The Advocate 06-15-2025

Minnesota politicians killed, injured in attack

Manhuntunderwayfor suspectin‘politically motivatedassassination’

BY TIM SULLIVAN, STEVE KARNOWSKI and ALANNA DURKIN RICHER Associated Press

BROOKLYN PARK, Minn.

Hundredsof law officers fanned out across aMinneapolis suburb Saturday in pursuit of aman who authorities say posedasapolice officer and fatally shot aDemocraticstate lawmaker in her home in what Gov.Tim Walz called “a politically motivated assassination.” Authorities said the suspect also shot and woundedasecond lawmakerand was believedtobetrying to flee the area. Democratic former HouseSpeaker Melissa Hortman andher husband,Mark,were killed in their Brooklyn Park home. State Sen. John Hoffman, also aDemocrat, and his wife, Yvette, wereinjuredattheir Champlin address, about9miles away Authorities identified the suspect as 57-year-old Vance Boelter,and

ä See ATTACK, page 7A

2025 LOUISIANALEGISLATURE PASSES AND FAILS

Louisiana lawmakers wrapped up the 2025 legislativesession on Thursday. See some of the biggest topics from the session and the most high-profile bills that passed and failed. Page 12A

POMP AND PROTESTS

nationwide

President Donald Trumpattends amilitary paradecommemorating the U.S. Army’s250th

birthday,inWashington, D.C.,onSaturday

BY AIDAN McCAHILL Staff writer

Hundreds of residents gathered Saturday morning on North Fourth Street in frontofthe State Capitol,many carrying cardboard signs or waving American flags

The event took place on June 14, Flag Day,which commemorates the adoption of theU.S flag, aswell as the U.S. Army’s official birthday Butwhile chantsof“USA” echoed through the crowd, estimated at 400 to 500 people, participants were part of different nationwide observance, known as “No Kings Day.” The event was organized as apeaceful protest by thoseconcerned about

ä Protesters demonstrate across the nation PAGE 4A ä See PROTEST, page 6A

BY LOLITA C. BALDOR and MICHELLE L. PRICE

Press

Associated

WASHINGTON The grand military paradethatPresident DonaldTrump hadbeenwanting for years barreled downConstitution Avenue on Saturday with tanks, troops and a21-gun salute, playingout against acounterpoint 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 standsouth of the White House to watch the display of American military might, which began early and moved swiftly as light rain fell and clouds shrouded the Washington Monument. The procession,withmorethan6,000 soldiers and 128 Armytanks, was one Trump tried to make happen in his first term after seeing such an event in Paris in 2017, but the plans never cametogether until the parade wasadded to an event ä See POMP, page 8A

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

Protesters line North Fourth Street holding flags and signs during the ‘NoKings’ protest in Baton RougeonSaturday.

Hoffman Hortman

ASSOCIATEDPRESS PHOTOByJULIA DEMAREE NIKHINSON

anniversary, coinciding withhis 79th

BRIEFS FROM WIRE REPORTS

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.

Israel targets Iran’s Defense Ministry HQ

Tehran unleashes more strikes; Sunday’s U.S.-Iran nuclear talks canceled

BY JON GAMBRELL, MELANIE LIDMAN and JULIA FRANKEL Associated Press

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates Israel launched an expanded assault on Iran on Sunday, with direct strikes targeting its energy industry and Defense Ministry headquarters, while Tehran unleashed a fresh barrage of missiles blamed for the deaths of four people.

The simultaneous strikes represented the latest salvo since a surprise attack by Israel two days earlier aimed at decimating Tehran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program.

New explosions boomed across Tehran as Iranian missiles entered Israel’s skies in an attack that Israeli emergency officials said killed four people in an apartment building in the Galilee region. Casualty figures weren’t immediately available in Iran, where Israel targeted its Defense Ministry headquarters in Tehran as well as sites that it alleged were associated with the country’s nuclear program Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard claimed that Iranian missiles targeted fuel production facilities for Israeli

fighter jets something not acknowledged by Israel.

Amid the continued conflict, planned negotiations between Iran and the United States over Tehran’s nuclear program were canceled, throwing into question when and how an end to the fighting could come.

“Tehran is burning,” Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on social media.

Both Israel’s military and Iran state television announced the latest round of Iranian missiles as explosions were heard near midnight while the Israeli security cabinet met.

Israel’s ongoing strikes across Iran have left the country’s surviving leadership with the difficult decision of whether to plunge deeper into conflict with Israel’s more powerful forces or seek a diplo-

matic route.

Calls to de-escalate

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 nuclear-armed state in the Middle East — said its hundreds of strikes on Iran over the past two days have 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 U.S. intelligence agencies

and the International Atomic Energy Agency have repeatedly said Iran was not pursuing a nuclear weapon before Israel unleashed its campaign of airstrikes targeting Iran beginning Friday

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 im-

mediately 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

The sixth round of U.S.Iran indirect talks on Sunday over Iran ’s nuclear program will not take place, mediator Oman said. “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 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.

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-

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By RAFIQ MAQBOOL

People look at the wreckage from Thursday’s Air India plane crash lying atop a building on Saturday in Ahmedabad, India.

“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.

Zelenskyy

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By VAHID SALEMI

A man looks at flames rising from an oil storage facility after it appeared to have been struck by an Israeli strike on Sunday in Tehran, Iran.

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 sitesare located in military zones that are off limits to independent media Israel’smilitary saiditfired

theground as thousands ran away

In the southerncityof Khan Younis, Nasser Hospital said it received 16 dead, including five women, from multiple Israelistrikes late Fridayand early Saturday It said another three men were killed near twoGHF aidsitesinthe southernmost city of Rafah, nowa mostly uninhabited military zone. Israel’smilitary said it wasunaware of any gunfire there during that time overnight

An Israeli strike in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, killed four people,Al-Aqsa Hospital said.

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 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.

warning shots overnight to distance agroup of people near troopsoperating in the Netzarim corridor,and an aircraftstrucka personwho kept advancing.

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, aprivate contractor that operates the sites, said they wereclosed Saturday.But witnesses said thousands hadgathered near the sitesanyway,desperate for food as Israel’sblockade andmilitary campaignhave

driven the territory to the brink of famine.

Al-Awda Hospital said it received eight bodiesand at least 125 wounded people from ashooting near aGHF siteincentral 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

Trumpclearspathfor Nippon Steelinvestment in U.S. Steel

BY JOSH BOAK and MARC LEVY Associated Press

WASHINGTON President

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 givingthe U.S. government a“golden share” —essentially veto power to ensure the country’snational security interests are protected against cutbacks in steel production.

“WethankPresident Trump and his Administration for their bold leadership and strongsupport for our historic partnership,” thetwo companies said. “This partnership will bringamassive investment that will support our communities and families for generations to come.

By The Associated Press

We look forward to putting ourcommitments into action to make American steelmaking and manufacturing great again.”

Thecompanies have completed aU.S. Department of Justice review and received allnecessaryregulatoryapprovals, the statement said.

“The partnership is expected to be finalized promptly,” the statement said.

U.S. Steel rose $2.66, or 5%, to $54.85 in after-hours trading Friday.Nippon Steel’s original bidtobuy the Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steelinlate 2023 had been valued at $55 pershare.

The companies offered few details on how thegolden share would work, what otherprovisions areinthe national security agreement and how specifically the$11 billionwould bespent.

White Housespokesman Kush Desai said the order “ensures U.S. Steel will remain in thegreat Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and be safeguarded as acritical element of America’snational andeconomic security.”

James Brower,aMorrison Foerster lawyer who represents clients in nationalsecurity-related matters, said such agreementswith the government typicallyare not

disclosedtothe public,particularly by thegovernment Theycan becomepublic, but it’s almost always disclosedbya party in the transaction, such as acompany —like U.S. Steel —that is publicly held, Brower said. Themechanicsofhow a golden share would work will depend on the national securityagreement, but in such agreements it isn’tunusual to give the government approval rightsover specific activities,Brower said.

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 thathad been delayedonnational security concerns starting during Joe Biden’spresidency.

As it sought to winover American officials, Nippon Steel gradually increased theamount of money it was pledging to investinto U.S Steel. American officials now value the transaction at $28 billion, including the purchase bid and anew electric arcfurnace —amore modern steel mill that melts down scrap —that they say Nippon Steel will build in the U.S. after 2028.

more than adozen cars into acreek. Some people climbed trees to escape. Firefightersrescued more than 70 people acrossthe nation’sseventhlargest city More thanadozen carsgot stuckoroverturned in Beital Creek. The San Antonio Fire Departmentsaid11ofthose whodiedwere found in the PerrinBeitel search area around thecreek. One person was found severalmiles upstream

Meanwhile,Israel’smilitary saidtwo projectiles came from Gaza and fell in open areas, with no injuries.

Israel and the United Statessay the new aid system is intendedtoreplace a U.N.-run network that has distributed aid across Gaza

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.

The offensive hasdestroyed vast areas of Gaza anddisplaced 90% of the population of some2million Palestinians, leaving them almostentirelyreliant on international aid. The warhas drawninIran andits otheralliesacross the region, igniting achain of events that ledtoIsrael’s major strikes on Iran’snuclear and military facilities on Friday

ASSOCIATEDPRESS PHOTO By JEHAD ALSHRAFI

TwoPalestinians ride asmall boat on Friday at the seafront next toatent campinthe Gaza Cityport.

Protesters demonstrateacrossthe nation

Organizers say millions came to parksand plazas across theUS.

BY MARC LEVY and CLAUDIA LAUER Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA Demonstra-

tors crowded into streets, parks and plazas across the U.S. on Saturday to protest President Donald Trump, marching through downtownsand blaringanti-authoritarian chants mixed with support for protecting democracy and immigrant rights.

Organizers of the “No Kings” demonstrations said millions had marched in hundreds of events

Governors acrossthe U.S. had urgedcalm 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 quickly reached its limit, with thousands more gathered outside barriers tohearspeakers 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 sitting on agolden 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 Democratic legislators and their spouses.

In Charlotte, demonstrators trying to march

through downtown briefly faced off with police formingabarricade withtheir bicycles,chanting “let us walk,” whilelaw enforcement in northern Atlanta deployedtear gas to divert several hundred protesters heading toward Interstate 285. In Florida, one march approached the gates of Trump’sMar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, where sheriff’sdeputiesturnedthem back.

The demonstrations come on theheelsof protests over federal immigration enforcement raidsthat began last week, and Trump ordering the National Guard and Marines to Los Angeles, where protesters blocked afreeway and set cars on fire Philadelphia

Thousands gathered downtown, where organizers handed out small American flagsand peoplecarried protest signs saying “fight oligarchy”and “deport the mini-Mussolinis.”

KarenVan Trieste,a 61-year-old nursewho drove up from Maryland, said shegrew up in Philadelphia and wanted to be with alarge group of people showing her support.

“I just feel like we need to defend our democracy, shesaid.She is concerned

aboutthe Trumpadministration’s layoffsofstaff at the U.S.Centers forDisease Control andPrevention,the fateofimmigrant communities and Trump 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 frontofCity Hall, waving signs and listening to aNative American drum circle beforemarching through the streets.

As protesters passed National Guard troopsorU.S. Marines stationed at various buildings, mostinteractions were friendly,withdemonstrators giving fist bumps or posing for selfies, but others chanted “shame” or “go home” at the troops

Amid signs reading “They fear us, don’tback down California”and “Wecarry dreams not danger,” one demonstrator carried a 2-foot-tall Trump piñata on astick, with acrown on his head and asombrerohanging off his back. Another hoisted ahuge helium-filled orange baby balloon withblond hair styledlike Trump’s.

Afew blocksfrom City Hall, protesters gathered in front of thedowntown federal detention center being guardedbya line of Marines. Peter Varadi, 54, saidhe voted for Trumplast November for “economic reasons.” Now,for thefirst time in his life, he is protesting, waving

aMexican and U.S. combined flag.

“I voted for Donald Trump, andnow Iregretthat, because he’staken this fascism to anew level,”Varadi said. “It’sLatinos now.Who’s next? It’sgays. Blacks after that. They’re coming foreverybody.”

NewYorkCity

Marchers in the crowd that stretched for blocks along Fifth Avenue had diverse reasonsfor coming, including anger over Trump’simmigration policies, support forthe Palestinian people and outrage over whatthey said waserosion of free speech rights.

Butthere 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 motherswho came out, fought for our rights, and now we’re fighting for future generations as well,” Griswold said.

Some protesters held signs denouncing Trump while others banged drums.

“We’re here because we’re worried aboutthe existential crisis of this country andthe planetand our species,” said Sean Kryston, 28.

Mississippi

Ademonstration of hundreds of people opened to “War Pigs” by Black Sabbath playing over asound system on the State Capitol lawninJackson.

“A lot of stuff that’sgoing on nowistargeting people of color,and to see so many folks out here thataren’t black or brown fighting for the same causesthatI’m here for, it makes me very emotional,”saidTonyCropper,who traveledfrom Tennessee to attend the protest. Somepeople woretinfoil crowns atoptheir heads.

Others held signs inviting motorists to “Honk if you never text warplans.”

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

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STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

A protester holds a sign during the ‘No Kings’ protest along North Fourth Street in Baton Rouge on Saturday.

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

A bike rider holds a sign while riding along North Fourth Street during the ‘No Kings’ protest in Baton Rouge on Saturday.

the FBI issued a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to his arrest and conviction Authorities displayed a photo taken Saturday of Boelter wearing a tan 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 a former political appointee who served on the same state workforce development board as Hoffman, records show, though it was not clear if or how well they knew each other

The early morning attacks prompted warnings to other elected officials around the state and the cancellation of planned “No Kings” demonstrations against 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 other lawmakers and officials, though they could not say if he had any other specific targets.

A Minnesota official told The Associated Press that the suspect’s writings 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 a time when political leaders nationwide have been attacked, harassed and intimidated amid deep political divisions.

“We must all, in Minnesota and across the country, stand against all forms of political violence,” Walz, a Democrat, said at a news conference “Those responsible for this will be held accountable.”

Law enforcement agents recovered several AK-style

firearms from the suspect’s vehicle, and he was believed to still be armed with a pistol, a person familiar with the matter told AP The person could not publicly discuss details of the investigation and spoke on condition of anonymity

An overnight shooting

Police responded to reports of gunfire at the Hoffmans’ home shortly after 2 a.m., Champlin police said, and found the couple with multiple gunshot wounds.

After seeing who the victims were, police sent officers to proactively check on Hortman’s home. There, they encountered what appeared to be a police vehicle and a man dressed as an officer at the door, leaving the house.

“When officers confronted him, the individual immediately fired upon the officers who exchanged gunfire, and the suspect retreated back into the home” and escaped on foot, Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley said.

Multiple bullet holes could be seen in the front door of Hoffman’s home.

John and Yvette Hoffman each underwent surgery, according to Walz

“We are cautiously optimistic they will survive this assassination attempt,” the governor said at a morning news conference

Trump said in a statement that the FBI would join in the investigation.

“Our Attorney General, Pam Bondi, and the FBI, are investigating the situation, and they will be prosecuting anyone involved to the fullest extent of the law Such horrific violence will not be tolerated in the United States of America God Bless the great people of Minnesota, a truly great place!”

Lawmakers targeted Hortman, 55, had been the top Democratic leader in the state House since 2017. She led Democrats in a three-week walkout at the beginning of this year’s session in a power struggle with Republicans. Under a power-sharing agreement, she turned the gavel over

to Republican Rep. Lisa Demuth and assumed the title speaker emerita.

Hortman used her position as speaker in 2023 to help champion expanded protections for abortion rights, including legislation to solidify Minnesota’s status as a refuge for patients from restrictive states who travel to the state to seek abortions and to protect providers who serve them.

Walz called her a “formidable public servant, a fixture and a giant in Minnesota.”

“She woke up every day determined to make this state a better place,” he said.

“She is irreplaceable.”

Hortman and her husband had two adult children.

The initial autopsy reports from the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office gave their cause of death as “multiple gunshot wounds.”

The reports 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 oversees one of the biggest parts of the state budget. He and his wife have one daughter State Patrol Col. Christina Bogojevic asked people “out of an abundance of caution” not to attend “No Kings” protests. Bogojevic said authorities did not have any direct evidence that the protests would be targeted, but noted the “No Kings” flyers in the car Organizers announced that all demonstrations in the state were canceled, but

many people still showed up for protests at the Capitol and elsewhere in the Twin Cities area.

The suspect

Boelter was appointed to the workforce development board in 2016 and then reappointed in 2019 to a four-year term that expired in 2023, state records show Corporate records show Boelter’s wife filed to create a company called Praetorian Guard Security Services LLC with the same Green Isle mailing address listed for the couple. On a website for the business, Boelter’s wife is listed as president and CEO, while he is listed as director of security patrols.

The homepage says it provides armed security for property and events and features a photo of an SUV painted in a two-tone black and silver pattern similar to a police vehicle, with a light bar across the roof and “Praetorian” painted across the doors.

Another photo shows a man in black tactical gear with a military-style helmet and a ballistic vest.

An online resume says

Boelter is a security contractor who has worked in the Middle East and Africa, in addition to past managerial roles at companies in Minnesota.

A former next-door neighbor in Inver Grove Heights, where Boelter used to live, said he hardly knew him but remembers his daughters because they kayaked and ice skated on the pond behind the homes.

“It’s really sad for the kids, very, very nice kids,” Michael Cassidy said. He added that the suspect’s wife once came over to pray with his wife and daughter

Massive search

Hundreds of police and sheriff deputies, some in tactical gear with assault-style weapons, were scattered throughout the town. Some checkpoints were set up

An alert sent to cellphones in the morning asked people to shelter in place as police searched for an “armed and dangerous” suspect.

“Suspect is white male, brown hair, wearing black body armor over blue shirt and blue pants and may misrepresent himself as law enforcement. Do not approach. Call 911,” the initial alert said.

Police lifted the shelter order in the afternoon, saying they had reason to believe the suspect was no longer in the area.

“This is crazy, someone going after representatives,” said Brooklyn Park resident Douglas Thompson, 62. “This is wrong. I’m hoping they’ll catch them.”

Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth, a Republican from Cold Spring, called the attack “evil” and said she was

Southern’s

“heartbroken beyond words” by the killings.

Political violence

The shootings are the latest in a series of attacks against lawmakers across parties.

In April, a suspect 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 with a small sledgehammer if he found him, according to court documents.

In July 2024, Trump was grazed on the ear by one of a hail of bullets that killed a Trump supporter Two months later a man with a rifle was discovered near the president’s Florida golf course and arrested.

Other incidents include a 2022 hammer attack on the husband of then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in their San Francisco home and a 2020 plot by anti-government extremists to kidnap Democratic Gov Gretchen Whitmer and start a civil war Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said he asked Capitol Police to “immediately increase security” for Minnesota Democratic Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith. He also asked Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican, to hold a briefing on member security

“Condemning violence is important but it is not enough,” Schumer said on the social platform X “We must also confront the toxic forces radicalizing individuals and we must do more to protect one another, our democracy and the values that bind us as Americans.”

By Amanda McElfresh| amcelfresh@theadvocate.com

No matter theoutcome of the2025NCAA DivisionIOutdoorTrackandFieldChampionships, RomanSmith willheadhomewith atremendoussense of accomplishment

“It meansa lottome, beingatanHBCU andone of thefew athletes to go to the national championships,”Smith said.“It meansalot to me to be at ahighlevel and beapartofAfrican-American history.”

Smithisahighjumperfor theSouthern JaguarsTrackandFieldteam.Heistheonly Southern University trackand field athlete to qualifyfor thenationalcompetition this year,and hasregularly reachedheights of more than sevenfeet– whichisconsidered eliteamong male collegeathletes.

“It’salwaysa greatthing when you’re stilltalking aboutour sportinJune,”said CoachTeremineWhite,HeadCoach of Southern JaguarsTrack andField Smithbegan hiscollegiateathleticcareer at Iowa WesternCommunity College. The Kansas City,Missourinativewas recruited by Courtney Ware,Assistant Coachfor Southern JaguarsTrack andField,who immediatelysaw hispotential andinvited himtocontinuetodevelop hisskillsand

showcase histalentona larger stage. Ware said Smith’sjourney to thenational championshipsbegan last fall with adedicatedtrainingschedule.

“Hemadethe regionalslastyearand hadsomesmall misses that kept himfrom making nationals,”Waresaid. “Thisyear, we decidedtostart with aplanand work each meet onebyone.”

During thedaysleading up to thenational competition, Ware said shewillfocus on making sure Smithgetsenoughrestand adjuststothe time difference,since the championshipsare in Eugene,Oregon.

Smithsaidheisjustready to make themostofhis opportunityand capoff a successful season

“The journeyhas beena lotofups and downs,”hesaid. “There’s alot of adversity that cancomewithbeing astudent-athlete But, it’s beena great season overall.

Scan to Watch

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By TIM SULLIVAN Police deploy during a manhunt for a shooter who targeted two state lawmakers in Brooklyn Park, Minn., on Saturday.

recognizing the Army’s 250th anniversary

“Every other country celebrates their victories. It’s about time America did too,” Trump declared in brief remarks at the parade’s end.

The president praised the strength of the military’s fighting forces and said U.S. soldiers “fight, fight, fight and they win, win, win” — putting a new twist on a line that Trump regularly delivered during his 2024 campaign rallies after he survived an assassination attempt.

Early in the evening’s pageantry, the Army’s Golden Knights parachute team descended from overcast skies toward the reviewing stand

The team had been scheduled to appear at the end of the parade, but jumped earlier than planned in the drizzly skies above the National Mall. At times, Trump stood and saluted as troops marched past the reviewing stand. But attendance appeared to fall far short of early predictions that as many as 200,000 people would attend the festival and parade. There were large gaps between viewers near the Washington Monument on a day when steamy weather and the threat of thunderstorms could have dampened turnout

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.

Displays of military might

The daylong display of America’s Army came 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 over the governor’s objections 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

As armored vehicles rolled down the street in front of the president, on the other side of the country, the Marines who Trump deployed to Los Angeles appeared at a demonstration for the first time, standing guard outside a federal building. Dozens of Marines stood shoulder to shoulder in full combat gear beside the National Guard, Homeland Security officers and other law enforcement. Hundreds of protesters

In Washington, hundreds protesting Trump carried signs with messages that included “Where’s the due process? and “No to Trump’s fascist military parade” as they marched toward the White House.

A larger-than-life puppet of Trump was wheeled through the crowd, a caricature of the president wearing a crown and sitting on a golden toilet.

Other protesters waved pride flags and hoisted signs,

plans to feed his ego on his 79th birthday and Flag Day Organizers said they picked the name to support democracy and speak out against what they call the authoritarian actions of the Trump administration.

Supporters and protesters Meanwhile, on the National Mall, a display of armored vehicles, helicopters and military-grade equipment was set up to commemorate the Army’s birthday Ven-

believe” people were upset about the cost of the event when “they blow that in 10 seconds on things that we don’t even need.”

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.”

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 Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

Kathy Straus traveled from Richmond, Virginia, to attend the parade, carrying a sign criticizing its cost and argu-

ing the money could have been used to feed veterans.

“I thought that it would be more effective to come here than go to a protest with people that think similar to me,” said Straus. 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 Washington Monument. Mounted soldiers from the 1st Cavalry Division made an appearance horses once played a crucial role in warfare, but today they’re mostly used in ceremonial events like today’s parade. Trump swore in 250 new recruits and returning soldiers into service, with soldiers repeating an oath after him.

“Welcome to the United States Army! And have a great life,” Trump said to them afterward.

Country music singer Warren Zeiders performed, as did “God Bless the U.S.A.” singer Lee Greenwood. The event was capped off by a fireworks show It appeared that plans to have U.S. Air Force fighter jets fly over were scrapped because of the weather Associated Press writers Eric Tucker, Michelle L. Price, Nathan Ellgren, Lea Skene, Olivia Diaz, Joey Cappelletti, Ashraf Khalil and Tara Copp in Washington and Jake Offenhartz in Los Angeles contributed to this report.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JULIA DEMAREE NIKHINSON

President Donald Trump salutes as he attends a military parade commemorating the U.S 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

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By STEPHANIE SCARBROUGH

Military personnel parade during the U.S Army’s 250th anniversary, coinciding with President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday, on Saturday.

EDUCATION

Single charterschoolnow athrivingnetwork

several New Orleans charter schools.

BY MARIE FAZIO

Staff writer

More than adecade ago, aKenner philanthropist approached Patty Glaser with arequest: Could she create acharter school that would attract young families to the area?

Glaser,who had helpedlaunch some of the area’smost successful charter schools, accepted the challenge. In 2013, she opened Kenner Discovery Health Sciences Academy,which enrolled 420 students that year Today,Discovery charter schoolsserve over 2,000 students in grades pre-K through 12 across three campuses in Jefferson Parish, one in Baton Rouge and ahybrid virtual school, where students divide their time betweenonline and in-person learning and social experiences. (Hundreds more studentsare on the network’swaitlist.)

In Kenner,the newest campus includes alab with patient simulators where students can practicemedical situations, atest kitchen for the culinary program andhallways lined with sculptures and paintings,including a 24-foot-long painting of the solar system.

Now,after growing Discovery into asprawling network of highperforming charter schools, Glaser is stepping down.

It’sanend to alengthycareer in education. Glaser spent 18 years as aspeech language pathologist helping studentswith communication disorders, and she also was abehind-the-scenes force who helped establish

OneofGlaser’sproudest accomplishmentsisDiscovery’s policy of admitting all students, or serving “all swamp owls,” she puts it. Thepolicy means that students like the2024 valedictorian, who now attends Yale University on afull ride, learned alongside studentswithdisabilities.

“It’smyfavoritepartofDiscovery,” she said.

Glaser recently spoke about Discovery’sexpansion from humble beginnings in Kenner to amulti-citycharter school network.

This interview has been condensedand edited for clarity

What’s behind Discovery’simpressive growth?

One of thecomplaints Iheard post-Katrina from someofthe (state) Board of Elementary and Secondary Education members was that charter schools would comeinand say,“There’sa need for anew school.” Then they open akindergarten, and nine years late,r we have acharter school. How does that serve our needs?

How can it be donefaster?

Ilooked for models around the country and foundthat you can start asmall middle school and lower school andgrow them both at thesame time. That’swhat we did.

Ireally believeone of the driving forces of acharter school should be to respond to community needs. Thereasonwestarted Discovery was acommunity need: Kenner waslosingpopulation. They werelooking for things to attract newyoung families. Later on, we doubled thesize of ourmiddle school because the city of Kenner had no successful middleschool seatsinthe district That’show we got to be so large. It was responding to community

Q&A WITH PATTy GLASER CEO OF DISCOVERy SCHOOLS

physician or anurse whowas working in the hospital and really see what that world waslike. We entered acharter corporate partnership(with Ochsner) and that’show 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 thebigger community

What do yousee as the benefits and drawbacks of the charter school model?

The biggest benefit of acharter school is thechoice in what you deliver in termsofteaching and learning to the students under your roof. Every team of administrators in acharter school gets to makethat decision as opposed to thedistrict 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’sit.

It gives choice to parents, which is mostimportant. And it gives choice to administrators in how to best carry outtheir mission and vision fortheir 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 wellasinterventionists that help with basic reading and mathskills forthose kids that need moreinreading and math.

We also run aSummer Bridge program forall of our young kids whoare not reading or writing or doing mathatgrade level. We pay attention to data and where kids are —whether we have achild who’sgifted, or we have astudent with disabilities, we’re going to figure out how to best approach each student and how to work with them

Howhaveyou navigatedthe Trump administration’seffortstoeliminate the U.S. Department of Educationand ban diversity programs?

