BY TIM SULLIVAN, STEVE KARNOWSKI and ALANNA DURKIN RICHER Associated Press
BROOKLYN PARK,Minn. Hundredsoflaw officers fanned out across aMinneapolis suburb Saturday in pursuit ofa man who authorities say posed as apolice officer and fatally shot aDemocratic statelawmaker in her home in what Gov.Tim Walz called“apolitically motivated assassination.” Authorities said the suspect also shot and wounded a second lawmaker and was believed to betrying to flee the area. Democratic former House Speaker Melissa Hortmanand her husband, Mark, were killed in their Brooklyn Park home. State Sen. John Hoffman, also aDemocrat,and his wife, Yvette, were injured at theirChamplin address, about 9miles away Authorities identified thesuspectas 57-year-old Vance Boelter,and the FBI issued areward of up to $50,000 for information leading to his arrest and
ä See ATTACK, page 7A
2025 LOUISIANA LEGISLATURE PASSES AND FAILS
Louisiana lawmakers wrapped up the 2025 legislativesessionon Thursday.See some of the biggest topics from the session and the most high-profile bills that passed andfailed. Page 10A
POMP AND PROTESTS
Military parade barrelsthrough nation’s capitalwithtanks, troops and21-gunsalute as ‘NoKings Day’ ralliesare held nationwide
President Donald Trumpattends amilitary paradecommemorating the U.S. Army’s250th
birthday,inWashington, D.C.,onSaturday
BY CLAIRE TAYLOR Staff writer
Even in deep red Lafayette Parish, more than 350 people joined thousands across the countryand elsewherein Louisiana on Saturday for No Kingsprotestsinopposition to President Donald Trump’s policies.
The event took place on June 14, Flag Day,which commemorates the adoption of theU.S. flag, as well as the U.S. Army’sofficial birthday Many in attendance were also protesting amilitary paradescheduled for Saturday evening in the nation’s capital marking Trump’s 79th birthday and the Army’s 250th birthday
By
ä Protesters demonstrate across the nation.
A‘No KingsDay’rally washeld in downtown Lafayette to counter PresidentDonald Trump’smilitary parade for his birthdayand to protest his policies on Saturday. ä See LAFAYETTE, page 5A
4A
BY LOLITA C. BALDOR and MICHELLE L. PRICE
Associated Press
WASHINGTON The grand militaryparadethatPresident Donald Trumphad been wanting for years barreled downConstitution Avenue on Saturday with tanks,troopsand a21-gun salute, playing out against the counterpoint of protests around the country by those whodecried the U.S. leader as adictator and would-be king. The Republican president, on his 79th birthday,sat on aspecial viewing stand south of the White House to watch the display of American military might,which beganearly andmoved swiftly as light rain fell and dark cloudsshroudedthe Washington Monument. The procession with morethan 6,000 soldiers and 128 Army tanks was one Trump tried to make happeninhis first term afterseeing suchanevent in Paris in 2017, but the plans never came together until this year,when the parade was added to an event
ä See POMP, page 6A
Hoffman Hortman
PHOTO
ROBIN MAy
ASSOCIATEDPRESS PHOTOByJULIA DEMAREE NIKHINSON
anniversary, coinciding withhis 79th
Pope speaks by video at White Sox stadium
In his first words directed specifically to Americans, Pope Leo XIV told young people on Saturday how to find hope and meaning in their lives through God and in service to others.
“So many people who suffer from different experiences of depression or sadness — they can discover that the love of God is truly healing, that it brings hope,” the first American pope said in a video broadcast on the jumbotron at the White Sox baseball stadium in Chicago.
The event — set in Leo’s hometown and at the home stadium of his favorite major league team — was organized by the Archdiocese of Chicago in honor of his recent election as pope. Leo seized the opportunity to speak directly to young people, tying his message to the Catholic Church’s ongoing Jubilee year of hope that was declared by Pope Francis In Saturday’s message, Leo urged those listening in the stadium and online to be beacons of hope capable of inspiring others.
“To share that message of hope with one another — in outreach, in service, in looking for ways to make our world a better place — gives true life to all of us, and is a sign of hope for the whole world.”
Putin, Trump have Saturday phone call
Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump held a lengthy call Saturday to discuss the escalating situation in the Middle East and Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Trump in a posting on his Truth Social platform said they spent the bulk of their conversation focused on Israel’s ongoing blistering attacks aimed at decapitating Iran’s nuclear program and Iran’s retaliatory strikes. But Trump said that he also pressed Putin to end Russia’s war in Ukraine.
“He feels, as do I, this war in Israel-Iran should end, to which I explained, his war should also end,” said Trump, who added the conversation went about an hour.
Putin foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov said Putin briefed Trump on his recent talks with the leaders of Iran and Israel and reiterated Russia’s proposal to seek mutually acceptable solutions on the Iranian nuclear issue.
“Vladimir Putin, having condemned the military operation against Iran, expressed serious concern about the possible escalation of the conflict,” Ushakov told reporters. He added that Putin raised concerns that escalating conflict between Israel and Iran threatened “unpredictable consequences for the entire situation in the Middle East.” Putin also emphasized Russia’s readiness to carry out possible mediation efforts, and noted that Russia had proposed steps “aimed at finding mutually acceptable agreements” during U.S.-Iran negotiations on the Iranian nuclear program.
U.S. man accused of killings in Rome
MILAN Greek authorities detained an American man on Friday on the Greek island of Skiathos suspected of killing an infant found over the weekend in a Rome park and of having a role in the death of a woman believed to be the infant’s mother, whose body was found nearby
The American, who wasn’t identified, was detained on a European arrest warrant issued in Italy, citing “strong evidence” of his suspected involvement in the death of the baby girl, chief Rome prosecutor Francesco Lo Voi told a news conference in Rome. Italian investigators said that the cause of the woman’s death wasn’t known, “but there is a reasonable suspicion that it is a double murder,” deputy prosecutor Giuseppe Cascini said.
The bodies of the baby girl and mother, also believed to be American, were found in Rome’s Villa Pamphili park on Saturday
The mother’s body was under a black bag, having been killed several days before the infant, who was found several hundred meters away in undergrowth. Both were naked, and without any identification, Lo Voi said.
The suspect, who witnesses had seen in the presence of a woman and infant, fled Italy for Skiathos on Wednesday, Lo Voi said.
Iran fires more missiles at Israel
More explosions heard in Tehran; Sunday’s U.S.-Iran nuclear talks canceled
BY JON GAMBRELL, MELANIE LIDMAN and JULIA FRANKEL Associated Press
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates Iran launched a second night of missiles against Israel late Saturday while Israel’s military kept up attacks inside Tehran and elsewhere, a day after Israel’s blistering attack on Iranian nuclear and military sites over Tehran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program. The latest U.S.Iran talks will not take place Sunday, officials said.
Both Israel’s military and Iran state television announced the latest round of Iranian missiles as explosions were heard in parts of Israel, including Tel Aviv, less than an hour before midnight — while the security cabinet was meeting. Fire officials reported a collapsed building in the north. Within the hour, Israel’s military said people could leave shelters.
The military noted it was currently striking “military targets” in Tehran, where Iranian state television said explosions were heard in the city’s east and west Israel’s ongoing “widespread strikes” across Iran have left the country’s sur-
viving leadership with the difficult decision of whether to plunge deeper into conflict with Israel’s more powerful forces or seek a diplomatic route.
Oman’s foreign minister, Badr al-Busaidi, said on social media the sixth round of indirect talks on Sunday over Iran ‘s nuclear program would not take place.
“We remain committed to talks and hope the Iranians will come to the table soon,” said a senior U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss diplomacy World leaders made urgent calls to de-escalate and avoid all-out war The attack on nuclear sites set a “dangerous precedent,” China’s foreign minister
said. The region is already on edge as Israel makes a new push to eliminate the Iranian-backed militant group Hamas in Gaza after 20 months of fighting. Israel — widely believed to be the only nucleararmed state in the Middle East — said its hundreds of strikes on Iran over the past two days killed a number of top generals, nine senior scientists and experts involved in Iran’s nuclear program. Iran’s U.N. ambassador has said 78 people were killed and more than 320 wounded. Iran retaliated for a second night Saturday as explosions lit the night skies over Jerusalem and Tel Aviv Israel said three people were killed overnight
into Saturday in the first attack and over 170 wounded.
“If (Iranian Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali) Khamenei continues to fire missiles at the Israeli home front — Tehran will burn,” Defense Minister Israel Katz said. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has made the destruction of Iran’s nuclear program his top priority, said Israel’s strikes so far are “nothing compared to what they will feel under the sway of our forces in the coming days.”
In what could be another escalation if confirmed, semiofficial Iranian news agencies reported an Israeli drone struck and caused a “strong explosion” at an Iranian natural-gas processing
plant. It would be the first Israeli attack on Iran’s oil and natural gas industry Israel’s military did not immediately comment. The extent of damage at the South Pars natural gas field was not immediately clear Such sites have air defense systems around them, which Israel has been targeting.
Nuclear talks
Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only, and U.S. intelligence agencies have assessed that Tehran was not actively pursuing the bomb But its uranium enrichment has reached near weapons-grade levels, and on Thursday, the U.N.’s atomic watchdog censured Iran for not complying with obligations meant to prevent it from developing a nuclear weapon. Iran’s top diplomat said Saturday the nuclear talks were “unjustifiable” after Israel’s strikes. Abbas Araghchi’s comments came during a call with Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s top diplomat.
The Israeli airstrikes were the “result of the direct support by Washington,” Araghchi said in a statement carried by the state-run IRNA news agency The U.S. has said it isn’t part of the strikes.
On Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump urged Iran to reach a deal with the U.S. on its nuclear program, adding that “Iran must make a deal, before there is nothing left.”
Zelenskyy warns oil price surge could help Russia
BY SAMYA KULLAB Associated Press
KYIV, Ukraine A sharp rise in global oil prices following Israeli strikes on Iran will benefit Russia and bolster its military capabilities in the war in Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday in comments that were under embargo until Saturday afternoon.
Speaking to journalists in Kyiv, Zelenskyy said the surge in oil prices threatens Ukraine’s position on the battlefield, especially
because Western allies have not enforced effective price caps on Russian oil exports.
“The strikes led to a sharp increase in the price of oil, which is negative for us,”
Zelenskyy said. “The Russians are getting stronger due to greater income from oil exports.”
Global oil prices rose
Death toll in Indian plane crash climbs to 270 people
BY AIJAZ HUSSAIN, PIYUSH NAGPAL and SHONAL GANGULY Associated Press
AHMEDABAD, India Search and recovery teams continued scouring the site of one of India’s worst aviation disasters for a third day after the Air India flight fell from the sky and killed at least 270 people in Gujarat state, officials said Saturday
The London-bound Boeing 787 struck a medical college hostel in a residential area of the northwestern city of Ahmedabad minutes after takeoff Thursday, killing 241 people on board and at least 29 on the ground. One passenger survived. Recovery teams working until late Friday found at least 25 more bodies in the debris, officials said.
Dr. Dhaval Gameti at the Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad told The Associated Press the facility had received 270 bodies, adding that the lone surviving passenger was still under observation for some of his wounds.
“He is doing very well and will be ready to be discharged anytime soon,” Gameti said Saturday. Hundreds of relatives of the crash victims have provided DNA samples at the hospital. Most bodies were charred or mutilated, making them unrecognizable.
Some relatives expressed frustration Saturday that the process was taking too long. Authorities say it normally takes up to 72 hours to complete DNA matching and they are expediting the process.
as much as 7% after Israel and Iran exchanged attacks over the past 48 hours, raising concerns that further escalation in the region could disrupt oil exports from the Middle East
Zelenskyy said he planned to raise the issue in an upcoming conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump.
“In the near future, I will be in contact with the American side, I think with the president, and we will raise this issue,” he said. Zelenskyy also ex-
People look at the wreckage from Thursday’s Air India plane crash lying atop a building on Saturday in Ahmedabad,
“Where are my children? Did you recover them?” asked Rafiq Abdullah, whose nephew, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren were on the flight. “I will have to ask questions. Government is not answering these questions.”
Another relative persistently asked hospital staff when his relative’s body would be handed over to the family for last rites.
“Give us the body,” the relative insisted. Alongside the formal investigation, the Indian government says it has formed a high-level, multidisciplinary committee to examine the causes leading to the crash.
The committee will focus on formulating procedures to prevent and handle aircraft emergencies in the future and “will not be a substitute to other enquiries being conducted by relevant organizations,” the Ministry of Civil Aviation said in a statement Authorities have begun inspecting Air India’s entire fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, Indian Minister of Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said Saturday in New Delhi at his first news briefing since Thursday’s crash. Eight of the 34 Dreamliner aircraft in India have already undergone inspection, Kinjarapu said, adding that the remaining aircraft will be examined with “immediate urgency.”
pressed concern that U.S. military aid could be diverted away from Ukraine toward Israel during renewed tensions in the Middle East.
“We would like aid to Ukraine not to decrease because of this,” he said. “Last time, this was a factor that slowed down aid to Ukraine.”
Ukraine’s military needs have been sidelined by the United States in favor of supporting Israel Zelenskyy said, citing a shipment of 20,000 interceptor missiles, designed to counter
Iran-made Shahed drones, that had been intended for Ukraine but were redirected to Israel.
“And for us it was a blow,” he said. “When you face 300 to 400 drones a day, most are shot down or go off course, but some get through. We were counting on those missiles.”
An air defense system, Barak-8, promised to Ukraine by Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu was sent to the U.S. for repairs but never delivered to Ukraine, Zelenskyy said.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MAyA ALLERUZZO
People take shelter Saturday as sirens warn of incoming fire at Israel’s Magen David
Adom emergency service in Jerusalem during a blood drive to prepare for casualties in the event of strikes by Iran.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By RAFIQ MAQBOOL
Zelenskyy
Israelistrikes on Gaza kill at least20people
BY WAFAA SHURAFA and SAMY MAGDY Associated Press
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip At least 20 Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip overnight and into Saturday, according to local health officials. The 20-month warwith Hamas has raged on even as Israel has opened anew front with heavy strikes on Iran that sparked retaliatory drone and missileattacks
Another 11 Palestinians were killed overnight near food distribution points run by an Israeli- and U.S.supported humanitarian group in the latest of almost daily shootings near the sites sincethey opened last month. Palestinian witnesses say Israeliforces have fired on the crowds,while the military says it has only fired warning shots near people it describes as suspects whoapproached its forces The sites are locatedin military zones that are off limits to independent media. Israel’smilitary said it fired
warningshots overnightto distance agroup of people near troops operating in the Netzarimcorridor,and an aircraft struckapersonwho kept advancing. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, aprivatecontractor that operates the sites, said they were closed Saturday. But witnessessaid
thousands had gathered near the sites anyway,desperate for food as Israel’s blockade andmilitary campaign have driven theterritorytothe brink of famine.
Al-AwdaHospitalsaidit received eight bodies and at least 125 wounded people fromashooting near aGHF site in central Gaza.
Mohamed AbuHussein, a residentofthe built-up Bureij refugeecamp nearby, saidIsraeliforces opened fire toward the crowd about ahalf-mile from the food distribution point. He said he saw several people fall to theground as thousands ran away In the southern city of
Khan Younis, Nasser Hospitalsaiditreceived16dead, including five women, from multiple Israeli strikes late Friday and early Saturday
It said another three men werekilled near twoGHF aid sites in the southernmost city of Rafah, nowa mostly uninhabitedmilitaryzone.
Israel’smilitary said it was unaware of anygunfirethere during that time overnight.
An Israeli strike in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza,killed four people,Al-Aqsa Hospital said.
Meanwhile, Israel’smilitary said two projectiles came from Gaza andfell in open areas, with no injuries. Israel and the United States say thenew aidsystem is intended to replace a U.N.-run network that has distributed aid across Gaza through 20 months of war They accuse Hamas of siphoning off the aid and reselling it to fund its militant activities.
U.N. officials deny Hamas has diverted significant amountsofaid and say the newsystem is unable to meet mounting needs. They
say the new system hasmilitarized aid by allowing Israel to decide whohas access and by forcing Palestinians to travel long distances or relocate again after waves of displacement. They say the U.N. has struggled to deliver aid even afterIsraeleasedits blockade last month because of militaryrestrictionsand rising lawlessness. Hamas, which is allied with Iran, sparked the war when its fighters led arampage into southern Israel on Oct.7,2023, killing some 1,200 people,mostly civilians, and abducting 251. They still hold 53 hostages, less than half of them believed to be alive, after most of the rest werereleased in ceasefire agreements or other deals.
Israel’sretaliatorycampaign has killed over 55,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’sHealth Ministry, which has saidwomen and children makeupmore than half of the dead but does notdistinguishbetween civilians and combatants in count.
Donald Trump on Friday signed an executive order paving the way for aNippon Steel investment in U.S. Steel, so long as the Japanese company complies with a“national security agreement” submitted by the federal government.
Trump’sorder didn’tdetail the terms of the national security agreement.
But the iconic American steelmaker and Nippon Steel said in ajoint statement that the agreement stipulates that approximately $11 billion in new investments will be made by 2028 andincludes giving the U.S. government a“golden share” —essentially veto power to ensure thecountry’s national security interests are protected against cutbacksinsteel production.
The companies have completed aU.S. Department of Justice review andreceived all necessary regulatory approvals, the statement said.
“The partnership is expected to be finalized promptly,” the statement said.
KushDesai saidthe order “ensures U.S. Steel will remain in thegreat CommonwealthofPennsylvania, and be safeguarded as acritical element of America’snational and economic security.”
golden share would work will depend on the national security agreement, but in suchagreements it isn’tunusual to give the government approval rights over specific activities, Brower said.
“WethankPresident Trump and hisAdministration for their bold leadership andstrong supportfor our historic partnership,” the two companies said. “This partnershipwill bring amassive investment that will support our communities and families for generationstocome. We look forward to putting ourcommitments into action to make Americansteelmaking and manufacturing great again.”
U.S.Steel rose $2.66, or 5%, to $54.85 in after-hourstrading Friday.Nippon Steel’s original bid to buy the Pittsburgh-basedU.S.Steel in late 2023 had been valued at $55 per share.
The companies offered few details on how the golden share would work, what otherprovisions areinthe national security agreement and how specifically the $11 billion would be spent White House spokesman
James Brower,aMorrison Foerster lawyer who represents clients in national security-related matters, said suchagreements withthe government typicallyare notdisclosed to thepublic, particularlybythe government.
Theycan becomepublic, but it’s almost always disclosedbya party in the transaction, such as acompany —like U.S. Steel —that is publicly held, Browersaid. The mechanics of howa
U.S. Steelmade no filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Friday
Nippon Steel originally offered nearly $15billion to purchase U.S. Steel in an acquisition that had been delayed on national security concerns starting during Joe Biden’spresidency
As it sought to win over American officials, Nippon Steel gradually increased the amount of money it was pledging to invest into U.S.
Steel. American officials now value the transaction at $28 billion, including the purchase bid and anew electricarc furnace —amore modern steel mill thatmelts downscrap —that they say Nippon Steel will build in the U.S. after 2028. Nippon Steel had pledged to maintain U.S. Steel’sheadquarters in Pittsburgh, put U.S. Steel under aboard with amajority of American citizens and keep plants operating.
It also said it would protect the interests of U.S. Steel in trade matters and it wouldn’t import steel slabs that would competewithU.S.Steel’s blast furnaces in Pennsylvania and Indiana.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JEHAD ALSHRAFI
TwoPalestinians ride asmall boat on Friday at the seafront nexttoa tent camp in the Gaza City port
Organizers
BY MARC LEVY and CLAUDIA LAUER Associated Press
PHILADELPHIA Demonstrators crowded into streets, parks and plazas acrossthe U.S. on Saturdaytoprotest President Donald Trump, marchingthrough downtowns and blaring anti-authoritarian chants mixed with support for protecting democracy and immigrant rights.
Organizers of the “No Kings” demonstrationssaid millions had marched in hundreds of events. Governors across the U.S. had urged calm and vowed no tolerance for violence, while some mobilized the National Guard ahead of marchers gathering. Confrontations were isolated.
Huge, boisterous crowds marched in New York, Denver,Chicago, Houston and Los Angeles, some behind “no kings” banners. Atlanta’s5,000-capacity event quicklyreached itslimit, with thousands more gathered outside barriers to hear speakers in front of the state Capitol.
Light rain fell as marchers gathered for the flagship rally in Philadelphia. They shouted “Whose streets? Our streets!” as they marched to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, where they listened to speakers on the steps made famous in the movie “Rocky.”
“So what do you say Philly?” Democratic U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland shouted to thecrowd.
“Are you ready to fight back? Do you want agangster state or do youwant free speech in America?”
Trump was in Washington for amilitary parade marking the Army’s250th anniversary that coincides with the president’sbirthday.About 200 protesters assembled in northwest Washington’sLogan Circle and chanted “Trump must go now” before erupting in cheers. Alarger-thanlife puppet of Trump—a caricature of the president wearing acrown and sittingonagolden toilet— was wheeled through the crowd.
In some places, organizers handed out little American flags whileothersflew their flags upside down, a sign of distress.Mexican flags, which have become a fixture of theLos Angeles protests against immigration raids, also made an appearance at some demonstrations Saturday
In Minnesota, organizers canceled demonstrations as police workedtotrack down asuspect in the shootings of two Democraticlegislators and their spouses.
In Charlotte, demonstrators trying to march
through downtown briefly faced off with police formingabarricade withtheir bicycles,chanting “let us walk,” while lawenforcement in northern Atlanta deployed tear gas to divert several hundred protesters heading toward Interstate 285.InFlorida,one march approachedthe gates of Trump’sMar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, where sheriff’sdeputiesturnedthem back.
The demonstrations come on the heels of protests over federal immigration enforcement raidsthat began lastweek, and Trump ordering the National Guard and Marines to Los Angeles, where protesters blocked afreeway and set cars on fire.
Philadelphia
Thousandsgathered downtown, where organizershanded out small American flags and people carried protest signs saying “fight oligarchy”and “deport the mini-Mussolinis.”
KarenVan Trieste, a 61-year-old nursewho drove up from Maryland, said she grew up in Philadelphia and wanted to be with alarge groupofpeopleshowing her support.
“I just feel like we need to defend our democracy,” shesaid. She is concerned aboutthe Trumpadministration’slayoffsofstaff at
the U.S.Centers forDisease Control andPrevention,the fateofimmigrant communities andTrump trying to rule by executive order,she said.
Awoman wearing afoam Statue of Libertycrown brought aspeaker system and led an anti-Trump singalong, changing the words “young man”inthe song “Y.M.C.A.” to “con man.”
LosAngeles
Thousands gathered in front of City Hall, waving signs and listening to aNative American drum circle beforemarching through the streets.
As protesters passed National Guard troops or U.S. Marines stationed at various buildings, mostinteractionswere friendly with demonstrators giving fist bumps or posing for selfies, but others chanted “shame” or “go home” at the troops.
Amid signs reading “Theyfear us, don’tback down California” and “We carry dreams notdanger, one demonstrator carried a 2-foot-tallTrump piñataon astick, with acrown on his head anda sombrero hanging offhis back. Another hoisteda huge heliumfilled orange babyballoon with blond hair styledlike Trump’s.
Afew blocksfrom City Hall, protesters gathered
in frontofthe downtown federal detention center being guardedbya line of Marines. PeterVaradi, 54, said he voted for Trumplast November for “economic reasons.” Now,for thefirst time in hislife, he is protesting, waving aMexican and U.S. combinedflag
“I voted forDonald Trump, and nowIregret that, because he’staken this fascism to anew level,” Varadi said. “It’sLatinos now.Who’snext? It’sgays. Blacks after that. They’re coming for everybody.”
NewYorkCity Marchers in the crowd
that stretched for blocks alongFifth Avenue had diverse reasonsfor coming, including anger over Trump’simmigration policies, support for the Palestinian people and outrage over what theysaid was erosion of free speech rights.
But there were patriotic symbols,too. Leah Griswold, 32, and Amber Laree, 59, who marched in suffragette white dresses, brought 250 American flags to hand out to people in the crowd.
“Our mothers who came out, fought for our rights, and now we’re fighting for futuregenerations as well,” Griswold said.
Some protesters held signs denouncing Trump while others banged drums. “We’re here because we’reworried about the existentialcrisis of this country andthe planetand our species,” said Sean Kryston, 28.
Mississippi
Ademonstration of hundreds of people opened to “War Pigs” by Black Sabbath playingoverasound system on the State Capitol lawn in Jackson.
“A lot of stuff that’sgoing on nowistargeting people of color,and to see so many folks out here that aren’t black or brown fighting for the same causesthatI’m here for,itmakes me very emotional,” said Tony Cropper, who traveled from Tennessee to attend the protest.
Some people wore tinfoil crowns atop theirheads Others held signs inviting motorists to “Honk if you never text war plans.”
Melissa Johnson said she drove an hour and ahalf to Jackson to protest because “we are losing the thread of democracy in our country.” Associated Press journalists across the country contributed to this report.
ASSOCIATEDPRESS PHOTO By RICHARD VOGEL
Ayoung protester carries acombination Mexican and U.S. flag during a‘No Kings’protest in downtown LosAngeles on Saturday.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOByyUKIIWAMURA
Demonstrators march down BenjaminFranklin Parkway during the ‘NoKings’ protest in Philadelphia on Saturday.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOByMIKE STEWART
National news outlets were estimating that the president’sparade could cost as much as $45 million. The event is also expectedto feature more than 7,000 uniformed soldiers, dozensof tanks and military vehicles, marching bands and afireworks display
The Indivisible Project coordinated more than 2,000 similar events across the country.InLouisiana, similar protests were held in New Orleans, Covington, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Lake Charles, Ruston, Alexandria and Monroe.
Saturday’sprotest from 10 a.m. to noon in downtown Lafayette was the largest of about ahalf-dozen thathave been held in the city since Trump took office in January.The crowdatits peak measured more than 350 and overflowed the triangle at the intersection of Jefferson Street and Lee Avenue, with someprotesters congregating across the streets.
Waving signs like “Cajuns stilldon’t bowtokings,” “Draftdodgers don’tdeserve military parades” and “If there’smoneyfor aparade then there’s moneyfor Medicaid,” the crowd heard from speakers and chantedmessages like “Woke and proud” and “No crown, no king, no fascist regime” aimed at Trump, Louisiana’scongressional delegation and Trump supporters.
Therewerenosigns of counterprotests.
Four-year U.S. Army veteran Joaquin Villanueva of Lafayette,whosegrandmother wasfromMexico, spent most of the two-hour rally waving an upside-down American flag.
“I signed up to fight for it,” Villanueva said, adding he continues to do so now that he is retiredfrom themilitary service. As the grandson of an immigrant, he said, he couldn’tstand by and do nothing while other immigrants are under attack by Immigration andCustoms Enforcement.
During the presidential campaign,Trump said his administration wouldtarget immigrants in the country without proper documentation who had committed crimes. But his administration reportedly setadaily quota of arrests for ICE offices across the country,leading to the arrest of people without criminal histories, including mothers reporting for routine ICE appointments and ahigh school student on his way to avolleyballgame.
Seventy-three-year-old Bobby Kappel stood in the heat Saturday protesting for the first time since the Vietnam War. He joined theNo Kingsrally,hesaid, because when he starteda business 22 years ago,hereliedon Hispanic workers. Now he’s retired andhis family runs the business, butimmigrants still are vital.
“I’m here for them and my family,” Kappel said.“People don’trealize Hispanics are building this country.”
andco-founder of Lafayette Citizens Against Censorship and Louisiana Citizens Against Censorship, encouraged otherstoget involved in what’s happening nationally and locally
“Dowhat you can to protect peoplefrom beingkidnapped offthe streets,”she said Everyone should promise
to do something every day, Mejia said,like attending local council meetings and speaking truth to power,contacting their representatives andlinking arms to march forjusticeevery time the call is made to do so.
“Nobody is coming to save us,”she said. “Weare the cavalry.”
By Stevie CavalierLicciardi,stevie.licciardi@theadvocate.com
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“Goodwillisaninternational brand in theUnitedStatesand Canada,but we areall local, regional agencies,” said GraysonStepanek, Director of Marketing&Communicationsfor GoodwillAcadiana. “Backinthe early 90s, Acadianadidn’thavea Goodwill, andthere were anumberofservices
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“Manypeopledon’t realize we offer theseresources to thecommunity butwhenpeopledonate, they aretruly impactinglocallives,” Stepanek said “You’renot just keepingmoreitems outoflandfills; youare increasing the community’soverall sustainability Theservicesweprovide arealmost entirely funded by donationsfromthe community.”
AccordingtoStepanek, theopportunities GoodwillAcadianapresents to theregionhave been impacting livesinlong-termways. From single mothers starting trainingprograms
missinginthe community. From that void,apilot programwas launched andoncethe team hadtheir feet under them,itbecameanofficial Goodwill agency.Wenow employ around 275 localpeopleand have 14 stores and6 donation centersacrossAcadiana. Programs andresources offered by Goodwill Acadianainclude acomprehensiveHiSET course,thataidsindividualsinachieving theirhighschool credentials,employmentservices,which assist in building resumesorprepping forjob interviews,aswellasa crisis assistance programwhich supports thoseexperiencinganemergency such as having aseverelydamaged home, fleeing from domestic violence,orfacing homelessness.Onlinetrainingcourses that improvedigital andartificial intelligence (AI) literacy areprovided throughGoodwillAcadiana, as well Lastly,resources that assist in filling outapplicationsfor government benefits such as theSupplementalNutrition
to individualswho puta pauseontheir educationdue to thefailing health of a lovedone or thosewho struggle with disabilities butare determined to make away forthemselves—the breadthand diversityoflives touchedbycommunity donationshas beenmonumentalover thepast35years. Goodwill Acadiana nowlooks forwardtoanother 35 years of reducing povertyastheypersist in providingtools focusedonrestoring the financial independence of individuals andtheir families
In keepingwiththe localculture of generosity andcommunity awareness, make atriptoa nearby Goodwill AcadianaDonationCenterthissummer, and know that your donation,whether bigor small, will be creating positive change in thelives of your fellow Acadians. You’ll be Giving Good To learnmoreabout Goodwill Acadiana andstore locations, visit: www.goodwillacadiana.org
PHOTO By ROBIN MAy
James Martin, left, speaks to the crowd of protesters during the ‘No Kings’protest held in downtown Lafayette to counter President DonaldTrump’s militaryparade forhis birthday on Saturday.
STAFF PHOTO By CLAIRE TAyLOR
People participating in the ‘No Kings’ protest in Lafayette on Saturday carriedsigns withavariety of messagesfor local, state and federal officials.
STAFF PHOTO By CLAIRE TAyLOR
People hold signs at the ‘No Kings’ protest in Lafayette on Saturday.
STAFF PHOTO By CLAIRE TAyLOR
People sit with protest signs at the ‘NoKings’ protest on Saturday.
recognizing the Army’s 250th anniversary
Up above, the Army’s Golden Knights parachute team appeared in the overcast sky, descending toward the reviewing stand.
The team had been scheduled to jump at the end of the parade, but appeared in the skies above the National Mall far earlier than planned as a light rain fell.
At times, Trump stood and saluted as troops marched past the reviewing stand.
Hours before the parade started, demonstrators turned out in streets and parks around the nation to sound off against the Republican president They criticized Trump for using the military to respond to people protesting his deportation efforts and for the muscular military show in the U.S capital.
In Washington, antiwar protesters unfurled signs that said “Homes not drones” not far from a display of armored vehicles, helicopters and militarygrade equipment on the National Mall set up to commemorate the Army’s birthday Vendors outside the festival sold gear marking the military milestone. Others hawked Trumpthemed merchandise
Doug Haynes, a Navy veteran who voted for Trump, attended the daylong festival to celebrate the Army’s 250th birthday, but said the parade “was a little over the top.”
Pointing at a nearby tank, Haynes said that having them roll down the street is a “very bold statement to the world, perhaps.” Trump had brushed off the possibility of weather or protest disruptions. In a social media post Saturday morning, he said the “great military parade” would be on “rain or shine.” The protests, he said earlier, “will be met with very big force.” Hours ahead of the parade, crowds of protesters with anti-Trump signs marched toward the White House, escorted by police vehicles and officers on bicycles. Some held a giant banner that read: “TRUMP MUST GO NOW.”
The parade was added just a few weeks ago to the planned celebration of the Army’s birthday and has drawn criticism for its price tag of up to $45 million and the possibility that the lumbering tanks could tear up city streets. The Army has taken a variety of steps to protect the streets, including laying metal plates along the route. About 6 in 10 Americans said Saturday’s parade was “not a good use” of government money The vast majority of people, 78%, said they neither approve nor disapprove of the parade overall, according to a poll from The Associated PressNORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
Larry Stallard, a retired American Airlines pilot,
traveled to Washington from Kansas City for the weekend “to see the military and see Trump.” Stallard, who voted for Trump, said it was “hard to believe” people are upset about the cost of the event when “they blow that in 10 seconds on things that we don’t even need.”
The daylong display of America’s Army comes as Trump has shown his willingness to use the nation’s military might in ways other U.S presidents have typically avoided. In the last week, he has activated the California National Guard without the governor’s permission and dispatched the U.S. Marines to provide security during Los Angeles protests related to immigration raids, prompting a state lawsuit to stop the deployments.
He similarly sought to project military strength during his first presidential term, saying in 2020 that he wanted forces to “dominate” the streets following racial justice protests that
turned violent and warning governors that he was prepared to send in activeduty fighters if they did not call out the National Guard in their states.
Saturday’s pageantry was designed to fulfill Trump’s expressed desire for a big parade that he tried to get done in his first term after seeing one in Paris on Bastille Day in 2017. Trump said after watching the two-hour procession along the famed Champs-Élysées that he wanted an even grander one in Washington.
The parade included about 6,600 soldiers, 50 helicopters and 60-ton M1 Abrams battle tanks, all of it viewed by cheering spectators in an atmosphere of heightened security
The parade wound down Constitution Avenue, lined with security fencing and barriers. A flyover of military aircraft included World War II-era planes, including a B-25 Mitchell bomber, and army helicopters flew low over the crowd, below the top of the
President Donald Trump attends a military parade commemorating the Army’s 250th anniversary, coinciding with his 79th birthday, in Washington on Saturday.
an appearance — horses once played a crucial role in warfare, but today they’re mostly used in ceremonial events like today’s parade.
The night also was to include a concert featuring “God Bless the U.S.A.” singer Lee Greenwood and fireworks. Trump also was expected to swear in 250 new or reenlisting troops. Associated Press writers
Washington Monument. Mounted soldiers from the 1st Cavalry Division made
Eric Tucker, Michelle L. Price, Nathan Ellgren, Lea Skene, Olivia Diaz, Joey Cappelletti, Ashraf Khalil and Tara Copp contributed to this report.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOS By JULIA DEMAREE NIKHINSON
President Donald Trump salutes as he attends a military parade commemorating the Army’s 250th anniversary, coinciding with his 79th birthday, in Washington as Secretary of the Army Daniel Driscoll, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and first lady Melania Trump watch on Saturday
conviction. Authoritiesdisplayed a photo taken Saturday of Boelter wearingatan cowboy hat and asked the public to report sightings. Drew Evans, superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, said investigators obtained video as well.
He did not give details on a possible motive
Boelter is aformer political appointee who served on the same state workforce development board as Hoffman, records show,though it wasnot clear if or howwell they knew each other
The early morning attacks promptedwarnings to other elected officials aroundthe state and the cancellationof planned “No Kings” demonstrationsagainst President Donald Trump. Authorities said the suspect had “No Kings” flyers in his car and writings mentioning the names of the victims as well as otherlawmakersand officials,though they could not say if he had any other specific targets.
AMinnesota official told The Associated Press that the suspect’swritings also contained information targeting prominent lawmakers who have been outspoken in favor of abortion rights. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because the investigation was ongoing.
The shootings happened at atime when political leaders nationwide have been attacked, harassed and intimidated amid deeppolitical divisions.
“Wemust all, in Minnesota and across the country,stand against all forms of political violence,” Walz, aDemocrat, said at anews conference. “Thoseresponsible for this will be held accountable.”
