The Times-Picayune 05-25-2025

Ourdailybread

ThenextgenerationatLeidenheimer, famed bakerofpo-boybread,isintentonmaintaining cornerstoneofNew Orleansculture

BY IAN McNULTY |Staff writer

During aweekday lunch at Domilise’s Po-Boys, cooks working behind awell-worn counter were cutting 32-inch loaves of bread down to sandwich size, slathering the mayo and ladling gravy.All around the tightly packed dining room of this onetime bar-turned-restaurant deep Uptown, people were digging in, anda few tourists weresnapping photos of their lunch. The po-boy,after all, is an enduring emblem of New Orleans food Sharing atable over po-boysinthe middle of the room were afatherand sonwhose work is now deeply entwined withmaintainingthatstatus.

Sandy Whann, 60, and his sonWilliam Whann, 28, represent the fourth and fifthgenerations at Leidenheimer Baking Co., maker of the lion’s

share of the distinctive local loaf known as New Orleans French bread, the essential first ingredient of any po-boy

They werevisitinga longtime customer Domilise’s, itself athird-generation family business, is one of Leidenheimer’slongest-running accounts. Increasingly these days it’s theson, WilliamWhann, asking cooksand shopmanagershow they’re doing, and what they might need.

“When Isee them together,Isee my future. That’sthe future forDomilise’s,”saidpo-boy shop proprietor Joanne Domilise. “Weput alot intoour roastbeef, intoour seafood. But thebread is the first thing people eat. If you don’thave that, you don’thave po-boys.Weneed them.”

Bread comes through the giant oven at Leidenheimer Baking Co.inNew Orleans, the primary producer of loavesfor the city’sfamous po-boys. TOP: William Whann and his father,SandyWhann, of LeidenheimerBaking Co. share alunch at Domilise’sPo-Boy& Bar,where sandwiches are madeontheir family company’sbread.

Localbuyersfloated forFairGrounds Race Course Horseracing industry thinksBenson, Bernhard haveinterest

BY ANTHONY McAULEY |Staff writer

With Churchill Downs Inc., the Kentucky-based owner of the Fair Grounds Race Course and Slots,threateningto leave the state if it doesn’tget apublic subsidy,leading figures in the local horse racing industryare eyeing two

Cantrell leaving mixedbag fornext N.O. mayor

Thecrime rate is plummeting, butthe population is dwindling

BY JAMES FINN, BEN MYERS,SOPHIEKASAKOVE and JONI HESS |Staff writers

NewOrleans’ population is shrinking again after years of steady recovery from Hurricane Katrina. Alack of affordable housing is making life unbearable forsome.

At the same time, residents are taking home biggerincomes than eight years ago, whenMayor LaToya Cantrell was running for thecity’stop office. Anddespite asurge in killingsin2022, crime later plummeted, and 2025 is on pace to finish as the city’sleastdeadly year on record.

Aswathofeconomic, housing, demographic and crimedata reviewed by The Times-Picayune paintsa complex portraitofthe city the next mayor will inherit when Cantrell leaves office in January. NewOrleans has made strides in key areas over her eight-year term, a period when the city weathered several punishing hurricanes and aglobal pandemic. But its leaders have struggled mightily to enact meaningful progress on other entrenched challenges.

NewOrleans

term, aperiod when the city weathered punishing hurricanes and aglobal pandemic. But itsleaders have struggled to enact progress on other challenges.

Projectmuchsmaller than Mid-Baratariapitched as itsreplacement

BY ALEXLUBBEN |Staff writer

Gov. Jeff Landry’splan to abandon the $3 billion Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion, once considered the cornerstone of Louisiana’scoastal restoration efforts, may seethe state revive an oldproject to replace it that his administration says will be cheaper,faster and more effective.

Not everyone is convinced.

Louisiana billionaires with ties to thesport as the most likely potential buyers should it be put up forsale. Topofthe list is Saints and Pelicans owner Gayle Benson. Ahorse breeder who hashad runners in the KentuckyDerbyand Preakness Stakes, and owns aKentucky breeding and rehabilitation facility, Benson sought to buythe historic New Orleans horse racing venue eight years

ago withher latehusband Tom, according to foursourceswith direct knowledge of the Bensons’ pastinterestwho weren’tauthorized to speak publicly about it. Also mentioned as apotential buyer,according to interviews with ahalf-dozen horse industry players, is Jim Bernhard, the Baton Rouge-based founder of

See FAIR GROUNDS, page 7A

The Mid-Barataria project is on life support after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers suspendeda key permit forit. Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Chairman Gordon “Gordy” Dove is signaling amajor shift in strategy that prioritizes protecting coastalfisheriesoverthe originalplan that took years to developand has already cost $500 million. In adetailed presentation before the Senate Transportation Committee on Wednesday,Dove said that he supports the construction of asmaller riverdiversion in Plaquemines Parish called

SHIFT, page 6A

STAFF PHOTOSByDAVID GRUNFELD

Cantrell

STAFF FILE PHOTOBySOPHIAGERMER

made strides over MayorLaToya Cantrell’seight-year

Benson

See BREAD, page 4A

ä See MAYOR, page 8A

Bernhard

BRIEFS FROM WIRE REPORTS

Block upheld on efforts to close peace institute

WASHINGTON A federal judge on Friday denied the Trump administration’s request that she stay her May 19 ruling that returned control of the U.S. Institute of Peace back to its acting president and board.

In a seven-page ruling, U.S. District Court Judge Beryl A. Howell said the government did not meet any of the four requirements for a stay, including a “strong showing” of whether its request could succeed on the merits.

Howell reiterated her finding that the institute is not part of the executive branch and is therefore beyond President Donald Trump’s authority to fire its board. She added that the firings also did not follow the law for how a board member of the institute might be removed by the president.

Most of the board was fired in March during a takeover of the institute by the Department of Government Efficiency. That action touched off the firing of its acting president, former Ambassador George Moose, and subsequently most of the staff.

The organization’s headquarters, funded in part by donors, was turned over to the General Services Administration

In her ruling May 19, Howell concluded that the board was fired illegally and all actions that followed that were therefore “null and void.”

In Friday’s ruling Howell also rejected the government’s argument that the organization had to fall into one of the three branches of government and since it does not legislate, nor is it part of the judicial branch, it must be part of the executive branch. “As the Court has previously pointed out, other entities also fall outside of this tripartite structure,” she wrote.

1 killed in sewage boat blast on Hudson River

NEW YORK An explosion on a boat carrying raw sewage that was docked on the Hudson River in New York City killed a longtime city employee Saturday, authorities said.

Another worker on the cityowned Hunts Point vessel was injured and taken to the hospital after the blast about 10:30 a.m. near the North River Wastewater Treatment Plant, according to city Fire Department Deputy Assistant Chief David Simms. A third worker refused medical treatment The cause of the explosion was under investigation, but New York City Mayor Eric Adams said in statement that criminal intent was not suspected The men on the boat, which takes raw sewage from the city to be treated, were doing work involving a flame or sparks when the explosion occurred, the U.S. Coast Guard said on social media First responders found a 59-year-old man unconscious in the river, New York police said, and he was declared dead at the scene.

‘Rust’ armorer released from prison early NEW YORK “Rust” armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed has been released from prison after spending more than a year behind bars for the fatal on-set shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

Prison records show GutierrezReed was freed from the Western New Mexico Correctional Facility on Friday morning, having served about 13 months of her 18-month sentence.

Sources told TMZ her early release was due to good behavior, specifically her completion of a drug program while behind bars.

Hutchins was attending a rehearsal at New Mexico’s Bonanza Creek Ranch on Oct. 21, 2021, when she was fatally shot by a prop gun handled by leading man Alec Baldwin. He’d been seated in a church pew practicing a move in which he whips a pistol from its holster, when it suddenly went off. The 42-year-old cinematographer was pronounced dead a short time later, while director Joel Souza was also injured and transported to Christus St. Vincent’s Regional Medical Center by ambulance. He was later released from the hospital

Russia, Ukraine swap more prisoners

Exchange comes hours after massive attack on Kyiv

BY ILLIA NOVIKOV and ALEX BABENKO Associated Press

KYIV, Ukraine Russia and Ukraine exchanged hundreds more prisoners Saturday as part of a major swap that amounted to a rare moment of cooperation in otherwise failed efforts to reach a ceasefire.

The exchange came hours after Kyiv came under a large-scale Russian drone and missile attack that left at least 15 people injured.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russia’s defense ministry said each side brought home 307 more soldiers on Saturday, a day after each released a total of 390 combatants and civilians. Further releases expected over the weekend are set to make the swap the largest in more than three years of war

“We expect more to come tomorrow,” Zelenskyy said on his official Telegram channel. Russia’s defense ministry also said it expected the exchange to be continued, though it did not give details Hours earlier, explosions and anti-aircraft fire were heard throughout Kyiv as many sought shelter in subway stations as Russian

drones and missiles targeted the Ukrainian capital

overnight

In talks held in Istanbul earlier this month — the first time the two sides met face to face for peace talks since Russia’s 2022 fullscale invasion Kyiv and Moscow agreed to swap 1,000 prisoners of war and civilian detainees each.

‘A difficult night’

Officials said Russia attacked Ukraine with 14 ballistic missiles and 250 Shahed drones overnight while Ukrainian forces shot down six missiles and neutralized 245 drones — 128 drones were shot down and 117 were thwarted using electronic warfare.

The Kyiv City Military Administration said it was one of the biggest combined

missile and drone attacks on the capital.

“A difficult night for all of us,” the administration said in a statement

Posting on X, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called it “clear evidence that increased sanctions pressure on Moscow is necessary to accelerate the peace process.”

Posting on X, U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy spoke of “another night of terror for Ukrainian civilians.”

“These are not the actions of a country seeking peace,” Lammy said of the Russian strike.

Katarina Mathernová, the European Union’s ambassador to Kyiv, described the attack as “horrific.”

“If anyone still doubts Russia wants war to con-

tinue read the news,” Katarina Mathernová wrote on the social network.

Air raid alert in Kyiv

The debris of intercepted missiles and drones fell in at least six Kyiv city districts. According to the acting head of the city’s military administration, Tymur Tkachenko, six people required medical care after the attack and two fires were sparked in Kyiv’s Solomianskyi district.

The Obolon district, where a residential building was heavily damaged in the attack, was the hardest hit with at least five wounded in the area, the administration said.

Yurii Bondarchuk, a local resident, said the air raid siren “started as usual, then the drones started

to fly around as they constantly do.” Moments later, he heard a boom and saw shattered glass fly through the air

“The balcony is totally wiped out, as well as the windows and the doors,” he said as he stood in the dark, smoking a cigarette to calm his nerves while firefighters worked to extinguish the flames.

The air raid alert in Kyiv lasted more than seven hours, warning of incoming missiles and drones.

Kyiv’s mayor, Vitalii Klitschko, warned residents ahead of the attack that more than 20 Russian strike drones were heading toward the city. As the attack continued, he said drone debris fell on a shopping mall and a residential building in Obolon. Emergency services were headed to the site, Klitschko said.

Separately, 13 civilians were killed on Friday and overnight into Saturday in Russian attacks in Ukraine’s south, east and north, regional authorities said.

Three people died after a Russian ballistic missile targeted port infrastructure in Odesa on the Black Sea, local Gov. Oleh Kiper reported. Russia later said the strike Friday targeted a cargo ship carrying military equipment. Russia’s defense ministry on Saturday claimed its forces overnight struck various military targets across Ukraine.

Officials: 9 of doctor’s 10 children killed in Israeli strikes

BY SALLY ABOU ALJOUD and SAMY MAGDY Associated Press

CAIRO — The bodies of 79 people killed by Israeli strikes have been brought to hospitals in the past 24 hours, Gaza ‘s Health Ministry said Saturday, a toll that doesn’t include hospitals in the battered north that it said are now inaccessible

Nine of a doctor’s 10 children were among those killed in Israel’s renewed military offensive, colleagues and the Health Ministry said.

Alaa Najjar, a pediatrician at Nasser Hospital, was on duty at the time and ran home to find her family’s house on fire, Ahmad al-Farra, head of the hospital’s pediatric department told The Associated Press. Najjar’s husband was severely wounded and their only surviving child, an 11-year-old son, was in critical condition after Friday’s strike in the southern city of Khan Younis, Farra said.

The dead children ranged in age from 7 months to 12 years old. Khalil AlDokran, a spokesperson

Hamas has included a blockade of Gaza and its over 2 million people since early March This week, the first aid trucks entered the territory and began reaching Palestinians since the blockade began.

COGAT, the Israeli defense body overseeing aid for Gaza, said 388 trucks had entered since Monday About 600 trucks a day had entered during the ceasefire.

Warnings of famine by food security experts, and images of desperate Pales-

tinians jostling for bowls of food at the ever-shrinking number of charity kitchens, led Israel’s allies to press the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to allow some aid to return. Netanyahu’s government has sought a new aid delivery and distribution system by a newly established U.S.backed group, but the United Nations and partners have rejected it, saying it allows Israel to use food as a weapon and violates humanitarian principles.

for Gaza’s Health Ministry told the AP that two of the children remained under the rubble.

Israel’s military in a statement said it struck suspects operating from a structure next to its forces, and described the area of Khan Younis as a “dangerous war zone.” It said it had evacuated civilians from the area, and “the claim regarding harm to uninvolved civilians is under review.”

Earlier on Saturday, a statement said Israel’s air force struck over 100 tar-

gets throughout Gaza over the past day

The Health Ministry said the new deaths brought the war’s toll to 53,901 since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamasled attack on Israel that sparked the 19 months of fighting. The ministry said 3,747 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel resumed the war on March 18 in an effort to pressure Hamas to accept different ceasefire terms. Its count doesn’t differentiate between civilians and combatants.

Israel’s pressure on

Authorities suspect arson as power outage disrupts Cannes Film Festival

By The Associated Press

CANNES, France French authorities believe arson may have played a role in a power outage Saturday in southeast France that threatened to jeopardize the Cannes Film Festival’s closing celebrations, including the much-anticipated Palme d’Or ceremony.

Power was restored hours before the ceremony at about 3 p.m. as music began blasting again from beachfront speakers. The end of the blackout was greeted with loud cheers from locals

Authorities were investigating the likelihood of

arson in a fire at an electrical substation near Cannes that weakened the grid overnight, a spokesperson for the French national gendarmerie said.

The power outage happened hours later, after a high-voltage line fell at another location. Authorities were investigating what caused that line to collapse.

About 160,000 households in the Alpes-Maritimes area lost electricity

In a statement, Laurent Hottiaux, the prefect for the area, condemned “serious acts of damage to electrical infrastructures.”

“All resources are mo-

bilized to identify, track down, arrest and bring to justice the perpetrators of these acts,” said Hottiaux. Cannes Film Festival organizers confirmed the outage affected the early activities of Saturday and said the Palais des Festivals — the Croisette’s main venue — had switched to an independent power supply “All scheduled events and screenings, including the Closing Ceremony, will proceed as planned and under normal conditions,” the statement said. “At this stage, the cause of the outage has not yet been identified. Restoration efforts are underway.”

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GAZA STRIP

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By EVGENIy MALOLETKA

Ukrainian soldiers walk after a prisoner of war exchange between Russia and Ukraine on Saturday in Chernyhiv region of Ukraine.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By LEO CORREA

Israeli activists hold photos Saturday of Palestinian children killed during the Israel air and ground operations in the Gaza Strip, calling for an end to the war during a protest in Tel Aviv Israel.

Trump’sWest Pointspeechmixes praise,politicsand grievances

Presidentaddresses military academy graduates

BY SEUNG MIN KIM andALI SWENSON Associated Press

WEST POINT,N.Y.— President Donald Trump used the first service academy commencement addressofhis secondterm Saturday to laud graduating West Point cadets for theiraccomplishments and career choice while also veering sharply into acampaign-style recitation of politicalboasts andlongheld grievances.

“In afew moments, you’llbecome graduates of the most elite andstoried military academy in human history,” Trump said at the ceremonyatMichie Stadium. “And you will become officers of the greatest and most powerful army the world has ever known.And I know,because Irebuilt that army,and Irebuilt the military.And we rebuilt it like nobody has ever rebuilt it before in my first term.”

Wearing ared “Make America Great Again”hat,the Republican president told the 1,002 members of the Class of 2025 at the U.S. Military Academythat the United States is the “hottest country in the world” and underscored an “America First” ethos for themilitary.

“We’re getting rid of distractions and we’re focusing our military on itscore mission: crushing America’s adversaries, killing America’senemies and defending our great American flag like it has never been defended before,” Trump said. He later said that“the job of the U.S. armedforces is not to host drag shows or transform foreign cultures,” areference to drag showson military bases that Democratic President Joe Biden’sadministration halted afterRepublicancriticism

Trump said the cadets were graduating at a“defining moment” in Army history as he accused political leaders in the past of sending soldiers into“nation-building crusades to nations that wanted nothing to do with us.” He said he was clearing the military of transgender ideas, “critical race theory” and types of training he called divisive and political Past administrations, he said, “sub-

jected the armed forces to all manner of social projects and political causes while leavingour borders undefended anddepletingour arsenals to fight other countries’ wars.”

At times, hisremarkswere indistinguishablefrom those heard in apolitical speech,from his assessment of the country when he left office in January 2021 to his reviewoflast November’s victory over Democrat Kamala Harris, arguingthatvoters gave hima “great mandate” and “it gives us the right to do what we want to do.”

Frequently turning thefocus on himself, he reprised someofhis campaign rally one-liners, including the claim that he has faced moreinvestigations than mobster Al Capone.

At one point the crowd listenedas Trump, known forhis off-messagedigressions,referredto“trophy wives” andyachtsduringananecdoteabout thelatereal estate developer William Levitt,abillionaire friend who Trump said lost momentum.

But the president also took timeto acknowledge the achievements of individual graduates

He summoned ChrisVerdugo to the stage and noted that he completedan 18.5-mile march on afreezing night in January in just two hours and30minutes. Trumphad thenationally ranked men’slacrosse team, which held the No. 1spotfor atimeinthe 2024 sea-

son, stand andberecognized. Trump also brought Army’s star quarterback, Bryson Daily,tothe lectern, where the president praised Daily’s “steel”like shoulder.Trumplater used Daily as an example to make acaseagainst transgender women participating in women’sathletics

In anod to presidential tradition, Trumpalso pardoned about half adozen cadets who had faced disciplinary infractions.

He told graduates that “you could have done anything you wanted, you could have goneanywhere,”and that “writing your own ticket totop jobs on Wall Street or Silicon Valley wouldn’t be bad. But Ithink what you’re doing is better.”

Hisadvice to them included doing what theylove, thinking big, working hard, holding on totheir culture, keeping faith in America and taking risks.

“This is atimeofincredible change and we do not need an officer corps of careerists and yesmen,” Trumpsaid. “Weneed patriots with guts and vision and backbone.”

Just outside campus, about three dozendemonstrators gathered before theceremony and were waving miniature American flags. Oneinthe crowd carrieda sign that said “Support Our Veterans” and “Stop the Cuts,” while others held up plastic buckets with the message: “Go Army Beat Fascism.”

BY MATTHEW LEE, AAMERMADHANI and SEUNG MIN KIM

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON— President Donald Trump is ordering amajor overhaul of the National Security Council that will shrink itssize, lead to the ouster of somepolitical appointees andreturn many career government employees backtotheir home agencies,according to two U.S. officials and one person familiar with the reorganization.

The number of staffatthe NSCisexpectedtobesignificantly reduced, according to the officials,who requested anonymity to discuss the sensitive personnel matter

The shake-up is just the latest shoetodropatthe NSC, whichisbeing dramatically madeoverafter theousterearly this month of Trump’snational security adviser Mike Waltz, who in manyways had hewed to traditional Republican foreign policy

SecretaryofState Marco Rubio hasbeen serving as national security adviser since the ouster of Waltz, whowas nominated to serve as Trump’sambassador to the United Nations.

The move is expected to elevatethe importance of the State Department and Pentagon in advising Trump on important foreign policy moves. But, ultimately, Trump relies on his own instincts above all else when making decisions.

The NSC, created during theTruman administration,isanarm of theWhite House tasked with advising and assisting the president on national security and foreign policyand coordinating amongvarious government agencies.

Trump was frustrated in hisfirst term by political appointees andadvisers who he felt gummeduphis

AROYAL

“America First” agenda. There were roughly 395 people working at the NSC, including about 180 support staff, according to one official. About 90 to 95 of those being ousted are policyor subject-matter experts seconded from other government agencies.Theywill be givenanopportunity to return to their home agencies if they want.

Many of thepolitical appointees will also be given positions elsewhereinthe administration, theofficial said.

TheNSC has been in a continual state of tumult during the early going of Trump’ssecondgo-around in the White House.

Waltzwasoustedweeksafter Trump fired several NSC officials, just aday after the influential far-right activist Laura Loomer raised concerns directly to him about staffloyalty.Loomer has in thepast spread 9/11 conspiracy theories andpromoted QAnon,anapocalyptic and convolutedconspiracy theorycenteredonthe belief that Trump is fighting the “deep state,” and took credit forthe ouster of theNSC officials that she argued were disloyal And the White House, days intothe administration, sidelined about 160 NSC aides, sendingthem home while the administration reviewed staffing andtried to align it with Trump’sagenda. The aides were career government employees, commonly referred to as detailees. This latest shake-up amounts to a“liquidation of NSCstaffing, with both career governmentdetailees on assignment to the NSC being sent back to their home agencies and several political appointees being pushed out of their positions, according to the personfamiliarwiththe decision.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ADAM GRAy

President Donald Trumpsalutes alongside Lt.Gen. StevenW.Gilland on Saturday duringthe U.S. MilitaryAcademy commencement ceremonies in West Point, N.y.

‘A cultural responsibility’

The Whanns were using the lunch at Domilise’stocontinue their ongoing discussion about the future of Leidenheimer as the nextgeneration of the family business begins to assert more of its influence, braiding its traditional ways with anew perspective.

It is aslow-rolling business succession plan, though it was not asure thing just a few years ago.

Sandy Whann’sown father made no bones about his responsibility to continue the family business. Aweekafter graduating from college back in 1986hewas at work at the bakery and eventually succeeded his dad as president.

But William and his sister Katie Whann each say their parents did not pressure their career moves. Instead, both have joined the business, in varying degrees, through an appreciation for whatthe brand brings to their city and its cornerstone food culture.

“We’re adirect part of everydaylifefor so many people in New Orleans. There are businesses that can’topen without our bread,” said William, who has awide-ranging role as director of operations.

“There’sthat business responsibility of running the bakery,but there’sacultural responsibility too, becausein New Orleans they really do go hand-in-hand. That’swhy Iwanted to do this,” he said.

Agalvanizing moment

When the local bakery giant McKenzie’ssputteredto ahalt in 2001, New Orleans learned to do without its neighborhood bake shops. When afiredestroyedthe Hubig’sPies factory in 2012, people just had to pine for its hand pies for adecade before they returned.

WithoutLeidenheimer, however,the future of poboys would be in trouble.

The company makes different types of bread, including muffuletta loaves, hamburger buns, pistolettes and the table bread that is afixture of traditionalNew Orleansrestaurants.

But the po-boy loaf is Leidenheimer’stop product, anditisbyfar thelargest producer of New Orleans’ distinctive bread. Through decades, aonce-robust field of other suppliers has been whittled down to ahandful

The second-largest producer,John Gendusa Bakery in Gentilly,has about one-tenth of Leidenheimer’s production, estimatesJason Gendusa, fourth-generation owner of his bakery.Gendusa’sdaughters, now age10 and 13, are far from making their own career decisions. In the meantime he thinksit’s unlikely new companies will jump into the traditional New Orleans bread game.

“It’snot abusiness alot of people want to get into.It means working seven days aweek, 365daysa year,” he said.

For William Whann, the galvanizing moment came when another of the old guard of po-boy bread, Alois J. Binder Bakery,abruptly closed in 2018. He was ajunior in col-

legethatyear, mullingthe direction of his career

“That made it real. We really had to think about it, like what’sour plan?”hesaid.“I madeupmymind. At graduation, some of my friends were going into banking. Isaid I wasgoing into baking.They thought Isaidbanking. But no, this is whereI want tobe.

I’mall in here.

Today,beyond training and experience on the job, he and his fatherare engagedinan exchange around ideas of stewardship, innovation and relevance, aterm they bring up frequentlywhen discussing Leidenheimer.

“Wewanttoberelevantto the next generation coming around, relevant to thepeople who are continuing to run their family restaurants into thenext generation, and for new restaurants opening,” said Sandy Whann.

“Crying forabakeryyou love afteritclosesistoo late,” he said. “You see places of an older generation not making plansfor the transition. They lackrelevance. We’re not gettingcaught by that.”

Making thebread

The po-boyloafisa distinctly New Orleans creation, one thatdeveloped here in the industrial age and evolved in step with the po-boy

Nearly ayard long, awhole loaf yields multiplesandwiches.The sturdy crust stands up to wet and juicy fillings and the soft, airy interior compresses around thecrispy edges of fried seafood. In local parlance, these loaves are called French bread, thoughscholars have made the casethatthe style is closer to German and Austrianbaking traditions.

George Leidenheimer,Sandy Whann’sgreat-grandfa-

ther, was an immigrant from Deidesheim, Germany,who started his New Orleans bakery in 1896. It’s been based in its current Central City facilityonSimon Bolivar Avenue since 1905.

Likemany New Orleans institutions, the building is ahistoric framearound the gradual march of modernization, with amix of vintage and newer equipment spaced between ancient rafters, and time-honored processesabetted by modern technology.Making the bread,however,remains a hands-on task with constant adjustments required to account for temperature and thecity’snotoriouslyintense humidity,changing with time of year and, sometimes, even time of day

The fermentation room is akey first step of the Leidenheimer process. Here,carts the size of coal cars hold 600-pound vats of dough to fermentnaturally, with the dough rising and changing in texture. It’sa time-consuming process thatfew bakeries still employ at this scale; it’s alsoone the Whanns say is crucial for cultivating the malty flavorand airy inner crumb of their finished bread.

“The differenceitmakes is that the bread isstrong enough to hold everythingin thepo-boy together,but you don’thave to fight for it,” said William Whann. “It’s been that way since1896, and it’s not changing.”

When judgedready,the dough drops down chutes to the production floor,awhirling cacophony of beeping machinery,humming conveyor systems and the boxcar rumble of metal carts on concretefloors where bakers stretch,formand crimp the dough into shape.

“We’re a directpart of everyday life for so many people in New Orleans. There are businesses that can’t open without our bread.”

WILLIAM WHANN, Leidenheimer Baking Co. directorof operations

William Whann operates machineryasanother batch of doughisprepared at his family’sLeidenheimer Baking Co.inNew Orleans.

When William isn’tvisiting customers, he spends much of his time in production, troubleshooting and learning the finerpointsofthe progression from doughtodelivery,often working closely withhis uncle Mitch Abide, the longtimeoperations manager

“WhenI hear amachine

making acertain noise, I think ‘OK, Ican step in and take care of that,’”William said. “That’sthe confidence I’mgetting here.”

Bread is bakedinanoven the size of alocomotive, then it goes into paper sacks and plasticbags. Muchofitis bound for the Leidenheimer delivery trucks, afamiliar sight aroundlocal streets with their renderings of the po-boy loving cartoon characters “Vic andNat’ly,”abit of inside NewOrleans lore.

These days though, Leidenheimer bread goes much farther afield.

Growingonline, nationally KatieWhann, 30, has a career outside the family business as aseniordirector witha NewYork-based agency for social media influencers. But since she and her husband moved back to New Orleans afew years ago, she’sbegun contributingmoretoLeidenheimer’s digital marketing.

When she started, Leidenheimer had little morethan a place-holding website. In the pandemic, with restaurants closed or limited andevents postponed,she pressed for Leidenheimer to do more with social media to engage with customers andlocal foodies.

“More restaurants are being started by peoplewho aren’toriginally from New Orleans —they might not have grownupwithour bread. We need to make those introductions,” she said. “Wemay be 128 years old, but we’re only 5years oldonInstagram.”

‘Justintime’

The growing presence of the next generationhas been evident to Leidenheimer’slocal customers. Justin Kennedy,manager of the bustling po-boyhub ParkwayBakery &Tavern, is one cheering them on

“I think it’scoming along just in time,” Kennedy said. “I’ve been in this business long enough now that I’m seeing people retire and people getting to the end of the line,soseeing William on the job is very reassuring.I expect Parkway to be around fora long time, andI need theirbread to be,too.”

While Sandy Whann hasno firm timeline forretirement, time is certainly on his mind, along with responsibility family andopportunity.

“You have to be clear about it:The city andthe stateare losing population, and opportunity is abig reason for that,” he said. “So to have this business as something that has kept our family here and locked to one another for fivegenerations now is priceless. My family is all together, andweare involved in acorereason why New Orleans is what it is, hospitality. That’scompelling.”

The expandedonline presence hasfueledgrowthwith restaurantswelloutside the company’sdelivery range Leidenheimer now ships frozenbread acrossthe country, where restaurants finish it on-site. Katie and William frequently attend food festivals andpop-ups, networking to make newconnections beyond Leidenheimer’straditional accounts.

Email Ian McNulty at imcnulty@theadvocate. com.

Itcanbealltooeasytogetdistractedby theupsanddownsoftoday’seconomy buttherightexperienceandguidance canhelpyou developasound financial planning strategy andestablish aconfidentfutureforyourselfandyour lovedones.

Thebestinvestmentplanning involves settingclear financial goals, understandingyourpersonalrisk toleranceand usinga combination of assetallocations designed to meet your uniquegoals.Thistypeofplanning is availableatGregory Ricks& Associates,anditsteamofknowledgeable professionalsisdedicated to helping individuals stayfocusedduringmarketfluctuationsandavoiding impulsivedecisions driven by short-term emotions Ricks,founder,CEOandwealthadvisoratGregory Ricks& Associates,saideachclientatthe firmhas a team of advisors to help guidethem. Theseadvisors reachouttoclientsatleastonceayear,andsometimes more often, to checkinontheir financial situation, discusstheir future strategy anddiscuss newinvestment opportunitiesthatmay be available. “Peoplewhowanttostartinvestingshouldn’tworry aboutusjudging theirfinances,being less organized thantheywouldlikeornothavingaparticularbudget in mind,” Rickssaid. “Wewillhelpyou throughall of that.The importantthingistoget started.It’struly as simpleasthat. Rickssharedmoredetails aboutservices at GregoryRicks &Associatesand howadultsshould approach investing. WhichservicesatGregoryRicks&Associates aremostpopular amongclients? Thetwo areaswehandlethe most areinvestment management andincomeplanning. People want to know howlongtheir moneywilllastand when they willbeabletoretire.Theyalsowanttomakesurethat themoneytheyhaveinvestedisdoingwhattheyhoped it woulddo. Thereare so many ways to invest andso many rulesthatcan come into play,which is whyit’s agoodideatohaveanadvisoryteamworkwithyou At what ageshouldpeoplestart to thinkseriouslyabout investment andretirement? Mostofourclientsareintheir50sandolder.Ithink peopleshouldactuallystartearlierthanthat.Thehardestmoney to accumulate is thefirst$100,000, andit’s greatwhenpeoplecan startdoing that when they are younger. Once that milestoneisreached,the powerof compoundingcanbegintoplayalargerrole,potentially leading to accountvaluesdoublingovertime.

Oneofthe best toolswehavefor people whoare stillworking is an in-house 401(k) analyzer system, whichwewillbeupdatinginthe near future.Thisletsusguide anyone of anyage whohas a401(k)sotheycan be informed goingforward.Wewant to help them make good decisionsand therightcontributionsnowsotheycan bebetterpreparedwhentheyarecloser to retirement Howdoesyourfirm help reassureandguidepeopleduringtimes of economic uncertainty? Volatility createsalot of noiseand fear,butifyouhavefundsthatyoucaninvest,it’sagreat opportunitybecause historytells us that themarkets shouldalwaysbounceback.However,inourguidance discussionswithclients,wedotalkabout howmuch to allocate based on when they need accesstotheir money. If that time horizonisshorter,you shouldn’t have as much risk exposure Ithink theway ourteamhandles volatility is one of thewaysinwhich we strive to excel. Even with the changeswe’ve seen in recent months,we’ve received very fewcalls from ourclients.We’ve done agoodjob of helping them understand that it is alot of noiseand that we have theirmoney properly diversified to set them up forlong-term success. WhatdoyouthinksetsGregoryRicks&Associates apartfromother firms? Ouradvisorsdonot prospect or spend time finding clients.Theyonlyspendtheirtimeworkingwiththeir clients andhelping

STAFF PHOTO By DAVIDGRUNFELD

SandyWhann, center, his daughter Katie Whann and son William Whann representthe fourth and fifth generations at Leidenheimer Baking Co. in NewOrleans, known for its traditionalNew OrleansFrench bread.

STAFF PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD

PHOTO PROVIDEDByLEIDENHEIMER BAKING CO

Ahistorical imageofthe Leidenheimer Baking Co date unknown

Continued from page 1A

Myrtle Grove — a diversion project first proposed before Mid-Barataria was conceived He presented it as a shovel-ready alternative to Mid-Barataria, which the state could pursue instead and save itself $1 billion in costs, all while freeing up funds to advance other restoration projects throughout the state.

But the project is in reality far from shovel-ready, while proponents of the MidBarataria plan question the ultimate effectiveness and cost savings of what Dove is proposing.

Myrtle Grove would be far smaller than Mid-Barataria.

While Mid-Barataria would send 75,000 cubic feet of river water — roughly equivalent to the volume of 30 shipping containers into the basin every second, Myrtle Grove would divert between 2,500 and 15,000 cubic feet of river water per second, roughly the volume of six shipping containers.

Alongside the smaller diversion, Dove advocated for building a 24-mile tract of manmade wetlands extending across the Barataria Basin from Bayou Dosgris to Port Sulphur, which is already part of CPRA’s master plan for restoring parts of the coast.

“Congress authorized the design, engineering and construction of Myrtle Grove, with a long-distance pipeline to build land,” Dove said in an interview “Look, the best alternative is to go back to the Corps and let the Corps go ahead and move forward with it.”

Ricky Boyett, a spokesperson for the Corps, noted that the project does not have final authorization, and that its current design calls for using dredged sediment to build land without a pipeline Fishing vs. diversions

Mid-Barataria aimed to build 21 square miles of land over 50 years by slicing open the Mississippi River near Ironton and diverting its flow and land-building sediment into Barataria Basin. The state has lost an area the size of Delaware to coastal erosion over the last century, and the rate of loss is expected to increase with intensifying hurricanes and sea level rise driven by human-caused climate change

It was seen as the centerpiece of the state’s $50 billion plan to restore parts of its coastline, but fishermen and shrimpers in coastal parishes have long opposed it on the grounds that the introduction of fresh water into brackish estuaries would destroy fisheries.

Mitch J urisich, a Plaquemines Parish Council member who owns about 16,000 acres of oyster bed leases and stands to lose business if the diversion is built, celebrated the prospect of an alternative project. “For 15 years we’ve been fighting this project because we knew it would not do the proper job,” said Jurisich, who has sued in federal

GERMER

STAFF FILE PHOTO By SOPHIA

A wide dirt path is made as the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion project began construction near Myrtle Grove on Aug. 28, 2024. Gov. Jeff Landry’s administration wants to abandon the $3 billion Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion. Questions remain over whether its replacement would be effective.

court to stop the Mid-Barataria plan “Let’s get it right this time.” Landry sided with the fishing communities last year when he signaled his opposition to the project, saying that it would “break our culture.” He has blamed his predecessor John Bel Edwards’ administration for withholding a 500-page report from the Corps that modeled how the diversion would perform under specific circumstances, an accusation that Edwards has strongly rebutted.

The Corps ultimately suspended a crucial permit for the project last month, noting as part of its justification that Edwards’ administration had “deliberately withheld” the report. It has also acknowledged, though, that the data in question would not have affected its permit decision.

The Corps also singled out the Landry administration’s disinterest in the project as part of its reasoning to suspend the permit. In a May 5 letter, Dove said he would inform the Corps of next steps within 60 days, or by July 4.

Dove also this week said publicly for the first time that the CPRA would move to cancel another planned river diversion on the east bank of the river, the MidBreton Sediment Diversion. Fishers and oyster growers oppose that project, too.

Outdated studies

Dove argues that the smaller diversion and landbridge projects would ultimately create more land than Mid-Barataria and do so more quickly

“You would make 19,000 acres (about 30 square miles) in 12 to 14 years,” he said in an interview. “You’ll be around to see I’m right You won’t be around to see whether that experiment works or not,” he added, referring to Mid-Barataria.

He appeared to be referencing a report the Corps produced in 2010, which estimated that the project, which also includes moving 2 million cubic yards of river sediment into the basin, would build 19,700 acres over the project’s lifetime.

The state’s marsh-building projects with dredged sediment typically have a 20-year life span since they erode like the rest of the coast, though the accompanying features Dove proposes may extend that Mid-Barataria proponents note that the larger diversion would work with

nature, could continue to be a land-building tool well beyond the 50-year evaluation period and matches the scale of Louisiana’s devastating land loss crisis.

But cost is also a concern for Landry and Dove, who says that scrapping MidBarataria would save taxpayer money, which coastal advocates have called into question It’s not clear whether the more than $500 million in BP oil spill settlement funds that have been spent on Mid-Barataria will have to be returned if the project isn’t built.

“You’re going to save over a billion,” Dove insists. “It will probably be about $4 billion but I’m being conservative at a billion.”

The Corps and, eventually, Congress would also have to approve the plan Dove advocates — usually a complex and yearslong process.

Sen. Pat Connick, R-Marrero, questioned the project’s timeline at the hearing on Wednesday, noting that the Mid-Barataria project had gone through a long permitting process and that Myrtle Grove would undergo the same.

He said it was “upsetting and shameful” that the state had spent so much money on a project just to “toss it away.”

“Now you’re saying here today and the governor saying here today we can make it better. So that’s going to be on you,” he added. “We’ll be watching.”

Simone Maloz, campaign director of Restore the Mississippi River Delta, a coastal advocacy coalition that supports Mid-Barataria, notes that the studies and cost estimates that support Myrtle Grove are likely outdated.

She pointed out that a version of the Myrtle Grove project was first considered in the mid-1980s. In 2005, the cost of the project was estimated to be $278 million, a price tag likely far out of date, Maloz said, and though the Corps studied it on and off over the years, the last published study was issued in 2013.

“In terms of coastal restoration, 2013 is a really long time ago,” she said. “That was before Ida ripped through that basin pretty well.”

Bureaucratic hurdles

The Corps, in a letter to Dove, began to lay out the process for restarting the Myrtle Grove diversion. The

state would need to tell the Corps definitively that it plans to abandon Mid-Barataria and formally signal its intent to restart Myrtle Grove. Dove told lawmakers Wednesday that he has officially informed the Corps that the state plans to restart the Myrtle Grove project.

The state and the Corps would also have to come to a financial agreement in order to restart the environmental and technical studies for Myrtle Grove. The state would likely have to foot half the bill for those studies, which the Corps estimates would take three years and cost $3 million The total costs of construction would be determined in the course of that study

Dove said that Deepwater Horizon oil spill settlement funds could be used to pay for the state’s share of those costs, but that would need to be approved by the trustees that oversee those funds.

“If the Myrtle Grove project’s benefits outweigh its costs, if it’s environmentally compliant and technically feasible then we can make a recommendation to headquarters that can recommend it to Congress,” said Boyett of the Corps. “And then Congress can decide whether to fund it for construction.”

All of that will take years.

If it is built, John Day, an emeritus professor of coastal sciences at Louisiana State University, is wary that the smaller diversion will build a meaningful amount of land.

“How the delta has worked the last several thousand years is you had giant crevasses,” or breaches in the natural levees that temporarily held the river in place, he

said. “They flowed at 10,000 cubic meters per second.”

That’s 350,000 cubic feet per second, or nearly five times the size of Mid-Barataria — and that’s what built land in coastal Louisiana.

Day advocates, instead, for harnessing sediment that gets stirred up when storms come through the Gulf to maintain and expand existing marshes.

As delays drag on, coastal groups note that Louisiana’s coast continues to erode at an alarming rate, and storms are only becoming more frequent and damaging as the

climate heats.

“How long will it take to get approval from the Corps for these new ideas? What will happen over that period of time? Will we get a hurricane? Will we get two hurricanes?” said Kristi Trail, the head of the Pontchartrain Conservancy “What you’re really hearing today is a plan for managed retreat” — the term for moving people away from the coast.

Email Alex Lubben at alex.lubben@theadvocate. com.

Notice is hereby given pursuant to Art. 7, Sec.23(C) of the Louisiana Constitution and R.S. 47:1705(B)that apublic hearing of the St. Tammany Parish Councilwill be held at its regular meeting place, St. Tammany Parish CouncilChambers, 21490 Koop Drive, Mandeville, Louisiana on Thursday, July 10, 2025 at 6:00 pm to consider levying additional or increased millage rates without further voter approval or adopting the adjusted millagerates after reassessment and rolling forwardtoa rates not to exceed the prior year’smaximum. The estimated amount of tax revenues to be collected in the next year for drainage maintenance from theincreased millageis $5,117,344, and the amount of increase in taxes attributable to the millage increase is $393,642. The estimated amount of tax revenuestobecollected in the next year for animal shelter from the increased millage is $3,026,797, and the amount of increase in taxes attributable to the millage increase is $211,876. These aretaxes previously approved by the voters, and the Parish shall not exceed the maximum millage rates as approved by the voters.

St.Johnthe BaptistParish hasunveileditsnewDrainage MasterPlan,amajormilestone in theParish’songoing efforts toaddresswidespreaddrainage challenges andreduceflood risks. This plan is designed to protecthomesandbusinesses acrossSt. John Parish from worseningfloodthreats SpearheadedbyParish PresidentJaclynHotard, theplantakes adata-driven community-focusedapproach toinfrastructureimprovement Thisplanevaluatesparishwide drainageinfrastructure,from culverts to canals,identifying gaps andoutlining solutions.Italsocomplementskeyongoingefforts, such as canalexcavations throughthe Natural Resources Conservation Service(NRCS)and the cleaningofculvertsalong AirlineHighway from parish line to parish line

Developedusingadvancedhydraulicandhydrologicmodeling,theplanoutlinesactionableprojects to improvedrainageefficiencywhile avoiding negative impactsonneighboring areas. Several priorityprojectsarealreadyunderway,withmore scheduledfor implementation “We’reworkinghandinhandwithresidentsina clearand transparentway,” said Parish President Jaclyn Hotard.“This isn’t just astudy—it’sa plan backed by realprojects, real solutions, andreal action.Itrepresentsour long-termcommitment to protecting homes, businesses,and families in everycornerofSt. John Parish.”

Akey featureofthe plan is itsidentificationof localfloodrisksanditsrecommendationoftargeted improvements to reduce or eliminatethose risks. Public inputremains an importantpartofthe

processasthe plan evolves. Membersofthe Parish Councilvoicedstrongsupport forthe initiative.

“Thisplangivesusaclear roadmap—notonlytofix currentdrainageproblems, but to preventfutureones, saidCouncilmemberMichael Wright.“It’sthekindoflongterm,parishwideplanning ourresidents have askedfor anddeserve.”

“Thisplanprovidessmart workablesolutionsandaclear path forward,” said CouncilmemberLennixMadere. “It’saninvestmentthatstrengthens thefuture of ourparish. Regional agencies also praisedthe Parish’s forward-thinking leadership “The Drainage Master Plan developedbySt. John theBaptist Parish is avital complementto transformative projects like theRiver Reintroductionintothe Maurepas Swampand theWest ShoreLakePontchartrain hurricaneprotection system,” said Brad Miller,Project Managerwith theCoastalProtectionandRestorationAuthority (CPRA).“Together,theseeffortsaredeliveringreal, lastingsolutionstoreducefloodrisk,restorenatural ecosystems,andstrengthencommunityresilience CPRAapplaudstheParishforitsforward-thinking, science-based approach that aligns seamlessly with ourregionalrestoration goals.” This plan represents themostcomprehensive drainagestrategydevelopedinSt.JohntheBaptist Parishindecadesandwillserveasaguidingresource for future floodprotectionand infrastructure planning. Residents canfollowproject updatesas implementation movesforward at sjbparish.gov.

FAIR GROUNDS

Bernhard Capital Partners, whohas accumulated with hiswife Dana significant horse breeding and racing operations in recent years.

Bernhard didn’trespond to requests for comment.

Benson declined to comment on whether she would be interested in making an offer for the Fair Grounds, but her spokesman, Greg Bensel, said that “she will monitor the situation.”

“Mrs. Benson maintains a very strong and active role in the horse business (and) supportsLouisiana-bred racing,”Bensel said. “Relative to the FairGrounds, it is an iconic part of the social fabric of New Orleans. She has ahistory of supportingiconicNew Orleans fixtures.”

Putinplay

Thepotential saleofthe FairGrounds racetrack, which has a76-day horse racing season and has hosted the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival for more than half acentury, has beenthe talk of the local racing industry since Churchill Downs executivesappeared at a contentious Louisiana Racing Commission meeting May 13.

Duringthe meeting, they said they would not proceed with the upcoming horse racing season in November unless the state replacesslot machine income it lost after a recent court ruling. Racing commission chairperson Edward Koehl said at the meeting that the issue will now have to play out in the state Legislature over the next month, to see if some kind of deal can be reached beforethe current session ends in mid-June.

Churchill Downs’ headof racing, Gary Palmisano, said the company hoped it could work somethingout with lawmakers. “Churchill Downs Inc. hasexpressedits readiness to partner with legislators and the administration to ensure our continued operations in Louisiana,” he said via text. Churchill Downs has not publicly putthe Fair Groundsonthe market, and there’snoindication that Benson or Bernhard have been approached or have made any formal inquiries. Still, there are upcoming deadlines that could make continuing to own the track costly.Churchill Downs has acontractualobligation to start making upgrades to the Fair Grounds track and buildings starting in July and to run the annual horse racing program from late November. If it misses those deadlines it will start incurring daily fines. The company said that without apublic subsidy it will lose money on its Louisiana operations and won’t be able to continue.

Louie Roussel III, alegendary Louisiana horsebreeder who owned the Fair Grounds for more than adecade until he soldittothe Krantz family in 1990, said he advised the racing commission to call Churchill Downs’ bluff.

“If they don’tthink they can make any money they should sell the track,” Roussel said in atelephone interviewon Monday.“Ithink having alocal owner would be the best thing in the world.”

Long history

The Fair Grounds, which covers 145 acres near City Park, has been hosting horse races since 1838, originally under the name Union Race Course, and is one of the three oldest continuouslyop-

Churchill Downs paid $47 millionincash for Fair Grounds and made further acquisitions to bring the numberofoff-track betting (OTB) operationsto13currently.The companysaidit hasinvested$200million in total.

Horsebusiness

erated tracks in the country Churchill Downs has owned the facilitysince it bought it outofbankruptcy from the Krantzfamily in 2004. As with other horse racing venue operators around the country,it has increasingly relied on slot machineincome forprofits and to cover the expenses of the racingoperation.The company saiditcosts about $9 million ayear to run the track.

Licensedracetrackswith gambling operationsare required to contribute apercentage of theirnet gambling revenues, mainly through prize money, known as purses. The exact distribution depends on thenumber of racingdaysand the specific agreements between courses andthe racingcommission.

ChurchillDownsexecutivesargued that the Fair Grounds contributes an outsized share in Louisiana. Last year,Fair Groundspaidout $32 million in purses, representing nearly half of the state’stotal thoroughbred purses though it accounted for just 27% of the racing days,theytoldthe commission. Theyalso said their track andOTBsaccounted for $250 million in bets last year, or half the state’stotal.

In 2021, the Louisiana Legislature allowed anew type of slotmachine based on anonymizedpreviouslyrun races, called Historical Horse Racing, which has proved hugely profitable for Churchill Downs.Though the companydoesn’treport its HHR income locally,its revenue from themachines nationally doubled in 2023 to $768 million, or nearly a third of its total revenue. Its interest in HHR deepened further when it acquiredthe company that makes HHR technology,Exacta Systems, in late 2023

Stanley Seelig, apast president of the Louisiana Horsemen’sBenevolent andProtectiveAssociation, which representsracehorse owners, trainers and other stable employees, said the Fair Grounds and the state’s other three race courses Delta Downs, Evangeline Downs andLouisiana Downs —are allhighly reliant on gambling revenue “AtFair Grounds, about a third of revenue camefrom slots (beforeHHR),a third from the OTBparlors and athird frombettingonthe horses,”Seelig said.“But at theother three, it’s about 90%from the slots. They’d have ahard time staying open without the slots.”

In March, the stateSupremeCourt ruledthatHHR machines would have to be shut down until they were approved by areferendum in each parish in which they operate. The ruling followed achallenge by truckstop operators who had seen their videopoker machines lose out to HHR,which can pay

much higher jackpots.

Churchill Downs saidthe ruling meant its revenue in Louisiana would be down 46% andprofits would fall by 74%. The company wants theLouisiana Legislatureto pass alaw legalizing HHR or to legislate for apermanent annualsubsidy forhorse racing, as Florida did lastyear

“Anypotential buyers would face thesame challenges withthe stateand the same realitywhenitcomes

to economic viability,”said Palmisano.

The company has considered offers to buyFair Grounds over the years, including the one from the Bensons and one from Roussel in 2014. He and two other New Orleans investors couldn’tagree termswith Churchill Downs,hesaid. Rousselsaid he’ll be 80 at his next birthday and wouldn’t be interested in having another run.

TomBenson hadhorse racing interests in the1970s and1980sand returned to thebusiness in 2014 when he and wife Gayle co-founded GMB Racing.Their high-profile horses included Tom’sReady,who earned over $1 millionand competedinthe 2016 Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup Mile. More recently,Gayle Benson hasconcentrated on breeding at BensonFarm,

the 600-acre breeding and rehabilitation facility near Lexington, Kentucky Whentheywere interested in buyingthe Fair Grounds previously,the NFLhad stricter policies aboutteam owners having interests in gambling operations. It hassincerelaxedthose rulesafter the U.S. SupremeCourt in 2018 allowed states to legalize sports betting. “She fully understands that operating aracetrack notonly here in NewOrleans but across the country hasbecome increasingly difficult,” Bensel said. “There are so manypolitical constituenciesthatimpact horse racing andgaming, that running aracetrack can be prohibitive. This is not unique to the FairGrounds.” For their part, the Bernhards boughttheir first racehorse in 2021 and ayear later acquiredthe storied Pin Oak Stud in Versailles, Kentucky,and expandedit to 1,250 acres. They have also established Pin Oak South, a100acre facility in Louisiana.

EmailAnthony McAuley tmcauley@theadvocate. com.

STAFF FILEPHOTO By SOPHIAGERMER

KEYINDICATORS IN NEW ORLEANS

Texas Medical Director Dr.Emily Kidd, Hub City EMT Alison Cagle, Acadian AirMed Flight RN JoannieSanchez,and Chief MedicalOfficer Dr.Charles Burnell.

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Soldiers,detainees sayIsraelusedhuman shieldsinGaza

BY SAM MEDNICK and SAMY MAGDY Associated Press

TEL AVIV,Israel The only time the Palestinian man wasn’tboundor blindfolded, he said, was when he was usedbyIsraeli soldiers as their human shield.

Dressed in army fatigueswith acamera fixed to his forehead, Ayman Abu Hamadan was forced into houses in the Gaza Strip to make sure they wereclear of bombs and gunmen, he said.When one unit finished with him, he was passed to the next.

“They beat me and told me: ‘You have no other option; dothis or we’ll kill you,’”the 36-year-old told The Associated Press, describing the21/2 weeks he was heldlast summer by the Israeli military in northern Gaza.

Orders often came from the top, andattimes nearly every platoon used aPalestinian to clear locations, saidanIsraeli officer, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal.

Several Palestinians and soldiers told theAPthatIsraeli troops are systematically forcing Palestinians to actashuman shieldsin Gaza, sendingthemintobuildings and tunnels to check for explosives or militants. The dangerous practice has become ubiquitous during 19 months of war,they said In response to theseallegations, Israel’smilitary says it strictly prohibits using civilians as shields —a practice it has long accused Hamas of using in Gaza. Israeli officials blamethe militants forthe civilian death toll in its offensive that has killed tens of thousandsof Palestinians.

In astatementtothe AP,the military said it also bans otherwise coercing civilianstoparticipate in operations, and“allsuchorders areroutinely emphasizedto the forces.”

The militarysaid it’s investigatingseveral cases alleging that Palestinians were involved in missions, but wouldn’tprovide details It didn’tanswer questions about the reach of the practice or any orders from commandingofficers.

TheAPspoke withseven Palestinianswho described being used as shields in Gaza and the occupied West Bank and with two members of Israel’smilitary who said they

engaged in the practice, whichis prohibited by international law Rights groups are ringing the alarm,saying it’sbecome standard procedure increasingly used in the war.

“These are not isolated accounts; they pointtoasystemicfailure and ahorrifying moral collapse,”said NadavWeiman, executive directorofBreaking theSilence —a whistleblower group of former Israeli soldiers that has collected testimoniesaboutthe practice from within the military. “Israel rightly condemns Hamas for using civilians as human shields, but ourown soldiers describe doing thevery same.”

