Legislation introduced would give agency morepower
BY MARK BALLARD |Staff writer
WASHINGTON Though they barely agree on anything politically,DemocraticRep. Troy
PHOTOSByBRAD KEMP
Carter,ofNew Orleans, and Republican Rep. Clay Higgins, of Lafayette, came together in an attemptto heightenthe regulatory wall protecting Louisiana’s seafoodindustryfrom foreignimports.
ABOVEand RIGHT: Childrenrun to collect as manyEaster eggs as theycan carry during an Easter egg hunt sponsoredbyParish Church at Oaklawn Park in Lafayette on Saturday.The free event also featuredfoodand games.
They introduced legislation Wednesday that gives thefederal Food and Drug Administration additional powers to impound anddestroy imported seafood found contaminated, adulterated or misbranded.
“This bill protects consumers from potential health risks
andupholds the integrity of our food supply chain, while supporting Louisiana fishermen and seafood processors,” Carter said. “By grantingthe FDA thenecessaryauthority to destroy food products that failtomeet ourstrict health andsafetystandards, we are closing adangerous loophole that hasallowed contaminated
BY MIKESMITH |Staff writer
Out on the edge of Louisiana’scoast, aset of giant plant pots stand as reminders of the worst-everoil spill of its kind. Butyou couldn’ttell just by looking at them.
The rows of containers sit under awood frame and netting. Inside grows the same cordgrass thatcarpets the marshes stretching out within eyesight of this spot, in the tiny community of Cocodrie.
It’sall part of an elaborate experiment continuing to reveal someeffects of the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
“There are alot of lessons learned that will come from this,”saidBrianRoberts, referencing therange of research that the spill prompted. He conceived the cordgrass experiment with colleagues.
“Ithopefully will help us better prepare in the event that something else happens,” added Roberts, the executive director of the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium, as he walkedelevated planks among the fiberglass containers. April 20 marks the 15th anniversary of the blowout and subsequent spill at the Macondo well off the Mississippi River’smouth in the Gulf.The Deepwater Horizon rig, owned by
Humanoid robots run a Chinese half-marathon
BEIJING In one small step for robot-kind — thousands of them, really — humanoid robots ran alongside actual humans in a half-marathon in the Chinese capital on Saturday
The bipedal robots of various makes and sizes navigated the 13.1-mile course supported by teams of human navigators, operators, and engineers, in what event organizers say was a first. As a precaution, a divider separated the parallel courses used by the robots and people
While flesh-and-blood participants followed conventional rules, the 20 teams fielding machines in the Humanoid Robot Half-Marathon competed under tailored guidelines, which included battery swap pit stops.
The Sky Project Ultra robot, also known as Tien Kung Ultra, from the Tien Kung Team, claimed victory among the nonhumans, crossing the finish line in 2 hours, 40 minutes and 42 seconds.
Awards were also given out for best endurance, best gait design and most innovative form. Houthi rebels report U.S strikes in capital, coast
CAIRO Yemen’s Houthi rebels said Saturday that the U.S. military launched a series of airstrikes on the capital, Sanaa, and the Houthi-held coastal city of Hodeida, less than two days after a U.S. strike wrecked a Red Sea port and killed more than 70 people.
The Houthis’ media office said 13 U.S. airstrikes hit an airport and a port in Hodeida, on the Red Sea. The office also reported U.S strikes in the capital, Sanaa. There were no immediate reports of casualties.
The U.S. military’s Central Command, which oversees American military operations in the Middle East, said it continues to conduct strikes against the Houthis in Yemen.
Thursday’s strike hit the port of Ras Isa, also in Hodeida province, killing 74 people and wounding 171 others, according to the Houthi-run health ministry It was the deadliest strike in the U.S. ongoing bombing campaign on the Iranian-backed rebels.
United Nations SecretaryGeneral António Guterres on Saturday said he was “gravely concerned” about the attack on Ras Isa, as well as the Houthis missile and drone attacks on Israel and the shipping routes, his spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said Saturday.
Jersey wildfire grows to 1,000 acres overnight
NEW YORK A major wildfire that broke out Friday afternoon in a conservation area in South Jersey expanded to 1,000 acres overnight but was about 50% contained as of late Saturday morning.
Danny’s Wildfire was first reported around 12:25 p.m. in a remote area of the Peaslee Wildlife Management Area in Vineland, in northeastern Cumberland County, according to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service.
The fast-spreading blaze initially burned 20 acres, officials said. But by 6 p.m., it had grown to 500 acres with 0% containment. The fire service deployed engines, bulldozers and ground crews, along with a helicopter capable of dropping 300 gallons of water and an air tanker with a 600-gallon capacity In its late-night update, the agency said 20% of the then800-acre wildfire had been contained. That number grew to 1,000 acres by Saturday morning, with 50% containment, officials said.
No structures had been impacted by the fire, and no evacuations have been ordered as of Saturday, though some roads remained closed in the area.
Peaslee is the state’s secondlargest wildlife management area, spanning nearly 30,000 acres in Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland counties.
The area includes pine-oak woodlands, lowland bogs and riparian areas along the upper Tuckahoe River in Cumberland County with the river serving as its eastern boundary
BY HANNA ARHIROVA Associated Press
CHERNIHIV REGION, Ukraine Ukraine said it would reciprocate any genuine ceasefire by Moscow, but voiced skepticism after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a temporary Easter truce in Ukraine starting Saturday
The announcement from Kyiv came as Russia and Ukraine conducted their largest prisoner exchange since Moscow’s full-scale invasion started over three years ago. Putin announced a temporary Easter ceasefire in Ukraine starting Saturday, citing humanitarian reasons. According to the Kremlin, the ceasefire will last from 6 p.m. Moscow time on Saturday to midnight following Easter Sunday Putin offered no details on how the ceasefire would be monitored or whether it would cover airstrikes or ongoing ground battles that rage around the clock Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said if Russia is genuinely ready to observe a full and unconditional ceasefire, Ukraine will mirror that approach and strike only in defense.
He said such a gesture, particularly over the Easter weekend, could reveal Moscow’s true intentions.
“If a full ceasefire truly takes hold, Ukraine proposes extending it beyond Easter Day on April 20,” Zelenskyy said on Telegram. “That will reveal Russia’s true intentions, as 30 hours are enough for headlines, but not for genuine confidence-building measures.”
Zelenskyy added that, according to
military reports, Russian assaults and artillery fire continued along parts of the 600-mile long front line.
In response to the ceasefire announcement, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said that Kyiv had in March “agreed unconditionally to the U.S. proposal of a full interim ceasefire for 30 days,” which Russia rejected.
“Putin has now made statements about his alleged readiness for a ceasefire. 30 hours instead of 30 days,” Sybiha continued, writing on X. “Unfortunately, we have had a long history of his statements not matching his actions.”
Putin’s ceasefire announcement came after U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday said negotiations between Ukraine and Russia are “coming to a head” and insisted that neither side is “playing” him in his push to end the grinding three-year war
The two sides meanwhile exchanged hundreds of POWs on Saturday Russia’s Ministry of Defense said that 246 Russian service members were returned from Ukraine, and 31 wounded Ukrainian POWs were transferred in exchange for 15 wounded Russian soldiers in need of urgent medical care.
Zelenskyy said that 277 Ukrainian “warriors” have returned home from Russian captivity
Both sides thanked the United Arab Emirates for their mediation.
Most of the Ukrainians freed in the latest prisoner exchange are young people born after 2000, Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War said Friday
BY KWIYEON HA and PAN PYLAS Associated Press
LONDON Thousands of trans rights protesters gathered in central London on Saturday, days after the U.K.’s Supreme Court ruled that a woman is someone born biologically female and that transgender women are excluded from that legal definition.
With unease growing over what the ruling means for the rights of transgender people, protesters came together for what was billed as an “emergency demonstration” in Parliament Square Activists demanded “trans liberation” and “trans rights now,” with some waving flags and holding banners.
Trans groups are worried that Wednesday’s landmark decision would undermine their rights, even though the U.K.’s highest court said transgender people remain protected from discrimination. The head of Equality and Human Rights Commission said the ruling will mean transgender women will be excluded from women’s toilets, hospital wards and sports teams.
“It’s a terrifying time to have your rights taken away from you,” said 19-year-old transgender woman Sophie Gibbs. “I was disappointed to think that we could live in a society that seems so progressive now but is willing to make such a dangerous
BY KATE PAYNE and HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH Associated Press
TALLAHASSEE,Fla.— Amid the abandoned chemistry notes and other debris left behind after a deadly shooting at Florida State University are lingering questions about how the stepson of a beloved sheriff’s deputy tasked with school safety at a middle school became the accused gunman.
Political science student
Phoenix Ikner was a longstanding member of a sheriff’s office youth advisory council and was steeped in the family-like culture of the agency When officers rushed to the university’s student union on reports of gunfire, authorities say it was the 20-year-old who used his stepmother’s former service weapon to open fire, killing two men and wounding six others.
As people fled in terror, Ikner was shot and taken into custody He invoked his right not to speak to investigators, and his motive remains unknown as he lies in a hospital bed.
The prosecutor’s office is weighing possible charges as stories emerge about a darker side. One classmate recalled him being kicked out of a student club over comments that other members found troubling.
“This is horrific,” Jimmy Williams, the chief of safety for Leon County Schools, said of the shooting. “This is a horrible, horrible event.”
Williams, who has known Ikner’s stepmother, Jessica Ikner, for a decade, said the allegations underscore that “none of us are immune to tragedy.”
Classes and business operations will resume Monday, Florida State announced over the weekend.
“I know it won’t feel like a normal week,” FSU President Richard McCullough said in message to students and employees Saturday “It’s the last one before finals, and many of you are still processing what happened. Please take care of yourself.”
His stepmother, whose
own alma mater is Florida State, was reassigned from her position as a school resource officer Friday and granted the personal leave she requested, a sheriff’s office spokesperson told The Associated Press. When the alert went out of an active shooter at Florida State University, Jessica Ikner was on duty around 2 miles away at Raa Middle School. A sheriff’s office spokesperson said Jessica Ikner worked to secure the campus to prevent anyone from entering as Raa went into “lockout mode,” along with all of the county’s public schools. She was practiced at this work. Last year, she was named an “employee of the month” by the sheriff’s office, where she has worked for 18 years. Police said they believed Phoenix Ikner shot the victims using his stepmother’s former service handgun, which she had kept for personal use after the force upgraded its weapons. Leon County Sheriff Walter McNeil described Phoenix Ikner on Thursday as having been “steeped in the Leon County Sheriff’s Office family” and engaged in a number of sheriff’s office training programs, adding that it wasn’t a surprise that he would have access to guns. There was no record of him having a criminal record. And in Florida, training and a background check are not required to carry concealed guns in public. When Ikner was a child, his parents were involved in several custody disputes with his biological mother, court records show In 2015, when he was 10, his biological mother, Anne-Mari Eriksen, said she was taking him to South Florida for spring break in 2015 but instead traveled to Norway After returning to the U.S., she pleaded no contest to removing a minor from the state against a court order and was sentenced to 200 days in jail. She later moved to vacate her plea, but that was denied.
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and harmful ruling.”
The British government has said the unanimous decision by the five judges brought “clarity and confidence” for women and service providers.
Out of some 66 million people in England, Scotland and Wales, about 116,000 identified as trans in the latest census count
About 8,500 gender recognition certificates have been issued.
The ruling stemmed from a 2018 law passed by the Scottish Parliament that required at least 50% women on boards of Scottish public bodies Transgender women with gender recognition certificates were to be included in meeting the quota.
The Supreme Court said that using a certificate to interpret someone’s sex would clash with defini-
tions of man and woman and, therefore, the anti-discrimination provisions of the 2010 Equality Act could “only be interpreted as referring to biological sex.”
Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney said Saturday that he “understands” the “hurt and anguish” trans people are feeling over the verdict, while accepting that the ruling must be followed.
Many people at Saturday’s protest worried that the ruling could be the precursor to other judgments that diminish the rights for transgender people.
“It’s a Pandora’s box situation where I just think we allow certain things and then we essentially opened up the door to allow way more than we ever thought could be accepted or pushed through,” said Zuleha Oshodi, 29.
Transocean and operatedby BP,blew up, leaving 11 crew members dead.
Oil gushed into the Gulf for 87 days as attempts to cap it failed. In the end, an estimated 4.9 million barrels of crude oil spilled, much of it reaching the shore across the Gulf Coast.
It was the biggest waterborne oil spill in history
In total, oil reachedmore than 1,300miles of Gulf shoreline, with Louisiana hardest-hit. Over 200miles of marsh saw moderateto heavy amounts of oil
The cause of the blowout involved aseries of failures. They ranged from poorcementingand well-control procedures to the failure of ablowout preventer,among other factors.
The subsequent fallout was immense, as were the legal ramifications, though the tragedy also led to some positiveoutcomes. In one notable example, Louisiana has used billions in fines and settlements to carryout large-scale coastal restoration projects in the years since.
But alesser-known example involved funding for scientific research on oil spillsand surrounding ecosystems.
BP agreed to grant $500 million over adecade to pay for such research, overseenbyanindependent body
The money was granted with no strings attached. It allowed the independent body,the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative, to finance research as it saw fit, said Chuck Wilson, alongtime LSU professor who served as the initiative’schief scientific officer
Ahefty list of research benefited, eventually uncovering findings on the oil’s severe effectsonthe marsh, dolphins and species that live deep underwater, among manyothers, Wilson said.
‘A huge addition
As one striking example, a researcher found shortly after the spill that the number of small fish, zooplankton and other invertebratesin deep waters known as the mesopelagic zone dropped off by around 70%, said Wilson. Those species form an importantpartofthe food chain.
There were also slivers of good news.Wilsonnotes that the Gulf was accustomed to both naturaland accidental oil releases over many years, with lots of bacteria in the water adept at digesting it, and that happened to a large degree.
The 10-year run of the researchinitiative has now expired, but some of the work continues using other grants.
heaviest amounts sawcascading effects that speeded erosion,Roberts explained.
In areas heavily covered, where oilsnaked down to the roots, thedying plants no longer held sediment together that maintained thestructure of themarsh. Thatwas an especially important finding for Louisiana’s coast, which is already losing land at arapid clip.
“Sowhatyou see is oiledareas eroded much faster than the other areas of the coast,” said Roberts. “Oncethat’s gone, there is no recovery, right?That’sthe extreme.”
As time passed, Roberts and other scientists began to seerecoveryinthe interiorof themarshes, but not so much on the edges, where the heaviest oiling occurred —ashappenedwiththe spill. Thatcan have effects further along the food chain,from algaeand invertebrates to, gradually,
larger animals
“There’s acascade here in termsoftime delays and somethingsresponding,”he said. “That’sone of thethings that we really had discovered. That it’s alot more complex in termsof, if you look at one organism or group in isolation, youmay get adifferentstory than if youlook at howall the pieces playtogether.”
The BP funding has stopped, but the pots live on andare still being monitored, though not as intenselyasbefore. Roberts saidhe’d liketo find more research funding forthe experiment fornew typesoftesting.
Wilsonsaidthe cumulative knowledge built up through the BP-related research will better serve responders and scientists when the next spill inevitably occurs.
“Itwas ahuge mix of different projectsand people,” he said.
“You can imagine being able to give out $50million ayear for a10-year period was ahuge addition to available research dollars coming to the Gulf of Mexico,” Wilson said. Roberts and LUMCON were among thosebeneficiaries,and theirfindings on theoil’seffectsonmarsh have proved far-reaching. The complex plan they developedinvolved mimicking natural marsh and tides as much as possible, and that’s wherethe giant plant pots came into play— amesocosm experiment, in scientist-speak. The 12 pots are5 feet tall. Each includes alayer of marsh removed from the
area —over1,600 5-gallon buckets of it in total, taken intact by hand. They also hold atotal of 50 tons of mud from marshes. To imitate tidal movement, the pots areconnected to tanks holding water from anearby bayou, delivered at intervals to the pots. It is designed in such away to mimic arising and falling tideofupto2feet.
Eventually,in2019, about ayear andahalf after the marsh planting was complete, it was time to spread oil inside the pots. First, it had to be weathered to replicate thestate theDeepwaterHorizon oil was in when it reached themarsh. Then it had to be spread among the pots at different levels. Some received none, while others received high amounts.
Roberts and others dressedinprotective gear in thehot summer suntodo thejob —not an easy proposition. He said he sweated outsignificant weight in the process
That only begins to describe it all.
‘The pieces play together’
Aside from tests to seehow the marsh handledthe oil, scientists ran other experiments to examine fish behavior in the same circumstances, including survivalrates and what theydid in reaction to the contaminants.
As forthe marshitself, the level of oil made abig difference, and areas with the
BY SEAN MURPHY Associated Press
OKLAHOMA CITY Thirty years after the deadliest homegrown attack in U.S. history, former President Bill Clinton returned to Oklahoma City on Saturday to remember the people who were killed and comfort those affected by the bombing.
Clinton was president on April 19, 1995, when a truck bomb exploded, destroying a nine-story federal building in downtown Oklahoma City He delivered the keynote address at a remembrance ceremony near the Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum.
Clinton, now 78, was widely praised for how he helped the city grapple with its grief in the wake of the bombing, which killed 168 people, including 19 children. He says it was a day in his presidency that he will never forget.
“I still remember as if it were 30 minutes ago, coming here with Hillary to that
memorial service and saying: ‘You have lost too much, but you have not lost everything. You have certainly not lost America, and we will be with you for as many tomorrows as it takes,’ ”
Clinton said, recalling his first visit to Oklahoma City just days after the bombing, when he spoke at a memorial service for the for the victims. “I do think we’ve kept that commitment.”
Clinton has visited the Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum numerous times in the years since the bombing and delivered speeches on major anniversaries.
On Saturday, Clinton also cautioned about the polarizing nature of modernday politics and how such divisiveness can lead to violence, as it did 30 years ago. He said there is much the nation can learn from the “Oklahoma Standard,” a term coined to reference the city’s response to the bombing by uniting in service, honor and kindness.
“Today, Oklahoma City,
America needs you,” he said. “I wish to goodness every American could just see life unfold here, hearing these stories.”
Other speakers included former Oklahoma Gov Frank Keating and former Oklahoma City Mayor Ron Norick, who were in office when the bombing occurred. Family members of some of those killed in the bombing read the 168 names of those killed in the attack.
Saturday’s ceremony was originally scheduled to take place on the grounds of the memorial but was moved inside an adjacent church because of heavy rains.
After the ceremony, a procession of bagpipe players from the Oklahoma City Fire Department led many of those in attendance across the street to the outdoor memorial built on the grounds where the federal building once stood.
The memorial includes a museum, a reflecting pool and 168 empty chairs of glass, bronze and stone
BY NICHOLAS RICCARDI and MARK SHERMAN Associated Press
The Supreme Court on Saturday blocked, for now, the deportations of any Venezuelans held in northern Texas under an 18th century wartime law In a brief order, the court directed the Trump administration not to remove Venezuelans held in the Bluebonnet Detention Center “until further order of this court.”
Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito dissented.
The high court acted in an emergency appeal from the American Civil Liberties Union contending that immigration authorities appeared to be moving to restart removals under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798.
The Supreme Court had said earlier in April that deportations could proceed only if those about to be removed had a chance to argue their case in court and were given “a reasonable time” to contest their pending removals.
“We are deeply relieved that the Court has temporarily blocked the removals. These individuals were in imminent danger of spending the rest of their lives in a brutal Salvadoran prison without ever having had any due process,” ACLU lawyer Lee Gelernt said in an email.
On Friday, two federal judges refused to step in as lawyers for the men launched a desperate legal campaign to prevent their deportation, even as one judge said the case raised legitimate concerns. Early Saturday, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals also refused to issue an order protecting the detainees from being deported.
The administration is expected to return to the Supreme Court quickly in an effort to persuade the justices to lift their temporary order The ACLU had already sued to block deportations of two Venezuelans held in the Bluebonnet facility and sought an order barring removals of any immigrants in the region under the Alien Enemies Act.
In an emergency filing ear-
ly Friday, the ACLU warned that immigration authorities were accusing other Venezuelan men held there of being members of the Tren de Aragua gang, which would make them subject to President Donald Trump’s use of the act. The act has only been invoked three previous times in U.S. history, most recently during World War II to hold Japanese-American civilians in internment camps The Trump administration contended it gave them power to swiftly remove immigrants they identified as members of the gang, regardless of their immigration status.
Following the unanimous high court order on April 9, federal judges in Colorado, New York and southern Texas promptly issued orders barring removal of de-
tainees under the AEA until the administration provides a process for them to make claims in court But there had been no such order issued in the area of Texas that covers Bluebonnet, which is located 24 miles north of Abilene in the far northern end of the state.
U.S. District Judge James Wesley Hendrix, a Trump appointee, this week declined to bar the administration from removing the two men identified in the ACLU lawsuit because Immigration and Customs Enforcement filed sworn declarations that they would not be immediately deported. He also balked at issuing a broader order prohibiting removal of all Venezuelans in the area under the act because he said removals hadn’t started yet.
etched with the names of those killed. Nineteen of the chairs are smaller than the others to represent the children killed.
Among the memorial’s top missions is to help people understand the senseless-
ness of political violence and teach a new generation about the impact of the bombing, said Kari Watkins, the memorial’s president and CEO.
“We knew when we built this place we would some
day reach a generation of people who weren’t born or who didn’t remember the story,” Watkins said. “I think now, not just kids are coming through more and more, but teachers who are teaching those kids.”
Thesoundofpawshittingthefloorisimmediatelyaudible just afteravisitor knocks on thedoortoMarieVidrine’sapartmentinthe assisted living communityatThe Vincent Senior Living.When thedooropens,Etta, aShihTzu,isateveryone’sfeet, sniffing the visitors,jumpinguptobepettedandeventually laying on herbackfor abelly rub.
“I don’tknowwhather storywas,but she wasloved by someone. Shehas always been well-trainedandhousebroken.Sheresponds to allcommands. Sheloves everybody and will go to anybody,” Vidrinesaid. “I canonly imaginethatshe hadalovingcaregiver at some pointand somehowgot lost.”
Etta hasbeenlivingwithVidrine at The Vincent sinceDecember2024. Last fall Vidrine hadtoput down her16-year-old poodleandsworeshewouldnevergetanother dogagain.But,afewweekslater,shestarted to change hermind.
“Petsare extremelyimportant foryour mental andphysicalwell-being. My doctor evenrecommendshavingthem,”Vidrinesaid. “Ilovethecompanyandhavingsomethingto takecareof.Istartedlookingontheinternet toseewhichdogswereavailableforadoption, becauseIknowthere aresomanythatneed care andlovinghomes.”
VidrinefoundEttaontheAcadianaAnimal Aidwebsite.Initially,itwasnotaprettysight Etta hadmange andwas mostly hairless except forsmall tuftsonher legs andhead. But, thelookinher eyes grabbedVidrine rightaway, andshe knew shehad foundher next companion.
“AssoonasIsawthatpicture,Isaid,‘That dogneedsmeandIneedher,’”Vidrinerecalled Aftertheadoption,VidrinetookEttatothe vetforafullworkupanddiscoveredthatshe hadnounderlyinghealthconditions.Vidrine startedfeedinghergoodfoodinsmallmeals. Ettagainedweight,andherfurstartedgrowingback, first slowly,thenall at once.Today, sheisthe pictureofhealth.
“She is definitelyahugger,”Vidrine said “She is atruelap dog.”
Studiesshowthatdogscan help reduce feelingsoflonelinessandisolation,especially forseniors.Theycan also promoteasense of calm andgiveownersasense of purpose andstructure to theday.Regular walksand playtime encouragelight physical exercise andinteractionwithneighbors.Somestudies also show that adaily petcareroutine can
supportmemoryandcognitivefunction,and canimprovesleep qualityatnight Today, Etta is living thegoodlifeatThe VincentSeniorLiving,apet-friendlycommunity.Residents areallowed to have pets in theirapartmentsfor anominal fee, with somerestrictionsonbreed,sizeandnumber of pets perapartment.Ettanormallystays in Vidrine’sapartment,where herdog bed, soft crateand basket of toys areinthe living room.SheandVidrinesometimestakewalks near thecommunity pond.Vidrine said she purposelymovedtoanapartmentwithaccess to theenclosedcourtyard so Etta cancome andgoasshe needsto.
“She likestostayright here next to me a lot, but Iknowshe is safe when sheneeds go out,”Vidrinesaid.“She’sgreataboutcoming rightbackin. Shenever barksorcausesany problems. Sheusually sleeps in thebed with me at night. Icouldn’t imaginebeing here withouther.”
TheVincent Senior Living is locatedat 2201 VerotSchoolRoadinLafayette.Multipleassistedlivingapartment floorplans areavailable with allutilities included, a full-sizemicrowave andrefrigeratorand stainlesssteelsinksanddisposals.Assisted Living residentsalsohaveaccesstodaily activities,amovie theater,libraries,on-site bistro,beautysalon andwellnesscenterfor rehabilitationservices.Otherservicesinclude weekly housekeeping andlaundry,group andprivate transportation andmedication management.Visitvincentseniorliving.com or call 337-329-9892 to learnmore.
BY PATRICK WALL Staff writer
As Louisiana Gov Jeff Landry seeks nearly $94 million for a program to subsidize students’ private education, a billionairebacked advocacy group will run a television ad starting Sunday that targets state lawmakers who have challenged Landry’s plan. Club for Growth, a national group that promotes school vouchers and other conservative priorities, is paying for the ad and a related outreach campaign
Both urge Louisiana voters to contact their state representatives and demand they “fully fund” the new LA GATOR Scholarship Program, which will give eligible families tax dollars to pay for private school tuition and home schooling expenses like laptops and tutoring.
“Tell them, ‘Don’t short-
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seafood to enter our markets.”
The FDA already has the authority to seize and destroy food, drugs and other products that are “adulterated or misbranded.” Often, however, when inspectors deny entry for food, the shipper retains the product and some try again at a different port in hopes of finding more lax or no inspections.
The Higgins-Carter proposal changes wording in the law that allows the FDA greater leeway to impound and destroy seafood imports that are refused.
change our kids,’ ” a voiceover says while the ad displays phone numbers for the Louisiana House and Senate.
The group says it has funded campaigns in 10 other states promoting programs similar to Louisiana’s. It spent millions in Texas to unseat Republican lawmakers who opposed school vouchers, helping clear the way for that state’s Legislature to pass a major voucher bill this week
“Make no mistake — if you call yourself a Republican and oppose school freedom, you should expect to lose your next primary,” said Club for Growth President David McIntosh in a statement last year
Airing Sunday, the ad calls Louisiana’s new voucherlike program “Landry’s education freedom plan.”
Landry, a Republican, has proposed putting $93.5 million into the program next school year But some top state lawmakers, including Senate President Cameron Henry, R-Metairie, want to spend about half that much, keeping LA GATOR’s cost
“Billions of pounds of uninspected seafood continue to enter our country, causing major health concerns,” Higgins said. “In my opinion, foreign products don’t even come close to the quality of Louisiana seafood. This legislation provides the FDA with the authority to destroy illegal seafood imports and ensures that contaminated products don’t reach American markets.”
A February 2023 FDA report noted that imported seafood — mostly shrimp, salmon and tilapia accounted for 94% of the seafood sold in the United States. America also imports 55% of its fresh fruits and 32% of the fresh vegetables consumed.
He would not say whether the group coordinated with Landry’s office. Landry’s spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment
The ad echoes one last year that featured Landry criticizing lawmakers who tried to scale back the LA GATOR bill. It was paid for by a Louisiana-based super PAC that promotes Landry’s policy agenda.
Some lawmakers, including Republicans who support giving parents more school options, have expressed concern that LA GATOR could drive up state spending as thousands of parents seek state-funded grants to pay for private school.
Club for Growth, which promotes free enterprise and limited government, describes itself and its political arms as “the largest and most successful conservative political giving group.” One of its main funders is Jeffrey Yass, a billionaire Republican megadonor who advocates for “school choice,” or giving parents public money to pay for private or religious education.
In 2023, the group endorsed Landry in his bid to become governor, citing his support for “school
roughly the same as the existing school-voucher program it will replace.
The ad, which should run Easter morning, says viewers should demand that lawmakers “fully fund Landry’s plan.”
Club for Growth bought airtime on television channels across the state, including those in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lafayette Shreveport and Lake
Much of the imported seafood comes from India, China and Southeast Asia and is raised by aquaculture. Those facilities often use drugs and chemicals to avoid disease.
Testing isn’t keeping pace
The United States Government Accountability Office, an independent, nonpartisan agency that provides audits for Congress, has been warning for years that FDA inspections have not been keeping up with increasing imports of seafood being brought into the country for sale to American consumers. A GAO report in January determined that the FDA had not met its domestic and foreign inspection targets
Charles, according to filing with the Federal Communications Commission In Baton Rouge for example the ad will air during “Face the Nation” on CBS, while in Lake Charles it will run during “Meet the Press” on NBC.
A Club for Growth spokesperson said they spent “six figures” on the ad buy and outreach to residents digitally and over the phone.
since 2018.
“For foreign facility inspections, FDA conducted far fewer than the annual target of 19,200 inspections,” the GAO reported.
With only 432 investigators as of July 2024, FDA officials don’t consider the target achievable, the GAO reported.
Only 2% of seafood was inspected coming into the United States and 0.1% of that amount was sampled for drugs/antibiotics. Of the shrimp sampled for drugs and antibiotics, 12.2% showed positive for drug residue, a 2017 GAO report stated.
The GAO recommended congressional legislation.
Though the report is from 2017, the Southern Shrimp
The new program drew nearly 40,000 applications before the sign-up period ended Tuesday. Most families who applied do not have children in public school, the state Education Department said, suggesting the program will create a major new expense for taxpayers rather than shifting money from public to private schools.
Alliance has used freedom of information requests to keep tabs on the inspections and found that less imported seafood is being sampled these days.
“Imported shrimp and seafood products that are potentially dangerous for consumers need to be destroyed,” said John Williams, executive director of the Southern Shrimp Alliance. Based in Tarpon Springs, Florida, the alliance represents shrimpers and processors in eight warm-water shrimpproducing states, including Louisiana.
“Giving these products back to the foreign shipper does little to incentivize them to address safety problems before shipping products to this country,” Williams said.
As part of the Trump administration’s effort to decrease the size of the federal government, the Department of Health and Human Resources is in the process of laying off about 10,000 employees, including some 3,500 FDA workers. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr said earlier this month that he is trying to rehire some of those whose jobs were terminated. Carter and Higgins’ legislation has a long way to go before becoming law The bill first needs to be vetted and approved by the House committee. Then it must pass the full House before the Senate can consider the legislation. Email Mark Ballard at mballard@theadvocate.com.
BY MARYCLARE JALONICK and ADRIANA GOMEZ LICON Associated Press
WASHINGTON The dispute over the wrongful deportation and imprisonment of Kilmar Abrego Garcia“is not only about one man” but about Donald Trump’sdisregard of the American judicial system as well, Sen. Chris VanHollen said Friday as he returnedfrom athree-day trip to El Salvador to press for the detained man’srelease.
Speaking to reporters just after landing back in the United States, VanHollen offered few answers about what will come next in Abrego Garcia’scase.
Butthe MarylandDemocrat said that he and others will keep speaking out after the Trump administration defied court orders to facilitate his return to the United States and insisted thathewould stay in El Salvador —even as officials acknowledged an “error” in deporting him
“It’sabout protecting the constitutional rights of everybody who resides in the United States,” VanHollen said at Washington Dulles International Airport at anews conference with Abrego Garcia’ssupporters behind him.
“It’svery clear that the president, Trump administration are blatantly, flagrantly disagreeing with, defyingthe order from the Supreme Court.”
Standing next to him, AbregoGarcia’s wife, Jennifer,wiped away tears as the senatorshared her husband’s comments aboutmissing his family
Much uncertainty remains about the future of Abrego Garcia, aSalvadoran citizen who was living in Maryland, after VanHollen was presented with acarefullystaged opportunity to meet with him in El Salvador on Thursday.The Maryland senator said that Abrego Garcia reported he’d beenmoved from anotorious Salvadoran mega-prison, CECOT,toadetention center with better conditions
Abrego Garcia’sstatus after VanHollen left was not
VANHOLLEN
Senator Chris VanHollen, right, speaks withKilmarAbrego Garcia,a Salvadoran citizen whowas living in Maryland and deported to ElSalvador by the Trumpadministration, in a hotel restaurant in San Salvador,ElSalvador,onThursday
known, and therewas no indication that VanHollen’s trip pushed him any closer to release.
The case has become afocal point in thenational immigrationdebate. Democrats insist thatPresident Donald Trump is overstepping his executive authorityand disrespecting thecourts; Republicansare criticizingDemocratsfor defending aman Trump and White House officials claim is an MS-13 gang member, despite the factthathehas notbeencharged withany gang-related crimes.
VanHollensaidthat Abrego Garcia told himthat he’d shareda cell with 25 prisoners and wasafraidof many fellow inmates at CECOT beforehewas moved to another centerinSantaAna, El Salvador. He said that AbregoGarciareported beingtreated well —but noted that they were surrounded by government minders at the time.
Dems arepushing, GOP isn’tbudging
ThefightoverAbregoGarcia is the latest partisan flashpoint as Democrats struggle to break through and push back during the opening few months of Trump’ssecond administration.
More Democraticlawmakers havesaid they will fly to El Salvador to push for Abrego Garcia’srelease, but
thepartisanpressure has yielded no results. President Donald Trump and El Salvador’s president, Nayib Bukele, have only dug in on keeping him outofthe United States. That stance remained even after the U.S. Supreme Court called on theadministration to facilitate his return.
