The Acadiana Advocate 04-28-2025

FEST THINGS IN LIFE

Stephen Kantrow wants to keep vapes, cigarettes away from kids

BY TYLER BRIDGES Staff writer

Dr Stephen Kantrow remained in his seat as everyone else got up.

The House Ways and Means Committee had just completed a hearing on Tuesday where it narrowly approved a tax increase on vaping and rejected a tax hike on cigarettes.

Kantrow, a pulmonologist, had come to the State Capitol from New Orleans to offer his perspective from treating smokers for 30 years, including those in their dying days.

For Kantrow, vapes present a major problem because nearly one-third of high school students in Louisiana use them But to him, cigarettes represent the bigger public health threat — and the bigger opportunity for the public good.

Yet many of the Republican committee members doubted his view that the tax increases would reduce tobacco usage, save lives and reduce state spending on tobaccorelated costs.

As he drove to Baton Rouge on Tuesday morning, he was thinking that he’d like to be a resource to lawmakers and better understand how they make decisions.

But it turns out that, even before he arrived, Kantrow would be facing tough odds. The tobacco industry was working with convenience store owners to get Republican legislators to kill the cigarette tax increase. Meanwhile, the vape tax increase stood a good chance of passage because it had the support of Gov. Jeff Landry, and it was less objectionable to the tobacco companies and convenience store owners. They had already begun discussions with lawmakers about watering down the bill if it had to be passed.

Landry backed the bill, lobbyists said,

Lake Charles amphitheater project divides mayoral candidates

Incumbent champions growth but challenger says it won’t get support

BY MEGAN WYATT

whether Lake Charles can support two amphitheaters and how the city can best spend limited resources. The city already owns an amphitheater less than half a mile from the planned project. The existing Arcade Amphitheatre overlooks the lake with a simple stage, a grassy hill and enough space for about 1,500 people. It was built with private investments in 1990, then donated to the city It’s most frequently booked for

smaller fundraising events, especially 5K races, and is home to a few larger community events, such as the Live on the Lakefront concert series and the Louisiana Pirate Festival. Over the past 10 years, the Arcade Amphitheatre has booked 255 events, and the city has collected about $240,000 in rental fees. They waived rental fees for 66 events. Although the existing amphitheater has minimal expenses related

Hunter Simien

STAFF PHOTOS By BRAD BOWIE

Officials: 51 killed in Israeli strikes in Gaza

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip Hospitals in the Gaza Strip received the remains of 51 Palestinians killed in Israeli airstrikes in the past 24 hours, the local Health Ministry said Sunday, bringing the Palestinian death toll from the 18-month-old Israel-Hamas war to 52,243.

Israel ended its ceasefire with Hamas by launching a surprise bombardment on March 18, and has been carrying out daily waves of strikes. Ground forces have expanded a buffer zone and encircled the southern city of Rafah, and now control around 50% of the territory

Israel has also sealed off Gaza’s 2 million Palestinians from all imports, including food and medicine, for nearly 60 days. Aid groups say supplies will soon run out and that thousands of children are malnourished.

The overall death toll includes nearly 700 bodies for which the documentation process was recently completed, the ministry said in its latest update. The daily toll includes bodies retrieved from the rubble after earlier strikes. Israeli strikes killed another 23 people after the ministry’s update.

Eight of them, including three children and two women, were killed in a strike on a tent in the southern city of Khan Younis, according to Nasser Hospital. A strike in the central city of Deir al-Balah killed four people, according to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, and another on a tent there killed four children and a man, the hospital said A strike hit a coffee shop near the entrance to the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza, killing at least six people, according to al-Awda and al-Aqsa hospitals.

Israeli authorities say the renewed offensive and tightened blockade are aimed at pressuring Hamas to release hostages abducted in its attack on Oct. 7, 2023, that triggered the war.

Iran’s president visits port explosion victims

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates Iran’s president on Sunday visited those injured in a huge explosion that rocked one of the Islamic Republic’s main ports, a facility purportedly linked to an earlier delivery of a chemical ingredient used to make missile propellant. The visit by President Masoud Pezeshkian came as the toll from Saturday’s blast at the Shahid Rajaei port outside of Bandar Abbas in southern Iran’s Hormozgan province rose to 40 with about 1,000 others injured. While Iran’s military sought to deny the delivery of ammonium perchlorate from China, new videos emerged showing an apocalyptic scene at the still-smoldering port. A crater that appeared meters (yards) deep sat surrounded by burning smoke so dangerous that authorities closed schools and businesses in the area. Containers appeared smashed or thrown as if discarded toys, while the burned carcasses of trucks and cars sat around the site

Suspect arrested in theft of Noem’s purse

WASHINGTON A suspect has been arrested in connection with the theft last week of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s purse as she ate at a Washington, D.C., restaurant, officials said Sunday Noem’s purse was nabbed on Easter Sunday and reportedly contained about $3,000 in cash, her keys, driver’s license, passport and Homeland Security badge. The Homeland Security Department said Noem had cash in her purse to pay for gifts, dinner and other activities for her family on Easter

A suspect was taken into custody without incident in Washington after an investigation by the U.S. Secret Service and the Metropolitan Police Department, according to Secret Service Washington Field Office Special Agent in Charge Matt McCool. The suspect was arrested Saturday, the police department said. Interim District of Columbia U.S. Attorney Ed Martin told NBC News the suspect was in the country illegally.

11 killed at festival in Vancouver

Vehicle plows into crowd; police rule out terrorism

BY JIM MORRIS and ROB GILLIES Associated Press

VANCOUVER, British Columbia Vancouver police ruled out terrorism in a car ramming attack that killed 11 people at a Filipino heritage festival in the Canadian city, saying the suspect has a history of mental health issues

Dozens of others were injured, some seriously, as the ramming shook the country before a federal election.

A man driving a black Audi SUV entered the street just after 8 p.m. Saturday and struck people attending the Lapu Lapu Day festival. A Vancouver man was arrested.

“It is the darkest day in Vancouver’s history,” Vancouver Police Interim Chief Steve Rai told a news conference.

“The person we have in custody does have a significant history of interactions with police and health care professionals related to mental health,” he said.

Video of the aftermath shows the dead and injured along a narrow street in South Vancouver lined by food trucks. The front of the driver’s SUV is smashed in.

Kris Pangilinan, who brought his pop-up clothing and lifestyle booth to the festival, saw the vehicle enter past the barricade slowly before the driver slammed on the gas in an area that was packed with people after a concert. He

More than 100 immigrants arrested in Colo.

Authorities raid illegal after-hours nightclub

BY JOHN RABY Associated Press

More than 100 immigrants suspected of being in the United States illegally were taken into custody early Sunday following a federal raid at an illegal after-hours nightclub in Colorado Springs, Colorado, authorities said.

Video posted online by the Drug Enforcement Administration showed agents announcing their presence outside the building and ordering patrons to leave with their hands up. Other videos showed dozens of people fleeing the building through its entrance after federal agents smashed a window Later, dozens of suspects were shown in handcuffs standing on a sidewalk waiting to be transported.

During his second stint as U.S. president, Donald Trump‘s unprecedented campaign of immigration enforcement has pushed the limits of executive power, and he has clashed with federal judges trying to restrain him. The

crackdown has included detaining more than 1,000 international college students, some of whom have seen their legal status restored, at least temporarily The policies have slowed immigration at the southern border to a relative trickle.

On Sunday in Colorado, U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement took the club-going immigrants into custody, said Jonathan Pullen, special agent in charge of the DEA’s Rocky Mountain Division.

“Colorado Springs is waking up to a safer community today,” he said.

The city, Colorado’s second largest, lies about 70 miles south of Denver

More than 300 law enforcement officers and officials from multiple agencies responded to the nightclub, which had been under investigation for several months for alleged activities including drug trafficking, prostitution and “crimes of violence,” Pullen said at a news conference.

Cocaine was among the drugs found, he said.

“When the cops showed up at the door, most of the drugs hit the floor,” Pullen said.

An undisclosed number of guns were seized, he said.

said hearing the sounds of bodies hitting the vehicle will never leave his mind.

“He sideswiped someone on his right side and I was like, ‘Oh, yo yo.’ And then he slammed on the gas,” he said. “And the sound of the acceleration, it sounds like an F1 car about to start a race.

“He slammed on the gas, barreled through the crowd. And all I can remember is seeing bodies flying up in

the air higher than the food trucks themselves and landing on the ground and people yelling and screaming. It looked like a bowling ball hitting bowling pins and all the pins are flying into the air.”

Pangilinan said that it would be hard to believe “that someone has some malice against the Filipino people.”

A 30-year-old Vancouver man was arrested at the

scene. Rai said that the man was arrested after initially being apprehended by bystanders.

Video circulating on social media shows a young man in a black hoodie with his back against a chain-link fence, alongside a security guard and surrounded by bystanders screaming and swearing at him.

“I’m sorry,” the man says, holding his hand to his head.

Rai declined to comment on the video.

Prime Minister Mark Carney canceled his first campaign event and two major rallies on the final day of the election campaign before Monday’s vote.

“Last night families lost a sister, a brother, a mother, father, son or a daughter Those families are living every family’s nightmare,” Carney said. “And to them and to the many others who were injured, to the Filipino Canadian community, and to everyone in Vancouver, I would like to offer my deepest condolences.” Carney planned to join British Columbia Premier David Eby and community leaders Sunday evening in Vancouver

Faithful pay tribute as

pope’s tomb opens to public in Rome

BY VANESSA GERA and SILVIA STELLACCI Associated Press

VATICAN CITY Roman Catholic faithful began visiting the tomb of Pope Francis on Sunday, filing past the simple white tomb in St. Mary Major Basilica a day after he was bade farewell by the powerful of the world and a crowd of hundreds of thousands.

A single white rose was placed on the tomb that said “Franciscus” — the pope’s name in Latin. A light cast its warm glow over the tomb and a reproduction of the late pontiff’s pectoral cross on the wall above it.

Rosario Correale, from Salerno, Italy, said that he experienced “great emotion” at witnessing Francis’ final resting place.

“I see all the people are truly moved,” Correale said. “He has truly left a mark on us.”

People filed past, many crossing themselves or snapping photos with their phones. Ushers urged them to keep moving to accommodate the thousands who flocked to the Rome basilica to see the tomb, forming a long line outside.

Later in the day, a group of cardinals arrived in buses and entered through the church doors to pay homage to Francis at his tomb, and for an evening vespers service.

The tomb was opened on the second of nine days of

Russia launches nearly 150 drones against Ukraine

BY VOLODYMYR YURCHUK and ELISE MORTON Associated Press

KYIV, Ukraine Russia launched a sweeping drone assault and airstrikes across Ukraine early Sunday, killing at least four people officials said, after President Donald Trump cast doubt over Russian President Vladimir Putin’s willingness to end the war

Three people died and four were wounded in airstrikes on Kostyantynivka in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, the regional prosecutor’s office

said. Another person died and a 14-year-old girl was wounded in a drone attack on the city of Pavlohrad in the Dnipropetrovsk region, which was hit for the third consecutive night, Gov Serhii Lysak said.

The attacks came hours after Russia claimed to have regained control over the remaining parts of the Kursk region that Ukrainian forces seized in a surprise incursion in August 2024. Ukrainian officials said the fighting in Kursk was still ongoing. Trump said Saturday he doubts Putin wants to end the more than 3-year-old

war, expressing new skepticism a peace deal can be reached soon. Only a day earlier, Trump had said Ukraine and Russia were “ very close to a deal.”

“There was no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cities and towns, over the last few days,” Trump wrote in a social media post as he flew back to the U.S. after attending the funeral of Pope Francis at the Vatican, where he met briefly with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Trump also hinted at further sanctions against Russia.

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ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By LINDSEy WASSON

Sarah Edmilao, a member of the Filipino community who says friends had attended earlier in the day, views flowers at a growing memorial on Sunday near a site the day after a driver killed 11 people during a Filipino festival in Vancouver, Canada.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ANDREW MEDICHINI Cardinals visit the tomb of the late Pope Francis on Sunday inside St. Mary Major Basilica in Rome.

mourning

Republicansintough districtslimit public appearances

BY STEVE PEOPLES and THOMAS BEAUMONT Associated Press

MECHANICSBURG, Pa.— Many days over the past two weeks, no one answered thephoneatany ofU.S Rep. Scott Perry’sfour offices Perry’steam did not share details aboutthe Republicancongressman’spublic appearancesuntil they were over.Even supporters who live in Perry’scentralPennsylvania districtcould not remember thelast time he hosted an in-person town hall.

No one opened the lockeddoor at his district office in Mechanicsburg last week when an AssociatedPress reporterrang the bell. Amale voice said through the intercom, “I don’t have any public appearanceinformation that Ican provide.”

The U.S. House is ending a17-day recess, typically known as adistrict work period, in which members of Congress return home tofocus on their constituents. But some of the most vulnerable Republicans limitedtheir potential exposure to the potential backlash from President Donald Trump’sfirst monthsinoffice. They are embracing the strategyoutlinedbyGOP leadersin Washington who arguethere is no benefit to creating more viral moments such as thecrowd in Asheville, North Carolina, thatbooed U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwardsand the pointed questions about tariffsand deportationsthat weredirected at U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley,of Iowa. Perry,who won reelection last fall by about 5,000 votes, is one of the 10 most vulnerable House Republicans, as measured by their margins of victory last fall. They

were especially hard to find duringthe recess, though it wasdifficultto verify many of the public schedulesdue to theinconsistent responses fromtheiroffices

None of them, acollection of swing-district conservatives from across Arizona, Colorado, California, Iowa, Nebraska, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, hosted in-person events that were open to thepublic. Just one planned atelephone town hall. Others favored smaller invitation-only gatherings with local officials promoted only after they wereover.

TheRepublicans’ lack of access didn’tsit well with some voters.

“They’re publicly elected officials. Theyought to be accessible to thepublic,”Republican voter Robert Barton, a57-year-old civil engineer,saidashewaited for his lunch at Italian Delight Pizzeria acrossthe street from Perry’sofficeinMechanicsburg.

Trumpfloatstax cut to

ease tariffs’ bite

BY CATHERINE LUCEY

Bloomberg News (TNS)

President Donald Trump suggested Sunday that his sweeping tariffswould help him reduce incometaxes for people making lessthan

$200,000 ayear,aspublic anxiety rises over his economic agenda.

Trump has previously argued that tariff revenue could replace income taxes, though economists have questioned those claims “When Tariffscut in, many people’sIncome Taxes will be substantially reduced, maybe even completely eliminated. Focus will be on people making less than $200,000 ayear,” he said Sunday on his Truth Social network.

Trump’stariff stances have roiled markets,led to fearsofhigherprices for Americans,prompted recession warnings and sparked boutsofconcern about the U.S.’s havenstatus— afear thatTreasury Secretary ScottBessentquestioned in aSunday interview “I don’tthink that this is necessarily losing confidence,” Bessent saidon ABC’sThis Week.“Anythingthathappensover a two-week,one-monthwindow can be either statistical noise ormarket noise.”

Trump’sadministration is “setting the fundamentals” for investors to know “that theU.S. government bond market is the safest and soundest in the world,” he said.

Perry’steam did notrespondto multiple requestsfor comment.

VeteranGOP strategist Doug Heye arguedthatinteracting with constituents in “plannedand controlled ways” is more productive than town hallsfor membersof Congress. “Andthat’ssmart forany politician,” he said.

The National Republican Congressional Committee, theHouse Republicans’campaign arm, is not encouraging targetedmembers to stayout of the public eye, aspokesperson said.

Instead, the NRCC encourages lawmakers to meet with their constituents in public, but to be wary of events that could divert attention from aHouse member’smessage and agenda, accordingtoNRCC spokesman Mike Marinella.