Diversity really doesn’ttake funding; it takes commitment. We’re fully committed to all kinds of people.

needs. Andwhen theparents said, “You better do ahigh school,” it was responding to community needs.

Tell me about the partnership with Ochsner Health. (TheKenner philanthropist) Henry Shane’svision was always to home-grow medical professionals. My board memberswill tell you that we started “‘dating”’ Ochsner from thefirst year.They donated microscopes for the science labs and gave us access to this platform called Nepris so high school studentscould basically have avirtual call with a

Do you see anytrade-offs?

The trade-off, unfortunately, ends up being in the choice to parents, because we have a2,000-kid wait-list.

The hallwaysare fullofincredible works of art.What wasthe thought behind that?

Every timeHenry Shane doesn’thave room forapainting or sculpture, he calls me up and asks if he can put it here. It teaches the students to act responsibly towardpeople and objects. It really teaches kids to respect their surroundings and gives them beautiful surroundings to workin. What academicstrategies have been

WE’RE ASKING EXPERTS ACROSS THESTATEHOW TO TACKLE THEBIGGEST CHALLENGES FACINGLOUISIANA SCHOOLS. HAVE AN

As farasthe Department of Education, it wasunnerving at first when Ithought they might stop or discontinue Title Ifunding (for low-incomestudents). We have over 12% of students with disabilities and about 68% are economically disadvantaged and all of the support forthat comes from federal funding. It’s OK if it comes downthrough the state it’snot OK if it goes away,orit’s hard or impossible to access. Is there anylesson you’dliketopass on to fellow educators? There’snobetter career than teaching achild how to speak or read.

FILEPHOTO

Patty Glaser,CEO of Discovery Schools, is stepping down after leading the organization since

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 of aterm that has latelybeen dominated by the Trump administration’semergency appeals of lower court orders seeking to slow President Donald Trump’seffortsto remake the federal government.

But the justices also have 21 cases to resolve that were argued between December and mid-May,including apush by Republican-led states to ban gender-affirming care for transgender minors. One of the argued cases was an emergencyappeal, the administration’sbid to be allowed to enforce Trump’s executive order denying birthright citizenship to U.S.born children of parents who are in the country illegally The court typically aims to finish its work by the end of June. Here are some of the biggest remaining cases: Treatmentfor transyouth

The oldest unresolved case, and arguably the term’s biggest, stems fromachallenge to Tennessee’slaw from transgender minors and their parents who argue that it is unconstitutional sex discrimination aimed at a vulnerable population

At arguments in December,the court’sconservative majority seemed inclinedto uphold the law,voicingskepticism of claims that it violates the 14th amendment’s equal protection clause.The post-CivilWar provision re-

quiresthe governmentto treatsimilarly situated people the same.

Thecourt is weighing the case amid arange of other federal and state efforts to regulate thelivesoftransgender people,including which sports competitions they can join andwhich bathroomstheycan use. In April, Trump’sadministrationsued Maine for not complying with the government’spush to ban transgender athletes in girls sports

Trump alsohas sought to block federal spending on gender-affirmingcare for those under 19 and aconservative majority of justices allowed himtomove forward with plans to oust transgender peoplefrom the U.S. military

Birthright citizenshiporder

The court rarely hears arguments over emergency appeals, but it took up the administration’spleatonarrow orders that have prevented the citizenship changes from taking effect anywhere in the U.S.

Theissue before the justices is whether to limit the authority of judgestoissuenationwide injunctions, which have plaguedboth Republican and Democratic administrationsinthe past 10 years.

These nationwide courtorders have emergedasanimportant check on Trump’seffortsand asource of mounting frustration to the Republicanpresidentand his allies. At arguments lastmonth, the courtseemed intent on keeping ablock on the citizenshiprestrictions while stilllooking fora wayto scalebacknationwidecourt orders. It was not clearwhat such adecision mightlook like, but amajority ofthe court expressed concerns about what wouldhappen if the administrationwereal-

lowed, even temporarily,to deny citizenship to children born to parents whoare in the country illegally Democratic-led states, immigrantsand rightsgroups whosuedoverTrump’sexecutive order argued that it would upset thesettled understanding of birthright citizenship thathas existed for more than 125 years.

LGBTQ+ storybooks

Parentsinthe Montgomery County school system, in suburban Washington, want to be able to pull their children out of lessons that use the storybooks, which the countyadded to the curriculum to betterreflect the district’s diversity. The school system at one pointallowed parents to remove their children from those lessons,but then reversedcourse because it found the opt-out policy to be disruptive. Sex education is theonlyareaofinstruction with an opt-outprovision in the county’sschools

The school district introduced thestorybooks in 2022, withsuch titlesas“Prince and Knight” and “Uncle Bobby’sWedding.”

The caseisone of several religious rightscases at the

Feds give immigrantMedicaid data to deportationofficials

BY KIMBERLYKINDY and AMANDASEITZ Associated Press

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump’sadministration this week provided deportationofficials with personal data —including the immigrationstatus —on millions of Medicaid enrollees, amove that could make it easier to locate people as part of his sweeping immigration crackdown. An internal memo and emails obtained by The Associated Press show that Medicaid officials unsuccessfully sought to block the data transfer,citing legal and ethical concerns. Nevertheless, two top advisers to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.ordered the datasethanded over to the Department of Homeland Security,the emails show.Officials at the Centers forMedicare and

MedicaidServices were given just 54 minutes on Tuesday to complywith the directive

The datasetincludes the information of people living in California, Illinois, Washington state and Washington, D.C.,all of whichallow non-U. S. citizens to enroll in Medicaid programs that payfor their expenses using onlystate taxpayerdollars.

CMStransferredthe informationjust asthe Trump administration was ramping up its enforcement efforts in Southern California. Besides helping authorities locate migrants, experts said, the government could also use theinformationto scuttlethe hopes of migrants seekinggreen cards, permanent residency or citizenship if they had ever obtained Medicaidbenefits funded by the federal government California Gov.GavinNewsom’soffice said in astate-

ment thatitwas concerned about how deportation officials might utilizethe data, especiallyasfederal authorities conduct immigration raids with theassistance of National Guardtroopsand Marines in Los Angeles.

“Wedeeply value theprivacy of all Californians,” the statementsaid. “This potentialdatatransferbrought to our attention by the AP is extremelyconcerning, and if true, potentially unlawful, particularly given numerousheadlineshighlighting potential improper federal useofpersonal information and federal actionstotarget the personalinformation of Americans.”

U.S.Health andHuman Services spokesperson AndrewNixonsaidthe data sharing was legal. He declined to answer questions about why the data was shared with DHS andhow it would be used.

trictelected aBlack Democrat in 2024.

Athree-judge court found that the state relied too heavily on race in drawing the district, rejecting Louisiana’s arguments that politics predominated, specifically the preservation of the seatsof influential members of Congress, including Speaker Mike Johnson. The Supreme Court ordered the challenged maptobeused last year while the case went on.

court this term. The justices have repeatedly endorsed claims of religious discrimination in recent years.The decision also comes amid increases in recentyears in booksbeing bannedfrom public school and public libraries.

La.congressional districts

Lower courts have struck down twoLouisiana congressionalmaps since2022 and the justices are weighing whether to sendstate lawmakersback to themapdrawing board for athird time.

The case involves the interplay between race and politicsindrawing political boundariesinfront of a conservative-led court that has been skeptical of considerationsofrace in public life.

At arguments in March, severalofthe court’sconservative justices suggested theycould votetothrowout the map and make it harder, if notimpossible, to bring redistricting lawsuitsunder the Voting RightsAct.

Before the courtnow is a map thatcreated asecond Black majority congressional district among Louisiana’ssix seats in the House of Representatives. The dis-

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 stateswithage verification laws. The states argue thelaws are necessary as smartphones have made access to online porn, including

hardcore obscenematerial, almost instantaneous. The question for the court is whether the measure infringesonthe constitutional rights of adults as well. The Free Speech Coalition, an adult-entertainment industry tradegroup, agreesthat children shouldn’tbeseeingpornography.But it says the Texas law is written too broadly and wrongly affects adults by requiring themto submit personal identifying 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. Some justices worried thelower courthadn’tapplied astrict enough legal standard in determining whether the Texaslaw and others likethat couldrun afoulofthe First Amendment.

LOUISIANA POLITICS

The biggest bills that passed, and failed, in the Legislature

BY JULIA GUILBEAU Staff writer

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.

2025 LEGISLATURE ROUNDUP

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

OTHER BILLS THAT PASSED

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

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-

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.

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 FAILED

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.

FifthweekofCombs’trial ends with jury issue

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 embracebeforeproceeding to the defenseattorney and hugging her too She said she resents she felt forced to have sex with strangersinmultiday sex marathons as the man she longed most tocuddle with filmed and fed her drugs to give her energy to satisfy his sexual fantasies.

Her testimony echoed what the jury heard in the trial’sfirst week when Casandra “Cassie” Ventura testified for four days that she engagedinhundreds of multiday “freak-offs” while they dated from 2007 to 2018, having sex with male sex workers in front of Combs, who masturbated, filmed the encounters, and verbalized what he wanted to see sexually

Jane said she and Combs splitupfrom Halloween 2023 until February 2024.

During the 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,

ABC’s“This Week”: 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“Meet thePress”: Sens Amy Klobuchar,D-Minn.,

astripper’sclub visit and a hotelroom party In thehotel room,Jane testified, the rapper who was close friends with Combs made apass at her amid flirtatious banter,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 themusicindustry.”

Jane also revealed that the unidentified famous rapper and hispartner werelooking for someone they could add to theirsexual experiences who was “in thelifestyle.”

“I believe they were askingme because maybe they just picked up the energy from me or Ijust maybe assumed that maybe they hadalready got an inclinationthat me and Sean had been doing kind of similar things,” she said, noting that she referred amale sex worker she knew Ye surprisescourthouse

Aday afterJane finished testifying, Ye,formerly known asKanye West,made asurprise appearance at the courthouseand quickly learned what atough ticket it is to get into thecourtroom where his goodfriend Combs is on trial.

Ye,wearing all white, was ushered by courthouse security to an overflow courtroom to watch the trial on avideo monitor along with otherswho were unable to get into the courtroom. He lasted only afew minutes there before he made his courthouseexit, sayingnothing during histrip except that he was there to support Combs.

Combs’ favoriteTVshow

It turns out that Combs, the subject of several true-crime TV documentaries, is abit of atrue-crime fan himself.

Janerevealed this week that hisfavoriteshow is “Dateline,” the magazinestyle NBC stalwartthat is heavy on murdersand mysteries.

She told jurors that, in their alone time together,she and Combs wouldwatch “Dateline” for hours “till we fell asleep.”

Other activities when it was just thetwo of them included hugging, cuddling and bathing Combs,and giving him foot rubs,Janetestified.

Jane’s last meeting Janetestified that shelast

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOByLARRy NEUMEISTER

ye,the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, leavesfederal courtFridayduring the trial of Sean‘Diddy’ Combs in Newyork.

saw Combs in August, when they were in their“same routine having sex andeverything” when Combs suggestedthatshe invite over the very first male sexworker shehad sex with in front of Combs

Shesaidthatafterward, she andCombscontinued texting each other and were planning to meet in New York at ahotel in September

“Did youend up going to New York to see him?” she was asked. “No,” sheanswered.

“Why not?” she was asked before she responded: “Becausehegot arrested.”

Protecting Jane’s identity

Thecourtroom rules surrounding Jane’stestimony werethe strictest yet in abid to protect her identityfrom becoming common knowledge.

Butthe rules imposed by the judge becametoo much for defense attorney Marc Agnifilo, who protested that Jane was blocked from telling more about the hotel party in January2024 with the famous, though unidentified, rapper Agnifilo said the defense had consented tothe “pseudonymity” of Jane.

“Whatwedidn’tconsent to, andwedon’t,most respectfully,isthatthese events which play important parts in the background of some of the mostcritical events in the trial, should be in any 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 knowsomethingabout an event that’sdiscussed in a public courtroom, they could come forward andtheycould share whatevertheir recollection is about it,” he said.

Jury issue

The fate of one anonymous

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 SUNDAY NEWS SHOWS

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;

juror was in limbo after the judge said Friday he will reconsider his decision to oust the juror even though he

suspectshemight have an “agenda.” Judge Arun Subramanian saidhehad decided that

conflicting answers from the juror about where he primarily lived—inNew Jersey or New York —raised questions about his credibility and whetherhewas answering questions in abid to stay on the jury.Ifthe juror does primarilylive with a girlfriend in New Jersey,he would be outside the court district and disqualified. Prosecutors said the juror’sdismissal is required because of his conflicting answers. Defense lawyers argued that prosecutors were only trying to disqualify a Black juror and that his dismissal could spoil an otherwise diverse panelofjurors. The judge bristled at the suggestion that race was a factor,saying there was no support for claimsthat prosecutors did not use race-neutral arguments to exclude jurors during jury selection and now

THE GULF COAST

Stormchasermakes BaySt. Louishis home base

Custom-builthome canwithstand a Category 5storm

BY JUSTIN MITCHELL Staff writer

On the first Saturdayofthe 2025 hurricane season, weatherexperts and storm chasers from theU.S. met up on theMississippi Gulf Coast for a“hurricane party” like no other National Weather Servicemeteorologists, U.S. Air Force Hurricane Hunters, Jim Cantore, Margaret Orr and Jefferson Parishcouncil member Scott Walker mixedand mingled at anew,New Orleanslike cottage in the heart of BaySt. Louis.

Outside, dozens snacked on barbecue,swapped stories about severe weather coverage and sipped on White Claws or the specialty cocktail, hurricanes.

The party is hosted by Josh Morgerman, aworld-famous storm chaser known as iCyclone onsocial media.

It was achance for himtoshow off his new home that he built from the ground up on alot afew blocks off the beach.

But it was also arare moment for both of his worlds tocollide. The fellow weather obsessed who know Morgerman as thrill-seeking storm chaser got to meet the Hancock County and New Orleans locals who know Josh as the relaxed “weather dude” who bikes around town and spends evenings on his front porch listening to frogsribbit andinsects chirp.

And for Morgerman, thelaissezfaire lifestyle of the Gulf Coast is a big part of what made himdecide to leave Los Angeles behind and make ahome in the Bay

“When I’m not chasingstorms, I’mall about routine and steadiness,” he said this week.“Iwant 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 wastrying

to figure out how to safelychase stormsinthe height of the COVID pandemic.

“I had always been based in Los Angeles, and with air travel shut downfor several months, Iremem-

berthinking, ‘If Iwanttochase hurricanes I’m goingtoneed to live in hurricane country.’”

He began renting acottage in Bay St. Louisand made that his home base for afew years during the sea-

son. Whena big storm approached, he’d pack up and head outfrom Mississippi to begin the chase.

Morgermanthought themoveto theMississippi 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,Ifelt, like, this stress disappear.Itbecame my happy place.I felt veryzen about it.”

After afew summers, Morgerman said he realized his feelings for theGulf Coast weren’ttemporary

He decidedtostayput, buying alot andbeginningthe process of buildinghis dream “hurricane house” up to standards so high he said he’d said he’d ride out aCategory5storm. It lookslike an average shotgunstyle New Orleans cottage, like those commonly seen around Bay St. Louis. Butthe homeisreinforced from the inside out. “Folksask me alot about what

materials Iused to build my house,” Morgerman said. “The roof is 24-gauge metal,and Ihaveheavy composite shutters with polycarbonate to protect the windows (from debris).

“I also usedJames Hardie cementsiding, which is like acoat 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 abletoridehis bicycle pretty much anywhere.

“That’skind of magical to me,” he said.

Morgerman often treks afew blocks forcoffeeatPJ’sorMockingbirdCafe, andlikes having a nicedinneratThe 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’tthe only weather guru who has fallen in love with the Mississippi Coast. At the party on Saturday,Cantore —afamous WeatherChannel meteorologist who rode out Hurricane Katrina in Gulfport —saidBay St. Louis is one of his favorite coastal towns.

“The MS coast will be forever changed from Katrina’srecord surge, but places like Bay St. Louis have turned into absolute gems,” Cantore said on Instagram after the event.

Morgermansaidhis mother,a lifelong New York City resident, wasmiffedwhenhetoldher that he was moving to Mississippi.

“A lot of people in New York and L.A., they don’tknow about this area, they don’tknow of its charms,” he said. “She’svisited several times since then, and she gets it now.”

Now that his friends have left and Morgerman has had time to recover from his big shebang, he’s looking ahead to what forecasters are predicting to be an above-average hurricane season.

“I believe we’re in foranother busyyear with the activity centered in the Gulf,” Moregerman said. “I think we allgot to keep watch.”

entire working life, through employer-provided benefits.Whenthose benefits end with retirement, paying dental bills out-of-pocket can come as a shock, leading people to putoff or even go without care. Simply put —without dentalinsurance, there may be an importantgap in your healthcare coverage.

Ask about the

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By LUIS ANDRES HENAO

Devout Catholics at secular colleges are hopeful for growth

BY LUIS ANDRES HENAO Associated Press

PRINCETON, N.J While other students might be in class or socializing at lunch, a group of young Catholics attends Mass every weekday at noon at the Princeton University Chapel.

They sing Gregorian chants in Latin, pray and receive Communion at a side chapel — inside the huge, nondenominational Princeton Chapel — that young, devoted Catholics see as a sacred refuge in a mostly liberal and secular Ivy League environment.

“I feel that people’s faith is so strong here,” student Logan Nelson said of the dedicated Catholic space where he attends daily Mass. “It feels like a home — even more so than my own house.”

The Gothic university chapel was built in 1928. At the time, Princeton says, its capacity to seat more than 2,000 people was second in size only to King’s College Chapel at Cambridge University

Today, the chapel hosts interfaith services, concerts and weddings throughout the academic year and is known by the university as “the bridge between town and gown.” Catholic students were worshipping as usual at daily Mass in the side chapel when the service was interrupted by news alerts on their phones. In the Vatican, white smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel, indicating that a new leader of their faith had been elected.

The Rev Zachary Swantek, Princeton’s Catholic chaplain, told the group to gather at the Catholic Ministry office. Together, they watched on TV as the election of the first U.S.-born pope was announced.

“It was electric,” Nelson said, adding there was “uproar” in the room when Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Prevost became the 267th pontiff “It was so cool to see an American pope.”

Like other members of the Catholic ministry, he is hopeful that Pope Leo XIV will help bring a revival for Catholicism in America.

“I feel that there’s a resurgence of Catholicism today,” said Nelson, who was religiously unaffiliated until last year when he converted to Catholicism. “You see people who are passionate about their faith There’s a new wave coming, and we’re going to have more converts like me, who are coming from the ‘nones.’”

Across much of the world, the number of people who are nonbelievers or unaffiliated with any organized religion has dramatically increased over the years. The people known as “nones” — atheists, agnostics or nothing in particular — comprise 30% or more of the adult population in the U.S., according to a survey by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research

Princeton’s Office of Religious Life says it supports members of the school community of any religious identity or of none.”

Being a devoted Catholic on a mostly secular campus can be challenging; Swantek says he’s never felt “more needed as a priest.”

He is proud of the tightknit, welcoming Catholic community that he leads, and how they’ve helped recent converts come into the faith.

News of the first U.S.-born pope was welcomed by Catholics across the ideological spectrum in Pope Leo XIV’s homeland.

“Something that did bring me a lot of hope is Pope Leo has a missionary background,” said Ace Acuna, a Princeton alumni He recently attended a Mass at the chapel before beginning a nearly five-week Catholic pilgrimage from Indianapolis to Los Angeles.

“In a world where in some places it might look like faith is on the decline, a church that’s willing to go out to the margins and evangelize and

be on mission, that’s going to be so important,” Acuna said.

When he was an undergrad at Princeton, Acuna said the chapel became crucial to his college life.

On his way to class every morning, he’d pass by the chapel for a silent prayer

He’d return for the noon Mass and again at the end of the day for one last prayer

“Princeton is a very busy place and there’s a lot of noise both externally but also internally because we’re so busy and we’re always worried about the next thing,” he said. “Sometimes you just want silence, and you just want a place where you can lay down your burdens.”

At the close of one recent Mass, David Kim and his girlfriend Savannah Nichols continued to pray near the altar, holding hands, kneeling or prostrating on the floor in a sign of reverence.

Kim, a recent graduate of the Princeton Theological Seminary, converted to Catholicism last year and has been serving as an altar server at the Princeton University chapel. He called the chapel’s side altar “an island of Christian life in an unbelieving world.”

Princeton University has always had a vibrant religious community and a religiously diverse one, said Eric Gregory, a professor of religion there.

“In a way it’s either so secular or even post-secular that it’s not threatened by the Christian presence on campus,” he said. “Religious students in our campus are not cloistered from campus. They’re also in sports teams, clubs and the newspaper.”

Catholics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign were elated by his election — and reinvigorated in practicing their faith.

Cavan Morber, a rising junior, said attending UIUC “gives me chance to be challenged in my beliefs, think critically about what I believe, and share my faith with others.”

Carlo Acutis died in

BY NICOLE WINFIELD Associated Press

ROME Pope Leo XIV on

Friday set Sept. 7 as the rescheduled date to canonize the Catholic Church’s first millennial-era saint, Carlo Acutis, in what is expected to be Leo’s first saint-making ceremony as well.

Leo made the announcement during a meeting of cardinals, known as a consistory, to set the dates for a handful of new saints.

Acutis’ canonization was originally scheduled for April 27, but was postponed following the death of Pope Francis on April 21.

Acutis was 15 when he died in northern Italy in 2006, after a short bout with leukemia. He has become enormously popular especially among young Catholics who have been flocking to his tomb in Assisi.

While he enjoyed regular

pastimes for his age — hik-

ing, video games and joking around with friends — he also taught catechism in a local parish and did outreach to the homeless. He used his computer skills to create an online exhibit about more than 100 eucharistic miracles recognized by the church over many centuries.

His tomb in Assisi has become a pilgrimage site especially during the 2025 Holy Year underway It features a glass coffin in which Acutis can be seen dressed in sneakers, jeans and a sweatshirt.

In setting the Sept. 7 date, Leo announced Acutis would be canonized along with another Italian Catholic, Pier Giorgio Frassati, who also died young at age 24 after contracting polio Assisi Bishop Domenico Sorrentino expressed joy Friday at the new date for the canonization and invited Leo to visit the tomb. He said the canonization of Acutis and Frassati would “put holiness in

ordinary life at the center of attention of the church especially for new generations.”

The Vatican requires that the church confirm two miracles attributed to the candidate’s intercession in order to proceed with canonization. In Acutis’ case, the second alleged miracle concerned the medically inexplicable healing of a Costa Rican young woman who suffered a severe head injury when she fell from a bike in Florence in 2022. Doctors said she was in an irreversible coma According to Sorrentino’s office, the young woman’s mother prayed at Acutis’ tomb and soon thereafter her daughter’s condition improved. She was well enough to visit Acutis’ tomb in September The first alleged miracle occurred in 2013 in Brazil and concerned a young boy afflicted with a grave pancreatic disorder who got better after praying to Acutis.

The Rev. Zachary Swantek, Princeton University’s Catholic chaplain and director of the Aquinas Institute — the university’s Catholic campus ministry — raises the host during the Eucharist at a side altar of the school’s chapel during a Mass in Princeton, N.J

Summer Prideeventsfacebudgetshortfalls

BY OLGA R. RODRIGUEZ Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO Many U.S. corporations this year stopped supporting Pride events that celebrate LGBTQ+ culture and rights,causing hundredsofthousands of dollars in budget shortfalls ahead of the summerfestivities andraising questionsabout corporateAmerica’scommitment to the cause.

The moves come as President Donald Trump has shown antipathy for trans protectionsand has attemptedtoroll back some LGBTQ+ friendly federal policies. Experts also note that agrowing slice of the public has grown tired of companies taking astance on social and political issues.

San Francisco Pride, the nonprofit that produces one of the country’slargest and best-known LGBTQ+ celebrations,isfacing a $200,000 budget gap after corporate donors dropped out. In Kansas City,Missouri, KC Pride lost about $200,000 —roughly half itsannual budget.

Heritage of Pride, the umbrella organization behind NYCPride and other LGBTQ+ events in New York City,isfundraising to narrow a$750,000 budget gap after companies withdrew Meanwhile, Budweiser brewer Anheuser-Busch ended its sponsorship of PrideFest in St.Louis, Missouri, its home base, after 30 years, leavingorganizerswitha $150,000 budget shortfall.

In response, many Pride organizations have canceled some dance parties, reduced the numberof stages, hired less pricey headliners and no longer give volunteers

free food or T-shirts.

Butthe core celebrations will go on. In San Francisco, thisyear’s Pride theme is “Queer Joy is Resistance.” In New York, it’s“RiseUp: Pride in Protest,” and, in Boston, it’s“Here to Stay!”

“If you come to Pride this year, that’s arevolutionary act,” said Suzanne Ford,executive director of San Francisco Pride. “You are sending amessage to those in Washington that, here in San Francisco, we stillhavethe same values thatwe’ve always had —you can lovewho you lovehere. We’re not goingtoretreat from that.”

Followingmedia coverage of their retreat, some companies changed course butaskedthattheir namesnot be affiliated with the events, theevent organizers said.

San Francisco Pride earlier this year lost the support of five major corporatedonors, including Comcast, Anheuser-Buschand Diageo, the beverage giant that makes Guinness beer and Smirnoff vodka

“With everything we’re facing from the Trumpadministration, to losefive of your partners within acouple of weeks,itfelt like we were being abandoned,” Fordsaid.

Afterthe withdrawals drew attention, some corporations said they would donate but only anonymously,Ford said, declining to identify those companies. As of this week, neither Comcast, Anheuser-Busch nor Diageo appeared on the organization’swebsite as sponsors of theJune 29 festivities. It was unclear if they donated.

Anheuser-Buschand Diageo didn’treply to emails fromThe Associated Press seeking comment Aspokespersonfor Comcastalso declined to comment but saidsome of itscompanies are sponsoring Silicon ValleyPride and Oakland Pride.

NYCPride spokespersonChris Piedmont saidabout 20% of its corporatesponsors either dropped their support or scaled back,including New York-based PepsiCo

and Nissan.

Kyle Bazemore, Nissan North America’sdirector of corporate communications, said the decision comes as theautomaker reviews all of itsmarketing expenses to lower costs.

PepsiCo did not return an email seeking comment.

Piedmont said NYC Pride has also received anonymous corporate funding andthat he appreciates the unpublicized support.

“Writing acheck to anonprofit and supporting anonprofit with no stringsattached is stepping up to theplate,” Piedmont said.

The shift reflects how corporations are adjusting to achanging cultural landscape that began duringthe pandemic andaccelerated with Trump’ssecond term,experts said.

“Companies are resourceful, they are clever at identifying trends and studying their environment and theircustomers’needs, but those needs change and corporations adjust,” said Amir Grinstein, amarketing professor at Northeastern University Corporations’ presence in rainbow-filled Pride parades, concerts and dance parties becamemore ubiquitous after the landmark 2015 Supreme Court ruling that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide, as companies splashed their names on parade floats, rainbow flags and bright plastic bracelets.

So-called brand activism reached itspeak between 2016 to 2022, a period of social upheaval around thepandemic, police brutality and transgender rights, Grinstein said.

But research hassincefounda growing numberofAmerican consumers don’t want companies taking positions on such topics, said Barbara Kahn, amarketing professor at the University of Pennsylvania’sWharton School.