WhiteHouse presssecretary Karoline Leavitt has said thatAbrego Garcia will “never live in the United States of America again.”
Bukele posted images of VanHollen’smeeting with AbregoGarciaonThursday and saidthat theprisoner “gets the honorofstaying in El Salvador’scustody.” Van Hollen said aSalvadoran government official placed other beveragesonthe table withsalt or sugar on the rim to makeitappear theywere drinking margaritas. Van Hollen said neither he nor Abrego Garcia drankfrom the glasses, which in the photo Bukele posted were garnished with cherries.
After days of denyingthat he knewmuchabout Abrego Garcia, Trump on Fridaysaid he knewAbrego Garcia’s prisonrecord was “unbelievably bad” andcalled himan “illegalalien” anda “foreign terrorist.”
The president also responded Friday with asocial mediapost saying VanHollen “lookedlike afool yesterday standing in El Salvador begging for attention.”
BY HOLLYRAMER and KATHY MCCORMACK
Associated Press
ATufts University student from Turkey being held in a Louisiana immigration facility must be returned to New England no later than May 1todetermine whether she was illegally detained for cowriting an op-ed pieceinthe student newspaper,afederal judge ruled Friday
U.S. District Judge William Sessions said he would hear Rumeysa Ozturk’srequest to be released from detention in Burlington, Vermont, with a bail hearing set for May9 and ahearing on the petition’smerits on May 22. Ozturk’slawyers had requested that she be released immediately,oratleast brought back to Vermont, while the Justice Department argued that an immigration court in Louisiana had jurisdiction.
“The Court concludes that this case will continueinthis court with Ms. Ozturk physically present for the remainder of the proceedings,” the judge wrote. “Ms. Ozturk has presented viable and serious
habeas claimswhich warrant urgent review on the merits. The Court plans to move expeditiously to abail hearing and finaldisposition of thehabeas petition, as Ms. Ozturk’sclaims require no less.”
The rulingcame more than three weeksafter masked immigration officials surrounded the 30-year-old doctoral student as she walked along astreet in aBoston suburb March 25 and drove her to New Hampshire and Vermont before putting her on aplane to adetention center in Basile, Louisiana. An immigration judge denied her request for bond Wednesday, citing“danger and flight risk” as the rationale Ozturkis among several people with ties to American universities whose visas were revoked or who have been stopped from enteringthe U.S. afterthey were accused of attending demonstrations or publicly expressing support for Palestinians. ALouisiana immigration judge has ruledthat theU.S. can deport Columbia
University graduate student MahmoudKhalil basedon the federal government’s argument that he poses anational securityrisk.
Ozturk’slawyers first filed apetition on her behalf in Massachusetts, but they didn’tknow whereshe was and were unable to speak to her until morethan 24 hours after shewas detained. Ozturk herselfsaidshe unsuccessfully made multiple requeststospeak to alawyer
Ozturk was one of four students who wrote an op-ed in thecampus newspaper,The TuftsDaily,lastyear criticizing the university’sresponse to student activists demanding that Tufts“acknowledge thePalestinian genocide, disclose its investments and divest from companies with tiestoIsrael.
Ozturk’slawyers say her detention violates her constitutional rights, including free speech and due process. In hisruling, Sessions said shehas “plausibly pled constitutionalviolations” but saidsuchpleadings weren’t enough to warrant her immediaterelease.
BY WAFAASHURAFA, JOSEF FEDERMAN and SAMY MAGDY Associated Press
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip Israeli PrimeMinister Benjamin Netanyahu said again Saturday that Israel has “no choice” but to continue fighting in Gaza and will not end the war beforedestroying Hamas, freeing the hostages and ensuring thatthe territory won’tpresent athreat to Israel.
The prime minister also repeated his vow to make sure Iran never gets anuclear weapon.
Netanyahu is under growing pressure at homenot only from families of hostages and their supporters butalsofromreservistand retired Israeli soldiers who question thecontinuation of the war after Israel shatteredaceasefirelastmonth.
In his statement, he claimed that Hamas hasrejected Israel’slatestproposaltofree half thehostages foracontinuedceasefire.
The prime minister spoke afterIsraeli strikes killed more than 90 people in 48 hours, Gaza’sHealthMinistry said Saturday.Israeli troopshave been increasing theirattacks to pres-
sure Hamas to release the hostages and disarm.
Children and women were amongthe 15 people killed overnight, according to hospitalstaff. At least 11 dead wereinthe southern city of Khan Younis, several of them in atent in the Muwasi area where hundredsof thousands of displaced people stay,hospital workers said. Israel has designated it as ahumanitarian zone.
Mourners cradled and kissed the faces of the dead. Aman strokeda child’sforeheadwith his finger before body bags were closed.
“Omar is gone Iwish it was me,”one brother cried out.
Four other people were killed in strikes in Rafah city,including amother and herdaughter, according to the European Hospital, where the bodies were taken. Later on Saturday,anIsraeli airstrike on agroup of civilians west of Nuseirat in centralGazakilledone person, according to Al-Awda Hospital.
Israel’smilitary in astatement said it killedmorethan 40 militants over the weekend.
Separately,the military said asoldier was killedSaturday in northern Gazaand
confirmeditwas thefirst soldierdeath sinceIsrael resumedthe waronMarch 18. Hamas’ armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, said it ambushed Israeli forces operating east of GazaCity’s al-Tuffah neighborhood. Israel hasvowed to intensify attacksacrossGazaand occupy indefinitely large “securityzones” insidethe small coastalstrip of over 2million people. Hamas wants Israeli forces to withdraw from the territory Israel also hasblockaded Gaza forthe past six weeks, again barring the entry of food and other goods. This week, aid groups raised the alarm, saying thousands of children have become malnourished and most people arebarely eating one meal aday as stocks dwindle,according to the United Nations. The head of the World Health Organization’s eastern Mediterranean office, Dr.Hanan Balkhy,on Friday urged the new U.S. ambassador in Israel,Mike Huckabee, to push the country to lift Gaza’sblockade so medicines and other aid can enter “I would wish for him to go in and see the situation firsthand,” she said.
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Duoleading effort to keep GOP Housemajority
Mark Ballard
WASHINGTON —Ifany proof is neededthat the Nov.3,2026, congressional midterms weigh on the minds of House Speaker Mike Johnson,R-Benton, andHouse Majority Leader Steve Scalise, RJefferson,then look no further than the remarkable $44 million the two last week announced having raised to help Republican candidates.
Republicans hold 220 of the House’s 435 seats and 218 are needed for abare majority. Johnson and Scalise so far have been able to pass controversial bills by one and two votes
The GOP can’taffordtolose support from more than three of its members in the coming weeks when Congress takes up the big beautiful” budget bill that will include President Donald Trump’s legislative agenda.
That slim majority —and history —give Democrats hope that, come the 2026midterm elections, they could seize control of oneof the levers of power thatthe GOP now controls. Since the 1970s, with the exception of 2002, the party whose candidate lives in the White House lost control of the House in the midterms.
Crystal Ball, the respected politicalhandicapping outfitaffiliated with the University of Virginia, last week found Democrats narrowly ahead 209-207 inseats safe for one party or the other.
Nineteen races are toss-ups.
“Democrats should flip the House next year,” Crystal Ball predicted.
All of Louisiana’sfour Republican and two Democratic House incumbentsare considered safe.
Last week, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee released its list of 35 targeted House seats. That number includes 10 seats in districts Trump
Bill would add governors’ appointees to PSC
Abill in the Louisiana Legislature would add two new seats to the Public Service Commission, both appointed by the governor The PSC currently has five members, elected from districts across the state. The two appointed members would serve at large, representing the whole state, and would be subject to confirmation by the state Senate. The commission regulates power companies, internet providers and other utilities throughout Louisiana.
Rep. Daryl Deshotel, RMarksville, who is sponsoring House Bill 413, saidhe wants to add the new seats because of an influx of new data centers to Louisiana with huge power requirements.
won byatleast 10 percentage pointsinNovember; three GOP seats in districts Vice President Kamala Harris won; and eight others that are consideredcompetitive.
“House Republicans are running scared,and they should be. They’re tanking the economy, guttingMedicaid,abandoning our veterans and making everything more expensive. In short,they’ve lost the trust of their constituents, and it’sgoing to cost them the majority,” DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene, aDemocratic representative from the stateofWashington, said in astatement.
Johnson raised more money than any other Republican speaker duringamidterm cycle —a feat hesees as thenation rallying aroundTrump’spolicies to shrink the size of government, raise
BUZZ staff reports
“That’s alot of new power comingtoour state.Ithink they’re going to be extremely busy If you’re adding broadband on topof this, Ijust don’tthink five people shouldbe tasked with that,” he said “I thinkit takesa biggereffort to make that happen.” If passed, the bill would dilute the powerofthe five elected members.Deshotelacknowledged that “the current PSC members hate it,” but said he had“talked to past PSC members who tell me it’sverymuchneeded.”
tariffs on imported goods, and deport immigrantswho snuck into thecountry without proper documentation.
“The American people are enthusiastic about keeping House Republicans on offense in 2026. While we deliver our commonsense America First agenda, we are also building amassive campaign war chest by hitting the ground running in thefirst quarter,” Johnson said in astatement. The money mostly is distributed to GOP candidates, committees and state parties.
As amid-level House manager before ascending to the top spot in October 2023, Johnson didn’tshine at fundraising. Open Secrets, aWashington-based nonprofit that tracks campaign contributions, showedthat,for the2022 election cycle, Johnson
The bill was originally scheduledfor ahearing last week, but Deshotel pulled it from the agenda, saying it “caught people by surprise.” He anticipates it will be heard sometimeinthe third or fourth week of the session.
FEMA grants to help airport, Barbe High
Louisiana has received morethan $8 million in grants from theFederal Emergency Management Agencytohelp pay for repairs from hurricanes Laura and Ida.
The Calcasieu Parish School Board will get more than$7million for repairs to Barbe High School, which was badly damaged by Hurricane Laurain2020.
The Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport will also receive more than$1million to repair
raised $1.3 million while the average House member brought in $3 million In the2024 cycle, as speaker, Johnson upped his gamebyraising $19 million, coming largely from retirees, pro-Israel groups and Lockheed Martin, the government’slargest contractor,according to the data Open Secrets organized.
He announced harvesting $32.2 million during the first three monthsof2025 forthe 2026 campaign. The latest reports, which are throughMarch 31, haven’tyet been analyzed Scalise, on theother hand, has been aleading fundraiser for years. It’s part of the reason why he has been in the top echelons of Republican power since 2014. He has raised morethan $225 million since joining leadership.
damage from Hurricane Ida, which struckin2021.
U.S. Sen. John Kennedy, R-Madisonville,announced the grantsina news release this week.
The grants come amid questions over the futureof FEMA and the role it plays in disaster recovery
President Donald Trump and Kristi Noem, the homeland securitysecretary, have bothsaid FEMA should be eliminated and someofits functions dispersed among other state agencies. Some conservatives have long argued that states should shoulder more of the burden of recovering from disastersinstead of leaning on federal taxpayers.
Legislature off on Monday,back Tuesday
The Louisiana Legislature will not convene on
Monday, but committees andfloor actionwill resume Tuesday.
Open Secrets found that Scalise, in the 2024 election cycle, relied on conservative groups, Realtors, pro-Israel factions and retirees forthe funds he raised. Similar to Johnson’slatest haul, the analysts haven’thad time to collate the information that wasgiven to the Federal Elections Commission weekbefore last.
Scalise announced gathering morethan $12 million in the first quarter of the 2026 election cycle.
“It’smore important than ever we deliver President Trumpan even stronger House Majority, and we’re working overtime to ensure we have the resources required to stay competitive and the top-tier candidates we need to win,” Scalise said.
Email Mark Ballardat mballard@theadvocate.com.
Committeesofboth chamberswill meet beginning at 9a.m. The Senate is scheduledtogavel in at 3:30 p.m. andthe House at 5p.m
The agendasinclude bills on car insurance,one of the most controversial issues of the sessionsofar,and on proposed changes to Louisiana’s taxand spending laws thatvotersrejected in aconstitutional amendment earlierthis year, amongmanyother issues. To seefull agendas and schedules, visit legis. la.gov.
ABC’s“This Week” Sen. Chris VanHollen, D-Md.; Rep, Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y.; TomHoman, President Donald Trump’sborderczar.
NBC’s “Meet thePress” VanHollen; Sen. John Kennedy,R-La
CNN’s“Stateofthe Union” VanHollen; Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.; Rep. TomEmmer,RMinn.
CBS’“Face the Nation” VanHollen; Lee Zeldin, Environmental Protection Agency administrator; Gov. Maura Healey, D-Mass.; Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa.; Austan Goolsbee, president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.
“Fox News Sunday” Van Hollen; Interior Secretary Doug Burgum. The Associated Press
BY MORGAN LEE Associated Press
CHIMAYÓ,N.M. Aunique
Holy Week tradition is drawing thousands of Catholic pilgrims to asmall adobe church in the hills of northern New Mexico, in ajourney on footthrough desert badlands to reach aspiritual wellspring.
For generations, people of theUpper Rio Grande Valley and beyond have walked to reach El Santuario de Chimayó to commemorate Good Friday Pilgrims began arriving at dawn. Some had walked through the night undera half moon, carrying glowsticks, flashlights and walking staffs.
Some travelers are lured by an indoor well of dirt believed to have curative powers. Throughout the year, they leave behind crutches, braces and canesinacts of prayer forinfirm children and others, and as evidence that miracles happen.
Easter week visitors file through an adobe archway and narrow indoor passages to find acrucified Nuestro SeñordeEsquipulasatthe main altar.According to local lore, the crucifix was found on the site in the early 1800s, acontinent away from its analog at abasilica in the Guatemalan town of Esquipulas.
Aspiritual place
Chimayó, known for its artisan weavings and chile crops, rests high above the Rio Grande Valley and opposite the national defense laboratory at Los Alamos that sprang up in the race to develop the first atomic weapon.
The iconic adobe churchat Chimayó was castfrom local mud at the sunset of Spanish rule in the Americas in the early 1800s, on asite already held sacredbyNative Americans.
Maria Sandoval leans on ahandmade cross bearing the names of lovedones passed as she waits in line to visit El Santuario De Chimayo in NorthernNew MexicoonGood Friday in Chimayo,N.M.
Setamid narrow streets curioshops andbrooksthat flow quickly in spring, El SantuariodeChimayó has been designated as aNational HistoricLandmark that includesexamples of 19th century Hispanic folk art, religious frescoes and saints carved from wood known as bultos.
Aseparate chapel is dedicated to the Santo Niño de Atocha, apatron saint of children, travelers and those seeking liberation and afittingfigure of devotion for Chimayópilgrims on the go.
Hundreds of children’s shoes have been left ina prayerroom there by the faithfulintribute to the holy child who wearsout footwear on miraculous errands. There are eventiny boots tacked to the ceiling.
Pueblo people who inhabited theChimayó arealong before Spanishsettlers believed healing spiritscould be found in the formofhot springs.Thosesprings ultimately driedup, leaving behind earth attributed with healing powers.
Away of life
Photographer Miguel Gandert grew up in the Española valley below Chimayó and
made the pilgrimage as aboy withhis parents.
“Everybody wenttoChimayó. Youdidn’thave to be Catholic,”said Gandert,who was among thosewho photographed the 1996pilgrimage through afederal grant.
“People just went there becauseitwas apowerful, spiritual place.”
Scenes from that pilgrimage —ondisplay at the New Mexico History Museum in SantaFe—include children eating snow cones to keep cool, menshouldering large wooden crosses, infants swaddled in blankets, bikers in leather and weary pedestrians resting on highway guardrails to smoke.
Agenerationlater,Good Friday pilgrims still haul crosses on the road to Chimayó. Throngs of visitors often wait hoursfor aturn to file into the Santuario de Chimayó to commemorate the crucifixion.
AdrianAtencio, 30, fell to his knees and ranhis hands through the red earth in the well of the floor in the Santuario. Atencio, from nearby SanJuanPueblo, hasbeen making the Good Friday trek since age 7. This time it was about the future and new beginnings.
BY NICOLE WINFIELD Associated Press
VATICAN CITY U.S.VicePresidentJDVance met Saturday with theVatican’sNo. 2official amid tensions over the U.S. crackdown on migrants, with theHolySee reaffirming good relations but noting “an exchange of opinions” over currentinternational conflicts, migrantsand prisoners.
Vance, aCatholic convert, met with the secretaryof state,Cardinal PietroParolin, andthe foreignminister, Archbishop PaulGallagher, in the Apostolic Palace. There wasnoindicationhe met with PopeFrancis, who hassharply cutback official duties during his recovery from pneumonia.
Vance’sofficesaidheand Parolin “discussedtheir shared religious faith,Catholicisminthe United States, the plight of persecuted Christiancommunities around the world, and President Trump’scommitment to restoring world peace.”
The Holy Seehas responded cautiously to the Trump administrationwhile seeking to continue productive relations in keeping with its traditionofdiplomatic neutrality It has expressedalarm over theadministration’s crackdown on migrants and cutsininternational aid while insisting on peaceful resolutions to thewars in Ukraine and Gaza.
Those concerns were reflected in the Vatican statement, which said the talks were cordial andthatthe Vatican expressed satisfaction with the administration’s commitment to protecting freedom of religionand conscience.
“Therewas an exchange of opinions on the international situation, especially regardingcountries affected by war, political tensions and difficult humanitarian situations, with particular attention to migrants,refu-
gees,and prisoners,”the statement said. “Finally, hope was expressed forserene collaboration between the state andthe Catholic Churchinthe UnitedStates, whose valuable service to the most vulnerable people was acknowledged.”
The reference to “serene collaboration” appeared to refer to Vance’sassertion that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishopswas reset-
tling “illegal immigrants” in order to get federal funding. TopU.S.cardinals have pushed back strongly against the claim
“It is clear that the approach of the current U.S. administration is very different from what we are used to and, especially in theWest, from what we have relied on formany years,” Parolin told La Repubblica daily on the eve of Vance’svisit.
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BY PATRICK WHITTLE Associated Press
PORTLAND,Maine President Donald Trump’sexecutive ordertoboost theU.S. commercial fishingindustry drew praise from commercial fishing groups and condemnation from environmental organizations who said they fear cutting regulations will harm fish populations that have already dwindled in some areas of the oceans.
The order represents adramatic shift in federal policy on fishing in U.S. waters by prioritizing commercial fishing interests over efforts to allow the fish supply to increase.
The president described his decisionas“an easy one”thatwillimprove the U.S. commercialfishing industry by peeling back regulations and opening up harvesting in previously protected areas.
“The United States should be the world’sdominant seafoodleader,”
he said Thursday,citing the nation’s seafood trade deficit, whichismore than $20 billion.
Some environmental groups cited the importance ofrelying on the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, which hasguidedU.S. fishery management for nearly 50 years and was intended to combat overfishing. The number of fish stocks on the federal overfished list grew from 40 in 2013 to 47 in 2023; conservationists said they fear that number willgrow with weakened regulations.
“These executive orders don’t loosen red tape— they unravel the very safety net that protects our oceans, our economy,and our seafood dinners,” said Beth Lowell, vicepresidentofOceana, aconservationgroup. “Fordecades,the U.S. science-based approachtofisheries management has rebuilt declining stocks, kept American fishers on the water,and protected important places and wildlife.”
Some sectorsofthe fishing industry have been hit hard by environmental changes and overfishing, including in the Northeast, where once-lucrativeindustriesfor Maine shrimp and Atlantic codlongago driedup. West Coast species, including some kinds of salmon, have alsobeen depleted.
There have also been successes.
The federal government said last year it was able to remove Atlantic coastbluefish and aWashington coast stockofcoho salmonfromthe overfished list.
Fishermen said they seeabrighter future thanks to the Trump executive order.The changes represent a“thoughtful, strategic approach” that could be alifeline to America’sfishermen, said Lisa Wallenda Picard, president andchiefexecutive officer of the National Fisheries InstituteinVirginia.
“The EO outlineskey actionsto benefit every link in thesupply chain —from hardworking fish-
ermen to parentswho servetheir family this nutritious and sustainable protein at home,” Wallenda Picardsaid. “Importantly,the order calls for reducing unnecessary regulatory burdens on fishermen andseafoodproducers while also promoting the many benefits of eating seafood as part of ahealthy, balanced diet.”
Trump’sorder cameonthe same day he issued aproclamation allowing commercial fishing in Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument. The monument was created by President George W. Bush in early 2009 andconsists of about495,189 square miles in the centralPacific Ocean.
Environmental groups, some of whom vowed to challenge attempts to weaken protections in certain areas,also criticized that move.
“This is one of the most pristine tropical marine environments in the world that already faces dire threats from climate change and
ocean acidification,” said David Henkin, an attorney withconservationgroup Earthjustice. “Wewill do everything in our power to protect the monument.” Countering conservation groups, the Trumpadministration argues that restrictions such as catchlimits and competition with wind power companies forfishing grounds have held back one of the country’s oldest enterprises.
“In addition to overregulation, unfair trade practices have put our seafood markets at acompetitive disadvantage,” Trump’sexecutive order stated.
The orderordergivesCommerce SecretaryHowardLutnickamonth to identify “the most heavily overregulated fisheriesrequiring action andtake appropriate action to reduce the regulatory burden on them.” It also calls on regional fishing managers to find ways to reduceburdens on domesticfishing and increase fishing production.
BY MARIA CHENG Associated Press
JAMESTOWN, St. Helena Whale sharks shouldn’t be hard for scientists to find. They are enormous —they are the biggest fish in the sea and perhaps the biggest fish to have ever lived. They are found in warm oceans all around theworld By shark standards, theyare slow swimmers.
But they somehow manage to also be very private: Scientists don’tknow where they mate, and they’ve never observed it before. They do finally have some clues, though. Scientists suspect the magic may be happening in the watersaround St. Helena, aremote volcanic island in the South Atlantic Ocean whereNapoleon Bonaparte was once exiled and died. It’sthe only placeinthe world where adultmale and female whale sharks are known to regularly gather in roughly equal numbers —and food doesn’t seem to be the main attraction Kenickie Andrews, the marine conservationprojectmanager at the St. Helena Trust says he’sseen
male sharks chasingfemales, nibbling on their pectoral fins and “displaying themselves” to the female sharks,akin to mating rituals observed in other sharks including greatwhites “What we’ve seen here is classic shark courtship behavior,” he said. “Tothis day we haven’tseen successfulcopulation, but it is proof (whale sharks) are in our waters trying out these behaviors.
Whalesharks typically measure from39to59feet,weigh up to 14 tons and are plankton eaters; all sharks have aunique pattern of white spots on their upper side.
Scientists say they need to know where thesharksare mating and giving birth so they can protect those areas, possibly by creating marinereserves where threats like fishing are banned.Whale sharks aredesignated as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature; the group says their population has been“largelydepleted.”
Simon Pierce, who has studied whale sharks globally,said he hasphotographed suspectedmating scars on female sharks in St.
Helena, probably from when male sharks bit their pectoral fins to hold onto themand get into mating position.
Suspected whaleshark mating behavior has alsobeenreported in Australia and the sharks also gatherinplaceslike Mexico, the Arabian Seaand the Maldives,
but that seemstoamount to male harassment of immature females, explains Pierce, executive director and co-founder of the charity Marine Megafauna Foundation. That’snot the case in St. Helena, where adultmales and adult females arepresent. Fisheries experts in St. Helena
have also providedeyewitness accounts of what they said were instances of whale sharks mating. Officials described alot of thrashing at thewater’s surface by two enormoussharks touching belly to belly,but those sightings were not captured on video and are not considered sufficient proof by scientists.
Cameron Perry,aresearch scientistatthe Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, hasbeen working with colleagues on the island to attach camera tags to investigate what the whale sharks are doing, but have run into some technical difficulties: the sharks dive deeper than 6,561 feet andthe tags can’t withstand the pressure.
“Wehave somevery tantalizing and teasing video,” Perry said. “Wehave two sharks about to make contact, andthen ourcamera falls off.”
Perry isn’tsure what the sharks might be doing far below the surface, but hopes new technology beingdeveloped will help answer that question. “It’sjust anumbers game in terms of how often we can get in the water.”
BY MARIE FAZIO Staff writer
Nearly eight years ago, the hazing-related death of an 18-yearold LSU student Maxwell Gruver resulted in a harsher anti-hazing law in Louisiana that made hazing a felony with hefty fines and jail time.
In February it happened again. Southern University student Caleb Wilson died earlier this year after being punched in the chest multiple times by members of Southern’s chapter of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity in what police have characterized as a hazing ritual. His death has reignited conversation about hazing prevention efforts among higher education leaders, legislators and Greek life organizations, and inspired a bill that would increase required anti-hazing education for some college and university students.
Those who have studied hazing incidents, like former Dillard University President Walter Kimbrough, say hazing prevention should start before students enter college and be reinforced regularly Kimbrough, who served as president of Dillard University from 2012 to 2022 and is widely considered an expert in hazing incidents, spoke with The TimesPicayune | The Advocate about why hazing happens and what everyone from school superintendents to sports leagues can do to prevent it.
The interview with Kimbrough, who is currently serving as inter-
im president of Talladega College, has been condensed and edited for clarity
Why does hazing happen?
It’s just a culture that says new people aren’t viewed as good enough. Even on a major league baseball team, the rookies have to do certain things because they’re rookies.
Sometimes I say it’s the Protestant work ethic gone wrong. If you think that anything worth having is worth working for, some people feel like if it’s worth being a part of this group, you need
to work for it. Unfortunately, though, that sometimes takes a bit of a perverted twist and that’s when hazing happens.
How long has hazing been going on?
Hazing is a 600-year-old problem. It dates back to German universities in the 1400s. It was always based on the premise that initially, new students coming to college were not viewed as good enough by older students and you had to do something to earn your space to be there.
In the U.S., hazing started in the 1800s with freshmen. In the
1920s, colleges and universities started to eradicate the hazing of freshmen, but the culture had to go somewhere. That’s when we started to see hazing cases pick up in fraternities and sororities.
When you put it like that, it sounds like an incredible challenge to change such a longstanding practice.
It’s so deeply ingrained.
It’s hard changing that culture because people just don’t want to feel like anyone can walk in and become a member of an organization without doing anything when they themselves had to go through all these trials and tribulations to become a member That doesn’t seem fair, so that’s part of the challenge. Are there any measures university administrations can take?
We’re going to have to do more consistent year-round anti-hazing messaging. There should be PSAs during football games or basketball games. When they have commercial breaks, there could be a reminder that hazing is illegal. A lot of campuses have electronic message boards and you could run anti-hazing messages all year long.
We need to always be giving the message, not just at certain times of the year when new students are coming in. I think it’s got to be all year round, and on all our different platforms. I think it’s just got to be much more of a blitz in terms of constant awareness.
You’ve spoken about the need to educate students about hazing at an earlier age. Why is that?
We need to be much more proactive about talking about hazing prior to college. There’s a hazing. org study that found 47% of college students experience hazing in high school, so a lot of students are coming in predisposed (to
think) it’s not that big of a deal.
Schools really should start talking about bullying in middle school. Hazing is a pretty close cousin of bullying, so it would be easy to add those together
Who should drive that shift?
We need a coalition of groups to talk about this more openly and often and not just view it as a college fraternity problem because it’s bigger than that.
We need superintendents, high school athletic associations. Major league sports should take a stronger stand against hazing, because they can be role models to address that, particularly for high school athletes.
Do people seem receptive to shifting hazing education earlier?
It’s been floated some, but no one has stepped up to own it and say we’re going to be the group or groups that lead this new coalition.
I think it probably should come out of the fraternity-sorority community, but I think a lot of times those national groups are too busy trying to put out their own fires that they don’t think bigger than that.
How do stronger criminal laws factor into hazing prevention?
Just having a stronger law isn’t always a deterrent. Even at LSU, there’s been hazing cases since Max Gruver died, so even the threat of jail has not been a significant enough deterrent for people to stop hazing.
We
BY MARYPEREZ Sun Herald
Even those who don’t know casino executive John Ferrucci after his30years on the Mississippi Coast probably recognize his voice.
That’sbecause he was the voice of Silver Slipper Casino commercials for nearly 20 years since it opened in late 2006 in HancockCounty.
Theideacamefromthe parent company’sCEO, Paul Alanas, who told Ferrucci he wanted him “to be the face of the Silver Slipper,” Ferrucci recalled recently
“When Ifirst got here, people thought it was aNew Orleans accent,” he said. “That’sclose enough, close enough.”
Ferrucci’seffective campaign lasted for two decades, buthedelivered his last radio spot in March.
“People just responded to it, like, unbelievable,” he said.
Ferrucci retired in early April as general manager of Silver Slipper and chief operating officer and senior vice president at Full House Resorts, parent companyof Silver Slipper,but he will continue in aconsulting role.
His résumé is extensive. It all began when Ferrucci left his job as ateacher with amaster’s degree and a$15,000 salaryafter 10 years. He doubled that, earning $30,000 his first year as ablackjack dealer in Atlantic City,and he worked his way up.
Since then, he’sled or worked at six Gulf Coast casinos, with thousands of fel-
lowemployeeshe says are responsible for the success of thecasinoindustry
He welcomed top singers and comediansand put$1 million on display before giving it away. He guided acasino comeback from bankruptcy, and he helped casinos survive hurricanes andnavigate recessions, an oil spill and thepandemic.
Jersey meetsMardi Gras
After adecade of working in Atlantic City for Caesars and Harrah’sinthe 1980s, Ferrucci wasathis fourth yearatacasinointhe Bahamas when he was recruited by Grand Casinos. He had to look on the map to find Gulfport,Mississippi.
“They flew me in tointerview,” he said,and he arrived on aTuesday in March. MardiGras parade floats and revelers blocked his way to the casino and his interview
It didn’tstop him
“I went back to theBahamas, packed up andcame back as the director of table games for theGrandCasinos,”herecalls.Thatwas 1993 and three other casinos were open on the Gulf Coast —Isle of Capri, the President and BiloxiBelle.
In 1994, he was promoted to vice presidentofoperations for Grand Biloxi Casino. As he sits on thedeck of TheBlind Tigerrestaurant in Biloxi, theformer site where much of the Grand Biloxi operated,herecalls howthe GrandTheaterwas on one side and the hotel tower on the other
The second tower north of thehighway is nowHarrah’s Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 demolished thebuildings southofBeach Boulevard.
“Thatwas agreat opportunityfor me, because when Igot promoted to assistant
generalmanager here,the theater reported to me. We booked allthe acts, andwe got to meet all those celebrities. It was alot of fun back in that day,” he said.
TomJones,Dionne Warwick,Willie Nelson, Wayne Newton, Ray Charles and so many others playedthe Grand Theater He posed with each of them, but said, “I don’thave awall big enough for all the pictures.”
His job also was to hire key people, including casino hosts.Heneeded 13 hosts andalreadyhad 10 of them, so he told the head host to stop bringing candidates in for interviews. An hour later,hebrought in Bridget. She got thejob and the guy
“We’ve beenmarried24 years,” he said. Moving up,movingback In 1997, he was hiredto
help bring the Palace Casino outofbankruptcy and reopen the casino. The next year,hewent to New York to open atribalcasino, but he returned to South Mississippi in 2000.
He teamed up with Paul Alanis, president of Pinnacle Entertainment and owner of Casino Magic, which Ferrucciwould be selected to manage.
In early 2005, Alanis decided to buy President Casino Broadwaterand move operations to Hancock County
The investors bought it on April 15, and Ferrucci worked at the President for four months, whenthe barge wasdamaged by Hurricane Katrina. Silver Slipper Casino was the first in Mississippi to be built on land after the regulations changed. Silver Slippersuccess
“Bridget and Istood there on the pierdown in Hancock County,where the Silver Slipper wasgoing to be born,” Ferrucci recalled.
There wasn’tanyone in sight, and only thesound of the wind whistling through what was leftofthe pier
“Are you sure you want do this?” his wife asked.
“I think I’msure Ido, because Paul’sinvolved, and he’s gotagood plan, andI like it. So, yeah,” he said.
Twenty years later,hehas risen to become the chief operating officer of Full House Resorts, amajor casino company,while continuing as general managerofSilver Slipper
The crowd pouredinto Hancock County destination on opening day,Nov.9,2006, according to an account in theSun Herald. The casino put 700 peopletowork on the Mississippi Coast after Katrina.
“Wewere the Hancock County tourism business of
theyear for2007. Our first year.Wewere thrilled,” Ferrucci said at the time. They didn’tbuild awedding chapel overlooking the water as originally planned, but they did build ahotel tower,a larger parking garage, new restaurants and an RV park on the beach. The 2008 promotion to display and give away $1 million is stillremembered as one of the best in the ara. A stack of $100s and$20s was secured in aclear case, with $20 bills mixedintomake it look more impressive,he said. It wasthe largest amount given away by any casino to date.
What’s next
The newmanager is already in place at Silver Slipper Angi Truebner-Webb worked with Ferrucci from 2010-2019, before being promotedtoworkinfinance and management at two Full House sister properties in theMidwest. Now she’s taking over at the Hancock County casino on the water She recalls whenshe met Ferrucci whileapplying for the senior financial marketing analyst job at Silver Slipper She told him she aspired to one day have his job. So when herCEO asked if she’d be interested in the opportunity of managing SilverSlipperuponFerrucci’s retirement, herreply was “Absolutely not. Who wants to take aproperty over after John Ferrucci?” But she did, and TruebnerWebb said she won’t try to fill Ferrucci’sshoes but honor
-Amy G.