“Wetell everyone,goout and meet people. Youhave to be in front of your constituents,” Marinella said. “Use every avenue you can.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Benton, recently suggested that some of the people attending public meetings with members “do this as aprofession, they’re professional protesters.” He urgedlawmakers to consider convening so-called tele-town hall meetings, dial-in conferences wherethousands canlistenand lawmakers take questions.

In 2010, underpressure over the healthcare overhaul that became known as Obamacare, anumber of House Democrats skipped publiceventsafter facing angrytown halls the previous summer.Some heldtele-townhall meetings instead.

Then-House Speaker NancyPelosi,D-Calif., co-authored an opinion piece referring to some protests as “un-American” and denouncing an “ugly campaign (to) disrupt public meetings and prevent members of Congress andconstituents from conducting acivil dialogue.”

Just under adecade later,House Republicans trying to repeal that health lawwere accused of ducking town halls as well. Then-House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., said he would stop holding townhalls to limit access for protesters from outside hisdistrict.

Both theDemocrats in 2010 and the Republicans in 2018 wouldgo on to lose their House majorities.

The Democratic National Committee,backedbyorganized labor andother progressive groups in somestates, haslauncheddozens of “People’sTownHalls” and “Good Trouble” events in districts where Republicans will not hold public events.

Democratsare bettingtheir strategywill give them an advantage in the 2026 election, when control

of Congress will be decided for the last twoyears of Trump’sfinal term. Historically,the party that holds the White House loses seats in these midterms. And as of now, Republicanswould lose theHouse majority if they lose anet of just two seats.

Republican NationalCommittee

Chairman Michael Whatley put it in stark terms during an appearance at the Iowa Faith and Freedom spring fundraiser this month.

“This midtermelectioncycle is going to determine whether we have afour-year presidency or a two-year presidency,” Whatley told an audienceof700 Iowa Republican activists andsocial conservative leaders. Referring to the 2018Democratic House takeover, he warnedofHouse investigations and astalled Trump agenda that “knocked the administration off its feet.”

Mariannette Miller-Meeks is an Iowa Republican who won last fall by 799 votes, the closest U.S. House election wonbyaRepublican in the country last year

She spokeatthe Faith and Freedom fundraiser,but she spent the Easter recess meeting with far smallergroups in more controlled environments: Awheel accessory plant, several business groups in the Des Moines andDavenport areas, aRotary Club meeting, and agroundbreaking foraneastern Iowa medical center

Most of herconstituents would have learned of the stops by checking Miller-Meeks’ social media accounts after the fact. Miller-Meeks, like her fellow most-targeted Republican Housemembers, offered little if any public notice of her appearances.

By The Associated Press

BATANISLAND, Philippines The U.S.militaryhas deployed an anti-ship missile launcher for the first time on Batan Island in thePhilippines, as Marines unloaded thehigh-precision weapon on the northern tip of the archipelago, justasea border away from Taiwan. U.S. and Philippine forces separately unleashed abarrage of missile and artillery fire thatshot down several dronesactingashostile aircraft in live-fire drills on SundayinZambalesprovince facing thedisputed South China Sea.

The mock battle scenarios over the weekend in the annualBalikatan exercises between the U.S. andits oldest treaty ally in Asia, the Philippines, not only simulated real-life war.They were also staged near major geopoliti-

IsraelijetsstrikeBeirut’ssuburbs

BY SALLYABOUALJOUD Associated Press

BEIRUT Israeli jets struck Beirut’ssouthernsuburbs Sunday after issuing awarningabout an hour earlier, marking thethird Israeli strike on the area since a ceasefire took effect in late November In astatement following the strike, theIsraelimilitary said it targeted aprecision-

guided missile storage facilityfor the militant Hezbollah group. It added that storing such equipment is aviolation of the agreement reached to endthe Israel-Hezbollahwar Ahuge plume of smoke billowed over the areaafter the strike, which hit what looked likea metaltentsituated between two buildings with three bombs, according to anAssociatedPress photographer on theground

and footagecirculatingon social media. Thephotographer saw two burned and destroyedtrucks inside the hangar. There were no immediate reportsofcasualties In the warning, the Israeli military said it was targeting Hezbollah facilities in theHadath area and urged residents to move at least 300 meters fromthe site before the strike.Two warning strikesfollowed.

cal hot spots,which have become delicate frontlinesin the regional rivalry between China and theU.S. under former President Joe Bidenand now Donald Trump.

About 9,000 American and 5,000 Filipino military personneltook partinthe combat maneuvers. At least260 Australian personnel also joined, with smaller observ-

er delegations fromJapan and other countries.

China has fiercely opposed the combat drills as provocative. Itsaircraft carrier group sailed by afew days earliernear Batanes, where the U.S. military had deployedthe Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System on Saturday on Batan near the Bashi Channel just

southofTaiwan, acritical trade and military route that the U.S. and Chinese militarieshavetried to gain strategic control of.

“The introductionofNMESIS into the first island chain for sea denial, sea control is another step in our force design journey,” U.S. Marine Lt. Gen. Michael Cederholmtold asmall groupofjournalists.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MARK VANCLEAVE

U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, of Iowa, takes questions from constituents Wednesdayduring acontentious town hall event in Northwood, Iowa

Poll: Popularity of Musk in Washington has

Entrepreneur

BY CHRIS MEGERIAN and AMELIA THOMSON-DEVEAUX Associated Press

WASHINGTON Elon Musk spent years building cachet as a business titan and tech visionary, brushing aside critics and skeptics to become the richest person on the planet.

But as Musk gained power in Washington in recent months, his popularity has waned, according to a poll from The Associated PressNORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

Just 33% of U.S. adults have a favorable view of Musk, the chainsaw-wielding, late-night-posting, campaign-hat-wearing public face of President Donald Trump’s efforts to downsize and overhaul the federal government That share is down from 41% in December “It was a shame that he crashed and burned his reputation,” said Ernest Pereira, 27, a Democrat who works as a lab technician in North Carolina “He bought into his own hype.”

The poll found that about twothirds of adults believe Musk has held too much influence over the federal government during the past few months — although that influence may be coming to an end.

you don’t do that,” she said. “One is for the benefit of the people, and the other is for the benefit of the corporation.”

Much of the downsizing has been done through so-called the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, which was Musk’s brainchild during last year’s campaign. Thousands of federal employees have been fired or pushed to quit, contracts have been canceled and entire agencies have been brought to a standstill.

Musk has succeeded in providing a dose of shock therapy to the federal government, but he has fallen short of other goals. After talking about cutting spending by $1 trillion, he has set a much lower target of $150 billion. Even reaching that amount could prove challenging, and DOGE has regularly overstated its progress.

Now he criticizes “the woke mind virus” and warns of the collapse of Western civilization from the threats of illegal migration and excess government spending. Musk’s increasingly conservative politics are reflected in the polling. Only about 2 in 10 independents and about 1 in 10 Democrats view Musk favorably, compared with about 7 in 10 Republicans. In addition, while about 7 in 10 independents and about 9 in 10 Democrats believe Musk has too much influence, only about 4 in 10 Republicans feel that way Mark Collins, 67, a warehouse manager from Michigan who has leaned Republican in recent years, said Musk “runs a nice, tight ship” at his companies, “and the government definitely needs tightening up.”

The billionaire entrepreneur is expected to leave his administration job in the coming weeks. Musk is noticeably less popular than the overall effort to pare back the government workforce, which Trump has described as bloated and corrupt. About half of U.S adults believe the Republican president has gone too far on reducing the size of the federal workforce, while roughly 3 in 10 think he is on target and 14% want him to go even further

SMOKING

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because the first $22 million collected by the vape tax would raise salaries for state troopers and the next $6 million would go to the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, the Office of State Fire Marshal and the State Public Defender Compensation Fund. Targeting vapers to pay state troopers more would mean Landry could achieve that goal without having to find the money elsewhere.

Most of the people who testified for or against the bills represented one group or another But Kantrow, 62, took a day of leave as a professor at LSU’s medical school and drove to Baton Rouge by himself, hoping to help legislators prevent kids from vaping or smoking cigarettes and ultimately have to be treated by doctors like him.

Kantrow also went to Baton Rouge as a father: One of his daughters vaped for five years, while the other remains addicted. At LSU, Kantrow oversees the training program for all the doctors coming through the medical school in pulmonary and critical care medicine. He also takes care of patients with ALS, including former Saints player Steve Gleason. But how the Legislature carries out its business? That’s another world for Kantrow.

“I’m processing it all,” he said as he stood up, looking shellshocked, as people began filing out of the committee room after the two votes and the doubts he faced

“I think I did more harm than good today,” he added, concerned he had expressed his views too passionately, although others thought he spoke quietly and matter-offactly

“It’s a funny beast,” he said of the legislative process. Opposing cigarettes

Kantrow had appeared at the Capitol only once before, in May 2015, when thenstate Rep. Harold Ritchie, D-Bogalusa, in his final year in office, sponsored a $1.18-per-pack increase in the cigarette tax Ritchie’s move won notice because he had been smoking for 50 years and was suffering from emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

“If we can help you stop smoking today, then in the next couple of days, your risk of heart attack is going to start going down,” Kantrow told Ritchie and the other committee members that day “By (two years), you’ll be close to not having really smoked at all in terms of your risk of cardiovascular disease. That is the most dramatic and early improvement when you stop smoking.”

Five months later, Ritchie said in a text, “I quit smoking on August 11 cold turkey, not patches, no nicotine replacement.”

Retiree Susan Wolf, 75, of Pennsylvania, believes the federal government is too big but Musk has “made a mess of everything.”

“I don’t trust him,” she said. “I don’t think he knows what he’s doing.”

Wolf, who is not registered with a political party, said Musk’s private sector success does not translate to Washington.

“He thinks you run a government like you run a business. And

But he later resumed smoking and recently had a quadruple bypass.

The Legislature ended up approving a 50-cent per pack tax increase in cigarettes in 2015 and another 22-cent increase in 2016. As part of a deal with then-Gov John Bel Edwards in 2016, the tobacco lobby agreed to accept the second increase in return for Edwards’ promise that he would not seek another one while in office.

Edwards kept his word, and Louisiana’s $1.08-perpack rate is now 38th-highest in the country, Claudia Rodas, director of the southern region for the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, told the Ways and Means Committee on Tuesday The national average is $1.97, she added.

Vaping bill passes

On Tuesday, Rep. Ken Brass, D-Vacherie, brought the vape excise tax increase to the committee. His House Bill 517 would raise the tax from 15 cents per milliliter of consumable liquid to 33% of the vape’s wholesale price.

“I bring it as a health initiative,” Brass told the committee members, “primarily for our youth.” He noted that 30% of high schoolers vaped in 2023 while the rate was nearly 20% for middle schoolers.

“Most youth start smoking at 12 or 13,” Brass added.

Erica Williams of the American Heart Association was the first to speak from one of the anti-tobacco groups. She said the tax

He is expected to start dedicating more time to Tesla, his electric automaker that has suffered plummeting revenue while he was working for Trump. Musk told investors on a recent conference call that “now that the major work of establishing the Department of Government Efficiency is done,” he expects to spend just “a day or two per week on government matters.”

Musk, in his work for the administration, has continued a political evolution toward the right. Although the South African-born entrepreneur was never easy to categorize ideologically, he championed the fight against climate change and often supported Democratic candidates.

would deter youth from beginning to vape.

“We’re seeing price sensitivity increases with the use,” she said.

Several minutes later, Rep Beth Billings, R-Destrehan, became the first legislator to express concern about Brass’ HB517.

Billings said her constituents are “under pressure from increased taxes, increased insurance.”

Rep. Roger Wilder, RDenham Springs, followed a short time later

“I agree with the intent, but I wonder if it will turn into a true deterrent,” Wilder said.

Rep. Jay Galle, R-Mandeville, was next.

“I think it’s a horrible addiction, and I wish it didn’t exist,” Galle said. “But it is an addiction, and addictions are rarely deterred by an increase in price.”

Several minutes later, Galle noted that lawmakers raised the state sales tax by 1 cent in November while cutting personal income taxes.

“I see this as another tax increase,” he said.

Rep. Mandie Landry, DNew Orleans, jumped in a bit later

“What we’re seeing is real simple,” she said. “The tax goes up, smoking use goes down, health outcomes go up.”

Eric Weinzettle with the American Lung Association provided the numbers, saying studies show that every 10% increase in price reduces vaping by 13% to 22%.

About 45 minutes into the

“He’s cleaning up all the trash,” he said. “I love what he’s doing.” Republicans are much less likely than Democrats to be worried about being affected by recent cuts to federal government agencies, services or grants. Just 11% said they are “extremely” or “very” concerned that they or someone they know will be affected, while about two-thirds of Democrats and 44% of independents have those fears.

The AP-NORC poll of 1,260 adults was conducted April 1721, using a sample drawn from NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S population. The margin of sampling error for adults overall is plus or minus 3.9 percentage points.

hearing on Brass’ HB517, Kantrow left his seat in the front row of the committee room and sat at the witness table.

He immediately told them that his children have been addicted to vaping.

“To any parent in this room, you have no idea whether your children are vaping,” Kantrow said “There’s no way to know You can’t smell it. You can’t detect it. They can hide it. They can do it at school. You will never smell it. If they smoke one cigarette, every single one of us would know it. It’s true it’s a hidden addiction.”

Kantrow added that he is an expert on the subject after studying it for years. “I can’t help my children stop,” he said.

Galle spoke up again.

“Doctor, I sympathize with you. I have two small children,” he said. “We are assuming that a price increase will deter the youth from using it I don’t know if that’s true.”

Galle then complained that Brass’ bill directed none of the tax revenue for stronger enforcement or anti-tobacco programs.

“Of all the choices in front of us, it’s the one that actually makes the most sense,” Kantrow replied.

The committee approved the bill, 9-6, with legislators saying privately afterward that Gov Landry’s support spelled the difference. The bill, however, needs a twothirds majority in both the House and the Senate to become law

Smoking bill fails

The committee then took up House Bill 390 by Rep. Landry It would raise the cigarette tax by 33 cents per pack.

Alice Kline, with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, said raising cigarette taxes would save the state money in the form of reduced Medicaid payments. Kantrow then returned to the witness table.

“We’re at a unique moment in this whole tobacco story,” he said. “Currently, in the United States, if you are a high school senior, there’s about 1-2% chance that you’re a daily smoker It was 20% in 2000. It had been 20% for generations.” Kantrow said that about 550,000 people smoke in Louisiana. The tax, he added, “will have 30,000 to 50,000 people stop smoking, just with this move. We’ll be one step closer to the end of the epidemic that has lasted a century.” By now, the committee members were barely paying attention to Kantrow None asked questions. They rejected HB390 on a 4-7 vote, with Democrats in support and Republicans opposed.

“I was surprised by the lack of engagement and enthusiasm for the tax around cigarettes,” Kantrow said afterward. “Vaping is a big problem. Cigarettes dwarf that problem.”

Email Tyler Bridges at tbridges@theadvocate. com.

ASSOCIATED

Supreme Court to hear lawsuit against FBI

Agency

BY SUDHIN THANAWALA and LINDSAY WHITEHURST Associated Press

ATLANTA Before dawn on Oct 18, 2017, FBI agents broke down the front door of Trina Martin’s Atlanta home, stormed into her bedroom and pointed guns at her and her then-boyfriend as her 7-year-old son screamed for his mom from another room. Martin, blocked from comforting her son, cowered in disbelief for what she said felt like an eternity But within minutes, the ordeal was over. The agents realized they had the wrong house

On Tuesday, an attorney for Martin will go before the U.S Supreme Court to ask the justices to reinstate her 2019 lawsuit against the U.S. government accusing the agents of assault and battery, false arrest and other violations.

A federal judge in Atlanta dismissed the suit in 2022 and the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals

PROJECT

Continued from page 1A

to upkeep and operations, it also doesn’t attract major touring acts. Instead, it functions more as a community hub and a popular picnic spot.

Michael Castille, the city’s director of community services, said they intentionally keep fees low for booking the Arcade Amphitheatre so that it’s accessible for community members.

