The Advocate 09-07-2025

‘THISISN’T BUSINESS AS USUAL’

Edwards touts

plan

Voters to weighinon reshuffling of parish property taxes

BY PATRICK SLOAN-TURNER |Staff writer

East Baton Rouge Parish Mayor-President Sid Edwards will face one of his first major political tests in twomonths when voters weigh in on “Thrive East Baton Rouge,” his plan to reshuffle the parish’sproperty taxes to fix budget problems.

BY JENNA ROSS |Staff writer

DERRY— Rolanda Teal strode onto the old plantation at Cane RiverCreole National HistoricalPark,blowing past amap. The anthropology professorknows this park and its stories. As astudent, she helped tell them. Teal once sifted through dirtbeside the Magnolia Plantation’sslave quarters to find dice and coins. She interviewed formertenantfarmers to trace theoutlinesofa typical day. Shegave tours, once to aman whohad lived there.

Over theyears,the oralhistories she collectedmadetheirway into archives and onto the dozens of historic signs and markers arranged across the national park’stwo sister plantations, set afew miles apart along the winding Cane River in Natchitoches Parish.

One sign near the entrance of Magnolia describesthe scale ofthe plantation at its height:275 enslaved people

livingin70cabins cultivated cotton and other crops. Near those small brickcabins, later home to tenant farmers,asepia sign describesthe gardens that once encircled them, quoting from one of Teal’sinterviews. “Wehad abig garden... Peas,okra, tomatoes, pumpkins...”

Now,the 62-year-old worries about what stories this place will soon tell.

Signs postedacross this national park’s63acres, like thoseatparks, monuments, battlefields and historic sites across the country,might disappear or look verydifferent in coming weeks. As part of President Donald Trump’s directive to restore “truth and sanity to American history,” theNational Park Serviceisreviewingsigns and materialsatits 433 sitesfor “inappropriatecontent.”

Louisiananational park tellsa storyof slaverythatsome fear will be erased ä See PARK, page 8A

The proposal is far from aroutine taxrenewal.Itwould redirect money that currently goes specifically to the library,council on aging and mosquito abatement to the parish’sgeneral fund, where Edwards says it can be more flexibly spent and help pay down debt. That’swhy the mayor’steam has launched acampaign emphasizing thatThrive is not anew tax—though residentsmay see a slight increase in their overallpropertytaxes compared to last year

“Wecertainly want them to know this is notanew tax,”said Mason Batts, executive director of Edward’soffice. “People hear ‘millage’ and they’re like, ‘Oh my god, another property tax. Here we go again.’That’swhat we want to avoid. This is nota newtax.” Thrive will appear on ballots as three separate items, asking voters to renew taxes for the three agencies and also rededicateaportionofmoney fromeach back to the city-parish’sgeneral fund. The generalfund is short millions of dollars since St. George incorporated andtook some salestax dollars withit, and Thrive could help fill some of that hole Backers of Thrive face the challenge of not only simplifying its complexities forvoters but also overcoming a climate where ballotmeasures and tax proposals have been repeatedly rejected at both the local and state levels. Over the next week, residents will begin to see ads on streaming services and the internet featuring the mayor,in whichEdwards says Thrive is “as easy as 1-2-3.” If allthreeitemspass, it would generateabout $24million-$26 millioninrecurring revenue for the city-parish on top of some of the debt Edwards hopes to pay off.

BR gang membersplotted to kill murder witnesses, police say

Callsrevealvictim info,records show

BYMATTBRUCE |Staff writer

For two years,six men affiliated with aBaton Rouge gang stalked, hunted and plotted to kill the relatives of aman gunned down by one of the gang’sactive members, according to Baton Rouge police and arrest reports

Police allege Khalil Amir Henderson shot 17-year-old TerranFobb dead in broad daylight in June 2022. Days afterhewas arrested in that killing, authorities say, Henderson began making jailhouse calls from theparishprison and sending friends Instagram messages, urging operatives in the 60 Gang to track down Fobb’sfamily members. Court recordsinanongoing criminal conspiracy casereveal Henderson orchestrated an attemptto “eliminate” Fobb’ssisterand offered a$10,000 bounty to keep the woman from testifying against him in court. He instructed his fellowcohorts in the gang to “find her” and kill the woman,according to investigative reports filed in the 19th Judicial DistrictCourt. LastOctober,after months of investigation to unravel theplan, Baton Rouge policearrested five alleged members of the 60 Gang on

suspicionofcriminalconspiracy to commit second-degree murder: Henderson,21; David Malik Hastings, 22; Michael Veal, 30; Dedric White, 31; and Lance White, 27. Investigators later tied another reported member, 19-year-old Robert King Lewis III, to the plot.

Edwards

STAFF

PHOTOSBySOPHIA GERMER

Rolanda Teal, an anthropologyprofessor,walks pastsigns for the Magnolia Plantation at Cane River Creole National HistoricalPark in Derry on Aug. 20.

Adog stands on the porch of the former Magnolia plantation hospital at Cane River Creole National Historical Park in Derry

Young pilot released from Antarctic air base

PUNTA ARENAS Chile An American social media influencer who has been stuck in a Chilean airbase in Antarctica for two months after landing a plane there without permission was released on Saturday back to the mainland, where he was to pay $30,000 in penalties.

Ethan Guo, who was 19 when he began his fundraising mission for cancer research, was attempting to become the youngest person to fly solo to all seven continents.

But he was detained after Chilean authorities said he lied to officials by providing authorities with “false flight plan data.” Prosecutors said he had been authorized to only fly over Punta Arenas in southern Chile, but that he kept going south, heading for Antarctica in his Cessna 182Q — a single-engine light aircraft known for its versatility.

After he landed in Chile’s Antarctic territory on June 28, he was detained in a military base amid legal negotiations between his lawyers and the government Guo, who is originally from Tennessee and turned 20 in July, spent two months living in the base with limited communications and freezing Antarctic winter temperatures plunging below zero

He was released by a Chilean judge on the condition that he donate the tens of thousands of dollars raised to a childhood cancer foundation within 30 days and leave the country as soon as possible. He is also banned from entering Chilean territory for three years.

Prosecutors: Woman registered dog to vote

LOS ANGELES An Orange County woman faces five felony charges after she was accused of paw-litical fraud by registering her dog to vote and illegally casting ballots for the pooch in two elections, authorities said.

Laura Lee Yourex, 62, of Costa Mesa, allegedly mailed in ballots registered under her dog’s name, Maya Jean Yourex, in the 2021 gubernatorial recall election and the 2022 primary election, according to the Orange County district attorney’s office The 2021 ballot was accepted, while the 2022 ballot was rejected, prosecutors said Yourex allegedly bragged about the feat on social media, sharing a picture of Maya toting an “I Voted” sticker and posing with the illegal ballot in January 2022, prosecutors said. In October, Yourex posted a photo of Maya’s dog tag and a vote-by-mail ballot with the caption, “Maya is still getting her ballot,” even though the dog had passed away. She has been charged with one count of registering a nonexistent person to vote, one count of perjury one count of procuring a false or forged document to be filed and two counts of casting a ballot when not entitled to vote, prosecutors said. Yourex is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday Yourex faces up to six years in state prison.

The Orange County Registrar of Voters contacted the district attorney’s office on Oct. 28 after a resident self-reported that she had registered her dog to vote and cast two ballots in her dog’s name, authorities said. The recall attempt was ultimately voted down by 61.9% of voters. It’s not clear how “Maya” voted.

Biden picks Delaware for presidential museum

WASHINGTON Former President Joe Biden has decided to build his presidential library in Delaware and has tapped a group of former aides, friends and political allies to begin the heavy lift of fundraising and finding a site for the museum and archive.

The Joe and Jill Biden Foundation this past week approved a 13-person governance board that is charged with steering the project.

The initial vision is for the Biden library to include an immersive museum detailing Biden’s four years in office.

Biden has deep ties to Pennsylvania but ultimately settled on Delaware, the state that was the launching pad for his political career

Israel targets more high-rises in Gaza

BY WAFAA SHURAFA and BASSEM MROUE Associated Press

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip The Israeli

army issued evacuation orders and targeted high-rise buildings in faminestricken Gaza City on Saturday, calling on Palestinians to move to the territory’s south as it escalates operations ahead of a new offensive to seize the city of nearly

1 million

Aid groups warn that a large-scale evacuation would exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza City which the world’s leading hunger watchdog says is suffering from famine as a result of Israel’s restrictions on food into the territory

Most families have already been displaced several times over the nearly two-year-long Israel-Hamas war and say they have nowhere left to go, as the Israeli military has repeatedly bombed tent encampments that it had designated as humanitarian zones.

“There is no safe tent, no safe house, no safe place, no safety at all,” said Nadia Marouf, who fled Israel’s offensive in the north with her children and resettled in Gaza City only to have her tent destroyed Saturday in an Israeli airstrike that wiped out a 15-story building and surrounding encampment.

“Where do I go? We went to the south, there is no space in the south, where can we go?”

Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee urged Palestinians on Saturday to flee to the southern Gaza Strip, announcing on social media that the army had designated the overcrowded tent encampment of Muwasi and parts of the southern town of Khan Younis as a humanitarian zone.

Aid groups have raised alarm about woefully inadequate shelter, sanitation, water and food in Muwasi. Months of bombardment have decimated civilian infrastructure in Khan Younis.

The military said in a statement that it would work to provide field hospitals, water pipelines and food supplies within what it called the humanitarian zone.

Israel on Saturday issued evacuation warnings for two high-rises in Gaza City and surrounding tents, with Adraee, the military spokesperson, saying that the buildings were targets because Hamas had infrastructure inside or near them Soon after, Adraee said that the military had struck one of the buildings.

Hamas called those allegations “baseless lies” and insisted the high-rises were residential towers.

There was no immediate information on casualties.

Israelis have staged widespread protests over the military’s renewed assault on Gaza City, fearing it will further endanger the remaining hostages held in the strip, 20 among 48 of whom Israel believes to still be alive.

On Saturday in Jerusalem, relatives of hostages and their supporters marched down a main thoroughfare toward the residence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, chanting and holding signs rejecting the military’s planned takeover of Gaza City and urging a comprehensive ceasefire.

Fears over the fate of hostages escalated on Friday, the 700th day of the war, when Hamas released a propaganda video of two hostages — Guy Gilboa-Dalal and Alon Ohel — looking gaunt and exhausted while being driven around Gaza City

Daughter of Nazi officer accused of hiding artwork

Jewish art collector’s painting found in Argentina

BY BRUNO VERDENELLI and ISABEL DEBRE Associated Press

MAR DEL PLATA, Argentina

Prosecutors in Argentina on Thursday charged the daughter of a fugitive Nazi official with trying to hide an 18th-century painting from authorities following revelations that it had been stolen from a Jewish art dealer during World War II.

The federal prosecutor in charge of the case announced the cover-up charge a day after Patricia Kadgien, one of the daughters of high-level Nazi officer Friedrich Kadgien, handed “Portrait of a Lady” by Italian artist Giuseppe Ghislandi to the Argentine judiciary eight decades after it was stolen.

The fate of the work remains unclear, pending a decision in the case. The heir of Jacques Goudstikker — the Dutch-Jewish art collector who owned the painting before Nazis confiscated his worldfamous inventory — has made a legal claim to get the painting back, her lawyers have said.

Goudstikker died in a shipwreck in 1940 while fleeing the Netherlands as German troops advanced. He sold his collection, which included Rembrandts and Vermeers, under duress and far below market price. At least 1,100 stolen works from his gallery remain missing.

The Argentine court has asked that the painting be displayed at the Holocaust Museum in Buenos Aires ahead of any further transfer abroad. The museum did not respond to a request for comment.

Patricia Kadgien, 59, and her husband, Juan Carlos Cortegoso, 62, have been under house arrest on suspicion of concealing the painting since police raided their home on

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By CHRISTIAN HEIT

Giuseppe Ghislandi’s 18th-century painting ‘Portrait of a Lady,’ was reportedly stolen by a Nazi officer during World War II and discovered in the Argentina home of his daughter after appearing in a real estate listing

Monday for the second time in as many weeks without finding “Portrait of a Lady.”

Kadgien, with disheveled dirty-blond hair and sunglasses on her head, wore a look that mixed concern and puzzlement as she listened to Prosecutor Carlos Martínez in a jam-packed courtroom.

Martínez said that Kadgien’s and her husband’s efforts to hide the painting over several days following its sudden appearance in a real estate listing amounted to obstruction of justice.

Cortegoso gazed straight ahead, his arms crossed and a stern expression on his face.

After the hearing the couple was released from house arrest but barred from traveling abroad and required to notify the court whenever they leave their registered address.

Photos of the painting hanging in Kadgien’s living room in Mar del Plata surfaced last month for the first time in eight decades in an online real estate advertisement.

Dutch journalists investigating Kadgien’s past in Argentina — where he took refuge after the collapse of the Third Reich — spotted “Portrait of a

DOJ talk of ban on trans people owning guns sparks outrage

BY ALANNA DURKIN RICHER Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The Justice Department is drawing swift condemnation from gun rights groups and LGBTQ advocates alike after floating that it was considering restricting transgender people from owning guns — a move that would all but certainly face immediate constitutional challenges if ever implemented.

The discussions come in the wake of the shooting at a Minneapolis Catholic school last month that federal officials have said was carried out by a transgender shooter, according to a person familiar with the matter The person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations, cautioned that the talks were in the early stages and that no proposal has been finalized.

Even so, that high-level officials in the Trump administration were discussing such an idea sparked fury across the political spectrum. LGBTQ advocates called it misguided and dangerous as the vast majority of mass shootings in the U.S. are carried out by men and do not involve transgender people.

“Transgender people are less than 2% of the overall population, yet four times as likely to be victims of crime,” GLAAD said in an email.

Trump’s administration has targeted transgender people in several ways, including removing them from military service, scrubbing some federal websites of mentions of them, trying to bar changing the sex marker on passports, seeking personal information on gender-affirming care patients from doctors and clinics, and seeking to bar transgender girls and women from certain sports competitions.

The Justice Department said in a statement in response to questions about the firearms talks that the agency is “actively evaluating options to prevent the pattern of violence we

have seen from individuals with specific mental health challenges and substance abuse disorders.” But, the department said: “No specific criminal justice proposals have been advanced at this time.”

Some conservative figures have coalesced around the idea of restricting guns for people diagnosed with gender dysphoria — the unease a person may have because their assigned gender and gender identity don’t match — through a federal law that bars people from possessing firearms if they are “adjudicated as a mental defective.”

“It’s incredibly worrying that that seems to be on the table for them,” Alejandra Caraballo, a transgender rights activist and Harvard Law School instructor “This is not something that would be that incredibly difficult to do logistically or practically but it would be politically explosive in terms of the backlash of Second Amendment groups.”

Guns rights advocates — including politically powerful groups such as the National Rifle Association and Gun Owners of America — vowed to fight any proposal that imposes a blanket gun ban targeting a segment of the population.

“The Second Amendment isn’t up for debate,” the NRA said in a social media post on Friday “NRA does not, and will not, support any policy proposals that implement sweeping guns bans that arbitrarily strip law-abiding citizens of their Second Amendment rights without due process.”

Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms called the discussions “disturbing.”

“Prohibiting whole groups of people from owning and using firearms because a sick individual misused a gun to harm and kill children is as reprehensible as restricting the rights of all law-abiding citizens because some people have committed crimes,” Alan Gottlieb, the group’s chairman, said in a statement.

Lady” hanging above a green velvet couch in the living room during a 3D tour of the house for sale.

After recognizing it as the same portrait listed as missing in international archives of Nazi-looted art, the newspaper Algemeen Dagblad published an exposé on Aug. 25 that grabbed headlines around the world.

Alerted by international police agency Interpol, Argentine authorities raided the house and other properties belonging to Patricia Kadgien and her sister Alicia seizing a rifle a .32-caliber revolver and several paintings from the 19th century that they suspect may have been similarly stolen during WWII.

But police couldn’t find “Portrait of a Lady.” They found scuff marks and a pastoral tapestry on Patricia Kadgien’s living room wall where the portrait had been photographed.

In presenting the charges, Martínez told the court that the couple was “aware that the artwork was being sought by the criminal justice system and international authorities” but nevertheless went to lengths to hide it.

“It was only after several police raids that they turned it in,” he said.

Chicago’sLatinos on edge over Trumpthreats

BY CHRISTINE FERNANDO,BEN FINLEY,MELINA WALLING and SARAH RAZA Associated Press

CHICAGO President Donald

Trump’splan to dispatchNational Guard troops and immigration

agents into Chicago has put many Latino residents on edge, prompting some to carry their U.S. passports while giving others pause about openly celebrating the upcoming Mexican Independence Day

Though the holiday falls on Sept. 16, celebrations in Chicago span more than aweekand draw hundreds of thousands of participants. Festivities kicked off with aSaturday parade through the heavily Mexican Pilsen neighborhood and will continue with car caravans and lively street parties

But this year,the typically joyful period coincides with Trump’s threats to add Chicago to the list of other Democratic-led cities he has targeted for expanded federal enforcement. His administration has said it will step up immigration enforcement in Chicago,asitdid in Los Angeles, and would deploy National Guard troops

Trump postedanillustration of himself against aChicago-skyline ablaze with flames and helicopters on Truth Social on Saturday

Policewatch duringthe

Saturday in Chicago.

“Chicago about to find out why it’scalledthe Department of WAR,” he posted.Trump has ordered the Defense Department to be renamed the Department of War.

He offered no details but posted, “I love thesmell of deportations in the morning,” referencing a1979 war film.

“The President of the United States is threatening to go to war with an American city,” Illinois Gov.JBPritzker wroteonthe so-

cial platformX.“Illinois won’tbe intimidatedbya wannabe dictator.”

State and city leaders have said they plan to sue theTrumpadministration.

The extended Mexican Independence Day celebrations reflect the size and vitalityofChicago’sMexican American community.Mexicans make up more than one-fifth of the city’stotal population and about74% of itsLatino residents according to 2022 U.S. Census es-

Thousandsprotest fora‘Free D.C.’

BY MIKE PESOLI andFARNOUSH AMIRI Associated Press

WASHINGTON Thousands of protesters marched across Washington, D.C., on Saturday in one of the largest demonstrations against PresidentDonald Trump’sfederal takeover of policing in thenation’s capital Behind abright red bannerreading “END THE D.C. OCCUPATION” in Englishand Spanish, protesters marched over two miles to rail against the fourth week of National Guard troops andfederal agents patrolling D.C.’sstreets.

The “WeAre All D.C.” protest —put together by local advocates ofHomeRule and the American Civil LibertiesUnion —was perhaps the most organized demonstration yet against Trump’sfederalintervention in Washington. The presidentjustifiedthe action as away to address crime and homelessness in the city,even though city officials

have noted that violent crimeislower thanit was duringTrump’sfirst terminoffice.

The presence of armed military officers in thestreets has put Washington on edge and spurred weeks of demonstrations. Trump’s emergency declarationtaking charge of D.C. police is set to expire on Wednesday Amongthe protesters Saturday were formerD.C.residents like Tammy Price, who called theTrumpadministration’stakeover “evil” and “not for the people.”

JunLee,a printmaker artistliving in Washington, showed up witha“FreeDC” sign that she made on awoodcut block. She said shewas “saddened andheartbroken” aboutthe impact of the federal intervention on her city.“This is my home, and Inever, ever thought all the stuff that Iwatched in a history documentarythat I’m actually living in person, andthis is whythis is important for everyone, this is our home, we need to fight,weneed to resist,” she said.

timates

Parade and festival organizers have been divided over whether to move forward with precautions or postpone, in hopes that it will feel safer formanyparticipants to have atrue celebration in several months’ time. El GritoChicago, a downtown Mexican Independence Dayfestivalset fornextweekend, waspostponed this week by organizers in ordertoprotect people.

“Butalso we just refuse to let our festival be apawn in this political game,” said Germán González, an organizer of El Grito Chicago.

In Pilsen andLittleVillage,two of the city’sbest-knownneighborhoods with restaurants, businessesand cultural tiestoMexican culture, residents expressed disappointment that the potential federal intervention instilledsuch fear and anxiety in the community at atimeusually characterized by joy, togetherness and celebration of Mexican American heritage.

On Saturday morning, some paradegoers grabbed free, brightorange whistles and flyers from volunteers standing outside the Lozano Branch of the Chicago Public Library.“Blow the whistle on ICE!” theflyers read, encouraging anonviolenttactictoraise alarmif agents appear at the event.

Magdalena Alvarado, who lived in LittleVillagefor 30 years, took

an orange whistle. “My heart is like pounding alittle bit because I don’tknowwhattoexpect today,” she said.

Alvarado saw some lowrider cars, often decked out with Mexican flags, with imagery supporting the police. She wondered to herself whethertheywereintentionally addedtogarnergoodwill with the law enforcement present.

Spectators heldupcardboard signs painted with monarch butterflies, the migratory species that travelsbetween theU.S.and Mexico. Many cheered “Viva Mexico!” Drivers of vintagecarshonked their horns and adrummer kept timefor agroup of dancers bedecked in feathers. Horseback riders clip-cloppeddown thestreet, and one lifted up alarge Mexican flag.

Vianney Alarcon, 42,saidshe expects people to be targeted by immigration officials regardless of theirlegal status. Butinanact of defiance, she’ll be taking part in the festivitieswhile bringing along her passport.

“I’m still going to celebrate my heritage,” she said. “And Iknow forafact that alot of the people Iknow and the people commenting on Facebook are going to show up, too. What are they going to do? We’re not beingdisruptive if we’re celebrating properly.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By CAROLyN KASTER

2025 Pilsen MexicanIndependence Dayparade

ASSOCIATEDPRESS PHOTOByJOSE LUIS MAGANA

Demonstrators protest against President DonaldTrump’sdeployment of federal law enforcement and National Guard troops in Washington during amarchonSaturday.

Trumpweaponizinggovernmenttosettlescores, pursue agenda

BY JONATHAN J. COOPER Associated Press

WASHINGTON— President Donald Trump, once acasino owner and always aman in search of his next deal, is fond of apoker analogy when sizing up partners and adversaries.

“Wehavemuchbigger and better cards than they do,” he said of China last month

Compared with Canada, he said in June, “we have all the cards. We have every single one.” And most famously, he told UkrainianPresident Volodymyr Zelenskyyin their Oval Office confrontation earlier this year: “You don’thave the cards.”

The phrase offers awindow into the worldview of Trump, who has spent his second stint in the White House amassing cards to deploy in pursuit of his interests.

Seven months into his second term, he has accumulated presidential power that he has used against universities, media companies, law firms, and individuals he dislikes. Aman whoran for president as an angry victim of aweaponized “deep state” is, in some ways,supercharging government power and training it on his opponents.

And the supporterswho responded to his complaints about overzealous Democrats aren’trecoiling. They’re egging him on.

“Weaponizing the stateto win the culture war has been essential to their agenda,” said David N. Smith, aUniversity of Kansas sociologist who has extensivelyresearched the motivations of Trump voters. “Theydidn’t like it when thestate was mobilized to restrain Trump, but they’re happy to see the state acting to fight the culture war on their behalf.”

Trump began putting the federal government to work for him within hours of takingoffice in January, and he’sbeen collecting and using power in novel ways ever since. It’sahigh-veloc-

ity pushtocarry out his political agendas and grudges

This past month, hundreds of federal agents and National Guard troopsfanned outacross Washingtonafter Trump drew on anever-used law that allows himtotake control of law enforcement in the nation’scapital. He’s threatened similar deployments in othercities run by Democrats, includingBaltimore, Chicago, New York and NewOrleans. He also fireda FederalReserve governor, pointing to unproven claims of mortgagefraud.

Trump, his aides and allies throughout the executive branch have trainedthe government, orthreatened to, on adizzying array of targets:

n He revoked security clearances and tried to block access to government facilities for attorneys at law firmshedisfavors.

n He revoked billionsof dollars in federal research funds and sought to block international students from elite universities. Under pressure, Columbia Universityagreed to a$220 million settlement, the University of Pennsylvania revoked

records set by transgender swimmer Lia Thomas and presidents resignedfrom the University of Virginia and Northwestern University.

n He has fired or reassigned federal employees targeted for theirwork, including prosecutors who worked on cases involving him

n He droppedcorruption chargesagainst New York Mayor Eric Adams to gain cooperation in his crackdown on immigrants living in the country illegally

n He secured multimillion-dollar settlements against media organizations in lawsuits that were widely regarded as weak cases

n Attorney General Pam Bondi is pursuing agrand jury review of the origins of theTrump-Russia investigation and appointed aspecial prosecutor to scrutinize New York Attorney General Letitia James andU.S.Sen Adam Schiff. That’s not weaponizing government, says White House spokesperson Harrison Fields; it’swielding power “What the nation is wit-

nessing today is theexecutionofthe most consequential administrationin American history,” Fields said, “one that is embracingcommonsense, putting America first, andfulfilling themandate of the American people. Power is both givenand taken. Andthrough executive orders, personnel moves, the bully pulpit and sheerbrazenness, Trump has claimed powers that none of his modern predecessors came closetoclaiming. He has also been handed power by manyaround him. By afiercely loyal base that rides with him through thick and thin. By aCongress and

SupremeCourt that so far have ceded power to the executive branch. By universities, law firms, media organizations and other institutions that have negotiated or settled with him

The U.S. government is powerful, but it’snot inherently omnipotent. As Trump learned to his frustration in hisfirst term,the president is penned in by theConstitution,laws,court rulings, bureaucracy,traditions and norms. Yetinhis second term, Trump hasmanaged to eliminate,steamroll, ignore or otherwise neutralize manyofthose guardrails.

Leaders can exert their will through fear and intimidation, by determining the topics that are getting discussed andbyshaping people’spreferences, Steven Lukes argued in a seminal 1974 book, “Power: ARadical View.” Lukes, a professor emeritus at New York University,saidTrump exemplifies all three dimensionsofpower.Trump’s innovation, Lukes said, is “epistemic liberation” —a willingness to makeupfacts without evidence.

“This idea that you can just say things that aren’ttrue, and then it doesn’tmatter to your followers and to alot of other people that seems to me anew thing,” at least in liberal democracies, Lukes said. Trump uses memesand jokes morethan argument and advocacy to signal his preferences, he said.

Central to Trump’s2024 campaign was his contention that he was the victim of a“vicious persecution”

perpetrated by “the Biden administration’sweaponized Department of Injustice.” Facingfour criminal cases in New York, Washington and Florida, Trumpsaid in 2023 that he yearned not to end the government weaponization,but to harness it.“IF YOU GO AFTER ME, I’MCOMING AFTER YOU!” Trumpwroteon Truth Social on Aug. 4, 2023. “Never again will the immense powerofthe state be weaponized to persecute political opponents —something Iknow something about,” Trump said in his second inaugural address. Amonth later: “I ended JoeBiden’s weaponization soon as Igot in,” Trump said in aFeb.22speech at theConservative Political Action Conference outside Washington.And 10 days afterthat: “We’ve ended weaponized government, where, as an example, asitting president is allowed to viciously prosecute his political opponent, likeme.”Two days later,onMarch 6, Trump signed asweeping order targeting aprominent law firm that represents Democrats.And On April 9, he issued presidential memoranda directing the Justice Department to investigate two officials from his first administration, Chris Krebs and Miles Taylor With that,the weaponization has come full circle. Trumpisnolonger surrounded by tradition-bound lawyersand government officials, and his instinct to play his hand aggressively faces fewrestraints.

By Amanda McElfresh| amcelfresh@theadvocate.com

give thebusinessfive starsand rave aboutthe qualityofthe work,the timeliness of theservice andthe friendlinessofthe staff.Their satisfaction showed againinthe 2025 Best of Baton Rougeawards, whereAdvancedWindshieldRepair took home theSilverprize forBestAutoGlass Repair OwnerJason Paymentstarted Advanced Windshield Repair in 2001,withhis wife by hisside. Sincethen, they have grownintoanoperation with 17 employees In addition to handling repairsand replacements at itslocationat5395Jones CreekRoad, thebusiness is also thepreferred partnerfor many localdealershipsand body shopswho trustthemwiththeir glassneeds for used andfleet vehicles,aswellas newvehicle customers.

Payment, aBaton Rougenativewho attended Woodlawn Highand LSU, talked more aboutwhat makesAdvancedWindshieldRepairstand outfrom itscompetitors.

What sets your business apart?

We provideapersonalizedexperience. Glass thesedaysisalot more difficult than when we first started.There’s so much technology builtintothe windshieldtoday.Whenpeoplecometous,theyusually don’tknowwhattoput on theircar.Weclarify things for them.We’ve beendoing calibrations longer than anyone else in BatonRouge.Thatmeans we know more than anyone aboutthe technologicalsideof replacingawindshield. Plenty of glassshops do not have calibrationcapabilities. We take acustomer from starttofinish,explainingthe brands,calibration andsafetyfeatures.

What kind of work does your business most commonly handle?

We do everything that involves glassinacar Most frequently,wesee damage from road debris.We startedout repairingrockchips,which we stilldo. We’verepaireddamagefromhail.We’veseenatwo-byfour piece of plywoodthatflew throughacar window andawoman whohit agoose that caused damage.We also do window tinting. We areapreferred vendor for

allinsurance networks.We canalsoassist customers with filing theircomprehensiveglass claim.There’s nothingthat we can’t do

Howhaveyou kept up with modern technology?

We have threeofthe most advanced calibration systemsonthe market.Not many glassshops have threesystems.There’s nota tool that we won’tget We want thebesttools in thehands of thebesttechnicians. It makesadifference in thefinalproduct Whyisthe windshield such an importantpartof avehicle? It’s more than apiece of glass. It cansaveyourlife. It protects youfromobjects on theroad. It supports theroofand keepsyou in thevehicle in an accident. It’s notjustavisualproblemwhenit’scracked.It’s akey structural componentofthe vehicle. Whatkindofcustomerexperiencedoyouprovide? When people call for an appointment, having theVIN is always critical.Thatisthe lifeline to your carand tellsuseverythingabout it.Whenwehave that number,wecan make sure to have theright part readytogo. We have sevenpeopleatany giventime answeringcalls here whoare knowledgeableand canget people scheduledquickly.Our customers will always speaktoanactualperson. Nothingis automated. During ajob,werun two-mansystems, whichis notverycommon. Everyone knowsthe processand knowshow to make things runefficiently. On average, someonecan gettheir windshield andcalibration completedhereinunder an hour.Customers canalso receivea quotedirectlyatwww.advancedwindshield. com. Formoreinformation or to schedule an appointment,visit advancedwindshield.com or call 225-2486788

Thank You Senator Cassidy,

forstanding strong—for Louisiana science.

HereinLouisiana, we knowwhat it takestoimprove lives and supportAmerican progress: hardwork, high standards, and sciencethat deliversreal results. And that starts with strong federal supportfor American research.

With Senator Cassidy’s leadership, patients acrossLouisiana benefit every day from life-saving cures,breakthrough therapies, and long-awaited treatments

Thank you, Senator Cassidy, for backing sciencethat changeslives,strengthens families, and builds astronger future in Louisiana and allofAmerica.

Trump seeking ways to take over 9/11 memorial in NYC

BY PHILIP MARCELO Associated Press

NEW YORK President Donald Trump’s administration said Friday that it is exploring whether the federal government can take control of the 9/11 memorial and museum in New York City.

The site in lower Manhattan, where the World Trade Center’s twin towers were destroyed by hijacked jetliners on Sept. 11,

GANG

Continued from page 1A

All six men now face charges of conspiracy as well as a count of intimidating a witness. Each of them appeared at the 19th JDC on Wednesday and a judge set a Dec. 8 date for a preliminary hearing on their respective charges.

District court records show the Baton Rouge Police Department has classified the 60 Gang as a “violent group” affiliated with other notorious Baton Rouge gangs known to sell drugs and use pistols and rifles modified with “Glock switches” to carry out acts of violence. The 60 Gang came onto BRPD’s radar in 2021 as detectives were investigating a homicide and linked the alleged shooter in that case to drug activity near Henderson’s house, court records indicate.

North Baton Rouge has been a hotbed of gang activity. BRPD and East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office deputies partnered with the FBI and other federal agencies to crack down on local gangs like the 60s, Bleedas, Vultures and TBG. Gov Jeff Landry announced the joint effort at a news conference last month, saying it led to 100 gang-related arrests across Baton Rouge over the summer targeting gang members in the Zion City, Banks Town, Glen Oaks and Dixie neighborhoods.

2001, features two memorial pools ringed by waterfalls and parapets with the names of the dead, and an underground museum. Since opening to the public in 2014, the memorial plaza and museum have been run by a public charity, now chaired by former New York City

Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a frequent Trump critic.

The White House confirmed the administration has had “preliminary exploratory discussions”

Shot dead in the street

Arrest records indicate the 60 Gang is centered in the Dixie neighborhood, near the area of Plank Road and Airline Highway Police arrested Henderson and Lewis after Terran Fobb was killed in the 3000 block of Oswego Street just after noon on June 6, 2022 Officers called to the scene found Fobb lying dead in the road with multiple gunshot wounds According to police, a vehicle pulled up beside the 17-year-old teen and stopped as he was walking down the street Henderson emerged from the front passenger seat and opened fire on Fobb. When the victim’s sister, who was on the front porch, turned to run inside her house, Henderson fired two gunshots her way as well. Both of them struck the side of the residence near the front door, police said. Henderson hopped back in the vehicle and the car peeled away, according to the arrest report.

Fobb’s sister is a crucial piece of the case against Henderson. She identified him as the gunman who killed her brother and shot at her Henderson has been indicted on charges of second-degree murder and attempted murder in the 2022 shooting and faces a mandatory life sentence if he is convicted on the murder count No trial date has been set.

Records show Lewis, who was 16 at the time, was also arrested in connection with

about the idea, but declined to elaborate. The office noted the Republican pledged during his campaign last year to make the site a national monument, protected and maintained by the federal government.

But officials at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum say the federal government, under current laws, can’t unilaterally take over the site, which is located on land owned by the Port Author-

Fobb’s killing and charged with first-degree murder as a juvenile. His case was transferred to district court in October 2022, but state prosecutors dismissed the indictments in July 2024 after determining there was “insufficient evidence” to prove him guilty, court records show

Police allege Henderson sought to do away with the eyewitness testimony implicating him by ordering the hit on Fobb’s sister the surviving victim in the case.

BRPD received an anonymous report of threats aimed at Fobb’s family in August 2024 and quickly learned that Michael Veal was involved in a scheme to steal a car and use it to kill possibly two witnesses in the case — Fobb’s sister and mother Police arrested Veal the following day. An anonymous informant told investigators five other 60 Gang members were intent on “taking care of” Fobb’s sister and mother in an effort to free Henderson from jail arrest records show

Uncovering a plot to kill

Detectives began reviewing jail phone calls between known members of the 60 Gang dating back to the date of Henderson’s arrest according to records. U.S. Marshals nabbed him on Nov 3, 2022, and seized 372 grams of methamphetamine, 2 1/2 pounds of psilocybin, a handgun and an undisclosed amount of cash Ten days after he was

ity of New York and New Jersey

The U.S. government shouldering costs and management of the site also “makes no sense,” given Trump’s efforts to dramatically pare back the federal bureaucracy said Beth Hillman, the organization’s president and CEO.

“We’re proud that our exhibitions tell stories of bravery and patriotism and are confident that our current operating model has served the public honorably and effectively,” she said, noting the organization has raised $750 million in private funds and welcomed some 90 million visitors since its opening.

locked up, Henderson called Veal and another man from jail and told them to reach out to Fobb’s brother on Instagram and relay to the brother that “his family’s false accusations were the reason he was in jail,” records indicate. He told them he would give the family “financial support” for their emotional well-being, but on a phone call from the jail later that day, he talked to another man about harming the family and “taking care of the witnesses” to his alleged crime.

In September 2023, Baton Rouge investigators acquired cellphone records from a 60 Gang member ensnared in a separate investigation from the Kenner Police Department. The data included video texts the man sent to Veal, showing Fobb’s sister working at a local hotel Later that month, Dedric White called his younger brother Lance from the Catahoula Correctional Center, and they talked about the plan to harm the woman, according to records. In subsequent phone calls, Dedric

Last year the museum generated more than $93 million in revenue and spent roughly $84 million on operating costs, leaving a nearly $9 million surplus when depreciation is factored in, according to museum officials and its most recently available tax filings.

White spoke to Henderson about locating the sister so she couldn’t appear in court and told his younger brother that he relayed to Veal pertinent information on the whereabouts of Fobb’s mother In August 2024, two weeks after they received the anonymous tip, investigators got a search warrant to review Veal’s cellphone. It showed that he had looked up information about Fobb’s death a number of times and searched the internet for names of his siblings in Baton Rouge. On Aug. 11, 2024, one day before the report was made to police, Veal sent a text about trading a .357-caliber Heckler and Koch gun in exchange for a “lo,” slang for a stolen car, police said. He said in the texts that he was trying to obtain a stolen car or buy a cheap vehicle and was “trying to spin.” Police said that meant he intended to ride around the area looking for someone he planned to shoot at During the conversation, Veal also referenced an H10 semiautomatic

shotgun, records indicate. On Veal’s phone, police found saved files of the BRPD news release announcing Henderson’s arrest for Fobb’s homicide as well as an obituary of Fobb’s deceased twin sister that listed the names of all his relatives. During a slate of Oct. 8 Instagram messages, Lewis told Henderson he checked the job site of Fobb’s sister and other locations of her supposed whereabouts, but the trail had gone cold. Henderson sent Lewis photographed screenshots, urging him to continue to hunt for her

“You know how to free us we need dat hoe smashed,” one of the images stated. Seconds later, Henderson ordered Lewis to “delete dat…ASAP,” reports show Later in the day, Henderson messaged Lewis again, sending a screenshot that simply said, “Find her.” He then said he no longer wanted to talk on the app and asked for Lewis’ phone number Lewis was arrested Nov 27

In aregionwhere stylemeets Southern comfort, onefamily- andfemale-ownedbusinessisturningheads anddressingwindows with expert craftsmanshipand heartfeltservice Custom Blinds,Shades, andShuttersLLC hasbeennamed theGoldwinnerinthe 2025 Best of BatonRouge awards forBestWindow Treatments, arecognition that honors the company’stechnical skills andits inspiring journey. Ownedand operated by sistersGinaVince andCarrieVince Broussard, theBaton Rouge andGonzales-basedbusinessspecializes in all thingswindowcoverings,fromblindsandshades to drapes andshutters, forbothcommercialand residential properties.Yet,their storyisabout much more than installationsand productlines It’s oneofresilience, family anddetermination

Thecompany wasfounded in 2009 when Gina andCarrie’smother, aseasonedprofessional in thewindowcoveringbusiness, decidedto branch outonher ownsothatshe couldput herexpertise to useand have amoreflexible schedule that allowedher time to travel with herhusband.But,everythingchanged in July 2018 when adevastating accident left her completelyblind

“I worked in mental health for12years,but when theaccidenthappened, Ihad to leavethat job andstepupwiththe business becausewehad severalcontracts out,”Ginasaid. “Mom wasin theICU forseveral weeks. Shewas on vacation when theaccidenthappened, andittookustwo months to gether home.Meanwhile,the work of thebusinessstill hadtobefinished.Weknew shewould neverwanttoleave hercustomers in thelurch.So, IknewI hadtostepin. Iwas definitelybaptizedbyfire.”

In 2020,whentheir stepfather became ill, Carrie decidedtoleave herown career and help Gina runthe business full-time. Together, thesisters beganmodernizingand growing operations whilestill honoring thefoundation that theirmotherhad builtfor so many years.

“Westarted doingmoresocialmedia to get ournameout theremoreoften,” Carrie said “One of thefirstthings we didwas to getour contractor’s licensesothatwecould be on the bidlists for larger projects.Ifwesee aproject is up forabid,we’ll findthe contractor andsend them ourprice.Thathas allowedustoexpand thecommercialsideofthe business quitea bit.”

In addition to successfully completing large projects at schools, hospitalsand offices across theregion, they also continue to do residential projects, whetherit’sjustafew windowsonan existing home or afull-scaleinstallationon dozens of windowsonanew build.

“Whena customer reachesout to us,wefirst meet them andask what they arelooking for,

Carrie said.“Alot of people call allwindow coverings‘blinds’, so we bringthemsamples of blinds,shadesand shutters to explainthe difference andget an exactideaofwhatthey have in mind.We’ve seen that people want motorized roller shades more oftenthanblinds nowadays becausetheyare easier to cleanand theprice pointhas become more affordable. We arenot decorators,but we’veseensomuchover theyears that we cansuggest what we have seen work well in otherpropertiesand help people make decisions. Gina said theBestofBaton Rougehonor is an affirmationthatthe hard work thefamilyputs into thebusinessispayingoff.Althoughtheir mother cannolongerbepart of theday-to-day work,shedoesstillofferinputandguidance.Most importantly, thefamilyhas remembered that theirrelationships with theircustomersneed to remain at theforefront of everything they do.

“Wefeelblessed that ourmom hadsucha greatreputation. Afterher accident, people were stillcalling us forwork. People shehad worked with beforewereunderstanding of the situationand stuckwithus,”Ginasaid. “It’s importanttoustosupport them theway they have supportedus. If somebody callsus, we typicallyget back to them within 24 hoursand schedule an appointmentassoonaswecan.We neverwantanyonetoslipthrough thecracks. Formoreinformation aboutCustomBlinds, Shades, andShuttersLLC,ortoschedulean appointment, emailinfo@weknowblinds.com.

If

You’re Over ThirtyThis is the BEST TREATMENT youcan usefor your SCIATICA,BACKPAIN, and HERNIATEDDISCS

Finally,there’s a treatmenttoconquer lowback, neck,leg andarm painwithout dangerousmedications or painful surgery.

If yousufferfrom:

•LOW BACK PAIN

•SCIATICA

•NECKPAIN

•HIP PAIN

•LEG PAIN

•NUMBNESSINARMS, LEGS OR FEET

Non-surgical Spinal Decompressionmay be theanswerfor you!

We areDr. ScottLeBlanc andDr. Dana LeBlanc, a husbandand wife team,thatown LeBlancSpine Center. We have helped thousandsofpatientsget outof pain with Spinal Decompressiontherapy treatments, andwelove what we do.Discissuesare common,and patients sufferingare usuallygiven limitedoptions of treatment. We runthese bignewspaper advertisementstolet people in thecommunity know thereis anotheroptionoftreatment forpain- withoutmedication,injections, or surgery!

NON-SURGICALSPINAL DECOMPRESSION is a breakthrough,non-invasive treatmentthathas been proventoreverse disc herniationsand relievenerve pain in theneck andlow back.Duringthe procedure, aspinaldiscisisolatedand aseriesofdistraction andrelaxationphasesoccur at averyspecificangle targetingthe source of pain.A vacuum canbecreated inside thediscand thenegativepressuredeliversnutrients, oxygen,and fluidfromsurrounding tissues, to assist with repair of thedamaged disc Thetreatment is not painfulatall,and most patients read or even take anap whileontreatment!

PROOFTHIS TREATMENTWORKS There’splentyof researchtobackupthe claims of Spinal Decompression Therapyand itseffectiveness. Here arejusta few of thepublished scientificstudies

•“Patients reported amean88.9% improvementin backpainand better function .Nopatient required anyinvasivetherapies (e.g.epiduralinjections, surgery).”-AmericanAcademy of Pain Management

•“We thus submit that decompressiontherapy should be considered first, before thepatient undergoesa surgical procedurewhich permanentlyaltersthe anatomyand function of theaffectedlumbarspine segment.”-Journal Of Neuroscience Research

•“86%ofthe 219patientswho completedthe therapy reported immediateresolutionofsymptoms.”-Orthopedic Technology Review

•“Vertebralaxial (spinal) decompressionwas successfulin71% of the778 cases”- JournalofNeurologicalResearch

•“Good to excellentreliefin86% of patients with Herniateddiscs”- TheAmericanJournal of Pain Management

•“Decompression Therapyreporteda76.5% with complete remissionand 19.6%withpartial remission of pain anddisability” -Rio Grande Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery

At LeBlancSpineCenter, we utilizeadvanced, FDA-clearedtechnologythatisproventoeffectively

longer than 5minutes withoutpain. Ihad tried epidural steroidinjectionsand physical therapy in thepast, butwas stillsuffering.I have always beenactiveand my back pain wasaffectingmy lifestylegreatly IcametoLeBlancSpine Centerand began Decompression treatment. andIamnow 100% improved! Ican do everything Idid beforemypainstarted,and my favorite part aboutthistreatment is theresults! Ican do allofmydaily activities withoutany pain.The doctorsand staff here have also treatedmegreat IhaverecommendedLeBlancSpine Center to manypeople. andwillcontinue to do so!

Mark Evans (FormerHighSchoolCoach and InsuranceAgent) Hometown -Baton Rouge,LA

alleviatepain.

It’s importanttonotethatnot everypatient is a candidatefor Spinal Decompression, whichiswhy we prioritize athorough individual assessment for each person whowalks throughour doors. Our high successrateinpainreliefstems from our commitment to only taking on patients whom we confidently believewecan help

Forthe next 7days, we areofferingaspecial “Decompression Evaluation”offer,atnocostto you! What does this offer include? Everything we normally do in ournew patientevaluations:

•Anin-depthconsultationabout your health andwellbeing wherewewilllisten. really listen .tothe detailsofyourcase.

•Acompleteneuromuscular examination

•Afullset of specializedX-rays(if clinically necessary)

•Athorough analysis of your exam andX-ray findings

Youwillsit with thedoctorone on onetogoover your x-rays,and you’ll gettosee everything first hand

At LeBlancSpine Center,weare honestwithour patients andwegivepersonalized attentionand analysis to each case.Wetruly enjoymeeting with patients to answer theirquestions andtohelp find outifSpinalDecompression treatments couldbe theanswertotheir pain

Thereisnochargeatall andyou don’tneedtobuy anything.You have nothing to lose by taking us up on this specialoffer andyou will getanswers to

what is causingyourpain. If youhaveseenour adsinthe past and have thoughtabout calling, don’thesitate. Youdon’t have to go on living in pain,missing outonactivitiesand otherpartoflifethatyou enjoy. Call us today!

IcametoLeBlancSpine Center because Ihad beensufferingfor about2years with pullinginmy lowerbackdownintomylegs. Ihad triedphysical therapybut wasstill suffering. AfterstartingSpinalDecompression treatments Iamnow 70%improved! Ihavelesspain with walkingand more mobility.I have less pain in the morningwhenwakingup, andIcan nowlift, bend do household chores andother dailyactivitieswith lesspain.I am treatedwonderfully by thestaff and Idorecommend LeBlancSpine Center very often others.The doctorsare honest andsincere

Randi Henriques (SocialWorker) Hometown -New Orleans, LA

IcametoLeBlancSpine Center because Ibeen suffering with lowerbackand hippain, difficulty sitting, andrestrictedmobility.Ihad triedother doctorsinthe past,medication,physicaltherapy andmassage- alltonoavail Ibegan Spinal Decompression treatments andIamnow 90%improved! What Ilikemost aboutmycare at LeBlancSpine Centerismy improvement in pain.I cannow bend andlift withoutpain, andIevenhavefewer headaches. Thestaff is very friendly andcalls everyone by name. Iwould absolutelyrecommend LeBlanc SpineCenter. Thedoctors actually SHOW you what theproblemsare on thex-rays, andthey trackyourprogress. Youwillget resultsbut this is notaquick fix. Youhavetocommittothe time andefforttocometotreatment.Comparedto surgery, this aWIN forthe patient!

Paula Laird (CPA) Hometown -Baton Rouge,LA

The effort is one way Trump’steam is trying to rid public spaces of “woke” ideology,promoting amore positive view of U.S. history Historians havewarned that the moves could effectively erase difficultbut important periods of the country’s past, with slavery at the top of that list. Following the directive, a survey posted at National ParkServicesites in June asked visitors andstaff to report signs “that are negative about either past or living Americans or that fail to emphasize the beauty, grandeur,and abundance of landscapes and other natural features.”

According to internal agency documents reviewed by The New York Times, National Park Service employeesflagged language about the effects of climate change, the imprisonment of Native Americans and the brutality of slavery At Cane River,one person reported asign recounting an attempted slave escape, questioning its naming of the enslavers and its noting of the whipping that followed.

As of late August, that sign still stood. But Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has ordered the removal of inappropriate signs by Sept. 17, theTimes reported. Whether this sign or others like it is set for edits is unclear.Current Cane River staff members declined to comment for this article, referring areporter to the National Park Service.

“We’ll be evaluating all signage,including national parks in Louisiana, along with thepublic feedback we’ve received,” said aNational Park Service spokesperson via email, who didn’t provide their name.“Each piece of public feedback we receive is manually reviewed and evaluated. This effort reinforces our commitment to telling the full and accurate story of our nation’spast.”

To Teal,the possiblerevisions feel likeapersonal and professional rebuke “It feels likea lifetimeof work is being destroyed,”

she said, stretching herarms outward.

Researchinguntoldstories

As ayoung, Black kid in

the1970s, Teal and her family traveled to stateand national parks in an RV Shedidn’tsee herselfreflected in the storiestold

then, but didn’texpect to, either.“It wasnever forus, anyway,” she said.

So she became the person whocollects the stories. As acultural anthropology and archaeology professorat Houston City College, Teal hasfocused her research on correcting narratives and spotlighting marginalizedgroups. Some of Teal’s recentresearch uncovered new escape routes that enslaved people traveled from Natchitoches along the Cane River into Texas.

Over her career,history became more inclusive. Nationaland stateparks became regular clients. Because of Teal and historians like her, the country was reflecting —and attracting —communitiesofcolor at its historic sites, sometimes called America’sbiggest classroom.

“You were starting to see it in thepark, in theimages of Black and Brown people on the literature,” Teal said.

“Oh man, we weregetting somewhere.”

‘A hotpotato’

Fromthe start, telling the story of slavery along the Cane Rivermeanttalking about things people didn’t wanttotalk about.

Established in 1994, the park comprises two cotton Creole plantations, Oakland andMagnolia,each owned by generations of asingle family for their entire existence, ararity.Atits height, Magnolia was “unrivaled in the region,” according to the park. By 1860, the familyowned more enslaved people and produced more cotton than anyother in the parish.Evenafter theCivil War, the farm continued to be aregional force. Areport aboutthe park’s founding said that planners encountered “an immensely complex situation,” especially in termsofrace. “Blacksand whitestreated slavery as adelicate, nearly taboo subject forpublic discussion.”

Or,asaformerCaneRiver park interpreter put it, discussing thetopic withvisitors meant dodging “a hot potato and ahand grenade.”

“Slavery makes people feel either ashamed or feel blamed,” said CarlaWhitfield, alongtime National Park Service leader who started as an interpreter at Cane River in the late 1990s. When Betty Hertzog donated the 18 acres of Magnolia for the park, it did not include the main house, hidden by rowsofgrand old oaks.But it didinclude eight small, brickcabins, and Whitfield was determined to tell thestories of theenslavedpeople who livedin them

The first person she hired wasanundergraduate from Northwestern StateUniversity of Louisiana named Rolanda Teal.

“She was the real deal,” Whitfield said. Teal led ateam that collected stories from more than 100 Black residents of Natchitoches Parish,

Rolanda Teal, an anthropologyprofessor,looks over historic signs at Cane River Creole National

in 1994, the parkcomprises twocotton Creole plantations, Oakland and Magnolia.

Abrief stormrolls over the Magnolia Plantation in Derry on Aug. 20.

interviews that would become the basis of her book, “Natchitoches Parish,” part of Arcadia Publishing’s “Black in America” series. She’sasocial historian, Whitfield said, arelatively new field that spotlights the experiences of everyday people, including those who were enslaved.Quotes from Teal’sinterviews pop up on signs across Magnolia, still, animating the buildings

Whitfield believes that the Trump administration won’t stop with signs.

“Actions like these attempt to erase the stories andsilencethe voicesof African-descended people who have lived in America,” she said, “furthercreating disinformation about my people’s experience and the overall history of this country.”

‘Tiedtoastake’

Outside those small brick buildings stands amodest, sun-faded sign.

“Escaped!” it begins, before offering visitors a view into history

In 1804, at least 30 enslaved people,including a2-year-old child, ran from five area plantations, including Magnolia, then owned by Ambroise LeComte. After ascouting party found them, they sur-

PLAN

Continued from page1A

While the proposals on the ballot would not raise thetotal tax rate the parish andits agencies are allowed to collect, the overall plan could involve residentspaying more, which has led to some pushback.

Currently,voters have authorized the library system to collect 11.1 mills.A mill is equal to $1 of tax on every $1,000 of assessedproperty value.

Currently,the libraryonly collects 9.89 mills. But if the libraryportion of Thrive passes, it would use the full 11.1 amount.

“We’re going to take money thattheseagencies have willingly given in excess revenue and we’re going to pay down our parishwide debt,” Batts said. “We’re going to use that money to balance our budget.”

While the initial proposal was bogged down in adispute between the Mayor’s Office and library officials, the library is now on board. Battsand others —including councilmember Jen Racca, who helped shape Thrive— say the willingness of all three agencies to give up funding is an important part of the message to voters.

“It was notonlythe council and the mayor but the three entities voluntarily coming together to support this proposition,” Racca said.

The measure is bipartisan, as all 12 membersof the Metro Council, which

rendered.

“The freedomseekers weretiedtoastake in the town square andpublicly whipped,”the sign concludes, “then returned to their owners.”

This is thelanguagereported to thePark Service. And though one personreported the sign, others now wanttosee it kept—orat least documented.

In response to the Trump administration’s rethinking of the National Park Service signs, acoalition of historians and librarians launched aproject called “SaveOur Signs.” They’ve been asking visitors to snap photos of signs they encounter at national parks across the country,upload-

has seven Republicans and five Democrats,havevoiced support.EastBaton Rouge Democratic Party chair TawandaBoatner confirmed the local party has endorsed it, and Batts hopestosoon secure the nod from local GOP leadership soon too.

What if Thrive fails?

Racca echoed Batts in pointing out that Thrive is not anew tax but arededication of tax dollars that currently exist. If voters are against any new taxes, Racca said three votes in favor of Thrive might be the best way to avoid that.

“We’ve already seen other entities, and otherfolks in the parishgoout fornew taxestotry to balancetheir budget,and they failed miserably,unfortunately,” she said.

Most recently,Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore proposed a newtax to fund hisoffice in March, but voters shot it downbya20-percentagepoint margin.

“If Ihad to make aprediction as to what it looks like next year,Ithink you will see several people on the ballotasking for money from taxpayers if thisdoes not pass,” Racca said.

The council membersaid some residents opposerenewing the library’smillage becausetheybelieve the system’s$100million fund balance is already too large. But Racca explained that under Thrive, the library wouldactuallyoperate with less funding for the next 10 years than it has now If themeasurefails, the

ing themtoawebsite.

Jenny McBurney,government publications librarian at the UniversityofMinnesota, said it’snormal for park signs to be updated over time, perhaps to reflect new research. But she said the Trump administration’seffort isn’t transparent or based on employees’ expertise “This isn’tbusiness as usual,”she said. So she and other University of Minnesota librariansteamed up with the DataRescue Project,soliciting photos from folks trekking to nationalparks on theirsummer trips. So far, they’vecollected 6,000 photographs, including five from Cane River.

Of course, signs aren’tthe only waythisparktells its stories.

On ahot August afternoon, the park’sinterpretation manager Barbara Justice donned her talltan hat to give atour “Weare going to embark on ajourney of 200 years

of historyand change,” she began, standing inside Magnolia’sstore where, as she noted, “it’salittle cooler thanitisoutside.” The store, opened by the Hertzog family after the Civil War, is the newest building on the tour,she said, before heading to theoldest:the blacksmith shop.

ACatahoula dog named Daisy joinedin, bounding beside the group in tall grass.

At each stop, Justice talked aboutslavery.Ateach stop, she took questions. Then she posed her own: “Ofcourse, aquestionwe get quite alot is, ‘Well, what was life like for the enslaved people?’”

The families that owned theplantations kept documents, photos and even home videos.“It’swonderful,” Justice said, “and yet it’salso one of our challenges,”because so much of the park’sdocumentation comesfrom the perspective of the White plantation owners.

There are also oral historieswith sharecropping and tenant farming families, she continued, “and that’s invaluable to us.”

These days, Teal, who captured many of those oral histories, spends most of her timebetween Texas, where sheteaches,and Mississippi, where her partner lives. Still, she tends to the 200 acres of farmland her grandmother acquired over her lifetime in Sabine Parish, an hour’sdrive west of Cane River. Teal rarely visits the park where she got her start. The place has changed since she worked there,oreven since she visited several years ago. There are new exhibits, new signs, anew parking lot. Butona recentday,she could still pointtothe place’sinformal geography: where in the fields water tends to pool, where in the grass snakestendtohide. Behind theslave quarters, onions sometimes sprout,all these yearslater

library can rely on its sav-

ings beforeasking votersto restore itsfull funding, she said.

“They’ll be just fine without their tax for afew years andbeable to continue to operate well within their fund balance,” she said. “And then whenever they comeback to ask for their millage, they’ll campaign and most likely get it.”

It is notjust tax measures that have hadatough time in recent Louisiana elections. In March, when Moore hadhis newtax on voters’ballots, statewide voters rejected all fourof the constitutional amendments proposedbyGov JeffLandry andthe Louisiana Legislature. In November 2024, 59% of East Baton Rouge Parish voters said “no” to aslew of proposedgovernment changes.

While Thrive might not be completely straightforward, Batts saidhethinks it is simpler than the constitutional amendments. Andit does not propose anew tax to residentslike thedistrict attorney did.

“The governor’sstuff was very confusing, but it would have resulted in some higher taxes overall,” Batts said. “We’re not doing anything that serious. We’re not giving you new taxes, not taking certain rights away forproperty or whatever.Ithink we’retrying to do something much more mild.”

EmailPatrick SloanTurner at patrick.sloanturner@theadvocate.com.

Ned is a nice snail, but rare shell likely dooms love life

BY CHARLOTTE GRAHAM-McLAY Associated Press

WELLINGTON, New Zealand

Ned is a perfectly nice snail. If he had a dating profile, it might read: good listener, stable home, likes broccoli, seeks love.

But he’s already exhausted his local options and it’s not because he’s picky or unappealing. Instead, he’s a common garden snail with an uncommon anatomical problem that’s ruining his love life.