Abu Hamadan said he was detainedinAugust after being separated from hisfamily,and soldiers toldhim he’d help with a“special mission.”Hewas forced, for 17 days, to search houses and inspect every holeinthe ground for tunnels, he said Soldiers stood behind him and, once itwas clear,entered the buildings to damage or destroy them,hesaid. He spenteach night bound in adarkroom, only to wake up and doitagain Rights groups say Israel has used Palestinians as shields in Gaza and the West Bank for decades. The

SupremeCourt outlawed thepractice in 2005. Butthe groups continuedtodocument violations.

Still, expertssay this war is the first time in decades thepractice —and thedebate around it —has been so widespread.

The twoIsraeli soldiers who spoke to theAP— and athird who provided testimony to Breaking the Silence —said commanders were aware of theuse of human shields and tolerated it,with some giving orders to do so. Some said it was referred to as the “mosquito protocol”and that Palestinians were also referred to as “wasps” andother dehumanizing terms.

Thesoldiers —who said they’re no longer serving in Gaza—said thepracticesped up operations, saved ammunition, and spared combat dogs from injury or death.

Thesoldiers saidthey first became aware human shields were being used shortly after the war erupted on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel, and that it becamewidespread by the middle of 2024.Orders to “bring amosquito”often came viaradio, they said —shorthand everyone understood.Soldiersacted on commandingofficers’ orders, according to theofficer who spoke to theAP. He said that by the end of his

nine months in Gaza, everyinfantryunit used aPalestinian to clear houses before entering.

“Once this idea was initiated, it caught on like fire in afield,” the 26-year-old said. “People saw how effective and easy it was.”

He described a2024 planning meeting where abrigade commander presented to the division commandera slide reading“get amosquito” and asuggestion they might “justcatchone offthe streets.”

Theofficer wrotetwo incident reportstothe brigade commander detailing theuse of human shields, reports that would have been escalated to the divisionchief, he said. Themilitary said it had no comment when asked whether it received them.

One report documented the accidental killing of aPalestinian, he said —troopsdidn’trealize another unit was using him as ashield andshothim as he raninto ahouse

The officer recommended the Palestinians be dressed in army clothes to avoid misidentification.

He said he knew of at least one other Palestinian who died while used as ashield —hepassed out in atunnel Convincing soldiers to operate lawfully when they see their en-

emy using questionable practices is difficult, said Michael Schmitt, adistinguishedprofessor of international law at the U.S. Military AcademyatWest Point.Israeli officials and other observers say Hamas uses civilians as shields as it embeds itself in communities, hiding fighters in hospitals and schools.

“It’s really aheavylift to look at your own soldiers andsay you have to comply,” Schmitt said. One soldiertoldthe AP his unit tried to refusetouse human shields in mid-2024 but weretold they had no choice,with ahigh-ranking officer saying theyshouldn’tworry about international humanitarian law

The sergeant —speaking on condition of anonymity forfear of reprisal —said the troops used a 16-year-old anda 30-year-old fora fewdays.

The boyshook constantly,he said, and both repeated “Rafah, Rafah” —Gaza’s southernmost city,where morethan 1million Palestinians had fled from fighting elsewhere at that point in the war. It seemed they were begging to be freed, the sergeant said.

Masoud AbuSaeed said he was used as ashield for two weeks in March 2024 in the southern city of Khan Younis.

“This is extremely dangerous,” he recounted telling asoldier.“I have childrenand want to reunite with them.”

The36-year-old saidhewas forced into houses, buildings and ahospital to dig up suspected tunnels and clear areas. He said he wore afirst-responder vestfor easy identification, carrying a phone, hammer and chain cutters. During oneoperation,hebumped into his brother,used as ashield by another unit, he said.

They hugged. “I thought Israel’s army had executed him,” he said. Palestinians also report being used as shields in the West Bank. Hazar Estity saidsoldiers took her from her Jenin refugeecamp home in November,forcingher to film inside several apartments and clear them before troops entered. She said she pleaded to return to her 21-month-old son, but soldiers didn’tlisten.

“I was most afraid that they would kill me,” she said. “And that Iwouldn’tsee my son again.”

PHOTO PROVIDED By BREAKING THESILENCE

Aphotoprovided by Breaking theSilence, awhistleblowergroup of former Israeli soldiers, shows twosoldiers behind Palestinian detainees being sent into aGazaCity-areahouse to clear it in 2024.

THE GULF COAST

St.James Cheese Companyexpands to Pass Christian

N.O. storeto open location at Mississippiresort

BY POET WOLFE Staff writer

Long before their vision of asprawling waterfront resort took form, two brothers-turned-business partners were certain that atranquil, yet fast-growing Mississippi beachtownwould be its home.

Old Metairie natives who moved to the Coast when they were children, Jourdan and Fields Nicaud have built their own empire of restaurants and vacationrentals across south Mississippi in the last decade. But Pass Bungalows —acontemporary-style resort that soft launched its first 21 hotel rooms, swimming pooland tiki bar,and aclothing shop on May 1— is their biggest venture yet.

In early July,all 36 hotel rooms will be open, including two local restaurants within the development: Field’sItalian and Mable’sIce Cream and CoffeeShop.ANew Orleans restaurant and gourmet cheese store, St. James Cheese Company,will also debut its first out-of-state location at Pass Bungalows. Around the same time, the brothers will open Nine Toes Brewery,featuring golf simulators and an arcade, next to the resort.

Jourdan added that they are working on aseparate development named St. Paul Center ablockaway from the resort. There will be 36

lots available for people to purchase and build homes on, as well as acentralized pool,curatedwalking paths andgardens in the community St. Paul Center will launch in March 2026 as an addition to the Nicaudsevolving commercial hubonW.Scenic Drive.

In September,Cat Island Coffee —alocal establishment in Pass Christianand Gulfport —will also open two new spots in Nicauddevelopments across the Coast: brunch-style restaurants in what is now Bacchus Bar in Pass Christianand next to the Field’sItalian location in downtown Ocean Springs.

WhyPassChristian?

The business partners’ row of developmentsinPass Christian is areflection of how drastically the beachtown’s population, tourism industry and development scene havegrown since the area was ravaged by HurricaneKatrinanearly 20 years ago.

New datareleasedbyU.S. Census Bureau shows that Pass Christian is one of the fastest-growing cities along the Gulf Coast, withits population increasing by13% within thelast four years.

Ayear afterKatrina, just under 5,000 residents still lived in Pass Christian.The population continued to declineuntil 2010, plummeting to 4,600, accordingto census data.

Now,withnearly 6,500 residents and new businesses liningthe city’scoastal stretch, Pass Christian is slowly returning to what it was once

PHOTO PROVIDED By HARRELL A.D.C. COMPANy

ANew Orleans restaurant and gourmet cheese store, St James Cheese Company,will soon debut its firstout-of-state location at Pass Bungalows, anew waterfront resortinPass Christian, Miss.

like before the storm.

Thecity’ssuccessisone reason why the brothers chose it to be thelocation for their resort, Jourdansaid Thursday afternoon. He also noted how thearea is alongtime seaside retreat for New Orleanians —including for his own family,who would vacation in Pass Christian every year until permanently moving there.

Gulf Coast’s‘renaissance’

Rich Sutton, whoopened St. James CheeseCompany in Uptown New Orleans with his wife shortly after Katrina, chose to open up shop in PassChristian because he also feels the Coast has been going through a“renaissance” within the last few years.

“I think youcan feel it when you’re there,” Sutton said, “And the energyand the vibe …People are excited about being there.”

The restaurantwill be similar to itslocations in the WarehouseDistrict and Uptown neighborhood, in terms of its cozy,artisanaesthetic and cheese-centric menu. Though Sutton added that they plan to expand themenu beyond traditionallunch fare

BY MARTHA SANCHEZ Sun Herald

BaySt. Louis andPass Christian have grown fasterthanany other cities across the Mississippi Coast in the last four years, according to new population estimates by the U.S. Census Bureau.

PROVIDED PHOTO

At St.James Cheese Company’s classes, attendees can expect to get adelicious, curated sampling of cheeses paired with wine, beer or even chocolates.

with some breakfast plates and offer fresh items other than craft cheese.

“Wehave avision for it,” Sutton said, “That’sbeen tailored to whatwethink folksinthatcommunity,Pass Christian, Bay St. Louis and the neighboring communities there would be excited about.”

Email PoetWolfe at poet. wolfe@theadvocate.com

The census data, released Thursday,suggests South Mississippi is defying troubling trends in other parts of the state. The populationofmost cities in the six southernmost counties is either rising or staying the same, even as other communities across Mississippi are shrinking.

BaySt. Louis andPass Christian’spopulations have each grown since 2020 by about 13%, which is among the highest rates in the state. More than 1,000 newcomers in that period have raised the population in Bay St.Louis above 10,000. Pass Christian’s population is nearing 6,500 andhas grown by morethan700 peoplein the last four years. Slower growth is also happening in Long Beach, D’Iberville and Ocean Springs. And Gulfport, the state’ssecond largest city,has gained about 1,700 people.

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But growth is not happening everywhere.

Biloxi, Diamondhead, Waveland, Moss Point and Pascagoula all shrunk slightly over thelastfour years. Trends since 2020 show dozens of towns and cities across the state getting smaller,too. Jackson lost more than12,000people in that period.The population in theDelta citiesof Greenville and Cleveland each dropped by about 9%.

Biloxi’spopulation fell but fared better than elsewhere in the state: It has declinedbyabout 1,300, or 2.6%, since 2020. Annual growthrates are more modest.

But other cities in the South arebooming: Census data showscities across theregion grew, on average, fasterthan in anyother part of thecountry last year Last year alone, Pass Christian, Gulfport and Diamondhead were the fastest-growing on the Coast. Pass Christian’s growth rate of 2.6% in 2024 was more than double thenational average forcitiesofits size.Gulfport also grew by roughly 2% last year. Diamondheadgrew by 1.5% in 2024, but still hadfewer people than it did in 2020. The data may not reflect thewhole pictureintouristcities,becauseitmeasureswhere people live mostofthe timeand does not account for second homes.

Theinflux is forcing officials to expand roads and fueling urgent debates abouthow to balance quaint neighborhoods withnew development. It is also driven in part by people moving to South Mississippi from Louisianaand across thecountry

Keymoments from second week of Sean Combs’ trial

BY MICHAEL R. SISAK and LARRYNEUMEISTER Associated Press

NEW YORK Jurors heard from adozen witnesses during asecond week of testimony in the Sean “Diddy” Combs trial as prosecutors sought to prove sex trafficking and racketeering.

Rapper and actor Kid Cudi was on the witness stand. So was singer Dawn Richard, formerly of the group Danity Kane.

There was more testimony from witnesses who said they saw Combs beating his former girlfriend, the R&B singer Cassie. Jurorsalso heard testimony about guns, extortion andacar beingset on fire.

The trial resumes Tuesday after the Memorial Day holiday.Here are key moments from Week 2: Provingracketeering

Much of the case presented by prosecutors so far has revolved around accusations that Combs physically and sexually abusedCassie for years, and coerced her into sexual encounters called “freak-offs” with men who were paid thousandsofdollars to have sex with her YetCombs isn’tsimply charged with sex crimes. He’scharged with racketeering.Prosecutors say they will prove that Combs used his businesses and employees “to carry out, facilitate, and cover up his acts of violence, abuse, and commercial sex.”

Some of those employees testified in Week 2.

George Kaplan, apersonal assistant for Combs from 2013 to 2015, told jurors he’d toss out liquor bottles and drugs and cleanupbabyoil from Combs’ hotel rooms after the music producer finished freak-offs.

He said he never reported abuse to authorities, even after Combs beat up Cassie on aprivate jet.

Another personal assistant,David James, testified that Combshad himstock hotel rooms with Viagra,condoms, baby oiland lubricant, among other supplies. He also recounted how Combs had three handguns on his lap as they droveto aLos Angeles diner looking for his record industry rival, Death Row Records cofounder Suge Knight Cassie’s mom

Cassie brieflydated Kid Cudi during aperiod of time when it looked likeshe might split with Combs.

Cassie’smother,Regina Ventura, testified that shefelt “physically sick” after her daughter sent heranemail saying Combs hadlearned about therelationship with Cudi and planned to retaliate by releasing tapesofCassie having sex.

Then, Ventura said, Combs contacted her and angrily demanded$20,000, saying he wasowed it because he’d spent money on Cassie’scareer.Ventura tapped home equity to wire the money to Combs’ business. Several days later,the money was returned.

KidCudi

Kid Cuditestified ThursdaythatCassie sounded “verystressed, nervous, just scared” when shephoned him in December2011 to say that Combs had learned they were dating.

Cudi said he was confused because he thought Combs andCassie had broken up. Then, he said, one of Combs’ assistantscalled.

ShesaidCombsand an aide were in Cudi’shome, waiting to speak with him. She also said shehad been forced into acar to join them Cudi saidheraced to his house, but Combs was gone. Inside, he testified, he found Christmas gifts had been opened and his dog was locked in the bathroom.Af-

ter the break-in,his dog was “very jittery andkindofon edge all the time,” he said. Then, someone set fireto Cudi’scar,destroying it.

Cudi sethemet with Combs to squash theirbeef the next day at aLos Angeles hotel. When he walked in, he said Combswas staring out thewindow standing with hands behind his back “like a Marvel supervillain.”

Combs deniedhavinganything to do with theburned car, but Cudi said he didn’t believe him.

Dawn Richard

Thefirst witness of the week, Dawn Richard, got herbig break in themusic businessasacast member on Combs’ reality TV show, “Makingthe Band.” She performedwith two Combsbacked acts, Danity Kane and Diddy —Dirty Money

But Richard said Combs threatened herlife after she saw him beat Cassieand try to hit herwith askillet in 2009. She said Combs told herand another woman that they “could go missing” if theydidn’tstayquiet.

She said she sawCombs beat Cassie frequently Cassie’s former friend

Kerry Morgansaidshe had afalling out withCassie her friend of 17 years, after Combs attackedherina rage in 2018 demanding to know who Cassie was cheating on him with. Morgan said he slung ahanger at her head and tried to choke her,leaving her dizzy,vomiting and concussed, withfinger imprints on her neck.

As Morgancontemplated alawsuit amonth later,she metCassie at apizza parlor where Cassie had her sign a nondisclosure agreement in return for $30,000, she said. But then,she said, Cassie “told me she thought Iwas milking it,thatI was overexaggerating.” They haven’t spokensince.

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LOUISIANAPOLITICS

La.lawmakers at center of sprint to pass Trump’sbill

WASHINGTON— U.S.Rep.

Troy Carter,D-New Orleans

arrived at 2:30 a.m. Wednesday to procure aseat. If Carter left, he’d lose his place in the small hearing room. Instead, he sipped tea andnibbled on banana nut bread while waiting10 hours togive afive-minute speech opposing the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

The House had adjourned Tuesday evening after afull day of work. Afew hours later at 1a.m. Wednesday the House Rules Committee convened to consider 537 amendments.

Mark Ballard

After advancing the bill Wednesday evening, the full House debated overnight the procedures to consider and then the merits of the bill. The House approved the bill by asingle vote a few minutes before 7a.m. Thursday,then adjourned after working 30 hours straight.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Benton, and Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson, spent their time nailing down the final votes needed to pass the legislation. The rest of Louisiana’ssix-member House delegation were involved in their own ways during the marathon session that led to passage in the House of the most consequential legislation since Donald Trump became president in January.

The storybehind late night in the La. Senate

Carter, 61, wantedtopresent hisamendments and his outrageatthe bill’sspending reductions to Medicaid andfood stampstocover the increasedcosts ofcontinuing Trump’s2017tax cut,new tax breaks fortip and overtime earnings, additionalspending onborder controland fulfilling other campaign promises CleoFields, DBaton Rouge,also waitedhoursfor a chance to present an amendmentthathad no chanceofbeing added by the GOP majority.Hesaid theparade of dozens of Democrats to the Rules Committee was notorchestrated by the minority’sleadership but seemed to grow organically as the night woreon.

“The Republicans wanted to do it easy,inthe deadof night, when they thought America was notwatching so that onlything people would know about it is what Republicanssaid.We weren’t going to letthathappen,” he said afterthe bill passedthe HouseThursday morning by one vote Fields, 62, said he had beenuptwo straightdays, fueled by coffee, but could take anap on hisflight home Democrats didn’thave the numbers to stopthe 1,116page bill. But theycould and did—delay its passage. House leadership didn’t

after alengthy debate.

spend any time trying to persuade Democrats.

Johnson and Scalise focused on turning recalcitrant Republicans from no to yes because if threeGOP membersjoined Democrats, Trump’sbill would’ve failed. One of those holdoutswas Rep. ClayHiggins, R-Lafayette.Hewrote on social media thatthe U.S. was facing financial insolvency because of deficit spending. The bill would add $3.8 trillion of debt over 10 years to thenation’s$36 trillion deficit, if passed as-is by theSenate.

The state Senate remained in sessionuntil almost 10:30 p.m. Wednesday at the insistence of Senate President Cameron Henry,who said immediately afterward that he wanted his chamber to finish its work on contentious car insurance bills.

The Senate needs to begin focusing on the annual budget debate next week, Henry,R-Metairie, added.

The Senate passed six car insurance bills, with Democrats and Republicans alike expressing unhappiness at being asked to approve legislation with eleventh-hour amendments.

CAPITOL BUZZ

staff reports

Sen. Jay Luneau was especially vocal in protesting the proposed rewrite of Senate Bill 231, ameasure sought by insurance industry lobbyiststhat would reduce payouts for medical claims.

“If nothing else, the Senate has been afair place to serve,” Luneau, D-Alexandria, told his colleagues. “Wedoa little bit of gamesmanship,but not something like this. This is too important for the people Irepresent in my practice for us to gloss over it and for us to take it up and do this ambush-type work.” Republicans used their majority to overrideLuneau’sobjection, taking up the bill and passing it

Later,itwas Republicans who expressed unhappiness at alate amendment for House Bill 148, ameasure pushed by Gov.Jeff Landry to give the insurance commissioner greater authority to reject proposed rate increases. The amendment would require insurance companies to maketheir rate filing requestspublic. They say thatcould force them to expose trade secrets, which would discourage themfrom doing business in Louisiana. Democrats and Republicans voted in favor of HB148, while Republicans supplied all the no votes. Henry voted for the measure, which was handled by Sen. Kirk Talbot, R-River Ridge, normally an insurance industry advocate.

“The insurance industry is never happy,” Henry saidafterward. “They don’twant anyone to do anything to them that would require theminany way,shape or form todoanything other than exactly what they are doing now Exactlywhat they are doing now is rates keep going up, theirprofitskeep going up and everybody is getting less coverage. What Talbottried to do is balance that playing field alittlebit.It’ssomething the governor wanted.”

Twoofthe car insurance bills passed by the Senateon Wednesday go to Landryfor

Trump visited theCapi-

tolonTuesday and met Wednesday at the White House witha handful of members, including Higgins. Trump said the time for negotiations were over and thatthey should accept the deals or face the consequences.

“It was aproductive meeting to the extent that we feel pretty positive about the direction thatwe’removing in,” Higgins said. He voted in favor of the bill.

Rep. Julia Letlow’svote was never in doubt. The

his signature, while the House is planning to takeupand pass theother three on Tuesday,said House Speaker Phillip DeVillier, R-Eunice.

Trump picks Louisiana lawyer for CIA job

New Orleanslawyer Peter M. Thomson was nominated by President Donald Trumpasinspector general of the Central Intelligence Agency,according to his law firm, Stone Pigman Walther WittmannLLC.

Thomson chairs thefirm’s white-collar criminal defense practice and co-chairs the firm’s information security practice. He concentrates on criminal defense, government investigations and internal investigations.

Beforejoining Stone Pigman, Thomson was an assistant United States attorney withthe U.S. DepartmentofJustice for 23 years. He also served on special assignmentatthe National Security Agency

“I am grateful for the opportunitytoreturn to government service and look forward toadvancing the mission of the CIA with integrity and professionalism,” Thomson said.

ANew Orleansnative, Thomson graduated from Tulane University. The CIA inspector general oversees audits, inspections and investigations to prevent and detect fraud, waste and misconduct within the intelligence agency and ensures that operations com-

Start Republican spent the sprint attending her committeemeetings and being on call to cast her votes as needed.

Johnson and Scalise had spent months negotiating with conservatives who wanteddeeper cuts to Medicaid and the not-asconservative faction that didn’t. Then there were Republicans from richer blue states who wantedmore of afederal tax break for local and state taxes paid.

“There (were) afew moments over the last week

ply withthe law

His nomination must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate. He was nominated by Trumpto be inspector general of the CIA in 2020, but his nomination was returned after Trumplost the presidency to Joe Biden.

Kennedy pushonbank mergerssucceeds

The U.S. House gave final approval to aresolution of disapproval of Biden-era bank merger rules sponsored by Louisiana U.S. Sen. John Kennedy

The legislation, which effectively ends the rule, now heads to theWhite House forPresident Donald Trump’ssignature.

“When the Biden administration decided to tinker with bank merger rules for no good reason, they threw agut punch to small communitybanks just trying to offer their customers agood service,” Kennedy,R-Madisonville, said in astatement.

ABC’s“This Week”: Preempted by coverage of the Monaco Grand Prix

NBC’s“Meet the Press”: Dr.Vivek Murthy, aformer U.S. surgeon general; former Rep. Patrick Kennedy,D-R.I

CNN’s“State of the Union”: House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Benton; Sens. Michael Bennet, D-

whenitlooked like the thing might fall apart,” Johnson said Thursday.Inbetween meetings with the competing groups, Johnson said he visited the Capitol chapel to pray

This being Johnson’s greatest victory during his 19 months as speaker,national media focused on him. Their articles marveled at Johnson’swillingness to sit for long hours to sort through an adversary’sposition —atrait he has held since aLSU student dipping his toe into conservative politics for the first time. Scalise, an old hand at congressional votes, told an Americans for Prosperity gathering Tuesday he reminded the last holdouts that no votes aligned them against Trump and his bill to energize the economy.

“Most Americans just want to know,how is my life going to be better or worse,” said Scalise. “With this bill, your life will be dramatically better because you’re going to have more money in your pocket, your small business that you’re working for,orlarge business, is going to now invest more money into the economy to allow you to get ahigher paying job.”

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act is now before the U.S. Senate.

EmailMark Ballard at mballard@theadvocate. com.

The rule, which wentinto effect on Jan. 1, 2025, amended the Bank Merger Act of 1960 to require the Office of Comptroller of the Currency take agreater role in deciding if abank merger would harm business.

Kennedy argued that the new rule added unnecessary red tape and madeitharder forbanks, particularly community banks, to make“smart, strategic mergers.” Democrats countered that, before the rule change, merger applications were rubber-stamped, resulting in less competition and morecommunities without abank branch.

The Republican majority approved the resolution on May 8. The House passed it Tuesday on a 220-207 vote with five Democrats and one Republican not voting. Only one Democrat voted yes: Rep. Henry Cueller,ofTexas. Both Democrats in Louisiana’s six-member House delegation voted against the measure, while all four Republicans approved.

“Fox News Sunday”: Mike Johnson; Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky. The Associated Press SUNDAY NEWS SHOWS

Colo., and Ron Johnson, R-Wis. CBS’ “Face the Nation”: Mike Johnson; Reps. JimHimes, D-Conn. Zach Nunn,R-Iowa,and Don Davis, D-N.C.; Cindy McCain, executive director of the World Food Program.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JULIA DEMAREE NIKHINSON

PresidentDonald Trump, left, and House Speaker MikeJohnson, R-Benton, speak to reporters Tuesdayafter departing aHouse Republican conferencemeeting at the U.S. Capitol in Washington.

BY PATRICK WALL Staff writer

For years, John White was the face of Louisiana education policy

He served as Louisiana’s superintendent of education for eight years — one of the longest tenures of any state K-12 education leader in the country — before stepping down in 2020. During that time he earned a national reputation as a hard-charging, often divisive reformer who pushed for higher standards, stricter accountability and expanded options, including charter schools and private school vouchers.

His positions often put him at odds with the state teachers unions and, at different times, Republican Gov Bobby Jindal and Democrat Gov John Bel Edwards

Yet as controversial as his policies could be, White could point to real progress: improving test scores, rising graduation rates and more students enrolling in college or earning industry credentials

White’s successor, state Superintendent Cade Brumley, has maintained some of the same priorities, such as giving students access to high-quality early education, holding schools accountable for results and preparing students for careers. But he also has made some notable changes, including ending a policy started under White that required high schoolers to apply for college financial aid or request to opt out.

White, who still lives and works in New Orleans, is now CEO of Great Minds, a company that creates curriculum used in schools nationwide.

We recently spoke with White about the latest education news in Louisiana including students’ big gains on the National Assessment of Educational Progress, or NAEP, test — and nationally, as President Donald Trump seeks to eliminate the U.S. Department of

Education. The interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.

What led you to work at a curriculum company after serving as state education chief?

Louisiana really pioneered the idea that the state should play a role in reviewing the curriculum and ensuring the highest of standards — not just in what the curriculum is, but in how it’s implemented.

That became a real life calling for me, and so it was a natural thing for me to go work at Great Minds, which makes Eureka Math and other curriculum products. Our goal is really to ensure that every child in America has a curriculum that educates them on a very deep level By the way, Eureka Math was originally written at LSU. We work in hundreds of schools in Louisiana It’s a nice thing to be able to go down the street and see our curriculum at work in classrooms.

What factors do you think contributed to Louisiana’s recent academic gains?

Though this year was particularly remarkable, over time Louisiana has been improving steadily There are a handful of other places that can say the same thing — for example, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Florida, Texas and Washington, D.C.

What do those six jurisdictions have in common? One is the idea that the state should play a vigorous role in a long-term strategy for improvement. That sounds so obvious, but the truth of it is there are many states across the country where the state is more of just a bureaucratic vessel, an administrator Second, accountability for results among all adults and even among kids and families — has been a cornerstone of the plans for all of those places. They all have held fast to the idea of accountability for results at a time when many, many states are shedding that perspective.

Do you think any policies from your tenure

as superintendent are bearing fruit now?

We did five things that I think are relevant today

First, we established a plan to grow early childhood education and to ensure quality Second, we instituted a high-quality curriculum and the supports to train teachers at a great scale. Third, we incorporated that support into the colleges of education where teachers are now trained with a full-year residency model like a nurse or a doctor in Louisiana.

Fourth, we provided multiple paths to increased university admissions, and we also promoted career paths. Fifth, we ensured aggressive intervention at struggling schools. The Recovery School District has been a kind of force for recognizing that you cannot persistently fail young people in this state and continue to earn the privilege of educating them.

What are your thoughts on the state ending the policy you championed to get high schoolers to apply for college financial aid?

I’m worried about the kid who needs that plumbing program at Baton Rouge Community College, that nursing program at Delgado, that welding credential at South Louisiana Community College. Kids who didn’t get TOPS (statefunded scholarships) and who really do need financial aid. How could anybody be against that? I find it confusing. Especially when it was getting results, putting money in kids’ pocketbooks so they could get that plumbing or welding credential.

I would like to see someone explain how we are going to ensure that that young person still gets all the information they need. There’s an opportunity for low-income youth to have that workforce credential paid for but they’ve got to be aware of it in order to pursue it.

One argument for the Trump administration’s effort to dismantle the U.S Education Department is that it mainly creates bureaucratic red tape.As state education chief,

did you feel like the federal agency was a hindrance?

You’ll get no argument from me (against the idea) that the Department of Education bureaucracy in Washington needs a restructuring. In some cases, it needs to take a step back.

At the same time, the federal government does play a role that is important most notably to hold the states to minimum standards of excellence or to require that states create those standards of excellence.

What does it mean to have a great school in Louisiana? How many kids should be reading on grade level? Who’s measuring that? Those are questions that Congress has for years required states have an answer to, and I think on balance that’s been a good thing.

Looking ahead, if you could choose one policy to keep Louisiana education moving forward, what would it be?

This is not a new argument, but in truth any state that can outcompete other states for teacher talent will improve. Right now, the economics of paying teachers a competitive wage is not working. Our profession is simply not keeping up with other white-collar professions.

I credit the governor and the Legislature for trying to give incremental raises to teachers every

STAFF FILE PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

Cannes awards Palmed’OrtoIranian revengedrama

BY JAKE COYLE AP film writer

Iranian dissident filmmaker Jafar

Panahi won the Palmed’Or atthe Cannes Film Festival on Saturday for his revenge thriller “It WasJust an Accident,”handing thefestival’s top prize to adirectorwho had been banned from leaving Iran formore than 15 years.

Cate Blanchett presented the awardtoPanahi, whothreeyears ago was imprisoned in Iran before going on ahunger strike. For adecade and ahalf, he has made films clandestinely in his native country, including one film (“This Is Not a Film”) made in his living room, and another (“Taxi”) set in acar

The crowd rose in athunderous standing ovationfor the filmmaker,who immediately threw up his arms and leaned back in his seat in disbelief before applauding his collaborators andthe audience around him. On stage, Panahi was cheered by Cannesjury President Juliette Binoche,who in 2010inCannes held up Panahi’sname to honorthe director when he was under house arrest. On stage, Panahi said what mattered most was freedom in his country “Let us join forces,” said Panahi. “No one should dare tell us what kind of clothes we should wear, what we should do or what we should not do. The cinema is asociety.Nobody is entitled to tell what

DirectorJafar

we shouldorrefrain from doing.”

The win for “ItWas Just an Accident” extend an unprecedented streak: The indie distributorNeon has now backed the last six Palme d’Or winners. The latest triumph for Neon, whichacquired“It Was Just an Accident”for NorthAmerican distributionafter itspremiere in Cannes, follows itsPalmes for “Parasite,” “Titane,” “Triangle of Sadness,” “Anatomy of aFall” and “Anora.”

All those filmswereOscar contenders and two, “Parasite” and “Anora,” won bestpicture. Last year,filmmaker MohammadRasoulof fled Irantoattend

thepremiereofhis film in Cannes, and resettleinGermany.Panahi, though, has thatunlike is friend Rasoulof, life in exile isn’tfor him. He plannedtoflyhome to Tehran on Sunday “It WasJust an Accident” was inspired by Panahi’sexperiencein prison.Inthe film,agroup of former prisoners encounterthe man whoterrorized theminjail, and weigh whether or not to kill him. Panahi was jailedinTehran’s Evin Prison after goingthere to inquire aboutthe then-jailed Rasoulof. Panahi was released in 2023 after going on ahunger strike. In 2009, he was bannedfrom

traveling out of Iran after attendingthe funeral of astudent killed in theGreen Movement protests

Throughthose years, Panahi continue to makefilms illegally in Iran, withoutpermit,and having his films smuggled to festivals on USB drives. His travel ban wasliftedafterhis release in 2023.

“The film springs from afeeling of resistance, survival, whichisabsolutely necessary today,” Binoche told reportersafter theceremony.

“Art will always win. What is human will always win.”

The Cannesclosing ceremony followed amajor power outage thatstruck southeastern France on Saturday in whatpolicesuspected was arson. Only afew hours before stars began streaming down the redcarpet, powerwas restored in Cannes.

“A day without electricity,”

sighed John C. Reilly,who sang an English-language “LaVie En Rose”atthe ceremony.The festival’sfilms, he said, supplied “all the needed electricity.”

The Grand Prix, or second prize, was awarded to Joachim Trier’s Norwegian family drama “Sentimental Value,” hislaudedfollow-up to “The Worst Personinthe World.”

Somehad expected “Sentimental Value” to win the Palme, but Trier —whose film reunites him with actorRenate Reinsve —still tooka major prize.

“Welive in atime of tremendous excess and saturation of images.

Moving images are being thrown at us allthe time,” said Trier. “And Iwanttogive homage to the Cannes Film Festival forbeing a place where the big cinematic image, which is the foundationofthe moving image, the free image, the image thatwetaketime to look at, the image where we can identify with each other in contemplation and empathy,tobecherished in this place in such away is very important in this moment.”

Kleber Mendonça Filho’sBrazilianpolitical thriller “The Secret Agent” won twobig awards: best director forFilho andbestactor for Wagner Moura. Though Cannes juries aregenerally urgedtospread awards around, the two for “The Secret Agent” showed thejury’s strong feelings forit. Askedabout thetwo prizes,jurorJeremyStrong explained, simply,“That wasour wish.”

The wins, whichfollowedthe internationalfilm Oscar victory for WalterSalles’ “I’m Still Here” in March,gaveBrazil more to celebrate. On X, BrazilianPresident Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, said the awards “show that our country’s cinemaissecond to none.”

The jury prize was split between two films: Óliver Laxe’sdesert road trip “Sirât “and Mascha Schilinski’sGerman, generation-spanning drama “SoundofFalling.”Best actress went to Nadia Melliti for “The Little Sister,”Hafsia Herzi’s French coming-of-age drama.

BY ADITHIRAMAKRISHNAN

AP science writer

NEW YORK People with darker skin stillneedtowearsunscreen —for more reasons thanone.

Toomuchultravioletexposure from the sun can lead to sunburn, dark spotsand wrinkles,and increased risk of skin cancer

Themelanin in darker skin offers some extra protection from the sun, but dermatologists say that isn’tenough on its own.

“Everyoneneeds sunscreen. But the reasons that one might be reaching for sunscreen may differ depending on yourskin

tone,” said Dr.Jenna Lester,who founded the SkinofColor Clinic at the University of California, San Francisco. Do darker-skinned peopleneedsunscreen?

White people are overall more likely to get skin cancer compared to Blackand Hispanic people. But Black andHispanic people are less likely to survive themost dangerous kind of skin cancer called melanoma, according to the American Cancer Society Black patients more commonly getmelanoma on their hands and feet —placesthatare more shieldedfromthe sun. Still, sun-

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screen is an additional protective layer that helps prevent ahost of other problems including sunburns, hyperpigmentation after acne, rosaceaand dark patches on the face.

Dr.Oyetewa Asempa at Baylor College of Medicineoften reminds her darker-skinned patients:“All of theproblemsthat you’re coming to seemefor are caused or worsened by thesun.”

How much sunscreen do people of color need? To stay safe in the sun, it’simportanttograbsunscreen with a sunprotectionfactororSPF of at least30and reapply everytwo

Many Americansare fortunate to have dental coverage fortheir entire workinglife, through employer-providedbenefits. When those benefits end with retirement, paying dental bills out-of-pocketcan come as a shock,leadingpeople to putoff or even go without care. Simply put —without dental insurance,there may be an important gap in your healthcarecoverage.

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hours. People headed for the pool or beach should put on sunscreen beforehand,rememberingtoreapply liberally and after getting out of the water

Most people don’twear enough sunscreen when they apply,Lester said. Make sure to put two long fingers’ worth on the face and a heftyblob forthe body

Look for chemical-basedsunscreens to avoidashy whitecast. Twokey ingredients in mineralbased products —zinc oxide and titanium oxide —are the culprits for that pesky discoloration on dark skin.

Tintedsunscreens contain pig-

ments that block visible light from the sun, offering additional protectionagainst dark spots. And wearing ahat or sun-protective clothing withanultravioletprotectionfactor or UPF grading can provide an extra safety boost. Whatever thesun protection routine, it’s important to keep it up, Lester said. Some UV rays can climb right throughcar and house windows to cause sun damageevenwhenindoors, making it even more important to take care of the skin while the sun shines. “It’s abouttrying to make it a daily habit,” she said. “Consistency over intensity.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By NATACHA PISARENKO

Panahi, winner of the Palme d’Or for the film ‘It WasJust an Accident,’ poses for photographers Saturday at the 78thinternational film festival in Cannes, southernFrance.

Ex-policechief says seeing George Floyd videogut-wrenching

BY STEVE KARNOWSKI Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS Former Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo vividly remembers receiving acall around midnight from acommunity activist. The caller told him to watch avideo spreading on social media of aWhite officer pinning aBlack man to the ground, despite his fading pleas of “I can’tbreathe.”

cant crisis we’ve ever experienced, arguablyinthe state, when it’slife or death, I’ve got to go on the side of keeping people alive and safe,” he said.

The dying man was GeorgeFloyd. The officer was Derek Chauvin. And Arradondowas thecity’s first Black police chief.

“It wasabsolutelygutwrenching,” Arradondo, 58, recalled in an interview ahead of the fifth anniversary of Floyd’smurder

What he saw conflicted with what his own people had told him about the deadly encounter,and he knew immediately it would mean changes for his department and city.But he acknowledged he didn’t immediately foresee how deeply Floyd’sdeath would reverberate in the U.S. and around the world.

“I served for 32 years,” he said. “But there’sno doubt May 25, 2020, is adefining moment for me in my public service career.”

The video shows Chauvin kneeling on Floyd’sneck, pinning him to the pavement outside aconvenience store where Floyd had tried to use acounterfeit $20bill to buy cigarettes. Chauvin maintained the pressure for 9½ minutes despite pleasfrom onlookers to stop, even after an off-duty firefighter tried to intervene and another officer said he couldn’tfind apulse.

Arradondo sat for the interview in apublic library that was heavily damaged in the unrest that followed Floyd’sdeath. It’sonLake Street,amajor artery that saw some of the worst destruction, astreet that he says still bears “remnants of the pain and anger of what occurred five years ago.”

Just down the block, there’sthe empty shell of apolice station that was torched during the riots And within sight is aTarget store and aCub Foods supermarket that were looted Storefronts remain boarded up. While some businesses were rebuilt, emptylots sit where others did not.

Arradondo stillstands by his and Mayor Jacob Frey’sdecision to abandon the Third Precinct and let it burn. Protesters breached the building, and police who were spreadthin didn’thave the resources to hold it. So he ordered his officers to evacuate.

“During the most signifi-

Arradondo subsequently helped launch an overhaul of policing in the city despite aresistant police culture and apowerful officers union. He testified against Chauvinin his 2021 murder trial, arare breach of the“bluewall” that traditionally protectsofficers from beingheld accountable for wrongdoing

Five yearson, Arradondo, whoretired in 2022, said he believes law enforcement agencies nationwidehave made progress on police accountability —albeitincrementalprogress —and that police chiefs and sheriffs now move fastertohold officersresponsible for egregious misconduct.

Arradondo was promoted to chief in 2017, andhis elevation wasgreeted with hope among local African Americans who affectionatelycalledhim “Rondo.”

But his department had a reputation for beingtoo quick to use force and many were angry aboutpolice killingyoungBlack menin Minnesota and beyond.

Arradondosaid he wishes he had made more changes to thepolice department before Floyd was killed

“I would have pushed harder andsooner at trying to dismantle some of the toxicculture that allowed that indifference to exist that evening, on May 25 2020,”hesaid.“Icertainly would haveinvestedmore time elevating the voices in our community thathad beenpleading with police departmentsfor decades to listen to us and change.”

Arradondo just published abook,“Chief Rondo: Securing Justice for the Murder of GeorgeFloyd,”that explores leadership, justiceand race, the broader impacts of policing, and thechallengesofworking within aflawed system. He closes it withaletter dedicated to Floyd’sdaughter Gianna.

“I never had an opportunitytomeet Gianna, but I wanted her to know that, even though Iwas not out there thatevening, at that intersection when her father was pleading forhelp, that Iheard him, and Iwas going to do everything I could to bringhim justice,” he said. He wanted tosay the wordsthat she has not heard from the fourformer officers who were convicted fortheir rolesinGeorge Floyd’sdeath:

“I’m sorry.I’m sorry for your fatherbeing taken from you.”

steinCondensateBeneath PlanckConstantZone', Trenchard Collection.The results arecomplex and compelling; theoretically and visually indicative of the contemporary cultural zeitgeist

Aquote from Fred: "I wanted to keep working tomakea breakthrough The atomized sections of the newpaintings,that's the stuffI made up,the stuff which thechallenge istocombine into some‐thing simultaneously co‐herentand novel. This is the core of thequantum paradigminobjective terms.Thenit'sa matterof biz as usual, color, per‐spective, shade, move‐ment, light, dark,etc.Sim‐ple really.The biginnova‐tionisthe 'How To'that teaches howtoproduce everythingfromscratch using solely mental capac‐ity.Thatisthe link to the Divine."

DEATHS continued from leans, son, ErichR.Sysak ofThailand, Fred's sister, Mrs.Lynne T. Hemstreet of Houma,Dr. Williamand GretchenBaileyofNew Or‐leans,and numerous nieces, nephewsand cousins "SemperFi" Eternalrestgrant unto them, OLord, andlet per‐petuallight shineupon them. Maythe soul of Fred‐erick HenryNicholasTren‐chard andall thesouls of the faithfuldeparted, through themercy of God, restinpeace.Amen.

Anydonations in Fred's namecan be made to the charity of your choice Detailsand updatesto finalceremoniesarrange‐ments will be posted at https://www.dignitymemo rial.com/obituaries/ metairie-la/fredericktrenchard-12362259

Walton.Charlesissurvived by hisbeloved sisters, Patricia Walton Alley (Jerry, deceased), Jacqueline Walton Blair, JaneWalton Hall, and brother-in-law, William L. Hall III.Hewas thecherished uncle of Richard Dean Alley(Tanya), RebeccaAlley Bishop (Chris), Jennifer Alley Adams (Dennis), Erica Blair Morel(Rachel),Preston Jacques Blair, William Hall IV,Jared Walton Hall (Ciara), and Evan Hall (Madeleine). He is also survivedbymanygreatnieces and nephews, cousins, and numerous friends worldwide.

Fred returned to NewOr‐leans forgood after Hurri‐caneKatrina andmain‐tainedhis residenceatthe familyhomeuntil hispass‐ing

Artcritics have assigned descriptivestoFred'sart suchasMagist, aderiva‐tiveofVisionary Imagist. Freddismissedthese iden‐tifiersasinaccurateand convenient, andrejected the rationalefor them.Fred was acontemporary figu‐rativeand abstract painter livingwithina time and place,yet,not associated withany specificart move‐mentorschool,exceptfor whathebelievedwas the one of hisown imagina‐tion, creation anddesign.

Fred is remembered by manyasone who critiqued and eschewed thelocal New Orleansart establish‐mentbecause of whathe believedwas itsparochial attitudeand chronicwill‐ingness to compromise on professional fine artethics and institutionalstandards and practices, which were originally codified to fairly and equallyserve thepub‐lic at large. Yet, alltoo often,weremanipulated bysomefor personal so‐cial, cultural andeconomic advantage

In homage,Fredwas awell educated, strong-willed, in‐dependent American man, veteran,teacher andartist; intelligent,restless, brash and neverquite accepting ofthe pervasivecultural simulacrum. An individual‐ist.His ultimate stated un‐derstanding of thearts was that theexpressionis eitheroriginalorreferen‐tial; seriousornot.He madepersonaland profes‐sionalsacrificestolivea lifewhich wastruetohis intellectualand creative identity. In totum, aman of integrity

Fred is survived by hisson, MarcelE.Trenchard of New Orleans,GrandsonMarcel F. TrenchardofNew Or‐

Captain Charles E. Walton, aretired Crescent RiverPortPilotand anative of NewOrleans, peacefully passed away surrounded by his family on April25, 2025 after a brief illness. He was born August 28, 1946, theson of thelate Captain Richard E. Walton and MarionJacques

Charles was agraduate of Southeastern Louisiana University and attended Loyola Law School and TulaneUniversity. At this time,hebecame abeloved teacher andtaughtEnglish Literature, Foreign Languages, and History at Promised LandAcademy in Braithwaite. During these early years, he became a worldtraveler enjoying the countriesofthe European continent. Hiscommandof foreign languages were puttogooduse as he led many tours through many countriesand made friends internationally.

Hiscareeronthe Mississippi Riverbegan with Bisso Towboat Company, Inc. He became astatecommissioned Crescent RiverPortPilot in 1980 and piloted ships alongthe Mississippi River for decades. He most enjoyed spending time with hisfellowriver pilots and mentoring the next generation of pilots. Hismaritime membershipsincluded theCrescentRiverPort Pilots Association andthe International Organization of Masters, Mates, and Pilots. Through theyearshe developeda passion for fineart andantiquesand became adevoted loverof classical music andopera. He attendedthe most no-

table operaticperformancesaroundthe world. Beyond his otherinterests, he wasalso captivatedby European architecture and often attendedarchitectural symposiums across the continent. Charles was aman of great character as he wasloving, generous, and kindtohis family, friends, andtoeveryone that he met. He wastruly a princeamongmen Thefamilywould like to sincerely thank thestaff of theWestJeffersonMedical Center,especially Mr. C.J. Nicholson-Uhl,and thedevotednursesofthe Neuro Critical CareUnit for their compassionatecareand comfortextended to Charlesand thefamily. TheWalton familyinvites friends andfamilyto celebrate hislifeatLake LawnMetairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Boulevard in NewOrleans on Saturday, May31, 2025 with avisitation from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Eulogies begin at 12:30 p.m. followed by aMemorial Mass at 1:00 p.m. Acelebration of life reception willimmediately follow themass, to be held in theLake Lawn MetairieEvent Center. The interment willbeprivate. In lieu of flowers, please considera donation in Charles' memory to Cancer Crusaders, www.cancercru sadersla.org. To view andsignthe online guest book, please visit lakelawnmetairie.com

“UNO helped me getmyfirstjob,which ultimately landed me whereI am today,”said Bivian ‘Sonny’Lee III,inaugural NormaJane Sabiston YoungAlumniofthe Year honoreein 2018,and Founder andChief ExecutiveOfficer of SonofaSaint,a localnon-profit organization dedicatedtotransformingthe livesoffatherless boys

“I wasplaying basketball at therecreation center my senior year.There wasa guyonthe opposite team that came up to me at theend of thegame,”statedLee.“He said,‘Sonny, if you work as hard as youplay, then Iwantyou on my team.’ As it turnsout,hewas theDirector of Operations forthe NewOrleans Zephyrs. ForLee,thismomentwas more than just beinginthe rightplace at theright time Hisyears at theUniversityofNew Orleans (UNO)shaped hischaracter,and it wasshiningthrough everyaspectofhis life.Lee went on to work twoseasons with theNew Orleans Zephyrsbeforetransitioning to workingwith NewOrleans Saints,the football team hislate father played forinthe 1970s.

By attendingUNO,Lee wasabletostudy andearnhis bachelor’s degree in marketing andmanagement, whileworking as aresident assistantfor theon-campus apartment complex, PrivateerPlace.Staying in town for collegewas importanttohim,ashis motherwas struggling with herhealthatthe time.Though he didn’t leave NewOrleans,Lee expressedhow thelifelongfriendships he forged with themany athletes andinternational students whostudiedalongside himenrichedhis experience and gave him abroader lens throughwhich to view theworld.According to Lee, communityservice andeducation have always beena cornerstone in hisfamily, andthatwas somethinghesaw reflected in UNO’sopennessand accessibility to theglobalcommunity “UNO hasbeensupportiveall theway

through. When Istarted Sonofa Saintin2011, ourveryfirstactivitieswerehousedonUNO’s campus,” Leesaid. “I wanted ourboystoexperience beingona collegecampus, becauseI knew when they were older it wouldbea placethey wouldaspiretobe. It wouldbea placewhere they were comfortable, andtheywouldn’tthink ‘I’m notsupposedtobehere.

Lauren Gibbs, CEOand OwnerofGibbs Construction Companyand the2022Norma Jane Sabiston DistinguishedYoung Alumna oftheYear,grewupinNewOrleansandreceived her master’s in business administration (MBA) from UNOin2014. TodayGibbs seekstofurther UNO’sspiritofcommunity advancement in herpositionasa facultymemberinthe Dr.RobertA.SavoieCollege of Engineering, whereshe teachesseveral construction management courses.

“The work we do at UNOischanginglives It’s aspecial placewitha great spirit,and we have foundanexcellent leader in Dr.Johnson,” said Gibbs.“I’mexcited forthe future.” Having initiallymoved away forcollege andthe startofher professional career,Gibbs eventually felt thecallin2011toreturnto NewOrleans to buildalong-term home forher family.In2019, shebecame CEOand Owner of GibbsConstructionand is grateful forthe affordability andflexibilityshe experiencedat UNOasa graduate studentwho wasworking full-timeinthe construction industry while earningher MBA. “Ittakes avillage.Ittakes allofus. Giving back to your community is important, and supporting UNOisa great waytogiveback to thecommunity,” said Gibbs. “A thriving communityisgoodfor allofus. Ultimately, we aren’t goingtobesuccessful if ourneighbors aren’t successful.” To learnmoreabout howtosupport UNO, visit: www.give.uno.edu.

Arradondo

Walton, CharlesE

Analysts: Jailbreak dooms Hutson’s campaign

Already unpopular sheriff faced tough path to reelection

knell for her already-struggling reelection bid, eight political analysts and consultants said this week.

BY JAMES FINN Staff writer

Sheriff Susan Hutson was already

fighting an uphill battle.

Sensing vulnerability after a scandal-laden first term, opponents had lined up to challenge her in the Oct. 11 municipal election. Hutson had struggled to raise money and sustain relationships with political backers. Any remaining hope that voters would hand her another four years as one of New Orleans’ most powerful officials seemed to evaporate last week, when 10 inmates at the jail she oversees ripped a toilet out of a wall and sliced through pipes before dashing to freedom across Interstate 10.

Four more face

$1M bails in N.O. jailbreak

5 of 10 escapees remain at large

BY MISSY WILKINSON Staff writer

Four people booked into the Orleans Justice Center in connection with the 10-man jailbreak — either as accessories or principals to simple escape — had bails set Saturday afternoon ranging from $1 million to $2.5 million.

Lenton J Vanburen Sr., Emmitt Weber Trevon B. Williams and Angel McKey appeared Saturday before magistrate commissioner Jonathan Friedman during an Orleans Parish Criminal District Court session via Zoom.

Lenton J. Vanburen Sr., 48, is accused of being an accessory after the fact. He was also booked on an outstanding warrant for a theft allegedly committed in the St. Anthony area in March. His bail was set at $1 million for the accessory count and $2,500 for the theft count.

Lenton J. Vanburen Sr.’s relation to Lenton J. Vanburen Jr., 26, was unconfirmed as of press time. Vanburen Jr who was jailed for weapons felonies and parole violation, is one of the five escapees who remains at large. Angel McKey, 41, was booked on a single count of accessory after the fact and held on a $1 million bail. In 2011, she and Vanburen Sr. were codefendants in an Orleans Parish drug case, both charged with possession of cocaine and marijuana with intent to distribute. Each pleaded guilty to the latter charge in a deal that saw the cocaine charges dropped, court records show Inmate Trevon Williams, 23, was rebooked on 10 counts of principal to simple escape, and his bail was set at $2.5 million — $250,000 for each count. Though Williams was not among the 10 escapees, he was with them during the breakout on pod 1-D and allegedly aided their flight by providing them a blanket and a shirt, which they used to scale the jail’s razor wire-topped fence.

Emmitt Weber, 28, was held on a $1 million bail on a count of accessory after the fact to simple escape He was among four people at a home in New Orleans East suspected of aiding the escaped inmates. Including these four defendants, at least nine people have been arrested on suspicion of aiding the 10 men who broke out of the jail in the early morning hours of May 16. As of Saturday afternoon, five escaped inmates were still at large, following the most recent arrest of Corey Boyd on Tuesday Kendell Myles, Robert Moody, Dkenan Dennis, Gary Price and Corey Boyd have been rearrested

Five prisoners remain at large a week later Hutson’s office, which oversees the jail and some 600 deputies is under multiple investigations. A flurry of national media coverage has amplified scrutiny from Republican state leaders and members of Hutson’s own Democratic Party Former allies have called her unfit to lead.

Questions about how such a disaster unfolded on Hutson’s watch — underpinned by earlier doubts about her stewardship of the Sheriff’s Office — have grown so intense that the incident all but ensures a death

“I don’t see how she can convince a single person, at this point, to reelect her,” said Karen Carvin Shachat, a veteran New Orleans political operative. Blowback over the catastrophe highlights local voters’ weariness with a political class many view as inept at managing city resources, according to polling and dozens of interviews conducted in the leadup to the pivotal municipal election

Crime has plummeted, but voters remain worried about public safety too. Hutson on Tuesday acknowledged the hurdle the escape poses to her reelection bid when she announced she was ”suspending” her campaign. She did so to prioritize “security, accountability, and public safety” over election politics, Hutson said. Hutson was competing against former interim New Orleans Police Superintendent Michelle Woodfork,

Keep it Greek

BY DOUG MacCASH Staff writer

The crowd may have been a little lighter than usual at the New Orleans Greek Festival on Saturday afternoon.

Maybe it was the uncertain weather

The clouds that drifted over Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral like lambs just couldn’t seem to make up their minds whether to rain or not.

While droplets fell from time to time, the crowd on the grass beside Bayou St John was prepared, popping up umbrellas or nestling a little more tightly in the covered dining areas. In New Orleans, a

little afternoon rain is a given.

Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, Greek Fest is, of course, a celebration of Hellenic culture: the music, the dancing and the food, the food, the food But it’s also a New Orleans neighborhood festival, popular with everybody, of Greek heritage or not.

You might be able to spot the Greek folks, because they know how to pronounce gyro — the name of the sandwich that is Greece’s gift to fast food across the globe. Evagelia Vatakis said that one must begin with a “yee” sound, then roll the r, before resting on the o. But as you hungrily wait in line, you’ll

N.O. Fest celebrates 50th anniversary

hear it pronounced every which way: geero, jeero, jie-ro, etc.

Among the half-dozen people gathered around a communal dining table in the crowded Cathedral auditorium, nobody was Greek, but everybody was enthusiastically Greek-adjacent.

Coco Burt ate souvlakia as she waited for the Hellenic dancers to take the stage for the 1:30 p.m. show. It was the best souvlakia she’d ever had, not counting the souvlakia she and her husband Andrew had during their vacation in Greece.