“We want to see the community use our assets because that’s what they’re designed for,” Castille said. “They pay for them.”

A change in venue

Taxpayers approved a lakefront amphitheater project in 2023 as part of a bond proposal known as LC Rebound that reallocated existing taxes. The original plan was to rebuild a more modern venue at the existing Arcade Amphitheater

But last December, the City Council unanimously approved an ordinance to purchase the 6-acre Capital One property and parking garage structure for $2.9 million. The plans called for a new amphitheater at the site, while a related ordinance proposed to build a new lakefront hotel and conference center on nearby property at the Lake Charles Event Center

The new amphitheater, which is under design is expected to cost about $24 million. It would include a large stage, gated entry and a combination of fixed chair seating and flexible lawn seating for up to 3,500 attendees.

If all goes to plan, the project should break ground by the end of the year and finish in 2027.

Hunter has touted the project as a way to bring ad-

upheld that decision last year The Supreme Court agreed in January to take up the matter

The key issue before the justices is under what circumstances people can sue the federal government in an effort to hold law enforcement accountable. Martin’s attorneys say Congress clearly allowed for those lawsuits in 1974, after a pair of law enforcement raids on wrong houses made headlines, and blocking them would leave little recourse for families like her FBI Atlanta spokesperson Tony Thomas said in an email the agency can’t comment on pending litigation. But lawyers for the government argued in Martin’s case that courts shouldn’t be “second-guessing” law enforcement decisions.

The FBI agents did advance work and tried to find the right house, making this raid fundamentally different from the no-knock, warrantless raids that led Congress to act in the 1970s, the Justice Department said in court filings starting under the Biden administration.

In dismissing Martin’s case, the 11th Circuit largely agreed with that argument, saying courts can’t second-guess police officers who make “honest mistakes” in search-

broke in and the master bathroom closet where they hid.

Martin stopped coaching track because the starting pistol reminded her of the flashbang grenade the agents set off. Cliatt, 54, said he couldn’t sleep, forcing him to leave his truck driving job.

“The road is hypnotizing,” he said of driving tired. “I became a liability to my company.”

Martin said her son became extremely anxious, pulling threads out of his clothes and peeling paint off walls.

they say Public-interest groups across the ideological spectrum have urged the Supreme Court to overturn the 11th Circuit ruling.

After breaking down the door to the house, a member of the FBI SWAT team dragged Cliatt out of the closet and put him in handcuffs.

es. The agent who led the raid said his personal GPS led him to the wrong place. The FBI was looking for a suspected gang member a few houses away Martin, 46, said she, her thenboyfriend, Toi Cliatt, and her son were left traumatized.

“We’ll never be the same, mentally, emotionally, psychologically,” she said Friday at the neat, stucco home that was raided. “Mentally, you can suppress it, but you can’t really get over it.”

She and Cliatt pointed out where they were sleeping when the agents

Cliatt initially thought the raid was a burglary attempt, so he ran toward the closet, where he kept a shotgun. Martin said her son still expresses fear that she could have died had she confronted the agents while armed.

“If the Federal Tort Claims Act provides a cause of action for anything, it’s a wrong-house raid like the one the FBI conducted here,” Martin’s lawyers wrote in a brief to the Supreme Court.

Other U.S. appeals courts have interpreted the law more favorably for victims of mistaken law enforcement raids, creating conflicting legal standards that only the nation’s highest court can resolve,

community services for Lake

new amphitheater at the site of the former Capital One tower downtown

ditional revenue to the city by connecting downtown restaurants bars and shops to pedestrian traffic. He is a partner in the downtown restaurant Villa Harlequin, which is about a quarter-mile from the site

“Where the amphitheater currently is, it kind of sits out on an island by itself,” Hunter said. “It does not do a lot to support the spine of downtown Lake Charles, which is Ryan Street.”

Simien disagreed.

“The numbers just aren’t adding up,” Simien said. “To ask the taxpayers to invest that kind of money when there’s so many other needs in this city, especially on the infrastructure side with roads and drainage, the priorities are just wrong.”

Casinos main competitor

The city likely could not support two amphitheaters in such close proximity, according to urban outdoor consultant Ben Donsky

The rental fee at the exist-

ing amphitheater is below market rate at $100 per hour, partially because event organizers are required to pay separately for fencing, security, sound equipment and lighting. The new planned amphitheater would offer a larger, more modern stage with rigging, equipment and fencing to better accommodate ticketed events.

Los Angeles-based ASM Global manages the city’s existing amphitheater under the Lake Charles Event Center

The company manages stadiums and event venues across the world, including Caesars Superdome and the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans and the Raising Cane’s River Center in Baton Rouge.

A recent study that ASM conducted on the planned amphitheater project identified nearby casinos as the primary competition to draw crowds of 2,500 to 3,500 people for touring acts.

“Casinos will overpay artists and promoters to get shows, knowing that these

events will attract people to their resort, creating economic value for them,” the study states. “Having four of these competitors in the market will create competition for the Lake Charles Amphitheater and could result in the Lake Charles Amphitheater having to pay more than market value for shows, negatively impacting revenues.”

Still, the study concluded that despite the competition, the proposed amphitheater would be an upgrade from the existing one. It says the new venue would better cater to performers and event organizers, and would have a positive economic impact on local hotels, restaurants and stores.

Donsky, whose New York City-based firm Agora Partners conducted a 2020-21 study on urban parks and outdoor event venues in downtown Lafayette, said the planned amphitheater in Lake Charles would certainly be more attractive to event producers than the

existing one.

But one of the agents noticed he did not have the suspect’s tattoos, according to court documents. He asked for Cliatt’s name and address. Neither matched those of the suspect. The room went quiet as agents realized they had raided the wrong house. They uncuffed Cliatt and left for the correct house, where they executed the warrant and arrested the man they were after

The agent leading the raid returned later to apologize and leave a business card with a supervisor’s name. But the family received no compensation from the government, not even for the damage to the house, Cliatt said.

Martin said the most harrowing part of the raid was her son’s cries.

“When you’re not able to protect your child or at least fight to protect your child, that’s a feeling that no parent ever wants to feel,” she said.

Although it has the potential to generate revenue for the city, Donsky said that isn’t necessarily the goal of any city-owned amphitheater even gated outdoor venues designed for ticketed events. It’s up to the city, he said, to determine whether the goal is to generate revenue or to intentionally run it so that higher-priced ticketed concerts could subsidize communitybased performances. If the city continues to contract with ASM to manage the new venue, Donsky said he expects the amphitheater to generate revenue for the city Risks versus benefits

Cities across the country are struggling with questions about how to build — and afford — new theaters, stadiums and music venues.

Similar venues across the country operate under three primary models: city-owned and managed, city-owned and privately managed or city-owned and managed by a nonprofit. More cities are opting to go the nonprofit route, Donsky said, because it allows flexibility to balance revenue and community goals.

A nonprofit can still outsource to for-profit companies like ASM for event production and management, but would give the venue more public oversight and flexibility to schedule less profitable community events So far, the plans in Lake Charles do not call for a nonprofit to manage the space.

By allowing ASM to manage the day-to-day operations of the new venue, Donsky said there’s a tradeoff in which the company would pocket a larger percentage of event revenue, but they would also take more of the risks of an event canceling. The community may have less access and higher rental fees than at the current amphitheater

“Theoretically, there should be a revenue-sharing component to it,” Donsky said “There’s aligned financial incentives between ASM and the city It has the potential to generate real revenue that can offset other expenses or contribute to new programs or improvements.”

South Louisiana’s heat and rain can make any outdoor venue a risky investment, although milder winters generally allow more booking days per year than outdoor venues in northern states. Weather is especially important for outdoor events that are free to attend or have low-cost tickets, like many held at the Arcade Amphitheatre. In those cases, revenue becomes more dependent on food and drink sales.

“If it becomes rained out, there’s no concession revenue,” Donsky said. “That can be a huge financial risk for a city or a nonprofit that is trying to produce low-cost or free concerts in an outdoor venue.”

Hunter said the city’s existing amphitheater could be reimagined as a park once the new one is finished and takes over the former Capital One site.

“We’ve got some time to make that decision,” Hunter said. “But I don’t see the city having a need for two amphitheaters.”

But if Simien is elected, the project could return to its roots and see reinvestment into the Arcade Amphitheatre.

“It’s sufficient. It’s utilized,” Simien said. “The view is magnificent at the lakefront. Put more into the sound stage, lighting equipment and maybe a cloth canopy and mist spray system for the heat of summer There’s a number of ways to make it work.”

Email Megan Wyatt at mwyatt@theadvocate.com.

STAFF PHOTO By MEGAN WyATT Michael Castille, director of

Charles, discusses plans to build a

Trina Martin, left, and Toi Cliatt said the FBI mistakenly raided their Atlanta home in 2017.

Ex-N.O. mayor turns to the working class

Mitch Landrieu hopes to reverse Democrats’ losses

when it’s unpleasant.”

form Substack.

BY JAMES FINN Staff writer

Republican President Donald Trump walloped Democrats in working-class voter districts last fall. Mitch Landrieu wants to be the one to reverse the party’s failures. The former New Orleans mayor has embarked on a nationwide listening tour of sorts, focusing on districts composed of working-class voters in 21 states — especially in “the South and the Heartland” — that incurred some of Democrats’ worst losses in the November presidential election.

Corps pulls permit amid stalled project

BY JONI HESS Staff writer

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has suspended a permit for the stalled Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion project, citing the uncertainty surrounding the plan and claiming Louisiana officials “deliberately withheld” information during the project’s initial evaluation process.

In a letter sent Friday to the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Corps officials said the withheld information and other factors require a reevaluation of the permit for the massive project, a centerpiece of the state’s $50 billion Coastal Master Plan.

The Corps has ordered any work authorized by the permit to cease within 10 days. The state had already issued a 90-day pause on work related to the project on April 4 to prevent a further escalation in cost as Gov Jeff Landry’s administration seeks an alternative plan Corps officials stated in a previous letter to the state obtained by The Times-Picayune that it should have previously had information from a 2022 engineering report but that the contents would have no effect on the permit. Corps officials now say that information and several other issues caused the Corps to reassess.

“This suspension is based on the state’s actions (including failures to act or to obtain compromise), its public statements and positions, the new information and potentially changed circumstances since permit issuance,” Corps Col. Cullen Jones wrote in the latest letter, addressed to CPRA Chair Gordon Dove.

Landry on Saturday criticized his predecessor John Bel Edwards, whose administration handled the initial permit process when it was issued in 2022.

“They failed to tell the public that the Mid-Barataria project would have cost taxpayers over $50 million a year in dredging, increased the hypoxia-destroying our fishing around our great jewel of Grand Isle, and impact the drinking water of Jefferson, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, and Orleans parishes,” Landry said on X. Edwards in turn defended his administration, calling Landry’s accusations “flat out wrong.” Edwards noted the letter lists several other reasons for halting work on the diversion project, “most notably that the Landry administration stopped work on it and refused to handle the operations required.”

“Gov Landry’s attempt to scapegoat is exactly why partisan politics has no place in Louisiana’s coastal restoration work, but he can’t help himself,” Edwards said in a statement.

Among the issues detailed by the Corps are unresolved negotiations between the state and Plaquemines Parish, where the project broke ground in 2023, and Landry’s decision earlier this month to halt construction.

The diversion project as originally planned would funnel up to 75,000 cubic feet per second of water and sediment from the Mississippi River into the Barataria Basin to rebuild

Through the new initiative he’s calling The Working Class Project, Landrieu eventually hopes to craft a strategy that helps Democrats reverse those losses, he explained in an essay on the newsletter plat-

But for now, he plans to gather feedback, grievances and direction from voters who turned away from Democrats and toward the Republican presidential candidate in historic numbers.

“We think we have to properly diagnose the illness before we can begin treatment,” Landrieu wrote. “And that means telling it like it is about what we’re hearing, even

Democrats have engaged in much hand-wringing since the November election, often struggling to build cohesive messaging and opposition strategy in the face of Trump’s blitz of executive orders, challenges to judicial authority and gutting of the federal workforce.

Trump’s actions present Democrats ample political fodder with which to mount opposition efforts, Landrieu said. But they have failed to seize on those opportunities.

“On the whole, we’re still trying to work our way out of a wet paper bag,” Landrieu said. Landrieu’s proposed response: what he calls “the biggest investment in listening to the working class this year in the Democratic Party.”

His initiative will conduct focus groups, roundtable discussions and “in-depth interviews.” It will study working-class voters’ media habits, and gauge those voters’

BIG AND SMALL

ABOVE: Racers pedal along the track during the Acadiana 500 Tricycle Race in New Iberia City Park on Saturday. The annual event was sponsored by the New Iberia Optimist Club, the city of New Iberia and Raising Cane’s restaurant.

RIGHT: A girl stands with her tricycle decorated with colorful peace signs and flowers.

Man accused of killing toddler faces new charges

BY ASHLEY WHITE Staff writer

A Lafayette man, who is accused in the murder of a 1-yearold boy, was indicted on first-degree rape charges in connection with that investigation. Dillon Cormier, of Lafayette, was indicted on two counts of first-degree rape and one count of second-degree cruelty to juveniles. The indictment is in connection with a first-degree murder investigation in which Cormier and 24-year-old Deziree Suttoon are accused of killing her 1-year-old son. The indictment was handed down last week by a Lafayette Parish grand jury A grand jury can indict someone if it feels prosecutors and law enforcement have enough evidence to bring the allegations to trial. First-degree rape in Louisiana can happen when the victim is

under 13 years old or the victim is 65 years or older is raped under specific circumstances. If convicted, a person will serve a mandatory life sentence at hard labor without the benefit of parole, probation or suspension. Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a toddler drowning in a bathtub at a home in the 100 block of Willie Mae Lane around 10:30 a.m. on Sept 17, 2022, after the child was found unresponsive The 1-year-old boy was taken by ambulance to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Keith Talamo, with the Lafayette Parish Coroner’s Office, said the child’s full autopsy results arrived March 30. The toddler’s death was listed as a homicide, with contributors including drowning, intentional scalding and healing injuries

Lake Charles man indicted on counts of rape

BY ASHLEY WHITE Staff writer

A Lake Charles man was indicted by a Lafayette Parish grand jury on multiple counts of first-degree rape, which carries a life sentence if convicted. Shannon Morris, of Lake Charles, was indicted on eight counts of first-degree rape and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The charges stem from an investigation into an alleged multiparish crime spree. The indictment was handed down last week. A grand jury can indict someone if it feels prosecutors and law enforcement have enough evidence to bring the allegations to trial.

First-degree rape in Louisiana can happen when a victim is 65 years or older and is raped under specific circumstances including when they try to resist but are

overcome with force, is prevented from resisting because of threats of great bodily harm, when the offender is armed with a dangerous weapon or the victim cannot resist because of disability. If convicted, a person will serve a mandatory life sentence at hard labor without the benefit of parole, probation or suspension. Morris, 36, was arrested on Jan. 31, the same day he is accused of all eight counts of first-degree rape against the same victim, who is not named in the indictment.

He is accused of sexually assaulting a Lake Charles woman in her home before forcing his way into another woman’s home, sexually assaulting her demanding money and threatening to kill her before forcing her to drive to him to Iowa at gunpoint, KPLC in Lake Charles reported.

PHOTOS By LEE BALL

More services for families dealing with Alzheimer’s needed

Caring for aloved one living withdementia takes atoll on families.

Louisiana has more than 95,000 individuals with dementia and 168,000 loved ones serving as caregivers, providing256 million hours of unpaid care.

Iamanadvocate for theAlzheimer’sAssociation. Iadvocate for assistance with caregiving. My mother was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia in 2013. Up to that time, Ihad never heard of this illness. Iwatched her mind andbody both slip away.She was confined to awheelchair,unable todo simple daily tasks. She had few people that she recognized, and sheoften hallucinated.