Ned’s shell coils to the left, not the right, making him the 1 in 40,000 snails whose sex organs don’t line up with those of the rest of their species Unless another lefty snail is found, the young gastropod faces a lifetime of unintentional celibacy

That dire prospect prompted a New Zealand nature lover who found the snail in her garden in August to launch a campaign to find his perfect match. But Ned’s quest for true love, perhaps predictably, is slow. An unlikely meet-cute in the garden

Giselle Clarkson was weeding her home vegetable patch in Wairarapa on the North Island when a snail tumbling out of the leafy greens caught her eye. Clarkson, the author and illustrator of a nature book, “The Observologist,” has an affection for snails and had long been on the lookout for a sinistral, or left-coiled shell.

“I knew immediately that I couldn’t just toss the snail back into the weeds with the

GISELLE CLARKSON

PHOTO PROVIDED By

Ned, a pale-bodied snail, crawls across a leaf in Wairarapa, New Zealand, on Aug. 22. Ned’s shell coils to the left, making him the 1 in 40,000 snails whose sex organs don’t line up with those of the rest of their species.

others,” she said. Instead, she sent a photo of the snail, pictured alongside a right-coiled gastropod as proof, to her colleagues at New Zealand Geographic.

The magazine launched a nationwide campaign to find a mate for Ned, named for the left-handed character Ned Flanders in “The Simpsons,” who once opened a store called

The Leftorium. That explains the male pronouns some use for Ned, although snails are hermaphrodites with sex organs on their necks and the capacity for both eggs and sperm.

“When you have a right-coiling snail and a left-coiling snail, they can’t slide up and get their pieces meeting in the right position,”

Report: Falling birth rate puts U.S. colleges in danger

BY ELIZABETH REMBERT and AMANDA ALBRIGHT Bloomberg News (TNS)

A dwindling number of prospective students will drive as many as 370 private colleges in the U.S. to shutter or merge with another institution in the next decade, according to a major higher-education consulting firm.

Huron Consulting Group’s prediction is more than triple the total amount of private, nonprofit two- and four-year college closures that the National Center for Education Statistics calculated in the 10 years leading up to 2020.

The shrinking supply of students stems from a falling national birth rate that started in 2007 and hasn’t recovered The Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education estimates that the graduating class of 2041 will be about 13% smaller than the 2025 cohort.

“Essentially the problem is we have too many seats in too many classrooms and not enough prospective students to fill them,” said Peter Stokes, a managing director at Huron. “Over the next decade, we’re going through a very painful but necessary rebal-

ancing in supply and demand.”

Stokes said the firm analyzed more than 10 years of financial and enrollment data from since-closed and merged institutions in making its prediction, analyzing metrics such as net tuition revenue per student, enrollment, ratings, and the asset-to-liability ratio of closed schools.

The projected closures and mergers will impact around 600,000 students and affect about $18 billion in endowment funds, according to Stokes.

“These are schools where we see red flashing lights and warning signs that they’re in significant financial stress,” he said. Huron declined to disclose the names of schools that they expect will close or merge.

Another 430 institutions with over 1.2 million students and $134 billion in endowments face moderate existential threats, according to Huron, which serves over 580 education clients annually, a bulk of which are fouryear public and private universities, according to a July earnings presentation.

In contrast, 114 private, nonprofit colleges shuttered from 2010 to 2020, according to National Center for Education Statistics data, and in the decade prior to that period, 59 schools closed.

Clarkson said. “So a lefty can only mate with another lefty.”

No long-distance partners need apply

The fact that romantic hopefuls need not be a sex match should have boosted Ned’s prospects. But his inbox has remained empty except for photos of “optimistically misidentified right-coiling snails,” Clarkson said.

“We’ve had lots of enthusiasm and encouragement for Ned, a lot of people who can relate and really want the best for them, as a symbol of hope for everyone who’s looking for love,” she said. “But as yet, no lefties have been forthcoming.”

Ned’s relatable romantic woes have attracted global news coverage, but New Zealand’s strict biosecurity controls mean long-distance love probably isn’t on the cards. Other left-coiled snails have gotten lucky through public campaigns to find mates before, however, so Clarkson remains optimistic.

In 2017, the death of British sinistral snail Jeremy — named for left-wing politician and gardening lover Jeremy Corbyn — prompted a New York Times obituary after his eventful two-year life.

A quest to find left-coiled mates for Jeremy prompted the discovery of two pro-

spective matches, who initially preferred each other But Jeremy got the hang of it eventually, and by the time of his death had 56 offspring — all of them right-coiled.

It was a fascinating chance for scientists to investigate what produces left-coiled snails, with the cause most likely a rare genetic mutation. Studies of snail farms in Europe prompted researchers to estimate about 1 in every 40,000 snails is a lefty

This is not a rom-com, probably

Back in Wairarapa, Ned’s constant presence in a tank in Clarkson’s living room has kindled a life of quiet companionship and existential questions.

“Maybe snails don’t have a concept of loneliness,” Clarkson found herself thinking. What if Ned didn’t mind being single?

However the young snail feels about his prospects, Ned probably has time. Garden snails live for two to five years and his shell suggests he’s about 6 months old, Clarkson said.

Still, she feels pressure to see him romantically fulfilled.

“I have never felt this stressed about the welfare of a common garden snail before,” she said. “I check on Ned almost obsessively.”

By The Associated Press

MONTGOMERY, Ala.

— A judge on Friday sided with Alabama Gov Kay Ivey and blocked a policy that prevented school voucher recipients from playing on sports teams this fall.

Montgomery Circuit

Judge J.R. Gaines issued a temporary restraining order barring the Alabama High School Athletic Association from enforcing a policy that says the voucher recipients are ineligible to play sports during their first year at a new school.

Ivey and Alabama House

Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter had asked for the restraining order after filing a lawsuit challenging the association’s decision on eligibility

“Today’s order is a victory for common sense,” Ivey said in a statement. Every child deserves true choice in their education and that includes their right to participate in school athletics.”

More than 20,000 students are participating in the state’s new voucher program, called the CHOOSE Act, which went into effect this school year. It allows eligible families to tap up to $7,000 in state money to help

pay for private school or to transfer to a public school, and up to $2,000 for homeschooling expenses.

The AHSAA had ruled that the CHOOSE Act provides a type of financial aid. The organization said it has a longstanding rule that any transfer student who receives financial aid “is ineligible for athletic participation for one year.”

Alabama is among a number of states using vouchers, tax credits or scholarships to parents to help families pay for private school or education costs outside of the public school setting.

Trump, Kennedytakedifferentstances on COVIDvaccine

Butbothpraise effortsofrollout

BY SEUNG MIN KIM and MEG KINNARD Associated Press

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump launched Operation Warp Speed in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic, an effort he has credited with saving tensof millions of lives.During a Cabinetmeeting last week, he likened it to “one of the greatest achievements ever.”

Sitting at the table as aproud Trump spoke was Health and Human Services SecretaryRobert F. Kennedy Jr., who came under fire at acongressional hearing Thursday for his work to restrict access to vaccines, including the very COVID-19 shots stilltouted by his boss.

The three-hour hearing exposed an odd dichotomy: One of Trump’smost universal successes in hisfirst term remains Operation Warp Speed, yet his handpicked health chief anda growing cadre of Trump’s “Make America Great Again” supporters are distrustful of the very mRNA vaccine technology that the president has championed. Highlighting that divide, much of thepraise of Trump’sunprecedented effort to findavaccine for COVID-19 came Thursday from Democrats.

Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H.,calledOperation Warp Speed“amonumental achievement.” Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., told Kennedy he was ahealth hazard and said Trump, “who put forward Operation Warp Speed, which worked,” should fire him. Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders, who caucuses withDemocrats, said he doesn’t“usually

agree with”Trumpbut cited thepresident’s remarkson the COVID-19vaccineand said the scientific community is aligned behindhim. Republicans were also critical of Kennedy’sapproachtovaccines.

Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge, aphysicianwhose vote for Kennedy ensured hisnarrow confi rm ation, noted theoverarching success of Op eration Warp Speed at atime when thousands of peoplea daywere dying fromCOVID-19, businesses were shuttered and much of everyday life had ground to ahalt.

“Others saiditcouldn’t be done.Wesaved millions of livesglobally.Trillions of dollars. We reopened the economy. An incredible accomplishment,”Cassidy said as he questionedKennedy.“Do you agree with me that thepresident deserves aNobel Prize for Operation Warp Speed?”

When Kennedy answered, “Absolutely,Senator,” Cassidy pivoted sharply He pressed Kennedy on denouncing the vaccinein the past, working on lawsuitstargeting pharmaceutical makers and filling vacancies on apowerful vaccine advisory committee with expert witnesses who testifiedagainstthe drugmakers, suggesting they posed aconflictofinterest.

“It just seems inconsistent thatyou would agree with me that the president deserves tremendous amount of credit for this,” Cassidy responded.

Limiting vaccineaccess

Under Kennedy,U.S. regulators havelimitedthe avail-

ability of COVID-19vaccines for many Americans.

Last month, U.S. regulators approved updated COVID-19 shots butlimited their use for manyAmericans —and removed one of the two vaccinesavailable for young children. The new restrictions are abreak from the previousU.S.policy, whichrecommended an annual COVID-19 shot for all Americans 6months andup, sparking confusion and frustration from some Americans, including parentsinterested in vaccinating healthy children against thevirus.

Many pharmacies are unwilling or legally barred from giving vaccinesoutside theuses endorsed by the Foodand DrugAdministration andother federal authorities.

Severaladministration officials came to Kennedy’s defense on vaccines. Mehmet Oz, theadministrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, said what Kennedy wants is “integrity and honesty” in the vaccine review process.

“Democratsare, as usual, being intellectuallydishonest to try—and fail —to drive awedge between President Trumpand Secretary Kennedy,” White House spokesman Kush Desai said Thursday “Instead of playing politics and trying to getstupid sound bites,Democrats shouldspendmore time working with Secretary Kennedyand therestof the AdministrationtoMake America Healthy Again.”

TheWhite House on Thursdaydid notdirectly addressthe criticism from Cassidy.Asked later about Kennedy’stestimony,Trump said he hadn’twatched but Kennedy “means very well” and he likes the fact that Kennedy is different.

Trumpquestions DeSantis’push to endall Fla. vaccinemandates

BY EMILYGOODIN

Miami Herald (TNS)

PresidentDonald Trumpdistanced himself from Florida’s plans tobecomethe first state to end all vaccine mandates —including for schoolchildren —advising caution on the issue and pointing to the many successful vaccinations available.

“I think we have to be very careful,”the president told reporters in theOval Office on Friday

“Look, you have some vaccines thatare so amazing. The polio vaccine,I happen to think is amazing,” Trump continued.“Alot of people think that COVID is amazing.You know,there are many people that believe strongly in that, but you have somevaccines that are so incredible. And Ithink youhave to be very careful when you say that some people don’thave to be vaccinated ” Gov.Ron DeSantis and state Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo announced their intentions to remove the state’svaccine mandates on Thursday and received criticism from public health advocates.

DeSantisrosetonational prominence when, as governor,hedefied COVID-19restrictions during the heightofthe pandemic. Trump’sown health secretary,RobertF Kennedy Jr., is an anti-vaxxer But Trump, who led Operation Warp Speed

But the LouisianaRepublican was not the only one from his party chastising Kennedy over vaccines.

“If we’re going to make America healthy again, we can’tallow publichealthto be undermined,” SenateMajority Whip John Barrasso of Wyoming,astaunchTrump ally,told Kennedy.“I’ma doctor.Vaccines work.”

Meanwhile, NorthCarolina Sen. Thom Tillis had a multitude of questions for Kennedy,including how he really feels about Operation Warp Speed, saying he’d acceptKennedy’sanswers later in writing.

Changing messages

Asked in earlyAugust about Kennedy’scancellation of the mRNA contracts, Trump said the effort was “now alongtime agoand we’re on to other things,” but said he would continue to speak on it

“Operation Warp Speed was, whether you’re Republican or Democrat, considered one of the mostincredible things ever done in this country,” Trump said. “The efficiency,the wayitwas done, the distribution, everything about it was, has been amazing.”

But Trump himself has been inconsistent in hisattitude toward vaccines. He said in asocial media post last weekthat the companies were responsible for therecentturmoil at the Centersfor Disease Control and Prevention because they were not transparent about the science behind the shots. He has sometimes embraced discredited theories that vaccines could cause autism.Trump has also ferociously opposed vaccine mandates, threatening to withhold funding from schools with such policies.

The anti-vaccine move-

ment within Trump’s party hasbeengrowingsincethe earlydaysofthe vaccine. Trump himself was booed at an event in December 2021 when he revealed that he had gotten the COVID-19 booster He tried, in vain, to rally his supporters back around Operation Warp Speed and remindthemofwhathad been accomplished.

“Look,wedid something that was historic. We saved tens of millions of lives worldwide.Wetogether, all of us —not me, we —wegot avaccine done,three vaccinesdone, andtremendous therapeutics,” Trump said. “This was going to ravage the country farbeyond what it is right now.Take credit for it. Take credit for it. Don’tlet them take it away Don’ttake it away from ourselves.”

Kinnardreported from Chapin, S.C.

to developthe COVID-19vaccine,saidsome of them aren’tcontroversial and should be taken so people don’tget sick.

“You have vaccinesthat work. They just pure andsimple work.They’re not controversialatall. AndIthink thosevaccines shouldbeused, otherwise some people are going to catch it, and they endanger other people. Andwhenyou don’thavecontroversy at all, Ithinkpeople should take it,”

he noted

Trump, aFlorida resident, received aCOVID-19 vaccine shortly before he left office at theend of his first terminJanuary 2021.

For decades, Florida —like many other states —has required numerous vaccines forkids attending school, including shots that protectagainst measles-mumps-rubella, polio, chickenpox and hepatitis B. But Florida does ban COVID-19 vaccine mandatesfor students.

Ladapo said the Florida Department of Health, the agency he oversees, woulddo away with rules on vaccine mandates,which he compared to slavery

“All of them. Every last one of them,” Ladapo said during theannouncement.

“WhoamI as aman standing here now to tell you what you should put in your body?”

All50statesand Washington,D.C., have laws requiring certainvaccinesfor students to attend school.

Cassidy

Tuesday, Sept.9,

9a.m. -12p.m.; 6p.m. -8 p.m.

RaisingCane’sRiver Center

Baton Rouge,Louisiana

NACACNationalCollege Fair NEWORLEANS

Wednesday, Sept. 10

9a.m. -12p.m.; 5:30 p.m. -7:30 p.m.

Pontchartrain Convention and Civic Center

Kenner, Louisiana

LOUISIANAPOLITICS

Sending troops to La.linkedtocomingcrime bill

is open to theidea, posting on X: “Wewill takePresident Trump’shelp from New Orleans to Shreveport.”

Mark Ballard

WASHINGTON —Federalizing National Guard troops to patrol the streets of American cities —perhaps including New Orleans and Shreveport —isbeing discussed at the same time Republicans on Capitol Hill are preparing the first sweeping anticrime bill in decades.

President Donald Trump said Wednesday Republican leaders are looking at what to include in the crime bill that he wants “now.”

Facing growing legal obstacles, the White House on the same day shifted its rhetoric from sending the National Guard to blue states and instead focusing on sendingtroops to red ones. Louisiana could be first.

“We’re makingadetermination now,” Trump said during an Oval Office news conference Wednesday afternoon. “Do we go to Chicago? Or do we go to aplace like New Orleans, where we have agreat governor,Jeff Landry, who wants us to come in andstraighten out avery nice section of this country that’sbecome quite tough, quite bad.”

Republican Gov.Landry

Kennedyinvokes ‘Alien’ in speech about shrimp

U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy,RBaton Rouge, agreed, “The National Guard in Washington, D.C., demonstrated that more uniformsonthe street, whatever the color of the uniform is, makes our community safer.It is not along-term solution, but this givesusa chance to demonstratethat it is just as trueinLouisiana.”

U.S. Rep. Troy Carter, D-New Orleans, was not on board.

“I want to be clear: Militarizing thestreets of New Orleans is not the solution for our public safety.Period,” Carter wrote Trump in aletter Thursday. Carter said federal authorities could best help New Orleansbyproviding funding to recruit andbetter train police officers, strengthen resources in the District Attorney’sOffice, andrepair theOrleans Parish Prison.

Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux, aRepublican, thanked Landry for his concern, according to The Shreveport Times.

“That said, any city our size can always use additional resources in the battleagainst crime. The question is how,when, and in what form to provide

those resources.”

Baton Rouge andNew Orleans have aboutthe same rate of violent crimes per 100,000residents. But in 2024, youwere morelikely to be murdered in Baton Rouge andShreveport than in New Orleans, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigationstatistics and other sources.

Republican leaderspoint to how the three-week occupation by National Guard units in Washington led to adramatic decrease in murders, adding the same could be done in blue cities —amove that local leaders

promise will be met with lawsuits.

Illinois’sDemocraticGov JB Pritzker said Thursday: “We’re going to immediately go to court, if National Guard or other military troops aresentto, deployed to the city of Chicago.”

State NationalGuards are the descendants of colonial militiasand hencetheir commanders-in-chiefare the governors of thestates where they serve. Governors usually callupNationalGuard units to help with localdisasters, suchas hurricanes, anddomestic emergencies,suchasriots.

The District of Columbia, however, is afederal-run territory andits National Guard unitsanswertothe president Federalizing thestate-run unitsrequires aseveralstep process that is more difficult if thegovernors oppose thedecision.And even whensuccessful, troopsface asheaf of legal restrictions, such as the 1878 Posse ComitatusAct that forbids federal troops from performing domestic policing undermostcircumstances.

On Tuesday,SeniorU.S District Judge Charles

Breyer in SanFrancisco ruledillegalTrump’sreasoning forsending troops to Los Angelesearlierthis summer to protect federal agents andbuildings.

Breyer was nominated in 1997 by DemocraticPresident Bill Clinton Houseleadership continuedtotrumpet howsuccessful theD.C.occupation hasbeen —thenturned directlytothe need forthe upcoming crime bill.

“Itisencouraging to see amuchsafer nation’s Capitol,” House Majority Leader SteveScalise,RJefferson,saidWednesday. “Anditisclearlythe result of thework of President Trump, who saidearly offhewas going to make America safeagain. And youdon’t just do it through words, youdoitthrough actions.”

Scalisethenpivoted to whathecalledweak criminallaws by theWashington council andjudgeswho are softoncrime.

“Our (House) Oversight Committee is going to be going to work next week, passing apackage of bills to address alot of those problems that D.C. created, to fix it so that criminals can’tjust walk free if they want to go commit tough crimes.”

Email Mark Ballardat mballard@theadvocate. com.

U.S. Sen. John Kennedy, R-Mandeville, used an unusual prop to argue for tougher inspections of foreign seafood in aspeech on the Senate floor:A poster-sized picture of the monster from sci-fi horror movie “Alien.”

CAPITOL BUZZ staff reports

Like other Louisiana leaders, Kennedyseized upon arecent recall of shrimp under Walmart’s Great Valuelabel.

Federalinspectors found some of the shrimp were tainted with cesium-137, aradioactive isotope.

‘This is what you could end up looking like if you eatsome of the raw frozen shrimp being sent to the U.S. by other countries,” Kennedy said, pointing to the imageof the fanged, slimy creature. Kennedy argued therecall showed the needfor tougherinspections by the Department of Commerce.

“They are inspecting some of it, about 1%; on agood day,2%,” Kennedy said. “The United Kingdom inspects 50% of the farmed seafood coming into itsnation. Even China does abetterjob than the United StatesofAmerica. This is unconscionable. There is no excuse for it.” Kennedy argued the radioactivity recall highlights the value of

shrimp caught locally,particularly in Louisiana.

“But Iunderstand thatsome stores prefer tobuy foreign shrimp becauseitischeaper,” he said. “Now we know why: The damnstuff is radioactive.”

La. native facesSenate hearing for energy role

Thelatest nominee forthe federal panel that regulates utility companies —David LaCerte of Baton Rouge— saidThursday that he wouldbe“agnostic” when it comestopermitting newpower made from solar,windand other green sources.

“The Federal Power Act requires thatcommissionersbeneutral on these decisions andIcommit to follow the law,” LaCerte testified during hisconfirmation hearing to become one of five commission-

ers on Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

as well as FERC,” LaCerte added.

“Reducing processing time and the associated administrative burden will speed projects along, allowing those cost savings to be passed to ratepayers.”

LaCerte washead of the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs underGov.Bobby Jindal.

He is the White House liaison and senior adviser to the director for U.S. Office of Personnel Management,where he helped shepherd candidates through the nomination process and advised on personnel policy forthe agency that administers employment for 2 million federal workers.

The 45-year-old graduated from Nicholls State University and the LSU Paul M. Hebert School of Law.

Among its regulatory duties, FERCsigns off on projects such as electricity-generating plantsand transmitting power.Senators on the Committee on Energy andNatural Resources said they feared that FERC mightdiscriminate against making moreenergy using renewableresources because of actions and criticisms by theTrump administration about green energy, favoring fossil fuels instead.

“Artificial intelligence, data centers, and reindustrialization present acompounding of these issues which will require diligent planning, forecasting, andregulatory oversight from both the states

The Senate committeewill take additional questionsinwriting and then vote on afuture date whether to recommend that the full Senate approve LaCerte’snomination.

House drops Higgins’ censure motion

WASHINGTON —With help from five Republicans, theU.S.House tabled amotion Wednesday by U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins to censurea Democratic colleague whogot in trouble with immigration officers while visiting an ICE facility

The House voted 215 to 207 to drop Higgins’ resolutionthat would have punished New Jersey Democratic U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver

She faces three federal charges of assaulting, resisting, interfering and impeding federal officers during an official May oversight visit to the immigration detention facility in her Newark district. McIver pleaded notguilty.She could face amaximum of eight years in prison on two of the counts and another year in the third —ifthe federal courts pursue the charges. Democratic Reps. Troy Carter, of NewOrleans, and CleoFields, of BatonRouge,voted against the Higgins resolution. Higgins wassupported by the otherthree GOP members of the Louisiana delegation: House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Benton; House Majority Leader Steve Scalise,R-Jefferson; andRep.Julia Letlow,R-Baton Rouge. Higgins, R-Lafayette, entered his censure resolutionasthe Housewas finishingupthe paperwork after members were sent home early for the monthlong recess on July 27. Higgins washimselfthe target of acensure resolutionpresented by the Congressional Black Caucus right before the House left townfor amonth in 2024. Respondingtoasocial mediacontroversy over Haitian immigrants, Higgins used his official congressionalXaccount to write thatHaitians are wild, eat pets and practice voodoo. He calledHaiti the“nastiestcountry in thewestern hemisphere, cults, slapstick gangsters.” He later deleted the post. The House never voted on the censure resolution against Higgins when the chamber reconvened a month later

LaCerte

Higgins

U.S. SENATE

U.S. Sen. John Kennedy, R-Mandeville, uses aphoto of amonster from sci-fi horror movie ‘Alien’ to makehis pointabout inspections of foreign seafood.

STAFF PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK

Gov. Jeff Landryaddressed the media outsideCamp57atLouisiana State Penitentiaryin Angola on Wednesday.

LGBTQ+ CatholicsmakeHolyYearpilgrimagetoRome

BY NICOLE WINFIELD Associated Press

VATICAN CITY Over 1,000 LGBTQ+ Catholics and their families participated in aHoly Year pilgrimage to Rome on Saturday,celebrating anew levelofacceptance inthe Catholic Church after longfeeling shunned, and crediting PopeFrancis with the change.

Some wept as they walked through the Holy Door ofSt. Peter’sBasilica in the riteofpassage of Holy Year pilgrims.They said the moment felt important, historic even, in the life of thechurch and their community

“It just felt epic,like Iwas able to touch the hand of God,” said Justin del Rosario, who carried abig wooden crucifix across thethreshold of the Holy Door withagroup of pilgrims from the United States that included his husband

Several LGBTQ+ groupsparticipated in the pilgrimage, which was listed in the Vatican’sofficial calendar of events for the Holy Year, the once-every-quarter century celebration of Catholicism. Vatican organizersstressed that the listing in the calendar didn’tsignal endorsement or sponsorship, but was alogistical tooltohelp organizers and pilgrims alike

The main sponsor of thepilgrimagewas Italian LGBTQ+ advocacy organization Jonathan’sTent, but other groups participated, including agroup of trans women from southern Rome, DignityUSA and Outreach, another U.S. group, as well as the Brazilian National Network of LGBT+ Catholic Groups.

“I was here 25 yearsago at the last Holy Year with acontingent of LGBTQ people from the U.S. and we were actually detained as a threat to the Holy Year programs,”

Hundreds of LGBTQ+Catholics and their families, celebrating anew level of acceptanceinthe Catholic Church and crediting Pope Francis for the change, walk through theHoly Door of St.Peter’sBasilica

on Saturday

said DignityUSA’s Marianne Duddy Burke

To now be invited to walk through theHoly Door of St. Peter’sBasilica “fully recognized as who we areand the gifts we bring to the church,and that we have both our faith and ouridentities combined, is aday of great celebration and hope,” she said.

Pope LeoXIV celebrated aspecial Jubilee audience Saturday at theVatican for allpilgrim groups in Rome this weekend, butmade no special mention of the LGBTQ+ Catholics.

AlegacyofLGBTQ+acceptance

Many of the pilgrims attributed their feeling of welcome to Francis. More than any of his predecessors, Francis distinguishedhimself with amessage of welcome, from his2013 quip, “Who am Ito

judge?” about apurportedly gay priest, to his decision to allow prieststobless same-sex couples. He never changed church teaching saying homosexual actsare “intrinsically disordered.” But during his 12-year papacy from 2013 to 2025, Francis met with LGBTQ+ advocates, ministered to a community of trans women and, in a2023 interview with The Associated Press,declared that “being homosexual is not acrime.”

John CapozziofWashington D.C.,who was participating in the pilgrimagewith his husband, delRosario, said Francis’ attitude brought him backtothe church after he left it in the 1980s,atthe height of the AIDS crisis. Then, he said, he felt shunned by his fellow Catholics.

“Therewas that feeling like I wasn’t welcome in thechurch ”

he said. “Notbecause Iwas doing anything, just because Iwas whoI was,” he said. “It wasthis fearof going back in because of the judgment.”

But Francis, who insisted that theCatholic Church wasopen to everyone, “todos,todos,todos,” changed all that, he said.

“I was acloseted Catholic,” Capozzi said.“With Pope Francis, I was able to comeout and say,’Hey, you know,IamCatholic andI’m proud of it andI want to be part of thechurch.”

Messageofwelcome andhope

Capozzi spoke during astanding room-only vigil service forthe pilgrimsFriday night at the mainJesuit church in Rome. The service featured testimoniesfromgay couples, themotherofa trans child and amoving reflection by an Italian priest, the Rev.Fausto Focosi.

“Our eyes have known the tears of rejection, of hiding. They have known the tears of shame. And perhaps sometimes those tears still spring from our eyes,” Focosi said. “Today, however,there are other tears, new tears. They wash away the old ones.”

“Andsotoday these tears are tearsofhope,” he said.

On Saturdaymorning, Italian BishopFranceseco Savino celebrated Mass for the pilgrims and received asustained standing ovation in the middle of his homily when he recalledthat Jubilee celebrations historically were meant to restore hope to those on themargins.

“The Jubilee was the time to free the oppressed and restore dignity to thosewho had been denied it,” he said. “Brothers and sisters, I say this with emotion:Itistimeto restore dignity to everyone, espe-

ciallytothose who have been denied it.”

Leo’spositioncomes into focus Leo’spositiononLGBTQ+ Catholics had been something of aquestion. Soon afterhewas elected in May,remarks surfaced from 2012 in which the future pope,then knownasthe Rev.Robert Prevost, criticized the“homosexual lifestyle” and the roleofmass media in promoting acceptanceofsamesex relationships. He lateracknowledgedFrancis’ callfor amore inclusivechurch, saying Francis “made it very clear that he doesn’twantpeople to be excluded simply on the basis of choices that they make, whether it be lifestyle, work, way to dress, or whatever.”

Leomet Monday with theRev James Martin, an American Jesuit whohas advocated forgreater welcome for LGBTQ+ Catholics. Martin emergedsaying Leo told him he intended to continue Pope Francis’ policy of LGBTQ+ acceptance in thechurch andencouraged him to keep up his advocacy

“I heard the samemessage from PopeLeo that Iheard from Pope Francis, which is the desire to welcome all people, including LGBTQ people,” Martin told The Associated Press after the audience.

Savino, vice president of the Italianbishopsconference, saidhetoo had received Leo’sblessing to celebrate the Mass for the LGBTQ+ pilgrims.

Del Rosario, Capozzi’shusband, said he nowfeltwelcome after long staying away from the faith he wasraised in.

“PopeFrancisinfluenced me to return back to church. Pope Leo only strengthenedmyfaith,” he said.

Palestine Action hasbeenlabeled aterrorist organization

BY SYLVIA HUI and JILL LAWLESS Associated Press

LONDON Britishpolice

scuffledwith protesters outside ParliamentonSaturday as they arrested more than 400 demonstrators who gathered to defy aban on the group Palestine Action, which has been deemed a terroristorganization by the government.

Defend Our Juries, the campaign grouporganizing the protest, said 1,500people took part in the London demonstration, sitting down and holding signs reading“I oppose genocide,Isupport Palestine Action.” Within minutes, police began arresting the demonstrators, as bystanders chanted “Shame on you” and “Met Police, pick aside, justiceor genocide.” There were some scufflesand angryexchanges as officers dragged away demonstrators who went limp as they were removed from the crowd.

Eight hours afterthe protest started, police saidthey had arrested more than 425 people, more than 25 of them for assaulting officers

or public order offenses and therest under the Terrorism Act.

“Incarryingout theirdutiestoday,our officers have beenpunched,kicked, spat on and had objects thrown at them by protesters,”said Deputy Assistant Commissioner Claire Smart, who called the abuse directed at police “intolerable.”

Defend Our Juries said aggression had come from police officers anddismissed claims that protesters had been violent as “frankly laughable.”

More than 700 people were arrested at earlierprotests and 138 have been charged underthe Terrorism Act

Thegovernment proscribed Palestine Action in July after activists broke into aRoyal Air Force base and vandalized planes to protestagainst what they called Britain’s support for Israel’soffensive against Hamas in Gaza. The activists sprayed red paint into the enginesoftwo tanker planes and caused further damage with crowbars.

Proscription made it a crimetopublicly support the organization. Membership of, or support for,the group is punishablebyupto 14 years in prison

Palestine Action has carried out direct action protests in the U.K. since it formedin2020, includingbreakinginto facilities

owned by Israeli weapons manufacturer Elbit Systems UK, and has targeted other sites in Britainthat participantsbelieve have links with the Israeli military

Thegroup has targeted defense companies and national infrastructure, andofficials say their actions have caused millions of pounds in damage thataffect national security.

Banning thegroup, thenHomeSecretaryYvette Coopersaid, “The assessments are very clear,this is not a nonviolent organization.”

PalestineAction has won approvalfromthe High Court to challenge the ban, aruling thegovernment is seeking tooverturn. The case is ongoing, with ahearing scheduled for Sept. 25.

The U.N. humanrights chief has criticized the Britishgovernment’sstance, saying thenew law “misuses the gravity and impact of terrorism.”

Thedecision to designate Palestine Action as aterrorist group“raisesserious concerns that counterterrorism laws are being applied to conductthatisnot terrorist in nature, and risks hindering the legitimateexercise

of fundamental freedoms acrossthe UK,” Volker Türk warned.

He addedthataccording to international standards, terrorist actsshould be confined to crimes suchasthose intended to cause death or serious injury or the taking of hostages. Huda Ammori, Palestine Action’s co-founder, hascondemned the government’s decisiontoban it as “catastrophic” for civil liberties, leading to a“muchwider chilling effect on freedom of speech.”

The group has been supported by prominent culturalfiguresincluding bestselling Irish author Sally Rooney,who said she planned to use the proceeds of herwork “to keep backing Palestine Action anddirect action against genocide.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ANDREW MEDICHINI

at the Vatican

‘Dysfunctional’ court plagued by murder case delays

BY JILLIAN KRAMER Staff writer

The murder case of Widner DeGruy was already three years old when his defense attorney asked to reschedule a hearing so he could escort his wife to a Mardi Gras ball.

The judge granted the request.

That delay in 2018 was one of many that stalled the case over 10 years, as court records show the judge agreed to attorneys’ requests to postpone hearings and trials for a dentist appointment, an opportunity to speak at a conference and to prioritize other cases.

DeGruy’s still unresolved case stretches across a decade in which homicide prosecutions in New Orleans took longer to close than almost anywhere else in the country, an analysis by The Times-Picayune found. The system’s slow pace leaves victims’ families and defendants waiting for justice, trapped in a debilitating limbo, and shackles taxpayers with mounting expenses.

Some delays are unavoidable. But inside Orleans Parish Criminal District Court, hearings and trial dates routinely collapse for preventable reasons: lawyers triplebook trials, judges take lastminute vacations, evidence can’t be found.

“It’s like the Wild West,” said Elizabeth Strauss, a former New Orleans prosecutor who now practices in Florida.

“It’s really scary that something can be that dysfunctional and still function.”

All involved bear some responsibility, but judges have the most power to advance cases.

“We have too many courtrooms in this state where the culture is an expectation of a (delay),” said Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Will Crain, who is helping with an effort by the high court to review judicial caseloads, in which nearly all Louisiana judges participated. “You

have to change the culture — and the judge does that.”

In New Orleans, cases often spiral out of control for reasons within the court’s grasp, records show Courtwide case-processing rules don’t exist. Calendars lack coordination Consequences play out daily: attorneys rushing between hearings or failing to appear at all, with scheduling gaps snowballing into months of lost time.

Some judges let homicide cases drift, unable or unwilling to hold the line Deadlines slip; routine exchanges of evidence drag for months; trial dates hinge on a single witness’ schedule.

It’s common for some judges to arrive at court late leaving families and police officers waiting extended periods — and exit before noon. In those shortened stretches on the bench, little meaningful work gets done, records show The result is a steady churn of continuances, or postponements, that the National Center for State Courts says is the biggest

obstacle to timely fair justice.

In a letter to The TimesPicayune, Judicial Administrator Robert Kazik said judges navigate “numerous complexities and considerations” behind the scenes, off the bench. He added that attorneys need time outside of court to prepare for hearings and trials.

Spotty recordkeeping makes it difficult to track court delays. In DeGruy’s case, for example, few delays have been captured as official continuances.

DeGruy was arrested in 2015 and stood trial in 2019. A nonunanimous 11-1 jury found him guilty of seconddegree murder, but a year later, the conviction was overturned and his case was sent for retrial. He’s yet to face another jury Less than 20 continuance requests were logged in his case’s minute entries, the official running notes of each hearing. Yet court records suggest only about half of more than 100 scheduled proceedings took place as

planned.

Court Watch NOLA, which tracks local courts, attended 3,014 hearings and trials last year, in cases of all kinds. Its volunteers saw proceedings continued 41% of the time, a tally the group says understates the true scale of delay because volunteers view a limited number of hearings.

“I was surprised how little got done,” one wrote. “In my over three hours in court, the judge was only there for an hour of it.”

Chief Judge Tracey Flemings-Davillier, who presides over DeGruy’s case, did not respond to an interview request. Kazik wrote that the pandemic scuttled scheduled trials across the court, including in DeGruy’s case, and that attorney turnover and DeGruy’s recent request to represent himself also caused setbacks.

Kazik cited a dozen “valid” reasons judges may grant continuances to protect the constitutional rights of defendants, ranging from failed defendant transport to untested DNA.

Those delays, he wrote, stem from factors outside the court’s control. For example, the court “is at the mercy” of officials charged with transporting incarcerated defendants, he wrote, and cannot rush “the need for adequate time to review voluminous” discovery

By contrast, Kazik wrote that postponements following repeated attempts by lawyers to avoid trial without sufficient cause “may not be considered valid.”

“Ultimately,” he continued, “cases must move forward when delays threaten constitutional protections.”

Courtwide policies include rules on case allotment, transfers and recusals, intended to “reduce unnecessary delays in docketing a defendant’s case,” Kazik wrote. But he offered no details about practices designed to improve efficiency once a case was before a judge.

“When the court has come under criticism, the path of least resistance is to look at all those different factors and blame,” said Crain. “They may be right.”

But, he added, it’s difficult to pinpoint the causes of delay without a full review — something Orleans Parish has resisted. If the court isn’t to blame for backlogs, Crain said, “it’s going to be revealed, isn’t it? So what’s the fear?”

Attorneys double-booked

On Aug. 18, inside the court’s Section J, Judge Franz Zibilich leaned forward in his chair as yet another case sputtered to a halt on an outsized, aged docket that he’d been appointed to reduce.

He called a defendant’s name, but no one rose: The attorney was in another courtroom.

Another matter unraveled when attorneys on both sides said they weren’t prepared to proceed. “Don’t you lawyers talk to one another before you come into court?” he snapped. “I don’t get it.”

Then Zibilich called the case of Keith Kisack, a second-degree murder prosecution still active after 16 years. “Can we move on that?” Zibilich asked.

“We have to wait,” Michael Kennedy Kisack’s latest defense attorney, replied. The assistant attorney general now prosecuting the case had not yet come to court.

When the prosecutor arrived nearly an hour and a half after Zibilich took the bench, he announced he hadn’t yet been authorized to offer a resolution.

Zibilich set a trial date for Sept. 8.

“This is a go,” he said.

In April, a Metropolitan Crime Commission report showed Judge Darryl Derbigny, who had presided over Section J for 23 years, carried a felony caseload twice that of any of his colleagues.

In response, the Louisiana Supreme Court asked Derbigny to turn over his docket and calendar, Crain said. Derbigny requested medical leave instead, then resigned July 30. Justices appointed Zibilich and another retired judge, Calvin Johnson, to take over his docket. Such direct intervention by the high court is rare. Now, Crain said, the court “is interested and willing to look into judges’ competence — their ability to manage the business of being a judge.”

Kisack’s prosecution is the oldest open homicide case in New Orleans’ court. But it didn’t begin in Derbigny’s section.

Instead, it pinballed through six of its 12 courtrooms, offering a rare map of dysfunction across the system.

Two and a half years passed before a trial date was set, then canceled. Six years into the case, attorneys announced they were haggling over a plea. They were still negotiating more than two years later, pushing trial dates along the way At least four times, attorneys didn’t show up. In one instance, they claimed they weren’t aware a hearing was scheduled. In another, a defense attorney who failed to appear didn’t answer phone calls from the judge. Kennedy inherited the case two years ago. Even basic discovery took four months to reach him, records show Two trial dates dissolved when prosecutors said they weren’t ready Kennedy filed a speedy trial motion last October But Kisack was sentenced to life in prison in 2018 under the state’s habitual offender statute, leaving the motion without teeth, Kennedy said. On Kisack’s most recent trial date, Aug. 11, law enforcement authorities didn’t bring him to court, one of several times records show

ä See COURT, page 17A

BY JAMIE STENGLE Associated Press

DALLAS Ruth Paine, whose kindness to Lee Harvey Oswald and his wife as ayoung mother near Dallas would leaveher inexorably linked to the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy, has died. She was 92. Paine died Aug. 31 in asenior living facility in Santa Rosa, California,her daughter Tamarin Laurel-Paine said Thursday Oswald’swife and children had been staying at Paine’s home in the Dallas of suburb of Irving in the fall of 1963. Oswald stayed at the house the night before the assassination, and before setting off to his job at the Texas

COURT

Continued from page16A

he wasn’tbrought from prison.

Kazik wrote that Kisack’s case is “characterized by its complexity,stemming from multiple cases and defendants involved,” and that the recusalofthe District Attorney’sOffice fromthe case and theappointment of the Attorney General’sOffice added “almost two years”to the case’slife span. Kennedy said not every homicide case should resolve within the one-year national goal. “But Ihave seen where it gets egregious,” he said. Even judges who are considered among thespeediest in the court take nearly twoyears —almost double the benchmark —toclose homicide cases, The TimesPicayune found.

In Kisack’scase, Kennedy added,“we’re talkingabout amurdercase so old it could drive.”

Judges don’t workfulldays

Judges set their own standards for case processing, creating asystem that can be gamed. For homicide cases headed for trial, prosecutors have two years to bring defendants before ajury.But it also provides legal avenues for attorneys to press pause Attorneys may file lastminute motions or substitute counsel, bothofwhich reset the clock. Some book two, three or even four trials for the same day,indifferent courtrooms.Adefenseattorneyrecently set four homicide trials to begin simultaneously,while records show at least three murder trials were reset this year because aprosecutordouble-booked himself.

In onehomicidecasethree years ago, prosecutors argued to Flemings-Davillier that defense attorneys had made ahabit of manipulating the court’slack of coordinating calendars

They askedher to hold a lawyer in contempt forsetting three trials to begin concurrently Flemings-Davillier declined, according to acourt transcript,saying: “Weall know …multiple trials are set on the same day in every sectionofcourt.”

SchoolBook Depository,retrievedhis rifle thathehad stowed in the garage —unbeknownst to Paine. Laurel-Painesaidshe admired her mother’swillingness over theyears to grant interviews and speak out.

“She had adopted the notion that she was just there to be witness towhatshe knew of history andshe would do it forany serious inquiry, Laurel-Painesaid Thomas Mallon,author of thebook “Mrs. Paine’sGarage,” said Paine “was determined to tell thetruth of her experience.”

“She really put up witha lotofpreposterousnotions that people had,people who were determined to in some waysimplicate her in what

Ashared jury calendar, whichdictates whichcourtroom gets first claimto potential jurors, does little to prevent delays: In thepast decade, hearingsand trials in homicide cases were reset at least 246 times because a courtroom or attorney was alreadytied up withanother trial.

Each of those resets slowed down cases by about amonth, on average, The Times-Picayune found.

Calendars that mash multiple types of hearings onto the same day“build an expectation of continuances,” said Crain.The volume of cases and factors outside judges’purview “necessitates” delays, he said. “But youhave to createa culture where attorneys don’texpectone.”

Judges who don’twork full days compound the problem It’s nearly impossible to knowhow many hoursjudges work.They don’t clock in or out.Security cameras in thecourthouse parking garage, which might show arrivalsand departures, have beenbroken for years, court staff said But in 2019, Court Watch NOLA reported that 57% of sessions they observed

had gone on and Ithink she braved this very,verywell, verypolitely always and Ithink that that took real strengthofcharacter,”Mallon said.

Kennedy was killed on Nov. 22,1963, as shotsrang out from the Texas School Book Depository building as his motorcade was ending itsparade route. Police arrested Oswald,who worked in the building andwas believed to have positioned himselffrom asniper’s perch on the sixthfloor

That fall, Oswald’sRussian-born wife Marina Oswaldand hertwo children had been staying with Paine, a31-year-old mother of two who was amicably separated from her husband.

started late; judges only explained or apologized12% of thetime.

Kazikwrote thatjudges “spend numerous hours” working offthe bench and outside of the courthouse, including “reviewing case files,” evaluating “procedural issues,”“analyzing case law,” andmore.

“Operation of the courtis much like managing abusiness, which requires that onefocuses on thesubjectmatter of the work, as well as all of the ancillary and consequential matters that pertaintoachieving the goalsand objectivesofthe works —those arethe aspects of the judicial role thatnot many seeorunderstand,”hewrote.

Stepstocurbdelays

Across Louisiana, at least twoothercourtsystems have recentlyinvitedexternal review of their case-processing efficiency,including EastBaton Rouge’s19th Judicial District Court

There, Chief Judge Donald Johnson said he saw asystem where judgestook apassive role in caseprogression.

“The more Iread and learned,the more Irealized that I, as ajudge, and the

Thetwo women had become friendsearlierthat year,and theliving arrangement helped thestruggling Oswalds while also giving Paine achancetoimprove her Russian,which shehad studied.

“Ruth’sintentionwas to help this young couple out,” Mallon said.

Lee Harvey Oswald, who waslivinginarooming house near downtown, would usually visit his family at Paine’shouse on the weekends. Butonthe daybefore theassassination, he made an unexpected mid-week visit to Paine’shome, where he’d tried unsuccessfully to reconcile withhis wife after afight afew days earlier Oswald suggestedthey be-

court as awhole,could serve as theleaderand the primarypublic safetyagency in setting the pace for case progression,” Johnson said.

In New Orleans,some judges are takingsteps to curb postponements

Forexample, threeyears ago, Judge Kimya Holmes held adefense attorneyin contempt after he left her courtroom for another trial, delaying atrial in afouryear-old murder case.

gin living together again, but she told him that she and the children should stay with Paine through the holidays. The next morning, Oswald leftbehind his wedding ring and$170. Investigators said he carried with him abrown paper package holding adisassembled rifle.

Marina Oswald told the Warren Commission,which concluded that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone, that the rifle wasamongthe possessions her husband had movedintoPaine’s garage, storing it in ablanket there unbeknownst to Paine.

“She had no idea, Ruth, that thegun was in hergarage,and no ideawhatwas going to come,” Mallon said.

Mallon said that Paine

In July,seven judgesheld Sheriff SusanHutsonincontempt for allegedly failing to transport defendants to court. Hutson has appealed, andanagencyspokespersonsaiddeputiestransport 464 defendants per week, on average, to the court.

But the court as awhole has refused to adopt even simple solutions, suchascalendarsynchronization, dual dockets and unified caseprocessing rules, which ex-

once told him thatthough theassassination hadhad an “enormous impact on her life,” she did not let it “govern herlife.” Paine “firmly believed”thatOswaldhad acted alone, Mallon said.

In the years after the assassination Paine became the principal of asmall private Quaker school in the Philadelphia area, then got her master’sdegree and worked for many years as aschool psychologist in Florida before retiring and moving to California,Laurel-Paine said. In 2013 —the 50th anniversary of the assassination —her former homein Irving opened as amuseum re-creating the way it would have looked in 1963.

perts say can have substantial impact.

“There are different ways you can probe these dockets to make them work,” Crain said. “What you have to do first is be willing to saythat what is currently being done doesn’twork.”

Staff writer Jeff Adelson contributed to this report.

Email JillianKramer at jillian.kramer@ theadvocate.com.

BY JEFF MCMURRAY and LINLEY SANDERS Associated Press

CHICAGO When Elizabeth Rivera’s phone would ring during the overnight shift, it was usually because the bus didn’t show up again and one of her three kids needed a ride to school.

After leaving early from her job at a Houston-area Amazon warehouse several times, Rivera was devastated — but not surprised — when she was fired.

“Right now I’m kind of depressed about it,” said Rivera, 42. “I’m depressed because of the simple fact that it’s kind of hard to find a job, and there’s bills I have to pay But at the same time, the kids have to go to school.”

Rivera is far from the only parent forced to choose between their job and their kids’ education, according to a new poll conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and HopSkipDrive, a company that relies on artificial intelligence and a network of drivers using their own vehicles to help school districts address transportation challenges.

Most parents drive their children to school, the survey found, and those responsibilities can have a major impact.

About one-third of parents say taking their kids to school has caused them to miss work, according to the poll. Roughly 3 in 10 say they’ve been prevented

from seeking or taking work opportunities And 11% say school transportation has even caused them to lose a job

Mothers are especially likely to say school transportation needs have interfered with their jobs and opportunities.

The impact falls disproportionately on lower-income families.

Around 4 in 10 parents with a household income below $100,000 a year said they’ve missed work due to pick-up needs, compared with around 3 in 10 parents with a household income of $100,000 or more.

Meredyth Saieed and her two children, ages 7 and 10, used to live in a homeless shelter in North Carolina.

Saieed said the kids’ father has been incarcerated since May

Although the family qualified for government-paid transportation to school, Saieed said the kids would arrive far too early or leave too late under that system So, she decided to drop them off and pick them up herself.

She had been working double shifts as a bartender and server at a French restaurant in Wilmington but lost that job due to repeatedly missing the dinner rush for pickups.

“Sometimes when you’ve got kids and you don’t have a village, you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do,” said Saieed, 30. “As a mom, you just find a way around it.”

The latest obstacle: a broken-down car She couldn’t afford to repair it, so she sold it to a junk yard. She’s hoping this year the school will offer transportation that works better for her family Although about half of

EDUCATION

ISSUES

parents living in rural areas and small towns say their kids still take a bus to school, that fell to about one-third of parents in urban areas.

A separate AP-NORC/ HopSkipDrive survey of school administrators found that nearly half said school bus driver shortages were a “major problem” in their district.

Some school systems don’t offer bus service. In other cases, the available options don’t work for families

The community in Long Island, New York, where police Officer Dorothy Criscuolo’s two children attend school provides bus service, but she doesn’t want them riding it because they’ve been diagnosed as neurodivergent.

“I can’t have my kids on a bus for 45 minutes with all the screaming and yelling, and then expect them to be

OK once they get to school, be regulated and learn,” said Criscuolo, 49. “I think it’s impossible.”

So Criscuolo drops them off, and her wife picks them up. It doesn’t interfere much with their work, but it does get in the way of Criscuolo’s sleep Because her typical shift is 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. and her children start at different times at different schools, it’s not uncommon for her to get only three hours of sleep a day during the school year

Mothers are most often the ones driving their children to and from school, with 68% saying they typically take on this task, compared with 57% of fathers.

Most mothers, 55%, say they have missed work, have lost jobs or were kept from personal or professional opportunities because of

school transportation needs, compared with 45% of dads.

Syrina Franklin says she didn’t have a choice. The father of her two high schoolage children is deceased, so she has to take them and a 5-year-old grandson to different schools on Chicago’s South Side.

After she was late to work more than 10 times, she lost her job as a mail sorter at the post office and turned to driving for Uber and Instacart to make ends meet.

“Most of the kids, they have people that help out with dropping them off and picking them up,” said Franklin, 41. “They have their father a grandmother, somebody in the family helps.”

When both parents are able to pitch in, school pickup and drop-off duties can be easier

Computer programmer

Jonathan Heiner takes his three kids to school in Bellbrook, Ohio, and his wife picks them up.

“We are definitely highly privileged because of the fact that I have a very flexible job and she’s a teacher, so she gets off when school gets out,” said Heiner, 45. “Not a lot of people have that.”

Although the use of school buses has been declining for years across the U.S., many parents would like to see schools offer other options.

Roughly 4 in 10 parents said getting their kids to school would be “much easier” or “somewhat easier” if there were more school bus routes, school-arranged transportation services or improved pedestrian and bike infrastructure near school. Around a third cited a desire for earlier or later start times, or centralized pick-up and drop-off locations for school buses.

Joanna McFarland, the CEO and co-founder of HopSkipDrive, said districts need to reclaim the responsibility of making sure students have a ride to school.

“I don’t think the way to solve this is to ask parents to look for innovative ideas,”

THE GULF COAST

Tax breaks spurred post-Katrina building

BY JEFF AMY Associated Press

GULFPORT, Miss. — Rocking on his front porch overlooking the Mississippi Sound, former Gulfport Mayor Billy Hewes questions how anyone wouldn’t want to live there

“People are always going to gravitate to the water,” he said “And we have a beautiful waterfront.”

But it was far from certain that people would return after 2005’s Hurricane Katrina, which killed 238 people in Mississippi and left only concrete slabs in many areas. With beachfront rebuilding crawling along a decade later, Gulfport began offering property tax breaks to those who built near the water Hewes said the goal was for people to “build back better quicker, help kick-start the economy.” Where to encourage building is a thorny decision for local governments in areas exposed to floods or wildfires.

Despite risks including rising sea levels, places need residents and taxpayers. Like other Gulf Coast cities after Katrina, Gulfport required residents to build at higher elevations and enforced a stronger building code. But most residents near the water are in at least a moderate-risk flood zone. Nationwide, many more homes are being built in flood zones than are being removed.

“The local government was not necessarily thinking we need people to build in this flood-prone place,” Miyuki Hino, a professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill who researches flooding, said of such decisions. “They were thinking we have this land that’s underutilized and we can increase our property tax revenue. Allen Baker lived through 1969’s

Hurricane Camille in neighboring Long Beach and thought he knew what to expect after Katrina. But the 2005 storm was far worse.

His historic beachfront home was blown to bits by what witnesses said was a tornado spun off by the hurricane.

All along the coast, neighborhoods between the beach and a railroad track just to the north were shredded by a battering storm tide and winds. Recovery was slow for years.

“It was kind of spooky down here,” Baker said. “I mean, it looked like one of your postapocalyptic movies.”

Baker and his wife waited. They didn’t move into a new home until 2016, after Gulfport began waiving city property taxes for seven years when owners invested certain amounts in building south of the railroad tracks. Property owners still paid county and school taxes.

Sixty properties received Gulfport’s tax break before the city stopped approving new applicants in 2021, tax records show The savings weren’t huge, typically $500 to $1,000 a year, depending on property value. But Baker and

others said it was a sign to stop hesitating and start building.

“In simple terms, it was a green light,” Baker said.

Not every area has recovered equally In a lower-lying area on the west side of Gulfport, where rotting chicken and giant paper bales washed up from the port, many lots are still vacant. But one block inland on the east side, attractive new houses mix with structures that survived.

Hewes also benefited from the tax break, building a new home on a beachfront site owned by his family since 1904, the second-most valuable house built under the program, according to tax records. Hewes said he and his wife used their tax savings to build stronger

“We put a lot more money into actually hardening this home to a much higher standard,” Hewes said.

Baker’s current house also exceeds Gulfport’s building code, with steel rods inside walls that tie into a 3-foot-thick concrete foundation and fasten down the roof. That qualified the home for an insurance industry standard called “fortified,” which provides savings on expensive wind insurance. But

only 1,500 homes in Mississippi have fortified status, according to the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety That compares with 9,000 in Louisiana and 50,000 in nation-leading Alabama.

Baker, who became a civil engineer after flying airliners, argues beachfront areas need an extrastrict building code.

“Everything about this house is built to be punished,” he said. “If you seriously want to live in this environment, you have to plan for that.”

Katherine Egland, a Gulfport resident who chairs the NAACP’s national Environmental and Climate Justice Committee, fears the community may not be prepared for the next big storm.

“I’m not saying we didn’t make some progress,” Egland said. “What I’m saying is we didn’t make nearly the amount of progress that we should have made.”

She still rejects how Mississippi prioritized business recovery and says some development farther inland has worsened rainwater flooding in historically Black neighborhoods. Areas targeted by the tax break are whiter and more affluent than the city overall.

“You’re giving incentives to residents south of the tracks, but at the same time, you are imperiling residents that live north of the tracks,” Egland said.

Most of the first block facing the beach in Gulfport is rated as having a 1% yearly chance of flooding, although what’s called the 100-year flood zone sometimes stretches farther back. The Federal Emergency Management Agency considers almost all of the rest of the area south of the railroad track to have between a 1% and a 0.2% risk of flooding annually Flood insurance generally isn’t required in that moderate risk area.

Hino said it’s “absolutely true” that elevating a building reduces risk but said risk grows over time with rising sea levels, which could require someone to elevate a house

multiple times over decades. And while a 1% yearly risk of flooding sounds low, those odds add up over time.

“Over the course of your 30-year mortgage, you have a 40% chance of flooding,” Hino said.

It’s not unusual that houses were built in a flood zone in Gulfport. From 2001 to 2019, more than 840,000 homes were built in flood plains nationwide, according to a 2024 University of Miami study That’s in part because the federally subsidized National Flood Insurance Program will repeatedly pay to rebuild, no matter how high the risk

There was a plan to get more people out of Mississippi flood zones. Federal officials considered buying out 2,000 properties at the highest risk of being damaged by hurricane storm tides. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projected that a $408 million buyout, in 2008 dollars, would lower potential yearly storm damage by $22 million to $33 million. But Congress never appropriated the money Hino said buyouts can create parkland that serves both as an environmental buffer and an amenity But Hewes said he thinks Gulfport’s choices “may have done more for our recovery than any sort of federal buyout.” He said it took years for Gulfport to productively reuse land from a pre-Katrina buyout along a floodprone bayou.

“Do you create an area that is blighted, that is abandoned, that is neglected after the fact?” Hewes asked.

Even without the tax break, construction is continuing in beachfront areas. But it may not be clear how successful recovery has been until those new buildings are tested by the next major hurricane.

“Some people have built out of concrete,” Baker said. “Some people have built out of better materials. Some people have not. And those people are going to be in for a shock.”

Forfive decades, Arthur Hardyhas been our neighbor,our guide, and the keeper of our Carnivalmemories. From his Gentillykitchen table in 1977 to receiving the key to the city in 2024,Hardytransformed himself from aBrother Martinband director into the man all about Mardi Gras. Hisannual guidehas reached over 3million readers, but for us locals, Arthur is family, the trusted voice whogets it right,who rodewithRex after documenting them for decades, whostood with us throughthe police strikeof’79,Katrina’saftermath, and everymagical momentinbetween. This 112-page celebration bringstogether the stories onlyArthur could tell,filledwith photographs thatcapture the paradesyou remember,the krewesyou cheeredfor andthe moments thatmade youproud tobeapart of MardiGras.

Arthur Hardyhas preservedthe soul of what makesusNew Orleanians, making this the perfect holidaygift for anyone whobleeds the purple, green and gold of Mardi Gras. Booksship in time for holidaygift-giving!

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JEFF AMy

Overlooking the Mississippi Sound former Gulfport Mayor Billy Hewes stands in front of his home in Gulfport, Miss.

Mother being evicted after son killed

BY QUINN COFFMAN Staff writer

When 19-year-old D’Anthony Brown was fatally shot on his mother’s front porch, he had been at home with his three younger brothers. Dequincy, 16, was in the living room, where bullets tore through the wall and lodged in the carpet. Jaden, 8, cowered on the floor of his bedroom, wrapping himself in a blanket as a bullet struck just a foot under his window Jaceon, 11, was also in the house.

La. Black Caucus challenges Attorney General

Legislators vie to keep congressional map as-is

BY MARK BALLARD Staff writer

WASHINGTON The Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus and some White Democratic legislators have asked a judge to stop Attorney General Liz Murrill’s office from arguing that the U.S Supreme Court should overturn the state’s congressional map with two majority-Black districts.

Murrill

Murrill’s argument would effectively repeal a law passed by the Louisiana Legislature, a duty the state Constituti on gives legislators and forbids an attorney general from doing on her own, according to the lawsuit filed Thursday in Baton Rouge’s 19th Judicial District Court.

They allege that Murrill is joining the national Republican effort to pad the GOP majority in the U.S. House. The case was assigned to Judge Tiffany Foxworth-Roberts.

“It’s a separation of powers question,” Democratic Rep. Edmond Jordan, a Baton Rouge lawyer who signed the pleading, said Friday “The suit is to make her comply with her constitutional obligations.” Murrill said Friday the lawsuit is “patently baseless.” She argued she merely answered a question posed by the Supreme Court: whether Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 is constitutional.