Law enforcement agents recovered severalAK-style firearms from the suspect’s vehicle, and he was believed to still be armed with apis-
tol, aperson familiar with the mattertoldAP. The personcould notpubliclydiscuss details of theinvestigation andspoke oncondition of anonymity
An overnightshooting
Police respondedtoreports of gunfire at the Hoffmans’ home shortly after 2a.m Champlinpolice said, and found the couple with multiple gunshot wounds.
After seeingwho the victimswere, police sent officers to proactivelycheck on Hortman’shome. There, they encountered what appearedtobeapolice vehicle and aman dressed as an officeratthe door,leaving the house
“When officers confronted him, theindividual immediately fired upon theofficers whoexchanged gunfire,and the suspect retreatedback into the home”and escaped on foot, Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley said.
Multiple bullet holes could be seeninthe front door of Hoffman’shome.
John and Yvette Hoffman each underwentsurgery,accordingtoWalz.
“Weare cautiously optimistic they will survive this assassination attempt,” the governor said at amorning news conference.
Trumpsaid in astatement that the FBI would join in theinvestigation “Our Attorney General,
Pam Bondi, and theFBI, are investigating thesituation, and theywill be prosecutinganyone involved to the fullest extentofthe law.Suchhorrific violence will notbetolerated in the United States of America. God Bless the great people of Minnesota, atruly great place!”
Lawmakerstargeted
Hortman, 55, had been thetop Democratic leader in the state House since 2017. She led Democrats in athree-week walkout at thebeginning of this year’s sessionina powerstruggle with Republicans. Under a power-sharingagreement, she turned thegavel over to Republican Rep.LisaDemuth andassumed thetitle speaker emerita.
Hortman used her position as speaker in 2023 to help championexpandedprotections for abortion rights, including legislation to solidifyMinnesota’s status as arefuge for patients from restrictive states who travel to thestate to seek abortions —and to protect providers who serve them.
Walz calledher a“formidable public servant, a fixture anda giant in Minnesota.”
“She wokeupevery day, determined to make this state abetterplace,”hesaid. “She is irreplaceable.” Hortman andher husband
had two adult children.
The initial autopsy reports from the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’sOffice gave their cause of death as “multiple gunshot wounds.” Thereports said Melissa Hortman died at the scene while her husband was pronounced dead at the hospital Hoffman, 60, was first elected in 2012 and was chair of the Senate Human Services Committee, which overseesone of the biggest partsofthe statebudget.He andhis wife have onedaughter State Patrol Col. Christina Bogojevicasked people “out of an abundance of caution” nottoattend “No Kings” protests. Bogojevic said authorities did nothaveany direct evidence that the protests would be targeted, but noted the “NoKings” flyers in the car Organizers announced thatall demonstrationsin thestate werecanceled, but manypeople still showed up for protests at theCapitol andelsewhere in the Twin Cities area.
Thesuspect
Boelter was appointedto the workforce development board in 2016 and then reappointed in 2019 to afouryear termthat expired in 2023, state recordsshow Corporate recordsshow Boelter’swife filedtocreate acompany called Praetori-
an Guard Security Services LLC with the same Green Isle mailingaddress listed for the couple.Onawebsite for the business, Boelter’s wife is listedaspresident andCEO, while he is listed as director of security patrols.
Thehomepage saysitprovidesarmed security for property and events and features aphoto of an SUV painted in atwo-tone black and silver pattern similar to apolicevehicle, witha light baracross theroof and “Praetorian” painted across thedoors.Another photo showsa maninblack tactical gear with amilitarystylehelmet andaballistic vest.
An online resumesays Boelterisa security contractor whohas worked in the Middle East and Africa, in addition to past managerial roles at companies in Minnesota.
Aformer next-door neighborinInverGrove Heights, where Boelter usedtolive, said he hardly knew him but remembers his daughters because they kayaked andice skated on thepond behind the homes.
“It’sreally sad for the kids,very, very nice kids,” Michael Cassidy said. He added that the suspect’s wife once cameover to pray with his wife anddaughter
Massivesearch
Hundreds of police and sheriff deputies, some in tactical gear with assaultstyle weapons, were scatteredthroughoutthe town Somecheckpoints were set up.
An alert sent to cellphones in the morning asked people to shelter in place as police searched foran“armed and dangerous” suspect.
“Suspect is whitemale, brownhair, wearingblack body armor over blue shirt andbluepants andmay misrepresent himself as law enforcement. Do not approach. Call 911,” the initial alert said.
Police lifted the shelter orderinthe afternoon, saying they had reason to believe the suspect wasnolonger in
the area. “This is crazy,someone going afterrepresentatives,” said Brooklyn Parkresident Douglas Thompson, 62. “This is wrong. I’m hoping they’ll catch them.” Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth, aRepublican from Cold Spring, called the attack “evil” and said she was “heartbroken beyond words” by the killings.
Politicalviolence
The shootings are the latestinaseriesofattacks against lawmakers across parties.
In April, asuspect set fire to the home of Democratic Pennsylvania Gov Josh Shapiro, forcing him and his family to flee during the Jewish holiday of Passover.The suspect said he planned to beat Shapiro witha smallsledgehammer if he found him,according to court documents.
In July 2024, Trump was grazed on the ear by one of ahailofbullets thatkilled aTrump supporter.Two months later aman with a rifle was discovered near the president’sFlorida golf course and arrested. Other incidentsinclude a2022 hammer attack on the husband of then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in theirSan Francisco home and a2020 plot by antigovernment extremists to kidnapDemocratic Gov. GretchenWhitmerand start acivil war Senate Democratic Leader ChuckSchumersaid he askedCapitolPolice to “immediately increase security” for Minnesota Democratic Sens. Amy Klobuchar andTina Smith. He also askedMajority Leader JohnThune,aRepublican,toholda briefing on membersecurity “Condemning violence is important but it is not enough,” Schumer said on the social platform X. “Wemust also confront the toxicforcesradicalizing individuals and we must do more to protectone another,our democracy, and thevaluesthatbindusas Americans.”
EDUCATION
Single charter school now a thriving network
several New Orleans charter schools.
BY MARIE FAZIO Staff writer
More than a decade ago, a Kenner philanthropist approached Patty Glaser with a request: Could she create a charter school that would attract young families to the area?
Glaser, who had helped launch some of the area’s most successful charter schools, accepted the challenge. In 2013, she opened Kenner Discovery Health Sciences Academy, which enrolled 420 students that year Today, Discovery charter schools serve over 2,000 students in grades pre-K through 12 across three campuses in Jefferson Parish, one in Baton Rouge and a hybrid virtual school, where students divide their time between online and in-person learning and social experiences. (Hundreds more students are on the network’s waitlist.)
In Kenner, the newest campus includes a lab with patient simulators where students can practice medical situations, a test kitchen for the culinary program and hallways lined with sculptures and paintings, including a 24-foot-long painting of the solar system.
Now, after growing Discovery into a sprawling network of highperforming charter schools, Glaser is stepping down. It’s an end to a lengthy career in education. Glaser spent 18 years as a speech language pathologist helping students with communication disorders, and she also was a behind-the-scenes force who helped establish
One of Glaser’s proudest accomplishments is Discovery’s policy of admitting all students, or serving “all swamp owls,” she puts it. The policy means that students like the 2024 valedictorian, who now attends Yale University on a full ride, learned alongside students with disabilities.
“It’s my favorite part of Discovery,” she said.
Glaser recently spoke about Discovery’s expansion from humble beginnings in Kenner to a multi-city charter school network.
This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity
What’s behind Discovery’s impressive growth?
One of the complaints I heard post-Katrina from some of the (state) Board of Elementary and Secondary Education members was that charter schools would come in and say, “There’s a need for a new school.” Then they open a kindergarten, and nine years late,r we have a charter school. How does that serve our needs?
How can it be done faster?
I looked for models around the country and found that you can start a small middle school and lower school and grow them both at the same time. That’s what we did
I really believe one of the driving forces of a charter school should be to respond to community needs. The reason we started Discovery was a community need: Kenner was losing population They were looking for things to attract new young families
Later on we doubled the size of our middle school because the city of Kenner had no successful middle school seats in the district. That’s how we got to be so large. It was responding to community
physician or a nurse who was working in the hospital and really see what that world was like.
We entered a charter corporate partnership (with Ochsner) and that’s how Dr John Ochsner Discovery was started. They built a simulation lab in the school and 50% of the seats go to Ochsner employees, and 50% of the seats go to the bigger community
What do you see as the benefits and drawbacks of the charter school model?
The biggest benefit of a charter school is the choice in what you deliver in terms of teaching and learning to the students under your roof. Every team of administrators in a charter school gets to make that decision as opposed to the district saying you have one speech language pathologist that’s going to come your way, you have two English teachers and three math teachers, and that’s it.
It gives choice to parents, which is most important. And it gives choice to administrators in how to best carry out their mission and vision for their kids to be academically successful.
most successful?
Intentional teaching and learning are important, and that means well-planned and well-delivered lessons that are adjusted to accommodate the students that are in your classroom.
Discovery is really good at growing kids from where they enter to where they’re going to be. It’s important to provide both AP classes or pathways that encourage industry as well as interventionists that help with basic reading and math skills for those kids that need more in reading and math.
We also run a Summer Bridge program for all of our young kids who are not reading or writing or doing math at grade level. We pay attention to data and where kids are whether we have a child who’s gifted, or we have a student with disabilities, we’re going to figure out how to best approach each student and how to work with them.
How have you navigated the Trump administration’s efforts to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education and ban diversity programs?
Diversity really doesn’t take funding; it takes commitment. We’re fully committed to all kinds of people.
needs. And when the parents said, “You better do a high school,” it was responding to community needs. Tell me about the partnership with Ochsner Health. (The Kenner philanthropist) Henry Shane’s vision was always to home-grow medical professionals. My board members will tell you that we started “‘dating”’ Ochsner from the first year They donated microscopes for the science labs and gave us access to this platform called Nepris so high school students could basically have a virtual call with a
WE’RE ASKING EXPERTS ACROSS THE STATE HOW TO TACKLE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES FACING
Do you see any trade-offs?
The trade-off, unfortunately, ends up being in the choice to parents, because we have a 2,000-kid wait-list.
The hallways are full of incredible works of art.What was the thought behind that?
Every time Henry Shane doesn’t have room for a painting or sculpture, he calls me up and asks if he can put it here. It teaches the students to act responsibly toward people and objects. It really teaches kids to respect their surroundings and gives them beautiful surroundings to work in. What academic strategies have been
As far as the Department of Education, it was unnerving at first when I thought they might stop or discontinue Title I funding (for low-income students). We have over 12% of students with disabilities and about 68% are economically disadvantaged
There’s
LOUISIANA POLITICS
BY JULIA GUILBEAU Staff writer
The biggest bills that passed, and failed, in the Legislature 2025 LEGISLATURE ROUNDUP
After 60 days, the Louisiana Legislature has wrapped up its latest session, having created new laws on auto insurance, education food safety and more, and having passed a new state budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year
Already, 112 bills have been signed into law by Louisiana Gov Jeff Landry, and in the final days of session, lawmakers sent dozens more to the top official’s desk
Here’s a closer look at the biggest topics from this session and the most high-profile bills that passed and failed.
Auto insurance
Auto insurance was one of lawmakers’ biggest priorities heading into the 2025 session as rates have continued to soar in the state.
After fervent debate, a group of new car insurance laws has already been signed by Landry Many of those bills aim to rein in lawsuits against insurance companies, which the industry argues could tamp down rate increases.
However, one bill — House Bill 148 would give the insurance commissioner more ability to reject rate increases That has drawn ire from Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple, who says it gives arbitrary authority to him and his successors.
The bills signed by Landry include:
n House Bill 450, which requires someone who sues over injuries in an accident to show that the injuries occurred during the accident.
n House Bill 434, which reduces payouts to uninsured motorists injured while driving.
n House Bill 436, which prohibits undocumented immigrants injured in car accidents from collecting general damages, such as
n App store age verification: House Bill 570 would require app stores to age-verify users If a user is under 18, the app store must link their account to a parent account, which in turn would need to sign off on any app downloads.
n Speed cameras: Senate Bill 99 bans traffic enforcement cameras in areas other than school zones and at red lights — except in Opelousas.
n Balloon releases: House Bill 581 bans releasing balloons. It would make intentionally releasing balloons outdoors illegal and punishable by up to a $500 fine. Exceptions are made for balloons released for scientific, meteorological or radio purposes.
n Ivermectin: Senate Bill 19 expands access to ivermectin authorizing pharmacists in Louisiana to dispense ivermectin under a standing order without requiring a prescription from a patient’s physician.
n Inventory taxes: Voters statewide could decide in November 2026 to give parishes the right to opt out of the property tax on business inventory under two measures House Bill 365 and House Bill 366 approved by the Legislature.
for emotional distress and pain and suffering.
n House Bill 549, which requires insurance companies to give trucking companies a 5% discount when they install dashboard cameras on their large trucks.
n House Bill 148, which gives the state insurance commissioner more authority to reject rate increases.
Budget
Legislators approved a budget for the new fiscal year, which starts in July, of about $51 billion That includes an extra $1.2 billion in one-time spending on roads, economic development and college campus improvements by using money withdrawn from the state’s Revenue Stabilization Trust Fund.
‘Make America Healthy Again’
Inspired by U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy’s “Make America Healthy” movement, lawmakers in the GOP-led Legislature made changes to how schools, food manufacturers and restaurants address nutrition and ingredients.
Under Senate Bill 14, Louisiana schools will not be allowed to serve certain artificial colors and additives in breakfasts and lunches, including Red 40, and restaurants and food businesses using seed oils will have to notify customers on menus or signage.
The bill further requires food manufacturers selling products in Louisiana to include a QR code on packages if their products contain certain artificial ingredients.
Physicians, physician assistants and advanced practice registered nurses in family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics and
obstetrics and gynecology must also complete a minimum of one hour of training on nutrition and metabolic health every two years under the new legislation.
Education
Dozens of bills related to schools and education passed this session, including raising teacher pay, requiring anti-hazing courses for higher education groups and creating a new TOPS award.
The biggest bills include:
n House Bill 466 requires school systems to provide a $2,250 salary increase for teachers and a $1,125 increase for school support staff.
The state will pay for the raises by using education trust funds to pay down debt related to the teacher retirement system, saving school systems an estimated $2 billion in interest payments. Voters will have to approve eliminating the trust funds in a constitutional amendment.
n House Bill 372 adds computer science as a high school gradua-
tion requirement.
n House Bill 77 creates a new TOPS “Excellence” award for students who score 31 or higher on the ACT Recipients will get a $12,000 annual scholarship if they attend a public Louisiana college or university or $8,500 if they attend certain private universities — including Dillard, Loyola, Tulane and Xavier — or an amount equal to the cost of tuition and fees, whichever is less.
n House Bill 279 requires fraternities, sororities, bands, sports teams and other higher-ed student organizations to provide members with an annual two-hour course on hazing prevention, up from the current one hour Organizations that don’t comply will be banned. The bill was inspired by the hazing death of Southern University student Caleb Wilson. Pharmacy benefit managers House Bill 358, which would have barred companies from owning both pharmacies and
pharmacy benefit managers — firms that negotiate lower drug prices from drugmakers — failed to pass on the last day of session. Gov Jeff Landry, who supported the bill, said he would call legislators in for a special session to take up the issue again.
The Legislature did pass House Bill 264, which would set new, stricter rules on PBMs.
DOTD overhaul
Upset with the slow pace of road and bridge projects, legislators made several major changes to the Department of Transportation and Development. They are creating a separate entity to handle smaller state roadways, adding a new Office of Transformation to oversee an overhaul of DOTD, and pushing the department to privatize more of its work, among other changes.
Unemployment benefits
Under House Bill 153, Louisiana residents collecting unemployment will need to do more each week to find a job.
The bill requires five “work search actions” per week by those who collect unemployment, up from three. Work search actions include filling out a job application, interviewing for a job, attending job fairs, attending networking events or doing mock interviews.
Kratom ban
Kratom, an herbal substance derived from a southwest Asian tree, will soon be banned in Louisiana, pending Gov Jeff Landry’s signature.
Critics of the substance say it carries a high abuse potential and has opiate-like effects.
Staff writers Tyler Bridges, Meghan Friedmann, Alyse Pfeil, and Patrick Wall contributed to this story
OTHER BILLS THAT PASSED OTHER BILLS THAT FAILED
n A new state park: Senate Bill 88 establishes Ouiski Bayou in Terrebonne Parish as Louisiana’s newest state park.
n New voting machines: House Bill 577 puts in place a new bidding process for voting machines, allowing the Secretary of State to move quicker to replace their decades-old voting machines
n Weather modification: Senate Bill 46 bans any form of weather modification, saying no person shall “intentionally inject, release, apply, or disperse, by any means, a chemical, chemical compound, substance, or apparatus into the atmosphere within the borders of this state for the express purpose of affecting the temperature, weather, climate, or intensity of sunlight.”
n Campaign finance rules: House Bill 693 overhauls Louisiana’s rules on funding for political campaigns by adding recognition that campaign spending is protected free speech, setting up new rules for political action committees, providing new, more detailed parameters for what money can be spent on, raising monetary reporting thresholds and creating stricter rules for when campaign finance violations
can be investigated.
n IVF protections: Senate Bill 156 makes updates to the state’s in vitro fertilization laws and protects IVF providers — including physicians, clinic and others who provide IVF goods and services — from criminal prosecution for acts associated with care, unless those acts were made with criminal negligence or intent.
n Abortion lawsuits: House Bill 575 allows pregnant women to sue anyone who helps illegally provide them with drugs meant to induce an abortion.
n Social safety net programs: House Bill 617 would move some social safety net programs, like SNAP food stamps and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, under the state workforce department. The goal is to give residents “one door” to access those services
n Concealed carry changes: House Bill 393 changes rules regarding guns at parades saying only active participants in parades are barred from having a concealed gun — not bystanders. Senate Bill 101 allows anyone legally allowed to carry a gun, including those without permits, to do so up to a school’s property line.
n Fluoride ban: Senate Bill 2 would have banned public water systems from putting fluoride in their water unless a majority of residents voted to opt in.
n Tax cuts: House Bills 667 and 578 sought to cut the state individual income and sales tax by 0.25% each, paired with House Bill 678 that would eliminate the Revenue Stabilization Fund. They passed the House overwhelmingly but Senators feared the cuts would blow a hole in the state budget.
n Spending limit: The House approved House Bill 283, which would impose a limit on how much the state annual spending budget could grow But the measure died in the Senate without getting a vote
n DEI: House Bill 685 would have prohibited state agencies from maintaining or initiating DEI programs, employing people to perform functions related to DEI or requiring any applicants or employees to provide a statement regarding DEI.
n Nonunanimous jury appeals: Senate Bill 218 would have allowed
prisoners convicted by split juries to apply to have their cases set back to pretrial status, letting local district attorneys choose from there whether to hold a new trial, cut a plea deal or dismiss a case.
n Vape tax: Though the bill was completely changed over the session, at one point, House Bill 517 would have taxed vape products and electronic cigarettes at 33% of their total price.
n Criminal STI infections: House Bill 76 would have made it a crime to intentionally give someone an incurable, sexually transmitted infection, like herpes. Instead, the bill’s author passed legislation to study STIs.
n School pregnancy information: House Bill 478 would have required information about pregnancy, adoption and neonatal care to be posted at health centers in public high schools and public colleges and universities.
n Private school extracurriculars: Senate Bill 198 would have authorized nonpublic school students to participate in public school activities.
STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON
Senators work in chambers during last week’s session of the Legislature.
What’s left forthe SupremeCourt to decide?
La.congressional districts,trans care bans still to be ruledon
BY MARK SHERMAN and LINDSAYWHITEHURST Associated Press
WASHINGTON The Supreme Court is in the homestretch ofaterm that has lately been dominated by the Trump administration’s emergency appeals of lower court orders seeking to slow President Donald Trump’s efforts to remake the federal government. But the justices alsohave 21 cases to resolve that were argued between December and mid-May,including a push by Republican-led states to ban gender-affirming care for transgender minors. One of the argued cases was an emergency appeal, the administration’s bid to be allowed to enforce Trump’sexecutive order denying birthright citizenship to U.S.-born children of parents who are in the country illegally
The court typically aimsto finishits work by theend of June. Here are some of thebiggest remaining cases: Treatmentfor transyouth
The oldest unresolved case, and arguably the term’sbiggest, stems from a challenge to Tennessee’s law from transgender minors and their parents who argue that it is unconstitutional sex discriminationaimedat avulnerable population.
At arguments in December,the court’sconservative majority seemed inclinedto
uphold the law,voicing skepticism of claims that it violatesthe 14th amendment’s equal protection clause. The post-Civil Warprovision requires thegovernment to treatsimilarly situated peoplethe same The court is weighing the case amidarange of other federal and state efforts to regulate the lives of transgender people, including which sports competitions they can join andwhich bathrooms they can use.
In April, Trump’sadministration suedMaine fornot complying with the government’s push to ban transgenderathletes in girlssports.
Trump also has sought to block federal spending on gender-affirming care for those under 19 anda conservativemajority of justices allowed him to move forward with plans to oust transgenderpeople from the U.S.military
Birthright citizenshiporder
Thecourt rarely hears arguments over emergency appeals, but it took up the administration’spleato narrow orders that have prevented the citizenship changes from taking effect anywhere in theU.S.
Theissue before the justices is whether to limit the authority of judges toissue nationwide injunctions, which have plagued both Republican and Democratic administrations in the past 10 years. These nationwide court orders have emerged as an important check on Trump’s efforts and asource of mountingfrustration to the Republican president and hisallies.
At arguments last month, the court seemed intent on
ASSOCIATEDPRESS FILEPHOTO
The Supreme Courtstill has 21 cases left to resolvefor its current term.
keeping ablock on the citizenship restrictions while still lookingfor away to scale back nationwide court orders.Itwas not clear what such adecision might look like, but amajorityofthe court expressed concerns aboutwhat would happenif the administration were allowed, even temporarily,to deny citizenship to children born to parentswho are in thecountry illegally Democratic-led states, immigrants andrightsgroups who sued over Trump’sexecutive order argued that it would upsetthe settled understanding of birthright citizenshipthat hasexisted for more than 125 years.
LGBTQstorybooks
Parents in the Montgomery Countyschool system, in suburban Washington, want to be able to pull their childrenout of lessonsthat usethe storybooks,which thecountyadded to the cur-
riculum to better reflect the district’s diversity.
The school system at one point allowed parentstoremove their children from those lessons, but thenreversed course becauseit found theopt-outpolicy to be disruptive. Sex education is theonlyareaofinstruction with an opt-out provision in thecounty’sschools.
The school district introduced the storybooks in 2022, withsuch titles as “Prince andKnight” and “Uncle Bobby’sWedding.”
The case is one of several religious rights cases at the court this term. The justices have repeatedly endorsed claims of religious discrimination in recentyears. The decisionalso comes amid increases in recent years in books being banned from public school andpubliclibraries.
La.congressional districts
Lower courts have struck
down two Louisiana congressional maps since 2022 and the justices are weighing whether to send state lawmakers back to the mapdrawing boardfor athird time.
The case involves the interplay between race and politics in drawing political boundaries in front of aconservative-led court that has been skeptical of considerations of race in public life.
At arguments in March, several of the court’sconservative justices suggested they could vote to throw out the map and makeitharder, if not impossible, to bring redistricting lawsuits under the Voting Rights Act.
Before the court nowisa mapthat created asecond Black majority congressional districtamongLouisiana’ssix seats in the House of Representatives. The district elected aBlack Democrat in 2024.
Athree-judge court found
thatthe state reliedtoo heavily on race in drawing the district, rejecting Louisiana’s arguments that politics predominated, specifically thepreservation of the seats of influential membersofCongress, including Speaker Mike Johnson. The SupremeCourt ordered the challenged map to be used last year while the case went on. Lawmakers only drew that map after civil rights advocates wonacourt ruling that amap with one Black majority district likely violated the landmark voting rights law Onlinepornography Texas is among morethan adozen states with age verificationlaws. The states argue the laws arenecessary as smartphoneshavemade access to online porn, including hardcore obscene material, almost instantaneous. The question forthe court is whether the measure infringes on the constitutional rights of adultsaswell. The Free SpeechCoalition,an adult-entertainment industry trade group, agrees that children shouldn’tbeseeing pornography.But it says the Texas lawiswritten too broadly and wrongly affects adults by requiring them to submit personalidentifying information online that is vulnerable to hacking or tracking. The justices appeared open to upholding the law, though they also could return it to alower court for additional work. Somejustices worried the lower court hadn’tapplied astrict enough legal standard in determiningwhether theTexas lawand others likethat could run afoul of the First Amendment.
Feds give immigrant Medicaid data to deportationofficials
BY KIMBERLYKINDY and AMANDASEITZ Associated Press
WASHINGTON President Donald Trump’sadministration this week provided deportation officials with personal data —including the immigration status —on millions of Medicaid enrollees, amove that could make it easiertolocate people as part of his sweeping immigrationcrackdown.
An internal memo and emailsobtained by TheAssociated Press show that Medicaid officials unsuccessfullysought to block the data transfer,citing legal and ethical concerns. Nevertheless, two top advisers to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.ordered the dataset handed over to theDepartmentof Homeland Security,the emails show.Officials at the Centersfor Medicare and Medicaid Services were given just 54 minuteson Tuesday to comply with the directive.
The dataset includes the information of peopleliving in California, Illinois, Wash-
ington state and Washington, D.C., all of whichallow non-U.S.citizens to enroll in Medicaid programs that pay fortheir expensesusing only state taxpayer dollars. CMS transferred theinformation justas the Trump administrationwas ramping up its enforcement efforts in Southern California.
Besides helping authoritieslocatemigrants, experts said, thegovernment could also use the information to scuttle thehopes of migrants seeking green cards, permanent residency or citizenshipif they hadever obtained Medicaidbenefits funded by the federalgovernment.
California Gov.Gavin Newsom ’s office said in a statement that it was concerned about how deportation officials might utilize the data, especially as federal authoritiesconduct immigrationraids with theassistanceofNationalGuard troops and Marines in Los Angeles.
“Wedeeply valuethe privacy of all Californians,” the statement said. “This potential data transfer broughtto
SUNDAY NEWS SHOWS
our attention by theAPis extremely concerning, and if true, potentially unlawful, particularly given numerous headlines highlighting potential improper federal useofpersonalinformation and federal actions to target thepersonal information of Americans.”
Some California lawmakers on Fridayalso expressed alarm. U.S. Rep.Laura Friedman, aDemocrat, wrote on Xthat “we should never usea person’s need to go to the doctor against them. This will only lead to more chaos andpaininour communities.”
U.S. Health and Human Services spokesperson Andrew Nixonsaidthe data sharing was legal. He declined to answer questions aboutwhy the data was shared with DHS and how it would be used.
“With respect to therecentdata sharing between CMS andDHS, HHS acted entirely within its legal authority —and in full compliance withall applicable laws —toensure that Medicaid benefitsare reserved for individuals who arelawfully
entitled to receive them,” Nixon said.
An official withDHS, Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, said in astatementthat Trump“promised to protect Medicaid for eligible beneficiaries. To keep thatpromise after Joe Biden flooded ourcountry withtens of millions of illegal aliensCMS andDHS are exploring an initiative to ensure thatillegal aliens are notreceiving Medicaid
benefits that are meant for law-abiding Americans.”
Theinitiative appears to be part of abroader effort by theTrump administrationtoprovide DHSwith moredata on migrants. In May, forexample, afederal judge refused to block the Internal Revenue Service from sharing immigrants’ tax data withImmigration andCustoms Enforcement to help agents locateand detain people living without legal status in the U.S. CMS announced late last month thatitwas reviewing some state’s Medicaid enrollees to ensure federal funds have not beenusedto pay for coverage for people with “unsatisfactory immigration status.” In alettersenttostate Medicaid officials, CMS saidthat the effort was part of Trump’s Feb. 19 executive ordertitled “Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders.”
ABC’s“ThisWeek”: Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter; Sen. Alex Padilla, DCalif.; retired Gen. Joseph Votel, former commander of U.S. Central Command
NBC’s“Meetthe Press”: Sens Amy Klobuchar,D-Minn., Adam Schiff, D-Calif.,and Rand Paul, R-Ky
CNN’s“Stateofthe Union”: Padilla, Klobuchar; Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass; former Vice PresidentMike Pence. CBS’“Face the Nation”: Padilla; Sens. TomCotton,R-Ark., Lindsey Graham,R-S.C., and Richard Blumenthal, DConn. “Fox News Sunday”: Sens. John Thune, R-S.D.,and Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H. TheAssociated Press
THE GULF COAST
Storm chaser makes Bay St. Louis his home base
BY JUSTIN MITCHELL Staff writer
materials I used to build my house,” Morgerman said “The roof is 24-gauge metal, and I have heavy composite shutters with polycarbonate to protect the windows (from debris).
“I also used James Hardie cement siding, which is like a coat of armor around my house.”
Morgerman moved into his home in early 2024 and has no regrets.
He said he loves the beach, the humidity his front porch and being able to ride his bicycle pretty much anywhere.
“That’s kind of magical to me,” he said.
Morgerman often treks a few blocks for coffee at PJ’s or Mockingbird Cafe, and likes having a nice dinner at The Thorny Oyster inside the Pearl Hotel. He will also bike over to Pass Christian to enjoy the pork chop special at Bachhus on the Beach on Monday nights.
Morgerman isn’t the only weather guru who has fallen in love with the Mississippi Coast. At the party on Saturday,
his front porch listening to frogs ribbit and insects chirp.
And for Morgerman, the laissezfaire lifestyle of the Gulf Coast is a big part of what made him decide to leave Los Angeles behind and make a home in the Bay “When I’m not chasing storms, I’m all about routine and steadiness,” he said this week “I want to compliment the other side of my life, which is very dangerous and very unpredictable.” Morgerman first discovered Bay St. Louis in 2020 as he was trying to figure out how to safely chase storms in the height of the COVID pandemic “I had always been based in Los Angeles, and with air travel shut down for several months, I remem-
son. When a big storm approached, he’d pack up and head out from Mississippi to begin the chase.
Morgerman thought the move to the Mississippi Coast was a “crazy idea” at first, as he had only ever lived in major metros including L.A., New York City and Boston.
But to his surprise, Morgerman said the adjustment was easy
“Being in the Bay, I felt, like, this stress disappear It became my happy place I felt very zen about it.”
After a few summers, Morgerman said he realized his feelings for the Gulf Coast weren’t temporary
He decided to stay put, buying a lot and beginning the process of building his dream “hurricane house” up to standards so high he said he’d said he’d ride out a Category 5 storm.
ber thinking, ‘If I want to chase hurricanes I’m going to need to live in hurricane country.’”
He began renting a cottage in Bay St. Louis and made that his home base for a few years during the sea-
It looks like an average shotgunstyle New Orleans cottage, like those commonly seen around Bay St. Louis. But the home is reinforced from the inside out.
“Folks ask me a lot about what
“The
Cantore said on Instagram after the event.
Morgerman said his mother, a lifelong New York City resident, was miffed when he told her that he was moving to Mississippi.
“A lot of people in New York and L.A., they don’t know about this area,
looking ahead to what forecasters are predicting to be an above-average hurricane season.
“I believe we’re in for another busy year with the activity centered in the Gulf,” Moregerman said. “I think we all got to keep watch.”
PROVIDED
Keymoments from fifthweekofSeanCombs’trial
BY MICHAEL R. SISAK and LARRYNEUMEISTER Associated Press
NEWYORK— The fifth week of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex trafficking trial featured four days of testimony from aformer Combs’ girlfriend who testified under the pseudonym Jane and a surprise appearance at the courthouse on the fifth day by Ye,the rapper formerly known as Kanye West. Ye said he came to show his support for his good friendbut couldn’tget into the courtroom and watched for afew minutes on an overflow courtroom monitor Combs, the founder of Bad BoyRecords,has pleaded not guilty in the trial, which resumes Monday Here are key moments from the past week: Jane testifies Jane testified for six days about her over three-year relationship with Combs, saying her plans to meet him at aNew York hotel lastSeptember were interrupted by his arrest. Her testimony consumed four of the week’sfive trial days as she told about her conflicted feelings toward Combs.
She told aprosecutor: “I just pray for his continued healing, and Ipray for peace for him.” And whena defense lawyerasked if she still loved him, she responded: “I do.” When she completed her testimony and with the jury stillinthe room, she wentto the prosecutor and gave her awarm embracebeforepro-
ceedingtothe defense attorneyand hugging hertoo. She said sheresents she felt forced to have sexwith strangers in multiday sex marathons as the man she longed most to cuddle with filmed and fed her drugs to give her energy to satisfy hissexual fantasies.
Her testimony echoed what the jury heard in the trial’sfirst week when Casandra “Cassie” Ventura testified for four days that she engagedinhundreds ofmultiday“freak-offs” while they dated from 2007 to 2018, having sex with male sex workers in frontofCombs, who masturbated, filmed theencounters, and verbalized what he wanted to see sexually Janesaid sheand Combs split up from Halloween 2023 until February 2024 Duringthe break, she said, she flew on another famous rapper’sprivate jet to Las Vegas,joining the celebrity to celebrate his romantic partner’sbirthday for a night that included dinner, astripper’sclub visit and a hotelroom party In thehotel room,Jane testified,the rapperwho was close friends with Combs made apass at her amid flirtatiousbanter,saying he had always wanted to have sex with her.She said she danced in thehotel room, where amale sex worker was havingsex witha woman, andatsomepoint Jane flashed her breasts.
Jane agreed with alawyer’sassessment that the famous rapper was “an individual at the top of the music industryaswell. an icon in
As TrumpgoestoG7,
BY JOSH BOAK Associated Press
WASHINGTON President
Donald Trump has long bet that he can scare allies into submission —agamble that is increasingly beingtested ahead of the Group of Seven summit beginning Monday in Canada.
He’sthreatened stiff tariffs in the belief thatother nations would crumple. He’s mused abouttakingover Canada and Greenland. He’s suggested he will not honor NATO’sobligations to defend partners under attack. And he’sused Oval Office meetings to try to intimidate the leaders of Ukraine and South Africa.
But many world leaders see fewer reasons to be cowed by Trump, even as they recognize the risks if he followedthrough on his threats. They believe he will ultimately back down —since many of his plans could inflict harm on the U.S. —orthat he cansimply be charmed and flattered into cooperating.
“Many leaders still seem intimidatedbyTrump, but increasingly they are catching on to his pattern of bullying,” said Jeremy Shapiro, research director at the European Council on Foreign Relations. “In places as diverse as Canada,Iran, China and the EU, we are seeing increasing signsthat leaders now recognize that Trump is afraid of anything resembling afair fight. And so they are increasingly willing to stand up to him.”
In the 22 instances in which Trump has publicly threatened military action since hisfirst term, theU.S only used force twice, according to aMay analysis by Shapiro.
Ahead of the G7 summit, there are already signs of subtle pushback against Trump from fellowleaders in the group. French President Emanuel Macron planned to visit Greenland over the weekendina show of European solidarity. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has said the U.S. is no longer the “predominant” force in the worldafterTrump’s tariffs created fissures in a decadeslong partnership between the U.S. and its northern neighbor
“Westood shoulder to shoulder with the Americans throughout the Cold Warand in the decades that followed, as the United States played
ye,the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, leavesfederal courtFridayduring the trial of Sean‘Diddy’ Combs in Newyork.
themusic industry.”
Jane also revealed that the unidentified famousrapper andhis partnerwere looking forsomeonetheycould add to theirsexualexperiences who was “in thelifestyle.”
“I believe theywere askingmebecause maybe they just picked up the energy from me or Ijustmaybe assumed thatmaybe they had already got an inclination thatmeand Sean had been doing kind of similar things,” she said, noting that she referred amale sex worker she knew Ye surprisescourthouse
Aday after Jane finished testifying, Ye,formerly known as Kanye West,made asurprise appearance at the courthouse andquickly
learned what atough ticket it is to getinto the courtroom where his good friend Combs is on trial.
