The Acadiana Advocate 11-16-2025

Agreement sought for indoor sports facility

BYCLAIRETAYLOR Staff writer

The Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission is seeking a$1per year lease for five acres of university property at CajunField on which to build an indoor sportsfacility

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette is facing financial difficultiesthat recently forced faculty and staff layoffs as well as other budget cuts.

UL would receive only $1 ayear for the indoor sports facilityproperty under a proposalbeingconsidered, Ben Berthelot, president and CEO of the LCVC, said

Pope’s roots reunite afamily

From branches separatedacentury ago, cousins finally meet in NewOrleans

BY DESIREESTENNETT Staff writer

Ellen Dionne Alverez satquietly at a circular table in the 1840RoomatAntoine’sRestaurant and waited, preparing to meet along-lost part of her family for the first time. Aloneand facing the private dining room’s open door,the native New Orleanian,raised in the 7th Ward,was still with quiet anticipation. What would these Chicago cousins be like,these friendly ladies who had contacted her —seem-

Tuesday

The university already is under fire for signing a55year lease in 2020 withthe Louisiana National Guard for which it is receiving no rent. The National Guard began construction in October on an 83,000-squarefootreadinesscenter on CongressStreet across from the Cajundome, surprising manyresidents and officials who knew nothing of the plan. Berthelot saidthey’re trying to finalizeanagreementthis month or next for the indoor sports complex,

estimated to cost around $40 million to build. Negotiations, he said Monday via email, are going slower than anticipated because of the change in leadership at the university. The Board of Supervisors for theULsystem, Berthelotsaid, may need to approve thedeal. The board unanimously approved the National Guard lease, minutesofa 2020 meeting show In 2023, aLafayette

Oliver have dinner together at Antoine’sRestaurant and discuss their

Pope Leo XIV in NewOrleans on Wednesday.

ingly out of the blue —after she herself learned of her own surprising genealogy?

Alverez, through her father’sside, was acousin to Pope Leo XIV They were, too. And then, minutes later,the four women walked in. Drowning outanintroduction by An-

toine’swaitstaff, they rushed over to Alverez with achorus of greetings. They exchangedhugs, laughter, wide smiles, names. Oncetheyfinally sat, Ann Carrera turned to hercousin KatBeaulieu

Optimism continues in UL president search

Committeenames,meeting datesstill unknown

BY MEGAN WYATTand ASHLEYWHITE Staff writers

After nearly three months with no public movement on finding apermanent president to lead theUniversityofLouisiana at Lafayette, theboard that oversees thecampus madesome progress this week.

The University of Louisi ana system board announced Thursday that its membe would create apresidenti search committee, though names of the committe members and meeting dates are still unknown.

Still, the board’sdecisio to holda search led to some optimism from faculty and state lawmakers after initial reports that the board planned to forgo asearch and install Vice President of Research Ramesh Kolluru as president withoutinput from faculty,students or others The board instead named Kolluru as interim president while they said they will search for apermanent one.

Leah Orr,president of the UL Faculty Senate and head of theEnglishdepartment, attendedThursday’smeeting in personand saidshe was glad to hear asearch will happen. Still, she noted the lack of open discussion —the UL system board spent an hour in aclosed-door executive sessionthat they

No word on possible Guard deployment in Louisiana

Movement expected but shutdown mayhaveslowed things, sourcessay

BYMEGHAN FRIEDMANN Staff writer

Amonth and ahalf after Gov.Jeff Landry asked the federal government to send 1,000 NationalGuard troopsto Louisiana, therehas been no word from thestate or President Donald Trump’s administration about when or whether that request will be approved. People familiarwith negotiationsaround thedeployment sayitisstill likely to occur,but it may have stalled due to the federal governmentshutdown. Lastmonth,Landry said he hoped troops would arrive in NewOrleans aheadof Thanksgiving. New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said she expected the guard to arrive for the Bayou Classic football game and remain in the city through Mardi Gras. ButonFriday,a Pentagon spokesperson

Landry Kirkpatrick

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER Cousins Ann Carrera, Kat Beaulieu, Ellen Dionne Alverez,Camille Basak andCindy

relationshipto

Pope Leo XIV

ä See SEARCH, page 7A

See GUARD, page 5A

See FAMILY,

STAFF PHOTO By LESLIE WESTBROOK

Ben Berthelot, president and CEO of the Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission, welcomes gueststoLafayette during The Great Acadian Awakening at Vermilionville in Lafayette on Oct. 14. TheUniversity of Louisiana at Lafayette and Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission are considering a$1per year leasetobuild an indoor sportscomplex.

Iranian officials confirm seizure of oil tanker

TEHRAN, Iran Iran on Saturday confirmed seizure of a Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker as it traveled through the narrow Strait of Hormuz over violations including carrying an illegal consignment, state media reported.

A report by the official IRNA news agency carried a statement by the Revolutionary Guard that said the tanker was taken to Iranian waters It did not elaborate on the “illegal consignment,” the crew or say where the ship was now heading It said the seizure came following a court order and the operation was aimed at “protecting Iran’s national interests and resources.” It identified the oil tanker as the Talara and said it was carrying 30,000 tons of petrochemical products.

The seizure happened on Friday Tehran has been increasingly warning it could strike back after a 12-day war with Israel in June that saw the U.S. strike Iranian nuclear sites. It said the ship had been en route to Singapore when Iranian forces intercepted. A private security firm, Ambrey described the assault as involving three small boats.

A U.S. Navy MQ-4C Triton drone had been circling above the area where the Talara was for hours on Friday observing the seizure, flight-tracking data analyzed by The Associated Press showed.

Atmospheric river hits

Southern California

LOS ANGELES An unusually strong storm system called an atmospheric river was dousing Southern California on Saturday prompting flood warnings in areas of coastal Los Angeles County that recently were ravaged by wildfire.

The National Weather Service in Los Angeles and Oxnard reported heavy rainfall Saturday at rates as heavy as an inch per hour in coastal areas that are prone to flash flooding.

On Friday, more than four inches of rain fell over coastal Santa Barbara County as the storm approached Los Angeles as the National Weather Service urged people to stay indoors amid heavy winds.

The long plume of tropical moisture that formed over the Pacific Ocean began drenching the San Francisco Bay Area on Wednesday and unleashed widespread rain over Southern California on Friday and Saturday More than a foot of snow was predicted for parts of the Sierra Nevada Flood warnings extended from the Ventura County coast, through Malibu and into Los Angeles.

Disney reaches new deal with YouTube TV NEW YORK Disney and YouTube TV reached a new deal to bring channels like ABC and ESPN back to the Google-owned livestreaming platform Friday ending a blackout for customers that dragged on for over two weeks

“As part of the new deal, Disney’s full suite of networks and stations — including ESPN and ABC — have already begun to be restored to YouTube TV subscribers,” The Walt Disney Co. said in a statement.

YouTube TV also confirmed the return of Disney content on its platform, noting that subscribers should see channels back “over the course of the day.” It apologized for the disruption and thanked customers for their “patience as we negotiated on their behalf.”

Disney content went dark on YouTube TV the night of Oct. 30 after the two sides failed to reach a new licensing deal In the days that followed, YouTube TV subscribers were left without Disney channels on the platform — notably disrupting coverage of top college football matchups and professional sports games, as well as news and entertainment programming.

Beyond ESPN and ABC, other Disney-owned content removed from YouTube TV during the impasse included channels like NatGeo, FX, Freeform, SEC Network, ACC Network and more

Officials confirm DHS surge in N.C.

Feds targeting immigration enforcement efforts in Charlotte

BY ERIK VERDUZCO Associated Press

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Federal officials

confirmed Saturday that a surge of immigration enforcement in North Carolina’s largest city had begun as agents were seen making arrests in multiple locations

“Americans should be able to live without fear of violent criminal illegal aliens hurting them, their families, or their neighbors,” Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement.

“We are surging DHS law enforcement to Charlotte to ensure Americans are safe and public safety threats are removed.”

Local officials, including Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles, criticized such actions, saying in a statement they “are causing unnecessary fear and uncertainty.”

“We want people in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County to know we stand with all residents who simply want to go about their lives,” said the statement also signed by County Commissioner Mark Jerrell and Charlotte-Mecklenburg school board member Stephanie Sneed.

The federal government hadn’t previously announced the push.

But Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden said earlier this week that two federal officials had told him that customs agents would be arriving soon. Charlotte is a racially diverse city of more than 900,000 residents, including more

than 150,000 who are foreign-born, according to local officials.

Paola Garcia, a spokesperson with Camino a bilingual nonprofit serving families in Charlotte — said she and her colleagues have observed an increase in U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents pulling people over since Friday

“Basically what we’re seeing is that there have been lots of people being pulled over,” Garcia said. “I even saw a few people being pulled over on the way to work yesterday, and then just from community members seeing an increase in ICE and Border Patrol agents in the city of Charlotte.”

Willy Aceituno, a Honduran-born U.S. citizen, was on his way to work when he saw Border Patrol agents chasing people.

“I saw a lot of Latinos running. I wondered why they were running. The thing is, there were a lot of Border Patrol agents chasing them,” he said.

Aceituno, a 46-year-old Charlotte resident, said he himself was stopped — twice — by Border Patrol agents. On the second encounter, they forced him out of his vehicle after breaking the car window and threw him to the ground.

“I told them, ’I’m an American citizen,” he told The Associated Press. “They wanted to know where I was born, or they didn’t believe I was an American citizen.”

After being forcibly taken into a Border Patrol vehicle, Aceituno said he was finally allowed to go free after showing documents that proved his citizenship. Aceituno said he had to walk back some distance to his car He later filed a po-

lice report over the broken glass.

In east Charlotte, two workers were hanging Christmas lights in Rheba Hamilton’s front yard on Saturday morning when two Customs and Border Patrol agents walked up. One agent tried to speak to the workers in Spanish, she said. They didn’t respond, and the agents left in a gray minivan without making arrests.

“This is real disconcerting, but the main thing is we’ve got two human beings in my yard trying to make a living. They’ve broken no laws, and that’s what concerns me,” Hamilton, who recorded the encounter on her cellphone, told The Associated Press.

“It’s an abuse of all of our laws. It is unlike anything I have ever imagined I would see in my lifetime,” the 73-year-old said.

Amid reports that Charlotte could be the next city facing an immigration crackdown, she had suggested the work be postponed, but the contractor decided to go ahead.

“Half an hour later he’s in our yard, he’s working and Border Patrol rolls up,” she said. “They’re here because they were looking for easy pickings. There was nobody here with TV cameras, nobody here protesting, there’s just two guys working in a yard and an old White lady with white hair sitting on her porch drinking her coffee.”

Local organizations sought to prepare for the push, trying to inform immigrants of their rights and considering peaceful protests. JD Mazuera Arias, who won election to the Charlotte City Council in September, was one of about a dozen people standing watch Saturday outside a Latin American bakery in his district in east Charlotte.

First strong winter rains soak Gaza’s shelters

BY WAFAA SHURAFA Associated Press

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip

Winter’s first strong rainfall sent water cascading through parts of Gaza’s sprawling Muwasi tent camp on Saturday, as the territory struggles to cope with flooding and devastated infrastructure after two years of war Residents attempted to dig trenches to keep the water from flooding their tents, as intermittent rain that began on Friday dripped through tears in tarpaulins and makeshift shelters. The bursts soaked families’ scant belongings. Strong winds can also topple tents and hamper attempts to gather scarce food and supplies.

Two weeks ago, Bassil

Tents are set up

in

Naggar bought a new tent on the black market for the equivalent of about $712, because the summer sun had worn his old tent thin. Still, rainwater was leaking through.

“I spent all (Friday) pushing water out of my tent,” Naggar said, adding that his neighbors’

tents and belongings were wrecked. “Water puddles are inches high, and there is no proper drainage.”

Baref oot children splashed in puddles as women made tea outside under dark clouds. Some people tried to shelter in destroyed buildings, even those at risk of collapse,

Climate protesters demand to be heard at COP30 march

BY MELINA WALLING and TERESA DE MIGUEL Associated Press

BELEM, Brazil Some wore black dresses to signify a funeral for fossil fuels.

Hundreds wore red shirts, symbolizing the blood of colleagues fighting to protect the environment. And others chanted, waved huge flags or held up signs Saturday in what’s traditionally the biggest day of protest at the halfway point of annual United Nations climate talks.

Organizers with booming sound systems on trucks with raised platforms directed protesters from a wide range of environmental and social movements.

Marisol Garcia, a Kichwa woman from Peru marching at the head of one group, said protesters are there to put pressure on world leaders to make “more humanized decisions.”

The demonstrators walked about 2.5 miles on a route that took them near the main venue for the talks, known as COP30. Protesters earlier this week twice disrupted the

talks by surrounding the venue, including an incident Tuesday where two security guards suffered minor injuries.

A full day of sessions was planned at the venue, including talks on how to move forward with $300 billion a year in annual climate financial aid that rich countries agreed last year to give to poor nations to help wean themselves off fossil fuels, adapt to a nastier, warmer world and compensate for extreme weather damage.

Many of the protesters reveled in the freedom to demonstrate more openly than at recent climate talks held in more authoritarian countries, including Azerbaijan, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt Thousands joined in a procession that sprawled across most of the march’s route.

Youth leader Ana Heloisa Alves, 27, said it was the biggest climate march she has been part of. “This is incredible,” she said. “You can’t ignore all these people.” Alves was at the march to fight for the Tapajos

River, which the Brazilian government wants to develop commercially “The river is for the people,” her group’s signs read.

Pablo Neri, coordinator in the Brazilian state of Para for the Movimento dos Trabajadores Rurais Sem Terra, an organization for rural workers, said organizers of the talks should involve more people to reflect a climate movement that is shifting toward popular participation.

The United States, where President Donald Trump has ridiculed climate change as a scam and withdrawn from the landmark 2015 Paris Agreement that sought to limit Earth’s warming, is skipping the talks.

Demonstrator Flavio Pinto, of Para state, took aim at the U.S. Wearing a brown suit and an oversized American flag top hat, he shifted his weight back and forth on stilts and fanned himself with fake hundred-dollar bills with Trump’s face on them. “Imperialism produces wars and environmental crises,” his sign read.

with gaping holes covered by pieces of plastic.

According to the United Nations, Muwasi was sheltering up to 425,000 displaced Palestinians earlier this year, the vast majority in makeshift temporary tents, after Israel’s war with Hamas displaced most of Gaza’s population of over 2 million people. Muwasi had largely been undeveloped sand dunes before the Israeli military designated it a humanitarian zone early in the war

The Israeli defense body in charge of humanitarian aid in Gaza has said it is al-

lowing in winterization materials including blankets and heavy tarps, but aid organizations warn the efforts are far from sufficient when winter temperatures plummet and the wind whips off the Mediterranean. The first stage of the ceasefire agreement is nearing its end. The next and even more challenging stage calls for the implementation of a governing body for Gaza and the deployment of an international stabilization force. It is not clear where either stands. Another looming question is the proposed disarming of Hamas.

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PROVIDED PHOTO FROM VIDEO By RHEBA HAMILTON

U.S. Border Patrol agents leave a yard Saturday after approaching two men hanging lights in Charlotte, N.C.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ABDEL KAREEM HANA

Saturday inside a gutted apartment building

Khan younis, Gaza Strip.

Trump, like Biden, findsnoquick fixoninflation

BY JOSH BOAK Associated Press

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump’sproblems with fixing the high costof living might be givingvoters afeeling of déjà vu.

Just like the president who came before him, Trump is trying to sell the country on hisplans to create factory jobs. The Republicanwants to lower prescription drug costs, as did Democratic President JoeBiden. Both tried to shame companies for price increases.

Trump is even leaningona message that echoes Biden’s claimsin2021thatelevated inflation is simply a“transitory” problem that will soon vanish.

“We’re going to be hitting 1.5% pretty soon,” Trump told reporters Monday.”It’s all coming down.”

Even as Trump keeps saying an economic boom is around the corner,there are signs that he has already exhausted voters’ patience as his campaign promises to fix inflation instantly have gone unfulfilled.

Voters in this month’selections swung hardtoDemocratsover concerns about affordability.That has left Trump, who dismisses his weak polling on the economy as fake, floating half-formed ideas to ease financial pressures.

He is promising a$2,000 rebate on histariffs and said he may stretch the 30year mortgage to 50 years to reduce the size of monthly payments. On Friday,Trump scrapped his tariffs on beef, coffee, tea, fruit juice, cocoa, spices, bananas, oranges, tomatoes and certain fertilizers, saying they “may,in some cases” have contributed to higher prices.

But those are largely “gimmicky”moves unlikelyto move the needle much on inflation, said Bharat Ramamurti, aformer deputy directorofBiden’sNational Economic Council

“They’reinthisverytough position where they’ve developed areputation for not caring enough about costs,

President DonaldTrump holds achartonAug.7 as he discusses the economy in the

House in Washington.

where thetools they have available to them are unlikely to be able to help people in the short term,” Ramamurti said. Ramamurti said theBiden administration learnedthe hard way that voters are notappeased by apresident saying his policies would ultimately causetheir incomes to rise.

“That argument does not resonate,” he said. “Take it from me.”

Bideninheritedaneconomy trying to rebound from the coronavirus pandemic, which had shut down schools andoffices, causingmass layoffs and historic levels of government borrowing. In March 2021, he signed into lawa $1.9trillionrelief package. Criticssaidthat was excessive and could cause prices to rise As the economy reopened, there were shortagesofcomputer chips, kitchen appliances, autos and even furniture.Cargo ships were stuck waiting to dock at ports, creatingsupply chain issues Russia’sinvasion of Ukraine in early 2022 pushed up energy and food costs, and the increase in consumer prices hit afour-decade high that June. The Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest ratestocool inflation.

Biden tried to convince

Americans that the economy was strong. “Bidenomics is working,” Biden saidina 2023 speech. “Today,the U.S. has had the highesteconomic growth rate,leadingthe world economies sincethe pandemic.”

His arguments did littleto swayvoters as only 36% of U.S. adults in August 2023 approvedofhis handling of theeconomy,according to a poll at the time by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Republicans made the case that Biden’s policies made inflation worse. Democrats are using that sameframing againstTrumptoday

Here is their argument: Trump’stariffs aregetting passedalongtoconsumers in the form of higherprices; his cancellation of clean energy projects means therewill be fewer new sources of electricity as utility bills climb; his massdeportations made it costlier for theimmigrantheavyconstruction sector to build houses.

Bidenadministration officials note that Trump came intooffice withstrong growth, asolid jobmarket and inflation declining close to historic levels, only for him to reverse thosetrends.

“It’sstriking how many Americans are aware of

histrade policy andrightly blame theturnaround in prices on thaterratic policy,” said Gene Sperling, asenior Biden adviser who alsoled the National EconomicCouncil in the Obama and Clinton administrations.

“He is in atough trap of his own doing —and it’snot likely to get easier,” Sperling said.

Consumer prices had been increasing at an annual rate of 2.3% in April when Trump launched his tariffs, and that rate accelerated to 3% in September

The inflationary surge has been less than what voters endured under Biden, but the political fallout so far appearstobesimilar: 67% of U.S. adults disapprove of Trump’sperformance, according to November polling data from AP-NORC.

“Inboth instances, the president caused anon-trivialshare of theinflation,” said Michael Strain, director of economic policy studies at theAmerican Enterprise Institute, acenter-right think tank. “I think President Bidendidn’ttakethis concern seriously enough in his first few months in office andPresident Trump isn’t taking this concern seriously enough right now.”

Strain noted that the two presidents have even re-

sponded to the dilemma in “weirdly,eerily similar ways” by playing down inflation as aproblem, pointing to other economic indicators andlooking to address concerns by issuing government checks.

Trump officials have made thecasethattheir mixof income tax cuts,foreign investment frameworks tied to tariffs and changes in enforcing regulations will lead to more factories andjobs.

Allofthat, they say,could increase the supply of goods and services and reduce the forces driving inflation.

“The policies that we’re pursuing right now are increasing supply,”Kevin Hassett, director of Trump’s National Economic Council, told the Economic Club of Washington on Wednesday

The Fed has cut its benchmark interest rates, which could increase thesupply of money in the economyfor investment. But the central bank hasdonesobecause of aweakening job market despite inflation being above its 2% target, and there are concerns that rate cuts of the size Trump wants could fuel more inflation. It takes time for consumer sentiment to improve after the inflation rate drops, according to research done by Ryan Cummings, an econo-

mist who worked on Biden’s Council of Economic Advisers. His read of theUniversity of Michigan’sindex of consumersentiment is thatthe effectsofthe postpandemic rise in inflation are no longer adriving factor.These days, voters are frustrated because Trump had primed them to believe he could lower groceryprices and other expenses,but hasfailed to deliver “Whenitcomes to structural affordability issues —housing, childcare, education, and health care— Trumphas pushed in the wrong directionineach one,” said Cummings, who is now chief of staff at the Stanford Institute forEconomic Policy Research. He said Trump’sbest chance of beating inflation now might be “if he gets a very lucky break on commodity prices” through a bumper harvest worldwide and oil production continuing to run ahead of demand. Fornow,Trump hasdecided to continue to rely on attacking Biden for anything that has gone wrong in the economy,ashedid on Monday in an interview with Fox News’ “The Ingraham Angle.”

“The problem was that Biden did this,” Trump said.

By The Associated Press

DALLAS Federalprosecu-

tors in Texas have charged six more people with anew terrorism-related charge in the July shooting outsidean immigration detentioncenter near Dallas, and said six others are scheduled to enter guilty pleas in the case. The latest indictment in the case, issued Friday,expands on previouscharges and relies on President Trump’srecent declaration that deems the decentralized movement known as antifa adomestic terrorist organization. Trump blames antifa for political violence. The case stems from the July 4shooting outside the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, southwest of Dallas, that injured apolice officer.The charges also include rioting, attempted murder and weapons and explosives charges. Prosecutors said the group threw fireworks at the facility,vandalized vehicles and then shot at responding police and correctional officers, striking an Alvarado officer in the neck. He was later released from ahospital.

Continued from page1A

said there were no updates on the possible deployment, referring questions to the Louisiana National Guard “Wehave not received word that anything’sbeen approved yet,” said Lt. Col. Noel Collins, aspokesperson for the agency.

Landry could activate the Guard himself, but he needs the Trump administration’s approval to secure federal funding for the deployment.

In the past, the guard has been used in Louisianato respond to emergencieslike hurricanes and the Jan. 1 terrorist attack in New Orleans, and it has helped bulk up security at large events like the Super Bowl.

Trump has made acontroversial push to deploy the guard and other federal agents to cities like Chicago andWashington, D.C., to crack down on crime and immigration. It is unclear what exactly

theNational Guard’srole would beifLandry’srequest were approved.

The governor submitted hisrequest for troops in a Sept.29 letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth,citingcrimeinthe Louisiana citiesofShreveport, Baton Rouge and New Orleansas justification

On Friday,aspokesperson for Landry said she had no commentondeployment plansand wasunawareof any updates.

Spokespeoplefor Baton Rouge and Shreveport had no updatesonthe situation East Baton Rouge Parish Mayor-PresidentSid Edwards has said he does not oppose having guard members in Louisiana’scapital city but does not want them engaging in aggressive policing tactics.

ShreveportMayor Tom Arceneaux previously said he does notthink bringing in the National Guard is the best way to address crime, but that he would welcome their help in tearing down blighted properties.

Aspokesperson for New Orleans Mayor-elect Helena Moreno said WednesdaythatMorenodeclined to comment. New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s office and the NewOrleans Police Departmentdid not return press inquiries.

Guard deployments elsewhere in thecountry have drawn sharpcriticism from somelocals and from Democratic politicians,who say theyare notwarranted, are overly militaristic and can escalate tensions in their communities.

In August, Landry sent 135 Louisiana guardmembers to aid Trump’scrackdown in D.C. Partofacontingent of more than2,000 other troops, they remainstationed there but are tentativelyscheduled to leaveat theend of February, according to Collins, the Louisiana National Guard spokesperson.

Meanwhile, Chicago has taken center stage in Trump’scampaign to deport immigrants at record levels after thefederal govern-

mentsent Border Patrol agents there in September for“OperationMidway Blitz.” They have been criticized for their aggressive tactics, including the use of chemical agents anda helicopter raid on an apartment building.

Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino has described those tactics as anecessary response to threats he says his agentshave faced since arriving in thecity

Some 3,200 people in the Chicagoarea have been arrested forallegedimmigration violations as part of Operation Midway Blitz

On Tuesday,The New York Times reported that theTrumpadministration planned to bring theBorder Patrol to New Orleans. The Department of Homeland Security,which oversees the Border Patrol,has not publicly confirmed such aplan. TheAssociated Press contributed tothis report.

Email Meghan Friedmann at meghan.friedmann@ theadvocate.com.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JOSE LUIS MAGANA

Members of the Louisiana National Guardpatrol thegroundsofthe Washington Monument in Washington, D.C.,onSept.7

STAFF FILE PHOTOBySOPHIA GERMER

Soldierswiththe Louisiana National Guard walkdown Bourbon Street on Feb.5 ahead of the Super Bowl in New Orleans.

after they searched Alverez’sface.

“Shelookslike the Martinez side!” Carrera said of Alverez, seeing in her aresemblance to her own distant cousin,Max Martinez, and allof his siblings.

“It’ssoexciting,” whispered Cammy Basak to her cousin Cindy Oliver.“I’m breathless.”

Family ties

On Wednesday night, in a quiet corner of Antoine’sin the heart of New Orleans’ oldest neighborhood, two branches of Pope Leo’sfamily that lost touchtwo generations before he was born were reunited over oysters Rockefeller and French 75s.

The seeds of the reunion were plantedonMay 8, when Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was selected by his fellow cardinals as the next pope of the Roman Catholic Church.

That morning, New Orleans genealogist Jari Honora saw that an American pope, with the last name Prevost, had been chosen, and jumped into U.S. census records.

With that last name, Honora knew there had to be a New Orleans connection. Within hours, he found it, and acomplicatedbut quintessentially American story about race and family history unfolded.

It’sthe last name of Martinez —Alverez’s maiden name —that bands the cousins and connects them to Pope Leo and to New Orleans, accordingtorecords collected by Honora and Carrera’s family historian, Martinez.

Pope Leo’sgrandfather was Joseph Martinez,who was born in the 7th Ward Alverez’sgreat-grandfather Michel Martinezwas Joseph’sbrother.Carrera’s great-great-grandmother Adele Martinez was their sister More than acentury ago, Joseph, Adeleand another brother left their7th Ward home and moved to Chicago.The siblings were fairskinned enough to pass for White when they gotthere. Michel Martinez stayed in New Orleans, and his branch of thefamily continued to live as Black. It’sunclear if they ever communicated after most of the family left the South. Under the state-sanctioned segregation of JimCrow people who decided to pass for White —known by the French phrase “passé blanc” —were often forced to cut ties with family andfriends so their roots were notdiscovered. Those who could

passsuccessfully often found better treatmentand morefreedom

Michel Martinez died beforehis 30thbirthday,and eventually the family splintered and lost touch.

If Cardinal Prevost was not chosen as pope, it’s possible that the two branches of the family would never have found one another Buthewas.And at Antoine’s, it seemed that alasting bond was being formed. Catching up

Thecousins were consumed in conversationfor thethreehours they spent at Antoine’s. Theyshared photos. They talked about resemblances. They told stories of the ancestors they shared.

Waitstaff had to return threetimes before the women had achance to look at themenuand orderthe three kinds of oysters they selected as appetizers. By chance, they all ordered the popularPompanoPontchartrain— similartasteswere

oneofthe many things they attributed to the family connection.

Seated next to Alverez, Beaulieu pulled out asmall plastic sleeve packed with photos of Adele Martinez andotherrelativesfrom generations ago.

Beaulieu told the story of how her grandmother Camille Rouzanforgot English at the end of her life and only spoke French.

Carrera said that she studiedFrenchinhigh school to connect with herfamily’s French ancestry,and that her Grammy Marion Mistrettahad passeddown a gumbo recipe. Mistretta, she said, would make pralinesduring the holidays, keeping their Creole New Orleans roots aliveeven as Chicagobecame home.

Alverez brought along programs from her husband’srecent funeral. It includeda poem, and Basak read it aloud forthe group. She sharedphotosofher her husband, her son and herfather.

She told the Chicagocousins about her extended familyinTexas,who arealsorelated to them andthe pope —they hope to meet them too, eventually.Alverez sharedthe story of howher husband built her apink house in NewOrleansEast as awedding gift andhow HurricaneKatrina dumped 4feet of floodwater inside it. But theyrebuilt.

By the end of the meal, Antoine’s was nearly empty Dinner quickly ballooned into moreplans. The group gathered againonSaturday foranevent honoring Henriette DeLille, founder of the Sisters of the Holy Family and another moredistant relative of Carrera’sonthe otherside of the family On Sunday, the women will donanythingbluethey packed to attend aservice at Alverez’sBaptist church. If time permits, maybe they will squeeze in abrief brunchordinner, too.

“They were all so nice,” Alverez said, adding that her son Harlon Martinez, asecondcousin twiceremoved to the pope, was planning to stay in touch. “He kept saying, ‘I want to spend time with my cousins.’” The Chicagocousins have alreadyinvitedAlverezto attend arevived family reunionnextyear

During dinner,Beaulieu mentioned thepossibility of atrip to Rome. They must go together to visit their other cousin at the Vatican “Tocousins,”Beaulieu toasted over decaf coffeeand platesfilled witha mountain of baked Alaska. “Tocousins,” theyechoed back

Email Desiree Stennett at desiree.stennett@ theadvocate.com.

PHOTOSBySOPHIA GERMER

KatBeaulieu, of Chicago, goes through family photos at Antoine’sRestaurant in New Orleans on Wednesday.

CindyOliver,ofChicago, zooms in on aphoto

said was to “discuss personnel matters” under an agenda item related to the search.

“The Faculty Senate is really pleased to hear that there’sgoing to be asearch and that it’sgoing to involve faculty,” she said. “We’re also really pleased to hear that the new interim president is prioritizing the academic program and the needs of faculty and students.”

State Sen. Brach Myers, R-Lafayette, also attended the Thursday meeting but arrivedafter the board entered into executive session to discuss thepresidential searchout of publicview

“I was sort of surprised, like,‘What’s goingon?

Myers said. “I thought they were just starting late when Iwalked in.”

Myers studied business at UL, and his father,Keith Myers, also sits on the board

The younger Myers said he believes the boardmade the right decision by announcing that asearchcommittee wouldlookfor theuniversity’snext president.

As interim president,Kolluru replaces Jaimie Hebert, who took overasinterim in August. Hebert moved into the role after the resignation this summer of longtime UL

FACILITY

Continued from page1A

Tourism Improvement District was created with LCVC and localhotels which agreed to collect a 2% “lodgingassessment” on rooms. Collectionsare to be used for tourism-enhancing projects like the sports complex. Collections in the LTID began in January.Asofthe October report, the tax generated nearly $1.5 million, according to the Lafayette Parish school system’s sales taxoffice. Berthelot said they anticipate about $2 million in collections annually That money, Berthelot said, could be used to guarantee bond sales to build the complex. Another option, he said, could be a public-private partnership in which the private entity would build the complex and LCVC would makedebt lease payments.

“Either way,wewould be hiring acompany to runthe facility,” he said. Without the LTID, Berthelot said, “none of this is even aquestion.” The agreement under discussion would allow the LCVC to keep proceeds from a1%ULEconomic Development District tax on sales in the sports facility for 10 years to offset costs. The EDD was created in 2024 and includes the sports complex proposed sitethatparallelsCajundome Boulevard between Congress Street and the pedestrian underpass.

In presenting updatedfinancial estimates to LCVC in August,Jason Boudrie, CEO of Synergy Sports Global, indicated the facility would operate at a projected annual operating loss of $600,000.

Those were preliminary numbers, Berthelotsaid, and many factors are involved. He does not anticipate the facility would makemoney the first few years of operation, but

Ramesh Kolluru, center,was appointed the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’snew interim president during aspecial meetingofthe UL system board at Abdalla Hall in Lafayette on Thursday. The board announced it would create apresidential search committee. The decision to hold asearchled to some optimism from faculty and Acadiana lawmakers.

PresidentJoseph Savoie Hebert asked the board Thursday to return to his position as provost and recommended that they move Kolluru into the interimrole.

“I talked to Jaimie after andItalkedtoRameshafter,”Brach Myers said. “And Ididn’t feel like there was any kindoftension or that Jaimie was coerced into that or anything. He seemed

some feasibility options suggest it could make money after it has been operating awhile

If the sports complex never makes money, Berthelot said, “(LCVC) would be on the hook for that.”

The commission could tap into its general fund to subsidize the facility for a few years, he said, but not forever

If the facility goes into default, UL would take ownership of the building, he said. “The facility,Ibelieve,

genuine.”

Beth Stauffer,amember of the UL chapter of the American Association of UniversityProfessors, described the past week as “a bit like whiplash.” She watched Thursday’smeeting of theULsystem board online.

“We’re allpleasedthat there was not the appointmentofa permanent presi-

would be asuccessifyou built it on farm land,” Berthelot said. “It will be asuccess no matter where you build it.”

The universityisthe largest economic driver in the region, and the indoor sports facility,hesaid, can spur development with the sheer number of people that will use it,whichisestimatedat140,000 new visitors peryear

EmailClaire Taylor at ctaylor@theadvocate. com.

dent withoutasearch,” she said. “That is an outcome that we wanted to see, and nowI think thegoalwillbe to make surethatwesee movementonatimeline, on asearch committee, on a process being mapped out Stauffer,a biology professor,also helped draft the letter AAUPsent Nov 10 to the UL system board that demandedthe forma-

tion of apresidential search committee, as required by the board’sown rulesand bylaws.Althoughshe said faculty members are still processing howeverything unfolded thisweek,Stauffer expects the AAUPwill meet in the coming week to discuss next steps.

“Wewereabletoshine a light on what we were concerned about with the transparency and opennessofthe process,”Stauffersaid. “So I think we will keep trying to shine that light and making sure that allofthe parties who are more formally involved know that they have oursupport andthatwe want to definitely see movement on afair, open search that’s notjustkindofa rubber stampofsomething that was alreadygoing to happen.”

Kolluru, for his part, promisedtransparency going forward andsaid in an interviewafterhe was namedinterim president that he was “glad the process evolved.” When pressed on whether that meant the board’sprevious plan was to make an appointment sans search, Kolluru deflected

Kolluru said he received arequest Nov.10fromUL system President Rick Gallot to submit his materials for consideration forthe position. When asked about that request, Gallot also deflected.

“I’m notable to speak about personnel matters like that,” Gallot saidinan interview after the meeting. “I think the best evidence of theresult occurredhere in the open meeting (Thursday).”

During the meeting, Board Chair Mark Romero said the boardwould confirm “a great group of community leadersand individuals that have avestedinterest in seeing this university succeed.” He offered no details on when that would be. AUL system spokesperson did notreturna requestfor clarification before publication. State Sen. Gerald Boudreaux,D-Lafayette, also attendedThursday’smeeting. AULalumnus, he said he hopes the board eventually appoints anew president whoisaninnovator and thinker,and who won’tlose sight of the history and culture of the university “I’m pleased with where things are now with the board’sdecision to have a search,” Boudreaux said “And I’mlooking forward to more information on the timeline.Ijust think for the Acadiana area, this university is so important that we got to get it right. It’simperative that we get it right, and we get the right person to lead this institution.”

Email AshleyWhiteat ashley.white@theadvocate. com.

TheAmerican RedCross in Louisiana serves4.65millionresidentsacrossall64parishesandextendshopeto communitiesacrossthenationandaroundtheworld.Whenyousupportyour localRedCross,youmakeadirectimpactinyourcommunity Poweredbygenerosity. TheRedCrossisnotagovernmentagency.Wearea501(c)(3) nonprofitthatreliesonthepowerofvolunteersandthegenerosity ofdonorstocarryoutourhumanitarianmission. RedCrosssupportersprovideabeaconofhope.Fromhelping duringdisasters,toprovidinglifesavingtrainingandsupporting militarycommunities,theRedCrossistherewhenhelpcan’twait.

STAFF PHOTO By BRAD KEMP

Trumpissuestwo pardonsrelated to Jan. 6riot

Manjailedongun offense; womanconvicted of threateningtoshoot agents

BY ALANNA DURKIN RICHER and CHRIS MEGERIAN Associated Press

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump has issued two pardons related to the investigation into theJan. 6, 2021, riot, including for awoman convicted of threatening to shoot FBI agents who were investigating atip that she may have been at the Capitol, officials said Saturday

In aseparate case, Trump issued asecond pardon for aJan. 6defendant who had remained behind bars despite the sweepinggrant of clemency for Capitol rioters because of aseparate convic-

tionfor illegallypossessing firearms.

It’sthe latest example of Trump’swillingness to use his constitutional authority to help supporters who were scrutinized as partofthe Bidenadministration’smassiveJan.6 investigationthat led to charges against more than 1,500defendants. Suzanne Ellen Kaye was released last year after serving an 18-monthsentence in her threats case. After FBI contacted her in 2021 abouta tipindicatingshe may have been at theCapitol on Jan 6, she posted avideoonsocial mediacitingher Second Amendment right to carry

agun andshe threatened to shoot agents if they came to her house. In courtpapers, prosecutors said her words “werepartofthe ubiquityof violent political rhetoric that causes serious harm to our communities.”

An emailseeking comment was sent to alawyer for Kaye on Saturday.Kaye testified at trial that she didn’town any guns and didn’tintend to threaten theFBI, according to court papers. She told authorities she was not at the Capitol on Jan. 6and wasn’t charged withany Capitol riot-relatedcrimes

AWhite House official said Kaye suffers from “stress-in-

duced seizures,” and experienced one when the jury read its verdict. TheWhite House said this is “clearly acase of disfavored First Amendment political speech being prosecuted and an excessive sentence.” The official requested anonymitybecause they weren’tauthorized to publicly discuss the case.

In aseparate case, Trump pardonedDanielEdwin Wilson of Louisville, Kentucky, who was under investigation for hisrole in theriot when authorities found sixguns and roughly 4,800 rounds of ammunition in his home. Becauseofpriorfelony convictions, it was illegal for him to

possess firearms.

Wilson’scase became part of alegaldebateover whether Trump’ssweeping pardonsfor Jan. 6rioters in Januaryappliedtoother crimes discovered during the sprawling federaldragnet that began after the attack on the Capitol. The Trump-appointed federal judge who oversaw Wilson’s case criticized theJustice Department earlier this year for arguing that the president’sJan. 6pardons applied to Wilson’sgun offense.

Wilson, who hadbeen scheduled to remain in prison until 2028, was released Friday evening following thepardon, hislawyersaid on Saturday

“Weare grateful that Pres-

ident Trumphas recognized theinjustice in my client’s caseand granted him this pardon,” attorney George Pallas said in an email. “Mr Wilson cannow reunite with his family and begin rebuilding his life.”