By saying the law is unconstitutional, as Murrill did last week, Louisiana returned to its original position in the case: The state didn’t need a second majorityminority congressional district that the federal courts had ruled was necessary

“The Legislature complied with federal court orders, but that doesn’t mean we agreed with how we got here,” Murrill said Murrill argued state district courts have no jurisdiction over federal arguments made to the U.S. Supreme Court. Jordan countered that state law requires challenges to a state official for not doing her job can only be heard in state district court.

“The issue isn’t about what’s being argued before the Supreme Court, it’s about recognizing who the client is,” he said. After the 2020 census was complete, the Legislature drew maps that favored the election of five White Republicans and a single Black Democrat to send to the U.S. House. A group of Black voters challenged that map, which Murrill had defended on behalf

ä See CAUCUS, page 3B

Carvettea Selders, 41, raced home from Ross Dress for Less, her full cart abandoned in one of the aisles after getting the call that her son had been shot. It was just after 10 a.m. on Sunday Aug. 24. It was supposed to be a calm morning.

Nine days later, on Sept. 2, with her firstborn son still unburied, Selders received an eviction notice.

Among the listed reasons to vacate the home: “Unlawful activities causing police action on the property.” Selders said the days since

Everyone had slept in and missed church after the family returned home late the previous night from seeing a New Orleans Saints preseason game. D’Anthony had been excited. It was the first time the family had watched the team live. Selders feels like she has lost the core of her family, her oldest son who cared for his younger siblings alongside his own 4-month-old child, D’Anthony Brown Jr “It was a fun-filled day Saturday,” Selders said, “and he was murdered Sunday.”

Brown’s killing have left her with time to overthink her actions that morning. Should she have stayed at the house? Roused the family for church? Insisted her oldest son come with her to the store? Less than 15 minutes passed from the time she left the house to when she received the call about the shooting.

“Maybe something could have been avoided, or he probably would still be here,” she said.

Reason is ‘unlawful activities causing police action,’ notice says ä See EVICTION, page 2B

PARTy LIGHTS

Rebecca Rittell, an EMT with East Baton Rouge EMS, speaks with Cannon Coleman, 6, along with Carlie Coleman, 7, top in back, and Braydan Ruffin, 3, inside an ambulance at the First Responders Community Event held at the Robert A. Bogan Fire Museum, located downtown on Laurel Street, Saturday

LEFT: Ethan Bourgeois, a museum volunteer, waves flags while standing on a fire truck.

cheapest in country

BY MARGARET DELANEY Staff writer

Thinking about

BY IANNE SALVOSA Staff writer

When Sean Elliott, CEO of the YMCA of the Capital Area, moved to Baton Rouge, he needed a place to stay while he waited for his family to relocate. Elliott became one of the first tenants of Point at Mid City, the Y’s first housing project in Baton Rouge, located near the intersection of Government Street and South Foster Drive. He said it is a return to the national organization’s original business model that largely involved housing, and fills the growing need for affordable living in Baton Rouge.

“It’s a great billboard for what the YMCA is here for, which is to address the needs of the community,” he said. Elliott said the partnership be-

tween Bearing Point Properties, the developer for the apartments and the renovations of the A.C. Lewis gym, is “atypical” since the Y is a nonprofit and the developer is for-profit. But it shows the organization is committed to partnerships, which Elliott said he plans to explore further He started his role in June after serving as CEO for the Greater Green Bay YMCA in Wisconsin. He has 25 years of experience with the Y, serving in Philadelphia, Dorchester County, Maryland, and Gaston County North Carolina. The YMCA has established a housing footprint nationwide The YMCA of the Northshore provides affordable housing for seniors and other individuals. YMCA of Central Ohio offers rapid rehousing for unhoused adults. YMCA of Greater Seattle has a youth shelter for minors facing housing instability While housing is a large part of the Y’s

PHOTOS By APRIL BUFFINGTON

Weary of crime, N.O. residents open to federal help

But some question if deploying National Guard is the best approach

BY ANTHONY McAULEY Staff writer

It was only a few months ago that

National Guard troops arrived in the streets of downtown New Orleans.

Armed with rifles and dressed in fatigues, their presence was a show of force following the Bourbon Street terror attack, aimed at calming fears as the city prepared to host the Super Bowl.

Now, city residents and civic leaders are reckoning with the likely return of those soldiers as part of President Donald Trump’s latest move to suggest that stopping crime in Democratic-led cities requires military help

During an Oval Office press conference last Wednesday, Trump said he was considering sending National Guard troops to patrol New Orleans, a comment that prompted Gov Jeff Landry to quickly announce that he was behind the effort and thankful for any help the president would offer And at a Rose Garden event Friday night, he said he plans to follow through on it.

“We’re going to come into New Orleans, and we’re going to make that place so safe,” Trump said. “It’s got a little problem right now, a couple of headaches, like murders, a lot of little murders going on, and we’re not going to stand for it. And we’re going to come in, we’re going to clean it up.”

The Hill reported that the National Guard has not received any new deployment orders as of Friday night. From the tourist-heavy French Quarter to New Orleans East and across the river in Algiers, residents frustrated by ever-present crime and other seemingly intractable quality-of-life concerns said they would welcome federal aid. But many questioned whether a short-term deployment of soldiers

YMCA

Continued from page 1B

to liabilities.

In a service area of roughly 875,000 people, Elliott thinks the YMCA of the Capital Area can reach more people than it has before.

The A.C. Lewis location had 1,200 membership “units,” which can include single adults or families who have memberships, prior to the renovation. As of this fall, the location is up to 2,300 units.

Collective impact

YMCA leadership and its board of directors will begin work on the organization’s strategic plan this fall. Elliott said he is prioritizing talent development and retention, membership development, programming, facility optimization and partnerships in strategic planning conversations

He envisions the Y to be a leader in “collective impact,” joining organizations together toward a common goal. He plans to explore expanding the Y’s current offerings, like children’s swimming lessons, by connecting with more partners to reach more kids. Programming is the “stickiness” of what keeps people at the Y, Elliott said.

“It doesn’t matter who you are, how much money you make, where you came from, where you went to school. Everybody belongs at the Y,” he said.

A ‘win-win’ situation

John Buzzell, managing partner of Bearing Point Properties and a member of the A.C. Lewis Board, said the apartments are a “winwin” for Mid City and the Y since the area has not seen a similar Class-A apartment building in recent years. And the expanded A.C. Lewis location can now support more youth programming, he said.

“It’s arguably the best place to work out and swim in Baton Rouge,” he said.

“It’s a wonderful facility.”

The Point at Mid City apartments have upscale features, like walk-in show-

on street corners would help solve the kind of deep-seated crime issues that demand nuanced policing and a sustained community effort. Jewel Bunch, owner of NOLA Nail Bar locations in the Warehouse District and in Canal Place, said she’s dealt with break-ins and vandalism, as well as occasional teenage mischief, like four-wheelers revving and popping wheelies on the streets outside her nail salons.

But more concerning have been threats to her staff from people who appeared to be homeless and potentially suffering mental health crises. One of her customers, a Tulane University medical student, was attacked and knocked unconscious after leaving her shop.

She was skeptical that those were issues guard members would be able to fix

“I’m not sure that the National Guard coming in is necessarily the answer,” said Bunch. “But I do think there has to be change.”

Crime high but falling

It’s not yet clear when, or if, guard units will be sent to New Orleans. But if they are deployed by Trump or by Landry, who oversees the Louisiana National Guard, they’ll arrive at a moment when crime is declining sharply from its pandemic spike, even as it remains above national and state averages.

Several New Orleans residents and business owners said they’ve experienced crime in ways that are often frustrating, occasionally violent, but far from the cinematic levels of chaos that often drive political rhetoric.

In 2024, the New Orleans Police Department reported 6,085 crimes per 100,000 residents a 23% drop from the previous fiveyear average — yet still more than two-and-a-half times the national average.

Trump first proposed deploying National Guard troops to U.S. cities in June, sending roughly 2,000 troops to Los Angeles amid protests over federal immigration raids. He later deployed forces to Washington, D.C., under a declared “crime emergency” — moves that bypassed local officials.

ers, quartz countertops and laminate flooring It also has a closed-in pet park, a walking trail that surrounds the 7-acre property and a clubhouse.

The apartments have a total of 100 one-, two- and three-bedroom units and are priced at workforce, affordable and market rates.

The market rate units average about $1,800 in rent, and the affordable units average about 10% to 15% below the market rate average. Affordable housing tenants can qualify for a utility credit allowance, depending on their income.

The apartments are about 40% leased, and Buzzell projects they will be at least 90% leased by the first half of next year

“We’re incredibly excited about the opportunity,” he said.

An ‘ideal’ location

After the 2016 flooding in Baton Rouge, the Louisiana Office of Community Development–Disaster Recovery received an allocation from Housing and Urban Development to restore affordable housing that was lost. Kelvin Hill, director of housing of the OCD, said the A.C. Lewis renovation and the Point at Mid City apartments were part of the office’s middle market program, which targets people in the 80% to 120% area median income range.

The office provided about $20 million to the more than $30 million project Hill said the development will provide 35 years of affordable housing units in Mid City.

He said Mid City is an “ideal” spot for new, affordable housing because of its proximity to grocery stores, restaurants and job opportunities The renovated Y serves as an outlet for residents and furthers the organization’s mission of supporting the community with housing, he said. “The flood affected everything, not just housing, but it affected business and industry and parks and recreation facilities,” Hill said “This was an opportunity to combine what they wanted to do with the Y with much-needed new housing inventory.”

The actions sparked a nationwide debate over the use of federal troops in domestic law enforcement, though the deployments so far have not undertaken significant crime-fighting operations.

In Los Angeles, National Guard troops mostly protected federal buildings and monitored protests but did not patrol neighborhoods or make arrests. In Washington, D.C., the Guard has been stationed at tourist sites and monuments, provided logistical support and cleared some homeless encampments. Troops have been seen standing watch, posing for photos with visitors and waiting for assignments.

Trump reignited the discussion on Wednesday “Do we go to a place like New Orleans where we have a great governor, Jeff Landry, who wants us to come in and straighten out a very nice section of this country that’s become quite tough, quite bad?” he said.

Landry responded in a social media post that, “We will take President Donald Trump’s help from New Orleans to Shreveport!” Democratic politicians fired back, dismissing the plan as politically motivated and unnecessary. The city’s three major mayoral candidates all condemned the move, and U.S. Rep. Troy Carter pointed to declining crime rates as evidence that a military-style intervention was unwarranted.

New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick was more circumspect, telling WWL Louisiana she had “no real concerns” about federal troops in the city but adding that local law enforcement is already effectively addressing public safety challenges.

Many residents echoed the idea that federal help would be welcomed in the city, but were skeptical about troop deployments. Stephanie Chambliss, who operates a PJ’s Coffee outlet on Read Boulevard in New Orleans East, and is a board member of the Greater New Orleans East Business Alliance, suggested there could be better ways.

“I know we have crime in the

EVICTION

Continued from page 1B

Selders has shared what she knows about possible suspects with the police and tried in vain to get door camera footage from neighbors. She still can’t fathom a motive.

Brown graduated from Baker High School and played on an elite 7-on-7 football team before that.

He had been trying to earn a commercial driver’s license, wanting to “roll the road” to help earn for his family

“He was a key part of our family,” Selders said. “He was the man of the house, and he loved his family.”

Brown’s grandmother, Cynthia Selders, 61, relied on Brown’s care, too.

“Every picture in my house, he hung it up,” she said. “He put my tables together; he did everything for me.”

Cynthia Selders lost her eldest grandchild in March in a fatal shooting in Texas. Now, she has lost Brown as well.

His absence

Carvettea Selders describes herself as a protective mother who kept all of her boys close to home, thinking it would keep them safe.

Now, her youngest sons are unable to return to school while mourning their big brother “DD.”

“We have to listen to (Jaden’s) cries,” Cynthia Selders said. “We can hear him cry out for his brother every night.”

Carvettea Selders believes her infant grandson, D’Anthony Jr., has also felt his father’s absence.

“He’s looking and looking, and he’s just been a lot fussier these last two weeks,” she said. “I believe it’s that his dad is not around.”

Sitting on that same front porch where Brown’s body lay bleeding, Carvettea Selders wept Friday afternoon while Ieesha James, one of Brown’s cousins, held her Behind them, a sticker

city,” she said. “But violent crime often happens between people who know each other — it’s not typically random.”

She said that the federal government could help by giving additional resources to existing crime-fighting agencies, including the NOPD and local branches of federal agencies like the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

ShenotedthatLandryhasalready intervened by deploying Troop NOLA, a specialized unit of the Louisiana State Police, which was set up last year to bolster law enforcement presence, particularly in high-crime areas like the French Quarter

“There is a shortage of officers at the NOPD, and Troop NOLA has been great in helping fight violent crime it’s made a major difference, not only in New Orleans East but throughout the city,” she said.

Jane Cooper chair of the French Quarter Management District for the past two years, said the Troop NOLA deployment and other measures have had a discernible effect on crime reduction in the Vieux Carré, where residents and business owners pay an additional tax that helps cover the cost of enhanced patrols.

“Are you ever going to eliminate crime completely? Are you ever going to eliminate the unhoused population? No, but great strides have been made,” she said.

But she is skeptical of the usefulness of the National Guard. She noted that the governor already has the power to deploy troops in times of emergency — like after the Bourbon Street attack.

“To me, this National Guard talk just seems like a solution in search of a problem,” Cooper said.

A distraction

Some neighborhood activists like Yvonne Mitchell-Grubb also feel that the National Guard chat distracts from the focus on the kind of work that reduces crime over time.

She has been active in the Walnut Bend Neighborhood Association on the West Bank for three decades and is current president of the Algiers Neighborhood

Presidents Council, which groups all the local neighborhood associations.

Her council meets regularly with Captain Christina Watson, commander of NOPD’s Fourth District, to discuss crime prevention issues.

“I don’t think anyone would turn down help if it is really going to be helpful,” she said. “Crime has dropped over the last couple of years, which is great. But Troop NOLA is really not present in Algiers, and I really don’t see what the National Guard is going to do.”

The Algiers neighborhood group is a member of the NOLA Coalition — a broad alliance of over 600 nonprofits, civic organizations and businesses — that has pushed a dual-track strategy to reduce crime and enhance public safety It combines immediate public safety measures, particularly seeking more resources for the NOPD, with long-term investments in youth services and other community initiatives.

Last year, the Algiers group secured state money to involve the local community, especially schools, in a cleanup campaign.

“My personal opinion is when you have an area full of blight like DeGaulle Manor (a housing project), that fosters crime,” Mitchell-Grubb said. “So, we wanted to clean things up.”

Academic research and decades of real-world experience show that reducing crime requires proactive policing while also providing improvements to the environment and viable opportunities for residents.

But the policing part is critical, and residents like Bunch feel that local government has neglected that component for too long.

“I think the mayor and the City Council owe it to us to coordinate the NOPD with any other body they need to make sure there are consequences for bad actions,” she said “We’ve removed the tools they need to enforce law and order, and we need to hand them back.”

Email Anthony McAuley tmcauley@theadvocate.com.

with the No. 5 written on it marked where police found a bullet hole in the wall. In the afternoon heat, it came loose and fluttered to the ground.

The women talked about the need for officials to do more to stem the violent crime in Baton Rouge, but said proposals to strengthen the juvenile curfew don’t make sense to them.

“Why would you have a curfew at night when so much is happening here during the day?” Selders said. “They shoot people in broad daylight.”

Eviction and paranoia

The day the eviction notice was delivered, Selders began to pack the house she had lived in for nearly two years. The family has until Sept. 30 to leave the residence, which is part of the Belhaven Trace subdivision, near the intersection of Wooddale and Florida boulevards.

The notice says the eviction is due, in part, to “disturbing the quiet, peaceful enjoyment of the property by the following actions: repeated complaints of noise coming from you and other household members, fighting on the premises, disrupting the property.”

Under that, a box is checked next to another

reason for eviction: “Unlawful activities causing police presence on the property.”

The notice was tacked on the door without warning, Selders said. She believes the fatal shooting of her son prompted the action. She said the leasing office on her block hasn’t been open since the shooting. Calls from The Advocate to a number for the Belhaven Trace leasing office have not been answered.

Feeling dejected, like she “has no more tears to cry,” Selders wishes Belhaven Trace would have at least offered her condolences for Brown’s death before issuing the eviction.

“I lost my son, a piece of my heart,” she said. “Now I’ve lost my house, I lost my home.”

The family has been living with an uneasy feeling since Brown’s death, with moving boxes filling the living and bedrooms.

Selders and James also said paranoia is setting in, since they don’t know who killed Brown, why, or if they will return.

They said they have seen cars with tinted windows roll back and forth across their rarely driven road.

Neighbors don’t want to talk to police. “I’m not going to stay

here anyway, because I don’t feel safe,” Selders said. “I don’t know what they’re going to do. I don’t know what their intentions are. My child was murdered on this porch, not bothering anybody.”

Faced with both moving costs and funeral expenses, Selders said there has barely been time to properly mourn.

“We want justice for my baby; he didn’t deserve this,” she said. “I’ve always been a mother that sheltered my children because of everything going on in the world today That still wasn’t enough, because they came to where they were safe and murdered him.”

Email Quinn Coffman at quinn.coffman@ theadvocate.com.

PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS

Carvettea Selders holds a photo of her late son D’Anthony Brown, left, a family photo taken at a Saints game the day before Brown was killed, center, and a photo of Brown’s son, right, while sitting on the porch on which he was shot and killed on Friday.

Federaltrial of Lafayette ADAHaynesbeginsMonday

tody of those recordsand the photocopying process used to preserve the evidence,said evidence will be deemedauthenticated.”

BY CLAIRE TAYLOR Staff writer

The federal case against Lafayette Assistant District Attorney Gary Haynes for involvement in abribery and kickback scheme in the 15thJudicial District Attorney’sOffice is set for trial Monday

Haynes, whowas in charge of the pretrial intervention program in Lafayette, was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2024 on six charges, including bribery,conspiracy to commit money laundering, obstruction of justice and usinghis cellphone in furtherance of bribery His trial is scheduled to begin at 9a.m. Monday at the federal courthouse in Lafayette. Jury selection is expected to be the first order of business.Records showthe court willquestionpotential jurors first, then provide theprosecution and defense each 20 minutes for questioning. The trial could take as long as 10 days.

In theweekbefore the trial, afederal judge denied Haynes’ motion to exclude files seized in aMay 2022 raidbythe FBI and Justice Department on the 15th Judicial District Attorney’sOffice. Haynes had argued that thefiles wereinadmissible because theywere copies, not the originals, and because folders that held thedocuments and may have contained attorney notes were not copied. The judge wrote, “Assumingthe Government’switness testifies regarding the seizure of the records at issue, the cus-

An exhibit listfrom the prosecution suggests the government planstointroduce 38 clipsfromrecordings of conversations allegedly amongHaynes andtwo other men, one of whompleaded guilty to involvement in thekickback scheme.

They are Dusty Guidry who worked on a contractinthe DA’s pretrial diversion program with Haynes, and Lafayette businessman Leonard Franqueswho,per aplea agreement, pleaded guilty to involvement in asimilar kickback schemeinvolvingthe Louisiana Department of Wildlife andFisheries, but did notplead guiltyto involvement in the pretrialdiversion scheme, court records show The government’sexhibitlistincludes10 clips labeled “consensual recording” involving the three men between Dec. 14,2021, and Feb. 3, 2022, and28clips and recordings obtained through TitleIII electronic surveillance from Sept. 22, 2021, andDec. 8, 2021. Most of therecordings allegedly involve conversations between variouscombinations of Haynes, Guidry andFranques.

Twoallegedly involve conversations between Gu id ry an dJ os eph Prejean,whose company, C&AConsulting, hada contract with the DA’s office for providing services to defendantsinthe pretrial diversion program Guidry pleaded guilty in March of 2023 tothree federal charges,includingbribery.Headmitted to soliciting bribes while working in the pretrial

diversion program from approximately Jan. 11, 2021, until May 9, 2022. Guidryalsopleadedguilty to abribery andkickback scheme involvingthe Louisiana Departmentof Wildlife and Fisheries.

As part of aplea agreement, Franques pleaded guiltyinJanuary2024 to one felony count of conspiracytodefraud the United States for allegedly agreeing to paykickbacks to Guidry andformer DWFSecretary Jack Montoucet forsteeringto Franques’ companypeople seeking boating and hunter training. He did not plead guilty to involvement in the pretrial diversion program,according to courtrecords.

Montoucethas been indicted. He pleaded not guiltyinJune but hasnot gone to trial.

Prejean pleaded guilty in December 2023 to a federalcharge of conspiring to defraud thefederal government allegedly for involvement in the pretrial diversion program scheme.

None of the men have been sentenced.

Federal officials allege Haynes weakened the requirementstoenterthe pretrial diversion program,allowing more people into the program where they could pay to take classes and Haynes would removethe offense from their record

Officials allegeHaynes and Guidry made deals with business owners to direct manyofthe pretrial defendants to their businesses for classes in exchange for sharing the fees the defendants paid with Guidryand Haynes.

Email Claire Taylor at ctaylor@theadvocate. com.

(with an average apartment size of 723 square feet),

n Alabama at $1,050 per month (with an averageapartment size of 732 square feet),

n Louisiana at $1,063 per month (with an averageapartment size of 708 square feet), n Kentuckyat $1,072 per month (with an averageapartment size of 697 square feet).

These 10 states have the mostexpensive rent rates in the country as of August 2025,

CAUCUS

Continuedfrom page1B

of the Legislature. The federal courts found thatenough Black residents with similar interests lived close enough together that the VotingRightsAct allowed the inclusionofsecondBlack opportunity district. Representing theLegislature,Murrill

then argued thatlaw required theseconddistrict. But, after the Supreme Court asked for arguments on the constitutionality of the maps, Murrill said that gave Louisiana an opening to return to itsargumentfor theoriginal map

The Black Caucus’slawsuit contendsMur`rill switched positions “for purely political purposes, to assist efforts by the NationalRepublican

Party to maintain control of Congress in the 2026 midterm elections.”

Forthe pastmonth or so, President Donald Trump has been pressuring state governments run by Republicans to redistrict now,instead of waitinguntil thenextcensuscompleted in 2030, in order to turnDemocratic seats to districts that Republicanscan wininnextyear’s midterms.

Bellina Jr., Louis In Loving Memory of Louis Bellina,Jr. "Come to Me, allyou who labor and are heavy laden, and Iwill give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). Louis Bellina, Jr., acherished son, brother, brother -in-law, uncle, and friend to many, passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 31, 2025, at the age of 79. Born on September 14, 1945, Louis was alifelong resident of Baton Rouge His professional career began at age 18, leading him to become askilled Land Surveyor Party Chief, arole he heldthroughout his years in the construction industry until his retirement. Louis is survived by his devoted sister, Gloria Bellina Babin and her husband, Kenneth, as well as his niece, Lisa Babin, and nephew, Michael Babin.He was preceded in death by his beloved parents, Louis Bellina, Sr. and Bessie Giambrone Bellina, along with his dear brother Michael Anthony Bellina Visitation will take place on Monday, September 8, 2025, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm at Greenoaks Funeral Home, 9595 Florida Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70815.The funeral service will begin at 1:00 pm, led by Deacon Joseph Scimeca, Celebrant. Interment will follow immediately at Greenoaks Memorial Park. The family wishes to express their heartfelt gratitude to Ascension Oaks Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Gonzales, Louisiana, where Louis spent the last two years of his life. Special thanks are extended to the dedicated nurses, CNAs, and all staff members of the 400 Hall, whose compassion and attentive care brought great comfort to Louis and his family. Your kindness will always be cherished. The family also offers sincere appreciation to Clarity Hospice for the outstanding care provided.

Patricia Dugas

Patricia Agnes Theresa Dugas Broussard, better known to her family as "Nana", passed away on August 26, 2025, at the age of 78. She was born in Baton Rouge, LA on December 15, 1946, the daughter of Patrick and Marjorie Dugas. Patricia was adevotedwife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, who centered her life around her family. She was amember of many local service and charitable organizations, past President of the Baton Rouge Art League, past member of the Altar Society, member of the CatholicDaughters of theAmericas, and member of the Magnolia Garden Club. Patricialoved gardening, doing her daily crossword puzzle,and doting over her grandkids. Nana will be remembered for holding court from her seat in the kitchen, dressed up and makeup done, dispensing advice and wisdom, laughing whether she was in on the joke or not, and opening her home to all who needed it. She is survived by her children, Mary Joan B. Swinhoe, Remy CocoBroussard and wife Tatia, Patrick Jason and wife Nicole, and Jay Michael and wife Devon; grandchildren, DavidRascoe, Codie S. Bryce and husband Ethan,Martieand Shelbie Swinhoe, Bryce Broussard, Taylor Harvey and wife Rachel; step-grandchildren Justin, Kathryn, Alex, Rance, and Victoria; brother-in-law Ben Broussard, multiple great grandchildren, and numerous cousins who loved her dearly. Patricia was preceded in death by her parents, Patrick and Marjorie Dugas; her husband, James Broussard; her daughter, Michelle Renee Broussard, grandson Austin Broussard, and brother-in-law Paul Broussard. Visiting hours will be observed at Resthaven Funeral Home at 11817 Jefferson Hwy, Baton Rouge LA, 70816 on Friday, September 12, 2025, from 12:30 PM until service time at 2:30 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center. Family and friends may sign the online

memorialorleave apersonal note to the family at www.resthavenbatonroug e.com.

Brown, BettyJeanCurtis

Aceremony celebrating thelifeofBettyJeanCurtis BrownwillbeheldonMonday at Zoar Baptist Church visitation willbegin at 9:00 am until time of service at 11:00am. Inurnment will be in the church cemetery, Mrs. Brown rested from this life peacefully at home on August 25, 2025,surroundedbyher lovedones at the age of 93 years. She was borninBaton Rouge and livedinthe Central area for most of her life

Shegraduated from CentralHigh School in 1949,with valedictorian honors and received afull scholarshiptoLSU.She decided instead to begin a family; Betty's greatest joy was her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Throughout her lifeshe held astrong faiththat guidedher everystep in life. She loved watching LSU sports, especially football and baseball. Shewas alifelongmember of Zoar BaptistChurch.

Shewas precededin death by her husband Carvin H. Brown Sr.,a son Steven C. Brown, her parents Julius A. and Ida B Curtis, and asister Norma McAdams (Bob).

Survivors include her children Rickie Bliss (Bill), and Hal Brown (Carl), her daughter-in-law Diane Brown, special beloved niecesBeckyLenoir and BettyMcAdams "Boopie" Miley, grandchildren Todd Elkins(Chrissy),Angie Coates (Darren), Charli Brown, and ahost of other grandchildrenand great grandchildren. Honored to serve as pallbearer her great grandsonColin Coates In lieu of traditional floral sprays, plants or memorialgifts are preferred.

Arrangements with Church Funeral Services.

Matthew:25:40:“TrulyI tellyou,whateveryou did for oneofthe leastof these brothers andsisters ofmine, youdid forme.” JessieLea Kemp Darsey,a resident of Ethel, went hometoher Lord andSav‐ior on Thursday,Septem‐ber 4, 2025. Herhusband JackDarsey, wasthere to greet heraswell. Shewas 90years old, anativeof Ethel,and amemberof Slaughter First Baptist Church.Visitationwillbe atSlaughter FirstBaptist Church,onMonday, Sep‐tember8,2025 from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. until services at 11:00 a.m. conductedby Rev.Basil Wicker.Inter‐mentwillbeinRedwood CemeteryinSlaughter.She was agraduateofClinton HighSchool andBaton Rouge Business College. She became an Addictions Counselor during her32yearemploymentatEast Louisiana State Hospital where sheconsideredthis workmoreofa callingthan a job. Thenext25years werespent workingas Treatment DirectoratThe Baton RougeDETOX Cen‐ter;and TreatmentDirector atThe BatonRouge Drug Court TreatmentProgram After 57 yearsoffull-time employment, shecontin‐ued to work on aparttime basis includingatThe Jour‐ney Home andWoodLakes Treatment Center.Atage 75she finallyretired com‐pletely.She is survived by her twochildrenand their spouses:Michael Kemp Darseyand Debbie; Susan DarseyHodas andTom; Grandchildren,Corey Free‐man andLaura;Krysten DarseyNolandand Jimbo; KempDarseyand Ashley; and SarahBethHodas Cobband Jimbo. Great grandchildren,Darby and Ridley, Makena,Mason and Jack, Paigeand Jamie. She adoredthemall and wanted nothingmorethan

theirhappiness andsuc‐cessinlife. Sheispre‐ceded in deathbyher de‐voted husband of 66 years, Henry L. “Jack” Darsey,Jr. nativeofNatchez,MS.,par‐ents, Joseph Warren Kemp and SusieInezRogillio Kemp; brother, Joseph WarrenKemp, Jr;sister, EdnaCatherine Kemp Townsend; andtwinsister BillieSue Kemp Goudeau and brother-in-law,Morris Goudeau .Pallbearers will beher grandsons. Thefam‐ily wantstothank Dr.T’ LaneFolse,her primary carephysician,who so compassionately managed her health late in life.A special thanks to Cardiolo‐gistDr. AbdullhMunirand staff at Lane Memorial Hospitaland to D’Anna Lawton, who faithfully stayedintouch with and took hertomanyplaces, including herfavorite which wasout to eat! ThanksalsotoSherry Car‐penter, Tami Brannon, Teri Fontenot, RondaGardner Duanna Holmes,and Mar‐cia CoxofSlaughter First Baptist Church.Duanna de‐servesspecial thanks for being herfriendand hair‐dresser. Averyspecial thanksgoestoGary “Smitty”Smith,a longtime friendwho supportedher efforttohelpothersand becamea lifelong friend.In lieuof flowers, donations may be made to acharity ofyourchoice. Sharesym‐pathies,condolences,and memoriesatwww.Charlet FuneralHome.com.

Tommy Roland Edmonson, age 82, passed away peacefully in Georgetown, Texas on July25, 2025, from Alzheimer'sDementia. He was born in Delhi, Louisiana but livedmost of his life in Baton Rouge. He was an accomplished athlete,ArmyVeteran, and proud father of three daughters. He graduated fromIstrouma HighSchool in 1961, where he excelled in basketball as well as track and field, winning numerous awardsand being voted"Best All Around" by his senior class. He receiveda scholarship to Northeast Louisiana StateCollege for Track and Fieldwhere he triumphedinpole vaulting, broad jump,and thetriple jump.Hegraduated in 1966 with aBachelor of Science Degree in Health and Physical Education with aminor in Science. Upon graduation he was commissioned in the U.S. Army Infantry Branch and eventually became aHuey Instructor Pilot. He was assigned as theSecond PlatoonLeader with Apache Troop 7/1 Air Cavalry: call sign"Apache 26". WhileservinginVietnam and Korea,asa Captain, he was acombat helicopterpilot, and was awardedseveral medals and commendations, including thePurple Heart and Bronze Star Medal. Afterhis 6years of service, he earneda Masters and Specialist Degree in Public School Administration fromLSU. He wasBroadmoor MiddleSchool's Coach and Science teacher where he was known for coaching his teams to multiplechampionshipsin football and basketball. He continued his career, spanning 34 years, at theEBRSB as theSupervisorofTransportation, until his retirement in 2006. Tommy was amember of theVietnam HelicopterPilots Association, the Harley Owners Group, and thePatriot Guard Riders in bothBaton Rouge and Round Rock, Texas.Inhis words, he was, "a proud father and Veteran." Hisfamily is comforted, knowing that he is now at peace and with his parents in Heaven. Tommy is survived by his brother, Larry(Sandy) and sisterJackie (Harold) Templet;wife of 18 years, Jane Dunn Edmonson; Daughters: Karen (Kelly) Kemp; Jill Edmonson; HollyEdmonson(Shane); their mother and former wife of 28 years, Donna Voth Stevenson; Grandchildren: Katie (Brian) Leger,Lauren (Mark) Barker,Krislyn, Makayla, Willow, Shiloh, Lillia and Oliver, and GreatgrandchildrenLawson and Lucy;Tommy is preceded in death by his parents, Simon and Hazel (Pankey) Edmonson. The family is hosting aMemorial in a CelebrationofLife, Saturday, September 13, 2025, at First Baptist Church of DenhamSprings, 27735 La. i h

Hwy. 16, inDenham Springs, LA.Visitation will beginat10:00am, with services at 11:00am. Forthose who wouldliketoattend, thefamily asks that you wear red, white,orblue to honorTommy'sservicein themilitary. Interment will be at Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in a privateceremony. In lieu of flowers,the family asks for donations in his loving memory to Cure Alzheimer'sFund or the Alzheimer'sFoundationof America on his behalf.

Forest, Idell Payne

VistationSaturday, September 13, 2025 9:00 am until religious service at 10:00 am Hall'sCelebration Center 9348 Scenic Highway, BatonRouge, LA

Rixby, age88, went to be with theLordonThursday, September 4, 2025. He was aresident of Springfield, LA.Rixby proudly served his country in the United States Marine Corps. He was an exceptionally talented CivilEngineer and worked forthe US Army CorpsofEngineers for33 years. Rixby was calledout of retirement in 2004 to serve5 tours in Afghanistan and Iraq as a CivilEngineer until 2010. His favorite pastime was golf, and he lovedevery minute of it.Rixbyworked as aMarshal at theZurich Classic of NewOrleans for over 20 years and took his positionseriously. He was an exceptional cook and one of his favoritethings was to cookbig meals and invite as many people over as he could.Rixbywas a people personand would go out of his way to help others and make friends. He was atrue family man and was happiest surrounded by thoseheloved. Rixby was abrilliant man,

loving husband, wonderful father,and aloyal friend. He left everyonethatknew himwith countless wonderfulmemories and will be deeply missed. He is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Carolyn Joyce LeBlanc Hardy;daughters, Erika Hardy,StaceyMadden; grandson, Christian Madden; sisters, Audrey Bergeron,Glynda Jagneaux; andhis twin brother, Rixie Hardy (Celina). Rixby was preceded in death by hisparents,Effie andEssay Hardy;and siblings, Winnie Marso, FlaudryLormand, Bradley Hardy, JoeHardy, andSuzzanne Herbert. In lieu of flowers donationsmay be made to the Richard Murphy Hospice House.

Relativesand friends of thefamilyare invited to attend theMass of Christian Burial at St.Margaret Catholic Church on Friday, September 12, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. Fr. PaulGroswillofficiate with interment to follow in theHungarian Presbyterian Church Cemetery Areception will follow the burialatSt. Margaret Catholic Church Parish Hall. Condolencesand other information may be found at www.thompsoncares.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brandon G. ThompsonFuneral Home.

William Auburn Hays, Jr (Bill) died peacefullyathis home in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on September 3, 2025. Billwas born in Jackson, Mississippi in 1934 and moved to NewOrleans as achild.Hegraduated from St.Martin'sEpiscopal School, attendedTulane University, and later served in theUnited States Army in Germany. When he was young, Billexplored hismusical talents, playing theguitar andsingingin theFrench Quarter.He lovedtotellthe story of howhegot top billing

(above PeterGraves)inthe Bhorrormovie "Poor WhiteTrash" for singing the movie's theme song. Billthoughthemight become aprofessional musician, butafter working as a roadie for Arlo Guthrie, he realizedthe touringlife wasnot for him. He continuedtosingfor pleasure for many years, and his daughters fondly recall the evenings he pulledout his guitar andled them in his favorite folk songs. Professionally, Billwas surprised to learn he hada head for businessand areal talent for sales. He opened asingle OK TireStore in Gentilly andbuilt it into Direct Tire Town,a successfulmultistatechain of automotive andtirestores. He loved what he called"wheeling anddealing", referring to himself as a"Tyrecoon" andworkingwellintohis 70s. Hispassion wassailing. He learned to sail in high school andoverthe years became askilled racer.Hewon numerous races, including theGulf Ocean Racing Circuit and theracetoPensacola. Bill wasanhonorary lifetime member of theSouthern Yacht Club. An avidtraveler,Billand hiswife Pat,his favorite traveling partner enjoyed countless adventurestogether in theU.S Europe, Asiaand Australia. They also lovedantiquing together,particularlyat theBrimfield Antique Market in Massachusetts. Bill will be remembered as a wonderfulhusband, father, andgrandfather, agreat friend, andanadvisor and mentor to many. He was generouswith histimeand support, quicktolaugh, andalways ready with a funnystory or joke. Billis survived by hiswife Patri-

Hardy, Rixby James

Hays,William Auburn Bill

Edmonson,Tommy

Broussard,

Darsey,JessieLea Kemp

cia Walt Hays, his two daughters, Catherine Hays Downs (Andrew) and Lee Upham Hays, and by his grandchildren, Harrison Montgomery Downs, William Balfour Downs, and Elizabeth Tolhurst Downs. Bill was preceded in death by his parents William Auburn Hays, Sr. and Sue Brown Hays, his beloved stepdaughter Tracy Tooker Griswold, and her husband George Turnure Griswold, Jr. The family would like to thank Bill's wonderful caregivers, Shaneka Williams, Tamara Billy, Jeannette Brown, Joyce Anderson, Rhonda Selvage, Carolyn Williams, and April Billy. Amemorial service willbeheld Thursday, September 11, 2025 at 1:00 pm at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, followed by areception at the Southern Yacht Club. In lieu of flowers, please make adonation to acharity of your choice. If you would like to hear Bill sing in his only movie role, visit https://youtu.be/H2ZFPW5 Cm6s.

Rosetta Grace McBee

Mainieri,a native of Morgantown,WVand aresident of Baton Rouge, LA, passed awaypeacefully on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, at the age of 92, returning to the arms of her beloved husband Demiein heaven. She was born in Morgantown, WV and grew up acountry girl on adairy farm where shelearned to work hard doing farm chores and shooting snakes. She received her early education in aone room schoolhouse down a dirt road. She showcased her sewing skills at the West Virginia County Fair, winning first place often as well as other awards. After being turned down admittancetoarchaeology school for being awoman, she graduated from West Virginia University witha bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. There she met the love of herlife, Demie, an Italianfrom New Jersey, and life was history. They married (in awedding gown shesewedherself)and soon aftershe sailed to France to join Demie stationed in the Army. After the devasting loss of their first-born child due to Spina Bifida, adevastating diagnosis both Demie and Rosetta would go on to educate people about for yearstocome, Rosetta and Demiemoved to Miami, Florida to seek a warmer climate and raise their five children. Rosetta worked as an elementary school teacher, inspiring many children and loving them as her own. After her retirement from the classroom, she traveled extensively with her husband, Demie, and followed her son, Paul, as he coached college baseball. She often visited her daughters Rosemarie and Cathy in Colorado, her son Jim in Alaska, and her son John in Georgia. In all her travels, no matter where she landed, "Nanie" always felt like home to her children, grandchildren, and greatgrandchildren. Shortly after Rosetta and Demie moved from south Florida to Baton Rouge, they continued to be graciously cared for by their devout son James, until they moved into St. James Place for the remainder of their lives. Rosetta made quite an impression on the staff at St. James with her cheerfuloutlook and engaging personality. She waseven voted "Queenof Mardi Gras" twice during her years at St. James. Rosetta often raved about the care she received from the angels at St. James -including Bertha, Deanne, Alexandria, Rocky, Eula, Jackie, Tiffany, Stephanie, Jeneba, Terrilyn,Lydia, Jennifer, and Farisa. Her best friend atSt. James was Marilyn, and they would joyfully share lunch and conversations any chance they could. She loved it when Ken Wesley sang to the residents, especially the song Take Me Home Country Roads, and brought her so much happiness (and areason to put on her red lipstick) Rosetta's love for wisdom, travel, acceptance of others, listening, and love was di i l i

unending. Special times werehad with her daughter-in-law, Karen, including champagne and slot machines. She was atremendous cook,and everyone was always welcome at hertable. Herlegacy will live onasanunselfish example of aloving wife, mother, and grandmother. Nanie,asshe was known to allher grandchildren, was always readywith open armsfor ahug, a kiss, and an encouraging word. Her impact on all those with whom she had contact is immeasurable. Her unwavering faith was asignificant part of her life. "Honorher forall that her handshave done and let herworksbring her praise at the city gate." Proverbs 31:31.She was preceded in deathbyaninfant daughter, Julia Marie; her husband, Demie; as well as herparents, Spencerand Charlotte McBee.Rosetta is survivedbyher five children, Rosemarie (Lloyd) Batchelor,Paul (Karen) Mainieri, James Mainieri,John (Zeneida) Mainieri, and Catherine(James) Gagnon; tengrandchildren, Nicholas, Alexandra, Danielle,Samantha, Thomas, Isaac, Isaiah, Isabel, Jacqueline, and Joey; and five great-grandchildren, Holden, Jonathan, Wren, Rowan, and Roccowith a6th great-grandchild expectedtobeborn in the near future.Inaddition, she is survivedbytwo brothers, Thomas McBee and Sanford(Marsha) McBee.Visitation will be held at St. Aloysius CatholicChurch, 2025 StuartAve, Baton Rouge,LA 70808, on Tuesday, September9,2025,from 11:00 a.m. until Mass of Christian Burialat12:00 p.m. Interment willfollow at 2:00 p.m. at Louisiana National Cemeteryin Zachary, LA. Family and friends maysignthe online guestbookorleave apersonal note to the family at www.resthavenbatonroug e.com.

Sims,Dr. Alberta Washington

Dr.Alberta Washington Sims, born on September3, 1929, in Mississippi,en‐tered eternalpeace on Fri‐day,August29, 2025. She was born to thelateJohn Washingtonand OraLee Washington(néeConerly). Alberta pursuedher edu‐cationwithdetermination and excellence earningher Bachelor's, Master's,and Doctoraldegrees.Her pro‐fessional career beganand ended at the Louisiana School forthe Visually Im‐paired, and shewas a proud member of Delta Sigma ThetaSorority, Inc. Alberta's memory will be cherished by herson,Dr. MathewAbrams, Jr., her grandsons Dr.Mathew Abrams, III, Dr.Leland Abrams, andJohn-Joseph Abrams, alongwithher godchildren,nieces, nephews,and ahostofrel‐ativesand friends. Shewas precededindeath by her siblings: EvaWashington Chambers, DorothyWash‐ingtonGibson, John Wash‐ington, Jr George Ray‐mondWashington, and Shirley Washington.Her legacyofscholarship,ser‐vice, andstrengthwillen‐dureinthe livesofevery‐oneshe touched.

StuartJr., William Steen'Bill'

William Steen "Bill"Stuart, Jr. of Zachary, LA passed away at Baton Rouge GeneralHospitalon Sunday, August 31, 2025, at theage of 75. Billwas born in Chicago, Illinoison March 29, 1950. He graduated fromLSU in 1978 with an Industrial Technology degree.After college he worked for Gulf States Utilities(now Entergy) at the RiverBend Nuclear Power StationinSt. Francisville LA as asystems engineer until retiring in 2007 after 29 years. Billwas currently employed at ILD, Inc in BatonRouge where he workedasa fieldengineer specializing in theRCICnuclear systemand Terry turbines. Billispreceded in death by his parents, William and RuthStuart; his brother, John Thomas "Tommy" Stuart;and special uncle and aunt,Frank and Nada Glaze.Heissurvivedbyhis loving wife of 43 years, Christie Godwin Stuart;two sons, Jacob "Jake" Thomas Stuart and Samuel"Sam" William Stuart, both of Baton Rouge; father-in-law,JackR.Godwin of Lake Providence, LA;sister-in-law, Kay Godwin Chauvin of Baton Rouge, LA;brother-in-law, Jack KeithGodwin and wife Sarah of Lafayette, LA;and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. Visitationwillbeheldat Greenoaks Funeral Home, 9595 FloridaBlvdinBaton Rouge, LA on Monday, September 8, 2025, from 9am until services at 11am. In lieu of flowers,donations may be madeinhis honortothe Greater Baton Rouge FoodBank or The Salvation Army. Please visit www.greenoaksfunerals com to leave condolences to thefamily

VirginiaCarol"Carol" Vaughn, bornAugust 18, 1946, passed away peacefully on August 29, 2025. She was preceded in death by her parents, Virginia Vaughn and John B. Vaughn.

The oldest of six children, Carol is survived by her brothers John Vaughn, AndyVaughn, and Tim Vaughn, and her sisters Cindy Merritt and Penny Fitzgerald.

She leaves behind aloving family who willcherish her memory:her children, Tracy Hamilton (Chad) and Jack Vaughn (Lori); and her beloved grandchildren, Whitney, Grace, and Brock Hamilton, along with Harley and Cody Vaughn. Alifelong educator,Carol dedicated her life to inspiring studentsand shaping schools. She taught in St.TammanyParish before serving as SupervisorofElementary Instruction. Her passion foreducationcontinued as ateacher at Brighton Academy in Baton Rouge, and later as the AcademicDeanofAscensionChristian. Her commitment to teaching and leadershipleft alasting impact on countless students, colleagues, and families Beyond theclassroom,

Carolhad adeeplove for animals. She was especially passionate aboutdog adoption,helpingtoadopt and care formorethan30 dogs throughout her life. Her compassion extended notonlytoher family and students, butalso to every creature that needed aloving home. Carol was also an avid LSUbaseballfan. Beginning in 1989, she rarely missed ahome game and couldalways be found in thestands withher family, carefully scoring every pitch,hit, and run. Her love forthe Tigers became a cherished family tradition and asourceofcountless joyful memories Aboveall,Carol will be remembered for her devotion to her family,her love of teaching,and thelegacy of kindness she left in both people and pets alike Aprivatecelebration of life will be held with her family

James“Jim” A. Wain‐wright, III, better knownas “Beatle”tohis friends, bornonNovember17, 1950, and passedawayatthe age of 74 on July 27, 2025 athomeinBaton Rouge, Louisiana.Jim wasbornin LakeCharles,Louisiana, and livedthere andinJack‐son,Mississippi during his younger years. He gradu‐atedin1969 from Callaway HighSchool in Jackson, Mississippi.Hethenat‐tendedLouisiana State Universitywhere he wasa memberofthe PhiKappa Psi fraternity andgradu‐atedin1984 with aBSde‐greeinmarketing.During thattime, he developedhis lovefor BatonRouge where he livedfor there‐mainder of hislife. He en‐joyed hisworkatthe Busi‐nessReport, which he re‐tired from.Jim wasanavid (to putitlightly)fan of all thingsLSU,and youwere likelyto find himatmost football andbaseball games.His hobbieswere golf, painting,making knives,huntingand cook‐

ing. He also hada great fondnessfor cockatiels and hadmanyoverthe years as pets.Jim waspre‐ceded in deathbyhis par‐ents, JamesA.Wainwright Jr. andJoyce A. Wain‐wright, as well as hissis‐ter,Beverly Cones. He is survivedbyhis sister, Catherine Vollmer(Larry) ofKingwood, Texas; brother StephenWain‐wright, of Kingwood, Texas;niecesKristen Marek (Dwight) of Cypress, Texas andNatalie Conesof Houston,Texas;and nephewDerek Cones (Keira) of Shanghai,China Healsoleavesbehind three great-nephews, Lance,Everett andBennett Marek.The familyisplan‐ninga receptiontohonor Jim’s life at Greenoaks Fu‐neral Home,9595 Florida Blvd.,Baton Rouge, LA 70815 on Sunday,Septem‐ber 14, 2025, from 2pmto4 pm. In lieu of flowers, pleaseconsidera donation inJim’s memory to theLSU AlumniAssociationwww lsualumni.org or to achar‐ity of your choosing.

Wissner, Robert Allen Robert AllenWissner, 76, died in June of 2025 at home in Baton Rouge.He wasthe son of the late Howard William Wissner and Loata Fern Johnson WissnerofNew Orleans. Bob enjoyed growingupon theTulane University campusasthe childofa faculty member, andspent long hoursduring hisearly elementaryyearslearning to shoot with Tulane'sROTC instructors at their campus rifle range.Hewas always findinga newinterest to explore and became an amateurradio operator at an early age. He graduated from Benjamin Franklin High School in NewOrleans, and then with amajorinEnglish from Tulane University. He next pursued graduate studies at LSU, obtaining aMasters in English Literature. He left academics before completinghis PhDdissertation to build acareerinBaton Rouge in thethen-young field of computer science. He initially providedtechnical support for Radio Shack's early business and personal computers. Subsequently he used hisselftaughtprogramming skill to develop computerized engraving system software with thelateJay Hoffpauir at Hoffco/Xenetech.He

wasa foundingpartner at Dynasoft Data Systems, a software development companywhose work in photofinishinghad him travelingregularly to Italy before forming hisown software consultancy ChrysalisSystems. He had areputation as an outstanding programmerand wasonce approached by an individual at acompany he hadworkedfor in the past whotold himtheyjust wantedtoshake thehand of theguy whowrote such legendarycode. During his years at Tulane, Bob took partinthe Clarion WritersWorkshop andsaw several of hisscience fiction shortstories published in anthologiesin the1970s. In 2024 oneof hisstories from that time waspublished in Harlan Ellison's long-awaited science fiction collection "Last Dangerous Visions". In hisyoungeryearsBob enjoyed internationaltravel,chess, and computer games, andalways kept up with politics. Bob was previously marriedtoAdelaide Frazier Wissner. He met hissecondwife,Rachel Dreisbach Wissner, through hiswork with engraving system software. Their daughter Zoe Wissner benefited greatly fromhis presence, as he workedfromhome duringher childhood. He remained adedicated dad throughout his life. Bob is survived by his wife Rachel, hisdaughter Zoe, andhis sister Kayla. Thefamilyisgrateful to Ms Barbara Chase for her years of care andfriendship andthanksHospice of Baton Rouge for itshelp in Bob's last days. Bob's last years were difficult dueto health issues, but hiswitty remarks remained amainstay. We willmiss his quirky humor, hisintelligence, hisloyaltyand perseverance.Wemiss you Bob.

Wainwright III, James A. 'Jim'

Mainieri,Rosetta Grace McBee

Vaughn, Carol

Expanding fortified roofsis theone insurance strategy we can all agreeon

Sadly,there’snosilver bulletthat can quickly endthe property insurance crisis that is plaguing south Louisiana, vastly limitingthe availability of homeowners insurance anddriving costs so high that many residents are struggling to afford to live here.

But there is one approach that has widespread support, evenacrossthe oft-warring political factions thatendlessly debate howand whether to regulate insurers,inthe hope they’ll eventually return to offeringoptions and consumerfriendly coverage: encouraging as many homeownersaspossible to put on fortifiedroofs. With the state Department of Insurance collecting applications through the endofthe week foranew roundofgrants to help homeowners make this costly but important upgrade,we once again urge policymakers at thestate and local levelstodoall they can to help as many Louisianans as possible get new fortified roofs

The idea is straightforward. Roofs built to the “fortified” standardhave stronger shinglesthat are attached with atype of nail thatisharder for strong winds to ripout.Roof decks are sealed, and edges are strengthened.

Homes with these roofsare less costly to insure because the roofs are less likely to need replacement after ahurricane— and, just as important —are better able to protect ahome’s structure and contents from the sort of water intrusion that cancreate far more extensive damage.

The hope is that, if enough homeownersina given area make this upgrade, bettercommunity ratings will drive down rates more broadly Lawmakers have declined in recent yearsto require that insurers offer specific discountsfor policyholders with fortified roofs —a decision we hope they’ll revisit —but theDepartment of Insurance publishes alist of discountseach insurer offers. They range from around5%toas much as 50%, in afew cases. But they have passed other policies to help easethe upfrontinvestment, and so have some forward-thinking localities.

Oneexample is anew nonrefundable taxcredit of up to $10,000 toward theexpenseofputting on afortified roof, which took effectearlier this summer And applications are open throughFriday, Sept. 12, for the latest round of 500 $10,000 grants,tobeawarded by lottery.Applicants must meet aset of criteria, including having a homestead exemption at theproperty in question. Eligible homes must be located in Louisiana’sCoastal Zone or in LakeCharles, Sulphur or Westlake.

Detailed information on rules and eligibility is available on the LouisianaDepartment of Insurance’swebsite at ldi.la.gov

We hope to see more of these grants become available in the future, as well as other policy changes that help homeowners upgradetothis new, resilient standard.

As Insurance Commissioner TimTemple put it, “This program is vitalfor protectingour state against severe weather andmaking Louisiana amore attractive place for insurers to do business.”

That’ssomething we can allget behind.

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.

OPINION

Arnessa Garrett is Deputy Editor | OpinionPageEditor.Emailher at arnessa.garrett@theadvocate.com. OUR VIEWS

TO SEND US A LETTER, SCANHERE

Propagandawar is shapingopinion

Gaza.

NEWROSS, Ireland Traveling the world as Ihave this summer exposed not only different opinions aboutmajor issues, but also adifference in how journalists in free countries and propagandistsin unfree ones report them

It’s thesame with “climate change.”

The TV networks interview only those who believe it and no one who hasany contrary opinion and information to support it.“Reporting” one side of an issue is what propagandists do.

Back to Gaza.

Sadly,much of the journalism in free countriesistoo often behaving like propagandists in unfree countries. The result is that people who consume “news” that tends to reflect one point of view now accept that point of view as their own. They reject, sometimes strongly,a different point of view and information thatcounterstheirs.

At the Kennedy Summer School I found this to be true. While an audience was receptive and seemingly appreciative of my appearance, when the time for questions came around things took adifferent turn. One questionwas about Gazaand Israel’s“genocide.” As Iexplained thehistory of Israel and the numerous attemptstoeradicate the Jewishpeople as far back as the events described in theOld Testament bookof Esther,the booing began. They didn’t want to hear it.Their minds had been made up, apparently from watching RTE, BBC, Sky News and reading the liberal Irish Times and The Guardian newspapers.

The recent Israeli attack on abuilding reportedly containing adevice thattracked the movements of Israeli troops resulted in the deaths of several journalistsand others who declared themselves journalists. The media and media organizations condemned the attack. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he “deeply regrets the tragic mishap thatoccurred today at the NasserHospital in Gaza,” adding thatIsrael “valuesthe work of journalists, medical staff, and all civilians” and saying the militarywas conducting a “thorough investigation.”

The media regularly ignore that Hamas hides inside hospitals, schools and other civilian locations so when Israel goes after those targets —even warning people in advancetoget out —civilians are sometimes killed to the propaganda advantage of the terrorists.

Palestinian Media Watch founder Itamar Marcus writes in the Jerusalem Post: “One of the shocking phenomena of the Israel-Hamas war is that all of the journalistsare reporting the same Hamas lies and propaganda so that there’s only one story coming out of

“The foreign media is uniformly blaming Israel for the so-called starvation in Gaza and following Hamas’ propaganda strategy,often broadcasting completely fictitious images. The impact on Israel’simage in the world has been terrible, with polls showing that even American support for Israel is eroding.”

The propaganda war is important because it shapes public opinion. Public opinion is important because it influences governments (except in totalitarian states where polls are rarely taken and only asingular point of view from the dictators is fed to the masses). Iwish Icould have questioned those booing at The Kennedy School. Do they know that Hamas and other terror groups believe they have areligious mandate to eliminate Israel and kill Jews? Can they name the river and the sea that U.S. protesters chant when demonstrating for Hamas and the people in Gaza,suggesting they are on the side of those who seek Israel’seradication? What do they read and watch?

Booing aspeaker is the equivalent of putting both hands over your ears, resulting in aone-dimensional mindset brought to you by aone-sided media that no longer qualifies as journalism Email Cal Thomas at tcaeditors@ tribpub.com

As autumn looms, atimetoreflect

They used to call them the dog days of August,those final days of leisure as summer sprints to itsinevitable end. After Labor Day,news tends to pick up as people return from vacation and kids return to school. Butbefore we launch into therace towardthe holidays and the end of the year, September offers the perfect time to pause and reflect

I’ve been thinking alot about why we do what we do. AndI know that we set out to do alot in the Opinion pages this year to give our readers themostinteresting commentarywecan in print and online. We always get suggestions for new features or columns that you might enjoy.We listen to these, and we also keep an eye out for what other news outlets are doing. As you may have seen this year manynewspapers are pulling back from Opinion content. In apolarized nation, it can be seen as risky to pres-

ent opinions on the news of the day ButOpinion has alwaysbeen one of my favorite sections of the newspaper Ienjoy it when columnists or political cartoonists or letter writers challenge my beliefsor makemethinkofanissue in a new light Online, thereisplenty of commentary to be had. In fact, it seemswelive in an age with an explosion of opinion news. But alot of what’s there can seem more shallow In college, Iloved reading columns in print from the likes of Russell Baker in The New York Times and Charles Krauthammer in The Washington Post. Andinvarious cities I’ve lived in, there have also been great Metro columnists who gave aspin on local issues. ButIliked political and cultural commentary.Iwould clip out some of the best and carry them with me to reread again and again. There’sbeauty in agood argument wellpresented. It’s

not an easy thing to do. Thank goodness now we can read articles on our smartphones and don’t have to carry yellowed bits of paper around. Iknow manyofyou whoread us regularly have that sameinterest in hearing viewsfrom all over.I am certainly glad that this newspaper remains committed to keeping good commentary front and center.Sometimes it’sthe only way to cut through the noise and have alittle funwhen the newsseems so heavy.Wedostrive to vary the mix of viewsthat we publish. We can always do better,however,and welcome your suggestions. Last week was ashort one due to the holiday,soI don’thave the count of letters received foryou. But we will catch up next week. Until then, keep sending your opinions in.

WILLIAMS

Arnessa Garrett

Cal Thomas

COMMENTARY

La.’sIsaacsondoesthe Declarationright

As we approach next year’s 250th anniversaryofthe Declaration of Independence, we should better understand, be grateful for,and celebrate “The Greatest Sentence Ever Written.”

Referring to the Declaration’s famous second sentence, that is the title of asmall bookbyLouisianan Walter Isaacson, due to be released in November but which can be preorderedonline. Isaacson, the former Time editor and CEO of CNN who has written highlyregarded biographiesofLeonardo da Vinci, Ben Franklin and Elon Musk, among others,has now produced this eminently readable tract about the principles that define the United States. In doing so in just 67 spare pages including appendices, Isaacsonhopes to reinspire Americans to acknowledge and take pride in “common rights, common grounds, commontruths, and common aspirations. Democracy depends on this.” For the 35-word sentence that

so mellifluously proclaimsthat all men are created equal with rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, Isaacson parses each locution to give full effect to its significance. The opening“we,”for example,receives twofull pages of discussion of “social contract theory” —somethingseemingly bred in the very bones of those of us over,say,age 60, but which seems largely unfamiliar to plenty of people under, say,40.

Likewise, the phrase “created equal” gets the necessary explanation that the equality refers not to talents or wealthorsuccess butinstead applies “in termsof the political and social rights that arose” from that social contract.

