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A POPE WITH CREOLE ROOTS

New Orleans heritage of Catholic Church’s new world leader sparks excitement, intrigue, pride

BY RICH COLLINS and STEPHANIE RIEGEL Staff writers

When Joseph Martinez and Louise Baquié and their two young daughters lived at 1933 N. Prieur St. in 1900, New Orleans was the queen city of the South, with new electric streetcars and state-of-the-art infrastructure.

The streets of their 7th Ward neighborhood just downriver of the French Quarter were lined with shotgun doubles occupied by ä Pope working- and middle-class lays out families who were, predominantly, Creoles of color vision of — longtime locals of mixed papacy.

French, African and Carib- PAGE 3A bean ancestry with deep ties to the Roman Catholic Church.

The world was on the cusp of a new era, reshaping society, religion and global alliances. And the leader of that church was a pope named Leo XIII, who is remembered today for gracefully ushering Catholics into the modern age.

Now, 125 years later, the Martinezes’ grandson, Robert Francis Prevost, has become Pope Leo XIV — the first American Pope and the first with Creole ancestry.

Little is known about what Joseph Martinez, a cigar maker born in Haiti, and his wife Louise, a homemaker and lifelong New Orleanian whose mother was

$2.50X

Landry joins Legislature in paring back tax breaks State gives away $1 in tax breaks for every $2 collected

BY TYLER BRIDGES | Staff writer For years and years, state lawmakers have given away tax deductions, exemptions and exclusions to special interests.

And for years and years, experts have called on lawmakers to eliminate many of these tax breaks and use the savings to lower tax rates.

The state gave away $1 in exemptions for every $2 it collected in fiscal year 2023, the latest figures show.

Legislators and the administration of Gov. Jeff Landry be- Landry gan to address that issue during a special session in November devoted to taxes.

Lawmakers lowered individual and corporate tax rates — but raised the sales tax — and voted to end numerous corporate tax subsidies.

Instead of doling out money automatically through the tax code, Susan Bourgeois, who heads the state’s economic development agency, wants more money and authority for her agency to

ä See TAX BREAKS, page 7A

ä See ROOTS, page 4A

EBR schools battle truancy 13,000 students in parish are chronically absent

BY AIDAN McCAHILL | Staff writer

PROVIDED PHOTO

STAFF PHOTO By BRETT DUKE

Jari Honora, family historian at The Historic New Orleans Collection, displays genealogy materials related to the grandparents of Pope Leo XIV in New Orleans on Friday. TOP: Newly elected Pope Leo XIV concelebrates Mass Friday in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican the day after his election as 267th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church. ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO

The grandparents of Pope Leo XIV, Joseph Martinez and Louise Baquié, married at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in New Orleans. Until it was destroyed by a hurricane in 1915, the church building was on Annette Street in the city’s 7th Ward, a historic center of Afro-Creole culture.

One out of every three East Baton Rouge Parish public school students were chronically absent in 2024, meaning more than 13,000 kids in the district missed class at least 10% of the year.

When combined with K-12 public schools in the eight surrounding parishes, an estimated 26,000 children fall into the same category.

Decades of research suggest those numbers don’t bode well for crime.

Louisiana lawmakers began focusing on the

ä See TRUANCY, page 6A

WEATHER HIGH 76 LOW 60 PAGE 8B

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2A ■ Sunday, May 11, 2025 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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Soviet-era spacecraft plunges to Earth

A Soviet-era spacecraft plunged to Earth on Saturday, more than a half-century after its failed launch to Venus.

Its uncontrolled entry was confirmed by both the Russian Space Agency and European Union Space Surveillance and Tracking. The Russians indicated it came down over the Indian Ocean, but some experts were not so sure of the precise location. The European Space Agency’s space debris office also tracked the spacecraft’s doom after it failed to appear over a German radar station.

It was not immediately known how much, if any, of the half-ton spacecraft survived the fiery descent from orbit. Experts said ahead of time that some if not all of it might come crashing down, given it was built to withstand a landing on Venus, the solar system’s hottest planet.

The chances of anyone getting clobbered by spacecraft debris were exceedingly low, scientists said.

Launched in 1972 by the Soviet Union, the spacecraft known as Kosmos 482 was part of a series of missions bound for Venus.

But this one never made it out of orbit around Earth, stranded there by a rocket malfunction.

Much of the spacecraft came tumbling back to Earth within a decade of the failed launch. No longer able to resist gravity’s tug as its orbit dwindled, the spherical lander — an estimated 3 feet across — was the last part of the spacecraft to come down.

The lander was encased in titanium, according to experts, and weighed more than 1,000 pounds.

Any surviving wreckage will belong to Russia under a United Nations treaty.

20 killed in Sudan after suspected drone strike

CAIRO — A suspected drone strike launched by Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces hit a prison in the southern region of Kordofan on Saturday and killed at least 20 inmates, authorities said.

Fifty other detainees were wounded in the attack on the main prison in Obeid, the capital city of North Kordofan, Information Minister Khalid Aleiser said in a statement.

Aleiser, who is also the spokesman of the military-allied government, accused the Rapid Support Forces for the attack, which came as the militia escalates drone strikes on the military-held areas across the country.

Sudan plunged into civil war on April 15, 2023, when simmering tensions between the military and the RSF exploded into open warfare in the capital Khartoum and other parts of the country. Obeid is 225 miles south of Khartoum.

There was no immediate comment from the RSF, which earlier this month launched multiday drone attack on Port Sudan, the Red Sea city serving as an interim seat for the Sudanese government. The strikes hit the city’s airports, maritime port and other facilities including fuel storages.

The military earlier struck Nyala airport in South Darfur, where the RSF receives foreign military assistance, including drones. Local media say dozens of RSF officers were killed in last week’s strike.

Fishermen found adrift at sea back on land

QUITO, Ecuador — Five fishermen who spent 55 days adrift at sea arrived Saturday at a port in the Galapagos Islands after being rescued by a tuna boat, the Ecuadorian navy said on X. The three Peruvians and two Colombians had been missing since mid-March and were found on Wednesday by an Ecuadorian boat called Aldo.

The fisherean had reported damage to the boat’s alternator two days after setting sail from Pucusana Bay, to the south of Peru’s capital Lima, the navy said in a separate post on Friday.

The men are in a stable condition and the navy said it is coordinating with local and foreign authorities to ensure their safe return to their respective countries.

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India, Pakistan accuse each Trump other of violating ceasefire touts ‘great

progress’ in U.S.-China trade talks

Agreement brokered in U.S.-led talks earlier Saturday

BY RIAZAT BUTT, AIJAZ HUSSAIN and RAJESH ROY Associated Press

ISLAMABAD — India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire Saturday after U.S.-led talks to end the most serious military confrontation between the nuclear-armed rivals in decades but accused each other of violating the deal just hours later.

The ceasefire had been expected to bring a swift end to weeks of escalating clashes, including missile and drone strikes, triggered by the mass shooting of tourists last month that India blames on Pakistan, which denies the charge. But multiple explosions were heard in two large cities of Indian-controlled Kashmir hours after the countries agreed to the deal.

Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said late Saturday that “there had been repeated violations of the understanding arrived between the two countries” and accused Pakistan of breaching the agreement.

“We call upon Pakistan to take appropriate steps to address these violations and deal with the situation with seriousness and responsibility,” he said at a news conference in New Delhi.

Misri said the Indian army was “retaliating” for what he called a “border intrusion.”

In Islamabad, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry blamed Indian forces for initiating the ceasefire violation. The ministry said Pakistan remains committed to the agreement and its forces were handling the situation with responsibility and restraint.

“We believe that any issues in the smooth implementation of the ceasefire should be addressed through communication at appropriate levels,” the ministry said.

The first word of the truce came from President Donald Trump, who posted on his Truth Social platform that India and Pakistan had agreed to a full and immediate ceasefire: “Congratulations to both Countries on using Common Sense and Great Intelligence.

Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said in a speech Saturday that his country agreed to the

BY PAUL WISEMAN, DIDI TANG and JAMEY KEATEN Associated Press

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By PERVEZ MASIH

People light fireworks to celebrate Pakistan and India reaching a ceasefire deal on Saturday during a demonstration in Hyderabad, Pakistan. Both India and Pakistan are accusing the other of violating the deal. ceasefire in the larger interest of peace in the region and hoped all the outstanding issues with India, including the long-running dispute over the Kashmir region, would be resolved through peaceful dialogue.

Misri said the head of military operations from both countries spoke Saturday afternoon and agreed “that both sides would stop all firing and military action on land, and in the air and sea.”

However, hours after the agreement, explosions heard by residents in Srinagar and Jammu in Indian-controlled Kashmir were followed by blackouts in the two cities. There were no immediate reports of casualties.

Omar Abdullah, the region’s top elected official, said in a post on social media: “What the hell just happened to the ceasefire? Explosions heard across Srinagar!!!”

Conflict between India and Pakistan is not rare, with the two countries having periodically engaged in wars, clashes and skirmishes since gaining independence from British India in 1947.

The ceasefire in the latest hostilities came after the countries fired volleys of cross-border missile strikes Saturday, when India said it targeted Pakistani air bases after Islamabad fired several high-speed missiles at military and civilian infrastructure in Punjab state. Pakistan said it responded with retaliatory strikes.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he and Vice President JD Vance had engaged with senior officials from both countries over the past 48 hours. They included Indian Prime Minister

Narendra Modi and Sharif, India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and the Pakistani Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir.

Rubio said the two governments agreed to “start talks on a broad set of issues at a neutral site.”

Though Pakistanis had initially celebrated their army’s retaliation, they were later jubilant about the truce, saying it was a moment of national pride and relief after days of tension.

In Islamabad, Zubaida Bibi expressed her joy at the restoration of peace with India.

“War brings nothing but suffering,” she said. “We are happy that calm is returning. It feels like Eid to me. We have won.”

Tensions have soared since the attack at a popular tourist site in Indian-controlled Kashmir left 26 civilians dead, mostly Indian Hindu tourists, on April 22.

Before the ceasefire was reached, India’s military said Pakistan had targeted health facilities and schools at its three air bases in Kashmir early Saturday and India had launched missile strikes in response. They targeted Nur Khan air base in the garrison city of Rawalpindi, near the capital Islamabad, Murid air base in Chakwal city and Rafiqui air base in the Jhang district of eastern Punjab province, according to Pakistan’s military spokesperson.

Pakistan’s military said it launched retaliatory strikes against an Indian missile storage facility and air bases in the cities of Pathankot and Udhampur.

Putin proposes direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul Offer comes after Kyiv’s European allies urge Russia to accept truce

BY SAMYA KULLAB and JOANNA KOZLOWSKA Associated Press

Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed restarting direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on Thursday, “without preconditions,” an offer that came in response to Ukraine and its allies urging Moscow to commit to an unconditional 30day ceasefire or face additional sanctions.

Putin referenced the unsuccessful 2022 peace talks that took place in Istanbul in March, shortly after Moscow’s full-scale invasion, and proposed “restarting” them without preconditions in Putin remarks to reporters in the early hours of Sunday.

“We are committed to serious negotiations with Ukraine,” Putin said, adding that he doesn’t rule out agreeing to a ceasefire later, in the course of direct talks with Ukraine.

Putin’s proposal came after leaders from four major European countries threatened to ratchet up pressure on Moscow if it does not accept an unconditional 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine that they offered on Saturday in a strong show of unity with Kyiv.

The leaders of France, the United Kingdom, Germany and Poland said their proposal for a ceasefire to start on Monday was supported by President Donald Trump, whom they had briefed over the phone earlier in the day.

Trump has called for Ukraine and Rus-

sia to meet for “very high level talks,” saying they are “very close to a deal” on ending the bloody three-year war.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has previously said he was ready for peace talks, but only after a ceasefire is in place.

Putin said that Russia proposed several ceasefires in recent months — a halt on strikes on energy infrastructure, which Ukraine had agreed to, a unilateral 30hour Easter truce and another unilateral ceasefire on May 8-10 that has since expired.

Ukrainian officials said Russia repeatedly violated all of those.

Putin on Sunday accused Ukraine of sabotaging “these initiatives time and time again” and launching multiple attacks on Russia.

In March, the United States proposed an immediate, limited 30-day truce, which Ukraine accepted, but the Kremlin has held out for terms more to its liking.

Putin on Sunday once again said the Kremlin needs a truce that would lead to a “lasting peace” instead of one that would allow Ukraine to rearm and mobilize more men into its armed forces.

He said he would speak to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and ask him to facilitate the peace talks on May 15.

Shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Turkey hosted unsuccessful talks between Russian and Ukrainian negotiators aimed at ending the hostilities. The proposed deal reportedly included provisions for Ukraine’s neutral status and put limits on its armed forces, while delaying talks on the status of Russian-occupied areas.

Moscow has blamed Kyiv and the West for the talks collapsing.

GENEVA — President Donald Trump said “great progress” was being made in ongoing U.S.-China talks over tariffs menacing the global economy, and even suggested a “total reset” was on the table as tariff negotiations are set to continue Sunday in Switzerland.

No major breakthrough was announced in discussions that lasted over 10 hours between U.S. officials, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, and a delegation led by Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng. Still, Trump struck an upbeat tone.

“A very good meeting today with China, in Switzerland. Many things discussed, much agreed to. A total reset negotiated in a friendly, but constructive, manner,” the president wrote on his Truth Social platform. “We want to see, for the good of both China and the U.S., an opening up of China to American business. GREAT PROGRESS MADE!!!”

He gave no further details, and officials at the White House also offered little information during and after the opening day of discussions.

Trump’s post followed an official telling The Associated Press that talks would continue Sunday. The official requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the discussions, which could help stabilize world markets roiled by the U.S.-China standoff. They’ve been shrouded in secrecy, and neither side made comments to reporters as they left.

Several convoys of black vehicles left the residence of the Swiss ambassador to the U.N. in Geneva, which hosted the talks aimed at de-escalating trade tensions between the world’s two biggest economies. Diplomats from both sides also confirmed that the talks took place.

The opening day of negotiations were held in the sumptuous 18th-century “Villa Saladin” overlooking Lake Geneva. The former estate was bequeathed to the Swiss state in 1973, according to the Geneva government.

Trump’s assessment aside, prospects for a major breakthrough appeared dim when the talks opened. Still, there is hope that the two countries will scale back the massive taxes — tariffs — they have slapped on each other’s goods, a move that would relieve world financial markets and companies on both sides of the Pacific that depend on U.S.-China trade.

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Pope Leo XIV lays out vision of papacy lll

New pontiff identifies AI as a main challenge for humanity

BY NICOLE WINFIELD Associated Press

VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV laid out the vision of his papacy Saturday, identifying artificial intelligence as one of the most critical matters facing humanity and vowing to continue with some of the core priorities of Pope Francis.

But in a sign he was making the papacy very much his own, Leo made his first outing since his election, traveling to a sanctuary south of Rome that is dedicated to the Madonna and is of particular significance to his Augustinian order and his namesake, Pope Leo XIII. Townspeople of Genazzano gathered in the square outside the main church housing the Madre del Buon Consiglio (Mother of Good Counsel) sanctuary as Leo arrived and greeted them. The sanctuary, which is managed by Augustinian friars, has been a place of pilgrimage since the 15th century and the previous Pope Leo elevated it to a minor basilica and expanded the adjacent convent in the early 1900s.

After praying in the church, Leo greeted the townspeople and told them they had both a gift and a responsibility in having the Madonna in their midst. He offered a blessing and then got back into the passenger seat of the car, a black Volkswagen. En route back to the Vatican, he stopped to pray at Francis’ tomb at St. Mary Major Basilica.

The after-lunch outing came after Leo presided over his first formal audience, with the cardinals who

teaching.

In his remarks Saturday, Leo said he identified with his predecessor.

“In our own day, the church offers everyone the treasury of its social teaching in response to another industrial revolution and to developments in the field of artificial intelligence that pose new challenges for the defense of human dignity, justice and labor,” he said.

Toward the end of his pontificate, Francis became increasingly vocal about the PHOTO PROVIDED By VATICAN MEDIA threats to humanity posed

by AI and called for an interPope Leo XIV, left, is flanked by Monsignor Leonardo national treaty to regulate it.

Sapienza, second from left, after his meeting with the Francis in many ways saw College of Cardinals on Saturday in the New Synod Hall at the Chicago-born Augustinthe Vatican. ian missionary Robert Prevost as something of an heir elected him pope. In it Leo ing heart and a book, repre- apparent: He moved him to take over a small Peruvian repeatedly cited Francis senting the Scriptures.

The Vatican also provided diocese in 2014, where Preand the Argentine pope’s own 2013 mission statement, details about the pectoral vost later became bishop and making clear a commit- cross that Leo is wearing: It head of the Peruvian bishops ment to making the Catholic was a gift from the AugustinChurch more inclusive and ian order when he was made attentive to the faithful and a a cardinal in 2023. It contains church that looks out for the relics of St. Augustine and “least and rejected.” his mother, St. Monica, who Leo, the first American was crucial in his conversion pope, told the cardinals that to Christianity. he was fully committed to St. Augustine of Hippo is the reforms of the Second one of the theological and Vatican Council, the 1960s devotional giants of early meetings that modernized Christianity. The Augustinthe church. He identified AI ian order, formed in the 13th as one of the main issues fac- century as a community of ing humanity, saying it poses “mendicant” friars, is dedichallenges to defending hu- cated to poverty, service and man dignity, justice and labor. evangelization.

Leo referred to AI in exThe Vatican, meanwhile, provided hints of its own plaining the choice of his about the Leo pontificate: It name: His namesake, Pope revealed Saturday that Leo Leo XIII, was pope from would retain the motto and 1878 to 1903 and laid the coat of arms that he had as foundation for modern Cathbishop of Chiclayo, Peru olic social thought. He did so that emphasize unity in the most famously with his 1891 church. encyclical Rerum Novarum, The motto, “In Illo uno which addressed workers’ unum,” was pronounced by rights and capitalism at the St. Augustine in a sermon dawn of the industrial age. to explain that “although we The late pope criticized Christians are many, in the both laissez-faire capitalism one Christ we are one.” The and state-centric socialism, emblem is that of the Augus- giving shape to a distinctly tinian order: a pierced flam- Catholic vein of economic

Israeli strikes kill 23 in Gaza as outcry over aid blockade grows

BY WAFAA SHURAFA Associated Press

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza City — Israeli airstrikes overnight and into Saturday killed at least 23 Palestinians in Gaza, including three children and their parents whose tent was bombed in Gaza City, health officials said.

The bombardment continued as international warnings grow over Israeli plans to control aid distribution in Gaza as Israel’s blockade on the territory of over 2 million people is in its third month.

The U.N. and aid groups have rejected Israel’s aid distribution moves, including a plan from a group of American security contractors, ex-military officers and humanitarian aid officials calling itself the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.

Among the 23 bodies

past 24 hours were those of the family of five whose tent was struck in Gaza City’s Sabra district, Gaza’s Health Ministry said.

Another Israeli strike late Friday hit a warehouse belonging to UNRWA, the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, in the northern area of Jabaliya. Four people were killed, according to the Indonesian Hospital, where bodies were taken.

AP video showed fires burning in the shattered building. The warehouse was empty after being hit and raided multiple times during Israeli ground offensives against Hamas fighters over the past year, said residents including Hamza Mohamed.

Israel’s military said nine soldiers were lightly wounded Friday night by an explosive device while searching Gaza City’s Shijaiyah neighborhood. It said they were

Israel.

Israel resumed its bombardment in Gaza on March 18, shattering a two-month ceasefire with Hamas.

Ground troops have seized more than half the territory and have been conducting raids and searching parts of northern Gaza and the southernmost city of Rafah. Large parts of both areas have been flattened by months of Israeli operations.

Under Israel’s blockade, charity kitchens are virtually the only source of food left in Gaza, but dozens have shut down in recent days as food supplies run out. Aid groups say more closures are imminent. Israel has said the blockade is meant to pressure Hamas to release remaining hostages and disarm. Rights groups have called the blockade a “starvation tactic” and a potential war crime.

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brought to hospitals over the

evacuated to a hospital in

Israel accuses Hamas and

conference, and then called him to Rome to take over one of the most important Vatican offices vetting bishop nominations in 2023.

In the speech, delivered in Italian in the Vatican’s synod hall — not the Apostolic Palace — Leo made repeated references to Francis and the mourning over his death. He held up Francis’ 2013 mission statement, “The Joy of the Gospel,” as something of his own marching orders.

He cited Francis’ insistence on the missionary nature of the church and the need to make its leadership more collegial. He cited the need to pay attention to what the faithful say “especially in its most authentic and inclusive forms, especially popular piety.”

Again, referring to Francis’ 2013 mission statement, Leo cited the need for the church to express “loving care for

the least and rejected” and engage in courageous dialogue with the contemporary world.

Greeted by a standing ovation, Leo read from his prepared text, only looking up occasionally. Even when he first appeared to the world on Thursday night, Leo read from a prepared, handwritten text in Italian that he must have drafted sometime before his historic election or the hour or so after. He seemed most comfortable speaking off-the-cuff in the few words he pronounced in Spanish.

Prevost was elected the 267th pontiff on Thursday on the fourth ballot of the conclave, an exceptionally fast outcome given this was the largest and most geographically diverse conclave in history and not all cardinals knew one another before arriving in Rome.

4A ■ Sunday, May 11, 2025 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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ROOTS

Continued from page 1A baptized in St. Louis Cathedral, thought about their church or faith. But surely, they would never have imagined that their grandson would one day become the leader of the world’s oldest Christian church and secondlargest religion, with 1.4 billion members.

Few others in New Orleans could have imagined it either.

“This latest news is very gratifying, stunning, to say the least,” said 7th Ward historian Raynard Sanders.

For local Catholics, whose church has been challenged by scandal and bankruptcy, the unprecedented selection of an American pope is cause for celebration. And for Black Catholics, who often have felt overlooked, the revelation that Pope Leo hails not only from America but from 7th Ward stock is especially meaningful, a moment of new possibility.

“Now we have something else to celebrate besides festivals,” said Dimitria Boykins, a longtime local Catholic and member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish on North Rampart Street. “In New Orleans, everyone treats visitors as family. We have family now that really is representing us.”

STAFF PHOTO By BRETT DUKE

Glory O’Malley lights a candle before a Mass of Thanksgiving for the election of Pope Leo XIV at St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans on Friday.

STAFF PHOTO By BRETT DUKE

A highway overpass now stands where the grandparents of Pope Leo XIV once lived in New Orleans on Friday.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO

Newly elected Pope Leo XIV concelebrates Mass with the Deep roots College of Cardinals inside the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican In the immediate aftermath the day after his election as 267th pontiff of the Roman of the dramatic announce- Catholic Church.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO

John Prevost points to an old photo of his brothers, including the newly elected Pope Leo XIV, Robert Prevost, left, during an interview with The Associated Press in New Lenox, Ill., on Thursday.

NEW ORLEANS A P Tureaud Ave.

N. Galvez

B St. ard ern .

Ave

ment that the conclave of cardinals gathered at the Vatican had elected Prevost, a Chicago native, to be the church’s next leader, communities wasted no time claiming Leo XIV as their own.

Among those touting their connection to the new pontiff were the governor of Illinois, Leo’s home state; the president of Villanova University, his alma mater; and members of his congregation in Peru, where Leo served first as a missionary and then as bishop.

Within two hours of the announcement, a genealogist at the Historic New Orleans Collection, Jari Honora, changed the narrative, at least in south Louisiana, with his revelation that a quick search of ancestral records turned up Pope Leo’s deep local roots.

“Our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, has Creole of colHonora or roots from New Orleans on his mother’s side,” wrote Honora, a Black, Catholic New Orleanian.

Honora’s review of census and marriage records showed that the new pope’s grandparents — Joseph and Louise Martinez — were married in 1887 on Annette Street in the 7th Ward. In 1900, they owned and lived in the home on North Prieur, a few blocks away.

And, sometime between 1910 and 1912, they moved to Chicago, where Leo’s mother, Mildred, was born. Generations of the family remain there to this day.

After seeing the post, the Archdiocese of New Orleans began combing through the records at its Uptown headquarters. By Friday morning, Katie Beeman, archdiocese archivist, had uncovered original documents showing the pope’s great-grandmother, Eugenie Grambois, Louise’s mother, was baptized in 1840 at the St. Louis Cathedral.

Another document shows Grambois married Ferdinand D. Baquié, the pope’s greatgrandfather, in 1864 at St. Mary’s Church in the French Quarter. The old church building, on the grounds of the Ursulines Convent, is still used for weddings today.

“This shows how deep the pope’s genealogy goes here,” Beeman said.

Less is known about the pope’s maternal grandfather, Joseph Norval Martinez. Census records from his youth indicate he was born in Louisiana. Later ones list his birthplace as Haiti and his occupation as a cigar maker, but Honora suspects Martinez could have deeper roots in New Orleans. And he almost certainly has cousins still living in the city. Honora’s research shows the pope’s grandparents each had sib-

The Martinez home N. Prieur

10

Staff map

lings, who had children and grandchildren of their own.

“I think people of faith feel a close connection with the Holy Father and they have a really close connection to him now they know he is, in part, a New Orleanian,” he said.

‘He’s got to come home’ News of the pope’s local connection sparked a frenzy on social media and a wave of news releases from elected officials.

Former New Orleans Mayor Marc Morial, now head of the National Urban League, happened to be back home for a gala for Xavier University and joined in the celebratory remarks.

“First, we find out he’s an American and from Chicago.

Then we find out his family is from here, and from the 1900 block of Prieur Street in the 7th Ward,” Morial said.

“That’s Black New Orleans.”

For Kenitha Grooms-Williams, executive director of Lantern Light Ministries, a nonprofit that serves the homeless and poor on the edge of downtown, the revelation was a source of pride and cause for reflection and gratitude.

“We certainly never thought we would have a pope with roots in our community,” said GroomsWilliams, a parishioner at St. Peter Claver Catholic Church in Treme. “To think his grandparents lived just blocks from here makes me very, very proud.”

Givonna Joseph, a seventh-generation New Orleanian and director of the OperaCréole arts nonprofit, said her phone “has been

blowing up” with texts and calls since the news broke.

Outside Our Lady of Guadalupe, on the day after the announcement, parishioner Helen Madison said she feels a special connection to the new pontiff by virtue of his local ties.

“When I heard the pope’s family was from New Orleans, the first thing that came to mind is he’s got to come here,” Madison said.

“He’s got to come home.”

More to discover While the news of Pope Leo’s local ancestry has been a source of joy for Black Catholics, it also raises painful questions about the history of race and segregation.

Why, for instance, did the Martinez family move to Chicago when they did?

The turn of the last century was “near the nadir of post-bellum American race relations,” according to Rich Campanella, a geographer with the Tulane University School of Architecture and Built Environment. The period brought with it codified racial segregation, Jim Crow laws, and a hard distinction made between Black and White people.

These conditions could explain the family’s decision to move north, which was not uncommon at the time. The advent of extensive passenger railroad service made the task easier.

“There were many others who made that move,” Campanella said. “Many jazz musicians found not only less overt discrimination in Chicago, New York and Paris, but also a more appreciative audience.”

Honora said the pope’s connection to New Orleans was hard to discover, because the Martinez family migrated at a time when many Black New Orleanians shed their identity and started new lives elsewhere.

In an interview Thursday with The New York Times, Pope Leo’s older brother, John Prevost, confirmed his family’s ancestry and said he and his brothers never

discussed their Creole roots or considered it an issue.

Honora said he doesn’t judge people’s choices to seek better lives, but for him, as a genealogist, it’s a painful chapter of too many American stories.

“You just think of the familial ties that were broken,” he said. “The archival material that may have been in possession in branches of families that migrated. Over time, as sentimental connections were lost, these documents were tossed into trash heaps.”

7th Ward in the spotlight Sanders, the historian and a friend of Honora’s, said the pope’s ascension elevates a New Orleans neighborhood that has contributed much to the world.

“After years of studying this community, nothing surprises me about the 7th Ward and Treme,” said Sanders, co-founder of the Claiborne Avenue History Project, a nonprofit that studies the cultural and economic heyday of one of New Orleans’ historically Black neighborhoods. “Many people from there made contributions in arts, literature and, quite naturally, music.”

Sanders points out the news about the pope’s New Orleans roots comes a few months after the celebration of Edmund Dédé, the Black American composer who grew up in New Orleans in the first half of the 19th century before moving to France, where he had a successful music career. A lost opera of his was performed in New Orleans and New York earlier this year.

“Gems come out of the history of these individuals that we know little or nothing about,” Sanders said.

But the news is also a reminder of how much was lost in the Martinezes’ 7th Ward neighborhood over the years.

After the family moved to Chicago, the church where Joseph and Louise were married was destroyed by the hurricane of 1915.

In the 1960s, their home was among the hundreds that were razed to make way for construction of the Claiborne Avenue Overpass and Interstate 10.

The now controversial highway project cut a diagonal scar through the heart of one of the city’s predomi-

STAFF PHOTO By BRETT DUKE

Jerreo Ridgley, 40, looks out the door of his home along North Prieur Street in New Orleans on Friday. Ridgley said he had been surprised to hear on the TV news the night before that the pope’s family had lived in his neighborhood. nantly Black neighborhoods, leaving economic destruction in its wake.

“This discovery helps to tell the story of how unjust the Claiborne overpass was,” Morial said. “The decision to knock all those houses down was made before the Voting Rights Act, and when the Black community had no power.”

Morial said there were other, better options on the table, “but they picked the heart and soul of the New Orleans Black community in those days.”

Today, the monstrous elevated interstate casts a shadow over the exact location of the Martinez family’s former

home. On Friday, as trucks and cars raced by overhead in a heavy downpour, rainwater gushed down concrete columns tagged with graffiti.

The grass below needed mowing. But the scene wasn’t entirely gloomy.

Standing in the doorway of a small brick apartment building a few doors down from 1933 N. Prieur St., tenant Jerreo Ridgley, 40, said he had been surprised to hear on the TV news the night before that the pope’s family had lived in his neighborhood.

“I never knew there had been a house there,” Ridgley said with a smile. “It’s wonderful to know that.”

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TRUANCY

Continued from page 1A issue in the late 1990s. In an attempt to address the state’s overcrowded prisons, state Sen. Chris Ullo asked LSU’s School of Social Work to identify a single factor that could help keep kids out of jail.

For former LSU researcher Cecile Guin, the idea of such a silver bullet seemed absurd.

“We were dying laughing,” Guin said. “He wanted us to find one thing.”

But Guin, for a dissertation, had tracked more than 800 individuals in the state’s juvenile justice system between 1974 and 1989. Reanalyzing that data a decade later, Guin found something: “We finally told him the best thing he could do was educate them in the early years of school.”

Last March, the Baton Rouge Area Foundation dove into education and criminal justice data from 2007 to 2022. It found that in East Baton Rouge Parish, men ages 19 to 29 committed 70% of the murders. Within that group, 80% went to Baton Rouge public schools, and only 3 out of 10 finished high school. When they were enrolled in school, they were often absent.

“By the time they are getting arrested, it’s kind of too late,” said Lakita Leonard, a juvenile public defender in East Baton Rouge. “Then I find out they haven’t been to school in years.”

The Baton Rouge Area Foundation’s key takeaway is strikingly similar to Guin’s 35 years earlier: Early intervention is the most important factor. Literacy struggles in elementary school, math difficulties in middle school and behavioral issues throughout grade school make it harder to manage the problem.

“It’s just sad, because I wrote that dissertation in 1989, and if you read it, it could be today,” Guin said.

While less severe than chronic absenteeism, truancy — defined as five or more unexcused absences in a semester — remains high across Louisiana even as rates have generally declined around the country.

Statewide, 41.8% of students were truant in the 2023-24 school year, according to the Education Department.

For East Baton Rouge public schools, those numbers have fluctuated between 55% and 60% since 2020.

“In East Baton Rouge Parish, we’re not getting them in the room,” Sen. Rick Edmonds said in a recent state Senate hearing on education.

“We are in crisis mode.”

Cuts hinder efforts The legislative focus on truancy in the late 1990s led to the creation of the Truancy Assessment and Service Center. TASC is a taxpayerfunded statewide program for Louisiana’s most at-risk K-5 students. Schools have recommended over 900,000 children to the program.

From the moment a child presents attendance problems, school staff notify TASC, which can help the most at-risk families. Case managers assist with anything from school uniforms to navigating housing and health care resources. The first step, though, is locating the family — often a challenge with changing addresses and phone numbers, said Jennie Ponder, the program’s director: “It’s just the nature of the beast.”

Ponder’s office has uncovered 9-year-olds who never

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ment with TASC across the state. Baton Rouge’s TASC program went from serving 63 elementary schools at the time to just 16. Three case managers now handle more than 100 families each.

Currently overseen by the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement, TASC now faces a $1.9 million cut in recurring funding from the state Legislature, slashing statewide operations by an estimated 45%.

Adding more pressure to the system are noticeable shifts in attitude. Tirzah Smith, director of child welfare and attendance for East Baton Rouge public schools since 2008, says the value of education has slipped further away from many families — a change exacerbated by online schooling during the pandemic. Like TASC, her agency prioritizes early intervention but also works with middle and high school students.

“We have a lot of young parents,” Smith said. “A lot think, ‘I can just keep my kids at home.’”

sat in a classroom. When families are in survival mode, prioritizing education tends to take a back seat, especially when parents struggled with school themselves, she said.

“Insufficient housing, transportation, income, high mobility, lots of homelessness, substance abuse, incarcerations, evictions, all those things impact the kids we deal with,” Ponder said.

“The only way that any of us in this program are going to make a difference is in some way we change the mindset of that family.”

A study in 2006-07 found TASC reduced truancy by 1.9% among high-risk students, while truancy increased by 0.7% among students just below the threshold for TASC intervention — a statistically significant, albeit modest, result.

“It showed the program was working,” said Judith Rhodes, one of the authors of the study. “We knew that the kids who were receiving the intervention were coming back to school.”

A few years after TASC opened its doors, a federal judge lifted Baton Rouge’s 47-year desegregation order in 2003. That same year, Zachary and Baker created their own school districts, with Central following suit in 2007.

Simultaneously, charter schools began to gain prominence, further chipping away at enrollment and funding in traditional public schools. The city’s current educational landscape presents families with more options. Some argue that increased choice has left many children behind.

“You have a public school system that is cratering,” Guin said. “And the children that are left to go to the public schools are the ones that need the most help.”

As funding shrank, so did truancy programs.

In 2013, amid education funding cuts, the administration of Gov. Bobby Jindal directed LSU to end its involve-

Poverty, truancy linked Gail Grover’s first job after graduating from law school in 1999 was as a prosecutor handling juvenile cases. Now she is one of two judges for East Baton Rouge Parish Juvenile Court.

“Whenever there is a crunch in funding, it’s the first thing that gets cut,” she said. “Then we wonder in five years why we’re having a problem.”

With each natural disaster, administrative shift and school reorganization, she has seen efforts slip.

“It’s like a pause and a setback,” she said. “If there is not a double-down effort to go get them, then they slip further and further away.”

If other efforts fail to improve a student’s attendance, the District Attorney’s Office may assign the family a probation officer from the city’s Family in Need of Services agency in an attempt to avoid taking them to court. By the

time courts step in, kids can have 40 to 50 absences a year, Grover said.

When that happens in elementary school, students struggle to learn to read, making it nearly impossible to grasp more advanced concepts later, Grover said.

By the time they reach high school age, those without a solid base face an almost irreversible turning point, she said.

“It’s not uncommon to have a 16-year-old in the sixth grade,” added Leonard, the public defender. “At that point, it’s really difficult to get that child motivated to get to school.”

Leonard says her office handles around 40 to 50 truancy cases a month.

“They didn’t just become truant, they’ve been truant,” she said. “There are factors that should have been addressed years ago.”

Some of that is a result of systemic failures, she said, which sometimes can be traced to the bus stop. Families without transportation can wind up in truancy court because they lack bus route information, bus drivers skip their address or they struggle to wake up early enough for pickup.

“5:30 a.m. at a bus stop for a kid that’s already at risk for truancy, that’s not how you fix truancy,” Leonard said.

Enrollment paperwork also presents hurdles to families with unstable living situations, especially for those who

change schools. Parents who can’t provide bills or leases in their names are often turned away, she said, even though federal law requires schools to initially accept students without proof of residence.

As a result, children either remain technically enrolled in their old school district and are marked truant, or their parents remove them from the system entirely, Leonard said.

Smith, the attendance director for East Baton Rouge Parish, noted that many students enter the system already carrying accumulated absences. She said the district is exploring later school start times and has started tracking down families after just three unexcused absences, among other efforts. Still, she said, resource-strapped schools can only do so much.

“We see gains, but at what level do we expect to see them?” she said. “Some parents have just given up. It’s not because of anything the school has done, it’s just life.”

A joint responsibility Grover, elected juvenile judge in 2019, says better communication is needed among judicial, educational and law enforcement agencies. She said they now meet monthly.

“Money is not the answer.” she said. “It’s getting the synergy to make sure we’re all working in concert.”

The court created a truancy docket, dedicating two days

each month to about 60 truancy cases. It brings families, schools and the legal system together to develop attendance plans, giving families three months to comply before a trial is set.

Between 2020 and 2021, 39% of students with cases on the docket wound up back in school. But Grover said she is cautious about declaring a trend.

“It’s successful, but it’s not going to fix our overall attendance issues,” she said.

New efforts are being made statewide. The Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Louisiana Supreme Court are convening a truancy summit this year. And state lawmakers are considering a bill to tie public school funding to average daily attendance rather than enrollment numbers — a carrot-and-stick approach to administrators.

But those dealing with truancy say a broader, collective commitment — from parents to businesses and religious organizations — is needed.

“There should be billboards and messaging all over this city about attendance,” Smith said. “It should be in the malls, the schools, the parks.”

“It cannot be addressed solely through systems. …

This has to be a community effort,” Grover added. “If parents aren’t doing it, that doesn’t mean that we as a society should just sit back and when things go wrong complain about it.”

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CASES IN LA.

BY YOUSSEF RDDAD and DAVID J. MITCHELL

477 13,010

The coronavirus killed more people in the Baton Rouge area in a 24hour span than any previous day, according to state and local officials who say the worst is yet to come as Louisiana, too, saw record-breaking deaths Sunday across the state.

deaths

positive cases

Staff writers

The number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus rose to 656 in East Baton Rouge Parish on Sunday for third-most in the state, while the number of deaths in the capital region hit 54, new data from the Louisiana Department of Health shows.

East Baton Parish reported eight additional deaths, bringing the parish’s total to 22 as of Sunday afternoon, the most reported in a single day.

Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome exhorted residents to heed social distancing measures while echoing federal officials’ warnings that the coming week will likely be the deadliest since the pandemic gained a foothold in the U.S. “We have to support each other during this season, and not allow ourselves to succumb to feelings of fear or hopelessness,” Broome said in a statement Sunday. “Things will likely get worse before they get better, but they will get better.”

The human toll from the virus reached 477 deaths in Louisiana by Sunday — an increase of 68 — and, like the capital region, marked the largest single-day jump in fatal cases. An earlier record was set between April 2-3.

Sunday’s death tally in the Baton Rouge area was the largest singleday increase in at least a week when the region saw nine in one day. The number of deaths in the 12-parish

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TAX BREAKS

session in November.

“Every constituency Continued from page 1A showed up, and they got to one or two legislators” to protect their favored tax breaks, award incentives as sweeten- he said.

In a more recent interview, ers to companies planning to Morrell asked about one that invest in Louisiana.

Still, old habits die hard. was in his sights: “Have they A number of legislators are zeroed out the gold bullion seeking to win approval for credit yet?”

They haven’t, the new tax breaks or exTax Exemption Budpand existing ones, claiming that the inget shows.

“Sales of Platinum, centives will create Gold, and Silver Bulnew jobs and investlion and Numismatic ment.

Coins at Certain State Rep. Les FarTrade Shows” cost num rarely buys that the state nearly $4.2 argument.

Farnum million in 2023. Sup“Tax credits are the reason we’re in the shape porters of the tax break say we’re in financially,” Farnum, it encourages investment in a R-Sulphur, and a member of long-term asset. the Ways and Means Committee who regularly criticizes Fewer tax breaks granting tax breaks, said in Landry, Bourgeois and an interview. “We give away Revenue Secretary Richard so much money. We have a Nelson argued last year that host of brand-new requests reducing tax rates will make every year.”

Louisiana more attractive to An obscure document investors and people interknown as the Tax Exemption ested in moving to the state.

Budget lays out the issue in a Lawmakers bought the arhefty 636 pages. gument, establishing a flat The biggest tax break, at individual income tax rate at $824 million in 2023, excludes 3% and the corporate income Subchapter S corporations tax at 5.5% while eliminating — which pass their profits di- the corporate franchise tax. rectly to shareholders to pay They paid for those revenue on their individual income tax losses by raising the sales tax returns — from corporate in- 1 percentage point and by eliminating several dozen tax come taxes.

The second biggest was the breaks.

One they repealed is called sales tax exemption on grothe Quality Jobs Program. It cery sales at $584 million.

The Tax Exemption Budget cost taxpayers $150 million in shows that legislators over 2023 and produced a return the years have legalized a on investment of only 11 cents total of 564 tax breaks in the in state tax revenue for every form of exemptions, deduc- $1 given away, according to tions and exclusions from the revenue department.

A second one they repealed sales, income, corporate franchise and user fee taxes, at a gave tax breaks that cost taxcost to the treasury of $7.5 bil- payers $23 million in 2023 for investments in low-income lion in 2023. areas known as Enterprise A tax break for gold bullion Zones.

Legislators also sharply reIn 2017, then-Sen. JP Morrell set out to force an exami- duced the cost of two other nation of each tax break and tax breaks with a low rate of get his colleagues to elimi- return for taxpayers. The cap nate those that didn’t provide on tax credits given for movie a good return on investment and TV productions dropped from $180 million per year for taxpayers.

“We were unable to get trac- to $125 million and on investtion,” Morrell, who is now ments in historic properties president of the New Orleans from $125 million to $85 milCity Council, recalled in an lion. interview during the special Jim Richardson, a retired

LSU economics professor who chaired several blueribbon panels on taxes, called the changes by the Landry administration “a step in the right direction.”

Legislators also voted to end the Inventory Tax Credit on July 1. The credit allows businesses to receive a full reimbursement from the state for the property tax they pay on their inventory to local governments. Companies are pressing their case to keep it through House Bill 383 by Rep. Ken Brass, D-Vacherie.

It would cost the state $372 million next year.

In an interview, Bourgeois said investors care most about lower tax rates.

A tax incentive, she added, “closes deals, it doesn’t get us deals.”

More tax breaks proposed That view hasn’t stopped legislators from pressing for more tax breaks this year.

Rep. Joy Walters, DShreveport, for example, has offered House Bill 230 to give a tax credit for motor vehicle manufacturers and motor vehicle manufacturing suppliers. She said it would help revive a closed General Motors factory.

Rep. Jason DeWitt, R-Alexandria, has offered House Bill 186 to allow tax credits for employers of Louisiana National Guard members while they undergo weekend training.

DeWitt and several other legislators have offered costly bills to exempt tip and overtime payments from income taxes, saying the change would provide needed tax relief for workers.

“The flat tax to me negates the necessity for this because everybody needs to be taxed

the same in order to make a level playing field,” Farnum told DeWitt during a committee hearing Monday.

A push for uniformity Rep. Beau Beaullieu, RNew Iberia, is sponsoring House Bill 654, which would address a long-standing complaint of tax experts: The purchases of many goods are exempt from state sales taxes but not local sales taxes — and vice versa.

The Tax Foundation, based in Washington, D.C., has ranked Louisiana as the lowest-rated sales tax system in part because of this lack of uniformity, noted Julie Stokes. As a Republican state representative from Kenner several years ago, she chaired a special committee that tried to end this complexity. Legislators didn’t support her effort.

Beaullieu’s bill would not allow state lawmakers to grant new sales tax breaks unless that same sales tax break also applied to sales taxes imposed by local governments.

“If you know you can’t get the locals to embrace the sales tax exemption, then you should not just enact it at the state level,” Stokes said.

The chairs of the tax-writing committees, Rep. Julie Emerson, R-Carencro of House Ways and Means, and Sen. Franklin Foil, R-Baton Rouge of Senate Finance, both said they support the administration’s overall approach on taxes.

“We’d rather lower rates across the board than continuing to carve out specific industry groups,” Emerson said in an interview.

Added Foil: “Every group that wants one is coming in

and presenting its case. We may let some get through the committee process,” citing a $10,000 per person tax credit for installing a fortified roof.

He noted the program would be capped at $10 million per year.

Nelson, who leads tax policy for Landry, gets revved up when he talks about the shortcomings of tax breaks, as he showed during a legislative forum organized a month ago by the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana.

“I’ll tell you, if tax credits were the way to create jobs and opportunities in Louisiana, you’d have more jobs

and opportunities than any state in the country,” he said.

“We’ve tried that. We’ve been down that path for a very long time.”

Nelson added that tax breaks mean higher taxes for other taxpayers to make up the difference.

“Maybe it costs you only a couple of dollars on your tax return to pay for somebody else’s credit,” Nelson said. “But they make millions of dollars off of it, so they’ll show up and fight for it. That’s just how it works.

Be very skeptical of anybody telling you that tax credits are the path to prosperity.”

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8A ■ Sunday, May 11, 2025 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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Newark mayor denies trespassing at detention center

BY JAKE OFFENHARTZ, CLAUDIA LAUER and BRUCE SHIPKOWSKI Associated Press

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka on Saturday denied trespassing at a new federal immigration detention center during a confrontation that led to his arrest while the Democrat was at the facility with three members of Congress.

Baraka, who has been protesting the center’s opening this week, was released about 8 p.m. Friday night after spending several hours in custody. He was accused of trespassing and ignoring warnings to leave the Delaney Hall facility.

Tricia McLaughlin, an assistant secretary for public affairs with the Department of Homeland Security, said in an interview with CNN on Saturday that the investigation was ongoing, and the department also released more video of the confrontation.

McLaughlin also accused Baraka, who is seeking his party’s nomination for governor, of playing “political games.”

“I’m shocked by all the lies that were told here,” Baraka said, who said he had been invited there for a news conference. “No one else

was arrested, I was invited in then they arrested me on the sidewalk.”

Baraka, who is running to succeed term-limited Gov. Phil Murphy, has embraced the fight with the Trump administration over illegal immigration. He has aggressively pushed back against the construction and opening of the 1,000-bed detention center, arguing that it should not be allowed to open because of building permit issues.

Alina Habba, interim U.S. attorney for New Jersey, said on the social platform X that Baraka trespassed at the detention facility, which is run by private prison operator Geo Group.

Habba said Baraka had “chosen to disregard the law.”

Video of the incident showed that Baraka was arrested after returning to the public side of the gate to the facility.

Witnesses said the arrest came after Baraka attempted to join three members of New Jersey’s congressional delegation, Reps. Robert Menendez, LaMonica McIver, and Bonnie Watson Coleman, in attempting to enter the facility.

When federal officials blocked his entry, a heated

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ANGELINA KATSANIS

Protesters demand the release of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka on Friday after his arrest at an ICE detention prison in Newark, N.J. Baraka was released about 8 p.m. Friday night after spending several hours in custody. argument broke out, according to Viri Martinez, an activist with the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice. It continued even after Baraka returned to the public side of the gates.

“There was yelling and pushing,” Martinez said.

“Then the officers swarmed Baraka. They threw one of the organizers to the ground. They put Baraka in handcuffs and put him in an unmarked car.”

The Department of Homeland Security said in a state-

ment that the lawmakers had not asked for a tour of Delaney Hall, which the agency said it would have facilitated. The department said that as a bus carrying detainees was entering in the afternoon “a group of protesters, including two members of the U.S. House of Representatives, stormed the gate and broke into the detention facility.”

Ned Cooper, a spokesperson for Watson Coleman, said the three lawmakers went there unannounced because

they planned to inspect it, not take a scheduled tour.

“Contrary to a press statement put out by DHS we did not ‘storm’ the detention center,” Watson Coleman said in a statement. “The author of that press release was so unfamiliar with the facts on the ground that they didn’t even correctly count the number of Representatives present. We were exercising our legal oversight function as we have done at the Elizabeth Detention Center without incident.”

In video of the altercation shared with The Associated Press, a federal official in a jacket with the logo of Homeland Security Investigations can be heard telling Baraka he could not enter the facility because “you are not a Congress member.”

Baraka then left the secure area, rejoining protesters on the public side of the gate. Video showed him speaking through the gate to a man in a suit, who said: “They’re talking about coming back to arrest you.”

“I’m not on their property.

They can’t come out on the street and arrest me,” Baraka replied.

Minutes later several ICE agents, some wearing face coverings, surrounded him and others on the public side. As protesters cried out, “Shame,” Baraka was dragged back through the gate in handcuffs.

Rep. Menendez said in a statement that as members of Congress, they have the legal right to carry out oversight at DHS facilities without prior notice and have done so twice already this year. But on Friday, “Throughout every step of this visit, ICE attempted to intimidate everyone involved and impede our ability to conduct oversight.”

Judge pauses much of massive downsizing of federal agencies

BY JANIE HAR

Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO — The Trump administration must halt much of its dramatic downsizing of the federal workforce, a California judge ordered Friday.

Judge Susan Illston in San Francisco issued the emergency order in a lawsuit filed last week by labor unions and cities, one of multiple legal challenges to Republican President Donald Trump’s efforts to shrink the size of a federal government he calls bloated and expensive.

“The Court holds the President likely must request Congressional cooperation to order the changes he seeks, and thus issues a temporary restraining order to pause large-scale reductions in force in the meantime,” Illston wrote in her order.

The temporary restraining order directs numerous federal agencies to halt acting on the president’s workforce executive order signed in February and a subsequent memo issued by the Department of Government Efficiency and the Office of Personnel Management.

The order, which expires

in 14 days, does not require departments to rehire people. Plaintiffs asked that the effective date of any agency action be postponed and that departments stop implementing or enforcing the executive order, including taking any further action.

They limited their request to departments where dismantlement is already underway or poised to be underway, including at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which announced in March it will lay off 10,000 workers and centralize divisions.

Illston, who was nominated to the bench by former President Bill Clinton, a Democrat, said at a hearing Friday the president has authority to seek changes in the executive branch departments and agencies created by Congress.

“But he must do so in lawful ways,” she said. “He must do so with the cooperation of Congress, the Constitution is structured that way.”

Trump has repeatedly said voters gave him a mandate to remake the federal government, and he tapped billionaire Elon Musk to lead the charge through DOGE. Tens of thousands of

federal workers have been fired, left their jobs via deferred resignation programs or have been placed on leave as a result of Trump’s governmentshrinking efforts. There is no official figure for the job cuts, but at least 75,000 federal employees took deferred resignation, and thousands of probationary workers have already been let go.

In her order, Illston gave several examples to show the impact of the downsizing. One union that represents federal workers who research health hazards faced by mineworkers said it was poised to lose 221 of 222 workers in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, office; a Vermont farmer didn’t receive a timely inspection on his property to receive disaster aid after flooding and missed an important planting window; a reduction in Social Security Administration workers has led to longer wait times for recipients.

All the agencies impacted were created by Congress, she noted.

Lawyers for the government argued Friday that the executive order and memo calling for large-scale per-

Over 100 arrested on Tenn. roads in support of deportation plan

BY TRAVIS LOLLER Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — More than 100 people have been taken into custody by federal immigration officials in a joint operation with the Tennessee Highway Patrol, leaving many in Nashville’s immigrant community uncertain and worried.

“None of us have ever seen anything like this,” Lisa Sherman Luna, executive director of the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition said Friday.

The operation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is a reminder of how local and state law enforcement jurisdictions are critical to President Donald Trump’s plans for mass deportations. Last week, Florida officials touted a joint operation with ICE that resulted in 1,120 immigration arrests.

The Highway Patrol said Friday that it made 588 stops in the joint operation with ICE, which took custody of 103 under investigation for immigration violations.

The stops “led to the recovery of illegal drugs and

firearms — taking dangerous elements off the street and making Tennessee safer,” the Highway Patrol said.

One person was wanted in a killing in El Salvador.

Tennessee’s Gov. Bill Lee recently signed a law creating a division of immigration enforcement with the state’s Department of Safety and Homeland Security, which includes the Highway Patrol. He is one of a number of Republican officials pledging to use state resources to carry out Trump’s plans.

Meanwhile, city officials in the Democratic stronghold of Nashville have disavowed involvement and been critical of the arrests. Nashville Law Director Wally Dietz said the state-federal operation, which began May 3, caught everyone in city government by surprise.

Responding to concerns about Nashville police presence outside an ICE office, Dietz said Wednesday that the city “routinely receives requests for extra patrols for a variety of reasons and responds to the extent resources are available.” He said he didn’t know who was detained and that, when he

requested more information from the Highway Patrol, he was told to file a public records request.

The Highway Patrol said stops are based solely on driver behavior. “We do not enter neighborhoods or stop vehicles based on who someone is — we stop based on what they do behind the wheel,” it said.

But immigrant rights supporters contend that the patrols have focused on parts of the city where the majority of residents are people of color.

“All signs point to this being racial profiling intended to terrorize the heart of the immigrant and refugee community,” Sherman Luna said.

“What we’ve heard is that THP is flagging people down for things like a broken taillight or tinted windows.”

Sherman Luna believes some of those being detained would be allowed to stay in the country if they were able to receive competent legal representation at an immigration hearing. Instead, she has heard that people are agreeing to be deported out of fear that they could spend months or years in immigration detention.

sonnel reductions and reor- only general principles that ercising their own decisionganization plans provided agencies should follow in ex- making process.

Garden of the Month: Allison Lang grows a colorful oasis thanks to years of care and creativity

By Amanda McElfresh, amcelfresh@theadvocate.com This article is brought to you by Louisiana Nursery.

A beautiful garden filled with variety and color has earned Allison Lang of St. Gabriel the honor of being named the new winner of the Garden of the Month contest, sponsored

by Louisiana Nursery.

Langsaidithastakenyearsoftrialanderror to figure out what grows best in her garden, which plants mayinterferewiththegrowth of others, and how to protect themfromLouisiana’svariable climate. However, the end results are worth the work.

Lang shared more with The Advocateabouthergardening practice.

How did you get started with gardening?

I didn’t really have a plan in mind. My grandmother always had a garden, but it never interested me when I was younger. But, once I got a place of my own, I started with a small rose bush and loved it. I just kept adding more and seeing what worked. I’ve found it to be very relaxing. I know a lot of people like to play music, but I prefer to enjoy the quiet when I’m working outside.

What are some of your favorite features of your garden?

It’shardtopickanyonething.Ihavesomuch, including tropicals, annuals and perennials.

I’ve included the Louisiana super-plants that do well in our climate. I also have some vegetables. I do rotate some plants in the summer andwinter,butnotthewholeyard.I’velearned overtheyearswhatcanwithstandthedifferent temperatures, so I keep some plants almost year-round and cover them with frost cloths when it gets cold.

What are some other ways you keep your garden in top condition?

Iprefertouseorganicmaterialswhentreating my plants for bugs or diseases. I have dogs, so I don’t like to put a lot of fertilizers where they might get into it and become sick. I usually

water the vegetables when I get home from work, and everything else is on an irrigation system. I usually spend a few hours in the garden on Fridays and Saturdays, especially whenI’mplanting.Onceeverythingisplanted, it’s more about making sure everything is watered properly and no pests have invaded.

How does Louisiana Nursery help you keep your garden looking great?

Theyarealwaysabletohelpmefindanswers to my questions, whether I’m looking to grow somethingneworsomethingoddishappening with a plant. Last year, my okra didn’t grow for four months and I had no idea why. The folks at Louisiana Nursery helped me figure out that it was because I had watermelon planted too close to it. I never would have thought of that. Their staff is really great about having conversations and engaging with customers.

What advice do you have for people just starting to garden?

Startsmall.Chooseplantsthat work well in your geographic area and the size of your yard.

Think about whether you are planting in areas that will get full sun, a lot of shade or a combination. Ask the staff at Louisiana Nursery to help you. And, don’t be afraid of sometrialanderror.Thereare so many choices available today, and you will learn what works and what does not.

Louisiana Nursery has three locations to serve you – 13121 Coursey Boulevard, Baton Rouge; 8680 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge; and 39245 Hwy. 42, Prairieville. Visit www.louisiananursery.com to learn more.

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Sunday, May 11, 2025 ■ 9A

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Turkish Tufts student back in Boston after release Woman had been held in La. ICE detention facility

BY RODRIQUE NGOWI and CLAIRE RUSH Associated Press

BOSTON — A Tufts University student from Turkey returned to Boston on Saturday, one day after being released from a Louisiana immigration detention center where she was held for over six weeks.

Upon arrival at Logan Airport, Rumeysa Ozturk told reporters she was excited to get back to her studies during what has been a “very difficult” period.

“In the last 45 days, I lost both my freedom and also my education during a crucial time for my doctoral studies,” she said. “But I am so grateful for all the support, kindness and care.”

PROVIDED PHOTO

Rumeysa Ozturk, center, stands with Nora Ahmed, of ACLU Louisiana, and Mahsa Khanbabai, of Khanbabai Law, on Friday in Basile shortly after her release from an immigration detention center.

A judge ordered Ozturk’s release Friday pending a final decision on her claim that she was illegally detained following an op-ed she co-wrote last year criticizing her university’s response to Israel and the war in Gaza.

Ozturk said she will continue her case in the courts, adding, “I have faith in the American system of justice.”

She was joined by her lawyers and two of Massachusetts’ Democratic members of Congress, Sen. Edward

Markey and Rep. Ayanna Pressley.

“Today is a tremendous day as we welcome you back, Rumeysa,” Markey said.

“You have made millions and millions of people across our country so proud of the way you have fought.”

Appearing by video for her bail hearing Friday, Ozturk, 30, detailed her growing asthma attacks in detention and her desire to finish her doctorate focusing on children and social media.

U.S. District Judge William Sessions in Vermont ruled that she was to be released on her own recognizance with no travel restrictions.

She was not a danger to the community or a flight risk, he said, while noting that he might amend the release order to consider any conditions by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, in consultation with

her lawyers.

Sessions said the government offered no evidence for why Ozturk was arrested other than the op-ed.

The U.S. Justice Department’s Executive Office for Immigration Review did not respond to an email message seeking comment Friday afternoon.

Ozturk was one of four students who wrote the opinion piece last year in campus newspaper The Tufts Daily.

It criticized the university’s response to student activists demanding that Tufts “acknowledge the Palestinian genocide,” disclose its investments and divest from companies with ties to Israel.

On March 25 immigration officials surrounded Ozturk in Massachusetts and took her into custody.

She was then driven to New Hampshire and Vermont and flown to a detention center in

Basile.

Her student visa had been revoked several days earlier, but she was not informed of that, her lawyers said.

Ozturk’s lawyers first filed a petition on her behalf in Massachusetts, but they did not know where she was and were unable to speak to her until more than 24 hours after she was detained. A Massachusetts judge later transferred the case to Vermont.

A State Department memo said Ozturk’s visa was revoked following an assessment that her actions “‘may undermine U.S. foreign policy by creating a hostile environment for Jewish students and indicating support for a designated terrorist organization’ including co-authoring an op-ed that found common cause with an organization that was later temporarily banned from campus.”

Tennessee earthquake rattles homes as far away as Atlanta

BY BEN FINLEY and BILL CORMIER Associated Press

ATLANTA — A 4.1-magnitude earthquake in Tennessee woke up families and rattled homes as far away as Atlanta as it spread tremors across portions of the southern U.S. on Saturday morning. No injuries or major damage were immediately reported.

The website for United States Geological Survey said the earthquake originated shortly after 8 a.m. about 12 miles from Greenback, Tennessee, which is about 30 miles south of Knoxville.

More than 23,000 reports from the public were received by USGS in the first hour after the earthquake, USGS spokeswoman Ayesha

Davis told The Associated Press in an email. Meteorologists at television news stations serving Georgia and North Carolina reported feeling the tremors as well.

There is a 5% chance of a magnitude 4 or larger aftershock in the next week, according to USGS. Gabriela Reilly was making waffles with her husband when they felt their entire home shake in Braselton, Georgia, which is northeast of Atlanta.

“Our ceiling fan started shaking for about 10 seconds,” she said. “I thought a giant aircraft had flown low right over the neighborhood, but my husband said, ‘No, that was definitely an earthquake!’”

Jason Pack was still in bed

at his home outside Knoxville when he felt the walls shaking and heard a rumbling that was loud enough to wake up his family and for the dog to start barking.

“In east Tennessee, you’re used to tornadoes and floods, that kind of thing,” Pack said. “It’s unusual to have an earthquake.”

Pack has experienced tremors before, although this one is probably the strongest he’s felt in Tennessee.

“Even though this one was small, it’s a good reminder — if it had been a big quake, would you know what to do?

Drop, cover, and hold on if you’re inside,” said Pack, a retired FBI agent who now works in crisis communications. “Stay clear of buildings if you’re outside.”

Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys named presenting sponsor for 2025 Star of Stars

By Amanda McElfresh amcelfresh@theadvocate.com This article is brought to you by Gordon McKernan and Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys. Office in Baton Rouge.

LA-25-18764.

Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys will serve as the presenting sponsor for The Advocate’s 39th Annual Star of Stars, which honors the best high school athletes from the Baton Rouge area.

This year’s event will take place on Monday, May 19 at 7 p.m. at the L’Auberge Event Center.

McKernan has fond memories of being an avid high school athlete, participating in sports such as football, basketball, tennis, track and swimming. Those experiences taught him life lessons that still apply today.

“I think that playing sports teaches you so much that is necessary to be successful,” McKernan said. “You learn how to work as a team toward a common goal and how to improve your skills. You have to be

disciplined and show up to practices and partnerships with college athletes to games on time. You have to make sacrifices support for organizations like Girls on the sometimes. I learned those skills playing Run and The Miracle League, among many sports, and I still utilize them today. I others. believe in teaching young men and women “In any given year, we’re involved in good habits and values, everything from and sports is one of school teams to the best ways to do independent leagues that.” and communityMcKernan said based youth athletic athleticshasremained organizations,” an important part of McKernan said. life as his legal career “Our business has has flourished and been blessed with grown to include the ability to support 14 offices across individualsandgroups Louisiana. When his across the state, and PRESENTED BY four children were we feel that we have a younger, he could responsibility to give often be found serving back to the people of as a volunteer coach Louisiana.” on the sidelines, and is Gordon McKernan excited to start watching his grandchildren Injury Attorneys was originally founded play once they are older. Gordon McKernan as McKernan Law Firm in the early 1980s Injury Attorneys has also been heavily by the late Jerry McKernan, who based involved in Louisiana sports, from NIL his practice on Christian principles and

protecting the rights of people whose lives had been impacted by an accident. His son Gordon took over leadership of the firm in 2009 and has since dramatically increased its Louisiana presence and operations, which now includes more than 200 employees and 55 attorneys. Gordon McKernan remains grounded in his family’s Biblical principles and continues to devote his practice to helping clients resolve their personal injury claims fairly.

Star of Stars award recipients are selected as the best in their sport for the most recent academic year based on alldistrict, all-metro and all-state honors, performances at regional and state competitions and recommendations from area coaches. This year’s keynote speaker is Eddie Kennison, who starred on LSU’s track and football teams before going on to a 13-year NFL career with the then-St. Louis Rams, New Orleans Saints, Chicago Bears, Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs. Event tickets are available online at starofstars.net.

10A ■ Sunday, May 11, 2025 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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Miller: Trump team mulls suspending habeas corpus Administration wants to expand power to deport migrants

BY WILL WEISSERT Associated Press

WASHINGTON — White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller says President Donald Trump is looking for ways to expand its legal power to deport migrants who are in the United States illegally.

To achieve that, he says the administration is “actively looking at” suspending habeas corpus, the constitutional right for people to legally challenge their detention by the government.

Such a move would be aimed at migrants as part of the Republican president’s broader crackdown at the U.S.-Mexico border.

“The Constitution is clear, and that of course is the supreme law of the land, that the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus can be suspended in a time of invasion,” Miller told reporters outside the White House on Friday.

“So, I would say that’s an option we’re actively looking at,” Miller said. “Look, a lot of it depends on whether the courts do the right thing or not.”

What is habeas corpus?

The Latin term means “that you have the body.” Federal courts use a writ of habeas corpus to bring a prisoner before a neutral judge to determine if imprisonment is legal.

Habeas corpus was included in the Constitution as an import from English common law. Parliament enacted the Habeas Corpus Act of 1679, which was meant to

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MARK SCHIEFELBEIN

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller speaks to reporters Friday outside the White House in Washington. Miller says the Trump administration is ‘actively looking at’ suspending habeas corpus, the constitutional right for people to legally challenge their detention by the government, in order to expand its legal power to deport migrants who are in the United States illegally. ensure that the king released prisoners when the law did not justify confining them.

The Constitution’s Suspension Clause, the second clause of Section 9 of Article I, states that habeas corpus “shall not be suspended, unless when, in cases of rebellion or invasion, the public safety may require it.”

Has it been suspended previously?

Yes. The United States has suspended habeas corpus under four distinct circumstances during its history.

Those usually involved authorization from Congress, something that would be nearly impossible today — even at Trump’s urging — given the narrow Republican majorities in the House and Senate.

President Abraham Lincoln suspended habeas corpus multiple times amid the Civil War, beginning in 1861

to detain suspected spies and Confederate sympathizers. He ignored a ruling from Roger Taney, who was the Supreme Court chief justice but was acting in the case as a circuit judge. Congress then authorized suspending it in 1863, which allowed Lincoln to do so again.

Congress acted similarly under President Ulysses S. Grant, suspending habeas corpus in parts of South Carolina under the Civil Rights Act of 1871. Also known as the Ku Klux Klan Act, it was meant to counter violence and intimidation of groups opposing Reconstruction in the South.

Habeas corpus was suspended in two provinces of the Philippines in 1905, when it was a U.S. territory and authorities were worried about the threat of an insurrection, and in Hawaii

Ossoff. But Greene said she doesn’t want to serve in a Senate that “doesn’t work” and that she said is dominated by lawmakers hostile to grassroots Trump supporters and unwilling to shake up the status quo.

“If I’m going to fight for a team, it will only be a team willing to lay it all on the line to save this country,” she wrote.

Ossoff, a first-term senator, won the seat by a slim margin in a state that has historically been a Republican stronghold but has more

recently become a battleground. He is a top target for Republicans looking to expand their narrow Senate majority.

Popular Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, who could be a formidable opponent for Ossoff, opted out of the 2026 race on Monday. His decision leaves a wide-open race for the GOP nomination.

U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter, who represents a district on the Georgia coast, became the first major Republican candidate to declare Thursday.

after the 1941 bombing of Pearl Harbor, but before it became a state in 1959.

Writing before becoming a Supreme Court justice, Amy Coney Barrett co-authored a piece stating that the Suspension Clause “does not specify which branch of government has the authority to suspend the privilege of the writ, but most agree that only Congress can do it.”

Could the Trump administration do it?

It can try. Miller suggested that the U.S. is facing “an invasion” of migrants. That term was used deliberately, though any effort to suspend

habeas corpus would spark legal challenges questioning whether the country was facing an invasion, let alone presenting extraordinary threats to public safety.

Federal judges have so far been skeptical of the Trump administration’s past efforts to use extraordinary powers to make deportations easier, and that could make suspending habeas corpus even tougher.

Trump argued in March that the U.S. was facing an “invasion” of Venezuelan gang members and evoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, a wartime authority he has tried to use to speed up mass deportations.

His administration acted to swiftly deport alleged members of Tren de Aragua to a notorious prison in El Salvador, leading to a series of legal fights.

Federal courts around the country, including in New York, Colorado, Texas and Pennsylvania, have since blocked the administration’s uses of the Alien Enemies Act for many reasons, including amid questions about whether the country is truly facing an invasion.

If courts are already skeptical, how could habeas corpus be suspended?

Miller, who has been fiercely critical of judges ruling against the administration, advanced the argument that the judicial branch may not get to decide.

“Congress passed a body of law known as the Immigration Nationality Act which stripped Article III courts, that’s the judicial

branch, of jurisdiction over immigration cases,” he said Friday.

That statute was approved by Congress in 1952 and there were important amendments in 1996 and 2005. Legal scholars note that it does contain language that could funnel certain cases to immigration courts, which are overseen by the executive branch.

Still, most appeals in those cases would largely be handled by the judicial branch, and they could run into the same issues as Trump’s attempts to use the Alien Enemies Act. Have other administrations tried this?