The White House official Saturday that “because the search of Mr.Wilson’shome was due to the events of Jan. 6, and they should have never been there in the first place, President Trump is pardoning Mr.Wilson for the firearm issues.” Wilson had been sentenced in 2024 to five years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiringtoimpedeorinjure police officers and illegally possessing firearms at his home.

NaturalizedU.S.citizensworried by president’spolicies

BY DEEPTI HAJELA Associated Press

NEW YORK When he first came to the United States after escaping civilwar in Sierra Leone and spending almost adecadeinarefugee camp, Dauda Sesay had no idea he couldbecome a citizen. But he was told that if he followed the rules and stayed out of trouble, after some years he could apply As aU.S. citizen, he would have protection.

It’swhat made him decide to apply: the premise and the promise —that when he became anaturalized American citizen, it would create a bond between him and his new home. He would have rights as well as responsibilities, like voting, that, as he was making acommitment to the country,the country was making one to him.

“When Iraised my hand and took the oath of allegiance, Idid believe that moment the promise that I belonged,” said Sesay,48, who first arrived in Louisiana more than 15 years ago and now works as an advocate for refugees and their integrationinto American society But in recent months, as President Donald Trumpreshapes immigration and the country’srelationshipwith immigrants,that belief has been shaken for Sesay and other naturalized citizens. There’snow fear that the push to drastically increase deportations and shift who

can claimAmerica as home, through things like trying to end birthright citizenship, is having aripple effect.

Whattheythought was the bedrock protection of naturalizationnow feelsmore like quicksand.

Some are worriedthatif they leave the country,they will have difficulties when trying to return, fearful because of accountsofnaturalizedcitizens being questioned or detainedbyU.S borderagents.Theywonder: Do they need to lock down their phones to protect their privacy? Others are hesitant about moving around within thecountry,after stories like that of aU.S.citizenaccused of being here illegally and detained even after his motherproduced his birth certificate.

Therehas been no evidence of an uptick in denaturalizations so far in this Trump administration. Yetthat hasn’t assuaged some. Sesay said he doesn’ttravel domestically anymore without his passport, despite having a REAL ID with its federally mandated, stringent identity requirements

Immigration enforcement roundups, often conducted by masked,unidentifiable federal agents in places including Chicago and New York City,have at times included American citizens in their dragnets. One U.S. citizen who says he wasdetained by immigration agents twice hasfiled afederal lawsuit. Adding to the worries, the

Justice Department issued amemo this summer sayingitwould ramp up efforts to denaturalize immigrants who’vecommitted crimes or are deemed to present a national securityrisk. At one point during the summer, Trump threatened the citizenship of Zohran Mamdani, the 34-year-old democratic socialist mayor-elect of New York City,who naturalized as ayoung adult.

The atmospheremakes some worriedtospeak about it publicly,for fear of drawingnegative attention to themselves.Requests for commentthrough several community organizations andother connectionsfound no takers willing to go on the recordother than Sesay

In New Mexico, state Sen. Cindy Nava says she’sfamiliarwith the fear,having grown up undocumented before getting DACA —Deferred Action forChildhood Arrivals, theObama-era program thatprotected people brought to theU.S.aschildren from being deported —and gainingcitizenship through hermarriage.But she hadn’texpected to see so much fear among naturalized citizens.

“I hadnever seen those folks be afraid. nowthe folks thatI know thatwere notafraid before, now they are uncertainofwhattheir status holds in termsofa safety netfor them,” Nava said. What citizenshiphas

meant, andwho was included, has expanded and contracted over the course of American history,said StephenKantrowitz, professor of history at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He said while the word “citizen” is in the original Constitution, it is not defined.

“Whenthe Constitution is written, nobody knows what citizenship means,” he said. “It’s atermofart, it comesout of the French revolutionary tradition. It sort of suggests an equality of the members of apolitical community,and it has some implications forthe right to be amember of that political community.But it is so undefined.”

The first naturalization

law passed in 1790 by the new country’sCongress said citizenship wasfor any “free White person” of good character.Those of African descent or nativity were added as aspecificcategory to federalimmigration law after the ravages of the Civil Warinthe 19th century, whichwas also whenthe 14th Amendment wasadded to the Constitution to establish birthright citizenship. In the last years of the 19th century andinto the 20th century, laws were put on the books limiting immigration and, by extension,naturalization. The Immigration Act of 1924 effectively barred people from Asiabecause they were ineligible for naturalization, being neither White nor Black. That didn’tchange until 1952, whenanimmigration law removed racial restrictions on who could be naturalized.The 1965 Immigrationand Naturalization Act replaced theprevious immigrationsystemwith onethat portionedout visas equally among nations. American history also includestimeswhenthose who had citizenship had it taken away, like after the 1923 Supreme Court ruling in U.S. vs. Bhagat Singh Thind. That ruling said that Indians couldn’t be naturalized because they did not qualify as White and ledtoseveral dozendenaturalizations. At other times, it wasignored,asinWorldWar II, when JapaneseAmericans wereforced into internment camps.

Pope celebrates cinema with Hollywood luminaries

Leo XIV urges inclusion of marginal voices

BY NICOLE WINFIELD Associated Press

VATICAN CITY Pope Leo XIV

welcomed Spike Lee, Cate Blanchett, Greta Gerwig and dozens of other Hollywood luminaries to a special Vatican audience Saturday celebrating cinema and its ability to inspire and unite Leo encouraged the filmmakers and celebrities gathered in a frescoed Vatican audience hall to use their art to include marginal voices, calling film “a popular art in the noblest sense, intended for and accessible to all.”

“When cinema is authentic, it does not merely console, but challenges,” he told the stars. “It articulates the questions that dwell within us, and sometimes, even provokes tears that we didn’t know we needed to shed.”

The encounter, organized by the Vatican’s culture ministry, followed similar audiences Pope Francis had in recent years with famous artists and comedians. It’s part of the Vatican’s efforts to reach out beyond the Catholic Church to engage with the secular world.

But the gathering also

seemed to have particular meaning for history’s first American pope, who grew up in the heyday of Hollywood.

The 70-year-old, Chicagoborn Leo just this week identified his four favorite films: “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “The Sound of Music,” “Ordinary People,” and “Life Is Beautiful.”

In a sign of how seemingly star-struck he was, Leo spent nearly an hour after the audience greeting and chatting amiably with each of the participants, something he rarely does for large audiences.

Drawing applause from the celebrities, Leo acknowledged that the film industry and cinemas around the world were experiencing a decline, with theaters that had once been important social and cultural meeting points disappearing from neighborhoods “I urge institutions not to give up, but to cooperate in affirming the social and cultural value” of movie theaters, he said.

Many celebrities said they found Leo’s words inspiring, and expressed awe as they walked through the halls of the Vatican Apostolic Palace, where a light luncheon reception awaited them after the audience.

“It was a surprise to me that I even got invited,” Spike Lee told reporters

Congo, M23 rebels sign peace deal framework

BY RUTH ALONGA and MARK BANCHEREAU

Associated Press

GOMA, Congo Congo- and Rwanda-backed rebel group M23 on Saturday signed a framework agreement for a peace deal, the latest step in the so far unsuccessful efforts to end the decadeslong conflict in eastern Congo.

Earlier this year, M23 seized Goma and Bukavu, two key cities in eastern Congo, in a major escalation of the conflict.

Backed by neighboring Rwanda, M23 is the most prominent of more than 100 armed groups fighting for control in Congo’s mineralrich east. With 7 million people displaced, the conflict in Congo has been described by the U.N. as “one of the most protracted complex, serious humanitarian crises on Earth.”

The agreement signed in Doha on Saturday, following mediation by Qatar and the United States, is not yet a final peace agreement, but rather a framework outlining the measures required to reach one, the head of the M23 delegation, Benjamin Mbonimpa, said in a video posted on X.

“There will be neither any change in the situation on the ground, nor any activity whatsoever, until the measures are debated, negotiated and discussed one by one and a final peace agreement is reached,” Mbonimpa said

The Congolese government said in a statement the framework agreement signed on Saturday includes eight measures that serve as a basis for a peace deal. Two of the measures — agreements on the release of prisoners and the creation of a ceasefire oversight body were already signed in September and October

The six other measures, which in part include the restoration of state authority in rebel-controlled areas, humanitarian access, and the resettlement of refugees, will be subject to discussion and negotiation in the next two weeks, the Congolese government said. Qatar has hosted multiple rounds of talks since April between the Congo and M23, mainly to set preconditions for a peace deal and agree on confidence-building steps, but both sides still accuse each other of violating peace terms and fighting has continued.

In July, Congo and M23 signed a signed a declaration of principles in Qatar to end the conflict and commit to a comprehensive peace agreement. They agreed to finalize the deal by Aug. 18 but missed the deadline, blaming each other for breaches of the agreement. Massad Boulos, senior adviser to President Donald Trump, attended the ceremony in Doha on Saturday and called the framework agreement a “starting point.”

Pope

along the red carpet gauntlet in the palace.

During the audience, Lee had presented Leo with a jersey from his beloved Knicks basketball team, featuring the number 14 and Leo’s name on the back. Leo is a known Chicago Bulls fan, but Lee said he told the pope that the Knicks now boast three players from the pope’s alma mater, Villanova University.

Blanchett, for her part, said the pope’s comments were inspiring because he understood the crucial role

cinema can play in transcending borders and exploring sometimes difficult subjects in ways that aren’t divisive.

“Filmmaking is about entertainment, but it’s about including voices that are often marginalized and not shy away from the pain and complexity that we’re all living through right now,” she said.

She said Leo, in his comments about the experience of watching a film in a dark theater, clearly understood

the culturally important role cinemas can play

“Sitting in the dark with strangers is a way in which we can reconnect to what unites us rather than what divides us,” she said.

The gathering drew a diverse group of filmmakers and actors, including many from Italy, like Monica Bellucci and Alba Rohrwacher American actors included Chris O’Donnell, Judd Apatow and Leslie Mann, his wife.

Director Sally Potter said

she was impressed that Leo took the time to speak with each one of them. And she said she loved his comments about the value of silence and slowness in film.

“It was a good model of how to be and how to think about cinema,” she said, noting especially Leo’s defense of “slow cinema” and to not see the moving image just in terms of algorithms.

Director Gus Van Sant said he liked Leo’s vibe.

“He was very laid back, you know, he had a fantastic message of beauty in cinema,” he said.

Archbishop Paul Tighe, the No 2 in the Vatican culture ministry, said the guest list was pulled together just in the last three months, with the help of the handful of contacts Vatican officials had in Hollywood, including Martin Scorsese.

The biggest hurdle, Tighe said, was convincing Hollywood agents that the invitation to come meet Leo wasn’t a hoax. In the end, as word spread, some figures approached the Vatican and asked to be invited.

“It’s an industry where people have their commitments months in advance and years in advance, so obviously it was a little hit and miss, but we’re very pleased and very proud” by the turnout, he said.

Singer-songwriter Todd Snider dies at 59

By The Associated Press

NASHVILLE,Tenn. — Todd Snider, a singer whose thoughtfully freewheeling tunes and cosmic-stoner songwriting made him a beloved figure in American roots music, has died. He was 59.

His record label said Saturday in a statement posted to his social media accounts that Snider died Friday

Snider

“Where do we find the words for the one who always had the right words, who knew how to distill everything down to its essence with words and song while delivering the most devastating, hilarious, and impactful turn of phrases?” the statement read. “Always creating rhyme and meter that immediately felt like an old friend or a favorite blanket. Someone who could almost always find the humor in this crazy ride on Planet Earth.”

Snider’s family and friends had said in a Friday statement that he had been diagnosed with pneumonia at a hospital in Hendersonville, Tennessee, and that his situation had since grown more complicated and he was transferred elsewhere. The diagnosis came on the heels of the cancellation of a tour after Snider had been the victim of a violent assault in the Salt Lake City area, according to a Nov 3 statement from his management team.

But Salt Lake City police later arrested Snider him-

self when he at first refused to leave a hospital and later returned and threatened staffers, the Salt Lake Tribune reported. The scrapped tour was in support of his most recent album, “High, Lonesome and Then Some,” which released in October Snider combined elements of folk, rock and country in a three-decade career In reviews of his recent albums, The Associated Press called him a “singer-songwriter with the persona of a fried folkie” and a “stoner troubadour and cosmic comic.”

He modeled himself on — and at times met and was mentored by artists like Kris Kristofferson, Guy Clark and John Prine. His songs were recorded by artists including Jerry Jeff Walker Billy Joe Shaver and Tom Jones. And he co-wrote a song with Loretta Lynn that appeared on her 2016 album, “Full Circle.”

Snider would do his bestknown and most acclaimed work for Prine’s independent label Oh Boy in the early 2000s. It included the albums “New Connection,” “Near Truths and Hotel Rooms” and “East Nashville Skyline,” a 2004 collection that’s considered by many to be his best.

Those albums yielded his best known songs, “I Can’t Complain,” “Beer Run” and “Alright Guy.”

Snider was born and raised in Oregon before set-

tling and making his musical chops in San Marcos, Texas. He eventually made his way to Nashville, and was dubbed by some the unofficial “mayor of East Nashville,” assuming the

title from a friend memorialized thusly in his “Train Song.” In 2021, Snider said a tornado that ripped through the neighborhood home to a vibrant arts scene severely damaged his house.

HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS

PHOTO PROVIDED By VATICAN MEDIA

Leo XIV meets with Spike Lee on Saturday during an audience with stars and directors from the cinema at the Vatican.

MAGA rift grows as Trump feuds with Greene

BY CHRIS MEGERIAN and JEFF AMY Associated Press

WEST PALM BEACH,Fla. When President Donald Trump addressed Congress earlier this year, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene was there holding an American flag and wearing a red baseball cap that said “Trump was right about everything.”

After the speech, he gave her a kiss and she beamed. Trump was back in power and Greene was positioned to be one of his most ardent political foot soldiers with Republicans controlling all levers of power in Washington. Their alliance didn’t last the year Now it has fractured in an explosive feud that could foreshadow more rifts within Trump’s “Make America Great Again” movement before next year’s midterm elections.

In recent weeks, Greene has escalated her criticism of Trump’s focus on foreign policy over what she has said should be an agenda that concentrates on Americans, as well as his reluctance to release more documents involving the Jeffrey Epstein case. On Friday, the Republican president said he would support a primary challenge against the Georgia congresswoman.

“All I see ‘Wacky’ Marjorie do is COMPLAIN, COMPLAIN, COMPLAIN!”

Trump wrote on his social media platform as his motorcade whisked him from Air Force One to his Mar-aLago resort in Palm Beach, Florida.

On Saturday, Trump tested out a new nickname for her, calling her “Marjorie Taylor Brown” because “Green grass turns Brown when it begins to ROT!”

Trump has successfully stamped out other challenges to his power over the years, but Greene is not backing down. She even suggested that she,

not Trump, may be the true champion of the “America First” agenda.

“I believe in the American people more than I believe in any leader or political party and the American people deserve so much better than how they have been treated by both sides of the aisle,” she wrote in her own post Saturday

She also said she is worried about her safety because “threats against me are being fueled and egged on by the most powerful man in the world.”

Trump backed Greene Greene is not the first lawmaker to earn Trump’s anger Their split, however, is the most notable of his second term. She has been closely tied to him since 2020, when she began her political career in Georgia’s rural northwest.

Backing the QAnon conspiracy theory appearing with white supremacists and brandishing assault rifles, Greene was opposed by party leaders but supported by Trump. He called her a “future Republican Star” and “a real WINNER!”

Jason Shepherd, a former Republican official in Georgia who left the party over disagreements with Trump supporters, said 2020 was “a perfect storm of political bizarreness” during upheaval caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Georgia was one of the closely contested states where Trump disputed his loss to Democrat Joe Biden, even pressuring Georgia’s secretary of state to “find” enough votes to overturn the results. Shepherd, a lawyer and political science professor who lives in Greene’s district, said “we never know what position Marjorie Taylor Greene is going to pop up with next.”

“I don’t know if she has any core convictions, except for what will help her the most,” he said.

Greene started her congressional tenure as Trump was leaving the White House, and she supported the election lies that fueled the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. She became a media fixture as a target of liberal scorn and a promoter of Trump-style conservatism, and was a loyal lieutenant in his comeback campaign in 2024.

But tension seemed to begin earlier this year when Greene was exploring a potential 2026 campaign against Jon Ossoff, one of Georgia’s two Democratic senators. Trump said he sent Greene a poll showing that she “didn’t have a chance.” She ultimately passed on the race and later declined to run for Georgia governor while attacking a political “good ole boy” system that she accused of endangering Republican control of the state.

A new Greene?

Greene has recently set a different, more conciliatory tone. She went on ABC’s “The

View,” a daytime talk show considered a safe space for Democrats, to say “that people with powerful voices,” especially women, “need to pave a new path.”

The rhetoric sparked speculation that Greene might be considering a run for president herself, which was later denied by her boyfriend, Brian Glenn, a conservative reporter known for his friendly questioning of Trump.

Greene also has been criticizing Trump, particularly his work with other countries. She told Tucker Carlson last month that the administration’s support for Argentina was “a punch in the gut” at a time when Americans are angry about prices for everyday needs.

Greene is one of a handful of Republicans supporting an effort to force the Justice Department to release more documents involving Epstein, a convicted sex offender who was connected to some of the country’s most powerful people. Trump has struggled to stop questions about his own links to Ep-

stein, who was found dead in his jail cell in 2019 in what authorities have ruled was a suicide.

Trump has dismissed Greene’s criticism, telling reporters on Monday that “she’s lost her way.”

Shawn Harris, a retired Army general and Democrat who lost to Greene in 2024, is running against her again in 2026. He said Greene’s shift is part of her attention-seeking behavior

“Marjorie always picks fights with people to stay in the news and it’s finally President Trump’s turn,” Harris wrote in a text message. “But neither of them has done a single thing for the hardworking people here in northwest Georgia. The way things are going lately, it’s not clear his endorsement would help anyone.”

Midterms

It’s common for political coalitions to fray over time, especially when presidents are serving their second term and members of their party start pondering a fu-

ture without them at the helm.

Trump has mostly avoided that so far He has flirted with the possibility of running for a third term, despite the constitutional prohibition on extending his time in office, and exerted ironclad influence over the Republican-controlled Congress. He faces a crucial political test next year as Democrats try to retake control of the House, which would empower them to block legislation and launch investigations of his administration.

The president has been trying to improve his party’s chances by pressuring states to redraw congressional districts to benefit Republicans, but he also is trying to purge lawmakers whom he considers disloyal. Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky is already the target of a Trump-backed primary challenge, and Greene could be the next if she and the president do not reconcile, as has occasionally happened after Trump falls out with allies.

Although no one immediately announced they were jumping into the race, some are considering it.

State Sen. Colton Moore, a Republican from the region who previously floated a run against Ossoff, criticized Greene. “I’m more frustrated with her than President Trump and she doesn’t care,” he said.

On Saturday he complained about getting the “runaround” any time he called her office seeking help. He also praised Trump’s handling of the economy

“I also have a passport full of countries from across the globe I’ve visited in the last year,” he said. “All worse than U.S.”

Asked if he would challenge Greene, Moore said in a text that “I have only one objective in life to put America First.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By J SCOTT APPLEWHITE

President Donald Trump arrives and walks by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., to address a joint session of Congress on March 4 at the Capitol in Washington.

States pushingfor scrutiny of antisemitism in schools

BY CAROLYN THOMPSON and MICHAEL CASEY Associated Press

In the aftermathofthe Oct. 7at-

tack on Israel by Hamas two years ago, high school teacher Josh Hirschposted comments on social media in support of Israel. It was unrealistic for Hamas to expect a ceasefire, he wrote, as long as they were holding hostages.

Soon afterward, aformerstudent called for his firing. Anote taped outside the door of his Adams County,Colorado,classroom contained his wife’sname and their home address. And asticker that appeared on his chair read: “Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.”

The reaction startled Hirsch, the only Jewish teacherinhis school building. For the first time in his 14-year career,heconsidered quitting. He stayed and joinedaneducators’advocacy network created by the Anti-DefamationLeague, a way he saw to make schoolsmore inclusive of diverse viewpoints.

“I’ve been ateacher and tried to keep my focus on being the best teacher Icould,” he said.

Tensions overthe Israel-Hamas war have spilled into schools around theU.S.,with advocates reporting arise in antisemitic harassment sincethe 2023 surprise attack on Israel. While some argue school leaders have failed to take the threat seriously,others warn criticism of Israel and the military campaign in Gaza are interpreted too often as hate speech.

The Trump administration has not punished school systems the way it has hit colleges accused of tolerating antisemitism, but schools are still facing pressureto respond more aggressively.Several states havepressed for new vigilance, including legislationthat criticssay would stiflefreespeech.

Lawmakers in Texas, Arkansas,

Oklahoma and Tennesseehave passed measurestoincrease school accountability for complaints of antisemitism, and alaw signed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, will provide training to identifyand prevent antisemitism in schools. In Arizona, the Democratic governor vetoed abill on how todeal with reports of antisemitism in schools, calling it an attack on educators.

Many of the measures, including one signed by Oklahoma’sRepublican governor,call for adoption of adefinitionof antisemitism that casts certain criticism of Israel as hate speech

“These bills make it clear that Oklahoma stands with ourJewish communitiesand will nottolerate hatred disguised as political discourse,” said Kristen Thompson, a Republican statesenator in Oklahoma who authored the legislation.

Dozens of stateshaveadoptedthe definition promoted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, which is also recognized by the U.S. State Department. It lists11examplesofantisemitic conduct, such as applying “double standards” to Israel or comparing the country’spolicies to Nazism.

Whilesupporters of this definition of antisemitism sayitisneces-

sary to combat evolving forms of Jewish hate, civil liberties groups warn it suppressespro-Palestinian speech.

TheTrump administration has leveraged antisemitism investigations in its efforts to reshape higher education,suspending billions of dollars in federal funding to Harvard, Columbiaand other universities over allegations they tolerated hate speech, especially during protests over the Israel-Hamaswar

TheWhite House hasnot gotten as involved at theK-12 level. At congressionalhearings, House Republicans have taken some large school systems to task over their handling of antisemitism, but the administration largely has left it to the Education Department’s Officefor Civil Rights to address complaints.

In oneofthe cases underinvestigation, acomplaint described students at the Berkeley Unified School District in California asking Jewish classmates what “their numberis,” referringtonumbers tattooed on Jews during the Holocaust. It alsosaid teachersmade antisemiticcomments and led walkouts that praisedHamas. The district did not respond to a request for comment.

In another California case, the

family of a14-year-old girlfileda federal lawsuit last year alleging she hadtoleaveUniversity Preparatory Academy,acharter school in San Jose, in 2023 because of antisemitic bullying. After the Hamas attack, she said students calledher names,including“terrorist.”The CaliforniaDepartment of Education and the school said theycould notcommentonpending litigation.

Nationwide, the ADL recorded 860 antisemitic incidents in nonJewish schools last year,ranging from name-calling andswastikas etched on lockers to antisemitic materials being taught in classrooms. The number was down from over 1,100 recordedin2023, but well above numbers in prior years, according to the ADL.

AMassachusetts state commission formed last year to combat antisemitism found it wasa“pervasive and escalating problem”in schools.

At onemeeting, acommission co-chair,Democratic state Rep. Simon Cataldo,saidthe Massachusetts TeachersAssociationwas sharing antisemitic resources with teachers, including akindergarten workbook that describes Zionists as “bullies” andanimage of aStar of Davidmadeofdollarbills.The union said those were singled out among hundreds of images in art andposters about Palestinians, and links to those materialswere removed.

The union said it has engaged in efforts to confront increases in both antisemitism and Islamophobiaand accusedthe commissionof “offensive political theater.”

“Those who manipulate antisemitism to achieve political objectives —such as undermining labor unionsand public educators—are following the lead of the Trump administration,” the union said in astatement.

MargaretLitvin, an associate professor of Arabic and comparative literature at Boston University,said the commissionwas “deliberately conflating criticism of Israelwithprejudiceagainst Jews and bias againstJews.” That approach will be used to justify

“heavy-handed” interference by the state in school district affairs, said Litvin,co-founder of the Boston-area Concerned Jewish Faculty andStaff group.

The tensionreached the National EducationAssociation, the nation’s largest teachers union, which this summer weighed aproposal to drop ADL classroom materials that educatorsuse to teachabout the Holocaust and bias. Backers said the ADL hadanoutsize influence on school curricula andpolicy, withanunderlying pro-Israel viewpoint.

Delegatesatthe union’srepresentative assembly narrowly voted to approve the proposal, but they were overruled by the NEA boardofdirectors. Union President BeckyPringle said the proposal “would notfurtherNEA’s commitmenttoacademic freedom, our membership, or ourgoals.”

In the aftermath, the ADL invited K-12 educatorstojoinanew network called BEACON: Building Educator Allies for Change, Openness, andNetworks, whichitsaid is intendedtohelpeducatorslearn fromeach otherhow to address and combat antisemitism and other forms of hate

Hirsch, the teacher in Colorado, wasamong hundreds who expressedinterest.

Some of the blowback he faced stemmed from his online commentary about local activist organizations. Afterdonating money to Black LivesMattergroups and supporting them with asigninhis yard, he expressedfeelings of betrayal to see the groups expressing support forPalestinians andnot Israel

He said he was surprised by the reactiontothe posts in his predominantlyHispanicschoolcommunity.A formerdebatecoach,heaims through hiswork withthe ADLnetworktohelp students share their opinions in constructive ways.

“If we’re giving them the opportunity to hate and we’re giving them the opportunity to make enemies of someone, it really is counterproductive to whatwe’retrying to do as asociety,”hesaid.

thatforgeourbeliefthatreportingthetruth–forourreaders, forourcity–isaresponsibilitywemustfulfillnomatterthecost.

LOUISIANAPOLITICS

Mark Ballard

WASHINGTON —Few could credibly dispute that House Speaker Mike Johnson came out of the 43-day federal government shutdown last week as one of the strongest Republican House leaders in years. Johnson’sstrategy: Democrats would capitulate if Republicans refused to negotiate on their key point —extending tax creditsthat help more than 20 million Americans, 293,000 of whom live in Louisiana pay forhealth insurance —until the government reopened. It worked “Republicans stoodtogether andfaced down the Democrats. The whole thing was foolish and utterly pointless,” Johnson said Friday on Fox Business’“Mornings with Maria.” “This is not your father’sDemocrat Party. They’re Marxists now.”

Whether Republicans or Democrats “won” the shutdown is the subject of great debate.

Poll after poll blamed both parties, with slightly more viewing Republicans as more at fault for the shutdown. Even President DonaldTrump said the Democratic showings in the Nov. 4 elections were an expression of frustration.

Democrats came out of the shutdown even more suspicious of the Republican majority’s“my way or the highway” approach, as described by House Minority LeaderHakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y

The shutdown was precipitated by Democratic insistencethat Republicans negotiate, where they haven’tbefore, on health care and other issues. Democrats withheld their votes in the Senate for the House-passed resolution authorizing the government to continue fundinggovernment services after Oct. 1.

With Republican majorities holding all three branches of

Louisiana names newMedicaid director

Louisiana has hired SethGold acongressional staffer with extensive experience in federal health policy,torun its Medicaid program, the state Department of Health announced Friday Medicaid provides health insurance to people with low incomes. Roughly athird of Louisiana residents are on the program, one of the highest percentages of any state. Roughly $16 billion in state and federalmoney flows through the program in Louisiana per year Gold was astaff memberfor the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce, where he worked on Medicaid, the Children’sHealth Insurance Program and the340B Drug Pricing Program. Before that, he was ahealth policy adviser to U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, R-OH. Gold has abachelor’s degree and master’sdegree in public health

government and the refusal of GOP leadership to meaningfully negotiate, Democrats felt their only leverage was to withhold their votesuntil both sides sat down at the table to talkabout extending the pandemic-eratax creditsfor expensive health care policies bought by working Americans and small businesses.

Six SenateDemocrats capitulated, and the resolution to reopen government passed Wednesday night. Republican leaders say they’re open toreworking the ACA creditsnow that government reopened. But the subsidies, which cover the gap between policy

from GeorgeWashington University

“Sethbrings extensive federal experiencethatwill guide our Medicaid program to improve care and provide quality services,”said Health Secretary BruceD.Greenstein.“His leadership will help us advancedata-driven, patient-centeredpolicies that will make Louisiana a healthier, stronger state.” Medicaid is an especially important issue at the moment because of significant changes in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the sweeping legislation that enacted much of President DonaldTrump’sdomestic agenda. The bill set newstricter work requirements, limits on provider taxes, and made other policy shifts that could have significant impact on Louisiana Medicaid.

Kennedy pushes VA forbetter phone service

prices and what beneficiaries can afford, expire Dec. 31.

“Thesecreditshave been a lifeline for countlessLouisiana families, helping them afford coverage in atime when the cost of living continues to climb. Withoutthis extension, families will see their premiums skyrocket,” saidU.S. Rep.Troy Carter, theNew Orleans Democrat who opposed the legislation ending theshutdown.

While Johnson gloatsthat Democrats folded, his path forward is littered with land mines —not theleast of which is how to handle theAffordable Care Act. House rank and file from both

mated hold time and, if that time exceeds 10 minutes, offer the option to receive acallback instead of remaining on hold.

Capitol Buzz STAFF REPORTS

Sen. John Kennedy and other members of Congressare pushingthe DepartmentofVeterans to upgrade its phone service, informing callers of their esti-

Kennedy,R-Madisonville, and Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., have introduced theStuck on Hold Act to mandatethe change. Asimilar bill has been sponsored in theHouse of Representatives.

“The American people expect the VA to provide our nation’sheroes with thevery best care this country has to offer —but shockingly often, it’sdifficult for veterans to even get an operator on the line when they need help,” Kennedy said in anews release.

Kennedy pointed out that the Internal Revenue Service recently implemented anew call system that saved callers 3.6 million hours of hold time in the2022 fiscal year “Our men andwomen in uniform cannot afford to be stuck with the same long wait times when there are commonsense reformsthat worked for other agencies at Congress’sdisposal, he said.

parties willlikely force avote this week to require the Trump administration to release the files of the late financier and convicted sexual predator Jeffrey Epstein in hopes of determining whether high-ranking officials wereinvolved in his crimes. If successful, theresolution moves to the Senate, andifpassed there, to the president, whohas dodged the requests.

Johnson contends the GOPdominated House Oversight committee is already releasing the files after they have been vetted.

Beyond health care and Epstein, Congress faces sticky political issues that could test Johnson and

Workforce agency appoints newleaders

Louisiana Works, the state’s workforce development agency, on Wednesdayannounced the appointment of two newleaders.

Osmar Padilla will serve as deputysecretary, the No. 2position to SecretarySusana Schowen. He was previously assistant secretary for workforcedevelopment sinceMarch 2024 and “has been instrumentalinadvancing theOne Door initiative,” according to aWednesdaynews release.

OneDoor is anew planstate lawmakers approved this year to streamline Louisiana’ssocial safety net programs, making them accessible allinone place.

“We’re modernizing the services, systems, andprocesses that connect people to opportunity, building afoundation for lasting stabilityand growth,” Padilla, who in the past led workforce initiatives at Greater New Orleans, Inc., saidina statement. “Our focus is on creating aLouisiana where every personcan contribute, everybusiness can thrive, and every community can share in thestate’ssuccess.”

his number two, Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson. Somelawmakers, including Carter,are looking to decouple renewal of flood insurance policies from the appropriations schedule. The National Flood Insurance Program, during the shutdown, wasunable to sell flood insurance on which morethan 400,000 Louisiana homeand business owners rely Anew study by HomeAbroad Inc., amortgage investment firm in Buffalo, New York, calculated that the pause in flood insurance possibly delayed 126,000 home closings nationwide —about 328 in St. TammanyParish, and 257 in East Baton Rouge Parish. Also awaiting action is legislation to revampFEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency

Scalise said the real negotiation is going to be the individual appropriations bills that fund the government.

As part of the deal to end the government shutdown, Congress agreed to fund afew of the programs—military construction and food stamps, to nametwo forthe rest of the fiscal year that ends Sept. 30, 2026. But the bulk of the bills that authorize spending forfederal programsneed to find agreement before Jan. 30, 2026, or the government will again shut down. Relationships remain tense as Congress tacklesgovernment funding.

“Next week, House Republicans will hit the ground running, passing legislation that builds on our work to lower energy prices, secure American communities, defend American values, and denounce the hollow promises of socialism,and we will be adding Friday votes to help us start making up forthe timethe government wasshut down,” Scalise said.

Email Mark Ballardat mballard@theadvocate.com.

Former Deputy SecretaryAly RauBrodsky took ajob as executive vicepresident andchief strategy officer at Foundation for Research on EqualOpportunity,a Washingtonbasedthink tank thatconsiders the impact of public policy“on those with incomes or wealth below the U.S. median,” according to the organization’swebsite.

Jessica Vallelungo was named assistant secretary for workforce development. She previously held roles at the Louisiana Department of Education, and before that, in Louisiana public schools in the city of Baker and St. Bernard Parish.

The workforce agency was renamed from Louisiana Workforce Commission to Louisiana Works as part of the streamlining plan that took effect this year

Gold

Padilla

Vallelungo

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOByROD LAMKEy

Speaker of the House MikeJohnson, R-Benton, center,walks to the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday.

BY POET WOLFE Staff writer

Chris Rainosek stood outside of his restaurant in Mobile, Alabama, his black apron dusted with faint white smudges once the lunch crowd had dispersed on a cool Monday afternoon.

The Noble South had been a bit busier than usual since earning a Bib Gourmand recognition from Michelin last week, with some people even taking the Amtrak train from New Orleans to Mobile to visit the restaurant. Though truthfully, it was rarely slow before the big award was handed down.

The powder-blue restaurant, quietly tucked into a row of brick buildings on Dauphin Street in the Gulf Coast city’s downtown, opened in 2014 with a farm-to-table concept that was, and still is, rare in Alabama and across much of the South — a region better known for its butter-laden, deepfried fare than its local produce.

Outside of New Orleans, The Noble South was one of four restaurants along the Gulf Coast recognized by Michelin — the world’s most influential arbiter of fine dining — in its first regional guide for the American South, a recognition Rainosek described as “mindblowing” for him.

The other three restaurants Vestige and White Pillars, both farm-to-table concepts, and Siren Social Club — were on Michelin’s recommended list and are all on the Mississippi Coast.

The accolades reflect how the Gulf Coast’s culinary landscape has evolved, diversified and expanded in recent decades, making a name for itself while fueling movements like farm-to-table dining. That movement, a now-familiar approach that uses ingredients sourced directly from local farms, took shape in the 1970s and, in

THE GULF COAST

recent years, has flourished nationwide, forming new pipelines between chefs and farmers. But Rainosek, a longtime chef in Baldwin County, noticed early on how few restaurants in Mobile

were practicing the farm-to-table approach. As he planned The Noble South, he began building relationships with both “old-school farmers” and a new generation growing “a little bit funkier veg-

Southern staples reimagined through modern technique and homegrown produce.

Its fresh ingredients and innovative flavors, at a reasonable price, make it worth the 2-hour drive from New Orleans, a culinary powerhouse still short on true farm-to-table concepts.

The four deviled eggs served as an appetizer — or what the menu calls a “snack” — recall the kind brought to nearly every family function in the South, its yolk filling piped into neat swirls and dusted with paprika But these sit on a bed of spinach leaves, its filling crowned with bacon bits and bright orange roe.

On the chicken pesto sandwich, the toasted wheat bread — slathered in mayonnaise and fresh pesto — barely contains a moist cut of chicken encased in a crispy, golden skin and topped with a Creole tomato.

etables, a little more hard-to-find things.”

His sources are scattered throughout the South, from Gulf seafood to proteins from Texas and the Carolinas, and produce from as far as New Orleans.

The Noble South’s seasonal menu mirrors that blend of tradition and experimentation, with

The short rib sandwich layers melted Swiss cheese, greens, truffle aioli and mushroom duxelle with clear precision.

Even the sides sway between the familiar and the contemporary: cucumber salad blended with roasted peppers over tzatziki, and the crispy Brussels sprouts tossed with sunflower seeds.

The decor, defined by a mix of quaint and industrial touches, complements the simplicity of the food.

Every dish arrives on a delicate glass plate patterned with soft florals — the kind you might find in a grandmother’s china cabinet or tucked away in an antique store. Whitewashed exposed brick walls are adorned with sliding barn doors and plant holders carrying blooming orchids. Daylight streams through the picture windows. By early afternoon, the restaurant had emptied, the staff pausing for three hours of stillness before reopening for the dinner rush. Rainosek closed the doors, a small Michelin Guide hanging near the entrance Email Poet Wolfe at poet.wolfe@ theadvocate.com.

STAFF PHOTO By IAN MCNULTy

Noble South restaurant on Dauphin Street in downtown Mobile has a

approach.

STAFF PHOTO By

PalestinianleaderAbbas strugglesfor role in Gaza

BY LEE KEATH Associated Press

CAIRO— Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas turns 90 on Saturday, still holding authoritarian power in tiny pockets of the West Bank, but marginalizedand weakened by Israel,deeply unpopular among Palestinians, and struggling for asay in a postwarGaza Strip.

The world’ssecond-oldest serving president —after Cameroon’s92-year-old Paul Biya —Abbas has beenin office for 20 years, and for nearly the entire time has failedtohold elections. His weakness has left Palestinians leaderless, critics say, at atime when they face an existential crisis and hopes for establishing aPalestinian state, the centerpieceof Abbas’ agenda, appear dimmer than ever.

Palestinians say Israel’s campaign against Hamas that has decimated Gaza amounts to genocide, aview echoed by many international legal experts, organizations and other countries. Israel denies the accusation and has tightened its lock on theWestBank, whereJewish settlements are expanding and attacks by settlers on Palestinians are increasing. Right-wing allies of IsraeliPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are pressing foroutrightannexation, a step that would doom any remaining possibility for statehood

For now,the U.S. has bent to Israel’srefusal to allow Abbas’ PalestinianAuthority to govern postwar Gaza. With no effective leader, critics fear Palestinians in the territory will be consigned to live under an international body dominated by Israel’sallies, with little voice and no real path to statehood.

Abbas “has put his head in the sand and has taken no initiative,” said Khalil Shikaki, head of the People’s Company for Polls and Survey Research, aPalestinian pollster “His legitimacy was depleted long ago,” Shikaki told The Associated Press.

“He has become aliability to hisown party,and for the Palestinians as awhole.” Within the pocketsof the West Bank that it administers, thePAisnotoriousfor corruption. Abbas rarely leaves his headquarters in thecity of Ramallah, except to travel abroad.Helimits decision-making to histight inner circle, includingHussein al-Sheikh, alongtime confidant whom he named as his designated successor in April.

An October poll by Shikaki’s organization found that 80% of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gazawant Abbastoresign. Only athird wantthe PA to have fullor shared governance of the Gaza Strip. The survey of 1,200 people had amargin of error of 3.5percentage points

Arafat’s successor

It’salong way from 20 years ago, when Abbaswas elected president after the death of Palestinian leader YasserArafat amid hopes he could negotiate an independent state.

