 13-day trial and sentencing. “It was really intense, and really long,” he shared with me. “There were no days off I wasn’t OK at the end.”

DeBerry, a former Times-Picayune columnist who is MSNBC’s opinions editor and a columnist, had no doubt that Hoffman raped and murdered Mary “Molly” Elliot. “Take it from someone who was there: There was never any doubt that Hoffman did everything the state says he did.” De-

Simerman’s first execution was a nationally-famous event: Stanley “Tookie” Williams, a founder of the Crips gang in Los Angeles, was killed by the State of California for murdering four people. You might have heard of Williams. A Shreveport native, he wrote a book, and his criminal life and his incarceration efforts to reduce gang violence were featured in a 2004 film, “Redemption: The Stan Tookie Williams Story.” Jamie Foxx played Williams. The movie came out while he was in San Quinten, the place where he was executed in 2005. Simerman watched as prison officials had trouble getting needles into his arm.

I asked Swanson for an interview, but WDSU denied the request. I asked her news director boss, Melissa Dart, and I got no response.

Berry wrote in a March 18 column the day Hoffman was killed.

DeBerry told me that he thought about driving to Angola with a sense of “some kind of duty,” but “I just couldn’t get in the car to make that trip.” Though he’s certain Hoffman was guilty, he opposes the death penalty and executions. He doesn’t think taking the life of someone who took a life is right. “I wouldn’t have wanted to see that,” he said, adding, “It’s necessary for somebody to witness it.”

The Louisiana Department of Corrections decides which journalists will witness executions. It was Swanson’s first execution. It was Simerman’s second.

“Unobstructed media access to executions is critical because the media observes what the public cannot,” the Death Penalty Information Center said in a November 2024 report. We shouldn’t have death penalties and state-sanctioned executions. Since we do, it is absolutely necessary for someone to watch what happens and tell us about it. It couldn’t have been DeBerry Or me. I know Swanson and Simerman will have a lot to process. But I’m glad they were there. For us.

Email Will Sutton at wsutton@ theadvocate.com.

Quin Hillyer

Stephanie Grace

Will Sutton

STAFF PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER

The Rev. Marika Hammet, who was a spiritual adviser to Jessie Hoffman, rings a memorial bell at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola during the execution of Hoffman on Tuesday.

SPORTS

Johnson managing games

‘a little differently’

LSU coach confident in bullpen’s depth, ability

BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer

LATE NIGHT

AT THE PMAC

LSU-San Diego State NCAA Tournament game began after this edition went to press. For complete game info, visit theadvocate.com

ä LSU at Texas 2 P.M. SUNDAy, SECN+

In 2022, there were three arms that coach Jay Johnson couldn’t stop turning to Paul Gervase, Eric Reyzelman and Riley Cooper seemingly pitched three times a week for LSU that season. Cooper made 30 appearances. Reyzelman and Gervase made 29. The trio anchored a strong bullpen, but a lack of innings from the starters placed an inordinate amount of pressure on them and others, like Trent Vietmeier and Bryce Collins. The Tigers had the offense in Johnson’s first season to compete in the SEC, but their poor starting rotation resulted in their downfall The bullpen eventually cracked and LSU got eliminated in the Hattiesburg Regional.

“We didn’t have a choice,” Johnson said on Wednesday “Whether it was Tuesday night, Friday, Saturday or Sunday Cooper, Gervase and Reyzelman were throwing three of the three games a week.”

Johnson is, at least seemingly, confident LSU doesn’t have that problem this season He’s not overtly worried about tiring out his relievers by the end of the year Last weekend against Missouri, neither LSU starter got past the fourth inning. Junior right-handers Anthony Eyanson and Chase Shores couldn’t escape their respective jams and combined to allow seven

Belt West Division title squad, the three-man battle for the starting role begins Tuesday In the court of public opinion, Ole Miss transfer Walker Howard is naturally the frontrunner and certainly the best bet to win the job

But sophomore Daniel Beale and redshirt sophomore Lunch Winfield are also very much in the picture, according to Desormeaux.

“It’s probably kind of like that first spring (in 2022),” Desormeaux said “You

said. “If you go through spring and there’s a decision that’s made, that’s great But if you go through spring and you’re not quite there yet hopefully we can narrow it down to two — you still have summer and fall camp to figure it out.”

The next really critical area is the inside linebacker spots. When K.C. Ossai wasn’t on the field last season, the run defense suffered greatly The first potential solution is moving

esignated senior ng, two-run in over ULon the day over ULM game and home runs (16-13, 3-2 missing two 2-13, 3-2. omers. “Me and (hitting coach Shellie Landry) have been working on letting the ball get deeper (in the zone). I think I did a good job at that today and just swinging at strikes. Good hitters hit strikes.”

Smith highlighted a four-run first inning with a tworun homer to straight-away center field. She followed with a single to left before adding a solo homer in the fifth. “My approach is always the same,” Smith said. “I just try to hit the ball up the middle. Coach Shellie and I talk a lot about hitting the ball off the pitcher’s forehead, playing pepper in the middle of the field.” The run support was big for Wheeler, but what delighted UL coach Alyson Habetz was a second straight game with no walks.

positions

BY KEVIN FOOTE Staff writer

ä UL at South Alabama 1 P.M. SUNDAy, ESPN+

PHOTO By BENJAMIN R. MASSEy

UL junior linebacker Kailep Edwards is in position to take over a larger role on defense this season.

10

11

FISHING

Purdue ends McNeese’s run

BY KYLE HIGHTOWER AP sports writer

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Trey KaufmanRenn had 22 points and 15 rebounds, and Purdue used a fast start to roll to a 76-62 win over McNeese in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday Fletcher Loyer added 15 points. C.J. Cox finished with 11 points for the Boilermakers (24-11), who advanced through the Midwest Region to the Sweet 16 for the second straight season. Purdue will meet the winner of top-seeded Houston and eighthseeded Gonzaga in the regional semifinal. In his 16 NCAA Tournament appearances with the Boilermakers, coach Matt Painter is now headed to his eighth Sweet 16. Painter said the challenge is to sustain the offensive output they’ve had over the first two rounds

“We can’t go further without playing great offensively,” Painter said. “We have to execute well, we have to shoot the ball well.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By STEVEN SENNE Purdue forward Caleb Furst celebrates a dunk against McNeese State during the first half in an NCAA Tournament second-round game on Saturday in Providence, R.I.

That’s not really pressure, that’s just a fact.”

Sincere Parker had 17 points to lead McNeese (28-7) Javohn

Garcia added 12 points as the Cowboys came up short in their bid to give the Southland Conference its first Sweet 16 team since

Louisiana Tech in 1985. McNeese came out in the 2-3 zone that was so successful during its first-round win over Clemson.

But Purdue hit 7 of its first 9 field goals and 3 of its first 4 3-point attempts to build an early double-digit advantage. A pair of three-plus minute scoring droughts by the Cowboys and runs of 10-0 and 9-0 by the Boilermakers helped Purdue grow its lead as high as 36-14 in the first half.

“From the start of the game they kind of imposed their will on us,” Parker said. “To their credit they made shots and we missed shots.”

The Boilermakers led for all but 19 seconds. Purdue shot 11 of 26 from the 3-point line for the game and held a 41-24 rebounding edge.

“I thought we played really well these last two games,” KaufmanRenn said. “We executed well and we stuck to our game plan and then we outrebounded both teams. So we do that, it’s a winning game plan.”

Wade signs 6-year deal with NC State

BY AARON BEARD AP basketball writer

RALEIGH, N.C. McNeese coach

Will Wade has a signed six-year deal to take over as N.C. State’s next coach, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Saturday

The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the school hasn’t publicly discussed its coaching search

Wade’s second NCAA Tournament run in as many seasons with the Cowboys ended Saturday with a second-round loss to Purdue, which came two days after a firstround upset of his alma mater, Clemson. Wade’s two-year tenure in Lake Charles marked a successful climb back after being fired at LSU in 2022 because recruiting

violations allegations. Those were rooted in a federal corruption investigation in college basketball that became public in 2017, with N.C. State among the multiple schools entangled in that probe.

OG Media first reported earlier this week that the two sides had reached an agreement for Wade to lead the Wolfpack, while CBS Sports was first to report the signing after the Purdue loss. The 42-year-old Wade had confirmed talks with N.C State before the Clemson win, an unusually candid response compared with coaches typically deflecting questions about other jobs.

“Just tell it like it is,” Wade said

Wednesday

Asked about the N.C. State job again after Saturday’s loss to Purdue, Wade said: “I’ll worry about

that tomorrow Look, I’m an honest guy, but today I want to put a bow on everything with McNeese if we can.”

Wade will replace Kevin Keatts, who was fired after eight seasons on March 9. That came less than a year after he guided N.C. State to its first Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament title since 1987 and its first Final Four trip since the late Jim Valvano’s “Cardiac Pack” did it in an improbable 1983 NCAA title run.

Keatts had guided N.C State to three NCAA bids and had the program in position for another when the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of March Madness in 2020. But the Wolfpack went 12-19 this season to kill any lingering buzz from last year’s remarkable run.

That ultimately led the school to move on from Keatts even though he was under contract until April 2030, putting N.C. State on the hook for roughly $6.9 million in base salary alone. And it marked a reset for the program, down to how it handles finances for roster construction with players able to profit from their athletic fame and revenue sharing set to start nationally next season.

Wade’s first head-coaching job was a two-year stint at Chattanooga from 2013-15, followed by two NCAA bids in as many seasons at VCU before leaving for LSU in 2017. The peak of his tenure with the Tigers came in his second season, with LSU winning the Southeastern Conference regular-season title and reaching the Sweet 16.

Calipari guides Arkansas past Pitino, St. John’s

BY JIMMY GOLEN Associated Press

PROVIDENCE, R.I John Calipari

is heading to the Sweet 16 for the 16th time, and this one could be the sweetest of all.

Calipari’s Arkansas Razorbacks beat longtime nemesis Rick Pitino and No. 2 seed St. John’s 75-66 on Saturday, sending their itinerant coach to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament with his fourth school.

Billy Richmond III scored 16 points and Karter Knox had 15 for the 10th-seeded Razorbacks, who sent Kansas and their Hall of Fame coach Bill Self home from the “Region of Coaches” in the first round.

But the victory over his longtime rival was especially sweet for Calipari, who brought the

Razorbacks (22-13) back to the tournament in his first season in Fayetteville despite early-season injuries that left them 0-5 to start the Southeastern Conference schedule.

“I told them, ‘This is as rewarding as a year I’ve had, based on how far we’ve come,’” he said.

Zuby Ejiofor had 23 points and 12 rebounds for Big East champion St. John’s (31-5). Pitino’s history in Providence he took the Friars to the 1987 Final Four gave him a home-court advantage as he arrived in March Madness with an unprecedented sixth school.

So many of those teams were built with a full-court defense and 3-point shooting.

St. John’s had the No. 1 defense in the country this season But their shooting deserted them on

Saturday and they became the first team seeded fourth or better to exit what’s been a chalky tournament so far

“Rick did a good job with his team all year,” Calipari said. “If they made a few shots, they probably beat us.”

The teams combined to make four 3-pointers on 41 attempts, with St. John’s shooting 28% from the floor overall. BRADLEY 75, GEORGE MASON 67: In Fairfax, Virginia, Corey Thomas helped lead Bradley over George Mason on Saturday with 21 points off of the bench in a victory in the NIT Bradley advances to play Chattanooga in the quarterfinals.

Thomas added 11 rebounds for the Braves (27-8). Christian Davis shot 7 for 11, including 5 for 8 from beyond the arc to also score

21 points. Duke Deen went 3 of 13 from the field (3 for 11 from 3-point range) to finish with nine points, while adding six assists. CHATTANOOGA 87, DAYTON 72: In Chattanooga, Tennessee, Honor Huff had 26 points in Chattanooga’s win against Dayton on Saturday in the second round of the NIT Chattanooga advances to the quarterfinals against Bradley Huff shot 7 for 12 (5 for 10 from 3-point range) and 7 of 9 from the free-throw line for the Mocs (26-9). Trey Bonham scored 25 points while shooting 8 for 13 (3 for 5 from 3-point range) and 6 of 6 from the free-throw line and added eight rebounds. Collin Mulholland finished 4 of 5 from the field to finish with 11 points It was the 11th straight win for the Mocs.

LSU guard Tyrell Ward to enter transfer portal

LSU basketball’s Tyrell Ward intends to enter the transfer portal, according to multiple reports, including 247Sports and The Athletic.

The 6-foot-6 wing never played during the 2024-25 season after stepping away from the program because of mental health reasons and was never expected to return. Ward averaged 9.1 points and 2.3 rebounds in 21.8 minutes per game last season. He would have been the Tigers’ leading returning scorer The transfer portal window officially opens on Monday

The news that Ward would not play this season came about 15 minutes before LSU’s season opener against UL-Monroe on Nov 6.

Astros release outfielder Gamel, lefty Beeks

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — The Houston Astros released outfielder Ben Gamel and left-hander Jalen Beeks on Saturday

The move with Gamel comes less than two months after he agreed to a $1.2 million, one-year contract. The deal included a $200,000 signing bonus and a $1 million salary, which was not guaranteed.

The Astros will owe Gamel 45 days termination pay, which comes to $241,036, instead of his salary

The 32-year-old Gamel hit .167 in 24 at-bats in spring training He hit .259 with one homer in 20 games with the Astros last season.

The 31-year-old Beeks allowed one run in four innings this spring. He was a combined 7-4 with a 4.50 ERA for Colorado and Pittsburgh in 2024. He had 10 saves, including nine with the Rockies.

Grizzlies forward Clarke likely out for rest of season MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Memphis Grizzlies likely will be without forward Brandon Clarke for at least the rest of the regular season because of a sprained right knee.

The Grizzlies announced an update Saturday on Clarke, who hurt his knee in Wednesday night’s loss at Portland. The team said Clarke has a high-grade PCL sprain suffered when he fell to the floor in the first quarter of that loss.

Memphis said a more specific timeline will be provided once a treatment plan is set.

The Grizzlies have 11 games remaining in the regular season. Clarke has played 64 games, third behind only rookie Jaylen Wells (71) and Scotty Pippen Jr. (69). Clarke is averaging 8.3 points and 5.1 rebounds over 18.9 minutes per game.

MLB removes mentions of ‘diversity’ from careers site

NEW YORK — Major League Baseball removed references to “diversity” from its MLB careers home page following an executive order by President Donald Trump that could lead to possible federal action against organizations using DEI programs in violation of his administration’s interpretation of civil rights law.

“Our values on diversity remain unchanged,” MLB said in a statement Friday “We are in the process of evaluating our programs for any modifications to eligibility criteria that are needed to ensure our programs are compliant with federal law as they continue forward.” Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred, who launched a Diversity Pipeline Program in 2016, said last month that MLB was evaluating the interpretation of law coming from the federal government.

Piastri takes first F1 pole at Chinese Grand Prix

SHANGHAI McLaren’s Oscar Piastri scored his maiden pole position in Formula 1 ahead of Sunday’s Chinese Grand Prix by delivering two sizzling laps that were quick enough for the top spot ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell.

The 23-year-old Australian, who is maximizing his weekend with second in Saturday morning’s Sprint race, said he’s “pretty pumped” to go one better Sunday, with the major challenge being tire wear

Piastri, who will start the 56-lap race two places ahead of McLaren teammate Lando Norris, set it up by putting it all on the line on his final Q3 lap.

Tuesday

LSU

Continued from page 1C

Their shorter outings placed extra pressure on the Tigers’ bullpen, even if it mostly came through, allowing just four earned runs in 102/3 innings.

Despite the abbreviated performances from Eyanson and Shores, Johnson was unbothered with how they pitched.

“They were both really close to going a little bit deeper,” Johnson said. “I made a decision based on what I thought was best to win those games, and it really wasn’t even in their control.

“Because those types of guys throughout the league got left in a little bit longer (last weekend), I just feel like we have the options to do it a little differently.”

Johnson’s confidence in LSU’s bullpen depth is what allows him to manage games “a little differently,” whether it’s utilizing fresh-

UL

Continued from page 1C

“I’m going to say they’re neck and neck for sure I like all of the above really,” Habetz said if she rather runs or no walks.

“Obviously we’ve been trying to emphasize the no freebies for the pitchers. (Mallory) was kind of getting in her head about that and she’s a freshman so it’s always a concern that it takes a while to recover. But man, did she recover today — she was tremendous.”

The right-hander (6-2) allowed one earned run on five

CAJUNS

Continued from page 1C

first inning and never looked back. Brennan Holt and John Smith both singled and Kyle Morrison delivered a three-run home run. Morrison finished 3-for-5 with a double, homer and six RBIs. In the fourth, Morrison was back at it again with a two-run double ahead of a

FOOTE

Continued from page 1C

senior Jaden Dugger inside.

“It’s an attempt to get him (Dugger) on the field a little bit more,” Desormeaux said. “We’re going to work him almost exclusively at the beginning of spring at ‘Will’ linebacker. That outside linebacker room is just kind of stacked. It’s similar to what he did in ‘12’ personnel (1 RB, 2 TEs) last year, so he’s done a little bit of it before.”

Also, redshirt junior Kailep Edwards redshirted last season in hopes he’s ready to make a major impact this fall.

“This group is kind of like the quarterback of the defense,” Desormeaux said “They’re the signal caller to get everybody lined up. The quarterback is what everybody wants to talk about, but that competition is going to be just as important.” Ironically, the scenario at inside linebacker is similar to Desormeaux’s first sea-

stands in the dugout

men such as right-handers William Schmidt and Casan Evans, or turning to junior left-hander Conner Ware or junior right-hander Zac Cowan.

Not only does LSU have the numbers out of the bullpen, most of its top relievers have been stretched out to throw multiple innings That’s different than what LSU has had the last few seasons.

“We have so much depth that we don’t need guys to go seven shut down innings,” junior first baseman Jared Jones said. “If you can give us two to three of your best stuff, and then we can get you out and get the next guy in.”

But getting those arms rest on Tuesday helped In its 11-1 win over UNO LSU didn’t use any of the relievers who threw over the weekend against Missouri. They had four days to recover before this weekend’s series with Texas.

“None of them have had four days off since we start-

hits and no walks. She struck out four in a complete-game effort with 112 pitches.

“We’ve really been focusing this week on breathing in the bullpen and resetting after I get behind 2-0, 3-0 just being able to reset and know that I can throw a strike and my team’s going to pick me up,” Wheeler said.

“Honestly, it was just relaxing. I’ve been really uptight when I’m throwing and really wanting to get it done for the team. Today, I was able to take a step back, relax and take an extra second.”

The Cajuns added a run in the second on Maddie

run-scoring bas hit from Duncan Matthews. UL’s only offense came in the sixth inning with a solo home run

South Alabama outhit the Cajuns 11-6.

Holzhammer only threw 24 pitches in not getting out of the first. Blake McGehee pitched 3.2 innings in relief, yielding two earned runs on five hits, three walks and two strikeouts.

Riley Marcotte pitched the final four inning for UL

son as head coach as well when Kris Moncrief shifted positions and Jourdan Quibodeaux elevated to a starting status.

“We just have to figure out who is ready to go take the job and run with it,” Desormeaux said. “We think we have plenty of depth there. We just don’t have guys who have played a ton.”

Perhaps not as weighty as quarterback or inside linebacker, another area UL’s staff needs to find some worthy candidates is those No. 3 and 4 spots at running back to team with Zylan Perry and Bill Davis.

“Certainly the third back is important,” Desormeaux said. “Hutch (Swilley) has been in and out throughout the offseason, but Tylon (Citizen) last year really did some good stuff and put himself in position for that spot.

“And Darrell Smith has been looking great in the offseason He’s really fast, very smart and has really good hands. He’s going to be in the mix.”

ed the season because of how condensed the schedule has been and some of the games that we’ve played in,” Johnson said. “So I think they’ll be really fresh this weekend.”

Johnson also notes that there’s value in having relievers pitch three to four times a week. That’s what they’re tasked to do in MLB.

However LSU can’t win the national championship this weekend or next. It’ll need everyone — especially its bullpen — to be crisp in June when the Tigers actually have a chance of making a run to Omaha.

“I looked very intently at last night’s game, going into the game, of what was the best thing to do,” Johnson said Wednesday “Obviously, to win the game at hand, but (also) for what you’re talking about.

“But there’s more than one way to kind of work through that.”

Email Koki Riley at Koki Riley@theadvocate.com.

Hayden’s RBI single and another in the third with a Sam Roe RBI single.

Kayla Falterman added two runs when in the fourth when her line-drive base hit to left got by the left fielder to chase home two more runs.

“We knew that their pitcher struggled with balls and strikes, so the game plan was to take until you get a strike and be really disciplined,” Habetz said. “We did a good job with that and when we did get a pitch to hit, we squared it up. That was really good.”

Game 3 is scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday

to save the bullpen for Sunday’s rubber game. Mitchell Heer was the winning pitcher for the Jaguars after allowing one run on two hits, no walks and striking out two in six innings. Jaxon Shineflew pitched the final three innings without allowing a run on three hits, one walk and four strikeouts for his first save of the season.

Email Kevin Foote at kfoote@theadvocate.com.

The other group in needed of developing depth in spring is tight end. With Terrance Carter leaving for Texas Tech and Ty Stamey to Texas State, transfers Trey Miller from Wayne State and Brock Chappell from Furman will need to catch on quickly Then there’s always the offensive line. There’s plenty of talent returning — such as George Jackson, Jax Harrington and Bryant Williams. It’s just a matter of who goes where.

The staff is excited about the younger prospects there, who it hopes will flourish this spring, while Mackey Maillho and Kaden Moreau are veterans who appear ready to next on a larger role.

“We have extremely high expectations for that group,” Desormeaux said.

“I think we have a chance to have a really good offensive line. We’re expecting a lot from that group.”

Email Kevin Foote at kfoote@theadvocate.com.

BY WILSON ALEXANDER Staff writer

Former LSU running back John Emery wants to play another year of college football, but it appears he won’t have the option to return to the Tigers.

LSU coach Brian Kelly said Saturday that while the team will be supportive of Emery as he tries to continue his career, LSU is “set” at running back ahead of the 2025 season.

“We’ll be supportive in any way that we can, but we’re set where we’re at in terms of the running back position,” Kelly said. “But love John, and we’ll be here to help and support him. If he’s given a seventh year, he’s certainly a young man that can help somebody in the Power Four.”

Emery announced Thursday that he had decided to pursue a seventh season of college football, which could be available after he only played in one game this past fall before suffering a torn ACL. Emery’s agent told The Advocate they have not decided where Emery will play next season.

“We haven’t talked to John about it,” Kelly said. “It was the first that we heard.”

A five-star recruit in the 2019 class from St. Rose Emery spent his first six seasons at LSU. He rushed for 1,123 yards and 14 touchdowns and caught 37 passes for 328 yards and two scores. Emery missed the entire 2021 season and the first two games of the 2022 season because he was ruled academically ineligible. After finding a role, he later suffered a torn ACL in November 2023. Emery entered the transfer portal after the injury and briefly committed to UCLA, but he

JT Lindsey Durham was LSU’s leading rusher last year with 753 yards and six touchdowns, even though he played through a toe injury most of the season.