ä See GREEK, page 2B

Medical clinic sign of parish’s growth

Development pushing into rural areas

BY BOB WARREN Staff writer

When St. Tammany Health System opened a stand-alone clinic on La. 21 outside of Money Hill last month, it marked a milestone in the community’s long-range expansion plans. But even more, it was another sign of what some in St Tammany Parish say is the inevitable push of residential growth into a rural swath across the east-central area of the parish. Not only does Money Hill, a gated community with around 300 homes on 1,100 acres, plan to grow by thousands of acres, a

new $216 million state highway linking Lacombe to Bush, decades in the making, could open even more of the parish for development.

“It’s a natural fit,” Mimi Goodyear Dossett, president of Money Hill, said of the St. Tammany Health System clinic. “Like Money Hill, they are growth-minded.” St. Tammany Health System is leasing the location from Money Hill. Dr Pat Torcson, St. Tammany Health System’s senior vice president and chief medical officer, said opening the clinic at Money Hill was an easy decision.

The general rule in health care, he said, is to have primary care doctors within a 10-minute drive of where people live. And as the population grows in the Wald-

Meteorologist who made air travel safer dies

N.O. native John McCarthy researched wind shear

BY JOHN POPE Contributing writer

John McCarthy, a New Orleansborn meteorologist whose lifelong fascination with weather led to research that made air travel safer and saved thousands of lives, died May 18 in Eugene, Oregon. He was 82. His son, Denis McCarthy, who confirmed the death, said his father died of complications of dementia.

As the founding director of the Research Applications Program at the National Center for Atmospheric Research, McCarthy focused his research on wind shear and microbursts, two phenomena

that make takeoffs and landings hazardous.

Wind shear is a change in wind speed and/or direction that can cause changes to an airplane’s headwind or tailwind, displacing the aircraft from its intended flight path.

A microburst is a sudden, localized, powerful air current, especially a downdraft, that can cause extensive damage to an airplane and be life-threatening.

According to an article in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, wind-shear accidents have been responsible for more than 1,400 fatalities worldwide since 1943, including over 400 deaths in the United States between 1973 and 1985.

Under McCarthy’s direction, the research program collaborated with the Federal Aviation Administration to develop microburst-detection and warning systems for airports across the country

McCarthy

STAFF PHOTO By SCOTT THRELKELD

The Hellenic Dancers of New Orleans perform during the 50th annual Greek Festival at Holy Trinity Cathedral in New Orleans on Saturday. The three-day festival, which concludes Sunday, features Greek food, music, folk dancing, folk dance lessons, cathedral tours, cooking demonstrations and a good time.

Tangipahoa Parish jail escapee captured

BY CHAD CALDER Staff writer

An inmate who escaped from the Tangipahoa Parish jail for a second time on Thursday was captured and taken back into custody Friday night, the Sheriff’s Office said.

The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office credited Louisiana State Police for its assistance in the search and apprehension of Tra’Von Johnson, 19, in an email sent just before 9 p.m.

The email included a photo-

GREEK

Continued from page 1B

Burt said she lives in Atlanta now but grew up in the Lakeshore neighborhood, just a few blocks from the Greek church Her parents always brought her to the festival. It was a family tradition, and it was always just the same, with people packed together inside to see the traditional group dancing When she was a kid, she said, she wasn’t tall enough to see anything really, but she loved the dancing anyway In Burt’s baby carrier was her 5-month-old daughter Vivi, who, she predicted, would someday love the dancers and the rest of the festival too.

It was Vivi’s first Greek Fest, but Holly Zaharis, who shared the table, said she’d barely missed the annual event in 40 years Zaharis, 72, said that her late husband Demitrios had grown up in a neighborhood at the foot of the Acropolis. Though she isn’t Greek she said “my feet are definitely Greek.”

graph of Johnson in handcuffs with authorities on Bennett Road in Amite.

No other details were immediately available.

Johnson was in jail awaiting trial for his alleged role in a 2022 home invasion in the Hammond area that killed a man and injured the man’s child.

Sheriff Gerald Sticker said the escape occurred when jail workers were dispatched to clean up water in a flooded cell at about 4:15 p.m. Thursday After the cleanup, a back door that leads

into the yard was left open for about a minute — the reasons why are unclear — and Johnson and another man slipped out.

The other inmate helped Johnson over the fence before coming back inside, where a deputy escorted him back to his cell. Sticker said a proper head count should have been taken but was not.

Johnson’s absence was not noticed for another six hours, after someone called the Sheriff’s Office to ask if Johnson was still in

custody Four jail workers have since been placed on administrative leave, Sticker said. Johnson was one of four people who escaped from the jail in May 2024 before Sticker became sheriff, according to sheriff’s spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue. After that escape, Johnson was found within 24 hours, while one of the four was not found until November

Email Chad Calder at ccalder@ theadvocate.com.

Continued from page 1B

He also was instrumental in developing the FAA Wind Shear Training Aid, which has been incorporated into pilot-training systems worldwide.

As a result of his work, the number of fatal crashes related to wind shear and microbursts dropped to zero, said Rich Wagoner, one of McCarthy’s colleagues, in a telephone interview

“Persistence and passion” drove McCarthy to succeed, Wagoner said “He could have gotten frustrated and backed off, but he didn’t.”

McCrory and his wife Michelle had driven in from Metairie, just because they were looking for something fun to do, and love all the Greek food.

Across the room at the Greek salad station, Alexandra Quinn recalled her childhood memories of the festival in the 1980s. Quinn — whose maiden name was Bitsikas — said her favorite part was before the festival, when all the men would be in the kitchen cooking and singing, the women would be out in the church taking care of details, and the dancers would rehearse “It is magic before the festival,” she said, “the anticipation, and the happy exhaustion.”

Quinn, who lives in Annapolis, Maryland, now, jetted in with her husband just to pitch in. She said the fest is presented by the Greek community, but the festival is “very much about New Orleans too.”

“Everybody feels like they’re part of the family, and everyone’s welcome,” she said.

Greek Fest continues Sunday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

As soon as the Hellenic dancers were finished performing, Zaharis planned to make her way to the outdoor dance floor to swing and sway to the bouzouki band. To help her properly prepare, her tablemate Doug McCrory offered her a glass of Moschofilero Greek wine from his bottle.

BAILS

Continued from page 1B

and are being held without bail at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola. Antoine Massey Lenton Vanburen, Jermaine Donald, Leo Tate and Derrick Groves remain at large.

A $20,000 reward is offered per inmate for information leading to an arrest.

Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously by calling (504) 822-1111 or (877) 903-STOP or texting TELLCS to CRIMES (274637), or online at www p3tips.com/tipform.aspx

The FBI can be reached at (800) CALL-FBI or by sending digital tips to fbi.gov/ neworleansfugitives.

HUTSON

Continued from page 1B

former Criminal District Court Judge Julian Parker and city Constable Edwin Shorty, all of whom criticized her in the escape’s aftermath.

The choice to pause rather than abandon her campaign leaves Hutson a measure of flexibility, political observers noted Still, making a successful return to the race would require “very, very” unusual circumstances, said Silas Lee, a veteran pollster who teaches at Xavier University

“Your opponents would need to really, really mess up,” he said, “or you would need an incredible, unexpected amount of new resources.”

A tumultuous term

Relative to her opponents, Hutson had struggled to marshal resources even before the escape, campaign finance records show She took in just over $45,000 in political donations between January and April, according to her latest filing with the Louisiana Board of Ethics. After spending most of that amount, she had $9,000 available in mid-April. Woodfork raised nearly $80,000 in that period and had $60,000 in her campaign account. Shorty, who has never held an appointed or elected citywide office, had about $33,000 available.

“The fact she had so many challengers already sent the message

MEDICAL

Continued from page 1B

heim-Bush area, he said, the clinic will be busy

The clinic offers a wide range of services, from basic family medicine to urgent care, lab work and X-rays, he said.

“It’s exceeded expectations,”

Torcson said of traffic into the clinic since it opened

The clinic, one of six operated across St. Tammany Health System’s service area, can grow as the population and need expands, he added Residential growth across that part of St. Tammany is expected in the coming years.

“All indications point to that direction,” said Chris Masingill, president and CEO of the St. Tammany Economic Development Corporation. “And I think the clin-

they felt she was vulnerable,” said Ed Chervenak, a University of New Orleans political scientist and pollster who heads the school’s Survey Research Center

On the way to being elected New Orleans’ first female sheriff in 2021, Hutson, a lawyer and former independent police monitor in the city, raised more than $400,000. She branded herself as a progressive in that race, riding a wave of support for reform-minded candidates in the wake of George Floyd’s killing by police in Minneapolis and amid criticism of former Sheriff Marlin Gusman’s jail management.

She nabbed backing from an influential grassroots group, Voters Organized to Educate, and from District Attorney Jason Williams, a former city councilman who had adopted the progressive mantle in his own election victory the prior year

The goodwill dissipated soon after Hutson took office in May 2022.

She drew blowback for firing top deputies, allegations of mismanagement leveled in ensuing lawsuits and reports of misspending on French Quarter hotel rooms booked for deputies. The jail’s population swelled well beyond a 1,250-person limit imposed by the City Council, and a federal court forced ahead a jail expansion Hutson’s supporters had hoped to stall. In April 2023, voters dealt her request for more funding a stinging defeat at the polls. Hutson’s approval rate had sunk below 40% by the following year according to an October poll by the

ic out there is a good signal that these services are desired.”

Masingill said the growth of Money Hill, plus the new highway La. 3241, will mean more people and more of a need for services.

The highway, long a dream of some St. Tammany and Washington parishes elected leaders, will cut a four-lane path for around 20 miles, linking Interstate 12 in Lacombe to Bush, where it connects to the existing La. 21 into Washington Parish and Bogalusa.

The first section of the new highway opened last summer, with the rest expected to come on line in the near future.

Masingill also noted that the St. Tammany Parish Council has shown a desire to slow the pace of residential growth across the western side of the parish, which has grown rapidly over the past decade. But, he said, there appears to be much less pushback in the east-central part of the parish.

University of New Orleans’ Survey Research Center Williams chose not to back her reelection bid, instead endorsing Woodfork, who works for the prosecutor’s office.

Huston scored a victory several weeks ago when voters agreed to fund about 20% of her office’s budget for another decade — by just two votes. Her opponents seized on the renewal’s slim margin of victory, arguing that the result showed voters were dubious of Hutson’s stewardship of the jail.

The mass escapes the following week amounted to “a match on a stick of dynamite” for Hutson’s reelection chances, said Lee.

“This was the nail in the coffin,” said Carvin Shachat.

Little precedent

The criticism unleashed upon Hutson since the jailbreak followed a pattern somewhat familiar to watchers of politics in New Orleans, whose leaders have seen scandals harm their fortunes time and again.

But of the politicos interviewed for this story, several said they could not recall an instance of a citywide official facing such sustained, intense blowback amid a reelection bid as Hutson weathered over the past week.

That criticism has only mounted as the manhunt for five remaining escapees drags on.

On Thursday, Williams, the district attorney who endorsed Hutson in 2020, fired off a pair of letters directing her to preserve all evidence relat-

“And it’s beautiful there,” Masingill said. “It’s a beautiful part of the parish.”

The clinic, meanwhile, also dovetails with Money Hill’s plans for continued growth. The Parish Council in December 2024 approved an expansion that will open the way for development on another 4,400 acres of Money Hill property

Dossett said the plans are very long range — decades of careful residential growth.

It won’t be an “overnight sensation,” she said in a 2024 interview, but added, “When you look at it on an aerial map of St. Tammany Parish, you really see what a significant player (Money Hill) is.”

The vision, she said in the interview is to build to several thousand homes over the next 50 years or so.

“But you need services that enhance the quality of life,” she said recently

ed to the escape. Williams asked Hutson to save DNA evidence, emails, text messages, surveillance video, visitor logs and other data.

Williams, who previously called the escape a “complete failure of the most basic responsibilities entrusted to a sheriff or jail administrator,” on Thursday said he was “deeply concerned” about a delay in processing evidence from the escape.

At least two state lawmakers have called on Hutson to resign, an outcome political observers view as unlikely Hutson’s best face-saving option, analysts said, would be to finish out her current term, focus on operational security at the jail and stay out of the race. Hutson remains the only candidate with deep experience running a large jail facility

But the escape’s scale and brazenness — coupled with her initial refusal to shoulder accountability and her earlier string of scandals — threatens transforming that experience into a black mark on her resume, rather than a positive, analysts said.

“If the election were held today I do not believe she would even make the runoff,” said Robert Collins, a political analyst and professor at Dillard University

Even a person close to Hutson acknowledged this week that if the sheriff hopes to reenter the race, she will have to secure much more funding.

It’s unclear where Hutson may be able to turn for political support.

When McCarthy started his research in 1981, the problem he faced was that most experience with commercial aviation didn’t involve jets, said Rich Wagoner, one of McCarthy’s colleagues. “The phenomena (involving those airplanes) are not common.”

Because McCarthy had studied microbursts with the pioneering meteorologist Ted Fujita, he understood the basic science, Wagoner said, but he also knew that he had to work with airlines to gain perspective and to get his proposals accepted.

“His contribution probably speeded up the solution by a decade,” Wagoner said.

Denis McCarthy said his father’s infatuation with weather began with a childhood viewing of “The Wizard of Oz,” in which a tornado drives the plot. Years later, when he was a student at Metairie Park Country Day School, he won several awards with a working model of a tornado machine.

He earned an undergraduate degree in physics at Grinnell College, a master’s degree in meteorology at the University of Oklahoma and a doctorate in geophysical sciences at the University of Chicago. McCarthy was a professor of meteorology at the University of Oklahoma from 1973 to 1980. A year after leaving that post, he joined the National Center for Atmospheric Research, where he worked until 1994.

“His focus on his career was very consuming,” Denis McCarthy said. “He was driven from a very early age. He really wanted to be successful, and he worked very hard at it.”

“He had tremendous energy, focus and a desire to get the job done,” said Bob Serafin, McCarthy’s boss. “We had a terrific relationship.” McCarthy received the first Aviation and Space Operations Weather Prize in 2017. The award, conferred by a group of aviation associations, recognized his achievements in mitigating weather-related hazards.

His son said he sang bass in several choirs and enjoyed mountain hiking.

In addition to his son, survivors include his wife, Carole Shawver; a stepson, John Murphy of Leesburg Virginia; a stepdaughter, Amanda Frazier of Carlisle, Pennsylvania; a brother, Richard McCarthy III of New Orleans; and nine grandchildren.

A celebration of his life will be held on Sept 27 from 1 p.m to 4 p.m. in the Damon Room of the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado.

Email John Pope at pinckelopes@gmail.com.

Bruce Reilly, a representative of VOTE, did not directly say Friday whether the group supports her reelection bid. In a statement, he cast her first-term performance in mixed terms.

“Gone are the exploitative reality TV and double-duty deputies being paid by Walmart and (the jail) for the same shift,” Reilly said, alluding to scandals from Gusman’s tenure. Gusman, who has weighed getting in this fall’s race, did not respond to a phone message.

“And yet, the current sheriff couldn’t stop the deposed sheriff’s jail expansion plans,” Reilly added. Of the current field, Reilly said: “It’s always going to be complicated, and each election has to play itself out.”

A sudden surge of goodwill toward Hutson seems unlikely at best said Chervenak.

“It’s difficult to see how she comes back from this,” he said.

LOTTERY FRIDAY, MAY 23, 2025

PICK 3: 6-4-6

PICK 4: 3-1-6-1

PICK 5: 2-3-4-4-3

MEGA MILLIONS: 7-18-40-55-68

MEGA BALL: 18

STAFF PHOTO By SCOTT THRELKELD

The Hellenic Dancers of New Orleans perform during the 50th annual Greek Festival at Holy Trinity Cathedral in New Orleans on Saturday. The three-day festival, which concludes Sunday, features Greek food, music folk dancing folk dance lessons, cathedral tours, cooking demonstrations and a good time.

Bessent,Richard Parker,Kim

Senecharles, Fritzner

Swan,Russell TeapoJr.,Frank Wortmann, Wayne

NewOrleans

Charbonnet

TeapoJr.,Frank

DW Rhodes

Senecharles, Fritzner

St Tammany

EJ Fielding

Bessent,Richard Swan,Russell Wortmann, Wayne

Obituaries

Bessent,Dr. RichardOcie

Dr.Richard Ocie Bessent passedawayonThursday, May 22, 2025.Hewas a beloved doctor andresi‐dentofthe GreaterNew Orleans area formorethan 40wonderful years. He is survivedbyhis wife,Susan MacalusoBessent;his chil‐dren, CharlesTownsend Bessent andRichard Olivier Bessent.Heisalso survivedbyhis sister Char‐leneBessent andhis motherVonnieBessent.He was preceded in deathby his father RayBessent and his brotherJohnBessent Richard wasborninJack‐sonville, FL on February 14 1953 to Rayand Vonnie Bessent who raised himas a hard workingfarm boy and avid outdoorsman. As the firstpersoninhis fam‐ily to receivea collegeedu‐cation, Richardattended VanderbiltUniversityon academicscholarship where he graduatedwith honorsfromthe School of Medicinein1979. He fol‐lowed Vanderbilt with an Internship at Baylor School ofMedicineand eventually a ResidencyinOphthal‐mology at Tulane Univer‐sity. RichardfellinLove withNew Orleans, along withVirginiaProvosty, re‐sulting in thebeginning of a familyand thedecision tomovetoCovington, Louisiana.Richard served his community as aBoard Certified Ophthalmologist opening Surgical EyeAsso‐ciatesalongside hispart‐ner Steven R. Meyer, M.D. in1984. He wasbeloved by his patients andstaff, re‐maining adedicated and ever-availabledoctor and surgeon until astroke forcedretirementin2021 Hegavethe gift of sight daily,averaging over 4000 cataractsurgeries ayear duringhis impressive and fruitfulcareer.Nomatter the necessity, no matter the hour he wasalways justa phonecallaway. He was as comfortableona tractor as he wasinthe op‐erating room.His friends willrememberhim as a loyal andfaithfulcompan‐ion .Hewas an avid out‐doorsman,a voraciousstu‐dentofthe world, reader, scientist,deepthinker and conversationalist. Above

all, he lovedtolaugh.Ifyou had thepleasureofbeing inthe room,oreventhe adjacentroom ,his infec‐tious bellow washeart‐warming,and impossible tomistake.His love of medicineand dedication to his career wassuperseded onlybythe love he hadfor his family anddearest friends.The manhad abig beautiful heart–asup‐porterofvaliant causes and aconsistentadvocate for theunderdog. He will besorelymissedbyhis familyand hismemory lives on in oftenretoldsto‐riesheloved to elaborate tothe delightand amuse‐mentofthe hearer .His legacyrests in thesimple factthathehelped hispa‐tients, family andfriends see this beautifulworld withclearer vision anda lighter heart. In lieu of flowers, the familyasksfor donations in memory of Dr Bessent be made to the charity of your choice.Rel‐ativesand friendsare in‐vited to attend thememor‐ial services at St.Joseph Abbey, 75376 RiverRoad, St. Benedict,LA70457 on Thursday,May 29,2025, at 2:00p.m.withvisitationat the AbbeyonThursday be‐ginning at 1:00 p.m. E.J. FieldingFuneralHomehas been entrusted with fu‐neral arrangements.The Bessent family invitesyou toshare thoughts,fondest memories, andcondo‐lencesonlineatE.J.Field‐ing FuneralHome Guest Book at www.ejfieldingfh com

On Tuesday, May20, 2025, Kim Parker,age 62, Lovingmother, grandmother and sister passed awaypeacefullyat home surroundedbyher family afterashort fight with brain cancer

Kimwas bornonJuly31, 1962inNew Orleans, La. She grew up in theIrish Channel, went to grade schoolatSt. Alphonsus, attendedRedemptoristHigh School and then Graduated from Grace King. Kim also attended Helena Hosch School of Dance from the time she was old enough to begin herfirst year until she later becamea graduate.She receivedcollege degrees in Phlebotomy, Accounting and Computer Science.She worked for many yearsasanaccountant for herfamily'srental businessaswellasthe tourism and hospitalityindustries.

Kim was an avid reader &devoted catholic,loved the SmokeyMountains, camping, dancing and most of all, spending time with her children &grandchildren.

Kimissurvived by her 3 children, Alissa, Anthony Jr.& AdamGrandolfo;6 grandchildren, Dre,Cruz, Thomas,Adam, Liliana & Eli; brother, Patrick Jr.and sisters Stephanieand Patricia;aswellasher best friend of many years, Kimberly;many niecesand nephews and countless friends.

She was preceded in deathbyher parents Patrick Sr. and Beverly; and her loving grandparents whom raisedher, Adam and Irene. Kimwas alwaysthere when we needed her,she

When youneed thenews. Wherever youreadthe news

was afriend to many and she will always be remembered by her beautiful smile, always being fullof love and laughter and for her resilience. She touched thelives of allwho knew her.

Alissa &Adam would personally like to express theirdeepest gratitude to everyone for alltheir kind words and prayersaswell as to St.Catherine's Hospice forthe incredible compassionand comfort they provided to their mother during her final weeks. No services willbeheld, as perKim's request.

Senecharles, Fritzner

With sadnessweshare the passingofFritzner Senecharles,onMonday, April 28, 2025. Please visit www.RhodesFuneral.com to view serviceinforma‐tion, sign online guest‐book,send flowersand share condolences.

FrankTeapo Jr peace‐fully ascended on Sunday, May 11, 2025 at theage of 59, leavingbehinda legacy ofstrength, love anddevo‐tiontohis family. Born on July26, 1965, Mr.Teapo was aman of quietdignity, who touchedcountless lives with hiskindheart and unwavering presence Frank is thebeloved hus‐bandofShantellTeapo; cherished sonofJeanann Washingtonand thelate Frank Teapo; proudfather ofTravisHenderson,Frank Henderson,Frankeitha Tiffith,Donisha Tiffith,De‐vonte Frederickand Trejon Bridges;beloved brotherof Eronica Teapo, thelate Giselle Teapoand Donnie Teapo.His memory will live oninthe hearts of allwho knewhim,a reminder of a lifewell-livedand deeply loved.A Celebrationser‐vicehonoringthe life and legacyofthe late Frank Teapo,Jr.,willbeheldin the Chapel of Charbonnet Labat GlapionFuneral Home, 1615 St.Philip Street,New Orleans, LA 70116 on Friday,May 23 2025 at 10 am.Interment RestHaven Cemetery,10400 Old GentillyRoad, NewOr‐leans,LA. Visitation 9am inthe chapel.Pleasesign onlineguestbook at www charbonnetfuneralhome. com. Charbonnet Labat Glapion,Directors (504) 581-4411.

NewOrleans Area Deaths

Bessent,Richard ClarkCrist,Mireille Collins, Barbara Constantin,Elizabeth Conway, Joseph Cortizas,Nancy Couget, John Dupaquier Jr., Norton

Fenasci, Sandra Hendry, Carole Hurst, Devon Kioebge,Mona Llull, Carol Moreau,John Najolia,Richard Perret, Leon Phillips, Wayne Riso,Joseph SaintRomain, Jacqueline

Salassi, Paulette

Smith,Roger Swan,Russell Swift, Marlene

Trenchard, Frederick

Walton, Charles Wortmann, Wayne EJefferson

Leitz-Eagan

Llull, Carol

Salassi, Paulette

Kimberly Armstrong, Travis Brown,and Timothy Brown. Sheisalso survived by tengrandchildren, as well as herformer spouse, Glynn Brown In remembrance of Mireille's life and legacy, thefamilykindlyasks that donationsbemade to an animal shelter in your community, as Mireille had adeep love foranimals. Herpassing leaves a void in thehearts of those whoknewher,but her memory will continueto live on through herfamily, friends, and themanylives she touched.

Collins,Barbara Vacherie,Louisiana Barbara AnnCollins(BD), 80, of Vacherie La., departed this life peacefullyon May15, 2025 at St.Joseph CarpenterHouse.She was born on Feb 12, 1945 in New Orleans, LA and anative of Vacherie,LA. Sheaccepted Christ at an early ageand served as an Usher at HighwayBaptist Church Ourbeautiful gemhas gain herwings. Memorial service will be held at HighwayBaptist Church 1185 Magnolia HeightsSt, Vacherie,LAonJune7th at 11 AM andrepass followinginthe HighwayBaptist Church Multipurpose Building

Constantin, Elizabeth Johnson 'Betty'

Trenchard, Frederick NewOrleans

Gertrude Geddes

Hurst, Devon

Greenwood

Hendry, Carole

JacobSchoen

RussellSwanpassed awayonTuesday,May 20 2025 in Covington, LA.He was theson of IreneSan‐talucitoand Philip F. Swan, Sr. He is survived by his wifeMartha“Marty” Kemp Swan; hischildren, Char‐maine Swan Rich (Ray), April Swan Rosney (Mark), Dr. Chad R. Swan (Kelly) and MandyKatherine Swan; grandchildren, MitchellSwan, ChaseRich, LoganRich, Katherine Swan, Samantha Swan and Charlotte Swan;and brother,PhilipSwan, Jr.He attended school at Holy Cross, NewOrleans,St. Joseph’sSeminaryinCov‐ington, Tulane,U.ofIowa and UNO. He received an AAinLiberal Arts from St JosephAbbeySeminary, BAinEnglish from Tulane and an MA in Englishfrom UNO in NewOrleans.He workedasa technical writerand editor for: Chryslerand Boeing at Mi‐choud Assembly Facility in New Orleans; forNASAat Stennis,MS; Computer CenterinSlidell where he receivedthe Silver Snoopy Award;and forthe Navy at UNO,New Orleans. He taughtEnglish at Delgado inSlidell as an adjunctin‐structorfor 15 years. Mr Swanwas afounding memberofSt. Luke’s Catholic Church in Slidell where he wasa lector,in chargeofaltar serversand MCfor Triduum services for 27 years. He wasMC and lector for2 yearsat MostHolyTrinity in Cov‐ington. He wasa volunteer porterand tour guideatSt. JosephAbbeyinCoving‐ton.Russell wasa soccer coach foryouth soccerin Slidell. He wasa runner and raninthe Crescent CityClassic for34years straight. He wasanavid readerand chessplayer havingplayedinmany local andregionalchess tournaments.Relatives and friendsare invitedto attend theMemorialMass atSt. Joseph Abbey, 75376 River Road,St. Benedict,LA 70457 on Friday,May 30 2025, at 2:00 p.m. with visi‐tationatthe AbbeyonFri‐day beginningat1:00p.m IntermentwillfollowinSt. JosephAbbeyCemetery. E.J.FieldingFuneralHome has been entrustedwith funeralarrangements. The Swanfamilyinvites youto share thoughts,fondest memories, andcondo‐lencesonlineatE.J.Field‐ing FuneralHomeGuest Book at www.ejfieldingfh com

WayneJoseph“Joey Wortmannpassedaway peacefullyonSunday, May 18, 2025, from Progressive SupranuclearPalsy (PSP). Hewas preceded in death byhis parents, Arthur C. WortmannSr. andLeah GlaserWortmannand his brother,RodneyWortmann Sr. Joey is survived by his lovingwife, Dollie Bridges Wortmann, hischildren, Heather Maheu(Mike), Wayne Joseph Wortmann Jr. (Jeana), GretaCiervo (Tony), Kira Wortmann and Matthew Wortmann, his seven grandchildren, Dr Wayne Joseph “Trey” Wort‐mannIII, KassidyWort‐mann, AnthonyCiervo, OwenCharton,Kayden Wortmann, Nova Charton and GreysonWortmann. He isalsosurvivedbyhis sib‐lings,Arthur Charles “Mickey”WortmannJr. and Joyce Broussardand ahost ofniecesand nephews. A special thanks to Pelican Homes andSouthernGrace Hospice forthe loving at‐tention andgreat care they provided. Relativesand friends of thefamilyare in‐vited to attend theMassof Christian Burial on Wednesday,May 28, 2025, at2:00pmatSt. Joseph Abbey, 75376 RiverRoad, St. Benedict,LA70457. The visitationwillbegin at 1:00 pmuntil servicetime, and burialwillfollowinSt. JosephAbbeyCemeteryin St. Benedict,LA. In lieu of flowers, donationsmay be madetoCurePSP,www psp.org or Massespre‐ferred. E.J. Fielding Funeral Homehas been entrusted withfuneral arrangements Pleasesignthe guestbook atwww.ejfieldingfh.com

Cortizas,Nancy

Lake Lawn Metairie

Constantin,Elizabeth

Dupaquier Jr., Norton

Fenasci, Sandra

Perret, Leon

Walton, Charles St Tammany

EJ Fielding

Bessent,Richard

Moreau,John

Riso,Joseph Swan,Russell Wortmann, Wayne

Serenity FH

SaintRomain, Jacqueline West Bank

Mothe

Phillips, Wayne

Obituaries

Clark Crist,Mireille

Mireille Clark Crist, widow of Robert Crist, passed away peacefullyon Tuesday, February 25, 2025, at theWaters of Eden PrairieNursing Home in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Shewas 87 years old. Born in NewOrleans Louisiana, Mireille wasthe youngest of threedaughters born to Mireille Gueydan Clark and ArmstrongBalfourClark. Hersiblings were Pepilla (Peps) Walker of Covington,Louisiana, and Mimi Clark Cromwellof Mandeville,Louisiana. Mireille wasa loving mothertoher children

Elizabeth "Betty" JohnsonConstantin passed away peacefullyon April 21, 2025. She is survivedbyher daughters Lisette Constantin (M. Lee Page,Jr) andNicole ConstantinSellers (David); hergrandchildrenMason Page, Simone Page,Ian Sellers, and Alec Sellers; herdaughter-in-law Kathy Young;and many nieces andnephews. Sheispredeceased by herson ChristopherConstantin, herhusbandRoland Constantin, herbrothers Stephen JohnsonJr. and Robert Johnson, andher parents Stephen Johnson Sr.and HonoraC.Burke Betty graduatedfrom Loyola andtaughtatthe Academy of theSacred Heartfor over 20. Betty wasanavidenvironmentalist whoadored being in nature. She served on the NewOrleans Parkway Commission and helped startthe Audubon Nature Center.She hada deep faithand abeautiful welcoming spirit that inspired others to recognize both thehumanityand thedivinityeach of us. ACelebrationofBetty's Life will be held on Saturday, May31st at Academy of theSacred HeartChapel, 4521 St Charles Avenue.Visitation will be 10am-11:30am and service at 11:30am. Because Betty wassucha JazzFest fan,please wear aJazz Fest/Hawaiian shirt or anybrightcolor to the celebration. Amass in her honor will be at herlongtime parish,St. Dominic's, at 10:30am on June 1st (Betty's 95th birthday). In lieu of flowers, please send donations to thelocal nonprofit soulnola.org (Sustaining OurUrban Landscape).

Conway,Joseph

Joseph Conway, the youngest brotherofour family, died unexpectedly in hishomelast December 20th. Remarkably bright; well read anda keenobserver of life, hiswas a lightthat went outtoo soon. No matter the challenges of life or hisstruggle with cancer,Joseph always broughtout thebest in others andsomehow made theroom alittle brighter before he left it Well loved, he will be sorely missed by thefamilyhe left behind We will say ourgoodbyesatnoononJuly7th at thefamilyplot: Little Georgetown Cemetery and Church of OurSavior; The Plains,Virginia.

TeapoJr.,Frank

Swan,Russell

Parker,Kim

Wortmann, Wayne Joseph 'Joey'

NancyN.Cortizas

beloved daughter of the lateFelipeMartinezofHa‐vana, Cuba andAgueda Martinez-FuentesofGuan‐tanamo, Cuba passed awayathomepeacefully and comfortably, on the morning of May19, 2025 Nancy wasbornonSep‐tember29, 1935, in Guan‐tanamo, Cuba andimmi‐gratedtothe United States in1959. Shewas an ener‐getic,kindand loving mother, grandmotherand wifethatnever meta stranger. Sheloved aparty and enjoyedspendingtime withher family, friends and hostingher grandchil‐dren. Nancyhelpedher husband open the first New OrleansCuban restau‐rantin1969, La Caridad and shewas thefounder and proprietor of Liborio Cuban Restaurant located inthe CBDsince 1975 Nancy waspreceded in death by herson Felipe Gabriel Cortizas and spouseJoseGabriel Corti‐zas.She is survived by her youngestson RichardFe‐lipeCortizas(Erica),as wellasher threegrandchil‐drenGabriella,Elena,and AlexCortizas. Privateser‐vices andburialwerehan‐dledbyJacob Schoen Fu‐neral Home,onFriday, May 23, 2025. Nancywas in‐ternedatSt. Patrick’s Cemetery#1atthe fam‐ily’s tomb.The family would like to thankevery‐one fortheir kind words, prayers andwishes. Partic‐ularlyher home caretakers who showed greatcare and love forher.Inlieuof flowersthe familyrequest thatyou performa random act of kindness or make a donationtoany charityof yourchoice.

Couget, John

John Edward Couget, age 64, of Walworth, WI passed away on Thursday, March 20, 2025 at Inspiration Ministries. He was born on March 22, 1960 in New Orleans to Andre and Joyce (Hanemann) Couget. John was loved and cared for at Inspiration Ministries for 40 years. He was ajackof all trades and had apassion forsports, especially the Chicago Bears and Cubs. He was also involved with scoring and clockmanagement for sports at Faith Christian School. John alwayshad a smile and his laughter could light up aroom. He had agreat sense of humor and was aworld class prankster. John had adeep andunwaveringfaithin Jesus. John is survived by his two brothers,Paul (Marge) Couget, of Fort Collins, CO, and Ricky (Kathy) Couget, of Kenner, LA; aniece, Alyse Couget, of Fort Collins, CO; and four nephews. Ryan (Deena) Couget, of New Orleans, LA, Josh (Camille) Couget, of New Orleans, LA, Randy Couget, of Kenner, LA, and Evan Couget, of Kenner, LA. John is preceded in death by his parents; sister-in-law, Deborah Couget; aunt, Shirley (Robert) Butler; and uncle, Ron (Marie) Couget. FuneralServices will be at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, May 31, 2025 at St. Edwards Catholic Church. 4921 Metairie Ave, Metarie, LA. Visitation will be held from 10:00 A.M. until the time of the service. Burial to follow at St. Louis cemetery #3. Celebration of Life will be at Ralph's on the Park 12:30 -3:00. In lieu of flowers donations can be sent to Inspiration

Norton"Duke" J. Dupaquier, Jr

It is with sadness, we sharethe passing of Norton "Duke" J. Dupaquier, Jr.onTuesday, May13, 2025,atthe ageof 69. He was born in New Orleans on September1 1955,and went on to graduate from JesuitHigh School. He went on to enter thecar dealershipbusiness, eventually becoming ageneral salesmanager.

Through the years, Duke worked through every pain,hardship and challenge after sustaining a traumaticbraininjuryfrom acar accident on December 23, 1982.Hewas afighterand never gave up, relearning how to do everythingwetake for grantedincluding going back to college and obtaining aBachelor's Degree from the University of New Orleans.His laughter and wit werecontagious... always believing there were brighter days ahead, especially with his Drill Sergeant (Donnalee) at his side. Lifethrew him another curveball with gallbladder cancer.But in true Duke form, he dealtwith it believing that nothing else matteredbeyond the simple thingsinlifeand the love of his family and friends.

So,Duke, as you listen to Led Zeppelin, climbthat "Stairway to Heaven"with aMichelob Ultrainone hand and acigarinthe other.

Love NeverDies. Duke is survived by his wifeand best friend of 50 years, Donnalee DiGiovanni Dupaquier;son,Jared N. Dupaquier;sister,Vanessa Adams (Te-Cye); brothers, Mark Dupaquier (Nancy) and LouisDupaquier (Vikki); grandson, MarcElliott Dupaquier; brotherin-law, Don DiGiovanni, Jr (Ann); and godchildren, Destiny Cooper and Taylor Gifford.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Charlesa and Norton Dupaquier,Sr. and his mother-in-law and fatherin-law, Leatrice and Donald DiGiovanni, Sr.

Much appreciationto his friends and instructors at East Jefferson Wellness Center,who were always theretocome to his aid when needed

The family wouldlike to extendtheir gratitude to Dr. "Ram"Ramcharan Thiagarajan; Jennifer and the staff of Heart of Hospice; and Tiffany with Nola at Home Care

Fenasci,Sandra Ann Landry

SandraAnn Landry Fenasci, 65, passedaway on May11, 2025.She was born on June 3, 1959,in NewOrleans,LA. Sandra workedasclaims processor forAllstate Insurance Company and was amember of St. Ann Church. She was adedicated New Orleans Saints and LSU Fan Sandra was preceded in death by her parents, SandraAnn Faulkner Landryand JosephCarl Landry; daughter, Crystal Ann Fenasci; and two grandchildren, PaulAnthony A. Fenasci and JonathanA.Fenasci

follow at 11 a.m. with Father BillyO'Riordanofficiating.Burial willbein Lake Lawn Park Cemetery and Mausoleum.

Hendry,Carole Yvonne Glass

Carole Yvonne Glass Hendrypassedawayon Sunday, May11, 2025, at the ageof87. Sheissur‐vived by herfourchildren, Chris Hendry (Carolyn), Yvonne Miller (Eric), Patrick Hendry (Gail) and JeffHendry(Renory). She was alovingMawMawto ninegrandchildren,Kirsten Martino,Vincent Miller Bridget Miller,Madison Hendry, MichaelHendry, JeremyTriche, Dillon Triche, FionaHendryand Grant Hendry,and two great granddaughters, Charlotte Miller andStella Martino.She waspreceded indeath by herhusband ReginaldJ.Hendry, her daughter, Regina Triche and herparents,James G. Glass andYvonne Adorno Glass. Carole wasa gradu‐ate of Ursuline Academy, class of 1956. Shethen spent twoyears at Loyola Universitywhere shemet Reggie, herhusband of 60 years.Later in life,she en‐rolledatthe University of New Orleansto finish her degree. Shegraduated in the Classof1981 with aBA inHistory.Carolewas a full-time wife andmother toher five children.When she wasn’t changing dia‐pers, shewas an avid reader. Herinterests were diverse,and youcould find her readingabout astrol‐ogy,ESP,ancient civiliza‐tions,and earlyChristian‐ity,sometimes in thesame week.She also lovedthe theatre.Her interest began atLoyola, where shewas a memberofthe Thespian Society andparticipatedin several productions. After college,she andReggie wereregular visitors to local venueslikeLePetit duVieux Carre, Rivertown Theatre andThe Beverly DinnerPlayhouse.Her other greatlovewas Travel. In addition to most ofthe Southeast, Carole managed to visitthe Southwest,the Pacific Northwest,California, Alaskaand NewYork. Two ofher favorite tripswereto the GreatWallofChina and a rivercruiseinGermany A native of NewOrleans and aresidentofMetairie for over 50 years, sheand Reggiemoved to Mandev‐illeafter HurricaneKatrina In June 2020, Carole moved tothe memory care unitof Inspired Living of Kenner Relatives andfriends are invited to visitGreenwood FuneralHome, 5200 Canal Blvd.,New Orleans, LA 70124, on Friday,June 20 2025, from 5:00 p.m. –7:00 p.m.The familyinvites you toshare your thoughts, fondmemories, andcon‐dolencesonline, at www greenwoodfh.com

Devonwas atrueartist, and he lovedtodraw. He was also very passionate about hismusic.Devon leavestocherish hispre‐cious memories,his mother, Chareen Hurst Robinson; eightsiblings, including 4brothers, Stevenand StephenHurst Malcolm Robinson and LandonHardesty; 4sisters Meshondaand JaylaHurst, StephanyRobinson, and LeanteCraft;one daughter Zyrielle Hurst; oneson, Davonne Wells;his lifelongpartner,Freddie Ross, Jr. aka"BigFreddia"; nine aunts, Sylvia Hurst, Tammy Iddisah, DeaconessDinna Bannister,Darlean Bannis‐ter,Emily Baker(Oliver), Adrienne Tillery(Randy), ChristieRobertson (Wilbert),DeiondraDa‐costa (Christopher), and B'Nai Brown(Glendall); and 3 uncles,LeonHurst,Jr., ZerellWalkerand Alex Ban‐nister(Lear). He wasalso survivedbya host of nieces, nephews, cousins, familyand friends. Rela‐tives andfriends of the familyare invitedtoattend the CelebrationofLifeSer‐viceonTuesday,May 27, 2025 at OaklandBaptist Church,825 Rev. Richard Wilson Drive, Kenner,LA 70062 at 11:00 a.m. Visita‐tionfrom10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. PrivateBurial. A Traditional Jazz Funeral. You maysignthe guest book on http://www.ger trudegeddeswillis.com Gertrude Geddes Willis Fu‐neral Home Inc.,incharge, (504) 522-2525.

Kioebge,Mona Nell Baker Mona Nell (Baker) Kioebge, age 71, passed away on May 20, 2025 at her home in Huntington County, Indiana. Mona was born on February 9, 1954 in NewOrleans, Louisianato her late parents, Dixon and Dorothy Baker. She is survivedbyher husband of 40 years, Paul Kioebge Mona grew up in New Orleans, graduated from Garden District Academy, and studied at LSUin Baton Rouge.In1986, Mona moved to Huntington County, Indiana whereshe and Paul spent 40 years togetherintheir country home. Mona was adedicated advocate for animalsand supported thelocal animal shelterinHuntington. She enjoyed gardening and

cooking and graced several restaurants in theFt. Wayneareawith herculinary skills. Mona will be forever missed andrememberedbyher family andfriends for herloving kindness and generous spirit

Llull, CarolDuplantier

CarolDuplantierLlull Devoted Educator andLov‐ing Mother,PassesAway. Carol Duplantier Llull, de‐voted wife,mother, and grandmother,passedaway peacefully at herhomein Covington,Louisiana,on May 19, 2025, surrounded byfamily. Shewas 77. Born inNew OrleansonAugust 27, 1947, to A.J. andCather‐ine McGrew Duplantier, Carol wasa nearly lifelong residentofthe city that shapedmuchofher vi‐brant personality. Her strongCatholicfaith guidedher throughout her life, andfor over adecade, she shared that faith and her love of learning as a teacher in theArchdiocese ofNew Orleans. Later, she transitionedtoa career withthe LSUSchool of Medicine, where she playeda vitalroleinshap‐ing thefutureofchildren and families.She also servedasa volunteer with the NAMI LouisianaSup‐portGroup formanyyears Carol’spassion forlifeex‐

tended beyond theclass‐room.She lovedtotravel, and herjourneystook her tomanycorners of the world,where sheem‐bracednew cultures, cuisines, andexperiences Carol wasprecededin death by herparents and her younger brother, Gre‐goryDuplantier. Sheissur‐vived by herhusband of 55 years,SantiagoJ.Llull; their children,Stephanie Jeanfreau (Mike),Jennifer Ledet (Brian), andChrist‐ian Llull(Lindsay);and her three cherishedgrandchil‐dren, CeCe,Michael,and Olivia. Alovingmatriarch Carol wasa constant sourceofwisdom, laugh‐ter,and supporttoher familywho will miss her deeply.A visitation will be heldonMay 31, 2025, from 9:00a.m.to10:00 a.m.,fol‐lowed by aMemorialMass atLeitz EaganFuneral Home, 4747 Veterans Boulevard in Metairie,LA. IntermentwillbeinAll SaintsMausoleum located inMetairieCemetery, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd New Orleans,LA. In lieu of flow‐ers,the familykindlyre‐queststhatdonations be madeinher memory to St Tammany Hospice, 101 Ashland Way, Suite2, Madisonville, LA 70447; www.sthfoundation.org/ donate.Carol’s legacy lives oninthe countless lives she touchedand theunwa‐veringsupport shegave her family. Shewillbere‐memberedwithgreat af‐fection andadmirationby all who knew her. Fond memoriesand expressions ofsympathymay be shared at www.leitzeaganf

Survivors include her formerspouse,Thaddues Owen Fenasci;daughter, Nicole Barbara Fenasci; brothers, Norman J. Landry; grandchildren, SaundreaElizabeth Fenasci (fiancée,DevinJ-P Schoppher) and Taylor Nicole Fenasci;and great grandchildren, Iridessa A. Fenasci and Aniyah M. Schoepper The family wouldlike to thankSt. JosephHospice forthe care they provided Visitationwillbeheld on Friday, May30, 2025,from9 until 11 a.m. at Basilicaof St. Stephen, 1025 Napolean Ave. Afuneralmass will

DevonEthan Hurst, age 38, departed this life at UniversityMedical Center onThursday,May 15, 2025 Hewas born on October1 1986, to theunion of Cha‐reen Hurstand DwainBan‐nister, Sr.StevenRobinson, Fatherlikenoother.Devon loved theLord, andhewas his personal Savior.Devon was educated in Kenner LAand he attended Mar‐tinez Kindergarten School KennerHeadStart,G.T Woods, RalphL.Bunche MiddleSchool,and Zachary High School in Zachary,LA. Devonworked atGambino's,Wheel 1, Hurst Construction,Nelly Hardy Service, Republic LiquorCompany,Big Free‐dia Enterprises, Fuse TV, and WorldofWonder. He was also aco-star with his partner BigFreddia on their TV shows: BigFreddia Queen of Bounce, BigFred‐dia Bounces Back,and Big FreddiaMeans Business.

Dupaquier Jr., Norton J. 'Duke'

Hurst, DevonEthan

uneralhome.com forthe family. Nell FullerNajolia. They shared60beautiful years of marriage and, together, they livedlifetothe fullest. He attended Louisiana State University wherehe receivedhis B.S.inAccounting from LSUCollege of Commerce in 1959and his Juris Doctoratefrom LSUSchool of Lawin1968. He practicedlaw in New Orleans for over 40 years whereheworkedasa single practitioner andwent on to work for Wink Engineering. He retiredfrom practicing lawin2004but continuedtoprovide notary servicesthroughout theremainder of hislife. In 2012,hewas honored by the Louisiana State Bar Association with acertificate recognizing 50 years of service in the practice of law. After retiring, he and Judyreturned to Baton Rouge, where theyenjoyed attending countless LSU Baseball and Football games together.A devoted NewYork Yankees fan throughout his life, he watched the Yankees win one lasttimebefore his passing. Above all, he will be rememberedasa true gentleman—devotedto serving others andknown for his sharpwit and warm humor. Richard, an only child,was pre-deceased by his parents, DominickF and Mary EvelynAdams Najolia.Heissurvived by his wife, Judith Nell Fuller Najolia; his cousins C. J. Abadie, Ronald Mistrot,Edward Munster, Cynthia Munster,Janis Eck,Kenneth Najolia, and Dottie Lamb, Barbra Anglade; along with manydear cousins and close friends. Amemorial service will be held at alater date. The family wishes to acknowledgeand thankthe staff members of CaringCompanions of St. James and AudubonHospice.We wouldalsoliketoexpress gratitude towards Renee and Michael Donahue for theirloveand support.In lieu of flowers, please consider adonation to St. James Foundation, 333 Lee Drive, LA 70808 or to a charity of your choice.

Moreau,JohnRaymond

John RaymondMoreau, age 86, of Mandeville Louisiana,passedawayon Friday, May16, 2025 He was born on August 3, 1938, in NewOrleans Louisiana.Heissurvived byhis children,JohnRay‐mondMoreau, II, andhis wifeSharon, Steven Paul Moreauand hiswife Brenda, PamMoreauLind‐say,and CarlaMoreau; grandchildren,Brent Dou‐glass, Kimberly Moreau Ja‐cobs, Morgan Moreau Mc‐Cann, JefferyMoreau, Matthew Moreau,Tristan Moreau, andConnerLind‐say;and great-grandchil‐dren, FrankieAdams, Amber Douglass,Zachary Douglass, JacobAdams, Clark Jacobs,Margot Ja‐cobs, Finley Moreau,Mira Moreau, Theo Moreau OliviaDouglass, andXan‐der Douglass; brother, David “Genie”Moreau; and manyextendedfamily members andfriends.He was preceded in deathby his loving wife of 58 years, Josie HelenBurguières Moreau; parents, Forest L. Moreauand JessieMay SparksMoreau; daughter AngelaMoreauDouglass; sons-in-law,James “Steve Douglassand CaseyLind‐say;and siblings,Pearl,Ed‐ward, Katy,Joy Ann, Eu‐gene, andBob.Johngrew upinthe Gonzales Louisiana area.Hewas a proud veteranofthe UnitedStatesAir Forceand receiveda bronze star in 1971 before retiring in 1975 with20years of honorable service includinginthe Vietnam War. He attended WilliamCarey University and theUniversityof SouthernMississippi,both inHattiesburg,Mississippi, graduatingwitha Master ofBusinessAdministration withanemphasisinac‐countingfromUSM in 1976 and earninghis designa‐tionasa certified public accountant.Hethen workedasanaccounting professor at McNeese State University in Lake Charles,Louisiana for25 years until hisretirement in2006. He is lovingly re‐memberedasbeing an avidLSU fanand always being “fullofshenani‐gans”.Later in life,heen‐joyed gardeningand trav‐eling. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Mr. Moreau maybemade tothe WoundedWarrior Project at support.wound‐edwarriorproject.org. An evening wake will be held onWednesday,May 28, 2025, from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00p.m.atE.J.Fielding FuneralHome, 2260West 21st Avenue,Covington, Louisiana.Relatives and friends arealsoinvited to attendthe funeralmasson Thursday, May29, 2025,at 11:00 a.m. at St.Charles BorromeoCatholicChurch, 13396 RiverRoad, Destre‐han,Louisiana,withvisita‐tionbeginning at 10:00 a.m. IntermentwillfollowinSt. Charles Borromeo Catholic ChurchCemetery. E. J. FieldingFuneralHomeof Covington,Louisiana,is honored to be entrusted withMr. Moreau’s funeral arrangements. Hisfamily invites youtoshare thoughts, memories,and condolences by signingan onlineguestbook at www. ejfieldingfh.com

ly.Heembodiedcelebration and community, holding aparticular fondness forMardiGras as aformer King of theKrewe of Pegasus and rider in the Krewe of Mid City parades An entrepreneurand community leader, Leon was theowner of Perret's Men'sWearonRoyal Street in NewOrleans and Perret's Army Surplus in Kenner. He was acherishedbusiness mentor to family members and friends and enjoyed watching the evolutionofthe retail industry. In his later years, Leon was widowed and found a second love in LedaSobon who took greatcare of him in his final days. As his loving companion,the family is greatlyappreciative of her time, attention, and love Mass of Christianburial willbecelebrated on Thursday, May 29, 2025, at St.Clement of Rome Church, Metairie.Visitation begins at 10:00 a.m. and funeral mass follows at 11:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers,please considercontributions to St.Jude's Children's Hospital,Feedthe Children, or your local food bank in honorofLeon's generous spirit To view and sign theonline guestbook, please visit www.lakelawnmetairie.co m

Leon Emile Perret of NewOrleans, prolificstoryteller, entertaining singer, and successful businessman, died peacefully in his home May19, 2025, shortly after celebratinghis 101st birthday. Aman of many talents and apurveyor of joy, Leonwas bornonMay 3, 1924, to parents Cecilia UsnerPerret and Joseph Delery Perret. Beloved husband of the late Joyce SconzaPerret and brother of the late Joseph Perret Jr Emelda Randazzo, Robert Perret, ElaineSconza, and Paul Perret. Survived by siblings Vera Vujnovich and Kenneth Perret. Leon graduated from St. AloysiusHigh School before enlistinginthe Army Air Corp during World War II. His military training spanned aviation,navigation,munitions,ambulance driving, and workingwith weather balloons. Afterthe war ended, Leon returned home to marry the love of his life, JoyceSconza, in 1946.Together,they raised six children in the Gentilly Woods neighborhood, where theyhad many lifelongfriends. The Perret children include Pamela Perret (Richard Puderer, deceased), KathyPerret (John Dufrene), Leon Perret Jr (Sandy),Suzanne Motl (Richard), Lauren Poynot (Billy), and Jeannine Harris (Alan). Family was the cornerstoneofLeonand Joyce's lives. Theirlegacy includes 13grandchildren, Steven Sturges, BenjaminPuderer, RyanOrchard, Jaime Bretzmann (Doug), Lindsey Sabella(Danny), Leon Perret III (Bess), Rachel Ledet(Lenny), Kathleen Meeker, Megan Couvillion (Ryan)MelissaEstess (Hunter), ErinMotl, Meredith Budgeon (Mark), and JosephPoynot (Carrie), and 18 great grandchildren. As along-time, devoted parishionerofSt. Clement of Rome Church in Metairie, Leon was also an activememberofthe Knights of Columbus and Alhambra, receiving the prestigious Order of St. Louisfor hisfaithful service. Knownfor his gentleness, loyalty, and work ethic, Leon also had agift of entertaining.Hewas a joke-teller,avid reader,entertainer, and loved to sing old songs from childhood talent showswith hisfami-

Militaryhonorswillbepro‐vided.MemorialDonations may be made to theAmeri‐can Legion Hall Post 222 Familyand friendsmay viewand sign theonline guest book at www.mot hefunerals.com.