Most fascinating, perhaps, is Isaacson’sexplanation of the oftunderlooked importance of the shiftfrom Thomas Jefferson’s original phrase that the Declaration’struths were “sacred and undeniable” to Franklin’s replacement that thetruths are “self-evident.” In just over two pages, Isaacson deftly illumines thecrucial point of that formulation, taken from the ideas of Scottishphilosopher David Hume,

thattheir truth was inherent in their very nature by “reason and definition” alone. In other words, by the very existence of alegitimatesocial contract itself, the equalityof rights of those who form the contract “as autonomous individuals” —Isaacson’swords, not the Declaration’s—is, as avirtual tautology,assumed as anecessary reality by all parties.By reason, it can be no other way.Or so the Founders asserted.

Finally,Jefferson’sfelicitous phrasing about the “pursuit of happiness” means, according to Isaacson, that“it is your right and your opportunity —toseek fulfillment,meaning, and wellbeing however you personally see fit.”

And of course, there’smore, muchmore, packed intoa quickly digestible verbal repast. Areader only wishes thatIsaacson had expanded his analysis into the first phrase of the Declaration’snext sentence, to further explicatethe seminal notion of “consent of the governed.”

Be thatasitmay,Isaacson’s excellent new pamphlet comes at apropitious time. Many of us

who fondly remember the celebrations and civic education associated with 1976’sbicentennial celebration are greatly disturbed thatnext year’sSemiquincentennial so far seems to be eliciting mostlyshrugs.

It is crucial, we believe, that civics understanding and civil society are imbued with appreciation for the Declaration of Independence’sprinciples.

Without arenewal of these values, we lose two things of utmost importance for the American project. First, we lose even more hope of turning around the poisonous national political atmosphere. Second, we lose the conviction —aconviction once imbued deeply in American souls —that the protection of liberty is thevery reason for law and government to exist.

As it happens, Isaacson is the second prominent New Orleanian this summer to push anational effort to reinvigorate the Declaration’sspirit. Laitram Industry’s Jay Lapeyre, who is chairman of the national CATO Institute, also is promoting aproject for civic education,sponsored by the Free Society Coalition (available via

easy web search), based on the Declaration.

Indeed, this summer CATO President Peter Goettler published aletter asserting, quite rightly,that “we have to be dedicated to this commitment: giving future generations acountry as free as the one given to us. It’s simply the moral responsibility of our lives.”

To that worthy emphasis on freedom, Isaacson adds afocus on the communalnature of freely chosen associations. “Fiercely independent individuals,” he writes, should be “equally fiercely devoted to the community and its commons.”

As Isaacson shows, the Declaration’skey sentence, and indeed the ethos of the entire document, contains within it all of this valuation, both sacred and self-evident, of liberty and community as “two strands …woven together.”

Come on,people: Let’srelearn all this ourselves, and then use it to teach the children well. The Declaration of Independence is the code that they can live by Email Quin Hillyer at quin hillyer@theadvocate.com.

Higginsvs. the‘sorcerers’ whoguard public health

U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins officially removed himself from the House Committee on Homeland Security Committee last week.

Isuspect I’m not the only onewho feels more secure with the LafayetteRepublican gone.

Higgins quit the panel after losing hisbid tobecome its chair,whichwas atruly alarmingpossibilityfor a guy who claimed,withzero evidence, that theJan.6,2021 attack on Congress was the work of FBI agentsin“ghost buses.”

Higgins favors such conspiracies indeed, alist of his weirdclaims would more than fill this column— but he can’t blame hostile Democrats for crashing his candidacy.Republicans control the House, and they went in adifferent directionand chose New York Rep. Andrew Garbarino —a“steady hand,” accordingtoHouse Speaker Mike Johnson of Benton,but someone Higgins claims representsa faction whose “coreprinciplesare quite variant from my own conservativeperspective on key issues like amnesty, ICEoperations, and opposition to the surveillance state.”

This wasn’tHiggins’ only big defeatrecently. He also tried to rally Congress tocensure Democratic U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver, of New Jersey,who’sbeen charged with interfering with immigration enforcement officers during aMay scufflewhen Democratswere trying to conduct oversight of an immigrationdetention facility This time five Republicans crossed the

partylinetojoin Democrats in killing the measure, which called for McIver to be removedfromthe homeland securitypanel. Notably,Garbarino voted “present.”

None of this may sound like it has anythingtodowith theseparate, but just as impassioned, controversy over vaccines, but hear me out

While notraging over immigrants and ghostbuses, Higgins has lately been fulminatingover thevery idea that alocal public health department would advocate for public health.

What inspired his latest crusade seems

to have been aperfectly innocuous, lowtemperature social media post from the healthdepartment of New Orleans, acity far outside his district, noting that the American Academy of Pediatrics strongly recommends COVID-19 shots forchildren six monthstotwo years old, and recommends them for older children as well.

Higgins’totally normal, entirely proportionate response: “State sponsored weakening of the citizenry,absolute injury to our children and calculated decline of fertility.The New Orleans Health Department …whoever thehell they are …should be 100% defunded, along with the American Academy of Pediatrics. Iwill immediately pursue restriction of every federal penny that might make its way to this soon to be writhing band of sorcerers.”

“Whoever the hell they are” is actually a team led byDr. Jennifer Avegno, not asorcerer but anationally lauded emergency room physician who has heldthe job since 2018.

Avegno’sdepartment administers programsthat address everything from maternal healthtodomestic violence, from nutrition to gun violence (in conjunction with public safety agencies). It runs a program offering homehealth visits to identify problems new parents are having and set them on ahealthy course, as well as community clinics and aclinic serving homeless people.

Much of this vital, impactful workis federally funded, to thetune of $30 to $40 million ayear,soHiggins’ threat to shut it down over an informational tweet, while silly,isalso very real.

Andwhile thehealth departmentdoes

not devise its own vaccine policies, it continues to share information about vaccines and pursues policies to ease access —even as Health and Human Service Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.isbusy dismantling the Centers forDisease Control and Prevention’stradition of following the science, as the American AcademyofPediatrics and other major medical organizations continue to do.

After Higgins’sinitial eruption, here’s how Avegno explained the tweet that set it off: “The health department has aresponsibility to provide evidence-based information to our community,and fordecades, the American AcademyofPediatrics has provided evidence-based vaccination recommendations…Wewant to makesure that our community has access to those and is aware of them so that they can have the conversations that they need to have with their doctors.”

That apparently didn’tcalm Higgins down, because now he’sasking his colleagues to “protect our children and adolescents by prohibiting federal funding to state health departments and national associations that promote the COVID-19 shot,” according to aletter he sent last week.

So what does this latest quest have to do with Higgins’ fruitless attempts to impose his will over homeland security and immigration? Hopefully plenty

Because if the people of NewOrleans and those served by all those other health departments out there are lucky,it’ll end up just as they did: dead on arrival.

Email Stephanie Graceatsgrace@ theadvocate.com.

Forfrantic Dems,it’sall aboutthe fight, fight, fight

The Democratic National Committee held its summer meeting in Minneapolis. There was alot to talk about. The party,ofcourse, is sufferingthrough amajor slide in popularity.AWall Street Journal poll afew weeks ago found thatvoters’ approval of the party is its lowest in 35 years. A New York Times reportin August found that, “Of the 30 states that track voter registration by political party,Democrats lost ground to Republicans in every single one betweenthe 2020 and 2024 elections —and often by alot.” Democrats have also shown a knack for getting on the unpopular side ofanumber of issues, like the border and crime. They’re also deeply divided on Israel and Gaza. And they’re in aterrible money crunch; at the end of June, the Democratic NationalCommittee reported about $15 million cash-on-hand, compared to $80 million reported by the RepublicanNational Committee. But even with all that, many

Democrats believethe single greatest problem facing theparty is that they are being too nice to PresidentDonald Trump. If you are aRepublican, youwill find that an astonishing statement. Hasn’t the Democratic Party been bashing Trump 24/7 for nearlythe last decade? Yes, they have. But now many Democratswant their leaders to get really toughwith thepresident “I’m sick andtired of this Democratic Party bringing apencil to aknife fight,” partychairman Ken Martin said at the meeting in Minneapolis.“We cannot be the only party that plays by therules any more. We’ve got to stand up and fight. We’renot going to have ahand tied behindour back anymore.”

Youmight remember that in the course of afew months in 2023, Democratic prosecutors filed 91 felony charges against Trump. Other Democratic law enforcement officials sued him in an effort to destroy his business em-

pire. Others went to court to use the14th Amendment todeclare him ineligible for office. Andthat was after Democrats impeached Trumptwice.

Now,Democratic attorneys general and activist allies have launched an unprecedented wave of legal warfare to stop every Trumppolicy initiative. Democrats want their leaders to fight,fight,fight,even if the cause is ill-advised. That’swhy manyare cheering California Gov.Gavin Newsom’scampaign to set aside stateredistricting law to draw morelikely Democratic House districtstoanswer Texas’s effort. Given the state of red and blue districtsacross thecountry Newsom’sisprobably not agood idea —ifthere is aredistricting war,Republicans have alot more resources than Democrats do. ButNewsom is fighting! No morebringing apencil to aknife fight!Democrats also like that Newsom has taken to posting strange Trumpparodies on his and his office’sX sites. Democrats also like another

partygovernor,JBPritzker of Illinois, whoisfond of calling the president aNazi. Back in February,Pritzker devoted much of an address to the state legislature to denouncing Trump. “Ifyou think I’m overreacting, sounding the alarm too soon, consider this,” Pritzker said. “Ittook the Nazis one month, three weeks, twodays, eight hours and 40 minutes to dismantle aconstitutional republic. Ijust have onequestion —what comes next?”

By Pritzker’slogic, the United States should have been aNazi dictatorship forseveral months by now Fortunately, he was wrong. But he’sfighting! No more bringing a pencil to aknifefight!

It’sentirely understandable that Democrats are frustrated. That happens to parties when they do not control the White House, House or Senate. Shut out of power,the Democrats have no leader —nopresident, no House speaker,noSenate leader.Inthe absence of leadership, the loudest voices in the party,those out

on the fringes, receive the most attention. And that meansmore moderate Democrats, the ones whomight lead their party out of its current mess, do not receive much notice. This is probably not apermanent situation. Despite their multitude of problems, Democrats could be in afar better place by the end of next year.They might wincontrol of one or both houses of Congress. After all, the Republican House majority is incredibly narrow the president’sparty often loses seats, and voters tend to like divided government. So Democrats have achance to improve their situation. But the answer is not filing one morelawsuit, or calling TrumpaNazi one moretime, or posting one more faux-Trumptweet. The question is whether party leaders will realize that before they lose another election.

Byron York is on X, @Bryon York Email him at byronyork@yorkcomm.com

Quin Hillyer

Stephanie Grace

Byron York

ASSOCIATEDPRESS PHOTO By BEN CURTIS U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins, R-Lafayette

Baton Rouge Weather

Rattler’spathtobecomingNFL starterwasn’teasy

Rod Walker

Spencer Rattler was the guy Then all of asudden, he wasn’t.

Now he’sthe guy again maybe temporarily,maybe for the long haul —after earning one of the 32 most coveted jobs in professional sports.

Rattler,draftedbythe New Orleans Saints in the fifth round in 2024, edged

outsecond-round draft pick Tyler

Shoughina photo finish to earn the starting quarterback job It’sthe most high-profile gig in New Orleans,a city that’sbeen starving for the next franchise quarterback ever since Drew Brees walked out the door after the 2020 season.

Jameis Winstonand Derek Carr have

taken theirturns as Week 1starters since No. 9retired.

Now it’sRattler’sturn. Focusedonthe moment

Since being named the starter on Aug. 26, Rattler hasn’thad much of achance to reflect on where his football journey has taken him.

“I’m so focused right nowonthe moment that we are in,”Rattler said. “I’m in thepresent. Youthink of all the stuff I went through in the past, yeah, it’sgreat to get through adversity to get to this point. But now what are you going to do?” That’sthe million-dollar question. What is Rattler going to do? The answer will help define this 2025 season. In aquarterbackdriven league, the Saints will go as far as Rattler takes them. He gets to start answering that question in the noon season opener Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals.

Zavion

LSU

SaturdayatTiger Stadium.

BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer

Garrett Nussmeier dropped back to pass on first and 10. It was his second throw of the night,and seniorwidereceiver Barion Brown was wide open while streaking down theleft sideline. Nussmeiersaw Brown,but hispass waswellshort.The fifth-yearsenior’s underthrow allowedthe ball to deflect off Louisiana Tech defensive back Cedric Woods. The carom was caught by histeammate, Michael Richard, result-

ing in an interception. It was Nussmeier’s first turnover of theyear,but it wasn’tthe only mistake theLSU offense made during its 23-7 win over Louisiana Tech on Saturday night at Tiger Stadium “Wedidn’tcoach well enough and we didn’tplay well enough tonight,and that’snot our standard,” frustrated LSU coach BrianKelly said after the win.“And so they’re disappointed in that they didn’tlive up to that standard.

Brian Kelly didn’tpound the table after Saturday night’s gameagainst LouisianaTech like he did after last season’s opening loss to USCinLas Vegas. LSUdid win, after all, to go to 2-0. Butifyou put the101,000 people here in Tiger Stadium under oath, the vast majority of them would have been forced to admit they didn’tthink that would be thecase.

Butthe LSUcoach sure looked like

he wanted to take abit out of someparticle board furniture after his Tigers’ underwhelming 23-7 victory over the feisty but overmatched Bulldogs. This was astrange game. LSU never truly wasindanger of being upset by the five-plus touchdownunderdogs from Ruston. But the final score won’t impress acollege football nation suddenly agog over LSU after its 17-10

STAFFPHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

widereceiver

Thomas staysinbounds after acatch

defensivebackJhamal Shelby dives to finish the play in the first quarter of their game on

On TV AUTO RACING

6:30 a.m. FIM MotoGP: Monster Energy FS1

7:55 a.m. F1: The Pirelli Italian GP ESPN2

2 p.m. NASCAR: Enjoy Illinois 300 USA

4 p.m. FIM Motocross: MX2 CBSSN

5 p.m. FIM Motocross: MXGP CBSSN

10 p.m. FIMWomen Motocross: MXGP CBSSN CYCLING

9 a.m. UCI: Vuelta a Espana, St. 15 CNBC GOLF

6:30 a.m. DPWT:Amgen Irish Open Golf

noon Ladies ET: Aramco

USF upends Florida on Gramatica’s kick

By The Associated Press

In Gainesville, Florida, Nico

Gramatica hit a 20-yard field goal as time expired and South Florida

stunned No. 13 Florida 18-16 on Saturday to give the Bulls consecutive wins against ranked opponents to start the season

Gramatica missed a 58-yarder with 2:52 remaining but got a chance to redeem himself after Florida defensive lineman Brandon Bett spit at a South Florida player on the Bulls’ next possession. Bett was ejected with a little more than two minutes to play, and the Bulls (2-0) got 15 yards and an automatic first down to spark an 87-yard drive. It was the latest setback for embattled Florida coach Billy Napier whose team is 1-1 for the fourth consecutive year

The Gators looked as though they would rally after freshman Vernell Brown III returned a punt 40 yards to set up DJ Lagway’s lone touchdown pass. But the Gators flopped down the stretch, an all-too-familiar feeling during Napier’s tenure.

The Bulls will break into the AP Top 25 College Football Poll after upsetting then-No 25 Boise State last week. The Gators surely will drop.

No. 1 OHIO STATE 70, GRAMBLING 0: In Columbus, Ohio, Julian Sayin threw for four touchdowns, set an Ohio State record for completed passes to start a game and fell one short of the school record for consecutive completions as the Buckeyes rolled to a victory over Grambling.

Ohio State scored on eight of its first nine possessions and did not punt until midway through the fourth quarter It was the ninth victory in school history by at least 70 points and sixth via shutout. Two of those wins have now come against historically Black colleges or universities. The Buckeyes beat Florida A&M 76-0 in 2013.

No. 2 PENN STATE 34, FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL 0: In State College, Pennsylvania, Drew Allar completed 19 of 33 passes for 200 yards and two touchdowns and Penn State beat Florida International Devonte Ross and Khalil Dinkins caught touchdown passes, Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton ran for scores and Ryan Barker kicked two field goals for the Nittany Lions (2-0), who shook off a sluggish first half and beat their second-straight Group of Five opponent.

Linebacker Tony Rojas made 10 tackles, Alonzo Ford intercepted a pass and Penn State’s defense notched its first shutout since a 56-0 win over Kent State last year

No. 4 GEORGIA 28, AUSTIN PEAY 6: In Athens, Georgia, Georgia failed to gain momentum for next week’s Southeastern Conference opener at Tennessee as the Bulldogs stumbled on offense in a weather-delayed win over Austin Peay Chauncey Bowens and Nate Frazier each ran for two touchdowns. Frazier and wide receiver London Humphreys lost fumbles, but Georgia (2-0) made a fourth-down goal-line stop to set up a 99-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter No. 5 MIAMI 45, BETHUNE COOKMAN 3: In Miami Gardens, Florida, Carson Beck already has found his way into the Miami record book. Beck completed his first 15 passes to break a Miami record,

25 COLLEGE FOOTBALL ROUNDUP

finishing 22 of 24 for 264 yards with two touchdowns as the Hurricanes eased past BethuneCookman Beck’s 15 consecutive completions broke a Miami single-game mark that stood for nearly four decades; Vinny Testaverde completed 14 in a row against Oklahoma in 1986.

CJ Daniels caught both of Beck’s touchdown passes, from 40 and 5 yards out. Beck has gone 185 consecutive passes without an interception, dating to last season when he was with Georgia.

No 6 OREGON 69, OKLAHOMA STATE 3:

In Eugene, Oregon, Dante Moore threw for 266 yards and three touchdowns, freshman Dakorien Moore ran for a score and caught a touchdown pass and Oregon routed Oklahoma State.

The loss was the biggest loss for the Cowboys (1-1) in Mike Gundy’s 20-year tenure as coach.

Ten players scored for Oregon (2-0), which had 631 yards in total offense. The Ducks had two interception returns for touchdowns in the third quarter

On Oregon’s second play of the game, Noah Whittington took off for a 59-yard TD run to give the Ducks a 7-0 lead. It was the longest run of his career No 7 TEXAS 38 SAN JOSE STATE 7: In Austin, Texas, Arch Manning passed for four touchdowns and ran for another and Texas rebounded from a season-opening loss to defeat San Jose State.

Manning was 19 of 30 for 295 yards and one interception in his second game as the starter He scrambled for a 20-yard touchdown run in the third quarter for Texas (1-1).

No. 8 CLEMSON 27, TROY 16: In Clemson, South Carolina, Bryant Wesco Jr caught two second-half touchdown passes from Cade Klubnik, Adam Randall ran for 112 yards and a score, and Clemson survived a scare from Troy, overcoming a 16-point deficit to win

The Tigers (1-1), 30 1/2-point favorites, trailed 16-0 midway through the second quarter and 16-3 at halftime, but outscored the Trojans (1-1) 24-0 after the break. Randall ran for a 1-yard TD to cap an eight-play, 75-yard drive to open the third quarter

No 11 ILLINOIS 45, DUKE 19: In Durham, North Carolina, Luke Altmyer threw for 296 yards and three touchdowns and Illinois capitalized on a series of mistakes by Duke to beat the Blue Devils for a road win against a power-conference opponent.

Kaden Feagin, Hank Beatty and Ca’Lil Valentine ran for scores, while Beatty also had a huge re-

ceiving day with eight catches for 128 yards for the Fighting Illini (20). Illinois led by just one at halftime but asserted itself from there and outscored Duke 31-6 in what turned into a dominating finish.

No. 14 FLORIDA STATE 77, EAST TEXAS

A&M 3: In Tallahassee, Florida, Tommy Castellanos passed for 237 yards and three touchdowns, including two to Duce Robinson, as Florida State routed East Texas A&M.

FSU (2-0) scored on 10 straight drives to open the game and finished with its most points in the Mike Norvell era. The Seminoles’ six passing TDs is their most in a game since 2011. Gavin Sawchuk had three touchdowns, including a 53-yard catchand-run on fourth down that was his first career receiving TD. The Oklahoma transfer also had a pair of 1-yard scoring runs as the Seminoles piled up 361 rushing yards, averaging 7.1 yards per carry No. 18 OKLAHOMA 24, No. 15 MICHIGAN 13: In Norman, Oklahoma, John Mateer ran for two touchdowns and passed for another and Oklahoma defeated Michigan.

Mateer, a transfer from Washington State playing in his first marquee game for the Sooners, passed for 270 yards and ran for 74.

Deion Burks caught seven passes for 101 yards and Jaren Kanak added five catches for 69 yards for the Sooners (2-0), who got a muchneeded signature win for coach Brent Venables. Oklahoma held the Wolverines to 288 total yards. No. 16 IOWA STATE 16, IOWA 13: In Ames, Iowa, Kyle Konrardy kicked a 54-yard field goal with 1:52 left to give Iowa State a win over Iowa, the Cyclones’ second straight victory against their in-state rival and third in four years.

Konrardy kicked a 54-yarder in the final seconds last year to beat the Hawkeyes 20-19. His winning kick this time came after Rocco Becht led the Cyclones on a grinding 55-yard drive that chewed 6 1/2 minutes off the clock. Tamatoa McDonough sacked Mark Gronowski twice on Iowa’s last possession, with the Hawkeyes (1-1) turning the ball over on downs.

BAYLOR 48, No. 17 SMU 45 (OT): In Dallas, Baylor quarterback Sawyer Robertson threw two of his four touchdowns in the final 5 1/2 minutes of regulation and redshirt freshman Connor Hawkins kicked a game-ending 27-yard field goal in the second overtime as the Bears rallied to beat SMU. Robertson was 34-of-50 passing with 440 yards for the Bears (11), who have won 14 meetings in a row against their former Southwest Conference rival since 1986. Bryson Washington ran for 115

Saints release QB Haener to add DE to active roster

The New Orleans Saints won’t have a designated emergency quarterback after releasing Jake Haener to sign rookie defensive end Fadil Diggs from the practice squad, the team announced Saturday New Orleans also elevated tight end Jack Stoll and defensive lineman Jonah Williams from the practice squad ahead of Sunday’s season-opening game against the Arizona Cardinals.

yards and two scores, including a 2-yard TD in the first overtime.

No. 19 TEXAS A&M 44, UTAH STATE 22: In College Station, Texas, Marcel Reed threw three touchdown passes and ran for another score before leaving late in the third quarter with an injury to lead Texas A&M to a victory over Utah State.

Reed threw for 220 yards with TD passes of 34, 12 and eight yards before leaving with about four minutes left in the third quarter after taking an awkward fall and getting hit by a defender He walked off the field after being checked out and spent time in the medical tent before jogging to the locker room.

Texas A&M (2-0) led by 1 late in the first quarter before scoring 23 straight points to take a 30-6 lead into halftime.

No. 21 ALABAMA 73, UL-MONROE 0: In Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Ty Simpson completed a school-record 17 consecutive passes, with three of them going for touchdowns, and Alabama rebounded from a season-opening loss with a drubbing of UL-Monroe.

The Crimson Tide scored on each of their 11 possessions, with 10 touchdowns and a field goal, and held UL-Monroe to 148 total yards. Alabama (1-1), coming off a stunning 31-17 loss at Florida State, finished with seven TD passes despite playing without star wideout Ryan Williams (concussion protocol).

No. 22 TENNESSEE 72, EAST TENNESSEE 17: In Knoxville, Tennessee, Joey Aguilar threw for 288 yards and two touchdowns — all in the first half — to lead Tennessee to romp over East Tennessee State.

The Volunteers (2-0), who tuned up for the Southeastern Conference showdown with No. 4 Georgia next week, got help from Star Thomas with 69 yards rushing and three touchdowns.

No. 23 INDIANA 56, KENNESAW STATE 9:

In Bloomington, Indiana, Fernando Mendoza threw for four touchdowns to lead Indiana to a win over Kennesaw State.

Mendoza, a transfer from University of California, completed 18 of 25 passes for 245 yards. He threw scoring passes of 3, 9 and 20 yards to Elijah Sarratt and an 8-yard strike to E.J. Williams early in the fourth quarter

No. 20 OLE MISS 30, KENTUCKY 23: In Lexington, Kentucky, for the third straight meeting, Kentucky football kept Ole Miss’ normally highoctane offense largely in check.

But unlike the Wildcats’ upset win in Oxford, Miss., a year ago, Saturday’s defensive performance was not enough to overcome a listless offensive showing in a loss to the Rebels.

Kentucky drove inside the Ole Miss 30-yard line twice in the fourth quarter but was stopped on fourth down both times. The second of those drives came with backup Cutter Boley leading the offense after Zach Calzada was sidelined by a shoulder injury Boley was sacked on fourth-and-6 after gaining just 3-yards on an option keeper on third-and-9.

MISSISSIPPI STATE 24, No. 12 ARIZONA

STATE 20: In Starkville, Mississippi, Blake Shapen threw a 58yard touchdown pass to Brenen Thompson with 30 seconds left to lift Mississippi State past Arizona State. The Sun Devils (1-1) scored 20 straight points, taking the lead with 1:38 left on Jesus Gomez’s 18-yard field goal Shapen and the Bulldogs (2-0) countered with the winning five-play, 77-yard drive.

In releasing Haener, the Saints now only have two quarterbacks on the 53-man roster — meaning they won’t be able to take advantage of the NFL’s emergency quarterback rule, which allows for teams to dress an inactive third quarterback and play him if the others became injured. New Orleans seemingly is comfortable with that trade-off after defensive end Chase Young was ruled out with a calf injury

Former Mets manager Johnson dies at age 82

When the winning run scored in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series, the New York Mets melted into a white-and-blue swirl near home plate, celebrating their implausible comeback from the brink of defeat. Right in the middle of all that humanity was Davey Johnson, who had arrived at the mob scene before many of his players. Those 1986 Mets with all their brashness, belligerence and unapologetic brilliance — would not have been the same without their 43-year-old manager Johnson died Friday at age 82. Longtime Mets public relations representative Jay Horwitz said Johnson’s wife, Susan, informed him of his death after a long illness. Johnson was at a hospital in Sarasota, Florida, at the time he passed.

Former LSU tennis player’s team loses U.S. Open final NEW YORK Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos won the U.S. Open men’s doubles championship Saturday for their second Grand Slam title of the season, edging Joe Salisbury and former LSU tennis star Neal Skupski 3-6, 7-6 (4), 7-5. The No. 5-seeded team also won the French Open beating Salisbury and Skupski as well — to give the longtime duo its first two major titles after losing in its first three finals.

Salisbury and Skupski held three match points while leading 5-4 in the third set. But Granollers and Zeballos won the next eight points, eventually getting their only break of the match when Granollers lunged to return Skupski’s serve into an open corner for a 6-5 lead. Granollers then served out the match.

Thomas reclaims WNBA’s assists mark from Clark

Alyssa Thomas had no idea she was closing in on taking back the WNBA’s single-season assist record. She was just focused on trying to help her team win and improve its playoff positioning. She topped Caitlin Clark’s mark of 337 assists set last season, but the Mercury came up short against the Connecticut Sun on Saturday, falling 87-84.

Thomas needed six assists Saturday to reclaim the mark. She got the record-breaking one on a 3-pointer by Kathryn Westbeld in the corner with 4:45 left in the second quarter She finished the game with 10 to give her 342 this season.

“I’ve been fortunate to be surrounded by so many great 3-point shooters so they make my job easy,” Thomas said.

Astros outfielder Meyers returns after two months

The Houston Astros reinstated Jake Meyers from the injured list before Saturday’s game at Texas after the center fielder spent nearly two months sidelined with a calf injury Meyers hasn’t played since July 9, when the aggravation of a strained right calf forced him to leave Houston’s game against Cleveland with the help of a trainer before the first pitch was thrown.

The 29-year-old Meyers is hitting .308 with three home runs and 21 RBIs.

“Adding Jake, his defense and his offensive production he’s been showing this year, it stretches our lineup a little bit more,” Astros manager Joe Espada said.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JOHN RAOUX

South Florida kicker Nico Gramatica kicks a field goal against Florida on Saturday in Gainesville, Fla.

ALABAMA ST. 30, SOUTHERN 7

THREE AND OUT: TOyLOy BROWN’S TOP TAKEAWAyS FROM SOUTHERN’S LOSS

JAGUARS DEFENSIVE LINE BRINGS IT

1

The Jaguars’ front seven looked like the most impressive part of the defense, just like last season.The first play of the game was a sack by linebacker Mike Jones on Alabama State’s Andrew Body. Southern’s edge pressure made Body force throws before he was ready That pressure showed up on third downs and was why the Jaguars kept ASU from getting a touchdown until the 8:57 mark of the third quarter.

PASSING GAME REGRESSES

2

Cam’Ron McCoy is admirably filling in for Jalen Woods, who is in concussion protocol. However, the Jackson State transfer hasn’t been able to replicate his fellow quarterback’s passing acumen.Although a few drops from his tight ends made his stat line look worse, McCoy gave the ball away far too much in his first home game. He was responsible for four turnovers, including two interceptions.

3 NOT THE END OF THE WORLD

No college football team wants to lose its first home game of the season, especially with a fanbase as passionate as Southern’s.While the blowout loss is painful, it isn’t debilitating, especially considering it doesn’t count toward the SWAC standings. Coach Terrence Graves will be as disappointed in the team as if it were a conference game.The team still has time to find its identity.

Turnovers do in Jaguars

BY TOYLOY BROWN III Staff writer

Cam’Ron McCoy’s second start of his Southern career was marred by a pair of mistakes in the third quarter

The dual-threat quarterback

botched a handoff with running back Trey Holly, fumbling the ball and losing it to Alabama State, which converted the turnover into a field goal.

On the first play of Southern’s next drive, McCoy faked a handoff and tucked it in himself for a rush. After gaining a few yards, he was strip-tackled from behind, and the loose ball was recovered again by the Hornets. The Jaguars allowed a touchdown and weren’t able to recover the rest of the way

Those fumbles and two McCoy interceptions played a major role in the Jaguars losing 30-7 on Saturday at A.W Mumford Stadium.

“It’s pretty disappointing you know, that we lost,” Southern wide receiver Cam Jefferson said. “Hats off to Bama State. You know, they’ve got a good football team over there. They just got the upper hand on us today.” Southern (1-2) didn’t reach the end zone until 10:31 left in the third quarter The loss to Alabama State (1-1) will not count toward its Southwestern Athletic Conference record.

“We’ve still got everything in front of us that we want to accomplish, but you know, you want to win every game,” coach Terrence Graves said. Last week in Southern’s win over Mississippi Valley State, Graves’ defense had difficulties containing the scrambles of a dual-threat quarterback.

This week, the Jaguars were keyed in They limited the outof-pocket plays of Alabama State quarterback Andrew Body who had 119 yards rushing and a touchdown last week.

Southern’s defense started on the field, and Mike Jones introduced himself on the first play of the game. The senior linebacker

chased down Body until he got him down with an ankle tackle.

The 12-yard loss on the sack didn’t deter Alabama State gaining a first down, however But on the sixth play of the drive, Alabama State running back Karl Ligon, who spent his freshman year at Southern, fumbled the ball. The ball was recovered by defensive tackle Zak Yassine.

The Jaguars weren’t able to capitalize on the turnover Their first drive of the game ended with an interception by McCoy, his first of the season, on a pass intended for Darren Morris in the end zone.

Alabama State’s offense got its first points from a 37-yard field goal with 1:41 left in the first quarter The Hornets got favorable field position after a 15-yard hands-to-the-face penalty by Ckelby Givens The star defensive end made up for his mistake as he landed the team’s second sack on Body, which resulted in third and 11. The Jaguars only allowed a field goal

Southern’s defense appeared to adjust in the second quarter by showing one high safety more often and loading the box to make running the ball more difficult for the Hornets. Southern’s defense

was sharp and continued getting timely third-down stops throughout the second quarter

One of the stops came after a blitz on third and 3 from the Jaguars’ 43-yard line. The pressure in the backfield forced Body to throw to his wide receiver on a slant pattern, but it was broken up by safety Horacio Johnson.

Southern’s last drive of the second quarter lasted seven minutes and saw a strong blend of Holly carries and some timely passes to Morris and running back Barry Remo for first downs.

However, on third and 6 on the Hornets’ 21-yard line, McCoy threw a pass to Kobe Brown, and it was incomplete.

Southern kicker Nathan Zimmer attempted a 38-yard field goal to tie the game, but it was blocked by Alabama State.

The Hornets progressed 57 yards down the field with 1:14 left in the second quarter and converted a 31-yard field goal, giving them a 6-0 lead entering halftime.

Southern’s first drive of the third quarter was its best of the game, marching 69 yards in 10 plays. McCoy capped it off with a 7-yard touchdown pass on the move to

Southern can take positives from loss

BY TOYLOY BROWN III Staff writer

One word can encapsulate the entirety of Southern football’s 30-7 loss to Alabama State: turnovers.

After having two turnovers in last week’s 34-29 win at Mississippi Valley State, the Jaguars doubled that number of giveaways Saturday night at A.W Mumford Stadium. The issues were glaring and need to be fixed if Southern wants a shot at representing the West Division in the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship game for a second straight season. Even so, the loss doesn’t impact Southern’s title aspirations because the game doesn’t count in the SWAC standings.

Players like senior defensive tackle Zak Yassine said in the postgame news conference that the pain from the loss still hurts.

Coach Terrence Graves, who was equally disappointed, wasn’t compelled to pull away positives from the performance. However, Southern’s performance did have some silver linings.

Defense impressed early

The Jaguars’ defense played exceedingly well to start, holding Alabama State to six firsthalf points on two field goals. They were led by senior defensive end Ckelby Givens, who was a constant presence in the Hornets’ backfield. The Shreveport native had two sacks and three tackles for loss.

The rest of the defense kept Alabama State star quarterback Andrew Body in check in the pocket. Last week, Body ran for 119 yards and a touchdown in a 52-42-point loss to UAB. While he was an efficient passer Saturday, going 16 of 25 for 198 yards and two touchdowns — which largely came in the second half — he had just 16 yards rushing on seven carries.

Defensive end Jerome Wallace and safety Horacio Johnson each had a team-high nine tackles. In the first half, Southern’s defense forced seven third downs of which Alabama State converted only three.

Graves and Yassine said fatigue was a factor in the second half, however

“I mean, you’re going to be tired,” Yassine said. “You’ve got to get back on the field, but you’ve got to overcome difficulties and not let it get to you.” Receiving standout

Cam Jefferson was Southern’s most impressive player on offense a week after having the biggest hustle play with a more than 60-yard chase-down tackle to prevent a fumble returned for a touchdown against Mississippi Valley

Jefferson with three defenders chasing, including a defensive back who left the wide receiver open in the end zone..

After Southern marched 69 yards to score on its first drive of the third quarter, Alabama State responded promptly In three plays, the Hornets scored their first touchdown of the game after a 46-yard rush by Marcus Harris.

The Jaguars’ offense remained out of sync after turnovers from McCoy, who threw a fourth-quarter interception to a receiver in triple coverage. This was the fourth and final turnover “Ball security,” Graves said We’ve worked on it, you know, all this week. We emphasized it. You’ve got to secure the

The sophomore had two catches for 53 yards and a touchdown and the only Jaguars touchdown. His first reception came during Southern’s best offensive stretch, which was the first drive of the third quarter. Jefferson caught a 7-yard touchdown pass to give his team a short-lived 7-6 lead with 10:31 remaining in the third quarter

With less than two minutes left in the third period, quarterback Cam’Ron McCoy found Jefferson again. After the pass traveled about 10 yards in the air, the 5-foot-10 receiver jetted down the left sideline. He made a defender miss and then accelerated past a pair of defensive backs for a 46-yard reception. The longest play of the evening for the Jaguars concluded with a missed field goal.

“I mean, if I’ve got to be the Energizer Bunny, the spark plug, to get the offense going, like I did in the third quarter, you know, that’s OK,” Jefferson said. “If I’ve got to spend my whole night blocking, it’s OK. I’m just here to get a win. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen tonight. But you know in the future, we’ve got a whole lot ahead of us.”

Alabama State safety Keane Lewis intercepts a Cam’Ron McCoy pass intended for Kobe Brown, left, in the end

BY REED DARCEY Staff writer

LSU center Braelin Moore injured his left ankle Saturday on the first play from scrimmage in the Tigers’ home opener against Louisiana Tech

Moore, a Virginia Tech transfer, suffered the injury when his leg was pinned under a pile of tacklers after a carry by running back Caden Durham picked up 3 yards. Once trainers examined the redshirt junior, he walked gingerly off the field under his own power and into the injury tent.

When Moore emerged from the tent, he walked slowly to the locker room to undergo X-rays, according to LSU’s radio broadcast. He was then spotted on the sideline taking practice snaps with his helmet on, but he never reentered the game He watched the second half in street clothes with a walking boot on his left foot

DJ Chester — the redshirt junior who started 13 games at center for LSU last season — took over for Moore Moore was a two-year starter at Virginia Tech. He transferred to LSU in the offseason and quickly emerged as a key member of the Tigers’ top-ranked transfer class.

Coach Brian Kelly said on Aug 25 that LSU pursued Moore after he entered the portal because he’s played a starring role on a powerconference team.

“He’s got that experience,” Kelly said “When you go on the road and you play in an environment like (Clemson’s), you want to bring in veteran guys that bring that composure and leadership and experience, right? Experience is the greatest teacher so that means a lot, clearly and he’ll have a great influence on the offensive line.”

The LSU offense struggled without Moore for most of the first half.

Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier threw an interception on the Tigers’ first drive, then wrapped up the second quarter with only 16 completions on 26 pass attempts for 115 yards.

Green injured

LSU sophomore tight end Trey’Dez Green left Saturday’s game against Louisiana Tech at Tiger Stadium with an apparent right knee injury Green was blocking on a seconddown play early in the fourth quarter when two other players fell on his right leg. He stayed down after the play After briefly being attended to by trainers, Green got to his feet and slowly walked off the field.

He went directly to the injury tent for further evaluation. He emerged with a brace on his right knee and stood on crutches on the sideline.

Green, a 6-foot-7 target from Zachary, caught the game-winning touchdown pass for LSU against Clemson in last week’s season opener

Kelly said both Moore and Green will undergo MRIs soon.

Facing former school

LSU’s two coordinators cut their teeth at Louisiana Tech, the team that visited Tiger Stadium for the first time since 2018 on Saturday.

Joe Sloan, the LSU offensive coordinator, and Blake Baker, the LSU defensive coordinator, had overlapping tenures as assistant coaches for the Bulldogs from 2014-18. Sloan started out as Louisiana Tech’s inside receivers coach, then worked his way up to its offensive coordinator job by 2020.

Baker spent one season as the Bulldogs’ safeties coach. He was promoted to defensive coordinator before the next year and worked in that role until coach Ed Orgeron hired him to his LSU defensive staff in 2021, when the first of his two tenures in Baton Rouge began.

McMakin takes mic

As it faced Louisiana Tech on Saturday, LSU was breaking in a new permanent public address announcer in Tiger Stadium for the first time since 1986. Now the job belongs to state Rep. Dixon McMakin, R-Baton Rouge. LSU hired him in late August to fill the void left by Dan Borné, the longtime PA voice who officially stepped down in July after health issues forced him to miss the entire 2024 football season.

Only three announcers have ever voiced games in Tiger Stadium since 1955. Late WAFB-TV meteorologist Sid Crocker held the job for 30 years (1955-1985) before he passed the microphone to Borné, who took over in 1986 and called games until 2023. Bill Franques — the voice of Alex Box Stadium — filled in for Borne over the years and took over the job on an interim basis during the 2024 season. McMakin also will call LSU men’s basketball games, like Borné has done since the 1980s. LSU has said it plans to honor Borné during a home football game this year

Upset in Gainesville Florida suffered an 18-16 home loss to South Florida a week before it’s scheduled to play a road game in Baton Rouge. The No. 13 Gators (1-1) committed 11 penalties for 103 yards, while allowing the Bulls to pick up 391 total yards. South Florida kicker Nico Gramatica — the son of former NFL kicker Martin Gramatica — converted a game-winning 20yard field goal as time expired in the fourth quarter In Week 1, Florida beat Long Island 55-0. The Bulls defeated Boise State 34-7. No. 8 Clemson — LSU’s Week 1 opponent survived an upset scare from Troy at home and prevailed 27-16.

They want to, they want to do it. They just didn’t do it tonight.”

Dropped passes and penalties slowed a Tigers’ attack that dominated the Bulldogs in time of possession (36:52-23:08) and total yards (366-154).

Redshirt sophomore Kyle Parker dropped a potential touchdown pass in the second quarter. Louisiana Tech had four pass breakups at halftime, mostly on throws that LSU receivers could have handled. On the final drive of the first half, the offensive line gave up a sack that essentially ended the possession. Besides the interception, Nussmeier had multiple uncharacteristic, inaccurate passes that stunted LSU’s efficiency through the air He also took an unnecessary sack in the fourth quarter that forced a longer field goal attempt for fifth-year senior Damian Ramos.

“I don’t know that there’s one guy that you pull out and say, ‘Well, that’s the guy,’ ” Kelly said. “He (Nussmeier) knows he’s got to play better, too. I’ve got to coach better.”

LSU didn’t crack the scoring column until there were 12 seconds left in the first quarter, when Nussmeier found redshirt junior Nic Anderson in the end zone for a 7-yard score. The touchdown finished a 5:37 drive that started at LSU’s 2-yard line. The Tigers added to their lead with a field goal on the next drive, but Parker’s drop prevented LSU from adding six points LSU led 10-0 heading into halftime.

“I feel like (there’s) always something you can get better at,” Brown said. “Not really (any-

thing) we can pinpoint right now, but just getting better overall.” What likely didn’t help LSU’s attack was the absence of senior center Braelin Moore for all but one play The Virginia Tech transfer injured his left leg after the opening snap of the game and was replaced by redshirt sophomore and former starting center DJ Chester Moore had been a key piece of the LSU line throughout its win over Clemson when he won the SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week award. He was in street clothes and had a boot on his left foot in the second half.

“Braelin’s very important,” Brown said “(I’m) hoping he’s good.” Moore wasn’t the only Tiger injured Saturday Sophomore tight end Trey’Dez Green also needed to be helped off the field in the fourth quarter By the end of the night, he had a brace on his right knee and was on crutches. Green had LSU’s first touchdown reception of the season last week against Clemson.

“We’ll get MRIs for both those guys tomorrow,” Kelly said, “and then we’ll know a little bit more.”

As the LSU offense continued

to struggle, its defense dominated Louisiana Tech.

The Bulldogs had just 71 yards and four first downs at halftime LSU didn’t get its first sack until the third quarter, but the Tigers dominated the line of scrimmage and allowed just 50 yards through the air after three quarters. The Bulldogs had no turnovers, but they never had a drive that traveled more than 34 yards before constructing a 13-play, 74yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter That score cut LSU’s lead to 20-7. “At the end of the day, our de-

fense played pretty darn good,” Kelly said.

LSU’s dominance defensively afforded the offense enough time to stretch its lead to three scores late in the third quarter The Tigers found the end zone on a sixplay 33-yard drive that concluded with a 2-yard rushing score from sophomore Caden Durham.

Despite Durham’s touchdown, LSU’s running game struggled on Saturday Durham had 13 carries for just 29 yards after three quarters, and LSU as a whole averaged 2.8 yards per carry until freshman Harlem Berry’s electric 43-yard carry with 3:41 left to play

“It’s individual mistakes It’s scheme mistakes. It’s not seeing the right hole,” Kelly said of the rushing struggles. “From a running game standpoint, (it was) a lack of execution by players and coaches alike. And so there’s not just one thing.”

LSU’s performance running the ball was a reflection of its night on offense — inconsistent. It was exactly the type of performance Kelly didn’t want to see from his unit before Southeastern Conference play begins next Saturday against Florida (6:30 p.m., ABC).

“If I didn’t think we had the players, I’d be in here giving you the coach Kelly spin. I’d give you everything that I could come up with about how great we are,” Kelly said. “We’ve got better players on this roster, and we’ve got to coach them better, and they’ve got to execute, too.

“This is all in on everybody This isn’t just, ‘Well, our coaches stink,’ or ‘Our players stink.’ This is everybody collectively (not living) up to the standard that we have set here.”

Email Koki

STAFF PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

Stadium. Moore

LSU23, LOUISIANATECH7

INCONSISTENT OFFENSE FOR LSU

THE DIFFERENCE IS DEFENSE

THREEAND OUT: SCOTTRABALAIS’ TOPTHREE TAKEAWAySFROMLSU’S HOME OPENER 1

youcould pin LSU scoring only17points at Clemson on atough defense in ahostile environment. But some of LSU’sstruggles followedthe Tigers home Saturday against Louisiana Tech. LSU’srushinggamehad issues throughout the first half. Asidefrom Zavion Thomas’ 48-yard run, the Tigers had 32 yards on 14 carries, including aGarrett Nussmeier sack.Anearly injurytocenter Braelin Moore didn’t help, but it’shardly what wasexpected of theLSU offense this season

2

LSU coach BrianKelly had so much faithinhis defensetoput the clamps on the Bulldogs, he had Aeron Burrell execute asquib kickofffrom the 50 after a15-yard penalty on Louisiana Tech on LSU’s first touchdown play. It’sdownrightstrangetosee after the waythe Tigers defense struggled in recentyears, but all the evidence in LSU’s firsttwo games showsthisunitistremendously improved, despite alate fourth-quartercoveragebustthat alloweda Tech touchdown.

FINAL THOUGHTS

3

LSU neverseemed in real jeopardyagainst Louisiana Tech, but the Tigers took waytoo long to put the five-touchdown underdog away because of alack firepower, particularly on the ground. LSU still will be asizable favorite over Florida next Saturday because of the Gators’ 18-16 upset loss to South Florida in Gainesville. But if LSU wants to become the SEC and CFP contender it suddenly has been projected to be,the Tigers will have to be muchmore productive.

‘PRETTYDARNGOOD’

LSUdefense asilver lining in lackluster win

BY REEDDARCEY Staff writer

LSUedge rusher Patrick Paytonflew into the backfield,forcing Louisiana Tech’squarterbacktostepupinthe pocket. This third-down try—arun deep in Bulldogs’ territory about halfway through the third quarter —didn’t have much of achance Linebackers Whit andWestWeeks made sure of it. The brothers teamed up to drop quarterback Trey Kukukbehind the line of scrimmage, forcing Louisiana Tech into its sixth punt of thegame.

Here’s asentence no one wrote two years ago: LSU is winning games with its defense.

That rebuilt, retooled unit swallowed No. 8Clemson on the road inWeek1, giving theNo. 3Tigers (2-0)a chance to win their first season opener in five seasons.

Then, in Week 2, LSU’sdefense shut down Louisiana Tech —animportant contribution to agame in which its offense struggled to find the end zone. The Tigers won 23-7, but their offense committed aturnover,puntedtwice and settledfor amissed 51-yard field goalall beforeitscored its second touchdown in asloppy performance that frustrated coach Brian Kelly.

“Look, at the end of the day,” Kelly said,“our defense played pretty darn good. They limited it to 58 rushing yards. Imean, that’s areally good effort on the defense’spart. That’sa really good effort.”

The Bulldogs (1-1) could’ve threatened an upset on Saturday But instead, they learned the samelessons Clemson did aweek prior. This LSU defense can play man coverage. It loves to blitz. And it can play stout run defense, thanks to its deep rotation of defensive linemen and its strong, speedy group of linebackers. The offenses it faces better be ready to handle pressure —otherwise, they’ll have trouble moving theball, sustaining drives and scoring touchdowns Against LSU, Louisiana Tech punted on eachofits first eight drives. It finished with 154 totalyards of offense. It never reachedthe red zone, anditaveraged just 2.9 yards per play.The Bull-

RABALAIS

Continued from page1C

upset victory at Clemson toopen the season.

In fact, it sets off warning bells —oratleast triggers as much of an alarm as a2-0 top-10 team can acquire. And an infuriated Kelly —aninfrared image would have shown he was venting aplume of steam from the top of his purple cap —was clanging that bell as much as anyone

“You can tell from my voice that I’m not happy,” Kelly said. “It’sa win, but it isn’twhat we wanted. It’s not the way we wanted to get there.”

Kelly blamed himself and his coaching staff for not getting the Tigers in the right mindset. He blamed his players for not executing.

“I’m telling you from the

LSUlinebacker Harold Perkins reaches for LouisianaTech quarterback Trey Kukukduring aplayinthe second quarter of their game on SaturdayatTiger Stadium

dogs also converted only three of the 13 third downs they faced, in large part becausethey completed only 15 passes.

Kukuk, Louisiana Tech’s starting quarterback, hadthrownfor only 50 yards when he was pulled lateinthe second half. He didn’tget much help from his rushing attack, which averaged ameager2.7 sack-adjusted yards per carry

The LSU defense didn’tyield much ground. It extendeda shutoutstreakto five quarters, then finishedits impressivenight with two sacks, five tackles for loss, five passbreakups and three hurries.

On Saturday, the Tigers needed all of it —orelse they would’ve gone on upset alert against an overmatched opponent from Conference USA

“I don’tknow that we lacked intensity,”

heart,” LSU’sangry Irishman said. “We’ve got to coach better We left some plays outthere. But we’ve got to coach and play together.” Kelly didn’twanttouse the excuse of losingcenter Braelin Moore,the SECOffensive Linemanofthe Week for the way he playedagainst Clemson, to an early ankle injury.Kelly rather ominously said Mooreand tight endTrey’Dez Green (knee) will both undergo MRIs on Sunday, raising theprospect of the first realsignificant injuries to affect theTigers this calendar year

But theoffensiveline, which hasfive different startersfrom 2024, looked like the weakest link enteringthe season on ateam that is obviously loaded withtalent from stem to stern.Finishing with just 17 points and356 yards at Clemson could be written off as a gritty effort against areally good

Kelly said. “It was the execution (that) was not very good, and I’m gonna lean on this again, and I’m telling you from my heart. We gotta coach better.We gotta put our kids in (better) position. We got good players. We gotta do better We gotta do better because they’re good players.”

Thefinaldefensive numbers looked different ayear ago.

In LSU’s2024 Week 2matchup, Nicholls rushed 38 timesfor 178 yards. Its 67-yardrushing scorecut theTigers’ lead to 23-21 after only two minutes had ticked offthe second-halfclock.The LSUoffense —not the defense —saved theday by scoring 19 morepoints before thegame was over This Week 2matchup with Louisiana Tech followed adifferent script.

defense in areally tough place to play This? LSU’sinabilitytoconsistently run theball has crisis potential written all over it. On theface of it, the Tigers’ 34 carries for 128 net yards was not awful. Buttake away a48yard run by utilityplayer Zavion Thomas and a43-yard run by freshman Harlem Berry,that leaves 32 carries for 35 yards. Take away three Garrett Nussmeier sacks for minus-27 yards and minus-1 on the game’sfinal play (takingaknee),and that’s28 carries for 63 yards. That’s 2.25 yards per attempt. And that won’t cut it in the uber-tough SEC.

Onesequence late in the game typified the night.Berry’slong, spinning, brilliant run put LSUat the6.ATech penalty gave the Tigers afirst and goal at the 3. From there, LSU netted 1yard on three carries before Damian Ramos

The only points the LSU defense allowedcame from a33-yard touchdown pass, scored late in the fourth quarter on abusted coverage. The rest of the gamewas littered with plays like the sack that forced Louisiana Tech into itssixth punt. Thanks to that stop, LSU’s ensuing drive started at the Bulldogs’ 33-yard line and ended with a3-yard touchdown plunge by running back Caden Durham

That score was all the Tigers needed to seal the win—and their defense teed it up.

“Wedidn’tcome outthere with the juice we needed to,” West Weeks said. “I don’tknowifitwas ashock to us to be out there, but it didn’treally feel exactly right, andIknowwe’vegot alongway to go.”

kicked a19-yard field goal forthe game’sfinal points. The Tigers should have been able to shove the Bulldogs back into theend zone. Glaringly,they could not.

Once again, the defense was stellar,save one 74-yard Tech drive in the fourth that resulted in its only touchdown —a33yard busted coveragepass from BlakeBaker to Devin Gandy.LSU limited the Bulldogs to 154 total yards (58 net yards rushing) and again looked like the strength of this team.

Butsuch was the bitter nature of this win that even defensive stalwartssuch as linebacker West Weeks wereleft feeling like they were part of amore global letdown.

“Wehave talented guys,” Weeks said. “Wehave great dudes. When we don’tplay up to the standard, it hurts to feel like you let your

brother down. All of us together as awhole know we need to play better.”

It’s worth wondering whether all the emphasis LSU put for months on starting 1-0 against Clemson worked against the Tigers against Tech. This game, sandwiched between Clemson and next week’sSEC opener against Florida (which would love to be coming off an unsavory win over South Florida but instead lost 18-16) had “letdown” written all over it in 60-point type. But the Tigers aren’tlooking forexcuses. They’re looking for answers. There wasanoverreaction to the Clemson win. There will be an overreaction to this winaswell. Ibelieve this LSU team is better than it looked against Louisiana Tech. With the entire eight-game SEC slate still to face, it had better be.

STAFFPHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

THEVARSITYZONE

Runningbacks stealshowinWeek1

BY JACKSON REYES

Staff writer

Week 1proved to be abig week for running backs aroundthe area. On Thursday,the University High duoofsenior SageIngram andjunior Corbin Odell torched Woodlawn on the ground. Ingram led the way with 121 yards on 14 carries and one touchdown.Odell addedtwo more scores and ran for 87 yards on 12 carries in a49-8 win against the Panthers. In Catholic’s 32-23 win against Destrehan,junior runningback

Justin Batiste capped off afourtouchdown day

TwoBaton Rouge area running backs ran for more than 200 yards in Week 1. On Thursday, Ascension Catholic senior Trevin Simon ran for 275 yards on 18 carries, including arush of 80 yards. He added four touchdowns to lift his side past H.L. Bourgeois, 45-40.

Zachary junior runningback Jeremy Patton went for 217 yards on 17 carries with two touchdowns in a 52-28 win againstPlaquemineon Friday night.

Dunham QB shines in win

Tigers quarterback Elijah Haven is the No. 1signal caller in the Classof2027, and he showed why againstParkview Baptist.

Haven picked the Eagles defense apart with five touchdowns in the first halfalone to help lead Dunham to a49-14 victory. The junior QB looks to lead his side back to thestate title game,where it fell to Catholic-NI lastseason.

District 4-5A should be intriguing

Several top teams in the district started the season 1-0 on Friday Central, the defending state champion, opened theseasonwith a20-13 win over De La Salle. The Cavaliers were ranked No.3 in

NOLA.com’stop 10 rankings for 3A and below

TheWildcats offense features a newquarterback,but thedefense returnsseveral key players. Senior safety MarvinJoseph and linebacker Scott Smith workedtokeep De La Salle quiet for most of the evening.

Catholic’s winover Destrehan proved to be abig one, with Destrehanranked No.2inthe District 4A-5A rankings. The Bears

defense,led by seniorsafety Blaine Bradford,forced twofumbles andallowed just 16 points to the Wildcatsoffense. Destrehan’sfirst touchdown came from apick-six. The Bearswere district champs last season and could be set up for atitle defensewith their Week 1 result Zacharyfinished 7-4 last season but looks to get right back in the mix of the district race this season. The Broncos defeated

Plaquemine 52-28 to start 1-0.

The Green Devils were ranked No. 7inthe LWSA preseason poll for District4Aand fourth in The Advocate’sClass 4A-5Aarearankings.

First-year starting quarterback Michael Kirby threw three touchdowns.

Afterleading just 28-20 in thethird, Zachary outscored Plaquemine 24-8 the rest of the way

Southside (0-1)losttoNotre Dame, 35-28, Carencro(1-0) def. St.Thomas More, 30-27, Terrebonne (1-0)def. Riverside Academy,24-13, Ouachita (1-0)def.Captain Shreve, 37-19, BrotherMartin(1-0) def.East Ascension, 29-22, Archbishop Rummel (0-1) lost to Lafayette Christian, 27-26, Jesuit (1-0) def. Jesuit-Dallas, 31-6, St.Paul’s (1-0)def LiveOak,48-13. Class 4A T1.St. Thomas More(0-1) lost to Carencro, 30-27 T1. Franklin Parish (1-0) def. West Jefferson, 52-0

3. E.D.White (0-1)losttoHolyCross, 27-26 4. Archbishop Shaw(0-1) lost to Karr, 35-0

5. Franklinton (1-0)def.Amite, 39-12

6. North DeSoto (1-0)def.Union Parish, 46-3

7. Plaquemine (0-1)losttoZachary,52-28

8. Cecilia (0-1)losttoSt. Martinville,34-29

9. Lakeshore(1-0) def. Fontainebleau, 45-7 10. Lutcher(0-1) lost to Slidell, 30-22 Othersreceivingvotes: Teurlings Catholic (10) def. Opelousas, 48-12, Westgate (1-0) def Lake CharlesPrep, 28-20, Leesville (0-1) lost to SamHouston, 44-35, St.Charles (1-0) def Newman, 36-3, Iowa (1-0)def.Jennings,35-6. Class 3A

1. St. James(1-0) def. East St. John, 49-6 2. Sterlington (1-0) def. Tioga,47-31 3. University(1-0) def. Woodlawn-BR, 49-8 4. Amite (0-1)losttoFranklinton, 39-12

5. Church Point(1-0) def. North Vermilion, 27-14 6. Madison Prep (1-0)def.Dutchtown, 48-41 7. Lake CharlesCollegePrep(0-1) lost to Westgate,28-20 8. JewelSumner(1-0) def. St.Helena, 41-18 9. John F. Kennedy (1-0)def. Scotlandville 19-0 10. Jennings (0-1) lost to Iowa,35-6 Othersreceivingvotes: Bunkie (1-0)def.St. Mary’s, 42-0, Iota (0-1)losttoOpelousas Catholic, 14-7, Jena (1-0) def. Mangham, 6428, Erath (1-0)def.Loreauville, 34-19, Northwest (0-1)losttoEunice, 16-14, L.B.Landry (0-1)losttoWarren Easton, 48-7, Parkview Baptist (0-1)losttoDunham, 49-14 Class 2A T1.Lafayette Christian Academy (1-0)def Archbishop Rummel, 27-26 T1.Dunham (1-0)def. Parkview Baptist 49-14 3. Ouachita Christian (1-0) def.Caldwell Parish, 60-14 4. Catholic-NewIberia(1-0) def.Vermilion Catholic, 20-0 5. Union Parish (0-1) lost to North DeSoto, 46-3 6. Calvary Baptist (1-0)def.Oak Grove, 30-7 7. Newman (0-1)losttoSt. Charles, 36-3 8. NotreDame(1-0) def. Southside,35-28 9. Episcopal-Baton Rouge (0-1)losttoSt. Michael, 41-21

10. South Plaqueminesvs. Higgins, Saturday Othersreceiving votes: OakGrove(0-1) lost to Calvary Baptist,30-7, Kinder (1-0) lost to Welsh,36-32, Mangham (0-1) lost Jena,6448, Lafayette RenaissanceCharter (1-0)def Prairieville, 35-14, Ferriday(1-0) def. Vidalia, 54-12, Loreauville (0-1)losttoErath, 34-18, NorthlakeChristian(0-1) lost to Archbishop Hannan, 14-13. Class 1A 1. Haynesville (1-0)def. North Webster, 38-0 2. Vermilion Catholic (0-1) lost to CatholicNI, 20-0 3. Kentwood (0-1)losttoEastFeliciana, 32-26 4. Covenant Christian (1-0) def.Thomas Jefferson, 28-14 5. Opelousas Catholic (1-0) def.Iota,14-7

Parkway 43, Carroll 13 Peabody 33, LaGrange 10 Pearl River 34, St. Martin’s 20 Pearl River Central, Miss. 34, Pope John Paul 16 Picayune, Miss. 27,Northshore13 Pickering 56, Gueydan 14

U-High running back Corbin Odell, center,bounces off Woodlawn linebacker Jamarion Bass, right, during a runinthe red zone in the second quarter on Thursday.