The first blow came in 2007, whenHamas drove the PA out of the Gaza Stripin aviolenttakeover.Hamas’ rule entrenched asplit between Gaza andthe West Bank, the Israeli-occupied territories that thePalestinians seek for astate. Abbas was left in charge of pocketsaround the West Bank’smain population centers. Buthis power is crippled becauseIsrael has achokehold on the economy, controllingthe West Bank’s resources, most of its land and itsaccesstothe outside world.

Netanyahu, who took power in 2009, rejects the creation of aPalestinian state. His“strategyfrom Day 1” has been to weaken the PA,saidEhud Olmert, who preceded Netanyahu as prime ministerand perhaps came the closest toreaching apeace deal with Abbas shortly before being forced from office.

Netanyahu’saim, Olmert said, isto“preventany genuine chance to come along

Westernnations’ recognitions of the Palestinian state ahead of the United Nations General Assembly meetings, in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

with some compromise that could have been implemented into ahistoricalagreement.”

CooperationwithIsrael

The campaign of weakening the PA comes even though Abbas hasabided by amajor role demanded by Israel andthe international community: security cooperation with Israel. The PA trades intelligence with Israel on militantsand often cracksdown on armed groups.

To manyPalestinians, that makes the PA asubcontractor of the occupation, suppressingopponentswhile Israel swallows up an increasingamount of the West Bank.

“It has chosen to put itself hand-in-hand withthe Israeli occupation,evenas(Israel) acts to make it more fragile and weaker,” said Abdaljawad Omar,anassistant professor of philosophy and culturalstudiesatthe West Bank’sBir Zeit University Netanyahu frequently accuses Abbas of not genuinely seeking peace and of inciting violence against Israel.Netanyahu’sgovernmenthas repeatedly with-

JudgeindefinitelybarsfiningofUniversity

of California over allegeddiscrimination

BY SUDHIN THANAWALA Associated Press

The Trump administration cannot fine the University of California or summarily cut the school system’sfederal funding over claims it allows antisemitism or other forms of discrimination, afederal judge ruled late Friday in asharply worded decision.

U.S. District JudgeRita Lin in San Francisco issued apreliminary injunction barring the administration from cancelling funding to UC based on alleged discrimination without giving noticetoaffected faculty and conducting ahearing, among other requirements. Theadministration over

the summer demanded the University of California, Los Angelespay $1.2billion to restore frozen research funding and ensure eligibility for futurefunding after accusing theschool of allowingantisemitism on campus. UCLA was the first public university to be targeted by the administration over allegationsofcivil rights violations It hasalso frozenor paused federal funding over similar claims against private colleges, including Columbia University. In her ruling, Lin said labor unions and other groups representingUCfaculty, students and employeeshad provided“overwhelming evidence” that the Trump

administration was“engaged in aconcerted campaign to purge ‘woke,’ ‘left,’ and ‘socialist’ viewpoints from our country’s leading universities.”

“Agency officials, as well as thePresident and Vice President, have repeatedly andpublicly announced a playbook of initiating civil rightsinvestigationsof preeminent universities to justify cutting off federal funding, with thegoal of bringing universities to their kneesand forcing them to change theirideological tune,” Lin wrote.

She added, “It is undisputed that this preciseplaybook is now being executed at the University of California.”

held transfers of tax money that Israel collects forthe PA,because of stipends paid to families of thoseimprisoned or killed by Israel.

Despitereforms to the stipend system, Israel is withholding some $3 billion, according to the PA.That hasworsened an ongoing economic crisis in the West Bank.

Israel’scampaign against the PA is “pushing it to the edge of collapse,”said Ghassan Khatib,who was Palestinian planning minister under Abbas in 2005-06.

Khatib defended what Abbas’ supporters call his policy of “practical realism.” By workingtoprevent violence, Abbashas stayedcredible on the international stage, he said, trying to build international backing andwinning official recognition of a Palestinianstate by agrowing list of countries.

But that hasn’tbrought anysuccessful pressure from the U.S. or Europe against Israel to stop settlementexpansion or reach a

peace deal.

Preventing alternatives

At atimewhenIsrael’s farright is pushing for“the eradication of the Palestinians,” Omar said,Abbas’ pragmatic realismis“a form of national suicide.”

Fearing rivals, Abbashas preventedwide-scaleparticipation in government,alternative leadership or popular movements even forsignificant nonviolent resistance or civil disobedience against Israel, he said.

“Politicshas beenremoved as away for young people to engage, to stand againstoccupation,” said Omar,who was17when Abbas came to office.

Shikaki said Abbas’ inaction only fuels support for Hamas, whichportrayed its Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel as aimed at ending Israel’soccupation.

Even if somePalestinians believe the attack was disastrous, “they see Hamas as trying to do something on behalf of thePalestinian

people,” he said. “They see Abbas is doing nothing.” Reform attempts

President Donald Trump’s plan calls for an international council to run the GazaStrip after Hamas is removed, with aPalestinian administration carrying out day-to-dayservices.Itholds out the possibility of the PA taking controlifitcarriesout unspecified reforms to the council’ssatisfaction.

Abbas has made some gestures toward change. He has promised legislativeand presidentialelections within ayear after the war in Gaza ends. Last week, meeting withFrench President Emmanuel Macron, he announced aPalestinianFrench commissiontodraw up anew constitution. In a high-profile move against corruption,the transport ministerwas removed in October and put underinvestigation on allegations of bribery,according to local media. Palestinians are skeptical. In the PCPSR poll, 60% of respondents said they doubted Abbas will hold elections. It found that if avote were held, the clear winnerwould be MarwanBarghouti, aseniorfigurefrom Abbas’ Fatah faction imprisoned by Israel since 2002. Abbas would come adistantthird behind any Hamas candidate.

InesAbdelRazak,co-director of Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy advocacy group, said the U.S. andIsrael don’thave an interest in real democratization.

“That would meanall Palestinians would actually have avoice,” shesaid. “Any effective ruler would confront theIsraelioccupation.”

Khatib said Israel will likely be able to keep thePAout of Gaza, since uniting it with theWestBankwould only boost Palestinian demands for statehood.

“Israel is the party that is calling the shots on the ground,” he said.

Crisp, golden pretzels shaped likecheerful Christmastrees aredipped in smooth, creamywhite confectioner’scoating, then sprinkledwithmerry redand greenaccents fora treatas beautiful as it is delicious. Presentedinour

Pittman& Davisholidaytin, thesefestivesweets areperfectfor sharing gifting,orbrightening up your holidaytable.

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILEPHOTO By NASSERNASSER

Palestinians chant national slogans and carry posters with pictures of President Mahmoud Abbas and read ‘you kept your promise,’onSept. 23 during arally in supportfor Gaza and celebrating the latest

Convenience store draws opposition

Some residents oppose proximity to school

BY ANGELINE MATHEWS Contributing writer

A proposal to put a convenience store with gasoline sales just north of Lafayette High School has drawn opposition from nearby residents.

The Lafayette City Zoning Commission will consider a request for a conditional use permit to allow fuel sales at a convenience

Artist sought for mural

Visual landmark set for University Avenue corridor

BY STEPHEN MARCANTEL Staff writer

Lafayette Consolidated Government, in collaboration with Basin Arts, is asking artists to apply to paint a large-scale public mural at the University Avenue underpass near Cameron Street.

The mural will serve as a significant visual landmark along the University Avenue corridor, according to a LCG announcement.

“This project marks another meaningful step in revitalizing one of Lafayette’s most important corridors,” said Mayor-President Monique Boulet “Public art builds identity shares our values, and strengthens the connection between people and place. The artists are asked to create their ideas centered around the values of either education or public service.”

The selected artist will design and implement a mural spanning two concrete retaining walls at the underpass, each 734.5 linear feet. Designs must be impactful at a vehicular scale to ensure safety in this high-traffic area. The application is open to professional artists or artist teams 18 years of age or older with demonstrated experience in large-scale mural design and installation. Preference may be given to artists with ties to Lafayette or the Acadiana region.

A selection panel facilitated by Basin Arts, including representatives from LCG and community stakeholders, will review qualifications and select up to three finalists

Finalists will receive a $1,000 design stipend to develop site-specific concepts Applications must be submitted through CaFE. Artists should review the full RFQ, which includes site details, required materials, insurance qualifications and evaluation criteria. More information, including site maps and project background, is available at basinartslafayette.com/ universityavepublicart For questions, please contact Basin Arts at hello@basinartslafayette.com.

Email Stephen Marcantel at stephen.marcantel@ theadvocate.com.

store planned at 801 Foreman Drive at its 5:30 p.m. Monday meeting.

The proposal, according to documents filed with Lafayette Consolidated Government, includes demolishing the current Corner Pantry store and building a convenience store with six fuel pumps along Dulles Drive. The property is zoned commercial mixed, which allows convenience

stores but requires a special permit to allow fuel sales.

The plan has drawn strong opposition from nearby residents.

Ten residents contacted LCG about the project, with nine in opposition.

“The neighborhood is really quiet and nice, but this development is going to change that,” nearby resident Kane Ard said “During peak commuting times,

the traffic is so bad and backed up on Dulles. The way that they have it currently proposed to be laid out is going to just exacerbate that traffic problem.”

In its report, LCG’s planning staff is “reluctant to support” the request, citing the property’s proximity to single-family homes and its location within a largely residential area that includes three nearby schools and the Boys & Girls Club of Acadiana.

If commissioners OK the permit, the staff recommends in-

cluding restrictions such as reduced nighttime lighting, limited hours of operation, a ban on outdoor speakers and noise limits.

“This triangular block along Foreman Drive has long been the subject of calls from neighbors, particularly about the bars that have been located there,” the report read. “The addition of a sixpump gas station will not help this situation.”

LCG documents do not reveal

BLOCK BEAUTIES

RaceTrac eyes Scott property for store

BY COURTNEY PEDERSEN

The crowd enjoys the performance of female impersonators during the drag queen show at the Pride Acadiana Block Party in Lafayette on Saturday

ABOVE: Female impersonator Aariyah Sinclaire entertains the crowd RIGHT: Fiddler Gina Forsyth and guitar player Jan Boney, members of the Gais Do Do Cajun band, entertain the crowd

PHOTOS By ROBIN MAy

Delgadocollege recruiting recent high school grads

BY MARIE FAZIO Staff writer

When Kenroy Mejiawas asenior at Bonnabel High School in Metairielastyear, the honor-roll student had his choice of universities acrossthe state

But he settled on Delgado Community College, atwoyear institution in New Orleans where he hadtakena few dual enrollment courses during high school. He decided that he could commute from Metairie for acouple years, saving alot of money on tuition and expenses, then transfer to afour-year university with college credits and work experience under his belt.

“I’m an accounting major, he said recently.“Ikind of did the math.” Delgado administrators hope more studentslike Mejia will come to asimilar conclusion.

Community colleges which generally admit any eligible studentswho apply, have long enrolled apopulation that is older and more racially diverse than the traditional university undergrad. Many community college studentstake classes part-time while balancing work and family obligations.

But Delgado, which has five campuses in the greater New Orleans region, has ramped up its recruitment of high schoolers, arguing that they can save money by beginning their college careers at Delgado before

transferring to afour-year institution.The efforts appear to be paying off: Not onlyisoverall enrollment rebounding after apandemic slump, but the numberof students heading to Delgado right after high school while still small— has been trending up.

“What we say at Delgado is you can start here and go anywhere,” saidTamika Tyson Duplessis, the college’s associatevice chancellor forstudent affairs. “And we’re seeing more and more studentstakeadvantage of those options.”

Intentionalrecruiting

More young students are choosingDelgado.

Traditionally,the college’s averagestudent hasbeen around27years old,Duplessis said. While the majority of students are still 25 or older,anincreasing number of new enrollees are 17 or 18 years old, according to statistics provided by Delgado.

The number of students in the17-18 agegroup has grown nearly 40% over the past four years, from 974 students in fall 2021 to 1,333 students this fall. Last school year,about 21% of Delgado’s roughly 20,000 students were under 20 years old School leaders say the younger studentshave brought anew vibrancy to campus: Hallways and labs are bustling,students throw footballs onthe quad and parking spotsare hard to comeby.

“Wefeel the energy,” Duplessis said. “There’s avibe at Delgado andit’s growing.”

Across the state,more studentsare heading to community colleges straight from high school, according to officials in the Louisiana Community and Technical College System. However, they declinedtoprovide exact numbersoranswer questions about the trend. At least at Delgado, the trend is intentional. Over the past few years, Delgado hasengagedin targeted recruitment of re-

cent high school students, Duplessis said. It has expandeddualenrollment, which allows high school students to take college classes, and strengthened relationships withlocal high schools. Delgado staffers host on-siteapplication days at local high schools, campus “openhouse” events andFAFSA assistancedays where theyhelp prospective studentsapply for federal financial aid.

“We’re opening the doors, we’re becoming more accessible,” Duplessis said, “so studentsare aware of our

programs.”

In the2023-24 school year,more than 41,000 high schoolersacrossthe state took classes at public collegesand universities, a nearly 60% increase in dual enrollment from three years earlier. About 40% of those students took classes at twoyear community or technical colleges, according to the Board of Regents.

Delgado also ramped up programs aimed at student retention.This year,itbegan participating in “One Million Degrees,” aprogram that provides extra support

and mentoring to students, as well as “micro-scholarships” that students access by meeting benchmarkslike regular attendance, good gradesand registering for classes early

Steppingstone

On arecentThursday morning, Mejia strolled up the stairs of Delgado’s main building on City Park Avenue to arrive early to his introductory marketing class. He carefully set up his color-coded binder and readiedhis penand notebook for alecture about the rise of Netflix and thefallof Blockbuster. An accounting major,he expects to earn his general education credits at Delgado andtakesome accounting and business-specific courses. After two years, he plans to transfer to Tulane University or another fouryear institution. Along with the affordable tuition —Mejia says he’ll paynothing outofpocket afterhis Pell Grantand scholarships —Mejia said he appreciates Delgado’s smallerclass sizesand the accessibility of administrators andprofessors. Still,some peoplehave questioned why such ahighachieving student would chooseacommunity college like Delgado as asteppingstone on his way to afouryear degree. “They go, ‘Why?’ ”Mejia said.“Ijustsay,‘It’s better.’”

at the universityin2005. He also attended McNeese to receive his bachelor’sand master’sdegrees and played football for the Cowboys.

“It’skind of afull circle moment, from the start of my time here to where I’m at today,” Nicholas said “I’m extremely excitedto follow what Ibelieve was oneof, if not the best, presidents in McNeese history and Dr.Wade Rousse, and being able to build upon the success that we’ve had as a team for the last couple of years.” When he steps into the leadership role at McNeese State University,Nicholas said he plans to sustain the momentum the university has achieved over the past three semesters. His first priority as interim presidentatMcNeese State University is to recognize what led to the recent successes,which included turning around falling enrollment, and build on those concepts, Nicholas said.

sport.”

Although there are no specificareas Nicholas plans to focus on while in office, he said he will consider the university’s future.

“Ourorganizational chart thatwe’re transitioning from is very lean; we don’t have as manypositions as youmay see at another institutionofour size,” Nicholas said. “One of thereasonswhy we did that was to proactively right-size our staff structure to minimize us gettinginto thesituation that we’ve seen some of our counterpartsface with having upside-down budgetsand budget crises that they’renow working through.”

staff andfaculty support to best provide the right experience forour students?

That’skind of what this next phase is going to be.”

While Nicholas plans to continue in Rousse’slegacy in many ways, he doesn’t plan to live in the campus dorms as he did.

campus.” So far, no information has been released on the search forthe next president of McNeeseState University However,Nicholas told The Advocatethatheisnot yetsure if he plans to throw hishat into theringfor the full leadership position.

“I can confidently say no, my wife and I, we have two kids that are adolescent age and it would not be feasible for us to move ourselves, andtwo kids on campus in atwo-bedroom apartment in aresidence hall,” Nicholassaid. “So,we will be freeing that space back up forsomeone. Actually,we’re thinking of converting it into just aguest quarters if we have guest speakers or somebody,and we need to put them up on

“We’re excited about the future here at McNeese, and we know we’ll be able to continue our momentum,” Nicholassaid. “As Iexpressed at the board meeting, our goal is to make this be aturnkey opportunityfor whoever the next president is, that they will comeinand be able to get right to work andnot have to spend timetrying to fix or improve things thatmay be out of position upon their arrival.”

RACETRAC

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vehicles.

Arendering of the full 12.5-acre site shows spaces for ahotel, retail shops and arestaurant. The property is undercontract to be sold, asource close to the deal said.

RaceTrac currently has seven locations in the Lafayette area. It was turned down by the cityofBreaux Bridge to put alocation just north of Interstate 10 there after city officials were not in favor of the

“I thinkthe culture at the institution hasshiftedto asense of accountability, and not necessarily just ac-

Part of what Nicholas believes has contributed is the energy that began at the top levelwith the president and executiveleadership team and then received buy-in from those who are at lower levels of the organizational chart

site plan, including spaces for 18-wheelers. The Scottlandwas long held by the portable storage container business WillScot, which relocated to Duson,Mayor Jan-Scott Richard said in an interview with Developing Lafayette.

Upgrades are also planned to La. 93 justnorth of I-10 with roundabouts at the exit and another planned for the intersection with Renaud Drive, Richard said.

Email AdamDaigle at adaigle@theadvocate com.

countability from supervision, but self-accountability and people understanding the expectationsofthe roles thatthey play,and understanding that there’sanexpectation …” Nicholas said.

“I also think just the pulse of thecampushas developed because of oursuccess in athletics,and Imean that holistically,not one specific

STORE

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theconvenience store behind the request. The owner of the Corner Pantry,which has been at that location for over 50 years, indicatedthat nothing is finalized

The request is the third of itskind in recent years to go before LCG’szoning or planning commissions, bothofwhich were turned down after opposition from nearby residents. Thestore at 1927 W. UniversityAve recentlyopened as acon-

Since McNeese hasseen success recentlyand has more financialstability as aresult of it, Nicholas said the university is getting to thepoint where it can think about what is next.

“We’ve alreadyreduced, we’vestabilized andincreased enrollment, which means the revenues that we have accessibility to have elevated as aresult of that,” Nicholassaid. “So now, do we have the best organizational structure,

venience store,and construction never started on aproject planned at 1803 W. UniversityAve., andthe site is listed for sale.

LOTTERY SATURDAY, NOV. 14, 2025 PICK 3: 0-3-4

PICK 4: 0-1-9-5

PICK 5: 2-6-3-1-7

MEGA MILLIONS: 1-8-11-12-57 MEGA BALL:

STAFFPHOTO By BRETT DUKE

DelgadoCommunity Collegestudent KenroyMejia works in class at the collegeinNew Orleans on Thursday. Meija decided to save moneybygoing to the two-year institution then transferring to afour-year university with collegecredits

PHOTO

KEMP

at Abdalla Hall on

OPINION

OUR VIEWS

Mental health delays in court systema problem that deserves a better remedy

One of the founding principles of our country is that justice shouldbebothswift andfair

The founders knew that whenjusticeisnot swift, it is not fair.Not to theaccused,not to the victims, not to the system.And whencases dragonfor years, the situation grows worse and worse.

That’sbeen one of the overarchingthemes of this newspaper’sseries “Longing forJustice,” and the latest installment, aboutdelays inthe criminal justice system caused bymentalhealth challenges, puts thatinto stark detail.

When reporter JillianKramer began digging into the state’smental healthtreatmentbacklog, she found asystem thatoften can’t processdefendants for weeks, months or years, throwinga massive roadblock into cases.

Her analysis of statewide murder and manslaughter defendants found that, on average, those referred for treatment at theEastern Louisiana Mental Health System waitedalmost seven months to get abed

Because casescannot proceed at all while a defendant’s mental competency isassessed, the delays meant long waitswithnoresolutionfor families of victims and those of theaccused as well In oneextreme case, Kramer found that Tyrone Fountain, who was accused of beatinga woman to death whiletryingtostealher purse, waited almost seven years for his trial as he was repeatedly wait-listed at thementalhealth hospital.

In two other cases,one defendant waitedmore than six months and another more than ayear

Thedelays come even after aclass-action settlement required the mental health facility to admitmostpatientswithin twoweeks

To be fair,there has been improvement this year,when wait times dropped to aboutfour months. That came as the statereached agreements with ahandful of privatehospitals to accept about 200 patients.

But the overall problem is particularly galling when considering the correlation between mentalhealthand criminal activity.

State law requires that if adefendant’scompetency is questioned, the case is frozenuntil an evaluation is conducted. Butitcan takeweeks or months even for adefendanttoget evaluated and then longer for aproper report to be completed.

That gums up asystem already plaguedby other delays.

Part of the problem is due to the lack of available space for patients. ELMHS serves all 64 parishes and has 573 beds. That’s notnearly enough. Also, pandemic-era slowdownscompounded problems that are still unspooling The findings in Kramer’sreport should trouble anyone concerned about criminal justice in the state of Louisiana. But solutionstothese endemic, deeply rootedand complexproblems defy sloganeering or quick policy fixes. Instead, they require sober,carefully thoughtout remedies. We urge stateleaders andlawmakers to recognize that how we treat those who are mentally ill— including thosewho may have committed violent crimes —says less about them than it does aboutus.

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.

LizMurrill andthe Case of theAncient Plank

Just where is that damn board?

Schexnayder

Nobody knows. It’saLouisiana mystery.Anancient cypressplank, 20 feet long and 6feet wide, has gone missing. It couldn’thave been an easy heist. Thething is huge, and certainly weighs hundreds of pounds at least. This wasn’tassimple as slipping intothe Louvreand making off with afew jewels. No, this was acomplex operation. It probably took agroup. Maybe Danny Ocean was themastermind. This whole story just deliciously reeksofLouisiana.

An object that started in aswamp, moved to the State Capitol then outto thesuburbs,isnow missing and is the focus of thestate’stop law enforcement officer.This is truly one for the “Louisiana is different”genre of political tales.

There’sAttorney General LizMurrill, who, like literarygumshoes Sherlock Holmes or Encyclopedia Brown, doesn’tknow wherethe plank is but has fingered an unlikely suspect: former Louisiana House Speaker Clay

Earlier this week, prosecutors from Murrill’soffice persuaded aBaton Rouge grand jury to indict Schexnayder on counts of theft of a rare Louisiana artifact and malfeasance in office.

Murrill’sbiggest clue is: The board was lastseen in Schexnayder’s district office in Gonzales.

Like any pulp fictioncrime, the boarditselfhas along and interesting history.Itbegan its life as part of a cypress tree in Lake Maurepas more than 1,000 yearsago.That tree was cut down in the1930s. The board was extracted and, in the 1950s,itwas donated to the state and hung for display in theCapitol. On it wereengravedwords describing itsorigin. It is aone-of-a-kind piece. Sometime in the last two decades theplank was moved to Schexnayder’s district office Schexnayder saidthe move came in 2013 and was suggested by thenSpeaker of the House Chuck Kleck-

ley, of Lake Charles, because it had been cutfromatree in what was now Schexnayder’sdistrict. Kleckleysays he hasnomemoryofmaking that suggestionand it would have been inappropriate for him to do so Murrill mayhaveidentified the responsible party,but the board’s whereabouts remain unknown. Schexnayder, who once owned an auto mechanic shop, is no Professor Moriarty.Hesayshehas no idea where it is. Nordoes the landlord of his office, who said he didn’tremove it when Schexnayderleft. Now,however,Schexnayder is facing two felony counts. Murrill’ssleuthing skills might never have been engaged if not forthe efforts of Julius Mullins, aretired doctor whose grandfather wasthe one who donated the piece to the state. Mullins asked Murrill to take the case. IhopeMurrill doesn’tstop now and pressesuntil she hasfound the board, like some sort of Cajun Miss Marple. But this is atough one. She may need outside help. Is Nancy Drew available?

Email Faimon A. Roberts III at froberts@theadvocate.com.

Recognitionfor ourworkisappreciated

“It’s about the story,not theglory.”

That’swhat Iused to tellreporters whocame to me after astorythey wrote didn’tget the attention from readers they’d hoped for or prompt policy changes they felt were necessary to address wrongs. Istill firmly believe that. It’sworth doing good work even when there is no recognition of it.

Of course, recognition is nice.

her columns about how the rollback of abortion access has affected Louisiana women. We have heard how important this issueistoyou.

weeks of October.From Oct. 2-9, we received 74 letters.

Andthe recognition that this Opinion section received recently at theAmerica’sNewspapers Conference in Colorado Springs recently was particularly gratifying.

Twoofour columnists, Faimon Roberts and Stephanie Grace, were finalists for the Carmage Walls CommentaryPrize for newspapers with over 35,000 in circulation.

We were theonly newspaper with twofinalistsinthe category. Roberts received first place for aseries of columns on rural Louisiana. Iknow many of you have enjoyed the spotlight they’ve put on little-known areas of our state. Grace received third place for

In addition, Ireceived an award for editorials outlining thenewspaper’sstand in favor of vaccines.

The America’sNewspapers, formerlySouthern Newspapers, is atrade group representing newspapers from across the country.The Carmage Walls prize is named forthe newspaperman Benjamin Carmage Walls, who owned mostly community newspapers throughouthis seven-decade career and advocated forcourageous journalism We received our awards from his daughter Lissa Walls Cribb, CEO of Southern Newspapers, andtruly,Ifelt honored to be in such great company It’ssometimes easy to forget, in the day-to-day,that people notice when we do our job well, not just when we make mistakes

Turning to our letters inbox, Ican give you thecount forthe first two

The government shutdownthat began Oct. 1and ended last weekdominated the discussion.

We received 16 letters on the topic, with the overwhelming majority expressing frustration with members of Congress unable to come up with a compromise. Then we received three letters on the National Guard being deployed to cities, and relatedly,three letters on NewOrleans crime.

From Oct. 9-16, we received 67 letters. Again, the shutdowndominated, with seven letter writers addressing the topic. The next mostpopular topics were the peace deal President Donald Trumpnegotiated in Gaza, which was the subject of five letters, and the New Orleans mayor’srace, which wasthe subject of four

Please keep sending in your letters. Your award-winning Opinion section is always striving to be better Arnessa Garrett is Deputy Editor | OpinionPage Editor.Emailher at arnessa.garrett@theadvocate.com.

Arnessa Garrett

Faimon Roberts

Schexnayder

COMMENTARY

Mamdani, CarlsonbothbesmirchU.S.ideals

When Iwroteseparate columns earlier this year about how two prominent New Orleaniansofdiffering ideologies are promoting the ideals of the Declaration of Independence as its 250th birthday draws night, Ididn’t realize howwidelythose ideals are under attack.

Nationally known historian Walter Isaacson’s short book, “The Greatest Sentence Ever Written,” is due for release this week. Laitram Industries president Jay Lapeyre, alsothe board chair of the national Cato Institute think tank, is pushing atreatise called “ThePhiladelphia Declaration for Freedom and Responsibility.”

thefoundinggeneration quite so much as conservatives have, continues to further radicalize by embracing the likes of thenear-radically Islamic, essentially proto-socialist ZohranMamdani as mayor of New York. The problem is particularly acute among young voters.

ACNN exit poll showed that an astonishing 84% of women under age 30 voted for Mamdani

The latter asserts not just that “a free society” is the most productive materially,but that it also is the one most conducive tothe developmentofgoodcharacter Agrowing group that claims to be on the political Right, though, is challenging America’sfounding ideals largely because they claim those ideals end up being corrosiveofgood character both private and collective. And the leftward side of the political spectrum, which never has revered

Large percentages of young men, though, are going in the other direction,not just voting for Donald Trumpfor president (56% of them did), butembracingaworldview thatexplicitly dismissesour foundingideals as having “failed.”

Theextreme among these young mencelebrate the increasingly unhinged andhateful Tucker Carlson or theopenly White supremacist NickFuentes —but even thesupposedly intellectual vanguard, very much including Vice PresidentJDVance, is pushing astrange set of nostrums known as“Christian nationalism” or various ideological nearrelatives.

Before going further,let’sclear

up someterminology.This nation’s founders essentially saw themselves as part of the “liberal Enlightenment,” with that original meaning of “liberal” (the samederivation as “liberated”) being related to“freedom.” Yet when New Deal Democrats adopted “liberal” as amodern ideological term related to governmentlargesse, the reaction to it becameknown as “conservative.”

Pleasenote, however,that what theReagan-conservative movementwanted to “conserve” was specifically the founders’“liberal tradition,” in the original sense.

Enter political theorist Patrick Deneen (among others) who calls for a“post-liberal” order that explicitly rejectsEnlightenment liberalism (and thus Reagan conservatism too) in favor of “consistent use of statepower to effect ends of order and stability.” Essentially,this post-liberal order,with its fetish for state power,looks a lot like two-bit authoritarianism minus theopen violence.

When Deneen writes against “the liberal project,” he isn’t aiming at Joe Biden or Hillary Clinton, but instead explicitly berating American founders via gobbledygook such as this: “The liberal project is ultimately self-

contradictory,culminating in thetwin depletions of moral and material reservoirs upon which it has relied even without replenishing them.”

Adeep dive into the social media of this growing post-liberal cadre, though, showsabizarre obsession: These young, mostly white men of privilege really thinkthey are singularly burdened with economicand cultural deprivations. Apparently oblivious to the bad economy of, say, thelate 1970s, not to mention that of the 1930s —and oblivious to thefact that the freedom they belittle is the very freedom that has allowed aresurgence of the traditionalist Christianity they claim to practice —they whine about how tough their lives are. Set aside theobvious retort that these pseudointellectual whiners wouldn’tlast aweek (nor would I) in the rat-infested, drug-riddled, broken homes where children of real American poverty abide. Set aside, on theother hand, all the statistics showing that the ultravast majority of Americans enjoy material comforts unknownby 99% of humansinworld history

Instead, just consider the extreme lack of self-awareness required for awell-fed 25-year-old

to have the luxury of spending working hours pecking away on magical hand-held gizmos complaining about how woebegone he is.

Statistics and logic, unfortunately,can’tcure such aprofound deficiency of mind and spirit. Perhaps twowhole generations of Americans, or at least majorities thereof,exhibit an astonishing lack of gratitude not just for material comfort but forfreedom itself

That’swhy the projects of Isaacson and Lapeyre are so important: We must somehow re-inspire the next generations of Americans to cherish their freedom and to develop the traits of character forged by the embrace of both freedom’sgifts and its challenges. The broad American mainstream,from Harry Truman-style Democrats to Reagan-style Republicans, must be reinvigorated while the Mamdani Leftand the Carlson-Deneen Right must be re-marginalized. To anyone of good will, the importance of mainstream-American, Enlightenment liberalism is atruth that should be self-evident.

Email Quin Hillyer at quin hillyer@theadvocate.com

Johnsonwon theshutdownbut lost hisway

It’skind of aremarkable thing that the Gentleman from Benton —a relative short-timer in Washington first electedless thanadecade ago —has not only lasted more than two years as U.S House speaker,but has managed the longest government shutdown in history without losing his grip on power Give Mike Johnsonthis: His survival instincts are top-notch Andit’scertainly possible to cast Johnson as one of the 43-day shutdown’spolitical winners. His strategy of forcing aRepublican Party-line vote ona short-term spending bill andthen turning off the House’slights, sending everyone home and refusing to negotiatewiththe Senate? Well, it worked. Eight Democratic caucus senators finallycried uncle last weekend and provided the margin needed to pass the bill in the upper chamber without getting the one thing they were holding out for,anextension of COVID-era enhancedpremium tax credits for people on the Affordable Care Act marketplace. But what has Johnson really won? Let’sstart with the healthcare issue, which has not at all disappeared.

more than 280,000 in Johnson’shome state, will see the cost of their healthinsurance more than double. SenateRepublican leaders agreed to aDecember vote on an extension, but Johnson has made no such promisefor the House. There’slots of talk from Republicans, Johnson and President Donald Trump included, of coming up with an alternative that’ssomehow better and cheaper than Obamacare, but we’restill waiting —aswehave been ever since Trumppromised it in hisfirst term—onthe details. In the meantime,ifnoextension or alternative is passed,furious customers aregoing to have one partytoblame for widespread financial pain.

Andhecan deny it until thecows come home,but it’s entirely obvious that Johnson’smain motivation in keeping the House outofsession was to dodge avoteto release the files on the late convicted sex offender,accused trafficker and old Trump associate Jeffrey Epstein.

vide thedecisive vote. That this was so high on his agenda owed to just one thing: Johnson’swillingness indeed, puppylike eagerness —touse his prominent position not to chart the House’s own path but to please thepresident. Indeed, just about everything he’sdone as speaker since Trumpreturned to the WhiteHouse has been in his service.

The tax credits are still set to expire unless Congress acts by year’send, which means some 22 million people, including

While Trumpdesperately wants to keep these filesunder wraps, thedrive to release them had just enough Republican support that Johnson resorted tousing the shutdown to justify refusing to swear in a newlyelected Democrat from Arizona who would —and this week finally did —pro-

It’shappening in the realm of legislation,where House leadershiphas followed theexecutive branch’slead on just about everything, no matter how controversial or ill-considered, and aligned its oversight with Trump’sagenda rather than acting independently Andit’sabsolutely happening in his many public appearances. Johnson often finds himself backed intouncomfortable rhetorical corners these days, contorting himself to square his nice guy demeanor with his cynical moves. He even sometimes adopts Trump’s taunting tone, which couldn’tbefurther from theJohnson-promised way of working with those who disagree, as expressed in the long-forgotten “Commitment to Civility” he got mostofhis fellow freshmen to sign back in 2017.

When he’snot feigning ignorance (deflecting aquestion about Trump’sclaim to “60Minutes” to know nothing of thecrypto

mogul he’d personally pardoned by saying he hadn’tseen the interview)ormaking excuses (dismissing the AI video Trump posted after the “NoKings” rally showing him dumping poop on the protesters as “satire”), Johnson’sbusy floating empty arguments about the Democrats wanting to starve hungry people even as Trumpwas fighting to deny SNAP benefits, or claiming that his refusal to swear in new Democratic U.S. Rep. Adelita Grijalva wasbusiness as usual, or dismissing manymillions of “NoKings” protesters as “the Marxists, the Socialists, the Antifaadvocates, the anarchists, and the pro-Hamas wing of the Far-LeftDemocratic Party.” That last comment wasstraight from the Trumpscript, and one of manysigns that Johnson’spriority is not to lead astrong coequal branch of government, but to make it asubsidiary of another.Tofollow along rather than lead. So yeah, maybe Johnson helped Trump own the libs by winning the shutdown, and maybe he’skept his job, when others have faltered, by doing the president’sbidding. But you’ve got to wonder: If the only way to stay in power is to basically abdicate it, then what, exactly,isthe point? Email StephanieGrace at sgrace@ theadvocate.com.

Jeff Landry savesSNAP. Butwhatabout health care?

Ican’tsay for sure,but Ithink the combination of thousands of federalemployees not getting paychecks and thousandsmore not eating enough were the two reasons the 2025 shutdown ended.

Gov.Jeff Landry couldn’t do anything about the first. He could do something about the second. And he did. He deserves kudos. In the early days of the shutdown, Landry scrambled like other governors to figure out what the heck was going on as theydeterminedhow they could take care of some of our most vulnerable.

of the food stamp cardsare going to be filledfor the month of November.”

meatball, then Iwant to know specifics. Am Igetting 2cents, $2 or $200 extra?

During an interview with me on WBOK 1230 AM’s“The Good Morning Show” on Thursday morning, he said he’sone ofthe first governors to see the problem and take action. Now he’s making sure everyone who gets SupplementalNutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP,benefits gets what the government owes them.

“Now that the government is opened, everybody is goingto get filled,” the governor said. “All

Thatwasn’t what Iunderstood when Landry saidthat the state would come through with state funds to help most Louisiana SNAP beneficiaries. Most. Not all. In October,the governor signed an executive order specifically covering the first four days of this monthtomake sure that SNAP seniors, the disabled and children were covered, and he was explicitly clear that ablebodied adult SNAP recipients without children would not get assistance. The governor said theycould get one of the 114,000 jobs available in the state or find afood bank.

Heartless. At another point, he toldme thatseniors and the disabled would get some lagniappe, my word, nothis.Hesaid “something extra.”WhenIasked what thatmeant, he couldn’tanswer Imean, if someone tells me I’m getting something extra, unless it’safamily member suggesting thatI’ll be getting one more

Landry promised to call with more information, and he did. Landry told me everyone on SNAPwould get theirbenefits. Good. Very good. He also explained what “extra” meant.

Seniorsand disabled SNAP beneficiaries who have already had 85% of their usual monthly benefit loaded ontotheir SNAP cards will get another 35%, a one-time paymenthappening as thegovernment sorts out what happened.

Landry saidonthe phone that there were manymoving parts and it was “like taking atrain and putting it on adifferent set of tracks.” Morethan 40 million people in our country receive SNAP benefitseach month. That’smore than 12% of ournation’spopulation. In Louisiana, we’ve got about 800,000 SNAP recipients. That’sabout 17% of our state’s population. According to thePew Research Center,among those who are eligible, qualified and approved

SNAPrecipients, more than 44% are non-Hispanic White people, 27% are Black andabout 22% are Hispanic. Pop! There goes that balloon thatsaysmostSNAP beneficiariesare Black.

The Louisiana Department of Health, whichoversees SNAP, has thestate divided in regions with groups of parishes. The region that hasthe largest number of SNAP recipients includes Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines and St. Bernard parishes with about 145,000 people. The Lafayette region includesAcadia, Evangeline, Iberia,Lafayette,St. Landry,St. Martin, St. Mary and Vermilion parishes with about 131,000. The regionthat includes EastBaton Rouge,East Feliciana, Iberville,Pointe Coupee, West Baton Rouge and West Feliciana parishes hasabout 94,000. When the governor decided to make good on SNAP benefits as federal officials figured out what they were going to do,itwasn’t just kindness in his heart. Many SNAPrecipients are his voters. I’ll give the guv credit for putting mealsonthe tablesofSNAP recipients. But his party is refusing to extend ACA taxcredits

beyond Dec. 31. Keeping people fed is onething. Keeping them insuredisanother.When these taxcredits expire,individual premiums will likely skyrocket. What’sgoing to happen in Louisianathen, Iasked. “That’sagreat question,” he responded. “Maybe youcan get(U.S. Rep.) Troy (Carter) or some of the congressionaldelegation on the phone andtalkabout that.” Actually,I talk with Carter almost weekly.Iwelcomeconversations —onthe air, on the telephone, over acup of coffee —with anyofour congressional representatives. That includes the two most powerful men in the U.S. House of Representatives: House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Benton, andHouse Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson. Landry didn’tmention them by name.Hetoldmehecan deal with only onechaos at atime. With the SNAP chaos ending, I hope he’llget Johnson and Scalise on the phone andprevent a chaos in the making.