“There have always been people

who said, ‘I don’twant my toothpastetohaveanopinion, Ijust want to use my toothpaste,’ but thetidehas shifted, andresearch showsthere are morepeople that feel that waynow,” Kahn said. Meanwhile, Republican-led states have been passing legislation to curtail diversity,equity and inclusion initiatives and LGBTQ+ rights,especiallythe abilityoftransgenderyoung people to participate in sports or receive gender-affirming care.

Trumpsigned executive orders on his first day in office that rolled back protections for transgender peopleand terminatedfederal DEI programs.

Some companies followed suit by eliminating their DEI goals, prompting Pride organizations to sever ties.

San Francisco’sorganizers cut ties withMeta after theparent company of Facebook and Instagram terminated its DEI goals and content moderation policies. Twin Cities Pride ended its relationship with Target over the Minneapolis-basedretailer’scurtailing of its DEI initiatives following a backlash fromconservatives and theWhiteHouse. The company’s retreat from DEI policies led to a counter-boycottbycivil rights advocates.

Target announced in May that sales fell more than expected in the first quarter due to customer boycotts, tariffs and other economic factors. The company now offers only some Pride products at afew stores and online. Still, Rick Gomez, Target’schief commercial officer,toldreportersinMay that it’s importantto celebrate Heritage Months, which highlight different groups from Latinos to Asian Americans to the LGBTQ+ community “Theydrive sales growthfor us,” he said.

BY ASHRAF KHALIL Associated

WASHINGT rec

D.C. lute of mond, viewed “the finall He here, al wh Republ virginity 27, The packed women Democrat of them “There men seem White of Congress joke. pre-Facebook, So the into bar

was pretty transparent.It’s just that no one talked about it.” He also remembersa billboard with acounter ticking off the total number of AIDS deaths.

“We’rea society that really valuesyouth as is. Whenyou throwinLGBTQ on top of that,it’sadoublewhammy, says Christina DaCosta of the group SAGE— Services andAdvocacy for Gay, Les

“You didn’twanttobecomingout of agay bar, seeone of your co-workers or oneof your students,”Smith says. In April, founders cut the ribbon on Mary’sHouse, anew 15-unit living facil

they have it. “They take all these protections for granted,” Smith says. Theyounger generation

“got comfortable,” Pendarvis says, and sometimes doesn’t fullyunderstandthe multigenerational fight that camebefore.

Injuredfoxes have theirown ambulances in London

Projecthelps to rehab fixture of city streets

BY BRIAN MELLEY Associated Press

PADDOCK WOOD,England The injured fox is cornered in a cage, teeth bared and snarling at the woman trying to help it.

Nicki Townsend is unfazed. Wearing only rubber gloves and an outfit suitable for ayoga class, she approaches with soothing words. “All right, baby,” she coos as she deftly drapes a towel over hishead, grabs him by the scruff of his neck, scoops up his wounded legs and moves him to a clean cage.

It’snot the way her day typicallybegins, butthere’s nothing routine about rescuing foxes.

“You can never predict what you’re going to arrive at,” Townsend said.

While not as visible as phone boxesordouble-decker buses, the red fox is afixture in London, acitynot known forits wildlife. But living on the streets, alleys and back gardens of adense urban environment can be rough and when foxes need help, they have their own ambulance service —and Townsend may be on her way The foxes didn’tinvade London so much as adapt and expand their range in-

ward as the city spread to their habitat in the 1930s and suburbs grew

Love ’emorhate’em

Butpeopleand thebushytailed member of thecanine family have not always lived in harmony,and the species hasadmirers and adversaries.

Foreveryoneenchanted seeing afox trotting nonchalantly down their street at dusk or basking in asunny backyard, there are plenty whosee them as pests. They poopwhere they like, tear into garbage and the vixens in heat let out terrifying shrieksinthe dead of winter when attractinga mate

“It’slike Marmitewith foxes,” Townsend said, referringtothe foodspread that is an acquired and divisive taste. “You eitherlove them or hate them.”

The divide betweenthe two campsled Trevor Williams to found what became TheFox Project nearly 35 years ago.

Once abass player in the rock group Audience that opened forLed Zeppelinand Pink Floyd, Williamshad beenactive in the campaign to stopfox huntingwhen he redirected his protection efforts to the city,where foxes were once routinely killed.

“Because of the myths that have occurred over the years,there’sstill alot of suspicion about what foxes might be,” Williams “You know,they’re bite thebaby,the

Grasslandbirde on prairiedog ca

Long-billed curlewslisten to alarmbarks, researchshows

BY CHRISTINA LARSON

AP science writer

WASHINGTON Prairie dogs

are the Paul Reveres of the Great Plains: They bark to alert neighbors to the presence of predators, with separate calls for dangers coming by land or by air

“Prairie dogs are on the menu for just about every predator you can thinkof” —golden eagles, red-tailed hawks, foxes, badgers,even largesnakes —saidAndy Boyce, aresearchecologist in Montana at the Smithsonian’sNational Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

Those predators will also snack on grassland nesting birds like the long-billed curlew

To protect themselves, the curlews eavesdrop on the alarms coming from prairie dog colonies, according to research published last week in thejournal Animal Behavior

Previous research has shown birds frequently eavesdrop on other bird species to glean information about potential food sources or approaching danger, said Georgetown University ornithologistEmily Williams, who was not involved in the study But, so far,scientists have documented only afew instances of birds eavesdropping on mammals.

“That doesn’tnecessarily mean it’srare in the wild,” she said, “it just means we haven’tstudied it yet.”

to eat the cat, they’re going to run away with your husband.”

The project hassince grown from providing information on deterring foxes to rescuing 1,400 ayear including 400 cubs, though only about half survive to be released.

There are estimated to be 15,000 foxes in London. The project covers aswath of south London andits leafy suburbswhile other organizations not devoted solely to foxes handleother parts of thecity

While the omnivores survive on small animals, bugs and berries in thewild, they favor easily scavenged leftovers in the cityand handouts that make them more dependent on humans. Their main urban menaces

In their effort to get free, they often get nastyabrasions that can becomeinfected. Manyalsosuffer from mange, aparasitic infestation that leads to all kinds of problems.

Townsend pilotsher VW

Caddy on city streets, highways and narrow lanes that roll throughlush hills, responding to calls about injured or ill foxesorcubs that have lost their mothers.

She’sseen abit of everythingsince herfirst humbling call21/2 years agowhen the supposedly injured fox bolted.

“In my inexperience, I chased after him, which is comical because you’re never goingtooutrun afox,” she said. “I just remember he

ran very fast and Ilooked silly running after him.”

Despite many challenging situations —she once managed to rescue afox that lost its footing atop afence and ended upside down at eye level with its paw lodged between boards —she’s only been bitten once.

Heartbreak

Hervan carriesthe distinctlymusky scent of foxes.The odor becomes unpleasant when an anxious passengerina litter of cubs relieves itself en route to being deliveredtoafostercare pen where they will stay until being released in the wild.

“Feel free to open the window,” said Townsend, whois accustomed to the stench.

“This is astinky job.”

On arecent day,she was dispatched to meet aheartbroken couple who found a cubwith apuncture wound collapsed on their back lawn.

“Wethought he wasasleep at first, so we went to go and have aclose look because we love them,” Charlotte English said. “Then he just didn’tmove, so we knew something was wrong.”

That cub had to be put to sleep, as didthe adult Townsend transferred at the start of her shift.

Cubs that recover are socialized in packs of five until they mature and are then

released in arural location while the adults are freed in the neighborhoods where they were found.

‘Thank you’ goes unsaid Given asecond chance, it’snot clear how well the foxesfare, because they are rarely tracked. A2016 study in the journal Applied AnimalBehaviour Science found that rehabilitated foxesweremorelikely to behave as if they had been displaced when returned to theiroriginalterritory. They were tracked wanderingfarther away,potentially exposing them to moretraffic and greater stress.

“It is agap in the knowledge and there’sanassumptionthatwhenyou release them, they thrive and Ithink that that assumption needs to be challenged more,” said Bryony Tolhurst, aUniversityofBrighton honorary research fellow and lead author of the study For Townsend, fox deaths are offset by the joy of seeing little ones venture into the unknown or an adult darting into aneighborhood it instantly recognizes.

“Sometimes they look back andpeople like to romanticize that they’re saying ‘thank you,’ ”she said. “They’re just making sure we’re not chasing after them.”

Along-billed cur Montana.

Prairie dogsl colonies with as rows that may miles undergro they hear one each barks, they ei alert watching their burrows to proaching talons

“Those little veryloud —they quitealongway author Andrew Dreelin, also works forthe ian.

Thelong-bille nestsin short-g rie and incuba aground nest. hears theprairie she responds by her head, beak close to thegrou In this crouched tion,the birds“ incrediblecamo their feathers essentially invisible Plains,” Dreelin

To test just how birds weretop chatter,research afake predator by ataxidermied b asmall remote-controlled vehicle. They se ger rolling over

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By FRANK AUGSTEIN

Trevor Williams examines afox that wastaken into ahospital by The Fox Project near Tonbridge,England

Denham Springs to celebrate Juneteenth Service, parade to commemorate holiday

BY CLAIRE GRUNEWALD Staff writer

Denham Springs’ second an-

nual Juneteenth celebrations are scheduled to feature more parade floats and more live entertainment to commemorate the holiday Three free events are set for the week of Juneteenth, hosted by the Livingston Parish Ministers Alliance: a church service,

Leaders discuss rising property taxes

‘The value of this parish went up,’ assessor says

BY CLAIRE GRUNEWALD Staff writer

The Livingston Parish assessor and a few community leaders spent part of a meeting Tuesday discussing property tax millages in the wake of last year’s property reassessment

A handful of residents at the meeting echoed sentiments of property tax fatigue that have ramped up in the past year and been aired at a slew of parish meetings.

Assessor Jeff Taylor said the reassessment in 2024 resulted in higher values on Livingston Parish properties, causing taxes to increase.

“The value of this parish went up,” Taylor said. “The reassessment does raise your (property) assessment, and it corresponds with the growth that you’re having in this parish.” Additionally, the parish had property tax assessment reductions because of the COVID pandemic and the 2016 flood which resulted in a 40% decrease. Those deductions fell off last year

A few parish leaders presented their most recent millages and the reasoning behind them Tuesday Livingston Parish Sheriff Jason Ard said his office rolled forward its Law Enforcement District Maintenance by less than 1 mil and rolled back its Law Enforcement District Additional Funding by less than 1 mil for 2025.

A mill costs a taxpayer $1 for every thousand dollars of a property’s assessed value.

“We did a lot of things to try to save money When we do get extra money, we add positions, we add road deputies,” Ard said.

Representatives of the Livingston Parish recreation district spoke about an upcoming tax renewal vote on Oct. 11 Voters in December defeated a ballot proposal asking for a renewal of 15 mills in property tax for 10 years to fund recreational facilities. The renewal was set to begin in 2026. It was a close call, with 52% of district voters saying no. With council approval, the vote is being brought back.

Council member Ricky Goff spoke for the Parish Council. The council controls four millages that pay for fixing roads, operating the jail and the Coroner’s Office, as well as general alimony which is used to support local government

a parade and a family gathering with live entertainment.

Juneteenth is a federal holi-

day that commemorates the date

when Union troops arrived in Texas, the westernmost state to secede from the United States and join the Confederacy, to enforce the Emancipation Proc-

lamation and free more than 250,000 slaves in June 1865.

“It brings a community together, because we’re honoring the

legacy of emancipation and we’re celebrating African American culture,” said Danielle Robinson, secretary for the Ministers Alliance.

“We’re gathering to remember our history, acknowledge our progress, reaffirm our commitment to freedom and justice, and just to collectively uplift.”

The Ministers Alliance expects higher attendance for all the events, Robinson said, because residents will know what to ex-

pect after nearly 200 people attended the celebrations last year

Freedom Celebration Service

The Juneteenth celebrations will kick off at 6 p.m. Thursday, with a church service at Roberts United Methodist Church.

The service will feature speakers, choirs and catered food from Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux.

Freedom Celebration Parade

The parade begins at 10 a.m. Saturday and will follow the city’s traditional parade route. It will start

at Denham Springs High School and travel south on Range Avenue to Veterans Boulevard.

The parade will honor a little Mister and Misses Juneteenth leading the parade, the Denham Springs High School basketball team and the Denham Springs STEM and Robotics Club.

The parade had more than 30 entries in 2024, and more participation is anticipated this year, Robinson said.

IT TAKES A VILLAGE

BY JAMES FINN Staff writer

BY MATT BRUCE Staff writer

STAFF PHOTOS By JAVIER GALLEGOS

East

St. John grad fatally shot

17-year-old killed after fistfight in Reserve

BY MICHELLE HUNTER Staff writer

A Reserve teenager who graduated just weeks ago from East St. John High School was shot and killed after a fistfight in Reserve on Thursday night, according to authorities

The St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’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 a message posted on the school’s Facebook page Friday

Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to the 400 block of Northwest Third Street about 8 p.m. after receiving reports of gunfire, authorities said.

They found Tylik lying on the ground suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Crime cameras in the area recorded a fight, between Tylik and another unidentified male, in the middle of the street just before the shooting, the Sheriff’s Office said.

Authorities have not identified a suspect in the case, but St. John Sheriff Mike Tregre said Friday that his detectives are working to make an arrest.

In a social media post related to the shooting, Tregre said, “Teenagers these days

JUNETEENTH

Continued from page 1B

Pack the Park

After the parade Saturday, a family event is scheduled

TAXES

Continued from page 1B

operations It collects about $29 million total in tax money In November, voters turned down a millage to help fund the Livingston Parish Health Unit. Goff spoke about wanting to potentially roll forward the alimony millage tax to the maximum. Livingston Parish Library

SHOOTER

Continued from page 1B

Drive, but has since been shuttered.

Franklin, now 21, pleaded guilty last week to four counts of attempted firstdegree murder tied to the mass shooting, and 19th Judicial District Judge Brad Myers sentenced him to 20 years in prison, according to court records.

could deter migrants from participating in the court process. Trump, though, has embraced those tactics as he pursues a campaign promise to deport millions of people.

The president’s immigration agenda, which has the support of Louisiana’s conservative state leaders, has spurred protests in New Orleans in recent weeks, including a thousands-strong demonstration Saturday in the city’s downtown.

Clouatre, 25, entered the United States from Mexico with her mother when she was 14, said Carey Holliday, an attorney and former 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 a 2018 trial on the asylum claim, prompting a judge to issue a deportation order for both Clouatre and her mother

‘I was crying constantly’ Clouatre and her husband, Adrian Clouatre, met near the end of the fiveyear period when he was stationed with the Marine Corps in California. They had been navigating the process to secure a green card for Paola, Adrian Cl-

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’s post about Tylik noted that the teen’s walk across the graduation stage was “a moment that reflected his determination, his love for his family and his unwavering commitment to making them proud.”

Bause said Tylik left an unforgettable mark on is fellow students as well as the school’s faculty and staff.

“His presence will be deeply missed, but his memory will forever be cherished,” Bause wrote.

St. John Schools Superintendent Dr Cleo Perry Jr also released a statement Friday lamenting the loss of a teen who had been full of potential, spirit and promise.

“In moments like this, we are reminded of how closely connected we are as a school family We will continue to surround Tylik’s loved ones and our students with sup-

from 1 p.m to 6 p.m at L.M. Lockhart Park. A variety of vendors family-friendly activities, merchandise and food trucks will be featured One of the biggest changes this year is the addition of live

spokesperson David Gray said the library board of control decided in May to keep this year’s millage the same, which is already rolled back from the maximum rate.

Livingston Parish Fire District 5 Chief Joe Koczrowski said his department won’t be able to roll back its millage. Koczrowski spoke about fire trucks and equipment having rising costs, causing the district to buy used vehicles to save money The Livingston Parish

ouatre said in an interview They learned that Paola had an active deportation order just a few days before she was scheduled to appear for a customs 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’s immigration status during the May 27 meeting, an “adjustment of status” interview in which an agent asks questions to determine Paola’s green card eligibility, Adrian Clouatre said. When the appointment ended, the couple was told to wait in the lobby for a set of paperwork for her next appointment in the green card process. Twenty minutes later, three ICE agents arrived and took his wife into cus-

port, compassion, and care in the days ahead,” Perry said.

Starting next week, counselors will be available on campus at East St. John High School, 1 Wildcat Drive, LaPlace, school officials said Anyone in need of someone to talk to or additional support is encouraged to reach out.

Those with information on the shooting death of Tylik Jackson is asked to call the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office TIPS line at (985) 359-TIPS (8477), contact Lt. Carolina Pineda of the Criminal Investigations Division at (504) 494-3840 or submit information online at https://stjohnsheriff.org/ crime-arrests/crime-tips/ give-us-a-general-crime-tip/ The public can also call Crimestoppers at (504) 822-1111 or toll-free at 1-877-903-7867 Callers do not have to give their names or testify and can earn a $2,500 reward for information that leads to an indictment.

entertainment, according to Robinson. A gospel hour, an R&B hour and a poetry hour will entertain the crowd.

Email Claire Grunewald at claire.grunewald@ theadvocate.com.

Public Schools district said its four millages would remain at the maximum rates, same as last year The mills range from contributing to the general fund that pays teacher salaries to maintenance costs.

“We’re working to see what we can do to reduce,” said Superintendent Jody Purvis.

Email Claire Grunewald at claire.grunewald@ theadvocate.com.

tody, Adrian Clouatre said.

Two days passed before he heard from her.

“I was crying constantly, having mental breakdowns,” Adrian Clouatre said “I’m embarrassed to say that, as a man, but it’s the truth.”

When Paola finally called, she said she had been held in a local jail in Hancock County, Mississippi, before being transferred to the Richwood Correctional Center, an ICE detention facility in Monroe. Why a detained migrant would be held in Hancock County is unclear The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office, which runs the jail, does not appear to have an active or pending agreement with ICE under the federal agency’s 287(g) local partnership program, which Trump has vastly expanded since taking office, according to federal records. Email and phone messages left with the jail were not immediately returned.

The family is now awaiting a judge’s ruling on a request to halt Paola Clouatre’s deportation, as well as a parole request submitted on her behalf by a supervisor at Richwood Correctional, where she is still being held, her husband said. Conditions at that facility “aren’t bad,” Adrian Clouatre said. He’s been making the four-hour drive twice each week so Paola can nurse the couple’s infant

“This was a very chaotic crime scene involving a lot of people in a very crowded bar with many shots fired,” East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore said in a statement Friday “Based on the facts and the level of cooperation from witnesses, this was the best outcome the state could expect We believe that the plea and sentence was in the best interest of protecting our public and doing justice under the circumstances.”

Baton Rouge police officials at the time described the shooting as a “targeted attack,” but court documents do not make clear who the shooters were targeting. It happened early the morning of Jan. 22, 2023, during a weekend event inside the nightclub advertised as a kickoff bash for the spring semesters at LSU and Southern University.

Franklin was one of four St. James Parish men charged with 13 counts of attempted murder in the aftermath. Prosecutors dismissed nine of those counts in exchange for Franklin’s guilty plea. Jy’Shaun Mylik Jackson, 21; Shawnchez Amier Lemar, 24; and 19-yearold JRon Hines have all pleaded not guilty. They are scheduled for trial July 28 in Myers’ courtroom

Detectives said 12 people were wounded — three of them critically and a 13th victim initially believed they were struck by bullets, but weren’t None of the victims’ injuries were life threatening, police said. Many of the wounded people were bystanders not involved in the shooting — one of them was the DJ. Investigators questioned several of the victims after they were taken to Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center for treatment. Multiple witnesses told detectives there were two fights in the club before the shooting that night, one of which caused the DJ to stop the music so security guards could escort the brawlers out. But they said the music continued and they kept partying, telling police they didn’t think the previous fights were connected to the shooting, according to investigative reports.

daughter and visit with their one-year-old son.

Paola is housed in an open-floor room with about 100 other people, he said. Two TVs on the wall blare horror movies and telenovelas. When her husband visits, she is allowed to nurse their nine-week-old daughter in a small phone booth-style room that is “fairly private,” he said.

“It’s just really difficult to get information out of ICE,” he said, adding that the agency has been “stonewalling.”

Holliday said he has not been granted access to the woman’s court records. An ICE spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment on the case Mounting pressure

In recent months, Trump has pressured federal officials to speed up deportations, leading ICE officials and Department of Homeland Security prosecutors to begin coordinating raids outside of courtrooms. That directive followed an earlier executive order compelling federal agencies, like the customs office the Clouatres visited, to coordinate with ICE.

Clouatre is not the first person since Trump’s term began to be detained in New Orleans at a customs appointment. ICE agents in April arrested Pedro Alejandro Lujan-Martinez, a Honduran man who went with his U.S. citizen wife

Dior, which was located in the 4600 block of Bennington Avenue, has since closed down. Owners of the lounge agreed to relinquish their liquor license in the weeks following the shooting after the Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control suspended the license.

During a preliminary evidentiary hearing Dec 14, 2023, Baton Rouge detective Travis Norman, who led the investigation, testified that police used surveillance footage from the nightclub and the Penthouse Club across the street to determine what happened.

Footage showed the four defendants arrive to Club Dior shortly before 11:30 p.m. They were congregated together near the bar about an hour later when Franklin and Hines, who was 16 at the time, walked outside and went to their Nissan Titan truck in a nearby parking lot. Jackson and Lemar remained inside, the detective said.

Hines called Jackson around 12:40 a.m Minutes later, he and Lemar walked to an outdoor patio area behind the club. They were seen on surveillance footage sitting on a bench next to the back fence when Hines and Franklin approached from the parking lot and slid the two pistols from under the fence, Norman said.

Jackson and Lemar concealed the weapons in their pants and walked back into the club through a side entrance with a noticeable bulge showing in their pockets, detectives noted in charging affidavits.

Franklin and Hines went around the building and reentered the club through the front door The four sat together at the bar until 1:35 a.m., when Franklin and Hines walked toward

to a citizenship appointment scheduled under a program advertised for undocumented partners of U.S. citizens.

Lujan-Martinez was charged in federal court with a felony for illegally reentering the country, another prong of Trump’s push to penalize illegal immigration.

Trump also lifted guardrails that previously barred immigration agents from making arrests inside schools municipal courts and churches. ICE agents in May detained three migrants at a municipal court in Jefferson Parish.

Last week, advocates in downtown New Orleans protested the arrest of a Central American man who they said was detained in late May following a hearing at New Orleans’ immigration court.

“Immigration court has become a damned if you do, damned if you don’t situation,” said Brittnie Grasmick, a New Orleans-based activist.

Not political

The Cloutres’ involvement with the U.S. immigration system began after they were married last February in California, Adrian Clouatre said. He and his wife felt that if they hoped to build a life together in the United States, she would have to apply for a green card, and

the stage armed with the weapons, Norman testified. Franklin fired the first round of shots, causing people to “scatter.” The detective said Hines, who was standing next to Franklin, fell down when the shooting began. But when he got up, the teen fired another round of gunfire, according to investigators. The four then ran out of the club and fled in the Nissan Titan, police said. The shots rang out as three uniformed Baton Rouge officers working a security detail stood outside the club, according to reports. The officers rushed toward the front door when they heard the gunshots from inside the bar and were met by a large group of patrons who were rushing out to escape. When the officers got inside, they found several people wounded with varying degrees of injuries, according to investigators. Norman said the four people involved wore ski masks during the shooting. He was able to identify Franklin and Jackson through ballistics from the scene that were linked to a previous shooting in St. James Parish. Deputies there knew the two men and identified them from the surveillance footage at Club Dior, according to records. Investigators also used cellphone records and social media accounts to bring charges against the other defendants.

Norman said Jackson acknowledged his role in shooting when questioned by detectives, admitting “someone else” handed him gun from under fence. But Jackson wouldn’t reveal who else was involved, the detective testified at the evidentiary hearing. Email Matt Bruce at matt.bruce@theadvocate. com.

they began that process before moving back to Louisiana in the following months.

“She knew she had to do it,” he said. “She was very fearful about all this, but also very hopeful.” Adrian Clouatre did not consider himself political before his wife’s detention nor does he now He still feels politics are “too divisive,” that they present a barrier to “unity” among all Americans.

The ICE agents who detained his wife, he said, treated them with kindness and seemed almost apologetic as they separated the couple.

“I recognize that the men and women of ICE have a job to do,” he said. “It’s the system itself that won’t let them exercise discretion. It’s like a power vacuum sucking everything up.”

Email James Finn at jfinn@theadvocate.com.

PHOTO PROVIDED By ADRIAN CLOUATRE Adrian and Paola Clouatre

PROVIDED PHOTO By EAST ST JOHN HIGH SCHOOL

Tylik Jackson, 17, a 2025 graduate of East St. John High School, was shot and killed Thursday, according to authorities.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON Blood stains and police tape remain at the scene where at 12 people were injured in the Jan. 22, 2023, shooting at the Dior Bar & Lounge in Baton Rouge.

New Orleans visitors near pre-pandemic record

Tourist count reached 19M last year

BY STEPHANIE RIEGEL Staff writer

New Orleans played host to more than 19 million visitors in 2024, a near-record number that tourism officials say signals a recovery from four sluggish years following the coronavirus pandemic.

According to a study conducted by hospitality firm MMGY Global, the nearly 19.1 million visitors that came New Orleans last year represented a 6.4% increase over the year before and only the second time on record that the city has attracted more than 19 million visitors.

The other time was in 2019, when the city’s visitor count topped 19.7 million.

“This is a real high point for us,” said Walt Leger III, president and CEO of New Orleans & Co., which commissioned the recent study “When you think about where we were five years ago, it certainly signals an improvement and success, so we are happy.”

The study results are significant in a city where the tourism and hospitality sector is a major driver of the local economy Visitors to the city last year spent more than $10.4 billion — more than twice as much as two decades ago — not counting billions more in occupancy and sales taxes. Additionally, more than 80,000 people in the New Orleans area work for hotels, restaurants and tourist attractions, according to New Orleans & Co

But while the industry is trumpeting the recent study results, it is also bracing for a slow sum-

mer season with potentially more headwinds in the fall and beyond.

The Trump administration’s tariffs, concerns about inflation, and shifting global alliances are taking a noticeable bite out of the travel industry nationally and locally, experts say Foreign travelers in particular have cut back plans for corporate, group and individual travel, and New Orleans is already feeling the effects, Leger said.

“International travel has been impacted somewhat, though not significantly, especially from our Canadian friends,” he said “We are hopeful in the long term there won’t be any damage, but in the immediacy, there is.”

Banner year

The MMGY study, compiled from online surveys of visitors and several other metrics, found that the city’s visitor count has been gradually recovering since the pandemic from 15.7 million in 2021 to 17.5 million in 2022, 17.9 million in 2023 and 19.08 million in 2024.

Those numbers roughly mirror the three years prior to the pandemic, when the city was seeing significant year-over-year growth in its hospitality sector In 2017, the city attracted 17.7 million visitors. In 2018, 18.5 million; and, in 2019, 19.75 million.

In the post-Katrina decade, visitor counts slowly grew from less than 4 million in 2006 to nearly 10 million in 2015. The first time the city broke the 10-million mark was in 2016.

Last year was a particularly banner year, officials have said, because of a series of all-star attractions In the spring, a Rolling Stones appearance added an extra day to the Jazz Fest calendar In the fall, Taylor Swift’s Eras

Lafayette native is the last of 6888

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

McClendon

Both Robertson and McClendon were members of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, an all-Black 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 MoutonAllen 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.

tour brought some 200,000 fans to the city for three back-to-back performances.