BY ASHLEY WHITE Staff writer
Letters to some Acadiana immigrants from the U.S Department of Homeland Security requiring residents to appear in person are raising concerns among the immigrant community
The letters come as President Donald Trump and his administration focus on his campaign prom-
Lawmakers, officials looking to abolish the Independent Party
BY ALYSE PFEIL Staff writer
Afraid of locking people out of the voting process when Louisiana’s new closed primary elections begin next spring, lawmakers and state officials are reworking how voters register for a political party including abolishing the Independent Party altogether
For years, some Louisianans who don’t identify as Republican or Democrat signed up to vote as “Independent,” in some cases thinking they were registering unaffiliated with a party But in fact, they were registering as members of the Independent Party of Louisiana That didn’t matter much previously, because Louisiana has had open primary elections where anybody can vote for any candidate. But the state’s recent switch to closed primaries for several major races means that voters registered as “Independent” will be locked out of some votes
So, a proposal making its way through the Louisiana Legislature would eliminate the Independent Party and move those voters to unaffiliated “no party” registrations instead.
There are 149,464 voters registered as members of the Independent Party, according to Louisiana Secretary of State’s Office data. Under the new rules established for closed party primary races last year, voters registered as Republicans must vote in the Republican Party primary and voters registered as Democrats must vote in the Democratic Party primary
Unaffiliated voters who check the box to register as “no party” can choose to vote in either the Democratic or Republican closed primary
But voters registered as members of the Green, Independent or
ise to carry out mass deportations, focusing on those with violent criminal convictions While the administration is working to make good on its promise, there have been instances of the government expanding its net to ensnare any immigrant in the country without permanent citizenship.
“There’s a lot of concern about what could happen,” he said.
“People have been scrambling to find the resources that they need to make sure that they’re doing whatever they can to make sure that nothing really bad happens.”
The “call-in letters” ask folks to appear at a U.S. Immigration and
That expansion has members of Acadiana’s Laotian community on edge, said Phanat Xanamane, whose parents are refugees from the southeast Asian country of Laos.
Customs Enforcement sub-office in Lafayette at a specific time and date, with most asking them to check in the Monday after Easter
Most of the letters appear to have been sent to people with previous criminal records who have completed their probation and parole, and otherwise have been “living normal good lives, going to work and taking care of their families,” Xanamane said.
The reason cited for the appointment is often vague, just citing “interview” and directing the recipi-
ent to ask for a deportation officer
The request can be for a number of reasons including updating paperwork or because changes are being made to a person’s current release status, according to Nolo, an organization dedicated to providing free and accurate legal explanations. Noncitizens can be asked to check in regularly with ICE, regardless of their legal status
The concern now is that a person
LEFT: Traditional finger dancing is performed in the parade. The annual Lao New Year 2025 is celebrated this weekend at the Lao community of Lanexang Village in Broussard.
ABOVE: A Thak Baht ceremony is held at the Lao Temple of Wat Thammarattanaram.
LEFT: Nang Sang Khan, or the Queen’s Parade, rolls through the village.
Campaign focuses on red lights
BY JA’KORI MADISON Staff writer
The Lafayette Police Department’s red light campaign, which focused on lowering the number of crashes at intersections and red lights, has officially ended Hoping to lower the number of accidents at intersections, main-
ly red lights, the Police Department increased enforcement in high violation areas for 30 days, from March 11 to April 11.
The LSU Center for Analytics and Research in Transportation Safety reported that 636 crashes in Lafayette Parish from January to March were at intersections. LPD officers issued a total of 407 citations during the campaign. During week one 106 violations were distributed; week two: 80; week three: 79; week
four: 45; and week five: 97 violations were distributed.
The locations patrolled included Johnston Street, Ambassador Caffery Parkway, Kaliste Saloom and East Pinhook roads. They also increased enforcement at West Pinhook Road, Surrey Street, Cameron Street, University Avenue, Evangeline Thruway, Willow Street and Louisiana Avenue.
Officers’ experiences over the years informed which intersections would be monitored, ac-
cording to Ashley Wood, LPD corporal officer “There is no way to know for sure if it made a difference in less violations, but the main goal was to create awareness in the community,” Wood said. LPD said its traffic unit will continue to monitor red lights for violations periodically but they will also target other areas of the city
Email Ja’kori Madison at jakori. madison@theadvocate.com.
Backstreet Cultural Museum honors traditions
BY DOUG MacCASH Staff writer
The Backstreet Cultural Museum, atrove of Mardi Gras Indian suits, Baby Doll costumes and second-line paraphernalia, is expanding. Saturday was the grand openingofthe museum’s new second-floorgallery, with reduced admission, entertainment and refreshments. For aquarter of acentury,the museum has been a Treme neighborhood landmark.Itwas establishedin 1999 by the late Sylvester Francis, who recognized theneed forapermanent exhibitofthe colorfulcostuming seen in neighborhood street parades— a keystone of Black Crescent City culture. Firsthousedinaformer funeral home on Henriette Delille Street, the two-room museum was more than a showplace; it was agathering spot for Black Indian maskers (another term for Mardi Gras Indians), the NorthsideSkull andBones gang and other groups. Un-
der Francis’ guidance, the Backstreet Cultural Museumdidn’tjust exhibit parade culture, it was part of parade culture. When Francis died in 2020, hisdaughter,Dominique Dilling-Francis,took the reigns, steering her father’screation through troubled times. After limping through theCOVID-19 erawith limited hours Hurricane Ida caused trees to crash ontothe roof of the museum, allowing rainwaterand mold to threaten the fragile collection. With the help of volunteers, Dilling-Francis rescued the precious collection,but the museum needed anew home. In July 2022, the museum reopened in aformer corner bar on St. Philip Street,where it remainstoday.Inthe years since, ithas grown from one room to three, and now four On Friday,Dilling-Francis wasbusy putting thefinishingtouches on thenew exhibition in the building’s upstairs loft that, until recently,was astorage area. Some of the costumes and clothing indicatethe new curatorial directions that the museum has recently taken under Dilling-Francis’ leadership. New Orleans rapperMia
X’sgold-trimmed, camouflaged jumpsuit is an example of the influenceof bouncemusic in New Orleans’ street celebrations. Celebritystylist Allen “Tater” Pazon’s incredible angel gown— madefrom
woven hair extensions— indicates the importance of thefashionarts in contemporary New Orleans culture.And amarvelous denim jacket and pants printed with aMardi Gras Indian motif —manufac-
turedbyLeviStrauss and Co. —illustrates national interest in local New Orleans customs.
The museum must, of course, continue to honor the age-old traditions, Dilling-Francis said. Butit
must also reflectcontemporary trends. In order for the Backstreet Cultural Museum to survive in the future, she said, “Weneed to add more layers of the culture, to keep up withnew ideas.”
BY MISSY WILKINSON Staff writer
The Louisiana Department of Health on Saturday reported the state’sfirst confirmed case of measles this year in the greater NewOrleans area. Once nearly eradicated and preventable by vaccines, the highlycontagious virus has raised public health alarms as anationwide outbreak reached 800 cases as of Friday
The New Orleans case is in an unvaccinated adult from Region 1, which in-
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Libertarian parties cannot vote for candidates running in April’sclosed party primary races.
Those include contests for one U.S. Senate seat, all six Louisiana seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, two state Supreme Court seats and two spots on the Public Service Commission Independent Party of Louisiana Executive Director William Bryan endorsed the dissolution of his party,calling it an “act of fairness.”
“We’re in support of this billsothat these voters are eligible to vote,” he told a panel of House lawmakers this week.
House Bill 420, sponsored by Rep.Beth Billings, RDestrehan, would bar apolitical party in Louisiana from calling itself “Independent Party” or “Independent,”a
Continued from page1B
reporting to an ICE check-in will be arrested and transferred to adetention center Xanamane said. If someone is detained,“a family gets torn apart” and it impacts Acadiana’sLaotian community,Xanamane said.
Fleeing civil war in the small Southeast Asian country of Laos, more than 192,000 refugees immigrated to the U.S. in the 1970s and 1980s, with asmall population settling in the Acadiana region.
“It’s ahardworking, tightknit, law-abiding group of people whocamehereto build abetter life for themselves,” Xanamane said.
“Louisiana families are going to be in harm’sway with theseirresponsible policies and the irresponsible ways (the Trump) administration
cludes Orleans,Jefferson and St. Bernard Parish. The LouisianaDepartment of Health said the patient, who is in isolation and has been treated at ahospital,likely contracted measles through international travel. Last year,Louisiana saw three measles cases, the Health Department said, all in the greater New Orleansarea and all travel-associated. The department’sOffice of Public Health is working to identifyand notifythose whohavecomeintocontact with theinfected individual. New Orleans’ Health De-
prohibition that was in place before 2014.Votersbeing switched from Independent to “no party” registrations would be notified by the SecretaryofState’sOffice of the changeinstatus.
The bill would alsocreate aformal mechanism fora recognized political partyto voluntarily dissolve Bryan said manyvoters registered as Independent beforethe closed partyprimary system became law, “and it’sthrough no fault of their own that they won’tbe able to vote in this upcoming election.”
“Rather than 150,000 Louisianiansnot being able to vote, Ithink it’sonly fair that we just go ahead andsupport this bill,” he said. “The best we can do is try to limit thedamage to …the people who are going tohavetheir right to vote restricted.”
Louisiana Secretary of State Nancy Landry this week told lawmakersthat many voterswho registered
is executing thesepolicies
“Weneed to raise some sense of concern andalarm that we won’tlet our families get torn apart.”
It’snot an unfounded fear While ICE does not publish data on how many people it arrested atcheck-ins,usingdata from theTrump administration’sfirst month in office, TheGuardian estimated that about 1,400 of the nearly16,500 arrestsinthat time mayhave occurred during orimmediately after people checked in with the agency
“Essentially,these people are low-hangingfruit for ICE,” Laura Urias, aprogramdirector and attorney at thelegal nonprofit ImmDef, told The Guardian. “It’sjust very easy to arrest them.”
Mostimmigration advocacy groupsrecommend thatanyone who receivesa call-in letter seek legaladvice from an immigration attorney
partmentcould not immediately be reached for comment. Of the800 cases nationally so far this year,there have been 10 clusters —defined as threeormore related cases —according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Measles cases have been reported in Alaska,Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Kentucky,Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont and Washington. Texasisdriving thehigh
as Independent “do not realizethattheyare members of aparty,” and the previous prohibition on thepolitical partyname“Independent Party” was in place “because of theconfusionthat it caused for voters.”
“Withthe closed partyprimaries starting next year, we’re concerned aboutthose voters being confused,”she said. “This bill would dissolvethe IndependentParty, prohibit future parties to be namedIndependent Party because of thatconfusion, and move all of the Independent Party’scurrent members into‘no party,’which is an unaffiliated status which will allowthemtovote in theclosed party primaries in 2026.”
ElectionsinLouisiana
Louisiana has roughly 2.9 millionregistered voters. Of those,roughly 657,000 are unaffiliatedvotersregistered as “no party.” About 15,000 are registered as
Though immigration advocates have decried the Trump administration’s sweeping effortstoincrease mass deportations, aFox News poll shows two-thirds of thoseasked favorthat decision and 58% of those asked favorallowing illegal immigrants with jobstostay in the country and apply for legal status.
Email Ashley Whiteat ashley.white@theadvocate. com.
FRIDAY,APRIL 18, 2025
PICK 3: 6-9-2
PICK 4: 3-5-3-2
PICK 5: 6-8-8-4-0
MEGA
numbers, with an outbreak centered in the western part of the statethat started nearly three months ago and was up to 597 cases as of Friday.Two unvaccinated elementary school-aged children died from measlesrelated illnesses near the epicenter in Texas, andan adult in New Mexicowho was not vaccinated died of a measles-related illness.
The Health Department said the best waytoavoid measles is to getthe measles, mumps andrubella (MMR) vaccine.
The state’s legislative
members of the Libertarian Party and 2,800 are registered with the Green Party There are roughly 1.05 millionregistered Republicans and1.1 million registeredDemocrats.
Last year,lawmakers passedtwo laws setting up anew system for primary electionsfor aselect number of offices: U.S. House andSenate, stateSupreme Court, Louisiana Public Service Commission and BoardofElementaryand Secondary Education.
Under the new rules,only the Republican and Democratic parties can holdprimary elections for these races.
That’sbecause,justfor the purposes of closed party primary races, only political parties that have
leadersissuedstatements Saturdaysaying theyare monitoring the situation and urged concerned residents to consult their physicians.
“AsLouisiana learns of its first reported case of themeasles, thelegislature will continue to monitor the situation and support our experts at the Department of Health.” Senate President CameronHenry said,“Anyoneinthe New Orleansregion whoisconcerned about potential exposure should contact their primary physician forguidance.”
“Afterspeaking with the
received at least5%of the vote in an election for statewide office or in the last presidential election canholdclosedprimary elections in Louisiana.
Candidates who want to run in these races not as a Republican or aDemocrat can only runinthe fall general election. And, in order to qualify for the election, these candidates can only do so by collecting therequired number of voter signatures through thenominating petition process.
For example, congressional candidates mustcollect 5,000 signatures and state SupremeCourt candidates must collect 1,000 signatures.
For the vast majority of races, candidates have thechoice to qualifyvia the signature-gathering
Louisiana Department of Health about the first reportedcaseofthe measles, Ihave been reassured that preparations had been taken aheadofthe outbreakin Texasand that ourDepartment of Health partners wereready forthis possibility,”Speaker of theHouse Phillip DeVillier said. “Familieswho have questionsor might have aloved one experiencing symptoms can reach out to their local doctor foradvice and additional information.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
process or by paying afee and submitting straightforward paperwork to election officials The new closed party primary limits are asignificant change from Louisiana’sopen primarysystem —oftenreferred to as a jungle primary—inwhich nearly anyone affiliated with any party can runina primaryrace. This year’s HouseBill 420 would also raise thebar to become an officially recognized political partyin Louisiana. Thefee would increase from$1,000 to $5,000 and at least5,000 voterswould need to register as amember of theparty,upfrom 1,000 voters.
Email Alyse Pfeil at alyse pfeil@theadvocate.com.
FARMING TooManyChiefs, LLCseek afarm‐worker forworkinJefferson Parish,LA. Jobdutiesinclude:Duringpeakfarm‐ingmonths, assist in crawfishingfarm duties,including manually cut‐ting/preparing crawfish bait,baitand checktraps;assisting in making and repair crawfish trapsasneeded;plant‐ingand harvesting of rice;general farm laborincluding,farmmaintenance manual shovel work,hoeingofweeds Assistinginwater maintenance; as‐sistinginpreparing farm forupcoming peak crawfish season,including assist‐inginorganizationofcrawfish traps/equipment, assistinginrepairing crawfish trapsasneeded,assisting in placing/settingcrawfishtraps in fields forcrawfishseason; generalupkeep andpreparation of farm,fields, levees andshopincluding assistinginclean‐ing/placing/setting/maintainingfarm equipmentand crawfish boatsfor up‐coming season;and generalfarmsani‐tation duties.Assisting in thecutting andharvestingofhay,asneeded.40 hoursper week.Noeducation require‐ment.Notrainingfor thejob opportu‐nity required.Six (6)monthsexperi‐ence in similarfarming occupation re‐quired.Local travel betweenworksites in JeffersonParish, LA required.To applyfor position,contact employer at (337)207-4196orbyapplyinginperson at 5031 SouthCutting Avenue,Jennings LA 70546. Rate of pay: $38,002.00/year. ENGINEERING Identity andAccessManagement
Kates, James Marcus
Obituaries Mississippi oneyear and graduated from Louisiana State University in 1951 with abachelor's degreein Petroleum Engineering and Geology. Hemarried Norma Faye Smith in August 1949
James Marcus Kates died on Thursday, April10, 2025, in Lafayette, La. He was 99 years old. He is survived by three sons: Curtis R. Kates and wife,Laura Perry Kates,of Houston TX; Paul G. Kates and wife, Cindy Osborne Kates, of Hockley, TX; and David J. Kates and wife, Kelly Williston Kates, of Littleton, CO, as well as nine grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Norma Smith Kates; his parents Alice Barnes and Claude Robert Kates and his brother Robert A. Kates and his wife, Katie.
James was born Sept. 6, 1925, in Wichita Falls, TX. He joined the Army Air Corps after graduating from Bentonia (MS) High School in 1943. He was training to fly B-25s when World War II ended in 1945
James attended Holmes Junior College in
After graduatingfrom LSU, Jamesbegan his distinguishedcareer as a petroleum engineer with United Gas Corporation, which was acquired by Pennzoilin1966.Heand Norma livedinmanytowns in Texas and Louisiana before settling in Lafayette in 1971.James retiredfrom Pennzoilin1987 as Offshore District Manager of the Lafayette District.
Alifelong hunter,James enjoyed many memorable huntingtrips, especially those with his sons, even huntingthe "porch blind" at Pecan Springs (TX) RanchinDecember2023 at the ageof98. He was also an excellent golfer, playing regularly at Oakbourne Country Club in Lafayette.
James was aman of strong faith and lived by the precepts of his Lord and Savior JesusChrist. He was aSundaySchool teacher and aDeaconat his home church, First BaptistChurchof Lafayette, La. Hisintegrity, steadfastness and faithfulness to his wife, his family and his friends werethe hallmarksofhis life Afamilygraveside service willbeatOlive Branch CemeteryinBrightstar,AR. Thefamilyappreciates the help and lovingcareofMs.
ElizabethRiddle Guest registry is available at www.hannerfunera lservice.com.
AMass of Christian Burial will be held at 2:00 PM on Wednesday,April 23, 2025 in St.Pius X CatholicChurch for Bonnie TheresaLandry Mashburn, 80, who passedaway peacefully surrounded by her family on April 13, 2025.
Fr. JamesBrady JCL, PastorofSt. Pius X Catholic Church, will be Celebrant of theMass and will conduct thefuneral services.Lectorswillbe Julie Andrus Underwood and MichelleMashburn Arabie.Gift-bearerswillbe her grandchildren, Katelyn G. Perry, Drake C. Vincent and Malorie J. Vincent
Mrs. Bonnie, aresident of Broussard,was the daughter of the late Lloyd AndrewLandry and the former Elise Catherine Rentrop
She is survivedbyher daughter, KimM.(Buster) Graham; grandchildren, KatelynG.(Jake) Perry, DrakeC.(Julia) Vincent, and Malorie J. Vincent; great-grandchildren, AudreyRose Perryand Elijah JosephPerry; siblings, Brent J.(Cathy) Landry, Craig J. Landry, and Patricia L. Foreman; "bonus-d aughter-s hecouldn't-get-rid-of", Julie Andrus Underwood; and godchildren, Claire T. Landry and BradleyA Freer.
She wasprecededin death by her belovedhusband of 55 years, Benny Don Mashburn; daughter, Katherine J. Mashburn; parents, Lloyd and Elise Landry; and siblings, Rodney J. Landry and Helen L. Aucoin.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Delhomme Funeral Home -Bertrand on Tuesday, April 22, 2025 from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM.A Rosarywillbeprayed at 7:00 PM on Tuesday evening in thefuneral home witheulogiesimmediatelyfollowing the Rosary. Visiting hours will continue Wednesday, April 23, 2025 from 10:00 AM until1:20 PM
Pallbearers willbe Drake Vincent,Brent Landry, CraigLandry, Doug Beynon, Marshall Landry and Nicholas Landry.
The familywould like to thank Dr.Wayne Cestia, Dr John Chapman,and Dr Stephen Kantrow, as well as hercare-givers,Carol Gallien, Monika Gallien, andRaquita Sam, for their compassionatecare.
Thefamilyrequestsany charitabledonationsand memoriam giving be made to: [Team Gleason ALS Foundation]https://teamgl eason.app.neoncrm.com/f orms/donate PO BOX 24493 NewOrleans,LA70184
Personal condolences may be sent to thefamily of BonnieL.Mashburn at: www.delhommefuneralho me.com
BonnieL.Mashburn and herfamilywerecared for andentrusted final arrangements to Delhomme Funeral Home, 1011
Editor’snote:This editorial, in modified form, has marked previous Easter holidays in this newspaper
The Easter story,the victorious ending of a tale of brutal crucifixion,suggests thatthere’s a powerful answer to the pain and evil that have touched the worldthroughouthuman history That’swhy the Easternarrative can resonate not only with Christians but in secular society,too. Any story of hope is needed now more than ever, as recent headlines have reminded us.
On this weekend’sEaster,asonothers, there’s trouble afoot on our anguished planet. The stories of terrorism and war abroad and violence close to home continue to dominatethe headlines. And the newspapers oftoday wouldhave been familiar to our grandparentsand greatgrandparents, as there is once again large-scale warfare in Europe, strifeinthe MiddleEastand unrest in our hemisphere.
We hope for victory for theUkrainian people, peace in Gaza and an end to chaos around the globe, but we know that those ravaged populations will be in need of resurrection,today’s theme, for many years to come.
All this is pretty grim stuff.
Illness and death are ever-presentparts of the human condition, as the Easter story reminds us.
Yetour capacity to be shocked andhorrified by accounts of death and violence in our communities and around the worldis, perhaps, one of the more affirming things aboutthe human spirit. We believe that cruelty is an aberration —that we’re made for something better than bringing darkness to someone else. That brighter spirit has been reflected in neighbors helping neighbors, even under the most difficult conditions.
Easter is the holiest day in the Christian calendar,and this Sunday,believers are gathering at their houses of worship to pray and reflect on the miracle of life renewed, when allwas thought to be lost.
In whatever form, Easter speakstoour basic faiththat love will ultimately transcend hate, that good will triumph over evil, that our better angels will prevail, that miracles arepossible.
In the classic children’sstory “Charlotte’s Webb,” author E.B. White suggested thatbelief in miracles is perhaps not so strangeathing when we consider the presence of the everyday miracleswetake for granted.White waswriting particularly about the life of abarnyard, where the wonders of pigs andducks and spiders were spectacles so grand —but so routine —thatfew visitors thought of them as special.
Spring is like that, too, of course. After the frost and cold of winter,the greening trees and emerging blossoms are an extraordinary thing, but they’re avictoryweusually overlook.
Easter is aday to hold such gifts close to heart, to believe once again in renewal —ofthe world and in ourselves.
Aletter in Thursday’s paper incorrectly said that Kilmar Abrego Garcia is an American citizen. He has legal protected status butisnot acitizen. We regret the error
PopeFrancis making snow angels. That image adorned thecover of an issue of The New Yorker in December 2013. Ihave acoffee mug Ipicked up in Rome early on in his pontificate depicting him as asuperhero, cape and all —you could trip over similar souvenirs in the Eternal City during his first years as pope. However you look at it, Pope Francis has gotten people’sattention Church leadership isn’tabout one side winning over another,but authentically trying to figure out what God’s will is as it relates to thetradition of theChurch and through discernment of God’sactual guidance in real time. There have been times when I’ve wondered if Francis trusts theHoly Spirit to workout themess more than mostofusdo. Evil tries to disguise itself in subtle ways. But transparency in all things natural and supernatural can tear off the masks evil wears to disguise itself and removeobstacles to living in the truth.
Francis has now entered the autumn of his days. He makes the rare appearance at the Vatican, praying withanelderly nun on pilgrimage or blessing ababy to thejubilant surprise of his parentsashewas wheeled into St.Peter’sSquare in “civvies,” as lay attire would be referred to if hewere any other priest. Francis was dressed forconvalescence —areminder that he is following thelead of his predecessor John Paul II in showing dignity in suffering. There’sa mercy andgrace that radiates from aperson whosuffers well, under thehumane care of doctors who act as stewards of lifewhile it is still withus. It does underscore one of the most underappreciated aspects of Francis —his commitment to the sanctityofall human life, especially in its most vulnerable forms. He’sinone such form/stage now Interpretations of Francis and his legacy remain diverse. My own National Review had him on the cover
holding an upside-downtextbook. He’s been dubbed “The Great Reformer,” but there are scandal watchers —and victims—who would argue he hasn’t lived up to the name. In truth, his legacy has not been solidified and is astory that is still being written. Afamous secular sociologist once said to me that Pope Francis looks like he really believes what Jesus said quite clearly —inthe Sermon on the Mount. The media has captured that aspect of him,holding babies and embracing the disabled and the homeless, seeing in everyone the wonder of God’s creation and the miracle that is their individual selves. That samesociologist said if morepeople lived like Jesus did —and commanded —wewouldn’t have someofthe problemsthat plague us. So, actually care forthe orphan, along with the widow and sick. If we do such things, we will be superheroes ourselves.
Email Kathryn Jean Lopez at klopez@ nationalreview.com. LETTERSTOTHE
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Better buy your “Forever” stamps now,because theU.S. Postal Service (USPS)has announced another price increase. On July 13, the cost of afirstclass stamp is scheduled to rise from 73 cents to 78 cents. The plan is to raise prices four more times by 2027. Meanwhile, it appears for many people that service is declining. As akid Icouldn’twait for the“mailman”toarrive, always at the same time and thesame person each day.At Christmas, there were deliveries in the morning and afternoon. For awhile Icollected stamps, especially those from overseas. Beforethe internet,mail was how people kept in touch. In 1985, the price of afirst-class stampwas 22 cents. My grandparentssent “penny postcards.” Domestic post cards will now cost 62 cents, more if you mail them to another country
Irecently sent abook from one major East Coast city to another.It was by media mail, the cheapest rate. Normally it takes four to five days to arrive. This time it took 11 days. The postal service webpage said the book sat in theoriginating post office for aweek before moving. My local post office is usually understaffed, even when there are long lines. Those whoapply for passportstake up large amounts of time and keep the rest of us waiting to mail asingle item Amajor contributor to the rising prices of stampsisthe postal service’sobligation to its retirees. As Axios reports: “The (USPS) faces substantial pension obligations, with unfunded liabilities totaling $409 billion against just $290 billion in assets. This is largely due to asystem where USPS is responsible for its own retirement funding, unlike other federal agencies which receive annual appropriations.
The USPS is required to pre-fund retiree health benefits, and this mandate, along with other factors, contributes to the significant unfunded liabilities.” As prices go up, usage declines. It’s similar to states run by Democrats. As they raise taxes, morepeople leave. Even moreleave after taxes are raised again to makeupfor lost revenue. Bills can now be paid through online banks. Free digital holiday cards can be emailed.
President Donald Trumphas proposed shutting downthe postal service and rolling it into the Department of Commerce. Since 1792, the post office has had exclusive rights to deliver letters. Lifting that restriction would open things up to competition and presumably lower prices. What we have now is too expensive and inefficient. It’s timetostampitout.
Email Cal Thomas at tcaeditors@ tribpub.com
For an upcoming feature,weasked youtoconsider matters of religious faith. We want to know: Howimportant is your faithtoyour daily life, and what role, if any, should it playinpublic life? Send responses to letters@theadvocate.com.Wewill publish aselection of the best responsesina future edition.
It’sbad enough that Gov.Jeff Landry is hindering some fairminded bills to rein in lawsuit abuse and, collaterally,helpbring down insurance rates. What’sworse is his full-court press to hinderthe insurance free market altogether For chimeric short-term advantages, the long-term result likely would be far worse, meaning higherprices and less choice for Louisiana insurance consumers
Landry is pushing aconcentration of powerthat is counterproductive for the economy and unwise for the political system, along with offering atempting opportunity for corruption. Namely Landry seeks to givethe insurance commissioner unilateral authorityto“set” insurance rates, as if asingle official is wiser than the laws of supply and demand.
On the broader lawsuitabuse front, often known as tort reform, Landry’sclose ties to plaintiffs’ lawyers surely play arolein him opposing good billspushed by Insurance Commissioner TimTemple. While Landry claims to be for a“balanced approach” between insurance companies and plaintiffs, he vetoed akey tort reform bill last year and is reported, behind the scenes, to oppose two entirely sensible reform billsthis year.
One would change Louisiana’s
unusualsystem (copied by only 11 other states) that allows aplaintiff to recover at least some damages even if he is up to 99% at fault for an accident.The billLandryopposeswould insist that only those less than 50% at fault for an accident could collectdamage awards From apurely logical standpoint, howdoesLandry’sstance, and Louisiana’s current law, make any sense? Why shouldthe culprit in an accident be the beneficiary in court?
The second wisebill that Landry nonetheless is reported to oppose would cap awardsfor “pain and suffering” ata still-generous $5 million. Awards forpain and suf-
fering, remember,come on top of payments for actual damages and losses. Louisiana is rare among statesright now in having no painand-suffering cap; even plaintifffriendly Mississippi caps pain and suffering at $1 million. Landry’s position isn’tbalanced: It’sa sopto triallawyers.
With thatbackdrop, Landryappears to have an unreasonable animus againstinsurance companies. His support for theinsurance ratesetting bill, with an amendment personally drafted by thegovernor,seems like moreofthe same but by different means As originally drafted by Rep. Robby Carter,D-Amite, House
Bill 576 already wasdicey from a free-market perspective. Its main thrust was to allow the insurance commissioner,onhis own, to reject insurance rate increases even in acompetitive market. Even that wasn’tgood enough for the governor,though. He said at an April 16 House Insurance Committee meeting that he personally stayed up late the night before to amend the bill significantly As drafted, the bill essentially requiredthe commissioner to assess the data behind the rate request and to refrain from rejecting the request “if the rate is actuarially justified.” In short, in giving the commissioner so much added power,itatleast directed him to use data to justify arate disapproval.
The governor’slanguage deletes all references to actuarial soundness.
Moreover,itgives the commissionerpower notjust to reject rate requests, but actually to “specify interim rates.” Rather than being amereregulator,the commissionerwould become nearly a commissar,all-powerful within his realm —with the authority to make insurance companies kiss his ring for an arbitrary,rather thandata-driven, grant of rates adequatetostay in business. Temple himself is against the bill, seeing it as adeterrent to real marketcompetition and as an unchecked authority that future commissioners might abuse.
The governor’sradical amendment was too muchfor Daniel Erspamer,president of the conservative Pelican Institute think tank. Already scheduled to testify to the committee, Erspamer had submitted a“white card” indicating mixedfeelings about, but not opposition to, the bill. After seeing Landry’samendment, Erspamer changed it to a“red card” of opposition, expressing not only concerns about “more government overreach creating more barriers to opportunity and the free enterprise system” but also about “empowering one individual with undue power.”
For Landry,power,not conservative principle, is the key.Before the committee, he said not once but twice that he wasflabbergasted by Temple’s opposition because “I’ve never seen apolitician not want more power.”
In this case, Landry is setting Temple up as the fall guy,asthe governor told radio host Moon Griffonthat “if the rates don’tgo down, that’son[Temple].”
Thus, giving Temple the power also would meangiving Temple the blame, even as trial lawyers who are big donors to Landry keep taking him to their hunting camps. And all while Louisiana’s“tort hell” keeps insurance rates high but keeps the plaintiffs’ bar in high cotton.
Quin Hillyer canbereached at quin.hillyer@theadvocate.com.
There are all kinds of ways to measure the vast changes in the Department of Justice since Donald Trump returned to the White House, two former New Orleansbased U.S. Attorneys said last week. One is to consider how the administration has quashed the agency’straditional independence from political forces. Forthe first time since the Watergate era, the White House is directly calling the shots, Kenneth Politeand Harry Rosenberg said at aforum sponsored by Loyola’sInstitute of Politics (where Iserve on the board). That extends to monitoring and firing individual prosecutors, denying promotions to those who don’tendorse Trump’slie that the 2020 election was stolen and investigating the president’sperceived enemies Another is to look at who’saround. Polite, who has served in several senior DOJ roles and was U.S. Attorney for Louisiana’sEastern District underBarack Obama, described an eerie ghost townin the department’sheadquarters, with entire divisions —civil rights, environmental enforcement, tax enforcement, public integrity —all gutted.
AndRosenberg, who was U.S. Attorney in theEastern District under President George H.W.Bush, noted achange he saw while handling an environmental case in court recently.There were eight inmates awaiting their hearings, he said, and seven of them were immigration cases.
lent drug-related crime and environmental crimes.
“I think that was atelltale sign that that is —without adoubt here, in Texasand elsewhere —isgoing to be ahuge prioritywithin every office,” Rosenberg said.
There’smuch, much moretosay about the extent to which Trumpis weaponizing the Justice Department,and both attorneys spoke bluntly of the damage to effective law enforcement and thevery notion of the rule of law —all of which is being widely covered nationally
But Rosenberg’scourtroom observation pointstoapart of this sprawling story that deserves more focus: Howchanges to the DOJ’s priorities are filtering down to the state and local levels.
That matters all over thecountry,but it really matters in Louisiana.
Polite noted that the office bothmen ran “punches above itsweight” in investigating and prosecutingpublic corruption, vio-
Allofthosefunctions arenow diminished, thelawyers explained, as the departmentshiftsresources to immigration, an area that’sbeen so minor afocusthat those cases —usually over illegalreentry —typically fell to entry-level attorneys. Rosenbergjoked that immigrationduty was one step above the “duck docket,” or prosecutions for hunting on baited fields.
Polite said he hopes theoffice may still be able tosqueeze someresources to handle homegrown gang cases from budget lines meanttocrack down on transnational drug cartels. Local U.S.Attorneys remain free to prosecutepublic corruption cases, he said, but theshift and the loss of brainpower in Washington matter
“When you talk about having the expertise and the resources tomakethose investigations hit home in termsofactual convictions, the public integrity section was home for much of that work across this country.Itnolonger exists,” he said. In general, Polite said, “the priorities that this administration has announced don’t necessarily dovetail withthe priorities that U.S. Attorneys …really need from alocal standpoint.Weneed prosecutors whoare
investigating fraud. We need prosecutors whoare investigating public corruption. We need prosecutors whoare investigating environmental crime. What will this mean …interms of affecting the quality of life forfolks here?” Excellent question. Imagine if federal authorities had not been able to investigate and ultimately convict public officials who’d used their offices to enrich themselves over the years —Ray Nagin, Edwin Edwards and manyother names come to mind —orcrack downonfraudsters and polluters, or help perennially strapped local police and prosecutors piece together complex racketeering cases against violent gangs like the one led by Telly Hankton?