Email Will Sutton at wsutton@ theadvocate.com.

Quin Hillyer

Will Sutton

Stephanie Grace

SPORTS

Pels fireGreen after2-10star

Coachwon just 23 of hislast100 games

BY RODWALKER Staff writer

The Willie Green era has come to an end. TheNew OrleansPelicans firedtheir head coach on Saturday morning. JoeDumars, executivevice presidentof the Pelicans, announcedthe decision.

Green,44, was in his fifthseason as thecoach. The Pelicans are 2-10 this season, andhis final game was Friday’s118-104loss to theLos Angeles Lakers in the Smoothie King Center

Dumarssaidthe decision didn’t come down to wins and losses.Itwas more about how the team lost. The Pelicanslost four games by at least 20 points, and three of those losses were by atleast 30 points.

“I wasveryclear from thebeginning that therewas no mandatethatyou have to win acertainamount of games,”Dumars said.

“There wasnomandate that you have to make theplayoffs or the play-in. We have to establishwho we aregoing to be here in New Orleansgoing forward,and Ijustdidn’tsee that happening.”

Aday earlier,Pelicans owner Gayle Benson said in an interview with the Times-Picayune that she was disappointed at theway the season has started.

“Weneed to improve immediately Benson said. “Our roster is built fo success right now.”

Butshe madeitclear she wasleavingthatdecision up to Dumars, who was hired in April to run basketball operations.

“I reallylike WillieGreen,” Benson said. “But IhiredJoe Dumarstoassess ourbasketball operation. And that’swhat he is doing.”

Green was asked after aWednesday night loss to the PortlandTrailBlazer about how he is handling the scrutin that hascome with theteam’sslow sta

ä See PELICANS, page 6C

LSU ARKANSAS 23 22

‘W’ FORWILSON

LSUquarterback Michael VanBuren, right,celebrates withwidereceiver Barion Brown in theend zone after atouchdownagainst Arkansas in the fourth quarter on SaturdayatTiger Stadium.

LSU, interimcoach pull outall stopstoearnvictory over Arkansas

BYWILSON ALEXANDER Staffwriter

Frank Wilson did notwantto spend LSU’snext staff meeting wondering whatthe coaches should havedone differently against Arkansas. They had worked on trick plays, so when the offense continued to struggle Saturday afternoon, they decided to use them. Down 22-16 in the fourth quarter, LSU built adrive on double passes and misdirection. Three different players completed apass, including awide receiver.The strategy worked, and on third down inside the red zone, sophomore quarterback Michael Van Buren threw ago-ahead touchdown

to tightend Bauer Sharp. “Arewegoing to leavethese bullets and practice these plays andcome backand then talk about we should have done this, we could have done that?” Wilson said. “We’re not doing it. Empty the chamber.Use everything that we’ve practiced.”

VanBuren’s12-yard touchdown pass gaveLSU a23-22 lead midway through the fourth quarter,and Arkansas missedafield goal on the ensuing possession. Needing to drain therest of the clock, VanBuren scrambled for 35 yards and freshman running back Harlem Berry pickedupa critical first down to snap

ä See LSU, page 6C

Awin forwinning’s sake anice reprieve during this lost season

For decades, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’smotto was “Ars Gratia Artis”—Latin for “art for art’ssake.” Saturday afternoon in the bright,balmy November sunshine in Tiger Stadium, LSUheld off Arkansas to win 23-22. Afterward its players lugged The Boot, supposedly theheaviest trophy in collegefootball, under thegoalposts and onto thefield with such delight you would have thought it was the grandprize for winning theSoutheastern Conference or College Football Playoff The Tigers will getnowhere near those spoils this season. But sometimes awin forwinning’ssake— especially

Scott Rabalais

after your season has been blown to smithereens by three losses in the previous four games —can mean so much. LSU’s performance Saturday had the hallmarks of so manyofthe Tigers’ games this season. They found themselves in a14-0 first-quarter hole after ablocked punt for atouchdown, acouple of three-andout drives and adefense that again avoided adual-threat quarterback running asimple keeper right up the middle like he wasKryptonite. If you had to makeasnap judgmentwith four minutes leftinthe

Willie Green AP PHOTO By GERALD HERBERT

STAFFPHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

Southeastern defense smothers Incarnate Word

SAN ANTONIO Carson Camp threw for 199 yards and a touchdown, and Southeastern put together a strong defensive performance to beat Incarnate Word 10-7 on Saturday

Southeastern scored the opening 10 points on a 22-yard field goal by Guillermo Garcia Rodriguez and Camp’s 37-yard connection with Deantre Jackson on the opening drive of the second half.

Incarnate Word covered 99 yards in 10 plays to get on the board with Timothy Carter’s 1-yard run with 4:21 remaining in the fourth. After Southeastern went three-and-out, Incarnate Word went 61 yards in 11 plays to set up a 38-yard field-goal attempt that deflected off the crossbar with seven seconds left.

Oklahoma’s defensive gem bests Bama

By The Associated Press

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Kip Lewis had seven tackles, including two sacks, and No 11 Oklahoma stunned fourth-ranked Alabama 23-21 on Saturday to send shock waves through the Southeastern Conference.

The Sooners (7-2 4-2 SEC, No 11 CFP) had three takeaways — scoring 17 points off those turnovers and got a key stop late to end Alabama’s winning streaks of eight games overall and 17 at home. The Crimson Tide (8-2, 6-1, No. 4 CFP) had a chance down the stretch, but Ty Simpson’s fourth-down pass to Ryan Williams fell incomplete.

The Sooners ran out the clock from there, setting off a raucous celebration by their visiting fans Oklahoma a 6-point underdog, according to BetMGM Sportsbook — managed just 212 yards of offense but had an interception and recovered two fumbles.

Alabama still controls its destiny in the SEC championship game race and the College Football Playoff and can secure a spot by beating rival Auburn in the Iron Bowl in two weeks.

Oklahoma held Alabama to 57 yards over its last four drives, which proved to be the difference and should be enough to get the Sooners into position for a playoff spot in the next CFP rankings.

No. 2 INDIANA 31, WISCONSIN 7: In Bloomington, Indiana, Fernando Mendoza completed 91.7% of his passes for 299 yards and four touchdowns as Indiana took another step toward clinching a spot in its first Big Ten title game and likely a second straight playoff berth with a victory over Wisconsin. Mendoza spent some time in the injury tent during the fourth quarter, but returned on the next Indiana series to throw his schoolrecord-breaking 30th TD of the season a 5-yarder to Omar Cooper Jr Mendoza continued to make his Heisman Trophy case by going 22 of 24 despite being sacked five times.

No 3TEXASA&M31,SOUTHCAROLINA30: In College Station, Texas, Marcel Reed threw for a career-high 439 yards and three touchdowns and Texas A&M rallied from a 27-point deficit to remain undefeated with a victory over South Carolina

It’s the biggest comeback in school history, eclipsing a 21-point rally by a Johnny Manziel-led team in a 52-48 win in the 2013 Chick-FilA Bowl over Duke. Entering Saturday, teams were 0-286 in Southeastern Conference play since 2004 when trailing by 27 points or more No.9 NOTRE DAME 37,No 23 PITTSBURGH 15: In Pittsburgh, Jeremiyah Love ran for 147 yards and a score, Malachi Fields hauled in a pair of touchdown passes and Notre Dame breezed past Pittsburgh. The Fighting Irish have won eight straight games by an aver-

age of 26 points since their 0-2 start. Notre Dame likely needs to merely avoid upset bids by Syracuse or Stanford to end the season to secure a spot in the College Football Playoff. No. 18 MICHIGAN 24, NORTHWESTERN 22: In Chicago, Dominic Zvada kicked a 31-yard field goal as time expired, Jordan Marshall ran for 142 yards and two touchdowns before exiting with an injury and Michigan stayed in the playoff chase by beating Northwestern.

The Wolverines overcame three late turnovers, including two interceptions by Bryce Underwood, and remained in the running for the College Football Playoff with their fourth straight win. Northwestern lost its third in a row

ARIZONA 30, No. 25 CINCINNATI 24: In Cincinnati, Noah Fifita passed for 294 yards and a touchdown to become Arizona’s all-time leader in TD passes as the Wildcats beat Cincinnati in the first game between the teams.

Fifita was 23 for 31 passing and his scoring pass in the fourth quarter was his 68th career TD pass, surpassing the marks of Nick Foles and Willie Tuitama.

NAVY 41, No. 24 SOUTH FLORIDA 38: In Annapolis, Maryland, Eli Heidenreich caught five passes for 146 yards and became Navy’s all-time receiving yards leader, quarterback Braxton Woodson ran for 103 yards and two touchdowns in the fourth quarter in relief of Blake Horvath and the Midshipmen defeated South Florida.

Alex Tecza carried 12 times for 126 yards, including an early 76yard score, and caught Horvath’s lone touchdown pass as Navy secured a half-game lead in the conference.

No 8 TEXAS TECH 48, UCF 9: In Lubbock, Texas Linebacker Jacob

Rodriguez struck the Heisman Trophy pose again after the first offensive touchdown of his career, Reggie Virgil scored three times and Texas Tech routed UCF

The Red Raiders (10-1, 7-1 Big 12, No. 6 CFP) stayed on track for a shot at their first Big 12 championship in their regular-season home finale, reaching 10 victories for the first time since going 11-2 under the late Mike Leach in 2008. No. 14 GEORGIA TECH 36, BOSTON COLLEGE 34: In Boston, Aidan Birr kicked a 23-yard field goal with 11 seconds left and Georgia Tech rallied for a victory over Boston College to remain tied for first place in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Haynes King completed 26 of 34 passes for 371 yards and a touchdown as the Yellow Jackets (9-1, 6-1, No 16 CFP) stayed even with No. 20 Virginia (No. 19 CFP) atop the league standings.

No 16 MIAMI 41, NC STATE 7: In Miami Gardens, Florida, Carson Beck passed for 291 yards and three touchdowns, two of them to Malachi Toney, and Miami looking to climb in the College Football Playoff rankings — rolled past N.C. State. Beck completed his final 13 throws to cap off a 21-for-27 day for the Hurricanes (8-2, 4-2 Atlantic Coast Conference). Miami now has five wins by at least 25 points this season, the most in a single year by the Hurricanes since the 2002 team had six such victories.

No. 17 SOUTHERN CAL 26, IOWA 21: In Los Angeles Makai Lemon made 10 catches for 153 yards and a second-half touchdown, and Southern California scored 19 unanswered points to keep its College Football Playoff hopes alive with a victory over Iowa.

Jayden Maiava passed for 254 yards and Bryan Jackson rushed

for two touchdowns for the Trojans (8-2, 6-1 Big Ten, No. 17 CFP), who faced their largest deficit of the season when they trailed 21-7 late in the second quarter at a rainsoaked Coliseum. USC mounted five consecutive scoring drives, capped by Jackson’s go-ahead TD run with 13:36 to play

No 20 VIRGINIA 34, DUKE 17: In Durham, North Carolina, Chandler Morris passed for 316 yards and two touchdowns, J’Mari Taylor ran for 133 yards and two scores on 18 carries, and Virginia kept its conference title hopes intact with a victory over Duke.

Morris, who left last week’s loss to Wake Forest following a hit to the head went 23 of 35 through the air for the Cavaliers, who piled up 540 total yards. He also threw two interceptions, including one that Duke linebacker Tre Freeman returned 18 yards for a touchdown.

No. 24 JAMES MADISON 58, APPALACHIAN STATE 10: In Harrisonburg, Virginia, Jobi Malary rushed for 105 yards and three touchdowns as James Madison extended its winning streak to eight games with a win over Appalachian State.

Wayne Knight carried 16 times for 94 yards and a score and caught six passes for 55 yards as the Dukes (9-1, 7-0) remained unbeaten in Sun Belt Conference play No 21TENNESSEE 42,NEW MEXICO STATE 9: In Knoxville, Tennessee, Joey Aguilar threw for 204 yards and a touchdown and ran for another score to lead Tennessee to a victory over New Mexico State.

Aguilar completed a 7-yard pass early in the fourth quarter to extend his streak of games passing for more than 200 yards to 10. DeSean Bishop rushed for 80 yards and a TD for Tennessee (7-3) before leaving with a leg injury

Southside’s Williams leads Sharks to playoff win

Junior runs for over 200 yards, four touchdowns vs. Prairieville

BY MIKE COPPAGE

Contributing writer

The Southside Sharks and especially junior fullback Justin Williams — won’t forget the first playoff game in their home stadium, known as The Reef.

The No. 8-seeded Sharks dominated the second half after No. 25 Prairieville got within 10 points on its opening drive of the third quarter, scoring four unanswered touchdowns to win 52-14 in a Division I nonselect bidistrict game in Youngsville on Friday

“Justin Williams is one of the best running backs in the state,” Sharks coach Jess Curtis said of

the 5-foot-9 195-pound junior who ran for 274 yards on 26 carries with four touchdowns. “You better be ready for him.” Williams ran for 207 yards in the first half as the Sharks built what appeared to be a comfortable 24-7 halftime lead. His 18-yard run, coupled with a 35-yard field goal by Grant Barras, gave SHS a 10-0 lead, but Hurricanes junior quarterback Skyler Kelly cut it to 10-7 on a 72-yard run early in the second quarter

“Coach (Michael) Schmitt does a great job,” Curtis said of the PHS coach, who took the 5-6 Hurricanes to the playoffs in their first year competing for district and postseason honors. “He’s building a program there. Their quarterback was tremendous. He’s a warrior We saw it on film He’s tough to tackle.” Williams and Coby Broussard (7 carries, 61 yards) each added a

touchdown before halftime.

“I feel like we came out here, executed very well on both sides of the ball and played our brand of football,” Williams said. “We had some ups and downs but we came back from it and did what we had to do.”

Prairieville needed only four plays on its first possession of the third quarter to cut its deficit to 2414 on a 1-yard run by Jordan Medina, who gained no yards on four carries in the first half and finished with 62 yards on 11 carries. Kelly rushed for 143 yards on 14 carries. Southside (9-2), which will next host No. 9 Terrebonne (27-24 winner over Natchitoches Central), stopped Prairieville on fourthand-1 at midfield on its next possession when linebacker Jaik Chadwick stood up Kelly at the line of scrimmage, and the Hurricanes never threatened again.

“We’re a really disciplined team,”

Williams said. “We keep our heads up and lift each other up. We go back out there and dominate. We practice for all that.” Junior fullback Jovan Joya and quarterback/receiver Jayden Moncrieffe tacked on two TD runs in the fourth quarter Quarterback

Parker Dies ran for 48 yards on eight carries. Kollen Francois added 26 yards on five rushes.

“I’m happy There was a lot of good stuff,” Curtis said. “We played pretty clean. We had some penalties that stopped early drives. We want to stay clean. You can’t do that in big games down the stretch.”

Dies and Williams have each rushed for more than 1,000 yards. Francois could achieve the benchmark if the Sharks keep winning.

“We just have to stay sharp and stay clean,” Williams said. “Stay sharp at practice, watch film and go out there and dominate.”

Southeastern (8-3, 6-1 Southland) secured its first win in San Antonio since 2016.

Alcaraz, Sinner to meet with ATP Finals on line

TURIN, Italy Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have been playing each other nearly all year for the biggest titles in tennis.

There’s one more important trophy up for grabs Sunday: the ATP Finals.

The top-ranked Alcaraz beat Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-2, 6-4 and No. 2 Sinner defeated Alex de Minaur 7-5, 6-2 before his Italian home crowd in the semifinals on Saturday to set up another meeting between the two players who have distanced themselves from the rest of the field Alcaraz already has secured the year-ending No. 1 ranking but will be contesting his first final at the event for the year’s top eight players. Sinner will be playing in his third consecutive final and aiming for his second consecutive trophy

Nuggets guard Braun to miss games with bum ankle

Nuggets shooting guard Christian Braun will be sidelined indefinitely after spraining his left ankle on Wednesday night against the Los Angeles Clippers.

The team announced Friday that Braun will be re-evaluated in six weeks. Braun is averaging 11.4 points and 4.4 rebounds for the Nuggets this season.

Last month, Braun agreed to a $125 million, five-year contract extension. The 24-year-old became a fixture in the starting lineup last season and averaged 15.4 points along with 5.2 rebounds.

He’s known for his high-energy defense and hustle. His style of play meshes well alongside Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon. Braun was the 21st pick in 2022 after finishing his career at Kansas with a national title.

McIlroy shares third-round lead at DP World Tour event

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates Rory McIlroy emerged from a wild afternoon at the DP World Tour Championship with three birdies over his last five holes Saturday for a 4-under 68, giving him a share of the lead with Rasmus NeergaardPetersen of Denmark as he closes in on a fourth straight Race to Dubai title.

The final hour at the Jumeirah Golf Estates featured an eight-way tie for the lead at one point. Nicolai Hojgaard started the third round with the lead and his twin brother became one of the leaders by the afternoon.

When the third round ended, McIlroy and Neergaard-Peterson (68) were at 13-under 203, one shot clear of Tyrrell Hatton and five other players.

Pacers forward Nesmith to miss at least a month

Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said that Aaron Nesmith will miss at least a month with a left knee injury The forward was hurt in the Pacers’ loss at Phoenix on Thursday All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton was lost for the season to a torn Achilles tendon suffered in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. Forward Bennedict Mathurin scored 31 points in two games before being sidelined by a toe injury Shooting guard Andrew Nembhard just returned after missing six games with a shoulder injury. Top reserve Obi Toppin was averaging 14 points in three games before going down with a stress fracture in his right foot. Nesmith was averaging a careerbest 15.5 points and 4.5 rebounds in 11 games.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By VASHA HUNT Oklahoma defensive back Courtland Guillory celebrates after Alabama missed a field goal on Saturday in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Scores, schedule Friday’s games TOP25 No. 7Oregon 42, Minnesota 13 Clemson 20, Louisville 19 SOUTH SC State 34, North Carolina Central 27 Saturday’s games STATE Alcorn St. 27, Grambling16 LSU 23, Arkansas 22 South Alabama 26,UL-Monroe 14

6 E. Michigan 24, BallSt. 9 IllinoisSt. 35, S. Dakota St. 21 Indiana 31, Wisconsin 7 Lindenwood (Mo.) 42, E. Illinois12 Michigan 24,Northwestern22 Missouri St. 38, UTEP 24 N. Dakota St. 48, N. Iowa 16 Penn St. 28, Michigan St. 10 Presbyterian 23, St.Thomas(Minn.) 9 SE Missouri 22, W. Illinois17 South Dakota 53, S. Illinois51, 5OT Valparaiso32, Stetson 31, OT Youngstown St. 48, Indiana St.29

Peyton Boyd, Northside

The senior defensive back came up with three huge plays for the Vikings in their 27-20 road win over L.B Landry.The second of his two interceptions on the night capped the win. He also contributed a blocked punt on special teams.

PREP REWIND

FIVE STARS OF THE NIGHT

Noah Antoine, Westgate

The Tigers had been rolling of late and added an explosive performance from their quarterback to cruise into the regional round. Antoine did have to throw a ton in the game, but when he did, it worked, with 220 yards and four touchdowns in a win over Airline.

Justin Williams, Southside

For much of the season,Williams has been the guy who gets the tough yards without playing the star role for the Sharks. On Friday, Williams was front and center with 274 yards and four touchdowns on 26 carries in Southside’s blowout playoff win.

GAME OF THE WEEK

Blake Delcambre, Loreauville

His numbers may not look all that pretty, but Delcambre was crucial to Loreauville’s playoff win. First, he threw for 48 yards and three touchdowns.Then he ran for 130 yards and another score on 17 carries, and he added a two-point conversion run in the 28-6 win.

Owen Morris, Catholic-NI

Catholic High’s workhorse running back has been on fire down the stretch. In Friday’s state playoff opener, Morris rushed for 224 yards and five touchdowns on 19 carries for the reigning state champion Panthers.

Wreckin’ Rams best Carencro again

Acadiana overcomes slow start to advance to regionals

BY NICK FONTENOT

Contributing writer

For the second straight week, Acadiana and Carencro found themselves staring across the field at each other inside Bill Dotson Stadium.

The previous week’s showdown was for a district title, and the stakes were even higher Friday with each team’s season on the line and a shot at St. Augustine in the next round.

Acadiana shook off a sluggish first half and pulled out a 29-21 win, leaning on a sharper, more balanced offensive approach in the second half.

“I hate that two teams from our district had to bow out in the first round,” Acadiana coach Doug Dotson said. “(Carencro) gave us fits in the first half, and fortunately, we were able to make those halftime adjustments and get going with what we wanted to do.”

The Rams struggled to find rhythm in the first half, and Carencro’s tweaks, which included moving senior Chantz Babineaux behind center for a few plays, created problems and kept Acadiana from settling in. Dotson said he expected a fight, and preparing for the same opponent twice in two weeks presented complications.

“It’s always about execution,” he said. “At halftime, we told the kids we know what we have to do. Offensively, we needed to block Defensively, we had to get in the right coverage. Once we did that, things started working for us.”

Acadiana quarterback Collin DiBetta was at the center of the turnaround The junior made plays through the air and on the edge, which gave the Rams a second-half spark when they needed it. DiBetta said it wasn’t really about what changed in the second half, but it was more about the team finally executing the game plan

Dotson said the Rams intentionally leaned more into the passing game as the night went on, mixing in new looks that Carencro hadn’t seen the previous week.

“We wanted to throw the ball more on first down,” Dotson said.

“Travis (Gallien) and Ty (Lamartina) are very capable receivers.

“I don’t think we made many adjustments,” DiBetta said. “We knew it was going to be a fight, and it all came down to overcoming adversity We had to execute our game plan upfront and outside. I felt we did a really good job of that all around.”

When Collin is throwing it, it cre-

ates favorable matchup problems. We had some things on the shelf that we brought back, like the counter dive, and that gave us the opportunity for some breakout plays.”

DiBetta said playing the same team in back-to-back weeks presented its fair share of issues, but he said the biggest challenge was settling in emotionally against such a big rival.

“Those guys know us so well,”

DiBetta said. “It’s hard enough playing a team twice, two weeks in a row, but when it’s your district rival 30 minutes down the street, it’s even harder We executed our game plan in the second half, and when we do that, I think we’re pretty unbeatable.”

Acadiana now turns its attention to St. Augustine. The No. 3-seeded Purple Knights present a new set of problems for the Wreckin’ Rams, but Dotson said another

road trip to New Orleans won’t intimidate them.

“(St Augustine) has a really good football team,” Dotson said.

“There is no doubt about that. But I think we have a good football team, too We present problems for teams and going to New Orleans we’ve done that before.

“It’s always a good place to play, and the atmosphere over there will be good, I’m sure. We’re going to have to work, but we’ll be ready.”

Westminster-Lafayette captures program’s first playoff win Chargers run veer offense to perfection in win over Sacred Heart of Ville Platte

BY KEVIN FOOTE Staff writer

There are so many things Westminster-Lafayette coach Kent Gable loved about his team’s 26-21 road victory over Sacred Heart of Ville Platte in the Division IV select opening-round playoff game Friday For starters, it was the first playoff victory in the program’s history on the Chargers’ second try after losing a one-point heartbreaker to Opelousas Catholic last season

“I tell the kids all the time, you don’t get many opportunities in your life, especially in high school football, to kind of make history but we’re at a place where we get to do that,” Gable said. “Last night, we made a little history, and it was cool for them. They’ve had a bunch of adversity this season, and they’ve battled through it.”

In many ways, it was a second straight week of historic wins after defeating reigning state champion Vermilion Catholic in the regular-season finale.

“Coming off of a programchanging win last week against VC, where I don’t think many people gave us much of a shot… We told them we had to continue to grind because our ultimate goal is to try to win the whole thing,” he said. “To do that, you had to win the first round, and we had never done that.”

Then there was the method of victory The former Acadiana High player and coach brought the veer to the new program, and the Chargers executed it to perfection on Friday, starting with an 11-minute drive to open the game.

“That might have been the longest drive of my career to be honest,” Gable said with a laugh. “We did what we wanted to do. Our best defense is our offense, and we were able to do that last night.”

That resulted in a 14-yard touchdown run from Gavyn Hebert to give No. 20-seeded WestminsterLafayette the lead for good in the contest over the No. 13 Trojans.

Multiple injuries to the running back and wide receiver positions forced linebacker and coach’s son Pierce Gable to become more of a bell-cow back, and he’s gotten stronger as the year progressed.

On Friday, Gable rushed for 124 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries. Hebert finished with 91 yards and a score on 21 carries.

“It almost ended up being a good thing that the injuries happened early,” Kent Gable said. “We took some lumps, but some of the younger guys were able to pick it up and start to figure it out, so I think we’re playing our best football now.”

“Our offensive line is playing really well right now, our quarterback has come into his own and then our backs are playing really well right now.”

These days, the disciplined offense is handling curveballs thrown at them with more precision and instinctively adjusting with success.

“Teams are going to mix it up against us and play multiple fronts in the game against us,” Gable said. “During the game, those players have to be able to make adjustments at the line of scrimmage, and early on, we just weren’t able to do that. The more that we’ve seen it and played some good defenses, so the adjustments that we’re seeing now, we’ve already seen those.”

The pounding approach resulted in the Chargers winning the time of possession battle 25:30 to 17:52. Westminster-Lafayette (7-4) will now travel to meet No. 4-seeded Catholic High of Pointe Coupee in New Roads in the regional round.

“It takes some time,” Gable said.

“The veer offense isn’t just ‘run right, run left,’ like a lot of people think. It takes some time to install everything and for kids to understand it and be able to make adjustments to it.

Quarterback Zade Prejean broke loose on a 67-yard touchdown run and also connected with Zeph Prejean on an 80-yard touchdown pass.

“Our goal every week is to pull teams into deep water and see if they can swim,” Gable said. “We want to grind and make them play 48 minutes of football.” Email Kevin Foote at kfoote@ theadvocate.com.

STAFF PHOTO By BRAD BOWIE

Carencro defender Rontrell Woods, left, prepares to stop Acadiana senior Ty Lamartina during a first-round playoff game on Friday in Scott.

PHOTO By ROBIN MAy

Westminster-Lafayette quarterback Zade Prejean, left, had a touchdown run and a scoring pass during the Chargers’ road playoff win Friday.

PREP REWIND

STM dazzles in all three phases, routs Lafayette High

BY ERIC NARCISSE Staff writer

When the St. Thomas More Cougars are firing on all cylinders, they are tough to beat.

That was evident Friday when the Cougars shined in all three phases in blowing past the Lafayette High Mighty Lions 41-7 in the first round of the Division I select playoffs.

Offensively, the Cougars were sensational behind quarterback Cole Bergeron and running back Carter Melancon as they helped STM record more than 400 yards of total offense.

“I thought we were very efficient offensively,” Cougars offensive coordinator Shane Savoie said. “We did a lot of really good things. We executed really well in the first half, and for the most part, I was really pleased with our performance.”

Bergeron, who took his last snap with 7:17 remaining in the third quarter and the Cougars

leading 35-0, was solid in the passing game. He completed 23 of 30 passes for 207 yards and a touchdown.

“I thought Cole was super accurate,” Savoie said. “He was sound with his decision-making, and he did a great job of utilizing our pieces and spreading the ball around I thought he handled himself well, and he threw the football outstanding.”

While Bergeron was shining in the passing game, Melancon was leading the way on the ground for the Cougars. Melancon finished with a team-high 74 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries.

“Cole had a high completion percentage, and when you add the running game to that, good things will go your way,” Savoie said. In addition to Bergeron and Melancon, the Cougars enjoyed solid performances from receiver Kyle Guillot, who had four receptions for 73 yards, and Blake Caillet, who had five receptions for 43 yards and a touchdown.

Defensively, the Cougars were equally as stout, if not better, as they held the Lions scoreless until there was 9:32 remaining in the game and they had begun making substitutions.

STM held the Lions to 193 yards of total offense (155 rushing, 38 passing) and forced three turnovers (two fumbles, interception). The interception was a pick-6 by Hayes Guidry that he returned 51 yards for the score to give the Cougars a 21-0 lead in the second quarter Next, the Cougars will travel to face John Curtis in the regional round of the Division I select playoffs.

“It’s a big win for us,” Savoie said. “Anytime you can get a win in the Division I select bracket, it is a big win. Now, we have to go get ready for John Curtis. It’s an exciting opportunity for us and our kids.”

Email Eric Narcisse at enarcisse@theadvocate.com.

Northside ends 15-year playoff win drought on road in dramatic fashion

BY KEVIN FOOTE Staff writer

For the first time in 15 seasons, the Northside Vikings are advancing in the state playoffs.

The No. 17-seeded Vikings captured a thrilling 27-20 road victory over No 16 L.B. Landry on Friday at Morris FX Jeff Park in Algiers.

“That was a big moment for the program,” Northside coach Jacarde Carter said, “both for the current kids and the alumni who have been waiting to see it get back on track It’s been 15 long years since we had a playoff win, so it was definitely a big moment.”

Quarterback Chace Dugas ran in the game-winning touchdown and then the two-point conversion with 38 seconds left.

The victory was especially sweet for Carter, a 2009 Northside graduate, and his former coach and fellow Viking alumnus Vincent DeRouen, who led the Vikings to that playoff win in 2010 and returned to Northside as an assistant coach this season

“Most definitely, he was beside himself after that win,” Carter said of DeRouen. “He was cutting up, yes indeed. He enjoyed that win.”

Dugas had a big night for the Vikings with three touchdown passes in addition to his game-winning score. He connected with Tavion Arceneaux for two touchdown passes and threw a scoring strike

to Jai Joseph

“After watching the film, we most definitely felt like we could get this one,” Carter said. “They had been relentless and resilient recently They had won five of their last six games, so we knew they were coming in hot. But we definitely saw some things that we could take advantage of if we did the little things right, like tackle well.

“We had some guys step up and make some really big plays for us.”

The other big hero of the game for Northside was Peyton Boyd, who contributed two intercep-

tions and blocked a punt for the Vikings’ defense.

Northside improved to 6-5 and will take on No. 1 St. Charles, who ended the Vikings’ season in the playoff opener last year

“We just continued to hammer in on the fundamentals of the game,” Carter said of Northside’s tough district schedule. “Some of those programs are ahead of us in terms of the building process and knowing how to win, but I felt we were battle-tested through a tough schedule.”

Email Kevin Foote at kfoote@ theadvocate.com.

SUMMARIES

REGIONAL FOOTBALL PAIRINGS

STAFF PHOTO By BRAD KEMP

St. Thomas More quarterback Cole Bergeron, center dives over the goal line for a touchdown against Lafayette High during a first-round playoff game Friday in Lafayette.

FILE PHOTO By ROBIN MAy

quarterback Chace Dugas, shown earlier this season against Comeaux scored the game-winning touchdown in Friday’s playoff win.

McNeese overwhelms UL

With loss to Cowboys, Cajuns fall to 1-3

BY KEVIN FOOTE Staff writer

CHARLES TheULmen’sbas-

LAKE

ketball team made its free throws Friday night, sinking 20 of 23 attempts, but the Ragin’ Cajunshad even bigger problems

After missing 10 free throws in afour-point loss to Tulane on Tuesday,the Cajuns work Friday at the charity stripe did little to easea humbling 88-62 loss to McNeese State at Townsley Law Arena.

The physical matchup led to 62 combined free throws.For the fourthstraight game, theCajuns were outscored at the line, this timeby10 points, despite efficient production.

“I take all the responsibilityand the blame,” UL coach Quannas White said. “I did apoorjob of preparing our guys for the physicality of thisgame, and so we’ll learn from it, we will respond and we’ll get better.We’ll be better.”

The Cajuns fell to 1-3 while McNeese improved to 3-1. UL will begin athree-game road trip at Stanford on Tuesday

“There’snoexcuses forcoming out here and playingthe way we played,” White said. “So we just have got to keep moving forward and find away to be better and we will.”

The lone bright spot for theCa-

PELICANS

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“The main thing for me is control what Ican control,” he said.“Continue to put the focus on pouring into our players, pouring into our staff. Itotally understand the frustration. We arefrustratedaswell We want to go out and step on the floor,and we want to compete every night. We want to competeevery night and have achance to win more games.”

That chance is now over for Green.

James Borrego, who has been an assistant under Green since 2023, will serve as interim head coach. Borrego spent three seasons as head coach of theCharlotte Hornets staring in 2018.

“Wehave faith in James Borrego as the interim coach,” Dumars said. “He has sat in the head coaching seatbefore in the NBA, so he understands the job.” Dumars said the plan is for Borregotocoachthe remaining 70 games, beginning with Sunday’s game against the GoldenState Warriors at the SmoothieKingCenter The Pelicans finished 21-61 last season under Green. It was the second-worst record in an 82game season in franchise history

The 2004-05 team finished 18-64. Green was hired as head coach in July 2021 by DavidGriffin, the Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operationsat the time. Griffinwas fired in April and replacedbyDumars.

Despite the Pel’sstruggles last season, Dumars decided to bring Green back.

“I’m looking forward to going forward and working with Willie and to push us to success,”DumarssaidinMay.“You’ve got to set the bar.And that’swhat we’re going to do.”

juns wasthe play of guard Dorian Finister, who finished with 25 points on 7-of-14 shooting to go along with five rebounds in 36 minutes.

“Dorian responded well to them,” White said.“He was the one bright spot.Ifwehad anythingpositivetocome fromthis game,itwas him. Overall, it was really disappointing, but Iwas pleasedwith Dorian.”

With starting point guard Jamyron Keller still sidelined and in a walkingboot, Finister,De’Vion Lavergne and Jaxon Olvera hadto share point guardduties against McNeese’saggressive defense.

“Wejust got some guys out and it really,really hurts,” White said.

“Not having Jamyron and Karris Bilal out there,ithurts. Especially in agame like this, you’ve got to have aveteran point guard.Losinghim these last two games really hurts alot.”

Theother two double-figure scorers for the Cajuns were Olvera with 12 pointsand seven rebounds and Lavergne with 11 points and five boards

Larry Johnsonled McNeese with 24 points on7-of-11 shooting. The only otherdouble-figure scorer was TyshawnArchie with 14 points, but 11 different Cowboys scoredatleast two points.

The Cowboys shot 53.3% and 47.6% from 3-point land. UL was

shooting under20% from thefield for most of the game, but alate surge got theCajuns to 33% overall and 27% from 3-point land.

The Cajuns finished with 17 turnovers,including sixshotclock violations.

“Wejust have to get intoour actions alot quicker,”White said. “And again, not having our point guard really hurts.

Thegame was tied at 6-6 beforeMcNeese went on a9-0 run to build a15-6 lead and never looked back. The Cowboys led by as many as 36 points.

“We’ve got aconnected group on bothends of the floor,” McNeese coach BillArmstrong said. “The work thattheyput in for the last seven months showed tonight. We’re just getting started.We’re going to keep working andkeep doing what we did tonight. We’ve shown what we’re capable of,so we’re going to hold them to that standard.”

The Cowboys outscored UL 4610 off the bench and 25-11 off of turnovers. The Cajuns did get 15 second-chance points to justthree for McNeese.

“We’re extremely long and athletic,”Armstrong said. “Werecruited to that …and we paleyd that way tonight.Wewereinthe gaps.We were gapheavy.Wewerewhere we were supposedtobeand we had themfrustrated early.”

Email KevinFoote at kfoote@theadvocate.com.

Pelicans associatecoach James Borrego, left, and head coach Willie Green watch as the team takes on the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesdayatthe Smoothie King Center. Green was fired Saturday following a2-10 starttothe season. Borregowill serve as interim coach.

Dumars went on to say that Pelicans fans wouldbeproud of the product on thefloor this season.

“The style of play —resilience, toughness, playing hard, never quit—that’swhat we want people to see rightaway,” Dumars said. That wasn’tthe case at all this season. Greenfinisheswitha 150-190 record. He went 23-77 in his last 100 games. He ledthe Pelicanstothe playoffs inhis first season, the playin tournamenthis second season andthen the playoffs again in the 2023-24 season.Ofthe 340 regular-season gamesGreen coached, Zion Williamson(his best player) playedinonly134 of them.

The49-33 record in the 2023-24 season tied for the second-most winsinfranchise history. Last season, the Pelicanswere

RABALAIS

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first quarter,you’d have said LSU was mailing it in. Youwould have been wrong. Maybe in the national scope of things—asteams all over the map wagelate-season battles with immense playoffimplications it seemed as though simply playing for pride was something the Tigers wanted no part of.

That wasn’tthe case. LSU matched mounting adversity —program-wide upheaval, the inability of starting quarterback Garrett Nussmeier and star linebacker WhitWeeks to play,that early blocked punt TD,acunning Arkansas offense that grew fat gobbling up big chunks of yardage —with determination. With fight.Dare we say with courage?

“It tested our resolve,” said interim coach Frank Wilson, who made history as the first Black coach to lead LSU football to avictory.“It makes you look in the mirrortosee whatyou’re made of.”

Virtuallythe entire college football world thought going into this season that LSU was madeof players and coaches to be an SEC and national championship contender.Itturned out apersistently anemic offense wasthe first low rumble of an avalanche of issues that by midseason cost not only head coach Brian Kelly and offensive coordinator Joe Sloan their jobs but also took downathletic director Scott Woodward. He was the man whosigned Kelly four years ago to that contract that currently has LSU on the hook for abuyout bigger than the annual GDP of Albania.

Distractions and disruptions alone could have been enough to sink LSU’s pirogue against an Arkansas team that while winless in the SEC put up offensive numbers it would take the Tigers two games, minimum, to match. Instead, they madethe winning plays. Twointerceptions off of dangerous dual-threat quarterback Taylen Green and afumble recovery.A goal-line stand in the northend zone just yards away from The Boot trophy,with Ja-

LSU

Continuedfrom page1C

athree-game losing streak.

LSU (6-4, 3-4 SEC) became bowl eligible withgames left in theregular season against Western Kentucky andOklahoma. Arkansas (2-8, 0-6) lost its sixth one-score gameof the year. It wasthe first time interim head coaches faced off insideTiger Stadium, and Wilson captured his first win as LSU’sinterim coach aftertaking over forBrian Kelly

“He’sbeen working so hard for the past few weeks to get his first W,”sophomore running back Caden Durham said. “Itfelt like a good team win, and my love for coach Frank, Iwas so happy.”

VanBurenstartedforthefirsttime atLSUafterseniorquarterbackGarrettNussmeier was ruled out Saturdaymorning.Nussmeieraggravated an abdominal injury at practice this week,Wilson said, and he spent the game in sweat pants while wearing a headset. VanBurencompleted68% (21of31) of his throws for 221 yards andone touchdown.

“He started offalittle slow,” Wilson said, “but he got going and he got comfortable.”

Even against the worst defense in theSEC, the LSU offense struggled for mostofthe game. It gave up four sacks and eight tackles for loss. It started 4of12onthird down. Most of its drives sputtered out, and it made mistakesthat led to field goalsorpunts.