Sabalenka defeats Anisimova for 2nd consecutive title

BY HOWARD FENDRICH AP tennis writer

NEW YORK

Aryna Sabalenka did not make many mistakes — well, until near the end despite not sacrificing any power, and outplayed Amanda Anisimova for a 6-3, 7-6 (3) victory in the U.S. Open final Saturday, making her the first woman to win the tournament in consecutive years since Serena Williams more than a decade ago.

The No. 1-ranked Sabalenka picked up the fourth Grand Slam title of her career all on hard courts. This was not all smooth sailing, though.

Sabalenka twice led by a break in the second set, and served for the win at 5-4. But at 30-all, so close to the trophy she had a chance to hit an overhead and get to match point. Instead, while backpedaling, Sabalenka put the ball into the net, giving Anisimova a break chance. After that excruciating miss, Sabalenka dropped her racket on the blue court and smiled a rueful smile. A moment later, Anisimova a 24-year-old American converted the break to get to 5-all and shook her left fist while 24,000 or so of her closest friends in Arthur Ashe Stadium rose to applaud and shout.

Ah, but 15 minutes after the flub, Sabalenka was kneeling on the court and covering her face with both hands, coming through on her third match point — which made perfect sense, because she simply doesn’t lose tiebreakers This one made her 21-1 in those this year, winning her last 19.

Not since Williams took three straight titles from 2012-14 had a woman repeated as the champ in New York

The result also meant Sabalenka avoided becoming the first woman to lose three major finals in a single season since Justine Henin in 2006.

“All those tough lessons (were) worth this one,” Sabalenka said. “I’m speechless right now.”

Sabalenka, a 27-year-old from Belarus, was the runner-up to Madison Keys at the Australian Open in January and to Coco Gauff at the French Open. Then, at Wimbledon in July, Sabalenka was eliminated by Anisimova.

That put Anisimova into her first major final, which she lost 6-0, 6-0 to Iga Swiatek But Anisimova put that shutout behind her immediately, well enough to win a rematch against Swiatek in the U.S. Open quarterfinals.

“Losing in two finals in a row is great, but then it’s also super hard,” said Anisimova, who sat and buried her face in a towel after the match was over. “I think I didn’t fight hard enough for my dreams today.”

Sabalenka told her: “I know how much it hurts losing in the finals, but trust me you’re going to win (one). Girl, you’re going to enjoy it even more after these tough losses in the finals.”

Melo says ‘I know what I gave to the game’ in night of memories for ’25 HOF class

BY KYLE HIGHTOWER AP sportswriter

SPRINGFIELD,Mass.— Carmelo Anthony learned tough lessons coming of age playing basketball on playgrounds in Brooklyn and Baltimore. It culminated with him becoming one of the sports’ purest scorers and most decorated players ever Walking onto the stage for his induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday to chants of “Melo! Melo,” Anthony took his place alongside basketball’s immortals.

“Pardon my language, but damn,” Anthony said, tearing up. “Tonight I just don’t step into the Hall of Fame, I carry the echoes of every voice that ever told me I couldn’t. I had to build a new road. I had to write a new ending.”

Anthony was part of a quintet of players who were inducted into the Hall on Saturday as individuals, joining Dwight Howard, Sue Bird, Maya Moore and LSU legend Sylvia Fowles. Together they were part of 11 WNBA or NBA championship teams, captured 15 Olympic gold medals, made 37 AllNBA or All-WNBA appearances and were named as All-Stars 45 times in their careers.

“I never got an NBA ring But I know what I gave to the game,” Anthony said.

Anthony and Howard were dual-enshrinees as members of the 2008 Olympic men’s basketball team that became known as the “Redeem Team,” after winning gold at the Beijing Games that summer after only capturing a bronze at the 2004 Athens Olympics and 2006 FIBA world championships. Howard and Anthony joined 2008 team members Jason Kidd, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and the late Kobe Bryant who were already enshrined as individuals.

This year’s class was rounded out by Chicago Bulls coach and two-time NCAA champion Billy Donovan, Miami Heat managing general partner Micky Arison and longtime NBA referee Danny Crawford.

The inclusion of Bird, Moore and Fowles’ enshrinement marked the first time three WNBA players will enter the Hall of Fame in the same year

Bird said being on the stage Saturday made her appreciate the journey she’d made from

Syosset, New York, predicting in her high school yearbook that she’d one day become a professional soccer or basketball player

“There was no logical place for a kid like me,” she said. Saturday also was a showcase of how interconnected that trio of women were. Bird and Moore with two NCAA titles each at Connecticut. Fowles was also instrumental in the final two of Moore’s four WNBA championships with the Minnesota Lynx. All three played together and won gold medals for the U.S. on the Olympic team.

All the members of Redeem Team were in attendance, with the exception of Kobe Bryant, who passed in 2020.

LeBron James, who was 23 years old in 2008, said the tone for that team was set by the Lakers great.

“We just wanted to get to his level and make him proud,” James said.

Coach Mike Krzyzewski said the mission of that team was clear from the moment the star-laden team was assembled.

“Our goal was to win the gold medal, but also to win the respect of our country again,” said Krzyzewski said. Moore believes her basketball career replete a run of college and WNBA championships and MVP trophies, was simply a prelude to her post-basketball calling: building what she called “championship communities.”

“Now that I’m in the Hall, I believe I have become Auntie Maya,” she said. Moore retired before the 2019 WNBA season to focus on social justice issues and helping overturn the wrongful conviction of her now-husband, Jonathan Irons. She devoted her speech to imploring today’s generation to use their platforms to promote change in their own communities

“Figure out what motivates you every day you get out of bed,” Moore said “I want to challenge you up and comers, every day to seek out joy and connection.”

Howard, one of four players with three Defensive Player of the Year awards, became known for the playful way he expressed himself on the court. He showed all those attributes during a speech that honored the sacrifices of his parents, notably how his mother endured seven miscarriages before delivering him on her eighth attempt.

SAINTS GAMEDAY

FOUR THINGS TO WATCH

CONTAINING KYLER

SPENCER’SCONSISTENCY

Nobodyinthe Dome is undera bigger microscope than Saints QB SpencerRattler,who wonthe training camp battle againstrookieTyler Shough.Rattler startedsix gamesas arookielastseason butwas inconsistent.He’ll haveto be more consistent forthe Saints to havea chance this season.The main keyfor Rattleristakingcareofthe ball.Hethrew five interceptions andalsofumbled five timesin 2024.It’ll also help if he canlead theSaintstotouchdownswhen they getinthe redzone. That wasan issuelastseason.

HANDLE THECHAOS

CANSAINTSSEIZE MOMENT?

If you’vekepttabs on the Saints recently,you alreadyknowhow mobile quarterbacks give them fits.Well, Kyler Murray is one of the most dangerous QBs in the league as far as howhecan beat opponents withboth his armand legs. Murrayrushed for 572 yards (averaging 7.3 yards perrush) last season. If the Saintscan’t containhim, it couldbea very long afternoon. Making the task even morechallenging is the Saintswill be without defensiveend Chase young,who is dealing witha calf injury.

TheCardinals,21stinthe league last season in yardsallowed (342.5), upgraded theirdefense Thebiggest addition wasoutside linebacker Josh Sweat, akey pieceon theEagleslastyear. Arizona’s first five draftpicks were all on defense. TheCardinals like to disguise theirpre-snaplooks andcreateasmuchconfusion as possible.Amustfor Rattleristobe awareofdisruptivesafetyBudda Baker. Saints offensivecoordinator Doug Nussmeierhas spent this week emphasizingthe importance of communication.

1 2 3 4

The Saints are pulling out all of the stops for Kellen Moore’s debut.Theyare wearing gold jerseys for the first time sincethe 2002 season.Theyare evenpainting the end zones gold. LegendaryNew Orleans rapper/ producer MannieFresh is performing at halftime. It’sthe opener,sothisverywellcould be one of the most festive crowds the Saintssee all season. Awin couldhelp seize someearly momentum for aSaints team that hasn’t lost aseason opener since 2018.

“We’ve

The New OrleansSaints’ game against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday will be special for Brandon Staley

The first-year defensive coordinator for the Saints will face his best friend in Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon.

The friendship between Gannon and Staley dates back decades to their formative yearsinnortheast Ohio. Gannon was from Cleveland. Staley was born and raised in Madison, about 35 miles up Interstate 90 along the shores of Lake Erie. As fourth graders, Gannon and Staley played on oppositebasketball teams in aCleveland AAU league.

Staley,then agraduateassistant at Tennessee.

“Ourrelationship started on the court playing against each other,” Staley saidThursday while takinga break from game-planning for the opener.“It’slike, who’sthis guy from thewest side of Cleveland?”

Running in the same AAU circles,Staley and Gannon became friends. Staley’s father,Bruce, coached Staley’s AAU team andeventually tried to lure Gannon to Perry High School, where Staley was thepoint guard.

Gannon elected to stay at parochial power St. Ignatius in Cleveland, where he developed into athree-sport star. He eventually landed ascholarshiptoLouisville, where he startedatsafety as atrue freshman.

Staley playedquarterback at Dayton, anonscholarship program, and nearby Mercyhurst, aNCAA Division II program. Staley andGannonstayed in touch andworked outtogether while home for summer breaks.

The bond strengthened after college, when bothGannon and Staley started coaching. Gannon eventually landed an NFL gig when he followed former Louisville coach Bobby Petrino to the Atlanta Falcons. When his old St.Ignatius teammate TomArth was looking to hire adefensive coordinator at John Carroll College in suburban Cleveland, he called Gannon, who recommended

“I was in Tennessee(with the Titans) at the time anddidn’treally want that job,” Gannontoldthe Pottstown (Pa.) Mercury in 2021. “I wanted to stay in the NFL. Tom said, ‘Well, whowould you hire?’ Isaid BrandonStaley,just because Iknew howpassionate he was and the type of coach that he is, (that) he would do an excellent job for Tom.

“Sometimes, allyou need is you’ve got to knowsomebodytoshow somebody.So Igot him in the door with Tom, and the rest was history.”

The John Carroll job was Staley’sfirst big break. He parlayed that into ajob as the outside linebackers coach on Vic Fangio’sdefensive staff with the Chicago Bears. From there, Staley beganameteoric four-year rise that endedwith him landing the Los Angeles Chargers head coaching job at age 38. Twoyears later, Gannon was named the head coach of the Cardinals.

“We’ve always been extremely close,” Staley said. “Andtosee him go where he’sgone, Imean, he’sdone it the right way. He’sdone it thehardway.Nothing wasever given to him. He earned it, hadtostay really patient. And then he got his opportunities, he knocked them down.”

Gannon and Staley have stayedclose They stood in each other’sweddings. Staley and his wife, Amy, askedGannon to be thegodfather to their third son, Grant. Despite their strongbond, Gannon andStaley never have coached together When Staley got theChargers job in 2021, he tried to hire Gannonashis defensive coordinator,but Gannon opted forthe same gig in Philadelphia, in part

because of the opportunity to call plays. They’ve been on opposing sidelines severaltimes. In Staley’sfirst year as Chargers head coach, he traveled to Philadelphia to playthe Eagleswhen Gannon was in his first year as the defensive coordinator.The Eagles prevailed27-24.

“We’re good friends and we talk,” Gannon said. “I learned alot of ball from him, andhopefully he’slearned some ball fromme.”

Gannon and Staley are part of aproud and close-knit fraternity of northern Ohio natives who have ascended to key roles in the NFL. Among them are Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels; Texans general manager Nick Caserio and pro scouting director DJ Debick; Cardinals assistant Matt Feeney; and Arth, the Steelers quarterbacks coach.

Staley said he and Gannon trade text messages and FaceTimecalls throughout the year.They try to get together as often as possible, but those occasions have becomeinfrequent as their careers and families have grown.

The communication took arespite as the teams prepared fortheir season opener on Sunday.Staley did say the two would connect when Gannon and the Cardinals arrived in townSaturday

“It’ll be special,” Staley said. “He’sa rare guy.Wehave areally special friendship that supersedes any of this (NFL football). We know whowewere way before any of this happened.

“He’slike abrother to you, and now you’re coaching against each other.But as soon as the ball is snapped, it’son.” Email JeffDuncanatjduncan@ theadvocate.com.

Rod Walker

All eyes in the CaesarsSuperdomewill be on Rattler as he becomes just thefourth Saints’ draft pick to start aseason opener,joiningArchie Manning, Bobby Scottand Dave Wilson. None of those previous three won much,and the expectations (at least to those outside of theAirline Drivebuilding) arethe same for Rattler

The oddsmakers in Vegashavethe over/ under for Saints’ winsthis season at 41/2.Alot of those low expectationsare because of a young, inexperienced quarterbackroomled by a24-year-old who went winless in his six starts last season. Those six starts deserve an asterisk, considering the bad hand Rattler wasdealt. If last season was agame of Uno, Rattlerplayed withveryfew Draw Fours and Wild Cards. Center Erik McCoy the heartand soul of the offensive line,missed fiveofRattler’sstarts. Rattler only threw two passestoChris Olave, whose season ended early because of aconcussion, and he played only one game with Rashid Shaheed. Alvin Kamara missed Rattler’slast three games, he liked what he saw when they did play together

“Forthe lack of experience that he does have, he just makes up for it with his demeanor ”Kamara said.“He’svery confident. He’s ahard worker.Hehas kindoflike avet-like presence, like he’s been here before,like he’s done it. Now,he’sgot to do it,obviously.And I think we’ll be able to get outthere andbeable to help him out, make it easy forhim because that’swhat we’re here for.” Afresh start

It’sunderstandable whyRattler saysthis season feels like his real NFL debut. New head coach. New offensivecoordinator. Even new gold jerseys that theteamwill break out Sunday.But none of it will matterifRattler can’tlead the Saints into thosefreshly painted gold end zones.

He threw four touchdowns and fiveinterceptions during arookie season that included asocial media movement called #TheAgenda, apush by avid Rattler fans who wanted to seehim play. Much of that buzz has died down now,but the guy wearing both the No. 2jersey and thechip on his shoulder is eager to prove his fans right

“Yeah, you could say Ihave achip onmy shoulder,” Rattler said. “Ourwhole team has achip, which is awesome. Alot of peopleare sleeping on us, and that’s fine. We want to just do what we can do and control what we can and go out there and prove it.” Rattler has had to prove himself for afew years now.Hemade it all looksoeasy early on, becomingalegend in his hometown of Phoenixasone of the top recruits in the country

Mike Giovando, who became Rattler’squarterback coach when he was 10 or 11 yearsold, isn’tsurprised at his pupil’ssuccess.

“He already had the moxie back then,” Giovando said. “I told him in seventh or eighth grade that Ithought he couldbeanNFL quarterback, and he spoke it into existence, for sure.”

Path setstraight

Prior to his senior year of high school,Rattler was named MVP of The Elite 11, aquarterback competitionfeaturing someofthe best QBsin the country.Hewas so good that Netflix followed him around and featured him in adocumentary called “QB1: Beyond the Lights.” Hisbrashness in the documentaryrubbed some people the wrongway —for example, an episode whenhe predicted “two Heismans” in his future At Pinnacle High School, he set the Arizona passing yards record on his 18th birthday. That’s also around the time he got his first tattooonhis left chest.It’saBible verse (Proverbs3:5-6) that he leaned on during some tough timesahead “Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Don’t lean on your own understanding. Acknowledge him and he’ll set your path straight.”

“That’show Ilive,” Rattler said.“Iunderstand that it’salready written andjust go out there and do your best and trust in Him.” At the time Rattler got tatted,his path couldn’thave seemed straighter. He wasa five-star recruit signed with the University of Oklahoma, aquarterback factory thathad just producedback-to-backHeisman Trophy winners in BakerMayfield andKyler Murray. His bold “two Heisman” prediction didn’tseem too far-fetchedbythe time he took over as the Oklahoma starting quarterback.Heled the Sooners to theBig 12 Conference title,then entered the next season as theHeisman front-runner and projected No.1pick. Path made crooked

Everything changed the following seasonwhen Rattler was benched for Caleb Williams, who eventuallytransferred to Southern Cal, won his own Heisman and went on to be the overall No. 1draft pick by the Chicago Bears.

Saints rookie linebacker

Danny Stutsman was afreshman at Oklahomathat year and has seen Rattler’s evolution since the 2021 season.

“It’snight and day,” Stutsman said. “Spencer’s development as a man and as aplayer has been huge He faced alot of adversity at Oklahoma. Thereweregames when he

was literally getting booed by his home crowd.

That can really just kill your confidence.

“But his mindset really changed when he transferred to SouthCarolina. He really grew He’salways had the talent. Butthat mindset hascompletely changed. Youcan see it now in howheisa leader in this locker room.”

Shane Beamer was an assistant at Oklahoma who became theSouthCarolina head coach andlured Rattler there.

“I saw him during those times of adversity and how he handled it,” Beamer said. “He came here (to SouthCarolina) and just worked hard andbecamealeader.Hewas voted a captain. He didn’tforce his leadership style on anyone.Itwas just being agood person and treating people theright way and working really hard and being consistent.”

An unexpected opportunity

That consistency helped Rattler beat out Shough for thejob. Now he’ll trytokeep it

First-year Saints coach Kellen Moore said Rattler won’thave to look over his shoulder while Shough uses this time to watch and learn. Four months ago, it looked like Rattler would have to watch again. That all changed May10when Carr unexpectedly retired.

“I’ve always had alot of respect for him,”Rattler said of Carr.“He took alot of blame thathe probably shouldn’thave. I’ve got love for him. I knewthat was my opportunity to compete, and I was just excited for the opportunity.”

So Rattler went to workinthe 110-degree weather in Arizona with Giovando. As much as he focused on footwork andthrowing mechanics, there is another aspect of his game he says will be key this season.

“The biggest thingismental toughness and faith, and you let therest takecare of itself,” Rattler said. “I feel like I’ve always been pretty cool, calm and collected. There are times to be fiery.There are times to be cool and calm BeingaQB, you have to bounce back and play with confidence and show no fear.”

Thenextchapter

Dowell Loggains has aRattler jerseyhanging in his office at Appalachian State, where he’s in his first year as head coach. He was quarterbacks coach at South Carolina when Rattler playedthere.Beforethat,Loggains spent 13 seasons in theNFL as an offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, so he knows athing or two about what it takes to succeed in the NFL.

“Spencer’sinstincts and ability to process things quicklyisNFL caliber,”Loggains said. “He’s equipped to do the job he’s been calledtodo. He hasthe elite ability to focusonthe job he needsto do and not worry aboutthe things you can’tcontrol. We live in aworldwhere every oneisgoing to criticize the franchise quarterback.Spencer hasbeen groomed to handle that burden.”

Rattler knows it comes with theterritory The fan base was divided all summer long. Half wanted Rattler to be named the starter andthe others preferred Shough.

“You’re going to see that in every competition around theleague,” Rattler said. “You can’t listen to theoutside noise.”

Rattler is blocking that out and focusing on theguys in thelocker room.

“Weone thousand percent believe in him,” tight end Juwan Johnson said. “Webelieved in himlast year.Wedidn’tsee it in the win column. Butweknew we had something special with this guy.Heknows it.”

Shaheed calls Rattler “a born leader.”

Despite that description, Rattler wasn’t votedateam captain. He’s one of the few quarterbacks in theleague who isn’tateam captain, but he thinkshecan still lead.

“Obviously,Idon’thave as much experience as alot of these guys that are starters,”Rattler said. “But Ican build on that each week. I’m confident on what Ican do, and Ithink we have alot of great pieces where Idon’thave to be Superman.Let thesystem workfor you and you let your guys work for you.”

There was atime when Rattler was indeed Superman.Hewas supposed to be the next big thing.Hestill believes he can be.

That starts Sunday when he faces the Cardinals, theteam based in thesame citywhere Rattler’sjourney began. BeingaWeek 1starter in the NFL is something he’sdreamed about since he was kid.

“I’m just trying to attack it and make the most out of it,” Rattler said. “And makemy story even better.”

EmailRod Walker at rwalker@theadvocate.com.

2024 OFFENSIVE LEADERS

MATTHEWPARAS

SAINTS 20,CARDINALS 19: The Saints areunderdogs,but they have threethingsworking in theirfavor: home field, first-game enthusiasm andthe elementofsurprise. Spencer Rattlerleads theSaintstothe gamewinning fieldgoalona two-minute drive, andthe Saints extend theirNFLbest streak of season-opening wins to seven.

LUKE JOHNSON

CARDINALS20, SAINTS 16: I thinkthe Saintsdefense will be an improvedunit this year,and in Week 1, it gets theadded benefitofthe unknown.The Saints will be feisty enough to keep this game close, but Ijustdon’t have enough faith in the Saints offense to pull out the win. Givethe Cardinals the edgeinthis one.

CARDINALS 26, SAINTS 17: Jonathan Gannon said his track record wasn’t “good” against Kellen Moore, but the former Eagles defensivecoordinator’s lone win over the then-Dallas offensivecoordinator came when the Cowboys were missing Dak Prescott at quarterback.The Saints are also missing Dak Prescott at quarterback.

RODWALKER

SAINTS 17, CARDINALS 16: Chances are, Iwon’t pick theSaintstowin manygames this season. Butwith their recent success in openersand Brandon Staley’snew defense, the Saints figureout away to keep Kyler Murrayincheck. Expect abig game fromAlvin Kamaraasthe Saintsrun their winning streak in openersto seven.

TOP TOPICS FOR WEEK 1

ASSOCIATED PRESS Lions look for division repeat

The Detroit Lions begin their bid for a third straight NFC North title Sunday as they visit the Green Bay Packers in a divisional matchup between two playoff teams from last season Detroit went 15-2 and set a franchise record for wins before losing to the Washington Commanders in the NFC divisional playoffs The Packers fell in the wildcard round to the eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles The Packers are opening at home for the first time since 2018. The Lions swept the Packers last season and have won in each of their past three trips to Green Bay.

Backups key for Falcons, Bucs

STANDINGS, SCORES & SCHEDULE

Two fill-in offensive tackles will be looking to protect their quarterbacks when the Atlanta Falcons open their season against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday in Atlanta Falcons right tackle Elijah Wilkinson is the new starter after Kaleb McGary suffered a season-ending left leg injury late in the preseason Wilkinson will be protecting left-handed quarterback Michael Penix’s blind side Tampa Bay left tackle Charlie Heck will be filling in for injured regular Tristan Wirfs and will try to protect Baker Mayfield against Atlanta’s edge rushers including veteran Leonard Floyd and rookies Jalon Walker and James Pearce.

2 1 3

Bengals look for fast start Joe Burrow and the high-powered Cincinnati Bengals offense look to get off to a fast start when they open the season against the Cleveland Browns Cincinnati has dropped its past three openers and is 7-14-1 under coach Zac Taylor in games played in September. The Bengals swept the season series against the Browns last season for the first time since 2017 Cleveland looks to bounce back after getting only three wins last season Joe Flacco won the four-way quarterback competition, and he is the eighth NFL quarterback who is age 40 or older to start a season-opening game since 1948

Browns ink final unsigned draft pick

GAME OF THE WEEK

Ravens take on Bills to start season

BY JOHN WAWROW AP sportswriter

ORCHARD PARK,N.Y Mark Andrews has chosen to close the book on how Baltimore’s season ended with a thud on a cold, snowy night against the Buffalo Bills.

Seven months since his critical drop sealed a 27-25 loss in the AFC divisional playoffs, the veteran Ravens tight end came to the realization there’s nothing anyone can do to change the past as Baltimore prepares to open this season at Buffalo on Sunday night.

“For me, it’s whoever is in front.

It’s all good,” the eighth-year player said. “It’s an incredible opportunity for this organization, for me, this team and everything we want to do this year to start it off right. So I’m excited about that.” That doesn’t make it any less personal for Andrews following an outing in which the Ravens turned

the ball over three times, including the tight end losing a fumble in the fourth quarter The outcome was decided with 93 seconds left when the usually sure-handed Andrews dropped Lamar Jackson’s pass for what would have been a tying 2-point conversion.

“Yes, of course I’ve watched the game,” Andrews said. “But at the end of the day, this is a new season.”

It’s back to square one for two AFC powers with MVP-caliber quarterbacks that share both Super Bowl aspirations and a history of playing second fiddle to the Kansas City Chiefs. For all their talent, the Ravens over the past eight seasons have reached the AFC championship just once, in 2023 when they lost to Kansas City

It’s hardly different in Buffalo

The Josh Allen-led Bills have won five straight AFC East titles and are 2-0 in the playoffs against the

Ravens, but have been eliminated by the Chiefs in four of the previous five years, including last season in the AFC championship.

For the Bills, the opener represents a fresh start and first step in a familiar climb toward an elusive goal.

“I know this: The season isn’t decided in Week 1,” coach Sean McDermott said. “Good or bad, it’s what you do as a team going forward and how the team comes together.”

Last season provided one example as the Bills rebounded from a 35-10 loss at Baltimore in Week 4 to win when it mattered.

There remain numerous subplots in this marquee matchup, the foremost involving last season’s debate over whether Jackson was more deserving of MVP consideration than Allen, who earned the honor Allen complimented Jackson by referring to him as “one of the best players to touch grass.”

Running back Quinshon Judkins signed his rookie contract with the Cleveland Browns on Saturday but he is not expected to be active for Sunday’s season opener Judkins is the last NFL draft pick who was unsigned. He was a second-round pick and the 36th overall selection in April’s draft. His four-year contract is worth $11.389 million and is fully guaranteed. Judkins missed all of training camp after he was accused of domestic violence in Florida. Prosecutors declined to pursue a case against him on Aug. 14.

Titans, safety Hooker agree to extension

Tennessee safety Amani

Hooker has signed an extension, keeping one of the Titans’ longest-tenured players with the franchise around past this season. The Titans announced the multiyear deal Saturday morning ahead of their season opener at Denver Financial terms were not included. Hooker is going into his seventh season with the Titans, tying him with three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons as the longest continuously tenured players on this roster

Tailback McCaffrey questionable for Niners

San Francisco 49ers star running back Christian McCaffrey is questionable for the season opener after hurting his calf at practice this week.

Coach Kyle Shanahan said McCaffrey got injured during practice on Thursday and wasn’t able to practice with the team at all on Friday He was doing some work on the side during the open portion of practice.

Coach Kyle Shanahan declined to get into any details about McCaffrey other than saying he would be questionable, but McCaffrey said he plans to play Sunday at Seattle.

AP FILE PHOTO By SUE OGROCKI

Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins speaks during a news conference at the team’s rookie minicamp in Berea, Ohio, on May 9.

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By RICK OSENTOSKI

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff drops back to pass against the Tennessee Titans in Detroit on Oct 27.

OUTDOORS

Silver lining forduckhunters

BY JOE MACALUSO

Contributing writer

Good news for duck hunters! This year’sWaterfowl Population Status report will give wild waterfowlers another 60-day seasonnextseason —that’s 2026-2027

After that, well, it’sanybody’sguess.

The status report released last week is also known as the Waterfowl Breeding Count Survey.U.S. and Canadian waterfowlbiologists work on the report from the time ducks migrate back to nesting areas in the Dakotas and easternMontana and the western Canadian provinces.

The results befuddled waterfowl biologists, who were concerned about the noticeable decline in the number of ponds available to breeding ducks during prime nestingand brood-rearing days in May.Adecreasein “May ponds” usuallyleads to lower numbers inthe breeding count survey

Not this time as the count was less than 1% lower than 2024’snumbers —33.98 milliontolast year’s 33.99 million. The pond count is 4.18 million this year compared to 5.159 million last year

The importanceofthese numbers are factors in the U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service’sAdaptive Harvest Management (AHM) plan to set duck seasons.

It’sachart that compares the number of mallardsin the breeding survey to the number of May ponds. Followthose numbersfor the Mississippiand Central

CALENDAR

MONDAY RED STICK FLYFISHERS

MEETING: 7p.m., Regional Branch Library,9200 BluebonnetBlvd., Baton Rouge. Open to the public. Email Brian Roberts:roberts. brian84@gmail.comWebsite: rsff.org

WEDNESDAY

BUGS&BEERS: 6:30 p.m., SkeetaHawkBrewing, 455 N. DorgenoisSt., New Orleans. Flytying.Opento the public. EmailA.J. Rosenbohm: ajrosenbohm@gmail. com. Website: neworleansflyfishers.com

WEDNESDAY-SUNDAY SPORTING CLAYS SOUTH CENTRAL REGIONALS: CoveyRise, Husser. Main Event, Prelim 100, 12-, 20- & 28-gaugesFITASC,Super Sport, 5-stand,12-gauge 50 and 20- &28-gauges 100, .410 bore 100. Email: rhonda. barfield@gmail.com. Website: coveyriselodge com. Call CoveyRise(985) 747-0310.

THURSDAY FRIENDS OF NRA/ACADIANA

BANQUET: 5:30 p.m., River Oaks EventCenter, 520 E. Kaliste Saloom Rd., Lafayette. Call Kendall Comeaux (337) 298-5236. Email: kcomeau10@aol.comSATURDAY

HUNTING SEASONS DOVES: South Zone:through Sept. 21; North Zone: through Sept. 28. Firstof three splits both zones.

The 2025 Waterfowl Surveyconducted by the U.S. Fish &WildlifeService andthe Canadian WildlifeService on traditional midcontinent breeding areas with the top10species and the number of ponds(Prairie Canada & North-Central U.S.) observedinMay andJune comparedto2024survey andpercentagechanges from 2024 and the long-termaverage (LTA,since 1955). Sixother species areincludedinthe totalducks count:

flywaysAHM chart and federal and state waterfowl biologistsand managers determine if hunters will have liberal,moderate or restrictive seasons, even aclosed season.

So this year’smallard count was 6.55 million, down from 2024’s6.609 million.OK, so that’sonly a1% decline, butit’s17% down from average survey count taking in all yearsfrom 1955.

Nothing to worry about there, because 6.5 million mallards and the 4.18 million ponds sends hunters into aliberal 60-day season on the AHM chart. But, here’swhere the worry comes into play. The chart’s“moderate” season comes into play when mallard numbers fall below 6 million andthe ponds count hits 3.25 million And we’re not farfrom that thresholdshould another dry winter and spring occur over the major

Source: U.S. Fish &Wildlife Service

and traditional— breeding grounds.

Thisyear,Louisiana huntershave felt the bite of the AHM chart whenitcomes to theSeptember’sspecial teal season. The decline in bluewing teal numbers dropped the Sept. 20 opener to anine-dayseason, down from the 16-day season of recent years.

And, withbluewing teal numbersdown again in the 2025 survey—down to 4.32 million —the 2026special teal season will continue with anine-day season. This latestbluewign count is the lowestsince 2004.

“When you look at the wetland conditions maps from May,they show it wasvery dry everywhere across the prairie pothole region except eastern South Dakota,”Delta Waterfowl’s top man Frank Rohwer said. “Thebest hunting seasons occur in wet years when the fall flight hasmore young ducks in the migration.

“Ifthere’s good news for southern hunters, it’sthat a lot of gadwalls settled in the eastern Dakotas, and greenwingedteal are abovethe long-termaverage,”Rohwer said.

“Hunters in Louisiana and Texas will still have greenwings and gadwalls.”

It’sgreenwings and gadwalls —“gray ducks” around here —thatmake up most of ahunter’stake in the early “bigduck” season that opens in November

These two are “puddle” ducks. Other species in this group are mallards,wigeon, shovelersand pintails,and the last three in that list increased in this year’scount Wigeon defy the downward trend the most witha survey estimate at 3.19 million showing a9%increase and thehighestnumber since 2016.

“Waterfowl again demonstrated their adaptability to changing waterconditions despiteoveralldry condi-

tions in 2024, as late-nesting species capitalized on spring rains in the prairies and thosethat settled in the Boreal held their own,” Ducks Unlimited lead biologist Steve Adair said. “These flexible breeding strategies and useofcontinental habitat resources in 2024 appear to have contributed to decent production last year,which carried over to asimilar breeding population this spring.”

Scaup, aspecies Louisiana hunters call “dos gris,” also showed asharp decline. These birds, one of the “diving” duck species usually provide hunting opportunityinsoutheastern marshes and open-water areas later in the season.

Fornow,ifduck hunters are praying, thenpray for heavy snow and rain up North in thecoming months

Ourdisabledvets

DuringThursday’smeeting, the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission approved anew regulation allowing disabledveteranstouse “any legal weapon” during primitive firearms season for deer for theupcoming season.

Thefirst(aseven-day period) of two primitive firearms seasons begins Oct. 11 in State Deer areas 3, 7, 8; Oct. 18 in State Deer Area 2; and, Nov.8inState Deer areas 1, 4, 5, 6, 9and 10.

Snappercount

Through Aug. 24, theLA Creel survey estimatefor theprivate recreational redsnapper take is 767,662 pounds or 85.8% of our state’s894,955-pound annual allocation. That’sa one-week increase of 47,535 pounds from the Aug. 17 estimate.

Thenext survey should include theLabor Day weekend, and tell offshore anglershow much of aquota remains intoSeptember and the fall months

TEAL/RAILS/GALLINULES: Sept. 20-28, statewide. DEER/ARCHERY: Sept. 20Jan.15, State DeerAreas 3, 7, 8&10. Either-sextake allowed.

HUNTING LOTTERY SEPT.30—YOUTH WATERFOWL DEADLINE: Forages 10-17 on SherburneWildlife Management Area. Fee $8.50. Applicationwebsite: louisianaoutdoors.com/ lottery-applications. Email David Hayden:dhayden@ wlf.la.gov

AROUND THECORNER

SEPT.16—LAFAYETTE KAYAK FISHING CLUB MEETING: 6p.m., Pack &Paddle, 601 E. Pinhook, Lafayette. Call (337) 232-5854. Website: lafayettekayakfishing.com

SEPT.17—FLIES &FLIGHTS: 7p.m., Rally Cap Brewing, 11212 Pennywood Ave., Baton Rouge.Fly tying. Open to public. Sparetools, materials for novices. Email Chris Williams:thefatfingeredflytyer@gmail.com

SEPT.18—ACADIANAFLY RODDERS PROGRAM: 6p.m., Pack &Paddle, 601 E. Pinhook, Lafayette. Open to public. EmailDarin Lee: cbrsandcdc@gmail.com. Website: acadianaflyrodders.org

SEPT.20—FLYFISHING 101: 9-11 a. m., OrvisShop, BluebonnetBoulevard, Baton Rouge.Fee free. Basics of casting, rigging, fly selection. Equipmentfurnished. Allages, but15-and-younger must be accompanied by an adult. Preregistration required. Call Shop(225) 757-7286.Website: orvis. com/batonrougeflyfishing 101

FISHING/SHRIMPING

SHRIMP: Fall inshore& outside waters open statewide. OPEN RECREATIONAL

SEASONS: Redsnapper, greater amberjack, gray triggerfish, flounder; gag grouper (through Sept. 14), lane, blackfin,queen and silk snappers &wenchmen among othersnapper species;all groupers except closed for goliath &Nassau groupers in state/federal waters. CLOSED SEASONS: Bluefin tuna and goliath &Nassau groupers in state/federal waters. Commercial greater amberjack season ended Sept. 1.

PHOTO By LOUISIANADEPARTMENTOFWILDLIFEAND FISHERIES

A flock of ducks flythroughthe air at the Rockefeller Wildlife Refugeinsouthwest Louisiana on May24, 2018.

ANNUAL DUCKSBREEDINGCOUNT SURVEY

Trustisn’t given.It’searned. Just like athletes on the field, our doctors earn it every day through commitment, precision and passion.Whether you’repushinglimits or recovering from them,you can trustthe team that understandsboth.

From championship athletes to everyday champions, Our Lady of the LakeHealth is wheretrusted carebegins.

LEARN MORE

GarrettNussm LSU,Quarte Kelechi Akamiro Sports Med me rb o, dic ier ack MD ine

LIVING

DannyHeitman AT RANDOM

Confessions of alifelong Louisiana scavenger

Like acat bringing an unlucky bird or mouse to the doorstep, my grown children sometimes like to sharenews about things they find in their adventures out of doors. Luckily,their treasures are more benign thanwhat the proverbial cat drags in. Earlier this summer,they were visiting each other in California when they decided to gather shells from the beach Apicture soon arrived on my smartphone —alovely image of seashellslining abeach towel, creating abanner that cheered me throughout the summer When Iflip through pictures from this anxious year,that snapshot will be akeeper What is it, Iwas moved to wonder,that drives our impulse to gather bright, shiny things? Maybe it’sthe primal hunter-gathererinour genes, a survival tool we’ve continued to carry into our comfortable modern lives.

Ithought about all of this over the summer as Iread the late Penelope Fitzgerald’s reminiscences about foraging for odd little treasures during her British childhood a century ago. It’snosurprise that Fitzgerald’ssharpeye for the glimmering bits and bobs of the rural English landscape would lead her to become a novelist, an occupation where agift for the small detail can be aplus. When the young Fitzgerald was sent out for errands, she’d find time for alittle scavenging, too.

“On the way there and back, across the fields and by the roadside, Ihad my collecting to do,” she tells readers. “Feathers, pheasant feathers in particular,were needed for headdresses. My brother,when he was at home, was awarrior brave,and Iwas Minnehaha. Then there were horseshoe nails, cast horseshoes, snail shells, beechnuts, pignuts, flints, and wayside flowers. When Igot home, everything was laid out on my bedroom windowsill to be counted and recounted, one of the most reassuring activities for asmall child.” Some of us don’toutgrow the scavenging habit, and Icount myself among the tribe.I live afew blocks from my office, so Ioften walk to work, and the things Ifind along theway tend to end up on ashelf above my desk as asmall reminder of life’svariety

“They’re talismans of asort, pointing me toward asimple reality,” Iconfessed in amagazine essay earlier this year

“It’sthe idea that the sheer plenitude of my dailywalks unfolds in their inexhaustible

STAFFPHOTO By ROBIN MILLER

Aselection from GeorgeRodrigue’s‘The BayouCollection’hangssalon-style in the LSUMuseum of Art’sexhibit, ‘A BayouState of Mind,’featuring 80 works by 33 Louisiana affiliatedartists. The showruns through Jan. 4.

Forthe firsttime, collectorloans 40 George Rodrigue pieces forlandmarkexhibit

BY ROBIN MILLER Staff writer

She’sthere, not in thecenter of the crowd but in aspace off to theside withjustenough separation from the others to quietly command attention.

Here,she’s “The Watchdog,” though we know her as BlueDog, inspired by George Rodrigue’swhiteterrierspaniel mix

“This is GeorgeRodrigue’sfirst painting of the Blue Dog, and we have it in this show as part of his ‘The Bayou Collection,’ ”saidMichelle Schulte, LSU

Museum of Art curator

“There are 40 pieces in this collection, and this is the first time they’ve been on exhibit together outside the George Rodrigue Family Trust.”

Aprivate collector,who asked the museum to remain anonymous, bought thecollection and loaned it to themuseum’s exhibit, “A Bayou State of Mind,”featuring 80 works by 33 Louisiana-affiliated artists.

Connectedbybayous

Rodrigue’scollection dominates theshow, filling themaingallery’s walls andsettingthe framework for the story toldbythis exhibit —anarrativeabout thepeople, places, traditions and cultures of

PROVIDED PHOTO By TONy BERNARD GeorgeRodrigue’s1984 painting,‘Watchdog,’ is the artist’s first painting of his iconic Blue Dog.The painting is partof his ‘The BayouCollection,’which is included in the LSU Museum of Art’sexhibit, ‘A BayouState of Mind.

Louisiana, from cities to rural areas connected by bayous.

And though a“bayou state of mind” means something differentto the diverse regions of this state, the bayou is the lifeblood in this show

“Formeand other natives, this is more than an art exhibition,it’s acultural homecoming for many of Louisiana’smostbeloved visionar-

Didthe Choctawpeoplefightalongside

AndrewJackson,

BYMATTHEWHAINES Contributingwriter

ies,” saidMark Tullos, executive director of the LSU Museum of Art.

Theexhibition is about how artists reflect, reminisce andare inspired by Louisiana, accordingto Schulte, and is broken up into three categories —“Urban Experience,” “Rural Memory” and “Water.”

Show features 33 artists

Artists represent different parts of the state, somefrom out-of-state with Louisiana connections.

“We’ve mixedthings up alittle bit,” Schulte said. “The artists who don’tactually live or come from Louisiana just came here for visits

They werewandering through, and they were so inspired by the landscapeand thelandofLouisiana that they reacted upon it.”

And Rodrigue’sworks enhance this showbytelling the storiesof his rural Cajun culture.

Rodrigue was 69 yearsold when he died in Houston in 2013. He was born in NewIberia and often recounted thestory of hissickly childhood, when he was diagnosed with polio and confined to bed.

He often talked about his mom buying himapaint-by-numbers set to alleviate his boredom

Rodrigue always ended the story by noting that he turned the paintby-numbers surfaceface down and began painting on the backside.

Rodrigue eventually recovered

See EXHIBIT, page

Areader recently submitted aquestion that, on the surface, seemssimple enough. They wondered, “Did theChoctaw tribefight alongside Gen. Andrew Jackson in the Battle of New Orleans?” The short answer is yes,but the in-depthresponseisfar more interesting. To understand it fully,we need to look at the years before and afterJackson’sfamed victory The Battle of NewOrleans, which took place in January 1815, was the culminating skirmishinthe larger Warof1812 between theUnited Kingdom, theUnited States and their respective North American allies.

Warbroke out between the countries forseveral reasons. One was that Britain —which wasengaged in the Napoleonic wars with the French —attempted to restrict trade between France and the young United States. The Americans believed this violated international law Asecond practice that upset the

Apollo royalty

George Adam Graves, left as Madyson A. Valentine is the Mystic Krewe of Apollo’s Queen XLIV-Elect and Channing Gauthier is King XLIV-Elect.

New king and queen

The Mystic Krewe of Apollo Baton Rouge hosted its royalty announcement party on Aug. 23 at the Woman’s Club. Presented were King and Queen XLIV-Elect, Channing Gauthier and George Adam Graves as Madyson A Valentine Past royalty of more than 30 years were also recognized during the annual royal walk. The Petty Betty band entertained guests and Best Catered Events handled the food.

Apollo members created parade umbrellas for the silent auction, all designed in the 2026 theme, “Live from the Apollo.” The krewe’s ball will be held on Jan 24 at the Raising Cane’s River Center Ballroom. Tickets are on sale at apollobatonrouge.com/balmasque-xliv

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.

New state Poet Laureate named

FYI BR staff reports

The Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, along with Gov. Jeff Landry, has announced the state’s newest Poet Laureate, Gina Ferrara. As Louisiana Poet Laureate for the next two years, Ferrara will travel the state encouraging fellow Louisianans to explore and engage with poetry The Poet Laureate will be available for public programming, including readings, workshops and lectures, at venues across Louisiana during her tenure. Sites that wish to host the Poet Laureate can find more information at leh.org/our-work/ special-initiatives/louisiana-poetlaureate/. Visit leh.org for more information.

Dine for Nine is Sept. 9

Dine for Nine with the Joe Burrow Foundation on Sept. 9, as participating restaurants are committing 9% of their proceeds on Sept. 9 to help local youth in our communities. Baton Rouge’s participating restaurants are: Edible, Overpass Merchant, Curbside, Stab’s Steak and Seafood, Crafter Nibbles, Buffalo Wild Wings, Supper Club, Gail’s Fine Ice Cream, Marco’s Pizza, Phil’s Oyster Bar and Seafood and The Little Village. Visit joeburrow.org for more information.

Church expands Love Your Neighbor ministry

First United Methodist Church of Baton Rouge is celebrating the arrival of its new Love Your Neighbor van, a larger and more comfortable vehicle that will

Garden

Discovery Series

The Garden Discovery Series hosted a program sponsored by the Baton Rouge Botanic Garden Foundation and the Main Library at Goodwood on Aug. 9. Shown are, from left, Bonnie Abbey, Buck Abbey and John Hough.

enhance its Sunday morning outreach to the unhoused community Every Sunday Love Your Neighbor volunteers prepare and serve breakfast, distribute essential supplies and build relationships with neighbors across Baton Rouge.

The new van provides more space and comfort for volunteers, better storage for the team to carry socks, T-shirts, tennis shows and other much-needed items, and improved climate control with reliable heating and cooling.

The Love Your Neighbor outreach continues to grow, and volunteers are always welcome.

To participate, individuals must be 21 or older, in good physical condition, willing to respect the confidentiality of neighbors and locations and committed to serving when scheduled.

Interested volunteers can sign up at firstmethodist.org. After an orientation and scheduling con-

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Nu Gamma Omega Chapter will introduce 12 debutantes on Sunday during a rites of passage ceremony at Greater King David Baptist Church’s Dr John E. Montgomery II Auditorium. The young women will be formally presented in the spring at a debutante cotillion. This season’s coterie of debutantes are:

n Allyson Marie Atkins, daughter of Steven and Stacey Atkins of Zachary, and a senior at Zachary High School

n Baileigh Elisabeth Bradford, daughter of Carlos and Yashica Bradford of Zachary, and a senior at Zachary High School n Tori Charisse Broussard, daughter of Aaron Wi-

ley of Baldwin and Tamara Murray of Baton Rouge, and a senior at Liberty Magnet High School n Jaycee Alexis Burks, daughter of Allen III and Karen Burks of Baton Rouge, and a senior at Baton Rouge Magnet High School

n Kera Ana’Sharae Chew, daughter of Vangades Chew of Red Oak, Texas, and Tia Chew of Baton Rouge, and a senior at Liberty Magnet High School n Malia Rebecca Dogan, daughter of Malik Dogan and Ebony Ward of Port Allen, and a senior at Port Allen High School

n Promise Grace Fair, daughter of Antonio Fair of Tallulah, and Prefrance Howard Fair of Ponchatoula, and a senior at Ponchatoula High School

n Savannah Grace Fort, daughter of Anthony

Baton Rouge Amateur Radio Club

Members of the Baton Rouge Amateur Radio Club met on Aug. 26 for a presentation given by Paul Catrou on the capability of low-power transmitters reaching people around the world. Gathered are, from left, Jerry Clouatre, Mike Blazek, Joe Roppolo, Jim Giammanco and Catrou.

PROVIDED PHOTO

Magnolia Wood Garden Club

Members of the Magnolia Wood Garden Club held its annual ice cream social at the home of

and

on

from left, Liz Mac, Charles Lapham and Prudence

versation, each volunteer completes three Sunday mornings with the Food Prep Team before serving on the bus.

Everett G. Powers Fund open for applicants

Applications are now open for the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge’s Everett G. Powers Fund for Creativity, an annual $5,000 award supporting innovative projects across the region.

The submission window runs through Oct. 15. Individuals and organizations from East Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, West Feliciana, Iberville, Pointe Coupee, St. Helena, Ascension, Livingston and Tangipahoa parishes can apply

This award celebrates projects that push boundaries, embrace artistic excellence and recognize the power of creativity across all fields — from the arts to educa-

tion, engineering, architecture, the food industry and beyond. Apply online at artsbr.org/everett-gpowers

Save the date for Cat Tales and Cocktails

Cat Haven has announced the date for its annual gala, which helps raise funds for cats and kittens. The organization is looking for items to donate to the live or silent auction. Call Holly or Harriett at (225) 636-2680.

The gala is scheduled for 6 p.m. Nov 1, at The Crowne Plaza, 4728 Constitution Ave., Baton Rouge. The festivities will include live music by Partly Cloudy, a wine pull, costume contest, auction and more. For more information, visit cathaven.org

Email Joy Holden at joy.holden@ theadvocate.com.

PROVIDED PHOTO

PROVIDED PHOTO

Bruce

Joy Hammatt

Aug. 27. Shown are, from left, seated, Matt Blunt, Suzanne Blunt, Bruce Hammatt and Tamara Wittenbrink; standing, Joy Hammatt, Duane Huffty, Trudy Huffty, Heidi Benoit, Frank O’Quinn, Beth O’Quinn, Ken Lavergne and Jeff Wittenbrink.

PROVIDED PHOTO

PROVIDED PHOTO Hall of Fame

On Aug. 20, at the annual volunteer appreciation dinner, the board of directors of the Greater Baton Rouge State Fair awarded three volunteers with membership in the State Fair’s Hall of Fame at Mockler Beverage. Shown are,

Konikoff.

TRAVEL

Take

Lake spanstwo states andmanyactivities

BY ELIZABETHDEAL Staff writer

Visiting Caddo Lake is like drawing back acurtain to find a stunning other world.

The lake spans bothLouisiana andTexas, but to experience the swampiness, you’ll want to be near the city of Uncertain, Texas.

The drive is typical of the northwest Louisiana/East Texas landscape, with blacktop roads andpine trees, dirt roads and country stores.Upon approachingthe water,however,you’re engulfed by the sights and sounds of majestic bald cypress trees covered in hanging Spanish moss, considerable-sized lily pads, wading birds and other wildlife.

One of the best ways to take in the scenery and learn about the lake’shistory is to take a boat tour,which lasts about an hour.There are ahandful of tour operators on the lake. Our guide and captain was Rich McFarland, of Caddo Lake Bayou Tours.

The boat tour can be aday trip, but many people combine avisit to the lake with astay in the historic Jefferson,Texas,because of its shared history and proximity —just a25-minute drive away

Around the area, there’salso Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge, with over 7,000 acres of hiking and bikingtrails,and Caddo Lake State Park, which features camping, canoe rentals and Mill Pond.

Canoes,kayaksand more

McFarland said Caddo Lake is the only naturallake in Texas and has the largest stand of bald cypress trees in the world.

At Caddo Lake, visitors can rentcanoes at the Caddo Lake State Park or canoes and kayaks at Johnson’sRanch Marina, the oldest inland marina in Texas, opened in 1908. McFarland recommends the Turtle ShellPaddling Trail, which is in an area away from fast-moving boats.

TRAVEL TROUBLESHOOTER

By ChristopherElliott

up northand exploreCaddo Lake

On ourpontoon trip, we traveled the Big CypressRiver,along with bayous and channels with interesting names like Hog WallowSwamp, Alligator Bayou, Old Folks Playground and Government Ditch —the most photographed place on the lake. Government Ditch is acanal that was cut through the trees in the 1840s.

“That allowed the big paddle wheel steamboats coming out of New Orleans tocome up the Mississippi, up the Red, right through CaddoLake, and go to Jefferson. That’s what put Jefferson on the map,” McFarland said. “The water was about 5feet higher than it is now.Jefferson wasabig deal because it was the farthest inland pointthat these big boats could get to. If you’ve been to Jefferson, you see it has that New Orleans look about it.”

When the Great Raft on the Red Riverwas removed asecond

time by theUnited States Corps of Engineers in 1873, the water drained from the lakes and bayous that the steamboats were using to travel to andfrom Jefferson.

CaddoLakeafter dark

Beyond sightseeing, Caddo Lakeisa popular spot for fishing, hunting, birding and water sports, too.

Birds found at Caddo Lake include egrets, blue herons, bald eagles, osprey,pileated woodpeckers, kingfishers and migrating birds like the ibis and wood storks.

People can fish for crappie, bass and catfish and hunt for deer, hogs, squirrels and ducks —but thelake does not issue permits to hunt alligators.

I’ve never seen Caddo Lake after dark, but thefilm industry has captured the eeriness of the lake at night in approximately 20

movies over the years, the most recent release being the thriller “Caddo Lake” in 2024.

Onepopular landmark seen in movies is an old fish camp house.

“You’ll see they don’tpaint it because anytimethey makea movie, that’swhat they want it to look like,” McFarland said.

An old sign on the tree next to thehouse reads, “Dick and Charlie’sTea Room House Rules: 1. There ain’tnone 2. There never was none 3. There ain’tgona be none.

People also swim,ski and jet ski in Caddo Lake, McFarland noted, despitethe lake being full of alligators

“You know,tomyknowledge, nobody’sever been eaten,” he said, “so everybody just says, ‘We’regood.’ And just keep doing it.”

McFarland said that the lake is busy withvisitors almost all year, but it’s abit slower in January

and February when the weather is cold. In late October to early November,the trees change colors forfall.

When the water isn’ttoo high, visitors can see thousands of cypress knees —part of the root system of the tree —sticking up out of the water on the side of the trunk.

“That’show they breathe. That’s how they get their oxygen. Lots of people think those are new trees, but they’re not. They’re kind of creepy looking, but they kind of give the lake that mysterious look,” McFarland said.

Wheretoeat

n Caddo Lake Lighthouse Bar and Grill,1805 Blairs Landing Road, Karnack, Texas, is open 7days a week.

n BigPinesLodge,747 Pine Island Road, Karnack, Texas, is known forits fried catfish. The restaurant is accessible by boat or car and open Thursday through Sunday

n Caddo Outpost,144 Cypress Drive, Karnack, Texas, is known forits barbecue sandwiches and convenience store with breakfast and lunch.

n Shady Glade Café,449 Cypress Drive, Uncertain, Texas, is known forits chicken-fried steak. The restaurant offers breakfast and lunch only,open Thursday through Sunday

Wheretostay

n Caddo Shores Cabins, 674 Cypress Drive,Karnack, Texas

n Spatterdock Guest Houses, 126 Mossy Brake Drive, Karnack, Texas

n Caddo Lake State Park has several cabins to stay in, available to view at tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/ caddo-lake/fees-facilities/caddolodging.

n In Jefferson, Texas, there is a wide variety of lodging accommodations, including bed and breakfast sites and vacation rentals. Find moreinformation at visitjeffersontexas.com/places-to-stay

Email Elizabeth Deal at elizabeth.deal@theadvocate. com.

Afterrentaldriverhitsa deer,Hertz ignoresher insurance

Hertz be held accountable fortheir lack of communication and transparency? —Victoria Muenchow,Anchor Point,Alaska

Christopher Elliott

Irented avan from Hertz, and while I wasdriving it, Ihit adeer.I immediatelyreported the accident to Hertz, filedapolice report and submitted aclaim through my Chase credit card, which offers primary collision coverage. Despite my efforts, Hertz failed to provide the necessary documentation for months, causing my claim with Chase to close due to nonresponse.Tenmonths later, Hertz suddenly sent me abill for$5,873, threatening to send me to collections After Chase settled the claim, Hertzdemanded an additional $842 for “diminished value,”but it couldn’tprovide anydocumentation or explanation for this fee. I’ve spent over ayear trying to resolve this, and I’m exhausted. Do Ihavetopay this fee, or can

Hertz should havesent you the necessary documentation, including the accident report, demand letter and itemized repair bill, promptly after the incident. Under most rental agreements, companies are required to act in good faith and provide timely communication, especially when insurance claims are involved.

Hertz’s10-month delay in contacting you is unacceptable and likely violates their own policies for handling claims efficiently Youdid everything right by reporting the accident immediately, filing apolice report and submitting aclaim through Chase. You

also kept meticulous records of theincident and claim

In hindsight, you could have escalated the issue sooner by reaching out to Hertz’sexecutive team or filing aformal complaint with your state’sattorney general. (I publish thenames and numbers of the Hertz customer service executives on my consumer advocacy site, Elliott.org.)

What is diminished value?

Hertzclaims the accident reduced thevehicle’smarket value after you hit thedeer.According to Hertz, even though the repairs may have been flawless, thevan was worth $842 less. Butthere’s just one problem.Hertz didn’t bother to provide any documentation that proved thediminished value. The car rental company’s

inability to furnish documentation or aclear explanation for how it calculated this feeraises questions aboutits legitimacy

Diminished value and its cousin, loss of use, are the two mostcontroversial car rental fees. Loss of use is thetheoretical amount of money the car would have earned if it hadn’tbeen in the repair shop. (Some states have banned loss-of-use fees.) While some rental agreements may include clauses allowing for diminished value claims, it’sunderstood that companies must substantiate such fees with evidence, such as appraisals or market analysis. Hertzdidn’tdothat.

Icontacted Hertz on your behalf.

“Hertzsent me an email apolo-

gizing that everything had taken so long, and said they would waive the diminished value fee as agesture of goodwill,” you reported. “Thank you so much for your help!” This case is areminder of the importance of paperwork —not just theirs, but yours. Thank goodness you kept excellent records of your interactions with the car rental company and the credit card company.Ifyou hadn’tdone that, you might not have had much of acase.

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.

STAFFPHOTO By JILL PICKETT

Sunlight illuminates Spanish moss hanging from branches of bald cypress trees lining Government Ditch in Caddo Lakenear Uncertain, Texas.

Remembering Hays Town and the St. Elizabeth Foundation

BY JAMES A. GEORGE

Contributing writer

How many men can say, after their race is run, that they saved hundreds of lives along the way?

Human Condition

I had the inestimable privilege of counting one such man as a dear friend, one whose life’s work included the creation of St. Elizabeth Foundation, an adoption agency through which 600-plus infants were placed. These adoptions saved the lives of countless babies through the immeasurable love of birth mothers, the love and devotion of the adoptive parents and the creative genius of one man: A Hays Town Jr Town founded St. Elizabeth with his wife Gay in 1988.

This will be my way of saying goodbye to one of the finest gentlemen I have ever known, as Town passed away on July 25 at age 90. To study the life and accomplishments of Hays, his wife, their family and the many positive contributions to the community they leave behind is to marvel at how one family and their friends could have achieved so much through sheer determi-

Seashells collected by Danny Heitman’s grown children line a beach towel in California. Heitman says even in adulthood, he’s a scavenger, too, often finding odd treasures in his daily walks.