Riso,JosephVincent 'Joe'

WayneG.Phillips, 79, of Marrero,Louisiana passed awaypeacefullyonMay 19 2025, surrounded by his lovingfamilyand friends. Wayne wasbornonJanu‐ary 11, 1946 in Marrero, to the late HenryHoward PhillipsSr. andSylvia Adams Phillips.Hewas a devoted husband to Connie Courville Phillips for23 years until herpassing in 2006 whomhewillrejoinin Heavenalong with his brothersHenry Howard PhillipsJr. “Chief”and John Louis Phillips.Hewas a lovingfathertohis daugh‐tersCandiePhillipsFos (Timothy),Chantel Marie Phillips, MistiSchroth Bel‐some, andson John Henry Schroth.Heissurvivedby grandchildren Gage Fos (Cassidy),Jenna Dove (An‐drew),Corey Wilkinson, TaylorFos,Abagail Ard (Caleb),and Samantha Cooper,and histhree great grandchildren AudrinaFos, BaylenFos,and Ryder Salles. Wayneisalsosur‐vived by hispartner of 18 years,Doris Dugas, her childrenJamie Baer and ChaiseDoreand grandchil‐drenTyler Dugas, Chaise DoreJr.,CarterDore, and CarsynDore. Alongwith sister-in-law Carolyn Phillips, andnumerous niecesand nephews. Wayne Phillips wasa credit manager at Stewartand Stevenson for50years until hisretirementin2016 Heenjoyed fishing, spend‐ing time with friendsand family, andcoldMiller Lites.A proudveteran of the U.S. Army,serving for6 years until he washonor‐ablydischargedin1972. He was an active member of AmericanLegionHallPost 222 where he wassur‐rounded by friendswho are considered to be fam‐ily.Relatives andfriends are invitedtoattend Fu‐neral Services in the ChapelofMothe Funeral Home, 2100 Westbank Ex‐pressway, Harvey,LA, on Tuesday,May 27, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. Intermenttofol‐low at AdamsCemetery, Barataria,LA. Parlorswill beopenonMonday evening from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.and on Tuesdaymorn‐ingfrom9:00to11:00 a.m.

Joseph Vincent“Joe” Riso, age84, of Covington, Louisiana,passedawayon Friday, May23, 2025. He was born on October21, 1940, in NewOrleans Louisiana.Heissurvived byhis loving wife of 58 years,Frances Waters Tot” Riso;children, Jeffery Riso(Monique) andJoann RisoHabisreitinger(Rob); grandchildren,Hailey Habisreitinger, MilesRiso, and ElsieRiso. He is also survivedbyhis sister CarmellaRisoMelerine (Johnny);and many nieces, nephews,and great-nieces and nephews. He waspre‐ceded in deathbyhis par‐ents, VincentElmoRiso and Antoinette Graffia Riso; andsiblings, Virginia RisoBenfatti,and Do‐minica(“Grace”) Riso Ben‐fatti.Joe served hiscoun‐try as aCorporalinthe UnitedStatesMarineCorps from1961 –1965, where he servedasanaircraft en‐gineman.His love of avia‐tioncontinued with hisre‐turntocivilianlife, where heobtained hisprivate pilot’s license, spending countless hoursdoing touch andgo’sinhis CessnaatNew Orleans Lakefront Airport. Joe madefriends whereverhe went, includingnumerous friends while workingat Tenneco (later Exxon Mobil) in Chalmette,where heworkedasa refinery stillman. Hisgrandchildren werethe lightofhis life.In his retirement,his greatest joy came from spending timewiththemand caring for hisproperty. In lieu of flowers, contributionsin memoryofMr. Riso maybe madetothe VietnamVet‐erans Associationat honor.org/donate. Rela‐tives andfriends arein‐vited to attend thefuneral servicesonTuesday,May 27, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at E. J.FieldingFuneralHome, 2260 West 21st Avenue Covington,Louisiana,with visitationbeginning at 9:00 a.m.Interment will follow inthe adjacent Pinecrest MemorialGardens.E.J FieldingFuneralHomeof Covington,Louisiana,is honored to be entrusted withMr. Riso’s funeral arrangements. Hisfamily invites youtoshare thoughts, memories,and condolences by signingan onlineguestbook at www ejfieldingfh.com

Paulette FogartySalassi age 78, born January13, 1947, passedawaypeace‐fully on May17, 2025 sur‐rounded by familyand friends.BorninNew Or‐leans,raisedinthe Irish Channel andwas alifelong residentofJefferson Parish, except for2 years inGermany while Paul servedinthe Army.The de‐voted wife of Paul Joseph Salassi for57years.Loving mother of twodaughters,

AmyGoodlettand Brooke Salassi Mouchon(Jay).De‐voted GrandmaofNoah (Mackenzie),Brady,Ethan, Evanand Ayvie. Loving sis‐ter of Danell Barrett(John), LisaKirsch(David) andher latebrother Daniel A. Foga‐rty III. Aunt of Kenny, J.R. Megan,Henry,Michael (Olivia). Great-aunt of Cameron,Landen, Jaxon. Great-great aunt of “little” Oliviaand sister-in-lawto Beverly Jane Salassi Paulette wasa graduate of RedemptoristHighSchool (1965).She wasa member ofClio SportsmenLeague, the 11thWardLadies’ So‐cialClub. Sheenjoyed play‐ing Po-Ke-No with friends, camping,and cruising the Caribbean.She will be deeply missedbyher fam‐ily andthose whose lives she touched. Relativesand friends areinvited to at‐tendthe funeralvisitation heldatLeitz-Eagan Funeral Home, 4747 Veterans MemorialBlvd.,Metairie, LA70006 on Saturday,May 31, 2025, from 11:30 am till 1:00pm. Visitation will be followedwitha Catholic Massat1 pm.A private familyinterment will take place at alater date.Con‐dolencesmay be offeredto the familyonlineatwww LeitzEaganFuneralHome com.

Roger Llewellyn Smith, a devotedhusband, loyal friend, spirited storyteller, andlifelongLouisianan, passed away peacefullyon May4,2025, at the age of 76. Born on July 26, 1948, and raised in Lake Charles, Louisiana, Roger moved to Metairiethe summer before the startofhis senior year of highschool—a place that quickly became home for the remainderof hislife. He was aproud graduate of thefirst class of Archbishop Rummel High School in 1966, where he wasalso amember of theschool's inaugural basketball team. AtrueRaider in heartand soul, he cherished thefriendships and memories made there. He went on to graduate from theUniversity of Louisiana at Lafayette. Roger's professional life wasascolorfuland varied as hispersonality. He began hiscareer in sales, but in the late1970s and early 1980s, he became theowner of BJ's—a beloved Metairiebar that became a Wednesday nighthotspot. Namedafter oneofhis closest friends, thelate Brother John Fairfax (former principal of Rummel High School), BJ'swas a symbol of Roger's deep friendships and community spirit.Inrecent years, he wasthe proudowner of Modern Bingo,a supplier of bingoequipment. Roger is survivedbyhis belovedwife andsoulmate of 38 years, HollySmith, andtheir cherished dog, Clotille.Heisalso survived by hissister-in-law Elise Smith; nephew Brandon Smith (Stephanie); niece Jennifer Metz (Drew); sister-in-law Cynthia Biner (Ken); andnieces and nephewsConnorSmith, JennaMetz,Jaci Metz

EmilyEdwards(Kevin), RowanEdwards, and Taylor Biner (Eden). He wasprecededin death by his loving parents, Llewellyn "Smitty" Joseph Smith andMary AgnesMillerSmith,aswell as hisdear brother, Thomas "Scott" Smith Roger will be rememberedfor his huge grin that litupany room, his warm andeasygoing nature,and his unmatched talentfor storytelling. He nevermet astrangerand hadthe raregift of making everyonefeelwelcome andvalued. Roger's generosity, authenticity, and loyaltydefinedhis relationships. He devotedhimself to caringfor hisparents, hismother-in-law Jean,and hiscousin Louis, always putting others before himself.Hebelieved he wasgoingtoHeaven, butjoked he'd probably be sittingonthe benchoutsidethe PearlyGates because he might have a bitofexplaining to do before he got in.One of his great friends said,"Roger will be saying to all of us 'I'llbelooking downat you.' An avidduckhunter fisherman, andgolfer, Roger foundpeaceand joy on hispropertyinSt. MartinParish.Heloved training, working,and travelingwith Hollyand their dogs. Alifelongand passionate Saintsfan,Roger proudlyattendedtheir first game andcalledthe 2010 SuperBowlin Miami—attendedalongsideHolly—thebest day of hislife. Roger also had adeep love forMardi Gras.He wasa dedicatedFloat Lieutenant in theKrewe of Argusand spent many years ridingand marching in several otherkrewes andorganizations, embracing thevibranttraditionsofNew Orleanswith joyand pride Roger Llewellyn Smith leaves behinda legacy of love,laughter, loyalty, and generosity. He willbe deeply missed by all who hadthe privilegeofknowinghim. Service arrangements have notbeen determined at this time If you choose to celebrate theLife of Roger please do notfeelobligated-but if you wish, you may make adonation or gestureinmemory of his name

Jacqueline St.Romain, 79, passed away on Wednesday, May14th surroundedbyher familyafter ashort,but courageous battle,withanillness. Familyand friends knew heras"Jackie"or"Gigi" and she willbesorely missed by themany lives she touched. Jackie wasa talentedhairstylist, known notonlyfor herskills but also forher warm smile andthe ability to brighten thedays of herclients and friends. Shewas an artist at heartwho foundimmense joyincrafting beautiful jewelry andwreaths that reflected hervibrant spirit and meticulous eye for detail.She wasa native of NewOrleans,and aresident of Mandeville,atthe

Smith, RogerLlewellyn

Phillips,Wayne G.

Perret,LeonEmile

St. Romain, Jacqueline Southard

Salassi,Paulette Fogarty

Najolia, Richard Augustine 'Dick'

OPINION

OUR VIEWS

Memorial Day asks us to reflecton ultimate devotion to country

Editor’snote: This editorial, with variations, has been published on previous Memorial Days in this newspaper Barbecues, sales, pool parties and an unofficial summer kickoff. For many,those are the thingsthat Memorial Day heralds. The last Monday in May has become aday of celebration and relaxation.

Those current markersofMemorial Day are farfrom its founding in the aftermathofthe Civil War, when community membersacross the country adornedgraves with flowers as a way to remember their war dead.

These days were known as “decoration days,” asolemn commemoration of the toll armed conflict takes. In 1866, aladies’ group in Columbus, Georgia, lobbied for aspecific day on which to place flowers on Civil War-era graves. Then, on May 5, 1868, agroup of Union veterans issued an order that was known as the “Memorial Day Act” which is often recognized as the formal start to Memorial Day In the years since, Memorial Day has been consistently celebrated through two world wars, conflicts in Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan and several other smaller engagements. In each of these conflicts, American military members have put themselves in harm’sway in service of our country.They left family and loved ones to answer the call to protect our nation. Hundreds of thousands of them never made it home.

Memorial Day should prompt us to think aboutthe sacrifices of those who have raised their hands, taken the oath and offered themselves up in defense of others. For some, that meant the ultimate sacrifice. For others, terrible injuries. For all, we offer our gratitude and respect, sentiments that should be as steadfast as their resolve.

We should also remember that theirsacrifices are ongoing —even when U.S. troops aren’tinvolved in active wars. Tensions roil regions around the globe, in places such as the Pacific, the Middle East and Europe. In many of those locales, American soldiers face peril every day.Athome,that means many families’ Memorial Day celebrations are clouded with concern for aloved one on active duty.

In Louisiana, we are fortunate to have thousands of current soldiersstationed in installations acrossthe state, from Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier City toFort Johnson in Leesville to the Naval Air StationinBelle Chase to the Louisiana National Guard Training Center in Pineville. Those Americans could be sent, at amoment’snotice, intoharm’sway

We are not immunetothe evolution of Memorial Day from quiet commemoration to summer inauguration.

But this year,asweeat,shop, swim or relax, we urge everyone to offer asolemn remembrance for those who have died, aheartfelt thanks to those who have retired and afervent prayer for the safety of those still serving.

LETTERSTOTHE EDITOR ARE WELCOME. HERE AREOUR

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TheAdvocate |The Times-Picayune require astreet address andphone 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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Critiquesneedtohaveclarity

welcome reader feedback on our reporting, and our letters to theeditor often comment on specific articles. Yet, sometimes it isn’t clear what article readers arereferring to. If you are writing about aspecific article, it is recommended that you include the date it was published. In thesame vein, letters to theeditor need to be able tobe understood by anyone who picks up thepaper that day.Soifyou disagree withapoint made by an article, quoting directly from thepiece you are referencing helps other readers understand your argument if they missed the article in thenewspaper Of course, online we link to the article from theletter,but still, it should be clear what points you want to raise. We appreciate when readers include, “This is in responsetoanarticle published on such-and-such adate” and include the title of thearticle. That way,it’sclear what the writer is talking about. Lettersthat seek corrections toour

reporting or make allegationsthat go beyond opinion are generallyreferred to theeditor of the article. If significant corrections need to be made, that will be done in consultation between the reporter and editor.But we generally allow writers to take issue with any facts presented or the qualityofthe reporting. The feedback we get isn’tall negative. We also get letters praising our reporting. We are grateful for those, and Itry to share them with the reporters of thearticle. Seeing what topics interest our readers also helps guide future reporting.Usually,it’sthe articles that explain complex topics or raise theprofile of little-known people, places or eventsthat receive kudos. Even though we can see what people click on online, our print audience is often an indicator of what is important to our local communities. Andsometimes, readers just want to register disapproval of or support for our reporting. There are writers who

ask not to be published but want editors to take note of their view.Wehonor that request as well. With the Memorial Dayholiday,we don’thave atally forthis week’sletters. But we hope to have an update next week. There has been asignificant increase in letters since the start of the legislative session, and we know that will continue. But generally,inthe summer months, we see fewerletters as readers unplug to spend timerelaxing with friends and family

And if you wantsomething to contemplate in the meantime, we are still accepting letters forour Town Square feature. The question we are asking you to write about is: 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 in an upcoming edition.

Arnessa Garrett is Deputy Editor | OpinionPage Editor.Emailher at arnessa.garrett@theadvocate.com.

Arnessa Garrett

COMMENTARY

Pointing fingers won’tsolve entrenched jail challenges

It’sgood that Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson is now taking“full accountability” for the mass breakout from the jail she runs, and calling it what it is:an epic failure that played outonher watch.

Youknow what wasn’tgood?

That it took Hutson more than four days to say so after initially labeling the early morning escape of 10 Orleans Justice Center inmates —without offering ashred of evidence —as “very suspicious” because it happened“as we’re getting ready to startthis sheriff’srace.”

the notion that it is possible to balancepublicsafety with less incarceration of those who do not pose apublic danger. That would obviously not include the escapees who’vebeen charged with or convicted of murder or attempted murder

was predictable and depressingly tone deaf. He should remember thatthe Troop NOLA policing experiment works because it represents cooperation among those withdifferent political views, not scolding confrontation.

Stephanie Grace

And it’sgood that Gov.Jeff Landry quickly put stateresourcesbehind the search forthe escapees, vowed to investigate and proposedanexamination of policies thatcould have led to the shocking breachofsecurity— all ideas that are in line with his wellreceived support for establishing astate police presence in New Orleans.

Not so good: Landry’sknee-jerk rant against progressive criminal justicereform —basically

For good measure, Landry also managed to insult New Orleans voters for making bad choices at the ballotbox, andlump in otherofficials who have run on criminal justice reform platforms —including District Attorney Jason Williams, whowas personally part of the prosecutionteam that convicted one escaped inmateofagang-related murder

“George Soros came over the last decade orsoand spent aton of money in thecityofNew Orleans, electing these progressive people,” Landry told talk show host Chris Cuomo. “It’slike he came[as] Santa Claus, and inside hissack,heput outaDA[district attorney], asheriff,and Ithink about six judges, and we have been havingproblems in thecity

ever since now.” Apparently it needs to be said that if ever there were atime for all public officials put their personal politics aside, it should be during amoment of obvious official inadequacy that resulted in an ongoing public safety crisis. Besides, all this finger-pointing isn’tgoing to tell voters anything they don’talready know It’snot as if Hutson, who was elected amid deep frustration with the incumbent she beat, Marlin Gusman, had demonstrable voter confidence before the escape.

Atax increase she sought two years ago failed by aspectacular 91%-9% margin at the polls, and a morerecent renewal to keep operations going passed by amere two votes. Her reelection bid this fall —which she suspended last week —had already attracted muscular opposition before the escape. While she’sstill nominally acandidate (pending qualifying in July), Hutson’shad her chance to set abetter course.

As for Landry,even if some of the factors he mentioned turn out to be significant,his broad diatribe

While these politicians couldn’t resist thechance to score points, this shocking breakout is actually adifferent type of opportunity: To finally tackle the intractable challengesthe jail faces, from understaffing and overcrowding to physicaldeficiencies such as faulty locks, in afacility that is just nine years old and wasbilled as state of the art.

Someofthose have to do with thecomplicated division of responsibility between separately elected branches of government, amess that long predates Hutson and Landry,and extends into every corner of the state.

Here’show the Bureau of Governmental Research described thehistory in its call to come up with ajoint strategy: “The City must provide mostofthe jail’s funding under state law,but it has no control over how the Sheriff runs thejail. Conversely,the

Sheriff’sability to improve jail conditions can be limited by the City’scontrol of the purse strings. Over the decades, the City has blamed the jail’sdeficiencies on mismanagement, while the Sheriffhas cited inadequate funding. The resulting power struggles have impeded cooperative problem solving.”

No kidding. So to that end, the jail’sfuture should be acentral topic not just forsheriffcandidates but forthose running for mayor and City Council on the samefall ballot.

There are also clearly problems to work out between the sheriff’s office and the state Department of Corrections, including how and when to transfer dangerous inmates to from local to state custody

The bottom line is that, beyond recapturing all the escapees and arresting those whohelped them, there’sawhole lot to do.

But if politicians won’tstop pointing fingers, they’ll never get downtothe hard workathand.

Email Stephanie Grace at sgrace@theadvocate.com.

State’sstudenttests areexcellent,sokeepLEAP

Astate senator’sbillonLouisiana’sstatewide student tests is well-intentionedbut ill-advised. At best, it’ssuperfluous, andat worst, directly counterproductive. Senate Bill 246, by Mark Abraham, R-Lake Charles, would require the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to research alternatives to the Louisiana Educational Assessment Program. It also would mandate that the LEAP tests in social studies and science be administered at only four grade levels (during the K-12 schooling career), ratherthan the current six —something that BESE already is in the processofdoing anyway Abraham wants the board to examine whether a“nationally normed”test, rather than the Louisiana-specific LEAP,might be better to help this state’sstudents compete nationally, andalso to spend less time taking statewide mandated tests. Louisiana’sACT (college admissions test) scores rank among the ten worst inthe nation —although among the far smaller population thattakes the SATtest instead, Louisianaranks an impressive 13th out of 51. Of course the test itself doesn’t determine how wellstudents will do, but agood test will accurately assess whether children are learning what top educators

think they should. Agood test and agood curriculumwill influence andcomplementeach other holistically.Both LEAP andthe Louisianacurricula and standards enjoy solid national reputations.

Quin Hillyer

“The LEAP test is areally good test,” said Dr.Christy Hovanetz, asenior policy fellow of ExcelinEd,animpressively bipartisan national education-policy group. “Louisiana has selected one of thepremier largescale test providers in the country …[and LEAP] has strong content standards and it meets all the aspects for validity,reliability,accuracy, andaccommodations.”

What would happen if LEAP were replaced bya “nationally normed” test is that Louisiana’s whole educational approach, at greatexpense, would need to be revamped.

“A change in assessment will prompt changes in teacher training, curriculum purchases and educational standards,” said Cade Brumley,Louisiana’sSuperintendent ofEducation. “Absolutely there is arisk in shifting assessments.”

There is ample reason to avoid takingthat risk, andnocompelling reason to force BESE’shand. If the length of testing is amajor complaint, as it is for Abraham and for theLouisiana School Board Association, well, BESE alreadythis year cut the LEAP

Cade Brumley, Louisiana state superintendentofeducation, speaks about the 2023 LEAP standardized test scores during anewsconference on Aug. 2, 2023, at the

reading and mathtests by 25%.

Andifthe main point is to get BESEtododue diligence about whether LEAP is the best testfor Louisiana, that’salso something that needs no extra push from the Legislature: The current contract for theLEAP assessments runs out in two years anyway,soBESE already is slated to takealook at thewhole assessment process

That’swhy,whether thequestion is fewer science and social studies tests, shorter math and reading testsora basic review of LEAP going forward, SB 246 appears remarkably redundant. The reason Louisiana has astate school board in thefirst place is

so theLegislature won’t need to micromanage education policy, but instead just ensure adequate financing while making major policy decisions. Yes, the Legislature has theultimate authority,but why should it waste its timemandating things that BESE already seemstobedoing?

Granted, if Louisiana still were manifestly failing its students, theLegislature might have reason to intervene on everything from soup to nuts to, well, to testing. Louisiana, though, isn’tfailing, unless one measures by the ACT testalone. But the ACT is a trailing, not aleading, indicator

Here’swhy: Using state-specific

curriculum and the state-specific LEAP assessments, Louisiana already is showing tremendous improvement on the national index that matters mostofall for elementary education, the National Assessment of Educational Progress. The so-called “Nation’s Report Card” revealed in January that Louisiana’s“back to basics” approach in the past fewyears is paying big dividends: The state’s fourth graders led the nation in reading progress (compared to past results), moving in just two years from 42nd place to 16th among the 50 states and the District of Columbia. And Louisiana wasone of only two states where 4th graders’ scores improved from pre-pandemic levels in both reading and math.

Brumley says that as these younger students “matriculate through their K-12 experience,” the newly solid foundation evident in the NAEP results should show up when those pupils begin to take the ACT

“Our board president said it well in aSenate committee hearing,” Brumley said. “Wehave a strategy.It’sworking. We need to be able to implement our strategy.”

LEAP is an integral part of that strategy that is working. To update an old adage, if it ain’tbroke, don’tgive orders to fix it. Quin Hillyer can be reached at quin.hillyer@theadvocate.com.

TrumpembracesSouth Africans —the Whiteones

President Donald Trump’srefugee policy reminds me of what automakerHenry Ford supposedly said about his company’s Model T: “A customer can have acar painted any colorhewants as long as it’sblack.”

So it is with the Trump administration’spolicy towardrefugees who are fleeing war or political persecution, albeitwith acolor preferencesomewhat at odds with Ford’s.

The Trump administration is welcoming White Afrikaners, acenturies-oldethnic group descended mainly from Dutch colonists, after suspending the program for everyone else. The first group of almost60arrived from South Africa at Dulles InternationalAirport on May 12 —ona charter flight paid for by the U.S. government.

That means all other Africans who have waited in refugee camps for years after beingvetted and cleared must step back and wait even longer for their uncertain futures to play out, as

White SouthAfricans get ushered throughthe express lane. This also throws into limbo the Afghans who risked their lives to assist American combat troops who have been left ever since they were unable to leave the country after the Taliban took over.“Betrayal” is atoughword, but it taxes themindtothink of amore appropriate description.

Such wasthe outrageexpressed by theEpiscopal Church, which announced after theAfrikaners arrived that it was terminating its partnership with thefederal government to resettle refugees. In aletter senttomembers of thechurch, the Most Rev.Sean W. Rowe, the presiding bishop, said that two weeksago, thegovernment“informed Episcopal MigrationMinistries that under theterms of ourfederal grant,we are expected to resettle White Afrikaners from South Africa whom theU.S. government has classifiedasrefugees.” That request, Rowe said,

crossed amoral line for the denomination, which is part of the global Anglican Communion, once led by the late Archbishop DesmondTutu, ahero of South Africa’santi-apartheid movement.

ButTrumpembraced his own version of apartheid, special treatment for White South Africans, based on evidence that is, at best,shaky

Trumpordered ahalt to all foreign assistance to South Africa and ahigher priority to theresettlingofWhite “Afrikaner refugees” intothe United States because of what he called actions by SouthAfrica’sgovernment that “racially disfavored landowners.” How badly disfavored? With his usual freewheeling approach to language, Trumpcharged that Afrikaners were victims of a“genocide,” acharge that has turned out to have little moresupport than his bogus accusation during his presidential campaign last year that Haitian migrants in Ohio were “eating the cats! They’re eating thedogs!” In South Africa, hehas told reporters, “Farmers are being

killed. They happen to be White. Whether they are White or Black makes no difference to me. White farmers are being brutally killed and the land is being confiscated in South Africa.”

Yet, police data do not support that narrative. They show killings on farms to be rare and, as in urban areas, thevictimsare mostly Black

With similar fervor,Trumphas expressed support forSouth Africa’sWhite farmers and attacked anew law that he insists would permit the seizure and redistribution of land to redress racial inequalities rooted in the legacy of apartheid, the system of racial segregation that Afrikaner-led regimes enforced from 1948 to 1994.

How did Trumpbecome so captivated by South Africa’sracial challenges? Youcan credit —or blame—right-wing podcaster Tucker Carlson.

Back in Trump’sfirst administration, when Carlson wasthe mostwatched Fox News anchorcommentator,Carlson picked up and repeated on air the dire warn-

ings of “White genocide” in South Africa that circulating in White nationalist social media circles. Thirty years after the end of apartheid, NPRreported, “most commercial farmland in South Africa, where land reform persists as amajor issue, is still owned by the country’sWhite minority.” Yet, no land has been seized, nor are seizures expected. For now,there also is the matter of Secretary of State Marco Rubio’sousting of South Africa’s new ambassador,Ebrahim Rasool, as a“race-baiting politician.” Rasool’soffense wasthat he opined in an online seminar that the MAGAmovement waspartially aresponse to demographic worries about afuture in which White people would no longer be the majority Mr.Ambassador,aword of advice: Don’t pay too much attention to what Tucker Carlson says. Most of us Americans know better Or at least, Ihope we do. Email Clarence Page at clarence47page@gmail.com.

PICKETT

Cyber Innovation Center in Bossier City

Clarence Page

NewOrleans Forecast

midAtlantic, Great Lakes and Midwest will remain cool

timeofher death. For many years she lived in Avondale, LA with her husband of over 50 years, Michael St. Romainand their children Kenneth and Kathleen, where she was an active member of the Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxiliary Council 6369. Jackie is preceded in death by her husband Michael St. Romain, her parents Eli "Buddy" and Shirley Williams, her brother Jeffery Williams and Sister Judy Moser. She is survived by her son, Kenneth St. Romain and partner Thomas Cooper; her daughter, Kathleen Martinell and husband Brian; her sister,Joel St Romain andhusband Dale; her granddaughter Amanda Martinell,and great granddaughters Ava and Alexis Calamari. Family and friends are invited to the Memorial Prayer Service celebrating Jackie's life and the many hearts she touched at Serenity FuneralHome in Covington, LA on Wednesday, May 28th at 11:00 AM with Gathering beginning at 10:00 AM. After services, the family will celebrate Jackie's life at the Mandeville Community Center, 3090E Causeway Approach, Mandeville, La. from 1:00 PM -3:00 PM. To honor her memory, you're encouraged to wear your brightest outfit to the service. In lieu of flowers please consider adonation in her honor to St. Tammany Hospice, 101 Ashland Way, Suite 2, Madisonville LA 70447, or to the Mandeville Community Center. To view her full bio, please visit www.serenitycovingt on.com. Arrangements are entrusted to Serenity Funeral Home of Covington, La.

Swift, Marlene Roy Marlene Cecile Roy Swift, on April 29, 2025. Anativeof Hessmer, LA, resident of Harahan, LA.

Predeceased by husband James Stephen Swift, parents Moore and Sidonie Villemarette Roy, Herman and Olympe Moore Swift, brothers Buvens Roy (Zenella Eyner) and Russell Roy and ahost of aunts, uncles, and cousins. Survived by daughter Stephanie Cecile Swift, sister Carol Frank Roy, nieces Melissa Cannon(Jason) and Natalie Lester (Mark) and their children Lauren

Wilson, Zach, Jacob, NicholasLesterand cousin/BFF Kathleen Villemarette Smith (David). Private services were held at St.Rita CatholicChurch, Harahan, LA on May 9, 2025.Privateinterment Expressions of love and sympathy may be viewed and placed at www.tharpcares.com.

Trenchard, Frederick HenryNicholas

FrederickHenry NicholasTrenchard

December 6, 1941 -May 1, 2025

Artist,Frederick Henry NicholasTrenchard, passedawayonthe morn‐ing of May1,2025 at his homeinNew Orleans. He was eighty-three yearsold Fred wasbornonDecem‐ber 6, 1941 to Fred Tren‐chard and DorisCastel‐lanos Trenchard. He was raisedwithtwo sisters, Lynne andJudith(Judy), at the family home in theCity ParkareaofNew Orleans. Freddescended from a longlineofold NewOr‐leans families dating back tothe 18thcentury.Judge lawyer, teacher, andjour‐nalistHenry C. Castellanos, authorof'NewOrleans As It Was',1895, beingone of his most notablerelatives Fred wasbaptizedand con‐firmed at OurLadyofthe RosaryChurch,and there, attendedelementary school.Hecontinued his secondary school educa‐tionatSaint Aloysius Afterhighschool,inApril 1959, Fred andsomeofhis hot-rodding andcar cruis‐ing buddiesenlistedinthe United States Marine Corps.Theyrodethe SouthernPacific Railroad SunsetLimited to San Diego andlater completed boot camp at Camp Pendleton.Fredwas se‐lectedtobecomea crypto‐graphic communication specialistwiththe HQMC G-2 Intelligence Directorate and wasassignedtohis firstpostlater that year in

SoutheastAsia, at thebe‐ginning of whatwould be‐comeknown as theViet‐nam War. Fred served at other postsinCubaand in the United States.Hewas a decorated pistol andrifle marksman, andrepre‐sentedthe Corpsinshoot‐ing competitions

Fred washonorably dis‐charged with therankof Lance Corporal in 1963, and returnedtoNew Orleans, where he enrolled in the recentlyestablished Louisiana StateUniversity inNew Orleans, choosinga liberal arts studiescurricu‐lum with an emphasis on studioart.Hegraduated witha Bachelor of Arts de‐greein1968. Fred's firstex‐hibitionwas that same yearatthe Lowe Galleryin New Orleans.

Fred establishedhis first studiointhe French Quar‐ter.Hebefriendedmanyof the creative people of the time, includingpainter Leonard Flettrichand pho‐tographerClarenceJohn Laughlin. He exhibitedwith LubaGlade Galleryon ToulouseStreet in 1969 The next year,hemoved to Galerie Simonne Sternon Royal Street.Fred's'Sec‐ond Position -Simonne in a Pool', 1970, is in theperma‐nentcollectionofthe New Orleans Museum of Art.

By hisown admission, Fred'sartwork wasautobi‐ographical, with many paintings beingself-por‐traits. Whimsical, stylized and colorful oils andwa‐tercolors with titles,'The Wizard', TrenchardCollec‐tion, 'ToulouseLautrec', Private Collection and'Bi‐cycle Dream',Private Col‐lection,among hispaint‐ingsofthe late 1960's.

Fred marriedJenny andbe‐camea father to son, Erich. Hewould move with his familytoFlorida,where he would pursue amasters of fine artdegreeatthe Uni‐versity of Floridain Gainesville.Hestudied withJackFlam, thenoted Americanart educator and historian.Fredreturnedto New Orleansand laterat‐tendedNewcomb CollegeTulaneUniversitywhere he continued graduate stud‐ies in fine art, eventually earning hisMFA.Fredinde‐pendently pursuedthe study of lawand would regularly auditclassesat TulaneUniversitySchool of Law

In theearly 1970's, he moved to alower Garden District studio.Fred'sart

continued from 'Space Sensorium' for NASAatthe StennisSpace CenterinMississippi

begantofurther developin theme,technique,scale and popularity.His exhibi‐tions at GalerieSimonne Stern sold out. Each suc‐ceedingexhibitionmorevi‐suallyadventurous andex‐plorative than theprevious one.His culturally incisive oil on canvas,'Massacre of the Innocents',1971, in the permanent collection of the OgdenMuseumofArt, isrepresentativeofthis momentintime.

Throughout the1970's Fred'slifewas dynamic and productive.Fredre‐married,and with wife Kathleen andson Marcel moved to NewYorkCity, where he immersed him‐selfinthe vibrantcapital ofthe artworld.Heestab‐lisheda largestudioina formerbankinBrooklyn. Hewas aregular at artmu‐seums,galleries,artiststu‐diosand thehappeningsof Uptown, Midtown, Soho and Greenwich Village. He workedvarious jobs during the dayand paintedat night.Peter Dean of the Rhino Horn Grouppainted his portrait.IvanKarpof the OK Harris Galleryac‐quiredhis paintings. He was friendswithfellow New Orleanianand ab‐stractexpressionist painter FritzBultman.Fred commutedbetween New Yorkand NewOrleans for mostofthe decade,main‐taining studiosand having shows in both places.Fred exhibited at numerous mu‐seums,universitiesand art centers across theUnited States. 'DejeunerOoze- In‐finite Dinner- Simonne and Walter',1972-73, Bailey Col‐lection,'Flagellation Lul‐laby',1975, OgdenMuseum ofArt,'AlgiersOne', 1975, BaileyCollectionand 'Two Types of Freedom',1978, ThomasCollection, are several of theimportant paintings representing this time. 'The Battle of the Heart andMind' wasa suc‐cessful painting series cre‐atedlater in thedecade.

In 1980, Fred wasoffered and acceptedanart pro‐fessorshipwiththe Univer‐sityofHawaiiatManoa.In additiontohis teaching and painting responsibili‐ties, he pursueda studyof Hawaiianlifeand culture. Fredmet Kahuna Kamuela Price,Elder Counselofthe Hou 1778 Hawaiians, anda becamea welcomed advi‐sor to Priceand ChiefMaui Loa,truedescendants of the historic tribal royaltyof the pre-contactindigenous nativeHawaiianpeople, and then,a lifelong advo‐cate andactivistfor their

causeoftribalsovereignty and pursuitofindepen‐dence.Duringthe remain‐der of the1980's, Fred painted symbolic Hawaiian landscapesand created personalmythologies in large scaleand triptych BackinLouisiana,he began the'Demonology of New Orleans' series in drawing andpainting. The ContemporaryArtsCenter, CAC,New Orleans, pre‐senteda retrospectiveof his artwork.

Fred appliedhis creative talents to noveltheoretical conceptsproposedtohim bya varietyofindividuals and businesses, andbe‐cameinvolvedwiththe practiceofintegrating sci‐ence, educationand aes‐thetics.Primatech Experi‐entialLearningwas one these ventures.Hebe‐friendedand dialogued withSisterGrace Pilon, S.B.S,founder andpresi‐dentofWorkshopWay,Inc Fredbecamea friend and advisor to therenowned Japanesescientist andin‐ventor, Dr.Yoshiro Naka‐matsu,and wouldenter‐tainhim on hisvisitsto New Orleans. Isomorphica was anotherart concept and processFreddevel‐opedbased on Isomor‐phism,which functions withinmanydisciplines, yet,essentially refers to,in art,the similarity or iden‐tityofform, shapeand structure.Inaddition,Fred concepted anddesigned aninteractive environmen‐tallearningfacilityentitled

Throughout the1990's, Fredcontinued to live be‐tween Hawaii and Louisiana.Hecared forhis beloved Mother,Doris, muchofthe time until she passedinDecemberof 1994. During theseinter‐cedingyears,hecontinued his 'Demonology of New Orleans'series, andcon‐ceivedand createdthe SyntheticNature' series 'TheGlory of Love,Syn‐theticNature',1999, Bailey Collection, is an important example.Frednolonger desired artgallery repre‐sentation andsoldhis art‐works exclusivelythrough private agency At thebeginning of the 21st century, Fred deep‐enedhis personal studyof Quantum Physics, specifi‐cally,Quantum Entangle‐ment, which is aquantum physics phenomenon where particlesbecome connected,sharing a unitedquantum state, re‐gardlessofdistance. Hence,his next series QuantumEntanglement', withpaintingtitles, 'Por‐trait Head of Marcel Duchamp Ascendinginthe Afterlife', TrenchardCollec‐tion, 'Zarathustra's Grand‐son CavortinginCopen‐hagen Landscape',Tren‐chard Collection,and 'Carl Jung's Portrait in Cosmo‐logical AfterlifeAsMan‐dala EntangledinBoseEin‐

DEATHS

ONEMORE

PROVIDED PHOTO By TULANE ATHLETICS

Tulanepitcher Montiel reactsafter pitchinanAAC Tournament game against UTSAonSaturdayatBayCare Park in Clearwater,Fla. Tulane won6-3 toadvance tothe tournament championship game.

Tulane knocks offtop-seeded Texas-SanAntonio, advances to thirdconsecutive

BY GUERRYSMITH

Contributing writer

Something badhappened to Tulane for thefirst time in the AAC baseball tournament whenanerrantthrow with two outs led to threeunearned runs for Texas-San Antonio in the third inning onSaturday No worries.

The Green Wave (33-24) shutout the AACrecord-holdingteam for runs scored the rest of the way,punching its ticket to the championshipgame forthe thirdconsecutive yearwith acomprehensive 6-3 victory at BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater,Florida.

Fifth-seeded Tulane haswon nine ina rowatits home away from home, thelongest streak inits history. It will be seeking aprogram-best third consecutivetournament championship against sixth-seeded EastCarolina (32-25) at 11 a.m. Sundayina game televisedbyESPNNews

The Pirates eliminated SouthFlorida 9-7onSaturday afternoon and are 3-0 in the tournamentjust like theWave.

AACchampionshipgame

“We’ve put ourselvesinaposition to get what we want, but that doesn’tguarantee you anything,” Tulanecoach Jay Uhlman said. “It’s always about the next opportunity.” Tulane limited top-seeded UTSA (44-13) to six hits allsingles—after it hadatleast nine in 24 consecutive games. Trey Cehajic set thetone, inducing adouble-play grounder from AAC player of theyear Mason Lytle in thefirst inning.

Lytlehit another routine grounder in his next at-bat, but shortstop Kaikea Harrison threwwide of late-arriving first baseman Matthias Haas, allowing tworuns to score as UTSA tied it at 2inthe third inning. James Taussig followed withanRBI single for a3-2 lead, but that was it for the Roadrunners’ vaunted offense.

Carter Benbrook (3-1) replaced Cehajic with runners on first and second and one out in the fourth, retirednine consecutive battersand pitched through the eighth, giving up two hitsand walking none.

ä See TULANE, page 4C

Tigers pitchers Noot, Mayers andShores combined to strike out14batters

BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer

HOOVER, Ala. At first, getting the week off seemingly did wonders for LSU’soffense.

In its first three innings at theSEC Tournament onFriday, theTigers scored fourruns on five hits. JuniorEthan Frey crackeda two-runhome run and LSU held a4-0 lead against adesparate Texas A&M team. But the next 15 innings were another story forthe Tigers’ bats. No. 3LSU was held to justtwo hits, including none for extra bases. It worked five walks but also flew out 17 times.

Thefinalnineofthose innings came on

‘A

new energy around’

Alookathow new coachMoore wonover

Saints locker room

Carl Granderson didn’tknow awhole lot about the new young coach the NewOrleans Saints hired in February to resurrect the franchise. All Granderson really knew wasthat Kellen Moore was once astar college quarterback. “I just knew he went to Boise State, and Iwent to Wyoming, and we hated Boise,” Granderson said.

Rod Walker

Granderson has abetter understanding of whoMoore is now.Moore’splaying days are athing of the past. He’s been an assistant coach in the NFLfor the past seven seasons. Now,atthe age of 36, he has landed one of the 32 mostcoveted positions in the NFL. Moore conducted his first three practices with his full team this weekasthe Saints conducted OTAs (Organized Team Activities). It hasn’ttaken Moore long to convince his players that he’sthe right man for the job.

“He brings adifferent type of energy and vibe to the locker room,” Granderson said. “I feel like everything seemsmore intact and on schedule. He is just bringing a different swagger to the whole facility and organization right now.”

The Saints need some swagger.You tend to lose all the swagger you once had when you finish aseason 5-12 and fail to make the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year It was aseason so bad that it promptedthe midseason firing of Dennis Allen and the eventual hiring of Moore, who spent last season as offensive coordinator of the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. Just three months on the new job, Moore says the transition from coordinator to head coach has been asmoothone.

“It’sbeen areally good process,” Moore said. “I feel fortunate to be teaming up with somereally good people here who have done it foralong time. Youlean on those resources.”

ä See WALKER, page 3C

By DAVID GRUNFELD

Saturday in theTigers’ 2-0 loss to No. 7

Ole Miss in the SECTournament semifinal, LSU’sfirst shutout defeat of theyear “Great jobbyOle Miss,” LSUcoach Jay Johnson said. “They’ve obviously pitched very well here. They certainly did in this game, as theydid against Floridaand Arkansas.”

LSU’sbiggest inning at the plate came in the third when freshman Cade Arrambide and junior Chris Stanfield hit apair of oneoutsingles. But neither runner advanced any furtherbecausefreshman DerekCuriel struckout and junior Jared Jones flew outto end the inning. LSU (43-14) also had thegame-tyingrun at the plate with two outs in the ninth inning following atwo-out walk from Frey.But senior pinch-hitter Josh Pearson flew out to center field after Frey took third base, handing Ole Miss (40-18) the victory “Kind of let them off the hook afew times

on threeballcounts, andthatdoesn’t lead to alot of success,”Jones said. “Myselfincluded, I’ve got to do better in the box at the top of the order and get things going.”

The Tigers put arunner in scoring position in just twoinnings and didn’tget arunner on third until the ninth. Stanfield and Arrambide’ssingles were LSU’sonlyhits of the day “It’sbaseball,” Jones said. “I think there’s going to be ups anddowns, highs andlows but we’ve got to be tougher mentally to handle those. And we weren’tthattoday at all, and we’ll be better for it and better moving forward.” LSU turned to redshirtsophomorerighthanderJaden Noot to start Saturday after using

had an-

BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS

Djokovic clinches his 100th career singles title

GENEVA Novak Djokovic has finally clinched his 100th career singles title by beating Hubert Hurkacz to become the Geneva Open champion.

Djokovic won their final 5-7, 7-6, 7-6. Djokovic lost his two previous finals since his 99th title win nine months ago at the Paris Olympics at Roland-Garros. The three-time French Open champion heads back to Paris looking to add to his 24 Grand Slam singles titles. He has a French Open first-round match on Monday against Mackenzie McDonald of the United States.

Matti

rst round of the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club on Thursday in Fort Worth, Texas. Ben Griffin and Schmid share the lead heading into Sunday’s final round

Griffin, Schmid share lead at Colonial

BY STEPHEN HAWKINS AP sportswriter

FORT WORTH, Texas Ben Griffin and Matti Schmid matched each other again Saturday, and will go into the final round at Colonial tied four strokes ahead of the field with top-ranked Scottie Scheffler lurking.

Griffin and Schmid each shot

2-under 68 after fast starts they didn’t maintain. They were at 13-under 197 after posting the same score for the third straight day at the Charles Schwab Challenge. They followed opening 66s and then 63s that put them in the lead together “It seems like me and Matti are going to duel it out a little bit tomorrow at least try to take advantage of our leads that we currently have over third and fourth,” Griffin said.

They certainly can’t overlook Scheffler who was tied for seventh place after a 64 that trimmed his 10-stroke deficit to six.

Scheffler, coming off his third major victory at the PGA Championship a week ago, would have been closer if not for three bogeys

his last seven holes But, with another big round on Sunday, he still has a chance to become the first player since Dustin Johnson in 2017 to win in three starts in a row.

Scheffler was on the wrong end of one of the biggest comebacks at Colonial, three years ago when Sam Burns overcame a sevenshot deficit in the final round and beat his good friend on playoff hole That matched Nick Price’s record seven-shot comeback in 1994, when he caught Scott Simpson and won on the first extra hole.

Rickie Fowler shot 67 and was alone in third. He will be in the final group with the co-leaders Sunday, when Schmid seeks his first PGA Tour victory and Griffin his first individual title after pairing with Andrew Novak to win the Zurich Classic of New Orleans last month.

“I haven’t been far off for quite a while. I’ve seen glimpses here and there of some really good golf,” the 36-year-old Fowler said. “Looking forward to tomorrow Everyone is very good, so experience does help, but we’ve got a couple of guys that are out

there a little ways in front of me, and see if we can go chase them down.”

Fowler who has dropped to 127th in the world after being in the top 25 as recently as early 2024, hasn’t won since the 2023 Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit that was his sixth victory and ended a four-year winless streak. Robert MacIntyre and Lucas Glover also shot 64. MacIntyre was tied for fourth with Nick Hardy and Akshay Bhatia at 8 under, with Glover two strokes behind that.

Griffin and Schmid both had birdies on the first three holes Saturday to get to 14 under and quickly create some separation from the rest of the field. All three birdie putts by Griffin were 7 feet or less, while Schmid had a 40-footer at the 461-yard third hole. They remained tied until Griffin’s approach at No. 5 adjacent to the Trinity River was out of bounds and resulted in a doublebogey 6. He then missed the green with his approach at the sixth hole before two-putting from 14 feet for bogey

GOLF ROUNDUP

ing hole.

The Associated Press

PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico Jenny

Bae started with three straight birdies and had a one-shot lead that could have been larger except for a soft finish Saturday in the Mexico Riviera Maya Open.

Bae didn’t make another birdies after the third hole. What held her back were having to settle for pars on easy scoring holes, and then closing with a bogey when it took her two shots to get out of the crushed coral left of the green on the par-5 18th.

Bae was at 7-under 209, and the LPGA rookie faces a big test Sunday along with just about everyone else chasing her — in a bid for her first LPGA victory

“I didn’t finish as well as I wanted to, but that’s OK,” Bae said “Just tells me that I need to fight more the last 18 holes.”

Yahui Zhang of China finished birdie-birdie for a 68 and was at 6-under 210, along with Chisato Iwai of Japan, who also birdied the last two holes. Another shot back was Gabriela Ruffels of Australia, who had the strongest closing kick of all. Ruffels was 3 over for her round when she holed a 15-foot birdie putt on the 14th hole. On the par-4 16th, the toughest on the back nine, she holed a birdie putt from 20 feet.

Ruffels left her tee shot just in front of the green on the 17th, pitched to a back pin some 4 feet away for birdie, and then made it three straight at the end with a birdie at the 18th. That allowed her to salvage a 71 and left her very much in the mix.

to keep her head above water She was five shots behind when Wang started missing to the left a tee shot into the bushes on the 16th that led to a penalty shot, a tee shot on the 17th into the water left of the green. Both times, Wang made 15-foot putts to save par, and then after pulling her approach left of the 18th green, she got that up-anddown for birdie for a 73. She was among seven players at 4-under 212, three shots out of the lead.

Griffin got two strokes back with birdies at No 8 and at No. 10 with a 35-footer. That got him to 13 under and Schmid dropped back to that when he drove into the right rough and then hit into a bunker on way to a bogey at the 637-yard par-5 11th.

Scheffler who teed off more than two hours before the coleaders, was at 8 under after his eagle at No. 11, where he got on the green in two shots and made the 15-foot putt. That followed consecutive birdies as Nos. 9 and 10, and starting the back nine with an approach to 2 1/2 feet. But back-to-back bogeys followed after Scheffler hit tee shots into bunkers at Nos. 12 and 13. He got those strokes back with birdies at Nos. 16 and 17, only to miss the fairway at No 18 to finish with another bogey

The only player to win the Byron Nelson and Colonial in the same season was Ben Hogan in 1946. Scheffler earlier this month won his beloved hometown CJ Cup Byron Nelson when matching the PGA Tour’s 72-hole scoring record at 31-under 253 for an eight-stroke win.

Djokovic joins tennis greats Jimmy Connors, who has a record 109 titles, and Roger Federer with 103 as the only men with a century of tournament wins in the Open era.

Taxi drivers might block access to French Open PARIS — Striking taxi drivers in Paris are threatening to take their protest to the French Open and block access to Roland-Garros on Monday if the government does not listen to their demands.

The drivers are worried about threats to their income and have already brought sections of Parisian traffic to a standstill for five straight days, gathering at landmarks such as the Arc de Triomphe and blocking roads while honking horns and flashing their car lights.

The French Open begins on Sunday

The drivers are unhappy with new medical transport rules and competition from ride-hailing apps. Their movement has also spread to other French cities.

Overall Giro d’Italia leader Del Toro has strong stage NOVA GORICA, Slovenia Overall leader Isaac Del Toro has gained chunks of time on many of his biggest rivals who were slowed by a crash in the wet and slippery 14th stage of the Giro d’Italia.

Kasper Asgreen of Denmark won the mostly flat stage on his own after getting into an early breakaway Del Toro finished in the second group, 16 seconds behind.

Del Toro is the first Mexican rider to wear the pink jersey He leads Simon Yates by 1 minute, 20 seconds.

Juan Ayuso dropped fron second to third, 1:26 behind; 2019 champion Richard Carapaz was fourth, 2:07 behind; and Roglic trailed by 2:23 in fifth.

The mountain stages will be held this week.

Coward opts for NBA draft over transferring to Duke SEATTLE — Washington State guard Cedric Coward, who intended on transferring to Duke, will instead keep his name in the 2025 NBA draft, he told ESPN on Saturday Coward, 21, averaged 17.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists in six games for the Cougars last season before his year ended prematurely because of a partially torn shoulder labrum The 6-foot-6 Coward also shot 40% from 3-point range last season, his first with Washington State.

Coward started his collegiate career at Division III Willamette in 2021 and then transferred to Eastern Washington, where he spent two seasons.

ESPN’s latest mock draft projected Coward as theNo 30 overall pick.

pionship on Saturday and flashed back to younger days for him and many of the other big-name players in the mix.

“It feels like a major out there,” Cink said. “Those names up there have all had some success.”

Americans advance to final at ice hockey worlds

Bae was pleased to be in front, though she missed an opportunity to have a little more room for error She missed a 6-foot birdie putt on the par-5 13th. She was in good position off the 17th, just short of the green, but her pitch was strong and too far right and rolled through to the collar She had to settle for par

Senior PGA

GOOSEN HEADLINES STAR-STUDDED

Retief Goosen and Angel Cabrera were among those tied for first going into the final round, with Cink and Lee Westwood one stroke back and a group including Padraig Harrington, Vijay Singh and Y.E. Yang two back. The 11 golfers on or close to the lead have combined to win 13 major championships.

“The people up there are the people that have a lot of experience,” Cabrera said after getting to 5 under for the tournament.

The El Camaleon course at Mayakoba was set up for scoring, with the tees moved up on the par-4 17th to make it reachable with a fairway metal, and the par-5 clos-

“I was just proud of the way I kind of stuck in there and felt like I gave myself the chance to kind of come back,” Ruffels said. “To finish the way I did is really good and some momentum into tomorrow.”

“Most of them have been in many majors, and you can see that.” Goosen has two U.S. Open championships on his resume and Cabrera one of those to go along with the 2009 Masters. Harrington won the British Open in ‘07 and ‘08 and Cink in ’09, while Singh has two PGA Championship victories and another in the Masters. Bae

Also finishing strong was Miranda Wang of China, even if it was

SENIOR PGA: In Bethesda, Maryland, Stewart Cink looked over at the leaderboard late in the third round of the Senior PGA Cham-

STOCKHOLM The United States has beaten Sweden 6-2 to advance to the final of the ice hockey world championship in Stockholm. In Sunday’s gold medal game, the U.S. will play Switzerland, which made the second straight final by shutting out Denmark 7-0. The Americans built a 4-0 lead after two periods. The home team cut the deficit in half but it was too little, too late. Shane Pinto finished it off with an empty net to complete a three-point game. Nino Niederreiter scored twice for Switzerland which has never won the tournament.

Switzerland shut out the United States 3-0 in the group stage, the Americans’ only defeat. Jeremy Swayman stopped 27 shots against Sweden.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JULIO CORTEZ

Schmid watches his shot off the first tee during the fi

LSU gymnastics gets transfer from Denver

Ulrich,three-time AllAmerican, chooses LSUoverSEC rival Oklahoma andUtah

BY SCOTT RABALAIS Staff writer

The LSU gymnastics team has gotten its top transfer portal target for this year’srecruitingcycle and beat out its top Southeastern Conference rival in the process. Madison Ulrich, arising junior from Denver University,announced her commitmentto the Tigers on Friday night on her Instagram account.

Athree-time All-American, Ulrich chose LSU after alsomaking visits to new NCAA champion Oklahoma and Utah.

“I am honored and blessed to sharethatI have decidedtocommittoLSU for the remainder of

WALKER

Continued from page1C

Those resources includeeverybody from defensive coordinator Brandon Staley (former head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers) to TedRath, theteam’s director of sportsperformance. Moore also hasn’tbeen afraid to lean on veteran players likelinebacker Demario Davis to get a gauge on the locker room.

Honest dialogue is something Moore believes in. It’sthe one thing tight end Juwan Johnson has appreciated themost in the earlystages of playing for his third head coach in five years. When Derek Carr announced his retirement two weeks ago, Moore made sure his players knew about it before they saw it somewhere on social media or scrolling across the bottom of their TV screens on the ESPN ticker

“Kellen relayeditto us before it hit the public, and that saysalot,” Johnson said. “In the past,news broke and we didn’teven know untilithit the media. So Ithink the communication part andhis ability to reallyopen up toguys is going to be big for him. There’s not adisconnect between upstairs and downstairs.” Moore hasn’tbeen afraid to switch things up, evidentbywho lined up where on the offensive lineduringThursday’spractice.