All of that contributed to Arkansas takinga 14-0 lead in the first quarter.Arkansasreturneda blocked punt fora touchdown afterLSU wentthree-and-out on its opening possession, and quarterback Taylen Green ranfor an 11yard score. ButArkansas scored only one moretime.

cobian Guillory and West Weeks combining to stuff Green just inches away from the end zone.

It was inspired stuff. The kind of stuff, at least for one afternoon, that made all the losses and disappointments and firings melt away

“That’swhat you live for,”Guillory said. “Welove to play with each other.Wedon’tcare what anyone else says.”

Then there wasthe plucky play of sophomore quarterback Michael VanBuren, Nussmeier’sreplacement. After arocky start he settled in, throwing for 221 yards and atouchdown and rushing for 36 more, most of it on a35-yard keeper that helped LSU —clutch the Mardi Gras beads —rely on its typically jaundiced ground game to run the final 5:08 off the clock after Arkansas missedapotential go-ahead 48-yard field goal. “Going out there and fighting adversity to get the first win(as an LSU starter) feels amazing,” VanBuren said. There’splenty of adversity and issues still to overcome.

LSU(6-4, 3-4SEC) probablywill be aboutatwo-touchdown favorite next week to finishthe home slate witha win over Western Kentucky, but whowill be thequarterback? Wilson described Nussmeier as daytoday andweek to week.When he can playand howeffective he can be after re-aggravating his abdominal injuryinpractice Thursdayisanyone’s guess.

The thousands of empty seats in TigerStadiumonSaturday symbolized thefocusnot on this playingout-the-string contest but theongoing search forKelly’sreplacement. Who will that be?It’snot likely to be Wilson,though after Saturday’s victory he’s probablyearned at least acourtesy interview. Next season,there’sagood chance that thenew LSUcoach will be leading theTigers against Arkansas, oneoftheir three annual opponents, in agame that is shifted back to Thanksgiving weekend. The Tigers hope that by then they will be playing forsomething meaningful againinNovember For now,awin forwinning’s sake will have to suffice. In many ways on this particular Saturday, after all that has happened at LSU over the past fewweeks, it did.

LSU 23, Arkansas 22 LSU0 16 07 —23 Arkansas 14 08 0— 22 First Quarter ARK —Wooden16punt return (Starzyk kick),10:58. ARK —Ta.Green 11 run (Starzykkick), 4:06. Second Quarter LSU—Durham 27 run (Ramos kick),14:54. LSU—FGRamos 50, 7:02. LSU—FGRamos 42, 5:08. LSU—FGRamos 42, :03. ThirdQuarter ARK —M.Washington 9run (Ta.Green run), 4:02. Fourth Quarter LSU—Sharp 12 pass from VanBuren (Ramos kick),7:53. ARK LSU First downs 15 21 Total Net Yards340 390 Rushes-yards35-175 37-155 Passing165

hit hard by injuriesand never could recover.Because of injuries, Green used 47 different lineups ayear ago. Green is just the secondcoach in franchise history fired during the season. Theonly otherone was Byron Scott, fired after a3-6 start tothe 2009-10 season.

“I have tremendousadmiration and respect for Willie Green, Benson said in astatementSaturday morning. “And Itrulyappreciate all he has done for our organization over the last fewyears. This is atough business and these are difficult decisions. My expectation is to be awinning team that competes for championships and Iremain steadfast in our commitmenttobuilding achampionshipcaliberorganization forour players, partners andabove all, our fans.”

The LSU defense kept things close.WhenArkansasalmost scored at the end of the first half, senior cornerback Mansoor Delanepicked off apass in theend zone. Later,LSU made astand at itsown 2-yard line on second and goal.LSU stuffed three straight runs, thelast on fourth downwhen defensive tackle Jacobian Guillory andlinebackerWestWeeks converged forastop.

“Being put in thatposition, you can’task for anything better,” Guillory said. “I’ve always dreamt about that.”

Arkansas entered thegamewith oneofthe best offenses in the country,especially on third down and inside the red zone. It went 2 of 11 on third down and 2of4in the redzoneagainst LSU. Redshirt junior linebacker Harold Perkins stood out with an interception,

asack, 21/2 tackles for loss and a quarterback hurry Green has been one of the most dynamic quarterbacksinthe SEC this season,but LSU limited his production. He completed 58% of his passesfor 165 yardswith no touchdowns andtwo interceptions. He also rushed for70yards and ascore on 17 carries, but LSU sacked him four times. Afterits offense sputteredearly,LSU foundsomesuccesswith Berryand Durham, whocombined for175 yards and atouchdown on 29 touches. It had to settle forfield goals multiple times, but it was also sharp at the endofthe first half, when theoffensewent55 yardsin30seconds to setupDamian Ramos for his third field goal. “From up top, the question that was asked was, ‘Do we want to kneel it?’ ”Wilsonsaid. “Nah,we’re not kneeling it.We’re going forpoints. We’re goingtoemptythe chamber.” LSUhelda 16-14 halftime lead Arkansas pulled ahead in the third quarter after converting on a fourth and 6, but LSU put together the go-ahead drive. As Arkansas threatened to scoreagain,Delane broke up apassonthird down. Then,Arkansasmissed a48-yard field goal wide right. VanBuren’sscrambleput LSU back in Arkansas territory afew playslater,and theclock ticked down. Needing one more first down, Berry slipped away from a defenderonthirdand 3. Knowing he shouldn’tscore, he slid through the grass to seal the game.

STAFF PHOTO By BRETTDUKE

PROVIDED PHOTO By BENJAMINR.MASSEy/UL ATHLETICS

UL guard Dorian Finister was the lone bright spot in Friday’s game against McNeese State. Finister posted a game-high 25 points and five rebounds

LIVING

DannyHeitman AT RANDOM

Departed tree gives me a lesson in gratitude

When my wife and I bought our home three decades ago, the persimmon tree in the front yard wasn’ta selling point. I found persimmons too tart, andmywife wasn’tcrazy about the tree’sscraggly appearance, which gave the impression of aneighborhoodstray thathad decidedtocome live by our driveway

We made anote to take the tree down, achore quickly sidelined by the 100 other urgencies in making anew home. Idecided to ignore the persimmon tree until I could do away with it. But as autumn deepened that year,Idiscovered the tree’ssly insistence on claiming my attention. Ripe persimmons dropped from its branches while I mowedthe lawn, some of the fugitive fruit landing on top of me.

Our daughter,then just atoddler,had agood laugh when Icame back inside with sticky yellow pulp on my scalpand shoulders. She couldn’thelp being amused by afather who seemedlike avictim of a food fight. Even when Iwasn’tbeing clobbered by the rain of plenty,itcaused other mischief.Persimmons covered the grass, making it impossible to mow.As the blade plowed into the merry mess, alively puree sprayed into the air,making the yard look like it was covered in baby food. Isaw no other choice but to harvest the fruit, which is what Ishould have done in the first place. Wasting food is abad thing, but whatwere we going to do with abushel of persimmons when Iwinced at the thoughtofeating just one?

My mother-in-law pointed us toward asolution. She made persimmon bread, adeliciousdessert bread that used sugar,spices, pecans, and raisins to soften the fruit’ssharp taste. We loved the bread, which is great with morning coffee. It became astaple of our menu eachfall, when new fruit on our tree nudged us to get out the recipe.

ä See AT RANDOM, page 4D

‘PERFECTING THEPATH’

From seminary to sawdust, aBaton Rougeman finds hiscalling in woodworkingand faith

BY ROBIN MILLER Staff writer

In hindsight,AndrewColeman sees that he wasnever in control of his life’spath.

Adevout Catholic, he planned to enterthe priesthood, following Jesusbyspreading thewordthrough ministry

Butitwasn’tmeant to be —Coleman left seminaryafter only a year “It wasn’tfor me,” he said. God hadother plans. If seminary hadworked out, Coleman, 32, wouldn’t be standing in the two-car garage behind his Cedar Creek Lane home in Baton Rouge —now theworkshop for hisbusiness, Coleman’sHandcrafted. Calling it awoodworking shop would be an understatement. It’s where he createscustompieces for Catholic churches and sacred spaces across the South.

In hisworkshop, he follows another path of Christ’slife —acarpenter “I wanttobethe best version of myself that Ican be,” Coleman

PROVIDED PHOTO By COLEMAN’S HANDCRAFTED

Adetail shot of the monstrance

and

for

Coleman

said. “These arethe things that God has given me, andinsofar as Idothem well, I’m perfectingthe plan that God had for me.”

But getting here wasn’teasy.It took abig leap of faith.

In thebeginning Coleman’sdad wasa woodworker,but he didn’tmake anything fancy. He just likedworking with wood.

“Mydad was sort of thehandymanaround ourhouse,and he used two-by-fours and nails to make an entertainment center for the family when we bought anew TV,” Colemansaid.

Coleman enjoyed watching his dadwork, but he didn’tdevelop his own interest in woodworking until senioryear at Denham Springs High School, when ashop class introduced him to finewoodworking, where he used hand tools to createhis owndesigns.

He became hooked after returning from St. Joseph Seminary in Covington to his family homein Denham Springs.Coleman had a bundle of books and nowhere to put them. He needed abookcase.

ä See CARPENTER, page 4D

WasN.O.’sFrenchQuarter ever surrounded by awall?

BY RACHEL MIPRO

Contributing writer

The French Quarter is known for its architecture, where layers of history and different Spanish, French, Creole and other influences coalesce into aunique style. One reader was curious about the streets that serve as boundaries of the French Quarter They wanted to know whether Rampart Street marked the site of aliteral wall. Did the French Quarter once have ramparts, or walls, around it?

Jason Wiese, chief curator for The Historic New Orleans Col-

lection, pointedtothe erawhen the city was governed by Spain in answering the question

“The colonial city was at one point enclosed by fortifications —during the Spanish colonial period,” Wiese said. TheFrench Quarter,New Orleans’ oldest neighborhood, was first constructed under French rule. French authority waned after the Seven Years’ War, an 18th-century worldwide conflict thatpittedthe global powersof France and Great Britain. Aseries of peace negotiations made to end the war left New Orleans ceded toSpain, as partofthe

1762 Treaty of Fontainebleau. After power changed hands,Spanishauthorities began to make theirmark on the New Orleans architectural landscape, with some guidance from the former French rulers.

‘Fort-Prints’atedgeofQuarter

Tulane geographer Richard Campanella wrote about the building of fortifications in an article published in The Times-

Picayune in 2017 headlined “‘Fort-Prints’ at the edge of the French Quarter arerelicsofNew Orleans’ fortifiedpast.” Campanella wrote that plans for these fortifications stemmed from French engineers, who, when sketching outplans for theFrench Quarter’sdesign, originally envisioned the grid of French Quarterbuildings defended by angledfortifications that connected five forts.

This visionwas fully realized after the war,when Spanish authorities decided to increase defensive measuresdue to the tumultuous political landscape.

Wiesedescribed this defense system: earthenramparts cappedwith wood palisades that connected to forts, encircling the FrenchQuarter. The fortifications were completed and most prominent during Carondelet’s administrationinthe 1790s,Wiesesaid.

Formidable defenses

Campanella hasa similardescriptionofthe defenses that surroundedthe Quarter,complete with pickets, firearms and even amoat

STAFFPHOTO By ROBIN MILLER

Andrew Coleman, in his shop, explains howheuses both hand tools and powertools to create the decorative partsofhis designs.

designed

created

Sacred HeartCatholic Church in Baton Rouge.

93rd CIVICCUP AWARDEDTOBOB GILES

If youhaveever shoppedfor acar,had your car washed or participated in anynumber of local fundraisers, you’ve probably heard of BobGiles. The local car dealership owner andphilanthropist hasbeen a familiarname in theAcadiana community since theearly 1980s.Gilesisthe owner of Giles Automotive, Inc.,which now encompasseseight dealerships: Giles NissanofLafayette, Giles NissanofOpelousas, Giles VolvoCars Lafayette, to name afew.Heisalso theowner of severalcar washes.

Kris Wartelle

On Tuesday, Giles was named the93rd recipientofthe Lafayette Civic Cup Award. Asold-outawards ceremonytook place at the City Club in Lafayette in front of hundreds of distinguished community leaders and past recipients

The Civic Cup award honors an outstanding individualwho hasgiven hisorher time and resources to improve theLafayette community Giles hasdonethatthrough hisnumerous civic andphilanthropic efforts. He and his wife, Sandy,are boardmembersofAcadiana AnimalAid,helpingraise millionsofdollars for homeless animals.The list of causesthey have donated to and raised funds forislong. They include:the Dreams Come True Foundation, the Outreach Center, thedog park at Moncus Park, Boys &Girls Clubs,Huntersfor theHungry, gilesgivesback.com, acadianaheros.com and an initiativetoprovide funds to help rebuild St Landry Parish churches destroyedbyarson. Giles thanked hisfamily,his customers and hisemployees forhelping himaccomplishso much.CongratulationstoBob Giles andhis family formaking Acadianaabetter place.

AcAwelcomessinger-songwriter with Acadiana connections

Acadiana Center for the Arts supporters anddonors gathered at the homeof Carolyn and Kip Schumacher for aspecial evening of music and conversation with Kat Higgins, aCanadian artist known for hervocal and song-writing talents.

Higgins entertained guests in arelaxed setting with music and storytelling, weaving many of her hits into the conversation. Attendeesenjoyed the special preview on Nov.5,the night before her sold outAcA concert.

Higginsisanative of Vancouver, Canada, and grew up singing with her family band. Her love of songwriting gother noticed in Nashville, where she has written songsrecorded by Kenny Chesney,Cody Johnson, Carrie Underwood, Carly Pearce and more. Some of her tunes were nominated for ACM song of the year,and “The Painter” wonNSAI’ssong of the year award in 2024.

Guests were delighted to learnshe is married to Acadiananative StevieRees. Heruncle-in-law,JimmyRees, was in attendance to cheer her on, along with some of her other familymembers.

The Schumachers provided abeautiful setting for the preview event. And,based on her performance, itwas easy to see whythe Higgins concert was completely sold out. Combineher award-winning songwriting talent withher band, and their harmonious voices, and you’ve got an evening full of music and magic. If you have not had achance to attend oneofthe AcA concerts, you shouldput that on your wish list. The organization has become one of the top promoters of music and arts in theAcadiana community

PHOTOSByKRISWARTELLE

Sandyand Bob Giles

Halleyand Vivienne Giles

Phillis Mouton, BobGiles, Grace Hamilton, Jalesa Jones and Gayle George

Barry Berthelot, Jim Prince and Chuck Lein

Rob Eddy, Missy Andradeand JoeSpell

Todd Mouton and Christaan Mader Grant Guillotte, Tim Burdette andBuie Brown

Madlyn and Paul Hilliard

Victoria Alleman, Mary Neiheisel and Elizabeth Arnold

Ted Kergan, Mike Simm, Ann Kergan

Reecie and Justin Gilmore and Michelle Aranza

Kiki Frayard and Chuck Boudreaux

Carolyn and Kip Schumacher

Mark J. Sindler and Jane Vidrine

Linda Rees and Johnny Rees

EJ and Daphne Krampe, Kevin and Tracy Moody

Larry Marino and Ann Morehead

RonRitchie, Lynne Baversfeldand Erica Ray

Jimmy Rees and JerryPrejean

TracyFrentz, Patricia Cranand Susan Blackstone

Colleen and John Chappuis

Nanette Heggie, Baxter Heggie and Jeannine Lanoux

TRAVEL

Marksville mixesentertainment andhistory

BY ROBIN MILLER Staff writer

Agolf cart ride along the 7-milepath of Tamahka Trails Golf Club, alone, is worth atrip to Marksville. With its rolling hills, the spreadiseasily one of Louisiana’s most beautiful golf courses,aswellasone of the amenitiesofthe TunicaBiloxi Tribe-owned Paragon Casino and Resort at 711 Paragon Place, Avoyelles Parish’sbiggest tourism draw

That’sneither slight nor exaggeration. The casino and its grounds have been attracting tourists to Marksvillesince its opening in 1994. Still, the identity of this city that grew from abroken wagon wheelwas established long before that. Marksville’sbeginning can be traced to 1794 when Venetian peddler Marco Eliché’swagon wheel broke while traveling through the area. He decided to stay and open atrading post.

Asettlement grew around thebusinessand eventually evolved into what is now the City of Marksville, standing along its main thoroughfare of La. 1, just 38 miles south of Alexandria and less than two hours from Baton Rouge.

Its outdoor natural areas, Spring Bayou Wildlife Management Area and the Lake Ophelia and Grand Cote National Wildlife Preserves offer recreational opportunities for hunters, fishermen and nature lovers.

The city also is known for such seasonal activities as the annual Avoyelles Arts and Music Festival on July 4 and the annual Tunica-Biloxi Pow WowinMay

It’ssaid Marksville is known worldwide for its egg knocking contest, where the owner of the lone uncracked egg is pronouncedthe winner. TheIndependence Day celebration has the distinction of staging the nation’s longest-runningJuly 4parade.

And despite the permanent closure of Fort DeRussy State HistoricSite, along with the temporary closure of theformer Marksville State Historic Site, thereis still plenty in the cityfor history lovers to explore.

“If you go to the second floorofthe courthouse, you’ll see framed displays representing all of the communitiesin Avoyelles Parish,” said Wilbert Carmouche, director of Avoyelles Commission of Tourism. “They were all placed there bythe tourism commission.”

Both state and city historic signs can be found throughout Marksville, some of the

TRAVEL TROUBLESHOOTER

By ChristopherElliott

most notable mapping out historical moments in Solomon Northup’slife. Northup is best known for his memoir,“Twelve Years aSlave,” which was adapted intoanAcademy Awardwinning film. Northup was afreeAfrican American man living in 19th-century New York, when, in 1841, he was drugged, kidnappedand sold intoslavery,eventually landing in Avoyelles Parish. The parishisplanningto erect astatuehonoring Nor-

thup and commemorating his story on its courthouse grounds in January Then, of course, there’s the history and culture of theTunica-Biloxi Indian Tribe, whichisreadilyopen for exploration in the Tunica-Biloxi Cultural &Education Resources Center,151 Melancon Road off La. 1. Admissionis$3-$5 to the center,whichnot only tells thetribe’sstorybut is home to the Tunica Treasure, a collection of 18th-century

NativeAmerican and European trade itemsdiscovered in more than 100 Native American gravesatTrudeau Landing in West Feliciana Parish in the 1960s.

The artifacts eventually were returned to thetribe through the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act in 1989. Amuseum in theformof atemplemound was constructed, but the building didn’thold up.

The tribe replaced it with its new cultural center in 2011, whose brick work, gift shop and tour manager Melissa Sampson Barbin is quicktopoint out,reflects the meticulous, handmade pine needle baskets for which the tribe is known.

Examples of these baskets are also on display in the center,aswell as chronologically arranged paintings and artifacts depicting the tribe’sstory

“Wealso have workshops here,” Barbin said. “One of our popular ones is the pine needlebasket workshop Itook that workshop, and it isn’teasy. Ikeptpracticing, and it took me about six months to get the basket where Iwanted it.”

Meanwhile, outsidethe center,which stands on land within the tribe’sreservation, is the trailhead forthe boardwalk nature trail that stretches nearly amile over the Coulee Des Grueswaterway, endingatthe Paragon Casino Resort RV Park.

The RV park stands behind the casino with 200 camping spots, 30 cabins and an outdoor pool.Not intocamping? Well,the casino resort’shoteloffers500 guest rooms and suitesfrontedbyareproduction cypress swamp atrium where alligators swim Thoughgamingisthe casino’s main attraction,the business’ resort side offers afew relaxing ways to pass time, includingfacialsand massages in its Spa La Vie, lounging by its indoor Oasis Pool or just

enjoying the latest theatrical releases in itsthree-screen Paragon Cinema. For kids, Paragon’sKids Quest has lots of games and activities for children ages 6months to 12 years while parents are on the gaming floor. Kids Quest is supervised by adults at all times, anditoperatesona drop-in, first-serve basis. Allofthis activitysurely will leave visitors hungry, and Paragonhas nine restaurants and bars to fill the bill. The Marketplace Buffet is open for dinner from 4p.m. to 8p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, breakfast from 8a.m.to10:30 a.m.Sundays andbrunchfrom11a.m. to 3p.m. Saturdays. It also hasspecial lunchhours for Thanksgiving andChristmas Day

Other Paragon restaurants areLegends Steakhouse, serving primesteaks and fresh seafood; Lucy Wok, specializing in Chinesecuisine; Roxy’sDiner,featuring such diner favorites as hamburgers and fried chicken; Tamahka Grill, a full-servicerestaurant at the golf course;Gator Coffee Co.; BonTempsDaiquiris; Atrium Bar; and the Draft Room

However,Marksville’s dining selections aren’tlimitedtothe casino.One of its most popularrestaurants can be found in the Broken Wheel Brewery &Bistro at 109 TunicaDrive.Co-owners Jonathan Knoll and Chris Pahl opened the establishment in 2015, serving up seafood, steaks, sandwiches and burgers.

Other local favorites include La Petit Affair Cafe with its daily farm-sourced ingredients; Nanny’sRestaurant, 333 Tunica Drive; and Logan’sFamily BBQ, 208 S. Main St. Before leaving for home, stop by for aglimpse of the Tamahka Course next to Paragon. Schedule agolf gameifyou like. It’sasight not to be missed.

Rejected traveler can’tget areservation,oranexplanation

I’ve been an Airbnb user for nearly a decade, with over 40 stays and positivereviews. Recently,Airbnb abruptly removedmy account, citing avague “possible violation” of its TermsofService.

undermines trust.

Christopher Elliott

Iappealed, but the companydoubled down, banning me for life without explanation.I’m baffled.What could Ihavedone to warrant this? All I want is my account reinstated. Canyou help me? —Kevin Donovan, Reno, Nev Airbnb owes you —and allof its customers transparency. Terminating an account without aclear explanation isn’tjust poor customer service; it

Airbnb’sTermsofService require users to follow its rules. If youraccounttruly violated its policies, the company should have detailed thespecific offense, providedevidence, andoffered a meaningful appealsprocess. Airbnb didn’t do anyofthose things except offer you apath to appeal.You did, politely askingAirbnb to detail thenature of your offense. Instead,Airbnb sent you a vague replydenying you reinstatement again. “Wewant to assure you that we reviewed your case thoroughly before reachingthis conclusion,” it assured you. “Assuch, we won’t

be able tooffer you additional support on this matter at this time.”

In other words, we’re done with you and we won’tanswer any moreofyour questions.

So what did you do?

Airbnb’s Help Center vaguely warns that accounts may be removed for “safetyrisks, fraudulent activity, or legal compliance.” Iasked you about any possible violations, but drew ablank. It looks like you were amodel customer,and arepeat one at that. Platforms likeAirbnb use alot of automation and artificial intelligence to flag potentially fraudulent activity,and Ibegan to suspect that your case fell into that

category.There may be someone else with your nameout there who violated Airbnb’sTerms of Service, but it definitely wasn’t you. Airbnbhad obviously made amistake.

Afew years ago, my advocacy team was flooded with erroneous bans from Airbnb users. The company implemented new measures, including amore formal appealsprocess, that vastly reduced thenumber of false positives. Apparently,itstill has some work to do.

Abrief, polite email to one of theexecutive contacts at Airbnb might have helped you get around this erroneous ban. Ipublish their names, numbers and email

addresses on my consumer advocacy site, Elliott.org.

Icontacted Airbnb on your behalf.While the company quickly reinstated your account, it still hasn’texplained your ban. That’s unacceptable. Airbnb needs to explain whyitremoved your account by mistake and what it has done to prevent this from happening again to you, and other good Airbnb users.

I’mstill waiting.

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.

andgointo woodworkingfull-time. The projecttook twoyears to complete.

CARPENTER

“Mydad had afriend who was really into woodworking,” Colemansaid.

“He told me to go to his friend’s house,and we built the bookcase together.Ifell in love withitfrom there.”

He loved it so much,infact, thathestarted spending any extramoney from apart-time job at ahardware store on woodworking hand tools, while the restofhis salary paid his part-time tuition at River Parishes Community College in Gonzales.

He eventually earned an associate’sdegree in computer design drafting, then began honing his craft through trial and error

Looking at his finished pieces, no one would guess that Coleman is self-taught. Even the chair he’s making in his shop for Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Universityappears too refined for an amateur Then again, Colemanisnoamateur

He’scrafted communionrails and monstrances for Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Baton Rouge, an altar for Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in St.Francisville, twoaltarsand a setofcommunion railsfor Good Shepherd Catholic ChurchinRussellville,Alabama, and is currently working on acommission for a church in Georgia.

The two-year project in Alabama required his full attention and led to one of the biggest decisions in his life.

“Wework on the design of making sure we’re doing the right thing that fits the community.But also, this is for aplace to worshipGod,sowewant to do what is fitting forthat.There’s verymuchadiscernment and prayer process all along.”

ANDREWCOLEMAN

Thebusinessofwoodcraft

Colemanand his wife, Ashley, marriedin2016and have owned andoperated Coleman’sHandcrafted since 2021, with Ashley, 31, managing the financial and marketing side of the business.

He previously worked full-time foracompanyselling anddelivering septicsystems He devoted his free time to creating sacred-themed works on the patio of theupstairsapartment he shared with hiswife. One of his works caught theeye of alocalpriest, whonot only commissioned apiece but told afriend.

“Priests talk to each other,and most of them go to the same colleges,”Andrew Colemansaid. “A priest in Alabama who had family here reached outtomeand said they were building anew church andasked if I’dbeinterested in making two altars and all of the communion rails —basically doingall of thechurch’swoodwork except for the pews.”

That’swhen he knewhewould have to quit hisjob to fulfill the order.Henever dreamed he could turnhis hobby intoacareer AndrewColemandidn’tsee the timing as acoincidence.

Though he’d left seminary, his faith in God never wavered. Ashley Coleman’sfaith was strong,

too.

So,theydecidedtotakethe leap Adream job

“I’ve always loved doing work for the church,” he said. “Andso whenthis opportunitytodowhat Ialready did as ahobby,I loved it. And Iwantbeautiful churches around us. So, this is really a dream job.”

Still, Andrew Coleman is the first to admit that diving into Coleman’sHandcrafted was alittle scary.Heand his wife wereplanning to start afamily

They now have ason, Joshua, just shyof2years old, and another son on the way

Thesedays, Joshua spends time in the shopwith his dad, who prays throughout his workday.It doesn’tmatter if he’susing hand toolsorthe new computer numerical control machinetocut exact lines; Andrew Coleman always acknowledges God in his work.

“I have my morning prayer,day prayer and evening prayer,” he said. He says he uses prayer throughout his work.

“Wework on the design of makingsurewe’re doing theright thing that fitsthe community,”he said. “But also, this is for aplace to worship God, so we want to do what is fitting for that. There’s

Coleman installs the altar he designedand created for OurLadyof Mount Carmel Catholic Church in St. Francisville.

very much adiscernment and prayer processall along.” Andthrough this process,Andrew Coleman still considers his workaministry,not as apriest but as aservant through this tal-

entasa woodworker “I thank God everyday that the jobs keep coming,” he said. Email Robin Milleratromiller@ theadvocate.com.

Persimmon bread has been sucha part of ourfamily traditionthatafter ourdaughter andson grewupand made liveselsewhere, we continuedtosendthemcarefully wrappedloaves through the mail. In savoring the sweet, brown treat,theytasted home. That’show atreeIinitially dislikedbecame ahousehold fixture,a gift I’ve written aboutatothertimes through the years. All of this came back to mind when ourpersimmon treefailedtogreen up last spring, which told us it hadn’t survivedthe winter. Our son, home for avisit, helped us cut it down.

Luckily,asurplus of fruit in ourfreezer means we’ll still enjoypersimmonbread this fall. It’ssomething we’ll enjoy as part of ourThanksgiving feast this month. I’ll always be grateful for asmall treethattaught me something aboutgratitude itself. Sometimes, life’sblessings have to hit you on the head before yourecognize them. EmailDanny Heitman at danny@dannyheitman.com.

PROVIDED PHOTOS FROM COLEMAN’S HANDCRAFTED

AndrewColeman designedand created the communion rails andaltar for Good ShepherdCatholic Church in Russellville, Ala. This was the projectthat promptedhim to quit his dayjob

PHOTO PROVIDED By LIBRARy OF CONGRESS

ON THE TABLE

SavorNovemberwithpecan pies andanapple tart

As soon as Halloween ends, it seems that holiday decorations spring up overnight and festiveadvertisements flood our screens. The world would like us to believe that once we turn the calendar from October,it is time to jump right into the December holiday frenzy,skipping over November altogether.And while excitement for the holidayseasonisunderstandable, rushing into these celebrationscan cause us to overlook the unique beauty and significance of the month at hand.

November is defined bytranquil charm, crisp air and changing leaves. Iwould argue that November should be savored as the coziest month of all, and we should welcome the time between by slowing down, reflecting andhonoring the traditions and values that make fall special.

One way to do that is to embrace the seasonal produce available this time of year.Here in the South farmers markets and grocery stores are overflowing withleafy greens, sweet potatoes, apples and pecans, just to name afew,and the abundance provides numerousopportunities for creating delicious dishes to savor and share, whether it be for Thanksgiving, Friendsgiving or aquiet moment alone.

Below are two recipes that work well for gatherings big, small or even solo. The firstisapecan pie that’sbeen astaple in ourfamily for years. The preparation makes 24 single-serve pies, perfect fora buffet-style gathering, andcan be easily converted to astandard-size pie. The second is anew addition to our Novemberrotation —an apple tart with asalted caramel glaze. The tart makes abeautiful presentation for aholidaygathering yet need not be saved for a special occasion.

My hope for all of us is that for the balance of November, we make time for lingering and enjoying this time in between.

TODAYINHISTORY

ByThe Associated Press

Mini Pecan Pies

Mini Pecan Pies

Makes24single-serve pies (or one 9-inch pie*)

1cup pecanhalves, toasted 1/2 cup melted butter, cooled 1cup sugar 3eggs,room temperature 3/4 cup light Karo syrup

1. Preheat oven to 350 F.

2. Toast pecan pieces for approximately 10 minutes until fragrant.

3. Melt thebutter and set asidetocool while pecans toast.

4. Whisk together eggs, sugar, light Karosyrup, Steen’smolasses, salt and vanilla. Stir in cooled butter

5. Butter muffintins. (Use minitins for bite-sized pies or standard muffin tins for singleserve pies.)

6. Cutpie shells into rounds using a3 1/4-inch biscuit cutter Gently press dough into muffin tins to create asmall well for the filling,leavingspace between the doughand the bottom of themuffin tin

7. Break pecan halves into smaller pieces andadd toasted

Today is Sunday,Nov.16, the320thday of 2025.There are 45 days left in the year

Todayinhistory:

On Nov.16, 1973, President Richard Nixon signed the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Authorization Act into law,authorizing the construction of an800-mile oil pipelinefrom the Alaska North Slope to theport city of Valdez.

Also on this date:

In 1907, Oklahoma became the46th state of the union.

In 1914, the newly created Federal Reserve Banks opened in 12 cities.

In 1982, an agreement was announcedin the 57th day of astrike by National Football League players.

In 1988, Benazir Bhuttowas voted prime minister of Pakistan, the first woman elected to lead aMuslim-majoritycountry

In 1989, six Jesuit priests, ahousekeeper and her daughter werekilled by Salvadoran army troops at the University of Central America José Simeón Cañas in San Salvador, the capital.

In 2001, investigators founda letteraddressed to DemocraticSen. PatrickLeahy of Vermont containing anthrax;it wasthe second letter bearing the deadly germ known to have been sent to Capitol Hill.

In 2001, the first film in theHarry Potter series, “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” (U.S. title: “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’sStone”) debuted in theaters around the world.

In 2006, after midterm electionsthatsaw Democrats take control of the U.S. House of Representatives, Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California was nominated by theDemocratic caucus to become House speaker.(Pelosi would officiallybecomespeaker by House vote the following January,the first woman to serve in the role.)

In 2018, aU.S. official said intelligence officials had concluded that SaudiCrown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the October killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulateinIstanbul, Turkey In 2022, NASA resumeslunarexploration 50 years after the end of the fabled Apollo program, rocketing theuncrewed Orion space capsulealoft from the Kennedy Space Center on a25-day mission to orbit the moon.

Today’sbirthdays: Actor Miguel Sandoval is 74. Video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto is 73. NASCAR Hall of FamerTerry Labonte is 69. Actor Marg Helgenberger is 67. Former MLB All-Star pitcher Dwight Gooden is 61. Jazz singer Diana Krall is 61. ActorLisa Bonet is 58. ActorMartha Plimpton is 55. Olympic figure skating gold medalist Oksana Baiul is 48. Actor Maggie Gyllenhaal is 48. Actor-comedian Pete Davidson is 32.

pecans to pie shell (about 1teaspoon of pecan pieces per shell)

8. Addone tablespoon of filling to the pie shell with pecan pieces.

9. Bake17minutes until filling is set

10. Let pies cool in tins, then gently remove. Store in an airtight container Note: This recipe is great for preparing ahead of agathering. The baked pies freeze well in an airtight container.Any extra filling can also be frozen for future baking. Return frozen filling to room temperature before baking.

*For one 9-inch pie, use only one of the two pie shells. Press thepie shell into apie plate or cast-iron skillet. Adjust baking time to one hour

AppleTartwith Salted CaramelGlaze

Serves 12. Recipe adapted from SmittenKitchen.com

Tart base:

14-ounce packagepuff pastry, defrosted in fridgeovernight

3largeor4medium apples(Iused my favorite, Honeycrisp, but yours would work welltoo.)

1tablespoon sugar

2tablespoonsunsaltedbutter, cold, cut into small bits

Salted caramelglaze:

1/4 cup granulated sugar

2tablespoonsunsaltedbutter

1/4 teaspoon flakysea salt

2tablespoonsheavy cream

Allspice

1. Preheat oven to 400 F.

2. Line arimmed baking sheet withparchment paper.

3. On alightly floured surface, lay out your pastry and sprinkle flour on the top. Gently roll the pastry until it will fit inside the baking sheet and transferitthere.

4. Peel the apples and cut them in half top-to-bottom.Remove the cores and stems. Slice the apples halves crosswise as thinly as you can withaknife or mandoline (about 1⁄16 inch thick).

5. Leaving a 1/2 inch border,place the apples around the tart in slightly overlapping concentric rectangles until you reach the middle

6. Sprinkle the apples evenly with the first two tablespoons sugar and dot with the first two tablespoons butter

7. Bake for 30 minutes, or until the edges of the tart are brown and the edges of the apples begin to take on some color.The apples should feel soft, but dry to the touch. (If the puffed pastry makes large bubbles while baking, poke it with aknife to deflate it.)

8. While the pastry bakes, make the caramel glaze: In asmall saucepan over medium-high heat, melt 1/4 cup sugar.Cook the melted sugar until it turns anice copper color (about 1-2 minutesafter it melts).

9. Take melted sugar off heat and add the sea salt and butter.Stir until the butter melts and is incorporated. Add the heavy cream and return to the stove over medium heat.

10. Cook the caramel, stirring constantly,until adeep bronze color forms (about 1-2 minutes). Set aside until needed.

11. After the tart has baked, transfer it to acooling rack, but leave the oven on. Using very short, gentle strokes, and brushing in the direction that the apples are fanned, brush the entire tart with the salted caramel glaze.

12. Return the apple tart to the oven for 5to10more minutes, until the caramel glaze bubbles. Dust lightly with allspice. Let tart cool before serving.

Are‘Do notreply’emailsconsideredrude?

Dear Miss Manners: My wife and Ihave adifference of opinion about emails sent from “do not reply” addresses. Isay that, in principle, they display poor manners. They are akin to saying something to somebody and then putting your hands over your ears and repeating “I can’t hearyou” (likechildrendo).

them over into ours.

Now,Iunderstand why abusiness or nonprofit (or scammer or spammer) would want to send out thousands of emails without accepting replies, which they might be obligated to respond to.

Miss Manners notes this because she finds that new technology requires new etiquette much less frequently than technophiles imagine. The pre-internet equivalent is the sign on the company warehouse that reads, “This is thecompany’s central shipping facility.Ifyou are looking for retail sales or customer service, please call this number.”

But Isay if YOU start adialogue by sending ME an email, then you should be ready to continue the dialogue by letting me reply

Gentle reader: The reason you cite —not having to monitor responses to automated, bulk, commercial emails —isindeedwhy “do not reply” email addresses were invented.

If there are limitations on thesender’sability to respond, it is not rude to say so,so long as they provide alternatemeans. Butyou should certainly object if your wife proposes to hang such asign on the front door

Dear Miss Manners: Idiscovered what looked like abatch of pruned vines in my backyard. There is some ivy that grows on the walls shared by several of us in proximity,and it appears theneighbors behind us cut the pieces that were hanging in their yard and tossed

While Iamalways willing to help ourneighbors, Ithought it rude of them to toss the mess into our yard. What is wrong with people that they feel they cannot approach theirneighbors to ask if we could cut the plants —orfor any favor,for that matter?

By the way,this neighbor also drilled afoot-high eyebolt (to support patio lights) into theshared block wallwithout mentioning or considering us first. Sadly,this course of action is just another example how neighborly etiquette has gone outthe window

Gentle reader: Youmention the eyebolt in passing, but it is at theroot of the problem.Too many homeowners, if asked why they did not approach aneighbor about aplanned improvement, exaggerate reasonableamounts of selfishness andfear into worst-case scenarios.

“It’sreally not up to them what color curtains Ihave” becomes “I have an absolute

right to do what Iwant with my house,” while “I’d rather not be yelled at by someone I barely know”becomes “What if they have agun?”

But the link between not talking to the neighbors and the breakdownincivility is cause and effect.

Why be considerate of someone you barely know?Miss Manners’ solution would be to find an excuse to do one or two things that require minimal effort, but are neighborly,such as turning over mailmeant forthem,but misdelivered to you, in person —rather than throwing it at the window as you pull downthe driveway These days, such things are so unexpected they should make your neighbor think twice next timethey are pruning the vines.

Sendquestions to Miss Manners at herwebsite, www.missmanners. com or to heremail, dearmissmanners@gmail. com.

Dear Heloise: Joyce M., in Fayetteville, Tennessee, had agood idea about shutting off the water if you are going to be away from your homefor an extended period of time. An easier way to do this is to locate thewater shut-off valve that should be at or very near the water meter inside of you house. —Paul L., in Lincoln, Nebraska Travel hint

Dear Heloise: In arecent column, you printed agreat hint from acouple who shares their passports and travel information with family prior to embarking on international trips. As afrequent international traveler myself, I’d recommend to also have the ad-

dress and contact information of the United States Consulate or Embassy in thecountry (or countries) that you’re traveling to. If you’re takingyour mobile phone, verify withyour service provider that the phone will work abroad or if you need to temporarily sign up for an international plan that allows you to use your phone in the country.This way,you’ll be able tobeincontact with family/friends in theU.S. —Ann, via email Simple waytomakelists

Dear Heloise: Ihave seen several hints that were sent to you about shopping lists. The last one suggested taking apicture of your shopping list so that you would have it on your phone. Amuch better way for iPhone users is to use theReminders app. Simply

create alist by opening the app and selecting “Add List.” Youcan nameit“Groceries” (or whatever you like) and save it. Then when you want to add an item,simply say,“Hey,Siri, add potatoes to the Groceries list.”