Ye,wearing all white, was ushered by courthouse security to an overflow courtroom to watch thetrial on avideo monitor along with otherswho were unable to getinto the courtroom. He lasted only afew minutesthere beforehemade his courthouse exit, saying nothing during his trip exceptthat he was thereto support Combs.
Combs’ favoriteTVshow
It turnsout that Combs, the subject of severaltruecrime TV documentaries, is abit of atrue-crimefan himself.
Janerevealed this week
that his favorite show is “Dateline,” the magazinestyle NBC stalwart that is heavy on murders and mysteries.
She told jurors that, in their alone timetogether, she and Combs would watch “Dateline” forhours “till we fell asleep.”
Other activities when it was just the twoofthem included hugging, cuddling and bathing Combs, and giving him foot rubs, Jane testified.
Jane’s last meeting
Jane testified that she last saw Combs in August, when theywereintheir “same routine having sex and everything” when Combs suggested that she invite over the very first male sex
worker she hadsex within front of Combs.
She said that afterward, she and Combs continued texting each other and were planningtomeetinNew York at ahotel in September
“Did you end up going to NewYork to see him?” she wasasked.“No,” she answered.
“Why not?” she wasasked before she responded: “Because he got arrested.”
Protecting Jane’s identity
The courtroom rulessurrounding Jane’stestimony were the strictest yet in abid to protect heridentity from becoming common knowledge. But the rules imposed by the judge becametoo much fordefense attorney Marc Agnifilo,who protested that Jane was blocked from telling more about the hotel party in January 2024 withthe famous, though unidentified, rapper Agnifilo said the defense had consented to the “pseudonymity” of Jane.
“What we didn’tconsent to, and we don’t, most respectfully,isthat these events which play important parts in the background of some of the mostcritical events in the trial,shouldbeinany way not fully public,” he said. He said names should have been released.
“Part of the reason that trials are fully public is so if other people realize they know something about an event that’sdiscussed in a public courtroom,they could come forward andtheycould share whatever theirrecollection is about it,” he said.
leadersaim to show strength
apredominantrole on the world stage,” Carneysaid this pastweekinFrench.
“Today,thatpredominance is athing of the past.”
Thenew primeminister added that with the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the U.S. became the global hegemon, apositionofauthority underminedbyTrump’s transactional nature that puts little emphasis on defending democratic values or therule of law
“Now the UnitedStatesis beginningtomonetize its hegemony: charging for access to its markets and reducing its relativecontributions to our collective security,” Carneysaid.
Israel’sattack on Iran has added anew wrinkletothe global pictureasthe summit leaders gathertotackle some of the world’sthorniest problems
AseniorCanadian official said it was decided early on that the G7won’t be issuing ajointcommuniquéasit has at past summits —anindication of howhard itcan be to getTrump on the samepage with other world leaders
The White Housesaidindividual leader statements will be issuedonthe issues beingdiscussed.
Speaking last month at a conference in Singapore, Macron called France a
“friend andanally of the United States” but pushed back against Trump’sdesire to dominate what other countries do. Macron said efforts to force other nations to choosebetween the U.S. and China would lead to the breakdown of theglobal order put in place after World WarII.
“Wewant to cooperate, but we do not want tobe instructedona daily basis what is allowed, what is not allowed, and how our life will change because of the decision of asingle person,” Macron said.
Japanese PrimeMinister Shigeru Ishiba pushedback againstTrump’s agenda of levying highertariffs on importedgoods, arguing it would hurt economic growth. The Japaneseleader specifically called Trump ahead of thesummittoconfirm their plans to talk on the sidelines, which is agreater focus for Japan than the summit itself.
“I called him as Ialso wanted to congratulate his birthday,though one day earlier,” Ishiba said.
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, DN.H., theranking member of the Foreign Relations Committee, said thesummitwas an opportunity for Trump to “mend” relationships withothercountries
so China would be unable to exploit differences among theG7.
She said other foreign leaders are “not intimidated” by Trump’sactions, which could be driving them
away from tighter commitments with the U.S.
“The conversations that I’ve hadwith those leaders suggest that they think that thepartnership withthe United States has been re-
ally important, but they also understandthatthere are other opportunities,” Shaheen said. The White House did not respond to emailedquestions forthis story
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOByLARRy NEUMEISTER
Artist Pavy featured on Chenier tribute
Album features songs from Rolling Stones
BY JOANNA BROWN Staff writer
musicians as Lucinda Williams, Charley Crockett and Taj Mahal.
Lafayette native is the last of 6888
Fannie McClendon was part of legendary battalion
BY JOANNA BROWN Staff writer
With the death of 101-year-old
Anna Mae Robertson of Milwaukee, Lafayette native Fannie McClendon is now the last living link to an exceptional piece of World War II history
Both Robertson and McClendon were members of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, an allBlack battalion of the U.S. Women’s Army Corps that was sent to Birmingham, England, in the spring of 1945 to figure out how to get a backlog of 17 million pieces of mail to the front lines Their work was considered vital to the war effort in Europe, and 80 years later, the 6888th story was featured in a Netflix film by director Tyler Perry, “The Six Triple Eight.” Robertson, who was born in Mississippi, moved to Milwaukee at the end of the war She died on May 30. Robertson, McClendon and other members of the 6888th received a Congressional Gold Medal in 2022 as thanks for their role in the war effort McClendon is now 104 years old and living in Tempe, Arizona, where she and her husband settled after a career in the Air Force. After serving with the Women’s Army Corps and in the 6888th from 1942 to 1945, she re-enlisted in the Air Force in 1950, retiring as a major in 1971. According to her niece, Dianne Mouton-Allen of Lafayette, McClendon is a lifelong lover of history and travel. She opened an antiques business as a second career, which she worked for several years before closing up shop about 10 years ago. Since then, she has enjoyed living independently near her great-niece, according to Mouton-Allen.
Email Joanna Brown at joanna. brown@theadvocate.com.
The Chenier tribute album, released by Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, will be out June 27. The album will feature the Rolling Stones performing Chenier’s “Zydeco Sont Pas Sale,” with Louisiana artist Steve Riley along with contributions from such
An iconic Louisiana zydeco musician is being honored by the Smithsonian Institution with a new vinyl release — and work by celebrated Lafayette artist Francis Pavy is featured on the album cover Clifton Chenier known as the “King of Zydeco,” was born 100 years ago this month, on June 25, 1925. Before the artist’s death in 1987, he broke numerous barriers in Louisiana roots music, modernizing the genre from its Creole roots with elements of R&B, funk and rock ‘n’ roll Chenier, who was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2011, is a noted inspiration for artists such as Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones — and now, the Rolling Stones have contributed to an album honoring Chenier on the 100th anniversary of his birth.
As part of the anniversary release, the Smithsonian is also releasing a special 7-inch vinyl of the Rolling Stones and Steve Riley song, which will have the original Clifton Chenier version on the B-side. That record will be out on June 25, Chenier’s birthday
The vinyl release will feature something even more special for local fans the Chenier-inspired art by Pavy
Pavy known for his vibrant, evocative and thoughtful abstractions of Cajun and Creole culture, contributed his painting “Dancers” as cover art for the vinyl record.
“This is one of those full circle moments,” said Pavy in a June 10 Facebook post. He said that music by the Rolling Stones “became part of my creative bloodstream” at a young age, when he was also experiencing the King of Zydeco
CALLING COFFEE
Attendee Brittany Kennerson samples some coffee from Louisiana Coffee Company
Settlement reached in McNeese suit over estate
$15M will contested by university
BY MEGAN WYATT Staff writer
A settlement has been reached over the $15 million estate of Lake Charles businessman Robert Noland two weeks after a state district judge halted the trial between the McNeese State University Foundation and No-
land’s daughter.
McNeese and Noland’s daughter, Amanda Noland Inzer, reached an agreement Thursday night, and the foundation board approved the terms Friday morning.
“The case has settled,” said Attorney Rusty Stutes, who was representing the foundation. “McNeese is pleased with the settlement, and we expect Ms.
Coffee beans are ground and served from Rêve Coffee during the Lafayette Coffee Festival at Rock ‘n’ Bowl de Lafayette on Saturday Attendees could sit in on workshops along with panel discussions from expert baristas on coffee training and different brewing methods.
La. mom arrested at ICE immigration hearing
Wife of Marine was in process of getting green card
BY JAMES FINN Staff writer
Since immigration agents detained his wife in New Orleans last month, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran has ferried the couple’s 9-week-old daughter to a north Louisiana detention facility so she can nurse and visit her mother while the family waits to learn if she will be deported. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested Paola Clouatre, of Baton Rouge, after a U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services checkin last month that she attended with her husband in New
ä See MCNEESE, page 2B ä See ARTIST, page 2B
ä See ICE, page 3B
McClendon
STAFF PHOTOS By BRAD KEMP
East St.John grad fatallyshot
17-year-oldkilled after fistfight in Reserve
BY MICHELLEHUNTER Staff writer
AReserveteenager who graduatedjust weeks ago from East St.John High School wasshot and killed after afistfight in Reserve on Thursday night, according to authorities.
The St. John the BaptistParishSheriff’s Office identified the victim as Tylik Jackson, 17.
“A bright light in our Wildcat community,Tylik was known for his radiant smile, kind spirit and the joy he brought to those around him,” East St. John High Principal DeShanna Bause wrote in amessage postedonthe school’sFacebook page Friday Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to the 400 block of Northwest Third Street about 8p.m. after receivingreportsofgunfire, authorities said.
They found Tylik lyingon the ground suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Crimecameras in the area recorded afight, betweenTylik andanother unidentified male, in the middle of the street just before the shooting, the Sheriff’s Office said. Authorities have not identified asuspect in the case, but St. John Sheriff Mike Tregre said Friday that his detectives are workingto make an arrest.
In asocial media post relatedtothe shooting, Tregre said, “Teenagers these days making permanent life decisions with weapons to settle disagreements. Other than prayers …not sure what else can be done in government or as a community.”
Bause’spost about Tylik noted that the teen’swalk across the graduation stage was “a moment that reflected his determination, his love for his family andhis unwavering commitment to making them proud.
Bause said Tylik left an unforgettable mark on is fellow students as well as theschool’sfacultyand
MCNEESE
Continued from page1B
Inzer’sattorneys will also tell you they are pleased.”
Stutes declined to discuss the termsofthe settlement, which he said are not considered apublic record.
Attorney Walter Sanchez, who was representing Inzer,issued astatement Friday
“Though this process has been deeply personal and challengingattimes, Amanda’ssupport forMcNeese State University has never wavered. Her long-standingcommitment to the university’sfaculty staff, students andathletic programs remainsas strong as ever,” Sanchez wrote.
“Amanda has been profoundly moved by the kindnessand encouragement shown by the community at large. Sheissincerely grateful for the outpouring of goodwill —a powerful reminder of the shared values and lasting relationships that connect so many to McNeese.” McNeese contestedNoland’sfinal will thatleft almost everything to his only child. The will, which Noland signed less thana year before he died, was a significant departure from previouswills that listed the McNeese Foundation as the primary beneficiary Attorneys for McNeese argued that Noland’sdementia was too severe to agreetothe new will he signed Dec. 29, 2020. Inzer’s attorneys argued that Noland was of sound
PROVIDED PHOTO By EAST ST.JOHN HIGH SCHOOL Tylik Jackson, 17, a2025 graduateofEast St.John High School, wasshot and killed Thursdayaccordingto authorities.
staff.
“His presencewill be deeply missed, buthis memory will forever be cherished,” Bause wrote
St.JohnSchools Superintendent Dr.Cleo Perry Jr also released astatement Friday lamenting the loss of ateen who had been full of potential, spirit and promise
“In moments likethis, we arereminded of how closelyconnected we are as aschool family.Wewill continue to surround Tylik’sloved ones and our students with support, compassion, andcare in the days ahead,” Perrysaid Starting next week, counselors will be available on campus at EastSt. John High School,1Wildcat Drive, LaPlace, schoolofficialssaid. Anyone in need of someonetotalk to or additional support is encouraged to reach out.
Those with information on theshooting death of Tylik Jackson is asked to call theSt. John the BaptistParish Sheriff’s Office TIPS line at (985) 359-TIPS (8477), contact Lt. Carolina Pineda ofthe Criminal Investigations Divisionat (504) 494-3840 or submitinformation onlineathttps:// stjohnsheriff.org/crimearrests/crime-tips/give-usa-general-crime-tip/ The public can also call Crimestoppers at (504) 8221111 or toll-free at 1-877903-7867. Callers do not have to give their names or testify and canearn a $2,500 rewardfor informationthatleads toanindictment.
Email Michelle Hunter at mhunter@theadvocate com.
mind whenhesigned the will, noting that he reconciled with his daughter and no longer wanted to donate his estate to McNeese by the timehediedonNov.6, 2021.
Aportrait of awealthy manwhose cognitive impairment was up fordebate emerged inthe courtroom along with another image of Noland:aneccentric, indulgent and impulsiveheir witha hungerfor money and atendency to make emotional decisionsona whim. Among those who testified during the trial, which began May 22, were theattorneywho drafted Noland’s final will and theattorneywho drafted Noland’spreviousfive wills.
Fourteenth Judicial District Judge Robert Wyatt suspended proceedings on May29and urged the parties to mediate outside of open court. The trial was set to resumeMonday if the parties failed to reach an agreement.
Email Megan Wyatt at mwyatt@theadvocate com.
LOTTERY SATURDAY,JUNE 13, 2025 PICK 3: 9-5-9 PICK 4: 1-6-0-9 PICK 5: 2-5-2-2-0 MEGA MILLIONS: 8-10-22-40-47 MEGA BALL: 1 Unof
Smithsonian FolkwaysRecordingsisreleasing a7-inch vinylofthe Rolling Stones and Steve Rileyperforming Clifton Chenier’s‘Zydeco
ARTIST
Continuedfrom page 1B
perform live at events like Lafayette MardiGras.
“Clifton brought French Creole soultothe stage with his red-hotaccordion, and when he played, you had to dance. Youcould feel it in your bones. Iwent to see himevery chance I
got, and dance we did,” wrote Pavy.
“I find myself lucky enough to be part of this historic release that bridgesmusical giants: theraw power of the
Stones and theunstoppable groove of Clifton Chenier.”
Email Joanna Brown at joanna.brown@ theadvocate.com.
PUBLIC NOTICE
NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS Noticeisherebygiven thatsealedbidswillbe receivedeitherbymail, email to DebraFaulat dfaul@stlandrycharter school.com,orhandde‐livered to St.Landry Charter School,office of the Purchasing Division located at 1203 Burr Street,Opelousas,LA 70570, until 1:30PM Cen‐tralTimeonthe 10thof July,2025 forthe follow‐ing: St.LandryCharter School Roof Replacement andwill, shortlythere‐after,beopenedand readaloud in thePur‐chasing Division Office located at 1203 Burr Street,Opelousas,LA 70570. Bids received after the abovespecified time for openingshall notbe consideredand shallbe returnedunopenedto the sender.Bidders are encouragedtocallinto the bidopeningsatthe following phonenumber 337-943-0954. ScopeofServices: The workshall consistof, but not limitedto, furnishing all material,labor,tools, and supervisionfor the re-roofing of theSt. LandryCharter School All work shallbecom‐pletedwithin180 calen‐darsdaysfromthe is‐suanceofthe Notice to Proceed.The contractor shall also payLiquidated Damages in thesum of one thousand five hun‐dreddollars ($500) per calendarday beyond the completiondateinwhich the work is notcomplete, beginning with the
day beyond thecomple‐tiontime. Biddersmay requestthe electronicbid package fromBrandyLeBlanc at brandy@prouet.com or
of bids.Withdrawalof bidsthereafter shallbe allowed only pursuant to LAR.S.38§2214.C. Other‐wise, no bidder may withdrawhis bidfor at least forty-five (45) days after thetimescheduled for thebid openingof bids. Each bidshall be submitted only on the bid form provided within the specifications. The successfulbidderwillbe requiredtoexecute per‐formanceand laborand materialpayment bonds inthe full amount of the contractasmorefully definedinthe biddocu‐ments.Nocontractors may withdraw hisbid for atleast forty-five (45) daysafter thetime scheduled forthe open‐ing of bids.Eachbid shall besubmitted only on the bid form provided with the specifications. The successfulcontractor willberequiredtoexe‐cuteperformance and labor andmaterialpay‐mentbonds in thefull amount of thecontract asmorefully definedin the biddocuments Bids will be evaluatedby the Purchaserbased on the lowest
the Purchasing Division located at 1203 Burr Street,Opelousas,LA 70570, until 2:30PM.Cen‐tralTimeonthe 10thof July,2025 forthe follow‐ing: Construction of aNew P.E. Building St.LandryCharter School and will,shortly there‐after,beopenedand readaloud in theAdmin‐istration Counselors Room locatedat1203 BurrStreet,Opelousas LA70570. Bids received after theabove specified timefor openingshall not be considered and shall be returned un‐openedtothe sender Bidders areencouraged tocallintothe bidopen‐ingsatthe following phone number337-9430954.
ScopeofServices: The workshall consistof, but not limitedto, furnishing all material,labor,tools, and supervisionfor the St. Landry CharterSchool new P.E. Building.All workshall be completed within120 calendars daysfromthe issuance ofthe Notice to Proceed The contractor shallalso pay Liquidated Damages inthe sumofone thou‐sand five hundred dollars ($500) percalendarday
ENDLESSOPTIONS
New Orleans, according to the family’sattorney
The case highlights how the Trump administration’simmigration crackdown is increasingly being driven by arrests at customs appointments and court hearings —tactics officials historically shied away from over concerns they could deter migrants from participating in the court process. Trump, though, has embraced those tactics as he pursues acampaign promise to deport millions of people
The president’simmigration agenda, which has the support of Louisiana’s conservative state leaders, has spurred protests in New Orleans in recent weeks, including athousands-strong demonstration Saturday in the city’s downtown.
Clouatre, 25, entered the United States from Mexico with her mother whenshe was 14, said Carey Holliday, an attorney andformer immigration judge who represents the family Holliday said Clouatre’s mother had applied for asylum upon her arrival with her daughter from Mexico. But she failed to arrive for a2018 trial on the asylum claim, prompting ajudge to issue adeportation order for both Clouatre and her mother ‘I wascryingconstantly’
Clouatre and herhusband, Adrian Clouatre, met nearthe end of the fiveyear period when he was stationed with the Marine Corps in California. They had been navigating the process to secureagreen card for Paola, Adrian Clouatre said in an interview
They learned that Paola hadanactive deportation order just afew days before she was scheduled to appear for acustoms appointment in New Orleans on May 27, part of her ongoing application for a green card. Paola and her mother stopped speaking years ago, Adrian Clouatre said, leaving her with no way of knowing about the order
The couple was open
with customs agents about his wife’simmigration status during the May 27 meeting, an “adjustment of status” interview in which an agent asks questions to determine Paola’sgreen card eligibility,AdrianClouatre said. When the appointment ended,the couple wastold to wait in the lobby fora set of paperwork for her next appointmentinthe greencardprocess.
Twenty minuteslater three ICE agents arrived and took his wife into custody, Adrian Clouatre said.
Twodayspassedbefore he heardfrom her.
“I was crying constantly,having mental breakdowns,” Adrian Clouatre said. “I’m embarrassed to say that, as aman, but it’s the truth.”
When Paola finally called,she saidshe had been heldina local jail in Hancock County,Mississippi, before being transferred to the Richwood Correctional Center,an ICE detention facility in Monroe.
Why adetained migrant would be held in Hancock County is unclear. The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office, which runs the jail, doesnot appear to havean active or pending agreement with ICE underthe federal agency’s287(g) local partnershipprogram, whichTrump hasvastly expanded sincetakingoffice, according to federal records. Email and phone messages left withthe jail were not immediately returned
Thefamily is now awaitingajudge’sruling on a requesttohaltPaola Clouatre’sdeportation,as well as aparole request submitted on her behalf by asupervisoratRichwood Correctional, where
she is still beingheld,her husband said. Conditions at that facility “aren’tbad,” Adrian Clouatre said. He’sbeen making thefour-hour drive twice each week so Paola can nurse the couple’sinfant daughter and visit with their 1-year-old son.
Paola is housedinan open-floor room with about 100other people, he said TwoTVs on the wall blare horror movies and telenovelas. When her husband visits, sheisallowed to nurse their 9-week-old daughterina small phone booth-style room that is “fairly private,” he said.
“It’sjust really difficult to get information out of ICE,” he said, adding that the agency hasbeen “stonewalling.” Holliday said he hasnot been granted access to the woman’scourt records. An ICE spokesperson did not respond to arequest for comment on the case
Mounting pressure
In recentmonths, Trump haspressured federal officials to speed up deportations, leading ICE officials andDepartment of HomelandSecurityprosecutors to begin coordinating raids outside of courtrooms.
That directive followed an earlier executive order compelling federalagencies,like thecustoms officethe Clouatres visited, to coordinate with ICE Clouatre is not thefirst personsinceTrump’s term began to be detained in NewOrleansatacustoms appointment. ICE agents in April arrested Pedro AlejandroLujan-Martinez, aHonduran manwho went withhis U.S. citizen wife to acitizenship appointment scheduledunder a program advertised for undocumented partners of U.S. citizens.
Lujan-Martinez was charged in federal court with afelonyfor illegally reentering the country, anotherprong of Trump’s pushtopenalizeillegal immigration.
Trump also lifted guardrailsthat previously barred immigration agents from making arrests inside schools, municipal courtsand churches. ICE agents in May detained three migrants at amu-
Black III, William Thomas 'Tom'
nicipal court in Jefferson Parish.
Last week, advocates in downtownNew Orleansprotested the arrest of aCentral American manwho they said was detainedinlate Mayfollowing ahearing at New Orleans’ immigration court.
“Immigration court has become adamned if you do,damnedifyou don’t situation,” said Brittnie Grasmick,aNew Orleansbased activist.
Notpolitical
TheCloutres’ involvement with the U.S. immigration system began after they were married last February in California, Adrian Clouatre said. He and his wife feltthat if they hoped to build a lifetogetherinthe United States, she would have to apply for agreen card, and they began that process before movingback to Louisianainthe following months
“She knewshe hadtodo it,”hesaid. “She wasvery fearful about all this, but also very hopeful.
Adrian Clouatre didnot consider himselfpolitical beforehis wife’sdetention —nor does he now.Hestill feels politics are“too divisive,” that they present a barrier to “unity”among allAmericans.
The ICE agents whodetained his wife, he said, treated them with kindnessand seemed almost apologetic as they separated the couple.
“I recognizethat the men and women of ICE have a jobtodo,”hesaid. “It’sthe system itself that won’t let themexercise discretion.It’slikea power vacuum sucking everything up.”
Email James Finn at jfinn@theadvocate.com.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, June 17, 2025 at 11:00 AM in La Chapelle de Martin& Castille in Lafayette for William Thomas "Tom" Black, III,81, whopassed away on Thursday, June 12, 2025 at OchsnerLafayette General Medical Center Thefamilyrequeststhat visitation be observedin Martin& Castille's DOWNTOWNlocation on Tuesdayfrom9:00 AM until time of service at 11:00 AM, with aRosary recitedat 9:30 AM.Deacon Kyle Polozolawill conductthe funeral services. Tom wasbornon October6,1943 in San Francisco,California on the corner of Haight-Ashbury (Tom considered himself thefirst hippie)and grew up in Quitman, Texas. He wasthe son of GraceCox Black andWilliam T. Black, Jr.Hegraduatedfrom Quitman High School and later,Baylor University. Tom worked for Gary RuffininWaco, Texas whileattending Baylor and moved to Lafayette, Louisiana when Gary opened Wormser'sMen Store, later known as Gary Ruffin's. He proudly served in theArmyReserves. Tom marriedBarbara Abdalla in 1977 and together,theyhad twodaughters. Tom managed the Men'sdepartmentat Abdalla's untilitclosed in 2005. He was afounding member of theKrewe of Bonaparte, amember of theKrewe of Gabrieland Lafayette Townhouse. He wasalso amember of the Southwest MardiGras
Obituaries Association Tom's expertise in classic American men's fashion wasevidenced by his seemingly effortless, consistentstyle. He was an avidhunter, fisherman, andpoker player.In2013, he advanced to thefinal table of the WorldSeries Omahapoker tournament in Las Vegas, wherethe ESPNcommentator affectionately referred to him as the"elder statesman." He lovedtravelingand spending time outdoors Tom wouldfeedthe birds andsquirrels in hisbackyard daily. He is survived by his wife, Barbara Abdalla Black andhis two daughters, BradleyElizabeth Black and Amanda Barron "Barrie" Black. He wasprecededin death by hisparents, GraceCox Black and William Thomas Black, Jr Pallbearers will be Don Burts, Charles Chatelain, Robert Copeland, Freddie Dejean,Ralph Kraft, AndrewMahtook, John Joseph Mendell, and PatrickTucker. Honorary Pallbearers will be Dr Brian Barnes, GeneBlevins, Tom Galloway, andJohn McKnight Intermentwillbein Greenlawn Memorial GardensCemetery Memorial contributions canbemade in Tom's name to the following: LPB (his favorite TV station), 7733 Perkins Road,Baton Rouge,LA70810, OurLady of Fatima Church, 2319 Johnston Street,Lafayette, LA 70503, the Discalced Carmelite Nuns Monastery of Mary, Mother of Grace, 1250 CarmelDrive, Lafayette, LA 70501, or the charity of yourchoice Aheartfelt appreciation is extendedbythe Black familytothe doctorsand staff of Ochsner Lafayette General MedicalCenter, especially theIntensive CareUnit for theircompassionate care View theobituaryand guestbook online at www.mourning.com
Martin& CastilleDOWNTOWN-330 St.Landry St Lafayette, LA 70506, 337 -234-2311
When youneed thenews. Wherever youreadthe news Thenewspaper
Continued from page1B
STAFF PHOTO By BRAD KEMP
Attendees lineuptosample coffee from various coffee houses during the Lafayette Coffee Festival at Rock ‘n’ Bowl de Lafayette on Saturday. Attendees could sit in on workshops along withpanel discussions from expert baristas on coffee training and different brewingmethods.
PHOTO PROVIDED By ADRIAN CLOUATRE Adrianand Paola Clouatre
OPINION
OUR VIEWS
Usestate’s congressional mightfor study to tame the Mississippi
Perhaps no state in the union faces as many and varied water-related issues as Louisiana does, and now its ability to copewith themis under multi-faceted threats from the federal level.Ifthere were ever atime for Louisiana’s congressional delegation —which includes the two most powerful members of the House— to flex its muscle to make sure initiatives vitalto our state’sfuture are not left on thechopping block, it is now
What should be especially urgent to fix is the Trump administration’shalting of a $25million U.S. Army Corps of Engineers study, approved by Congress, of the lower Mississippi River.Not onlyisthe study of great importance,but it is likelytosave far more money in the long run thanits relativelypaltry five-yearcosts.
This pound-foolish pause in funds comes amid other cuts that couldhit Louisianaparticularly hard, namely those to the National Weather Service, the National Oceanic andAtmospheric Administration and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.Those moves should draw pushback from Louisiana’srepresentatives in Congress, but the cessation of theriver study deserves immediate attention.
The Lower Mississippi ComprehensiveManagementStudy actually covers Mississippi River issues in seven states, but theLouisiana issues surely are the most complex. Louisianans need theriver to be deep enoughto accommodatecontainer vesselsfor our ports, strong enough in its main flow to counteract saltwater intrusion and contained enough to avoid disastrous floods. Yetitmust also be freeenough to deposit sediment outside itsbanksinsome placessoastoreplenish erodingwetlands.
The five-yearstudy announced in 2023 was supposed to work incomplementary fashion with aseparate $22 millionstudy sponsoredby the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine.
“This funding represented alegalauthorization for the Corps to think abouthow to managethe riverfor the next 100 years,”said Sam Bentley, an LSUgeologist co-leading thatstudy Some of the issues it intends to address, though, already areurgent now,asshown by three straight years of saltwater wedgesmoving upriver,threatening drinkingwater,drainage and machinery
The responsibility for handlingalmostevery aspect of these challenges lies withthe Corps. For dredging alone from Baton Rouge to the Gulf,the Corpsspent $228millioninfiscal year 2024. The $25 million for thestudy isa comparative dropinthe bucket. And the information from the study should help theCorpsand other policymakers ward off damagebefore it happens, which is alot lessexpensivethanhandling unexpected crises.
Louisiana’sMikeJohnsonand SteveScalise are the House Speaker andthe Majority Leader If they don’thave the pull to getthe study’s funding restarted, we havetoask why. If they aren’twilling to use it, then we havetoask why not. The case in the study’s favorisjust that obvious.
LETTERSTOTHE EDITOR ARE WELCOME. HERE AREOUR GUIDELINES: Letters are published identifying name, occupation and/or title and the writer’scity of residence
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.
Feelingsorry forMuskisnot impossible
Elon Musk may have thought that dropping more than $250 million into Trump’sreelection campaign would have bought permanent affection from the president. No, it was ashow of obeisance that labeled Musk as one tobeplayed. Besides, in Trump’sdog-eat-dog view of wealth, the far-richer Musk may have needed cutting down to size.
head of the Department of GovernmentEfficiency,orDOGE? What Trumpdid was make Musk the face of unpopular budget cuts.
Trumpknows about human nature. Musk, for all his awesomefaculties,does not. Like Heracles brought down by trusting ascheming wife, Musk sufferedthe fatal flaw of assuming that Trumpwas truly on his side.
Lastmonth, Trumpheld a bon-voyage press conference for Musk in the Oval Office. Trumppatted Musk on the head as he left DOGE to save his wounded businesses. The enduring visual wasofanunsmiling Musk with ablack eye caused by who-knows-what.
The very next day,Trumpdelivered more disrespect by announcing thewithdrawal of his nomination of Musk’spick to head NASA, his pal Jared Isaacman.
At first it looked like Musk’shopes would be met.
Stock of the tech mogul’scrown jewel Tesla soared on the belief that Trumpwould grandly reward his enterprises. It’s now down 29% from its December high.
Musk didn’tget that his union with Trumpwould repel Tesla buyers. They tendtobethe better educated and environmentally aware.
Did Musk think he was being rewarded with abig government job as
All of theletterswepublish include afull first and last nameaswell as a city of residence. Sometimes the city is omitted if the writer includes atitle that is relevant to thetopic of theletter
There are several reasons why we require all writers to use their real names. First and foremost,itlets our readers know that these letters indeed come from real people. In this age, it’seasy for anyone to Google and verify that aperson with the nameofthe writer does exist. Secondly,anonymous letters by their nature could invite extreme opinions that people wouldn’tordinarily be willing tovoice if their name were attached to it. Unfortunately,though, we are seeing afew cases where writers are afraid to attach their names to what Iwould consider opinions worthy of discussion. This comes from both the conservative and liberal sides. In an era of polarization, someworry about retali-
Musk’senthusiasticendorsement apparently no longer counted formuch. Perhaps realizing that he had once again been dissed, Musk “bravely” posted acontrary view on his Xwebsite: “It is rare to find someone so competent and good-hearted”asIsaacman.
There’ssomething sad about that. It may be hard to summon tears forthe world’srichest man, aguy whocoldly backed big reductions in life-saving humanitarian aid.
Musk says that he had been diag-
nosed with Asperger’ssyndrome, a condition tied to difficulty understanding social cues and unwritten social rules. We can wellbelieve it. Musk suffered at the hands of an abusive father Bullied in school, he was sent to a hospital after agroup of boys pushed him downastaircase.
As Musk returns to his limping businesses, the Tesla board seemsunsure what to pay him.Investors had become highly irritated by Musk’sdisappearance into MAGAland. As pay consultant Alan Johnson put it, the board must require that Musk start “to run it like areal company.” It’s hard to see how Tesla can recover from its founder’stoxic links with Trumpand fascistic movements in Europe. As forSpaceX,foreign governments are already canceling contracts. As he sent Musk into the sunset, Trumpclearly wanted to keep the door open formore play.“He’sgoing to be back and forth, Ithink.” Feeling sorry forMusk is not impossible.
Froma Harrop on X, @FromaHarrop. Email her at fharrop@gmail.com.
ation from those on the opposite side of the political spectrum, especially if they live in an area where their view is in the minority Ifind it increasingly disheartening that in this country,we seem tobelosing the courage to voice our convictions honestly and forthrightly Freedom of speech is abedrock principle upon which the United States was founded. Andself-censorship is almost as harmful as censorship coming from acentral authority.Wemust have theabilitytodebate issues without threats and intimidation if we hope to overcome our differences. This paper offers aforum forletters from readers because we believe it is important, but that forum is only as good as those willing to speak out.
Turning to our letters inbox, we received 61 letters from May 28 to June 5. We are starting to see increased attention to what’shappening in Congress. Most of the national political conversation has revolved around President Donald Trump’sactions, but this week, we received four letters on the “Big, Beautiful, Bill” currently in the Senate. Most addressed our state’s U.S. senators, urging them to take action to protect Louisiana’sinterests. Abrupt blackouts that recently affected several Louisiana cities prompted three letters. Then, there were anumber of topics debated by the Legislature that drew your attention. We received twoletters each on the bill to shield nursing homes from lawsuits and the bill regarding so-called “chemtrails,” which conspiracy theorists say are being used to alter the weather.All the letters we received wereagainst these bills, both of which passed. Lastly,there is still timetosend in responses to our latest Town Square question: 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
Arnessa Garrett
Froma Harrop
COMMENTARY
Politicallessons learned from Dad
while they learn to read.”
On this Father’sDay,please permit alook at some political lessons Ilearned from my father Haywood H. Hillyer III, who died 15 years ago this spring, was one of those political volunteer leaders who saw his involvement as acivic duty rather than as aform of personal advancement.
One of 100 young leaders from across the country invited to William F. Buckley’sConnecticut estate to found the Young Americans for Freedom group in 1960, founder of a campusconservative newspaper at Tulane University thatfeatured writings from numerous future state and national political leaders and judges, aone-termmember of the local Republican parish executive committee and quartercentury member of the Republican StateCentral Committee, Dad ended by serving more than four yearsasLouisiana’s(sole) Republican National Committeeman In that last role, Dad worked assiduously to keep neo-Nazi
David Dukefrom seizing the formal, organizational reins of theLouisianaRepublican Party when Duke’spolitical career was ascendant —including one incident when Dad physically interposed hisbody between Dukeand the podium when Duke tried to seize control of astate political convention
Through it all, Dad was one of that rare breedwho never asked for anything in return for his volunteerwork: no business, no favors for hisfriends, no patronage fiefdoms. Instead,tohis law firm’s displeasure, he lost countless billable hours while instead working to advance theprinciples in which he believed.
Almost always on theconservative side of intra-party disputes, Dad nevertheless was trusted by all sides as beingscrupulously fair.The statecentral committee’sjob is to set party rules —and aspolitical insiders understand, sometimes the rules themselves can, in backdoor ways, favor one side or another Iwatched in numerous SCC
meetings when anger rose as mattersreached impasses, only for my father to rise and, in quiet tones, propose and explain aworkable solution.Almost invariably, theemotional temperature would drop and my dad’sproposal would be adopted. It was for good reason that in one of my father’sreelection races, longtime New Orleans GOP leader Charlie Dunbar mailed an endorsement letter that began with aline taken from the old E.F.Hutton commercial: “When Haywood Hillyer talks, people listen.”
Onemajor key to his credibility (in addition to theforce of his logic) was that everyone knew that while Dad considered politics to involve fierce competition, he considered it acontest of honor rather than ablood sport. Unless and until an individual showed otherwise, Dad assumed everyone was acting in good faith and he thereforeshowed respect to those with whom he disagreed. He also refused to ascribe blame to awhole group if individual membersofthat group “dealt
dirty.”Respect, in return, wasafforded to him While Dad was as interested in practical results as anyone —and usually pretty good at getting them —hestill, and always, saw political action as an expression of idealism. Yethehad the humility to avoid absolutism: Compromise, he believed, could be thoughtful and principled rather than craven. His job was to work like heck to advance his beliefs, and then to take the mostfavorable achievable result and move on.