Taliese Fuaga, the Saints’firstround draft pick last year who played left tackle as arookie, was at right tackle. Kelvin Banks, this year’s first-round pick, was playingleft tackle. Trevor Penning, who playedright tackle last season, was playing left guard. Fuaga likes what he’sseen thus far in Moore.

“It’sdifferent than we had last year,I’ll just say that,” Fuaga said. “I won’tsay it’sthe opposite but it’sjust more of arelaxed guy.

QB Rodgerssayshe won’tplayfor Saints

BY ZACH EWING Staff Writer

Free-agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers had adefinitive answer when asked at arecent fanevent whether he’d considerplaying for theNew Orleans Saints. At aquestion-and-answer session with rapper Mike Stud in Austin, Texas, last weekend, a fan named Alaina asked Rodgers about donning the black and gold and “saving us.” The video was posted on YouTube on Friday “No,” Rodgers replied, aoneword response followed by laughter and catcalls from the crowd.

After apause, he continued:

“That’sthe answer. It’s no.I played there acouple times, but no. The answer is no. I’mtoo old. Idon’t want to live in Louisiana. Sorry.” The Saintsare without aproven quarterback after theretirement of Derek Carr earlier this month. They picked rookie Tyler Shough in the secondround of the NFL draft andalso have second-year quarterback Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener enteringhis third year,but theteam is the only in theNFL without acareer victory in its quarterback room

The 41-year-old Rodgers is a four-time NFL MVP who has made 10 Pro Bowls and won Super Bowl XLVwith theGreen Bay Packers, but he struggled in his first stint out of Green

Bay with the New York Jets. He missed almost the entire 2023 season with an Achilles injury,and theJetswereonly 5-12 with himasa starter last season.

After Rodgers’ negative response, Mike Stud asked Alaina where she was from, and Rodgers had another joke ready when she said “about an hour south of New Orleans.”

“Whichiswhere?Gulf of America?” said the quarterback. Alaina responded that shelived between the city and Grand Isle. Later in thesession,Rodgers hinted that he was considering playing forateam that has aroad game this season in Chicago; the Saints fit that criterion, but so do the Pittsburgh Steelers, the team he’smost often connected with in rumors.

my collegiate career!!”Ulrich posted. “I am so grateful for this incredible opportunity and extremelyexcited and hopeful for what’s to come! Geaux Tigers!!!”

She also had appreciativewords forthe program sheisleaving behind.

“With all my love, Iwould like to thank my Denver family for these past two years,”Ulrichposted. I have learned and grown so much through my time withyou all and will carry therelationships and experiences I’vehad with me into this next chapter.”

Anative of FortMill,South Carolina, Ulrich competed with Oklahoma as an unattached individual during the NCAA Championships in April. Top-qualifying gymnastswhose teamsdonot make it to nationals are allowed to competefor NCAA individual titles

Shortly after theNCAA Championships,Ulrichentered the trans-

fer portal. She visited LSU first, thenmade trips to Utahand OU, each time posting on social media that she was still uncommitted. Now,she is. Ulrich tiedfor 16thinthe allaround (39.325) and on balance beam (9.8875) at nationals and tied for 20th on uneven bars (also 9.8875).Her career highs are 39.575 (all-around), 9.975 (bars), 9.95 (floor), 9.925 (vault) and 9.90 (beam) Ulrich was afive-star recruit in 2023 according to College Gym News.Before going to Denver,she was atwo-timechampion at DP Nationals (2021, all-around;2023, bars) and was athree-time member of the USA Gymnastics developmental Level 10 national team. Ulrich is the thirdtransfer for LSUinthiscycle.The Tigers previously signed Clemson’sMolly Brinkman from Chandler,Arizona,and Washington’sEmily Innes from Pittsburgh.

But aguy that wants to win. It’s agood thing.Hecomes from a winning program. Thethings he’s doing, Ilove.” Players seesomebenefits in Moore’syouthfulness. Moore, who is just six months older than Davis, is the youngest coach in theNFL.But Moorestarted his NFL coaching career when he was 30, so coaching players his age is nothingnew

“Obviously he’sa younger guy, so Ifeel likehecan fit in well with thewholeteam,” said quarterbackSpencerRattler.“It’sjust a newenergy around, andIthink that’sagood thingfor everybody Ijust thinkhehas areally calm demeanor.

If there are any concerns that demeanor,tight endFoster Moreau says there shouldn’tbe.

“It could be confused that he’s laid back or alittle passive,” Moreau said. “But he’s active and he’sintelligentand agood playcaller in this league. We’repretty fortunate to havehim.”

All thehigh praise for Moore should be expected this time of the year.After all, it’sthe honeymoon stage. Everything is perfect

right now.Inevitably,Moore will be judged on wins and losses. All that will matters is if he can get theSaints back on track. Outside of the Saints facility,expectations are low.The Vegas oddsmakers have set theover/under on wins this season at 51/2 The optimism around the league is so low thatthe Saints, for the first time since2000, don’thave asingle prime-time game on their schedule. While the rest of the country won’t see Moore’steam much this season, Saints fans will be watching with akeen eye to seeiftheir first-year coach can get things pointed in the right direction. It’searly,but his players believe he can.

“Let’s just start out with his mentality first,” Granderson said. “His whole demeanor,play calling and everything is different. We are trying to change things around and get to theplayoffs, and Ithink Kellen is the right coach to do that.”

We’ll have to wait until September to see if Moore can win games.

Butasweget to the end of May, it seems clear he’salready won thelocker room.

Pacers bringa2-0 lead over Knicks back home

BY BRIAN MAHONEY AP basketball writer

NEW YORK Tyrese Haliburton smiled widely as he envisioned thescene Sunday when the Pacers host Game 3ofthe Eastern Conference finals to cap adaylong sportscelebration in Indiana. Yetalong with the Pacers’ excitementafter winning thefirst two games against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Gardencameaword of caution. A 2-0 lead guarantees nothing and thingscan change quickly Look no further than last year in aseries between these same teams

“You cannot assume going homeisgoing to be easier.It never is,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. “Each game as you ascend in aplayoffseries becomes harder.New York, they’ve got an amazing fighting spirit.”

The Knicks will have to call upon it after digging themselves abig hole in NewYork. They blewGame 1witha badfinish to the fourth quarter,thencouldn’t overcome apoorstart to theperiod in Game 2.

Nowthey will need to become the first team to lose the first two games at home in the conference finals and come back to win the series.

“Weknow it’s2-0 but it’sstill a long series,” Knicks guard Mikal Bridges said.

Bridges wasn’t on the Knicks team that took a2-0 lead over thePacers last year in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Indiana evened it up when the series changed sites and eventually won it with aGame 7 romp back at Madison Square Garden.

ThePacersmay notneedtogo back to NewYork this time. Awin Sunday and another Tuesday in Game 4would send them to the NBA Finals forthe secondtime as they chase the franchise’sfirst title since their ABA days.

An NBA Finals wouldn’tbe anybigger than what the Pacers should have Sunday. The Indianapolis 500 is being run thatafternoon, with Game 3tipping off at night. It’sthe first time since 2013 thePacershavea home gamethe day of the race.

“I’ve been to the 500. It’s crazy, so Ican’timagine allthose people then coming over to Gainbridge (Fieldhouse). Youknow,going to be arowdy crowd, going to be alittle intoxicated. Who knows?” Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton said.

“It’sgoing to be aspecial time It’sgoing to be alot of fun.”

On the other side, Jalen Brunsonwas tellingthe Knicks’ fans to hang in there. New York’sfirst trip to the conference finals since 2000 is shapinguptobeashort one. The start-

Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner dunksthe ballagainst Newyork Knicks center Mitchell Robinson during the third quarter of Game 2inthe Eastern Conference final series on Friday in Newyork

ing unit has put the Knicks into quick deficits in both games and the Pacers’ huge depth advantage may have worn downthe Knicks and led to their shaky play in both fourth quarters.

CoachTom Thibodeau played backup center MitchellRobinson longer than All-Star KarlAnthony TownsinGame 2for better hope of stopping the Pacers,but that weakened histeam offensively.The Knicks need to figure outthe rightcombinations —ifthey have any —to both score with and slow down the Pacers.

“For me, what Iwanttosay to them is obviously we’ve got to continue to fight,” Brunson said, when asked his message. “It’sgoing to take one day at atime,one game at atime. We can’tlook ahead, we can’tthink about anything other than Game 3atthis point.”

The All-Star point guard has done his part, scoring 43 points in Game 1and adding 36 more along with 11 assists in Game 2. But the Knicks went cold when he was on the bench to start the final 12 minutesand that turned out to be the decisive stretch of the game. The Pacers don’thave those problems. Carlisle can go deep into his bench —even for players whohadn’tbeen in his recent rotation—and Indiana remains just as effective.

Carlisle has continuously called this a13-day series, referring to the stretch between Game 1and a potential Game7inNew York on June 2. After tying K.C. Jones for 10th place on the career list with his 81st postseason victory Friday, he was still thinking that way “It’sDay 3of13days and no one’sgetting ahead of themselves,” he said. “There’salot of work to do.”

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

Saints coachKellen Moore walks among players as theystretch during OrganizedTeam Activities on Thursdayatthe team’s indoor practice facility

AP PHOTO By ADAM HUNGER

PHOOT By SPORTS ILLUSTRATED Former Packers and Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers is currently afree agent.

ä Knicks at Pacers. 7P.M. SUNDAy,TNT

AP FILEPHOTO By MICHAEL WOODS

DenvergymnastMadison Ulrich competes onthe balance beam during ameet on Jan. 20 in Fayetteville,Ark. Ulrich announcedher commitment to LSU on Friday via social media.

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By GARETTFISBECK

runs in theSooners’13-2 win overAlabamaonSaturdayinNorman,

hit four homers to advancetothe Women’sCollegeWorld Series forthe ninthstraight time.

Soonersoverpower Tide

Garcia hits twohomerunsasOklahomarouts Alabama 13-2 in five innings, advances to ninthconsecutive WCWS

By The Associated Press

NORMAN, Okla. Gabbie Garciahit

two of Oklahoma’sfour home runs and the four-time reigningnational champion Sooners beat Alabama 13-2 in five innings on Saturday to winthe Norman super regional andclincha berth in the Women’s College World Series. Oklahoma (50-9), whichis42-0 this season whenscoring at least six runs, has won at least50games in nine consecutive seasons and advanced to theWCWSeach of the last nine times it was played (2020 was canceledbecause of COVID-19).

Nelly McEnroe-Marinas scored on asingle by Abigale Dayton, who finished with threeRBIs, in the second inning and the Sooners explodedfor eight runs —sparked by Garcia’sfirst two-run homer and capped by EllaParker’stwoRBI double —inthe third to take a9-0 lead.

Parker,Garcia and McEnroeMarinas each hit ahome run in the sixth inning to give the Sooners a 13-2 lead.

Parker had three hits —two doubles —and three RBIs. Kierston Deal (10-2) gaveuptwo runs on three hits with four strikeouts over four innings and Audrey Lowry pitchedascoreless fifth to seal it. Kali Heivilin and Marlie Giles each hit asoloshotfor Alabama (40-23). Catelyn Riley (11-4) pitched 21/3 inningsand gave up five runs on six hits with three walks. Garcia, afreshman, has 20 home runs this season.

No. 7TENNESSEE 3, NEBRASKA 2: In Knoxville, Tennessee, Karlyn Pickens struck out 11 batters and Tennessee staved off elimination by beating Nebraska in the Knoxville super regional.

The two teams willface each other Sunday with the winner advancing to the Women’sCollege

Continued from page1C

other strongouting. He allowed just oneearnedrun in four innings, striking out seven batters andallowing just three hits. He walked two batters but had his splitter working from thejump. The only two runs he surrendered came on asolo home run in the first inning and arun-scoring single in the fourth. But because of LSU’sstruggling offense, the Tigers trailed 2-0 as Noot exited for redshirt junior right-hander Chase Shores in the fifth inning.

“Really happy with how Jaden (pitched),” Johnson said. “I thoughthetookastepforward last week at South Carolina.I thought he took another step forward today against agood team.” Shores tossed 22/3 scoreless innings in relief of Noot. His fastball hit 102 mph and routinely reached triple digits. He walked three batters but didn’t allow ahit and recorded three strikeouts.

“I thinkthe bestthing that we probably did for him was start him and get the inningsupand get the experience up,” Johnson said. “And he hadtogrind through some of that,but he did, and he’sobviously incredibly tal-

SUPERREGIONAL ROUNDUP

World Series. Clinging to a3-2 lead in the bottom of the seventh inning with runners at second and third, Pickens gotAva Bredwelltopop out to center fieldtoend it.

Nebraska’sBella Bacon singled andpinch hitterEmmersonCope singled to left to send Bacon to third. Hannah Camenzind pinch ranfor Cope and went to second on awild pitch fromPickens (23-9).

Tennessee’sMcKenna Gibson brokea2-all tieinthe topofthe third with asacrificeflytoleft field that scored leadoff hitter Gabby Leach who started the inning with a four-pitch walk for theVols (44-15) Nebraska(43-14) tiedthe gameat 2-all in thebottom of thefirst when Camenzindsingledupthe middle on a2-2 pitch to score No. 1and No. 2hitters respectively; Jordy Bahl (26-7)and Samantha Bland. Bahl started the game with asingle to third and Bland followed with a base hittoleft.

No.9 UCLA 5, No.4 SOUTHCAROLINA 4: In Columbia, South Carolina,JordanWoolery’stwo-out, two-run home run capped afour-run rally in the seventh inning and UCLA forced adecidingthird gamewith adramatic win.

The eighth-seededGamecocks were one out awayfromtheir first trip to theWomen’sCollege World Series since 1997 when Woolery smacked the first pitch from Sam Gress (14-10) over theleft-field wall for her 23rd home run.

Game 3isSunday Gress stymied the ninth-seeded Bruins(53-11) on twohitsthrough four innings beforeace JoriHeard came in with a3-0 lead.UCLA got aquick runonSofiaMujica’soneouthomer

Pinch hitter Taylor Stephens

ented. He’sgot agreat head on his shoulders. We have someexperience underneathusnow.I think that’sleadingtoconfidence.”

With two outs in the seventh, Shoreswas lifted for junior righthander Jacob Mayers. The Nicholls Statetransferforced aflyout to end theinning while stranding arunner at second base.

Mayers then hit101 mph on the radar gun in ascorelesseighth inning before returningtothe moundtostart the ninth. He tossed ascorelessfinalinning to finish hisouting withfour strikeouts andnohits allowed in 21/3 innings.

Noot, Mayers and Shores combined to strike out 14 batters on Saturday.

“It’stoughtogoout there and be as bad on offense as we were, Iguess would be theword, when they threwaswellas(they) did,” Jones said. “And we talked before thegame about how fourtofive runs would win the game, and it would have. And then we weren’t able to come through in that, but those three guysgave us areally good opportunity to win this game.”

LSU will learn its NCAATournament fate on Monday.The selection show on ESPN2 will begin at 11 a.m.

Email KokiRiley at Koki Riley@theadvocate.com.

drew aleadoff walk to start the ninth andNo. 9hitterKaitlynTerry tripled to right center togive UCLAhope. Heard got another strikeout before SavannahPola groundeda single into center to makeit4-2. That’swhen Gress reentered the game.

TaylorTinsley(15-4) allowed eight hits andtwo earned runs in acomplete game for the Bruins She didn’tallow the Gamecocks an extra base hit.

Lexi Winters went 3for 4and droveinthree runs forSouth Carolina (44-16).

GEORGIA2,No.3FLORIDA1: In Gainesville, Florida, Lyndi Rae Davis and Emily Digby hit home runs and Georgia continually wiggled out of trouble to defeat Floridaand force adeciding game at theGainesville super regional.

Game 3isSunday

Thethird-seeded Gators hadseven hits,drew five walks and had the Bulldogs committhreeerrors but Floridawent 1for 15 with runners in scoring position and stranded 13 baserunners.

AfterFlorida (47-15)loadedthe bases withone out in the top of the first inning and failed toscore, Davis homered in the bottom of the inning. The Gators started the second with adouble and added atwoout single but couldn’tget arunner in and Digby homered.

Lilli Backes (16-10) had all kinds of trouble through 6 1⁄3 innings for Georgia (34-23) before leaving with two on and one out in the seventh.

The Gatorsgot an unearnedrun on asacrifice fly in thefifth.

Reagan Walsh opened the seventhwith asingle and made it to second on Backes’error.A walk anda strikeoutended theday for Backes and Randi Roelling came on in relief. She got along flyout that moved the baserunners up beforeaninfield popup ended it for her fourthsave.

TULANE

Continuedfrom page1C

Pitching to contact, he had only onestrikeout but induced plenty of weak contact.

“I was just sticking to our game plan,” he said. “I’m not going to really blow it by anybody,but Iwant to try to keep the ball down, get ahead andlet them put it in play.We all want it so bad, and this is showing how well we can play.”

Benbrook,a second-year graduate student, recorded hismost outs in 44 appearances for the Wave.

“He was unbelievable, but the unbelievable part is believable for us because that’swhatwesee every day since thetimeheset foot on our campus,” Uhlman said. “We feel great when he’sinthe game.”

Tulanestarted fast, getting singlesfromJasonWachs, Connor Rasmussen andMatthiasHaas off Sam Simmons to go ahead 1-0 in the first.The Wave added asecondrun in thesecond offGunnar Brown (3-2)onRasmussen’ssacrifice fly Harrison atoned for his error with aleadoff doubleinthe fifth, tying thescore at 3onGavin Schulz’ssacrifice fly

Back-to-back walks by Hugh Pinkney and Theo Bryant withone out in the sixth prompted UTSAto go to Braylon Owens, whothrew

BY SPENCER URQUHART Staff writer

UNO’sseason cometoanend Fridaynight in the second game of the SouthlandConference baseball championship series in a16-11 loss to Houston Christian. The No. 8seed Privateers (28-26) needed awin to stay alive and losing Thursday’sseries opener to No.5 seed HCU(32-23), which will earn an automatic bid to theNCAA tournament.

ThePrivateersfellinto an early 6-0 hole after two innings Friday andcouldn’tovercomeitatHusky Field in Houston. UNO reachedthe best-of-three SLC championship series after winning threestraight tournament games last week in Hammond.

HCU, which went 5-0 in the SLC tournament, took advantage of 14 hits, 13 walks, twohit batters and threeUNO errors. UNO, one of the SLC’s bestoffensiveteams, alsohad 14 hits and hit three homeruns.

The Wolves, who were designated the road team,scoredfirst after Jack Walker hit asacrifice fly to left field in the topofthe first inning. The Huskies wereup four runs in the top of the second when Parker Edwards singled to drive in Rhett Hendricks and Walker AUNO comeback effort began in the bottom of thethirdinning after AlexanderSaunier hitan RBI double to right field to score Matt Gonzalez, whoreached base on athrowing error TristanMoore, whohit two home runs anddroveinseven, hit athree-run homerun to center field after Bryce Calloway singled, whichcut HCU’slead to 6-4. HCUansweredinthe thefourth on Hendricks’ atwo-run double. Parker Edwards then singled through theleftside to put HCU up 9-4. UNO added two runs in its half of thefourthinning, withDal-

ton Hurst scoring after Saunier reached on an error by the HCU first baseman. Gonzalez scored on aCalloway sacrifice fly,which madethe score 9-6. Bryan Loriga hit UNO’s second homerun of the gameinthe fifth, asoloshottoleft to make it 107, but HCU scoredfourruns in the top of the eighth to go up by seven, but the Privateers weren’t done scoring. Gonzalez reached on afielders choice followed by singlesfrom Saunier and Calloway to load the bases, andMoore hit agrand slam to left center to put UNO back within three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. HCU went up by five after a pairofrunsinthe topofthe ninth inning,and reliefpitcher Ben Norton recorded the final four outs to seal the win and the series. Email Spencer Urquhart at surquhart@theadvocate.com.

104pitches against Rice on Tuesday. He walked James Agabedis from a1-2 count to load the bases before freshman Tanner Chun hit atwo-run single to left field,giving Tulane the lead forgood. Chun had been 1for 9with the bases loaded

“Offensively we grinded and really made it tough on theirguys,” Uhlman said. “Tanner Chun’sbig hit was gigantic. That’s what you’ve gotto get in these kinds of games. I’mreally proud of theresiliency in this club.” Schulz hit aone-hop double to the wall in theeighth, leading to an insurance run. Tayler Montiel then closed out his third consecutivegamein Clearwater, Florida retiring threeina row after an infield single to pick up his second save. The Wave made UTSA,anatlarge regional lock and likely No. 2 seed, look mediocre. The Roadrunners went withoutanextra-base hit for thefirst timesince April 1 against TCU. Tulane has not trailed by more than onerun in itsthree tournamentgames —and never formore than one inning. Uhlman was non-committal

abouthis starting pitcherfor the championship game. Fire-baller

Michael Lombardi threw acareerhigh 105 pitches in adominant seven innings during Tuesday’s opener against Florida Atlantic.

“Offensively we grinded and really made it tough on their guys.Tanner Chun’sbig hit was gigantic. That’s what you’ve gottoget in thesekinds of games.

“We’ll figure thatout going into tomorrow,” Uhlmansaid. “Itwill be allhands on deck. If somebody comes to us and they are not preparedtopitchphysically, we’renot interested in getting them hurt for shortterm satisfaction. If they tell us they are good to go, then we’ll respect that and provide that opportunity.”

I’m really proud of the resiliencyin this club.”

JAyUHLMAN,Tulane coach

East Carolinacoach Cliff Godwin did not reveal his hand, either.Ace Ethan Norby threw 25 pitches to close out South Floridaafter throwing 68 on Tuesday

“I’m glad we didn’thave to play two games,” Godwin said. “I don’t know if we could have managed that and been ready fortomorrow if we had won the second game, but we’re just excited to be in the championship game.”

It will be arepeat of the 2023 titlematchup,which Tulane won 8-6atthe start of itsremarkable run. This time,the Wave will be the hometeam as the higher seed.

Oklahoma’sGabbie Garciahit twohome

Okla.The Sooners

Indianapolis celebrates an epic sports weekend

BY MICHAEL MAROT AP sportswriter

INDIANAPOLIS Drive through the neighborhoods surrounding Indianapolis Motor Speedway and it looks like Christmas in May

Checkered flags and “Welcome race fans” signs on every block.

Neatly trimmed lawns decorated with cutout Indy cars, a mock Borg-Warner Trophy even an inflatable version of the track’s familiar golden, winged logo.

Yet the “Racing Capital of the World” is eagerly and happily sharing the Memorial Day weekend stage with the Indiana Pacers and the Indiana Fever, two teams straight from the Hoosier State’s lifeblood of basketball.

The Pacers flags and Caitlin Clark jerseys are easy to see all over town, including Gasoline Alley a few steps from the speedway’s famous Brickyard Pacers & Racers weekend is in high gear

“This is an epic weekend, an incredible opportunity to put Indianapolis on the minds of virtually every major sports fan on the planet,” said Chris Gahl, executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Visit Indy “Our initial research shows no other city in the U.S. has hosted this diverse level of major sporting events in such a short amount of time.”

It may be an anomaly nationally, but Indianapolis is built to thrive in this sort of spotlight.

The city has hosted the Super Bowl, two NBA All-Star Games, multiple international and national championships and, of course, now the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500. And through every virtually twist — even an NCAA men’s basketball tournament held entirely in and around Indy — the reviews have come back with races.

The lineup

Clark and the Fever opened the weekend hosting the defending WNBA champion New York Liberty, but Clark lost the ball on the final possession and Indiana lost 90-88 in front of a sellout crowd.

An estimated 350,000 race fans are expected for Sunday’s midday Indy 500 race, including the first

Crew members of Chase Briscoe push his car to get it started after a pit stop during a NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway, Sunday, April 27 in Talladega, Ala.

ASSOCIATED

sold-out grandstands since 2016.

The weekend will be capped Sunday night when the Pacers host the New York Knicks for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

It’s the fourth time an NBA game has converged with race day, and the Pacers lost each of the first three — to the Knicks in 1999, to the Pistons in 2004 and to the Heat in 2013. They went on to lose all three series, too.

The off-court, off-track stories such as the Team Penske cheating scandal the WNBA investigation into alleged racial comments directed at Angel Reese after a Fever game and the call for international peace from Israeli-born, Russian-raised pole winner Robert Schwarzman have played into the buildup. Even the Oscar Mayer Wienermobiles came to town Friday

The crossover continued on the eve of the race as IndyCar points leader Alex Palou wore a Tyrese Haliburton jersey in the Indianapolis 500 Festival Parade At least one Fever player is expected to be

at the track Sunday In a state where the greatest athletic feats often have been defined by auto racing or basketball, this weekend seems like a fitting marriage even to locals. Just ask IndyCar team owner-driver Ed Carpenter, a longtime Pacers fan and the stepson of former speedway president and CEO Tony George.

“I think it celebrates the city, the people that live here and the fans that make the pilgrimage to the race,” he said “(Having the other events) just makes it that much more special.”

Carpenter hopes to attend Sunday night’s game — even if he wins the 500 — and now finds himself surrounded in Gasoline Alley by a growing legion of crossover fans

Six-time IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon and three-time 500 winner Dario Franchitti attended Game 3 of the Indiana-Cleveland series Former IndyCar driver and broadcaster James Hinchcliffe was there for Game 2 and the triumvirate of Kyle Kirkwood, Colton Herta and Marcus Ericsson

Larson to start on front row at Coca-Cola 600

BY STEVE REED AP sportswriter

CONCORD, N.C Chase Briscoe won the pole Saturday for the Coca-Cola 600 and will start on the front row for NASCAR’s longest and most grueling race alongside Kyle Larson.

Briscoe, driving the No. 19 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, turned a lap of 182.852 mph on the 1 1/2-mile oval at Charlotte Motor Speedway to edge out Larson, who plans to arrive at the track about an hour before the race Sunday night after completing the Indianapolis 500.

“It’s going to be great to start up front,” Briscoe said. “Adding that No. 1 pit stall, and to be able to race in clean air is huge.”

Briscoe comes in with four topfive finishes in the Cup Series this year, but has yet to win a race.

He also won the Daytona 500 pole earlier this year

“It’s pretty wild, really,” Briscoe said. “I never thought I would get to run a Truck Series race let alone lead the way at two crown jewel events.” William Byron, who signed a four-year contract extension with Hendrick Motorsports on Friday, celebrated by turning a lap of 182.642 and will start third, fol-

lowed by Chris Buescher and AJ Allmendinger Rounding out the top 10 will be John Nemechek, Ty Gibbs, Noah Gragson, Alex Bowman and defending race champion Christopher Bell.

Briscoe knows winning the Coca-Cola 600 pole does not necessarily guarantee success, particularly in such a long race.

Larson won from the pole in 2021, but prior to that the last driver to accomplish that feat was Jeff Gordon in 1998.

Bell won last year’s rain-shortened 249-lap race, and is now out to prove that was no fluke

“Certainly, I have gotten annoyed by people calling it an asterisk win, so I would love to win this race as the Coca-Cola 600 and run the full 600 miles,” Bell said.

“We should be really competitive. The last couple of years this has been one of our best intermediate tracks, as far as the 20 group goes, so I really look forward to the challenge.”

Last year fans booed loudly after waiting through a long rain delay, only to have NASCAR announce early in the morning hours that the race could not be complet-

ed because of the inability to dry the track.

“I want to be a 600-mile winner and not get booed going into victory lane,” Bell said with a laugh.

One thing to keep an eye on Sunday will be how the track reacts to the racecars in Turns 3 and 4, as drivers talked repeatedly about how particularly bumpy it is there.

“It’s definitely rough down there,” Briscoe said. “It kind of changes year to year.”

Jimmie Johnson, making his 700th career Cup Series start, will start 37th as he attempts to match Darrell Waltrip for the most Coca-Cola 600 wins with five. The part-owner at Legacy Motor Group is largely considered a longshot, despite his tremendous success at the CMS, where he’s also won the Bank of America 400 four times and All-Star race four times.

“I love endurance events and this is our marathon,” Johnson said. “As a kid watching this before I was ever back here racing, I was always so intrigued by a 600-mile race. Cars back then had a tough time making it The drivers did as well. It is a long event. I think it is a little harder on the party animal fans in the infield to go the extra 100 miles.”

went to Game 2 of the Indiana-Milwaukee series Scott McLaughlin a Knicks fans, has a wager on the series with Carpenter and may attend Sunday’s game if he’s not drinking the milk in victory lane.

“How’d that go?” fellow driver Alexander Rossi asked after the Pacers’ thrilling Game 1 victory on Wednesday

“Real bad, we lost the unloseable,” McLaughlin said. “We had a good wager I have to buy the equivalent — if the Pacers win in six games if they win in seven, the bet is off, or I win — I have to buy the equivalent up to 2500 bucks of his (coffee/java).”

Red carpet treatment

Kyle Larson, who is making his second attempt at a different kind of race day double — completing 500 miles at Indianapolis and 600 more in Charlotte’s NASCAR nightcap — already has made that trip. He went to the Fever game Tuesday night.

“Outside the car, it’s been crazier this year logistics-wise,” Larson said. “Going to New York and having a full day of media there and then flying back here. Going to the Fever game was fun.”

The interest and intrigue goes the other way, too.

Three years ago, Pacers star Haliburton made his IndyCar debut in a two-seater with Mario Andretti. Last weekend, Fever coach Stephanie White, an Indiana native, returned to the track while Fever center Aliyah Boston, the 2023 WNBA Rookie of the Year, got her first glimpse at the historic and vast 2.5-mile oval.

“Being on the track and kind of seeing how fast all the cars go, and to meet Colton was pretty dope,” Boston said. “The track is huge. Colton told us how many things could fit in the track and that’s insane. You don’t understand how big it is till you’re there.”

Bottom line

Gahl said hotels are virtually sold out in Central Indiana and everywhere from Lafayette to Bloomington, roughly one-hour drives from Indy; downtown, the average cost is about $550 per night with a three-night minimum and restaurant reservations are scarce. Local merchandisers are capitalizing, too, selling blue-andgold shirts that read “Zoom Baby,” a play off the late Bob “Slick” Leonard’s radio calls of “Boom Baby” for Pacers’ 3-pointers. In the midst of so much going on in a 36-hour window, the Pacers, racers and the Fever are all following the same playbook: Ignore the distractions and celebrate this incredible weekend.

The red carpet isn’t just being rolled out for the Pacers and the racers. Film director Spike Lee is expected to be in his familiar spot inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse while his old foil, Reggie Miller, calls the game for TNT. It’s unclear how many big wigs from the race will make the 15-minute drive (in good traffic) to the arena for the game. Two tickets to each event would cost you nearly $4,000.

Lando Norris qualifies on pole for Monaco GP in record time

By The Associated Press

MONACO — Lando Norris beat the Monaco track record, his main Formula 1 rival and a local hero to take pole position on Saturday Perhaps most importantly, Norris made a breakthrough in his own struggles with F1 qualifying, which have hampered his championship chances against McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri.

“It’s been a long time coming,” said Norris, who hadn’t been on pole since the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

“I don’t think I’ve ever doubted what I can do Of course, I’ve got frustrated, I’ve been unhappy, because that’s normal,” Norris added “If you don’t win, if you don’t get pole, you’re not going to be happy, especially when it’s where you should be, it’s what the objective is.” Norris and Monaco local Charles Leclerc swapped the fastest times before Norris upped the pace again to take first by .109 of a second. Piastri was third.

Norris’ time of 1 minute, 9.954 seconds replaced a record set by Lewis Hamilton in 2019.

It comes as Norris tries to cut into Piastri’s 13-point standings lead and follows weeks of frustration in qualifying — sometimes from small mistakes, but also a dramatic crash in Saudi Arabia last month.

Leclerc, who won the Monaco GP last year was denied a fourth career pole at his home race.

Leclerc said Monaco’s slow and twisty layout allowed Ferrari to dodge some of the “compromises” it’s had to make with its setup at more varied tracks.

Defending champion Max Verstappen, the winner of the EmiliaRomagna GP last week, was fifth for Red Bull after predicting Monaco’s low-speed nature wouldn’t suit his car, but starts fourth because of a penalty for Lewis Hamilton.

Rule change adds uncertainty

Qualifying has typically been more important at Monaco than anywhere else on the F1 calendar

It could be a little different this time because drivers will be required to change tires at least twice during the race.

“I don’t think anyone really knows what to expect,” Piastri said. That rule change follows a dull race last year when an early red flag allowed all drivers to make their mandatory pit stop. The race finished with the top 10 all in the same order that they started the race.

Hamilton draws penalty

A radio mix-up cost seven-time world champion Hamilton as he was dropped from fourth to seventh on the grid for getting in Verstappen’s way In the first part of qualifying, Hamilton was told by the Ferrari team that Verstappen was on a slower lap, when the Dutch driver was actually trying to set a competitive time. Hamilton was obliged to make way for the faster car, but the miscommunication meant the British driver was in Verstappen’s way on the racing line, landing him a threeplace grid penalty for impeding. Until then, Hamilton’s fourth place seemed a strong recovery following a crash in practice which required a major rebuild of his Ferrari.

It was a session to forget for Mercedes as its cars caused two red flags.

George Russell is set to start 14th after his car broke down in the tunnel with a suspected electrical problem, causing a lengthy stoppage while it was pushed out of the way by a track marshal crew His 18-year-old teammate Kimi Antonelli hit the wall and was 15th. Haas rookie Oliver Bearman qualified 17th but dropped to the back of the grid because of a 10-place penalty imposed on Friday for overtaking under red flags when practice was stopped.

It’s almost impossible to overtake on the narrow streets so grid position is vital.

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By AJ MAST

Josef Newgarden crosses the finish line to win the 2024 Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis on May 26.

OUTDOORS

SCARY FISHING STORIES

Two men tell about their battles with flesh-eating bacteria

Editor’s note: This is the first of two stories on surviving the summer in coastal Louisiana. Next week: protection.

BY JOE MACALUSO Contributing writer

It’s called “vibrio,” which covers as many as 12 kinds of bacteria in our waters and on the things we take from our waters.

The infection it causes is called “vibriosis.”

No two men know vibriosis better than Richard Empson and Cornell Arceneaux.

Both are survivors Some infected with one among the 12 in this group of bacteria have not survived.

Both have stories to tell, stories they hope will prevent fishermen and beachgoers the pain they have endured and spare some the agony of an even worse fate for their families.

It was 2016, Empson was wading in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, vacationing and fishing with his family It was summer and warm coastal water — water temperatures above 70 degrees is prime for one of this bacteria’s killer — vibrio vulnificus, the flesh-eating bacteria.

Two months later, sometime in August, Empson attended Sunday Mass at St. Thomas More in Baton Rouge. Each hand clutched a walking cane He needed both What happened?

“Got vibrio,” he said. “At the hospital (in Mississippi) I was told, ‘Your leg or your life.’ I chose life.”

Empson said he believes vibrio vulnificus attacked his right leg on the fifth fishing day

“My grandson fished every day just like me, but his immune system must have been stronger than mine,” Empson said. He began feeling symptoms that night. They packed up the next day, and he said he believed he could make it to Baton Rouge for treatment.

“We left about 11 (a.m.) and I told my grandson to find a hospital nearby I couldn’t make it home. We got to the emergency room in Bay St. Louis, and when they found out we’d been at the beach, they were calling for a surgeon, and they immediately moved me into intensive care.”

He said a doctor looked at his leg, saw blisters forming and told him he had a two-hour window “to receive medication to counteract what was happening. Otherwise, they would have to amputate the leg. He told me I had a 20% chance of the medication working, and I told him to take the leg, that I

TUESDAY

RED STICK FLY FISHERS FLY TYING:

7 p.m., Orvis Shop, 7601 Bluebonnet Boulevard. Open to public. Hands-on clinic covering basics of fly tying. Materials and tools provided. Website: rsff.org

WEDNESDAY

PUBLIC MEETING/NE LA. WILD

TURKEY: 5:30 p.m. LSU AgCenter, 4589 La. 605, St. Joseph. Wildlife and Fisheries-led discussion of turkey populations. Email Cody Cedotal: ccedotal@wlf,la.gov

THURSDAY-SATURDAY

42ND PHOENIX BASS FISHING

LEAGUE ALL-AMERICAN: Lake Hamilton, Hot Springs, Arkansas. First place $120,000. Website: MajorLeagueFishing.com

HUNTING SEASONS

SQUIRRELS: Statewide, through May 25, private lands only. Closed on wildlife management areas.

ONGOING

CCA STATEWIDE TOURNAMENT & ANGLERS’ RODEO/S.T.A.R.: Summer-

PROVIDED

was wading in Bay St Louis, Mississippi, when he contracted this virulent strain of vibrio.

could learn to walk again.”

Weeks in the hospital and more weeks of rehab in Baton Rouge left him with two canes. Now, he needs one to get around, to do yard work and fish “I fish only from the bank I still have a boat, but haven’t been in it for years. I still want to fish.

“The only thing I can’t figure is that I didn’t have a scratch on my leg, and the (hospital) staff believe it entered through my pores.”

Arceneaux, a never-say-die fisherman, is a three-time victim, twice from cuts while handling shrimp and crabs, and once after eating raw oysters.

The external variety the vulnificus, is much more virulent than vibrio gastroenteritis, the strain from raw shellfish, although Arceneaux tells of a lawyer he knew who ate an oyster poboy and was dead 24 hours later

Arceneaux’s advice is to be cau-

long fishing contest through Sept. 1. Multiple species categories. CCA membership required. Website: ccalouisiana.com

AROUND THE CORNER

JUNE 1-7—NRA NATIONAL HIGH POWER ACROSS THE COURSE CHAMPIONSHIPS: Winnequah Gun Club, Lodi, Wisconsin. Website: winnequahgunclub.org

JUNE 3-4—GULF COUNCIL MEETING: 7:30 a.m.-2:15 p.m. each day, Council office, 4107 West Spruce Street, Suite 200, Tampa, Florida. Main agenda items: changes to shallow-water grouper complex & Spanish mackerel catch limits. Public comment, 9:25-11:30 a.m. June 4. Webinar available. Website: gulfcouncil.org

JUNE 4-7—SWOLLFEST RODEO: Grand Isle Marina, Grand Isle. Offshore & Inshore categories. Weighin 4:30-6:30 p.m. daily. Benefits Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital & others. Email: swollfest@cox.net. Registration website: swollfest.com. JUNE 4-8—NRA NATIONAL HIGH POWER MID-RANGE CHAMPIONSHIP: Oklahoma City Gun Club, Arcadia Oklahoma. Website: okcgunclub.org

tious when buying live bait.

“Live-bait tanks in the marina are a petri dish for staph, strep and vibrio,” Arceneaux said.

“Handling shrimp in contaminated watercraft is the way I got vibrio the first time.

“The second time I was handling five dozen crabs to entertain friends. I kept the crabs in a crab call (a basket submerged in water next to his camp) and I got a scratch on my arm. That was on a Thursday and within 24 hours I was on the way to the hospital and had surgery within two hours.”

While a photo of Empson is easy on the eyes, and easy to show the near-immediate effects of this virulent strain of vibrio, images of Arceneaux’s arm split open – a surgeon removed all the dead tissue — is gruesome. Even the image of scars running from hand to shoulder are not for the squeamish.

“It was 36 hours at the Baton

JUNE 5—LA. WILDLIFE & FISHERIES COMMISSION MEETING: 9:30 a.m., Joe Herring Room, state Wildlife and Fisheries headquarters, Quail Drive, Baton Rouge.

JUNE 5—JUNIOR SOUTHWEST BASSMASTERS MEETING: 7 p.m., Seminar Room, Bass Pro Shops, Denham Springs. Boys & girls agegroup bass tournaments for ages 7-10, 11-14 & 15-18 anglers. Call Jim Breaux (225) 772-3026.

JUNE 5-7—CATHOLIC HIGH ALUMNI FISHING RODEO: Fourchon Marina, Port Fourchon. Fishing begins June 4. Adult & Youth divisions. Four species each in Inshore, Rig & Offshore divisions. $50 & $100 Redfish Stringer, Mangrove Snapper, Red Snapper, Speckled Trout & Offshore Grand Slam calcuttas. Check-in/ registration party 5-8:30 p.m., June 5. Weigh-in 4-6:30 p.m. June 6-7. Website: catholichigh.org

JUNE 5-8—MLF BASS PRO TOUR: Kentucky Lake, Calvert City, Kentucky

Website: MajorLeagueFishing.com

JUNE 6-8—NATIONAL WOMEN’S SAILING ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE: University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, Florida. American Sailing event. Website: bit/ly/NWSAConference.

FISHING TOURNAMENT RESULTS

Rouge General for the next one.

To survive, I’m lucky twice, very lucky,” he said.

While coastal water is the usual contact point for vibrio, Empson said his support group in Baton Rouge has a member who lost a leg after getting vibrio from False River

The CDC says …

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has pages devoted to vibrio.

Among its key points is that vibrio’s variety of bacteria “naturally live in coastal waters,” that you can get vibriosis after swallowing the bacteria or getting it in a wound, that the bacteria count is higher in coastal waters from May through October, and, if you suspect an infection, to seek medical care immediately

The agency estimates around 80,000 cases of vibriosis occur each year in our country, and 52,000 cases come from eating contaminated food.

Common gastric signs/symptoms are watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, fever and chills.

The signs of bloodstream infection include fever, chills and the two indicators for Empson, dangerously low blood pressure and blistering skin lesions.

And, for wound infection, signs/ symptoms are fever, redness, pain, swelling, warmth, skin discoloration, leaking fluids discharge and other complications.

Furthermore, the CDC warns about preexisting conditions, complications like liver disease, cancer, diabetes, HIV, thalassemia; taking medicine to decrease stomach acid levels; and, recent stomach surgery

When it comes to vibrio vulnificus, the CDC’s warning is clear: “Many people with the infection can get seriously ill and need intensive care or limb amputation. About 1 in 5 people with this infection die, sometimes within a day or two of becoming ill.”

Arceneaux said he continues to fish and enjoy oysters, the latter only when coastal water temperatures dip below 70 degrees. He said he carries enough hand sanitizer a chlorine bleach-water mixture and antibacterial soap on his fishing trips to immediately treat scratches. Puncture wounds need more attention.

Arceneaux message is clear: “In 11 days, I had three surgeries and had two IVs treating me with four different antibiotics.

“You cannot fix this yourself. If you suspect you have a problem with vibrio, go to a hospital emergency room immediately.”

LOTTERY

ALLIGATOR HARVEST APPLICA-

TION DEADLINE: June 15 for tags for taking alligators beginning Aug. 27 on 22 wildlife management areas, 28 public lakes & one Corps of Engineers property. Applicant minimum age 16 & $8.50 fee. Rules/ application website: louisianaoutdoors.com/lottery-applications. For more, email: LAalligatorprogram@ wlf.la.gov

FISHING/SHRIMPING

SHRIMP: Spring inshore season and outside waters open statewide. Closed in federal waters off the Texas coast.

OPEN RECREATIONAL SEASONS: Red snapper, gray triggerfish, flounder; lane, blackfin, queen and silk snappers & wenchmen among other snapper species; all groupers except closed for goliath & Nassau groupers in state/federal waters. CLOSED SEASONS: Greater amberjack, bluefin tuna and gag, goliath & Nassau groupers in state/federal waters.

Hot topics on, off the court abound

BY HOWARD FENDRICH AP tennis writer

PARIS With the French Open set to start on Sunday, an argument could be made that the headlines about tennis lately have been as, or more, intriguing off the court — and in the court of law than on the court of play

There were the high-profile doping bans served by Jannik Sinner, the man seeded No. 1 at Roland-Garros, and Iga Swiatek, the woman who is the three-time reigning champion at the clay-court major There’s the pending class-action suit brought by players against groups that run the sport. And there’s an effort by the athletes to get a larger share of revenues from the four Grand Slam tournaments.

Yes, there is interest in who is going to win the titles two weeks from now of course. And there are plenty of storylines connected to such things as whether Swiatek can snap out of her recent run of poorfor-her results, whether Carlos Alcaraz can win a second consecutive championship in Paris, whether Novak Djokovic can grab a record 25th Grand Slam trophy, whether Coco Gauff can grab her second at age 21, and so on.

Here is what to know before the competition begin at the French Open: ARE TENNIS PLAYERS GOING TO GET MORE MONEY FROM THE SLAMS?: Hard to say yet. This is just at the beginning. The background: Djokovic, Gauff, Sinner and women’s No 1 Aryna Sabalenka were among 20 top players who signed a letter — obtained by The Associated Press in April — that was sent to the heads of the four Slam tournaments, seeking additional prize money, contributions to player welfare programs funded by the pro tours and more say in decision-making.

Those events reportedly gave around 10% to 20% of their roughly $1.5 billion in combined revenues to players in 2024.

Leaders of the four major tournaments — the French Open, Wimbledon, the U.S. Open and the Australian Open — met in Paris with some of the leading players. Jessica Pegula, the 2024 U.S Open runner-up who is seeded No. 3 in Paris, was not in town in time for the face-to-face session. “I think it went pretty well, from what I understood. Hopefully progress can be made. I know that several top players on the men and women sides were there and were present. We’re showing — not just the top players, all of us; but led by a lot of the top players — that we’re very unified on this topic,” Pegula said. “Getting a higher revenue share based on what the tournaments are bringing in (and) not just that, but player welfare, for pensions, for bonus pool for the men, (the Slams) don’t contribute anything. And that’s our issue. They’re the four pinnacles of our sport and we’re just asking for that to be a lot more equal and a lot more fair.”

WHAT IS NEW IN THE SUIT FILED BY A GROUP CO-FOUNDED BY DJOKOVIC?: In March, the Professional Tennis Players’ Association, a group cofounded by Djokovic several years ago, sued the WTA, the ATP, the International Tennis Federation and the International Tennis Integrity Agency in federal court in New York, calling them a “cartel.” The players said they don’t get enough of the revenues and raised other complaints about how tennis is structured.

HOW HAVE IGA SWIATEK AND JANNIK SINNER PLAYED SINCE THEIR DOPING BANS? Swiatek, banned for one month late last year, is going through a real rough stretch for her failing to reach so much as a final since leaving the French Open last year and sinking to No. 5 in the rankings after three years no worse than No. 2. She’s

Alcaraz

PHOTO

Richard Empson stands on an artificial right leg after his battle with vibrio vulnificus, a flesh-eating bacteria that shows up in coastal waters during summer months when water temperatures climb above 70 degrees. The Baton Rouge retiree and avid fishermen

Swiatek

DidHitler

Coast?

BY ROBIN MILLER Staff writer

Reality can be strangerthan fiction, but sometimes the two intersect, as it did when Sharon Coldiron recently was reading James Lee Burke’s1994 novel, “Dixie City Jam.”

In it, the best-selling author’s main character,Dave Robichaux, finds himself at the center of aconflict between opposing forces who want to raise a sunken Nazi U-boat only miles from Louisiana’scoast. Of course, Burke’sstory is fiction, but Coldiron was intrigued.

PROVIDED PHOTO By THEHISTORIC NEWORLEANS COLLECTION

lluminated coastlines made it easy for German captains to pick targets in the Gulf of Mexico. This WPAWar Services poster urges citizens to black out their lights. This poster is partofThe Historic NewOrleans Collection’s Anna Wynne Watt andMichaelD Wynne Jr.Collection.

Is it true?

“Is there really aU-boat in the Gulf of Mexico?” the Deville resident asked. “If it is, why? And where, exactly,isit located?” The story is true. The German sub officially was known as U-166. It was among afleet of 23 sent to the Atlantic Ocean in the spring of 1942 on amission called Operation Drumbeat, the Nazi code name for submarine attacks on Allied shipping off U.S. coasts.

“Over the course of that summer,German U-boats stalked defenseless tankers and transport ships in the effort to cut American oil supply lines through the Gulf of Mexico,” Eli Haddow wrote in the July2021 edition of The Historic New Orleans Collection’s “First Draft” blog. “In about ayear’stime, more than 56 vessels were destroyed by the

KRISTIN M. HALL

alreadylooks like awildflower field most of the time, it could be more intentional than

ALIFE IN FOOD

Marcelle

Bienvenu dishes on étouffée,Ella, Emeril andalifesteeped in Louisiana

BY JANRISHER | Staff writer

Spending aspring afternoon withMarcelle

Bienvenu in her St. Martinville kitchen and garden is likestepping into aCajun waltz —colorful, unhurried, layered and playful. Volunteer zinnias are bloomingthick as apolka-dot blanket. Nine different birds aresinging. The grand dame of LouisianaCajun cooking is making crawfish étouffée just theway her mama taught her To be clear,her mother,Rhena Broussard Bienvenu, called it a“stew-fay.”

“Everybody has their own way to do anything,” Bienvenu said. “Aslong as you think it tastes good, it’sfine with me, but as soon as I seeabrownétouffée, oh no.”

ä See BIENVENU, page 8D

A1982 portraitof Marcelle Bienvenu and her beloved late mother,Rhena Broussard Bienvenu

PROVIDED PHOTOFROM MARCELLE BIENVENU

flavor

MARCELLE BIENVENU’S ROUX GUIDE

How darkdoes

Beinvenu like her roux?

“Itdepends on what I’m cooking,” shesaid.

Forseafood gumboorcrab stew,she says the roux should be the color of peanut butter

Forachicken and sausage gumbo, it should be brown, but not as darkasa Hershey’s Milk ChocolateBar.

Formeatball stew,itshould be darkbrown, “darker than chicken and sausage gumboroux,” she said.

passersby might assume. Themovementhas expanded to “LetItBloom June” and the fall version: “Leave the leaves.” Conservation andhorticulture groupssay year-round low-mowing while selectively leaving native plants to grow can save huge amountsofdrinking water and lead to lasting and impactful ecological changes. WhenAmanda Beltranmini Healen moved into her Nashville ranch house in 2016, the yard had been manicured forsale: a walnut tree, rosesfromahome improvementstore andshort grass. So she experimented, first witha10-by-10-foot patch where

and

STAFFPHOTO By BRAD BOWIE

Marcelle Bienvenu prepares her Crawfish Stew-FayonMay 15 at her home in St. Martinville.

DININGSCENE

Should NOLA restaurantsclose forsummer?

closed three or four months ayear,” said Amarys Herndon.

Instead,they’ve created a new seasonal business model, asummertrim to reduce costs until theupswing in the fall.

Should New Orleans restaurantsjust close for the summer —not take a vacation for aweek or two, but shutter for the season? It’s aquestion more have been forced to mull as the local summer has grown more onerous.

For the Carrollton-area restaurant Boucherie, the answer this year is yes, at least partially.Itwill for all of June and July,with plans to return in August, while sending staff to its adjacent casual restaurant Bourree, and to work on other projects its chefNathanial Zimet has in development.

It’sadecision that others have grappled with in the industry with increasing urgency Memorial Day weekend ushersinthe slow time in New Orleans. Many restaurants simply don’tsee enough business in the summer to cover their costs, and so lose money by staying open. Even at small restaurants, operators say losing $70,000 to $100,000 through the summer has become normal. Building up cash reservesto counter theloss has grown harder in the face of rising costs industrywide and local issues, like the skyrocketing price of Louisiana’sinsurance crisis.

Temporarily closing could shield them from such punishing losses. But if seasonal restaurant closings become commonplace, it would make New Orleans lessattractive for the visitors who do comeinsummer and more barren for the locals.

Some are testing other answers, combining hustle, collaboration and adifferent seasonal mindset.

Cuts,collaboration,‘jams’

Last year,chefs Amarys Herndon and Jordan Herndon closely considered a summer closing for Palm &Pine, the small, modern New Orleans restaurant they opened on the edge of the French Quarter in 2019. Ultimately they decided to push through again.

“Our priorities and vision for this restaurant are taking care of the people who work here, and there isn’ta way for us to do that being

“Everything flips,” said Jordan Herndon.“There’s one model for how we’re profitableduring the busy season and anew model for howwestayafloat in the summer,and it’sabout how little money can we lose.”

Starting in June, Palm & Pinewill close on Wednesdays and put Saturday brunch onhiatus, and it will close an hour earlier on weekendnights. Staff is reduced at the bar andin thekitchen,where one of the co-owners often covers multiple stationsnormally handled by individual cooks.

Butit’snot all about cutting back.Palm &Pinenow hostsasummerguest chef series to boost interest during the doldrums.

The chefs also created acampaigncalled Palm &Pine Essential Jams. Online, andonprinted materials forthe dining room, it lists other independent restaurants, bars, taprooms and pop-upsthat thechefs “can’timagine NewOrleans without,” encouraging their own customers to support them too.

Since starting the campaign, though, onedid close, MoPho, news that surprised many New Orleans dining enthusiasts this spring

“What keeps people comingback to New Orleans is the food andthe music,” Amarys Herndon said. “If all you haveleft are thebig out of town companies and chains, what’sthe point of comingtoNew Orleans?”

Year-round effort

New Orleans is now frequently touted in thetravel mediaas atop destination, in particular for itsfood Butinthe summer,all bets are off and thepressure on restaurants grows.

There are citywiderestaurants promotions in summer,including by Restaurant Week (June16-22) andCoolinary (Aug. 1-31), and some summer events bring aburst of business.

But makingitthrough the season is now ayear-round effort, as restaurantoperators try to build abulwark of cash for thesummer

That’sthe reasonPrince Lobo, chef at hisfamily’s Ethiopian restaurantAddisNOLA on Bayou Road, worked in overdrive during thespringatspecialevents, includingasafood vendor at French Quarter Festival.