This item will now be listed. When shopping, you can just bring up the list in the Reminders app, and you will see all the itemsthat you added. Then as you add an item to your cart, just tap on the item in the list, and it will disappear —Joe, in California

Underpressure

Dear Heloise: Iabsolutely hate jars and bottles that Ineed to first press downon, then turn while pressing down. For anumber of us, pressing down on anything takes alot of strength. This is especially

true if we have arthritis, have had wrist surgery,orhave other physical problems. Ihad to take abottle of bleach back to the store and have the clerk help me removethe cap this week because Icould not get the cap off. Because of this, Iswitched brands so that Inolonger have to put up with this problem from the manufacturer If any of your readers knows of asecret that solves this problem,please print the answer —Nola L., in Madison, Indiana Nola, let me put it to my readers. Doesanyone have asolution to this press-and-twist cap problem?I’ve returned abottle of vitamins because Ihad the sameproblem —Heloise Sendahinttoheloise@ heloise.com.

Judith Martin MISS MANNERS

Hints from Heloise

PHOTOSByOLIVIAREGARD

Using very short, gentle strokes, and brushing in the direction the apples are fanned, the entire tart is brushed with the salted caramel glaze.

Olivia Regard

Booksexplore theimportanceofrivers

BY RIEN FERTEL Contributing writer

“Is aRiver Alive?” by RobertMacfarlane,W.W.Norton, 384pages, and “In Praise of Floods”byJamesC Scott,Yale University Press, 248 pages

I’ve thought alot about rivers these past two years, ever since moving from my longtimehome just one block from the Mississippi River to ahouse 15 or so blocksaway

My new address is still close enough to walk to the levee, to feel the gravitational tugofthe river’sroiling waters. But the Mississippi’sbanks are now far enough away to missthe faint scent of sea brine that occasionally migrates upriver,to mark the absence of gull cries, foghorn echoes and the whistle tootsofthe SteamboatNatchez’scalliope.

Reading two new booksabout rivers and whythey matter made me missmyold home all over again.

Robert Macfarlane is abestselling English nature author,witha body of work that already —he’snot yet 50 years old —ranks him among the greats. Combining an adventurous spirit and poetic sensibilities with an appealing social charm that many wilderness writers, following pioneering solitude-seekers like Thoreau and Muir,lack, he’sexplored Britain’slast remaining wild places, traced the Isle’s ancient pathways, and mapped itsarchaic place names.

He’strekked up mountains and down into the depths of subterranean landscapes.

In “Is aRiver Alive?” he explores the metaphorical waterways of the mind and body while globe-trotting to three notable but lesser-known rivers linked by their uncertain futures.

He journeys to an Ecuadorian cloud forest to locate the headwaters of the Río Los Cedros, as mining and deforestation efforts loom, navigates the pollutionpoisoned waterways of Chennai, India, and paddles the Mutehekau Shipu, the Indigenous name for Quebec’sMagpie River,under threat of hydroelectric overdamming.

“Everywhere Itravelled,” he writes, “I asked people the same question:what is the river saying? To act as the rivers’ interpreters, Macfarlane invites local experts andarotatingset of often eccentric friends on each expedition, charted over three sections. Each of thethree riversistied up in the RightsofNaturemovement, which seeks to grant legal rightstoecosystems and species.

The Mutehekau Shipu, for instance, was granted legal personhood by ajoint Indigenous-municipal resolution in 2021.

Macfarlane has aknack for making the known feel new,even when he’stelling readers something we all learned in elementary school.

“Every human is, of course, awaterbody,” he writes. “Water flows in and through us. Running, we arerivers. Seated, we are pools. We were swimmers before we were walkers, slow-turning like breath-divers in thedark flotation tank of the womb.”

“Is aRiver Alive?” is hardly Macfarlane’s best work. It is too muddy-prosed and languidly paced.

Yet, it is anecessary and vital work for those whocontemplate rivers, which should be all of us.

“Everyone lives in awatershed,” he maintains. “Our fate flows with that of rivers, and always has.

dredging, spillways and canals —the list goes on The foremost result of river engineering, according to Scott, is the loss of the river’sflood pulse,thatvasttransitional landscapethatcycles between inundated, damp anddry.This eco-rhythm,which he likens to the river’slungs, is asign of a watershed’svitality,responsible forcontinually renewing the soil forthe benefit of allfloraand fauna that call it home.

Forinstance, the Mississippi’sfish catch declined83% over ahalf-century of monumental rivercontrolprojects, before rebounding to setarecordfollowing the Great Flood of 1993.

“No flood,” Scottwrites, “no river.”

It’sanargument thatisall too familiar in the water-embracing atmosphere that hasfitfully made progress in post-Katrina New Orleans.

Like anygood river, “In Praise of Floods” meanders as it flows. Much of the book captures the Ayeyarwady River regioninBurma —for political reasons, he prefers thatnameover the nowmore common Myanmar— where he spent many yearsconducting research.He writes of the river’sbeauty and the many ways humankind has negatively transformed its watershed.

In onebaffling but charming chapter, Scottnarrates atown-hall meeting where allthe speakersare species that call the Ayeyarwady home

If thetitle of Macfarlane’slatest leaves readers with aquestion,James C. Scott’sposthumous “In Praise of Floods” provides astraightforward answer “Rivers, on along view, are alive,” writes Scott, a groundbreaking political scientist and anthropologistwho studied how agrariancommunities fight back againsttheir oppressors. “They areborn; they change; they shift theirchannels;theyforge newroutes to thesea; they move both gradually and violently; they teem (usually) with life; they may die aquasi-natural death; they are frequently maimed and even murdered.”

In his brief and meditative book, Scott, who died in 2024, seekstounderstand what is lost when humans endeavor to “tame” riverswithlevees, dikes, dams,

Alocal variety of endangered river dolphin chairs the assembly.AnAsian hairy-nosed otter, Burmese roofed turtle, andevena loquacious white gingerflower stepuptothe mic

The hilsa fish, an omega-3 powerhouse thatbuttressesthe Burmese dietand is threatened by overfishing andthe erasure of the flood plain, warns humans that “without us youwould perish; you can flourish only if we flourish too.”

Scott’snarrative exercise might leave readerswith the fantasy,apropos Macfarlane, of giving our local waterways a platform to speak

Are youalive,Atchafalaya? Spill it, Vermilion. Give me the RedRiverstraight talk. Hey, Mississippi, whatdoyou have to say?

Rien Fertel is the author of four books, including, mostrecently,“Brown Pelican.”

NewmagazinecelebratesnatureinLouisiana,the South

Upholt

New Orleans writer Boyce Upholt made asplash lastyear with thepublication of “The Great River,” his nationally acclaimed book abouthumanity’s complicated relationship with the Mississippi over many generations. Now,Upholt is up to something at least as ambitious with the launch of Southlands,a twice-a-year print magazine about nature in the South.

Southlands has acompanion platform for some of the magazine’scontent at southlandsmag. com, where readers can alsoorder aprint copy of each issue

In an introductory letter opening the first issue, Upholt notes that Southerners tend to revere natural wonders beyond the region while taking the beauty near their own backyards for granted.

“I want you to fall in love,tofind inspiration and new places to wanderand explore,” he tellsreaders. “But Ialso want to challenge you, because we have work to do if we want to keep our Southern habitats beautiful and thriving and, importantly,accessible to everyone.”

That message points to the importantconnection between love, knowledge and the land we

call home. We can’t truly cherish aplace unless weknow it,and Southlands is awelcome invitation, through an assortment of writers, artists andphotographers, tobetter understand this corner of theworld beyond our thresholds

To affirm thebeauty of the South’strees andswamps, rivers andmountains, Upholt and his team have created amagazine that’sbeautiful,too.

The largeness of the format has ascale that chimes nicely with the idea of openspaces,and the landscapeofstories and images inside theissueisequally expansive. Striking typography and generousspacing give the articles room to breathe, and the artworkand photographs are curated as lovingly as treasures in astudio Southlands is apublication of arrestingabundance.

In thefirstissue, writer Pragathi Ravi and photographer Adam Herdman reportonthe magically

elusive ghostorchids of southern Florida. In words and pictures, James Collier shows what it’s like to hunt Louisiana alligators, and he throws in arecipe for alligator saucepiquantefor good measure. With help from photographer Rory Doyle, Upholt considersthe Arkansasdelta as adestination for bicyclists.

There are many more stories in this opening issue of Southlands, and many morepictures. It’s an immersive plenitude, something to get lost in.

“There’s anarrative out there thatmagazines are dying,” Upholt said. “But I’ve seen the opposite:People, especially outdoors people, are eager to be able to sit down and spend timeimmersing themselves in storytelling.”

He offered another thought: “I think there’s acommunityof Southerners who are ready to be connected around their love for this place —toshare knowledge about wheretoexplore and how to worktogether for the region’s benefit.”

Upholt grew up in Connecticut but he’sobviously found ahome here. Sometimes,ittakes an outsidertoremind the rest of us how lucky we are.

Email Danny Heitman at danny@dannyheitman.com.

Dan

Macfarlane

Proponents,Entergy debate best useof settlement funds

BYANTHONY McAULEY Staff writer

that

ergy,and backedbydozensofbusinesses andcommunity organizations, would create battery-powered networks, or “microgrids,”across the citythat would equip homes,small businesses, churchesand other institutionswith battery power walls.It would also connect or help spur solar installations that could substantially reduce monthlyelectricbills,its backers argue. The money is part of a$116 million dealagreedtolast year between EntergyNew Orleans and the City Council, the utility’sregulator,tosettle federal investigations into whether Entergy had overchargedcustomers over aperiod of years for power from its troubled GrandGulf Nuclear power plant. Aseparate deal was reached

BY RICH COLLINS Staff writer

Backin2006, KatieJensenjust wanted to come home.

Aftergrowing up in Kenner, she’d left town for college and was working fora shipping company in New Jersey. But she missed her parentsand six siblings, who were back in theNew Orleans area dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina

As it happened, herfather New Orleans trucking industry veteran Jack Jensen —was in the process of buying afranchise to sell natural stone products to post-storm home renovators, and he needed someone to run it. They quickly hatched aplan, andthe younger Jensen came

back to town to be the first to officially slide open the roll-up door at the Triton Stone warehouse on River Road, amile upriver from the Huey P. Long Bridge.

From that entry into the stone import business nearly two decades ago, Jensen as CEO and her sister Rachel Jones as chief marketing officer have built Triton from aNew Orleans newcomer to one of the top 20 distributors of its kind in the United States competing in a $2.2 billion-and-growing sector Today,the company,which the family has since purchased from its original owners —isthe New Orleans area’sbiggest wholesaler of quartz, marble, granite and ä See STONE, page 2E

betweenEntergy Louisianaand its regulator,the Louisiana Public Service Commission. The deal allows Entergy to reimburse New Orleans ratepayers for mostofthe settlementamount over a 25-year period, though it sets aside $32 million to be used at the CityCouncil’s discretion to benefitratepayers. That amount was reduced to $30 million in July when $2 millionwas usedtocushion an Entergy rate increase. Entergy hasopposed the microgrid plan saying it would benefit only aselect group rather thanNew Orleans ratepayers in general. The utility has argued that it would be better for it to spend the money on its own resiliency

See MICROGRID, page 2E

One Acadiana names officers for 2026

South Louisiana Community College Chancellor Vincent June was named One Acadiana’s chair for 2026.

Other officers include:

n Stuart Billeaud, JB Mouton, chair-elect

n Ben Simms, Lemoine, secretary

n Jeremy Rogers, Our Lady of Lourdes Health, treasurer

n Al Patin, Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Center, immediate past chair

Three-year elected directors:

n Tessa Brown, CCI Piping Systems

n John Michael Robinson, b1BANK

n Ben Smith, Red River Bank

“Serving as the 2026 Chair of One Acadiana, I am energized by the opportunity to unite our nineparish region around a shared vision of economic strength, workforce empowerment, and inclusive growth,” June said in a statement.

“Together, we will harness the ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit of Acadiana to build a future that is vibrant, equitable, and enduring.”

One Acadiana is also entering its second year of a five-year IMPACT campaign, which focuses on advancing business development, talent development, quality of place and regional advocacy across the nine-parish region. The first year resulted in $177 million in capital investment over 800 jobs created.

Mexican eatery to move into old Chili’s space

A Louisiana-based Mexican restaurant chain will return to the Lafayette market when it opens in the former Chili’s space at 1734 W. Pinhook Road.

Sombrero’s Mexican Kitchen & Cantina was granted a permit last week by Lafayette Consolidated Government to put up a sign at the site, records show

Sombrero’s, which has locations in Walker and Alexandria, had a north Lafayette location at 3235 N.W Evangeline Thruway but closed it in 2022 It had moved there three years prior after leaving an Opelousas location.

Chili’s left the Pinhook Road location one year ago.

Building eyed for Five Mile sold in new deal

A Congress Street house that got permission from the Lafayette City Council to house Five Mile Eatery has been sold to another buyer

Michael Longanacre, of Lafay-

MICROGRID

Continued from page 1E

programs, such as Entergy Smart, which offers incentives to customers to make efficiency upgrades.

Entergy spokesperson Beau Tidwell said that the consumer activists’ plan, which initially targets about 1,500 homes and 200 businesses and civic institutions, diverts the money to a “private developer” program. Entergy has also indicated that it might take legal action to challenge the microgrid proposal if the City Council adopts it.

“There is a very clear choice to be made,” said Broderick Bagert, lead organizer for Together New Orleans, one of the sponsors of the microgrid proposal.

“It is between having a big program that is paid for by the settlement mone y, which is what we’ve proposed, and having a smaller one paid for by ratepayers,” he said, referring to Entergy’s separate incentive program for customers to buy batteries.

The outcome of the council’s upcoming vote is poised to shape how

ette, bought the 2,000-square-foot house at 903 Myrtle Place in a deal that closed in late October, Elifin

Realty reported. Longanacre said he plans to open a bed and breakfast there.

Five Mile backed out of its deal after neighbors threatened to file a lawsuit, co-owner Sarah Trotter said.

The City Council voted in June to rezone the property at the corner of Congress Street and Myrtle Place and grant a conditional use permit to allow the restaurant to open.

Nearby residents voiced concerns about the project, and the restaurant was allowed to open only from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. The house had sat on the market for months, and officials with Lafayette Consolidated Government’s planning department noted the location is no longer a desirable location for a home.

Italian restaurant to open

in mid-city

An Italian restaurant will open in the South College Center in midcity Lafayette, documents show Roncalli Italian Restaurant will open at 2815 Johnston St. as work is set to begin combining two spaces into one restaurant space with a commercial kitchen, according to the building permit issued by Lafayette Consolidated Government.

The restaurant is registered to Raffaele Raimondi, who owns the Raffaele Furs next door at 2817 Johnston St. It will occupy the space last held by Les Amis Flowerland.

The project is valued at $300,000.

Bourque’s

to leave Johnston Street space

Bourque’s Specialties will close its mid-town Lafayette location on Sunday before it moves to a larger location.

Manager Nick Savant said the specialty meat shop will leave its location at 3211 Johnston St for a larger 2,600-square-foot space that would allow for more specialty grocery items to be sold. He declined to give specifics on the move.

Bourque’s, known for its jalapeño sausage cheese bread and other prepared foods, has been at that space since 2019, Savant said.

The Port Barre-based business dates to 1948 out of the home of Adolph and Yvonne Bourque and expanded into its first grocery store location in Port Barre

The Lafayette location offers plate lunches and Cajun prepared foods.

other materials used for kitchen counters, bathroom features and other high-end design elements. Its Harahan gallery is filled with millions of dollars’ worth of stone sourced from all around the world, including pristine Carrara marble from Italy and “creamy” Taj Mahal quartzite from Brazil.

From 31 locations in the Midwest, the Gulf South and the Mid-Atlantic, the company generates more than $200 million in annual revenue Its fleet of trucks distributes material that comes into the country through ports in New Orleans; Norfolk, Virginia; and Houston. Nearly 350 employees sell about 10,000 stone slabs and 10 times that amount of sinks each month, along with high-end tiles and tools for the stone fabricators that cut and install countertops.

The Jensens attribute Triton’s growth in large part to their family’s decades of experience in the transportation industry, where the goal is to move things as quickly and cheaply as possible. In addition to TCI Trucking, the company Jack Jensen founded, the family now runs a half-dozen related businesses, including a liquid storage and transportation company, a plastics packaging subsidiary and a birdseed sterilization facility.

“The job is always evolving and changing,” Katie Jensen said. “But at the end of the day, it’s all about logistics. Our job is to get the material to our customers at the lowest possible price.”

Two decades of growth

In a sense, Triton’s New Orleans roots date back to the early 1980s, when Jack Jensen quit working for a local railway company and went into business for himself, launching TCI to help clients move containers

filled with everything from coffee to lumber and petrochemical products from the port to Gulf Coast warehouses.

After two decades running the business, he had built a long list of customers, including Memphis, Tennessee-based Triton Stone, a new venture with two locations that was looking for franchisees to grow its footprint Jensen and his son Christian who had joined the family business by then, wanted in. They saw the potential of combining their logistics experience with the Triton founders’ overseas connections and industry knowledge.

“My brother is a big-picture thinker and he and my father saw this as an opportunity to get involved with the rebuilding after Katrina,” Katie Jensen said.

ing rolled out by Gridscape Solutions for fire stations, police stations and recreation centers, incorporating solar power and battery storage. The city expects that these microgrids will not only support resilience during outages but also help avoid more than $420,000 in annual energy costs.

The New Orleans microgrid proposal was backed by about two dozen “intervenors,” ranging from church groups, such as the GNO Interfaith Climate Coalition, two electrical workers unions, as well as several solar and battery technology businesses. They have provided testimony and documentation to the council demonstrating the potential impact of a city-led battery program.

and galleries.

From day one, they had set up an unloading and distribution center near the Port of New Orleans, which allowed them to fill containers to the maximum weight allowed on ships and then redistribute material for domestic transportation over the roads, which has a lower weight limit. The practice, which wasn’t industry standard, has become more commonplace.

Triton’s in-house customs broker is a key contributor, and the company oversees a fleet of nearly 100 trucks to move the stone once it’s on land.

To get started, the Jensens obtained a line of credit, ordered some containers of stone, found the location in Harahan and began building a sales team.

“We started asking family and friends to come work for us,” Jones said. “We talked to my brother’s friend who played baseball, people we went to Chappelle or Jesuit with, asking them if they wanted to sell stone.”

Gradually, they built inventory buying several containers’ worth of stone each month, taking advice from suppliers about what was selling well in other parts of the country and paying attention to customer requests.

Within a year, business was booming and the Jensens were in a position to expand. The post-Katrina demand for materials, locally kept the work coming despite a national slowdown in construction and renovation brought on by the 2008 housing crisis.

Over the next decade, they opened nine more locations, starting in Baton Rouge; San Antonio; and Mobile, Alabama, and eventually planting their flag in Virginia and other East Coast states. In 2017, the Jensens made their biggest move to date, buying out the original Triton owners.

“We had grown the business to such an extent that it didn’t make sense anymore,” Jones said “They had five locations and we had nine. We had direct relationships at that point with all the suppliers in Brazil and around the world, and we were just really good operators.”

Over the next five years, the Jensens opened or acquired 17 more locations to more than double Triton’s national footprint.

‘From the quarry to the kitchen’

The Jensen family’s experience moving, storing and tracking all sorts of materials has been a key factor in Triton’s growth. The same skills necessary for those ventures help Triton save on the considerable cost of moving heavy stone from its sources in Italy, Brazil and other faraway locations to U.S. ports and then to a network of warehouses

interview “Residents who previously faced high bills saw them drastically reduced, and the system served as a bright spot in the neighborhood.”

That success inspired Together New Orleans’ Community Lighthouse program, which installed solar-plus-battery systems in churches, nonprofit centers and other public-serving buildings

“There are many steps to get stone from the quarry to someone’s kitchen, so knowing all the steps in the process is helpful,” Jensen said. “At any given time, we have 300 containers on ships traversing the world. That’s a lot of details to manage.”

Changing trends

The sisters remember the first stone slab they sold. It was a “blotchy” green granite that’s no longer the height of fashion.

In the years since, Triton has adapted to trends as customers have moved toward more neutral palettes and patterns, although New Orleans customers still prefer more dashes of pink, green and blue in their counters than their counterparts in neighboring Texas.

The Jensens will continue to keep with trends just as they manage industry challenges like inflation, the slow housing market and tariffs, which in some cases have forced them to look for alternate sources of material.

Another issue facing the industry is the health danger of the crystalline silica dust created when workers cut or grind the materials used to make engineered stone counters. The federal government and California have both created rules to protect workers from exposure, including using water sprays and ventilation to reduce the dust in the air Other countries are doing the same. In response, Triton and its competitors now stock some silica-free engineered products and are exploring more options.

Despite the difficulties, Triton has grown to contribute about 30% of the revenue of all the Jensen family businesses.

Jones attributes that success to her team’s knack for solving problems.

“We want to sell fabricators the tools they need while they’re buying slabs,” she said. “For the interior designer, we want to provide all the tile. Once you become their easy button, they’re not going to go anywhere else.”

Email Rich Collins at rich. collins@theadvocate.com.

Some supporters of the microgrid plan said Entergy’s opposition is emblematic of its “slowwalk” approach to solar and other systems that give customers some degree of independence from the grid.

New Orleans addresses energy resilience in the face of aging infrastructure, climate-driven storms, and the evolving solar and battery landscape.

Advocates make a case

While some cities have already moved swiftly to integrate residential batteries, virtual power plants and rooftop solar-plusstorage systems, New Orleans has been comparatively slow to scale up these kinds of programs. In San Diego, for example, a project of eight microgrids is be-

Jeff Cantin, president of Solar Alternatives, a New Orleans solar engineering firm, pointed to the St. Peters Apartments, a 50-unit affordable housing complex in Treme, which incorporated solar panels and a battery system when it was built in 2019. That project, which included $1 million grant funding from Entergy, was the first of its kind in the city and was designed to cover nearly all the building’s energy needs and provide backup power when the grid failed.

“During Hurricane Ida, the system kept the facility running for two or three weeks after the storm,” Cantin recounted in an

There are now 20 facilities citywide, with the goal of creating neighborhood hubs that remain operational during outages and support the community Mitigating outages, lowering costs Monika Gerhart, executive director of the Gulf States Renewable Energy Industries Association, said homes hit during heatwaves and businesses facing thousands of dollars of perishable food during outages could be shielded if microgrids are in place. She pointed to the outage on Memorial Day this year that knocked out power for roughly 100,000 Entergy customers.

“An outage of that scale might have been avoided if we had this in place and everybody’s rooftop energy generation could have been deployed back to the grid in real time,” she said. “Having this kind of program can bring down the cost for everyone and improve reliability for everyone.”

“Entergy, when left to its own devices without clear direction from regulators, will only make choices that are best for the bottom line,” said Logan Atkinson-Burke executive director of the Alliance for Affordable Energy Tidwell, the Entergy New Orleans spokesperson, countered:

“The idea that Entergy New Orleans is ‘slow-walking’ solar is not accurate,” he said “Over the past few years, we’ve added nearly 100 megawatts of solar power — both utility-scale and local distributed projects — into our portfolio, and we continue to meet the City Council’s Renewable and Clean Portfolio Standard.”

The utility also points to a pipeline of 8,600 megawatts of renewable energy projects, a large portion of which is solar power which is expected to be online by 2028.

The City Council is expected to vote on the microgrid proposal before its term expires on Jan. 12, fulfilling a promise by Mayor-elect Helena Moreno.

Email Anthony McAuley tmcauley@theadvocate.com.

Bagert

PROVIDED PHOTO

St Peter Residential, a $7.4 million affordable housing complex in MidCity that was completed in 2020, features a large on-site battery to store from rooftop solar panels.

STAFF PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER

Dave Volpi cleans a stone sample lit up from behind inside the warehouse at Triton Stone in Harahan.

ASK THEEXPERTS

Smallbusinessesshouldget to know theirbanker

BY JONAH MEADOWS Staff writer

Percy Manson has built a careeratthe intersection of capital and community development. Alongtime banker and campaign consultant, the Kenner nativeis leveraging his financial and political experience to help extend growth and opportunity to neglectedneighborhoods.

Last year,after nearly adecade as acommercial banker working for Gulf Coast Bank &TrustCo., Manson joined Hope Credit Union as asenior vice president of community economic development and now manages astatewide team. Hope was founded in 1995 in Jackson, Mississippi, by CEO Bill Bynum witha mission providing access to capital and financial products to underserved communities in the Deep South. In thedecades since, the credit unionhas grownto include morethan 40,000 members and$739million in assets. Last year,it financed over$210 million of community development across Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee.

In the first half of 2025, Hope has closed more than 400 home loans, 87% of which were lent to first-time homebuyers, and nearly60 small business and community economic development loans, with 89% going to economically distressed areas.

Q&A WITH PERCy MANSON

in termsoffinancing, that banks cannot With otherinstitutions, if you don’thave the taxreturns, don’thave this, don’t have that, then they’re kind of not looking at you.

What are the biggest hurdles facingsmall-business owners who are trying to secure capital?

We have clientsthat come to us and this is their first account,sowekind of hold their hands andwalk them through theprocessfrom start to finish.

Idoalot of lunchand learns, something Istarted here when Igot here. It’s where we go out intothe communitiestalking about things youwould need to make youbankable, things that you would need to qualify you for aloan

Outside of that, it’sjust education. Alot of timespeople say,“Oh, Igot the business credit.” But we still look at your personal credit as well (when evaluating aloan risk), so you got to takeboth of those into account.

What do you seeasthe best opportunities for growth for Hope?

Because we’re aCDFI (community development financial institution), we do alot of charterschool lending, Isee that increasing. We do hospitallending.

We partner with other credit unions or institutions to getother larger deals done. And Idosee, right now, an uptickinrealestate investment.

I’ve been getting alot of calls in the last month or two aboutpurchasing real estatefor investment and flip opportunities.

How has the current state of the economy changed demand forborrowing and affected your business?

Small businesses right nowreally need to payattentionbecause Ithink they aresuffering.

structural credit crisis in the wider market,that we’re headed into a situation whereyou’re seeing alot of defaults? I’mnot goingtosay it’s a lot, but like Isaid, we are seeing an uptick in some of those. I’m not sure how long that will continue to happen, but we’reseeing a little uptick right now that we hadn’tseen before. What advice wouldyou give to somebody who is beginningtheir entrepreneurial career? Pay attention to what’s going on in the economy. Understandyour market, because markets are different.

In his spare time, Manson serves as acommissioner on the board of the Housing Authority of New Orleans, which he has led as president for the past year He’salso involved in local elections,having recently worked for the campaigns of the incoming mayorand sheriff.

grams This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

Then, in every one of our markets, we have what’s calledtechnical assistance providers.

On the eve of thenew administration, Manson believesNew Orleans isata pivotal moment and called on Mayor-electHelena Moreno to follow through on campaignpromises to prioritize economic developmentinNew Orleans East and the Lower 9thWard. In this week’sTalking Business, Manson discusses what he’sbeen seeing in the local lending market and howcommunitydevelopment financial institutions like Hopecombine flexible lendingwith educationpro-

How would you describe Hope CreditUnion and what it does?

We service folk and communities that other institutions may not want togo into.

For example: Selma, Alabama. It lookslike Katrina, and nobody’sreally reachingout to help people in that area. We are. Alot of institutionsare getting away from smallbusiness. We’re not. We’removing moretoward it, and we’re able to do some unique things to help small businesses. Credit unions areable to do things,

If aclient is not ready, we will refer them to one of the providers, andthenthey help them get theirfinances together —their Pand L’s, theirbalance sheets and things like that, and if the taxes aren’tdone, they’ll walk them throughsome of that stuff.

Once that’sdone, they refer back to us, and we’re able to move forward with aloan.

What aresome of theprograms or thetools that aremosthelpful to extend financing to underserved communities?

Themaintoolisour technical assistance providers

It’sdifficult, because some of ourloansthatwe did maybe ayear,year-anda-half ago, are becoming delinquent.

So we’ve got to work through some things with the clients, maybe make some modifications, and see what we can do to help them to sustain it.

Becauseofthe current economy,withpeople not spending as muchbecause they’reunsure what’sgoing to happen, those small businesses are hurting. I’mseeing that acrossthe footprint, but we’re doing what we can to mitigate and see how we can help them through it.

Do youthink there is arisk of a

That’sthe great thing aboutacreditunion: they understand the markets that they’re in. I’ve worked for larger banks, where they clearlydid notunderstandthe southorLouisiana or New Orleans in particular. And knowing your banker,Ithink, is important. Youneed to know your banker like you know your doctor.Yourhealthisjustas important as your finances. Knowing abanker, having apersonal relationship that’sgoing to be beneficial to anysmall-business owner.I would advise themto really choose an institution wisely,and if your institution is notworking foryou, thenchange

PROVIDED PHOTO

Percy Manson is the senior vice presidentofcommunity economic development for Louisiana forJackson, Miss.based Hope CreditUnion.

AROUND THE REGION

State agriculture chief: Shrimping industry ‘on its knees’

BY IANNE SALVOSA Staff writer

Facing pressure from cheap im-

ported shrimp, changing environmental conditions and rising costs, Louisiana’s shrimpers are experiencing a crisis that threatens their very existence, according to Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry

Mike Strain, who is calling on state lawmakers to do more to help save the industry

“The shrimping industry is on its knees,” Strain said Monday in an annual speech to the Press Club of Baton Rouge. “They’re asking us to step in and take a look at what we can do.”

As recently as a decade ago, what shrimp hauled in from the state’s briny waters had a dockside value of nearly $250 million. Last year, that value had plummeted to $38 million. Meanwhile, the number of shrimpers in Louisiana has continued its slide from 6,900 in 2000 to fewer than 1,400 last year

The causes behind the changing fortunes of the once robust industry are not new, but they continue to worsen, said Strain, rattling off a list of statistics to underscore the problem. Chief among them is the amount of imported shrimp flooding the domestic market. Nearly 95% of shrimp consumed in the United States today is imported, with nearly 78% of those imports coming from India, Ecuador and Indonesia.

“Shrimp fraud” the mislabeling by foreign companies of imported shrimp as locally sourced — also continues to be a problem, undercutting price and cheating customers out of what they paid for Adding to the problem are changing environmental conditions due, in part, to new liquified natural gas projects as well as higher costs of doing business from labor short-

ages and other factors.

Strain outlined measures enacted by the Louisiana Legislature last summer that recently took effect requiring restaurants to include statements in their menus to clarify if the shrimp is imported or locally sourced. The statements must match the font style and size of the menu to ensure visibility to consumers.

New state laws also give the state’s Agriculture Department more control over the sampling and testing of commercial seafood as well as greater enforcement provisions.

The department is now able to issue stop orders to companies whose shrimp test positive for antibiotics. Strain said the department also is now requiring companies to keep at least six months of records on shrimp volume and origin to pin-

point whether businesses are selling imported or domestic shrimp.

Dave Williams, president of SeaD Consulting, which the Louisiana Shrimp Task Force hires to carry out species testing, said testing shrimp for antibiotics doesn’t hurt, but it may not solve the industry’s safety and labeling problems. The ban of certain antibiotics may be outpaced by the creation of new, unregulated antibiotics.

He said the industry needs heavier enforcement on restaurants for using authentic, American shrimp. According to a recent SeaD study, mislabeled shrimp costs the industry $225,000 a day

The penalty for mislabeling is a fine ranging from $200 to $500.

“If 94% of the shrimp sold in the United States is imported from areas that might have antibiotics, then stopping a few containers, it’s

Beyondthe Workplace.

Jones Walker’s Labor&Employmentattorneys offer clientsone of thelargest,mostdiverse,and experienced laborand employment lawpractices in theregion.

We counselanarray of regional andnationalcompanies in awiderange of industries in allaspects of laborand employment law. We help clientsfind solutions to labor andemploymentlaw mattersusing practical, commonsenseapproaches.Webelieve our abilitytocombine our depthinlabor andemploymentlaw withJones Walker’s broadbaseofexperienceinother practice areasto addressuniqueworkplaceand industry situations gives our clientsadistinctadvantage notavailable from small boutique lawfirms.

William

costs and leaving farmers in debt.

Strain said corn, wheat, beans, cotton and rice have been produced at or below their production costs for the past three years, causing the state “tremendous economic stress.” Costs have risen across the distribution chain, from processing to transportation to labor causing farmers to take out loans to cover the expenses.

not really going to make a difference in the overall supply,” Williams said.

Strain said the department wants to do more and will ask lawmakers for additional enforcement power during the 2026 legislative session.

He said he is also planning to request funds for additional testing and enforcement as well as for marketing and promotion.

“We can’t regulate our way back into seafood prosperity with shrimp,” he said “We have to promote it.”

Low commodity prices

The state’s shrimp industry isn’t the only sector of the agricultural industry being squeezed by broader forces, Strain said in his wideranging remarks. Crops are being produced at or below their production costs, driving up their retail

“The bottom line is that farmers are price takers, not price makers, and so that has been a significant issue,” he said.

Strain said he is expecting funds from the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program, a one-time payment program from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency to alleviate the financial stress from low commodity prices, to help farmers’ debt.

Bird flu is also a problem negatively impacting Louisiana farmers. Turkey prices have risen up to 40% due to the decline in the national turkey population, which has been decimated by bird flu, reaching its lowest point in the 40 years.

Strain said his department is monitoring levels of the disease, especially as birds migrate south for the winter

Email Ianne Salvosa at ianne. salvosa@theadvocate.com.

ForLouisiana businessleaders,labor and employmentlaw is no longeraback-office issue—itisacorebusinessconcern that directly impactsoperations, talent retention, andlong-termgrowth. Employersmust prepare forseveral upcoming labor and employmentchallenges. Strong workplacemanagementiscriticaltolimitingturnover andavoidingdisputesthatcan lead to an arrayofissues. Accommodation andleave complianceisalsocomplex,as state-levelprotections maygobeyondfederallaw,particularly forpregnancyand disability.OSHAoversight also remainsa priority in Louisiana’sindustrialsectors,wheresafetyauditsand updated training canreducebothriskand penalties. Benefits complianceadds furtherpressure, with COBRAnotices,401(k) administration, andhealthplan parity drawingscrutiny.

Proactiveattention is keytoworkforcestability—and we are proudtohelpleadthe wayforward.

Strain

STAFF FILE PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER

STAFF FILE PHOTO By TRAVIS SPRADLING

SidLewis

NATION & WORLD

Shutdown pauses access to federal economic data

Auto sellers, analysts making industry decisions are in the dark

BY GRANT SCHWAB

The Detroit News (TNS)

WASHINGTON The ongoing federal government shutdown is leaving auto sellers without key economic data and obscuring the impact of

President Donald Trump’s signature tariff policies

That’s because the budget lapse, among other consequences, has triggered a pause in the publication of indicators that typically inform industry decisions. Policymakers and businesses have now gone more than a month without new federal figures on tariff costs, manufacturing productivity, inflation, employment and more.

“The countries that are most successful are the ones where you know what your price levels are, your number of jobs, your costs, your tariffs and your taxes,” said Michigan-based economist Patrick Anderson, CEO of Anderson Economic Group. “That’s one of the reasons that countries which haven’t developed highly credible, trained statistical reports that aren’t governed by elected officials have so much economic difficulty.”

Anderson and other industry analysts noted that the temporary dearth of data is unlikely to affect the biggest business moves from automakers, which tend to make capital investments and production plans on years-long time horizons. But short-term implications for vehicle sales, experts said, could start to pile up.

“While vehicle development in the industry operates at a glacial pace requiring years to bring a vehicle to market, constant monitoring of the economic data is neces-

sary to make the fine adjustments to marketing, production, and retailing of those vehicles,” said Sam Fiorani, vice president of global vehicle forecasting for AutoForecast Solutions.

The analyst added: “Not knowing where the market is heading could mean too many or too few vehicles in inventory and, likely, the wrong mix of trim levels. Allowing a manufacturer to more accurately predict changes in the market means shipping the right vehicles to the proper regions and preparing incentives when conditions sour.”

Ford Motor Co. and Stellantis NV both did not comment on how the data drought is affecting their business. General Motors Co. said there has not been any impact.

Automakers, dealers and analysts rely on troves of internal and private-sector data that are not available to the masses, but public data still plays a helpful role, according to Fiorani: “All forecasters, especially those in the automotive industry, need data and the federal government provides a number of great measures of the economy.”

The National Automobile Dealers Association offered a similar assessment: “While government data can be a useful tool for automobile dealers, generally, they don’t rely on it exclusively Many dealers rely on industry sources for data that informs their business decisions,” spokesperson Amy Wright said in a statement.

But as the government shutdown stretches deeper into its second month, existing government statistics are becoming more outdated. Decision-makers are having to make do without some of their usual sources.

“The longer the data is missing, the less accurate the outlook becomes,” Fiorani said.

The Federal Reserve, notably, voted to cut a key interest rate by a quarter point despite not having access to the employment and inflation information often central to its policy directives. Fed Chair Jerome Powell did not offer a clear signal on the bank’s upcoming December rate decision amid the partial data blackout.

“If there is a very high level of

uncertainty, then that could be an argument in favor of caution about moving,” Powell told reporters after the latest rate cut, which will likely make new auto loans slightly more affordable. “But we’ll have to see how it unfolds.”

There is some private-sector data to help the Fed and other businesses navigate without the full complement of data from statistical agencies like the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Census Bureau, but there is a noticeable dropoff in reliability, according to the Peterson Institute for International Economics.

Jed Kolko, a senior researcher for the nonpartisan think thank, explained the data differences in an Oct. 30 blog post.

“The shutdown reinforces what statisticians and economists have long argued: Private sector data is valuable but cannot replace official statistics,” Kolko wrote. “Private sources offer speed, specificity and innovation that complement government data. They can track emerging trends, provide granular detail for particular sectors or geographies, and offer near real-time updates But they cannot match the breadth, representativeness, consistency, transparency or public commitment of official statistics.”

He cited federal jobs data as an example of imperfect private substitutes: “When the September jobs report was delayed, multiple private sector alternatives stepped in ADP continued publishing payroll figures, newer entrants like Revelio Labs joined the field, and firms including the Carlyle Group weighed in with payroll growth estimates.

“Historical analysis suggests these sources are rough and imprecise predictors of the official nonfarm payroll number, with methodological differences in coverage revision timing, and data collection making direct comparisons tricky.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By AL BEHRMAN

SUVs ready to be moved out are lined up at the GM Truck Group assembly plant in Moraine, Ohio. The ongoing federal government shutdown is leaving auto sellers without key economic data and obscuring the impact of President Donald Trump’s signature tariff policies.