“We’re doing some things in the spring that are firsttime looks for him,” Kelly said. “I don’t want to give many things away, but those things that we’re really focusing on, they’re new looks for him. He’s got to get comfortable in that because that’s going to be featured within our offensive structure.”

Jackson has spent most of the spring as LSU’s secondteam running back as he tries to carve out a role in the backfield. After a promising freshman year, Jackson gained 10 pounds and only rushed for 150 yards without a score last season.

ultimately returned to LSU for his sixth year

In a 27-20 season-opening loss to Southern Cal, Emery was LSU’s leading rusher with 61 yards on 10 carries. A few days later he suffered his second ACL injury in as many seasons during a non-contact drill.

“We feel so bad for him and his family,” Kelly said at the time. “But you know, John has overcome so much So proud of what he’s accomplished in getting his degree from LSU, and he’s going to be successful in life. And you know, we’ll see what the future holds for him.”

LSU currently has four scholarship running backs available going into the 2025 season: sophomore Caden Durham, junior Kaleb Jackson, five-star early enrollee Harlem Berry and freshman

“This has been more about him acclimatizing to his weight,” Kelly said. “He struggled the last year with his size and volume, and he’s been great this spring. He has really crossed that hurdle.

“And then add Harlem Berry into it, who’s just figuring out the offense, but you can tell he’s extremely talented. And now it’s just a matter of him learning the offense and putting a coat of armor on him.”

Redshirt sophomore running back Trey Holly could also rejoin the team before the season. Holly has been indefinitely suspended since he was arrested in Feb 2024 in connection with a shooting. He has a trial date set July 7, and the outcome could clear his return to the field.

For more LSU sports updates, sign up for our newsletter at theadvocate.com/ lsunewsletter

STAFF PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK

LSU coach Jay Johnson, right,

before first pitch against UNO on

at Alex Box Stadium.

THE VARSITY ZONE

Lafayette High’s girls track team shines at Oil City Relays

BY ERIC NARCISSE Staff writer

The Lafayette High girls track and field team enjoys winning every meet they compete in However winning a meet that Barbe is also competing in, admittedly makes victory even sweeter for the Lions. Lafayette High had another enjoyable night at the track on Friday, as it held off a strong push from the Buccaneers to win the 64th Oil City Relays at Comeaux High.

“This is a really huge win for us and our program,” Lions coach Ron Baillargeon said. “Over the years, Barbe has been our biggest nemesis. They are always very good competition. So, this is a good win (Friday).”

The Lions claimed first place with 133 points, followed by runner-up Barbe with 124, and third place Teurlings’ 73. St Thomas More and Comeaux rounded out the top five with 70 and 34 points respectively

“This is one of the more prestigious meets in the state,” Baillargeon said. “This is the meet that kicks off the drive where we try to be more dominant.”

Lafayette High, which is now

3-0 in outdoor track meets thus far received another stellar performance from Khia Williams and a record-setting throw in the discus by senior Brea Bailey

“This was an exciting meet,” Williams said. “Winning over Barbe is a really big thing. To beat them makes it more exciting.”

Williams, who was named Most Outstanding Track athlete, won the 100-meter dash (12.10), 200 (25.34) and anchored the Lions’ 4x100 (49.38) and 4x200 (1:42.53) relays to first- and second-place finishes.

“A lot of the people who pushed me last year have graduated,” Williams said. “So, I didn’t know who I would be pushed by this year To be able to run against (Barbe’s) Kennedi (Burks) in the 4x200 did it for me. While it wasn’t my best time, it’s a good start.”

As for being honored Most Outstanding Track, Williams was “excited.”

“Last year, was the first time that I won the award,” Williams said. “To win it again this year, shows that I’m not done. That I still have more in my arsenal.”

Baillargeon was more than pleased by what he saw from Williams.

“Khia is coming around,” Bail-

largeon said. “She competed very well.”

Bailey, who finished fourth in the shot put (32-11) and sixth in the javelin (88-7), claimed first place in the discus with a throw of 141-9. Baillargeon said Bailey’s throw set a school and meet record.

The only other event the Lions picked up a first place was from Scarlett Petticrew in the pole vault (11-9).

“We had decent depth,” Baillargeon said. “I moved some people around to help make them more versatile.”

The Lions’ win prevented the Buccaneers from claiming the title on both the girls and boys side.

On the boys side, Barbe won with 90 points, while Cecilia (69.50), Lafayette Christian (63), Acadiana (62) and David Thibodaux (38) rounded out the top five.

Baillargeon said those in attendance got to see a preview of what the state meet is going to look like

“This was a good test to see where we are,” Baillargeon said. “Last year, Barbe finished second and we finished third. Barbe has a lot of quality points, and we got a lot of points (Friday) that won’t get it at state.”

BASEBALL, SOFTBALL REPORT

TRACK AND FIELD RESULTS

Oil City Relays (Friday at Comeaux High)

GIRLS TEAM STANDINGS: 1. Lafayette High 133, 2. Barbe 124, 3. Teurlings Catholic 73, 4. St. Thomas More 70, 5. Comeaux 34, 6. Lafayette Christian 33, 7. Cecilia 24, 8. Acadiana 22, 9. David Thibodaux 19, 10. Northside 14, 11 Westminster Christian 12, (tie) New Iberia 12, 13. Southside 9, 14. Episcopal of Acadiana 8, 15. Carencro 1, (tie) Breaux Bridge 1. RUNNING EVENTS 100: Khia Williams, Lafayette, 12.10; 2. Alaysia Titus, Lafayette, 12.35; 3. Allahna Riggs, David Thibodaux, 12.53. 200: 1. Khia Williams, Lafayette, 25.34; 2. Alaysia Titus, Lafayette, 25.93; 3. Sunari Prejean, Acadiana, 26.007. 400: 1. Kennedi Burks, Barbe, 53.50; 2. Riley Siner, Lafayette, 57.38; 3. Tay’lee Crump, Lafayette, 58.70. 800: 1. Abigail Leger, Teurlings, 2:21.63; 2. Camille Rembert, Barbe, 2:24.67; 3. Sya Bolden, Comeaux, 2:25.08. 1,600: 1. Abigail Leger, Teurlings, 5:15.30; 2. Camryn Haik, St. Thomas More, 5:16.46; 3. Abby Kat Mendoza, St. Thomas More, 5:20.78. 3,200: 1. Camryn Haik, St. Thomas More, 11:35.71; 2. Abby Kate Mendoza, St. Thomas More, 11;50.49; 3. Addison Aucoin, Lafayette, 12:07.54. 100 hurdles: 1. Lucia Gonzalez, Comeaux, 15.73; 2. Kylie Meagher, Teurlings, 16.33; 3. Kynadeh Dorsey, Lafayette, 16.80. 300 hurdles: 1. Reese Trahan, Barbe, 46.41; 2. Kynadeh Dorsey, Lafayette, 49.76; 3. Kylie Meagher, Teurlings, 50.27. RELAYS 4x100: 1. Lafayette High (Amariana Singleton, Scarlett Petticrew, Alaya Archangel, Khia Williams) 49.38; 2. David Thibodaux 50.52; 3. Acadiana 50.68. RELAYS 4x200: 1. Barbe 1:41.42; 2. Lafayette High 1:42.53; 3. Acadiana 1:45.72. 4x400: 1. Barbe 3:49.86; 2. Lafayette High 3;59.15; 3. Teurlings Catholic 4:13.54. 4x800: 1. Teurlings (Abbigale Landry, Aarym Saleh, Lucy Chisholm, Abigail Leger) 9:50.70; 2. Lafayette High 10:05.21; 3. Barbe 10:21.65.

FIELD EVENTS High jump: 1. Aniyaha Lavan, Barbe, 5-4; 2. Taylor Bennett, Barbe, 35-4; 3. Marvel Potier, St. Thomas More, 5-2. Pole vault: 1. Scarlett Petticrew, Lafayette, 11-9; 2. Anna Duhon, Barbe, 10-0; 3 . Lelia Burns, Lafayette, 9-0. Long jump: 1. Aniyaha Lavan, Barbe, 17-8; 2. Alaysia Titus, Lafayette, 16-7.5; 3. Laila Gauthier, Westminster, 16-3.5. Triple jump: 1. Quinasha Robertson, Northside, 34-7.5; 2. Bethany Long, Lafayette, 340.5; 3. Kenzi George, Westminster, 33-4.25. Shot put: 1. Kaci Fulton, Barbe, 40-3; 2. Kaliyah Samuels, Lafayette Christian, 36-9; 3. Kassi Martin, Cecilia, 34-6. Discus: 1. Brea Bailey, Lafayette, 141-09; 2. Kaci Fulton, Barbe, 126-4; 3. London Thi, Cecilia, 124-11. Javelin: 1. Maria LaFleur, Barbe, 113-3; 2. Hannah Bergeron, Teurlings, 102-7; 3. Caroline Theriot, Southside, 94-1. BOYS TEAM STANDINGS: 1. Barbe 90, 2. Cecilia 69.5, 3. Lafayette Christian 63, 4. Acadiana 62, 5. David Thibodaux 38, 6. St. Thomas More 37, 7. Lafayette High 35, 8. New Iberia 30.5, (tie) Comeaux 30.5; 10. Westminster 26.5, 11. Teurlings Catholic 26, 12. Carencro 25, 13. Northside 20, 14. Southside 18, 15. St. Louis 10, 16. Episcopal of Acadiana 8.

BOYS RUNNING EVENTS

100: 1. Braylon Walker, Lafayette Christian, 10.66; 2. Ty Thomas, Acadiana, 10.75; 3. Keeman Thibodeaux, Acadiana, 10.88. 200: 1. Ty Thomas, Acadiana, 22.07; 2. Syrian Joseph, Acadiana, 22.13; 3. Braylon Walker, Lafayette Christian, 22.37.

400: 1. Brian Broussard, St. Thomas More, 50.78; 2. Luke Green, Lafayette Christian, 51.06; 3. Braeden Prejean, Northside, 51.28.

800: 1. Jarrett Jackson, David Thibodaux, 1:58.74; 2. Jay’lan Babineaux, Carencro, 2:02.20; 3. Lane Jessup, Barbe, 2:02.56.

1,600: 1. Deacon Stantz, St. Louis, 4;29.84; 2. Owen Melancon, Westminster, 4:31.27; 3. Talan Sievers, 4:33.15.

3,200: 1. Emerson Cullen, David Thibodaux, 9:43.94; 2. Talan Sievers, Lafayette Christian, 9:47.37; 3. Anderson Frank, ESA, 9:48.68. 110H: 1. Conner Stewart, New Iberia, 15.05; 2. Braylon Calais, Cecilia, 15.08; 3. Ryan Benoit, Southside, 16.12.

300H: 1. Brent Gordon, Cecilia, 41.06; 2. Conner Stewart, New Iberia, 41.71; 3. Braylon Calais, Cecilia, 42.97. RELAYS 4x100: 1. Acadiana (Keeman Thibodeaux, Ty Thomas, Braylon Noel, Russell Babineaux) 42.30; 2. Barbe 43.58; 3. New Iberia 44.37. 4x200: 1. Acadiana (Keeman Thibodeaux, Syrian Joseph, Russell Babineaux, Ty Thomas) 1:27.96; 2. Lafayette High 1:31.16; 3. Barbe 1:31.28. 4x400: 1. Carencro (Jay’lan Babineaux, Jeremy Arceneaux, Jeremiah Arceneaux, Rontrell Woods) 3:31.64; 2. Teurlings Catholic 3:32.51; 3. Ccilia 3:33.54. 4x800: 1. David Thibodaux (Dallas Citizen, Barrett Richard, Emerson Cullen, Jackson Jarrett) 8:20.23; 2. St. Thomas More 8:27.37; 3. Barbe 8:27.67. FIELD EVENTS High jump: 1. Warren Walker, Comeaux, 6-4; 2. Eric Buddecke, Southside, 6-2; 3. Kyle Guillot, St. Thomas More, 6-0. Pole vault: 1. Carter Hooks, Barbe, 14-7; 2. Landon Burns, Lafayette, 13-0; 3. Evan Jones, David Thibodaux, 11-6. Long jump: 1. Jermaine Davis, Cecilia, 21-4.5; 2. Ellis Stewart, Cecilia, 21-4; 3. Dedrick Tillman, Barbe, 20-8.75. Triple jump: 1. Jai Joseph, Northside, 44-0.5; 2. Quintin Goodie, Acadiana, 43.1.25; 3. Jermaine Davis, Cecilia, 41-10. Shot put: 1. Correy Sassau, Cecilia, 49-6; 2. Kaleb Campbell, Lafayette Christian, 46-2; 3. Ryan Brungart, St. Thomas More, 46-1. Discus: 1. Michael Cunningham, Westminster, 146-7; 2. Lee Forsyth, Barbe, 141-6; 3. Travis Miller, Barbe, 139-7. Javelin: 1. Eli Simon, Barbe, 170-11; 2. Channing Berard, Teurlings, 170-4; 3. Luke Leger, Barbe, 163-11. ARCA Invitational (Friday at Acadiana Renaissance) BOYS TEAM STANDINGS: 1 Acadiana Renaissance 116; 2. Erath 113; 3. Catholic-NI 76; 4. Ascension Episcopal 72; 5. North Vermilion 43; 6. Delcambre 41; 7. Kaplan 34; 8. Abbeville 32; 9. Beau Chene 23; 10. Highland Baptist 19; 11. Hanson 10; 11. Vermilion Catholic 10. RUNNING EVENTS

100: 1. Torrien Alfred, Erath, 11.54; 2. Braylon Moore, Abbeville, 11.71; 3. Terry Matthews Acadiana Renaissance, 11.76.

200: 1. Kodi Clement, Kaplan, 22.99; 2. Gykel Bessard, Delcambre, 23.61; 3. Connor Booker, Acadiana Renaissance 23.81. 400: 1. Kori Clement, Kaplan, 51.78; 2. Gykel Bessard, Delcambre, 52.48; 3. Josiah Porter, Acadiana Renaissance, 53.14. 800: 1. Cameron Soirez, Erath, 2:00.78; 2. Landon Gary, Acadiana Renaissance 2:09.04; 3. Hayes Trotter, Ascension Episcopal, 2:09.59. 1,600: 1. Hayes Trotter, Ascension Episcopal, 4:49.96; 2. Christopher Schexnaider, Acadiana Renaissance, 4:51.46; 3. Quinton Foshee, Ascension Episcopal, 4:56.80. 3,200: 1. Jackson Kosmer, Acadiana Renaissance, 10:50.67; 2. David Nowakowski, Highland Baptist, 10:51.04; 3. Zachary Montel, North Vermilion, 10:59.52.

110 hurdles: 1. Sean Herrington, Erath, 15.26; 2. Terry Matthews, Acadiana Renaissance 15.68; 3. Ali Carrier, Beau Chene, 16.17. 300 hurdles: 1. Dean Herrington, Erath, 41.07; 2. Ali Carrier, Beau Chene, 41.53; 3. Terry Matthews, Acadiana Renaissance, 42.80. RELAYS 4x100: 1. Acadiana Renaissance, 44.87; 2. North Vermilion, 44.87; 3. Abbeville, 45.38. 4x200: 1. Erath, 1:34.78; 2. Catholic-NI, 1:35.25; 3. Acadiana Renaissance, 1:35.76. 4x400: 1. Acadiana Renaissance, 3:33.09; 2. Erath, 3:36.64; 3. Kaplan, 3:38.55. 4x800: 1. Acadiana renaissance, 8:44.86; 2. Erath, 9:03.37; 3. Hanson, 9:57.54. FIELD EVENTS High jump: 1. Dylan Nelson, Catholic High, 6-2; 2. Karsen Buggs, Acadiana Renaissance 5-8; 3. Braylon Moore, Abbeville, 5-8. Long jump: 1. Harley Foreman, North Vermilion, 20-5; 2. Branon Mitchell, Ascension Episcopal, 20-5; 3. Torrien Alfred, Erath; 19-10.5.

2. Eli Parich, Catholic-NI, 14-0; 3. Lucas Owens, Acadiana Renaissance, 13-6. Discus: 1. Charlie Milam, Ascension Episcopal, 134-8; 2. Eli Larson, Delcambre, 127-9; 3. Roan Judice, Catholic-NI, 118-7. Javelin: 1. Luke Mclain, Vermilion Catholic, 162-6; 2. Michael Bertrand, Catholic-NI, 1619; 3. Griffin LeBlanc, Erath, 152-10. GIRLS TEAM STANDINGS: 1 Acadiana Renaissance 136; 2. Kaplan 102; 3. Highland Baptist 63; 4. Erath 62; 5. Ascension Episcopal 55; 6. Vermilion Catholic 49; 7. Delcambre 41; 8.

400: 1.

1:03.39; 2.

3.

Biggerstaff, Ascension Episco-

1:03.42; 3. Reide Sizemore, Acadiana Renaissance, 1:06.66. 800: 1. Madelynn Salsman, Highland Baptist, 2:28.53; 2. Alexa Tarin-Carlon, Erath, 2:28.91; 3. Isabella Hargrave, Kaplan, 2:35.92. 1,600: 1. Madalynn Salsman, Highland Baptist, 5:26.85; 2. Bella Biggerstaff, Ascension Episcopal, 5:29.25; 3. Ava Lebouef, Acadiana Renaissance, 5:42.62. 3,200: 1. Ella Blake, Highland Baptist, 11:54.96; 2. Ava Lebouef, Acadiana Renaissance, 12:34.26; 3. Gracie Daigle, Acadiana Renaissance, 12:44.46. 100 hurdles: 1. Kelsey Bomersbach, Vermilion Catholic, 15.79; 2. Emma Smith, Delcambre, 16.69; 3. Kaylei Brown, Beau Chene, 16.86. 300 hurdles: Emma Smith, Delcambre, 48.88; 2. Kaylei Brown, Beau Chene, 49.56; 3. Emily Currie, Catholic-NI, 50.61. RELAYS 4x100: 1. Acadiana Renaissance, 51.16; 2. Erath, 52.84; 3. Kaplan, 56.08. 4x200: 1. Acadiana Renaissance, 1:49.12; 2. Erath, 1:57.47; 3. Kaplan, 1:57.66. 4x400: 1. Kaplan, 4:22.21; 2. Erath, 4:29.67; 3. Acadiana Renaissance, 4:33.60. 4x800: Kaplan, 11:12.90; 2. Acadiana Renaissance, 11:37.70; 3. Catholic-NI, 12:20.19. FIELD EVENTS High jump: 1. Emma Smith, Delcambre, 5-4; 2. Grace Bourque, Catholic-NI, 4-10; 3. Reace Richard, Kaplan, 4-8. Long jump: 1. Kaylei Brown, Beau Chene, 17-0; 2. Marley Moore, Vermilion Catholic, 16-11.5; 3. Treasure Matthews, Acadiana Renaissance, 16-11.25. Pole vault: 1. Rachel Owens, Acadiana Renaissance, 10-0; 2. Makenzi Davis, Highland Baptist, 9-0; 3. Sophie Morris, Highland Baptist, 9-0. Discus: 1. Naomi Wyble, Erath, 100-1; 2. Molly Cormier, Ascension Episcopal, 96-7; 3. Ajia Comeaux, Kaplan, 91-3. Javelin: 1. Molly Cormier, Ascension Episcopal, 104-9; 2. Addisen Yates, Highland Baptist, 102-3; 3. Breahana Thomassee, Vermilion Catholic, 94-1. Egly Sam Relays BOYS RUNNING EVENTS 100: 1. Jeremy Sonnier, JS Clark, 11.17; 2. Kevon Johnson, Northwest, 11.24; 3. Lawrence Pickney, JS Clark, 11.26. 400: 1. Tralyn Arvie, Ville Platte, 52.71; 2. Jayden Chavis, Northwest, 53.88; 3. Cooper Carson, Pine Prairie, 55.37. 1,600: 1. Cooper Carson, Pine Prairie, 5:17.95; 2. David Campbell, Pine Prairie, 5:29.72; 3. Kaden Ardoin, Ville Platte, 5:31.65. 110 hurdles: Kevin Brown, JS Clark, 15:45; 2. Makharee Narcisse, St. Martinville, 16.68; 3. Morris Walters, Jeanerette, 17.68. RELAYS 4x100: 1. Northwest, 44.23; 2. Jeanerette, 44.32; 3. Mamou, 45.19. 4x200: 1. Northwest, 1:32.22; 2. Jeanerette 1:33.30; 3. JS Clark 1:36.03. 4x800: 1. Northwest, 9:13.31; 2. St. Martinville, 9:35.88; 3. Pine Prairie, 9:40.27. FIELD EVENTS High jump: 1. Braxton Ardoin, Mamou, 6-2; 2. Austin Simon, JS Clark, 5-10; 3. Cameron Lazard, Northwest, 5-10. Long jump: 1. Ty Sam, Northwest, 22-5; 2. Jai Johnson, Landry, 21-11; 3. Austin Simon, JS Clark, 21-1. Pole vault: 1. David Campbell, Pine Prairie 7-6; 2. Kadian Manuel, Pine Prairie, 7-0. Discus: 1. Curtis Harrison, Northwest, 154-4; 2. Landon Rhone, St. Martinville, 136-4; 3. Jaleel Jackson, Northwest, 118-11. Javelin: 1. Zyon Colar, Jeanerette, 123-0; 2. Kaven Joseph, North Central, 122-2; 3. Connor Snowden, Crowley, 110-1. Shot put: 1. Curtis Harrison, Northwest, 53-4; 2. Javonte Williams, Jeanerette, 50-2; 3. Landon Rhone, St. Martinville, 43-3. GIRLS RUNNING EVENTS 100: 1. Kyrionna Ardoin, Mamou, 12.35; 2. Harmony Richard, Northwest, 13.14; 3. Brionne Walters, Crowley, 12.45. 400: 1. London Trahan, Crowley, 1:05.31; 2. Fajah Guillory, Eunice, 1:05.77; 3. Dekota Sylve, Landry, 1:05.71. 1,600: 1. Kylee Kennerson, Northwest, 6:41.00; 2. Dulcie Fontenot, Pine Prairie 7:21.38; 3. Maricruz Rosales, Eunice, 7:55.13. 100 hurdles: 1. Ahlanna Hudson, Eunice 18.86; 2. Breniyah Dean, Northwest, 20.26; 3. Ke’myjhia Thomas, Pine Prairie, 20.42. Relays 4x100: 1. North Central, 53.30; 2. Eunice,

STAFF PHOTOS By LESLIE WESTBROOK

ALL-METRO WRESTLING

WRESTLER OF THE YEAR

Brandt Babineaux ■ Teurlings Catholic

There was no shortage of candidates for top wrestling honors in the Acadiana area this season.

In fact, all four candidates — Southside’s Zane Blanchard and the Teurlings trio of Alex Rozas, Brandt Babineaux and Braeden Simoneaux — won the biggest local tournament, the biggest statewide event and the state championship. Of that group, Babineaux emerged as the Outstanding Wrestler on the Acadiana Advocate’s All-Metro squad.