Actually,wemay not need to imagine for long. The new reality Polite and Rosenberg described sounds like open season forall sorts of bad actors to do their worst without having to worry much about how federal authorities might respond. Feel safer and better protected yet? I don’t.
Email StephanieGrace at sgrace@ theadvocate.com.
Howard University in Washington, D.C., became the first historically Black college or university (HBCU) to reach R1 research status in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education this year Eight Hispanicserving institutions (HSIs) were also upgraded to this same R1 status. Howard alumni, faculty and students have called the school they love “The Mecca” for many years. Now they have another reasontosupport that claim. Howard is one of only 187 higher education institutions withthat status. There are more than 5,800 Title IV postsecondary institutions, including more than 2,600 four-year schools. In Louisiana, thereare three R1designated universities: Louisiana State University,Tulane University and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Southern University,aResearch 2school, wants to join the ranks. North Carolina A&T State University is actively pursuing movingfrom aResearch 2des-
ignation to R1, narrowly missing thecut this yearbynot graduating three doctoral students. Xavier University of Louisiana is the only Louisiana HBCUwith the new RCU designation in Carnegie’snew Research Colleges and Universities category It recognizes colleges and universities that haven’tbeen recognized fortheirresearch activity including, like Xavier,those that offer noorfew doctoral degrees Xavier has an education doctorate program.That designation givesinstitutionsthat do alot of research and that make alot of investment infaculty,students and staff research away to be recognized. In addition to Xavier, there are 215 institutions that spent more than $2.5 million on research each year to earn that designation. By comparison,Southern is identified by Carnegie as a“high research” university,hence the reclassified R2 designation, astep aboveXavier and astep below Howard
TheR1designationearned by Howard andothers requires a minimumof$50 million in total research spending andatleast 70 research doctorates each year
That’sa big reach for HBCU institutions doing research and wanting to do morewhile balancing faculty teaching four,five and sometimes moreclasses with little time for research.
Mushtaq Gunja, theexecutive director of the Carnegie Classification systemsand senior vice president at the American Council on Education, told me that Howard is asuccess story worth noting. Though Carnegie designationsare desiredand helpful, he said theR1, R2 and RCU rankings aren’tfor every school.
HBCUs like Dillard University and Southern University at New Orleansare smaller institutions with enough ongoing academic and financial balancing that it limits research investment. Research is not their lane.
Larger institutions such as Southern UniversityinBaton Rouge can more easily aim higher when it comes to research.
AR1designation is possible, and something they have established as agoal.
“Having moreHBCUsattainR1 status could have transformative impacts in theBlack community and society overall by having betteraccessand opportunities to
expand knowledge and representationinresearch fields,” Dr.Luria Young, Southern’svice chancellor of academic affairs, said in astatement. Among other things, she said R1 status could lead to more expertresearch scholars, more high-performing students and opportunities to drive innovation and impact public policy with data.
With RCU status, Xavier would morelikely consider R2 before reaching even higher.R2designations require research spending of at least $5 million and producing at least 20 research doctorates each year.Southern is in elite company as one of only 139 institutionswith that status.
Xavier is an HBCU jewel with significant research. They’re happy to havethe RCU designation,one of only 216 institutions to earn that status.
Though Xavier isn’tpursuing R1 status, they’ll be considering R2 status, according to Dr Marguerite Giguette, Xavier’s provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. They’re celebrating the new status and will talk about R2.
“Weare thrilled,” Giguette told me Thursday.“Our faculty is very excited aboutit.” She cred-
ited ahard-working faculty committed to writing and submitting grant proposals that bear fruit. They’re still celebrating.
“I think that’sanincredible achievement for(Howard) and a statement about what HBCUsare capable of doing,” she said.
The provost said she looks forwardtofaculty conversations about what it would take to aim higher.Probably new doctoral programs. Probably greater faculty and student investment. She knowsthat LSU and Tulane benefit as the top two institutions receiving federal research funds. Xavier is third. Iknow what that means.
As President Donald Trump cuts federal research funding at universities across the nation, all colleges and universities with federal funding are at risk for losing an important part of what makes these educational institutions morethan degree farms. HBCUsdon’tget enough federal research money.Let’shold our breath that Howard can maintain its status, and that Southern and Xavier can moveup.
Email Will Sutton at wsutton@ theadvocate.com.
Many Americansare fortunate to have dental coverage fortheir entire workinglife, through employer-providedbenefits. When those benefits end with retirement, paying dental bills out-of-pocketcan come as a shock,leadingpeople to putoff or even go without care. Simply put —without dental insurance,there may be an important gap in your healthcarecoverage.
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Ask about the Premier Plan –our most
BY MATTHEW PARAS Staff writer
The New Orleans Saints are in abindwith Derek Carr
If the quarterback truly can’tplaynext season because of his shoulder injury,did the Saints know about the ailment when they chose to restructurehis contract? And if they didn’t, would that have affectedtheir decision?
Those are among the manyquestions still unanswered as the Saints’ dramawith Carr continues to unfold.
Where do the two sides gofrom here?
Fromacap perspective, as longasCarris on the roster,nothing will change. Butifthe Saints want to move on —whether through trade or cutting him —there are salary-cap ramifications to each move. To break them down, the Times-Picayunetalked with NFL agent and salary-cap expertJ.I.Halsell about what’spossiblynext for the two sides. When canSaintsmoveon?
The most likely scenario is in 2026. Because Carr’scontract is alreadyguaranteed for this year —his restructure did not changethe fact thathe’sset to make $40 million in 2025, even though it loweredhis cap figure to $20.4 million —the Saints would incur hefty charges if they wanted tomove on before next season.
ä See SAINTS, page 3C
STAFF ILLUSTRATION By TANyA RAMIREZ
Analysis givesview into whether Saints are good at selecting players
ä 2025 NFL Draft Round 1 7P.M.THURSDAy NFL NETWORK, ESPN
The 2025 NFL Draft is days away,soit’sa good time to ask the question: Arethe New OrleansSaints any good at this thing?
Jeff Duncan
The Saints’ draft acumen —oflack thereof —has been apopular and polarizing subject in recent years among the team’s passionatefans.
We tried to get to thebottom of it by analyzing the results from thelast 10 years of the NFL draft, aspan that coincides with Jeff Ireland’stenure as the director of college scouting.
While general manager Mickey Loomis ultimately makes the final call, drafts always have been acollaborative process during his tenure. He delegates draft-day authority to Ireland, awidely respected disciple of Bill Parcells whose
scouting background spans three decades. It’s Ireland’sjob to oversee the entire scouting operation, stack the draftboards and run the show on draftday “Jeffisarock star,” Saints first-year coach Kellen Moore said.
Fans aren’tquite as sold.
Somebelieve the Saints are adept drafters, noting their historic 2017 class —widely regarded as one of the best in NFLhistory —and their ability to unearth undrafted sleepers such as Carl Granderson, Juwan Johnson and Rashid Shaheed.
Ireland’scritics point to the struggles of recent high picks —Isaiah Foskey
ä See DUNCAN, page 3C
BY KEVIN FOOTE Staff writer
After UL shortstopCecilia Vasquez suffered afinger injury two days ago, one of the Cajuns’ best bats off the bench hasbecome amore integral part of thelineup.
Second baseman Gabbie Stutes’ confidence soared in her new spot when UL needed it the most in Saturday’s3-0 winover South Alabama at Lamson Park.
The Jaguars loaded the bases with two outs during ascoreless game in the top of the fifth inning whenOlivia Branstetter hit ashotthat headed up the middle. Instead of apivotal base hit, adiving Stutes stabbed it and gotthe
forceout at second basetokeep the game 0-0.
“Honestly,I was just trying to think, ‘The ball is coming to me,the ball is coming to me,’ ”Stutes said. “I’m doing whatever it takes to keep it on theinfield. We hadbases loaded, so Ican get an out anywhere.
“I’m just trying to do it for Ciss (Vasquez)
Iknow she obviously wants to be out there so bad. I’m trying to work on anythingIcan to fill in her shoes. It (team cheering the play) was awesome. It created so much momentumwith the team gettingsuper excited.”
Thewin allowed the Cajuns (23-22, 9-9 Sun Belt) to get theirfirst conference sweep of the season andnailed down the29th consecutive winover the Jaguars (17-27, 6-11). UL
started the weekend in 10th place in the Sun Belt but now stands in the seventh spot.
UL next will playatNo. 1Texas A&M at 5p.m. Tuesday before akey Sun Belt series at Texas Statenext weekend.
“It was agame-changer,itreally was,” UL coach Alyson Habetzsaid of Stutes’ play.“If she doesn’tmakethatplay,they score two and it’sa different game
“She’splayed second base before, but she’s been in the outfield. Evenatpractice, she hasn’t beenpracticing there. For her to comeinand field it flawlessly, we miss Ciss, but they all had herback.”
3p.m. SoutheasternTournament
Noon SoutheasternTournament SECN GOLF
Noon PGATour:RBC HeritageGOLF
2p.m. PGATour:RBC HeritageCBS
3p.m. PGATour:Corales Puntacana GOLF
5p.m. LPGA Tour:JMEagleLAGOLF
7a.m.
WOMEN’S IIHF HOCKEY
San DiegoatHouston ESPN
6p.m.Miami
2p.m.New Jersey at Carolina ESPN
6p.m.Ottawa at Toronto ESPN2
9p.m.Minnesota at VegasESPN MEN’S SOCCER
8a.m.Chelsea at Fulham USA
8:25 a.m. Frankfurt at Augsburg ESPN2
10:30 a.m.Liverpool at LeicesterCityUSA UFL
4p.m.San AntonioatD.C. FOX
BY KEVIN FOOTE Staff writer
Apparently,the UL Ragin’ Cajuns grew abit tired of games being decided in the finalinning.
After splitting two nail-biters with Old Dominion, the Cajuns blew past the Monarchs in the rubbergame with a10-0victory in eight innings Saturday at Harbor Park in Norfolk, Virginia. The Cajuns improved to 19-23 overall and 10-8 in Sun Belt play, while Old Dominion fell to 13-24 and 8-10.
UL nextwill playGrambling at 6p.m. Tuesday at Russo Park. Saturday UL starter JR Tollett pitching well was nothing new with hisfifthconsecutive quality start. The sophomoreright-hander gave up no runs on six hits, no walksand struck out eight in 62/3 innings and 80 pitches.Riley Marcotte pitched the final 11/3 innings with one walk.
Thequestion in mostofTollett’s good starts this season has been whether he will getenough run support. Thatfinally happened Saturday with a16-hit barrage
BY KEVIN FOOTE Staff writer
It doesn’ttake avery deep dive into Dorian Finister’spast tosee his connection with new ULbasketball coach Quannas White.
“I’ve been knowing coach Quannas White since Iwas about a freshman in high school,” said Finister,who signed withULlast week as atransferfromSam Houston. “He kind of kepthis eye on me for along time.” Like White,Finisterisfrom NewOrleans. He passed up a Houston offer from Whiteout of high school to go to Kansas State for two years as athree-star recruit. He then transferred to Sam Houston last season, wherehe played in 23 games with 19 starts for the Bearkats, averaging 8.0 points and 5.7 rebounds while shooting 69.6% at the line and 28.6% from 3-point land.
Whilethose twostops didn’t work out as planned for the 6-foot5, 185-poundwing playerwith point guard skills, his ties to White didn’tdiminish.
“I’m justtrusting in coach Quannas, because he’saproven winner,” Finister said. “He’shad multiple tournament appearances Just trusting in him to makea big turnaround with the Cajuns.” White told Finister his opinionof the former Carver High standout never has wavered.
“Coach Quannas, he always reminded me, he told me that I’m a dog,”said Finister,who has two yearsofeligibility remaining.
“There’snoaspect on the floor that Ican’thelp with. I’m agreat defender, Ican shoot the ball, I can get to thecup,Ican get other players involved, Ican rebound the ball. There really isn’tanything on the courtthat Ican’tdo.
“He told me to believe in myself andalways have that confidence in myself.”
Finister said he’sprimarily a wing player,but “you’ll definitely seemeatthe pointatcertain times in thegame.”
Sometimes, the beauty of getting aprospect on theback half of his career is that the player has learned lessonsthe hardway in previous stops.
“When Iwas afreshman,obviously the game got alot more physical and you’ve got to be a lot sharper —things are in much more detail,” he said.“Youhave to go harder forevery drill.
“I learned that it was allabout thework.Nobodycan reallytake anything from you if you have a clear mental approach anda great work ethic. Those arethe most helpfulthings I’ve learned in college so far.”
Finister is thrilled about the prospects of his latest stop back in hishome state.
“I can’twait to get there,” Finister said. “I know coach Quannasis
from theCajuns. It didn’tlook good early on, with OldDominion starterBlake Morganposting fourzeroes to open thegame.
UL found itsgroove withtwo runs in the fifthand four more in the sixthtotake control of the game. CatcherJose Torres ignited things with asolo homer.Maddox Mandino then singled and scored on Luke Yuhasz’sdouble.
In the sixth, Lee Amedee doubled ahead of aCarson Hepworth sacrifice and Owen Galt’s RBI single. Torres singled to continue
his big day, and Mandino added a run-scoring single up the middle and advanced to second on the late throw to third. DrewMarkle followed with asqueeze play to make it 6-0. Things got out of hand in the eighth with four more runs for theCajuns, sparked by RBI singles from Torres and Markle Torresfinished the day 3for 4 withahomer and twoRBIs. Yuhasz was 3for 4with adouble and an RBI. Markle drove in threeruns and Mandino was 3or5 with an RBI.
PH0TO By KIRK MECHE
Dorian Finister,shown here competinginMarsh Madness as asenior at Carver,has decided to returntoLouisiana to playfor the
going to bring some of those winning ways from Houston to Lafayette. Ireally can’t waittoget there and start working. “I knowhe’sgoing to bring in some dogs, andwe’re allgoing to work together andall treat each otherlikefamilyand we’re going to makewinning the main thing.” So far,Finister is joined by six other transfer portal additions, including 6-9 New Orleans nativeTodd Jones from Portland, 6-3guard Jamyron Kellerfrom Oklahoma State, 6-3shooter De’Vion Lavergne from PurdueFortWayne, 6-8 Sean Elkinton from Louisiana Tech, 6-8 forward Dariyus Woodson from North Da-
kota and6-5 guard Jaxon Olvera of Pepperdine. Woodson, Finister and Elkinton already have signed with UL Thenew UL staff also hascorralled four high school additions, topped by 6-7wing Joshua Lewis of BlakeHigh School in Tampa, Florida. Lewis was rankedasthe nation’s No. 49 prospect by 247 when he committed to Iowa, and he’sstill in the top 70 by multiple services. The other three high school additions are6-1 guard Michael Collins fromPearland, Texas, 6-6 guard CalebSanders from Tampa, Florida, and 6-8forward Daijon Leatherman from Spring, Texas.
IN BRIEF FROM STAFFAND WIRE REPORTS
LSU softball falls to Texas after anotherlate rally
Mia Scott’sinfield single scored Kayden Henry from second base and No. 3Texas handed No.9LSU another heartbreaking loss 6-5on Saturday in Austin, Texas. Texas (41-6, 13-5 SEC) beat LSU (36-10, 9-9) in another seventhinning rally on Thursday with a game-winning grand slam to take twoofthree in the series.
The Tigers scored twointhe top of the seventh to take a5-4 lead as Jadyn Laneauxdrewaleadoff walk, movedtosecondonabunt and scored on Danieca Coffey’s single. Jalia Lassiter followed with an RBI groundout to give LSU the lead.
LSU pitcher Sydney Berzon (155) took the loss after surrendering two runs on three hits in two-thirds of an inning in relief of starter Jayden Heavener
Skenesbobblehead gets Pittsburgh fans lined up PaulSkenesdoesn’t just make baseballs go fast. The Pittsburgh Pirates ace andformer LSUstar can make merchandise fly off the shelves, too.
Fans beganlining up outside PNCPark morethan five hours before Saturday’sgamebetween Pittsburgh and Cleveland in hopes of landing abobblehead featuring the reigning NationalLeague Rookie of the Year Thegates didn’topen until 90 minutes before the first pitch. Lines stretched out in all directionsfromthe park early Saturday afternoon.
Demand grew so great that the club pledged to make sure everyoneinthe expected sellout crowd who did not receive one will have an opportunity to obtain one.
Dodgersstar Ohtani, wife welcome firstbaby girl
Two-way star ShoheiOhtaniis now afather
The Los Angeles Dodgers sluggerpostedonInstagramonSaturdaythathis wife gave birth to agirl. Manager DaveRoberts also acknowledged the news in an ingameinterview Saturday with LA visiting the Texas Rangers.
The 30-year-old Ohtani missed the first twogames of theseries matching thepasttwo WorldSeries champions. Before the game Saturday,Robertssaid he didn’thave an update on the baby,but was hopeful Ohtani would rejoin the club Sunday
“I am so grateful to my loving wife who gave birth to our healthy, beautiful daughter,”Ohtani wrote on Instagram. “Tomydaughter, thank you formaking us very nervous yet super anxious parents.”
Duke junior guard Proctor declares for the NBA draft Duke guard Tyrese Proctor is entering the NBAdraftand skipping his senior season.
The team announced Proctor’s move in asocial-media post Friday night. The 6-foot-6, 183-pound junior from Australia wasathreeyear starter and one of Jon Scheyer’sfirst recruits when he took over forretired HallofFamer Mike Krzyzewski.
Proctor,who reclassified to get to college ayear early in 2022, came on in the second half of his freshman season,thenwas acomplementary scorer averagingindoublefigures for the rest of his college career.He also worked as areliable defender Proctoraveraged12.4points while shooting acareer-best 45.2% from the field and 40.5% from 3-point range this year
Alcaraz, Rune to play for title in Barcelona BARCELONA,Spain Top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz will play Holger Rune forthe Barcelona Open title after straight-set semifinals on Saturday No. 2-rankedAlcaraz beat No. 14 Arthur Fils 6-2, 6-4, while Rune dispatchedKaren Khachanov6-3, 6-2 on the outdoor clay Alcaraz holds a2-1 record against the 13th-rankedRune. The pair of 21-year-olds have yet to meet on clay.Alcaraz won their last meeting at 2023 Wimbledon. Alcaraz won his first Monte Carlo Masters title last weekend and will be searching forhis third title of theyear and19thofhis career He wonthe BarcelonaOpenin 2022 and 2023. “It’sbeen areally fun and great week, and let’ssee if we can end with atrophy,” Alcaraz said.
Releasing Carr before June 1, for instance, would leave $80.1 million on the books, because it includes the remaining money converted into asigning bonus because of various restructures. For instance, in March, the Saints converted more than $28 million of Carr’s$30 million salary into asigning bonus and spread that bonus over several years. When aplayer is released, the remaining charges are accelerated to one year
“You are obviously not going to cut him before June 1,” Halsell said. If the Saints wantedtocut Carr after June 1, they could manage that $80 million by spreading out the charges over 2025 and 2026. Halsell said Carr’scap figure would remain $20.4 million in 2025, then the Saints wouldhave $60 million in dead money in 2026 as aresult of Carr’s contract. That makes 2026more realistic, Halsell said. And then, he thinks the Saints will use apost-June 1designation on Carr rather than absorb his dead hit of nearly $59.7 million at
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(2023), Trevor Penning (2022), Payton Turner (2021)and Marcus Davenport (2018).
The findings from our study produced supportfor both sides.
While the overall results were more positive than negative, with the Saints boasting ahigh hit rate in the draft’searly rounds,the team has struggledrecently to replicate the success it enjoyed in 2016 and 2017.
“New Orleans had that (2017)draft, and that sets you up, but it’ssohard to maintain it,” said Daniel Jeremiah, adraft analyst at the NFL Network. “That’s natural that you are going to have some ups and downs.”
For the analysis, we used Pro Football Reference’s Approximate Value to gauge adraft pick’svalue. The AV metric assigns anumeric value to players each season based on their playing time, statistical production and honors earned. For context, an above-average season for an NFL starter would be an 8-11 AV.APro Bowlcaliber season wouldbe anything from 12 to 20. An average NFL starter would earn a5-7. Anythingbelow that would be abackupor replacement-level player
Adefinitive answer is difficult to attain. The player procurement process always has been more art than science, and there’s no NFL draft scoreboard to determine winnersand losers. As such, the results are highly subjective.
“There are huge error bars around (NFL draft success), largely because there are so many different factorsthat
once. Doingsowould leave $19.2 million on the Saints’ books in 2026 and theremaining $40.5 millionin 2027. When declaring a post-June1 cut, however, teamsmustcarry the entire cap hitonthe books until that date, so the Saintswould bestuck with Carr’s$69.2 million cap hit until June 2, 2026.
“They do this with alot of their contracts. It really is structured for them to move on from himwith the post-June 1designation next year,”Halsellsaid, later adding, “My sense is they’ve always planned to have that$40 million dead moneynumber in2027.
“That’swhy Isay from a cap management, contract management standpoint, it sucksthathe’shurt and youguaranteed him $40 million this year,but any other option besides going through with what (the Saints) had planned on from acap management standpoint,puts (them) in anegativesituation
What if atrade presents itself?
If Carr’sshouldercan heal in timefor theregular season, andifhewantsout of New Orleans, the music almost hasstopped playing
go into it, from coaching to injuries toluck,” said Matt Manocherian, aformer NFL scout and the CEO of Sports Info Solutions,asports analytics company.“There are definitely such things as good evaluators and staffs, but in agivenyear that may or may not show up in the overall results.”
Alook at our findings:
Top-endquality
The Saints rank secondbehind the Kansas City Chiefs in the overall quality of their draft production, with an average AV of 15.5 per selection, trailing onlyKansas City’s 16.3. The Saints have drafted four All-Pro players in that span: Zack Baun, RyanRamczyk,Trey Hendricksonand Michael Thomas.Thattotalissurpassedbyonly the Cowboys with five, andChiefs,49ers and Ravens with six each.
Lack of opportunity
The Saints’ strong performance hascome without thebenefit of premium picks. They,along withthe Green Bay Packers,are one of two teams withouta top10 pick in thelast decade. By comparison,NFC South division rivals Atlantaand Carolinahave had five top10 picksapieceinthat time. The New York Giants have hadthe mostwith eight. 2017 sparkles
The Saints’ famed2017 class remains the NFL’s best draft classofthe decade
The seven-manclass was strong fromtop to bottom andproducedstars Hendrickson, Ramczyk, Alvin Kamaraand MarshonLattimore,although Hendricksonearned hisPro Bowl and All-Prohonorswith the Cincinnati Bengals
“You get three starters in adraft anda couple of
andthe quarterback could be withoutadance partner.
The Cleveland Browns have added Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickettthisoffseason. The Giants signed Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston. TheLas Vegas Raiders traded for Geno Smith, andthe Seattle Seahawks signed Sam Darnold. The Pittsburgh Steelers appear to be waiting for AaronRodgers, who saidThursday he’sstill undecided on whether to retire or keep playing.
So,who would trade for Carr?
Then, there’salso the injury factor
“Without knowing the severity of hisshoulder injury —but if it’s one that he could miss asignificant amount of the season,ifnot theentire season —Idon’t think anyone’ssigning up to trade for that contract,” Halsell said.
Anyteam that would want Carr next season would be on the hook for the league minimum $1.2 million salary,but thefinal year of Carr’scontract in 2026 holds a$40 million base salary anda $10 million rosterbonus. Thoseare non-guaranteed, however, so ateam can get out of it
Halsell said the Saints alsowould have to waitun-
til after June 1totrade him. Doing so beforethat date would acceleratealmost $79 million worth of cap charges ontotheir books, whereas trading himafter would leave $19.2 millionin 2026 andthenalmost $59.7 million the next year
The Saints’ other options include seeking arbitration if New Orleans questionsthe validityofCarr’s shoulderinjury by filing a grievance, Halsellsaid. If Carr were to unexpectedly retire,that’s treated similar to areleaseinwhich his dead money would accelerateinto one year.(Though theSaints could also perhaps seektoget some of his bonus money back if he were to retire early.)
For now, the Saintsand Carr appear to be in aholding pattern.
“From apure cap management standpoint,Idon’t think it changesmuchof what they were going to do with his contract and managing his cap numberthis year and next year,” Halsell said. “From apractical standpoint,yeah, it sucks becauseyou’ve guaranteed him $40 million in cash this year.”
Email Matthew Paras at matt.paras@theadvocate. com
other contributors, that’s areally good draft,” Jeremiah said. “You get four starters,that’s outstanding. Three (starters) would be thebenchmark.”
Qualityoverquantity
The Saints believe strongly in the evaluation skills of Ireland and his scouting staff. The club’sconfidence in acquiring players whom Ireland has identified as “Saintsguys” has shaped its entire draft philosophy and led to aquality-overquantityapproach.
Since 2015, the Saints have made the fewest draft selections (62) in the NFL. By comparison, the Packershave made an NFL-high 97 selections in the same span. The Saints’ strategy of targeting players theyhave graded highly and positioning themselves to take them, often via trade, has helped produce thelow number
The club’shistorically aggressive approach tofree agency also contributes to its low draft pick total. Compensatory draft picks are awarded to clubs that suffer anet loss of free agents during theprior year’sfree agency period. Since thesystem began in 1994, the Saints have received the fewest number of compensatory picks awarded by theleague.
Sweetspot
This quality-over-quantity draft strategy gives the Saintsfewer bites at the apple but also tends to yield ahigher hit rate, especially on the draft’sfirst two days. Of the31players selected by theSaints in Rounds 1-3, 21 developed into multiyear starters and fiveothers Penning, Taliese Fuaga, Kool-Aid McKinstry,Baun and Bryan Bresee —are projected tojoin them after
the2025 season.
To use abaseball analogy,the Saintshit alot of doubles in Rounds 2-3 of the draft.Players such as Vonn Bell, Marcus Williams, Alex Anzalone, Pete Werner,Paulson Adebo, Adam Trautman and Alontae Taylor developed intosolid, multiyear starters.They’re not stars, but they’re also not misses.
“(Rounds 2-3 are) the best bang for your buck because thecost is significantly less (than Round 1),and Idon’t know that the odds are that much worse in terms of finding guys that can start for you and can have an impact,” Jeremiah said. In aslump?
The Saints have not been
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Aftergetting greeted with high-fives after the stellar defensive play,Stutes played a key role in UL’s three-run inning in the bottom of the fifth.
Kayla Falterman and Erin Ardoin both singledtoset the stage before Stutes, aSt. Thomas More product, laid downasacrifice bunt.
“Obviously,coach Alyhas been bigonbunting,”Stutes said. “Wealways practice bunting. I’ve never practiced bunting so much, so I’ve gotten really comfortable bunting. It just felt like apractice.”
Savannah White then laid down asqueeze bunt for the game’sfirst run. “In that situation,coach Aly asked me if I’drather squeeze or slap-and-run,” Whitesaid.“I said, ‘Squeeze all day.’ That’s something I‘ve worked on alot. SometimesI overthinkitand I try to be too perfect, but in that situation, Ijusthave to see the pitch andget it down.
White’swork on the play wasn’tdone. She then got caught in arundown on purpose to allow Ardoin to get homefor the second run.
Laney Credeur followed with apinch-hit double to left-center to finalize the three-run frame.
UL starter Mallory Wheeler
nearly as successful in recent drafts. Each of the club’slast fivedraft classes has ranked near the bottom of the league in collective Approximate Value. Those drafts also have lacked star power,producing just two Pro Bowlers —Baun in 2024 and Erik McCoy in 2019. Baun, of course, earned his invitation after leaving New Orleans for Philadelphia.
“The Saints had an alltimegreat draftin2017, but it’squite common to see teamsfollow great drafts with bad ones and vice versa,” Manocherian said. “You could certainly say ateam has been hot or in aslump by playing the results, but when this happens, it doesn’tmean that they are somehow all suddenly
got ano-decision, giving up no runs on one hit, fivewalks, ahit batter and three strikeouts in 42/3 innings.
“I did not think she (Wheeler) was that wild,”White said of Wheeler’souting. “I think she was throwing will. She hada tightzone. She’sgot good movement and sometimes that’shard for umpires …I think shedid her job honestly.”
Tyra Clary got the win after going the final 22/3 innings. She gave up one hit, one walk and struck out three to improve to 5-4 on the season. Things got alittle dicey in theseventh for Clarywhen she celebrated whatshe thought was astrikeout to end the game. Instead, it was ruled awalk to bring up South Alabama’sbest hitter Gabby Stagner as the potential tying run.
“We’ve dealtwithitmultiple times this season, honestly,” White said. “Wehad acouple tight zones. Itold her the whole time, ‘It’smeand you. Youcan’tcontrol that.’ To me it was astrike —I’ll say that flat-out, it wasastrike, but all she can do is throwher best pitch and that’swhat she did. So all she can do is come back andthrowanother best pitch and that’swhat she did.” Stagner flewout to right to end the game. “I’ll take it —our first sweep,” Habetz said.
worse at their jobs.” The Saints have selected just nine starters in the seven drafts since the heralded 2017 haul. Five other draftees —Adebo, Baun, Trautman,Kaden Elliss and C.J. Gardner-Johnson —have moved on via trade or free agency and are starting for other teams.
“Wealways used to look at guys that were still in the league, where maybe they (draftees) weren’table to stick on your roster,but you evaluated the talent correctly that those guys have made it on other teamsand they found away to survive in the NFL for awhile,” Jeremiah said. “That’susually a pretty good sign that you’re doing the right process and doing it the right way.”
DannyHeitman AT RANDOM
New natural gas lines are coming to my old Louisiana neighborhood, and the advance teams have been busy this spring as they sortout where everything should go. Survey crews combed the streets last month, placing tiny flags in our yards to mark out water lines and other utilities so theycan be avoided when the digging starts.
Meanwhile, we homeowners have had our own knotsto untie.
All of us are doing our best to cut the first grass of the season while dodging those little stakes that dot our lawns. I’ve been struck by how quickly our eyes adjust to acceptnew parts of our daily landscape. Those miniature flags, bright orange, green, and yellow,now seem as much afixture to me as the azaleas withtheir April blooms or the Japanesemagnolia’spurple petals, cupped like votive candlesasthey bask in the sun. All this digging in my small corner of the city has nudged me to think of my neighborhood’stwin lives —the one I see above ground each day, in the winding sidewalks andgiantoaks, andthe quietworld that trembles below,among the clay and the worms and the tiny bulbs and seeds doing their secretwork.
Inevitably,this brings my thoughts to Foster,our faithful terrier,gone some years now but seldom far from mind. If you’ve ever had aterrier, then you’ll know that they embrace this double view of life above and below the ground all the time.
Like most other terriers, Foster loved to burrow —so much so that he’d wiggle deep beneath the blankets once he’d talked himself into our children’sbeds.
Foster’szeal for excavation made my walks with him an adventure.
We’d be strolling along the pavement, taking in the birdsong and sunshine, when his nostrils would flare and his body would tense, like afishing line tightenedbyacaptive perch. Then the furious diggingwould begin, thedirt and grass flying as he threw clods of earth from his tiny paws.
Iassumed he’d sniffed out a mole and was on the hunt. What worried me, though, was the matter that he was vandalizing aneighbor’slawn. I’d tug on the leash and urge him along, but it was ahard slog for me and that fierce little mutt. He was a predator entranced by his prey, not easily budged from his vivid dreams of conquest.
Inow walk alone these days as Ipad along familiar blocks —aritual that has moved me, as Easter arrives,todwell on an abiding miracle. The wonders of the season —the greening dogwood and trailing jasmine, the salamanders sunning on my front porch —have risen from the cold, black soil beneath our feet.
It’sbeen asolace in this anxious year to think thatlife finds away to push throughthe darkness.
CORRECTION: Last week’scolumn included the wrong name for the magazine that Graydon Carter edited during the later yearsofhis career.He’smost famous for editing Vanity Fair
Email Danny Heitman at danny@dannyheitman.com
BY ROBIN MILLER Staff writer
The key to successful egg pockingisboiling eggs point-side-down.
“You turn themupside down, like this,” Sharon Juneau said, removing adyedegg from abasket. “It makes theegg harder on that end.” Why? Becausethe egg’ssubstance gravitates to the pointed end, where thepocking happens. Or knocking, as theycall it in Marksville, whichhappens to be the“EggKnockingCapitalofthe World.”
Legislativeproclamation
That’snot aself-proclaimed title —the LouisianaLegislature officially awardedthe moniker to Avoyelles Parishin2011, naming it for Marksville’sannual egg knocking competition on Easter Sunday But even withits status as parish seat, Marksville can’ttake sole credit forthishonor. Theegg pocking, or egg-pacqueing, actually begins withCottonport’sPockin’ on the Bayou celebration on the Saturday before Easter
“Pâcques is theFrench translation for Easter,” saidJuneau, whose latehusband, Carl “Pappy” Juneau organized theannual festival. “Our celebration happens on the Saturday before Easter,and it all startedinthe 1950s withCarl
Hattie Addison Burkhalter carries thebanner during theEaster Rockat Original True Light Baptist Church in Winnsboro in 2017.
and his friends.”
Startedinalocal store
Carl Juneau didn’ttake credit for the tradition in a2017 interview with TheAdvocate,but his wife is right —Cottonport’sannual egg pocking competition wouldn’t have
evolvedifhe, Jack Jeansonne,Leland Gautierand Jack Royhadn’t metupfor beers at T-Jim’s Grocery and Market. It wasthe 1950s. WorldWar II had ended afew years earlier,and
ä See EGG, page 4D
BY ROBINMILLER Staff writer
What is more important for an outdoor spring event than good weather? Thankfully, the Acadiana Center for the Arts’ Sunny Side Brunch wasblessed with exactly that —beautiful blue skies and plenty of sunshine.