The city also had a robust festival season and busier than usual Essence Fest in July

As a result, visitor spending was up last year to $10.4 billion, nearly approaching 2019’s record $10.5 billion spend, though inflation was also slightly higher last year — nearly 3% — which could partially account for the increased dollar figure

“Obviously we are happy people spent more money, but costs are higher,” Leger said. “So, I think any spending analysis has to take into account the overall economic environment.”

Doubling down

Visitor numbers and spending are just some of the ways of measuring the health of the city’s tourist economy Hotel occupancy rates and revenues, convention bookings and customer satisfaction are others. So is the city’s ability to balance the needs of its tourism industry with the needs of local businesses and residents.

Several local hotel, restaurant and tour operators say the MMGY study affirms what they noticed within their own businesses last year Activity and spending were up. More visitors were on the street. Even the normally slow summer was livelier than usual.

Hotelier Zach Kupperman said occupancy rates at Hotel St. Vincent in the Garden District were up 7% in 2024, while revenues also were higher Emily Valentino, whose family owns six hotels in the French Quarter and downtown as well as Hop On Hop Off Bus Tours, said last year “felt like we had turned

a corner. Jayson Seidman’s bar and restaurant on Jackson Square, Fives Bar, did so well last year that he is expanding into a vacant space next door The new dining room, which he hopes will be completed by the spring, will enable him to serve more than twice as many customers.

“I guess you could say we’re doubling down on New Orleans,” Seidman said, whose Sandstone Hospitality owns and operates several hotels and restaurants.

Hospitality experts point to other trends that signal investors’ faith in the city’s visitor economy Last week, New Yorkbased Certeras Management, a real estate investment firm, paid $47 million for the Hilton New Orleans Hotel, located in a century-old building in the Central Business District.

“This is a good time to buy a hotel in New Orleans,” said Len Wormser, senior vice president for Hospitality Real Estate Counselors, a hotel property brokerage. “There are reasonable values, a limited new supply of hotel rooms and a stacked convention calendar for next year.”

Headwinds

The recent MMGY study was released Friday, two weeks into the official summer season, which is always slow Some business owners are feeing the heat more than others.

After a strong 2024, Valentino said the first six months of 2025 have been disappointing, with no relief in sight for the short term.

The Super Bowl, Mardi Gras and French Quarter Fest, which brought visitors to hotels, didn’t necessarily help businesses like her bus tour company “Events, festivals or concerts

are a distraction for local businesses,” Valentino said. “Leisure travelers come to explore the city We hope to see more of them in the future.”

Seidman, on the other hand, said bookings at his hotels, including the Columns Hotel and The Henrietta, have been strong for the first half of 2025, though “we’re getting ready to fall off into this deep dark hole of summer.”

New Orleans & Co., as well as local merchants, have been more strategic in recent years about creating seasonal events in the summer to help tourist-related businesses through the slow times.

“We are hyper focused on trying to drive business in the summer,” Leger said. “And we’re always trying to do more.”

One concern, he said, is the effect that the Trump administration’s policies on trade and immigration are having on international travel, both locally and nationwide. Some international travelers can’t get travel visas. Others no longer want to come to the U.S., according to Leger Activity from Canadian travelers in particular has been affected, he said. The country, because of its shared history with Louisiana, traditionally makes up the largest group of foreign visitors to the city

“We are speaking with our customers, and they are expressing their love of our city and state,” Leger said. “But out of a commitment to their own nation, they don’t want to travel here right now.”

Email Stephanie Riegel at stephanie.riegel@theadvocate. com.

Album features songs from Rolling Stones

BY JOANNA BROWN Staff writer

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.

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 musicians as Lucinda Williams, Charley Crockett and Taj Ma-

hal 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

Smithsonian Folkways

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.

“Clifton brought French Creole soul to the stage with his red-hot accordion, and when he played, you had to dance. You could feel it in your bones. I went to see him every chance I got, and dance we did,” wrote Pavy “I find myself lucky enough to be part of this historic release that bridges musical giants: the raw power of the Stones and the unstoppable groove of Clifton Chenier.” Artist Pavy featured on

“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 perform live at events like Lafayette Mardi Gras.

PROVIDED PHOTO

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Celebration of Lifeshall followat10:00 AM. His earthly remains shallbe laid to rest at the Roselawn MemorialPark. The distinguished& solemn arrangements have beenentrusted to the care of WinnfieldFuneral Home of Baton Rouge & KennardThomas, General Manager, FDIC

Obituaries

Aydell Sr., Paul 'Wayne'

Paul "Wayne" Aydell Sr., lovingly known as "Mr Wayne," passedaway peacefully surrounded by loved ones near his hometown of French Settlement, Louisiana. He was 81 years old. Born June 30, 1943, in NewOrleans, Wayne was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Nancy Murphy Aydell; his daughter, Lorrie Fisk (JL) of Memphis, Tennessee; and his cherished grandsons:Joel Fisk (Tam) and Stephen Aydell of Baton Rouge, and Austin Fisk (Katie) and Dylan Fisk of Memphis, TN. He is also survived by his siblings Marcella Tramonte of Lutcher, Louisiana; Kenny Aydell (DiAnn); and Dale Aydell (Hinky). He was precededindeath by his son, Paul Aydell, Jr.; his parents, Bill and Wilma Aydell; and his brothers Terry and Billy Aydell. Wayne began his professional life as alicensed barber cutting men's hair—including his own—with great pride. He was abarber for some years but later became a member of Local 60 and 198. His craft was pipe fitting. Wayne was most proud of his family. He had abig heart and agenerous spirit. Anatural storyteller he could light up any room with his jokes and warm personality. He enjoyed music, cooking, spending time outdoors, and especially hunting with his beloved beagle dogs and spending time with friends at the deer camp. Wayne was adevout Catholicand lifelong member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in FrenchSettlement, where generations of his family were baptized and married. Hisfaith was a guiding light throughout his life. Wayne willberemembered notonly for the love he gave his family but also for the beautiful life he built—especiallythe six acres he took great pride in keeping perfectly manicured. It was areflection of the care and dedication he brought to all things in his life. Aspecial eventhe loved was atrip to Europe for his 50th wedding anniversary with his wife, Nancy. In lieu of flowers, the familyrequests that donations be made to St. Joseph Catholic Churchin French Settlement or the Baton Rouge chapter of the Alzheimer's Association in his memory. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Ourso Funeralin Gonzales with visitation and service to be held at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in French Settlement on Wednesday, June 18, 2025from 9:00 am until Mass of Christian Burialat 11 am. Burial willfollow at St. Joseph Catholic Church Cemetery. The Aydell family truly wants to thank family and friends for allof their prayers and support over these last few weeks/ months.

Barnes, Arsheal

It is with profound sorrow and solemn reverence that we announce the passing of Mr. Arsheal Barnes, who departed this earthly life on the 7th of June, in the year of our Lord 2025, at the distinguished age of 88. Apublic viewingshall be held in his honor on Monday, the 16th of June, commencing at 9:00 AM at Winnfield Funeral Home, where family and friends may gatherto pay their final respects. A

Bourque, JasonPaul'JB'

Jason "JB" Paul Bourque,a resident of Gonzales, Louisiana,passed awayatthe ageof57on Tuesday,June 10, 2025, at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge. Born on September 29, 1967, in Baton Rouge, JB was known forhis humor, kindness, and deep love forhis family and friends. Agraduate of EastAscensionHigh School and Southeastern Louisiana University, JB dedicated 30 yearsofservice to the Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office. He worked as adispatcher for over 23 years andinthe businessoffice forabout 7 years, holding the rank of sergeant. Hisdedicationto his workand community left alastingimpact on all who knew him. JB loved traveling—especially to Disney—sharing jokes, enjoyinggoodfood,and spending time with his loved ones. He was abig LSU fanand aman of faith, known for bringing laughter and warmth wherever he went. He issurvived by his two beloved children, Emily Marie Bourque and ConnorJoseph Bourque; three brothers, Anthony Blake Bourque (Dona), Alvin Bradley Bourque (Sharon), and Lance Michael Bourque (Wendy); and numerous extended family members and friends. He was preceded in deathbyhis parents, KermitAnthony "Hart" Bourque and Althea Katherine "Pye" Petite Bourque;his grandparents;and several aunts and uncles. Visitationwill be held on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, from 9:00 AM until the Mass of ChristianBurial at 11:00AM, at St. Mark CatholicChurch in Gonzales. Acommittalservice willfollow at Hope Haven Garden of Memoryon Highway 30. Pallbearers will be Brad Bourque, Matt Naylor,Dean Millet, Richard Boe, DrewSmith, and JamesNickens. Honorary pallbearerswill be Connor Bourque, Chris Ancar, and Reid Sheets. In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to honor JB's memorybysharinga story,a laugh, or simply enjoying ameal with those you love.

David, Janet Comeaux 'Nonie'

Janet "Nonie" Comeaux David, alovingwife, mother,grandmother,great grandmother,sister and friend passed awaypeacefully surrounded by her family on Tuesday,June 10, 2025,at the ageof74. She was aresidentand native of Grosse Tete, LA. Visitation willbeheldatSt. Joseph Catholic Church, Grosse Tete on Monday, June 16, 2025,from9am until Mass of ChristianBurial at 11am, celebrated by FatherArunJohn. Interment willfollow at St.Joseph CatholicChurchCemetery, Grosse Tete.Janetissurvived by her husbandof53 years, Donny David; daughter, Haley David; grandchildren, Megan Borruanoand husband Dylan, Brant Becker, Brendan Dunbar, and Landon Dunbar and girlfriendMadeline Olah; great grandchildren, Christian,Maddox, and CarolineBorruano; sister, Kathy Hernandez and husband Jim; brother,Denny

Comeaux and wife Pam; sisters-in-law, Vicky Boss and husband Wayne, MelindaDavid and husband Junior Collins, Evelyn David,BonnieDavid, and Barbara David;godchildren,Dana Alexander, Ty Hernandez, Gretchen Smith,Herman "Fella" Boss, and Corbin Hernandez; numerous nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by her daughter, Kacey David;parents, James "Coco" and Betty Comeaux; brother,Drew Comeaux; and mother and father-in-law, Rubyand Benedict David.Pallbearers will be Brant Becker, Brendan and Landon Dunbar, FellaBoss, Dylan Borruano, Brad Hernandez, and Trey Comeaux. Honorarypallbearers willbe Christianand MaddoxBorruano. Nonie lovedto spend time withher family, especially her grandchildren,she also lovedto travel.Special thanks to OchsnerofBaton Rouge, and Hospice of Baton Rouge Butterfly Wing for their loving care.

Mary Beatrice Hutchinson Davis- 'Bea Davis

Bea joinedher husband in her heavenly home on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. Bea was alifelong resident of Albany, LA.and member of Bethlehem Baptist Church. She wasamaster at sewing and crochetingand enjoyed crocheting blankets for allofher grandchildrenthroughthe years. She enjoyed spending most of her younger years at theirfishing camp on theAmite Riverwhere she lovedtofish and spend time with her family.She lovedtocookand bake but cooking abig potofher famous chicken ndumplings and havingher family over to eat was her favorite. Her family always came first and her childrenand grandchildrenwere her pride and joy. For thelast 34 years, Bea looked forward to hosting Easter Sunday for 80+ members of her immediate and distant family.Bea was aloving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt,and friend that willbeloved and missed by allwho knew her.

Bea is survivedbyher sons, Rodney Davis (Darleen), and Brent Davis (Mary Ann); grandchildren, Chad Davis (Danicia),Ron Davis(Latricia), Lance Davis(Brittani),Jeremiah Davis (Amy), ChrisDavis (Stacey),Scott Davis (Kelly), April Davis Wainwright (Kyle); great-grandchildren,Blake,Paige,Erika, Logan, Mason, Tucker, Brayden, Breana, Nichole AllieGrace, Britney, Zoey, Harrison, Hattie,and Harper; and 10 great-greatgrandchildren.

Bea is preceded in death by her loving husband of 58 years, Marshall Allen Davis "Jr."; son, Duane Davis;parents, Frank and Lillie Hutchinson; sisters, Christine Fasullo,EdnaDispenza, and Lois RaybornHebert;brothers, Warren Hutchinson, Edward Hutchinson, Douglas Hutchinson, and EL 'Shinnie' Hutchinson.

Relatives and friends of thefamily are invitedtoattend theVisitation from theChapel of Brandon G. Thompson FuneralHome, 12012 Hwy 190 WestHammond,LA. on Monday, June 16, 2025 from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Visitation willresume on Tuesday, June 17, 2025 from9:00 a.m.until thestart of theFuneral Service at 11:00 a.m. Pastor AltonFoster willofficiate with intermenttofollowin Bethlehem Baptist Church Cemetery in Albany.

Hall, Luther Allen'Luke'

Luther (Luke) AllenHall passed away peacefully at hishome Jan. 22025. Luke was bornJan 24 1942 in the Appalachian mountains, wherehelearned to appreciate nature and thegiftsit

brought."If youwould just watch and explore"he wouldsay!His love fornaturebrought many talesof his childhooddays, which he wouldshare with his family,neighbors,friends and strangers, just to bring asmiletotheir face and his. He wouldoften bring hiswife Joyce, of 62 years, aflower, mushroom, unique leaf, bird nest, rocks and sea shells, which she cherished.Lukewas a Jack of alltrades pipefitter, carpenter, mechanic,landscaper. If it was broke, he couldusually fix it!Most of allheloved to fish! He would often say "today is a good daytogofishing and formany years he wouldpackhis gear and head to Grand Isle!

Preceded in death by his son Darren Hall,grandson D.J.Langlois, father James A. Hall,motherOrpha HolbrookHall, brothers Willis Hall,MartyYakubowski, sisters Helen Riddle,May Garoutte, Survived by hisloving wife Joyce Easley Hall, daughters Dawn Hall, Becky Hall,brother Jimmy Hall,sistersFreida Lance, Dianne Germundson, Gail Wilson, grandchildrenJessica LangloisTacker,Sunny Hall,SavannaLanglois, David Caston, Jarrett Caston, greatgrandchildren Elika, Lathan, Castieland AmarieTacker,Malaki Denham, Luther Henley Hall,OdinShumacher.

The family thanksBaton Rouge Hospice,Larry Easley, Ardesand Sandy Johnson for their kindness and help.Honoring the family wishes, no formal memorial serviceis planned. The cherished memories of Lukewillalways live in our heartsand thoughts forever!

It is with heavyhearts that we announce the passing of Rosario Martina. RosiepassedonJune 9, 2025 at theage of 101. Rosie was aresident of Highland Road where he lived98years of his life on theproperty where he was

born.Hewas known for his welcoming smileand friendlyconversation. Rosiewas afounding member of TheStVincent de PaulDiningRoom. For 43 years he volunteered histimetomake TheDiningRooma success. Daily he couldbeseenridingin hisBlueDodge Truck pickinguploads of food for TheDining Room. RosiebelievedthatnoneofGod's childrenshouldbehungry noteven for oneday. In 1998 The St VincentdePaul Organizationpresented Rosiewith theirhighest honor The Top HatAward andinductedhim into The St VincentdePaul Hall of Fame locatedinParis, France. He wasa Veteran of WWII, serving in the Army 44th division,company Fofthe 324th infantry. Rosiewas aLifetime memberofThe Knightsof ColumbusCouncil 3298. In 2020 Rosiewas therecipientofThe Golden Deeds Award presentedtohim forhis life long contributionsmade to thecityof Baton Rouge.Rosie is precededindeathby: his belovedwife of 71 years Laura Cusimano Martina; hisparents Joseph and Angelina Martina; hisbrother Joseph Martina Jr;his sisters Virginia Galbo, and MarthaRayburn. Rosieis survived by hischildren Michael (wife Pat), Anthony (wifeAlice), Rosie's daughterPatricia, Teresa (husbandGary); grandchildren:Matthew Martina, DominicMaggio, Tristan Biede, Dixye Fontenot; Great grandchildren: Sarah Biede, Tyler Biede, AlexandraFontenot,Toby and Aislin Berger; nieces: BarbaraGilblair, Joanne Bourgeois, Nancy Salemi, Teresa Raburn, DonnaLoflin,

SandraScott; nephews: LJ Cusimano, Bernard Bellina, Mark andDavid Rayburn Pallbearers: LJ Cusimano, Bernard Bellina, Mathew Martina, DominicMaggio, PaulMelancon, Jimmy Zito, Mark Hyatt. Honorary pallbearers: Phil Bruder, Steve Mumphrey, Gary Maggio Russell Hebert,Daryl Hardwick,Keith Horcasitas, Denise Spears,Helen McGawley,and all theAngels at St VincentdePaulinBaton Rouge.Visitationwill be held on June 18 from 10:00 till 1:00 at Rabenhorst Funeral Home 825 GovermentStinBaton Rouge Mass will be officiatedby Fr Cleo Milano at 2:00 at OurLady of MercyChurch at 445 Marquette Ave.Burial will commence after Mass at RoselawnMemorial Park4045 North St In lieu of flowers, please make adonation in Rosie's name to St VincentdePaul P.O. Box 127 BR, LA 70821.

Mayer, Michael Stephen Michael StephenMayer wasbornJanuary

Mayer Therewill be aprivateservice at theburialsite. The datefor theservice has notyet been determined

12, 1962, andpassed on June 3, 2025. He is survived by his daughter, Mikayla, his mother, Jeannetteand his brothers KevinMayer and hiswife Brenda, Randy Mayerand Doug Mayer andhis wife Lanya. He was preceded in death by his father Rodney

Davis, Bea

Martina,Rosario 'Rosie'

Florence Julia Nereaux, anative and resident of Grosse Tete, passed away on Friday, June13, 2025at the age of 81. She enjoyed working in her flower beds and making flower arrangements. Affectionately known as "Memaw" and "Dula", she will be dearly missed by many and was blessed to live abeautiful life surrounded by family. She is survived by her husband of 48 years, Thomas "TJ" Jones; children, Floyd Robert Daigre and wife Patti, Sandra Andre and husband Tim,Tom Jones, Tammy Garrett and husband Lonnie, Terri McCarter and husband Bryan; brother, Ory Persick; as well as 12 granchildren, 28 greatgrandchildren, and3 great-great grandchildren Sheispreceded in death by her parents, Corine Ethel and Ralph Edmond Nereaux, Jr.; children, Donna Marie Daigre, Ralph Edmond Daigre, and TravisM Daigre; grandchildren, Justin C. Guin and DustinR Daigre; and brother, Virgil Travis "Tabo" Persick. Pallbearers will be Jake, Ryland, Charles, Mike, Jonathan, and Bryant. Honorary pallbearers will be Dustin and Kevin. Avisitation will be held on Tuesday, June 17, 2025 at Grosse Tete Baptist Church from 9AMuntil the religious service at 11 AM. The burial will follow at St. Joseph CatholicChurch Cemetery.

We mourn the Loss, but Celebrate the Extraordi-

nary LifeofPatricia Thomas Ragusa.Born 8/ 18/1944 in Baton RougeDied peacefullyinher home, 6/6/2025 Patti attendedDufrocESinBaton Rouge and Graduated from Baton Rouge High School Patti was the First in her Family to earn aCollege Degree and Graduated LSU in 4years withabachelor's in education Patti Worked throughout College to pay forbooks, supplies and tuition. Her parents, Elias and Lucille Thomas, helped with tuition, as well. When herfather had adebilitating stroke, Patti and her mothersoldAvon makeup, door-to-door,tohelp supportthe family of 7. Patti went on aBlind-Date with Ben PRagusa,Jr, arranged by mutualfriends Sheeventually married BenonJuly 30, 1966 at St. Agnes Catholic Church, by hercousin, Fr. Nick Martrain. Patti enjoyedTeaching 4th Grade atWyandot Elementaryinthe East Baton Rouge Parish School System. Benand Patti bought aYellow 1966 Mustangwitha 289 and 4speed forher to travelto and from work.Ben had to gether aseatcushionso she could reach the clutch. After Jeffreywas born,Patti Found herTrue Callingas aFull-Time Mother. Her passion for Education continuedasshe helped her children excel in scholastics, leading them both to College Degrees. She also was active in their schools and even was theCCD Director at St. Thomas More School in Baton Rouge during the 1970's. Patti also tutored students who needed help andwas instrumental inmany children achieving High School Diplomas andGED's. After more than 20-years in Atlanta, Patti and Ben returned to Baton Rouge to starta new business and take careofPatti's ailing mother.For almost 30 years, old friendships were re-kindledand new ones forged while herfamily grew around her in Baton Rouge. The past 3decades have seen the birth of five grandchildrenwithtwo marriagesand aflourishing businessfamily, as well. Patti is precededin death by herparents Elias Thomas, Lucille Martrain Thomas, and her Brother Kenneth Wayne Thomas. The Joy of Her Lifewas Family!Husband: Ben, of almost 59 years. Children: Jeffrey (56) and Stephanie (54) Grandchildren: Madeline (28), Elizabeth (28), Jef-

frey Jr (27), Tricia(25), & Megan (23). Siblings: Kenneth (deceased) Gail,E.J., and Darla.AnElegantLady Has Found Her Reward with Her Lord and The Blessed Mother. AMass of ChristianBurial willbe held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Thursday, June 12, 2025 at 11:00 AM followedbya committal service at Resthaven Gardens of Memory.

Rodriguez, RobertR

Robert R. Rodriguez passed away on June 11, 2025, at theage of 61. VisitationwillbeonTuesday, June 17, 2025, at Rabenhorst Funeral Home East, 11000 FloridaBlvd, from 6pmuntil 9pm, witha Recitation of the Holy Rosaryat7pm.Visitation willresume at St. George CatholicChurch on Wednesday at 8am until Mass of ChristianBurial at 10am. Interment willfollow in theChurch Cemetery. To view thefull obituary and online guestbook, please visit www.rabenhorst.com.

Sham Lal Sachdev,a nativeofHoshiarpur, India and alongtime resident of Baton Rouge, LA,passed away on Friday, June 13, 2025 at theage of 87. He worked as achemist,entrepreneur,and alifelong educator.Heenjoyed gardening, exercising,helping others, and caring for his

family that he lovedso

much. He was preceded in death by his parents, HardayalSachdevand Draupadi Tavenkhel;two sisters; and five brothers. He is survivedbyhis loving wife of 58 years, Meena Sachdev;children, Amit Sachdevand Alka McAndrew;grandchildren, Hailey, Lillie,Raina, Cameron, Kira, and Owen; sister, Madhu Dev;and sister-inlaw, Arti Sachdev.Visitation willbeheldat Resthaven Funeral Home, 11817 Jefferson Hwy. Baton Rouge, LA 70816, on Tuesday, June 17, 2025 from 10:00 a.m. until theCelebrationofLifeat11:00 a.m. The family would like to give special thanks to our extended family and the Baton Rouge community He livedinBaton Rouge for 61 years and was a belovedmember of the community. Family and friends may signthe online guestbookorleave apersonal notetothe family at www.resthavenbatonroug e.com.

Leonie Savoie Smith,a nativeand resident of Fordoche, LA,she passed away on Tuesday, June 10thather home at the ageof92. She was a homemakerwho loved spending timewithher family,especiallywhen it came to spoiling allthe babies. She is survivedbyher daughter, CherylSmith Bordelon and husband Bubba; sons, RogerR Smith, Carl J. Smith and wife Amanda BailiSmith, Fred J. Smith and wife TheresaAndre Smith; grandchildren, Roger (Ray), Benjaminand Corey Smith,April Pierce and JacobSmith,KennthBordelonIII,Timothy (TJ)and Tyler Smith, Nicole D'Aquilaand Kelsey Adams; greatgrandchil-

dren,Haley Smith and HarleyPepiton,Emma and Ollie Smith, Olivia D'Aquila, Rory and Reese Smith,Jimmie, Annelise and Aurelia Leonie Adams, Harper Leigh Smith, Gabrielle Ruffin;great-great grandchildren,Beau andIvy Smith, HarperMay, Waylon,and Ally Pepiton.She is preceded in death by herhusband of 70 years, RufusJ.Smith; parents, Leonardand Azelina Savoie; brothers, Alfred Roche, Lester Savoie, Felton Savoie; sisters NatalieRichard and LeaHigginbotham; daughter-in-law Carolyn Hebert Smith. Thefamilywould like to send aspecial thanks to Pointe Coupee Home Healthand Hospice Avisitation willbeheldat St.Frances Cabrini Catholic Church in Livonia on TuesdayJune17, 2025 from 9amuntilMass of Christian Burial at 11 am. Theintermentwill follow in thechurch cemetery. The pallbearers will be her grandsons; Ray, Ben Corey, Jacob,Kenny,T.J. andTyler.

Weathers, Brenda

BrendaJoanWeathers, atreasuredresident of Denham Springs,Louisiana, passed away on June 9, 2025. She will be deeply missed by herfamilyand all wholoved her. Brenda wasa kindand gentle soul. Sheenjoyed crimeshows andStephenKingnovels Shelived as acompassionate, selfless, andhardworking role model. She is survived by herchildren, grandchildren, andgreatgrandchildren. Brenda contributedtoLSU Ag by testingand writing forfuture generations, helpingto createnew opportunities forplanting seeds in Louisiana.

Smith, LeonieS

Sachdev,Sham Lal

Ragusa, Patricia Thomas 'Patti'

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. At first it looked like Musk’shopes would be met.

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.

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 Con-

gress. 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.

Whythe

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.

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.

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

Opening wincarries oversized valuefor Tigers TONE-SETTER

OMAHA, Neb.— By College World Series

standards, this was like theThrillainManila, the Yankees and Dodgers in thebigleague World Series,LSU versus Clemson in football in August.

Let’snot go there just yet.

This is college baseball’s time on sports’ center stage,and this was aboutasgoodasthis venerable event could offer in the opening round: The two highest-seeded teams remaining, No. 3Arkansas againstNo. 6 LSU. The only two Southeastern Conferenceteamsstill standing.The two favorites among thisyear’s elite eight Now there is one favorite, LSU, as the Tigers toppledthe mightyRazorbacks 4-1 in as dramatic of aSaturday nightasyou could have between these two borderrivals in any sport.

Not that Arkansas is done, butArkansas has to battle out of theloser’sbracket while the Tigers cruiseintothe next crucial game at 6p.m. Monday against UCLA on ESPN. The Bruins beat upstart Murray State 6-4 Saturday afternoon,the team the Razorbacks must now play to survive Arkansas coach Dave VanHorn downplayed the fix his team is in.

“You just can’tget all uptightaboutit,” VanHorn said. “These guys,they’ve come back andwon games.They’ve done some greatthingsthis year.”

LSU coach Jay Johnson downplayed how much benefit this win gave to his Tigers.

“A lot’smade of it, especially when you’re playing such agreat team,” Johnson

ä See RABALAIS, page 5C

STAFFPHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK

LSU left fielder Derek Curiel reactstohis run-scoring single in theeighthinning against Arkansas on SaturdayatCharles Schwab Field in Omaha, Neb

BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer

OMAHA,Neb.— Kade AndersonattendedSt. Paul’sHigh in Covington.

For all of his talent, his career for the Wolves was relatively short. Anderson underwentTommy John surgery in April of his junior year and missedhis entire senior season, eliminating any chance of him forgoing his commitment to LSUand starting his professional baseball career But that situation,asdark as it was, helped placethe 21-year-old from Louisiana on the mound at Charles Schwab Field on Saturday night in LSU’sfirst game of theCollege World Series againstArkansas. “That’s why you comehere,” Anderson said.