“He really improved his mindset this year,”Teurlings coach Kent Masson said of Babineaux, who went 42-0 this season.

In addition to Babineaux’s perfect record at 165 pounds, he helped lead the Rebels to another Division II state championship in Bossier City Babineaux helped Teurlings became only the third school and first Division II program to win the Ken Cole Louisiana Classic and the LHSAA state tournament in the same season.

“Every year from his freshman through his junior year, whenever he’d reach the final of a tournament, he had a mindset of wrestling more defensively when he’d reach those final matches,” Masson said.

“He was afraid of making a mistake

“This year he didn’t do that. It was a completely different mindset for him. He said ‘I’m going all out this year,’ and that’s exactly what he did.

Babineaux defeated Sawyer Pugh of St.Thomas More 16-3 in the LHSAA final after defeating him 14-2 to win the Louisiana Classic.

KevinFoote

COACH OF THE YEAR THE TEAM

ZANE BLANCHARD

Southside

50-0 ■ 106 pounds ■ So.

ALEX ROZAS

BRANDON WHEATLEY ■ Acadiana

Acadiana hasn’t been known as a wrestling school in a long time, if ever Coming up with enough room to practice each day is a chore, but coach Brandon Wheatley was able to achieve some historic things this season for the Wreckin’ Rams.

Wheatley oversaw a program that claimed its first individual state titles since 2012 with Ozias Gray and Brayden Forman atop the podium. It was the first time Acadiana had more than one state title since 1978.

The Acadiana boys finished 10th in Division I while the girls placed 14th in the first year of girls competition at the LHSAA tournament KevinFoote

Fearsome heavyweight who became beloved champ dies at 76

BY GREG BEACHAM AP sportswriter

George Foreman became the heavyweight champion of the world in his 20s, only to lose his belt to Muhammad Ali in perhaps the most memorable fight in boxing history A full 20 years later in 1994, the 45-year-old Foreman became the oldest man to win the heavyweight championship, throwing one perfect combination to steal Michael Moorer’s title in an epic upset. Few fighters ever had more big moments than Big George Foreman — and even after he finally left the ring, he was only getting started

“A devout preacher, a devoted husband, a loving father and a proud grand- and great-grandfather, he lived a life marked by unwavering faith, humility and purpose,” his family wrote. “A humanitarian, an Olympian and twotime heavyweight champion of the world, he was deeply respected. A force for good, a man of discipline, conviction and a protector of his legacy, fighting tirelessly to preserve his good name— for his family.”

A native Texan, Foreman began his boxing career as an Olympic gold medalist who inspired fear and awe as he climbed to the peak of the heavyweight division by stopping Joe Frazier in 1973. His formidable aura evaporated only a year later when Ali pulled off one of the most audacious victories in boxing history in Zaire, baiting and taunting Foreman into losing his belt.

Foreman left the sport a few years later, but returned after a 10-year absence and a self-described religious awakening.

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO

George Foreman lands a body punch to Muhammad Ali during their heavyweight bout in Zaire, Africa, on Oct. 30, 1974. Referee Zack Clayton is at right. The upset win by Ali is perhaps the most memorable fight in boxing history.

friend to not only myself, but to my entire family,” Top Rank president Bob Arum said. “We’ve lost a family member and are absolutely devastated.”

nacle of the pro game over the next five years, but was also perceived as an aloof, unfriendly athlete, both through his demeanor and through the skewed racial lenses of the time.

in an upset in Jamaica in January 1973 to win the belt, with his knockout inspiring Howard Cosell’s iconic call: “Down goes Frazier! Down goes Frazier!” Foreman defended his belt against Ken Norton before accepting the fight with Ali in the now-immortal bout staged in Africa by promoter Don King. Ali put on a tactical masterclass against Foreman, showing off the “rope-a-dope” strategy that frustrated and infuriated the champion. Foreman was eventually knocked down for the first time in his career, and the fight was stopped in the eighth round. Foreman told the BBC in 2014 that he took the fight almost out of charity to Ali, who he suspected to be broke.

The fearsome heavyweight, who lost the “Rumble in the Jungle” to Ali before his inspiring second act as a surprising champion and a successful businessman, died Friday night. Foreman was 76. Foreman’s family announced his death on social media, not saying how or where he died.

The middle-aged fighter then pulled off one of the most spectacular knockouts in boxing history, flooring Moorer — 19 years his junior with a surgical right hand and claiming Moorer’s two heavyweight belts. Foreman’s 20 years is easily the longest gap between heavyweight title reigns.

“His contribution to boxing and beyond will never be forgotten,” former heavyweight champion of

the world, Mike Tyson, said on X, formerly Twitter, as he expressed his condolences. Foreman’s transformation into an inspirational figure was complete, and he fought only four more times — finishing 76-5 with 68 knockouts before moving onto his next career as a genial businessman, pitchman and occasional actor Outside the ring, he was best known as the face of the George Foreman Grill, which launched in the same year as his victory over Moorer The simple cooking machine sold more than 100 million units and made him much wealthier than his sport ever did. “George was a great

In the first chapter of his boxing career, Foreman was nothing like the smiling grandfather who hawked his grills on television to great success Foreman dabbled in petty crime while growing up in Houston’s Fifth Ward, but changed his life through boxing. He made the U.S. Olympic team in 1968 and won gold in Mexico City as a teenager, stopping a 29-yearold opponent in a star-making performance.

Jim Lampley, the veteran boxing broadcaster who worked alongside Foreman for many years at HBO, told The Associated Press on Friday night that Foreman’s initial demeanor was an attempt by his camp to emulate Sonny Liston, the glowering heavyweight champ of the 1960s.

“I said I was going to go out there and kill him, and people said, ‘Please, don’t say you’re going to kill Muhammad,’ ” Foreman said “So I said, ‘OK, I’ll just beat him down to the ground.’ That’s how easy I thought the fight would be.”

Exhausted and disillusioned, Foreman stopped fighting in 1977 and largely spent the next decade preaching and working with kids in Houston after his religious awakening. He returned to boxing in 1987 in his late 30s with a plan to defy time through frequent ring appearances, and he racked up a lengthy series of victories before losing to Evander Holyfield in a surprisingly competitive title fight in 1991. Memorable moments

Foreman rose to the pin-

“At some point somewhere along the way, he realized that wasn’t him,” Lampley said. Foreman stopped Frazier

BRAD KEMP

Teurlings Catholic’s Brandt Babineaux, left, faces off against East Ascension’s Braylon Stewart during the Ken Cole Invitational final on Jan. 26 in Lafayette Babineaux, who finished the season 42-0, won his 165-pound class en route to winning the All-Metro Outstanding Wrestler award.

Foreman

Sonny Landreth missed one chance but took another

Lan-

decades ago to

take a gig for granted.

once suffered through an off night, only to spot Bob Dylan in the audience.

Dylan was looking for a guitarist. Landreth didn’t get the job.

Music friends from England asked Landreth to record a home demo tape for their new label. He took a resonator guitar in an empty room and recorded a half-dozen songs. The tape landed in Eric Clapton’s personal collection.

“It wasn’t meant to be heard by anyone,” said Landreth, a longtime Breaux Bridge resident who now lives in Lafayette. “The next thing I know, they gave it to Eric. They all knew each other

“All they kept telling me is he’s got a copy of that tape He kept it on the bus and played it from time to time.

“When I’d run into them, they’d say, ‘Man, he’s still got that tape. He’s still playing it.’” If I would have known that, I would have tried a little harder.” That tape sparked Landreth’s longtime friendship with Clapton, the rock guitar idol who turns 80 years old March 30. Landreth will celebrate the occasion at an invitation-only birthday party March 29 at the Battersea Arts Center in London.

With 18 Grammys and 100 million records sold, Clapton reigns as one of the most influential guitarists in rock history. Songs like “Layla,” “Lay Down Sally,” “Wonderful Tonight” and “Tears in Heaven,” written following the death of his 4-yearold son Conor have stirred generations across the globe.

As Landreth testifies, Clapton’s music exposed White kids in the suburbs to Muddy Waters, B.B. King and other blues godfathers who poured the foundation for rock ‘n’ roll. Clapton has also had high praise for Landreth, calling him “the

‘BEYOND LANGUAGE’

Hilliard Art Museum presents regionally rooted, globally engaged Spring Awake exhibit

BY JA’KORI MADISON Staff writer

The Hilliard Art Museum at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette presents three unique exhibitions including a rare presentation of artists from the museum’s permanent collection, marking their first public display in more than a decade.

“Regionally rooted but globally engaged,” is how Molly Rowe, who was recently appointed executive director of the Hilliard Art Museum, describes the theme of the 2025 Spring Awake season.

Rowe was born and grew up in Lafayette, but her work within the arts world spans from nonprofits like the New York City Ballet, the Whitney Museum of American Art and writing for the president and co-founder of the Savannah College of Art and Design, Paula Wallace.

Her work outside of Louisiana inspired the central theme of the museum’s spring show, which showcases Acadiana’s deep-rooted culture and relates it to what is happening in the world today

“Being away from home makes you appreciate such a rich culture. When I was appointed as director, I wanted to showcase what Acadiana

“Artists are the eyes and ears of what’s going on in our world and they are expressing it in ways that are beyond language that we can react to,” said Rowe. “I see art as a visual language because you never know how much story is in one piece.”

‘Tides, Time and Terrain’

“Tides, Time and Terrain: Floyd Sonnier and the Evolving Cultural Landscape” pairs the work of celebrated Cajun artist Floyd Sonnier with 41 other regional artists from the museum’s permanent collection — including Debbie Fleming Caffery, Tina Girouard, Elemore Morgan Jr., Elemore Morgan Sr., Francis Pavy, Keith Sonnier, James “Son Ford” Thomas, George Rodrigue and Leo Touchet. The show runs through Aug. 1. Misty Pride, who has been the collections and exhibitions manager for 10 years, says telling the stories of each hand-picked artwork was a pleasure.

HIS FIRST HOME, LAST AND MANY IN BETWEEN

BY ANNETTE SISCO Staff writer

is all about while engaging eyes all over the world,” said Rowe. She adds, each of the galleries currently displays a message that is filled with stories.

“When Molly asked me to pick out some things out of the permanent collection I picked out some of my favorites that told great stories. I take the time to about each work so it’s nice to finally display it,” said Pride.

ä See HILLIARD, page 4D

Where did Tennessee Williams live in New Orleans?

and “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.” His works, and his connections to New Orleans, are celebrated annually during the Tennessee Williams & New Orleans Literary Festival, March 26-30 this year In December 1938, a young Tennessee Williams climbed these timeworn steps to an attic

Misty T. Pride, collections and exhibitions manager, talks about the exhibit ‘Tides, Time, and Terrain: Floyd Sonnier and the Evolving Cultural Landscape,’ during a preview tour of spring exhibits. ä See CURIOUS, page 4D

Herman Fuselier

Playwright Tennessee Williams, 31, works on his typewriter

FILE PHOTO

Slide guitarist Sonny

dreth learned

never

Landreth

PROVIDED PHOTO

Slide guitarist Sonny Landreth

STAFF PHOTOS By LESLIE WESTBROOK Museum Educator Barbara Helveston talks about the ‘Rodin: Toward Modernity’ exhibit during a preview tour of spring exhibits March 13 at the Hilliard Art Museum in Lafayette.

ä See LANDRETH, page 4D

Queen Evangeline hosts breakfast ahead of parade

Sensitive reader wants to take things less seriously

Dear Harriette: I am trying to work on becoming less bothered by the small things in life. I take things personally, whether they are big or small, and I let them ruin my whole day For instance, if someone makes a harmless joke at my expense or if I receive minor criticism at work, I dwell on it for hours, sometimes even days. Even when I know deep down that the comment wasn’t meant to be hurtful, I can’t help but feel slighted or embarrassed. I replay conversations in my head, wondering if I said the wrong thing or if people are judging me. It’s exhausting to constantly feel like I have to prove myself or read between the lines of everything people say I admire people who can brush things off and not take life so seriously, but I don’t know how to get to that point myself. I want to be more easygoing and confident, but no matter how much I tell myself to “let it go,” I still feel a knot in my stomach when I think about certain moments. How can I stop overanalyzing every little thing, take things less personally and start enjoying life without feeling so

weighed down by my emotions? — Sensitive Dear Sensitive: At least you know that you are having an extreme reaction to the way people engage with you; that’s a step in the right direction Now might be the time to count your blessings Write down what’s good about you. What are your positive qualities? When you receive compliments, what do people say? Pay attention. Even if you think you don’t get any thanks or praise, I believe you do. Now is the time to notice it. Pump yourself up by acknowledging the good in you For anything that you need to take to heart and work on, do it. Instead of dwelling on a whole list of shortcomings, focus on one thing at a time that you can improve, and continue to recite your list of accomplishments to help balance out the negative thoughts. Read the book “The Four Agreements” by Don Miguel Ruiz. One of the agreements is not to take things personally

Dear Harriette: I’m currently in a relationship with an older man I’m 24, and he’s 40. My friends and mom don’t approve, but this person has supported me through some of the hardest chapters of my life. A few years ago, I was sexually assaulted, and it really uprooted so many things in my life. I found myself feel-

ing broken and confused, and I wasn’t sure I would heal from it. This guy, who didn’t know what I’d been through at the time, showered me with love, care and gentleness, and I began to feel normal again. Currently, we are long-distance, but he plans to move here. I’m excited, but I can’t help but worry how he’ll be received by my loved ones. Is there something my friends and family are seeing that I’m blind to? — Older Man

Dear Older Man: Generational differences can cause conflict over time, but every couple is different. If you feel loved and respected by this man, give the relationship a chance. Let your family know that you want their support and faith in you. Ask them why they are so apprehensive, and listen to their answers There is a good chance that they are reacting more to the long-distance aspect of the relationship than to the age difference. If you two have not yet met in person (safely, in a public space), it is vitally important that you do so before anyone decides to uproot and move to a new town. While you’re at it, it wouldn’t hurt to have him meet some members of your inner circle. Get honest reactions from them, and take those to heart as you decide your next steps.

Email askharriette@ harriettecole.com.

Early Mardi Gras morning, before heading out to the queen’s reviewing stand, Queen Evangeline Bella Cortez and her court enjoyed a sumptuous breakfast with family and friends

Kris Wartelle

The lovely affair was held at the City Club in River Ranch and included all the usual breakfast favorites. The threat of bad weather did not deter these ladies. They were dressed in their royal attire and ready to go. Yes, outside may have been a bit wet and windy, but that never stopped the Gabriel parade before. At least, not in recent memory.

This Mardi Gras tradition dates back years. The breakfast is a time for the queen and her royal maids to have one last casual moment before their big night at the City Ball. For that, they need sustenance and lots of good cheer

We know these ladies had energy to spare because excitement tends to do that. For the rest of the guests, Lent could come soon enough. We second that emotion. We also congratulate the krewe and this year’s royalty on a job well done. It was truly a fabulous season. Thanks for all the great memories

PHOTOS By KRIS WARTELLE

Ralph and Cherie Kraft, Bella Cortez, Elisabeth and David Cortez

Katie and Melanie Laver

Olivia Laperouse and Alexandra Bernard

Brit Busch, Ellie Bond and Ellin Busch

Madeline Busch and Misty Herpin Jason and Emily Breaux

Celie Chappuis and Mason Shelby

AT THE TABLE

Easy étouffée recipe hits right, even without extra ‘fat’

BY DEBRA BROUSSARD TAGHEHCHIAN

Contributing writer

“Tee, go and get my wallet,” shouted my dad from the kitchen.

Tee is my Cajun nickname, meaning petite or little. It is very common for folks to call each other by Tee plus their name or their father’s name I brought his wallet and he gave me $30. He had placed an order for 5 pounds of fresh peeled crawfish at L&L Seafood in Lafayette and he wanted me to go pick it up. He was going to make crawfish étouffée.

Now I was all of 17 years old in the late 1970s and only a driver of one year I had to drive on the other side of town to reach the location

There was no GPS, only careful directions on how to get there, which I quickly wrote down as my father gave them to me. That is just the way parents were then. Without any hesitation, I was given the keys to the car and told to be back soon.

Just as I was leaving the house, my dad said, “Oh, and get the fat, and ask if they will sell you extra fat.”

Thirty dollars doesn’t seem to be enough, but peeled crawfish were $5 per pound and the extra $5 was for taxes and hopefully, extra fat.

“What?” you may ask “Extra fat?”

Yes, in those days you could buy what is called the fat.

While peeling and eating boiled crawfish, you twist the tail meat from the head section and when you pull on the tail, you are left holding the tail and a yellow paste on the tail meat. It’s not really fat but the hepatopancreas, a liverlike organ enjoyed for its flavor I teasingly tell my daughter that it is the fois gras of the crawfish.

Sadly, processors no longer are allowed to sell the fat. If not properly frozen, it will spoil and take on a rancid taste. If you really want to make crawfish étouffée with the fat these days you will have to peel your own crawfish and collect the fat.

Without the availability of the fat, Cajun cooks had to find other ways to make the étouffée with enough flavor and gravy.

That is when I started hearing people using golden mushroom soup added to the recipe. Or some people used Rotel tomatoes and cream of shrimp soup.

Cajuns are always innovative when it comes to facing obstacles and this was just one more way that they had to adapt.

The recipe I am providing was given to me and developed by someone who knew how to adapt a recipe. There is no extra fat beyond what is in the package with the peeled craw-

TODAY IN HISTORY

By The Associated Press

Today is Sunday, March 23, the 82nd day of 2025. There are 283 days left in the year

Today in history

On March 23, 1998, “Titanic” tied an Academy Awards record by winning 11 Oscars, including best picture, best director for James Cameron and best original song for “My Heart Will Go On.”

On this date:

In 1775, Patrick Henry delivered an address to the Virginia Provincial Convention in which it is said he declared, “Give me liberty, or give me death!”

In 1919, Benito Mussolini founded his Fascist political movement in Milan, Italy.

In 1933, the German Reichstag adopted the Enabling Act, which effectively granted Adolf Hitler dictatorial powers.

In 1942, the first Japanese Americans incarcerated by the U.S. Army during World War II arrived at the internment camp at Manzanar, California.

In 1965, America’s first twoperson space mission took place as Gemini 3 blasted off with astronauts Virgil I. “Gus” Grissom and John W. Young aboard for a nearly five-hour flight orbiting Earth.

In 1993, scientists announced they’d identified the gene that causes Huntington’s disease.

In 2010, President Barack Obama signed the Affordable Care Act, a $938 billion health care overhaul. In 2021, a cargo ship the size of a skyscraper ran aground and became wedged in the Suez Canal; hundreds of ships would be prevented from passing through the canal until the vessel was freed six days later

Today’s Birthdays: Singer Chaka Khan is 72. Basketball Hall of Fame coach Geno Auriemma is 71. Fashion designer Kenneth Cole is 71. Actor Amanda Plummer is 68. Actor Hope Davis is 61. Musician Damon Albarn is 57. Basketball Hall of Famer Jason Kidd is 52. Actor Randall Park is 51. Actor Michelle Monaghan is 49. Actor Keri Russell is 49. Country singer Brett Young is 44.

fish, but the flavor is right.

Upon my return from L&L Seafood, the house was filled with the intoxicating aroma of onions and green bell pepper cooking in butter. That scent, my friends, is what I think heaven smells like.

PHOTO By DEBRA BROUSSARD TAGHEHCHIAN

This recipe is simple and like all simple, fewingredient recipes, freshness and quality of ingredients are very important. I hope that you will give it a try and enjoy this étouffée over a bed of white rice and a side of corn maque choux as I always do.

Crawfish Étouffée Serves 4-6.

and

and

until the

are just translu-

Add garlic and sauté another minute.

3. Sprinkle the flour over the onion mixture and stir constantly for 2 minutes (this time is important). Add tomato paste and sauté for another minute

4. Add crawfish and stir to incorporate all ingredients. Be sure to get all the juices from the crawfish package.

5. Add seasonings and 1/2 cup water Stir gently and add another 1/2 cup water if needed to create the right consistency

6. At this point, cook for just another 5 or 10 minutes, giving the crawfish just enough time to heat through. Do not let it cook any longer or boil as this will make the crawfish tough.

7. Add 1/2 cup chopped green onion and stir Heat through for another minute.

8. Lastly always taste and adjust the seasoning as needed. Serve over a bed of white rice.

To post, as well as to overshare, is human

Dear Miss Manners: Why do people, especially celebrities, feel the need to post their intimate details for all to read?

Judith Martin MISS MANNERS

One female celeb posted about her partner’s performance in bed and how good he was at it. Another posted about how bad her ex was. Does the public need to know this information? Those who post continuously don’t understand that social media is the downfall of many relationships.

Gentle Reader: Why, indeed, does everyone celebrated or just hoping to be — feel the need to post everything about their lives? We claim to care about our privacy We hate it when we expect people to admire us, and instead they attack us. Yet we keep feeding each other material.

Dear Heloise: Sometimes we forget some of the kitchen hints that we’ve learned over the years. Here are a few reminders:

Hints from Heloise

n You can substitute beer for wine as the liquid in stews or soups, and you’ll discover a nice, rich sauce. But only use as much beer as the recipe calls for, and don’t forget the water that is often called for as well.

n If a recipe calls for Champagne, use a fairly inexpensive brand Or use wine instead and keep the Champagne to celebrate a special occasion!

n Should a recipe call for wine, you can use nearly any kind, although a number of chefs prefer to use a good quality They claim that it makes a superior dish, but you can be the judge. Personally, I can’t tell the difference.

n Many wines that are specifically advertised for cooking contain monosodium glutamate or

Celebrities did not always do this. They had press agents to spread favorable stories and, when necessary, quash unfavorable ones. The assumption was that they led blameless domestic lives, unless they made public scenes or landed in court. The idea was to boost their careers by making them seem relatable and likable.

Surprisingly, this approach often worked: Not everyone had a camera with which to catch them behaving badly, and the press was less aggressive. But now, bland narratives no longer titillate the public. Failings are often forgiven, but virtue is suspicious — not to mention boring.

Noncelebrities follow famous people’s lead, in the hope of becoming celebrities themselves. Or because they hold the nowcommon belief that the unpublicized life is not worth living.

Now, Miss Manners has a ques-

salt, making them undrinkable. The rumor is that salt was added to wine to keep cooks from drinking it instead of adding it to the recipe. So, just use the real kind that is drinkable.

n Don’t have the red wine you need? Try using balsamic vinegar in its place.

n If you need to add sherry to a soup, add it just before serving time. Use about 1 teaspoon of sherry per cup of soup.

n Tired of ordinary vegetables? Try steaming them in white wine or balsamic vinegar instead of water

n Not all food benefits from cooking them with wine. Acidic foods like vinegar, citrus, tomatoes, asparagus, onions, pineapples and artichokes may taste off if you use wine. M.H., in Connecticut

Scratching furniture

Dear Readers: When you bring a new kitty home, it is normal for them to scratch furniture due to their growing claws.

So, to prevent your kitten from ruining your sofa or chairs, buy a

tion for you: Why are you reading this stuff?

Dear Miss Manners: I have become something of an auction junkie, and I am surprised at how often I see incomplete sets of sterling flatware for sale. Often, the “set” is just dinner forks and several sizes of spoons; sometimes it’s only knives, or only coffee spoons, etc.