After her diagnosis, the doctors gave us no assistance, and we were determined to keep her home where she would be loved and cared for.Mybrother and I paid caregivers out of ourown pockets to watch her while we worked. In the evening, Iwould rush home to sit with her.Whenshe finally passed away,wehad expended alot of personal money, but my mother was worthit. Hospice said she lived as long as she did due to the extraordinary care provided by us. We had to navigatethese services and her disease alone with no support.

Iamadvocating for the Alzheimer’sAssociation Louisiana Chapter’spush to establish aDementia Care Specialists program. Families facing adementia diagnosis for aloved one face isolation and alack of coordinated support systems. Currently,overwhelmed caregivers must somehow find the timeand energy to navigate afragmented system entirely on their own researching services, seeking educational resources and desperatelysearching for support while simultaneously providing round-the-clock care. ADementia Care Specialists Program is vital to support our caregivers and connect loved ones tocommunity resources. TERESA MOREL Covington

Anationthatdoesn’t confront itshistory cannever be great

Iamreading about Donald Trump’sexecutive order titled “Restoring Truthand Sanity to American History,” which declares that the Smithsonian, once “a symbol of American excellence, has in recent years come underthe influence of adivisive, race-centered ideology.” It further states, “This shift has promoted narratives that portray American and Western values as inherently harmful andoppressive.” Ihad alot of thoughts. Our history has been through somereally uglytimes. Instead of recognizing thisand using it to build abetter future for us all, this administration wants to pretend these realities never happened,while at the sametime, it is determined to repeat them.

Iamleft to wonder if America was great when we massacred Native Americans, forced their survivors onto “reservations.” Or when we brought Africanshere by force to be slaves. Or went to war amongourselves because halfofuswanted to continue to

“own” people, finally “freeing” people yet declaring them to only be three-fifths of a person and continued tooppress them. Or deprived women and minorities of theright to vote, along withdenying other rights. Or separated our country by race, not nearly as long ago as you think. (My husband wasonly allowed to sit in theback pew of St. Gabriel Catholic church as achild, and lived in the first neighborhood in New Orleans where Black people were allowed to own homes.) Is it great when we treat those not like us with fear and loathing?

Is this the“great”people are looking for again?

America should be great. Andithas been a great country in many respects. But it needs to be greater than it has ever been. Lookingback is for learning, not forreturning.

ANGELE GIVENS NewOrleans

Getmoney outofpoliticsand hold politiciansaccountable

This country was founded with the intent that the government would be one of the people, by the people and for the people. We have allowed ourselves to be manipulated anddivided.

We must getback to the root of democracy and hold our politicians accountable to theelectorate. We have allowed politicianstorun on false promises and not be held responsible. The current election and campaignfinance laws are at theheart of the problem; thelack of control over how much one person or company can give to acandidate has left us in dangerous territory

outcomes beneficial to them andthem alone. It is imperative that we do something to takeback our country.The time is now.In order to get back to what this country’sgovernment is supposed to be, we must eliminatefraud, wasteand abuse. Ican think of no better place to start than with lobbyists. Government must go back to allowing for fair competition in themarketplace. Currently,those withmoney have entirely too much accessand influence to government officials, causing elected officials to work only in favor of those lining their pockets.

TimTemple inspires trust as he seeksto lowerautorates

“Landry,insurance chief at odds over legislation” wasthe title of an article by Alyse Pfeil in arecent edition. Here we go again: Louisiana will try again to eliminate its status as the highest paying state forautomobile insurance in the nation. (Yes, the highest! Let that sink in! Our rates are almost double other states.)

Recently,after the citizens rejected the four amendments to our constitution, Gov. Jeff Landry said, “Although we are disappointed in tonight’sresults, we do not see this as afailure. We realize how hard positive change can be to implementinastate that is conditioned forfailure.” Louisiana is alitigious state with ahigher-than-average number of car insurance lawsuits. Ijust heard an advertisement on television this morning that said trial lawyers help put our legislators in office. I’ll be 90 next year,somore than likely,I won’t have the chance to vote again forgovernor of our state, but if Ido, I’ll vote forour Insurance Commissioner TimTemple. Ibet we get somerelief then forour children and grandchildren.

CYNTHIA

Environmental protections necessaryto supportlife

OUR GUIDELINES: Letters are published identifying name and the writer’scity of residence.The Advocate |The Times-Picayune require astreet address and phone number for verification purposes, but that information is not published. Letters are not to exceed 300 words. Letters to the Editor,The Advocate, P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0588, or email letters@theadvocate.com. TO SEND US ALETTER SCAN HERE

Allowing those with money to freely pay for politicians of their choice to work for them aloneisnot what democracy stands for and is adisgrace to the American people. These ludicrous policies are what have allowed for the likes of George Soros and Elon Musk to be in aposition to buy politicians andelections, thus personally orchestrating

As afirst step, elected officialsatevery level of government should have to submit adetailed quarterly report informing constituentshow they voted on the legislative agenda for that quarter.Wemust do our jobs as citizens and become informed in order to takeback control of our government.

KENNETH HAYES NewOrleans

We are all stewards of the land. Whether we farm it, walkitorsimply live upon it, we bear responsibility forwhat happens next. In recent months, critical environmental protections have been dismantled. Support forsustainable agriculture has been slashed. And the bees —the very pollinators that makefood possible —are dying off in record numbers. Without them crops fail. Ecosystemscollapse. Lifeunravels. This is not about politics. It is about survival. We cannot sit quietly while protections forpollinators, clean water,healthy soil and regenerative farming vanish under the weight of short-term profit and willful ignorance. We must insist —urgently and without delay —that lawmakers reinstate environmental safeguards and reestablish support foragriculture that honors the balance of life. There is still timetoact. But time is running out.

HEIDI HEYNS NewOrleans

Once again,the Democratsare spreading lies and half-truths to the American people, as evidenced by U.S. Rep.Troy Carter’sletter on April 2. Nobodyfrom the Trumpadministration hasadvocated cuttingveterans’ benefits, Social Security or Medicaid. He “turned the White House intoapersonal marketplace” to show supportfor Elon Musk because no Democrat hasthe guts to call out, condemn and ask for their constituents to stop the fire bombs and vehicle attacksonTesla owners. Imposingthe tariffs has led manycompanies to invest in America to have their productsassembled in America to save on thetariffs.

AndifCarter would do his dadgum job, DOGE would not be needed. Youhave to ask yourself how politicians who makeless than $200,000 ayear in Congress can become multimillionaires while in office. Probably from kickbacks from themoney DOGEis trying to save. Andany Democrat whowants to talk about saving democracy is the biggest hypocrite. This is coming fromthe party that hid Joe Biden from thecountry,knowing his mental decline and subvertingdemocracy by installing Kamala Harris as their standardbearer

JIM MUNN Zachary

ICEfacilities holding detaineesinLa. making moneyfor someone

So this is how we’re diversifying our economy —private jail facilities in Jena, Basile and wherever else to hold illegally detained and arrested people? Who owns these facilities? Who runs them?Why are they one of the state’snew economic development tools?

MARYANN STERNBERG Baton Rouge

LITZ

Baton Rouge

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILEPHOTO

WINNER: Michael Riemer,Jefferson

FEST

Nice! We received 626 entriesinthisweek’sCartoon Caption Contest.This was atricky one, but we still gotabunch of very funnypunchlines sent in.Our winner hit justthe right notewith his.Wellplayed, everyone!

As always, when we have duplicate entries, and we always do,wepick the earliestsent in HappyFesting, folks!—Walt

Phyllis Glazer,Baton Rouge: “you gotthe brain-freeze blues.”

Lynn Wismar,Kenner: “Psst….Toomuch matchy-matchyif youask me!!”

Christopher Mills, Metairie: “So THAT’S howyour jazz sounds so sweet!

Bob Ussery, New Orleans: “Notify the media. It’sthe biggest scoop they’ll ever get.

Michael Goodman, Mandeville: “Dude, you’re going from cool jazz to frozen fusion!”

Dottie Anklam, Baton Rouge: “yep I should have studiedthe saxophone.”

Martha Starnes, Kenner:“Guess we’re skipping the warm-up today…” Angus Lind, New Orleans: “your sax trumps my trumpet.”

Jim Williamson, Mandeville: “I feel bad forthe folks sitting in the front row!!”

Sheri Lindsey,Baton Rouge: “Slow down,the bathroom lines are long!”

Mariano Hinojosa, Baton Rouge: “That’s enough togiveall the boys in the band a brain freeze.”

BryanRuiz (Grade 4), Phillis Wheatley Community School, New Orleans: “I guess thissnowballSUITSus!

Richard Schega,Mandeville: “Now I knowwhy youswitchedfrom an alto to a baritonesax….

Ralph Stephens,Baton Rouge: “Betweenthese suits and that sno cone, we should be playing at the K&B tent!!!”

Frank Vicidomina, Metairie: “Gonna playthe ‘purples’ this year instead of the ‘blues’.”

Jeff Hartzheim,Fuquay-Varina, N.C: “I betyou’re glad youdon’tplaythe piccolo.”

David Delgado, New Orleans: “Theants will love you!”

Michele Starnes, Kenner: “Great, now every time youhit ahighnote, it’sgoing to hail!”

Charles Smith, St. Rose: “Weshould really ice this next session.”

RorySteen, Denver: “Way to add some local flavor to your sound.”

Bonnie Faucheux Losee, Lafayette: “Is that an LSU cone?”

Erin Rednour-Burnette, River Ridge: “Jake and Elwood have nothin’ on us –‘ThePurple Brothers’. Harold Geiger,Metairie: “That’snot what theymeant by ‘cool jazz’. D. Sabrio, Metairie: “Look on the bright side! It ain’t gonna stainyour suit!” John Weger, BatonRouge: “It’s fitting we added ‘Purple Rain’ to our playlist.”

BarryLemoine,Arabi: “I told youthe brass pass had some big advantages!”

Don Randon, Gretna: “I’ll bet she thinks youknowhow to playthat thing.”

JasonAmato,Lutcher: “What aSWEET time to be in NewOrleans!

Puzzling question raised at Smithsonian

President Donald Trump hassigned an executive order that directs Vice President JD Vance to eliminate “divisive narratives” and “improper ideology” from Smithsonianmuseums, educational and research centers and the National Zoo.

My immediate reaction? Surely,you jest, sir.There maynot be any area of American discourse that is more divisive or conflictridden than the arena of race.

As Ihavewitnessed many timesinthe past, race as atopicofconversation is a lot like sex: Everybody thinks they are an expert at it, yet we Americans can be painfully reluctant to talk about it in mixed companyorinfront ofour children. Which might explain why Trump’s executive order immediately handed the hypersensitive task of inspecting museum exhibits for ideology to his vice president. And who determines what ideology is “proper?” Isuspect that GeorgeOrwell would be dismayed by this development. In Trump”s executive orderlast month, titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” he denounced what he described as a“revisionist movement” across the country,one that “seeks to undermine the remarkable achievements of the UnitedStates by casting its founding principles and historical milestones in anegative light.” Trump’sorder criticized the Smithsonian’sNational Museum of African American History and Culture for a graphic posted online in May2020 that, Iagree, should not have beenposted. It referred to “hard work,” “individualism” and “the nuclear family” as part of “white culture.”

The graphic, which has drawncondemnation before, was swiftly removed after Lonnie Bunch, whosince 2005 has

beenfounding director of the African Americanmuseum,agreed it was inappropriate. So did I. Youdidn’thave to be aconservative to be deeply offended by thatill-inspired excuse for satire.But, heck, we’re talking about history,right? No country’shistory is perfect, or even consistent in its leaders’ espoused beliefs. Some of us still argue about what Thomas Jefferson, aVirginia slave owner,meant by saying, “All men are created equal.”

That’sthe beautyofthe First Amendment,inmyview.Weneed to talk these conflictingbeliefs out, not tear ourselves apartinanew civil war everyfew years

In hisexecutive order,Trump called for reshaping the Smithsonianinto a “symbol of inspiration and American greatness.”

Ithought it already was. Yet, as Trump’sjumbled drive for “government efficiency” has shown us, just because some governmententityisn’tbroke doesn’tmean Trump won’ttry to fix it anyway

By singling out the Smithsonian’sAfrican American history museum,Trump fueled speculation that it could become acasualty ofthe administration’swider war on DEI, critical race theoryand other academic pointsofview that critics find easier to denounce than understand. Frankly,I think Trump should feel relievedthat the museum’s manyexhibits do not highlight his own settlement of a 1973 racialdiscrimination case against his fatherand himself, brought by the JusticeDepartment for the Trumps’ allegedrefusal to rent apartmentsin predominantlywhitebuildings to black tenants. Testimony showed thatthe applications filed by black apartment seekers were marked with a“C” for “colored,”

atrickthat was hardly unique in those days, as federal antidiscrimination laws weregetting off the ground.

Asettlement that ended the lawsuit did not require the Trumps to explicitly acknowledge thatdiscrimination hadoccurred—but the government’sdescriptionofthe settlement said Trump and his father had “failed and neglected” to comply withthe Fair Housing Act. Now it is Bunchwho finds himself on the hot seat of what might well be one moreepisode of Trumpian retribution. Bunchwas an excellent choice, in my not-so-humble opinion. I’ve covered the New Jerseynative off and on sincehe became president and director of the Chicago History Museum. In 2019, he became the first historian and first African American to lead the Smithsonian in its 173-year history. Besideshis scholarship, Iwas impressed by how effectively he worked withbothparties,despite the historical issues as slavery,the Civil Warand Jim Crow remain fraught and contested. I recall what an avid Civil Warre-enactor once told me when Imentioned howthe conflict he called “The WarBetweenthe States” ended in 1865.

“Hell, that wasn’tthe end,” he said. “Thatwas justanintermission.”

So, no, there’s nothing intrinsically radical about the “Blacksonian,” as some of my Black Washington friends respectfully call theNational Museum of African American Historyand Culture.

I, for one, celebrate themuseum as another big step in our never-ending march to pursue theideals that, as Trump’sorder states, “continue to inspire millions around the globe.”

That’sa proper enough ideology to me. Email Clarence Page at clarence47@ pagegmail.com

Who speaks for the Democratic Party?

Is it Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Bill or Hillary Clinton? Alexandria OcasioCortez, Bernie Sanders, Chuck Schumer, NancyPelosi or Hakeem Jeffries? Is it an ambitious governor,senator or House member? Or,perhaps, it’sthe party’sactual chair,Ken Martin?

The answer,ofcourse, is all of the above. They all speak for the party —and that upsets alot of Democrats. They want one voice to take the fight to Donald Trump. But, realistically,that won’thappen until the summer of 2028, when they nominate a presidential candidate.

Parties out of power rarely have leaders who can represent them wholly and authoritatively.Democrats faced that reality during Ronald Reagan’stwo terms, the three Bush terms and Trump’sfirst term. Republicans faced it during the Clinton and Obama administrations.

Former presidents won’tfill the void. They can give great convention speeches —as Obama and Clinton have done. But toomuch attention on an ex-president risks confining a party’sfuture to its past.

An exception, of course, has been Trump. He’sthe undeniable voice and leader of the Republican Party and has been since 2016. He’s dictated just about everything the party has done and fights all its fights, even when outof office.

Trump is unique. Even Lyndon Johnson, a domineering politician who loved the exercise of power,didn’tcontrol every fragment of the Democratic Party.Remember whenSenate Democrats fiercely opposed his Vietnampolicies?

Ronald Reagan was belovedbyhis party.Republican candidates happily identifiedwith his sunny conservativism for 35 years. But he never tried to rule his party as if it were personal property or to speak for it on every issue

For now,Democrats need to focus on their message and agenda, not who will sell it. They mayget by for awhile as the anti-Trump party, but that’sashaky foundation on whichtobuild an enduring governing majority.Theyneed to stand for something that appeals to the full electorate, and not just targeted constituencies.