Technically not since Pearl Harbor, though habeas corpus has been at the center of some major legal challenges more recently than that.

Republican President George W. Bush did not move to suspend habeas corpus after the Sept. 11 attacks, but his administration subsequently sent detainees to Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, drawing lawsuits from advocates who argued the administration was violating it and other legal constitutional protections.

The Supreme Court ruled in 2008 that Guantánamo detainees had a constitutional right to habeas corpus, allowing them to challenge their detention before a judge.

That led to some detainees being released from U.S. custody.

Associated Press writer Mark Sherman contributed to this report.

Advanced cataract treatment and full eye Greene declines to challenge care services available at Ossoff in Georgia Senate race The Baton Rouge Clinic

By The Associated Press

ATLANTA — U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene said Friday she won’t challenge Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff of Georgia in next year’s midterms, delivering relief for some Republicans who worry she’s too divisive to win.

In a lengthy post on the social media platform X, Greene disputed GOP donors and consultants who fear she would turn off the moderate Republicans and independents needed to beat

SUNDAY NEWS SHOWS ABC’s “This Week”: Rev. Peter M. Donohue, president of Villanova University; Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

NBC’s “Meet the Press”: Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy; Sens. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., and Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.

CNN’s “State of the Union”: Com-

merce Secretary Howard Lutnick; former Gov. Chris Sununu, R-N.H.; Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, D-Va. CBS’ “Face the Nation”: United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby; Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, D-N.M.; Rep. Mike McCaul, R-Texas; Cardinal Blase Cupich, archbishop

By Amanda McElfresh | amcelfresh@theadvocate.com This article is brought to you by The Baton Rouge Clinic.

of Chicago; British Ambassador to the U.S. Peter Mandelson; Sam Rose, director of United Nations Relief and Works Agency Affairs in Gaza.

“Fox News Sunday”: Lutnick; Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark.; Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla. The Associated Press

They Sting They Swarm They Destro oy STOP FIRE ANTS TODAY Scan to sign up for 10% off

As an ophthalmologist at The Baton Rouge Clinic, Dr. Caroline Sowell sees firsthand the changes aging can bring to the eyes. One message she emphasizes to her patients is clear: developing cataracts is not a matter of if, but when.

Cataracts are a common eye condition in which the lens of the eye become cloudy, which leads to blurry or impaired vision.

More than 20 million Americans over age 40 have cataracts, according to the National Eye Institute. They typically develop slowly and can occur in one or both eyes; however, cataracts cannot spread from one eye to the other.

For most people, it’s an inevitable part of the aging process. Dr. Sowell said most of her patients begin developing cataracts in their early 60s.

“Most people complain of a progressive blurring of their vision over time, as well as significant glare in their vision, especially when driving at night,” Dr. Sowell said.

Certain risk factors can make people predisposed to cataracts, or cause them to appear in younger patients. She notes that conditions like diabetes or other underlying eyeconditionscanincreasetherisk,aswellas traumatic injuries, smoking, steroid use and excessive exposure to the sun and UV light.

“It’s important for people to protect their eyes at all times, and wear sunglasses and a hat when outside,” she said.

Fortunately, the surgery to remove cataracts has advanced significantly. In fact, the procedure itself only takes about 15 minutes to perform, explained Dr. Sowell. The patient is placed under light sedation, and numbing eyedrops are used. Patients are able to go

home the same day with a protective shield over the affected eye.

“Althoughittakesaboutamonthforpeople toachievetheirbestvisionaftersurgery,most patients see very well in a few days to a week after surgery,” Dr. Sowell said. “One of the big things we use are specialty lenses. I always like to discuss with my patients their goals after surgery and what they are looking for in their vision so we can help them pick the best lens for their lifestyle.”

The Baton Rouge Clinic is accepting new patients for all ophthalmology services. In additiontocataracttreatment,otherservices offered include clear lens exchange and near visioncorrection,completeroutineeyeexams, specialty contact lenses, diabetic eye exams, glaucoma testing and management, macular degeneration testing and management, and dry eye treatment.

“If you are having any issues with your eyes, we encourage you to come see us,” Dr. Sowell said. “People are always amazed by how much their quality of life can improve by correcting their vision.”

Tolearnmoreortoscheduleanappointment, pleasecallTheBatonRougeClinicat225-2469240 or visit https://batonrougeclinic.com/ services/subspecialties/ophthalmology/.

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Sunday, May 11, 2025 ■ 11A

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It’s time to set the record straight on Louisiana’s largest coastal restoration project.

No wetlands = No wildlife = No Sportsman’s Paradise

Louisiana is losing land faster than almost anywhere on Earth. The world needs more Louisiana — not less.

We can rebuild our coast by reconnecting the Mississippi River to its wetlands — exactly what the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion is designed to do.

Decades of world-class science and strong public support have shaped this project — and that hasn’t changed. Only the politics have changed — and that is dangerous for the people, wildlife and jobs that depend on coastal Louisiana.

We need every available solution to fight our land loss.

Mid-Barataria is the most important restoration project to protect our land, communities and way of life.

Politically motivated delays are dangerously misguided and threaten Louisiana’s future. Canceling this keystone project would waste decades of work and jeopardize hundreds of millions of dollars already invested.

No alternative offers a better shot at survival for Louisiana’s people, wildlife and economy.

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o f i n fo r m e d vo t e r s s completi ng the MB upport SD proje c to build a t n d sust a i n we t l a n d s v i t a l .

Get the facts and science behind the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion:

WWW.DIVERSIONSWORK.ORG Paid for by Restore the Mississippi River Delta

12A ■ Sunday, May 11, 2025 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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LOUISIANA POLITICS

Republican vision of Medicaid future to be revealed Louisiana’s impact likely means additional costs

WASHINGTON — The monthslong effort to reduce Medicaid spending enough to help offset costs of the single bill that includes President Donald Trump’s legislative agenda comes to a head Tuesday when the House committee charged with finding most Mark of those spending Ballard reductions starts marking up its portion of the “one, big, beautiful bill.”

Both the president and Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Benton, say they don’t want to slash Medicaid enrollments or services for the 83 million low-income Americans on the state-federal program. But they do want to root out “waste, fraud and abuse.”

The problem is some moderate Republicans want to protect Medicaid benefits, while some conservatives want deeper cuts.

Both sides have enough adherents to sink Trump’s bill.

There’s agreement on some modest policy changes, like requiring recipients to work. But they need something bigger to reach their $880 billion goal.

Most proposals are now off limits, leaving two plans: reducing the rates that the federal government pays to expand Medicaid rolls under the Affordable Care Act, or closing the loophole, called provider taxes, that nearly all the states use to supplement their portion of Medicaid expenses and to capture more federal dollars.

Both ideas will increase costs for Louisiana and other Southern states that backed Trump in the November presidential election.

The Obamacare gambit would require Louisiana to pick up additional costs for about 9% of its Medicaid population, according to official estimates.

The expansion enrolled people making 138% of the federal poverty level, which is about $33,000 for a family of four in Louisiana.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, CBO, estimated

Edwards talked Senate run with Schumer

Former Gov. John Bel Edwards has talked with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer about a potential run for U.S. Senate in Louisiana, The New York Times reported.

In a story about how Schumer and other Democrats are trying to win Edwards a majority in the 2026 elections despite a map that heavily favors Republicans, the Times said Edwards, a Democrat, met with Schumer once by phone and once in person in Washington, citing a person briefed on the conversations.

“Mr. Edwards has signaled to party leaders to circle back to

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO

More than 1,000 members of Popular Democracy, including disabled Americans who rely on public health care, and partner organizations marched in Washington, D.C., to demand no cuts to Medicaid or Medicare in March. that reducing the 90% federal match for just the expansion population to the average rate — 50% for wealthy states to about 30% for Louisiana — would cut federal Medicaid spending by $860 billion and could force about 5.5 million people off the rolls. That would require states to either pay more for Medicaid or start removing beneficiaries — a move that has garnered lots of opposition.

Less controversial, because it’s so complex, is the removal of fees states charge on hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and other providers, which could reduce spending by $880 billion but might lead the states to ousting 8.6 million people off Medicaid rolls, the CBO estimated. About 22% of the money Louisiana raises to cover its portion of Medicaid costs could become the state’s obligation.

When all the varying rates for different Medicaid programs are

averaged, Louisiana pays about 30 cents to the federal government’s 70 cents for a dollar of Medicaid coverage. That dollar is used to pay the providers for services rendered.

Some conservatives have adopted the rhetoric of some thinktanks that call the provider tax sophisticated “money laundering.”

They “have deliberately used this clear phrase to create an inflammatory response from the House and the Senate,” argued Alan Levine, chief executive officer of Ballad Health, a chain of hospitals and health care providers serving much of Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky and elsewhere.

As Gov. Bobby Jindal’s first health care chief, Levine used provider taxes in 2010 as the foundation for transitioning away from Louisiana charity hospitals, which were underfunded and couldn’t keep accreditation.

While low-hanging fruit, provider taxes are legal, carefully scrutinized by federal authorities, and essential financing for health care, he said.

“Louisiana’s health care system would literally crash if they cut these provider taxes,” Levine said Levine, who has advised a number of Republican governors on health care policy.

“You could not tax the people of Louisiana high enough. It would destroy your economy in Louisiana,” he added.

Louisiana would have spent hundreds of billions of dollars to bring the charity system up to standards, he said. Alternatively, the state could transfer charity’s teaching functions and servicing Louisiana’s low income to private

providers.

Levine negotiated with Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System to have Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge and with LCMC Health System, a nonprofit that runs University Medical Center New Orleans, to assume Louisiana charity’s roles.

“We used a variety of mechanisms in Medicaid in order to ensure they could generate enough income to sustain those programs,” Levine said.

“If that option wasn’t available, the teaching hospital in New Orleans could not survive,” he added. “And Baton Rouge would not have a Level 1 trauma center and there wouldn’t be an advanced medical education program at Our Lady of the Lake. That’s just a fact.”

him closer to August,” the person said, according to the Times. Edwards declined to comment to The Advocate | The Times-Picayune.

The Times story notes that all but two of the 22 Republican seats in CAPITOL play are in states BUZZ that President staff Donald Trump won by at least 10 reports percentage points.

In order to take the majority, the party would need to win upsets in states considered deep red.

U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, a Baton Rouge Republican, is running for reelection. He faces opposition from conservatives upset with his

vote to impeach Donald Trump after the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol; Treasurer John Fleming has already announced a run against Cassidy and other Republicans are also considering joining the race.

Edwards twice won election in Louisiana, first defeating thenU.S. Sen. David Vitter and then businessman Eddie Rispone. The second time, in 2019, he won with 51% of the vote, after Trump won with 58% of the vote in 2016.

National political observers have sometimes pointed to Edwards, who opposes abortion and many gun control restrictions, as an example of a conservative Democrat who has and could win in Louisiana.

Democrats hold no statewide elected offices in Louisiana.

Trump won with 60% of the vote in 2024, and Republican Gov. Jeff

Landry was elected without a runoff in 2023.

labor pipeline, including the training program at Nunez Community College in Chalmette, faces the threat of disruption or closure,” Landry wrote. “We would again see the out-migration of Louisiana’s talent as our workers seek opportunities elsewhere.”

Landry argued the Artemis program is “not only vital to our State, but it is also vital to our national security.”

“We must reach the Moon before China and establish a permanent, U.S.-led presence to protect our values, freedoms and leadership in space,” he wrote.

“As Chairman Brian Babin of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee recently noted, we do not want American astronauts to be greeted on the Moon by a sign that says ‘Welcome’ in Mandarin.”

Landry raises concerns about NASA cuts Gov. Jeff Landry has urged Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-Benton, not to cut the budget for NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to establish a longterm presence on the moon.

The proposed federal budget that is currently being negotiated in Congress would significantly reduce funding for the program.

Landry noted that the stakes are particularly high for Louisiana because of the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, which is building core stages for Artemis rockets.

“Without Artemis, the Michoud Assembly Facility risks a sharp decline in workload. Our skilled

Email Mark Ballard at mballard@theadvocate.com.

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Woman who used slur raises thousands of dollars Video caught her saying N-word at a Black child

BY TERRY TANG and SARAH RAZA Associated Press

A video showing a Minnesota woman at a playground openly admitting to using a racist slur against a Black child has garnered millions of views. Maybe equally viral has been a crowdfunding effort that has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to help the woman now relocate her family.

In the video, a man in Rochester, a city roughly 90 miles south of Minneapolis, confronts the woman for calling a 5-year-old boy the N-word. The woman appears to double-down on the racist term and flips off the man confronting her with both of her middle fingers.

The woman, who could not be reached for comment, has since amassed over $700,000 through Christian fundraising platform GiveSendGo for relocation expenses because of threats she received over the video.

The fundraising page said she used the word out of frustration because the boy went through her 18-monthold child’s diaper bag. The Associated Press has not verified this assertion.

“I called the kid out for what he was,” she wrote, adding that the online videos have “caused my family, and myself, great turmoil.”

The flurry of monetary contributions has reignited multiple debates, from whether racist language and attacks are becoming more permissible to the differences between “cancel culture” and “consequence culture.” Many want to see the woman face some sort of comeuppance for using a slur, especially toward a child. Others say despite her words, she does not deserve to be harassed.

The NAACP Rochester chapter started its own fundraising campaign for the child’s family. The GoFundMe page had raised $340,000 when it was closed May 3 per the wishes of the family, who want privacy, said the civil rights organization. It was speaking on behalf of

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By TERRy TANG

A woman who admitted to calling a Black child the N-word in Rochester, Minn., has raised nearly $700,000 through Christian fundraising platform GiveSendGo. the family of the child, who the organization said was on the autism spectrum.

“This was not simply offensive behavior—it was an intentional racist, threatening, hateful and verbal attack against a child, and it must be treated as such,” the NAACP Rochester chapter said in a statement.

The Rochester Police Department investigated and submitted findings to the Rochester City Attorney’s Office for “consideration of a charging decision,” spokesperson Amanda Grayson said in a statement Monday.

GiveSendGo did not immediately respond Tuesday to a request for comment from The Associated Press.

Defending racism?

The donations did and did not surprise Dr. Henry Taylor, director for the Center of Urban Studies at the University at Buffalo.

But shifts in the political and cultural climate have emboldened some people to express racist and bigoted views against people of color or those they consider

outsiders. A more recent backlash, from the White House to corporate boardrooms, against diversity, equality and inclusion initiatives have amplified those feelings.

The racism “hovering beneath the surface” comes from blame, Taylor said.

“People are given someone to hate and someone to blame for all of the problems and challenges that they are facing themselves,” Taylor said.

The volume of monetary contributions in the Rochester case is reminiscent of the surge of support for individuals like Kyle Rittenhouse, Daniel Penny and George Zimmerman. Rittenhouse, Penny and Zimmerman were cleared of wrongdoing or legally found to have acted in self-defense or in defense of others — Penny and Zimmerman after the death of a Black victim and Rittenhouse after fatally shooting two White protesters at a racial justice demonstration against police.

tingent of supporters just want to fight cancel culture, said Franciska Coleman, an assistant professor of law at University of Wisconsin Law School, who has written about cancel culture and social regulation of speech.

For some it can include donating to anyone who people are trying to “cancel,” Coleman said.

Some people are focused on how “it just seems too much that this mother of two young kids is getting death threats and rape threats,” Coleman said.

Conservative commentators have gone online to applaud her for not capitulating to angry internet mobs while acknowledging she used a hateful word. “No one’s excusing it. But she didn’t deserve to be treated like a domestic terrorist,” conservative podcast host Matt Walsh said in a Facebook post.

Fight over justifications

There’s an important distinction, Coleman said, between “cancel culture” and “consequence culture.” The latter is about holding people accountable for actions and words that cause injury such as with “this poor child.”

That is what many people want to see in this Rochester woman’s case. Because a formal system of punishment may not impose consequences for the woman’s racist behavior, people who support cancel culture believe that they “have to do it informally,” Coleman said.

She and Taylor agree that, in conventional societal thinking, using racist slurs against someone who has frustrated or even provoked you is never acceptable.

Those who think otherwise, even now, are seen as being on the fringes.

But donors on the woman’s GiveSendGo page unabash-

edly used racist language against the boy, prompting the site to turn off the comments section. Others excused her behavior as acting out of aggravation. There are communities where the racial slur is only unacceptable in “racially mixed company,” Coleman said.

Social media websites and crowdfunding platforms have helped people around the world speak with each other and with their wallets. It’s intensified by the anonymity these platforms allow.

“Feeling that no one will know who you are enables you to act on your feelings, on your beliefs in an aggressive and even mean-spirited way that you might not do if you were exposed,” Taylor said.

Tang reported from Phoenix. Raza reported from Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

LSNA honors 40 Rising Stars in nursing, celebrating Louisiana’s next generation of healthcare leaders

By Amanda McElfresh, amcelfresh@theadvocate.com This article is brought to you by the Louisiana State Nurses Association.

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For the second year in a row, the Louisiana State Nurses Association has honored some of the top young professionals in the state with its Rising Star Awards.

Nominees under age 40 are acceptedfromhealthcareleaders, family members, patients and others.AnLSNAawardscommittee evaluates each nominee based on criteria such as leadership capabilities, community service andtheiroverallcontributionsto patient care.

“Wereallywantedtorecognize up-and-comingnursingleaders, influencersandchange-makers inourstate,”saidAhnyelBurkes, DNP,RN-BC,NEA-BC,executive director of the LSNA and Louisiana Nurses Foundation. “One ofourfocusesasanorganization is to make sure that nurses feel seen, heard and valued. We felt that these awards were a great way to engage the next generation of nurses and highlight the wonderful work that they are doing.”

This year’s LSNA Rising Star honorees are: • Dominique Anderson, Baton Rouge Clinic, Baton Rouge • Devin Austin, East Jefferson General Hospital, Metairie • James Blankenship, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette • Amy Booth, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, Baton Rouge • Alicia Boudreaux, Ochsner Medical Center – West Bank Campus, Gretna • Brooke Callahan, Manning Family Children’s, New Orleans • Ashlynn Capace, Our Lady of the Lake Head and Neck Center, Baton Rouge • Cole Clement, East Jefferson General Hospital, Metairie • Vanessa Davidson, Terrebonne General Health System, Houma • Katelynn Dietz, Lake Charles Memorial Health System, Lake Charles • Callie Dorn, Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University, Baton Rouge • Kalleigh Flucke, East Jefferson General Hospital, Metairie • Angela Foley, St. Tammany Health System, Covington • James Foley, Northshore Technical Community College, Covington • Amanda Gassie, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, Baton Rouge • Cari Granier, Nicholls State University, Thibodaux • Alyssa Hicks, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, Baton Rouge • DeAngela Francis-Johnson, David Raines Community Health Center, Bossier City • Jordan Kahan, Ochsner Health, New Orleans • Amanda Knight, Our Lady of the Angels, Bogalusa • Candace Koelling, Ochsner Medical Center – West Bank Campus, Gretna • Brittany Malinovsky, Willis Knighton Health System, Shreveport • Jarvis Malveaux, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, Baton Rouge • Meghan Mattison, East Jefferson General Hospital, Metairie • Ashley McCammon, North Oaks Medical Center/ Southeastern Louisiana University School of Nursing, Covington • Danika Mills, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center/ Grand Canyon University, Baton Rouge • Katherine Newell, North Oaks Health System, Hammond • Elise Ortolano, East Jefferson General Hospital, Metairie • Caroline Richardson, East Jefferson General Hospital, Metairie • Brittney Sanders, Louisiana Department of Health Office of Public Health/Bureau of Community Preparedness, Baton Rouge • Liz Sanderson, East Jefferson General Hospital, Metairie • Ashley Singleton, Humana, Metairie • Heidi Smith, Our Lady of the Angels, Bogalusa • Megan Smith, East Jefferson General Hospital, Metairie • Chase Tassin, Our Lady of the Lake, Greenwell Springs • Cindi Taylor, University Medical Center, New Orleans • Misty Theriot, Lake Charles Memorial Health System, Lake Charles • Courtney Travis, Lane Regional Medical Center, Zachary • Porsche Uche, The Carpenter Health Network (Homedica, LLC), Baton Rouge • Meghan Young, Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Center, Lafayette

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In addition to recognizing Louisiana’s nursing professionals,theLSNAalsoservesasanadvocacy, education and networking organization. It is open to all registered nurses, regardless of their specialty or degree level. Recently, the LSNA organized more than 250 nurses for a visit to the state capitol to engage with lawmakers and discusshowlegislationaffectsthem.LSNAactively partners with affiliate nursing organizations that support nurses across various specialties, including operating room and emergency room care. Through these collaborations, LSNA offers ongoingeducationandtrainingtoequipnurseswith the skills needed to address urgent and emerging healthcare challenges—such as the identification and treatment of sexual assault survivors.

“At LSNA, our top priority is Louisiana nurses—their voices, their needs, and the issues that matter most to them,” said LSNA President Lesley Tilley, DNP, RN,NE-BC. “We are proud to collaborate with affiliate nursing organizations to strengthen our collective impact and ensure that nurses across all specialties feel supported.

We invite every nurse in Louisiana to join us in membership and be a part of advancing the profession through education, connection, and powerful advocacy.”

Visit https://lsna.nursingnetwork.com/ to learn more about getting involved with the Louisiana State Nurses Association.

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Federal cuts gut food banks as they face record demand

BY JAZMIN OROZCO RODRIGUEZ KFF Health News (TNS)

Food bank shortages caused by high demand and cuts to federal aid programs have some residents of a small community that straddles Idaho and Nevada growing their own food to get by.

For those living in Duck Valley, a reservation of about 1,000 people that is home to the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes, there’s just one grocery store where prices are too high for many to afford, said Brandy Bull Chief, local director of a federal food distribution program for tribes. The next-closest grocery stores are more than 100 miles away in Mountain Home, Idaho, and Elko, Nevada. And the local food bank’s troubles are mirrored by many nationwide, squeezed between growing need and shrinking aid.

Reggie Premo, a community outreach specialist at the University of NevadaReno Extension, grew up cattle ranching and farming alfalfa in Duck Valley.

He runs workshops to teach residents to grow produce.

Premo said he has seen increased interest from tribal leaders in the state worried about high costs while living in food deserts.

“We’re just trying to bring back how it used to be in the old days,” Premo said, “when families used to grow gardens.”

Food bank managers across the country say their supplies have been strained by rising demand since the COVID pandemic-era emergency Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits ended two years ago and steepening food prices.

Now, they say, demand is compounded by recent cuts in federal funding to food distribution programs that supply staple food items to pantries nationwide.

In March, the U.S. Department of Agriculture cut $500 million from the Emergency Food Assistance Program, which buys food from domestic producers and sends it to pantries nationwide.

The program has supplied more than 20% of the distributions by Feeding America, a nonprofit that serves a network of over 200 food banks and 60,000 meal programs.

The collision between rising demand and falling support is especially problem-

KFF HEALTH NEWS PHOTO By ARAMELLE WHEELER

The Food Bank of Northern Nevada’s Produce on Wheels program delivers fresh food to seniors across the region, including those in rural communities. atic for rural communities, where the federal program might cover 50% or more of food supplied to those in need, said Vince Hall, chief government relations officer of Feeding America.

Deepening the challenge for local food aid organizations is an additional $500 million the Trump administration slashed from the USDA Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program, which helped state, tribal, and territorial governments buy fresh food from nearby producers.

“The urgency of this crisis cannot be overstated,” Hall said, adding that the Emergency Food Assistance Program is “rural America’s hunger lifeline.”

Farmers who benefited from the USDA programs that distributed their products to food banks and schools will also be affected.

Bill Green is executive director for the Southeast region of Common Market, a nonprofit that connects farmers with organizations in the Mid-Atlantic, the Southeast, Texas, and the Great Lakes.

Green said his organization won’t be able to fill the gap left by the federal cuts, but he hopes some schools and other institutions will continue buying from those farmers even after the federal support dries up.

“I think that that food access challenge has only been aggravated, and I think we just found the tip of the ice-

berg on that,” he said.

Food Bank for the Heartland in Omaha, Nebraska, for example, is experiencing four times the demand this year than in 2018, according to Stephanie Sullivan, its assistant director of marketing and communications.

The organization expects to provide food to 580,000 households across the 93 counties it serves in Nebraska and western Iowa this fiscal year, the highest number in its history, she said.

“These numbers should be a wake-up call for all of us,” Sullivan said.

The South Plains Food Bank in Texas projects it will distribute approximately 121,000 food boxes this year to people in need across the 19 counties it serves, compared with an average 90,000 annually before the pandemic. CEO Dina Jeffries said the organization now is serving about 25% more people, while shouldering the burden of decreased funding and food products.

In Nevada, the food bank that helps serve communities in the northern part of the state, including the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Reservation, provides food to an average of 160,000 people per month.

That’s a 76% increase over its clientele before the pandemic, and the need continues to rise, said Jocelyn Lantrip, director of marketing and communications for the Food Bank of Northern Nevada.

Lantrip said one of the most troubling things for the food bank is that the USDA commodities shipped for local distribution often are foods that donations don’t usually cover — things like eggs, dairy, and meat.

“That’s really valuable food to our neighbors,” she said. “Protein is very difficult to replace.”

Forty percent of people

who sought assistance from food banks during the pandemic did so for the first time, Hall said. “Many of those families have come to see their neighborhood food bank not as a temporary resource for emergency help but an essential component of their monthly budget equation.”

About 47 million people lived in food-insecure households in 2023, the most recent USDA data available.

Bull Chief, who also runs a small food pantry on the Duck Valley Reservation, said workers drive to Elko to pick up food distributed by the Food Bank of Northern Nevada. But sometimes there’s not much to choose from. In March, the food pantry cut down its operation to just two weeks a month. She said sometimes they must weigh whether it’s worth spending money on gas to pick up a small amount of food.

When the food pantry opened in 2020, Bull Chief said, it helped 10 to 20 households a month. That number is 60 or more now, made up of a broad range of community members — teens fresh out of high school and living on their own, elders, and people who don’t have permanent housing or jobs. She said providing even small amounts of food can help

households make ends meet between paychecks or SNAP benefit deposits.

Pinched food banks, elevated need and federal cuts mean there’s very little resiliency in the system, Hall said. Additional challenges, like an economic slowdown, policy changes to SNAP or other federal nutrition programs, or natural disasters could render food banks unable to meet needs “because they are stretched to the breaking point right now.”

A proposed budget resolution passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in April would require $1.7 trillion in net funding cuts, and anti-hunger advocates fear SNAP could be a target.

More people living in rural parts of the country rely on SNAP than people in urban areas because of higher poverty rates, so they would be disproportionately affected.

An extension of the federal 2018 Farm Bill, which lasts until Sept. 30, included about $450 million for the Emergency Food Assistance Program for this year. But the funding that remains doesn’t offset the cuts, Hall said. He hopes lawmakers pass a new farm bill this year with enough money to do so.

“We don’t have a food shortage,” he said. “We have a shortage of political will.”

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EDUCATION A S K T H E E X P E RT S

As AI evolves, schools work to keep up

BY ELYSE CARMOSINO Staff writer

With artificial intelligence rapidly becoming a major part of everyday life, schools must navigate how to integrate the new technology into classrooms in ways that enhance learning, rather than detract from it.

When used properly, AI can open up opportunities for students and give teachers a new set of tools to get kids engaged in learning, said Leslie Eaves, director of project-based learning at the Southern Regional Education Board, a nonprofit that works to improve education in the region.

The group recently released a new guide for educators on how to get the most out of AI, which allows computers to perform complex tasks like reasoning, decision-making and creating.

Eaves, who authored the report, asked educators about their thoughts on AI and how they’ve started using it.

One example she found is a social studies teacher in West Virginia who had his middle school students use AI to create comic strips about a historical figure from their state. The goal of the assignment was to get students to study history, but using AI helped bring their research to life.

“It makes it more exciting for kids, and they dive deeper into the learning process,” Eaves said.

Still, such a quickly evolving technology raises plenty of concerns, such as students using AI to complete their assignments or schools using AI bots to give lessons.

Classrooms need “that deep

Q&A WITH LESLIE EAVES

Leslie Eaves, projectbased learning program director with the Southern Regional Education Board, says schools can incorporate artificial intelligence in the classroom. The group recently released an AI guidebook for K-12 educators.

PROGRAM DIRECTOR WITH THE SOUTHERN REGIONAL EDUCATION BOARD connection between teacher and student,” Eaves said, “where the teacher is the learning expert in the room and is coaching students” on how to use this new technology.

This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.

Why is it important for schools to develop guidelines for AI? AI has come very fast at us all at once. With these new tools, we’re seeing the workforce and our daily lives transform.

We felt it was important for schools and districts to have a framework for how these tools can be used to support student learning, particularly students’ mastery of content standards and skills in the classroom.

We want to be able to highlight and pull out opportunities that schools might be thinking about, but also provide some cautions.

Like, “If you’re going to do this, here are some things you really need to think about.”

What were some common concerns you heard from educators about AI? What about things they were excited about?

Using AI to cheat and circumvent the learning process was a big concern. Kids being able to filter an assignment through AI and hand it in, which is very similar to how it was when Google (started gaining popularity).

Also, students not using AI in an ethical way, like making deepfakes that can get themselves or teachers in trouble.

The other concerns we heard from people more on the tech side was student data and privacy concerns. How do we protect

student information? Those were our two big buckets of concerns.

On the other hand, when you make AI part of the learning process, it can encourage critical thinking and creativity. Students can turn out richer products and can go deeper in some areas they haven’t been able to before.

What are some examples of how teachers can incorporate AI into lessons?

There’s a tool called SchoolAI that I learned about from a teacher. It allows teachers to create their own chatbot, like ChatGPT, but for classrooms.

Teachers can put in resources that the chatbot can reference or put parameters on what students can access.

This science teacher was doing a unit on erosion at a state park and had students develop designs. The students could use the chatbot to test out their ideas in real time without needing their teacher’s input. A student could say, “What if we were to use rocks to build the trail?” The AI system could respond with the pros and cons of doing that.

I have seen a lot of elementary school teachers create resources and tools for students. There’s a tool on Google, for example, where you can take a video and put it into the tool and it will give you questions that can help promote deeper thinking for students.

What are steps teachers can take to mitigate improper uses of AI, like cheating?

You have to realize that even if you ban AI, students are still going to use it.

PROVIDED PHOTO

One pillar in our report is about using AI tools to develop more cognitively demanding tasks.

Meaning the task itself has to be intellectually demanding enough and require creative thought from students so that they can’t just get the answers from an AI chatbot.

If you’re asking students to write an informed opinion piece about a news article that also documents their process from brainstorming, outlining, drafting and improving the draft, you can’t necessarily do that with AI, because you have to provide all the steps you took along the way.

How can teachers use AI to help them with administrative and planning work?

They can use it as a thought partner or a lesson planner.

A lot of teachers I work with use ChatGPT or Microsoft Copilot as a starting place for developing lesson ideas. They

can use tools like Diffit, which is an online tool for differentiating text-based assignments. They can automatically create graphic organizers and resources for students. These tools really up the level of engagement for learning.

How can teachers discourage students from relying too much on AI? In the classroom, you want to make sure you’re leaving time for offline learning.

If you want kids to brainstorm, they need to close down the computers. Sometimes that might mean doing some reflecting using a pencil and paper, rather than having them type something up.

Just doing something where they’re not constantly in the classroom with a screen in front of them.

Email Elyse Carmosino at ecarmosino@theadvocate.com.

WE’RE ASKING EXPERTS ACROSS THE STATE HOW TO TACKLE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES FACING LOUISIANA SCHOOLS. HAVE AN IDEA? EMAIL PATRICK.WALL@THEADVOCATE.COM

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The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Sunday, May 11, 2025 ■ 17A

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Ala. governor signs shark bite alert system into law Beachgoers will get warning when attack is reported

cause excessive alerts, causing panic and hurting coastal tourism.

The alerts will only be issued along the Alabama coast. Supporters said they hope other states will pursue similar systems or that federal legislation will expand its use.

Gribbin described the attack after speaking to a legislative committee last month. She and her friend had been diving for sand

By The Associated Press MONTGOMERY, Ala. — A new shark alert system, inspired by a teen who survived an attack last year, that warns beachgoers when a shark has bitten someone in the vicinity will be established in Alabama under legislation signed by Gov. Kay Ivey on Tuesday.

The system will issue a public notice to cellphones when there’s been a shark attack nearby. The law is named after Mountain Brook teenager Lulu Gribbin, who was one of three people bitten by a shark during a string of attacks off the Florida Panhandle last year. She lost her left hand and a portion of her right leg in the attack.

Gribbin, now 16, visited the Alabama Statehouse to urge lawmakers to approve the warning system. She said she would not have been in the water if she knew a woman had been bitten just a few miles away about an hour earlier.

“This bill will help prevent future attacks,” Gribbin said last month about the legislation. “It’s like an Amber Alert when a child goes missing. It will send an alert when there has been a shark attack.”

Gribbin was with Ivey as

Lexington Herald-Leader (TNS) A historic Kentucky site has joined the National Park Service’s National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program, which commemorates the stories of people who freed themselves or were helped by others to escape enslavement.

The site, located in rural Greenup County near the present-day community of Lynn, is the place where, on Aug. 14, 1829, 58 enslaved people revolted as they were being forcibly marched to Mississippi.

The group killed two of their traffickers before 16 of them attempted to escape, though all were later recaptured, a May 1 National Park Service news release states.

A history of the event written by Shawnee State University Professor Andrew Feight notes five members of the group were later executed near the Greenup County courthouse.

It was a time in American history during which thousands of Black people were being sold “down-river” to the new cotton plantations of Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas, Feight writes.

Feight helped secure the NPS listing by directing research and outreach with Greenup in Greenup County, he told the Herald-Leader in an email Monday. The work is part of the broader Appa-

ing prosthetic leg fittings and physical therapy — as well as milestones such as going to a high school dance and her first trip back to the beach.

Experts say attacks are rare despite sharks’ prevalence in places like the Gulf.

There were 47 unprovoked shark bites worldwide — including four fatalities — in 2024, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History’s shark research program.

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By KIM CHANDLER

Lulu Gribbin, second from left, an Alabama teenager who survived a shark attack in 2024, speaks with attorney Charlanna Skaggs, second from right, and Alabama lawmaker Rep. David Faulkner, right, at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Ala., April 9. Faulkner proposed an alert system, named for Gribbin, that would warn other beachgoers when there has been an unprovoked shark attack in the area. she signed the bill, named the Lulu Gribbin Shark Alert System Act, in a private ceremony in the governor’s office.

“Alabama is proud to have the safest and most beautiful beaches in the world,” Ivey said in a statement Tuesday. “The added tool of having a shark alert system will help officials in Baldwin and Mobile counties keep our beachgoers safe and enjoying the refreshing waters of our Gulf of America.”

Supporters said the legis-

lation will be an added measure of assurance for those headed to the beach. The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will create rules for the new alert system, according to the legislation.

An earlier version would have allowed an alert for an “imminent danger” when sharks are spotted near the shoreline. However, since sharks are commonly found in waters off Alabama and Florida, beach communities were concerned that would

Kentucky site among additions to Underground Railroad Network

BY AARON MUDD

dollars and riding the Gulf waves when her friend screamed, “shark!”

“My hand was bitten first.

I remember just lifting it out of the water, and I was stunned because there was no hand there,” she recalled.

“I couldn’t feel it because of all the shock I was in. Then the shark latched onto my leg.”

Over 260,000 fans have been following her recovery on social media, includ-

lachian Freedom Initiative, which spans nine counties across Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia and seeks to locate and document Underground Railroad sites in the region.

The initiative is currently working to create a regional tour of sites similar to Greenup County’s, a news release from the group states.

“Our research is recovering important lost chapters of local history that will transform our understanding of the past and help draw interest and visitors to the region,” Feight said in the release.

A site’s inclusion in the NPS Network to Freedom means it’s able to benefit from grants through the program, as well as receive help with historic preservation, including caring for artifacts and developing interpretive tours and exhibits.

What happened in Greenup County Aug. 14, 1829?

As Feight writes, one account comes from Julius A. Bingham, “the sole proprietor, editor and printer” of the Western Times newspaper of Portsmouth, Ohio, which reported the first news of the uprising.

The article, titled “Affray and Murder,” quickly spread. It was later picked up by David Walker, whom Feight describes as one of the most radical abolitionists of the age. Walker later included the story in his fa-

mous pamphlet “Walker’s Appeal.”

The account reported by the Portsmouth Western Times tells of a slaver named James Gordon, who bought about 60 enslaved Black people in Maryland with plans to take them to Mississippi.

The men were handcuffed and chained together, but escaped their chains with the help of a file. At about 8 a.m., while the party was leaving Greenup County, two men dropped their shackles and a fight broke out. A man named Petit, in charge of driving the wagon, rushed in with a whip before he was hit in the back of the head with a club by another man and killed.

Gordon was then seized and shot twice with a pistol, with both shots grazing his head. He was then beaten and left for dead, but ultimately survived, later escaping to a plantation on a horse.

The group took $2,400 from Gordon’s trunk and 16 of their members and took to the woods to escape. They were ultimately recaptured, however.

Seven men and one woman were put on trial in Greenup County. While they were initially termed the “Greenup Eight,” it was ultimately five men who were executed by hanging, Feight writes. Each met their fate with “firmness and resignation,” and one man shouted several times “Death! Death, any time, in preference to slavery!”

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Longtime leader Melissa Ott named President of Pelican State Credit Union

By Amanda McElfresh amcelfresh@theadvocate.com This article is brought to you by Pelican State Credit Union.

A part-time college job has turned into a 25-year career for Melissa Ott, who has been named the new President of Pelican State Credit Union.

Ott started working at Pelican in 2000 while she was still a college student. After earning her accounting degree from LSU, she accepted a fulltime position with the credit union shortly after graduation.

“I felt incredibly blessed to have an immediate opportunity to apply what I had learned in school,” Ott said. “I came in at the right time. Pelican was much smaller back then, but it was exciting to be part of an organization that was focused on growth and development. That job sparked a stronger passion in me for financial services, banking and everything that credit unions like ours have to offer.”

Since then, Ott has held numerous leadership positions at Pelican, including roles in marketing, financial outreach and electronic services. In 2016, she was appointedChiefFinancialOfficer,overseeing accounting, human resources, facilities and compliance. As CFO, she spearheaded numerous initiatives that improved Pelican’s operations and enhanced the member experience. She was also instrumental in completing the $21 million build of Pelican’s corporate headquarters and defining its core values.

Those core values are a positive attitude, a heart for service, a growth mindset, ownership and commitment to excellence.

“It doesn’t matter who you are or what walk of life you are in – we believe in people helping people,” Ott said. “We are in a world of technology and automation, but we still want to have a human component to our work and a connection with our members. We also believe that anything worth doing is worth doing right. We like to push ourselves to be the best, take pride in our work and have a can-do attitude. I think that is what makes us different.”

Most recently, Ott has served as Pelican’s Executive Vice President since 2022. In this role, she has overseen all departments while refining her lending and collections experience and reducing silos and poor performance.

“There was never a specific moment when I realized I might spend my entire career here, but I’ve never given serious thought to leaving,” Ott said. “I’ve always loved my job, our mission and the people I work with. Before I knew it, five years had gone by, and then another five years.

One of the things that has kept me so engaged at Pelican is that I’ve always felt heard. It’s really important to me for people to value each other’s input, regardless of what position someone holds.

That’s something that has been true for me over the years and something I emphasize with all of our teams.”

The leadership change at Pelican marks the beginning of a strategic succession plan. Jeffrey K. Conrad, who has served Pelican for 38 years, including 29 as president and chief executive officer, will transition into the CEO role full-time during his last four years with the credit union.

This will allow Conrad to focus on Pelican’s sustainable strategic growth, while Ott will lead administration and operations.

“Her career path is the exception rather than the norm. She demonstrates a high energy level with strong organizational skills. She is at the maximum Hogan adjustability score, which means she can adapt faster than 99 percent of the world,” Conrad said of Ott. “Melissa is an inspiration to everyone she comes in contact with. She has become a leader and coach who consistently displays compassion, humility, kindness, integrity and innovation while procuring high performance and growth.”

Ott said she is grateful that Conrad has been by her side throughout her career, and noted that he continues to serve as a mentor, friend and boss.

“He inspires me to want to do better and do more,” she said. “It’s impossible to place a value on what his leadership means. Jeff and others on our executive leadership team have been very gracious as I’ve learned along the way and grown my family.

His inspiration and guidance have been a huge part of my career.”

As she takes on her new role, Ott said her main priorities include continuing to adapt Pelican’s

services to meet member needs.

“We want to make sure that our financial products and services remain relevant and keep up with changing technology,” she said. “We’ve found that members want a combination of digital channels and human connection. I’m also grateful that I have four years left to work with Jeff, so I want to make sure to capitalize on his words of wisdom and help him achieve everything that he still wants to do.”

Pelican State Credit Union is a member-first, industry-learning financial institution that serves members in every stage of life through free youth and adult financial programs to a wide array of safe, competitive products. As a designated Community Developmental Financial Institution (CDFI), Pelican is committed to providing financial solutions in underserved markets. Visit www.pelicanstatecu.com to learn more or find a location near you.

18A ■ Sunday, May 11, 2025 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Sunday, May 11, 2025 ■ 19A

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THE GULF COAST Team tracks bacteria across Mississippi Coast beaches As busy season kicks into gear, so does water testing

BY MARTHA SANCHEZ Sun Herald

The truck pulled off the coastal highway and Jennifer Ahlbrand jumped out, bound for the beach on an urgent mission.

She headed for the shoreline to fill a clear bottle and stick a measuring device in the choppy brown waves.

Then she drove off to the next of 21 beaches the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality tests every week for pollution.

“A lot of people don’t realize there’s always bacteria in the ocean,” Ahlbrand said.

“So when they see us testing, they kind of freak out.” But the bacteria turning up in her samples have also appeared this year in Texas, Hawaii and Florida.

It is a common finding and not worrisome enough to close beaches. Still, each time it shows up, scientists warn swimmers that there could be stormwater runoff in the waves that might give them digestive troubles or infections. States track the bacteria relentlessly. And Ahlbrand is one link in an army of monitors empowered by federal law in a vast effort to probe for water quality issues at more than 3,000 beaches across the country.

Day after day, this is her role: Roam the Mississippi Coast from Waveland to Pascagoula to help people understand what they are swimming in. The busiest season is just beginning. Thousands of tourists come each summer, when water contact advisories naturally tend to

SUN HERALD PHOTO By HANNAH RUHOFF

Children play at the beach as Jennifer Ahlbrand, an environmental natural resource specialist with the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, collects a water sample to test for enterococcus. If water from a beach tests positive for enterococcus, the public will be warned not to swim in the water. increase.

Already, tests on four Mississippi Coast shorelines were finding enough bacteria to warrant signs that read “ADVISORY — swimming in this area is not recommended.”

“A lot of people think Mississippi water is gross,” Ahlbrand said. But, “Florida has the same program that we do, their water is just clearer.”

The 27-year-old trudged across the sand to the dark blue truck emblazoned with “Dept. of Environmental Quality” on the bumper. She wrote temperature and salinity recordings on a spreadsheet. She stuck her latest water sample on ice in a back seat cooler.

A man wandered over to

ask what she was doing.

“I’m the water-tester person,” she said.

“Oh,” he said. “How’s the water?”

“It’s a little high right now,” Ahlbrand said, referring to the bacteria. “But we’ll test it every day until it comes off advisory. Usually, the heat helps a little bit. Have a good day!”

What bacteria means The DEQ team in Biloxi has tested beaches under federal standards for more than two decades. The program is funded through Congress and runs year-round, which sometimes means employees work weekends and are in the lab over busy beach holidays like the Fourth of July. They must bring water

to the lab within six hours of their sample. And they issue an advisory only if two tests in a row show higher-thannormal levels of bacteria.

The results hold clues about science and health.

The state has a standing advisory against swimming after heavy rain because runoff from drains south of the railroad tracks inevitably washes pollutants into the water. The bacteria’s source is not always clear, but researchers say faulty septic tanks and sewers can leak through the stormwater system.

Data from years of testing shows advisories have ebbed and flowed but endured steadily over the last decade.

“It means we’re not treating our stormwater well

enough,” said Anna Linhoss, an Auburn University professor who studies water quality in Alabama and Mississippi. “The monitoring is so important. If we can’t solve the problem through infrastructure, we need to at least know the problem is there.”

The bacteria is stubborn.

Wind often stirs up waves and unearths it from sediment underwater. Barrier islands stop waves and currents from washing pollution into the ocean.

“You don’t have that flushing action,” said Emily Cotton, a biology supervisor at the MDEQ and former beach monitoring coordinator. “It tends to stay in the Sound.”

Murky river systems also drain to this part of the Gulf Coast, mixing brown fresh water with clear salty waves. That makes the Mississippi Sound an estuary home to oysters, shrimp and fish. Scientists say the color is natural and has little to do with safety.

The beach tests are also fueling research.

Holley Muraco, a Mississippi State University professor, tracks the advisories to understand where bacteria most often appears. She will use that information as a guide for more testing and hopes it will answer questions about how far the bacteria reaches from the shoreline and how it might impact dolphins and other creatures.

Mississippi’s man-made beaches were once marsh that absorbed runoff.

“What we have done is created an incredibly artificial scenario for nature to deal with by our infrastructure, our outfall pipes and our beaches themselves,” Muraco said. “We need to understand what it is that we’re putting out there. Is nature

able to take care of it? Or is nature overwhelmed?”

Testing beaches On her route this week, Ahlbrand rode past golf carts and fishermen through Waveland, Bay St. Louis, Pass Christian and Long Beach.

At each spot, she did the same thing: Wade into the water. Fill the clear container. Take readings and measurements from a high-tech probe. Record the numbers.

Fill the cooler with samples, which Cotton said each cost up to $60. Drive to the next beach, and repeat over and over.

“It’s important to monitor it,” Ahlbrand said as she pocketed another full bottle.

“If you don’t have a baseline, you don’t know what’s normal. And we do see patterns, like when it starts to warm up. That’s important too.”

She rode back to Biloxi, kicked the sand off her shoes and pulled the cooler through the halls of the state office.

She wiped off the bottles, cleaned a metal cart and rolled it into the laboratory.

The samples went in the fridge for a few minutes, until a scientist in blue gloves and a lab coat began to sterilize tools and send the water through a filter that captures bacteria. The filter went into petri dishes and tinto an incubator.

“We won’t see these results until tomorrow,” Ahlbrand said, when the team would count the little blue dots of bacteria and upload the results to their website.

Twenty-four hours later, there were no new advisories. But the same four beaches were still measuring pollution. So Ahlbrand got back in the truck, cruising the coastline, hoping again for clean water.

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DA seeks options to boost funding

Voters’ rejection of Moore’s tax plan spurs effort

BY PATRICK SLOAN-TURNER Staff writer

In the May 3 election, East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar Moore asked voters for a lifeline to help ease his office’s budget woes.

But residents said “no,” vehemently rejecting a tax proposal that would have generated millions of dollars for Moore’s office

and brought its budget up to par with its peers.

Now, in the wake of the failed millage request, Moore has begun to take stock of what led to its defeat — and what options remain to raise staff salaries and stem the steady loss of experienced prosecutors to better-paying agencies.

“There are still a lot of folks that are looking to see what we are going to do now to try to find more

ST. GEORGE

money to see if they will consider staying and not leaving,” Moore said. “We are working every angle.”

Like many propositions on Louisiana ballots over the past few months, voters rejected EBR’s district attorney tax — and it wasn’t particularly close.

Moore’s proposition, which would have yielded about $21 million a year in operating funds for

his office, failed by a wide margin, as 60% of the more than 50,000 residents who weighed in voted against its approval.

The measure would have cost the average homeowner about $5 each month, but Moore says he doesn’t take the result as an indictment of his office, rather a reflection of the current economic state and the broader politics affecting voters’ moods.

Early in the year, internal polls showed an even split among voters on the tax, Moore said. But

then external factors changed the game, including a local tax rededication fight between the mayor and the library system, Gov. Jeff Landry’s efforts to change some of the state’s tax system, and new economic policy from the White House.

“The mayor then starts the thing with the library, which kind of changes things. And then the president hits the tariffs, and things started getting tighter and tighter,”

ä See OPTIONS, page 2B

Greener grass

School bills head to state House

‘Legacy’ costs for retired employees one sticking point

BY CHARLES LUSSIER Staff writer

After an easy journey through the Louisiana Senate, legislation to create a school district to match the city of St. George is heading to the House, where it may face more resistance.

The lead sponsor of the measures, Sen. Rick Edmonds, R-St. George, acknowledged that the legislation may change as he continues to talk to representatives of the East Baton Rouge Parish school system. In particular, Edmonds is trying to forge consensus on how much the new school district would spend to offset “legacy” costs for retired school employees who continue to get medical care.

Another discussion point is a proposal to allow cross-district enrollment into magnet programs such as Baton Rouge Magnet High.

The parish school system, from which St. George is seeking educational independence, has not as yet taken a formal position on the St. George school legislation.

Rep. Emily Chenevert, R-Baton Rouge, is co-author of the legislation.

In 2012 and 2013, similar legislation to create what was to be called the Southeast Baton Rouge Community School System died in the House. But with the city of St. George now a reality after a bitter, yearslong incorporation effort, the prospects of forming a companion school district are substantially stronger.

If it comes to fruition, the new St. George school system would be the fifth public school district in East Baton Rouge Parish, joining Baker, Central and Zachary. Its boundaries would match those of the city of St. George.

The Senate on Thursday approved the two bills — Senate Bill 25 and Senate Bill 234 — that would create the school district.

They passed with 26 votes each, or two-thirds of that body. All those who voted yes were Republicans, who have a supermajority in both chambers of the Legislature.

SB25, a proposed constitutional amendment, will need support from two-thirds of the Legislature. If lawmakers approve it, voters across the state would get a chance to cast ballots on April 18, 2026, to decide whether to add the St. George district to the state constitution. The amendment would

ä See SCHOOL, page 2B

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A landscaper with London Lawn Service trims grass near the entryway of Times of Refreshing World Outreach Ministry on April 2.

Baton Rouge man sentenced to 30 years

The fatal robbery happened son during a Dec. 4, 2018, robbery to commit armed robbery in the Armed robbery behind an abandoned house on nonfatal Dec. 2, 2018, incident. near North Acadian Thruway Avenue in the Fairfields District Judge Tarvald Smith after Hynard and Johnson excharges date to 2018 Jackson imposed the 30-year sentence changed messages on Instagram. neighborhood.

BY MATT BRUCE Staff writer

The gunman behind a string of Baton Rouge armed robberies, including one in which a teenager was killed, was sentenced to 30 years in prison Wednesday after pleading guilty to the fatal shooting and another stickup.

Dayln Hynard was 16 when he committed a string of armed robberies in 2018, according to multiple indictments. He shot and killed 19-year-old Charvon John-

Two days before the killing, he carjacked a man at gunpoint in the 6300 block of Greenwell Street, near Airline Highway.

Hynard, now 23, was originally charged with second-degree murder and armed robbery in juvenile court, but prosecutors sought to try him as an adult following the homicide.

During a hearing Wednesday morning inside the 19th Judicial District Courthouse, Hynard pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of criminal conspiracy

on that charge. After Hynard copped to manslaughter in Johnson’s death, Smith handed him another 15 years to be served at the same time he does his term on the other sentence.

In exchange for the guilty plea, state prosecutors dropped an armed robbery charge stemming from Johnson’s slaying, court records show. The state also dismissed indictments from a pair of September 2018 armed robberies of which Hynard was accused.

Police said Johnson planned to sell Hynard a handgun, and they arranged to meet behind the abandoned house on Jackson Avenue. Police said that meeting led to the shooting. Johnson died from multiple gunshot wounds.

Ballistics on 9 mm shell casings found on a back patio at the abandoned house matched casings recovered from the scene of one of the earlier armed robberies Hynard had been implicated in, investigators said.

Community split over support of Air Products plant $8B carbon capture project still lacks LDEQ permit

BY CHRISTOPHER CARTWRIGHT Staff writer

Last fall, a Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality air permit hearing about a proposed ammonia plant in Ascension Parish displayed deep divisions between officials and business leaders who supported the proposal and local residents and environmental groups who opposed it.

The $8 billion project plans to capture carbon dioxide and trans-

port it to Lake Maurepas, injecting it deep beneath that body of water.

Officials, including Ascension Fire District 1 Chief James LeBlanc and state Rep. Tony Bacala, R-Prairieville, publicly supported the proposal, saying it would bring jobs and a boost to the local economy. Some opponents have expressed health and safety concerns about the facility, which would be located close to Sorrento Primary School. Others worry about the Lake Maurepas environment.

LDEQ has yet to approve the permit. Letters submitted to the agency about the permit show the

STAFF FILE PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK

James LeBlanc addresses a packed house during a public hearing held by the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality regarding a ä See COMMUNITY, page 2B proposed Air Products facility on Oct. 3 in Sorrento.

2B ■ Sunday, May 11, 2025 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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Arrest made after shooting at Doyle High School COMMUNITY Continued from page 1B

A 19-year-old suspect has been arrested on a count of first-degree murder after a man was fatally shot Friday night at the Doyle High School baseball field, according to Livingston police.

CRIME Evan Lynch, a 23-year-old Walker BLOTTER resident, was shot staff at the empty basereports ball field before 9 p.m., according to school and police officials.

At approximately 9:07 p.m., a caller notified Livingston police that a man had been shot in the chest and was having difficulty breathing, police said. Dispatch determined the call was coming from a traveling car transporting Lynch. The vehicle was eventually located off Red Oak Road, and emergency personnel began treating him.

Lynch was then transported to a Baton Rouge hospital for treat-

ment, according to police. He died from his injuries shortly after midnight.

Officers detained the driver and another passenger in the vehicle for questioning. They determined the driver, 19-year-old Baton Rouge resident Brandon Soileau, fired the fatal shot, police said.

He was booked into the Livingston Parish Detention Center on counts of first-degree murder, aggravated burglary, obstruction of justice and tampering with surveillance.

Police Chief Randy Dufrene said the shooting did not involve Livingston residents or Doyle High students, and that the schools and town were not being targeted.

Doyle High School Principal Ashley Sharp said the school will review its security measures to determine how improvements can be made. The park has a bar gate to prohibit vehicle traffic when the field is closed, and security cameras monitor the area, she said.

Deputies say pound of cocaine found near LSU

being used for drug distribution.

Undercover agents purchased cocaine from Cole in the complex’s A 20-year-old man was arrested parking lot before his arrest, the Thursday after authorities found Sheriff’s Office said.

Cole admitted to possession of more than a pound of cocaine and $11,000 in cash at his apartment cocaine, a handgun and the money next to LSU’s Baton Rouge cam- after his arrest, and also admitted pus, according to the East Baton to selling the drugs, deputies said.

Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office.

The Sheriff’s Office issued a search warrant for the apartment after hours of surveillance on Nathan Cole. In their search, depuOne person was booked into the ties also found two firearms, pills, East Baton Rouge Parish Prison digital scales with cocaine residue between noon Friday and noon and plastic baggies, according to a Saturday on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. news release. n Joshua Simmons, 28, BaCole faces counts of drug distribution, possession of drugs and il- ton Rouge: operating a vehicle while intoxicated; possession of legal carrying of weapons.

Cole identifies as an LSU busi- firearm or carrying concealed ness finance student on his social weapon by a person convicted of certain felonies; reckless opmedia.

Agents had identified his resi- eration of a vehicle; following dence at the Park Place apart- too close; possession\distribuments in the 200 block of Boyd tion manufacturing Schedule Drive, next to the LSU campus, as I drug.

One booked on suspicion of DWI in EBR Parish

Former New Orleans schools fail to sell at auction Deals would have helped board’s $50M deficit

BY STEPHANIE RIEGEL

Staff writer

A recent auction of several vacant school buildings and empty lots proved disappointing for the Orleans Parish School Board: Only one of the six properties attracted a buyer. None of the others, including a historic art deco building on Carondelet Street downtown, even got a bid.

The live auction, held April 30, was intended to help the cashstrapped School Board begin the process of offloading dozens of pieces of surplus property that it has been carrying on its books for years.

If the properties had sold for their appraised value, they could have generated as much as $11 million for the school board, which is dealing with a $50 million deficit.

Instead, the agency will realize less than $1 million from the sale of just one property — the former Jean Gordon Elementary School on Chatham Drive in Gentilly, according to NAI/Latter & Blum real estate broker Paul Richard, who is marketing the properties for the school board.

The 115,000-square-foot building sold for its minimum asking price of $977,500.

Richard said the sluggish response to the auction illustrates the headwinds local brokers are

OPTIONS

Continued from page 1B Moore said. “They say people vote with their pocketbook, so we believe that that probably had some effect on voters. And then we had the governor’s four propositions … so we think those three things really changed everything.”

The sour mood appeared to impact East Baton Rouge’s school system’s renewals on the same ballots last week, as each passed by a thin margin.

Though it saw some support from White Democrats, the measure failed across most other groups — especially in Baker, Central, St. George and Zachary, where questions persist about whether those cities are paying their fair share for parishwide services.

The clear feedback from voters has Moore switching gears, looking elsewhere for options to boost his budget.

Following the proposal’s defeat, Moore met with Landry on Monday and East Baton Rouge Parish Mayor-President Sid Ed-

SCHOOL

Continued from page 1B need to pass with a majority vote of the entire state and the entire parish affected, in this case, East Baton Rouge.

If voters agree, the plan is to open the doors of the new St. George school district in July 2027.

As far as legacy costs, the current legislation, as written, deals only with the costs of those who retire from the parish school system and are rehired by St. George

facing as they seek to sell old schools, churches and vacant buildings amid concerns about inflation, insurance costs and interest rates.

“It’s like all real estate today,” Richard said. “We’re bumping up against the three ‘I’s’ which is making the cost of redevelopment more challenging.”

School Board President Katie Baudouin said the board was disappointed that more properties didn’t sell, “but we generated a lot of interest and are hopeful that at a lower price we’ll sell others.”

Complicated deals Despite the lack of bidders at the auction, there was no shortage of interest in the properties, according to Richard. The crown jewel of the portfolio, the former L.E. Rabouin Memorial School building at 727 Carondelet St., in particular, generated inquiries from potential buyers, he said.

The 88-year-old, three-story building is in the heart of the Warehouse District on the St. Charles streetcar line and lends itself to redevelopment as a hotel or apartment complex. With off-street parking on Baronne Street and a courtyard that could be turned into a swimming pool area, it has an appraised value of $6.5 million and required a minimum bid of $5 million.

The building’s storied past includes a prominent role in an MTV-era music video of Bruce Springsteen’s “Human Touch.”

In the video, a forlorn-looking

Springsteen wanders past the building on a dark, rainy night and, eventually, goes inside.

While the broader economic pressures on the real estate market may have led to the lack of bids on the building, Richard believes the process was further hamstrung because redeveloping old properties requires complex financing arrangements and tax credits.

“And this building wasn’t conducive to a short-term auction format,” he said. “It takes more time, typically, and a lot of due diligence.”

By law, the School Board has to auction surplus property for a minimum of 85% of its appraised value.

Properties that didn’t sell this time will be auctioned again in late June at a reduced price of 80% of their appraised value.

New school? New housing?

While the auction did not generate the response School Board officials had hoped, one property that was originally listed for sale was later removed from the portfolio after a local charter school signaled its interest in purchasing it.

The former Arthur Ashe Elementary School at 401 Nashville Ave., a century-old building on a 1-acre campus, was listed for $3.17 million. Before the auction, the Willow School sent a letter of intent to the School Board indicating their interest in the property, according to Baudoin.

The Willow School is a charter school with two campuses

Uptown, one for its elementary school and another for its high school. It is unclear what the charter school’s board has planned for the building or, even, if a deal will be finalized.

But according to minutes from the Willow School board’s February meeting, the property “could help to alleviate some of the space challenges that have come with our expansion.”

The Willow School did not return a call requesting comment.

As for the former Jean Gordon School in Gentilly, a spokesperson for the Orleans Parish School Board said the property was sold to an entity called Blue New Orleans LLC. Efforts to locate the entity or an individual associated with it were unsuccessful.

Real estate experts say that the Gentilly area around the school, which was devastated by flooding after Hurricane Katrina, has seen redevelopment as single-family neighborhoods over the past two decades and that the property could be turned into new housing stock.

“It’s one of the few areas where young people can afford to buy, so it’s showing signs of growth,” said Bush Benton, an appraiser with Stegall, Benton and Associates.

Baudouin said she spoke to a representative of Blue New Orleans at the auction and they told her they have no plans yet for the property.

public divide continued in private.

Dozens of written comments demonstrate industry leaders and officials supporting it, with residents living near the proposed plant opposed.

Last week, the company’s new CEO said the facility’s production date was delayed to 2028 or 2029, adding that the company planned to sell the facility’s carbon capture and ammonia portions.

In an email to The Advocate on Thursday, Air Products spokesperson Christina Stephens said the company is still moving forward with engineering, permitting and work under existing contracts.

“We are also in ongoing discussions with potential outside investors and offtakers for the project,” she said. “… Construction activities at the site are providing the soil we’re donating to help with LDEQ’s solution at the former L’Alumina facility.”

For years, red dust from the site of the former L’Alumina plant has blown into the neighboring Pelican Point subdivision. Under the recent agreement, Air Products will donate surplus construction soil for the environmental cleanup project at the site.

The company donated more than $4.4 million to community initiatives in 2023 and 2024. It awarded $50,000 to Livingston Parish last fall to rebuild the Maurepas School greenhouse, which was destroyed by Hurricane Ida. In Ascension Parish, $280,000 has gone to the River Parishes Community College Foundation and $120,000 to the Ascension Parks Foundation.

Officials wrote support letters Three elected officials who didn’t speak at the hearing wrote in favor of it, with some referencing community engagement like the L’Alumina project.

Ascension Parish President Clint Cointment, council member Oliver Joseph and Sheriff Bobby Webre all wrote letters of support. Cointment pointed to the 170 permanent jobs and the company’s contributions, saying the project “will bring important benefits to our community.”

A few local residents expressed support, with a Geismar man stating he wanted his grandchildren to stay within the area and have similar job opportunities he had.

Leaders and employees of construction businesses and industry groups across the area also wrote, with notes from the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association, Lake Area Industry Alliance and Greater Baton Rouge Industry Alliance.

Asked if the company or affiliates sent out talking points to businesses and officials, Stephens said, “Individual groups and contractors, they submitted the comments they want to submit.”

Some oppose project wards on Tuesday.

Moore said the mayor asked him to send his office a breakdown of immediate budget needs if his staff is able to find money in the city-parish’s already tightened budget.

“We’re asking the mayor to do a midyear budget adjustment, if he’s able to give us some money to allow us to grow a little bit,” Moore said.

Edwards came out in strong support of the district attorney tax in the weeks leading up to election day. Had the measure passed, the city-parish could have redirected the $8.7 million it currently allocates to Moore’s office to other budget areas in need of funding.

“While the failed millage was a setback, we respect the people’s vote and our administration is exploring all viable avenues to bolster the DA’s budget and maintain the integrity of the parish’s criminal justice system,” said Bill Sherman, Edwards’ director of communications, via email on Thursday.

Though it is not unusual for a new administration to submit an amended budget midway

through a first term, Sherman declined to comment whether that is currently being worked on.

Sherman said some funds would go to the District Attorney’s Office if voters approve the mayor’s ”Thrive! East Baton Rouge” plan in November. That property tax plan is set to appear on ballots as multiple proposals and would rededicate some funding currently given to the library system, the Council on Aging and mosquito abatement back to the city-parish.

Edwards remains committed to ensuring the District Attorney’s Office “receives the necessary resources to effectively seek justice for victims and their families,” Sherman said.

Moore also is targeting possible help from the state government.

After meeting with Landry earlier this week, the district attorney hopes to get the opportunity to testify before a committee of state legislators and present his case as to why he needs money to add assistant district attorneys to his office.

For each assistant district at-

torney in Louisiana, the state currently gives $50,000 to help pay that attorney’s salary. The amount is well below a competitive rate for either a new or seasoned prosecutor, but every bit helps.

Though Moore’s office oversees the most populous jurisdiction in Louisiana, he currently only receives those funds for 55 ADAs. Meanwhile, Orleans Parish, the third-most populous in Louisiana, gets funds for 83 ADAs. “I’m going to ask for funding for 15 additional ADAs,” Moore said, calling that the “minimum” number for his office to keep up with its backlog of more than 11,000 cases.

“We need this money. We need this not for any other reason but to serve the public and serve our victims,” Moore said.

“So we’re not going away. We’re here. We’re going to continue to fight for our victims. And we’ll also continue to fight for a fair, funded office.”

schools. Opponents argue that the total retiree legacy cost is much greater.

Sen. Regina Barrow, D-Baton Rouge, was the only senator to speak in opposition to the St. George bills on Thursday. She asked Edmonds to estimate the financial impact of a new school district on the parish school system. She said she has heard numbers as high as $58 million.

Edmonds said that number came from a parish School Board member, whom he did not name.

The senator said he is waiting on numbers from an actuary.

“I heard (the board member’s) number, but I can’t verify it,” Edmonds said. “It could be greater or less.”

“So you will be working with them as you go through this process so it does not leave a gaping hole in the East Baton Rouge Parish school system?” Barrow asked Edmonds.

Edmonds stopped short of making such a promise, but said “we’re working on it.”

Barrow also questioned the cross-district magnet school provision, noting that Baker, Central and Zachary had no such arrangement.

“I’m trying to understand the rationale of, if they want a new school system, why would they want to remain?” Barrow asked.

Edmonds acknowledged that the cross-district enrollment provision is new and said he likes the idea but is not married to it.

“If it’s overwhelmingly unpopular by the time we get to the end, I will amend it out,” Edmonds said.

Fierce opposition from families with children in magnet schools was crucial in the failure in the 2012 and 2013 legislation.

Email Patrick Sloan-Turner at patrick.sloan-turner@ theadvocate.com.

Email Charles Lussier at clussier@theadvocate.com.

While industry affiliates expressed support, environmental advocacy groups including Louisiana Bucket Brigade, Earthworks, RISE St. James, Healthy Gulf and Sierra Club wrote in opposition.

But the tension surrounding the facility was underscored most through letters written by some residents of Sorrento and the Pelican Point subdivision, which sits within 2 miles of the project.

A Pelican Point resident said she supported new jobs and revenue but was “vehemently opposed” to the Air Products facility. Another criticized tax breaks given to industrial companies.

A board member of a homeowners association took no position but requested that the company work with HOAs in the area on developing emergency procedures.

Meanwhile, a teacher, a bus driver and a parent associated with the Sorrento Primary School opposed the permit. The bus driver worried about pollution, noise and traffic, while the parent said placing such a facility near the school showed “a clear disregard for the health and safety of the very people who make this community vibrant.”

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

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Family of murder-suicide victim grapples with loss ‘Never thought it would come to this’

BY JA’KORI MADISON Staff writer

Known for her lighthearted spirit and natural caring instinct, Samantha Breaux’s loss leaves a giant hole, her family said Thursday.

They are coming to terms with the death of the 27-yearold, who was shot by her partner, 30-year-old Jonovan Dauphine, the morning of May 3 in the parking lot of Legends, a Lafayette bar and restaurant on Johnston Street. Dauphine then shot himself, according to Lafayette Police.

“She had such a mothering spirit,” said Breaux’s sister, Moe Breaux. “I mean, she enjoyed taking care of others, being with her sons, but always there for her family, including me.”

A native of Church Point, Breaux worked as a financial adviser for a number of years and recently graduated from cosmetology school.

Her family described her as someone who could tell or take a joke and loved motherhood.

A mother of two, Breaux’s oldest son, Odin James, is 8.

Her youngest son, Graham Alexander, is 7. Both are from a previous relationship with Dennis Guerrero, whom she dated for nine years before meeting Dauphine.

Dauphine and Breaux had been together for about three years, according to her family.

Breaux’s friends and family members said the relationship seemed to be healthy until recently.

“Samantha saw the good in everyone; that’s the kind of person she was, Guerrero said. “As far as I knew, her and Dauphine were OK. Until they weren’t.”

Dauphine had a history of domestic abuse, according to Lafayette Parish court records. In 2019, documents show he threatened a previous partner at gunpoint and burned some of the woman’s items.

The incident resulted in a protective order issued by the court, and Dauphine was charged with domestic abuse Guerrero said his sons recently began showing signs they were worried about their mother.

“Whenever Odin was with

other family members, including me, he would want to call his mom,” Guerrero said. “He always wanted to make sure she was OK.” Her family said Breaux had recently talked about leaving Dauphine.