I’m confused by the incompleteness of place settings and the fact that this was apparently how they were collected. Did people entertaining with “the good silver” mix utensil designs freely?

Odd! I see it too often for it not to be “a thing”!

Gentle Reader: You probably have a garbage disposal. You may or may not have children. But those are the two most likely places where missing pieces go. True, the garbage disposal doesn’t actually eat silver, but it can mangle anything it catches. And the original silver owners’

descendants may not actually use silver, but sets are often split up when they inherit it. The possessors of incomplete sets might have supplemented them with pieces from other incomplete sets, perhaps inherited from another side of the family Or like you, maybe they went scavenging at auctions and other venues selling odd pieces.

Miss Manners feels obliged to point out that you, as an auction junkie, benefit from this chaos. Buying a complete set would be a one-time pleasure, but if you buy an incomplete one, you can have a lifetime of sport in tracking down the missing items.

Send questions to Miss Manners at her website, www missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.

scratching post for it.

To get your kitten used to the scratching post, sprinkle a bit of catnip over it because cats love catnip! Heloise

Slicing safety

Dear Heloise: I traded in my mandoline’s safety guard for a cutproof glove. I have fewer, smaller hunks left at the end, and there are no trips to the emergency room. — Jen, via email

Drink your water

S.I., in Arizona

Private family notes

Dear Heloise: My husband and children used to leave me little notes such as: “Please pick up my insulin on your way home tonight,” or “Your mom called and wants to talk to you as soon as possible.” These were not big secrets, but they were still considered private. I found one of my neighbors going through a small stack of these messages one day when she was over to borrow my rug shampoo. I found this intrusion aggravating. So, I took some chalkboard paint and painted the inside of my utility closet door We now leave messages on it instead of notes. At least I have my privacy back! — F.H., in Massachusetts

Dear Heloise: More women should really listen to their bodies in order to look and feel their best. One practice women often neglect is drinking enough water, which ends up dehydrating them. There is a simple test you can do right at home to see if you need to drink more water: Pinch the skin on the back of either hand, and if the skin seems to stay up for a few seconds, you need more water in your system and lotion on your hands. Try to drink 8 glasses of water a day. If you remember squeeze the juice of one lemon into a glass of water in the morning before you brush your teeth. It will give you vitamin C and do wonders for your kidneys.

Send a hint to heloise@heloise. com.

Lucky winner gets a bus ticket, but sisters get last laugh

BY ANDREW GATES BARRY

Contributing writer

Human Condition

Two sisters once lived in a stately old home along Bayou Teche. By circumstances unique to each of them, both had returned to live in the family residence built many years before by their father, who owned a prosperous lumber company

The older sister who had previously lived in Cuba where her husband was in the sugar business before the Castro revolution, was quite outgoing. She was on the board of directors of a local bank, and her knowledge about many subjects and topics was extensive. I saw her shortly before entering law school, and when I told her my plans, she immediately informed me all about the program. She advised on which professors to get and which ones to avoid,

LANDRETH

Continued from page 1D

most underestimated musician on the planet, and also probably one of the most advanced.”

Landreth has been a regular performer at Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festivals, including the original benefit concert in 1999 at Madison Square Garden in New York City

“He’s been so gracious and super down to earth,” said Landreth. “He’s made everything so easy and really helped me out a lot When he came in to play with us, it was natural.

“That kind of completes the circle for me. As my career has evolved, there’ve been certain significant figures in my life in the world of music. To come back, after all this time, and make this kind of connection and play together that’s the greatest affirmation for me.”

At 74, Landreth entertains devoted followers with brilliant technique peppered with a strong zydeco flavor He con-

which was spot-on advice, along with numerous other bits of information about the school. When I asked her how she knew all of this, she replied, “I just do.”

The younger sister (my god-

tinues to be part of centennial tributes to one of his first mentors, Grammy Hall of Famer and zydeco king Clifton Chenier, born June 25, 1925, in Opelousas.

Besides 18 albums and two Grammy nominations, Landreth has shared the stage and studio with Jimmy Buffet, John Hiatt, Mark Knopfler, Gov’t Mule and many other stars. He plans to keep writing and recording.

“The only thing I’ve learned these decades, having survived disco and everything else, there’s nothing like live music.

People appreciate that on a very personal level.

“That’s what we do. We still sell CDs and vinyl at the shows. It’s important to keep the spontaneity factor and change it up some. As long as I can still come up with something creative, I’m still in 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.

STAFF PHOTO By LESLIE WESTBROOK

Guests look at a painting by Kevin Briscoe Jr in an exhibit titled ‘Take

Place: A Home in Four Movements’ during a preview tour of spring exhibits at the Hilliard Art Museum.

HILLIARD

Continued from page 1D

With over 2,500 pieces in the museum’s permanent collection, Pride says it usually takes anywhere from 3 to 6 months to put together a collection, but she achieved it within 6 weeks due to her eagerness to showcase work that had only seen the four walls of the room where it was stored “It starts with Floyd Sonnier who captured the essence of Acadiana with ink on paper, then I compared his works with current artist and their images of Acadiana,” said Pride.

Generalized themes on each wall in the showroom include the landscape of Acadiana, entertainment, food, spirituality and industry

‘Take Place’

Kevin Brisco Jr.’s solo exhibition is a take on “home” as both physical architecture and a landscape of memory Brisco’s show, “Take Place: A Home in Four Movements,” unfolds through four parts, with each revealing how a home’s walls bear “witness to and echo our personal histories, from moments of intense joy to those of deepest consternation,” according to the exhibition’s description. Brisco’s exhibition runs through May 31.

“I wanted to have a contemporary artist who’s practice and artwork evokes conversation and speak to things that are meaningful on a bigger scale but that some of us relate to personality,” Rowe said.

While expressing her vision for the next showroom, she says curator Aaron Garvey immediately recommended Texas-based artist Kevin Brisco Jr Brisco’s artwork showcases fragments of daily life including light filtering through blinds, a person exhausted at a kitchen table, or an un-watered

flower, revealing how our homes simultaneously protect and confine us, comfort and unsettle us.

“A lot of my artwork comes from my own experiences,” said Brisco.

“In my practice I am interested in the home and landscape so with this I wanted to take on a different perspective of what the home is.”

He went on to explain that he’s interested in how people come to define themselves in relation to the spaces they are confined in.

The exhibition’s innovative structure features paintings that will be added and removed throughout its run, mirroring how our understanding of home evolves through time and memory Each of the four movements builds upon the last, creating a layered exploration of how domestic spaces hold our histories and shape our view of the world.

‘Rodin: Toward Modernity’

The Auguste Rodin exhibit at the Hilliard was a part of the museum’s 20th anniversary Though it has been up since October 2024, the juxtaposition of “Rodin: Toward Modernity,” features 40 of the artist’s most celebrated bronze sculptures and adds to the experience of a visit to the Hilliard with its new exhibits.

Rodin is widely recognized as the founder of modern sculpture and the exhibition of his work at the Hilliard is organized into four thematic sections — Burghers of Calais, The Gates of Hell, Portraiture, and Fragments, the exhibition gives viewers an artistic journey through Rodin’s career

“For us to have 40 of the most iconic pieces of one of the greatest artists of all time in Lafayette ties so well into the theme of regionally rooted and globally engaged,” said Rowe.

Louisiana culture editor Jan Risher contributed to this piece.

Email Ja’kori Madison at jakori. madison@theadvocate.com.

mother) traveled extensively and sometimes very spontaneously

Once when she heard a song about Kalamazoo, she called her travel agent to book a trip there so she could see what the town

CURIOUS

Continued from page 1D

apartment, where he spent a short but fertile couple of months. It was his first time living in New Orleans, an experience that opened up a new world.

“It was a place where he could actually explore and become all of the aspects of himself that were conflicted and repressed in his traditional Midwestern upbringing,” Longbrake said Tuesday In New Orleans, Williams met painters and photographers, fellow gay men, barflies and others in the bohemian French Quarter

“I’m crazy about the city,” Williams wrote to his mother on Jan. 2, 1939, just days after he moved in to 722 Toulouse. “I walk continually, there is so much to see food is amazingly cheap, and the cooking is the best I have encountered,” adding diplomatically “since I left home.”

The one-time garret and the wooden stairs are not open to the public, but it’s easy to imagine Williams, a 28-year-old writer from Missouri, trudging to the top floor of the derelict rooming house.

From his “alcove cubicle,” he would lean out the window overlooking Toulouse Street, watching neighbors, tourists and “handsome sailors,” Longbrake said.

“The boarding house remained a fixture in his imagination for decades, a creative well from which he would draw one-acts, stories, poems,” wrote Robert Bray, founding editor of the Tennessee Williams Annual Review, in 2000.

1014 Dumaine St.

Fast-forward 25 years. Williams bought this compound of six apartments, with a lush patio and pool, after he became successful in the 1960s. He took over a twobedroom, two-bath apartment with a balcony on the second floor

In 1981, Drs. Brobson Lutz and Ken Combs moved in next door and discovered they had a famous neighbor

“The first Saturday night we were here, we heard all this commotion over across the courtyard fence,” Lutz recalled recently “Music, big party going on. Sunday we got a little ladder and looked over the fence. There was all this debris from what had been a huge party, with six or seven bodies lying around.

“That’s when we found out that Tennessee Williams owned the property next door.”

“We got to know him casually,” Lutz said.

When Williams decided to put the property up for sale in summer 1983, Lutz and Combs offered to buy it.

“We crafted a contract with an agreement that he would keep his apartment on the second floor for as long as he lived, for $100 a month,” Lutz said. “That was very appealing to him because he had a lot of junk up there, and he didn’t want to move it.”

The playwright died just months later, at the Hotel Elysée in New York. He was 71. Within hours, a Pinkerton guard appeared at the Dumaine Street compound and set up shop on the second-floor landing to guard the apartment, Lutz said. Williams’ estate sent a moving van to New Orleans after three or four weeks.

“They completely cleared out the apartment, except for some hidden pill bottles they didn’t find,” Lutz said.

“He was jovial, a pleasant drunk most of the time,” Lutz said. “He always had on something with a vintage flair to it. Our old friend Dan Mosley, who knew him before we knew him, talked about how every day regardless of the time of year, he would go out and

was all about. She also loved trains, and one year for her birthday, the older sister acquired a caboose and had it shipped by barge up the bayou and delivered by crane into the backyard. Amazon Prime and other modern-day delivery services take note!

One summer, the sisters planned to host a dinner party for a special occasion. They furthermore announced that a “nice” door prize would be awarded to one of the lucky attendees. That in and of itself piqued a lot of interest among the invited guests. In fact, curiosity reached such a level that the sisters decided to divulge a clue the prize involved “travel.”

The appointed evening arrived and guests enjoyed cocktails followed by a formal dinner It was good fellowship and conversation, but what was probably on everybody’s mind was the door prize. Travel. Where might the lucky

winner be going? Perhaps the Grand Canyon or an exotic cruise. The possibilities seemed endless. For dessert and coffee, the guests eventually were led into the living room where everyone got a ticket along with a matching stub to throw into a large bowl. From this bowl, the winning ticket would be drawn.

The anticipation was almost too much, so finally the older sister mixed up all of the stubs and pulled one from the bowl. She then awarded the lucky winner with the prize a bus ticket to Delcambre — 10 miles down the road — on the local line. Barry lives in Baton Rouge Human Condition submissions of 600 words or fewer may be emailed to features@ theadvocate.com. Stories will be kept on file and publication is not guaranteed. There is no payment for Human Condition.

The timeworn steps to the thirdfloor attic of 722 Toulouse St., the first place Tennessee Williams settled in New Orleans in 1939, are not open to the public. The building is part of The Historic New Orleans Collection.

jump in the swimming pool. He would walk out in his fur coat, hand it to his manservant, or boy, and jump into the pool.”

The six apartments are mostly unchanged, with green tile bathrooms dating back to Williams’ time, Lutz said. Apartment B, where Williams lived, is occupied by a psychiatrist and his wife.

600 block of Toulouse, Royal

After the garret on Toulouse Street and before the party palace on Dumaine, Williams lived in numerous places, mostly in the French Quarter Speaking with The Times-Picayune in 2015, Kenneth Holditch, the late professor emeritus of English literature at the University of New Orleans, thought an apartment in the building behind the corner building that faces Royal Street could be the spot where Williams firmly became “Tennessee” but lost something else. “Williams lived there later in 1939, and there was a party going on downstairs,” the professor told the newspaper “A sailor at the

party climbed up the fire escape, and Williams always claimed this was when he lost his virginity

“The James bar diagonally across Royal Street was a gay bar, and Williams could look down from his balcony and see people cavorting around. He said he always felt that he was their patron saint.” 632½ St. Peter St.

It was in this apartment that Williams wrote at least half of “A Streetcar Named Desire,” which he completed in 1947, Holditch told The Times-Picayune. Although Williams lived at this address only a short time, it was pivotal in his development. He could “hear the sounds of the streetcar on Royal Street,” Holditch said. 727 Toulouse St

Just across the street from the rooming house where he first settled in New Orleans, Williams wrote in a hotel at 727 Toulouse, in a tiny apartment with windows over the patio. “The site offered a tranquil retreat, and the sound of the hotel’s fountain calmed Williams’ nerves,” The TimesPicayune reported.

Hotels and cottages

“Williams also maintained adjoining rooms at the Hotel Monteleone (214 Royal St.) in 1949 for when he brought his grandfather, the Rev Walter Dakin, to town,” The TimesPicayune wrote in 2015.

“In later years, the playwright complained about the small rooms he was given at the (Omni) Royal Orleans Hotel (621 St. Louis St.) and reveled in the comparative decadence of the Pontchartrain Hotel (2031 St. Charles Ave.).” And for a time in 1969, Williams occupied one of the Audubon Cottages (415 Dauphine St.), where he held at least one fabled party

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 FILE PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER

The apartment at 632½ St. Peter St. is one of Tennessee Williams’ former residences in New Orleans.

STAFF PHOTO By ANNETTE SISCO

TRAVEL

Universal’s Epic Universe in Orlando to open May 22

Work

BY DEWAYNE BEVIL Orlando Sentinel (TNS)

ORLANDO Fla. — Universal’s Epic

Universe will celebrate its grand opening on May 22, marking Orlando’s first new theme park in a generation.

It’s a fine time to reboot and enroll in Epic 101, a course that reviews what we know and what we don’t know about Universal Orlando’s expansion, which Mark Woodbury, CEO of Universal Destinations & Experiences, has referred to as “the most technologically advanced park we’ve ever done.” The park was first announced in 2019. Universal has shared details along the way about its rides, shows and hotels, but burning questions remain.

When and where

Epic Universe is under construction about 2.5 miles southeast of Universal Orlando’s existing theme parks, Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, as well as Volcano Bay water park and Universal CityWalk. Epic is on “the other side” of Interstate 4. Universal will run buses between its original parks and hotels and the Epic area. There will be open-air parking available near Epic for visitors only going to the new park. And, as stated before, the park officially opens its doors on May 22. The theme team Epic Universe will be divided into five lands. Visitors will enter through Celestial Park, which includes a coaster and a carousel. Other lands are Super Nintendo World, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic and Dark Universe, which features classic monsters such as the Creature From the Black Lagoon, the Mummy and brides of Dracula. Alicia Stella, owner of Orlando ParkStop website, has been monitoring the park since before construction began. Some people are confused by the “five immersive worlds” push, she said, thinking that means five parks — and five tickets. It doesn’t. The rounded gateways, which Universal calls “portals,” are the walkways from Celestial Park to the other four lands, which are all part of Epic.

“People think all of the worlds are individual theme parks because they have their own portal entrance and because they’re be-

TRAVEL TROUBLESHOOTER

By Christopher Elliott

ing advertised in individual commercials,” Stella said “It’s like ‘Do I need a ticket for each world?’”

The portal layout, which will funnel Epic crowds into lands, concerns Tharin White, lead producer of EYNTK.info, an Orlando-based travel website.

“I don’t know what happens when you have to go through a single portal to get into Super Nintendo World, to then go into a second single portal to head into the Donkey Kong Country,” he said. “To me, that just sounds like bottleneck after bottleneck after bottleneck.”

Big rides on the way Yes. There will be four roller coasters across Epic. Mine-Cart Madness, in the Donkey Kong

JOE BURBANK

Country subsection of Super Nintendo World, already has a talking point: A moment where the car appears to leap over a gap in its broken rail.

Hiccup’s Wing Gliders will fly over Isle of Berk; Curse of the Werewolf will be a coaster with spinning cars in Dark Universe; and Stardust Racers, operating in Celestial Park, will be a duallaunch racing ride.

Wizarding World won’t have a coaster but it will feature Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry, a ride that follows the trial (and escape) of Dolores Umbridge, a cruel character from the Potterverse.

Dark Universe will have big thrill ride. Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment

will boast more than a dozen animatronic figures in an adventure that’s set beneath Frankenstein Manor

Tick-tick-tickets

Tickets are now on sale for Epic Universe, but there are limited options so far

You can buy multiday Universal Orlando tickets, which come with a one-day pass for Epic Universe.

Or if you are a Universal annual passholder, you can buy one-day tickets for Epic. Ticket prices vary by date, and this category is sold out for the first 17 days that Epic is open.

The lowest posted price through the rest of 2025 is $122.

More Epic tickets, including oneday tickets, will be sold before the park opens, the Universal website says.

That’s also true for Universal Express, the resort’s system for skipping lines. But whether they’ll be available months, day, weeks or even hours before opening isn’t known yet.

Tech talk

Officials and promotional materials have touted Epic as being technologically advanced.

Several customer-facing bits of tech, including animatronics, robotic drones, facial recognition and ride systems have been mentioned.

“I think it runs the gamut, but I think it starts with the guest experience of what they’re going to see and how they’re going to be brought into the immersion,” said Dennis Speigel, CEO and founder of International Theme Park Ser-

vices.

Super Nintendo World will include an interactive feature using a Power-Up Band wearable device to unlock additional content.

“I think technological advancement is going to be very important to the guests,” Speigel said. Meal motifs

Restaurants will be heavily themed within Epic Universe

Among the eateries will be Mead Hall, a viking-driven establishment in Isle of Berk, and Das Stakehaus, which will be run by servants of vampires, the story goes, in Dark Universe. Toadstool Cafe in Super Nintendo World will lean into its mushroom theme with ingredients and decor

And, yes, butterbeer will be sold in the Wizarding World, just as it is in the installments at Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios. Will it be ready?

Speigel said he’s talked with manufacturers and installers, and none has expressed doubt. That’s rare, he said. And there’s the swagger factor

“I’ve never seen a park open with such fanfare this far in advance of that readiness and showing the pictures and providing the information that they have,” he said.

“I just think that’s a very bold statement on their part, which leads me to believe, from what I see that they are going to be ready.”

Meanwhile in Dallas

Visitors to the Universal Kids Resort under construction in suburban Frisco will be able to stomp around in Shrek’s swamp, go boating with SpongeBob SquarePants, or take a cat nap with Puss in Boots.

Universal Destinations and Experiences, a division of parent company Comcast NBCUniversal, revealed its lineup of themed lands, and its a who’s who of animated entertainment.

Slated to open in 2026, the 97acre site will be home to themed worlds including the Minions, Trolls, Gabby’s Dollhouse and Jurassic World among others, according to a release.

“At Universal Kids Resort, children will have the opportunity to play, sing, dance and discover with some of their favorite characters,” Dan Cuffe, vice president and general manager of Universal Kids Resort, said in a statement. According to details from the company, the Frisco resort will also feature a colorful, themed 300-room hotel “designed with families in mind.”

Each of the resort’s themed worlds is personalized to Universal’s characters.

Virgin Atlantic admits multiple failures in customer service

Christopher Elliott

My wife and I planned a trip to London and Paris using points that we had transferred from Chase Ultimate Rewards to Virgin Atlantic specifically for our flights The itinerary included a flight from Washington, D.C., to London, the Eurostar train from London to Paris, and a return flight from Paris to Washington on Air France. The morning of our departure we received a flight cancellation notice. I immediately called Virgin customer service and spoke to a representative who put us on a British Airways flight the same day. I received an email with no locator number, so I called back.The next representative said that the British Airways flight was not available and that the original representative would call

me within 60 minutes to confirm us on another flight. I never received a return phone call and when I continually called back over a five-hour period nobody called me back as promised. I have screenshots of my phone calls with the time I spent on the phone. Virgin offered to rebook us on a flight two days later but the cost of our hotels and the Eurostar were significantly higher and my wife only was able to take her vacation on our planned days. I’d like a refund of the value of Virgin Atlantic points that were transferred from Chase Ultimate Rewards. Can you help? — Peter Ross,Washington, D.C.

I’m sorry to hear about your ruined vacation Virgin Atlantic should have refunded your points promptly So why didn’t it?

It looks like you had a dispute with the airline after the initial cancellation.

A Virgin representative rebooked you on another flight but didn’t send you a record locator, so you couldn’t be sure it was a confirmed reservation. You then found an empty seat on another flight, but Virgin Atlantic wouldn’t book you on that flight. So you canceled your trip. Worse, Virgin Atlantic promised to call you back to fix the problem but never did. Here’s the thing: It doesn’t matter why your flight was canceled or what kind of alternate flight your airline offered. When an airline cancels your flight, you get your money or your points back. Full stop.

A brief, polite email to one of the customer service managers at Virgin Atlantic or Chase might have helped. I publish both on my consumer advocacy website, Elliott.org.

Even a quick review of your itinerary would have revealed the problems of rebooking you on a flight. But if it didn’t, then Chase should have been able to claw back your points.

As I look at your correspondence with Virgin Atlantic, it appears that the airline was trying to pressure you into taking one of its upcoming flights. That’s understandable — it didn’t want to issue a refund. But rules are rules, and the airline couldn’t just keep your points. I contacted Virgin Atlantic on

your behalf. A representative contacted you, and you furnished the airline with additional proof that things had gone sideways with your European vacation. The Virgin Atlantic representative admitted to “multiple failures in customer service.”

Virgin Atlantic credited your points and added a flight voucher for the inconvenience. It also reimbursed you for the nonrefundable Eurostar tickets you lost.

Christopher Elliott is the author of The Unauthorized Travel Manual and 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.

Mauna Kea in Hawaii considered a top stargazing location

BY MIA TAYLOR TravelPulse (TNS)

tions that topped the ranking are fairly predictable (think Iceland, Switzerland and Canada), there is one unexpected U.S. destination that landed among the top five astro-tourism locations globally: Mauna Kea, Hawaii. For those not familiar with Mauna Kea, the island’s highest mountain, with an elevation of nearly 4,000 meters and minimal light pollution both of which help create a stunning view

of the night sky

Visitors to Mauna Kea can often spot the Milky Way in all its glory

The surrounding area also offers hiking, stargazing tours and other outdoor adventures.

But Hawaii was of course, not the only location identified as a great place for this type of natural phenomenon adventure. Interlaken, Switzerland, claimed the top spot thanks

to its high elevation of 3,401 meters and low light pollution. The Milky Way is often visible, and the area is popular for winter sports and outdoor activities, making it an adventure lover’s paradise, according to Planet Cruise. Reykjavík, Iceland, meanwhile, came in second place.