Kris Wartelle
The event took place on April 13.
Thebrunch was held at the home of Carolyn and Kip Schumacher.Guests enjoyed outdoor dininginthe gardens, withjazz music by the Preservation Hall All Stars. The program included tributes to all of those who support the Arts in the Acadiana community. Alively auction followed with bidding on everything from trips to jewelry and art.
This year is an important year forthe AcA. The organization is celebrating its 50thanniversary, marking five decades of fostering creativity,supporting artistsand enriching the cultural landscape of south Louisiana. The AcAis apremier cultural institution that has provided so many opportunities for local talent. It has also brought some of the best artistic programming to Acadiana audiences.
The Sunny Side Brunch isone of many ways to support AcA.We love this event, but we also love that it is afabulousway to support agreat cause while enjoying the party.Happy 50th anniversary to you, AcA!
Dear Miss Manners: Should Iwarn particularly conservative guests thatanannual party they attended last year has growninsize and will include amore eclectic group of people? My husband and Ihosted alast-minute holiday open house last year Many of theattendees were generally conservative, reflecting the nature of my immediate neighborhood. This year,weplanned the party well in advance, and it has doubled in size. It will include many new friends —including gay couples, ardent liberals anda trans woman. Several of last year’sattendees are very conservative, and acouple of them can be loudmouthed bullies. They are not our close
friends. Should Iadvise them prior to attendance that the makeup of theparty will bedifferent this year,and that they maybeoffended bysome of theother guests? It feels “icky,”and my instinct is just to let it go andtrust people to be kind and tolerant.But I worry about friction.
Gentle reader: Rather than testing everyone’skindness and tolerance too much —including your own tolerance for your neighbors
—Miss Mannerswould like to focusonadifferent virtue: responsibility
Agood host seekstomake her guests reasonably comfortable andwelcome. Your warning will accomplish that for no one, and therefore needs to be rethought
At thevery least, Miss Manners wonders at your inviting people you believe will yell at your other guests Dear Miss Manners: Iwas taken out
to dinner in atown where Iwas giving atalk. My hostess parked her car using her latehusband’s disabilityparking tag, which was due to expire in afew months, and then put aservice vest on her dog so she could bring him into therestaurant. Icommented that Ididn’tknow her dog was aservice animal, and she said he wasn’t, but that the restaurant is not allowed toask for proof and that he was very well-behaved. (He was, indeed, and mostly slept under thetable as we ate.)
ButIhad afamily member with asevere physical disability and know how hard thestruggle was for these accommodations. For instance, someone who REALLY needed aspot closer tothe restaurant missed thechance to park there. Andno, aperson with a service animal should not have to prove it constantly,but theprac-
tice should be trustworthy Iwanted to say something expressing my disapproval, but Iwas aguest. Idid mention my family member,but Idon’tthink anything registered.
Gentlereader: Youdid register your disapproval —both by your question andyour demeanor and you know to avoid this person in future. And you did all this without being rude yourself Miss Manners rates that as a greater success than putting your host in achoke hold and forcing her to move the car,given that thedog disturbed no one and the parking tag was about to expire. This may not be as satisfying as you had hoped, but when we, as a society, demandthat every injustice be met with Total War, the net result is worse, not better Dear Miss Manners: Iamcurious what the etiquette is at agathering when music is playing in a
friend’shome on the voice-controlled device. Is it OK foraguest to speak directly to the device to ask it to play asong?
Gentle reader: Many of us remain skeptical of manufacturers’ claims that if only we keep paying forupgrades, tomorrow’sdevices will be smarter than the dimmest cat. Until that does happen —and the household devices can make claim to being morethan objects —agood guest waits forthe host’spermission before touching, or talking to, the inanimate residents.
Sendquestions to Miss Manners at herwebsite, www missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mailtoMiss Manners, Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St Kansas City,MO 64106.
Annual Double Decker fest is April25-26
BY JANRISHER Staff writer
Oxford, Mississippi, is as charming as the day is long with its picturesque square, gentle rolling hills, deep rootsin storytelling traditions, array of notable cuisine, abookstore that is hard to beat and, of course,the lovely Ole Miss campus steps away from downtown.
The 28th annual two-day Double Decker Arts Festival, set for April 25-26, is acelebration of spring in the South.Inrecent years, the arts and music festival has seen crowds and weather that make the weekend representativeofa postcard-worthy Southern town.
In short, the Double Decker weekend, which includesmore than 100 artists selected by a jury who sell their wares, avariety of musical performances and afun run make foraknockout of aweekend.
The festival got its name from the double-decker bus that the city brought from England in 1994 as asymbol of the city’s connection to the British university town that inspired the city’s name: Oxford, England.
In Mississippi, Oxford punches above its weight culturally Home to Nobel Prize-winning William Faulkner,his home Rowan Oaks is available totour, and some people pay homage to the lauded American writer by visiting his grave in St. Peter’s Cemetery and leaving abottle of whiskey
These days, Square Books downtown is acornerstone of the town’sliterary heritage —and a joy to peruse.
More than 100 artists participate in the juried artshowand sale as part of the Double DeckerArtsFestival in Oxford,Miss., set for April 25-26.
Established in 1979 by Richard and Lisa Howorth, the independent bookstore has grown into four shops: the main Square Books, Off SquareBooks, Square Books Jr.and Rare Square Books —all on and around the squarein downtown Oxford.
By ChristopherElliott
PROVIDED PHOTO
Theannual festival in Oxford, Miss., features twodaysofmusical performances.
SquareBooks hosts author events weekly,including
PROVIDED PHOTOByRONNIE HARRIS
The festival gotits name fromthe double-decker bus that the city brought from England in 1994 as asymbolofthe city’sconnection to the British university town that inspired the city’s name, Oxford, England
Thacker Mountain Radio Show, aweekly live radio show featuring author readings andmusical performances. Big-time writers
Ibooked ahotel in Wroclaw, Poland, through Booking.com.
frequent Square Books to pay homage to its well-earned place in the world of books.
The store’s creakywooden floorsand shelvesfull of Southernclassicsand notable authors make it aplace for avid and aspiring readerstoget comfortable andfind something newtoread Oxford food scene
The food sceneruns the gamut. Trya dish fromJames-Beard winner JohnCurrence, chef, author, entrepreneur,and owner of four restaurants in Oxford (Bouré,Big BadBreakfast, City Grocery andSnackbar) or frequent aspotlike Taylor Grocery
The ramshackle local legend on the outskirts of town is amust for down-home catfish in anorush setting. Saint Leo, a2017 JamesBeard Foundation“Best New Restaurant” semifinalist, serves a tasty arrayofwood-fired Italian options anda swanky cocktail menu.
There’s also newcomerGood Eats, which serves alunchtime burgernot to be missed.
Otherlocal favoritesinclude Bottletree Bakery,Ajax Diner andHandy Andy with its no-frills barbecueand burgers that hit the spot.
Accommodations
Hotelrooms can be hard to come by in Oxford on busy weekends, but options aregrowing. The Inn at Ole Miss, on the university campus, is a20-minute walk to downtown. The rooms arespaciousand well-kept —and the restaurant offers an indoor pub atmosphere or tables outside
The OliverHotel with Juliet balconiesand acozy library has old-schoolallure
There arealso Holiday Inn Express &SuitesOxford and the Roundabout Oxford RV and WaterResort, whichhas RV sites andcottageswith kitchens and porches.
Email Jan Risheratjan.risher@ theadvocate.com.
Christopher Elliott
Icanceled my reservation well within thefree cancellation period. But then Idiscovered a chargeonmycard for the full amount of $742. Ireached out to Booking.com and arepresentative told me Iwould be refunded within 10 days That didn’thappen. Icalled back and this time, arepresentative told me to wait one month, since the property made thecharge and it is the hotel’sresponsibility to process the refund.
Ithen escalated this to the property.I sentmybank account details.Ahotel representativeinformed me it couldnot refund to an Indian account and that Booking.com would have to process it. After making close to 30 callstothe
AtCitédes Arts
Tickets areonsalefor Cité des Arts’ production of “Reunion,” written and directed by Patricia Cravins. The showwill have three performances at the theater,109 VineSt., Lafayette, duringFestivalInternational de Louisiane. The showfocusesonaprominent Creole family that’s forced to confront along-held secret at an annual family reunion. Performances will be 2p.m. and 7:30 p.m. April 26, and 2p.m. Sunday, April 27. Tickets are$25 and can be purchased by visiting citedesarts.org/events/reunionwritten-and-directed-by-patriciacravins-2025-04-26-14-00.
Also, registration is open for the theater company’s two-week filmmaking workshop, “Movie Magic 101,” for students in the sixth through 12th grades.The workshop runs from 1p.m. to 3p.m.June 30July 11atthe theater. Cost is $330 for the course.Payment plansare available. Visit citedesarts.org.
At OperaLouisiane
Tickets areonsalefor OperaLouisiane’s production of “Paglicacci” on May16and May18inthe Manship Theatreinthe ShawCenterfor the Arts, 100 Lafayette St., Baton
hotel, Iescalated my case to Booking.com. But it just reiterated its policy: It can’tissue refunds, sincethat’sthe responsibility of the hotel.
Each time Italktocustomersupportthey spin adifferent story.They either saymy refund is being processed or thatthe merchant name is amismatch. Ialso discovered that the propertyhas negative reviews forsimilar transactions with other people, yet Booking.com took noaction. In one of my conversations, acustomer representativealsomentioned they were investigating the property,but that its hands were tied. Canyou help me getmymoney back? —AmanChawla, New Delhi
Youmade yourreservation through Booking.com, so the companyshould help you get a refund, no matter who charged your card. This is adisturbingly common
problem when you’re dealing with an online travel agency Since there’smore than one party involved —anonline agency, an airline or hotel, and often a thirdentity that buys roomsor flightsinbulk —there are alot of finger-pointing opportunities. In my experience, companies rarely missa chance to do that, which is endlessly frustrating for customers like you. When you cancel ahotel room within the cancellation window, you should expect toget aprompt refund.
Butyour hotel had done this to other guests who canceled, and the property had negative reviews toprove it.Soplease, next time read the hotel reviews and consider booking areputable propertywith one of the major
hotel chains. I’m alittle dubious of the claim that aPolish hotel couldn’trefund your Indian account. It had no problem charging you the first time, so what’sthe problem with refunding you quickly? Clearly,there wasabreakdown in communication between Booking.com and the hotel. I’mnot sure if that wasintentional on the part of the hotel or just aproblem of incompetence. It doesn’treally matter.Booking.com should have stood by your purchase andrefunded you as promised Youmight have been able to get this fixed quickly by appealing to one of the customer service managers at Booking.com Ipublish the names, numbers and emails of the top Booking.
Rouge. Tickets are$25-$100. Visit operalouisiane.com.
Maythe 4th
The Louisiana Art &Science Museum,100 S. River Road, Baton Rouge, will celebrateStarWars Dayand AstronomyDay from 1 p.m. to 4p.m May4 withStar Wars DayatLASM: Maythe FourthBeWith You. Admission to this family-friendly eventisfreeaspart of theFreeFirst Sundayprogram. Theday will be filledwithfun activities for all ages, including hands-on“Star Wars”themed crafts and activities, astronomyshows at theIrene W. PenningtonPlanetariumfor areduced price of $5 and demonstrations from the Baton Rouge Astronomical Society Guests areencouraged to come dressed as theirfavorite “Star Wars” characters. Amajor highlight of the event is the 2p.m.showing of “Star Wars: The Worlds Within” in theplanetarium. Visit lasm.org.
OdetoWarhol
The Louisiana Art&Science Museum will celebrate ‘Star Wars Day’
BRSO Chorus with Bocelli
The Art Guild of Louisiana’smember show,“Ode to AndyWarhol,” runs throughMay 8, at Independence Park Theatre, 7800 Independence Blvd., Baton Rouge. Gallery hours are10a.m. to 5p.m. Tuesday through Friday. Admission is free. Visit artguildlouisiana.org.
The Baton RougeSymphonyChorus, under the direction of DavidShaler, will be performing with internationally acclaimed tenor Andrea Bocelli and the Louisiana Philharmonic OrchestraonJune 10 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. The concert begins at 8 p.m.
Tickets are$80-$250. Visitticketmaster.com/event/1B00613EC61A504C
At BatonRouge Gallery
Baton Rouge Gallery center for contemporary art, 1515 Dalrymple Drive, Baton Rouge, is showing theexhibit “Real-Life Experience:JuriedHigh School Exhibition” through May1
The exhibit features approximately 70 original works of art by public and private high school students in East BatonRouge Parish. Hours arenoon to 6p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.Admission is free. Call (225) 383-1470 or visit batonrougegallery.org.
BatonRouge Symphony events
Tickets areonsale for theBaton RougeSymphonyOrchestra’s Concerts in the Cosmos seriesperformances, “Country Hits: ATributeto CountryMusic Legends” at 7:30 p.m April 23-24 in thePennington Planetarium at theLouisiana Art & Science Museum, 100 S. River Road, Baton Rouge. Tickets are$40. Tickets also areonsale for thesymphony’s Orchestral Series concert, “Carmina Burana,”featuring the Baton Rouge SymphonyChorus, at 7:30 p.m. May1,inthe Raising Cane’s River Center Performing Arts Theater, 300 St. Louis St., Baton Rouge.
com managers on my consumer advocacy website, Elliott.org. Icontacted Booking.com on your behalf Arepresentative told me that the company is committed to “seamless travel experiences” for its customers. “Inthis case, our customer service team has identified that there wasadelay in processing the customer’srefund and has since escalated the full refund payout to the customer’s Booking.com wallet,” the representative said. Youreceived afull refund.
Christopher Elliott is the founder of Elliott Advocacy,anonprofit organization that helps consumers solve their problems. Email him at chris@elliott.org or get help by contacting him on his site.
Tickets are$24-$70. Fortickets to both events, visit brso.org. Jazz series
The Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge’s monthly 2025 Alvin Batiste Jazz Society continues through Dec. 17 in theVirginia and John Noland Black BoxStudioatthe Cary Saurage CommunityArtsCenter, 233 St. Ferdinand St., Baton Rouge This seriescelebrates thelegacy of jazz great Alvin Batiste while highlighting amix of local and national artists. Each performance features either afull concert or aconcert followed by an open jam session —creating space for creativity, connection and community Generaladmission tickets are$10 and $5 for students.
The continuing lineup includes: n MAY21: George BellwithHouse Trio, followedbyopen jam session n JUNE 18: YolandaRobinson with HouseTrio n JULY16: Mike Esneault withHouse Trio, followedbyopen jam session n AUG. 20: Ed Perkins withHouse Trio, followedbyopen jam session n SEPT.17: Bob Sheppardwith HouseTrio n OCT.22: JeremyDavenport with HouseTrio and Strings
BY ROBERT MERRILL ROGERS Contributing writer
Not too very long ago, before the storm of a lifetime, there was a quaint section of town just beyond the levee, curiously known as Bucktown. It was a unique village within a city, the kind of neighborhood so characteristic of New Orleans. It was a veritable gumbo of vibrant people and places. Shrimp boats and oyster luggers lined the canal. The docks were strewn with all manner of fishing gear trawl nets and otter boards, crab traps, wooden crates and hampers, ropes and cables — all the fixtures of a fishing village. Ramshackle shanties built on stilts and clapboard houses with tin roofs fronted the thoroughfare. To one degree or another, these buildings had weathered all previous tropical storms and hurricanes. Like the timeliness of the people living and working there despite adversity they were still standing at least until Katrina.
One memorable restaurant and bar perched precariously out over the water was a great place
Continued from page 1D
life in Avoyelles Parish was just returning to normal. Easter was just around the corner, which triggered memories among the foursome
They talked about how much fun they once had knocking eggs. So they drove home, each returning to the market with a dozen boiled eggs and began the pocking game. Beers were bet, a crowd gathered and the store owner suggested they start a competition.
“So, our competition began in 1956,” Sharon Juneau said Celebrations grew
The celebration now includes children’s activities and food vendors as does the Easter on the Red River at the Ben Routh Recreational Center in Effie in its 20th year, which also happens on the Saturday before Easter
The Effie festival has an added element of Easter bonnet competitions for both men and women, along with an egg toss for all ages.
But it’s the egg knocking that takes center stage in the Saturday celebrations, culminating in the annual Marksville Egg Knocking on Easter morning, averaging 700 competitors.
“Our competition began in 1957,” Marksville Mayor Brent Lemoine said.
He sits at a conference table in the Avoyelles Parish Tourism Commission Office in Mansura on the Friday before Palm Sunday. Joining him are Sharon Juneau; Cottonport resident and past Easter bonnet contest winner Elaine Juneau; Marksville resident and longtime egg knocker Brent Scallan; Linda Adams, whose late husband Earl organized the Marksville competition; and Marsha Wiley, chairwoman of the Effie celebration
Beginnings in Marksville
Lemoine and Scallan trade stories across the table of how the Marksville competition actually began in local barrooms, names like Reno’s, J.C.’s and Bailey’s Nightclub, all located near the courthouse. The contests were so intense that egg knockers bet big
Continued from page 1D
Festival in Natchitoches and the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, D.C. Its name refers to the rocking motion of a procession that takes place on the night before Easter, which once was practiced in northeast Louisiana Black churches from Lake Providence to Ferriday “Today, the Easter Rock takes place only in the Original True Light Baptist Church in Winnsboro,” said folklorist Susan Roach, a retired professor of English at Louisiana Tech University “And it’s not a church per se. They have it in the church, but True Light has no active congregation.” But it does have wooden floors. Other area churches stopped hosting the procession after trading their wood-frame buildings for new structures with concrete floors.
“Wooden floors are important,” Roach said. “True Light’s congregation moved into another build-
to celebrate the everyday events of life, whether a special anniversary or just the close of a workday a place to enjoy just being alive. The boiled crabs, raw oysters and fried shrimp were outstanding, the Dixie beer was cold and refreshing, and the people were all “naturally Naw’lins.” It was a place where customers did not seem to mind the occasional smell of not-so-fresh shrimp hulls and crab shells emanat-
ing from the nearby dumpsters, or that sometimes a misguided cockroach would scurry along the peeling wallpaper There were always characters hanging out there at the bar, characters like Shake-‘n’-Bake. He blended in with the surroundings, slumped over the bar drinking a beer and smoking a cigarette. His rummy eyes roamed around the place, taking in the sights, looking for something. With his torn and
stained striped T-shirt, he looked like he had just gotten off a workboat. His wrinkled skin was the color of beef jerky, but what you remembered about ole Shake-‘n’Bake was that he had the shakes, I mean serious shakes. If he held his beer in one trembling hand, it was all he could do to bring the ever-present unfiltered Lucky Strike to his lips. His eyes watered and he squinted as the cloud of smoke enveloped his face.
Many times, he would tell of when he had been impaled with the barb of a stingaree. He languished for days in pain and agony often lapsing into unconsciousness. When he finally recovered, he couldn’t stop shaking. Sometimes in his story, he would substitute the serrated bone of a catfish, but the truth was plain and simple, he simply drank too much. As the old folks would call it, an old-fashioned case of the DTs.
The old brick walkway to the lake made for a romantic stroll on a moonlit night. Despite the unseemly reek of day-old seafood in the dumpsters, the trip was a vision of Steinbeck’s Cannery Row with dilapidated, ramshackle fish camps overgrown with all manner of vines and trees stunted
the
oor
the World.’
money on each round.
“It was serious business and my uncle would bet $50 and $100,” Lemoine said “Then we started competition on the courthouse square in 1957, and over 300 would attend each year.”
The rules are simple for all three Avoyelles competitions and have never changed. Basically, it boils down to who has the hardest egg pun intended. When two competitors agree to do battle, one person holds a hard-boiled egg, usually small, or pointed, end up, and the other taps it with the small end of his or her egg. The idea is for a competitor to crack the competition’s egg without breaking his own. And it’s at 9 a.m Easter morning at the end of sunrise Mass when competitors gather in Marksville’s courthouse square for the big Egg Knocking standoff.
A good egg
Meanwhile, back in the tourism conference room, Juneau still
ing but the original True Light still has a wooden floor.”
Roach explained that the wooden floor is essential to capturing the sound that comes from the procession.
“They do this shuffle step on the wooden floor, and when that many people are doing that, it starts to sound like a drumbeat,” she said. “If you listen to a recording of the Easter Rock, you can hear that. It’s an essential part of it. It provides a beat for the music, because there are no instruments during the ceremony.”
Roach has written extensively on this subject. She even helps participants prepare True Light’s building (circa 1900) for the ceremony. People from throughout the state attend the ceremony The procession, which symbolizes the anticipation of Christ’s resurrection on Easter morning, begins between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Holy Saturday There was a time when the procession lasted until the next day’s sunrise service, but now it ends well before midnight.
“The term ‘rock’ itself — the name for both the ritual and the movement in the ritual — has also
holds the egg she removed from her basket earlier in the meeting She gives it to Scallan, who taps it against his teeth.
“You tap it against your teeth like this,” he said, clicking the pointed side against his front and canine teeth. “You listen to how it sounds. If it sounds hollow, it’s not going to be a good egg.”
And this egg?
“Oh, this one’s good,” he said.
Scallan, meanwhile, turns to Adams, who stands at the edge of the table holding her own dyed egg. Scallan, still holding Juneau’s egg, suggests they demonstrate an egg knocking round.
Adams holds her egg in a precision grip between her thumb and fingers, with the egg’s pointed side facing upward. Scallan holds his egg in a similar grip with the pointed side facing downward.
How it’s played
This is where rules come into play; the person holding the bottom egg stands completely still
been given various explanations,” Roach wrote in an essay for the virtual book, “Delta Pieces: Northeast Louisiana Folklife” at louisianafolklife.org.
“When asked about the meaning of the term ‘rock,’ interviewees gave us different views,” Roach continued.
One of Roach’s interviewees, R.B. Kelly, cited a biblical source for the rock: “Elijah rocked to the coming of the Lord.”
Kelly’s reference actually refers not to a Bible verse but to a traditional gospel song titled “Elijah Rock,” which is said to parallel the rocky mountain where the prophet Elijah sought refuge in God in 1 Kings 19:9-18. The song is also said to be connected to another verse associated with Elijah and a “rock,” Psalms 18:2, which describes God as a “rock, my fortress, and my deliverer.”
“R.B. Kelly sees the rock as representing the rolling away of the rock from Christ’s Tomb,” Roach wrote. “Most likely, the rock reflects the side-to-side movement.”
Preparation for the Easter Rock begins with rearrangement of church pews to face a long table
with salt spray There were sounds of rustling in the shrubs, crickets merrily chirping, and the splashing of fish in the waterway Along most of the way there was the memorable fragrance of jasmine, sweet olive and an indescribable mixture of tropical exotics.
The walk to the bridge was a walk from reality to fantasy Even on the hottest summer night, there would be a cool breeze blowing and the gentle lapping of the incoming waves against the pilings. But that brings us back to the present and a reality of life. What seems eternal can be so very transient. As time goes by, the memories become vaguer and more whimsical. Eventually, the memories become dreams and Shake-‘n’Bake, the old restaurant, the walk to the lake, they all remain alive only in the late-night slumbers of the old folks who remember — Rogers lives in Metairie.
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.
dietary supplements did, indeed, make the shells harder
“The people who buy their eggs start in January, and they go all over Louisiana, everywhere on a Sunday ride, and gather dozens of eggs from people’s yards,” Juneau said.
“And then they boil them in coffee grounds, then knock them on their teeth to see how strong they are.”
Now here’s where things get a little bit complicated. The rules allow only for chicken eggs, but guinea hen eggs also qualify Guinea eggs are stronger, but it wouldn’t be fair for the Guinea egg knockers to compete against the chicken egg knockers.
“So, we have two separate categories,” Lemoine said. “The only problem this year is that Guinea eggs are a lot more expensive — they’re selling for $30 a dozen.”
That, along with the rising cost of chicken eggs, surely would hamper this year’s competition, right?
Right?
Egg prices don’t matter
“That’s not stopping anybody,” Lemoine said. “People have been gathering their eggs, and they’re going to compete in the egg knocking.”
while the holder of the top egg does the tapping. Everyone around the table agrees that there’s no advantage to holding either the top or bottom egg, because the weaker shell naturally will crack.
As does Adams’ egg. Scallan takes on another competitor, then another He’s on a roll.
That’s when Juneau decides that she’s going to take back her egg.
“I’m saving this one of the competition,” she said, laughing. “I’m serious.”
Finding eggs
Juneau bought her eggs from a farmer, which is the standard way of gathering eggs for the competition these days. Some competitors raise their own chickens, supplementing the birds’ feed with pebbles and crushed oyster shells, believing the mix will make the eggshells stronger
The late Carl Juneau, in the 2017 interview, pointed out that an LSU study for the federal government discovered that the homemade
in the center The table, symbolizing Christ’s tomb, is covered by a white tablecloth representing purity It’s topped by a bowl of red punch symbolizing Christ’s blood, 12 cakes representing Jesus’ 12 disciples and 12 lanterns representing the 12 tribes of Israel.
Rounding out the table decor are Easter eggs, which are broken to symbolize the breaking of Jesus’ grave. A group of women dressed in white, symbolizing the women who discovered Christ’s empty tomb on Easter morning, march in with the leader carrying a banner representing Jesus’ cross. They start out singing “When the Saints Go Marching In,” then move on to “Oh, David” and finally “The Lord’s Prayer,” before starting over with “The Saints.” Meanwhile, the procession moves counterclockwise in a circle. Researchers speculate this coincides with the Congo sign of the four moments of the sun of dawn, noon, dusk and midnight then back to dawn, coinciding with birth, life, death and the afterlife. With the singing comes the
It’s not because there’s big money on the line. Winners will be awarded cash prizes of $100. That’s all.
No, these contests are about accomplishment and bragging rights, which is why competitors in Saturday’s contests also pock eggs in Marksville on Sunday Still, not everyone is on the up and up. There have been some cheaters along the way, competitors who try to knock their way through with wooden or epoxy eggs.
“Sometimes an egg is just too good, and you have to stop and check it,” Lemoine said. “We caught one guy who had made an egg out of epoxy.”
Dyeing isn’t required, and boiling isn’t necessarily a rule either Lemoine remembers some competitors bringing raw eggs to the contest, believing boiling weakened the shell. Those matches ended in a big mess.
Email Robin Miller at romiller@ theadvocate.com.
shuffling.
“Ellen Addison describes how the rock step is done: ‘Just get out there and move your foot from one side to another, but you ain’t supposed to cross your legs They say you’re dancing when you cross your legs. But you don’t do that,’” Roach wrote. “The Winnsboro group is quick to caution that the Rock is not a dance.”
Roach said the first scholarly publication about the Easter Rock was written in 1942, noting that participants remember the tradition as predating the Civil War. As for its concentration among northeast Louisiana Black churches, no definitive explanation has been found.
“I do know that it’s led by women, but men can participate,” Roach said. “And by the end, anyone attending can participate, and they do.”
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.
On arecent Saturday morning, Iventured out to my local farmers market. The weather was perfect andsigns of springabundant.
Olivia Regard
After grabbing acup of coffee from a market vendor Inoticed along line forming at one booth.With my curiosity piqued, Iwandered to where the crowds were gathering and quickly realized the line was to purchase strawberries. Iknewat that moment Iwouldbegoing home with aflat of farm-fresh berries.Flat in hand, Imade my way around the market nibbling on the juicy berries, visiting with friends and contemplating how best to savor the sweetness of spring.
Strawberry season is one of my favorites of the foodcentric seasons in Louisiana. While Louisiana strawberries are known for their sweetness and size, strawberriesare alsoone of the most nutrientdense foods. Ounce for ounce, strawberries have more vitamin Cthan oranges and are agreat source of potassium, folate, fiber and magnesium. Over the next few days, we enjoyed the fresh berries several different ways. We made strawberry basilsorbet (Recipe from Louisiana Bakes,April 2, 2023), dipped the berries in chocolate, added the berries to fresh salads and yogurt, and experimented with cakes. The recipe below is a mashup of my go-to olive oil cake and pound cake recipes with the added twist of roasting the berries. And, while the bakingprocess is abit unorthodox —you’ll start witha cold oven —the result will be a perfect pound cake filled with bright, juicy strawberries.
By The Associated Press
Roasted Strawberry Olive OilPound Cake
6cups strawberries, hulledand halved or quartered if large 11/2 cups granulated sugar Drizzleofolive oil
1. Place arack in the middleofthe oven andpreheat oven to 375 F.
2.Stir togetherstrawberries, 1/2 cup sugar and adrizzle of olive oil in alarge glass or ceramic baking dish. Roast strawberries for 20 minutes, stirringand rotating the pan once while roasting until softened and some of the moisturehas bakedout of theberries. Remove from oven and allowthe strawberries to cool.
3.Turn off the oven and allowthe oven to cool completely.(Note: To cool the oven quickly,leavethe oven door slightly ajar.The oven needs to be completelycooled before baking the cake.)
4. GreaseaBundt pan with nonstick baking sprayand setaside
5. In asmall bowl, sift or whisk together flour,baking powder,baking soda and salt.
6. In amediumbowl, whisk eggs andremaining 1cup of sugar.
Today is Sunday,April 20,the 110th day of 2025. There are 255 days left in the year.TodayisEaster Todayinhistory
On April 20, 1999, two students shot andkilled 12 classmates andone teacher and injured 23 othersbefore taking their own lives at Columbine High School, near Denver,Colorado.
On this date:
In 1812, the fourth vice president of the United States,GeorgeClinton, died in Washington at age 72, becoming the first vice president to die while in office In 1912, Boston’sFenway Park,now theoldest active stadium in Major League Baseball,hosted itsfirst official baseball game in front of an estimated 27,000 spectators. (The Red Sox defeated the New York Highlanders 7-6 in 11 innings.)
In 1914, militia and Colorado National Guard members opened fire on an encampment of striking coal miners and their families in Ludlow,Colorado; at least 19 people in the camp, including 12 children, and one National Guard member were killed in the“LudlowMassacre.”
In 1971, the Supreme Courtunanimously upheld the use of busing to achieve racial desegregation in schools
In 1972,Apollo 16’slunar module, carrying astronauts John W. Youngand Charles M. DukeJr.,landed on the moon
In 1986, following an absence of over six decades, Russian-bornpianist Vladimir Horowitz returned to the Soviet Union to perform aconcert at the Grand Hall of the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow.
In 2010, an explosion on theDeepwater Horizon oil platform, leased byBP, killed 11 workers and caused ablowout that began spewing an estimated 200 million gallons of crude oil into theGulf of Mexico. (The well was finally capped nearly three months later.)
In 2021, former Minneapolis police officer DerekChauvin was foundguilty of murder and manslaughter charges for the killing of George Floyd;Chauvin was later sentenced to 221/2 years in prison. Today’sbirthdays: Actor George Takei is 88. Actor Jessica Lange is 76. Actor Clint Howard is 66. Former MLB first baseman Don Mattingly is 64. Actor Crispin Glover is 61. Actor Andy Serkis is 61. Actor Shemar Moore is 55. Actormodel Carmen Electra is 53. Reggae musician Stephen Marleyis 53.Rapper Killer Mike is 50. Actor Joey Lawrence is 49. Model Miranda Kerr is 42. Former NFL linebacker Luke Kuechly is 34.
Ouncefor ounce, strawberries have more vitaminC than oranges and areagreat source of potassium, folate, fiber andmagnesium
Whisk in the sour cream and olive oil then add the lemon zest, lemon juice and vanilla extract.
7. Add the dry ingredients to wet ingredients and whisk together untilsmooth. Fold in the roasted strawberries and any juices that collect in thepan and gently stir to combine.
8. Spoon thebatter into the prepared pan.
9. Place the cake in the cold oven on arack set in the bottom onethirdofthe oven. Set the oven temperature to 300 F. Allow the oven to preheat with cake inside and bake until acake tester inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean, approximately 1hour,40minutes.
10. Allow cake to cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then invert cake onto awirerack to cool.
Dear Heloise: My husband and I didsomething very similar to J.T.K. and R.E.K. by writing a letter to everyone who abused our hospitality when we bought our lake house. We thought thematter was settled, but little did we know that we opened acan of worms.
sent them to alocal hotel, but bothfamilies decided to go homeinstead.
tency and extraction. Here are someofthe reasons why:
My stepdaughter (my husband’s child) said at first they were offended, but they decided to “forgive us” andshowed up on our doorstep with their three kids and two other children from their neighborhood.
My husband sat them down, said under no circumstance were they staying, and listed our reasons why.They had planned to stay over the Fourth of July weekend without warning, but my husband told them to leave.
We had two other people try to worm their way in at other times, both claimingthat they never received the letter.We
Both my husband and Ihave health problems, and we’re not in the mood for freeloaders who leave wet towels on the beds, don’tlift a finger to help around the house, or ask to borrow our home, car,boat or money P.S. We bothlove reading your column. Keep up thegood work! —Tess and Frank, in Michigan Tess and Frank, we received an unusual number of letters on this subject, so apparently it’snot uncommon for people to forget their mannersand ask for permission to visit someone else’shome. —Heloise
Wettingcoffee filters
Dear Heloise: Wetting acoffee filter before brewing, also called blooming or rinsing, can improve the flavor of the coffee. Wetting the filter helps with temperature control, consis-
n Temperature control: Wettingthe filter helps maintain a consistent brewing temperature.
n Consistency: Wetfilters perform moreconsistently than dry filters.
n Extraction: Wetting the filter helps create amore uniform surface forwater to pass through, which improves extraction.
n Washing: Wetting thefilter removes dustand chemicals from themanufacturing process.
n Sealing: Wetting the filter helps it seal to the brewing device, which minimizes bypass.