This column, you mayrecall, recommended that Democrats should take apage from formerBritish Prime Minister Tony Blair’splaybook and move their party to the center.That strategy worked for Blair; his New Labour Party wonthree straight national elections. Democratic presidential prospects for 2028 have made afew moves in this direction, notably California Gov.Gavin Newsom, who has made comments about spooling back progressive rhetoric, especially on divisive social issues. But reshaping the party into alessedgy and more centrist force has yet to be embraced by its major power centers.

Moving in the opposite direction was the recent “Fighting Oligarchy” tour thatfeatured Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. These two “democratic socialists” drew big crowds and raised big bucks. Merchandise sold on the tour’swebsite brandished slogans such as “Green New Dealfor the future,” “Cancelall student debt,” “Tax the rich,” “Build the union movement” and “Fight the power.”

Paradoxically,the limits of progressive politics were also in evidence on the tour’swebsite Merchandise included baseball cards featuring Chicago’sprogressive mayor BrandonJohnson —who won with Sanders’ endorsementand now,onthe job, has adismal 7% approval rating in his city Democrats and Republicans have aright to fight for whatthey believe. But they also have aneed to win nationalelections and the chance to govern. They can’tfall into ideological traps that push away voters they need.

The recent Harvard CAPS-Harris poll demonstrates this reality.Itfinds that 74%ofvoters favor deporting illegal immigrants who have committedcrimes; 70% want to close the border and strengthen security; 69% favor a full-scale effort to root out fraud and waste from government; 65% don’twant maleswho have undergone procedures to become women participating in girls’ sports; and 57% want to freeze foreign aid.

Many Democrats say they agree, at least partly,with some of these poll-tested policies. But do you think the national electorate associates these policies with the Democratic Party? Ididn’tthink so.

Yousee, there are more important things for Democrats to fret about than who will speak for them on CNN tonight.

Ron Faucheux is anonpartisan political analyst, pollster and writer based in Louisiana. He authored Running for Office and publishes LunchtimePolitics.com, anational newsletter on polls.

Ron Faucheux

Clarence Page

TIME!

MardiGrasIndians reflectedin artist’s work

Cartoonsculptures, inflatablesshow

N.O. culture

BY DOUG MacCASH Staff writer

This is the first year artist

Compton III has shown his work at the NewOrleans Jazz &Heritage Festival, and he’soff to a good start. The 34-year-old New Orleans native’sCongoSquare booth wasn’tjust the must-see exhibit at thefestival. It wasthe must-see exhibit anywhere in town.

Compton III, who is known professionally by that name, is atoy maker.Sort of. He creates plastic figurines of Crescent City characters in acuddly cartoon style, with affectionately wry references to the local culture.

One of his little characters, called Z’Bo, is costumed as a Zulu parade rider with abillowingAfrowig, oversized beads, coconut clutched in one hand, cigar in the other,and characteristic face paint. Sometimes Z’Bo’s coconut has afuse like abomb. Sometimes, the wigisblond. In one case, his tracksuit is Santa Claus red, trimmed in white. Compton III said he grew up partially in the 9th Ward and partially on the West Bank, where he attended Edna Karr High School. He did not, he said, have any formal art training. Instead,when he graduated from Southeastern

Louisiana University with adegree in biology,hebegan aprogram in dental training where he learned to make exactingmolds andcastings of teeth.

Happily for art lovers, Compton III used those skills to make something other than replacement incisors. He said the smooth, colorful style of his sculptures was inspired in part by videogames. Compton III said he wantshis work to be “playful, so it makesthe inner child of anyone smile.”

“If you’re from New Orleans you recognizethem,”hesaid of his characters, “and if you’renot, they drawyou in”tolearn about them.

Compton III’snewest characteriscalled Spy Boy and is modeled on afully feathered Mardi Gras Indian, with braids dangling beneath his headdress, fists clenched and eyebrows knit in intensity

Why does the otherwise adorablelittle fellow have atear running down hisface? That’s because, theartist explained, beneath the splendid Black masking Indian tradition liesa long history of racial inequityand hardship.

Compton III said theMardi Gras Indian custom is especially close to his heartbecausehis grandfather,Bro Leonard, maskedback in the 1960s and ’70s. The biggest of thesculptures in his JazzFest booth is acartoon interpretation of granddad, complete with asuit sewn with sequin designs.

The use ofsequins was more

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shifting viewsonTrump and his policiesand his presidencyprogresses. Landrieu wasmayorofNew Orleans from 2010 to 2018 after serving as lieutenant governor of Louisiana from 2004 to 2010.

After launching anonprofit focused on racial equity,helater workedinJoe Biden’s White House as the Democratic former president’s infrastructure czar, vetting and overseeing state and local applications for projects paid forbythe $1 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. He went on to co-chair Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential bid.

commoningranddad’sera.

Compton III learned to sew them with the help of BigChief DemondMelancon, of the Young Seminole Hunters.

Honoring afamily tradition

The artist said that, according to family lore, his grandfather had intended to someday createaburnt-orange suit,but that nevercame to pass.SoCompton III did it forhim, usingthat hueasthe base colorofall his little Spy Boys.And one giant one. The16-foot-tall, inflatable Spy Boystands atop Durio’sHouse of Style barbershop and hair salonat1832 Gentilly Blvd., just a

block or two fromthe Gentilly entrance to theJazz Fest. Compton III said his inflated Mardi Gras Indian was first created foratemporary installation on theroof of theBarnett Hotel, and haspopped up in afew scattered locations since.

ComptonIII’s homegrown pop artisbeyonda doubtbrilliant. The FairGroundsracetrack,where the Jazz Fest takes place, is madefor gambling, and any art world handicapperwouldbet that Compton III is astar in themaking. His next sculpture, he said, will be aBaby Doll.

Compton III’scharacter sculpturesstart at $400.His BroLeonardpiece is $20,000.

Hand-drawn signsaNew OrleansJazzFesttradition

Parati makessmall signsfor booths and backstage

BY KEITHSPERA Staff writer

Early afternoon on the 2025 New Orleans Jazz &Heritage Festival‘s opening day found Nan Parati in her happy place: aFair Grounds horse barnnear the Congo Square Stage. Parati arrived at 5:30 a.m., then commenced hand-letteringsmall signs for the festival’sbeer booths and backstage dressing room trailers. By lunchtime, she’d knocked out more than 300.

Inevitably,more assignments would pop up as the festival site cametolife like agiant, multi-cell organism. Fortunately,Parati draws as fast as she talks.

“People say,‘How longdoes it take you to make asign?’It’s40 years, and three minutes,”she said. “You do something for that long, you get fast.” Quint Davis, the festival’slongtime producer/director,oftendescribes Jazz Fest as “handmade.” With Parati, that’sliterally true. Since 1985, her hands have helped create and curate Jazz Fest’svisual aesthetic. Each year,she inscribes 3,000orsosigns with thick markers. She draws the 600-plus stage signs with band names, pluscountless yellow signs that provide direction for festgoers and staffers. She named the serif typeface used for yellow signs “Fun Times Roman.” Her cursive script on stage signs? That’s“Nan-u-script.”

Her stage signs are prized Jazz Fest souvenirs.Outside of the festival, she sells customized signsvia Fleurty Girl, the New Orleans-centric retailer,and her website.

She likes to say that she is the most collected, yet unknown, artist in the world. Her work is certainly well-known to anyone whohas ever attended Jazz Fest.

“We’re the runway to the airport that is JazzFest,” Parati saysofher Barn 12 workshop andcrew. “Everything hastogoright through this runway to take off.”

Arriving at the Fair Grounds five hours before Jazz Fest’sgates open is Parati’stypical routine

“It’sthe calm before the craziness,” she explained. “It’sstill dark

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consistent with abuse, a coroner’sreport said. Cormier allegedly told investigators that he putthe boy in 4inchesofbathwater while he took ashower in the same bathroom. He said he turned his back for afew seconds and when he turned back thetod-

It’squiet.Whenthe sunstarts coming up, it’sthis beautifulthing that happens.”

GrowingupinCharlotte, North Carolina, she watched her father,a graphic designer, work in his home studio.

As an exchange student in Germany in the 1970s, she hitchhiked across Europe. In her early twenties, she spent six months living in avillage in theWestAfrican nation of Senegal that she’d heardabout from afriend in thePeace Corps.

“I wanted to go where Ididn’t know anything at all,” not even the language, she said.“Iwanted to see what it waslike tobea brand-new baby all over again.”

In the village, she “was the resident White person. Ijustentertained them by being White.”

She performed the only task for which she wasqualified: babysitting thevillagechildrenwhile their parents worked in the fields.

“Every time Itried to do any of the work they did, I’d mess it up.”

NewOrleans ‘byaccident’

Back in the United States, Parati moved to New Orleans “by accident.” She took atrain from North Carolina for what she thought would bea10-day visit. She quickly realized that“these are my people” andstayed.

Days later,she got ajob at the original ToulouseTheatre in the French Quarter. At thetime, “One Mo’ Time,”the Vernel Bagneris musical setinvaudeville-era New Orleans, was in production. Her duties included keeping tabs on James Booker,the supremely talented but troubled New Orleans pianist.

“Whata waytobeintroduced to New Orleans,” she said.

She moved on to ajob in the produce department of the Whole Food Co. grocery on Esplanade Avenue, which was later acquired by the expanding, Texas-basedWhole Foods Market

At Whole Food, she was“great at talkingtopeople, and really bad at stackingand cleaningvegetables.”

After two weeks, Peter Roy eventually president of the entire Whole Foods Market chain—fired her.She talked him into transferringher tothe cheese department. Her regular customersincluded New Orleans music legend Allen Toussaint. But she wasn’tverygood at selling cheese, either. Royfiredher for asecond time. Fortuitously,the store’ssign maker left simultaneously.Parati pleaded her case to Roy:“That’smyreal

dler’sface was submerged, accordingtocourt documents Cormier and Suttoon were each indictedin April2023onafirst-degree murder charge after the boy’sfull autopsy was returned and presented to agrand jury at that time.

Email AshleyWhite at ashley.white@theadvocate. com.

job! Ipromise Ican writesigns!”

So Roy gave her one last shot. She wove puns into her signs, such as anotice about “day-old” bread that referenced Harry Belafonte’s “Day-O(The Banana Boat Song).” She painted muralsand decorated the store’swindows, and eventually became thegrocery’shead of advertising.

From ClintontoBuffett

In 1985, astaffer from the nearby Jazz Fest took notice and askedParati to drawsigns forthe festival’sstages.Itlikely helped that she was exactly the sort of free spirit the festivalattracted in those days. Thenextyear, shedid stage signs andparking lot signstoo. From there, her worksnowballed.

One day,Davis spotted her painting the Jazz Fest logo on a bannerfreehand. He invited her to work on the stages and décor for Bill Clinton’spresidentialinaugural celebration, which Davis’ company, Festival Productions Inc., produced in Washington.

In 1993,Davis recruited her on behalfofhis palJimmy Buffett to convert City Park’sTad Gormley Stadiumintoastadium-sized Margaritaville foranupcoming concert. Buffett liked the results so much that he thanked Parati from thestage and hired her and herteam forasubsequent tour “Being on the road withJimmy Buffett? It was fun,” Parati confirmed.

Everydetailscrutinized

At JazzFest, Parati managesa 30-person team —referred to either as the “art department” or “signs and décor” —that designs, creates and hangs all JazzFest signage and art,much of which is fabricatedatStronghold Studios in Mid-City

Everydetail is scrutinized Davis once asked themredo the Styrofoam likeness of Professor Longhair at the Festival Stage peak because he wasn’thappy with Longhair’steeth.Very few fans would have noticed such a detail, but Davis did.

When HurricaneKatrinahit, Parati was working at theGreen River FestivalinMassachusetts Stranded, she settled in Massachusetts, but spends most of the spring festivalseason in New Orleans.Design and planning forthe upcoming Jazz Fest’slook starts each Jan. 1. The actual sign-making kicks

LOTTERY

into high gear after Jazz Fest finalizes its scheduling “cubes” a month before the festival. Each band nameonastage sign is proofread twice. Parati doesn’t have afavorite nametowrite, but does have aleast favorite, which she won’treveal. She loves drawing the letter “s.” Her style has evolved. Her “Nan-u-script” is thickernow,often accessorized with swirls and stars.

“The signs talk to me,” she said. “It is not uncommon formetofinish asign and then the sign looks at me like, ‘Mmm-hmm. Is that what you want to send out there?’ AndIdoitagain.

“I’m not really crazy.That’sjust how my life is.”

Making Mick Jagger’s door

Being an artist is only partof thejob. The other is functioning under pressure

For the Rolling Stones’historic performance at the 2024 Jazz Fest,the band designed itsown stagebackdrop, which the festivalteam had rendered in aheavy vinyl fabric.

Twodays before theshow, TagueRichardson, Jazz Fest’s sitedirector for decades, approached Parati with asurprise: Mick Jagger wanted adiscreet door builtintothe backdrop.It hadtobeaspecific material and size

And it hadtobeready by 9a.m. thenextmorning for rehearsals Parati sprang into action. In a stroke of luck, shealreadyhad therequired material on hand. Shefound aseamstress willing to pull an all-nighter to create thedoor,which Parati andher crew then installed.

Jagger never said aword about it.That, said afriend of Parati’s who worked forthe Stones, was thebest compliment she could get.

Andhavinga pictureofJaggeronstagenext to herRolling Stones stage sign is,inher opinion, “better than agalleryshow.”

Ultimately,she believes hitchhiking in Europe and her stayinSenegal helped prepare her for her Jazz Fest life

“I wasalways having to come up withimmediate fixes for so much.Ithinkthat’swhat setme up forthis kind of life. Ilove it.

“I don’tsee much of thefestivals.But Ihavea really good time.”

As Democrats regroupedinthe fallout of thepresidentialelection, in which Trump won all seven swing states, Landrieu was discussed as apotential future chair of the national DemocraticParty He decided he wasn’tinterested.

Though Trump won over voters with promisesofeconomic prosperity in that election, he has failed to deliver on that pledge, Landrieu wrote in theessay launchinghis new effort.

“The kitchen-table economic and cost-cutting promises of his campaign have nottrickleddown to his governing priority list,” he said. “Infact, he’sdoing the opposite.”

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lost wetlands. It was projected to build 21 square milesoflandover 50 years andwas issued apermit for construction by theCorps after an exhaustiveenvironmental study

But Landry’sadministration has argued that the $3 billion plan is tooexpensive,including the dredging maintenancethatwould be requiredtoachieve the project’s goal of buildingnew land.

Despite Landry’sdecision,a small amount of work was allowed to continue,including relocating a pipelineinthe area and site maintenance. But those activities have been put on hold with the permit’s suspension.

Officials have discussed studying asmaller-scale diversion,anidea that has also been championed by commercial shrimpers andoyster growers in the area who would have been forced to movetheiroperationsorfind work elsewhere under theoriginal plan

Coastal advocates, however,have criticized efforts to delay the project andsalvage what’sleft of Louisiana’sshrinking coast.

“Ourcoastal program has always successfully prioritized science and the public good over politics,” officials with Restorethe Mississippi RiverDelta saidina statement “Wecannotafford to play political games with the future of Louisiana.”

The permit suspension follows CRPA’s approved $2 billion annual spending plan,which included $573 million forthe Mid-BaratariaSediment Diversion Project, and $2.92 billioninfunding related to the BP oilspill hasbeen approvedfor the project.

CRPAofficials didnot immediately respond to requestsfor comment. Staff writersMike Smith and Kasey Bubnash contributed to this report

INDICTED

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Morris then forced another woman in adifferentcar to drivehim to Jennings, accordingtothe Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office. That same day in Crowley,Morris is accused of stealing awoman’scar at gunpoint and was latterarrested in Duson.

He is facing several charges in Calcasieu Parish, including seconddegreerape, false imprisonment and second-degree kidnapping, andisadditionally facing charges in Acadia Parish thatincludecarjacking, first-degree rape, armed robberyand aggravated burglary, accordingtoKPLC.