The popular location offers an abundance of opportunities to take in the aurora borealis due to its high latitude. And despite some light

pollution in the city, excursions to darker areas allow for spectacular sightings, with more than 41,000 Instagram posts showcasing its magical displays, says Planet Cruise. Rounding out the top three Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park in Canada, which has an average elevation of 1,481 meters, very low light pollution and some 10,057 Instagram mentions of the northern lights.

‘EVERYONE has a story’

Photographer signs his way into book influencer world

BY JOY HOLDEN Staff writer

Tate Tullier, a Gonzales native who lives in Austin, Texas, is a photographer who has a book obsession and he loves to share his reviews on Instagram @booktimewithtate as a bookstagrammer someone who uses Instagram for book-focused content.

One thing separates Tullier from other influencers: His reviews are in American Sign Language. Born deaf, Tullier communicates through lip reading and ASL. Through modern technologies, social media and closed captioning, he participates in the online community of book reviewers and influencers

Although photography is his day job, Tullier takes his reading seriously, plowing through books every couple of days. As a child growing up in Ascension Parish, Tullier would ask his mom to drop him off at a local bookstore where he would browse and read until she finished her errands.

A search for specific books on his spiritual journey brought Tullier back to his love of reading. He started reading books on astrology and physics, which then led to novels. His spiritual rebirth included an insatiable desire for reading.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity and was possible through the ASL interpreter service Convo.

When you were young, what was the pull to books?

I’ve always been really into books since I was a kid. I grew up reading

Maybe it’s because I was a deaf child in a hearing family.

I had friends, but I was often alone when I was at home, so I would just read. My mom was a teacher, so she really wanted to make sure that as a deaf kid, I could read, so she would buy me all the books I wanted, which I loved

Going to college and being out in the world working, I would read a book from time to time, but life got busy, and I lost that connection I set business goals for myself, and that became priority

How many books have you read so far this year?

102! My goal for 2025 was 104.

How have you read that many as of March?

As a photographer, January is a slow month of the year for me, because once the holidays are done, people have no use for me. So I really took advantage of that this year I don’t have kids, and I’m my own boss. I have insomnia. That’s how my system is. I’ve never really been a big sleeper

And my wife, Sarah, drives us everywhere, so I read in the car, too. All of that comes in handy

Have you found other deaf bookstagrammers or reviewers online?

I have found some, but there are people who got set up over lockdown who are not as active anymore. I am part of a book club, like a DM group, and the majority of them are deaf, so we talk a lot and ask a lot of questions.

I’m still comparing things with the hearing community. I am a communitybased person, and it’s nice when you have access to other peers who are in-

terested in the same thing that you are.

I’m not the only deaf person interested in books.

I grew up with hearing and deaf people not really chatting on a regular basis, and now we’ve become more involved in each other’s lives.

We can say, “Oh, hey, you’re reading this, and I’m reading this.”

I think it’s beautiful that you can get linked to other people, especially when it’s a shared, common interest, and you can hear and read other people’s stories. When we open up to other people’s lives, that’s what really helps us continue. Everybody has a story, and that helps me. What kind of books are you most drawn to?

I appreciate a broad array of genres.

I’m definitely right now in a mood to read. I’ve been going to the library and just checking out so many books.

I’ll have 16 visible books and maybe five digital books checked out at once,

but what has definitely been super new for me is reading e-books I’m a little bit old-fashioned in that way I like a physical book.

How do you think reading helps develop empathy and compassion?

We’re all connected together and I feel like we’re here for a reason, but people get so hung up on things. If we could interact with different people or if people read more, maybe it would open them up a little bit.

Reading helps us to understand that there are so many different kinds of people.

When you’re face-to-face with people, a lot of times there is already a bias. With a book, you can feel what you need to feel without judgment to focus on that person’s story It’s important to remember that your people are not the only people in this world.

Do you think because you don’t have the distraction of sound, your imagination is able to just take off?

No. Others may disagree with me, but I really think that no matter what you hear or don’t hear, reading has that ability That’s the beautiful thing about stories. You can read whatever you want to read. When you pick something that you’re really interested in, it’ll kickstart your imagination and transport you to another place.

I really don’t think that deaf or hearing makes a difference, but I understand why you would be curious about that.

Hearing people will never understand what it’s like to be deaf.

I don’t think that reading is soundbased. A blind person can listen to audio, and if somebody has low vision, they can read with large print books or Braille books. There’s so many different ways to read.

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

Danny Heitman AT RANDOM

Devin Jacobsen’s stories touch on Louisiana

Devin Jacobsen grew up in Baton Rouge, where his parents, Bob and Vicky Jacobsen,

make their home. He now lives in Paris, France, where his wife, Hailey, serves as an Episcopal priest.

Devin Jacobsen, 37, is a writer, and the title of his new short story collection, “The Summer We Ate Off the China,” is irresistible. Good dinnerware tends to stay in the cabinet, so readers will wonder what kind of summer summoned all those fancy plates and saucers into the open. In the title story, the aging Lisa Erskine bequeaths her china to Maggie, a family friend. The treasure’s been used only once — in the summer after Lisa and her husband married. “We were saving it until we could come up in the world, you know,” Lisa laments, “but all it did was serve dust.” Maggie privately reviews the heirloom dinner settings, “and within the bone-white luster,” Devin Jacobsen writes, “she can make out the sun coming off the mirror behind her.” It’s a moment of almost sacramental beauty, one made all the more moving because it’s short-lived.

Maggie returns the china to its storage box, presumably forever In deeper ways, the story is about missed chances, how lives can be derailed by loss. Most of the sentences are brisk, but one of them, too big to quote here, spans more than a page. There’s a logic to its length, a marathon of prose that underlines the exhausting rituals of Maggie’s work on a wait staff.

Even so, that epic stretch points to Devin Jacobsen’s willingness to experiment. He’s not afraid to take out the English language for rambling country drives, his excursions sometimes touched by hairpin turns.

Sagging Meniscus Press, the small publisher behind this collection and Devin Jacobsen’s 2020 novel, “Breath Like the Wind at Dawn,” prides itself on supporting “nonconformist” books “that want to be themselves.” That kind of insistent individuality brings its own complications.

Some of the stories in “The Summer We Ate Off the China,” such as “Tauroctony,” which unfolds like a medieval poem, are so idiosyncratic that they can seem like private reveries.

Other stories grow from a landscape more familiar to Louisiana readers.

“The Elegance of Simplicity” is a lively mashup that features a visiting Scottish couple, Tulane University, the French Quarter, a campus night watchman, downtown Baton Rouge, a trash compactor and Tiger Stadium. Perhaps no one since John Kennedy Toole has marshaled such a menagerie of characters and settings to tell a tale.

There are a few grace notes here, including the author’s description of a day’s start near the Mississippi: “Already the morning is humid, and I can hear, among the gravity of the river, the suck and lapping about the levee, which means there must be a barge somewhere cutting the current.”

Zadie Smith, the acclaimed novelist, has hailed Devin Jacobsen as “a writer to watch out for.” In this, as in so many other things, she is probably right.

Email Danny Heitman at danny@dannyheitman.com.

PROVIDED PHOTOS

Tate Tullier checks out a stack of books at a library in Austin, Texas.

Tate Tullier finds a few goodies at a Little Free Library, one of his favorite hobbies.

Jacobsen

Reading the room

BY RICH COLLINS Staff writer

At a time when people are overloaded with information from their smartphones and other screens, Cheryl Landrieu thinks it’s important to discuss ideas face to face.

That’s one of the missions of the New Orleans Book Festival at Tulane University cochaired by Landrieu and esteemed journalist Walter Isaacson. The fourth annual event is scheduled to take place Thursday through Saturday on the university’s Uptown campus.

“People might sit at home and worry about what is going on in the world, but this is a way to come together and share the information you’re receiving and get together in groups to talk about it,” Landrieu said. “It’s helpful to have a shared experience.”

The event, which began 15 years ago as a small children’s book gathering, has grown dramatically since moving to Tulane in 2022. Organizers estimate it drew roughly 15,000 attendees last year, thanks to an A-list lineup of authors, media figures and politicians. This

year’s crowd is expected to be comparable. Landrieu, a lawyer and author, said Book Fest is expanding in several ways in 2025. It will take up more space on campus, for one thing. Also, organizers have broadened programming to include new sessions on humor and cooking, plus content aimed at younger readers. Overall, there will be more than 90 panels, book signings, a culinary symposium, family activities and a closing concert High-profile guests scheduled to participate this year include immunologist Dr Anthony Fauci, journalists Connie Chung and Bob Woodward, statistician Nate Silver, novelist

Goodwin. In total, Book Fest 2025 will gather more than 200 authors, thought leaders and creatives for three days of discussion about politics, culture, fiction, productivity business and more.

“These are creative, thoughtful, insightful individuals talking about their passions and what they think the world is about,” said Tulane President Michael A Fitts. “It’s a smorgasbord.”

In its 15th year, authors, journalists, more add to a thought-provoking Book Fest ä See BOOK, page 2E

BY RICH COLLINS Staff writer

New Orleans Entrepreneur Week is going “back to school.” Headquartered at Gallier Hall for the last five years, the annual celebration of startups is moving its home base to Loyola University New Orleans, which is coproducing this year’s event with the Idea Village, a nonprofit business accelerator NOEW — pronounced “noh-

wee” — will take place Monday through Saturday at multiple locations citywide, featuring more than 100 speakers and panelists discussing technology, innovation, business and culture. The week will culminate with events on Thursday and Friday at Loyola, where high-profile entrepreneurs discuss their

Landrieu

Isaacson

John Grisham and historian Doris Kearns

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

Students walk past a New Orleans Book Festival sign at Tulane University in New Orleans. The festival kicks off Thursday

How to prepare for a recession before it’s too late

It’s OK if you’re not OK. Whether you’re living paycheck to paycheck or have healthy savings, the erratic tariff battles of President Donald Trump are tanking markets and fueling expectations that a recession is coming. With workers, businesses and consumers increasingly alarmed, Goldman Sachs has raised its 12-month recession probability from 15% to 20%, while J.P Morgan’s chief economist has upped the odds to 40%, a significant jump from the 30% prediction at the start of the year

“If we get the impression that they’re moving ahead with even larger tariffs than we now expect, or if the White House just signaled that it’s really committed to its policies, even in the face of weaker economic data, either of those developments might imply that the recession probability is higher,” David Mericle, chief U.S. economist at Goldman Sachs, said Monday during a podcast on tariffs and the U.S. economy

The tariff timing couldn’t be worse. It already feels like you need a microloan to buy eggs, with the average cost of a dozen jumping by 10.4% last month.

Your old car is one breakdown away from the junkyard, but

Downtown music venue

Artmosphere sold

The downtown bar and live music venue Artmosphere Bistro has new owners.

Justin and Marcela Bennett closed on a deal to buy the building at 902 Johnston St. earlier this week from the Trahan family, land records show

Owner Lauren Trahan announced the closure in November, citing family and personal reasons. The family bought the business in 2022 from Berry Kemp after it was listed for sale for more than a year Artmosphere had earlier this year undergone a $50,000 upgrade to the building and restrooms to

Fool’s Take: An undervalued company

Alphabet’s (Nasdaq: GOOGL) (Nasdaq: GOOG) Google was recently ranked the third most valuable brand in the world by Brand Finance. The company’s Gmail, YouTube and Google Maps services are widely used and helped Alphabet haul in $72 billion in advertising revenue last year Alphabet has excellent growth prospects. Its growing ad revenue delivers a steady stream of cash that management can reinvest in technology like artificial intelligence. Over the last year, Alphabet generated nearly $73 billion of free cash flow Google’s Gemini AI model is leading to new features that make the company’s products better For example, the AI Overviews feature is boosting usage of Google Search, and higher engagement can mean increased advertising revenue. Management sees a lot of opportunities in AI, especially in Google Cloud, where revenue grew 30% year over year in the fourth quarter Importantly, the cloudcomputing business continues to see improving profit margins. With a recent price-to-earnings ratio of 21, below its five-year average of 26, Alphabet is a solid stock for long-term investors to consider (Suzanne Frey, an Alphabet executive, is on The Motley Fool’s board of directors. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Alphabet.)

Fool’s School: Funds have fees

If you haven’t given much thought to mutual funds, you might want to start considering them for your portfolio. (We especially love broad-market index funds, such as those that track the S&P 500.) With a good mutual fund, you plunk in your dollars and financial professionals invest them for you, saving you a lot of trouble. When you look at various funds, though, don’t just focus on their performance records Look at the fees they charge, as well, including annual fund operating expenses and shareholder fees. A fund’s annual fee is generally expressed as its “expense ratio,”

layoffs and policy-related uncertainty.”

Michelle Singletary THE COLOR OF MONEy

you can’t afford to replace it if Trump’s tariff war escalates — leading to even higher prices for new and used cars The average monthly auto loan payment was a record $754 in the last three months of 2024, with some borrowers paying $1,000 a month.

Even if you can’t bear to look at your 401(k) retirement account (I haven’t), you know its value is down. The S&P 500 — a key gauge of market performance — tumbled into a correction earlier this month, which is a 10% drop in the price of a stock or index.

“Typically we see corrections when there’s a noticeable crack in the economy, or when the market needs to cool off after a long stretch of gains,” Callie Cox, chief market strategist for Ritholtz Wealth Management, wrote in a market alert. “We think today’s correction is a mix of both dynamics. The economy is under pressure from years of high interest rates, plus large-scale government

BUSINESS BRIEFS

make them compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The location has been a popular spot for local live music since it opened just over 20 years ago.

Newly formed hospice group opens in Oil Center

A south Louisiana-based hospice group has opened two locations, including one in Lafayette in the Oil Center

Southern Grace Hospice held its grand openings at its offices at 458 Heymann Blvd. Suite A in Lafayette and 510 E Morris Ave. in Hammond.

The company was formed at the end of 2024.

and it might be thought of as the cost of owning the fund. It covers management fees and other expenses of running the fund. If a fund charges, say, 1.2%, you’ll pay $12 per $1,000 you have invested in the fund — every year That might not seem like much, but if you had $100,000 invested in mutual funds with an average expense ratio of 1.2%, you’d be paying $1,200 in a single year

Shareholder fees include sales “loads,” which are commissions paid when you buy or sell shares of certain funds. Load fees can be fairly steep (some funds charge 5% or more), but there are gobs of “no-load” funds.

Mutual fund fees have dropped quite a lot in recent years, with the average expense ratio for stock funds hitting 0.42% in 2023, down from 0.99% in 2000. And index funds tend to have even lower fees, in part because their managers just copy an index’s holdings and don’t have to research, buy and sell various stocks, bonds and other assets. As of 2022, the average expense ratio of a stock-based index fund was just 0.05%, and today, you can find some index funds charging 0.02% or less.

There are also exchange-traded funds, which have grown quite popular They’re funds that charge similar annual holding fees, but trade like stocks. Many are also index-based, such as the excellent Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO).

Ask the Fool: Tax deductions and credits

What’s the difference between a tax deduction and a tax credit? —W.D.,Washington,Indiana

Both deductions and credits will shrink your tax bill but in different ways. Deductions are subtracted (deducted) from your taxable income, thereby reducing your tax. Credits, though, reduce the tax you have to pay dollar-fordollar

Imagine you’re in the 22% tax bracket and you can take a $2,000 deduction and a $2,000 credit. The deduction will remove $2,000 from your taxable income, saving you from having to pay $440 on it. But the credit lops $2,000 off your tax bill, saving you $2,000. There are dozens of deductions and credits available to taxpayers, such as the mortgage interest deduction and the child tax credit.

Most people don’t have a lot of deductions to itemize and therefore simply take the standard deduction. Most people do.

If an economic downturn is inevitable this year, here are some ways to prepare your finances and mind.

Pay down credit card debt

If you have been battling credit card debt, your top priority should be to pay off your balances as soon as possible.

If you lose your job you may have no choice but to focus on paying for essentials — a roof over your head and food on the table — not shelling out interest payments on unpaid credit card debt

One way to tackle the debt is to get a low-interest personal loan or sign up for a balance-transfer credit card. You can eliminate debt much faster if you transfer high-interest debt to a credit card with a zero percent rate. If you can’t qualify for that call your credit issuer and ask for an interest rate reduction.

Stockpile savings

A recession can quickly change your circumstances. Low and high earners can be affected.

If you don’t have an adequate rainy-day fund, it’s time to look for cuts, increase your income to help boost savings, or both.

BOOK

Continued from page 1E

Too much ‘current events’?

Book Fest 2025 will offer plenty of political content, like a conversation featuring dueling political strategists David Axelrod and Karl Rove and an opening night presentation from the team at The Atlantic magazine.

But Isaacson said the event is not really focused on the headlines, no matter how engaging or concerning they may be.

“I think the world has too much ‘current events’ right now,” he said.

Landrieu said the goal is more about building community around all different kinds of ideas. It’s almost like a well-rounded person’s Facebook or Instagram feed come to life, with presentations ranging from the state of democracy to an argument that New Orleans is America’s “sandwich capital.”

There will be a conversation with Saints legend Archie Manning, led by his son Cooper, as well as a look at the 50th anniversary of the Superdome and the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.

Social media influencers Nicole Richie, a reality TV star, and Cleo Wade, a poet and New Orleans native, will host several “coffee chats” with authors in a living room-style gathering place under one of the two big tents on the Tulane quad.

“I like that we’re keeping it true to New Orleans, where we want to have serious conversations, but we also want to have fun and talk about things we love, like culture, art and food,” Landrieu said. “Ultimately, Book Fest is about creativity. It’s obviously something New Orleans has in spades, and writers do, too.”

‘Find the box that will surprise you’

Earlier this month, the festival released its detailed schedule in the “cubes” format familiar to regulars of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Overlapping events on multiple stages make for tough choices for hardcore book nerds and political junkies.

On Friday morning, Isaacson will interview Fauci at the same time that Tulane geographer Richard Campanella joins a discussion about the future of the Mississippi River.

Afterward, Chung will talk about her groundbreaking media career, while retired Gen. David Petraeus, former director of the CIA, addresses war strategy and leadership. Later in the day, Isaacson will converse with CRISPR co-inventor Jennifer Doudna while Axelrod and Rove talk politics.

On Saturday, novelist John Grisham and New Orleans-born nonfiction writer Michael Lewis will share the stage at McAlister Auditorium, while a Dixon Hall panel showcases a new generation of talents: novelists Alison Espach and Casey McQuiston.

Isaacson has one piece of advice for people planning their day

“My recommendation would be to find the box that will most surprise you and teach you something new,” he said. “You can go to a cookbook talk and genetic engineering talk and hear authors talk about turning their books into movies Whatever tickles your mind.”

Got vacation plans? Put that summer trip to the beach on hold until you have a decent cash cushion. Otherwise, you’ll have to rely on debt

Establish a backup

In addition to having a recession rainy-day fund, figure out where you might go for additional funds if you need them in a pinch.

If you’re a homeowner, consider getting a home equity line of credit (HELOC), which allows you to borrow money using the equity in your home. But only use this line of credit as a last resort should your savings run out and make sure you understand all the fees and interest costs associated with a HELOC.

Curb your consumerism

People buying stuff fuels the U.S. economy Consumer spending on goods and services in the U.S. economy accounts for about two-thirds of domestic spending, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. But much of this consumption is funded with debt. Total household debt increased by $93 billion to $18 trillion in the last quarter of 2024, according to the New York Fed. Credit card balances were up by $45 billion from the previous

NOEW

Continued from page 1E

year is a way to try to further broaden NOEW’s reach and appeal, according to Jon Atkinson, president and CEO of the Idea Village.

“The partnership with Loyola is helping us grow NOEW by engaging new networks, bringing in new audiences and building a sustainable platform,” Atkinson said. “It also helps connect the university with the business community and institutionalize the educational mission that makes NOEW special.”

Busy schedule

The week will include days packed with back-to-back programming across the city that bring together diverse organizations that have a stake in the city’s entrepreneurial community

On Monday for instance, Junior Achievement will host an event for high schoolers at Loyola, while food trucks are setting up for a kick-off party outside The Nieux, an events space and “innovation hub” in the old Eiffel Tower building on St. Charles Avenue. After lunch, The Beach at UNO will host the “Future Energy Experience” at the Nieux while students participate in a pitch competition at Tulane Simultaneously, across the lake, the St. Tammany Economic Development Corp. will be hosting a Startup Northshore event offering leadership, marketing and strategy training. And that’s just day one. The busy schedule of events continues on Tuesday and Wednesday On Thursday the NOEW “summit” at Loyola begins.

Among the highlights on campus will be a panel discussion on Friday with Matt Wisdom, who sold his tech company TurboSquid for $75 million in 2021, and Waitr founder Chris Meaux. They will talk about their approach to entrepreneurship and how artificial intelligence is reshaping the startup landscape.

Three startups that have successfully completed the Idea Village’s accelerator program will make presentations and receive an investment commitment from NOEW, which launched its Momentum Fund last year.

After the Idea Pitch event, NOEW will conclude with a panel focusing on “My Black Country,” a memoir written by songwriter Alice Randall.

The hope is that Loyola will become NOEW’s permanent home, where existing event space, audio/visual equipment and student workers can help keep costs down. The main stage will be in a large tent near the business school building. Other presentations and activities will be spread across campus.

“We can take advantage of the school’s resources, while bringing together engaged students and business leadership,” said Liz Maxwell, Idea Village senior director of strategic initiatives. ‘Front door’

Since its inception, NOEW has been designed to help local entrepreneurs create more startups. This year is no different.

quarter, ballooning to $1.21 trillion.

If there’s a recession and you lose your job, carrying a lot of debt makes it harder to recover Or you might be forced to take part-time work if you can’t find a full-time job.

If you’re servicing a lot of debt, reduce your consumption. Then actively save the money you aren’t spending.

Don’t panic-sell

It’s OK if you’re scared that we are headed for a recession. But if you lead with your feelings, you’re more likely to make a financial mistake, such as cashing out your investments.

“The best time to decide how much cash to hold is when the stock market is calm, not when it’s in flux,” Cox said when I asked her what she would tell investors.

“Your saving and investing goals should be objective and based on your cash needs over the next year or so,” she added. “There’s an element of sanity and well-being in deciding how much you have in savings, but it’s a choice best made when you’re not under duress.”

Email Michelle Singletary at michelle.singletary@washpost. com.

At a time when the metro area is struggling with a shrinking population and “brain drain,” the co-producers want the event to serve as a big, flashing welcome sign for potential south Louisiana entrepreneurs.

“We’re trying to focus on being the front door to the ecosystem,” said Sam McCabe, director of Loyola’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Community Development, which leads Loyola’s NOEW planning efforts. “Anybody remotely interested in entrepreneurship — whether a founder investor or someone with a new idea — is welcome here and can find content that will be valuable.”

NOEW, by another name, began in 2009, when the Idea Village hosted an event called IdeaCorps at Tulane’s business school. It took on its current moniker the next year, after moving downtown.

Since that time, NOEW’s home base has moved multiple times, including stops at the Contemporary Arts Center and Gallier Hall.