Meanwhile, one of Dad’s deep desires was to de-racialize politics.Hetold me of when he was at his boarding school up East, not yet 17 years old, when the SupremeCourt in Brownv.Board of Education ruled that school segregation wasunconstitutional. Oneofhis snooty teachers, knowing Dad was asoutherner,assumed he would be angered by thedecision. Dad, indignant at the teacher’sassumption, said he told the teacher: “I don’tknow the legal ins andouts, but Isee no reason why it hurts aWhite boy or a Black boy to sit next to each other
Several years later,asatraditional jazz aficionado, Dad regularly ignored segregation lawsby going in the back roomsand back alleys with veteran Black jazz musicians during their betweenset breaks so he could hear their four-decade-old stories of the dawnofthe Jazz Age. Those experiences guided him as he tried diligently (but, alas, without much success) to recruit Black voters to the Republican side while trying to steer the party’ssubstance and rhetoric away from anything interpretable as featuring racial undertones.
Among the manypolitical lessons Ilearned from Dad, then, werethese: that politics at heart should maintain asense of idealism,that honor and trust are crucial, that political opponents need not be personal enemies and that appeals to racial animus —and indeed all formsofbigotry —have no valid place in American life. Meanwhile, Happy Father’s Day,one and all. Quin Hillyer canbereached at quin.hillyer@theadvocate.com.
Cassidyisrunning outofexcuses forRFK Jr.
Give U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy credit for this: He usually doesn’t hide from questions.He invites them,infact, and generally tries to make aconvincing case for whatever vote or position he’s taken.
Yetwhen it comes to defendinghis key,controversial vote to make professional vaccine denier Robert F. Kennedy Jr.the secretary of Health and HumanServices,the physician senator from Louisiana seems to have runout of answers.
Since then, Kennedy has done plenty to alarm mainstream doctors and researchersand the many,many people who support their important work. Butwhat’s left Cassidy largelyspeechless is Kennedy’smass firing of an expert panel that advises the government on vaccines.
We weren’tprivy to theconversations Cassidy had before deciding to carry one of President Donald Trump’smost controversial nominations (which is saying something) overthe finish line. But we do know he and Kennedy talked about this particular panel, becauseCassidy said so in his floor speech explaining his vote.
“If confirmed, [Kennedy] will maintain the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’sAdvisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) withoutchanges,” Cassidy assured everyone listening.
U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge, listens to Secretary of Health and HumanServices RobertF.KennedyJr.,ashetestifies before aSenate committee May14.
Last week, after Kennedy did just the opposite, Cassidy put out aconcerned statement on X.
“Of course, now the fear is that the ACIP will be filled up with peoplewho know nothing about vaccines exceptsuspicion. I’ve just spoken with SecretaryKennedy,and I’llcontinue to talk with himtoensure this is not thecase,” he wrote.(Kennedylater said he hadonly committed to giving Cassidyone appointment on the 17-member committee.)
And that’s it. Asked to elaborate on his position in aTuesday call
with Louisiana journalists, Cassidy referred to his statement Asked whether he’sdisappointed at the firings, he referred to the statement again. Asked whether he’dbeen misled, he did so athird time, and said journalistsshould keep an eye on his feed for any updates because that’show he planned to communicate on the issue going forward.
“I just found on somethinglike this,which is so topical, it’sbest to have aset of prepared statements.”
In thesame call, Cassidy did
weigh in on his stance toward vaccine skepticism in general by offering apassionate riffabout a woman in Canada whose unborn child had died of measles.
“Because I’mpro-life, because I’m adoctor,because Iknow the science and because Ilook at the tragedy of people’sbabies dying in utero as if they’re aborted because someonechose not to get vaccinated,I’m about vaccination,” he said.
Well, that’sgood to hear.But where’sthat guy when we’re talking not just about the threat of deadly infectious disease but about what federal officials are doing —ornot doing —toprotect people from it?
Three days after that press call, Ichecked the feed Cassidy had told journalists to watch to see if he had any moretosay
There were lots of posts —on thesituation in L.A., on fentanyl, on student debt, on the One Big BeautifulBill and on one of the senator’s favorite annual events in Congress, National Seersucker Day.But there wasnothing more on the vanquished vaccine panel.
It’sfair to point out that all senators can and should monitor all sortsofissues, and that Cassidy, who leads acommittee that oversees not just health but also education, labor and pensions, has a broad portfolio. But on vaccines, there’snosafety in numbers. He’s not one of 100, he’sone of one.
He’sthe respected professional who once started avaccine program in Baton Rouge. His wasthe key votethat could have stopped
Kennedy’sconfirmation by offering cover forothers with doubts. He is the committee chair tasked with overseeing what Kennedy does. The American Medical Association is asking him to do just that by holding hearings on the vaccine panel’sfate. He should. In that floor speech after he voted yes, Cassidy suggested he would act if such a concerning situation arose: “If Mr.Kennedy is confirmed, Iwill use my authority …torebuff any attempts to remove the public’s access to lifesaving vaccines without ironclad, causational scientific evidence that can be defended before the mainstream scientific community and before Congress.”
But he likely won’t
He has an election to worry about next year.And the very segment of the electorate he’s been trying to appease ever since he voted —atthe timeunapologetically —toconvict Trump during his second impeachment is still coming forhim,even as the people he later cut adeal with show no sign up holding up their end of the bargain.
He won’tsay that. In fact, Friday his spokesperson said that Kennedy’sinitial “commitment was about the ACIP process, not staffing,” according to Reuters. The real question is whether there’sany dwindling hope that Cassidy can —and will —try to do anything about it.
Email StephanieGrace at sgrace@theadvocate.com.
After many years living in and covering Washington, there is one overriding principle Ihave learned: If you don’ttrust politicians you will never be disappointed.
President Donald Trump andthe House Republican leadership promised that what Trump called “the one, big, beautiful bill” would, among other things, reduce the $36 trillion federaldebt. No less an expert thanthe nonpolitician Elon Musk told CBS News: “I was disappointed to see the massive spending bill, frankly,which increases the budget deficit.”
Musk’sremarkscame as he announced he was severing his relationship with DOGE, which exposed billionsofdollars in government waste, fraud and abuse. It will be difficulttofind the shameful misspending un-
covered by DOGE in this bill, perhaps because it maynot be included. Federal judges are blocking some of theproposed spending cuts, which only adds to the problem, allowing the deficit and debt to increase. Massive debt is arelatively newphenomenon. According to the U.S. Treasury Fiscal Data, the last time the federal government had abalanced budget was in 2001. Before that, balanced budgets were achieved in 1969, 1998, 1999 and 2000. It’s not impossible to balance the budget. What is lacking is the will.
Thebill certainly is big, more than1,100 pages as now written. If beauty is inthe eye of the beholder, it’sworth asecond and third look. That large abill means many won’tread it, which
is what politicians no doubt hope will happen. It’show they sneak through spending they otherwise might not be able to defend if it were exposed.
While thebill is nowinthe Senate, which is likely to make major changes,itdoes include some spending cuts (but not nearly enough) and revenue enhancements.
The TaxFoundation is not impressed by thehypefrom the president and House Republican leaders: “Rather than making the most pro-growthfeatures permanent,the bill spends far too much money on political gimmicks and carve outs, resulting in apackage that provides amodest boost to theeconomy but at ahuge fiscal cost.”
As if thetax code isn’tlong and complicated enough, this bill makes it even more so. Again, theTax Foundation analysis
says“(The bill sends) taxpayers through amazeofnew rules and compliance costs that in many cases probably outweigh any potential taxbenefits. No tax on tips, overtime,and car loans comes with various conditions and guard rails that, if enacted, will likely require hundreds of pages of IRS guidance to interpret.”
The federaltax codeisalready 6,871 pages long andextremely complex. If taxregulations are added, which arethe Treasury Department’sinterpretation of thecode, the pages balloon to 75,000. What about Trump’spromise of no tax on Social Security benefits?
The Wall Street Journal reports thebill only contains a“half measure,” giving seniors “a temporaryextra deduction of $4,000 But this alternative... would
leavemanypeople still paying income taxesonSocial Security benefits.”
Aflat taxand mandating balanced budgets exceptinwartime is the answertoall of this. It would simplify everything and endthe frustration many feel each April 15, trying to understand forms andregulations that make aforeign language you haven’tstudiedseem easierto understand. Thatisn’tlikely to happen, because members of Congress have usedthe taxcodeand spending for decades to favor certain constituenciesthathelp keep theminoffice. As long as that is the primary goal of so many politicians, the bills theypass are likely to remain big, but more ugly thanbeautiful.
Email Cal Thomas at tcaeditors@ tribpub.com
Quin Hillyer
Stephanie Grace
Cal Thomas
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JOHN MCDONNELL
Haywood Hillyer
Thunder embraces adversity to tieup NBAFinals
BY TIM REYNOLDS AP basketball writer
OKLAHOMA CITY
The book is called “The Obstacle Is the Way.”It’sagiftthatOklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault gave to Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein during atrying time this season, knowing the voraciousreader wouldfigure out themeaning. Message delivered.
ä NBA Finals Pacers at Thunder 7:30 P.M. MONDAy,ABC
“I read it and remembered that everything happens for areason,” Hartenstein said. “And after that, everything worked out great.” Such has been the story of theThunder’sseason. Such was the story of Game 4ofthe NBA Finals. Facedwith the biggest challenge of their season— a 10-point deficit in the secondhalf, staring at avery real chance of the Indiana Pacers grabbinga3-1 leadinthe title round —the Thunder,once again, came away saying everything worked out great.
Led by adazzling and frantic finish from the reigning MVP and scoring champion Shai Gilgeous-Alexander—who had 15 of his35pointsinthe final five minutes —the Thunder ralliedinthe fourth quartertobeat Indiana 111-104 on Friday night. The series is now tied 2-2, heading back to Oklahoma City for Game 5onMonday night,and it’s theThunder who has home-court advantage again.
ä See NBA, page 3C
PAINFUL
Freshman
Lewisendured unexpected twists before landingatUL
BY KEVIN FOOTE Staff writer
As he beganhis seniorseasonat BlakeHighinTampa, Florida, in October,6-foot-7 wing Joshua Lewis understandablyfelt likehis planswere coming together nicely
Lewis haddeveloped areally close relationship with South Florida coach Amir Abdur-Rahim andcommitted to his hometown Bulls in May of 2024.
He had no idea about the emotional twistthat awaited him
On Oct. 24, Abdur-Rahim died from complications that arose during amedical procedure.
The tragedy still is difficult for Lewis to discuss.
“When he passed away,ittook ahuge toll on me,” said Lewis,who began his collegiate career this past week with theULRagin’ Cajuns. “I’m still dealing with it to this day,honestly.”
Lewis’ plans had taken ashockingly tragic turn.
Agrandmother died when he was younger, so thatgave him an ideaof how to respond to such heartache.
“Seeing (his father) deal with it when Iwas younger,that kind of gave me the blueprint —seeing
ä See UL, page 3C
UL freshman forward Joshua Lewis took along,heartbreaking path to becominga Ragin’ Cajun, but so far,he’senjoying himself immensely
PROVIDED PHOTO By UL ATHLETICS
ANALYSIS
NewvibehighlightsSaints’ offseason program
BY LUKE JOHNSON Staff writer
Summer vacation has arrived for the 2025 New Orleans Saints.
TheSaints wrapped up their offseason programthis week with twodays of minicamp practices before coach Kellen Moore called off the final day so the team could have some bonding time. Once that was done, the players and coaches wenttheir separate ways for their last breakbefore training camp starts nextmonth.
We’velearned plenty aboutwhatthis Saints team will look like under thedirection of Moore,and we’ve developed an early conceptofwhom the major players are goingtobeinthe first year of anew regime But thereare some questions that will have to wait until theseason draws nearer Here is what we took away from watching theoffseason unfold.
What we’velearned
It will look different:This is atop-down assessment.The structure, tempo anddrill work
Good Luck in Omaha!
of practice have all looked differentfrom recent years.The framework of theoffensive anddefensive schemes is completely new. Even thepersonnel is goingtolook new, as thecoaching staff fits thepieces into places that make sense.
Whether new meansgood is up in the air New Orleans almostcertainly will go into the2025 season with lower outside expectationsthan it has had in sometime.
But thisisn’tchange for change’ssake, and
ä See SAINTS, page 3C
AP PHOTO By NATE BILLINGS Oklahoma City ThundercenterIsaiah Hartenstein, left, talks with coachMark Daigneault duringa game against the Indiana Pacers on ThursdayinOklahoma City
Saints quarterback Tyler Shough AP PHOTO
2
Bowman battling back pain in Mexico
BY JENNA FRYER AP auto racing driver
MEXICO CITY Alex Bowman wasn’t sure he was going to make the trip to Mexico City because of lower back pain suffered in “the hardest hit of my career” at Michigan last week.
As late as Wednesday — the day before he was scheduled to leave for NASCAR’s first points-paying Cup Series race of the modern era outside the United States — the Hendrick Motorsports driver was so sore he didn’t know if he’d be able to get in the car
He was still sore after two days of practice at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, but it was after he got out of his No. 48 Chevrolet and not while he was driving. Bowman said his hit registered 50 G-force.
“I don’t know if on paper that’s the biggest (hit) I’ve ever taken, but it’s the most painful one I’ve ever taken, for sure,” Bowman said Saturday “Even compared to when I broke my back, it’s way more pain than that was.” Bowman last Sunday slammed hard into the wall at Michigan in a head-on impact at approximately 150 mph. The hit was so fierce that it lifted the rear wheels in the air
Although nothing was broken, he has severe lower back pain on his right side that shoots into his leg
The 32-year-old kidded he’s been a bit of a “crash dummy” of late: Bowman missed five races in 2022 with a concussion suffered at Texas, and he broke his back in a 2023 sprint car crash that led Rick Hendrick to ban him from further extracurricular racing.
Although he’s ranked 13th in the Cup Series standings, he didn’t want to miss a race considering the recent slump Bowman is going through. He has finished 27th or worse in seven of the past nine races and has five finishes of 35th or worse. Even though Bowman made it to Mexico City and says he feels fit enough inside the car, Anthony Alfredo is on standby in case Bowman can’t complete Sunday’s race on the 15-turn, 2.42-mile layout. Alfredo, a full-time driver in the Xfinity Series, does simulator work for Hendrick Motorsports. He has 42 starts in the Cup Series, including one start earlier this year at Talladega Superspeedway Bowman, who qualified 29th, hopes to be able to complete the race.
“The goal is to get all the laps in and go from there,” Bowman said.
“It hasn’t been a fun week at all. Wednesday was probably the worst day, but we’re here and ready to go.
It’s all in the right side of my lower back and then through my lower right leg Everything is really tight
It’s all muscular Definitely a lot of pain.”
Golf course with six-lane highway?
BY NOAH TRISTER AP sportswriter
OAKMONT, Pa
For a six-lane in-
terstate carving its way through a world-famous golf course, the Pennsylvania Turnpike at Oakmont is surprisingly unintrusive From an overhead view the sight is somewhat jarring — a wide expressway and railroad track dividing the course essentially in half At ground level, however the road is not much of a distraction. In fact, it can’t be seen from much of Oakmont’s layout.
“And honestly, you don’t even really hear it,” Oakmont historian David Moore said. “It’s amazing how quiet it really is.”
Moore is an expert on this small stretch of the Turnpike — or Interstate 76, if you prefer Its path through the course at Oakmont — the site of the U.S. Open this week was originally just a train track.
“One of the old history books here talks about how until dieselpowered trains came through, there’d be soot all over the first green, the ninth tee and all that,” Moore said. “They’d be driving by and set off all the smoke and just cover the place.”
This is not the Road Hole at St. Andrews. There’s nothing quaint about the Turnpike at Oakmont. It also isn’t or at least, it shouldn’t be — a factor in the course of play With its slick greens and ferocious rough, Oakmont is difficult enough without adding a forced carry over a bunch of 18-wheelers. Holes Nos. 2-8 are to the east of the highway and all the rest are to the west. The first green and
ninth tee, as well as the second tee and eighth green, converge on the two sides of the Turnpike, near a couple of footbridges that allow fans to cross over the road.
The biggest reason the roadway blends in when you’re on the course is because there’s an elevation change down to the highway So the Turnpike presents largely as a gap in the middle of the course if it’s perceptible at all.
There is no giant screen to prevent wayward balls from flying onto the road The holes closest to the highway on the west side are generally perpendicular to it. Those on the east are more parallel, but it would take a pretty extraordinary miss to reach the Turnpike.
That’s not to say it can’t happen. Moore tells the story of Cary Middlecoff hitting a ball toward the highway on No. 10 before withdrawing in disgust in 1953. Thirty years later it was Tom Weiskopf on No. 8 working his way into Oakmont lore.
“He flared one off to the right, it landed in a passing train, and it ended up in Cleveland,” Moore said. “The running joke around here: It was the longest tee shot ever hit.”
The more realistic concern the highway creates is for fans Even with a second footbridge added between the 1994 and 2007 U.S. Opens, there’s still a potential bottleneck in that area as fans cross over the traffic below — which on Thursday included some drivers honking their horns as they passed by golf’s third major of the year Foot traffic wasn’t excessively slow, but it was enough of a slog that bouncing back and forth between one side and the other wasn’t advisable. Near the bridges, the highway is flanked by a wall on the west side and some fencing on the east. The wall seems to do a better job of suppressing the noise from below but on both sides, you might hear the road before you can see it.
Sagstrom share
Clark returns with 32 points; Fever stops Liberty INDIANAPOLIS Caitlin Clark made seven 3-pointers and scored a season-high 32 points in her return from a five-game absence, and the Indiana Fever handed the reigning WNBA champion New York Liberty their first loss of the season with a 102-88 victory Saturday Clark tied her career high for 3-pointers and added nine assists and eight rebounds as the Fever (5-5) set a franchise record with 17 3s in 35 attempts (48.6%). It was Clark’s third career game in which she had at least 30 points, five rebounds and five assists. Last season’s WNBA Rookie of the Year had been sidelined with a quadriceps injury Kelsey Mitchell added 22 points, Lexie Hull had 14 as Indiana reached triple digits for the first time this season. The Fever went 2-3 without Clark.
Rockets, Adams agree to $39M, 3-year extension
HOUSTON Center Steven Adams agreed to a three-year, $39 million contract extension to remain with the Houston Rockets, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press on Saturday Adams, who was set to become an unrestricted free agent on June 30, has been with the Rockets since a trade from Memphis in February 2024. Adams, who played for the Pelicans from 2020-21, missed the entire 2023-24 season while recovering from knee surgery before returning this season. He averaged 3.9 points and 5.8 rebounds in 58 regular-season games. Adams became an important contributor in the playoffs, where he averaged 22.1 minutes per game with 5.7 points and 6.6 rebounds.
Keys loses to 37-year-old qualifier at Queen’s Club
LONDON Madison Keys was stunned in straight sets by 37-yearold qualifier Tatjana Maria in the Queen’s Club semifinals on Saturday Maria, a German mother of two, beat Keys 6-3, 7-6 (3) for her first career victory in four meetings with the reigning Australian Open champion.
She is the oldest singles finalist on the WTA Tour since 2020, when Serena Williams won the Auckland Classic at age 38. No 86 Maria, a former Wimbledon semifinalist, toppled No 8 Keys, who hit 10 aces but failed to get a break.
Keys, the No. 2 seed, exited with the No 1 Zheng Qinwen, who lost to No. 8 Amanda Anisimova of the U.S. 6-2, 4-6, 6-4.
Twins place 3B Lewis on injured list; Buxton injured
HOUSTON The Minnesota Twins placed third baseman Royce Lewis on the 10-day injured list Saturday with a left hamstring strain.
Also on Saturday, center fielder Byron Buxton left the game against the Astros in the seventh inning with a bruised left elbow after being hit by a pitch an inning earlier Lewis was injured running to first base on a single in the ninth inning of Friday night’s 10-3 loss to Houston and had an MRI on Saturday Manager Rocco Baldelli said it was a mild strain.
“It’s not a severe strain, but it is a strain that’s going to keep him off the field for a little bit,” Baldelli said. “Definitely disappointing, but these are things that we deal with.”
Woeful Rockies absorb two records for futility ATLANTA Kyle Farmer just shrugged when asked about being part of a Colorado team that just made MLB history with the worst 70-game record in the modern era.
“We don’t care,” Farmer said after Saturday’s 4-1 loss to the Atlanta Braves left the Rockies with a 13-57 record. The Rockies surpassed the 1932 Boston Red Sox, who were 14-56, for the worst 70-game mark since 1901.
“I mean, there’s nothing we can do about it,” Farmer said. “It is what it is We’ve just got to show up tomorrow and play There’s nothing you can really say about it except that if it happens, it happens.”
The Rockies made more inglorious history by setting a franchise nine-inning record with 19 strikeouts.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By CHARLIE RIEDEL
First-round leader J.J Spaun walks across a bridge over the Pennsylvania Turnpike on Thursday.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By CAROLyN KASTER
bridge
the Pennsylvania Turnpike, which divides Oakmont Country Club, during
practice round ahead of the U.S. Open on Wednesday in Oakmont, Pa.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO
Shane Van Gisbergen
him stay strong and still be there for others dealing with that,” Lewis said. “That showed me how to get through things.”
That example, a lot of prayer and maintaining a joyous disposition sustained Lewis through the dark days of uncertainty
“God is a huge part of my life, so just pray every day,” Lewis said. “Even though it’s tough, I just try to stay happy Life goes on at the end of the day You’ve got to keep on moving.
“You have to try to find the joy in every day and the beauty in everything.”
With South Florida no longer an option for Lewis, he opened up his recruiting. The Iowa Hawkeyes soon entered the picture At the time he committed to Iowa, Lewis was ranked No 47 nationally after averaging 16.8 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game as a senior
“I developed a great relationship with them, with coach Fran (McCaffery) and coach (Tristan) Spurlock,” Lewis said. “They were some great people over there, for sure
“I felt like I finally found a place I could get settled at, and then …”
On March 14, the Iowa coaching staff was fired after a 17-16 campaign. Five months into dealing with Abdur-Rahim’s death, Lewis’ Plan B disappeared right before his eyes Lewis again leaned on his family and faith, and also something AbdurRahim once told him.
want to hear from the head coach, and he was consistently calling me every week,” Lewis said. “He was letting me know that this is the place to be, and I’m glad I listened to him.”
He’s convinced he ended up in the right place.
“I feel like meeting coach Q was like a blessing from God,” said Lewis, who also was recruited by Illinois, Auburn and Cincinnati. “That’s the only way I can explain it. Getting to know coach Q with everything that had happened, I didn’t think I would find another coach that I felt so good about and that I really trusted and felt like I had my best interests.
“But when I got to meet coach Q, I felt all of that from the jump and really from everybody on the staff.”
White has every expectation Lewis will become an elite player In fact, he reminds White of former Houston standout Jarace Walker who was the No. 8 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.
“Your staff being really, really good and the relationships that they have with those guys on and off the floor determine how successful those guys are and how quickly they come out of a so-called slump or hitting the freshman wall.”
QUANNAS WHITE, UL coach
“The crazy thing is me and Amir had a talk where he told me I was going to be great,” Lewis said. “I knew he was sent from God, so the whole time I just kept God first. Even when coach Fran got fired, the first thing I did was thank God, because I knew everything was going to be straight.”
His cousin, Emanuel Sharp, played for Quannas White at Houston, so his aunt gave the expected new UL head coach a call about Lewis.
“That’s how it started,” Lewis said about his path to Lafayette. “He (White) called me right away and right away I could tell he was real passionate and had a love for the game.”
It didn’t take long for White’s zeal to win Lewis over
“Some coaches would call here and there and some assistants would call me, but you
SAINTS
Continued from page 1C
the early reviews are overwhelmingly positive Even the new sports science staff helmed by Ted Rath has earned praise from the team Arm talent isn’t a problem: The Saints will have a new starting quarterback in 2025 which, frankly, is a big reason expectations are lower league wide. We’ve spent plenty of time going through the lack of experience at the position, but here’s a quick refresher: The four quarterbacks have started a total of seven games, winning zero, with a combined five touchdown passes and six interceptions. They’re not proven, but based on what we saw this summer, whoever wins the competition won’t lack for throwing talent.
There’s not a lot to take away from 7-on-7 drills, but pure throwing ability is one of the few things that is translatable and both rookie Tyler Shough and 2024 fifth-rounder Spencer Rattler have displayed some tantalizing.
Shough’s arm strength has popped several times when he’s made tough throws to the sideline that require a quarterback to drive the ball and beat the defender to the spot Those are some of the most difficult plays for NFL quarterbacks to make, and if he wins the job, Moore should feel comfortable letting his rookie attack the entire field. Rattler’s strong suits as a thrower look different than Shough’s, but they’re still impressive. He’s shown a willingness to rip the ball over the middle of the field while also being able to layer second-level throws. Both still need to show whether they can navigate traffic in the pocket and read NFL defenses that game plan against their strengths, but they passed the first test. What we think we’ve learned
A two-man race at QB: Shortly after Derek Carr announced his retirement, Moore stood behind a microphone and announced his intentions to have his three young quarterbacks compete for the starting job in training camp, including third-year player Jake Haener.
Maybe that is still in the cards, but an oblique injury prevented Haener from competing in organized team activities He was back on the field for minicamp, and the Saints certainly could have been forcing him to take it easy by limiting his reps to position drills.
But this felt like a two-man competition between Shough and Rattler from the jump, and nothing that has happened since has changed that. Even when Haener is ready to fully compete, he feels well behind the other two. That said, this does feel like a legitimate competition. Shough would seem to have the edge simply because he was drafted 40th overall by this coaching staff, but Rattler has shown some nice traits in the limited work the quarterbacks have done so far
To be determined
Will the trenches be better?: New Orleans in-
“As good as Joshua Lewis is, I think back to Jarace when I was recruiting him,” White said. “It’s all about preparation. Those guys sometimes are going to hit the freshman wall.
“Your staff being really, really good and the relationships that they have with those guys on and off the floor determine how successful those guys are and how quickly they come out of a so-called slump or hitting the freshman wall.”
Lewis is a perimeter performer who is looking forward to improving in all areas.
“I feel like I’m a really versatile player,” Lewis said. “I feel like I can do everything on the court at a high level. Now, I feel like it’s about polishing everything and getting it to an even higher level
– to an elite level.
“Coach Q, he’s demanding us to play hard defense, be locked into defense. I feel like I can improve in all areas of my game, but I also feel like I’m pretty good in all areas of my game, too.”
Another encouraging sign for Lewis is how well he’s getting along with his new teammates.
“It just has me really excited,” he said.
“Even when we were playing 5-on-5 in the past week we’ve been here, everybody’s super unselfish, and I feel like everybody really knows how to play basketball the right way.
“I feel like that’s a credit to coach Q. He knew what he was doing when he was recruiting us. He knew to pick some guys who really knew how to play together.”
vested in its offensive and defensive fronts this offseason, using two of its top three picks on linemen (LT Kelvin Banks at No. 9, DL Vernon Broughton at No. 71), trading for nose tackle Davon Godchaux and committing big money to bring back edge rusher Chase Young. Will that be enough to turn things around in 2025? It’s way too soon to tell.
There were zero competitive periods pitting the offensive and defensive lines against each other, and Moore has reiterated throughout the summer that it is hard to get a read on where the lines are without full contact.
The Saints should be improved on both sides of the ball. Right tackle Taliese Fuaga and left guard Trevor Penning are probably at their more natural positions, and if Banks hits, the Saints should improve 1-5 on the offensive line. Godchaux should fortify a defensive interior that was awful against the run last year, and Young and Carl Granderson might unlock new production as standup rushers in defensive coordinator Brandon Staley’s scheme.
Time will tell whether it will improve in practice. Additional pieces?: The Saints have approximately $29 million in cap space. That number will dip slightly when Shough signs his rookie contract, but it still gives New Orleans plenty of room to operate if it wants to make veteran additions.
The team is interested in upgrading parts of its roster, as evidenced by some of the visits they’ve recently set up with free agents such as receiver Gabe Davis and corner Asante Samuel. They just signed running back Cam Akers on Friday
There are some big names on the freeagent market, though the Saints’ chances of landing someone like receiver Keenan Allen or pass rusher Za’Darius Smith probably aren’t great if they’re competing against a team that is seen as a legitimate Super Bowl contender It seems more likely the Saints will try and find a buy-low player or two to give them a chance to reset their market next year without eating into too much of the cap space the Saints could roll into 2026.
UCLA’s fast start too much for Murray St.
BY ERIC OLSON AP sportswriter
OMAHA,Neb Roman Martin and AJ Salgado drove in two runs apiece to lead UCLA to a 6-4 victory over a Murray State team making its College World Series debut Saturday
The Bruins, in the CWS for the first time since they won the championship in 2013, built a 6-0 lead before the Racers began chipping away at it in the middle innings. UCLA closer Easton Hawk pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to secure the Bruins’ fourth straight win in an Omaha opener
“It’s one game in a four-team bracket,” UCLA coach John Savage said. “Yeah, you want to win the first game, no question about it. But we’ve got a long, long ways to go.” UCLA (48-16) will play Monday night against the winner of Saturday night’s
game between No. 3 national seed Arkansas and No. 6 LSU. The Missouri Valley Conference’s Racers (44-16), only the fourth No. 4 regional seed since 1999 to advance to the CWS, will try to keep their first appearance going when they play Arkansas or LSU in an elimination game Monday Ian May (8-3), the second of five relievers who followed starter Michael Barnett, pitched an inning to earn the win.
The Bruins were in full control early and improved to 27-1 when scoring first They loaded the bases with no outs in the first inning against Nic Schutte (8-5). He gave up a hit and issued three walks before he settled down and got back-to-back strikeouts and a groundout to keep it 1-0. Dean West singled in another run in the second, and the Bruins added four more in the fourth on a safety squeeze bunt, base hit and Salgado’s two-run double.
BY SCOTT RABALAIS Staff writer
OMAHA, Neb — Chris Stanfield and the LSU Tigers began their pursuit of a College World Series trophy Saturday against Arkansas, but before that a trophy of another kind came to him.
The LSU center fielder has been named the inaugural winner of the Tony Gwynn Trophy in a vote of National College Baseball Writers Association members, college baseball coaches and other media members.
The award honors players who are active in community service as well as excelling on the field and in the classroom.
“It’s an incredible accomplishment,” Stanfield said Friday after LSU’s last pre-CWS practice. “I’m very honored. I’m just thankful for the organizations that nominated me and thankful to be in this position.”
A transfer this year to LSU after two seasons at Auburn, the Tallahassee, Florida, native donates $100 to the Miracle League of Baton Rouge every time he gets an ex-
NBA
Continued from page 1C
“That was an uphill game against a great team,” Daigneault said after Game 4 in Indianapolis. “This is one of the best teams in theleagueinthelastcouplemonths,sinceAllStar break. They’re a hard team to beat here. They’re a hard team to beat, period. I thought we gutted it out on a night when we didn’t have a lot going, especially offensively.”
It was a night when the Thunder made only three 3-pointers and was shooting 45% with about five minutes left before Gilgeous-Alexander got going. He took 11 shots in the final 4:40 three field-goal attempts, one of them a 3-point try, and eight free throws — and made them all.
“It’s unbelievable,” Daigneault said. “He really didn’t have it going a lot of the night. He was laboring. We had a hard time shaking him free. For him to be able to flip the switch like that and get the rhythm he got just speaks to how great of a player he is.”
It might not have seemed so to the outside world — those who fixated on things like Oklahoma City’s 68-14 franchise-best record, its 16-game lead over its nearest challenger in the Western Conference standings, a record number of double-digit wins and how all of it was led by the MVP and scoring cham-
tra-base hit or stolen base through his “Be
The 1” campaign.
“It’s something my parents instilled in me,” Stanfield said “I’ve been working with the Miracle League since middle school. Just giving back, making an impact, because it’s always bigger than me.” Stanfield came into the CWS hitting .309 with one home run, 15 doubles, two triples and five stolen bases.
The award is named for Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn, a 15-time all-star who won a National League record eight batting titles with the San Diego Padres. He played and later coached at San Diego State and died in 2014 after a long bout with cancer
pion Gilgeous-Alexander But the Thunder did face some adversity this season
Oklahoma City played without Chet Holmgren and Hartenstein for a while during the year There was some flux to the lineup at times There was a Game 1 loss in the second round to Denver And Daigneault embraced every bit of that pain.
Like the adversity of being down 10 points in the second half of a crucial NBA Finals game. Just like Hartenstein was led to believe by the book, everything worked out great. “We haven’t really had to show it a lot this year, with the success we had in the regular season,” guard Jalen Williams said shortly before the team left for the flight back to Oklahoma City “We’ve had a lot of ups and downs during the playoffs. We’ve just learned from those experiences. That is something Mark is really big on; every game you should be able to learn, then the next game you should be able to apply something and get better at it. That’s what we’re trying to do every time.”
The series is far from over and the Thunder know it. Indiana already has won once at Oklahoma City in these finals. And even though the teams finished 18 wins apart in the final standings — OKC won 68 times, Indiana won 50 it doesn’t seem like 18 wins worth of disparity between the clubs right now
STAFF FILE PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD
Saints offensive tackle Kelvin Banks watches a play from the offensive line during rookie minicamp on May 10 at the team’s indoor practice facility
SCOREBOARD
(12)
(19)
(38)
Chevrolet, 93.082 29. (48) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, 93.073.
(6) Brad Keselowski, Ford, 92.971.
(20) Christopher Bell, Toyota, 92.958.
(42) John H.
Sterlington’s tenacious Sheets selected 2025 Mr. Baseball
BY JAKE MARTIN
Written for the LSWA
Less than 48 hours after winning the Division III nonselect championship, Sterlington baseball coach Mark Sims reflected on the Panthers’ season with pitching coach Ben Sheets before looking ahead.
Valuable pieces are off the chessboard, just like any other year Sims says he believes he has the best player in Louisiana returning in Sheets’ son, shortstop Miller Sheets.
“I know there’s a lot of talent in the state, but I’ll tell you right now — if there’s a draft, I’m picking him No 1,” Sims said. “He plays every game like it’s his last game. That’s how you’re supposed to play the game.”
The younger Sheets added one major honor to validate Sims’ point. The junior is the 2025 LSWA Mr. Baseball award winner Game 3 of the Division III nonselect best-of-three final series offers an insight into Miller Sheets’ mindset. The Baylor commitment waited for his turn in a tie ballgame against Erath. He told Jacob Breen in the on-deck circle, “Just get it to me.” Breen laid down a bunt single to load the bases with none out. Miller Sheets delivered a two-run single, and Sterlington won 5-3. It was the Panthers’ fourth state championship, and Sheets was voted the Outstanding Player for the series.