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

Artist Compton III holdsa figurine inside his tent by the CongoSquare Stageduring the second dayofthe NewOrleans Jazz&Heritage Festival at the Fair GroundsinNew Orleans on Friday.

Cajuns falter after being near sweep

BY KEVIN FOOTE Staff writer

Some losses just hurt more because victory was so close.

Sunday’s 4-3 loss to Georgia Southern at Russo Park was one of those for the UL Ragin’ Cajuns.

All signs pointed to a home sweep of the visiting Eagles, only to strand 11 runners and endure a heartbreaking one-run loss on an afternoon of missed opportunities and one controversial ruling.

“Very disappointing,” UL coach Matt Deggs said. “It’s been shoulda, woulda, coulda for about all year. Boy, that’s frustrating to watch frustrating, frustrating.”

The Cajuns jumped out to a 3-0 lead with single runs in the first, second and third innings.

Maddox Mandino was hit by a pitch, stole a base and scored on Drew Markle’s sacrifice fly after a throwing error

In the second, Owen Galt was hit by a pitch and stole two bases ahead of Carson Hepworth’s run-scoring squeeze bunt. In the third, singles by Markle and Conor Higgs eventually led to a bases-loaded walk to Jose Torres for the third run. But the Cajuns couldn’t get another run out of six hits, three walks and six hit batsmen.

“This is a day where we should have seven, eight, nine, 10 runs on the board and there you go, ‘Louisiana 11 left on base,’ ” Deggs said. “It’s killer instinct, it’s killer instinct. I expect a whole lot more.”

But the Eagles’ offense somehow found some life from an unexpected source against UL starter JR Tollett.

Senior shortstop Cade Parker, who began the day hitting .216 with 63 strikeouts on the season, led off the fourth with a line drive solo homer to left.

In the fifth, Parker’s two-run double highlighted a three-run inning that was extended when a groundout by Galt was nullified by the umpire and the replay

BY KEVIN FOOTE Staff writer

To no one’s surprise, reigning Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Year Ben Wooldridge and All-Sun Belt linebacker K.C. Ossai were two of the former Ragin’ Cajuns offered undrafted free agent contracts after the conclusion of the NFL draft on Saturday But there were two other former UL players without that level of postseason hardware who also got opportunities to make NFL clubs in special teams phenom Dalen Cambre and defensive lineman Mason Narcisse. Cambre signed with the New York Giants and Narcisse with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Wooldridge will be heading to the New England Patriots, while Ossai will be going back to his home state by signing with the Houston Texans.

“A few teams called me before the draft ac-

tually ended, so I didn’t even watch the last few picks,” said Cambre, who was surprised how quickly the transaction with the Giants took place.

“I didn’t realize how quick I had to give an answer yes or no, or how fast they were going to call you,” he said. “It’s like it’s a game — split-second decision.”

Initially it appeared Cambre was headed to the Carolina Panthers, before the Giants came through with a better offer Cambre said he had a Zoom call with New York’s special teams assistant and former UL cornerbacks coach Jeff Burris last week.

“They gave a good impression and I guess I gave a good impression as well,” Cambre said. “I feel like I belong there. I feel like I’ll fit in with their scheme. Really the special teams aspect of my game is how I got today.” It wasn’t until after his final season, though,

I didn’t realize how quick I had to give an answer yes or no, or how fast they were going to call you. It’s like it’s a game — split-second decision.”

DALEN CAMBRE, former UL wide receiver

Cajuns currently tied for sixth place in SBC, but are just two games out of second place

BY KEVIN FOOTE Staff writer

Things were going along swimmingly for the UL Ragin’ Cajuns heading into the bottom of the seventh of their 4-3 rubber game victory over Texas State on Sunday in San Marcos, Texas. After all, the Cajuns held a four-run lead, but these are the 2025 Cajuns and nothing seems to come easily for this club. Two outs later a ground ball to third looked to end it, but an error extended the game. Erin Peterson singled home a run before Keely Williams doubled home two more to chase UL starter Mallory Wheeler for Tyra Clary Fortunately for the Cajuns, Clary coaxed a fly out to center to end the Bobcats’ comeback attempt. Not only was that Clary’s first save of the season, but the first save for the pitching staff this season. The key series win pushed UL to 25-24 overall and 11-10 in league play, while Texas State dropped to 31-18 and 13-8. UL now has series wins over first-place UL-Monroe and second-place Texas State. With a home series left against Southern Miss, the Cajuns currently stand tied for sixth place, but just two games out of second and one game out of third. The Cajuns’ offense didn’t waste much time supporting Wheeler with one run in the second and three more in the third. With two outs, Mia Norwood and Savannah White both singled and Gabbie Stutes’ ground ball to second was misplayed to get a run home. In the third, Maddie Hayden doubled and

STAFF FILE PHOTO By BRAD KEMP

wide receiver Dalen Cambre, shown here running

signed an undrafted free agent contract with the New york Giants.

Knicks beat Pistons to take 3-1 lead

BY LARRY LAGE AP sportswriter

DETROIT New York’s dynamic

duo put Detroit on the brink of elimination — with an assist from the officials

Karl-Anthony Towns made a goahead 3-pointer with 46.6 seconds left and finished with 27 points, Jalen Brunson had 32 points and 11 assists and the Knicks beat the Pistons 94-93 on Sunday to take a 3-1 lead in their first-round playoff series.

Tim Hardaway Jr. shot a 3-pointer just before the buzzer and drew some contact from New York’s Josh Hart that wasn’t called a foul at the end of a physical game with few whistles.

David Guthrie, the crew chief for the game, said afterward that the officials made a mistake.

“After postgame review, we observed that Hart makes body contact that is more than marginal to Hardaway Jr and a foul should have been called,” Guthrie said.

Had the foul been called, Hardaway would have gone to the foul line for three free throws that could have given Detroit the lead Instead, the Knicks held on to win after rallying from an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter Towns, a 7-foot center, made a turnaround fadeaway near the baseline with 1:29 left before connecting on a shot from about 27 feet.

“He has amazing touch,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. “He shoots the ball like a guard and he has unlimited range.”

Detroit’s Cade Cunningham had 25 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds for his first playoff tripledouble and the third in franchise history, but he missed two shots and turned the ball over in the final 1:07

“He has to carry us on the offensive end,” Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “That’s

round playoff series on Sunday in Detroit.

a heavy burden on him but he has come through so many times.” Game 5 is Tuesday night in New York.

The Pistons have lost nine straight home playoff games since 2008, equaling an NBA record set by Philadelphia from 1968 to 1971.

The Knicks expected Detroit’s best punch, then came out swinging and had enough fight in the end to win

New York led by as much as 16 points in the first half before the Pistons went on an 11-0 run to help them pull within seven at halftime. Detroit outscored the Knicks 28-14 in the third to take a seven-point lead thanks to Cunningham. He had 12 points — making 6 of 7 shots — five assists, five rebounds and three blocks in the quarter Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas is the only other player to have a

triple-double for the Pistons in a playoff game The two-time NBA champion, who had a front-row seat for the game, pulled off the feat in 1986 and 1989.

The Knicks had a scare late in the third when Brunson limped off the court and toward the locker room with an apparent right knee injury, but he returned.

“Moments like that you have to take a breath and relax,” Brunson said

Timberwolves push Lakers to edge of elimination

BY DAVE CAMPBELL

AP sportswriter

MINNEAPOLIS — Jaden McDaniels

converted a three-point play with 39.5 seconds left for the lead and stole the ensuing inbounds pass from LeBron James, leading a rally by the Minnesota Timberwolves for a 116-113 win over the Los Angeles Lakers that put them up 3-1 in the first-round series on Sunday Anthony Edwards, who had 43 points to lead Minnesota in scoring for the first time in this edition of the NBA playoffs, drew a foul on James during a drive to the lane with 10 seconds left and hit both free throws. With Luka Doncic and James well-defensed along the arc, the ball went to Austin Reaves in the corner for the tying attempt that rimmed out and was rebounded by McDaniels at the buzzer Julius Randle added 25 points and McDaniels had 16 points and 11 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who trailed by 12 points late in the third quarter Doncic bounced back from a bad stomach bug with 38 points on

13-for-28 shooting, but the Lakers were headed home for a win-or-beeliminated Game 5 on Wednesday Doncic, after fighting the illness and finishing with only 17 points in Game 3, was clearly feeling better after a full day to rest. But he went 1 for 6 in the fourth quarter from the floor James had 27 points and 12 rebounds for his 144th career double-double in the playoffs, surpassing Wilt Chamberlain for the third-most in history behind Tim Duncan (164) and Magic Johnson (157). James went 15 for 18 from the free-throw line, determined to get to the rim in what was the best game by the Lakers offense in the series, but he was scoreless in the fourth.

Reaves and Dorian FinneySmith hit back-to-back 3-pointers to put the Lakers back in front with 1:29 left, but the Wolves took it from there. With the arena quieted while the fans filed back into their seats from the break, the Lakers started the third quarter with a 14-0 run.

Reaves, who went scoreless in the first half while in foul trouble, got hot. Hachimura did, too, and

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ABBIE PARR

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards celebrates after a shot made by forward Julius Randle during the first half of Game 4 of the first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday in Minneapolis.

coach J.J. Redick rode with the same lineup for the entire quarter

The Wolves picked up two technical fouls during that period, the first on Rudy Gobert for elbowing James in the back of the head dur-

ing a scrap for a rebound. But for the second straight game, the home team dominated down the stretch after a pattern of flops in the clutch during the regular season.

Liberty opens up camp ready to defend its first title

BY DOUG FEINBERG AP basketball writer

NEW YORK Breanna Stewart and her New York Liberty teammates are focused on the present and that includes defending the WNBA championship.

The Liberty opened camp Sunday along with the other 12 teams in the league. Stewart knows exactly how hard it is to repeat as champion, having won two titles in Seattle and failing to repeat each time. The only repeat champion in the past two decades in the WNBA was the Las Vegas Aces in 2022 and 2023.

“The mentality is turning the page,” she said. “Knowing what we did last year, we had a lot of

time to celebrate it and now it’s, building to be better You know we talked about, being consistently great night in and night out. And that starts with building great habits in training camp and keeping them sustainable throughout the entire season.”

The Liberty have most of the core back from last season’s title run that was the first in franchise history They also added Natasha Cloud and Isabelle Harrison.

“I thought it was a great start. And like, I always said, you can’t bring back the same when you win and we have a real good, nice freshness about us,” New York coach Sandy Brondello said.

“We’ve got some players that were really going to help us. Obviously,

you know, no one greater than Natasha Cloud,” Brondello wasn’t concerned that Stewart is working her way back from offseason meniscus surgery last month. Stewart took part in the early part of practice Sunday and said she’s “feeling great”. She will integrate more fully into live practice next week.

Stewart said she felt she did something to it in Game 5 of the WNBA Finals last year and waited until after the inaugural season of Unrivaled was over to take care of it. “I just needed to kind of clean up things in there and clean up the meniscus,” she said. “And, it was just a little bit uncomfortable to be dealing with. And I want to when

I’m on the floor, I want to be playing and, free flowing and not really thinking about other things.”

While Stewart will be back before the regular season begins, the Liberty are going to be missing Betnijah Laney-Hamilton for a few months as she recovers from her own knee injury

“We’re definitely gonna miss her a lot this season,” Stewart said. “I think, you know, with her being out, it gives people opportunities You know, Leonie (Fiebich) will have a bigger role. Marina (Johannes’) coming here. ...It’s just going to be like next woman up mentality and knowing that they’re not going to take her place. But they’re going to be the best version of themselves.”

Williams out as Yankees closer; Weaver gets a shot

Devin Williams lost his job as Yankees closer after stumbling repeatedly during his first 10 games with New York.

Manager Aaron Boone made the announcement before Sunday’s doubleheader against Toronto, two days after the two-time All-Star wasted a ninth-inning lead in a 4-2 loss to the Blue Jays.

Luke Weaver who took over as closer last September when Clay Holmes faltered, will get most of the opportunities to finish tight games with leads Williams will appear in lower leverage situations.

Acquired from Milwaukee in December, Williams is 0-2 with an 11.25 ERA and four saves in five chances. He was booed just 18 pitches into his Yankees career when he allowed the Brewers to load the bases with no outs before preserving a 4-2 opening day win.

Duke freshman Maluach headed to NBA draft

Duke freshman big man Khaman Maluach is jumping to the NBA. The program announced Sunday in a social media post that the 7-foot-2, 250-pound Maluach would go the one-and-done route after helping the Blue Devils reach the Final Four Maluach’s move was first reported late Saturday, and underclassmen had until 11:59 p.m. that night to meet the NBA deadline to declare themselves as eligible for the draft.

Notably, Maluach is an elite rimrunner who used his length to finish off lobs for easy scores or to block shots at the center of a defense that ranked among the nation’s best in KenPom’s efficiency metrics, including with his ability to defend on the perimeter with Duke’s switching defense.

Streaking Journalism is Kentucky Derby favorite LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Red-hot Streaking Journalism is the 3-1 morning-line favorite for the 151st Kentucky Derby with a favorable No. 8 post position that has tied for the secondmost victories in horse racing’s marquee event.

Sovereignty is the 5-1 second choice in the 20-horse field for the May 3 race and will break from the No. 18 post outside Sandman, who drew the 17th spot on Saturday night and is the 6-1 third choice for the $5 million Derby at Churchill Downs. Journalism brings a four-race winning streak into the Derby, including both starts this year along with a fourth in his debut last fall at Santa Anita.

Top-seeds Sabalenka, Zverev advance in Madrid

MADRID — Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka rallied to defeat former doubles partner Elise Mertens in three sets and advance to the last 16 of the Madrid Open on Sunday Top-seeded Alexander Zverev scraped past Alejandro Davidovich Fokina after requiring tiebreakers in the final two sets of their match, while reigning men’s champion Andrey Rublev lost in three sets to Alexander Bublik. Sabalenka got off to a poor start against the 26th-ranked Mertens, but picked up the pace to comfortably close out the match at the Caja Magica center court.

The two-time champion in Madrid won 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 to keep alive her hopes of reaching the final for the third straight time.

Zverev, seeking his third Madrid Open title, has won seven matches in a row and is coming off a title-run in Munich.

Penge returns from ban, wins first European title

HAINAN ISLAND,China Marco Penge of England closed with a 5-under 67 on Sunday for a three-shot victory in the Hainan Classic for his first European tour title, coming just two months after he returned from a ban for betting on golf.

The win capped off a wild six months for Penge, which began with him narrowly keeping his European card and ended with him finishing third in the Asian Swing to earn a spot in the PGA Championship next month.

The European tour gave Penge a three-month suspension for betting on golf, though it determined he never bet on himself or on anyone in the tournaments he

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By DUANE BURLESON

Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham walks across the court as New york Knicks center Ariel Hukporti, third from right guard Josh Hart and center Karl-Anthony Towns celebrate after winning Game 4 of the first-

Novak, Griffinfinish on topatZurichClassic

BY BRETT MARTEL AP sportswriter

Andrew Novak and Ben Griffin shot a1-under 71 in alternate-shot play Sunday to become first-time PGA Tour winners —byone stroke —atthe Zurich Classic. They finished at 28-under 260 at the Pete Dye-designed TPC Louisiana and Novak finally broke through afterapair of top-three finishes this month —the last a playoff loss to Justin Thomas a weekago at the RBC Heritage. Play was delayed by weather for just over 90 minutes with Novak on Griffin on the eighth hole.

Masters champion RoryMcIlroy and fellow Irishman ShaneLowry, the reigningchampions, were in contention through 12 holes, but fell to 12th —six shots behind with three late bogeys.