On May 3, Samantha’s father, Paul Breaux, answered a knock at his door to find Church Point Police officers. They told him his daughter had been murdered.

“I had suspicions, but never this. I never thought it would come to this. I never thought I would lose my daughter this way,” he said.

Louisiana consistently leads the nation in domestic homicides and has ranked among the top five almost every year since 1997, according to the Louisiana Department of Health.

Kristen Boutte, the director of prevention and development at Faith House in Lafayette, a shelter for domestic violence victims, said it’s important to know the signs of abuse. And for families who suspect abuse, it’s important to encourage their loved ones and empower them to get help.

“No one asks to be a part of an abusive relationship,

ICE agents make arrests at Jefferson Parish courthouse Trump administration upends policies on ‘sensitive’ areas

BY JAMES FINN Staff writer

Plainclothes Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents entered a Jefferson Parish municipal court building in Metairie last week and detained three people, according to immigrant advocates and a Jefferson Parish official.

The two agents waited in the lobby of the First Parish Court building in Metairie on Thursday morning, according to Rachel Taber, a member of migrant advocacy group Union Migrante, whose members research and confirm reports of ICE activity through eyewitness accounts. At around 12:30 p.m., the agents detained a woman and two men who had been in court to enter guilty pleas for driving while intoxicated, Taber said.

The judicial administrator for the First Parish Court, Donald Finger, told WWL Louisiana that ICE agents had entered the courthouse and “detained a few people,” the station reported Friday.

Finger told WWL that he was not aware the agents would be conducting enforcement operations there before the arrests occurred.

Finger’s office did not immediately respond to a phone message from The Times-Picayune.

The arrests appear to mark an escalation of President Donald Trump’s sweeping second-term

immigration agenda. Federal agency policies long deemed courthouses, schools and other public spaces off-limits for immigration agents conducting enforcement operations — a standard Trump has sought to upend since taking office.

Additional details about those detained on Thursday were not immediately available. WWL reported that the identities of the detainees matched those of people who had been in court for appearances related to DWI charges.

Trump issued an executive order in January rolling back a mandate against immigration enforcement agents targeting schools, churches and other “sensitive” areas.

ICE agents were given a directive around that time to perform enforcement operations within courthouses, too, in another break from agency policy, according to a memo obtained and published by ABC News.

“ICE officers or agents may conduct civil immigration enforcement actions in or near courthouses when they have credible information that leads them to believe the targeted alien(s) is or will be present at a specific location, and where such action is not precluded by laws imposed by the jurisdiction in which the enforcement action will take place,” the memo said.

The arrests in Louisiana this week were not the first inside a courthouse since Trump took office. Federal immigration agents in recent weeks took multiple defendants into custody at the courthouse complex in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin.

The Department of Homeland Security, ICE’s

u m b r e l l a a g e n c y, i ssued a news release this week touting arrests of at least seven migrants at courthouses across the country.

“The ability of law enforcement to make arrests of criminal illegal aliens in courthouses is common sense,” Assistant DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in the prepared statement.

Arresting migrants inside courthouses, she said, conserves law enforcement resources because agents “already know where a target will be.” Agents can also approach immigrants within courthouses with the knowledge they are unarmed, McLaughlin said.

An ICE spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Thursday’s arrests.

Taber, the Union Migrante advocate, said the arrests risk deterring migrants from participating in court proceedings.

“How many victims will now be afraid to approach this courthouse to testify against someone who wronged them, knowing that ICE has unrestricted access to its halls?” she said.

Email James Finn at jfinn@theadvocate.com.

but when it happens, some survivors don’t see it. Noticing signs ahead of time, if possible, can make a difference from the survivor’s side or the family,” said Boutte.

Some of those signs include jealousy, controlling behavior, isolation, threats of violence and verbal abuse.

Boutte advises anyone who suspects their loved ones or themselves in an abusive relationship to reach out to Faith House by calling (888) 411-1333 or the local outreach center at (337) 232-8954.

As Samantha Breaux’s family navigates a life without her, they say they are coming together to provide support for her sons.

“It sucks, but we are here as family and will continue to raise her boys. We want her to be remembered as a supermom, someone with such a kind spirit and a giver,” Moe Breaux said.

Funeral services for Samantha Breaux were held Saturday at Guidry Funeral Home in Church Point.

PHOTO PROVIDED By MOE BREAUX

Samantha Breaux, of Church Point, who was shot in a murder-suicide on May 3 in Lafayette, is pictured with her two boys, Odin James and Graham Alexander Guerrero.

Email Ja’kori Madison at jakori.madison@ theadvocate.com.

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4B ■ Sunday, May 11, 2025 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

Obituaries Doucet, David Keith

David Keith Doucet passed away on Saturday, April 26, 2025 at his home in Saraland, Alabama. Keith, as he was best known, was born on November 9, 1956, in New Roads, Louisiana, to Clarence "C.V." and Gloria Ann Doucet, nee Leger.

In his youth, Keith was a lover of animals and science and throughout the years grew into reading and music. He embraced all aspects of Cajun culture and life; well known for gathering with his friends and family while cooking a pot of something that would certainly be delicious.

Keith is survived by his four children: Misty Doucet (Jeremy) of Central, Louisiana; Jeremy Doucet of Pride, Louisiana; Kelly Doucet (Chris) of Greenwell Springs, Louisiana; and Nikki Doucet Broussard (Destin) of Lafayette, Louisiana; his eight grandchildren and one greatgrandchild; and two siblings: Angela Doucet Rand (Michael) of Fairhope, Alabama and Bryan Doucet (Deena) of Jarreau, Louisiana.

Gauthier, Dorothy Dean Craft

Dorothy Dean Craft Gauthier, a resident of Prairieville, LA passed away on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, at the age of 86.

Family and friends are invited to attend the services on Monday, May 12, 2025, at Ourso Funeral Home, 13533 Airline Hwy. Gonzales, LA. Visitation will be from 9 am until the funeral service at 11 am.

She will be laid to rest at Prairieville Cemetery 37577 Duplessis Rd, Prairieville, LA. Arrangements by Ourso Funeral Home of Gonzales. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.oursofh.com for the Gauthier family.

Harbourt, Helen Maude

Helen Maude Babin Harbourt, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, greatgrandmother, sister, and friend, passed away peacefully on April 25, 2025, at age 101. She was born on Nov. 30, 1923, in Cornerview, LA, to Jerome Euclyde "Clyde" Babin & Eugenie Hebert Babin.

Helen grew up first on a farm in Ascension Parish and later the grounds of the National Hansen's Disease Center near St. Gabriel where her father was facility mechanic and chauffeur. She learned Cajun cooking and culture from her extended Babin and Hebert families and spoke primarily French until she started school. In high school, Helen was a cheerleader and a volunteer candy-striper at a local hospital. She loved playing tennis both as a girl and as a life-long passion, playing well into her 80's. She won many tennis trophies in the Baton Rouge area and Senior Olympics.

She married the love of her life, Francis J. "Shorty" Harbourt, shortly after he returned from service in the U.S. Navy in World War II, where he was first a Chief Motor Machinist Mate on a landing craft tank carrier, then served in Underwater Demolition

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Team 27 - a forerunner to the Navy Seals. They made their home in Baton Rouge while Shorty attended LSU and then worked as a mechanical engineer for Delta Tank. Helen and Shorty soon had four children: Christine, Ted, Tom and Greg.

Among her greatest accomplishments was being a devoted wife and mother, supporting Shorty after he contracted polio until his early death in 1966. Helen then raised her children on her own and was their biggest fan at their numerous volleyball, baseball and football games.

She encouraged their hunting and fishing activities, and would cook whatever bounty they brought home, including making crawfish bisque from the catch out of the "Rumboogie River."

After her youngest finished school, Helen had over a 20-year career working for LSU's Career Planning and Placement Dept. There she assisted innumerable students in obtaining their education and finding their life's work. One of her favorite events was the annual LSU retiree Christmas luncheon. She was an ardent LSU baseball fan, rarely missing a game on the radio or TV. She was deeply proud that all of her children obtained college degrees from LSU. Helen attended St. Jude Catholic Church for decades. She served as a greeter for Sunday Mass for many years and always contributed her famous chocolate cake to every bake sale. Her faith was central to her life, and she firmly believed in the equality and humanity of all people.

Helen will be remembered more than anything else for being such a wonderful grandmother. She was strict but fun, often engaging in races down the driveway with one or more of the "grands" or teaching them swimming & tennis. Her Sunday rice & gravy dinners were legendary, as was her famous "Grandma bread."

Her memory will forever be cherished, and she will be deeply missed.

Helen is survived by her children, Christine Burton (Harry), Ted Harbourt (Susan), Tom Harbourt (Maureen), all of Baton Rouge, and Greg Harbourt of Huntsville, AL. She is also survived by 9 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren: Josh Burton (Kerri & children Jake, Lily & Andy) of Houston, TX; Dan Burton (Lindsey & sons Rhodes and Miller) of Atlanta, GA; Tracy McLaughlin (Richard & children Trey & Caroline) of Windermere, FL; Jennifer Aucoin (Travis & son Hunter) of Thibodaux, LA; Leslie Pendleton (Aaron & children Luke, Chase & Sadie) of Gonzales, LA; Sam Harbourt (Karim Kentfield) of San Francisco; Francis Joseph Harbourt, of Brooklyn, NY; Tyler Harbourt (sons Maddox and Camden) of Lafayette; and Lee Harbourt of Lafayette, LA. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her sisters Clara Belle Amedee & Vivian Philippe and her brothers Malcom Babin & Euclyde "Nick" Babin, and her lifelong friend, Necia Wintz Waggenspack.

We, the family of Helen extend our heartfelt gratitude to the wonderful staff at Old Jefferson Community Care Center and to Zhanna Bennett of the Notre Dame Hospice of Greater Baton Rouge. Your care, compassion, and kindness to Helen were greatly appreciated.

Funeral services to honor Helen will be held Friday, May 16, 2025, at Most Blessed Sacrament Church in Baton Rouge, with visitation at 10:00 a.m. and a memorial Mass at 11:00 a.m. A reception will be held in the church hall after the Mass. A private interment will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, we kindly request that donations be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or to Wounded Warriors.

Hymel Jr., Adam Davis 'Cocolo'

Adam (Cocolo) Davis Hymel, Jr. entered eternal life on May 7, 2025. Adam was born in Convent, LA on May 6, 1928 to the late Adam Davis Hymel and An‐ nette Ballot Hymel. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 67 years, Pearl Brignac Hymel and siblings Joyce, Chester, Richard and Hillard Hymel and Shirley Hymel Kinler.

Adam is survived by his children: Douglas Hymel, (Pamela) Hymel, Jerry Chester Hymel, Rhonda Rios, Marlene (Marco) (Mike) Yoes, Darlene (Bill) Marquis and Susan (Guy) He was a Stillinger. beloved grandfather to 10:

Douglas (Tabitha) Hymel II, Hymel, Jeremy Dillon (Danielle) Hymel, Adam McEvoy, Nicole (Marc) Mc‐ Closkey, Marc (Rachel) Rios, Michael (Autumn) Yoes Jr., Jared Yoes, Zain (Jessica) Stillinger, Andrew Stillinger; and (Stevi) great-grandfather to 14: Abby and Lilly Hymel, Is‐ abella and Ryland Hymel, Grace and Olivia Mc‐ Naomi Rios, Closkey, Mason Yoes, Ty, Jase and Mia Yoes, Riley Stillinger and Lyla and Luna Still‐ inger. Adam is also sur‐ vived by his brother, Curtis Hymel and sisters-in-law, Dorothy Louviere and Es‐ ther Brignac, and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. Adam was a veteran of the U.S. Navy. He retired from Shell Chemical Norco in 1988. He enjoyed fishing at his camp in Cocodrie, baseball, LSU and was an active partici‐ pant in the American Le‐ gion for many years. The family would like to thank Randy Bergeron and family for ministering the Holy Eucharist to Adam every Sunday. He was a resident of Destrehan, LA for over 70 years. Relatives and friends are invited to at‐ tend visitation on Thurs‐ day, May 15 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Convent, LA from 9-11 am with mass and burial following. In lieu of flowers, masses pre‐ ferred at St. Charles Bor‐ romeo Catholic Church, De‐ strehan, LA.

Landry, Carol Gene

Carol Gene Landry passed away at the age of 81 at his home in Baton Rouge on May 5, 2025. Carol was born in Baton Rouge on June 12, 1943. He and his sister Patsy were raised by doting parents in the Dixie neighborhood.

Carol and his dog Rusty were inseparable, and they had many outdoor adventures with the neighborhood kids. His family loved spending time with extended family around Louisiana, especially in Grande Isle and on Grandpa Rushing's farm in Walker. He worked odd jobs, like paperboy, bell hop, and soda jerk, while attending Istrouma High School. At 17, he joined the Marine Corps. The four years he spent in San Diego and overseas were among the greatest of his life. He told stories for the next 60 years about his military escapades in Thailand. After being honorably discharged, Carol returned home to Baton Rouge. He spent many years working odd jobs until he began working for EBRSO in 1981. Carol loved working as a deputy. He worked at the parish prison until his retirement 38 years later. He drove the paddy wagon to LSU home games, and he was in charge of the GED program for inmates. He also loved working security details at St. James Episcopal Church and Day School. The families and staff were like his extended family. He was a fixture there for nearly 30 years. Carol was a devout Catholic. He soothed his mind and spirit with prayer, and he was grateful for receiving communion while in Our Lady of the Lake Hospital. Carol is survived by his wife of 30 years, Tanya Johansen Landry; his children, Kelly Romagosa, Emily Landry Bueche (Amanda), Isaac Landry (Lundon), and Tessie Landry; his grandchildren, Scott McDaniel (Meghan), Jessica McDaniel (Daniel), Michael McDaniel (Jessica), and Penelope Landry; greatgrandchildren, Aria, Winnie, Gabriel, and Jasper; and his nieces, Simone Buras, Adrienne Derouen and their families. Carol was preceded in death by his parents, Ulysses and Tessie Rushing Landry; his sister, Patsy Derouen; and his son-in-law, Woody Romagosa.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend the Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, May 12, 2025, at St. Joseph Cathedral, 401 Main Street in Baton Rouge. A Visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m. with Graveside services to follow at Roselawn Memorial Park, 4045 North Street in Baton Rouge.

Carol's family would like to thank Dr. Militello and his staff, Audubon Home Health, and Audubon Hospice for their care and compassion. l ill b b d

Carol will be remembered for his love, kindness, and generosity. He will also be remembered for his faith, his love of nature, and his appreciation for good food.

Maldonado, Penny

What is remembered lives.

Penny Maldonado was born in Thornton, CO in August 2005. She was raised in Baton Rouge, LA and died in February, 2025 in Ruston, LA where she was a student at Louisiana Tech. She could be quiet and seemingly shy but to friends and family, she was nothing less than gregarious and fun to be around. We mourn all the adventures she could have taken part in.

In lieu of flowers, her mother asks that donations be made to Louisiana Trans Advocates. https:// www.latransadvocates.or g/donate Hail the Traveler!

Miller, Jo-Ann Daigle

On May 2, 2025, Jo-Ann Daigle Miller went peacefully to be with her Lord and Savior at the age of 81.

Jo-Ann loved spending time with family and friends and tailgating for our LSU Tigers. She was always the life of the party.

Jo-Ann is a graduate of Redemptorist High School, class of 1961. She was a cheerleader and won honors in basketball and softball.

Jo-Ann married the love of her life, Paul J. Miller on April 19, 1966.

Jo-Ann is preceded in death by her parents Joseph W. and Bertha (Bourgeois) Daigle and is survived by her husband Paul, son Joseph Lee Miller (Kyle), sister Beverly Daigle Turner, nieces, nephews, cousins and her many dear friends.

Special thanks to the Guest House of Central for their kindness and loving care.

A celebration of her life will be held at Live Oak Church 34890 La-16 in Watson, LA on Friday, May 16, 2025, with the celebration beginning at 9:30 and service starting at 11:00. Following the service, you are invited to visit her family and friends at Rudy's on La -16.

Odum, Willie Joyce 'Billie'

Mrs. Willie Joyce "Billie" Odum, daughter of Houston Henry Deen and Doris Chance Deen, was born March 29, 1934 in Lone Star, Mississippi. She was the sixth of eight daughters. She attended schools in Covington County and graduated from Spencer Business Institute in Mobile, Alabama. At an early age she professed her faith in Jesus Christ and joined the Lone Star United Methodist Church She was united in holy matrimony to Elton Jefferson Odum in November of 1953. Mrs. Odum was an active member of the First Southern Methodist Church, Oakcrest Baptist, and Lanier Baptist. As a result of her open spirit and infectious personality, she was loved by many. Her Christian life was fruitful as she served in the choir, as a Sunday school teacher, and too many committees to list.

Her influence will remain in the lives of the ones who knew her.

Billie had many dear friends, each of whom will forever cherish their own memories with her. She led an incredible and fun-filled

life with lots of laughter and love. She enjoyed raising her children, spending time with family and friends, and fishing at the camp at Bayou Sorrel. She enjoyed garage sales, traveling with her husband, and lost the love of her life when Elton passed away She quietly departed this life on May 2, 2025 at the Saint Clare nursing home in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She was preceded in death by her husband, Elton Odum; son, Daryl Evans Odum; and her daughter-in-law, Penny Williams Odum. Her life will forever be cherished by her sons, Dale (Denise) and Dennis Odum; her grandchildren Dylan (Jamie), Kennon (Gabriella), Paul (Alissa), Michael (Veronica), and Nicole Bryant (Shelton); her ten great-grandchildren and a host of devoted nieces, nephews, cousins.

The family would like to extend their appreciation to the caregivers at St. Clare and Clarity Hospice.

Services will be at Greenoaks Funeral Home 9595 Florida Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA 70815. Visitation will begin at 9:30am on Monday May 12th with a service following at 11:30am.

Petermann, Jane

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Jane Petermann, originally from Germany, who left us peacefully on April 21, 2025, at the age of 76. Jane was a beloved wife, sister, and friend who touched the lives of all who knew her.

Jane was born in Emsdetten Germany to the late Wactaw and Stanislawa Adamcewicz on December 3, 1948. She moved to the United States where she graduated from Fortier High School in New Or-

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leans in 1966. A woman of strong Catholic faith, she lived her life guided by values of compassion and kindness, serving as an inspiration to everyone around her.

Throughout her life, Jane was known for her remarkable work ethic and love for her career. Even after retiring, her passion for hard work led her to a new adventure at a local motel, where her warm personality and welcoming smile left a lasting impression on guests and colleagues alike.

Jane had an insatiable love for reading, particularly romance and mystery novels, often getting lost in fictional worlds that sparked her imagination.

She also adored animals, especially dogs, and her gentle spirit brought joy to every furry friend who crossed her path.

A laid-back individual at heart, Jane cherished her moments of relaxation, often enjoying sunny afternoons at the beach in Florida, where she found tranquility in the sound of the waves and the warmth of the sun. She had a penchant for savoring an occasional glass of wine, embracing the simple pleasures life had to offer.

She is preceded in death by her parents, and two brothers Stanley Adamcewicz and John Adamcewicz.

Jane is survived by her loving husband, of 44 years, Michael Petermann; sister Irene Barclay; brother "Pas" Adamcewicz; and many nieces, nephews, and friends who will forever remember her warmth, laughter, and the joy she brought into their lives.

She will be deeply missed but will remain in our hearts as a guardian angel, watching over us from above.

A private family service for family and friends will be held at Jefferson Memorial Gardens in Kenner, Louisiana. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.GrossFuneralHome.c om for the Petermann family.

Rest in peace, dear Jane.

Your spirit will live on in the hearts of those you touched.

Price, Bonnie Sue Laborde Kemp

It is with great sadness that the family of Bonnie Sue Laborde, who was later known as Bonnie Laborde Kemp and Bonnie Kemp Price, announces her passing on Thursday, May 8, 2025, at the age of 92, after a courageous battle with Alzheimer's disease. She is survived by her children, Karen Kemp (Jim Seidule) and Scott Kemp; granddaughter, Donna Ritchie; great-granddaughters, Riley and Hailey Sisung; and stepson, Jerry Price. She is preceded in death by her mother and adoptive father, Marguerite (McAdams) and Tommy Thompson. Bonnie was first married to Jerry "Happy" Kemp and later to Logan Price, both of whom passed away before her.

Visitation will be at Greenoaks Funeral Home, 9595 Florida Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA, on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, from 8am until the time of funeral services at 10am. Burial will immediately follow at Greenoaks Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Bonnie's name to Clarity Health Services, 9191 Bluebonnet Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70810, or by calling (225) 291-4700. Family and friends are invited to sign the online guestbook at www.greenoaksfunerals.c om

John was born on July 18, 1941, in a small Louisiana town to Joe and Lola Redmond. As the eldest of three brothers, he took pride in leading by example and was a guiding presence for his siblings, Andrew and Paul. From an early age, John was instilled with the values of hard work, self-reliance, and perseverance—principles he carried with him throughout his life. A lifelong learner and deep thinker, John had a passion for books of all kinds. From classic literature, science fiction, science fact and philosophy, his love of reading sparked his curiosity and expanded his awareness of the world and beyond. But John didn't just dream—he acted.

Inspired by the birth of Rock 'n Roll in the 1950s, he transformed his love of playing the piano as a child into a lifelong passion for music. He was a talented pianist and singer who delighted friends and family with his ability to "tickle the ivories" and fill a room with joy. He was also a gifted painter whose art reflected his sensitivity and imagination, and a licensed pilot who found freedom and joy in the skies. Whether at the canvas or in the cockpit, John approached every pursuit with wonder, discipline, and quiet confidence. After graduating from Greensburg High School in 1959, John explored many paths.

He volunteered in political campaigns, served a tour of duty in the Army, studied at LSU, and ultimately became a master electrician, a trade that brought him pride and purpose.

The true beginning of his greatest adventure came when he met Maria Eluvia Zambrano, a young woman visiting Baton Rouge from Guatemala. For John, it was love at first sight. The two married in 1971 and spent 54 beautiful years together. Their love gave life to their son, Jason Richard and their daughter, Jasmine Melinda, born in 1978.

Above all else, John was devoted to his family. He worked tirelessly to provide a loving, stable, and joyful life for them, never allowing hardship to overshadow his commitment.

His love for Maria, Jason, and Jasmine was boundless and unwavering. John often reflected on life's greatest mysteries. To his son, he once said that the greatest adventure a person can face is death. And while he met that final adventure with courage, it was the way he lived—with love, integrity, and curiosity—that was his true triumph. John is survived by his beloved wife Maria, his children Jason and Jasmine, his brother Andrew, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lola and Joe, and his brother Paul. A celebration of life will be held on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, from 5:00 PM to 6:15 PM at Greenoaks Funeral Home, 9595 Florida Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA 70815, followed by a memorial service from 6:15 PM to 7:00 PM. John Davis Redmond will be deeply missed, but the legacy of his love, wisdom, and music will live on in all who knew him.

Riddick, Patricia Turner

Roblin, Newman Peter

Patricia Turner Riddick passed away on May 5th, 2025, in her hometown of Baton Rouge after a brief stay in hospice and a long battle with organ failure.

Despite challenges, she took to heart Matthew 25:14-30, and never buried her talents, nor did she allow others to bury theirs.

She dedicated herself to teaching students and fellow attorneys how to fight the twin devils of poverty: inequality and public corruption.

Pat was born in Buckhorn, KY in 1939 of tough hillbilly stock in coal mining country and spent early summers with her siblings Nancy and Earl Kenneth, Jr. at her grandparent's farm on the side of a mountain where her beloved grandmother, Nan Jones, taught her to respect and help the less fortunate.

The family moved to Lafayette for her father's professorship at USL (now ULL).

At Lafayette High, she studied speech with Novalyne Price. In the school choir with friends Gail Chachere Hartman and Jeanne Williams Cornay, she sang across the South from DC to Texas and their quartet took a senior road trip to Mississippi. Pat also loved the piano and excelled in math, science and social studies three loves she passed along to her son.

Pat received a bachelor's in political science at USL in 1961 with a minor in French and studied Russian. There in Spanish class, Pat met her future husband of 63 years, Winston Riddick, and they married on Christmas Day, 1961. She served as editor of the college paper, The Vermillion, and was elected SGA Secretary. In the summer of 1960, she participated in Operation Crossroads Africa, the precursor to the Peace Corps, where her group built a school in Guinea-work featured in a one-hour CBS Reports and an article that put her on the cover of Look Magazine.

She took PhD courses in political science at UNO, Tulane and Columbia University in New York, where she studied under Zbigniew Brzezinski and edited college textbooks for International Publishing, Inc. After receiving her law degree from LSU in 1982, she clerked for Judge Melvin Shortess on Louisiana's First Court of Appeal. She taught political science at Southern University for over 23 years, beginning in 1969, and took a particular interest in civil rights and constitutional law.

Newman Peter Roblin, aged 82, passed away on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.

Visitation will be at Rabenhorst Funeral Home East, 11000 Florida Blvd, on Monday, May 12, 2025, from 5pm until 8pm. Visitation will resume on Tuesday at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 11441 Goodwood Blvd, at 8:30am until Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30am. Burial will follow at Roselawn Cemetery. To view the full obituary and online guestbook, please visit www.rabenhorst.com.

Stewart, Johnathan Paul

(February 3, 1951 March 27, 2025) is survived by his daughter, Catherine Stewart, his significant other, Faye Weston, and his beloved dog Crawford.

He had an unforgettable voice and a sharp wit. His humor, friendship, generosity, and overall presence will be profoundly missed.

Sumrall, Helen Marie Williams Morris

Frankie Morris Erwin (Denny Erwin); granddaughters and their husbands, Paige Erwin Riley (Greg Riley); and Dr. April Erwin (Scott D'Agostino); great-grandchildren, Patrick Riley and Brooke Riley; as well as several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Joe and Frankie Williams; her first husband, Harlon Morris, and second husband, Marvin Sumrall; her two brothers, Joseph "Joe" Williams, Jr. (Othell), and Stanley Williams; and her sister, Eleanor Ledoux (Ernest). Her funeral will be held at Istrouma Baptist Church, Baton Rouge, on Saturday, May 17, 2025, with visitation from 9:00 a.m. until services at 11:00 a.m., conducted by Rev. Ron Lambe. Graveside services, led by Richard "Rick" Ledoux, will follow in Woodland Cemetery, Kentwood, LA. Pallbearers will be Greg Riley, Patrick Riley, Darryl Williams, Gerry Morris, Don Whatley, Larry Fussell, and Martin Burch. Honorary pallbearer will be Quintin Merrett.

Special thanks to Brandi Baker, RN, Pinnacle Hospice, whose faithful visits every Tuesday morning endeared her to the family. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in her name to Send Relief, https://www.sendrelief.or g, a collaboration between the International Mission Board and North American Mission Board, SBC, that responds to disasters and urgent needs at home and around the world. Please visit www.resthavenbatonr ouge.com to read the full

Helen Marie Williams Morris Sumrall, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend, peacefully passed away on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at the age of 98. Helen was born in Kentwood, Louisiana, on September 22, 1926. Over the years, her faith led her to actively serve in churches in every city where she lived, including Superior Avenue Baptist Church, Bogalusa, LA; and most recently, Istrouma Baptist Church, Baton Rouge. Helen is survived by her daughter,

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OPINION T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M/opinions

OUR VIEWS

La. Catholics welcome first American pope When the College of Cardinals convened last week to elect a new leader of the Roman Catholic Church after the death of Pope Francis, few knew what to expect. Would the bishops choose someone who would continue in Francis’ tradition, embracing openness while adhering strictly to church doctrine? Would they perhaps choose someone from burgeoning Catholic communities in places like Asia and Africa? Would they go in an entirely different direction?

On Thursday, when the white smoke emanated from above the Sistine Chapel in Rome, the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics got something of a surprise. Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, of Chicago, was selected pontiff, becoming the first pope of American descent. Prevost, who also holds Peruvian citizenship, took the name Leo XIV. In Louisiana, which has more than 1 million Roman Catholics among its 4.5 million residents and boasts the second-oldest diocese in the nation, the Archdiocese of New Orleans, the news created even more of a stir when it was learned that the new pope has familial ties to our state.

Jari Honora, a genealogist and historian with the Historic New Orleans Collection, said the 1900 Census shows that the new pope’s maternal grandparents were residents of the city’s 7th Ward and that the pope has Creole of color roots.

Even before that revelation, prayers for the new pope were being said in cathedrals, churches and chapels throughout the state. We add ours to that chorus.

It is no secret that the Roman Catholic Church in the United States and in Louisiana has faced difficulties in recent years. The clergy abuse scandal has left many with trauma and a sense of betrayal by the church. Likewise, differences of opinion over the direction of the church regarding some social issues have left fissures that often feel troubling.

However, the election of a pope is an opportunity to affirm anew the church’s mission in the world. We believe it is important to have leaders whose vision transcends national boundaries and who work to bring together people from many walks of life.

Pope Leo XIV emphasized this role of the church in his first words from the balcony above St. Peter’s Square, where throngs were gathered to greet him.

“We have to look together how to be a missionary church, building bridges, dialogue, always open to receiving with open arms for everyone, like this square, open to all, to all who need our charity, our presence, dialogue, love,” he said.

It’s undeniable that the pope occupies a unique position of moral leadership for the faithful. But alongside that, for people the world over, the pope can also provide a powerful reminder of our shared humanity. So, along with Catholics in Louisiana and around the world, we wish Pope Leo XIV the best and hope, as he leads his flock, he can render healing to all the world.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ARE WELCOME. HERE ARE OUR GUIDELINES: Letters are published identifying name, occupation and/or title and the writer’s city of residence.

The Advocate | The Times-Picayune require a street address and phone number for verification purposes, but that information is not published. Letters are not to exceed 300 words. Letters to the Editor, The Advocate, P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0588, or email letters@ theadvocate.com.

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Faith and government in Trump’s house President Donald Trump recently an- “... many historians consider this a mere political conversion, noting that nounced the establishment of a White Constantine knew nothing of religion House Faith Office. Its purpose, as without politics...” Does this described in a White House ansound familiar? nouncement, is to “...empower Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, faith-based entities, community who will head Trump’s commisorganizations, and houses of worship to better serve famision on religious liberty, said: “There’s never been a president lies and communities.” Don’t who has invoked the name of they already have access to a Cal more than you. There’s higher power?

Thomas Jesus never been a president who has There is no question that said ‘yes, I love Jesus, but I love Christians, especially, but also people of all faiths...”’

Jews and Muslims have been targets Never? Jimmy Carter comes to of discrimination and bias. Some have mind. Carter went to church and been violent as we’ve seen at several universities that have tolerated, and in taught a Sunday school class. Trump rarely enters a house of worship. some cases encouraged antisemitism.

Civil rights and other laws can address George W. Bush was open about his Christian faith. Trump can’t recite a those instances.

Persecution comes with faith. Scrip- single Bible verse.

During a speech in Michigan in ture says so. Totalitarian governments which he touted his accomplishments recognize only the power of the state. during his first 100 days in office, Politicians have sought for millenTrump said “hell” 21 times. I counted. nia the approval of religious people to He said “b...s...” once and frequently sanctify their agendas. uses similar language that most The Emperor Constantine did something similar to what President Trump churchgoers find vulgar and offensive.

Yet they seem willing to project their has done. He legitimized Christianity own faith on a man whose behavior and claimed to be one, but as Jasmine Alnutt writes for Calvary Chapel.com, doesn’t reflect what even nonbeliev-

ers think should characterize a person who claims to be a Christian.

Yes, some good can come out of the faith office and some grievances can be addressed, but is it really necessary?

“Although many Christian contemporaries considered Constantine the ‘man of the hour’ whom God had raised up, his conversion was both a blessing and a curse to the Church,” said Jasmine Alnutt. “As (Bruce) Shelley (author of Church History in Plain Language) puts it, ‘The advantages for the Church were real enough, but there was a price to pay.’ One historian noted that Constantine ‘proceeded to create the conditions we call ‘state church’ and bequeathed the ideal to Christians for over a thousand years.”’

A picture at the White House ceremony establishing the Faith Office shows a man kneeling before President Donald Trump. It is a prayer practice known to Christians, but an unbeliever might think it appears the man is bowing down to a king. It is not a good look. Neither is the Faith Office.

Email Cal Thomas at tcaeditors@ tribpub.com.

Research helps us fulfill explanatory role And when there is legislation being Our Editorial Board is often called considered at the Capitol, we recupon to weigh in on complex issues facing our state and nation. Policy de- ognize that lawmakers often follow what’s happening in the media. bates can have many nuances, That’s why even if you don’t and before we form an opinion, see us immediately address a we have to do the research topic, don’t assume we won’t to make sure we have a good weigh in when the time is grasp of all sides. right.

That’s why there is much We know things are moving work that Editorial Board Arnessa quickly in this legislative sesmembers do that happens long Garrett sion. And we have been followbefore we publish our recommendation or position on a cering various bills as they make their way through the Legislature. tain issue. We meet with key players, We also know Congress is considerread legislation and consult reports by policy groups. While we always try ing a budget that could have profound to give a timely opinion on current consequences for Louisiana. But we events, some issues take more time to are focused on shining a light on those research. We strive to provide not just issues that mean the most for Louisian opinion, but one backed by solid anans. reasoning.

And as always, we feature your We know that when there are ballot opinions on our pages, and when there questions, many of our readers look is a topic that rises to the fore, we to us for a recommendation on how to note that. We featured a page on legisvote. lative bills recently, and we will have

one on Monday with letters about the insurance crisis facing our state.

Unfortunately, I do not have an updated count of our letters inbox this week, but that will return next week.

With the announcement last week of the election of the first American pope, Leo XIV, it was a very busy news week.

We realize it was a significant moment for Catholics and perhaps other people of faith. In that spirit, we would like to remind you that our Town Square question is about religion. We want to know: How important is your faith to your daily life, and what role, if any, should it play in public life? Send your responses to letters@theadvocate.com. We will publish a selection of the best letters in an upcoming feature.

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

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COMMENTARY Wetlands diversion project needs a conversion the project back then. (Edwards The Mid-Barataria Sediment contests that claim.)

Diversion project has become a The project is intended to massive mess, and no easy solurebuild 21 square miles of wettions present themselves. Going forward, the best approach lands, but the 2022 report may be an incremental one. suggested it might reBegun with the best of inbuild as few as 7 square miles while costing sigtentions but with debatable judgment, the $3 billion nificantly more to operproject to restore Louiate even at that reduced efficacy. Local seafood siana wetlands now may Quin and hospitality indusnever come to fruition even Hillyer though the state has spent tries, along with wildlife $500 million on it. The projadvocates, strenuously have opposed the project. They ect is indefinitely blocked by a object because the influx into the state court, by Gov. Jeff Landry and by the Corps of Engineers, all Barataria Basin of fresh water and pollutants from the Missiswhile subject to a huge new controversy over a recently surfaced sippi River is all but certain to report from 2022 that questioned wipe out — for years at least — the diversion plan’s efficacy. most or all of populations of dolThe 500-page report by an phins, oysters, and shrimp in the engineering consultant, commis- basin, and reduce other fisheries sioned by the state’s Coastal Pro- as well.

If the project doesn’t proceed tection and Restoration Authoras planned, the state may need to ity, was not widely shared with pay back the $500 million it took the public until now. The Corps from the BP Deepwater Horizon now says state officials from oil spill settlement to start the the administration of then-Gov. project, and other entities conJohn Bel Edwards “deliberately withheld” information from the ceivably could sue for breach of report that might have caused contract. the Corps to refuse approval for The state certainly can’t af-

ford to cough up such money. It also can’t afford to keep failing to mitigate major wetlands loss.

Unfortunately, even if the project somehow gets back on track, the previously hidden report suggests (if it is correct) that the already-spent $500 million and the remaining $2.5 billion to finish it might be, dollar for dollar, an investment far bigger than the results will justify.

And that’s before even considering the damage to fisheries.

There is some talk about salvaging at least some of the $500 million already spent by turning it into a “smaller diversion” that does at least some good while significantly reducing the harm to dolphins and trout. I’m no engineer, so I have no idea if this idea is viable, but state officials should be working overtime to analyze all the data with open minds and fresh thinking.

Perhaps a smaller diversion that costs less money would then allow use of the remaining BP money for other, cheaper, smaller, but potentially effective projects.

Before the decision was made

to start work on this project, I wrote that despite my longstanding support for freshwater diversion projects, the evidence suggested there were more cost-effective ways to refurbish marshes that also would cause far fewer harms to existing fisheries and oyster beds.

Manifestly qualified experts told me in 2022 that abandoned oil pipeline canals could be backfilled from soil banks; that sediment directly dredged from the Mississippi River or offshore could be used to form new land; that man-created, vegetated berms could be built as breakwaters; and that new oyster reefs could be seeded in places where the reefs also might help slow wetlands erosion.

Meanwhile, the power of the free market and entrepreneurship, along with streamlined regulatory procedures, could be put to work to help reverse the damage done by earlier decades of less careful commerce. Experts left, center and right all told me so — and I’ve seen some successes, such as at a project at Jesuit Bend, with my own eyes.

The point should be to think creatively, all while applying lessons learned from nature itself — such as at Neptune Pass, where the lower Mississippi River, left to its own devices, already is building new land.

The arguably unwise decision to go ahead with the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion was an example of how bureaucracies, contractors and lawmakers operate analogously to Newton’s Law: Projects in bureaucratic motion tend to stay in motion and in the same direction. Once the powersthat-be felt emotionally or financially invested in this big, bold project, they stopped accepting reasonable warnings or considering alternatives.

Rather than diverting so much of the Mississippi River, perhaps it’s time to divert much of the BP settlement money instead — in this case to a host of smaller, nimbler, less risky initiatives.

Just as water does, let’s enable good ideas to seek their own level.

Quin Hillyer can be reached at quin.hillyer@theadvocate.com.

John Bel Edwards for Senate? Don’t bet on it.

John Bel Edwards for Senate?

One key player in Democratic politics thinks the slogan has a nice ring to it.

That would be Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who is busy scouring the 2026 map in search of opportunities to pick up enough seats to tilt the Stephanie chamber’s majority Grace back in his party’s favor.

The pickings are slim, which is surely one reason Schumer is giving Louisiana more than a passing look. Another is that the former governor, improbably, won twice in a state that went 60% for Donald Trump last year and clocked an impressive 54% approval rating on his way out of office.

The New York Times reported that Edwards met with Schumer once in person and talked another time on the phone about next year’s race, and that he told Democrats to circle back in August.

If I were the national Dems, I wouldn’t be getting my hopes up.

Edwards, who declined to comment after the Times story ran, may indeed be contemplating the idea. But I highly doubt he’s tempted, for reasons that have nothing to do with his standing among Louisiana voters and everything to do with Washington politics.

It’s true that incumbent U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy is in a difficult

STAFF FILE PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

The New york Times reported that former Gov. John Bel Edwards met with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer once in person and talked another time on the phone about next year’s Senate race. position; MAGA Republicans are mad at him for voting to convict Trump in his second impeachment, and many who cheered that move are furious that he put aside his own medical expertise and helped confirm conspiracyminded Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Cassidy also faces a new and unfavorable electoral process, a Republican Party primary against at least one Trump true believer, state Treasurer John Fleming.

He’s raised plenty of money and recently shared a poll showing that he’s leading Fleming among GOP primary voters, which could

be a sign of things to come or just the status quo ahead of a potentially nasty campaign.

That’s a scenario that Edwards would recognize; he was elected governor in 2015 after watching several Republicans attack one another for the privilege of facing him.

There’s a great big BUT, though, and it’s that governor races and Senate elections are very different animals these days.

Before a senator proposes a single piece of legislation, that person is counted as part of the majority or minority, among those who will put the president’s party in charge or position the Senate as

the loyal opposition.

It’s all a relatively new but undeniable development. In 2006, 10 states elected senators whose party didn’t match the state’s most recent presidential pick.

Last year, just four Democrats won in states that Trump carried, all presidential swing states.

In less divided states, this basically never happens anymore.

The last outlier to win here was Mary Landrieu in 2008, before Cassidy took her out six years later by campaigning against then-President Barack Obama.

Edwards sees that landscape clearly.

While he didn’t respond to the Times story, he did talk about the possibility last month in a conversation with former Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker — a Republican who led a blue state — that I moderated at McNeese State University.

“In Louisiana, it’s pretty clear to me a Democrat couldn’t win statewide running for governor or any other office if they took the national party platform for the most recent presidential election and said, ‘This is what I’m going to do,’ ” Edwards said, as Baker chimed in that the reverse would be true in Massachusetts.

Edwards continued: “I do believe… partisanship comes into play more in a federal election than in a state election, and I’ve seen it with really good friends of mine. (Conservative Democrat) Steve Bullock was a very success-

ful, popular Montana governor.

He couldn’t win the Senate election in a Republican state … In Maryland, Larry Hogan was a tremendously successful, popular Republican governor in a Democratic state. He ran for the Senate, he could not win. And I really think that that same sort of thing is true in Louisiana.

“And look, you vote for somebody to go to Washington to either support or oppose the president, depending on what your particular perspective is. But whoever it is that you vote for for governor, there’s only going to be one of them, and that person has to get things done. And I really believe there is a difference, not among everybody, but among enough voters… It is just easier to be elected to the highest state office than it is to be elected to the Senate if you’re of the party that is not in the majority.”

Now, I would never say that Edwards absolutely can’t win; he already proved me wrong once, when he was first elected.

But even if Trump’s popularity continues to tank, there’s plenty of evidence that most voters view Washington politics as, above all, a game of us versus them. And it would take a lot more than a conversation with Schumer to convince me otherwise.

The same, it appears, goes for Edwards.

Email Stephanie Grace at sgrace@theadvocate.com.

Man is taking on La. elections one vote at a time Feliciano told me the recount You may have never heard of money was all he had.

Danilo Augusto Feliciano, but Feliciano has been a registered know that he’s the man who quesvoter in Orleans Parish tioned the report of the since 2012, according to Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Secretary of State records.

Office millage two-vote He’s registered himself as victory.

No Party, and he’s had a After celebrating Satspotty voting record at best. urday night, Sunday and Though he isn’t a chronic since, Sheriff Susan HutWill or regular voter, he does son and the City of New OrSutton care about his community. leans learned that someone He challenged a far-bettermany didn’t know thought about challenging the election tally. funded incumbent congressman in a district where he doesn’t live. He And he did. lost. Badly.

Feliciano — AKA Danil Berger, Born a Feliciano, he was adopted AKA Danilo Ezekiel Faus, AKA and became Danil Berger. His Dan Faust — walked into the mother was abused, so he dropped Orleans Parish Clerk of Criminal that name. He has used different Court Darren Lombard’s office names since, including Dan Faust. and delivered an official recount Only recently did he resume usrequest letter along with $2,155 in cold, hard cash. ing his birth name. A Philadelphia I know there are people in high school graduate, he attended Orleans and other parishes who Arizona State University for undon’t have to think about spenddergraduate and graduate school with lots of math courses. He being $2,000 in a single payment for anything, but there are far more came an actuary, an Army soldier, of us who need to make sure the a bartender, a strip club deejay on mortgage or rent is paid first.

Bourbon Street. These days, he’s

driving a Lyft ride-share gig.

He first arrived in New Orleans five days before the New Orleans Saints won the Super Bowl. Great timing, eh? He’s loved the city since. Much of the last three years, he’s been in Washington, D.C., “fighting in the courts for this city.”

What?

Feliciano feels strongly that Louisiana is corrupt, and he adamantly insists that Louisiana is breaking the law because the state doesn’t have systems in place to provide individual voters with auditable paper records in accordance with the Help America Vote Act of 2002.

There’s a lot more to his argument, and that’s why he’s taking the matter to the U.S. Supreme Court and spent so much time in D.C. the last three years before returning to the city he loves.

The truth is that former Gov. John Bel Edwards and the Louisiana Legislature worked through this and our state will move to a total paper ballot system. Voters will mark paper ballots and scan them, making it possible for all

votes to be recounted. As of now, only mail-in absentee ballots can be recounted — and that’s a small percentage of people who vote.

The early voting and Election Day votes are cast on machines that can’t be recounted.

That’s worth watching as this system moves through the processes to get us to a point that Feliciano cares about most — every vote should count and every vote should be recounted when necessary. Like some of our most concerned citizens, Feliciano has a cause and he’s willing to fight — and pay — for it. I wish more citizens cared as much as he does.

I just wish that somewhere close to 20% of the Sheriff’s Office budget hadn’t been at stake.

Feliciano’s requested recount happened, resulting in a four-vote victory for the Sheriff’s Office.

Then, something weird happened.

After the recount, Lombard learned about a couple of missing military absentee ballots. He told me they had been put in the wrong place and had not been counted.

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He immediately called the attorney general and secretary of state offices. He was advised to call another recount meeting Friday.

During that meeting, the new recount — including the two military ballots — resulted in 12,715 yes votes and 12,713 no votes, the original tally and a two-vote margin of victory.

If the recount had resulted in changing a yes victory into a no win, the New Orleans City Council would have faced a tougher fall budget season as they decide which city programs and services must be cut to fulfill the city’s responsibility to fund the office and the city jail. With the Orleans Parish School Board funding an ongoing issue and many other city needs, that wouldn’t have been fun.

Feliciano made his point with this recount. We all want voting integrity, and that should include being able to account for each and every vote.

Email Will Sutton at wsutton@ theadvocate.com.

writer’s city of residence. The Advocate | The Times-Picayune require a street address and phone number for verification purposes, but that information is not published. Letters are not to exceed 300 words. Letters to the Editor, The Advocate, P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0588, or email letters@theadvocate.com.

TO SEND US A LETTER, SCAN HERE

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Baton Rouge Weather TODAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

Isolated showers - 30%

Isolated showers - 30%

Sunny

Mostly sunny

Partly sunny

Partly sunny

HIGH

HIGH

LOW

76° 60°

LOW

79° 61°

HIGH

LOW

HIGH

85° 68°

LOW

HIGH

88° 70°

ALMANAC

LOW

HIGH

90° 72°

Weather News by Meteorologist Balin Rogers

LOW

91° 72°

AROUND THE REGION

THE NATION

BATON ROUGE THROUGH 5 P.M. SATURDAy

TEMPERATURE

High/low Normal high/low Record high Record low

77°/63° 85°/64° 92° in 2024 47° in 1906

PRECIPITATION

Longview 65/58

TODAY

GOOD

MODERATE

READING 37 MAIN POLLUTANT Ozone

MAIN POLLUTANT Ozone

SOURCE: LOUISIANA DEQ AND AIRNOW.GOV

RIVER STAGES FLOOD STAGE 24-HOUR MISSISSIPPI STAGE CHANGE Memphis 34 21.30 +0.60 Vidalia-Natchez 48 51.80 -0.60 Red River Landing 48 56.60 -0.50 Baton Rouge 35 39.70 -0.30 Donaldsonville 27 28.70 -0.30 Reserve 22 22.24 -0.18 New Orleans 17 15.30 -0.07 OHIO 40

37.48

-0.17

19

2.58

-2.90

18 29 8

6.87 28.00 4.08

-4.31 +2.51 +0.30

13 15

11.25 10.74

-0.03 +1.80

47 34 29 20 12 6

35.97 28.83 25.79 18.98 11.10 6.83

-0.56 -0.36 -0.21 -0.09 +0.10 +0.03

COMITE

Near Olive AMITE

Near Darlington Denham Springs Port Vincent TICKFAW

Montpelier Holden ATCHAFALAYA

Simmesport Melville Krotz Springs Butte La Rose Bayou Sorrel Morgan City

0s

10s 20s 30s 40s 50s 60s 70s 80s 90s 100s 110s

Baton Rouge 76/60

Lafayette 70/59

Beaumont 67/57 Port Arthur 67/58

Hattiesburg 78/60

Alexandria 64/57

Many 62/56

New Orleans 74/62

Lake Charles 66/58

Shown are noon positions of weather systems and precipitation.

Temperature bands are highs for the day.

Houma 75/59

Forecasts and graphics, except WBRZ forecasts, provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2025

Showers T-storms

Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

TIDES HIGH

FT.

Lake Pontchartrain (Tchefuncte River) 7:36p 0.7 Shell Beach 1:42p 1.6 South Point, Marsh Island 5:39a 2.1 Cypremort Point 8:02a 1.5 Grand Isle (Barataria Pass) 9:00a 1.2 Mississippi River (Southwest Pass) 8:35a 1.5 Wine Island 10:08a 1.5

LOW

LAST

MAY 12 MAY 20 MAY 26

HIGH

FT.

LOW

FT.

----- --------- ----1:48p 1.7 8:21p 0.0 ----- --------- --------- --------- -----

Rain

TODAY City

Flurries

FIRST

JUN 2

MAJOR

10:46a 11:30a 12:18p 12:45a 1:41a 2:38a 3:36a

MINOR

MAJOR

Ice

Cold

Austin Boston Dallas Fairbanks Honolulu Houston Las Vegas Louisville Miami Minneapolis

Hi

Lo W

Hi

Lo W

84 68 76 60 87 75 99 81 87 90

54 s 47 s 58 pc 35 pc 74 sh 58 t 75 s 62 s 78 pc 59 s

90 72 83 61 86 87 88 75 85 87

65 s 56 s 64 s 40 pc 72 sh 67 s 62 pc 61 t 76 t 63 s

Amsterdam Bangkok Barcelona Berlin Brussels Cairo Dublin Frankfurt Havana Hong Kong Jerusalem

77 90 71 64 77 104 65 77 90 79 87

55 s 78 r 55 t 39 s 51 s 70 pc 47 sh 51 s 73 pc 72 sh 69 s

73 88 69 65 76 89 60 75 89 87 77

Warm

Stationary

TODAY City

Nashville New Orleans Orlando Philadelphia Phoenix Pittsburgh Raleigh St. Louis San Diego Tampa

MONDAY

Hi

Lo W

Hi

Lo W

76 74 88 79 105 77 67 78 76 87

63 t 62 t 72 t 56 s 78 s 57 s 63 t 60 s 62 c 74 t

76 77 81 78 102 75 71 71 68 80

60 t 64 sh 68 t 60 pc 74 pc 60 s 67 t 60 t 58 pc 71 t

108 76 67 73 63 44 98 75 72 54 77

80 s 55 pc 42 pc 53 sh 45 s 37 r 80 pc 55 sh 52 pc 35 pc 61 c

111 73 67 79 71 47 103 67 72 61 70

80 pc 53 sh 43 pc 57 c 49 c 35 r 83 pc 51 sh 52 s 40 pc 62 c

THE WORLD

The solunar period schedule allows planning days so you will be fishing in good territory or hunting in good cover during those times. Major periods begin at the times shown and last for 1.5 to 2 hours. The minor periods are shorter.

Today Mon. Tue. Wed. Thu. Fri. Sat.

Snow

MONDAY

SOLUNAR TABLE

6:13 a.m.

7:50 p.m.

7:15 p.m.

5:19 a.m.

NEW

FT.

6:27a 0.0 11:36p 0.0 10:08a 1.7 ----8:00p 0.0 6:27p 0.0 9:02p 0.0

SUN AND MOON Sunrise today Sunset tonight Moonrise today Moonset today FULL

-0s

Jackson 77/59

AIR QUALITY YESTERDAY

-10

Monroe 70/59

Shreveport 67/61

24 hours through 5 p.m. Sat. 0.07” Month to date (normal) 4.27” (1.67”) year to date (normal) 21.89” (21.99”)

Cairo

We are done with the widespread rainfall, but some pesky passing showers and a few storms will still be possible. Coverage should stay isolated, which means the majority will stay dry. Temperatures will be comfortable, in the mid- to upper 70s under partly, to mostly cloudy skies. The low pressure system affecting our weather will finally move out by Tuesday. Dry and warm conditions are expected the rest of the week with a lot of sunshine. Expect highs to climb into the mid-80s Tuesday, upper 80s Wednesday and by Thursday and Friday, we’re looking at 90 and 91 degrees, respectively. That’s thanks to a strong ridge of high pressure building over the Gulf.

MINOR

4:35a 11:08p 4:57p 5:18a 11:53p 5:41p 6:06a ---- 6:30p 6:58a 1:11p 7:24p 7:54a 2:07p 8:20p 8:51a 3:05p 9:18p 9:50a 4:03p 10:16p

52 s 78 r 55 s 41 s 50 s 75 pc 49 pc 50 s 73 r 75 s 58 c

Kuwait City London Madrid Mexico City Montreal Moscow New Delhi Paris Rome Stockholm Tokyo

Weather (W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy, c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms, r-rain, sf-snow flurries, sn-snow, i-ice.

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S u n d ay, M ay 11, 2025

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Carr’s retirement brings cleansing effect for city

STAFF FILE PHOTO By BRETT DUKE

Saints quarterback Derek Carr leaves the field after the team’s win over the Carolina Panthers at the Caesars Superdome on Sept. 8.

CARR RETIRES Saints QB cites shoulder injury for stunning announcement

BY MATTHEW PARAS

Staff writer

At a church sermon last month, Derek Carr confirmed publicly for the first time that he was dealing with a shoulder injury.

The New Orleans Saints quarterback, in that same session, cautioned against judging people because you never know what someone is going through.

On Saturday, Carr revealed his injury was much worse than previously known — so much so that he’s retiring.

Carr announced Saturday that he’s stepping away from the NFL after 11 seasons, marking a shocking conclusion to an eventful two-plus years between the 34-year-old and the Saints. According to a statement from the Saints, Carr had a labral tear in his right shoulder and “significant degenerative changes to his rotator cuff.” The quarterback ultimately opted against having surgery as there was no guarantee that his shoulder would fully regain its strength.

“Upon reflection of prayer, and in discussion with (his wife) Heather, I’ve decided to retire from the National Football League,” Carr said in a statement. “For more than 11 years, we have been incredibly blessed, and we are forever grateful and humbled by this experience.

LSU right fielder Jake Brown flips the bat after hitting his second home run against Arkansas in the third inning on Saturday at Alex Box Stadium.

STAFF PHOTO

By MICHAEL JOHNSON

“It’s difficult to find the right words to express our thanks to all the teammates, coaches, management, ownership, team officials and especially the fans who made this journey so special. Your unwavering support has meant the world to us.”

The announcement, despite its surprising nature, provides clarity for the Saints ahead of coach Kellen Moore’s first year with the franchise. Last month, New Orleans drafted quarterback Tyler Shough in the second round. He is now in a position to compete for the starting role, alongside Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener.

Asked when Carr informed the team of his decision, Moore said the veteran had been in contact with general manager Mickey Loomis over the last few days before making the final call.

Moore indicated that while the team could add a fourth quarterback at some point, he had confidence in the three currently on the roster.

“Obviously, the clarity (of Carr’s decision) will provide some of those younger quarterbacks a chance to just get ready from a rep standpoint and opportunity standpoint,” Moore said. “Obviously, those guys will be ready and fired up for that.”

Carr’s retirement also will help the

AP FILE PHOTO By CHARLIE RIEDEL

Saints quarterback Derek Carr throws during a game against the Kansas City ä See CARR, page 4C Chiefs on Oct. 7 in Kansas City, Mo.

Let the healing begin, New Orleans.

A day after Pope Leo XIV delivered his first Mass at the Sistine Chapel, the Saints announced the news of Derek Carr’s shocking retirement.

Coincidence? Maybe, maybe not.

You don’t have to be a practicing member of the Catholic Church to understand or appreciate the cleansing effect Saturday’s news had on the city.

You could almost feel the spiritual cloud lifting as the story broke.

This was unequivocally a win-win for both sides, the best outcome for everyone involved.

Jeff Carr is relieved of the Duncan burden of returning to a place where he clearly wasn’t happy — or wanted. And it’s notable that he did the Saints a solid financially by agreeing to walk away from his contract before next season.

The Saints and first-year head coach Kellen Moore get a fresh start with rookie quarterback Tyler Shough.

And New Orleans once again can unite fully behind its beloved football team.

The situation had become untenable. Whatever led to the disconnect and drama between Carr and the team needed to be repaired. And it was in recent weeks. Privately, behind closed doors.

Whether you elect to believe Carr’s shoulder was injured or serving merely as a negotiating chip in a messy divorce from the team is irrelevant now. Both sides are free to move on.

A clean break was needed — for Carr, the Saints and the city.

It’s hard to say how things went so sideways between Carr and the team.

In January, Carr lauded the organization with platitudes on his way out of town, praising general manager Mickey Loomis, owner Gayle Benson and the organization.

“Absolutely. I love my teammates, the organization,” Carr said. “Mrs. Benson has been unbelievable. Mickey’s been unbelievable and everyone upstairs. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time. It just sucks with all the injuries, we weren’t able to play a lot this year and not being able to do that made it not as fun. Besides that, 10 out of 10, I’ve enjoyed my time here. Wouldn’t

ä See DUNCAN, page 4C

Brown, LSU pound baseball, Razorbacks

BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer

Jake Brown entered Saturday with two hits in his last 18 at-bats.

One of those two hits was a grand slam, but the LSU sophomore outfielder hadn’t been his best the last few weeks with the stick. He was among a handful of Tigers struggling at the plate entering this weekend’s series with No. 7 Arkansas.

But Saturday at Alex Box Stadium was an offensive breakout for Brown and the Tigers. The Louisiana native blasted two home runs — including a three-run shot in the first inning — to guide No. 3 LSU to a 13-3 win over Arkansas in seven innings to clinch the series victory.

HEALING THROUGH MUSIC THERAPY ololrmc.com/lsu

“I try to approach every game the same way,” Brown said. “I was just able to get some good swings off today. I feel like (however) successful the at-bats are, I try not to take that into the next one.”

Brown’s first blast handed LSU a 3-0 lead, and the Tigers quickly built on the early advantage from the second inning on. Freshman Cade Arrambide hit a homer of his own in the second, a solo shot that was the first of his career in Southeastern Conference play.

“He’s got a lot of ability. He’s one of the more high talent guys that I think got to campus,” LSU coach Jay Johnson said of Arrambide.

“And we saw that clearly in the fall in our scrimmage games. And he hit like .360 in the fall against

this pitching staff, which is pretty good.”

Brown demolished another ball 428 feet off the Marucci Performance Center in right field in the third to give the Tigers a 5-0 advantage before they added another run in the fourth inning on a basesloaded walk.

“He’s a really good athlete,” Johnson said of Brown. “He’s become a more skilled player and hitter every day here for two years and was ready to roll.”

LSU (40-11, 17-9 SEC) blew the game open in the fifth inning, scoring three runs on a sacrifice fly from junior Chris Stanfield, a fielder’s choice by junior Daniel

ä See LSU, page 2C

Mandy Creekmore Medical Music Therapist, Our Lady of the Lake Health Adjunct Instructor, LSU

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LSU beats Hogs after Anderson scare

BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer

LSU’s best player is probably Kade Anderson.

Coach Jay Johnson was willing to say as much Thursday, the day before the Tigers’ series opener with Arkansas that the sophomore left-hander was scheduled to start.

“I think you have your best teams when your best players — and he’s probably our best player, if you really want to get down to it — are the most bought into what you’re doing,” Johnson said.

Anderson has started every series opener for LSU this year and came into this week striking out nearly two batters per inning. But after recording his 10th strikeout in the sixth inning against the Razorbacks at Alex Box Stadium on Friday, Tiger fans had to hold their breath.

Anderson began holding and rotating his wrist, showing signs of discomfort. He threw a handful of warmup pitches in front of Johnson and head athletic trainer Isaac Trujillo, but he exited the game for redshirt sophomore right-hander Chase Shores.

LSU went on to win 5-4 in 10 innings on junior Ethan Frey’s walkoff sacrifice fly, but the result paled in comparison to the status of the LSU ace.

“He’s probably in college baseball the one guy that you can pencil into a big-league rotation within 24 months,” Johnson said early Saturday morning.

The good new for LSU is Anderson’s injury was just a cramp, Johnson said. Anderson was evaluated by Trujillo after the game, and Trujillo had no concerns regarding his wrist.

“We’re past the Tommy John thing, so I wasn’t worried about that,” Johnson said. “It was just like a cramp.”

Friday was only the second LSU game this season that went to extra innings, and the first since the Tigers’ 8-5 victory over Kansas State in Frisco, Texas, in February. That game also ended in 10 innings.

“The margin between winning and losing is small,” Johnson said, “and we’re a couple outs away from being pretty good over these last five games against only the best teams in the country.”

LSU

Continued from page 1C Dickinson and a run-scoring single from Brown to take a 9-0 advantage.

Junior Ethan Frey, after homering and hitting a walk-off sac fly on Friday, launched a three-run homer with two outs that gave the Tigers a 12-0 lead.

“He’s a stud,” Brown said of Frey. “He’s one of the guys that he’ll be the first one here, last one out.”

LSU surrendered three runs in the top of the seventh but still ended the game in the bottom of the frame by scoring a run on a wild pitch dropped third strike.

Arrambide, Brown, Frey and freshman Derek Curiel each had multiple hits. LSU put the leadoff man on base in every inning but one and generated nine walks.

Brown had a career-high five RBIs. “The pitching staff has been doing really good, so we just need to give them a little bit of help,” Brown said. “So far this weekend, we’ve been able to do that.”

Rain forces co-champions of SEC softball tourney

Four-time reigning national softball champion Oklahoma and Texas A&M were declared cochampions of the Southeastern Conference Tournament after rainfall forced the cancelation of the championship game Saturday.

The start time was moved ahead four hours with rain in the forecast, but it came sooner than expected and the game never got underway.

The top-seeded Sooners — in their first season in the SEC — won the regular-season title with a 17-7 record.

The second-seeded Aggies, who joined the SEC in 2012, finished 16-7 and were playing for their first conference championship since leaving the Big 12.

The Sooners trailed Arkansas 6-1 in the semifinals before rallying for an 8-6 victory by hitting a tournament-record six homers — two by Sydney Barker.

Former LSU player Fraley placed on IL by Cincinnati

The Cincinnati Reds placed outfielder Jake Fraley on the 10-day injured list with left calf tenderness on Saturday.

The move, which is retroactive to Wednesday, comes after he tried to return Friday night in the opener of a series against the Houston Astros but was scratched about an hour before the game.

Fraley, a former LSU Tiger, is hitting .205 with three homers and nine RBIs in 28 games this season.

His is the latest in a string of injuries for the Reds, who placed righthander Hunter Greene on the injured list with a groin strain Friday.

Utility player Connor Joe took Fraley’s place on the roster a day after being traded from the San Diego Padres for minor league reliever Andrew Moore.

Red Sox lose another 1st baseman to an injury

STAFF FILE PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

LSU pitcher Kade Anderson delivers a pitch against Mississippi State in the third inning on March 27 at Alex Box Stadium.

Trailing 4-2 in the seventh inning, LSU (39-11, 16-9 SEC) tied the score on a two-run single from freshman Derek Curiel.

The Tigers were unable to take the lead that inning after junior Daniel Dickinson struck out with runners on the corners, but junior right-hander Zac Cowan entered in the eighth and put up three zeroes — and escaped a bases-loaded jam in the 10th — to keep the score tied at 4-4.

Cowan allowed just two hits and recorded three strikeouts, bouncing back from a rough weekend in College Station, Texas, when he allowed three runs.

“I had a good week of work and nothing really changed,” Cowan said. “I know last weekend wasn’t the best necessarily, but ... coach Johnson has a lot of faith in me, and I got a lot of confidence myself, so I just got out there and competed.”

Junior Jared Jones led off the the 10th inning with a single before reaching second base on a wild pitch from right-hander Gabe Gaeckle, who had tossed 22/ 3 shutout innings entering the 10th. Gaeckle forced Dickinson to ground out to first base, but the grounder allowed Jones to reach third with one out.

Frey then hit a ball to center field to chase Jones home with the winning run.

“Just kind of went up there with the mindset (of) I’ve got to swing at something that’s in the zone, regardless of what it is or if I’m ready or not,” Frey said. “Can’t really miss pitches in that situation.”

Friday’s game originally was scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m., but a rain delay postponed first pitch until 9:57 p.m. The game didn’t conclude until 1:16 a.m.

Anderson went to war with one

of the top lineups in the country.

Arkansas (40-10, 17-8) collected seven hits off of him, including two solo home runs, but he filled up the strike zone.

“It’s a great rotation, it’s a great pitching staff, and obviously it’s a great lineup,” Johnson said about Arkansas. “Took three really good pitchers on our side to slow them down a little bit, and we did just enough for the offense to be able to come back.”

LSU took the first lead, scoring a run on Jones’ bloop single in the third inning before retaking the lead in the fourth on Frey’s ninth homer of the year. His blast gave the Tigers a 2-1 lead.

LSU finished with nine hits. Frey led the way with a double and a homer before the walk-off sac fly.

“Just staying confident and staying locked in on what I need to do,” Frey said, “and that’s kind of the approach I’ve been taking.”

off-speed pitches low and out of the zone with two strikes.

“I think as of recently, I’ve been just going out there and just throwing the ball,” Eyanson said.

“Obviously, you’re going to miss as a pitcher, that’s going to happen. But I think just focusing on the conviction that I throw with has helped me a lot.”

Freshman Mavrick Rizy entered the game in the seventh inning for Eyanson and allowed two hits, a walk and a run before coming out for redshirt sophomore DJ Primeaux.

Primeaux surrendered another hit that scored a second run, then he exited for redshirt sophomore right-hander Jaden Noot. Noot recorded all three outs in the inning and didn’t allow a hit, but he did give up a sacrifice fly that cut LSU’s lead to nine. The run preSTAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON vented the 10-run rule from going LSU catcher Cade Arrambide celebrates while rounding the bases after into effect until the Tigers scored in the bottom of the seventh. a home run against Arkansas in the second inning on Saturday at Alex LSU and Arkansas conclude Box Stadium. their three-game series on SunJunior right-hander Anthony allowing just five hits and no day. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.

Eyanson made his 13th start of earned runs. Eyanson struck out and the game will be available to the year on Saturday. After toss- 11 batters and walked only one. watch on the SEC Network.

He threw 65 of his 93 pitches ing a complete game last week against Texas A&M, the UC San for strikes and consistently got Email Koki Riley at Koki.

Diego transfer threw six innings, Arkansas (40-11, 17-9) to chase Riley@theadvocate.com.

The Boston Red Sox put first baseman Romy Gonzalez on the 10-day injured list with a left-quad contusion, retroactive to Thursday. In a corresponding move, the Red Sox recalled second baseman Nick Sogard from Triple-A Worcester.

Sogard was in the starting lineup Saturday against Kansas City lefthander Cole Ragans.

“I think is a short-term thing,” Boston manager Alex Cora said of Gonzalez before Saturday’s game.

“He wasn’t bouncing back the way we expected early. So it makes sense just to take care of him and he’ll be alright.”

Gonzalez was hitting .308 in 17 games after replacing Triston Casas, who is out for the year with a ruptured tendon in his left knee.

Sinner returns with win after 3-month doping ban

ROME — After a wait of more than 100 days, Jannik Sinner still knows how to win a tennis match.

The top-ranked player made a solid return from his three-month doping ban by beating 99th-ranked Mariano Navone 6-3, 6-4 before an adoring home crowd at the Italian Open on Saturday.

It was Sinner’s first match since he won his third Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in January. He said it took him all of three games to get his competitive focus back.

“Amazing feeling. I have waited quite long for this moment,” Sinner said. “I am very happy to be back.”

The victory extended Sinner’s winning streak to 22 matches, dating to October.

Young registers a 64 for lead in Myrtle Beach

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — Carson Young holed a 30-yard flop shot for eagle on the par-5 15th and shot a 7-under 64 in rainy conditions Saturday to take the third-round lead in his home-state Myrtle Beach Classic.

Young, the 30-year-old former Clemson player from Anderson, South Carolina, had a 13-under 200 total at the Dunes Golf and Beach Club.

Harry Higgs was a stroke back after a 68.

The winner of the PGA Tour event — held opposite a signature event at the Truist Championship this week — gets a spot in the PGA Championship if not already eligible.

Winless on the PGA Tour, Young also birdied the par-5 13th and par-4 16th — playing a four-hole stretch in 4 under.

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Sunday, May 11, 2025 ■ 3C

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Larson has plenty on his agenda in May

OUTDOORS

hopped a plane to Char- ä AdventHealth 400, 2 P.M. First is Kansas lotte, where rain there kept SUNDAy, FS1 him from making a single race. race, then auto lap“It’sin thebeenCupa Series bit busy for 183.730 mph to earn the here, just with a lot of pole, and in quite a coinracing’s ‘the me racing I’ve done,” said Lar- cidence, Buescher will be son, who was involved in a starting alongside him afDouble’ hard crash in his sprint car ter a lap of 183.374.