ANALYSIS

NewvibehighlightsSaints’

BYLUKE 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.

In acritical game between the two highest-seeded teams remaining in the CWS, Anderson allowed just one earned runinseven innings in his first appearance in Omaha, surrendering just threehitsand recordingseven strikeouts in LSU’s 4-1 winover the Razorbacks.

The victory means LSU(49-15) will face UCLA on Mondayinthe winner’sbracket. First pitch is set for6 p.m. and will be available to watch on ESPN. Arkansas (48-14) will face Murray State at 1p.m.onthe same day in the loser’sbracket.

“Outstanding performance. What we’ve been accustomedtoonthe opening night of every weekend this ä See LSU, page 5C

season program

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

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. Butthis isn’tchange for change’ssake,

See SAINTS, page 4C

Scott Rabalais

STAFFPHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK

LSU starting pitcher Kade Anderson celebrates after getting the final out of the seventh inning in aCollegeWorld Series game against Arkansas on SaturdayatCharles Schwab Field in Omaha, Neb.LSU defeated Arkansas 4-1.

U.S. OPEN

Burns holds lead at soggy Oakmont

Former LSU star faces his biggest test in final round

BY DOUG FERGUSON AP golf writer

The closest Sam Burns has come to a major championship is sharing a house with a close friend who already has three of them. He has been inspired by Scottie Scheffler the last few years. The next step is to join him as a major champion.

Burns, a former LSU star, held steady after missing a short par putt late Saturday in the U.S. Open, responding with a beautiful pitch for a tap-in birdie and two scary putts down the hill from inside 60 feet to save par on the 18th hole at rain-soaked Oakmont for a 1-under 69.

That gave him a one-shot lead over major-tested Adam Scott and J.J. Spaun, with Viktor Hovland not far behind as the only four players to survive par Burns was at 4-under 206. He has five PGA Tour titles, the last one more than two years ago, and is coming off a playoff loss last week in the Canadian Open At stake for Burns is a chance for the 28-year-old from Shreveport to become the sixth American at 30 or under to capture his first major since 2020. Scheffler has won 19 times worldwide the last three years, including three majors, most recently last month at the PGA Championship

“Scottie’s obviously an incredible player I don’t think I need to say that,” Burns said with a laugh. “We obviously spend a lot of time together and being able to talk to him and just kind of learn from him and ask him questions, it’s been really cool.” Scheffler has won his three majors in what turned out to be blowouts. Sunday at Oakmont was shaping up to be anything but that. Scott, who only climbed back into the top 50 in the world less than a year ago and hasn’t seriously challenge in a major in nearly seven years, became only the third player at par or better for the opening three rounds in a U.S. Open at Oakmont.

He birdied three of his last six holes for a 67, getting into the final group when J.J. Spaun made bogey from the bunker on the 18th hole and shot 69. Scott is the only player among the top 10 who has won a major That was 12 years ago at the Masters No one has ever gone more than 11 years be-

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By GENE J PUSKAR

Adam Scott, of Australia, removes his hat after finishing his round on the 18th hole. Scott is tied with J.J Spaun, one shot behind leader Sam Burns.

tween their first and second major titles.

“Putting ourselves in these positions doesn’t just happen by fluke,” Scott said. “I really haven’t been in this kind of position for five or six years, or feeling like I’m that player But that’s what I’m always working towards. It’s not that easy to figure it all out.

“But if I were to come away with it tomorrow it would be a hell of a round of golf and an exclamation point on my career.”

Spaun, who lost in a playoff at The Players Championship in March, kept pace with Burns throughout the back nine until the end. He looked comfortable under the pressure, making only two bo-

geys while matching pars with Burns over seven straight holes.

“It seemed like we were kind of back and forth,” Spaun said. “He would take the lead, I would take the lead, I would fall back, whatever But it was fun You can’t really play against your opponent; you got to play this course. There’s just so much on demand with every shot.”

The other survivor to par was Hovland, who has been smiling as much as anyone on a course that has been exasperating to so many all week.

Hovland salvaged a bogey from an opening tee shot into the bushes and an exquisite shot off the muddied cart path.

But he hit the pin on the uphill ninth hole for birdie and hit an amazing wedge from the cabbage left of the 17th green for a tap-in birdie. He closed with a bogey from the rain-soaked rough on the 18th for a 70 and was three behind

“I’m well aware that I’ve got a chance tomorrow, and if I shoot a low round of golf tomorrow then anything can happen,” Hovland said. “But there’s a lot of good players around me. Adam Scott played a brilliant round today, just didn’t really miss a shot. That forces me to play some really good golf tomorrow.”

Carlos Ortiz turned in one of the most remarkable performances by going bogey-free for 30 consecutive holes. The streak ended on the 18th, but the Mexican still had a 67 and was very much in range at even-par 210.

Missing from the mix was Scheffler, the world’s No. 1 player who had won three of his last four tournaments coming into the U.S. Open. Scheffler never found any momentum, with one critical stretch coming right before the turn.

After holing a 20-foot birdie putt on the sixth, Scheffler saved par after driving into the rough on No. 7 and hitting wedge to 3 feet. But then what looked like a tap-in par on the long par-3 eighth turned into a shocking miss.

He wound up with a 70, moving him from a tie for 23rd to just outside the top 10. But he was eight shots behind Burns.

Six-lane highway somehow blends into Oakmont course

BY NOAH TRISTER AP sportswriter

Thompson, Sagstrom share lead at LPGA Classic BELMONT, Mich. — Lexi Thompson birdied two of the final three holes Saturday in the Meijer LPGA Classic for a share of the third-round lead with five others, including former LSU star Madelene Sagstrom, in a bid to win for the first time in just over six years.

Thompson shot a 4-under 68, rebounding with birdies on Nos. 16 and 18 after driving into the water and making a bogey on the par-5 14th. At 11-under 205 at Blythefield County Club, she was tied with Nanna Koerstz Madsen (68), Sagstrom (67), Sofia Garcia (68), Hye-Jin Choi (69) and Carlota Ciganda (69). Thompson was back on top a year after losing a playoff to Lilia Vu on the tree-lined course. The 30-year-old from Florida won the last of her 11 LPGA Tour titles in early June 2019 at the ShopRite LPGA Classic.

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.

OAKMONT Pa For a six-lane interstate 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.”

“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

U.S. Open first-round leader J.J Spaun walks across a bridge over the Pennsylvania Turnpike on Thursday.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By CHARLIE RIEDEL

Sam Burns reacts to his chip shot onto the 17th green during the third round of the U.S Open on Saturday at Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pa. Burns shot a 1-under 69 to stand at 4 under for the tournament.

SCOREBOARD

93.904 mph. 2. (60) Ryan Preece, Ford, 93.839 3. (1) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet, 93.830. 4. (54) Ty Gibbs, Toyota, 93.757. 5. (71) Michael McDowell, Chevrolet, 93.704.

6. (5) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 93.694.

7. (34) Todd Gilliland, Ford, 93.657. 8. (16) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 93.655. 9. (22) Joey Logano, Ford, 93.628

10. (99) Daniel Suárez, Chevrolet, 93.616.

11. (8) Kyle Busch, Chevrolet, 93.593.

12. (9) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, 93.569.

13. (21) Josh Berry, Ford, 93.519.

14. (43) Erik Jones, Toyota, 93.482.

15. (35) Riley Herbst, Toyota, 93.475.

16. (17) Chris Buescher, Ford, 93.470. 17. (7) Justin Haley, Chevrolet, 93.442.

18. (12) Ryan Blaney, Ford, 93.429.

19. (19) Chase Briscoe, Toyota, 93.419.

20. (2) Austin Cindric, Ford, 93.357.

21. (3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 93.334.

22. (45) Tyler Reddick, Toyota, 93.331.

23. (77) Carson Hocevar, Chevrolet, 93.325.

24. (38) Zane Smith, Ford, 93.311.

25. (23) Bubba Wallace, Toyota, 93.250.

26. (41) Cole Custer, Ford, 93.248.

27. (24) William Byron, Chevrolet, 93.218.

28. (10) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, 93.082

29. (48) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, 93.073.

30. (6) Brad Keselowski, Ford, 92.971.

31. (20) Christopher Bell, Toyota, 92.958.

32. (42) John H. Nemechek, Toyota, 92.624.

33. (47) Ricky Stenhouse Jr, Chevrolet, 92.531.

34. (51) Cody Ware, Ford, 92.471.

35. (4) Noah Gragson, Ford, 92.272

36. (11) Ryan Truex, Toyota, 92.070

37. (78) Katherine Legge, Chevrolet, 91.256

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 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

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

N. 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.

-11

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

Jacob Pearson,West

Cade Beloso, John Curtis

Cameron Meeks, Sam

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 to make a throw to first base during

It’s past time for Pitts to deliver for Falcons

BY

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. It’s all right there for Kyle Pitts.

The Falcons tight end has seemingly every reason to flourish when the season starts Sept. 7 against Tampa Bay There are productive wide receivers (Drake London and Darnell Mooney) who can draw attention away from him in the pass game. There is an elite running back (Bijan Robinson) who likewise will require defenses to commit to stopping him. There is a second-year quarterback (Michael Penix) whose progress in the offseason has delighted his coaches. Then there’s a coaching staff that recognizes Pitts’ sky-high ceiling and wants to make use of that ability

And, not least, Pitts’ own inventory — a boatload of talent and incentive to earn a contract that can provide generational wealth.

You can call it pressure or opportunity It could be both for the 24-year-old Pitts, who is not taking part in on-field workouts during the team’s minicamp this week as he treats a foot injury

A pivotal time has arrived in his career, now going into its fifth year In the final year of his contract with the Falcons and free agency beckoning, if there were ever a season for him to maximize his ability, this is it.

Although last season would have been nice, too.

Pitts had struggled in 2023 as he was coming back from seasonending knee surgery in 2022 and played with a less capable quarterback in Desmond Ridder.

In 2024, Pitts had an accomplished quarterback in Kirk Cousins and an offensive coordinator in Zac Robinson eager to take advantage of his skills. Before last season, Cousins went so far as to call him “our best player.” Robinson assured everyone that Pitts would have a large role in the offense.

“His speed, how fast he can play

COMMENTARY

with his size and the things that he can do in the pass game and in the run game is going to be a huge value for us,” Robinson said before the season.

Ultimately, Pitts caught 47 passes for 602 yards and four touchdowns, fewer receptions and yards than he produced in the season before The reception total was fifth highest on the team and tied for 22nd among NFL tight ends, according to Sports Reference.

Tight end Charlie Woerner gave the Falcons much better run blocking than Pitts and, in fact, played more offensive snaps than Pitts in five of the team’s final six games. With his disappointing play, Pitts played a role in the Falcons’ extending their playoff drought to seven seasons.

So much for huge value.

On Tuesday, on the Falcons’ first day of minicamp, I asked coach Raheem Morris if anything in particular held Pitts back last season

“No ” he said. “It’s just a matter of going out there and doing it.”

There was more to the response, but those 12 words spoke loudly, particularly considering two of Morris’ patterns.

In dealing with media, he is quite adept at answering a question at length without really addressing the substance of it. Also Morris tends to lean to the positive when speaking about his players.

To that end, Morris left no uncertainty about his view of Pitts’

2024

Morris said something else interesting about Pitts on Tuesday: that there is “pressure that lives on his chest” from the expectations placed on him for being the No. 4 pick in the 2021 draft, the earliest a tight end has been selected.

Morris presumably wouldn’t have brought it up if it weren’t the case. It was a reminder that

Pitts is an actual human, however unlike the rest of us he might appear Regardless, the Falcons haven’t given up on him, not that they have a lot of choice.

He remains their best passcatching tight end and, after spending a top-five draft pick on him, they’d like to get more from their investment. There has been trade chatter but there’s little reason to think he’s going anywhere.

Morris remains hopeful that Pitts will improve through his connection with Penix in the quarterback’s second season. Pitts was the target for what arguably was Penix’s biggest moment last season — a 13-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter against Washington when the Falcons faced fourth-and-goal with less than 90 seconds remaining while trailing 24-17.

“(Pitts) has got very high standards for himself, and I feel really good about those two working together and absolutely getting a better result,” Morris said.

The potential is so obvious and tantalizing.

“He’s super talented,” Morris said. “That’s always going to be the thing that gives you hope for Kyle, right?”

Falcons fans know all about it, namely the size/speed/strength combination that makes him such a problem to cover and tackle after the catch.

It was on full display when Pitts, teaming with the great Matt Ryan, made the Pro Bowl as a rookie in 2021. The flashes have popped far less frequently since.

“I keep on saying that he’s a freaking unicorn,” London said.

“I don’t know somebody who’s (6-foot-6, 250 pounds), fricking running like that. And then, too, he has great, great route skills, great hands and, too, he blocks.

Just seeing him out there doing his thing for the last three years is really, really cool, and I think we’re excited for this year, for sure.”

Bowman battling back pain but will still race in Mexico

BY JENNA FRYER AP auto racing driver

MEXICO CITY Alex Bowman

driving. Bowman said his hit registered 50 G-force.

Rose finishes fourth in last run with LSU track

BY TOYLOY BROWN III Staff writer

LSU middle-distance star Michaela Rose likes to get in front quickly and more often than not remains first as she staves off foes. In the women’s 800-meter final of the NCAA outdoor track and field championships in Eugene, Oregon, Rose tried to stick to her blueprint. She led for the majority of the race Saturday, but she could not maintain in the end, finishing fourth with a time of 1 minute, 59.47 seconds. Immediately after defeat, she approached the winner Stanford’s Roisin Willis, who broke Rose’s 2-day-old meet record time with a 1:58.13 mark — and hugged her But Rose, a 10-time All-American and six-time Southeastern Conference champion, couldn’t end her college career in storybook fashion.

The brightest spot for the LSU women was sophomore Tima Godbless, who took home the bronze in the 100 final. Her 11.183 time was 0.006 seconds faster than the runner in fourth.

Junior Ella Onojuvwevwo competed in the 400 final and was fourth with a time 50.57. She was only 0.06 seconds slower than the third-place finisher

PROVIDED PHOTO By KRISTEN yOUNG LSU’s Michaela Rose leads the way in the 800-meter run at the Bryan Clay Invitational on April 14, 2023. Rose closed her LSU career with a fourth-place finish in the 800 at the NCAA outdoor championships.

In the discus, LSU freshman Princesse Hyman threw a personal-best

SAINTS

Continued from page 1C

and 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 secondlevel 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

185 feet and 4 inches, finishing 11th. In the women’s 4x100 relay final, the Tigers finished eighth with a time of 43.32. The team members were junior Machaeda Linton, freshman Nasya Williams, sophomore Aniyah Bigam and Godbless. LSU finished 13th in the team competition with 20 points. Georgia won the meet with 73 points and was followed by USC (47) and Texas A&M (43).

Banks watches a play from the offensive line

To be determined

Will the trenches be better?: New Orleans invested 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.

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 po int s-p ayi ng 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

“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.”

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.

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 stand-up 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 free-agent 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.

KEN SUGIURA

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (TNS)

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By BRyNN ANDERSON

Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts runs past Carolina Panthers safety Xavier Woods on Jan. 5 in Atlanta.

BY ERIC OLSON Associated Press

OMAHA, Neb.— Roman Martin andAJ Salgado drove in two runs apiece to lead UCLA to a6-4 victory over aMurray Stateteammakingits CollegeWorld Series debut Saturday The Bruins, in the CWS for thefirst time since they wonthe championship in 2013, built a6-0 lead before the Racers began chippingawayatitinthe middle innings. UCLA closer Easton Hawk pitcheda 1-2-3 ninth to secure the Bruins’ fourth straight wininanOmaha opener

“It’sone game in afour-team bracket,” UCLA coach John Savage said.“Yeah, you want to win the firstgame, no question about it. But we’ve got along, long ways to go.” UCLA (48-16) willplay Monday night against No. 6national seed LSU, which beat No. 3Arkansas 4-1 Saturdaynight.

The Racers (44-16), onlythe fourthNo. 4 regional seed since 1999 to advancetothe CWS, will try to keep their first appearance going when theyplay Arkansas in an elimi-

RABALAIS

Continued from page1C

said. “I didn’tfeel like (losing theopener) wasadeath sentence. They call it adoubleelimination tournament for areason.”

True enough, but the fact is winning the opener is huge. Front page. Bold type.Twenty-twoofthe past25CWS champions have won their opener.All seven of LSU’snational champions have won their first game It isn’taguarantee, but itis agreat start. And even in adouble-elimination format, youmusthaveagreat start. This was perhaps LSU’sbiggestshowdown in aCWS opener since 1997, when the Tigers beat Rice and Lance Berkman 5-4 on Brandon Larson’seighth-inning home run. That LSU teamalso couldn’tafford to fall into the loser’sbracket.Instead, it went on to beat Alabama for thetitle.

The Tigers couldn’thaveasked fora much better start in this one. After ascorelessfirst inning with each team’sace LSU’sKade Anderson andArkansas’ Zach Root —settling in, the game took atotally unexpected left turn in the second.

LSU chased Root, apitcher Johnson still laments about not signing, before the second inning wasover.The Tigers scored three runs as six straight batters reached base with one out: Luis Hernandez and DerekCuriel onwalks, Daniel Dickinson on acunning bunt single, Chris Stanfield on an RBIsingle to left, Michael Braswell on ahit by pitch and Josh Pearson on an RBI fielder’schoice. Suddenly,itwas 3-0 Tigers and Root was done.

Why didn’tVan Horn leavehis ace in to work through what looked like some survivable control issues in the second?

“Really it boiled down to Anderson,” Van Hornsaid. “He didn’tgiveusanything. He’s11-1 because he’sreally good. That’s all I’ve got.” Anderson scuffled througha rather rocky showing in the super regional against West Virginia, when he surrendered six earned runs in seven inningsof work. At the postgame news conferenceat Alex Box Stadium, Anderson lookedlike he could bite asteel bolt in half he wasso irritated with himself.

This time, he turned in one of the most dominant starting pitching performances LSU has everhad here. He allowed just one run —ahome run Reese Robinett launched over the Tigers’ bullpen inright to lead off the Arkansas sixth —and three hits total while walking two and striking out seven. That with some straightgas in the eighth from Chase Shores —pitchesin the 99-101 mph range that turned the Razorbacksintocochondelait —and another beyond-his-years ninthinning from freshman Casan Evans did the trick for LSU. Arkansas got arelief pitching performance to match Anderson from Gabe Gaeckle. He struck out 10 Tigers (LSU fanned 16 times Saturday and still won) and allowed justthree hits and arun in six innings of work, but it wasn’tenough. The combination of Anderson, Shores and Evans conspired to limit Arkansas to aseason low for runs andits second-lowest hit total of 2025.

The Tigers can come back Monday against UCLA withAnthony Eyanson, who can also be expected to pitch better thanhe did in the super regional, andback him up with just about anyone from the bullpen. That includes Shores and Evans, whoonly threw 10 and 13 pitches, respectively

“Wehave great pitching depth,” Johnson said. “That’sthe onlyway youget here, survivethe regional formatand thesuper regional and the season.” LSU did more than survive acrucial opener.The Tigersstoked theirchances of winning the bracket and pushed theteam that still represents theirbiggestthreat to the brink of elimination. Instead of double elimination, that’sa double win.

down and got back-to-back strikeouts and a groundout to keep it 1-0.

Dean West singledinanotherrun in the second, and the Bruins added four morein the fourth on asafety squeeze bunt, base hitand Salgado’stwo-run double.

BY SCOTT RABALAIS Staff writer

OMAHA, Neb.— Chris Stanfield and the LSU Tigers began theirpursuit of aCollege World Series trophy Saturday against Arkansas, butbeforethat atrophyofanother kind came to him

The LSU center fielder has been named the inaugural winner of the Tony Gwynn Trophy in avote of National College Baseball WritersAssociation members, college baseball coaches and other media members.

The award honors players whoare active in communityservice as well as excelling on the field and in the classroom.

AtransferthisyeartoLSUaftertwoseasons at Auburn, theTallahassee, Florida,native donates $100 to theMiracleLeague of Baton Rouge every time he gets an extra-base hit or stolen base through his “Be The 1” campaign.

nation game Monday The Bruins were in full control early and improved to 27-1whenscoring first. They loaded the bases with no outsinthe first inningagainstNic Schutte(8-5).Hegave up a hitand issued three walks beforehesettled

Murray State endedthe UCLA pitching staff’s streak of 202/3 scoreless innings when asliding Jonathan Hogart beat Salgado’s throw to theplate on Carson Garner’s drive into right field in the fifth. Before that, the Bruins hadn’tallowed arun since thesecondinning of their super regional opener against UTSA.

Stanfield cameinto the CWS hitting .309 withone homerun,15doubles, twotriples and five stolen bases.

Theaward is named forHallofFamer Tony Gwynn, a15-timeall-star who won a National Leaguerecordeight batting titles with the San Diego Padres. He played and later coached at San Diego State and died in 2014 after along bout with cancer

LSUbaseball players celebrate in the outfield as the Tigers defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks 4-1onSaturday

in Omaha, Neb

LSU

Continued from page1C

year,” LSU coach Jay Johnson said. “I thought he got stronger as the gamewent along.Ithought he executed pitchesata really high level, which you have to do against that offense.”

Anderson struggled withhis command earlyonwith twowalks in the first two innings, but he locked in after that. The future first-round MLB pick recorded six strikeouts over thenextfive innings and didn’twalk another batter

In theearlyinnings, LSU pitching coach NateYeskiebelieved Anderson’sdelivery was “a little lethargic”but improved as thegame wore on.

“I think he was trying to really pitch in his mind and spot up,rather than let hisathleticism and hisnatural ability take over,” Yeskie said.“So once that happened, Ithink thathestarted to kind of dial it in alittle bit better.”

Anderson’sstufflooked crisp even as thegame woreon. He tosseda kneebuckling 83 mph curveball to end the fifth inning, andherecorded his final out on a diving changeup to endthe seventh.The only runheallowed came on asolo home run from first baseman ReeseRobinettin thesixth inning.

“I thought outside of thehome run, his fastball command was better as the game went along,” Yeskie said. “The secondary stuff, therewas enough to get him through there, andhejust made some pitches when he needed to, kept theball on theground.”

Anderson exited after surrendering a leadoff single in theeighthinning on his 100th pitch. Bythe end of the night, he becamethe nation’sleader in strikeoutsthis season.

Replacing Anderson was redshirt sophomore Chase Shores, amember of the 2023 nationalchampionship team who wasunavailable by the time the Tigers reached Omaha after undergoingTommy John surgery.

Shores’ first pitch was wild and allowed the runner to reach scoring position, but he bounced back withtwo strikeoutsand aflyout to center field to maintain LSU’s 4-1 lead.

“Credit to him,” Yeskie said. “He’sbeen working his (butt) off for close to two years to get back to thespot.”

Freshman right-hander Casan Evans took theninth inningand tossed ascoreless frame.

LSU grabbed the early advantage in the second inning, scoring three runs on two hits, two walks and ahit batter

Arkansas left-handedstarter Zach Root struck out Steven Milam tolead off the second but thenwalked the next twobatters and surrenderedabase-hit bunt to junior Daniel Dickinson to load the bases for junior Chris Stanfield.

After thebunt,Stanfield poked asingle into left field on the third pitch he saw,driving in arun to give LSUa1-0 lead.

“That was what Iwas looking for,” Stanfield said. “I faced him prior,back at LSU, andthatwas thesame pitch, so I’dalready gotten that look,and Iwas just putting a good swing on it.”

Senior Michael Braswell—the No. 9hitter —then was hit by apitch to force in another run before theTigers took a3-0 lead after senior Josh Pearsonreached on afielder’s choice.

Root’sevening was done after Pearson’s ground ball. The Arkansasace lasted just 12/3 inningsbeforeexiting forright-hander Gabe Gaeckle.

In Root’s start againstLSU on May 9in Alex Box Stadium,helasted six innings and allowed just two earned runs on five hits.

“Yeah, it’s early,but the wind’sblowing in,” Arkansas coach Dave VanHorn said

aboutreplacing Root. “It’s going to be tough to hit it overanybody’shead.Scoring alot of runs against Anderson, to me wasn’t something that wasgoingtohappen. Ihated to do it, but Ijustfeltlike it was the right decision.” Gaeckle forced agroundertoescapethe second inning before shutting down the Tigers forthe rest of his outing. The sophomoretossed six innings, striking out 10 and allowing just three hits before getting lifted with twoouts in the eighth inning. He exited the gamewith arunner on secondand two outs forleft-handerColeGibler, who entered to face freshmanDerek Curiel, aleft-handed hitter.Despite the matchup disadvantage, Curiel shot an 0-2 single into left field to score Milam from secondbase and give the Tigers a4-1 lead.

Milamwas theonlyTigerwithmultiple hits, but the Tigers’ top three batters combined to go 0for 13 with eight strikeouts. The two teams combined for only 10 hits while striking out 26 total times.LSU struck out on 16 occasions.

Email Koki RileyatKoki.Riley@ theadvocate.com.

STAFF PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK

at Charles Schwab Field

OUTDOORS

Swollfestrodeo abig hit

Early-summer

fishingevent sees hordes of anglers, topoffshoreaction

BY JOEMACALUSO

Contributing writer

If fishing is the judge, then last weekend’s27th annual Swollfest Rodeo was ahuge success.

Then, if you measuresuccess by the numbers of anglers entered, this early-summer fishingcompetition was an off-the-charts hit.

Notebook

“I don’tknow where tostart,” rodeo organizer NickRauber said of the Grand Isle event. “Wehad phenomenal weather,we had more than athousand entries and had a waiting list of volunteers.

“It all came together so well. It was adream of atournament.” Fish?

Well, Beau Grafton’s 350-pound swordfish brokea recordfor the “swollest” —the heaviest fish weighed in the rodeo’shistory Right behind that was Casey Leblanc’s 197-pound yellowfintuna, a massive yellowfin for this time of year Snapper also didn’tdisappoint

The red snapper categorywas led by the25-poundercaught by Jay Gomez Larry Doiron topped the mangrove snapper category witha 9.72-pounder

“Fishing offshore wasspectacular.Lots of big fish, butinshore fishermen struggled to catch lots of fish,” Rauber said.

Still, Roland Dugas’ 5.81-pound speckled trout topped that category.The number of fish caught inshore was down as high winds and dirty water were an issue.

“What was even more special were the numbers of kids weighing fish and around the weighstation,” Rauber said. “A couple of years ago we teamed withthe Salty Kids Rodeo, and the youngsters showed up. The adults around the (Grand Isle) marina said our rodeo is what fishing is all about because there were so many kids carryingfish to the scales.”

Ryan Perry organized Salty Kids several years ago and sawthe opportunity to blendthe tworodeos into the mostwell-attendedand biggest fundraiser of the summertime fishing events on theLouisiana coast.

“Wehad the best year ever with our scholarships. We don’thave all thetotals in yet, but we will meet our goals of donating to the many charities,” Rauber said.

Chief among the charities is Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital, which will receive another $250,000 from this event.

“Ofcourse, we couldn’t do this without the volunteers and the volunteer cooks,” Rauber said. “Wetook alook at it all and we estimated it takes 3,500 hours to make Swollfest happen every year.And that falls squarelyonthe shoulders of Tricia Hollis.Swollfest can’t be done without her.” Swollfest 2026? Mark your calendars for June 10-13next year

At Fourchon

Last weekend marked the 21st yearfor the CatholicHigh Alumni Rodeo, acompetitivetwo days of fishing for alumni and friends of theBaton Rouge school Solid attendance boosted bragging rights among this group, and none more so thanthe numberof cobia brought to the scales.