Danish identical twins Nicolai and Rasmus Hojgaard narrowly missed out on afirst PGA Tour win, finishing second after a 68 Novakand Griffin beganthe PGA Tour’sonly team event three shots ahead but werecaught by Jake Knapp and Frankie Capan III before pulling back ahead when Griffin made abirdie put from nearly 35 feet on the par-3 17th. That gave the eventual winners atwo-shot lead after Capan had pulled his tee shot on 17 into the water left of the green. Novak’s

UL

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advanced on abunt single from Dayzja Williams. Emily Smith thencontinued her huge weekend with athree-run home runtoleft for a4-0 cushion.

tee shot also went farther left than intended andhehad his hand over hischest asthe ball stopped near the water’sedge. But the clutch putt by Griffin on 17 allowed his team to win with a par on18.

three shotsoff thelead when they bogeyed the384-yard, par-4 13th with each mishitting achip before McIlroy missed apar putt from just inside 11 feet

Despite their latefade, they had alarge, supportive gallery on 18. McIlroyacknowledged fans with

several waves before Lowry made acrowd-pleasing birdie putt. A smiling McIlroy retrieved the ball fromthe hole andflippeditintothe water

The Hojgaard twins werewithin astroke of the lead when Nicolai made a42-foot birdie putt on the

par-3 14th. On 16, Rasmus narrowly missed a27-foot birdieputtto tie for the lead, the ball stopping on edge of thehole. But thatwas as close as they would get.

Isaiah Salinda and Kevin Velo, the PGATourrookieswho ledaftereach of the first two days, finished with a71and tied foreighth at 24 under.They set the tournament better-ball record Thursday with a58.

Technicaldifficulties

If you thought youwerewatching the ZurichClassic live early Sunday afternoon, only to realize the telecast was from 2024, you’re not alone.

The CBS broadcast lost its signal foracouple of hours due to “technical difficulties,”tournament officials said. Fore!Kids Foundation CEO Steve Worthy,the tournament director,said abreakdown of the on-site generator caused the problem

CBS showed areplay of last year’s Zurich Classicduringthe poweroutage, whichoverlapped with a90-minute weather delay

Theproblem was fixed and the live broadcast restored when play resumed after the weather delay at 4:15 p.m

“It’sunfortunate, butthings sometimes happen,” Worthy said.

The Advocate staff writerScott Rabalais contributed to this story.

McIlroy andLowry were just

Smith finishedthe series 6-for12 with two homeruns andsix RBIs. Williamswas the only Cajun with more than one hitSundayat2-for-4.

Curiel sparks LSU’sexplosive win

Wheeler’sfinal line endedup being threeruns on nine hits, four walks andsix strikeouts in 6.2 innings.

Email KevinFoote at kfoote@ theadvocate.com

Mason Narcisse goes through drills during UL fall practice on Aug. 14. Narcisse signed an undrafted free agent deal with theTampa BayBuccaneers.

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that an NFL opportunity became real to Cambre.

“I never really wrapped my mind about it,” he said. “It was always kindofahope, adream, and just continue to work each and every day to get there.

Ihad people tellingme— Idon’t think it actually hit me until after thebowl game when Iwas moving out of Lafayette to train and get ready for pro day.Itwasn’t until then until Isaid, ‘Man, Ireally have achance at this.’”

The former St. Thomas More standoutplayed some widereceiver during his time with the Cajuns,but his biggest impact was alwaysonspecial teamswith three blockedkicks,expert holding skills and coverage teams. His pro day was huge because he was able to display his skills.

“The scouts said they have a good confidence in me running routes and catching the ball because they saw it at pro day,” Cambre said. “They were able to see me do stuff that Ididn’thave alot of and able to see me work. Really proday is an opportunity to show how hard you’rewilling to work.” It was his hard work this past season and during the offseason that helped make the call from the Buccaneers so special for Narcisse.

Tigers winrubber match, take series over Tennessee

BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer

Derek Curiel’s43-gameon-base streak ended on Saturday

It was afootnote on an otherwise rough night at the park for LSU. Curiel had three groundoutsand a strikeout, notreaching base for the first time in his collegiate career

“Obviously,Iknew about it,”Curiel said. “My teammates told me about it.”

But on Sunday afternoon, in the rubber match of LSU’sthree-game series with Tennessee, Curiel playedasifhewas determined to start another streak.

The freshman went 4for 4with ahomerun,two doubles, awalk and five RBIs. His big day led the Tigers past Tennessee12-2ineight innings to clinch the series victory

“I struggled thepasttwo games,” Curiel said. “Great team, obviously,great pitchersonthe other side,but I’malwaysincontrol of my at-bats,and Ifelt like Ilet that get away from mealittle bit.”

After scoring in just three of thefirst18innings in theseries, Curiel got LSU (36-9, 14-7 SEC) on thescoreboard in the first by blasting aleadoff solo home run to right field that cut LSU’s deficit to 2-1. The homer was his fifth of the season.

“I think we’re just continually seeing alittle bit of an ascent, and I would expect to see that,” Johnson said when asked about Brown. “So, like Isaid, one of the at-bats of the year for our team today.”

Curiel continued his hot streak by driving in thenext three LSU runs.Herippeda run-scoring single in thefourth inning and atworun double in the fifth to hand the Tigers an 8-2lead.

right-hander Casan Evans. In six innings, the Texasnative allowed six hits, recorded six strikeouts, walkednobody and allowed just twohitters to reach base after the first.

He also tossedacareer-high 85 pitches.

Email KevinFoote at kfoote@ theadvocate.com NFL

Bills, Dolphins and Saints also, butsettled on TampaBay

“They told me Iwas goingto getanopportunity to showcase my talents,” Narcisse said. “As soon as he gotonthe phone, he was like, ‘Hey Mason, you’re a Buc now.’ They just want me to go there and do everything Ipossiblycan to impressthem. Iappreciate that,somebodygiving me achance.”

Narcisse had 37 tacklesand 3.5 sacksthispastseasonand hadsix total sacksinhis career

“I did see this happening,” Narcisse said.“Ifelt likeI had apretty good season andIworked my butt off.I just knewIwas going to get achance.”

It was extra special for Narcisse’smother.He’sanonly child and his father passed away before the 2023 season opener

“It’sablessing,” Narcisse said.

“This is whatIworked for and prayedfor.All Ineeded was afoot in the door and Ifinally got that.

My mom was crying. Iwas happy to see hersee asmile on her face, because she’s been through alot. That put asmile on her face, so all Ican doisenjoythis.”

Narcisse and Cambre will both report for rookie minicamp on May8

Surprisingly,Lou Groza Awardwinning kicker Kenny Almendares hasn’tsigned with ateam yet.

“I’m reallyexcited,” he said. “I’ve worked so hard for this opportunity.I’m just so excited.” During the draft process, the 6-foot-2, 301-pound defensive tackle got calls from Seahawks,

In addition to Wooldridge and Ossai, other former UL teammatescould still get rookie minicampinvitations, including AJ Gillie to Seattle and Tyrone Lewis joiningCambre withthe Giants.

“He has put on about 15 pounds or so, 17 pounds,” LSU coach Jay Johnson said. “I believe he looks better,stronger than when he showed up here. And then just that mental andemotional stabilityhas allowed him to transition that talent into skill on thebiggeststage in college.

“There’snobody we want to play morethan that guy right now.”

The Tigers then scored four runs in thesecondand another in the fourth to takea6-2 lead.

Allfour runs in the secondinning came with two outs. First, Curiel slappedarun-scoring double before an intentional walk to junior Jared Jones allowed sophomore Jake Brown to blast athree-run homer intothe right field seats.

Thehomer gave LSU a5-2 lead andwas Brown’sfourth blast of theyear

CAJUNS

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“We’ve been struggling withthat playall year,” Deggs said.“It is what it is.”

JC Peacher’sRBI groundout would theoretically have been thethirdout just beforeParker’s double. In the bottom of the seventh, however,the Cajuns foiled themselves Mandino singled then Markle andLuke Yuhasz walked. The problem was Mandino was thrown outtrying to steal third before the Yuhasz’swalk. As ateam, UL stole 10 bases on the weekend, but thatcaught stealingproved critical.The Cajuns

“I just felt like Igot out of my plan, and Ijust wasn’tsticking to what Iliketodo(which) is hitthe ball in the middle of the field,” Curiel said. “I waskind of trying to pullmyshoulder. And there’s just some mechanic stuffand some mental things that Ihad to fix coming in today.” LSU finished the afternoon with 13 hits, includingnine forextra bases. Jones went 2for 4with a double,and seniorMichael Braswell cracked his second solo home run in as manygames in the seventh inning.

The Tigers were able to end the game in eighth inning, via the 10run rule,after seniorLuis Hernandezrippedatwo-run double off the left field wall.

“I thought we played what I would call ourbest character,” Johnsonsaid. “Loose, free, confident, aggressive with agood plan.” Earning his first career start on Sunday forLSU was freshman

ended up leaving the bases loaded down arun.

“He’sonhis own,” Deggs said. “He hasn’tbeen caught yet. They haven’tthrown us out and he hadn’tbeen caught, but you’ve got to get ajump.”

In theninth, it appeared amisplayedballmight bail outthe Cajuns.Higgs hitatwo-out pop-up to left withMarkle on first base, but it was misplayed to keep the inning alive.Stelly hit the first pitch

339 feet over the wall in right on thefirst pitch, but foul. The second pitch washit hard to right,but caught to end it.

“It’sfrustrating,” Deggs said.

“You’ve got ateam on their heels after thefirst two days andthe first three innings and you’ve got to finish. You’ve got to finish.

“I knew Iwasn’tgoing to go very high, like 100orover,but Ifelt great,” Evans said. “Honestly,I told coach Johnson that Iwanted to go back out there forthe seventh.” The first inning was Evans’ only rockyone.Heallowed three singles and adouble as Tennessee (35-9, 13-8) took an early 2-0 lead.

“They had apitch they knew was coming, the secondRBI, andwe gotthatfixed,” Johnsonsaid. “It wasavery odd situation, how that happened. We were able to get out of that with (just) atwo was abig deal because there wastwo guys in scoring position.”

Juniorright-handerZac Cowan replaced Evans in the seventh inning andtossedtwo scorelessinnings to finish off the victory LSU faces Southeastern Louisiana in the final game of its ninegamehomestand on Tuesday.First pitch from Alex Box Stadium is set for6:30 p.m. and the game will be available to stream on SEC Network+

Email Koki RileyatKoki.Riley@ theadvocate.com.

“We’ve gottolearn to play with heat on us. You’vegot to playand perform when it matters. We’ll keep learning and keep growing.” While the call not going his way endedTollett’sstreak of fiveconsecutive qualitystarts, thesophomoreright-handerstill posted a good effort.

In 61/3 innings, he allowedfour runs on seven hits, walkedtwo and struck out three on 105 pitches. Blake McGehee kept UL in it with22/3 shutoutinnings of relief with twostrikeouts.

“He pitched his butt off,” Deggs said of Tollett. “McGehee looked great. He madealittle adjustment and looks great.”

Email KevinFoote at kfoote@ theadvocate.com.

STAFF PHOTO By BRADKEMP

Defensivelineman

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

LSU left fielder Derek Curiel gives his teammates twothumbs up after a homerun against Tennessee in the first inning of theirgame on Sunday at Alex Box Stadium.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOByGERALD HERBERT

AndrewNovak, right,embraces teammate Ben Griffinonthe 18thgreen after theywon the Zurich Classicon SundayatTPC Louisiana in Avondale.

LIVING SHARING THELOVE

BatonRouge Symphony Chorus takesthe spotlightinsymphony’s‘CarminaBurana’

BY ROBIN MILLER Staff writer

DavidShaler remembers reading that “Carmina Burana” is performed by someone insomepartof the world on adaily basis.

Sure, it’sa vague reference,but the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra’schorusmasterisn’tciting it as fact.

“It was just astatementto‘Carmina Burana’s’ popularity,” he said. “But Ialso read thatit’sprobablythe most popularworkinthe choralorchestralrepertoire, and it’sbelovedbyaudiencesincountriesaround the world.”

That love is shared by theBaton Rouge Symphony Orchestra Chorus asitprepares to stepinto the spotlight for the symphony’s 2024-25 finale concert, “Carmina Burana,” at 7:30 p.m. May 1inthe RaisingCane’sRiver CenterPerformingArts Theater Season finale

The symphony,conducted by AdamJohnson, will kickoff the concert with Aaron Copland’s“Appalachian Spring,” featuring dancers Brianadel Mundoand Waverly Fredericks.

After that, the programbelongs

to CarlOrff’scantata “Carmina Burana,” where the80-member chorus is the collective starofthe show The piece also features soloists. Shaler will sing tenor,Martha Guth will sing soprano and Dongwon Kim will sing baritone. But even they won’tovershadow the chorus in this piece based on 24 poems, ranging frombawdy to satirical, touching on themes of love, wine, spring and the capriciousness of fate.

Inspired by poems Orff was inspired to write his 1934 composition after reading

‘CARMINA BURANA’

an 1847 edition of Johann Andreas Schmeller’sbookofpoems,also called “Carmina Burana.”

TheLatin titletranslatesto “Songs of Beuern.”Its text originatesinthe 11th,12th and 13th centuries, butits stories andhumor aretimeless. But thatdoesn’tmeanthe audience will understand the words that are being sung, so the symphony will provide supertitles. “It’sanarchaic form of Latin in German,” Shalersaid. “It’snot your everydayspeech withlots of articulation markings. Orff just writes accent marks all over the music. Youhavetohit the exact pitchveryquicklyand then move on andthenpronounce each syllable very quickly.And that can be abig challenge. It really is a challenge for pretty much every chorus.”

He noted that the audience can appreciate the musicwhile reading the text.

Butwhataboutthe chorus, itself? Do themembersknowexactly what they’re saying when they sing?

“Oh yes,” Shaler said. “Thankfully,there are lots of translations

ä See CHORUS, page 6C

The Baton RougeSymphonyOrchestra and Chorus will perform 7:30 p.m. May1 in the Raising Cane’sPerforming Arts Theater,300 St. Louis St., Baton Rouge. Ticketsare $19-$65. Call (225) 383-0500 or visit brso.org

OUT-OF-SEASON SHOW

The Baton RougeSymphonyOrchestra Chorus will perform withAndreaBocelli 8p.m. June 10 in the Smoothie King Center,1501 Dave DixonDrive, NewOrleans. Ticketsare $80-$250. Visit ticketmaster.com

Popularbakeryrelocatingwithgrowthinmind

BYSERENA PUANG Staff writer

When Madelyn Burr started selling cakes out of her one-bedroom college apartment, she never imagined it wouldgrowinto whatitistoday.But the business took off. First with Instagram sales, and aftershe graduated, her parents co-signed a lease for her to start Eloise Market and Cakery on Lee Drive in 2021. This fall, Eloise Market,abak-

ery known for its cakes and bakingclasses, is relocating to 1940 Perkins Road. Thenew location is under construction now.Burr plans to close at the end of August and soft-open the new location Sept. 3. The relocation was partially sparked by the kingcake classes aroundMardiGras. They were a hit, Burr said, butitalso helped herrealize that she hasoutgrown

ä See BAKERY, page 6C

Past abuse addsanother layerof complication

HowdoI managemyfeelingsover caring foraformerly abusive parent who nowhas Alzheimer’s?

Many children struggle with caregiving decisions regarding aparent or parents with whom they have had complicated relationships, especially if they werephysically,emotionally or sexually abused. Most families can claim some dysfunctionality as they have secrets, disagreements and struggles, but abusive environments should never be considered normal or irreverent. Longstanding wounds from childhood can carry over into adulthood, making relationships with parents tenuous at best and very uncomfortable. It is such an untenable position for achild to be placed in asituation in which they must manage the care, especially to join the arduous journey of Alzheimer’s disease with that parent.

According to astudy presented in the August 2015 volume of The Gerontologist by Jooyoung Kong, MSW and Sara M. Moorman, Ph.D., children who were abused are more vulnerable to depression when tending to their abusive parents. Hiding or ignoring memories and feelings —and the many physical, mental and emotional complications they can trigger and aggravate —can cause great stress, anxiety and depression.