BY DAVE SKRETTA AP sportswriter

PROVIDED PHOTO

High school champs Travis Meche, left, and Rayne Fishing Team teammate Chance Watson lift their trophies after finishing atop the Angler of the year points standings for 2025 in the Louisiana High School BASS Nation series of tournaments. Meche and Watson will represent Louisiana in the B.A.S.S. High School National Championship in July on Georgia’s Clarks Hill Lake.

Mother’s Day evokes fond family memories

BY JOE MACALUSO Contributing writer

Fishing results La. Youth Bass FARMERVILLE—Sunday’s top 5

Happy Mother’s Day. teams from the two-day La. High Bass & top 4 teams from Here’s hoping you have School the one-day La. Junior Bassmasyour mom with you to cel- ters State championships held on Lake D’Arbonne with anglers, their ebrate this cherished day. schools/teams and total catch Many of you don’t, and weight in pounds (5-bass daily I know you will remem- limit): HIGH SCHOOL/TOP 5 ber fondly 1, Bennett Fontenot-Braxton Speyrer, Port Barre High, 30.59 pounds. those days 2, Ridge Mabile-Evan Aucoin, Aswhen she Notebook sumption High, 28.88.

3, Gage Dowers-Cade Whittington, anxiously Sulphur High, 25.23.

4, Cade Becnel-Blake Brazan, St. awaited Bassmasters, 23.61. your return from fishing and James 5, Corrine Mouch-Brooklyn Bossom, hunting trips, cooked your Lake D’Arbonne Bass, 22.5.

Bass: 1, Becnel-Brazan, 7.15 fish and game, ordered a Big pounds. bath or shower and washed State Championship Team Award: Denham Springs High. 2, Sulphur your dirty clothes — some- 1, High. times with a little fuss and JUNIORS/TOP 4 Layne Shoffiett-Jackson Lee, Notre fuming just to let you know 1, Dame-Crowley, 17.22 pounds.

2, Cooper Denison-Layne Smalley, she cared.

La. Juniors, 8.98.

So, all mothers, enjoy this North 3, Cole Watkins-Luke Delaney, Jr. SW day and hope it’s not the Bassmasters, 8.29. only day when yours make you feel special. in lands along the west bank of the Bogue Chitto A new WMA River south of the town With partial funding from of Franklinton and Bogue the Louisiana Outdoor For- Chitto State Park.

The Outdoor Forever ever Fund and a partnership between Wildlife and Fish- Fund was established by eries and the Trust for Pub- the state legislature in 2022 lic Land, Louisiana now has to set up funding for outdoor its 53rd wildlife manage- conservation projects. ment area, the 1,642-acre Bogue Chitto WMA, the first Serious concerns one in Washington Parish.

Several conservation orThe new WMA takes ganizations, led by the The-

odore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership and the National Wildlife Federation, issued strong condemnations after the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee approved a move to sell public land in Nevada and Utah.

TRCP’s objections targeted the late-night amendment to a budget bill and to the amendment’s passage, “...with no public input and no consideration for impacts to public access.”

“There are well-established criteria and processes for disposing of public lands, and reconciliation legislation is not the proper venue for such decisions,” TRCP president Joel Pedersen said.

National Wildlife Federation spokesman David Willms said, “Blindsiding the public with a late-night vote to mandate selling or transferring hundreds of thousands of acres of public lands is just plain wrong,” and Congress had a set of procedures to involve interested local and national organizations in sales of national lands.

Both groups are urging all interested to contact their congressional delegations.

CALENDAR MONDAY

RED STICK FLY FISHERS MEETING: 7 p.m., Regional Branch Library, 9200 Bluebonnet Boulevard, Baton Rouge. Open to the public. Email Brian Roberts: roberts.brian84@gmail. com Website: rsff.org

TUESDAY

LA. FINFISH TASK FORCE MEETING: 10 a.m., state Wildlife & Fisheries headquarters, 2000 Quail Drive, Baton Rouge.

WEDNESDAY BUGS & BEERS: 6:30 p.m., Skeeta Hawk Brewing, 455 N. Dorgenois Street, New Orleans. Fly tying. Open to the public. Email A.J. Rosenbohm: ajrosenbohm@gmail.com.

Website: neworleansflyfishers.com

THURSDAY

LA. FUR ADVISORY COUNCIL MEETING: 1 p.m., LDWF

field office, 200 Dulles Drive, Lafayette.

ACADIANA FLY RODDERS PROGRAM: 6 p.m., Pack & Paddle, 601 E. Pinhook, Lafayette.

Open to public. Email Darin Lee: cbrsandcdc@gmail.com.

Website: acadianaflyrodders. org .

THURSDAY-SUNDAY

BASSMASTER ELITE SERIES: Sabine River, Orange, Texas.

Website: bassmaster.com

FRIDAY-SUNDAY

SALTWATER CATCH & EAT WEEKEND: Leeville. Red Stick Fly Fishers event. Email Randy Leonpacher: RMLeonpacr@bellsouth.net

FRIDAY-MONDAY

COLDWATER FLY FISHING WEEKEND: Crooked Creek, White & Buffalo rivers, Arkansas. Call Cole Miller (225) 921-9192.

SATURDAY FLY FISHING 101: 9-11 a. m., Orvis Shop, Bluebonnet Boulevard, Baton Rouge. No charge. Basics of casting, rigging, fly selection. Equipment furnished. All ages, adults to accompany 15-and-younger.

Preregistration required. Call Shop (225) 757-7286.Website: orvis.com/batonrouge

HUNTING SEASONS SQUIRRELS: Statewide, through May 25, private lands only & through May 11 on selected wildlife management areas.

AROUND THE CORNER MAY 19-22—NATIONAL R3 SYMPOSIUM: Portland, Maine. Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports project. Website: cahss.org/symposium

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Kyle Larson isn’t quite ready to start thinking about his return to the Indianapolis 500.

That will change by Sunday night.

And he would like nothing better than to have those thoughts of “the Double” — running every lap of the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day Memorial Day weekend — enter his consciousness than in victory lane at Kansas Speedway, where Larson will be defending his win from a year ago in the closest finish in NASCAR Cup Series history.

“I haven’t really thought about it much at all. Just kind of been excited about these upcoming races and tracks we can run well at,” Larson said before qualifying on the pole for Sunday’s race.

“I think once the checkered flag flies here at Kansas, I’ll be excited about Indy, because I’ll be headed to Indy.”

He has qualifying on deck at Indianapolis Motor Speedway next weekend.

Larson certainly had a memorable month of May last year, when he roared around the outside of Chris Buescher and beat him to the finish line by 0.001 seconds to win the race at Kansas Speedway.

He headed from there to Indianapolis, where weather made for a stressful race weekend and ultimately scuttled his shot at completing all 1,100 laps.

Larson was among the leading cars in the rain-delayed Indy 500 until a late penalty for speeding on pit lane left him 18th. He then

at nearby Lakeside Speedway in the High Limit Racing series Friday night.

“With Indy, I haven’t done a whole lot, but there’s not much you can do studying wise. You can watch film, which I will and all that, but for Indy you have a lot of time really. So I think once you get in the car and understand the balance of the car, you can pick apart studying and you know, where your strengths and where your weaknesses are.”

There don’t seem to be many weaknesses when it comes to Larson in his No. 5 for Hendrick Motorsports.

He already has won at Homestead and Bristol this season, and he’s finished in the top five in the past three races.

Ryan Blaney doesn’t think there are many weaknesses when it come to Larson in any car. And he will be among the many Cup Series drivers keeping an eye on how Larson fares in the Indy 500 and his dash to the Coca-Cola 600 this year.

But as part of Team Penske, Blaney said, he hopes Larson finishes no better than fourth on May 25 in the Indy 500 — right behind two-time reigning champion Josef Newgarden and Penske teammates Scott McLaughlin and Will Power.

“I thought it was really cool last year. He did a really good job there until he sped on pit road,” Blaney said. “I’m sure he will be in contention, but yeah, Penske loyalty. I want him to run fourth. But you do root for him because he’s representing us.”

Other qualifying tidbits Larson turned a lap of

Christopher Bell and Tyler Reddick will be right behind them in the second row.

Bell had won the past three poles at Kansas. The last to win four at any track was Larson at Sonoma Raceway from 2017-22.

Up-and-comers Truck Series star Corey Heim will make his fourth career Cup Series start when he drives a fourth entry for 23XI Racing. His first two last year came with Legacy Motor Club, including a 22nd-place finish in the spring race at Kansas.

Meanwhile, Xfinity Series regular Jesse Love will make his third career Cup Series start for Richard Childress Racing. He made his debut for RCR last year at Bristol and was 31st last week in a car from Beard Motorsports.

Smoothing things out Carson Hocevar tried to smooth things over with Ryan Preece this week after causing them to wreck late in last week’s race at Texas. Preece called him out, saying Hocevar has “no respect for his equipment and any other driver out there.”

“He heard my point of view and I heard his, right?

And we have a really good understanding going forward,” Hocevar said.

Odds and Ends Larson at +375 is the betting favorite to win Sunday, according to BetMGM Sportsbook, followed by Blaney (+700) and Tyler Reddick (+750). ... Joey Logano is the only driver to take Ford to victory lane in the past 12 races at Kansas.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By BUTCH DILL

NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Larson greets fans before a race at Talladega Superspeedway on April 27 in Talladega, Ala.

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4C ■ Sunday, May 11, 2025 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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Saints VP strikes balance Shough impresses during between job, motherhood his first day on the job ROOKIE MINICAMP OBSERVATIONS

Both clocks were ticking.

The one on Elicia Broussard Sheridan’s cellphone that she glanced at Thursday afternoon to check the time.

And the one on the scoreboard hanging high on the wall of the New Orleans Saints’ practice facility.

About six minutes remained before halftime of the girls high school flag football championRod ship game, which Walker Sheridan was in charge of.

Sheridan, vice president of community relations and youth sports development for the Saints and the Pelicans, needed to go pick up her daughter from school. She also needed to be back in time for the postgame trophy presentation.

So she started doing the math in her head.

Anyone who has been around Sheridan for the 22 years she’s worked with the Saints knows she checked the boxes for both her mom duties and her work duties that day.

Juggling a career in the sports world while being a mom comes easy for her. Or at least she makes it seem that way.

“Priority No. 1 for me is limiting the number of big moments I miss for the girls,” Sheridan said. “If I have to take a half a day or use my lunch break or whatever to make a field trip or an awards ceremony, I do it. A lot of times at the community events, my girls are right there with me. It’s like wherever Mary goes, the lambs go, too.”

On top of being a mom, Sheridan — or Lish, as everyone calls her — is also a coach’s wife. Her husband, Carter Sheridan, is an assistant coach at Tulane.

Their oldest daughter, Eliah, born on the first day of the 2010 NFL Draft, is 15. Elana, their younger daughter, is 9.

They’ll get a chance to celebrate Sheridan on Sunday as moms all across the world are honored on Mother’s Day. Her ability to balance a career and motherhood is greatly appreciated by the man who has been married to her since 2009.

“I see other coaches’ wives and I know the stress,” Carter Sheridan said. “And they are usually just dealing with the family and the home. My wife is doing that and having to handle a highly demanding career. I’m in disbelief every time just seeing her make stuff happen.

“Me being in sports, I see how much of a pressure cooker it is in that environment. But she has an ability to make it look effortless.

She finds a way.”

Her work ethic and passion have helped her find her way up the corporate ladder on Airline Drive.

A UNO graduate with a degree in business management, she ditched four years spent as a civil

CARR

Continued from page 1C Saints’ complicated salary-cap situation. According to multiple reports, Carr agreed to give back his $30 million base salary and, in exchange, still received his $10 million roster bonus. He also did not have to pay back any of the signing bonus he received upon signing a four-year, $150 million contract in 2023.

The salary-cap implications of Carr’s decision, however, likely won’t make that much of a difference on the team’s balance sheet until next season. Carr reportedly will wait to retire formally on June 1, which will allow the Saints to spread his cap hit over 2025 and 2026.

In a statement, the Saints said Carr experienced pain in his right throwing shoulder in late March when he attempted to throw for the first time “at significant volume” since he broke his non-throwing hand in December against the New York Giants.

Carr, who finishes his career with 41,245 yards passing and 257 touchdowns to 112 interceptions, then informed the team of the pain and later underwent testing that revealed the full extent of his damage.

News of Carr’s injury first spread in April, though the team and Carr’s camp largely remained silent on the issue. Complicating matters, Carr’s injury broke after reports indicated he was open to a change of scenery amid the Saints deciding whether

BY LUKE JOHNSON Staff writer

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Elicia Broussard Sheridan is vice president of community relations and youth sports development for the Saints and the Pelicans. She’s worked for the Saints since 2003. engineering major and opted to do something she was more passionate about. She took a leap of faith and started as an operations intern for the Saints in 2003 and has ascended to her current role as a vice president.

Former Saints running back Fred McAfee, who now serves as the team’s VP of player engagement, was still playing when Broussard first started.

“She was a bright-eyed, bushytailed intern and would do all the little things,” McAfee said. “Whatever needed to be done. I look at her now, and it’s surreal to watch her rise and shine. She’s one of the main cogs in the big wheel.”

She has worn pretty much every hat possible over the years. You name it, she’s probably done it.

She’s been the game-day house control director. She’s produced the manuals for the tight ends.

She’s entered scouting reports.

You know the 50/50 raffle that takes place during Saints games?

That was something Sheridan came up with back in 2016. You know when the Saints score a touchdown and you hear the Ying Yang Twins’ song “Halftime (Stand up and Get Crunk)” blaring? That was her idea, too.

Her main role now is being in charge of all the community-related events where fans get a chance to get up close and personal with their favorite players.

Like clockwork, Saints defensive end Cam Jordan visits a local school every Tuesday. He’s been doing it since he entered the league. That can be a daunting task. Sheridan makes sure it’s not.

“Lish is my Tuesday,” Jordan said. “I’ll text Lish on a Monday and say I want to go to Warren Easton or McDonogh 35 or whatever school. And she’ll say, ‘Bet. Let’s work it out.’ She always gets it done.”

Jordan refers to Sheridan as a “big sister.”

Born and raised in the 8th Ward and a graduate of Dominican High School, she understands what the Saints and Pelicans mean to the citizens of her hometown. She’s seen the results, like the nine girls

who have earned college scholarships in flag football because of the league she spearheads. Or the nine families who attended Derek Carr’s Christmas event at a local Salvation Army.

“Just to see the immediate emotions of the ladies once they realized they were no longer going to be homeless and they can stop hiding from their abusers,” Sheridan said. “All the kids we connect with, especially the ones Cam goes to schools to see and hearing from them years later. I know the impact the players’ presence has on the lives of people here. So I do whatever I can do to acclimate the players to the city so they can feel the love that comes with this city.

That’s not cliché. That’s genuine.”

Eliah and Elana now get to see their mom pour love into New Orleans in much the same way she watched her parents Al and Sugar Broussard do when she was a kid.

“Everything I’ve learned about how I should be is based on who my mom is,” Sheridan said. “If you need something, she’s going to find a way to get it. She took care of everybody. Many things I learned about how to manage events and how to deal with people come from my mom and my dad.”

Family is of the utmost importance to Sheridan. That’s both her family at home and her family at work. She considers the players she works with her “little cousins.”

She’s been working for the Saints longer than some of her new “little cousins” have been alive. She’s in her 23rd season with the Saints and her 15th year as a mom. She’s excelled at both.

“She pours her heart into everything she does,” said Gayle Benson, owner of the Saints and Pelicans. “Whether it is serving our community, uplifting young people or mentoring others within our organization. But what I admire most is the way she balances all of that with being a devoted and loving mother. She does it with such grace, humility and joy.

“We are all better because of Lish, and I am so grateful for her.”

to keep him in 2025.

Instead of trading him or releasing him, the Saints restructured Carr’s contract — a move that saved more than $30 million toward this year’s salary cap but increased the cap hit for 2026 to $69.2 million.

Despite the uncertainty, Moore said Carr had “really good communication” throughout the process.

He indicated that he did not get the chance to meet the quarterback in person, telling reporters they just “missed” each other when Carr was in the facility and the coach was at a pro day.

Moore said Carr’s retirement does not change his expectations for what the Saints can achieve next season. If Shough ends up winning the job, the 25-year-old would be the Saints’ first rookie quarterback to start Week 1 since Archie Manning in 1971.

“Kellen told me this morning and that was the extent of it,” Shough said, later adding, “It is all you can ask for, is an opportunity at any position. I’m going to treat it the same way as if, whoever is on the roster, I’ve got to go and get better and do my best to elevate the QB room and do everything I can that way.”

In two seasons, the Saints went 14-13 with Carr as a starter. But the record alone does not encapsulate the dramatic twists and turns of his tenure.

Carr arrived in hopes he could solve the team’s quarterback uncertainty years after Drew Brees’ retirement. Having spent nine years with the Las Vegas Raiders, Carr was an established four-time Pro Bowl quarterback — albeit

one who made the playoffs just twice with zero wins. Still, Carr’s signing generated excitement, and he chose New Orleans instead of the New York Jets in part to reunite with then-coach Dennis Allen, who was with the Raiders at the beginning of Carr’s career.

But Carr was polarizing from the start, particularly when the offense struggled throughout his first season.

That year, Carr was booed several times in the Caesars Superdome, drew criticism for yelling at teammates and was depicted as a “Red-Zone Zombie” in a satirical float the following winter during a Mardi Gras parade. The Saints went 9-8 in 2023, with Carr playing through several injuries.

Last fall, Carr started with his best stretch in a Saints uniform — a 2-0 start that included backto-back games of 40-plus points.

But the hot start wouldn’t last.

Carr missed three games with an oblique injury. When he returned, the Saints were upset by the Carolina Panthers — leading to Allen’s firing amid a seven-game losing streak.

In December, Carr suffered a season-ending fracture to his nonthrowing hand when he attempted to leap for a first down in the final minutes of a win over the New York Giants. The Saints closed the year on a four-game losing streak, finishing the season 0-7 in games Carr didn’t start.

That leap — a reckless dive on second and 10 — turned out to be the final play of Carr’s career.

Email Matthew Paras at matt. paras@theadvocate.com

On the day Derek Carr announced his retirement, all eyes were on his potential successor Saturday afternoon in Metairie.

The Saints held their rookie minicamp at their Airline Drive facility, debuting quarterback Tyler Shough and the rest of their nine-member draft class.

The light session lasted a little more than an hour, as the players ran through the basics in helmets and jerseys.

Here is some of what stood out about the newest members of the organization.

Shough looks the part One short practice against fellow rookies and a handful of veteran tryout players is not nearly enough to say anything definitive about Shough, but the traits that made the Saints select him 40th overall certainly were on display.

Shough’s size immediately stands out — at 6-foot-5, he’s the tallest quarterback the Saints have had in a long time. New Orleans also put him on the move several times while the quarterbacks went through drills, and Shough’s athleticism showed.

He also has an easy throwing motion, and while he wasn’t asked to rip any deep passes, his arm talent was on display several times.

The only competitive drill the Saints did Saturday was a short 7-on-7 period. Shough completed his first seven attempts in that drill before veteran tryout defensive back Terrell Burgess broke up his final attempt over the middle when Shough targeted rookie tight end Moliki Matavao.

His best throw was a dart down the right sideline to tryout receiver Roderick Daniels, which he fit between a couple of converging defenders.

That is the stuff the Saints expected to see out of Shough, because it validated what they saw in the scouting process. But head coach Kellen Moore said he was more pleased with the non-physical things he saw out of Shough.

“For these QBs, a lot of times what you care about is how they command the huddle, how they command the operation,” Moore said. “... He hopped in here and did an excellent job taking control of it.”

Moore added after practice that he anticipates all three of his quarterbacks — Shough, Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener — will compete for the starting job, and

DUNCAN

Continued from page 1C change it for anything.”

Not long thereafter, Carr reportedly sought an exit from the Saints.

What began in spring 2023 with the Saints celebrating a free agent win over the Panthers and Jets for Carr’s services and awarding him the most lucrative contract in franchise history suddenly was headed for a divorce. And it happened two years earlier than the terms of the four-year, $150 million contract he signed dictated, and one year earlier than anyone expected.

We will look back on the Carr era the same way we remember a failed personal relationship with a significant other. With tinges of regret, dismay and chagrin.

Carr had the misfortune of following Drew Brees, the most beloved and successful player in Saints history. Yes, Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill had temporary stints in between, but Carr was the first one anointed and compensated as the franchise quarterback.

He was celebrated initially, but his approval rating gradually eroded as time progressed and the losses mounted. While Carr went 14-13 as the starter, his numbers were misleading.

He went just 1-8 against playoff teams and only beat two teams that ended the season with winning records — the 9-8 Colts and Bucs in 2023.

The most telling statistic of his two-year tenure was not his 98.8 quarterback rating but the meager number of comeback wins and fourth-quarter comebacks he authored: 0 and 2, respectively.

It says something that Carr’s signature moment was the blow-

“For these QBs, a lot of times what you care about is how they command the huddle, how they command the operation. He hopped in here and did an excellent job taking control of it.”

KELLEN MOORE, Saints coach, on Tyler Shough

he suggested that he was comfortable going into the season with the group he has.

Shough has a long way to go before he’s named the starter, but the first impression was a good one.

Banks plays all over It’s not often that the secondround pick gets more attention than the first-rounder, but it’s not like there wasn’t some interesting things going on with No. 9 overall pick Kelvin Banks.

Banks started Saturday’s practice lining up at left tackle, which is where he played throughout his collegiate career at Texas.

But he shifted positions throughout practice, taking some snaps at right tackle and left guard.

This was part of the plan for Saturday’s rookie minicamp, Moore said, but he added the Saints will “narrow that focus” as the season draws near.

New Orleans returns four starters from last year’s offensive line, including both tackles — 2024 first-rounder Taliese Fuaga and 2022 first-rounder Trevor Penning. The only open position from last year’s starting five is left guard.

Some wondered going into the draft process whether Banks was a best fit at guard or tackle, and it seems the Saints are willing to let that decision play out this summer.

Riley a DNP The only member of the draft class who did not participate Saturday was cornerback Quincy Riley, who watched the session from the sidelines in uniform.

Moore said after the practice that Riley had been dealing with a pre-existing injury that required surgery after the draft.

Though Moore declined to say specifically what the injury was, he did say it was not related to an ankle injury Riley suffered in college. He suggested this injury wasn’t serious.

Email Luke Johnson at ljohnson@theadvocate.com.

out win against the Dallas Cowboys last season in which he celebrated a touchdown run with an impromptu Michael Jackson dance in the end zone.

Notably, none of his teammates elected to join Carr in the celebration. The scene reminded me of something an NFL source said about Carr shortly after the Saints signed him.

“New Orleans is going to love him — until they start playing games,” the source said. “He’s not a bad guy, but there’s something missing about him.”

The Saints and New Orleans learned this the hard way over the past two seasons.

As much as we all love New Orleans, it isn’t for everyone.

And it certainly wasn’t the right fit for Carr, who never seemed to recover from his infamous first supper at Chipotle.

You have to go back to Aaron Brooks’ tenure in the early 2000s to find a player more divisive for the fans.

To his credit, Carr tried to repair his image a year ago by working in the community and supporting teammates afield.

The damage, though, was done.

He never seemed to embrace the maxim Brees lived by throughout his celebrated tenure: If you love New Orleans, it will love you back.

By the end, he had replaced Roger Goodell as the city’s persona non grata. The entire situation had become exhausting for everyone involved.

And so now, thankfully, mercifully, we move on.

A city steeped in Catholic tradition can rejoice. There’s a new pontiff and a new quarterback to rally behind.

Quite a weekend for New Orleans.

Rebirth, indeed.

Email Jeff Duncan at jduncan@theadvocate.com.

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Sunday, May 11, 2025 ■ 5C

lll

New Browns QB Sanders trying to block out noise

BY JOE REEDY AP sports writer

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By PAMELA SMITH

Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics reacts after shooting a 3-pointer during the first half of Game 3 against the New york Knicks on Saturday in New york.

Celtics cut Knicks’ series lead to 2-1

BY BRIAN MAHONEY AP basketball writer

NEW YORK — The Celtics’ 3-point touch came back in Game 3, so the Knicks didn’t.

Jayson Tatum had 22 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, Payton Pritchard scored 23 points and Boston easily got its first win in the Eastern Conference semifinals by routing New York 115-93 on Saturday.

The Celtics went 20 for 40 from 3-point range after going just 25 for 100 in their two losses in Boston, when they blew 20-point leads in the second half of both games. The defending NBA champions went ahead by 31 in this one and there was never anything resembling a comeback for the Knicks.

“You’ve got to beat us four times. That’s what it comes down to. Not twice, not once, not three,” Celt-

ics forward Jaylen Brown said. “You’ve got to win four games, so there’s a lot of basketball to be played.”

Tatum, an All-Star who shot just 12 for 42 overall in Boston, and Pritchard, the NBA Sixth Man of the Year, both made five 3s.

Brown scored 19 points and Derrick White had 17 for the Celtics, who will try to tie the series Monday night in Game 4 before returning to Boston for Game 5 on Wednesday.

Jalen Brunson scored 27 points and Karl-Anthony Towns had 21 points and 15 rebounds for the Knicks, who blew a 2-0 lead in this round last year and are still seeking their first conference finals appearance since 2000.

“I don’t think we came with the mindset of being satisfied, but I think it was just subconsciously satis-

fied being up 2-0,” Brunson said. “Just not the way we need to approach the game.”

Boston made more 3-pointers than any team in NBA history during the regular season, when it swept all four meetings against New York. But the Celtics were ice cold to open this series, starting with an NBA playoff-record 45 misses in Game 1.

They made their first four 3-point shots in a blistering start Saturday and never really slowed down. They finished 6 for 7 behind the arc en route to a 36-20 lead, their highest-scoring first quarter of the postseason, quickly taking the energy out of a crowd where some fans paid more than $600 per ticket to be in the arena with the celebrities for one of the biggest games the Knicks have played in the 2000s.

Hunter wows on offense, will switch to defense soon

BY MARK LONG

AP pro football writer

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — After spending two days working solely at receiver during Jacksonville’s rookie minicamp, two-way star Travis Hunter will move to the other side of the ball next week.

Coach Liam Coen said Saturday that Hunter will start getting repetitions on defense when the team reconvenes for offseason conditioning. It should set the stage for Hunter’s expansive role during organized team activities.

“He’ll be able to get integrated next week on the defensive side of the ball,” Coen said. “He’ll start to roll on defense.”

He’s already rolling on offense. Hunter caught nearly

every ball thrown his way over two days alongside fellow rookies. And the few routes or results that didn’t go his way? Well, Hunter went right back to the front of the line for a redo.

“The organization expects a lot out of me,” Hunter said. “They expect me to come out here and play right away. I’m going to do whatever it takes for me to play right away.”

The Jaguars traded up three spots — giving up a second-round pick, a firstrounder next year and more — to select Hunter with the second overall pick in the NFL draft last month. He gives the franchise more star power than its had in decades.

Fans packed a small pro shop outside the practice field and waited in deep

lines to buy his No. 12 jersey. The Heisman Trophy winner has his own YouTube channel, lights up rooms with his smile and elevates the play of everyone around him. He did it in high school in Georgia and did it again in college at Jackson State and at Colorado.

The Jaguars anticipate the trend continuing despite Hunter’s 6-foot-1, 185-pound frame. He caught Coen’s eye during practice Friday when Hunter’s cleat slipped off during a route, and he didn’t slow down or get sidetracked one bit.

“Made a great catch,” Coen said. “It’s more just his presence and the energy he does provide both in the classroom, in the meeting rooms and also out here on the field.”

BEREA, Ohio — Trying to get his jersey number back is the least of Shedeur Sanders’ worries.

With a playbook to learn and trying to prove critics wrong after sliding to the fifth round in the NFL draft, the Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback knows he has a long way to go before he even considers making an offer to receiver DeAndre Carter to wear No. 2.

“I’m not trying to buy anything. My signing bonus ain’t that high right now,” Sanders said at the end of his 13-minute availability with the media before Saturday’s practice at rookie minicamp.

Sanders took No. 12 because he said it was the best number available. It also doesn’t hurt that it was the number Tom Brady wore en route to seven Super Bowl championships with the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Brady said during a podcast appearance earlier this week that he texted Sanders after the draft and told him to use his slide to the 144th overall pick as motivation. Brady was the 199th pick in the 2000 draft.

“There were a lot of fans of me, my craft and my family that was there to support (me). I was just thankful that I have that foundation overall,” Sanders said.

While Sanders’ fall in the draft could be attributed to some of the comments from his father, Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, he knows that everything from here on out is up to him.

“I’m taking every snap out there; I’m getting up after these hits. I’m the one throwing touchdowns. I’m

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By SUE OGROCKI

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders leaves a news conference during the team’s rookie minicamp in Berea, Ohio, on Saturday. the one that got to live it day by day. So all he gave us was the opportunity, and we had to navigate and see what we liked,” Sanders said. “And especially coming to this building, we have great coaches in the building able to keep me focused, keep me in a straight and narrow line.”

When it comes to the negative comments, Sanders did add that he feels most of it comes from older fans instead of those his own age or younger, and that most of it is because of his famous father.

“Ninety-nine percent of hatred is towards pops and then I’m just his son, so it really just comes from that.

And I’ve told him that, too,” he said. “It’s the older generation that do it to me rather than the younger people because when I come in person there’s no negativity I see. But it’s all over online.”

Sanders and third-round pick Dillon Gabriel got plenty of snaps over the two days of practices. Be-

sides trying to learn the playbook, there is refining technique and also trying to learn how to take snaps under center regularly.

Because the veterans have not had a chance to do any 11-on-11 drills yet during their offseason program, head coach Kevin Stefanski said some of the plays installed for the rookies were to get an onfield look and assess them for the first time.

Gabriel said he is not trying to get caught up in any distractions, and is welcoming the chance to compete with Sanders through the offseason program and training camp.

“I love it because of who it is. I think just for us both, you can learn from one another,” Gabriel said.

“But also, it’s not just us two in the room. At least for right now it is. But going into the year, Kenny (Pickett), Joe (Flacco) and even Deshaun (Watson), just a bunch of guys who played a bunch of ball that we can all learn from one another.”

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Semifinal win puts U-High in championship series

BY JOSEPH HALM Contributing writer

University High won its first baseball state title last season.

The Cubs liked the feeling so much that they’re trying to make it two in a row.

U-High pounded out 12 hits as the second-seeded Cubs earned a 7-3 win over third-seeded Pope John Paul II to clinch a Division III select semifinal series sweep on Saturday at the Cub Complex.

“This is fantastic,” Cubs firstyear coach John Ramsey said. “At the beginning of the year, with Coach Morgan leaving, everyone was wondering how the team would do? I can’t say enough about these guys. It’s been their buy-in from Day 1. It’s on them. We’re ready to do our job.”

U-High (27-9) will play either fourth-seeded Catholic-New Iberia or ninth-seeded Dunham in the best-of-three state championship

series in McMurry Park in Sulphur on May 15-17. The series is tied at 1, with the deciding game to be played on Sunday.

After earning a 1-0 win over PJP II on Thursday, U-High was locked in another pitchers’ duel through four innings. Then, the Cubs took control in the fifth inning as they sent nine batters to the plate and scored four runs to turn a tied game into a 5-1 lead. Jake McCann, Jaris Hamilton and Lane Mixon came through with consecutive RBI hits while the fourth run scored on a wild pitch.

“Offensively all year, we’ve talked about staying with our process and doing what we do,” Ramsey said. “Our process is back through the middle and opposite field. Don’t get out in front, and we did a great job of that today. Guys did what they needed to do.”

The Jaguars (26-10) tried to rally in the sixth, turning two hit batsmen into a pair of runs. Logan Coo-

per had an RBI double, while the second run scored on an error. But that was as much as the Jaguars could muster.

U-High’s Brody Mayeux got the win, allowing one run on two hits and a walk with four strikeouts.

Hamilton went 3 for 4 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored to lead the offense. McCann, Ethan Hopkins and Max Mahaffey also each had two hits.

For PJP II (26-10), senior Nate Babin took the loss, allowing four runs on six hits and two walks in 41⁄3 innings. Blaze Rodriguez, Logan Cooper and Kade LaCoste each doubled while Mike Mosley had the other hit for the Jaguars.

“We didn’t quit,” Jaguars’ coach Brian Babin said. “We let them jump out on us, and it would have been easy to just let them run away with it, but we showed character.

We just didn’t have enough in the tank to shut it down and give us a true shot in the end.”

SCOREBOARD Odds Sports Betting Line NBA Sunday

FAVORITE Oklahoma City Cleveland

LINE 6 5

MLB

O/U (227½) (231)

UNDERDOG at DENVER at INDIANA

Sunday

American League FAVORITE LINE UNDERDOG Texas -120 at DETROIT at KANSAS CITY -130 Boston at ATHLETICS OFF N.Y Yankees Baltimore -134 at LA ANGELS at SEATTLE -138 Toronto National League FAVORITE LINE UNDERDOG at N.Y METS -126 Chicago Cubs Atlanta -205 at PITTSBURGH St. Louis -120 at WASHINGTON San Diego -230 at COLORADO LA Dodgers -118 at ARIZONA Interleague FAVORITE LINE UNDERDOG at TAMPA BAY -148 Milwaukee at HOUSTON -148 Cincinnati at MINNESOTA -146 San Francisco Miami -126 at WHITE SOX Philadelphia -164 at CLEVELAND

NHL

Sunday

FAVORITE at DALLAS at FLORIDA

LINE -154 -184

UNDERDOG Winnipeg Toronto

LINE +102 +110 OFF +114 +118 LINE +108 +172 +102 +190 +100 LINE +126 +126 +124 +108 +138

LINE +128 +152

Pro basketball NBA Playoffs SECOND ROUND (Best-of-7; x-if necessary)

W. Aloy ss Maxwell rf Diggs rf K. Aloy dh Kozeal 2b Iredale 3b Robinett 1b Helfrick c Thomas cf

5 0 2 4 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 1 4 1 1 4 0 0 5 0 1 4 1 2 4 1 3

1 Jones 1b 5 1 2 1 0 Dickinson 2b 5 0 1 0 0 Frey dh 4 1 2 2 1 Pearson rf 3 0 0 0 1 Hernandez c 3 0 0 0 0 Braswell 3b 2 0 0 0 0 Brown ph 1 1 1 0 0 Reaves 3b 1 0 0 0 0 Milam ss 3 1 1 0 Stanfield cf 2 1 1 0 Larson ph 1 0 0 0 Paul lf 0 0 0 0 TOTALS 37 4 11 4 TOTALS 35 5 9 5 Arkansas 000 111 100 — 4 11 0 LSU 001 100 200 — 5 9 0 DP — Arkansas 1; LSU 2. LOB — Arkansas 9; LSU 6. 2B — Davalan (9), Helfrick (7), Frey (9), Stanfield (15). HR — K. Aloy (13), Lozeal (12), Frey (9). SH — Diggs (1), Pearson (2). SF — Davalan (2), Frey (2). SB — Stanfield (4).

Arkansas IP H R ER BB SO Root 6 5 2 2 0 6 1 Jimenez ⁄3 2 2 2 2 1 Gaeckle 31⁄3 2 1 1 0 5 LSU IP H R ER BB SO Anderson 52⁄3 7 3 3 1 10 Shores 11⁄3 2 1 1 0 0 Cowan 3 2 0 0 2 3 HBP — by Root (Hernandez). WP — Gaeckle (8), Shores (5).

Umpires — HP: Brian deBrauwere. 1B: Jason Bradley. 2B: Brandon Coooper. 3B: Goshay.

T — 3:19. A — 11,658.

College softball

Indiana 2, Cleveland 1

NHL Playoff

Sunday’s game: Indiana 121, Cleveland 112 Tuesday’s game: Indiana 120, Cleveland 119 Friday’s game: Cleveland 126, Indiana 104 Sunday’s game: Cleveland at Indiana, 7 p.m. x-Tuesday, May 13: Indiana at Cleveland, TBA x-Thursday, May 15: Cleveland at Indiana, TBA x-Sunday, May 18: Indiana at Cleveland, TBA

New York 2, Boston 1

Monday’s game: New York 108, Boston 105, OT Wednesday’s game: New York 91, Boston 90 Saturday’s game: Boston 115, New York 93 Monday’s game: Boston at New York, 6:30 p.m. x-Wednesday, May 14: New York at Boston, TBA x-Friday, May 16: Boston at New York, TBA x-Monday, May 19: New York at Boston, TBA

Western Conference

Denver 2, Oklahoma City 1

Monday’s game: Denver 121, Oklahoma City 119 Wednesday’s game: Oklahoma City 149, Denver 106 Friday’s game: Denver 113, Oklahoma City 104 Sunday’s game: Oklahoma City at Denver, 2:30 p.m.

Tuesday’s game: Denver at Oklahoma City, TBA x-Thursday, May 15: Oklahoma City at Denver, TBA x-Sunday, May 18: Denver at Oklahoma City, TBA

Minnesota 2, Golden State 1

Tuesday’s game: Golden State 99, Minnesota 88 Thursday’s game: Minnesota 117, Golden State 93 Saturday’s game: Minnesota 102, Golden State 97 Monday’s game: Minnesota at Golden State, 9 p.m.

Wednesday’s game: Golden State at Minnesota, TBA x-Sunday, May 18: Minnesota at Golden State, TBA x-Tuesday, May 20: Golden State at Minnesota, TBA

College baseball Area schedule Friday’s games

Southern at Alabama A&M ppd.

Coastal Carolina 10, UL-Monroe 0 Southern Miss 11, UL 3 Nicholls-Southeastern, ppd.

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 4, UNO 2 Jacksonville State 4, Louisiana Tech 2 Bethune-Cookman 14, Grambling 5 Tulane 3, Memphis 2 LSU 5, Arkansas 4 McNeese St. 7, NW State 6

Saturday’s games

Southeastern 5, Nicholls 4 Coastal Carolina 4, UL-Monroe 0 UNO at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi,n Southern at Alabama A&M ppd.

McNeese State 7, Northwestern State 6 Tulane 3, Memphis 0 Southern Miss 15, UL-Lafayette 5 Bethune-Cookman 9, Grambling 3 Jacksonville State 4, Louisiana Tech 0 LSU 13, Arkansas 3

Sunday’s games

Southern at Alabama A&M, 1 p.m.

UL-Lafayette at Southern Miss, 1 p.m.

Louisiana Tech at Jacksonville State, 1 p.m.

Bethune-Cookman at Grambling, 1 p.m.

Tulane at Memphis, 1:05 p.m.

Arkansas at LSU, 3 p.m

LSU 5, Arkansas 4

LATE FRIDAY Arkansas LSU (40-10, 17-8 SEC) (39-11, 16-9) ab r h bi ab r h bi Davalan lf 4 0 1 1 Curiel lf-cf 5 0 1 2

Internazionali BNL d’Italia Results Saturday

Thursday’s game Championship series Game 1: McNeese 3, Southeastern 2 Friday’s game Game 2: Southeastern 2, McNeese 0 Saturday’s game Game 3: Southeastern 6, McNeese 5

Hockey

At Foro Italico Rome Surface: Red clay ROME Results Saturday from Internazionali BNL d’Italia at Foro Italico (seedings in parentheses):

Men’s Singles

SECOND ROUND (Best-of-7; x-if necessary)

EASTERN CONFERENCE Washington 1, Carolina 1

Tuesday’s game: Carolina 2, Washington 1, OT Thursday’s game: Washington 3, Carolina 1 Saturday’s game: Washington at Carolina, 5 p.m.

Monday’s game: Washington at Carolina, 6 p.m.

Thursday’s game: Carolina at Washington, TBA x-Saturday, May 17: Washington at Carolina, TBA x-Monday, May 19: Carolina at Washington, TBA

Toronto 2, Florida 0

Monday’s game: Toronto 5, Florida 4 Wednesday’s game: Toronto 4, Florida 3 Friday’s game: Toronto at Florida, n Sunday’s game: Toronto at Florida, 6:30 p.m. x-Wednesday, May 14: Florida at Toronto, TBA x-Friday, May 16: Toronto at Florida, TBA x-Sunday, May 18: Florida at Toronto, TBA

WESTERN CONFERENCE Dallas 1, Winnipeg 0

Wednesday’s game: Dallas 3, Winnipeg 2 Friday’s game: Dallas at Winnipeg, n Sunday’s game: Winnipeg at Dallas, 3:30 p.m.

Tuesday, May 13: Winnipeg at Dallas, 7 p.m. x-Thursday, May 15: Dallas at Winnipeg, TBA x-Saturday, May 17: Winnipeg at Dallas, TBA x-Monday, May 19: Dallas at Winnipeg, TBA

Edmonton 2, Vegas 0

Tuesday’s game: Edmonton 4, Vegas 2 Thursday’s game: Edmonton 5, Vegas 4, OT Saturday’s game: Vegas at Edmonton, 8 p.m.

Monday’s game: Vegas at Edmonton, 8:30 p.m. x-Wednesday, May 14: Edmonton at Vegas, TBA x-Friday, May 16: Vegas at Edmonton, TBA x-Sunday, May 18: Edmonton at Vegas, TBA

Golf Truist Championship Saturday

At Wissahickon Course Philadelphia Purse: $20 million Yardage: 7,119; Par: 70 Third Round Shane Lowry 64-65-67—196 Sepp Straka 63-67-66—196 Keith Mitchell 61-67-71—199 Justin Thomas 66-67-66—199 Hideki Matsuyama 65-72-63—200 Sam Burns 65-70-67—202 Tony Finau 65-70-67—202 Sungjae Im 69-66-67—202 Rory McIlroy 66-67-69—202 Nick Taylor 67-68-67—202 Jacob Bridgeman 71-67-65—203 Patrick Cantlay 65-68-70—203 Harris English 65-70-68—203 Tommy Fleetwood 68-68-67—203 Rickie Fowler 63-71-69—203 Akshay Bhatia 63-70-71—204 Keegan Bradley 64-72-68—204 Eric Cole 65-71-68—204 Corey Conners 67-71-66—204 Max Homa 66-68-70—204 Stephan Jaeger 65-69-70—204 Si Woo Kim 65-68-71—204 J.T. Poston 65-70-69—204 Sam Stevens 64-71-69—204 Cameron Young 66-70-68—204 Daniel Berger 68-69-68—205 Collin Morikawa 63-70-72—205 67-69-69—205 Xander Schauffele Byeong Hun An 67-71-68—206 Matt Fitzpatrick 68-70-68—206 J.J. Spaun 67-70-69—206 Jordan Spieth 70-68-68—206 Gary Woodland 68-66-72—206 Thomas Detry 65-69-73—207 66-70-71—207 Rasmus Hojgaard Alex Noren 67-68-72—207

-3 -2 -2 -2 -2 -2 -2 -2 -2 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 E E E E +1 +1 +1 +2 +2 +2 +2 +2 +2 +3 +3 +5 +8

Tennis

Southland Conference tournament

Eastern Conference

Davis Thompson 65-72-70—207 Brian Campbell 67-72-69—208 Cameron Davis 69-69-70—208 Ryan Gerard 69-71-68—208 Ben Griffin 66-70-72—208 Aaron Rai 65-72-71—208 Patrick Rodgers 70-69-69—208 Adam Scott 68-70-70—208 Erik Van Rooyen 65-70-73—208 Christiaan Bezuidenhout67-71-71—209 Joe Highsmith 64-74-71—209 Min Woo Lee 69-68-72—209 Robert Macintyre 69-68-72—209 Denny McCarthy 62-73-74—209 Maverick McNealy 68-69-72—209 Andrew Novak 66-71-72—209 Will Zalatoris 66-75-68—209 Nick Dunlap 72-66-72—210 Tom Hoge 68-73-69—210 Viktor Hovland 69-70-71—210 Michael Thorbjornsen 69-69-72—210 Austin Eckroat 67-72-72—211 Brian Harman 69-70-72—211 Russell Henley 65-74-72—211 Ludvig Aberg 66-71-75—212 Wyndham Clark 69-73-70—212 Lucas Glover 72-70-70—212 Adam Hadwin 71-69-72—212 Chris Kirk 68-73-71—212 Taylor Pendrith 66-70-76—212 Max Greyserman 67-73-73—213 Matthieu Pavon 68-73-72—213 Garrick Higgo 68-70-77—215 Sahith Theegala 69-71-78—218

-14 -14 -11 -11 -10 -8 -8 -8 -8 -8 -7 -7 -7 -7 -7 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -5 -5 -5 -4 -4 -4 -4 -4 -3 -3 -3

Round of 64 Tommy Paul (11), United States, def. Roberto Bautista Agut, Spain, 6-1, 6-4.

Tomas Machac (19), Czechia, def. Learner Tien, United States, 6-4, 6-4.

Matteo Berrettini (29), Italy, def. Jacob Fearnley, Britain, 6-4, 7-6 (0).

Sebastian Ofner, Austria, def. Frances Tiafoe (15), United States, 6-2, 6-7 (2), 6-3.

Fabian Marozsan, Hungary, def. Andrey Rublev (16), Russia, 7-5, 4-6, 6-3.

Sebastian Korda (22), United States, def.

Aleksandar Vukic, Australia, 6-3, 6-4.

Hubert Hurkacz (30), Poland, def. Pedro Martinez, Spain, 6-1, 7-5.

Marcos Giron, United States, def. Taylor Fritz (4), United States, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (3).

Casper Ruud (6), Norway, def. Alexander Bublik, Kazakhstan, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3.

Jesper De Jong, Netherlands, def. Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (25), Spain, 6-0, 6-2.

Jakub Mensik (20), Czechia, def. Matteo Gigante, Italy, 7-6 (4), 7-5.

Francisco Cerundolo (17), Argentina, def.

Nicolas Jarry, Chile, 7-6 (4), 6-3.

Jaume Munar, Spain, def. Ben Shelton (12), United States, 6-2, 6-1.

Hugo Dellien, Bolivia, def. Thiago Seyboth Wild, Brazil, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Jannik Sinner (1), Italy, def. Mariano Navone, Argentina, 6-3, 6-4.

Alex de Minaur (7), Australia, def. Luca Nardi, Italy, 6-4, 7-5.

Transactions Major League Baseball

American League BALTIMORE ORIOLES — RHP Matt Bowman cleared outright waivers and accepted an assignment at Norfolk (IL).

BOSTON RED SOX — Placed INF/OF Romy Gonzalez on the 10-day IL, retroactive to May 8. Recalled INF/OF Nick Sogard from Worcester (IL).

CHICAGO WHITE SOX — Selected the contract of 1B Tim Elko from Charlotte (IL).

Designated INF Nick Maton for assignment.

Claimed RHP Yoendrys Gómez from the Los Angeles Dodgers. Released OF Greg Jones.

Sent OF Mike Tauchman to Charlotte (IL) on a rehab assignment.

DETROIT TIGERS — Placed RHP Casey Mize on the 15-day IL, retroactive to May 9. Recalled RHP Chase Lee from Toledo (IL).

LOS ANGELES ANGELS — Agreed to terms with Andrew Vasquez on a minor league contract.

National League ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS — Recalled LHP Joe Mantiply from Reno (PCL). Optioned RHP Christian Mena to Reno.

CHICAGO CUBS — Selected the contract of RHP Cade Horton from Iowa (IL). Optioned LHP Tom Cosgrove to Iowa. Transferred RHP Eli Morgan to the 60- day IL. CINCINNATI REDS — Placed OF Jake Fraley on the 10-day IL, retroactive to May 7. Activated INF/OF Connor Joe. COLORADO ROCKIES — Sent 2B Aaron Schunk and SS Ezequiel Tovar to Albuquerque (PCL) on rehab assignments.

MILWAUKEE BREWERS — Agreed to terms with 1B Bobby Dalbec on a minor league contract. Sent LHP Aaron Ashby to Nashville (IL) on a rehab assignment.

SAN DIEGO PADRES — Sent RHP Bryan Hoeing to ACL Padres on a rehab assignment.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS — Recalled RHP Zach Brzykcy from Rochester (IL). Waived RHP Lucas Sims.

Minor League Atlantic League LONG ISLAND DUCKS — Signed RHP Jonah Dipoto. Placed RHP John Gant on the inactive list.

FOOTBALL

National Football League NEW ORLEANS SAINTS — Announced the retirement of QB Derek Carr.

TENNESSEE TITANS — Signed TE Gunnar Helm.

Canadian Football League WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS — Released DBs Duron Lowe, Jordan Toles, Quandre Mosely and Marque Collins, WRS D’Marcus Adams and Geordon Porter, DLs Dreydon Hall, Camron Peterson and Brock Gowanlock, OL Michael Todd and LB Kobe Wilson.

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL American League East Division

National League

New York Boston Toronto Tampa Bay Baltimore

W 22 20 18 17 14

L 16 20 20 21 23

Pct .579 .500 .474 .447 .378

GB — 3 4 5 7½

Detroit Cleveland Kansas City Minnesota Chicago

W 26 23 24 19 11

L 13 15 16 20 28

Pct .667 .605 .600 .487 .282

GB — 2½ 2½ 7 15

Seattle Houston Athletics Texas Los Angeles

W 22 19 20 18 15

L 15 18 19 21 22

Pct .595 .514 .513 .462 .405

GB — 3 3 5 7

Central Division

West Division

Friday’s Games

East Division New York Philadelphia Atlanta Washington Miami

W 25 22 18 17 14

L 14 16 20 22 23

Pct GB .641 — .579 2½ .474 6½ .436 8 .378 10

Chicago St. Louis Milwaukee Cincinnati Pittsburgh

W 22 20 19 19 13

L 17 19 20 21 26

Pct GB .564 — .513 2 .487 3 .475 3½ .333 9

Los Angeles San Diego San Francisco Arizona Colorado

W 26 24 24 20 6

L 13 13 15 19 32

Pct GB .667 — .649 1 .615 2 .513 6 .15819½

Central Division

West Division

Friday’s Games

Detroit 2, Texas 1 Cleveland 6, Philadelphia 0 Tampa Bay 4, Milwaukee 3 Chicago White Sox 6, Miami 2 Minnesota 3, San Francisco 1 Houston 3, Cincinnati 0 Kansas City 2, Boston 1, 12 innings Toronto 6, Seattle 3 Baltimore 4, L.A. Angels 1 N.Y. Yankees 10, Athletics 2

Pittsburgh 3, Atlanta 2 St. Louis 10, Washington 0 Cleveland 6, Philadelphia 0 Tampa Bay 4, Milwaukee 3 N.Y. Mets 7, Chicago Cubs 2 Chicago White Sox 6, Miami 2 Minnesota 3, San Francisco 1 Houston 3, Cincinnati 0 San Diego 13, Colorado 9 L.A. Dodgers 14, Arizona 11

Tampa Bay 3, Milwaukee 2 Athletics 11, N.Y. Yankees 7 Philadelphia 7, Cleveland 1 Texas 10, Detroit 3 Minnesota 2, San Francisco 1 Boston 10, Kansas City 1 Miami 3, Chicago White Sox 1 Cincinnati 13, Houston 9 Baltimore at L.A. Angels, n Toronto at Seattle, n

Tampa Bay 3, Milwaukee 2 St. Louis 4, Washington 2 Atlanta 3, Pittsburgh 2, 11 innings Philadelphia 7, Cleveland 1 Minnesota 2, San Francisco 1 Miami 3, Chicago White Sox 1 Chicago Cubs 6, N.Y. Mets 5 Arizona 3, L.A. Dodgers 0 Cincinnati 13, Houston 9 San Diego 21, Colorado 0

Milwaukee (Patrick 2-3) at Tampa Bay (Rasmussen 1-3), 12:40 p.m.

Texas (Eovaldi 3-2) at Detroit (Olson 4-2), 12:40 p.m.

Boston (Giolito 0-1) at Kansas City (Lugo 3-3), 1:10 p.m.

Cincinnati (Petty 0-1) at Houston (Blanco 2-3), 1:10 p.m.

Miami (Alcantara 2-4) at Chicago White Sox (Burke 2-4), 1:10 p.m.

San Francisco (Roupp 2-3) at Minnesota (López 3-2), 1:10 p.m.

N.Y. Yankees (TBD) at Athletics (Severino 1-3), 3:05 p.m.

Baltimore (Eflin 2-1) at L.A. Angels (Anderson 2-0), 3:07 p.m.

Toronto (Ureña 0-0) at Seattle, 3:10 p.m.

Philadelphia (Wheeler 3-1) at Cleveland (Ortiz 2-3), 6:10 p.m.

Chicago Cubs (Boyd 3-2) at N.Y. Mets (Canning 5-1), 11:05 a.m.

Atlanta (Sale 1-3) at Pittsburgh (Mlodzinski 1-3), 12:35 p.m.

St. Louis (Mikolas 1-2) at Washington (Gore 2-3), 12:35 p.m.

Milwaukee (Patrick 2-3) at Tampa Bay (Rasmussen 1-3), 12:40 p.m.

Cincinnati (Petty 0-1) at Houston (Blanco 2-3), 1:10 p.m.

Miami (Alcantara 2-4) at Chicago White Sox (Burke 2-4), 1:10 p.m.

San Francisco (Roupp 2-3) at Minnesota (López 3-2), 1:10 p.m.

San Diego (Pivetta 5-1) at Colorado (Márquez 0-6), 2:10 p.m.

L.A. Dodgers (Gonsolin 1-0) at Arizona (Gallen 3-4), 3:10 p.m.

Philadelphia at Cleveland, 6:10 p.m.

Saturday’s Games

Sunday’s Games

Saturday’s Games

Sunday’s Games

BOX SCORES Texas 10, Detroit 3

Athletics 11, N.Y. Yankees 7

Texas

New York

Detroit

Athletics

ab r h bi ab r h bi Smith 1b 5 1 1 1 Carpenter rf 4 2 3 1 Langford lf 2 3 0 0 Torres 2b 3 0 1 1 Seager ss 4 3 3 3 Keith 1b 4 0 0 0 Duran ss 1 1 0 0 Greene cf 3 1 1 1 Pederson dh 4 1 1 2 Malloy ph 0 0 0 0 Semien 2b 3 0 1 1 Torkelson dh 3 0 0 0 García rf 4 0 0 2 Ibáñez ph 1 0 0 0 Carter cf 3 1 1 1 McKinstry lf 3 0 1 0 Haggerty ph-cf2 0 1 0 Sweeney ss 4 0 0 0 Heim c 4 0 0 0 Nido c 3 0 1 0 Jo.Jung 3b 4 0 1 0 Ja.Jung 3b 3 0 0 0 Totals 36 10 9 10 Totals 31 3 7 3 Texas 212 020 102 — 10 Detroit 100 100 010 — 3 DP_Texas 3, Detroit 0. LOB_Texas 6, Detroit 4. 2B_Seager (4). 3B_Carpenter (1). HR_Smith (4), Seager 2 (6), Carter (1), Pederson (1), Carpenter (9), Greene (9).

SB_Langford (7). SF_García (4).

IP H R ER BB SO Texas deGrom W,3-1 5 5 2 2 1 10 Milner 1 2⁄3 1 0 0 0 2 Armstrong 1 1⁄3 1 1 1 0 0 Jackson 1 0 0 0 2 1 Detroit Flaherty L,1-5 3 4 5 5 2 4 Guenther 1 1⁄3 1 2 2 2 0 2 Lee 1 ⁄3 1 0 0 1 2 Holton 1 2 1 1 0 1 Brebbia 2 1 2 2 1 2 deGrom pitched to 1 batter in the 6th, Holton pitched to 1 batter in the 8th.

WP_Brebbia.

Umpires_Home, Andy Fletcher; First, Jansen Visconti; Second, Ben May; Third, Malachi Moore.

T_2:47. A_40,844 (41,083).

ab r h bi ab r h bi Gldschmdt 1b 5 0 1 0 Wilson ss 4 2 2 0 Grisham cf 5 1 1 0 Rooker rf 5 2 2 3 Judge dh 5 2 2 3 Soderstrom lf 5 2 2 2 Bellinger rf 4 1 2 0 Langeliers dh 5 1 4 5 Volpe ss 4 1 1 0 Andujar 3b 4 0 1 0 Wells c 1 0 0 1 Schuemann 3b 1 0 0 0 Domínguez lf 3 1 0 0 Butler cf 4 0 0 0 Reyes 2b 2 0 1 0 Urías 2b 4 1 1 1 Cabrera ph-3b1 0 0 1 Kurtz 1b 4 1 1 0 Peraza 3b-2b 3 1 1 2 Pereda c 3 2 1 0 Totals 34 7 9 7 Totals 39 11 1411 New York 000 105 001 — 7 Athletics 013 000 34x — 11 E_Volpe (5), Ferguson (1). DP_New York 0, 1. LOB_New York 7, 6. 2B_Volpe (11), Wilson (9), Andujar (3), Soderstrom (7), Langeliers (5). 3B_Grisham (1). HR_Judge 2 (14), Peraza (2), Urías (6), Rooker (10), Langeliers (8). SB_Wilson (2). SF_Wells (4), Cabrera (1).

IP H R ER BB SO New York Rodón 6 8 4 4 0 10 2 Cruz L,1-1 BS,2-3 ⁄3 3 3 3 0 2 1 Hill ⁄3 0 0 0 0 0 2 Hamilton ⁄3 1 3 3 2 1 1 Matzek ⁄3 2 1 1 0 1 Athletics Sears 5 4 1 1 1 4 2 Sterner BS,0-1 ⁄3 3 5 5 2 0 Holman W,4-0 1 1⁄3 1 0 0 0 1 1 Ferguson H,8 ⁄3 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 4 Miller S,11-12 1 2⁄3 1 1 HBP_Sears (Wells). WP_Hamilton, Sterner.

Umpires_Home, David Rackley; First, Edwin Moscoso; Second, Tom Hanahan; Third, Chris Guccione.

T_2:59. A_12,113 (14,014).

Cincinnati 13, Houston 9

Atlanta 3, Pittsburgh 2

Cincinnati

Houston

Atlanta

Pittsburgh

ab r h bi ab r h bi Friedl cf 4 3 3 1 Peña ss 6 1 3 2 McLain 2b 4 3 1 3 Altuve 2b 0 1 0 0 De La Cruz ss 5 1 1 4 Rodgers ph-2b 5 1 1 0 Lux dh 4 0 1 2 Paredes 3b 4 1 2 1 Espinal 3b 4 1 1 0 Walker 1b 4 1 1 2 Steer 1b 3 2 0 0 Diaz dh 4 0 2 2 Stephenson c 4 1 2 1 Dezenzo lf 5 1 1 0 Benson rf 4 1 1 1 Caratini c 5 1 3 2 Hays ph 1 0 0 0 Meyers cf 4 1 1 0 Hinds rf 0 0 0 0 Smith rf 3 1 0 0 Totals 37 13 12 13 Totals 40 914 9 Cincinnati (10)02 001 000 — 13 Houston 106 010 001 — 9 DP_Cincinnati 1, Houston 1. LOB_Cincinnati 7, Houston 11. 2B_Benson (1), Espinal (6), Paredes (5), Dezenzo (5), Peña (7).

3B_Walker (1). HR_De La Cruz (6), McLain (5), Caratini (2). SB_Joe (1), McLain (10), Peña (6), Steer (3).

IP H R ER BB SO Cincinnati 7 1 1 Singer 2 1⁄3 9 7 Richardson 1 2⁄3 1 0 0 2 1 1 ⁄3 2 1 1 1 0 Barlow Ashcraft W,3-3 1 2⁄3 1 0 0 1 4 Mey 1 0 0 0 0 1 Santillan 1 0 0 0 1 2 Pagán 1 1 1 1 1 1 Houston 1 ⁄3 3 7 7 3 0 McCullers L,0-1 VanWey 2 4 5 5 2 3 Sousa 1 2⁄3 1 0 0 0 3 Scott 2 2 1 1 3 2 Okert 2 1 0 0 1 3 Ort 1 1 0 0 0 0 VanWey pitched to 3 batters in the 3rd.

HBP_McCullers (McLain).

Umpires_Home, Brock Ballou; First, CB Bucknor; Second, Adam Beck; Third, Dan Iassogna.

T_3:16. A_32,335 (41,000).

ab r h bi ab r h bi Verdugo lf 4 0 0 0 Cruz cf 4 1 0 0 Riley 3b 4 0 0 0 Peguero ss 1 0 0 0 Ozuna dh 4 0 1 0 Reynolds rf 4 0 0 0 Fairchild dh 0 0 0 0 Pham rf 1 0 0 0 Olson 1b 5 2 1 1 McCutchen dh 4 0 0 0 Albies 2b 5 0 0 0 Bart c 4 0 4 1 Murphy c 3 1 1 0 Bae pr 0 1 0 0 Harris cf 4 0 1 1 Davis c 1 0 0 0 White rf 4 0 1 0 Hayes 3b 4 0 1 0 Allen ss 1 0 0 0 Gorski 1b-cf 5 0 2 1 Baldwin ph 1 0 0 0 Frazier 2b 4 0 1 0 Arcia ss 0 0 0 0 Canario lf 4 0 1 0 Williams pr-ss1 0 0 0 Triolo ss-1b 3 0 0 0 39 2 9 2 Totals 36 3 5 2 Totals Atlanta 011 000 000 01 — 3 Pittsburgh 001 000 010 00 — 2 E_Riley (3), Bart (1). DP_Atlanta 1, Pittsburgh 2. LOB_Atlanta 11, Pittsburgh 14. 2B_Ozuna (5), Murphy (3), Harris (8), Canario (1). HR_Olson (7). SB_Cruz (16), Bae (1). S_Allen (1), Hayes (1), Triolo (1).

IP H R ER BB SO Atlanta 1 2 7 Smith-Shawver 5 2⁄3 5 1 2 Johnson H,4 ⁄3 1 0 0 0 0 2 Lee H,5 ⁄3 0 0 0 0 2 2 Montero H,3 ⁄3 1 1 1 0 0 Hernández BS,0-1 1 1⁄3 1 0 0 4 0 Blewett W,2-0 2 1 0 0 0 1 Pittsburgh Heaney 6 4 2 2 3 2 Rainey 1 1 0 0 0 1 Bednar 1 0 0 0 0 2 Santana 1 0 0 0 0 1 Ferguson 1 0 0 0 1 0 Shugart L,1-3 1 0 1 0 2 0 HBP_Heaney (Murphy), Ferguson (Verdugo). WP_Shugart.

Umpires_Home, Clint Vondrak; First, Tony Randazzo; Second, Jacob Metz; Third, Dan Bellino.

T_3:05. A_27,767 (38,753).

St. Louis 4, Washington 2

Tampa Bay 3, Milwaukee 2

St. Louis

Milwaukee

ab Nootbaar rf 5 Winn ss 5 Donovan lf 4 Arenado 3b 3 Contreras 1b 2 Burleson dh 3 Gorman 2b 4 Barrero 2b 0 Pagés c 3 Scott cf 3

Washington r h bi 0 1 2 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1

ab r h bi Abrams ss 5 0 1 0 Call lf 4 0 0 0 Wood dh 3 0 1 0 Lowe 1b 4 0 0 0 Ruiz c 4 0 1 0 García 2b 4 0 0 0 Tena 3b 4 1 2 0 Young cf 3 0 1 0 Bell ph 0 0 0 0 Nuñez pr 0 0 0 0 Crews rf 3 1 1 2 Totals 32 4 7 4 Totals 34 2 7 2 St. Louis 040 000 000 — 4 Washington 000 000 020 — 2 DP_St. Louis 0, Washington 1. LOB_St. Louis 7, Washington 8. 2B_Nootbaar (9), Donovan (12), Abrams (7). HR_Crews (5). SB_Burleson (3), Nuñez (4), Tena (1).

S_Scott (2).

IP H R ER BB SO St. Louis 2 0 7 Pallante W,3-2 7 1⁄3 5 2 2 Romero H,4 0 1 0 ⁄3 1 0 Helsley S,7-9 1 1 0 0 2 1 Washington Williams L,2-4 6 7 4 4 1 4 Henry 1 1⁄3 0 0 0 1 1 2 Brzykcy 0 0 0 ⁄3 0 0 Ferrer 1 0 0 0 1 0 HBP_Williams (Contreras), Henry (Arenado). WP_Helsley.

Umpires_Home, Laz Diaz; First, Erich Bacchus; Second, Brian O’Nora; Third, Mike Estabrook.

T_2:29. A_37,796 (41,376).

Tampa Bay

ab r h bi ab r h bi Chourio cf 4 1 1 1 Simpson lf 3 0 0 0 Turang 2b 3 0 0 0 Lowe 2b 4 0 0 0 Contreras c 4 0 0 0 Díaz dh 3 0 0 0 Yelich dh 4 0 1 0 Aranda 1b 4 1 1 0 Hoskins 1b 3 0 1 0 Caminero 3b 4 0 1 0 Frelick rf 4 0 0 0 Caballero pr 0 0 0 0 Durbin 3b 4 0 0 0 Misner cf 2 2 0 0 Collins lf 3 0 0 0 Walls ss 3 0 1 1 Ortiz ss 3 1 1 1 Jankowski rf 3 0 2 2 29 3 5 3 Totals 32 2 4 2 Totals Milwaukee 001 010 000 — 2 Tampa Bay 000 200 001 — 3 E_Caminero (4), Aranda (1). LOB_Milwaukee 5, Tampa Bay 6. 2B_Hoskins (6), Walls (2). HR_Chourio (7), Ortiz (1). SB_Simpson (7), Misner (3). SF_Jankowski (1).

IP H R ER BB SO Milwaukee Myers 4 3 2 2 3 3 Alexander 1 0 0 0 1 1 Uribe 1 0 0 0 0 2 Mears 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 Koenig 2 ⁄3 1 1 1 1 0 Anderson L,1-2 Megill 0 1 0 0 0 0 Tampa Bay Bradley 6 4 2 2 1 5 Uceta 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 Rodríguez Fairbanks W,3-1 1 0 0 0 1 1 Megill pitched to 1 batter in the 9th.

Umpires_Home, John Libka; First, Sean Barber; Second, James Hoye; Third, D.J. Reyburn.

T_2:23. A_10,046 (11,026).

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Sunday, May 11, 2025 ■ 7C

lll

THE VARSITY ZONE Brusly boys win 4A title; West Feliciana girls tie for first

BY CHARLES SALZER Contributing writer

STAFF PHOTOS By MICHAEL JOHNSON

Catholic High’s Robert Conley won the Class 5A javelin with a throw of 209 feet, 5 inches during the LHSAA track and field championships on Saturday at LSU’s Bernie Moore Track Stadium.

Catholic edges Jesuit for 5A championship Bears trailed by nine points with two events remaining

BY ROBIN FAMBROUGH Staff writer

One misconception about track and field is that a single point won’t matter. Another is that freshmen seldom make a difference on the Class 5A level.

Catholic High disproved both notions and won the Class 5A title during the final day of the LHSAA track and field championships on Saturday night at LSU’s Bernie Moore Track Stadium.

The Bears finished with 61 points — one point ahead of second-place Jesuit in the boys team standings.

Catholic trailed the Blue Jays by nine points going into the final two events.

“I am so proud of this team,” Catholic coach Sean Brady said. “We don’t have a senior on the team with a scholarship offer and we have a lot of young guys.

They got what we needed.”

Augustin Juneau, a 14-year-old freshman, placed sixth in the 3,200 meters to pick up one point. The Bears won the 4x400 in 3 minutes, 18.21 seconds to wrap up the win.

“When I passed my teammate, there were two laps to go,” Juneau said. “I knew I had to find another gear and score at least one point.”

Barbe of Lake Charles ran away with the 5A girls crown, scoring 71 points. St. Joseph’s Academy made a late charge and tied Alexandria for second place with 41 points.

“Not too long ago, we had 27 points,” St. Joseph’s coach Vernon Langley said.

“I told them when it came down to the 3,200 and 4x400 we could take home some hardware. And they battled.”

The Redstickers’ Michelle Daigle placed second in the 3,200 and Alexandria Stewart anchored the 4x400 relay to a third-place finish to complete the comeback. SJA also won the 4x800 relay to start the meet.

Catholic javelin specialist Robert Conley placed first with a personal best of 209-5. Sophomore William Decuir pulled off one of the biggest surprises by edging Jesuit’s Brady Mullen in the 1,600 meters.

Mullen, who already has the LHSAA’s 3,200 meters record, looked to claim the 1,600 mark. Decuir never

After holding the team lead in the Class 4A competition through 16 events, the Brusly boys team could only sit back and watch while its top challengers competed in the final two races.

Brusly’s lead turned out to be good enough and the Panthers held off Leesville and E.D. White to claim their first team title in more than two decades.