“I just kept thinking if we can get it to me, I could make something happen,” Sheets said. “I wanted to have a chance to put us ahead right there.” While the father was a star pitcher at St. Amant High, UL-Monroe and with the Milwaukee Brewers, the son is primarily a hitter
.435 with three
and
to make a throw to first base during the Division III nonselect championship on May 17 at McMurry Park in Sulphur
1996: Joe Lawrence, Barbe
1997: Chucky Son, Parkview
Baptist
1998: Aaron Lowe, Parkway
1999: Nick Bourgeois, Barbe
2000: Austin Nagle, Barbe
2001: Austin Nagle, Barbe/ Jonathan Zeringue, E.D White
2002: Greg Smith,Alexandria
2003: Matt Greenwich, Parkview Baptist
2004: Ben Soignier,W Monroe
2005: Beau Jones, Destrehan
2006: Forrest Moore, Parkview
Baptist
2007: Carmen Angelini, Barbe
2008: Zack Von Rosenberg, Zachary
2009: Zack Von Rosenberg
Zachary
2010: Bryan Picou Northlake Christian
Cameron Young 70-74-69—213 +3
Christiaan Bezuidenhout 72-71-71—214 +4
Chris Gotterup 76-69-69—214 +4
Max Greyserman 76-67-71—214 +4 Ben Griffin 69-71-74—214 +4
Emiliano Grillo 71-72-71—214 +4
Russell Henley 70-72-72—214 +4
Marc Leishman 71-75-68—214 +4
Victor Perez 71-70-73—214 +4
Scottie Scheffler 73-71-70—214 +4
Nick Taylor 73-71-70—214 +4
Keegan Bradley 73-70-72—215 +5
Jason Day 76-67-72—215 +5
Thomas Detry 69-73-73—215 +5
Ryan Gerard 72-74-69—215 +5
Chris Kirk 73-70-72—215 +5
Brooks Koepka 68-74-73—215 +5
Sam Stevens 71-72-72—215 +5
Matt Wallace 72-74-69—215 +5
Trevor Cone 71-73-72—216 +6
Si Woo Kim 68-74-74—216 +6
J.T. Poston 74-72-70—216 +6
Aaron Rai 72-72-72—216 +6
Jordan Spieth 70-75-71—216 +6
Jhonattan Vegas 74-70-72—216 +6 Tom Kim 72-73-72—217 +7
Maverick McNealy 76-69-72—217 +7
Jon Rahm 69-75-73—217 +7
Xander Schauffele 72-74-71—217 +7
Laurie Canter 72-75-71—218 +8 Corey Conners 72-74-72—218 +8 Ryan Fox 72-73-73—218 +8
Rasmus Hojgaard 71-73-74—218 +8
Collin Morikawa 70-74-74—218 +8 Patrick Reed 73-74-71—218 +8
Matt Fitzpatrick 74-73-72—219 +9
Justin Hastings 73-73-73—219 +9
Mackenzie Hughes 73-72-74—219 +9 Adam Schenk 71-72-76—219 +9 Daniel Berger 72-72-76—220 +10 Tony Finau 76-70-74—220 +10
Denny McCarthy 70-74-76—220 +10 Rory McIlroy 74-72-74—220 +10 Andrew Novak 76-71-73—220 +10 Sungjae Im 68-77-76—221 +11
Niklas Norgaard Moller 76-70-75—221 +11
Philip Barbaree 76-71-75—222 +12
Brian Harman 71-76-75—222 +12
John Keefer 76-69-77—222 +12
Michael Kim 75-71-76—222 +12
James Nicholas 69-78-75—222 +12
Taylor Pendrith 72-72-78—222 +12
LPGA Meijer Classic for Simply Give Saturday At Blythefield Country Club-Belmont, Mich. Purse: $3 million Yardage:
-11
-11
Koerstz
2011: Aaron Nola, Catholic-BR
2012: Gavin Cecchini, Barbe
2013: Jared Poche, Lutcher
2014: Chase Vallot, St.Thomas
More
2015: Kale Breaux, Sulphur
2016: Nick Webre,Teurlings
Catholic
2017: Jacob Pearson,West
Monroe
2018: Cade Beloso, John
Curtis
2019: Cameron Meeks, Sam
Houston
2020: Season canceled
2021: Jack Walker, Barbe
2022: Ethan Frey, Rosepine
2023: Donovan LaSalle, Barbe
2024: William Schmidt, Catholic-BR
2025: Miller Sheets, Sterlington
FILE PHOTO By KIRK MECHE
An Erath base runner slides into second base as Sterlington shortstop Miller Sheets gets ready
DannyHeitman AT RANDOM
Children can be afather’s
best teachers
As another Father’s Day arrives,I’ve been thinking of a time when fatherhood seemed to challenge me by giving me what I’d asked for In 2020, my wife and Iwere adjusting to newfound roles as empty nesters. Our daughter had started acareer far away, and our son was in collegeout of state. We werehappy for them and welcomed their independence. Sometimes, though, we wondered what it might be like to follow them through just one day,perched near their shoulders as they navigated young adulthood. In away none of us could have imagined, the arrival of a pandemic made our wish possible. Our daughter,not wanting to endure the lockdowns alone, returned to stay with us and work remotely.Ashis campus closed and shifted to online classes, our son came home, too. It was achallenging timeto fill our house again.
I’d just started anew job editing amagazine,and Ineeded to tackle alot of new skills in avery short time. My office had also closed, which complicated my plans for learningthe ropes. Aquiet corner seemed the best place to sort things out, but Inow had trouble finding one in ahousehold of four that was doubling as aclassroom and workplace.
More than once in that strange year,Iremembered my previous interest in watching our children while they traveled through aworkor school day.Now,they were both within arm’sreach sometimes persistently so —as we embraced our daily adventures in adulthood.
I’d spent most of my professional life in newsrooms —hurly-burly places where working through distraction is an occupational necessity.I seemedanideal mentor for the two young people under our roof who were trying to focus through the competing Zoom sessions and phone conversations that kept our house abuzz. But by theend of our time together,Ithink Ilearned more from our children than they did from me. In those hours of involuntary eavesdropping, when my daughter and son were inevitably within earshot,I discovered more deeply the people they’d become. It was something to hear my daughter accommodate the challenging personalities of corporate culture to brokerbig business deals. Iwas equallyimpressed by our son’sresourcefulness in finding solutions when his online classes fell short.
ä See AT RANDOM, page 4D
DEAR DAD
Fathersshape us in ways bothbig and small. Their words,actions, silences —even their absences— leave lasting imprintsthat ripple into the next generation.
From Basketball Hall of FamerSeimone Augustus,toher father SeymoreAugustus For SeymoreAugustus. Through quiet strength and stories told. There stands aman whoshowed the way
With wisdom deep and asteady mind.
His hands were rough, his heart was kind, He taught me how to stand up tall,
To rise again with every fall.
He showed that love wears working boots, Andsometimes speaks in silence, roots.
He never asked forthanks or praise Each wordhegave, was aseed that grew Andshaped the best in what Ido. So here’shis place, beyond acclaim Arightful spot in the Father’sDay Hall of Fame. Not for records or riches, Butfor being MY DAD, his truest name.
Seymore Augustus and his daughter
In celebration of Father’sDay,the newspaper invited notable Louisianans and their children to write letters to their fathers —some still living and others long gone. Theletters recall the shared bonds of Louisiana football fandom, working boots, cabbage soup diets, tripstothe Grand Canyon, thevalue of taking right turns and how to makearoux. Some letters grapple with divorce, sobrietyand making peace withmemories. The reflections offer glimpses into the men who shaped their lives, childhoods and worldviews.
Whether your own father is present or amemory near or far,wehope these letters resonate—and perhaps inspire one of your own.
—Jan Risher,Louisianaculture editor
From chef E.J. Lagassetohis father chef Emeril Lagasse Dad, Youtaught me how to peel carrots and how to care forothers around me. Youshowed me how to tie atie and makearoux. Taught me theright amount of cream in abarbecue ä See LETTERS, page 4D
Police officersput theirlives on theline to enhance thequality of life in their communities, but alongside them aretheir fourlegged sidekicks who assist in those duties. The Lafayette Police Department K-9 Unit, comprised of eight canines, worksday andnight alongside their handlers. These dogs conductsearchand rescue missions, detect drugs andexplosives, and improve officer safetybyreducing the risk of dangerous encounters.
On average, the Lafayette Police Department K-9 Unit responds to approximately 1,500calls forservice everytwo months. Types of calls range from burglar alarms, disturbances, civilunrest and all in-progress calls. TheK-9 unit is exposedtovarious environments that might be dangerous but has limited funding for specialty canine first-aid kits, protective gear,and necessities like grooming and dental cleaning. Acadiana native Kylie Fontenot has started an organization to help. Fontenot launched her nonproft Acadiana K-9 in January to support
thebravedogs serving alongside law enforcement officers. “There are so many necessities within these departments that get prioritizedoverthe littlethings, andthat’swhere we would like to help and step in,” Fontenot said. With apoliceofficer husband and experience workingwith Lafayette Police and the Sheriff’s Office, Fontenotsaidshe hasseen firsthand howthe unit coulduse additional support.
Perprotocol, allcanines live with their assigned K-9handler and are
STAFF PHOTO By IAN McNULTy
E.J. Lagasse finishes adish tableside while his father,Emeril Lagasse, looksonfrom the glass-enclosed kitchen at Emeril’sRestaurant in NewOrleans.
PROVIDED PHOTO
Seimone
PROVIDED PHOTO By KyLIE FONTENOT
Lafayette Police Department’sK-9 Unit
TRAVEL
SamHouston JonesParkhas naturalbeautyamidregrowth
Outdoorenthusiast’s adventures began near Lake Charles
BY CATHERINE S. COMEAUX
Contributing writer
Editor’snote: Catherine S. Comeaux and her family spent three summers exploring state, national, and provincial parks —from Louisiana to Alaska, to Nova Scotia, and all along the Mississippi River in between. This yearshe turns her attention to our Louisiana state parks to discover the natural beauty of the South less than aday’sdrive from home.
Local outdoors enthusiast
Becky Williams has extensively explored the wonders of the natural world —from the hills of the Appalachian Trail tothe ancientfootpaths of the Camino de Santiago and myriad trails in between. Her life of adventuringinthe wildernessbegan in the longleaf pine forests of Sam Houston Jones State Park not too far from her childhood home in Lake Charles The 1,074-acre park was densely forested when Williamswas akid, and her family tradition was to rent the four park cabins for Thanksgiving each year.The crew of aunts, uncles and cousins would pack aturkey and trailera boat for an extended weekend of playing on the Calcasieu River Williams got to know this nearby outdoor playground and went on to spend many of her high school days riding bikes throughout the park and hiking the heavily woodedtrails.
The park landscape has changed over the decades —hurricanesculled the once heavily wooded area, 10 newly built cabinsreplaced the original four, and investments in the trail system have improved the park’s mountain biking potential since Williams first muddied her tires there. In 2020, Hurricane Laura’s Category 4winds toppled or damaged 80% of the park’strees. However,first-time visitors won’timmediately realize the loss. Beautiful stands of cypress and tupelo line the waters, and hikers can still enjoy miles of shaded trails,some of which overlap ancientNative American footpaths that were once used as wagon roads during the colonial period.
Remnants of the devastated trees have become one with the changed landscape —improving
TRAVEL TROUBLESHOOTER
By ChristopherElliott
Jones State Park overlook the Calcasieu River,while others are tucked further in the woods.
the integrity of the forest by providing wildlife habitat, soilnutrientsand erosion control.Woodpeckers can be heard throughout the park taking advantage of the standing dead trees for nest building.
Along the trails,unique ferns and mosses abound in the micro ecosystems created by fallen trees.
Throughout the park,beginning with the magnolia alley at the entrance, visitors will see newly planted trees, which is part of the reforesting efforts made by the state, volunteers, nonprofitsand businesses. Live
oaks have been planted throughout the camping area promising shade in the decades to come. The campsite is well set up for RVswithhookups, cemented pads and driveways.Tent campers would likely enjoy the sites on the edge farther from the main road, but they should plan to visit in thecooler months until those young oak trees shoot up a few more feet. As can be seen in other Louisiana state parks,several prime camping sites are indefinitely occupied by cutesy glamping-style wall tents —all unavailable for usesince Tentrr,the tech compa-
ny that oversaw their rental, filed for bankruptcy in 2023. These beautiful campsites remain in contractualcaptivity as they sit peacefully empty —creating aquiet,people-free zone in the parkwhich could be viewedas apositive in the busiertimes of theyear when the RV,cabin and lodge sites arefully booked. The 10 newcabins andlodge sometimes book up ayear in advance, especially in the spring, but midweekreservations are often available. Located near the boat launch, some cabins overlook the river while others aretucked further in thewoods. Each cabin sleeps up to eight people andhas a screened-in porchwhere visi-
tors can enjoya fireplace in the cooler months or fire up the TV over the mantle for acozycabin experience.
Birdwatchers, boaters, paddlers andnature enthusiasts of allsorts aredrawn to the park, but mountain bikers have embraceditina special way.A committed group of them has formed the nonprofit Lake Area Mountain Bike Organization anddedicated themselvesto developing the off-roadtrails at the park. Bikers canride alittle over 10 miles on the network of trails while,with the help of grant funding, the organization is working to expand thatmileage to 20. The “orange trail,” or Riverwalk Trail, is an easy ride that loopsaround the campground, following abendinthe Calcasieu Riverwith acouple of engineered small jumps that can easily be rolledover.
Forthe more adventurous, OKwith-potentially-being-lost rider, the Back 40 Trailwinds through the woods crossing andsometimesparalleling other trails for about3-4 miles with plenty of opportunitiesfor root jumps andshort down hills. Be on alert for afew spots where bikers will need to portage large downed trees.The lowareas hold water creating aseriesoffun technical challenges.
Thanks to Lake AreaMountain Bike Organization volunteers, most of these muddy lowspots have options to cross over on cement pavers. ABSA Eagle Scout serviceproject has provided a bike maintenance stationnear the restrooms closetothe Kids Trailwith ahosefor de-mudding afterthe ride State parks, while protected from overdevelopment, are not protected from the destructive forces of nature which ultimately bring rejuvenation to the wild spaces theyseemingly destroy Visit SamHoustonJones State Park andenjoythe newly planted trees alongside the remnants of the storms thatmade way for more naturalbeauty to come. What to know before yougo n Groceries are available in the nearby towns of Moss Bluffand Westlake.
n EV charging stations are available on-site.
n Ask about awater key at the entrance station (or bring your own) if you plan to use the hose at the bike maintenance station. n Kayak rental opportunities are available at the boat launch through Bayou Adventure.
Renter disputes damage to Enterprise carinGermany
down on its claim.
Christopher Elliott
Irecently rented acar from the Enterprise locationinMunich, Germany.When Ireturned thevehicleafter several days, noone inspected it.Afew days later,I received amessageinmyspam folder saying Ihad damaged the car Enterprise claims I scratched thecar duringmyrental.The scratch is small, barely finger-length and thin.They sent me abill for just over $1,800. The photos they sent show no damagein one photo, and the other two photosthat show the scratch don’tshow the license plate or anyindication that it is the same car.I took avideo of the car whenIre-
turned it, and it showsnodamagewhere they claim thescratch is Icalled Enterprisecustomer service.The U.S. representative couldn’t find anyrecord of the damage andcouldn’thelp me.Three months later,Enterprisecharged my credit card for the full amount of the damage. I disputed the chargewithmycreditcard company, butthey aresiding with Enterprise.
How can Idefendmyself against this false claim? —Eric Weiman, San Diego Youshouldn’thave to pay for damage that didn’texist when youreturned the vehicle. You’re responsible for the car from the time you pick it up to thetime you return it. But after you return it? That’sonthe company
Youdid the right thingbytaking avideo of the car when you returned it.That gives you some evidence to support your claim. I also recommend taking “before” photos and videos of the vehicle, just to establish abaseline. The mostconfusing part of your case is that you showed the rental location avideo of the car you rented and it appears thecar didn’thave ascratch. Meanwhile, thephotos they showed you allegedly proving you had damaged thecar were not identifiable as the car you rented. In other words, it could have been any vehicle in thecompany’sfleet. Andwhen you asked for clarification,Enterprise seemed todouble
Ithink you had one moreoption:Anappeal to an executive at Enterprise. Ilist the names, numbers and emailaddresses of the top customer service executives at Enterprise on my consumer advocacy site, Elliott.org.
Icontacted Enterprise on your behalf.
“Wetake seriously any concerns brought to us by customers and investigate them thoroughly,” arepresentative told me. “Inthis particular instance, damage to thevehicle wasnot present when therenter took possession of the vehicle, yet, wasclearly present when the vehicle wasprocessed for return.”
Enterprise says it has aphotographic tunnel, which is operated by athird party.Vehicles from all rental companies pass through the tunnel in and out of Munich airport and are photographed for damage. The photos suggest you returned your car with damage.
“Because of this, we do intend to stand by our charge in this case and pursue the renter fordamages,” the Enterprise spokesman said.
Christopher Elliott is the founder of Elliott Advocacy,anonprofit organization that helps consumers solve their problems. Email him at chris@elliott.org or get help by contacting him on his site.
DAR, SARchaptershonor debutantes at annual ball
Members of the Galvez Chapter,Daughters of the American Revolution, and the Attakapas Chapter,Sons of the American Revolution, honored seven debutantes on Saturday at the 65th George Washington Ball With the ball at the Petroleum Club of Lafayette falling on Flag Day,the event celebrated the history of the American flag. Each of the young women were eligible to participate in the ball by virtue of their lineage, traced back to apatriotic ancestor who supported the cause for American independence. Each honoree was sponsored by amember of the Sons of theAmerican Revolution or Daughters of the American Revolution. The honorees were: n Kylie Elise Blanchard, daughter ofMr. and Mrs. Craig James Blanchard. She is a2024 graduate of John Paul the Great Academy in Lafayette who attends the
UniversityofLouisiana at Lafayette.
n Cecelia Marie Cromwell, daughter of Mr.and Mrs. TysonAlan Cromwell. She is agraduate of the Episcopal School of Acadiana in Cade who will be attending Samford UniversityinHomewood, Alabama, in thefall. n Grace Elizabeth Her-
pin, daughter of Mr.and Mrs. John Herpin III. She is arecent graduateofthe Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Artsin Natchitoches and earned an associatedegree in general studiesfromNorthwestern State Universityduring her timeinhigh school. She will be attending Centenary Col-
lege in the fall. Jillian Paige Kennedy, daughter of Mr.and Mrs. Richard R. Kennedy III. She attends the Episcopal School of Acadiana in Cade. n Isabelle Eleanor St.JulienMacedo, daughter of Mr andMrs. Otoniel Macedo. She is agraduate of Bishop GormanCatholic High School in Tyler, Texas. She will be attending theUniversity of Dallasinthe fall.
n Camille Elise Rosenzweig, daughterofDr. and Mrs. Seth Daniel Rosenzweig. She is agraduate of the Academy of the Sacred Heart in Grand Coteau and will be attending Tulane University in New Orleans in the fall. n Juliette Alexandra Schmitt, daughter of Mr and Mrs. Gerard Sidney Schmitt. She is arecent graduate of St. Joseph’s Academy in Baton Rouge and will be attending LSU in Baton Rouge in the fall. For more information, visit www.DAR.org or www SAR.org.
Located near the boat launch,somecabins at SamHouston
Black-bellied whistlingducks perch on apatch of grass at the park
PHOTOSByCATHERINE S. COMEAUX
Ablue heron rests nearthe picnic area at Sam Houston Jones State Park near LakeCharles
Blanchard Herpin
Rosenzweig Cromwell Macedo Kennedy Schmitt
By The Associated Press
Today is Sunday,June 15, the166thday of 2025. There are 199 daysleft in theyear
This is Father’sDay
Todayinhistory:
On June 15, 1904, more than 1,000 people died when fire erupted aboard thesteamboatPSGeneralSlocum in New York’s East River; it remained thedeadliest individual event in the NewYork area until 9/11.
Also on this date:
In 1215, England’sKing John placed his seal on Magna Carta (“the Great Charter”), which curtailed the absolute powerofthe monarchy
In 1775, the Second ContinentalCongress voted unanimously to appoint George Washington head of the Continental Army.
In 1864,Secretary of WarEdwinM.Stanton signed an order establishing amilitary burial ground which became Arlington National CemeteryinVirginia
In 1895, atsunamitriggered by amagnitude 8.5 earthquake struck thecoastof northeastern Japan with waves reachinga height of 125 feet, killing more than 22,000 people In 1934, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed an act making the National Guard part of the U.S. Army in the eventofwar or national emergency
In 1934, Great Smoky MountainsNational Park, the most-visited national park in the United States, was established by Congress.
In 1938, Johnny Vander Meerofthe Cincinnati Reds became theonly baseball pitcher to toss two consecutive no-hitters, leadingthe Reds to a6-0 victory over the BrooklynDodgers in the first nightgame at Ebbets Field, four daysafter no-hitting the Boston Bees by ascore of 3-0.
In 1991, Mount Pinatubointhe northern Philippines exploded in one of the most powerful volcanic eruptions of the 20th century, killingmorethan 800people
In 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court, with a 6-3 vote in its Bostock v. Clayton County decision, ruled that the Civil Rights Actof 1964 protects gay,lesbianand transgender people from discrimination in employment.
Today’sbirthdays: Baseball Hall of Famer Billy Williams is 87. Former MLBplayer and manager Dusty Baker is 76. Actor Simon Callow is 76. Singer Russell Hitchcock (Air Supply) is 76. Chinese President Xi Jinpingis72. Actor-comedian Jim Belushi is 71. Actor Julie Hagertyis70. Baseball Hall of Famer Wade Boggs is 67. Actor Helen Hunt is 62. Actor Courteney Cox is 61. Rapper-actor Ice Cube is 56. Actor Leah Remini is 55. Actor Neil Patrick Harris is 52. Olympic gymnastics gold medalist Madison Kocian is 28.
Aone-starreviewfor afive-star chef
Dear Miss Manners: Iaman executive chef at afive-star restaurant who frequently entertains at home. Ilove to cook creatively and come up with ideas for things theguests have never had done before, usually with success.
However,Igot some feedbackafter adinner party that makes me wonder if Imay have breached arule of etiquetteofwhich Iwas unaware.
on. Therewere three different kinds of homemade bread to go withitand homemade ice cream for dessert. No one went home hungry, and the guests mostlyraved about it.
Judith Martin MISS MANNERS
Theinvitations werefor four couples —myparents, my wife’sparents and two other couples —tojoin us for a“very informal Sunday supper” at which themenu was asoup bar with fivedifferent kinds of homemade soup. This wasnot canned condensed soup; this was high-quality, five-star restaurantseafood chowder,venison minestrone and aMiddle Eastern lamb soup that Ispent alot of time
However,myfatherin-law toldmywife that he was disappointed in ameal that was “just soup.” My father-in-law has never been satisfied with anything Ido, so I’m inclined to write him off, but for futurereference, is there some rule I’m not awareofthat an “informal Sunday supper”mustbemore than what Ioffered?
Gentlereader: Recognizing that restaurateurs arefond of garnishing food withwords, Miss Manners will overlook theunnecessary complexity of calling what happened anything other than ameal for family and friends.
Ordinarily,she —like your father-in-law and, she suspects, you as well—would expect ameal to include morethan soup —even good soup, even soup followed by ice cream. Butknowing your profession, your guests were doubtless expecting something out of the ordinary
The charm of this meal was its experimental nature. As you said, no one lefthungry Andwith one exception, whom you know to be generally negative, the guests raved about it. Youmay take this as feedback.You may also tell your wife that it is not at all necessary to pass on any future disgruntled comments from her father
Dear Miss Manners: Iwas invited to ababy shower,and the invitation included alink to an expensive registry
Ihappily RSVP’d, ordered agift and put the date on my calendar Ithen noticed the fine print:
Bring abook of your choice and also apack of diapers. Iamonabudget. The gift was already astretch formefinancially.Now there is an added expense of “bonus gifts.” How do Irespond without being that “cheap” friend?
Gentle reader: Etiquette says that the choice of presents is up to the donor,but Miss Manners is unfortunately aware that the host’sbeliefs may differ. She nevertheless recommends you attend sans book and diapers with your head held high, as mosthosts have the decency not to share what they may be thinking.
Send questions to Miss Manners at herwebsite, www.missmanners. com; to heremail, dearmissmanners@gmail. com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City,MO64106.
Dear Heloise: Take someegg whites and dab alittle of it aroundyour eyes, mouthand forehead, then watch it dry The wrinkles gradually disappear; it’s amazing! It works so good that you may wantto diluteitwith a pinch of water so there’snot too tight of afeeling. Andthis way,you can avoid dry white residue if you use too much. It’sgreat to use before going to a40-year high school reunion.
—N.S., in Spokane,Washington N.S., one of my favorite facials is to combine powdered milk (aboutatablespoon full), acouple of drops of water,and the white of 1egg. (Save the yolk to use withshampoo when youwash your hair.) Mix together these three ingredients until you have asmooth and
slightly runny mixture. Apply this to your face with an artist’swide brush. Let it dry and rinse off withwarm water.Pat dry to finish. —Heloise Housewarming gifts
Dear Heloise: Besides wine, what would make anice housewarming gift? Not everyone drinks alcohol, so Ineed some new ideas for agift. —Sarah B., Grand Forks, North Dakota Sarah, tryahomemade baked good such as apies, brownies, cakes or maybe muffins. Youcan also get someone athrow,maybe ablanket, or even abestselling book to put on their coffee table. Even a board gameora large puzzle is usually welcome. —Heloise Killinginsects
Dear Heloise: If you have ants or any other critters that you don’twant, spray dishwashing soap spray where they are collecting. Youcan even spray
acircle around them to keep them from dispersing further This also works on flying insects. It kills them immediately.So, quit wasting money on harmfulinsect sprays when this works even better! —Cat Lady,via email Cat Lady,most bugs breath through their sides, so anything you can use to stop them from breathing is agood idea. Bay leaves repel cockroaches, and sometimes mint will send bugsrunning so that they can get away from the smell. I trytokeep insects out of the house, so sometimes acommercial insect killer works well outdoors. —Heloise Weddingetiquette
Dear Heloise: I’ve been told that wedding etiquette has changed. What is correct etiquette these days concerning theacknowledgment of whether I’m attending? —Charles T., Hayward, California
Charles, here are the traditional rules about areplying to an invitation: If you receive an invitation to awedding, answer it as soon as you can. If the inner envelope says that “plus ones” are welcome, you may bring a guest with you —but only one guest. If your children’snames are not on this envelope, they are not invited. Today many moreweddings are “adult only” affairs, especially if it’s an evening wedding. If you do not send in your acknowledgment of whether you’ll be attending, do not attend the wedding. The couple must pay fortheir guests, and if they don’tget your RSVP of “yes” or “no,” there may not be aplace foryou. Additionally,if you say that you’re going, you should set everything aside and actually attend. —Heloise Send ahinttoheloise@ heloise.com.
Whocreated themural in N.O.’s UnionPassenger Terminal?
BY RACHEL MIPRO
Contributing writer
On her journeys via Amtrak trains and Greyhound buses, Uptown New Orleans resident Miuna Mae has plenty of time to sit in the city’sUnion Passenger Terminal and look at aseries of painstakingly detailed, colorful murals.
“I started thinking about it more, and the more that Isit there, the more interestingitbecomes to me,” Mae said. “Likethe little details, right? There’sradiant women standing there.”
Her question: What is the story behind the murals?
The huge project is the work of Conrad Albrizio, known for his large-scale frescoes.The four panels in the terminal depict “The Age of Exploration, the Age of Colonization, the Age of Struggle, and the Modern Age.” Theintense, brightly-colored images of Louisianans aremeant to encompassthe state’s entire history, introducing the state to travelers stepping off the train. Awhirlwind of boats, fields and people fromall theages are crammed in next to each other
Decorating asleek newterminal
Carolyn Bercier, author of “The Frescoes of Conrad Albrizio:
LETTERS
Continued from page1D
shrimp and to keep my chin up in amoment of defeat.
Youshowed me how to find the good, even on bad days. You taught me to have afirm handshake and make every saucewith love. Youshowed me how topick the perfect fish at the market and to navigate aroom full of strangers.
Youbrought me to bucket-list restaurantsaworld awaybut reminded me nothing topped NewOrleans. Youtaughtmethe importance of the kitchen table andthat, as humans, we could all relate to food.
Youwarned me of the mistakes youmade, in hopes Iwouldn’t follow suit. Youtaught me to clap, cry,orlaugh when friendsneeded it. Youtold me to always make extra, in the event someonestops by.You made me understandthat food is the highest form of love. All the memories and all the moments, you and Ihave shared some special times together These are just afew of thelife lessons I’ve picked up from you along the way
You’ve spent your time mentoring those around you, all while learning something new every day After all, life is like agreat dish. It is all about right balance. Happy Father’sDay to my oldest friend, my idol, my chef, my dad. With great love and admiration, E.J. Statepoetlaureate Alison Pelegrin wrotethispoemin honorofher father,Irvin Pelegrin
SUCKER Iwas asuckerfor my daddy,an addictatheart, always hookedonsomething— Drambuie, the cabbage soup diet, Cajun dancing, hauling Yankees on the tourbus up and down RiverRoadtoogle whitewashed plantations. He once LARPed the vampire Lestat rising from agrave because he wasa sucker for Anne Rice. He was asuckerfor Wicks-nSticks, specifically candles shaped like Buddha and apartment living after his divorces. He went
Continued from page1D
part of everyaspect of the officer’shome life, which is necessary to provide the most effective K-9 handler rapport. K-9 officers are responsible for the daily training, feeding, grooming, exercising, and overall well-being of theircanine partner,Fontenot said.
“Although someassistance is provided, most of it depends on the owner, which is difficult when these animals are often in worst-case scenarios,” she says.
Public Murals in the Midcentury South,” set the scene in New Orleans, in the early 1950s in acity recovering from WWII. Bercier said the city government, led then by NewOrleans Mayor deLesseps “Chep” Morrison, commissioned Albrizio for the station work.
Bercier said Morrison wanted to revitalize New Orleans, and the terminal, complete with sleek design and imagery,was part of this vision.
“It was his(Morrison’s) desire to sort of modernize New Orleans, to kind of bringNew Orleans forward,”Bercier said. “Here was this great transportation locale, and Ithink that wasthe realimpetus. …Hetries tobringina lotof modern buildings and industry and so forth. And the UnionPassenger Terminal was one of those.”
Albrizio’smurals wereunveiled to the public in 1954, adding to his repertoire of worksinLouisiana. At that point, Albrizio’swork had beendisplayed throughout the state, seen in Allen Hall on the LSUcampus, in theState Capitol, andonthe side of aShreveport museum,among other locations.
Enamored of thecity’sculture
Born to an Italianimmigrant family in NewYork City, Albrizio
hook, line, and sinkerfor self-help, especially Dianetics, and though histoenails blackened,heran across the longest bridge in the world. Twice.
Then he took up ballroom dancing. He was theworld’sbest drunk, and after he driedout he was asuckerfor AA. He was asucker for fathering off-shoremen bailed from the drunk tank, for naming thesechain-smoking menmyuncles, thewomen my aunts, and life became apot-luck of talkingthrough the night while the kids sleptincars.
Iwas asucker for sitting under thefigtree behind TheCamel Club thinking no one couldsee me studyhim, golden-haired and calm, everyone’sfather but mine, asucker for all-nighters, for burntcoffee, for not looking away when sobriety’sAdams namedthe worst horrors of their lives.
From Bryson ‘Cupid’Bernard to hisfather, Corinthian Bernard Hey Dad!
Mr.Corinthian Joseph Bernard, Sr., Happy Fathers Day Just wanttosay Iappreciate
Bryson ‘Cupid’ Bernard stands withhis father,Corinthian Joseph Bernard
Most dogs retirebecause of an injury and aren’tprovidedany medicalexpenses after they’ve leftthe police unit.
Axel, aformer Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office K-9, has dedicatedhis lifeto protecting the community, buthe’sfacing amedical emergency that threatens his well-earned retirement. He’sbeen diagnosed with aserious condition that requires immediate surgery Because Axel is now retired,all medicalexpenses fall on his handler,who is doing everything possible to help —but the cost is overwhelming,according to aGoFundMestarted for
came to New Orleans through an architectural jobinthe 1920s, wherehebecame enamored of the city’sculture. His first major commissionwas six frescos at the Louisiana State Capitol, and he joined Louisiana State University in 1936, becoming aformative member of the fledgling artdepartment
Many of his earlier works were commissioned through the Works ProgressAdministration. Throughout his career,Albrizio remained dedicated tothe concept that art should be public and available to everyone.
Bercier described his earlier murals, like his Capitol pieces, as arealism-focused style, depicting
Jacques, Georgeand André joined forces for acelebratory performance.
you and all the things you instilled in me as ahard worker.The lessons and the discipline you taught me helps me raise my boys today
Ilearned how to stand in business and say what Ihave to say no matter how much it might sting —but in thedirection of love. What’s understood never has to be explained.
I’m just gratefulthat we have therelationship we have and I just want you let you know I’m eternally grateful.
Loveyou man! Bryson Bernard
From JacquesRodrigue to hisfather, theLouisiana artist George Rodrigue
Dear Dad,
Nearly 12 years since you’ve been gone, yet your presence still guides me daily.You always supported your boys, André and me, and those memories fill my heart with gratitude for thelessons, love, and laughter.Irecall our gallery homechildhood, playing pool, watching Letterman while you painted, meonmycanvas beside your easel.
Iremember you on every adventure, recalling road tripsin thevan with my friends to art shows from coast to coast. You installed aTV/VCR for Nintendo and movies like Airplane!,Monty Python,and Mel Brooks classics we were probably too young for While mostadultsdreaded managing kids, you dove in, spending
Axel. With Acadiana K-9, Fontenot hopes to provide support to working canines and support them during retirement.
“Our biggest thing right nowisgetting working dogs more vests and first aidkits,” Fontenot said “And[getting] retired dogs funds they need in theinstance of their medical expenses,which we have manyfundraisers coming up for that.”
The organization currently hosts various fundraisers to raise money for the unit, including the latest Acadiana K-9 raffle, where supporters can donatefor a
daily life. “His style changed through the years,” Bercier said. He worked prolificallyfor decades. “As the general artisticstyle changed in America, he sort of kept up with it.”
For his terminal work, Bercier said, he spentsix months studying Louisiana before even starting to create larger sketches. The artist died in Baton Rouge in 1973.
‘The technique, it’s amazing’ Artconservator Elise Grenier, who has restored and cleaned multiple Albrizio works across thestate, described his painstak-
weeks alone with us, laughing like one of us, making experiences like the Grand Canyon and Las Vegas birthdays unforgettable. OurSaints and LSU fandom bonded us; Mardi Gras waselectric with your revelry.For your 60th, we performed an epic Blues Brothers routine.
Istrivetohonor you, passing your traits and memories to my son, hoping to be the dad you were to me. Youwould’ve been an incredible grandfather.Wemiss you deeply. Thank you. Happy Father’s Day With gratitude, Jacques Rodrigue From television journalist DavidBegnaud to hisfather, GlennBegnaud
My dad has always been the guy withall the answers —orat least the confidence to pretend he did. Take driving, forexample. “Always takeright turns,” he preached like it was alaw of nature. Leftturns? Dangerous. Reckless. The worst idea in the world. Ibelieved him until I turned 15, took aleft turn, and crashed. Iwasn’tsoworried about the accident as Iwas about telling him Turns out, UPSdrivers really do takeright turns for safety and efficiency —but my dad never needed facts to insist he was right Then one day,asanadult, he said theunthinkable: “I don’t know.” That shook me. The man who seemed to know everything was admitting he didn’thave all theanswers. That momentmade me feel like I’dgrownup.
chance to win. Another opportunity was on May17, when Disney princesses Elsa and Belle, along with Paw Patrol’s Chase,made aspecial appearance at the Acadiana K-9 Fundraiser at Pizza Artista from noon to 4p.m. Proceeds from thefamilyfriendly eventwenttohelp Acadiana K-9continue their incredible work in our community. The organization alsoaccepts financial donations or direct purchases of equipmentthe K-9 unit needs.
Email Ja’koriMadison at jakori.madison@ theadvocate.com.
ing approach and vivid color use, resulting in aproduct almost visually similar to stained glass.
“The technique, it’samazing,” Grenier said. “It’sjust like touching the wallofthe Sistine Chapel. …It’slike apiece of glass or a piece of marble. It’s just extremely welltroweled, really smooth, and just just real attention to the proportions, the quality of the ingredients and so on. His workis just so perfect.”
Grenier said the workwas in fairly good condition, although she has noticed someareas that could be restored on recent trips to the panels —she herself has never worked on this particular piece. Grenier described the longevity of his work.
“It’ll be here forever,long after we’re gone,” Grenier said. “It’ll last longer than alittle wooden shotgun like my house, or anything else. These will be here, like the pyramids. They’ll just last and last because of how well they were thought out and executed.”
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.
My dad’snot just about rules and certainty.Hehelped integrate his high school prom.He fought forwhat was right, even if it meantdoing things off-site. That kind of courage and conviction is what Irespect most. So, this Father’sDay,I’m grateful—for his stubbornness, his wisdom,his flaws, and mostofall, his love. He’sthe man whoguided me, sometimes by example, sometimes by sheer force of will, and always with heart.
Happy Father’sDay,Dad. Thanks forbeing you, David
From communityleaderand former Southern University administratorPress Robinson to hisfather, Prince Robinson Jr Dear Dad, Happy Everlasting Father’s Day!