Just as they experimented with different locations, NOEW producers also have tried different formats, including various types of pitch competitions.

This year, NOEW content has been curated to be relevant to young people eyeing future careers. Areas of focus include climate tech, AI, social media and the future of the music business in the region.

Loyola’s Jesuit philosophy also is shaping the event, which will examine how to make a positive social impact through entrepreneurship.

“We have a very creative, diverse group of students on campus who want to be change makers,” McCabe said. “We want to give them the info they need to get started.”

Further along

If NOEW itself wants to welcome local entrepreneurs, 3rd Coast is aimed at Gulf South startups that have momentum but need more investment to grow

Capped at about 150 people, the event sounds like a speed dating session for regional entrepreneurs and national investors.

Companies attending include Occupi, an Alabama-based fintech company focused on the real estate sector; Arix, a Louisiana/Texas-based robotics company targeting industrial users; and Freyya, a Texas-based health tech company developing a wearable, biofeedback device to diagnose and improve the pelvic floor condition.

Email Rich Collins at rich. collins@theadvocate.com.

PROVIDED PHOTO

Liz Maxwell and Jon Atkinson, both of The Idea Village, help organize New Orleans Entrepreneur Week.

Motley

TALKING BUSINESS WITH JOSÉ SUQUET

Pan-American Life CEO sees fresh opportunities

BY STEPHANIE RIEGEL Staff writer

In 2004, José Suquet was tapped to lead New Orleans-based PanAmerican Life Insurance Group, which had once been among the top personal and business insurance providers in the Americas but, by the early 2000s, was losing market share and seeing its profits erode amid rising costs and a string of unprofitable ventures.

Suquet was tasked with turning things around at the company, which was founded in 1911 by Crawford E. Ellis, a United Fruit Co. executive during the height of the banana trade between New Orleans and Honduras.

In the years that followed, Suquet focused on growing business in core Latin American markets, overhauling the company’s financial structure and cutting business lines he saw as distractions. Today, the insurance company’s revenues, which were $284 million when he took over two decades ago, are nearly $1.5 billion, and the company is comprised of more than 30 member companies, with more than 2,200 employees worldwide. Its footprint extends to 49 states and more than 20 countries In this week’s Talking Business, Suquet discusses the company’s growth and why he says he’s not worried about the potential disruptions to global trade and economic stability

Interview has been edited for length and clarity

I would bet a lot of people who walk by your building at 601 Poydras St. every day have no idea what PALIG does. We are a life and health insurance player for the individual and corporate markets In Latin America, we focus on the affluent and high net worth customers on the individual side. We also focus on employee benefits for all of the leading, major multinational firms that operate in Latin America — Walmart, Amazon, Dell, Microsoft — clients that are top of the corporate world in business. Though we

are all over Latin America, Panama, Costa Rica and Columbia are the countries where most of our activity is located.

Does PALIG actually underwrite policies for these clients or just do plan administration?

We do all of the above. We are an employee benefit plan administrator, we underwrite, we have an extensive network of medical providers throughout Latin America. We have about 47 doctors and

40-50 nurses that work with us as well and offer a full array of services, whether group medical, group life or accident products throughout the region. We have a very strong brand name in the region. We have been in Panama for more than 100 years and more than 80 years in Honduras. No other company can say that. PALIG also is growing its business in the U.S.? Yes. In the states, we offer in-

dividual life insurance to the middle and mass affluent classes. We don’t compete in the high net worth segments. With respects to health insurance, we are focused on the blue-collar and no-collar industries — trucking, for instance.

Has your growth been organic or more through acquisition?

Both. We have a strong, organic growth machine, but we have had three acquisitions that have helped the growth trajectory Last year, we bought Encova Life Insurance Co. in Ohio, which brought about $600 million in assets that are fully integrated with Pan American Life They are also that mass affluent type of marketplace. Ten years ago, we acquired a company called Mutual Trust that was based in Oakbrook, Illinois, and brought $2.5 billion in assets into the company We kept their facility and employees and management team, and they now manage the U.S. life business for us. And the one that started it all was in 2012, when AIG, which was a major insurance company, was taken over by the U.S. Treasury and we acquired certain companies from one of their subsidiaries.

PALIG recently put new signage with its name on top of the building the PanAmerican Life Center Why the need for such mass market branding when you are sort of a B-to-B company?

The name has always been at the bottom. We just put it on top before the Super Bowl to recognize the progress we have made over the last 20 years. We have almost 400 employees here and 2,3002,400 throughout our footprint. When I got here, we had revenues of $284 million. Last year, we closed with almost $1.5 billion, which puts us in the top five companies in New Orleans in revenue. We have made great progress and want to tell that story Where do you see the greatest opportunities for future growth?

More growth opportunities are international. When you have a recognized brand with a long history in that market, which is com-

prised of foreign companies that are in and out of the countries down there, there is plenty of potential. The life insurance industry in the U.S., in general, grows at a steady 2%-3% a year We have been able to hypercharge that in Latin America.

How concerned are you about all the turmoil now roiling global markets, between tariffs and policy changes?

We don’t anticipate that will impact us. Our Panamanian company, a subsidiary, has been there more than 100 years. We have a Honduran company run by a Honduran, also a subsidiary Our CEOs down there are stalwart members of their communities. Our customers are large multinationals like Microsoft and Amazon.

They’re not going away They are not going to close up. They want coverage from a multinational like us that has strong cyber security, respects privacy and has strong state-of-the-art tools to help them pay claims. So, we understand. We are not on pins and needles with every executive order that comes into effect. We are going to keep our head down and keep doing business the way we have been doing it. So far, it has worked. If we take sides, we will be in deep trouble We stay in the middle of the fairway and live by values that incorporate doing the right thing.

A few years ago, you stepped back as president, though you remain CEO Any thought of retiring?

The board really wants me to stay as long as I can. I have had two knee replacements and two hip replacements in the past five years, but otherwise, my health is good. I am blessed to have three co-presidents, and we have a tremendous team that is working very well together We challenge each other, but there is real collaboration and a lot of transparency

Email Stephanie Riegel at stephanie.riegel@theadvocate. com.

Investing in Innovation: HowLouisiana’s MenhadenIndustry is Leading in Sustainability

tearsinrecentyears.

Innovation is Driving Sustainability, NotAdditional Regulations

Industry-led innovation has proven to be the mosteffective waytoreduce fish spills, demonstrating that targeted technological solutions aremore effectivethan broad, one-size-fits-all spatial restrictions.

impact.Together,the industry supports over2,000 direct and indirect workers, providing good wage jobs in rural coastal communities and contributing $25million to state and local economies In astate wherecommercial fishing is a backboneofour culture, thesejobshelp keep coastal communitiesalive.

At the same time, we recognizeour responsibilityasstewardsofthe Gulf menhaden resource and have taken proactivesteps to ensurethe sustainability of our fishery.

While net tearsand fish spills are extremely rare,weacknowledgesuch incidents areunacceptable. That’swhy we’veinvested in cutting-edgetechnology to further reduce occurrences.Overthe past four years, the industry has made 65,000 fishing sets,ofwhich only 44 experienced net tears—a minuscule 0.067% incidentrate

Nettearsare largely caused by sharks which strikethe nets attempting to accessthe captured fish inside them. The significantincreaseinthe shark population along the Louisiana coast has

Westbank Fishing, akey operatorinthe industry,recognizing this growing issue, worked with net manufacturersglobally to identifya suitable solution.

Westbank Fishing invested $1.8million to trial newultra-high molecular weight polyethylene Spectra/Plateena netting, which is arevolutionary fiber which is ten times stronger than nylon.

Between 2018 and 2023, Westbank Fishing had experienced eightnet tears, all of which were when using the industries traditional nylon nets.All but one of these net tearsoccurred at distances greater than 1mile from Louisiana’sregulatory fishing line.

Sinceadopting the Spectra/Plateena nets in May2023, Westbank Fishing has completed over15,000 fishing sets without asingle net tear.Building on this success, the company is investing another $900,000 in 12 newSpectra/Plateena nets forthe 2025fishing season.

Data shows thatindustry innovation –not unnecessary spatial restrictions like extended buffer zones –iskey to reducing fish spills.Industry-led innovation has proventobethe most effectiveway to reduce fish spills,demonstrating that

targetedtechnological solutions aremore effectivethan broad, one-size-fits-all spatial restrictions Industry-WideAdoption of Smarter Fishing Technology

After seeing Westbank Fishing’s success, Ocean Harvesterswill fully transition to Spectra/Plateena nets forthe 2025season and beyond. This investmentreinforces the menhaden fishing industry’s ongoing commitment to innovation and responsible fishing practices.While the industry has already achievedanexceptionally lowincident rate,wecontinue to invest in cutting-edge technologytofurther reduce fish spills and improve sustainability.

The industry’s commitmentto sustainabilityhas drawnattentionfrom regulators and policymakers. Last year, then-Louisiana DepartmentofWildlife and Fisheries Secretary Madison Sheahan, along with LDWF executivestaff and the EnforcementDivision, toured Westbank Fishing’s operations in Empire, LA, for afirst-hand look at its fishing practices AhighlightofSecretary Sheahan’svisit wasthe inspection of Westbank Fishing’s state-of-the-art Spectra/Plateena netting—nearly tentimes stronger than traditional nylon nets and nowthe exclusivematerial used by the company. “Commercial fisheries arevital to

the Louisiana economy,”said Secretary Sheahan following the tour.“As Secretary, it is my dutytothe people of Louisiana and to the Departmenttounderstand the industries within Louisiana regulated by the Departmenttoensurethe health of our fisheries and the habitats needed to support them. Iamgrateful forthe first-hand experience of one of our state’s toughest jobs.”

The Louisiana commercial menhaden industry has proventhat sustainabilityisbest achievedthrough proactiveinvestmentand technological advancements.Weremain committedto working alongside regulators,scientists and the broader fishing communityto ensureabalanced, science-based approach to fishery management—one thatprotects both our coastal environmentand the livelihoods of the hardworking men and women who depend on this resource. Together,wecan secureafuturewhere economic growth and environmental responsibilitygohand in hand. By continuing to invest in cutting-edge solutions,wecan protect both Louisiana’s working coast and its fisheries –ensuring long-term sustainabilitywithout sacrificing economic opportunity.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By MATTHEW PERSCHALL

José Suquet has led the New Orleans-based Pan-American Life Insurance Group since 2004.

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GREAT ESCAPE

Physician assistant students took a unique training session in an escape room that merged critical thinking, teamwork and real-world medical

BR university uses an escape room, new tech to train prospective physician assistants

BY MARGARET DELANEY Staff writer

Medical education takes an exciting turn as Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University introduces an interactive escape room experience designed to make learning more engaging and impactful.

In February, 29 physician assistant students took a unique training session that merged critical thinking, teamwork and real-world medical skills.

Inside the escape rooms simulated as standard exam rooms — students worked together to take a comprehensive patient history perform physical examinations and analyze clues to form a diagnosis. The prospective PAs were required

to order appropriate lab tests and diagnostics, working together to “escape” the room by accurately diagnosing the patient.

This approach transforms a traditional learning environment into an urgent care clinic simulation.

“This escape room scenario offers PA students a safe, controlled environment to tackle complex, real-world medical situations,” said Tara Milligan, the physician assistant clinical coordinator at the university As coordinator, Milligan is in charge of introducing new and exciting ways to improve education for physician assistants.

At the escape room, students split into two groups to ensure smaller and more intimate learning experiences.

“In the medical field, you have to learn to be able to work with a team of people in order to properly treat a patient sometimes,” Milligan said. “So, I wanted them to have that experience of working together.”

The case scenario provided to both groups featured a 12-year-old male with a traumatic brain injury presenting with a high fever lasting eight days. Through examination and chart reviews, students uncovered signs of sepsis (a bacterial infection in the whole body and blood) from pressure ulcers on the lower back and found that he was being abused and neglected.

Once the correct diagnosis was made, the team “escaped” and the patient was hypothetically sent to the ER for urgent treatment.

A debriefing session followed, where students discussed the plan of care — including treatment protocols for sepsis and the responsibilities of health care providers in suspected abuse or neglect cases. The group covered mandated reporting, engaging social work or case management, contacting law enforcement and proper electronic medical record, or EMR, documentation in the escape room lesson.

“As providers, we are legally and ethically bound to be a mandated reporter of possible abuse or neglect for anyone,” Milligan said. “I wanted the students to be able to have some sort of exposure to that process since they

ä See TRAINING, page 3X

Sent home to heal, patients avoid wait for rehab home beds

BY FELICE J FREYER KFF Health News

After a patch of ice sent Marc Durocher hurtling to the ground, and doctors at UMass Memorial Medical Center repaired the broken hip that resulted, the 75-yearold electrician found himself at a crossroads. He didn’t need to be in the hospital any longer But he was still in pain, unsteady on his feet, unready for independence.

Patients nationwide often stall at this intersection, stuck in the hospital for days or weeks because nursing homes and physical rehabilitation facilities are full. Yet when Durocher was ready for discharge in late January, a clinician came by with a surprising path forward: Want to go home? Specifically, he was invited to join a research study at UMass Chan Medical School in Worcester, Massachusetts, testing the concept of “SNF at home” or “subacute at

home,” in which services typically provided at a skilled nursing facility are instead offered in the home, with visits from caregivers and remote monitoring technology

Durocher hesitated, worried he might not get the care he needed, but he and his wife, Jeanne, ultimately decided to try it. What could be better than recovering at his home in Auburn with his dog, Buddy?

Such rehab at home is underway in various parts of the country —

including New York, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin — as a solution to a shortage of nursing home and rehab beds for patients too sick to go home but not sick enough to need hospitalization.

Staffing shortages at post-acute facilities around the country led to a 24% increase over three years in hospital length of stay among patients who need skilled nursing care, according to a 2022 analysis. With no place to go, these patients occupy expensive hospital

beds they don’t need, while others wait in emergency rooms for those spots. In Massachusetts, for example, at least 1,995 patients were awaiting hospital discharge in December, according to a survey of hospitals by the Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association. Offering intensive services and remote monitoring technology in the home can work as an alternative — especially in rural areas,

ä See REHAB, page 2X

NationallyRanked Maternity Care

Molly Kimball

PROVIDED PHOTO

HEALTH MAKER

BR breast cancer surgeon on new technologies

BY MARGARET DELANEY Staff writer

On Super Bowl Sunday

Dr Everett Bonner, a breast surgeon at Baton Rouge General, was part of the important conversation around early detection of breast cancer with the NFL and American Cancer Society He appeared live on television discussing Baton Rouge General’s High-Risk Breast Clinic at its Mid City campus. As an avid LSU fan and outdoor enthusiast, Bonner lives and practices medicine in Baton Rouge, or as he describes it — the “perfect part of Louisiana.”

A native New Orleanian, Bonner earned his undergraduate degree from LSU in 1992 and then went on to pursue his doctorate at the LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans, graduating in 2002.

From there, he left his home state of Louisiana for a time for his surgical residency at Mercer University School of Medicine in Savannah, Georgia After completing his residency program in 2007, he earned a fellowship in surgical breast oncology from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York

Bonner returned home in 2008 to the Baton Rouge Clinic. A retired lieutenant colonel with the Louisiana Army National Guard, Bonner is a veteran of the Iraq War serving as a combat surgeon. He and his wife, Alison, who is originally from Abbeville, have three children together How has technology and the surgical practices around breast cancer changed? It’s always evolving. We’re finding that doing less is best not as aggressive surgeries. If we do surgeries, we can spare most of the tissue with mastectomies and leave a woman whole again.

From a cosmetic standpoint, with plastic surgery, a patient can look exactly the same. We are incorporating good, sound oncological principles with good cosmetic outcomes. How do you go about learning and

implementing new technologies? A lot of times, we take our advice from some of the major cancer centers. If the major cancer centers aren’t doing it, there’s probably a reason. When I see new technologies, first I see who it’s coming from. Is this an industry driven recommendation? Has it been proven by evidence-based medicine? Does it at least treat or cure or perform at least up to the standard of what we have now? Is it superior?

It either has to form at the level of care that we’re doing now or better if you want to change anything. What’s next for cancer care? There’s a little something that’s starting to come out that I think may replace mammograms. Mammograms have been around since the ’60s and the ’70s — it hasn’t changed in all these years.

Sure, the pictures look better because of our technology, but the actual platform hasn’t really changed. It still does the same positions, and it’s still uncomfortable for a lot of patients. New ultrasounds and 3D imaging that’s already been approved by the FDA for use, and is in use in Louisiana can help make this a better process for women getting their checkups and those with breast cancer

But there’s something else on the horizon that may change things: immunotherapies and targeted-direct therapies.

These drugs, a genetic mutation of the cancer drugs, directly target cancer cells. We’re seeing patients get chemotherapy before surgery, and by the time the surgery occurs, we can’t find any residual disease.

Patients still need the

surgery because you can’t prove microscopic disease, but we’re seeing remarkable responses to some of the chemotherapy drugs. What should women in Louisiana know about the risks for breast cancer?

The biggest thing for breast cancer is screening — that is the single most important thing a woman can do to increase her survivability from breast cancer

There’s not a whole lot of things that we can do to prevent breast cancer: You can watch your diet. Watch your weight, blood pressure and physical activity

What you can control is how often you go to get your mammogram done and visiting the appropriate physician.

Email Margaret DeLaney at margaret.delaney@ theadvocate.com.

La. educator helps medical students on Match Day

BY MARGARET DELANEY Staff writer

Students selected their top residency programs, and residency programs selected their top students.

On March 21, also known as Match Day, medical students all around the country found out what medical residency program they were paired with to continue their medical education.

Medical residencies, a postgraduate training program where doctors gain specialized, in-depth training in a specific medical specialty, typically last three to seven years.

Dr Ron Amedee has been in academic medicine for 44 years. Amedee did his medical fellowship overseas in Germany and came back stateside to work at Tulane. He was a faculty member at the New Orleans university for 21 years until Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005. Now Amedee oversees academic medical education at Ochsner His role includes undergraduate education, medical school, graduate medical education and continued education for working medical staff For Match Day, Amedee worked with 66 graduating students to either celebrate their matches, or find a match that best fits with the specialty they wish to practice.

REHAB

Continued from page 1X

where nursing homes are closing at a faster rate than in cities and patients’ relatives often must travel far to visit.

For patients of the Marshfield Clinic Health System who live in rural parts of Wisconsin, the clinic’s six-yearold SNF-at-home program is often the only option, said Swetha Gudibanda, medical director of the hospital-athome program.

“This is going to be the future of medicine,” Gudibanda said. But the concept is new, an outgrowth of hospitalat-home services expanded by a COVID-19 pandemicinspired Medicare waiver SNF-at-home care remains uncommon, lost in a fiscal and regulatory netherworld.

No federal standards spell out how to run these programs, which patients should qualify, or what services to offer No reimbursement mechanism exists, so fee-forservice Medicare and most insurance companies don’t cover such care at home

The programs have emerged only at a few hospital systems with their own insurance companies (like the Marshfield Clinic) or those that arrange for “bundled

How does Match Day work?

It’s actually a weeklong process — we like to call it Match Week.

On Monday, students that have enrolled throughout the country into the matching process, which has been in place for over 70 years in the United States, find out if they have been matched with a medical program. And there’s roughly 50,000 graduates in the United States that participate, and there’s about 10,000 accredited programs that they are trying to match into Some of these programs have large classes (in the five hundreds), others have smaller programs (less than 100).

What’s so interesting about the national residency matching program, or NRMP is that it’s based upon an award-winning mathematical algorithm.

The students put in programs that they would wish to train at, and then the programs put in the students that they would like to have in their programs.

All that information goes into a big computer and through the magic of mathematical algorithms and little bit of science and luck, it prints out matches where the applicants will ultimately end up for their training.

About 70% of the students that are enrolled in the match, out of 50,000, will

payments,” in which providers receive a set fee to manage an episode of care, as can occur with Medicare Advantage plans.

In Durocher’s case, the care was available — at no cost to him or other patients only through the clinical trial, funded by a grant from the state Medicaid program.

State health officials supported two simultaneous studies at UMass and Mass General Brigham hoping to reduce costs, improve quality of care and, crucially, make it easier to transition patients out of the hospital.

The American Health Care Association, the trade group representing more than 15,000 long-term and postacute care providers, calls “SNF at home” a misnomer because, by law, such services must be provided in an institution and meet detailed requirements.

And the association points out that skilled nursing facilities provide services and socialization that can never be replicated at home, such as daily activity programs, religious services and access to social workers But patients at home tend to get up and move around more than those in a facility, speeding their recovery, said Wendy Mitchell, medical director of the UMass Chan clinical trial. Also, therapy is tailored to their home environment,

know if they have matched on that Monday

The 25 to 30% that have not matched yet have an opportunity to push their applications forward on Tuesday They will be able to interview at additional programs on Wednesday and on Thursday of Match Week.

After that, there are four more rounds of additional algorithms that occur to try to get everybody finally matched for Match Day, which is on Friday

On Friday, everybody finds out where they’re going, and we find out who we’re getting and where they’re coming from How do students prepare for Match Day?Tell me about students who don’t match with a program. The match interviewing opens up in October Students have been interviewing since then with programs and sites that they are interested in. There will be a small component of students who do not match at all. They get no match at all. And that’s a hard place to be. That’s something that we try to advise and work with our students to make sure they never have to face that particular situation.

What does Match Day mean to you?

One of the things that I have always enjoyed is being a part of the educational continuum from a medical student transitioning to a resident, then to transitioning from a resident to a practicing physician.

I’ve gotten the opportunity throughout all my years to see that progress very intimately which a lot of people don’t even understand, probably don’t even care about.

It’s such a fulfilling responsibility of mine.

We have been working with students since when they arrived here in their third year We’re already talking about the match to them.

teaching patients to navigate the exact stairs and bathrooms they’ll eventually use on their own.

A quarter of people who go into nursing homes suffer an “adverse event,” such as infection or bed sore, said David Levine, clinical director for research for Mass General Brigham’s Healthcare at Home program and leader of its study

“We cause a lot of harm in facility-based care,” he said.

By contrast, in 2024, not one patient in the Rehabilitation Care at Home program of Nashville-based Contessa Health developed a bed sore and only 0.3% came down with an infection while at home, according to internal company data.

Contessa delivers care in the home through partnerships with five health systems, including Mount Sinai Health System in New York City, the Allegheny Health Network in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin’s Marshfield Clinic.

Contessa’s program, which has been providing in-home post-hospital rehabilitation since 2019, depends on help from unpaid family caregivers.

“Almost universally our patients have somebody living with them,” said Robert Moskowitz, Contessa’s acting president and chief medical officer

The two Massachusetts-

We set expectations from our perspective, and we’re setting expectations that they should be aspire to. It’s not the end of the world if you don’t get the notice on Monday, because there’s still an opportunity to get a position in the match through the remainder of the week.

One of the things we really do is we talk to the students. We will be advising them along the way There are a lot of one-on-one meetings with our senior faculty, with myself, as to whether or not the specialty they are going into — or thinking about is a good fit.

based studies, however do enroll patients who live alone. In the UMass trial, an overnight home health aide can stay for a day or two if needed.