“It means a lot,” Brusly coach Anthony Felder said. “We haven’t done this in 30 years. It’s great to bring back a team title to Brusly High. Hopefully we can do it again next year.”

Brusly picked up its final points when Patrick Gales won the 200 with a time of 21.44 seconds. The win gave the Panthers 44 points, enough to win the team title.

Leesville won the 4x400 meter relay and was second with 40 points. E.D. White picked up one point in the 3,200 and finished third with 39 points.

Gales was the catalyst for Brusly with three wins. He started his day with a first in the 100 (10.56) and ran the anchor leg for the Panthers winning 4x200 team (1:28.79), when he passed three runners on the final leg.

“It was determination and the glory of God giving me the ability to do what I needed to do,” Gales said of his efforts.

The girls Class 4A competition also came down to the end with West Feliciana and The Willow

East Ascension’s Kiristen Mcgirt won the Class 5A shot put and discus during the LHSAA track and field championships on Saturday at Bernie Moore Track Stadium. wavered as Mullen charged down the final stretch.

He lunged at the finish line in 4 minutes, 12.62 seconds; Mullen’s time was 4:12.87.

Two of the area’s top senior performers ended their careers with field event wins.

Scotlandville’s Ferzell Shepard did not get the composite record in the triple jump, but his winning jump of 51 feet, 61/2 inches is currently a national outdoor best for this year.

Shepard dueled Slidell’s Gionni Wiltz in his two events. Shepard won the long jump in 24-5, just ahead of Wiltz at 24-21/2.

East Ascension’s Kiristen Mcgirt worked around an injury to win the shot put in 45-41/2 and then went all in on her final discus toss to win in 145-6.

Meet notes n Destrehan’s Marley Richard had herself a day, winning the 100 and 200 meters in Class 5A, along with wins in the long jump and triple jump.

Richard’s winning jump of 20-21/2 in the long jump was the meet’s best jump. n St. Joseph’s won a coin toss with Alexandria to determine who took the runner-up girls trophy home. A second trophy will be ordered and sent to Alexandria.

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

West Feliciana’s Tristen Harris won the 3A long jump (19 feet, 6 inches), 100 (12.10 seconds) and 200 (24.78) at the LHSAA track and field championships on Saturday at the Bernie Moore Track Stadium.

AREA BASEBALL PLAYOFF REPORT Semifinals Nonselect

Catholic overpowers STM, advances to state tourney

BY WILLIAM WEATHERS

Contributing writer

On the other 364 days of the year Catholic High’s offense might not have experienced such a show of power.

But with the wind blowing out of Catholic’s Grizzly Field, and a 10th consecutive trip to Sulphur on the line, the top-seeded Bears turned their version of Home Run Derby into a 16-6, 9-3 sweep of fourth-seeded St. Thomas More in Saturday’s Division I select state semifinal best-of-3 series.

“Today our guys took advantage,” Brad Bass said of 12 mph winds blowing out.

“They stayed in a disciplined approach. They were poised, patient, and precise in their moments of attack. I’m so proud of our team and happy to be going back to the old dance floor.”

Catholic (35-5) faces No. 3 Brother Martin in a best-of-three state championship series beginning at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at McMurry Park in Sulphur. The Bears are the reigning state champions and in pursuit of the school’s seventh

School finishing as co-champions after each scored 51 points.

The Willow School had a chance to pull ahead with two runners competing in the 3,200. The Lions got a win from Emma Aldana (11:12.42) to tie the team score, but neither school had an entry in the 4x400, the meet’s final event.

“It’s unbelievable,” said West Feliciana coach Hatem Bachar, whose team had only four competitors at the meet. “If you told me at the beginning of the day we were going to win state, it would have been difficult to believe. We had two athletes with 60 points. I would love to have had more kids, but I couldn’t be more proud.”

As she has done throughout her career, senior Tristen Harris set the pace for the Saints with wins in the long jump (19 feet, 6 inches), 100 (12.10) and 200 (24.78). A South Carolina signee, the wins brought Harris’ outdoor win total to nine.

West Feliciana also got wins from Diamond Peck in the triple jump (37-6) and its 4x200 relay (1:42.43).

Broadmoor’s Taylor Hankton was the key contributor for the Bucs’ girls, who tied for sixth with 36 points.

Hankton won the 100 hurdles (14.23), the 300 hurdles (42.64) and pushed Harris in the 200 before finishing second.

“I was third in the 300 hurdles last year,” said Hankton, a Southern signee. “I said to myself, ‘I’m going to make it back to state and I’m going to win,’ and that’s exactly what I did.”

state tiitle.

Catholic homered five times in the doubleheader with LSU signee Jack Ruckert hitting three total, including two in the second game.

“It was a great team win, said Ruckert, who was 4 for 5 with 4 RBIs and reached base seven times overall. “The team we were going against was very talented with great players. We knew it was going to be a real challenge and to come out and hit the ball like we did was special.”

GAME 1: CATHOLIC 16, STM 6: The Bears wiped out an early two-run deficit with a stretch of nine unanswered runs and closed out a run-rule victory with five runs in the fifth.

Three of Catholic’s six hits were homers from Andrew Clapinski, Noah Lewis and Ruckert after STM took a 2-0 lead on Jacob Froelich’s two-run single in the first. The Cougars closed to 9-6 on Landyn Craft’s grand slam in the fourth, but the Bears answered with two runs in the bottom half of the inning and closed the game on a two-run single from Orlando Henriquez.

Senior Bennett Smith (3-0) picked up the win with two innings of scoreless relief. He allowed one hit and struck out three.

“They’re really good at what they do,” STM coach Justin Robichaux said of Catholic. “They have been for a long time. I’m just proud of our guys for their fight and resiliency.”

GAME 2: CATHOLIC 9, STM 3: The Bears had a pair of two out, tworun homers from Ruckert and right fielder Harrison Kidder for a 4-0 lead in the third against STM starter Cayden Dartez.

The Cougars (26-11) cut the deficit to 4-3 in the fifth on a three-run homer from first baseman Cade Wilkerson against winning pitcher Hayes Segar (3-0), who worked out of the inning with a strikeout and groundout. Jake Tompkins pitched two scoreless innings in relief, including a pair of strikeouts, for his first save.

Catholic extended its lead with five runs in the seventh, taking advantage of two throwing errors, a pair of wild pitches for four runs and Edward Henriquez’s RBIsingle.

DIVISION I No. 5 Benton at No. 1 Live Oak: Game 1 Live Oak wins 3-0. Game 2: Live Oak wins 8-0.

DIVISION II No. 4 West Ouachita at No. 1 Brusly: Game 1 Friday 6 p.m., Game 2: Saturday 2 p.m., Game 3: 5 p.m. (if necessary) No. 3 Lutcher at No. 2 North DeSoto, Game 1: Lutcher wins 7-4. Game 2: North DeSoto wins 3-0. Game 3: North DeSoto win 3-2

Select

DIVISION I No. 4 St. Thomas More at No. 1 Catholic High: Game 1: Catholic wins 16-6. Game 2: Catholic wins 9-3 DIVISION III No. 9 Dunham at No. 4: Catholic-New Iberia, Game 1: Catholic-NI wins 6-0. Game 2: Dunham wins 7-4. Game 3: No. 3 Pope John Paul II at No. 2: University, Game 1: University wins 1-0. Game 2: University wins 7-3.

DIVISION IV Quarterfinals No. 12 Ouachita Christian 3, No. 4 Ascension Christian 2

Class C

Quarterfinals No. 1 Family Christian 16, No. 8 Calvin 6 No. 3 Maurepas 7, No. 6 Hornbeck 3

State tournament McMurry Park-Sulphur

Nonselect

DIVISION I Finals-best of three series May 15-17, 5:30 p.m. each day No. 1 Live Oak vs. No. 11 Sam Houston CLASS C SEMIFINAL No. 3 Maurepas vs. No. 2 Harrisonburg, 2 p.m.

Tuesday

Select

DIVISION I Finals-best of three series May 15-17, 5:30 p.m. each day Catholic vs. TBA DIVISION III Finals-best of three series May 15-17, 11 a.m. each day U-High (27-9) vs. Catholic-New Iberia-Dunham winner

Division IV

Select semifinals No. 1 Family Christian vs. No. 4 Ebarb, 11 a.m.

Tuesday

Game 1 Catholic 16, St. Thomas More 6 (5)

St. Thomas More 200 40 – 6 7 2 Catholic 342 25 – 16 8 1 W – Bennett Smith (4-0). L – Riley Rowell (55) Leaders – CHS: Noah Lewis 3-3, 2 runs, 2B, HR, 4 RBIs, Andrew Clapinski 1-2, 2 runs, HR, 3 RBIs, Ruckert 1-1, HR, 3 runs, O. Henriquez 1-2, 2 RBIs, 2 runs, 2 BBs, Edward Henriquez 1-2, RBI, 2 runs; STM: Landry Craft 1-1, run, HR, 4 RBIs, Jacob Froelich 2-3 2B, 2 RBIs, Hayes Hebert 2-3.

Game 2 Catholic 9, St. Thomas More 3

Catholic 004 000 5 – 9 9 0 St. Thomas More 000 030 0 – 3 5 3 W – Hayes Segar (4-0). SV – Jake Tompkins (1). L – Cayden Dartez. Leaders – CHS: Jack Ruckert 3-4, HR, 3 RBIs, 2 runs, Harrison Kidder 1-3, HR, 2 RBIs, 2 runs, Orlando Henriquez 2-3, run; STM: Cade Wilkerson 1-2, HR, 3 RBIs, run, Andrew Carriere 3-3, BB, run.

Records – Catholic High 35-5, St. Thomas More 26-11.

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8C ■ Sunday, May 11, 2025 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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Straka, Lowry share lead LSU men’s golf carries No. 1 seed into regional after 3 rounds at Truist

BY SCOTT RABALAIS Staff writer

BY BOB LENTZ AP sports writer

FLOURTOWN, Pa. — Sepp Straka is looking to become the second multiple-event winner of the PGA Tour season. Shane Lowry is seeking his first individual title since 2019.

Straka shot a 4-under 66 and Lowry had a 67 in blustery conditions Saturday to share the lead heading into the final round at The Philadelphia Cricket Club’s Wissahickon Course.

The pairing of the two in the final round of the Truist Championship couldn’t stack up more differently.

Straka is ready for the stress that comes with the last pairing in the final round, while Lowry is comfortable with the final-round pressure as he works to end a lengthy winless run.

“All you can do is try to focus on what you can control, and that is your target, try to hit your number, and try to make a good swing,” said Straka, a winner at The American Express in January who would join three-time winner Rory McIlroy with a victory Sunday. “You’re going to feel terrible while trying to do it, but that’s just part of it. That kind of makes it fun when you are able to pull it off.”

Lowry is confident that he has put himself in a position to win an individual title for the first time since the 2019 British Open.

“Keep knocking on the door, and eventually you’ll go through it. I feel like I’ve done a good job of it this season, last season. It does get frustrating sometimes,” said Lowry, who teamed with McIlroy to win a team event at the Zurich Classic last year. “I’m going to go out and give my best. If it’s good tomorrow, that will be great.”

Straka started the round two strokes behind and offset his only bogey with five birdies — two in the final four holes — and made a clutch par putt from 161/ 2 feet at the 18th.

Lowry moved into a tie for the lead by matching Straka’s birdie on the downwind 489-yard, par-4

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MATT ROURKE

Shane Lowry, of Ireland, hits on the first hole during the third round of the Truist Championship golf tournament at the Philadelphia Cricket Club on Saturday in Flourtown, Pa. 17th and will be paired with the 32-year-old Austrian on Sunday in the final round of the sixth signature event of the PGA Tour season.

Keith Mitchell, the leader after 36 holes, labored through a round of 1 over. He was 11 under with Justin Thomas, who charged up the leaderboard despite bogeys on the two par-5s with a 67. Hideki Matsuyama was another stroke back after a 63, the best score of the day.

McIlroy, the reigning champion, made an early move before spoiling a three-birdie run with consecutive bogeys. He had an uneventful back nine with one birdie and was 8 under after a 69, tied with Nick Taylor (67), Sam Burns (67), Sungjae Im (67) and Tony Finau (67).

The players dealt with the third variation of playing conditions.

Two days after 64 players broke par, and a day after rain tempered scoring on the 7,100-yard layout, wind at 12 mph — with gusts up to 27 mph — and quicker greens made low scoring difficult.

N O R T H A M ER I CA’S

“It’s great to see the way the conditions come into it today,” Lowry said. “The golf course is standing up really well. It was very tough today in those winds, particularly tough to hole putts.”

Straka agreed.

“It’s been fun on the tee box trying to strategize on a new golf hole every day and trying to figure out the best way to play it,” he said.

Straka proved to be the steadiest among the leaders. He started the round five strokes back and moved into a tie for the lead with a bogeyfree front nine that included two birdies. He closed out his round with five birdies and a bogey.

Lowry moved into a tie with playing partner Mitchell with a birdie at the first, and the duo traded the lead through the front nine, making the turn at 13 under, deadlocked with Straka, who was a hole ahead. The Irishman took the lead with a birdie putt of 17 feet at the 459-yard, par-4 10th, but was forced to settle for a tie after Straka’s strong finish.

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Jake Amos knew he had talented players going into his first season as the LSU men’s golf coach.

What kind of team he had was another question.

“We’ve been trying to stay under the radar and just get on with it and not really have anyone talk good or bad about us,” Amos said. “But it’s been a noteworthy season.”

Noteworthy indeed.

The Tigers, ranked No. 6 in both major national polls, have four team wins this season and flashed considerable depth with five different players winning individual titles. Algot Kleen, who transferred with Amos when he left East Tennessee State for LSU, was named Southeastern Conference Newcomer of the Year, while Arni Sveinsson was named to the SEC all-freshman team and secondteam all-conference. Both have won tournaments this year, as have Alfons Bondesson, Nicholas Arcement and Noah McWilliams.

“Everybody’s kind of been pushing each other,” Kleen said. “Arni and I have gone head-to-head in a couple of tournaments and other people have been pushing each other, too. When everybody keeps winning, it pushes everyone else to win.”

“We did a lot of really great things,” Amos said. “My transfers have settled in really quickly, and the freshmen have as well.

That was the big question mark.”

The Tigers were rewarded for their stellar season with the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Amherst Regional at Poplar Grove Golf Club in Amherst, Virginia.

The 13-team regional begins Sunday afternoon with a first round hastily moved up from Monday because of the heavy threat of rain Monday and Tuesday in Amherst. The teams will play a shotgun format practice round Sunday morning, followed by the first round.

The top five teams plus several unattached individuals will advance from the regional to the NCAA championships on May 2328 at LaCosta Resort in Carlsbad, California. The NCAA women’s championships begin there Friday.

This LSU team has an unusual makeup, with six players from Louisiana and its remaining five from overseas: two from Sweden and one each from England, South Africa and Iceland. Kleen is one of the two from Sweden, while Sveinsson hails from Iceland.

The Tigers will have the same lineup that shot 29-under par in the stroke play portion of last month’s SEC championships: Kleen, Bondesson, Sveinsson, Mendell and Matthew Dodd-Berry. Four other SEC teams are in the field: No. 7 Oklahoma, No. 18 Vanderbilt, No. 30 Tennessee and No. 55 Arkansas.

Live scoring will be available each day at www.scoreboard.clippd.com.

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‘Zydeco accordion wizard’ gets feature in ‘Sinners’ Musicians from as far as Japan have come to Opelousas to learn from zydeco accordion wizard Jeffery Broussard.

But Broussard was in for a surprise when renowned Celtic musician Tony Davoren, who also lives in St. Landry Parish, brought him to New Orleans to play on a movie soundtrack.

Broussard Herman can usually play Fuselier a song within minutes of hearing it, but after fighting with the Irish tune for a couple of hours, the squeezebox master said the song “clicked after I played it backward.”

Broussard thought he was done, but was informed he had to sign papers.

“I signed the papers and the lady said, ‘Now, you’re going to be in the movie,’” said Broussard, 58. “I said, ‘I’m not an actor,’ and she said, ‘You are now.’”

“It just went from there,” Broussard said. “What a great experience.”

Broussard is enjoying his cameo as an accordionist in “Sinners,” a vampire thriller starring Michael B. Jordan.

According to a May 4 report in Variety, the hit movie grossed $236.7 million worldwide.

The movie debuted April 18 and spent two weeks as the

PROVIDED PHOTOS

Erin Miller, of Circle M Farms in Franklinton, with one of their goats, Envi.

BIG FAMILY

ä See BROUSSARD, page 6D

These Louisiana farm moms raise hundreds of kids. Just a few are human.

BY LAUREN CHERAMIE and JOY HOLDEN Staff writers PROVIDED PHOTO By ERIC McCANDLESS/DISNEy

Louisiana’s John Foster performs the George Strait hit ‘I Cross My Heart’ on Monday night’s ‘American Idol.’

STAR TURN? La.’s John Foster competing for spot in ‘Idol’s’ top 6

Louisiana contestant John Foster and the rest of “American Idol’s” top 7 will perform classic Disney songs on Sunday night’s episode.

The show airs at 7 p.m. on ABC and streams the next day on Hulu.

Voting is only allowed while the show airs.

The finalists will sing Disney tunes performing at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, where the contestants were mentored last week by LinManuel Miranda (“Hamilton,” “In the Heights”). Miranda will also perform on Sunday’s episode.

To help put the Addis teen in the top 6, here’s how to vote: n Text 13 to 21523 (10 times). n Vote 10 times at americanidol. com. n Vote 10 times on the app.

If Foster makes it to the next round, which will be announced before the show ends at 9 p.m., he will perform again Monday, with the show starting at 7 p.m.

— Judy Bergeron

Being a dog mom is one thing.

Being a farm mom is something entirely different. Add human children to the mix, and the responsibilities of caring for everyone becomes a juggling act.

Across Louisiana, farm moms are handling the balancing act of demanding schedules, adaptability and motherhood.

On Mother’s Day, meet these two farm moms in Franklinton and Baton Rouge.

When Erin Miller was young, the closest she got to having animals of her own was tossing stale bread to chickens at her neighbor’s house in New Orleans. Today, she tends nearly 550 animals at her family farm in Franklinton, Circle M Farms.

The dairy arm of the farm, Southern Maids Dairy, is currently the largest Grade A dairy goat operation in the state. The business is a staple at the Red Stick Farmers

Southern Maids Dairy is currently the largest Grade A dairy goat operation in the state. The business is a staple at the Red Stick Farmers Market in Baton Rouge.

Market in Baton Rouge.

“I never thought that I would be helping goats or cows have babies — having to go in and pull a baby,” Miller says. “I’ve had to give a goat an enema at 2 a.m. You’re sitting there, thinking, while you’re doing it, ‘How in the world did this become my life?’”

Miller is a bank compliance officer in Covington and mother of

three boys, 300 goats, 200 chickens, 12 water buffalo and six cows.

As a mom to both animal and human children, she has learned to roll with the punches and adapt to changing schedules.

“She has an amazing ability to juggle 25 different things at once and not skip a beat,” Nathan Miller says of his wife. “She’s also managing a household of four boys (me included) who all act like they’re younger than 15! Three of them are.”

All animals at Circle M Farms are bottle-fed as babies, eating almost four times a day.

When Erin Miller was pregnant with her first son, Austin, now 8, her husband was a truck driver.

Before Austin was born, her schedule consisted of milking goats in the morning, getting ready for work, going to work an hour away, coming home, changing clothes, milking goats again, eating dinner, showering and going to bed.

After her children were born, that daily schedule included even

ä See FARM MOMS, page 6D

Staying calm under pressure and rallying together as a team as fast as we can are the unexpected little golden nuggets.” AMIÉ BURNHAM

Chantilly vs. Gentilly: What’s the difference in cakes?

Bywater Bakery owner Chaya Conrad with her famous Chantilly cake outside the bakery in New Orleans.

STAFF PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD

BY MATTHEW HAINES Contributing writer

For Jeannie DelGreco, a small question grew into a full-on mystery. It began with a weekly card game.

“My 77-year-old mother has played cards every Friday with her New Iberia elementary school friends for years,” said DelGreco, a real estate agent in Lafayette. “And whoever hosts

always provides dessert.”

DelGreco’s motherin-law, Lena, joins the card game whenever she is in town visiting from New York. Such was the case earlier this year when, midway through the game, a Gentilly cake from Rouses Market was served.

Lena loved it.

ä See CURIOUS, page 6D

2D ■ Sunday, May 11, 2025 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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COMMUNITY

PROVIDED PHOTO

PROVIDED PHOTO

Alpha Delta Pi

Local DAR Chapters

Alpha Delta Pi collegians and alumnae gathered at the Alpha Delta Pi house on LSU’s campus on April 26 to celebrate the 174th anniversary of the founding of the sorority. Shown are, from left, first row, Mary Gay Landry, Jackie Kennedy, Nora Adams, Carolyn Booker, Fran Grega and Lee Ferriss; middle row, Mary Francis, Annette Zimmer, Ashleigh Jambon, Melinda Robert and Paris Koch; back row, Belinda Amato, Avery Ingham, Kelly Bauder, Elizabeth Craig and Karen Gaupp-Wozniak. Not pictured is Sirikhwan Pamornkul.

Five local chapters of the Daughters of the American Revolution congratulated new American citizens on May 2 at the Raising Cane’s River Center Theatre. The John James Audubon, Canary Islands, Alexander Stirling, Baton Rouge and Heirome Gaines chapters provided refreshments for the new citizens and their guests. Gathered are, from left, first row, Christie Webre, Lynne Richard, Maribeth Andereck, Margaret Roubique, Kim Fossey, Pat Veazey, Candace Binder, and Lillian Dunlap; back row, Judge John Michael Guidry, Judge Michael Crawford, Judge Erin Wilder-Doomes, Alisa Janney, Judge Scott Johnson and Judge Brian Jackson. Not pictured is Brittney Kean.

PROVIDED PHOTO

Red Hatters The GLAD Red Hat Club met April 15 for lunch at La Contea’s Italian Restaurant. Gathered are, from left, Stuart Greer, Debbie Harris, Linda Crane, Ruth Glatt, Linda Henning, Liz Walker, Gerri Cornett and Carol LaRouche.

COMMUNITY GUIDELINES The Community column runs Sundays in the Living section and accepts submissions for news of events that have taken place with civic, philanthropic, social and religious auxiliary organizations, as well as academic honors.

Submissions should be sent by noon Monday to run in the upcoming Sunday column. Because of space limitations, organizations that meet monthly or more are limited to one photo per month. If submitting digitally, we prefer JPG files 300KB or larger. If taking a photo of a group, have them stand or sit shoulder-to-shoulder. If more than six people are in the photo, arrange them on multiple, distinct rows. Avoid strong background light sources.

Identify those pictured by first and last names as viewed from left to right, row by row. We prefer emailed Community column submissions to features@theadvocate.com. We also accept submissions by mail at P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge LA 70821. A phone number must be included.

PROVIDED PHOTO

Garden Discovery Series Allen Owen presented a Garden Discoveries series session titled ‘Louisiana Super Plant Winners’ at the Main Library at Goodwood on April 12. Shown are, from left, Julie Folse, Owen and Dot Mounger.

PROVIDED PHOTO

WBR Garden & Civic Club

PROVIDED PHOTO

Good Ole Boys

The North Baton Rouge Good Ole Boys attended a luncheon on April 17 at Rudy’s Seafood Members of the West Baton Rouge Garden & Civic Club held their monthly meeting on April & Steakhouse in Watson. Shown are, from left, seated, Dickie Rembert, Raymond Fisher, 15 at the LSU Ag Center in Port Allen. Shown are, from left, Pam Walsh, Wendy Wilcombe, Cisco Landry, Tony McGee, Floyd Kimble, Doug Daigle, Winston Vass, Darrel Walton and J.F. Laurie Roche, Betty Landry, Lorry Trotter, Janell Woods and Paula Soniag.

Accardo; standing, Gary Rispone, Ron Stewart, Allie McClure, Ronnie McKinney, Donnie Dickerson and Eddie Schafer.

ON THE ARTS AND CULTURE SCENE ‘CATS’ tickets

Tickets are on sale for Christian Youth Theatre’s production of the musical “CATS,” opening May 22 in the Shaver Theatre in the LSU Music and Dramatic Arts Building, Dalrymple Drive.

Tickets are $16-$22. Visit cytbatonrouge.org/shows/CATS-youngactors-edition/29.

Symphony celebrates Tonys

Tickets are on sale for the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra’s next performance in its Concerts in the Cosmos series, “A Night at the Tony Awards: A Celebration of Broadway,” at 7:30 p.m. on May 14-15 in the Louisiana Art & Science Museum’s Penning Planetarium, 100 S. River Road, Baton Rouge.

Tickets are $40-$60. Visit brso.org.

At LSU Museum of Art

The LSU Museum of Art in the Shaw

Center for the Arts, 100 Lafayette St., is showing “In Focus: Artwork

by LSU Faculty,” through Aug. 3.

The museum will host a fee gallery talk coinciding with the show titled, “Gallery Talk with the XYZ Collective,” from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. May 15.

For more information, visit lsumoa. org.

Music Club recital

The Music Club of Baton Rouge will conclude its season with a recital at 10:30 a.m. May 13 in the First United Methodist Church Conference Center, 930 North Blvd., Baton Rouge.

The program, “The Great American Songbook: A Tribute to the Great Lyricists,” will feature Bill Grimes and Celeste Veillon. Coffee will be served at 10 a.m. Admission is free.

Visit brmusicclub.com.

French workshop

Little By Little, in collaboration with local French experts and area

museums, will offer a day of French language tours from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. May 31, with an optional wine pairing dinner immediately following. Tours will be led by Fulbright Scholar and co-author of “Parcours Louisianais” Margaret Marshall and Babeth Schlegel, executive director for the Friends of Magnolia Mound and a native French speaker.

This immersive and interactive workshop includes tours of the LSU Rural Life Museum, Magnolia Mound Museum and Historic Site, the Louisiana Capitol and the murals of Angela Gregory at the Watermark Hotel. In addition, guests may purchase a four-course wine pairing dinner led by Level 2 sommelier and owner of Blend Wine Bar Scott Higgins.

Tickets are $185 for the workshop and $295 for the workshop and dinner. The ticket includes transportation to museums, cheese tasting by Crafted Nibbles, all museum entries and French study materials. Wine

dinner tickets may be purchased separately for $120.

Visit littlebylittle.ticketspice.com/ vive-la-france-in-baton-rouge or https://littlebylittle.live/day-tripsand-events.

At Sullivan Theater Tickets are on sale for The Spring Chickens — An Evening of Bluegrass at 7 p.m. May 24 at the Sullivan Theater, 8849 Sullivan Road, Baton Rouge. Tickets are $15.

Tickets also are on sale for the theater’s production of “Oklahoma!” opening June 13. Tickets are $25-$35.

Visit sullivantheater.com.

Summer camp Limited space is still available for the ARTisTRY Kids Summer Arts Camp at the Hammond Regional Arts Center, 217 E. Thomas St., Hammond.

There will be three distinct week-

long camps in June, each focusing on a different artistic discipline: Visual Arts, Dance & Movement and Young Actors. To register, visit hammondarts.org.

At NUNU

Tickets are on sale for a fundraising potluck dinner, featuring live music by the Pot Luck Trio, at 6 p.m. May 24 at NUNU Arts & Culture Collective, 1510 Courtableau Highway, Arnaudville. Admission is $20. Attendees are asked to bring a covered dish.

Adult and nonalcoholic beverages will be available.

For tickets, visit events.humanitix. com/nunu-fundraising-potluckdinner-featuring-live-music-by-thepot-luck-trio?.

Also, NUNU is showing the exhibit, “Chaos and Harmony,” featuring work by Elise Dupuis Fontenot, David P. Morrow and Ashley Walker through June 30. For more information, visit nunucollective.org.

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Sunday, May 11, 2025 ■ 3D

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TRAVEL Shreveport opens new hiking, bike trails for nature lovers

BY KATHIE ROWELL Contributing writer

A jewel for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts is taking shape just a few miles north of Shreveport on La. 1.

But you don’t have to wait until it’s finished to enjoy it.

Announced about a year ago by the Red River Waterway Commission, the 547-acre 1North Adventure Trails, formerly known as Fish Lake Recreation Area, is open for hiking on about 10 miles of wide marked trails — with surprisingly steep hills — even as work progresses.

“Those trails are still a little raw, there’s some muddy spots and they will be improved, but we wanted to go ahead and get some early use,” said RRWWC real estate manager Luke Pearson, who oversees about 20,000 acres of property. “People were really wanting to get out there, and so it is open to the public for that type of use right now.”

Several phases of work are planned, with hard-surface multiuse trails, mountain bike paths, kayaking, scenic overlooks, picnic area and restrooms among the features.

“We’re still in phase one, but phase one has a lot to it,” Pearson said.

An interim parking lot is open with picnic tables, portable bathrooms, a posted trail map and trailhead.

The commission recently selected bids for construction of the first 6 miles of bike-optimized single-track trails, with work started in April, and for multiuse trail improvements, scheduled to begin this month.

“We’ll be taking those 10 miles of multiuse trails and putting an all-weather surface of compact aggregate or gravel where you can bike on it, push strollers, run, walk,” Pearson said. “Both of those projects should be finished later this year — maybe late summer, early fall — and we will open up segments of those as they complete them.”

Intersecting loop trails and connecting trails circle the 36-acre

Spring-blooming trees dot the terrain throughout the park.

PHOTOS By KATHIE ROWELL

The 547-acre 1North Adventure Trails, located just north of Shreveport, features several steep climbs. lake, which has been drained in preparation for dredging and deepening.

“There were some areas of it that were only maybe 2 feet deep and had vegetation, so we’ve drained it and we’ve been letting it dry out,” Pearson said. “The plan is this summer to deepen it where everything’s a minimum of 8 feet deep, where we can have water sports, kayaking, paddle boarding, things like that, and control the aquatic vegetation at the same time.”

Pearson said design work is underway on the main part of the development, which will include a parking lot, picnic pavilions, restrooms and an amphitheater.

“It’s possible we start construction late 2025, but probably early 2026 on that. We’ll also be starting another 81/2 miles of mountain bike trails later this year, so that would give us a total of about 15 miles of mountain bike trails and about 10 miles of multi-use trails.”

Also planned for a later phase: a mountain bike downhill hub.

“It’s just a neat mountain bike feature, kind of like downhill skiing, almost,” he said. “You start out on top of a ramp and kind of launch off of that and go down these trails with jumps and berms. It’s a quick thrill ride. The young people really like it. ...We think that will bring people from other areas to enjoy.”

The waterway commission partnered with Sports Spectrum Race Management for its inaugural event, the 1North Trail Run on March 1, featuring a 5-mile or 3.25mile course.

“I’ve been going out there for over a year now,” said Matt McVicar, Sports Spectrum director of race management. “Luke Pearson, who’s in charge of the park, gave me permission, so I’ve been going out there checking things out. I think it’s fabulous. They’re nowhere near complete, but what they’ve done in the past year and where they’re going is great.”

Visitors will be surprised at the elevation changes, he said.

“It’s very hilly. There are some portions of it where it’s just like, whoa. You didn’t know there were hills like that in Shreveport.

“Once they fill the lake back up, and you’re able to get out on those trails and walk, run, ride your bike and just kind of see through the tree line, see the lake sitting there and people out on the lake, I think that’s going to really, really be something special.”

McVicar said participants in the inaugural race loved it.

“We had close to 100 runners out there, and everybody just gave it a thumbs up. ... It’s free. Everybody raved about it.”

One of those race participants was Jack Pace, an avid trail runner who finished first in his age

category over the 5-mile course.

While Pace runs all kinds of races, he prefers trail runs.

“I’ve always liked to be in the woods,” he said. “You see nature and you see these beautiful, big old trees, stuff you don’t see if you’re running a 5K on pavement, or a half marathon downtown. I just like that. In fact, a lot of times you want to look up and see the terrain, but if you’re running a race, you’ve got to watch that trail. You will fall.”

He believes the park will appeal to all kinds of nature lovers.

“It’s really nice,” he said. “I recommend it to anybody.”

Tips n No official address has been assigned to the park, which is on La. 1, approximately 12 miles north of Interstate 220. If you plug 1North Adventure Trails into a GPS app to guide you, be aware that it might alert too soon at an older road that leads straight up the embankment to a gate. The actual park entrance — a new driveway that goes up the embankment and curves left into the parking lot — is a bit further north on La. 1. A sign marking the entrance should go up soon. n The trails are so new they aren’t yet included on hiking apps like AllTrails. Take a photo of the site map posted at the end of the parking lot and use it to navigate

TRAVEL TROUBLESHOOTER

By Christopher Elliott

Rental car company overcharged driver more than $1,300 I recently rented a car in Austin through National for 40 days. Since it was for a long period, National split it into two reservations.

National charged me correctly for these — $1,212 and $423 — and I returned the car without incident.

Two months later, the Christopher company charged me another $1,357. I contacted Elliott Enterprise, which owns National, and it agrees that I was overcharged. But the local branch in Austin has been completely unresponsive and unhelpful in resolving this.

I have been an executive member for over 10 years and never had this happen. Please help me get a refund. — Glenn Roberts, Copperas Cove,Texas

National shouldn’t have charged your credit card two months after you returned your car. Instead, it should have contacted you to let you know you had an outstanding balance and asked for your permission to charge your credit card.

These types of late charges are fairly common in the travel industry. The credit card companies allow them, as long as you’ve given the business your credit card number and authorized it to make a charge. The most common late charges involve incidental expenses at hotels discovered after you check out, like a minibar charge or a broken TV. But car rental companies also do it often.

You did an excellent job of keep-

ing a paper trail of the correspondence between you and National.

It’s always tempting to call the company to get things sorted out.

But then, there’s no evidence that you tried to resolve this, or even that the company was trying to help. And that can really complicate things.

In your situation, you had written evidence from Enterprise that the Austin location had charged you an incorrect rate. But Enterprise deferred to the location to resolve the billing error, and it appears that after several attempts, the Austin location refunded you a little more than half the amount.

I recommend applying gentle but steady pressure on the company to get this resolved. A brief,

polite email to one of the National customer service executives I list on my consumer advocacy site, Elliott.org, might have given them the nudge they needed.

Could you have prevented this from happening? No, but National could have. It split the reservation into two, apparently because the system doesn’t accept reservations longer than 30 days on its site.

If I were a bettin’ man, I’d say that National had a system that then reconnected both of your reservations and then recalculated your rate as if you’d made two separate reservations. So the extra charge might have been a price differential. But that’s my assumption, based on my conversations

with National and you, in addition to your paper trail. (Airlines do this kind of thing routinely when customers book “illegal” itineraries called hidden city tickets — but that’s a story for another time.)

Next time, insist on having just one reservation. That keeps things simple and avoids a possible extra charge.

I contacted Enterprise on your behalf. The company reviewed your file and refunded the balance of your $1,357.

Christopher Elliott is the founder of Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that helps consumers solve their problems. Email him at chris@elliott.org or get help by contacting him on his site.

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4D ■ Sunday, May 11, 2025 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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Baton Rouge Assembly members to host debutante tea The Baton Rouge Assembly’s 13 debutantes will be introduced to the wives of the Assembly members and their guests at a tea on Wednesday at the Baton Rouge Country Club.

The Assembly’s annual Boone Bowen ball on Nov. 28 at the Baton Rouge Hilton will include the presentation of the debutantes.

The women of the Baton Rouge Assembly Coterie of 2025 are: n Ella Katherine Boone, daughter of Dr. Ryan Thom- Leak Mason as Boone and Maradith Allyn Tuten Boone, is a graduate of St. Joseph’s Academy ford, daughter of Claire LeBand attends Furman Unilanc Crawford and Grady versity in Greenville, South Hamilton Crawford III, is a graduate of Episcopal High Carolina. n Virginia Routh Bowen, School and attends LSU. n Jane Crews Crawford, daughter of Col. Phillip Eugene Bowen and Maria daughter of Claire LeBlanc Routh Woodyear Bowen, Crawford and Grady Hamilalso graduated from St. Joton Crawford III, is a graduseph’s Academy and attends ate of Episcopal High School Louisiana Tech University in and attends LSU. n Mary Ann Crawford, Ruston. n Audrey Cecelia Crawdaughter of Nikki Talbot

A. Crawford

J. Crawford

M. Crawford

Graves

Morris

Oubre

Sylvest

Tharp

Crawford and Richard Casey Crawford, graduated from Episcopal High School and attends Catholic University in Washington, D.C. n Marley Jane Graves, daughter of Whitney Ourso Graves and William Barfield Graves, is a graduate of St. Joseph’s Academy and attends the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. n Ann Malloy Kimble,

daughter of Molly D’Aquin Kimble and Michael Dwane Kimble, graduated from St. Joseph’s Academy and attends LSU. n Laura Madeleine Leak, daughter of Brittany Field Leak and Harrison Carter Leak IV, is a graduate of West Feliciana High School and attends the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. n Estelle Helene Mason,

daughter of Mary Helene McCowan Mason and William Brett Mason, is a graduate Kimble of Chatham Hall in Chatham, Virginia, and attends Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. n Jordan Griffon Morris, daughter of Renee Griffon Morris and Dedric Gallent Morris, is a graduate of University Laboratory School and attends LSU. n Avery Therese Oubre, daughter of Dr. Benton Michael Oubre and Laura Knipe Oubre, graduated from St. Joseph’s Academy and attends the University of Mississippi in Oxford. n Lucy Irene Sylvest, daughter of Sara Nunnally Sylvest and Michael Louis Sylvest, is a graduate of University Laboratory School and attends LSU.

n Eliza Douglass Tharp, daughter of John Stewart Tharp and the late Gina Noto Tharp, is a graduate of St. Joseph’s Academy and attends the University of Mississippi in Oxford.

The Baton Rouge Assembly was founded in 1961 by nine Baton Rouge men who grew up together when the city was just a small town.

Baton Rouge grew rapidly after World War II, and these men realized that old family friends were losing contact with one another. To bring old families back together, these nine founders established the Baton Rouge Assembly as an organization whose purpose was, and still is, to provide social contact among families who had established residence in the area before 1910.

Assembly officers for 2025 are: Rob Field, chairman; Brett Mason, assistant chairman; Paxton Hester, ball chairman; and Chris Jones, assistant ball chairman.

Charity Ball Association to honor 12 debutantes at picnic The Charity Ball Association of Baton Rouge’s 2025 debutantes will be honored at a French picnic at the Baton Rouge Country Club from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Thursday.

The 12 young women will Boudreaux Bruce also be presented at the association’s annual Le Bal de Noel at the Crowne Plaza on Dec. 28.

The 2025 debutantes are: n Amelia Rae Boudreaux, daughter of Laura and Michael Boudreaux, a graduate of St. Joseph’s Academy Lalonde Ritter who attends LSU. n Avery Caroline Bruce, daughter of Marsha and Auburn, Alabama. n Elizabeth Claire GorRoss Bruce, a graduate of St. Joseph’s Academy who don, daughter of Ashley and attends Texas Christian Charles Gordon, a graduate University. of St. Joseph’s Academy, n Ella Rose Fife, daughwho attends Southeastern Louisiana University. ter of Elizabeth and Derek n Margaret Virginia HarFife, a graduate of St. Joseph’s Academy, who atrell, daughter of Catherine tends Auburn University in and Christopher Harrell, a

Fife

Gordon

Harrell

Jumonville

Saia

Veillon

Weston

Yeargain

graduate of Episcopal High School who attends Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina. n Mary Clayton Jumonville, daughter of Catherine and Clayton Jumonville, who graduated from St. Joseph’s Academy and attends LSU.

n Isabella Elise Lalonde, daughter of Elise and James Lalonde, a graduate of St. Joseph’s Academy who attends Texas Christian University. n Margaret Stuart Ritter, daughter of Melissa and Scott Ritter, who graduated from St. Joseph’s Academy

and attends Auburn University. n Savannah Jane Saia, daughter of Rachel and Bradley Saia, a graduate of University Laboratory School who attends LSU. n Emily Camille Veillon, daughter of Dana and Edward Veillon Jr., a graduate of Episcopal High School who attends LSU. n Lila Morgan Weston, daughter of Melissa and Jeffrey Weston, a graduate of St. Joseph’s Academy who attends The University of Mississippi. n Avery Elise Yeargain, daughter of Mary Ann and Steele Yeargain III, graduated from St. Joseph’s Academy and attends Auburn University.

The Charity Ball Association’s officers are Shelton Jones, president; Kristin Spring, vice president; Jill Jimenez, secretary; Vanes-

sa Graham, treasurer; Katie Goodson and Brooke Staley, ball chairs, and Courtney Newbill, debutante liaison.

The Charity Ball Association of Baton Rouge is a nonprofit organization whose purpose is philanthropic. It was formed in 1956 by a group of civic-minded members who wanted to support the Baton Rouge community through charitable donations. Over the years, the association has contributed more than $500,000 to local charitable organizations. The recipient of the 2025 Charity Ball donation is First Tuesday, a dynamic community initiative that inspires businesses to give back in a different, heartfelt way. On the first Tuesday of every month, teams from various businesses volunteer with local nonprofits to support their missions.

Romany learns ball theme, more at annual meeting

The Krewe of Romany learned the theme for its next Mardi Gras ball during its annual business meeting March 23 at Highland Porch in Baton Rouge.

The theme will remain a secret to the public until ball night on Jan. 31, 2026.

The krewe also closed out 2025 Ball Captain Heather Knost St. Germain’s ball year, presented the treasurer’s report and began planning for 2026.

Ashley Day Fabre is the 2026 ball captain.

Queen Romany LXXVI Amelia Lambert and King Romany LXXVI Matthew Vaughn were introduced to the krewe. Lambert is the daughter of krewe member and President Collette and Brent Lambert. Vaughn is the husband of krewe member and Secretary Adrienne Vaughn.

In addition to Fabre, the 20252026 board members also include President Collette Lambert, Vice President Chelsea LeMieux, Treasurer Carla Brown, Secretary Adrienne Vaughn, Costume Officer Sarah Grace Brooks, Publicity Officer Kristi Hammatt, Special Advisor 1998 Ball Captain Leslie Day and 2025 Ball Captain Heather St. Germain.

Elected to the nominating committee were Amy Crawford and Kathleen Grob. Remaining on the committee are 2020 Ball Captain Brandi AlJariri, 2019 Ball Captain Brenda Torrence, and Katy Harris.

Elected to the inaugural his-

20th annual Pond and Garden Tour is May 17

Exotic, tropical and unique plants will be on display during the FYI BR 20th annual Pond and Garden Tour staff hosted

by Charbel reports Harb, landscape architect and former owner of Harb’s Oasis, from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. May 17 at 841 Pastureview Drive, Baton Rouge. One of four homes on the tour, Harb’s garden includes over 300 varieties of plants and flowers in his urban oasis.

Krewe of Romany board members, from left, are Publicity Officer Kristi Hammatt, Costume Officer Sarah Grace Brooks, Secretary Adrienne Vaughn, Treasurer Carla Brown, President Collette Lambert, 2026 Ball Krewe of Romany 2026 Royal Court gathered, from left, are Maid Lily Hayden, Maid Layton Weems, King Romany LXXVI Matthew Vaughn, 2026 Captain Ashley Day Fabre, Special Advisor Leslie Day, Vice President Chelsea LeMieux and 2025 Past Ball Captain Heather St. Germain.

Ball Captain Ashley Day Fabre, Queen Romany LXXVI Amelia Lambert, Maid Audrey Greely, Maid Faye Buco and Maid Shaunnessy Rose.

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Spring coffee

torical committee were 2006 Ball Captain Lisa Losby, Ashley Cooper, Lee Ferris and Sara Mungall.

The president appointed Sharon Barksdale to the screening committee, with Genie Powers and Lesley Torrence continuing on that committee.

Sketch tea The krewe also hosted its annual sketch tea on April 5 at the home of Special Advisor and 1998 Ball Captain Leslie Day. The 2026 ball captain, Ashley Fabre, unveiled her royal court’s costume sketches and presented each member of the royal court with a commemorative tea set to

Exhibition on Animals in Art accepting entries

The 31st International Exhibition on Animals in Art, hosted by the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, is accepting entries through June 30 via artist.callforentry.org/festivals_unique_ info.php?ID=15279, open to all artists 18 years of age or older.

All media, except video, installation and audio works, are eligible.

Works must be original. All artwork must be priced and available for sale.

Animals in Art pieces must depict an animal (fish and insects

match his or her costume theme.

The royal court’s costume designs will also remain a secret to the krewe and public until ball night.

All members of the royal court attending, including Queen Romany LXXVI Amelia Lambert, King Romany LXXVI Matthew Vaughn, Maid Faye Buco, daughter of krewe member Rebekah and Daniel Buco; Maid Audrey Greely, daughter of krewe member Julie and Jim Greely; Maid Lily Hayden, daughter of krewe member Julie Martin and Steve Hayden; Maid Shaunnessy Rose, daughter of Will and Molly Rose; and Maid Layton Weems, daughter of Joel and Dabney Weems.

The krewe hosted its annual spring coffee on April 12. Krewe member Jolie Bourgeois was the hostess.

2026 Ball Captain Ashley Fabre presented details about this year’s ball including the dance numbers and costumes krewe members will showcase during the ball’s tableau. Krewe members also learned about socials and parties planned for the upcoming year.

The spring coffee is a traditional event for the Krewe of Romany, an all-ladies Mardi Gras krewe in Baton Rouge.

The krewe’s dance numbers and costumes will also remain a secret to the public until ball night.

are considered animals for this exhibition).

Any work that is determined not to meet the spirit of the exhibit will not be accepted.

Each applicant may submit a maximum of three works.

A nonrefundable fee of $25 for the first work of art entered (plus $20 per each additional entry, up to a maximum of 3 entries) must be paid online via CaFE. If you need to speak to someone regarding payment, please contact vetmed@lsu.edu.

All work submitted must be priced and for sale. A 20% commission will be taken on all sales.

All proceeds benefit LSU Vet

Med programs and projects.

For more information, visit lsu. edu/vetmed/events/animals_in_ art.php.

Cleaning for a Reason partners with maid service Come Back Clean Maid Service has partnered with Cleaning for a Reason, a nonprofit organization that provides free house cleaning to cancer patients across the United States and Canada. Co-founders Grant Cohn and Hope Boutte, a recent breast cancer survivor, are deeply committed to giving back to the community by helping those who

2026 Ball Captain Ashley Day Fabre, left, poses with krewe member Jolie Bourgeois, hostess for the spring coffee.

need a clean, healthy home the most.

Through partnership with Cleaning for a Reason, Come Back Clean supports two cancer patients’ homes each month for two consecutive months free of charge.

This is an ongoing service to patients residing in Baton Rouge, St. George, Gonzales, Prairieville, Central, Greenwell Springs, Denham Springs, Walker and Livingston.

To apply, visit cleaningforareason.org/patients/.

Email Joy Holden at joy.holden@ theadvocate.com.

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Sunday, May 11, 2025 ■ 5D

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AT THE TABLE Curried venison meat pies a Louisiana family favorite

BY CATHERINE S. COMEAUX Contributing writer

Hand-sized, four-bite meat pies are, by far, the most asked for recipe among my family and friends. Made with venison and a modest touch of curry, their golden deliciousness is a hit at potlucks as well as at home.

Thanks to a goat-ranching cousin in Colorado, for a season we had a full freezer shelf-load of goat meat (or chevon to use the esoteric culinary term).

During this period, I was vigilant for new ways to prepare this exotic-to-me ingredient and came across a wonderful Jamaican beef patty recipe in a magazine.

The original recipe is more curry-intense and spicier, using twice the amount of curry and including Scotch bonnet chile peppers. Ubiquitous in Jamaican cuisine, these little peppers shaped like tam o’ shanters are very hot, ranging between 100,000 and 350,000 on the Scoville scale.

They are not quite as hot as the locally developed 7 Pot Primo pepper, which averages 1.79 million Scoville heat units, but not like a friendly jalapeño either.

Over the years, I have dialed down the curry and have always substituted the mild jalapeño pepper-based green Tabasco sauce for the Scotch bonnets as I regularly feed a trio of spiceaverse daughters.

Since the goat-ranching cousin moved on to other endeavors, I have replaced the goat meat with venison, which features more regularly in our diet, owing to the number of hunters in the family.

Growing up, we had venison that came from white-tailed deer taken in the marshes of Vermilion Parish. The marsh deer were typically small and the resulting cuts of meat were often tough and gamey with a harsh grassforaging taste. My father would butcher the meat himself and put away simplistic cuts like backstrap, roasts and stew meat.

One of my first culinary forays at age 14 was using a newspaperclipped pepper roast recipe in an attempt to improve the taste of a marsh deer. It involved three days of preparation and a small bucket load of equal parts poppy seeds and cracked black pepper.

My brothers loved it.

As a young adult, I decided I should kill a deer. I had walked the marshes and climbed trees looking for game but had never taken aim at an animal. I made the decision partly out of curiosity and partly from an inner conviction that if I was willing to defend the tradition of hunting, I would need to pull a trigger.

Also, I had a friend with access to property in Mississippi where the deer were bigger and tastier.

I sat in a blind one cold morning, reading a book and waiting. I expected to feel nothing, having never waxed sentimental when I was rubbing cracked pepper into a deer roast.

But, as I took aim, I felt a rush of warmth as my pulse throbbed in my temples and the intensity of my foggy breath filled the small elevated box in the woods.

The pull, the shot, the recoil and

Catherine Comeaux’s curried venison hand pies are plated with asparagus. the thrill of making a hit that immediately brought the deer down were exhilarating yet juxtaposed by the regret I felt when I approached the motionless animal.

I haven’t killed another deer since.

Deer are no longer as plentiful in the grass marshes where my father used to hunt. The hunters in my life spend the deer season in more wooded areas around south Louisiana and into Texas, where deer forage in the underbrush and often over wellplanted areas of grasses.

While these hunters do much of their own butchering, they often take some of the cuts to local professional butchers to have the meat ground and blended with a small percentage of fattier meat like pork or Wagyu beef.

Any meal involving ground venison and hunters at the table usually involves a debate on the ideal percentage. Get a hold of a pound if you can; a good ground venison blend works best in this recipe.

Curried Meat Pies Serves 9; Recipe is by Catherine S. Comeaux, adapted from a recipe for beef patties found in a circa 2008 Bon Appétit.

For the dough: 21/2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon baking powder

PROVIDED PHOTO

Ingredients for Curried Meat Pies include a ground venison-pork blend, green onions, onions, Tabasco Green Pepper sauce as well as herbs.

1 tablespoon mild curry powder 1/2 cup (1 stick) cold unsalted butter 1/2 cup chilled vegetable shortening 3/4 cup ice-cold water For the filling: 1 pound ground venison-pork blend, or ground beef 1 small onion, finely chopped 3 green onions, finely chopped 1-4 garlic clove(s), minced 3-6 dashes Tabasco Green Pepper sauce 1 teaspoon dried thyme, or 3 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves, chopped 1/4 cup vegetable oil, or bacon fat

2 teaspoons curry powder 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 11/2 to 21/2 cups beef broth, beer or water 1/2 cup breadcrumbs 1 large egg, beaten with 1 teaspoon water 1. Make the dough: In a large bowl, whisk together flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, baking powder, and 1 tablespoon curry powder.

2. Grate the cold butter into the flour mixture, toss to coat. Add the chilled shortening and cut

both butter and shortening in with a pastry cutter until it resembles a coarse meal.

3. Sprinkle the water over the flour mixture. With floured hands, mix and press the dough together until it forms a ball. Gently knead a couple of times to fully combine.

4. Divide dough in half and shape into two disks. Wrap each in parchment paper or place in a sealable container. Refrigerate for 15 minutes.

5. Make the filling: In a large bowl, combine ground meat, onion, green onions, garlic, green Tabasco and thyme.

6. In a large skillet, heat oil/ bacon fat over high heat. Add meat mixture. Cook, stirring often, until meat is brown and moisture has evaporated (about 8 minutes).

7. Add curry powder, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring constantly, until a crust forms on bottom of pan (3-5 minutes).

8. Add 11/2 cup broth/beer/water.

Stir, scraping the bottom to incorporate the browned crust.

9. Stir in the breadcrumbs. The filling should be the consistency of a thick stew. Add up to 1 cup more liquid if necessary.

10. Cover; reduce heat to very low. Cook, stirring occasionally for about 15 minutes, then remove from heat to cool.

11. Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

12. Shape the pies: Divide each disk of dough into 9 pieces. Roll a piece into a 1⁄8-inch-thick rectangle with rounded edges.

13. Spread a scant 1/4 cup of meat mixture on one side, leaving a 1/2-inch border on that end.

Slightly moisten the edges with a wet finger. Fold dough over to enclose the filling; press edges to seal. Using a floured fork, lightly press around the edges. Place pie on the baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining dough and filling.

14. Brush pies with egg wash.

Bake in a 400-degree oven until pies begin to turn golden (about 20 minutes.)

Recipe tips: n For a vibrant, more flavorful crust, increase the curry powder to 2 tablespoons. n For a spicier meat pie, use 2 Scotch bonnet chiles (seeded and minced) in lieu of the green Tabasco. n Abita Turbo Dog is a nice dark beer to use for the liquid added to the filling. n There are many ways to form a meat pie, and many sizes to suit various appetites. A 3-inch biscuit cutter makes a uniform appetizersized pie when you sandwich the filling between two dough circles.

As you adjust the size of the meat pie, the cooking time will vary slightly. n Use a digital kitchen scale to ensure uniformity and an even distribution of filling to dough.

The more uniform in size the pies are, the easier it will be to achieve an even bake. n After pies are shaped, they can be frozen on a tray first, and then stored in a durable air airtight container. Add egg wash just before cooking frozen pies and increase the cooking time. n The dough makes an excellent crust for quiche.

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6D ■ Sunday, May 11, 2025 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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FARM MOMS Continued from page 1D

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In Hollywood, ‘American Idol’ top-7 contestant John Foster sits beside his ‘MiMere,’ Verbie Benoit, who prepared and brought him two of his favorite dishes from home.

John Foster’s ‘MiMere’ prepared his favorite dish

BY JAN RISHER

Staff writer

After weeks in California, “American Idol” singing sensation John Foster was ready for some Louisiana home cooking.

His uncle Gaylen Martin says that when Verbie Benoit, John Foster’s “MiMere,” arrived last weekend and opened her cooler to produce a plate of homemade goodness straight from Louisiana, the young singing sensation almost cried.

On May 3, before she left their home in Addis, Benoit prepared one of her grandson’s favorite meals — sticky chicken, smothered potatoes with Benoit’s hot sausage, and rice and gravy. Foster’s family owns Benoit’s Country Meat Block in Addis.

Benoit cooked the Californiabound dishes on her stove in her kitchen at home in West Baton Rouge Parish, carefully iced them down and packed them in a cooler.

Family meals are important to the Benoits, she explained.

“This family’s tradition is that we all gather together for a hot meal once during the week and the two dishes we prepared are John Foster’s favorite ones,” Benoit said.

After all, good Cajun eats are the family business. Benoit said that the taste of the family-produced seasoning, sold at their store and lunch counter in Addis, is catching on in Hollywood.

Aside from the care packages Foster delivered to the judges in his auditions, someone else on the “American Idol” team had ordered a big batch of Benoit’s seasonings, which she delivered on an earlier trip to California to watch her grandson perform.

“We know our little Cajun grandson is missing his favorite home-cooked meals. We’re taking a little taste of Addis, Louisiana,

to Hollywood.”

Foster has loads of homegrown support, with 45 friends and family members who flew from Louisiana, Georgia and Texas to Los Angeles last weekend to cheer their favorite singing sensation on in the “American Idol” competition.

On May 4, Foster was voted into the top 8 and will compete on May 5 into the top 7.

“American Idol” returns at 7 p.m. Sunday on ABC when Foster will compete to be in the top 5 contestants.

Per “American Idol” tradition, if he makes it into the top 3, which is expected to be revealed on May 12, he will guarantee himself a spot in the finals and a trip home with all the fanfare — typically including a parade and a miniconcert with all the hero’s-welcome trimmings.

The “American Idol” finale is set for May 18.

Sticky chicken recipe details What is “sticky chicken,” you ask?

Benoit, who is originally from Lawtell in St. Landry Parish, is willing to share her not-so-secretanymore recipe:

Verbie Benoit’s Sticky Chicken

½ cup oil 1 cut-up chicken 2 large onions, chopped 1 small bell pepper, chopped

1. Brown chicken in oil, then remove from pot.

2. Saute chopped onions and peppers in the pot, season with Benoit’s seasoning.

3. Once vegetables are translucent, add chicken back to pot.

4. Add about one quart of water and let simmer until chicken is done. Serve with rice.

BROUSSARD Continued from page 1D

top-ranked movie at the U.S. box office.

Autographs and pictures Broussard is also on the movie’s soundtrack, along with blues and folk icons Buddy Guy, Bobby Rush and Rhiannon Giddens.

Back home in St. Landry Parish, he is signing autographs and posing for pics when he fills up at the gas station. He admits his acting debut turned into a grueling day.

“I’ve been up all night long playing music and traveling to the next show,” said Broussard.

“But to stand in one place at 7 in the afternoon to 7 next morning, I had never done that.

“It got to the point to where I was dozing off. A couple of guys next to me were like, ‘C’mon bro, you got this.’ I was going to sleep, but they kept inspiring me, kept pushing me. I fought it, and I made it.

“I want to thank everybody for all the congratulations I’ve been getting. But it’s not about me.

The glory goes to God.” The movie cameo adds to Broussard’s legacy as a member of one of the founding families of zydeco and Creole music.

A musician since the age of 8, Broussard follows in the footsteps of his father’s highly influential band, Delton Broussard and the Lawtell Playboys.

Jeffery created his own legend in the 1980s and ’90s as the leader of Zydeco Force, which put a contemporary spin on traditional zydeco. He has since returned to his traditional roots with his Creole Cowboys band.

more duties. Now, Circle M Farms has employees to help with the daily tasks on the farm, but, at one point, the couple was in charge of the whole operation.

“I was not a go-with-the-flow person before (motherhood). I’m a pretty regimented person,” Erin Miller said. “I want to know what the plan is for the day, and sometimes that plan just gets blown up on you. That’s definitely me adapting to having a farm and then having kids.”

Her sons — Austin, 8; Jackson, 6; and Nicholas, 1 — were all raised on goat milk rather than formula, which was the catalyst to raising goats in the first place.

Erin Miller says that raising children on a farm has allowed her boys to have a more well-rounded education — learning how to have responsibilities, how to be around animals, the cycle of birth, life and death.

“It’s a good knowledge to have that a lot of kids don’t get to experience,” she said. “My 6-year-old goes to school and tells his teacher all kinds of stuff. He was telling them the other day about afterbirth and the placenta.”

Teamwork brings out the best At Willow Creek Ranch in Baton Rouge, Amié Burnham’s three children have also learned what it takes to run a farm. As self-taught farmers, Burnham says the family has made plenty of mistakes, but she views them as ways to teach her kids practical lessons.

In the morning before school, the kids rotate caring for the animals.

One gets the chickens, one gets the pigs, and the other gets the cats and dogs.

“We can send the kids out to bring cows in because we’ve done it enough together as a family,” Burnham said. “It’s giving them problem-solving skills that they wouldn’t get otherwise. They are figuring it out and getting it done by themselves.”

Burnham, a nutritionist and personal trainer, didn’t intend to run a farm. It was a stroke of serendipity.

Almost five years ago, she and her husband, Jeremy, an orthopedic surgeon, purchased a house

Zydeco accordion Jeffery Broussard was recently in ‘Sinners’ alongside Michael B. Jordan.

“Bayou Moonlight,” Broussard’s collaboration with the Nighttime Syndicate, a brass band from New Orleans, will be released May 23 on Fairground Records.

Despite his long and growing résumé, Jeffery feels neglected by his hometown. He has watched younger musicians, doing Zydeco Force-inspired songs, get gigs while his phone rarely rings.

Like the Sam Cooke classic, he’s hoping “A Change Gonna Come.”

“It hurts and it’s a shame,” he said. “They forget who I am, but every band they hire is playing the same music I played. I’m not dead. Why bypass me like that?

But through all that, God had a ram in the bush. That was Michael B. Jordan.”

Herman Fuselier is executive director of the St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission. A longtime journalist covering Louisiana music and culture, he lives in Opelousas. His “Zydeco Stomp” show airs at noon Saturdays on KRVS 88.7 FM.

STAFF PHOTO By JAN RISHER

Circle M Farms in Franklinton is a staple at the Red Stick Farmers Market in Baton Rouge.

with 25 acres on River Road. Initially, they bought the land because they wanted their three kids, now ages 13, 11 and 9, to have a different experience than city life.

The couple grew up in a rural lifestyle and wanted their children to have the same.

“We didn’t know what we wanted to do with the land,” Amié Burnham said. “All we knew is that we wanted to be wise stewards.”

A surprising discovery transformed how they viewed the land.

On a walk with her kids, she no-

CURIOUS

“She loved it so much, she requested it for her birthday in February,” DelGreco laughed.

When the cake was once again a hit at Lena’s birthday, DelGreco’s mother requested the same cake for her birthday one month later.

That is when things went sideways. DelGreco was tasked with picking up the birthday cake for her mother’s celebration, but she tried to cut a corner.

“I was closer to Whole Foods than Rouses,” DelGreco pleaded.

“I knew they had a Chantilly cake and I figured it was the same thing!”

As soon as they tasted the cake, DelGreco realized there was a difference. That’s when she wrote to Curious Louisiana with her question.

“We liked Rouses’ cake better, but can you tell us the difference between the Chantilly and Gentilly cakes?” she asked. “And which came first — which is the original and which is the knockoff?”

Discussions of Chantilly cake in southern Louisiana often trace its history back to Chaya Conrad, owner of Bywater Bakery in New Orleans.

Conrad is an important part of the cake’s story. But the prolific baker is quick to dispel any rumors that she invented the popular cake.

“Chantilly is whipped cream,” she said, “and I certainly didn’t invent whipped cream or cake with whipped cream and berries in it.”

In fact, the cake has been popular for more than a century, predominantly in the southern United States.

An 1891 article from the Weekly Monitor in Mayfield, Kentucky, describes “little rounds of paste (short for pastry, it seems) daintily browned in the oven with strawberry preserve and heaped with a spoonful of whipped cream.”

No matter the century, a Chantilly cake recipe usually seems to feature some variation on cake, cream and berries. A recipe for the icing on a lemon Chantilly cake in the March 25, 1962, Times-Picayune includes only heavy cream, packaged white frosting mix and finely grated lemon rind.

ticed hens and eggs in an older chicken coop on their property.

She called her neighbors to let them know that their free-range chickens had wandered into their coop. To her delight, the neighbor told her that the hens belonged to her.

Amié Burnham called her husband to let him know that chickens came with the house.

While Burnham was cooking the eggs, she taught her husband about the health benefits of farmraised chickens. This knowledge catapulted the Burnhams into researching the health benefits of farm-raised animals. The couple started Willow Creek Ranch in 2022 by adding pigs and then cattle.

The ranch has its own beef label, and the couple hopes to add a pork label as well. They practice regenerative farming, rotating the animals to different parts of the land.

The family of five takes a team approach to running the ranch.

Amié Burnham says she treasures the lessons she is teaching her children about doing the best they can at every job, because their effort makes a difference as people and animals are relying on them.

When something goes awry, they work together to solve the issue.

“Staying calm under pressure,” she said, “and rallying together as a team as fast as we can are the unexpected little golden nuggets.”

“My office was right off of Gentilly Boulevard” in New Orleans, she said, “and eventually I noticed the obvious: ‘Hey, Gentilly sounds like Chantilly. This is perfect for New Orleans!’ ” Conrad even altered the recipe.

Whereas Whole Foods’ version featured a yellow cake, Rouses’ Gentilly creation used white almond cake. She loved the variation so much that, when she opened her own Bywater Bakery in 2017, she stuck with almond.

Continued from page 1D

Layers of history PROVIDED PHOTO

PROVIDED PHOTO

At Willow Creek Ranch in Baton Rouge, Amié Burnham’s three children have learned what it takes to run a farm.

Chantilly cake craze STAFF PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD

Whipped cream and fresh berries are the hallmarks of Chantilly cake.

In modern times, however, that icing is usually some selection or mixture of cream cheese, confectioner’s sugar, mascarpone cheese, heavy cream and almond cream that is used with fresh berries, typically spread between layers of yellow cake.

This is the case for Conrad’s Chantilly cake recipe, which came from her grandmother, and where the modern craze for the cake originated.

Mother of modern Chantilly cake In short, the Chantilly cake has been around for more than a century. While historically there has been room for interpretation — there’s even a Chantilly cake in Hawaii that more resembles a German chocolate cake — most versions feature mascarpone cream, cream cheese, and berries between layers of yellow cake.

Regionally, almond cake has become a popular alternative.

Conrad has been baking cakes as a job since she was 14 years old. Too young to work in Vermont, she added a few years to her age to get a position at the local bakery. As a young adult, she moved to New Orleans and eventually ran the baked goods department at Whole Foods’ Arabella Station location.

In 2005, she adapted her grandmother’s recipe to create the grocery chain’s first Berry Chantilly Cake. The cake became so popular that it is sold nationally at all Whole Foods locations.

The chain even copyrighted the name. This became a challenge for Conrad when, in 2010, she became bakery director across all of Rouses Supermarkets.

Eager to introduce a version of her grandmother’s cake to Rouses, Conrad created a solution.

“Of course, the link between what we did at Whole Foods, Rouses, and now Bywater Bakery is that the cake always has layers of mascarpone whipped cream and fresh fruit,” Conrad said.

Even as the national exposure of Whole Foods elevated Chantilly cake to superstar status — via countless recreations on social media, and even a Berry Chantilly latte — the chain’s cake was victim to a public revolt last year when a thick layer of jam temporarily replaced fresh berries.

Whole Foods quickly changed the recipe back.

Each iteration of the cake has its fans. Whole Foods fans and countless social media content creators have pledged their allegiance to the most common Chantilly cake made with yellow cake with mascarpone whipped cream and fresh fruit. Connoisseurs of the Gentilly cake, such as DelGreco’s family of casual card players, are seeking white almond cake, also with whipped cream and fruit. And, as the years go on, new options continue to emerge, such as Conrad’s popular Bywater Bakery variety.

Overall, the woman who brought Chantilly cake back into the public eye doesn’t mind alterations to the recipe she made famous.

“I’m sure Whole Foods and Rouses have made changes and additions since I was there,” Conrad said, “and I even make a lemon, a coconut and a chocolate strawberry variety at my own bakery. Evolution can be good.

It’s evidence that people love the cake enough to spend time thinking up new versions.”

Do you have a question about something in Louisiana that’s got you curious? Email your question to curiouslouisiana@ theadvocate.com. Include your name, phone number and the city where you live.

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Sunday, May 11, 2025 ■ 7D

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Off to a great start with the in-laws on wedding day Dear Miss Manners: My mother-intion. law and sister-in-law wore white I think this is weird! Why do I gowns to my wedding. have to drive to her house Their actions were so obvito pick her up? Not a dealbreaker by any means, but ous that guests commented it seems quite strange to on it, and the DJ asked for me. What difference does “the real bride to please it make which direction stand up.” you are traveling in to get Why would they do this Judith a ride? on my wedding day?

Martin Gentle reader: It is indeed Gentle reader: A mean-spirMISS strange, but not for the ited prank gone wrong?

MANNERS reasons you cite.

Regardless, it does not Miss Manners thought bode well for your future the point of offering a ride was so relationship with them. Or for a that the other person would not shared sense of humor. have to drive. If it is necessary Dear Miss Manners: When I give to drive to your house anyway someone a ride to a shared desti— and in the opposite direction nation, I expect them to drive to my house, and then I’ll take them. of the destination — how is this practical, much less a favor?

One friend refuses, as it’s in the Fortunately for the friendship, opposite direction of our destina-

TODAY IN HISTORY

By The Associated Press Today is Sunday, May 11, the 131st day of 2025. There are 234 days left in the year.

Today in history On May 11, 1997, the IBM supercomputer Deep Blue defeated chess grandmaster Garry Kasparov in the final game of a six-game match in New York, winning 31/ 2-21/ 2 and marking the first time a computer won a match against a reigning world champion.

On this date: In 1935, the Rural Electrification Administration was created as one of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal programs.

In 1946, the first CARE packages, sent by a consortium of American charities to provide relief to the hungry of postwar Europe, arrived at Le Havre, France.