Even though you are no longer alive, Ijust wanted to take amomenttoreflect on your life, your legacy,and the significant impact you have had, and continue to have, on my life. This tribute would mean much moreifyou were still here to read it yourself But God decided otherwise and took you away somethirty-six years ago.
Your presence is remembered through the lessons you taught, the values you practiced, and the kindness you showed daily
My lifeiswhat it is today because Ihave lived it according to your examples, which provide comfort, inspiration, and daily guidance.
Ihave learned so much from you, not just through the words you used, which Iconstantly refer to, but through your humble actions, steadfast integrity,and being aman of your word. Youoften reminded me that “an apple does not fall farfrom its tree,” and what atall and strong tree you were, and still are, to me. And as children often do, Ididn’talways show my appreciation foryour steady hand, common sense, and value of hard work.
On this dayinhistory,inyour absence, Iprofess my love andthank youfor setting the example of howtolove, show wisdom, be afather, andbe aman allinone.With pride, Icelebrate youtoday as the remarkable fatheryou were and whose influenceendures beyond words andtime
Press L. Robinson Sr
AT RANDOM
Continued from page1D
Seeing our children adapt so quickly to the challenges of the lockdowns mademe moreconfident in tackling my own worklife. Slowly, in fits and starts, the pages of my first magazine issue came together On Father’sDay in 2020, our children surprised me with aframed copy of the issue, which now hangs on my office wall. Their gift wastheir wayofsaluting a season whenwe’d all been workmates. Their present, within viewasIwrite this, is
adaily reminder that for fathers, children can often be the best teachers of all.
Email Danny Heitman at danny@dannyheitman.com.
HOME-DELIVERED EVERYDAY
STAFFPHOTO By JOHN McCUSKER
Conrad Albrizio’sintensely colored 1954 murals of Louisiana history coverthe walls of NewOrleans’ Union Passenger Terminal.
PROVIDED PHOTO
The Rodrigues became The Blues Brothers for anight when, from left,
PROVIDED PHOTO
Press Robinson Sr.’sfather,Prince RobinsonJr.
PROVIDED PHOTO
LOUISIANABAKES
It’s theripetimetoget baking forblueberry season
On arecent Sunday afternoon,I setout to have anew experience —topick my own blueberries at Bluesberry Fields in Carencro, a local organic farm.
Olivia Regard
Rows of bushes withbright berries bursting with flavor greeted me
As Iworked my way down each row, Iwas amazed at the size and intensity of color of theberries and found it increasingly difficult nottoeat as Ipicked.
Blueberries, or “star fruits” as they were named by the North American Indigenous people becauseofthe five-pointed star shape that is formed at the blossom end of the berry,are considered asuperfood. The berries are high in antioxidants,vitamins, minerals and fiber and are touted as one of the most heart-healthy foods around.
The picking was asuccess, and Ileft the farm with over 5pounds of the freshest and juiciest blueberries Ihave ever tastedand lasting memories. What Idid not have was aplan for what to do with my harvest.
Over the next week, my kids and Isnacked on fresh berries, added the fruit to yogurt bowls and baked afew of our favorite berry-centric treats. Instead of the usual pancakes, Idecided to revisit aclassic French recipe, the clafoutis, which is traditionally made with cherries.While this dish might sound fancy,a clafoutis (“cl-ahh-foo-tee”) is as simple as it comes.
The batter comes together easily in asingle bowl and is baked in abuttered dish to achievea custardy and flan-like consistency
Ialso embraced the chance to tinker with arecipe staple —the blueberry muffin. Ibaked muffins for Sunday breakfast with the intention that any leftovers would become adelicious grab-and-go breakfast or snack oncethe slower-paced weekend turned into a fast-paced workweek.
Finally,Iroasted asmall batch of the berries to serve as atopping for ice cream when acold treat was neededtocombat the south Louisiana heat.
Iencourage you to seek outa pick-your-own farmororchard.
The experience is fun for the entire family and aunique way to support alocal business, promote sustainability and engagewith nature. Iamalready planning my next trip before Louisiana’sshortlived blueberry season ends. Happy picking!
BlueberryClafouti
Adapted from “Mastering the Art of French Cooking” by Julia Child, Louisette Bertholle and Simone Beck
Serves 6-8
3cups blueberries
1 1/4 cups milk 1⁄3 cup granulated sugar
3large eggs 1tablespoon vanillaextract 1⁄8 teaspoon kosher salt 1/2 cup flour Butter for greasing pan 1/4 cup sugar
Powdered sugarfor dusting
1. Place milk,sugar,eggs, vanilla, salt andflour(in that order) in an electric blender.Cover and blend at top speed for1 minute.
2. Generously butter a7-to 8-cupbakingdish or Pyrex pie plate (about11/2 inches deep) Place the prepared dish on the burner of your stove over medium heat.
3. Poura 1/4-inch layer of batter in the baking dish andheat for approximately 2minutes until afilm of batter has set in the bottom of thedish. Removefrom heat.
4. Spread theblueberries over thebatter andsprinkle with half of thesugar
5. Pourthe remaining batter over theblueberriesand sprinkle with theremainingsugar
6. Place thedish in the middle position of theovenand bake for 50-55 minutes untilatoothpick or knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
7. Sprinkle theclafouti with powdered sugar,ifyou desire,
just before serving.
Note: The clafouti will naturally deflateasitcools.
Blueberry
Muffins
Makes 9muffins
5tablespoonsunsaltedbutter
1/2 cup sugar
Zest of onelemon
3/4 cup plain yogurt
1largeegg
1teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt or fine seasalt
1 1/2 cup flour
2cups blueberries Turbinado sugar
1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
2. Brown the butter: Place butter in asaute pan over medium heat. Stir the butter continuously as it melts. The butter will begin to foam and sizzle. The foam will begin to dissolve, the milk solids on the bottom of the pan will toast, and the melted butter will turn a golden brown. When this happens, remove the browned butter from the heat and set it aside to cool.
3. Whisk together the sugar, lemon zest, yogurt, egg, vanilla, baking powder,baking soda and salt. Add the cooled butter
4. Stir in flour,then fold in the blueberries. Note: the batter will be thick.
5. Prepare muffin tin with baking spray or muffin cup liners. Using aspoon or cookie scoop, spoon the batter into the nine prepared muffin tins.
6. Sprinkle batter with turbinado sugar
7. Bake muffins 20-25 minutes until the muffin tops are golden brown and atester inserted in the top comes out clean.
8. Enjoy the muffins warm with good, salted butter Roasted Blueberries
Serves 2-4
1cup blueberries
1 1/2 teaspoons granulatedsugar Juice from 1/4 to 1/2 lemon (optional, to taste)
1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
2. Place blueberries in ashallow roasting dish and sprinkle with sugar.Gently roll the berries in the dish to coat.
3. Roast for10-15 minutes, rolling the berries once or twice during the roasting process. The aim is forthe berries to release some of their juices, but not fully slump or turn to sauce.
4. Remove from the oven and squeeze abit of lemon juice over the berries. Roll the berries in the roasting dish to evenly coat with the lemon juice.
5. Spoon hot, roasted blueberries and juices over ice cream, cheesecake, custard, etc.
MADRID In the heart of Spain’s capital, Sobrino de Botín holdsa coveted Guinness World Record as the world’soldest restaurant. Exactly 300 years after it opened its doors, Botín welcomes droves of daily visitors hungry for Castilian fare with aside of history But on the outskirts of Madrid, far from the souvenir shops and tourist sites, arustictavern named Casa Pedro makes aboldclaim. Its owners assert the establishment endured not just the Spanish Civil Warinthe 1930s and the Napoleonic invasion in the early 1800s,but even the WarofSpanishSuccession at the start of the 18th century —a lineage that wouldmake Casa Pedro older than Botín anda strong contender for the title.
“It’sreally frustrating when you say,‘Yes, we’ve been around since 1702,’but youcan’tproveit,”said manager and eighth-generation proprietor Irene Guiñales. “If you look at the restaurant’slogo, it says ‘Casa Pedro, since 1702,’ so we said, ‘Damn it, let’stry to prove it.’” Guiñales, 51, remembers her grandfather swearingbyCasa Pedro’sage, but she was aware that decades-old hearsay froma proud old-timer wouldn’tbeenough to prove it. Her family hired ahistorian and has so far turnedupdocuments dating the restaurant’soperations to at least 1750. That puts them within striking distance of Botín’srecord.
Clientsand rivals
Both taverns are family-owned
Both offerCastilian classics like stewed tripeand roast sucklingpig Theyare decorated with charming Spanish tiles,featureceilings with exposedwooden beams and underground wine cellars. Andboth enjoy arich, star-studded history Botín’scelebrated past includesa roster of literary patrons like TrumanCapote, F. ScottFitzgerald and Graham Greene. In his book “The Sun AlsoRises,” Ernest Hemingwaydescribedit as “one of the best restaurantsinthe world.”While Casa Pedro may not have boasted thesame artistic pedigree, it boasts its own VIPs. Its walls are adorned withdecades-oldphotographs of former SpanishKing Juan Carlos Idining in one of its many rooms. The current Spanish monarch,
King Felipe VI dines there, too, albeit moreinconspicuously than his father.But the similarities between the twohotspots end there.
CasaPedro was once astop on the only road headingnorthfromthe Spanish capitaltoward France. Its clientele is largely local regulars, like David González and Mayte Villena,who foryears have spent everyFridaylunching at the tavern.
“Itwouldn’tchange athing for us,” Villena saidabout therestaurant someday securing the Guinness title Botín, on theotherhand, is a stone’sthrow from Madrid’sfamed PlazaMayor,where any day of theweektourguidesare herding groups around town —and often straight through the restaurant’s
front door Antonio González, athird-generation proprietor of Botín, concedes that the Guinness accolade awarded in 1987 hashelped business, but said the restaurant had enough history to draw visitors even before. Pretenders to thecrown
The question then becomes: How can eitherrestaurantdefinitively claim the title? Guinness provides its specific guidelines for the superlative only to applicants, according to spokesperson Kylie Galloway, notingthat it entails “substantial evidence anddocumentation of therestaurant’soperation over the years.” González said that Guinness required Botín show that it hascon-
tinuously operated in the same location with the same name.
The only timethe restaurant closed wasduring the COVID-19 pandemic, as did Casa Pedro. That criteria would mean that restaurants that are even older Paris’ Le Procope, which says it was founded in 1686, or Beijing’s Bianyifang, founded in 1416, or the 1673-established White Horse Tavern in Newport, Rhode Island aren’teligible for the designation. La Campana, in Rome’shistoric center,claimsover 500 years of operation, citing documents on its menuand in aself-publishedhistory.Its owners say they have compiled the requisite paperworkand plan to submit it to Guinness. Adream forCasaPedro Guiñales andher husband couldn’tconsult archives from the former town of Fuencarral, now aMadrid neighborhood. Those papers went up in flames during the Spanish Civil War. Instead, they delved into Spanish national archives, wheretheyfound land registriesofthe area from the First Marquess of Ensenada (17431754) thatshowedthe existence of atavern, wine cellar and inn in the small town as of 1750. In their spare time, the couple continues to hunt for records proving that Casa Pedro indeed dates back to 1702, as is proclaimed on itswalls,takeout bags and sugar packets.
But even if they dig up the final documents and wrest the Guinness honor from Botín, Guiñales concedes that herrestaurant’s quiet location makesitunlikely to draw Botín’sclientele in central Madrid. “Tothink that we could reach thatpublic would be incredible,” Guiñalessaid. “It’sadream, but it’s adream.”
PHOTOSByOLIVIA REGARD
Blueberry Clafouti
Blueberry muffins
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MANU FERNANDEZ
Casa Pedro restaurantinMadrid claimsithas been around since 1702.
New George Dureau book showcases unseen photos
100 images of N.O. artist’s work come from museum’s contact sheets
BY RIEN FERTEL Contributing writer
“George Valentine Dureau: Life and Art in New Orleans” by Howard Philips Smith, University of Mississippi Press, 520 pages
The iconic New Orleans artist George Valentine Dureau was “named for two saints,” his friend W. Kenneth Holditch observed, “one who fought dragons, one who became the very symbol of love.”
The warrior and the lover: he wore this dichotomy well, according to Howard Philips Smith’s monumental survey of Dureau’s life and artistic career
The main draw here, especially for longtime Dureau fans, will be the 100 previously unseen and unpublished large-format photographs, taken from contact sheets housed at the Historic New Orleans Collection. But just as revelatory is a series of absorbing essays, written by Smith, the author of several previous books on New Orleans art and history, including the indispensable “Unveiling the Muse: The Lost History of Gay Carnival in New Orleans” from 2017
Born in 1930 and raised in the Bayou St. John neighborhood, Dureau first exhibited his paintings at the age of 11, then went on to study art at LSU and architecture at Tulane Induction into the Army briefly interrupted his nascent career in 1954, when he enlisted in the Military Police Corps. He gained notoriety for enjoying a weekend tryst with an AWOL soldier he was ordered to escort back to base.
Back in New Orleans, after a stint as a Canal Street window dresser, he pledged to devote his life to art.
He first found success with his 1964 painting, “Fat Tuesday, Waiting for Comus,” which led to a solo exhibition at the Isaac Delgado Museum of Art, today’s New Orleans Museum of Art. The composition is a brilliant bait-and-switch A scattering of figures stand, hands on hips and looking bored, presumably waiting for the parade to arrive a true-to-life Mardi Gras moment if there ever was one.
The painting’s only carnivalesque detail is the sultry red street on which they linger.
Two years later, Dureau decamped to the capital of the art world for six months But New York City’s galleries found his work to be unfashionable.
“I was sort of reinventing figure painting. It was very much out of style,” he admitted years later “Everyone was being abstract.”
Dureau doubled down, refocusing his art on often nude portraits of men. A 1971 Royal Street show was greeted with derision.
“The artist is apparently on a Michelangelo binge,” the Times-Picayune’s art critic sneered, comparing his recent work to “a broken record repeating a groove over and over and over again.”
Stung, Dureau settled into seclusion, refusing to showcase his work for a half-dozen years
He returned to the scene with a 1977 mid-career retrospective held at the newly opened Contemporary Arts Center, the ambitious ground zero in the transformation of a downtown neighborhood of derelict warehouses into a Southern SoHo. Alongside his paintings, Dureau, who was White, hung several recent photographs: straightforward street portraits of Black laborers.
The impetus for picking up his camera was a
blockbuster Diane Arbus retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art, which eventually traveled to New Orleans. For Dureau, Arbus’ intimate blackand-white photographs of people living on society’s fringes proved a revelation.
A follow-up exhibit in 1979, titled “Photographs of Men” and held at the newly opened and instantly electrifying Galerie Deville, signaled a trajectory that immediately made Dureau a local legend and heralded the direction his life’s work would take “Dureau somehow manipulates this difficult subject into the most beautiful art,” the TimesPicayune raved this time “Only a special love for humanity could effect this.”
Following Arbus’ lead, his portraits captured New Orleans’ most oppressed and maligned individuals stylized in the heroic, nude Greco-Roman style. Black men, people with dwarfism and physical disabilities, especially amputees. Queer drifters, grifters and bohemians.
“He became known,” Smith writes, “for finding beauty in the grotesque, the marginalized, the forgotten and equally in the sensual, the attractive, the beauteous.”
Unlike Arbus, Dureau would almost exclusively shoot in a series of French Quarter studio-homes. Safer spaces, no doubt, for his artistic vision. Dureau’s photos often feature full-frontal male nudity He’d roam New Orleans in his black Jeep trawling for models, many of whom became his lovers.
He possessed, according to one friend and model, an “almost exclusive insistence on the flesh.”
That artistic insistence seized the attention of Robert Mapplethorpe, a young New York photographer 16 years Dureau’s junior. By the time the budding artist visited New Orleans in the mid-tolate 1970s, he had “become obsessed,” in Smith’s words, with the local legend-in-the-making. The photographers became fast friends, photographing each other and cruising gay bars together for models and hookups.
Mapplethorpe, who died from an AIDS-related illness in 1989 would become one of the defining American artists of the 20th century Dureau couldn’t help but feel snubbed Today, he remains obscure outside New Orleans.
Smith attempts to decipher what he calls the artist’s “jigsaw-puzzle life” with a narrative that is similarly fragmentary, sometimes to a fault. He transports readers into Dureau’s disorderly studio kingdom: stacks of biographies of obscure saints, twisted tubes of paint, three silver pitchers — “one from each of the artist’s mother’s marriages.”
The “golden decade” of the 1980s, when Dureau ruled the city’s downtown bohemia, is brilliantly brought to life. But frequent narrative shifts produce a timeline that can be difficult to follow And a long essay focusing on Dureau’s art-world contemporaries falls flat
The author is unafraid to reveal that Dureau could at times personify the artist as a monster He struggled with alcoholism, alienated many friends and lovers and was aggressively self-absorbed, frequently referring to himself in the third person. Since Dureau’s death in 2014, critics, including Smith, have questioned his motives This survey asks the reader to consider: Were Dureau’s photographs supportive or exploitative?
Dureau, perhaps, would answer that they were both.
“We all are painfully inadequate in one way or another,” he said in a 1979 interview nationally broadcast on ABC. “I think that is very important, to create from unhappy ideas.”
Rien Fertel is the author of four books, including, most recently, “Brown Pelican.”
Family’s story represents ills of a nation in ‘So Far Gone’
BY BARBARA SIMS Contributing writer
“So Far Gone” by Jess Walter, HarperCollins Publishers, 400 pages
Jess Walter has done it again.
The award-winning writer of modern-day and historical novels, short stories and nonfiction is often at his best in works that shine a light on the ills that have beset the United States’ attempt to maintain a “just and equitable society.”
In several works that critique the civic scene of whatever period, Walter asserts that most national ills are selfinflicted. To support his implicit thesis that our present national character is becoming increasingly degraded, he chooses to make his point by showing us what happened to one nuclear family, the Kinnicks, in his newest novel, “So Far Gone.”
When the national and personal chaos of life in his world became simply unbearable for Rhys Kinnick, he retreated 40 miles from his home in Spokane, Washington, to an old shack surrounded by some forest land he had inherited. There he remained, seeing virtually no one, for four years.
Then one day two children knocked on his door and he gruffly assumed they wanted to sell him candy But they announced that indeed they were his grandchildren. Their mother, Rhys’ daughter Bethany, had brought them along for a short visit. On her return to Spokane, she confided to family and friends that he was “so far gone” that she despaired of his ever resuming what was considered a normal life.
sense of regret and self-knowledge, challenging him to give up his monk-like existence and assume some responsibility toward those he loves.
His daughter has pronounced him more interested in ideas than in people, but she is proven wrong as he enters into a contentious and sometimes violent confrontation with members of the area’s Christian militia in a struggle for the safety of his grandkids.
As “So Far Gone” progresses, we learn that the title might apply to other major characters, who came to feel that they, too, should run away By the conclusion of the novel, the reader has followed Rhys at a harrying pace through a series of dangerous encounters that add up to a small war not without casualties. Some of the conflicts seem to be resolved to the benefit of Rhys and his family, though their lives will never be the same.
But to Rhys, nothing seemed normal anymore. He had lost his job as a respected reporter because people no longer read newspapers, and the same fate followed when he next worked for a magazine. Most people seemed to be getting their news on their phones or TV, much of it spurious rumors, celebrity nonsense or downright lies, often in sound bites.
As a former environmental editor, he despaired as well of the U.S. political scene, as it leaned too far from his sympathy with practically every issue of national importance.
His family, however, is the sphere in which Rhys felt most defeated and useless. It broke his heart that his bright, adored daughter was married to a man who had become, by listening to AM radio, a fanatical adherent of an extreme religious group obsessed with conspiracy theories and adherence to a literal interpretation of the Old Testament.
The group’s Christian nationalist militia was preparing for a holy war and the cataclysmic end of the world.
At a Thanksgiving dinner in 2016, Rhys tried to wriggle out of his son-in-law’s badgering to concur with his beliefs. But the inevitable confrontation finally couldn’t be avoided and thus came Kinnick’s decision to go off the grid, isolating himself from everyone and everything, even to the point of throwing away his cellphone.
Rhys lives in his private desert for another three years after his daughter’s visit, when an emergency involving his grandchildren awakens him to a new emotional
Dumb Eyes” by Nate Bargatze
Walter manages to lighten the tone of the novel by strewing some of his noted wit and humor along the way to this almost satisfactory ending. Throughout, the compassion that pervades all his work is evident, even in the case of the benighted father whose beliefs, at least in large part, nearly wrecked his family It is conceded that he had been a basically good person and loving father before falling into what proved to be a sinister system in the guise of Christian orthodoxy Walter fans familiar with his early work might conjecture that the idea for this novel has been brewing for years. In 1992, as a reporter for the Spokane Spokesman-Review newspaper, he was assigned to cover the confrontation between a family and law enforcement agents in a nearby Idaho community Ruby Ridge. The trouble began when officers came to the home of a man named Weaver and his family to serve an illegal weapons warrant. Walter’s initial reporting of what became a bloody standoff eventually led him to write a book about it, first called “Every Knee Shall Bow” and later republished as “Ruby Ridge.”
Some historians contend that this historic conflict between law enforcement and the Weaver family, members of whom adhered to nontraditional Christian religious beliefs, gave rise to a general national distrust of government — thus leading to the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing and other attacks on civic institutions that continue to the present.
Christian nationalism also has grown stronger more visible and more influential than most would have anticipated.
Walter has had a few decades since Ruby Ridge to observe and contemplate what he obviously sees as the deterioration of our culture. Walter’s primary aim, as a novelist, was surely to tell an interesting story that people would want to read, which he has done.
But one could take the narrative also as a fable, warning Americans to “Wake up, quit retreating, face the threats to our freedom, do something!”
Jess Walter spent some months in recent years in the New Orleans neighborhood of Bywater, working on writing projects. He is a lifelong resident of Spokane, Washington.
TRADE PAPERBACK
1. “Problematic Summer Romance” by Ali Hazelwood
“Releasing 10” by Chloe Walsh
“Beautiful Venom” by Rina Kent
“The Tenant” by Freida McFadden
5. “One Golden Summer” by Carley Fortune
6. “Remarkably Bright Creatures” by Shelby Van Pelt
7. “Iron Flame” by Rebecca Yarros
8. “Lights Out” by Navessa Allen
9. “It’s a Love Story” by Annabel Monaghan
10. “Fourth Wing” by Rebecca Yarros
Smith
BY RICH COLLINS Staff writer
Louisiana and South Carolina are both blessed with historic port cities, picturesque coastal wetlands and vibrant local cultures.
do
But over the past quartercentury,the two Southern states of similar size have seen their economic fortunes diverge Louisiana, which boasted more people anda larger economy than its Atlantic Coastrivalin2000, has watched its energy-based economy stagnate and its residents vote with theirfeet by moving away At the sametime, South Carolina has blossomed, attracting some1.5 million new residents with advanced manufacturing jobs and a coastal region catering to retirees. South Carolina is now the bigger state in terms of population and the size of its economy, andthat growth isn’texpectedtoslowanytime soon. Put bluntly,the Palmetto State has caught up and
surpassed the Pelican State
And now Louisianaofficials are trying to figureout how to reverse the trend.
“Overtwo decades, South Carolina h d b th it reality a Mich Hecht, C of Grea Ne w leans In regional nomic de opment ganizat “Louisi nowhas this means better jobs and a better narrative.” The diverging paths of the twostatescomes at atime when theglobal economyis rapidlychangingand states
c ange o s nd its image,” said e l EO ter O rc , a ecoi a to do the same veloron na Hecht
ä See GROWTH, page 2E
LEFT: Workers assembleaBMW G45X3SUV at Plant Spartanburg in Greer, S.C. In the last 25 years, South Carolina has blossomed, attracting some1.5 million newresidents with advanced manufacturing jobs.
BELOW: A$10 billionMeta data center is being built on aRichland Parish site that the state purchased decades agoduring afailed bidtolure the buildingofa Toyota factory.
PROVIDED PHOTOS
PotentialbuyersofLouisiana utilityCleco up in theair
Entergy andBaton Rouge-based Bernhard CapitalPartners were
both name-checked as potential buyers in an article published Wednesdayinthe tradepublicationPeakLoad. Entergy declined to comment through its spokesperson, BrandonScardigli. Bernhard Capital Partners, which ownsthe natural gas provider DeltaState Utilities, didn’timmediately respond to arequest for comment Cleco declined to comment through its spokesperson, Jennifer Cahill. Cleco’ssale haslongbeen expected. When its current owner, Macquarie Infrastructureand Real
ACleco worker restores power near Slidell after ahistoricsnowfall in January. Cleco, an investor-owned utility, provides electricity to nearly 300,000 customers across 24 Louisiana parishes.
Coussan
are in a high-stakes competition for jobs and talent.
In that competition, Louisiana officials are looking to South Carolina as a particularly relevant case study of how to grow an economy in a small Southern state overshadowed by bigger, richer neighbors.
Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Susan Bourgeois said her staff and a team of consultants took inspiration from successes in South Carolina as they created Louisiana’s new economic plan.
From fabric to F-16s
Louisiana has long been an energy state, and that industry powered its economy through most of the 20th century But as the booms and busts of oil and gas ran their course, it struggled to pivot like some of its Southern neighbors.
South Carolina, on the other hand, responded to the decline of its textile industry a half century ago by making big changes quickly, according to Robert Travis Scott, former president of the Public Affairs Research Council, a Louisianabased public policy shop, and a civic leader who has lived and worked in both states. Local and state leaders there responded to the economic downturn in the 1970s by developing “shovel-ready” locations for manufacturing businesses, courting international investment and retraining the state’s workforce
“South Carolina became highly focused on winning projects — meaning new or
Falcon Rice Mill launches
$6 million in upgrades
that momentum by “building coalitions around ideas of what the state could and should be.”
has a culture that encourages lobbying for special deals.
expanding manufacturing or major service firms with good-paying jobs,” Scott said.
The efforts paid off In 1994, BMW opened a factory near Spartanburg that has become its biggest in the world, employing roughly 43,000 people directly or indirectly through the state, according to a 2023 report.
Mercedes followed in the 2000s Volvo, Boeing and Lockheed Martin came in
Falcon Rice Mill in Crowley has launched a $6 million renovation that will increase efficiency and add 16 jobs.
The project, much of which is will launch next month, will include purchasing and installing new equipment that will improve workflow, increase energy efficiency and double its production capabilities, according to its application with Louisiana Economic Development.
Falcon, makers of Cajun Country Rice, has applied for the LED’s enterprise zone program to help with the project.
Falcon mills rough rice from Louisiana farmers into brown and white rice and has its own brand, private label contracts and industrial food clients.
The upgrades began in December, said Robert Trahan, Falcon’s second-generation co-owner along with his sister Christine.
It’s unknown how the Trump administration’s tariffs will affect the cost of the projects, Trahan noted, but work is on schedule to be completed by the end of the year
“We started with the increasing capacity in the packing room as well as storage space for supplies and packaged product,” he said “The mill is the last piece of the puzzle, and we are excited about this project.”
Average home sale price rises again
The average sale price of a home in Lafayette Parish is taking an-
the 2010s. Today, advanced manufacturing has become South Carolina’s fastest growing industry, according to Joseph Von Nessen, research economist at the University of South Carolina It’s joined by logistics and health care, both on the rise because of a growing population.
Tulane University professor Jesse Keenan, an expert on the history of the Sun Belt, said South Carolina created
other step closer to that $300,000 mark, data shows.
The 1,328 homes sold so far this year have gone for an average of $292,222, a 2% increase from 12 months ago and a 30% jump from May 2019, according to data from analyst Bill Bacque, of Market Scope Consulting.
The 335 homes sold last month went for an average price of $291,520, marking the third straight month of the average topping $290,000, data shoes.
A comparison of prices for new construction and existing homes for May was not available. In April, a key reason for the spike was the 7% rise in the average price of a newly built home, data shows.
Banh mi shop to open near Costco
A banh mi shop will open in the former Zero Degrees space near Costco in south Lafayette.
Owner Khai Nguyen will open Toasted Baguette in the Ambassador Town Center, 114 Meadow Farm Road, Suite 110, possibly by the end of July or early August.
It will offer the traditional Vietnamese sandwich with a modern twist on toasted baguettes along with Vietnamese coffee using Café du Monde beans, he said.
It’s also the second banh mi shop that is planning to open in Lafayette. The Banh Mi House will open soon in downtown Lafayette at 302 Jefferson St.
KADN brings back staff to relaunch morning show
KADN which is up for sale, has rehired two popular staffers who
“The state refused to accept it was a bunch of palmetto swamps and Charleston,” Keenan said.
The results of those efforts along with South Carolina’s location between the booming cities of Charlotte, North Carolina, and Atlanta — led to big economic gains in the new millennium.
Today, South Carolina produces about $350 billion in goodsandservices compared with Louisiana’s roughly $330 billion. And, since 2000, South Carolina has gained roughly 10 times more residents than Louisiana. A report from The Data Center, a Louisiana nonprofit, also points out South Carolina’s big lead in job growth over that span.
Pivot problems
It’s not as though Louisiana didn’t try to address its economic woes after the petrochemical industry it had relied on crashed in the 1980s
The state wasn’t stingy with industrial tax exemptions, known to be some of the most generous in the country, but its tax system, which included sales tax on investments and a franchise tax on debt, was considered burdensome by business and industry
The state also didn’t diversify or retrain oil and gas workers fast enough or create shovel-ready sites to attract outsiders, according to economic development experts.
By the early 2000s, when the Blanco administration had built a generous incentive package that included a prepared site on 1,700 acres of farmland in a bid to bring a Toyota auto plant to Richland Parish, the state was too late to the game and lost out to Tupelo, Mississippi
Over the years, Louisiana also has had to combat the perception of cronyism.
Jay Lapeyre, owner of Laitram, one of Louisiana’s most successful manufacturing businesses, said the state still
were recently laid off and will restart its morning news program
The station will welcome back Scott Brazda and Al Hebert after the two were among the 19 let go in October and restart its “Good Day Acadiana” program at 6 a.m. June 23, said Jim Parker vice president and general manager for KADN/ KLAF
Brazda is a veteran in TV news in Lafayette with a career that dates back to 1990 when he first joined KATC. He anchored mornings, evenings and weekends newscasts and provided reports on local events.
Hebert was known for his popular “Where in Acadiana is Al Hebert?” segments and had been with the station since 2017.
They will be joined by meteorologists Griffin Hardy and Allie Ann McCord, both new hires to the station’s Storm Track 15 powered by The Weather Channel.
Hardy, an AMS-certified broadcast meteorologist, has worked for stations in Greenville, South Carolina; Birmingham, Alabama; and Jackson, Mississippi. McCord most recently worked in Columbus, Georgia.
The station also rehired four former employees: its community marketing manager, a news executive producer, a photographer and a newscast director, Parker said. “News 15 believes experience matters,” Parker said. “While other stations have chosen to go the route of having lesser-experienced news anchors or none at all, we’re the home of people you know and trust.” Parker cited a recent report from national research firm Magid & Associates that indicated News
“Successful states have universal rules,” he said. “In Louisiana, they like to play whack-a-mole with issues, so you have to kiss ass and get political favors in order to get a reasonable proposition.”
Stephen Moret, who served as LED secretary from 2008 to 2015, said a series of setbacks — including Hurricane Katrina, the Great Recession, the BP oil spill, a drop in oil prices and several other hurricanes — hampered his department’s efforts to execute a “blue ocean” strategy that envisioned creating new opportunities for Louisiana in new types of sectors like tech.
State budget constraints were another challenge, Moret said. But an economy based on older industries was the biggest hurdle.
“Petrochem, oil and gas, and agriculture are highly productive but are no longer strong job-growth sectors,” he said. “Louisiana is underweighted in the industries that are growing jobs. Changing the mix is difficult and takes sustained effort.”
A page from the playbook
In the first 18 months of Gov. Jeff Landry’s administration, LED has notched some significant wins.
The list includes the $10 billion Meta data center in north Louisiana, Hyundai’s planned $6 billion steel plant near Baton Rouge, a $17 billion Woodside liquified natural gas project in Lake Charles and an $18 billion expansion of Venture Global’s LNG facility in Plaquemines.
Bourgeois said the total outside investment in the state has reached $62.5 billion since Landry took office.
More potential projects are in the pipeline, she said.
The state is also looking to south Carolina as an example of what more it could be doing. In March, LED released a new economic plan for the state that calls for an incentive program for high-wage businesses, creation of a fund
15 reports on more news and more local stories than “the so-called news leader,” he said
The Allen Media Group, led by comedian Byron Allen, announced last week it seeking to sell 21 of its stations, including KADN to relieve debt. The company has about $1.5 million in debt, reports indicate.
Shopping center with Super 1 sells for $5.8M
A shopping center in Lafayette that added a Super 1 Foods supermarket last year has been sold for $5.8 million.
Dorsey Development of Metairie sold the 87,122-square-foot Lafayette Marketplace shopping center to an LLC registered to David Velasco, CEO and board chair of Imperator Partners of Los Angeles, land records show Dorsey bought the shopping center at the corner of Dulles Drive and Ambassador Caffery Parkway in 2019 from an Arkansas group for an undisclosed price.
Super 1 moved into the 52,000-square-foot space in May 2024 after signing lease the previous year documents show The space was briefly occupied by Shoppers Value supermarket, which opened in the former WinnDixie space but closed in 2022. Marcus & Millichap, a national brokerage firm, represented the seller in the transaction.
“Grocery-anchored centers, even those with regional grocery credit, remain a highly desirable asset class in retail, as demonstrated by the strong demand for this property,” said Eric Abbott, of Marcus & Millichap
for site development and more focus on rural areas and small businesses, much like South Carolina did decades ago.
LED also created a new innovation division that oversees a $50 million venture capital fund for boosting homegrown tech companies.
Bourgeois said that the agency is prioritizing energy and process industries — meaning everything from petrochemicalstocarboncapture — along with agriculture, logistics and professional services.
Some of the changes to the state’s tax and insurance laws this session and last are designed to make the state more competitive Another potential new law would create more shovel-ready opportunities.
“That’s what other states have done to attract and encourage these massive projects like Meta and the Hyundai steel plant,” said Will Green, head of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry Notably, the Meta project is being built on a site that the state purchased decades ago when it was bidding for the Toyota factory it lost to Tupelo.
“Speed to project is huge,” Green said. “The states that have that are going to win.”
Others say Louisiana has to do more to catch up to South Carolina and other neighboring states than implement new economic development strategies. They say businesses are attracted to places with good schools, infrastructure, healthcare systems and a clean environment.
“The reason people want to live in places is quality of life, quality of schools, a strong health care system, and vibrant communities,” said Broderick Bagert, co-founder of Together Louisiana, a community organizer “If we want different results we have to do something different.”
Email Rich Collins at rich. collins@theadvocate.com.
CLECO
Continued from page 1E
Assets, purchased the utility and took it private in 2016 as part of a $4.9 billion deal, it made clear that it planned to sell its majority stake in a decade or so. With that deadline approaching, speculation over the utility’s future has ramped up.
In May, the Louisiana Legislature approved a nonbinding resolution urging the five-member PSC — which will have the final say over whether a sale goes through to reject any deal that doesn’t preserve Cleco’s current staffing levels at its headquarters in Pineville.
“Cleco has been and remains one of the biggest employers in our area,” state Rep. Mike Johnson, R-Pineville, who sponsored House Concurrent Resolution 11, said at a committee hearing. “I don’t want them to sell the company unless they preserve those jobs.”
As part of its approval of Cleco’s sale in 2016, the PSC required the new owners to agree to 77 commitments That included keeping the utility headquartered in Pineville and maintaining its existing salaries and benefits for its 1,200 employees. Cleco also agreed not to raise its rates until 2020 while also agreeing to a one-time payment of around $500 each to its customers.
“I’m looking forward to doing what’s best for the state of Louisiana and the ratepayers of Cleco,” Coussan said Macquarie has reportedly hired Goldman Sachs and Moelis & Co. to advise it onthesale,accordingtoPeakLoad.Macquarie declined to comment through a spokesperson, Rachel Waxman. Macquarie’s co-investors in Cleco, British Columbia Investment Management Corp. and John Hancock Financial, are also expected to sell their interests, according to PeakLoad.