AT RANDOM

Continued from page 1D

supply of particulars: the orphaned screwdriver, the huge rubber band, even an unclaimed 20-dollar bill.”

We scavengers tend to find each other too, which is how I ended up comparing notes with Joanna Brichetto, a Nashville author who’s written about her own windfalls from walking city streets.

They include “an extra-heavy hotel spoon sized for coffee,” she writes, “and good as new after a trip through the dishwasher.”

All the more reason, I guess, to keep walking — and keep looking.

Email Danny Heitman at danny@dannyheitman.com

CURIOUS

Continued from page 1D

U.S. was that seamen from the United Kingdom were boarding American vessels and forcing American sailors to join the British war effort.

A third reason — and this one gets to the crux of how Choctaw fighters became involved in this war they called Balbaha Ittibi, or “Foreign-Language-Speaking Battle” — is that the British opposed American expansion into the West by arming certain Indigenous American tribes in the defense of their land. Specifically, they supported Tecumseh the leader of both the Shawnee tribe and an effort to band together several tribes to oppose this American encroachment.

Tecumseh went from tribe to tribe, attempting to convince them to join his pan-Indian alliance, explained Ryan Spring, cultural research associate with the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Historic Preservation Department.

“But, when he eventually found his way to the Choctaws,” Spring said, “things didn’t go as he planned.”

Choosing sides

It was actually 1811 when Tecumseh, along with 20 Shawnee warriors, reached Choctaw lands. Those lands were centered in what is now Mississippi, but extended from parts of Louisiana all the way to Florida.

nation, hard work and inspired leadership. In the law, there is a doctrine known as sui generis, Latin for “constituting a class above,” unique, exceptional. Those who fit that description are few and far between, but if ever there was a person of whom it could be said, “he was truly sui generis,” it was my friend Town. My association with him was through the St. Elizabeth Foundation, but until I started researching his life and times, I had little

EXHIBIT

Continued from page 1D

and attended what was then the University of Southwestern Louisiana, now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

Though the Blue Dog paintings became his trademark, Rodrigue started out painting the landscapes, live oak trees and people of his ancestral home of south Louisiana.

“The collection in this show is based on ghost stories,” Schulte said. “They are a collaboration between George Rodrigue and author Chris Segura to create a book called ‘Bayou’ for the 1984 World’s Fair in New Orleans Chris wrote the ghost stories, and George illustrated them.”

This collaboration gave rise to the painting series.

Different paintings have been part of private collections over the years, but now they are together for the first time.

“Now, a collector from LSU who’s a big museum fan purchased them, and they’re now on long-term loan to us,” Schulte said. “We’re going to travel the collection after this

Jesse Allison’s and Derek Ostrenko’s mixed media sculpture, ‘The Humming Mississippi,’ resonates the sounds of the Mississippi River in the exhibit.

Tecumseh gave impassioned speeches about how the AngloAmericans were stealing native land and that something must be done to stop them. But when the Shawnee leader suggested joining together to fight the American incursions, Choctaw Chief Pushmataha argued that banding against the Americans would lead to the destruction of his tribe, as well as others

The nearby Muscogee “Creek” Nation, however, was feeling the pinch of the United States’ expansion. They decided to join Tecumseh’s alliance and, by 1813, a rift had formed between the tribes preparing for war against the U.S., and those hoping to create an alliance with the Americans. That summer, the Muscogee demanded the Choctaw abandon their village of Fvkitchimponta and — with the help of Britishsupplied weapons began their military campaign against the United States. This was known as the Creek War, and is considered part of the War of 1812.

“Chief Pushmataha watched these events and knew it would be a mistake to fight against the U.S.,” Spring said. “But he also knew it would be impossible to keep his young Choctaw warriors neutral.”

“Fighting in battle is a rite of passage among the Choctaw,” Spring added, “and so Pushmataha felt if his warriors were going to join the fighting one way or another, it had better be on the side of the Americans.”

The Choctaw chief approached the United States, offering to raise

knowledge of the number of ways he so selflessly gave back to the Baton Rouge he loved, a community in which his roots ran deep.

While it may be hard for most to define a single achievement as the most important one, it would be an easy call for the more than 600 young lives Hays’ inspiration has saved over the years since the foundation’s creation.

There is no better brief description of the birth of that noble idea than the following passage from an article in the Baton Rouge

‘A BAYOU STATE OF MIND’

Runs through Jan. 4 at the LSU Museum of Art in the Shaw Center for the Arts, 100 Lafayette St. l Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday,Wednesday, Friday and Saturday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.Thursday and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. l Admission is $5, for age 13 and older; and free for children 12 and younger museum members, students with ID, LSU faculty and staff with ID, educators, and veterans and their families with military ID l The museum also is hosting a free public reception for the exhibit at 6 p.m. Sept. 11 with many of the exhibit’s artists in attendance. l For more information, call (225) 578-3000 or visit lsumoa.org

show comes down, and so that’s really exciting for us to be able to get George Rodrigue outside of the state in this iteration.”

Why? Because most people associated Rodrigue with his iconic Blue Dog, and though that’s accurate, the Blue Dog is really a part of the Acadian world in Rodrigue’s paintings.

Which is why the Blue Dog, or “Watchdog,” as she’s known in this show, isn’t the star but a part of the show Though this blue canine would eventually pave the way for the pop art icon that the Blue Dog has become, this first one is different.

She’s more organic, as much a part of the landscapes as the Acadian figures. She seems to feel at home among the works by other artists artists like Malaika Favorite, whose pieces share the story of her mom hanging clothes on a line.

“So, we talk about water in all kinds of ways in this show, and we

an army to fight alongside them. When Jackson called for the help of his new Choctaw allies in the summer of 1814, nearly 800 warriors, Pushmataha included, volunteered to fight near Pensacola.

The Choctaw-American alliance defeated the Muscogee, freeing the partnership to focus on the wider War of 1812. Specifically of concern were the British, who by December, had amassed 11,000 soldiers in coastal Louisiana. Their objective: Capture the port city of New Orleans and win the war Choctaw join the Battle of N.O

As the Americans mobilized their defenses to meet the British before they reached New Orleans, Pierre Juzan led between 50 and 60 Choctaw from Pensacola toward St. Bernard Parish. Juzan’s family was of French heritage, though he was raised and later worked among the Choctaw in Alabama, making him a logical leader of this Choctaw contingent in the U.S. Army

After arriving in late December 1814, Juzan and the Choctaw warriors took their position at the extreme left side of the American line, abutting the swamp.

“A lot of different groups were necessary in winning the Battle of New Orleans,” Spring explained, “and the Choctaw were an essential part of that.”

On Dec. 28, for example, a large force of British soldiers attacked a force of Tennessee riflemen. The British killed a captain and were doing damage to the Tennessee troops when suddenly they be-

Advocate titled, appropriately enough, “Delivering Silver Linings:”

Dr Richard Tannehill and A. Hays “Sonny” Town Jr were driving home from a retreat at Manresa in the late 1980s, when Town told his friend about an idea he had to start a licensed, nonprofit private adoption agency in Baton Rouge.

“I saw a need,” Town said.

“There were so many young women with unexpected pregnancies who didn’t know what to do. I wanted a way to provide options and help them along the way.”

In May 1988, Town and his wife

Gay founded St. Elizabeth Foundation

As is the case with Dr Tannehill, no account of the history of Town creating the miracle which has become St. Elizabeth Foundation would be complete without noting the invaluable role of Lillie Petit Gallagher, the long-serving first executive director of St. Elizabeth.

In remarks in the above article, Gallagher observed that St. Elizabeth gets very involved and has seen birth mothers complete their education and go on to become

successful citizens and parents.

“We have empowered them,” she said. As for personal reminiscences, Town never failed to call his friends early on Christmas morning. Never He was unfailingly polite and civil, always.

The best way to sum up his grace would be to repeat the three-word phrase he used in signing off of every phone call (although mere printed words could never do them justice).

“Thaaank you, heah!”

He gave us grace. He gave us civility

He gave us charm.

He gave us tranquil patience.

He helped so many and saved so many lives it would be impossible to count them all.

And so, I note my fervent wish that he is hearing us say to him:

“Thaaank you, heah!”

— George is a former Baton Rouge resident now living in Gulf Breeze, Florida

Human Condition submissions of 600 words or fewer may be emailed to features@ theadvocate.com. Stories will be kept on file and publication is not guaranteed. There is no payment for Human Condition.

Mississippi,” resonates unique sonic qualities shaped by the contours of the Mississippi River John T Scott’s prophetic woodcut, “Stop Sign,” depicting devastation in New Orleans’ streets after a storm, which was made before Katrina.

The show was originally slated for last year, but with the 20th anniversary of Katrina, the museum chose to delay it. Meanwhile, in the show’s “Urban Experience” section, Monroebased artist Vitus Shell’s large canvases examine New Orleans’ French Quarter wrought ironwork from a different perspective.

“When people go to New Orleans, they see this wrought iron, and it’s sort of like this Gothic kind of idea of the city,” Schulte said. “People take pictures of it, but from Vitus’ viewpoint, the wrought iron was generally made by enslaved people and integrated into this architecture that’s now celebrated and viewed by tourists, but they don’t really understand the connotations and the background of it.”

talk about water in terms of reminiscence and memory,” Schulte said. “Malaika remembers her mother washing clothes and having this connection with water But then, below these pieces are pieces from her Katrina series, which reflect on her experiences during that.” Rodrigue isn’t alone Rodrigue isn’t alone in rooting art in Louisiana’s landscape and memory Nathalie Miebach’s sculpture, “The Baton Rouge Flooding,” reflects the blue in the blue tarps that covered so many Baton Rouge rooftops after the storm, according to Schulte.

Jesse Allison and Derick Ostrenko’s sonic sculpture, “The Humming

came aware of gunshots coming from behind. Miraculously, it was the Choctaw, who had managed to sneak through the swamp and get behind the British line, inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy

“The Choctaw didn’t fight like European and American armies, which frustrated the British,” Spring said. “The warriors would kill the pickets standing guard and then sneak into camp and do things like quietly assassinate one British soldier in every tent in the middle of the night. That was frightening and destroyed British morale in advance of the main battle.”

When the Battle of New Orleans ended with a decisive American victory on Jan. 8, 1815, the Choctaw probably believed their role would make for a positive relationship with the United States for years to come. Unfortunately, they would soon learn that was not the case.

Preserving history

Less than one year after the battle, the territorial government of Mississippi recognized Pushmataha and the Choctaw for their help in the Creek War. Memories, however, proved short. Within 14 years, the new state of Mississippi terminated Choctaw sovereignty and declared that Choctaw lands belonged to America. By 1830, Andrew Jackson, now the U.S. president, signed the Indian Removal Act, pushing tribes such as the Choctaw — a tribe that answered his call for help less than two decades earlier — out of their ancestral homelands and into Oklahoma territory

Shell’s two images border New Orleans artist James Michalopoulos’ painting, “On a Normal Night,” showing his version of the historical wrought iron.

Like water, migrating through the galleries to get a last look at the first iteration of the Blue Dog is the natural path.

After taking in the bayou-inspired exhibit, reflecting on the Blue Dog’s origins and what she would become in the art world is a reminder of change and Heraclitus’ quote: “No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it is not the same river and he is not the same man.”

Rodrigue’s Blue Dog would never be the same again, either Email Robin Miller at romiller@ theadvocate.com.

“They didn’t even pay Choctaw soldiers for their service in the Army like they promised,” Spring said. “The end of the war and the years that followed were a big turning point for American-Choctaw relations. Jackson needed us until he didn’t.”

Although the U.S. treated Indigenous people terribly in the decades that followed the War of 1812, Spring said he has appreciated how dedicated the National Park Service has been in recent years to ensuring the Choctaw’s important role in the war is remembered.

Annually, for example, Spring and the Choctaw Nation are invited to New Orleans to take part in a wreath-laying and reenactment of the battle. Some years, Choctaw students are asked to educate onlookers about their ancestors’ part in the conflict.

Efforts like this, Spring said, are essential.

“It’s impossible to tell the story of the Choctaw people without mentioning the U.S. just like it is impossible to tell the story of the War of 1812 or of the United States without talking about Choctaw Nation,” he said. “We are allies. Our histories are shared, and it’s important we learn and acknowledge the entirety of that history.”

Do you have a question about something in Louisiana that’s got you curious? Email your question to curiouslouisiana@ theadvocate.com. Include your name, phone number and the city where you live.

PROVIDED PHOTO By DANNy HEITMAN

STAFF PHOTOS By ROBIN MILLER

The original woodblocks used by late New Orleans artist John T. Scott to make his prophetic large prints are included in the LSU Museum of Art’s exhibit, ‘A Bayou State of Mind.’

By The Associated Press

Today is Sunday,Sept. 7, the 250th day of 2025. There are 115 days left in the year

Todayinhistory

On Sept. 7, 1940, Nazi Germany began an intense bombingcampaign of Britain during World WarIIwith an air attack on London; known as The Blitz, the eight-month campaign resulted in more than 40,000civiliandeaths.

Also on this date:

In 1921, the first MissAmerica Pageant was held in Atlantic City, New Jersey In 1943, afire at the Gulf Hotel, arooming house in Houston, claimed 55 lives.

In 1963, the Pro Football Hall of Fame opened in Canton,Ohio, and enshrined its first17members.

In 1977, the Panama Canal Treaty,which called for theU.S. to turn over control of thewaterway to Panama at the end of 1999, was signed in WashingtonbyU.S. President Jimmy Carter andPanamanian leaderOmar Torrijos.

In 1986, Bishop Desmond Tutu was installed as the first Black clergyman to lead the Anglican Church in southern Africa.

In 1996, rapper Tupac Shakur wasshot and mortally wounded on the Las Vegas Strip; he died six days later

In 2005, police and soldiers went house to house in New Orleans to try to coax remaining residents into leaving thecity shattered by Hurricane Katrina.

In 2021, El Salvador becamethe first country in the world to make Bitcoin legal tender

Today’sbirthdays: Jazz musician Sonny Rollins is 95. Singer Gloria Gaynor is 82. Actor Julie Kavner is 75. Rock singer Chrissie Hynde (The Pretenders) is 74. Actor Corbin Bernsen is 71. Actor Michael Emerson is 71. Pianistsinger Michael Feinsteinis69. Singer/songwriter Diane Warren is 69. Actor J. Smith-Cameron is 68. Actor Toby Jones is 59. Actor-comedian Leslie Jones (TV: “Saturday Night Live”) is 58. Actor TomEverett Scott is 55.Actor Shannon Elizabeth is 52. Actor Oliver Hudson is 49. Actor Evan Rachel Wood is 38. Olympic gold medal swimmer Ariarne Titmus is 25. Actor Ian Chen (TV:“Fresh Off the Boat”)is19.

Averypersonaltextgoesastray

Dear Miss Manners: Oneevening, quite late at night, Ireceived a long, impassioned text from a stranger by mistake. In it, he talked about having had a“wonderful few hours” with someoneand hoped to see them again. He also revealed some personal insecurities abouttheir time together that are, obviously,none of my business. I’m aware that sometimes, to avoid the difficulties of beinghonest about how onefeels, aperson may give a phony phone number to someone they do not plan to see again. In this case, it seems Iwas the unluckylotto number

do on the phone?

Or is themortification I’d inflict on this person —since they’d know I’dread their privatemessage —an ethical no-no, and it’sbest just to deletethe textand moveon?

Judith Martin MISS MANNERS

GentleReader: The eternal question is: Would you rather know thetruth, or would you not? Andthe irony is that most people would rather know,but then chicken out when it is their turn to do theactual confrontation.

How can Ihandle this in away that is polite and sparesthe sender anyembarrassment? Is it best to reply to the text right away and tell them, “I’m sorry,but you have the wrong number,” as we

Miss Manners suggeststhat you simply tell theperson that this was thewrong number.Let them draw their own conclusions as to why

There is always thechance that they typed it wrong.

Even though we both know that it is unlikely

Dear Miss Manners: Ihave a

last name that my family has pronounced aparticular way through the generations, and that mostEnglish speakers, looking at the name, pronounce in amore phonetic way.

If somebody asks me how I pronounce it, Itell them, but if somebody goes ahead and pronounces it the phonetic way, Inever correct them —partly because it seemsalittle rude, but mainly because Idon’tcare.

An old friend, though, has learned that she’sbeen mispronouncing my namefor several decades now.She told me Iwas rude not to correct her in the first place andspare her the embarrassmentof“saying it wrong” all these years.

Should Ipreemptively correct people if I’mnot bothered by what they’re saying?

GentleReader: Notcaring is as good and refreshing areason as Miss Manners has heard fornot

being rude.

Still, forthe sake of your friendship, you might tell your friend, “Itnever bothered me and frankly Iamsoused to hearing it the wayyou say it that it didn’toccur to me to correct you. But Icertainly never wanted to be rude or makeyou feel bad. Please forgive me.” In the future, if it comes up otherwise in conversation, of course you may politely tell someone the proper pronunciation. To wit: “The English are so funny about their H’s. It’s actually properly pronounced Shufflebottom,not Shufflebotham,asit’sspelled.”

Sendquestions to Miss Manners at herwebsite, www missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mailtoMiss Manners, Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.

now,and it does work!

Dear Heloise: I’masenior citizen, andI’vehad difficulty moving thescreen pointer on my laptop using the mousepad. The pointer will not budge, or it will slide over the spot where Iwant it to be. Ifound that if Iwrap arubber band around my fingertip, Ihave control of thepointer again. My best friend used this tip to move the pointer on her touch screen, and it worked great for her,too. —Nancy,inBrookville, Ohio

Killingmosquitoes

Dear Heloise: We’ve found away to helpcontrol the mosquitoes aroundour home. There are products that have abacteria calledBacillusthuringiensis (BT for short). It can be put in standing water such as apond or a bucketofwater.The mosquitoes will then be attracted to this waterand lay their eggs there. When the eggs hatch, BT kills the larvae. Because most mos-

quitoes don’tflyvery far from where they are hatched, you can reduce thepopulation of mosquitoes in your area this way.There are also BT productsthat kill tomato hornworms,moth larvae, and other insect larvae. —ElaineF., in Bakersfield, California

Family gift

Dear Heloise: As you pointed out to Frances A., equally important to awill is amedical directive and apower of attorney.Asa CurePSP volunteer,Iamasked about this often because progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is aterminal form of Parkinson’s disease without acure. Itell people that these legal documentsare a“gift”for their family.Your family will be going through avery emotional time if you becomeincapacitated, then again at your death. Not knowing your wishes about “do not resuscitate,” not having aPOA so that bills can be paid, and having no idea what your estate plan wishes are only adds to the emotional burden on one’sfamily.Even the mostreluctant person should not

want the lack of these documents to add to their family’sstress.

AllenN in Farmington, Connecticut

Memory trick

Dear Heloise: Toooften when Ilay down to sleep at night, Ithink of thingsthat need to be done the next day.I don’twant to get out of bed and write them down, so Imake asentence out of those letters andrepeat it afew times. The next morning, Ican usually remember the sentence, which then reminds me of the tasks.

For example: “Empty recycling, add hand soap to grocery list, call Susan.” Areminder sentence might be: “Randy had some soup.” This is easier than remembering awhole list. It might be silly,but it works forme. —Jacque P.,via email

Creative thinking

Dear Heloise: My creative husband suggested to me that when Ican’tremember something, I should go back to where Ifirst thought of it, and this will help my memory.Loand behold, I’ve been using this trick foryears

Ilove your hints! —BarbaraM., in Tucson,Arizona

Barbara, I’ve had several people tell me that they remember things better if they are chewing gum when an idea crosses their mind. Still, others have said that if there is softmusic without lyrics in the background, they can keep anew idea in their mind for amuch longer time. Thanks for your helpful hint! —Heloise Replacethe top

Dear Heloise: Youcan never get the last bit of lotion out of plastic pumpbottles.

So, Isave screw tops from various other bottles. When the pump has done all it can do, Idiscard the pumpand replace it with one of the screw tops. Then Ijust turn the bottle upside down, and eventually Iget every last drop! Ienjoy your column and all of the great tips I have read there.

People stopped to watch as we swiftly zoomed along. Some atthe patio bars in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, waved gleefully,asdid the guys on fishing boats angling by the bridge.

al Southern tone.

Old-time appeal

Maybe this is what it’slike to be a celebrity,Ithought, making people happy simply by passing by Such is the jollity packed into atrain trip along the new Gulf Coast route. It feels like good times are rolling with it.

Ian McNulty WHAT’S COOKING

In August, Amtrak restored a portion of Gulf Coast train service for the first time since Hurricane Katrina, connecting New OrleanstoMobile, Alabama,aboard its merrily-named Mardi Gras Service, making four stops in between

Ibooked atrip for the first weekend of service, both to experience the train and to check out Mobile, where reports of adowntown revival are growing more compelling.

This was an outing built around a loose itinerary of eatingand drinking, and one that broughtplenty of unscripted fun at our destination. But after the train ridetoMobile, what Ifoundmyselfanticipating most wasthe return trip to cap it off The train is comfortable, with lots of leg room and little hassle It’s also ajoyride.

There’sanostalgic romanceto it all, the excitement of big wheels turning and spectacular scenery unspooling as the train traverses acoastal landscape of marshes and channels, cruises over bay bridges, rolls into small townsand barrels on to the next stop.

The train horn bellows,the cars rock as the speed quickens. There’sagiddy energy aboard, like the beginning of an ocean cruise.

Atrip to check out Mobile by car is fine; atrain ride to do thesame is an adventure. Here are highlights of how this one unfolded. Mobile by foot,and cart

One feature of train travel is how stations tend to be in city centers, so when you arrive, it’s easy to take the town by foot.In Mobile, you walk acrossWater Streetand find downtownattractions and amenities unfolding block by block.

We dropped bags at the AdmiralHotel (251 GovernmentSt.), freshly revamped inside from a jazzy renovation that feels like Versailles by way of Vegasand addsits newhigh-end restaurant, Le Moyne’sChophouse. Now it was time to wander Downtown Mobile is easily walkable, but after loggingmany steps in the late summer heat,it was arelief to eventually catch agolf cart “taxi” from MOB City Rides, adding some breezy whimsy to covering the longer legs betweenspots (wave one down or call 251-367-7433).

LowerDauphin to St.Louis Twonodes of downtown activity are Lower Dauphin Street, a clutch of blocks with quirky shops

by dayand acarousing bar scene by night, and St. Louis Street, an industrialstretch wherenew breweries, bakeries andeateries arebringing freshlife. Forget the comparisons to the FrenchQuarter and Magazine Street theysometimesdraw.This is asmaller city with far lesstourism and amuchsmaller dining scene. It’sbesttotake it on itsown terms. We hadablast soaking up the city’sown personality,friendly welcome and refreshingly affordable prices.

Still, coming fromNew Orleans parts of Mobile canfeel like strollingthrough adreamscape, with familiarfacetsfromhome reconfiguredand jumbled up differently

Walking underoverarching oak trees, you’renot surprisedtosee Mardi Gras beads twisted in their branchesorthe sidewalks gone wavyfrom theirroots. There are lovely homesonone block and dilapidatedstructures on thenext. Even some of the street names correspond, moreorless.

Oystersall theways

One top restaurant sits abit outside downtown,but as an oyster hound, it hadtobeonmylist. The Hummingbird WayOyster Bar (351 George St.) is tucked into the

leafy Oakleigh Garden District, adjacent to downtown. Friday lunch was busy withpeople who did not seem destined to return to the office. Wine buckets werereplenished to pair with platters of rawoysters; moreoysters arrivedbroiledcasino style and in asilky-rich stew; and apile of fat crab claws finished withherbs stole the show.

Amuch older Mobile institutionfor oysters, Wintzell’sOyster House (605 Dauphin St.) has the quirkiness of aroadside attraction in its decor and afamily-friendly vibe, with oysters served raw or very thoroughly cooked all the ways

LowerDauphin,and lowerstill

Back closer to the river, thefirst block of Dauphin Street starts withacollection of fun stops expressing the moremodern(and less-divey) downtown Mobile scene.

The hopping restaurant Squid Ink Eclectic Eatsand Drinks (102 Dauphin St.) is acrossthe street from the Haberdasher (113 Dauphin St.), known for cocktails and whiskey in particular.Its sister bar upstairs, the Hatch, has aseafaring theme andabalcony Next door,there’sa pair of cute vintage shops, Soul Kiss Vintage

(109 Dauphin St.) and Mobile’s House of Vintage (105 Dauphin St.), with offbeatfinds.

Justaround the corner,inthe basement of the Trustmark office tower,Las Floriditas (107 St. Francis St.) is aCuban-inspired bar thatleans heavy into its speakeasy theme. Fromthe echoing lobby, you descend astaircase to find asliding bookcase revealing the bar,but only if you have the day’s password (accessible via the bar’s social media accounts). There’sa cool, subterranean respite to the hot streets that feels deeply hidden.

While you’re exploring, duck into the venerable Battle House Hotel (26 N. Royal St.) across the street to gaze at the grand rotunda in the lobby Farm to tableatNoble South Dinner at Noble South (203 Dauphin St.) was acheck-in with an upscale casual restaurant that’s been contributing to downtown’s glow-up formore than adecade. There’sa farm-to-table ethos on themenu, acasual approach in arepurposed old building under soaring ceilings, and awine list that goes beyond the expected.

Country ham with johnny cakes and pimento cheese and shrimp and grits with crab set the region-

Before the bars get rocking, there are moments of old Americana charm to be found downtownbetween A&M Peanut Shop (209 Dauphin St.), which dates to the 1940s and is filled with the clatter and aroma of an evenolder roaster at work, and, steps away,Three Georges Candy (226 Dauphin St.) with asoda fountain worthy of the Smithsonian.

At the Haunted Book Shop (9 S. Joachim St.), you can browse aspooky inventory while being stalked by the house cat.

Cheese andbeer

St. Louis Street attractions are spread further apart than the Dauphin clusters, and those MOB City Rides carts comeinhandy here.

Ialways like visiting groceries as atourist, and the downtown outpost of local chain Greer’s(260 St. Louis St.) has asunny rooftop patio, where youcan take deli food, wine or even draft beers from the grocery’sown cafe.

Nearby,Dropout Bakery &Co. (358 St. Louis St.) is one of those pandemic passion project pivots that has blown up on social media. If you arrive after noon like we did, there maybeslim pickings, but an expansion with acoffee bar is underway to up the amenities. After afew blocks of industrial buildings and parking lots, the Cheese Cottage (650 St. Louis St.) looks strikingly like it dropped out of the sky from aBavarian village, with its high-peaked roof and trellis vines.

It’s apatio restaurant for thickly-stacked sandwiches and hugely-portioned cheese boards that pack enough forabridal party,none of it terribly fancy,but a good value (as is the wine list). Next door,what was called Wingman Brewing has anew name, Fairhope Brewing Co. (656 St. Louis St.), aterrific taproom from the samepeople, and an extension of the company based just downthe bay.It’sone of several taproomsthat could form their own beer tasting tour alone.

The Gulf Coast train revival even reached the Fairhope taps, with one beer on special named Take the Railway IPA.

Homeward bound

Mobile does not have atrain station per se, just aplatform and aparking lot. But on atip from our golf cart driver,welearned that the Renaissance Mobile Riverview Plaza Hotel (64 Water St.) has alobby bar where you can wait over adrink and peek around the corner to check on the train. On the return, riders bound for NewOrleans werejazzed forthe journey.Gratefully,noone was eating out-of-season king cake, but you could buy awedge of muffuletta or aMoonPie from the train’scafe car,which felt like arolling saloon on the evening return.

One glorious Gulf Coast sunset and less than four hours later,the train was snaking its wayback of New Orleans. It wasone more source of captivating interest on atrip that reframed the familiar forthe fresh burst of funonafast silver train.

Email IanMcNulty at imcnulty@theadvocate.com.

ABOVE: Crossing abay bridge aboard Amtrak’sMardi Gras Service train on aGulf Coast journeygives aviewofwater on both sides.

LEFT: Countryham and johnnycakes with pimento cheese starts amealatNoble South restaurant on Dauphin Street in downtown Mobile. STAFFPHOTOSByIAN MCNULTy

Acharcuterie and cheese board is servedinample portions at the Cheese Cottage, part of the Mobile, Ala.’s St.Louis Street scene.

Cast for ‘Dancing with the Stars’ is complete

By The Associated Press

NEW YORK Corey Feldman,

Hilaria Baldwin, Danielle Fishel and Jordan Chiles are among the celebrity stepperstocompete on thenew season of “Dancing with the Stars.”

Theywereannounced last week on “Good Morning America.”The season premiere is set for Sept. 16 on ABC and Disney+. Baldwin, afitness enthusiast and wife of Alec Baldwin, will pair with pro Gleb Savchenko. She’s been postingherself dancing for days on Instagram and starred with her family on their own reality show,“The Baldwins.” Feldman, amusician andformer teenstar,willdancewithJenna Johnson. Chiles is an Olympicwinning gymnast.

Fishel is known for her roleof Topanga Lawrence on “Boy Meets World.” Her partner will be Pasha Pashkov.Elaine Hendrix is among othernewcomers. The“Parent Trap” and “Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion” actorwill dance with Alan Bersten

Also joining: Retired NBAplayer Baron Davis, who playedonseveral teamsinhis career,including the New York Knicks; Dylan Efron, brother of Zac Efron, was among the winners of Season 3of the U.S. version of “The Traitors”; Scott Hoying from the acappella groupPentatonix; singer Lauren Jauregui; and comedian Andy Richter Previously announcedcontestants are Alix Earle, Robert Irwin, Whitney Leavitt and Jen Affleck.

By The Associated Press

NEW YORK Five newcast members will join the upcoming season of “Saturday Night Live,” NBCannounced last week on the heelsof several high-profile departures.

Ben Marshall, already an “SNL” writer,will become afeatured player,along with newcomers Tommy Brennan,Jeremy Culhane,Kam Patterson and Veronika Slowikowska.

Theadditionsfollow astringof cast departures in the past month as thestoried program prepares forits 51st season.Devon Walker, Emil Wakim and Michael Longfellow confirmed last week on their social media accounts that they are leaving the show. Multiple news outlets reported that cast mainstay Heidi Gardner was alsodeparting the show, but neitherGardner nor NBC have publicly confirmed.

“SNL”creator LorneMichaels previously said he anticipated changes following the show’shistoric 50th season. No cast members hadannounced theirdeparture following the season’sconclusion. In an interview withPuck that ran last month, Michaels answered “yes” when asked if he expected to “shake things up.”

“It’ll be announced in aweek or so,” he said then

Michaels told Puck at least one cast member was certain to be back: James Austin Johnson, who plays President Donald Trump.

Since its debut in 1975, theNBC program has reinvented itself often,with performers over the past 50 years ranging fromJohn Belushi and Dan Aykroyd to Kate McKinnon and Kenan Thompson. The 51st seasonwill premiere Oct. 4.

Additions

Allnew cast memberswillbe joiningthe show as featured players.

Marshall first joined the “SNL” writing staff in 2021, along with the other members of his comedy

trio, Please Don’tDestroy.Digital shortsfromPleaseDon’t Destroy, whichincludesJohnHiggins and Martin Herlihy,havebeen featured on “SNL” forthe past four seasons.The group is currently on tour together Brennanhas performed on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” and was selected as aJust for Laughs NewFace of Comedy in 2023. Culhane,aregular on Dropout TV,isknown for his viral videos and also performs with the Upright Citizens Brigade in Los Angeles.

Patterson is aregular on the live comedypodcast “Kill Tony,” hosted by Tony Hinchcliffe.The stand-up comedian alsoappears in Netflix’s“72 Hours.”

Slowikowska, known for her viral online comedysketches, has appeared in “Tires” and “WhatWe Do in the Shadows.”

Departures

MichaelLongfellow Longfellow confirmed his departure on Instagram on Thursday.Hefirst joined the show as a featured player in 2022 and was promoted the previous season.

Longellow wroteonInstagram that he wishes he could’ve stayed on, adding that his three seasons on the showwere “the best three years of mylife so far.Ifeel noth-

ing but gratitude forthe experience andeveryone there.Lorne, you gavemethe greatest job in theworld andchanged my life Youeven put my mom on TV Thank youdoesnt begin to cover it, but thank you.”

Emil Wakim On Wednesday,Wakimannounced he wouldn’tbereturning, and indicated he had been let go, calling it “a gut punch of acall to get.” Unlike Longfellow and Walker,membersofthe more established repertory player group, Wakim was afeatured player who joined the show just last season.

“every time iscanned into the building iwould think how insane it is to gettoworkthere. it was themost terrifying, thrilling, and rewarding experience of my life and iwill miss it dearly and all the brilliantpeople that work there that made it feel like ahome,” he wroteinanall-lowercase Instagram post that thanked “SNL” creator Lorne Michaels.

Devon Walker Walker announced hisdeparture from theshowinanInstagram post last Monday “Meand theshowdid three yearstogether,and sometimes it was really cool,” Walker wrote. “Sometimesitwas toxicashell. Butwedid what we made the mostofwhat it was,evenamidst

all of the dysfunction.”

Walker,whose repertory of characters included Eric Adams, waspromoted last year.The note in his post was titled:“wait did he quit or did he get fired?”

Writers

“SNL” writer Celeste Yimannounced they were leaving after five seasons, while Rosebud Baker is leaving after four seasons on the show. Yim, theshow’sfirst openly nonbinary writer, posted on Instagram that the job was adream cometrue “BUT was also grueling and Islept in my office every week BUT my friends helped me with everything BUT Igot yelled at by random famous men BUTsome famousgirls too BUTIloved it and Ilaughed every day and it’swhere Igrew up.” Baker, who wrote for “Weekend Update,” confirmed her departure to LateNighter Higgins, son of “SNL” writer and producer Steve Higgins, announced hisdeparture Tuesday, saying he is looking forward to pursuing acting opportunities. “Itwas my dreamand Igot to live it. And to do it with my two best friends andmydad was an unbelievable experience,” he wrote. “Thank youtoeveryonewho made my time there so special, it made this decision that muchharder.”

Emil Wakim, from left, DevonWalker and Michael Longfellowwill

Richter

Baldwin

John Prine’s story gets personal touch from La. author

Tom Piazza tells his poignant tales

BY BARBARA SIMS Contributing writer

“Living in the Present with John Prine” by Tom Piazza,W.Norton & Company

208 pages

John Prine singer songwriter, guitarist and storyteller — attracted in his life such devoted fans that they could almost be considered a cult.

Best known for songs of irony, humor and sometimes social protest, Prine touched New Orleans writer Tom Piazza with another type of song when he heard him at the Saenger Theatre in New Orleans in 2016. Prine first amused the audience with some of his witty signature songs like “Some Humans Ain’t Human.” Then, singing along on the stage his composition “Mexican Home,” he delivered a “quiet and haunting tableau of the day the singer’s father died in 1971,” Piazza writes. He continues, “At one point I realized that tears were running down my cheeks.” The experience prompted the writer to think he might like to do a profile of Prine, though he had given up a career as a prolific music writer to write novels and book-length nonfiction. In 2016, he had not done a story about a musician in 22 years.

In 2018, when Piazza again heard Prine, this time at the Orpheum Theater, he was struck by the change in his appearance. Two years earlier, he had seemed a debilitated old man, whereas at the Orpheum he played with great vigor and seemed healthy and

glowing with good humor Perhaps he had recovered from the ravages of the cancer of the neck for which he had undergone extended treatment after his diagnosis in 1998 The only noticeable effect of Prine’s rigorous rehabilitation regime was much more gravel in his voice though fans of his country and folk music were as enthusiastic as ever.

It was on that night that Piazza decided to approach Prine and his wife and manager, Fiona Prine, about doing an article on the singer for the Oxford American magazine. After the show, the Prines were cordial as they listened to Piazza’s proposal, but he was aware of being scrutinized. After a subsequent visit with them in Nashville they gave their permission with the caveat that his story not be in the usual interview format of question/answer Instead, they wanted Piazza to spend some time with them, just observing how they lived.

Piazza and the Prines agreed that the project would begin in earnest at their vacation home in

Gulfport, Florida. This is how Piazza found himself in a hair-raising trek that John Prine said would be a pleasant little road trip to Sarasota for lunch.

The singer had just purchased a red 1977 Coupe de Ville on eBay and before they took off, John Prine stowed a couple of gallons of water in the trunk, just in case the radiator needed some on the way That thought caused his passenger a bit of unease, which wasn’t helped when he found that though he had a seat belt, there was no buckle. He casually mentioned that he didn’t have a valid tag on the car, installing the one issued to his RV rather than applying for a valid one for his new Cadillac. When Piazza called John Prine’s attention to a police car up ahead, he admitted he couldn’t see that far, but he felt sure his vision was OK for going over the long and steep bridge into Sarasota, which made a sudden, sharp descent from a height designed to let ocean-going craft pass below Adding up these factors in his mind, the author concluded that if it was his time to die, it might as well be with a half-blind singer in a compromised antique car

In October 2018, the Oxford American article was published, but that was not the end of the Prine-Piazza story While their preparation for the article was progressing, the two had become friends, playing guitars together, showing each other techniques and riffs. They shared meals and even went shoe shopping together

The Prines visited Piazza and his partner in New Orleans; the Prines invited Piazza to Nashville. Then came a meeting in Seaside, Florida, where John Prine was headlining a songwriters’ festival, followed by a stay at the Prines’ Nashville mansion that the singer again seems to have bought on

Books recount the stories

BY RIEN FERTEL

Contributing writer

“We Came to Rebuild New Orleans: Stories of the Hurricane Katrina Volunteers” by Christopher E. Manning, LSU Press, 308 pages, and “Rebuilding New Orleans: Immigrant Laborers and Street Food Vendors in the Post-Katrina Era” by Sarah Fouts, the University of North Carolina Press, 216 pages.

Soon after Hurricane Katrina had passed, but long before the flood waters had receded came the deluge of do-gooders The rebuilding of metropolitan New Orleans involved around 500 new nonprofits (in addition to well-established charities), over 1.5 million volunteers (as well as countless paid workers) and cost upward of $200 billion.

But as two new books show, the onerous and arguably ongoing road to recovery deeply affected the lives of New Orleans’s firstline rebuilders.

In “We Came to Rebuild New Orleans,” Christopher E. Manning focuses on the stories of seven long-term recovery leaders part of a larger oral history project he conducted between 2008 and 2013 while a history professor at Loyola University Chicago — and a drop in the ocean of volunteers who racked up over 100 million service hours in the 15 years following Katrina.

Many of the volunteers, Manning’s conversations make clear, felt compelled to come to the aid of New Orleanians from a sense of civic duty after witnessing the miserable failures of the local, state and federal governments.

“You had to do it on your own,” says Jay Welch, a longtime New Orleans attorney specializing in

free legal aid. “You had to take the individual initiative, and that’s how it happened. It was the American people. It wasn’t the government.” Yet, this inescapable spirit of self-reliance caused myriad problems.

Without any sort of centralized, coordinating network, nonprofit organizations were forced to compete for resources, attention and dollars. Multiple charities often received grants to gut and renovate the same address, leading to rebuilding tug-of-wars that delayed residents from returning home.

Adrian Manriquez, a longtime volunteer leader with Common Ground Relief and Operation Helping Hands who first arrived in early 2006, categorized the early years of recovery as an inherently disorganized system defined by “chaotic waste,” an atmosphere defined by the ethos: “Everyone go everywhere, and do

a whim, as he had the Cadillac.

Fiona Prine said she’d like to downsize and instead her husband looked around and found them a larger home.

Though their hospitality was genuine, there was an underlying motive for this invitation. Other writers had proposed a biography of John Prine and had been turned down. The Prines, concluding a bio was inevitable, wanted to choose the biographer Tom Piazza.

The next half of the book comprises the most fascinating section, for the majority of the content is a direct transcription of John Prine telling his own story Piazza judiciously inserts comments, interpretation, setting and other relevant information, but the unedited reminiscences of John Prine give us the man in his own words and charm us with the same unassuming, friendly manner that audiences found in his live performances.

We learn that John Prine came from a blue-collar background, with a mother from Kentucky who married his father when she was 14. His father’s family had moved around to follow construction job opportunities, but had settled in Chicago. The young Prine spent the school year in Chicago and summers in Kentucky

After the basic biographical interview at the Prine home in Nashville, Piazza suggests a session at the studio of Cowboy Jack Clement, who had been a mentor for John Prine in the 1970s when the latter moved to Nashville. Piazza describes him as “… a largerthan-life character, a legendary record producer, songwriter, and Falstaffian bon vivant.” Clement had been with Sun Records in Memphis since the late ’50s, producing Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis and others. His songs

had been recorded by Elvis, Ray Charles, Dolly Parton, Hank Snow and many others. John Prine said mingling for the first time at the Grand Ole Opry backstage made him think, “I’m in hillbilly heaven.” He had left Atlantic for Asylum Records and the record company agreed to have Clement produce it, but John Prine confessed that he defeated the effort by not taking his commitment seriously not showing up for sessions, for staying out drinking all night, and devoting his time to a new love affair, though he considered himself happily married.

Nevertheless, Clement and John Prine became fast friends, spending time together on trips to Memphis, Tennessee; Muscle Shoals, Alabama; and Los Angeles. After this round of interviews, Piazza was tiring and felt it was time to go home to New Orleans, especially since he had developed some sinus symptoms that he didn’t want to expose the singer to because of his increasing weakness. Fiona Prine then developed COVID, but after time in quarantine, she was feeling well, according to a note John Prine wrote to Piazza, also saying he could come to New Orleans on March 12, 2020, for another round of interviews. In early April, Fiona Prine wrote the author to say her husband had tested positive for COVID and was hospitalized. He died on April 26. Because their time together had lasted only two years, Piazza debated for some time whether to proceed with a book about the singer, obviously not the biography they had planned, but the story of their friendship. Finally, he decided ”deep friendship and love aren’t measured in linear time. If you are lucky enough to have had it, then you know.” Thus, we have this funny touching and very human story

of Katrina’s do-gooders

whatever you want.”

That mood trickled down to many of the volunteer staffers, who were overwhelmingly White, middle-class and full of youthful, idealistic energy The romance of working in the ruins of New Orleans attracted thousands from across the nation who came to do good and enjoy the culture of the Big Easy Colleen Morgan, a Tulane graduate and environmental activist who returned to the city and launched Bayou Rebirth, remembers working hard and partying harder

“We just played in the mud all day and danced all night,” she said.

But several interviewees report that this laissez-faire work environment often devolved into a toxic climate that included spending donation dollars to buy booze, rampant drug abuse, burnout, a pervasive culture of hypermasculinity widespread sexual harassment and the unchecked

egotism of a handful of named nonprofit leaders, including one Common Ground supervisor who doubled as an FBI informant.

In the book’s final chapter Manning offers a handful of suggestions that boil down to better communication between federal and state agencies, among nonprofits, and in the tenuous ties that often exist between altruistic outsiders and locals.

In “Rebuilding New Orleans,”

Sarah Fouts, a professor at the University of Maryland, tells a similar story, honing her focus on Latin American food vendors and laborers. Immigrants made up nearly half of the rebuilding personnel, while undocumented workers constituted a quarter of the entire post-Katrina labor force. Overall, New Orleans’s Spanish-speaking immigrant community increased from 4% to 9%.

A decade before New Orleans instituted its sanctuary city policies, municipal leaders were openly hostile.

“How do I ensure that New Orleans is not overrun by Mexican workers?” Mayor Ray Nagin asked a group of local business people a month after the storm.

Oliver Thomas, the perennial City Council member and current mayoral candidate, concurred in a Times-Picayune interview

“How are we helping our restaurants that are trying to recover by having more food trucks from Texas open up? How do the tacos help gumbo?” he said.

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, often coordinating with the New Orleans Police Department, targeted esquinas (the corners where day laborers looked for work) and

loncheras (taco trucks) as early as March 2006, when the two organizations arrested 40 day laborers gathered at the former Lee Circle.

The ICE-NOPD collaboration only ended in 2016, as part of a federal consent decree.

El Congreso de Jornaleros (Congress of Day Laborers), among other groups, rallied in support — organizing workers across racial lines, fighting worker exploitation (three-quarters of undocumented workers experienced wage theft) and helping immigrant business owners navigate the city’s byzantine permitting process (City Hall’s “One-Stop Shop” website for licenses largely remains unavailable in Spanish).

The strength of Fouts’s analysis, like Manning’s, is in the intimate portraits of lives that were, she writes, “hidden in plain sight”: vendors who ply baleadas and licuados among the trio of adjacent food and flea markets that operate on the West Bank; the family that owns a restaurant in Mid-City and faces the same existential threats — displacement due to rampant redevelopment — that they did back home in the coastal Honduran town of Tela; the esquina owner who feeds the police officer who writes her a parking ticket for violating the policy that required food trucks to move every half-hour In a city that lionizes multiethnic dishes like gumbo and po-boys, these entrepreneurs also, Fouts writes, “contribute to the cultural panache of New Orleans.”

Rien Fertel is the author of four books, including, most recently, “Brown Pelican.”

Franklin as it ramps upproduction.

SHAPESHIP

BY RICH COLLINS Staff writer

industry is no stranger to innovation. During WorldWar II, Higgins Industries in New Orleans inventedand manufactured the groundbreaking landing craft that helped ferry soldiersto shore and turn the

In the 1960s, brothers Lynn andOrinDeanbuilt the first liftboats —capable of raising themselves on long legs to form astable platform over thewater —inSt. Bernard Parish And for decades, industrial conglomerate Textronhas been making hovercraft, which move over landand water on acushion of air,inNew OrleansEast. Now,this centuries-old craft is gettingaboost from cuttingedge software, artificial intelligence and theburgeoning commercial spaceflight industry to evolve in ways thatlegendary boatbuilder Andrew Higgins couldn’thave fathomed.These changes mean new opportunities that are enabling existing Louisiana companiestoexpand and attracting startups to the region.

In April, Texas-based startup Saronic announced it was buyingashipyard in Franklin to manufacture autonomousvessels —essentially largewater drones —for military and commercial clients. The company, which is backed by $850 million in Silicon Valleyventure capital, promises to invest $250 million

ä See BOATS, page 2E

BY RICH COLLINS Staff writer

When MonroeMayor FridayEllis rode Amtrak’s new Mardi Gras linebetween NewOrleansand Mobile, Alabama, last month, he saw alot of smiling faces inside and outside of the train. “In Pascagoula (Mississippi), there were hundreds of people waiting to greet us,” he said. “On theroute,people were outside littleburger jointsorintheir boats on the water waving at the passing train.” Ellis said the ride wasproof thateven in aregionofthe country known for its love of the open

road,there also is an appreciation for passenger rail.

“You can’tfake that kind of enthusiasm,” he said. Now thatthe Gulf Coast service hasbeenrestored,regionaltrain advocates areaiming theirlobbying efforts at the next tworoutes on their wish list: along-sought connection between New Orleans and Baton Rouge and an east-west route that bisects north Louisiana as it connects Dallas to Meridian Mississippi. To becomereality,both routes will require years of planning and coordination by federal, state and local officials, along with collaboration with the freight railroads,

which ownthe tracks, and Amtrak, which would operate the service. They would also require tapping into millions of

PROVIDED PHOTO

Dino Mavrookas, co-founder of autonomous vessel startup Saronic, weldsdecorativemedallions onto an aluminum keel at aceremonycelebrating the startof production for the Austin-based company s150-foot Marauder vessel on

Dr.Leanne Redman, of Pennington Biomedical Research Center,has been named as the Louisiana Public Facilities Authority endowed chairin nutrition. The chair was established through private donations matched by the Board of Regents Support Fund.

Redman is associate executive director for scientific education and director of the Pennington-LouisianaNutrition Obesity Research Center

and trial skills to second- and thirdyear law students.

Nellon, owner of four construction-relatedbusinesses is theimmediatepastpresident of the Home Builders Association of Greater New Orleans.

Preis is alabor and employment lawattorney at Breazeale, Sachse& Wilsonwith more than 30 years of experience.

Around Louisiana

Heath B. Jones hasbeen hiredby Bollinger Shipyards as vice president of government relations and strategic partnerships

PEOPLE IN BUSINESS

rity Distinguished Service Medal andthe 2012 SignalmanFirst Class Douglas Munro InspirationalLeadership Award. NewOrleans

Redman is aleading authority on body weight regulationand has published more than 250research papers on the topic as well as on women’shealth, obesity and nutrition.

Redman George

Ryan McCabe, Shivers Nellon and Fred Preis have joined the Jefferson Community Foundation board of directors. McCabe is areal estate and business litigation attorney. He serves as an associate professor of trial advocacyatTulane University Law School, whereheteaches litigation

Fool’sTake:

Agrowing giant

Carmen George, of BatonRouge, hasbeen elected to serve as vice speaker of the American Society of Radiologic Technologists House of Delegates.

This is herfirst term as vice speaker.George has served in anumber of volunteer roles with the ASRT, including chair and delegate ofthe Radiography Chapter,chairofthe Radiography Practice Standards Council and Limited X-ray Machine Operator Subcommittee

George is the radiology regulatory coordinatorfor BatonRouge General Medical Center

Jones spent more than 30 years in the CoastGuard, ultimately rising to become14th masterchief petty officer,the service’ssenior enlisted leader andprincipal advisertothe commandant.

As acutterman, he served as executive petty officer and later

skipperofa Bollinger-built 87foot Coastal Patrol Boat. Jones earneda host of awards forhis service, including the Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal, theHomelandSecu-

Erin Greenwald hasbeennamed deputy director of The Historic New Orleans Collection She will helpadvancethe institution’smission by aligning departmental work, facilitating cross-division collaboration and leading major strategic initiatives.

Taiwan SemiconductorManufacturing Co. (NYSE: TSM) is a majorsupplier for leading chip companies such as Nvidia, Advanced Micro Devices and Broadcom. WhileTSMC’s second-quarter revenue grew 44% year over year, steadily improving gross profit margins anda disciplined cost structure fueled even more acceleration for its bottom line: Earnings per share grew by nearly61%. Investments in infrastructure for artificial intelligence —which include data center buildoutsand chips —are expected to reach $6.7 trillion by next decade. With TSMC’shuge revenue growth and estimated two-thirds share of the global chip foundry market, it appears well-positioned to capitalize on these secular tail winds and acquire even more market share over the next severalyears. Despite the company’sjaw-dropping growth and robust outlook, it recently traded at aforward price-to-earnings ratio below 25. Not only is this lower than most of its forward P/E ratios in 2024, but it’salso ameaningful discount compared to other leading chip stocks. There are some risks —especially becauseTSMC is based in Taiwan. That exposes the company to the impacts of anychanges in U.S. tariff policy,aswell as the looming threat of China taking military action. Still, it’stough to find abetter growth stock in the semiconductor industry for risktolerant long-term investors. (The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing.)

Fool’sSchool:

What’saP/E ratio?

As you learn how to study stocks, you’ll find that theprice-toearnings ratio can help you get a rough idea of how overvalued or undervalued astock is. You’ll find P/E ratios for stocks already calculatedfor youatfinancial websites such as finance. yahoo.com, but here’sthe math: Take the stock’scurrent price per share and divide it by the earnings per share over the past 12 months. (For aforward-looking P/E, divide by the expectedEPS over the coming year.)

So if Crusty’sCrab Shack (ticker: CRABS) is trading at $60 per share with its EPS forthe last four reported quarters (“trailing 12 months”) totaling $4,you’d divide $60 by $4 to get aP/E ratio of 15. Note that P/E ratios go up when the stock’sprice rises or the EPS falls —and vice versa. The P/E ratio tells you how much you’d pay per dollar of earningsifyou bought the stock. In finance-speak, astock with aP/E of 15 might be referred to as “trading at amultiple of 15.” Generallyspeaking, the lower the P/E ratio, the lower —and therefore more appealing—the stock’svaluation, though an extremely lowP/E should make you wonder what troubles thecompany is facing. An extremely high P/E can reflect very low earnings or investors piling into the stock and driving up its price via high demand for the shares P/E ratios vary widely by industry,though. Slower-growing and/or capital-intensive industries such as homebuilding and steelmaking tend to have lower average P/E

ratios; industries such as semiconductors, entertainment and software tendtohavehigher ones Unprofitable companies don’t have P/E ratios, as they have no earnings and you can’tdivide by zero. When assessing acompany’s P/E, you might compare its current ratio with those from past years. Don’tmake investment decisions on P/E or other valuation metrics alone, though. Always assess multiple factors, such as revenue and earnings growth rates, debt levels, profit margins and competitive advantages.

Ask the Fool:

Splittingshares

Shares of Microsoft seem to cost more than $500 apiece —does that mean the companywill do astock split? And will that double my money? —Y.C., Decorah, Iowa Microsoft may indeed split its stock this year or next. No announcement has been made as of this writing, though. Microsoft has executed nine stock splits since going public in 1986. Seven were in the 1990s, and the most recent one was way back in 2003, when the shares split 2-for-1. The recent price of $500 pershare is far above the presplit prices for the pastsplits, so expecting asplit to come along is quite reasonable. Astock splitwon’tdouble your money,though —when astock splits, shareholders each get more shares, but theprice per share falls proportionally.Imagine you own 100 shares of Microsoft, and it splits 2-for-1 when the price is $500 per share. You’ll end up with 200 shares, but the share price will suddenly be around $250. That makes your total value$5,000 presplit (100 times $500) and $5,000 post-split (200 times $250).

Companiesoften split shares to make them more affordable to the masses (among other reasons), but remember that youcan always buy just one share —and via manygood brokerages, you may even be able to buy afraction of a share.

My Dumbest Investment: Burned to aCRISPR

My dumbest investments happened after I read the book “TheCode Breaker” by Walter Isaacson —about the Nobel Prize winner Jennifer Doudna and the science of gene editing with CRISPR (“clustered regularly interspaced shortpalindromicrepeats”) technology. Iinvested in several of the companies mentioned in the book, thinking each would soon release viable commercial products and see its valuation skyrocket. Iwaited for afew years as Iwatched each stock decline in price. Ieventually ended up selling at a significant loss.

Ilearned to stick with companies that already have viableproducts, sound financials and strong free cash flow.One daythese companies may fitthat narrative, but until then, Iwill invest in what Iknow are actual viablebusinesses and not potential future businesses. —O.A.M., online New technologies can be exciting, especially when it seems like therewill be alot of money made with them, and some companies in those realms will turn out to be great investments. But it can take along time before it’sclear which companies will be thebiggestwinners and which once-promising companies will flame out. If you can’twait to invest, spreading your dollars over several companies and not investing too much in one technology can be smart moves.

Do you have asmart or regrettable investment move to share with us? Email it to tmfshare@fool.com.

BOATS

Continuedfrom page 1E

in improvements to the shipyard and create 500 jobs over the next four years.

Twomonthslater, Bollinger Shipyardsannounced its work modifying abargetoserveas alanding platform forreusable rockets, itslatest contract driven by advances in commercial spaceflight

This shipbuilding transformation is welcome news for an industry that has contracted since themiddle of thelastcentury, when Avondale Shipyards was the biggest private employer in the state. Morethan four decades after theend of federal shipbuilding subsidies, achanging regional offshore oil and gas sector means less demand for local products and fewer jobs.

Though shipbuilding still supports more than 16,000 workers and contributes $1.5 billion to thestate gross domestic product, according to theShipbuilders Council of America, it’snot what it once was.

Bollinger CEO BenBordelon saidthe recentdevelopments give him hope.

“W eh av e been challenged through years of up and down gas markets and changes to howoil andgas is produced,” he said. “I’mglad to see our industry moving toward athriving segment

‘Nostairs, bathrooms, kitchens’

In mid-August,morethan 100 peoplegathered at Saronic’s new shipyard in Franklin for akeellaying ceremony —the shipbuilding industry’sversion of a groundbreaking

The 3-year-old companyisthe state’smost high-profile entry intothe autonomous vessel market, spurred on by roughly $5 billion from the Trumpadministration to boost production of thehigh-tech machines.Itjoins ahalf-dozen or so existing shipbuilders in thestate —ranging from legacy companies like Bollingertonewcomers like Chance Maritime Technologies.

Another company, 20-year-old Metal Shark, has been making autonomousvessels since the 2010s from its shipyarddirectly across U.S. 90 from Saronic’snew facility

Primarily fulfilling contracts with theU.S.militarybut also serving commercial customers, these builders make everything from basic remote-controlled boats to highly sophisticated roboticvessels capable of charting theirown course. Allcan go farther andfaster than traditional vessels while carrying more payload

Because they aren’t built to carryhumans,the shipsthese builders are makingdon’t need galleys, bathrooms, hallways or stairs. That makes them smaller, which meansthey can be built at the midsize shipyards found in Louisiana and other Gulf Coast states versus their biggercounterparts on the east and west coasts that make aircraft carriers, submarines anddestroyers.

“You’re not worried about the crew getting seasick, so you can design the boat so there’s much less friction in thewater,” said Vibhav Altekar,chieftechnology officer at Saronic.“In thepast, shipbuilders would firstbuild ahotel and then you build aboat around the hotel, but theselook more like floating data centers.”

Theautonomous vessels require hardware andsoftware integration with theirpayload,whether that’s weapons,sensors, cameras, radar or sonar.

“Wedon’t just throw it on the boat,” said Metal Shark co-owner Chris Allard, whose company employs ateam of in-house computer programmers.

“The hardest part about making unmanned boats is how to get past acentury of technology designed to be controlled by human hands,” Allardsaid. “There are valves you have to open or close, controls or switches youhave to push or adjust, including the steering wheel.”

Saronic’sowners hope they can manufacture up to 50 of this new type of ship each year at their Franklin facility

“This is the beginning of alongterm partnership withLouisiana,” saidcompany co-founder Rob Lehman, who hopesto“take the legacy of shipbuilding here and bring it into the21stcentury.”

Shipsfor spaceships

The rise of commercial spaceflight over the last 15 years has created additional opportunities for Louisiana’smaritimeindustry Companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin test and recover components of their reusable equipment offshore, farfrom mosthuman activity.Todothe work, theyneed specially designedships, whichthe state’sshipbuilders are more than happy to provide.

In July,Bollinger announced its latest spaceflight-related commission: converting an existing barge intoalanding platform forRocket Lab Corp., aCalifornia-based publicly traded company that’scompeting in the nearly $600 billion commercialspaceflight industry

The79-year-old shipbuilder, based in Lockport,will addblast shields along with thrusters to thewaterborneplatformsoitremains stable during landings.Communications equipmentwill allow employees to control the vessel from afar

The jobisnot Bollinger’sfirst foray into supporting this emerging industry,which madeabeliever outofBordelon aboutadecadeago

“A lot of commercial vessels here wereidle because of the downturn in oil,” he said. “It wasanopportunityfor the space industry to buy

assets at arelatively good price, and it created workfor shipyards to convert them.” Bordelon’scompanyisjoinedby several others working in this sector Oneofthe morehigh-flying ventures that created workfor local shipbuilders is Florida-based startup Space Perspective, which hopes to send tourists into the stratosphere in pressurized capsules lifted by giant helium-filled balloons. The company,which was acquired earlier this year by European rival EosXSpace, bought an offshore supply vessel from Edison Chouest Offshore in 2022. Gulf Ship and Conrad Shipyard retrofitted it for its new role as afloating spaceport. GuiceOffshore, aLouisiana maritime transportation company,is slated to support marine operations for thespace tourism company, whichlaunchedanuncrewedtest flight last year before itsacquisition.