How to wetthe filter: Place thefilter in the coffee maker Pourhot water over the filter Discard the rinsing water.Add coffee grounds.
Note: Somesay that the difference in taste between wet and dry filters may be minor, and somepeople may not be able to tell the difference. Oth-
ers say that they got better flavor and extraction times from a dry filter —Don S.,a loyalreader Cleaning cobwebs
Dear Heloise: Thank you forbeing such an inspiration. Whenever Ihave an “aha” moment, I always think of you. Ispotted a cobweb high up in acorner by the ceiling. Instead of grabbing abroom, which is awkward, Iused my grabber stick with afolded dish towel held in its suction cups. The handle waseasier to hold, and it was super lightweight, making the chore abreeze! Karen B.,Warren, Ohio Spring cleaning reminder
Dear Readers: Spring cleaning is just around the corner for manyofus. Make it easy by doing one room per day.Really dig into it, and don’tforget the closets. It’ll be over before you know it! —Heloise
Send ahinttoheloise @heloise.com.
Dear Harriette: I’ve been dating my boyfriend for more than ayear now,and we get along great in most areas. However, I’ve noticedwehave different approaches to money.I’m focused on saving, investing and planning for the future, while he prefers to live in the momentand spend freely.He likes to buy random infomercial items off of the internetorspontaneously buy newitems like expensive appliances Itold himthatthese aren’t smartfinancial decisions, and he told me to not worry.Iworry that our financial differences couldleadtoconflict down the road,especially when it comes to majorlife decisions like buying ahome, traveling or retirement planning. Ilove my boy-
friend, but Idon’twant money to become aconstant sourceof stress. HowdoIdetermine if this is something we can work through? —Conflicting Values Dear Conflicting Values: Talk about your views on money in the context of your desires for thefuture.Ask your boyfriend howhe sees his life in five to 10 years. Does he want to buy ahome? What type of workwill he do? Does he want to travel? Whatever you careabout,ask him his views on it. Then describe to him your dreams and interests and your thoughtsonhow to manifestthem Bring up your ideas on saving and investing in the future. Ask him if he is willing toworkwith you to make aplan that includes putting money away ratherthan spending it. Perhaps you can agree to createa joint account for savings or investing, to which you each deposit afixed monthly amount.This can allow him to continue to have some
moneytospend as he pleases while also contributing to the plans for the future. Dear Harriette: Ilove my friends, but Ican’thelp feeling like the least impressive one in the group. They’re all beautiful, stylish and successful. They have great jobs and exciting sociallives and always seem so confident. When we go out together,Ifeel like Ifade into the background. Guys approach themfirst. People compliment themmore, and Ican’tshake the feeling that Idon’tmeasure up. It’snot that I’m unhappy withmyself, but being around themsometimes makes me question my own worth. Istart picking apart my looks, my career progress and even my personality Iknow they don’tintentionally make me feel this way They’re supportive and kind, but Istill find myself struggling withinsecurity whenever we’re together.Ihate feeling like I’m
in constant comparison mode, and Idon’twant my self-doubt to ruin these friendships. How do Istop feeling like the least impressive friend? How can I build my confidence without distancing myself from the people Ilove? —LessThan DearLessThan: Take astep back and assess your attributes. What is special about you? Be honest. Then look in the mirrorand remind yourself of those qualities. Youhave to love yourself first. Consider expanding your friend group. Youdon’thave to dump your current group of friends, but open your eyes and notice other people with similar interests who aren’tpart of that clique. See if you can be comfortable around other people without too muchself-judgment. If so, continue to spend time with them.
Send questions to askharriette@harriettecole. com.
Owner recalls the music and people of the famed New Orleans club
BY GERALDINE WYCKOFF
Contributing writer
Folks in New Orleans know her simply as Donna from Donna’s, a hole-in-thewall bar, music venue and down-home restaurant at North Rampart and St. Ann streets. Donna Poniatowski Sims, author of “Donna’s Bar & Grill — New Orleans,” ruled as the bartender and coowner along with her amiable husband, Chef Charlie Sims, who regaled as kitchen master of what became known as New Orleans brass band headquarters.
Regulars at the timeworn pink building at 800 N. Rampart St. will recognize the musicians who made the place happily buckjump and swing Crescent City-style, from its opening in 1993 to its regrettable demise in 2010. Donna Sims, now retired and living in Bywater, sets the scene with 400 photos she took through the years and stories she relates in a written “voice” that sounds much as it did when she chatted up friends and patrons as she tended bar (Full disclosure: I was one of those friends.)
A remarkable element of Sims’ firsthand account is just how many details of events and seemingly minor conversations she recalls. She says her memories were sparked by the photographs she took of the brass bands, jazz musicians and Mardi Gras Indians who performed at the club. The snapshots were invaluable for her to identify the oftenchanging members of the young, up-and-coming brass bands. She was able put names to the faces I do have notes, though not a journal,” Sims explained during a recent interview, adding that naturally she and Charlie would also exchange stories.
PHOTO By MARGARET STEINMAN COURTESy OF
DONNA PONIATOWSKI SIMS
and Donna Poniatowski
Orleans.
good eye,” he said, and then offered her instruction. “He really got me interested in photography,” Sims said.
Sims’ memory aids her greatly in the book’s first chapter when she writes about the history of the building. She tells of conversing with the great-greatgrandchildren of the building’s original owner, a free woman of color for whom it was designed. The women related that their “GG” ran a confectionery and displayed her sweets in the downstairs windows.
When Sims wasn’t behind the bar, she taught biology, chemistry, anatomy and physics to high school and college students. She found her teaching experience helped her deal with the young musicians in the brass bands.
“Oh, yes indeed, it did,” she emphatically stated. “I love teaching high school kids. They are interesting, highly intelligent by then and a lot of fun.”
“When I was tending my bar I heard a lot of stuff and I just remembered it,” she added with her usual laugh “The other thing was that I have a lot of memorabilia — I have a lot of posters and I have a couple of huge calendars from different years So I had resources of my own.”
Through the lens of a music lover
Donna shot all of her photographs in the book using a Canon camera that she found early one morning on a French Quarter stoop.
With no responses to her quest to find the owner, she decided that since she had it, she wanted to learn how to use it.
Much later, the late great photographer Herman Leonard came into the club and admired a couple of her photos hanging on the wall
“You know Donna, you have a really
“They come up into your place to play and you know that they’re are not quite an adult yet. Patience and a lot of kindness has to go along with that. Where I think it’s really beautiful is that the older musicians are that way with the younger musicians They take a lot of time and patience with these kids.”
Sims’ experience as a schoolteacher is also evident in her style of writing, especially when she’s explaining terminology unique to New Orleans, like secondlining and jazz funerals.
Charlie Sims had been a chef employed by Amtrak on the City of New Orleans line that linked his hometown of Chicago to New Orleans. He was a huge presence at Donna’s for his talent at a hot stove, hilariously holding court with those gathered in the small kitchen and sharing his love and knowledge of modern jazz.
Charlie Sims died in 2017 at the age of 81.
A happy place
Another “real deal” element of Donna’s was Sylvester Francis, who knew the proverbial everyone and would soon found the Backstreet Cultural Museum. “He was very instrumental in helping us get started,” Donna said.
Importantly Francis brought Benny Jones, leader of the Treme Brass Band, to the club and introduced him to Donna and Charlie.
“We just wanted it to be a happy place,” Donna Sims said. “We just felt like we were a community place where everybody was welcome.” She credits the artists for the music and humorous banter that livened up the bar “They became clientele,” Donna said, again with a laugh In “Donna’s Bar & Grill — New Orleans,” Donna Poniatowski Sims figuratively reopens the doors of the small, kind of funky pink building on the corner of North Rampart and St. Ann streets. It was indeed a happy place.
Geraldine Wyckoff is a music journalist in New Orleans. Email her at gwnomusic@yahoo.com.
‘Merely tolerated, violently persecuted’
BY RIEN FERTEL Contributing writer
“The Jewish South” by Shari Rabin, Princeton University Press, 296 pages
Charleston, South Carolina, it might come as a surprise, was once the center of Jewish life and culture in the United States, hosting the nation’s largest population of Jews numbering around 800 in the 1820s — and one of the oldest synagogues in the Americas, Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim, built by enslaved labor in 1749.
Jewish Southerners have at times been merely tolerated, violently persecuted and often socially marginalized, according to Shari Rabin, a professor at Oberlin College.
“I am convinced,” she writes in her crucial survey, “The Jewish South,” “that anyone who truly wants to understand the history of the South, or the United States, needs to know their stories.”
In French Louisiana, the Code Noir of 1724 required the colony’s administrators “to drive out all Jews who may have established their residence there.” As “declared enemies of the Christian name,” they were given three months to leave.
Rabin makes the point that no Jews likely lived in Louisiana at the time.
The expulsion rule would be ignored, and by 1759, there were reportedly six Jews living in New Orleans, including Isaac Monsanto. A merchant originally from The Hague, Monsanto would eventually be expelled by Spanish colonial governors before opening an illegal storefront in the nearby swamps of Manchac.
covers the years spanning Reconstruction through Jim Crow, when, Rabin writes, “most Jews adapted to the norms of southern whiteness, which meant at least tolerating — and in some cases enthusiastically embracing” the worst of the South’s Lost Cause culture and politics.
Monsanto likely received a Catholic burial, though we do not know whether he was forced. This Christianization of Jewish life and lives would be a harbinger of things to come. At the outbreak of the American Revolution, most Jews in the Lowcountry cities of Charleston and Savannah supported the patriots, while others remained British loyalists.
Post-revolution, they gained all the privileges bestowed by White citizenship, but they now lived under new, oppressive laws and public norms, including the compulsory closure of their businesses on Sundays and swearing by Christian oaths if elected to office. By the 1840s, an estimated 50% of Jewish men in New Orleans were marrying Christian, mainly Catholic, women (a full century later, my New Orleans-born paternal grandfather would do the same).
By midcentury, New Orleans outpaced Charleston as the center of Southern Jewish life. The Crescent City had four congregations, a Hebrew Benevolent Society and an asylum for widows and orphans.
In New Orleans, as throughout the South, Jews participated in the system of chattel slavery In 1830 Charleston, 83% of Jewish households owned enslaved persons, a notch below the 87% average. Jewish men, as throughout the nation, engaged in relationships with enslaved and free women of color
Judah Touro, a prominent philanthropist for whom Touro Synagogue and Touro Infirmary are named, fathered Narcissa Wilson with a free woman of color named Ellen Wilson. Narcissa would go on to marry Richard Gustavus Forrester, a prominent Richmond, Virginia, lawyer who was also the child of a Jewish man and free woman of color
In “The Jewish South,” Rabin dissects the myth that Jews uniformly supported the Confederacy Many certainly did, most notably Judah P. Benjamin, who represented Louisiana in the U.S. Senate before holding multiple high-ranking offices with the Confederate States of America and appearing on the CSA’s $2 bill.
As with many Southerners, Jews had diverse and shifting loyalties during the Civil War — some enlisted, some fled, and many felt compelled to stay quiet.
Some of the book’s strongest research
It’s not for nothing, the author reminds us, that Flannery O’Connor called the region “Christ-haunted.”
Prominent New Orleans Rabbi Max Heller, for instance, insisted on the “benevolence of separation,” yet implored his congregants to show Black Americans “our active sympathy, our energetic aid.” Around the turn of the century, Southern Jews increasingly began to embrace a Reform Judaism that Christian conservative Southerners found more tolerable.
Rabin spends several pages detailing the life of Leo Frank, the man convicted and lynched for the supposed murder of 13-year-old Mary Phagan in 1913 Atlanta, to elucidate the era’s descent into violent antisemitism.
Phagan was, in an important detail that historians often left out of the story until the success of the 1998 Broadway musical “Parade,” en route to a Confederate Memorial Day celebration.
Frank’s lynch mob would be instrumental in the revival of the Ku Klux Klan at Stone Mountain a few months later
During the Civil Rights era, many congregations continued to remain politically neutral, despite the rise in antisemitic material being published throughout the South increasing 400%, according to Rabin, in the last half of the 1950s. During this time, the proportion of Southern Jews dipped dramatically, from 9% in 1900 to 4% by 1943.
Northern Jews would prove vital to the 1961 Freedom Ride and Freedom Summer of 1964, yet when Jackson’s Rabbi Perry Nussbaum visited jailed activists, Jewish congregations throughout the South objected. White supremacists targeted Nussbaum’s synagogue and home in bombing campaigns that also struck Jewish temples and community centers in Atlanta, Miami, Nashville, Jacksonville and Meridian.
These attacks agitated many to finally and fully support the cause.
Rabin ends her narrative in 1967, except for a brief epilogue that rushes through the last six decades. I wanted more: the rise of Jewish communities in South Florida, the pushback against the vile bigotry of David Duke, the disappearance of Jewish-owned businesses that once bolstered the main streets of most every town and city (like the Godchaux’s department store chain in New Orleans, as one example).
Here’s hoping for a sequel.
Rien Fertel is the author of four books, including, most recently, “Brown Pelican.”
Localaudiologist is growingJrumz —used at this year’s Grammys— into anationalbrand
BYRICH COLLINS Staff writer
In thefallof2018, Dr.LanaJosephmadea unique “house call.”
The New Orleans audiologisttook an Uberto the Smoothie King Center,where afew giant bodyguardsushered herbackstagefor an appointment with Drake, the rap superstar who was in town to perform Joseph injected silicone intoDrake’s ears, creating the mold that would be usedtomake new, custom in-earmonitors, atype of fancywireless earbuds used bymost professionalmusicians on stage. The experienceand others likeitgot Joseph thinking: In her line of work, she had made plenty of ear molds, but whatwouldittake for her to create the monitors themselves?
ä See JRUMZ, page 2E
Audiologist Dr.Lana Joseph has been building herown brand ofearbuds and headphones called Jrumz.
STAFF PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER
19-year-old financial institution expanding into Texas
BY STEPHANIE RIEGEL Staff writer
Adecade ago, Baton Rouge-based b1Bank had $650 million in assetsand five branches around Louisiana. It catered mostly to small- and mediumsized businesses rather than retail banking customers looking for checking accounts or home equityloans.
Today,the 19-year-old bank has 58 locations, nearly $8 billion in assets and awealth management business in three states. It also has plans to continue expanding —particularly in the competitive Dallas market,where
b1Bank nowhas more assets than in its home base of Baton Rouge.
“Ourbiggest market now is Dallas, followed by Houston,” saidChair and CEOJude Melville, 50.
Founded in 2006 by Melville’s uncle,the late former Gov.Buddy Roemer,b1Bank initially targeted whatRoemer andhis founding boardmembers felt was an underserved market in the state: growing businesses that were too small forlarge national andregional banks to bother with but too big for small community banks to handle.
time,b1had agrowing portfolio of commercial loansbut needed to build up itsdeposits. American Gateway hada solidcore of depositsbut some problem loans on its books
Thedeal pushedb1over the $1 billion mark in assets, settingthe bank on apath to growth.Ithas sinceacquired five morebanks in Louisiana and Texas,including, mostrecently, Dallas-basedOakwood Bancshares, which added $862 millioninassets to b1’s balance sheet.
That’sstill b1’sbread and butter
But in 2015,the bank,then called Business First Bank, moved into consumer banking with theacquisition of American Gateway,alongtime communitybank in Baton Rouge. At the
Business leaders for decades have decried theloss of banking headquarters across Louisiana. Over the past 30 years or so, banks once domiciledin the state have been acquiredbylarger
ä See B1BANK, page 2E
Founded in Baton Rougein2006, b1Bank, then called Business First Bank, aimed to grow businesses too smallfor largenational
A developer who two years ago had a commercial project in north Lafayette voted down wants to put an entertainment facility on the property Property owner Jacoby Landry and business partner Orlando Mouton are seeking a conditional use permit to operate a 20,000-squarefoot facility that will host concerts, boxing events, entertainment with recorded music and private events at the corner of Louisiana Avenue and Butcher Switch Road, documents show
The Lafayette Parish Zoning Commission will decide whether to grant his request during a Monday meeting
It’s the group’s second attempt at developing the 6.67-acre site after they requested a rezoning from residential single family to build an event center Commissioners turned down its request but agreed to rezone it to mixeduse neighborhood
Landry and Mouton said they researched what could be put there to meet the guidelines in the zoning, which allows entertainment centers but with a conditional use permit. The development will also include retail outlets, which are allowed in the zoning.
Staff with community development and planning department indicated they were reluctant to support the conditional use permit because the area is surrounded by a single family residential area, and areas zoned RS-1 should not front a minor arterial road like Louisiana Avenue.
They recommended guidelines for the applicants, including no private events and no external speakers on the property
The office got seven calls and two emails from residents who were against any kind of entertainment center being built on that site.
Landry, a licensed boxing promoter, and Mouton want to use the event for boxing events and sporting events and for commu-
nity events.
“They’ve been getting to us to give them a list of what we’re planning to do with that specific space,” Mouton said. “We did send them updated information. We’ve engaged with every department you can think of.”
Project JRC, Pelican Engineering join forces
The engineering firms of Project JRC of Broussard and Pelican Engineering of Lafayette joined forces under a partnership designed to expand service offerings, increase workforce capacity and create new opportunities for clients.
The agreement allows both companies to work as a team, offering mechanical and electrical engineering and manufacturing services under one roof.
“We’re combining our strengths without losing what makes us great,” Project JRC founder Justin Courville said. “I’m still here, our team is still here, and we’re stepping into this next chapter with
more support, more resources and a bigger vision for what’s possible.”
Pelican Engineering specializes in high-tech manufacturing and electronics development, while Project JRC specializes in project management, engineering design and business consulting
The agreement brings industrial equipment design and systems engineering expertise to the table, Pelican co-founder James Palmer said.
Homes staying on market now up to 4 months
A newly built home in Lafayette Parish is staying on the market for an average of more than four months, the longest since before the COVID pandemic.
Through March, newly constructed homes are staying on the market on average for 130 days, up about a month from last year’s average, according to data from analyst Bill Bacque with Market Scope Consulting.
Continued from page 1E
A few years later, when the pandemic disrupted business at Joseph’s Uptown speech and hearing clinic, she had time to brainstorm the idea properly
And that research paid off.
In 2022, Joseph launched Jrumz, an audio electronics startup focused on safe listening and hearing health. Three years later, she’s sold roughly $500,000 worth of headphones, wireless earbuds and in-ear monitors mostly via her online shop and Amazon.
Joseph said she earned her first design patent for a pair of wireless earphones in February She has applied for three more and is planning to expand into hearing aids this year
Even though now she’s a player in the $800 billion-plus global consumer electronics market, Joseph said she’s not trying to compete head-to-head with global tech titans like Apple, Sony and Bose.
“We’re just blazing our own trail, focusing on safe listening,” she said. “That’s the whole purpose of Jrumz. People love the story The company founder is an African American woman and an audiologist, and I started by helping kids hear.”
Spark of inspiration
As a child growing up Marrero, Joseph had a speech impediment that took years to diagnose but only a few months to treat. Inspired by that experience, she became an audiologist and, in 2016, founded the High Level Speech & Hearing Center to provide early intervention for children with speech and hearing disorders.
In the near decade that followed, the clinic grew and now has contracts to provide screenings for more than 200 Louisiana schools and day care centers.
“That’s my main bread and butter,” she said. “I have a great team and 10 years in the game. I
learned to outsource. Now I serve in the role of CEO and CFO.”
Though the clinic provides pediatric care Joseph has also built up a clientele of musicians on the side. They come to her for hearing tests and custom-fit, in-ear monitors, which allow them to hear themselves sing and play their instruments while blocking out distractions on a noisy stage.
“Preferably you want an audiologist to take an impression of your ears,” she said. “An average Joe could potentially damage your hearing.”
Zoom calls, mass production
When Joseph began researching how to create her own audio electronics brand in 2021, she hunkered down and turned her apartment into a lab of sorts.
“There were days when I didn’t take a shower and days when I barely ate,” she said. “Everything was about, how the heck do I create a headphone company?”
She created her first in-ear monitor using components from Knowles Corp , the company that makes the “drivers,” or miniature speakers, inside earbuds and inear monitors. Ultimately Joseph realized she’d need to partner with manu-
facturers in Asia to mass produce her products. That involved latenight calls and Zoom meetings during business hours on the other side of the world.
Her first product, the Jrumz XP01 universal in-ear monitor, debuted in January 2022. It has been followed by five other designs, including the Clarity line of headphones.
In the years since, she’s manufactured fewer than 10,000 units altogether. Her total investment in the business, all self-funded, is in the high six-figure range. But Joseph said the focus has been on quality over quantity and designing products that sound good at reasonable volumes.
“Audiology taught me that people turn up the volume not because they can’t hear what’s being said but because they can’t understand. We don’t sacrifice bass, but we give more high frequencies so it’s a balanced sound.”
No more freebies
Though Jrumz is small, highprofile performers are taking notice of its products.
When rapper Doechii performed at the 2025 Grammy Awards, where she won “best rap album” honors, her onstage sidekick, DJ
That average is also nearly four times longer than 2022’s average when interest rates fell to historic lows. It’s the highest since the end of 2019 when newly built homes were on the market for 133 days and existing homes 76 days. So far this year existing homes are moving quicker, staying on the market for 59 days on average. That’s up slightly from 53 a year ago and well below 76 from 2019. Some of that can be attributed to bad weather in January and February, Bacque said. Pending deals for new construction last month were up almost 9%, and new construction is also up in both total sales (6%) and average sale price (3%).
Yet among new listings, new construction is down 23%. The average sale price is now 3% up from a year ago to $324,383, data shows.
“The slightly rising inventory is offering more buyers more choice,” Bacque said. “But it has not negatively impacted home values.”
from page 1E
banks with headquarters in other Southern cities.
Large, national banks offer loans and other financial services, as do their regional counterparts and smaller community banks. But banking industry watchers have noted that having midsized banks, with local headquarters, means more top executives who can boost civic leadership and offer localized lending decisions. Moving in from the periphery In Louisiana, b1Bank is a medium-sized fish in a small pond. It is the state’s sixth-largest bank, with 3.5% of in-state deposits about $4.6 billion as of June 30 In Texas, b1Bank is a much smaller fish, with fewer than 1% of all deposits in the state. But the pond is so much bigger — and growing — that Melville and others see more opportunities to expand. Banks in Texas last year had $1.44 trillion in total deposits compared with less than $132 billion in Louisiana.
“In some ways, it’s actually easier to break into these markets in Texas because it’s a growing pie,” Melville said. “It’s not like you’re going after someone else’s customers.”
Miss Milan, was wearing a bright red Jrumz in-ear monitor
At the 2023 Super Bowl, Emmywinning actor and singer Sheryl Lee Ralph used a Jrumz monitor when performing “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”
Other Jrumz users include members of the Grammy-winning New Orleans group Tank and the Bangas, singer/songwriter/producer Babyface and Adam Blackstone, who is the music producer for Nicki Minaj, Justin Timberlake and others.
Still, Joseph has to work hard to get the word out and she counts marketing among her biggest expenses and frustrations.
She hired a high-profile ad agency for a while but switched to the boutique marketing company Newtral Groundz, run by fellow New Orleans entrepreneur Brent Craige, to create Jrumz social media content, which posts mostly on Facebook and Instagram.
She paid to be the official headphone partner of the New Orleans Pelicans for the last two years and regularly attends industry gatherings around the country
For several years, Joseph traded free products for promotion, but she’s not doing it as much anymore.
“Artists promise to mention me on social media, so I would go out there, fulfill my end of the deal and they would never post,” she said. “So I stopped doing that. People ask me for free stuff, and I say, ‘I’ll give you a discount, but I’m not giving you anything for free, unless I know that I’m going to get value from it.’
Joseph eventually hopes to get her products on store shelves but doesn’t have the budget to make it happen at least not yet.
“You can have a great product, but that’s not enough,” she said. “You have to find someone to pitch you to retailers, and you have to pay them to even have the conversation.”
Email Rich Collins at rich. collins@theadvocate.com.
Melville said b1’s strategy for nudging into the Dallas and Houston markets has been focused on outlying communities around the periphery of the big cities like Addison, Frisco and McKinney near Dallas or Pasadena outside of Houston, rather than “plopping ourselves in the middle of downtown.”
“Those are communities that need community banking,” he said. “It is a little easier to attack something if you divvy it up a little bit.”
The strategy makes sense, according to banking experts.
“Dallas and surrounding areas would be attractive to any Louisiana bank because they are growing,” said Jonathan Briggs, a banking analyst, who spent much of his career in New Orleans before moving to Dallas three years ago.
“Louisiana is not.”
Between 2018 and 2022, b1 grew by 40% per year, outperforming peer banks, whose annual asset growth averaged 11% during the same period, according to a report prepared by Southeastern Louisiana University Long-term plans?
B1 has also expanded in recent years into new product and service lines.
It created a network of more than 100 smaller community banks around the country that it partners with, providing backoffice functions, portfolio management, loan administration and other services for a fee.
It’s a way for the bank to diversify its revenue stream
“We also believe that part of being a community bank is helping other community banks succeed,” Melville said. “A stronger economy is better for all of us.”
Banks like b1, as they grow, often become targets for acquisition by regional or national banks. Melville said his goal is to create something “meaningful, regional and lasting.”
“We are business people and have a fiduciary, so I can’t say we would never be acquired,” he said. “But that is not why we come to work every day. We want to build something that will last.” Email Stephanie Riegel at stephanie.riegel@theadvocate. com.
BY ANTHONY McAULEY Staff writer
TimJohnson has been in the persuasion business since he left LSU in the late 1980s with adegree in political science and history
As a26-year-old, he founded The TJCGroup,the consultancy firm that he’sbeenrunning ever since and represents many of the largest oil, gasand chemicals companies operating in the state.
He was able to catch the wave of community advisorypanels, which had just started to develop in the 1980s when the Chemical Manufacturers Association, nowknown as the American Chemistry Council, was rolling out its Responsible Care initiative. That initiative was aresponse to acrisis of trust after aseries of environmentaldisasters and scandals in the preceding decades.
“I started thisfirm as part of a process with communityadvisory panels in October of 1990and just sort of grown the firm since then,” the now-61-year-old Johnson said.
The TJC Group now has about three dozen employees, including several registered lobbyists, Johnson is not afraid to admit, despite the enduring jokes about the profession.AsHuey P. Long once said, government is like arestaurant with waiters from both main parties serving just one dish. “No matter which set of waitersbrings you the dish, the legislative grub is all prepared in the same Wall Street kitchen,” he said.
But as Johnson once said when he was advocating to locate aproposed $2 billion new bridge across the Mississippi River in Iberville Parish: “If you’re not sitting at the table, you’re on the menu.”
The following Q&A has been edited for clarity and length.
What do you think of Gov.JeffLandry’sefforts so far to improve the environment for business to operate, including making it easier for industrytoget permits?
We are still in aposition where it is easier to get permits in other places than it is here. From an industry perspective, that is ahuge issue in terms of speed to market, cost of building afacilityand the
TimJohnson, founder and CEO of The TJC Group,which represents many of the largest petrochemicals companies in Louisiana, said the state’s more aggressiveapproach aimed at boosting manufacturing will ‘pay dividends.
risk of building afacilityand how you de-riskthose things. Ithink we’re making some effort in those areas.
There have been some high-profile industrial wins in the past year.Doyou thinkthere is apositive shift in the waythe state is seeking to attract manufacturing and will it have legs?
We’re thinking about bringing additional manufacturing jobs here and what it takes to do that. Ithink the reimagination of Louisiana EconomicDevelopment is going to pay some dividends. Look at this new group, Leadersfor a BetterLouisiana(an industry lobbying group thatwas the result of themerger in January of The Committee of 100 for Economic Development and the Council for
Ithink thatthey were heavily engaged in researching what other Southern stateswere doing in termsoftheir economic development policyand economicdevelopment efforts,and have really brought afresh perspective to that department andhow it’sgoingto operate going forward. Ithink the more aggressive approach is going to pay dividends. You’ve said that theindustrial corridor along theMississippi River hasbeen unfairly saddled with the “Cancer Alley”moniker. In community meetings, what do you tell folks wholive in thoseparishes?
We recognizethat thetopics are very sensitive.Whenyou start talking to families about cancer,weall have been impacted by that, right?
So, as industry,we’ve got to do that withgreat understanding and great compassion. We approach theconversation around cancer in Louisiana and any impacts that industry may or maynot have with compassion andunderstanding. ButI thinkthatpartofwhatwe have to talk about is responsibility forour ownhealth. There are certain decisions that we have to make andifyou look at the population as awhole, there are tons of statistics andstudies that show that the people who work inside industry in Louisianaare some of the healthiest people in our state.
There arereasons forthat. They’vegot great health care coverage, they have preventative care, theyhave wellness plans that have education around diet and alcohol abuse andsunlight andall of those things. And so they tend to be healthier.Whenwegointo communities andwetell individuals, particularly folks who are less fortunate, that there is nothing you can do about your own health, that theplants arekilling youand that’s just afact, Ithink that’sadisservice.
What’sanexample of an industrial project that is being held up by that kind of communitycampaigning?
The biggest oneright now is the one that gets all the headlines, the Formosaproject in St James Parish. Ithink it is the poster child for the difficulty in moving atransformational project forward.
The St.James Parish government is for it so what has been the difficulty?
It has attracted atremendous amount of attention nationwide and thatactivist group, RISE St.
James, has received heavy funding from Bloomberg dollars and some other areas. The Michael Bloomberg Foundation andhis initiative “Beyond Petrochemicals” have been fighting againstjust about everything that St. James Parish looks to do.
Just to be clear,do youworkfor Formosaor St.James Parish directly in making thecase for the plant?
We runanorganization here called Industry Makes, agroup of plants, contractors andservice providers organized to at least push back on someofthe anti-industry activism that we’veseen. The tagline is: “Let others make noise, we make everything else.” Formosa is part of Industry Makes, but we don’tdoany work directly for Formosa.
Some recentwinsinLouisiana comeunder the banner of the state’s“All of theAbove” energypolicy,which seeks to pursue opportunities on the clean energyfront as well as traditional fossilfuels.President DonaldTrump’s administration has sought to roll back some of thelegislation and policies supporting those investments. Does that worry you?
Idon’tknow if I’ve used the word “worried” yet, but it’scertainly something to consider.There are lots of conversations going on at veryhigh levels about thecritical importance of theinvestment those tax credits have brought in terms of what has been announced and anumber of projects are very dependent on those tax credits. So, we are hopeful and have an expectationthatthose taxcredits will remain, in some form or fashion.
EmailAnthony McAuley at tmcauley@theadvocate.com.
Thisarticle is broughttoyou by the Louisiana Commercial Fishing Coalition LLC
Louisiana’s Menhaden Industry Welcomes the2025 Season
As Louisiana’smenhaden fishing industry prepares forthe 2025 season, beginning Monday,April 21, fishermen, their families,and localcommunities are gathering forthe annual Blessing of the Fleet.This year’s event, being held on Easter Sunday, blends faith, family,and a deep connection to the seaasgenerations of fishing familiescome together to honor their wayoflifeand seek protection for the season ahead.
Fordecades,the Blessing of the Fleet has been asolemn momentof unity, with industryworkersand their families,local leadersand clergy coming together to pray fora safe and successful fishing season. From Plaquemines to Vermilion, menhaden steamerswillbe adorned with flagsand fresh paint, as captains andcrews bowtheirheads in prayer–continuing atradition thathas safeguarded fishermen foroveracentury
This gathering is alsoatime to recognizethe dedication and resilience of the industry’s workers. Former Louisiana Department of Wildlifeand Fisheries
Secretary Madison Sheahan visited Westbank Fishinglast year and described menhaden fishing as “one of our state’s toughest jobs.” The startofthe season serves as areminder of the sacrifices thesecrews and their families make,as
well as the challenges they face working on the open water.
ALegacy of Louisiana
Menhaden Fishing
Themenhaden
fishery hasbeen acornerstone of Louisiana’scoastal economyfor over acentury.Since the late 1800s,Louisiana’snutrient-rich estuaries have supported vast menhaden populations,making it one of theGulf of Mexico’smost productive fishing regions
In the 1980s,Louisiana’smenhaden industry operated morethan 80 vessels and 11 processing plants. However, due to economic pressures and industry consolidation, only twofishing companies remaintoday –Westbank Fishing in Empire and Ocean Harvestersin Abbeville –together operating afleet of 27 vessels.Despiteconsolidation, Louisiana’smenhaden industry remains amajor economicdriver,generating $419 million in annual output and supporting over 2,000 jobs.Fishermen and processing plantemployees earn
morethan $50,000 peryear,with benefits thatprovide stabilityfor coastal families
Theindustry alsocontributes over$62.4 million in procuring goodsand services from 32 parishes,extending its impact far beyond our coast
“The Blessing of theFleet isn’tjust about theseason ahead,”said Francois Kuttel, PresidentofWestbank Fishing. “It’sabout recognizing thegenerations of hardworking fishermen who have made this industry what it is today.
In additiontoits economic impact, Louisiana’smenhaden industry is recognized as one of themost sustainable in the world. TheMarine Stewardship Council (MSC) has certified thefishery forresponsible harvesting practices, and the latest stockassessmentfromthe Gulf StatesMarine Fisheries Commission confirms thatmenhaden populationsare healthyand growing.
“Weinvest in science-backed conservation efforts to maintain ahealthy fishery forfuturegenerations,” said Ben Landry,arepresentativeof Ocean Harvesters.