In 1953, one of the deadliest tornadoes in Texas history devastated the city of Waco, killing 114 people and injuring nearly 600.

In 1960, Israeli agents captured Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

In 1973, the espionage trial of Daniel Ellsberg and Anthony Russo in the “Pentagon Papers” case came to an end as Judge William M. Byrne dismissed all charges, citing government misconduct.

In 1981, reggae artist Bob Marley died in a Miami hospital at age 36 of acral lentiginous melanoma.

In 1984, Claus Barbie, the Nazi Gestapo chief known as the “Butcher of Lyon,” went on trial in Lyon for crimes against humanity after being extradited from Bolivia, where he lived for over 30 years after World War II. (Barbie would be found guilty and would die in prison four years later.)

In 1996, an Atlanta-bound ValuJet DC-9 caught fire shortly after takeoff from Miami and crashed into the Florida Everglades, killing all 110 people on board.

Today’s Birthdays: Rock singer Eric Burdon is 84. Actor Frances Fisher is 73. Former MTV VJ Martha Quinn is 66. Olympic boxing gold medalist Mark Breland is 62. Actor Tim Blake Nelson is 61. Basketball Hall of Famer Lauren Jackson is 44.

Former NFL quarterback Cam Newton is 36. Latin pop singer Prince Royce is 36. Actor Lana Condor is 28. Singer-actor Sabrina Carpenter is 26.

you have declared it not to be a deal-breaker. One hopes that you two will figure it out and reconcile — in time to get to your next destination.

Dear Miss Manners: I have been dating a woman for just over three months. Several weeks ago, I asked if she and her daughter would like to take a road trip with me to a desert town that is very dear to me.

I’ve been visiting the place annually for over 20 years and own some land there. I’ve been taking my small, elderly dog with me on these trips.

Anyway, my girlfriend unexpectedly announced that she intended to bring her two young, energetic dogs on the trip. I should have immediately tried to

nip it in the bud, but I didn’t want to seem like a jerk.

The idea of the three of us, my elderly dog and her two dogs making the trip really stressed me out. When I asked her not to bring her dogs and offered not to bring mine, she threw a fit. I asked her again and told her why, but the trip date is approaching and she hasn’t really tried to find a place for the dogs to stay.

Am I right that inviting dogs on a trip is presumptuous, or am I an uptight jerk?

Gentle reader: Wellllllll … Miss Manners would not outright call you the latter. But it is not an unreasonable presumption that since you were bringing your dog, your girlfriend thought dogs were welcome.

That you would junk the idea all together rather than endure hers is not the conciliatory move you thought it was. And Miss Manners is not confident that your subsequent explanation did not make it worse.

Pet owners, like parents, do not take kindly to being told that their dependents are undesirable, even if there is evidence. If you want to get more serious with her, you and your dog will have to learn to tolerate hers. Why not practice on relatively neutral territory first?

Send questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.

Avoid leaving items in pant pockets with this trick Dear Heloise: One way to avoid items that get left in pockets — and I taught this to my children — is to put your hands in your pockets and push down when removing your pants instead of pushing down on the waistband. This way, you will autoHints from matically know if Heloise there is something in your pockets.

This might not work for the back pockets, but they usually are not the problem. — Karen M., in Colorado Springs, Colorado

Donating to shelters Dear Heloise: Everyone seems to think that only animal shelters ask for money, but a great many shelters have “wish and need” lists on their website. I recently got a new washer/dryer combo, but my older units worked perfectly, so I donated them to a shelter.

They can always use paper towels, old terry cloth towels that

are still in decent shape, batteries, pet food, kitty litter, blankets, and more.

Just check out their websites and help these wonderful volunteers who help animals. — Amber L., in Detroit Amber, thank you for your hint! Shelters always welcome donations from their wish list.

You might also want to add heating pads, electric fans and office supplies. In addition, if you have a vehicle that is still in working condition, many shelters will be happy to take it off your hands.

— Heloise

The written word Dear Heloise: I have learned the hard way that texts, emails, and really any form of written word that attempts to express an opinion or an edict is rarely interpreted in the way it was intended, especially if it is addressed to numerous people with different perspectives.

My suggestion is to respond to people on a case-by-case basis in person as it occurs, even if it

means turning people away in real time with the excuse that you have a conflict.

This way, you can judge and tailor your response as appropriate for the case at hand and maybe even make an exception if it suits you. — Barbara O., via email Barbara, people usually do a mass mailing to get a message out when the message is timesensitive, or there is a large group to whom it needs to be sent. It would be to time-consuming to do an individual message for everyone. If someone misinterprets a message, they can always call or email the sender to ask questions about the meaning of the message. — Heloise

Caregiver clarification Dear Heloise: It drives me crazy when people use the word “caretaker” when they should use “caregiver.”

A caretaker is a person who takes care of grounds or property. A caregiver is a person who gives care to a person. — Janice, in Dayton, Ohio

Homemaking hints

Dear Heloise: Here are some of my hints: n When cracking hard-boiled eggs, I put them in a plastic bag and crack away. I peel them in the bag and do a fast rinse; then I’m done. n When I’m running low on milk for cereal, I add some water. I never notice the difference. n Whenever a sponge has had it, I wash it, dry it, and cut it into fourths. They come in handy for yucky little jobs in or out of the house. I toss them out when I’m finished.

P.S. I wanted to share my favorite expression (I heard it years ago from a DJ on the radio): “Doing housework is like stringing beads with no knot!” — A.J., in California A.J., I love it! My mother, the original Heloise, would surely have concurred! Thank you for your letter. — Heloise Send a hint to heloise@heloise. com.

Girlfriend’s reality check stuns partner

Dear Harriette: I just got a reality check from my girlfriend. She left me. In our last argument, she told me that I don’t know how to love and that I push away everyone who tries to do right by me.

I think I might’ve crossed a line this time. We’ve had fights before, but they usually end Harriette in us taking space Cole or agreeing to disSENSE AND agree. This time I SENSITIVITy called her dumb. I was angry and the words just came out, but I think that was the last straw. She’s told me I was stubborn before, but I didn’t realize how mean I’ve been in arguments until she decided to leave me. I do love her, and I don’t think she’s dumb; I just thought something she did was dumb. I didn’t mean to be so offensive. How do I get her back?

— Reality Check Dear Reality Check: You need to deal with your anger and communications skills. Before trying to convince your ex to come back to you, turn inside to work on yourself. Find a therapist who can help you dive deeply into

your own behavior so that you can understand your motivations and come to terms with how you communicate with others.

Apologize to your ex. Let her know that you are sorry for the way you spoke to her and that you are seeing a therapist to help sort things out. Do not pressure her. You have to work on yourself now.

Dear Harriette: I broke up with my boyfriend recently. Even though I know it was the right decision, I’m still sorting through a lot of feelings. The relationship wasn’t terrible, but it had run its course; deep down I knew we weren’t really happy together anymore.

Now, just a few weeks later, one of my close friends is encouraging me to go out on a date with one of her boyfriend’s friends.

She swears he’s a great guy and says he’s even asked about me before. I’ve seen pictures, and I’ll admit he’s cute and seems like he has a good vibe. Part of me is flattered and curious, but I’m also hesitant. I’m not sure whether I’m ready to jump into anything new yet, even if it’s just a casual date.

I keep wondering whether I should take this as a chance to

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move forward, meet someone new and have some fun. Another part of me is still processing my breakup and kind of craving space to be by myself for a while.

I don’t want to lead anyone on, but I also don’t want to miss out on something potentially great just because I’m afraid or unsure. Is it OK to say no to something that seems good on paper if I’m not feeling fully ready?

— Alone Time Dear Alone Time: You don’t have to marry the next guy you meet even if you agree to go on a date with him — or maybe just have your friend arrange for the two of you to run into each other at a casual gathering. Of course you should take time to evaluate your life and decide what you want next, but putting yourself in a position to have a nice time in someone else’s company could be refreshing. It doesn’t mean that you have to do anything more than going out that one time. I say go for it.

To answer your question, there is nothing wrong with saying no if you aren’t ready.

Dear Harriette: I feel like the goto person in my life. Friends, family and colleagues know to

ask me for favors because I am willing to help or am likely to say yes. My question is: When can I expect the same? I used to think I did it because I enjoyed helping people, but lately it feels a lot less enjoyable and more like I’ve become a lackey. I struggle to say no, to leave conversations or places that don’t serve me, to set boundaries that preserve my peace and energy. I am beginning to feel taken advantage of by loved ones.

At a group event a couple of weeks ago, I overheard a friend of mine telling people that I would be helping them build out various aspects of their business — something we’ve never discussed. When I questioned them about it, they said they just figured I’d be willing. How did I get here? — Too Helpful Dear Too Helpful: You got there by always saying yes. Now it’s time to stop. When people ask you to do something you do not want to or have time to do, say no. It may be hard at first, but you can do it.

That is much healthier than being overburdened or resentful.

Send questions to askharriette@ harriettecole.com.

8D ■ Sunday, May 11, 2025 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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BOOKS

BETWEEN THE PAGES WITH LANDON BRyANT

Bless his heart In his new book, Mississippi Instagrammer dishes on why the South still matters

BY JAN RISHER

It was such a disappointment. Then I came home and went to Jones Junior College for a semester. Then I did Mississippi College for nursing school. That was not Let’s discuss Landon Bryant. for me. Then I just paused for a bit and The small-town Mississippi native has worked in the local hospital here in Laurel, built a career and audience telling stories about his beloved Southern upbringing and and I had a great time. Then I decided it was time to grow up and go back to school observations. His Instagram page, “landontalks” has nearly 500,000 followers. He’s and get a degree.

I went to the University of Southern the author of the new book, “Bless Your Mississippi right down the road in HatHeart: A Field Guide to All Things Southern.” tiesburg. They helped me to get diagnosed Before becoming a full-time social media with ADHD, and I graduated six months content creator and author, Bryant taught later from there. So it was pretty obvious. art for more than a decade in Laurel, MisThen I started working at Nora Davis Magsissippi. He invites his viewers to consider net School of the Arts here in Laurel Public and appreciate the telling details of life in School District (now it’s Laurel Magnet the South — and beyond.

School of the Arts). It’s a wonderful place, full of creativity — and it kind of really Tell me about you and how you went from an art helped shape me to be able to do what I do teacher to becoming a Southern superstar. now.

Or whatever this is! I was posting a little How did the diagnosis of ADHD change your life, art-teacher stuff on the internet. But honother than helping you graduate from college?

Growing up in the ’80s and ’90s here in estly, I just talk too much and you know, Mississippi, ADHD wasn’t what we know it Mississippi people, we are storytellers — is today. My family are all educators, so it and I love to tell stories. was really simple for me to I’ve been married to get through school because my wife for 13 years. I’ve they made me get through known her since second school. grade, so she was there for Everything was scheduled. all the stories. One day, I Everything was worked out don’t know what story I was for me. telling her, but she was like, My life was handed to “What if you told your stome in such a nice way. The ries to the internet?” moment I got out of their Which was like a very nice house, and out of all my famSouthern lady way of saying like, “I cannot hear another ily where everybody was in version of this.” my business, that’s when it So I did. I started with really became apparent that the story of how we went to there was something a little Walmart High School. I told off. that story on the internet I always had left things. and it went nuts. Viral. In I’ve always forgotten things. the comment section, there I’ve always forgotten that a were people asking what I big test was the next day. I PHOTO PROVIDED By SLAPPyE really stressed my mom out meant by “might could” and Landon Bryant is a social “fixing to.” And that blew growing up with all those my mind. media content creator who things, but it just wasn’t in So I said, “Well, let’s disthe lexicon. It’s not like an has amassed a following thing. It was like a cuss.” beyond his beloved South. ADHD “Be a better person” type of That took off, and it bething. Pay attention a little came a thing people really bit more. wanted to discuss. Now, When I got that diagnosis and got theraless than two years later, here we are. I’m thrilled that it’s from telling stories about py and got the accommodations I needed, I Mississippi. There’s a whole book about it was shocked. It took a long time for me to now. So, basically, I talked too much, and it be like, “Wow, yeah, OK. My brain is a little ended up here. different than everybody else’s.”

Where did you go to college?

I’ve tried to twist it into being sort of I went to all the colleges. my superpower. I’m interested in so many I was undiagnosed with ADHD until my different things and — as long as I get my last round of college. I started at Mississtuff done and do my list and pay attention when I’m driving and do all those things — sippi State in architecture school. Turns it can be a positive and not necessarily a out that’s not just looking at Southern Livnegative. ing house plans.

Staff writer

Do you still teach?

When I signed the book deal, I realized that this was gonna be a large project.

Big projects were always the struggle for me — anything that’s a long-term project is very hard for me to break it down into smaller projects. Fortunately, my wife is a specialist in education, and she worked with special education children for the last 15 years at our school. So she sort of took all her knowledge and accommodated me through getting this book written.

Let’s talk about your hair.

It was a lazy thing.

Basically, you’ve got to find a hairstylist.

If you move somewhere else, you’ve got to find somebody else to cut your hair. In college, that was not something I could put my energy toward, so my hair just got longer and longer.

Mainly, my wife likes it.

Did you grow up going to church all the time?

We were in that church multiple times a day on Sundays, Wednesdays — whenever it was open. As a matter of fact, the way I knew that Katrina was a huge deal was when they canceled Sunday night’s service. And I was like, “My Lord, for real.”

Fireflies vs. lightning bugs?

We said fireflies, ’cause on my street we’ve always said fireflies. We’ve got those synchronous fireflies like they have in Ap-

palachia. Everywhere else says lightning bugs and immediately all of Mississippi, all of Alabama, was like, “We’ve never said fireflies ever. We said lightning bugs.”

So I was like, “Whoa, OK. So things are different, even just one county over.”

Then I started really playing with that on social media. I really like that aspect of stuff because it opens it up for discussion.

How do you navigate walking the line of deeply embracing Mississippi and yet working with culture on a much broader level to explain Mississippi?

Well, the South is not a monolith, and we know that ‘cause we live here — and we see the differences in everything. So, it is a line to walk.

It turned into a way I can preserve the things I hear — things I heard my grandmother and great-grandmother say growing up here in Mississippi. Then it spread.

I’ve gotten in touch with so many different parts of the South.

How much can I speak for and say this is Southern? And how much can I speak for and say, this is Jones County, Mississippi?

I feel the dichotomy of this place. Like, this is a wonderful place, but also there’s a lot to reckon with here.

Email Jan Risher at jan.risher@ theadvocate.com.

Book sale reminds me that reading might have a future The decline of reading among college students is widely lamented, but Joseph Bottum thinks he might have an answer.

Bottum is a gifted writer and scholar, and this fall, he’s launching a course at the University of Colorado, Boulder that will require students to read a novel a week. Bottum is betting that students will meet the challenge and take pride in what they learn, just as students embraced a similar course at Hillsdale College after it began in 2018.

“If universities demand reading,” Bottum said, “they will get it.”

He floated his idea in a Wall Street Journal op-ed last month.

It appeared on the same day that

Danny Heitman AT RANDOM

Louisiana opened one of the biggest used book sales in the region.

I naturally wondered, after seeing Bottum’s column about young people and reading, how many college-age students would be at the sale.

With that in mind, I headed over to LSU’s Baton Rouge campus, where its three-day Friends of the LSU Libraries Book Bazaar is an

annual event. Proceeds from sales of thousands of used books benefit the university’s library programs.

The event takes place on the floor of the John M. Parker Agricultural Coliseum, which has hosted quite a few livestock shows over the decades.

I’m charmed by the notion of bibliophiles poring over volumes of Tolstoy and Proust, Anne Rice and David Sedaris in the same spot where horses and cows have also attracted admirers. It’s a nice reminder that the world of books is a part of — not apart from — the rest of civic life in Louisiana.

I wasn’t in the coliseum long before I noticed a number of young readers on the sales floor. They were bright and attractive young

men and women who reminded me a lot of my daughter and son, now grown and living elsewhere.

The college-age browsers put a lie to the notion that reading is just for oddballs at the margins, the folks we typically dismiss as nerds.

These young readers were filing to the checkout with fun reads, including armfuls of science fiction and bestselling novels. But they were picking up the classics, too — Charles Dickens, Victor Hugo and Emily Bronte. The history and philosophy tables were also buzzing.

“I think I’ll come back tomorrow,” one 20-something customer told his friend as he carried a dozen books to the sales desk.

The reporter in me wanted to ask these young readers about their obvious passion for the printed word, what drew them to old books in a time when online culture dominates so much of the global conversation.

But reading has always seemed to me very much like prayer, a private exercise often best left uninterrupted.

I was gratified to see so many young people lost in the rapture of words, and I didn’t want to break the spell.

It was enough to see them turning the pages, curious about what would happen next.

Email Danny Heitman at danny@ dannyheitman.com.

THIS WEEK’S BESTSELLERS FROM PUBLISHERS WEEKLY HARDCOVER FICTION

1. “Great Big Beautiful Life” by Emily Henry 2. “The Perfect Divorce” by Jeneva Rose 3. “Strangers in Time” by David Baldacci 4. “Say You’ll Remember Me” by Abby Jimenez 5. “Broken Country” by Clare Leslie Hall 6. “Onyx Storm (deluxe ed.)” by Rebecca Yarros 7. “The Wedding People” by Alison Espach 8. “Onyx Storm” by Rebecca Yarros 9. “Summer in the City (deluxe ed.)” by Alex Aster 10. “Shadow of the Solstice” by Anne Hillerman

HARDCOVER NONFICTION

1. “The Let Them Theory” by Mel Robbins 2. “I Wish Someone Had Told Me...” by Dana Perino 3. “The Book of Alchemy” by Suleika Jaouad 4. “Matriarch” by Tina Knowles 5. “The Next Day” by Melinda French Gates 6. “How to Giggle” by Berner/DeSorbo 7. “Don’t Believe Everything You Think (expanded ed.)” by Joseph Nguyen 8. “Abundance” by Klein/Thompson 9. “Hope” by Pope Francis 10. “Notes to John” by Joan Didion

TRADE PAPERBACK

1. “Lights Out” by Navessa Allen 2. “Phantom” by H.D. Carlton 3. “Savage Hearts” by J.T. Geissinger 4. “Fourth Wing” by Rebecca Yarros 5. “The Crash” by Freida McFadden 6. “Wild and Wrangled” by Lyla Sage 7. “Funny Story” by Emily Henry 8. “Ward D” by Freida McFadden 9. “The Frozen River” by Ariel Lawhon 10. “Quicksilver” by Callie Hart

BUSINESS T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M

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STAFF PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK

Customers take advantage of the quiet vibe at City Roots Coffee on Tuesday as they work or catch up with one another. The Baton Rouge cafe is a popular meeting spot for the tech industry.

MAPPING THE SCENE Where tech leaders do deals, make connections

BY RICH COLLINS

Staff writer

When tech entrepreneur and investor Chris Reade walked into the Dryades Street location of French Truck Coffee on a recent weekday morning, it didn’t take him long to see familiar faces.

At one table, an entrepreneur friend was talking to the CEO of one of the city’s biggest marine transportation companies. Nearby, an economic development executive was meeting with a startup founder.

“Every time I walk into that place, I see stuff like that,” said Reade, founder of the software companies LookFar and

Carrollton. “And I walk in most mornings.”

French Truck is just one spot where the city’s tech world congregates.

For Josh Fleig, the new innovation chief at Louisiana Economic Development, the go-to meeting destination is Mojo Coffee House on Freret Street. Others say that to see and be seen, they set up in The Shop, the co-working space on Camp Street, or head a few blocks away to Common House, the semi-private club on Julia Street.

Knowing where local startups, investors and wannabes made connections, traded ideas and brokered deals used to be a lot easier. But as the tech sector in New Orleans — and across Louisiana — has evolved over the past two decades, so too has its geography of offices, meeting spots and events.

ä See SCENE, page 2E

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

Conway Solomon, founder of WRSTBND, left, and Chris Meaux, founder of Waitr, laugh Tuesday during a Startup NOLA panel discussion at the WRSTBND office in Elmwood.

The event is held monthly at different locations, part of the growth of tech industry meetups.

Measures aim to revive La. moviemaking industry

BY TIMOTHY BOONE Business editor

As Louisiana’s once-promising movie industry continues to dry up, state and local officials are looking at a variety of steps to jump-start activity, from giving the state economic development agency more discretion and flexibility over film tax credits to pushing for creation of a national film office.

The state is caught up in the dramatic downturn in film production that has seen filming for movies and TV series shift from the U.S. to countries such as Canada, Ireland and Bulgaria. Currently, there is no filming going on in Louisiana; in STAFF FILE PHOTO By MAX BECHERER 2022 during any given month there Movie trailers occupy the set of a Viacom production being filmed in the were 14-16 major productions beAlgiers Point neighborhood in New Orleans in 2021. ing shot across the state.

“All of these other countries offer film incentives to compete with us,” said Patrick Mulhearn, a former official with Louisiana Economic Development who spent eight years as executive director of Celtic Studios in Baton Rouge.

“The dollar is strong and people realize they could get more bang for their buck in Canada.”

U.S. film and television production has been hampered in recent years, with setbacks from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hollywood guild strikes of 2023 and the recent wildfires in the Los Angeles area.

Overall production in the U.S. was down 26% last year compared with 2021, according to data from ProdPro, which tracks production.

The decline was even more dramatic in Louisiana, which saw a 65% decrease in production during

the three-year period, according to Jason Waggenspack, CEO of The Ranch Studios and president of Film Louisiana, the state’s movie and TV trade association.

At the same time, filming in Australia and New Zealand increased by 14%, Canada was up 2.8% and the United Kingdom saw a nearly 1% increase.

ProdPro’s annual survey of executives, which asked about preferred filming locations, found no location in the U.S. made the top five, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Toronto, the U.K., Vancouver, Central Europe and Australia came out on top, with California placing sixth, Georgia seventh, New Jersey eighth and New York ninth.

ä See INDUSTRY, page 2E

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SCENE

Continued from page 1E Once concentrated in New Orleans’ Warehouse District, the state’s tech community has spread out since its infancy in the early 2000s and adolescence a decade later.

In some other Louisiana cities, incubators remain key hubs.

In New Orleans, entrepreneurs, investors and others in the city’s tech scene say that accelerators and co-working spaces are just one node. There are tech-focused venues like The Nieux on St. Charles Avenue. Plenty of hip — or just mid — coffee shops and restaurants have become semi-formal meeting places. And then there’s a moveable feast of happy hours, pitch events and meetups that draw crowds of bootstrapping startups, investors and job seekers.

“There is a growing remote working class,” said Tim Williamson, cofounder of The Nieux and The Idea Village, the city’s first business accelerator. “There may be more people but they’re less visible.”

STAFF FILE PHOTO By BRAD BOWIE

Contestant Logan Alfred presents his idea to judges during the 2024 Elevate Entrepreneurship Pitch Competition at the Opportunity Machine in downtown Lafayette. The city’s startup culture punches above its weight, powered by the $300 million-plus exit of Waitr, a delivery startup, in 2018.

Roots in IP Startups in New Orleans once had a place that everyone knew was the place. Around 2010, the IP Building on Magazine Street was home to The Idea Village, the Launch Pad co-working space, and startups like Lucid, which went on to become the city’s first “unicorn,” selling for more than $1 billion. Capdeville restaurant and bar, under the same roof, was a gathering place for all.

“When I was working out of the IP Building, there were maybe 15 startups in there,” said Reade, whose company Carrollton was located in the converted law office at that time. “Now I can think of at least five co-working spaces in different parts of town that each have dozens.”

Over the years, things changed.

Accelerators and incubators like Idea Village, the New Orleans BioInnovation Center and Propeller are still around, but now they’ve been joined by other convening spaces, particularly since the pandemic. The size of the city’s tech scene isn’t in the same league as major hubs like Boston, Austin or Silicon Valley, but it’s grown.

Although the IP Building no longer houses any tech startups, the culture still has a foothold in the area. A portion of the scene fol-

BUSINESS HONORS Twenty-three south Louisiana small-business owners have been selected for the third class of the Shell LiveWIRE business accelerator program.

The program is a collaboration with the Louisiana Small Business Development Center that aims to build and support companies across 13 parishes: Ascension, Assumption, East Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, Iberville, Jefferson, Lafourche, Livingston, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Mary and Terrebonne.

Entrepreneurs selected for the program are: n Sherri Utley and Mary Alvarez, founders, Blessed Bayou Candles n Toya Nash, founder, Ethan’s Closet Children’s Boutique n Bart Lenore Folse, founder, Folse Alarm Fire Co. n Greyson and Kristiane Harness, coowners, Harness-3D n Calla Green, CEO, Sophisto n Crystal Leonard, founder, Bella Baby Ultrasound n Arianne L. Washington, founder, Elite Therapy n LeKesiah Washington-Ballare, founder, Geaux Naturalle n Kasia Harry, founder, I Am Me Unapologetically n Brenda Jones Clesi, founder, Needle & Thread Sewing Academy n Frances Love Harris, founder and CEO, Peace of Serenity Massage & Wellness n LaQueda Ricks, founder, 4D HR Consulting Firm n Tylisha Barnhill, founder, Green Kleen Team n Clarence West Jr., founder, Infinity Tax & Financial Solutions and Infinity Tax & Credit Academy n Kobe Kelson, founder, Kelson Graphics and Branding n Kevin Hammond, founder, Kevin’s Cleaning Services n Ta’Shonna Glass, founder, Luxe Grace n Raina Vallot, co-founder and COO, NURA Impact Agency n Cynthia Welcome, founder, PBLBusiness Solutions n Barbara A. Robillard, founder and CEO, Raynbo Development n Kirsten Henderson, owner and founder, Sign & Seal with Kirsten Henderson n Joannettia Price, owner & CEO, Unique Access Office & Administrative Services and Unique Access Magazine n Yaritza Pena, founder, YFP Notary.

STAFF PHOTO By RICH COLLINS

Entrepreneur and investor Chris Reade walks out of French Truck Coffee on Dryades Street in New Orleans on Thursday. French Truck is just one spot where the city’s tech world congregates. lowed The Idea Village when it moved in 2017 from the IP Building to The Shop a few blocks away.

“People are in here coding at all hours,” said Hugh Breckenridge, The Shop’s community manager.

“And we’re home to many digital nomads.”

Less than a block away from The Shop, several tech ventures are among the tenants of the Scale New Orleans co-working space in the Taylor Education Center on Andrew Higgins Boulevard. A mile away down St. Charles Avenue is The Nieux, the venue whose founders include Williamson and Patrick Comer, the Lucid CEO. Both men have long helped bring the city’s tech world together.

There’s also been the growth of events and meetups. Since 2023, Greater New Orleans Inc. has hosted a “Startup NOLA” event at a different location every month.

On Tuesday, there was a gathering at the Elmwood office of the hotshot event tech company WRSTBND. “The first two people I met there

had never attended before,” said investor John Roberts, whose firm, Boot64, sponsored the event.

“They had an idea for a startup and were deciding if they were going to quit their job.”

Fifteen years ago, Roberts was in the convenience store business.

Now he and partner Mickal Adler are some of the busiest investors in the city, having made two dozen bets on startups over the last two years while participating in a federally backed program that provides matching funds.

Since Boot64 is headquartered in Metairie, it’s not unusual for Roberts and Adler to bring founders to their neck of the woods — possibly to Vinnie’s Caddyshack Bar and Grill on Ridgelake Drive near their office.

“We can talk business while enjoying a Miller Lite in a cold glass and some burgers or wings,” Roberts said.

Hub for development Startup culture has expanded in Baton Rouge as well. One hive of

activity is Nexus Louisiana Technology Park, a hub for development that’s been active for more than three decades. It is home to close to 30 software and hardware companies in the incubation phase.

Recent graduates of the organization’s accelerator programs include MasteryPrep, which was acquired in 2022; and ParkZen, which sold last month.

“Every local founder has come through here at some point in their growth,” said Tony Zanders, an entrepreneur and the organization’s CEO since February.

Another Baton Rouge startup hotspot spans the Mid City and downtown neighborhoods, where Louisiana Economic Development’s innovation division will move later this year. Zanders said City Roots Coffee Bar is a popular meeting spot.

“I’m there twice a week for meetings,” Zanders said. “It has the buzz you’d expect for a tech hub coffee spot: exposed brick, really tall ceilings and the right soundtrack.”

old membership-based organization that moved into a renovated downtown nightclub in 2022. Opportunity Machine runs the annual Innovate South event and an accelerator program. It also provides co-working space.

FlyGuys, a drone tech company, moved out of Opportunity Machine to a building just a couple doors down in 2024. Blueflite, another drone startup, announced it was moving into the hub last week.

Innovation across the board

There are other hubs in Shreveport and Ruston, though the distance from hotspots along Interstate 10 has prompted economic development leaders to work toward more coordination among the startup communities statewide.

“You need to know other leaders, investors and players across the state,” said Evie Poitevent Sanders, director of innovation and entrepreneurship at GNO, Inc. “Louisiana is not that big or populated and we need to work together to grow the ecosystem.”

The ‘Waitr effect’ Meanwhile, Jon Atkinson, CEO Lafayette has a metro population of the Idea Village in New Orof about 500,000 — about half the leans, is looking to a time when size of both New Orleans and Ba- the city and state are a geographton Rouge. But its startup culture ic anchor for innovation along the punches above its weight, powered entire Gulf Coast.

“If you know what a crawfish by the $300 million-plus exit of Waitr, a delivery startup, in 2018. is and you’re doing innovation, Though the company has since dis- you’re in my market,” he said. solved, it still sparked the industry.

The city’s entrepreneurial hub Email Rich Collins at rich. is Opportunity Machine, a 16-year- collins@theadvocate.com.

INDUSTRY

Continued from page 1E

To compete for the shrinking pool of movie productions, several states are substantially boosting their film and TV tax credit programs. Georgia has given out $1.3 billion in credits and Texas plans to spend up to $2.5 billion over the next decade, Mulhearn said.

Louisiana, which had one of the country’s first and most competitive movie tax credit programs in the early 2000s, reined the incentives in a decade ago, and state lawmakers have adjusted the credits several times since.

How best to award tax credits?

Now, a bill by Sen. Adam Bass, R-Bossier City, and backed by Louisiana Economic Development, would change the tax credit program, giving LED more authority over how the $125 million in annual credits would be given out.

Currently, any changes to the program have to be made by statute, meaning with legislative approval. The bill would empower LED to make the changes instead.

“The program has been amended 30 times in 20 years and it doesn’t make sense to go to the legislature every time you want to make a responsive change,” said LED Secretary Susan Bourgeois. “This allows us to be more flexible and responsible.”

The bill would simplify the process for awarding tax credits, allowing productions to get a flat 40% credit. Currently, a production can get a 25% tax credit, but various kickers — having a number of Louisiana residents on the crew, using a Louisiana-based visual effects company and shooting outside of New Orleans — can boost the credits to 40%.

LED will look at a number of factors when deciding to award credits, such as the estimated economic impact of a production, if a project is shooting outside of New Orleans and if the production is in “the best interests of the state.”

“This gets rid of all the different kickers,” Mulhearn said.

“There’s a higher bar to qualify, but if you meet that, you go to the front of the line.”

The bill also removes caps for actors and directors that held tax credits to $20 million for a movie

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By ALEX BRANDON

Crew members strike a movie set after filming for ‘My Own Love Song’ in the Central City area of New Orleans in 2008. Louisiana set a production record that year, with more than 80 major film and television projects. or $25 million for a series. This gives LED flexibility to take steps to attract a big-budget movie or a TV series with major stars such as “NCIS New Orleans” if the agency feels like it would be in the best interest of the state, Mulhearn said.

So far, the industry has come out in support of the bill, Bourgeois said, and testified with her in favor of it in legislative committee.

Mulhearn said the measure is a strategic way to better use the pool of tax credits and encourage companies to make a long-term commitment to Louisiana.

“This bill has the potential to get people working again,” he said.

Global competition Baton Rouge has a long history with independent movies. Steven Soderbergh filmed “Sex, Lies, and Videotape” around the city. It went on to earn the top directing honor at the Cannes Film Festival in 1989 and launched Soderbergh’s career as one of America’s most sought-after directors.

Another movement with local roots is Film USA, which was co-launched by Katie Pryor, ex-

ecutive director of Film Baton Rouge. Pryor said she got the idea after going to Cannes in 2021 and seeing the scores of countries promoting their movie and TV industries through national film offices. The U.S. lacks a national film office, leaving the promotion of the movie and TV industry to individual cities and states.

That’s a mistake because the competition for productions has gone global. It’s not a case of filmmakers deciding if they want to shoot in Baton Rouge or New Orleans, or Louisiana or Georgia, Pryor said.

“We’re losing projects because they’re deciding to shoot in Bulgaria,” she said.

Louisiana is well-equipped to compete in the global moviemaking marketplace, Pryor said. The state knows how to play the incentives game, it has an infrastructure of studios and a culture that is recognized around the world.

“People know California, Texas, Louisiana and Florida,” she said.

“We have a global reputation.”

More than 90 film commissioners have signed up to be a part of Film USA. The goal is to set up a federal film office that would be a part of the U.S. Commerce

Department, promoting shooting in the U.S. and ensuring productions remain globally competitive.

The office would coordinate a national strategy on the movie and TV industry, promote filming in America on the global stage and develop the workforce for U.S. productions.

“The U.S. is a victim of our own success,” Pryor said. “We had a hold on the industry and we were playing in our own little sandbox.

But there was an entire playground being built around us.”

Pryor said she’s talked to Baton Rouge Republican U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy’s staff and they’re supportive of establishing a national film commission. President Donald Trump’s recent call to put tariffs on foreign movies to bolster the U.S. movie industry has also raised the profile of her organization.

“The timeline on government mobility has changed in this administration,” she said. “This is a conversation that’s moving along a little quicker.”

Staff writer Stephanie Riegel contributed to this report. Email Timothy Boone at tboone@ theadvocate.com.

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TALKING BUSINESS WITH TONy ZANDERS

Tech entrepreneur helping La. startups grow

BY TIMOTHY BOONE Business editor

Tony Zanders is taking the lessons he learned as a tech entrepreneur and applying them to his new job helping Louisiana startup companies get off the ground.

Zanders is a native of New Orleans and founder of Baton Rougebased Skilltype Inc., a software platform that allows libraries to develop and share expertise. In the six years since its founding, more than 200 libraries, archives and museums across the U.S., Canada, U.K., Australia and Israel have adopted the platform.

In February, he was selected to become president and CEO of Nexus Louisiana, the nonprofit business development organization designed to help high tech companies grow by connecting them to capital, resources and talent. It operates the Louisiana Technology Park, a business incubator in the middle of Baton Rouge, and, until Zanders’ hiring, was without a permanent president and CEO for nearly three years.

In his short tenure at the helm, Zanders has already launched a number of new programs aimed at reinvigorating the organization.

They include the Nexus Technology Cup, which will showcase the latest software and hardware being developed across the state.

The competition is open to high school and college students, along with tech enthusiasts.

“There is a strong appetite for change,” he said. “There’s a lot of excitement around what’s possible.”

In this week’s Talking Business, Zanders discusses how he sees Nexus serving as a resource for tech entrepreneurs across Louisiana and the potential for fledgling local businesses to solve major real world problems.

What do Louisiana tech entrepreneurs say they need?

When you talk to the founders, the initial perception is that if only they had the money, if only they had that investment, everything would be OK. But lack of money

Tony Zanders or capital is not the problem. Galvanizing tech talent is the main challenge we have. Louisiana has bright minds in STEM fields. But they haven’t been exposed to this idea that they can use their skills — not just to go work a 9-to-5 job at Dow Chemical or Exxon, but to bring something into existence to solve a modern problem like the amount of carbon that we’re releasing into the air. The main issue we have here in Louisiana is not a lack of talent, but awareness around how those skills can be used to create new solutions to difficult problems.

You want Nexus Louisiana to be the vehicle for this sort of thing. Elaborate on that.

Our responsibility is to keep a pulse on what is the most advanced technology of our day and educate our community, our universities, even our high schools on the problems that can be solved through their skills and the projects they’re working on. We don’t need another dating app or another app to find crawfish. We need you using your attention span and your technical ability to solve real world problems. And Louisiana is ripe with problems.

We offer programs. We have a curriculum, and the output of those programs is a person who is equipped to take an idea and commercialize that idea and bring it to market using technology. We have one of the most diverse cohorts of technology builders in the state at Nexus, who can help you be successful in your endeavor to build

STAFF FILE PHOTO

The Louisiana Technology Park, a business incubator in Baton Rouge, was without a permanent president and CEO for nearly three years until Tony Zanders was named the leader of Nexus Louisiana, the nonprofit that operates the park. that new technology. They come from oil and gas, the petrochemical industry, higher education.

You look at Nexus as being a statewide organization, not just a Baton Rouge thing?

I look at us as being Baton Rouge-based, Baton Rouge-centric, but the audience that we market to and provide services to, can come from any of the 64 parishes. If you’re willing to come to us, we will support you in that journey. We have people coming to Baton Rouge every week from New Orleans, from Lafayette and from Lake Charles.

What’s your goal for five years from now?

Where would you like to see Nexus go next?

My assumption and hypothesis is that we have the people and the talent here. When they wake up in the morning and go to school or go to work, they simply don’t view themselves as technology entrepreneurs. My goal is to activate these bright minds, these re-

ally talented technical people, to make them realize they can help us solve some of our most difficult problems here in our state. I think by 2030 we can have a 1,000 technology founders here, locally, who have come through Baton Rouge.

They may go back to Ruston, they may go back to Thibodaux to build their business. But our capital region is uniquely equipped to create an experience to prepare them for this journey.

How are you applying the lessons you learned at Skilltype to this job?

I don’t come from wealth or means. I didn’t inherit anything, but I was able to talk to over 300 potential customers about Skilltype in the early days and convince nine of them to fund our research and development. I’m really structuring our team, our programs and our services to deliver these insights at scale. We have stakeholders like LSU and

Southern, and I want to do more work with our local high schools in Baton Rouge who are doing the hard work of training that next generation.

I think a lot of students sitting in class right now on a Thursday morning, like today, they may not understand the point of what they are studying. If I could only share one message with them, it would be that, we need you to get an A in this class. You may not realize why, but if you get an A in this math class and this science class. If you stay after school for a few more hours and work on this robotics project, you’re going to help our state be competitive on an international scale. I think Nexus can help support our teachers and our school administrators to connect the dots.

Email Timothy Boone at tboone@theadvocate.com.

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Fool Take: A blue-chip stock

of the action, as its net profit margin has remained north of 20% over each of the past Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) has been around six years.

Part of the reason for Coca-Cola’s sharefor 139 years and encompasses more than 200 brands, including carbonated soft price resiliency is its solid performance in 2024. Global case volume grew slightly drinks, sports drinks, water, in 2024 and organic revenue grew by 12% juices, coffee, tea, milk and year over year. For 2025, management projeven some alcoholic beverages. Now could be a good ects organic revenue growth of 5% to 6%. time to crack open a stake in The stock’s valuation is not a screaming this global powerhouse with bargain at recent levels, but it’s reasonable. a presence in more than 200 The dividend was recently yielding 2.8%, too, offering investors a stream of reliable Motley countries.

Coca-Cola serves customincome.

Fool And that payout is growing — Coca-Cola ers who are pretty brand has upped its dividend for 63 consecutive loyal, so it’s not likely to take years. a big hit in a recession. The company has delivered years of resilient growth through economic downturns and even a long-term domestic trend away from both sugary and diet soft drinks. It’s also largely insulated from the current trade war because most It’s important for all of us to tend to our of its products are bottled and distributed finances regularly — and to keep them safe. in their home countries, often through inde- Failing to do so can lead to headaches and possibly even financial losses. Here are pendent bottlers. some tips: Coke is just collecting its lucrative piece

Fool’s School: Keep your financial life safe

n Only share your Social Security number when necessary, when asked for it by a reputable company that truly needs it (such as a bank running a credit check before lending to you). Don’t print the number on your checks, and don’t carry your Social Security card on you, lest it get lost or stolen. Don’t share your SSN or other information with any people who call or email you — you should initiate the contact. n Before throwing away any financial documents with your personal information (such as your full name and address, account number or SSN) on them, shred them. n You can opt out of receiving unwanted credit card or insurance offers in the mail by calling (888) 567-8688 or visiting OptOutPrescreen.com. It’s smart to shred any offers you get so identity thieves can’t apply for credit cards in your name with them.

(Yes, some thieves go through trash.) n Review statements such as those from banks and credit card issuers regularly to verify that all transactions are legitimate.

(You might also spot some recurring charges you can cancel — such as for subscriptions or memberships you no longer use.) n Don’t use the same password for multiple sites, and avoid easy-to-guess passwords, such as ones featuring birthdates or your pets’ names. Ideally, use a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols. It can also be good to use two-factor authentication, passkeys, biometric identification and/or a password manager. n Use firewalls, antivirus software and/ or virtual private networks (VPNs) to guard your privacy online. Secure your home WiFi network, and avoid entering passwords or accessing financial sites over public Wi-Fi networks, such as those in cafes or airports. When shopping online, stick with trusted, established retailers.

You can learn more about any unfamiliar terms above via a quick online search.

Do you have a smart or regrettable investment move to share with us? Email it to TMFShare@fool.com.

As stock market dips, is now the time to invest?

My 24-year-old daughter, who has some cash reserves, texted me following a particularly brutal week on Wall Street. She wanted to know if she should open an investment account.

I replied with just two words: “Yes, ma’am.”

My husband and I have encouraged her to start investMichelle ing beyond her Singletary workplace retireTHE COLOR ment plan. Our OF MONEy aim is to broaden her perspective on wealth building, demonstrating how her savings could create a substantial investment portfolio for other long-term financial goals.

“Let your money work for you,” we often tell our three 20-something kids.

The reason: There’s one thing that young adults have that we older folks don’t. They have time to experience the highs and lows of the stock market.

Right now, we’re in a low brought on by President Donald Trump’s trade war. This self-inflicted volatility has understandably caused anxiety for many investors. I’ve

spoken with individuals who have shifted their funds from stocks to bonds or deposit accounts.

Some vow to reenter the stock market when it’s less rocky. Others have said they’ll wait for the bottom and then plan to “buy the dip,” which means they intentionally buy more shares of a stock or mutual fund when its price has fallen.

The theory is that the temporary drop presents a good opportunity to purchase more stocks at a lower price, thereby boosting your return on those extra shares. You’re profiting from people panicking and selling even though there’s nothing fundamentally wrong with the asset. To put it another way, for those of you who are bargain shoppers, stocks are on sale.

This strategy took an interesting twist in 2020, when market dips resulted in a spike in first-time investors, according to a report by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Investor Education Foundation and National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago. These investors, who opened taxable, nonretirement investment accounts via online brokers, were younger, earned less and were more racially diverse

than more experienced investors.

They opened accounts because dips in the market made stocks cheaper to buy, the report found.

Dan Egan, vice president of behavioral finance and investing for Betterment, a digital investment advisory firm, understands why people may want to “buy the dip.”

It can motivate risk-averse individuals to enter the market.

According to Egan, buying when equities are lower-priced is fine, as long as it’s a minor tactical shift on top of a steady investing strategy.

“Getting in at a slightly lower price can feel good, but doesn’t dramatically change your long-term returns,” he said. “To do that, you also need to sell before a drop and get back in at a good time. And timing getting out is pretty difficult, as drops happen fast upon bad news being released.”

If stocks are cheap because a serious long-term problem — such as tariffs leading to a trade war — is pulling markets down, it makes sense to buy only if that problem is soon corrected, he notes. Otherwise, if the crisis persists, a temporary dip might turn into a slump.

The largest and most terrifying dips happen when the economy is

in bad shape, Callie Cox, chief market strategist for Ritholtz Wealth Management, points out.

But it’s impossible to know when the market will hit its lowest point during a particular period, leaving many people waiting for the right time to buy.

Since the 1950s, the S&P 500 has dropped an average of 31% in a recession, Cox said. Such selloffs have lasted an average of 14 months. “I’m worried that we’re at the start of what could be an economic crisis,” Cox said. “We’re not there yet, but the ingredients are coming together.”

Her advice: “Be careful about throwing an unusually large amount of money in this market if you expect to need it in the next few years.”

Periods like this underscore why you should be cautious about buying and selling based on short-term volatility or solely purchasing after price declines.

Here’s what we have told our young adult children: Use the triedand-true dollar cost averaging investing strategy.

Instead of putting all your money in at once, you decide on a fixed amount to invest regularly — for

example, $250 a month — regardless of whether the asset’s price increases, decreases, or remains the same. Over time, this can help lower the average price you pay for your investments. Dollar cost averaging in practice might look like the following for a young investor: When the price is low: Your $250 buys you more shares.

When the price is high: Your $250 buys you fewer shares.

This approach helps avoid the pitfalls of making emotional investment decisions during market downturns because you adhere to a consistent investment schedule.

Or as Cox put it: “You give up the burden of having to guess what the market will do next.”

My husband and I didn’t advise our daughter to invest now simply because stock prices have decreased. Instead, we emphasized that, given her age and the longtime horizon she has to navigate market fluctuations, she should see this as a favorable time to begin investing.

Email Michelle Singletary at michelle.singletary@washpost. com.

Looking back: the impact of the BP Oil Spill on Louisiana’s Commercial Menhaden Fishing Industry

This article is brought to you by the Louisiana Commercial Fishing Coalition LLC

The BP oil spill—triggered by the Deepwater Horizon explosion 15 years ago last month—remains the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history. The Deepwater Horizon explosion killed 11 people and released nearly 5 million barrels of oil into the Gulf, devastating ecosystems and contaminating key fishing grounds.

Among the species affected were menhaden—small, oily fish essential to the Gulf ’s ecosystem and Louisiana’s economy. As filter feeders and prey for larger predators, they play a critical ecological role. Louisiana’s menhaden fishery, one of the largest in the nation, was hit especially hard. Just two companies harvest menhaden from Louisiana’s waters: Westbank Fishing in Empire and Ocean Harvesters in Abbeville. Together, they employ more than 2,000 workers and contribute over $25 million annually to the state and local economy. But when oil from the spill spread across the northern Gulf, it forced widespread closures of federal and state waters—including over half of Louisiana’s inshore fishing grounds.

The industry was suddenly paralyzed, facing a collapse in access, markets, and operating stability.

For Westbank Fishing, the disaster struck just five years after Hurricane Katrina had devastated its home base in Plaquemines Parish. The company

had only recently rebuilt its fleet, processing facility and workforce.

“We’d already learned how to survive after Katrina,” said Shane Treadaway, Vice President of Operations. “So, when the oil spill happened, we knew how to dig in, stay focused, and do whatever it took to come back strong.” That hardearned resilience became critical as the company confronted yet another crisis.

The closure of nearshore waters turned daily operations upside down.

With more than 55% of Louisiana’s state waters off-limits, Westbank’s vessels were forced to travel up to 200 miles west—just to find open seas. “We went from steaming 45 minutes to our grounds to running 17 hours west just to fish,” said Treadaway. “The oil spill didn’t just close the water—it upended everything overnight.”

The longer trips took a toll. “We had to burn more fuel, work longer hours, and face rougher seas,” Treadaway said. Crews had less time

for rest and maintenance, and the boats were pushed to their limits. “More miles meant more wear and more breakdowns. We had to set up mobile support just to keep the fleet running that far from home.”

Beyond logistics, the industry faced a second blow: hesitation from buyers. Though menhaden isn’t eaten directly, seafood safety concerns slowed international demand. The spill’s environmental effects were also severe.

Menhaden depend on clean, oxygenrich water to survive, and the oil and dispersants harmed plankton, larvae, and juvenile fish.

“There was real fear among the crews,” said Treadaway. “I wanted to build a career and retire in this industry.

What if they padlocked the gate and said, ‘Sorry, it’s over’? A lot of people had put blood, sweat, and tears into this company. That uncertainty was the hardest part.”

For communities across southern Plaquemines Parish, the impact ran deep. Westbank Fishing was one of the largest employers in the region, supporting countless rural families.

“It wasn’t just about fish. It was about families, about paying bills, about whether a way of life was going to disappear,” Treadaway said. “You walked into any store in Empire, and that’s all people were talking about. Was our way of life going to disappear?”

Despite these challenges, Westbank Fishing took steps to support its

workforce. “No one was let go. Everyone got their 40 hours,” said Treadaway.

“We made a commitment to our people—we weren’t going to leave anyone behind.” This dedication to their employees helped the company weather the storm and emerge from the crisis.

In the years since, Louisiana’s menhaden industry has shown remarkable resilience. The BP oil spill was a turning point, exposing the fragile link between ecological health and economic survival. Fifteen years later, the industry continues to harvest menhaden, sustain jobs, and support the state and local economy. It has also earned Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification, recognizing its careful management and commitment to ecological balance.

Yet these gains exist against a backdrop of growing vulnerability: coastal erosion, climate change, and regulatory shifts continue to threaten the fishery’s stability. And the memory of the BP oil spill still looms large, a reminder that environmental disasters can reshape lives and livelihoods in an instant.

“We just kept our heads down and went to work, day by day,” said Treadaway. “Fifteen years later, I can say: we fared pretty well. But we’ll never forget what it took to get here.” The scars remain—but so does the strength of the communities that endured them, determined to protect their future on the water.

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La. shipbuilders bid to build Coast Guard Arctic ships Firms looking to stave off competition from foreign yards

willingness to have some of that business go to foreign shipyards.

On a recent trip to Finland, the president said he was open to Finnish shipyards competing to build some of the new cutters. That discussion continued publicly in March, when Finnish President Alexander Stubb met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago in Florida.

BY ANTHONY McAULEY Staff writer

Two of Louisiana’s largest shipbuilders, Bollinger Shipyards and Edison Chouest Offshore, have joined forces to compete for a piece of the U.S. Coast Guard’s expected $22 billion program to enhance its cutter fleet, which will include more Arctic icebreakers.

The two firms said Tuesday that they have formed a strategic alliance — called United Shipbuilding Alliance, or USA — to allow them to better compete with foreign shipbuilders who have expressed an interest in competing for the Coast Guard’s new business. The two firms have been closely aligned since 2014, when Bollinger was acquired by a private investment partnership backed by the Chouest family and Bollinger’s CEO Ben Bordelon.

Bollinger and Edison Chouest said in a news release that their joint venture is in direct response to the Coast Guard’s request last month for expressions of interest by firms wanting to bid to build its Arctic Security Cutters, a new class of medium-sized vessel it wants to commission to fortify its polar fleet.

Big spending increase According to the U.S. Naval Institute News, the Trump Administration, with the support of the Republican-led Congress, has proposed an increase of more than $22 billion in the Coast Guard’s spending in the current fiscal year, which would include a tenfold increase, to $13.8 billion, in the amount that would be spent on cutters. That would include three or more Arctic Security Cutters and an unspecified number of Great Lakes icebreak-

American workers PROVIDED PHOTO

Bollinger Shipyards in March won a nearly $1 billion contract from the Coast Guard to build the first heavy polar icebreaker constructed in the U.S. in nearly 50 years.

ers for an additional $5.03 billion.

In March, Bollinger Shipyards announced that it won a contract worth nearly $1 billion from the Coast Guard to build the first heavy polar icebreaker constructed in the U.S. in nearly 50 years. The initial contract to build that vessel — the 460-foot USCGC Polar Sentinel — was won by Pascagoula, Mississippibased Halter Marine, which was acquired by Bollinger in 2022.

Halter Marine was going to miss the initial delivery date in 2024, so Bollinger had to renegotiate new terms with the Coast Guard.

It is now due for delivery in 2030.

Primary construction of the ship will be at Bollinger’s Mississippi yards, though New Orleans and Harvey yards will contribute.

President Donald Trump has called for as many as 40 new icebreakers, as his administration emphasizes the need for a greater Arctic security presence with the U.S. pursuing mineral and other economic interests there.

While Bollinger has the lead on building the new Arctic fleet, the firm’s leaders said in an interview on Tuesday that they were taken aback by Trump’s apparent

The supplemental bill floated in the U.S. House last month included language that would make it possible for foreign firms to build the new cutters. Canadian shipyards also have expressed formal interest in response to the Coast Guard’s “request for information” last month.

Bordelon, the grandson of Bollinger’s founder, noted in an interview Tuesday that Bollinger Shipyards has built vessels for the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard since the 1980s.

“We have a proven track record over more than 40 years,” he said.

“More importantly, President Trump has said out loud that he wants to promote the industrial base of America and we have American workers — in Louisiana, Mississippi and in Florida — who can produce at the level our government needs.”

The USA joint initiative will give the two Louisiana shipbuilders “6,000-plus skilled American workers across their 33 operational shipyards and fabrication facilities across the Gulf of America to rapidly design, build, and deliver icebreakers for commercial and government customers,” the companies said in a joint statement on Tuesday.

With the takeover of Halter Marine, Bollinger became the largest privately owned shipbuilder in the United States, with 2,000 employees and annual revenue estimated at around $1 billion.

Email Anthony McAuley tmcauley@theadvocate.com.

PEOPLE IN BUSINESS BATON ROUGE Lauren Lambert-Tompkins has been hired as director of marketing and communications for Manship Theatre.

Lambert-Tompkins formerly worked as executive director of The Baton Rouge Blues Festival and Foundation, executive director of Downtown LambertBusiness AssociaTompkins tion and development director of STUN Strategic Creatives.

She earned a bachelor’s from Louisiana Tech and a master’s from Southeastern Louisiana University.

Melissa Tullier has been hired as vice president of operational systems and support for Campus Federal Credit Union.

Tullier previously served as vice president of strategic planning for OnPath Federal Credit Union and Tullier as vice president of consumer lending at Louisiana Federal Credit Union She earned a bachelor’s in management from Southeastern Louisiana University and a master’s in business administration from LSU Shreveport.

Emily Flanagan has been appointed as an assistant professor-research at Pennington Biomedical Research Center.

Flanagan has been a postdoctoral fellow at Pennington for the past five years, under the mentorship of Dr. Leanne Flanagan Redman in the Reproductive Endocrinology and Women’s Health Laboratory.

She earned a master’s in clinical exercise physiology and a doctorate in exercise physiology, both from the University of Miami.

Ty Gose and Michael Cashio have joined CBRE as senior vice presidents.

They will lead CBRE’s nine-

Business is better in

From petrochemical manufacturers to tech innovators, Baton Rouge’s business ecosystem is complex, connected, and getting better every day. Built on the banks of the Mississippi River by a talented workforce brimming with tenacity—our region is poised for unprecedented growth.

Discover why business is better in BTR at betterinbtr.com.

person Baton Rouge office, which will complement the firm’s New Orleans operations.

Gose and Cashio have a combined 33 years of experience in commercial brokerage at NAI Latter & Blum. Over the last several years, the two have completed more than $1.5 billion in Gose transactions.

The CBRE team also includes Chris Gremillion and Jonann Stutzman, vice presidents; Hunter Harris, senior associate; Landon Leger, Jake Loach and Alex McCol- Cashio lam, associates; and Jessica Lieux, senior client specialist.

NEW ORLEANS Heather Sweeney has been hired as director of development for the Bureau of Governmental Research.

Sweeney has two decades of experience in fundraising and philanthropy, including serving as director of development for Second Harvest Food Bank for more than 11 years.

She earned a bachelor’s in psychology from Connecticut College Sweeney and a master’s from Ohio State University.

Emily Olivier Kesler has been elected

by Baker Donelson as a shareholder.

Kesler is a member of the firm’s government enforcement and investigations group, focused primarily on defending government investigations and enforcement actions, as well Kesler as discrimination, harassment and retaliation claims.

She earned a bachelor’s, summa cum laude, from the University of Georgia and a law degree, magna cum laude, from William & Mary Law School. Kesler served as lead articles editor of the William & Mary Law Review.

6E ■ Sunday, May 11, 2025 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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homes

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38133 INDIGO LANE

PENDING SALE

Rabalais Custom Homes

• 4 Beds • 3 Full & 1 Half Baths • 2,600 SF • Huge Lot • Open Floor Plan • Chef’s Kitchen & Fully Equipped CUSTOM PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION Outdoor Kitchen

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Custom Building Packages available to build your “Dream Home”!

4 Bedrooms - 2.5 Bathrooms 4,467 Sq. Ft. - Half Acre Lot List Price - $1,450,000.00 Visit www.CB-Lakeshore.com

ROBIN HEBERT REALTOR®

Barbara Anne Eaton, CRS, GRI, SRS

225.975.3434

Associate Broker • 225-733-6874

www.robinheberthomes.com

Dianne Adams

ATTENTION INVESTORS!

MID-CITY DUPLEX FOR SALE

225-615-7755

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Each office independently owned and operated Licensed REALTORs in the State of Louisiana

Seize this chance to own a fully leased duplex in the heart of Baton Rouge’s vibrant Mid-City with immediate cashflow. Located at 144-146 Beverly Drive in Ogden Park, this property offers two well-maintained 2-bedroom, 1-bathroom units, each approximately 750 sq ft. Features include hardwood flooring, updated kitchens, and in-unit laundry hookups. Situated in a sought-after neighborhood known for its historic charm and proximity to local amenities, this duplex is an ideal addition to any investment portfolio.

55,00 00 Don’t miss out on this turnkey investment! $25

Lisa Busceme

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225.806.8979

8624 ARABELLA • BATON ROUGE

4 Bedroom 3 Bath 2420 living area on a Lake in Magnolia Lakes Subdivision Open Living, Dining and Kitchen with 2 bedrooms up and 2 down. 3 built-in desks outside of bedrooms perfect for studying or working from home. Kitchen has slab granite counters with a nice island with breakfast bar, gas cooktop, and a extra large pantry. Primary suite overlooks the lake, with separate shower and tub and nice walk in closet. A lakefront lot, enjoy fishing from your backyard or sipping coffee from your private back porch. $367,000

Are you looking to make a career change?

LIBBY AMMON, CRS, ABR

REALTOR®

225-931-4112

Certified Residential Specialist® (CRS) Seniors Real Estate Specialist® (SRES) LisaB@coldwellbankerone.com • www.BatonRougehomeswithLLisa.com m

225-938-3176 • SoldbyLibby.com

STAY INFORMED Call us today and take the first step towards your real estate career! Let us show you why CENTURY 21® is the nation’s fastest growing franchise!

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• Take Action and Improve Results • Dream Big and Move Fast • Defy Mediocrity and Deliver Extraordinary • Break Down Walls • Give 121% • and are Always Obsessed With Better!

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2435 Drusilla Lane, BR 225-291-2121 • C21ir.com

Broker/Owner 504-250-0469 Jackie.Miller@c21ir.com

Each Office Is Independently Owned and Operated.

Find Your Perfect Address

Smooth Out the Journey Find a great guide for your home-buying journey – the information you need for the process you want to find your new address.

Visit Us Today to start the journey to your new address

DRE#01901536 This website is a marketing and information program that sends all inquiries to state-licensed real estate professionals.

addressbatonrouge.com

2F ■ Sunday, May 11, 2025 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

Baton Rouge Real Estate For Sale AREA 3

BACK ON MARKET Completely Updated!

2526 Adams Ave. 3BR, w/Cent H&A New Cer tile on Kit, Ctr Top & Bk Splash, Painted Int & Ext., Lg FD B.Y., Some New Windows & Lgt Fixt, Cer, Vinyl wd & Hd wd flg, New Roof & Much More!

Call Charles for your showing @ 225266-4078 A Must See! Roy Carter Realty, 225-357-6436 2035 N. Acadian Thwy., E.

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Baton Rouge Rental AREA 2 2BR/2BA in Central, Rent $850 +Sec, No past Evictions Call 225-806-6923

AREA 3 Cnt a/h, w/d conn. 3Br/1Ba duplex $695, 3Br/2Ba $995. 225-810-0775 225955-8970 MOBILE HOME 1, 2 & 3 BR mobile homes, $675 & up 6061 Plank Rd. CALL 225-978-4653

AREA 4 FREE RENT 225-351-7449 AREA 4 NO CREDIT CHECK/LEASE! Fully furnished apartments ALL BILLS PAID including premium cable & WIFI. Pet Friendly. Stay where you're appreciated! Call 225-434-4161

AREA 5 655 North St. Subsidized eff Apts cpabr.org 225-383-5551. TDD/TTY /711RELAY

AREA 5 Move In Special. 2BR/2BA flat, w/FP, ctl A&H, W/D. $825 mo. 225-315-0930 ROOMS FOR RENT Furnished Rooms. $125/wk. $500/mo.

225-933-7560

AREA 5 1BR $550, 2BR $650 Tigerland. $500 Deposit. 225-475-1737

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RATES REPORTED MAY 8, 2025

WEEKLY BATON ROUGE AREA

MORTGAGE RATES

Rate column provided by Liberty Mortgage Information Service • Call 225-361-6565 to have your company added to “ad”

CRAIG COLEMAN

JUDE BRIDWELL

HANCOCK WHITNEY 225-664-1314 • Craig.Coleman@hancockwhitney.com HancockWhitney.com/Craig-Coleman • NMLS 684734

HANCOCK WHITNEY

HANCOCK WHITNEY 225-603-1777 • Jude.Bridwell@hancockwhitney.com hancockwhitney.com/jude-bridwell • NMLS 92661

1-800-256-4636 HANCOCKWHITNEY.COM •

30 YEAR FIXED

6.875% / 0 points / APR - 6.97%

15 YEAR FIXED

6.125% / 0 points / APR - 6.29%

HANCOCK WHITNEY 225-229-8783 • Bill.Holt@Hancockwhitney.com hancockwhitney.com/bill-holt • NMLS 148394

30 YEAR FHA - VA

6.125% / 0 points / APR - 6.44%

JARED GARY

ANGEL LEWIS

15 YEAR FHA - VA

6.125% / 0 points / APR - 6.44%

TIM DUBNANSKY

MICHAEL HEBERT

ADJUSTABLE

Jumbo sofr 10/1 Arm

SPECIAL

30RD - 6.00% / 0 / APR - 6.37%

BETH H. HOLDEN

JEREMY WEIMER

HANCOCK WHITNEY 225-381-0428 • Beth.Holden@hancockwhitney.com HancockWhitney.com/Beth-Holden • NMLS 699394

HANCOCK WHITNEY 225-978-2592 • Jeremy.Weimer@hancockwhitney.com hancockwhitney.com/jeremy-weimer • NMLS 175288

NATE BEECHAM

BILL HOLT

HANCOCK WHITNEY 225-248-7428 • Nathaniel.Beecham@hancockwhitney.com HancockWhitney.com/Nate-Beecham • NMLS 115300

HANCOCK WHITNEY 225-603-2505 • Jared.Gary@hancockwhitney.com HancockWhitney.com/jared-gary • NMLS 88626

HANCOCK WHITNEY 225-413-6094 • Angel.Lewis@hancockwhitney.com hancockwhitney.com/angel-lewis • NMLS 700876

HANCOCK WHITNEY 225-252-6976 • Tim.dubnansky@hancockwhitney.com hancockwhitney.com/tim-dubnansky • NMLS 82027

HANCOCK WHITNEY 225-715-1133 • Michael.Hebert@hancockwhitney.com hancockwhitney.com/michael-hebert • NMLS 79769

DIRECT ACCESS: www.theadvocate.com CLICK HOMES >> THEN MORTGAGE RATES Quotes above are based on loan amount equal to or above $200,000 • Conventional loan max is $484,350; Jumbo loans exceed $484,350• NQ - No Quote • Special programs include BA (Balloon), B (Bond), CS (Construction), CV (Convertible), J (Jumbo), LL (Lot Loan), RD (Rural Development) • Quotes are not guaranteed and are subject to change daily • Info provided by LIBERTY MORTGAGE INFORMATION SERVICE - 225.361-6565 • Points listed do not include Origination Fee (normally 1% of loan amount) • Rates quoted are for 30 day lock • For additional information on mortgage programs, call the lender.

classifieds.theadvocate.com Search Search& &Place PlaceAds AdsOnline Onlineatatclassifieds.theadvocate.com classifieds.theadvocate.com* Call * Call -Friday Us Monday-Friday 8AM-5PM at 225-383-0111 8AM-5PM at 225-383-0111 1123 N 49TH ST ETHEL JEAN PORTER BOWERS

2652 TATE ST THOMAS & SONS ENTERPRISE OF LA

2411 EDGEWOOD DR DEBRA LYNN PERRY GORDON

5248 HAMMOND ST TM CAPITAL, LLC

ANYONE knowing the whereabouts of any property owner, heir or other related person, in regard to the properties listed below, please contact the East Baton Rouge CityParish, Department of Development – Neighborhood Revitalization Office at 225-389-8680.

5168 JEFFERSON AVE DOMINIC S BONFANTI

6185 PONTOTOC ST GARY TRAHAN

1921 75TH AVE ANDREA N DAVIS

12533 BRITAIN AVE JBFH CORPORATION

1923 75TH AVE LADONNA ROBERTSON

6318 PONTOTOC ST JOSHUA D ENNIS

3155 CHARLOTTE DR NADIA J RAUDALES MENDEZ

7551 SOMERSET ST TEXACO, INC

6642 E MONARCH AVE THE ESTATE OF JACKIE R. NOEL

650 WOODDALE BLVD SPECIAL HANDS HOME REPAIR SERVICE, LLC; TOMMIE DYER

5152 CLAYTON ST GLORIA D. KNOX

4547 GLEN OAKS DR DEIDRA D SANDERFORD-CARMENA

Announcements

1523 OLIVE ST NORMA MAE WILLIAMS ROSS

7852 PHEBUS DR FEDERAL NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

6240 E GLEN CT KEISHA N. MCCRAY

275 KIMBRO DR MORTON C HURSTON, JR.

8045 BRANDON DR JASON WARREN MURRAY

821 GOOSE ST THE ESTATE OF HAZEL MAXWELL LAWSON

10493 E GRANDEUR AVE GEORGE ROBERT NASH

MORTGAGE

4746 JEFFERSON AVE THE ESTATE OF ROBERT JOHNSON, JR.

7833 PALOMAR DR SYLVIA L VINNING

149 GRETA AVE ALPHONSO OTIS POTTER, III

2089 FOUNTAIN AVE CHRISTIAN MAJOR

10037 AVENUE H PROPERTYVEST, INC

1621 FOUNTAIN AVE ROSELL A LANDS 9255 REDWOOD LAKE BLVD JIMMY BO 11955 MOLLYLEA DR ANDREW FORRESTER 1702 MAST DR LOUISIANA PROPERTY ACQUISITION & MANAGEMENT, LLC; ROBERT HAIRFORD 1736 MAST DR SPOT LIGHT ENTERPRISE, LLC; GARY JACKSON 4017 SCARBOROUGH DR THE ESTATE OF FREDDIE J GREEN; AUDREY F GREEN 11148 STANLEY AUBIN LN NATIONWIDE REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT, LLC; HARRY SMITH 823 E POLK ST DANNY R JOHNSON

1843 MISSOURI ST THE ESTATE OF JAMES A HOPKINS 1755 EDDIE ROBINSON SR DR BEAGLE, RON REAL ESTATE & DEVELOPMENT, LLC 748 N 22ND ST ROGER CADOR 9396 GREENWELL SPRINGS RD BARRIOS INVESTMENTS, LLC 10743 SANDRINGHAM AVE MICHAEL ARVIN DANIEL 11922 AUBURN DR THEODORE L ELLIS 1834 WIMPOLE ST TOM DREW WAFER, JR. 11960 RUTGERS CT MARIA JUAN-GUEVARA 4554 HOLLYWOOD ST CEDRICK KELLY

Join Our Nursing Team For a complete list of opportunities and benefits, visit BRGeneral.org/Careers or call Human Resources for more information at 225-381-6464.

BRGeneral.org/Careers The Classified/Public Notice Department will be closed on

MONDAY ONDAY,, MAY 26TH 26T in observance of

Memorial Day

And will be observing the following Early Deadline: Rundate Monday, May 26th Tuesday, May 27th Wednesday, May 28th

Deadline Thursday, May 22 3pm Thursday, May 22 3pm Friday, May 23 3pm

Call (225) 383-0111 - Option 3 then Press Option 1 or email: Classifieds at ClassifiedAds@theadvocate.com or Public Notices at legal.ads@theadvocate.com

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Heirs or Legatees of Cherie Langlois Farmer please contact Melissa Morvant, Attorney at Law, (225) 937-5600.