Bollinger itself has another space-related jobinthe pipeline: buildingarocket ship transporter for United Launch Alliance, ajoint venture between Lockheed Martin and Boeing.

This project and others like it are foraysintoanemerging industry with potentialbenefits for the state that extend beyond commerce.

“Louisiana companiessupporting space research and rocket science is really important,” said Tulane professor CynthiaEbinger, whochairs theschool’s space, science and engineering task force. “Fromthatwork, maybe we’ll learn things that are really helpful here on Earth. For example,almost all of our regional observations about coastal change come from satellites.”

Shipbuilding gap

These new lines of business for Louisiana shipbuilders come as U.S. production overalllagsdramatically behind China and other global competitors.

The Trump administration has prioritized boosting thecountry’s maritime capacity in an attempt to closethe gapwith China,which makes three warships forevery oneproduced in America andproduces more than 200 times the commercial ships that America does.

Saronic’sLehman hopes autonomy will helpthe U.S. andits allies catch up.

“Itoffers ways to simplify the build process, reducematerial costsand putmoreplatforms in the water to rebalance the global shipbuilding numbers,” he said.

EmailRich Collins at rich. collins@theadvocate.com.

Greenwald

Jones

This aerial photograph, taken in 1983, shows the vast sweep of Avondale Shipyard, when it was one of the largest employers in the state. FILE PHOTO

PROVIDED PHOTO

U.S. Marine CorpsLt. Gen. Brian W. Cavanaugh and several Marines reviewthe capabilitiesofa vessel manufactured by Metal Shark on April 27, 2023, at abase in Virginia.

Bordelon

Motley Fool

TALKING BUSINESS

ASK THE EXPERTS

Cajun seafood chain eyes rapid growth into new markets

Thibodaux-based Off the Hook opening first location in Lafayette

BY IANNE SALVOSA Staff writer

Off the Hook CEO Paxton

Moreaux is reeling in his next big catch. The Thibodaux-based Cajun

Q&A WITH PAXTON MOREAUX

seafood restaurant is expanding rapidly expecting to open about four to five locations each year Its latest venture is in Lafayette, the first location in southwestern Louisiana.

The restaurant has established itself in southeastern Louisiana, with six out of eight of its locations in the Baton Rouge area. Moreaux has his eyes set on Louisiana and Mississippi for further expansion. He said the markets are familiar with the food that Off the Hook serves and are the company’s next step geographically.

The Lafayette location is expected to open mid-November off Liberty Avenue and Kaliste Saloom Road, just down the road from competitors Raising Cane’s and Chick-fil-A. In the past few years, the surrounding area has been a hotbed for residential and commercial development with the additions of The Chimes restaurant, Rouses Market and the extension of Kaliste Saloom Road.

Lafayette is no stranger to the Cajun cuisine central to Off the Hook’s offerings. But Moreaux plans to stay afloat among the crowd by staying true to their values of fresh, Louisiana-sourced ingredients and Southern hospitality In this week’s Talking Busi-

ness, Moreaux talks about Off the Hook’s performance in different Louisiana cities, its edge against competing restaurants and how he plans on reaching consumers who are not familiar with Cajun cuisine.

This interview has been edited for clarity

What have you learned so far from your locations in the Baton Rouge metro area that you’ll be taking along with you to Lafayette?

I think one thing we’ve learned as we’ve gotten farther away from our home base of the ThibodauxHouma area, that people seem to be more receptive to our type of food. It’s something really common in Thibodaux-Houma — I’m sure everywhere in south Louisiana — but really it’s a high percentage of seafood restaurants around here compared to the Baton Rouge

outskirts and Hammond, where you have a little bit more of everything. We’ve received a really positive reception as we move farther away with the type of food we’re offering.

As Off the Hook expands, what’s going to set it apart from other Cajun seafood restaurants?

It’s our quality, it’s always local shrimp, local fish, tenders, burgers not frozen We really go out of our way to work on the quality We have partnerships with John Folse to make our gumbo seasonings and batters and marinades. So, it’s that, and I think it’s truly our customer service. Southern hospitality is a point of difference in a quickservice setting. They have the Chick-fil-A and the Raising Cane’s as the gold standard. So that’s kind of who we’re chasing.

were talking about how you lead this team of professionals who are under 40. What does that really mean for you? How has that specific characteristic of your team impacted the company?

Everybody brings just a high level of energy and excitement every day There’s not a lot of rahrah needed. Everybody knows the mission, the vision We know our values. We know what we want to do here. It’s the communication, and it’s clear where we want to go, and people on our team are on board with that goal.

You’re looking to open four or five locations a year You are expanding pretty rapidly What is the driving force behind your expansion?

We’ve worked many years to get the concept in a place where it’s ready to scale We’re passionate about growing it and sharing that little bit about Cajun culture, heritage, seafood cuisine overall in this quick-service

As you expand to other markets, are you going to partner with the locals in that area to supply?

No, we will always have seafood from Louisiana. Why is that?

That’s just who we are as a brand and our catchphrase is “real Cajun, real fast,” so it’s all about staying true to who we are, the Cajun seafood culture and heritage that we feel. It resonates with people to say your shrimp is caught off the coast of Louisiana or always Gulf shrimp Having that local seafood makes a difference versus some of the other competitors that are just going for the cheapest foreign source. We have strict standards on the quality of shrimp and fish we bring in.

I saw that you spoke at the Livingston Young Professionals Conference and you

that we have great team members. We’re always serving a great product, and we’re serving it quickly as we promise. It’s something to be determined in the near short- to midterm future.

Beyond isn’taplace —it’samindset. Andit’sabeliefthathas poweredusfor over80years

We areJones Walker LLP,a firmdrivenbyanentrepreneurial spirit,adeepsense of community, and afierce determination to deliverexceptional serviceand valuefor ourclients

Since1937, ourfirm hasbeencommitted to workingwithcommunityleaders to develop business opportunitiesacrossthe state. We aresteadfast in continuing ourdedicationtogobeyondinadvising clientsand supportinginitiatives andorganizations that make Louisiana abetterplace to live andwork

WilliamH.Hines,ManagingPartner bhines@joneswalker.com 504.582.8000 201St. CharlesAvenue NewOrleans,LA70170-5100

LA-25-18980

PROVIDED PHOTO By OFF THE HOOK

CEO Paxton Moreaux, inset, has his eyes set on expanding Cajun seafood chain Off the Hook, with more locations, four to five each year in Louisiana as well as Mississippi.

the 4-decade-old nonprofit that advocates for passenger rail expansion and restoration in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. “It’s an efficient and beautiful route that lends credibility to the others we want to do.”

‘More liquor’ than expected

Amtrak reports that 3,264 passengers rode the Mardi Gras in its first week, traveling between various stops.

The train’s maximum capacity is 134 passengers at a time and travels twice per day along the Mississippi Gulf Coast between Louisiana and Alabama. A few recent trips were completely sold out.

Looking ahead, big fall weekends including Saints games and holidays — are selling briskly, said Amtrak spokesperson Marc Magliari.

Concession sales on the Mardi Gras line also have been brisk, and “they are selling more liquor than they thought they would,” Spain said.

Investment near train stations along the Mardi Gras route is another positive indicator

Over the past four years, several restaurants and businesses have opened in the Bay St. Louis depot district in anticipation of customers being delivered to their doors.

In Pascagoula, real estate developer Joe Cloyd known for boutique hotels along the Gulf Coast — has partnered with the owners of the local Chandeleur Island Brewing Co. to renovate the former Pascagoula train depot. The project is expected to be complete by early 2026 Cloyd said he began planning the $2.5 million project four years ago, when the fate of the Mardi Gras line was uncertain.

“We were planning to do it regardless of whether the train came or not, but we were very hopeful it would happen,” he said. “We hope developers like us contributed in a small way to the deal happening.”

Friday Ellis, clockwise from top left, visits with

Southern Rail Commission; Todd

The ridership and development are a sales tool for Spain and other rail advocates hoping to bring the New Orleans-to-Baton Rouge and the north Louisiana routes back into action.

“It was a struggle to sell something we could show and touch,” he said. “If you go to the train station in New Orleans, now it’s full of people.”

Waiting for the train In 2015, when Barney Arceneaux was the mayor of Gonzales, the Ascension Parish city purchased an old Baptist church and some surrounding acreage as the fu-

ture home of a train station.

A decade later, the church is gone but the property is still waiting for its transformation as Gonzales hopes to one day get an economic boost when rail connects Louisiana’s capital city with New Orleans.

Now that the Mardi Gras service is running, Arceneaux said there’s a renewed sense of optimism that the line, which was discontinued in 1969 amid declining ridership, could one day return.

“Mayors along the route are loving it,” he said. “They want it to happen tomorrow.” For years, a coalition of regional rail advocates have

pushed for a New Orleansto-Baton Rouge connector to relieve traffic congestion on Interstate 10, create a new hurricane evacuation route and one day connect the southern part of the state with the north.

Despite many studies and promises, the service has failed to materialize.

When the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law designated more than $60 billion for passenger rail expansion across the country, hopes were raised that trains would finally start rolling between Louisiana’s two biggest cities.

After that, there were some modest funding wins.

In 2022, Baton Rouge and Gonzales jointly applied for and received a $20 million U.S. Department of Transportation grant for planning and construction of passenger rail station infrastructure.

In 2023, DOT allocated $500,000 to Louisiana’s Department of Transportation and Development to plan the Baton Rouge-to-New Orleans route. The Southern Rail Commission received the same amount to plan the Interstate 20 route. That same year, Gov John Bel Edwards steered $20.5 million toward development of the New Orleans-to-Baton Rouge line and signed a nonbinding agreement with Amtrak to establish the service.

But the big federal dollars that fueled the completion of the Mardi Gras service have yet to arrive for the New Orleans-to-Baton Rouge line. In 2023, the Federal Rail-

road Administration denied a $108 million grant application for the project. Instead, it awarded the smaller grants and set up a process to plan and study the infrastructure needed before reapplying later for infrastructure dollars.

Now, the state DOTD has submitted the information required under the first step of this “corridor identification program” and is waiting for federal review and acceptance, a DOTD spokesperson said.

If the information is accepted, the state would unlock more federal funds to continue planning for a replacement bridge over the Bonnet Carre Spillway locations of stops and budget.

The roughly $11 million study will take a couple of years to complete, said Knox Ross, Southern Rail Commission chair, although previous engineering studies mean “there’s a lot of base information already available.”

N. La. route gains traction

The hanging string lights in downtown Monroe are new

The city has spent $10 million on improved sidewalks, streets, lighting and other infrastructure immediately surrounding its historic train depot in anticipation of restored passenger train service bringing visitors downtown.

“When people step off that train, we want people to see something beautiful that represents our community,” Ellis said.

A few blocks from the pro-

Passengers

posed train stop, real estate developer and state Rep. Michael Echols built a new boutique hotel, The Hotel Monroe, operated by Hilton Tapestry In 2022, Echols hosted Amtrak representatives and others for a reception in the unfinished building when it still had dirt floors. Ellis, who was appointed to the Southern Rail Commission by Gov Jeff Landry said “the passenger rail excitement is real” in his town.

“This is one of the things I don’t get pushback on,” he said. “People want to see the line run again.”

Efforts to restore passenger rail service along the I-20 corridor date back about a decade, but the route takes on new significance now that Facebook parent company Meta has begun construction of its $10 billion data center in Richland Parish near Monroe. The proposed route would connect that project to similar ones under development in Mississippi and to a microchip facility near Ruston.

Stakeholders believe the I-20 line could happen before

Arthur Hardylooks backat50years

Gras in NewOrleans

$39.95 plus tax&shipping books ship Nov. 14, 2025 *cover not final foralimited time

Forfive decades, Arthur Hardyhas been our neighbor, ourguide,and the keeper of our Carnival memories. From his Gentillykitchen table in 1977 to receiving the keytothe city in 2024,Hardy transformed himself from aBrother Martin band directorintothe man all about Mardi Gras. Hisannual guidehas reached over 3million readers, butfor us locals, Arthur is family,the trusted voice whogets it right,who rodewithRex after documenting themfor decades, whostoodwithusthroughthe police strikeof’79,Katrina’saftermath, and everymagical momentinbetween. This 112-pagecelebration bringstogether the stories onlyArthurcould tell,filled withphotographs thatcapture the paradesyou remember,the krewesyou cheered for,and the moments thatmadeyou proud to be apart of Mardi Gras. ArthurHardyhas preservedthe soul of what makes us NewOrleanians, making this the perfectholiday gift for anyone whobleeds the purple,green and gold of Mardi Gras. Books ship in time for holidaygift-giving!

PROVIDED PHOTO

The Hotel Monroe is blocks away from a proposed passenger train station in downtown Monroe.

Knox Ross, chair of the

Stennis, Amtrak, director of government affairs; and John Robert Smith, senior policy adviser at Transportation for America, on Nov. 6, 2022, at the unfinished Hotel Monroe.

Entergy CEO cheers state’s prospects, notes misgivings

BY STEPHANIE RIEGEL Staff writer

More than 18 months after Louisiana officials began wooing executives from Meta to the state, eventually helping land the Facebook parent company’s massive artificial intelligence data center near Monroe, Entergy Louisiana

CEO Phillip May said he sees more economic development potential in the state than at any time in his 40year career

“We have the greatest economic pipeline since the post-World War II years,” May said in an interview Tuesday “We have growth from the traditional petrochemical sector and also a new set of opportunities.”

At the same time, however, profound and rapid changes to the nation’s energy and trade policies under President Donald Trump are threatening to chill new investments as companies grapple with the uncertainty

“Companies are trying to make 30-, 40-, 50-year decisions, and policy shifts make it hard,” May said. “If something is hurting us in Louisiana right now, more than anything else, it is uncertainty.”

The way the estimated $10 billion Meta deal came together — less than a year separated Entergy’s initial pitch to Meta and the formal announcement by Gov Jeff Landry — was highly unusual, May said.

Multibillion-dollar investments typically take years to gel, and that means companies want to know that policies won’t change drastically

“Risk scares business and they cannot make a decision when we continue to change policy,” he said.

‘Why aren’t we in Louisiana?’

May’s comments highlighted how the Trump administration’s policies are rippling through board rooms in Louisiana and elsewhere, with business leaders working to adjust to big changes in tariffs, renewable tax credits and federal funding. But despite the uncertainty, the Entergy executive said he remained bullish on the state’s prospects.

Among the recent investments planned for the state that give him reason for optimism are Hyun-

“We

have the greatest economic pipeline since the postWorld War

II years. We have growth from the traditional petrochemical sector and also a new set of opportunities.”

PHILLIP MAy, Entergy Louisiana CEO

dai’s planned steel mill in Ascension Parish, Shintech’s expansion in Plaquemines Parish and Shell’s plan to break ground on a new New Orleans headquarters in the planned River District neighborhood in 2027.

The Meta announcement has also helped Louisiana’s credibility with other tech and infrastructure companies, according to May

“We went from having people saying ‘What is Meta doing in Louisiana?’ to having them say, ‘Why aren’t we in Louisiana?’” May said.

Entergy is building three natural gas power plants to supply electricity to the data center, including two that are adjacent to the site in Holly Ridge and one in St. Charles Parish. Meta has agreed to pay for construction and the cost of operating the plants for 15 years. Environmental groups and advocates for renewable energy have criticized the plan and questioned whether consumers will get hit with higher utility bills if Meta

bails on the plant after 15 years.

May said he isn’t worried that will happen, and argued that Meta investments in transmission infrastructure, resilience upgrades and the plants themselves represent a benefit to customers.

“Louisiana customers will continue to get low-cost power from the plants,” even if Meta were to pull out after 15 years, May said, adding that by then, much of the grid’s infrastructure will need upgrades and that “customers will be paying for that as they would.”

In middle Atlantic and Northern states where large data centers have been operating for years, residential customers have seen monthly utility bills go up by 20% to 30% in some cases. May said he believes that is unlikely to happen in Louisiana, where utilities are regulated.

“Those states are deregulated,” he said. “If you’re in a competitive market like that and prices are at an all-time high, it gets passed along to everyone.”

Dark future for renewables

May is concerned, however, about the future of solar projects in the state, including those in development both by Entergy and its competitors The Trump administration, with approval from Congress, did away with several types of renewable energy tax credits created under President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act.

Though the changes were intended to bolster the traditional fossil fuel industry, energy producing states like Louisiana were also benefiting from new investments in wind and solar power Now, many of those projects will never come to fruition, May said. “A lot of that stuff is not going to go because you have to have a certain amount of spend to achieve the IRA credits,” he said. “So, on solar, it will be very challenging.” Email Stephanie Riegel at stephanie.riegel@theadvocate. com.

Integrity in Motion.

As NorthAmerica’s leader in safe,reliablebulk liquidstorage,distribution, andvalue-added services,IMTTcustomers canalwaysexpect:

Safety First. We uphold thehighest standards to protectour people,products, andthe communities we call home

Timeliness& Trust. We keep ourpromises, deliver with precision, andmakea positive differenceinevery community we serve.

Innovation. We’reinvesting in agreener, cleanerfuture... leadingthe wayinreducing emissionsand creating low-carbon solutions.

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

Gallagher: ALouisiana StoryofGrowth, Community andResilience

Gallagher,one of the world’slargestinsurancebrokerage,risk managementand consulting firms, has asignificantpresencein Louisiana, with arich history andadeep commitmenttothe local community. With roots in the statedatingback decades, Gallagher has grownintothe largest broker inLouisiana, providing awide array of services to businesses of allsizes acrossvarious sectors

“WhereIthink we areuniquelypositioned is thatwedon’t have that institutional mindset. We haven’talwaysbeen big.We’vealwayshad to be alittle morenimble, creativeand client-centric, said” Numa “Bumpy” Triche,regional president. “The result isthatwehavethe sizeand scale of anybody in the world, with robustdataanalytics and modeling capabilities. But our local operations arevery much integrated within the local market.”

Founded in 1927,Gallagher has expanded globally and reports $11.3 billion in total adjustedbrokerage andrisk managementrevenues in 2024 and amarket capitalization of $76.1billion as of January 30,2025.

Thecompanyhas aworkforce of nearly56,000 employees worldwide morethan 970officesglobally,and servesclients in over130 countries.

In Louisiana, Gallagher’s journeybeganwithanacquisition in Baton Rouge,which led to theestablishmentofofficesinNew Orleans and Monroe,Louisiana. Thecompanyhas strategically acquired local firms overthe years, integrating their employees and maintaining alocal focus. This growth has resulted in 18 officesstatewide and asignificant regional market share. Thecompanyhas grownits businessbyworking withpeople and organizations who sharecommon values and vision. “Gallagher has one of thelargest operations within ourSoutheastregion in terms of our footprint acrossthe stateand the various markets, Triche said. “Atthe same time, we arealwaysclient-focused, withthe people in the statebeing the ones who work with the local teams and businesses. People work with us because we provide awhite-glove service experiencewitheasyaccessibilitytoour team and our broader tools and resources. We have invested heavily in areas relatedtodata analysis and forensicaccounting in order to provide the technical and detailed support to our teams.Whatwedoisoffer ourclients access to global expertise tailored to their needs.”

As proud as Gallagher is of its growth,theyare prouder to have been able to maintainits unique culture. This cultureissummed up in 25 tenets called TheGallagher Way, aset of shared values thatemphasize ethics, integrityand aclient-centricapproach. These values were articulatedbyRobert E. Gallagher backin1984and have sinceguided the company’soperations and relationships. Keyprinciples include providing excellentrisk managementservices,supporting and respecting colleagues, pursuing professional excellenceand fostering open communication. Thecompanyculturevalues empathy, trust, leadership and teamwork, with astrong emphasis on treating everyone with courtesyand respect

Gallagher’s commitmenttoLouisiana goes beyond business. The companyhas alocalpresence, with employees deeply embedded in the community.

“Our employees see theirclients at church on Sundays,play golf with them on Saturdays,and go to lunch with them on Wednesdays,” said William Jackson, ExecutiveVicePresidentof Gallagher’s SoutheastRegion and leader of the NewOrleans operation and the region’s specialtyproducts.Our local connection is akey differentiatorfor Gallagher,combining the resourcesand capabilities of alarge global firmwith the personalized serviceofa communitybroker.

“Weteam up withlocalpartnerstomakeevery communitywejoin a morevibrantone.Fromfundraisersfor localcharities to crawfishboils and hurricane relief,our officesgivebacktothe peopleand places in whichwelive. As we grow larger,wemaintain close ties to the communities we serve.

Gallagher serves adiverse range of industries in Louisiana,including manufacturing, agribusiness, public sector,higher education, aerospace, energy,entertainmentand lifesciences. Thecompanypositions itself as athought leader when it comes to riskmanagementguidance on topics suchascyber risks, healthcare,marine construction AI, social inflation and other influences thatimpactinsurance claim costs, leading to higher premiums and impacting the insuranceindustry’srisklandscape.The team prides itself on providing expertiseand insights on keyindustries and currenteventsimpacting this region.

WILLIAM JACKSON ExecutiveVicePresidentSoutheast Region, Gallagher

Gallagher is poised forcontinued success in Louisiana,driven by its strong values, localfocus and expertise in keyindustries. Thecompany’s emphasis on client-centric service, combined with its global resources, positions it as atrustedpartner forbusinesses andindividuals seeking insurance, risk managementand consulting solutions.AsGallagher continues to grow and adapttothe evolving needsofthe market its commitmenttothe local communities remains acornerstone of its identity

BATONROUGE

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2025

9:00am– 12:00pm &6:00pm –8:00pm

Raising Cane’s RiverCenter

NEWORLEANS

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER10, 2025

9:00am –12:00pm &5:30pm –7:30pm PontchartrainConvention and Civic Center

Registeronlineat

LOOK INSIDE FORTHE MAP ANDDIRECTORYOF ALLSCHOOLS

TIPS FORATTENDING ANACAC COLLEGE FAIR

BEFORETHEFAIR

1. Register online for the fair at www.nacacattend.org to receive abarcode for easy onsite access to collegerepresentatives.

2. Be sure to complete MatchmakingTM during registration. Ask yourselfthe following questions to help determinewhatkindofschool would be best for you.Doyou wanttoattend...

•a large, medium, or smallschool?

•anurban, suburban, or rural school?

•a two-year, four-year, single-sex, or religiously-affiliated school?

3. Research colleges attending the fairtodetermine if they meet yoursearchcriteria. Finda list of participating colleges

•Baton Rouge: www.nacacattend.org/25batonrouge

•New Orleans: www.nacacattend.org/25neworleans

4. Makea list of questions to askcollegerepresentatives.

•What degree programsdoyou offer?

•What financial aid optionsare available to me?

•What studentorganizationsdoyou have on campus?

ATTHE FAIR

1. Pick up an eventguide andbag for all of the materials youcollect.

2. Reference your MatchmakingTM results and visit those that match your search criteria.

3. Ask the collegerepresentativetoscanyour barcode. This will allowthe representative to follow up with youdirectly—and quickly.

4. Take notes. Write down what youfind mostinteresting about each college.

5. Attendaworkshop session or visitthe college advising center to learn moreabout the college search process,financial aid, and other topics.

1. Reviewcollegewebsites, catalogs, andviewbookstogather moreinformation to help narrow your choices.

2. Send athank younote/email to the collegerepresentatives youmet. This simple gesturecan show admission officials you’reserious about wantingtoattend their college.

3. Be suretocomplete the studentfairsurveyand tag us no social media

•Hashtag: #collegefair #collegefairs

The NationalAssociationfor CollegeAdmission Counseling(NACAC), founded in 1937,isan organization of morethan27,000professionals from around theworld dedicated to serving students as theymakechoicesabout pursuingpostsecondaryeducation. NACACiscommitted to maintaining best practicesthat foster ethical andsocial responsibility amongthose involved in the transitionprocess,asoutlined in the NACAC Guide to Ethical

Baton RougeNew Orleans

MAKING THE MOST OFYOUR VISIT TO A NATIONALCOLLEGE FAIR

Ready to takethe next step in your education?There’snobetter placeto exploreyour optionsthan at aNACAC National CollegeFair.

Admissionrepresentatives from schools across the country areall gathered in one place. Their goal: To encourageyou to learn moreabout their institutions,and helpyou sort through the qualities you’relooking for in acollege.

Take advantageoftheir expertise and make the most of your time by following these simple steps.

Be prepared

Beforethe bigday,visit nacacattend.org/ fairs and scan through the list of colleges and universities that will be represented. Makea note of the schools that interest youthe most, and plan to visit theirbooths at the fair. Remember: applying to collegeisahighly personal and individual process.Your criteria of what type of collegewill meet your needs best may look drastically differentfromthat of your friends and classmates,and that’s okay.Thereare colleges that will be closeto home, and ones thatare faraway. Onesthat aresmall, private schools,and ones that are large,public schools.Some willhaveyour projected major and otherswon’t. Consider your goals,strengths,areas for growth, and genuinely ask yourself “why do Iwanttogo to college?”Startingthis process without asolid answer to that question is amissed opportunity.

“Planning ahead canhelp youstay focused,” said Cynthia Kaan, aFerrisState University (MI) admission officer. “If youhavecertain schools youknowyou areinterested in, don’t limit yourself, but makelearning about those schools your priority.”

Youcan research colleges throughavariety of mediums,starting with online search engines and collegewebsites. Youcan also learn moreabout aschool through its student newspapersand alumnimagazines,social

media accounts and review-based sites that rank institutions based on their perceived strengths in academics,social life, athletics, diversity,affordability,and more.

Makeyourquestions count

Like so manyother thingsinlife, a successful visit to aNational CollegeFair is marked by quality,not quantity.

In other words: Rather than focusing on collecting abrochurefromevery college booth, makeityour goal to have in-depth conversations with afew of the collegereps on hand.

“I encouragestudents to not just stop by the table and pick up abrochure, but rather engagethe representativewith a fewquestions,” said Valencia Hamman, co-director of collegecounseling at La Jolla Country Day School (CA). “That means youwanttocome into the fair with alist of questions so you’reready forthat opportunity.”

Ahead of the fair,consider the type of environmentyou learn best in. Do youlike smaller classroomsorlargerlecturesettings? Areyou interested in internships and handson experiential learning opportunities? Consider asking collegerepresentatives for more information on these topicsand othersthat maybeimportanttoyou, such as on-campus housing, diversity of thestudent body,and support services on campus.

Keep an open mind

Yes, it’simportanttoplan ahead and select afew colleges youknowyou want to visit, but each fair drawsrepresentatives from 175to 400 campuses throughout the US and from around the globe. Youowe it to yourselfto follow-up with colleges that catch your eye.

“Do your research, but also have an open mind,”Hamman said. “Sometimes students taketime to talk with arepresentativefrom aschoolthat theyreally hadn’tconsidered beforeand it becomes apart of their list.”

Chatting with representatives from a

variety of colleges canalso help youcement your ownpreferences,Kaan noted.

“It’sjust as important to figureout whatyou don’t want as it is to figureout whatisreally attractivetoyou,”she said.

It also helpstobepresentable yourself. Dress appropriately andbesuretoturn off your cell phone to avoid interruptions while chatting with representatives.

Learn aboutthe process

What’s the dealwith college entrance tests? What do admission officers look for in acollegeessay?How canI findout if I’m eligible for financialaid?

No matter where youend up enrolling, you’ll likely encounter at least one of these questions duringthe collegeapplication process.

Useyour visit to aNational CollegeFairto getahead start. Check out the fair’s education sessions,covering topicsranging from college costs to studentathlete eligibility andcollege selectivity.

Each fair also includes acounseling center,oftentimes an invaluable resource for students with specializedinterests

Youmay also want to speak with representatives about scheduling toursof the campuses you’reinterested in andany other in-person opportunitiesavailable to youtolearn moreabout the schools and how to apply.Someinstitutions offer prospective students information sessions and the chance to attend aclass or shadowa currentstudent.

Followup

Ask collegereps for their contact information and be suretofollowup.

“Not always,but often, the representative that is attending the collegefair is the representativethatwill end up reading your application,”Hammansaid. “Keep in touch with them; reachout with thoughtful, intelligentquestions.Thatdemonstrates interest.”

Baton Rouge's Premier Catholic University Catholic Higher EducationatIts Finest

FranU’ssimulated hospitaloffershandson,interprofessional training for future healthcare providers

By Amanda McElfresh amcelfresh@theadvocate.com

This article is brought to youbyFranU.

AtFranciscan MissionariesofOur Lady University,the Simulated EnvironmentTeaching Hospital (SETH) is acornerstone of healthcare education, offering students immersiveand interprofessional training experiences to preparethemfor real-life situations.

Located within St. Francis Hall on the FranU campus in Baton Rouge, SETH boasts arangeofsimulation suites,each mirroringcritical areasofhealthcare delivery,including intensivecare, birthing suites,pediatric and neonatal units, emergency rooms and mental health and home health scenarios.These highly

detailed environments areequipped with lifelikemannequins,high-fidelity monitors,electronichealthrecord workstations and realistic equipment.

SETH alsoincludesexamand medical lab spaces,anurses’ station, X-rayrooms and setups that mimic trauma care and telemedicine.Otherenvironmentsinclude operating rooms,aphysical therapygym and medicalsurgicalrooms.

“This teaches students howtoactively intervene in real time. We arethen able to observe howstudents manageasituation,” said Dr.Tabitha Jones-Thomas,Associate Dean, Simulated Clinical Education. “The equipmentisvery sophisticated.

We program the computerstodowhat we need themtodo, so thesimulationcan take manydifferentroutes.”

SETH also encourages interprofessionaleducation by bringing together FranU students from various disciplines, includingnursing, respiratory therapy, medical laboratory science, physical therapy, nutritionsciencesand more. By collaborating within simulated, dynamic scenarios,students sharpen their technicalabilities as well as theirskills in critical thinking, teamwork, diagnostic reasoning and decision-making.

“Wedon’t want to stopa situation, because we need students to recognize

what happens as aresult of acorrect intervention, as well as what happens when theydon’t recognize the problem or don’t prioritize,”Dr. Jones-Thomas explained. “Afterwards, we have areally rich discussion and walk through all of the steps to see what happened.”

SETH’ssimulation labs areintegrated across FranU’shealth sciences programs, which include associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees,plus doctoral-level training. This means that no matter wherea FranU studentisintheir journey to ahealthcarecareer,SETHgives them valuable lessons for the future.

Visit franu.edu for more information.

FEATURES:

● Access College Matchmaking®

● View Fair Schedule

● Location,Bus,and ParkingInformation

● Fair Mapand College Search Functionality

● DigitalNotebookfor CollegeBooth Visits

● In-App AttendeeBarcode

● Fair Announcements viaPushNotifications

● Post Fair VisitSummary Email

Delgado expands accesswith affordable educationand growing career-focused programs

By Amanda McElfresh amcelfresh@theadvocate.com

This article is brought to youby Delgado CommunityCollege.

AsLouisiana’slargest community college, Delgado continues to grow by providing affordable, flexible and transferable educational opportunities.With enrollmentnow at approximately 12,600 students,Delgado offersmorethan 100programs andcertificates designed to preparegraduates to immediately enter the workforce or seamlessly transfer to afour-year university

Dr.TamikaTyson Duplessis,Associate Vice Chancellor forStudent Affairs, said manystudents aredrawn to Delgado for its value,versatility andhigh-quality education.

“Cost is always akey driving factor when students decide wheretogotocollege. The fact that Delgado is absolutely affordable and our courses transferacross thenation and beyond because of agreementswehavewith manyinstitutions meansthat students know the value of the education theyget hereisby farthe best,”she said.

One of Delgado’sfastest-growingareas is its general studies program. Emily Cosper, Dean of the School of Liberal Arts,Social Sciences and Education, said general studies serves as agatewaytoa wide range of careersand academicpathways.This year, 41 percentofDelgadostudentsare pursuing ageneral studies degree.

“A general studies degree is workforce development. Whatissopowerful is that this is averybroad-basededucation that covers multiple disciplines,” Cosper said.

“Thestudents arelearning skills in critical thinking and analysis.Theyget really good at discussing and understanding concepts.”

Delgado’sgeneral studies degrees are

discipline-specific, with concentrations ranging from humanities and fine arts to psychology,allied health andmusic. These 60-credit-hour programs combine general education courses withclasses in astudent’s concentration.

All Delgado programs offer courses in multiple formats,including in-person and online, with eight-week and 12-week sessions allowing students to start almost anytime in the year.Dr. Duplessis encouraged prospectivestudents to begin with an online application at dcc.edu, then meet with an advisor to discuss course options and financial aid. She also urged them to visit campus to getasense of the atmosphereofgrowth and encouragement that will surround them.

“Weare seeing moreyoungerstudents straightout of highschool who arechoosing Delgadofirst,”shesaid.“Thatispromptingus to put moreefforts into studentengagement anda true college experience.Wecan make it fun and exciting and still keep the academic rigor.”

Visit dcc.edu for moreinformation.

Southern marks major growth with facility upgrades, new programs and researchhonors

By Amanda McElfresh amcelfresh@theadvocate.com

This story is brought to youbySouthernUniversity.

AsSouthern

Facility Enhancements

Southern wasbustling with activity this summer as work wasunder way on major upgrades.These include an outdoor classroomand amphitheater, renovations at T.H. Harris Hall andthe J.S. Clark Administration Building, a revamped public safety building and turf renovations at A.M. MumfordStadium Construction began in late 2024 on the Global Innovation and Welcome Center, astate-of-the-art facility that will host events for up to 750people. The new complexwill also house Southern’s Traffic and Parking Department, as well as the Office of Research and Strategic Planning. Work has also begun on the new$68 million STEM Complex, which will replace William Henry James Hall and is expected to be completed by spring 2027 The three-story building willfeature21 studentlab spaces,16classroom spaces,a studentcommonareaand support spaces for administrators, professors and staff

Newdigital media program

In fall 2025, Southern launched anew Bachelor of Artsprogram in digital media arts.The interdisciplinaryprogram brings together theCollegeofHumanitiesand InterdisciplinaryStudies,theDepartment of Visual and Performing Arts andthe DepartmentofMass Communication to provide students with theskills needed to thriveintoday’s dynamic digital media industry

Approvedbythe Louisiana Boardof Regents, the program includes areas of concentration in digital screen arts production,digital performancefusion, visual arts and motion graphics,digital sports production and recording arts

This year,Southern is the Best of Baton RougeSilver Winner for Best Collegeor University. With more than30academic programs and representation from more than 20 countries,Southern is amelting potfor culture, education and service. It is building on that foundation withkey projects:

KeyResearchDesignation

Southern received a2025Research 2 designationfromtheAmericanCouncilon Education andthe Carnegie Foundation for the AdvancementofTeaching.

The Research 2: High Spending and Doctorate Production designation was granted to 139 institutions.Southern, oneof13HistoricallyBlack Colleges andUniversities withthe designation, utilized $12.9 million forresearch and developmentand awarded 42 research doctorates.

Southern first received the Carnegie R2 designation for“high-research activity” in January 2022. This reflected an increased number of publications in refereed journals; more significant opportunities for itsgraduate and undergraduate studentstoparticipate in scholarlyactivities and research with their professors;and building nationally reputableand competitiveacademic departments, colleges,schools and centers.

PreservingHistory withGettyImages

This spring, ateam from Getty Images spenttimeoncampuswith Southern’s archives staff to help digitize andrestore fragile photographs.The project, part of Getty’sHBCUPhoto ArchiveGrant Program, aims to preserveand amplify the university’s rich history.

CassandraIllidge, vice presidentof global partnerships at GettyImagesand executivedirector of the HBCU program, said the initiativeaids HBCUslike Southern with the tools,resources and technology to preservetheir past.

“HBCUs have that opportunity to share thejoy that theybring on campus to aglobalaudience,”Illidgesaid. “This globalreach showsthatBlack people and HBCUsaccepted everyone whowanted to getaneducation at atimewhen theywere denied, and thesepictures show those narratives.”

FINISH STRONGER

Southern University and A&M College, aCarnegie R2 institution,offersavast portfolio of in-demand,affordable programs leading to bachelor’s,master’s and doctoral degrees.

Wraparound services and vibrant studentlifeactivitiesprovide aholistic educational experience foradiverse campuscommunity.

Begin whereyou are. FinishStronger atSouthern. Formoreabout Southern, scanbelow to watchour episodeof“The College Tour,” streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

HOWTOBEST PREPAREFOR COLLEGE WHILE IN HIGHSCHOOL

Your futureafter high school holds tremendous promise –you’ll makenew friends,follow your interests and, hopefully, find asatisfying career.

However, more than athird of students who enter collegefail to graduate with abachelor’s degree within six years, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

“Thereare tworeasons whykids flunk out,” said AmyThompson, acounselor at York Community HighSchool (IL). “Theyare either academicallyunprepared or theyare emotionallyunprepared.”

Increase your chances for success by making themost out of your highschoolyears.

BUCKLEDOWNINTHE CLASSROOM

Taking rigorous classesinhigh school helpsyou getintocollege, andthe knowledgeand skills youacquirealso help prepareyou to be successful in pursuit of your degree. Seek outhonors, Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses in subjects that interest you. Lookfor courses that requirelots of writing andcriticalthinking—skills you’lluse in almostevery collegeclass. Don’t panic if thematerial seems difficultatfirst. Developing good study habitsand time-managementskills in highschool canhelpyou persevereincollege.

Some rigorous coursesactuallyallowyou to jumpstart your postsecondary education.Students who dowell on AP tests,for example, canearncollegecredit. Some high schools also partner with local colleges to offer dual-credit courses, which canhelp acquaintyou with howcollegecoursesare structured and scheduled. Somemeet every day,while othersmeet acoupletimesa week.Somemeet in the evenings or online. In general, collegecoursesare longer and more intensive, and the volume of work is likely greaterthan whatyou’re accustomed to in high school.

Higher education entails what the titleimplies –higher standards, moredifficult subject matter,and greater expectations of youasa student.

extracurricular activities open to high school students.

“The onepiece of advice I givestudentsisdon’t just join something to pad your resume,” Thompson said.“Picksomething you’regenuinely interested in.”

By senior year,“be in a position thatshows not only your devotiontothe group,but also some levelofinitiativeor leadership,” she said. “Admission officers cansee through the applicant who joins amilliondifferentclubs in their junior or senior year.”

Universities arelooking for studentswho will make the most of the opportunities available to them. Ahigh school recordwith extracurricular activities helps showadmission officers thatyou’llbe avaluablepartoftheir campuscommunity.

Extracurricular activities,especially those with leadership positions,can help youdevelop moneyskills,aswell. It’s wise to learn howtohandle adebit or credit card,and to practice budgeting. As a collegestudent, you’ll need to set moneyaside for regularcostslike books, supplies,and living expenses.

FINISH STRONG

Your senior year of high school will be hectic.

It canbetempting to sluff off in the classroom, but stay focused.

“You need to maintain your academic performance anddoatleast as well—if not better—because youdon’t want to have your admission offer rescinded,”Thompsonsaid.

When planning your schedule, makesurethatyou’reon-trackto meet collegeentrance requirements,including at least twoyearsofa foreign languageand four yearsofmath, science,and English courses.

“Colleges want to see that youknowhow to work hard,and thatyou have taken advantageofthe courses andactivities your high school has to offer,” Thompsonsaid. “A strong finish in your senior year helps makeyou amoreattractivecandidate.”

It’sanexciting time in your life. By taking chargeofthe changes that lie ahead, youcan eliminate or minimizepressures andgoforward with confidence.

BALANCINGACT:

TIPSFORADULTS RETURNINGTO

COLLEGE

Considering going backtocollege?

You’reingood company. Nontraditionalstudents nowmake up themajority of US undergraduates,and one-in-four college studentsare age30orolder

But although colleges are servinga greaternumber of adults,

1 2 3 4

finding the right program—a placewhereyou canbalance your educationwith employmentand family responsibilities—iskey to your success.

Hereare four questions every nontraditional studentshould ask when researching schools.

What is your college’s track record with nontraditional students?

Ask some tough questions:What’sthe graduation rate of nontraditional studentsatyourinstitution?Are adult studentseligible for meritaid?How much debt do students typically accrue?What’sthe averagetime to graduation?

Learning the answerscan help youdecide whichcollegeisrightfor you. It canalsohelpyou estimate how much time— and money—you’ll need to complete adegree.

What sort of flexible learning optionsdoyou offer?

Responsibilities at home andatwork canchangeoveryour courseoftime that you’re enrolled in college. Choosing aschool that providesavariety of course options—from in-person, to online, to hybrid—increases your odds of staying on track.

“A lot of adults have full-timework schedules or child care responsibilities,” said AmberHarnack, student successcenter director of IvyTech Community College(IN). “Theyoften need more flexibilitywhenitcomes to scheduling classes.”

Also askabout student support services,such as tutoring, recommends Michelle Christopherson,directorof theCenter for Adult Learning on the University of Minnesota—Crookston campus.

“You want to make sure that youare goingtobesupported, and youwanttomakesurethatthose services aren’tgoingtoend up costing youextra,” shesaid.

What will it take to geta degree?

The majority of nontraditionalstudents have already accumulated some collegecredits by the time theyreenter highereducation.

Beforeyou enroll in anyprogram, learn whether your credits will transfer and howmanycourses you’ll need to complete adegree.

“You want to make sure that fromthe beginningyou have aclear understanding on howmuch it willcost and whatyour degree pathway will look like,” Christopherson said.

Howwill your institution help me meet my career goals?

Begin your collegesearch with theend in mind.

What’sspurring your decision to return to school? Areyou looking for advancement options in your current field, or do youwantacareer change?

Ask collegeofficialsabout the types of jobs landed by recent program graduates.Inquire about the services offered at the campus’ career center

“Make sure that your goals match up with what thecollegeisable to provide,”Harnacksaid.“Youwanttobe certain that the degreeprogram youultimately choose is agood fit.”

COLLEGE FAIR BATONROUGE

INTERNATIONAL

Bishop’sUniversity (Sherbrooke, QC CA).............. 205

McGillUniversity (Montreal, QC CA)..................... 322 Temple University -Japan Campus (Tokyo,JP) .109

ALABAMA

Marion Military Institute 229

The University of Alabama 300

The University of Alabama in Huntsville................................................................... 225

University of AlabamaatBirmingham 119 University of South Alabama 324

ARIZONA

University of Advancing Technology 131

ARKANSAS

University of Arkansas 310

CALIFORNIA

Loyola Marymount University 202 University of San Francisco........................................ 204

COLORADO

United States Air ForceAcademy 227

CONNECTICUT

University of Connecticut. 325

FLORIDA

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University ...................218

Florida Institute of Technology 127

Florida PolytechnicUniversity ...................................111

Palm Beach AtlanticUniversity................................. 220

The University of Tampa 125

GEORGIA

Mercer University......................................................... 224

Morehouse College. 309

Savannah CollegeofArt and Design..........................107

LOUISIANA

AcademyofInteractiveEntertainment -Lafayette Campus......................................................... 311

Centenary CollegeofLouisiana 105

Delgado CommunityCollege. 322 FranciscanMissionaries of Our Lady University..................................................321

Louisiana Center forCollegeAccess (LCCA) 228

LouisianaState University Eunice............................308

Louisiana Tech University...........................................210

Loyola University NewOrleans 301

McNeese State University 221 Nicholls StateUniversity .............................................201

Northwestern State University ..................................303

Southeastern Louisiana University 101&103

Tulane University 230

University of Louisiana at Lafayette .............318 &320

University of Louisiana at Monroe............................ 211

MARYLAND

United States NavalAcademy.....................................219 University of Maryland Eastern Shore. 203

MASSACHUSETTS

Massachusetts Institute of Technology...................328

MISSISSIPPI

Belhaven University ..................................................... 208 Millsaps College..............................................................207

Mississippi State University 231 The University of Southern Mississippi ................. 304 University of Mississippi .............................................330 William Carey University 3077

NEW JERSEY

Stevens Institute of Technology.................................319

NEWYORK

AMDA College&Conservatory of the Performing Arts. 209 United States Military Academy. 305

NORTHCAROLINA

High PointUniversity....................................................505

Langston University

OREGON

University of Oregon.....................................................

PENNSYLVANIA

University of Pittsburgh .............................................. 222

TENNESEE

Vanderbilt University....................................................216

TEXAS

Houston Christian University

TexasA&M University-CollegeStation.................. 200

TexasState University ................................................. 306

University of Houston 123

VIRGINIA

Virginia Tech

INTERNATIONAL

Bishop’sUniversity (Sherbrooke,QC, CA)..............605

Cardiff Metropolitan University ................................508

McGill University (Montreal, QC,CA) 208

Temple University -Japan Campus(Tokyo, JP) 300

ALABAMA

Marion MilitaryInstitute.............................................509

The University of Alabama 610

The University of Alabama in Huntsville 507

University of AlabamaatBirmingham .....................400

University of South Alabama.......................................308

ARIZONA

University of AdvancingTechnology 103 Universal Technical Institute ......................................611

ARKANSAS

University of Arkansas 608

CALIFORNIA

Loyola MarymountUniversity ...................................305

University of San Francisco.........................................204

COLORADO

United States Air ForceAcademy 607

CONNECTICUT

University of Connecticut 613

FLORIDA

Embry-Riddle AeronauticalUniversity ...................403

Florida Institute of Technology..................................603

Florida Polytechnic University 301

Palm Beach Atlantic University 402

The University of Tampa..............................................600

GEORGIA

Georgia StateUniversity 510 Life University 115

Mercer University..........................................................302

Morehouse College......................................................... 310

Oglethorpe University 511

Savannah CollegeofArt and Design.......................... 201

LOUISIANA

Centenary CollegeofLouisiana...................................101

FranciscanMissionaries of Our Lady University.. 104

Louisiana Center forCollegeAccess (LCCA)..........502

Loyola University NewOrleans 108

Loyola University NewOrleans

CollegeofMusic &Media..............................................112

Loyola University NewOrleans

School of Nursing. 110

LSU HealthSciences Center.......................................407

Nicholls StateUniversity .............................................304

Northwestern State University 411

Southeastern Louisiana University............... 100&102

University of Louisiana at Lafayette ............. 209 &211

University of Louisiana at Monroe 205

MARYLAND

United States NavalAcademy.....................................406

MASSCHUSETTS

Massachusetts Institute of Technology...................409

MISSISSIPPI

Belhaven University ...................................................... 107 Millsaps College..............................................................207

Mississippi State University 202

The University of Southern Mississippi 106 University of Mississippi .............................................405 William Carey University..............................................311

MISSOURI

SaintLouis University ...................................................111

NEW JERSEY

Stevens Institute of Technology................................. 210

NEWYORK

AMDACollege&Conservatory of the Performing Arts................................................... 307

SarahLawrence College................................................306

United States MerchantMarine Academy. 502

NORTHCAROLINA

High PointUniversity 203

OHIO

Ohio WesleyanUniversity............................................206

OREGON

Reed College.....................................................................408

University of Oregon 309

PENNSYLVANIA

University of Pittsburgh 303

RHODEISLAND

Providence College.........................................................609

TENNESSEE

University of Tennessee-Knoxville ...........................602

TEXAS

Houston Christian University.....................................606

TexasA&M University-CollegeStation 105 TexasState University 404 University of Houston................................................... 501

VIRGINIA

Sweet Briar College........................................................604

Virginia Tech ...................................................................500

Kerri Caruso, Chair, MountCarmel Academy

KristinGuidry, Tulane University

Jessica Reeg, Archbishop Chapelle High School

Andrea Rye, St.Mary’s DominicanHighSchool

Michelle Keelen, St.Augustine High School

NEWORLEANS NATIONAL COLLEGE FAIR COMMITTEE

THE CHANGING LANDSCAPE OF STANDARDIZEDTESTING

Requirements and philosophies around standardized testing –most commonly theSAT and ACT–have dramatically shiftedinthe last twodecades,accelerated by the COVID-19pandemic. Now, most higher educationinstitutionshave test-optional policies or have wholly eliminated standardized-test scores from considerationin the admission reviewprocess.

Colleges and universities maynow implement these policies:

•Test-optional: Under thispolicy, applicants decide if theywantto submit astandardized test scoreaspartoftheirapplication file. Optional truly means optional, andthe absenceofastandardized test scorewill not negatively impactanapplicant.Instead, the applicant will be reviewedentirely on theirhighschooltranscript andrigor of theircurriculum. Studentsshould checkindividual admission criteria, as policies may differ under certain circumstances: applying forscholarships,students who have been home-schooled, students seeking admission into accelerated BS/MD or BS/DDS programs, international applicants, andothers.

What once wasa mainstay of collegeadmission is now takingnew form.

ly in the admission process; one is not preferredoveranother.Inthese cases,test scores remain just one of numerous factorsconsidered in the admission decision.

Students whointend on takingthe SATorACT have options available to them. This includes superscore, or thepractice of combining astudent’s highest-scoringsections from multiple test dates to create one superscore. Students mayalsochoose which overall scoretosubmit, instead of theirentiretesting record, if they takethe SATorACT more than once.Tohelp coverthe costsof taking thesetests,students should consult their high school counseling offices to findiftheyare eligible for testing-fee waivers.

Additionally,students who do takethe SATorACT and ultimately apply to atest-optional institutiondonot have to submit theirscore. The general guidance is to submit scores thatfall toward theupper end or exceed acollege’spublished middle 50% range, and to refrain from submitting scores that fall on the lowend or belowthe institution’saverage range.

•Test-flexible: Some institutionsthateitherrequire testing or are test-optional will allowapplicantstosubmittestscoresother than theSAT or ACTfor consideration. Examples ofthis include Advanced Placement(AP) Exam scores,International Baccalaureate (IB) Higher LevelExamresults,A-Levelresults,and more.

•Test-free: Institutions with thispolicydonot acceptorfactor standardized test results into their admissionprocess at all, believing thereisampleinformation to make an admission decisioninthe remainder of the application.

•Testing required: Underthis policy, applicantsare required to submit results from theSAT or ACT. Both tests areweighed equal-

Typically,students do not takethe SATorACT until thespringof their junior year,with most testing done in senior year.Prior,students mayhaveexposuretocollegeadmission testing through the Preliminary SAT(PSAT)orPreliminary ACT(PreACT)intheir sophomoreyear as apractice round. Forthose wherethatisnot an option, practice tests areavailable online and as hard-copybooks for purchase. Students mayalso wish to consult tutors, but should ensuretheir reputability beforemakingthatsometimes-costly investment.

Ultimately,students should remember that in this newstandardized-testing climate, their highschoolrecordand rigor of coursework is moreimportant than standardized testscores.

MOBILE REGISTRATION

REGISTERTODAYATWWW.NACACATTEND.ORG

THEBENEFITSOFONLINE STUDENTREGISTRATION

•STUDENTSREGISTER FORTHE FAIR ONE TIME.

•ITELIMINATES THE NEED FORCOLLEGE CONTACTCARDS.

•STUDENTSARE EASILYABLE TO ELABORATE ON SPECIAL INTERESTS, EXTRACURRICULARACTIVITIES, ANDACCOMPLISHMENTS.

INVESTING IN LOCALEDUCATION.

Koch Methanol St.Jamessupportseducational programs that give studentsand futureworkersthe skillsnecessary to succeedin today’sdynamic workplace.

From providing grantsand scholarships to supporting STEM programs and trade internshipsthat help studentsdevelop critical skillsin math and science, our commitment to local education runs deep. Learn

Southeastern LouisianaUniversity

Continues to Put StudentsFirst

Southeastern is committed to helping youearn your degree, your best career—your best future. Through ourhigh-value, in-demandacademic programs,you will learn from some of thebestprofessors in their fields whoput youfirst.Southeastern is readytohelpyou succeed.

As theuniversity celebrates its 100th year,there has neverbeen a better time to experience all thatSoutheastern hastooffer.Inaddition to ourCentennial celebration, ourcentury-longcommitmenttohelping students reachtheir dream destination remains aconstant in all that we do.

Our accomplished faculty will connect youwith internships, study abroadprograms,researchprojects and community outreach to make youmorecompetitive. And after graduation, youcan beconfident knowing youhavea degree with staying power.

Theproofisinthe results.Our students and alumni are leaders in improving Louisiana’shealth and education, protecting our environment and workers, bringingartsand culture to ourarea, and strengthening business andtechnology. In addition to being top-ranked forsocial mobility,academic programs, return on investment,and much more, Southeastern hasalso been ranked as atop university by U.S.News & WorldReport.

Discover your best futureatSoutheastern, aplacewhere youcome first,and be partofacentury-long legacy of success.

DEGREE-TO-CAREER FOCUS

Keep your edge in achanging world with adegree from Southeastern.

PERSONALIZED OPPORTUNITIES

Make your college experience more exciting, meaningful and valuable withopportunitiesbased on you.

TOPFACULTY PUTYOU FIRST

Our accomplishedprofessors put youfirst—in the classroom and into your future career

GETINVOLVED

Liveand lead on campus—and beyond—with student organizations for everyinterest,events all year long,Div.Iathletics, nationally ranked campus food,and new residence halls.

WITHIN REACH

Our high-value degree programs, distinctivescholarships and textbook rental program makeSoutheastern the smartfinancial choice.

Political sciencemajorCaroline Watson once hesitatedtomajor inpoliticalscience, settlingon communication sciences and disordersasher major at first.But nowshe’s at theepicenterof politics, advocating forLouisianans asanintern forU.S. Senator BillCassidy.

From impersonating George Washingtoninamock

Constitutional Convention to chairingthe SGA appropriationscommittee,Caroline’s Southeastern experiences fuel her desiretopursuelaw school and become acriminalprosecutor.

Caroline’s action plan

Join apre-law student association. Represent 500 political science students as an SGA senator Intern for aU.S.senator

Mentor underclassmen as an Honors ambassador Volunteer at the St.Vincent de Paul soup kitchen. Assist with hurricane relief efforts in Louisiana and Texas. Take theLSAT.

Yes, knowledge is power, and thechoice is yours. But you MUST ACTNOW to put your estate plan in place. It all starts by attending one of LauraPoche’s free educational eventswhich makes it clear that regardless of your networth,ifyou want to preserveyourhard-earned assetsorhavepeople in your life you need to protectorhavecauses that youwanttopromote, EVERY PERSON NEEDSALEGAL ESTATE PLAN. Let LauraPoche and her professional and knowledgeable staffmakethis process as easyaspossible so youcan livewith PEACEOFMIND.

BATONROUGE

Monday,September 22 Poche LawOffice

4960 Bluebonnet,Ste.C 2:00pm -4:30pm REFRESHMENTSPROVIDED AFTER

BATONROUGE

Tuesday,September 23 Poche LawOffice

4960 Bluebonnet,Ste.C 11:00am -1:30pm LUNCH PROVIDED AFTER

BATONROUGE

Wednesday,September24

Drusilla Seafood 3482 Drusilla Lane 5:30pm -8:00pm

DINNER PROVIDED AFTER

BATONROUGE

Thursday,September 25 Poche LawOffice

4960 Bluebonnet,Ste.C 9:30am -12:00pm

LUNCH PROVIDED AFTER

LAURAPOCHE INVITES YOUTOATTEND AFREE WORKSHOP TO LEARN ABOUT:

• Howcan Ikeep the governmentout of my estate settlement?

• What arethe twobiggest andmostexpensivemistakesfamiliesmakewhen trying to avoidnursing home poverty?

• Howcan Ikeep my not-quite perfect son-in-law and my over-controlling daughter-in-law from having influenceovermyestatesettlement?

• Howcan my family avoid estate tax, and other taxestheymightfacewhen Ipass away?

• HowdoIstart the five-year look back period fornursinghomeswithout having to giveeverything away to my family whileIamalive?

• Whydomostlawyerslove Probate, and want my estate to go through it?

• Should IhaveaWill or Trust(or both)?

• Canmypatchwork quiltofWills,Powers of Attorney, Living Wills, and Beneficiary Designations actually be atime bomb waiting to explode?

• HowdoIkeep my estate plan up-to-datewithout it costing afortune when my life circumstances changeorwhen the law changes?

• HowdoIensurethatmy estate won’tincur legal expensewhen Idie,preserving 100% of my assetsfor my family?

7STUPIDESTATEPLANNING MISTAKES TO AVOID IN 2025

If youhaveeverwantedtoeliminateworry becauseyou don’t havea program in place to protectyourestateand family,without aslewof untimely legaland taxproblems,thenthis will be one of the most important workshops youeverattend.I am going to showyou howtobulletproof what youhavetoday, and whatyou leaveyourkids tomorrow.You’llbeable to take advantageofmyestateplanninglegalstrategieswithout youoryour lovedoneshavingtodeal with Succession Courts,long estate settlement delays,Medicaid liens,nursing home poverty, and death tax. But before Ido that, letmetell youastory of howwehelped Mary.

MARY’S STORY

“Asacouple with an only child, we thoughtaWill wasall we needed. WRONG! My husband died, and Ihad to go through Probate-anightmare, andvery costly.Italsotook over9 months.I didn’t want ourchild to go through that, so Igaveher an ad to aPoche’Law Firmworkshop,and sheand herhusband were impressed. They had Lauraset up aparticular kindofTrust that took care of their estate planning, butwhat aboutme? Idecided to go to aworkshop,and made my appointment.Lauraansweredall of my questions, andevengot my financial advisor in on aconferencecall. Icould nothave been morepleasedand relieved that my estate plan is nowinorder.Kudos to Lauraand her professional staff. Ihighly recommend her forall estate planningneeds.”

Mary,Baton Rouge, LA

IMPORTANT GUIDELINES FOROUR WORKSHOPS:

Workshopsare open to FIRST-TIMEATTENDEES ONLYand aregearedtowards people whowant or need your legal estate plan in placequickly Pleasehaveyourpersonal calendarhandy at the workshop so youcan choose to startyourplan NOW! If married, both spouses mustattend a workshop to ensurethat alldecision-makers are involved in your family’scoordinated plan

All people who attend willreceiveaFREE copy of theupdated2nd edition of LauraPoche’s Book, “Estate Planning AdvicebyaWoman forLouisiana Women: AGuide forBothMen and Women About Wills,Trusts,Probate, Powers of Attorney, Medicaid, Living Willsand Taxes.”