This commitmenttosustainabilityis matched by theindustry’s embrace of new technology. Amajor innovation forthe 2025season is theadoption of ultra-high molecular weightpolyethylene Spectra/ Platina netting. This fiber is tentimes strongerthannylon, enhancing durability andsignificantly reducingfish spills caused by net tears. With allLouisiana menhaden vessels nowequipped with this cutting-edgenetting, theindustry continues to improve efficiency and minimizewaste.
Looking Ahead to the 2025 Season
As the2025season begins, Louisiana’s menhaden industry remainsapillarofthe state’s working coast.The Blessing of the Fleet serves notonly as asignalfor the start of another harvest butasa reminder of the industry’s resilience in theface of economic, environmental,and regulatory challenges
From the Blessing of the Fleet on Easter Sunday to thefinalhaulon November 1, menhaden fishing continues to be driven by resilience, responsibility, andadeep connection to Louisiana’s coastal heritage.Industry leadersare committedtoinnovation,sustainability, andensuring that futuregenerations can carry on this time-honored tradition
The United States is steeped in atrade war that will hurt people who can least afford it at atime when consumers are already,and rightfully,spooked about rising prices.
An Economist-YouGov poll showedthat 80% of Americans expect the tariffs announced by President Donald Trump will raise their costs; 47% expect prices will increase alot In preparation, many people are stockpiling goods from coffee to hair extensions to toilet paper
Ialready knew somewould encouragepanic buying and hoarding.
“It’snot abad idea to go tothe localWalmart or big box retailer and buy lots of consumables now,” billionaire Mark Cuban wrote on Bluesky.“From toothpaste to soap, anything you can find storage space for,buy before they have to replenish inventory Even if it’smade in the USA, they will jack up the price and blameitontariffs.”
With all due respect to Cuban, this advice is wrong for so many reasons.
Here’swhy you shouldn’tstockpile toilet paper or other goods.
Youcan’tpay rent with what’sinyour
Fool’sTake: Dell set to benefitfrom AI demands
prices for paper towelsortheir morning cup of java.
personal storeroom. Part of the panic is thefear of affordability. That’sunderstandable.
Theconcern is not without merit.The Budget Lab at Yale University crunched thenumbers looking at the effects of Trump’stariffs and the retaliatory levies. The tariffs disproportionately affect clothing and textiles, with consumers facing prices upward of 64%higher on apparel in the short run, accordingtoaBudget Lab report.
Overallprice increases are estimated tocost the average household $4,700 per year (in 2024 dollars)
If consumers change their spending habits, the loss is still significant,anestimated $2,700 per household.
Butif Trump’stariff binge pushes the U.S. economy into arecession, many people will have bigger worries than higher
aresilientsupply chain and that it will be able to navigate these obstacles.
If you lose your job, then your top financial prioritywill be paying for necessities such as your rent, mortgage or auto loan.
There is too muchuncertainty about the tariffs.
Prices might not spike, leaving you withtoo manyitems in your pantry when the money could have been better used to boost your emergency fund or,most importantly, pay down debt
“You have no idea how supply chains areactually going to respond to this,” saidMartha Gimbel, executivedirector at the Budget Lab. “Trying to predict this is afool’serrand.”
As we’veseen already,Trump is unpredictable. His tariff policies areinflux,making longterm financial planning difficult Youcould get stuck with acloset full of toilet paper that wasn’t such agood buy after all.
“You have no idea how much you’regoing to need of things, you have no idea how your needs are going to change,” Gimbel said. “You don’twant to end up in asituation whereyou’re bartering toothpaste.”
Hoarding coulddrive up prices even more.
We’ve been here before. During theheight of the pandemic, consumers stockpiledshelfstable foods, hand sanitizer, disinfectants, bottledwater and toilet paper.
Shoppers descended on supermarkets andbig-boxstores, snapping up items as soon as they hit the shelves. This created shortages andcontributed to predatorypricing.
It might make economic sense to go ahead andbuy thatnew car if you were alreadyinthe market and able to handle the loan payments. But if toomanypeople panic buy because of tariffs, prices could soar simply because of demand. Again, the money could be betterusedtoboost your emergency fund.
Tying up yourcashcan reduce your financial flexibility
If you spend toomuchonnonperishable food items, clothing or other items, you might not have enough to cover unexpected expenses, suchasacar repair
When faced with budgetary constraints, households understandably prioritize certain debts, such as their mortgage or auto loan, according to an analysisbythe FederalReserve Bank of New York.
In the last quarterof2024, credit cardbalancesclimbed by $45 billionfrom the previous quarter, ballooning to $1.21trillion, according to the New York Fed. With less money coming in, you do whatyou have to do,which sometimes means notpaying your credit cardbill. There’s alreadyan“upward trend in credit carddefaults,” the New York Fed reported. If you have to pause payments on your credit cards, that can sink youfurtherinto debt. The median averagecredit card interest rate for March was 24.2%, according to Investopedia, which tracksrates everymonth. Evenbeforethe trade war kickedoff by Trump’stariffs, consumers were feeling pressed. In February,the share of households expecting aworse financial situationone year from now rose to 27.4%,its highest level since November 2023, the NewYork Fedreported last month. It’snot wise to tie up money on things youcould do without in a pinch.
EmailMichelle Singletary at michelle.singletary@washpost. com.
Motley Fool
Tech companies are spending billions to expand their computing infrastructure to handle artificial intelligence workloads, and Dell Technologies (NYSE: DELL) is positioned to benefit.Dell generates most of its revenue from selling PCs and related accessories, but 46% comes from itsinfrastructure solutions group, which includes servers.
The stock has fallen roughly by half from its 2024 all-time peak —inpart due to concernsover tariffs and the impact that trade conflicts could have on Dell’s supply chain. Dell believes it has
The company’s backlog of orders for AI servers was recently $9 billion,and its infrastructure solutionsbusiness’sgrowthis offsettingthe weak sales of its PCs.Dell expects revenue to increase by8%in2025, driven by server demand Dell forecasts that the addressable market for AI hardware and services will grow at an annualized rate of 33% over thenext several years to $295 billion by 2027. Demand should grow for its PC business over thenext fewyears as businesses and consumers upgrade to AI-capable machines. Theend of Microsoft’s support for Windows 10 could also beacatalyst for stronger PC sales.
Importantly,Dellstock looks
cheap, with arecent forwardlooking price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 8.5. It’sa dividend payer, too, with arecent yield of 2.5% and arecent dividend hike of 18%.
Fool’sSchool: Youneed an investing strategy
For best resultswhen investing, it’sgood to have asound strategy. Without one, you might fall prey to hot stock tips or end up flittingfrom stock tostock and trading too often. Spend sometime reading up on investing. You’ll want tolearn about different kinds of investments,along with their risks and how they tend to perform. (For example, stocks tend to outperform bonds and many other investments over long periods.) Develop reasonable expectations
—understanding, forexample, that over many decades, the stock market has averaged annual gains of around 10%. It’s also good to learn about great investors and how they invest, and about great businesses and how they survived and thrived over time.
As you form your own strategy,here are somefactors to consider:
n How involved do you wantto be, and how much time will you spend on investing? Many people will be best off sticking with a simple, low-feeindex fund such as one that tracks the S&P 500. It can grow powerfully over time.
n What’s your timeframe? Money you won’t need forat least five (ifnot 10) years can be parked in stocks, but shortertermmoney is best placed in less volatile investments such as CDs
or money market accounts.
n What are your goals and risk tolerance? If you want your money to grow quickly and you can stomach volatility,consider including somegrowth stocks in your portfolio. If you’re more risk-averse, you might focus on blue chip stocks, dividendpaying stocks or undervalued stocks. Lower-risk choices also include index funds, because they can be very diversified.
n What kind of asset allocation do you want? If you’re young, you might invest 100% in stocks. As you approach retirement, you might want to devote part of your portfolio to bonds.
n Will you makeconsistent use of tax-advantaged retirement accounts such as IRAs and 401(k)s? It’s smart to do so. Develop aplan —and then stick to it.
Issued April 9-15
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BY PAUL WISEMAN AP economics writer
WASHINGTON By declaring atrade
war on the rest of the world, President Donald Trump has panicked global financial markets, raised the risk of arecession and broken the political and economic alliances that made much of the world stable forbusiness after World WarII.
Economists are puzzled tosee Trump trying to overhaul the existing economic order and doing it so soon after inheriting the strongest economyinthe world. Many of the tradingpartnersheaccuses of ripping off U.S. businesses and workers were already floundering.
“There is adeep irony in Trump claiming unfair treatment of the American economy at atime when it was growing robustly while every other major economyhad stalled or was losing growth momentum,” said EswarPrasad, professor of trade policy atCornell University.“In an evengreater irony,the Trump tariffs are likely to end America’sremarkable run of success and crash the economy, job growth and financial markets.” Trump and his trade advisers insist that the rules governing global commerce put the UnitedStates at adistinct disadvantage. Butmainstream economists —whose views Trump and hisadvisers disdain —say the president has awarped idea of world trade, especially a preoccupation with tradedeficits, which they say do nothingtoimpede growth. The administration accuses other
ASSOCIATEDPRESS PHOTO
Economists arepuzzled to see President DonaldTrump trying to overhaulthe existing economic order and doing it so soon after inheriting the strongest economyin theworld.
countries of erectingunfair trade barriers to keepout American exports andusingunderhanded tactics to promote theirown.In Trump’stelling, his tariffs are a long-overdue reckoning: TheU.S. is the victim of an economic mugging by Europe, China, Mexico, Japan and even Canada.
It’struethatsomecountries charge higher taxes on imports than the United States does. Some manipulate their currencies lower to ensure that theirgoodsare price-competitive in international markets. Some governments lavish theirindustrieswithsubsidies to give themanedge.
However,the United States is still the second-largest exporter in theworld,after China. TheU.S exported $3.1trillionofgoods and services in 2023, far ahead of thirdplace Germanyat$2trillion. The fear thatTrump’s remedies
are deadlier than themaladies he’s trying to cure has sent investors fleeing American stocks. Since Trump announced sweeping import taxes on April2,the S&P500 has cratered 6.8%.
Trump andhis advisers point to America’slopsided tradenumbers —year after year of huge deficits —asproof of foreigners’ perfidy He’sseekingtorestore justice and millionsoflong-gone U.S.factory jobsbytaxing imports at rates not seen in America since thedaysof thehorse andbuggy.
“They’ve taken so much of our wealth away from us,” the president declared at aWhite House Rose Garden ceremony to celebrate the tariffs announcement. “We’re not going to let that happen. We truly can be very wealthy. We can be so much wealthier than any country.”
But the U.S. is alreadythe wealthiest major economy in the world. Andthe International Monetary Fund in January forecastthatthe United States would outgrowevery othermajor advancedeconomy this year Chinaand Indiadid growfaster than the United States over the past decade, but their livingstandards still don’tcome close to those in the U.S. Manufacturing in the U.S.has been fadingfor decades.There is widespread agreement that many American manufacturerscouldn’t competewithaninflux of cheapimports after China joined theWorld TradeOrganization in 2001. Factories closed,workers were laid off
and heartland communities withered.
Four years later,nearly 3million manufacturing jobs had been lost, though robots and other forms of automation probably did at least as muchtoreduce factory jobs as the “China shock.”
To turn around this long decline, Trump has repeatedly unsheathed the tariffs that are his weaponof choice.
Trump views tariffs as an allpurposeeconomic fix that will protect American industries, encourage companies to open factoriesin America, raise moneyfor the U.S. Treasury andgive him leverage to bend other countries to his will, even on issues that have nothing to do with trade, such as drug trafficking and immigration.
The president also sees asmoking gun: The United States has bought morefromother countries than it has sold themevery year for the past half-century.In2024, the U.S. trade deficit in goods and services cametoawhopping $918 billion, the second-highest amount on record.
Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro calls America’strade deficits “the sum of allcheating” by other countries.
However,economists say trade deficitsaren’tasign of national weakness. The U.S. economyhas nearly quadrupled in size, adjusted for inflation, during that half-century of trade deficits.
“There is no reason to think that abiggertrade deficit means lower growth,” said former IMF chief
economist MauriceObstfeld, seniorfellowatthe PetersonInstitute of InternationalEconomics and an economist at the University of California, Berkeley.“In fact, the opposite is closer to thetruthinmany countries.”
Atrade deficit, Obstfeld said, does not mean acountry is losing through trade or being “ripped off.”
The faster the U.S. economy grows, in fact, themore imports Americanstendtobuy andthe widerthe trade deficit tends to get. The U.S. trade deficit —the gap between what it sells and what it buys from foreigncountries —hit arecord $945 billion in 2022 as the American economy roared back from COVID-19 lockdowns. Trade deficits typically fall sharply in recessions.
Nor are trade deficits primarily inflicted on America by other countries’ unfairtrading practices. To economists, they’rea homegrown product, the result of Americans’ propensity to save little and consumemore than they produce.
American shoppers’famousappetite for spending morethan the country makes means that achunk of the spending is used forimports. If the UnitedStates boosted its saving —for example, by reducing its budgetdeficits —thenthatwould reduce its trade deficit as well, economists say “It’snot like the rest of the world has been ripping us off for decades,” said Jay Bryson, chief economist at Wells Fargo. “It’sbecause we don’tsave enough.”
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3D virtual reality
BY MARGARET DeLANEY Staff writer
Theodore Evans was born on a Thursday
Three days later, on Dec. 8, 2024, as the family prepared to go home from Lakeview Hospital in Covington, Veronica Evans handed her son off to a nurse for his final checkup. When the nurse came back without him, Evans knew something was wrong.
Theodore had a slight heart murmur, according to the doctors at Covington hospital where Evans gave birth, which was “very common in babies,” the nurse explained.
“So much happened after that,” Evans said.
“It’s kind of a blur.”
Another hour went by while doctors did various tests on Theodore. They came back to tell Evans that her son had two heart defects: a hole in his left ventricle, or VSD, and a narrow aorta, also called a coarctation of the aorta.
He was transferred by helicopter to Manning Family Children’s in New Orleans. Before takeoff, the Evans family was visited by a pastor who prayed over Theodore.
“The whole thing was definitely an emotional whirlwind,” Evans said. “It broke my heart to see my 3-day-old baby hooked up to so many machines.”
After being transferred to a cardiac intensive care unit, doctors at Children’s met to discuss treatment op-
Molly Kimball
shares tips for protecting a part of the body
By Mayo Clinic News Network (TNS)
ROCHESTER, Minnesota It is a large part of the body that lies deep inside, out of sight and perhaps out of mind: your abdominal core. A new and rapidly developing area of medicine focuses on abdominal core health, including how people can incorporate it into a healthy lifestyle and how to address complex medical problems that arise when it is compromised. Dr Charlotte Horne, a metabolic and abdominal wall reconstructive surgeon at Mayo Clinic, explains what abdominal core health is, how to protect it and risk factors for problems that may require surgery
“The abdominal core is the outside muscular container of your abdominal wall,” Horne said. “This starts at the diaphragm and goes all the way down to the pelvic support muscles. Most of the core is muscle and connective tissue. It’s a muscular container that holds your internal organs in. Every time you breathe, bend, bear down to have a bowel movement, you’re using these muscles.”
The abdominal core includes abdominal muscles that people may think of as the ”six-pack,” and oblique muscles and tissue that wrap all the way around the upper part of the abdomen and connect to the midline of the body Horne added. Many nerves lie between the layers of muscle and tissue, including those that extend to the groin, thighs, back and hips.
tions for Theodore. Part of that treatment plan included new virtual reality technology to create 3D imaging of Theodore’s heart.
Using virtual reality
Dr Ernesto Mejia, Theodore’s doctor, said working to develop the technology
that reduced the amount of time the infant and others are under anesthesia had its share of twists and turns.
One day, Mejia said his boss walked by his office and thought he was spending his time playing video games.
to operate on newborn ä See HEART, page 2X
Those muscles function as a unit and that unit needs to operate well for you and your body to perform daily activities, Horne said. One way to strengthen the structural integrity of your abdominal core is to engage it during your normal activities, she explains: You do not have to do thousands of situps or become a bodybuilder
“One of the things we’re realizing is that we need to educate people how to appropriately engage those muscles when they do everything from going from lying to sitting and sitting to standing, lifting objects and other basic movements in their daily lives,” she said. “When people do yoga or Pilates, they think about pulling their belly button into their spine. That helps stabilize the deeper muscles of the abdominal wall.”
Improving abdominal core health involves conscious engagement of the abdominal muscles, “bringing everything in and holding it in,” Horne said.
Risk factors for abdominal core problems are wide-ranging. They include cancer treatment; inflammatory bowel disease; chronic or severe coughing; and complications from pregnancy (diastasis recti) and surgery The most common problems are hernias, when part of an organ or tissue bulges through a weak spot in muscle.
Mary Bird Perkins celebrates advances in cancer technology
BY MARGARET DeLANEY
Staff writer
Elekta, a company based in Sweden, is one of the world’s leaders in developing some of the most cutting-edge cancer treatment technologies — and Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center has worked with them since 2008 in implementing some of these tools in Baton Rouge.
Now, Mary Bird Perkins is signing an agreement with Elekta to serve as a clinical test site for the company’s emerging technologies. This means that, through Elekta, Mary Bird Perkins will be the first to provide patients with access to some of the most advanced technologies available in the world.
This month, the cancer center hosted a conference with medical physicists and leaders in cancer technology from around the world to talk about new technologies and various ways to implement them in Louisiana.
Dr Jonas Fontenot, a medical physicist and president and CEO at Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center in Baton Rouge, did his clinical research training at MD Anderson in Houston before moving to Louisiana 16 years ago.
Dr Sotirios Stathakis, also a
Alzheimer’s conference offered in New Orleans
The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America will host a 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, longterm care planning, local resources and more.
The Educating America Tour was founded over eight years ago to provide critically important information to families and individuals concerned about their memory, including resources that are available to support them.
“We generally focus on speakers that provide greater education and understanding of Alzheimer’s disease, brain health and wellness,” said Charles Fuschillo Jr., president and CEO of the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. “We also discuss the current state of new therapies that have been approved or other trials that are on the horizon
The conference is free and open to all patients, families, health professionals and more. Cancer infusion center opens in Ascension
Our Lady of the Lake has expanded cancer services to Ascension Parish. The new Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Institute St. Elizabeth Infusion Center brings lifesaving treatments to the area, providing patients with advanced cancer care.
The facility opened on Feb. 27, with 15 infusion chairs in a 4,109-square-foot space The team at the Lake is able to provide personalized treatment to all patients receiving chemo or non-chemo medications, or blood products.
Woman’s Hospital offers mobile mammography
Woman’s Hospital brings lifesaving breast imaging to East Baton Rouge Parish with its mobile mammography coach. The coach makes mammograms more accessible than ever offering advanced 3D mammogram technology at convenient times and locations across Louisiana. A physician’s order is required, and appointments are strongly encouraged.
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
medical physicist and chief of physics at Mary Bird Perkins, joined the cancer center two years ago Before coming to Louisiana,
Stathakis was at Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio with a special interest in therapeutic radiation oncology
without losing any precision and accuracy
How do you go about making decisions about which clinical trials, research and emerging technologies to bring to the hospital?
Fontenot: How do you separate steak from sizzle? It’s really hard.
Technology in general, is sometimes hard to navigate what is real and what is marketing.
Through the vetting process, our leaders determine if there is a real opportunity to do better for patients than our prevailing standard.
If we think a new technology will help us take care of patients better and we have surveyed the technology and the clinical data around it — we work to make it happen.
What are specific “cutting-edge cancer treatments” available now in Baton Rouge?
Stathakis: The last technology we installed, on Dec. 11, 2024, was the Elekta Harmony probe a linear accelerator primarily used for radiation therapy It was the first linear accelerator in the United States that provides efficient cancer treatment delivery
Continued from page 1X
He was actually creating 3D images of hearts with a virtual reality headset and game controls.
Mejia tries to “segment” everything he can taking various CT scans and creating a 3D rendering of the images in the files. He can choose colors and use tools to look around the heart (and inside it as well).
Not only can the technology do a 360-degree scan of various body parts; it can also go inside the organs — in Theodore’s case, showing the hole inside the heart. Mejia and the surgical team were able to look inside Theodore’s heart in order to see how big the hole in his ventricle was and determine the best way to approach surgery For Theodore, Dr. Farshad Anvari was able to see that going in on the other side of the heart would prevent him from cutting into the thicker part of the heart.
“(The doctors) showed us a really detailed map of Theo’s surgery,” Evans said. “We did not know this was brand new technology I didn’t find out until a month later.”
Anvari was so thorough on how he was going to fix it, Evans said, as well as the possible complication and side effects after Theodore’s surgery
According to Anvari, Theodore’s heart surgeon, without this advanced planning, the unexpected larger size of the patient’s hole in the ventricle could have extended the procedure time by at least two hours.
Reducing surgical time is especially critical for newborns, as it minimizes physiological stress and promotes faster recovery Science shows that an extra hour in surgery can increase recovery time by an entire day, let alone the stress the event puts on the body (especially in a baby as young as Theodore)
“Thirty minutes to an hour might not seem like a huge amount of time, but that’s time not on the heart/lung machine. That’s less time under anesthesia,” Mejia said. “That means the recovery is going to be smoother That means that the hospital stay is going to be shorter That means there is going to be less complications.”
The virtual reality also has the ability to model shunts and skin flaps used in surgery
This can help doctors understand the amount of graft, or muscle, needed to cover the size of the hole (and account for extra material in order to maximize blood flow and optimal pressure in the vessels).
“It’s just been such a game changer in the last five or six surgical kiddos,” Mejia said. “It takes so much guessing work out of what you think you’re going to find during surgery — because we already know exactly what’s there and we can plan appropriately.”
We have technologies that are in alpha testing — gathering data for FDA approval or FDA submissions. And we will use them clinically as soon as they are FDA approved. We also have our MRI Unity that is used in combination with the linear accelerator, all in one machine. This allows for what we call adaptive radiation therapy Basically, we are changing the plan to deliver the dose that the physician has prescribed on a daily basis.
We are able to take into count the anatomical variations of each patient. That way, we can not only more precisely and accurately deliver the radiation that they need, but also deliver safely We no longer need to radiate extra normal tissue that would cause negative side effects.
Fontenot: One exciting area that we are likely to see additional development from us in the next several years is an area called theranostics which involved the intersection of radiation therapy and systemic therapies like chemo.
How will access to new technologies directly impact locals and Louisianans?
Fontenot: The reason that we have the physicists, the physicians and the staff here who are capable of supporting those technologies is
because they were attracted by the access to technologies and resources that we have. That’s why I came here — because I knew advanced technology opportunities would be available. We live in Louisiana, which is historically a difficult state to attract super high caliber scientists, physicians or medical staff. It feeds into this appetite that I think we want to want to bring new technologies into the organization to further our ability to care for patients. We certainly have ambition to move the needle. We are in the bottom 10 of states in how often
Louisianans get cancer or die from cancer
As we grow as an organization, it is my aspiration that part of lessening the burden for our patients means removing as many barriers as possible. I really think of where we are today as more oriented to the beginning of our journey as an organization and how we can scale our mission to reach as many parts of underserved areas of our state and region as possible.
Email Margaret
PROVIDED PHOTO
Theodore Evans, at one week old, was the first surgical patient to receive treatment after consulting new virtual reality technology at Manning Family Children’s in New Orleans. His father, Joshua Evans, comforted him after the surgery.
Manning Family Children’s introduced the FDA-approved VR technology, Elucis, in 2022 and has spent the past two years integrating the technology into its heart center program.
Now, with the success of its first surgical case, the hospital plans to expand the use of VR segmentation for patients with more complex congenital heart defects and other pediatric specialties.
Thursday’s child has far to go
The new technology can be used beyond surgical effectiveness.
According to Mejia, the technology has emerged as a potential teaching tool for young fellows to recognize what they are looking for during surgery Mejia said the VR imaging can also help when physicians need to consult with other programs on specific patients and optimal treatment options.
“Anyone can hop on the headset and see exactly what we’re talking about, including patient specifics,” Mejia said. “Instead of sending two-dimensional scans back and forth.”
The extremely detailed scans are ideal for communicating with
patients, families and parents about what surgeries will look like.
For Evans, that extra tool answered questions and calmed nerves.
“The whole thing was very sobering. All of the emotions didn’t really come out until after the surgery,” Evans said. “The VR images gave us something tangible. Once we knew what the problem was, the path forward became
clearer We were a little lost before.” At four months old, Theodore is just like any other baby according to his mother
“You can’t even tell other than the scar,” Evans said.
Theodore was born on a Thursday had heart surgery the following Thursday and was sent home with a healthy heart the next Thursday His dad, Joshua, and his big brother and sister were waiting with open arms to welcome him, just in time to celebrate Christmas at home in Lacombe.
Email Margaret DeLaney at margaret.delaney@theadvocate. com.
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU
The Louisiana Health section is focused on providing in-depth, personal accounts of health in the state.This section looks at medical innovations, health discoveries, state and national health statistics and re-examining tried and true methods on ways to live well.
Health editions will also profile people who are advancing health for the state of Louisiana. Do you have a health story? We want to hear from you. Email margaret.delaney@ theadvocate.com to submit health questions, stories and more.
Whenitcomestoeverydayhydration,hibiscustearankshigh onmylistforflavorful,satisfyingsipping. Slightly tart and naturally refreshing, its deep ruby hue alone makes it feel special, and aquick squeeze of citrus adds alittle zing asittransforms thecolor from red to pink Also afantastic base for zero-proof cocktails, hibiscus is astar ingredient in four recipesfrom our book, “CRAFT: The EatFit Guide to Zero ProofCocktails.” While you can absolutely usestorebought hibiscus tea (until recently,that’s howI’ve always made hibiscus tea),if youhappen to have access to ahibiscusplant blooming near you, it can be incredibly satisfying to make hibiscus tea straight from the plant.
It’s not just any hibiscus,though. And it’s not the petals thatare steeped,but instead the ruby-redcalyxes that hold theflowers.
Hibiscus Roselle, also known as Flor de Jamaica, is the variety of hibiscus that’s used to make hibiscus tea, says Linda Franzo, owner of Passionate Platter cookingschooland amemberof the NewOrleans HerbSociety. The calyxes arethe bulb-like parts that attach HibiscusRoselle’s small white flowers to its deep red stems.
Healthbenefitsandwhatto keepinmind
Beyond its vividcolorand taste, hibiscustea can helpsupporthealthy blood pressure levels whensipped regularly, helping to bring both systolic and diastolic numbers down anotch.Most of thestudies that reportedsuchfindings used 2-3 cups aday for anywhere from twoweeks to threemonths,withvery fewreports of negative side effects. Like many other herbal teas, hibiscus teaisalso richinplant compoundsthat
Getrecipesforhibiscusdrinksandother‘zeroproof’cocktailswhenyoudownloadour freeEatFitmobileapp.VisitOchsnerEatFit.orgtolearnmore.
can help protect cells from oxidative stress, an imbalanceoffreeradicalsthat can leadtocelldamageand mayplay a role in conditionslikecancer, Alzheimer’s and heart disease.
That said,ifyou’re taking medications— particularlyforblood pressure or diabetes —check with your healthcare provider before making hibiscus teaa daily drink. And if you’re pregnant or nursing, it’s best to skip thehibiscustea for now—oratleast discuss it with your physician first.
Pickingyourcalyxes
IfyouhaveaccesstofreshHibiscus Roselleplants,firstmakesurethey haven’tbeentreatedwithpesticidesor otherchemicals.
Thebesttimetoharvestisafterthe flowersfalloffbutbeforethecalyxes dryout,saysFranzo.First,pullthecalyx fromthestemandremovethehard greenseedpodfrominsidethecalyx (Youcansavetheseedsfornextseason.) Rinseeachcalyxtoremovedustanddirt beforesteeping.
MollyKimball,RD,CSSD,isaregistereddietitian withOchsnerHealthandfounderofOchsner’sEatFit nonprofitinitiative.Formorewellnesscontent,tuneinto Molly’spodcast,FUELEDWellness+Nutrition,andfollow @MollykimballRDand@EatFitOchsneronsocialmedia. Emailnutrition@ochsner.orgtoconnectwithMollyor scheduleaconsultwithherteam.
BY THENUMBERS
Youmightfinddriedcalyxesavailable forpurchaseatspecialtyteashopsand grocerystores(e.g.IdealMarket),aswell asatsomesupermarketsandhealthfood stores.
Howtosteep
•2cupsboilingwater
•6-8freshhibiscuscalyxes(or2tablespoonsdriedhibiscuscalyx)
•1teaspoonfreshlemonorlimejuice (moretotaste)
Placethecalyxesinalargemasonjar, heatproofpitcherorteapotwithaninfuser.Pourintheboilingwaterandsteep forabout7to10minutes—enoughtime todrawouttheflavorwithoutbecoming bitter.
Straintoremovethecalyxes,thenadd lemonorlimejuice.Servehotorallowto coolandserveoverice.
Funsciencefact:Whenyouadda splashoflemonorlime,you’llseethe deep-redteaimmediatelyshifttoa gorgeouspinkhue.Thiscolorchange happenswhentheacidityincitrusjuice interactswiththepigmentsinthehibiscus—particularlytheantioxidant-rich anthocyanins.
Servingideas
Infusions:Changeupthetea’sflavor profilewithingredientslikefreshbasil, mint,lemongrassorlemonzest,adding injustafterthehibiscusteaisremoved fromtheheat.
Zero-proofcocktails:Usehibiscustea inplaceofjuiceorsodainyourfavorite zeroproofcocktailrecipes—ormakeone ofthedrinksfrom“CRAFT:TheEatFit GuidetoZeroProofCocktails.”
Popsicles:Freezecooledhibiscustea (optionallysweetened)inpopsiclemolds foratart,ruby-huedtreat.
According to the Centers for Disease Control andPrevention, the national lifeexpectancy in the United States in 2021 was 76.4 years —inLouisiana, it was 72.2 years
The averagelife expectancy changes greatly based on genderwith women living to 80.2 years and men to 74.8 years nationally (75.9 years for women and 68.8 years for meninLouisianans). Lifeexpectancy for each Louisiana parish ranges from 68.2 years in Morehouseto 78.5 years in Cameron— a10-year difference.
Only oneparish, Cameron, had more than the national averagefor life expectancy.(Though it’sworth noting that the averagepopulation of aparish in Louisiana is 71,840,and Cameron Parish only has 4,728 residents —so its results could be more skewed with fewer outliers.)
The parishes with highest averagelife
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“Coughing can causelarge hernias. When you’re coughing, you’re bearingdown and there is asudden, acute change in intra-abdominal pressure, almost like punching from the outside in or from the inside out,”Horne explained.“When you’re doing that all of the time, it causes significantstress to your abdominal wall.” Avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption can help protect abdominal core health. Smokingincreasesthe risk of chronic coughing, while heavyalcohol consumption to the point of cirrhosis can cause hormonal changes that in turn weaken the abdominalwall, Horne said. As knowledge about abdominal core health grows, approaches to protecting it and healing it are ad-
expectancies are:
n CameronParish, with an averageof 78.5 years
n St.TammanyParish, with an average of 76.5 years n Ascension Parish, with an average of 76.3 years n Lafayette Parish, with an averageof 75.8 years n PlaqueminesParish, with an average of 75.8 years
Theparishes with the lowest average life expectancies are:
n Morehouse Parish, with an average of 68.2 years
n Bienville Parish, with an averageof 68.7 years
n Washington Parish, with an average of 68.9 years
n Webster Parish, with an average of 69.5 years.
n St. LandryParish, with an average of 69.6 years.
Anew and rapidly developing area of medicine focuses on abdominal core health, including howpeople can incorporate it into ahealthy lifestyle and howtoaddress complex medicalproblems that arise when it is compromised.
vancing, Hornesaid. For example:
n Pregnancy causes muscles to expand to accommodate ababy, and sometimes thosemuscles do notgoback to normal. Exercise
regimens during andafter pregnancy can help to stabilizethem. n Health care experts are realizing thatrestrictions on movement after surgery may not helpand
sometimes may be harmful. Rather than telling people nottolift anything, it maybemore appropriate to explain how to safely reengage those muscles and tendons, Horne suggested n People with inflammatory bowel disease are likeliertohave surgery andtherefore are likelier to develop hernias. Surgeons nowknow that in those patients, mesh should be placed in differentanatomicplanes to prevent the mesh from touching thebowel and potentially causing problems later,Hornesaid.
n Pelvicfloor physical therapy can help women experiencing urinary or fecal incontinence after pregnancy or menopause, she said.
n There is growing recognition thatmesh used to repair hernias isn’tone-size-fits-all. Horne’sresearch focuses on hernia repair in women,including mesh and mesh techniques.
In her practice, Horne specializes in complex hernia surgeries.
“Mostofthe patients that Icare for have more of their abdominal contents outside of theirabdominal cavitythaninside,” sheexplained. Even with hernias as large as 10 to 15 centimeters, surgeries canbe performed witha robot to minimize the incision, or can be done with a mix of roboticsurgery and minimal open surgery,Horne said. She uses 3D-printed modelstohelp plan surgeries. Sometimes Botox is used to lengthenthe abdominal wall muscles, sheadded.
“The best part is that patients go from adysfunctional abdominal wall to one that is functional within aboutaweek in thehospital,” Horne said. “Seeing them at theircheckup ayear later is the best thing because they go from saying, ‘I couldn’tdo anything,’ to ‘I’ve gone on all these trips; I’ve done all these things that I’ve wanted to do for years but haven’tbeen ableto.’ They are so happy that they can put that whole thing behind them,whichisgreat.”