“You really,really,really have to get active,”Lobo said. “When it’s busy,bask in it, but keep in mindina few months you’re going to need every penny to turn thecorner into summer.”

He’strying to get into moreevents, and he’screating aspecial late-night service for summer around cocktails with astreamlined menu. He’salso drawing on experience from the pandemic, by working on summer collaborationswith other brands and chefs.

“It’s hot,but there are still people here and we want to serve them,” Lobo said. “You have to foster communityand give people great reasons tobeinyour establishment, more than just going out tospend money on dinner.”

Summer as preseason

Larger restaurant groups generally have morere-

sources toweather summer losses. But running parallel to thefinancial strain, there is adrain on the spirit for people in hospitalityfacing empty reservation books and sparse dining rooms, one that cuts across the city’sdining scene.

“You wonder if people still like you, you start changing things up, your team startssecond guessing itself, it creates pressure, stress and doubt that you don’tneed,” said Robért LeBlanc, founder of thehospitality group LeBlanc +Smith Buthe’sfound ways to transform summer.He treats the slow months as something akin to preseason training campfor his company,which now has adiverse portfolio including Sylvain and Mahony’sPo-boys, thehotels The Chloe and The Celestineand the bars The Will &

The Way, Barrel Proof and Anna’s.

It’s atimetofocus on processes and operations, training forstaffand refining the guest experience, he said. There are town hall meetings forstafffeedback and team-building events,

often at other local venues, to spread moresupport.

The company now ends its financial year in summer,sothat the next cycle can start with projects and initiatives that might otherwise get lost in the shuffle of the busy time.

“Even though you’re not super busy,you still have productive work to do, you alleviate that pressure and you get better results,” LeBlanc said. Summer is long, but the upswing will come again in the fall, and restaurants need to be ready for the renewed opportunities.

“Ifyou cut too much in labor and programming, you’re vulnerable when things get busy again, and that can happen quickly,” he said.

“Ifyou didn’tprepare or go dormant, you miss out on the uptick and you need that big October to makeup for the losses.”

Email IanMcNultyat imcnulty@theadvocate. com.

Allina Daze Work!

Lee Giorgio, Larissa Littleton-Steib, Newell Normand, Michael Hecht

PHOTOSByJEFF STROUT

n The Normand Equation

Todd Trosclair,TraceySchiro,Alden McDonald

Billy Sizeler,Cynthia Lee Sheng,Shelby LaSalle

n Legacy Gala

Contact: nnolan@theadvocate.com

Roast revelry commanded attention in the Sheraton New Orleans when radio talk show host and former Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand embraced good-natured slingsand barbs. Huzzahs, too, thankstothe hosting force, the DelgadoCommunity College Foundation andits Roast of the Town. LibertyBank &Trust Company and Ochsner Health figuredinThe TopCop patron tier,the primary one, as titlepatrons. Michael Hecht,president and CEO of Greater NewOrleansInc., opened theprogram as master of ceremonies.Following theemcee were Delgado Foundation Board Chairman Leon L.“Lee” Giorgio Jr forthe welcome; Delgado Community College Chancellor Dr. Larissa Littleton-Steib for remarks; Sheraton New OrleansGeneral Manager Jim Cook for greetings; and for the blessing of the food, Tyler Scheuermann,DCC’sAthletic Communications/Advancement Coordinator. Aspecial tribute to Eric Paulsen captured everyone’sattention and produced heartfelt memories. For years, the recently deceased Paulsen emceed the spirited shenanigans. At the tables, guests swapped news,somepersonal, some professional,while relishing thethree-course meal of Sheraton spring citrussalad, blackened Gulf fish, and New York cheesecake withBananas Fostersauce.The food was donated by the Delgado Culinary Arts and Hospitality Club,DelgadoCulinary andPastryArts, and Louisiana Seafood Exchange. For the wine and spirits, the donor names to knowwereRepublic National Distributing Company,with Fred Holley as event coordinator; andSazerac/GoldringFamily Foundation, with BryanQuarls,director,Special Projects Just desertsofthe roast/toast were the comments by Celebrity Roasters, starting withJefferson ParishSheriff Joseph P. Lopinto III.Then came JP Morrell, council member-at-large/ Council President of the New Orleans City Council;WWL Brand Manager Diane Newman;Loyola University Professor Dr Ronal Serpas, former Chief of Police, Orleans Parish; andJefferson Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng.Risibility reigned as they tossed out their tributes. Of course, they did not have thelast say-so. Honoree Newell Normand did with his rebuttal before the above Giorgio andHecht closed the formalities. In addition to board chairmanLee Giorgio (who was accompanied by Melanie Cannatella), ex-officio Dr.Littleton-Steib (with husband Kyle SteibSr.)and Michael Hecht,the foundation counts as board members Ronald H. Bordelon,Ann D. Duplessis, Mavis Early,Wayne Fontana, Dr Peter J. Fos, Kyle Martin France, J.W.“Bill” Giardina Jr., GaryP.LaGrange, Roland “Ronnie” Lançon, Shelby P. LaSalle Jr.,Water LegerJr.,William M. Lemoine,Mike Maenza, Samir Mowad, Dino Paternostro, Melvin Rodrigue,Tracey Schiro,I William “Billy” Sizeler,Wayne Skinner and Todd P.Trosclair Sr The emeriti directors areDr. Jack Finn,Dr. RonaldFrench, GeorgeKleinpeter and Dan Packer Joseph Jaeger Jr.was also adirector.Two more names are thoseoffoundation executive director Nita Hutter Meins andfoundation assistant Cynthia B. Jones.Anumber of them were present. Others noted in the“record crowd” —and answering to their own “titles” —were Cheryl and JoeGeorgusis, JonGegenheimer Larry Dale, Jeff Keever,Rhesa and Alden McDonald, Guy Williams, Jane Sizeler with Billy, Craig Paretti,WaltLeger III,Tasha Trosclair with dad Todd, John Schiro with Tracey,and Virgil Duplessis with Ann. From the ranks of patrons were dozens of supporters. Duringanight when laughter got top billing, the largesse that resulted put asmile on countless faces.

n TheBounty of Buffet

Parrotheads and others flocked to theSpring Gala of the Louise S. McGehee School Parents’ League, which enticed with its title: McG-Ritaville. No “wastin’ away” forthis set. They rallied forthe best of the fest. The initial shoulderrubbing was at the stunning homeofalumna Ayesha Korejo and AaronMotwani,the renowned Cornstalk Fence House in the Garden District. Trumpeter James Andrews Pied-Pipered the crowdwith asecond line around the grounds.

The Cannery housedCabrini High School’s Legacy Gala and Auction, which hailed eventdirector Karen HubertUrsin; committee members Katie DelGiorno Bellerino, Christi Burkhardt,TedBrown,Tilly Labbie,Katie Paternostro and Madeline Lipani Suer;and Cabrini staff committee members AnneArgus DiPaola,Melanie Heraty,Hannah Hess,Cecilia Kelley Sherri Reeves,Ashley Silva and Sister PamWeathersby. Karen, Katie, Madeline, Anneand Cecilia are alumnae. Two of them, Karen Ursin and Sister Weathersby,figured among the five Heart of Cabrini awardees, alongwith KennyMartinez,Oscar Sill and Steve Snell. Tributesabounded. More than 80 deluxe auctionitems —silent andlive —kept the crowd bid-buzzing. Bill DiPaola and Anne were topbidders and generous donors for atotal of $5,000. More funding came from the Cabrini Mission Foundation, as the Crescent Sponsor,and the next, the Gold Sponsor category,with, as donors, Crown Buick/GMC, Gootee Construction, Marianites of Holy Cross &Sister Ann Lacour, and alumna ShellyAudibert Gratitudewas plentiful to the dozens of auctiondonors, along with Black TieAuctions and Brian Kish,schoolparent of Vivienne and Presley;and the gala sponsors, includingindividuals Al and Judy Pappalardo,alum Nedraand Mark Schneider and alum Cat Fleuriet and Spencer Smith. Allsavored the venue’sdelicious cuisine beforegetting smartabout dance-floor moves to the Wiseguys.

Afew blocksaway,the school itself became the Parrots’ playground, where avibrant explosion of color and island spirit, giant parrots perchedamong lush tropical flowers, and treasure-hoarding pirates shared the decorative scenario with tiki bars, surfboards, beachballs, and volcanoes. Auctionbidding, indicated by paddles, wasspearheaded by parent/school admissions director AmyArgenti with Michael Balascio and ChristianBlessey (for spouse/alumna Karen)astop bidders of, in turn, aPinhook Bourbon Tasting and Béjé jewelry SaffronNOLA’s thematic cuisine energized both the bash and the patrons’ partying.

Teamed to chairthe caperwereDr. ElizabethBucher (with Mike), Dr Andrea “Dre” Espinoza (with Dr Luis), Dr Jane Martin (with Trey)and Henrietta Treyz. The patronparty co-chairs were Kate and Etienne Balart,Ivy and ShawnBarney, and Andrea and MarkMahfouz,while those for the auction were Jude Boudreau and Betsy Britton Joinedbyhusband Mike, Kim O’Brien made rounds as Parents’ League President. More high profile nameswere head of school Dr Kimberly Field-Marvin and Mike Marvin, as well as boardchair Hannan Dietsch with Michael Balascio.“McG-Ritaville”milling, too, were Maria and Stephen Klaffky,Krystle and RoyceDuplessis, Miggyand JayMonroe, Allison and Phil Hoffman, Caroline and ReissEagan and hundreds more, who took to the dancefloor amid the buoyancyof beach balls to boogie to the Where Y’achtband. In absentia,Jimmy Buffetflasheda winning wink. And thensearched for his long lost shaker of salt.

Kim Field-Marvin,Michael and Kim O’Brien

STAFF PHOTOSByNELL NOLAN

Andrea Espinoza, Henrietta Treyz, Jane Martin, Elizabeth Bucher

Aaron and Ayesha Motwani

Hannah Dietsch, IvyBarney

Oscar Sill, KennyMartinez

Sister PamWeathersby, Steven Snell, Karen Ursin

PHOTOSByMARy STROUT

Christopher LoBianco,Florence Wingerter,Michelle Douglas, TomLong

Maryand Bob Brune

JoeLopinto, JP Morrell

TRAVEL

BentonvilleFilmFestivalbeckons movielovers

Eventtohonor Lucy Liu, Arkansas films, with appearance from Elmo

BY SERENA PUANG Staff writer

When Cassie Keet was12years old, she was writing in online chatrooms about “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” in Little Rock, Arkansas. Today,she’safilmmaker with two films under her belt, but when asked about her writerly beginnings, that’s where her mind goes first.

She graduated from chatrooms to playwriting competitions and eventually made her way into thefilm industry

“My film school was essentially asking my friends who wentto film school like,‘Hey,does this look right?’”Keet said.

This year,her film, “Abigailbefore Beatrice” is premiering at The Bentonville Film Festival, which is held June 16-22 and showcases 28 feature competition films, nine of which are world premieres.

In its 11th year,the Bentonville Film Festival will open with “East of Wall,” written and directedby Kate Beecroft, afilm that is inspired by the lives of Tabathaand Porshia Zimiga. The film features acast of mostly nonprofessional actors playing themselves.

RecognizingLucyLiu

On June 21, Lucy Liu will be honored with the Rising to the Challenge Award that recognizes artists who champion storytelling that breaksbarriers andbroadens representation. Liu’slatest film, which she starred in and produced, will alsobescreeningatthe festival Thefilm,“Rosemead,” is inspired by true events and highlights aChinese American woman’sstruggle to protect her son from his violent obsessions.

“As we celebrate 11 years of BFF

‘Abigail beforeBeatrice’ is about awoman whoisconfronted by her past when afellowformer cult member reaches out to let her know their leader has been released from prisonearly

(BentonvilleFilmFestival),I’m so proud of howthe festivalcontinues to elevate bold storytelling and amplify voices that reflect the full spectrum of the human experience,”

said Geena Davis, actress and chair of thefestival,in anewsrelease

“We’re especially thrilled to honor Lucy Liu, whose groundbreaking workcontinues to inspire and open doors for thenext generation of storytellers.”

For those with small children, Elmo will alsobemaking aguest appearance at thefestival. He and Davis will be reading “The Girl

Who WasToo Big for thePage” from 11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. June 21. This year,the film festival is hosting itsinauguralHomegrown Competition which celebrates movies either filmed in the state or created by people based in Arkansas. Keet’s“Abigail Before Beatrice” is competing in this category.The filmisabout awoman who is confronted by her past when afellowformer cult member reaches outtolet herknowtheir leader hasbeen released from prison early As adirector/writer/producer,

Keet splits hertime between Arkansas andLos Angeles, but after winning aPanavision grant as part of an award at the FILMLAND: Arkansas festival, sheknew shewanted to shoot her next filminthe state. It wasn’t acondition of the grant, butshe sees it as giving back to the community that made her film possible, adding that choosing to film in aspecific location brings jobs to the area and spotlights local businesses.

Many people whowork on the crew forindependent filmsare freelance workers who are limited by the number of productions that are filmed near their homes. This is often influenced by state tax incentives.

“Wehave people who could work and should work all the timeinL.A. and New Orleans and Texas and Oklahoma,but they want to call Arkansas their home because they’re Arkansans. Having this homegrown filmcompetition is away to say, ‘Hey,Arkansas is becoming a bigger and bigger film community It needs to be recognized,and it needs to be supported.’”

Alocal’s perspective

Plenty of people say that Crystal Bridges is the can’t-miss museum

in the area, but makesure not to miss its contemporary art counterpart, the Momentary.Nearby,Sushi House gets customers in and out within 20 minutesofbeing seated. Even if there’saline, it’sworth the wait, and they make sure you leave full.

For areal treat, try the “Flaming Volcano,” afish dish that comes to the table on fire.

Northwest Arkansas isn’tjust Bentonville —it’saregion of small cities that allhaveunique amenities and activities to offer.The four biggest cities are Bentonville, Rogers, Springdale and Fayetteville. In Rogers, visit the headquarters of Onyx Coffee Lab, alocal chain of world-class coffee that is offered at coffee shops all over the country but roasted right there in the natural state.

For food, try Mirabella’sTable, alocals-favoriteItalian spot with amazing brunchoptions. Keet said therestaurant served her thebest ravioli she’d hadinher life during her own first visit to the area. If venturingintothe localflagship college town, Fayetteville, make sure to check out Dickson Street Bookshop which has over 100,000books anda maze-like layout to get lost in. Stop by Hammontree’sGrilled Cheese to sample the restaurant’sinventive selection of sandwichesand hotdogs. Menu highlights include amushroom goat cheesegrilledcheese, baked brie with grilled apple and fig jam, and achicken, asiago and spinach sausage hotdog with pineapple. Vegan cheese and gluten-free bread is available as well. For accommodations, try the VictoriaBed &Breakfast, abeautiful bed-and-breakfast on Main Street in Bentonville withgreat reviews. For amore budget friendly option, check out the local Airbnb scenewhere there are aselection of quirky staysincluding smallcabins andglampingtents.

Email SerenaPuang at serena. puang@theadvocate.com. Follow her on Instagram@dear.yall.

Christopher Elliott

Irented acar fromAvis for one dayand was unfortunately rear-ended by another car.It wasthe other driver’sfault.Avis charged my credit card for 29 days of rental for lossof use,atotal of $7,671 for the one-daycar rental. My insurance covers loss of use,butmyinsurance companywon’tpay because theAvis receipt just shows a29-dayrental and doesn’tmention loss of use. Avis told me on the phone that the chargeisfor loss of use,but they won’tgive me anew receipt. Sedgwick,Avis’sthird-party claims service, is pursuing loss of use from the other driver’s insurance company.Sedgwick toldmethat they thinkAvis made abilling error becauseI wasnot at fault for the accident.Idon’tunder-

stand whyAvis chargedmycreditcardfor 29 days.When Icall to ask,they just sayloss of use.Can you help me geta refund?— Nicholas Chandler,Windham,Maine Unfortunately,you’re on the hook for the vehicle’s loss of use. When you rent acar,you accept responsibility for the vehicle no matterwho is responsible for theaccident,and since your name was on the contract, Avis sent you abill. Butthe company made some errors when it charged you. It lookslike there was aseries of miscommunications in your case. For some reason, Sedgwick only charged the other driver $1,222, presumably for repairs, leaving you responsible for the difference. And, according to your records, Avis would notsend you abill for

the loss of use. Instead, it just appears as if you rented acar at the most expensive daily rate, which no one would do. Iwould be remiss if Ididn’tmentionthat loss of use is highly controversial. The car rental company is charging you the maximum daily rate for what it would have earned if it had been able to rent the car while it was in the shop. But that assumes it could have rented the car the entire time.I believe loss of use is not afair charge, even if your contract permits it. Many consumers, insurance companies and stateregulators agree withme. We can discuss loss of use another day,though.

Youwere amodel customer.You had insurance thatcovered you

and you responded quickly to Avis and Sedgwick when they asked for your insurance information.You drove the car carefully.You tried to work within thesystem to clear up the miscommunication

Ithink you should have appealed this to amanager.I listthe names numbers and emails of theAvis customer servicemanagers and Sedgwick customer servicemanagers on my consumer advocacy site, Elliott.org

This was aconfusing case. But after several conversations with Avis, it appears that there were “some issues” withthe car rental location andthe tow truck,which created some confusioninits internal system.

“We’re adjusting thecontract

back to aone-dayrental andremoving allthe additionaldaysthat thecustomer didn’t have thevehicle,” arepresentative toldme. Ashort while later,you reported back “Avis charged me oneday for therental as youmentioned andrefundedmethe rest,” you said. “The credit wasposted back to my card this morning. This is incredible, andI can’t thank you enough for all of your help.”

Christopher Elliott is the founderofElliott Advocacy,a nonprofitorganizationthathelps consumers solvetheirproblems. Email himatchris@elliott.org or get help by contacting himon hissite.

HOLLYWOOD SOUTH

3young womenexplore vanishingLa.

As three young women look out over Terrebonne Parish’sdiminishing coastline, now barely above sea level, it’s astark reminder that Louisiana is sinking —its land masses, so critical to the stability of our coastline, dissolvinginto the Gulf of Mexico because of rising sea levels.

The ever-changing banks of the Mississippi River eroded by decades of oil and gas explorationand nowanongoing climate crisis, are the subject of the documentary film “Hollow Tree.”

The title refers to the only cypress trees left in the wetlands: old, hollow and no longer useful for lumber Just thisweek, Tulane University announced research that showed the Mississippi River Delta is losing 90% of its sediment before it ever reaches the Gulf.

“Hollow Tree,” which screened earlierthis month at the Zeitgeist Theatre, delves into the history of the region as seen through the eyes of three young women, all from very different backgrounds.

Taking youthonajourney

The producers of the film, Monique Watson and Chachi Hauser,wanted to explore the problem by taking young people on afilmmaking journey to help them understand their environment.

The producers interviewed many young people across the state about changes they were noticing in their environment. Most didn’tknow they lived in aplace that is sinking or understood why it floods so frequently,the pro-

18,a White woman, with Cajun roots, from Lafayette The documentarycovers alot of ground, quite literally,when experts discuss howman-made levees have encroached upon the natural orderofthe state’s topography

“We’re activelyputting the river in astraitjacket and keeping it from doing what it’smeant to do,which is build land,” said DeanWilson, Basin Keeperfor the Atchafalaya River Basin. Filmmaking as aclassroom Forthe film’sdirector, Tira Akerman, there was a method to the madness. It involvedusing filmmaking as aclassroom, and it meant bringing in awhole host of experts from different fields

on their fact-finding mission.

They were, after all, partaking in acrash course involving history,geography and the effects of everything from acid rain caused by polluting industries along the industrial corridor,to repercussions of the climate crisis and how it plays a defining role in theland we stand on and the air we breathe.

“Weeven decided which texts or maps might be useful to share with the women,” Akerman said.

“The goal was to guide them in an inquiry process where the documentary form constitutedapath to new understandings.

“We’d submerge ourselves

in the physical landscape,

too, swimming in the Atchafalaya and wondering if feeling sediment in the water would shape ayoung person’sunderstanding of how land was made. We wondered how we could acceleratealearning process, and make it cinematic, so thataudiences could also experience it?”

Historyand harshreality

Learning about history the women wereconfronted head-on withthe harsh realitiesofthe areas they called home.

Visiting WhitneyPlantationmeant learning how thelevees were built upon thebacks of slaves, who were protecting thecane

fields where they worked from flooding. There was brutality in cotton picking, but there wasdeath in cane —the bodies were often buried in the ground beneath the levees, Susan Gebhardt, of the Whitney Plantation said.

As Pavy noted, previously she hadassociated plantations with wedding venues.

Fanguy,ofHouma, recounted howshe was told in middle school that Louisiana would one daybe underwater.But, without context, the information didn’thavemuchimpact.

And, for Pavy,raised in Lafayette where livelihoodswereenmeshedwith the oiland gasindustry,

some ideas were taboo. “There areunspoken rulesabout whatcan and can’t be talkedabout,” Pavy said. “I always understood thatclimate change was off-limits, because it was amyth.”

Noted documentarian Ken Burns calledthis “an extraordinary film that asks allofustothink differently aboutthe communitiesinwhichwelive and the environments that we must respect.” Da Costa summeditup. “This is our approaching future. Why are we accepting this?”

Email Leslie Cardéat lesliecardejournalist@ gmail.com.

Leslie Cardé

PROVIDED PHOTO By TIRA AKERMAN

Mekenzie Fanguy,from left, TanielmaDaCosta and Annabelle Pavy explore theMississippi River deltaregion in the documentary film ‘HollowTree.’

‘Our Last Wild Days’agrippingthriller

BY SERENA PUANG Staff writer

“Our Last Wild Days”Atria Books, 352 pages, released May20

“You might think that alligators pose the greatest threat to humans on the bayou. Maybe hurricane season keeps you up at night.”

These words openthe article that LoyalMay regrets writing more than any other “These are all natural dangers we’ve cometoaccept as part of living in this beautiful but deadly environment,” she continued. “But what about when people are the danger? One family in particular hasbeen darkening our wildernessfor too long.”

In Anna Bailey’snovel, “Our LastWild Days,” the Labasques, the family in question, aren’t like other people in Jacknife, Louisiana. They live out in a shack by the swamps and scrape by —hunting alligators. In town, rumors abound about what they get up to out there, but Loyal and Cutter Labasque had always been friends.

At least until the article.

After Loyalslammedthe Labasques in the local paper,the girls stopped talking. At first it was days, then months, and before they knew it, it had been over adecade.Days after Loyal returned home to care forher ailing mother, Cutter is found dead, face down in aswamp. The police rule it asuicide, but Loyal is skeptical. Cutter wouldn’tdo that, but if she didn’tdoit, what happened?

Against the backdrop of afictional small towninAssumption Parish where everyone knows everyone’sbusiness,Loyal goes searching for answers in the woods, ostensibly for an article.

Author Anna Bailey is no strangertothe small town gothic novel. Bailey’sdebut novel, “Where the TruthLies,” amiss-

ing persons story set in alumber town in Colorado, waspraised for its encapsulation of small town dynamics. “Our Last Wild Days” does not disappoint as a follow up. Bailey successfully captures asense of southern Louisiana. It wouldbeeasy to sensationalizeamurder,the alligator hunting occupation or even the day-to-day poverty these characters face. ManyotherSouthern gothics have beencriticized for doing so, but Bailey paints the smalltown of Jacknife with sensitivityand complexity Baileyhas clearly done research into Louisiana, and where other writers might fall intostereotype, Baileyshines in complicating the narrative. In Bailey’sworld, alligator hunters aren’tjust brutishly strong, masculinecharacters, and Cutterisn’tjust alonely victim —she actually has a reputationfor severing atendon in the sheriff’s son’s finger after he tried to assault her in high school

What do people owe to each other in life —and in death? What happens to people on the fringes of societyoreven of a family? The book grapples with themesofaddiction, masculinity,guilt and grief while also de-

livering apage-turning mystery

Though compelling, the novel portrays acaricatured version of journalism that more closely resembles television. Loyal is not held to the rules of journalistic ethics, and that’sahuge

plot hole. The central conflict between Loyal and the Labasques would never have happened if she was —she would never be able to write about her own best friend’sfamily (conflict of interest), and it shouldn’thave been asurprise (she would have been forced to reach out to them for comment).

This isn’tentirely Bailey’sfault.

Like most jobs, much of what the typical journalist does is not suitable fodder for a novel. An accurate depiction of ajournalistic investigation would involve alot less snooping around and alot more unanswered phone calls, monitoring databases while waiting around for details, news releases and conversations with apublic information officer

This oversight can be partially excused by the size of the townand the newspaper but could be easily resolved by changing the occupation of the protagonist. But what the book gets wrong about journalism, it more than makes up for in its characterization. The cast of characters are all deeply flawed, but the reader can’thelp but root for them whether they’re discovering new things about themselves while shooting their first alligator or investigating murder.

Email SerenaPuang at serena. puang@theadvocate.com. Follow heronInstagram@dear yall.

Summer readingoffersnew destinations

When our family of fourheaded out for summer vacations, I’d throw some paperbacks in an old canvas bag just in case therewas time to read. Life as ayounghusband and father seldom yielded those moments, but Iwas ready if aspare hour came while we sunned on the beach or lounged on amountainside porch. Summers are different now that our kids are grown. My wife and Inolonger answer to the school calendar,sothere might be years when we travel in other seasons and spend summers at home. But even when my summer excursions are no more ambitious than atrip between the living room and den, Istill carrymy summer reading in atattered tote sack. Habits tend to movealong on theirown momentum, needing no logic in their defense. But if called to explain why Ikeep my summer books packed, Imight say that I’m preparing myself to go places. Though Imight not move beyond my armchair on warm afternoons, Ilean into bookseach summer thathave astrong sense of destination.

It’sinthat spirit that I’vebeen reading “The Living Mountain,” Nan Shepherd’sWorld WarII-era memoir about her travels into the Cairngorm Mountains of Scotland. She encountered wonderinawounded time —anice reminder that wonder canstill touch us, too.

In “The Friendship Bench,” Dr.Dixon Chibandatakes us to another faraway place, his native Zimbabwe. After witnessingsomuch grief and anxiety as apsychiatrist, Chibanda recruited 14 grandmothers to sit on park benches and listen to anyonewith aproblem. His program, documented in this remarkable new book, is atestamenttowhat can happen when we open our ears and hearts to neighbors.

Ever since boyhood summers with “Robinson Crusoe,” I’ve been asuckerfor castaway tales, which is how Iended up within the pages of “Save Our Souls, Matthew Pearl’s true-life story of a 19th century shipwreck, some surviving passengers and the mysterious man who shares their newisland home.

I’ll let you discover therest.

As aBBC correspondent, Eliot Steintravels the world, often chroniclinghow locals keep alive customs as varied as talking to beesorrepairing woven grass bridges.He’scollected the best of these stories in “Custodians of Wonder,” abook that’sasbeautifully

odd as it sounds.

“Beautifully odd” might also describe “Pink Dust,” Ron Padgett’s new collection of poems. The title refers to those little grains of rubber left on paper after an eraser rubs out mistakes. Padgettfinds this trail of revision themost interesting thing on the page, which says alot about his eye for lively little miracles. Even when he writes about small things, like freshly baked scones, he nudges you to see what’sordinary in new ways. Padgetttakes us someplace new,the best summer reading of all.

Email Danny Heitman at danny@dannyheitman.com.

DannyHeitman AT RANDOM

PROVIDED PHOTO By ROBIN CHRISTIAN Anna Bailey, author of ‘Our Last Wild Days’

no derelict, but aparticipant in an international movement.

These days, every month is No Mow May in parts of her property.While she keeps the growth shorter near theculvert and street, her backyard is filled with native grassesand plants up to her knees or waist. There’sadecomposing tree trunk where scores ofskinks and bugs live, birds nest under her carport and she regularlyfinds fawns sleeping in the safetyofthe high grasses.

“I have alot of insects andbugs and that’sprotein, so the birds and the bird’snests are everywhere.

CURIOUS

Continued from page1D

German Kriegsmarine, according to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.”

Haddow was amarketingassociate for the collection when he wrote the piece, which was inspired by aframed draftsman’s map. He’snolonger with themuseum but now works for thePeter Mayer AgencyinNew Orleans.

“But Iwas doing alot of social media then. Iwould spend time walking around the galleries, and Ialways found this map fascinating,” he said.

An intriguing map

The map was created bydraftsman Carl D. Vought, who documented how the U-boat fleet of 20plus crisscrossed the Gulf, easily pickingoff targets.

“The marks on the map represent sunken or damaged ships whose names are listedonthe right side,” Haddow said. “The sectionofthe map nearest the mouth of the Mississippi, marked ‘DA90,’ was particularlydangerous.”

It’sinthis section, about 45 miles off the Louisiana coast at Houma, where Vought’smap shows the U-166’sproposed location.

Whydid it sink?

So, how did the submarine find its way to the Gulf’s floor? Well, U-166 became abit ambitious and torpedoed the civilian passenger ship Robert E. Lee on June30, 1942. The ship’sescort, U.S. Navy boat PC-566, immediatelyretaliated by dropping depth charges on the sub.

Cardinals and wrens and cowbirds androbins,”she said. “I wakeup to them, especiallyduring spring migration right now.It’sjusta cacophonyinthe morning and in the evening, especiallywhenthe mulberriescome in.”

Themovementispopularized by groups such as Plantlife, aconservationorganization based in England.

Americanlawns, based on English and French traditions, are increasingly seen as awasteful monoculture that encourages an overuse of pesticides, fertilizer and water. Outdoor spraying and irrigation account for over 30 percentofa U.S. household’stotal water consumption, and can be twice that in drier climates, according to theEPA

Some criticize No Mowcampaigns as afad that could invite invasive plantstospread unchecked withouthelping pollinators much, if only done for amonth.

Aguide outlining No Mow pros, cons and limitations,writtenby consumer horticulture extension specialist AaronSteil at Iowa State University,says reducing mowing to everytwo weeksand replacing turf withplants thatpollinate all year long can offer morebenefits without riskinga citation or complaints.

TheNoMow effortdoesencourage people to think moreabout biodiversity in theiryards,and many local nature organizations advise provide guidance on picking non-invasive plants that fit each region’sclimateand precipi-

RobertBallard’sexploration boat, Nautilus, documented the wreckageof theGerman submarine U-166 in the Gulf of Mexico in 2014. The wreck is considered awar gravesite and cannot be disturbed

“… but the small oil slick that appeared suggested that the crew hadonly damagedthe U-boat, not destroyed it,” Haddock wrote.

“According to the Navy Times the boat’scaptain,Lt. Cmdr.Herbert Claudius, was sent to antisubmarine school to improve his tactics. Acouple of weeks later,a Coast Guard plane off the coast of Houma spotted asub and dropped its own depth charge. Alarger oil slick appeared —U-166 had been sunk.”

Meanwhile, most of the Robert E. Lee’screw of 131, six merchant marine officers and270 passengers, escaped by lifeboats or rafts.

Attacksbythe German fleet peaked in the summer of 1942. It wasn’tuntil laterthat year,when merchant ships traveled with military escorts, that thekilling abated

“However,until then, many vesselswere doomed,” Haddock

wrote. “Illuminated coastlines silhouetted ships, making them easy to seeinthe night.Slow and unarmed vessels becameeasy prey for thenimble U-boats.”

Mandated blackouts

The government remedied this by mandating blackoutsalong thecoast, meaning homes and businesses were required toturn off all lights at night, thereby hampering theNazi fleet’snight vision.

Haddow was aided in his research by Historic New Orleans Collection Chief Curator Jason Wiese, who located World WarII posters designed by Federal Arts Project artists during this time. The posters were community service pieces created by the Works ProgressAdministration WarServices for theOffice of Civilian Defense in New Orleans, reminding American citizens to adhere to theblackoutsand keep

tation levels. Reducing mowing encourages longer-rooted native grasses and flowerstogrow, which breaks up compacted soil and improves drainage, “meaning that when it rains, more water is going to be captured and stored in lawnsversus being generated as arunoff andenteringinto ourstormwater system,” said Jason Sprouls, urban waters programmanager forthe Cumberland River Compact. Beltranmini Healen isn’tjust letting just anything grow —she learned which plants are invasive, non-native or notbeneficial to the ecosystem andcarefully prunes andweeds so thekeepershave room tothrive.

Nashville homeowner Brandon Griffith said he was just tired of

all information about the Port of New Orleans’ ship schedules confidential.

It’sinteresting to note here that one such poster was created by noted WPAartist John McCrady of New Orleans, knownfor his public murals, French Quarter art school and such paintings as “The Shooting of Huey Long.”

Alongwith the posters, Wiese also unearthed aletter from the Office of Civil Defense dressing down New Orleans’ Antoine’s Restaurant forfailing to turn off alight in one of its rooms.

Wasn’t the firsttime

However,the summer of 1942 wasn’tthe first timeLouisiana’s coast was under threat by aGerman Navy.

“What’s also interesting is there are photos taken in 1919 or 1920 after World WarI,when a German U-boat was captured,” Haddox said. “They sailed it up theMississippi River and kind of showed it off in NewOrleans.”

As for theU-166, there wasvindication forClaudius, lieutenant commander of U.S. Navyboat PC-566.

Location waswrong

“Geologists scanning the Gulf floor in 2001 found the felled German submarine close by the wreckage of the Lee, faraway from its assumed resting place off of Houma,” Haddox writes.

“The submarine hit by the Coast Guard plane, it was discovered, was damaged but managed to escape. The US Navy corrected the error in 2014 and gave Claudius and PC-566’screw credit forsinking U-166 —72years after it happened.”

According to other historic accounts, this places the U-166

mowing when he decidedyears agowaitand see what comes up. Then he consciously added flowering plants to attract bees and bugs. Now he sees so manyinsects and pollinators all over his garden that theneighbors’ kids come over to look forbutterflies.

It’sabout giving them the time “to come out of their larva or their egg stage and be able to grow,” said Griffith. He said he’snever heard acomplaint —infact, some of his neighbors also stoppedmowing for amonth each spring. His four-year-oldson catcheslizards, digs forworms and hunts forbugs in the yard.

“I just enjoycoming outand walking around,” said Griffith. “And lookingatit, it’s kind of peaceful. It’s kinda relaxing.”

about 45 miles east of where the Mississippi River meetsthe Gulf Photos of wreckage

Finally,in2014, The Associated Press published astory of marine geologist and geophysicist Robert Ballard’sexploration of the wreckage. Remote photos taken from his vessel, Nautilus, show both U-166 and Robert E. Lee about amile beneath the Gulf’s surface.

Ballard is best knownfor his photos of the Titanic’swreckage in the North Atlantic Ocean. His crew videoed and mapped the Gulf vessels foraNational Geographic documentary Ballard’sphotos show that the U-boat itself wasbroken in twoby the U.S. Navy ship’sdepth charge. The article also points out that the submarine’scommander,Oberleutnant zur See Hans-Günther Kuhlmann, and his crew of 51 died in the wreckage.

Do you have aquestion about something in Louisiana that’s got you curious? Email your question to curiouslouisiana@ theadvocate.com. Include your name, phonenumber andthe city where you live.

PROVIDED PHOTO

And her voice trails off, becauseabrown étouffée is where she draws the line.

“Wegonna do it Mama’sway,” she said. “It’ssosimple. It takes me half an hour.”

As she added the onions to the pot, she recalled avisitor who asked how longmakingthe étouffée would take, to which Bienvenu answered, “About 45 minutes.”

“She says, ‘Oh, Ithought Iwas gonna be here for three hours,’” Bienvenu said withalaugh.

“And Isaid, ‘No, anything that takes three hours or is ‘day one/ day two,’ that is notfor me.’” ‘Her life in food’

The author of the 1991 classic “Who’sYour Mama, Are You Catholic, and Can YouMake a Roux?” and ahost of other cookbooks, Bienvenu has witnessed —and helped shape —many milestones in theriseofLouisiana cuisine

Herrésuméwinds through the kitchens and careers of Louisiana’s culinary greats— and it’shard to saywho inspired whom along the way

Bienvenu met renowned New Orleans restaurateur Ella Brennaninthe early 1970s when she was working on aTimeLife book with aphotographer and researcher who wanted to learn about Cajun Country.That was atime when Bienvenu says she didn’teven know she lived in Cajun Country.Brennan invited her to come work at Commander’sPalace.

“Ella and Iwould sit between shifts,” Bienvenu remembers.

“Sheand Iwould sit on the patio,and shewould tell me about New Orleans food.And Iwould tell her about Cajunfood.”

In 1975, when Brennan was weighing whether to bring Paul Prudhomme to Commander’s Palace as its first American chef she talked it over with Bienvenu, who was then workinginthe Commander’scatering division.

In 1982, when Brennanconsidered hiring ayoung Emeril Lagasse,she and Bienvenu again sat down to talk through the possibilities. When Lagasse went out on his own, Bienvenu joined him and helped to manage thecreation of his brand and cookbooks.

“MarcelleBienvenu is one of the most knowledgeable people whenitcomes to Louisiana cooking,” Lagassesaid. “She is agracious and humble woman whose passion for the cuisine runs deep.”

For years, she was afood columnistfor TheTimes-Picayune.

Bienvenu also worked with ChefJohn Folse for 11 years teaching culinary classes at Nicholls State University

“She certainly has always been right therebeingthe most beautiful, elegant thinginthe room,” said Poppy Tooker,host of “Louisiana Eats!,”the NPR-affiliated radio show and podcast.“She’s just such aspecial and wonderfulperson, and Ithink that comes from her life, partially her lifein

Crawfish Stew-Fay

Recipe by Marcelle Bienvenu. Makes four to six servings.

¼pound (1 stick) unsalted butter

2cups chopped yellowonions

1cup chopped green bell peppers

½cup chopped celery

2pounds peeled crawfish tails

1tablespoon all-purpose flour, dissolved in ½cup water

Salt and cayenne

2tablespoonschopped green onions

1tablespoon chopped fresh parsley leaves Cooked long-grain rice

1. Heat thebutterover medium heat in alarge, heavy pot. Add the onions, bell peppers and celery Cook,stirring, until soft and lightly golden —about 10 to 12 minutes.

2. Add the crawfish and cook, stirring occasionally, untiltheybegin to “throw offalittleliquid” —about five minutes.

3. Add the water/flour slurry.(Bienvenu putshers in asmall, lidded jar and shakes it uptomix it well). Reduceheat to mediumlowand cook, stirring occasionally,untilthe mixture thickens —about three to fourminutes.

4. Season with salt and cayenne.

5. Remove fromheat. Addthe green onions and parsley.

6. Serve in bowlsover rice.

food from her earliest days right through her entire career.“

Last year,Bienvenu rereleased “Who’sYourMama, Are You Catholic, and Can YouMake A Roux: ACajun/Creole Family Album Cookbook” in anew bold and beautiful, updated style. Lagasse wrotethe foreword for thegiant 398-page bright pink collection of recipes and photographs.

In reflecting on herlife and legacy,and how she built so many relationships,Bienvenu says she learneda lotfrom her father,who was anewspaperman “I guesseverybody always said Iwas like Daddy.Hewas abig raconteur. He never met astranger. He wasalwayshappy,” shesaid. “Hewas of the opinion that you never let the truth get in theway of agood story.Itwas wonderful. Ithink that has been me. Ilike stories. Ilike to know about people, how they feel, what they do.”

She claims her father’s take on life of never letting thetruth get in theway of agood story as her motto.

“I told that to the priest the otherday,” shesaid. “And he said, ‘Now,Marcelle, I’m not sure about that.’”

‘Good ice’ andcheap crawfish

These days, Bienvenu spends mostofher time in her St. Martinville homewith her husband, friends andfamily.She is afan of saying “yes” to invitations to get out and about

At 80, Bienvenu is as svelte and stylish as aParisrunway model—with twice the grace and just atouch of fuss, which only adds to her charm.

After all, she’s famously particular about her ice, often bringing her own to events and restaurants.

Shelikes,asshe describes it “good ice.”

“The ice in home refrigerators, they’rewhite, right?” she

island, taking up its full width, leaving no room to rest aspoon or prep ingredients nearby Alittle design flaw like that doesn’tfaze Bienvenu. She’s been making her mama’scrawfishétouffée so long,she could do it with her eyes closed.

She believes she knowsthe origin of crawfish étouffée.

“As far as I’m concerned, it started in BreauxBridge,” Bienvenu said. “There was alittle cafeonMainStreet across from the church in Breaux Bridge. Ithink it was called Thelma’s, and she would have that every Friday.Back before they started the Crawfish Festival, allthe crawfish came from the basin.”

asked. “It’snasty.They smell bad.”

For the record, “good ice” is clear and “tastes like water,” Bienvenu explains. “And if you don’thave good ice, you cannot have agood cocktail.”

In the guesthouse kitchen just next door to the homeshe hassharedwith her husband, architect Rock Lasserre, for decades —Bienvenu prepares her mother’scrawfish étouffée.

Lasserre designed the kitchen in theguest house.It’spicture perfect, butthere’sone thing she wishes they haddonedifferently.The propane burners aresituatedatthe endofthe

She remembers her father saying, “We’re so poor we’re going to have to have crawfish Friday because they werelike 15 cents apound.”

Bakelitejewelry andbeyond Bienvenu says shedoesn’t spend muchtime thinking about what kind of legacy she’ll leave —though she does want her nieces and nephews to appreciate herBakelite jewelry collection. (One of her nephews is Gov.Jeff Landry,bythe way —her sister’sson.)

“I said they’ll probably throw thataway,soI better labelit,” shesaid. “They’ll just think it’s plastic.” So, she did what she does well: Shedocumented it.She made a little bookletabout the pieces andtheir history,justlikeshe once did with her mama’s recipes, andthe flavors andstories of Cajun Country In herown way, Bienvenu is responsible for far morethan acollection of cookbooks. Her work hashelpedpreserve away of life— onemeal, onestory and one good-ice cocktail at atime.

Email Jan Risheratjan risher@theadvocate.com.

Marcelle Bienvenu tendstoher zinniasather

Navigating family rules, friendship fears

Removing hair from razor

Dear Annie: I’mabrokenhearted Nana who could really use your advice. Ihave a10-month-old grandson whom Iadore, but I’m not allowed to kiss him not even on the back of his head. Recently,in amoment of pure affection, Iforgot and gently kissed the back of hishead. It was instinctual. Ilovehim so much, it just happened. The reaction was swift and harsh. Iwas scolded and now I’m not allowed to hold him unless he’ssitting on my lap, facing away from me. To make matters worse, I’m only allowed to see him every other weekend for two hours, and someone has to be in the room to supervise me the entire time. I’ve tried to talk to my son about it, but any attempt leads to an argument or a shutdown. Ifeel like I’m walking on eggshells just to be near my grandson, and my heart is breaking. Is there anything Ican do in this situation? Ifeel so lost. —Heartbroken Nana

Dear Heartbroken: Ican feel the love and the pain in your

letter.This situationsounds heartbreaking, but it’s rootedinsomething more than just that one kiss. Many newparents todayhave firm boundaries, oftentiedto health concerns orparenting philosophies.Right or wrong,it’stheir call For now, the best way to stayclose is to respect the rules, as hardastheyfeel. Show your love through gentle presence, patience andconsistency.In time, as trust rebuildsand your grandsongrows, therestrictionsmay ease. Let your sonknow you’re willingtofollow theirrules because your priority is stayinginyour grandson’s life. Your love is clear. Let that be your guide Dear Annie: Yourecently offeredadvice to awoman in aretirement home who was strugglingtomake new friends,encouraging her to keeptrying,asconnections oftentakelonger to form laterinlife.I’d like to offer adifferent perspective and askaquestionthat’s beenonmymind foryears. I’m79yearsold and have beensinglefor nearly four decades. While I’ve stayed closewith ahandful of longtime female friends —someofwhomlive far away— I’ve found it nearly

TODAYINHISTORY

By The Associated Press

Today is Sunday,May 25, the 145th day of 2025. There are 220 days left in the year Todayinhistory

On May 25, 2020, George Floyd, aBlack man, was killed when aWhite Minneapolis officerpressed his knee on Floyd’sneck for 91/2 minutes while Floyd was handcuffed and pleading that he couldn’tbreathe; Floyd’sdeath, captured on video, would leadtoworldwide protests, some of which turned violent, and a reexamination of racism and policing in the U.S.

On this date:

In 1787, the Constitutional Convention began at the Pennsylvania State House (Independence Hall) in Philadelphia after enough delegates had shown up for a quorum.

In 1946, Transjordan (now Jordan) became akingdom as it proclaimed its new monarch, Abdullah I.In 1961, President John F. Kennedy told Congress: “I believe that this nation shouldcommit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing aman on the moon and returning him safely to the earth.”

In 1964, the U.S. Supreme Court, in Griffin v. County School BoardofPrince Edward County,ordered the Virginia county to reopen its public schools, which officials had closed in an attempt to circumvent the SupremeCourt’s 1954 Brown v. Board of Education of Topekadesegregation ruling.

In 1977, “Star Wars” was released by 20th Century Fox; it would become the highest-grossing film in history at the time.

In 2008, NASA’s Phoenix Mars Lander arrived on the Red Planet to begin searching for evidence ofwater; the spacecraft confirmed the presence of water ice at its landing site.

In 2018, Harvey Weinstein was arrested andcharged in NewYork with rape and another sex felony in the first prosecution to result from the wave of allegations against him. (Weinstein would be convictedoftwo felony counts in 2020, but an appeals court would overturn the conviction in 2024. A retrial on the charges began in April2025.)

Today’sbirthdays: Actor Ian McKellenis86. Country singerJessiColter is 82. Actor-singerLeslie Uggams is 82. Filmmaker and puppeteer Frank Oz is 81 Actor KarenValentine is 78. Actor Jacki Weaver is 78 Rocksinger Klaus Meine

impossible to makenew female friends at this stage of life. Why? Becausewomen in our age group can be extremely territorial, especially when it comes to men. It seems like everysocial situation is colored by this subtle tension. Evenwhen old friends visit, theyoften leave their husbands behind or arewarywhen Ivisit them. There’sthis quiet fear thatany woman, especially asingle one, might be seen as athreat

Do you think it’s worth trying to form new friendships with women my age?

—Still Hoping for Connection

Dear Still Hoping: You’ve hit on atruth many arereluctant to sayout loud. In some circles,women of any age can be territorial, especially when asingle woman enters the picture. It’s often rooted in insecurity, not malice. But don’tgive up on your peers entirely.Not every woman is guarded or threatened, and there arestill plenty who’d welcomeasincerefriendship.

Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@ creators.com.

(Scorpions) is 77. Actor Patti D’Arbanville is 74. PlaywrightEve Ensler is 72. ActorConnie Sellecca is 70. Musician Paul Welleris67. Sen. AmyKlobuchar,D-Minn., is 65. Actor-comedian Mike Myersis62. Actor Octavia Spencer is 55. Actor Cillian Murphy is 49.Football Hall of FamerBrian Urlacher is 47.

Dear Heloise: Ihave found that the simplest way to removehair bristles from inside of an electric razor is not with the brushthat typically comes with therazor Instead, flip open the blade panel and suck out thecontents using asmall handheld vacuum cleaner —Jim R.,inHouston

Crossedlegs

Dear Heloise: So many pictures of women,even professionals and celebrities, show them standing with one leg crossed over the other.This strikes me as so odd! Why do women do this? —Valerie H., Lolo, Montana Valerie, Ithink it’s considered acharming or cute pose by some people, but it alsotends to make thethighs appear thinner

—Heloise Travel hint

Dear Heloise: Ihad my female friends over fora Christmas luncheon this past holiday season. Ialways like to change up the table to keep it interesting, but this past December holiday,I wasstumped. While shopping at a small store, Inoticed they hadthe cutest pins shaped like snowmen that lit up. I bought 10 of them because they werevery cheap. Then, when Igot home, Ifolded thenapkinstolook like fans and threaded thepin through thefolds at thebottom of thenapkin to hold it together

Everyoneloved theinexpensive snowmen,and most wore them on theirdress or jacket. It wasasimple idea andone that anyone can do.

—LoisT., Glendale,Arizona

Magnetic clamps

Dear Heloise: I’ve been aware that many people useahanging shoe bag at home to store items,but I’ve found that it is also valuable when traveling. Ihave afew health issues (nothing deadly),but I have to carry afew items for themand take pills. Having my “traveling shoebag”has been areal lifesaver. Thanks forall of your great ideas,and please keep themcoming! —Isabel G.,inNorman, Oklahoma Napkin trick

Peelingveggies

Dear Heloise: Ialways used to leave the skin on vegetables, but after reading about all the chemicals, including organic chemicals that are used on vegetable and fruits, Ifeel much safer when removing the skin. —Jerry M., in Oregon Jerry,ifyou peel your vegetables or fruit, be sure to place the peels in acompost pile, or chop them up very finely and add them to your garden soil.

Killingbugs

—Heloise

Dear Heloise: To kill off bugs in your garden (and maybe afew snails), mix together 1can of beer,5 tablespoons of shampoo, and 1teaspoon of some commercial fertilizer in a container,then spray your yard with it. It’ll kill bugs and help your garden and grass grow —William K., in Vermont Send ahinttoheloise@ heloise.com.

Dear Heloise: Iglued amagnet to the back of acabinet that hangs over my workspace in the kitchen. Then Ibought plastic bag sealing clamps with magnets on the back. When Iwant to try out anew recipe, Iplace the recipe on the cabinet door using these magnetic bag clamps, and it makes it so much easier to read. The recipe is also out of danger from being splattered with ingredients. —Ava D.,inDenver

Hints from Heloise

StanleyTucci returnstoItaly with

BYMARK KENNEDY AP entertainment writer

NEW YORK Youcan’tkeep

Stanley Tucci from hisbeloved Italy just like you can’t keep cheese from lasagna.

The Golden Globe- and Emmy-winningactor is once again elegantlyroamingthrough thelandofhis heritage in National Geographic’snew food-travel series “Tucci in Italy,” less than three years after asimilar show was axed.

“I think that visually it’s more interestingthistime around, and Ithink that we try to go more in depth into the stories as much as you can, given the format,”he says. Tucci goes from athreeMichelin-star restaurant in Milan where the staff grow their own vegetables

“Stop it!” he half-heartedly begs achef adding salmon eggs to apesto risotto —to cooking fish for anglers on the banks of the SarcaRiver

“I’m exploring the complex connectionsbetween the land, the people and the food they eat in order to discover theessenceofeach region in the country Ilove –Italy,” the “Conclave” and “The Devil Wears Prada” star tells viewers in each installment.

‘The people aregreat’

Each episode of the first

Italy,”saysthe newseries pushes viewers into new parts of theEuropean nation

“I think before we did focus quite alot on the major cities, whereas this time we’vekindofgoneout into the wider regions,” she says. “In Lazio, for example, we haven’tjust focused on Rome or in Tuscanywe haven’tjust focused on Florence.”

Deeper issues

season of “Tucci in Italy” explores adifferent region —fromTuscanytoTrentino-Alto Adige,Lombardy, Abruzzoand Lazio. It was shot over six months, from January to July in 2024.

“It’salot of planning, it is a lot logistics.But ultimately, once you get to where you’re supposed to be,which isn’t always easy in Italy,especially in the mountainous areas, it’sgreat,” says Tucci. “The people are great, extraordinary.”

In Tuscany,the cradle of the Renaissance, Tucci eats lampredotto, asandwich made with thecow’s fourth stomach, and abeef tongue stew.In theAlpine region of

Trentino-Alto Adige, he skis and munches on beef goulash and polenta near the Austrian border

National Geographic greenlit Tucci’snew docuseries ayear afterCNN canceled his “Searching for Italy” despitewinning Emmys for Outstanding Hosted Nonfiction Series or Special. Much of thesame production staff and crew transferred over with Tucci to hisnew TV home, andthey embraced the use of the latest drones, giving theseries asweep and majesty Executive producer Lottie Birmingham, whoworked on “Searching for Italy” and jumped aboard“Tucci in

Setclear boundaries andthenfollowthrough

Theseriesalsostops to look at someofthe social issues roiling Italy,like immigrationand gay rights. Tucci and his team spotlight Punjabi migrants, particularly Sikhs,who have asignificantpresence in the nation’s dairy industry,and the impact that Ethiopian immigrantshave had despite facingracism andbeing treated as “other.”

“Every country does it, and it’snever ahelpful thing,” says Tucci. “And after people assimilate, then they often find others to become ‘others.’Soit’sjust thissortofweird, vicious circle.”

The new series —produced by Salt Productions and BBC Studios —inmany ways is moretruetoTucci’s initialvision, whichwas to look carefully at trends below the surface of what appearstobeahappy,sunblasted land.

“The original idea of the show that Ihad almost 20 yearsago, at thispoint,was to show thediversity of Italy. But also to, in aweird way,dispel the myth that it’s sunny allthe time and everybody’seating pizza and pasta and everybody is happy and smiling all the time. Yeah,thatexists,but that’s not everything.”

It wasTucci whosuggested astop in Lombardy after reading an articleabout agay couple whohaven’t been able to legally adopt their baby boy since the government doesn’trecognize adoptions by same-sex couples.

“There’sadarker side, as there are with every country,” says Birmingham. “Italians are so focused on food and family,but what does family mean?That was what we wanted to look at in that story.”