LOUISIANA

Changingprotocol

Movement canspeed up concussion recovery,Louisiana doctor says

BY MARGARETDELANEY Staffwriter

Concussion protocol for youth sports is changing in amajor way.Traditionally,guidance has been to rest and limit activity.Research now shows controlled aerobicworkoutsrestore blood to the brain alot faster,reducing symptoms and improving recovery in certain cases.

Dr.Olabode Agaja, aprimary care sports medicine specialist with the Ochsner Andrews Sports MedicineInstitute,presented this change andthe Buffalo Concussion Treadmill Test in New Orleans in August. Sports-relatedconcussions account for approximately 15% of all youth sports-related emergency department visits, with an estimated 1.9 million sports-relatedconcussionsinchildren under 18 in the U.S. each year

young athletes suffering concussions. Concussions arethe most challenging injuries to process and understand, according to Agaja.

In the brain, there is aforce that causes an acceleration and deceleration process —a rattling of thebrain that leadstoachange in the organ’s chemical makeup. “Typically,the brain does a good job of being able to recover from strong forces,”Agaja said. “But we have to give it the ability to do so.”

As sports rampupacross Louisiana, Agajaurgeseveryone to studyupon updated research to improve care for

If thesymptoms are worse, the brain is saying it’soverstimulated Commonphysicalsymptoms of concussionsinclude headaches, dizziness,slowing down, trouble remembering, balanceissues andnausea. Mentally,strong forcestothe head couldalso effect thebrain’semotional side, where increased levels of anxiety or depression can also occur

See CONCUSSION, page 3X

Nonalcoholic beer,mocktails help people stay sober, drinkless

Butthey’re not foreveryone

BY LAURAUNGAR AP sciencewriter

Several years into her sobriety,Logan Denzer decided totry nonalcoholic beer andmocktails while others around her drank real booze.

“A lot of people feel out of place”

wheneveryone else is imbibing, saidthe 27-year-old from LosAngeles, whoconsiders thesebeverages “an excellentsolution.”

Millions of Americans agree including othersrecovering from addiction, people tryingtocut down on their drinking and the risingnumber of young adultsforgoingalcohol altogether

They’vefueledabooming industry. Recentresearch shows that drinking less, or nothing at all, is a

much healthier way togo. Alcohol has been linked to cancers, injuries and ahost of other problems.

Still, healthexpertssay nonalcoholic beveragesaren’tfor everyone, especially if they might triggercravings for alcohol. These so-called NA drinksare meant to mimic alcohol in manyways, such as appearance, smell and taste.

“It’simportanttorecognize that these are probably not one-sizefits-all products,” said researcher

Molly Bowdring of Stanford University.“Youmight see peers or friends or family members use themand have no problem with them, butitreally comes back to your own individual experience.”

Retail salesofnonalcoholic wine, beer andspirits surged to $823 million last year.That’saccording to marketresearch firm NielsenIQ, which says morethan nine in 10 NA customers also buy alcohol.

“So they may have an alcoholic beverage andthenanadult nonalcoholic beverage. That’scalled zebra striping anditkind of extends the night.”

Retiree Ann Kopp Mitchell, who

“They’re wanting to not necessarily drink during the week, or they’re wanting to switch out at aparticular occasion,” said Marcos Salazar of the Adult NonAlcoholic Beverage Association.

AtOchsner65Plus,ourtrustedteamofproviderstakesaninnovativeandcomprehensive approachtoprimarycareforadults65andolder.Alongwithyourphysician,webuildateam thatprovidescustomizedcarewithyouruniquehealthneedsinmind.Offeringextended visittimes,acomprehensivecareteam,andfitnessandcommunityrooms,allinacalm, comfortableandcaringenvironment.

GETTy IMAGESPHOTO By JACOB WACKERHAUSEN

Sports-related concussions account for approximately 15% of all youth sports-related emergencydepartmentvisits, withanestimated 1.9 million sports-related concussions in children under 18 in the U.S. each year

Agaja

GETTy IMAGESPHOTO

Research shows controlled aerobic workouts restore blood to the brainalot faster after aconcussion,reducing symptomsand improving recovery in certain cases.

HEALTH MAKER

Screwworms not likely to spread to La., expert says

BY MARGARET DELANEY Staff writer

In early August, a Maryland resident who had traveled to El Salvador was diagnosed with New World screwworm — a flesheating parasite being the first human case of a flesh-eating parasite in U.S. Although the case was an isolated incident, the infection had many wondering if the flesh-eating maggot could spread to more people.

gots. These particular maggots will eat live flesh, normal tissue, and burrow in.

Christine Navarre is the extension veterinarian for the LSU AgCenter, a professor in the School of Animal Sciences and jointly-appointed with the School of Veterinary Medicine. Generally, Navarre works to get information out to cattle producers and veterinarians. Additionally, she works in collaborative research with veterinarians across the world.

Navarre started her career as a veterinarian graduating from LSU in 1990 before moving on to both private and mixed practice settings at Texas A&M and Auburn universities. What are screwworms?

The screwworm is a type of maggot. It starts out as a fly and those flies lay eggs in wounds or they can get into the nostrils of animals. What makes these screwworms really devastating is the fly that lays the eggs. Those eggs hatch into the larva, which are the mag-

The New World screwworm can actually impact humans a little bit worse than animals. We don’t have this species in the United States. It was eradicated in the 1960s, although we did have an incursion in the Keys in Florida in 2016 but that was quickly eradicated Normal flies that we have here in the U.S. all the time, like blow flies that we see this time of year near our garbage cans, are going to only go after dead tissue.

If there’s a wound and there’s dead tissue, then the normal flies are limited to feeding off that dead tissue. And, as the body starts to heal that tissue, those flies go away

The New World screwworm can go into living tissue, and continue to feed off the healthy flesh

That’s what’s so concerning about this and why we want to keep it out of the United States. What animal does the screwworm originate from? How does it get to humans?

The screwworm can infest any warm-blooded animals: people, pets, livestock, wildlife, birds. It can infect all of those. When we had it in the U.S. historically, it was a problem in wildlife. Rarely is it a problem in people, but we know that it can be especially in countries where

there are a lot of those flies. The case that happened here in the U.S. in Maryland was from a person that come from a country where they have the screwworm (El Salvador). Luckily, it was caught early and the USDA has been increasing the monitoring services in that area just to be safe.

We really want to stress

DRINK

Continued from page 1X

recently tasted various NA beverages at Monday Morning Bottle Shop in San Diego, does a version of this

“If I want a glass of wine with my dinner I don’t feel guilty I can enjoy that glass of wine. And if I wanna have a spirit because we’re celebrating someone’s birthday, or Champagne, I will do that. But I’ll only have one, and then let it go, and then maybe go to a nonalcoholic,” she said. “It’s a way of continuing with that social pattern of drinking that I enjoy.” While a typical beer has about 5% alcohol by volume, NA drinks are only allowed to have up to 0.5%, about the same as a ripe banana. People sometimes pick them when they don’t want to be intoxicated, like before exercise or driving.

An online survey Bowdring conducted with colleagues found that the vast majority of people who drink both beverages say NA drinks help them reduce their alcohol use. That makes their growing popularity a positive trend overall, said Dr Joseph Lee, CEO of the Hazelden Betty

Ford Foundation, an addiction treatment and advocacy organization

“More and more when I go to restaurants, mocktails are just offered like they’re on the menu and it’s just part of the norm now,” said Lee, an expert in psychiatry and addiction medicine. “Those are really healthy things to see on a broader public health level.”

But there is a catch: Some drinks, like mocktails made with soda and sweet syrups, have high levels of sugar

The American Heart Association recommends limiting added sugars to no more than about six teaspoons a day for women and nine teaspoons a day for men. A 12-ounce can of soda on its own contains 10 teaspoons. The picture gets murkier for people with drinking problems.

Those entering treatment for alcohol use disorder say they’ve had mixed success using NA beverages to reduce or stop their drinking, Bowdring said “They do contain a lot of the alcohol-related cues,” she said. “Because they are so similar to alcohol, it could be that they actually trigger craving for full strength alcohol and may lead people to revert to alcohol use.”

When Denzer first got so-

ber seven years ago, she and her friends avoided drinking NA beverages.

“We were pretty opposed to it because we were like, ‘Well, this tastes like beer and we’re a year sober, and so we’re going to associate that taste with actual alcohol,’” said Denzer, who was treated at Hazelden Betty Ford “As time went on, we became more open to it.”

But it’s not for everyone, she said, “particularly for people who are either newer in recovery or who are on shaky ground.”

Experts agreed that NA drinks are more appropriate for those further along in recovery.

“Everyone’s journey is going to be a little bit different,” Bowdring said. “I encourage folks to just sort of be aware of how these drinks are impacting them.”

That’s the bottom line, even for those who aren’t dealing with alcoholism. You should have “an honest appraisal, without judgment, about your own health risk in much the same way that most people can look at their family history and gauge their risk for everything from diabetes to breast cancer,” Lee said. “What it comes down to is: You really need to know yourself.”

that it is not in the cattle industry at this time.

How quickly can screwworms transfer or spread?

It could spread quickly

One female screwworm can lay thousands of eggs. That’s why catching it early and getting the surveillance out there is really, really important.

We want anybody who sees animals and sees mag-

gots to turn those into our state veterinarian’s office, or call a veterinarian so that we can get those submitted. Chances are it’s not going to be a screwworm, but the if it does happen to come in, then we want to catch it as early as possible.

It is very unlikely that screwworm would infect a person in Louisiana, unless they’ve traveled. In 2022, there were over half a million Louisiana adults who had been diagnosed with diabetes at some point in their lives, according to data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Email Margaret DeLaney at margaret.delaney@ theadvocate.com.

HEALTH NOTES

Free kidney screenings to be offered at church in Marrero

The National Kidney Foundation of Louisiana is hosting a free kidney screening for adults on Saturday, Sept. 20 from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church, 455 Ames Blvd., Marrero.

The screening includes:

n Urine and blood tests to get an in-depth measure of kidney function, n Blood pressure reading for hypertension awareness, n Kidney health education.

New oral surgeon comes to Shreveport

Ochsner LSU Health-Shreveport welcomes oral and maxillofacial surgeon Abdulrahman Hesham. Hesham specializes in advanced surgeries of the mouth, face and jaw He is skilled in surgical treatments of serious head and neck cancers, using advanced techniques like rebuilding tissues with microvascular free flaps and virtual surgical planning to get the best cancer treatment and body function results.

Nurse practitioner joins North Oaks Primary Care

Nurse practitioner Lacy C. Mills has joined North Oaks Primary Care in Independence, Louisiana, a clinic of North Oaks Health System. She will treat new patients ages 12 and up starting in September.

Mills comes to North Oaks with more than two decades of health care experience at hospitals and clinics in southeast Louisiana.

Our Lady of Lourdes Health names chief medical officer

Our Lady of Lourdes Health names Dr Kenneth Habetz, a board-certified pediatric neurologist, as its chief medical officer Habetz joined Our Lady of Lourdes Women’s & Children’s Hospital in 2016.

As CMO, Habetz will serve as the executive liaison to physicians and medical staff,

fostering alignment across clinical teams. In this role, he will provide oversight of quality and patient care initiatives, with an emphasis on enhancing patient experience.

Ochsner announces Ferber Endowed chair

Dr Nneka Ifejika, chief scientific officer for Ochsner Health, was named the Ferber Endowed Chair, a prestigious, three-year endowment that will support Ifejika’s research and work advancing novel approaches in stroke recovery

Ifejika, who is also a mentor for faculty and residents, was selected for her leadership in clinical innovation, research and physician education.

New dermatology clinic in Shreveport

Ochsner LSU Health announced opening of the new Dermatology and Facial Plastics Clinic at 6841 Fern Avenue, Shreveport, Louisiana. This clinic is equipped with the latest technology from BOTOX to laser hair removal and intense-pulsed-light therapy Tulane tests ‘drop-of-blood’ device for trauma patients

Biomedical engineers at Tulane University look to treat trauma patients with lifethreatening blood clots using a new device. The device, about the size of a “small microwave oven,” would reduce wait times for blood clot diagnosis from hours to less than 20 minutes. At Tulane, researchers are using fingerprick and venipuncture blood samples from healthy volunteers and modifying the samples to mimic the coagulopathy that occurs immediately after trauma and during transfusion therapy Health Notes is an occasional listing of health happenings around Louisiana. Have something you’d like to share? Contact us at margaret.delaney @theadvocate.com.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

The Louisiana Health section is focused on providing in-depth, personal accounts of health in the state.This section looks at medical innovations, health discoveries, state and national health statistics and reexamining tried and true methods on ways to live well.

Health editions will also profile people who are advancing health for the state of Louisiana. Do you have a health story? We want to hear from you. Email margaret.delaney@ theadvocate.com to submit health questions, stories and more.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By GREGORy BULL Bartender Shelby Campos mixes a non-alcoholic beverage — or mocktail — on Aug. 25 at the non-alcoholic Good News Bar in San Diego.

Navarre

Staff report

IEatFit Live Fit

BROUGH TT OY OU BY

Footballfoodies: Makeahead tailgate wraps with akick

nLouisiana,goodfoodandpassionatefansmakeforlegendarytailgates.Toeaseintogamedays,wearekeepingthecooksin mindwithmakeaheadchickenshawarmatailgatewraps.ThesetastybitesscorebigwithMiddleEasternheat,tenderchicken andchoppedsaladrolledupincrisplettuce.With36gramsofproteinandonly250caloriesperserving,thesewrapsoffer deliciouspregamingthat’sbothnutritiousandsatisfying.

Makethechicken,choppedsaladandtahiniadayinadvancetomaximizeflavor.Assembleongamedayandenjoy!Geaux Tigers—LSUclassof’98!

ChickenShawarmaLettuceCups

AttikiBar&GrillinNewOrleans Makes6servings

FortheChicken

1cupAttikiChickenShawarmaMarinade (recipefollows)

2poundsbonelessskinlessbreasts,cutinto strips

1teaspoonlightoliveoil

½largeredonion,thinlysliced

½teaspoonsumacorlemonpepper seasoning

TossthechickenwithAttikiChicken ShawarmaMarinadeinalargebowl.Cover andrefrigerateforatleast3hours.

Heatoliveoilinagriddleorcast-ironskillet overmediumheat.Searchickenfor3-5 minutesoneachsideuntilthechickenis cookedthrough.Addonionandcookuntil translucent.Sprinklewithsumacandremove fromheat.

FortheWraps 6largeBibblettuceleaves

1½cupsChoppedMediterraneanSalad (recipefollows)

1/3 cupTahini(recipefollows)

Toassemble PilethechickenandonionintoBibblettuce leaves.Topeachwith¼cupChopped MediterraneanSaladanddrizzleeachwith 1tablespoonTahini.Gentlywrap.

AttikiChicken ShawarmaMarinade

½cupextravirginoliveoil

½cuplemonjuice

2teaspoonspaprika

2teaspoonsturmeric 1teaspooncurrypowder

1/3 teaspoonfreshlygroundblackpepper

¼tablespooncayenne

½teaspoonseasalt

2teaspoonsgarlicpowder

1teaspoongroundcumin

Whisktogetherallingredientsuntil combined

Perserving:250calories,9gramsfat,1.5 gramssaturatedfat,150mgsodium,4grams carbohydrate(3gramsnetcarbs),1gram fiber,1gramsugar(0addedsugar),36grams protein

ChoppedMediterraneanSalad

Makes1½cups

2Romatomatoes,diced 1smallcucumber,diced ¼mediumredonion,diced

¼cupchoppedfreshparsley

1tablespoonchoppedfreshmint

1tablespoonextravirginoliveoil

2tablespoonslemonjuice

2teaspoonssumac

¼teaspoonfreshlygroundblackpepper

1/8 teaspoonseasalt

Inalargebowl,combineallingredientsand tossuntilevenlymixed.Serveimmediatelyor

chillbeforeserving. Perserving(1cup):40calories,2.5 gramsfat,0saturatedfat,25mg sodium,4gramscarbohydrate(3grams netcarbs),1gramfiber,2gramssugar(0 addedsugar),<1gramprotein

Tahini

Makes3cups

¼cuplemonjuice

2clovesgarlic,crushed 1½cupsrawtahini

1teaspoonkoshersalt

1¼cupsicewater,plusmoreasneeded Combinelemonjuiceandgarlicina nonreactivebowl;setasidefor30minutes tosteep.

Meanwhile,whiptahiniinastandorelectric mixeronhighspeedforabout10minutes, untilit’sglossyandlight,likecakebatter.

Molly’shusband,BradSchlotterer,andher dad,FredKimball,atabackyardtailgate.

fudgyconsistency,addicewater—about¼ cupatatimeandincreasethespeedtohigh. Thesaucemaystarttolookalmostcurdled, butkeepaddingtheicewater,whippingwell aftereachaddition.Itwillsmoothout—the textureshouldbelikethatofathickmousse.

Perserving(2tablespoons):80calories, 7gramsfat,1gramsaturatedfat,80mg sodium,3gramscarbohydrate(3grams netcarbs),<1gramfiber,Osugar,2grams protein

Usingafinemeshstrainer,separatethegarlic fromthelemonjuice.Decreasethemixer’s speedtomediumandaddgarlic-infused lemonjuiceandsalt.Thetahiniwillseizeup atfirstbutjustkeepwhippingitatmedium speedanditwillallcometogether.

Whenthetahinihasauniformlytacky,almost

MollyKimball,RD,CSSD,isaregistereddietitian withOchsnerHealthandfounderofOchsner’sEatFit nonprofitinitiative.Formorewellnesscontent,tuneinto Molly’spodcast,FUELEDWellness+Nutrition,andfollow @MollykimballRDand@EatFitOchsneronsocialmedia. Emailnutrition@ochsner.orgtoconnectwithMollyor scheduleaconsultwithherteam.

Overtime Topleftoversaladonleanproteinasaplayful twistonpicodegallo.

Preparedtahiniwillstaygoodforabout5-7 daysinthefridge.Tip:Letrefrigeratedtahini warmupslightlyonthecounter,andwhip in1to2tablespoonsoficewatertorestore someofitslightness.

Elevatethewrapsforafancieroccasionby servingthemopeninanendive“spoon.”

FormoreideasandEatFitrecipes,usethe promocodeADVOCATEfor10%offTheEat FitCookbookatEatFitCookbook.com.

BY THENUMBERS

MORE THAN HALF AMILLION

LOUISIANANSHAVEDIABETES

CONCUSSION

Continuedfrom page1X

In2022, there were over half amillion Louisiana adults whohad been diagnosedwith diabetes at some point in theirlives,according to data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

On average, 13% of Louisiana adults had adiabetes diagnosis —higherthan the U.S. averageat 11.6%

The percentageofadults with diabetes increased with age, reaching 29.2% among those aged 65 years or older, according tothe CDC. People with diabetes areathigh risk of heartdisease, strokeand other serious complications, the CDC says —including kidneyfailure, blindness and lower-limb amputations.

These parishes had the highest percentages of adults with adiabetes diagnosis in 2022, reported in 2025 by CountyHealthRankings and Roadmaps, in descending order: n East Carroll Parish with 20% of adults with

n Madison Parish with 19% of adults with

n Claiborne and Tensas parishes with 18% of adultswithdiabetes n Bienville, Evangeline, Morehouse and Webster parisheswith 16% of adults with diabetes. These parishes had the lowest percentages of adults with adiabetes diagnosis in 2022, reported in 2025 by County Health Rankings and Roadmaps, in ascendingorder: n Ascension, Livingston, St. Charles and St.

It’s important to know that concussions arean evolving injury. According to new protocols,and Agaja, it is still vital to watch for symptoms and notable changes closely for 24 to 48 hours after injury

“Weusedtoput patients in aquietspace, because ourprevious treatments were all about minimizing overstimulation,”Agaja said. “But now we know aboutthe heightened emotional side, where isolation can worsen the symptoms.”

Everything is now about moderation, according to Agaja. The first step of all patient care is education —about concussions and abouttheir uniquesymptoms

Turn down the brightness of screens and lightsuntil it becomesbearable.Wear headphones to block out noise. The second symptoms start,adjust theenvironment until the symptoms completely stop. Agaja says that, with concussions, blood flow changes and“things arejust out

of whack.” He saysthat movement and regulating blood flow —getting things movingagain —can accelerate healing. The Buffalo Concussion Treadmill Test is agraded exercise test used after a concussion to find the heart rate thresholdwhere symptomsworsen, also knownas symptom exacerbation.

The test, created in 2008, is meant to identify exercises forcustomized recoveryand gradually increase physical activity,helping them progress toward a return-to-playorreturn-toactivity protocol.

The treadmill test can be performed in aphysician’s office, witha physical therapist, in ahigh school athletics office or at home.

During the assessment, doctorsare looking at symptoms of patients on a scale of one to 10 before and after exercise —picture a treadmill going 2.5 miles an hour with an incline and slowly increasing the speed.Onceapatientgets to threepoint higherthan wheretheystarted,the exercises stop.

Patients can even mimic this process at home with fitness tracking watches

and walks around the neighborhood.

“With this test, we can get our athletes moving in asafe manner,get them feeling better,sothey don’t feel like they’re just sitting around in arut waitingfor their minds to get better,” Agaja said. The exercise testcan practically startright away, according to Agaja, but it’s important to know the limits.

Typically,85% to 90% of adults will get better after a concussion in 10 to 14 days, if they don’tpush too much and know how to limit overstimulation. For children, that recovery time canbe closer to 30 days, according to Agaja.

“Bring in movement —the earlier, thebetter,Ifind,” Agaja said. “In theory,you could probably start testing yourselfwithin afew days after symptoms. Ijust try nottooverload my patients withtoo much information Ifind that balance of giving them abouta week before introducing movement to work pretty well.”

Email Margaret DeLaney at margaret.delaney@ theadvocate.com.

GETTy IMAGESPHOTO By MARIA GARCIA

for 24 to 48 hours after

Molly Kimball RD,CSSD

Healthtips andsupport from your pharmacy

Pharmacistsdon’tjustfillprescriptions.Theyarehighly trainedmedicationexpertswhofillavitalroleinyour healthcareteam,dispensingmedications,providing adviceonsafeuseandcollaboratingwithother healthcareprofessionalstopromotegoodhealth.

Today,anever-increasingnumberofdrugtherapies andagingpopulationshavemadetheclinical counselingskillsofthepharmacistmoreimportant thanever.Buildingarelationshipwithyourpharmacist givesyouatrustedpartnerinyourhealthcare.

Pharmacistsworkwithyourprimarycareteamtoenhanceoverallwellnessby:

Beingaccessibleandconvenient.Pharmacistsareamongthemostaccessible healthprofessionalsyoucanturnto,oftenavailablewithoutanappointmentto answeryourquestionsonthespot.

Supplyingcontinuoussupportandfollow-up.Fromregularcheck-insto collaboratingwithyourhealthcareteam,theyprovidecontinuoussupporttohelp youachieveyourhealthgoals.

uchtotake? oninsupplement,talkto tomakesureitissafe

tween1milligramto increasingtohigherdoses. kingthelowest sideeffects,whichmay dizzinessandirritability. takemelatonin30 bedtime.

commitmentare nyourcareasan

daysinadvanceso

ne.Ifmedications

lookdifferenttoyou,alwaysquestionit.Askingyourpharmacisttoclarifyisagoodfirststep.

Addedbenefits

Melatoninisanaturalantioxidant,hasantiinflammatoryproperties,booststheimmunesystem andprotectsthecardiovascularsystem.

Whichnon-prescription sleepaidisbest?

Melatoninisthemostcommonover-the-countersleep aid,butyoucanfindothersatyourpharmacy.Natural supplements,suchasmagnesium,chamomileand valerianrootcanhelppromotesleep.

Severalbrandsofnon-prescriptionmedicationsare alsoavailable,suchasUnisom,NyQuilandTylenolPM. Althoughavailableoverthecounter,these medicationsshouldbeusedwithcaution.Theycontain antihistaminesthatareprimarilyusedtotreatallergy symptomsbutareusedinsleepaidsbecauseoftheir sedatingproperties.Mostcontaindiphenhydramine, commonlyknownasBenadryl.

Unlikemelatonin,thisgroupofmedicationsisamong thoselistedbytheAmericanGeriatricsSocietytobe avoidedinpeopleages65andolder.Theycancause confusion,blurryvision,dizzinessanddelayedreaction times,increasingtheriskoffalls.

Foryoungeradults,thesemedicationsmaybehelpful inshort-termsituations,buttheyarenot intendedtobeusednightly.

LOUISIANA

Buildingconnections

Architecthelps students gain career opportunities

BY IANNE SALVOSA Staff writer

In an officesmellingoffreshly brewed coffee and asting of ammonia, Judith Anderson printed blueprints.

The chemicalcreates the signature blue color of architectural plans.She was in her sophomore year at Scotlandville Magnet High School andworked at CSRS Inc., printingblueprints, handling oddjobs and runningerrands forthe design and consultingfirm.

Now, as CSRS’architecturalprogram director,she lends ahand to Scotlandville students tohelpthemachieve the same career opportunities she had when she was astudentherself.

“I know what was poured into me,” Anderson said. “Andsoitisjust now personal to make sure that I’m pouring intoothers.”

As board president ofthe NAF Academy of Engineering Professions, Anderson sets goals for the councilbased on the needs of theschool andoversees committees on internships, fundraising and classroomengagement.Her work withNAF is avolunteer position Working with NAFand Scotlandville, Anderson helped connect 12 Scotlandville studentswithinternships thispast summer at companies including The

Clean Green Alliance, CSRS |Tillage, FusionArchitects, Exxon, Terracon, Sales O’Brian and Raytheon.

In May,Anderson received the2025 NAF Advisory BoardChampion Award, given to individuals whohaveled in providing studentswith opportunities to preparethem for thefuture.

Anderson takes after herindustrial arts teacher Beatrice Arvie, who led the school’sTechnology Student Association thatAnderson wasapart of, and said Arvieacted as acoach to her.They stayed in contact throughout Anderson’stime in high school andcollege, andArvie eventually reeled her in to volunteering with NAF

Fornearly 20 years, the NAFcouncil at Scotlandville has used its industry connectionstoprovide job shadowing, internships and lectures for students. Thenonprofit strives to obtainpaid internships for its students to fill theneed for industry experience and compensation they could not get elsewhere.

“Whether it’s awant or aneed, those teensare working,” shesaid. “Andso what we wanted to do was make sure that they didn’tpass up an opportunity for something that could affect the success of theminpostsecondary school, matriculating into their careers, passing up an opportunity with that because

they want to go work in aretail type environment ” NAF volunteers put together abinder for students that serves as amanual for their internship and includes objectives like working on design projects and determining target colleges. CSRS interns engage in tasks like reading floor plans andcreating spreadsheets in Microsoft Excel.Atthe endoftheir internship, they create apresentation on what they accomplished.

Anderson saidone of her mostrecent interns at CSRS learned how to use Excelduring the internship, avaluable skill to have since most high schools teach studentshow to use Google applications, andhemay have to use Excel in college.

Anotherstudent left her engineering internship concluding that shedid notwanttogointo engineering, which Anderson says is thegoal of the experiences —tonarrow down their interests.

“It’sjust giving them alittlebit of insight, andthatway you’re doing alittle bit of trialand error,” she said. “You still may endupchangingyour mind in college or once you go to certification school, but you’ve got alittle bit of insight.”

Exploring Louisiana aquestion at atime

Irecently spoke to asenior-level journalism class at LSU. Only about athird of the students were from Louisiana. We chatted about developing ideas fortrend stories —beyond the obvious fashion angle. What else counts as atrend and what would makeaninteresting story?

They were full of good ideas. As so often happens when Ispend timewith students, Ifeel better about the world.

Iposed the following question to them:Onascale of 0-10, with 10 being the highest, how would you rate your own curiosity? I assured those who ranked themselves a10 that they likely had agreat career ahead in journalism.Yes, hard workisrequired to find the answers, but the payoffissuch a rush. Since the class, I’ve thought a lot moreabout being curious and the philosophical side of curiosity.Isbeing curious simply about that spark —that question that popped into your head? Or is it also about trying to figure out the answer? In short, is it the spark or the chase?

Perhaps the answer is that curiosity is both. Asking the question is essential. Trying to figure out the answer is what turns wonder into understanding.

Turns out, philosophers have had alot to say about curiosity Plato and Socrates positioned philosophy as beginning in wonder or perplexity.The Socratic method, driven by continuous questioning, is aform of curiosity that uncovers ignorance and motivates deeper inquiry

Aristotle wrote, “All human beings by nature desire to know.” He described curiosity as an intrinsic human drive and the “love of learning.” Thomas Hobbes described curiosity as amorally neutral appetite forknowledge. For Hobbes, curiosity was one of the traits that distinguishes humans from other animals.

Nietzsche famously called curiosity “the mostagreeable of all vices.”

From my experience, curiosity deepens when Igobeyond the question. That said, researching “the answer” often unlocks morequestions and continues to convince me on anear-daily basis that “lifeismore complicated than it seems” —toquote the title of aSpanish song Ilove, “La Vida es Más Compleja de lo que Parece.”

But last week at LSU, Iencouraged the students to go beyond wondering about things. Putting questions into words is good for our brains.

Of course, trying to figure out the questions/wonderings, which is what journalists get to do on a daily basis, can also be alot of fun —and leads to turning over new rocks, meeting new people —and having unanticipated conversations.

More than three years ago, the newspaper launched aweekly feature in which we encourage readers to send us their Louisiana questions —sowecan go and find the answers. Or,atthe very least, do our best to find the answer

ä See RISHER, page 2Y ä See ARCHITECT, page 2Y

STAFF PHOTOSByJAVIER GALLEGOS

Judith Anderson, the 2025 NAF AdvisoryBoardChampion Awardwinner,stands on Aug. 20 outside Scotlandville Magnet High School as students pass by

Students VeronicaRhodes, left,Jayden Simmons, secondfrom right, and Jakarin Whitfield, right, stand with Judith Anderson, architectural program director for CSRS Inc., on Aug. 20 at Scotlandville Magnet High School. Anderson helped these students getengineering internshipsoverthe summer.

Lafayette therapist uses holistic approach to mental health

BY LAUREN CHERAMIE Staff writer

Kathryn Dietzway is a licensed clinical social worker and the clinical director of The Therapy Garden in Lafayette. She earned her bachelor’s degree in sociology with a minor in anthropology from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and her master’s degree in social work from Louisiana State University. She specializes in helping people heal from trauma through approaches that combine traditional talk therapy with body-based methods such as EMDR and somatic therapy She primarily works with adults who are seeking relief from the impact of trauma and want to reconnect with their sense of self.

Alongside her therapy practice, Dietzway is pursuing a nursing degree at UL. By combining her expertise in psychotherapy with medical training, she seeks to provide more integrated care that supports the whole person — mind, body and nervous system. What was the inspiration behind you pursuing nursing school?

I’ve been taking an approach to mental health counseling for about four to five years now really intensively That’s what led me to this route of learn-

Q&A

On a holistic level, I had to decide how I was going to get the science perspective, so I’m pursuing a psychiatric nurse practitioner route so that I’ll understand biology and medicine better Is it a hard line to balance learning and offering holistic medicine and conventional Western medicine?

have that fight-or-flight response?

ing about the connection between the mind and the body learning that mental health and physical health are not separate. Mental health occurs in the brain, and the nervous system is an important part of your body, so that’s your physical well-being. I saw gaps in mental health theory and training we weren’t getting enough of the physical side. I got to a point where I wanted to go beyond what someone can tell me in training. I wanted to get to the hard science, where I can fully and deeply understand what’s happening in my clients’ bodies mentally and physically

Honestly, clients are hungry to understand what’s going on in their bodies. Clients usually come to me for depression and anxiety, usually related to trauma. One of the first things I do is pull out this chart that helps them look at what symptoms are normal for the nervous system state that you’re in.

Maybe they’re feeling anxious in a fight-or-flight state because they’re in poverty The chart allows them to normalize their symptoms based on what the body is supposed to do whenever it’s in a stressful situation.

A lot of the time, that’s all people need — a starting point of normalizing what’s going on in their body Affirming that they’re not crazy just a human being. What are some tools for people to regulate their nervous system to not

For some people, the fightor-flight response is normal. So I’ll often ask what’s going on in their lives. Is there a situation in their lives that we need to work on getting them out of? Sometimes fight-or-flight is protective — for example, if someone is in an abusive situation, living in poverty, or experiencing racism. When you’re able to identify that you don’t need this fight or flight state, or perhaps that you’d like to cultivate breaks from that state, a lot of the time it starts with psychoeducation. I’ll educate them about the body, what it means to be anxious and how that helps them in some ways — an also assess what small actions, places, animals and people help them experience relief from the anxiety

Begin becoming aware of what’s going on in your body I do a body scan with people. Scan from the head to the toes, and tell me what you notice.

Anchoring is a tool where you identify safe items in your environment that make you feel safe — like a tree, plants, a soft pillow,

etc. Notice these items when you’re in a state of anxiety You can do this anywhere. It provides a micro moment of connection to something supportive, which can help the body begin to come back to homeostasis.

The next step would be learning to ask yourself what you need. That might be a gentle breath in and a long exhale. It might be talking to yourself kindly You have to talk to yourself like you would talk to a friend. How does confidence and self compassion help with mental health?

It’s huge. Before trauma therapy, I figure out if someone has self compassion yet, because if they don’t, it’s going to be hard to do trauma work. So we’ll work on that first.

What is self compassion?

Some people have never had someone be compassionate toward them, so they don’t know how to do it to themselves.

How does your non-biased approach to therapy help yourself and your clients?

My undergraduate studies were in sociology and anthropology, which gave me a cross-cultural view on

humanity It’s important, as a therapist, that I take on an unbiased perspective because I’m here to serve all humans, regardless of background. I’m sending a message that it’s what’s best for the client, not me. Although, I’m not totally unbiased. I am still influenced by larger systemic factors. We all have implicit bias. It’s an ongoing journey where I’m reflecting on what biases I have and which ones I need to reflect on. People are not just accepted or allowed — their identities are respected and celebrated. I look at clients through a lens of how this society and world has shaped them, based on their identity As a White therapist, I may work with clients of diverse races and cultures. I acknowledge that someone may have experienced trauma from people who look like me. There’s going to be an acknowledgment of that. This lens has helped me to be able to navigate those conversations.

Email Lauren Cheramie at lauren.cheramie@ theadvocate.com.

worlds.”

At Scotlandville’s engineering symposium last school year students were tasked with constructing a bridge. Anderson came into the school’s engineering classes to help teams with the challenge, which Scotlandville principal Paul Jackson said gave students an “extra leg up” in their high school experience.

He said Anderson has connected students with internships that immerse students in scenarios they could face in the workforce. Jackson’s son interned with CSRS and assisted with determining the necessary materials on a building’s roof based on the weather in the area.

“The only thing that may be able to trump your education is the actual experience,” Jackson said. “So when you have that along with education, then you actually have the best of both

While the work to connect students with internships predated Anderson’s role with NAF, Jackson said her “fidelity” and “passion” for ensuring career-advancing experiences are accessible to Scotlandville students made her efforts stand out among her predecessors.

Anderson’s efforts were honored at this year’s NAF Next conference. NAF

Chief Executive Officer

Lisa Dughi said the nonprofit chose to recognize Anderson

due to her unwavering commitment to bringing “lifechanging” opportunities to Scotlandville Students.

“Judith’s tireless leadership, generosity, and commitment embody the very best of our mission, and we are deeply grateful for all she does to inspire and empower the next generation,” Dughi said in an email.

Anderson grew up in North Baton Rouge and had a close relationship with her mother and grandparents. Her grandfather worked in

architecture and once she developed her interest in the field, their connection deepened. He connected her with her first role at CSRS.

She defines architecture as her surroundings and said she loves having a role in what people see, experience and are surrounded by every day

She said her award from NAF a national organization, is a testament to Baton Rouge’s ability to compete against larger school systems in other cities. While

she expressed that it felt good to be recognized, Anderson said her volunteer work is simply what she is supposed to do.

After graduating high school, she attended Southern University She said she did not plan to remain in Baton Rouge, but she and her husband ended up with jobs in the city

“There’s still a lot of work to be done in Baton Rouge,” she said. “Why not pour into here versus having to go somewhere else?”

STAFF PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS Judith Anderson, the 2025 NAF Advisory Board Champion Award winner, stands on Aug. 20 outside

Magnet High School.

N.O. homeowners gethelptomaintain, repair homes

BY SOPHIE KASAKOVE Staff writer

The simple Gentilly Terrace shotgun that Linda Blunt owns with her husband had for decades been asource of stability forthe family.But after Hurricane Ida’swinds tore shingles off her roof and sent her insurance bill skyrocketing,the home became asource of uncertainty instead.

Bright and early on aMay morning, around 250 volunteers descended on Blunt’s quiet neighborhood to make repairs at the nearby park and on 10 homes belonging to low-income homeowners —including Blunt’s—in hopes of offsetting the rising costs of insurance, renovations, and taxes that are making it ever more difficult for NewOrleans familiesto stay in their homes.

“It’slike waking up in somethingbrand new,” said Blunt as the volunteers, organized by local nonprofit Rebuilding Together New Orleans and The Home Depot Foundation, raced against hovering storm clouds to replace rotting wood on her back deck. “I see all the work they’re doing and it just motivates me more to say,‘Ineed to come alongside them and addto it.’”

Rebuilding TogetherNew Orleans, the local chapter of anationalnonprofit, launched in 1988 with the goal of supporting elderly and disabled homeowners struggling to maintain their homes. After Hurricane Katrina, the organization turned its focus to renovating and rebuilding stormdamagedhomes.

After Hurricane Ida and the insurance crisis that followed, the organization shifted its focus again, to repairing and replacing homeowners’ roofs to fortified standards in hopesofbringing down their insurance costs. Theorganizationhas

installed 163 fortified roofs throughout the greater New Orleans area since 2023, along with other repairs aimedatmakingaging homessafer andhealthier

The need is especially clear in Gentilly Terrace, where 68% of the neighborhood’sresidents were homeowners between 2019 and 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’sAmerican CommunitySurvey —far higherthanthe city’s overall rate of 50%. And the neighborhood is disproportionately home to older people on fixed incomes, whotend to struggle with maintaining their homes: 35.5%of householdsreceived social security between 2019 and 2024 compared with 27.6% in the city overall.

It’saneighborhood where people “have quietly lived in their homes for 50 to 60 years.They haveinvested so significantly in our city They raised their children in the same homes that they still live in,” saidcouncil member Eugene Green, whose district includes the neighborhood. “Soany hand that can be lenttothem, such as is being done today, is something that Iknow, that they’re very appreciative,” Green said That’show Blunt felt when shelearned that Rebuilding Togethercould make repairs on her home designed to bring her insurance costs down. Her propertyinsurance costshave become so expensive in recent years that shedecided to dropher coverage entirely

“You have to ask yourself, do Itake careofmyhealth or do Iroll the dice and hopefully we makeitthrough another year?” saidBlunt, who hopes that she’ll get a lower insurance quotenow that thework on her home is complete.

Blunt’sneighbor,Marie St. Germain, used her own savings to replace her roof after damage from Hurricane Ida

caused major leaks.The volunteers buzzing around her home werebusywithmore aesthetictasks—planting flowers andgiving the railing on her stairs afresh coat of paint. Butshe said theimprovementswould raise her spirits.

“They’retaking my sadness away.They’re taking my anxiety,” said St. Germain, surveying the work from herfront door.“This is what Iwanted for awhile, and Icouldn’tget it done. Idon’tknow whereIwould getmoney to getsomething like that done.”

Volunteers also worked to replace playground equipment,plant magnolia trees, and build raised beds at nearby Union Playground. Civic groups have called attention to shoddy maintenance of city parks and playgrounds in recent months.

William Stoudt, director of Rebuilding Together New Orleans, said that there are many more neighborhoods in need of their attention across thecity but that the

organizations faces achallenge in meetingthe need. Federal grants “are being pulled left andright from us,” saidStoudt. “Wehave an infinite numberofhomeowners that need fortified roofs andwehavea finite amount of resources.”

Theorganization got nearly 800 applications last year forassistance, the vast majority seeking aroof replacement.

“We’re never going to be able to serve everyone,” said Stoudt.“Butwedomake life-changing outcome that we serve for the clients we serve that have both immediateand generationalimpacts in every way forthose families.”

Email SophieKasakove at sophie.kasakove@ theadvocate.com.

STAFF PHOTOSByBRETT DUKE

Volunteers build raised garden beds on May6atahome in NewOrleans.

LEARN MORE

Kelechi Akamiro,MD Sports Medicine

FAITH & VALUES

For a small church, selling land meant finding its soul

BY YONAT SHIMRON

Contributing writer

Four years ago, the Rev Matt Conner presented his congregation with a stark reality: Newell Presbyterian Church had about 18 months of financial solvency ahead. The time had come to seriously consider its future.

Chartered in 1890 in what was then a sleepy part of northeast Charlotte dotted with dairy farms and tobacco fields, the church grew, and then started a slow decline. These days about 50 people attend Sunday morning services and the church has an annual budget of $190,000.

But Newell Presbyterian has one asset increasingly in demand in the now bustling neighborhood of subdivisions and apartment complexes: land. The church sits on 9.5 acres, accumulated plot by plot by devoted church members who had long since passed on.

After forming a “dream team” to consider its options, the church recently voted to sell a 4.5-acre parcel to a nonprofit developer for the construction of 50 affordable townhomes right next to its sanctuary Homeowners would have to earn 80% of the area median income (about $85,000 for a family of four) to qualify The sale is expected to be inked in October

Newell Presbyterian is one of hundreds of declining congregations with underutilized space, excess land, deteriorating buildings and soaring maintenance costs. But these churches are finding that they can stanch their fiscal woes by selling or, in many cases, leasing some of their land and repurposing their properties for affordable housing.

At least 200 and as many as 400 houses of worship (mostly churches but also synagogues and mosques) have repurposed their property

for affordable housing over the past decade, said Nadia Mian, a researcher at Rutgers University’s Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy who is cataloging those projects.

Newell Presbyterian found that in selling its land it had found a new treasure: its soul.

“I’ve gotten to watch and be a part of a kind of spiritual growth in this space and time and a calling to be even more mission oriented,” said Conner. “This is a church getting clearer about who we are and why we exist.”

Though the church hasn’t grown in numbers, Conner said it has grown in faith and commitment, and its members speak of a renewed sense of purpose and mission, a deeper spirituality rooted in a sacred responsibility to neighbor and place.

In 2021, on the Feast of Ascension, when Christians celebrate the resurrected Jesus’ leavetaking of his disciples, Conner asked a group of church elders to walk the grassy 4.5-acre field next to the church. “Pray, pay attention and dream,” he told them. “What do you see?”

They initially came back with different answers: a soccer field, a farmers market, a student hub for the nearby University of North Carolina Charlotte campus.

Over time, the church elders coalesced around a dream of a housing community that would nurture young families, just as the church had nurtured them 50 years before.

Trent Thompson, 71, remembered how he and his wife moved to Charlotte in the early 1980s so he could finish his undergraduate degree at the university after his service in the Coast Guard. Shortly after they found the church, their first son was born, 11 weeks premature. Church members enveloped the young fam-

ily with care during the two months their son was in the hospital.

“The church loved us and helped us out with anything we needed, prayer requests, people visiting us, meals,” said Thompson. “That meant a lot to us.”

Freda Schlaman, 79, remembered that the church had a vibrant youth program that her two daughters loved so much so, one of them later became a Presbyterian minister “It was a small church and it was what we needed,” said Schlaman. “We fell in love with the people along the way.”

The church’s members envisioned an affordable housing complex that would allow today’s young families — many of whom are priced out of Charlotte’s competitive real estate market to do the same. They were clear they did not want to build rental apartments but rather offer working-class families — teachers, firefighters, social workers — homes they could afford.

That meant the church would build fewer units and likely get less money from the sale than if it had sold to a commercial developer “A lot of churches will just say, ‘Sell it. Let’s get some money

so we can have operating capital,’ ” said Thompson “But our point was, we’re not gonna do that. As the stewards of the community, we wanted to help to rebuild the idea that Newell is a community that thrives on the family concept. We wanted people that get a chance to put down roots.”

The church turned to DreamKey Partners, a nonprofit real estate development company that has worked with a handful of other churches in the Charlotte area. Church leaders won’t say how much money they will get from the sale, since the contract hasn’t yet been signed. A lot also depends on whether the city will award the project the full $3.1 million from its Housing Trust Fund, designated to provide gap financing to developers to build affordable housing.

The church is already considering a Phase 2: renting out parts of its education building to nonprofit business incubators, perhaps starting a coffee shop, and creating a playground or park for the children.

The church’s goal, said Conner, using a biblical reference, is not to store up money in bigger barns. “We are selling some land for the

sake of this call to build up the beloved community, and honestly all it costs us is a yes,” Conner said.

Eight miles away from the Newell church, another Presbyterian congregation has also committed itself to affordable housing. Caldwell

Presbyterian has converted a 14,000-square-foot building that once housed Sunday school classrooms into 21 studio apartments for people coming out of chronic homelessness. After it opens in October the church will turn the building over to a local nonprofit that will oversee day-to-day operations.

For Caldwell Presbyterian the vision is the same as Newell’s, even if the initial impetus was not. A bigger, midsized church, Caldwell wasn’t financially squeezed. But like Newell, it saw a need.

“We’re in the middle of a profound and deep national housing crisis,” said the Rev John Cleghorn, the pastor “One of the ways the churches can make the most direct type of impact, is not only to provide the housing, but to provide a community adjacent to, in relationship with the housing. What could be more Christlike?”

Like many cities, Charlotte welcomes the churches’

building boom. The city’s Faith in Housing initiative gives faith-based organizations tools and resources to carry out affordable housing projects. A summit the city held last year brought together leaders from some 90 houses of worship for a daylong educational workshop about the hows of affordable housing and the variety of city state and federal tax credits, grants and loans.

“When you think about it, honestly, who has the most land? Religious institutions and schools,” said City Council member LaWana Mayfield. “What we’re doing is creating a tool kit to help educate and energize the community to not just think about housing, but to reimagine their space.”

Charlotte’s Mayfield Memorial Missionary Baptist Church, a predominantly Black congregation that built 51 rental units for people making 30% to 80% of area median income, is a big believer in congregations working on affordable housing.

“If we could get just 5% of the churches in Charlotte to do this — and not just churches but faith communities — our housing problem looks very different,” said the Rev Peter Wherry, the church’s pastor One thing Newell’s newfound mission won’t do is save the church’s finances long term. Members have no expectation that the owners of the townhomes they are building will want to join the church. And it is possible the church may dwindle in size even more. But they are also cleareyed about the larger vision of community that is driving them.

“You know, this is not our land,” said Thompson. “God created this land for us to use. This is not just for the church but for others who need it.”

Could granting water rights to birds be the best way to save them?

BY K.C. MEHAFFEY

Contributing writer

This story, created by K.C. Mehaffey with Columbia Insight,is part of the Solutions Story Tracker from the Solutions Journalism Network, a nonprofit organization dedicated to rigorous reporting about responses to social problems.

If you’re in the right place at the right time, you might catch one of nature’s truly great performances.

The right time is late summer or early fall, when thousands of Wilson’s phalaropes make a stop in Oregon on their 4,000-mile migration to winter in South America

One of the right places is Oregon’s Lake Abert in the SONEC region, an acronym for the vast mosaic of lakes and wetlands stretching from southern Oregon to northeastern California.

Phalaropes stop at Lake Abert and other saline lakes in the western United States to double their body weight so they can finish the journey When they forage, phalaropes spin in circles along the lakeshore, creating a whirlpool that brings prey toward the surface, where they gobble them up

“They look like little, aquatic ballerinas,” said Teresa Wicks, the eastern Oregon field coordinator for the Bird Alliance of Oregon. “Sometimes you see them on bodies of water where hundreds are spinning at once in these tight little circles.”

Like so many shorebirds in North America, however Wilson’s phalaropes have experienced sharp declines in population over the last few decades.

“Wilson’s phalarope populations have fallen approximately 70% since the 1980s because of extensive habitat destruction, water diversions and persistent drought,” according to the Centers for

Biological Diversity, which filed a petition in March 2024 to list them as a sensitive species under the Endangered Species Act.

Wilson’s phalarope is a kind of shorebird, an order of birds sometimes called waders that can be found walking or swimming along shorelines looking for food.

In 2019, a study that looked at net population changes of 529 species of birds that breed in the United States and Canada revealed a loss of nearly 3 billion birds in the previous 50 years roughly one in four birds

A few groups — like geese, swans and ducks — grew in population.

Shorebirds and grassland birds suffered the highest declines — with populations dropping by about one-third since 1970

Various kinds of shorebirds are among the 80 bird species that depend on the SONEC region, comprised of eight counties in Oregon, California and the northwestern tip of Nevada.

Emily VanWyk, acting conservation strategy coordinator for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, says that about 70% of migratory wetland-dependent birds in the Pacific Flyway some 6 million birds — will use this habitat each year.

“Oregon plays a key role in the conservation of all of those species, even those that might only spend a week or a couple of days in our state,” she says VanWyk and Sarah Reif, ODFW’s habitat division administrator, gave a presentation to the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission in June 2024 as part of a series of reports on adapting to climate and ocean change It focused on the importance of the SONEC region to migratory birds. The loss of 3 billion birds across North America wasn’t caused by one thing.

basically, meaning the wildlife area didn’t get any water,” she said. “And so, a lake was a mud puddle, the ducks came along, stirred up the botulism, and by the tens of thousands died.” (Mallards were one of the species most affected by the botulism outbreaks.)

“How do we advocate for these birds?” replied VanWyk. “How do we make an argument that’s effective, because, you’re right, this is a huge concern. We’re losing thousands of birds It’s scary.”

Despite the dire situation for many bird species in North America, Wicks sees a ray of hope.

200 sites, ranging from large, critical migratory stopovers, like Great Salt Lake, to small reservoirs and wetlands.

“Essentially the interior region was identified as a large data gap. We don’t understand a lot about the distribution of shorebirds, or about the wetlands’ health and how that’s actually impacted bird populations,” says Barbaree.

Once complete, the current surveys can be compared to surveys from 30 years ago, which will provide a better understanding of the extent of and reasons for shorebird declines in the Pacific Flyway

if there’s not a certain level of decline for a portion of the species,” says Barbaree. Wicks says her hope is that all of the monitoring efforts will highlight the relationships between birds and fish and wetlands so that water can be secured to support wetlands every year

“Our goal is to protect wetlands and restore wetlands in the SONEC so they are able to support healthy bird populations,” she says.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has a long list of human-caused threats to birds, from collisions with buildings, communication towers, electrical lines, vehicles and wind turbines to poison and predation by cats.

But, the agency notes, “Habitat loss is thought to pose by far the greatest threat to birds, both directly and indirectly, however, its overall impact on bird populations is very difficult to directly assess.”

The June 2024 presentation came a day after commissioners visited the upper Klamath Basin, learning about partnerships for managing water and plans to reintroduce salmon after the removal of four dams in 2024.

The upper basin includes Northern California’s Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge, where some 60,000 birds died in 2020 from botulism. Just a few months after the commission’s visit, a second botulism outbreak killed an estimated 80,000 birds.

Dr King noted that in Klamath Basin, the wildlife refuge is last in line for getting water

“The Everglades of the West became a mud puddle,

“There’s been a lot of work to create momentum around public-private partnerships. I would say in the last five years, that has really started to take off,” she says.

One of those partnerships is a massive effort to survey shorebirds as they move through the interior portion of the Pacific Flyway each spring and fall.

The Intermountain West Shorebird Surveys began in fall 2022 and will conclude in 2026. Led by Audubon and Point Blue Conservation Science, the project is documenting the distribution and abundance of shorebirds in the interior West — information that was last collected between 1989 and 1995.

Blake Barbaree, senior ecologist with Point Blue, says the survey effort involves hundreds of volunteers and a network of more than 60 government agencies and nonprofit organizations.

He says it wouldn’t be possible without funding and technical support from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and state fish and wildlife agencies in Oregon, California, Nevada, Utah, Idaho and Montana. In spring and fall the groups survey more than

Barbaree says one of the goals of the survey is to understand how the drying up of wetlands is tied to shorebird populations.

Some migratory bird species appear to be flexible, and when they find a stopover location has dried up they keep flying until they find a suitable spot to recharge.

“But we don’t know the cost of that,” says Barbaree.

“If I’m showing up to the lower Klamath refuge and there’s no water there this year I can keep flying 50 to 100 miles to find the next place. But if I’m in a flock of 100 birds, how many of them make it?

“There’s also the potential for cumulative effects

If I’m traveling from Mexico to Alaska and two spots didn’t give me food, am I going to have enough resources to make it all the way?”

Although survey data has been gathered for more than two years, Barbaree says it’s too soon to draw conclusions.

“Our hypothesis is there’s been a significant decline (in bird populations using the SONEC region) given what we know about the wetlands systems. Whether we can support that with the data is still to be determined, but everyone will be astounded

Barbaree says that as an organization focused on gathering scientific research, Point Blue doesn’t have a position on whether advocacy groups should be trying to acquire water rights for birds and the wetlands they depend on.

“We’re trying to understand the ecosystem from the bird’s perspective, and how that’s changed over time,” he says. Still, the information they gather can be used to identify species that may need support, or specific wetlands that are most important to them. But, Barbaree points out, water laws are complex and securing water rights for birds may not be a viable path.

He says he’d be surprised if codifying environmental use of water as a beneficial use will become a reality in most places. Even so, he says, “I think in general there’s a better understanding that healthy, long-term water ecosystems are important to everyone. We have to give back. We can’t take it all.” K.C Mehaffey has been writing about the environment from her home in Twisp, Washington for nearly 40 years. Columbia Insight, based in Hood River, Oregon, is a nonprofit newsroom focused on environmental issues of the Columbia River Basin and the Pacific Northwest.

RNS PHOTO/yONAT SHIMRON

Freda Schlaman, from left, Tim Gilland, the Rev. Matt Conner and Trent Thompson pose together at Newell Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, N.C.

PROVIDED PHOTO Avocets are shorebirds and can be found walking or swimming along shorelines looking for food.

SUNDAY, September 7, 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 — diPsoMAniAc: dipsuh-MAY-nee-ak: Alcoholic.

Average mark 51 words

Time limit 60 minutes

Can you find 71 or more words in DIPSOMANIAC?

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

Choices

Today’s deal is from a recent tournament in Australia. South’s slightly off-shape opening bid hid his diamond suit, so West reasonably led a diamond. South had eight top tricks The contract was safe if East held the ace of hearts, plus there was a good chance West would duck his ace of hearts if he had it. To be as deceptive as possible, South won the opening diamond lead in his hand and led the seven of hearts away from his king. West knew from the bidding that South only had two hearts and saw no reason to duck his ace. West rose with his ace of hearts and shifted smartly tothequeenofclubs!Thedefense took four club tricks to defeat the contract.

South might have tried the effect of running his long suit

super Quiz

Take this Super Quiz to a Ph.D. Score 1 point for each correct answer on the Freshman Level, 2 points on the graduate Level and 3 points on the Ph.D. Level.

SUBJECT: AMERICANA

(e.g., Title for the NFL annual league championship game. Answer: Super Bowl.)

FRESHMAN LEVEL

1. She was Superman’s love interest.

Answer________

2. Who played the title role in the film “Forrest Gump”?

Answer________

3. Providence is the most populous city and capital of which state?

Answer________

4. What is the largest lake entirely within the United States?

Answer________

5. What word did Billy Batson say to transform into Captain Marvel?

Answer________

This will sometimes create problems for the defense On this deal, East would have to find five discards.Hecouldonlypartwithone spade, and a club discard would mean the defense could only take three club tricks provided declarer did not release dummy’s king of clubs. Best defense would be to discard all four of his hearts.

VIRGO

slouch when there is so much you can do to advance. Get in the game and do your part, and you’ll rise to the top.

Southwould havetoread theposition, of course, but he could now prevail by playing four rounds of spades leaving East on lead with only clubs remaining. Dummy’s king of clubs would become declarer’s ninth trick

Tannah Hirsch welcomes readers’ responses sent in care of this newspaper or to Tribune Content Agency inc., 2225 Kenmore Ave., Suite 114, Buffalo, Ny 14207. E-mail responses may be sent to gorenbridge@ aol.com. © 2025 Tribune Content Agency

GRADUATE LEVEL

For what do the letters stands in the film “E.T.”?

Answer________

Writer Ned Buntline created the character known as “_____ Bill.” Answer________

The “blue and

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Choose your battles wisely and channel your energy appropriately Take the high road and bring about positive change and self-improvement. Physical activity will ease internal stress CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Place your attention on money, health and looking and doing your best Plan your day strategically and optimize your time to suit your goal. Protect your assets. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Put pressure on yourself to adjust to the

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) Share your thoughts and feelings and align yourself with those who have similar concerns. A smile and a positive attitude will help you gain momentum and achieve excellent results.

changes happening around you and to move forward. Get a handle on what makes you tick, and try to incorporate a passionate attitude into your everyday routine.

PISCES (Feb 20-March 20) The ability to bend and work your way through times of trouble will strengthen your character and help you

and those you encounter will follow suit. TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Work quietly behind the scenes where interference is easier to control. Building a solid foundation that offers peace of mind will be worth more than the stress that comes from comparing yourself to others. GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Turn your attention to your surroundings and make improvements that ease stress and make your life easier to navigate. Avoid criticism and those who make you feel inadequate. CANCER (June 21-July 22) Broaden your awareness and surround your-

self with people and possessions that contribute positive vibes to your environment. Protect against injury, insult and ill health. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Esthetics will play a role in how you feel and what you can do to improve your life. Whether you want to make physical changes to your appearance or your surroundings, the timing is good.

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

goren Bridge

1. Lois Lane. 2. TomHanks. 3. Rhode Island 4. Lake Michigan.5.Shazam. 6. ExtraTerrestrial. 7. Buffalo. 8. The American Civil War. 9. Charlie McCarthy.10. Captain Kirk 11. Excellent; very good. 12. Aztecs. 13. Arlington National Cemetery. 14. Leif Ericsson ("Leifthe Lucky"). 15.Jack Dempsey

SCORING: 24 to 30 points —congratulations, doctor; 18 to 23 points—honorsgraduate; 13 to 17 points —you’replenty smart, but no grind; 5to12points —you really shouldhit the booksharder;1point to 4points —enroll in remedial courses immediately; 0points who reads thequestions to you?

Saturday's Cryptoquote: All the thoughts of a turtle are turtle.—Ralph Waldo Emerson

jeFF mACnelly’sshoe/ by Gary Brookins &Susie MacNelly

FoXtrot/ by BillAmend