AtOchsnerLafayetteGeneral,webelieveincommunityandeverythingitrepresents.Whether it’sworkingtogethertowardacommonpurposeorcomingtogethertolaugh,danceand celebrate,wehaveonegoal:toinspirehealthierlivesandstrongercommunitiesthrough accesstocare.Visitochsner.org/communityformoreinformation.
Instructor teaching BatonRouge high schoolersto fly
BY SERENA PUANG
Staff writer
In 2001, Ezzie Smith took his first flightlesson.Hewas afreshman in college, andhe was given theopportunity to learn at amonthlongflight program in Delaware through an ROTC course. Within three weeks, he was flying by himself, but after he got to New Orleans, he realized he didn’thavethe resources to continue his training. He wouldn’tget intoaplane cockpitagainfor another 17 years.
“I vowed that the next time Idid,” he said, “I would not put it down.” Smith continued in his career,he gothis degree in criminal justice andsociology, became apolice officer,and eventually madeacareer change andbecame an assistant principal at Arthur Ashe Charter School. Butwhenhehad to have back surgery in 2018, he spent a coupleofweeksbedridden,during whichhehad timetocontemplate what he really wanted to dowith his life.
“When Iput my feet on the floor, Iturnedinall thepaperwork to be aflight student at the closest flight school Icould find,” hesaid Smith hascome alongway since then.He got hisprivate license, became aflight instructor,and is lookingforwardtoone daytransitioning to full time aviation.Starting this school year,healsoteaches ground school to students at Helix Aviation Academy,the aviation career oriented arm of Helix Community schools founded in 2021. At Helix, children whohave never had theopportunity to go to an airport, muchlessride on aplane,can learnabout careers in aviation, take aclass with aprofessional pilot and even sit inside a plane.
‘Exposureiseverything’
As aflight instructor,Smith has trained kids as youngas12. People can’tget their licenses until they’re 17, but there’snolimit on when they can start accumulating hours. For kids who are in closeproximity to aviation, he said, itiscommon to gettheir pilot’slicense before their driver’slicense.
There are lots of ways one could accumulate hours forpilot’slicenses, but Smith chose the flight
instructor route so he could one day teach his daughters to flyifthey wanted.
“I can’tgive themaschool. Ican’t give them an airline, butI cangive them apilot’slicense,” he said.
According to areportbythe Federal Aviation Administration’s Women in Aviation AdvisoryBoard, only 3.4% of airline pilots areBlack and only roughly 5% of pilotsare female. Smith attributes this to the lack of access andresources many Black students have to careers in aviation from ayoung age. According to U.S. News and World Report,Helix Aviation Academy’s student populationis94.6% Black, and 90% of students areclassified as beingeconomicallydisadvantaged They have 383students, andthey plan to expand the campus to offer one more grade every year.This year’s ninth graderswill becomethe school’sfirst class of tenth graders next year.Intwo more years, they’ll be the first graduating class.
“Whatwe’re doing now is exposing and giving ourkidsthat proximity,” he said. “Exposure is everything.”
Helix Community Schools is a network of charter schools in Baton Rouge. There are fourcampuses in Baton Rouge. Their model and mission is to close the gapbetween students and jobs in industriesthat mayseemout of reachotherwise. Theyalso have alegal academy,a STEAM-based learning academy andplan to open an AI/medical academy in thenext school year.PrestonCastille,president andCEO of Helix,istakingflight lessonswith Smith.
“If you’re goingtoteach our studentstofly,” he told Smith, “you should teach me.”
He’s 10 hours into the roughly 40 instructor-supervised flight hours he needstoget hisprivate license and spent his Mardi Grasbreak squeezing extrahours in.
Smith is no stranger to squeezing hoursinontop of afull-timejob. It took himfive to sixyears to get his own private license while he was working as an assistantprincipal.
“I would get offatthree o’clock from school,” he said, “and Iwould drive to the local airport or the oneinHammondorhere (in Baton Rouge) andflyfor onehour and then drive home.”
Ground school with Smith
The plane he fliesinto Helix Aviation Academy’s airport campus in lateFebruaryissmall.It’sa Piper Cherokee Warrior.It’sa single-engine planewithfourseats. Getting into the cockpit feels narrower than getting into most cars. But that’s where youstart,hesaid as he instructed ninth graders to “never despise small beginnings” during ground school.
Licenses are cumulative. Getting aprivate license leadstoaninstrument license which allows you to fly in clouds or bad weather,and all that is apart of the journeytogetting a commercial license
In order to flycommercial jets, would-bepilotshave to start with ground school to learn the basics whichiswhatSmith teachesto
See FLIGHT, page 2Y
My motherwas notafan of wearing white before Easter. It was arule as hard and fast as “No singing at the table,” or “Share with your brother.”No white pants or shoes until Easter (and notafter Labor Day, for the record).
Buying anew Easter dress was oneofour ritesofspring. Even though Iappreciated the pastels of Easter, nothing represented EasterSundaymore than white to me.
By the time Ireached junior high school,I hadmyown ideas aboutstyle andinsistedondriving the decisionprocess about which dress Iwould wear on Eastermorning. My gentle mother setbasic guidelines and had veto power, but forthe most part, she went right alongwith my sartorialchoices
WhenIthink aboutthe Easters from long ago, the memory that stands outmostisn’tofthe many raucous, near blood-sport Easter egghunts with dozens of cousins. Instead, it was early,early on the Eastermorning whenI was in the ninth grade
Our small town hostedacommunity sunrise service at the school’s football field. Those who joinedthe service satinthe home-teamstands with aview to the eastsotheycould watch the sun rise.I grewupgoing to those services everyyear.When Ireached the ninth grade, someoneincharge of the program decidedthattheywould get various youth to participate in the service. Iwas askedtodoaprayer. Iremember being happy about this for avariety of reasons —one of which wasthat Ihad pickedout areal winner of an Easterdress thatyear.Itwas white with bold andcolorful flowers embroidered on the tiny cap sleeves andaround the trim alongthe hem. Ithought that dress wasstunning.
The night before Easter, I haditout andmadesure it was ironedand ready. Part of the excitement of Eastermorning in 1979was seeing which dresses everyone else had pickedout. With asignificant lack of humility,Iwas certain thatmine would shine brightly Ihad to be at the football field early thatmorning so Iran out the door before the rest of my family andheaded that way I’m not sure at what point Irealizedthatitwas cold, as in very cold, but Idoknowthatbythe time Idid, it wastoo late.With no cellphone to calland ask Mom to bring asweater,I took my place in acoldmetal folding chair on acindertrack,wearing anear sleevelessdress, shivering for at leastanhourfacing the bulk of my town sitting in the bleachers as the sun rose behind me.
WhenIthink aboutthe coldestI’ve ever been,that sunrise serviceand white dress always come to mind. It was the sleeveless part thatnearly did me in. To be sure,itwas not the Eastermorning Ihad envisioned.
All these yearslater,Irecognize thatIclearly missedthe whole point of Easter that year Evenstill, Idoremembersomeonethatmorning talking about the empty tomb andthe hope it represents.
Lately,I’ve thought about that coldmorning andre-welcomed the notionthatsometimes hope doesn’tarrive with awhole lotof fanfare.
Regardless of religious belief, I believe most, if notall of us, can
Feehan taught, consultedand recruitedfor CODOFIL
BY LAUREN CHERAMIE
Staff writer
Peggy Feehan is anative French speaker,born in New Brunswick, Canada, andeducated there. She taught high schoolscience before moving to Louisiana in 1999, when she was recruited by the Council for the Development of French in Louisiana to teach French, which she did until 2006.
Feehan earned her master’sdegree in educational leadership from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in 2007.
From 2006 to 2014, she was a consultant, first for St.Martin Parish and then for the Louisiana Department of Education. In February 2015, she began working for CODOFIL, where her main duties included recruiting French teachers from France and Belgium. In 2018, Feehan was appointed as CODOFIL’s executivedirector
She is married to Scott, executive director of Lafayette’sFestival International, and togetherthey are raising their two children, Elaine and Jeremi, in French and English. What are some of the programs that CODOFIL is working toward rightnow?
We are astateagency that has legislative mandates, so that’s first and foremostwhat we do: education, economic development and community development.
When the phone rings, we’ll try to fulfill everybody’sneeds, like if it’sputting musicians in touch with afestival in Canada or a French publisher who wants to tour schools down here to sell their books.
The scope of what we do isvery wide, on top of our legislative mandates.
FestivalInternational is coming up in Lafayette. Is CODOFIL planning anythingin particular for the festivities?
We’re going to have atent not far from theFais Do-Do stage with some French tables. There’s aFrench immersion program in Nova Scotia, Université SainteAnne, that’scoming to recruit We’ll have information about the scholarships we manage as well.
PROVIDED PHOTOS PeggyFeehan is executivedirector at the Council for the Development of FrenchinLouisiana.
As a‘transplant’ from Canada, whyisit importanttoyou to keep French alivein Louisiana?
My goal when Imoved here was nottobethe CODOFIL director,it just happened from onejob to the other.WhenI applied to be director,I had beenhere for threeyears, and Ireally wanted to do more.
Where Igrew up, Iwas raised in French. Ilearned English in school, like people learn French here.
TheAcadian people fought for their language, so it’sabattle that I’ve fought my whole life growing up —kindoflike arebel demanding French services and French rightsand French schools. Igrewupinthat environment, so it translates well to workingfor French inLouisiana,although at a different level.
In New Brunswick, French is an official language, so there’s real rights for citizens, andthatreally doesn’texist over here. But the ideaofpreserving alanguage, or fightingtokeep it alive, certainly is similar Arethere anynotable people in Lafayette who are keeping thelanguagealiveina unique way?
Certainly,the CODOFIL employees doalot intheir respective jobs. When you think aboutthe LafayetteInternational Center,which is an arm of Lafayette Consolidated Government, they do alot of trades internationally —sothere’s alot of Frenchinvolved in their day-to-day jobs.
In this file photo, Lt.Gov.William H. Nungesser presided at the ribbon-cutting and dedication of Lycee Francaise School’sPriestly Campus. Shownabove are, front from left, Nungesser,Dr. ChaseMcLaurin, High School Director Tiguida Mathieu, Consul General of FranceinLouisiana Nathalie Beras and head of French Schools of NorthAmerica Olivier Boasson of the French Embassy in Washington, D.C. Second roware DonahueFavret Contractors Presidentand CEOJohn Donahue III, Louisiana Association of PublicCharter Schools ExecutiveDirectorCaroline Roemer,ExecutiveDirector,Louisiana Association of PublicCharter Schools, CODOFIL ExecutiveDirectorPeggy Feehan, Amis du Lycée FrançaisSupportingFoundation Chair Ashley-Nicole Grosse and Lycee Board Chair Dr.Shearon Roberts.
CavalierHouse Books on Jefferson Street has French books, andtheydid that intentionally to service theFrench-speaking families and the kids in French immersion. Parents whoput their kids in French immersion—not just in Lafayette but statewide —itmatterstothem
Theold folkswho spokeFrench first, they’re dying, so we need little kids in school learning the language to keep French alive. The parents are really the biggest French supportersbecause they’re puttingtheir kids in theprogram What are thebenefits of young people learninga second language?
For akid,it’slike agame. There’s no effort. Being bilingualinanother language certainly hasalot of cognitive benefits. It’sreally good for brain development, and the earlier
theylearn,the better.Inschooling, theyounger the better, because you want to front-load with language.
Curriculum in Pre-K is nothing compared to curriculum in fourth grade. So we can front-load alot of language without having to worry about learning all that we need, or finishing the curriculum.Infirst grade, youcan back offthe French to introduce more content, like social studies content in French. They already understand thelanguage,soit’snot learning social studies and French at the same time—it’sjust learning social studies in French.
Do youhaveany tips for adults who are learningFrench? Ourwebsite, louisianafrench. org,launchedduring COVID, when we were getting phone calls asking if we taught French, which
we don’t. Thewebsiteincludes free resources forbeginners or continuing learners. There’salso abig networkof French tables around the state, andwehaveacalendar available at CODOFIL.org/tables.Weinvite people to visit those French tables and sit down with French speakers to either listen or participate. They’re held at different locations around the state, sometimes in alibrary,cafe or for lunch at a restaurant.There’s onerule:Ifyou sitdown at thetable, you speak French. Youcan listen andtella storyordoasmuchoraslittleas you want. It lets locals and tourists visit in French, learn different accents and continue their learning. Email Lauren Cheramie at lauren.cheramie@theadvocate. com.
By
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the students at Helix. For Smith, thegoal is for graduates to leave high school with their private licenses if that’swhat they want, but he’salso aware that not everyone is goingtowantto be apilot.
There is more to careers in aviation than beinga pilot. Careers in aviation can be in marketing, ticket agents, teaching,surveillance, air traffic control, engineering, mechanics,
maintenance andmore and some of these careers can belucrative According tothe U.S. Bureau of LaborStatistics, as of 2023, the median salaryfor aircraft mechanics andservice technicians is $75,020, for air traffic controllersit’s$137,380, forairline andcommercial pilots it’s$171,210. More experienced people can makemuch more Withoutexposure,many studentsatHelix would never have knownto put in forthose jobs. They wouldn’t haveknown they existed
Along with many others, the students are thinking about the spate of recent accidents involvingplanes too. During alate February visit to the school, when Smithtook questions, the veryfirst one was about all the planes falling out of the sky. In the course of the hour,theyasked other practicalquestions:Doyou need insurance for this?
What if afire starts?
In response to concerns, he reminds students that flying is the safest form of travel. Thestatistic he always shares with students is that198,000 flights take
place perday with a99.7% accuracy rating. “I would notbeafraid becausethosestatisticsare in your favor,” he said. “That’s also why Ineed themtobe in the aviation industry.If Iknowexcellence is in the aviation industry,wecan reduce badthingsfrom happeningevenmore. That’s why they have to learn the things theyneed to learnnow.”
Smith is happy to answer student questionsbecause it’spartoftraining the next generation.A2024 report by the AviationTechnician Education Councilproject-
ed a20% shortfall in maintenance techs by 2028. After takingthe ninth gradersthrough the basics of flying, Smithallowed them to get in the plane for themselves, two at atime. Sittingshouldertoshoulderinside the cramped cockpit, Smith pointed out the basic controls Does he get claustrophobic spending so much time in asmall plane?
“Notatall,” he says.“Too much sky.”
Email SerenaPuang at Serena.Puang@ theadvocate.com
Continued from page1y
appreciatethe idea of focusing on hope in the face of emptiness. With allthe things that distract,worry andconcernus, this time of year can be areminderofthe good thatcan come from leaving space for hope in things unseen and unearned. Granted, there is a chance thatthis season may notfeel hopeful. Some chairs areempty Some storiesdon’t have tidy endings. Thattensionispartofthe Easter story too.
Empty doesn’talways mean loss. Sometimes, what is empty is just the space where something newcan rise Whatever youbelieve, wherever youare this weekend, Ihopeyou find aquietand hopeful moment —one thatfeels like stepping into warm sunlight afterthreedays of dark andcold.
EmailJan Risher at jan.risher@theadvocate. com.
BY JOYHOLDEN Staff writer
On April 10, six women stood in front of judges and pitched their business presentations forthe Junior League of NewOrleans Women’sEntrepreneur Fellowship, agrant that could change their lives.
Kaitlin Guerin is proof of that. As owner of Lagniappe Bakehouse, Guerin was the 2024 fellowship winner.She turned her year of funding and support into being named afinalist for the James Beard Emerging Chef Award.
Supporting women
The fellowship was created to support afemale business owner withfunding as well as mentoring and inkind services, and has delivered results since 2018.
Only 39% of U.S. businesses have women majorityownershipaccording to American Express OPEN, “The 2017 State of WomenOwned Businesses Report.” Access to female mentors, resources, and role models can ignite femaleentrepreneurship. As awomen’s trainingorganization, JLNO’sprofessional membership is able to guidewomen who want to scale their businesses through the fellowship. In order to apply for the fellowship, women must be either themajoritystakeholder or 50/50 co-owner of abusiness and function as the manager.Other requirements include the business being incorporated from one to five years, located within 40 miles of New Orleans and making less than $750,000.
After an application process, the finalists meet with consultants for coaching on their presentationsand then pitch their business plans.
“I am always so inspired at the pitchcompetition,” said Junior League community council director Catherine Rigby,“so Ireally look forward to hearingall of the pitches. We also will have our winner fromlastyear tell us alittlebit abouther past year as theWEFellowship winner.”
The2025 fellowship finalists were AshleyLeJeune, Deshaunya Ware,Diana Davis, Laura Fenner, Kelley Wolfe and Stephanie Dupuy Laura Fenner won with hercompany Chateau Sew& Sew, afabricretail storeand sewing-enthusiast hub that offers classes and private lessons for awide range of experience levels.
TheWEFellowship offers winners thefollowing for one year:
n Mentoring and support services from Junior League of New Orleans members
n $7,500 cash grant pro-
vided by Fidelity Bank
n $5,000 worth of accounting advising from Amanda Aguillard, CPA— Owner, PadgettLouisiana
n $5,000 worthoflegal services from Jones Walker
n Accesstomeeting space in Uptown New Orleans
n Tuition to Junior League
New Orleans’ Get on Board nonprofit board training program
n Business coaching and evaluation by Trepwise Consulting
n Feature in Lagniappe, Junior League New Orleans’ quarterly magazineto5,000 readers
n Opportunities to market to Junior League New Orleans members n One year of membership dues(a$220 value)should thefellow meet eligibility criteria andelects to join JLNO
n Branding photography package from Jillian Marie Photography
n Feature in Inside New OrleansMagazine.
n Twoprofessional coaching sessions led by Rayne
Martin.
The Junior League of New Orleans is serious aboutsupporting women.
With nearly 1,700 members,theytouch amultitude of spheres of influence. Through training,programming, volunteering and organizing, the Junior League of New Orleans —like sister organizations around the state and country —works toward its mission of advancing women’sleadership for meaningful community impact.
The Junior League of New Orleans, whichturned100 in 2024, vacillates between being the 10th and 11th largest Junior League in the world. Thelocal league hasthree goalsthatshape itswork: improving economic opportunities for women and supporting women’s potential to seize those opportunities, providing needed family
support to alleviate the burdens on women caregivers, andpromoting information andresources forwomen’s health.
‘Down-to-earth group’
Tara Waldron, current president of Junior League New Orleans, has been an active member for11years. When she was alaw student at Loyola University Law School, Waldronlearned that the organization would be a great way to give back,meet women in various fields and build social and professional relationships.
“These are womenwho arejugglingfamilies, jobs, everything else,” Waldron said. “Most of the women are getting their hands dirty volunteering, and making whatever needs to happen, happen.It’sa very down-toearth group.”
Rigby,aShreveport na-
tive,got involvedwithJunior League NewOrleans soon after moving to the city 10 years ago. She says volunteering is what drew her to the organizationbut has come to see the organization as so much morethan that.
“Our members have trainings throughout the year for various things,professional and personal,” Rigbysaid. “It’sgreat for that aspect of learning new things —really having anetwork of women to prepare you foryour professional andpersonal life whoare also volunteering.”
Waldron says that the membersofJuniorLeague are always looking at what ways they can support women and children in the area, evaluating how their programs are doing and making the programssuccessful. Email Joy Holdenatjoy holden@theadvocate.com.
BY JILL LAWLESS
Contributing writer
Sitting around a wrestling ring, churchgoers roared as local hero Billy O’Keeffe body-slammed a fighter named Disciple. Beneath stained-glass windows, they whooped and cheered as burly, tattooed wresters tumbled into the aisle during a six-man tagteam battle.
This is Wrestling Church, which brings blood, sweat and tears — mostly sweat to St. Peter’s Anglican church in the northern England town of Shipley It’s the creation of Gareth Thompson, a charismatic 37-year-old who says he was saved by pro wrestling and Jesus — and wants others to have the same experience.
Thompson says the outsized characters and scripted morality battles of pro wrestling fit naturally with a Christian message.
“Boil it down to the basics, it’s good versus evil,” he said. “When I became Christian, I started seeing the wrestling world through a Christian lens. I started seeing David and Goliath. I started seeing Cain and Abel. I started seeing Esau having his heritage stolen from him. And I’m like, ‘We could tell these stories.’”
A match made in heaven Church attendance in the U.K. has been declining for decades, and the 2021 census found that less than half of people in England and Wales now consider themselves Christian. Those who say they have no religion rose from 25% to 37% in a decade.
That has led churches to get creative in order to survive.
“You’ve got to take a few risks,” said the Rev Natasha Thomas, the priest in charge at St. Peter’s. She acknowledged that she “wasn’t entirely sure what it was I was letting myself
in for” when she agreed to host wrestling events.
“It’s not church as you would know it It’s certainly not for everyone,” she said. But it’s bringing in a different group of people, a different community than we would normally get.”
At a recent Wrestling Church evening, almost 200 people — older couples, teenagers, pierced and tattooed wrestling fans, parents with excited young children — packed into chairs around a ring erected under the vaulted ceiling of the century-old church
After a short homily and prayer from Thomas, it was time for two hours of smackdowns, body slams and flying headbutts. The atmosphere grew cheerfully raucous, as fans waved giant foam fingers and hollered “knock him out!” at participants.
Some longtime churchgoers have welcomed the infusion of energy.
“I think it’s absolutely wonderful,” said Chris Moss, who married her husband Mike in St. Peter’s almost 50 years ago.
“You can look at some of the wrestlers and think” she scrunched her face in distaste But talking to them made her realize “you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover.”
Wrestling was a lifeline Thompson, whose wrestling moniker is Gareth Angel, both wrestles and presides over the organized mayhem. He’s a mix of preacher and ringmaster, wearing a T-shirt that says “Pray, eat, wrestle, repeat.”
He’s loved wrestling since it provided solace and release during a troubled upbringing that saw him survive childhood sexual abuse and a period of homelessness as a teenager
“I could watch Shawn Michaels and the Rock and Stone Cold (Steve Austin)
and I could be like, I want to be like them,” he said.
“So it’s always been an escape for me, and a release and a way to get away from stuff. But then God has obviously turned that around now and it’s become this passion.”
He found Christianity in 2011, ran his first Wrestling Church event in a former nightclub-turned-church in 2022, and moved to St Peter’s last year
As well as the monthly Saturday night shows, his charity Kingdom Wrestling runs training sessions for adults and children in a back room of the church, along with women’s selfdefense classes, a men’s mental health group and coaching for children who have been expelled from school.
For many in the closeknit community of U.K. wrestlers and fans, religion
is a new ingredient, but not an unwelcome one
“I’m mainly here for the wrestling,” said 33-year-old Liam Ledger, who wrestles as Flamin’ Daemon Crowe.
Sitting in a pungent changing room as wrestlers discussed fight plans, donned knee pads and laced up their many-holed boots, he said it’s a bit “surreal” when baptisms are held between bouts.
“It works both ways,” he said. “There’s people that come here that are big on religion, and they’re here for all of that sort of stuff And then they go, ‘Oh, actually this wrestling is sort of fun.’”
Kiara, Kingdom Wrestling’s reigning women’s champion, said the organization has helped her bring her Catholic faith into her wrestling life
“It’s thanks to Kingdom Wrestling that I’ve had the
confidence to pray in the locker room now before matches,” said Kiara, 26, known outside the ring as Stephanie Sid. “I invite my opponent to pray with me, pray that we have a safe match, pray that there’s no injuries and pray that we entertain everybody here.”
Going for growth
Only a handful of people have gone from watching the wrestling to attending Sunday-morning services at St. Peter’s, but Wrestling Church baptized 30 people in its first year Thompson, whose brand of born-again Christianity is more muscular than many traditional Anglicans’, plans to expand to other British cities. One day, he says, he may start his own church.
There has long been overlap between Christianity and wrestling in the
U.S., where figures like Thompson’s hero Shawn Michaels proudly proclaim their faith. But Britain is a less religious place, and Shipley, a former mill town 175 miles (280 kilometers) north of London, is a long way from the Bible Belt. Thompson, though, is unfazed by doubters.
“People say, ‘Oh, wrestling and Christianity, they’re two fake things in a fake world of their own existence,’ ” he said. “If you don’t believe in it, of course you will think that of it. But my own personal experience of my Christian faith is that it is alive and living, and it is true. The wrestling world, if you really believe in it, you believe that it’s true and you can suspend your disbelief.
“You suspend it because you want to get lost in it. You want to believe in it. You want to hope for it.”
New concept underscores the importance of food as medicine
Poor diet remains the leading cause of mortality among adults
BY JOY SAHA
Contributing writer
Editor’s note: This story, created by Joy Saha for Salon is part of the Solutions Journalism Network. Louisiana Inspired features solutions journalism stories that provide tangible evidence that positive change is happening in other places and in our own communities — solutions that can be adopted around the world
In 2012, Wholesome Wave a nonprofit organization working to end food and nutrition insecurity — launched its Produce Prescription Program. The program combines healthcare with nutrition incentives, offering those who have a diet-related illness with prescriptions for healthy foods, namely fruits and vegetables.
Wholesome Wave’s ongoing initiative is just one of many so-called food pharmacies The emerging concept is an extension of the Food is Medicine (FIM) movement, which emphasizes the correlation between healthy eating and longevity. Food pharmacies are exactly what their name suggests: Healthcare organizations and medical professionals provide patients with physical prescriptions for healthy foods along with resources highlighting the importance of a wellrounded diet. Many pharmacies work in tandem with the healthcare system, although several exist outside of the system.
A 2021 research article published in the American Journal of Preventive Cardiology explained that food pharmacy programs
“primarily focus on removing barriers to healthy eating, such as financial constraints, through
coupons and financial incentives to promote consumption of healthy foods, particularly fruits and vegetables.” Some programs may also take extra steps to make nutritional education more accessible.
“Food pharmacy programs may also target a variety of barriers, such as a lack of knowledge of healthy eating and cooking skills through inclusion of nutrition or culinary education, a lack of household or community support through peer-support components in the program, or a lack of geographic access to fresh produce through transportation assistance or facilitation of establishment of new locations for vendors of healthy foods,” the article specified
Poor diet remains the leading cause of mortality among adults in the United States, according to the National Institute of Health (NIH). The most common dietrelated illnesses include type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease (CVD), obesity and certain cancers. As of 2022, 126.9 million Americans ages 20 and older have some form of CVD, the NIH reported.
Today obesity remains the second leading cause of preventable death in the States. Over 40% of adults nationwide are obese, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported in September. Twenty-three states have the highest adult obesity rates, which the CDC defines as 35% or higher: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Wisconsin
Diet-related illnesses disproportionately affect underserved communities that live in food deserts. “Access to healthy nutritious foods is an essential social determinant of health and is heavily influenced by local
environments and community infrastructure,” the NIH specified, adding that evidence-based policy solutions are a necessity to “foster an equitable and climate-smart food system” that improves overall nutrition and eliminates health disparities. That’s where food pharmacies come into play.
Per the American Journal of Preventive Cardiology, studies have shown that food pharmacies are effective in lessening social, physical and financial barriers to healthy eating The prevalence of food pharmacy programs has also increased in recent years.
In the spring of 2017, the New York City Health Department launched Pharmacy to Farm, a program that gives funds for fresh produce to low-income
New Yorkers who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and are on medication for hypertension. Similarly Geisinger Health System introduced its Fresh Food Farmacy in Pennsylvania to help food-insecure patients suffering from type II diabetes.
A study cited in a 2018 article published by the New England Journal of Medicine’s Catalyst journal found that Fresh Food Farmacy patients’ hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) levels dropped an average of 2.1% compared to a 0.5 1.5% drop when exclusively on medication.
On October 21, the DMV-based Capital Area Food Bank announced its partnership with Unity Health Care to launch a new food pharmacy in Wash-
ington, D.C The program provides approximately 40 pounds of medically tailored groceries on a bimonthly basis to foodinsecure patients suffering from chronic conditions Patients receive fresh produce and shelf-stable foods that are low in sugar and high in fiber and nutrients.
Despite its benefits, food pharmacies have their fair share of limitations, including financial constraints, lack of neighborhood availability and personal barriers (like a “lack of desire” to eat fruits and vegetables among certain patients), the American Journal of Preventive Cardiology noted. The programs, however, are still a step forward in the right direction to reduce dietrelated chronic diseases and food insecurity
SUNDAY, April 20, 2025
directions: Make a 2- to 7-letter word from the letters in each row Add points of each word, using scoring directions at right. Finally, 7-letter words get 50-point bonus. “Blanks” used as any letter have no point value All the words are in the Official SCRABBLE® Players Dictionary, 5th Edition.
instructions: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed. 3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.
todAY's Word — APHorisMs: AF-or-izims: Concise statements of a principle.
Average mark 42 words Time limit 60 minutes Can you find 58 or more words in APHORISMS?
instructions: 1 -Each rowand each column must contain thenumbers 1through4 (easy) or 1through6 (challenging) without repeating 2 -The numbers within the heavily outlinedboxes, called cages, must combine using thegiven operation (inany order)toproduce the target numbersinthe top-left corners. 3 -Freebies: Fillinthe single-boxcages withthe numberinthe top-left corner
instructions: Sudoku is anumber-placing puzzle based on a 9x9 gridwith several given numbers. The object is to placethe numbers 1to 9in theempty squares so that each row,each column and each 3x3 boxcontains the same number only once. The difficultylevel of the Conceptis Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday
directions: Complete thegridso that numbers 1–132 connect horizontally, vertically or diagonally
Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis
By zHouQin BurniKeL
Take this Super Quiz to a Ph.D.
SUBJECT: AMERICAN TV CATCHPHRASES
Identify the character noted for the line. Bonus points if you can name the TV series. (e.g. “Well, isn’t that special?” Answer: The Church Lady (“Saturday Night Live”).)
Today’s deal is from a rubber bridge game, where the bidding is much closer to the system recommended by Charles Goren years ago. South’s two-club bid promised 10 points and North’s two-spadebidshowedextras The normal contract was reached. South played low from dummy ontheopeningheartleadandcaptured East’s 10 with the queen. He played the ace and another diamond to West’s king, and West shifted to a club, won with dummy’s ace as East played an encouraging card. South cashed the queen of diamonds, disappointed that the suit did not split 3-3, and led a diamond to West. East completed a good picture of his hand by discarding a low club and the queen of spades. West exited with a spade and declarer could take no more than eight tricks, drifting down one. On a good day, this diamond suit would have produced four tricks for declarer A better bet for four tricks was the club suit, but South needed two entries to his hand — one to set up the clubs and another to enjoy them He should have won the first trick with the ace of hearts, cashed the ace of clubs, and led a diamond to
TAURUS (April 20-May 20) The possibilities will be endless once you start moving. Channel your energy into something that leads to positive results. Fixing your living space to accommodate your needs will help you get ahead.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Question everything. Knowledge, experience and connecting with the right people will help point you in a better direction. Curiosity will lead to a learning experience that enables you to formulate your next move.
CANCER (June 21-July 22) Planning ahead is necessary Let go of the past and see what the future holds.
his ace. He could then lead clubs until East took his king. He had plenty of low cards to discard from dummy Eventually, South would force another entry to his hand in the heart suit and make his contract.
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
Change is an essential process if you want to improve your life. Distance yourself from negative influences.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Getting together with old friends will brighten your day Groups that address issues of concern will motivate you to join forces with or support someone who can help make a difference.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Set boundaries, know your limitations and protect your reputation, assets and meaningful relationships. An upfront, positive attitude will ward off trouble.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) Pay attention to paperwork, contracts and joint ventures. Trust your instincts and opt to handle whatever you encounter swiftly and succinctly Home and domestic improvements will make your life easier
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) Stick close to home; venturing out will lead to unsafe situations or difficulties with those you encounter Put credence in personal improvements that boost your confidence.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Be wary of wheelers and dealers. It’s in your best interest to avoid gam-
bling, temptation and indulgent behavior Trust your instincts, not a sales pitch.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Physical improvements will boost your morale, giving you the courage to say and do things you may be too shy to do otherwise. Discipline and persistence will pay off.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Keep an eye on what others are doing. Look for the positive, and you’ll find a niche that comes naturally and encourages you to follow your heart and do your own thing.
PISCES (Feb 20-March 20) You’ve got some good ideas, but don’t turn
something simple into a complex affair Stick to basics, work with what you’ve got and avoid unnecessary expenses.
ARIES (March 21-April 19) Raise awareness and participate in events that help you understand where your presence skills and experience will have the most impact. Take better care of your health and well-being.
The horoscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact.
© 2025 by NEA, inc., dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication
1. Spock ("Star Trek").2.EdMcMahon ("The Tonight Show Starring JohnnyCarson") 3. Howie Mandel ("Deal or No Deal").4.Tattoo ("Fantasy Island").5.Ralph Kramden ("The Honeymooners"). 6. Ed Sullivan ("The Ed Sullivan Show"). 7. Maxwell Smart ("GetSmart").8.Fred Flintstone ("The Flintstones").9.DonaldTrump ("The Apprentice").10. RegisPhilbin("Who Wants to Be aMillionaire"). 11.Fred Sanford ("Sanford and Son").12. TommySmothers ("The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour"). 13. Latka Gravas ("Taxi").14. Vinnie Barbarino("Welcome Back, Kotter").15. Lou Grant("The Mary Tyler Moore Show").
SCORING: 24 to 30 points —congratulations, doctor; 18 to 23 points—honorsgraduate; 13 to 17 points —you’replenty smart, but no grind; 5to12points —you really shouldhit the booksharder;1point to 4points —enroll in remedial courses immediately; 0points who reads thequestions to you?
Saturday's Cryptoquote: Wishing aHappy Passover andHappy Easter toall our readers who celebrate! —From your puzzle friends
Crossword Answers
sCrAbble