The study also indicated that caregivers with ahistory of maltreatment should be aware of the risk they are taking, in that they themselves may be prone to becomethe abuser whoperpetuates atragic, damaging cycle. Setting clear

ä See ABUSE, page 6C

Do youremember Piccadilly in its heyday?Wewantto hear from you

Eloise Market and Cakeryowner Madelyn Schmidt, standing,walks around to check on participants’ doughs during a kingcakemaking class last year

STAFFFILE PHOTOBy HILARy

SCHEINUK

Did yougrowupeating at Piccadilly?Doyou have cherished memoriesoffavorite foods at the restaurant? Maybe youstill eat there on the regular.Wewant to hear about your connection to the Baton Rouge-basedcafeteria-style institution.

Sendusyour storiesabout Piccadilly in its heyday. Do you remember watching the restaurant grow from ahometownsuccess to achain across the South? Please email us your storytoSerena. Puang@theadvocate.com. Include your nameand town,and (not forpublication) adaytimephone number

Shaler Johnson

Kim Guth

PROVIDED PHOTO By BATONROUGE SyMPHONy ORCHESTRA

TheBaton RougeSymphonyOrchestra Chorus will perform‘Carmina Burana’ withthe symphonyonMay 1then heads to NewOrleans on June 10 tosing with internationally acclaimed tenor Andrea Bocelli on June 10.

Melanoma highly treatablewhencaughtearly

Dear Doctors: My sister-in-law is 82 years old and was recently diagnosedwithmelanoma.She has an appointment for treatmentin acouple of weeks. Ithought this was aserious and deadly disease. Can apatient wait long periods of time before treatment? Iam surprised by the lack of alarm in this case. Dear reader: Youare correctthat melanoma, which is aformofskin cancer,ispotentiallydeadly.This is due to how quickly this cancer grows and how aggressively it can spread. Althoughmelanoma accounts for just 1% of all skin cancers,itcauses the majority of deaths from skin cancer.The good news is that, when it is caught early,melanoma is highly treatable

The data show that the five-year survival rate in people with local-

Mundowill be featured in the Baton Rouge SymphonyOrchestra’s performance of ‘Appalachian Spring.’

CHORUS

Continued from page5C

out there,soweknow what we’re saying. But to be honest, there are some very odd texts in it, and it runs the gamut from praise to praising theideal womantofortune to the cruelty of fate. Some of the songs feature men singing about drinking and gambling and things you can imagine taking place in atavern.”

Forty-four membersof Southeastern Louisiana University’sChoral Ensemble will join thisconcert, which is the symphony chorus’ second with the Baton Rouge Symphony this season. The chorus’ 2024-25 season has also includedperformances with Xavier University’sNOVA Chorale in New Orleans and the Acadiana Symphony Bocellionthe horizon

Though the symphony’s season ends with “Carmen Burina,” the chorus will have one more show on June 10 when internationally acclaimed tenor Andrea Bocelli

ABUSE

Continued from page5C

boundaries, calling on others to help, and recognizing when it is time to let someone else be the front-line caregiver,either temporarily or permanently,are all ways to stop the cycleof abuse.

It’simportant to get support and talk with others about personalfeelings and what you are experiencing in caregiving. Morethan likely,accepting the past and getting over the hurt and resentment has been difficult as you take on managing the day-to-day care of your parent. The wounded-child-turned-adult caregiver who is carrying guilt from not wanting to take care of the abusive parent or who faces additional distress from reliv-

BAKERY

Continued from page5C

her current space. “Next year we’ll have a bigger space, better bathrooms withhand-washing sinks, water fountains,” she said. “Everybody canbe more comfortable and have even more fun.” The new location will also have afenced-in yard for events and aprivateparty

Dr.Elizabeth Ko

Dr.Eve Glazier ASK THE DOCTORS

ized disease, which has not spread to nearby lymph nodes, is 99%. Forthose who are not familiar,melanoma develops in cells known asmelanocytes. These are specialized cells that produce abrown pigment known as melanin. Melanocytes arefound in several areas throughout the body.Thisincludesthe skin, hair follicles and theiris of the eye, where they contribute to color-

ation. Melanocytes can also grow in clusters, forming moles that can appear anywhere on the body The majority of moles are benign. However,asmall percentage can develop cancerous cells. When melanoma is suspected, somethingknown as an excision biopsy is performed. This is the surgical removal of thecancerous area, along with amargin of surrounding tissue. It is possible, when alesion is too large or is poorly situated, that just aportion of the tissue will be removed. If it appears that the melanoma has begun to metastasize, or spread, atest of thecells in the nearby lymph nodes, known as fine-needle aspiration, will also be performed. The tissues that have been collected are then sent to a lab to be examined by apatholo-

SyMPHONy ORCHESTRA

WaverlyFredericks will be afeatured dancer in the Baton RougeSymphonyOrchestra’s performance of ‘Appalachian Spring.’

takes the Smoothie King Center stage in New Orleans. Only 60 of the chorus’ 80 members will make thetrip to join the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestrainproviding accompaniment to Bocelli and his guests

the Baton Rouge Symphony Chorus for theshow

gist under amicroscope. To know if the speed at which your sister-in-law is being treated is appropriate, information about staging is needed. This is asystem used to identifythe severity of the disease. For melanoma, stages indicate thedepth to which the cancer has penetrated theskin, whether it has spread beyond the original site and, if so, how far it has spread. Staging begins with “melanoma in situ,” or Stage 0. This is cancer that is confined to the topmost layer of theskin. It escalates to Stage 4, which is disease that has spread to distant areas of thebody For melanoma in situ, treatment consists of the excision biopsy used to diagnose the condition, which completely removes the diseased tissue. If the cancer has

penetrated deeper layers of skin, afollow-up excision, along with the removal and examination of nearby lymph nodes, is likely to be scheduled. With metastatic disease, radiation, chemotherapy or immunotherapy are typically recommended.

If you are concerned that your sister-in-law is not receiving speedy care, urge her to gather her medical records and seek out asecond opinion from adermatologist or oncologist with aspecialty in melanoma.

Sendyour questions to askthedoctors@mednet.ucla edu, or write: Ask theDoctors, c/oUCLA HealthSciences Media Relations, 10880 Wilshire Blvd.,Suite1450, Los Angeles, CA, 90024.

By The Associated Press

Today is Monday, April 28, the 118th day of 2025. There are 247 days left in the year

Todayinhistory:

On April 28, 2004, the world first viewed images of prisoner abuse and torture by U.S. troops at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, via areport broadcast on the CBS television news program “60 Minutes II.”

On this date:

Tiki on a101-day,4,300mile journey across the Pacific Ocean to the Polynesian Islands.

In 1967, heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali wasstripped of his WBA title after he refused to be inducted into the armed forces.

In 1994, former CIAofficial Aldrich Ames, who had passed U.S. secrets to the Soviet Union and then Russia, pleaded guilty to espionage and tax evasion, and was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

“They asked for 60,sounfortunately, some ofour singers won’tbeable to go,” Shalersaid. “I had to do some in-house auditions, especially for our sopranos, because everychorushas an abundance of sopranos.But we had to abide by their contract requirementof60.”

“The Bocelli management asked us to sing with him,” Shaler said. “The NOVA Chorale said, ‘Hey,wecan vouch for the BatonRouge Chorus,because we just sang aconcert with them, and they did agood job, and they werewell prepared.’ And so that is howthis connection came about.”

Bocelli

The chorus will accompany Bocelli on seven selections, which it will begin rehearsing immediately after “Carmina Burana.”

The Baton Rouge choruswas recommended to Bocelli’smanagement by theNOVAChorale, which performed with the tenor in February 2023. Themanagement once againreached out to NOVAfor theJune concert,but theacademic year ends in May,meaning most studentswould be elsewhere for thesummer.

Xavier’s NOVA So, NOVArecommended

ing past experiences may needtoconsider some professional counselingbefore assumingthe role of afulltime caregiver

Some children of abusive parentsare pressured into caregiving because of society’s expectations that they are responsible for their parents’ care. Understand that you always have options, and that itis no shame to find peaceand step aside. Outsourcing the parent’s care may beanoption to consider as there are numerous health careproviders that are available for contracting.Appointing a legal guardian could be another possibility,but keep in mind your parentwould have to be legally proven incompetentfor guardianship to be granted. Allcaregivers should prioritize self-care, so make sure you set aside time for tendingtoyour physi-

room with afull kitchen. Burr plans to host more baking and cooking classes there, like an appetizer-making class and “Nana Night” wherepeoplelearn to make their own pasta.The private partyroom can hold up to 50 people, and customers won’t have to walk through it to get to the main bakery Burr is excitedtohost events such as birthday parties there. Unlike at thecurrentlocation, after the move, Eloise

“We’ll be abacking chorus, andofcourse, some of his songs are operatic, which calls for abacking chorus,” Shaler said.

Though the spotlight won’t shine on chorus members as it will in “Carmina Burana,” it won’tmatter,because they’ll be standing behind one of the world’sgreatest tenors.

Email RobinMiller at romiller@theadvocate. com.

cal and mental health and well-being. Though past damage cannot be fixed quickly,and some things are simply unforgivable, perhaps you can make your way to forgiving your parent and move forward to a healthier relationship. Being awarethat your parent is ahuman being withflaws and imperfections doesn’t negatewhat he or shedid by any means;however,it might help you on the road to acceptance, healing and adeeper understanding of theirpersonhood and history

Dana Territo is an Alzheimer’s advocate and author of “What My Grandchildren Taught Me About Alzheimer’s Disease.” She hosts“The Memory Whisperer.” Emailher at thememorywhisperer@ gmail.com.

will be open Sundays, but Burr is still nailing down hoursand exact times for thenew location.

“I grew up going to Garden DistrictCoffee and bringing my cousin to Powell-Moise for dance,” Burr said.“I’m so familiarwith the area, and so I’mjust excited to add something new to it.”

Email Serena Puang at serena.puang@ theadvocate.com.

In 1789, mutineers led by Fletcher Christian took control of the ship HMS Bountythree weeks after departing Tahiti, setting theship’scaptain, Lieutenant William Bligh, and 18 other crew members adrift in the Pacific Ocean.

In 1945, Italian dictator Benito Mussolini and his mistress,Clara Petacci, were executed by Italian partisans after attempting to flee thecountry

In 1947, asix-man expedition led by Norwegian Thor Heyerdahl set out from Peru aboard abalsa wood raft named theKon-

In 2001, aRussian rocket lifted off from Central Asia carrying the first space tourist, California businessman Dennis Tito, and two cosmonauts on a journey to the International Space Station.

In 2011, convicted sex offender Phillip Garrido and his wife, Nancy Garrido, pleaded guilty to kidnapping and raping aCalifornia girl, Jaycee Dugard, whowas abducted in 1991 at the age of 11 and rescued 18 years later.(Phillip Garrido was sentenced to

431 years to lifeinprison; Nancy Garrido was sentenced to 36 years to life.)

PROVIDED PHOTO By BATONROUGE

tAuRus (April 20-May 20) Keep your complaints to yourself and concentrate on maintaining an upbeat attitude. A creative outlet will help ease stress and give you time to consider unique ways to use your skills.

GEMInI (May 21-June 20) Live and learn. Keep your eyes open, observe and gather information to help you expand your goals to suit your financial and intellectual needs. Keep the momentum going.

cAncER (June 21-July 22) Be careful sharing information. Keep your secrets, intentions and goals to yourself. Map out a journey that turns your personal or professional dream into a reality.

LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) Put your mind at ease by checking facts before deciding to change or invest in someone or something. Information is your best friend in a debate, so listen carefully.

VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept. 22) Pay attention to what's unfolding to avoid unwanted surprises. Someone will offer you an exaggerated point of view, hoping you'll trust their judgment. Do things for yourself.

LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) Opportunity is apparent. Explore the possibilities and consider what they will entail. Travel if it will help you get closer to your target or someone you want to get to know better.

scoRPIo (oct. 24-nov. 22) Participate in something that pumps you up and stimulates you mentally, physically

and emotionally. An open mind will help you discover interesting outlets for your expertise and desires.

sAGIttARIus (nov. 23-Dec. 21) Don't expect everyone to be honest with you or to look out for your interests. Fend for yourself and rely on your intuition, and you won't be disappointed.

cAPRIcoRn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Make changes that add to your comfort and prompt you to be kinder to yourself. It's time to rejuvenate and reevaluate what's important to you. Search for ways to strike a balance between work and pleasure.

AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Pay attention. Someone will be eager to bait you into a no-win discussion or situation that leaves you anxious. Step away from negativity and concentrate on creative endeavors.

PIscEs (Feb. 20-March 20) Avoid taking on too much. You'll find it difficult to meet demands if you overextend yourself financially or physically. Avoid indulgent behavior and bad influences.

ARIEs (March 21-April 19) An innovative approach to finding solutions will put you in a good position to negotiate with others and persuade them to see things your way. Follow your heart.

The horoscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact. © 2025 by NEA, Inc., dist. By Andrews

McMeel Syndication

FAMILY CIrCUS

Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present. Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

toDAy's cLuE: L EQuALs y

CeLebrItY CIpher

For better or For WorSe

Forth

beetLe bAILeY

Mother GooSe And GrIMM

SherMAn’S LAGoon

nea CroSSwordS

Sudoku

InstructIons: Sudoku is anumber-placing puzzle based on a9x9 grid with several given numbers. Theobject is to place the numbers 1to9 in the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. Thedifficulty level of theSudoku increases from Monday to Sunday.

Saturday’s PuzzleAnswer

La TimeS CroSSword

THewiZard oF id

BLondie

BaBY BLueS

Hi and LoiS

CurTiS

By PHILLIP ALDER

Don Marquis, ajournalist and humorist whodied in 1937,said, “A pessimist is aperson who has had to listen to too many optimists.”

Not at thebridge table! Apessimist will do betterinthe long runand should rarelylisten to an optimist.

Thisdealisanexample.Southhasbarreled into four spades. West cashes two club tricks, thenguesseswellinshifting tothediamondjack.Easttakesdummy’s queen with his aceand returnsthe suit Howwould an optimist or apessimist continue?

North madea single raise withamaximum for the bid, having four trumps, aking-queen and adoubleton. South’s jumptofourspadeswasatadoptimistic, but he expected thegame to have play. Also,perhaps the opponent might misjudge,bid five clubs, and pay adoubled penalty.

Westwastemptedtoshifttohissingleton heart at trick three, hoping that his partner had amajor-suit ace. But he was not thatoptimistic.

Southsaw that he needed the heart finesse to succeed, so,whether an optimist or apessimist, assumed that it would.

Theoptimist, leaving it at that, would draw three rounds of trumps ending on theboard and runthe heart 10. The finessewould win, butwhendeclarer repeated it,Westwould show outand the contract wouldfail.

The pessimist wouldanticipate the 1-4 heart break. He would play aheart to his queen at trick five. Then he woulddraw trumpsendingwithdummy’squeen,run the heart10, play aheart to hisjack, and claim.

McMeel

©2025 by NEA,Inc., dist. By Andrews

Syndication

Each Wuzzle is awordriddlewhich creates adisguised word, phrase, name, place, saying, etc. For example: NOON GOOD =GOOD AFTERNOON

Previous answers:

word game

InstRuctIons: 1. Words must be of fourormore letters. 2. Words that acquire fourletters 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 wordsare not allowed toDAy’s WoRD ALMost: OL-moste: Verynearly, but not exactly or entirely.

Average mark13words

Timelimit 20 minutes

Can you find 17 or morewords in ALMOST?

sAtuRDAy’s WoRD —sWInDLEs

dine lend

today’s thought “And it shall come to pass afterward, that Iwill pour out my spirit on all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your oldmen shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:” Joel2:28

marmaduKe

Bizarro

hagar the horriBle

Pearls Before swiNe

garfield

mallard fillmore

Shown