140630-5/10-11-12-3t $97.00

1843 MISSOURI ST THE ESTATE OF JAMES A HOPKINS 1748 PORT DR 48 PORT DR, LLC; JOSHUA BUCKMINISTER 3022 TORONTO DR LEONARD KOHN 936 PROGRESS ST JOHNNY TURNER 8013 BRANDON DR RRC INVESTMENT PROPERTIES, LLC; ROBERT DRAKE THIBODEAUX 10350 OLIPHANT RD KAMI LYNNE ROCCAFORTE 10509 SHERMOOR DR CLAUDE RILEY KIMBRELL JR 11922 AUBURN DR THEODORE L ELLIS 2732 N LARK ST U.S. THRIFT & LOAN CORPORATION 13644 MC CLURE ST ALVIN D. NORTHERN

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Margaret McClain please contact Atty. Benjamin Beychok at (225) 9060050.

140373-May 10-12, 3t $85 Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Mattie D. Williams please contact Atty. Benjamin Beychok at (225) 9060050.

140396-5/10-11-12-3t $85.00 Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Ollizo Richard and Betty Green Richard please contact Atty.

Benjamin Beychok at (225) 906-0050.

140364-5/10-11-12-3t $85.00

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Oscar Fernando Soileau please contact attorney, Melanie Newkome Jones at 225-344-2200 or melanie@melaniejoneslaw.net.

140054-May 8-11, 4t $121 Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Prudent Acquisitions LLC please contact Atty. Benjamin Beychok at (225) 906-0050.

140371-May 10-12, 3t $85

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of The Estate of James Smith and the Estate of Lillian Bowman SMith please contact Atty. Benjamin Beychok at (225) 906-0050.

140359-May 10-12, 3t $97

6514 KLEINPETER RD TUMECA BATISTE 5565 HALSEY ST DINESHIA SCOTT 6185 PONTOTOC ST GARY TRAHAN 5155 GREENWELL ST MARIA DE JESUS BEDOLLA-MARIANO 6642 E MONARCH AVE THE ESTATE OF JACKIE R. NOEL 5871 E GRAND CT TOMMY DUKE, III 5776 ATLANTA AVE HIV/AIDS ALLIANCE TWO (HAART), INC; KACY FITZGERALD

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Dorothy Coleman Powers please contact attorney, Melanie Newkome Jones at 225-344-2200 or melanie@melaniejoneslaw.net.

140053-May 9-11, 3t $97

FOR

REGION

2849 LORRAINE ST DENNIS JOSLIN 6336 PONTOTOC ST MARY FRANCES SCHMIEDER; C/O JULIUS SCHMIEDER, JR 6167 PONTOTOC ST GARY LEE TRAHAN 139716-May 5-11, 7t $3,798 Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Avery Michael Gonzales please contact Melissa Morvant, Attorney at Law, (225) 937-5600.

1406725/10-11-12-3t $85.00 Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Clyde Robins and Diane Robins please contact Atty. Benjamin Beychok at (225) 906-0050.

140390-5/10-11-12-3t $85.00

CLASSIFIEDS WORK

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of the Estate of Joyce Elayne Carter Huff please contact Atty. Benjamin Beychok at (225) 906-0050.

140382-5/10-11-12-3t $85.00

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of the Estate of Paul Mills and the Estate of Alma Mills please contact Atty. Benjamin Beychok at (225) 9060050.

140369-5/10-11-12-3t $97.00 Anyone knowing the whereabouts of the Succession of Clarence Martin and the Succession of Martha W Martin please contact Atty. Benjamin Beychok at (225) 9060050.

140367-May 10-12, 3t $109 Anyone knowing the whereabouts of the Succession of Mack Willis Sr and Mary Green Willis and the Unopened Succession of Rhonda Coleman please contact Atty.

Benjamin Beychok at (225) 906-0050.

140365-May 10-12, 3t $109 Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Tyrone Williams, JW Theus, Bessie Theus Scarbrough, Catrina Williams Richardson and Josette Booth Williams please contact Atty.

Benjamin Beychok at (225) 906-0050.

140354-May 10-12, 3t $109

JOHN NETTLES, CYNTHIA NETTLES, THOMAS GAGLIANO, PAULINE GAGLIANO, or any other Heir or Legatee of SHARON NETTLES, or RICHARD O’QUINN or any heir, or any person who may have an interest in property located at 12287 Lovett Road, Central, La. 70818 are hereby put on notice that a condemnation hearing is scheduled

for May 27, 2025 at 6 pm at 11576 Sullivan Road, Central, LA 70818.

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of the above-referenced individuals or who may have an interest in the Succession of these individuals, please contact Stephen Whitlow of Whitlow Law Firm at 700 Main Street, Ste. 301, Baton Rouge, LA 70802 or (225) 217-0060.

140337-May 10-11, 2t $256 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT ON 05/21/2025 ON OR AFTER 10:00AM UHAUL WILL BE OFFERING FOR SALE UNDER THE JUDICIAL LIEN PROCESS

BY PUBLIC AUCTION TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER THE FOLLOWING STORAGE UNITS. A SALE WILL BE HELD AT HAMMOND UHAUL CENTER 1915 S.W. RAILROAD AVE. HAMMOND, LA., FOR THE PURPOSE OF SATISFYING A LANDLORDS LIEN ON THE CONTENTS OF STORAGE UNIT. CONTENTS CONSIST MAINLY OF HOUSEHOLD ITEMS. TERMS OF THE SALE WILL BE CASH. TENANTS NAME AND RM. NO. ARE AS FOLLOWS: LainieAndersonRM547lampsmattres sboxsprings 140681-Mat 11, 1t $150.20 Sale of Abandoned Property at Public Auction Notice is hereby given that Storage Rentals of America at 12770 Plank Rd., Baker, LA 70714 will hold THE PUBLIC SALE TAKING PLACE AT Lockerfox.com of stored personal property to enforce liens against the below named persons for nonpayment of rent pursuant to the Louisiana Self-Service Storage Facility Act §9:4756 et seq.

Auction sale for the following units will take place at 10:00 AM on May 22, 2025.

Tamaneisha Handy 110G 4 opened/closed boxes 3+ closed totes, 2 cabinets, refrigerator, washer, TV, unknown electronics Tamaneisha Handy 111G 2+ opened boxes, sofa, stove, large painting, decor, electric dirt bike Dario Jones 217K TV, bedframe, stroller, decor April Harrell 222L 11+ opened/closed boxes, bedding, crate, handbags Jerald Lathers 223L TV, two-drawer cabinet, battery Darrius Lawrence 282M luggage, bedframe, unknown appliance James Parkman 290N Kitchen sink cabinetry, refrigerator, dishwasher, cooler, briefcase 140632-May 11, 1t $244.10 Sale of Abandoned Property at Public Auction Notice is hereby given that Storage Rentals of America at 9315 Foster Rd., Baton Rouge, LA 70811 will hold THE PUBLIC SALE TAKING PLACE AT Lockerfox.com of stored personal property to enforce liens against the below named persons for nonpayment of rent pursuant to the Louisiana Self-Service Storage Facility Act §9:4756 et seq.

Auction sale for the following unit will take place at 10:00 AM on May 22, 2025.

Trinesia Sanders 024 1 opened box, cabinet, mattresses, boxspring, bedframe, lamp, table, sofa, decor, keyboard, bicycle, clothes, shoes, toys.

140641-May 11, 1t $154.46

PETS • SUPPLIES • SERVICES • OBITUARIES • LOST & FOUND

PLACE YOUR PET SERVICES INFORMATION IN THE PET SERVICES DIRECTORY TODAY! • IT IS FAST AND EASY! • CALL 225-383-0111

DOGS Chihuahua puppies $250-$300.

Call 225-270-7126

Place a Classified ad?

1-800-960-6397

DOGS Goldendoodles - CKC Reg, Vet Ck'd 10wks DOB 2/13/25/ 4M & 1F SERIOUS INQUIRIES ONLY CASH ONLY!! 504-3077786/504-541-1098 $700

DOGS Morkie - Tiny Morkies beautiful health guarantee m & f paper trained $700 up 504-913-7464

Employment DOMESTIC The Diocese of B.R. Child Nutrition Pro‐ gram is seeking FT school Cafeteria Mgrs., Cooks, & Porters. HS Diploma or Equiv. and BG Check req. Apply at www.cnpbr.org/employment.

EDUCATION NOTICE OF VACANCY Applications are being accepted for the following position(s): POSITION(S): Elementary/ Secondary Principal LOCATION: East Iberville Elementary & High School STARTING SALARY: $100,216 - $118,042 Range based on teacher salary plus Factor 1.55 (based on size of the school).

APPLICATION PROCEDURE: Anyone interested in being considered for this position should submit an ap‐ plication @ https://www.applitrack.com/ipsb/ onlineapp/ DEADLINE FOR APPLYING: May 19, 2025 or Until filled All IPSB employees must pass a criminal records check.

The Iberville Parish School System is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

ENGINEERING The Shaw Group LA, LLC seeks Fabrica‐ tion Engineer III to work in Walker, LA. Bachelor's Degree in Mechatronics En‐ gineering, Mechanical, Civil/Structural Engineering, Computer Systems Engi‐ neering or related field and 3 years of experience in industrial fabrication, piping manufacturing or construction engineering and planning, or any occu‐ pation in which the required experi‐ ence was gained. Submit resume to www.theshawgrp.com/career. Must use job reference # 1330.

FINANCIAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY DIRECTOR OF FINANCE CITY OF PORT ALLEN The City of Port Allen is now accepting applications for the position of Director of Finance. The successful candidates for this position will work under the ad‐ ministrative direction of the Mayor.

They will administer, direct and coordi‐ nate all accounting, budget, debt man‐ agement, investment, collection of rev‐ enues and fiscal activities of the City.

Job Requirements: Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university with experience in municipal accounting.

Successful applicants will be subject to substance abuse testing in accordance with the City’s substance abuse policy.

Interested persons should apply at City Hall, 375 Court Street, between the hours of 8:00 am and 5:00 pm Monday through Thursday, and 8:00 am through 12:00 pm on Friday. Deadline for appli‐ cation is May 16, 2025.

The City of Port Allen is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Pets / Pet Services Directory DOGS American Cocker Spaniel Pups- S/W, Males $500, Females $800. 985-860-5599

Seeking information on the whereabouts of a Harvey Doty, III, who fathered a child with Kristy Marie Weatherman. Please contact Attorney Robin V. Cazayoux at (225) 381-3141 or by email at robin@praterbailey.com.

140529-May 10-12, 3t $121

GENERAL HELP Chef. Direct prep'n, seasoning, & cook‐ ing of salads, coups, fish, meats, veg‐ etables, desserts, or other foods. Plan & price menu items, orders supplies, & keep rcrds & accts. Supervs & partici‐ pate in cooking & baking & prep'n of foods. Req 2 yrs exp as Chef & 1 yr su‐ pervs'g other cooks as a head. Special‐ ized in Chinese traditional dishes. $63,939/yr. Send resume to: Hunan Restaurant Inc, 4215 S Sherwood Forest Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA 70816.

DOGS Rottweiler Puppies, 10wks, AKC Reg‐ istered, S/W $800. 225-335-7160

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SIMPLE ELECTRIC

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flower bed clean up/flower bed designs/irrigation/lighting pathways/prune & mulch/weeding/drainage/sod/pergola deck/power washing/stump grinding/consulting available FREE ESTIMATES

ON ALL TV’S THAT NEED REPAIR WHEN BROUGHT INTO THE SHOP!!

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4F ■ Sunday, May 11, 2025 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate LEGAL Certified Court Reporters wanted!

Join our team and enjoy flexible sched‐ uling, competitive pay, and a support‐ ive work environment. We value profes‐ sionalism, accuracy, and reliability. If you're interested in becoming part of a growing firm committed to excellence, reach out to us at contact@aymhigh steno.com for more info. *Will train newly certified candidates. *Base salary plus transcript fees.

MARINE Join the Cooper Marine family! Now hir‐ ing FULL TIME Licensed Live aboard and Fleet Boat Captains and Deckhands; (Flexible Schedule) out of Laplace, LA. TWIC Card required. Must pass Physi‐ cal and Drug Test; Great Pay and Bene‐ fits. Call: 1 (225) 473-3189 or apply online www.cooper-marine.com/apply-marinela

NEWS 24/7 ON

Public Notices

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE TO BIDDERS Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries an‐ nounces an experimental harvest of alligator eggs as follows: PROPOSAL NUMBER: WLF-PRWMA-25 The alligator egg harvest will be on Pearl River Wildlife Management Area, located in St. Tam‐ many Parish.

Sealed bids are due be‐ fore 10:30 A.M., May 20, 2025 in Room 1012 at the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Lafayette Office Building, 200 Dulles Drive, Lafayette, LA 70506. La‐ bels on bid application forms should include LDWF, 2025 WMA Alliga‐ tor Egg Bids, Attn: Jeb Linscombe and the ap‐ propriate address. Bids will be publicly opened immediately after 10:30 A.M. on May 20, 2025 at the Louisiana Depart‐ ment of Wildlife and Fisheries Lafayette Office Building , First Floor Con‐ ference Room #1002, 200 Dulles Drive, Lafayette, LA 70506. For additional information or to request a bid package please call Jeb Linscombe at the Lafayette Office at (337) 735-8671 or email jlin‐ scombe@wlf.la.gov.

138203-apr 30-may 4-1115-4t $86.60 PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE TO BIDDERS Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries an‐ nounces an experimental harvest of alligator eggs as follows: PROPOSAL NUMBER: WLF-MWMA-25 The alligator egg harvest will be on Manchac Wildlife Management Area, located in St. John the Baptist Parish.

Sealed bids are due be‐ fore 10:30 A.M., May 20, 2025 in Room 1012 at the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Lafayette Office Building, 200 Dulles Drive, Lafayette, LA 70506. La‐ bels on bid application forms should include LDWF, 2025 WMA Alliga‐ id b

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Laborers/Deckhand Nationally recognized environmental remediation contractor based in Nia‐ gara Falls is looking to fill positions for Laborers/Deckhand for work at our Baton Rouge project site.

Merchandise

MISC FOR SALE Above ground Pool stuff: ladder, chemicals & accessories. Make Offer. 225-287-0248

The Daily Work Will Include: Spotting heavy equipment, support dredging set up, HDPE pipe welding, Geotube agitation, assist on deck barges with ropes and tie offs, working from a work boat or in shallow water during installation of geotubes Skills/Experience: Must be able to pass a drug screen; valid driver’s license required, must be comfortable working on and around boats and water Salary/Benefits: Salary is based on commensurate ex‐ perience and other qualifications. Ex‐ tensive company provided benefit package includes medical, dental, 401k, and pension plan.

How to Apply: Apply at: https://jobs.ourcareerpages.com/job application/943200?appsource=ccp

Public Notices Bids/Proposals g tor Egg Bids, Attn: Jeb Linscombe and the ap‐ propriate address. Bids will be publicly opened immediately after 10:30 A.M. on May 20, 2025 at the Louisiana Depart‐ ment of Wildlife and Fisheries Lafayette Office Building , First Floor Con‐ ference Room #1002, 200 Dulles Drive, Lafayette, LA 70506. For additional information or to request a bid package please call Jeb Linscombe at the Lafayette Office at (337) 735-8671 or email jlin‐ scombe@wlf.la.gov.

138203-apr 30-may 4-1115-4t $86.60 PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE TO BIDDERS Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries an‐ nounces an experimental harvest of alligator eggs as follows: PROPOSAL WLF-JWMA-25

MACHINERY/TOOLS Machine Shop Closed, Drills, Taps, Endmills, Micrometers & more!

225-369-1675

MARINE

NUMBER:

The alligator egg harvest will be on Joyce Wildlife Management Area, lo‐ cated in Tangipahoa Parish.

Sealed bids are due be‐ fore 10:30 A.M., May 20, 2025 in Room 1012 at the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Lafayette Office Building, 200 Dulles Drive, Lafayette, LA 70506. La‐ bels on bid application forms should include LDWF, 2025 WMA Alliga‐ tor Egg Bids, Attn: Jeb Linscombe and the ap‐ propriate address. Bids will be publicly opened immediately after 10:30 A.M. on May 20, 2025 at the Louisiana Depart‐ ment of Wildlife and Fisheries Lafayette Office Building , First Floor Con‐ ference Room #1002, 200 Dulles Drive, Lafayette, LA 70506. For additional information or to request a bid package please call Jeb Linscombe at the Lafayette Office at (337) 735-8671 or email jlin‐ scombe@wlf.la.gov.

138203-apr 30-may 4-1115-4t $86.60

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Legal Notices

CEMETERY PLOTS 2 GreenOaks Memorial cemetery plots. Liberty Gardens Lot 180 Spcs 3&4. Will give details. 225-235-6388 WANT TO BUY I buy sealed old whiskey bottles.

Wild Turkey, Weller, Old Crow etc.

Call or text $300 (225)456-3434

Public Notices Sex Offenders

The total estimated de‐ velopment cost is $14,800,000. The develop‐ ment will be funded with private financing and eq‐ uity proceeds from the sale of Low-Income Housing Tax Credits and other financing provided as follows (amounts are estimated): Permanent Financing $ 2,500,000.00 LIHTC Equity $ 12,300,000.00

CLASSIFIEDS WORK

Public Notices Sex Offenders

Eye Color: Brown Scars/Tattoos:

Summary of Public Notice:

The project owner is pleased to propose the new construction of Holmes Drive Apart‐ ments development, which is an approximate 40-unit Multifamily, Fam‐ ily housing development.

The development will consist of a community facility and supportive services which will be available for the tenants.

The applicant is applying for a reservation of 9% LIHTC’s from the Louisiana Housing Cor‐ poration.

AREA 8 St Francis Episcopal Church 726 Maple St., Denham Springs Fri & Sat, May 15-16th, 8a-2p Cash & Credit Cards accepted.

WANT TO BUY Old Records 33's, 45's & 78's. All types of music. Call 985-259-1889

PUBLIC NOTICE ---

Project Owner: Holmes Drive Apartments, LLC Project Name: Holmes Drive Apartments Project Address: T531 Holmes Drive, Baton Rouge, LA, 70806 Total Units: Approxi‐ mately 40 Unit Multifam‐ ily Apartment Housing for Families Mix of Units: (1, 2, and 3 bedroom units)

Garage Sales

Louisiana , May 11-12 2t $250.00

I, Erick Jermaine Banks, have been convicted of 18 USC 1594 - Conspiracy to Engage in Sex Trafficking. Date Convicted: 1/9/2014.

State Equivalent: 14:46.3 - Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes. 14:46.3 Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes.

Date Convicted: 1/14/2014.

My Address is: 2542 Tennessee St Baton Rouge, LA 70802, East Baton Rouge Parish Race: Black Sex: Male Date of Birth: 9/20/1981 Height: 5'4" Weight: 145 Hair Color: Black Eye Color: Brown Scars/Tattoos: Louisiana 140646, May 11-12 2t $250.00

Public Notices Sex Offenders

GRAY aka JOSEPH GRAY aka KELLY GREY, have been convicted of 14:43.1 - Sexual Battery. Date Convicted: 7/29/1988.

14:80 - Carnal knowledge of a juvenile. Date Convicted: 9/19/1991.

14:81 - Indecent Behavior with Juveniles. Date Convicted: 9/19/1991.

My Address is: 7834 SOMERSET ST, Apt# 2, BATON ROUGE, LA 70807, East Baton Rouge Parish

I, JAMES GARNER RASBERRY, have been convicted of 14:42.1 Forcible Rape.

OCCURRED 10/8610/17/88 Juvenile victim. Date Convicted: 06/22/1989.

My Address is: 6942 Caravel Ct Baker, LA 70714, East Baton Rouge Parish Race: WHITE Sex: MALE Date of Birth: 8/20/1954 Height: 6' 2 Weight: 175 Hair Color: GRAY Eye Color: Blue Scars/Tattoos:

CLASSIFIEDS.THEADVOCATE.COM WBR Public Notices Sex Offenders

WBR Public Notices Sex Offenders

WBR Public Notices Sex Offenders

LA 70767, West Baton Rouge Parish

STAY INFORMED

Race: Black Sex: Male Date of Birth: 9/10/1971 Height: 5'6" Weight: 120 Hair Color: Black Eye Color: Brown Scars/Tattoos: Louisiana 140591, May 11-12 2t $250

NEWS 24/7 ON

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

Race: White Sex: Male Date of Birth: 8/31/1967 Height: 5'7" Weight: 165 Hair Color: Bald Eye Color: Hazel Scars/Tattoos: Louisiana 140650, May 11-12 2t $250.00

WBR Public Notices

WBR Public Notices Sex Offenders

Louisiana 140648, May 11-12 2t $250.00

Deferred Developer Fee $ -0Total sources of funds $ 14,800,000.00 NOTE: Please contact Deane Bryson at deane@ bearingpointproperties. com (225) 325-3471 for any questions regarding this notice.

140332-may 10-11-12-3t $569.80

PUBLIC NOTICE --“The Baton Rouge office of Palmetto Addiction Re‐ covery Center - Intensive Outpatient - located at 9270 Siegen Lane, Suite 603 - will close effective May 30, 2025. The agency is no longer accepting re‐ ferrals to this location.

Patients seeking access to records may contact the agency's primary of‐ fice in Rayville, LA at 318728-2970.”

140328-may 11-1t $73.92

I, FRANK Gary CLAY Jr aka Rico, have been convicted of 14:43 Simple Rape. Date Convicted: 8/14/2000.

My Address is: 9542 CHINN ST BATON ROUGE, LA 70807, East Baton Rouge Parish Race: White Sex: Male Date of Birth: 1/28/1974 Height: 5'9" Weight: 170 Hair Color: Brown

I, Kelly Joseph Gray aka KELLY GARY aka JOE

NEWS 24/7 ON

I, LIONEL HERD , have been convicted of 14:80 - Carnal knowledge of a juvenile. Date Convicted: 12/2/1998.

15:542 - Failure to Register/Notify as a Sex Offender. No Conviction date listed.

Conviction State: Louisiana.

My Address is: 980 AVE A, Apt. 5, PORT ALLEN,

137104-481213-April 24-May 14-21x $ 2,215.29

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Sunday, May 11, 2025

2 ■ Sunday, May 11, 2025 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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2025 Rising Star Awards

highlight emerging nursing leaders across Louisiana

By Amanda McElfresh amcelfresh@theadvocate.com

F

or the second year in a row, the Louisiana State Nurses Association is honoring some of the top young professionals in the state with its Rising Star Awards.

Nominees under age 40 are accepted from healthcare leaders, family members, patients and others. An LSNA awards committee evaluates each nominee based on criteria such as leadership capabilities, community service and their overall contributions to patient care.

“We really wanted to recognize up-and-coming nursing leaders, influencers and change-makers in our state,” said Ahnyel Burkes, DNP,RN-BC,NEA-BC, executive director of the LSNA and Louisiana Nurses Foundation. “One of our focuses as an organization is to make sure that nurses feel seen, heard and valued.

We felt that these awards were a great way to engage the next generation of nurses and highlight the wonderful

work that they are doing.”

Burkes said the LSNA Rising Star Awards are especially meaningful because its honorees come from across the entire state, from large cities to smaller communities, from the bayous of Terrebonne Parish to the hills of northern Louisiana and all points in between. Nurses can also be nominated regardless of whether they work at a large hospital, a small community clinic or a midsized healthcare provider.

“One of the most exciting things this year is that we have a wide range of geographical representation,” Burkes said. “The awards this year were also very competitive. It’s been inspiring to see what our next generation of nurses is doing. It’s made us realize that we have a lot of change-makers in the profession who are truly stepping up as emerging leaders.”

In addition to recognizing Louisiana’s nursing professionals, the LSNA also serves as an advocacy, education and networking organization. It is open to all registered nurses, regardless of their specialty or degree level. Recently, the LSNA organized more than 250 nurses for a visit to the state capitol to engage with lawmakers and discuss how legislation affects them. LSNA actively partners with affiliate nursing organizations that support nurses across various specialties, including operating room and emergency room care. Through these collaborations, LSNA offers ongoing education and training to equip nurses with the skills needed to address urgent and emerging healthcare challenges—such as the identification and treatment of sexual assault survivors.

“At LSNA, our top priority is Louisiana nurses—

their voices, their needs, and the issues that matter most to them,” said LSNA President Lesley Tilley, DNP, RN,NE-BC. “We are proud to collaborate with affiliate nursing organizations to strengthen our collective impact and ensure that nurses across all specialties feel supported. We invite every nurse in Louisiana to join us in membership and be a part of advancing the profession through education, connection, and powerful advocacy.”

“Our role is to support registered nurses, and by doing so, build a healthier Louisiana,” Burkes added.

“We want to provide citizens with access to the care that they need while also making sure we are being responsive to issues affecting the profession. We want to make sure Louisiana is a place where nurses want to come and know that they can make positive contributions to our communities.”

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Sunday, May 11, 2025 ■ 3

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Your Voice. Your Profession. Your Power.

Why Join LSNA?

✔ Leadership Development

Gain access to exclusive leadership training and mentoring opportunities. ✔ Continuing Education Stay current and earn contact hours through quality, accessible CE offerings. ✔ Advocacy & Representation Be heard! LSNA champions nursing priorities at the state and national levels. ✔ Professional Networking Connect with nurses across Louisiana in diverse specialties and settings. ✔ Career Advancement Access job boards, speaking opportunities, and leadership pathways.

PERSONAL BENEFITS

We care for you while you care for others.

✔ Ready to Elevate Your Nursing Career?

Join us today.

Scan this QR Code

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Louisiana State Nurses Association

Representing and supporting Louisiana’s nurses for over 100 years.

lsna.nursingnetwork.com

4 ■ Sunday, May 11, 2025 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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What does this recognition mean to you?

Words cannot explain what this means to me. It shows that hard work, dedication, and patientcentered care does not go unnoticed. I have worked diligently in my pursuit as a nurse and now nurse practitioner, and this recognition helps to fuel my desire to do more as an advocate for individuals in need of care.

What kind of impact do you hope to have?

I hope to show my patients and colleagues my unwavering passion for patient care, specifically health. There is need for enthusiastic, Dominique mental devoted nurses to help meet the gaps in care for Anderson this population, and I am willing to be a nurse The Baton Rouge Clinic, and an advocate. I challenge current and future Baton Rouge nurses to do the same when they see other disparities in healthcare.

What inspired you to become a nurse?

I’ve always wanted to be in a profession where I can help people. Helping people is one of the most rewarding things that I could be doing in my life. It really is like being a modern day superhero.

What impact do you hope to have?

My impact on my patients is to be their strength.

I want them to be able to fully trust me. It’s scary when someone is a patient, and I want them to know that I will always be there for them when they need someone to hold onto. The impact on Devin my colleagues is for them to see how we all start Austin off in the same place. Through hard work and East Jefferson General Hospital, dedication, all things are possible. Strive to do Metairie your best and then do better.

What advice do you have for others considering a nursing career?

This really is a one of a kind profession. The gratitude that patients give you is one of the greatest feelings ever. There will be hard times where you feel like you can’t do it. Persevere and you will make it. I can’t imagine my life doing anything but nursing.

What advice do you have for others considering a nursing career?

Weigh all the options and know that there is a place to you. The road to becoming a nurse is not the easiest but is the most rewarding. There is flexibility and the profession can accommodate your lifestyle even as circumstances change.

With hard work and determination, you can unlock limitless possibilities.

What does this recognition mean to you?

This is an incredible honor, and one I certainly cannot take full credit for. I have had amazing nurse mentors and teachers that have inspired my journey and I would not be where I am today without them. This recognition also represents the incredible teamwork, engagement and dedication from everyone involved in stroke care at Our Lady of the Lake. I could not work with a better team!

What inspired you to become a nurse?

My inspiration first came from my parents.

Both are registered nurses and have actively demonstrated their compassion for people throughout their careers. With a genuine care for others and a naturally inquisitive nature, I found that nursing was the perfect fit for me.

James Blankenship

University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette

What does this recognition mean to you?

I feel deeply honored to have been nominated and selected. I also feel a sense of validation for my efforts. Oddly enough, careers that involve service to others can seem to lack gratitude at times. When this occurs, you look for ways to find fulfillment in the work itself, and both nursing and academia have no shortage of this.

However, when you are recognized for your efforts, it makes it all the more rewarding, and for that, I am most grateful.

What advice do you have for others considering a nursing career?

Our profession is rooted deeply in the human experience, as we are there from the beginning through the end of life. It has endless possibilities and opportunities, and should be strongly considered by individuals who want to make an impact on people’s health and wellness.

Amy Booth

Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, Baton Rouge

What kind of impact do you hope to have?

I would hope that the impact I have on my patients would bring them some bit of joy and peace in what is most likely some of the worst days of their life. I hope the impact I have on my colleagues is that the most important question we can ask when making decisions is “Is this what is best for the patient?” When that is our priority, everything will fall into place.

What advice do you have for others considering a nursing career?

Nursing is not for the faint of heart. You have to find your “why” and return to it often to maintain your compassion. It is also one of the most meaningful professions you could ever enter.

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Sunday, May 11, 2025 ■ 5

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CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2025

LOUISIANA STATE NURSES ASSOCIATION 40 UNDER 40 HONOREES!

AMY BOOTH, MSN, RN, CEN, SCRN Stroke Program Manager Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center

ASHLYNN CAPACE, BSN, RN Physician Practice Manager Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center

CALLIE DORN, DNP-A, CRNA, APRN Assistant Program Director Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University

AMANDA GASSIE, BSN, RN Manager of Utilization Review/ Case Managers Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center

ALYSSA HICKS, MSN, RN, SCRN Nursing Professional Development Specialist Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center

AMANDA KNIGHT, BSN, RN Medicine and ICU Supervisor Our Lady of the Angels Hospital

JARVIS MALVEAUX, BSN, RN House Manager, Nursing Administration Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center

DANIKA MILLS, BSN, RN Director of Nursing, Surgical 1 Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center

HEIDI SMITH, BSN, RN Registered Nurse Our Lady of the Angels Hospital

CHASE TASSIN, RN, BSN,CCRN Nurse Supervisor for Trauma Neuro Critical Care Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center

6 ■ Sunday, May 11, 2025 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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What inspired you to become a nurse?

The deep connection I had with my grandparents. They were a huge part of my life, and I was fortunate to be able to care for them as they aged. My grandma, in particular, had a lasting impact on me, especially during her final days in hospice. Being there for her, providing comfort and support, and seeing the difference compassionate care made in those moments truly shaped my desire to become a nurse.

What does this recognition mean to you? truly honored and humbled to accept this Alicia I’m award. It’s hard to put into words just how Boudreaux much it means to me. There are days when Ochsner Westbank Hospital, you question yourself, whether you’re on the Gretna right path, whether what you do truly makes a difference. This is a powerful reminder that the work I do matters, and it touches me deeply. To be recognized in this way is not just encouraging, it’s incredibly meaningful. I want to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart for seeing something in me worth recognizing.unlock limitless possibilities.

What inspired you to become a nurse?

Watching my grandmother provide end of life care for my great grandparents inspired me to become a nurse.

What does this recognition mean to you?

I am thankful and honored to receive this recognition. It truly came at the right time to “fill my cup” and motivate me to continue being a valued part of the team.

Ashlynn

Capace

Our Lady of the Lake Head and Neck Center, Baton Rouge

What advice do you have for others considering a nursing career?

Nursing is a wonderful career choice. It is highly flexible in that there are so many pathways—OR, ICU, clinic, working the floor, leadership, etc.

You can find what you like without obtaining additional education.

What inspired you to become a nurse?

I love helping people. Taking care of others was always very fulfilling.

What does this recognition mean to you?

I could not go above and beyond every day if it were not for my amazing team. I am very excited and humbled to be recognized.

What impact do you hope to have?

I hope inspiration comes to all throughout their careers to do what inspires them and strive for the best.

Brooke Callahan What advice do you have for others

Manning Family Children’s, considering a nursing career?

New Orleans Be willing to pivot quickly and ensure you get

comfortable with change. Nursing is constantly evolving.

What inspired you to become a nurse?

My mom worked at Children’s Hospital, so when I was a kid, I would go there often. She is the one who inspired me to work in healthcare and become a nurse.

What does this recognition mean to you?

To me, this recognition means that I am doing a good job caring and advocating for my patients that come into the operating room every day.

What kind of impact do you hope to have? hope to provide a comforting experience for Cole Imy patients because surgery for a lot of people Clement is scary. So if you appear comforting and East Jefferson General Hospital, confident, that may put the patient at ease. For Metairie my colleagues, I want them to see that we can all make a difference in the patients’ experience when coming to the hospital.

What advice do you have for others considering a nursing career?

My advice to anyone considering nursing is to take the leap and apply to school. There’s no better time than now to get into nursing. There are so many opportunities to further yourself and your career.

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The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Sunday, May 11, 2025 ■ 7

YOUR NEXT NOW Take Hold of What’s Yours At FranU, everything that’s here is here for you. Here, we take hands-on learning seriously and offer immersive simulations, labs and community placements. So you can pursue your purpose and give more of yourself to the world. Not later—now.

5414 Brittany Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70808 | (877) 242-3509 | franu.edu

8 ■ Sunday, May 11, 2025 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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What inspired you to become a nurse?

From a very early age, I have always wanted to pursue a career in nursing. I especially enjoy interacting with my patients as they reminisce about past life experiences they want to share with me. Nursing allows me to really listen to my patients’ needs and help them navigate their health journeys.

What does this recognition mean to you?

I’m honored that my peers view me as someone making a positive impact in so many ways.

Vanessa What impact do you hope to have?

Davidson I hope to positively impact my patients by

Terrebonne General Health System, making them feel cared for and by helping them Houma be proactive when it comes to their health. I want to be someone my colleagues can look up to not only as a role model but as a mentor that can help them achieve their career goals in nursing.

What advice would you give to others considering a nursing career?

I would advise anyone considering a nursing career to follow their passion of helping others.

Seek a mentor and a nursing program that will give you the best start possible for a rewarding career.

What inspired you to become a nurse?

My biggest inspiration for pursuing nursing would have to be my grandmother, Jewell Hargroder (who turned 100 this year). She would often share her on-the-job nursing stories, and I was always very intrigued! My late mother also pushed me to be the very best version of myself and encouraged me to pursue an advanced practice degree as a nurse anesthetist. My father also encouraged me to get my doctorate degree when I was young and single, even though it would be a little bit longer and harder, so that I could teach one day.

Callie Dorn What advice do you have for others

Lake Charles Memorial Health considering a nursing career?

System, My advice would be to dive in head first and Lake Charles soak in all of the knowledge that you can. Never

stop learning and never stop asking questions. Be confident in what you know but humble enough to ask for help.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” Colossians 3:23

What does this recognition mean to you?

Receiving this award is an incredible honor and deeply humbling. To me, it represents more than an achievement--it’s a reflection of the passion, dedication and love I pour into my work every day. It reminded me of the impact that nurses can make not just at the bedside, but in leadership, advocacy, innovation and mentorship. This award reminds me that the work I do matters, and it inspires me to keep pushing forward, not only for our patients, but for the future of the nursing profession.

Katelynn What advice do you have for others Dietz considering a nursing career?

Lake Charles Memorial Health Nursing is one of the most challenging, System, rewarding and purpose-driven career paths Lake Charles you can take. It requires strength, compassion,

resilience, and a deep commitment to others. Go in with an open heart and a willingness to grow.

Always be kind to yourself as you learn and grow and always remember that the care you take of yourself and your coworkers is just as important as the care you take of your patients. Nursing is a beautiful career that can take you so many different places.

What inspired you to become a nurse?

My journey in healthcare began in high school, where I completed an Allied Health program and had the opportunity to shadow in an oncology clinic. It was during this experience that I discovered a deep interest in both patient interaction and the specialty of oncology.

From there, I pursued a progressive path in nursing—starting as a Certified Nursing Assistant, advancing to Licensed Practical Nurse, and eventually becoming a Registered Nurse.

Today, I’m proud to serve as the RN Manager of Operations at an outpatient oncology clinic.

Kalleigh Flucke What impact do you hope to have?

East Jefferson General Hospital, When I stepped into an administrative role, I Metairie did so with a clear intention—to be a leader who

supports and uplifts those around me. While patient care remains the top priority, I also recognize the importance of caring for the team that delivers that care. We’re all human, and life happens outside of work. I believe that showing up for my team in a genuine and supportive way not only fosters a positive work environment but also strengthens our collective ability to provide the best care possible.

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Why did you decide to become a nurse?

My original intention for being a nurse was to help others in their most vulnerable time. Now, as a nurse educator, I am inspired by every nurse that I assist to become a better nurse.

What inspired you to become a nurse?

I was inspired by my mother, who is a Registered Nurse, to use my abilities for good to help others.

I love what the profession can offer others, such as compassion, empathy and critical thinking.

What does this recognition mean to you?

It is extremely rewarding because of all of the effort and work that I have put forth in my career. I also hope that I inspire other nurse educators as well.

What does this recognition mean to you?

I am truly honored to be recognized by peers for this honor. It means everything to me to be considered one of the best in my profession.

What impact do you hope to have?

Angela I help support new nurses that have just Foley graduated in from their nurse programs. I have St. Tammany also assisted with our international nurses while Health System, they were settling down in their new settings. By Covington helping others to become comfortable in their new careers, I hope this helps to provide great patient care.

What advice do you have for people considering a nursing career?

It is worth it!!!!

What does this recognition mean to you?

This is a testament to my hard work, dedication, and the impact I’ve made in the nursing field. It signifies that my efforts have been noticed and celebrated by my peers and the community. This award is more than just a title; it’s a validation of my journey and the countless lives I’ve touched through my compassion and care.

DeAngela Francis-Johnson

David Raines Community Health Center, Bossier City

What impact do you hope to have?

As a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, I hope to have a multifaceted and profound impact on my patients and colleagues.

I aim to be a source of healing and support for my patients, helping them navigate their mental health challenges with compassion and expertise. I strive to create a safe and nurturing environment where they feel understood, valued and empowered to take control of their mental well-being. I aim to make a lasting difference in their lives, fostering resilience and hope, one mind at a time. For my colleagues, I aspire to be a leader and innovator in mental health nursing.

I want to inspire and motivate them to embrace new ideas and approaches that enhance patient care and improve outcomes.

What impact do you hope to have?

I hope my impact on others is positive. I look to James motivate others with my actions and inspire a Foley new generation of future nurses each day in my Northshore profession.

Technical Community College, Covington What advice do you have for others

considering a nursing career?

As an academic educator for over 11 years, I would share the same advice I give to them: make sure you love what you do. This profession is hard and rewarding with many challenges and obstacles throughout your career. I would tell them to stay focused and never give up on their dreams.

What inspired you to become a nurse?

Ever since I was a little girl I always knew that I wanted to be a nurse when I grew up. I was amazed by how they could provide not only medical care, but also emotional comfort to patients and their families. When one of my siblings was diagnosed with leukemia, I witnessed firsthand how a nurse’s presence made a world of difference. Seeing how much compassion could impact someone’s life during a difficult time made me realize that was the kind of work I wanted to dedicate my life to.

Amanda What kind of impact do you hope to have?

Gassie I hope to have a positive impact when working

Our Lady of the Lake Regional with patients, where patients feel empowered Medical Center, and informed, leading to better outcomes and Baton Rouge a more positive healthcare experience. For my

colleagues, the impact I hope to have is one that inspires trust, motivates growth, and cultivates a culture of collaboration.

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Future leaders of nursing Congratulations to our 10 outstanding nurses from East Jefferson General Hospital, Manning Family Children’s, and University Medical Center New Orleans for being recognized on the Louisiana State Nurses Association (LSNA) 40 Under 40 list!

Brooke Callahan, BSN, RN, PED-BC Caroline Richardson, BSN, RNC-OB Cindi Taylor, BSN, RN Cole Clement, BSN, RN Devin Austin, BSN, RN Elizabeth Sanderson, MSN, RN, CPON Elise Ortolano, MSN, RN, CEN Kalleigh Flucke, BSN, RN Megan Greer Smith, MSN, RN, CCRN Meghan Mattison, MHA, BSN, RN

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What inspired you to become a nurse?

Initially, I decided to go to nursing school after taking an anatomy and physiology course in high school. I was very interested in the course material and wanted to learn more. During my time in nursing school, I realized how much influence nursing instructors could have on a student, and I knew I wanted to eventually return to the university setting to be a good role model, inspire students and offer support to students during their nursing school careers. impact do you hope to have?

Cari What At the bedside, I hope to always leave patients Granier feeling like they received more than just a

Nicholls State University medical treatment. As an educator, I truly Thibodaux enjoy spending extra time with my patients to

educate them on their medical conditions and treatments, but my favorite part of nursing care is getting to sit with my patients and hear their stories. I hope to lead by example and teach my students that nursing care should extend beyond medical treatments. Getting to know your patients on a more personal level is where you impact lives, make a difference, and find fulfillment.

What inspired you to become a nurse?

I was inspired after witnessing my mom become differently abled due to a medical error when I was very young. That opened my eyes to the complexities of the healthcare system and the profound impact it can have. The healthcare journey of my mom — and of the many patients I’ve encountered since — continues to inspire me to be part of improving healthcare systems.

What does this recognition mean to you?

It’s a reminder that new leaders and fresh ideas constantly emerging and helping to move the Jordan are industry forward. This not only motivates me Kahan to keep pushing boundaries and advocating for Ochsner Health, New Orleans positive change, but it also carries a responsibility for me to continue supporting my peers as we all work together to create a better healthcare system for everyone.

What impact do you hope to have?

I hope patients feel confident and safe, knowing that I’m truly on their team, advocating for their care. I want my colleagues to feel empowered and supported, knowing that we’re all in this together. I want to bring kindness, joy, and a sense of purpose to everything I do, creating an environment where everyone feels valued and can thrive.

What does this recognition mean to you?

It is an incredible honor that affirms the hard work, dedication, and passion I’ve poured into my nursing career. It means that my contributions—whether through clinical practice, education, leadership, or advocacy—are making a difference and being seen by my peers and professional community. This recognition inspires me to keep pushing forward, continue growing as a nurse leader, and serve as a role model for others in the profession.

What kind of impact do you hope to have?

Alyssa As a clinical educator, I hope to inspire Hicks confidence, competence and a sense of purpose

Our Lady of the Lake Regional in my colleagues. I want to be a resource Medical Center, they can trust—someone who supports their Baton Rouge growth, encourages critical thinking, and fosters

a learning environment that feels safe and empowering. By helping nurses develop their skills and knowledge, I know we ultimately improve patient outcomes. For patients, my impact is more indirect but just as meaningful—I want them to receive care from nurses who are not only clinically sound, but compassionate, confident, and committed to excellence.

Why did you decide to become a nurse?

I went into nursing to help others. Nursing has provided so many opportunities for me to help patients and their families during difficult times.

What does this recognition mean to you?

I am honored to be recognized by colleagues for the work I am doing in our organization. I am blessed to work with some amazing healthcare professionals. I hope I am a positive light for my patients and colleagues. I strive to assist others in any way possible.

Amanda What advice do you have for people Knight considering a nursing career?

Our Lady of the Angels Hospital, Nursing provides many different opportunities to Bogalusa care for others. If you truly love helping others, then this is the career for you. It’s not always easy, but it’s very rewarding!

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What inspired you to become a nurse?

My mom is a radiation therapist, so I’ve been around healthcare my whole life and I was drawn to the compassion she showed patients every day.

In my teen years, I became a nanny and found my love of babies and young children. When I was in nursing school, I fell in love with labor & delivery and NICU nursing. It is the most rewarding part of my job when a baby brings a new family together. I knew then that nursing wasn’t just a career—it was a calling. I wanted to be that steady presence for someone in their most vulnerable and memorable moments.

Candace Koelling What impact do you hope to have?

Ochsner Medical Center - West Bank I want to foster an environment where every Campus, patient feels safe, respected and confident in the Gretna care they receive. Whether it’s through direct

interaction or by shaping a team that upholds those values, I want to be a part of creating positive, healing experiences. I strive to be a leader who lifts others up. I want to create a culture where everyone feels valued, empowered, and encouraged to grow—where collaboration, compassion, and professionalism are the standard.

Q

What inspired you to become a nurse?

It started when I was five years old. My younger brother was born with medical complications, and from that early age, I witnessed the impact that compassionate care could have on someone’s life. I naturally fell into the role of a nurturer, always wanting to help others and provide comfort to those in need. That planted the seed that grew into my passion for nursing.

What does this recognition mean to you?

It is truly humbling and an incredible surprise. day I am surrounded by amazing nurses Brittany Every and nurse leaders whose dedication, compassion Malinovsky and leadership inspire me. To be recognized Willis Knighton Health System, among them is an honor that I don’t take lightly, Shreveport and it motivates me to continue growing, learning, and giving my best to the profession and health system I love.

What impact do you hope to have?

I believe one of the biggest impacts a nurse can have on their patients is to be their advocate. I made a promise to myself and to my patients that I will strive every day to protect their rights, health and safety. I will be their voice and advocate to ensure they receive the highest quality and patient-centered care.

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What inspired you to become a nurse?

Growing up, I always liked helping people and seeing the results of what my assistance provided.

Nursing has given me these opportunities every time I come to work through helping patients, family members and coworkers.

What does this recognition mean to you?

This recognition means is a huge honor. It shows that having a caring heart and taking pride in the work that you do in this profession doesn’t go unnoticed.

Jarvis What impact do you hope to have?

Malveaux I hope to impact my patients and colleagues by

Our Lady of the Lake Regional being an advocate for them by providing support Medical Center, and knowledge anytime it is needed.

Baton Rouge What advice do you have for others considering a nursing career?

It is a very rewarding profession. Nursing provides multiple career avenues, so don’t think you can only do bedside nursing with this profession. There are leadership, IT, remote, consultation, and many more opportunities in nursing that you can pursue until you find your calling.

Ashley McCammon

What inspired you to become a nurse?

Becoming a nurse was inspired by the experience of caring for my grandmother, who underwent open heart surgery and later faced a breast cancer diagnosis. Watching her fight through those challenges ignited my desire to help others in their most vulnerable moments. Additionally, seeing how compassionate and dedicated the nurses were made a lasting impact on me. They not only took care of her physical needs but also brought comfort and dignity to her during such a difficult time. I realized that nursing was more than a career; it was a calling to be there for others when they need it most.

North Oaks Medical Center/Southeastern What impact do you hope to have?

Louisiana University I hope to have a lasting impact on both my School of Nursing, patients and colleagues by being a source of Hammond compassion, strength, knowledge and support. I

strive to be a team player and a positive influence -- someone who uplifts others, shares wisdom, brings comfort and helps create a collaborative and respectful work environment. Ultimately, I hope my presence makes people feel valued, heard, and cared for, whether they’re patients, families, friends or colleagues.

What inspired you to become a nurse?

Since I was a young girl, I knew nursing was my calling. The opportunity to make a positive impact on people’s lives, help others achieve their goals and build meaningful personal connections deeply resonated with me. I was drawn to the spirit of servanthood, the commitment to continuous learning, and the incredible diversity within the profession.

What does this recognition mean to you?

This deepens my commitment to continuous extending compassionate care beyond Meghan learning, the bedside, and strengthens my drive to advocate Mattison for nursing across all healthcare settings. It’s also a East Jefferson General Hospital, heartfelt reflection of my mentors and fellow nurses Metairie who have guided me along this journey. Their steadfast support has been a constant source of inspiration, fueling my passion for excellence and my dedication to serving others.

What impact do you hope to have?

I hope to be remembered as someone filled with grit and grace—who served with fire in her soul and a smile on her face. I want our patients to feel truly seen and cared for, and my colleagues to feel supported and inspired. More than anything, I strive to lead and serve with intention and integrity in every interaction.

What does this recognition mean to you?

It is truly an honor and a humbling milestone in my journey. As a new Director of Nursing, this affirms that the work I’ve poured into my first year in higher leadership has made a meaningful impact. It’s a powerful reminder that passion, purpose, and dedication do not go unnoticed. This honor fuels my commitment to keep pushing forward—not only to maintain the momentum I’ve built but to continue growing, evolving, and making an even greater difference in the lives of patients, staff and the community.

Danika What advice do you have for others Mills considering a nursing career?

Our Lady of the Lake Regional Lead with your heart. The technical skills Medical Center/ will come with time and training, but your Grand Canyon compassion, resilience, and willingness to show University, up for others will make the greatest impact.

Baton Rouge There will be days that are tough mentally, emotionally and physically. In remembering your why, you’ll find strength even on your hardest days. Surround yourself with mentors, stay curious and never stop learning. Most importantly, treat every patient the way you’d want your loved one to be treated.

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What inspired you to become a nurse?

I’ve always had an innate sense to care for others.

From a young age, I recognized how good it felt to make someone feel better, whether it was offering comfort, lending a helping hand or simply being present for someone in need. That natural compassion grew into a deeper calling, not just to care, but also to advocate. Nursing gives me the opportunity to speak up and protect those who might not have a voice, to stand by them in their most vulnerable moments and to ensure they are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.

Katherine Newell What impact do you hope to have?

North Oaks Health System, I hope to show people that making a difference Hammond can mean helping a patient heal physically,

advocating for them, making them feel seen and cared for, or doing something small that brings a smile to their face. I also believe deeply in the power of teamwork and the importance of being dedicated to your coworkers. Striving for excellence means prioritizing competence and doing the right thing, even when it’s hard and you’re exhausted. That’s what shapes patient experiences, improves outcomes and pushes you to grow in ways you never imagined.

What does this recognition mean to you?

This recognition is a huge honor! It shows me that I have made a difference in someone’s life as a nurse caring for patients or as a clinical nurse educator, being a resource and mentor to the nurses that are now directly caring for patients.

What impact do you hope to have?

I strive to be a guiding light to my colleagues and new nurses who I mentor during their development and transition from nursing students into professional nurses. I want to everything I learn to improve the nursing Elise share profession and the care nurses provide. I love Ortolano being able to explain the bigger picture and East Jefferson General Hospital, see the light bulb go off when a concept finally Metairie makes sense. The success of new nurses into their career and continued growth into strong, experienced nurses is my biggest success.

Congratulations Vanessa Davidson, RN 40 Under 40: Top Nurses ™

Terrebonne GENERAL HEALTH SYSTEM

Discover more at tghealthsystem.com

What advice do you have for others considering a nursing career?

I encourage people to know their why. Beginning with school, becoming a nurse is difficult. The things we see and experience is hard physically and emotionally. Know your why and keep that reason in to help you keep striving when times are hard.

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What does this recognition mean to you?

Nursing is a tough business. Some days it is incredibly rewarding and other days it is a thankless job. This recognition makes me feel seen. The challenges I’ve overcome and the successes I’ve had haven’t gone unnoticed. It makes me feel like the time and effort I’ve put into my practice has made a difference in someone’s life.

What impact do you hope to have?

As a new nursing supervisor, I hope I give my team the confidence they need to perform at Caroline their highest level. I want them to know they Richardson have a listening ear, a cheerleader, a motivator, East Jefferson General Hospital, and someone that is willing to advocate for what Metairie they need to perform at their best.

What advice do you have for others considering a nursing career?

Nursing is not for the faint of heart! Gear up for a career that is as rewarding as you make it. You will get out of the nursing profession what you put into it. Be engaged in learning, seek every opportunity, be present, and don’t forget to fill your cup too!

What inspired you to become a nurse?

It started when I watched my grandmother go through her battle with breast cancer. I was young, but I remember how everything changed for my family. Hospital visits became routine, and I saw the emotional and physical toll it took on her and everyone around her. But what stood out the most was the nurses. They weren’t just giving medication or checking vitals—they were her comfort when we couldn’t be there, her advocates when she was too tired to speak and her source of strength when she felt like giving up.

Liz Sanderson What does this recognition mean to you?

East Jefferson General Hospital, It’s an incredible honor, but it’s more than an Metairie award. It’s a reflection of the hard work and

passion that have driven me throughout my professional journey. It symbolizes the impact I’ve made in the lives of those I serve. This recognition also comes with a responsibility and is a reminder that leadership isn’t about titles – it’s about influence, integrity and using your platform to lift others up. I see this as motivation to keep pushing forward, keep growing and to continue making meaningful contributions.

What inspired you to become a nurse?

My inspiration for becoming a nurse stems from my great-grandmother. Growing up, I often heard her speak passionately about her work as a CNA and the patients she cared for. Her dedication was evident— she walked to and from work for every shift until the day she retired. Watching her commitment and compassion deeply influenced me and sparked my desire to pursue a career in nursing.

What impact do you hope to have?

I hope to foster an environment of trust, compassion support. I aim to contribute to a collaborative and Brittney and respectful workplace where we all feel empowered to Sanders learn from one another and deliver the best possible Louisiana care.

Department of Health/ Office of Public What advice do you have for others Health/Bureau considering a nursing career? of Community Never stop learning and always ask questions. Don’t Preparedness, be afraid to lean on others for support and guidance.

Baton Rouge Remember to take care of yourself. Compassionate care starts with self-care, and finding a balance between work and personal time will help you sustain your passion and energy. Lastly, be patient with yourself. It takes time to build confidence and expertise, so trust the process and know that every experience is an opportunity for growth.

What inspired you to become a nurse?

As a teenager in high school, I had the opportunity to shadow a nurse at the local parish jail. This experience influenced my decision to enter nursing because it never crossed my mind that these inmates should not receive medical care. The only thing I thought about at that moment was this population had medical issues that needed to be addressed, and I was eager to assist them in any way I could. This same passion has carried me throughout my nursing career.

What does this recognition mean to you?

award is truly a testament to the hard work and Ashley This dedication that I have poured into my endeavors. This Singleton accolade serves as a reminder of the impact one can

Humana, Metairie have through selfless service and a commitment to bettering the lives of others.

What advice do you have for others considering a nursing career?

Embrace the passion, not the prestige. The nursing profession is a profound and rewarding journey, but it is crucial to embark on this path with the right motivations. Becoming a nurse should be driven by a genuine passion for helping others, not the allure of financial gain or the prestige of the title.

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What inspired you to become a nurse?

There are two main reasons I became a nurse.

The first one is my mother. She has been a nurse my whole life, and she is quite literally the best nurse and leader you can ask for. The second reason is my desire to help people. Growing up, I always wanted to know what to do to help someone in an emergency situation. I never wanted to feel helpless.

What does this recognition mean to you?

First and foremost, I want to give all the glory to God. He is the one who truly deserves all the Heidi recognition.

This recognition reminds me that, Smith even when I feel like I am not doing enough, I Our Lady of the Angels, am still making a difference to those around me, Bogalusa whether it be my patients or coworkers.

What inspired you to become a nurse?

I was inspired by my grandmother. When I was a child, she would always tell me that she always dreamed of being a nurse but was not able to afford to go to school. This resonated with me because I wanted to make her proud. She was able to see me graduate nursing school in 2008.

I was so grateful that I am able to carry out her dream. She passed away in 2011, but I feel that she still watches over me and would be so excited about this honor. impact do you hope to have?

Megan Smith What I hope to be able to set an example for the next

East Jefferson General Hospital, generation of nurses. My goal is to provide world Metairie class education and research to my patients and team members.

What impact do you hope to have?

I hope to bring a calming spirit in times of trouble, and a positive attitude to a bad day. I want to be a light shining for Jesus, and show others how sweet His love is. I am always available to lend a listening ear to my patients and my coworkers.

What advice do you have for others considering a nursing career?

I would say surround yourself with people who will lift you up. Find a support system and do not give up when things seem challenging or impossible. No two days are just alike, so keep on pushing yourself when things get tough.

The nurse’s nurse As with any good health system, nurses are the backbone of everything we do at St. Tammany Health System. That is because of nurses like Angela Foley.

She is a great mentor, a great educator, a great listener, a great teammate and a blast of positive energy. And, now, she is a

member of LSNA’s second 40 Under 40 list, and we at STHS couldn’t be prouder of her.

Congratulations, Angela,on this well-deserved honor.

Thank you for representing the nursing profession and St. Tammany Health System with unflagging compassion and professionalism.

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What inspired you to become a nurse?

My grandfather was diagnosed with nonHodgkins lymphoma in 2000 and had just had surgery. The oncologist and surgeon told us it was terminal. I went into the hallway and began to sob. A woman in scrubs embraced me. I never got her name, but this interaction made me want to be the person who would be there not only for my patients’ families, but anyone who needs love and support from a fellow human.

Chase Tassin

What does this recognition mean to you?

I am very humbled and excited, but this is not just me. I have worked around amazing people who have given me insight on how to be better.

Our Lady of the Lake, Greenwell Springs What impact do you hope to have?

I hope to always bring the light and love that Jesus gives us. While I am far from the perfect Christian, I strive to show peace, patience and love like He did to my own patients. With my colleagues, I hope to bring a sense of safety. I want them to feel comfortable coming to me and know that if I don’t know how to provide a solution, we will work together to find someone who will.

What inspired you to become a nurse?

Since I was a young girl, I’ve always had an aspiration to help others. Growing up around influential people in my life, who were also nurses, and seeing their passion and love for the profession really helped to influence my decision. A career in nursing offered so many opportunities to choose from and the ability to make a difference in the lives of others.

What does this recognition mean to you?

It is truly an honor and rewarding experience. proud to be part of a profession that allows Courtney I’m me the opportunity to make an impact on the Travis lives of others every single day. This recognition Lane Regional Medical Center, affirms the hard work, challenges and sacrifices Zachary that I’ve made throughout my career and inspires me to continuing growing and contributing to the advancement of the nursing profession.

What impact do you hope to have?

For my patients, I seek to be a source of comfort, empowerment and knowledge, ensuring they feel valued, respected, and fully supported throughout their healthcare journey. My goal is to create an environment where they can make informed choices about their care with confidence, knowing they have a trusted advocate by their side.

What inspired you to become a nurse?

I was inspired to become a nurse because my older brother took sick at a young age. Being the youngest sibling, I was always in and out of hospitals as well as doctor’s appointments with him and my mom. Even in my brother’s last days, the nurses were knowledgeable, confident, compassionate and treated us as if we were family. I vowed that I would one day become a part of an organization and do my very best to display positivity, love, and compassion in life saving circumstances.

impact do you hope to have?

Cindi What I hope to have a positive impact on my patients and Taylor colleagues. I want them to feel comfortable coming

University Medical Center, to me about anything and know that we are a team.

New Orleans I want them to know that I will be there to listen on their bad days and support all of their major achievements. I want them to also know that I will always be there to give them that extra push to get through their hardest hospital days.

What does this recognition mean to you?

It is incredibly humbling. I view it as a reflection of the collective work and dedication of so many people I’ve had the privilege to collaborate with — from patients and families to colleagues across multiple disciplines. It’s also a reminder that leadership in nursing is not just about titles, but about commitment, innovation, advocacy, and heart. This recognition motivates me to continue pushing boundaries and finding new ways to advance care for our community and beyond.

Misty What impact do you hope to have?

My greatest hope is to create a ripple effect — to Theriot not only improve individual patient care and

Lake Charles Memorial Hospital, outcomes, but also to empower and inspire Lake Charles my colleagues. I aim to be a resource, mentor

and advocate, equipping others with the tools, education and encouragement they need to thrive. I want every patient to feel seen, heard, and genuinely cared for, and every colleague to feel supported, valued, and part of something bigger. By fostering innovation, collaboration, and compassion, I hope to build lasting improvements in healthcare that extend far beyond my immediate reach.

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What does this recognition mean to you?

Porsche Uche

This is an incredible honor and a testament to the dedication and hard work I’ve put into my career. It signifies a milestone in my journey, acknowledging not only my professional achievements but also my commitment to making a positive impact in my community and nursing field. This recognition motivates me to continue striving for excellence and to serve as an inspiration to others, especially those who are just beginning their own journeys. It reinforces the values of service, compassion, and leadership that have guided me, and it encourages me to keep pushing boundaries and contributing meaningfully to the world around me.

The Carpenter Health Network What impact do you hope to have?

(Homedica, LLC), For my patients, I aim to provide not only Baton Rouge exceptional medical care but also emotional support

What inspired you to become a nurse?

For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to be a nurse. My grandfather was always so proud to tell others that I was in nursing school. When he passed away, he was surrounded by the people who loved him most — and that moment became my ‘why.’ He’s the reason I show up every single day with purpose. In every patient I care for, I see a part of him, and I’m reminded of the impact I can make.

What does this recognition mean to you?

This is truly an honor, both personally and Meghan professionally.

It validates the commitment I’ve Young made to making a meaningful difference in the Ochsner Lafayette General, lives of our patients and the incredible team I Lafayette have the privilege of working with every day.

and understanding, ensuring they feel heard and valued. I want to empower them with knowledge and confidence to take charge of their health and well-being. For my colleagues, I strive to be a supportive and inspiring team member, encouraging open communication and mutual respect. I hope to contribute to a culture that values continuous learning, innovation, and empathy.

What impact do you hope to have?

My goal is creating a psychologically safe space where everyone feels empowered to do their best, and where patients receive the highest quality care they deserve. If I can have a positive impact on those two important areas, I know I am fulfilling my purpose and contributing to a culture grounded in our Ochsner Values.

Keep informed on the biggest stories that matter to you.

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plus more... nola.com/newsletters

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YOUR LEGAL COMPASS THROUGH

LIFE

FREE ESTATE PLANNING WORKSHOP WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DIE WITHOUT A WILL, AND WHY YOU DO NOT WANT TO BE NAMED THE ADMINISTRATOR OR EXECUTOR

CALL

225-224-8099 TO REGISTER!

POCHE ESTATE PLANNING LAW FIRM 4960 Bluebonnet Blvd., Suite C, Baton Rouge, LA 70809

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ACT NOW TO PUT YOUR PLAN IN PLACE IN JUST 6-7 WEEKS Yes, knowledge is power, and the choice is yours. But you MUST ACT NOW to put your estate plan in place. It all starts by attending one of Laura Poche’s free educational events which makes it clear that regardless of your net worth, if you want to preserve your hard-earned assets or have people in your life you need to protect or have causes that you want to promote, EVERY PERSON NEEDS A LEGAL ESTATE PLAN. Let Laura Poche and her professional and knowledgeable staff make this process as easy as possible so you can live with PEACE OF MIND.

BATON ROUGE

Tuesday, May 20 Poche Law Office 4960 Bluebonnet, Ste. C 9:30am - 12:00pm LUNCH PROVIDED AFTER

BATON ROUGE

Tuesday, May 20 Poche Law Office 4960 Bluebonnet, Ste. C 2:00pm - 4:30pm

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Wednesday, May 21 Poche Law Office 4960 Bluebonnet, Ste. C 11:00am - 1:30pm LUNCH PROVIDED AFTER

BATON ROUGE Thursday, May 22 Drusilla Seafood 3482 Drusilla Ln 5:30pm - 8:00pm

DINNER PROVIDED AFTER

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LAURA POCHE INVITES YOU TO ATTEND A FREE WORKSHOP TO LEARN ABOUT:

• Why a Succession may be necessary when you die?

• How to avoid the Succession process completely?

• Federal estate tax that may be due when you pass away?

• Community property - who gets this when you die without a Will?

• What happens when you leave your spouse the usufruct of

your assets?

• Who gets the assets at the termination of the usufruct?

• The usufructuary’s rights?

CALL 225-224-8099 TO REGISTER! POCHE ESTATE PLANNING LAW FIRM 4960 Bluebonnet Blvd., Suite C, Baton Rouge, LA 70809

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WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DIE WITHOUT A WILL, AND WHY YOU DO NOT WANT TO BE NAMED THE ADMINISTRATOR OR EXECUTOR When a Louisiana resident passes away, the title to all of their assets is frozen. This includes all bank accounts, investment accounts, and real estate in their name. None of it can be sold until a judge orders the transfer of the assets to the surviving heirs.

HOW WILL MY ASSETS GET TRANSFERRED TO MY HEIRS: • • • • •

Assets need to be sold or managed prior to the completion of the succession?

There is a disagreement among the heirs?

The deceased has bills that need to be paid promptly?

It will take a long time to determine the assets and debts of the deceased There are many complicating factors?

WHAT IS USUFRUCT?

A usufruct is a right that a person has for a certain period of time on the property of another person. The features of the right of a usufruct vary with the nature of the things subject to it.

Usufructs are often established when some- one dies. For example, a married person may, in his Will, leave his surviving spouse usufruct of everything he owns when he dies, but there are certain restrictions and limitations when establishing a usufruct. The usufructuary may have numerous obligations, such as an obligation to provide security, the responsibility to provide repairs, the payment of necessary expenses, taxes, debts, and other charges. consequences. Typically, no one pays income tax on a gift regardless of the value of the gift.

A sizeable gift will have estate and gift tax consequences.

IMPORTANT GUIDELINES FOR OUR WORKSHOPS:

All our learning workshops employ strict social distancing standards for everyone’s safety.

Workshops are open to FIRST-TIME ATTENDEES ONLY and are geared towards people who want or need your legal estate plan in place quickly.

Please have your personal calendar handy at the workshop so you can choose to start your plan NOW! If married, both spouses must attend a workshop to ensure that all decision-makers are involved in your family’s coordinated plan.

All people who attend will receive a FREE copy of the updated 2nd edition of Laura Poche’s Book, “Estate Planning Advice by a Woman for Louisiana Women: A Guide for Both Men and Women About Wills, Trusts, Probate, Powers of Attorney, Medicaid, Living Wills and Taxes.”

CALL 225-224-8099 TO REGISTER! POCHE ESTATE PLANNING LAW FIRM 4960 Bluebonnet Blvd., Suite C, Baton Rouge, LA 70809

A Mother’s Day reflection PAGE 3

DISCOVERy | INNOVATION | LIVING WELL

HEALTH

LOUISIANA

N O L A.C O M & T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M

|

‘PREPARED TO ACT’

BY MARGARET DELANEY

Staff writer

The Heimlich maneuver is a first-aid method for choking — when a person can’t breathe because food, a toy or another foreign item is blocking their throat or windpipe.

According to the National Safety Council, choking is the fourth leading cause of unintentional injury death. Of the 5,553 people who died from choking in 2022, rates of death rose rapidly at about age 71.

Slapping individuals on the back while choking was frequently found to be ineffective in the 1960s, at times even lodging the object further down, according to a study from the National

Library of Medicine.

Then, Dr. Henry Heimlich invented the Heimlich maneuver in 1974. Heimlich discovered that the remaining air in a person’s lungs could be used to free or dislodge a foreign object from the esophagus, using quick, upward thrusts under the rib cage.

At first, the Heimlich maneuver did not catch on with the medical community. The back blow method remained the most popular first-aid choking treatment for another 10 years.

Eventually, the Heimlich maneuver became the accepted best practice for use in conscious adults who are choking. Health care providers still recommend back blows for infants who are choking.

S U N D AY, M AY 11, 2025

Molly Kimball 1N

GETTy IMAGES PHOTO

Knowing how and when to use the Heimlich maneuver can help save lives

If someone is unconscious, whether an adult, child or infant, the medical community recommends CPR. Entergy Louisiana employee Ron Moore, who was recognized in 2021 by the American Red Cross with a Certificate of Extraordinary Personal Action, knows how impactful knowing the Heimlich maneuver can be.

“That’s why we train so much at Entergy — so that in stressful situations we’re prepared to act,” said Moore, who worked as a lineman for 11 years before becoming a safety specialist.

Moore and a co-worker had just been seated at Trapp’s Restaurant in West Monroe when they noticed a diner in distress. Moore directed the wait staff to call 911 as they went to the man’s ta-

ble, where he was sitting with his wife.

“I reached him first and asked him if he was choking, and he indicated yes,” Moore said to Entergy. “His hands were around his throat, and his face was turning red.”

With the help of his co-worker, Moore was able to stand the man upright and began delivering several forceful back blows. When those were unsuccessful, Moore positioned himself to perform the Heimlich maneuver.

After a series of thrusts, a piece of meat was dislodged from the man’s throat.

Before his Entergy career, Moore was a firefighter for eight years and

ä See HEIMLICH, page 2X

Dyemaker helps food firms switch to natural colors at Abby Tampow’s labora- ing a slurry of purplish black car- products from cereals to sports announced plans to persuade food Bugs, beet juice could start tory desk. rot juice with a bit of beta-caro- drinks. companies to voluntarily eliminate “Most of our customers have deOn an April afternoon, the scipetroleum-based artificial dyes by tene, an orange-red color made play roles in replacing entist hovered over tiny dishes of from algae. cided that this is finally the time the end of 2026.

Health Secretary Robert F. KenTampow is part of the team at when they’re going to make that red dye, each a slightly different artificial dyes ruby hue. Her task? To match the Sensient Technologies Corp., one switch to a natural color,” said nedy Jr. called them “poisonous

BY JONEL ALECCIA

synthetic shade used for years in a commercial bottled raspberry vinaigrette — but by using only ST. LOUIS — As pressure grows to natural ingredients.