TUESDAY LAFAYETTE KAYAKFISHING CLUB

MEETING: 6p.m., Pack &Paddle, 601 E. Pinhook, Lafayette. Call (337) 232-5854. Website: lafayettekayakfishing.com

WEDNESDAY

FLIES &FLIGHTS: 7p.m., RallyCap Brewing, 11212 PennywoodAvenue, Baton Rouge. Flytying. Open to public. Sparetools, materials for novices. Email Chris Williams:thefatfingeredflytyer@gmail.com

THURSDAY

ACADIANA FLYRODDERS PROGRAM: 6p.m., Pack &Paddle, 601E Pinhook, Lafayette. Open to public Email Darin Lee: cbrsandcdc@gmail. com. Website: acadianaflyrodders org.

PROVIDED PHOTO

Beau Grafton, left, of Thibodaux and acrewmember from his boat‘Beautox’ stand readytoweigh agiant swordfish theycaught during last weekend’sSwollfest Rodeo in Grand isle. Tippingthe scales at 350.8 pounds, the fish is the heaviest weighed in the 27 years of this summertime rodeo on the Louisiana coast that has rapidly becomeone of the state’sbiggest. Swollfest Fishing Rodeo GRAND ISLE Final leaderboard from the 27thannual Swollfest Fishing Rodeoheld from the Grand Isle Marina with categories,top-three anglers and weight of catchinpounds: OverallSwollest (heaviest fish): 1, Beau Grafton, 350.8 pounds (swordfish).

Yes, cobia (some saylemon fish) stolethe show.AJune catch of cobia pushing 60 pounds defies patterns outlinedinfishing books, which, for decades, told us cobia migrate into the western Gulf of Mexicofromeastern waters.

That’s likely stilltrue, butfor the past dozen or so years, theeyeball test is there is aresident population of cobia livingand breeding in Louisiana’s offshore waters

Years ago, it was arare find to have acobia“in the box” in offshore trips in lateMay into June, but now this species, which,by the way, providesexcellent tablefare, hasbeen showing up on rodeo leaderboardsand in ice chests well before the summer solstice fora number ofyears.

Snappercount

ThroughJune1,the latest reporting date,the recreational red snapper catch hit251,911 pounds.

That’s28.2% of ourstate’s 894,955-pound annual allocation

It means recreational anglers caught 67,088 pounds around the Memorial Day holiday, thelast week accounted for in theJune 1 report.

Life jackets

TheSea TowFoundation awarded Wildlife andFisheries’ enforce-

FRIDAY-SATURDAY

BROTHER MARTIN FISHING RODEO &SUMMER FEST: Fishing begins sunriseJune 20,weigh-in 4-5:30 p.m. June 21, Brother Martin High campus, 4401 Elysian Fields Avenue, NewOrleans. All Louisiana waters &launch sites. Call Advancement Office (504) 284-6700. Website: brothermartin.com/alumni/fishingrodeo

ONGOING

CCASTATEWIDE TOURNAMENT & ANGLERS’ RODEO/S.T.A.R.: Summerlong fishing contestthrough Sept. 1. Multiple species categories. CCA membership required. Website: ccalouisiana.com

AROUND THECORNER

JUNE 23—REDSTICK FLYFISHERS

FLYTYING: 7p.m., Orvis Shop, 7601 Bluebonnet Blvd.Open to public.

ment divisionaspot in its Life jacket loaner program, and thedivision established threelife-jacket loaner locations across the state.

The nearest is Hill TopMarina on theDiversionCanal near Maurepas. The others are Cypress Bend Park on ToledoBend near Many and at 3636 West Prien Lake Road on Calcasieu Lake in Lake Charles. The idea is to provide life jackets to boaters before they getonthe water or if theyrealize theydon’t have enough personal flotation devices for all aboard their boat It’saloaner program, so please return thelife jacket after the trip on the water.There is no fee.

Regulations are that each boat “must have aproperlyfitted U.S. Coast Guard approved PFD readilyavailable forall occupantson board anyvessel in Louisiana.”

Anyone age 16 and younger must weara “a properly fitted PFD” while underway on avessel less than 26 feet long.

In the years 2020-24, 96 folks died in boating accidents, and 78 of those were notwearing life jackets.

On another note, Wildlife and Fisheriesreported afatal boating victim from aJune 8incident in Jefferson Davis Parish.

It appears Lake Charles resident DannyHarrison,71, was operating a

CALENDAR

Hands-on clinic covering basics of fly tying. Materials and tools provided. Website: rsff.org

JUNE 26—ACADIANA BUGS&BREWS: 6p.m., Pack &Paddle, 601 E. Pinhook,Lafayette. Open to the public. Email Flip Siragusa: redfish452@ gmail.com. Website: www.packpaddle.com

JUNE 26-29—MLF BASS PRO TOUR: Potomac River, Marbury,Maryland. Website: MajorLeagueFishing.com JUNE 28—FLYFISHING 101: 9-11 a. m. Orvis Shop, Bluebonnet Boulevard, Baton Rouge. Feefree. Basics of casting, rigging,flyselection. Equipmentfurnished. All ages, adults to accompany15-and-younger. Preregistration required. Call Shop (225) 757-7286.Website: orvis.com/ batonrouge JUNE 29—SOUTH LOUISIANA HIGHPOWER CLUB MATCH: 8:30 a.m. Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Range, St

16-foot boat poweredbya hand tiller-steered 40-horsepower outboard motor.Harrison,wearing a life jacket, was thrown from his boat and, according to the report, “was fatally struck by an engine prop while he was in the water,” when theunmanned boat ranin circlesand Harrison couldn’t dodge thepropeller

Thesecondregulationabout tiller-steering outboards is the operator must have akill-switch lanyard attached to his/her person while underway.Whenthe lanyard is pulled, it triggers aswitch on the engine that kills the motor

Goingoutdoors

In additiontosunscreen,think about protection foryoungsters.

TriedchildrenonNatural Patch Companyproducts last summer and its Buzz Patch and Sunny Patch work.

The Buzz is apatch youstick on akid’sclothing notonskin. Use acouple, one on top and one on shortsand thesepatches do repel mosquitoes. There are 40 patches in each pouch.

The Sunny Patch is placed on theskin, thenyou apply sunscreen.

Following instructions, the patchwilllet youknowwhento reapplysunscreen on your younger folks.

Landry Road, Gonzales. CMPGSSM, NRA match rifle or service rifle 200-yard/50-roundsmatch course &Prone matches. Fee$15 members, $20 nonmembers, $5 juniors $25 annual club (firstmatch free) &Civilian Marksmanship Program membership (allows purchases from CMP). Call (337) 380-8120. Email MikeBurke:SouthLaHighPower@ hotmail.com FISHING/SHRIMPING

SHRIMP: Spring inshoreseasonand outside watersopen statewide. Closed in federal watersoff the Texascoast. OPEN RECREATIONAL SEASONS: Red snapper, flounder;lane, blackfin, queen and silk snappers &wenchmen among othersnapper species; all groupersexcept closed for goliath &Nassau groupersinstate/ federal waters.

1, Burt Cestia,23.78. 2, Rryan Leblanc,14.95. 3, MarcusValenciano, 9.78. Mangrovesnapper: 1, Larry Doiron II, 9.72. 2, George Cox, 9.19.

WaylonBagwell, 17.38. 3, Joe Thomassie, 17.09. Mangrovesnapper: 1, Sawyer Ditch, 3.94. 2, Ditch, 3.38. 3, Ditch, 2.88. Cobia: 1, Sawyer Ditch, 21.12. 2, Colton Maier, 17.84. Tuna: 1, Preston Morgan, 57.4. 2, Carter Aguillard,56.6. 3, Dev Delahoussaye, 55.2. Dorado: 1, Aubrey Perry,3.33. 2, Waylon Bagwell, 2.95. 3, Hudson Aicklen, 2.44. Non-warsawgrouper: 1, Fischer Gosserand, 38.2. 2, Gosserand, 25.69. 3, Wyatt Kent, 25.22. No entries in Grouper. KAYAKDIVISION Speckled Trout: 1, PatCortez, 2.12. 2, ElwardCortez, 2.11. 3, Davie Breaux 2.09. 4, Edward Hornsby, 1.8. 5, Hornsby, 1.77. Redfish: 1, TracyBourgeois, 7.37. 2, Derrick Snell, 7.33. 3, Snell, 6.78. 4, Barry Bourgeois, 6.33. 5, Edward Hornsby, 6.26. Flounder: 1, TracyBourgeois, 1.45. 2, Bourgeois, 1.33. 3, Edward Hornsby, 1.32. 4, Derrick Snell, 1.22. 5, Snell, 1.18. Catholic HighAlumniRodeo PORTFOURCHON Topthree places in the 21st annual Catholic High Alumni FishingRodeo. All weights in pounds: ADULTDIVISION Cobia: 1, ButchRea,47.35 pounds.2 Matt Binford, 45.45. 3, Binford, 39.22. Dolphin: 1, Travis Cusimano, 15.9. 2, Ethan Fourrier,7.27. 3, Jax Ott, 6.57. Flounder: 1, Ed Sexton, 2.12. 2, Chris Landry,1.52. 3, Derek Bouziga, 1.15. Grouper: 1, Drew Landry,60.61. 2, Jim McDowell, 29.27. 3, Jonathan Fourrier, 24.19. Mangrovesnapper: 1, Nicholas Raetzsch, 8.26. 2, Thomas Enquist,8.0. 3, Enquist,7.94. RedSnapper: 1, BenLeblanc,26.08. 2, Reel Yeux,25.02. 3, Reel Yeux,24.15. Redfish: 1, Derek Bouziga, 8.4. 2, Bouziga, 8.26. 3, Cody Davenport, 7.92. Sheepshead: 1, LeeBrowning, 3.74. 2, David Alello, 3.72. 3, Donald Schexnayder, 3.58. Speckled trout: 1, Roland Dugas, 5.84. 2, Kevin Bankston, 4.72. 3, Donald Schexnayder, 4.39. Blackfintuna: 1, Travis Cusimano, 20.78. 2, Will Himmel, 18.03. 3, Luis Rodrigue,8.78. Yellowfin tuna: 1, Reel Yeux,50.55. 2, Travis Cusimano, 47.32. 3, Brennan Russo, 42.4. No entries in Wahoo. YOUTH DIVISION Dolphin: Sutton Fourrier,2.18. Redsnapper: Sutton Fourrier,12.02. Mangrovesnapper: Sutton Fourrier, 8.0. Blackfintuna:

CLOSED SEASONS: Gray triggerfish, greater amberjack, bluefin tuna and gag, goliath& Nassau groupersin state/federal waters.

LDWF UPDATES

CLOSED: Woodworth shooting range through June 22 (berm maintenance); South Farm/Sherburne WMA (flooding); Pearl RiverWMA (Old U.S. 11 gate &shooting range; flooding); Hope Canal Road/boat launch (MaurepasSwamp WMA, levee construction);roads/trails,RichardYancey WMA (except Sunk,Shell, Yakey, Wycoff &Silver Lakes roads, flooding); GrassyLakeWMA all roads & trails (flooding), except South Bayou Natchitoches Road is open

DRAWDOWNS: underway on Saline &Kepler lakes.

REOPENED: South Farm (Sherburne WMA). EMAIL: jmacaluso@theadvocate.com

BY TIM REYNOLDS AP basketball writer

OKLAHOMA CITY The book is called “The Obstacle Is the Way.” It’s a gift that Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault gave to Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein during a trying time this season, knowing the voracious reader would figure out the meaning.

Message delivered.

“I read it and remembered that everything happens for a reason,” Hartenstein said. “And after that, everything worked out great.”

Such has been the story of the Thunder’s season. Such was the story of Game 4 of the NBA Finals. Faced with the biggest challenge of their season — a 10-point deficit in the second half, staring at a very real chance of the Indiana Pacers grabbing a 3-1 lead in the title round — the Thunder, once again, came away saying everything worked out great.

Led by a dazzling and frantic finish from the reigning MVP and scoring champion

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander who had 15 of his 35 points in the final five minutes — the Thunder rallied in the fourth quarter to beat Indiana 111104 on Friday night. The series is now tied 2-2, heading back to Oklahoma City for Game 5 on Monday night, and it’s the Thunder who has home-court advantage again. “That was an uphill game against a great team,” Daigneault said after Game 4 in Indianapolis. “This is one of the best teams in the league in the last couple months, since All-Star 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

it was led by the MVP and scoring champion GilgeousAlexander 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.

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

The ties that bind

Fever and Pacers are more than just neighbors in Indianapolis

BY TIM REYNOLDS

AP basketball writer

INDIANAPOLIS Caitlin Clark is doubly disappointed about how the NBA Finals are going right now One, the Indiana Pacers lost Game 4. Two, Clark can’t be there for Game 6. Clark and the Indiana Fever have a good reason for why they won’t be at the Pacers’ last home game of the season on Thursday, when Indiana — which will be either up 3-2 or down 3-2 to the Oklahoma City Thunder by then, depending how Game 5 on Monday goes — plays host to Game 6 of the NBA Finals. The Fever will be at Golden State that night, playing the expansion Valkyries

“I was hoping they’d win it in five,” Clark said. That can’t happen now But somehow, some way, the Fever will be paying some sort of attention to what’s going on at home Thursday night. The Pacers and Fever aren’t just neighbors. They’re basically basketball family They have the same ownership, play their games in the same building, cross paths with the other all the time. And they rave about one another, with players from one team almost always cheering on the other

“I think young kids, if you watch basketball, you turn on and watch the Pacers,” Clark said. “It’s unselfish. They play for each other They play fast They play uptempo. They do things the right way Whether you’re a starter or whether you’re coming off the bench, you’re giving everything you can to your team. It’s really fun to

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 Indiana stole Game 1 at the end. Oklahoma City stole Game 4 at the end, albeit not as dramatically as the Pacers took the opener Game 2 was pretty much controlled by the Thunder throughout; the Pacers had the best of the play for the majority of Game 3. Add it up, and it looks exactly like what it is — a 2-2 series going into Game 5. “I still feel like we have so much work to do,” GilgeousAlexander said. “Halfway there, obviously, but still so far from the finish line.” ä Pacers at Thunder, 7:30 P.M. MONDAy ABC

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 doubledigit wins and how all of

“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.”

watch.”

Much has been made of how this is a special time for basketball in basketball-mad Indianapolis, and the Pacers and Fever are both reveling in it.

The Pacers played host to the 2024 NBA All-Star Game and went to the Eastern Conference finals last season. The Fever flipped how many people think about the WNBA last season in Clark’s rookie year, with swarms flocking to their games — home and away — to see the former Iowa star play There’s the NBA Finals going on now. The WNBA All-Star Game is coming to Indy this summer, and it’s not hard to envision Clark and the Fever making a deep playoff run of their own this year

“She’s an incredible player, someone that I have a ton of respect for, also a good person,” Pacers guard T.J. McConnell said. “I’ve been following her career especially when she got drafted by the Fever We all are happy to have her in Indy It’s been fun to watch.” Clark and Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton are close friends, and that’s just one of the many real and deep ties between the franchises. It’s not a big deal to see Pacers players at Fever games; it always happens. It’s not a big deal to see Fever players at Pacers games; they’re always there, too.

“It’s been amazing watching the Pacers,” Fever guard Sophie Cunningham said “They’re so much fun to watch. I think we resemble their team quite a bit in the way we move the ball and the way we’re trying to

play.”

Fever coach Stephanie White played her high school and college basketball in the state of Indiana, then spent the bulk of her WNBA playing career with the Fever Nobody needs to explain to her what the game means in the state.

“I was here the last time the Pacers were in the finals, back in 2000,” White said. “I remember being in the building and just feeling all that energy It’s exciting. There’s no better place, the epicenter of basketball in Indiana and Indianapolis.”

She sees some parallels between how the Pacers built a contender and how the Fever are trying to become one again.

“The way that they’ve built and rebuilt with the roster, the patience that they’ve shown in the roster and in roster movement, the adversity that they faced early in the year,” White said. “They were this fast, exciting offensive team a year ago to being a solid defensive team that has won regular-season games and playoff games for them when the offense wasn’t really flowing.”

Soon, the Fever will be the only game in town again. The NBA season is nearly over There are either two or three games left. And then, the Pacers will take their seats in the crowd to watch the Fever for the next few weeks.

Clark made it clear: The teams really do get a benefit from being around the other “More than anything they’re just really good people,” Clark said. “They’re good guys. So, I’ve been really fortunate to be here during this time.”

Caitlin Clark is back.

The WNBA’s brightest young star returned Saturday afternoon against the New York Liberty after missing five games with a quad injury and lit up the reigning WNBA champions in the Fever’s 102-88 victory at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Clark’s 32 points were enough to overcome Sabrina Ionescu’s 34 and hand the Liberty (9-1) its first loss of the season Saturday was Clark’s first game since May 24 and she didn’t miss a beat. The second-year phenom torched the Liberty with seven 3-pointers, which tied her career-high.

With all eyes inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse — and across the country on the national telecast — on Clark, fans enjoyed a spectacular performance by the ex-Iowa Hawkeyes star from the opening tip. She finished with 17 points in the first quarter. Nine of them were scored in a span of 45 seconds on three deep treys that left the Liberty flustered. The first was fired just two seconds into the 24-second shot clock 33 feet away over Marine Johannes. Twenty seconds later, she made a 27-footer look easy with Natasha Cloud failing to stay high enough on Damiris Dantas’ screen.

The third 3-pointer took a bit more work. Johannes with the first 3-pointer fresh in her mind — rightfully pressed up on Clark

while working through a screen Clark — already one of the smartest young players in the game recognized Johannes overcommitting and crossed her over on the perimeter What followed was a 31-footer that everyone in the arena knew was going in.

Despite the barrage, the Liberty managed to lead, 26-24, at the end of the first quarter

The onslaught continued in the second, though, and even Breanna Stewart had to laugh about it. Stewart and Clark exchanged laughs after Clark drained a 3-pointer over the allworld defender at the 5:26 mark It contributed to 25 points by halftime on 9-of14 shooting (6-of-10 shooting from 3).

Ionescu, though, attempted to keep her team close as she totaled 17 points and three assists by halftime. She worked to pick up the load with star Jonquel Jones out with a right ankle injury Jones’ absence compounded the void left with Leonie Fiebich overseas with Team Germany

Ionescu’s efforts helped the Liberty trail by three by halftime, but Indiana’s 17-0 run in the third later put the Liberty down 11, the biggest deficit at the time. The drought stretched to 19-0 before Kennedy Burke made a free throw at the 3:28 mark.

LYNX 101, SPARKS 78: In Min-

neapolis, Napheesa Collier scored 26 of her 32 points in the first half, and Courtney Williams scored 17 points as the Minnesota Lynx returned to their winning ways by beating the Los Angeles Sparks. Reserves Natisha Hiedeman scored 14 points and Maria Kliundikova scored 11 points for the Lynx (101), who were handed their first loss of the season on Wednesday by the Seattle Storm, 94-84. It was Collier’s third 30plus point effort of the season. She started the year with a season-high 34 points in a win over Dallas on May 16. Collier followed that with a 33-point effort a week later against Connecticut. With the game in hand against the Sparks, Collier sat the fourth quarter after a 13-for-16 shooting performance. Collier recorded more field goals in the first quarter than Los Angeles as a team. She was 7-for-9 shooting compared to the Sparks, who were 4 for 7. Minnesota led 34-15 at the end of one. By halftime, Collier was at 10-for-12 shooting while Los Angeles overall still trailed her by shooting just 7 for 30. Minnesota led 58-26 at halftime for its highest scoring half of the season. Kelsey Plum scored 20 points, Rickea Jackson scored 18 points, reserve Emma Cannon 14 and Dearica Hamby scored 10 and grabbed 12 rebounds for the Sparks (4-8).

ASSOCAITED PRESS PHOTO By MICHAEL CONROy

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drives as Indiana Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith defends during the second half of Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Friday in Indianapolis.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MICHAEL CONROy

Indian Fever players Caitlin Clark, right, and Aliyah Boston, center, watch during the first half of Game 4 of the NBA Finals between the Indiana Pacers and the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday in Indianapolis.

Staff report

LIVING

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.

E.J. Lagasse finishes adish tableside while his

at Emeril’sRestaurant in NewOrleans.

DEAR DAD

Fathersshape us in ways bothbig and small. Their words,actions, silences —even their absences— leave lasting imprintsthat ripple into the next generation. 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

Seymore Augustus and his daughter Seimone

Risher,Louisianaculture editor

From Basketball Hall of FamerSeimone Augustus to herfather, SeymoreAugustus For Seymore Augustus. Through quiet strength and stories told. There stands aman whoshowed the way. With wisdom deep and asteady mind. His hands wererough, his heart waskind, 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 word he gave, wasaseed 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.

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

BY SERENA PUANG Staff writer

At 35, men mustmake a decision: Theyeitherget really deep into World WarIIhistory or start smoking meat

At least, that’s what people say.The origin of the quip is unclear,and thereare several versions. Somesay the momentousdecision must be madeat30. Others say40. It’s ageneralization —mostpithy observations

are, but is there something to this? Beau Dantin, alicensed professional counselor basedinBaton Rouge who specializes in men’s issues, said the trend mightbeassociated with socioeconomic and life changes people generally experience during that age range. By people’smid-30s,hesaid, they’ve gained stability and have more resources. They also have more time as their kids are be-

coming moreindependent.These hobbies, Dantin said, aresomething people can pick up because they have money and time forit. But why barbecue and World WarII, specifically? Dantin thinks the barbecuemight be about providing and feeding people. As for history, it mightbea part of plugging into the bigger story of humanity

“We’re creatures that look at ourlivesasstories,and so we’re

STAFF PHOTO By IAN McNULTy

father,Emeril Lagasse, looksonfrom the glass-enclosed kitchen

PROVIDED PHOTO

Speaker Bob Dillemuth presented a Garden Discoveries Series program on ‘Using Native Plants in your Home Landscape’ on May 10 at the Main Library at Goodwood. At left is Allison Gianelloni, librarian.

Arts Council celebrates successful year

The Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge gathered friends, partners and community leaders on May 22 to celebrate a successful year and look ahead to the future of arts and culture in the region.

Held at the Cary Saurage Community Arts Center, the 2025 annual meeting was an evening of inspiration, recognition and connection. A highlight of the evening was the announcement of Mark Biletnikoff as recipient of the 2025 Michael Crespo visual artist fellowship. Born and raised in Louisiana,

Biletnikoff is a visual artist with more than two decades of experience. He earned his bachelor’s degree in visual art and painting from Southeastern Louisiana University and went on to receive dual master’s degrees from Savannah College of Art and Design in arts and cultural administration, and in preservation and conservation design.

Newly elected board members also were welcomed: Jeremy Fontenot, Dr Candace Weber, Dr Yolanda Brunette-Lankford, Franz Borghardt, and Rodney Braxton Gratitude was shown to those rotating off the board of directors: Jennifer Tormo Alvarez, Dai Nguyen and Bubba Willis

Guests enjoyed food from Mestizo Louisiana Mexican Cuisine.

COMMUNITY GUIDELINES

The Community column runs Sundays in the Living section and accepts submissions for news of events that have taken place with civic, philanthropic, social and religious auxiliary organizations, as well as academic honors.

Submissions should be sent by noon Monday to run in the upcoming Sunday column. Because of space limitations, organizations that meet monthly or more are limited to one photo per month. If submitting digitally, we prefer JPG files 300KB or larger If taking a photo of a group, have them stand or sit shoulder-to-shoulder. If more than six people are in the photo, arrange them on multiple, distinct rows.Avoid strong background light sources.

Identify those pictured by first and last names as viewed from left to right, row by row. We prefer emailed Community column submissions to features@theadvocate.com.We also accept submissions by mail at P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge LA 70821.A phone number must be included.

The Navy Club of Baton Rouge

The Navy Club of Baton Rouge, Ship 661, USS Kidd, held its monthly luncheon on June 10 at Piccadilly Restaurant on Sherwood Forest Boulevard. Gathered are, from left, front row,

back row, Jack Laws, Adrian Fortier, Donovan McIntyre and Tom Hirschey.

PROVIDED PHOTO

21 debutantes to be introduced at annual Sunday tea

The Baton Rouge Delta Development Corporation will introduce its 2025 coterie of debutantes to the community on Sunday during its annual presentation tea at the Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center

The theme will be “Curating Elegance, An Afternoon with the 2025 Debutantes.”

The 21 debutantes will then be presented at the 56th debutante cotillion on Aug. 2, also at the Hilton. Tiffany N. Robinson is the 2025 cotillion chairperson and Kalonda Carmouche is co-chairperson.

This year’s debutantes are: n Carmen Alecia Rose Alfred, a senior at Southern University Laboratory School and daughter of Ayana and Curley Alfred Jr., of Zachary

n Jiselle Elizabeth Anthony, a senior at Baton Rouge Magnet High School and daughter of Jason Anthony, of New Orleans, and Erin Anthony of Baton Rouge n Kaila Michel Anthony,

a senior at Baton Rouge Magnet High School and daughter of Kevin and Syretta Anthony, of Baton Rouge

n Peighton Nicole Ashley a senior at Liberty Magnet High School and daughter of Garland and Shannon Johnson, Baton Rouge

n Alexandria Nicole Bellanger, a 2025 graduate of Central High School and daughter of Dorsey and Albert Bellanger III, of Baton Rouge n Carmi Malay Burnett,

a senior at Dutchtown High School, Geismar, and daughter of Dr Shanna Rachelle Williams and Erica Denise Williams, of Geismar; and Carvis Maloy Burnett Sr., of Gonzales n Bailee René Butler, a 2025 graduate of Baton Rouge Magnet High School and daughter of Chiquita and Robert Butler Jr., of Baton Rouge n Makenzie Lynn Fisher, a 2025 graduate of Glen Oaks Magnet High School, where she was salutato-

rian, and Baton Rouge Community College, where she earned an associate degree. Her parents are Malinda Evans and Alton Lee Fisher Jr., both of Baton Rouge n Kaleigh Suzanne Garner, a 2025 cum laude graduate of Baton Rouge Magnet High School and daughter of Dr Gregory and Tejuana Garner, of Baton Rouge n Anailah Rochelle Henderson, a 2025 Top 10 graduate of Glen Oaks Magnet High School and Baton Rouge Community College, where she earned an associate degree. Her parents are Chantel Shaalita Hen-

derson of Baton Rouge n Loriana Clayna Barrow Jackson, a senior at Southern University Laboratory Virtual School and daughter of Ciera Barrow and Latice Jackson, of Baton Rouge n Dynasteé A’ariyanah Jacobs, a senior at Southern University Laboratory School and daughter of Andrea D. Dabney and Rinaldi Jacobs Jr., both of Baton Rouge n Terranique Corianna Johnson, a senior at Walker High School and daughter of Dominique Javius-Boyd, of Baton Rouge; and Terrance Johnson, of Winnsboro n Madison Deshea Lathers, a 2025 graduate of Helix Mentorship STEAM Academy and daughter of Carolyn Deshea Lathers

and Trevus Carter, both of Baton Rouge n Danni Elise Morris, a senior at Madison Preparatory Academy and daughter of Daniel and Genara Morris, of Baton Rouge n Kierra Mackenzie Parker, a 2025 graduate of Baton Rouge Magnet High School and daughter of Monisha M. Parker, of Baton Rouge; Pierre T. Poche of Selma, Alabama; and Tarsha A. Donatto (guardian), of Baton Rouge n Dyllan Lee Robertson, a senior at Southern University Laboratory School and daughter of Yancey C.T Dawson and Britt Ashley Dawson, of Baker n Laila Deon Robertson, a senior at West Feliciana High, St. Francisville, and daughter of Darris and Dakisha Robertson, of Zachary n Ainsley Briel Vallere, a 2025 graduate of Central High School and daughter of Jerious and Jessica Vallere, of Baton Rouge n Addison Janine Valliere, a 2025 cum laude graduate of Zachary High School and daughter of Carmen Parker Valliere, of Zachary; and Matthew T. Valliere, of Baton Rouge

n Kirsten Relynn Young, a senior at University Laboratory School and daughter of Kirston and Rachel Young, of Baton Rouge

PROVIDED PHOTO

WBR Garden & Civic Club

The West Baton Rouge Garden & Civic Club held its end-of-the-year luncheon at Louisiana Bayou Bistro in Addis on May 13. Shown are, from left, Ada Hebert, Leigh Prather, Metha Arnold, Joy Hobbins and Cheryl Plauche.