Email Blake Paterson at bpaterson@ theadvocate.com.
BUSINESS WITH CRES GARDNER
As office occupancy steadies, higher rents, more foreclosures predicted
In
BY STEPHANIE RIEGEL Staff writer
During his nearly 30-year career as a commercial real estate broker, Cres Gardner, vice president and manager of Beau Box Commercial Real Estate’s New Orleans office, has weathered market ups and downs. Arguably the past five years have been some of the most challenging.
The pandemic emptied office buildings, and though workers have since returned, occupancy is still below pre-COVID levels. Rising insurance premiums, interest rates and inflation have chilled commercial real estate activity
Adding to the challenges, locally, is a debt bubble that is threatening to burst, as a risky type of mortgage that was used to finance many of the older high-rises along Poydras Street comes due.
Gardner has a refreshingly clear-eyed perspective on his industry and doesn’t shy away from discussing the headwinds it faces, which is perhaps why he handles leasing for some of the largest office towers in the CBD and represents major clients that include Hertz Investment Group, LCMC Health and Fresenius Medical.
In his role with Beau Box, where he has worked since 2012, Gardner is responsible for leasing and managing 2.75 million square feet of space throughout the market, including 1.8 million square feet of downtown office space at 400 Poydras Tower, Poydras Center at 650 Poydras and BankPlus Tower at 909 Poydras.
In this week’s Talking Business, Gardner shares his outlook on the local office market, where he thinks occupancy and lease rates are headed and whether he expects to see building sales or foreclosures in the months to come.
Interview has been edited for clarity and length.
What has been the biggest change you have seen in your nearly 25 years in commercial real estate?
The evolution of the CBD from a business district to a live-workplay neighborhood. It happened gradually and accelerated after Katrina, taking a lot of inventory
Cres Gardner vice president and manager of Beau Box Commercial Real Estate’s New Orleans office, handles leasing for some of the largest office towers in the CBD
out of the market and converting that space to apartments or condos and hotels. I remember around 2010, when (investor) Judah Hertz came to town and we were sitting in my office. He looked out of the window and said, “You guys don’t realize how much better it is here today than when I first started doing redevelopment in the Warehouse District,” which was 20, 30 years earlier He was right. And I think it is a much better place today than when I came back in 2002
Office space is cheap in New Orleans. Is that a good thing?
It is an incredible value for tenants. It is one of the mysteries of this market to a certain extent that rents have remained so relatively low We are leasing space for $20 a square foot on average. But it is likely to go up because it will have to. Insurance, interest rates and operating expenses are hitting us Most of the landlords I have talked to are pushing rates as much as they can. Maybe 5% to 10% increases over the next two to three years is in the cards, irrespective of what the story is on overall occupancy, which is about 80% downtown So 80% occupancy is not terrible, espe-
cially compared to the hit some cities took during COVID Have we bottomed out?
Before COVID, we were at 87% in the CBD so we have gone from 87% to just above 79%. That is about 700,000 square feet of negative absorption. My hypothesis is that we will stabilize around that. When Shell leaves Hancock Whitney for the River District, we will take a hit, but I don’t see a real dramatic slide. We may even see a slight uptick over the next few years with some buildings performing really well and some dragging us down on the overall average.
Are people coming back to the office?
We are definitely seeing an uptick in parking garage swipes. That is always a good barometer of how many actual people are in the buildings, regardless of what the occupancy numbers show, and the parking garage activity is up.
My colleague reported in early 2024 about the ticking time bomb of office debt — risky, long-term mortgages,most of which are coming due later this year and next. Nearly 18 months later, has the sky fallen?
Not yet, but it is an issue and you can’t ignore it, especially with maturing, collateralized mortgagebacked security debt. Hertz is fighting very hard to retain the assets they still have here, and they are negotiating with their lend-
ers to retain their assets, some of which are performing at a better level than they were when they bought them. So, it is an evolving story
Last year, we saw the first casualty, when Hertz lost Energy Center Will there be others?
There could be others. It is dif-
ficult to say at this point what is going to happen as the remaining Hertz buildings get to maturity. They will fight for each and every one of them, but there is only so much you can do, and lenders will make decisions based on what is in their best interest.
Is there any new construction in downtown office? An old 50,000-square-foot warehouse building at 868 S. Peters that was renovated and added on to is a tremendous success story It is leasing for $35 per square foot. Demand has been off the charts. We’re currently negotiating the final lease — a 13,000 square-foot space for a national tenant. What is your takeaway from that experience?
There is a segment of tenants who are not price conscious and want a nicer, contemporary environment for their employees.
Also, one of the owners of 868 S. Peters is in the process of redeveloping the Harry’s Ace Hardware
on Magazine Street and is achieving some of the highest rents I’ve seen in this market for office space. They are also introducing a potential new building at 2000 St. Charles Ave. that we are marketing at $39 per square foot, triple net, which will equate to nearly $50 a square foot. It will be interesting to see what emerges. They’re not going
No,
Email
com.
Howa Small Gulf Fish is TransformingPet Health
Thisarticle is brought to youbythe Louisiana CommercialFishing Coalition LLC
From grain-free kibble to gourmet treats,the pet food aisle has transformed dramatically in the past decade. Petowners arereading labels moreclosely than ever, seeking natural, nutritious ingredients thatsupport their pets’ long-term health. Surprisingly,one of the most valuable ingredients behind manytop-tier pet foods doesn’tcome from alab or afarm. Itcomes from the Gulf Meet Gulf menhaden, asmall, oilyfish caughtoff Louisiana’scoast.Processedinto nutrient-rich oil and high-protein fishmeal, menhaden is afoundational ingredient in premium pet foods acrossthe U.S. and beyond. While not ahousehold name, the benefits it bringstomillions of dogsand cats areprofound—and growing.
Menhaden’s Nutritional Superpowers
Menhaden is prized forits natural abundance of omega-3 fattyacids particularly DHA and EPA. Theselong-chain omega-3s areessential forjointhealth, immune function, and brain development
in pets.Becausepets can’tproduce these nutrients on their own, their diets must supply them—making menhaden oil a critical source. The benefits arewide-ranging. Omega-3s support shinycoats,healthy skin, cardiovascular health, andreduced inflammation. Theyare especially beneficial foraging pets and developing puppies and kittens.Infact,pet food manufacturers increasingly prioritizeingredients that promotespecific health outcomes,making menhaden fishmeal and oil ago-tofor functional formulas ASustainable and Trusted Source
Beyond its health benefits,menhaden oil is celebratedfor its sustainability. Louisiana’smenhaden fishery is certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), a global standardfor responsible fishing. Each year,lessthan 2% of the Gulf’s menhaden biomassisharvested under strict,sciencebased regulations “Weharvest menhaden with care knowing it plays avital role notonly in the marine ecosystem but alsointhe health of pets around theworld,”said Ben Landry,a representativeofOcean Harvesters. “Our crewstakepride in delivering asustainable, high-qualitysource of nutritionthatpet ownerscan feel good about.”
Thatmeans pet food brandscan proudly pointtomenhaden fishmeal and oil as sustainable, traceableingredients thatsupport ecosystemhealth and responsible sourcing. Forpet parents who value transparency and environmental stewardship,thatmatters more than ever
From the Gulf to the Bowl
Once caught, menhaden arequickly processedatfacilities along Louisiana’s coast.The fish arecooked, pressed, and separatedintotwo main products: fish oil and fishmeal. Theseproducts arethen
refined to meet stringentstandards for animal nutrition.
“AtWestbank Fishing, we’reproud to be part of astory thatbegins in the Gulfand endsinhomes acrossAmerica—nourishing pets and supporting the families who love them,”said Francois Kuttel, Presidentof Westbank Fishing. “Menhaden maynot be well known, but its role in promoting the health and wellbeing of dogsand cats is profound.Fromhealthyjoints to shinycoats this small fish is making abig difference every day.
Menhaden fish oil is addedtodry and wetpet foods to boost nutrientcontent and flavor. Fishmeal serves as ahigh-protein baseinmanyformulations.Together,these ingredients help support strong muscles sharp minds, and vibrantenergy levels
Manufacturersvalue menhaden forits consistency,nutrientdensity, and clean profile. It’sscalable and dependable, which helps companies meet demand while delivering ahigh-qualityproduct
Preferred by TopPet Food Brands
Many leading pet food brands include menhaden oil or fishmealintheir formulas Look foritonlabels as “menhaden fishmeal” or “menhaden oil.”You’ll often find it in grain-free, high-protein, or allergy-sensitive recipes,whereclean, animal-basednutrients areprioritized. The global pet food market continues to expand, especially in the premium and functional food segments.Asdemand grows foringredients thatpromotehealth and longevity, menhaden’sprofile is rising. ASmall Fish Making aBig Difference Menhaden maybesmall, but its impact is mighty.Ina marketplace crowded with buzzwords and gimmicks,itstands out for one reason: it works. It’sareal, effective, and responsibly sourced ingredientthat improvespets’ lives As pet ownersseekhealth, sustainability, and peace of mind in the products they choose, menhaden deliversall three. Behind every wagging tail and purring catcould be alittle fish from Louisiana’scoast—quietly making abig difference.
PROVIDED PHOTO
PHOTO
CHRIS GRANGER
Protectagainst atextscammer infestation
wording.
Fool’s Take: Risks
and potential
moreshares of stock), or it might sella portion of thecompany
Michelle Singletary
THE COLOR OF MONEy
Text scams are thecockroaches of our digital lives —resilient and repulsive. With summer travel season starting and families hitting the road, Isuspect many people willstart seeing more scam toll and ticket text messages. On my phone, Ihave seen an increase in threats that Icould face large penalties and even jail time. Others have been warned that their vehicles could be impounded Idelete one, and up popsa notification that anotherbogus message has been sent. It’sthe electronic equivalent of that nasty insect.
Just as researchers havedocumented how cockroaches have adapted to become major public health pests, scammers keep finding ways to attack through our mobile devices. Consider these unsettling similarities: Invincible: Like cockroaches, which are notoriously hard to eliminate, text scams arepersistent. According to the FBI, cybercriminals are increasingly using artificial intelligence tools to make text messages more believable.For example, generative AI programs can help with translations, eliminate weird wording and reduce grammatical or spelling errors —making it harder for consumers to catch scams through the old telltale signsof poorspelling or grammar
“These tools assist with content creation and can correct for human errors that might otherwise serve as warning signs of fraud,” the FBI said in one consumer alert
Destructive: Just as cockroaches can harm your health, textscams can lead to financial loss, identity theft and emotional distress for victims.Last year,consumers reported losing $470 million to scams that started with text messages, according to data from the Federal Trade Commission —a fivefold increase from what was reported in 2020.However,that jump still doesn’tcapturethe full extent of these cons because most fraud is never reported Elusive: Like cockroaches that
often hide in cracks andcrevices scam operations can be difficult to trace. Many originate overseas, with texts often sent from an international numberand instructing the consumertoreply with “Y” to receive alinkthatwill take them to ashamwebsite. The goalistosteal personal financial information,money or both. Adaptable: Cockroaches can survive in various environments and adapt todifferent conditions. Similarly,text scams continue to evolve. Block one number, and the scammers create another Scammers also constantly alter their methods and message content. The top fivetextscams include phonypackage delivery notifications, ludicrous job offers, fake fraud alerts and those annoying “wrong number” messages.
Recently,state agencies around the country have saidtheyhave seen an increase in bogus notices about unpaid tolls ortraffic tickets. People are told the state’sdepartment of motorvehicles will soonsuspend their registration and/ordriving privileges if they don’tpay by acertain deadline
Attorney General LizMurrill haswarned Louisiana residents about fake texts that pretend to come from GeauxPass, the state’s official toll collection system. Murrill said she receiveda scam toll text and warned people to neverclick on suspiciouslinks.
The Takoma Park Police in Maryland, for its part, recently took to social media to warn residents about scammers claiming to be from the MarylandState Department of Motor Vehicles.
Irecently received two nearly identical text messages claiming Ihad an outstanding traffic ticket.
“Maryland State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Final Notice: Enforcement Penalties BeginonJune 5,” they both read First of all, DMV (shorthand for D.C., Maryland and Virginia) is thearea in which Ilive.The correct title abbreviation forthe state agency handling would be theMotor VehicleAdministration.
But Icould see how the threats might get someone to respond. Here’swhat my messagessaidif Ididn’tpay up. This is the exact
n Report to the DMVviolation database.
n Suspend your vehicle registration starting June 5.
n Suspend driving privileges for30days.
n Transfer to atollbooth and chargea35% service fee.
n Youmay be prosecuted and your credit score will be affected
As clever as this con is, please be careful. Here’s howtoprotect yourself andwhattodoifyou get oneofthese text messages.
Squash the scammers: Understandably,you may be concerned about the messages. With so many cashfree toll lanes, you maythink the text is legitimate. But do notengage. Make this your default reaction. Do not click on links,even if you suspect it is ascam and just want to seewhat happens. Do notcallany numbers that are listed. Ever!
Swat them away with your own research: Close the text andlook online for your state’stolling agency.(By the way,triple check that online search because the scammers can often manipulate the search tools to put their contact information at the top.)
Ihaveset up an online account with my state’sMVA officesoI can easily check thestatus of my registration andsee if there are anynotices. Irecommendyou do the same. Send theauthoritiesthe scam details: Don’t just delete and move on. It’s important forthe efforts to eradicate these criminalcockroaches that youreport to lawenforcement if you’ve been scammed. One important resourceisthe FTC, at reportfraud.ftc.gov.This helps with investigations.
Use your phone’s “report junk” option if available or forward the bogus text to 7726 SPAM, which helps wireless providers spot and block similar messages, the FTC recommends. It’s frustrating andinfuriating that we have to implement pest control in ourdigitallives, but because these scammers can’t be easily eradicated,ithas become a necessary defense
Email Michelle Singletary at michelle.singletary@washpost. com.
Shares of pharmaceutical company Merck (NYSE: MRK) were recentlydown about 40% over the past year,partlydue to concerns about globaltariff risks. Merck’s first-quarter results showed a2%declinein sales. (Excluding currency effects, revenue grew by 1%.) Merck also said it anticipated $200 million in costsdue to tariffs this year; China hit heavily withtariffs,isanimportant market forMerck. But the situation is volatile.Inmid-May, the U.S. andChina both agreed to significantly reducetariff rates for 90 days. Andsoon after,afederal court blocked President Donald Trump’sglobaltariffs Long-term investors might not worry too much abouttariffs,as theymay be atemporary problem. With Merck stock recentlytrading at alow price-to-earnings ratioof 11 (well below itsfive-year average of 23),investors getadiscount for the stock’sriskand uncertainty. The business may notevenbe thatrisky.Merck is launching a new version of itspopular cancer drug, Keytruda, to offset declines in revenue that may result from an upcoming loss of patent protection It’s also made adeal to develop a GLP-1 weightloss drug. (The Motley Fool owns shares of andrecommends Merck.)
Fool’s School: Capital structure
When studying acompany as a possible investment, it’s smart to assess factors such as itsrevenue and earningsgrowth rates, itsprofit margins andwhether it appears undervalued or overvalued. You would also do well to give its“capitalstructure” someconsideration
The term refers to how acompany gets the money it needs to achieve various goals, such as grow its operations or acquire another company.Two keyfunding methods are debt andequity. When using debt, acompany will borrow funds from abankorother lenders, or it will issuebonds. (Investors who buycorporate bonds are essentially lendingacompany money,tobepaidback withinterest.) When tapping equity, it will typically issueshares of stock (or
Youcan getanideaofa company’scapital structure by checking outits debt-to-equityratio. Various stock research websites, such as Finance.Yahoo.com, can show it to you. To calculate it manually,look at thecompany’slatest balance sheet. It will be divided intothree sections: total assets, total liabilities andtotal shareholderequity. (Assets minus liabilitiesleaves shareholder equity,the portion of thecompany’s valuethatcan be claimed by shareholders.)
Imagine,for example,thatAcme Co.has $5 in total assets, $3 in total liabilitiesand, therefore, $2 in shareholder equity.Dividetotal liabilities($3) by total shareholder equity($2), and you’llget thedebtto-equityratio— 1.5 —reflecting howmuchthe company owes relative to itsshareholderequity. (Someinvestors and analysts tweak theformula,perhapsfocusing only on long-term debtsinstead of allliabilities.)
Debt-to-equityratios vary by company andindustry,but in general,aratioof1.0 or less is considered rather safe. Oneof2.0 or moresuggests that acompany has taken on alot of debt that mustbe serviced,whichcan be risky.
Ask the Fool:
What’stoo many?
Is it possible to owntoo manysharesofone stock?
—M.A.,Winona,Minnesota
The number of shares youown doesn’t matter that much;think instead of value. For example, whether youown 3shares or 3,000 shares of acertainstock,iftheymakeup 50% of your portfolio,you’vegot too many eggs in onebasket. Astock’s pricedoesn’t mean too much by itself, either.For example,there isn’tmuchdifference between owning 500 shares of a $10 stock (total value: $5,000) or 10 shares of a$500 stock (total value: $5,000). The $10 stock mightactually be overvalued, while the$500 stock mightbeabargain, about to quadrupleinvalue over the coming decade.
While it’s importanttodiversify andnot invest too much in anyone stock or industry,you might want to avoiddiversifying so much that youhaveonly atiny portion of your portfolio in anyone stock.Insuch acase, even if thestock triples, it won’tgive your portfolio much of abump.
BeyondtheHeadlines
As oneofthe largest lawfirmsinLouisiana,Jones Walker LLPishonored to partnerwith TheAcadianaAdvocate |Lafayette to supportthe expanded businesssection.
This in-depth reportingwillexplorewhatbusinesses aredoing to achievetheir goals, avertthreats, addressopportunities,and advancetheir business objectives.Welook forwardtothe thought leadershipand conversationthissection will inspire. Since1937, ourfirm hasbeencommitted to workingwithcommunity leaders to developbusiness opportunitiesacrossthe state. We aresteadfast in continuing ourdedicationtogobeyondinadvising clientsand supportinginitiatives andorganizations that make Louisiana abetterplace to live andwork
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Motley Fool
Tugboatnamed forlongtimeriver pilot
BY STEPHANIE RIEGEL Staff writer
In the tight-knit world of Mississippi River mariners,few are as well-known as Capt. Mark Delesdernier Jr
Delesdernier
During hiscareer as ariver pilot that spanned more than 40 years, Delesdernier guided more than 6,000 vessels up the lower Mississippi River from his native PilottowntoNew Orleans.
He served as president of the Crescent River Port Pilots’Association for nearly two decades and chaired the board of thePort of New Orleans.
He also codeveloped apatented ladder system, still in production today,that gives marine pilots a safer way to embark anddisembark vessels.
Now,Delesdernier,who turns 89 next month, is being recognized with what is ariver pilot’s equivalent of alifetime achievement award. On Saturday,LeBoeuf Bros. Towing, which owns and operates afleet of some four dozen tugs and 90 barges on the Mississippi River and Intracoastal Waterway,will christen itsnewest vessel in Delesdernier’shonor
TheCapt. Mark Delesdernier Jr.,
Issued May28toJune 3
Newcommercial
FITNESS: 2825Johnston St., description, build out an existing tenant space for new Club4 Fitness location; applicant, Dean BrentBarron; contractor, Planet Construction; $2.86 million.
OFFICE: 4010 W. CongressSt. description, interior renovation of former bank building forLUS customer service center; applicant, AQ Studios; contractor, CastleRow Construction;$2.5 million.
MEDICAL: 935Camellia Blvd., Suite 100; description, renovation to registration and waiting area for Solis Mammography; applicant, Ralph Manecke; contractor, Manecke Construction;$542,813.
atwin-screw tugboat, will be dedicated in aceremony at thedocks near MardiGras World.
“It’sagreat honor,” Delesdernier said. “Often, they do these things after peoplehave died. It’snice to be able to enjoy it now.”
Afamilyaffair
River pilots operate as amonopoly on the Mississippi River.The state requires companies shipping cargo up and down the waterway to payfor their services on foreign-flagged vessels. The ships they help steer areoften massive, and crashes can be catastrophic, making the job avital one.
Delesdernier comes from along line of river pilots. In the early 1900s, his grandmother’sbrothers were two of the first members of the River Port Pilots’ Association, oneofthreeriverpilotorganizationsonthe Mississippi.
His father’stwo brothers also were pilots. He earned his commission in 1965,and his son, grandsons and nephews are also all pilots.
“Altogether,there are 11 members of my immediate family,” he said.
Duringhis nearly half-century career,Delesdernier witnessed alot of changesinhis industry When he became apilot in the mid-
1960s, pilots were just beginning to transition from the use of whistles to standard radios, he said. At the time,the average vessel on the Mississippi was about 450 feet long and carried the equivalent of between 5,000 to 10,000tons of cargo. New Orleans was one of thebusiest ports in the U.S. Today, themassive vessels have grownto700 feet on averageand carry upward of 50,000 tonsof cargo, andthe Port of NewOrleans is trying to build anew deep-water terminal downrivernear Violet in St.Bernard Parish to better competeagainst othercoastal ports that have surpassed it in the han-
dling of cargo.
“Somuchhas changed,” Delesdernier said. “But in some ways, it’sstill areally labor-intensive, stressful job. Riverpilots work long hours andhavetomanagea lot of stressful situations.”
Delesdernierisalso well known from his involvement in political and civic circles. He served as chairofthe LouisianaStadium and Exposition District, better known as theSuperdomeCommission, during two stints on the board. Notably,hewas appointed both by Gov. Edwin Edwards, aDemocrat, and by Gov.Mike Foster,aRepublican.
During his time on the board, the commissionfinanced theconstructionofthe New OrleansArena, nowthe Smoothie King Center; negotiated anew long-term lease agreement with the New Orleans Saints;and negotiated to bringan NBAfranchise back to the city for the first timesince the 1970s. He was also involved in countless civic organizations and causes related to coastal conservation and wildlife.
“I’ve been involvedwith so many organizations andheldsomanypositions,” he said. “But that’s what makes lifeworth living.”
Email StephanieRiegel at stephanie.riegel@theadvocate. com.
SCHOOL: 205 E. BayouParkway; description, add walls inside current buildingsfor morespace at St.Pius XElementary School; applicant, Hoffpauir Studio; contractor, JB Mouton; $170,000.
INDUSTRIAL: 152 Banks Ave.,description, renovate first floor for Vedovatti Properties; applicant and contractor, HDC Construction; $70,000.
RESIDENTIAL: 2500 E. Simcoe St., description, outdoor wooden deck; applicant andcontractor, River Oaks Retirement Manor; $25,000.
Newcommercial
RESIDENTIAL: East BroussardRoad, description, townhome development; applicant, Guidry Land Development;contractor, DSLD,$23
million.
STORAGE: 4469 N.W. Evangeline Thruway,buildingsA-D; description, construction of climate-controlled storage center; applicant and contractor, Clete Construction; $2.3 million. SALON: 1103 Ambassador Caffery Parkway,description, new Parlor SalonStudios; applicant, Ritter Maher Architects; contractor, Benchmark Builders; $1.1million.
To protecting theemployees who’ve poweredour success since1939.
To an honest, respectful culture builtondoing theright thing.
To careersthatlast —some spanning more than 30 years.
To competitivebenefits that support health,family, andyourfuture.
Builders, $224,010. 111 BIG LAKE RUN, YOUNGSVILLE: Blue LakeHomes, $400,000. 621 SUMMERST.,BROUSSARD: DSLD, $140,650. 901 SUMMERST.,BROUSSARD: DSLD $149,333. 606 SUMMERST.,BROUSSARD: DSLD, $136,350.
PROVIDED PHOTO
Atwin-screw tugboat owned by LeBouef Bros. Towingwas named for Capt.MarkDelesdernier Jr., whopiloted theMississippi River formore than 40 years.
‘Alarming’ rise
Stroke
BY MARGARET DeLANEY Staff writer
Alexis Payne has a passion for planting trees. As a 21-year-old volunteer and student at the University of New Orleans, Payne regularly has full days both in the classroom and outdoors.
Seven months ago on a November day, after a six-hour session volunteering to plant trees with Sustaining Our Urban Landscape, a nonprofit dedicated to reforesting New Orleans’ landscape, Payne went inside for some air conditioning and water
“I knew something was wrong,” Payne said. “I couldn’t really feel my legs.”
Payne was by herself at the time and did not know she was experiencing common symptoms of a stroke.
Payne’s experience is part of rising rates in strokes among young people. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that adults between 18 and 44 years old make up about 1 in 7 strokes cases nationwide.
Stroke hospitalizations among younger adults rose by nearly 50% from 2007 to 2017, with a notable 78% increase among women Dr Chintan Rupareliya, the vascular and neuroendocrine surgeon at Ochsner Baptist in New Orleans who treated Payne, said he sees young patients for strokes often
“It’s alarming to see that more young people are having strokes,” Rupareliya said “And not just small strokes. The
On the move
mobile mammogram unit in Baton Rouge to travel to 37 parishes, 2 Mississippi counties
BY MARGARET DeLANEY Staff writer
Woman’s Hospital, 100 Woman’s Way in Baton Rouge, launched a second mobile health unit to bring 3D mammograms to 37 parishes and two Mississippi counties. The unit is equipped with a state of the art mammogram device. The scans from the machine will be delivered electronically to Women’s Hospital’s main campus.
“Each year, our coaches make hundreds of trips providing thousands of mammograms to women who otherwise might not receive one,” Woman’s President and CEO Rene Ragas said.
Dr Claire Roberts, a radiologist at Woman’s Hospital in Baton Rouge for nine years, is part of the team that will be traveling across the state and Mississippi bringing 3D mammogram scans to communities.
The bright pink health bus is one of two in rotation with Woman’s Hospital. The pair of mobile units have a set schedule to visit libraries, community centers and more locations across the state Although appointments are encouraged, walk-in patients are welcome.
Along with the driver, a technician who runs the scans will travel on the bus. If a patient has any notable indications of concern, the team will refer the patient to either a Woman’s Hospital physician or a physician near them.
This mobile unit is meant to bring access to preventative care to communities across the state.
The Foundation for Woman’s is an extension of Woman’s Hospital that provides philanthropic support.
“Foundation for Woman’s is deeply grateful to our generous donors whose support made this
big, or large vessel, strokes are also increasing in number.” From 2011-13 to 2020-22, strokes increased 14.6% in adults between 18 and 44 years old and increased 15.7% in people aged 45 to 64 years old.
Stroke rates increased by 9.3% among women and by 6.2% among men.
rates are on the rise in young adults nationwide ä See STROKES, page 2X
See MOBILE, page 3X
Rupareliya
HEALTH MAKER
‘Beyond Extraordinary’ host has passion for wellness
Louisiana hospital launches monthly health care podcast
BY MARGARET DeLANEY Staff writer
In March, Louisiana Children’s Medical Center launched its very own health care podcast, “Beyond Extraordinary.”
The podcast’s goal is to educate Louisiana patients about health care and health opportunities in Louisiana.
Kristen Gradney is the monthly podcast’s host. Gradney is a graduate of LSU and Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University She has a passion for wellness advocacy and is the chief wellness officer at LCMC. In its first three interviews, Gradney explored health care across the health system with LCMC Health CEO Greg Feirn, service lines with senior vice president of hospital services Rob Calhoun and comprehensive stroke care with vice president of neuroscience Alyana Samai.
LCMC’s podcast is released the fourth Tuesday of every month. Listeners can tune in on YouTube, Apple Podcasts Spotify LCMC’s website and more.
What was your inspiration for starting the podcast project at LCMC?
I have been an advocate for
Continued from page 1X
In the United States, stroke is the fifth leading cause of death. Louisiana has the fourth-highest mortality rate due to strokes in the nation with 50.2 deaths per 100,000 people, according to 2022 CDC data
“Being in Louisiana, Georgia and Mississippi is in a struggle belt,” Rupareliya said. “Overall, we have the higher number of strokes. And that applies equally for the younger population.
Younger patients
A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is blocked or disrupted by a broken blood vessel When this happens, oxygen-starved brain cells become weak and may die. The most common type, ischemic stroke, accounts for roughly 85% of all cases and is caused by a blood clot interrupting the brain’s blood supply The remaining 15% are hemorrhagic strokes, which occur when a blood vessel bursts, either within the brain or around it.
Researchers think the recent increase in young people may be due to corresponding increases in common risk factors for strokes including high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes.
However, there are additional factors that are unique to the young population and further potentiate stroke risk, including migraine oral contraceptive use, pregnancy and postpartum state, recreational drug use and patent foramen ovale (a hole in the heart that didn’t close the way it should after birth).
Although according to Payne, her life was relatively healthy before her stroke.
Payne regularly worked out and maintained a healthy diet. She does not smoke. She rarely drinks.
Stroke is the second leading cause of death globally and is recognized as the leading cause of long-term physical and cognitive disability in adults, according to a 2023 study in the National Library of Medicine
Young women are at a disproportionately increased risk of ischemic strokes compared with their male counterparts A recent metaanalysis of 19 studies that reported on sex-specific stroke incidence among young adults found that there were 44% more women under 35 years old with ischemic strokes than men.
Knowing when strokes happen
Doctors nationwide tell patients to look out for symptoms with the BEFAST acronym, especially when the signs start when alone, like Payne.
BEFAST stands for:
n Balance: feeling wobbly or having trouble sitting or walking.
n Eyes: having blurry vision or loss of vision in one or both eyes.
n Face: seeing asymmetry in the face or droopy on one side of the face.
n Arms: having trouble lifting the arm, the arm feels heavy or if one arm drips down compared to the
wellness in every aspect. Part of holistic well-being is being educated about the resources and what health care is about in your own community
This was kind of a brainchild
other n Speech: trouble getting the words out, slurred speech, problems with articulation or understanding other people talking.
n Time: If any of the symptoms appear, it’s time to call 911 or go the emergency room.
“We always say over calling is never wrong when it comes to strokes,” Rupareliya said. “Every minute during a stroke, almost 1.9 million neurons, or brain cells, die. That is a very irreversible process. Brain cells do not regenerate.”
Although younger people typically have a higher ability to heal faster than older people, time is the most essential factor to determine length and effectiveness of recovery after a stroke
The chances for recurring strokes in younger people is high, but the likelihood goes significantly down if doctors are able to identify and treat the original cause of the stroke, and patients actively work on preventative care.
Preventing attacks on the brain
Rupareliya said the most important question when someone comes to the ER is related to timing: When was the last time the person or someone from the family saw them being normal?
The timing will determine how a patient is treated.
If a patient is treated within three to four and a half hours of normal behavior, clot-busting medicines can work to remove the clot that caused the stroke Beyond four and a half hours, the risks of the medications outweigh the benefits, Rupareliya said.
Research, however, is ongoing for medicinal treatments for stroke patients beyond the four and half hour window, according to Rupareliya.
Thrombectomies, a surgical stroke treatment, can be performed 24 hours after a stroke patient’s symptoms appear In the procedure a catheter is inserted through an artery in the groin or arm and navigated up to the site of the blockage
Payne, who received a thrombectomy, was up and walking out of the hospital a week later
The most common risk factors for strokes include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, diabetes and genetics. Rupareliya, and the CDC, recommend regular checkups to manage high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
Among young people, substance and alcohol abuse and trauma are also common risk factors for strokes. Trauma can include accidents in vehicles, on rollercoaster rides and rotational injuries.
Many people can reduce their risk for strokes with lifestyle changes: eating healthy, reducing substances and keeping up with their regular, annual checkups to monitor blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Payne moved home with her parents in Baton Rouge to manage her health and various surgeries, but she is still planting trees in the New Orleans area and is looking forward to planting more.
with some of our great communications team members. We said, “Hey, let’s do this, and let’s make it something that the community can engage in and understand and help move that cultural wellness
forward.” I have a master’s in health administration, so I’ve been on the administration side of health care for the past decade. I’ve also been a spokesperson for some large na-
tional health care organizations. I’m just passionate about getting resources and education into the hands of everyone.
This podcast was a natural evolution of that passion.
What health topics will you talk about on the podcast?
We interviewed our LCMC leaders first because we wanted to set a foundation and humanize our system to let people know who are the voices of leadership. For future podcasts, we want to get into areas of innovation. We’re going to dive a little bit deeper, identify some of our subject matter experts who are doing some really innovative, groundbreaking things.
We want to let our audience know, “Hey, they’re right here in your community.” We also want them to get to know the person who’s leading this effort.
Some of the things we’re going to focus on are cardiac care, cancer innovation and stroke programs that are certified in every one of our facilities. We are going to explore what that means for patients and health care providers in the community looking for resources for their patients.
We want to really hone in on what exactly it means to be innovative in our system.
Email Margaret DeLaney at margaret.delaney@theadvocate. com.
Use of at-home health tests becoming increasingly common
BY DEVNA BOSE AP health writer
The doctor is in — the mailbox, that is.
You can now do self-administered tests for everything from thyroid function to HIV in the privacy of your own home and that list continues to grow, as the Food and Drug Administration recently approved the first at-home cervical cancer test.
While the tests can make it easier for people to access health care and can be helpful for those who have extreme anxiety about sensitive or invasive medical exams, experts warn that most of the tests cannot replace an actual in-person visit.
Here’s what doctors say you can test for at home, and when you should make the trek to your physician’s office.
Two kinds of tests
There are two kinds at “at-home tests.”
In one type, the patient collects the sample and sends it off to a lab; the new cervical cancer test is like this. The other gives an instant result think COVID-19 and pregnancy tests.
What are the benefits?
HIV home-testing kits can improve rates of diagnosing sexually transmitted infections in rural communities and help people who are nervous about going to the doctor to seek a sensitive test, said Dr Joseph Cherabie, an infectious diseases specialist in St Louis.
“You really want to get people to care as quickly as possible, but some people could be very anxious about that results as well,” Cherabie said. “And they have very negative reactions.”
Labs are required to report a positive HIV test, instead of putting the onus on the patient who took the test, Cherabie said, and, often, the patient is matched up with HIV support services.
“If you are part of a sexual and gender minority community going to a doctor’s office can be full of a lot of historical trauma, and you may prefer to just do testing at home without anyone judging you or asking you invasive questions about your sex life,” Cherabie said.
The new cervical cancer test — which tests for strains of human papillomavirus, or HPV — involves a testing swab that’s like a tampon, said Dr Susan Modesitt, a gynecologic oncologist at Emory University in Atlanta.
It is not, Modesitt said, a replacement for a Pap smear, the exam in which a metal speculum is inserted in the vagina to scrape cervix cells. A doctor’s visit also involves a pelvic exam, a chance to talk about abnormal bleeding — a sign of endometrial cancer and other symptoms and issues, like menopause or STIs.
“There are so many other reasons to see your doctor and get an exam outside of a cervical cancer screening,” she said.
The at-home cervical cancer test from Teal Health requires a prescription, and the company said that results are not left for the patient to interpret.
Benefits
in rural area
Some at-home tests can replace a trip to the doctor’s office. That’s especially true in rural areas, where it can be difficult to get a colonoscopy
“The colonoscopy requires a preop, and you have to drive maybe 70 miles for it,” said Dr Steven Furr, board chair of the American Academy of Family Physicians who practices in rural Alabama. “You get anesthesia It’s actually almost like a surgical procedure in many ways.
“So, for a lot of people, that’s pretty arduous. That’s where an at-home test can come in handy.”
But, Furr said, if your test reveals issues, you need to go to your doctor Plus, patients should always discuss test results with their physician instead of interpreting them on their own, he said Who shouldn’t do tests?
If you have symptoms of what you’re testing for, go to the doctor
At-home colon cancer tests aren’t the right option for people with a history of colon cancer or high-risk conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease, said Dr Zachariah Foda, a gastroenterologist at Johns Hopkins. He added that they’re also not recommended for people who are having GI symptoms.
While there are tests for many things — running anywhere from $15 to $400, depending on what is being evaluated — Furr said it’s essential to make sure that your test is FDA-approved so you can better trust the results.
STAFF PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER
Kristen Gradney, a chief wellness officer with LCMC in New Orleans, sits in front of an art installation by Ellen Macomber
OVER 5LOUISIANANS PER100K EXPERIENCEHEATSTRESSILLNESS
Between April and October 2023, 88 people in Louisiana died from heat-related illnesses, according to the Louisiana Department of Health.August hadthe most deaths in the state with at 39 people.