And while alone, patients “have a single-button access to a live person from our command center,” said Apurv Soni, an assistant professor of medicine at UMass Chan and the leader of its study

But SNF at home is not without hazards, and choosing the right patients to enroll is critical. The UMass research team learned an important lesson when a patient with mild dementia became alarmed by unfamiliar caregivers coming to her home. She was readmitted to the hospital, according to Mitchell.

The Mass General Brigham study relies heavily on technology intended to reduce the need for highly skilled staff.

A nurse and physician each

For some of the more competitive specialties in the United States, unless you have certain metrics in your curriculum, it’s not going to happen for some students. It’s simply not going to happen. The match has to look good on paper to begin with, for students and programs. Leading indicators that make students more desirable for those competitive matches are high examination scores on the national examinations that they have to take through medical school, scholarly products demonstrated on their manuscript, whether it be a publication or presentations at national meetings.

conducts an in-home visit, but the patient is otherwise monitored remotely Medical assistants visit the home to gather data with a portable ultrasound, portable X-ray and a device that can analyze blood tests on-site.

A machine the size of a toaster oven dispenses medication, with a robotic arm that drops the pills into a dispensing unit.

The UMass trial, the one Durocher enrolled in, instead chose a “light touch” with technology, using only a few devices, Soni said.

The day Durocher went home, he said, a nurse met him there and showed him how to use a wireless blood pressure cuff, wireless pulse oximeter, and digital tablet that would transmit his vital signs twice a day

Over the next few days, he said, nurses came by to take blood samples and check on him Physical and occupational therapists provided several hours of treatment

It’s a lot of pressure and a lot of tension and deadlines, but getting to Friday afternoon and seeing the joy on these students faces and the success that they have achieved in a fairly short period of time, is amazing to me. The birds leave the nest at that particular time, and I’m very happy to see them go.

I’m very proud of them, whether they stay with us, or they go anywhere else the United States or even go back to Australia. I’m proud of all of them.

One of the major joys of my life in academic medicine is seeing the learners come in as beginners and come out as competent physicians on the other end.

That’s a great privilege, and I’m very thankful for it.

every day and a home health aide came a few hours a day

To his delight, the program even sent three meals a day Durocher learned to use the walker and how to get up the stairs to his bedroom with one crutch and support from his wife. After just one week, he transitioned to lessfrequent, in-home physical therapy, covered by his insurance.

“The recovery is amazing because you’re in your own setting,” Durocher said. “To be relegated to a chair and a walker, and at first somebody helping you get up, or into bed, showering you — it’s very humbling. But it’s comfortable. It’s home, right?”

KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF — an independent source of health policy research, polling and journalism.

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.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER

Faculty friends and family gather in the Capital on Baronne in downtown New Orleans to find out where the 185 graduating fourth-year Tulane University medical students will spend the next chapter of their medical careers during Match Day on March 18, 2022.

PROVIDED PHOTO Dr Everett Bonner is a breast surgeon at Baton Rouge General.

Eat Fit LiveFit

UB

BRO UGHT TO YO

WY Molly Kimball RD,CSSD

Functionalingredients: Elevating zero proof cocktails and other beverages

earenearingthehalfwaymark ofour10thannualAlcoholFree for40Challenge,atimewhen motivationcanwaver,andthosebooze-free sipsmaystarttofeelabitrepetitive.Even ifyou’renotofficiallypartofthechallenge, maybeyou’veoptedoutofalcoholforLent orsimplydecidedtodrinklessforpersonal reasons.Eitherway,thisisaperfectopportunitytoexplorenewwaystokeepthings interesting Oneofmyfavorite approachesistoshake upyourroutine(and yourzeroproofcocktails)withfunctional ingredients—specifically,adaptogensand botanicalsthatcan supportbothphysical andmentalwellness whileaddinginterest toyouralcohol-free repertoire.

Irecentlyspoke withbarmanager andmixologypro PaulLogginsfrom ZuzulCoastalCuisinein Shreveportformypodcast,FUELEDWellness+Nutrition.Nowsevenyearssober,he hasmasteredtheartofcraftingalcohol-free drinksthatarebeautifullysophisticated, oftenfeaturingfunctionalingredientslike Ashwagandha,L-theanine,lemonbalmand lavender.Below,I’llsharepartsofourfruitful conversation,includingthepotentialbenefitsoftheseingredients,plustipsonhow toincorporatethemintoyourownzero prooffavorites.Youcanalsoaddthemto smoothies,teasorotherbeverages.

healthcareproviderorpharmacistbefore usingnewsupplements.

Energizeandfocus

L-Theanine

Anaminoacidfoundnaturallyingreen tea,L-Theanineiscelebratedforprovidinga senseofcalmalertness.

Potentialbenefits:L-theaninemayhelp toenhancecognitionandincreasefocus, makingitapopularchoice forthoseseekingclarity withoutthejitters.

Oneimportantcaveat:Someofthese productscanlowerbloodpressureor bloodsugarandmayinteractwithmedications,includingsedativesandantidepressants.Asalways,checkwithyour

Dosage:Typically, 200-400mgisthedaily dosage;tinctureconcentrationsvary.

Flavoranduse:Sharp andsomewhatsavory, itintegrateswellinto citrusyorherbaldrinks. Ashwagandha Asmallevergreen shrub,Ashwagandha isanadaptogenicherb thathelpsthebody adapttostressors.

Potentialbenefits: StudieslinkAshwagandhatoreducedcortisol(astresshormone), improvedsleepandenhancedmentalfocus. Someresearchalsoindicatesitmighthelp loweranxietyandfatigue.

Dosage:Around600-1000mgdailyisa typicaldosage;tinctureconcentrationsvary.

Flavoranduse:Earthyandslightlybitter,it pairswellwithawiderangeofflavorprofiles.

BY THE NUMBERS

ToreapthebenefitsofbothAshwagandhaandL-theanine,addtwodropperfulsof eachtothebottomofarocksglasswitha squeezeoffreshlemon(orquarter-teaspoon lemonjuice),topwithfourouncessparkling water(plain,lemon-orlime-flavored)and garnishwithatwistoflemon.

Relaxandunwind

LemonBalm

Abright,lemon-scentedherbinthemint family,lemonbalmisusedtoeasestressand boostmood.

Potentialbenefits:Lemonbalmmayhelp reducestress,improvesymptomsofdepressionandpossiblyenhancesleepquality byincreasinglevelsoftheneurotransmitter GABA.

Dosage:Dosescanrangefrom600-3000 mgdaily.Myrecommendationistoaimfor 600to1200mg;tinctureconcentrationsvary. LemonbalmhasGRAS(generallyrecognizedassafe)statusbytheFDA.Butifyou havethyroidissues,talktoyourdoctorfirst aslemonbalmmayinterferewiththyroid hormonereplacementtherapy.

Flavoranduse:Herbalandcitrusy,lemon balmpairseasilywithanarrayofflavors.Try twodropperfulswithsixouncesofgrapefruit-flavoredsparklingwater,garnished withanexpressedlimepeeloratwistof lime.

Lavender

Lavenderisafamiliar,soothingbotanical popularinaromatherapy.

Potentialbenefits:Studiessuggestingestinglavendermayhelpreducesymptomsof

MollyKimball,RD,CSSD,isaregistereddietitian withOchsnerHealthandfounderofOchsner’sEatFit nonprofitinitiative.Formorewellnesscontent,tuneinto Molly’spodcast,FUELEDWellness+Nutrition,andfollow @MollykimballRDand@EatFitOchsneronsocialmedia. Emailnutrition@ochsner.orgtoconnectwithMollyor scheduleaconsultwithherteam.

Across the United States, an estimated 178,000 people die every year from excessive alcohol use, making it one of the leading preventable causes of death in the country, behind tobacco and poor diet/ physical inactivity

Short-term and long-term excessive alcohol consumption can have negative impacts on individuals and those around them.

Risks associated with long-term excessive alcohol use include:

n Hypertension, heart disease, stroke and liver disease.

n Cancer of the breast, throat, liver or colon.

n Alcohol dependence

n Memory and learning problems

Excessive drinking is responsible for an average of 488 deaths per day in the country.

Louisiana ranks 31st in the nation for

excessive drinking, reporting that 17.4% of the state’s adults are binge drinking (four or more drinks on one occasion in the past 30 days for females, or five or more for males) or heavily drinking (eight or more drinks per week for females, or 15 or more for males).

The states with the lowest rates of excessive drinking among adults include Utah (12.5%),West Virginia (13.3%), New Mexico (13.8%), Maryland (14.1%) and Oklahoma (14.4%).

North Dakota reported the highest rates of excessive drinking in the nation, with 22.3% of the state’s adults reporting binge drinking or heavily drinking — well above the national average of 16.7%.

Rounding out the top five states with the

anxietyanddepression.

Dosage:Acommondosageisaround80160mgdaily;tinctureconcentrationsvary. Flavoranduse:Floralandfragrant,alittle goesalongway.Tryonedropperfulmixed with½teaspoonlemonjuiceandtwoounceschilledhibiscustea,toppedoffwith4-6 ouncessparklingwater. Ready-to-drinkzeroproofcocktails Ifyou’relookingforaportableoptionto bringtothebeach,festivalsoranywhere you’dtypicallybringacoolerofdrinks–there’sagrowingmarketofcannedzero proofcocktails.Someofthemcontainfunctionalingredients.

MycurrentfavoriteisPeakCocktails,a zeroproofbrandthatkeepssugarincheck andspecifiesexactlyhowmuchofeach functionalingredientisinside.Theirbeveragescontain200mgAshwagandha,200 mgL-theaninefromgreenteaand100mg lemonbalm.Sweetenedwithabitofstevia, PeakCocktails’LemonJuniperFizzhasjust 10caloriesandzeroaddedsugar. Whenexploringotherbrands,bewareof productsthatcontainlotsofaddedsugar. Somecannedoptionshaveasmuchas20+ gramsofsugar.Andtheyoftenlistherbs andextractswithoutindicatingamounts— leavingusguessingwhetherthere’senough includedtooffermeaningfulbenefits.

Thebottomline

Whilefunctionalingredientscanoffer intriguingperks,theyaren’tmiraclecures. They’rejustonepartofabroaderlifestyle approachthatshouldincludeotherhealthy habits,likestayingactive,gettingenough sleepandkeepingsugarandprocessed carbsincheck.Andalwaysconsulta healthcareprofessionalbeforeaddingnew supplements—especiallyifyou’repregnant, nursing,haveunderlyingconditionsortake prescriptionmedications.

Cheerstoexploringnewflavors,enjoying better-for-yousipsandmakingthemostof youralcohol-freejourney!

TRAINING

Continued from page 1X

may experience that in their careers.”

To enhance learning, the Simulation Education Training Hospital recorded the sessions, allowing students to review their performance, reflect on decision-making processes and identify areas for improvement.

This approach aims to better prepare future health care providers for the challenges they may face in emergency and urgent care settings, ensuring they have both the clinical skills and ethical awareness needed to provide comprehensive patient care.

“By engaging in this hands-on experience, students will not only strengthen their diagnostic skills but also gain valuable exposure to sensitive and critical processes,” Milligan said.

Physician assistants are trained much like physicians, although PA school is shorter — just over two years to medical school’s four-year programs.

All of the students that

are accepted into PA programs have some kind of medical experience (like medical assistants, EMT, med-techs, radiology techs, athletic trainers, CNAs and more) before going to PA school.

“It’s almost like a mini medical school,” Milligan said.

The first phase of PA school the didactic phase — is spent in the classroom where students learn the theoretical and basic concepts of medicine, clinical decision-making and critical thinking skills. Didactic students spend their time studying test taking and practicing physical examinations.

The students also have laboratory sessions with their lecture classes so that they can apply what they have been learning in the lecture classes.

“We have also been adding in more simulation experiences for the students as well as games such as Jeopardy to help make the medical learning more interactive,” Milligan said

“All of these students grew up in the new age of everyone having a cellphone and laptop so sometimes you

have to find more innovative activities to keep up with the technology and keep their learning engaging and enjoyable.”

Once students finish the classroom part of the academic program, they move to the clinical phase which, at FranU, consists of seven rotations in family medicine, pediatrics, emergency medicine, internal medicine, hospital inpatient, women’s health and mental health.

After an additional three rotations in a specialty of their choosing, the prospective PAs return to campus for the last 3 months and have their assessments including the end of curriculum exam, simulated patient experiences, directly observed procedural skills, grand rounds (presentations of medical care to an audience of health care professionals) and their senior projects.

Once they finish those tasks, they will graduate and be able to take the PA National Certification Exam and become a practicing physician assistant.

Email Margaret DeLaney at margaret.delaney@ theadvocate.com.

PROVIDED PHOTO

Students at Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University simulate a full-body exam in an escape-room-style lesson in Baton Rouge.

ImageprovidedbyFreePix

Researchers: Some CT scans deliver too much radiation

Regulators want to know more

BY JOAN KEENEN KFF Health News

Rebecca Smith-Bindman, a professor at the University of California-San Francisco medical school, has spent well over a decade researching the disquieting risk that one of modern medicine’s most valuable tools, computerized tomography scans, can sometimes cause cancer

Smith-Bindman and likeminded colleagues have long pushed for federal policies aimed at improving safety for patients undergoing CT scans. Under new Medicare regulations effective this year, hospitals and imaging centers must start collecting and sharing more information about the radiation their scanners emit.

About 93 million CT scans are performed every year in the United States, according to IMV, a medical market research company that tracks imaging. More than half of those scans are for people 60 and older Yet there is scant regulation of radiation levels as the machines scan organs and structures inside bodies. Dosages are erratic, varying widely from one clinic to another, and are too often unnecessarily high, Smith-Bindman and other critics say “It’s unfathomable,”

Smith-Bindman said. “We keep doing more and more CTs, and the doses keep going up.”

One CT scan can expose a patient to 10 or 15 times as much radiation as another, Smith-Bindman said. “There is very large variation,” she said, “and the doses vary by an order of magnitude — tenfold, not 10% different — for patients seen for the same clinical problem.” In outlier institutions, the variation is even higher, according to research she and a team of international collaborators have published. She and other researchers estimated in 2009 that high doses could be responsible for 2% of cancers. Ongoing research shows it’s probably higher, since far more scans are performed today The cancer risk from CT scans for any individual patient is very low, although it rises for patients who have numerous scans throughout their lives. Radiologists don’t want to scare off patients who can benefit from imaging, which plays a crucial role in identifying lifethreatening conditions like cancers and aneurysms and guides doctors through complicated procedures.

About 93 million CT scans are performed every year in the United States, according to IMV, a medical market research company that tracks imaging More than half of those scans are for people 60 and older

But the new data collection rules from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued in the closing months of the Biden administration are aimed at making imaging safer They also require a more careful assessment of the dosing, quality, and necessity of CT scans.

The requirements, rolled out in January, are being phased in over about three years for hospitals, outpatient settings, and physicians. Under the complicated reporting system, not every radiologist or health care setting is required to comply immediately Providers could face financial

penalties under Medicare if they don’t comply, though those will be phased in, too, starting in 2027.

When the Biden administration issued the new guidelines, a CMS spokesperson said in an email that excessive and unnecessary radiation exposure was a health risk that could be addressed through measurement and feedback to hospitals and physicians. The agency at the time declined to make an official available for an interview The Trump administration did not respond to a request for comment for this article.

The Leapfrog Group, an organization that tracks hospital safety, welcomed the new rules. “Radiation exposure is a very serious patient safety issue, so we commend CMS for focusing on CT scans,” said Leah Binder, the group’s president and CEO. Leapfrog has set standards for pediatric exposure to imaging radiation, “and we find significant variation among hospitals,” Binder added. CMS contracted with UCSF in 2019 to research solutions aimed at encouraging better measurement and assessment of CTs, leading to the development of the agency’s new approach. The American College of Radiology and three other associations involved in medical imaging, however, objected to the draft CMS rules when they were under review, arguing in written comments in 2023 that they were excessively cumbersome, would burden providers, and could add to the cost of scans. The group was also concerned, at that time, that health providers would have to use a single, proprietary tech tool for gathering the dosing and any related scan data.

The single company in question, Alara Imaging, supplies free software that radiologists and radiology

STAFF FILE PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

programs need to comply with the new regulations. The promise to keep it free is included in the company’s copyright. Smith-Bindman is a co-founder of Alara Imaging, and UCSF also has a stake in the company, which is developing other health tech products unrelated to the CMS imaging rule that it does plan to commercialize. But the landscape has recently changed. ACR said in a statement from Judy Burleson, ACR vice president for quality management programs, that CMS is allowing in other vendors — and that ACR itself is “in discussion with Alara” on the data collection and submission. In addition, a company called Medisolv, which works on health care quality, said at least one client is working with another vendor, Imalogix, on the CT dose data.

Several dozen health quality and safety organizations including some national leaders in patient safety, like the Institute of Healthcare Improvement — have

supported CMS’ efforts.

Concerns about CT dosing are long-standing. A landmark study published in JAMA Internal Medicine in 2009 by a research team that included experts from the National Cancer Institute, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and universities estimated that CT scans were responsible for 29,000 excess cancer cases a year in the United States, about 2% of all cases diagnosed annually

But the number of CT scans kept climbing. By 2016, it was estimated at 74 million, up 20% in a decade, though radiologists say dosages of radiation per scan have declined.

Some researchers have noted that U.S. doctors order far more imaging than physicians in other developed countries, arguing some of it is wasteful and dangerous.

More recent studies, some looking at pediatric patients and some drawing on radiation exposure data from survivors of the atomic bomb attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan, have also identified CT scan risk.

Older people may face greater cancer risks because of imaging they had earlier in life. And scientists have emphasized the

need to be particularly careful with children, who may be more vulnerable to radiation exposure while young and face the consequences of cumulative exposure as they age.

Max Wintermark, a neuroradiologist at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, who has been involved in the field’s work on appropriate utilization of imaging, said doctors generally follow dosing protocols for CT scans. In addition, the technology is improving; he expects artificial intelligence to soon help doctors determine optimal imaging use and dosing delivering “the minimum amount of radiation dose to get us to the diagnosis that we’re trying to reach.”

But he said he welcomes the new CMS regulations.

“I think the measures will help accelerate the transition towards always lower and lower doses,” he said. “They are helpful.”

KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF — the independent source for health policy research, polling and journalism.

LDH reopens Central

Louisiana State Hospital

On March 6, the Louisiana Department of Health reopened a $33 million state hospital for patients with severe and persistent mental illnesses. The new hospital, 6250 Esler Field Road in Pineville, can provide care for up to 116 patients with a focus on rehabilitation.

Bayou Pediatrics to join

Manning Family Children’s

On April 1, Bayou Pediatrics, a private pediatrics clinic at 569 Enterprise Drive in Houma, will join the Manning Family Children’s network of pediatric primary practices. A team of four providers will join the Manning Family Children’s medical staff, where they will continue to offer pediatric primary care services for children and families in the area.

The Lake renames

Ascension hospital

The Franciscan Missionaries of

Our Lady Health System hospital at 1125 La. 30 West in Gonzales, Louisiana will become Our Lady of the Lake St. Elizabeth. The updated name aims to honor the original name while maintaining the connection to our Franciscan mission.

Free Alzheimer’s conference set in N.O

The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America will host a free conference on April 23 at the Embassy Suites Hotel New Orleans Convention Center, 315 Julia St., New Orleans. It will feature some of the top local experts in the New Orleans area in medicine, dementia and caregiving. Attendees will learn about everything from healthy aging to early detection, long-term care planning, local resources and more. Health Notes is an occasional listing of health happenings around Louisiana. Have something you’d like to share? Contact us at margaret.delaney @theadvocate.com.

Keep Your Healthcare at Your Fingertips

•Viewall of your medical recordsinone place.

•Requestprescriptionrefills.

•Share your medical record with otherproviders.

We make it easy to stay connected to quality care,whereveryou are.

• Access 24/7 urgent careonline with Connected Anywhere virtualvisits

• See your providersonline with MyOchsner virtual appointments forprimarycare.

• Use MyOchsner to schedule online, request prescriptionrefills, view your test resultsand more.

GENTLE SONG

New Orleans choir creates peace and calm at the end of life

BY JOY HOLDEN Staff writer

Voices blend in harmony at the bed-

side of a woman in her last stages of life

A choir of three women sing a gentle song called “Thank You” that expresses gratitude for love and caring. The women consider this moment as one of their greatest gifts as their a cappella sound ushers the client in bed as she crosses the last threshold.

The three woman are part of Threshold Nola, a chapter of the international choral nonprofit organization Threshold Choir which Kate Munger founded in 2000 in California. Threshold Choir has 200 chapters of volunteer singers all over the world who sing a cappella to those in the later stages of life, those facing death and those that grieve them.

The organization provides support for its chapters by offering online meetings, video trainings, retreats and other resources.

Music educator Margaret Albert and massage therapist Hermene Anderson heard of Threshold around the same time and founded Threshold Nola in 2016. It is the only Threshold Choir chapter in Louisiana and includes 12 singers who sing together at nursing homes, memory care residences and bedsides.

When the members are called upon to sing at a bedside, only three or four will go together so as to keep the atmosphere intimate. When they sing at nursing homes and assisted living facilities, the group performs more upbeat songs. Anderson says there is no audition required to become a member of Threshold Nola. However, singers must be able to hold a tune, sing harmony, sing the right part — alto, second soprano or first soprano — a cappella and learn the songs, which are short, mantra-style songs. Members receive specialized training around death and grief, bringing calm to the bedside, and producing a harmonized blend of sound

“We sing very softly when we’re singing at bedside,” Anderson said. “It’s all about looking at your life and being grateful, about peace and love and kindness. We keep it flowing very quietly, because some people that we sing to are unresponsive.”

PROVIDED PHOTO

Jan Risher

Loving beyond dividing lines

This column requires a certain notice.

I grew up going to church a lot — as in three times a week, at least. However, as an adult, my church attendance has waxed and waned. I’ve struggled to make peace with a lot of “church stuff.”

That said, I love to be part of a community — and a good church is a great place to do that. So, now I go to church.

A few weeks back, when the minister announced there were decks of Lent prayer cards, I didn’t really understand what she meant. Nonetheless, I picked up a deck on my way out. I decided to take them to my office to read each day The cards have a question on one side and a prayer on the other Last week, the question on one of the cards was, “What does it mean to be a good neighbor?”

On the other side, it said, “I long to be a good neighbor — hospitable, compassionate and free of assumptions. However, I know that my own humanity gets in the way Forgive me for the moments when I miss an opportunity to be compassionate. Forgive me, and spark compassion deep in my bones.”

The next day, the prayer read:

“Every once in a while, someone does something so kind, so unreasonably gracious, that it uncoils something in me. It unravels a bit of fear or grief, and leaves me with a glimmer of hope. Show me how to love like that. Show me how to cross the road, care for my neighbor and love beyond dividing lines. Show me how to be unreasonably hospitable.”

Two days in a row with that kind of beauty made me want to know more about who wrote these incredible thoughts.

“We have the honor of offering them the services of Threshold Nola choir, and it has been an absolute privilege to witness the peace of song that comes over the resident as they are transitioning into eternal rest.”