PROVIDED PHOTO

Garden Discovery Series

Bus Di Palma, Chick Streat, Gidget McIntyre, Jerry Pugh and Rick Munch;

TRAVEL

SamHouston JonesParkhas naturalbeautyamidregrowth

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 year she turns her attention to our Louisiana state parks to discover the natural beauty of the South less thana day’sdrive from home.

Local outdoors enthusiast Becky Williams has extensively explored the wonders of the natural world —from the hills of the Appalachian Trail to the ancient footpaths of the Camino de Santiago and myriad trails in between. Her life of adventuring in the wilderness began in the longleaf pine forests of Sam HoustonJones State Park not too far from her childhood home in Lake Charles.

The 1,074-acre park was densely forested when Williams was a kid, and her family traditionwas to rent the four park cabins for Thanksgiving each year.The crew of aunts, uncles and cousins would pack aturkey and trailer aboat 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 highschool days riding bikes throughout the park and hiking the heavily wooded trails.

The park landscape haschanged over the decades —hurricanes culled the once heavilywooded area, 10 newly built cabins replaced the original four,and investments in the trail systemhave improved the park’smountain biking potential since Williams first muddied her tires there. In 2020, Hurricane Laura’sCategory 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

TRAVEL TROUBLESHOOTER

By ChristopherElliott

Americanfootpaths that were once used as wagon roads during the colonial period. Remnants of the devastated trees have become one with the changed landscape— improving the integrity of the forest by providing wildlife habitat, soil nutrients and 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 mossesabound in themicro ecosystemscreatedbyfallen

trees Throughout thepark, beginning withthe magnolia alley at the entrance, visitors will seenewly planted trees,which is part of the reforesting effortsmade by the state,volunteers, nonprofits and businesses. Live oaks have been planted throughout the camping area promising shade in the decades to come. The campsite is well set up for RVswith hookups, cemented pads anddriveways.Tent campers would likely enjoy the sitesonthe

edge farther from the main road, but they should plan to visit in the cooler months until those young oak trees shoot up afew 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 use since Tentrr,the tech company thatoversaw their rental, filed for bankruptcy in 2023. These beautiful campsites remain in contractualcaptivity as they sit peacefully empty —creating a quiet,people-free zone in the park which could be viewed as apositive in the busier times of the year when the RV,cabin and lodge sites arefully booked. The 10 new cabins and lodge sometimes book up ayear in advance, especially in the spring, but midweek reservations are often available.

Located near the boat launch, some cabins overlook the river while others are tucked further in the woods. Each cabin sleeps up to eight people and has ascreened-in porch where visitors can enjoy a fireplace in the cooler months or fire up the TV over the mantle for acozycabin experience.

Birdwatchers, boaters, paddlers and nature enthusiasts of all sorts

are drawn to the park, but mountain bikers have embraced it in a special way.Acommittedgroup of them has formed the nonprofit Lake Area Mountain Bike Organization and dedicated themselves to developing the off-road trails at the park. Bikers can ride alittle over 10 milesonthe network of trails while,with the help of grant funding, the organization is working to expand that mileage to 20. The “orange trail,” or Riverwalk Trail, is an easy ride that loops around the campground, following abend in the Calcasieu River with acouple of engineered small jumps that can easily be rolled over For the more adventurous, OKwith-potentially-being-lost rider the Back 40 Trail winds through the woods crossing and sometimes paralleling other trails for about 3-4 mileswith plenty of opportunities for root jumps and short down hills. Be on alert for afew spots where bikers will need to portage large downed trees. The low areas hold water creating aseries of fun technical challenges.

Thanks to Lake Area Mountain Bike Organization volunteers, most of these muddy low spots have options to cross over on cement pavers. ABSA Eagle Scout service project has provided a bike maintenance station near the restrooms close to the Kids Trail with ahose for de-mudding after the ride.

State parks, while protected from overdevelopment, are not protected from the destructive forces of nature whichultimately bring rejuvenation to the wild spaces they seemingly destroy Visit Sam Houston Jones State Park and enjoy the newly planted trees alongside the remnants of the storms that made way for more natural beauty 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.

Located near the boatlaunch,somecabins at SamHouston Jones State Park overlook the Calcasieu River,while others are further in the woods.

PHOTOSByCATHERINE S. COMEAUX

Ablue heron rests nearthe picnic area at Sam Houston Jones State Park near LakeCharles.

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 sauce with love.You showed me how to pick the perfect fish at the market and to navigate aroom full of strangers.

Youbrought me to bucket-list restaurantsaworld awaybut reminded me nothing topped New Orleans. Youtaughtmethe importance of the kitchen table and that, as humans, we could all relate to food.

Youwarnedmeofthe mistakes you made,inhopes Iwouldn’tfollow 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 timementoring 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

CHOICES

Continued from page1D

always tryingtofind parallels to other big stories to tryand seeourselves in (them),” he said. “History always kind of gives us that platform to be abletodo that.”

Choosing barbecue

AccordingtoVincent Hunt, 43, alocal dad who chose barbecue, there’ssomething primalabout smoking meat

There’sfire. It’scompetitive. There’sgear.It’shard to learn but rewarding.

“Ifyou bring the best brisket to the neighbor’shouse,” Hunt said, “you’re the man.” He didn’tgrow up in a family that made barbecue, andwhenhegot into smoking meat about 10 yearsago, he did it with the intent to do it professionally

Barbecue is notaneasy food to get right —new barbecue enthusiasts haveto cook alot of bad briskets before they canstart making good ones.

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

River Road to ogle whitewashed plantations. He once LARPed thevampire Lestat rising from agrave because he was a sucker for Anne Rice.

He was asucker for Wicks-nSticks,specifically candles shaped like Buddha, and apartment living after hisdivorces. He went hook, line, and sinkerfor self-help, especially Dianetics, and though histoenails blackened,heran across thelongest 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 communityleaderand former Southern University administratorPress Robinson to hisfather, Prince Robinson Jr Dear Dad Happy Everlasting Father’s Day!

Even thoughyou arenolonger alive, Ijust wantedtotake amoment to reflect on your life, your legacy,and thesignificant impact

Doug Perron, 48, afather of three who chose barbecue, had some mishaps early on. He had aneighbor callthe fire department on himat2 a.m. because they saw hishouse with allthe lights outand smoke coming from the back. The first time Perron took pulledpork off his smoker in 2005,hethought he’d ruined it.

“That sucker was pitch black, and Iabout cried,” he said He snappedaphoto and posted the pulledpork on abarbecue forum online, where the experienced pitmasters told him it wasgoingtobegreat,just letitrest for an hour. Perronwas nervous, he said, but when he took thefoiloff and pulled the boneout with no resistance, he wasecstatic.

“I was screaming like LSU had just won aCollege World Series, andever since then, I’ve been hooked,” Perron said.

These days,Hunt has a barbecue restaurant of his own,Salt Pepper Oak,which is also popular on TikTok.He recentlyrelocated thebusi-

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

you have had, and continue to have, on mylife. This tribute would mean much more if you were still here to read it yourself. But God decided otherwise and took you away somethirty-six years ago. Your presence is remembered through thelessons you taught thevalues you practiced, and the kindness you showed daily

My life is what 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 thewords you used, which Iconstantly refer to, but through your humble actions, steadfastintegrity, and being aman of your word. Youoften reminded me that “an apple does not fall far from itstree,”and what atall and strong tree you were, and still are, to me. Andas children often do, Ididn’talways show my appreciation for your steady hand, common sense, and value of hard work.

On this day in history,inyour absence, Iprofess mylove and thank you for setting theexample of how to love, show wisdom, be afather,and be aman all in one. With pride, Icelebrate you today as the remarkable father you were and whose influence en-

ness from Mississippi to Baton Rouge at 6721 Exchequer Drive. The restaurant smokes 15-20 brisketsaday Salt PepperOak’ssmokehouse manager,Tim Armour, 47, worksfive days aweek smoking brisketsatthe restaurant. On theweekends,he smokes brisketathome. He was inspiredbyhis own dad who did alot of grilling when Armour was akid.

“At 22 years old, Igot out of theMarineCorps,”hesaid. “I bought aWeber Kettleand just never looked back.”

Thosewho chosehistory

The “World WarII” in the WorldWar II or barbecue equation is moreofashorthand for history of all types. For those whogrewupin Louisiana, it seems more likelythatthey’reintothe Civil Warasit’scloser to home, andthere were battles right here in thestate. Donald Bajoie, 76, was always interested in history, but he didn’thave time to delve into the topic while he was working full time in construction. Now that he’s semi-retired,hebuilds rep-

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-

dures beyondwords and time.

Press L. Robinson Sr

From television journalist DavidBegnaud to hisfather, GlennBegnaud

My dad has always been the guy with all the answers —orat least the confidence to pretend he did. Take driving, for example. “Always take right turns,” he preached like it was alaw of nature.Left turns? Dangerous. Reckless. The worst idea in the world. Ibelieved him until Iturned 15, took aleft turn, and crashed. Iwasn’tsoworried about the accident as Iwas about telling him. Turns out, UPS drivers really do take right 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. My dad’snot just about rules and certainty.Hehelped integratehis high school prom.He fought for what was right, even if it meant doing 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 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 yourboys, André and me, and those memories fill my heart

lica Civil Warcannons with upcycled materialssuchas scrap metal, plastic pipes and Mardi Gras beads.

Hunt’suncle-in-law,Kent Parker,was interestedin history because his father served in three wars:World WarII, the KoreanWar and Vietnam.

“He nevertalked about what he’d seen or what he’d done,”Parker saidofhis father But the twowatched old war movies together,and as Parkergot older,hegot interested in collecting old coins andeventually treasure hunting for them with his metal detector.When he finds people’sclass rings on the beach, he tracks individuals down to return the rings by mail. Thosewho choseneither Sometimes,the allure of one or the other doesn’tappeal. People may chooseultra-marathon running, hunting, Dungeonsand Dragons or any number of other hobbies.

J.C. Richardson, 50, senior pastor at Wesley United Methodist Church,said he

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.

with gratitude forthe lessons, love, and laughter.I recall our gallery homechildhood, playing pool, watching Letterman while you painted, me on my canvas beside your easel.

Iremember you on every adventure, recalling road trips in the van with my friends to art showsfrom coast to coast. You installed aTV/VCR forNintendo and movies like Airplane!, Monty Python, and Mel Brooks classics we wereprobably too young for. While mostadults dreaded managing kids, you dove in, spending weeks alone with us, laughing like one of us, making experiences like the Grand Canyon and Las Vegas birthdays unforgettable. Our Saints and LSU fandom bonded us; Mardi Gras was electric with your revelry.For your 60th, we performed an epic Blues Brothers routine.

Istrive to honor 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’sDay With gratitude, Jacques Rodrigue

wouldhave loved to have chosen barbecue, but he has asthma and couldn’thandle the smoke. So he chose tennisinstead —a hobbyhe hadinhis 20s andreturned to within the last five years.

Richardson was motivated to revisit tennis because of his health, but he hassince found that thesport is an organic way for him to build community and grapple with how he’schanging.

“Tennis has taught me to be patient withmyself,”he said. WhenRichardsonstarted playing tennis again, he was reminded of his younger self, when he could run faster and had better handeyecoordination. But he was able to persevere because the tennis community let him know through their actions that he wasstill welcome, still worthy and still had something to offer

Perhaps, this message is at the heart of these hobbies.

Beyond meat or history,it’s about connection, embracing newseasonsoflife and pursuing happiness —whatever that looks like.

AT RANDOM

Continued from page1D

Seeing our children adapt so quickly to the challenges of the lockdowns madememore confident in tackling my own work life. 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 was their wayofsaluting aseason when we’d all been workmates. Their present, within view as Iwrite this, is adaily reminderthat for fathers, children can often be the best teachers of all.

Email Danny Heitmanatdanny@ dannyheitman.com.

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 anightwhen, from left,Jacques, Georgeand André joined forces foracelebratory performance.

PROVIDED PHOTO

Press RobinsonSr.’s father,Prince RobinsonJr.

Mimosa Handcrafted holds Peanut ButterDrive

FYIBR staff reports

In 2017, Mimosa Handcrafted asked the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank how they could best help at its lowest donation time of theyear during the summer —“peanut butter” was the answer. The store has collected peanut butter for the food bank every summer since.

This year’sPeanut ButterDrive is happening through Friday Protein-baseddonationsare atremendous help, as peanut butter is alow-cost, high-return donation that’s easyto transport Participate in any of the following ways:

n Purchase a$30 “FundraiserSpoon Pendant. MimosaHandcrafted is offering 20 bronze spoon pendants for $30 each —100% of the purchase price of the pendants sold will be donated to theGreater Baton Rouge Food Bank

n Donate money online. Visit brfoodbank.com, and Mimosa Handcrafted will email a20% off discount code to use online or in person at the Mimosa Shoppe. Fill out the form at mimosahandcrafted.com/pages/submit-a-receipt n Volunteer your time. Volunteer at

the Greater BatonRouge Food Bank (oryour local food bank) forat leastone hour.Submit a form at mimosahandcrafted. com/pages/submit-a-receipt, and Mimosa will email a20% off discount code to use online or in person.

n Donate jars of peanut butter Check all individual store hours before arrivingtodonate peanut butter Bring all jars of peanut butter to theMimosa Shoppe or one of the drop-off locations, available to see at mimosahandcrafted.com.

Join EBR Parish Library’s Linder Challenge

Last summer, theLinder family visited all East Baton Rouge Parish Library locations in one day Fora summer family goal, join thefun with the Linder Challenge. Choose your adventure: n Option 1: TheScenic Route. Take yourtime andvisit all EBRPL locations until Aug. 15. Grab amap at thefirst stop. Collect stamps at each branch. Turn in the completed map at the final stop to earn aLinder Challenge certificate.

n Option 2: TheHeroic Act of Literacy.Feelingambitious?

Visit all 15 locationsinone day Call (225) 231-3710 or email programs@ebrpl.com themorning of

Parent upset daughter is dating olderman

thejourney.Get amap stamped at each library.End the day with acertificate and make aLinder Challenge medallion at theMain Library After completion, participants will be invited to the exclusive Linder Fête celebration. Need adifferent way to participate? Contact programs@ebrpl.com to learn about alternative options that don’trequire transportation. Red Shoes asking for help to ‘fill the fridge’

The Red Shoes is calling on businesses, organizations and individuals across Baton Rouge to takepart in Fill theFridge July —amonthlong campaign to stock its24/7 Community Fridge, afree food resource that supports neighbors in need.

Louisianafaces some of the highest rates of food insecurity in the nation, with children and seniors being among the most affected.

During the summer months, especially in July when school meal programsare unavailable, families feel theweight of food insecurity themost.

This July,The Red Shoes invites the public to pledge just one day to fill thefridge, whether by donating groceries, organizing a

Dogs fend

food drive or spreading the word. Supporters can pledge aday,donatedirectly or help raise awareness using #FillTheFridgeJuly on social media.

Suggested itemsinclude:

n Freshfruits and vegetables

n Deli items, eggs and cheese

n Snacksand ready-to-eat meals

n Shelf-stable foods and drinks.

To learn moreormake your pledge, visitwww.theredshoes.

org or follow @TheRedShoesBR on Instagram.

Arts Councilaccepting summit proposals

The ArtsCouncil of Greater Baton Rouge, in partnership with the Louisiana Division of theArts, is accepting proposals for session speakersand performances at the 2025 Louisiana Arts Summit, taking place Oct. 8-10 at the EBR Parish Library River CenterBranch in downtown Baton Rouge

This year,the conference is seeking high-quality,engaging sessions that explore howthe arts drive impact across Louisiana. Proposals should align with one or more of the following themes:

n Cultural Heritage: The arts safeguardand celebrate the unique traditions, languages and histo-

riesofcommunities, ensuring theyare passeddowntofuture generations.

n Economy: The arts drive local economies by supporting jobs, attracting tourism andspurring small business development through creative industries and culturalevents.

n Education: Arts education enhances student engagement, boosts academicperformance andcultivatescritical thinking andcreative problem-solving skills.

n Health and Wellness: Participating in the arts reduces stress, supports mental health and encourageshealing, especially through programs that engage vulnerable or underserved populations.

n Social Cohesion: The arts bring people together across differences,encouraging dialogue, empathy anda sharedsense of community identity andbelonging. People areinvitedtosubmit proposals forworkshops, talks, paneldiscussions, roundtables, demonstrations or interactive experiences. To submit asession or performanceproposal, or to learnmore, visit www.artsbr.org/ louisiana.

Email Joy Holdenatjoy.holden@ theadvocate.com.

Dear Harriette: My eldest daughter is in a relationship with someonewho is nearly twice her age.Mydaughter is 23, so when she shared the news with me thatshe was dating someone seriously, Iwas happyfor her. She lives with me, so I’d seeflowersbeing delivered and hear long-winded phone calls. She told me that things were serious between thetwo of them, so Iasked if I’d be meeting him soon.She told me she was nervousbecause there are things abouthim that Imay not like; that’s when she admitted that he’s 40 years old.Iamonly48! So, yes, Ifind it strange that aman nearly my age finds interest in my daughter who only just finished college. Her life has barely begun. Needless to say,Iexpressed mydisapprovaltomydaughter and tried to explain why Ifind it inappropriate. Iexplained that it may seem nice now because hecan offer stability and seems further aheadthan sheis, but there is no need for hertoyearn for those things just yet. She’sstilldating him, and her choice has put astrain on our relationship. How can Iget through to her?

—Older Man

Dear Older Man: Tread lightly.People who feel they are in love rarely listentocriticism about their relationship.That goes double for young adults andtheir parents. Remind your daughter that you love her and you’re here for her

Youare not wrong to have some concerns Ican also tell you that Iknowcouplesof similar age gaps who have made it work. Indeed, aclose friend of minemarrieda man more than 20 years her senior,and he just passed away after more than30years of marriage.

On the flip side, Iknow another woman who marriedaman 20 years her seniorwho is nowbasically serving as his caretaker Who knows what your daughter’sfate will be?

Send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/oAndrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St.,Kansas City, MO 64106.

BY JOHN RABY Associated Press

CHARLESTON, W.Va.— Hercules andNed have quite the spacious office at West Virginia’sbusiest airport.

Theborder collies and their handler make daily patrols alongthe milelong airfield to ensure birds and other wildlife stay awayfromplanesand keep passengers andcrew safe.

Hercules is also thechief ambassador,soakinginaffection frompassengers inside the terminal while calming somenervouslywaiting to board aflight at West Virginia International Yeager Airport. Chris Keyser,the dogs’handlerand the airport’swildlife specialist, said preventing a birdfrom hitting aplane “can makeadifferencefor someone’slife.”

Collisions between wildlife and planes are commonatairportsnationwide. With that in mind, Yeager management in 2018 bought Hercules at the recommendation of awildlife biologist. Herculesspent the first 18 months of his life training to herdgeese and sheep aroundhis birthplace at Charlotte, North Carolina-based Flyaway Geese, which teaches bordercolliestohelpbusinesses address nuisance wildlife problems.

When Herculesstepped onto Charleston’s airfieldfor thefirst time, “I held my breath,”Flyaway Geese owner Rebecca Gibsonsaid.“But boy,hetook hold of the reins. It was his place.

“He’sdone an amazing job andhas just been agreat dog for them.We’re very proud of him.”

Along the way,Hercules became alocal celebrity.Hehas hisown Instagram andTikTok

New York’sLaGuardia Airport almost immediately flew into a flock of Canada geese, knocking out both engines. Pilot Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger guided the powerless jet into the frigid Hudson River.All 155 people on board survived the incident, whichwas captured in the 2016 movie “Sully,” starring Tom Hanks.

At the Charleston airport, wildlife-plane incidentsvary each year from afew to acouple dozen.

“Anytimeaplane hits abird, it has to be inspected, and it causes adelay in theflight,” Keyser said. “And sometimes you don’tmakeyourconnecting flights. So that’show important it is to keep everything going smooth.”

accounts andregularly hosts groups of schoolchildren.

Now 8, Hercules has some help. Ned was 2whenhewas welcomed into the fold lastyear from another kennelwhere he trained to herd goatsand geese. Ned hasshadowed Hercules, following commands from Keyser and learning safetyissues such as notventuring onto the runway

“Ned’sready to go,” Keyser said. “He’spicked up on all that. He’s doing fantastic, running birds off.”

Inside the airport operations center,Herculesislaidback until he’stold it’s time to work, barking at the door in anticipation.Ned, on the other hand, is always moving. When not outside, he’ll bring his blue bouncy ball to anyone willingtoplay fetch.

Charleston’s airport is on top of amountain andhas amenagerie of wildlife, includingCanada geese, hawks, ducks, songbirds andbats. After it rains, worms come to the surface and cause an increase in bird activity,Keyser said.

In additiontotakingthe dogs on their regular rounds, Keyser is in constant contact with

the airport tower,which looks for birds on thefieldorrelays reports from airplanes that see wildlife nearby

“Weget plenty of exercise,” Keyser said. “You don’tgain no weight in this job. It’sanall-day job. You’re always gotyoureyes on the field, you’ve got your ears open listening to the radio.”

Border colliesare amongthe most energetic dog breeds. They’ve been used for decades to shooCanadageeseoff golf courses. They’ve also scared awaybirds at other airports military bases, and locks and dams.

Thedogs’ instincts areto herd, not to kill. “But in the mind of the bird, they’re no differentthana coyote or afox, whichisanatural predator for thebird,” Gibson said.

About 19,000 strikes involving planes and wildlife occurred at U.S. airports in 2023, of which 95% involvedbirds, according to aFederal AviationAdministrationdatabase. From 1988to 2023, wildlife collisions in the U.S. killed76peopleand destroyed 126 aircraft.

Perhaps the mostfamous bird-plane strike occurred in January 2009 when aflight from

In 2022 alone, there were five airplane strikes at the airport involving bats. In December 2000, aplane collided with two deer after landing.The tipof the right engine propeller blade separated and punctured the plane’s fuselage, seriouslyinjuring apassenger, according to the FAA. Inside the terminal, Hercules wags his tail as he moves about greeting passengers. Among them was Janet Spry,aScott Depot, West Virginia,resident waiting to board aflight to visit herdaughter andgrandchildren in San Antonio.

Spry needed abit of cheering up. In additiontohaving afear of flying, Spry’s 15-year-old cat was euthanized the previous dayafter being diagnosedwith an inoperable condition.

An impromptu visit from Hercules brought asmile —and more. Hercules placed apaw on Spry’s armand deliveredplenty of wetkisses.

“He’smaking my day better,” Spry said.

She also joked whetherthe airportmight want to letHercules stay with her awhile longer “I think there was an empty seat on theplane beside me,” Spry said.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOByJOHNRABy

West Virginia International yeager Airportwildlifespecialist and dog handler Chris Keyser,with Hercules and Ned, helppatrol the airportinCharleston, W.Va

LOUISIANABAKES

It’s theripetimetoget baking forblueberry season

On arecent Sunday afternoon,I set out to have anew experience —to pick 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 not to eat 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 consideredasuperfood. 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 freshberries, 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 traditionallymade with cherries. While this dishmight sound fancy,a clafoutis (“cl-ahh-foo-tee”) is as simple as it comes.

The batter comes togethereasily in asingle bowl and is baked in abuttered dish to achieve acustardy and flan-like consistency

Ialso embracedthe chance to tinker with arecipe staple —the blueberry muffin. Ibaked muffins forSunday breakfast withthe intention that any leftovers would become adelicious grab-and-go breakfast or snack once the 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 experienceisfun for the entire family and auniqueway to support alocal business,promote sustainability and engagewith nature. Iamalready planningmy 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

Serves6-8

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 and flour(in that order) in an electric blender.Cover and blend attop speed for 1minute.

2. Generously butter a7-to 8-cup bakingdish or Pyrex pie plate (about11/2 inches deep) Place the prepared dish on the burner ofyour 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 the dish.Removefrom heat.

4. Spread theblueberries over the batter and sprinkle with half of thesugar.

5. Pour theremaining batter over theblueberries and sprinkle with the remaining sugar

6. Place thedish in the middle position of the oven and bake for 50-55 minutes untilatoothpick or knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

7. Sprinkle theclafouti with powdered sugar,ifyou desire,

World’soldestrestaurantfaces

Claiming titlemeans hunting down records

BY SUMAN NAISHADHAM Associated Press

MADRID In the heartofSpain’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 shopsand tourist sites, arustictavern named CasaPedro makes abold claim. Its owners assert theestablishment 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,itsays ‘Casa Pedro, since 1702,’ so we said, ‘Damn it, let’stry to prove it.’” Guiñales, 51, remembers her grandfather swearing by Casa Pedro’sage, butshe was aware that decades-old hearsay from aproud 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

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.

just before serving.

Note: The clafouti will naturally deflateasitcools.

Both offerCastilian classics like stewed tripeand roast sucklingpig They aredecorated with charming Spanish tiles,featureceilingswith exposed wooden 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 SpanishKingJuanCarlos 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 thetwo hotspotsend there.

CasaPedro was once astop on the only road headingnorthfromthe Spanish capitaltoward France. Its clientele is largely local regulars, like David González and MayteVillena,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 theGuinness 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 caneither restaurantdefinitively claim the title? Guinness provides its specific guidelines for the superlative only to applicants, according to spokesperson Kylie Galloway, notingthatitentails “substantial evidence anddocumentation of therestaurant’soperation over the years.” González said that Guinness required Botín show that it hascon-

5. Spoon hot, roasted blueberries and juices over ice cream, cheesecake, custard, etc.

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 Guiñalesand her 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 makes it unlikely to draw Botín’sclientele in central Madrid. “Tothink that we could reach thatpublic would be incredible,” Guiñales said. “It’sadream, but it’s adream.”

PHOTOSByOLIVIA REGARD

Blueberry Clafouti

Blueberry muffins

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MANU FERNANDEZ

Casa Pedro restaurant in Madrid claims it has been around since 1702.

By The Associated Press

Today is Sunday,June 15, the166thday of 2025. There are 199 days left in theyear

This is Father’sDay

Todayinhistory:

On June 15, 1904, more than 1,000 people died when fire erupted aboard thesteamboatPSGeneral Slocum 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 Continental Congress 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 Cemetery in Virginia.