Tucci’sspecial touch

Tucci is part of acrowded field of celeb travel hosts, which includes Rainn Wilson, Eugene Levy,Zac Efron, JoséAndrés, Chris Hemsworth, Will Smith, Macaulay Culkin andEwan McGregor.Birmingham believes her host hassomething special to offer

Judith Martin

MISS MANNERS

Dear Miss Manners: The first time my friend left me waiting for her for an hour when we had plans to meet for lunch, Iexpressed my displeasure. She defended herself with the same excuses she used in her texts to me: She was running late;she’d run into traffic; she would be there in another 5minutes (sometimes at 15-minute intervals). The second time Ihad plans to meet my friend for lunch, Iwaited 15 minutes, then left the restaurant. She was furious and told me it was rude not to tell her Ihad adeadline. From her point of view,Ihad changed the rules on her My partner and Iinvited acouple to our home to watch amovie. Inever heardfrom them, despite making the invitation by email, text and phone call, and asking them to RSVP When we heard nothing, we changed our plans. It was awkward when they showed up at our door We were not expecting guests; they were intent on seeing the movie. When I

told them we couldn’t possiblyhavethem in, they said Ishouldhavetold them

Perhaps Iwas to include a sentence saying, “If Idon’t hearfromyou, this invitation is rescinded?”AmI supposed to include consequencesinall my communications?

Gentle reader: No, you need only demonstrate them,as youhave done.

Miss Mannerswouldlike to think that these friends will have now learned that your invitations —and patience —are not infinite. Butsadly,you andshe both know better

Dear Miss Manners: My husband and Ifrequently entertain asmall groupof friends forlight appetizers and dinner.One friend usually arrives with atobacco pouch in hismouth and placesitonhis dinner plate while he dines. He will insert another pouch after dinner but before dessert. When Iclear thetable, Ifind the pouches on his dinner plateaswell as his dessert plate. Ihave even found one of these foul things on alinencocktail napkin in my living room.

Iplace the pouches in the trash, where they tend to provide afoul odor to our kitchen until the can is

emptied.

Is there away to let our friend know that I’d rather he takehis used tobacco pouches home withhim rather than have them foul our table and trash can?

Gentle reader: He has given you apresent. Now it is your turn:Next time he is at your house, give him his veryown used tobacco holder

Mind you, MissManners has no idea if such athing exists, but imagines something thesizeofamint tinwithalid on it,ora snack-sized baggie. If you are crafty,you could even decorateittomake it more presentable. At leastthe first time. At subsequent gatherings,orwhen he inevitably forgets theoriginal, keep extras on hand that are lessdecorative and more readily disposable. Or tell him that your houseisnot only anonsmokingarea, but atobacco-free one.

Send questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners. com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail com; or through postal mailtoMissManners, Universal Uclick,1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.

PROVIDED PHOTO By MATT HOLyOAK StanleyTucci stands in the Abruzzo

VIEWS THE FROMDOWN HERE

scribers, nearly 100,000 paid subscribers to its online content, anda growing number of advertisers on Spotifyand Apple.

BY RICH COLLINS Staff writer

New Orleanians who pay attention to national news have likely seenpolitical commentator TimMiller on one screen or another over thelast fewyears.

Since 2023, they’ve been justaslikely to see him walking down Magazine or Freret streets.

The podcast host, YouTube creator and cablenews contributor moved to New Orleans in April of that year.Now,each weekday,Miller worksupto 12 hoursa

Conference

BY STEPHANIE RIEGEL

day from astudio in his Uptown home, producing content for The Bulwark, a national news and opinion website launchedin2018 by agroupofwriters, journalists and politicos.

TheBulwark, whichbegan as anonprofit homefor center-right political voices, has growninto aprofitablemedia organization with more than 1.2 million YouTube sub-

Last year,the company reported revenue of about $5 million. This year,itexpectstodouble that. The growing audience forThe Bulwark andMiller—who providespassionate, sometimesirreverent takes on issues shows how it’s possibletobuild abooming media business entirely on platforms that didn’texist acouple decades ago. Andto do it from anywhere in the world.

Miller said, for him, New Orleans is the ideal location.

“Many political people and other notablescomethrough town for events or conferences or vacation,” he said in a ä See PODCASTER, page 5E

attendance underscores

thestate’s real estate hurdlesahead

issue,they said, is uncertainty around tariffs and inflationata time when interest ratesand rising insurance costs are continuing to hamper deals in asector still grappling with thedisruptions of e-commerce. “There weren’tany Chicken Littles running around,” saidRichardWeber, abrokerwith Corporate Realtyin NewOrleans.“There wasjustmore caution. Consumer sentimenthit a

ä See REAL ESTATE, page 2E

TimMiller, a politicalanalyst and content producer forThe Bulwark website, records apodcast in hishome studio in NewOrleans. STAFFPHOTO By BRETT DUKE

PROVIDED PHOTOByMIKE SHERMAN

Firm gainsbacking as nonopioidtreatment trials progress

BY ANTHONY McAULEY Staff writer

Gulf South Angels, aNew Orleans-based venture investment group, said Tuesday thatitplans to invest in South Rampart Pharma, alocal startup that is trialing anew drug it hopes will be abreakthrough in the burgeoning market for nonopioid pain treatments South Rampart’smain drug called SRP-001 while it is in the trial stage —has successfully passed through the first phase of Food and Drug Administration clinical trials and has beengranted permission to fast-trackPhase Twotrials, which will be conducted with larger groups of humans.

The company,which wasspun out of the LSUHealth Schoolof Medicine in 2016, has so far raised atotal of $9 million through aseries of grants from the National Institutes of Health, money raised through Louisiana’sresearch and development tax credit program, and equity from Ochsner Health’s venture arm.

In January,South Rampart be-

gan a“Series A” round to raise at least $8.5million to finance the critical PhaseTwo trials, according to Dr.Hernan Bazan, avascular surgeon at Ochsner Health, who founded South RampartPharma with his father, Dr.Nicolas Bazan, director of LSU’s Neuroscience Center of Excellence.

Pete November, CEO of Ochsner Health, joined the South Rampart Pharma board of directors earlier this monthand Ochsner’sventure arm invested an undisclosed amount in thecompany’sSeries Around.

Gulf South Angels’ chair,Mike Eckert, said he was approached by Ochsner about making an investment in the company

“It brings immediate credibility when acompany like Ochsner steps up,” said Eckert, who was a

PEOPLE IN BUSINESS

NewOrleans

Trevor C. Mosby and Samuel J. Noblin have joined Baker Donelson as associates. Mosby is amember of thecorporate restructuring and bankruptcy group.

He earned a bachelor’sinbusiness administration from Lamar University,a master’s from SamHouston State University and alaw degree, cum laude, from Southern University Law Center Mosby served as junior editor of the Journal of Race, Genderand Poverty while in law school andserved as an intern for former bankruptcy Judge Douglas D. Dodd, of theMiddle District of Louisiana.Helater was alaw clerk for9th Judicial District Judge MoniqueF.Rauls, of Alexandria. Noblin is amember of the financial services transactions group.

He earned abachelor’s,cum laude, from the University of Mississippi, amaster’sinbusiness administration from Loyola University New Orleans and alaw degree, summa cum laude, from the Mississippi CollegeSchoolofLaw.Asan undergraduate, Noblin was awide receiver on the Ole Miss football team.

Blue Williams has recently added three attorneys to the firm. W.Christian Edwards and SaraG.Ford are associates in the Metairieoffice. Edwards’ practice consists of personal injury defense. He earned abachelor’sinpolitical science with aminor in English from LSU and alaw degree from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law Ford has been an attorney in the NewOrleans metroareafor the past nine years.

She earned alaw degreefrom Tulane LawSchool. Ford served as a law clerk for Orleans ParishCivil District Court Judge Bernadette D’Souza.

Alexis A. Smith is an associate in the Mandeville office. Her practiceis focusedonmedical malpractice defense.

Sheearnedabachelor’s in mass communication from LSU andalaw degree, summacum laude, from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law.While in law school, Smith was editor of the Loyola Law Review

BatonRouge

NicholaHall has been namedchief operating officer of Louisiana Key Academy Hall previously was chief human resources officer/ administrative director for the East Baton Rouge Parish school system. She has more than 20 years of experience in K-12 operationsand human capital management

Louisiana Key Academy isa public charter school that serves children with dyslexia.

Darren Day has been hired as vice president of operations-heavy civil for Diamond DIndustries Day has more than 30 years of operational leadership experience in heavy civil construction, site developmentand large-scale infrastructure projects.

founder and CEO of The Weather ChannelinAtlantaand,later, of digital mediaplatform Pathfire, before moving into venture investing full time.

The amount Gulf South Angels will investinSouth Rampart isn’t known yet as thegroupissyndicating theinvestmenttoits network of similar organizationsaround thecountry,Eckert said.

Boom or bust

Anew drug’spath to market in the U.S. must follow arigorous, multiphase process regulated by theFDA before it can be soldto thegeneral public.

SouthPharmaalready has done preclinicaltestinginthe laboratoryand on animals and hasdone its safety and dosage —Phase One testing—onsmaller groups of humans. ThePhase Twotesting on much larger groups of humans is crucial, not only to testfor efficacy and side effectsbut to confirm proof of concept

Success in PhaseTwo means the companythen typically wouldbe acquired by one of the big, estab-

REALESTATE

Continuedfrom page 1E

JayO’Brien has joined Jones Walker as apartner O’Brienhas been added to the litigation practice group where he will represent clientsincomplex, high-stakes commercial disputes

He earned a bachelor’sinnuclear engineering from theU.S. Military Academy at West Point and alaw degree from LSUPaulM Hebert Law Center.O’Brien is an adjunct professor at theLSU law school.

Bally’shas added four members to the leadershipteamat Bally’sBaton RougeHotel and the Belle of Baton RougeCasino

Daniel Hutchinson is director of hoteloperations.

Hutchinson has 14 yearsofexperience in the hospitality and casino industry, serving as director of hotel operations forL’Auberge BatonRougeand assistant hotel manager forHarrah’s New Orleans,now Caesars New Orleans Hotel &Casino.

He earned abachelor’s in marketing and humanresources management from Southeastern Louisiana University

Mark Conner is director of marketing.

Conner has more than 25 years of experience in the advertising andgamingindustry,working hisway up from a table gamesdealer to leading destination marketing for casinos in Las Vegas, Mississippi and Louisiana.

He earned abachelor’sinbusiness administration from theUniversityofMemphis.

SusanSutton is director of security

Sutton hasmore than 25 years of experienceinthe security industry

She started as a paramedic before joining the securityteam at Mystic Lake Casino in Minnesota.

Ryan Hernandez is area director of player development.

Hernandez has nearly 15 years of experienceinthe sales andmarketing industry

He earned a bachelor’sinmarketing and amaster’sinbusinessadministration, both from LSU.

lishedpharmaceuticals companies, Bazan said.

Companies that have adrug with SRP-001’sprospects would expect to be sold forbetween $300 million and$800 millionafter successful Phase Twotrials, according to Eckert. If thecompanydidn’tlike the offer or chose to move on and complete the final Phase 3trials on even larger groups of human participants, then it could expect avaluation around $1.5 billion if successful “Withdrug companies it’spretty binary: You’re either going to hit ahome run or you’re going to lose your money,” he said.

Gulf South Angels, which was startedin2014 as NO/LA Angels Network,now has 140 members and 14 “exits,” i.e. either selling or taking public companiesthey’ve invested in.Eckert said they’ve averaged areturn on their investments of 26%,whichwould be morethan double the S&P 500’s annual averagereturn over the past decade. Bazan said the company will be working with Todd Bertoch, apain

treatmentspecialist, to manage the Phase Twotrials. Bertoch had overseen similar trials forBostonbased Vertex. In January,Vertex achieved a significant milestone with the FDA approval of Suzetrigine, marketed underthe brandname Journavx

The approval was the first new class of nonopioid pain medication authorized in over two decades, offering apromising alternative formanaging moderate-to-severe acute pain.

South Pharma’sdrug is distinct from Journavx in that it targets the central nervous system rather than peripheral, pain-sensing neurons. Similar to Journavx, the drug reduces pain without the addictive potentialassociatedwithopioids and positions it to treatvarious pain conditions.

Eckert notesthatVertex’sshares jumped about 10% after the Phase Twosuccess wasannounced,addingabout $10billiontothe company’svalue.

Email AnthonyMcAuley tmcauley@theadvocate.com.

five-year low last month. That affects things.”

Brokers lookingtododeals in south Louisiana face additional hurdles. They have to overcome concerns aboutthe state’s shrinking population and itsvulnerability to climate disasters.

In New Orleans, theyalso have to contend with questions aboutpublicsafety

“I haven’thad ameeting yet where I’m notasked how the inmates escaped,” saidlanduse attorneyMike Sherman,who was at ICSC on Tuesday,while escapees from theOrleans Parishjailremained at large. “The jailbreakisa public safety issue.What is clear from being outhereisthatit’salsoaneconomic development issue.”

Experiential tenants

An estimated 25,000 real estate professionals attended this year’sgathering of theInternational Conference of Shopping Centers, as theorganization is formally known,atthe sprawling Las VegasConvention Center

Though smaller than its peak of 40,000 in 2019, its attendance was roughly the sameasithas been for thepast twoyears and it still offers brokers,developersand retailers an opportunity to put aface to aname and make aconnection

“Everything you do outhere can be done on Zoom or conference calls,” Hebert said. “But golf,gambling andconcerts make the trip worthwhile. Networkingisthe major benefit.”

It’salsoanopportunitytoget an idea of what’s trending and what kind of space anew quick serve chicken chain or home goodsstore might want.

Kirsten Early, aprincipal with SRSA who specializes in the Metairie market, noticed that smaller sized food-and-beveragetenants are more interested in buying thanleasing, unless they can do a“reverse buildto-suit,”where atenantacts as thedeveloper andoverseesthe buildout of aproperty

“Experiential” tenantsthat peddle experiencestocustomers like games, golf, pickleball or laser light shows also are hot andlooking for newmarkets, Shermansaid. Among those he noticed promoting theirbrands were the VanGoghImmersive Exhibitand New Orleans-based Five OFore Golf andEntertainment, which opened its first location on Howard Avenue in April.

Shopping center vacancies from thedemise of big-box stores likeBig Lots andBed

Bath and Beyond are not necessarily abad thing, according to Jonathan Walker, abroker with Baton Rouge-based Maestri-Murrell.

“Shopping center owners have been happy with the vacancies,” he said. “They’re getting more rent from better replacementtenants.”

Othertakeawaysfrom the conference, according to brokers: There’s little construction of new shopping centersanywhere in the country;most deals involve repurposing existing space; specialty conceptslike Trader Joe’scontinue to be sought-after anchor tenants; andChick-fil-A is rapidly expanding, seemingly everywhere “Dealsare still getting done,” Webersaid. “But just aboutall the newdealswesee are adaptive reuse.”

LookingtoexpandinLouisiana

For southLouisiana markets, the 2025 ICSC is unlikely to produceany major new deals in the Lafayette, Baton Rouge or New Orleans markets, according to brokers who attended the event.

But national chains with an existing presence arelooking to expand in all three markets, they said.

Hebert’slargest client, RaceTrac, is interested in growing its chainofgas stations and conveniencestores, he said.

“Theyare really hot on Louisiana,” he said. “Anything from Lake Charles to Mississippi.” Corporate Realty’snational clients,including Starbucks, Chipotle, T.J. Maxx andFive Below, are also all pursuing new locations in the state, Webersaid.

Earlysaidshe is optimisticthere may be a“new-to-market” tenant in the New OrleansorMetairie area within the next 12 months, though she could not say who it might be Webersaidhe’shearda supermarket chain, currentlywithlocations elsewhere in the state, is eyeing the New Orleans area for expansion.

“Our clients do well in Louisiana,” he said. “Theyare looking to perform in Louisiana.”

But Hebert and Sherman both saidconcernsaboutdecliningpopulationinthe state, nottomention otherquality-of-life issues, have scared off some retailers andwill continue to hamper deals with othersifleft unaddressed.

“Lack of growth is an issue every elected official should hyper focuson,”Shermansaid.

Outside of theconvention, Sherman had another takeaway about Louisiana —the success of its homegrownbrands, whichhenoticed everywhere on the Las Vegas Strip.

New Orleans-owned District Donuts has alocationinThe Cosmopolitan. Emeril’sisinThe Venetian. ChefAlonShaya recently had aresidency at the WynEncore Hotel.Baton Rouge-born Raising Cane’shas not one but three outlets there

“What’sreally cool is the demand forNew Orleans andLouisiana culture,” he said. “Out here youcan seeour concepts being exportedaround the country.”

Email Stephanie Riegel at stephanie.riegel@theadvocate. com.

H. Bazan

N. Bazan

Hall

O’Brien

Conner

Mosby

Noblin

PROVIDED PHOTOByMIKE SHERMAN Abooth at the annual ISCS convention in Las VegasonMay 20 displays the real estate holdings of the Feil organization, which owns Lakeside ShoppingCenter and several class Aoffice towers in the NewOrleans area.

Hernandez

TALKING BUSINESS WITH BRITTON SANDERFORD

Under-the-radar tech pioneer undertaking a new venture

BY ANTHONY McAULEY Staff writer

In a picture from 1974, Britton Sanderford, sitting in front of a circuit board with his pageboy cut and dark-rimmed glasses, looks like he wouldn’t have been out of place in that mythical Los Altos garage with Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs at the birth of Apple computers.

In fact, Sanderford was literally in his own garage in Kenner around the same time working on inventions.

A colleague of his, Nicholas Hansel, said Sanderford was a “technical prodigy” and wrote the featured paper in IEEE Computer, a prestigious electronics academic publication, when he was just 16 years old. Now 68 and father to four grown children with wife Sheila, Sanderford can look back on a career where he has obtained more than 80 patents many of them making significant progress in areas including mobile phones and smart metering.

One of his early inventions was a breakthrough in dye pack technology, to catch bank robbers more effectively

He has also started several companies, including Advanced Metering Data Systems, which he sold in 2006 to Sensus Metering Systems for around $180 million. Later he founded Axonn LLC, a pioneer in spread spectrum com-

munications — Axonn was the first U.S. company to receive Federal Communications Commission approval for this technology and its patents were licensed by 18 companies. The company was sold to Globalstar (which later relocated from Silicon Valley to Covington) for about $11 million.

Sanderford is still in the innovation business. His latest venture is Focus Automated Equities, which is using artificial intelligence to make abovemarket returns on investment.

He said it’s like trying to create a robot stock analyst that unlike a human has the ability to look at 25 years of data for predictive patterns in a matter of seconds.

The Q&A has been edited for length and clarity

Your colleague referred to you as the “Patent King of New Orleans.” But do you think it’s fair to say that despite your success in inventing and innovating and selling companies based on your technology — for dollar amounts that would make a big splash in today’s environment you’ve flown a bit under the radar? Oh, I don’t know about that. But you know I got to meet Jay Lapeyre’s dad (J.M. Lapeyre), who I think was the real patent king of New Orleans. He had something like 180 patents, and I know how difficult it is to get one. He invented the shrimp peeling machine, an electro-optical printing system, the modular

conveyor belt. The diversity of his inventions was really quite amazing.

But it was his son, Jay, who figured out how to monetize it. The patent on its own doesn’t do you any good unless you figure out how to make money with it.

You’ve concentrated more on investing in recent years, backing some local New Orleans companies. I’ll get asked to help some companies with new technology looking to start up, and I’ll sometimes help them with their patents. But I would not consider myself a venture capitalist, because that’s a very rigorous environment.

It’s more through relationships and I get involved. I think in New Orleans we have some great attributes that maybe get overlooked in technology In Silicon Valley, if you have a company with a great idea you’ll get someone staying there 18 months, three years maybe.

But in New Orleans, if you have a company that really takes care of people they can stay with you a really long time and it allows you to set longterm objectives. Was that your experience in the companies you founded?

That’s interesting because the way that (Advanced Metering) was purchased was an earn out over five years, and I stayed on at Sensus as chief technology officer

We had probably 30 people, and Sensus had, like, 4,000 people at the time. Our team ended up being very integrated into Sensus and stayed with the company as it expanded. They sold something like 200 million water gas and electric meters across the world. They’ve even now started to sell some to the Sewerage & Water Board in New Orleans.

How many people to you have in your current venture? We’ve been building FocusVQ

Committed.

To thesafety, health,and wellbeing of our employees.

To investingdeeply in the communities we call home.

To deliveringinnovative storage solutionsfor our customers.

To creating opportunities fora more sustainable future.

Britton Sanderford has more than 80 patents and has sold companies that pioneered technology in dye packs to curb bank robberies, mobile phone technology and energy metering He’s now building an AI ‘robot analyst’ for investing

PHOTO

and Focus Automated Equities, platforms to perform automated trading. Combined, the companies employ and contract with 30 full- and part-time employees and consultants, including a core group of machine learning experts from a variety of backgrounds. We’re also engaging with finance professionals, quantitative investing experts, exchange specialists, academics, and fund managers. I have personally invested nearly $20 million so far based on a 35-year vision to use biologic neuron models to trade stock signals. Any other local companies you have an interest in?

My daughter has started docpace, which uses AI to keep doctors’ offices on schedule. But that’s another story Email Anthony McAuley tmcauley@theadvocate.com.

Victimsadvocacygroup eyes bolstering scam intervention

Our interactions —through email, computers, mobile devices and social media —face relentless daily attacks.

Text messages can’tbe trusted. Every email should be seen as suspect.Answering the telephone puts you at risk of being defrauded.

Cybercriminals and scammers have infiltrated these spaces with alarmingease and they will keep siphoning victims’ money without astronger, unified response.

In its latest Internet Crime Complaint Centerreport, the FBI says criminals stole arecord $16.6 billion in scams and cybercrime in 2024. That’sajump of 33% from ayearearlier

This year’sreportmarks the 25th anniversary of the FBI’s analysis of these crimes, amilestone that underscores adisturbing trend. Initially,the bureau got about 2,000 complaints every month. In the past five years, the number has exploded to an average 2,000 complaints every day.

Separately,complaints to the Federal Trade Commission, which also tracks fraud,echo this grim reality.The FTC reported that consumers lost more than $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024, a25% increaseover 2023. By the way,the FTC said that jump isn’tthe result of more reported complaints but adouble-digit increase in the percentage of peo-

Microstrong

Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) is a

financially strong business that delivers essential software services for consumers and businesses. It has alarge base of Windows users and, with its Azure cloud platform, is the second-leading cloud services provider

Motley Fool

Over the past decade, Microsoft has shifted from relying on one-time purchases of software to acloud-based services strategy that generates revenue from subscriptions. TheMicrosoft Cloud ecosystem includes revenue from Azure, the Microsoft 365 office suite and other services that all together grew 20% year over year last quarter to $42 billion. The company’sartificial intelligence partnership with ChatGPT-maker OpenAI has been a huge growth driver.Integrating OpenAI’stools hasdriven strong momentum for Azure: Its revenue grew 33% year over year last quarter,outpacing the broader cloud market. Microsoft is positioned tobe aleader in AI.In2022, it disclosed that there were more than 1.4 billion devices running Windows 11 or Windows 10. There are now more than 400 million commercial 365 users, meaning amassive built-in base of businesses can adopt Microsoft’sCopilot AI assistant.

Michelle Singletary THE COLOR OF MONEy

plewho reported losing money

These staggering figures don’t fully convey the depth of the probleminthe United States becausemany people who are scammed don’treport thecrime or their losses.

That’swhy the FTC also adjusts for underreporting. In areport last year,the agency included an estimate that the overall loss in 2023 was in fact $158.3 billion.

This total includes$61.5 billion stolen from seniors. (While youngeradults report experiencing fraud more frequently,older adultstendtosuffer greater financiallosses.)

The case of aMaryland woman who lost nearly $600,000 in retirement funds to asophisticated government impersonation scam illustrated afundamental weakness in our approach to financial fraud: We largely expect individuals to defendthemselves, an approach that often leads to victim-blaming and further discourages reporting.

To combat this growing crisis, we need an aggressive strategy

Thanks to recurring revenue streams from various software services, Microsoft is arelatively safe growthstock. Analysts expect itsearnings per share to grow an average of 12% annually in the coming years. (The Motley Fool owns shares of and has recommended Microsoft stock and options.)

Fool’s School:Warren Buffett’sannual meeting

Every year,tens of thousands of shareholders descendupon Omaha,Nebraska, to attend the annual meeting of Warren Buffett’s company, Berkshire Hathaway

Here’ssome wisdom dispensed at the latest meeting, held earlier this month:

n On tariffs: Buffett saidthat “trade should not be aweapon.”

He also said that “we should be looking to trade with therest of the world, and we should do what we do best, and they should do what they do best,” and “I do not think it’sagreat ideatotry and design aworld where afew countries say,‘ha, ha, ha, we’ve won,’ and other countries are envious.”

n On work goals: “You really want to work at something you enjoy …If you find people that are wonderful to work with, that’s the place togo. …Don’tworry toomuch about starting salaries, and be very careful who you work for because you will take on the habitsofthe people around you.”

n On stock-market volatility: “That’s part of the stock market,and

that moves beyond mereprevention through consumer education and prioritizesacoordinated nationwide initiative —encompassing both privateand public entities to actively target and dismantle criminal operations.

This is the mission of the newly launched National Elder Fraud Coordination Center

Founded and directed by former FBIagent Brady Finta, the nonprofit’s initial partners include AARP,Google, Walmart and Amazon (whose founder,Jeff Bezos, owns The Washington Post).

Finta said the center will use data from retailers, financial institutions and other businesses to create aunified front in elder fraud investigation across the United States. This collaboration would make it easier to spot trends and connect individual cases stemming from the same criminal network, which are often based overseas. The center would then refer cases to federal authorities for investigation and prosecution.

“The new center will help law enforcement fill asignificant gapintheir abilities toaddress this type of fraud,” said Kathy Stokes, director of fraud prevention programsatAARP Fraud Watch Network.

Victims often express frustration after filing reports with

that’swhat makes it agood place to focus your efforts if you’ve got theproper temperament for it, and aterrible place to get involved if you get frightened by markets that decline and get excited when stock markets go up. …Iknow people have emotions,but you’ve got to check them at thedoor when you invest.”

n On being prepared: Buffett’s heir apparent,Greg Abel, said: “While we’relooking at opportunities …wewant to act quickly, but never underestimate the amount of reading and work that’sbeing done to be prepared to act quickly.Weknow that when the opportunity presents itself, whether it be (buying stocks) or private companies, we’re readytoact, and that’sa large partofbeingpatient —using thetime to be prepared.” Buffett, now 94, announced at the meeting that he will step down as CEO at the end of the year,after 60 years. Abel will become CEO and Buffett will remainchairman, available to offer advice.

Ask the Fool: Mutual funds, explained

Can you explain what mutual funds are? —T.P., Akron, Ohio

Amutual fund is thepooling of many investors’ money,which is then managed by financial professionals.

In passively managed funds such as index funds, the managers simply aim to own thesame securities in the index that the fund tracks, in roughly thesame

agencies like the FBI or FTC and receiving no further communication. However,Stokes believes that connecting more cases could lead to better interventions.

If more cases can be linked together,there’sabetter chance of stopping the scammers and disruptingthe lucrative fraud business model,” Stokes said.

She emphasizes the larger organized nature of these crime networks.

“Weknow that so muchofwhat is happening in this country, where fraud is concerned, is coming from transnational crime gangs,” she said. “The FBI and other authorities do not have the time, the capacity or the resources to look at that landscape through an organized crime lens.”

Just as importantly,this new initiative may encourage more victimstoreport fraud. It representsanupdated approach to prevention, driven by an understanding that current methods are insufficient.

It’salso driven by Finta’spersonal experience, which highlighted the limitations of consumer education.

As the former supervisory special agent and founder of the San Diego Elder Justice Task Force, he witnessed his own mother fall victim to atech support scam even though he had frequently

proportion, aiming for roughly thesame returns. (S&P 500 index funds areagoodexample of this.) With actively managed funds, managers study and select investments, deciding when to buy and sell them. Some mutualfunds arefocused on one kind of asset, such as stocksorbonds, andsome investacross assetclasses. Some funds focusongenerating income forinvestors via dividend-paying stocks, while others focus on growth stocks or seemingly undervalued companies.Other funds specialize in certainsectors(like technology or health care) or global regions.There aremanythousands of mutualfunds in the United States alone.

Note that mutual funds charge fees, which can vary widely.For bestresults, favor funds with low fees and avoidmostfunds that charge “loads” (whichare extra sales fees).

Index funds oftencharge verylow fees andcan be great ways to build wealth over time. Indeed, they generally do better than most managed mutual funds. Per S&P DowJones Indices, over the past 15 years, the S&P500 index outperformed 89.5% of alllarge-cap mutual funds, and over the past decade it outperformed84.3%.

What’s“profit-taking”? —I.C Sierra Vista, Arizona

The term refers to the selling of investments for again. You might hearthata certain stock is down due to profit-taking if many investors have sold it recently

discussed fraud risk with her Janet Finta, now 80, said about ayear ago she purchased anew Apple computer.Aproblem arose, so she searched online for help. The first entry on her internet search led to an officiallooking site that ended with acall to acon artist impersonating a customer representative from Apple.

“I thought he was being very helpful,” Finta said in an interview.“He was so nice.”

The impersonator kept her on the phone for more than an hour, eventually steering her to click on links to give him access to her financial accounts, which she later had to close.

“It’sanemotional roller coaster,” she said. “It takes your joy away.”

Even knowing he could help, Finta said his mother was reluctant to share what had happened or file acomplaint.

“My own mother told me,after she tried to hide the fact that she was avictim, ‘Well, nobody was going to do anything anyway,so why even complain?’”hesaid. “But people have to comeforward, or else we’re never going to get our hands wrapped around this.”

EmailMichelle Singletary at michelle.singletary@washpost. com.

My Smartest Investment: Great memories

In aprevious issue, you sharedthe story of a firefighter who saved aton of money throughout his working life. Good for him! Iwas apolice officerand earned $90 aweek beginning in 1961. Iretired years laterearning awhopping $44,000 annually.Inbetween, Ihad six kids,sent themtoparochial schools, sent themtocollege and married them off. Iwas alwaysindebt,even though I alwaysworkedtwo jobs. Ihavenosavings —but Ihavegreat memories and familythat is worth so much more.— John, Parma, Ohio

You’re right thatlife is about much more thanmoney! Creating astrong, happy family is a great investment. Youworkedhardtoprovide for your children. For anyone in the same situation—raising kids andperhaps finding each dayfull with here-and-now things —weadvise also keeping an eyeonyourretirement future.

Do what you can to avoid highinterest debt, andput money aside forwhenyou won’thave apaycheck andmedical bills might be higher.

If you’re deciding between spending money on your childrenand saving for your retirement, don’tautomatically chooseyourchildren; plan for your ownfinancialfuture and help themgrowuptobeable to planfor theirs.

Do you have asmart or regrettable investment move to sharewithus? Emailitto tmfshare@fool.com.

PODCASTER

recent interview at French Truck Coffee on Dryades Street “I can meet potential guests and build rapport with them over a cocktail away from the D.C./New York grind. And the cost of space here is cheaper.”

Busy days

After growing up near Denver, Miller attended George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and then began working in politics, eventually joining the communications teams of John McCain and, later, Jeb Bush.

After Bush’s exit from the 2016 presidential race, Miller signed on to be the face and voice of a conservative-funded, anti-Trump organization He spent several months criticizing the then-candidate on TV and online, so after Trump’s victory, Miller’s job prospects dimmed in the new Republican establishment.

Looking for a fresh start — and some distance from D.C. he relocated to Oakland, where he lived for six years, working in media, public relations and as a political strategist.

As his career as a political commentator took off, Miller found he was making lots of trips to D.C. and New York, and the cross-country flights were getting old. So, in 2023, he and his husband, Tyler Jameson, a government relations consultant, decided to head east, though not too far east.

“I refused to move to D.C. because I want a life separate from politics,” Miller said. “We love New Orleans, so we decided to try it.”

Miller first discovered the city in the early 2000s through a college friend from Baton Rouge Since then, he’s built up a group of friends through regular visits to town.

“New Orleans is the place I always went to have fun for vacation, and now I have to do my laundry here,” he said. “I was afraid the magic would be gone, but honestly, the opposite happened. We’ve been so happy.”

While Miller loves his new home, he hasn’t adopted the city’s famously laid-back approach to life. He wakes up around 6:30 a.m. and prepares for his first podcast interview of the day, which he records from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. in a

An award recognizing The Bulwark for surpassing 1 million subscribers hangs on the wall in Tim Miller’s New Orleans home studio.

studio equipped with fancy lighting, sound panels, a steady cam and a green screen. The space is built into a small extra bedroom on the second floor of Miller’s Craftsmanstyle home.

After each recording session, a remote production team edits the content and uploads it to YouTube, Spotify, Apple and other platforms.

Miller, meanwhile, uses the rest of his morning to record shorter videos, reacting to something in the news or conducting a quick interview

He said he takes a “mini nap” around lunchtime, then leaps back into action for the rest of the afternoon, which usually includes a live appearance on MSNBC, more YouTube videos or guest spots on other shows.

Miller switches into dad mode in the evening to spend time with his daughter Toulouse and maybe catch a Denver Nuggets game on TV Later in the evening, he might make another cable news appearance. Most nights, he records one more late-night video.

Miller said his New Orleans contacts helped create the podcast. Ken Cooper, a college friend, built the studio. Musician John Michael Rouchell created theme songs for two of his podcasts.

Nonprofit no more

The Bulwark, founded by political strategist Sarah Longwell, began as a donor-funded enterprise. One notable early supporter is Kathryn Murdoch, the wife of Fox News owner Rupert Murdoch’s son James. In 2021, it became a forprofit business. The company’s primary source of revenue is paid subscriptions on Substack, a publishing platform that supports digital newsletters. Substack allows independent writers, journalists and bloggers to trade traditional media outlets and their ad revenue models for direct support from consumers.

The Bulwark’s paid subscribers on Substack have more than doubled over the last year, and now it is the second most popular content provider in the platform’s politics category Even as The Bulwark has grown quickly as an indie, it is starting to look and act more like a traditional newsroom. Its full-time staff is approaching 30 people, mostly working in D.C.

Miller joined The Bulwark full time in 2021 and has become one of the most visible faces on its growing YouTube channel, though the enterprise has multiple contributors. Among other well-known journalists on the team are former Politico reporter Sam Stein and managing editor Jonathan V. Last.

Miller’s focus on YouTube is paying off. In addition to his morning podcast, he also co-hosts a separate politics show targeting Gen Z viewers.

“Tim recognized that people are consuming news in different ways these days,” Stein said. “We had been putting out three or four videos a day, but we realized we needed eight nine or 10. It’s a big growth area for us.”

Paradoxically, President Donald Trump’s reelection in November has been a major driver of that growth The site began as a haven for “Never Trump” Republicans, but it’s grown to attract people of all political persuasions concerned

about the country’s direction.

“The election was very dispiriting for a lot of us, but it’s simultaneously a massive boon to the business,” Miller said.

Following the lead of other podcasts, The Bulwark will be exploring new revenue models by hosting live events. In 2023, Miller participated in a small gathering at Le Petit Theatre in the French Quarter New Orleans journalist Walter Isaacson and political consultant James Carville two national media figures also based in New Orleans were in attendance.

Bigger events are planned this year for Chicago; Nashville, Tennessee; and Washington, D.C.

‘Heavy social calendar’

After spending all week creating content, Miller said he and his family dive into New Orleans life each weekend, keeping a heavy social calendar

He appreciates the chance to get away from politics in a town that has other priorities.

“I don’t want to be in my little bubble,” he said. “I want to hear what’s happening in people’s lives. If I lived in D.C. or the Bay Area, I don’t think I could ever talk about anything else. Here, people want to talk about politics for a second then switch to music or LSU sports.”

Email Rich Collins at rich. collins@theadvocate.com.

From Gulf to Global Markets: HowMenhaden Powers theU.S.and the World

By Amanda McElfresh

amcelfresh@theadvocate.com

Thisarticle is brought to youbythe Louisiana CommercialFishing Coalition LLC

Along Louisiana’sworking coastlines asmall silver fishpowers avast network of food, health, and agriculture.Knownas menhaden, sometimes called pogies,this humble species forms the backbone of one of our state’s most valuable and least understood commercial fisheries.But the story doesn’t end at the water’sedge. Once caughtand refined, menhaden support industries acrossthe U.S. and around the world—from aquacultureand pet food to livestock feed and dietary supplements Each year,Louisiana’smenhaden industry generatesmorethan $419 million in economic output and supports over 2,000 jobs across32parishes.Its reach extends farbeyond the dock, anchoring avalue chain critical to national food systems and Louisiana’scoastal communities

Harvesting aRenewable Resource Louisiana is home to themenhaden fishery—one of the most productiveand sustainably managed fisheries in the world

Lessthan 2% of the Gulf’s menhaden biomass is harvested each year under sciencebased management, innovativetechnology, and strict adherence to state and federal regulations.The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certifies the fishery forits responsible practices,and the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission confirms thatpopulations arehealthyand growing. Abundant, fast-growing, and naturally renewable, menhaden areanideal sustainable resource.

Twocompanies—Westbank Fishing and

Ocean Harvesters—operate fleetsout of Empire, LA and Abbeville,LA. Their vessels useadvanced netting technologytominimize bycatchand ensuresafe, efficient harvests

Once landed, the fish go to localprocessing plants to become twoprimary products: fishmeal and fish oil Processing for U.S. and Global Markets

During theproduction process, menhaden arecooked, pressed, dried, and ground into high-protein meal, while the extracted oils are filtered and refined. Nothing is wasted. The processisdesigned formaximum efficiency and minimal environmental impact,aligning with circular economyprinciples that prioritizefull resource utilization. Theseproducts arerich in omega-3s protein, and essential nutrients,making them ideal ingredients foraquaculturefeed, pet food, and nutritional supplements.Most product stays in theU.S.tosupport domestic industries,with the balance exported to meet global demand forhigh-quality, sustainable feed ingredients

Fueling Aquacultureand Food Security

As global demand forseafood continues to rise, aquaculturenow represents more than half of theworld’ssupply. Remarkably efficient, fish cangain one kilogram (about 2.2 pounds) of body masswith just one kilogram of feed—makingaquacultureone of themost effectivemethods of protein production. Amajor useofmenhaden-derived fishmeal and oil is in aquaculture. Thesemarine ingredients areessential to thediets of farmraised species such as salmon and seabass, supporting optimal growth and overall health. Menhaden fishmeal and oil arealsousedin products likeartificial crawfish bait and feed

AGlobal Impact with Local Roots

PetNutrition and Agriculture

Menhaden plays agrowing role in pet nutrition. Premium U.S. pet food brands rely on menhadenfishmeal and oil for its high levels of DHAand EPA—types of omega-3 fattyacids that arenutrients thatsupport jointhealth,coatcondition, and brain developmentindogsand cats In acompetitiveglobal market,Louisiana menhaden provides premium and sustainable ingredients to U.S. pet food manufacturers, therebyreducingthe industry’s reliance on imports In agriculture, menhaden fishmealand oil serveasa protein- and nutrient-rich feed supplementfor U.S. livestock such as pigs, chickens and even horses. Louisiana Menhaden is ahighly sustainable resource that plays acritical role in U.S. and global food security.

While menhaden products reach customersindozens of countries,the biggest impact is felt hereathome. Their economicimpact starts in Louisiana.In 2023alone, Westbank Fishing and Daybrook Fisheries deliveredmorethan $36.5 million in employeecompensation—supporting hundreds of jobs in southern Plaquemines Parish, one of the state’s most economically vulnerable regions.In2023, OmegaProtein and its fishing partner Ocean Harvesters provided an additional $23million in payroll and benefits in rural Vermilion Parish, locatedinthe heart of Louisiana’s Cajun Country.Manyemployees come from multigenerational fishing families,and most arepeople of color—underscoring the industry’s role in providing inclusive,livingwage employment. By keeping processing local, companies ensurethatthe economic value stays in Louisiana

Connecting Louisiana to the World Louisiana’smenhaden fishery is amodel forhow local, sustainable industries can support national food systems while fueling global supply chains.Fromfeeding fish and petsand supporting exports,this century-old fishery continues to evolve—proving that when managed responsibly,asmall fish can makeabig impact As regulators and lawmakersconsider futurepolicy,it’scritical to recognizethe broad benefits of this working fishery.It’snot just about whathappens offshore, it’sabout howLouisiana’sfishing heritagehelpsfeed the country and the world.

PROVIDED PHOTO

Jonathan V. Last, from left, Bill Kristol, Sarah Longwell, Andrew Egger and Tim Miller, of The Bulwark, appear live onstage in October in Philadelphia.

forcatfish

fingerlings raised on farms across the southern United States.

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WORKS

In1955,PeteAlimiastartedacareerin applianceserviceservingtheWestbank community.Hebroughthisson,Garey Alimiaalongasateenagerandhejoined thebusinessaswell.Afterworkingin theservicebusiness forsometime,Garey decidedtoopenhisown retailstorespecializing inMaytagappliancesin 1974.Tenyearslaterin 1984hedecidedtotake onotherbrands,and thestorewasnamed A-1Appliance.Around thesametime,Garey’s sonKentAlimiajoined thebusinessaswellwhereheworked deliveriesforthecompanyandeventually movedtosales.In1998A-1Appliance acquiredsomeoftheformerCampo storesoutofbankruptcywhichintroduced A-1intotheelectronicsbusiness,and thenamewaschangedtoA-1Appliance &Electronics.GareyandKentworked sidebysideforyearsasafatherandson teamtobringA-1Appliancetothelargest independentapplianceretailerintheNew OrleansArea.In2020,Kentacquiredthe businessfromhisfatherGareyandnow runsthebusinesswithhiswife,Doris Alimia.Throughouttheyears,A-1has continuedtoaddnumerousbrandsand departmentstotheirvastselectionof merchandiseandnowsellsappliances, electronics,beddingandfurniture.

After fifty years in business, A-1 Appliance,Bedding &Furniture continuesas the largest Independent Appliance Retailer in the New Orleans area and has the largest selection of major brands in the industrywith Guaranteed Lowest Prices!

Pete and Garey Alimia circa 1969

Kent and G circa

Garey Alimia a 2010

Tattoo removal program changes lives

Medicalstudents getcrucial experience performing procedure

BY CALEB LUNETTA

The San DiegoUnion-Tribune (TNS)

CLOTTING CONCERNS

Doctorsoffer advice on howtoavoid bloodclots aheadofthe summer travel season

BY MARGARETDELANEY Staffwriter

Warmer weather andnoschool means more travel for Louisianans. These travels can take Louisianans to international, national or local vacationspots in the air or by car

However,those longer trips can give waytohealthconcerns: Developing blood clots.

Whileclottingisa normal processin the body —tohelp heal wounds, forexample —certain bloodclots in the legs can cause intense pain and swelling

Blood clots, specifically deep vein thrombosis, are blood-proteins that have turned from liquid into asolid,jellylike substance that can form in veins in the arms, legs or groin area on thebody

These clots, caused most commonlyby remaining in one position for an extended period of time, can travelthrough the body to the heart or the lungs to cause pulmonaryembolisms —a life-threatening condition.

Symptoms of apulmonary embolism include sudden shortness ofbreath, chest pain that worsens with deep breaths, rapid heart rate or coughing up blood. Both blood clots and pulmonary embolisms require immediate medical attention

Dr.Josh Sibille, Lafayette-born vascular surgeon in Louisiana, treats patients for this condition often.

Although deep vein thrombosiscan form in the arms, the legs are morecommon —and more problematic,according to Sibille.

Dr.Godfrey Parkerson, avascular surgeon, said blood clotsinthe arm are

Experts saypatients whoplan to travelonlong trips, whether in acar,bus or airplane, should be mindful to move the body at various increments during the journeytohelp avoid blood clots.

less common than in the legs because the blood in the arms does not have to travel as far against gravity to return to the heart.

Thusthe bloodismuch less likely to stagnate and turn into clot.

“Veinsinthe legs are much larger which can make larger blood clotsand larger pulmonary embolisms that can blockthe main arteries of thelungs and be dangerous or even fatal,” Pakerson said.

Blood clots in thearmscan cause swelling, pain or discoloration of the arms just like in thelegs.

“What we seemost commonly are patients who recently traveled. They spend 10 or 12 hoursinthe car or on a plane,” Sibille said. “Orfive or six hours on aflight.”

Symptomsofblood clots, specifically deep vein thrombosis, in thelegs include:

n Swelling in one leg

n Discolorationinone leg, typically redness

n Intense pain in one leg

n New pain or discomfort in one leg.

Thesesymptoms develop in amatter of hours. According to Parkerson, that swelling or pain typically persists or worsensthe longerthe persongoes without treatment.

“It does not go away overnight with sleep or withelevation,”Parkerson said.

Dr.BradVincent, apulmonologist in BatonRouge,saidnot allblood clots causepain or discoloration, but swelling

ä See CLOTS, page 2X

SAN DIEGO Since she wasachild, Maya Shetty knewshe wasgoing to be adoctor

She wanted to follow in the footsteps of her parents, whoare both primary care physicians in West Virginia. And she wantedtouse her future career to help underservedpopulations thatoftentimes fall through the medical system’s cracks.

So,asa first-year medical student at UC San Diego, she and five classmates jumped at the opportunity to volunteer fortheir school’s newClean SlateFreeTattoo Removal Program. The unique programatUCSD puts medical students in front of patients and in clinics as early as their first year

Startedin2016, theprogram has utilized volunteer dermatologists to help those impacted by thecriminal justice system improve themselves, officialssaid. But arecent growth in the volume of patients being treated at theclinic,aswellasthe number of medical students expressing interest in service-learning activities,pushedadministratorsto createthe newvolunteer program in 2023 to improvethe clinic’s flow and support student learning, officials said.

Shetty saidmedical students with her levelofexperienceare not traditionally working directly with patients and doctors, at least for afew years. The program has already taught them how to build relationships with patients and develop skills early on in aclinical setting —regardless of whether they end up pursuing dermatology as aspecialty,she said.

And while the students build their credentials, the patient who might not have previously been able to afford thetattoo removal —takes another step toward abetter future free of cost.

“Historically,tattoos have not hada very positive image,” said Victoria D. Ojeda, aprofessor at theUCSan DiegoSchoolofMedicine andthe Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health &HumanLongevity Science. “Some of ourclientsare looking to make a change in whatother people may see about them.”

Ojeda, who runs the removal program,said people come in because their tattoos are creating boundaries, whetheritbesocially or economically

For instance, some clients are looking for employment or to improve their financialstatus and

Sibille

HEALTH MAKER

La. nurse’s second chance sparked a mission to save lives

BY MARGARET DELANEY Staff writer

Susan Foret was sitting at her desk in New Orleans, where she led a team of nurses in the oncology department, when a colleague said she had to leave early for a mammogram. Foret, a registered oncology and bone marrow transplant nurse, told her colleague that she hadn’t gone for her checkup in a while.

”She said, ‘I’m making your appointment now,’” Foret said. “Had she not done that, I would not be here today.”

Foret was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer shortly after, the most aggressive form of the disease. If Foret had gone to the doctor just two weeks later, her doctors said the cancer would have spread to other parts of her body

Foret received her bachelor’s degree in nursing from William Carey University in 1994, and her master’s in health care sciences from the University of New Orleans in 2015

”Seeing it from the patient perspective,” Foret said. “I was a bit of an empath before, but I truly saw it from the eyes of the patient, and the passion for my work was just so overwhelming.”

While she underwent her cancer treatment, which involved multiple surgeries and therapies, Foret went back to school and received a master’s for health care science from the University of New Orleans. She graduated on time, with a 4.0 GPA.

”School put me in a mindset where I felt like I was needed,” Foret said “And there was a purpose.”

Ten years later, Foret is cancer free and a leader in Louisiana cancer health and research in Baton Rouge

Foret started her career as a registered nurse at Memorial Medical Center before moving to various positions in the Ochsner Health System in New Orleans, then to East Jefferson General Hospital in Metairie as vice president of oncology and lastly, the associate vice president of oncology and radiology at Touro Infirmary Foret’s 34-year career in medicine has led her Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge, where she leads the Cancer Institute. After a year and a half as vice president, Foret has been making moves in Louisiana and the Capitol region to bridge the gap in communities for cancer care. Why did you choose nursing? What drew you to cancer care? I was a licensed practical nurse first, but I went back for my registered nurse certification and classes almost immediately I fell in love with working in oncology In oncology, you get to know the patients. The average length of stay is 30 days in a bone marrow transplant unit. As an RN in the oncology and bone marrow transplant unit, I really got to know not only the patients, but the families as well. I’m very devoted to the oncology patient population At Our Lady of the Lake, the leadership team, the commitment to quality from the nursing perspective, the physicians are all

outstanding.

There’s a great deal of collaboration, and it’s really and truly quality driven and outcomes driven to make sure that you treat patients as though you’re your own family You don’t see that everywhere.

Having had cancer, it has given me a different perspective when I listen to what patients are going through. I’ve been through it. I know what they’re going through, what their families are going through. It just means so much. It’s the differentiator, and we definitely have that here. What are your goals to move cancer care forward? When joining the Lake, the biggest things we wanted to look at was our current footprint. At the Regional Medical Center we knew that we

needed to bring in additional medical oncologists. We needed to have a larger base of physicians to deploy, not only here, but at St. Elizabeth’s in East Ascension. Between October 2024 until December, we brought on six new doctors two of them are bone marrow transplant doctors and the other four are medical oncologists.

We opened an infusion center at our Ascension campus, and we’ve already doubled our volume in the first month from 96 in March to 204 in April. And we’re still growing.

We want to be able to bring care closer to home, that is one of our main priorities to the community. A lot of those malignancy and bone marrow transplant patients would not have pre-

viously been able to get the care they needed.

Now, we have it here in the Capitol Region. Patients can go to their homes at night and sleep in their own beds, then come here to get treatment.

What efforts in clinical research is the institute involved in to push toward innovation?

Our first CAR-T therapy here in Baton Rouge will happen in May The young lady is a 40-year-old with lymphoma, with five children. She’s on Medicaid, which would have been really difficult for her to get this care. But it’s 100% covered by the sponsor, so she won’t have to worry about any finances that go with her treatment.

To me, that makes me realize everything we’re doing is God’s work, and we’re do-

ing what we know for people that would not be able. This woman would probably never have been able to get this treatment otherwise. From the research perspective, we’re continuing to grow beyond even CAR-T therapies with all kinds of treatment trials including Ascension, our partnership with Women’s Hospital and possibly Livingston.

We had our first bone marrow transplant in January By the first week in June, we’ll be up to nine bone marrow transplants, and by the end of the summer, we’re looking at being around 30 patients. All of those patients are able to receive this advanced care closer to home — the kind of care that’s going to be life changing and life saving.

Expert gives tips on working exercise into a busy schedule

BY STEPHEN WADE

AP sports writer

You’re too busy to exercise, right? Your job consumes all your time. You’re strapped by professional and family demands As you get more and more responsibility, your free time shrinks.

Well, these blockers don’t have to be an excuse. Making time simply calls for creativity and a broader understanding of how to get in daily exercise.

“The trap is thinking that exercise must be an hour in the gym,” said Charles Scott, who describes himself as an executive mentor or exercise coach.

His message is simple: If you have a very demanding job, you need to find a worklife blend

“An hour in the gym is exercise,” Scott told The Associated Press. “But it’s just one form of exercise.”

Scott coaches about 70 business executives online and otherwise — and

other busy people to improve their physical and professional well-being.

He’s based in New York and is relatively hard core about his own exercise but realizes not everyone can be — or wants to be.

He’s planning to run across the Grand Canyon in June — the out-and-back version that covers about 46 miles. He also has guided his blind friend Dan Berlin on several endurance events including a speed ascent up Mount Kilimanjaro and tandem cycling across the United States with a team of blind cyclists.

Ambitious person’s trap

Rather than terming it exercise, Scott talks about teaching “intentional movement” to his goal-driven clients.

“The ambitious person’s trap is when you undermine your physical and emotional health in pursuit of your professional goals,” he said.

“It’s common in this culture among the executives I

blood clot has moved from the legs to the lungs or heart.

If these serious symptoms are present, it is important to receive immediate medical attention

mentor.”

Scott asks busy people to focus on something other than making money or chasing fame inside the profession. He said he tries to emphasize a holistic approach that includes the emotional, the professional and the physical.

“Our bodies need to move,” he said. “No matter what age you are, our bodies must move to stay healthy So if you’re not exercising, you’re out of alignment.”

Alternative exercise

Scott has a list of ways to blend movement into your day without needing a gym.

Of course, if you can hit the gym, that’s great, too.

He suggests doing one-onone meetings while you’re walking instead of sitting behind the office desk or laptop. Or, he suggests standing rather than sitting when you hold meetings.

“If you want a meeting to be short and efficient, choose the standing conference

room,” he said.

Or do isometric exercises during a meeting to tone, for instance, your stomach muscles.

“Tighten up your stomach muscles. Hold for 20 seconds and don’t hold your breath,” he said. “Don’t make it obvious Release. Do it again. You’ll be sore tomorrow It burns calories. It tones muscles. And it takes precisely zero seconds out of your I-am-too-busy-to-exercise day.”

Blend work, exercise

Here are a few more ideas about blending exercise into your work schedule.

If your flight is delayed, go for a walk around the airport and add to your daily step count. Link workouts to daily events. For example, when you wake up, always go for a walk. Or, when you get home from work, do a certain number of pushups after you walk through the door

Make a workout a social

event and do it with a friend or a group.

Give yourself the title “athlete” and build habits around that identity Scott is an advocate of experiencing “meaningful discomfort,” which he calls the “birthplace of resilience.”