Investar Bank named NancyB.Trahan as treasury managementdirector, RobertP.Dominic as business banking relationship manager and vice president and Kelli N.Federer as retail market manager and vice president, all in its Lafayette market. Trahan will lead the bank’soverall treasury management department, partnering with retail branches, commercialrelationship managers and business bankers to provide clients with products, strategies and tools that increase productivity and efficiency She is aLafayette native. Dominic will focus on developing, facilitating andmanaging thelending needs of small-business clients. He was most recently abanking center manager for First Horizon Bank. Federer will focus on developing, implementing and administering employee and customerservice strategies and will work toward expanding retail banking, business

Fool’sTake:

Brewing

Constellation Brands (NYSE:

banking and treasury management initiatives while fostering ahighperformance, customer-centric culture.

Issued Nov. 5-11

Commercial alterations

BUILDINGPERMITS

223 TIMBERMILL ST., YOUNGSVILLE: GSLHomes, $376,875.

105 GUNRUNNER DRIVE: Manuel Builders, $297,000.

121 BELLE LAKE DRIVE:,DRHorton, $427,375.

118 BERTILLOCOURT: DSLD $253,000.

Stephanie Champagne was named revenue cyclemanager by Acadian Cos. She will oversee the coding and documentation center, prescheduled transports,reimbursement utilization management and scanning teams.

Champagne began her career with Acadian in 2006 as an emergency medicaltechnician in Iberia Parish before transitioningtothe billing department.She is anativeofCatahoula

Patricia Duplechin, of the Heritage ManorofVille Platte, was named Resident Activity Director of the Year by theLouisiana Nursing Home Association at its annual awards luncheon.

She was one of several honorees at theevent, whichrecognizesindividuals for their dedication to providing high-quality care and fostering meaningful connections with residents.

AprilPerro, of Kaplan Healthcare CenterinKaplan, was named Certified NursingAssistantofthe Year for theregion.

spirits totaling $1.45 billion.

INDUSTRIAL: 615 Tideland Road, description, interioroffice renovation for Tube Supply; applicant, Brad MichaelArchitecture; contractor, Ryan Gootee General Contractors; $120,000.

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213 BELLEWOOD DRIVE: DR Horton, $427,375.

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106 LUNETTALANE: DSLD,$193,000. 502 BROYLES ROAD,YOUNGSVILLE: The GenGroup,$470,000. 805 BROYLES ST., UNIT 100, YOUNGSVILLE: Tekton Development Group,$148,250. 805 BROYLES ST., UNIT 101, YOUNGSVILLE: Tekton Development Group,$186,750. 805 BROYLES ST., UNIT 102, YOUNGSVILLE: Tekton Development Group,$186,750. 805 BROYLES ST., UNIT 103, YOUNGSVILLE: Tekton Development Group,$186,750. 805 BROYLES ST., UNIT 104, YOUNGSVILLE: Tekton Development Group,$80,875. 805 BROYLES ST., UNIT 105, YOUNGSVILLE: Tekton Development Group,$161,375.

STZ) has seen its stock drop more than 40% over the past year —pushingits dividend yield up to 3.1%. For longterm investors, this is an opportunity to invest in atop beer stock at abig discount.

Motley Fool

Constellation holds the U.S. distribution rights to market and sell top Mexican beer brands, including Modelo and Corona. (Its Corona Sunbrew has quickly become the No. 1new beer brand in the U.S.) Last year,the company’sbeer salestotaled $8.54 billion, with sales of wine and

The stock is down as consumershave pulled backondiscretionary spending, andthat has pressured sales of alcoholic beverages. Constellation’srevenue was down 15% year over year in its quarter ending in August, and the company is projecting adjusted net revenue for the full fiscal year to be down between 4% and 6%. While the company’ssales are dependent on consumer spending trends, peopleare not likely to stop drinking beer and wine over the long term, and Constellation’s brands rank toward the top of their categories inmarket share. EvenWarren Buffett and his investing team at Berkshire Hathaway see value here, as they haveaccumulated 7.5% of the company.Shares look attractive-

ly priced for long-termbelievers at arecent forward-looking price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 12. (The Motley Fool recommends Constellation Brands.)

Fool’sSchool: Will the market crash soon?

The United States stock market,asmeasured by theS&P 500 index of 500 of America’sbiggest companies, has hadsome great yearslately.Itgained 31.5% in 2019, 18.4% in 2020 and 28.7% in 2021, before dropping by 18.1% in 2022. Then it jumped 26.3% in 2023 and 25% in 2024 —and it was recentlyup15.5% year to date. Considering that thestock market’s long-termaverage annual gain is closeto10%, not 18% or more, it’sfair to wonder whether

themarket will pull backsoon. Also troubling areongoing tariff wars, inflation risks and general geopolitical uncertainty

Given all that, acorrectionor crash may be around the corner. (A stock market correction is a drop of between 10%and 20%, while acrash is arapid drop of 20% or more.)But that pullback might not happenthis year or next.Noone ever knows exactly what the stock market(or any particular stock)will do from one day to another, or even one month to another. So, since the marketmay or may not crash soon, what should stock investors do?Here are some thoughts: n Expect corrections and crashes. They area fact of life in thestock market and, on average, happen everyfew years.

n Don’tkeep anymoney that youexpect to need within five, if not10, yearsinthe stock market. Youdon’t want to have to sell when the market is way down.

n Know thatdespite plenty of corrections andcrashes in the past, the U.S. stock market has always eventually recovered, going on to setnew highs.

n Assume thatmanyhighflying growth stockswill fall harderthanslower-growing ones.Ifyou want to reducerisk, youmight fully or partly sell outofany stocksthatseem significantly overvalued. Dividend stocksshould appeal,because theyoften (though notalways) keep paying even during market downturns.

Finally,remember thatmarketpullbackscan present some great buying opportunities.

Trahan Dominic Federer

Champagne

BY THE NUMBERS

N.O. ranks as third-most ‘house poor’ in nation

BY JONAH MEADOWS Staff writer

The cost of home ownership in New Orleans is greater than almost anywhere else in the nation, according to a new analysis of U.S census data, which shows the typical homeowner with a mortgage spends nearly one-third of their monthly income — 32.6% — on housing costs.

That’s a higher proportion than in Los Angeles, Miami or Honolulu, all much larger and more expensive cities than New Orleans, and the third-highest in the country, according to the analysis by ConsumerAffairs, a consumer research journal. New York and Hialeah, Florida, which is near Miami, topped the list.

“This really highlights that being house poor isn’t only a big-city problem driven by high home prices,” ConsumerAffairs spokesperson Dayna Edens said.

The analysis of 2024 data found New Orleans was the only one of the 10 most “house poor” cities where median home values are lower than the national average — by about 15%. Despite that, monthly housing costs mortgage payments insurance, taxes, utilities and various fees — are 13.6% higher than the nationwide average, driven by soaring home insurance and utility rates.

The report is the latest of several that document what homeowners throughout the region have witnessed since 2022, when insurance premiums spiked after backto-back hurricanes in 2020 and 2021 and interest rates more than doubled from pandemic-era lows. The fall-

out in the three years since has been a sluggish housing market with fewer sales at lower prices.

Though cities across the county have experienced a slump as well, the recent study illustrates why New Orleans homeowners have been hit particularly hard.

“New Orleans stands out because it shows that even in markets where home values are below the national average homeowners can still feel the same financial pressure as those in much more expensive cities,” Edens said. “When incomes don’t keep pace with the cost of homeownership, affordability becomes less about home prices and more about what people are earning to pay for them.”

From 2020 to 2024, mortgage-holding New Orleans homeowners became 6.1% more house poor, which means they spent more than

28% of the city’s median monthly household income on housing costs, according to the analysis.

Though incomes rose at a faster rate than housing expenses last year, wages have not kept up with the increasing cost of owning a home over the longer term.

“It’s important to note that being house poor doesn’t necessarily mean someone bought more house than they could afford,” Edens said. “It means the cost of simply keeping a home takes up so much of a household’s income that there’s little left over for savings or everyday expenses.”

In Baton Rouge, where the average homeowner makes about $1,000 less than in New Orleans but saves $658 every month on housing costs, the analysis calculated the housing cost burden to be 27.4% — just below the threshold to be considered

house poor but large enough to be the 25th-highest in the nation.

Lafayette was not included in the nationwide rankings because its population did not meet the analysis’ minimum population threshold of 175,000. If it had, it would have tied with Cleveland and Aurora, Colorado, with the median homeowner paying 24.6% of their monthly income on housing, just above the national average of 24.2%.

The rankings only consider those who still owe money for their house, so the approximately 40% of homes that are owned free and clear without monthly mortgage payments are not taken into account.

Nor are renters. An October analysis of census data published by The Data Center, a New Orleans-based research organization, found that 33% of Orleans Parish renters are “severely costburdened” — meaning they

spend more than half of their household income on rent — compared with a national average of 26%.

The median cost of rent and utilities has risen by an inflation-adjusted 39% over the past 20 years in New Orleans, compared with a national average of 28%. And the gap between renters and homeowners is growing, with 18% of New Orleans homeowners considered severely cost-burdened.

But that doesn’t mean purchasing a home will solve the problem. Americans who recently bought a house are paying the highest monthly mortgage bills since the Great Recession.

According to a report from the U.S. Census Bureau last month, homeowners who moved in 2024 are paying $648 more in mortgage costs than those who relocated in 2019. The 41.1% gap in housing costs was the largest between the two groups since at least 2008.

An analysis of U.S Census Bureau data found New Orleans was the only one of the top 10 most ‘house poor’ cities with belowaverage home values.

As the housing market emerged from recession between 2009 and 2013, new buyers paid less than existing homeowners But that trend has now reversed completely

Earlier this year, a study by the University of Mississippi ranked New Orleans’ housing market last among 100 in the U.S. for inflation-adjusted real estate performance. Orleans Parish now appears increasingly out of step with places where owning a home builds equity over time, putting the burden of rising monthly costs on new buyers with little chance of appreciation.

“Homeownership is very often sold as the best vehicle to wealth creation,” study co-author Ken Johnson said earlier this year “And that might well not be the case in New Orleans.”

Email Jonah Meadows at Jonah.Meadows@ theadvocate.com.

Sponsored: CommissionApprovesMenhaden

Buffer Expansion to Protect Chandeleur Islands and Other SensitiveAreas

Submitted article

Brought to youbythe Louisiana Commercial Fishing Coalition,LLC Louisiana’smenhadenfisheryhaslongbeen defined by respect –respectfor the Gulf,for science, and forthe coastal communities that depend on both. This month, the Louisiana Wildlifeand Fisheries Commission approved aNotice of Intent (NOI) to adjustnearshore buffer zones formenhadenfishing, the latest step in Louisiana’seffort to balanceecological protection with sustainable working waters –expanding protections in sensitiveareas while refining limitsinlessfragile zones

Theadjustmentfollowsadirectivefromthe Commission to the Louisiana Departmentof WildlifeandFisheries(LDWF)toconsultwith both the menhadenindustry and recreational fishermen to strengthen existing rules. The resultingproposalincreasesthebufferzone by over4%– from 264 to 276squaremiles –enhancing protections in sensitivehabitats while adjustinghistorically importantfishing grounds,whereLouisiana’smenhaden industry has fished forover75years.

Whatthe Buffer Zone

AdjustmentIncludes

Theproposal expands protections in Louisiana’smost ecologically sensitive areas while restoring accessin long-fished waters wherenew research shows limited environmental impact.The newly proposed rule would modifyexistingmenhaden buffer zones along severalparts of Louisiana’scoast:

• Expandedprotections in the Chandeleur Islands and around Isle Dernieres,and adjusted buffer areas in select regions (Cameron Jetties to RutherfordBeach, Mermentau River to Rollover, Point Au FertoBayouGrand Caillou, BayLong to Southwest Pass)based on LDWF’s scientific assessment.

• Creation of anew open-water connection between BaptisteCollette and Breton Island, improving alignment between existing buffer zones and coastal geographywithinBretonand Chandeleur Sounds

• Technicalandorganizationalupdates including clearer structureand the

addition of GPS coordinatesfor existing buffersaroundElmer’sIsland, Grand Isle, and GrandTerre,enhancing clarity, transparency,and enforcement.

The NOI represents ahybrid approach –modestly increasing overall restricted area while refining the rule’sdesign based on habitatsensitivity, historical fishing access, and scientific input

Commission Advances Restoration and Science-Based CoastProtections

The Chandeleur Islands,part of the Breton National WildlifeRefuge, have eroded over decades due to storms and sealevel rise. A $360 million restoration ledbyCPRA, LDWF, and federal partners is rebuilding dunes, marshes, and nesting grounds critical to migratory birds and seaturtles.Expanding protections herereflects the state’s goal of safeguarding fragileecosystems while preserving productiveworkingwaters.

By expanding protections around the Chandeleurand Isle Dernieres islands, the Commission’sproposal reflects the state’s broader coastal protection goals –safeguarding Louisiana’smost fragile ecosystems while preserving accessto productiveworking waters

Howthe Menhaden Industry’s ResponsibleManagement Reinforces the State’sScience-Based Coastal Policy

Louisiana’smenhaden fishery operates under strict managementand oversight. It is certified by the MarineStewardship Council (MSC) as asustainable fishery and routinely collaborateswith state and federal agencies to support research and monitoring.

Recent data from the State’s $1 million taxpayer-funded bycatch study, conducted with the Gulf StatesMarine Fisheries Commission, showthatred drum comprise just3.4% of all reddrum landings in Louisiana’smenhaden fishery.Inaddition, the industry’s totalbycatch of allspecies remains below the 5% cap established by state legislation. Thesefindingshelped guide LDWF’s determination that certainnearshore areas could safely reopen without harming reddrum or other species,allowing fora more targetedand equitable rule.

The fleet has alsomodernized its operations.Since2023, companies have invested over $6.5 million in Spectra/ Plateena nettechnology,significantly reducing the risk of accidental fish spills Further innovations,such as hose-endcage systems,havehelped lowerincidental red drum mortalityby 24%

Thesemeasuresdemonstratetheindustry’s ongoing investmentinresponsible, sciencebased practices.The Commission’smodified buffer proposal reflectsthatsame philosophy –pairing environmental stewardship with acommitmenttosustaining the working communities thatdefine Louisiana’s coast An Industry Anchoring Coastal Communities

Beyond environmental stewardship,the menhaden fishery remains acornerstone of Louisiana’scoastal economy. The sector supports morethan 2,000 jobs,generates over$419millioninannualeconomicoutput and purchases roughly $62 million in goods and services across 32 coastalparishes Thesejobssustain year-roundlivelihoods alongtheGulf.Menhadenproducts–including fishmeal and fish oil –are essential to U.S. aquaculture, pet food, and animal feed supply chains

Balancing Protection and Productivity

The Commission’s updatedNOI underscores Louisiana’s long-standing approach to resource management: protecting what’sfragile, sustaining what’s working, and grounding decisions in science. Forthe menhaden industry,this update represents another instance of compromise– accepting newrestrictions around ecologically sensitive zones while gaining carefully reviewedaccess to waters found to be lessatrisk. While the newruleincreasesprotected waters,itreflects collaborativeinput –ensuringchanges aretargetedand thatcoastal communities continue to thrivealongside restoration priorities

Looking Ahead

The proposed buffer adjustments will next move through Louisiana’sformal rulemaking process,beginning with publication in the Louisiana Register and aperiod forpublic commentbeforeany final adoption. Louisiana’s successhas always depended on stewardship and strength –protecting land and waterwhile sustaining the people who rely on them. The Commission’slatest action continues that balance,advancing acoastthat is both productiveand protected.

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LOUISIANA

‘IT TAKES

A VILLAGE’

New epilepsy clinic in Baton Rouge transforms care opportunities for children with seizures

BY MARGARET DeLANEY Staff writer

On the fourth floor of Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital past blue and white walls designed with underwater bubbles and waves — a new medical clinic treats children at their most vulnerable: the pediatric epilepsy monitoring unit, located between the pediatric and neonatal intensive care units.

In the late nights and the early mornings, at least four lab techs at the unit are tracking brain waves on glowing screens and monitoring patients in their beds from overhead cameras. They are watching rows of hundreds of steady lines, waiting for the moment the electrical activity in the brain becomes excessive and chaotic.

“When our team does an EEG, right away we can see the brain discharges and diagnose patients And treat them, too,” said Dr Yash Shah.

Shah, an epileptologist and division chief at the hospital, sees complex pediatric epilepsy patients every day in Baton Rouge. Shah came on to the team three years ago and was a pivotal force to creating the epilepsy care unit that opened on July 4, the only such unit in the Baton Rouge area.

Having one, singular seizure does not

mean a patient is epileptic, according to Shah. Epilepsy is used as an umbrella term to encompass over 1,000 different brain conditions. Seizures can take on different symptoms, from shaking, sweaty

episodes to dozing off in math class, and last for various amounts of time, from seconds to minutes.

Hunting hidden ‘zombie cells’

Mayo Clinic News Network (TNS)

ROCHESTER, Minn. — When it comes to treating disease one promising avenue is addressing the presence of senescent cells. These cells — also known as “zombie cells” — stop dividing but don’t die off as cells typically do. They turn up in numerous diseases, including cancer and Alzheimer’s disease, and in the process of aging. While potential treatments aim to remove or repair the cells, one hurdle has been finding a way to identify them among healthy cells in living tissue.

In the journal Aging Cell, Mayo Clinic researchers report finding a new technique to tag senescent cells. The team used molecules known as “aptamers” small segments of synthetic DNA that fold into three-dimensional shapes. Aptamers have the ability to attach themselves to proteins on the surfaces of cells. In mouse cells, the team found several rare aptamers, identified from among more than 100 trillion random DNA sequences, that can latch onto specific cell surface proteins and flag senescent cells.

“This approach established the principle that aptamers are a technology that can be used to distinguish senescent cells from healthy ones,” said biochemist and molecular biologist Jim Maher III, Ph.D., a principal investigator of the study

“Though this study is a first step, the results suggest the approach could eventually apply to human cells.” Quirky idea to collaboration

The project began with the quirky idea of a Mayo Clinic graduate student who had a chance conversation with a classmate.

Keenan Pearson, Ph.D. — who recently received his degree from Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences — was working under the mentorship of Maher, studying how aptamers might address neurodegenerative diseases or brain cancer

A few floors away, Sarah Jachim, Ph.D., who was also then conducting her graduate research — was working in the lab of researcher Nathan LeBrasseur, Ph.D., who studies senescent cells and aging.

At a scientific event, the two happened to chat about their graduate thesis projects.

Pearson thought aptamer technology might be able to identify senescent cells.

See CELLS, page 2X

Molly Kimball

STAFF PHOTOS By JAVIER GALLEGOS

Pediatric neurologist Dr yash D Shah uses a model of a brain to explain how epilepsy monitoring units can measure brain activity and help with diagnosis at Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital.

Dalton, from left, Chanley, 4, and Collins Carpenter sit in the epilepsy monitoring unit at Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital.

HEALTH MAKER

La. doctor tapped as national anesthesiologist leader

BY MARGARET DeLANEY

Staff writer

Dr Kraig de Lanzac was elected

first vice president of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, the nation’s largest organization of anesthesiologists, in October and will serve in this position for the year

Outside of his role with the national organization, de Lanzac is director of clinical anesthesia at Tulane Lakeside Hospital and vice chair and associate professor of anesthesiology at Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans. Typically, de Lanzac can be found treating and administering medicine to patients in the operating room, but he goes wherever he is needed as an anesthesiology physician.

He studied medicine at the LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans, where he also completed his residency in anesthesiology in 1997. De Lanzac is a native New Orleanian and graduate of Brother Martin High School, where he still coordinates the alumni band as a trombone player He is also a “Mardi Gras year-round kind of guy,” who rides in both Endymion and Bacchus every year

As first vice president, de Lanzac will serve as a member of the national organization’s executive committee, which consists of the president, president-elect, first vice president and immediate past president De Lanzac was not born to a physician family, rather, from two parents who worked at the phone company their entire careers. Now de Lanzac lives in Metairie with his wife, Rhen. They have two adult children: Mallory, a registered nurse, and Braden, a second-year medical student. De Lanzac and his father make it to nearly every Pelicans game. What inspired you to become an anesthesiologist?

I was really inspired by my pediatrician who I was not only deathly afraid of, but also had deep respect for I thought he was a genius. It seemed like he could solve any problem.

I thought I would be a pediatri-

EPILEPSY

Continued from page 1X

In the epilepsy monitoring unit, doctors temporarily withhold medication or use controlled methods, such as flashing lights or blowing on pinwheels, to trigger seizure activity for study, with an inpatient stay lasting 24 hours to a week.

Detecting which part of the brain — and when — seizures appear helps doctors diagnose and treat patients with epilepsy

“I often tell parents, when someone is having convulsions, think of it like an electrical storm in the brain Normally brain cells communicate in a calm, organized rhythm — like a peaceful conversation,” Shah said. “During a seizure, that harmony breaks down, and every neuron starts shouting at once — a burst of chaotic electrical activity.”

Chanley Carpenter, 4 sat patiently in her hospital bed in the epilepsy unit, with a fuzzy, tan and white cheetah-print blanket and cartoons playing on the screen. Doctors had attached 23 electrodes to Chanley’s head and wrapped them in white cloth and placed two additional electrodes to her chest. Those censors connect to an EEG that monitor Chanley’s brain waves.

Chanley’s father, Dalton, has epilepsy so the Carpenter family was familiar with the signs of seizures.

Collins Carpenter, Chanley’s mother and a registered nurse, brought Chanley to the doctor in Monroe after her first seizure when she was just 18 months old.

When Chanley’s seizures started to return after years on medication, Collins Carpenter turned to Shah and his team at Our Lady of the Lake.

“We went to Texas Children’s in Dallas, but there wasn’t enough information to see if she had seizure activity,” Collins Carpenter said. “I did some research and found Dr. Shah here in Baton Rouge. It’s really nice that we have something a bit closer for our family.”

Being able to treat families in Louisiana like the Carpenters was one of the hospital’s goals when starting the epilepsy monitoring program.

cian, like him. But the first year of medical school, they had us do a standardized personality test. It tells you what personality traits fit with what medical specialties. I was all excited to get the results back, but when I did get them back it was anesthesiology I was a little disappointed because, like many people, I didn’t really know what an anesthesiologist was or what they do. I loved all of my rotations in medical school, but I was drawn to what I saw anesthesiologists do when I was in the hospital, the intensive care units, the operating rooms. They always looked calm and in control, even in bad situations. By the end of my third year of medical school, I knew I wanted to be an anesthesiologist. How did you initially get involved as an anesthesiologist society member?

On my first day of residency, my chief resident handed me an application in white, yellow and pink triplicate. He said, “Fill this

“What we are most proud of is that, prior to this, a lot of our patients and families were traveling very far to get this specialized care,” said Lauren West, EEG manager in the clinic. “We saw the need. We want to be able to offer this right here in the home state of Louisiana, and close to Baton Rouge and for our community.”

The mind-body connection

In Louisiana alone, there are 55,000 people living with epilepsy Nationwide, 1 in 10 people will experience a seizure in their lifetime and 1 in 26 people will go on to develop epilepsy However, epilepsy is treatable — and often temporary About 70% of children become seizurefree with proper treatment, and some even outgrow their seizures, according to Shah.

Seizures are often the tip of the iceberg. Lasting impacts can include learning difficulties, behavioral challenges, anxiety, mood changes sleep disruptions, ADHD and sometimes developmental delays.

Without the epilepsy unit, Dr Mac Manuel said he had to send patients home before they knew what was wrong.

Manuel, a neurologist at Our Lady of the Lake Children’s, works closely with the epilepsy unit, often referring patients to Shah and his team.

“It’s hard to get more than 24 hours of an EEG at a time, and even harder to wean patients off of their medication,”

Manuel said. “It’s very nice to be able to extend the stay, wean off the meds. We can make sure that we’re catching what we’re trying to catch, and give patients and families answers and reassurance about what’s going on.”

Any of the following could be indicators of subtle seizures and should be looked at closely by a doctor:

n episodes of “zoning out” where a child doesn’t respond, even when calling their name; n jerky or repetitive movements in the morning or at bedtime; n sudden falls stiffening or repeated behaviors during sleep;

out. This is the membership for the American Society of Anesthesiologists. This is important.”

I filled it out on that day on July 2, 1993, and I’ve been a member ever since.

I got engaged when there were some questions about advocacy in Baton Rouge. I made my first drive out to Baton Rouge to see how that process worked — how bills were passed in health care. I saw that politicians needed more input from physicians. That sparked a passion. Now as the first vice president, I want to change the way anesthesiologists are perceived. I want to help get the public to understand that we are physicians and understand what our role is. Anesthesiologists are play a critical role in their care, but we’re not always seen.

As first vice president, we deal with any issues that come up in the field of anesthesiology, whether it’s health care policy or

n sudden episode of drops with loss of muscle tone;

n a child who suddenly struggles in school or with behavior or with speech or cognitive regression. With early diagnosis and effective care, most children with epilepsy lead completely normal, active lives.

When two seizure medications don’t work, called drug-resistant epilepsy that occurs in about 30% of children with epilepsy, there are other technologies available.

Advanced MRIs surgical options diet therapy, monitoring in the epilepsy care unit and new devices, like the new wearable AI EpiMonitor that can detect nighttime seizures before they happen, are possible forms of treatment.

Training staff

According to Shah, the unit’s strength lies not in technology, but in its people.

Shah and West created a comprehensive nursing curriculum covering seizure types, emergency medication pathways, rescue protocols and long-term EEG monitoring and interpretation.

Nurses and technicians attended extra workshops, mock emergencies, advanced training and family scenarios in order to train for seizure care.

Tiffiny Ray, a pediatric neurology registered nurse for 30 years, has been working at the epilepsy clinic for a year and a half.

“It takes a village to take care of these kids,” Ray said.

Ray works to coordinate the puzzle pieces of doctor availability and bed occupancy Rashindra Davis, a medical assistant in the unit, works with insurance and patient records to cover the epilepsy care treatment.

There are 17 lab technicians who monitor patient EEGs working in shifts to cover 24-hour care in the epilepsy unit. If a child comes in at midnight needing care, the team is ready

The epilepsy unit can run four, 24/7 EEG monitoring units at once and is working to add two additional units. The team has completed almost 1,000 EEGs this year

Email Margaret DeLaney at margaret.delaney@theadvocate. com.

statute. The final, biggest challenge is economic viability Last year, one insurer wanted to limit the length of certain surgical procedures. If it went longer the insurance company wouldn’t pay for the anesthesia services. We had to raise awareness and tell them that surgery, medicine and anesthesiology doesn’t work that way We had the company rescind that policy

What advice would you give a new graduate, or undergrad student, going out into the medical field today?

The simplest advice is to work hard and always put patients first. As you progress through medical school, and the training that comes out of it and the career that comes later, it’s not just an emotional, but also a physical challenge. I try to tell my son to prepare for that by surrounding himself with the right people, the right friends and family and finding ways to keep themselves happy and fulfilled.

dealing with private insurers or Medicare or drug shortages. Last year as a result of natural disasters, we had to figure out how to advise national anesthesiologists on the shortage of IV fluids.

What are the problems facing the anesthesiology industry?

We’re training more and more anesthesiologists each year The number of residency positions has almost doubled over the past 20 years. Even with that, we have more and more sites to cover That means we have to increase our supply of anesthesiologists to keep up with the demand. The other big issue that’s been career-long for me is protecting what I call anesthesiology-led care. We work very well with nurse anesthetists, but there have been pushes to remove anesthesiologists from the care team. Why wouldn’t you want both involved in care? We’re lucky in Louisiana that anesthesiology-led care teams is a state

CELLS

Continued from page 1X

“I thought the idea was a good one, but I didn’t know about the process of preparing senescent cells to test them, and that was Sarah’s expertise,” said Pearson, who became lead author of the publication.

They pitched the idea to their mentors and to researcher Darren Baker, Ph.D., who investigates therapies to treat senescent cells.

At first, Maher acknowledges, the students’ idea seemed “crazy” but worth pursuing. The three mentors were excited about the plan.

“We frankly loved that it was the students’ idea and a real synergy of two research areas,” said Maher

The students obtained compelling results sooner than they expected and quickly recruited other student participants from the labs.

Then-graduate students Brandon Wilbanks, Ph.D., Luis Prieto, Ph.D., and M.D.-Ph.D. student Caroline Doherty, each contributed additional approaches, including special microscopy techniques and more varied tissue samples.

I would tell them to not look at the training itself, but to look at what they want to be in their career Some people will choose between a three-year or five-year program, thinking that’s all the time they will spend training, but it’s not. You’re dedicating yourself to a career in a certain specialty, maybe even 28 years in one area, like me. You want to make sure it’s what you want to do. I always tell new graduates that it is a privilege to care for patients. They have to recognize that health care is a selfless job. You have to put the patient before you. I absolutely love this work, and I do all of the society meetings and conferences outside of my day-to-day activities. I love the work I get to do with the American Society of Anesthesiologists. It feels like I’m leaving a legacy I’m getting near the end of my career, but I want there to be somebody to take care of me when it’s my turn.

Email Margaret DeLaney at margaret.delaney@theadvocate. com.

“It became encouraging to expend more effort,” Jachim said, “because we could tell it was a project that was going to succeed.”

Attributes of senescent cells

The study has provided new information about senescent cells beyond a way to tag them. “To date, there aren’t universal markers that characterize senescent cells,” said Maher “Our study was set up to be open-ended about the target surface molecules on senescent cells. The beauty of this approach is that we let the aptamers choose the molecules to bind to.”

The study found several aptamers latched onto a variant of a specific molecule on the surface of mouse cells, a protein called fibronectin. The role of this variant fibronectin in senescence is not yet understood. The finding means that aptamers may be a tool to further define unique characteristics of senescent cells. Additional studies will be necessary to find aptamers that can identify senescent cells in humans. Aptamers with the ability to latch onto senescent cells could potentially deliver a therapy directly to those cells. Pearson notes aptamer technology is less expensive and more versatile than conventional antibodies, proteins that are typically used to differentiate cells from one another

“This project demonstrated a novel concept,” said Maher “Future studies may extend the approach to applications related to senescent cells in human disease.”

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 re-examining 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.

STAFF PHOTO By BRETT DUKE

Dr Kraig S de Lanzac was elected first vice president of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, the nation’s largest organization of anesthesiologists, in October

Eat Fit LiveFit

Brain health:Whatmatters nowand later

Brainhealthisahottopicshowingupin podcasts,headlinesandsocialfeeds, butwhatitmeanstouspersonally dependsonwhereweareinlife.

Inour20sand30s,it’saboutstaying sharp,makingthemostofchallenging workdaysandsqueezingthemostoutof everyopportunity.Byour40sand50s,we maystartnoticingslightchangesandfind ourselveslookingforwaystopreservefocus andmemory.Andaswewatchparents andlovedonesgrowolder,thequestion becomesevenmorepersonal:Whatwillmy brainlooklikeat70or80?WhatcanIdo nowtoprotectmybrainhealthfordecades tocome?

Brainhealthisn’tjustaboutslowing downtheeffectsofaging.It’salsoabout howwethinkandfeeltoday—ourlevel offocus,reactiontime,memory,mood andmentalwellbeing.Withnew“brainboosting”supplementsandlifestyle enhancersshowinguppracticallydaily,it canfeelimpossibletoknowwhat’sreal andwhat’shype.

Tohelpseparate solidsciencefrom thenoise,Isatdown withDr.JamesRini,a behavioralneurologistat OchsnerHealth,whose researchcentersonearly detectionandtreatment ofneurodegenerative disease.Youcanhear ourfullconversationon myFUELEDWellness+ Nutritionpodcast.

“Brainhealthhastwodistinct timelines,”Dr.Rinisays.“There’s ourimmediate,day-to-daymental performance—howclearandfocused wefeel—andthenthere’sthelong game:howwe’redoingintermsof keepingourbrainresilientandadaptable asweage.”

Lifestyle:TheNon-Negotiables

Supplementshavetheirplace,butDr.Rini isclearaboutthefoundation.

“Sleep,goodnutritionandexerciseare thecornerstones.Ifyoudon’tgetenough sleep,youwon’tfunctionthenextday.If you’reeatingabalanceddietandmoving regularly,you’vealreadyaddressedmostof theriskfactorsthatsupplementsaimtofix.”

Forlong-termprotection,Dr.Rini pointstotheMINDdiet,ahybridof Mediterraneanandothernutritionpatterns thatemphasizesleafygreens,berries,nuts, beans,wholegrains,fish,poultryandolive oilwhilelimitingredmeat,butter,cheese, friedfoodsandsugarysweets.

It’snotflashy,butit’seffective.Studies linkMIND-styleeatingtoslowercognitive declineandlowerdementiarisk,while supportingcardiovascularhealth,stable bloodsugarandlowerinflammation

SupplementswithPotential

Beyonddailyhabits,thefollowing nutritionalsupplementsshowpromise forbothimmediatefocusand long-termsupport:

•Creatine.Onceknownforsports performance,creatinealsofuels braincells.Recentclinicaltrialsshow itcanimprovememory,attention andprocessingspeedunderstress (thinksleepdeprivation).For ongoingcognitivesupport,Itypically recommend10gramsperdayof creatinemonohydrate(lookforthe

Creapure®form)asitappearstobe asafe,effectivedoseformost healthyadults.

•Omega-3fattyacids.EPAandDHA fromfattyfish—orhigh-qualityfish oiloralgae-basedsupplements—help maintainneuronalmembranesand reduceinflammation.

“Ifyoucan,letfoodbeyourmedicine,” Dr.Rinisays.“Fattyfishandnuts, alongwithmonounsaturatedfatslike oliveoilandavocados,providebrainsupportingfatsandotherkeynutrients. Forthosewhofallshort,asupplement withabout1,000mgofcombinedEPA andDHAisrecommendedforheartand brainhealth.

•Greenteaandmatcha Richin L-theanine,thesealternativecaffeine sourcesprovidewhatDr.Rinicallsa “relaxingalertness,”enhancingalpha brainwavesandreactiontime helpfulforsharperattentionwithout theedginess.

•Curcumin(fromturmeric) Apotent naturalanti-inflammatory,curcumin showspromiseforloweringbrain inflammationandreducingharmfultau proteinslinkedtoAlzheimer’s.Forbest absorption,lookforformscombined withblackpepperextract(piperine)

•Probiotics.Ahealthy gut microbiome influences everything fromblood sugartoimmune defense and mood,” Dr. Rini notes. Foods like

MollyKimball,RD,CSSD,isaregistereddietitian withOchsnerHealthandfounderofOchsnersEatFit nonprofitinitiative.Formorewellnesscontent,tuneinto Molly’spodcast,FUELEDWellness+Nutrition,andfollow @MollykimballRDand@EatFitOchsneronsocialmedia. Emailnutrition@ochsner.orgtoconnectwithMollyor scheduleaconsultwithherteam.

BY

THENUMBERS

LOUISIANAISSIXTH-HIGHEST FORADULTSWITHARTHRITIS

In 2023,30.7% of Louisianans were living with adiagnosis of arthritis, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,significantly higher than the U.S.average at 26.3%.

Arthritis encompasses over100 conditions that affect the tissues surrounding joints,most commonly inthe wrists, hands,knees,hips,feet, ankles,shoulders and the lowerback.

The inflammatorydisease is common as the body ages.The percentageof Americanadultswith arthritisincreases from 3.6% in adults aged 18 to

36 to 53.9% ofadults age 75 and older. Louisiana had the sixth-highest percentage of adults with arthritisin 2023,proceeded byWest Virginia with the highest percentageofarthritis at 39.67%,thenTennessee at 33 17%and Maine at 32.68%.

These parishes had the highest percentageof adults whoreported arthritis in 2023,in descending order: n Morehouse,31.8%, n EastCarroll,31.6%, n Madison,31.5%, n Claiborne, 30.9%, n Webster,30.7%, n Evangeline andTensas,

30.5%, n Avoyelles,30.4%, n Concordia,30.3%, n Bienville,30.2%, n Tangipahoa andWest Carroll,30.1%, n andWashington,30%

These parishes had the lowest percentageofadults whoreported arthritis in 2023,in ascending order: n West Feliciana,24.9%, n Orleans,25.4%, n Ascension,25.5%, n Jefferson,25.7%, n St.Charles,25.9%, n East Baton Rougeand Terrebonne,26%, n Lafayette,26.1%, n St.Tammany,26.3%, n and East Feliciana and Plaquemines,26.7%

7Louisiana cancer centersrecertifi

Ochsner MD Anderson Cancer Centerlocations have received recertification by the

Oncology

Certification Program, awhollyowned subsidiary of the Association for Clinical Oncology and an affiliate of the American Society of Clinical Oncology n Gayle and TomBenson Cancer Center at Ochsner Medical Center n St. Tammany Cancer Center —ACampus of Ochsner Medical Center n Ochsner Medical Center —Kenner n Ochsner Baptist —A Campus of Ochsner Medical Center n Ochsner Medical Center —West Bank Campus n Ochsner Cancer Center —Baton Rouge n Ochsner Medical Complex —The Grove. Acadian Ambulance medicsrecognized Certifiedflightregistered nurse Joannie Sanchez and EMT Alison Caglewere awarded the American Ambulance Association’sprestigious Stars of Life honor,recognizing exemplary service and heroism in emergency medical services.

Honorees were recognized in early November in Washington, D.C., for their achievements in front of their peers, congressional leaders andmembersofthe EMS community 45 newnursesin45th graduating BRG class Baton Rouge General’s SchoolofNursing graduated 45 new nurses on Oct. 30 in a ceremony at Independence Park Theatre. Upon graduationfrom the diplomanursing program, graduates are preparing to take theregistered nurse license exam to become licensed by the Louisiana State Board of Nursing. The graduation ceremony

yogurt, kimchi and miso provide naturalprobiotics.Aqualityprobiotic or symbiotic supplement can fill in the gaps.

•Lion’smanemushroom “This ediblemushroomcontains compoundsthatmaystimulate brain-derivedneurotrophicfactor (BDNF),supportingnewneuronal connections,”saysDr.Rini.Human studiesareearlybutpromising.

AQuickWordonLithium

Low-doselithiumforbrainhealthhas beenmakingheadlineslately,butDr.Rini urgescaution

“Theresearchismostlyanimalorcellbasedinapetridish.Humanstudiesare smallandinconclusive,andlithiumcarries risks,especiallyforkidneyandthyroid function.” Fornow,hesays,it’soneto watch,notonetostart,atleastnotwithout adeepdivewithyourdoctorfirst.