Symptoms of heat stress or heatrelated illness include:
n Heat rash including red, itchybumps on the skin
n Heat cramps including painfulmuscle spasms and involuntarymovements
n Heat exhaustion including heavy sweating,clammy skin, dizziness, headaches,and nauseaorvomiting
n Heat strokes including very high body temperature, damp skin,confusion, slurred speech or seizures.
Regional parishes with the highest rates of hospitalizations for heat-stress
illnesses per 100,000 people between 2010 and 2019 included:
n Thenorthwest region with 7.5 hospitalizations within Caddo,Bossier, Webster,DeSoto and Red River parishes.
n Thewestcentral region with 7.2 hospitalizations within Sabine, Natchitoches and Vernon parishes.
Parishes with the lowest ratesof hospitalizations included:
n Thesoutheast region with 3.29 hospitalizations within Terrebone, LaFourche, Jefferson, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, Orleans, St. Charles, St. John theBaptist and St. James parishes
n Thesouth central region with 3.62 hospitalizations within Lafayette, St. Martin,Iberville,Assumption, St. Mary andIberiaparishes
new mobile mammography coach possible,” said Ali Landry,president and chief philanthropy officer
“Together,this $1 million investment will help eliminate barriers and ensure every woman receives thecare she deserves.”
The unit will stop Friday, June 20, at Assumption Parish Community Hospital, 135 La. 402, Napoleonville. Call (985) 369-4265 to schedule. The ongoingscheduleis releasedmonthly.Organizations can request avisit online at Woman’sHospital or by calling (225) 231-5658. Email Margaret DeLaney at margaret.delaney@ theadvocate.com.
The Louisiana Health section is focused on providing in-depth, personal accounts of health in the state.This section looks at medical innovations, health discoveries, state and national health statistics and re-examining tried and true methods on ways to livewell. Health editions will also profile people whoare advancing health forthe state of Louisiana. Do youhavea health story? We want to hear fromyou. Email margaret.delaney@ theadvocate.com to submit health questions, stories and more.
At atime when political polarization feels like thedefining feature of American life, agroup of BatonRouge residents are trying something radical. They bringtogether locals from across the politicalspectrum, sitthemdown in the same room to discuss hot-button issueslike taxes or birthright citizenship —and askthemnot to shout, point fingers or storm out
“Wecan sometimes view people on the other side as basically the enemy,” said David Lindenfeld, the Blue co-chair of Braver Angelsof Baton Rouge. “That back and forth doesn’treally solvethe problems and theconstant oscillation doesn’treally get us very far.”
Rather than accept the new normalofpolitical discourse echoing the vitriol of an internet comment section, Lindenfeld and ahandful of others instead took the ideas of anational nonpartisan group and brought them to Baton Rouge to try and start their own chapter of Braver Angels.
The nationalorganization began nearly 10 yearsago following the 2016presidential election.
Drawing its name from President Abraham Lincoln’s call for unity in his firstinaugural address, Braver Angels quickly picked upsteam
throughout the country and now has more than 100 “alliances,” according to the group’swebsite. They hostworkshops, debatesand trainings, all aimed toward facilitating civil discourse and understanding betweenprogressives and conservatives— known as “Reds”and “Blues”within theorganization. The group’s mission, practices and approach areall aimed at fightingwhat they calla “crisis ofpolarization” that hasovertakenthe country.Braver Angels’ national
board of directors is an even split between the political left andpolitical right, not necessarily to get each side to agree, but to change how they think about one another “It’sthe idea that you can look upon someone whodisagrees with youassomeone you could talk to, learn from, contribute to,and have faceto-face contact with,”Lindenfeld said. “Rather than think ‘This aterriblepolicy anda terrible person,’ you can start opening up to agenuine discussionand breakdownthe defensiveness.”
Nationally,the concept has caught on,asBraverAngels nowhas more than 58,000 members. And though Louisiana does notyet have its own official alliance, Lindenfeld andotherssoon hope to change that. It wasn’tuntil spring of 2024 when Lindenfeld and other organizers thought it was worth ashot to try and bring the movement to Louisiana’scapital. That’swhen Jon Parks,executive director of the Interfaith Federation
Lessons from afather’s sideline
My dad coached high school football fornearly all of my growing up years and manyyears beyond that. In his early coaching years, he had three players kick extra points after touchdowns but after that, his teamsalways went fortwo. For one thing, he didn’tnurture or develop kickers. But mainly, he wanted to do everything in his power to avoid atie.
His aversion to games ending in adraw was legendary.Heequated atie to “kissing your sister.” He would rather winorlose. His loathing of atie extended far beyond the field. My father was an all-in kind of guy about mosteverything he did —there was nothing half-hearted or lukewarm in his demeanor And he brought the rest of us along forthe ride. Saying he “brought us along for the ride” understates things. We didn’thave achoice in the matter We weregoing on the hayride. We were singing the songs. We were picking the gallons of blueberries. We werecanoeing down the river.Wewere taking the first boat to Ship Island and the last boat back. We were going camping in the biggest tent he could find —and my friends and Iwould learn to put it up, take it down, fold it nicely and get it back in the bag. We were getting up at the crack of dawntodrive to Starkville forthe early game.
The list could go on to fill chapters in abook.
My father knew how to make things happen. He was always up foranadventure, which meant lifewas rich in experience. Yes, sometimes, he wasabulldozer for fun, pushing people to join in regardless of the situation or their wishes.
He led by example and taught me alot about bringing people along forthe ride. On occasion, Irecognize my own tendencies toward bulldozing and try to ease off the gas. Even so, Irecognize the energy he put into making so much happen. Iamgrateful for his efforts.
But truth be told, sometimes his notions led the rest of us to exhaustion.
His approach to lifeleft little room fornuance. In his world —and the world Igrew up in there were good guys and bad guys, villains and heroes, people whowere in or out, right or wrong.
Ididn’tfigure out that there was room forgray and that people didn’thave to be in or out until I moved faraway.The realization wascompletely liberating forme.
ä See DEBATE, page 2Y ä See RISHER, page 2Y
Nominate Louisianansfor ENCORE Awards
munities. The2025ENCORE Awards willhighlight those whohave taken on bold new challenges lifted up others and madea measurableimpact in their communities or beyond, challenging outdated ideas of agingbyshining alight on people whose second (or third!) acts
aremeaningful, powerful and creative. Nominations for the 2025 ENCORE Awards can be made at https://www.nola.com/site/forms/ encore_awards/encore_awards_ imported-20250605122916/. Submissions will closeJuly 14. Award recipients will be announced in latesummer For more information, email Jan Risher at jan.risher@ theadvocate.com.
PHOTOSByAPRIL BUFFINGTON
David Lindenfeld opens up themeeting explaining the purpose of BraverAngels before the debate held April 27 at the Bluebonnet Regional LibraryinBaton Rouge.
Ingram, chair of the debate,
rules of the debate
PROVIDED PHOTO Coach GaryRisher advises
Q&A WITH CHUCK LAGRANGE
Acadiana’s Stuller Foundation supports the community
BY LAUREN CHERAMIE
Staff writer
Chuck LaGrange is the executive director of the Stuller Family Foundation, a Christian-based private family foundation in Lafayette that has given over $70 million over the past 30 years to nonprofits in Acadia Lafayette, Iberia, St. Landry, St. Martin and Vermilion parishes.
Matthew Stuller, founder of Stuller Inc., North America’s largest fine jewelry manufacturer and distributor, established The Stuller Family Foundation in 1994 in Lafayette.
LaGrange leads efforts to support philanthropic initiatives that reflect the foundation’s values of faith, community and service. In addition to his work with the foundation, LaGrange serves as the chief strategist for Parish Proud, a grassroots movement dedicated to fostering civic engagement, community pride and placemaking throughout Lafayette Parish. He is originally from Leonville.
What are some of the nonprofit organizations that Stuller has funded, and how are they helping the community?
One of the first organizations we helped form was Hearts of Hope, originally known as Stuller Place. It addresses trauma-related issues, especially among youth.
Acadiana Animal Aid focuses on animal welfare in the community If you take a look at what
DEBATE
Continued from page 1y
of Greater Baton Rouge, was called on to help advertise an organize.
Parks began spreading the word, and what started with just a few people has grown into a group of around 30 who now gather each month at the Bluebonnet Library to work through tough conversations in the name of the greater good “Braver Angels is about looking and talking with people that believe differently from me,” Parks said “It’s really boiling it down to the essence and saying ‘You know we all care about having healthy communities.’”
The debates are anything but informal, with strict rules read at the beginning of the meeting to keep the peace.
A specific topic relevant to current events is chosen for each meeting. Then, two debaters of opposing viewpoints — usually with some type of professional background on the subject — make their case as a moderator presides over the back and forth.
They’re allowed a brief presentation explaining their standpoint and are told to refrain from referring to one another by name. Much of the firm guidelines steal their approach from family and couples’ therapy techniques, Lindenfeld said, and “give the safe space for political discourse.”
About halfway through the meeting, discussion is then opened up to those in attendance, who can ask questions about a certain viewpoint or share their own thoughts on whatever the subject might be. Parks said Braver Angels’ approach has expanded his perspective on what may be the country’s most polarizing issue — immigration.
Gary Risher, center wearing the hat and tie on, accepts the trophy for the win over Morton that got the Forest Bearcats to the playoffs.
PROVIDED PHOTO
we’ve given to over time, it’s ecclesiastical causes and education. We’ve help build a lot of schools and churches in Acadiana We also work with groups like Faith House of Acadiana and Miles Perret Cancer Services. We look at our funding not just as grants but as investments in the people and causes that we feel can have the greatest social impact — and create meaningful change — in our community.
Being from St. Landry Parish, are you able to understand firsthand how these nonprofits are uplifting the community today? My dad was a sharecrop-
per, and we grew up in a relatively lower middle class household. Growing up, I got to see how families at that time worked and still struggled to make a living and provide their kids with the opportunity to be better off than them.
To be able to grow up in a very rural, spiritual place not having a tremendous amount of money, going to public schools and understanding the value of going to work while still in school shapes you as an individual. It helps me to relate even more with many of the nonprofits that now provide essential work in many of
the Bluebonnet Regional Library
Though his own viewpoint tends to lean progressive on the issue, he said he’s now gained more genuine respect from where the other side is coming from.
“It’s helped me to be more empathetic,” Parks said. “I hate to say it, but most of my family has the same politics that I do.”
He now finds himself standing up for the other side, sometimes saying, “You know I hear you saying that they’re stupid, but they’re not. They really have well-informed opinions.”
At a meeting in April, the subject was tax fairness, with debaters explaining their opposing positions on who should pay taxes, how much those taxes should be for respective individuals and what those taxes should pay for
For their June meeting, the group tackled the increasingly relevant issue of birthright citizenship, debating whether the U.S. policy should be reformed in line with proposals championed by President Donald Trump’s administration
Though the local group has grown since its inception last year, it has yet to check all the boxes to be a recognized “alliance” of Braver Angels.
The national group likes to have both sides repre-
sented fairly So, the local group is working to get more conservative voices involved as current attendance leans a bit left.
“We still have to work on the balance between liberal and conservative, but we’re working on it,” Lindenfeld said.
Now that they’ve built a foundation for their regular meetings, the group is starting to spend time and energy on finding conservatives who might want to be involved. But there’s still no pressure for attendees to be debaters themselves or even voice their own opinions during discussion, Parks said.
Currently handling some of the group’s outreach effort, Parks encourages anyone interested — from either side — to go to the group’s calendar online at braverangels.org and find a local workshop to attend. It’s an open invitation, he said, as Braver Angels is about dialogue, not division.
“We value this country We value our communities and we want the same kinds of things,” Parks said. “Let’s talk about ways that we can work together to accomplish those.”
Email Patrick SloanTurner at patrick.sloanturner@theadvocate.com.
RISHER
Continued from page 1y
Life was easier smoother
kinder, gentler — better, frankly
My father never made peace with my changing perspective. Until the very end, he approached almost
services and human services, we’re tinkering in the fringes of a variety of different areas. But we’re also trying to build resilience for these organizations so that the social impacts aren’t getting any smaller It ensures that our foundation continues to be responsive, relevant and focused and aligned with what the community priorities are. And as those priorities change, we’re in alignment.
Is the foundation pivoting its approach to funding with the current governmental cuts to nonprofits?
We received more requests from nonprofits that rely 80-90% on government funding. There are cuts occurring at the federal government level that are impacting other funding sources for nonprofits.
these underserved communities. I grew up in an underserved community.
Why is it important for the Stuller Foundation to focus on a wide range of nonprofit areas, as opposed to dialing in on one?
Having been at this for a while now, you come to discover that, while there are a lot of nonprofits that work in different spaces, when they work collectively, they have the ability to really drive impact. Focusing on that wide range of nonprofits allows us to make a broader, more meaningful impact. When we support education, health care, the arts, social
We’re seeing a lot of nonprofits having to go back to the drawing board to establish new strategic plans that they never thought they’d have to do — and that’s fundraising, which is not cheap. As a foundation, it’s important for us to know who these folks are, what places they’re making impact and where they get funding. When the cuts were happening, we knew we were going to get more grants than we ever did before in certain spaces that typically never come this way
We got them, but we also used it as an opportunity to go back to these groups and help them craft a path forward, because what we’re
experiencing now could very well be the future. We worked to connect nonprofits with other funders in the community We partnered very intentionally with the Community Foundation of Acadiana to have access to funders. This enables nonprofits to potentially raise more money but also raise the visibility of the organization. We discovered that we need to create ecosystems for funders. We’re trying to identify all the groups that work within a certain subject matter to work together By virtue of working together, they can increase their overall capacity How will the cuts impact the future of nonprofit funding? Historically, there has not been a lot of collaboration among funders for projects. Now, with the help of the Community Foundation, we convene a quarterly meeting to share different opportunities. There is no better time to make significant impact than now, because the need is so great and is growing. When’s the last time you heard the words disruptive technology and innovation on the nonprofit side? You don’t hear that, but we have that opportunity now
There are so many nonprofits that duplicate the same thing, but no reason why they can’t all get together
Email Lauren Cheramie at lauren.cheramie @theadvocate.com.
2025 Postcard Project launches
BY JAN RISHER Staff writer
The fourth annual Postcard Project launched on Memorial Day and runs through Labor Day The project got off to a great start with postcards from eight states and three countries in the first week plus 10 postcards from Louisiana, including a gorgeous hand-painted watercolor postcard from Denny Wheeler in River Ridge. Remarkably, one of the states represented in the first week of postcards is North Dakota. Annie sent a postcard from Fargo, North Dakota. She’s happy winter is done and wrote that she too struggles to believe that 2025 is almost halfway through, “even though it feels like it just started.” She signed off saying she’s preparing to welcome baby No. 2 any day now! Congrats, Annie, to you and your little one. Thanks for the postcard from one of the most difficult-to-get states.
Nanette Cosban sent a postcard from Lyon, France, saying that she and her son “ate the most amazing food, courtesy of not only the restaurants but also thanks to the recommendations Ian McNulty was so kind as to share.”
Justin Pamplin wrote a postcard from Cozumel, Mexico, where he went on a Norwegian Getaway cruise He wrote, “I stayed in one of the studio cabins which are designed and priced for solo travelers.” Pamplin is a big fan of the “Where’s George” website, which tracks the natural circulation of American paper money He went on the cruise with friends he made through “Where’s George.”
The first states represented in the 2025 Postcard Project are: Louisiana, Mississippi, Michigan, Arizona, Oregon, Virginia, North Da-
every situation like it was fourth and goal. He thought I had gone soft. He couldn’t believe how much I had changed.
Parenting is like that. I remember the first time I realized one of my daughters knew something that I didn’t, leaving me with a “How can this be?” moment and plenty to ponder
kota and Massachusetts. Countries represented thus far are the U.S., France and Mexico.
Throughout the summer, the newspaper staff tracks the postcards received and shares highlights in our goal of receiving postcards from all 50 states and as many countries as possible. Anyone is welcome to participate by sending in a postcard to: Jan Risher, The Advocate, 10705 Rieger Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70809
Email Jan Risher at jan. risher@theadvocate. com.
My dad has been gone for more than two years now In his absence, I continue to learn that life doesn’t have to be win or lose — and that there is value in finding the middle ground, even in a tie.
I do my best now to recognize the strength in listening, in pausing, in not always having to push forward. But sometimes, espe-
cially when the stakes feel high, I find myself reaching for his playbook.
When we hit the nittygritty in moments big or small, I still hear his booming voice from the sidelines, yelling for me to go for two.
Email Jan Risher at jan. risher@theadvocate.com.
STAFF PHOTOS By By JAN RISHER
Denny Wheeler, of River Ridge, hand painted this watercolor postcard and mailed it to the 2025 Postcard Project.
Denny Wheeler of River Ridge, hand painted this watercolor postcard and mailed it to the project.
A postcard from Arizona was received in the first week of the project.
PHOTO By APRIL BUFFINGTON
Alison Ocmand gives her side of the debate on April 27 at
STAFF FILE PHOTO By LESLIE WESTBROOK
Stuller Founder and CEO Matt Stuller greets Claude Michael Smith, 8, on April 2, 2024, at Stuller in Lafayette. Smith was granted a wish to go to Super Nintendo World in Los Angeles by the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Stuller Family Foundation.
N.O. Convention Center goes green
BY MARCOCARTOLANO
Staff writer
Humming with the familiar sounds of machinery and cluttered with stacks of waste waiting to be discarded,the rear ofNew Orleans’ Ernest N. Morial Convention Center looks like an industrial loading dock fitting for afacility that dates back to the1980s
But the building’scolor-coded recycling system tells adifferent story —one of amore modern system of waste disposal and massive recycling operation thathave earned the Convention Centera sustainability certification that fewfacilities of asimilarsizehave.
“It very much is newmeets traditional,” said Linda Baynham, the Convention Center’s directorof sustainability and corporatesocial responsibility
On arecent tour through the Convention Center in honor of Earth Day,Baynham said the facility recycled over248 tons in 2024, just the latest in aseries of feats geared toward transforming the building into aleader in sustainability
Walking alongside Baynman, Chief OperatingOfficer Adam Straight touted the facility’sLeadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, certification, arating issued by the U.S. Green Building Council and used worldwide.
“Weare the largest facilityinthe world to achieve gold LEED certification with the new standards,” Straight said. “The new standards are real-time data, so you have to not just tell your storyofwhat you’re going to do but you have to release the data that says, ‘OK, you guys are really doing that.’”
The Convention Center received the certification in 2022 and is working to renew it this year
While other facilities will likely meet the new standards, Straight said Convention Center officials will hold onto that honor as long as they can. Getting there involved a lot of changes that are part of the center’songoing capital improve-
Officials from theErnest N. Morial Convention Center in NewOrleans touted the facility’sLeadership in Energyand Environmental Design certification,a rating issued by the U.S. Green Building Council and used worldwide.
ment plan, he said.
Goinggreen
The signs of sustainability are everywhere in the Convention Center
While walkingthrough the mammoth hall, Baynhampointed to the lights, saying over 4,000 werereplacedwith more energy-efficient LED light fixtures.Inside the unusually empty exhibition hall, disposal bins are labeled with which items can be recycled or composted.
TheConvention Center’s loading dock includesrecycling instruc-
tions in both English andSpanish. The pillars are colored-coded to represent the main materials that combined in 2024 to create the center’ssignificant recycling record: yellow for landfill, blue for the plasticsheeting usedtoprotect carpets, green for cardboard, red for scrap metal andbrown for wood. Traditional materials like bottles and cans are also recycled. Along withrecycling and conserving energy, the Convention Center’slinear park, agreen space near theentranceofthe building, boasts 200 trees, which lower the facility’scarbon footprint through
oxygen production anda stormwater management systemthat channels rainwater to irrigate the plantsand trees,according to statistics provided by the Convention Center Baynham said the center also reduced its water use by installing low-flowplumbing fixturesinthe restrooms in addition to upgrades to energy equipment and cooling towers. The center’swater use has been reduced by 16% since 2019, enough water to fill 670 backyard swimmingpools, Straight added. Beginning in 2020, theConvention Center installed 87 water
bottle-filling stations to reduce the use of plastic water bottles. There were over 500,000 bottle refills in 2024, Baynham said. The Convention Center still has plenty of projects going forward, and the team plans to stay green. “A lot’sgetting donehere in the next five to 10 years,”Straight said. “Any future construction not only inside the building, but future construction outside the building, will take on that samemodel.”
Email Marco Cartolano at marco.cartolano@theadvocate. com
STAFF FPHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER
Berliners rediscovering their faith outdoors
ELISSA MARDINEY
Contributing writer
A dozen walkers, many of them retirees in wool hats and fleece jackets, gathered in a silent circle in the Grunewald forest, just outside Berlin.
“Walk silently through nature and notice what you observe,” read Stephen Lemke, an adviser for senior citizens for the evangelical church in the Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf borough of Berlin, on a Wednesday in March. He leads these “silent pilgrimages” once a month for anyone interested in exploring the connection between religion, nature and self.
The group bowed their heads.
“I hear the sound of the wind I feel the sun on my skin. I enjoy the moment,” Lemke read. “But at the same time, I realize that this moment cannot be captured.” After the meditation, they began an hourlong silent walk through the park.
Around Berlin, Christian pilgrimage walks led by various organizations are open to locals and visitors nearly every week. They aim to offer a way for people of all ages to engage with their faith and community without stepping foot in a church. Some are guided by pastors with an interest in the outdoors, while others are self-guided with stops at churches or other sacred sites, like the Spandau pilgrimage. Some last an hour while others are multiweek expeditions.
Pilgrimages, which have gained popularity in the last
Participants
19 in Berlin.
couple decades across Europe, especially in southern Germany, provide a way for people in an aging and increasingly secular society to reconnect with their Christian faith.
“A lot of people won’t go to church anymore, but they still are religious,” said Nicolas Budde, pilgrim pastor of the Kladow borough parish in Berlin “I think the church has to think about ways to talk with people about religion, and I think that pilgrimage is one way to do it.” In the 1500s, devout Catholics took long, arduous walks to visit sacred relics. Making the journey to a sacred destination such as Santiago de Compostela in Spain was an expression of Christian devotion, intended to prove one’s worthiness before God
and cleanse the soul of sin.
But in 1520, Martin Luther, the German theologian and leader of the Protestant Reformation, criticized the practice. He argued pilgrimages had no basis in Scripture and were part of the greed and commercialism in the church that he detested. Luther believed God could be found anywhere, and there was no need to visit a sacred site. Pilgrimages fell out of favor
“In the Middle Ages, (pilgrimages were) more of an outside thing — you really wanted to know something from God, you wanted to praise him or you wanted to get forgiveness,” said Bettina Kammer the public relations officer for the Protestant church in Berlin’s Spandau borough. “Nowadays, it’s more personal —
people have this feeling that they’re looking for something, but they can’t quite put a finger on it.”
Pilgrimages have also gained popularity through movies such as “I’m Off Then,” a 2015 German film, and the 2010 film “The Way,” starring Martin Sheen. Both are about the world’s most famous pilgrimage, the Way of St. James, or Camino de Santiago.
In 2020, the Berlin suburb of Spandau launched its own 46.6-mile loop inspired by the Camino de Santiago, connecting two dozen Protestant churches and two Catholic ones. Berliners and tourists can walk, bike or canoe along color-coded routes linking the churches. Pilgrims can collect stamps at each church they visit. Budde, who pastors along
the Spandau pilgrimage route, said that while a hike is the external act of walking a trail, a pilgrimage is an internal journey: “One walks with feet, but one makes a pilgrimage with one’s heart.”
Thomas N.H. Knoll, another pilgrimage leader in Berlin, founded and runs the information office at the St Jacobi Pilgrimage Center Visitors can stop by for pilgrimage passports, stamps and a travel blessing before setting out on a pilgrimage in Germany or abroad.
These types of journeys can help people find the courage to move forward physically and emotionally, especially when one is facing a tough life situation like a loved one’s death, an illness, a conflict or a job loss, he said. Knoll also touts being “transformed by experiencing nonavailability” — or spending time without one’s phone.
Pilgrimages can also offer a chance for new friendships, especially among seniors, who often experience isolation.
“It’s helpful for the elderly to not only keep moving physically, but also to connect with others in a meaningful, spiritual way,” Lemke said. From a religious perspective, these walks can serve as “new temporary forms of congregations.”
Young people who want to stay connected to their religion but don’t feel at home in a traditional church can also benefit. Two years ago Alexander Steinfeldt founded Berlin Pilgrims, a group for young people interested in hiking and reflecting on
philosophical and spiritual topics A lifelong member of Germany’s Protestant church, Steinfeldt started the group when he was feeling disconnected from both community and faith.
“A foundation was missing in my life,” he said. When starting the group, he “rediscovered both hiking and religion.” The hikes start with a prayer and encourage spiritual reflections throughout. After the silent pilgrimage in Berlin’s Grunewald, Lemke’s group paused for reflection. One participant noted the subtle changes in the scenery that came with each passing day Others agreed, speaking of the signs of spring — new buds on the leafless trees, bird song, a slightly warmer breeze.
Someone else looked forward to a cup of coffee. By the end, the participants, some approaching 90 years old, had all met someone new or found a quiet moment of connection with God.
Lemke closed with a prayer
“Stand in the sun and feel its warmth. May the Lord be with you, like the ground that carries you,” he said. “May the Lord be with you, like the air you breathe like the bread that strengthens you like the sun that makes your day warm and bright.” For some, these short prayers are a return to religion.
“Sometimes people come to me and say ‘Wow that was my first prayer in 10 years,’ ” Lemke told RNS. “So maybe it’s a small way back.”
Maine trains army of HVAC pros to meet heat pump goals
BY KRISTIAN MORAVIC
Contributing writer
Editor’s note: This story, created by Kristian Moravec for the Rural News Network, is part of the is part of the Solutions Story Tracker from the Solutions Journalism Network, a nonprofit organization dedicated to rigorous reporting about responses to social problems. Louisiana Inspired features solutions journalism stories that provide tangible evidence that positive change is happening in other places and in our own communities — solutions that can be adopted around the world.
The sputtered drone of a vacuum pump filled the former milking barn that now houses Kennebec Valley Community College’s heat pump lab in Fairfield, Maine Instructor Dave Whittemore, who held the yellow vacuum in one hand and displayed an app tracking atmospheric pressure on his phone in the other explained in a raised voice how to do an “evacuation,” ridding the heat pump of air and moisture to avoid malfunctions down the road.
“The longevity of the equipment is important,” said Whittemore, who teaches students how to install the increasingly popular electric heating and cooling units. “If it’s not done right, then it’s going to fail prematurely And that’s the biggest reason that I personally try to keep up with industry best standards and I pass that on to my students.”
Six years ago, Gov. Janet Mills traveled to the college to sign a bill aimed at transforming Maine’s market for heat pumps, an environmentally friendly alternative to oil furnaces and gas boilers, and set a goal of installing 100,000 units by 2025.
The state, now a national leader for heat pump adoption, met that goal two years ahead of schedule, and Mills once again traveled to the rural Somerset County campus to announce a new target: another 175,000 heat pumps by 2027.
Maine needs skilled workers to reach this goal, de-
manding training initiatives from all corners of the state to build HVAC, refrigerant, and electrical knowledge in the clean energy workforce. Without a strong pipeline, the state risks delays in reaching its heat pump target, putting its climate goals at risk.
So far, rural counties have seen some of the fastest rates of clean energy worker growth, according to state data. In Somerset County, where KVCC is located, the number of clean energy workers has grown by 44% since 2020.
As part of this push, the community college launched a high-tech heat pump training lab in 2021 and has trained over 300 students. The initiative is one of many clean energy programs the school offers as part of a broader, state-supported effort to meet Maine’s goal of reaching 30,000 clean energy jobs by 2030
Efficiency Maine, a quasigovernmental agency that oversees the state’s energy efficiency programs, has invested more than $400,000 in installation and weatherization training programs at KVCC and supports 29 similar programs at other institutions each year
Another key piece of state support comes through the Governor’s Energy Office’s Clean Energy Partnership, which has awarded nearly $5 million in grants for clean energy training and apprenticeship programs across the state since 2022 and has seen over 3,500 participants Businesses have also developed their own on-the-job training programs to help meet demand.
But the state still faces a daunting challenge: It must employ more than 14,000 new workers to reach its goal of 30,000 clean energy jobs by the end of the decade.
While the state says it remains dedicated to this goal, some in the industry worry federal funding cuts and tariffs could create challenges for the workforce development pipeline
Efforts underway in Maine
Heat pumps have emerged
as a pillar of Maine’s clean energy strategy: The units can reduce carbon dioxide emissions between 38% and 53% compared to a gas furnace, according to a 2022 study in the academic journal Energy Policy, and have been touted as a way to reduce energy costs.
The demand for cleaner energy has grown not only in response to the state’s climate goals, but also as Maine’s electricity costs rise.
A Maine Monitor analysis showed that electricity costs increased at the third-highest rate in the U.S between 2014 and 2024.
Workforce development has become a priority for the state as the clean energy industry grows, said Tagwongo Obomsawin, the program manager for the state’s Clean Energy Partnership, noting that it can provide good paying jobs for Mainers and reduce energy costs.
Heat pump training is just one of several clean energy programs offered through the Maine Community College System, which includes KVCC. The network of schools also trains students in electric vehicle maintenance, fiber optics, aquaculture, and more.
Dan Belyea, the system’s chief workforce development officer, said short-term training and scholarship funding are centered on needs that arise in the industry, which the schools gauge by looking at labor market data and talking to employers. Programs that are highest in demand tend to include electrical and heat pump training, Belyea said.
More collaboration
In Freeport, Scott Libby, the owner of Royal River Heat Pumps, walked through his training center as he explained that all his workers go through heat pump training that starts with the basics, regardless of experience, to ensure each worker is equipped to handle the job
“A lot of these heat pumps have 12-year warranties,” Libby said. “That’s 4,380 days. The most important day is Day 1 It needs to be
installed properly.”
Libby, who has worked with the U.S. Department of Energy on workforce development and sits on a new energy-efficiency workforce subcommittee being developed by the Governor’s Energy Office, said he’s aware of a number of different workforce development initiatives but that it’s difficult to comprehend how they all work together
Libby emphasized the need for more collaboration between different workforce development efforts and a more systematic approach, with quality checks in place. He suggested putting more thought into designing industrial arts and home economics programs in middle and high schools to introduce students to different career pathways early on.
He also said more stringent licensing requirements could help with the quality of workers moving into the field. As it stands, there is no specific licensing required to install heat pumps in Maine, though workers need an Environmental Protection Agency Section 608 license to deal with the refrigerant used inside the unit, and an electrical license to complete the wiring.
He acknowledged that new regulation could “cripple” workforce development
efforts but said the move is imperative to control the level of training workers receive and make sure everyone is qualified to install heat pumps.
Uncertainties lie ahead
At KVCC’s heat pump lab, Whittemore gestured at eight heat pumps mounted on prop walls used for training, listing the types of new units he hopes to get soon — ideally through donations from companies who have given units in the past.
Regulatory changes to refrigerants that went into effect this year mean the school needs to replace the heat pumps it uses to train students.
“Most of the procedures with the new refrigerants are the same. It’s just that we can’t put this new refrigerant in these existing heat pumps,” he said. “So I’ve got to get eight new heat pumps.”
The broader challenge he sees for the industry is tariffs, which he fears could lead to higher equipment prices and lower demand. This, in turn, could mean a lower need for workers.
Maine has two years to reach its goal of installing 275,000 heat pumps and five years to reach its goal of 30,000 clean energy jobs. But uncertainties in building Maine’s workforce lie ahead.
Obomsawin said a partnership the Energy Office has with the Department of Labor to provide career navigation services will continue into 2026, as will workforce development programs that received funding and are already operational. But she cautioned that it is still too early to know what impact policy changes at the federal level will have on the clean energy sector Efficiency Maine said that the state is still on track to achieve its heat pump goals at least for now Executive Director Michael Stoddard said that the heat pump rebate program has funding from the Electric Utility Conservation Program and the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative for at least the next three years. However, some smaller initiatives, such as a revolving loan to help Mainers buy new heat pump systems, face uncertainty as the federal grants funding the project are in flux. Libby, of Royal River Heat Pumps, has 40 years of HVAC industry experience and said funding uncertainty will make it a challenge to reach the state’s heat pump goal. “I think it’s definitely going to be harder,” Libby said. “I mean, I’m not ready to give up on it yet. I don’t think anybody is ready to give up on it.”
PHOTO By ELISSA MARDINEy
on a silent pilgrimage walk through the Grunewald nature preserve on March
PROVIDED PHOTO By KRISTIAN MORAVEC
Dave Whittemore stands next to two heat pump units attached to the training facility
SUNDAY, JUNe 15, 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 — cHArAdes: shuhRADES: A game in which some players try to guess a word or phrase from the actions of other players.
Average mark 42 words Time limit 60 minutes Can you find 58 or more words in CHARADES?
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
Wild hand
Today’s deal is from a match between a team from Poland and a team from Brazil. At the other table, North passed over West’s three-club bid and there was no more bidding. Three clubs scored nine tricks.
At this table, North aggressively supported spades at the three level and South, Polish expert Krzysztof Martens, carried on to game Martens ruffed the opening club lead in dummy and led a heart toward his king. East rose with his ace and shifted to a trump, won by Martens in hand. He led the queen of clubs, covered with the king, and ruffed in dummy. East did not over-ruff with his natural trump trick, discarding a diamond instead.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Gear up and get moving. Elbow grease, foresight and ingenuity will carry you to success Refuse to let frustration set in when you face a dead end; it’s your cue to take a different path and reinvent your journey.
CANCER (June 21-July 22) Use insight and charm to get to the bottom of any matter that eludes you. A playful approach will attract the right people and lead to lasting connections. Romance is favored.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Emotions will take a turn for the worse if too much pressure is applied. Be kind, compromising and willing to put in the
Note that both East and South made excellent plays when they refused to over-ruff. It was South’s day to come out on top.
Martens led a low diamond from dummy and ruffed East’s queen. He cashed his two top spades, followed by the king of hearts, seeing the queen fall from East. Martens led a heart to dummy, which East ruffed with his last trump. East led the ace of diamonds, but Martens discarded instead of ruffing and East had to lead a diamond to dummy, giving declarer the rest of the tricks and his contract. Beautifully done!
effort. Think about how to nurture important relationships. VIRGO (Aug 23-Sept. 22) A pick-meup will change your perspective and offer a unique alternative. Treat yourself to something that calms your nerves or brings you joy Life is aboutchoices,sochoosewhatmakes you happy LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) Refuse to let outside influences ruin your day or your relationship with someone. Chooseeventsoractivitiesthatoffer mental stimulation and thought-provoking lifestyle alternatives.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) You can use force or finesse Dial back the
brawn and rely on your experience, wisdom and knowledge to move forward with grace and integrity Set boundaries, strive for equality and bare your soul
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) You have more options than you think. Hosting an event or attending a reunion will bring back memories that will shape how you move forward. With new and updated information, you’ll find the right path.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Bypass making big decisions when uncertainty prevails. Give yourself a chance to evaluate your life choices and to consider what you
might do differently Romance is on the rise.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Refuse to let anyone jerk you around. Be bold, blunt and brave; tell it like it is, and reveal your vision of what you want to unfold. The next step is to listen, digest and find common ground.
PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) Let go of what you no longer need in your life. Size up your situation and map out your route forward. Lower your overhead, simplify your relationships and specify what’s important. ARIES (March 21-April 19) Maintain a strict budget and an efficient
lifestyle. Choose kindness, offer solutions and keep the peace when dealing with domestic issues and uncertainty Put in the time and finish what you start.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Kind words andgestureswillleadtoinsideinformation and visibility Invest more time expanding your interests and connecting with people who have something to contribute.
The horoscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact.
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?
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Afather's love is forever imprinted on his child's heart. —Jennifer Williamson
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jeFF mACnelly’sshoe/ by Gary Brookins &Susie MacNelly FoXtrot/ by BillAmend