Pay attention to the food you put in your body Treat your body with respect.

Take a quick break from answering emails and do 10 squats or pushups or whatever to add movement.

“In business, many people show up to work and they crank it out all day,” which he termed a “rookie mistake,” like a newcomer going out too fast at the start of a marathon.

“Then they go home exhausted and they are fussy with the people they love.”

The partitioning approach

One of Scott’s clients is Harrison (Harry) Kahn, the general manager of the Vermont Creamery an artisanal dairy

Rather than blend, Kahn uses the partition method and awakens at 5 a.m. to get in his exercise, typically running, biking, or popping on skis in the winter in largely rural Vermont.

“I kind of get in the me stuff before the rest of the house wakes up,” he said. He said his wife Elisabeth, teaches French. She sets off early as they both combine to get their two children ready for school — 11-yearold Iris and 8-year-old Asher “Charles has reminded me that life isn’t a game of comparison with other people,” he said. “You have to figure out your own stuff.” Kahn describes himself as a routine-oriented person who is comfortable dividing his day into chapters. Once he’s in the office, his attention is the job and 120 employees.

“I’m very focused when I’m at work, so I can get it all in as opposed to going in and out and having the day go on really long.”

is a very common symptom.

“You can do exercises to move your legs like calf raises or calf flexes,” Sibille said. “You don’t want the blood to just sit there and pool in your legs.”

n Raise and lower the heels while the toes remain on the floor

n Raise and lower the toes while the heels remain on the floor

about wearing compression stockings or taking medicine before departure. Taking aspirin to prevent blood clots when traveling is not recommended, the CDC said.

der n Recent surgery, hospitalization or injury

n Use of estrogen-containing birth control or hormone replacement therapy

“If you look down at your ankles and feet and no longer see bony archite cture poking through — you can’t see your ankle bones (because of swelling),” Vincent said.

“That’s a strong indicator of a blood clot.”

If the swelling doesn’t improve with ice and elevation according to Sibille, it is a good indicator that something else could be wrong, and medical attention is necessary Not all blood clots in the leg cause swelling or discoloration.

Trouble breathing, shortness of breath or sharp chest pain could be signs that the

“Anybody who has new swelling and pain in the arms, legs or groin should go in to be evaluated by their primary care doctor or the emergency room,” Sibille said. “It can be a very serious condition, but it’s also easy to rule out.”

A noninvasive ultrasound can find most blood clots in the arms, legs and groin. Once a blood clot is found, the typical treatment is to place a patient on blood thinners for at least three months, depending on the severity and reason for the blood clot.

Preventing blood clots

Patients who plan to travel on long trips, whether in a car, bus or airplane, should be mindful to move the body at various increments during the journey

The sweet spot is to move the legs, standing up and stretching if possible, every two to three hours, according to both Sibille and Vincent. The blood in the legs can move in and out of the veins by compressing the muscles, and keeping the calves and legs in motion reduce the risk of clotting.

Parkerson also recommend compression socks, although they are only a part of the picture for preventing blood clots. Patients should also keep up their movement and stay well hydrated.

“Our blood gets thicker and more prone to clotting when we get dehydrated,” Parkerson said. “So drink plenty of water.”

Some stretches and movements to prevent blood clots in the legs and arms include:

n Tighten and release the leg muscles (both the calves and thighs)

n Manually massage the calves and legs to move the muscles around.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends high-risk patients to speak to their doctor

Other conditions increase the chances of getting blood clots, according to the CDC, include:

n Having had a previous blood clot

n A family history of blood clots

n A known clotting disor-

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.

n Current or recent pregnancy

n Older age

n Obesity

n Cancer or cancer treatment, such as chemotherapy

n Serious medical conditions like congestive heart failure or inflammatory bowel disease.

Email margaret.delaney@ theadvocate.com to submit health questions, stories and more. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

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.

FILE PHOTO By APRIL BUFFINGTON

William ‘Ed’ Carruthers, a bone marrow transplant patient at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, walks on Feb 5 with his wife Ginny Carruthers, center, as part of efforts by Susan Foret, right, to bring more innovative cancer care to the Baton Rouge region.

Foret

Vincent

EatFit Live Fit

Cool treats, warm memories: Frozen delights youcan make together

Thisweek’scolumniswrittenbyBrittanyCraft,RDN,LDN,wholeadsourEatFitnonprofitinitiativeatOchsnerHealth.Whensheisn’tguidingourteamofdietitians astheypartnerwithrestaurantsandcommunitiesacrossLouisiana,Brittanyisnavigatingmealtimewithherpreschool-ageddaughter.It’ssafetosaysheknowsa thingortwoaboutbalancingnutritionwithreallife.Iamthrilledtohavehershareherexpertise—andsomesweetkid-approvedrecipes—withyoutoday.

WhenourLouisianasummerisright aroundthecorner,myfamily entersaphasewherealloutdoor activitiesmustinvolvewater—orbe wrappedupinunder30minutes—tokeep everyonecomfortableandingoodspirits.Of course,italwayshelpstoendwithasweet frozentreat.

Fortunately,mydualrolesasaregistered dietitianandamomworktogether beautifullyhere.Therearesomanyfrozen dessertsweenjoyasafamily—andthebest partis,wemakethemtogether.It’spart treat,partactivityand100%timewellspent. Threetreatstobeattheheat Whentheweatherishot,popsiclesarea must.Withjustablenderandasetofmolds, youcancreateyourownfrozentreatsthat easilyrival(andsurpass)thestore-bought kind.AndourEatFitCherryBerryPopsicles donotdisappoint.Therecipecallsfor cherriesandblueberries,butyoucanswitch upthefruitsorcreatecolorfullayersfor extraflair.Irecommendusing2%or5%(full fat)Greekyogurttogiveyourpopsiclesa smooth,creamytexture.

Yogurthasastarringroleinanotherone ofourgo-tosummertimetreats:Greek YogurtBark,whichisalwaysahitinthe kids’cookingclassesIteach.Therecipe requiresminimalequipmentandiseasily

customizabletoincorporatedifferent toppings.

Kidscandoalmosttheentirething themselves.Dependingontheirage,it canbeagreatopportunitytoteachsafe fruit-choppingskills.Ifyouhaveyounger kids,prepthegarnishesaheadoftimeand letthemtakethereins—mixing,spreading anddecorating.Trytoresisttheurgeto rearrangetheirworkandjustenjoyeach bite,evenifsomepiecesendupalittle heavyonthechocolatechips.(Also,be preparedforafewtoppingstodisappear straightintolittlemouthsbeforetheyhit thepan.)

Wealsomakeourownkindofice cream.BananaNiceCreamisa“nicer”take ontraditionalicecream.Aneasytwoingredientrecipewithnoaddedsugaror fat,itdeliversarich,creamytexture—noice creammakerrequired.Allyouneedisafood processororhigh-qualityblendertogetthat smooth“softserve”texturewealllove. Whetheryou’reinitforthecooling effectsorthekitchenbonding,making thesefrozentreatschecksalltheboxes. They’refresh,funandfullofingredientsyou canfeelgoodabout.Findtheserecipesand moreonthefreeEatFitmobileapp.Here’s tomakingsweetsummermemories—one biteatatime!

—BrittanyCraft,RD,LDN,OchsnerEatFit

MollyKimball,RD,CSSD,isaregistereddietitian withOchsnerHealthandfounderofOchsnersEatFit nonprofitinitiative.Formorewellnesscontent,tuneinto Molly’spodcast,FUELEDWellness+Nutrition,andfollow @MollykimballRDand@EatFitOchsneronsocialmedia. Emailnutrition@ochsner.orgtoconnectwithMollyor scheduleaconsultwithherteam.

CherryBerryPopsicles

RecipebyHopeFrugé,EatFit MonroeDietitian Makes10popsicles

2cupsfrozencherriesandblueberries 1cupplain2%or5%Greekyogurt 2tablespoonsliquidallulose

Blendallingredientsuntilsmooth.Pourinto popsiclemoldsandfreezeforatleast4 hours,untilfullyset.

Perserving:41calories,1.3gramsfat,0.5 gramssaturatedfat,8mgsodium,8grams carbohydrate,1gram fiber,4.5gramssugar (0addedsugar),2.5gramsprotein

GreekYogurtBark

Makes12servings

11/2cupsplainGreekyogurt,preferably2% or5%fat

1tablespoonsweetener(honey,maplesyrup orliquidallulose)

¼cupdicedstrawberries

¼cupblueberries

¼cupLily’schocolatechips

¼cupsliveredalmonds

Mixyogurtandsweetener.Spreadinathin layeronaparchment-linedbakingdish. Sprinklewithtoppings,coverandfreezefor atleast4hours.Oncefullyfrozen,remove frompaper,breakintopiecesandenjoy! Storeleftoversinafreezer-safecontainer orbag.

Note:Youcancuttheseintoevensmaller piecesforafun,bite-sizedvariationfor yoursmallesteaters.Andgarnishescanbe tailoredtowhat’sinseason,yourfamily’s preferencesoryoursenseofculinary adventure—thinkcinnamon,mango,

BY THENUMBERS

pumpkinseedsorvanillaextract.Thesky’s thelimit!

Perserving:80calories,5gramsfat,2 gramssaturatedfat,15mgsodium,7 gramscarbohydrate,2gramsfiber,1.5 gramssugar(1gramaddedsugarwhen madewithhoneyormaplesyrup)

Banana“Nice”Cream Makes4servings

4cupsfrozenbananaslices (about2largebananas) 2-4tablespoonsmilk Blendfrozenbananaslicesinafood processoruntilsmooth.Addsmallsplashes ofmilkasneededtohelpwithblending. Thelessliquidyouuse,thethickerthefinal texture.Enjoyimmediatelyforasoft-serve consistencyorfreezefor1–2hoursfora firmerscoop.

Perserving:65calories,0.5gramsfat, 0saturatedfat,4mgsodium,16grams carbohydrate,2gramsfiber,9gramssugar (0addedsugar)

LOUISIANAHOSPITALS RANK 17TH IN NATIONAL SAFETy RANKINGS

Multiple times ayear,the Leapfrog Group, atwo-decades-old nonprofitgroup, releases hospital safety grades forhealth systems across the United States.

The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades, which are “A,” “B,” “C,” “D” or “F” classification, are given to general hospitals in the U.S.,focused exclusively on howsafe theyare for theirpatients Hospitals whowere awarded astraight “A” classification this year sustained an “A” in safetyfor each gradingperiod since at least spring of 2023.

The Leapfroggrading system uses more than 30 measures includingrates of preventable errors, injuries and infection and whether hospitals have systemsin place to prevent them.

In May2025, states withthe highest number of straight “A”hospitals,in descending order,are: n Connecticut and Utah (29%) n NewJersey(27%) n Rhode Island (22%) n Colorado, North Carolina and Virginia (20%). Twelvestates have no hospitalsreceiving astraight “A” status, according to Leapfrog: Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Nebraska, Nevada, NewMexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia and Wyoming

The national averageis10% straight“A” hospitals per state. Louisiana ranked 17th in rates of straight “A” hospitals. Only hospitals whohaveearned an “A” rating for two

REMOVAL

Continued from page1X

are told they will be hired or promoted if they remove the tattoo. Others are attempting to distance themselves from certain criminal organizations, such as gangs that they are no longer apart of. Officialssaidthey havenot

Hospitalswith‘Straight A’s’

This mapshows thepercentageofhospitals that havereceivedagrade ‘A’for safety for five or more rounds of grading. Ahospitalmusthavesustained an ‘A’safetyscore from Leapfrog since at leastspring2023.

n St.TammanyHealth System (Covington) n TouroInfirmary(NewOrleans).

Other Louisianahospitals received an “A” forthe spring 2025 hospitalgrades: n CHRISTUS Health Shreveport-Bossier (Shreveport)

Source:LeapfrogHospitalSafetyGrade

consecutiveyears qualify forthiscategory. In Louisiana, 14% of the state’shospitals sustaineda grade“A” forsafety sinceat leastspring of 2023.

Louisiana is tied with both Texas and Idahointhe national rankings.

These Louisiana hospitalsreceived straight“A’s”:

n EastJefferson General Hospital (Metairie)

had any patientscome for tattoo removaloverfearof immigration enforcement or deportation, but recent federal policy and national headlines have put thestigma associated withtattoos back in the limelight

“They’re trying to remake their lives,”Ojeda said.

“They can also have tattoos thatmight notbeperceived well, but they have no actualaffiliation.

According to astudy published by Rutgers University in 2019, 81% of minors involved in gangs have tattoos, and those youths hada162%greater risk of being rearrested within 12 months compared with youths without tattoos.

The program now has eight students —including two medical students who were partofthe original cohort ayear before Shetty

n Lakeside Hospital (Metairie)

n LakeviewHospital (Covington)

n Our LadyofLourdes RegionalMedical Center (Lafayette)

n Our Ladyofthe LakeAscension (Gonzales)

n Our Ladyofthe LakeRegional Medical Center (Baton Rouge)

—and they allassist with one to 13 laser removal sessions over multiple months, officials said.

By helping aformerlyincarcerated person remove atattoo that represents a past version of themselves, Shettysaidthe clinichelps remove some of the stigma they face in everyday life.

“There’s just alot that people go throughthat you won’tnecessarily know

n CHRISTUS Ochsner LakeArea (Lake Charles)

n CHRISTUS Ochsner St.Patrick Hospital of LakeCharles (LakeCharles) n Natchitoches Regional Medical Center (Natchitoches)

n Ochsner LSUHealth Monroe (Monroe) n Ochsner LSUHealth Shreveport— St MaryMedical Center (Shreveport) n Ochsner Medical Center —Baton Rouge (Baton Rouge)

n Ochsner St.Mary(Morgan City)

n St.BernardParish Hospital (Chalmette) n Terrebonne General Health System (Houma)

n University Hospital and Clinics (Lafayette)

n West Jefferson Medical Center(Marrero)

Most of thedataLeapfrog uses comes fromthe federalagency Centers for Medicareand MedicaidServices, and in some cases, CMS does not publish adequate safety data on an individual hospital, accordingtothe Leapfrog Group Sometimes thehospitalistoo small to issuereliable numbers, and sometimes thehospitaldoes not offer services relevant to thesafety data.Grades are updated twiceannually,inthe fall and spring,and arefreely available to the public at hospitalsafetygrade.org

unless you ask or have the time to listen,” Shetty said.

“The program has opened my eyes …Ithink everyone should have an equal opportunity at afresh start.”

According to Ojeda,the tattoo removal process, which usually involves laser removal and multiple appointments over many months, can be expensive.

Ojeda said people who apply start by explaining how

they’ve been impacted by the criminal justice system andwhattattoos they’d like removed. If the applicant fulfills the criteria andis selected,theywill be contacted by the clinic to begin setting up theirfirst appointments, officials said. The clinic operates one Saturday permonth and serves approximately 25 patients each session,officials said.

Molly Kimball RD,CSSD

From stroke to beautiful keystrokes

| StrokePatient

Ashleywasinherearly40swhenabloodclotinherbrainandblockagesin hercarotidarterycausedhertosufferastroke.Shewasquicklytransported fromJena,LAtoOchsnerMedicalCenter–NewOrleansbyOchsner’sFlight CareTeam.Onceatthehospital,Ochsner’sexpertneurosciencesteamwas abletocareforAshleyandgetherontheroadtorecovery.Now,she’sback toplayingthepianoandimprovingeveryday.Whateveryourreasonsarefor doingthethingsyoudo—we’veonlygotone.You.

Learnmoreorscheduleaconsultationatochsner.org/neuro

AshleyK.

Fair winds, followingseas

Oldpromise drives twoBRmen to teachnextgenerationhow to sail

BY JOYHOLDEN Staffwriter

In afew shortweeks, theidyllic setting of aFalse Riverpavilionand pier willbecome asailing classroom. Shaded under the NewRoads Waterfront Pavilion,Bob Kennedy and Roger Seals discussedtheir plans for this summer’scampatLouisJ Thibodeaux Youth Sailing Camps

Kennedy,81, isaformer sales representative for Blue Cross Blue Shield. Seals, 85,isaretired LSU professor of civil engineering.

Thetwo octogenarianshavemadeit their post-retirement mission to teach sailing to kids to honor their friendand sailing buddy,Louis J. Thibodeaux. For three weeks during the summer on False River,Kennedy and Seals instructchildren ages 8to17onthe skills andterminology of sailing.

“They’re learning new things, they’re actually doing things,and they’re not sitting in front of ascreen or phone,” Seals said of the campers. “I think it really helps them develop cognitively,physically and intellectually.”

Kennedy and Seals both reside in Baton Rouge, but as longtime members of the Pelican Yacht Club, which was foundedin 1960, they spendtime meeting and sailing on False River throughout the year

Last year,withassistance fromPelican Yacht Club friends and volunteers,Kennedy and Seals conducted their first Louis J. Thibodeaux Youth Sailing Camp, which is inclusive and free forparticipants.The two modeled their program after other youth sailing camps around the country that can cost hundreds of dollars per camper

The False River sailing camp costs around $5,000torun,soKennedyand Seals have sponsors, including JJL&W Insurance Consulting Firm and The Hank Saurage Fund of theBaton Rouge Area Foundation. In 2024, the camp received a grant from the Boo GrigsbyFoundation and contributions from JJL&W as well.

Although the sailingcampcurrently takes place at the New Roads Waterfront

Pavilion, with cooperation from New Roads’ mayor,the sailing programplans to offer camps at MilfordWampold Park in BatonRougewhenthe dredgingproject is complete.

Thibodeaux’s ripple effect

As thenamesake of the youth sailing program, Thibodeauxwas afrequent sailingbuddy with Seals, sailing numerous bareboat chartersinthe British Virgin Islands, the Bahamas, Turkey,the Seaof Cortez and Saint Martin/St. Barts.

He was aformer LSU professor of chemical engineering who sailedfor over 50 yearsand introduced his two children andseven grandchildren to sailing.Now hisgreat-grandchildren are learning. Because of theprogram, Thibodeaux’s rippleeffect extendstoyoungsailors that he never met.His children, Michelle andScott, nowhelpout at thesailing camps Thibodeauxpassed away in 2020,soit took Kennedy and Seals over threeyears to get the infrastructure in place for the first camp in 2024.

“Part of thereason this started was that when Louis passed away,”Kennedy said, “his family wanted to do somethingmoremeaningful than flowers.Sothey asked people to donateto theLouis J. Thibodeaux youthsailing program.”

Seals usedthe donationstopurchase a fleet of four Optimist Prams, small sailing boatsbuilt to teach children how to sail, and appliedtocertify the programasa 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit corporation.

By the end of 2022, the sailing program became apublic charity. Seals purchased more sailboats and began developing plansfor theinauguralcamps. Kennedy, his close friend, gotroped in as his “sidekick” when Seals needed ahand in picking up some boats. He’sbeen by his side helping out ever since.

In addition to thesailing lessons taught at the camps, the program’sgoals include promotingand nurturing the development of leadership and teamwork skills.

Camp days

Kennedy thought it was acrazy idea to put an 8-year-old on asailboat, but the camp, and the campers, surprised him.

The five-daysailing campstarts with a swimming test andquite abit of “chalk talk,” knot tying and vocabulary under the pavilion. Safetyisamajor theme, and the campers must be able to swim 25 yards withalife vest on.

The second day involves an initiation of sorts where Kennedy andSeals taketurns familiarizing the campers with aPelican YachtClub“Flying Scott” sailboat that can fit about six children. They go out on the water withanadult and rotate taking turns on the helm, the tiller andthe sailstoexposethemto sailing.

Throughout the week, the kids split up into twogroups, one on the water with an adult and one learning underthe pavilion. After snacks andlunch, the groups swap, so they bothget pavilionand water time.

By the third day, the campers get out in theboats, capsize them andlearn howto right the boats. This happens in asmall

See SAILING, page 1Y

LouisianaInspiredannounces 2025 ENCORE Awards

Honorrecognizes extraordinary Louisianansover60

JanRisher

LONG STORy SHORT

When Istarted the first Postcard Project in 2022, Iexpected it to be aone-off thing.

Iwas wrong. This year’sPostcard Project begins with Memorial Dayand runs through Labor Day, Sept. 1. I anticipate an uptick in the arrival of postcards, but the truth is that these days, Ireceive postcards year-round from people Idon’t know —and each one makes my heart go pitter-patter.Just last week, Ireceived four from Dru Troescher

Because some people send postcards so frequently,Ifeel like I’ve gotten to know them —even if we’ve nevermet.

In the last few weeks, Ireceived four postcards from Troescher from Indiana, Illinois, Ohio and Arkansas.

The first was from the Ohio State Capitol Building. Troescher happened to be there on the anniversary of the day President Abraham Lincoln laid in state there for eight hours.

“He then continued on his train trip to Springfield, Illinois, his burial site,” Troescher wrote, adding that they were on their way to visit the Capitol building and Lincoln’sPresidential Library in Springfield next.

Once there, she found another postcard, but not at the state capitol.

“The Illinois Capitol did not have agift shop, so we went to the Illinois State Museum. It was free and very nice —lots about fossils and natural history.We’re on our way to Independence, Missouri, to see the Truman Library,” Troescher wrote fromSpringfield.

Idid not receive apostcard from Troescher at the Truman Library in Missouri, but she delivered in Indiana, but, once again, not from the Capitol building, which did not have agift shop.

The intrepid Troescher went to the University of Notre Dame and found abeautiful postcard to send, representing Indiana.

On her wayback to Baton Rouge, she stopped at the Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock and sent apostcard from there.

Her thoughtful stops and notes add to the fabric of this project. I’ve never met Troescher,but I appreciate her dedication to the project.

There are afew people who have, through the years of this project, sent so many postcards or such interesting postcards and messages that Ihave become friends with them —good friends, in fact. Just yesterday,Ihad lunch with afriend in NewOrleans who is adirect result of the Postcard Project!

Each summer,the goal is to get postcards from every state and as many countries as possible. Ien-

PROVIDED By

Aonetime NewOrleans landmark, the Red Store stands alongside the vegetablesection of the city’s historicFrench Market in an undated postcard. The Red Store was demolished in the mid-1930s –onlytoberebuiltthree and ahalf decades later

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

Louis J. Thibodeaux youth Sailing Program director RogerSeals and associate directorBob Kennedystand recent;yatthe floating docksonthe False River that theprogramuses in NewRoads.

PROVIDED PHOTO Sailing campers enjoybeing out on False River last year during the inaugural Louis J. Thibodeaux youth Sailing Camps.

PHOTO

MIKE SCOTT

LSU instructor to lead aspiring business owners

Program helps high school students develop ideas

BY JOY HOLDEN Staff writer

Native to Texarkana, Tex-

as, Casey O’Banion came to Baton Rouge to go to LSU in 2007. Since graduating in 2011, he’s had several positions in the area, including teaching English at Catholic High and creative writing at LSU. He worked for the Baton Rouge Area Chamber as the director of business retention and expansion and then as the director of entrepreneurship.

He has a bachelor’s degree in creative writing from LSU, master’s degree in fine arts from Antioch University Los Angeles and University of Southern California, as well as a law degree from LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center

O’Banion is a father of four married to a Shreveport native. He is also the author of ”Chinese New Year” and “Ant Hills.”

This year he was named CEO of Young Entrepreneurs Academy Baton Rouge, a hands-on program that equips high school students with the tools, mentorship, and experience to launch their own businesses. In partnership with the LSU E. J. Ourso College of Business, students spend an academic year learning how to develop business ideas based on their passions, write business plans, pitch to judges for seed funding and launch their startups.

What drew you to Young Entrepreneurs Academy? When I got into BRAC, business development was a new field for me. I really enjoyed it. When I was teaching at LSU, that was feeding that side of teaching and writing, but the Young Entrepreneurs Academy position seemed like everything that I’ve been doing. Not only was it an opportunity to impact kids and

their futures but also to use my business development abilities and everything that I had learned at BRAC. I wanted to continue using those skills that I learned, like connecting businesses and making sure Baton Rouge was growing.

I’ve always said, ‘Wherever I live, why wouldn’t I want it to be the best place for us, right?’

If more people are hired, if more people come here, then that’s going to make it better for me and for everyone Young Entrepreneurs Academy is doing that, but it in a more direct way What do you think people would be surprised to know about the academy?

These students are creating real businesses These are businesses that they registered with the Secretary of State, and they’re going to continue running with the seed money that they win from the pitch night. They’re going to continue running in the future.

That has a long-lasting impact. A lot of these businesses were things that our community needs, and they are starting right here in Baton Rouge — not only community needs for Baton Rouge but also for Louisiana, the United States and places around the world It’s very interesting and creative things that are happening.

What are you looking forward to this summer with the new group of young entrepreneurs coming in?

The summer is looking

like we’re going to be recruiting different mentors.

One of the things the kids said they really loved was the mentor piece, where we set them up with entrepreneurs and people around the community who have run businesses and other things.

I really want to work on that mentor piece and make sure that it’s running on all cylinders and creating the biggest impact for the students.

Anybody in Baton Rouge could benefit from being involved, whether young or old — doesn’t really matter I’m looking for new fresh speakers, and we’ve had a lot of fantastic ones in the past. I’m looking to hear from all different areas of Baton Rouge and the surrounding area to expose the students to successes and failures and different paths that people have taken.

What is your vision for the next few years? How do you see this program growing?

As a teacher at LSU or Catholic or wherever I’ve been, one of the things that I’ve prided myself on is trying to create an environment for my students where it’s safe to make mistakes and it’s safe to fail and it’s safe to ask questions and try again.

That’s what I want for the Young Entrepreneurs Academy, is for these kids to see, “Why don’t I follow this passion of mine to see if it leads to a viable business? And hey, you know, I wish I could do this differently.” Well, they can, because they are

only 16 or 17 years old.

I think anybody, no matter what career you’re in, if you could have looked back and had some practical, real experience in that in high school, it would have only benefited you.

I’ve never been a CEO or a president before this position. These kids are CEOs right now, so the things that I’m going through, they’re learning right now and they’re 20 years younger than me. They’re being able to pursue a passion right now, and it’s just something that I think is invaluable. Why is this program important to the community?

It’s not a program that is available to only public school or only private school students It’s a program available to literally every student homeschool, public, private, charter

In my first class that I got to go to, a group of three kids started a business together One is public school, one is at private school and then one is homeschooled. Through YEA BR, they got to meet, collaborate and fail together They got to try new things together in an environment that was safe and comfortable and innovative, and that’s what they did And so these kids are getting to

Sailing campers enjoy being out on False River last year during the inaugural Louis J. Thibodeaux youth Sailing Camps

SAILING

Continued from page 1y

U-shaped space within the floating pier right by the pavilion. Kennedy says the kids love that part. By the end of the week, after sailing with adults and sailing in pairs, the campers are sailing by themselves.

“It’s rewarding,” said Seals. “It’s very rewarding that you can take them from a zero state to where they’re reasonably confident in the boats. It’s something. It’s stimulating to the kids.”

This summer, the sailing camp schedule is:

n Introduction to Sailing: June 9-13 and June 12-16

n Advanced Sailing: July 7-11.

The minimum number of campers is six and the maximum is 10 per session. Registration is still open for people to apply at www ljtyouthsailing.org

Part of something bigger

Liam Coenen, an 11-year-old from Baton Rouge, participated in one of the inaugural sailing camps last summer He says the camp made him feel good about learning a new skill. He is even going back for the advanced camp this year along with nine other camp veterans The advanced camp will include more challenging courses, races and rigging lessons.

“It’s really nice to pick up speed with a good wind and be able to actually control something and to go across the water without getting wet,” Liam said.

He’s looking forward to getting back out on False River for more sailing and more learning.

“You really feel like you’re a part of something because it’s in honor of Louis Thibodeaux,” he said.

Initially, the program targeted its recruitment efforts on youths in East Baton Rouge and Pointe Coupee Parishes with a special empha-

sis on those from underserved population groups, which includes rural areas. Seals said that they have had campers from Baton Rouge Jarreau, Livonia, New Roads, Oscar, Prairieville, St. Francisville, Torbert and Ventress. During the sessions, older campers sail on the Pelican Yacht Club’s sunfish sailboats, which are bigger to accommodate the teenagers. Seals says that learning how to sail has valuable benefits. Not only does it promote physical fitness, balance and coordination, but sailing also fosters spatial awareness, independence and problem-solving skills while connecting them with nature.

“The intellectual, cognitive, physical benefits and decisionmaking skills are valuable,” Seals said. “If you’re in the boat, you’re responsible and accountable to the rest of the team. You’re responsible for yourself, the other person in the boat and the boat itself.”

meet, cheer on, help out other kids from around Baton Rouge. These are connections they’ll have as long as they stay here.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity Email Joy Holden at joy holden@theadvocate.com.

dimension to travel.

Rifling through the bounty of the 2024 Postcard Project, in which we received more than 272 postcards from all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and 34 other countries, I can’t help but be touched by the sincerity of the messages and amused by the obvious humor and ingenuity of some of the postcards sent in — not to mention being awed by the many vintage postcards people have sent in.

As evidenced by Troescher’s effort to find postcards, the near relic from the past can be difficult to find. Last year, a guy named Michael G got tired of looking for them and started making his own. He sent me postcards made of the end of a Kleenex box, the front of a cereal box and a piece of a campaign mailer I hope some people this year will follow in Michael G’s path and make postcards from unexpected paper and objects.

A. Kern sent a postcard from Paris, saying, “I am an old, retired French teacher, returning to Paris for another visit.” Carla from Germany wrote a

year ago this week, on May 23, 2024: “Today the German Constitution, called Grundgesetz, has its 75th birthday.” She goes on to explain that the first sentence of the German Constitution is: “Human dignity is inviolable.” Just to be sure, I looked up “inviolable.” It means: never to be broken, infringed or dishonored. I like that.

Carla went on in her postcard: “Also, the (West) German state was founded today 75 years ago, thanks to USA, France and Great Britain after the horrible Nazi terror and World War II. I think our constitution can avoid another dictatorship and protect the democracy I think it is one of the best in the world.” Reading back through last year’s postcards makes me both grateful and hopeful — for the many people who took the time to send them last year and for the many we hope to receive this year Who knows where they will come from and what they will say? The postcard magic continues, and I can’t wait. To participate, send postcards to: Jan Risher,The Advocate, 10705 Rieger Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70809. The 2025 Postcard Project will end Labor Day weekend. Email Jan Risher at jan.risher@

PROVIDED PHOTO

PROVIDED PHOTOS

Casey O’Banion, the new president of young Entrepreneurs Academy Baton Rouge

Zachary High School student Khaliyah Claiborne, with Superintendent Ben Necaise, is recognized at the Zachary Community School Board’s May 6 meeting for her BeatsbyKMarie business pitch and award at the young Entrepreneurs Academy of Baton Rouge.

Students meet one another at a young Entrepreneurs Academy Baton Rouge class.

Duck huntingtradition healsdried-out landscape

Sporthas been the

BY GREG STANLEY

Contributing writer

Editor’snote: This story,created by Greg Stanley for the Minnesota Star Tribune, is part of the AP Storyshare. Louisiana Inspiredfeatures 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.

It was late in the season and most of the birds were gone. But there had to be afew stragglers out there, late migrators that hadn’tyet left for warmer waters

Jordan Lillemontossed his decoys into Lake Christina, afew yards from shore, and hoped that western Minnesota still had somegoldeneyes,ducks with starkblack-andwhite bodies. He was almost certain that sunlight would bring in hooded mergansers, smaller ducks that fly fast and dive and appear suddenly from anydirection, at any time, and are among the most difficult to shoot.

Kettle, his 7-year-old black lab, paused for amoment in the water, thenclimbed up to her platform next to the hunting blind andwaited for the sun to rise.

Nearly all of the wetlandsinMinnesota’sprairieregionhavebeen destroyed, drained away and turned into row crops by thousandsofmiles of ditches and tile lines. Manyof the few that remain —an estimated 5% of the total before settlement— were saved by duck hunters.

The love of birds, for sport and food, or simply for observation, hasbeenthe saving graceofthe swamps, marshes and shallow lakes alongthe MississippiRiver,fromits upper reaches in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa on downto Missouri, Arkansas and Louisiana.

Hundreds of species, including every kind of duck, goose and swan, need those wetlands, which rise and fall, flood and recede, to breed, forage and rest.

When wetlands are destroyed,the birds are usually the first to noticeably die off.

By the early 1900s, it was clear that draining the swamps, bayous andbackwaters of the Mississippi Rivertocreate new and valuable farmland wascausing drasticfalls in duck and wildlife populations acrossthe continent.

After 1918, waterfowlpopulations continued to fall forthe next 15 years, until thehabitat lossand over-hunting pushed several species to thebrink of extinction.

In 1934, Congress tried something new —and simple. Lawmakers required every goose andduck hunter over the ageof16tobuy a$1stamp. All the moneycollected from the stamp would be used to buy and permanentlyprotect swamps and marshesupand down theMississippiFlywaythatthe birdsneeded to survive.

It worked. Through the first few years of the program,the United States and hunterswere able to save thousands of acres of marshes. Then tensofthousands.

Theducks almost immediately returned

The agency in charge of the duck stamp, which became theU.S.Fish and WildlifeService, started working with nonprofitconservation groups like Ducks Unlimitedtonot only save swamps but revive ones that had been destroyed. Ducks Unlimited would negotiate easements withlandownersand then remove drainage tiles, ditches and dams to restore thenatural flow of water to breeding groundsthat had been lost. TheFish and WildlifeService worked with Ducks Unlimited and other groups to buyand permanently protect restored wetlands.

Overthe last 90 years, revenue from the hunting stamp,whichnow costs $25,has saved about 6million acres of wetlands. Ducks Unlimited, which is funded primarily by hunters, estimates it has restored18 million acres in North America, the vast majority in nesting grounds for birdsthat migrate along the Mississippi Flyway, fromprairieCanada to theGulf of Mexico.

That’satotal area of swamps, marshes, bogs and shallow lakes larger than LakeSuperior

But it’sa fraction of what it was Lake Christinawas one of the most famedand productive hunting lakes in Minnesota in the 1920s. There were regular reports then of more than 100,000 white-backed

TIGERSTADIUM

canvasback ducks dottingthe lake. Butby1959, that number had fallen to about 250.

Lillemon grew up on the lake, and seeing its rebirth helpedinspire him to becomea habitat engineer for Ducks Unlimited.

“It’shardfor me to hunt anywhere else,” he said,asthe birds have becomesoconsistent.

The waterline in ahealthy and functioning wetland needs to fluctuate, like lungs. Thedamage done to awetland when it is drained is immediate and obvious, likeair sucked out of acollapsed lung. The rich soil dries up and can be plowed and turned into acorn field. Butthe other extremeisjust as damaging. Wetlands can be flooded to death. This happens when dams, drainage ditches and tile lines force too much water into the system and don’tlet it leave. Imagine taking adeep breath and never being abletoexhale.

That’s what happened to Lake Christina.

As thousands of acres of what had been meandering streams and marshes were drained to build out the crop fields of west-central Minnesota, some of that water pushed into Lake Christina. The higher water levels allowedbullheadsand carp to thrive. They churned up the lake bottom,and it becamedark and mucky.Nativeaquatic plantslike wild celery died off.

The birds left. About 15 years ago, Minnesota

lawmakers funded apumping system in one of the dams near the lake withthe help of Ducks Unlimited and theFish andWildlife Service. In 2010, the statedrew down water levels, allowing the system to exhale forthe first time in 50 years. Fish and algae populations immediately dropped to more naturalnumbers Sunlight once againreached the lake bottom. Plants started growing.

As thelake rose with therainsand snow melt of the following spring, thousandsofducks returned. Still, for every acreofwetland being restored in Minnesota,more are being lost. The Supreme Court’s2023 Sackett decision hasalso removed federal Clean Water Act protections for wetlands unless they have acontinuous surface connection to navigable waters.Thatstripsfederalprotection from many shallow breeding ponds, which fill up with rain and snowmelt only in the spring.

Those ponds, called prairie potholes, will nowhave to rely either on state protectionsorconservation programslike those funded by the duck stamp Over the last 20 years, wetlands have been losingsome of their most ardent advocates. Duck hunting, as apastime, is in declinethroughout theirbreedinggrounds of the Upper Midwest.

But across the country,sales of the federal duck stamp have remained stable at about 1.5million

stamps soldeachyearsince2010

Some of thatisbecause duckhunting hasbeen growing as asport in the South, in places like Arkansas wherelicensed hunters have increased

It’s also becausetherehas been anew-found push amongbirders, those who observebut don’thunt, to buy duckstampstosupport the preservation of wild places, said Scott Glup, the recently retired project leader of theLitchfieldWetland Management District for the Fish and Wildlife Service.

“They take as much pleasurein seeing abirdasIdowatching my dog work afield,”hesaid. “If you want bird habitat,here’ssomething you can do. Buya duckstamp.”

The farmlandwheremuch of the losses have been is valuable. Some of it was drained by county or state governments for what was believed to be for thepublic good.

In November,Glupstood by the side of oneofthe wetlands he helped restore afew days before hisretirement. It took 15 years for the Fish and Wildlife Service to work out a deal with the landownerstoput a conservation easementonthe property.It’sstill owned by the farmers, but it can never be drained or intensively farmed again.

How can youjustify taking land outofproduction?

That’sthe most persistent questionGlup receivedinhis 37-year career restoringwetlands.

Glup saidheused to dreadthat question fromhostile county boards andskeptical farmers.But thenhe started looking forward to it,after he hadhunted in restored fields, and seen all that they had brought back.

“We’re not taking it out of production, we’re putting it backinto production,” Glup said.“With these wetlandswe’re producinggroundwater recharge, erosion control, floodprotections, ducks and pheasants. We’re producingpublic land thatpeople cangoout and enjoy We’re producing pollinators.” Throughout his career,Glup was usually thefirst oneinthe office, arriving around sunrise. The Litchfield office is asmall building off of atwo-lane road that backs up afew hundredacres of restored prairie. During the season, he would hunt pheasantsoverhis lunch break in thatprairiewith Rica, the best pheasant dog Glup has ever had.

PROVIDED PHOTO

FAITH & VALUES

‘Playful’ approach to planning for death

Former theology professor’s program has new view

BY ELLIE DAVIS Contributing writer

Lea Schweitz has become a fan of and a facilitator for having conversations we all like to avoid.

She remembers that soon after her Stage 4 lung cancer diagnosis two years ago, a caregiver told her she better get her finances together But between triaging her responsibilities and focusing on healing, she set aside the daunting “get your affairs in order” aspect of her diagnosis, she said.

Then, her 10-year-old’s friend showed up at her Chicago home on Halloween in a Grim Reaper costume.

“The whole thing was hilarious to me,” said Schweitz, a former systematic theology professor.

“It was this little snapshot of this long playdate with death that we had gone on.”

Soon after the Grim Reaper visit, Schweitz invited friends to gather and do the end-of-life planning she’d been avoiding. And in February 2024, she started her Substack, “Playdates with Death,” which aims to serve as a place for people from anywhere to come together and do the hard work of preparing for their deaths. The online community meets on Zoom once a month for a “community playdate,” which tackles one of 12 projects for the year, from obituary writing, to creating phone trees for emergencies, to funeral planning, to a Q&A session with an estate attorney Schweitz has started hosting

workshops on related topics at churches Americans are starting to talk about death in new ways. The growing death-tech industry hopes to streamline end-of-life planning Death Over Dinner is a project that encourages people to discuss death at their next dinner party And in February, The New York Times’ Tech Tip focused on digital estate planning.

Meanwhile, the International End of Life Doula Association’s membership rose from about 1,700 in 2023 to 2,296 last year

The death awareness movement of the 1970s and 1980s seems to have to morphed into the death positive movement today, which encourages people to talk about and learn to accept the reality of death, dying and burial — topics that often make people anxious or scared

Schweitz earned her Ph.D. in religion at the University of Chicago. Throughout her career, she’s long been asking deep, hard questions, whether about climate change, dementia or technology

Then, two years ago, at age 48, while navigating a job loss and divorce, the mom of two received her diagnosis.

“There’s a need to find playful ways to do this hard work in community,” Schweitz said. “Professional training helped me hold this space with people’s biggest concerns. As hard as it is, it is also life-giving and glorious.”

While “Playdates with Death” isn’t explicitly religious, Schweitz said many of the practices are theologically and spiritually informed, whether she’s leading a gratitude practice or an embodied movement session.

Kathleen Garces-Foley, professor of religious studies at Marymount University in Arlington,

Virginia, has written extensively about hospice and efforts to improve end-of-life care by bringing “spiritual presence” to those who are dying. While there is no specified survey to ask people if they are interested in end-of-life information and care, she said that once you add up those seeking “death cafes, death doulas and death memoirs, you do get a picture of interest.”

“Using death as a spiritual opportunity for growth was a popular theme in the 20th century,” she said. “But the growing financial burden of end-of-life care is a big concern.”

For Schweitz’s workshop series at St. Paul & St. Andrew United Methodist Church in Manhattan, 75 people signed up.

“Doesn’t that tell you how hungry people are for information like this?” said participant Leah Heimbach “There were young, old, some in other states.”

The four-part series that started in January covers subjects such as “Finding your why and the big 3 of end-of-life planning” and “End-of-life celebrations.” Schweitz intends to bring the workshops, which first started with her friends, to different churches around the country

Among the participants was Courtney Behm, 45, who moved to Manhattan from Ohio four years ago and had been intending to update her life planning paperwork, she said. When she saw the workshops advertised, she said it gave her the nudge she needed.

Behm works in construction management, but her family runs a fourth-generation funeral business. She’s always known taking care of these types of things while you are still around can be a huge support for your family, but she hadn’t yet gone into

the details that “Playdates with Death” offered.

“Lea makes complex things relatable,” Behm said. For example, when Schweitz said on her Substack that an obituary writing lesson would be part of one of the church sessions, Behm decided to attend “It’s a powerful experience to write an obituary,” she reflected. “It helped me get grounded before I dove into the work.”

Whether Schweitz is leading in-person workshops or online community playdates, her goal is to “turn the volume down” on participants’ nervous systems when considering these tough topics, she said. She opens with a lighthearted check-in question and gentle movement, like chair yoga, before moving into the day’s task. She ends every “playdate” with a dance session hoping everyone will leave feeling better than when they came in,

even after doing the hard work of preparing for death.

Heimbach, 64, has a health care background and was intrigued when she heard about the workshops, she said. At a “celebration of life” session, her view on funerals expanded as Pastor Andrea Steinkamp told stories about various funerals at St. Paul & St. Andrew For one member who loved gardening, her memorial service was held outside at the church.

“My husband doesn’t make a big deal about what he’s done, but I intend to have a celebration for him,” Heimbach said. “That’s what I learned in the celebration of life session. Sometimes, it isn’t for you it’s helping the people left behind.”

Schweitz considers herself adjacent to end-of-life caretakers like death doulas and hospice workers but is clear that’s not the work she is doing. She sees herself as a community builder around end-of-life planning to empower families to take care of necessary tasks before things are dire, she said.

“It’s not necessarily folks who have gotten a diagnosis recently,” she said of her participants. “You have to want to be in this space if things are imminent, it’s harder to have that cheeky playfulness.”

She said the group is for people of all ages, and the hope is participants can stay relaxed and playful when having hard conversations because they practiced once a month through the workshops.

Earlier this month, Behm submitted her life planning paperwork to an attorney

“It’s a lot of work,” she said. “But you can see how much it can help others.”

Son of a Saint helps to build confidence for N.O. students

‘The world can be mine’

BY DESIREE STENNETT Staff writer

At 13 years old, Jayden Cavet was excited to be accepted into the Son of a Saint program. Coming of age without his dad, the program was a shot at getting a mentor who could serve as a father figure, guiding him as he grew into a man. The program, which was started in 2011 by Bivian “Sonny” Lee III, the son of former New Orleans Saints defensive back Bivian Lee, Jr., allowed Cavet to take a trip out of state for the first time. Since he was a wrestler on his Jefferson Parish high school team, Son of a Saint paid for him to join a summer wrestling camp that his family wouldn’t have been able to afford on their own.

Before being involved in Son of a Saint, Cavet thought he would skip college to join the military. After joining the program, he decided he wants to attend the competitive U.S. Naval Academy after he completes a year of Marion Military Institute in Alabama, which he will start in August.

A week after graduating high school, Son of a Saint is still helping Cavet toward his goal of joining the Naval Academy though the nonprofit’s ACT prep program, funded by Chevron.

“After going through college, I’d like to have a degree in electrical engineering,” he said. “But realistically, when I go to the military, I’d like to do Special Forces.”

But to get on that path, Cavet needs his score on the standardized college entrance exam to be as high as he can get it to make sure he can claim his spot among all the other students who have just as impressive grades, extracurriculars that show their leadership skills and recommendations from members of Congress.

When Cavet, now 18, took the ACT test for the first time two years ago, he scored a 27 out of 36. Since then, he has done a combination of in-person and virtual test prep. After retaking the test in September, he’s already been able to raise his score to a 31. He plans to study more and take the test at least two more times this summer in hopes of seeing his score jump again.

Building test-taking confidence Cavet is one of 22

Son of a Saint mentees who logged more than 450

hours of ACT test prep study this school year

Jonathan Brockhoff, a 16-yearold rising senior at Jesuit who has hopes of attending the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, used the test prep opportunity to take his score from a 22 on the practice test to a 32 on his first try on the real thing. He wants to keep studying and is aiming for a perfect score next time.

And Calvin Drake, a 17-year-old rising senior at Newman rose his score from a 19 to a 26. He decided to pursue a career in sports medicine after Son of a Saint got him opportunities to shadow athletic trainers with the Saints, Tulane and Ochsner over the past two summers.

Now that Drake has seen his score jump so dramatically, he’s aiming higher too.

“It was almost like a sense of relief,” Drake said after watching his score rise by seven points.

After all, his score on the test would, in part, determine where he could go to college.

“I had a newfound confidence in myself when it came to the

test,” he said. “I had a lot of that nervousness going into the test. But after prep and getting confidence in myself and just knowing how to properly take the test, after seeing my 26 and all my hard work pay off, it felt really good.”

As Drake gets ready to retake the test, he said he’s happy with the progress he’s already made.

“But I know I can get a much higher score,” he said, adding that he’s focused mainly on time management now His lowest scores have been in science, but he said it’s not the material that’s the problem. He just needs to build up his test-taking endurance.

Lot of time working hard

Building test-taking confidence is part of the magic of the Son of a Saint program said Jesse Weber, who started as a volunteer in 2021 and has since left his teaching job to work full time with the program.

“It feels really cool through time to see the longitudinal effect of someone grabbing their goal,” he said. “Somebody on their time de-

fining their own goal and then going after it then kind of exceeding your effort.”

Mentorship, he said, can take work making sure the students are showing up for their test prep sessions, making sure as they set their goals, they aren’t selling themselves short, resisting the urge to push the kids in a particular direction before they’re ready

But the moment when a young man starts to take the reins is always rewarding.

“I think I’ve spent a lot of time working harder,” Weber said.

“Then, as you watch mentees grow, I’ve watched them grow in ways I didn’t even expect. It’s really cool because you can see lessons that people learn in real time.”

Those lessons come from test prep, which is how Drake decided time management would be his next focus and how Cavet realized that attention to the small details would help him get a higher score. They come for the social parts of the program, too.

For Brockhoff, Son of a Saintsponsored trips already took him to Ghana, and this summer, he’ll

get the chance to go to France. With those trips under his belt, an out-of-state school is far less intimidating.

“The major I want to go into, aerospace engineering, is not available in the state of Louisiana,” he said. “I need good test scores so I can get scholarships out of state.”

The confidence to chase a dream is perhaps the greatest gift for many of the boys and young men who find mentors though Son of a Saint.

Drake said he’s grateful for the program and credited it for changing the trajectory of his life.

“Within today’s society, a Black young man growing up in a single mother household, the odds of you being successful really aren’t that high,” he said. “But Son of a Saint has completely changed that, and it’s opened up my mind to the idea that the world can be mine. I can take on anything in life and have the confidence to win everything.”

Email Desiree Stennett at desiree.stennett@theadvocate. com.

PROVIDED PHOTO

Lea Schweitz hosts workshops to encourage tough conversations about death.

STAFF PHOTO By BRETT DUKE

Jesse Weber and Jayden Cavet sit at the Son of a Saint office recently in New Orleans.

SUNDAY, MAY 25, 2025

CURTIS / by Ray Billingsley

SLYLOCK FOX / by Bob Weber Jr

GET FUZZY / by Darby Conley

HAGAR THE HORRIBLE / by Chris Browne

MOTHER GOOSE AND GRIMM / by Mike Peters

ZIGGY / by Tom Wilson

ZITS / by Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman

SALLY FORTH / by Francesco Marciuliano & Jim Keefe

PEARLS BEFORE SWINE /byStephan Pastis

directions: Make a 2- to 7-letter word from the letters in each row Add points of each word, using scoring directions at right. Finally, 7-letter words get 50-point bonus. “Blanks” used as any letter have no point value All the words are in the Official SCRABBLE® Players Dictionary, 5th Edition.

word game

instructions: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed. 3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.

todAY's Word — QuALities: KWAL-ihtees: Inherent features.

Average mark 42 words Time limit 60 minutes

Can you find 56 or more words in QUALITIES?

ken ken

instructions: 1 -Each rowand each column must contain thenumbers 1through4 (easy) or 1through6 (challenging) without repeating 2 -The numbers within the heavily outlinedboxes, called cages, must combine using thegiven operation (inany order)toproduce the target numbersinthe top-left corners. 3 -Freebies: Fillinthe single-boxcages withthe numberinthe top-left corner

instructions: Sudoku is anumber-placing puzzle based on a 9x9 gridwith several given numbers. The object is to placethe numbers 1to 9in theempty squares so that each row,each column and each 3x3 boxcontains the same number only once. The difficultylevel of the Conceptis Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday

directions: Complete thegridso that numbers 1–132 connect horizontally, vertically or diagonally

Sudoku

Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis

wuzzLes

Perseverance

Today’s deal is from a recent tournament in India. South had beenastarplayerinIndiaformany decades, but he was in his 80s now and had lost some of his patience. He showed that in both his bidding and his play on this deal. South won the opening trump lead in his hand and drew the rest of the trumps. Seeing nothing better to do, he took the heart finesse at trick three and was quickly down one There were some extra chances on this deal, and expert discussion sorted through them at the end of the day It was possible that one opponent started with three clubs to the king and queen. After drawing trumps, South might have led a club to the ace and ruffed a club. The fall of the king would be exciting! Declarer could now cash two high hearts, in case the queen fell, and ruff another club. East’s discard would be disappointing, but South could now start to run his diamonds. This would be the position with one diamond to go:

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Take the path that has the most opportunities. Diversification is the route to your happiness. The more ways you can use your attributes, the easier it will be to find your niche. Put your assets to good use.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) Review conversations and requests. Someone will ask for too much. Curb any inclination to be excessive or let situations spin out of control. Declining a deal that doesn’t meet your requirements will be necessary

On the two of diamonds, West would have to keep his club so would part with a spade. The jack of clubs would be discarded from dummy and East would have the Hobson’s choice of discarding a spade or a heart. 13 tricks for South either way!

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. ©

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Refuse to let anger take charge, even in selfdefense. Keeping the peace will separate you from the crowd. No matter who you are dealing with, a positive attitude will put you in command and turn you into a hero. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Keep an open mind, but refuse to let anyone take advantage of you. Look around you, consider what you are happy with make some hard decisions. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) An open conversation can help clear up a lot of uncertainty Prepare to ask tough questions, verify facts and make choices that will positively impact how and where you live. Opportunity is apparent.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) Channel your energy into accomplishing your goals, working out and being the best you can be in all aspects of life. Refuse to let your anger and frustration mount regardless of what others do or say SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Set a tight schedule. The busier you are, the better Using your energy to get things done will help you avoid an argument. Physical activities and self-improvement projects will give you a needed boost.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Be receptive to change. If you go with the flow, you’ll find it easier to get

things done. Check for hidden costs and read the fine print. Invest more time in self-improvement.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Invest time and money in yourself and your surroundings. Streamline or update your surroundings. Do the work yourself, where possible. Romance is in the stars.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Refrain from taking on more than you can handle. Offering less and presenting more will lead to the boost you need to achieve your goals. Refuse to let anyone take advantage of you financially Play fair

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

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) Emotional spending, indulgence and excess will lead to financial setbacks. Changing how you handle money will help you make ends meet. Live within your means. ARIES (March 21-April 19) Weigh the pros and cons of every situation and look for a unique solution. Set a budget and an achievable plan. Say no to excess. Romance and selfimprovement are favored.

1. Denmark. 2. Germany.3.Spain.4.Malta. 5. Portugal.6.Hungary.7.Ukraine or Bahrain. 8. Argentina. 9. Singapore. 10. Indonesia. 11. Cameroon. 12. Bangladesh.13. Liechtenstein. 14. Slovenia.15. Botswana.

SCORING: 24 to 30 points —congratulations, doctor; 18 to 23 points—honorsgraduate; 13 to 17 points —you’replenty smart, but no grind; 5to12points —you really shouldhit the booksharder;1point to 4points —enroll in remedial courses immediately; 0points who reads thequestions to you?

Saturday's Cryptoquote: Having children is like living in afrat house —nobody sleeps, everything's broken, andthere's alot of throwing up. —Ray Romano

jeFF mACnelly’sshoe/ by Gary Brookins &Susie MacNelly

FoXtrot/ by BillAmend