In 1895, atsunami triggered by amagnitude 8.5earthquakestruck the coastof northeastern Japan with waves reaching a 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 theevent of war or national emergency

In 1934, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the most-visited national park in the United States, was established by Congress.

In 1938, Johnny Vander Meerofthe Cincinnati Reds became theonly baseball pitchertotoss two consecutiveno-hitters, leading the Reds to a6-0 victory over the Brooklyn Dodgersinthe first nightgame at Ebbets Field, four days after no-hitting the Boston Bees by ascore of 3-0.

In 1991, Mount Pinatubo in the northern Philippines exploded in one of the most powerful volcanic eruptions of the 20th century, killingmorethan800 people

In 2020, the U.S. SupremeCourt, 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 MLB player and manager Dusty Baker is 76. Actor Simon Callow is 76. Singer Russell Hitchcock (Air Supply) is 76.Chinese President Xi Jinping is 72. 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 IceCube is 56. Actor Leah Remini is 55.Actor Neil Patrick Harris is 52. Olympic gymnastics gold medalist Madison Kocian is28.

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 etiquette of which 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 were for four couples —myparents, my wife’sparents and two other couples —tojoin us for a“very informal Sunday supper” at which the menu 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 fatherin-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. Youmay 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, mouth and 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 a feeling. 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 thesethree 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 bugs running 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’mattending? —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.

Hints from Heloise

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

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4. “The Tenant” by Freida McFadden

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10. “Fourth Wing” by Rebecca Yarros

Smith

BY RICH COLLINS Staff writer

Louisiana and South Carolina are bothblessed with historic port cities, picturesquecoastal wetlands and vibrant localcultures.

But over the past quartercentury,the two Southern states of similar size have seen their economic fortunes diverge.

Louisiana, which boasted more people and alarger economy than its Atlantic Coast rival in 2000, has watched its energy-based economy stagnateand its residents vote with their feet by moving away

At the sametime, South Carolina has blossomed, attracting some 1.5 million new residents with advanced manufacturing jobs and acoastal region catering to retirees. South Carolina is now thebiggerstate in terms of population and the size of itseconomy,an that growth isn’texpected t slow anytime soon.

Stateleaders look to SouthCarolina forapathtomorejobsand newindustries d o and a better narrative ” ä See GROWTH, page 2E EO ter r, a economic devel “ Hecht

Put bluntly,the Palmetto State has caught up and surpassed thePelican State. And now Louisiana officials are tryingto figure out how to reverse the trend. “Over two decades, South Carolina changed both its reality and its image,” said Michael Hecht, C of Grea Ne w O leans Inc regional opment organization Louisiana now has to do thesame this means better jobs

LEFT: Workers assemble aBMW G45X3SUV at Plant Spartanburg in Greer,S.C. In the last 25 years, South Carolina has blossomed, attracting some1.5 million new residents with advanced manufacturing jobs. BELOW: A$10 billionMeta data center is being built on aRichland Parish site that the state purchased decades ago during afailedbid to lure the buildingofa Toyota factory. PROVIDED PHOTOS

PotentialbuyersofLouisiana

BY BLAKE PATERSON

Staff writer

Cleco is officiallyupfor sale. Theinvestor-ownedutility which provides electricitytonearly 300,000 customers across 24 Louisiana parishes —has notified regulators on the Louisiana Public Service Commission that it has begun its search for abuyer, kicking off amonthslong process that could result in major changes for Cleco ratepayers and employees.

Public Service Commissioner Davante Lewis said Cleco representatives told him Tuesdaythat they sent arequest for proposals to

prospectivebuyers, and that they expect to receive responses within thenextsix months

PublicService Commissioner Jean-Paul Coussan said Cleco also told him Tuesday that it had“formally begun the sales process.” Lewis didn’tsee acopy of the solicitationand wasn’ttold who it was sent to, though industry experts believe Cleco couldbesubsumed by one of Louisiana’sexisting utilities. Entergy andBaton Rouge-based Bernhard CapitalPartners were both name-checked as potential buyers in an article published Wednesday in thetrade publicationPeakLoad. Entergy declined to

commentthroughitsspokesperson, 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 Assets, purchasedthe utility and took it private in 2016 as part of a $4.9 billion deal, it madeclear that it planned to sell its majority stake in

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.

STAFF FILE PHOTOBy SCOTT THRELKELD

The diverging paths of the two states comes at a time when the global economy is rapidly changing and states 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, form er preside nt of the Public Affairs Research Council, a Louisianabased public policy shop, and a civic leader who has lived and worked in both states.

Belt, said South Carolina created that momentum by “building coalitions around ideas of what the state could and should be.”

turing businesses, said the state still has a culture that encourages lobbying for special deals.

“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 goods and services, 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

Local and state leaders there responded to the economic downturn in the 1970s by developing “shovelready” locations for manufacturing businesses, courting international investment and retraining the state’s workforce.

“South Carolina became highly focused on winning projects — meaning new or 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 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

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 manufac-

“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 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 petrochemicals to carbon capture — 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, cofounder 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.

TALKING BUSINESS WITH CRES GARDNER

As office occupancy steadies, higher rents, more foreclosures predicted

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

cially compared to the hit some cities took during COVID Have we bottomed out?

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-

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

In his role with Beau Box Commercial Real Estate, Cres Gardner is responsible for leasing and managing 2.75 million square feet of space throughout the market, including 1.8 million

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 to build it without a tenancy But I

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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.

PHOTO

CHRIS GRANGER

Protectagainst atextscammer infestation

wording.

Fool’s Take: Risks

and potential

Text scams are the cockroaches of our digital lives —resilient and repulsive. With summer travel season starting and families hitting the road, Isuspectmany people willstart seeing more scam toll and ticket text messages. On my phone, Ihave seen an increase in threats that Icould facelarge penalties and even jail time. Othershave been warned that their vehicles could be impounded Idelete one, and up popsa notificationthat anotherbogus message has been sent.It’sthe electronic equivalent of that nasty insect.

Just as researchers havedocumented how cockroacheshave 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 are persistent. According to the FBI, cybercriminals are increasingly using artificial intelligencetools to make text messagesmore believable.For example,generative AI programs canhelp 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 toolsassist 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 canlead to financial loss, identity theft and emotional distress for victims.Last year,consumers reported losing $470 millionto scams that started with textmessages, 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 receivealinkthatwill take them to ashamwebsite. The goal is to steal personal financial information, money or both. Adaptable: Cockroaches can survive in various environments andadapt to different conditions. Similarly,text scams continue to evolve. Block one number, and thescammers create another Scammers also constantlyalter 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 unpaidtolls or traffic tickets. People are told the state’sdepartment of motorvehicles will soonsuspend their registration and/ordriving privileges if they don’tpay by acertaindeadline.

Attorney General LizMurrill haswarned Louisiana residents about fake texts that pretend to come from GeauxPass, thestate’s official toll collection system. Murrill said she receiveda scam toll text and warned people to never click on suspiciouslinks.

TheTakoma 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 identicaltext messages claimingI hadanoutstandingtraffic ticket

“Maryland State Department of MotorVehicles(DMV) Final Notice: Enforcement Penalties BeginonJune 5,” they both read First of all, DMV (shorthand forD.C., Maryland andVirginia) is thearea in which Ilive.The correct title abbreviation forthe state agency handling would be the Motor Vehicle Administration

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

moreshares of stock), or it might sella portion of thecompany 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 TheAdvocate |Baton Rougetosupport theexpandedbusinesssection.

This in-depth reportingwillexplore what businesses aredoing to achievetheir goals, avertthreats, addressopportunities,and advancetheir business objectives.Welook forwardtothe thought leadership andconversationthissection will inspire.

Since1937, ourfirm hasbeencommitted to workingwithcommunity leaders to developbusiness opportunitiesacrossthe state. We aresteadfast in continuing our dedicationtogobeyondinadvising clientsand supportinginitiatives andorganizations that make Louisiana abetterplace to live andwork

William H. Hines,ManagingPartner bhines@joneswalker.com 504.582.8000 201St. CharlesAvenue NewOrleans,LA70170-5100

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Motley Fool

Tugboat named for longtime river 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

During his career as a river pilot that spanned more than 40 years, Delesdernier guided more than 6,000 vessels up the lower Mississippi River from his native Pilottown to New Orleans.

He served as president of the Crescent River Port Pilots’ Association for nearly two decades and chaired the board of the Port of New Orleans.

He also codeveloped a patented ladder system, still in production today that gives marine pilots a safer way to embark and disembark vessels

Now, Delesdernier, who turns 89 next month, is being recognized with what is a river pilot’s equivalent of a lifetime achievement award. On Saturday, LeBoeuf Bros. Towing, which owns and operates a fleet of some four dozen tugs and 90 barges on the Mississippi River and Intracoastal Waterway, will christen its newest vessel in Delesdernier’s honor

vital one.

Delesdernier comes from a long line of river pilots. In the early 1900s, his grandmother’s brothers were two of the first members of the River Port Pilots’ Association, one of three river pilot organizations on the Mississippi.

His father’s two 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.

During his nearly half-century career Delesdernier witnessed a lot of changes in his industry

“So much has changed,” Delesdernier said. “But in some ways, it’s still a really labor-intensive, stressful job. River pilots work long hours and have to manage a lot of stressful situations.”

The Capt. Mark Delesdernier Jr., a twin-screw tugboat, will be dedicated in a ceremony at the docks near Mardi Gras World.

“It’s a great honor,” Delesdernier said. “Often, they do these things after people have died. It’s nice to be able to enjoy it now.”

A family affair

River pilots operate as a monopoly on the Mississippi River.

The state requires companies shipping cargo up and down the waterway to pay for their services on foreign-flagged vessels.

The ships they help steer are often massive, and crashes can be catastrophic, making the job a

When he became a pilot 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 10,000 tons of cargo. New Orleans was one of the busiest ports in the U.S.

Today the massive vessels have grown to 700 feet on average and carry upward of 50,000 tons of cargo, and the Port of New Orleans is trying to build a new deep-water terminal downriver near Violet in St. Bernard Parish to better compete against other coastal ports that have surpassed it in the handling of cargo.

Delesdernier is also well known from his involvement in political and civic circles. He served as chair of the Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District, better known as the Superdome Commission, during two stints on the board. Notably, he was appointed both by Gov. Edwin Edwards, a Democrat, and by Gov Mike Foster, a Republican. During his time on the board, the commission financed the construction of the New Orleans Arena, now the Smoothie King Center; negotiated a new longterm lease agreement with the New Orleans Saints; and negotiated to bring an NBA franchise back to the city for the first time since the 1970s. He was also involved in countless civic organizations and causes related to coastal conservation and wildlife.

“I’ve been involved with so many organizations and held so many positions,” he said. “But that’s what makes life worth living.”

Email Stephanie Riegel at stephanie.riegel@theadvocate. com.

PEOPLE IN BUSINESS

Continued from page 1E

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.

“Clecohasbeenandremainsoneofthebiggest 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 on the sale, according to PeakLoad. 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.

Baton Rouge

MarleePittmanMiller has been hired as executive vice president and chief operating officer of Build Baton Rouge Miller has nearly a decade of experience in community development, federal grants management and public-private partnerships. She most recently served as director of the Office of Community Development for East Baton Rouge Parish Before that, she was director of community development for the Mid-City Rede-

velopment Alliance. She earned a bachelor’s from LSU and advanced certificates in urban planning from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design and real estate finance from MIT’s Center for Real Estate.

David Johnson has been hired as general manager of the Renaissance Baton Rouge Hotel This is Johnson’s second stint with Renaissance Baton Rouge; he was hired in 2014 as director of rooms. He has 22 years of experience in the hospitality industry

Ashley Hebert has been hired by the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children as senior director of strategy

He be rt h as worked as an advocate for issues such as health care access and healthy eating.

She earned a bachelor’s in political science and a master’s in public administration, both from LSU. New Orleans Dr Abdul Khan has been named chief executive officer of Ochsner River Region

Khan will maintain oversight of Ochsner facilities and care offered in Kenner, Luling, Destrehan and LaPlace, including Ochsner Medical Center-Kenner, Ochsner Medical Complex-River Parishes and St. Charles Parish Hospital.

He earned a medical degree from the University of South Alabama.

Kahn completed an internal medicine residency at the Ochsner Clinic Foundation and a pulmonology fellowship at LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans.

Around Louisiana

Darryl Miles Jr has joined the staff of Northshore Internal Medicine Associates in Hammond, a clinic of North Oaks Health System, as a nurse practitioner Miles started working in the North Oaks Medical Center emergency department as a nurse technician and registered nurse, then as a nurse practitioner providing specialized triage and emergency care. He earned a bachelor’s and a master’s in nursing, both from Southeastern Louisiana University

Decadesof Dedication.

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To an honest, respectful culture built on doingthe rightthing.

To careersthatlast —some spanning more than 30 years.

To competitivebenefits that support health,family, andyourfuture.

PROVIDED PHOTO

A twin-screw tugboat owned by LeBouef Bros. Towing was named for Capt. Mark Delesdernier Jr., who piloted the Mississippi River for more than 40 years.

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• Whya Succession may be necessary when youdie?

• Howtoavoid the Succession processcompletely?

• Federal estate taxthat maybedue whenyou pass away?

• Community property-who gets this when youdie without aWill?

• What happens when youleaveyourspousethe usufructof your assets?

• Whogetsthe assetsatthe termination of the usufruct?

• Theusufructuary’srights?

WHATHAPPENS WHEN YOUDIE WITHOUTAWILL,AND WHYYOU

DO NOTWANTTOBENAMED THE ADMINISTRATOROREXECUTOR

When aLouisianaresidentpassesaway, the title to alloftheir assets is frozen. This includesall bank accounts,investmentaccounts, and real estate in their name.None of it canbesolduntil ajudge orders thetransferofthe assetstothe surviving heirs.

HOWWILL MYASSETSGET TRANSFERRED TO MY HEIRS:

•Assetsneedtobe sold or managed priortothe completionofthe succession?

•Thereisadisagreementamong the heirs?

•The deceased has billsthat need to be paid promptly?

•Itwill take alongtime to determine the assetsand debts of thedeceased

•Thereare manycomplicating factors?

WHAT IS USUFRUCT?

Ausufructis aright that apersonhas fora certain period of time on the property of another person. Thefeatures of the right of ausufruct vary with thenatureofthe thingssubjecttoit. Usufructs areoften established when some-one dies. Forexample,a marriedpersonmay,in hisWill, leave his surviving spouseusufructofeverything he owns whenhedies, butthere arecertain restrictions and limitations when establishing ausufruct. Theusufructuary may have numerousobligations,such as an obligation to provide security,the responsibility to providerepairs,the paymentofnecessary expenses,taxes,debts,and othercharges. consequences.Typically,noone paysincome taxonagift regardless of thevalueofthe gift Asizeablegift will haveestateand gift taxconsequences

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‘Alarming’ rise

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

Source: National Center for Health

On the move

New 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

3D mammograms to 37

parishes and two Mississippi

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

STROKES

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

EatFit Live Fit

TDrinkinsummer: Blueberry beveragesfor refreshing seasonal sipping

hemiddleofJune,whentheofficial startofsummerisjustdaysaway, ispeakseasonforblueberries inLouisiana.Whetheryougetthem bythecartonatafarmersmarketor straightfromthebushonapick-yourownoutingatalocalfarm,eatingthis seasonalsuperfoodatitsnutritional peakmeansyou’regettingoptimum phytonutrientcontent

Packedwithfiberandbrain-boosting flavonoids,blueberriesarealsorichin anthocyanins,antioxidantsthatreduce inflammationandprotecttheliver fromoxidativestress.Theirhighwater contentmakesblueberriesnaturally hydrating,andtheirflavor—tartyet sweetwithmildgentlefloralandherbal undertones—makesthemaversatileand craveabletreat.

Youcaneatahandfulasanafternoon snack,makeblueberrymuffinsoradd themtoGreekyogurtorfiber-richcereal. Deliciousinasmoothie,blueberriesalso featureprominentlyinourdrinkrecipes from“TheEatFitCookbook”and“CRAFT: TheEatFitGuidetoZeroProofCocktails.”

Drinkingintheberrygoodness

Burstingwiththeflavorsofsummer, thesecolorful,refreshingblueberry beveragesaresweetenedwithzerocalorieplant-basedsweetenersinstead ofsugar.OurBlueberryBasilLemonade, citrusywithanherbalfinish,isperfectfor poolsidesipping.

EquallyrefreshingistheBlueberry Fall,azero-proofcocktailthatspices thingsupwithahappy-hourspin.Itwas originallycalledBlueberryBasilSpritz. Then,HopeFrugé—ourEatFitMonroe dietitianandphotographerforour books—tookatumblefromatopachair whiletryingtogettheperfectoverhead shot.AndthatishowTheBlueberryFall wasborn.

BlueberryBasilLemonade Makes6servings

FortheBasilSimpleSyrup ½packedcuptornfreshbasilleaves ¾cupGranularSwerve 2/3cupwater

FortheBlueberryLemonade 2cupsblueberries(freshorfrozen)

½cupbasilsimplesyrup ¾cuplemonjuice,freshlysqueezed 1tablespoonlemonzest

FortheBlueberryPuree 1cupblueberries ¼cupGranularSwerve FortheGarnish Lemonslices Freshblueberries Basilsprigs

MaketheBasilSimpleSyrup:In asaucepanovermediumheat, combinebasil,Swerve,andwater. StiruntilSwervedissolves.Boilfor 5minutesthenremovefromheat, leavingthebasilleavestosteepfor 10minutes.Straintoremovethe basil,pressingontheleavestoget everylastbitofherbalgoodness. Refrigerateuntilreadytouse.

MaketheBlueberryLemonade: Combineblueberries,basilsimple syrup,lemonjuice,andlemonzestin ablender.Pureeuntilverysmooth.Strainwith afinemeshsieveandsetaside.

PreparetheBlueberryPuree:Blend blueberriesandSwerveuntilpureed. Fillglasseswithiceandadd1tablespoonof blueberrypureetoeach.Topwithblueberry lemonade.Garnishwithlemonslices, blueberries,andasprigofbasil.

MollyKimball,RD,CSSD,isaregistereddietitian withOchsnerHealthandfounderofOchsner’sEatFit nonprofitinitiative.Formorewellnesscontent,tuneinto Molly’spodcast,FUELEDWellness+Nutrition,andfollow @MollykimballRDand@EatFitOchsneronsocialmedia. Emailnutrition@ochsner.orgtoconnectwithMollyor scheduleaconsultwithherteam

BY THENUMBERS

OVER 5LOUISIANANS

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

MOBILE

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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 released monthly.Organizations can request avisit online at Woman’sHospital or by calling (225) 231-5658.

Email Margaret DeLaney at margaret.delaney@ theadvocate.com.

Perserving:50calories,0fat,0sodium,30 gramscarbohydrate(11gramsnetcarbs),3 gramsfiber,9gramssugar(0addedsugar),<1 gramprotein

TheBlueberryFall

Makes1serving

FortheBlueberryFall

21/2ouncesBlueberrySimpleSyrup (recipebelow) Ice

4ouncessparklingwater Freshbasil,forgarnish Habaneroring,forgarnish

FortheBlueberrySimpleSyrup 1cupwater

1/2cupSwervegranularor11/2cupsgranular allulose 2cupsblueberries

2habanerochilepeppers,seeded(optional) (Makesapproximately21/2cups)

PreparetheBlueberrySimpleSyrup:In amediumsaucepan,bringwatertoaboil. Reducetomedium-highheatandadd sweetener.Stirtodissolveandcontinue toheatfor10minutes.Inafoodprocessor, blendblueberriesandseededhabanero chilepeppersuntilsmooth.Foldblueberryhabaneromixtureintosimplesyrup.Allow tosteepfor10minutes.Pourintoaheat-safe containerandrefrigerateunusedportionfor uptooneweek

MaketheBlueberryFall:Pour21/2ounces BlueberrySimpleSyrupintorocksglass. Addiceandtopwithsparklingwater Gentlystirandgarnishwithfreshbasiland habaneroring

Perserving:25calories,0fat,15mgsodium, 5gramsnetcarbs,1gramfiber,4gramssugar (0addedsugar),0protein

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

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. DO YOUHAVEAHEALTHSTORY?

STAFF PHOTO By MARGARET DeLANEy

Roberts, aradiologist at Woman’sHospital, is part of the team that will be traveling to bring3Dmammogram scans to Louisiana and Mississippicommunities.

BROUGH TT OY OU BY

Molly Kimball RD,CSSD

Men’s health

3

Weknowthatmanyconditionsanddiseasesrespondbetterto treatmentwhenthey’rediagnosedearly.ThisFather’sDay, it’sagoodtimetoremindthemeninourlivesofthe importanceoftakingstepstostayhealthy.

1 2 3 reasons menneed a primary care doctor Top

Aprimarycarephysicianservesasahealthcarepartner,providingaconsistent,coordinatedpointofcontactformedicalneeds. Theyhelpmentaketheguessworkoutofstayinghealthy.Here’show:

Personalized guidance Personalized care

Ideally,menshouldvisitaprimarycaredoctoronceayear forannualwellnessexams.Routinewellnessvisitshelpcatch potentialhealthproblemsbeforetheybecomeserious.Regular screeningsforbloodpressure,cholesterolanddiabetescan leadtoearlydiagnosesandmoreeffectivetreatments.

Aprimarycarephysiciantracksthepatient’s overallhealthovertime.Theylookatthe fullpicture,includingpersonalandfamily medicalhistory,lifestylefactors,andongoing conditionstooffercomprehensivecare.

Ongoinghealth management

Fromhealthylifestyletipstomanaging medicationsorchronicconditions,a primarycaredoctorprovidestailored advicetohelppatientsstayincontrolof theirhealthateverystageoflife.

Tofindtherightprimarycaredoctor,menshouldlookforaproviderwholistens,communicatesclearlyandunderstandstheiruniqueneeds. Visitochsner.org/primarycaretofindaprimarycaredoctornearyou.

?

What is Aquablation and howdoesit treatbenign prostatic hyperplasia?

Benignprostatichyperplasia(BPH)isamedicaltermforanenlarged prostate.Mostmenwillexperiencethisnoncancerousconditionas theygrowolder.Untreated,itcaninterferewithurination.

DoctorsnowhaveanewapproachtoBPHtreatmentthatcan beusedinlieuofotherprocedures,suchaslasertherapyor traditionalsurgery.Aquablationtherapyisaminimallyinvasive

Morethan6millionmenintheUnitedStates experiencedepressioneachyear.Somemen maytrytohidetheirdepressionasmanysee depressedmoodsordepressionasaweakness. Thegoodnewsisthathelpisavailable.

Lovedonescansupportthemenintheirlives bybeingonthelookoutforsignsofdepression. Someofthosesignsinclude: Fightingwithhisspouse

Losinginterestinsexorotherformerly enjoyableactivities

Becomingwithdrawnoruncharacteristically uncommunicative

surgicalprocedurethatusesroboticsandahigh-pressurewater jettodestroyandremoveexcessprostatetissue.Sideeffectsare minimal.

In2023,OchsnerHealthbecamethefirsthealthcareorganization inLouisianatoofferAquablationtherapyforthetreatmen oflowerurinarytractsymptomsduetoBPH.

Establishingasupportsystemoffamilyandfriendstorelyonisoneofthe mostimportantstepsmencantaketohandledepressionanditssymptoms.Herearesomeothersteps:

Seekhelp:Ifyouknowsomethingisn’tright,gettingappropriatetreatmentfordepressionearly onisessentialinpreventingtheconditionfromgettingworse.Startwithaphysicalexamby yourhealthcareprovider.It’simportanttoseekoutaphysician,becausesometimesthesigns ofdepressioncanmirrorsymptomscausedbyothermedicalconditionsormedications.Ifthose possibilitiesareruledout,askyourprovidertoreferyoutoatherapistorpsychiatrist.

Exerciseregularly:Studieshaveshownthatexerciseandlifestylechangescancombatdepression andstressalmostaswellassomemedications.

Evaluateyourlife:Areyouhappyinyourjobandrelationships?Ifnot,whatcanyoudoto improvethem?

Doyourownresearch:Seekinginformationfromreputablesourcescanhelpyoulearnmore aboutdepressionandwhatyoucandoaboutit.Youcandotheresearchinprivate,fromthe comfortofafamiliarsetting.

Considertherapy:Talktherapyandcounselingcanprovidetoolstohelpnavigatelife’schallenges. Havingaconfidentialspacetoexpressyourfeelingsandatrainedprofessionaltoguideyoucan significantlyimproveyourmentalhealth.Visitochsner.org/psychiatrytofindadoctororprovider inyourarea.

POLITICS WITHOUT POLARIZATION

Braver Angels strivesfor civildebateinBaton Rouge

BY PATRICKSLOAN-TURNER Staff writer

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

ä See DEBATE, page 2Y

Nominate Louisianansfor ENCORE Awards

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 close July 14. Award recipients will be announced in latesummer For more information, email Jan Risher at jan.risher@ theadvocate.com.

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 wentfor two. 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 waslegendary.Heequated atie to “kissing your sister.” He would rather winorlose. His loathing of atie extended far beyond the field.

My father wasanall-in kind of guy about mosteverything he did —there wasnothing 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 were going on the hayride. We weresinging the songs. We werepicking the gallons of blueberries. We were canoeing down the river.Wewere taking the first boat to Ship Island and the last boat back. We weregoing 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 weregetting 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 wasalways up foranadventure, which meant lifewas rich in experience. Yes, sometimes, he was abulldozer 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 weregood 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 was completely liberating forme.

ä See RISHER, page 2Y

PROVIDED PHOTO

PHOTOSByAPRIL BUFFINGTON

David Lindenfeldopens upthe meeting explaining thepurpose of BraverAngels before the debate held April 27 at the Bluebonnet Regional LibraryinBaton Rouge.

Jim Ingram, chair of the debate, explainsthe rules of the debate

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

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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.

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

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

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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-

Wheeler of River Ridge, hand

postcard and mailed it to the

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.

A postcard from Arizona was received in the first week of the project.

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.

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

painted this watercolor

project.

PHOTO By APRIL BUFFINGTON

Alison Ocmand gives her side of the debate on April 27 at the Bluebonnet Regional Library

N.O. Convention Center goes green

Eventspace touts sustainable programs

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-

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

FAITH & VALUES

Berliners rediscovering their faith outdoors

MARDINEY

ELISSA

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

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.”

PROVIDED PHOTO By KRISTIAN MORAVEC

Dave Whittemore stands next to two heat pump units attached to the training facility

PHOTO By ELISSA MARDINEy

Participants on a silent pilgrimage walk through the Grunewald nature preserve on March 19 in Berlin.

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.

Tannah Hirsch welcomes readers’ responses sent in care of this newspaper or to Tribune Content Agency inc., 2225 Kenmore Ave., Suite 114, Buffalo, Ny 14207. E-mail responses may be sent to gorenbridge@ aol.com. © 2025 Tribune Content Agency

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.

© 2025 by NEA, inc., dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication

goren Bridge

1. France.2.Italy.3.Australia.4.Brazil. 5. Greece. 6. Spain. 7. Germany. 8. Monaco 9. China. 10. India.11. Jordan. 12. Cambodia 13. Tanzania.14. Peru. 15. United Arab Emirates.

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?

CryptoquoteAnswer word

Afather's love is forever imprinted on his child's heart. —Jennifer Williamson

Crossword Answers

sCrAbble Answers wuzzles Answers

jeFF mACnelly’sshoe/ by Gary Brookins &Susie MacNelly FoXtrot/ by BillAmend