“With this red, it needs a little get artificial colors out of the U.S. food supply, the shift may well more orange,” Tampow said, mix-

AP health writer

of the world’s largest dyemakers, that is rushing to help the salad dressing manufacturer — along with thousands of other American businesses — meet demands to overhaul colors used to brighten

Dave Gebhardt, Sensient’s senior technical director. He joined a recent tour of the Sensient Colors factory in a north St. Louis neighborhood.

Last week, U.S. health officials

compounds” that endanger children’s health and development, citing limited evidence of potential health risks.

ä See DYES, page 2X

To our nurses, who care for the community with compassion and purpose, we thank you. ochsner.org/careers

Happy National Nurses Week!

2X ■ Sunday, May 11, 2025 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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HEALTH MAKER La. doctor treats mommy thumb in Baton Rouge

BY MARGARET DELANEY Staff writer

Continued from page 1X was trained to respond to a variety of situations that required lifesaving skills.

However, the restaurant incident was the first time he had used the Heimlich maneuver in a real emergency.

“My reward was that the man was OK,” Moore said.

“We learn these skills for a reason, and it pays off to pay attention.”

Knowing when to act Dr. Jeffrey Kuo, the system medical director of emergency management at Ochsner Health, says there are ways to evaluate the best course of action for the Heimlich maneuver.

“You can usually tell if a person is choking when they can’t speak, breathe or cough. Ask the person, ‘Are you choking?,’ ” Kuo said. “They may be able to cough but can’t speak to ask for help. Sometimes, their breathing and speaking become weaker and weaker until only gasping sounds come out.”

Kuo says that if a person is able to speak, cough or breathe, do not attempt the Heimlich maneuver. Rather, encourage the person to keep coughing while another person performs back blows.

Sometimes, a strong cough can free the foreign object.

Only perform the Heimlich maneuver if a person’s life is in danger.

To perform the Heimlich maneuver, follow these steps: n Stand behind the person

DYES

Continued from page 1X

The federal push follows a flurry of state laws and a January decision to ban the artificial dye known as Red 3 — found in cakes, candies and some medications — because of cancer risks in lab animals. Social media influencers and ordinary consumers have ramped up calls for artificial colors to be removed from foods.

The Food and Drug Administration allows about three dozen color additives, including eight remaining synthetic dyes. But making the change from the petroleum-based dyes to colors derived from vegetables, fruits, flowers and even insects won’t be easy, fast or cheap, said Monica Giusti, an Ohio State University food color expert.

“Study after study has shown that if all companies were to remove synthetic colors from their formulations, the supply of the natural alternatives would not be enough,” Giusti said. “We are not really ready.”

It can take six months to a year to convert a single product from a synthetic

nel brace that you put your thumb through won’t necessarily help with mommy thumb symptoms.

Are there certain activities that could make it worse, or is this part of the day-to-day of taking care of a young baby?

A lot of it, unfortunately, is about the day-to-day of being a mom and having to lift a young baby, to change diapers and feed the baby.

Lifting does make it worse, and certainly, if you bumped the inside side of the wrist, that would hurt it.

Generally, mommy thumb is due to overuse — and we can’t exactly tell parents to stop taking care of the baby.

If you have the ability to put the weight of the baby further out on the forearm, that could alleviate the pain — or prevent mommy thumb from getting worse.

Email Margaret DeLaney at margaret.delaney@ theadvocate.com.

LSU Health Sciences Center at Shreveport. Then, he completed a fellowship in

hand, upper extremity and microvascular surgery at The Indiana Hand to Shoul-

and put your arms around their belly. n Make a fist with one hand and clasp your other hand tightly around it. n Place the thumb side of your fist just below their rib cage and about 2 inches above the belly button. n Sharply and quickly thrust your hands inward and upward five times. n Repeat this process until the object stuck in their windpipe is free or the person becomes unconscious. If the person becomes unconscious, start CPR. According to a study from the National Library of Medicine, approximately 66 to 77 children younger than 10 die from choking on food each year in the United States — with more than 10,000 emergency room visits annually in children 14 years old and younger due to choking on food.

The Heimlich maneuver should be altered for toddlers and children younger than 5 years old or weighing less than 45 pounds. First, kneel behind the child to get down to their level. Then, use less forceful thrusts than the typical Heimlich maneuver requires.

Health care providers don’t recommend the Heimlich maneuver for use on infants 12 months or younger.

Instead, use back blows on babies.

Health care providers consider the Heimlich maneuver a safe and quick method to save lives — with no medical knowledge or training required to perform the maneuver.

But if the Heimlich ma-

FIRST AID FOR CHOKING

victim is unlikely to be sued for any harm caused by their actions, even if they GIVE FIVE ABDOMINAL THRUSTS unintentionally cause injuGIVE FIVE BACK BLOWS ries, according to the law.

Make a fist with one hand, then grasp that Stand to the side behind choker. Place one These Louisiana residents fist with the other hand. Thrust inward and arm around to support their body. Bend proved that they were good upward five times. Check to see if blockage person over. Then strike five times between Samaritans when needed: has been remoived. Repeat as needed. shoulder blades using the heel of your hand. n In 2019, Rasheedah Riley saved a 4-year-old customer at Panda Express in Baton 5X Rouge after the Heimlich maneuver, performed by his mother, didn’t work. InAlso known stead, Riley turned the child as the over and removed the food Heimlich lodged in his throat.

Maneuver 5X n In 2022, Carla Jones, a waitress at the Golden Corral in Alexandria saved the life of a father eating at the restaurant after choking ALTERNATE FIVE BACK BLOWS AND FIVE ABDOMINAL THRUSTS, CALL 911 on a piece of steak with the Heimlich maneuver. n In 2023, a Bossier City Give five gentle, but firm, chest compresThump the middle of the back gently, but sions just below the nipple line using two firmly, five times with the heel of your hand. substitute teacher saved a fingers. Repeat both steps as needed. fourth grader choking in the lunchroom by using the Heimlich maneuver. “My instincts kicked in,” Jones told 5X news outlets at the time. n In August 2024, Sgt. 5X Shawna Aymond of the Lake Charles Police Department performed CPR and the Heimlich maneuver while on patrol on an infant on the side of the road after being flagged down by the mother.

The most common compliIF YOU ARE ALONE AND CHOKING, CALL 911 AND TRY THE FOLLOWING: cations of the Heimlich ma4. Shove your 3. Bend over a hard 2. Grasp your 1. Place a fist neuver are broken ribs and fist inward and surface, like a fist with the slightly above holes in the gastrointestinal upward countertop or chair. other hand. your navel. tract. Other rare abdominal complications can happen, Sources: American Red Cross, Mayo Clinic Staff graphic by DAN SWENSON with Getty Images but in life-or-death situations, providers still recomneuver is performed in- thrusts, problems can oc- Heimlich maneuver or other mend performing the Heimemergency medical assis- lich maneuver. correctly, it can do serious cur,” Kuo said.

In Louisiana, the Good tance, “as long as they act in harm.

“If you aren’t able to dis- Samaritan Act generally good faith and reasonably.” Email Margaret DeLaney This means someone who at margaret.delaney@ lodge the foreign object protects individuals from after the first few sets of liability for performing the attempts to help a choking theadvocate.com.

dye to a natural one. And it could require three to four years to build up the supply of botanical products necessary for an industrywide shift, Sensient officials said.

“It’s not like there’s 150 million pounds of beet juice sitting around waiting on the off chance the whole market may convert,” said Paul Manning, the company’s chief executive. “Tens of millions of pounds of these products need to be grown, pulled out of the ground, extracted.”

To make natural dyes, Sensient works with farmers and producers around the world to harvest the raw materials, which typically arrive at the plant as bulk concentrates. They’re processed and blended into liquids, granules or powders and then sent to food companies to be added to final products.

Natural dyes are harder to make and use than artificial colors. They are less consistent in color, less stable and subject to changes related to acidity, heat and light, Manning said. Blue is especially difficult. There aren’t many natural sources of the color and those that exist can be hard to maintain during processing.

Also, a natural color costs about 10 times more to make than the synthetic version, Manning estimated.

“How do you get that same vividness, that same performance, that same level of safety in that product as you would in a synthetic product?” he said. “There’s a lot of complexity associated with that.”

Companies have long used the Red 3 synthetic dye to create what Sensient officials describe as “the Barbie pink.”

To create that color with a natural source might require the use of cochineal, an insect about the size of a peppercorn.

The female insects release a vibrant red pigment, carminic acid, in their bodies and eggs. The bugs live only on prickly pear cactuses in Peru and elsewhere. About 70,000 cochineal insects are needed to produce 1 kilogram, about 2.2 pounds, of dye.

“It’s interesting how the most exotic colors are found in the most exotic places,” said Norb Nobrega, who travels the world scouting new hues for Sensient.

Artificial dyes are used widely in U.S. foods. About 1 in 5 food products in the

Always try to call 911 or have someone nearby call 911

ADULTS

HEIMLICH

PROVIDED PHOTO

Dr. Mark Garon is an orthopedic hand surgeon in Baton Rouge.

can also inject the thumb with a steroid that generally takes care of about 80% of them.

Then, there is another subset of people that must go on to have a surgery to fix it.

I wouldn’t say most mothers get mommy thumb, but it’s certainly not rare. Not everybody who has a young baby is going to get it, but when women, or men, do get it, it interferes with their ability to do what they need to do for their baby.

How can parents, grandparents or caretakers know when it’s necessary to seek medical attention?

Sometimes it can go away on its own. Generally, by the time people get to me, they’ve already tried anti-inflammatories. Some people have tried wearing a wrist brace as well before they see me.

The appropriate brace has to go from the tip of the thumb to the forearm, and a standard carpal tun-

INFANTS

”Mommy thumb,” also known as De Quervain’s tenosynovitis, is a painful condition that affects the tendons on the thumb side of the wrist.

This is one of the most common postpartum conditions, according to the Orthopedic Institute of New Jersey, that often gets overlooked since new moms usually feel like they have more pressing matters than worrying about thumb and wrist pain.

However, mommy thumb (different from carpal tunnel) can happen in people who are not mothers and in people who are not taking care of newborns.

Dr. Mark Garon, an orthopedic hand surgeon, treats two to three patients a day for this condition.

Originally from Baton Rouge, Garon did his medical school and residency at

der Center in Indianapolis.

When Garon came back to Louisiana, he joined a private practice in Baton Rouge for eight years. This year, Garon moved to the Ochsner Medical Complex at The Grove to practice mostly hand and wrist surgeries, see clinic patients and do operations — including patients with mommy thumb.

What is mommy thumb?

It happens a lot to new moms or new grandmothers who are taking care of young babies and do a lot of lifting. Generally, mommy thumb presents itself as pain and swelling on the thumb side of the wrist caused from holding a child in certain positions that irritate tendons that run across the wrist and connect to the thumb.

It can be really difficult for moms to pick up babies with this going on. We frequently treat it with antiinflammatories, braces. We

U.S. contains added colors, whether natural or synthetic, Manning estimated.

Many contain multiple colors.

FDA requires a sample of each batch of synthetic colors to be submitted for testing and certification.

Color additives derived from plant, animal or mineral sources are exempt, but have been evaluated by the agency.

Health advocates have long called for the removal of artificial dyes from foods, citing mixed studies indicating they can cause neurobehavioral problems, including hyperactivity and attention issues, in some children.

The FDA says that the approved dyes are safe when used according to regulations and that “most children have no adverse effects when consuming foods containing color additives.”

But critics note that added colors are a key component of ultraprocessed foods, which account for more than 70% of the U.S. diet and have been associated with a host of chronic health problems, including heart disease, diabetes and obesity.

“I am all for getting artifi-

cial food dyes out of the food supply,” said Marion Nestle, a food policy expert. “They are strictly cosmetic, have no health or safety purpose, are markers of ultraprocessed foods and may be harmful to some children.”

Color is powerful driver of consumer behavior and changes can backfire, Giusti noted. In 2016, food giant General Mills removed artificial dyes from Trix cereal after requests from consumers, switching to natural sources including turmeric, strawberries and radishes.

But the cereal lost its neon colors, resulting in more muted hues — and a consumer backlash. Trix fans said they missed the bright colors and familiar taste of the cereal. In 2017, the company switched back.

“When it’s a product you already love, that you’re used to consuming, and it changes slightly, then it may not really be the same experience,” Giusti said.

“Announcing a regulatory change is one step, but then the implementation is another thing.”

Kennedy, the health secretary, said U.S. officials have an “understanding” with food companies to phase out artificial colors. Industry of-

ficials told The Associated Press that there is no formal agreement.

However, several companies have said they plan to accelerate a shift to natural colors in some of their products.

PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta said most of its products are already free of artificial colors, and that its Lays and Tostitos brands will phase them out by the end of this year. He said the company plans to phase out artificial colors — or at least offer consumers a natural alternative — over the next few years.

Representatives for General Mills said they’re “committed to continuing the conversation” with the administration. WK Kellogg officials said they are reformulating cereals used in the nation’s school lunch programs to eliminate the artificial dyes and will halt any new products containing them starting next January.

Sensient officials wouldn’t confirm which companies are seeking help making the switch, but they said they’re ready for the surge.

“Now that there’s a date, there’s the timeline,” Manning said. “It certainly requires action.”

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Sunday, May 11, 2025 ■ 3X

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Eat Fit Live Fit

Molly Kimball RD, CSSD

B R O U G H T TO YO U BY

Pot pie and the power of showing up: A Mother’s Day reflection

M

other’s Day is a time to celebrate the women who have shaped us—whether they’re our biological mothers or other women in our lives who have nurtured us along the way.

As we gather around the table with friends and family, we often enjoy—and reminisce about—treasured recipes that have been passed down through generations. Maybe it’s your mom’s meatballs, your grandmother’s gumbo or your aunt’s famous cobbler.

Meanwhile, my mom’s style of ‘cooking’ was more of a kitchen pit stop than a culinary production. Growing up, my go-to dinner was a chicken pot pie—frozen— straight from the cardboard box. Every.

Single. Night.

Here’s how it went down: My parents separated when I was three years old, and my time was split between the two houses. At dad’s house, it was all about balanced, freshly cooked meals with us sitting together around the table. When I stayed with my mom, though, things were entirely different. She was the ultimate multitasker; efficiency was everything.

She’d bustle around, set up my plate and then whisk off to handle the next thing on her to-do list. Dinner for me, work for her.

It was a regimented routine that ran like clockwork.

And I loved it. I savored that pot pie as if it were gourmet cuisine. Looking back, I’m pretty sure it was Swanson. My mom’s ‘secret’ to really elevate this masterpiece was to microwave the pot pie first, then pop it under the broiler until the crust turned golden brown. In my 10-year-old mind, that was the finishing touch of perfection.

I loved it so much that in fifth grade, when our teacher announced that we would be creating a class cookbook, I knew exactly what ‘family recipe’ I’d be submitting. The project was meant to

help us learn about special dishes passed down through generations—treasured favorites that told a story about our families. I’ve got this covered, I thought.

Without consulting mom, I dutifully wrote up our ‘signature’ recipe: 1.

Buy a frozen chicken pot pie from the store (on the freezer aisle, preferably Swanson).

Remove it from the cardboard box, place onto a microwave-safe plate and heat for 4-5 minutes on high.

Pop under the broiler on a sheet pan for a minute or two, until it’s a beautiful golden brown, and serve— preferably with canned mandarin oranges and whole milk.

2.

3.

When the class cookbook was completed—printed and bound for each of us to take home to share with our families—I was thrilled. My mom, on the other hand, was horrified—a smidge of laughter, but mostly horror. It took years for her to fully appreciate the humor of the situation.

In retrospect, it’s priceless. The dish itself wasn’t exactly a paragon of nutrition. A typical 1980s frozen pot pie was laden with processed carbs, sodium, preservatives and who knows what else.

Yet for me, it represented comfort and consistency. My mom’s methodical and efficient way of taking care of me—no matter how it might look next to a

BY CARLA K. JOHNSON AP medical writer

Family sizes in the U.S.

The average number of people per household in each state in 2021: 3.1 to 3.2 people

3 to 3.1 people

Less than 3 people

WASH. VT.

N.D. MINN.

ORE. IDAHO WY.

UTAH

CO.

CALIF.

MICH.

ARIZ.

N.M.

KAN.

OKLA.

MO.

PA. IND.

OHIO W.V.

R.I. CONN. N.J. DEL. MD.

N.C.

TENN. ARK.

S.C. GA.

LA.

ALASKA

FLA. HAWAII

Source: Statista

VA.

KY.

MISS. ALA. TEXAS

ME.

N.Y.

IOWA ILL.

N.H.

MASS.

WIS.

S.D.

NEB.

NEV.

to persevere in some tough situations.

And she did it in her own unique way.

So, this Mother’s Day—whether you’re whipping up a time-honored recipe that’s generations old or sliding a tray of something frozen into the oven— remember that, at the end of the day, it’s the love and compassion behind those small, everyday moments that truly nourish us.

Happy Mother’s Day to all those who have given us life, fed us in every sense of the word, and embraced us with their own signature style.

Report: Advanced cancers return to pre-COVID levels

LOUISIANA RANKS 10TH IN THE U.S. FOR FAMILy SIZE

MONT.

Molly (age 5) and her mom Marti in 1980

Molly Kimball, RD, CSSD, is a registered dietitian with Ochsner Health and founder of Ochsner’s Eat Fit nonprofit initiative. For more wellness content, tune in to Molly’s podcast, FUELED Wellness + Nutrition, and follow @MollykimballRD and @EatFitOchsner on social media.

Email nutrition@ochsner.org to connect with Molly or schedule a consult with her team.

BY THE NUMBERS

More than 3.2 people

‘traditional’ family recipe—was its own form of love.

Over the years, we retold the story countless times, and it never failed to bring tears of laughter. In fact, when my mom passed away in 2017, this chicken pot pie anecdote was one of the highlights I shared in her eulogy.

We all needed a moment of levity, and through tears and laughter, we celebrated her evolution from efficient multitasker to someone who later in life discovered all kinds of silliness and learned not to take things so seriously.

Now, as a registered dietitian, I appreciate the contrast. But I also know that health is bigger than what’s on our plates. It’s shaped by the people we share our meals with—and by the memories and traditions we carry with us. My mom taught me discipline, tenacity and how

Louisiana: 3.19 Staff graphic

In 2021, the average size of As of 2023, the U.S. Census families in Utah was 3.51 people, Bureau counted about 84.33 million the largest of any state — that’s the families in the United States. full family size, not the number of The most recent average family children. size of 3.15 persons (2021) is down California, Hawaii,Texas, and Alaska from 3.7 in the 1960s. rounded out the top five states with In 1970, about 56% of all family the largest average family size: households had children under the n California with 3.44 people per age of 18 living in the household. family This percentage declined to about n Hawaii with 3.41 people per 40% in 2020. family Maine had the least amount of n Texas with 3.27 per family people in a household with 2.79 n and Alaska with 3.25 per family. people per family, followed by Nationwide, the average family size Vermont (2.82 people per family), was 3.15 people — with Louisiana Wisconsin (2.94 people per family), having the tenth highest average Wyoming (2.95 people per family) family size with 3.19 people per and New Hampshire (2.96 people household. per family).

Many Americans were forced to postpone cancer screenings — colonoscopies, mammograms and lung scans — for several months in 2020 as COVID-19 overwhelmed doctors and hospitals.

But that delay in screening isn’t making a huge impact on cancer statistics, at least none that can be seen yet by experts who track the data.

Cancer death rates continue to decline, and there weren’t huge shifts in late diagnoses, according to a new report published Monday in the journal Cancer.

It’s the broadest-yet analysis of the pandemic’s effect on U.S. cancer data.

In 2020, as the pandemic began, a greater share of U.S. cancers were caught at later stages, when they’re harder to treat. But in 2021, these worrisome diagnoses returned to prepandemic levels for most types of cancer.

“It is very reassuring,” said lead author Recinda Sherman of the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries.

“So far, we haven’t seen an excess of late-stage diagnoses,” which makes it unlikely that there will be

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By DAMIAN DOVARGANES

Data shows that cancer screening delayed in 2020 during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic is not making a huge impact on cancer statistics yet, experts say. higher cancer death rates tied to the pandemic.

Similarly, the number of new cancer cases dropped in 2020, but then returned to prepandemic levels by 2021. The size of the 2020 decline in new cancers diagnosed was similar across states, despite variations in COVID-19 policy restrictions. The researchers note that human behavior and hospital policies played more of a role than state policy restrictions.

Late-stage diagnoses of cervical cancer and prostate cancer did increase in 2021, but the shifts weren’t large. The data analysis goes only through 2021, so it’s not the final word.

“We didn’t see any notable

shifts,” Sherman said. “So it’s really unlikely that people with aggressive disease were not diagnosed during that time period.”

The report was produced by the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries, the National Cancer Institute, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Cancer Society.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

The AP is solely responsible for all content.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU The Louisiana Health section is focused on providing in-depth, personal accounts of health in the state.This section looks at medical innovations, health discoveries, state and national health statistics and reexamining tried and true methods on ways to live well.

Health editions will also profile people who are advancing health for the state of Louisiana.

Do you have a health story? We want to hear from you.

Email margaret.delaney@ theadvocate.com to submit health questions, stories and more.

4X ■ Sunday, May 11, 2025 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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NATIONAL NURSES WEEK

Guided by Purpose, Committed to Care Thank you, Ochsner nurses

Crystal Mayers, LPN Telemetry

At Ochsner Health, nursing isn’t just a profession—it’s a calling rooted in purpose. Our nurses bring intention, empathy, and expertise to every patient experience, impacting lives and transforming care every day. This Nurses Week, we honor the purpose that shapes your actions, empowers your voice, and inspires every moment of care. From quiet strength to bold leadership, your work creates a meaningful and lasting difference for our patients, our teams, and our communities. Thank you, Ochsner nurses, for leading with purpose and caring with compassion.

GOODNESS | HOPE | SOLUTIONS

INSPIRED

LOUISIANA

N O L A.C O M & T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M

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S U N D AY, M AY 11, 2025

Q&A: Transforming education through respect PAGE 2y

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Jan Risher LONG STORy SHORT

Zena, the philosopher cat

PROVIDED PHOTOS

Kasha Peterson sits across her mother recently at her first Girl Scouts meeting.

Fleeting moment La. Girl Scout troop keeps mother-daughter bonds alive, even behind bars

BY QUINN COFFMAN Staff writer

For the five girls who gathered at the New Orleans Conchetta Facility on a sunny Saturday in April, in some ways, it was a Girl Scouts meeting like any other.

However, most Girl Scout meetings don’t require armed guards.

The young Scouts, between 5 and 7, worked on a small craft with their mothers — constructing a plastic garden toy together, fit with glittery pink sand and a small, seated unicorn.

They ate a warm meal together — Domino’s Pizza and wings, or sandwiches handmade by the Girl Scout troop’s organizers.

The girls held hands with their moms across the tables, each small family spaced out across the facility’s second floor. The girls even learned the Girl Scouts Promise and held up three fingers as they recited it.

But for the girls’ moms, it was anything but an ordinary Saturday.

The women had woken up in lockup at the Orleans Parish jail. They had been bused together to the Conchetta minimum-security facility early that morning.

They had their handcuffs taken off long before any of their daughters arrived — the Girl Scout organizers and sheriff’s deputies careful not to let the elementary-aged girls see their mothers in metal.

Even the morning sun streaming in from the floor to ceiling windows at Conchetta was different for the moms. It wasn’t being filtered through a barred windowsill.

These mothers are part of Girl Scouts Beyond Bars, a program from Girls Scouts Louisiana East that connects incarcerated women with their daughters to engage in traditional Girl Scouts experiences together.

While the program aims to remove the trappings of prison for the few hours the girls and moms are reunited, not every reminder of jail can be forgotten for the day.

The moms were still OPSO inmates and had to wear maroon OPSO-branded jumpsuits which crinkled like nurses’ scrubs. As the girls ran into the room, each teary-eyed hug was accompanied by this crinkle sound.

“I want my Scouts to be able to take something home with them that when they see it they think, ‘My momma and I made this.’”

LONNIE CARTER, organizer of Beyond Bars

It had been months since any of the girls had been with their mothers.

Outside of the Beyond Bars program, there is no in-person visitation available to any OPSO inmate.

Of all the families gathered there, Kimberly Franklin and her daughter Skye, 10, were the only pair who had been in Girl Scouts before.

Franklin first heard about Beyond Bars back in 2022 from her case manager and applied to the program as soon as she could. Her case manager had explained the benefits not just for Franklin, but her daughter too.

“You get to see them. You get to do the activities, and you just get to spend time,” Franklin said, smiling as she and Skye shared pizza slices together. “And they get to join an organization that is really going to be with them.”

Skye said “painting and drawing” were her favorite activities in the troop meetings.

While the Scouts go home with most of the crafts the moms and daughters make, the moms get to take anything on paper back with them.

“I come up with, typically, handson activities for mom and daughter to do together, to laugh, to smile together,” said Lonnie Carter, a community program specialist with Girl Scouts who organizes almost every aspect of the Beyond Bars monthly meetings.

Some of her favorite past activities include a birdhouse the girls had to construct. Each mom then wrote affirmations for her daughter on the birdhouse.

Designing these activities isn’t easy because of the restrictions a carceral environment puts on what the mothers and daughters can do together.

If they paint, they have to use cut sponges, instead of brushes. Carter has to precut any paper crafts. No scissors allowed. She found out long ago that anything involving Popsicle sticks or regular ink pens was out of the question.

Carter said she just wants her Scouts to be able to take something home with them that when they see it they think, “My momma and I made this.”

To make Beyond Bars a reality, Carter also has to delve into the logistics of reuniting a family separated by tragedy and prison walls.

Each August, Carter enters the par-

Lonnie Carter is a Community Program Speaker for Girl Scouts Louisiana East and the organizer responsible for much of Beyond Bars programming. ish jail to meet with inmates and pitch them on Beyond Bars. Not only must the mothers maintain good behavior within the jail to be allowed to attend meetings, but the girls’ guardians on the outside also have to agree, something Carter says is not easy.

“I’ve had caretakers who have been totally against it, and then I’ve had caretakers who are like, ‘Amazing, of course, she needs her mom,’ ” Carter said.

The hardest part, however, comes the morning of the Scouts’ meetings, when Carter has to call and reconfirm that the girls’ caretakers will in fact be attending the meetings. These final confirmations come after weeks of communication between Carter and the Scouts’ guardians.

She says, too often, a caretaker might not arrive the morning of a meeting, leaving moms sitting alone, watching other families reunite.

Caregivers give a host of reasons, from a death in the family, to taking the girl out of town, to something like going to brunch instead. At worst, some caregivers are absent purposely out of spite, which Carter said only hurts the girls.

“I have to be the person to deliver the message,” Carter said.

Jenna Griffin was one of two moms at the meeting that Saturday whose daughters never showed.

She spent the time unsure if her daughter Emma and her caretaker would make it in time on their drive in from Picayune, Mississippi.

“I haven’t seen my daughter in a little over a year,” Griffin said.

This would have been their first Girl Scouts meeting together.

While OPSO inmates get to talk on the phone in 15-minute increments each day, or take longer video calls over the weekends, Griffin says it’s

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I am not a cat person.

That said, long before her 20th birthday, Zena won me over.

When Greer, our older daughter, was 7, she picked a little calico from a host of kittens at a shelter event in Lafayette. We’ve named our family cats after philosophers, starting with Socrates, then Aristotle — and finally Zena after the philosopher, Zeno. (I changed the “o” in Zeno to an “a” because she was a girl.) Zeno is best known for his work with paradoxes.

Greer is now 27. In the years between, Zena had a long, full life and living up to her name, she became our family’s warrior princess.

After a brief illness, Zena passed away last week. Reflecting on her life and all the ways she has been a part of our lives, this I know: Even though we’ve lost pets before, the hurt that goes with losing a pet can still be shocking. I choose to focus on and celebrate all the beauty she shared with us.

Zena developed many talents over her two decades with our family. For most of her life, using what seemed like a bit of magic and serious acrobatic skill, Zena could jump up and, with her paw, open our front door.

She also was the boss of the place. She manhandled every dog she ever met — including our longtime dog, Hunter, who was six times her size.

But Zena’s greatest talent wouldn’t have landed her on Stupid Pet Tricks. Her real gift was her ability to make people feel seen, loved and adored.

I know this because I was her person. We built a genuine connection, which was quite an accomplishment on her part.

My husband has a different perspective on things. He believes that he was Zena’s person.

Greer is equally sure she was.

And our younger daughter, Piper, would fight you over this paragraph because she knows she was Zena’s person.

That was the thing about Zena.

Somehow, she made each of us feel like we were the one — and we all bought it, hook, line and sinker. I’ve been thinking about how she did that. How did she make each of us feel that way — and what might we learn from the beautiful life she lived?

Reflecting on her life and all the time we spent with her — from kindergarten to college graduations, through moving from one city to another, to countless visits with friends, family and neighbors, here is what I know: Zena sat beside us.

She invited us to be with her on a daily basis.

She listened.

She was patient.

She was content on her own.

She was a problem solver.

For most of Zena’s life, she was an indoor/outdoor cat. For all of those years, we never had or needed a litter box. On the rare occasion she found herself inside when nature called, Zena taught herself to use one of our bathrooms — no mess, no fuss. She really was an incredible cat.

Zena didn’t ask for much, but she gave a lot. She witnessed more of our family’s history up close and personal than most people ever will — graduations, transitions, big decisions and plenty of ordinary days. Through all of that time, she was a steady, grounding presence.

In her final days, she slowed down, but she never disappeared.

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Q&A JILL RIGBy GARNER

Author wants to transform education through respect Garner confronts incivility in community

BY LAUREN CHERAMIE Staff writer

Jill Rigby Garner is an accomplished speaker, education expert, author and founder of Manners of the Heart, a nonprofit confronting incivility in our society. Manners of the Heart equips schools, encourages families and engages communities with its respect-based heart education.

Garner has published two parenting books: “Raising Respectful Children in a Disrespectful World” and “Raising Unselfish Children in a Self-Absorbed World,” which have been endorsed by Dr. Henry Cloud, Dennis Rainey, Dr. Kevin Leman and John Rosemond.

Additionally, Garner keynotes for education and corporate conferences and retreats, speaking on topics such as “The School of Respect,” “Closing the Generation Gap” and “Creating a Culture of Respect.”

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

What are some of the founding principles that Manners of the Heart is based on?

Our belief is that the content of the heart determines what a child will think or do. In the last 25 years since I’ve done Manners of the Heart, I’ve watched it all and have been the little voice saying, “Listen, why don’t you hear me?”

For many who have heard us, their classrooms’ discipline problems have gone down, and their academics go up. For the teachers who prescribe to heart education as the foundation for the way they teach, those are the rock star teachers every single time.

What does it mean to have the heart at the root of education as opposed to the mind?

The bottom line is this: the content of the heart determines what a child will think, say or do. For a child, incentives and short-term

PROVIDED PHOTO

Jill Rigby Garner is an accomplished speaker, education expert, author and founder of Manners of the Heart, a non-profit confronting incivility in our society. Manners of the Heart equips schools, encourages families and engages communities with its respect-based heart education. fixes do not give long-term results.

The more stickers you give kids, the stickier they get. Because then all their behaviors and choices are based on what they’re going to get. And if what they’re going to get is removed, there’s nothing there. There’s no internal motivation to succeed. You’ve only created a desire to get something.

In today’s world, everybody’s about being happy, and we’re the most miserable we’ve ever been.

For Manners of the Heart, we address the issue from all walks of life because every child has the same heart needs. Scripture tells us, “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.” That’s pretty clear.

What are some of the lessons that Manners of the Heart teaches?

We started with a once-a-week lesson, and it was volunteer-led in a classroom.

There are different things to keep the kids involved: songs, worksheets, interactive games, etc.

Then we evolved to train the teachers themselves, and they do it five days a week. Now, we’re removing the curriculum from the classroom, and we’re going to make the teacher the curriculum.

We’re going to equip teachers to live out and to be the example of our education themselves. We can teach kids what we know, but they’re going to emulate who we are.

This new curriculum will be called Heart Ed. We believe that every child can learn because we

it keeps you from being able to love others.

What we really need is respect for ourselves, not esteem for ourselves.

Every week, the kids work on two heart attributes: obedience, gentleness, empathy, humility, respect, resiliency or courtesy.

There are around 48 heart attributes that we work on.

With 25 years doing this work, what lessons have the kids taught you?

I was doing a presentation once with kids, where I drew a heart on a whiteboard and asked them to fill it with things that a strong heart would have.

One girl said, “Respecting.” So I wrote respect, and she said, “No, it’s not respect, it’s respecting.

That makes the difference. You can’t just have it in your heart, you have to do it. It has to show on the outside.”

I have learned that who a child is going to become as an adult, you see it when they’re 6, 7, 8 and maybe 9 years old.

That age group is what we focus on. We have found that the most important work for us, and where we most need to work to make the greatest impact, is pre-K to third grade.

What do you hope the future looks like for Manners of the Heart?

Since I founded Manners of the Heart, my vision is that this is an opportunity for a bright light to shine on Louisiana. When I travel around the country to speak, I always get this look, like, why would I dare say a word about education coming from Louisiana?

But what better place to find the real solution than the place with the worst trouble? Because if we find it here, it’s going to work.

Our dream is that Manners of the Heart becomes the foundation of education in the state and, of course, across the country.

know that every child has a purpose.

What are some other guiding principles that you teach?

A radical part of our teaching is that self-esteem was a grand deception. We were told that it was meant to fix all the problems out of the 1960s, that it was going to make the world a better place and we were all going to get along.

Carl Rogers rose his head up and said, “The problem is that nobody feels good about themselves, and that answer is going to be selfesteem.” We embraced it — hook, line and sinker. We fell for it.

Ever since, we have been esteeming ourselves, which is the clearest definition of self-esteem. Email Lauren Cheramie at The more you love yourself, the lauren.cheramie@theadvocate. less lovable you become, because com.

SCOUT

Continued from page 1y difficult to stay connected.

“She’s 5. She doesn’t want to talk to me on a video,” she said. “I have trouble keeping her on the phone.”

Griffin says those phone calls are often dominated by the little girl’s questions about her mom’s life in jail.

“I don’t like lying to her because I don’t want her to think that I’m not there by choice. I want her to know I’m not there because I can’t be,” Griffin said. “She knows Mama didn’t listen, and now I’m punished.”

Griffin worries that her not being there has caused Emma to act out more in kindergarten, looking for attention that she misses from her mom.

On one phone call, Emma asked if her mom had a window in jail where she could see the snow that fell in January.

Griffin said that the holidays and the birthday she missed were the hardest on Emma.

“But I’m home before her next birthday,” she said. “I’m making it.”

‘They’re still mothers’ Beyond Bars started in New Orleans in 2013, modeled after similar Girl Scouts prison programs in other states.

According to Dianne Rose, the outreach director for Girl Scouts Louisiana East at the time, she was urged to start Beyond Bars by students in the Southern University New Orleans Criminal Justice Department who believed it would provide encouragement for incarcerated women to maintain good behavior and plan for their eventual release.

“The basics of the program was to keep a relationship between the moms and between the daughters, and to keep them bonded. So they can just touch each other,” said Dianne Rose.

When Beyond Bars started, with the approval

STAFF PHOTO By JAN RISHER

Zena, 2005-2025

RISHER

Continued from page 1y

PROVIDED PHOTO

Skye, 10, laughs as her mom Kimberly Franklin helps her build a garden toy recently at a Girl Scouts ‘Beyond Bars’ meeting. of then-Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman, it was the first in-person visitation option available to any of OPSO’s inmates.

That remains true today, a fact current Sheriff Susan Hutson laments, saying that the manpower necessary to operate those programs is not realistic.

Beyond Bars itself had to take a pause for several months following an incident in 2024 where the teenage daughter of one inmate used a meeting to stash drugs for her mother in a bathroom at the Conchetta facility.

“I wanted to end it. I was so upset about it,” Hutson, who is a former Girl Scout herself, said of Beyond Bars.

Instead, the program was limited to only younger Scouts. Stricter rules

were put in place for what caretakers could bring inside with them during meetings.

In the end, the ability of the program to aid in inmates’ rehabilitation won out over fears of future incidents.

“They’re still mothers, and they love their children,” Hutson said.

Selling cookies These Scouts have all of their expenses covered, from their membership fees, to their uniforms, to the badges they earn, and even to the troop excursions and other troop activities they join outside the meetings with their moms.

These young Scouts even join in on the Girl Scouts’ iconic cookie sale.

Franklin’s daughter Skye, who is still only a Brownie Scout, participated earlier this year, selling

cookies outside of the Conchetta facility to deputies as they walked in and out.

Skye sold over 300 boxes of cookies, working her way up through the tiers of prizes scouts can win. Lonnie Carter said Skye’s efforts were extraordinary.

Skye’s grandmother, Dawn Franklin, also said that giving Skye the chance to regularly see her mom has helped her daughter and granddaughter.

“It gives (Franklin) some positivity of coming out and knowing, ‘OK, I’m in here for whatever circumstances, and everybody’s here for different circumstances,’ ” Dawn Franklin said, “But you still have a life out, and if you have an opportunity to clear whatever’s going on with you, this is what you need to be focused on — coming home and dealing with your family.”

Taymika Sharrieff, the membership director for Girl Scouts Louisiana East with over 25 years of experience, agreed. In her time, she’s seen dozens of mothers and daughters reunited through this program.

Sharrieff says the program gives a participant the chance to reflect and consider that meeting with her daughter is important — realizing that she wants to do better. She wants to see her child grow up.

“No matter what has happened, no matter why you are here, I personally do not care,” Sharrieff said.

“I care that you’re having this relationship with your daughter and that she can see ‘my mom loves me.’ ” Email Quinn Coffman at quinn.coffman@ theadvocate.com.

She primarily became my husband’s studio cat, but she continued to make her rounds. She still loved to be rubbed between her eyes and to find a warm spot in the sun.

As much-loved pets do, Zena’s presence will stay with us. In her own way, Zena reminds us of what really matters: Being present means a lot.

You don’t always have to talk to connect.

Loving the people in front of you goes a long way.

Email Jan Risher at jan. risher@theadvocate.com.

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Accidental delta taught La. scientists how to rebuild wetlands

BY ELISE PLUNK and EVA TESFAYE Contributing writers

Editor’s note: This story, created

by Elise Plunk for the Louisiana Illuminator and Eva Tesfaye for WWNO is part of the Solutions Journalism Network. Louisiana Inspired features solutions journalism stories that provide tangible evidence that positive change is happening in other places and in our own communities — solutions that can be adopted around the world.

Amid the rapid erosion of Louisiana’s coast, something hopeful is happening where the Atchafalaya River meets the Gulf. A flow of sediment from a decades-old river diversion has accidentally given birth to new wetlands.

While that small delta is dwarfed by what’s washing away all around it, researchers have gained knowledge from Wax Lake Delta that could help save the rest of Louisiana’s coast and contribute to a better understanding of wetland science across the globe.

“We have sea level rise, we have storms, but yet … the Wax Lake Delta remains and continues to grow and reach out into the Atchafalaya Basin,” said Alisha Renfro, a coastal scientist with the National Wildlife Federation.

Researchers at Louisiana State University’s Coastal Systems Ecology Lab, led by wetland scientist and professor Robert Twilley, take regular trips to Wax Lake to study what makes a healthy wetland. They monitor soil chemistry and study the way water moves throughout the delta, depositing sediment and building land as it flows.

“Wax Lake has this beautiful, long history of researchers that literally wrote the textbook on what is a delta based on that region,” Twilley said.

Rather than having to rely on computer modeling for their research, Wax Lake is known as a “living laboratory,” said Renfro, describing it as the perfect place to study what makes a healthy wetland.

A happy accident During a research trip on a bright February morning, alligators meandered through the marshy channels of the Wax Lake Delta, part of the Atchafalaya Wildlife Management Area. The

scientists were happy to see them.

The presence of so many apex predators in the muddy water is a testament to the health of the ecosystem, said Jessica Richardson, a data manager working with Twilley at LSU in the Coastal Sciences department.

White ibises gathered together on the land, and schools of silvery fish darted through the dark water.

“You’ve got different wildlife nesting, laying eggs, such as alligators … and birds that fly, that come in during different seasons and nest,” Twilley said.

Deltas are formed from sediment that collects at the end of a river, like the Mississippi or Atchafalaya. Over time, this sediment builds, creating new land and using nutrients carried by the river to grow vegetation, the roots of which stabilize the new soil and keep it from eroding.

Deltaic wetlands are uniquely diverse and ecologically valuable.

When a river flows into the delta, “it’s not just water,” said Ivan Vargas-Lopez, a wetland scientist and researcher with the Coastal Systems Ecology Lab. “It’s bringing a lot of nutrients, a lot of sediment, a lot of particles, a lot of material …” Vargas-Lopez said. “When the water recedes, a lot of that material stays.”

This process can happen naturally over thousands of years, but the new land built from Wax Lake happened by mistake. “(Wax Lake) teaches us about the balance, that if you supply the right amount of sediment into an environment, that you outweigh the influence of subsidence and sea level. You will be able to establish and maintain a healthy ecosystem,” said Ehab Meselhe, a river and coastal scientist at Tulane University.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dug a channel in 1941 to try to reduce flooding in nearby Morgan City, redirecting the flow of water from the Atchafalaya. This started the process of sediment buildup, noticed only after a massive flood in 1973 flushed a torrent of dirt down the river.

For Wax Lake, land is built through flooding. Floods bring in great heaps of sediment, spreading it out across the floodplain in

a lobelike shape at the end of the river.

“Under that water, you’re building a delta, and all of a sudden it sort of … pops up,” Twilley said.

Over time, the process forms the wetlands so important to the integrity of Louisiana’s coast.

Reversing wetland loss Subsidence, or the slow sinking of land, paired with ongoing oil and gas development and sea level rise caused by climate change is erasing Louisiana’s coastal wetlands — and fast. These wetlands are some of the most vulnerable in the world, with much of the coast washing away at a rate of about a football field every 100 minutes, endangering cities, towns and livelihoods all along the coast.

Wax Lake Delta bucks this trend, with one estimate from LSU researchers suggesting land grows by about half a square mile a year.

Louisiana officials and researchers are scrambling to respond to the wetland crisis and using Wax Lake’s land-building success to inform other coastal restoration efforts, such as marsh creation, manmade oyster reefs and rebuilding barrier islands.

Meselhe used data from Wax Lake Delta in his work on the Mid-Barataria sediment diversion project, which would redirect the Mississippi River into the Barataria Basin to reverse land loss in coastal parishes. The diversion has been highly controversial due to its impact on fisheries, and it’s facing delays and legal challenges.

The Wax Lake Delta data helped him to understand how the interaction between water flow, sediment buildup and plant growth worked to build land. He also looked at how land is being built by another diversion called West Bay and at the Bonnet Carré spillway to see how the diversion would impact the river itself. Then he used that information to calibrate models to help explain how Mid-Barataria would work.

“Wax Lake, West Bay and Bonnet Carré served as examples because they had data and measurements and maps over a number of years that helped us to have confidence and trust in the models we ended up using for the Mid-Barataria

area,” he said.

The LSU Center for River Studies houses a massive model of the Mississippi River in its Baton Rouge facility, built using data including water velocity and sediment concentrations observed at Wax Lake and other Louisiana deltas. Researchers and students use it to test how sediment moves with the Mississippi River and where it’s deposited.

Physical models are useful and necessary; the Army Corps has used them since the early 20th century. But Twilley said field observations like those done at Wax Lake are crucial.

“Models are not to do your thinking. Models are to help you think,” he said. “Once we build these models of the way we think these systems work and the way they operate, you know, it’s great to go visit somewhere else and see if your hypothesis stands or not.”

Added benefits As scientists study how Wax Lake builds land, they can also better understand the added benefits of healthy wetlands, such as natural carbon storage and nutrient reduction.

Because Wax Lake has been building wetlands for decades, Twilley’s lab can compare older and newer areas of marsh.

“The older delta does a much better job at holding the soil and serving as a hurricane protection system than the younger,” he said.

Mature wetlands also store massive amounts of carbon in organic matter, found in dead plants.

Buried in the marsh, they keep microorganisms from eating the carbon and releasing it as planetwarming CO2. Wetlands also filter excess nitrogen out of the water, sequestering it before it reaches the Gulf and contributes to harmful algal blooms and the “dead zone.”

That’s one of the reasons it’s important to protect existing wetlands, Twilley said. Their systems are already established and don’t have to play catch up.

“You gotta let these deltas age before they really reach their full capacity,” he said. “You will get a jump start by already having some wetlands out there.”

An uncertain future While the science is clear — wetlands have lots of benefits and we know how to build more of them — the future is not. America’s wetlands are under increased threat.

After hundreds of years of draining them for agriculture and housing—and historic efforts to protect them — regulations are now being rolled back.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimated that wetlands covered about 6% of the lower 48 states as of 2019 — about half the amount of wetlands that existed around 1780.

The report also found that the rate of wetland loss increased 50% during the latest study period. Wetlands are now being lost faster than ever, from a combination of drainage for agriculture, development and the effects of climate change.

Louisiana’s coastal wetlands make up about 40% of all coastal marshes in the United States, according to a series of reports from the U.S. Geological Survey conducted throughout the 1980s and finished in 1996, which found that “wetlands once covered more than one-half of the area that is now Louisiana, but wetland acreage has declined to less than one-third of the state’s land surface over the last 200 years.”

Changes at the federal level could also increase risk of continued wetland loss.

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin announced plans to redefine what are designated in federal law as Waters of the United States, sometimes called WOTUS. The changes affect what qualifies as a federally protected body of water under the Clean Water Act. The fate of the Mississippi River’s precious wetlands hangs in the balance.

Research on Wax Lake Delta illustrates that wetlands are more important than ever. Renfro said that’s why it’s critical to take these lessons and use them to build more wetlands.

“At the end of the day, reconnecting the river with those wetlands it once built is kind of the consistent way to build robust, healthy coastal ecosystems that continue to grow.”

At Our Lady of the Lake, we’re not just setting the standard – we are elevating it. We lead the way in healthcare, research and innovation, and what we do today is what others will strive to imitate tomorrow. Our mission guides us, and a spirit of excellence propels us – because the communities we are privileged to serve deserve nothing less. ololrmc.com/excellence

Michael Truax Jr., MD Emergency Medicine

Family first started by selling root beer – Zatarains –

TRIVIA WITH A LOUISIANA FLAVOR

PLAY IT TODAY!

THEADVOCATE.COM/CLUEDAT

4Y ■ Sunday, May 11, 2025 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

lll

Pesky caterpillars back early in Louisiana sects are ahead of schedule this What to do if year.

“I think we just had warmer you get stung by a weather in general and that, buck moth caterpillar paired with rain and high humid-

BY HANNAH LEVITAN Staff writer

ity, may have jump-started the insect population,” Ashbrook said.

Last year, the population was particularly large. Ashbrook said the 2023 drought may have impacted the buck moths’ diapause, a period of forced, extended development triggered by unfavorable weather conditions.

“Some insects, as pupae, can have an extended development where the conditions are not prime and so they emerge a year later,” Ashbrook said.

It’s that time of the year again: stinging caterpillar season. Furry buck moth caterpillars, armed with hollow spines attached to their venom sac, are slowly emerging throughout the state.

Known for their painful stings, buck moth caterpillars typically hit their peak from April to June.

Coming out of their eggs in March, the spiky crawlers rely on warm weather to fuel their growth.

And already, New Orleanians If you get stung n Remove spines by using adhehave reported sightings and stingings. sive tape or tweezers n Use a cold compress Jump-start in population n Apply a baking soda paste Dr. Aaron Ashbrook, LSU as- mixed with water n Take antihistamines sistant professor of entomology, n Use hydrocortisone cream said the stinging occurs when the n Wash the area with soap and caterpillars’ spines break off into the skin and deposits a venom. water and let it air dry n Seek immediate care if you But as they become larger, he said, they will become solitary show signs of anaphylaxis. and feed on leaves.

“I imagine that with the big Sensitivity vs allergies population we had last year, we Most people aren’t allergic to may have a similar or slightly caterpillars like they are other insmaller population due to the sects. But that doesn’t mean you cold,” Ashbrook said. can’t have a local reaction.

Since the leaf litters are in shelAccording to Dr. Reena Mehta, tered areas, he said many were allergist at Uptown Allergy and Asthma, these kinds of reactions protected from the snowstorm.

But with the warm weather, in- cause swelling, redness and irrita-

STAFF FILE PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK

Recently hatched buck moth caterpillars crawl on an oak tree in Baton Rouge. Many south Louisiana residents come in contact with these stinging insects every spring. The caterpillar’s spines are hollow and are connected to poison glands and contact with them can cause a painful sting coupled with inflammation similar to a bee sting. The irritation can last several days and can be accompanied by nausea. tion.

Other stinging insects like bees, wasps, hornets and fire ants are more likely to cause anaphylaxis.

“But with caterpillars, that’s not (as common) or a true allergy,” Mehta said. “True allergy to caterpillars is rare.”

To spray or not to spray Spraying around the home can help, Mehta said, but the timing for treatment is key.

Insecticides work best when sprayed on trees early in the season, between late March and early

April.

Though it may be too late to spray this year, consider organic options like BT (Bacillus thuringiensis) and spinosad for next season. Both are sold under a variety of different names, but can be found at home improvement stores.

FAITH & VALUES

Small-town hero on the verge of sainthood

BY ROSE CONLON Contributing writer

Nestled between rolling prairies and wind turbines about 60 miles north of Wichita, the rural farming community of Pilsen has no post office, gas station or stoplight. What it does have is the Chaplain Kapaun Museum and St. John Nepomucene Church, which draws a couple hundred visitors here each month — a number that is likely to grow significantly in the coming years.

The visitors come because of the Rev. Emil Kapaun, a Catholic priest and Korean War hero who’s under consideration by the Vatican for sainthood. Earlier this year, Pope Francis named Kapaun “venerable,” bringing him one step closer to canonization. The road ahead is long, but it could bring big changes to his hometown.

On a recent Friday afternoon at Kapaun’s museum — housed in the rectory where he lived as a young priest in the early 1940s — volunteer tour guide Melissa Stuchlik flipped through the museum’s guest book, filled with names from Kansas, Texas, California and beyond. In the church next door, more than a dozen young men gathered for Mass after making a 75-mile pilgrimage on foot in Kapaun’s honor.

Stuchlik says the journey to Pilsen is a spiritual experience for many visitors.

“There’s something special about driving away from the commotion of the city,” she said. “It’s focusing.”

As an Army chaplain in World War II and the Korean War, Kapaun didn’t carry a gun. But President Barack Obama, while awarding him a posthumous Medal of Honor in 2013 for his bravery on the battlefield, said the priest wielded the mightiest weapon of all.

“A love for his brothers so pure,” Obama said, “that he was willing to die so that they might live.”

Kapaun dragged injured soldiers to safety during the Battle of Unsan. As enemy forces closed in, he allowed himself to be captured so he could continue to care for his men. In the Korean prison camp where they were held, that meant stealing food and medicine to keep them alive and tending to the sick — just as much as it did offering spiritual guidance to men from a wide range of faiths. Kapaun reportedly prayed not only for his fellow prisoners of war, but also for the guards who held them captive.

After falling ill and being denied medical attention, Kapaun died in the camp in 1951 at the age of 35.

As Stuchlik walked a tour group through the Pilsen church, she pointed out the crucifix Kapaun carried as an altar server and the

PROVIDED PHOTO By U.S. ARMy COL. RAyMOND A. SKEEHAN

The Rev. Emil Kapaun celebrates Mass, using the hood of his jeep as an altar, as his assistant, Patrick J. Schuler, kneels in prayer in Korea on Oct. 7, 1950, less than a month before Kapaun was taken prisoner. baptismal font in which he was baptized. Both would become second-class relics if — or as Stuchlik says, when — Kapaun is named a saint. Relics are objects venerated by the church due to their connection with a saint, including physical remains and personal artifacts.

They serve as tangible points of connection with the holy.

“We’ve had kids (from) as far as South Korea come to be baptized in our baptismal font,” Stuchlik said.

Visitor numbers have picked up in Pilsen since Kapaun was declared venerable. Stuchlik says adding more tours requires keeping the church open every day, meaning higher air conditioning bills in the hot Kansas summer.

But it’s nothing compared to what could happen later — the relics of saints can draw tens of thousands of pilgrims to holy places each year. That could mean big changes for Pilsen.

“I think it would be a lot of bedand-breakfasts popping up all over the place,” Stuchlik said. “We joke about the McDonald’s and the Hyatt.”

She says there’s a lot for the town to gain — and maybe lose.

“Because right now, if you sat outside on our front porch, you would hear the quiet and the peacefulness. And we’d want to keep some of that.

“But,” she added, “there will always be a place in Pilsen for Father.”

The Vatican declared Kapaun a Servant of God in 1993, begin-

ning a formal investigation into his cause for sainthood. But his cause began to look rosier in 2021 when his remains — thought to be lost in a mass grave in Korea — were identified in an unmarked grave in Hawaii. His body now lies in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Wichita.

The next step on the path to sainthood is beatification, which could jump-start an effort to build a shrine to Kapaun.

“Beatification is really the step where things start to change,” said Scott Carter, coordinator for Kapaun’s cause for sainthood. “I think there’s a great desire to have a shrine to Kapaun.”

Shrines, which are often churches, house relics and artifacts of those venerated by the church.

They serve as pilgrimage sites — sacred destinations for Catholics seeking to deepen their connection with their faith through a physical journey.

It’s not clear yet whether Kapaun’s would be in Pilsen, about 3 miles northeast of the farm where he grew up, or elsewhere in the diocese, such as Wichita.

Two hours south, the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City wrestled with a similar question after the Vatican beatified Oklahoma martyr and priest Stanley Rother in 2017.

The shrine’s executive director, Miguel Mireles, said leaders determined Rother’s small Oklahoma hometown of Okarche

wouldn’t have been able to support the number of visitors the shrine would draw.

“Part of the deal with building a shrine is that you have pilgrims coming on pilgrimage from all over, and you have to have amenities for them,” he said. “They need a place to stay, they need a place to eat.”

Rother’s shrine was built in Oklahoma City and opened to the public in 2023. Last year, around a quarter million people visited.

“Now, there’s more folks that are looking at investing in (hospitality) businesses around us because there’s more demand.”

Mireles says the shrine brought a new, large-capacity church to Oklahoma City’s substantially Hispanic south side, which was struggling with overcrowding in its existing churches. And it served as a new anchor to the city’s growing Catholic community.

“It’s an exciting time to see the church alive, here in our home,” he said.

But sainthood — and a busier Pilsen — could be decades away.

The Vatican will next investigate potential miracles attributed to Kapaun’s intercession from heaven. Catholics believe saints can bring prayers to God on their behalf. One confirmed miracle is needed for beatification and a second is needed for canonization as a saint.

“Most of the time, these are medical miracles,” said Scott Carter, the coordinator for Kapaun’s cause

for sainthood at the Catholic Diocese of Wichita. “Because we’re able to look for evidence of an actual problem, to show that there’s a change that happens and that change can’t be explained through medical intervention.”

Saints and stories of their miracles perform two key functions in the church, according to Carter.

They serve as examples for Catholics on how to live the gospel in today’s age. And they offer solace during times of hardship.

“It reminds us,” he said, “that God has not left us alone.”

One potential miracle attributed to Kapaun involves Chase Kear, a former college athlete who nearly died in a pole-vaulting accident in 2008. Sitting in his parent’s living room in Colwich, Kansas, the memory of the fateful track practice still brings him to tears.

He was 14 feet in the air when, he says, he realized he’d lost control. He flew past the landing mat and landed head-first on the hard track, fracturing his skull from ear to ear.

“All I remember was a white flash,” he said.

After being airlifted to the hospital, Chase was put into a medically induced coma. But it didn’t stop his brain from swelling. Doctors told his mom, Paula, that they’d have to remove part of his skull.

“They told us that he has a better chance of dying on the table than living through the surgery,” she said.

Chase did live through the surgery. And, despite doctors removing around 10% of his brain, he started walking, then talking. He graduated college and got a job; got married and had kids. Paula says he’s defied every doctor’s expectations.

“They cannot explain it,” she said. “And they, every one of them, have said that he is a miracle.”

Through it all, his family and church community prayed. One constant they repeated was the Father Kapaun Prayer, asking him to intercede for Chase’s healing.

Stuchlik thinks Kapaun’s work has continued in the years since his death. Many who live in Pilsen and many who visit have stories of their own.

“They know that Father has touched their lives,” she said. “And we know he touches ours.”

Regardless of what happens next with Kapaun’s cause for sainthood, Stuchlik is excited for his story to continue to spread — and for what it could mean for her community.

Including, she says, for its potholes.

“Hopefully, as we get more traffic into Pilsen, we’ll be more of a priority,” she said. “It’d be great if we could get the roads a little less bumpy.”

SUNDAY, MAY 11, 2025

CURTIS / by Ray Billingsley

SLYLOCK FOX / by Bob Weber Jr.

GET FUZZY / by Darby Conley

HAGAR THE HORRIBLE / by Chris Browne

MOTHER GOOSE AND GRIMM / by Mike Peters

ZIGGY / by Tom Wilson

SALLY FORTH / by Francesco Marciuliano & Jim Keefe

ZITS / by Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman

PEARLS BEFORE SWINE / by Stephan Pastis

wonderword

scrabble grams

word game

directions: Make a 2- to 7-letter word from the letters in each row. Add points of each word, using scoring directions at right. Finally, 7-letter words get 50-point bonus.

“Blanks” used as any letter have no point value.

All the words are in the Official SCRABBLE® Players Dictionary, 5th Edition.

instructions: 1. Words must be of four or more letters.

2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed. 3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.

For more information on tournaments and clubs, email NASPA – North American SCRABBLE Players Association: info@scrabbleplayers.org. Visit our website: www.scrabbleplayers.org. For puzzle inquiries contact scrgrams@gmail.com.

Hasbro and its logo SCRABBLE associated logo, the design of the distinctive SCRABBLE brand game card, and the distinctive letter tile designs are trademarks of Hasbro in the United States and Canada. ©2025 Hasbro. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

cryptoquote AxyDLBAAxR iS LONgFELLOW One letter stands for another. in this sample, A is used for the three L’s, x for the two O’s, etc. Single letters, apostrophes, the length and formation of the words are all hints. Each day the code letters are different.

AnsWers to ALL PuZZLes Are on inside BAcK PAGe

todAY's Word — LuXuriAte: lukSHUR-ee-ate: To indulge oneself.

Average mark 42 words Time limit 60 minutes Can you find 53 or more words in LUXURIATE?

Sudoku

ken ken instructions: 1 - Each row and each column must contain the numbers 1 through 4 (easy) or 1 through 6 (challenging) without repeating.

2 - The numbers within the heavily outlined boxes, called cages, must combine using the given operation (in any order) to produce the target numbers in the top-left corners.

3 - Freebies: Fill in the single-box cages with the number in the top-left corner.

instructions: Sudoku is a number-placing puzzle based on a 9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. The difficulty level of the Conceptis Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday.

hidato directions: Complete the grid so that numbers 1–132 connect horizontally, vertically or diagonally.

AnsWers to ALL PuZZLes Are on inside BAcK PAGe

Los angeLes Times sunday Crossword puzzLe — Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis “zero g” By maTT reVis aCross 1 Sporty Mazdas 7 Kilt feature 12 Covert org.

15 Adobe exports 19 “It’s five __ somewhere!”

20 Israeli port city 21 “Ta-da!”

23 Judges in a best brie competition?

25 Lusty reaction 26 Mata __ 27 “GoodFellas” Oscar winner 28 Small, in France 29 Dove sound 30 Env. directive 31 Truly blessed commuter line?

34 Michael of “Barbie” 35 102-Down goddess 37 Party-planning site 38 Geographic pit 39 MMA org.

42 Pinkberry rival 44 Joan of folk music 45 Insert marks 46 Gets on, as a horse 48 Tirade that begins, “Why can’t those Sirens just shut up!?,” e.g.?

52 Phony 53 Unite while away 54 “The Yearling” animal 55 Espy 59 Comics sound effect 61 Roll on a field 63 Soybean paste 65 Buckeyes’ sch.

66 Rotate crops of corn?

68 The weather

forecast Snap, Crackle, and Pop were hoping for?

71 Philosophy associated with yin and yang 72 New Mexico art hub 73 Glasses, colloquially 75 Hardwired 76 Harmonized, with “in” 78 Eats 80 Poe’s middle name 82 French __ soup 84 Party debriefs?

87 In a crass way 88 Dr. Evil’s sidekick 91 “May I say ... “ 92 Iowa college city 94 Tabloid 95 Mixed in with 96 Japanese beer 98 Follow the rules 100 Back muscles, to trainers 101 Intercom message when a young boy arrives at the office?

105 Pillbox letters 109 Previously 110 Prince of Troy 111 Cancel 112 Dance in “Lilo & Stitch” 113 Snack with green filling 115 Cause of longing in a long-distance marriage?

118 Diamond in the rough, e.g.

119 Hanukkah fare 120 Mysteriously alluring 121 Spec item 122 Mantra syllables 123 Musical theater legend Merman 124 Hoedown goround down 1 Chocolaty cafe order

2 Bygone Apple messaging tool 3 Heads-up 4 __ the line 5 Summer coolers, briefly 6 Doubters 7 Segment 8 Gate closer 9 “With a moo moo here ... “ preceder 10 Sahara continent: Abbr.

11 Prof aides 12 Word of warning 13 How tic-tac-toe often ends 14 Motrin competitor 15 PBS documentary film series 16 Bishop’s territory 17 Put the pedal to the metal 18 Some Pacific Islanders 22 Large container 24 Amy Winehouse hit 28 Highly valued 32 Renter 33 Part of YSL 34 Supermarket supply 36 Work like a magnet 38 Prohibit 39 Official behind a catcher 40 Walking path 41 Chair softener 43 “The King and I” star Brynner 44 Avoid 45 “The Tonight Show” icon 47 Small salamander 49 Tolkien epic, familiarly 50 Late tourney round 51 Control 53 Barely manage, as a win

56 Actor/director Sidney 57 Seminole leader of the 19th century 58 First pt. of many a short week 60 Gliding ballet move 62 Early tourney round 64 Futile 66 City map lines, briefly

goren Bridge

67 Egyptian reptiles 69 Tricycle rod 70 Cape Town currency 74 Aside containers, for short 77 Does pull-ups 79 Beginnings 81 Light __ feather 83 MetLife Stadium team, on scoreboards

wuzzLes

85 “Wowzers!”

86 Mississippi tributary 87 Countered, in a debate 88 “The Natural” novelist 89 Visualize 90 Never, or at least twice 93 Roger who played James Bond seven times 96 NBA legend

Abdul-Jabbar 97 Phrases that don’t translate well 99 Some Swift characters 101 Key __ 102 Realm of 35-Across 103 Plug-in transport 104 Peak performance?

106 Muslim cleric 107 Kilt feature

108 Name called out in a swimming pool 110 Coffee unit 114 Scolding syllable 115 Pub order 116 Stand at the plate 117 Kitchen brand

super Quiz

Delicate play

Take this Super Quiz to a Ph.D. Score 1 point for each correct answer on the Freshman Level, 2 points on the graduate Level and 3 points on the Ph.D. Level.

North’s hand is typical for a modern-style vulnerable preemptive raise in competition. This is very common for today’s tournament players, but less so for social players. South’s decision to bid game was on the aggressive side, but reasonable. The contract needed careful handling.

South won the opening spade lead with his ace and would have failed if he took the trump finesse right away. East would have won and returned a trump, and the losing diamond finesse would have defeated the contract. Instead, South ruffed a spade in dummy at trick two, led a club to his ace, and led another spade. He ruffed with dummy’s seven of hearts. Had East stated with a doubleton spade and the eight of hearts, South would have needed a successful red-suit finesse to make his contract. The seven won the trick as East followed suit. A diamond to the queen now would have been fatal, as West would have won and led a heart. South correctly led a diamond to his ace and ruffed his last spade with dummy’s ace of

SUBJECT: STARS (e.g., Name the closest star to Earth. Answer: The sun.)

FRESHMAN LEVEL 1. This word for a large system of stars is from the Greek word for “milk.”

Answer________ 2. Name the galaxy that contains our solar system.

Answer________ 3. What TV show is abbreviated to “DWTS”?

Answer________ 4. By what “star” nickname is the American flag known?

Answer________ 5. In this musical, Javert sings the song “Stars.”

Answer________

hearts. A low heart from dummy now started the process of drawing trumps. South eventually lost one heart, one diamond, and one club to make his contract. Nicely played!

Tannah Hirsch welcomes readers’ responses sent in care of this newspaper or to Tribune Content Agency inc., 2225 Kenmore Ave., Suite 114, Buffalo, Ny. 14207. E-mail responses may be sent to gorenbridge@ aol.com. © 2025 Tribune Content Agency

GRADUATE LEVEL 6. How many horizontal rows of stars are on the American flag?

Answer________ 7. What is the name for a scientist who studies objects such as stars, moons and galaxies?

Answer________

ANSWERS TO ALL PUZZLES ARE ON NEXT PAGE

8. In which of Shakespeare’s plays is, “The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves”?

Answer________ 9. What is the term for a group of stars that form a shape in the sky and has a name?

Answer________ 10. What is the word for an astrological forecast of a person’s future?

Answer________ PH.D. LEVEL 11. Who composed “The Stars and Stripes Forever”?

Answer________ 12. Name the brightest star in the night sky.

Answer________ 13. Which constellation is supposedly shaped like a bull?

Answer________ 14. What is the term for a star that suddenly becomes much brighter because it is exploding?

Answer________ 15. Name the two main components of a star.

Answer________

zodiaC TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Emotions will surface, and anger will mount if you get into a debate. Focus on personal progress, lifestyle and budgeting. Life is about choices and using your strengths to reach positive goals.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Stretch your imagination. Participate in events that help you grow, provide independence and promote connections with people who have something to contribute.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) Keep your money, possessions and secrets to yourself. Engaging in joint ventures or sharing too much personal

information will make you vulnerable. Trust your instincts and follow your heart.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Research and follow through with your plans.

Taking short trips, reconnecting with old friends and discussing your plans with someone you want to spend more time with will offer insight into what’s possible.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Settle any difference and move on to what makes you happy. Attend a reunion, face your demons and pour your heart into self-improvement. Be open, positive and proactive.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) Visit places that intrigue you. Communicate with the people you encounter, and you’ll gain insight into exciting possibilities. Don’t sit idle when interaction is the key to new beginnings.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) Share your thoughts and feelings, and observe the response you receive. It’s time to weed out some people, pastimes and projects that keep you from enjoying yourself.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Tidy up loose ends and start anew. An innovative approach to how you live and run your home will send

you on an adventure. Take control, and you’ll discover what’s possible.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Take care of responsibilities. If you take the path that leads to satisfaction, you’ll cross paths with those who share your heart’s desires.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Keep your eye on the ball and your head in the game. Refuse to let anyone lure you into an argument. Be open to trying something new and expanding your circle of friends.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) Attitude is everything. Put a positive spin on whatever you decide to do, and

you’ll change the mood in the room.

You will get the highest return through your actions, not through your words.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) Surround yourself with people who share your likes. Take a creative approach to whatever you do, and it will encourage you to pick up skills and tools that can help expand your interests.

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

dustin / by Steve Kelley & Jeff Parker

Answers to puzzles super quiz 1. Galaxy. 2. Milky Way. 3. "Dancing with the Stars." 4. Stars and Stripes or Star-Spangled Banner. 5. "Les Misérables." 6. Nine.

7. Astronomer. 8. "Julius Caesar." 9. Constellation.

10. Horoscope. 11. John Philip Sousa. 12. Sirius (Dog Star). 13. TAURUS. 14. Supernova.

15. Hydrogen and helium.

SCORING: 24 to 30 points — congratulations, doctor; 18 to 23 points — honors graduate; 13 to 17 points — you’re plenty smart, but no grind; 5 to 12 points — you really should hit the books harder; 1 point to 4 points — enroll in remedial courses immediately; 0 points — who reads the questions to you?

Cryptoquote Answer You change the world by being yourself. — Yoko Ono

word GAme Answer lair late later latex liar lieu lite liter luau lure lute luxe ultra urea utile rail rale

rate real relax relit retail rile rite ritual rule ilex irate alert alit alter axel axle tail

tale tare taxer taxi teal tear tier tile tiler tire trail trial true earl etui exalt exit

extra exult

sudoKu Answer jumble Answer

Crossword Answers

jeFF mACnelly’s shoe / by Gary Brookins & Susie MacNelly

sCrAbble Answers

FoXtrot / by Bill Amend

wuzzles Answers

Ken Ken Answers

hidAto Answers