MARIA LANDRENEAU, director of memory care for The Blake at Colonial Club in Harahan

In her nine years of singing with Threshold Nola, Anderson says she has noticed that clients are relaxed and calm during the music.

“Some people are in their last moments, and we can see how their breathing gets slower and quieter We’ve been at bedside when folks have crossed over, with family in the room,” Anderson said.

Maria Landreneau, the director of memory care for The Blake at Colonial Club in Harahan, has worked with the Threshold Nola singers for almost a year. She arranges the members to perform once a month for the memory care residents. When the group is there, she has noticed that any rhythm or music perks the residents up and encourages them to move and clap with the beat.

In addition to the standing engagement, Landreneau also calls on the small choir when one of her residents is in hospice or close to dying.

“We have the honor of offering them the services of Threshold Nola choir, and it has been an absolute privilege to witness the peace of song that comes over the resident as they are transitioning into eternal rest,” Landreneau said. The sound of the harmonies is the most beautiful thing, the way these women come together and sing.”

PROVIDED PHOTO

The Threshold Nola singers harmonize bedside for a resident.

When singing at bedside, the members bring stools or sit in chairs so they are at the same level as the client in bed or in a chair In addition to nursing homes, Threshold Nola visits hospitals and homes when requested. The group also conducts demonstrations with an antigravity chair for people who are curious about what they do

“We cover them with a blanket and tell them to close their eyes,” she said. “And we go through several songs, and every person that we sing to that is not suffering, tears come to their eyes, and they say they’ve never experienced anything like it.” Anderson says the commitment is demanding because they can be called upon at any time during the week or weekend.

ä See THRESHOLD, page 2Y

Within minutes, I learned the prayers were written by a Presbyterian minister named the Rev Sarah Are Speed. She is a poet and has been a minister in New York City but recently moved to Kansas City

On her website, there was a place to leave a message.

So, I did, adding, on a lark, that I would love to talk to her about being a good neighbor Within hours, she messaged me her cell number and we set up a call to chat the next day

When Rev Speed and I spoke, she told me that the theme for that week’s prayers had been strangers and neighbors and the parable of the good Samaritan.

“You know Jesus said, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself,’” she said.

She told me about living in a big apartment building in New York for years and all the people there she never met.

She said that when her faith brings up the notion of neighbors, it reminds her of how countercultural that is in our isolated world.

“Still, our faith calls us to be good neighbors,” she said.

Regardless of religion, I recognize the benefits of society having more people who are good neighbors. I asked what could we as individuals do to be better neighbors, rather than putting the onus on our neighbors. She told me about her 72-yearold neighbor, Franny, who keeps doggie treats on her porch and anytime anyone walks by, Franny offers the dog a treat.

That openness and “invite-youin” spirit goes a long way

Threshold Nola choir sings to the residents of the memory care section at The Blake at Colonial Club residential facility

STAFF FILE PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER

Threshold Choir members Hermene Anderson and Jeanne Duplantier join other members of their choir in singing to Laurel Senior Living residents in New Orleans on July 27, 2023.

Continued from page 2y

Speed said she regretted not sending Christmas cards to her neighbors last year

“I send Christmas cards to friends all over the country but I didn’t send them to my neighbors,” she said, adding that she’ll do better the next time. “That is a very small thing we could do to connect.”

She said good neighbors are more than a neighborhood crime watch.

“If the context most people have for what it means to be a neighbor is that we update each other when the world is falling apart like I want something more beautiful than that as a good neighbor,” she said “I want something that is collaborative and creative and not just a notification.”

We discussed the importance of being vulnerable enough to initiate contact with the people around us. With that in mind, other neighborly ideas include:

n Be the one to share dog treats or invite people in.

n Organize a neighborhood potluck.

n In a counterintuitive move, sometimes being the one to ask to borrow a cup of sugar could be the opening that breaks the ice. Be brave enough to ask.

n If your neighborhood has a group chat, be the one who goes beyond the alerts and notices of caution to bring people together for something fun.

Speed added that the concept of “neighbor” goes beyond the people who live next door

“I think our faith would use an expansive definition of neighbor,” she said. “I love the idea bringing that language back to the center of our thought process or conversation when we think about existing in community.”

A neighbor could be the person we share an elevator with or the person we run into at the grocery story, or the person we pass on the street or walk by in the park.

May we be “hospitable, compassionate and free of assumptions,” not letting our own humanity get in the way May we be “unreasonably gracious.” May we cross the road, care for our neighbors and love beyond dividing lines.

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

THRESHOLD

Continued from page 2y

“I’m really happy that that they’re here,” Landreneau said of Threshold Nola. “They’re just a phone call away I’ve

called them, and 35 to 45 minutes later they’re here. If they can make it, they will they will drop everything and come for someone that is passing.”

Threshold Nola has had members who come and go, as the process can be too much for people to handle. Singing in a

Threshold choir also requires time to learn the songs and correct parts to sing in order to produce the blended, soothing a cappella sounds.

“It’s a calling,” Anderson said.

“You have to be a special kind of person that will undertake this mission. And I’m grateful I

found it when I did. We are honored a family would allow us to be in the room with their loved one in bed that’s crossing over.” For more information, visit thresholdchoir.org/nola. Email Joy Holden at joy holden@theadvocate.com.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER

Threshold Choir members, from left to right, Hermene Anderson, Jeanne Duplantier, and Becky Freedman sing to 102-year-old Dot Archer in her room at Laurel Senior Living in New Orleans on July 27, 2023.

Jacob Landry,MD General Surgery

Surround yourself with smarter people

Ensuring economic development teams have the tools they need

BY LAUREN CHERAMIE Staff writer

Stacy Romero is the executive director of the Louisiana Economic Alliance for Development, the leading organization dedicated to advancing economic development professionals across Louisiana.

She holds a degree from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and has completed the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Institute for Organization Management, Business Leads Fellowship Program and the Council for a Better Louisiana’s Leadership Louisiana program. In 2024, she was honored with the Junior Achievement of Acadiana’s Richard E. Boudouin Friend of Business Award.

Romero specializes in organizational administration, workforce solutions and economic strategy She works to unite economic developers, business leaders and policymakers, ensuring they have the tools to advocate effectively and strengthen Louisiana’s economic future.

How was the initial transition to your new role with LEAD, and how is it shaping out now?

I’m one month into my role, and it’s going really well. I’m enjoying the work, and I’m getting to meet so many people. I was previously in Shreveport visiting with folks around the state to find out what I and LEAD can do to support our economic development professionals statewide

If you look deeper at things happening in Louisiana, you’ll find a lot of people who really want to make a difference and are trying to do good things. It just takes

time to make those changes.

We’re in a position right now where there’s so many of us rowing in the same direction. We know where we want to go, and we know what our shared goals are. It just takes finding those like-minded people who want to see good things happen in Louisiana — connecting with those people and doing what we can to support the people who are on the ground, doing the work to attract businesses to Louisiana and grow our economy Sometimes the path to enacting big changes requires slow implementation, which can often feel tedious. Is that true for you, and if so, what pushes you to keep going?

There’s a balance that I’m having to find

LEAD was previously the Louisiana Industrial Development Executives Association, which was started about 60 years ago by a group of economic development professionals who recognized the need for support within their industry That organization was run completely by volunteers

Last year, the association participated in a strategic plan and rebranding exercise with Ernst and Young, which came back with two options: end the organization or rebuild the organization, rebrand and hire an executive director

The board rebranded and hired me.

I’m very aware of the fact that the board and the organization want to see some major changes So, yes, change is slow and it takes time to do things the right way, but at the same time, there are so many quick wins that I’ve identified

In that respect, change is going to happen quickly over the course of the next six months or year Are there things that could potentially slow us down? Yes.

But I’m of the mindset that anything worth doing is probably not going to be easy to accomplish.

With a new organization in place, does LEAD have a new mission?

The mission, at its core, is the same — but we’ve tweaked a few things.

Essentially, we’re here to support economic development professionals and ensure they have the tools needed to be successful.

We’re working with the International Economic Development Council to create a pipeline from Louisiana into their programming so that professionals in Louisiana can become certified economic development developers at the national level.

We serve as a voice of the economic development professionals when it comes to policy and advocacy — making sure that our legislators know that economic development professionals are here and working really hard to grow our economy, but that they need support.

How is LEAD creating solutions in the state?

It goes back to our stance regarding policy work. Mandi Mitchell serves as the vice president of our board, and she’s also the chair of the policy committee.

She’s incredibly in tune with what’s going on with policy, and she’s very well connected and trusted by people across the state. When people are struggling with something or potentially need help in finding solutions, we want to become that trusted source for people.

As I’m talking to people around Louisiana, many of them are concerned about the future. Some people are looking at retirement, so we want to ensure a smooth transition from their retirement to the next generation of developers.

A big part of what we’ll be focused on in the coming years is training our emerging professionals to make sure there’s no gap in service As a new person in a new role, do you

have any tips for people in the same situation?

This is not the first time I’ve stepped into a role where changes were needed. The way I approach it is that I know I’m really good at some things, and I also know what I’m not so good in. I focus on my weaknesses so that I can connect myself with people who do those things well. I try to surround myself with the best and brightest people, people who are much smarter than me, who I can lean on. We don’t know everything about everything, and that’s not something to be embarrassed about, so how do we collaborate with each other? How do we support each other and earn the trust and respect of other people who would be willing to support us? That, to me, is how you’re successful.

Email Lauren Cheramie at lauren.cheramie@theadvocate. com.

PROVIDED PHOTO

Stacy Romero is the executive director of the Louisiana Economic Alliance for Development, the leading organization dedicated to advancing economic development professionals across Louisiana.

FAITH & VALUES

U.S. Lutherans learn new Palestinian practice: Sumud

BY YONAT SHIMRON

Contributing writer

Lent is a time of reflection for many Christians, and each year a host of devotionals are published to bring insight and inspiration to the 40 days of contemplation leading to Easter For the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, a liberal denomination of close to 3 million members, the Lenten offerings this year include one focusing on the plight of Palestinians. The devotional, called “Sumud,” an Arabic word meaning “steadfastness,” offers churches and individuals a six-week study with videos and reflections to raise awareness of and advocacy against Israel’s occupation of Palestinian lands and its military rule over Palestinians.

More than many other U.S. denominations, the ELCA has spoken boldly on the issue of Palestinian inequality and dispossession in the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip. That’s in part because the denomination partners with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land and its six churches. The 2,000 members of those churches and their leaders have been especially vocal in opposing Israel’s war in Gaza — none more so than the Rev. Munther Isaac, pastor of Christmas Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bethlehem, who has emerged as one of the leading champions for the Palestinian fight for justice and liberation in Gaza and for the 3 million Palestinians living in the West Bank. Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Fayetteville, Arkansas, is one U.S congregation heeding the call.

“It just seemed like if we were gonna focus on something that was faith-based, that was really listening to grassroots voices with intentionality during this penitential season, we would just sit with this,” said the Rev Clint Schnekloth, the pastor Over the course of Lent, mem-

bers of Good Shepherd Lutheran will gather for a parish meeting before services each Sunday to watch a video and read a reflection about seeking justice for Palestinians.

Schnekloth explained that ELCA Lutherans are in a unique position when it comes to Israel and Palestine. “We see the impact on our brothers and sisters who are Lutheran there, and that can sometimes convince people who might otherwise be pro-Israel that there’s another way of thinking about this based out of that experience.”

The Palestinian fight for freedom is beginning to resonate more broadly On March 2, “No Other Land” won the Oscar for best docu-

mentary feature. The documentary jointly produced by Israelis and Palestinians, focuses on the Israeli military’s forced displacement of Palestinians in Masafer Yatta, a group of hamlets in the occupied West Bank.

The Palestinian plight has become front and center because of Israel’s 16-month war in Gaza following Hamas’ 2023 attack on Israel The assault has killed more than 48,000 Palestinians and leveled the oceanfront strip. But Israel has also been waging numerous raids across the occupied West Bank, accompanied by house demolitions, detentions without charge and near-daily attacks on Palestinians that have killed nearly 900 people since the start of the war on Gaza

in October 2023.

A Gallup poll conducted Feb. 3-16 found that less than half of Americans express support for Israel, the lowest percentage in 25 years of Gallup’s annual tracking of this measure. According to the poll, 46% of Americans expressed support for Israel and 33% of U.S. adults now said they sympathize with the Palestinians, up 6 percentage points from last year

The ELCA has long advocated for its sister churches in the Middle East through a program also called Sumud. Maddi Froiland, Sumud’s program director, said the ELCA initiative is intended to help U.S. Lutherans better understand what their faith counterparts are expe-

riencing, not the least of which is extinction.

“I think we’ve had reports of 146 Christians who have left since Oct. 7 of two years ago,” she said. “This is something that is a dire circumstance in the Lutheran experience and the wider Palestinian Christian experience.”

The ELCA offers other Lenten devotionals, including one called “Dismantle: An Anti-White Supremacy Lenten Devotional.” Like many offered by other Christian communities during Lent, the devotionals speak to a theme of resistance against oppression and advocacy for the marginalized.

The Sumud Lenten devotional’s first video focuses on Mary the mother of Jesus, who remains an inspiration for Palestinian Christian women today as a sister in sumud, or perseverance. Others focus on the need for Christians to speak the truth and challenge society to fight injustice.

Bishop Meghan Johnston Aelabouni of the Rocky Mountain Synod of the ELCA said she was encouraging the use of the Sumud Lenten devotional.

Aelabouni, who until last year served as co-pastor for the English-speaking congregation of Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Jerusalem, is particularly close to the issue. She said the Lenten resource can provide an opportunity for those who have not traveled to the region to better understand Palestinians’ lived reality and potentially take steps toward advocacy of justice and peace.

“As faith-based communities, part of our work is engaging in civic life as citizens, and it is also in raising the deeper questions of humanity, of what does justice look like? Why do we believe it’s important? And yes, why do we believe it is biblical?” she said “I think we need an increase in awareness that there can be another way that there can be a different way.”

Teen authors at Tara High create children’s books

BY CHARLES LUSSIER Staff writer

Twelve new children’s books were published last month in Baton Rouge but you won’t find them at Barnes & Noble. Their authors are teenagers, little older than the youngsters for whom they are writing.

These teenage creators showcased their new creative works on Feb. 26 in the library at Tara High School during the school’s Family Literacy Night.

Titles include “Esli’s Big Attitude,” “Not So Norman,” “The Glowing Remote,” “The Musical Incident” and “Runaway Robot.”

The storylines range from helping an annoying girl find her lost dog, to a boy who gets bullied when he enrolls in a new school, to an adventure tale involving pirates and treasure.

These Tara ninth graders have been working since October on their books, which feature a mix of text and illustrations.

Jama’rl Crockett served as team manager for the book “The Musical Incident,” a story about four children getting ready for a battle of the bands competition with a $1,000 prize to the winner He said his proud parents have been really excited about the project.

“They’re definitely going to staple it on the wall,” Crockett said Christopher Gage, father of Lyric Gage, said he has a prominent spot in mind to display his daughter’s book, “Runaway Robot.”

“If she doesn’t want it in her room, we have a centerpiece in the living room where we could put it,” said the father

It’s the third year in a row that the Baton Rouge high school has turned its Freshman Academy into a mini-publishing company

It’s part of an ongoing collaboration between Tara and the local educational nonprofit Humanities Amped. The nonprofit raised money and dedicated a nonprofit employee to the project.

Principal John Hayman said he’s hoping to train more of his teachers so they incorporate more student projects in their classes.

“It’s not about the content really It’s about working together to collaborate as part of a group,

because so much of college is about that,” Hayman said “So it gives them a little taste, which is good because they are not used to that.”

“I love what we do and how we can support Tara,” said Niagee Butler, classroom program coordinator with Humanities Amped.

Butler’s background is in business and math, not creative writing. She ended up focusing on helping students with their illustrations.

“I have three children so I have some experience,” Butler said, with a laugh. “But it was a little intimidating.”

She said she helped the students but let them take the lead.

She said the project took a long time and they were “stretched out of their comfort zones.”

“They were excited to get it done,” Butler said. “They all pitched in to help each other meet the deadline.”

A total of 75 Tara ninth graders participated. Their teacher, Barry Jackson divided them into teams ranging from four to seven students each Their roles on the team included serving as author, illustrator, editor or manager of the project.

To get the creative juices flowing, the students gathered in a circle at the outset and shared challenges they have. These challenges became the wellspring of the stories they ended up telling.

“It was a new experience and most, if not all of them, are glad they did it at the end of the day,” said Jackson, who also coaches softball and volleyball at Tara.

Aleia Thomas said it’s hard to keep the story going.

“We do one page, and then I don’t remember what to do for the next or not know what to do,”

Thomas said

Addison Mitchell, who managed the six-person team that created “Not So Norman,” said one student was the main writer, but several team members helped work out the story It grew out of the story of someone she knew in elementary school who suffered from vitiligo, a depigmenting skin disease. The children’s story focused on a boy with vitiligo who moves from a small town to a big city and gets bullied.

“Then another character in the

story stands up for him,” Mitchell said “And he’s like, ‘Why’d you stand up for me?’ And she’s like, ‘I remember being new too.’”

Illustrations proved to be perhaps the biggest challenge The bulk of the images were generated via artificial intelligence. Some tried hand-drawn illustrations but gave up.

“Some of (the students) are really like artists, but then they became a little overwhelmed,” said Butler. AI, however posed special challenges. For instance it was hard to achieve consistent results when AI tried to draw characters for stories. Mitchell has regrets about reverting to AI

“Some of the pages don’t have pictures because we were rushing so much because of that serious backstep,” she said.

Addison’s mom, Jessica Mitchell, is an assistant principal at Tara. She said she’s proud of the growth she’s seen in her daughter.

“Just to see her flourish this year and come out of her shell and take risks, it’s been an honor to watch her,” said the mother

The final part of the project is still to come. The students take their new books back to their old elementary schools and read them to the children there. Last year Tara was unable to schedule those elementary school readings due to standardized testing, something Hayman regretted because it’s his favorite part of the project. “It’s just cool to see them read for little kids,” he said. “Yeah, and kind of be a little kid.” Crockett went to Audubon Elementary and is anxious to see how the children there react.

“I’m a little bit nervous,” he said, “but I really want to overcome that challenge, and I think I very much could.”

Email Charles Lussier at clussier@theadvocate.com.

PROVIDED PHOTO

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s Middle East Ready Bench gathers in Chicago in February to discuss Sumud and how the church can mobilize for justice in the Holy Land.

Andrew Kuo reads one of the books written by Tara High freshmen to his son Jonah, 5.

PHOTOS By APRIL BUFFINGTON

Supporters of Tara High’s freshmen authors read their books at Family Literacy Night.

SUNDAY, MArch 23, 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

grams

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 — cArPoLoGY: car-POLoh-jee: A branch of biology dealing with the structure of fruit and seeds.

Average mark 45 words Time limit 60 minutes Can you find 57 or more words in CARPOLOGY?

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

wuzzLes

A kind deck

North’s jump to four hearts denied anything useful — certainly no ace or king — so perhaps South should have passed right there.

South bid on, however. He had a wonderful hand and he was hoping to catch enough in dummy to give him a reasonable play for 12 tricks.

Southruffedtheopeningspade lead with the 10 of hearts, saving his lower trumps as entries to dummy. He cashed the ace and king of hearts, then led the eight of hearts to dummy’s nine. A losing diamond finesse at this point would leave him needing East to have a doubleton king of clubs. He wouldn’t have enough entries to dummy to take two club finesses. He judged that it was better to take the club finesse, so he tried a club to his queen.

Had that lost to the king, he would still be able to ruff the fourth club in dummy, even if the clubs split 3-3, and take the diamond finesse. The club finesse won, however, and there was no reason to think that West might have ducked with the king. South now simply played the ace, king, and another diamond. He ruffed the spade continuation high and led the six of hearts to dummy’s seven He

ARIES (March 21-April 19) Leave nothing to chance. Put your energy into completing what you start and promoting your skills and ideas. High energy, desire and making a difference will help motivate you.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Invest more time in learning, traveling and exploring new possibilities. Changing your lifestyle or direction will give you hope for a brighter future. It’s time to shine.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Use your talents, skills and experience to help a cause or someone in need. A kind gesture will start a trend.

discarded a club on the jack of diamonds and repeated the club finesse for his contract. This was a lovely line of play. It would have been an unkind deck of cards that would not have rewarded him with his slam bonus.

Tannah Hirsch welcomes readers’ responses sent in care of this newspaper or to Tribune Content Agency Inc., 2225 Kenmore Ave., Suite 114, Buffalo, NY 14207. E-mail responses may be sent to gorenbridge@ aol.com. © 2025 Tribune Content Agency

Personal gain and interesting opportunities are heading in your direction.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) Pay attention to how you look, feel and handle responsibilities. Taking an interest in others and what they do will provide insight and encourage you to adjust how you deal with changes. LEO (July 23-Aug 22) A healthy attitude and schedule will be energizing and appealing to positive people eager to be part of your circle. To be active is attractive, and it can shape an exhilarating lifestyle.

Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis

super Quiz

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) A change will give you a positive perspective on life, love and how to become more active in your community. Reach out, see what’s happening. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) Reach across the table and introduce yourself to others. Make your voice heard and your presence known. Show compassion and be grateful for your life. Don’t be shy! SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) If you want something, make it happen. Fuel the fire and embark on what interests you. Take your wisdom

and skills and contribute what you can; something good will transpire.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23-Dec 21) Change how you handle your money to ward off someone trying to take advantage of you. Establish a financial safety net to get the most out of any partnership.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Converse and socialize Get in the game of life and see what transpires. Align yourself with people you share the most with mentally, emotionally and financially.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) Pour your energyintosomethingworthwhile. Put a limit on how much you spend and the number of promises you make. Trust your instincts and adjust as you move forward.

The horoscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact. © 2025 by NEA, Inc., dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Push your way forward and participate in what excites you most. Refuse to let changes that others make interfere with your plans. Proceed in the direction that brings you the most comfort and greatest joy.

goren Bridge

Answers to puzzles

super quiz

1. Liar: rail. 2. Bard: drab. 3. Deer: reed 4. Stun: nuts. 5. Evil: live. 6. Reel: leer. 7 Tuba: abut. 8. Tide: edit. 9. Wolf: flow 10. Gnat: tang 11. Repel: leper 12. Devil: lived. 13. Regal: lager. 14. Diaper: repaid. 15. Recap: pacer.

SCORING: 24 to 30 points — congratulations, doctor; 18 to 23 points honors graduate; 13 to 17 points — you’re plenty smart, but no grind; 5 to 12 points — you really should hit the books harder; 1 point to 4 points — enroll in remedial courses immediately; 0 points — who reads the questions to you?

Cryptoquote Answer

Saturday's Cryptoquote: I don't need you to remind me of my age. I have a bladder to do that for me. — Stephen Fry

word GAme Answer

sudoKu Answer jumble Answer

Crossword Answers

sCrAbble Answers wuzzles Answers Ken Ken Answers hidAto Answers

jeFF mACnelly’s shoe / by Gary Brookins & Susie MacNelly

FoXtrot / by Bill Amend

dustin / by Steve Kelley & Jeff Parker