BringingItHome

Dr.Rinisumsitupwell:Brainhealth isn’taboutquickfixes.It’sabouteveryday choicesthatgiveyouclarityandenergy now,andresiliencefordecadestocome. “Knowyourfamilyhistory,sleepwell, moveconsistentlyandeatanutrient-rich diet.Ifyou’realreadydoingthosethings, supplementscangivethatextraedge,but theycan’treplacethatcorefoundationof smartdailyhabitsfirst.

featured thepresentation of 12 awards, given to students whoshowed“aptitude in particular areas of patient care” or whoachievedexemplary academic marks: n Anne Manson Award Krystal Placide-Taylor

n Eugene Berry Award Anna Falgout

n Excellence in Advanced Medical Surgical Nursing Ashley Forrest

n Excellence in MaternalChild Nursing —Brett Leiva

n Excellence in Management/Leadership —Taderia Beaulieu

n Excellence in Mental HealthNursing —Tia Zachary n Excellence in Medical SurgicalNursing —Odyssey

Bethancourt n Faculty Award for ScholasticAchievement —Ashley Forrest n Faculty Award for Student Excellence— Christen Armstead n Grace Hough Award Madison Hughes n Kari Lefort Award —Callie Murray n Nightingale Award—Katrina Kieren Education Department grants FranU $2.2M Franciscan Missionaries of OurLadyUniversity received a$2.2million Department of Education Title III Strengthening Institutions grant to fund Project Faithfully Retaining, Advancing, Nurturing, andCultivating Indispensable Students, also calledProject FRANCIS. Money from the grant will be used to provide acomprehensive setofsupport services forstudents enrolledin pre-clinical and clinical programs. Keycomponents of theproject include asummer bridge program, academic coaching,professional tutoring andpeer mentoring HealthNotes is an occasionallisting of healthhappenings around Louisiana.Have something you’d like to share? Contact us at margaret.delaney@ theadvocate.com.

BRO UGH TT OY OU BY

Molly Kimball RD,CSSD

JamesRini,MD BehavioralNeurologist OchsnerHealth

Heart Healthand the Holiday

Theholidaysareafavoritetimeformanyofus,filledwithjoy,togetherness,festivegatheringsandplentyofindulgenttreats Butamidallthecheer,theseasoncanalsobringextrastress.Whencombinedwithholiday“spirits”—theliquidkind—thatstresscantake atollonyourheart.Infact,researchshowsthatmoreheartattacksoccurinDecemberandJanuarythanatanyothertimeofyear.

Thegoodnews?Youcanstillsoakupthemagicoftheseasonwhileprotectingyourheart,bymakingafewsimplebutmeaningfulchanges

Practicemoderation withfoodanddrinks. Excessiveeatingcanraiseblood pressureandcholesterollevels, puttingstrainonyourheart.Too muchalcoholcanleadtoirregular heartrhythms.Trysmaller portions,andfillyourplatewith healthieroptionslikeroasted vegetables,leanproteinsand wholegrains.Goeasyonalcohol, anddrinkplentyofwater.

Quitsmokingforhearthealth. Yourheartbeginstobenefitthemoment youstopsmoking.Overtime,yourcirculation improves,yourbloodpressurelowersandyour riskofheartdiseasedropsdramatically

Managestressto lightentheloadon yourheart. Stressduringtheholiday seasoncanincreaseblood pressureandtrigger copingmechanismslike eatingordrinkingtoo much.Tostaygrounded, trymeditating,taking briskwalksorlisteningto calmingmusic.

Is arm pain asign of aheart attack?

Armpaincanoccurwithaheartattackbecausethenervesinthe heartandarmsareconnected.Whentheheartisindistress,itcan sendpainsignalsthattravelintothearm.

Theleftarmistypicallywhereheartattackpainisfelt,butdidyou knowitcanalsobefeltintherightarm,orevenbotharmsinsome cases?Thepaincanalsoextendtotheshoulders,neckorjaw.

What areother commonsymptoms of aheart attack?

Stayactive. It’seasytolet workoutsslide duringtheholidays, butstayingactive paysoff.Regular movementsupports healthyblood pressure,improves circulation,and boostsmoodby releasingendorphins.

Managediabetes, cholesteroland bloodpressure. Thisisvitalforhearthealth.

Here’showAFibcanbetreated: 1 2 3 5 6 7 2 3 4

Chestpain.Itmayfeellikepressure,squeezing,fullnessorpaininthe centerorleftsideofthechest.Thispainmaylastformorethanafew minutesorcomeandgo.

Painintheback,neckorjaw.Painradiatingtotheseareascan occurandissometimesmistakenforacidreflux,musclestrainor dentalproblems.

Shortnessofbreathandfatigue.Difficultybreathingcanhappenwithor withoutchestdiscomfort.Unexplainedfatiguecanalsobeasubtlesign.

Nausea,lightheadednessorcoldsweats.Thesesymptomsmay accompanytheothersignsorappearontheirown.

Don’tignorethesesymptoms.Ifyouareexperiencinganemergency, call911.

Seeksupport fordepression. Noteveryoneisjoyousduring theholidays.Stress,lonelinessor unmetexpectationscanleadto feelingsofsadnessordepression, allofwhichcantakeatollon yourhearthealth.Ifyou’refeeling down,talktoatrustedfriend orfamilymember.Ifemotions persist,considerreachingouttoa healthcareprofessional.

Recognizesymptomsofaheartattack. Symptomslikechestpain,shortnessofbreath, nauseaandprofusesweatingmayseemsubtlebut requireimmediateattention,especiallyiftheseoccur onlyduringintenseactivity.

What is AFib?

AFib,shortforatrialfibrillation,isatypeofarrhythmia,aproblemwiththe speedorrhythmofyourheartbeat.AFibisoneofthemostcommonheart rhythmdisordersworldwide.Whileitoftengoesunrecognized,itcanquietly increaseyourriskforseriouscomplicationslikestrokeandheartfailure.

AFibsometimescausesnoticeablesymptoms,suchasheartpalpitations, fatigue,dizzinessorshortnessofbreath,butitcanalsobesilent,discovered onlyduringamedicalexam.Evenintheabsenceofsymptoms,AFiballows bloodtopoolintheatria,raisingtheoddsthataclotcouldformandtravelto thebrain,resultinginastroke

Lifestylemodifications:Quittingsmoking,maintainingaheart-healthy diet,managingbloodpressureandcholesterol,reachingandkeeping ahealthyweight,exercisingregularly(asyourdoctoradvises),limiting alcoholandcaffeineintake,andtreatingconditionslikesleepapnea.

Medications: Anticoagulants(bloodthinners),heartratecontroldrugs (betablockers,calciumchannelblockers)andrhythmcontroldrugs (antiarrhythmics).

Procedures:Cardioversionisan electricalshockormedicationunder sedationtoresetheartrhythm. Catheterablationisaminimally invasiveproceduretotreatAFib. Asurgicalmazecanbeperformed duringopen-heartsurgery,when asurgeoncreatesapatternofscar tissueintheatriatodisruptthe abnormalelectricalsignals.

Doyouhaveconcernsaboutyour hearthealth?Takethefirststeptowardahealthyheartandschedule anappointmentwithanOchsnerHealthprimarycareprovideror cardiologisttoday!Visitochsner.org/cardio.

LOUISIANA

Bringing people together

Couple transforms home into folk art wonderland

BY JANRISHER Staffwriter

On aquiet street near Bayou Teche in New Iberia, wherelive oaks cast long shadows, Becky and WyattCollins’ yard gives away their secret Agigantic wire rabbitsits on abench reading abook. Atwo-dimensionalredheaded girl pedalsa giant metaltricycle AStatue of Liberty holds her armhigh and in welcome outside afront window

One step inside the front door,and visitors see it’snoordinary home —every wall, shelf, table and corner tells astory in color,clay,tinfoil or even less expected media.

This New Iberia couple doesn’tjustcollect art. They live in it —and with it.

“Somepeople live with pool tablesor big TVs,” said Becky Collins. “Wejust live with folk art.”

More than 2,000 pieces of it, in fact.

Art is stacked floor to ceiling, spilling into every corner

“Wehavevaluablepieces of artsitting on thefloor because we don’thave a place to hang it,” Wyatt Collins said.

Artisinthe foyer,inthe hall, in the bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, living room back bedroom,garage, man cave, along theback fence and in the side yard —filling every nook and cranny of theCollins’ lives.

“What is stunning about Beckyand Wyatt’sart collection is its depth,” said New Iberia-based filmmaker and screenwriter James Edmunds. “Theyhavebeen collecting for along time,and always with wise eyes.”

They have pieces in theircollection from acclaimed folk artists —Clementine Hunter’spaintings, EdgarTolson’s wood carvings and more. They also have pieces created by artists no one elsehas heard of, much less collected.

Their home, like their life together, feels equally improvised and intentional —curated without beingoverlyprecious. Everyone is invited to join the fun, share ameal or come to the party

Wyatt Collins’ smokedpork loin and

NativeAmericanbaskets line the floor of aroom in Wyatt and Becky Collins’ NewIberia homethat is fullofmore than 2,000 pieces of folk art.

BeckyCollins’ chicken and dumplings are known far and wide. Neighbors say thecouple simply doesn’tknowhow to cook for two.

“Beckyand Wyatt are wonderfully warmand generous with their gifts. No one will go hungry in their neighborhood,” saidAnne Darrow,ofNew Iberia.

It’s the kind of home where there’salwaysanextra serving in the pot, an extra plate for the table, an empty chairjust waiting to be filled.

Nothing is behind glass. Nothing is too sacred to touch. Art and life overlap. Neighbors drop by Their house is as full of laughter as it is of art.

Like when they explainhow they met.

“Wyattwas thenew boy at school. He was standing at the edge of the playground digging ahole with his toe,” BeckyCollins says.

“That’s not true,” Wyatt Collinssays with an eye roll.

“Yes, you were,” Becky Collins continues. “Standing over there all alone. My twin sister and Iwalked over there and adopted him from that dayforward.”

He mockingly gave up before continuing, “Of course, that’sexactly the way it happened. Iwas shoeless. It was winter. Ihad let my big toe’snail grow out so I could dig holes faster.”

BeckyCollins laughs.

“Seewhat Imean,” she said. “It’snever boring here.”

In fact, thecouple did meet as children at school in Ellisville, Mississippi. She was agrade ahead of him. They grew up, remaining friends through the years.

Iremember exactly where I was seven years ago whenour nephew Little Julio called. Iwas on my waytoArkansas, just outside of Bossier City on La. 3, heading north. Iwas delighted to see his name pop up on my phone.

Alittle backstory: Imet him on my first trip to El Paso, Texas, my husband’shometown.

Little Julio was 7years old that summer.Even then, he had asmile that could stop time. We hit it off from the moment we met.

When we moved to El Paso four years later,Little Julio was often up for adventures. When he was in middle school and would comesee us, he would stay for awhile. My husband and Iloved his visits. One day whenhewas 11, he called me to invite me to aprogram at his middle school because he had wona writing contest. I went. He stood and read his piece about the day whenhewas alittle boy and walkedinto his house and found his father lying on the sofa, crying. He asked his dad what waswrong. His dad said, “Freddie Mercury died.”

Later that day,Little Julio learned that his parents were getting adivorce. He realized that while his dad mayhave been sad that Freddie Mercury died, that wasn’twhy he wascrying.

After that day,Little Julio and I had adifferent connection. He had the heart of awriter In high school, he worked at a car wash. Whenhegraduated high school, he kept working at the car wash. Finally,hejoined the Navy He was stationed in Pensacola, Florida, for awhile and we went down to visit. He would call us fairly often, but always before he left on deployment. Once when he cametovisit us, Ipicked him up at the airport in New Orleans. He had never been and wantedto see the town, so Igave him atour Somehow,Iended up making a turn Ididn’tintend to and drove through aneighborhood known for its rough streets.

Isaid, “Yikes, Ididn’tmean to end up here.” He said, “Don’tbeafraid. You’ve got me here. We’ll be all right.”

He had that sense of invincibility that so many young menbelieve in. When he was stationed at anaval base in California, we started hearing about agirl named Liz. We went out to visit them and metat Yosemite. We could tell from the first moment we mether that Liz wasn’tjust agirl to Little Julio. She was something special. During our timetogether in Yosemite, he and my daughters had an encounter with abear.Everything turned out fine, but we have laughed about the incident for years. Bottom line: He still thought he wasinvincible He and Liz started coming to see us for Thanksgiving. They helped fix the meal. We all enjoyed it. Then we played penny poker In 2016, he and Liz invited me to officiate their wedding on Coronado Island, just off the coast of San Diego.Itwas the stuff of magic. He ended up stationed in Sicily Few people ever stationed in Sicily made as muchofthe experience as Liz and Julio. He was activeduty military,but he also went to college and earned adegree. He rode aVespa, developed an

ible

and

and

STAFF PHOTOSByJAN RISHER

Wyatt Collins describes apainting of the RobertE.Lee riverboat in his NewIberia home.

INSPIRED DISCUSSIONS

ASK THE EXPERTS

Slidell woman lifelong advocate for juvenile offenders

Once a troubled teen, mentor reaches out to those in dire need

BY JOY HOLDEN Staff writer

Slidell native Mary Kay Walden

was an average teenager who came from a middle-class family, but she made friends with the wrong people when she was young Her series of bad choices led to spending her teen years in and out of jail, but today she’s now mentoring teenagers who are in dire need of support.

At 17 years old, Walden was involved in a theft that resulted in a conviction. In 1977, she was tried as an adult in Judge John W. Greene’s court. He gave her three years probation. But her probation was revoked when she was involved in another crime involving narcotics. She was supposed to be sentenced to St. Gabriel Penitentiary but Greene sentenced her to a drug rehab program called Odyssey House. She didn’t have an addiction problem, but at the time, the judge saw the rehab center as a better option than prison. As the first teenager to enter the program, Walden stayed 13 months and began her road toward a new life.

After getting her General Educational Development, Walden obtained her bachelor’s degree in elementary education. She became a teacher and then earned a master’s degree in supervision and administration.

Meanwhile, in 1981, Greene identified a need for an organization to

FOLK

Continued from page 1y

Becky Collins, now 80, became a special-education teacher, specializing in working with children with autism. Wyatt Collins, now 79, went to law school and worked with the District Attorney’s Office in Jackson, Mississippi.

They reconnected later in life and, this week, will celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary They chose to live in New Iberia, and five years after moving to the small city, Becky Collins was tapped as Citizen of the Year She calls herself a “worker bee.”

What’s her secret?

“Show up. Show an interest. Be reliable. Be dependable,” Becky Collins said. “Every community is looking for people who want to contribute. I have never lived anywhere in my entire life that I didn’t find a way to contribute, whether I lived there for a short time or a long time. We were raised with the premise that you always make wherever you are a better place.”

Wyatt Collins isn’t afraid to work hard either When they got to New Iberia, after he retired as an attorney, he got a job teaching history at Westgate High — and taught for 11 years.

Just as their relationship rekindled with time, so did their shared love of art. Their shared

Q&A WITH MARy KAy WALDEN FORMER DIRECTOR OF CROSSROADS AT

system. Being able to share my story absolutely had an effect on those harder cases, because they couldn’t believe I had been through what they’re going through. I believe it gave them hope and let them know that I could relate. I wasn’t just somebody sitting across the desk who had no clue about what they were going through. What do you think people need to know about teenagers who find themselves in these situations?

First and foremost, they’re human beings. Secondly, the brain is underdeveloped until you’re in your mid-20s, so there’s zero consequential thinking. The last part of the brain to develop is the frontal lobe, so it’s critical for us to try to get them back on the right path and steer them in the right direction.

THE yOUTH SERVICE BUREAU

going on.

Some of these kids just didn’t have people leading them.

One of the things I found helpful was letting the kids know, “You’re going to learn to listen in one of three places: home, school or jail. Take your pick. Home would be the easiest, school would be the second easiest, and, obviously, jail would be the hardest. Life’s about choices. You’re at a crossroads, so the choices you make moving forward are going to determine the course of your life.”

I would look past the behavior, but also be very frank about what they needed to do in order to turn around their behavior and their choices. How are you involved today with Crossroads?

serve troubled and at-risk youth in the Northshore area. The Covington Junior Service League sought funding, and a grant was secured to begin the Youth Service Bureau. The bureau’s Crossroads program provides a path for juvenile lawbreakers to make restitution to their victims. This program was the first of its kind in St Tammany Parish. Walden had a yearning to work with at-risk youth because of her past. So, when the opportunity to work at Youth Service Bureau became available, she became a case manager for Crossroads. Five years later, she was the director of Crossroads. Walden retired in February 2024, but she is still involved with the program.

interest in art goes back to childhood also, with Becky Collins’ connection being a more direct through-line.

She grew up in a family of creators. Art was encouraged at every stage of growing up. She taught art and creativity classes for years. Wyatt Collins’ interest was quieter, but he remembers on school trips always finding a way to spend time in museums.

Their interest in folk art started by collecting Louisiana artists Chestee Herrington and Rita Fontenot

When they discovered the Kentuck Festival of the Arts in Tuscaloosa, Alabama — considered by many the granddaddy of folk art festivals — Becky and Wyatt Collins took things to a new level

Becky Collins says she follows her heart to find pieces while Wyatt Collins follows his head.

“To get pulled into the wondrous world of Becky and Wyatt Collins is to be humbled by their passion for Louisiana as a state of great cultural and artistic depth, inspired by their love of folk art as an expression of the human condition, and touched by their generosity in small ways and big,” said Miranda Restovic, president and executive director of Louisiana Endowment for the Arts.

Mark Tullos, executive director of the LSU Museum of Art, has been following the Collinses’ folk art collection for more than 20 years.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity

What is the importance of having interventional programs for teenagers?

I am a fan of reentry programs because it’s hard to go from being incarcerated, whether it’s in a rehab or a prison or a jail system, to having no support on the outside. I was truly rehabilitated in that drug program, but when I got out, I had no friends I had nothing, so I had to try to figure out my life as an 18-yearold with only my family support. Interventions help kids get back on track. The whole point of an intervention program, particularly the juvenile delinquency program Crossroads, is to prevent young people from ending up in the adult

He said they’ve really grown in their sophistication and praises Wyatt Collins’ deep knowledge and eye for art.

“Some people collect for the investment purposes, the prestige,” Tullos said. “He’s one of those rare people who collects because it’s his passion. It’s a joy to be with people like that.”

Wyatt’ Collins’ passion has garnered the attention of folk art experts around the country — including being the first person not from Alabama to be named to the Kentuck Festival of the Arts’ board, which he served on for six years.

Tullos describes the Collins folk art collection as “very comprehensive.”

“It will be interesting to see what they do with their collection,” Tullos said. “If New Iberia doesn’t establish a museum, I know we would be interested as well as many other institutions.”

Becky Collins regularly brings visitors to the house for tours, because she says, “Wyatt is always so generous with his information.”

His near-encyclopedic knowledge of the stories of the artists who made them draws in even skeptics.

With more than 400 art pieces in storage, Becky Collins is in year-round curation mode. For Thanksgiving, she loves to use a turkey carved by Guy and Dolly Skaggs from Happy Gizzard Hol-

In addition to that, sometimes it’s a last chance to save these young people. It requires skilled people and effective programs to get them back on track so they can understand choices and consequences. No matter how far you go down the wrong road, you can always find a way back if you’re willing to work toward it.

How did you get through to and connect with teenagers who had tough exteriors?

It was a privilege and an honor

The other thing is that it was a huge responsibility And I always had the innate ability to look past the behavior, and that’s what allowed me to effectively do what I did, because there’s always a reason for what’s

low, Kentucky, and some handthrown pumpkins from an artist in Lafayette. Then, she’ll add some Native American Choctaw baskets.

“We want you to touch it,” Wyatt Collins said. “If something breaks, we can repair it. It might hurt the value a little, but that’s OK. We enjoy living with it.”

The couple opens their home to friends and friends of friends passing through town — and for some folks who make the trip to New Iberia to see the world-class collection of folk art.

“One thing about folk art is that they’ll find something they like,” Wyatt Collins said. “They’ll look at one thing and wonder why somebody would pay $200 for that. Everybody who comes over, probably the first thing they think is, ‘I couldn’t live as cluttered as this,’ but then they find something they love.”

One of the couple’s goals is for other people to see that ordinary people — like schoolteachers — can bring together a wonderful folk art collection, Becky Collins said.

They hope to inspire others to do the same, she said.

In a town that loves its stories, Becky and Wyatt Collins have built one of their own — told not in words, but in color, kindness and the open doors of a home that just happens to be filled with art.

Email Jan Risher at jan.risher@ theadvocate.com.

I share my story Also, if somebody needs me to talk to a juvenile because they are going down the wrong road, I am always willing to do that. My husband and I help with fundraisers.

I get very emotional about this, but I really want to give a shout out to Judge Greene, because he was a visionary He could very easily have sent me to a prison, which I deserved based on the choices I made. I was awarded the Judge Greene Award two years before I retired, which is the Employee of the Year award. I sought Judge Greene out at the Chef Soiree fundraiser to thank him. I found him, and he had my name written on his hand to find me. This is not about me. This is about a visionary who started a program, and I’m just an instrument.

RISHER

Continued from page 1y

Mediterranean stretch on the other

Even so, they still came for Thanksgiving. Through the years, I learned to appreciate his love of the Wu-Tang Clan and Beastie Boys, especially his favorite song, “Alive.”

But back to that phone call on that day in June 2018 we caught up for a few minutes before he told me that a few weeks earlier he had been trying to order tacos at a food truck. He knew what he wanted, but when it was his turn, he could not make the words come out. He ended up going to the doctor, which led to a series of doctors, which has led to seven years of doctors. He had brain tumors. For seven years dealing with brain tumors, with incredible persistence and his wife’s amazing research skills and tenacity, they have lived more than most people do in a lifetime. Last week, I got another call. Surrounded by love in their home in California, Little Julio Pina left this earthly plane. We are sadder than we’ve ever been.

Yet, in every adventure, every laugh we shared, his invincibility lives on — in our memories, in the music he loved, in the places he explored and in the joy he brought to everyone lucky enough to know him. His spirit, as fearless as ever, remains with us.

PROVIDED PHOTO

youth Service Bureau leaders, from left, CASA Director Ashley Gali, TASC and FINS Director Patrick Pilie, CEO Cleveland Wester Options Director Jennifer Walkenford and Crossroads Director Mary Kay Walden show their Louisiana Department of Health Behavioral Health Service Provider licenses in 2022.

COVID-19

THERE’S GOOD NEWS, TOO

Between 2021 and 2023, COVID-19 dropped from the world’s leading cause of death to the 20th, while life expectancy surpassed pre-pandemic levels in most nations. Since 2010, the global burden of disease has declined by 12.6%, and deaths from major infectious illnesses such as tuberculosis, HIV, malaria and pneumonia have fallen by 35% and 60%.These improvements reflect decades of investment in vaccines, maternal and newborn care and global health systems led by organizations like the WHO, Gavi and the Global Fund. For the first time in history, infectious disease is no longer humanity’s greatest threat, according to research by The Lancet, an independent medical journal founded in 1823 in this published study that analyzed data from 204 countries.

CHILD POVERTY

Child poverty in Eastern Europe and Central Asia has fallen from 18.8% in 2014 to 10.2% in 2024.The decline was particularly significant in Georgia, where child poverty declined 19.7% between those years. Still, poverty remains high in Armenia, the Caucasus and Central Asia.While improvements have been made, eradicating child poverty will require policy changes, data and an investment in social protection and services for children, according to UNICEF

FEEDING CHILDREN

Canada funds the National School Food Program. Prime Minister Mark Carney recently noted that his government is making strides toward providing school lunches and access to nutritious food at school, according to The Peak The upcoming budget will permanently instate the National School Food Program, which provides meals for 400,000 children every year The program saves, on average,

TURTLES

$800 per year in groceries for families with two children.The exact program structure will vary from province to province.

IMPROVED AIR QUALITY

Air-quality reforms in China have added years to life expectancy and yielded major health benefits in the area. In 2014, Premier Li Keqiang declared a “war against pollution,” and particulate pollution dropped by 41% between 2013 and 2022. The country’s strict policy action and reduced air pollution led to a significant result: the average Chinese citizen can expect to live two years longer according to the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago If sustained, this could reach 3.9 years

CANCER TREATMENTS

MIT and Harvard Medical School

researchers may have found a way to re-engineer the immune system, according to MIT News They have developed a new generation of engineered immune cells called CAR-NK cells — which may improve cancer treatment. In a study of mice with humanized immune systems, the CAR-NK cells destroyed most cancer cells and survived longer The cells also caused fewer side effects and lowered the risk of cytokine release syndrome. Researchers are working with a biotech company to test CARNK cells to treat lupus.

IVERMECTIN

In parts of Africa, Ivermectin is responsible for expunging river blindness, a tropical skin disease caused by a parasitic filarial worm The livestock drug has wiped out the parasite — responsible for severe itching, disfiguring skin conditions,

epilepsy and irreversible blindness — across parts of Africa, according to a WHO Weekly Epidemiological Record. By the end of 2024, 25.5 million people no longer required ivermectin treatment, with Nigeria accounting for more than 16.6 million of these, and globally 68% of people were covered.The Mectizan Donation Programme has been central to the success, providing a model for other global health initiatives.

HIV VACCINATIONS

In Pakistan, 9.2 million girls received HPV vaccinations in a 12-day, nationwide campaign, according to The Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization The program’s aim is to protect 13 million girls aged 9–14 from cervical cancer The campaign received a three-day extension. Despite misinformation circulating online with misleading video messages, health workers were able to address parental concerns and shift confusion to acceptance. Many parents, who were first apprehensive about the vaccine, agreed to let their daughters be vaccinated. Cervical cancer is the third-most common cancer among Pakistani women, killing a reported 3,500 each year

FARMING

In Mexico City, women are revitalizing ancient Aztec farming practices to preserve the chinampas floating gardens in Xochimilco and San Gregorio Atlapulco.Traditionally, these island farms were passed down through male heirs, but women are now reclaiming and cultivating them, according to a story from AP News They use sustainable farming methods, such as using lakebed mud instead of agrochemicals, and collaborate with Mexico’s National Autonomous University to promote sustainable farming The women are also installing aquatic plant filters to clean the water and prevent the

passage of carp and tilapia, invasive species.

MENINGITIS

A global study from BMC Public Health found that childhood meningitis deaths have decreased significantly worldwide due to onjugate vaccines and faster outbreak detection.The study, which analyzed trends in childhood meningitis from 1990 to 2021, explored patterns in the incidence, mortality and disabilityadjusted life years in children aged 0–14 years in 204 countries. By 2035, it’s projected that N meningitidis will become the leading pathogen. Despite overall global improvements, disparities persist particularly in low-income areas and among newborns.

RESERVE REVIVAL

Once devastated by civil war and poaching the Banhine National Park in Mozambique’s game reserve is being revived Conservationists, in collaboration with the government, relocated nearly 400 animals from Maputo National Park to Banhine during a 12-day operation.The zebras, wildebeest and antelope were herded into enclosures using helicopters and transported over 18 hours by truck.The initiative is part of the broader effort to restart a game reserve that’s part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, which includes reserves that form a wildlife corridor and conservation area. Donald Sutton, head of operations and development at Banhine, says that this operation is helping to restore the biodiversity in the park, according to AP News.

Fixthenews.com is a solutions journalism newsletter that finds stories of progress and shares them with readers from across the world. Acclaimed author Steven Pinker calls Fix the News “the best source for positive news on the internet.”

Celebrating

ThePower of Partnership

Southern U transforma expand in theCo in

Universityand A&MCollegehas receiveda ative$5million investment from Shellto itiativesinthe CollegeofBusiness and ollegeofSciences and Engineering. This nvestment directlysupports theSouthern UniversitySystem’sStrategic Pillars, includingStudent Success and Academic Excellence

“Withthis investmentinengineering education and studentsuccess,weare further strengthening Shell’spartnership with SouthernUniversityand empowering thenextgeneration of innovators and leaders. We can’t wait to see howtheywill shape thefutureofenergy and technologyfor our industryand theworld.”

EMMALEWIS Executive Vice President,Shell Chemicals

FAITH & VALUES

Bestselling author credits faith for saving his life

Brendan Slocumb looked to Christianity during health crisis

BY BOB SMIETANA

Contributing writer

For someone who was at death’s door a year ago, Brendan Slocumb is remarkably chipper.

A classical musician turned bestselling author at age 50, Slocumb is just a year out from a kidney transplant that saved his life. He credits the Christian faith he learned growing up in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and the love of friends with saving his life, making him grateful for every new day “I should not be here,” Slocumb said. “I am well aware of that.”

The past five years have been a whirlwind for Slocumb. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown brought his life as a music teacher and performing violinist to a halt, leaving him with no source of income and just enough money in the bank to pay his rent for six months. While sitting on the couch, eating Doritos, doomscrolling and feeling sorry for himself, Slocumb said he came across an article about how to get a book deal. He dug out an old sci-fi novel he’d written years earlier and sent it to an agent. The response: “This book is terrible.”

But the agent liked Slocumb’s writing style and told him to keep at it. By the end of the year, he’d finished a new book, “The Violin Conspiracy.” Published in 2022, it made The New York Times bestseller list after being chosen as a “Good Morning America” Book Club pick.

Fans loved it, as did critics. They also loved his 2023 follow-up, “Symphony of Secrets.” But just as his career was taking off, his kidneys, which had been damaged by a life-threatening health crisis years earlier, failed. He faced the real possibility of dying.

Slocumb, living in Washington, D.C., said he felt so ill that he could barely crawl out of bed and often wanted to give up

“I was down to 140 pounds,” he said in an Oct. 15 interview at a suburban Chicago library, where he was giving a talk “I did not know if I was going to make it through this.”

His best friend from college, a fellow musician, donated a kidney and last fall, Slocumb had the transplant surgery that saved his life

“I would not be here were it not for my faith,” said Slocumb, who has the words “Thank You” tattooed on his arm.

Dressed in a plaid shirt, jeans and a baseball cap, the bearded Slocumb is back to good health, thanks to his doctors, his friends and, he believes, God. He said as a kid, he got up early every Sunday to go to the Presbyterian church his family attended He hated it.

“My mom would wake us up at seven for an 11 o’clock service. And I’m like, this is ridiculous. I’m going back to sleep,” Slocumb said But he said he’s now glad for those early mornings in church, where he learned life has meaning and the importance of being a good person. He also

learned how to pray, something that kept him going during dark times The health crisis, he said, has also made him a better person. Before he became ill, he was more selfish. Now, he said, he tries to spend more time focused on other people

“I was humbled,” he said.

Friends have called him lucky, but Slocumb prefers the word “blessed.” Though like many Americans, he no longer attends church services, he still prays several times daily and said his Christian faith gives his life meaning.

These days, Slocumb sees his mission in life as bringing joy to others. He also hopes, with his writing, to help Americans see past the stereotypes that divide them. During his talk at the

Northbrook Public Library his book, “Symphony of Secrets,” is featured in the library’s annual community book club program he recounted some of the challenges he faced as a Black violinist playing classical music.

Some conductors, he said, would look at the color of his skin and assume he was less talented than other musicians. Other times, when arriving at rehearsal, he was mistaken for a janitor “I’ve gone into places and been completely overlooked and ignored just because of what I look like,” he said. “But then the treatment gets a lot different when they find out who you actually are.”

Slocumb told the audience that he, too, has

judged others in the past. That’s one reason why he tries to make his characters complex — like a talented Black composer who is neurodivergent in “Symphony of Secrets,” or the father figure in his latest book, “The Dark Maestro,” a former gang member trying to escape his past.

Like most of the people he meets, Slocumb said the characters in his books are more than they appear He said that many people, if they saw him walking down the street most days, might not believe he was a successful musician or bestselling author, and that’s unfortunate.

“I want people to see people,” he said. “Forget the accent, forget the haircut, forget the attire. Forget the ZIP code, forget the

bank account — really see people.”

Though he acknowledged this country has troubles, Slocumb said he is hopeful about the future During his talk about “Symphony of Secrets,” which tells the story of a struggling Black composer in the 1920s whose music was stolen by a famed White musician, he pointed out that America has changed since then. While the country has a long way to go to live up to its ideals, he believes America will get there in the future.

“I can only speak for myself when I say that we have come such a long way in this country,” he said. “Are we perfect? Absolutely not. Have we come a long way? 100%.”

North Baton Rouge leader seeks to restore community center

Director remembers facility’s glory days from her youth

BY IYAHNNA CARTER

Contributing writer

In the heart of a community long overlooked, Dina Johnson is leading a transformation that is not just structural, but also deeply personal. As the new executive director for the Jewel J. Newman Community Center in north Baton Rouge, she is cleaning up a neglected facility and reviving a legacy

When Johnson stepped into her new role in January the center was pure chaos, she said. There were boxes piled in showers, a rat infestation and a terrible sense of abandonment. With encouragement and financial support from the administration of MayorPresident Sid Edwards, Johnson and her staff immediately began to pick up the slack around the center These early efforts laid the groundwork for restoring the center back to a renewed sense of pride and purpose, she said.

“It was heartbreaking, but it was also a call to action,” Johnson said, who has a doctorate in public policy with concentrations in health care management, finance and environmental science. Her heartbreak quickly turned into determination Each task, no matter how small, was a quiet act of restoration for the building and the trust that had been lost over time The center began to feel less like a forgotten space and more like a promise being kept. Johnson is not just renovating a building, she is reigniting a spirit through infrastruc-

ture, programs and personal connection

Her first major initiative, a Martin Luther King Jr Day cleanup, put into perspective how much work there was to be done. Many community members contributed time out of their day to help pick up litter around the parking lot, wipe down surfaces and help clear walkways for hazards.

Come for hope

Johnson said her leadership approach is rooted in connection A lifelong resident of Scotlandville, she understands the strength of community.

“This center is the most needed resource in our community,” she says. “It’s where people come not just for help, but for hope.”

Johnson attended the center as a child and later found herself working there through the Job Training Program Administration. She recalled how beautiful and magical the center used to feel back then, and she’s determined to bring back that “top notch” standard

Under the new administration, the center secured funding for critical infrastructure upgrades, including a new roof, improved parking and hopefully a long overdue air conditioning unit.

Beyond upgrading new spaces, such as the play area outside in front of the center, Johnson and her staff also reinstated programs that are vital, like the food pantry, and is actively seeking a new tenant for a spacious, wellequipped clinic that is vacant. The clinic is set up to accommodate a medical professional, such as a family medicine practitioner, nurse practitioner, mental health professional, etc., and Johnson hopes to attract someone who can pro-

vide much-needed medical services to the community

Pouring into community

This community center team has been hands-on since day one, Johnson said. They work well together and share a deep understanding of the community’s needs.

But Johnson’s aspirations stretch further than the center She dreams of bringing back a grocery store and sparking economic development in the area. Though she once considered running for state representative, her heart remains within her community “This is where I can make the biggest impact,” she

says. She said she understands that revitalization does not happen alone; it takes a village. She hopes to build bridges with neighboring communities, such as Zachary and Baker, to encourage shared events and mutual support By strengthening these connections, she envisions a more unified region where resources are shared, voices are amplified and no neighborhood is left behind. Her team uses every opportunity, from food distributions to youth programs, to raise awareness about the center’s offerings and to invite residents to take part in shaping the center’s

future. Success, Johnson said lies in engagement, visibility and shared responsibility “We want to build a network of care,” she said.

STAFF PHOTOS By JAVIER GALLEGOS

Dina Johnson reaches for a box of food while preparing a care package at Jewel J Newman Community Center during a supply giveaway for pregnant women and mothers of young children.

Interns Kenmyria Carr, left, and Latoya Harvey walk out with bags of food to hand to a waiting family

PROVIDED PHOTO

Bestselling author Brendan Slocumb holds his book, ‘The Violin Conspiracy,’ that published in 2022, shortly before his kidneys failed, leaving him with the real possibility of dying

SUNDAY, November 16, 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 — tHesAurus: thih-

SOR-us: A book of words and their synonyms.

Average mark 42 words

Time limit 60 minutes

Can you find 59 or more words in THESAURUS?

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

Leading away from the king

East’s flimsy one-heart bid might have gotten his partner off to a heart lead, but West was likely to have led a heart anyway. The lead was an obvious singleton after East’s bid. South won the heart lead in dummy and led the king of spades, holding the trick. He cashed the king and queen of diamonds before leading the jack of spades from dummy West did not want to be stuck on lead with the ace, so he won the second spade and continued with a third.

super Quiz

Declarer won in hand with the queen and led the ace of diamonds, discarding a low club from dummy He knew that West held the ace of clubs for his opening bid, so he made no effort to lead a club toward his king. South simply led a low club away from his king. West still did not want to be on lead so he played the two from his hand, which forced East to win the trick. East led the queen of hearts to dummy’s king and South led a

club to his king and West’s ace. West was end-played and forced to give up a ruff-sluff. West led a club, so South ruffed in dummy while discarding a heart from his hand. Making four!

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 goren Bridge

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Rearrange your space to ensure greater productivity Discussions will shed light on what’s possible personally or professionally Don’t share personal information or your intentions prematurely CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Concentrate on travel or reuniting with someone from your past. Whoever or whatever you encounter will help you realize what’s missing in your life and how to reinstate some of the pastimes that bring you joy AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Listen to your body, and research how you can reach your optimum health. Spend more time with those who motivateyoutobeyourbest,andsay no to those who promote indulgent behavior PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) Pay attention to your health and well-being, and set personal goals that make you feel good about who you are and what you do. Surround yourself with peopleyoulove,andlivethelifestyle you desire.

purpose.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) Participate in events and social activities, and expand your interests and circle of friends. You can gain insight into new possibilities Revamp your resume to suit upcoming prospects.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Connect the dots and adjust your current situation to abandon what isn’t working for you anymore. It’s time to take control and to promote longevity and peace of mind.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Research will spark your imagination. Learn somethingnewthatyoucanincorporate into your expertise to enhance

your skills and pursuit of happiness and increase your wealth.

CANCER(June21-July22)Putdramaon hold.Personalandphysicalimprovements are within reach, along with love and romance, growth and selfimprovement. Socializing will lead to prosperity and happiness. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Take better care of yourself. Say no to indulgent behavior and yes to expanding your mind, skills and friendships. Leave nothing to chance, and you will gain momentum.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Say less and do more. Initiate change and strive to stay ahead in a fast-paced envi-

ronment. It’s what you do and how inventive you are when marketing yourself and your talents that will spark interest.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) Put your energy where it brings the highest return or happiness. Heart-to-heart conversations will clear any uncertainty you are experiencing with someone and offer insight into how best to move forward.

The horoscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact. © 2025 by NEA, inc., dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication

wuzzLes

1. Piano.2.JDVance. 3. Smile, Smile, Smile. 4. Alaska. 5. A&P.6.Tariffs. 7. ElonMusk. 8. Cat 9. Joe Louis. 10. Li'l Abner.11. The LibertyBell. 12. Sauerkraut.13. ChiefJoseph.14. Hopi. 15. Pluto.

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: Idon'thave petpeeves like some people.I have whole kennels of irritation. —Whoopi Goldberg

jeFF mACnelly’sshoe/ by Gary Brookins &Susie MacNelly

by BillAmend